Chapter 10: The Absent Soul Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Story of A Girl


I awoke unaware of my surroundings. I wasn't sure if it was the next morning or if I had slept only a few hours. The sun was shining through the wooden planks of the building so I figured it was the morning after I had been kidnapped. I looked around and saw Chase, reading a book I recognized as the Book of Damnation. Chase was reading intently, looking almost peaceful. I looked around and saw that I was laying down in a pile of hay. I was in an old barn. At least, that's what it looked like. There were pitchforks hung on the wall opposite of me, and hay scattered across the ground. I looked around and saw that I wasn't being tied to anything. I was completely free. Maybe if I ran fast enough I could escape?

"Don't think about it." Chase creepy voice floated out, above his book. He hadn't stopped reading. So what, he can read my thoughts now too?

"Yes I can." He answered. I frowned. "You're brother should be here soon, to will away his powers to yours truly." Chase stood up, set his book on the floor, and walked over to me. "This will give us time to catch up." He smiled and took a seat next to me.

He was sitting too close to me. Way too close. I moved over a little, making the distance between us grow. "Don't worry, I'm not going to touch you like that." His voice was dangerously close to my ear. "I like my girls without the extra padding" he said, pinching my left thigh and laughing hysterically. Although that comment was said only on the intent of bothering me, I brushed it off. At least he wasn't going to touch me. This guy was insane. Truly and completely crazy.

It stayed quiet, Chase resumed reading the book, and I resumed back to my thoughts. I couldn't help but worry about Caleb. If I didn't have Caleb, the one person I truly felt loved me for me… Well, I wouldn't know what I'd do without him.

And Tyler. Would he ever know how I really felt about him? Will I ever get the chance to tell him how much I love him? I had a feeling in my stomach that something bad was about to happen. Robbie always told me to trust my instincts. And if she was right, which she normally was, then my stomach was foretelling my future. Something bad was going to happen to me or someone I loved. I just knew it.

"It looks like Mr. Save Us All is here to rescue his poor little baby sister." Chase's voice was cold and emotionless. He was looking out through the barn window, watching Caleb pull up to the front of the barn in his newer muscle car. I heard footsteps in the gravel and watched as my brother opened the barn door, just in time to be greeted by Chase's fist in his face.

I screamed and before I could run in between the two fighting boys or do anything else for that matter, everything faded to black.

My eyes fluttered open. It was dark and cold. I wasn't sure where I was, even if I was alive or not. I tried to sit up but I couldn't. I tried to scream but I couldn't. I heard voices. More than one voice. A bunch of male voices actually. And I felt my body, floating almost. As if someone was carrying me. I felt weightless. And then I fell back into a dreamless sleep.

--

"Adele, Adele, wake up" I heard a deep voice coming out from nowhere. I opened my eyes and squinted at the light. It looked as though the sun was setting in between the trees. Or rising. I couldn't tell if I was facing East or West.

"Adele, are you okay?" I looked over and saw Caleb, soaking wet, hovering above me. I sat up, slightly dizzy. My head hurt.

"Yeah, I think so." I was confused. "What happened?"

"Chase is gone." He said, lifting me up and carrying me over to his car. "We won't have to worry about him ever again."

Caleb set me in the passenger seat of his car and began driving. I looked out the window and my mouth dropped open. The Putnam Barn was burnt to a crisp. Nothing remained. I looked over at my brother.

"Caleb. What happened?" My voice was shaky. I was parched. All I wanted to do was to change into dry clothes and eat my way to sleep.

"It all happened so fast Adele." My brother was worried. Something was wrong.

"Just tell me Caleb." He was starting to make me worry.

"We started fighting. He was powerful. He kicked, he punched, he fought dirty. But something happened Adele, that I can't really explain. A bolt of lightening struck me and I was able to fight back. I was able to fight Chase with more power than you can imagine."

"But you haven't ascended yet."

"That's why I can't explain it." Caleb concentrated on the road as he pushed his foot forward and sped home.

--

My mother was standing on the porch as we drove by our house before pulling into the driveway. She ran over and I could tell she had been crying. I flung open the car door and ran into her arms. Weirdly, I never felt so safe in my entire life.

She pulled a hold of Caleb and the three of us stood there, hugging for what seemed like forever. "There's something I need to tell the two of you, but we've got visitors waiting to see you guys. I'll tell you after they leave."

I followed my mother inside and saw everyone waiting around the living room anxiously. Sarah, Ashleigh, Pogue, Reid, Gorman, a confused looking Robbie, and finally Tyler. I looked over at Caleb, who had noticed the missing body. We locked eyes and I knew that my Dad had willed away his power to Caleb.

"Oh my God, I'm so glad you guys are okay" Ashleigh ran over and hugged me, even though I was still soaking wet.

Sarah ran over to Caleb and pulled him close. She was sobbing. I saw my mom looked over at Gorman with a sad look on her face. My dad. My dad died to save my brother and I.

Reid came over and threw a large blanket over my shoulders. I thanked him and locked eyes with Tyler. Will I ever get the chance to tell him how much I love him?

I moved past Ashleigh and Reid, discarding the warm comfort the blanket had brought me. I broke the gap of distance between us while cupping his face in between my hands, and kissed him like I meant it. "I love you Tyler."

And I did. I really meant it.

--

That was the worst and best night of my life. The worst was learning that my father had died. After Chase had cornered Caleb and told him that he had me as a bargaining chip and wanted him to will him his powers, Caleb told my mom. When Caleb went to fight off Chase my mom ran to my dad, unsure of what else to do. My father willingly willed away his power to my brother, to save the both of us. He left a note, for my mother, to give to my brother and I. It read: I love you. The best night of my life was finally being able to tell Tyler that it was him that I've loved all along. I don't know if I could describe to you the feeling I had when Tyler told me he loved me too. It was as if Dove's shot out of my ass and Dream Weaver started playing in the background. It was a wonderful and sad night mixed into one.

My main concern, the next morning at breakfast, was Robbie's reaction to all of this. She stayed unusually silent thought the normal routine we had established. My mom would cook something healthy, we'd all eat it, and they'd make sure I didn't run off to the bathroom afterwards. I was starting to feel weird when I saw that no one was watching me eat. I guess I sort have grown accustomed to it.

Today was different anyways. It was the day of my father's funeral. Although the rest of Ipswich thought my dad was dead, we were holding his funeral in private, only allowing the people that knew he was alive to come. And the only people that knew were the four families with the powers. With the addition of Gorman, Robbie, Ashleigh, and Sarah.

Later in the morning we were having a priest come in to say a few words, in memorial for my father. Gorman had already buried my father in the burial plot, to which everyone thought he was already laying in peace at, the previous night. Caleb, Reid, Pogue, and Tyler were busy setting up the chair and tables around the backyard, all dressed in designer suits.

--

My mother and Robbie were busy making brunch and Sarah, Ashleigh, and I were up in my room getting ready. Sarah was wearing a long black sweater dress, Ashleigh was wearing a black button up top, with a long black pencil skirt, and I was wearing a black cocktail dress. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, getting dressed up for your father's funeral, but with my two best friends with me I felt like everything was going to be okay.

"You look really beautiful Adele" Sarah commented. I threw my hair up, in a tight bun, pushing my bangs to the side of my face.

"So do you guys" I said. I meant it too. Sarah looked amazing in her sweater dress with her hair all wavy and messy. Ashleigh was beautiful, with her caramel brown hair pulled into a low ponytail. She looked like the old Ashleigh I used to know. I smiled as the three of us made out way downstairs.

--

"Are you going to be okay?" Tyler looked over at me. His fingers intertwining with mine.

I smiled at him. "If you're with me, I'm going to be just fine."

"This probably isn't the best timing," Tyler looked like he was thinking about something, staring off into space, while still talking to me at the same time. "The Winter Formal is a month away and since we never got to go to the Fall Ball together, I thought maybe we could go to the Formal together."

I looked up at Tyler, and smiled. "I'd love to." I even knew which dress I was going to wear. It was the one that I had picked out for the Fall Ball.

"We are gathered here today," The priest began his speech. He was an older man, in his seventies, who looked a lot like Gorman. He wasn't very tall, a little taller than myself probably, and he slurred his words as he spoke. "to remember Edward William Danvers as a son, father, and friend." My eyes started to tear up, and Tyler squeezed my hand.

I looked over at studied my mother as she listened to the Priest give his speech. She looked dead. I could only imagine how she felt, knowing the man she loved was no longer alive. I shuddered at the thought of losing her, my brother, or Tyler for that matter. But I loved Tyler in a different way than how I loved my mom and brother. It was probably the same way my mother loved my father. Although… I would never cheat on my husband, with one of his close friends.

I looked over to the opposite side of the backyard and studied Mr. Simms. I could see the dark hair and the eyes that Tyler inherited. I wonder how it felt for him when Mrs. Simms died. She had been in a car accident when Tyler was only eight. No one really spoke of it. Turned out the other driver was drunk and at fault. I think that's why even Reid never let any of his friends drive drunk. They've seen what happens first hand.

Mr. Simms was an attractive man. I could see how my mother would be attracted to him. He was a few years past forty, at least. He had his own law firm, he owned half of Spencer's Academy, and he raised Tyler all by himself. No nannies, no help. I knew that Tyler was close to his dad. He never talked down about him, like Reid talked about his parents, or even how Caleb and I would talk about our mother.

I returned my gaze back on my mother, as tears fell from her eyes, and I watched as she wiped them away with a tissue paper. She was a beautiful woman. French and very persistent. I hoped that my dad's death wouldn't bring back her drinking habits. She was doing so well lately. It was nice to finally get to know the real her. And although she was stubborn at first, she really seemed to benefit after I got help. It was as if Robbie had some sort of influence over her or something.

I turned my gaze towards the petite Latino sitting next to my mother. Robbie was truly an amazing person. Even after being told that one of her patients had a father and brother that had inherited magical powers, she still seemed supportive. I knew this whole thing probably bothered her. She was after all a Doctor, and doctor's have degrees in science. But I knew that this bond I had with her, this sisterly bond, was the reason why she was holding up so well. Plus, I like to think she struck up a friendship with my mother. Sort of like the friendships that I shared with Ashleigh and Sarah. I trusted them both with my life. I had a feeling Robbie was going to be around awhile, and not just because of me.

I smiled.

"You okay?" I looked up at Tyler and noticed that everyone was moving towards the tables now.

"Yeah, I guess I zoned out," I chuckled.

"You have a tendency to do that." He teased.

We walked over to the tables, where my mother, Robbie, and Mrs. Garwin were serving food. Mrs. Garwin was a plump blonde, well past her 40's. She had had short curly blonde hair and peircing blue eyes. Pretty much she was Reid Garwin with tits and a big ass. Minus the beanie and fingerless gloves.

I grabbed a plate sitting on a side table, but Robbie stopped me.

"You're special today." She reached beside her and grabbed a plate already made. "I already made a plate for you." She smiled and handed it over. I handed Tyler the empty plate.

"Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. I love you Roberta Ruiz. I love you long time." I grabbed my brunch and practically skipped over to an empty table. What can I say? There's nothing more comforting than carbs!

"Here you go." Tyler sat a bottled water next to my plate and sat beside me.

"Thanks babe." I said as I shoved a mouth full of the delicious cheesy pasta I loved so much.

"Can we skip the nicknames?" He asked, politely.

"You don't like it when I call you babe, babe?" I teased him.

"It just reminds me of someone else." He laughed, taking a sip out of my bottled water.

"Any other girlfriends I should know about?" I nudged him playfully in the shoulder with my free hand. My other hand was busy scraping my plate.

"Oh shut up, there's no way you can eat all that and not work out! It's just not right!" I heard Robbie's loud voice from across my parent's backyard. And I'm not bragging when I say that it's a pretty big back yard. I'm just saying Robbie has a loud fucking voice.

I looked over and saw that Mr. Simms was laughing (with an unbelievable amount of food on his plate) along with Robbie.

"Here we go again." I heard Tyler mumble as he too devoured his plate.

"At least she's not married."