Page 25 of The Beginning
I looked over at Captain Connar, and he nodded and took a few steps forward."Come along.I'll help you gather your things."
There was kindness in his voice, a gentleness I hadn't expected.After all the accusations and revelations, this stranger was offering me the courtesy that my own commander had withdrawn.
Helplessly, feeling like nothing but a leaf in a whirling storm, I watched as Connar went to the door and opened it, standing back to let me exit.The gesture was respectful, almost deferential.
I took a step toward the door, looking back over my shoulder at the commander.He kept his head bowed toward the desk, refusing to look up, effectively letting me know that I was no longer his concern.The man who'd shaped my career couldn't even meet my eyes as I left.
So be it.I'd been cast out, and I had only one path before me.I squared my shoulders and walked through the door, trying to summon some shred of dignity from the wreckage of my life.
Connar followed behind me, closing the door with a soft click that sounded like finality itself.
We walked down the hall together, our boot steps in concert.I didn't speak, didn't look left or right, unable to meet the eyes of people we were passing.Every face would be a reminder of what I was losing, every familiar corridor a farewell I wasn't ready to make.
The halls that had been my home for the past year felt different now, like I was already a ghost haunting places where I no longer belonged.
With each step, I became less a member of the King's Guards, and closer to being Captain of the Watchers of the Veil.
Chapter Eleven
Marigold
The Human Realm
* * *
Idrove through the winding countryside, the trees blowing by, weaving the car in and out of traffic with a laser focus.It was like I was sixteen again, reliving those years but this time I imagined I'd made different choices and rebelled the way Calyx had.Stealing Dad's car and racing off...My God...I'd never done anything like that when I was her age.Even in the years since then, I tried to recall doing anything at all to upset my parents intentionally.I couldn't think of anything.
The freedom that Calyx had, the feeling that she could make this kind of choice–was that what it meant to have grown up with love?Or at least the idea of love?
I shook my head.I didn't want to go there right now.Nope.Nope.I needed to focus, stay on task, and fall apart later.
But my mind kept drifting to my family and all the thoughts that had come today, unbidden and unstoppable.Anymore, I felt like we were just orbiting each other, like I was placed here by some whim of birth.My parents, unable to send me back to wherever, tolerated me.I was the bruised apple in the bunch, the lackluster, tarnished piece in the shiny set of silver.
Pulling over, I opened the map app on my phone and cued up the church's location.Even if I flew at top speed, I wouldn’t get there until after dark.I set my phone on the console and settled in, leaning back in the seat, letting the leather upholstery mold to me as I drove back out onto the road.I smiled as I imagined Mother's face when she realized I'd left.That I had, for once, defied a direct order.I hoped Karissa wouldn't receive the brunt of that.
The media would have a field day.What could it possibly mean?Were both Blaine daughters in danger?They would ask questions and Mother would do everything she could to keep them from reporting it; attempt to deflect any kind of innuendo or hidden meaning to be gleaned from my behavior.
I sometimes wished our family were not famous, were not Founders in our corner of the world.That was just the human side of things, not even counting my mother's standing in the magical world.I definitely wished my mother was not running for office.It was exhausting.Everything we did came back to her, and that meant she was always wanting to know what I was up to.
I knew I sounded like a spoiled brat.It was easy to say I didn't want something when it wasn't going to happen.Whatever.Right now, the only thing in my mind was the vision.The priest.The man with the emerald-colored eyes.And the animal...What the hell was that about?
I had no idea what I'd find at this church, if anything.
But I knew that after this, nothing would ever be the same again.
For the first time in my life, that notion seemed like it could be a good thing.
Even better, I wasn't afraid.That was also a good thing.I'd spent a lot of my life afraid, even after I'd moved away.Afraid of upsetting Mother.Afraid of getting into trouble somehow.Afraid for Calyx.Not anymore.
Definitely a good thing.
Taking a tighter grip on the steering wheel, I took a deep breath, readying myself for whatever was ahead.
* * *
The scene from the church kept going through my mind.How did it fit in with my sister leaving?Calyx had always been a party girl, not one for taking things seriously.A socialite, she regularly made headlines in the gossip page of the paper.Or the top of the latest social media site.Famous for being famous.For being a Blaine.Not doing anything worthwhile on her own.But at seventeen, I didn't blame her.Who wouldn't take advantage of that opportunity at her age?
Granted, I never did.I didn't see the appeal.The truth was, I didn't like people very much.I had no desire to participate in the popularity contest.Part of me wondered if that was because even ten years ago, the people around us could see that I wasn't the favored child, that I was the unwanted Blaine.I definitely did not want to go anywhere where the paparazzi could take my picture and misconstrue a story the following day.No, thanks.
