Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) (20 page)

             
"
Honey, he doesn’t hate you. I think he wants to shake you, but there is nothing but love in his eyes.
"
El flipped open a magazine.

             
"
Do you think Aylin is right?
"

             
El didn’t look at Terra when she answered.
"
I think Aylin thinks she is right. She spent a long time alone, you know. It’s her comfort zone.
"

             
It was a sad thought, being more comfortable alone. Terra always had the support of her father, mother and Blake. She never had been able to hold in her thoughts to herself. She had the feeling of bursting if she held something in too long.

             
The thought occurred to Terra that Aylin could be hiding something from them, something important. Especially since she knew Aylin isn’t alone, she had El and her. Terra thought about this for a while, chewing on her lip. Nothing came to her. They were fighting to keep the earth safe, The Rune safe. What more could there be to it? She finally gave up and moved to the couch and grabbed her book.

             
She had only gotten through two pages when her mind began to drift. Images of the sea slowly turned in her mind, and a tropical island. Her toes curled in the warm white sand, and the sweet salty air whirled around her carrying the scent of pineapple and coconut. The water was turquoise blue and the sea was calm. The heat of the sun kissed her skin and the light twinkled on the sea. She sat down and dipped her feet into the water that was lapping the shore.

             
A haunting tune filled her ears, coming from the jungle that was to her back. She began humming the tune, and then realized she had been reading in her own living room. She should be listening to the crackling fire in her fireplace. She gritted her teeth.
"
El!
"
she snapped. El stopped humming and snickered in the corner of the room and the tropical island faded away replaced by her living room. The fire crackled in the stone fireplace, and the weight of her book was in her hands again.
"
That’s not funny.
"

             
"
Oh yeah it is. You were all moony-eyed,
"
El said crossing her legs over the wooden arm of the chair.

             
Terra decided this would be as good a time as ever to get to know El more. She’d mostly been talking to Aylin, and if they were supposed to be linked to each other she needed to feel a better connection with El.
"
So-
"

             
"
It’s a long story Terra,
"
El said, not looking up from her magazine.

             
"
What?
"
She frowned.

             
"
You want to know my story. I’m telling you it’s a long one.
"
She raised an eyebrow and turned the page in her magazine.

             
"
How did you know what I was going to ask?
"

             
El shrugged.
"
Your face is easy to read. You’ve been giving me that look since we got here. I knew the minute we were alone together you would ask.
"

             
"
Are you going to tell me?
"

             
She shut the magazine and set it on the arm of the chair.
"
It’s not interesting, but if you want to be bored-
"

             
"
Nothing about you is boring.
"
Terra set her book aside and drew her knees up, ready for the tale of El.

             
El snorted.
"
Okay, you asked,
"
she sighed.
"
I grew up in Seattle with my parents and two brothers. My family owns a chain of banks that my grandfather founded, and my father owns his own branch. My brothers already have their hands in the business, so it wasn’t a big deal when I had no interest in banking. I mean, it’s horribly boring, you know?
"
She shifted in her seat.
"
But I’m guessing you don’t care much for the business end in my story.
"

             
Terra shook her head in response.
             

             
"
When I was born my parents knew I was different, but they weren’t really sure as to what was different about me. I don’t look like anyone in my family since they are all brown haired, short and pale. I’m as opposite to them as possible. I think for a while my father even accused my mother of cheating on him. Until one day someone came to our home. I remember this man looked like a giant to me, but I was seven then and all adults were giants to me. He explained to my parents what I was, what I was going to be, and he made them understand. I’m not sure how, since I’m the first in the family to have the gene, but they understood and after that day I was treated differently. I was allowed to do whatever I pleased, really.

             
"
Then the day came when I turned eighteen and all hell broke loose, as you well know how that goes. My parents locked me in my room for a week because they didn’t know what I would do. After a week my mother came into my room.

             
"'
We have an account set aside for you, and we’ll always make sure there is enough money in it for you to live on. Tomorrow you will leave this home, and live your life the way you were meant to. But we can’t have you staying here. People have already been talking too much about you, about how different you are. We need our normal lives back, but I want to make sure you will be safe. You have a place in Le Cordon Bleu cooking school, so you can do something with yourself.’ She was trying to be nice, but they didn’t want me in their lives anymore.
"
It was hard for El to talk about, the feeling of desertion was bitter.

             
"
I can’t believe they just threw you out!
"
Terra’s face was flushed with anger.
"
I should go tell them what a-
"

             
"
It’s okay.
"
El held up her hands.
"
I’m better off without them. They had no idea how to handle me, and first chance they could be free of me they took it. I’ve had a great life with Aylin. She scared the shit out of me at first…
"
El rolled her eyes at the memory.
"
I was still in Seattle and had just finished school. Imagine leaving a dance club, in the middle of the night, and when you go into your apartment that you live by yourself in, there in the middle of your living room is a bright light that turns out to be Aylin. I’m amazed I didn’t have a heart attack.
"

             
Terra had to laugh at the thought of something actually scaring El. But she knew the feeling, when Aylin found her she had been scared out of her mind.
"
I can believe it.
"

             
"
She wasn’t as gentle then as she is now, her mom’s death was still fresh for her, and it had hardened some of her edges. Once I calmed down around her she moved me into her home.
"

             
"
I wonder who it was that came to your parents home?
"
Terra wondered.

             
El shook her head.
"
Aylin and I tried to find out, but my parents won’t have anything to do with me. I don’t think we’ll ever be able to find out. Sometimes I wonder why the man didn’t just take me with him.
"

             
"
If he did, you might not be who you are today.
"
Terra shrugged.

             
El smiled at her.
"
Right you are.
"

             
Terra's fingers worried the edge of the cushion she perched on.

             
"What else is it?" El asked.

             
"Well, I was just wondering…" Terra murmured.

             
"What?" El asked with impatience.

             
"You said you are haunted now by someone else's memories from when you tried to use The Rune's magic, and I thought maybe you could share what those memories are," Terra looked over to El and realized she had pushed to far.

             
El's green eyes turned to stone, and her scowl was set firmly. Terra swore the temperature dropped a few degrees in the room despite the fire they sat in front of. Without a word El picked up her magazine and with severe calmness she opened it and began thumbing through the pages.

             
"El, it's okay to talk about it. What if it could help?" Terra offered tentatively.

             
"Stop right there, Terra," El barely whispered. "Never ask me it again. Ever."

             
Terra frowned and looked down at her book. She wondered what kind of memories they were that scared El so much.

             
It was a few hours later when Aylin walked in the door. Neither El nor Terra looked up at her. She walked to the fireplace and put her hands out to warm them. She couldn’t believe what she was going to say to them, and she needed to choose her words carefully. She sat down on the stone ledge, facing them.
"
We are supposed to be a united force against the witches. It’s impossible to do that when we are at odds.
"
Terra looked up at her. She waited for El.

             
Once El tore her eyes from the fashion magazine she continued.
"
If you think it is safe to tell Blake, I am going to put my trust in you. I don’t agree with it, but El might be right. There might be something more to him.
"
She decided not to tell them about Finn for now. Telling Blake was enough for them to think about for now. Finn had seemed friendly, and no harm came to her from talking to him.

             
Terra jumped off the couch, sending her book flying to the floor.
"
Really?
"
she shrieked.
"
Thank you Aylin.
"
She pulled Aylin up and hugged her hard.
"
I won’t let you down.
"

             
"
It’s not you I’m worried about.
"
She looked over at El.

             
"
Why the change of heart?
"
El asked.

             
"
Two against one.
"
Aylin shrugged and pulled away from Terra.
"
When would you like to tell him?
"

             
"
Now!
"
She ran for the phone.

             
"
Well, this will be interesting,
"
El said and stretched her legs, pointing her toes.

             
Blake looked around the circle that the three women formed around him in the living room. Terra’s eyes were wide with anticipation and Eliana looked amused, however, Aylin looked very guarded.
"
Give me a break.
"
He shook his head.
"
Terra, did you bring them here to make up this ridiculous story? You are on drugs, all three of you. Right?
"

             
"
No, Blake. None of us are on drugs. You wanted to know what is going on with Terra, and now you finally know.
"
Aylin was standing in front of the fireplace.

             
"
You really expect me to believe you are all magical beings?
"

             
"
Yes,
"
Terra’s voice shook.

             
Blake looked over at his sister. Her eyes were large and glassy, watching his every move.
"
Faeries? As in Tinkerbelle or Fairy Godmother?
"
he asked.

             
Terra punched him in the arm.
"
Seriously Blake? Out of everything you could ask?
"