Synergy (See #3)(30)

“If you love him, stay here,” I said before I could stop myself.

Madison hit the ‘UNLOCK’ key on her car. “Follow me to Mom’s, then we’ll look for Silas.”

I let out a frustrated breath. Monroe had crawled into the backseat of my car. I got in and locked eyes with her in my mirror.

“Are you OK?” I asked. She nodded. “You’re not scared that I’m going to send you with Austin? That you may go alone?”

She looked down and twirled her rings on her hand. I put the car in reverse and followed Madison down the driveway. “I won’t let you go if you tell me not to. If I ever put you in danger, you have to stop me,” I said, glancing in the mirror at her. She didn’t bother to look up.

I bit my bottom lip as I pulled into Madison’s driveway. She was on the phone with her mom when she climbed into the passenger seat. I backed out and turned toward the park that was just down the street. I had no idea how I’d get Silas to come to me, but I figured that would be the best spot to try.

The sun had just set. It was dark, but there was still a hint of orange in the sky as I pulled into the vacant parking lot.

“Is this where we rendezvous?” Madison asked as I parked.

“It’s the best idea I have right now,” I mumbled. “I don’t know why you came. I don’t think he’ll open up to me with you around.”

“I’ll stay in the car. I just came to give you a foothold.”

“What?”

“I don’t want him to make you forget who you are in this life. I’m a reminder of that.”

“According to my mom, I need to remember the past in order to fight what we’re against.”

“I’ve heard that before,” she said quietly.

I knew she was talking about Britain. “Does he know what’s going on?”

“Yup.”

“And...?

“He doesn’t want us to go. He thinks it’s a trap.”

I reached for the door handle. “I’m going to try and figure out what the opposing side has to offer on that point of view.”

“Good luck,” Madison said as she reached for her phone and dialed a number.

I glanced at Monroe as I closed the door; she seemed entirely too calm for my comfort. I pushed my hands into the pockets of my hoodie as I walked across the field.

“Silas,” I said quietly when I’d almost reached the water that centered the park. “I may be leaving soon. I’d bet that you already knew that, that you know a lot more, and I really want your advice. I need your help.”

I assumed he would appear at that moment, but he didn’t. I almost thought I felt him, the calm he had, but I couldn't be sure.

“I need you to help me remember more. I need you to tell me my dreams aren’t a warning -- and if they are, tell me how I’m going to survive this ... how everyone is.”

“You’re not going to die,” I heard him say softly.

I turned around to see him inches from me, his eyes glowing ever so slightly. The calm he usually carried with him was there, but not nearly as strong. I could tell he was concerned, maybe even afraid.

“Right. Well, my dreams say differently,” I said, letting out an uneasy breath.

His eyes cascaded over me as understanding filled them.

“Why do I dream of ash? Why do I think you’re there? Why am I mad at you?” I asked, fearing his answer, not wanting to hear his promise of Draven’s death.

He glanced at the pond, then back at me. “Tell me what you dream,” he said as he took my hand and began to lead me to an old oak tree a few feet away.

“Nothing that’s clear,” I said, feeling the familiar guilt I had at his side. “A different time ... place ... ash.”

As we reached the oak tree, he took off his jacket and laid it down for me to sit on.

“I don’t want you to be cold,” I said, trying to stop him.

He smiled sardonically as his honey eyes glided across my face. “I don’t get cold anymore.”

“What are you?” I asked, sitting down.

He sat down next to me and gazed at the moon above us. “I thought you wanted to talk about your dreams?” he said quietly as he leaned back against the tree.

I pushed my hands in my pockets and looked down at my lap as I relaxed against the tree. “I want to talk about it all. I want to understand. I want to know what’s coming, what’s already happened, how I can help those boys Bianca has.”

“Close your eyes,” he whispered.

I moved my head from side to side. “You’re not kissing me ... I don’t need another reason to fight with Draven.”

“Are we fighting?” he said smugly.

“Stop it. You know we are. Why did you tell him that you’d kill him if he came near me in The Realm? You have no right to say something like that. You’ve made him terrified to love me.”

“I told him no such thing. I only assured him that I wouldn’t allow him to hurt you there – that I’d stop him. He made me promise that.”

“After you described in utter detail what he could do to me, I’m sure that’s when he made you promise that. That’s when you promised you would end his existence.”

He glanced at the moon again. “You know, if you wanted to die so you could be with me again, I would almost understand -- but that’s not the case. Even if it was, I wouldn’t let you die ... I refuse to watch that again.”