I Need You
Odette woke up in fog. I groaned, “What is this?” I heard that eerie song tune, again. Sassy hissed in my head. I remained where I was assuring her, “Yeah, I’m not going to that song at all. Have no fear, it’s creepy.” The scenery changed. I didn’t like this one bit.
I didn’t say anything then Valdoma appeared before me again.
This time I didn’t scream at her, I studied her.
Valdoma smiled, “You are so entertaining. What an interesting mix you are.” I told her, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.
” The old woman laughed, “Ahh, I know that my dear.” I snorted, “I’m not your anything. ”
Valdoma came towards me causing me to back up.
She said, “You are my little project.” I raised an eyebrow, “How nice.” Valdoma laughed, “You are so like your father.” I gasped, “You know my dad?” The old woman shrugged, “I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard of him.
” I asked, “Who is he?” She smirked, “You’re closer than you’ll ever know.
” Valdoma pushed me and I fell backwards.
I woke up in a sweat on my bed. What the hell? I looked at the time and groaned. It was six in the morning. Immy wouldn’t be back from Sean’s for a few hours. So, I ran into my other room, opened my computer, and called Caspian.
I was surprised when Noxus appeared on the other end of my video chat. I greeted, “Umm, hi.” Noxus smiled, “Hello, Odette. Caspian is holding court so I’m on phone duty.” I snorted, “The mob has court? How fun.”
Noxus threw his head back and laughed, “The mob bit is hilarious. What’s wrong?” I asked, “Why does anything have to be wrong?” Noxus replied, “Your face is very expressive. My sons enjoy when you call just to talk, but I can tell something is wrong this time.”
I sighed, “I have dreams about this disturbing old lady. I’ve seen her twice now.” Noxus asked, “Who is she?” I shrugged, “I don’t know exactly. I know she’s creepy and her name is Valdoma.” Noxus instantly ordered, “Stay away from her.”
I told him, “I don’t want anything to do with her. Sadly, Valdoma finds me interesting. She said she knows my dad, and that I’m like him. Valdoma said I’m closer to him than I’ll ever know. Do you think she’s lying? Do you know her?”
Noxus explained, “I know of Valdoma, but I haven’t met her. I would imagine she does know who your father is. There’s always the chance the old hag could be lying. Valdoma’s reputation states that she likes messing with people.”
Noxus paused adding, “Her lies are rooted in truth though. She keeps things close enough to it that it could be the truth. She finds you interesting and wants you to keep coming to her however you are. I would imagine she’s told you enough truth to keep you interested.”
“Valdoma probably knows that you want to know who your father is. Which is a perfectly natural thing to want to know. Avoid that old hag if you can though. I can tell you with absolutely certainty Valdoma will never tell you who your father is.”
I looked down, “I don’t know why I see her in my dreams in the first place. You’re talking like it’s real, but that’s not possible.” Noxus offered, “Plenty of things were believed to be impossible that aren’t. People have been to the moon, and for a great long time that was impossible.”
I sighed, “I see people in my dreams and the conversations actually happen, that’s weird.” Noxus asked, “Do you really think that? Or are you programmed to think so?” I admitted, “I don’t know. My life lately has seemed more like one of my books I used to read.”
Noxus asked, “Oh? Which book?” I laughed, “A combination of them. Obviously, we’ve discussed the mob book. Then we’ve got the rabies wolves. In my books they’d be the enemies of the Werewolves around here, I guess. Gosh, I think they were called lone wolves or rogues.”
Noxus offered, “Rogues. Lone wolves are different.” I snorted, “Sure. Then I’m some sort of water monster.
” Noxus laughed, “No, you’re not.” I said, “I can breathe underwater, froze my boyfriend, and parts of his veins shimmered blue. Maybe I’m an alien.
I didn’t read those books though. I have a song in my head who has feelings.
I’ve heard a voice in my head before too. ”
Noxus quickly asked, “A voice? When?” I answered, “Huh? Oh, I was sixteen. The voice didn’t like Luke. That was the problem and…” I trailed off when someone knocked on my door. I looked at the time noting it would be Immy.
I asked, “How is it already a little before eight? That must be my friend, she’s early. She’s got a Montague, Capulet thing going with her boyfriend. She’s probably excited to get back to him. I’ll talk to you later.”
Noxus said, “Be sure that you do. Just a quick follow up question, do you still hear that voice?” I shook my head and tears filled my eyes. I whispered, “I miss her. That’s silly, right?” Noxus whispered, “It’s not silly at all. We will get everything figured out, ok?”
I shrugged. Noxus continued, “I’ll talk to Caspian. There’s nothing wrong with you. I want you to know that. Whatever Luke did, we’ll reverse it. Ok?” I wiped away tears, “Ok. I really shouldn’t want Tatum back, but I really do.”
Noxus asked, “Her name is Tatum?” I groaned, “Yes, and you should be telling me I’m crazy.” Noxus argued, “You are very far from crazy. Sometimes things cannot be explained rationally. Sometimes things are just magical.”
I smiled admitting, “I wish magic was real.” Noxus replied, “Magic is very real. How else do you explain that we all found each other?” He winked.
Before I could point out that was because I looked up Lux, another knock sounded.
I waved, “I’ll talk to you later. Thank you, Noxus.
” My should’ve been stepfather smiled, “Anytime.”
I closed the laptop and ran to the door.
Immy was waiting with a worried expression on her face.
My friend sighed in relief, “Thank god. I thought you were in one of your sleep coma’s.
” I snorted, “What?” Immy explained, “Uh we’ve knocked on your door a few times, and it took forever for you to answer. ”
I asked, “Are you early because you want to get back to Sean?” Immy answered, “Yes. So go relax and take a bath. I’m going to decorate.” Immy had a bag with her that obviously held the decorations. I shrugged admitting, “A bath sounds nice.”
I ended up relaxing for about thirty minutes. I stepped out of my bathroom in casual clothes quickly spotting the outfit Immy had laid out. I couldn’t help but laugh. My friend had gotten some pretty cute lingerie and a comfy, but super cute outfit.
I put it on and stepped out into my living area. I gasped, “You did all this in thirty minutes?” Immy asked, “Do you like it?” She had turned the entire place into an intimate, romantic, cozy setting for two. I grinned saying, “I love it.” Immy squealed, “Yay!”
I looked around, “I still can’t believe you did this in thirty minutes.
” Immy snorted, “It took seconds.” My friend was obviously exaggerating, but she was good at decorating.
Immy added, “Daddy Ted is an event planner with Keaton’s mom.
” I snorted, “Of course they are.” Because they owned the whole town, they obviously needed party planners in the family.
Immy chuckled, “I got the ingredients for everything you need to cook.” I gasped, “What? You did? Are you superwoman? How on earth did you have time to do all that?” Immy didn’t answer my questions, “Oh and I left a surprise in your bedside drawer. I’ll see you later.”
I hugged her, “You’re the best. Be careful when you leave, Ken is downstairs.” Immy laughed, “He won’t see me.” I liked her confidence. I offered, “I’ve gone down the back stairway to avoid him.” She smiled, “Thanks.”
I went into my room, then heard a loud pop and ran back out. I looked around, but nothing had made the sound. Immy was gone too. I went into the guest room, and the window was open. I ran over and looked out.
I didn’t see my friend anywhere though. I muttered, “Crazy girl, jumping out of the window. She must not be hurt though, or I’d see her.” I shrugged and started getting everything ready for dinner since I wanted to make everything from scratch. I threw my hair into a ponytail to get to work.
I had just put it into the oven when I heard my computer signaling a call coming in.
I moved in there and smiled when I saw who was calling.
I answered, “Hi, Caspian. I hear you had mob court earlier. The books will have to get right on that correction because they usually call them meetings, not court.”
My brother snorted, “I see. I’m still not in the mob. I called because I wanted to say Happy Valentine’s Day, little sister.” I nearly cried but managed not to. I whispered, “Happy Valentine’s Day, big brother.” Caspian smiled.
A woman entered the video frame and I recognized her instantly. I grinned greeting, “Hi, Serenity.” Serenity smiled, “Odette, thank you for answering. I’m sure Caspian would’ve been sullen for our plans the rest of the day had you not.”
I teased, “Well, we can’t have that. You look beautiful.
” Serenity smiled, “As do you. What are you doing today?” I answered, “I’m making my song boy dinner.
Despite his ex’s best efforts to have my song boy think he needs to fly me off to Italy for the day, I made our entire meal from scratch.
Lux used to….” I trailed off and looked down.
Caspian prompted, “Lux used to make you food?” I nodded, “He did. He got pretty good at cooking. His dad’s wife taught him, but he learned so he could cook for me. Lux would make enough so that when he was gone at his dad’s I’d still have food.”
I laughed remembering, “Lux showed me how to heat everything up in the microwave. He’d pull up a chair to the counter for me to stand on so we could cook together.
He even gave me little tasks to do. At the time, I thought I was such a big helper when in reality I probably made it ten times harder for him. ”