Exaltation (Insight #11)(59)



“Miss Emery, really? Why? I think that’s why I haven’t really talked about him. I don’t want him analyzed, especially with the way all of you are acting over Berries.”

“I think you need to talk to your dad about this.”

“No way. No how. No nothing.” Especially since I’m not clear on exactly what witch powers he has…if he can read minds I’m so screwed…

“Raven, listen to me. You’re a powerful soul. A remarkable child, and there’s someone who’s perfect for you. Your dad knows this. I even think he may be looking for him to surface.”

Emery knew he was looking for him. The soul that was to rise with Raven. He had been for years, and they were having little to no luck. Considering how many close calls with death Raven had—the boy should have surfaced by now, but he hadn’t.

“I really appreciate the compliment. I do. But I’m seventeen and it was just a few kisses. I’m not telling my dad about it.” Way to go Rav, she’s going to make you, and you know it!

Emery stared at Raven for a long moment then said, “Stay right here. I need to make a call.”

“To my dad? Are you serious? I trusted you!” Raven moaned, as she leaned forward.

Emery let her hand rest on her back. “I just need to ask what I have the freedom to say. Give me a second.”

Raven was mortified. She had a good relationship with her dad. The best any teen could ask for, but there were some things you just did not tell your dad.

Instead of using the kitchen phone right behind Raven, Emery went further in the house.

Right about then Raven heard the gate screech open and Ash scold River for the noise. They both jumped back when they saw Raven on the porch.

“Good God what are you doing in the dark!” River whispered harshly.

“I’m being talked to, time out right now. She had to call my dad for pointers,” Raven said, as she noticed they both had book bags that were jammed full.

“About?” Ash asked.

“Told her I kissed Rydell, twice, and I had a funky little power shot emerge.” Probably going to end up with a chastity belt because I did…

“Rydell—you kissed Rydell?” Ash whispered with wide eyes.

“You didn’t tell her I told you to, did you?” River asked, which earned her a glare from Ash.

“No, I didn’t get that far. What do you know about Rydell?” Raven asked Ash.

“That he’s walking sex and knows it—which makes him dangerous.”

“Where’s Mom?” River asked, peeking in the door.

“I think in the front parlor.”

“Cool. Cool. Distract her until we get upstairs.”

“What? You’re going to leave me to this lecture on my own? Do you not even want to know the juicy details?”

“They were juicy?” River asked with wide eyes.

Ash jerked her forward and glanced back at Raven. “We have juicy details. All right here,” she said, nodding to her bag. “Hurry up. Just nod and say you understand—get upstairs.”

“Awesome,” Raven said as she rolled her eyes. She was sure she was about to be put through the torture of looking through Miss Sherri’s photo books. Or newspaper clippings or God knows what else.

They crept into the house and Raven heard Emery call for them, so Raven yelled in the door. “I think I’m going to turn in. I have a test tomorrow.”

Emery rushed through the house in her direction glancing over her shoulder. “Are both of them home?”

“Yeah, they’re going to bed, too. Are we done? Am I officially humiliated now?”

“Nothing happened to be embarrassed about. I want you to know that. And having a crush on a boy or kissing one is not an odd thing for your age,” she said, as she came out and sat in her chair in front of Raven. “I called Saige. Jamison was with her.”

“Do you want me to wait while you call Miss Thelma Ray? Maybe go door to door in the lower Quarter and just let everyone know?”

Emery let out a sigh as she stared at her. “This boy, this energy between you and him. Does it feel like coming home? Is it rich? Can you sense him even when he’s far away?”

Raven’s eyes rapidly move across Emery, sensing the conviction in her question, as if Emery had felt all of that.

“It was two kisses, and a jolt of odd vim. That’s it, I swear,” Raven finally said.

“Nothing else, just that.” Emery pushed, trying to tell her, without telling, her that feeling should be the bar she set when she looked for the one that was to rise with her.

“I don’t know if I would say that. I mean have you been kissed by a hot guy who was older than you—not like other guys you knew, smooth, charismatic, always seems to be looking a little deeper than most when he looks at you? Someone that can look dangerous one second and innocent the next?” Walking sex…

Emery cleared her throat as she adjusted herself in her chair.

“I take that as a yes,” Raven said with a smirk. There was something up with Emery and her dad and Raven knew it. Right then she was going to use her theory to get herself out of the hot seat.

“Raven, listen. There are all kinds of guys out there and as you grow up, you change. Sometimes the guys you date are just a phase or just an idea that you thought would work. Then you find the right one and he sets your soul on fire, he makes you regret ever seeing anyone else before.”

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