Page 54 of Twisted Fates
I stared at them and had to force down my anger. “Do any of you care? When I asked for help earlier…”
Orville interrupted me. “When you asked earlier, I was upset because several of our occupants had just left. I acted inappropriately. You have our help, we will do anything to protect Owen.”
I ignored them while searching for what I needed, and when I found a strand of hair, I headed back upstairs. “If you really want to help, you’ll find out where Molly and any of her friends are. I’m going to try to protect Owen, but I need to save them too.”
I was about to go back upstairs but stopped and turned around on the first step. “I know my predecessor opened his house to you before I came here. I’ve also honored his wishes. Owen and I screwed up by not understanding your relationship with the witches and inviting one in, but you’ve seriously damaged my trust.” I paused and then sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, I would never do anything to sever our relationship, but relationships are two-way streets. It can’t just be me and Owen allowing you to stay here, then you get mad and turn your backs on us.”
All four ghosts nodded, and I looked at Orville as he made eye contact. “I’m sorry, Damian,” he said.
“We all are,” Lucious added.
“Okay, I’m going to be busy for the next day or so. If you can find out where the vipers, a gang on the east side of town, are hiding Molly and anyone else they’ve captured, and how many they’ve captured, that would help more than anything else.”
All four nodded, and I turned, smiling. I did understand why they had gotten angry. I’m sure I would’ve too, but it felt good that they had our backs, especially when Owen was so vulnerable. If we were lucky, I could use the golem to get Molly and the others back.
Then, I’d do what I could to protect him. However, my golem would need to survive at least a week if my plan to save and protect Owen worked. Gods help us all if it didn’t.
Chapter forty
Owen
By the time theelderly witches dropped me off at my mother’s house with a promise to keep the perimeter guarded, I could tell they were tired. I had no idea how they were going to keep me under surveillance when they were so clearly ready for their bed.
I didn’t think it mattered that much though. I doubted the Vipers or anyone else would be seeking me here. I thanked the two profusely, then rushed into Mom’s house.
Chloe, Mom’s little Yorkie, met me at the door, and I scooped her up and kissed her, then went to put her out back so she could do her business. When I rounded the corner, I stopped short when Eric Strange stood arrogantly smiling at me.
“Well, the prodigal son returns home, I see.”
“Eric, I didn’t think Mom had anyone over,” I said.
“Your mother left this morning and asked me to let Chloe out. Never fear, I was just about to leave.”
I nodded, went to the back door, opened it, and let the little Yorkie out. When I turned around, Eric had gone. I listened and sighed when I heard the front door shut. “Just great,” I said, “perfect greeting party.”
Chloe finished peeing, which, of course, had the jerk let her out, she wouldn’t have needed to go, and I let her back in. It was late, later than she usually ate, but I had to assume if he hadn’t let her out, he probably hadn’t fed her either, so I pulled out the fancy dog food Mom insisted on buying and filled her dish.
Sure enough, she went right for it. Chloe wasn’t one to overeat, so the asshole certainly hadn’t done anything. It just made me wonder why he’d come over. Most likely to rub it in my face that he was here, and I wasn’t.
Oh well, no use worrying about the bully ex. He was firmly in my past. I didn’t have the energy to be dealing with him.
I grabbed my phone and texted my mother.
Me: Eric Strange was here, said he was taking care of Chloe. Just so you know, he wasn’t doing a good job.
Truth was, I probably texted that just to be an ass. Mom shouldn’t have put me in a position to face my fucking ex like that. Even if she was angry that I’d moved away.
I went upstairs, leaving my phone on the countertop. I was trying to figure out whether I should unpack or not. Maybe I should just leave my shit in my bag until I knew what I wasdoing. Seeing Eric was enough to remind me I wasn’t really welcome here. It might’ve been my home once, but it certainly wasn’t now.
At least it did give me a refuge for the moment.
I lay on my bed, closed my eyes, and immediately remembered the card in my shirt pocket. I removed it and studied the symbols. Light and dark. The spinning of the wheel. That certainly described my life.
Even seeing my stupid ex. Whether or not Damian wanted to be with me any longer, he was a bright light compared to Eric's darkness.At least, I thought as I fell asleep, I’d done a better job with the last ex than with my first.
Chapter forty-one
Damian
