Forged in Light (The Forged Chronicles Book 4) Page 4

  I groaned. "You promise you didn't send those actors?" I believed she probably hadn’t, but I needed to make sure before I went back to obsessing over what had actually happened.

  "Nope. Just my cousin and that sounds way better doesn't it?" Her voice was light again. She thought she had skirted a fight. I guess she had. Compared to Elf boy and his hot friend, Grace pushing her cousin on me didn’t sound like such a big deal.

  "Better than actors." I slowed down at a traffic light and took a moment to figure out where I was. I’d been driving around long enough that I had lost track of my location. I finally noticed a street sign and regained my bearings.

  "You there?" Grace asked.

  "Yeah. Sorry. Just thinking." I was thinking about James, and the way he’d questioned me about Yogurt Love. Normally I didn’t like when a guy was argumentative—but it worked with him. If he had been a normal guy—and not either an actor or someone with a screw loose—I might have even wanted to see him again. Ugh. How could I even think that way? Wasn’t I the one who was saying I wanted to stay away from guys? What was it about James that got under my skin? He was attractive, but I knew it went way beyond looks.

  "It's not too late to meet up with Brad. He's seen your picture and really wants to meet you. He’s looking to meet someone, and who knows, you might like him. Will you at least meet him?”

  "No thanks.” I had no interest in meeting her cousin. Even if he was perfect I was sure the relationship would end, and I’d lose my last friend. It wasn’t happening. “I’m not mad, but no more trying to trick me into dating. I have enough in my life to deal with already.”

  “Ok. I’ll at least warn you next time.”

  I laughed, but it was forced. “Have a good night, Grace."

  “You promise you’re okay?” There was some genuine worry in her voice.

  “I’m fine. Absolutely fine.”

  “Yet you are still convinced they were Elf ears?” There went the skepticism again. “I mean you are positive it wasn’t just the light or a guy with pointy ears? People have weird ears sometimes.”

  “Maybe that’s it. Thanks for pointing it out.” There was no point arguing if it was only going to make things weirder. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll call you tomorrow.” I hung up before she could ask any other questions. I was completely unsure of what to do next. If Grace didn't send over those guys, who did? My ex wouldn't. He was a royal jerk, but he was a happy royal jerk now that he was with my step-sister. This was different. It was weird. So weird. There was no one from either of my jobs who would have done it either.

  Maybe Grace was right, and I'd imagined the ears. Except James saw him too and hadn’t he noticed? I tried to remember, but I had spent more time staring at him than actually listening. One positive from the second encounter with Elron was I knew James’ name. I was glad to have a name even though I never planned to see the guy again. There were no rules against fantasies. Those were safer and wouldn’t mess up my life when they were over.

  Maybe I was losing my mind, or maybe it was sleep deprivation. It had been months since I’d had a solid night of sleep. That was it. I’d get sleep and hopefully wouldn’t end up as some viral joke. Sometimes a bad night could put things in perspective.

  After a few minutes of mindless driving I turned around and headed back toward the Battery. At least if I had to live somewhere temporarily it was in a gorgeous location, and a much safer neighborhood than I could ever dream to afford.

  I assumed the actors —or whoever the hell they were—had already given up on me. Even if on the off chance they followed me, they wouldn’t have a key to the house. If I could get inside, I’d be fine.

  I checked my rearview mirror over and over and saw nothing suspicious. They’d given up. I would be able to put the crazy night behind me.

  I drove the short distance home and parked in the drive. I wasn’t allowed to use the garage because the owner was storing something there. It wasn’t a big deal, but I had my share of ideas for what might be waiting inside. If it was a car, I was positive it was a whole lot nicer than mine.

  I checked over my shoulder twice before getting out of the car and heading to the door. A cold breeze blew, making me hurry up the steps. I glanced over my shoulder again as I unlocked the door and quickly locked it behind me. I double checked the lock twice before slipping off my shoes and heading into the large kitchen. It was tastefully done, but I was surprised the owners hadn’t updated it. Then again there was something charming about the old countertops. Granite might have taken away from the overall feel of the place and altered the character. In some ways it was as if time had stood still in the house.

  The thought of a late night snack appealed, but a glass of wine sounded even better. I filled a tumbler two-thirds full with some left over Cab Sav. Although I was broke, there were certain luxuries I indulged in. I walked down the hall to the living room. At least there was a big screen TV to keep me company.

  I moved through my entertainment options slowly, gradually realizing there was nothing particularly good. Instead I settled into watching a repeat episode of my favorite house renovation show. My life was getting lamer by the second, but there was comfort in the lameness. I would take it over stress in a heartbeat. The loneliness was another story, but I could handle it. That is if I could ever shake the image of James’ face from my mind.

  6

  James

  Elron was crazy. I could almost believe the time travel thing, but the poison? That was taking things to a whole other level. And if he was telling the truth, it was even worse. Me poisoning Ainsley? It was absurd. I tried to shrug off his words, but the thought of my father’s return chilled me to the core.

  There was no way. He was dead, and I would make sure he stayed that way. Still, there was a part of me that trusted Elron’s word and accepted there was a grain of truth in the story he shared. Besides there had to be some reason for his appearance. An Elf would never waste his time chasing down just any human. She was special, and for a reason other than the way she made me ache.

  I stared up at the large white house, my mind playing memories on repeat. I had spent so many hours inside those walls, but none of the people who shared those memories were inside now. Ainsley was. I was unsure of what to make of that. Monty having a daughter? It was hard to imagine but fully possible. He had lived in the human world for years, even playing college sports. No one would have expected him to stay celibate, but he was not the type of man to run off on his offspring. If she was his daughter, I was positive he had never known of her existence.

  “You know she is never going to open the door for us.” I brushed aside the memories and thoughts of Monty. Although I had not been the one to take his life, my father had. Whether my friends blamed me directly for it or not, it was a guilt I would live with for the rest of my life.

  “Maybe if you are the one to knock.” He suggested.

  “I appreciate your confidence, but no matter how she looked at me, she is not going to invite me into her home—although that reminds me. You never told me how it became her home. Last I knew Stan and Emma still owned it.”

  “From what she told me, she is watching the house for the owners. I believe she used the term housesitting.”

  “So they know she is Monty’s daughter?”

  “It all has something to do with a professor I believe. That part of her story was a tad confusing, and I was more concerned with other parts. We can ask her ourselves if we can get close enough to talk to her.”

  “Other parts?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “Of her story of course.”

  I nodded, not wanting to get into a disagreement when I still had no real clue what we were up against. “I know another way in if she refuses to let us in the front.”

  “Oh yes.” Elron grinned. “That is how you met last time I believe.”

  “Meaning?” I tried to follow.

  “She found you in her bed. From what I know she was in a towel only.” E
lron’s face reddened. “I do not think your initial meeting went quite as well as this one.”

  My mind immediately went to picturing Ainsley in nothing but a towel.

  “None of that.” Elron seemed to read my mind. “We have no time to waste.”

  “I would not say this meeting went well considering I have to find a way to beg her to speak with me, but I need to know more. Why would I have been in her bed?” Then I thought of something. “She sleeps in Charlotte’s room.”

  “She does.”

  “Of course. Before I met her I was contemplating coming back here to sleep, but she sobered me up.” I was no longer tired, and the effect of the alcohol had faded away. “And she still came with me, even after I snuck into the home she was watching?” That part floored me considering how wary she was of me tonight. I wondered what changed after the initial meeting.

  “Evidently.” Elron shrugged.

  “As she has run from me already I doubt she will afford me the same leeway this time, so maybe we try the door first.” We needed to do this right. As the daughter of Monty, Ainsley needed to see Energo—no matter what else was going on.

  “Yes, and we should tell her we are here about her father. That is the knowledge she seeks the most.”

  “Are you suggesting we trick her, or do you have that knowledge?” I did not want to let her down even though seeing her again was at the top of my priority list. That kind of break in trust might be impossible to fix. I refused to take the chance.

  “Do you believe she is the type easy to trick?” Elron made a valid point.

  “True enough.” I walked up the steps I had walked up hundreds of times before and did something that felt rather foreign. I rang the bell.

  Nothing happened at first. I strained my ears and heard the TV on inside. At least she was still up. I resisted the urge to ring the bell again. It made sense to wait and give her time.

  I saw the movement of the curtain. It was a tiny movement I ordinarily would have missed, but I was watching the door and windows like a hawk. She was watching us.

  I stepped closer to the door. “Ainsley, I promise we are not here to hurt you.” Truthfully I did not know Elron enough to completely vouch for him, but I could protect her. I was a Guardian—my strength spoke for itself.

  She said nothing.

  I waited another few seconds before trying again. “Please, could you come out so we can talk?”

  Nothing.

  Elron sighed. “We are wasting too much time.”

  “You were the one who suggested we try this before my back way in.”

  “I was, and I still do not wish to terrify the girl.” Elron put his head in his hand. “Ainsley, I want to talk to you about your father.”

  That is when I heard the gasp. It was just loud enough to penetrate the window.

  “We have the means to allow you to meet him,” Elron continued.

  I scowled at him. Monty was dead. He was giving her false hope. She would blame me for the pain caused.

  Elron shot me a look and shook his head. “Please, we only need a little time to talk, and everything will make sense.”

  Nothing.

  “Your father was a great man.” That much was true. “He would have loved to have known you.”

  “Was?” She pulled the door open. “Why are you saying was, and he’s saying I can meet him?”

  “Because I have a way for you to meet him.” Elron met her eyes.

  “Is he dead or alive? Which is it?” Her face flushed.

  “If your father is who Elron thinks he is, then he is dead.” I would not lie to her.

  “Then how can I meet him?” Ainsley wrapped her arms over her chest.

  “Because I can get you to the realm of the dead.”

  “Realm of the dead?” Ainsley groaned. “Really? You had to go there?” She started to close the door.

  I put my arm in and stopped the door from closing. “Please, not yet.” I could not say goodbye to her. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

  “I am not joking with you. There is so much to tell you, Ainsley, but we have little time.”

  “Well, I would start talking then. First, tell me who put you up to this.” She sounded more vulnerable now. Maybe some of her anger had faded, or the late hour was catching up to her.

  “No one did.” Elron gritted his teeth. “What do I have to do to convince you so you will stop questioning my motives?”

  “I don’t know.” She sighed. “Nothing is going to convince me. That was cruel of you. I thought you were harmless, but teasing me about my father was mean.” She blinked back tears, and all I wanted to do was wipe them away.

  “I am not teasing you.” Elron fell to his knees. “I swear to you my words are true. James is correct, your father has passed on from the living, but I can take you to him in the realm of the dead. That is why I am here. I could not take you in the condition you were in, so I went back.”

  “Back?” She narrowed her eyes.

  “Maybe save that part for later,” I suggested.

  “Save what part?” She put a hand on her hip.

  Elron remained on his knees. “Can we come in? I would prefer if we discussed this more discreetly.”

  She laughed. “Oh yeah? You think I’m going to invite two guys I don’t know inside my house?”

  “Or we could discuss it out back. We can sit on one of the benches back there.” I made what I thought was a reasonable suggestion.

  “How do you know there are benches?” She stepped back.

  “I also know there is a fountain and a wrought iron gate that seems to lead nowhere.” I walked toward her slowly.

  “You’ve been stalking me?” Her eyes filled with fright.

  I shook my head, determined to get rid of the fear. “I did not know of your existence until tonight, but I know this house well. I am an old friend of the owner’s daughter.”

  “Wait, really?”

  “Her room is the one on the third floor that has a balcony. There might even be pictures of me in there.” An idea came to me. “How about you check? Check her room and see if you find anything. We will wait out here.”

  “You promise to stay outside?” She eyed us both warily.

  “Lock the door,” I suggested. “We will wait here.”

  “I hope you aren’t lying.”

  “I hope the boxes are still there.” Charlotte had cleaned out most of her room, but I had a feeling she’d kept those pictures. She was nostalgic to a fault sometimes. This time I would appreciate it.

  Ainsley went to close the door, and I made no move to stop her. I hoped she would return and open it again, this time with more trust.

  “I hope your plan works.” Elron rose from his knees.

  “That makes two of us.” Otherwise I was out of ideas.

  7

  Ainsley

  I was lucky to be alive. Opening the door to the two crazies? I would say I don’t know what I was thinking, except I do. I was thinking about my father. My mother had never told me anything of substance about him, and although I respected her enough to keep my questions to myself, that didn’t mean I wasn’t desperate for answers.

  I didn’t move for a full minute after closing and locking the door again. Did James really know the girl who lived in the house? Was that why he seemed familiar? Had I seen a picture but forgotten? That didn’t seem particularly likely, but anything was possible.

  I headed up the two flights of stairs slowly. What would be proven if I found the pictures? Nothing really.

  I hesitated outside the door to my borrowed room. I wasn’t sure what I hoped to find. Either possibility brought challenges with it. Still I opened the closet and pulled down a cardboard box. I set it down on the floor and moved through it.

  And there he was. James’ face smiled back at me from a photo collage. He was younger in the picture, maybe seventeen or so. His hair was longer, and his face softer somehow, but otherwise he looked the same. I sat there on the floor staring at the
picture. What did I do now?

  I sat there a few minutes longer and made a decision. I stood up and walked back down the two flights of stairs holding onto the collage. I opened the front door. Both guys were sitting on the top step. They jumped to their feet.

  “I found this.” I held out the collage.

  “See, does that put you at ease?” Elron asked.

  “I’m not sure what it does except make me wonder how all of this is connected.” The evening was getting increasingly confusing by the minute. “Would you guys swear one thing to me?”

  “Sure. What?” James quickly answered.

  “This isn’t all an elaborate online or TV prank, right?” Maybe I was focusing on the wrong thing, but I’d had enough embarrassment lately to last a lifetime.

  “We are not pranking you.” James looked aghast at the thought. “I cannot fathom why anyone would do something like that to you.”

  “Then explain why you are here.” I still needed answers. I would have shrugged all of this off and called the police, but something inside stopped me. Every time I looked at James I was reminded of that dream—or whatever it was. I was remembering more and more, and some of the details were rather intimate, intense, and things I wanted to experience for real.

  “Can we come in?” Elron asked.

  I shook my head. “Nope. Pictures don’t suddenly make you guys safer.” Even if James called to me in each and every way possible.

  “Ok. We can sit here.” James sat down. “We can respect your need to feel safe.”

  “Feel safe?” I sputtered. “Is that your way of saying I am not safe?”

  “You are safe by us, but there are great dangers,” Elron jumped in.

  “Easy there. No reason to worry her.” James held out a hand.

  “But she needs to understand her cooperation is important.”

  “My cooperation in what?” I was afraid to ask.

  “In going to the realm of the dead.”

  “Oh that again. I thought you were going to start talking about normal things. My mistake.”