Erondale

Chapter 13

The day of my party has arrived. I am now officially 16. I haven’t been allowed to go to my house since Em and Erin say that the decorations are a surprise. So, here I am spending the afternoon with Tobias and Talon.

I haven’t been allowed to go anywhere alone since the last attack. I haven’t seen Sir Alrich since then either. I did wonder what he was doing but I haven’t been brave enough to go check on him. It turns out that the person killed was another friend of his, a girl.

I don’t know why these things keep happening. Is there a message? Is it a warning? Does it have to do with the things that I feel? Is someone really threatening me? Am I really crazy? I wish that I could say that I was just crazy. It feels too real.

Toby believes me, though. I glance over at Talon, who is talking with Toby, and wonder if he thinks that I have lost my head? I’m his little sister so I think that he has to believe me to a point. Would he tell me if he thought that I was?

I sigh and pick up a rock, tossing it into the lake. The feeling of being watched feels like a second skin now. Even though, it still scares me, I can’t get rid of the feeling. I never see anything but it’s there.

“Hey, what are you thinking about?”

I jump as Toby’s question comes from right beside me. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t feel him sit beside me. Which is another strange thing that seems to be happening to me.

I can feel when he looks at me. When he’s too close, I feel a sort of electricity that feels inviting. I want to snuggle into his arms.

“Rae?” He prods.

I shake my head as I realize that I have zoned out again. “Oh, I’m fine, Toby. Just thinking.”

He chuckles lightly. “That I can see.” He glances at me seriously. “What are you thinking about?”

I blush a bit. “Nothing.”

I look back towards him and just stare at him. He stares back, a ton of questions in his eyes. He doesn’t say anything though. After a few minutes, he just nods his head. He picks up a rock and tosses it in the lake like I did.

I glance around looking for my brother. I don’t see him and I feel myself start to panic. Toby glances at me with a worried yet confused look on his face. He looks as if he’s trying to figure something out but he’s unsuccessful because he just turns back around.

“Toby.” I whisper.

“Yeah, little one?”

“Where’s my brother?”

“Oh! You didn’t hear him?”

I shake my head, embarrassed. With a pounding heart, I glance up at him and I see amusement in his eyes. I blush even harder and this time he bursts into laughter.

“You really were in your own head, weren’t you?”

“Yes.” I whisper.

Even though I’m a little embarrassed, I find that I am unwilling to lie to him. No, not like something is physically stopping me but more like I don’t want to. I want to tell him everything.

He wraps his arms around me, and gently tugs me into him. This is different. A swarm of butterflies erupt into my stomach. I blush realizing that my crush is holding me against him. I snuggle closer into his warmth.

“Toby?”

“Yes, Little one?” He answers, softly.

“Who do you think is killing these girls?”

His body freezes. “I don’t know.”

“I’m scared.” I whisper. “It always seems to be around me.”

His hold tightens. “No one is going to get you, Rae. You’re stronger than you think.”

“You don’t think that I am crazy?” I shudder and look around the lake. “I am always feeling like someone is watching.”

“No, Rae. I don’t think that you’re crazy. It’s just that you have so much that has happened to you.”

“So, you think that maybe I am imagining it?”

“Of course not. Otherwise, the King and his men were imagining it.”

That’s true. The King himself said that something invisible killed my father. Thinking of the King brings tears to my eyes. He is now unable to get out of his bed. I wipe the tears from my eyes and I feel Toby glance down at me. I don’t raise my head embarrassed.

“Let’s just sit here and stare at nothing, yeah? Let’s not think of anything for a little bit. How does that sound, Little one?”

“That sounds perfect, Toby. Thank you.”

Toby

I feel her shaking. I know that she’s scared and thinking, of everything that has happened, despite the fact that she said we would stare at nothing. I just hold onto her. She felt comfortable in my arms but I feel ashamed of thinking that way. She just turned 16. I want to be her friend.

I have a need to protect her. I hate seeing her cry or even seeing her frown. I just want to see the smile that used to light up her face. She asked me if I thought that she was crazy. Normally, I would think that she was but something in me tells me that she’s is being genuine.

As we stare at the lake, I secretly keep watch in the forest. I discreetly look around us every once in a while. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is going to happen on my watch. I have a secret. A secret that I don’t want her to know about.

My heart palpitates just thinking about her finding out. Erin thinks that she would be okay with it. She and my sister have become really close in the last few years. I just know that whatever, or whoever, comes after Rae is going to wish that they didn’t.

*Toby.* I hear, suddenly, in my head.

*Erin? I was just thinking about you.*

*There’s been another murder.* I stiffen.

*What?*

*On Alrich’s land this time. Another girl. This time dad said that they saw what she looked like. You’re not going to believe it.*

*What?* I ask warily.

*She looks like Rae. The same color eyes and hair anyway.*

Rae must notice my discomfort because she pulls out of my arms to look at me. I look down at her and smile. There is no way that I want her to know this news.

“Everything alright, Rae?” I ask.

She chuckles. “Funny, I was going to ask the same to you.”

“Oh, yeah, I’m good. I was just thinking about how it’s almost time for your party.”

“Oh, okay. Should we go?”

I don’t want to. I want to hold her longer. Snap out of it Toby. She’s just a girl. A girl that I feel the need to protect with my own life. What is she to me? Why do I feel such strong needs with her?

“Toby?”

“Oh, yeah. A few more minutes and we can go.”

“Okay.” I smile internally when she snuggles closer to me. “Why are you so warm?” She asks.

I chuckle. “Warm? I’m not a blanket, Little one.” I tease.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to..” She starts as she pulls away. I interrupt her as I pull her back.

“I was just teasing.”

*Erin?* I asked going back to my mindlink.

*Finally. I have been trying to talk to you for a few minutes. What are you doing?*

*Sorry. I’m just sitting by the lake with Rae.*

*Good. Stay there.*

*Dad says that the King has requested us not to say anything to her.*

*Are we canceling her party? What does Clay say about that?*

*No. He’s adamant that we keep the party going. Not just for her but for others. He doesn’t want this getting out.*

*Alright, then, I’ll see you later.*

*Oh, and Toby.*

*Yeah.*

*Remember she’s just turned 16. She knows nothing about us. Or, even her own self.*

I sigh. *I know that. She can’t know about us until she is 18. I get it.*

*Oh, any news from Chris?*

*Yes, actually!* She says in excitement.

It actually makes me angry that the two of them are still having this relationship. I saw how hurt Rae was when she found out. It also makes me angry that my little sister lost her virginity to him. He’s a prince. My sister is going to get hurt in the end. It angers me.

I can feel myself shake and I take deep breaths to calm myself down. Rae gently touches my arm and I glance down at her and smile. Her touch is very soothing and has calmed my nerves.

“I’m okay. I promise.” I assure her.

*Earth to Toby. Why do you ask?*

*His father is sick. When is he returning?*

*He has another year.*

*Another year of the two of you sneaking around?*

*Toby! You know that we haven’t been sneaking off since the death of Rae’s father. Everything is through messengers.*

*You shouldn’t have been sneaking off with the Prince to begin with!?* I snap.

*We’re both adults, Toby. Besides, he hasn’t touched me like that since that one night. His heart doesn’t belong to me. We’re just friends.*

*Yeah, because being friends with him really helped Rae.*

She becomes silent. I hit a nerve. I know that she keeps thinking that she has a chance with the Prince but I know that she doesn’t. If he could easily throw away a friendship that he had for years, he could easily hurt her.

*What does he think about the murders?*

*He doesn’t know. However, he doesn’t know this last bit of information yet. Someone is trying to threaten our Rae. It makes me so mad that I see red. She is a wonderful, kind, and hard working soul. Why is someone after her?*

*I don’t know, peanut. I hope we find out before it’s too late.*

*Should I tell Chris?*

*Yes. He needs to know in case his dad doesn’t make it.*

*Okay. I actually see him tonight.*

*Oh, and Erin?*

*Yes?*

*I know that you can take care of yourself. But, we don’t know who or what is killing these ladies. Don’t go alone.*

*I don’t want to take guards, brother.*

*Well, you don’t have a choice! I am in charge and I am not having my baby sister killed on my watch. They’re going. If you don’t take them, I will have dad lock you in your room.*

*I will.* She sighs through the mind link.

*See you at the party. OH, is Chris going to come?*

*No. I can’t get him to come. He doesn’t want anyone to even know that he comes into the territory.*

*See you later.*

That makes him suspicious. That sudden though makes me grab Rae harder. Could he be the one to be doing all of this? Is he mad that Sir Alrich and Rae have become friends, maybe even more? No, he can’t do that. I can’t imagine him doing that. Besides, he’s the one that pushed her away and moved on with my sister. No, it can’t be Chris.