Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer, my OCs belong to me
This chapter is dedicated to Alphabloodwolf, Asherah Isa, M-Bianca94, Anonymous Guest, Fadewind and Noble
Leda
"Is it true Papa? Is Addie home?" I asked excitedly on the phone.
"Yes Leda, he is home." Papa confirmed.
"Then I can return home? You know I won't run off to Auntie Jane's. Lilly need no longer be my jailor." I stated feeling dizzy with elation.
"That is true." Papa conceded. "Very well, return when you see fit, but let me know when you set out. I'll meet you half way."
"I'll set out immediately and stay in line with the road." I replied.
"Keep your phone on you at all times so that we can co-ordinate our route." Papa instructed, although it was needless.
"Yes Papa." I replied, there was no sense in pointing out that I was unlikely to come to harm so deep within vegetarian country, especially on land protected by several great families, but he was my father, of course he worried, especially after I had, for want of a better phrase, run away. "I will give Lilly my love and then I will leave."
"Perhaps you should give your phone to Lilly and then I may confirm that you can return." Papa suggested.
"That would be a good idea." I said with a laugh as I went into the front room where Lilly was sat flicking through a magazine bored out of her mind with nothing to do. "Papa has something to tell you." I stated.
"You may return home." She guessed correctly.
I grinned widely as I nodded while handing the phone to her.
"Father?" She said, before nodding as she said yes several times, then gave the phone back to me.
"Leda?" He called and I put the phone to my ear. "Yes Papa?"
"I will leave immediately. I'll phone you in half an hour to ascertain your whereabouts."
"I will speak to you in short time. Bye, bye Papa." I said.
"Goodbye Elfleda." Papa said solemnly.
I hung up the phone and took up my backpack, which had remained packed for the entire two weeks I had been here.
"Thank you for being a sympathetic jailor." I said to Lilly before kissing her cheek. "Give Bob my thanks too."
"I will." Lilly said with a smile. "Be safe little sister, and as soon as you speak to Addie, I want all the details. You owe me." She winked.
"I shan't forget your kindness." I replied, hugging Lilly. "As soon as I make any headway with Addie you will be the first to know. Now I must go. The sooner I leave the sooner I will see Addie."
"Of course." She replied.
I left the house with Lilly watching me into the woods. As soon as I was within the trees I began running. I thrilled at the speed as I pushed myself once more, of course the excitement was different than the last time I had ran at this speed. Two weeks ago, after an excruciating week of waiting for news of Addie and he still had not been found I had begged Papa to let me return to the Ranch, there had to be something I could do to help. Papa had not allowed it, I packed my bags and that night I had ran away, my hope had been to run all the way to the Ranch, but my absence had been discovered not long after my departure.
My heart had been in my throat at the thought of my own nerve, but it would have been unbearable to sit around in Forks while my Addie was out there lost somewhere. I was certain that if I got to the Ranch there would be something I could do. I had known that I ran the risk of interception should I go near Olympic Pines, but I really had no other choice if I wished to ghost and avoid the sight of humans.
Of course if some members of my family did happen to try and stop me could I bring myself to use my gift on them? I would only have to incapacitate them long enough for me to get away. They would be in no danger. I had resolved myself to do so; I could beg forgiveness once Addie was found safe and well. However I was not counting on Murphy.
Murphy is one of my brother's current foster children, fully grown but one of those dhampir who hold on as long as possible to their childhood, but given the fact that his childhood had been spent inside a farm I didn't blame him for wanting to prolong it now he had a chance to be a child. That night however, he had been there to apprehend me and suddenly I found my powers rendered useless. Murphy was a rare one indeed, one with the ability to suppress the powers of others. It meant that the only way I could get past two of the only three siblings who treated me like a person would be to fight them, and I had no will to hurt my family. I had no choice but to submit to them and Murphy did not leave my side until Papa had my solemn vow that I would remain with Lilly until he saw fit for me to return home. I had promised him and I never broke a promise, everyone knew that of me, and so I was stuck.
Not that my time with Lilly had been entirely dire. I had covered several hours in the store for Bob and that had taken my mind off my worries for a while, and of course there were a number of dhampir I could visit with in Northern Heights. There were babies that needed taking care of, and I liked children. My family had seen fit to fill my time with many activities so that it was only at night I would have time to think of Addie, lying awake as I worried where he might be laying his head at night. If he even had that opportunity.
I did not sleep for the entire two weeks he was missing. I was only able to lay down my head and sleep soundly when I had confirmation from Seren that Addie had been found safe and well. I knew she would not lie to me, Seren might be good at sugar coating bad news, but regardless she would deliver it to you. Zoë on the other hand for all her rough, tough demeanour and tactlessness when it came to superficial things, tended to shy away from hard truths. I had been on tenterhooks the week since waiting for Addie's return home.
He was home, finally, and soon I would be home. I was determined to go down and meet him as soon as possible and we would go for a walk somewhere we could talk alone. No gimmicks or setting of the scene, merely Addie and I alone where I could tell him how I felt about him. It was the only way I could be sure.
Papa met me a lot further beyond the halfway point than I had anticipated, but then again he is a full vampire and I half, they are much faster than us. I will admit that I did feel a lot safer with my fearsome, former Volturi Papa running at my side. As safe as Washington State might be, it didn't hurt having a little extra protection in case of the unexpected.
It was near dark by the time we arrived home and even Kitty-Kat agreed with Papa that it was too late for me to go down to the Res. It was far better for me to eat a good meal, have a nice bath and settle into bed early. I would awaken refreshed and able to face Addie with a rational mind as opposed to being overly emotional due to tiredness. I had to concede that they had a point, so I ate supper, bathed and settled to sleep, dreaming of the perfect scenario to come out of my talk with Addie on the morrow.
I awoke early the next day and was showered and dressed by seven o'clock.
"I am going down to the Res now." I informed Papa and Kitty-Kat who were sitting in the kitchen while the latter ate her breakfast.
"Not yet." Papa said. "It is much too early to show up unannounced. Wait until eight o'clock and then ring Liza before you go down."
"But…"
"Leda, it's for the best." Kitty-Kat stated. "I doubt Addie will be awake yet. You know how teenage boys are."
"Addie is already up. He is always up by seven." I stated defiantly.
"Still, wait until eight o'clock. It's only polite." Papa said and I scowled slightly. "Besides, if you are going down to the Res it is only polite for you to give our guest a lift."
"Guest?" I asked, feeling surprised, I hadn't realised we had a visitor.
"Yes. Mischa."
"Mischa?" I said with a frown and then I seemed to recall something Seren had told me. "She is a human who was saved by Addie?" I hazarded.
"In a roundabout way." Papa agreed. "If it weren't for Addie I doubt Adrian would have located her."
"Who is Adrian?" I asked, for that name was not familiar.
"Mischa's father." Kitty-Kat replied. "He's a vampire. And he's staying here too, it's kinda why Mischa is staying here instead of with Liza and Mal."
"Why would she stay with them instead?" I asked with slight confusion.
"She's gotten close to Zoë." Kitty-Kat said with implications.
"I see. Very well I will be happy to give Mischa a lift. I hope she will be ready by eight however."
"We'll make sure she is." Kitty-Kat promised.
I nodded before I made my way out to the back garden and lay on the picnic table looking up at the cloudy sky as the light rain fell on my face, waiting out the hour.
At eight I returned to the house and phoned Auntie Liza.
"Leda, it's so nice to hear from you." Auntie Liza greeted me warmly.
"As it is to phone you Auntie Liza. May I come down for the day to hang out with Addie?"
"Of course. You're always welcome Leda. There's no need to phone ahead." Auntie Liza said with a chuckle.
"I know that usually, but it has been a while since my last visit so I thought it best not to turn up unannounced. Especially at such an early hour." I explained.
"You're very considerate." Auntie Liza replied. "I'll expect you within the next half hour."
"See you soon."
I hung up the phone and turned to find a girl standing behind me. She was human of course, with dark hair cut in a short boyish style. She smiled at me and leaned in close to me.
"You must be Leda." She said. "I really like your eye colour."
"Well…um…thank you." I stammered, what could one say to that?
"And your hair is a nice colour too. Your not how I pictured you from seeing your Mom and Dad." She rambled.
"Oh, well." I said with a shrug. "Are you ready to go down to the Res?"
"Of course." She said excitedly.
"Follow me please."
I said goodbye to Papa and Kitty-Kat before I led Mischa out to my car. I began the drive down to the Res.
"How long have you known Zoë?" Mischa asked.
"Since we were a year old. Papa took me away to live with Auntie Jane just before the twins were born. He was understandably upset at the time and wanted his twin sister." I replied.
"Why was he upset?" Mischa continued with her questioning.
"Because Mama had just died. When I was born she died. It happens with most dhampir." I explained.
"That's why you don't look like Alec or Kitty." She concluded.
"On the contrary, I look quite a bit like Papa, I just have different colourings. In fact my sister Clara, who has a different mother, I look much like her, but she is a blonde and I a am redhead."
"Cool." Mischa observed.
"May I ask, if it's not too personal, how are you human when your father is vampire?"
"He got turned after I was born. I was four at the time. But I don't want to go into that, it's all still raw." She said dourly.
"Then I won't mention it again." I promised.
"Thanks." She said with a grin.
We reached the Res at this point and I parked in the visitor's car park near First Beach since there was very little residential parking, especially around the main square where Auntie Liza and Uncle Mal lived. Mischa had gone on ahead as I locked up my car. As I moved along the seafront toward their house a young man passed me, tall and curly haired, I found myself looking after him in contemplation for he seemed very familiar. He moved on however and didn't glance back. I shrugged and continued on to Auntie Liza's house.
I knocked the door and entered without prompting, it was the way I had with Auntie Liza, her house was as good as mine, I could enter as I pleased. I was expecting to find Addie waiting for me, but there was only Seren and Auntie Liza present. Seren was helping Auntie Liza tidy up in the kitchen.
"Hi Leda." Seren said with a smile, I suppose she was trying to reassure me that she held me no ill will over what happened with Addie. After all, it wasn't my fault Auntie Jane had decided that Addie would make a good spy.
"Good morning." I said cheerfully.
"I'm afraid you just missed Addie." Auntie Liza informed me as she turned from her sink full of dishes. "He declared that he had business to attend to, although he wouldn't divulge what said business happens to be."
"Oh." I said, feeling suddenly devastated, I had been so looking forward to meeting with Addie, and now he was out. "Did he say when he would be back?"
"No." Auntie Liza replied.
"But you know what the wolves are like when they first phase, out running around on all fours whenever they get the chance." Seren replied.
"Of course he would want to explore every facet of his new form." I conceded. "Very well, I will call on Loki instead. I suppose we should practice a little, it has been well over a month since I last picked up my drumsticks. I have no idea if he has been practicing."
"We'll send Addie over when he comes back." Auntie Liza promised me.
"Thank you." I replied. "Although you are more than welcome to join us Seren."
"Nah, it's ok. I got some things to sort out for when I return to school. Time is running out on me since we spent so long down on the Ranch." She said, looking put upon.
"Well, if you need a break." I offered.
"Yes." Seren said with a nod.
I left Auntie Liza's house and made my way across the Res on foot toward Loki's house. He emerged as I approached the door and ran up to greet me.
"Leda, long time, no see." He said, taking me into a big bear hug.
I hugged him in return, feeling the warmth of friendship toward him.
"Sorry." I replied.
"Hey. No need to apologise." He said as he stepped out of the hug but put his arm around my shoulders as we began walking around his house to the little hut he had built with his father, which we used for practice. "So I heard you did a runner, but I didn't believe that. You're too much of a goody two shoes."
"Well I guess you don't know me as well as you think." I teased.
"So you really ran away?" He asked.
I waited a moment until we entered the hut and had sat on the sofa before I answered.
"Yes. Although I had a noble cause." I said firmly.
"Yeah?" He questioned.
"Yes." I assured him. "I intended to run to Wyoming and help as best I could in the search for Addie."
"Why run there?" Loki asked and I realised he meant why I was running, not why I was going to Wyoming.
"My father is a vampire and my stepmother a dhampir, do you honestly think I could leave in my car in the middle of the night without them hearing? It was better to sneak out on foot and put as much distance as I could between me and home before I was discovered gone."
"Ah see, that's why you goody two shoes shouldn't try underhand things without the help of the god of mischief." He said, indicating himself.
"You have a better suggestion?" I demanded.
"Yeah." He said with a shrug as if to ask why I would doubt him. "What you should have done is come see me. We could have hatched a plan. I would have drove out to the highway and picked you up along the way, that way we could have drove all the way to Wyoming and it would have been harder to intercept us if we're in a car."
"That is a point, however I didn't put much thought into it. I needed to go and help find Addie and I had to go there and then." I explained.
"Where have you been?" He asked.
"At the Stables with Lilly and Bob."
"That's not fair." Loki said, making a face.
"Why not?" I inquired, although I had a good idea why.
"That's my ancestral home and you got to stay there before me." He said with a playful pout.
I rolled my eyes as I shook my head while laughing.
"That's it. Next time you decide to run away you got to take me with you." He ordered.
"Or you could ask Lilly if you can stay overnight when you're staying at Tregarran." I pointed out.
"That wouldn't be right when I'm visiting Gran and Gramps." He said, dismissing the idea with a shake of his head.
"I suppose not." I conceded. "Very well, next time I decide to run away I will call you first."
"Great." Loki said with a grin, much similar to Addie's grin, it seemed to run in the family. "Of course…" You could just call out to me with your mind.
"Would you hear me over that distance?" I asked.
"It's worth a try. I mean, shout my name in your head, it's bound to snag somewhere since we spend a lot of time together. I've noticed that the people I'm round the most I can sense them further away."
"That is something I will bear in mind." I replied.
"How come you didn't come back?" Loki continued, and I realised these were questions he had been wondering over for a while.
"I was being held prisoner. Papa decided that Lilly could hold me better than him. Especially with Murphy nearby." I stated.
"Wow, he can stop powers?" Loki asked, getting that little titbit direct from my mind.
"Yes. And I wish he were here right now to stop you prying in my mind." I chastised.
"Oh come on Lee, ain't nothing there I haven't read before. Is there really anything new, I mean like embarrassing new?" He questioned.
"No." I agreed grudgingly.
"Then there's no problem if I read your mind." He said, unrepentant.
I shook my head before standing.
"Where are you going?" Loki asked in alarm.
"You're the mind reader." I said over my shoulder before I walked over to my drum kit. "I thought perhaps we should practice?"
"Well that be a good idea since we haven't practiced all summer." He said as he walked over to his keyboard.
"You haven't been practicing?" I asked as I tested my drums with light taps.
"Well I've been practicing, no one else has." Loki said with admonishing tones as he played a complicated tune on his keyboard.
"Well, when you're as talented as I, you need very little practice indeed." I quipped with a grin as I began beating the drums to count the tune he was playing.
"No arguments here." Loki replied as he started playing at random and soon we were jamming.
It was fun I must admit and I did not realise the four hours that flew by. I believe Loki and I would have carried on playing in this manner all day if it hadn't been for Lydia who burst in on us and laughed out loud when we both gave a start.
"Gee, anyone would swear you two were up to no good the way you jumped." She teased.
"With such perception one would swear you were a child." I said flatly, I know not why but Lydia and to some extent Astrid, had a manner that rubbed me the wrong way. Perhaps it was how they often fell into teasing that had a malicious edge, whether they intended it or not.
"What do you want?" Loki said flatly, angered as always by his sister's presence.
"Mom asked if you two are hungry. Grubs up." Lydia said with a shrug before disappearing.
"You hungry?" Loki asked.
I realised that I was, although the hunger had crept up on me.
"Yes." I replied.
"Then let's go grab some grub and we can bash out some more tunes."
"That would be nice." I said with a smile.
"Then let's go." Loki crowed as he jumped from behind his keyboard.
He paused in the middle of the room and held his hand out to me. I moved and took the offered hand before he led me out of the practice hut and around to his house. The scent of bacon and cheese hit me as we climbed the ramp to the door, and sure enough Grace had made bacon and cheese toasted sandwiches, and they smelled delicious.
Of course there was no room around the small family table in the small kitchen for all of us to sit down to eat, so Loki and I took our sandwiches along with a can of pop each out to the practice hut.
"After lunch can we go and see if Addie is home?" I asked.
"Yeah. The little guy's been slacking off all summer. Though he's not so little anymore." Loki said with a chuckle.
"He's not?" I asked.
"Well you heard he phased right?" Loki asked.
"I did." I confirmed.
"Well he's had the growth spurt that comes with it. Still not as tall as me though." Loki finished smugly.
"Does height really matter?" I asked.
"You tell me." He replied with a shrug and an impish grin.
I rolled my eyes and took an exaggerated bite of my sandwich to show that I wouldn't dignify such a remark with a response. He knew full well that I knew to what he referred, but I wasn't going to acknowledge it. Besides, I had no experience to give an honest answer.
Loki gave a snorting laugh before eating one of his own sandwiches in two bites.
Once we had both finished we took our plates back to the house and made our way across the Res. Again it was a case of knocking and entering when we reached Auntie Liza's house. Auntie Liza was in the living room with files and open books around her, she appeared to be preparing lessons for the new semester.
"Hello both." She said, looking up from her work. "I take it you're here for Addie?"
"Yeah. Where is he? He's been slacking in his band duty." Loki joked.
"Oh, he decided to go into Port Angeles. I did inform him that you were back, I assumed he had asked you along with him." Auntie Liza said with a slight frown. "Perhaps he needed some space to think, he has been through a lot."
"Yeah. Sure." Loki said. "Well tell him we called by and he'd better get his butt to practice tomorrow."
"Very well." Auntie Liza replied.
Loki and I left Auntie Liza's house and began wandering away. I had my arms folded as I shuffled my feet with my head down feeling rather disappointed by Addie's absence.
"So what do you say Lee? Fancy a trip to Port Angeles?" He asked, putting his arm around my shoulders again.
"Not particularly." I murmured, shaking my head slightly. "I doubt Papa would agree for me to go. I have to prove myself again."
"And you don't want to just go without telling him because it's not exactly renewing his faith in you."
"Yes." I confirmed.
"Then what do you wanna do? We could go practice some more, or I could come up to your house." He offered.
"I cannot leave yet. I gave Mischa a ride down, it would be wrong to leave her in the lurch." I stated.
"We could track her down, ask her if she wants to go up now or maybe Zoë could drop her up. I know those two would like to spend as much time together as they can." Loki said a little on the wary side.
"I do need to clean my room, it has been three weeks." I conceded.
"Cleaning? Really?" Loki complained.
"Well if you don't want to…" I said with a shrug.
"No no, I'll come help you with your chores. Someone has to keep you happy, no point letting you get morose." He said with a shrug.
"Can you locate Mischa?" I asked, since it would make searching all the easier.
Loki closed his eyes then moved his head around as if trying to locate a sound.
"She's this way." He said as he opened his eyes, then grabbed my hand and pulled me along behind him as he walked toward First Beach.
Mischa was there with Zoë; they were walking hand in hand along the shore talking with each other.
"Hey Misch, you ok if Leda heads home early?" Loki called when we were near them.
"What?" Mischa called back.
"Oh right, human." Loki said before rushing me up to Mischa. "I asked if it's ok for Leda to head home. We were gonna hang up at her house, but you need a ride and all."
"I can give you a lift home." Zoë said to Mischa before turning to Loki. "I can run you back down then."
"Thanks Cuz." Loki said, nudging her arm. "See you later."
I said goodbye too before Loki and I went back to his house so he could inform his mother that we were going up to my house. She said it was fine but reminded Loki that he was due to run that night and so would have to return by seven. Loki promised he would be back in time and we left his house to return to my car.
When we reached my house I informed Papa that we were here.
"Where's Mischa?" A vampire with curly dark hair almost demanded of me.
"She is staying down a while with Zoë who will give her a lift up here and then take Loki home." I replied.
"Ok. Well I hope she's not too long." Adrian grumbled while Papa motioned for me to go while I had the chance.
I led Loki up to my room at the top of the house. We stepped inside.
"This room needs cleaning?" He asked doubtfully.
"It may not be messy, but I do need to dust." I replied.
"Why don't you just relax some?" Loki asked as he slumped down onto my sofa.
"I suppose it would not hurt to do so." I conceded as I sat on my wicker chair. "How is your life going? Have you got a job yet?"
"Well Dad's still bugging me about applying at the factory, but carving is like my hobby, I don't want to make it boring by making it my career." He complained.
"Would it be so bad? It would only be temporary. Addie graduates at the end of this school year and we can attempt to make it big with our band." I assured him.
"I guess that's a point." He said, considering it from all angles.
"And you will have your own income. Would it not be nice to have your own money that you earned by your own means?"
"When you say it like that." Loki said as if he was truly considering my suggestion now. "But what about you, you're not exactly little miss workplace."
"I have been working." I said primly.
"Where? When?" He asked in disbelief.
"I covered a few hours for Bob. It was easy enough work. Even the early mornings didn't bother me. Perhaps I will apply for a store somewhere." I rambled slightly.
"Mags' place might still be going, don't know if that's been filled yet." He said.
"Magda has left her work?" I asked in surprise.
"Yeah. She's working down on the Ranch now, well she left yesterday."
"She is willing to work for Auntie Jane after what happened with Addie?" I asked in shock.
"Well the whole thing with Addie was a bit underhand, but Mags is a big girl. She can take care of herself. And she's not alone anyway. Her whole pack has gone. That's why I got to run tonight."
"It is a big step."
"Yeah." Loki said. "Kinda wish I was going with her."
"Oh no! Please don't! I would hate to think of you in such danger!" I implored, sitting next to him on the sofa.
"You'd miss me would you?" He asked, looking amused.
"Of course I would. Where else would we find a piano player as good as you?" I replied.
"Is that the only reason you'd miss me?" He asked, and it was the first time I had seen him look so serious and vulnerable.
"I would miss your presence. You're one of my best friends. Of course I would miss you." I replied earnestly.
He smiled once more.
"Glad to hear it." He said. "Don't worry, I got no plans of skipping town. I don't want the excitement of working for Jane. I just meant that I wish I was going with her to get away from Astrid and Lydia."
"Still doing your head in?" I asked.
"When are they ever not?" He said, rolling his eyes.
"Well think if you get a job and I get one, perhaps we can make enough money to rent an apartment in town while we wait for Addie to graduate. At least you won't be living in the same space as Lydia and Astrid."
"You'd really move in with me?" He asked, genuinely shocked by this.
"Well we would be sharing an apartment with separate rooms, but yes, I would." I clarified, careful as always not to fall into one of Loki's verbal traps.
"Do you promise?" He asked, holding up his little finger.
"As long as we both get jobs and it's financially viable without having to rely on handouts from our parents, then yes, I promise." I stated as I looped my little finger around his.
"Then it's a deal." Loki said with a grin.
I smiled in return before I stood.
"What music would you like to listen to?" I asked.
"Surprise me." Loki said with a shrug.
I went over to my music system and put on something really old. I felt like some Black Sabbath. I enjoyed the drumbeats.
"Cool." Loki said as he lay back on my sofa, tapping his foot to the beat.
I sat in my wicker chair, letting the music wash over me.
"When are you gonna look into that job?" Loki asked, pulling me out of the atmospheric "Black Sabbath".
"Tomorrow perhaps." I replied. "When will you apply at the factory?"
"I'll let Dad know tonight and take it from there." He stated.
"Ah, the wonders of nepotism." I teased.
"Well, exploit every advantage right?" He said with a grin.
I laughed.
"So how about I get you all caught up on the Res action and you can tell me everything that happened when you were down on the Ranch and when you more-or-less ran away."
"Sounds great."
Loki began reciting an entire month's worth of news and afterwards I did the same. It was half past six when I noted the time and that Zoë was yet to return.
"I can run you back down. Perhaps I should make sure Mischa returns with me this time." I concluded.
"And maybe Addie's back from Port Angeles." Loki added in teasing tones, knowing my main motive.
"Perhaps." I admitted.
"Come on then." He said, rolling his eyes.
I let Papa know that I was taking Loki back down to the Res and promised Adrian I would bring Mischa back with me. Once we had arrived on the Res Loki went bounding away in the hope of eating something quickly before he had to patrol the Res. I made my way to Auntie Liza's house once more and entered after the obligatory knock. They were all sat down to dinner, including Mischa. All the family were there apart from Addie. I didn't embarrass myself by asking after his presence once more. I merely stated that it was time for Mischa to return home with me.
Zoë was not happy with this development, but I was merely the messenger. Mischa was not as annoyed as Zoë, although she was quiet on the return trip. I didn't question her, I was certain she would confide in me if she felt the need, but I was a virtual stranger to be prying into her personal life.
The next day I returned to the Res, but Addie had already gone out for the day. I found it strange that he should be out two days in a row, but I didn't voice my concern. I contemplated going to call on Loki, but he would be asleep having run all night. I thought of my promise the day before and so I drove out to the superstore where Magda had previously worked and asked for an application form.
I took it back home and filled it in, although I didn't take it back immediately. I then cleaned my room as I had intended the day before. Loki appeared around one o'clock and I went out to the garden with him since it was a nice day.
"I did ask Addie if he wanted to come up, but he said he was busy." Loki explained.
"You spoke with him? Auntie Liza said he went out this morning and would be out all day." I said, feeling alarmed.
"Oh. Well I spoke to him before I went to sleep. I asked if he'd like to come up here if you didn't come down." Loki said, covering quickly.
"I see." I replied, frowning deeply.
"Hey, don't fret so much Lee, Addie is just adjusting back to normal life. You know how it is?" He attempted to comfort me.
"I suppose."
"Oh by the way, I talked to Dad, and he said he'll ask one of the Quills today, not sure which one there's so many of them." He chuckled. "Anyway, he'll let me know tonight what I have to do."
"That is good." I replied. "I went to pick up an application form today and I have already filled it in, but I will take it back tomorrow."
"You should take it back today. You can never seem too eager with an employer." Loki advised.
"I think I will wait until tomorrow however. I am contemplating whether I want to work there. What if I have an emergency?"
"Well it won't matter that much if you have to run out on a part time job right."
I nodded.
"Well think about it tonight and let me know tomorrow."
I nodded once more.
Loki stayed the entire day then returned home around nine.
For the entire week I did not see Addie, he always seemed to have gone somewhere whenever I went to call on him. I had even ensured he was there by asking Auntie Liza on one day, and she had confirmed he was there. He was already out by the time I got there.
I tried to distract myself by practicing with Loki, but really what was the point? We were only half the band. It was hopeless.
"Stop!" Loki yelled and I felt my arms stop short of bringing the sticks down on the cymbal and no matter how much I tried, I could not move them further. I realised that Loki had used his Alpha command on me and I looked up at him frowning deeply. How could he do such a thing to his friend?
"Sorry Lee, but you're driving me crazy with that banging. It's not rhythm, just noise. You're doing my head in." Loki said with an annoyance he only showed toward his middle sisters.
I felt annoyed with myself that I had caused this reaction in him, and then I felt upset and I could not help the sob that escaped me.
"What's this all about?" He asked, although I was certain he had some idea.
"You know what it's about." I muttered, dropping my arms and lowering my head so that my hair would cover my embarrassed face.
"Addie." He said, without even a second thought.
"I just don't know what's wrong with him." I said despondently.
"Well he's been through all kinds of shit the last couple of weeks." Loki said, clearly being diplomatic, Addie is his cousin after all.
"I know, but that doesn't mean he has to avoid me. Did I do something to upset him? Does he blame me for what Auntie Jane did? I wouldn't blame him if he did." I said in a rush, speaking the thoughts that had haunted me for a couple of days.
"He doesn't blame you. He's just being the big man like usual, you know suffering in silence. Just give him a few days…"
"It has been a week." I interjected.
"Ok. Well he hasn't really had any space to think. He's out on his own now thinking. When he comes back he'll be better." Loki said, and I realised he knew more than he was letting on.
"Perhaps he will even see me then." I said with a wry laugh.
"What?"
"Since he got back he has always managed to be conveniently out when I have called on him. Every time." I stated.
"I think that maybe he's just a little confused at the moment, I mean going through all that crap with the League and starting phasing at the same time can't be good, not to mention that it's clear he'll never be as tall as me." That was clearly meant to be a joke so I obliged him with a laugh. "Just give him time to mope away form the Res and maybe tomorrow he'll come call for you."
"I hope so." I whispered. "Because I am finding it harder than ever to get him out of my mind."
"Well he has bulked out over the last month." Loki observed.
"Please Loki, when has aesthetics ever been the draw for me?" I asked.
"Well you prefer pretty blue eyes." He said, and he fluttered his hazel eyes at me.
I laughed as I shook my head, my friend was so silly at times, but I found it endearing, not annoying in the least.
"I have always adored Addie's personality, the pretty package is merely an added bonus." I conceded.
"Especially now he's got all muscles." Loki said, as he flexed, making his own muscles stand out beneath his tight t-shirt and I rolled my eyes.
"I have complimented you on your muscle tone many times Loki, do you honestly need me to do so again?" I asked and he shrugged, he did make me feel better. "Thank you."
"What for?" He asked with surprise.
"For helping to cheer me up." I said brightly, but then I felt strange, as if I feared for my life and it was coming from the direction of the lake. I had to go there immediately, not even take my car, I would run there to ensure that Addie was safe. I could run faster than I would be allowed to drive. "I have to…" I muttered as I left the hut.
Loki followed me, but I could not have him follow me in this instance. I had no idea why, merely that he had to stay put. He could not come with me despite the emergency I felt.
"You need to practice, your scales have become atrocious and you were losing your place the other day when we picked up the tempo." I muttered, thinking up an excuse.
"But…" He protested.
"Practice." I ordered before I was ghosting through the trees as fast as I could toward the hidden Quileute Lake.
I arrived there near to Olwen's house and I approached the house. Addie was not there, but his clothes were folded neatly on a rock. I heard a splash and realised he was swimming. He would not hear me if I called out to him mentally or orally, I would have to wait for him to surface…
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Gemma x