Synergy (See #3)(8)
“A trap for you, too,” I rebutted.
“You and Madison stay away from her until I figure this out,” he demanded, as his eyes grew cold and dark.
“How do you plan on figuring it out?” I asked, showing no fear.
“I’m going to find her. I’m going to figure out who that prince guy is.”
“What do you expect me to tell Madison? To stay away because that guy you always dream of has been taken by Bianca? Oh yeah, and sorry I never told you that he was real. Seriously, Draven.”
“Tell her whatever you want, but you aren’t going into The Realm - and that’s final.”
Oh he did not just go there. “Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?! She dreamed of him – and you know what -- it may not be because he’s some kind of lost love; it could be because he was a warning, a warning of a trap.”
“A trap for the two of you,” he bit out as he reached for my wrist that had the Ankh tattoo that Madison had all but demanded that I get. She hadn’t only dreamed of that boy, but also some kind of battle between Bianca and us – with other girls that looked just like her. “And I’ll be damned if I let this dream of hers come true,” he said as he glanced from me to the tattoo.
I pulled my arm away. “What about my dreams, Draven? What door are you going to walk into that I can’t open? What trap are you walking into? This is a two-way street. You want me to stay out? Then you stay out.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Right, it’s not going to happen.”
Our classic impasse was now out in the open for everyone to gawk at.
“Can you two stop it?” Aden bit out, looking over his shoulder at Wesley to see if we’d managed to worry him by talking about The Realm. “I swear, when you guys fight, you’re letting whatever this is drive a wedge between us. We can’t afford that now.”
“I’m not the one driving the wedge,” I murmured under my breath, locking eyes with Draven.
His eyes filled with the pain I must have inflicted with my cold words and tense tone. “I’m going to get dressed. I’m going to the school, and I’m going to figure this out. Go read your books or whatever you do, but do not go into The Realm.”
He leaned forward and let his lips -- which carried an even stronger hum now that he was darkness -- rest on mine. I kissed him back with little effort, making no promise that I’d listen to him. He vanished at that moment.
I looked down before I glanced up at Aden. “Whose side are you on?”
“Both of yours,” he answered as his eyes cascaded sympathetically over me.
“Then you stop keeping secrets from me.”
“What was that you said about a two-way street?”
“I haven’t kept anything from you,” I rebutted.
“You’re not talking to Silas?”
“No.”
“Will you tell me if you do?” he asked.
“Why do you want to know? Do you really think I’d leave your brother for him?” He really didn’t want to push me right now.
“I trust you, Charlie; I don’t trust him. It would be different if he tried to speak to me. I’ve seen him on the horizon; he knows I’m not dark, yet he keeps his distance.”
“What do you mean you’ve seen him?”
“He’s always within feet of Draven, at least it seems like feet. He literally stands between the two of you there, and I have a feeling that before long he’ll stand between the two of you in this world as well.”
Well, your feelings are jacked up. “I’ve never seen him there, and the only thing standing between me and Draven is Draven’s anger. I’m sick of this boys club you guys have created. I will be in The Realm. I promise you that. If you’re worried about me, then you better convince Draven to let me stand at your side -- at his side.”
“Charlie, for all I know, that’s the most dangerous place in The Realm. Do me a favor: figure out what that light was this morning. Talk to Monroe, do some research. I’ll find out where Bianca is and who she has with her.”
Before I could argue, he waved at Wesley and jogged to his Hummer.
My shoulders fell as I gazed at the ground. I always felt guilty when I fought with them, but at the same time I felt validated.
Wesley slowly walked to my side. “I guess it’s a good thing Austin won’t be long now.”
“I hope you’re right about that,” I mumbled.
“I know I am. I think you guys just need to get away from this. Forget about that girl.”
“I just know it all connects somehow.”
His silence told me he agreed. “Do you need me to help you with anything?” he finally asked.
“No, I got it. Just make sure I’m the first person you call when you see Austin.”
“Will do,” Wesley said as Britain’s car pulled up in front of his house. “I’m going to get in the shower; stay out of trouble today,” he said as he squeezed my arm and turned to go in his house.
I watched as Madison and Britain talked inside his car. It looked like a bickering match, a lot like the one I’d just had with Draven. I don’t think I’d ever seen Britain so unraveled. I walked over to his window and knocked on it, and he stopped whatever speech he was in the middle of and slid down his window.