Page 109 of Fated to Monsters

“Really?” I ask her.

She bobs her head up and down. “It doesn’t serve me to hold onto all that anger. Hanging on to grudges is like poisoning yourself over and over. Eventually, you have to be the one to stop, move on, and recognize that you can’t control anything other than how you react to situations. Did I hate him for what he did? Absolutely. But I had to stop giving him that power over me long after he was gone. I defeated him. I was strong enough to withstand any attack if he came back. There was no chance he would ever have the upper hand on me again. And with that, I finally gave myself permission to let go. I forgave him, but I would never forget. That was enough for me.”

“You are a wise woman, Willow.”

She chuckles. “When you’ve been through the shit I have, you learn a thing or two.” Willow puts the car into gear and pulls us out of the parking lot in front of the school. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you all about it.”

I press the button to lower my window and shove my arm out. “That would be nice.”

* * *

We step into the kitchen of Sydney’s house to find everyone gathered around. Jade sits on the counter with Everest standing between her legs. Just the sight of him warms my heart, something I wasn’t sure I would experience again when he was brutally injured in Prania. Somehow, I had shoved healing magic into him before forcing him to return home. I still don’t understand how I did it, but Sydney and Willow have told me that magic doesn’t always make sense, and you have to come to terms with not knowing the hows or whys.

If only I could figure it out though, because then I would have the ability to help those in need. Until then, I’ll keep trying to uncover whatever lies hidden inside of me that allowed me to heal him.

Bo leans against the wall in the far corner with his arms folded over his chest. He’s been more present lately, but still stays just on the edge like he’s ready to leave at any moment. Either way, I’m grateful that he runs away a heck of a lot less lately.

Dash sits on a stool at the counter with Sydney standing opposite of him. Wes shuts the refrigerator door and pops the top on something called cherry cola. It’s too fizzy for my liking, but Wes can’t get enough of the bubbly drink.

Willow walks directly over to Sydney and wraps her arm around his waist. He slings his arm over her shoulder and pulls her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“Missed you,” he whispers.

She tugs him tighter. “Missed you more.”

The love they share flows out in heaps.

“How did it go?” Dash asks us.

“Really well,” I tell him as I approach and climb into the stool next to him.

“She’s a natural,” Willow adds.

“Sounds a little like you, Mrs. I-didn’t-know-I-was-a-witch,” Sydney teases Willow.

She giggles and pokes him in the ribs. “I can’t help that I was a late bloomer.”

Dash drags the hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. “I’m glad it went well.”

I look across the way at Everest. “You feeling okay?”

He rubs Jade’s legs and nods. “Better each day.”

“I was doing some thinking,” Sydney says as he shifts from light-hearted to serious mode. “This house…prior to you all coming here. It was just sitting empty.” He glances at each of us before continuing. “I don’t know why I ever hung on to it, really, but maybe this is why. Maybe I knew someone would come along that needed it. So, here’s me formally offering it to you. If you’d like to stay, it’s yours for the taking.”

“You’re not serious,” I say in disbelief.

Sydney chuckles. “I am.”

"I don't know how we would ever afford it," I tell him. It's not like any of us have Earth money or Earth jobs. I can't imagine living in a place like this would be cheap, and I don't know the first thing about owning a home.

“We would work those details out if you say yes. The house is paid off, the only real cost would be utilities, taxes, and upkeep." He looks at Willow briefly. "You don't need to make a decision now. You can think about it. The house isn’t going anywhere.” Sydney slides his hand down Willow’s arm and weaves his fingers through hers. “We’ll get out of your hair and let you talk it over. No hard feelings either way.”

Willow walks over and latches onto my hand with her free one. She gives it a gentle squeeze. "I hope you'll stay." She releases me and the two of them disappear in the direction she and I had come from only moments ago.

The door shuts behind them, sealing us in here with the gracious proposal they gave us and the silence of everyone being lost in their own thoughts.

“I wouldn’t mind living here a bit longer until we figure out our next move,” Jade is the first to speak. “It would be nice to catch our breath for once.”

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