Chapter 8
Kate
One month later…
I look at the clock and realize that I have an hour before I head out for lunch, something I haven’t missed since Zera left. That's how I say it in my mind, since Zera left. As if he went on a trip and is going to come back at any moment.
The ringing of the bell above the brand new shop doors takes me out of my reverie. A tall, striking blonde woman in hiking clothes comes into the store, spots me, and makes a beeline for the counter.
“Hi! I’m new here, I’m in town for research, and I’m looking for some very specific books about the area.
” She takes her phone out of her bag, turning it to me so I can see the screen.
“We’re doing research on this system of caves here.
” She points to the park near the bookstore.
“Do you have anything in this area? History? Maps?”
My heart flutters in my chest. This is the park Zera and I went to, the day everything changed, when my heart started to think that I could actually let someone in, even if he was a demon.
I realize I have been standing there looking at the woman’s phone for an awkward minute.
I scrunch my face up in mock concentration so she doesn’t think I’m zoning out.
“Um, yeah, actually, I think we might have some books on the area. I know our owner is really into the history of Coldwater Springs, so she usually keeps a pretty good inventory. Let’s start off in the Geography section, and then take a look at the History section.”
The woman flashes me a wide smile. “That’s fantastic, I really appreciate the help, otherwise I’d be searching for hours! We’re leaving for the project in a few days.” She stops and holds her hand out to me. “I’m Lena, by the way, Dr. Magdelena Vance.”
We shake hands. “It’s nice to meet you Lena. I’d love to help. I didn’t know Montana State did research all the way out here.” We stop at the Geography section, and I bend down to hunt for the books I know are here with the detailed maps of the area.
“Oh no, the project is with the Oregon Institute of Geological Sciences. I’m a Hydrogeologist.” She has a habit of bouncing on her toes as she talks. There is a light in her eye as she explains her work.
I hand her a few books. “That sounds amazing. So, you study caves?” I walk us over to the History section next.
“Yup, caves, rivers, streams, caverns, basically anywhere that water moves. A lot of us work with construction companies, but I chose research.”
“Well, I wish you luck. Don’t get lost in those caves; we don’t have a lot of books in that area for a reason. Kids keep trying to sneak in, and then they get lost, so everyone just steers clear. It would be cool to know what is going on under there, though.”
I see Merna come in through the back door and wave her over. “This is Merna, she’ll get you all settled at the counter, unless you want to look around for a few more minutes on your own?”
Lena looks around and spots our Romance section. “Merna, I’ll be over here looking for a handsome man on a cover to get me through this project!” She says with a laugh, before sauntering off.
“How’re you holding up?” Merna’s eyes are always searching my face lately, as though she can sense my heartbreak. She probably can.
“I’m okay. I’m doing the meditation you taught me, practicing reaching out with my senses, to see if he is there.” My eyes are misting over. “I haven’t felt anything yet.”
“It’s okay. It can take a while to tap into your gifts. And you’re grieving, that always puts a damper on things.”
“You say that like he died,” I speak to the floor. I can’t look Merna in the eye and see the dreaded look of certainty on her face, but instead, she finds my gaze.
“That is not what I am saying at all. I’m saying you’re grieving him being ripped away from you before you two were ready. You thought you had a month, and you probably thought you’d figure out whatever these feelings were in that time. But Travis stole that from you. Right?”
I nod. She’s right. In the end, Zera was gone in a blink, and Travis walked away with a bullet in his shoulder, and I was left with all these feelings with nowhere to put them.
Merna pats me on the shoulder. “It’s noon. Go upstairs. Eat a hot meal. Call Clara and cry with her on the phone. Then do some meditation. Take a nice long lunch, I've got things down here. Okay?”
“Thanks, Merna.” I hesitate and then pull her in for a hug.
The day that I told Luc that I needed help and that Merna was the perfect candidate was one of the highlights of my career.
I was so proud of speaking up and stating, in a diplomatic way, that while the store could run with one person, it really needed two. Luc has agreed right away.
I break away and see Lena at the counter, a stack of books in front of her. “Looks like Dr. Lena is ready for you, Merna. Maybe you can suggest a few novels for her?” I lift my eyebrow suggestively.
“You know it!” Merna winks, heading over to the counter.
I slip out the back door and trudge up the stairs.
My body feels heavy with each step, folding in on itself.
I know what’s waiting for me inside. Nothing.
No one. I pause halfway up, leaning on the railing, the tears I keep back day after day since he left overflow at lunch like clockwork.
I cannot understand this heartbreak. We were together for not even a week, and his absence is a wound to my soul.
Using the end of my sleeve, I wipe away my tears and snot. Ugh, I’m such a mess. My feet are heavy bricks with the last few steps, and I pause at the door, take a deep breath, and open it.
The smell of ozone, rosemary, and mint hits me in the face, and I look up to see him, apron tied around his waist like he never left.
“Hungry, my Kate?”
???
AFTER LUNCH AND MY copious crying, we sit on the couch together. Zera wraps me into his wings, my thighs pressed close to his body. I can’t stop touching him, afraid he might disappear at any moment.
“Your horns are gone,” I exclaim.
“I am no longer grigori, thanks to you.” A smile lingers on his soft lips.
I sit up straighter. “Why did it take you a month to come back? I was reaching out with my, my…magic and -” I roll my eyes. I still can’t believe I was a witch after all. “I felt nothing. I thought you were dead.” Misery is evident in my voice.
“See? I knew you had power. Only a witch can summon a demon.”
“Grigori.” I correct. “So, what does that mean?”
His finger caresses my face. “It means I am here, now, with you.”
I catch his hand in mine. “For how long?” My breath catches in my throat.
“For forever, if you will accept me. I fought hard to get back to you. I had to heal, and then I had to fight for us. They did not want to allow me to cross back.” His dark black eyes are shiny as he speaks.
“Who is this ‘they’? Who are they to say where you go?” I gesture at the sky, as though we are being watched.
Zera only chuckles at my anger. “I told them I love you. That you saved me.” His stare is intense, watching me as I react to his words.
Love. The idea of someone being there, to care for me, for our lives to grow and change together.
I never thought it would happen to me, and here it was, from the unlikeliest of places.
Do I love him? I think back to the moment he was gone, the floor empty with nothing but his blood, the way my heart tore into a million pieces the minute I could no longer sense his comforting presence.
I take his face in both my hands, pressing our foreheads together. “I love you. Stay with me.”
“Forever,” he replies, our energy entwining together.