Immortal Fire - Book One
Chapter 63

The few hours’ drive back home was longer than I remembered it being. We stopped at the same gas station that we had on our trip to Lunzos when Hunter attacked us. Hunter didn’t seem to realize it was the same place, so Hayden and I said nothing. The parts of the station that were destroyed in our fight were under construction and the store was set up outside in a mobile home.

Hayden and I exchanged guilty glances at the sight of it and hurried to get what we needed before hitting the road again, constantly hoping we wouldn’t be recognized. I had used the payphone to call my parents and leave them a message that I was on my way home. I had not spoken to them since the morning that Hayden and Damien had struggled to wake me up. The answering machine said that they were in meetings all day and probably would not be there when I got home as they were expected to be while.

Hayden had bought me some clothes again like last time and I was thankful for the heavens that I could use the bathroom to freshen up. I did not even notice how gross the women’s bathroom was this time. We hurried up though because the yearning to get home was too strong. Hunter was far more talkative as the trip carried on and joked with Hayden in the car. I drifted off to sleep about an hour from home and heard Hunter asking where he would be staying…

“You are staying with me,” said Hayden, clearly confused that Hunter would think that it would be any different.

“I just didn’t think you would want me to stay with you after everything that I had done to you… to her…” he said. There was silence. The urge to sleep was strong but I wanted to hear what Hayden would say.

“Hunter, it wasn’t you that did that stuff. I must get used to the idea of having my brother around again and that he isn’t a murderer, well you know what I mean, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to abandon you. As for Aria, you must thank her… she was the one who believed in you when no one else did and got everyone else to believe in you too.” said Hayden.

Hunter was silent. I wondered what he must have been thinking… They did not say anything after that, and I fell into a deep sleep.

Hayden woke me up gently after what felt like five minutes, and I realized that we were outside the schoolboy’s dorm. Hunter was gone.

“Where is Hunter?” I asked groggily.

“He’s in my dorm room. I didn’t want to wake you up until I had to, and well you are slumped over the driver’s seat…” he said.

I noticed that I was and sat up. My muscles were stiff as I shifted over to the opposite side. Hayden climbed in and started the car.

“Is Hunter alright?” I asked.

“Yeah, he just has a lot on his mind, and he is carrying on about how he needs a shower.” he smiled, recalling Marcus’ remark about Hunter reeking.

Hayden drove the car away from the dorms and down the streets toward my house. We passed Cassie’s house and I saw that her bedroom light was on. She must have been home for a while already. I knew Damien would take good care of her but I still worried… Hayden pulled up my driveway and the house looked foreign to me. I had not been home in about two months, but it felt like years. Hayden noticed me staring up at the house and turned in his seat to me.

“Feel’s strange, doesn’t it?” he asked.

I nodded still looking at the house. My parents were not home, that was clear by the fact that the house only had the kitchen light on. I wondered if they even got my message earlier.

“C’mon, let’s go inside,” Hayden said and got out of the car. I followed him and the night air was cool. Hayden took my hand and we walked up to the front door.

“Do you guys leave spare keys anywhere?” he asked looking at me.

I nodded and went to the porch light, lifted the cover, and produced the front door keys. Hayden moved out of the way as I unlocked the house and entered. I switched on the lights as I went and stopped when I saw the mantel in the living room. It had the symbols for Elven weapons, and I now knew that the truth was hiding right in front of me this whole time.

“Do you want something to eat or drink?” I asked Hayden, moving towards the kitchen. Everything looked the same as the last time I was here.

“Na, I’m good thanks.” He smiled at me.

Opening the fridge, I almost did a happy dance right there on the spot. My special iced tea was there, and I swallowed it down in one go.

“So good…” I said smiling to myself. Turning, I saw Hayden leaning against the kitchen counter grinning at me.

“What?” I asked confused.

“Nothing, just the way you got so excited about some iced tea…” he chuckled.

“It’s not just any iced tea, it’s the best damn iced tea in the universe!” I exclaimed in mock shock.

“Oh okay, I won’t make that mistake again your highness,” he said pulling me against him and wrapping his arms around my waist. I laughed at him and kissed his lips. He kissed me back softly and I could feel him smiling.

“I should go… the last time we were in a kitchen, things got a bit out of hand.” I pulled away and pouted at him. He laughed.

“Don’t give me that look, you know that it is true,” he said.

“Fine…” I said with a sigh then smiled up at him.

“Are you going back to the dorm?” I asked

“Yeah, have to settle in before Monday. School starts then, remember?” he said. Ugh, I had already forgotten about school… Somehow it just seemed strange to even think about going to school, as if it were normal…

“You did forget!” Hayden laughed at me and then pulled me in for a hug.

“I’ll see you on Monday then okay. I have to help Hunter get sorted out and registered…” he told me.

“It’s fine, I’ve got to speak to my family, and I guess prepare for this dreaded thing called ‘school’” I said in a funny accent. Hayden kissed my head.

“I can stay until your parents get back if you want me to?” he said.

“Na, it’s okay, I’m going to shower and try to get some sleep. I will be fine. Badass angel of death here, remember?” I joked with him.

He nodded smiling at me, and I walked with him to the car.

“You’ll call the dorm if anything happens? My cell is missing,” he asked.

I nodded. I walked with Hayden to his car and gave him one last lingering kiss before he got into the Jag and pulled out of the driveway, waving as he went passed, down the road. I stood there for a few moments just trying to adjust to the fact that I was home. It felt strange and I felt as if I was being watched…

Heading back into the house, I locked the door behind me and grabbed another iced tea. I was going to go have the world’s longest shower at any minute but for some reason, I wanted to walk around the backyard for a while.

Unlocking the sliding door, I went outside and breathed in deep. The Jasmine that grew in the backyard was divine as its aroma filled the air. After walking around for a while sipping my iced tea, I decided to head back in, but something caught my eye by the Oaktree.

Walking over to it slowly, I peered around the garden to make sure no one was there. I still felt as if I was being watched. The sight of the tree trunk froze the blood in my veins and made me drop the glass bottle of iced tea.

There, on the tree trunk, was a smoldering handprint twice the size of mine, and just below it was the words, ‘it has only yet begun’ burnt into the wood.

I fell back and knocked over my mother’s garden gnome, smashing it. I whirled around but could not see anything. I looked up at the waxing moon and could hear my heartbeat in my ears as the words rung through my mind like a broken record… It has only yet begun.