Chapter Ten
1872 Words
"I need a drink!" Chusi sighed after the long day they had at the storage place for Aislinn's things. They weren't surprised that it was more personal items that she didn't want around the elder council.
Alyona smiled softly when she opened up a few of the books, there were drawings in it along with the thoughts that filled the witch's mind. She was surprised to see so many about Chusi.
"Wow, Chusi, she really thought highly of you," Alyona said skimming over the entry the book she held opened to.
Chusi smiled, "She was always very kind to me," she said at the memory. She leaned over Ally's shoulder and read the entry.
"Oh, my," She exclaimed, "This was shortly after I was taken to the council."
****flashback***
"I want my mommy," little Chusi cried. She wanted to go home and didn't understand why these people were keeping her. The big man outside of her door was dirty and needed a bath. He seemed grumpy and she didn't like it. The tall, pale man that looked like a vampire was trying to tell the man to leave her alone. She didn't like the witch lady that took her here. She said her name was Brigid, something deep in Chusi's belly was telling her not to trust her. The other two ladies, though, seemed okay.
The door to the bedroom she was in opened and they came in. They softly shut the door and walked over to the crying child on the bed.
"It's okay, little one," the silver-haired lady with the purple eyes said. She sat down on the edge of the bed and gently stroked Chusi's hair.
"Yes, little one. We are here to help you," the other lady said softly. Her heart was breaking from the pain in the little girl's voice.
Chusi sat up in the bed, "Can, can I go home, please. I miss my mommy and daddy," she whimpered. "And Alev," she said.
The other lady sat on the other side of Chusi, "Oh, sweetie, we can't yet," she said softly. She didn't understand completely why they had to keep Chusi, but Brigid told them she must stay.
Chusi studied the faces of the women on either side of her, the older looking one with the silver hair and purple eyes seemed nice enough. And her belly butterflies were telling her to trust her, so she decided she would. The other lady had very kind eyes and looked like a grown-up version of her friend Jane.
Chusi reached up and touched each lady, "I just want my mommy," she whimpered. The women both looked at her with eyes full of tears, "We can try to be substitute mommies for you, Chusi," they said.
Aislinn looked at Chusi, her eyes were so full of sadness, Chusi didn't understand.
**********end of flashback*****
A small tinkling tone went off interrupting Chusi's reverie.
"Oh, it's the number from the office I interviewed at yesterday!" Ally said excitedly.
"Hello?" she answered the phone.
"Hello, may I speak with Alyona Boyets, please?" Came the voice of the kind old lady from yesterday.
"This is she," she replied, doing her best to keep her anxiousness out of her voice.
"Mr. Pretium would like to offer you the job as his partner," Selene said, she knew that if Alyona accepted the job, she and Apollo would have to be keeping up disguises for a short while.
"Of course, thank you," Alyona said a calm filling her, this was just what she wanted!
"There will be a few contracts to sign, as well as some other paperwork. We would like to meet with you again on Friday if possible," Selene said. "That is if you are still interested in the job?"
"Yes, and that will be fine," she assured the old lady on the phone.
"Okay, then, Friday at say, one o'clock?"
"Yes, ma'am," Alyona agreed. After hanging up, her face broke into a huge smile.
"Well?" Chusi asked studying Alyona.
"I got the job," she said and made an excited squeal. Leaning back in the chair she kicked her feet up and down excitedly.
Circe walked into the storage room then, with a tray of tea and cookies. "I take it you're celebrating?"
"Oh, yes, Circe!" Alyona said. "I got the job!" she exclaimed.
"That's wonderful dear," she agreed. Circe was happy for the young girl, she knew what was going to happen. "Be sure to tell your parents, Alyona. Bad things happen when secrets are kept," she advised.
Alyona looked at the old woman, but kept quiet, she couldn't tell her parents everything. It was simply too dangerous for her family. Even with their connections, she didn't want her sisters hurt this way.
Circe walked over to some of the small diaries and picked them up, "I think it would be best if you took some of these with you. It'll give you something to do in your downtime," she handed the stack to Alyona.
Her eyes widened at the amount, "But, there's like twelve books here!" she said.
"They are easy to read," Circe said. Then she winked, "And full of history," she finished.
That was just what Alyona wanted to hear, she loved history with a passion. She loved digging deep into the past and learning what secrets they kept. It was like a good mystery sometimes, and a great way to prevent it from happening again.
They took the books and left the storage unit, Alyona's books in a bag. While Chusi had a cardboard box filled with books, notes, and other random objects. Circe told her to take it and sort it, she was sure that something in there would give them the answers to the sword.
"Well, I think we need to go to the station, to see Bardik," Alyona said. "Make him carry these things," she lifted her bags and tilted her head to the box Chusi was carrying.
"I agree," she said and they turned down the sidewalk towards the station. They made their way to the station in relative silence. Commenting on the cute things in the shops as they passed by, admiring the blown glass again. They made it to the firehouse and went inside.
"Damn, did she give you the whole storage room," Bardik asked shocked at the amount of stuff, Circe gave them.
Justin came out of the office as well, he chuckled at the sight of the women. Ally with her bags up her arms and Chusi with the box. The items in it threatening to spill out all over the table.
"No," Chusi snarked, "Don't forget the woman was alive for a long time!" she defended Aislinn.
Bardik placed his hands up with a smile, "Hey, I'm a guy, I don't get this whole keep things forever."
Chusi walked over to him and poked him gently, "You will someday," she said and wrapped her arms around Bardik. He returned the favor and you could hear her sigh softly in contentment.
Ally smiled wistfully at them, she had to push these ideals away from herself. She would never be good enough to have a mate now. Not after the celebration.
Justin stretched then, the bottom of his shirt revealing his scars from the fight on Daemonium Isle. She wondered if they hurt.
"Yes, they do, sometimes," he said.
Ally looked at him surprised she had said anything out loud, she was sure she was quiet.
Bardik and Chusi exchanged looks, "Who does what sometimes?" Bardik asked Justin puzzled, no one had spoken.
"She asked if my scars hurt," Justin said, pointing at Ally, "I heard her."
"No one said anything man," Bardik said.
Covering for Justin's confusion quickly, "I did. You just were soo engrossed with your love," she said with sweet exaggeration, "That you didn't hear me."
Ally just winked at Justin, this would just be another piece she would find a place for on the ever-expanding puzzle that is beginning to be her life.
"I'm hungry," she said changing the subject, "Let's go to the cafe and see Mary. She always has the greatest meals, and best cakes!" she said hopping off the stool and making her way to the door. She didn't want to wait for anyone to follow her, she knew they would.
As they passed a small shop Ally heard it. A voice she never ever wanted to hear again in her life. It meant that he was watching her.
"Yeah, yeah, it was done months ago," the gruff voice said. "There's nothing to worry about, she never recognized us," he assured whomever he was speaking to.
Alyona knew that voice, it has haunted her dreams since the celebration. She stopped, her body taken over by fear. Chusi saw her out of the corner of her eye and stopped. She told the guys to go ahead of them and grab them a table at the Cafe. Ally was looking around trying to see where the man's voice came from. She could feel her world closing in on her. She couldn't show this fear, she had to stay calm.
"Al? Hey are you okay?" she asked. She had never seen Alyona like this. Her caramel-colored skin pale, her eyes held fear in them that she could never fathom.
She turned to Chusi, and a single tear fell down her cheek, "I heard him."
Chusi's eyed grew wide with concern, she looked around herself, but couldn't see anyone. "Where?" she asked. She would stay calm on the outside for Alyona, but inside she was seething. She wanted to find the bastard and smash his head in so her friend would never feel this fear again.
"I don't know," she whispered, letting a second tear fall.
"You're not alone, Ally. I'm here," she assured. "Come on, let's go get to the cafe before the guys worry. Okay?" she said as she placed a comforting hand on Ally's shoulder guiding her down the sidewalk.
They made it into the cafe and found the guys seated at the usual booth.
Bardik looked at his mate and sister suspiciously, "Everything okay?" he asked.
Ally just nodded, and Chusi mouthed the words, "Not now." Bardik looked at Ally and his worry for his sister grew, but the look from his mate said to leave it for now.
"I ordered us some cheese sticks and chicken wings," Bardik said.
This cheered Ally up right away, she loved cheese sticks. When they came the quartet enjoyed the snacks with gusto waiting for their meals. The occasional joke flowed through them and they chatted about their day.
When their food arrived, no one was surprised to see Justin's steak, it was cooked perfectly rare and the potatoes looked amazing. Bardik and Justin's discussion turned to some training ideas they needed for the station when Justin's knife slipped as he was cutting his dinner.
"Ouch," Justin said watching as the blood came from the cut, quickly.
"Hey, are you okay?" Chusi asked, noticing the change in Justin almost immediately.
"Yeah, it's not bad. Why?"
"You're awfully pale for that being a small cut," she said.
"It's not that-" was all that Justin got out before he fainted.
- Writer
