We walk up to another set of doors. This one is all silver and there is a camera hanging out by the door. Luke walks up to it and opens his eyes wide. The computer activates and scans his iris. Soon the next door opens and we're in.
Of course, they would have retinal scans to get in here. Holy crap. What's in here? "Should I be worried?"
He laughs and helps me walk in. "No, and once you're an official member of the council, you'll have access, too."
My stomach is now revolting from all the dizziness and emotional turmoil, but I'm hoping some of this will be resolved soon. "But what's with all the security."
"We have a lot of things here we don't want others to get their hands on." We walk down a long, beige hallway that smells of bleach. "This place was created by one of the council members years ago. The past few decades we've been adding extra security measures to it."
That's interesting. I've never even heard rumors of this place. "But I didn't see the building when we pulled up."
"Yes, that's how we keep this place a secret overall. It was the first security measure we put in place." We stop at a door that is white and he looks down at me. "It's a veiling we had spelled. You were allowed to see it, because I touched you and gave you permission." He opens the door and we step inside.
The room isn't huge, there is a small table and two chairs in the corner and a large metal container with a lock on it in the middle. Whatever is in the container, this is what we're here for. There can't be any other reason he brought me here. I'm just glad my body won't fit in there; otherwise, I'd be a little more nervous right now. "So, what is this?"
"Well, in order to answer your question with due justice, I have to tell our history." He takes me over and helps me into the seat. "One of the very first ancestors with our unique reaper gifts found a stone he called the time stone. The name is deceiving, because it really doesn't have anything to do with time itself. It's a very large ruby that works as an energy stone for people with our abilities."
So, he's expecting me to use this stone. I hate to do something that might make me owe them later, but if this could help me right now....
He heads over to the container and runs his hand over it. "There are certain places in the world and in other dimensions that wreak havoc on our abilities. And when that happens, we begin feeling the way that you do." He spins the combination on the lock and opens the case.
The brightest ruby I've ever seen shines at me. Something pulses in the room and tugs at my core.
"And this is where I leave you to get better." He stands and walks out of the room. The door shuts and then locks.
What the hell? Why is he locking me in here? However, I'm not able to focus on that thought for long. The stone is calling to me. For the first time in the past few hours, I stand with sturdy feet and walk toward it. When I get close to it, my hands reach out and clasp it.
The pulsing has now turned into energy shooting from the stone down my arms throughout my body and into my core. My power responds and churns. It's as if my power is flashing back through time and returning to its former glory. I feel the restoration happening inside me. It builds and builds inside of me until I'm whole.
Once I feel normal, my hands don't want to let go of the stone. It's as if I want to stay glued to it forever. I try to let go, but I stay. A white, all-encompassing euphoric feeling overwhelms and then everything goes black.
18
My eyes open and I turn over reaching my arm out seeking out a warm body. When all I find is cold sheets, my eyes open and I glance around. Where the hell is Charlie?
Wait... Is this a dream? The last thing I remember is being with the ruby and Luke. I sit up and pinch my arm hard. Ouch. Shit. That hurt. Okay, not a dream.
Did I go back in time? Luke said that it didn't take you back in time. It was more around what the stone did with your energy, but when I passed out, I was not here in my apartment. I glance on the end table and my cell phone is there like it normally is. That's freaking strange. I grab it and look at the date. Okay, I slept a day away, so I did not go back in time at all. I don't know whether I should be relieved or concerned about that.
But one thing I know for sure is that I need to pee. I jump out of bed and run to the bathroom. Once I'm done using the toilet and washing my hands, I walk out and into the kitchen.
Well, at least I feel normal again. My power is alive and thrumming inside me once again and I don't feel like I'm about to pass out. At least there are some small wins here.
Since I don't have a lot of breakfast options here, I grab a bowl of outdated cereal and eat quickly.
I throw my dishes in the sink and head back over to the bed. What happened to Charlie last night? I figured he would have come over here. He should have been here this morning. I grab the phone and call him. It rings and rings until it turns over to voicemail.
I glance at the time and it’s nine in the morning. Maybe he’s at work already and can’t answer. I hope he’s not mad
