Page 80 of The Spirit Key
She cocked her head. “I don’t understand. Timbo is a name that should be honored.”
“It’s not anymore. Tim is an okay name, and people don’t react differently to it. Timbo is… just weird.”
“Don’t deny your heritage, Timbo. Embrace it, and know that your name was a gift from your parents, who no doubt felt it symbolized the strength you would need to care for your key.”
He huffed. “I’ll think about it.”
As Sofia walked around, I noticed that Tim still held Alexander, as if protecting him. It was sweet to see.
“When Scott died, his abilities became active, as did yours. At night, while you slept, you were more receptive to the visits of those who needed help. Alexander was one of them. His death was the catalyst for the problems that plague you now.”
Tim’s eyebrows went up. “How do you mean?”
She turned her attention to Tim. “Alexander died in the early twentieth century. He languished here for nearly a century, and when Timbo’s abilities manifested, Alexander was drawn to him. By now his murderer was dead many times over, but he continued to roam the earth, looking for another he could control. He had a connection to Alexander, being the life he seemed most proud of taking. Each time his host died, he would stalk and torment Alexander. When Alexander found Timbo, he led the murderer back to him. In fact, he tried to take Timbo’s body then, but his connection with you was too strong. Only after you left was he able to finally break through those defenses.”
“So itwasmy fault?”
Tim squeezed Alexander, but his gaze was locked on me. “Stop saying that! There was no way you could have known, so just stop.”
She brushed an affectionate hand over Tim’s shoulder. “You’re right. No one is at fault for what happened. No matter what either of you did, he would have eventually found a way into Timbo. Without your influence, each time Timbo became upset, his ability to rebuff the spirit waned. Though your leaving did weaken him, it was the death of his mother, the former key, that finally allowed the spirit to enter. She knew this, and it was why she went to you, Scott.”
“If you knew all this, why didn’t you tell me?”
She chuckled. “Everything happens for a reason, you know. If I had told you, then Timbo would never have come here and accepted his destiny.”
“But he said—”
She knelt down beside Tim and Alexander. “Oh, Timbo wanted to believe it, but as much as he was certain, there would always be a seed of doubt in him. In order to fully accept his role in your life, he needed to meet Alexander when he was old enough to understand. This is his defining moment, where he comes to realize the importance of the work the two of you will do. The other spirits, who Timbo has not met, were a nebulous thing. Alexander is more than that.”
Alexander extracted himself from Tim’s arms. “I have to go now.”
Pain shone in Tim’s eyes as he locked gazes with Alexander. “I understand.”
“Thank you for coming back for me.” He hugged Tim once more, and I could see Tim didn’t want to let go. “For what it’s worth, you’re going to be a better father than you know.”
Before Tim could respond, Alexander disappeared.
Tim turned a harsh glare at Sofia. “You allowed him to stay here, by himself, for over a hundred years? Worse, you let that son of a bitch torment him?”
“You forget, I’m dead too. I have no control over anything.”
His lip curled up, showing off his teeth. He was shaking, and the anger was rolling off him in waves. “Then why didn’t my mother help him?”
“Tim?”
He startled, his eyes wide. His gaze snapped to Sofia, and he held up his hands. “I’m sorry. I… I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for. I can sense the turbulent emotions in you, and I do understand.”
“Why am I so angry all the time?” He peered up at me. “Why am I so mad at Scotty?”
“I wish I had an easy answer for that. Your anger with Scott is justified. As his lock, you were made for him. When he disappeared, your life’s purpose went with him. All the feelings, the need to protect, the desire to love him? All that was turned dark by the pain in your heart. When the spirit entered you, he fed off that. You could say he nurtured it for his own benefit. Believe me when I say a lesser man would have succumbed already. The fact that you still fight is a testament to your strength.” She moved closer to me. “But no man can stay strong forever. When Scott came back, the spirit used all that pain inside you and channeled it at him.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means if the spirit weren’t inside you, you’d still feel the hurt, but you would move past it. Your love for Scott would outweigh the anger. Your desire to protect him would supersede the pain of the past. As Scott’s lock, you need control in every situation….” She let the words hang, but I got the gist. “And Scott will need that from you.”
“But I’d still love him?”
