He melted into a chair facing us against the far wall. Rob hesitated, glancing between Bryan and me, before taking a seat next to Bryan. Clay practically jumped into the seat on my left since Leo sat to my right.
“I don’t really know,” Bryan finally started. He combed his fingers through his short hair and hung his head. “It was dark. There were all these people walking around in a zombie-like state. Staring straight ahead, no expressions, eyes wide. There was no sound even though I called out for you guys.” He lifted his head, darting a troubled gaze between all of us before settling it on me. “I yelled, but nothing came out. It was so quiet, it hurt my ears.”
“It’s called the void. It’s like purgatory,” Stacey Layden said as she walked in with Brooks. His monstrous frame dwarfed the petite brunette. She’d left her usual professor uniform of black robes at home and instead wore a long dark dress that could double as a nightgown, the material light and silky. Her hair was pulled back in the usual tight bun. She didn’t take a seat and instead stood by the double doors. Hulk, as I so fondly referred to the heavily inked Brooks, stayed by her side. Stace, I understood why she’d come. Brooks, I didn’t.
“He was in hell?” I sat forward.
“He was in limbo,” she corrected, her lisp barely noticeable. “Your body is here, but your mind is in a catatonic state. I’ve only heard of a few people who’ve ever been able to break free of the trance. The longer you remain in the void, the harder it is to break back out. That must be how you were able to come back. You were there only a few hours.”
“It felt like a lifetime.” He lowered his head once again.
My heart ached for him. He’d gone through so much already—his granddad being dark and trying to force Bryan down the same path. Witnessing his own father’s death when the man had refused to allow the granddad to see Bryan anymore. Having to conjure up the dark fog his granddad had used to disorient Nelems to steal their kids and bring them to a summit to torture them for his own entertainment. The man had been a monster, making Bryan’s life a nightmare.
And now he was reliving that nightmare.
I stood, giving both Leo and Clay a loving squeeze on each of their shoulders, before joining Bryan and Rob. Rob rose and offered the chair to me even though there were plenty others open. I understood why. It wasn’t the chair he relinquished. It was his position next to Bryan. Right now, my earth elemental needed me more than he needed his BFF.
I took the seat and reached for Bryan’s hand. He curled his fingers around mine and held on tight. It was then I noticed him shaking. I squeezed harder and pushed my control to him. He accepted it with a grateful nod. The shaking diminished but didn’t stop.
“How did you come back from that?” Brooks asked, his judgmental tone full of prickly attitude. Now I understood why he’d come. He was here in case rumors of Bryan being dark were true. I’d be the first one to take down that hulk of a man if he so much as hinted at dragging Bryan off to dark elemental prison.
“I helped him.”
Stace and Brooks parted and swung around, revealing the woman I’d feared I’d never see again. Uh…again.
“Mom!” I jumped up and ran to her, hugging her tight. I’d never stop hugging her every time I saw her now. I had a lot of time to make up. We’d go back to hating being touched later. “You came back.”
“I told you I’d meet you here.”
She also told me she’d never leave me, but let’s not open up that wound. “Is everything okay? What did the Council want?”
“To know where I’ve been. Why I left. Who I was with. Blah, blah, blah.”
Those were the exact questions I had as well. “And you said?”
She waved off my question. “A conversation best kept for later. Where’s the healer? Has he checked you out yet? Are you okay?”
“He’s on his way.”
She acknowledged my answer with a nod before squeezing my arm and approaching Bryan, kneeling in front of him. “How are you? Are the shakes subsiding?”
He nodded slowly. She took his hands in hers and closed her eyes as her lips began to move in some sort of chant. Was she casting a spell?
“What are you doing?” Stace stepped forward.
My mom didn’t answer, but instead continued her chant until Bryan sat up straight, drawing in a deep breath. She gave his hands one last squeeze before straightening and turning to address Stace. “I did a simple calming spell.”
“That sounded more like a memory spell.” Stace took another step. “I don’t approve of any type of spells being cast at this school without my consent.”
“My apologies. I didn’t realize I needed anyone’s permission to offer my help.”
“And it helped him,” I jumped in, motioning at Bryan, who even cracked a smile, showing off his dimple. “He was a mess a minute ago. Now look at him.” My mom was a goddamn hero, and I didn’t appreciate the professor questioning that.
Stace wisely backed down with a slow nod. “For future reference, then.”
“Of course.” My mom mirrored the gesture.
The tension between these two thickened the air. I didn’t understand what was happening, only that my mom had eased Bryan’s torment and Stace didn’t approve.
“And now for something completely different.” Clay spoke in a terrible British accent and jumped out of the chair. “Anyone want to see a magic trick?”
“I think we’ve seen enough magic for now.” Stace didn’t remove her focus from my mom.
“For now,” my mom agreed.
2
Awkward.
That was the only word that came to mind to explain the exchange between the two women staring each other down in the waiting room of the
