"What?" The elder man clenches his hands. "I thought..."
The lady raises a hand and hisses. "Shush."
Is this why Luke has been nice to me? He's playing this part a little too well right now.
"This has been very problematic, and now you can see why we are in the situation we're in." Luke drops his hand from my arm and runs a hand down his face. "Unfortunately, we need her to get the fourth artifact and fast. Otherwise, the life we know is over."
"Fine." The lady paces the area in front of us. "You can use our resources to find a way to get her there, but I want her back here to me as soon as it's done."
Does she think she I will come back here to her when it's all said and done? I bite my tongue to keep from laughing. "Don't worry about it. I don't need your help."
"Christina..." Luke narrows his eyes at me.
Oh, no. His little act here as made me doubt him more. "I don't trust any of you."
"It doesn't matter if you trust us." The lady lifts her head high and snarls. "You will take our help and come back to us so we can save the world."
"Actually, you're going to all stay away from me and leave me to my own devices." I'll be damned if I take another resource from them.
"Like hell." The lady stomps her way over to me and stabs a finger into my chest. "If you don't stop this nonsense, your parents and lover boy will pay the price for your disobedience."
I grab her finger and twist it. She yelps and tries to tug away, but I hold firm. "No, you won't do a damn thing to any of them. If you do, I'll make sure your life is a living hell." I smirk and let my hatred bubble up. "After all, I do have Hell's Flame burning inside me. Would you all like to feel?" My power begins to flare inside me, and I let a little flow through me.
She whimpers and yanks her finger away harder. "Stop, that hurts."
"If you think that hurts," I say as I let her go and take a step into her personal space, "if you or anyone else lays a hand on anyone I care about, imagine what happened outside today focused on you."
Her face turns a shade of white I've never seen on her before, and the elder man's mouth is dropped open. I turn on my heels and walk out the door. I don’t bother to look at Luke.
I close my eyes and focus on my apartment. Within seconds, I've transported myself there. When the room comes into view, Charlie is sitting down on my couch, reading a book.
His blond hair is messy from his day at work, and his lips are pursed over whatever section he's reading.
"Hey there." It seems like it's been forever since I've seen him, but in reality, it's only been a few hours.
He tosses the book on the couch and stands. "Hey, what happened today? Something felt off, and I came straight here." He takes a few steps and pulls me into his arm.
"It was a crap day." I fill him in on everything and bury my face into his chest. I'm so glad I have him.
"Oh, sweetheart." He leans back and brushes his fingers across my face. "We're going to figure this out. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. It can't. I love you so damn much."
How I wish that was true. Once upon a time, I did think it. Hell, it was only four months ago that I thought if I succeeded and somehow obtained my parent's love, everything would be okay. Shit, I wish I could be that naive girl again. But those days are long gone, and I'm not even sure I'm going to make it out of this alive.
5
As I wake up the next morning, I can feel that my body and mind are well-rested once again. I hadn’t even realized how much my little episode took out of me yesterday. It’s kind of scary what took place, and it’s going to continue to get worse if I don’t get the Water Artifact and soon.
An arm wraps around me and pulls me against a warm firm chest. “Hey, beautiful.”
I’m so glad Charlie stayed with me last night. I needed him. I snuggle into him and grin. “Hey, yourself.”
He lifts his head and peppers my neck with kisses. “I’m not done with you yet. You can’t leave.”
My heart speeds up in my chest, and I giggle. “I don’t want to, but there is some stuff I have to do.” It’s so hard to say those words, but every minute I lay here is another second closer to a meltdown.
His lips are still on my neck. “Exactly what all do you have planned?” His arm stiffens around me, and his breathing picks up.
He already assumes I’m going without him. But after last night, I can’t leave him behind again. Time and time again, he’s proven we’re stronger together than apart. “Well, I was hoping that you’re up for some traveling.”
“What does that mean?” He sits up and looks down at my face. “What are you asking me?” He tilts his head, his hazel eyes guarded.
“I think it was my fault that we couldn’t get to the water world yesterday. I was worn out like I was in Hell when I couldn’t locate the Flame.” All along, we thought Dax was the problem, but now I’m sure it was me. “I’m positive that with Dax, I can get there now.”
He shakes his head and huffs. “So… you’re leaving again.” He runs a hand through his hair. “At least I should be happy that you’re telling me ahead of time.”
“That’s not fair at all.” Did he not hear me earlier? “Don’t make me take back what I said. I thought you going would make me stronger, but
