Nadine Book 5

22. It's Gone Now

Tre lays down with me and I snuggle him. I remember being here with him when we weren't even in love yet. Before we made love for the first time. Under that tree, in the shade with the flowers surrounding us. On that blanket. He was amazing.

Marcus was amazing on the beach on a blanket.

Tye took me to his bed. I wonder how many girls he's had there before me. Or since me. He's probably having Suzie there now.

His feather is flashing red. "How do I get rid of that Tre?"

"You have to throw it baby."

"I can't throw it unless I'm in danger."

"I know." He holds me tighter. "Some day you'll be able to get rid of it. Ignore it for now."

I remember when Tye gave it to me. In the cave. He put it right in my arm. Then his smile. It was like he couldn't wait anymore.

I hold Tre so tight. He is everything.

I open my eyes and it's dark out.

I sneak out of bed and onto the balcony. It's late. It's so quiet. Tre is sound asleep. There's no one on the streets. Tye's feather is blinking red still. I turn into a dragon and fly to the river. Everything is still. It's so peaceful.

I put my toes in the water. I remember last time I was here, Tye carried me out fast. I was so scared.

My feathers are black. I grab Tye's and throw it in the river.

Then I go back to my balcony. Tre is still sound asleep.

I sit on a chair and hug my knees. I feel empty.

Tre picks me up out of the chair and puts me back in bed at some point. I wake up in the morning in bed.

I go outside and on the balcony with him.

"What were you doing outside last night?"

"I threw his feather in the river."

"You went to the river by yourself?"

I show him my arm. "It's gone now."

"Let's take a bath and go do something."

"I would like that." I trace where the feather use to be.

Dipak and Marcus are here when we get out of the bath.

I stare at them. I don't have anything to say, and I don't want Dipak telling me that he told me this would happen.

"Someone went to the river on their own in the middle of the night to get rid of a feather."

"Sweetheart, you can't do that."

"I did. It's gone. Move on."

"Don't put yourself in danger."

"I had to get rid of it. It's gone now. Stop."

"Anything else you have to do?"

I want to say 'run' but I shake my head.

"I brought you some clothes. We have your stuff moved in with Marcus. After a few days, Marcus is going to take you to the mountains. You 2 can spend a few days there, then I'm taking you to China. We're moving the trip up. We'll go check out China."

I give him a fake smile. "That sounds perfect. Thank you."

"Don't do that, woman. I hate it when you're royal with me."

"THAT'S ALL I CAN DO RIGHT NOW, DIPAK. ROYAL OR MELTDOWN. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE."

"Then give me a meltdown."

"NO. I AM TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER."

"WHY?"

"BECAUSE IT HURTS TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH."

He nods.

"Why didn't I f*****g listen?"

"I WILL MURDER YOU ALL." Thora throws a sword at the closet door. "ASSHOLES!" She turns and sees me. "Oh good. I got the right room." She drags me to the balcony. She slams the door behind us.

We sit on the chairs and the door opens. "NO ONE WANTS YOUR PSYCHO BABBLE BULLSHIT TODAY OMAR." Coral slams the door and sits on the couch. "He can be a real pain in the ass. So what happened? All we know is the bond is gone. No one is saying anything or maybe no one knows."

"I walked in on him and Suzie."

"Were they having s*x?"

"No kissing and hugging in me and Tye's apartment."

Thora scoots closer and puts her arm around me. "I'm sorry. I can't imagine what that felt like."

"Felt my heart get ripped out. I ran. I went to Dipak's and laid down. I didn't know where else to go."

"Have you talked to him?"

"No. I don't want to."

"What about the feather? Has he tried to talk to you?"

"I threw it in the river."

"Do we know where the w***e lives?"

"Kane does. All I know is in his village. He can have her."

"Dipak threw them out. Kicked him off the table. Then they threw his stuff into his dad's castle. And that w***e. They can sort that out."

"I've never seen Dipak mad like that. I see why he's the king."

"He's a good king."

Tre steps out. "I'm bringing food. That's it. Thought you might be hungry." He sits it down on the table and goes back in.

The 3 of us eat and talk.

Then coral stands up. "Let's comb your hair and go see a pyramid. I've never seen one."

"I want to stare at nothing."

"I know it hurts. But we have to keep going. Try to keep your mind thinking of other things. It'll be good to get out."

"You can't sit here and cry forever. I'll get a comb." Thora goes inside and comes out a couple of minutes later. "I'LL SHOVE YOUR HEAD IN A CAMELS ASS DIPAK. WE ARE RIDING CAMELS." She combs my hair.

"We're riding camels? I've never ridden one of them."

"We're riding camels to a pyramid. It'll be different."

They get my hair combed, and get our camels. The boys get a carriage. No one talks. We get on the camels.

About 10 minutes later...

"This is not comfortable."

"It hurts my butt."

"Yea, I don't know how they ride these things all the time."

"I figured it would be like a horse."

"Let's walk them."

Kane yells at the carriage and it stops. The boys get out and take the camels.

Dipak smiles. "You girls went farther than I thought you would. Go get in the carriage. There is juice and fruit in there for you. We'll ride the camels over."

Thora nods. "Yea, that's a better idea."

The 3 of us get in the carriage and eat the fruit.

"I did this once with Ana. We went and saw a monument in the desert. She rode with me in the carriage. She seemed to like it."

"I bet. It is relaxing. What else did she get to do?"

"She went shopping. We saw some museums and monuments. She saw a parade that had shooting fire and lots of colors. Tye held her for that. He said I was standing to close to the edge with a baby. Then we made her laugh with the exploding pillows."

"Are you looking forward to China?"

"Yes. I know Dipak wants to see it. I'm sure I'll get to see everything."

"Maybe he'll buy an inn over there, then we can go see it."

"That's not a bad idea. Knowing him, he'll try to buy a whorehouse instead though."

"I'm sure your dragon will chase him all over blowing fire if he thinks about it."

"Yea, I'm sure she will."

Coral looks at me. "I'm surprised your dragon didn't take over and kill the whore."

I shake my head. "We were shocked and hurt. I wanted to run. She seemed to want that too. I still want to. I keep remembering him. He meant so much to me. I was so stupid. I should have listened to everyone. But I thought he was different."

Both of them hug me.

"It'll be ok. I thought he wasn't like that either. He didn't only fool you."

Thora sits back. "He made me think Dipak was wrong too."

The carriage stops.

"Wow, I didn't realize they would be so big." Coral stares at the pyramid. "Let's go in." She grabs my arm and pulls me.

I try to read the painting on the walls.

Marcus puts his arm around me. "Can you read it?"

I shake my head. "I try to imagine what the pictures are saying. I know there's a story here."

"Most of these are from the Book of the Dead. They are here to assist the tomb owner, to his or her afterlife." I glance at him shocked. "Directions or instructions. I have a lot of time on my hands over the years. I have books on how to read this stuff in the mountain. Some of it is talking about Gods." He points to a part of the wall. "This says eternal life. Right here. It's a guide to the afterlife. They believe after death they have trials to get to where they are going. This stuff is supposed to help."

"Do you think we have trials?"

"No, I never knew what to believe. But when I saw you girls connect like that in a past life. I know now, our souls, that's the afterlife. Who knows, maybe we've had more than 1 life together." He pulls me to him and kisses my head. "I take comfort in that. This isn't the end."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a black rock. I pick it up and see orange.