Moonbreeze (The Dragonian Series Book 4) (31 page)

“Princess,” Kevin asked. “Can you tell us what it was like, where you were? The people of Paegeia need to know.”

I looked at Kevin and grabbed his camera and crushed it with my hand. They didn’t need to know shit.

“Blake, will she be okay?” another asked.

I didn’t answer, transformed and watched how many photographers took their pictures. The transformation shredded all my clothes and when my wings were free, I dove into the air, with Becky inside my paw.

Her heart was beating like crazy, her first flight with another, other than George, and not just any other, the massive Rubicon.

I hoped it worked.

We landed at the Academy and one by one we started to transform back after we put down our passengers safely.

“You think that worked?” Becky asked and ripped off her wig.

“I hope so,” I said. I didn’t bargain on Kevin being there, but for the past two days he’d kept giving them the wrong time.

I guessed him not being there would’ve been a huge giveaway that it wasn’t her.

I had to break his camera so that he would remember our deal if he thought about breaking it.

He hadn’t expected it, but the realization of what my action stood for sunk in – if it hadn’t already at the warehouse – now all we had to do was wait and see

ECKY AND SAMMY were both in the room when I got in.

Emanual put my luggage on my bed and just gave me a wary look.

“Elena, if you need anything…don’t hesitate, please. I meant what I said.”

I nodded and smiled faintly.

“Speak to you soon, and take care.” He left. He must have said goodbye with a gesture to the girls because I hadn’t looked at his retreating figure. I started to unpack my bag.

It was silent for a long time.

“Elena.” Sammy’s voice was soft and really close to me. “Please don’t shove us away.”

I looked up. “Sammy!” I couldn’t finish my sentence as tears glistened in my eyes. She grabbed me tight and just held me.

It felt weird. She was a girl, but ever since that night, I really didn’t want to be touched. It made my stomach turn and my heart race. I felt claustrophobic.

To make it worse, Becky hugged me too and they both made me feel like a piece ham in between two slices of bread.

I pushed Sammy away and ran to the bathroom, hunched over the toilet and broke down.

“How long is this going to go on? I don’t know if I can do this.” Becky spoke softly.

“As long as it takes, we don’t have a choice.” Sammy’s voice broke. “I can’t even imagine what it was she went through.”

“Shhh, don’t cry. She’s one of the toughest chicks I know and—” Her Cammy buzzed and I could hear her sigh, but then everything went silent.

She wielded a shield to shove me out of that conversation. Ironic. But to be honest I didn’t really care. I had too many problems to deal with at the moment.

I thought about everything that had happened the past four months. How much it ached to see Billy every time I saw him, because he looked like Blake. Anger filled my core again as I realized that pain was all for nothing. Blake was alive.

I didn’t know if I would ever be able to look at him again.

I was glad that I’d made that promise to my father to not free the people of Paegeia, as it meant that I didn’t need to go on this stupid expedition with Blake.

I could decline. I finally had a reason now and didn’t even have to tell anybody the truth about why I didn’t want to.

I’d felt like an idiot that day that I’d thought that I was dead when I saw him. Asking for my mom like that.

When I eventually got out of the bathroom Becky and Sammy were gone.

I was happy that they’d left. I really couldn’t deal with their pity and their stares, not to mention what all the tabloids had printed about me the past couple of days.

I didn’t even care anymore.

I opened my bed and just crawled in.

It felt just like the time after Lucian’s death. I just wanted to sleep. If I could find a way to sleep for eternity, that would be just fine with me.

“I’M WORRIED ABOUT Elena.”

I chuckled. “You say that as if I’m not, Constance. The girls have been taking her food, but she hardly eats any, and she’s been sleeping now for what, five days?” I shook my head. I didn’t want to think about it anymore but whenever I closed my eyes all I could see was seven bastards and …

“It’s not your fault, Blake.”

“Constance, I could’ve saved her, and I didn’t.”

“You tried, you couldn’t find her.”

“Exactly my point!”

She jumped slightly.

“I thought if she was back, it would be easier but it’s not. It’s ten times fucking harder.”

“Blake I know you are frustrated.”

“It’s more than just frustration, Constance. I can’t help her. I couldn’t then and I can’t still. I feel so fucking useless.”

“Just calm down Blake, I’ll make sure that she is okay. I’ll go check up on her tonight, see if I can’t speak to her about this. Make sure she gets something in her system. She needs to get out of that room otherwise…”

“Yeah, if it’s not already too late…”

“Blake, you can’t give up.”

“Constance, I’ll never give up, ever. I just want her to be okay.”

“She will be, in time. It’s all we can give her.”

“She needs to speak to someone about all of this.”

“I’ll try, but I think that is still too soon. There are phases with this sort of thing. Elena still needs to take that first step into the first phase. It’s your time to be patient now.”

“JUST LEAVE ME alone!” I yelled and the plate of food that was in Constance’s hands fell to the floor.

“Elena, this has to stop!” Becky yelled back.

“Becky, step out,” Constance ordered.

“No! She’s just giving up. Just like last time. You are not going to give up.” She pushed hard with her hands on my bed, “You will get out of this bed, Elena. So help me I will throw you out that window.”

“You think it’s so easy just to dust everything off and be all happy again. IT’S NOT! You have no idea what it is I went through.”

“Then tell me, do something to make us understand! At least you would be doing something, Elena. This is pathetic,
pathetic
. Deal with it like you always do, and move the hell on with your life.”

George barged in. “Becky, enough!”

“Get the hell out of my room. She needs to hear this.”

“No, she doesn’t.”

“George, I mean it.”

He grunted. “Please, Becky.”

I covered my ears. This was the part where Becky liked to order George around and he had no choice but to do as she said.

“No, and to be honest, I’ll deal with the consequences, she needs to know the truth.”

What truth?

She looked back at me. “Elena, please—” she started but the door opened again.

“Just leave me alone please,” I begged her, but she wasn’t looking at me anymore. She was looking at the door.

“Get the hell out of my room,” she said again but no reply came. I wielded my shield and closed my eyes and didn’t want to be here at all.

Everything disappeared. When I eventually opened my eyes again Constance was still next to my bed. She waited patiently.

I let down my shield.

My heart beat so fast and I couldn’t hold my tears anymore.

I buried my face in my pillow and just screamed. I was so angry.

I felt Constance’s hand stroking me softly. “I’m worried about you and I’m not the only one, Elena.”

I didn’t even care.

“I don’t know what else to do anymore. This has been going on for what, three weeks now? I’ve tried everything; checked up on you on a daily basis for the past two weeks. I’ve done and said all I can. Please, you are stronger than this.” She sniffed hard and her lips brushed my temple softly. “I love you sweetheart, like you are my own daughter, but I can’t help you if you don’t want it. So, it’s up to you now kiddo. Get out of this bed, eat something and get fresh air in your lungs. Please.”

She kissed me again, got up and I could hear the door closing behind her.

“PLEASE, CONSTANCE. I’M begging you, don’t give up.”

“Blake, I’ve tried. I can’t see her like that anymore.”

“You don’t know what you have. It was so hard to just grab Becky and get her the hell out of there. I would give anything just to be that close to her, please!”