Page 62 of Shadow & Stars
“Hello?”
My eyes caught up with the rest of my senses, taking in the woman before me.
Gray-haired, a fair golden complexion, and warm brown eyes twinkling along with a friendly smile. She was the queen of warmth, her aura radiant, special. I could already see why Roman loved her so much.
“Are you alright?” she asked, pulling her white cardigan around her small body.
I still hadn’t answered her. “Hello. I’m here to…” Where did I even begin? “I’m here to speak with you and your grandson.” Not the best of openings. “I’m sorry for disturbing you at this late hour.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Xavier.”
She closed the door a few inches, her warmth cooling. “And what do you want with us?”
“I—”
“Who is it?” A familiar and slightly tired voice came from behind her.
My limbs turned to stone, my fear spiking. Suddenly, I didn’t want to meddle in the past. This was Roman’s history, his story to share with me in his own words.
“A man called Xavier,” June Gold called back. “Know him?”
“Who?” Footsteps approached.
But what else was there for me to do? If I didn’t try this, there would be no Roman of the past, and no Roman of the future. The longer this went on, the more at risk everything became. Who knew what would happen to the main timeline, the world, and the universe.
You have to be strong.
You have to return to him.
“I’m from the future,” I said, deciding to be honest. “I?—”
The sixteen year-old version of Roman appeared, stepping off a set of carpeted stairs in shorts and a T-shirt. No artful stubble on his boyish face, his black hair fluffy and free of silver streaks.
“Xavier?” he questioned after a yawn.
Such an odd sight to see him so young like this. My brain further confirmed I was inside a different time period. One I couldn’t wait to be free of.
“Here he is,” June said.
Roman’s amber eyes fell on me, his forehead immediately creasing. “What the fuck?”
“Language!” his grandmother reprimanded.
“Sorry.” He approached on his bare feet, squinting his eyes. “This is so weird.”
“What is?” June asked.
“I just…” He came up right behind her. “I just dreamed of this guy.”
“You did?” I asked.
His left eyebrow cocked. “Yeah. Stand back, Grandma.” Synth magic ignited across his hands. “Get ready to call the ADU.”
As calm as the surface of a pond, June answered with, “Right you are.”
“Step aside,” Roman added. “I’ll blast the shit out of him.”
