Spirits (Spirits Series Book 1) (31 page)

“Find me.” Aiden’s voice breaks through faintly.

Turning I search through the sea of faces, it isn’t until I’m back where I started that I find him standing across from me on the other side of the fire. The light casts an earthly glow around him as he stares up at the moon. “Aiden.” I whisper his name. He turns his attention to me, a smile parting his full lips. “Come to me.” He says outstretching his hand, “Let us be united.”  My feet push me forward, not around but straight through the fire and I have no fear. As it’s flames consume me I close my eyes but feel no pain. A hand grasps mine pulling me out, it’s Aiden. He gazes down at me, “Will you belong to me now, forever?” His fingers tangle in my hair as he presses me close to him, “I’ll bend the rules for you alone just say yes.” He whispers.

“Yes.”

     He’s looking at me hungrily, “Did you find me?”

“You were in the woods.”

“We.” He corrects. “Were you afraid?”

“No.”

“What was your answer to my question?”

“You already know, don’t you?”

He nods, “I want to hear you say it.”

“Yes.”

His lips crush against mine and once again I feel the fire slowly consuming yet it’s different. He pulls away, “There is much for you to learn.”

“Like?”

“What you felt, you ignite it within me. Soon enough I will show you more.”

“When?”

“When your vision comes to pass, when you finally belong to me. Only then will I show you, teach you things beyond your wildest dreams.” He smirks, “Now that you’ve had a dose of me thoughts of that boy will be fleeting. Your desire for him will dwindle and turn to distaste. I will be all that you want Kadence. I will fulfill your every need. This is my promise.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

     “Mom.” I shield my eyes from the blazing sun burning my retinas as I step off the back porch.

“Join me for a swim, the water feels so nice.” She says floating around the pool.

“Um, no thanks.” I walk closer admiring Rouge and Drew’s large mosaic walkway.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it? That friend of yours is truly talented. I believe your brother has a knack for it as well.”

“I’d have to agree.” I stop at the edge and look down into the sparkling water. It’s so inviting.

“At least stick your feet in.”

Caving I sit and dip my toes in. I dare someone to judge me it’s like a million degrees outside! I can’t stop the sigh of relief that escapes my lips.

Mom giggles, “I know right.”

I just keep quiet, smile and nod.

“Is everything alright? I’ve barely seen you in a couple of days
. You’ve been locked away in your room and I’m getting worried.”

“I’m fine, really, I’ve been caught up in this new series I started reading.”

“Okay. I just figured you’d be off with your friends or at least have them over.”

Thankfully Mom and I do not share the same taste in literature. I’d hate to explain the books to her. “Actually I wanted to talk to you about that…
Daelynn wants me to spend the weekend with her.”

“I,”

“Mom, please. Drew will be going and Dae’s parents will be there.”

“He’s staying with Carson?”

“No, Blake. Carson is gone for the weekend.” Thankfully, I still feel the need to dot his eye.

“I guess but I’m trusting you Journey. I am way to young to be a grandmother.”

“Mom!”

“Keep your brother in line.”

“Of course.” I smile. I’m trying not to look overly enthused. I hope I’m doing okay. “Well, thank you. I’m going to get my stuff and Drew together then head over there.”

“Have fun, be careful
and behave.”

“Yes ma’am.”

    
Sooo, I finally asked my Mom… Journey

I text as I walk to Drew’s room.

I’m taking it she said no by the dot
s
Blake

She said she’s too young to be a g-ma so… I better keep an eye on Drew. LOL See you soon. Journey


YES!!!! I can’t wait! I’ll tell Dae! Blake

“Drew,” I push his door open. He’s sitting on the bed, pad and pen in hand sketching like a mad man and completely oblivious to the fact I’m here. “Drew?” I whisper
walking closer with no response. He’s in some sort of trance it seems. Looking down at his artwork I cover my mouth in horror. Drew doesn’t have an artistic bone in his body yet he’s drawn demon Mary to a tee, I couldn’t have done better myself, she’s chasing me through the woods. “Why?” I shake him.

He looks at me clueless, “Huh?”

All I can do is point at his paper.

He stares at it surprised, “I… I don’t know what just happened. The last thing I remember is packing for this weekend.”

“How’d you know mom would say yes?”

“She always tells you yes, you’re the good one.”

“True. So you don’t remember getting paper and a pen?”

He closes his eyes and shakes his head, “…no.”

“I don’t like it.”

“You’re just jealous I’ve got mad skills.”

“Am not.” Okay maybe a little. It took me years of practice to become that good and over night he turns into freaking Leonardo da Vinci. “That’s her and that’s me.”

“Her who?”

“Mary, the thing that has tormented my dreams for the last couple of years.”

Drew’s eyes widen, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know, I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s not your fault, finish packing so we can get the heck out of here.”

He nods and I hurry to my room. Noah’s standing at my door, “Where are you rushing off to?”

“Daelynn’s.” I say trying to step around him.

“You’re shutting me out.”

“No I’m not.”

He tilts his head, “Yes, you are. The symbols, whose brilliant
brainchild was that?”

“Oh…me, I painted them mostly.”

“Don’t try to cover for him, I know it was Rouge. You haven’t been yourself since that trip to the store. Tell me something Journey, are you afraid of ME now?”

“No,” well not until five seconds ago when yo
u started acting overly bizarre, “why would you ask that?”

“I just wanted to make sure that he didn’t say anything that would lead you to believe that because if so he was lying, that’s all.”

“Well he didn’t and I haven’t seen him lately. You have nothing to worry about. Now if you don’t mind I have to pack.”

Nodding he steps away then takes my arm as I open the door, “Can you find a way for me to get around the symbols? I really miss hanging out with you, I’ve been so lonely these last couple of days.”

“I’ll work on it.”

“Okay.” He says with a sad expression before vanishing.

     “Have you talked to Rouge?” Drew asks as I drive to Blake’s.

“Not in a couple of days, why
?”

“Last night while
we were finishing the walkway,”

“It looks great by the way. Did he tell you what the symbols mean?”

“No but he told me that you have something to show me. Sorry I haven’t come to chill, I’ve been so busy helping Rouge finish the mosaic. I swear I slept like the dead last night and half the day today.”

“It’s cool I’ve been reading anyway. Mom’s worried I’m starting to shut everyone out and revert to my former self.”

“That’s mom for you. So what was it you wanted to show me?”

“The books, I brought a couple of them with me. You can look at them when we get to Blake and
Dae’s house.”

“Alright.” He says resting his head back and closing his eyes, “You do know where you’re going right?”

“Not actually.”

He types the address into the GPS quickly, “if I doze off wake me when we get there please.”

“Yep.”

     Pulling up to Blake’s house I put the Jeep in
park and stare at the old Second French Empire architecture feeling overly nervous. What if his parents hate me? What if Carson pops back up? What if there’s ghosts or worse in his house? Certainly he would have informed me. Maybe I should just go home, invite him over to hang out… That would not go over well Noah would see to it we were not allowed in my room then he’d annoy the crap out of us. Daelynn comes running out the front door and down the stairs with a huge smile on her face. Guess it’s to late to change my mind. “Drew, we’re here.” I nudge his arm.

“Hey!”
Dea snatches the door open and throws her arms around Drew, “I’m uber excited! My parents aren’t home and won’t be till late so Blake and I were thinking about going out for dinner, or we could order in, whatever, anyway y’all come on in.”

I look up to see Blake strolling towards the car with a smile playing at his lips as he pulls his hand out of his pocket and waves. Yep, definitely staying. As I grab my purse he opens my door. “Good evening ma’am. I’ll get your bags and show you to your room.”

“Thank you kind sir, I’d appreciate that greatly.” I smile as my heart flutters in my chest like a caged bird.

     Glancing around as we breeze through the house towards the staircase it dawns on me that Mom would approve of the décor. It’s not
so formal that I’m afraid to touch anything yet it has that feel about it. Blake points towards different rooms telling us where everything is. We take a left on the second floor. “This is Dea’s room, if you hadn’t already figured that out.” He says reaching for the knob on the door with a beaming sun painted on it, it’s eyes boring through me like it’s judging whether or not I’ll be permitted.

“I’ll take it from here.”
Dae says snatching my bag from him and pushing past us to enter.

“Okay…” I say getting out of the way as she pulls Drew in with her, drops my bag on the floor then turns to us.

“I’m sure you want to show her your room so take Drew’s bag with you and we’ll catch up with y’all later.”

Blake grins, “Sure thing.”

     As we head down the hall in the opposite direction I take notice to the details surrounding me. Everywhere I look there’s a symbol either carved into the framework or cleverly concealed in a painting. “My room.” Blake says. I’m staring at a door with the same Celtic knot I painted only much larger and it’s engraved into the wood. “Cool.” I whisper.

Blake chuckles,
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” he opens the door, “Ladies first.”

I enter glancing around at his tidy room and set my purse down
. It’s a big change from the picture he sent me. I hear the door shut and turn to him gazing at me. Despite my best efforts I feel my cheeks catch fire.

“Does it meet your standards?”

“Well I didn’t bring my white gloves but I think it passes inspection.”

He smirks and steps closer, “I’ve been looking forward to this moment.”

“Me critiquing your cleaning abilities?” I look at him doubtfully.

“No, having you all to myself,” he agilely slips his hands around my waist, “in my room.”

The nuisance colony has moved back in, for some reason when they invade my stomach my brain refuses to work. I try to get a grip on it, I don’t want to stand here staring at him like a dolt. “Uh, and why might that be?”

As he guides me backwards I’m unable to take my eyes off of him. That is until I run into something, I glance back briefly then look up at him nervously.

“It’s alright, I don’t bite, unless you like that sort of thing.” He smiles seductively as he lifts me to sit on his bed.

“Umm…” I worry my lip, “
no biting.”

“
Deal.” He says leaning closer. “Would you be apposed to me showing you what I had in mind?”

“No.” my voice comes out faint as he leans closer. I scoot back and he follows, one knee between my legs the other pressed against my thigh. He wraps an arm around my back and knots his fingers in my hair. My heart hammers as he lightly presses his lips to mine. I’m afraid but only because I haven’t got a clue as to what I’m doing and I’m worried I’ll be terrible at this. He pulls away, “Relax, I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to do.”

I nod and he leans back in. Let go, you can do this; you want this, stop being a chicken! I give myself a pep talk. To my surprise it works quite well. I give in kissing him back, following his lead. He slides his hand from around me to my arm, pulling it from holding me up and pins me to the bed while interlacing our fingers. Our lips never
lose contact and I’m not complaining. I could kiss him for hours and hopefully he feels the same way. I can’t believe I was freaking out over this for nothing. His leg is pressing firmly against me as he stifles a groan. Um on second thought that’s not his leg, my eyes pop open as he pulls away and I try not to giggle.  “Maybe we should take a break for a few…” He says looking down at me, “Unless it doesn’t bother you.” His cheeks tint, “I was trying to hold that back but it’s really hard.”