Elemental Earth (Paranormal Public) (25 page)

“Why is that more important?” Sip
demanded.

“Because I don’t want my uncle to
get into any more trouble.”

“Trouble isn’t exactly how I
would describe Cynthia Malle,” I said quietly.

“How would you?” Sip said.

“Crazy,” I said. “Smart,
powerful, and in control.”

“You think she’s in control?
Still? Where is she?”

I shrugged. It was something else
that had nagged me all semester. Where were the Nocturns? If they weren’t
attacking any of us, then what were they doing?

Finally, the night came when
Keller and I were to travel to his parents’ country estate. I wasn’t sure if I
was more excited or nervous. First, I had no idea how we were even being
allowed to do this, but I didn’t ask questions. Knowing the power of Keller’s
family, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Second, I was finally going to
meet Keller’s mom and dad. It had been difficult for these past two years not
knowing them. Keller had tried to say that they were just busy, and that once
they met me they would fall in love with me like he had, but his aunt’s
behavior told a different story, and now, after so much time had passed, I was
doubtful that I could ever win them over.

“Ready?” I asked Keller. We were
meeting on the front steps of Golden Falls, where he would fly us away. I had
asked him if he was up for the journey with me in his arms and he had scoffed
at me. Sip had asked the same thing.

“I bet you want Keller to carry
you. It’s probably your favorite way to travel,” Sip said.

“Hey,” said Lisabelle. “She’s
ridden on my broom before.”

Sip nodded. “So, it’s definitely
her favorite way to travel.”

I had said goodbye to my friends
and let them argue it out without me.

“I’m ready,” I said when I saw
Keller waiting for me on the steps. He looked breathtaking. Instead of his
usual jeans and hoodie, he wore black pants and a black shirt. His tousled
black hair was freshly washed.

“Aren’t you cold?” I asked him. I
still wore a winter coat to guard against the chill.

He shrugged. “Not really.
Besides, I’m looking forward to snuggling with my heart sweet.”

“Oh, that’s why you offered to
fly?” I asked suspiciously.

He wrapped his arms around my
waist and pulled me close, kissing me until I had to grip his arms to steady
myself.

“Nope, I offered to fly because
those damn carriages creep me out and my parents would never allow demons onto
their property.”

I nodded. “I’m surprised they’re
allowed anywhere at all.”

“Darkness is gaining power,” said
Keller. “It’s just harder for us to see it since we live in the bubble that is
college.”

I shivered. I didn’t want to
think about that, at least not tonight.

“Let’s fly then,” I said,
grinning up at him. He smiled back. “I’m so excited you’re going to meet my
parents tonight,” he said, pressing his forehead against mine and never
breaking eye contact. “I’ve wanted this for a long time.”

I nodded, moving my arms around
his neck. “Me too,” I whispered. “I never thought it would happen.”

“Why?” he asked. “My aunt?”

I shrugged. It was partly because
of his aunt and partly because a part of me had always thought that Keller
would have found someone better by now. The fact that he put up with everything
that came with dating me - the death threats, to give the most obvious example
- just proved how much he loved me.

“Well, then, let’s get going,” he
said. The sky was a perfect pink, the first time I had seen the color in
months. The wind was non-existent, so I called a little to help us on our way.

I had chosen a simple outfit,
wanting to look nice without overdoing it. I was wearing a pair of black jeans
and a red sweater under my coat, with my hair falling loose over my shoulders.

Keller pulled me into his arms,
and in the next moment we were soaring high overhead, with Golden Falls getting
smaller and smaller below and behind us. I only looked back once. For at least
this one evening I wanted to forget the place that had taken Dove, Kia, and
Marcus.

Keller and I had talked a little
about Marcus. He was devastated, blaming himself for even letting Marcus come
to Golden Falls this semester, but since the place was renowned for supporting
peace, we had all thought it was safe. Both Keller and Marcus were seniors, and
as such they had countless opportunities for interesting ways to spend these
months. But Marcus had wanted to come along with Keller and feel useful. Of
course, neither of them had expected the devastation that would follow.

I was just relieved that my
relationship with Keller was back on track.

Keller knew it would take time to
heal, but we also both knew that nothing would ever be the same after a dear
friend died.

I wrapped my arms firmly around
his neck and buried my face in his shoulder. The air was still a little cold,
and I didn’t want my face to be bright red by the time we got to his parents’
place.

“Are you okay?” Keller asked me
at one point. I merely nodded, feeling his wings beat, feeling his heart match,
feeling warm and alive. I was happy.

What could possibly go wrong?

I had once asked Keller how many
houses his family owned. He had shrugged and looked uncomfortable, but later he
had admitted that the number was nine.

When I saw Reservoir, as this
house was named, I decided it must surely be the prettiest of them all. Also,
it was immediately apparent that it was not just a house, but an entire
complex.

I mean, seriously, who had houses
that were named? Fallen angel royalty, apparently.

It was a series of white stone
buildings, each shining out of the forest and stretching higher into the sky than
the last. The woods were close and sheltering, keeping the home of the Eriksons
from prying eyes. We had spent at least an hour flying over nothing but
foliage, without a building in view.

This was a very private place,
their own personal stronghold. On one side of the main house was a lake, which
in the fading light was a deep, midnight blue. On the other side was a large
barn with a door painted silver. When I squealed and pointed it out to Keller
he chuckled, whispering in my ear that that’s where they kept the unicorns. I
half believed him.

“Can we go in?” I asked
breathlessly.

“Sure,” he said. “I’ll show you
everything. Mom and Dad will probably come too.”

I smiled. “We should have done
this two years ago.”

“So, now you’re going to start
dating me for my unicorns?” he demanded.

“Yup,” I said. “Definitely.”

He pretended to shake his head
sadly, and I grinned.

I was getting used to paranormal
residences having courtyards, but this one didn’t. There was just a gravel
driveway of fine white pebbles leading up to the front door, which was also
painted silver.

Light burned on the first floor
of the house, giving it a cheery feel. I looked around in wonder, imagining
spending time here as a child, and coming for family vacations.

Keller touched down gently, so
that I barely felt the landing. He kept his arm firmly wrapped around my waist
as he sighed and looked at the house.

“You alright?” he asked. “We
could turn back.”

I looked at him like he was
crazy.

“No way,” I said. “We’ve come
this far. This place is beautiful. I’m sure it will be a lovely evening.”

“Who says, ‘lovely evening’ when
talking about meeting your boyfriend’s disapproving parents?” Keller asked,
smiling slightly.

“I do,” I said stoutly. “Come
along. It’s cold.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the house, and he
followed with a laugh.

Before we even reached the door
it swung open to reveal a woman with short dark hair flecked with gray. She was
short and plump, with full lips and a button nose.

“Evening, Master Erikson,” she
greeted him, smiling. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Ezra,” he said, and ignoring the
woman’s arms, which she held at her sides, he gave her a big hug. She laughed
and pushed him away.

“That’s no way to treat the head
of servants,” she muttered. “Really, where’s your dignity?”

“I have it around here
somewhere,” he said, still smiling broadly.

“Well, go and fetch it before you
see your parents,” she said, shaking her head. “They’ve been running around all
day getting the house ready for your arrival.”

“Are any of my siblings here?”
Keller asked, glancing over her shoulder and then back at me.

“No,” she said, folding her arms
in front of her. “They’re all at school or with friends.”

Keller nodded, but his smile
slipped a little.

“Ezra,” he said, turning and taking
my hand again. I stepped forward, suddenly shy, as he said, “This is my
girlfriend, Charlotte.”

Obviously Ezra meant a lot to
Keller, and I reached out to shake her hand. But she bowed quickly instead of
reciprocating, and I let my hand fall back to my side.

“It’s lovely to meet you,” she
said. Her expression was unreadable, but her light brown eyes had clouded over.
Keller didn’t seem to notice.

“Come in, come in,” she said,
ushering us inside. “Standing here letting all the warm air out, really.”

The entrance hall was splendid.
An intricate oriental rug lay in front of a staircase. Along either wall were
tables in dark wood, with lamps of gold set on them. Behind the lamps were
large mirrors that reflected the light. I looked up. The ceiling was high
overhead, and right in the middle of the room, over the staircase that split in
two as it wound up, was a chandelier. I was forced to remember that this was
just the entryway.

“Wow,” I breathed. Keller looked
at me and shrugged. “This has been in our family for generations.”

“Since the first Eriksons,” said
Ezra. “Your mother and father should be with you shortly. You are welcome to
wait in the study until then.”

A look passed between Keller and
the head maid that I didn’t understand, but I didn’t question it. My eyes were
too huge from looking around.

“Keller,” I breathed. “You have a
study? Filled with books? I want to see. Sip would love it.”

“I have no doubt that Sip would
love it,” Keller muttered. “Maybe we can all come together sometime.”

Ezra gave another small bow and
disappeared. I didn’t even see where she went, because Keller pulled me toward
a set of double doors on our left.

“Are all your homes this
beautiful?” I couldn’t help but ask. I was pretty sure my jaw was on the floor,
and it was likely that it would stay there all night.

Keller’s shoulders lifted in a
shrug. “All my family’s homes are beautiful,” he said. “My mother has
impeccable taste and very much cares what people think of her.”

“Well, she’s an Erikson,” I said.
“Of course she cares.”

We were at the double doors and
Keller didn’t respond.

Keller opened the door on the
left and ushered me inside. The study was even larger than the entrance hall.
The ceiling stretched above us, and four spiral staircases wound up to another
level of bookshelves. There were several desks, couches, and chairs placed
around the room, and a crackling fireplace to our right. Heavy velvet drapes
hung over the windows and a plush carpet covered the well-worn wood floor.

We were just starting toward the
fire when a female voice halted us.

“Hello, dear,” it said, coming
from the second floor stacks. A dark head stuck over the railing.

“Mother,” said Keller, smiling. I
was relieved when he didn’t let go of my hand. The woman, Mrs. Erikson, kept
her smile in place as she made her way down. Once she reached us Keller gave
her a warm hug, then returned to my side.

“Mother, may I present my
girlfriend, Charlotte Rollins?” he asked, smiling at me.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said
to Mrs. Erikson, feeling so nervous I could barely get the words out. Keller’s
mother was beautiful. Not in that sort of quiet way that makes people say
‘She’s pretty,’ or cute, but in a stunning, unforgettable sort of way. She was
petite and had porcelain skin. Tonight she wore a floor-length black dress that
glittered in the light. Keller had said the evening was casual. I would have to
take that up with him later.

She extended her hand and smiled.
She wore minimal jewelry, a silver ring and a necklace that hung on a delicate
silver chain, a tiny white ball that shone out into the room. When I looked at
it I saw wisps and curls of power held inside. Never in my life had I seen
anything like it.

“My son,” she said, resting her
hand on Keller’s cheek. I could see the depth of love between them and I tried
not to be jealous. I didn’t have a mother to miss me anymore.