Page 107 of Rising

It was time for that to change.

“Open the door,” she commanded, determined.

“Magic too?” My fingers wiggled optimistically.

“Don’t push it.”

“Fine, we’ll talk about magic tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” Sloan agreed, turning and leading the way for us to follow.

Tomoe

It had to be below freezing out. My bones felt stiff as we walked through the city, the snow blinding my adjusting eyes. At least six inches covered the ground, the liquid seeping into my boots, too low to keep the unplowed sidewalk out. It must’ve started not too long after we’d arrived, or maybe before, couldn’t remember shit from that night.

Where St. Cloud had been bleak and gray, Duluth was just brown. The buildings were brown; the clothes were neutral, various tones of the earth covered in variations of animal fur to keep them warm. Traveling through the different territories had been a continuous culture shock. We had it good in Monterey. At least people there were happy. Moved with purpose.

Every person we passed was either lost in thought, angry, or looked like they’d spent the night crying.You and me both buddy, I laughed to myself. The wind carried from Lake Superior, biting against my skin. I fought the urge to chatter my chin.Could Sloan walk any slower?

She’d said the walk to where we’d be staying wasn’t far, apparently arranging for us to stay in apartments on the edge of their city. We’d have to remain out of sight in order to pull off our ruse. At least long enough to make contact with the others in Salem and other allies. Then we’d have to find Riley’s contact.

It’d only be a matter of time before it got out that we were not, in fact dead and were now plotting. From then it wouldn’t be long for things to get out of control. I’d seen that version play out enough to know I didn’t like the way it’d end.

There were still options, happier endings, but the future felt bleak from where I now stood. One future that I’d seen had been wrong. A lie. I’d been stupid, willfully blind. Rage crept from me and I found myself wishing Reina had her powers. To take it all away, make me numb.

That was the problem with seeing the future. It gave you false hope.

Sloan had placed a few guards she could ‘spare’ outside the rundown apartment building she’d dropped us at. Amaia had insisted it was a waste of resources, that they could be of better use. But Sloan had denied, stating it was for our safety against Covert Province and any spies they may have.

I call bullshit.

Reina entered her room at the end of the hall first, announcing the further from Seth she was, the happier she’d be. He’d barely acknowledged he’d heard it. Head hung low. Amaia went next, leaving a room between her and Reina. The look on her face as she entered saying she was giving me an out if I needed one. After making sure Amaia’s door had closed and the locks had clicked, Alexiares lingered, eyeing me and Seth hesitantly.

Seth barely noticed, but I nodded.Thanks, man. His door clicked, but no locks sounded.

“Answer me honestly, please. For once.” I asked, voice brittle, “Was any of it ever real?”

He reached for my hands, his movement quick, causing me to leap back with a hiss. “I need you to trust me. Just once, one more time,” he said softly, arms raised, before slowly taking hold of my hands one at a time.

The tension eased throughout my body as I dropped my guard, letting him in with the realization of what he was doing. Selfishly, I wanted to see what he was offering. My subconscious told me to cut the bullshit, to use this as an opportunity to gather evidence or a glimpse at his intentions.

I wasn’t given a chance as he locked down on my power, taking the reins. In the distance, I felt two tears racing down my cheeks. It was beautiful. I saw myself, memories of the two of us going for rides through the coastline of Monterey. The day he’d asked me to spar for the first time, recognizing the need to fill the void that had unexpectedly opened in my life. Laying out in the green space, he stared up at the sky as I read, straining my eyes to finish the story despite the lack of light from the moon.

When I’d tripped over the clutter in my study. The embarrassment I’d felt as he watched on, feeling judged, how he’d pushed my hair from my face, telling me he’d be happy to have a home filled with my clutter one day. That it added to the ambience. Told me I’d felt like home. I love you slipping from my lips in response. The shock, then happiness that fell upon his face.

Then there were glimpses of the future, or what had been. What he’d hoped, these were … daydreams?How was this possible?We were living outside The Compound, but still in Monterey territory. He’d passed on his position, opting to retreat to a quieter life but still accompanying me to our true home so I could visit the rest of our family. Reina, Amaia, Riley, Prescott, Luna, even Alexiares were there.

His shifted gears, him and Reina as kids. A boy his age who resembled Reina at his side, a girl with red hair ran into view.Sloan, I realized. They were playing hide and seek, an older boy who resembled Seth, with a booming voice, told them to hurry and hide, that they better be ready soon. Reina giggled, grabbing onto his arm, telling him she wanted to hide with him.

Time jumped before my eyes. It was Reina’s graduation. Seth turned, facing an older version of the younger boy from earlier. The one that favored Reina. I realized it must be their brother, Hunter. Hunter had patted him on the back, said it was good to see him back home. Reina was happy to have him here, and had talked about him all the time. Seth beamed at the reflection of Hunter’s glasses. A proud brother. Their faces, happy, grins pulling ear-to-ear.

Another memory, Seth pulling Reina close. She was sad. Crying, Hunter was dead. A tear fell onto Reina’s head. It was his.

It was him and Amaia, riding free through the territory, racing towards San Jose. Amaia’s smile was bright as she teased him. He joked that he’d let her win, not wanting to outshine a superior. She’d pulled up next to him, the humored expression gone, sincerity crossing over.

“We’ll always be equals, Seth,” she’d said.

Riley was there now. They were in Amaia’s study. Jax walked in, trays of food in his hand, complimentary Elie he’d rejoiced. They all cheered, stacks of paperwork and plans laid out around them for the long night ahead. None of them looked exhausted though, happy again. Just glad to be in each other’s presence, to feel safe inside a home.

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