June Summerfield

Chapter 14

They both sat in silence for what felt like forever, the only sound and movement coming from the rushing water and centaurs that roamed about.

“So June-”

“I miss him.” she blurted out, zoned out into the small stream of water that had a few stray leaves floating around.

Hunter stayed silent, hoping she’d open up more to him. This is what he wanted. This was his goal. To get her comfortable and trust him.

“I miss having him close by. I miss how he’d surprise me with little flowers that he found, making sure no one else in the group saw. I miss how he held me that night we shared the room in the house Zoran brought us to. I just miss him.” she went on, not blinking. Just staring at the water. “Now I just have this big hole in my chest. I feel empty. And I don’t think that’ll ever change. We weren’t together for long, but I cherish each moment we had together.” She finished her speech and then zoned back in, looking down at her hands and picking at her nail beds.

Hunter reached over and laid his hand on hers, causing her to stop picking.

“Don’t pick at your hands like that. They’re going to bleed,” he warned her.

“Why do you care?” she snapped as if she wasn’t just pouring her emotions out to him. “I want to know how you knew about me.”

“What do you mean?”

“You said that as soon as my world collapsed, you sent guards to come to find me. How did you even know I existed?” she demanded an answer, staring Hunter straight in the eyes.

With a sigh, he began explaining. “I can see where people are at the current time. For example, I can show you what Zoran’s doing right as we speak.” he held his hand out and an image of Zoran hitting on one of the servants appeared. Hunter just smirked and closed his hand. “When I was younger, about 8 or 9, I was taught this spell. It took me a few tries, but eventually, I was able to do it. However, one day I made a mistake and saw into your world. My teacher said that I wasn’t supposed to do that and that it was very advanced for my age.” he bragged with a small smile as June listened on, unimpressed.

“One of the people I saw when I brought up this image was you. You were only about 5 or 6 at the time. I immediately grew a massive crush on you.” June noticed he started blushing a little at the confession. “And against my teacher’s warnings, I kept a close eye on you. I watched you grow up, and then when your world started falling, I got worried. I didn’t know where in the world you were, so I sent out guards to search all over.”

“How did you have that many guards?” is all she could ask, thinking about how many countries there were in the world.

“I couldn’t pinpoint your exact location, but I knew what country you were in. So I sent them all over that country. Zoran was the lucky one to survive and find you.”

“So you had a childhood crush, and you decided to kidnap me?” June asked blankly.

“Well when you put it that way, I sound crazy.” Hunter chuckled.

“Well, maybe you are crazy.” she brought her attention back to the water as Hunter raised his eyebrows and smiled in surprise.

“Well, you were with a guy who gave up his life trying to protect you from an entire army of vampires with a simple makeshift knife.” June snapped a warning glance at him. “So it appears you like crazy.”

“You’re a piece of shit.” she said plainly as she stood up and started heading back toward the castle.

Hunter rushed to keep up with her so the shield wouldn’t break. Finally, they made it out of the woods and she was speed walking towards the castle.

“Would you slow down?” he called out, confused as to why she suddenly got so upset.

“No. You have no idea what I like. But it isn’t, nor will it ever be, you.” she turned and laced her words with as much hate as she could muster.

“I hope to change that.” he slowly walked toward her, hoping to calm her down. “But if that’s how you feel, that’s okay. You are more than welcome to stay in the castle and be with whomever you feel like.”

June just stood there, staring at him in confusion before stomping around and back into the castle, where she rushed up the stairs and into her room. Once she closed and locked the doors she broke down again and fell on her knees sobbing into her hands.

After a few minutes, there was a gentle knock on the door.

“June, there’s something I’d like to show you.” Hunter’s voice slid through the doors, filling her with rage.

“Well, I don’t want to see it.” she managed to get out, still crying heavily. She saw him try to open the door and then heard his head rest on the door.

“June. I’m sorry I upset you. I hate seeing you like this. Will you please just come out so I can show you something? I think you’ll enjoy it, and it may even help boost your mood a bit.” he pleaded.

Dragging herself up, she stomped over to the door and threw it open.

“Well, show it to me.” she refused to look at him as she crossed her arms, holding her nose high, tears still falling rapidly. She cut her eyes down as Hunter offered his arm.

With a roll of her eyes, she slid her arm in his and allowed him to lead her to another part of the castle she’d never been in. Her anxiety was rising as she was afraid he was going to punish her somehow for being so rude and emotional.

It’s what he deserves. I’ll take the punishment if it means someone humbles him. She thought to herself as they reached a large set of double doors.

He slowly opened them, letting her walk in.

Her mouth fell open slightly as her eyes took in what was in front of her. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves were packed with more books than she’s ever seen. It had multiple floors, each just like the last, with a large oak desk in the middle of the first floor with a computer and was accompanied by a small, elderly woman. The nameplate said, Marge. The entire room was just magnificent.

“What do you think, dear?” Hunter slowly shut the doors behind them as she turned around, taking it all in.

“It’s… I don’t even have words for this. It’s amazing.” she said, ignoring his presence and walking over to the nearest bookshelf to inspect its contents.

“Do you want it?” Hunter asked, his hands folded behind his back as he watched her browse.

“Well, yeah, but it’s not like it’d ever be possible for me to have something like this.”

“If you want it, then it’s yours.” he stated, causing her to turn and face him.

“What do you mean?”

“I told you, anything you want or need, you will have immediately. If you want this library, then it’s yours. And I will make sure everyone within a hundred miles knows it.”