At least he had the decency or the smarts not to pretend to be upset. I don't know or care at this point. I'm exhausted, filthy, and hungry. Right now, I want to go home, and hope Charlie is in a forgiving mood, so he'll cuddle with me. "Well, I'm going to head home."
I close my eyes and picture my apartment and tug myself there, but nothing happens. I try again, then open my eyes. "Why isn't anything happening?"
"You're too tired." Luke frowns and lets out a deep sigh. "Why don't you stay here? You can stay in the elder room that I showed you earlier."
No way that's happening. "Thanks, but I want to get home. How long were we gone anyways?"
"Oh, just a few hours." He laughs and shrugs. "That's one reason I was so surprised you were back so soon."
Well, at least it wasn't days. That should lessen the blow with Charlie. "I'll call Charlie to come get me."
"Absolutely not." He stands and heads to the door. "You're one of us now. You can drive one of my cars home. I kept an extra one here anyways for when Margaret would get a wild hair for shopping."
This feels strange. I don't want to owe him. "No, it's okay."
"I insist." He walks over to where he was sitting and picks up a key chain. He takes off a key and brings it back over to me. "Here you go. Just bring it back later." He hands it to me.
You know what, I want to get home, and don't want to wait on Charlie to get here. "Thanks, I'll bring it back soon." I get up, open the door, and walk out. I don't want any other uncomfortable conversations or interruptions.
When I get to the front door, a butler walks out from another room.
She smiles at me and walks pass the door. "Hi, I was requested to take you to the garage and show you the vehicle you're to use."
Okay that would be helpful. I have no clue where what car he's letting me drive. "Thanks."
She nods and we walk down a small hallway that leads to another door. When we walk through this door, we enter a large four car garage. There are two vehicles sitting there. One is a white, Audi A8, and the other is Lexus LX.
"This," she says as she points to the Audi, "will be the car you borrow."
No flipping way. "Oh ... kay. Thanks."
"Sure." She hits a button and the garage door opens. "I'll shut it for you when you're out."
Hitting the unlock button, I make my way over to the vehicle. I open the door and slide. This car is nicer than what my parents even drove. It has dark leather seats and is all high end and automated. I thought old people weren't techy. Who knew?
I put the car in reverse and back out using the amazing camera. This car could almost freaking drive itself. I pull out of the driveway and head for home.
Somehow, I make it without falling asleep. I'm not sure how, but at this point I must be working on autopilot.
When I walk in the door, I find Charlie pacing in my living room. His blond hair is in disarray and his face is lined.
His head turns my direction and his eyes go to my arm that is injured and my torn shirt. "Are you okay?"
Shit, I was hoping to clean up before he saw me. "Yeah, I've just had a very long day."
"So, I've heard." His tone is a little cold, but he takes my arm and inspects it. "Rumor has it that you went to Hell today."
"Yeah, I'm sorry. It just happened." I don't feel like having this conversation right now. I'm tired and hungry. "Luke sprung it on me."
"Did Becca help you?" He lets my arm go and walks into the kitchen getting into the pantry. He pulls out a first aid kit and begins looking through it.
"No, she didn't." I walk into the kitchen with him and wash my hands. "It was someone else." I go the pantry and grab a handful of granola bars.
He grabs some alcohol swabs and comes over to me. "This is going to burn." He rubs it on me, and he’s right, it does hurt like hell.
"If it wasn't her, who took you?" He continues working on my arm.
Ugh, I don't want to be a prick right now, but I don't want to talk about it. "Can we talk about this in the morning? I really just want to take a shower and go to bed. I'm exhausted."
Silence descends over us for the next few minutes while I finish eating my food and he cleans my scratches. When he's done, I grab a bottle of water and drain it. "I'm going to jump in the shower."
"Okay, I'll go get ready for bed." He walks away toward my bedroom.
I grab his arm. "Look, I know you're upset with me tonight, so you don't have to stay."
His eyes meet mine for a moment and he lets out a shaky breath. He reaches out and touches my cheek with the palm of his hand. "There is nowhere else I want to be, even when I'm upset with you. I'm staying. I love you."
My heart melts and I smile. "I love you too and thank you. I want you here."
I rush off and take a quick shower and then crawl into bed next to Charlie. Tonight, I avoided a difficult conversation with him, and I have no clue how to get to the flame. I'm just hoping tomorrow brings everything together.
16
If I had hoped to wake up refreshed with a bunch of answers, I was overly optimistic. My power is still depleted from yesterday and my body hurts from all the Hell I have been put through. I'm unable to hold back my snort at that thought. For once, that is a true statement.
Charlie turns away from the stove
