Chasing Atlantis (24 page)

“MUR
DERERS! MURDERERS! YOU KILLED HIM. You killed my Steven.” Her shrieks died into sobs. She buried her face back down in the shallow carpet beating anything in her reach with her tiny fists.

Her words hit me like a whip, striping away any notions I held about Steve. He was my enemy, but he was my mom’s love. I knew it would be hard for her accept the fact that he was gone, but shouldn’t my life have mattered as well? Shouldn’t it?

“Mom, I’m sorry. I—”

“No! No! No! No! He’s gone. My reason for living is gone. You took away my friends, my rights, everyone that mattered to me! We could have had everything! Now it’s all gone. Gone.” She continued to wail. I stood unsteadily in the middle of the floor. I instinctively flinched away from each attack. I felt Ty’s body tense mirroring my own.

Ty couldn’t take it anymore. He scooped my legs up easily so that he was carrying me like a small child. I squirmed, irratted that he didn’t let me stay longer. And sad that it ended up this way. He quickly hauled me up the stairs with as much ease as if he were carrying a small package. He set me down lightly on my bed. His dark brow was creased with the lone worry line that he dawned.

“We shouldn’t have let you see her like that, at least not yet. We thought if we left her alone for some time she might feel better. It was our mistake.” He chewed his lower lip nervously. It was the first time he ever truly looked… normal. Not the god that he usually was, yet still radiant.

“You have to understand she is not herself lately. She won’t believe that Steve never had any intention of staying with her once you were changed. We tried to tell her the truth, but she is just like you: too stubborn to stop and listen.” His lips pulled up at the ends allowing his face to come alive with his smile.

“But what’s wrong with her? She didn’t look,” I paused looking for the right word, “human.” The images of her body twisting up to stare at us with the dark bags under her eyes, and the bright crimson splotches on her skin, resurfaced in front of my eyes.

“Steve figured out a way to control the venom he released on his teeth. He would bite your mom, allowing only the smallest bit to leave him so that he could control her power. However, it would wear off after a period of time, so that your mom would require more and more hits to keep her cravings down. I guess you could compare it to an addict going through withdrawals from their drug of choice. Now that Steve is gone she is going through…” He also paused trying to find a human enough word to describe the situation, “withdrawals.”

“Have you been checking up on her often?” I couldn’t imagine any reason strong enough that would force me to walk back downstairs and face her if she weren’t my mom. It surprised me just how easily Henry navigated his way around her.

“The first night that the hospital kicked us out we came back here for a little while to gather some of your things and to check on your mom. Patrick and I returned back to the hospital via the sink, but Henry stayed with your mom every chance he could. I think he really does like to help her, it makes him wonder if he could have saved our own mom.”

I winced at the mention of Ty’s own mother. I wondered which one was better. The one that wasn’t there for her children, or the one that accused her daughter of taking away her only happiness. Neither choice was exactly optimal.

“I checked on her every morning and every night, but for some reason she has always responded better to Henry than to Patrick and I.” He paused with an entertained look on his face. “At one point she hurled a knife right at the door the moment we walked in. Pat really did almost lose a hand.” Ty smiled wryly to himself.

“Thank you.” I smiled blissfully at him. Ty’s answering smile was brighter than the sun. He leaned one knee on the bed, extending his hands to touch the bruised parts of my face. I winced as his slippery hands brushed them, he snapped his hands back to his sides. My lips puckered into a pout from his recoil.

“How is the pain? Would you like me to get you more medicine? I don’t mind.” His tone was abruptly serious again. He teetered on the edge of my bed, his eyes glancing to the door, next back to my face before one second had ended.

I felt the clawing desire to throw my arms around his neck and yell that I love him resurface. I tried to go for the more subtle approach. “I bet you don’t mind. Jeez, Ty. You should be ashamed of yourself, trying to get me all hyped up on medicine so you can take advantage of my poor little innocent self.”

The light returned to his eyes. My plan was working.

“The girl that can ensnare a dragon is innocent? I don’t think so. In fact I should be more worried about protecting my innocent self from you. Who knows what other evil plans you have concocting in that devious little brain of yours? But that does remind me.” Ty reached into his pocket pulling out the long chain containing the blue sapphires and turtle ornament. I gasped in disbelief that it was still in one piece.

I wanted so badly to touch it again, to feel the light brush of it against my skin, to be reminded that Ty was with me no matter where I was. It’s silly. Of course I know that Ty is with me no matter what I do or where I am. Still, there’s something that makes having a tangible token of our affection that much more real to me.

“Amy, will you accept this necklace from me, again?” His voice as smooth as glass. My eyes were riveted to the delicate chain that saved my life without even a hint of the fray.

“How did you—I mean how is it possible that it survived?” He laughed at the disbelief in my voice.

“I took it to a jeweler friend of mine, who knows the ins-and-outs of dealing with dragons, and other mythical creatures. He cleaned it up quite nicely for me. Although there wasn’t a whole lot he really needed to do. The original craftsmanship of the necklace was more than extraordinary and held it’s own against the flames.”

The tears, hot and wet flooded my eyes. I put my hand in front of my mouth to muffle the sobs. I hadn’t cried in years. Now I was crying every couple of days. Ty’s smile instantly washed away, confusion replacing happiness.

“What’s wrong? If the necklace looks that bad it can easily be fixed or replaced. Money is no option. I really didn’t think it looks that bad—but if you don’t want it you don’t have to take it. I will completely understand.” His voice rushed out almost too fast for human ears. I waved his fears away with my hand.

“No. The necklace is exquisite. I have never seen something that beautiful.” A loud sob made it impossible to continue.

“Then what’s wrong? You have to help me out here. I can’t read minds.” The small crease line formed between his brows while he studied my pained expression.

“Nothing is
wrong
. Everything is perfect, just perfect. I just don’t want to leave you. I can’t imagine spending one day of my life without you anymore, Ty. I have always loved you and I always will.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my face in his shoulder.

At first he was too stunned to speak. He silently wound his arms around my waste, stroking my hair with his hands. “You mean, you are actually worried that you won’t see me anymore? You really want to be with me, again?” His voice hinted the excitement that he was holding down. He didn’t want to get his hopes up again just to have them crushed.

“Yes. Yes! You silly boy. I love you. I’ve loved you once before. Why is it so much harder to believe that now?” My voice hinted at my d
esperation to hold him. I entwined my hands in his black hair, pushing myself against him. I was determined to hold him as long as I could.

“Because you never had to see me murder anyone in front of you, or to know that I was capable of killing your mom’s own happiness. That’s what makes it so hard for me to believe that you could still love me. I can’t give you all that Adam could.”

I pulled my eyes back to stare angrily at him. “I can’t believe you.” I glared accusingly. “I can’t believe that you think I am so shallow as to care about the material positions that Adam could give me. I have given up my family, my home, everything just to be with you. And you still think that I am capable of loving Adam just because of what he can
provide
for me.”

Despite his embarrassment his eyes actually glowed with excitement, the glistening orbs sucked me into their depths locking me into his hopes. He pulled me to his chest forcefully, knocking the wind out of me. I whimpered at the pain that pulsated through my body. Ty quickly released me, with an forgetful smile on his face.

“My bad.” He laughed. “This is the most wonderful thing that could have ever happened to me. You are the most magnificent person that has ever been placed in my life. Now I will get to spend every moment that I possibly can with you.” He hugged me again, gentler this time. He brought my head up to his mouth, showering my forward, my cheeks, and my neck with kisses. I felt a little light headed.

“Er-um, Ty. I’m leaving in a few weeks. What exactly do you mean by wonderful? This is horrible because now I won’t get to see you that often.” I closed my eyes, fighting back the happiness and hope that radiated from Ty. I knew what was really going to happen.

“No darling. This is wonderful!” He jumped off the bed to scramble through his pockets, his goofy smile plastered on his face. His eyes bright with excitement as he fished his wallet out, emptying the contents on the floor.

“Ty?” I asked questioningly. I was starting to question his sanity. I sat up slightly so that I could see what he was looking for. He pounced back on the bed in one lighting fast move. I flinched instinctively away from the inhuman agility.

“Sorry.” He laughed. He took my hand and placed a small white sheet of paper into my palm. I stared at it for five long minutes. Reading the paper over and over again, so that I could make sure it wouldn’t burst into open flames in my hand.

“Well?” He asked, excitement burning deep in his eyes.

“This is a voucher for three plane tickets.” I swallowed hard. “One for each of you, with your seat directly next to mine.” I looked up dumb-founded into his eyes.

“Yea. I know.” He smiled expectantly at me. He took in my expression then quickly added, “Of course if you don’t want us to go back with you to Texas I will completely understand. I just bought it in case you did decide that you still had feelings for me. I really should have waited. I have a tendency to get ahead of myself just a little—”

I silenced him mid-sentence when I locked my arms around his neck and pulled his lips against mine. A warm tingling sensation spread from my stomach to the outermost tips my fingers and toes. The lightheaded feeling intensified, but it wasn’t enough to make me stop. I kept kissing him, and kissing him.

After a few moments he pulled back with a wolfish grin across his face. “So, I did good, huh? Wow. I am officially going to Texas. Never thought I’d say that out loud.” He looked down just a little too quickly. The deep corners of his mouth twitched delicately. I couldn’t be sure but I thought I caught something from that move.

“Yes, yes. But what are you going to do about your condo? Your job? You can’t just up and leave.”

“Amy you worry too much. I have everything already taken care of. So you don’t need to worry about a single thing. I’m going to go tell Henry and Patrick the good news!” He zipped out of the room too quick for human eyes to follow. I heard his light footsteps taking the stairs three or four at a time. At least he is using the stairs I thought wryly. I half expected him to just jump to the next floor.

“Pat, Henry, pack your bags were going to Texas!” He bellowed at the top of his lungs. Henry howled with delight at the prospect of sight seeing. Patrick groaned. I giggled at how accustomed I’ve grown to having them around. Losing either of them would be almost as devastating as losing Ty.

There was no fear that Mom would try and stop me leaving, or them following. She never left the house, choosing to mourn the loss of her friends and boyfriend rather than celebrate the fact that her daughter was still alive. The bond I once shared with my mother dissipated almost instantly after Steve’s destruction—I don’t say death because Steve’s heart perished long before he was removed from this earth.

The pleasantries and formalities that were the interlocking pieces holding the house of glass together were smashed from the outside, forcing the glass to shatter inwardly. The glistening pieces lay there, broken; reflecting every mistake that caused the damage in the first place.

Gaby was long gone. I searched for her for a few weeks after I was released from the hospital with no luck. I called every phone number, emailed every address and drove to her old apartment. Nothing. The furniture was packed up and the locks changed. The Gaby I knew and loved was gone. I called the schools, the secretary told me she withdrew her siblings from school, and didn’t say where she was taking them. I gave up my search after that. She had probably changed her name, and theirs the moment they were free from this city.

“It’s for the best that she tries to forget everything.” Ty said as his hand brushed the entirely length of my hair. “She didn’t gain any thing useful from this experience. It probably just would have brought up painful memories for her.” He tried to comfort me. He didn’t have to try hard. So long as he was by my side I was pretty happy.

“I know. It’s just that I never had the chance to tell her that I forgave her, and that I miss her.” I answered truthfully. He smiled at me, before turning his head to pretend that he was watching TV. He only kept up the human pretense to keep me entertained while I was still tapped and bandaged up. Truthfully I didn’t even remember seeing a TV in their condo at all. Not that I watched all that much TV myself.

During the last couple of weeks Ty and his brothers spent a majority of their time at my house so that they could keep an eye on my mom. Or if I was lucky we would escape down to the beaches for a few hours. There were no more rules, or curfews. The only guidelines that I followed were my own instincts and Ty’s of course. Although if he had his way we wouldn’t even bother wasting time apart, and I couldn’t argue against that kind of logic.

The last couple of weeks I spent at Vero Beach were the happiest weeks of my life. I never grew tired of seeing Ty, every moment I spent with him was more exciting than the next. I wasn’t worried about going back to school because I knew that Ty would be going there with me. It wasn’t the ending to one chapter of our lives, it was the beginning of another more exciting one. I wasn’t a fool. I knew the club wouldn’t forget about me. I didn’t know what else they might want from me, but I wasn’t afraid of them anymore. I had Ty all to myself, and there’s nothing they could do to take the joy and happiness out of my life away.