overtime; they scooted over the sand as fast as they could. Even large shells were obstacles for them. I watched for any hungry crabs or dive bombing birds looking for a snack. As the first turtle hit the surf, it was hit by a small wave and tumbled over and over. Pure instinct was the only thing pushing them to endure whatever it took to reach deeper water where they could swim. Watching their struggle, I felt tears spring to my eyes. Finn embraced me in a hug as they spilled over.
He rested his cheek on the top of my head and I felt him smile. “They’ll be fine, Stasia. They know what to do.” Several hatchlings were swimming on top of the waves before disappearing beneath the surface. I looked on like a proud mom as each and every one made it safely to the ocean and began their journey out to sea. I knew the statistics weren’t in their favor, but I felt like I’d done a small part by making sure they found the water safely.
Finn looked down at me with concern. “It’s time to get you in to bed.”
I put my hands on my hips and gave him a cynical look, “Oh really. And you’re going to be the one to get me in to bed?”
He turned toward me, “That’s an honor I don’t deserve,” his eyes softened and he ran a finger over my lips, “but I’ll spend every minute of the rest of my life trying to earn it.” What was left of the walls around my heart melted away, collecting in puddle at my feet.
Once we were back inside of Maren, exhaustion made it hard to keep my eyes open. I leaned up against the sink in the bathroom and took inventory of my reflection. Surprisingly, I didn’t look as bad as I felt. My hair was a complete disaster, but the rest of me had fared pretty well. I had a feeling Willow’s magical hands had everything to do with that. I tried to stand upright, but my legs gave out and I grabbed the counter for support. The bathroom door cracked open.
“You okay in there?”
“At the moment my bed seems really far away.” I heard him chuckle as he came in to the bathroom. He gently carried me back in the bedroom and laid me down on the bed.
“You’re staying aren’t you?” I looked up at him through droopy eyelids.
“Of course,” he smiled and kissed my forehead, then slid beneath the covers. In the safety of his arms, the entire world could blow up around me and I’d never know the difference.
“Good,” I smiled, closing my eyes and immediately giving in to sleep.
The following morning, I found a pink hibiscus flower in Finn’s place. I plucked it from the sheet and smiled to myself. Finn actually slept in my room last night. In my bed. I had slept like a baby wrapped in the shelter of his arms. I rubbed my head and besides some tender skin, it was completely healed. Speaking of blacking out, I still hadn’t had a chance to talk to Kira and warn her.
I picked up my phone hoping she was awake.
“Hello?”
“Hey Kira.”
“Hey Stasia! How’re you feeling?”
“Much better thanks to Willow. I’m still a little sore, but for the most part, I’m better.”
“That’s good to hear. You didn’t look too good when I came by to see you last night.”
“I heard you came by. Did my roommates tell you about my vision?” I had a feeling she wouldn’t believe me either. I was right.
“They said you had a vision of me being kidnapped?” She sounded skeptical, “If that’s true, that would mean you have foresight. No descendent that I know of has ever been gifted with that ability.”
“No descendant has ever had my trace either, but it’s right here on my arm. I know I saw you get kidnapped. It was awful! Isadora dragged you in to a house-“
“Isadora?” she sighed, “Stasia, why would she do something like that?”
“I don’t know, but it’s what I saw. I know it was real!” I said exasperated.
“It was just a dream. I’m completely fine! Nothing’s going to happen.”
“You don’t know that! I know what I saw, Kira.”
“I’ll be fine I promise.”
“But Kira-“
“I have to go, but I’ll call you later to check on you, okay?”
“But-”
“Get some rest and promise me you won’t worry about me.”
“Okay.” I resigned myself to the fact that she wasn’t going to believe me.
“Promise me.”
“Okay, I promise.” Unfortunately I’m getting pretty good at lying. I grabbed my IPod and put in my ear buds to drown out the world. How was I going to keep her safe if she didn’t believe me? I know what I saw, and Finn even confirmed that they were visions. I was right about the hatchlings, and I knew I was right about Nicolet being murdered and Kira being kidnapped. I just didn’t know how I was going to make anyone else see that.
~?~
“Time to wake up!” Carmen was suddenly on top of my bed. “Are you ready for Extreme Makeover: Stasia Edition?”
Saturday arrived quicker than I thought it would and I couldn’t believe I was going to an actual Ball that night. It seemed surreal. Thursday went by in a blur since I had slept most of the day and Friday was spent trying to catch up on what I’d missed during the last two days of classes. Of course word had gotten around campus that I had blacked out, had a seizure, and suffered from hallucinations. There was nothing like embellished rumors to boost your self-esteem. Whispers and wide eyed looks followed me wherever I went. My plan to blend in was coming along nicely.
“I don’t need an extreme makeover. I’m fine just the way I am,” I grumbled at her. I started to pull the covers over my head but she seized them first.
“You promised,” she pouted dramatically. “Are you going to deprive me of my dream?”
“If your dream is to give me a makeover, we need to find you a new one.”
“You’re just my first client. Soon people will be knocking down my door wanting my services.”
“Right now I need your service in the kitchen,” Willow peeked her head in the door and smiled at me, “Morning.”
“A true artist’s work is never done.” Carmen sighed tragically and tossed my comforter completely off my bed. “Now get up before I send in reinforcements.” She stopped at the door, “And by reinforcements, I mean Phoebe. She was so batty when she woke up, I had to sedate her. And the beast is beginning to stir.” She flashed me a smile and disappeared.
With Carmen doing our hair and makeup, Willow had demanded to oversee her work to make sure she didn’t go too far. I was secretly glad. I still wanted to look like myself when she was done, just a prettier version. It was tradition for all of the girls to travel to the light station on the Son’s yacht, where they were escorted in to the Ball by their dates. I’d been contemplating how we would get from the boat to the top of the light station. I didn’t get a good look, but I didn’t see any elevators the last time I was there. If I was expected to climb ten flights of stairs, I wanted to know ahead of time so I could bring some tennis shoes and a tank of oxygen. The boat was leaving promptly at 9:00pm and rumor had it there was a meteor shower at midnight. It sounded like the stage was set for a magical night. My stomach squeezed with nervousness.
Chapter 26
“Comb.”
“Hair spray.”
“Bobby pin.”
“Hair spray.”
