35. Erin
Chapter thirty-five
Erin
It was like déjà vu. I awoke to eardrum-shattering snoring, only to realize it was Seth.
And I was laying in his bed. Again.
I panicked and threw the blankets off of me, terrified to find what might be underneath, considering the situation. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found myself in the same clothes as the night before, my black skinny jeans and long sleeve from training. I was just minus a hoodie and shoes. No panties or bra missing. I glanced over to see Seth still passed out, fully clothed and snoring like a motherfucker.
I nudged him and whispered, “Seth. Seth! Wake up,” he grumbled and turned on his side to where his back was facing me. I nudged him with my foot. “Dude.” I hissed. He responded with a groan. I huffed, frustrated and needed answers. I swatted the back of his head.
“Ugh, what? What’s the emergency, can’t a guy get some shut eye?” he grumbled.
“Seth!” I growled.
He flopped over, facing me, his eyes squinted, and glared at me. “What?”
“Did we sleep together?”
He blinked at me, processing. Then groaned and rolled back over. “No, Rin. You’d know if we slept together.” He began snoring again within seconds.
I blew out a sigh of relief. “Thank fuck,” I whispered under my breath. The thundering in my chest slowed.
I slid out of Seth’s bed and crept to his door, slowly cracking it open. It creaked and I winced, looking over my shoulder to see if he was still asleep. He snored in response. I tiptoed my way out to the kitchen and scavenged through the pantry for the coffee grounds before dumping them in the coffee machine, set to strong brew. I might not get hangovers, but Seth sure as hell did.
While it brewed, I padded to the guest room and grabbed my laptop, determined to knock out some of my schoolwork revolving around Jensin’s class. I pulled the notes up from the online course and browsed. I scrolled through pages upon pages, finding nothing worthwhile.
I gave up and clicked out of the notes. I pulled up my search engine and typed in Lady Leonora, not much hope lingered. “Where did Jensin even get this stuff from?” I mumbled.
The coffee beeped, signaling that it was done brewing. I poured myself a cup, adding in more creamer and sugar than was necessary, and stirred it as I scanned an article that had been published a few years prior, which delved into who this Lady Leonora was. I sipped from my mug.
Lady Leonora, the woman who saved her kingdom. Humanity.
“Well that sounds a bit dramatic.” I read on.
I stopped halfway through the article. “Wait a minute.” I set my mug down on the island and leaned closer to my laptop. Rereading the excerpt in front of me.
She was thought to be the answer. The one destined to rule them all. To wreak havoc. Her power emanated from her. Fire, light, ice, water, and the Earth. The elements bowed to her, and were hers to wield.
The darkness threatened to take her. To use her to reign. To overtake the world as it was known.
In her dying breath, she vowed to protect humanity. In all her power. She would live on. The innocent would be protected. The darkness would not prevail. She whispered a promise to her beloved on her dying breath, a sword thrust between her breasts, her blood oozing from the wound. Flooding her gown.
She was the key to their undoing. And with her, the secret to how they would survive, died.
“Holy. Fucking. Shit.”
I bounced on the balls of my feet. I’d grabbed eggs and pancake mix and set about making a large batch of breakfast. While I let the pancakes cook through, I sent out a mass text, asking Libby and Derik to come over. Even Josh.
The only one I’d heard from was Libby saying she’d be at Seth’s within fifteen minutes. Nothing came through from the guys and Seth was still hunkered down in his room, passed the fuck out.
I flipped the last stack of pancakes and eggs onto the serving plate when Libby walked in.
“Good morning!” she said, chipper as ever, a smile graced her lips, spreading from cheek to cheek. She inhaled the aroma wafting from the kitchen. “Oh! You made breakfast! It smells amazing, Erin!”
“Yeap!” I attempted to keep the anxiety from my voice as she padded to the kitchen, sliding into one of the stools at the island.
She leaned her elbows on the counter, her white tank top perfectly accentuated her toned, tanned arms. She flipped her blonde bob to the side, waving her bangs away from her eyes as they glistened in the natural light flowing in from the massive windows that rested above the kitchen cabinets behind me.
“So, Erin, what’s up?” Libby flashed me a smile, unaware of the information dump that was about to be plopped in her lap.
I set a plate of eggs and pancakes in front of her and passed her the syrup. She eyed me as she sliced and bit into her food. Curiosity danced within the emeralds of her face.
“I, uh. I might have a lead.”
Libby’s eyebrows shot sky high. Her fork dropped from her grip. “What!?”
“You can see memories too, right?”
Libby nodded, her mouth hanging open.
“If I give you my hand, can you sort through what I saw and found? Is that okay?” I asked, my voice growing a bit shaky in anticipation. Libby nodded and I held my hand out for her to take, letting her reach forward.
Her hand gripped mine and her pupils dilated, turning a light grey, the irises a pure white. Her shoulders jolted but she held firm. I searched her face, looking for any signs of pain or concern. Libby’s lips strewn tight, a shade of blue tinged her lips. “Libby?” I called her name. Another minute passed and her head was thrown back on her shoulders. “Libby!” I hissed and leaped over the island, catching her before she toppled backward onto the hardwood. I was able to get myself underneath her in time and we landed with a loud thud on the ground.
Libby’s shoulders shook, as she regained her focus, her eyes returned to their usual bright green.
“Are you okay!? I thought you said the visions with other people weren’t as harsh?” I twisted her in my lap, even though she towered over me typically, and searched her face for any pain.
Libby brushed herself off, wriggled out of my grasp, and sat back on her heels. “You’re as bad as Seth and Derik,” she let out a tight laugh and dusted herself off. “But yes, I’m fine. They usually aren’t that intense. Especially given what you showed me. It’s odd.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, Erin.” The tips of her mouth slanted upward.
“What do you think?” I asked. My gut turned as I awaited her response.
“I think we do have a lead on our hands. The real question is: What do you want to do about it?”
Libby listened as I explained my plan, my arms flailing in the air as I rambled. She kept her eyes trained on me, taking in every word. And agreed with keeping Seth out of the loop. It’d be better to keep him out of it for the time being.
Until we have what we need.
An hour later, Seth came out right as we finished. His hair was tousled, bags under his eyes, five o’clock shadow darker than usual. He mumbled a thanks as he grabbed a plate of food and a mug of coffee off the island then went back to his room.
We giggled as the door shut behind him, my gaze trailed him the entire way. My chest tightened, ached.
I will do everything in my power to protect you, Seth.
You and those missing people.
I sighed as I shoved a forkful of eggs into my mouth and prayed that I was making the right decision.