Cyrosphere: Hidden Lives (8 page)

Not just a gap from Diego saving Ginger from her grief. After three strenuous hours with Caleb drilling her with war strategies and ethical dilemmas she wondered for the thousandth time was she the one from the prophecy. She was no witch but everything seemed to be guiding her in that direction. That all she knew was limited and Ginger wished she flat out asked Malcolm. Regret was the most difficult and time consuming part of her life.

                                                        Chapter 21:

Later while writing in her journal in Lucy’s study-office she wondered if this lump of what ifs would go away. She would always wonder and she missed her parents all the time. Life was turned upside down and nothing these days turned out how it should have.

This was most evident in the two days since she turnned 17 and she promised Monica and Hannah that she would take her DMV test with them. That was something she could never do with Monica who was still in intensive care. Ginger felt responsible and had been keeping constant tabs on her well-being. Monica hadn’t always been her favorite person but they had been through a lot together.

Closing her eyes to try and block the tears that were flowing. She had to close her journal to take a second to calm down. Getting up out of the sofa to stretch and she happened to notice that Lucy had tons of awards on her walls. She was happy that Lucy was in meetings all day or else she wouldn’t have any privacy at this point. All the awards were thanking her or recognize the philanthropic generosity that she inspired.

The picture of Lucy with children in the cancer ward made Ginger question her doubt about her. She pushed that aside, grabbed her journal and bolted to her room to get ready for her date with Diego. She called Hannah on the way to her room to catch up with her.

Ginger was thrilled and said, “You sure you aren’t busy”?

She listened and smiled as they set up plans.

Ginger says, “Ok. Talk to you tomorrow. Good night. I appreciate the best wishes part”.

The DMV test with her bestfriend was off but maybe they could have lunch to celebrate her birthday. And bring Frost along she missed them a lot. Pushing them from her thoughts as she grabbed the baby blue knee length dress from her closet. She had it pressed and laid it on the bed. Ginger quickly showered and applied light make-up before smiling to herself in the mirror.

Grabbing a few condoms and putting them in her purse as she headed out the door. It was only a quarter till seven with the sun barely starting to set. She nestled close to Diego as they watched the sun set before dinner.

Dinner was delicious and she order desert. A wonderful slice of cream flavored slice of cake that she split with her boyfriend. Ginger was practically floating about the time she left and glad she put off her meeting with Jonathan for a few nights. She needed to clear her head, joggle her options and make a wise decision. That night Ginger had another lustful and passionate embrace with Diego.

She sat outside under the moon and wrote. That journal was her saving grace; what kept her sane and helped her organize her life. Ginger sat hugging her journal looking up at the moon allowing her sadness to wisps away. It was painful to think about her parents and not being there anymore for guidance but she had to let that pain go.

Ginger got up from the balcony and went back to their room smiling watching him while he slept. His mouth hanging slightly open, a little hum escaping his mouth as he exhaled and she snuggled in beside him. His warmth was nice, washing away that tiny bite of loneness she bottled up.

Waking up to the smell of coffee and Ginger couldn’t help but smile. Diego handed her a cup of tea but the smell of coffee always made her think of home. In the bedroom with just him, Ginger felt at home and peace.

Ginger thought, “I wonder if this meeting with Jonathan is the best decision”.

She had been anticipating if he would just come out and tell her who murdered her parents or what else he knew. So when his text came in giving her directions to his location. She shot out of bed, kissing Diego as she rushed to get ready. Twenty minutes later Ginger found herself sitting across from him in a tiny Brazilian restaurant and wondered had he tricked her.

Ginger asked, “Do you really know the truth about what happened to my parents”?

Jonathan sighed and replied, “If I didn’t would you be sitting here”?

She hadn’t told Diego or anyone else about none of what she learned. Before she could jump into her questioning Victor appeared before them and took a seat without being asked.

Victor says, “Jonathan; been a while. Let’s catch up”.

The vampire being ancient should have had better manners but Ginger was pushing down her anger and frustration.
 

Ginger says, “Can’t you do that later”?

She looked at him and wanted to slap him for joining them without permission which is beyond rude. Something her mom used to say popped in her head that killing others with kindness was the best revenge.

Victor responded, “Perhaps, but the current company is too much of a
n coincide to pass up this opportunity”.

Ginger plastered on a smile and decided to act civilized.

She asked, “What brought Victor here today besides brunch”?

Victor
replied, “You and your delightful presence”.

Ginger was stunned into he spoke again.

Victor says, “You a untrained girl who bested a superior indigo and put a powerful fairy, who is currently in a comma”.

The response ignited her and it took a moment for Ginger to recover.

She replied, “That the unfortunate consequence of Monica was unforeseen but she would do it again if had to stop some lady from hurting others and trying to kill her”.

The calm response obviously isn’t what Victor expected when Lucy joined there little group.

Ginger thought, “This was one too many unexpected guests”.

Ginger says, “Excuse me”.

She was angry so just had left. Happy that she learned to build walls up to block others from her thoughts or else Victor might realize she despised him. That wasn’t the correct word but didn’t like his presence and he might be the one that she was trying to uncover. Perhaps it was Lucy but one of the pair had a secret she planned to uncover.

Chapter 22:

Not wanting to return to her room just yet Ginger decided to go for a run. She went to her room and changed clothes before heading back out. She didn’t want to focus on her life but when she was running it was bond to come up. And obvious things weren’t what they seemed. Pieces were jumbled up but at the end of six miles she was clear of tension.

About time Ginger got back to her room and ran the water for a bath. She grabbed a paperback and sat in the tub allowing the hot water to soothe her pain.

Ginger thought, “Thirty minutes of calm will do me some good”.

Later that day she was on her way down to the dinning hall for lunch. Diego and she sat together while they ate.

Diego says, “I noticed you have been silent all day. Is there a reason”?

She had no more excuses to keep what was going on from him.

Ginger responds, “Let’s go some where to talk in private”.

They got up and went out to the garden which she loved to go from time to time. The garden reminded her of her dad and the wisdom that he had. Ginger missed her parents and the relationship she had with both of them. If anything she wish she had more time but with Diego she felt complete.

Ginger says, “I haven’t been trying to keep this from you. Just a bad, complicated situation”.

Their relationship was built on trust so when she didn’t tell him immediately he would understand as she kissed him.

Ginger told him, “I have a lot to tell you so just listen so I can get everything out in the open”.

Thirty minutes later Ginger told him everything that had happened with Lucy and Jonathan last night. The mysterious Victor an obstacle she hadn’t anticipated and his sudden appearance today amplified the possibility he may be the one who killed her parents. Diego has known Lucy a short while but swore she could be trusted yet the meeting with Jonathan late at night was suspicious.

Diego says, “There are a few explanations for what they had met last night in private”.

Ginger waits but he had none at the moment so the confirmed her belief that she was a suspect. Question everyone and everything that one knows or thinks they know. Ginger looked at Diego and hoped he was right before they went their separate ways. She was done being suspicious and was going to talk to Jonathan face to face as a friend to get some results.

             
                            Chapter 23:

She cleared her mind to allow her body to shift from solid to a shadow. The transformation was like looking into a mirror allowing her old self to vanish. She was light and glided out of her room toward the sky. The world vanished beneath her while she cleared her mind to search for Jonathan’s essence. Each person has a unique aura or essence that can be located, tracked or found if concentrated on. 

Locating Jonathan on this planet was a lot more difficult then she originally estimated. His signature wasn’t registering anywhere so she needed to try harder. This was the results of all her training, honing her abilities to track people. Focusing her mind and she felt a faint buzz of his presence in a bar.

The bar was dark, dank and smelt of sour whiskey when she materialized in the back by the bathrooms. No worries about being carded by doing this so she can talk to him without interruption She spotted Lucy and Jonathan talking quietly in the dark corner.

Lucy seemed to be enjoying his company which was shocking from what she saw last night and it was clear by watching them that they had history. A past that they had shared intimate moments that she had stepped in the middle of. The closer she got to their table, a giggling Lucy straighten when she caught sight of Ginger. Jonathan didn’t seem concern with her presence.

Jonathan grinned and encouraging said, “Please take a seat”.

She joined them and ordered lemonade waiting to see which of the pair would spill what was going on.

Lucy says, “Jonathan. You sure you wan to do this here”?

 
Jonathan replies, “The girl has come for answers. Let’s chat and see what is unveiled tonight”.

Hours passed and Ginger texted Diego she would see him tomorrow. After the second drink and sharing stories Lucy was a happily drunk but a happy drunk. She looked at her watch and it was 1:08 in the morning. Jonathan was watching her closely.

Jonathan says, “How about another round”?

Lucy responds instantly, “Yes. Make mine a double”.

He got up to get another round of drinks for the table. Lucy jumped up
at that moment to change the song on the jux box. Ginger was swaying left to right in her chair from the smooth jazz song playing getting in the groove of friends sitting and passing stories. They didn’t much ask her opinion as they spoke but Ginger was still part of the conversation.

Ginger wondered, “Was this how friends (adults) hang out”.

Lucy returned and started refreshing her makeup at the table. Seconds later Jonathan returned with drinks as Lucy put away her compact mirror. Taking a tiny sip and noticing her lemonade was now a lemon drop. She took a larger gulp to mask the liquor before listening to the mellow jazz change to a drum filled club song. It had rhythm and she felt odd suddenly as her vision blurred.

Ginger tried to stand up but stumbled as she looked over at Lucy who was now passed out on the table. She looked at Jonathan and his grin seemed devilish in that moment which intensified her need to run away from him.

Ginger says, “What did you put in my drink”?