An: NymhadoraTonks: Rose will be explained in this chapter. She's just very conflicted because she's spent so much time alone and she's noticing that Everett could end up like her easily, and she doesn't want that to happen. Yes, Evie would have mirrors in her house because she doesn't have all the trauma from the magic in the mirror. More will be explained in the future. But she hasn't pierced her eyes to Everett's because she simply believes it's impossible.
Everett is in a strange state of mind. He'll start to come out of it but his experience from the last chapter will stay with him for a long time. You'll understand more as you read.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
The next day, Everett gathered his practice stuff. It had been over a week since he had gone to practice. He was planning to go later, he had nothing better to do. He strung his duffle bag over his shoulder and put his art stuff inside the bag at the bottom. Not to his surprise, Jane was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. Charlotte was sitting at the table, her hair in loose curls. Carlos sat next to her, reading the paper.
"Where are you going?" Jane raised a brow. Everett stopped in front of her.
"I'm going to practice early with Noah. So I can get a little extra conditioning."
Jane looked unconvinced as she reached forward and unzipped his duffle bag. Everett was glad he put his art stuff in the bottom. When she saw his practice gear, she closed it immediately. "You're going to wash those when you come home."
"Okay," Everett was going to walk past her, but she cleared her throat. "Yes?"
"Have a good time," Jane put on a small grin and reached for him. Everett flinched back before realizing she was trying to hug him. He stiffly let her put her arms around him. He didn't hug her back but met Charlotte's gaze as she watched what had unfolded. For once, Everett had completely understood what she felt, and why he had to do next.
After eating a light breakfast, he took his bike out of the wall and rode all the way to Evie's. He didn't bother looking up at the castle where he knew Lorelai would be getting ready to go to her magic lesson with Rose. He wondered what she was feeling now, and why she had left him at the Enchanted Lake. He didn't want to think about Lorelai right now, but that was all he could dream about last night.
He had had another vision. This was an older one from when they had first become close friends. Before then, Lorelai had been a casual acquaintance in Everett's lonely life. He had just turned thirteen, and they had a small party in the yard at Evie's house. It was a fun celebration for the adults, but Everett had felt he hadn't belonged. He was too old to play with the young kids but was too young to talk with the adults.
Once the gifts had concluded, he snuck away to the backyard while the adults and younger children danced to the music. Everett climbed up the treehouse. Back then, it was a simple treehouse instead of Charlotte's workshop. It was a place for him to come and get away from everything. There was always a calm soothing atmosphere around it. But when he got to the door, he heard muttering.
"Oh, come on, Lorelai," her voice was encouraging. "You can do this. Just go down there and give him your gift. If anything, he'll smile and say thanks. Deep breaths, Lorelai. Deep breaths." She did as she instructed herself. Everett lightly pushed the door open, seeing her back to him. "Okay, let's go."
She then turned, only to bump right into Everett. "Everett!" the young girl put a hand on her heart. She was almost as tall as him. Everett wouldn't have his growth spurt for another few months, then Lorelai would catch up once she turned thirteen herself.
"Hey, Lorelai," Everett scratched the back of his neck as Lorelai tucked something behind her back. "What are you doing up here?"
"Oh, uh—Well..." Lorelai looked down at the floor before holding out the gift to him. Everett reached forward. Their fingers grazed each other as he took the gift from her. He opened the top of the small box to find socks. They had little cakes printed on them. Lorelai kept her eyes on the floor. "I thought maybe you could wear them for your birthday next year. They could be for good luck. I know it's dumb but—"
"These are great," Everett slid off his shoes and put his new birthday socks over his plain white ones. "I love them. Thank you, Lori."
At the sound of her nickname, Lorelai's eyes turned up to him. "What are you doing up here anyway?"
In truth, Everett didn't really know. A new song had begun to play. He suddenly extended his hand. "To ask if you would like to dance."
Lorelai's cheeks turned pink. She looked at the floor again. "Uh...sure."
Everett took her smaller hand in his. Then, when he pulled her in by the wait, she gazed up at him. They stared at each other for a moment, but then Everett twirled her. She laughed as they twisted and turned to the soft music outside. Sharing many laughs and giggles, Everett realized that Lorelai had meant much more to him than ever before. For the first time in his life, he understood what true friendship meant.
The burn in Everett's heart had returned after he had woke up from that dream. It still smoldered as he parked his bike in Evie's grassy driveway. He tried his best to ignore it as he went up to the door and knocked. He waited about a full minute before Evie opened the door. Everett tried to put a smile on his face, but it quickly faded away. "What do you want?"
"What do you mean?" Everett held up his sketchbook. "We had a deal."
"You shouldn't be here."
"I know."
"Where's the girl?"
"What girl?"
"Mal's daughter. Where is she?"
"I...don't know. Why does that matter?"
"If I'm surrounded by the royal guard I would like to know."
"What?! No. I gave you my word I wouldn't tell anyone about this. Lorelai would never tell."
"You have too much trust in her. She is dangerous."
"No she isn't," Everett shook his head. "She is learning to control her magic."
"I wasn't talking about her magic."
The burn began to spark in his chest. He understood, and he tilted his gaze to the ground. "I know."
There was a pause before the door opened for him. "Come on." Everett looked up in shock, then smiled widely. Evie returned a small grin.
Lorelai threw another ball of magic. "Focus, Lorelai," Rose instructed. "The targets are only goals." She had been struggling over the last few days, Lorelai knew that, but she was determined to get through it.
"I'm trying," Lorelai threw another. The ball of fire extinguished as soon as it flew from her hand.
"Stop focusing on the target and think of what you're feeling."
"I'm feeling fine," Lorelai gritted her teeth. She knew she was lying to herself, but how else could she get through this? She threw another ball, it dropped to the floor.
"No, you're not," Rose raised her voice.
"Of course I'm not!" Lorelai snapped. A wave of magic shot from her. As soon as it left her body, Lorelai fell to the floor. She watched helplessly as Rose waved her hands around in a circle, guiding the magic before completely destroying it. Lorelai sighed and tried to get back up, but her legs felt weak. Scales scampered down from the throne and came to her. She scratched the cat's head as it purred.
"Okay," Rose took in a deep breath before sitting down. "What's going on?"
"Like you care," Lorelai grumbled.
"I do if my castle is at stake," Rose crossed her legs. "I have a feeling this goes along with Everett's absence."
Lorelai bit her lip. She didn't want to cry again, she did enough of that the other night. She really didn't know what had triggered it. Perhaps it was the fact that she had loved Everett in the other life or maybe it was his reaction to it.
"You don't have to protect me. You're not my girlfriend."
Those words had oddly stung her in a way that she hadn't expected. It took the long walk home and up to her room to finally realize why they had. Her mind had replayed every memory she had ever had of Everett. Every glance, every grin, and every touch. She had been slowly but surely falling in love with him, and he felt much different. He didn't want things to change. He didn't want her the way she wanted him.
Lorelai wasn't ready to admit her embarrassment out loud, so she told a half-truth. "We agreed to go out separate ways."
"What?" Rose raised a brow.
"He doesn't need me right now," Lorelai shook her head. "And I don't need him. We're just distractions from what's both need to focus on."
"No," Rose stood back up and kept muttering, "No. No. No."
"What?"
"You left him alone?"
"No, not exactly," Lorelai stood up then wobbled. "Why are you so worried about this?"
"Because this isn't how it's supposed to go," Rose shook her head. "Two rose petals fell last night as had two more a few nights ago. I was wondering why the time was short."
"What are you saying?"
"I think he was meant to fix more than his parents," Rose put her hands on her hips. "But, the more people he loses, the less time he has. He's giving in by giving up on people."
"That's crazy."
"Is it?! Then why was the last vision about you?"
"Because..." Lorelai bit her lip. She looked down at the bright green cat eyes staring back up at her. "Because he told me I was in love with him in the past life."
There was a long silence. "So?"
Lorelai looked up, shocked by Rose's response. "What do you mean so?"
Rose widened her eyes. "Oh, you're serious?"
"Of course I'm serious. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well," Rose shrugged. "I kinda thought that wouldn't be a surprise to you."
"What does that mean?"
"Now you're just acting like Everett," Rose grumbled.
"Huh?"
Rose rubbed her temples. "You know, how he acts like your friend but you're both secretly falling for each other? It's actually quite common in books and stories. Not typical fairytale stuff where you get married to the guy you barely know because it's 'true love' and that crap."
Lorelai had never thought of it that way. "You think Everett's in love with me?"
"If I know him the way I think I know him, then yes."
She felt slightly better, but that pleasure of hope quickly turned sour. "But he said that he got mad at me for protecting him. He thought the gift that I apparently gave him was from another girl and—"
"That was before he was sent into another world where you didn't like him at all," Rose cut her off. "What was your first impression of him?"
Lorelai thought about when she first saw Everett. It was obvious he was different than she had remembered. "Strange and a little pushy."
"And now?"
She suddenly saw Everett's caring eyes as he tried to make her understand. Everett's hand tilting her chin up in the dark. The two walking through the woods. Their friendly banter. The time in the garden. She heard the beating of his heart while he held her close to his chest as the lightning roared behind them. She recalled every touch, every glance, every...feeling.
"I'm not sure," Lorelai whispered. "It's just he's not like anyone I've ever met before. He doesn't look at me for a monster like everyone else. When I'm with him I feel..."
"Accepted."
Lorelai suddenly noticed Rose's expression. It was longing for something that seemed like a distant dream. "Have you ever been in love?" Lorelai found herself asking, snapping Rose back into real-time.
"No," Rose shook her head. "But I know that feeling. You could do almost anything and that person would still think you're the most amazing thing in the world."
"Was that my father?"
Rose flinched slightly at the mention of Ben, but she then shook her head. "There was another. Someone who was hopelessly in love with me. I found it annoying, but I think he was the one that knew the most about me. The real me. There weren't any secrets. He knew it all but...I sent him away."
Lorelai recalled the vision from the garden. "Simon."
"Yes," Rose nodded. "I think you and Evertt's speculations were right. If I were to go back, he would still have feelings for me."
"Then why don't you go back? If you want to be happy—"
"My happiness is here."
"Alone?"
"It used to be," Rose shrugged. "That was until you and that boy came barging in."
"What is your deal? You chased Everett out of here but also want to keep hold of him? It doesn't make any sense. Why do you care so much about him?"
"Because he is like me," Rose said calmly. Lorelai stared at her. "Before you ask why, I'll tell you. Everett is like me because he is opening his eyes to the world around him. He's scared, confused, and lonely. Just as I was when I left that night."
"It doesn't explain why you're acting strange."
Rose took in a deep breath. "I don't want it to happen again. I've been trying to keep a close eye on him because I don't want what happened to me to happen to him. Everett is on a downward spiral. Without you, he'll give up. But you don't realize the power you have when it comes to his emotions. You're his...his Ben."
A tear had rolled down Rose's cheek. Lorelai felt her stomach drop. It all made sense now. "Why couldn't he save you that night?" Lorelai asked quietly.
Rose stiffened and wiped her tear away. "Because it was far too late for me. I was too deep in secrets and lies. Too far gone from the girl my brother had really loved. I couldn't keep him wrapped in the lies. I didn't want him to suffer because of me."
"I don't think that's true," Lorelai shook her head. "I know he misses you. I didn't notice it before, but I notice it now. He still loves you and would want you to come back home."
"I think it's best for you to go home and get some rest." Rose became cold again. Lorelai knew better than to fight her. They had broken down some barriers today. And for today that would be enough.
"Conroy," Evie asked him in the middle of the drawing lesson. They had become quite comfortable with each other over the last few days. Everett had not asked her a single question about her past, only drawing techniques. It had worked out quite well for a distraction from the pain of Lorelai's absence.
"Yes?" Everett looked up from his latest drawing. He had tried to draw Charlotte. It wasn't his best work, but his skills were starting to come back when it came to clothing.
"Is there a reason you came here?"
"I told you I wanted you to teach me how to draw," he answered simply.
"No," Evie shook her head. "Something else...Is everything okay at...home?"
Everett felt that was a silly question. Technically, this was his home. Here he felt safe. But, Everett forced a smile on his face as he talked about the place he dreaded most. "Yeah, it's all good."
"Oh, okay," Evie turned back to her drawing, so Everett did the same. She then stopped. "Careful, you could get the charcoal on your sleeve." Before Everett could react, Evie helped him push up his sleeve to reveal the bruises he had attained recently. Evie stopped when she saw them. Hesitantly, Everett met her concerned gaze.
Everett grumbled as he pulled the fabric back over his skin, "Tourney practice." He went back to his drawing, but he could Evie staring at him.
"Your mother?" Evie asked. Everett nodded his head slightly but continued to draw. Evie cleared her throat. "I should've warned Carlos before I left."
This made Everett stop. "Warn?"
"Jane was very sweet in high school," Evie started to say but then she grimaced. "She was very...critical of herself and her image. That had manifested before we had even come to the Isle."
"Why do you know so much about her?
Evie's eyes were glossed with recollection. Her hand went up to her cheek. There was a faded scar there. "Some things are just easy enough to tell. Not much had changed since I left."
"She hit you too?" Everett asked, noticing the scar.
"Only once, but it was enough for me to tell there was something terribly wrong. At least she had not made you bleed."
"Not where you can see."
Evie's expression softened. "Does Carlos know?"
"I'm...not sure," Everett admitted.
Evie shut her eyes and shook her head. "I had told them to leave while they could."
"What?"
"It was why I left," Evie admitted. "I knew where this was headed. When they announced they were going to close the barrier for good I knew the peace wasn't going to last long. We had been fighting for too long without an outcome."
"He said you betrayed him."
Evie bit her lip. "In ways, I did. All four of us said that we were going to stay together, but things just got too...complicated."
"I understand the feeling," Everett sympathized. Evie looked at him with warm eyes.
"You're a lot like him, but nothing like Jane. How can that be?"
Everett wished he could tell her, but instead he simply grinned. "Sometimes reality is crazier than imagined." Evie returned the grin, and Everett felt some of his guilt subside for him to enjoy this moment.
The boy's breath quickened as his heart raced so fast he wasn't sure if it would beat after tonight. He couldn't control the surges. He couldn't control anything. His mind had been racing for days now. How could he be shut away like this? She had given up on him as everyone else had. Fear of himself and his magic had consumed him. Couldn't someone save him?
He remembered the voices of his father. His mother. Both pained with concern for him, but they had not witnessed him like this. This was something new. This was dark and fast. A voice called in his mind.
Take revenge.
Revenge? On who? Why was this voice in his head? He had never heard it before.
"He is much too dangerous to be out and about. Ben, you must keep him inside until you can trust him not to destroy everything."
That voice had been familiar. It was her mother's.
Take revenge on the girl's keeper. She is the one who is holding you here.
"No!" he heard his voice call out. Just like every other night, the surge passed quickly, leaving the boy shaking with tears in his eyes.
