Page 14 of January Blues
“No, go ahead,.” I urged. Damon had a sharp mind. He’d uncovered a lot in a world where those that had magic were very secretive.
“So we both think the nightmares are magical, right?”
“They are. They have to be. Not just any magic either, demonic magic.”
“Do you think, I dunno how magic works, but could it be reacting to the magical hold on you?”
His theories held weight. “It’s possible. So whoever is doing this to me probably did me a favor. I just wish I could ask my family for the truth.”
“Why can’t you?”
“I don’t know where they are.” I slumped onto my bed.
Damon looked at me. “You’re exhausted. This can all wait. Come on, let’s get you into bed. You need your beauty sleep for your date.”
I smiled and let him manhandle me around my studio and get me ready for bed. He tucked me in and kissed my forehead. “I love you, sweetness. I’ll find the answers you need, okay?”
“Okay. Damon?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you, too.”
That sweet, innocent kiss followed me into my dreams, acting as a balm on my battered heart.
January 17th
Cody
Lackofsleepfromexcitement was less tiring than from the nightmares, I decided as I woke that morning, more than a little excited about my date despite all that was going on in my life. I yawned. The little sleep that I’d had was hardly enough to be considered restful, but I had to be grateful that at least when I had slipped into sleep, it had been blissfully free from nightmares.
It was amazing how a good night’s sleep affected my outlook. Gone were the shadows jumping at me from every corner. I felt more in control. Now it felt like my carefully constructed life was my own again.
My conversation with Damon was on my mind throughout the day. I couldn’t help but dwell on it. Perhaps the person who was trying to harm me had done me a favor by uncovering my hidden magic. All I kept circling back to was why.
Why had my parents done this to me and then blamed me my whole life for something I had no control over? Had they just hidden too much of my magic? Had they meant to only lock away an ability that they didn’t want me to have? It wasn’t uncommon for witch children to wear talismans to null their power until they had more emotional control, especially if they had deep wells of power to draw from. Why hadn’t they just done that?
It struck me as funny that I was more concerned with what my parents had done nearly thirty years ago than with a person who had hired a hitman and then probably a demon to come after me.
“Cody? Are you okay?” Quill asked during our lunch break.
It was only then I realized I’d let out a little chuckle. Goddess, I must have sounded unhinged. “Hmm? Oh, I’m fine. Just family stuff.”
“Anything I can help with?”
“No, thank you for asking, though.” I didn’t quite like the look on Quill’s face. He looked disappointed that I hadn’t opened up to him. “It’s just more about my past.”
He studied me. “What do you mean? If you don’t mind me asking, that is.”
I didn’t mind. It was surprisingly easy to open up to Quill. I wanted to tell him things about me. I wanted him to know me. For me to know him.
“Well, Damon, my best friend, was doing some research into my family and found out that it looks like my dad isn’t actually my dad.” I decided not to dump the binding on him. Or the fact Damon was a hitman that had been hired to kill me. Leaving out the demon thing might be best, too. I wanted to date Quill and not scare him away.
“Wow.”
“Yeah. It’s a lot to get my head around.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
