Witness: See Series (Volume 1)(70)

“Did you find out anything?” I asked as I took the turn she told me to take.

“I’m sure Draven told you what I know…honestly, we just stared at each other most of the time…trying to see past this life…somewhere in a forgotten past.”

“Did you mange to see?” I said as I glanced at her. Half of me wanted to see my past – the other half of me was terrified to know what sacrifice I’d made to be here.

“I saw an epic fight between us – one where neither of us could find the will to end the other…it was like watching some kind of movie. I could feel the emotions of the moment, but I was disconnected – like I didn’t understand it enough to own it as my memory.”

“But it was enough to make you want to help him if we get pulled into that realm or something...enough to help me balance everything there – like you care about him, right?” I clarified.

“I helped the damned souls find their light...Britain is a dammed soul…helping you in any moment you need me to is not an outrageous request; it’s something I’d do if you asked or not.”

We had reached town, and she’d pointed for me to turn down the streets that outlined the block.

She had a point: no one said it had to be some, like, commitment – that I’d have to prove how much I loved anyone in order to save their life; in fact, if they had, Britain never had hope – not when it came to my heart. I was only told something about my light…I just had to figure out how to give that to Draven – give him what he needed to stay good, but not enough to entice Silas to end him. I sighed in relief…I don’t know why I thought it would be harder, or even impossible, to get Madison to help me. That’s what we do: help – help the damned.

When we turned on the next road she told me to, I saw the gothic graveyard where I’d spent yesterday afternoon just ahead. My heart started to pound as I remembered my moments alone with Silas there – those memories that raced through my mind once his lips left mine.

“Parallel up here; the shop is right there,” Madison said.

Kara pulled ahead of us and parked on the corner. I took in a deep breath. Right now, I almost wanted to feel the calm Silas had given me. Even though I’d agreed to this almost instantly, I was terrified of getting a tattoo.

I got out and slowly walked across the street, gazing at the edge of the graveyard. I could see the side of the gazebo from here…it was empty. I saw a single white butterfly flutter from behind one of the stones, and an innocent smile came to the corners of my lips as my memory allowed me to feel the slightest bit calmer.

“I can’t believe they talked you into signing for me,” I said as Kara reached me.

She raised her eyebrows as she adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “This, you don’t believe? Out of everything you’ve seen – this seems odd to you?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I loved her sarcasm; it was never as harsh as mine, but the truth was always there.

“Right,” I said as my eyes moved back to the butterfly that had come closer to me. The closer it was, the calmer I felt.

In a daze, I followed Kara and Madison in the shop. We were the only ones there, which made things so much easier than they could be. I took a seat in the chair while Kara filled out the paperwork and Madison went over the details she wanted in our Ankhs. My eyes rose to a part of the window that wasn’t blacked out by paint. My butterfly was there.

I held my stare on its wings, which seemed to move with my breath. I didn’t listen to the instructions the artist was giving me or even bother to look over the sketch; in fact, I barley flinched as I felt the needle and the burning, annoying pain that was coursing through my wrist. The butterfly had managed to completely distract me, so much so that the artist had to snap his fingers in front of my face to get my attention. When he was done, I broke my stare with the wings of the butterfly and looked down at my wrist. There was a bold, yet delicate Ankh there now, and in the loop of the cross there was one star.

“Do you like it, birthday girl?” the artist asked.

I nodded.

“Not very talkative, are you?” he said as he rubbed a clear cream across it, then covered it with a white bandage.

“A lot on my mind,” I mumbled.

He smirked. “Well, I must at admit, you were very easy to ink for a first timer – still.”

“Thanks,” I said as I got up, allowing Madison to take her turn.

As Kara walked over to me and reached for my wrist, her cool fingertips ran across my bandage. “Looks beautiful. I hope it’ll keep you as safe as Madison promised.”

“I’ll keep myself safe. I just have to worry about keeping myself calm.”

She nodded as she looked over me carefully. I knew her well enough to know that she had a thousand words she wanted to say to me, but she held herself back; for my benefit or hers, I wasn’t sure.

“I guess I’m going to get back – make sure Monroe has lunch. Do you need anything?”

“No, I’m good. I have stuff to do.”

“When are you coming home?” she asked.

“When I find a way to leave home,” I answered, finding confidence in my words.

“If you need anything – anything – you call me,” she said as she reached to hug me.

I nodded as she let me go, and my eyes instantly moved back to the blacked out window pane. As I walked closer, I noticed that the butterfly was still on the edge of the seal.