Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) (29 page)

             
"I'm grateful you were there, but I'm not going to hide in Terra's home cowering," Aylin said calmly. "Life continues to go on whether there was an attack or not. I'm not saying forget about it, just don't say anything right now. I'll tell them when we get back. I'm not going to hide Blake."

             
Blake's eyes narrowed. "I'm not telling you to hide. I'm trying to talk you into being smart about this. Fine, I won't say a word. But I'm getting really tired of your secrets you keep from everyone. Especially those two," he pointed toward the house.

             
Aylin took a deep breath and opened the door and slid out of the cab. "Thank you," she said but he looked away from her and stared out the windshield.
When she shut the door behind her he threw the truck in gear and tore out of the driveway.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

             
The three women were piled into Terra’s jeep heading south to Duluth.
"
Why didn’t we do this the first weekend you two were here?
"
Terra wondered aloud.

             
"
Maybe you didn’t notice that there is a lot going on right now. But I agree, we should have done this sooner. I think it’s going to be great to clear our heads and give you a makeover,
"
El said, leaning in the front seats from the back.

             
"
Maybe I should lay down some ground rules on the makeover,
"
Terra said nervously.
"
I mean, you have to be reasonable. Okay? I live in a small town and spend over half of the year huddled under down jackets, wool sweaters, and thick hiking socks. It’s only like a month that I can show any inch of skin and-
"

             
"
Terra, please.
"
El rolled her eyes.
"
I’m not an idiot and wasn’t born yesterday. Just trust me.
"
She flopped back against the backseat.
"
I would think by now you would have just a little faith in me.
"

             
Aylin smiled over to Terra.
"
Terra, I wouldn’t let her turn your hair pink or anything like that. I have heard that leather pants keep you very warm.
"
She winked.

             
"
Now that sounds appealing,
"
El grumbled, sending Aylin and Terra into giggles.

             
It was a two-hour drive from Lancaster Bay to Duluth, and they made one stop for hot chocolate at a pie and coffee shop on the way. Fall colors were bright and bold this time of year, setting the trees on fire with reds and oranges, which stood boldly against the gray blue water. The wind picked up, sending large waves crashing against the sharp rocks that guarded the shoreline. The sound carried into the vehicle, through the closed windows.
"
I love that sound.
"
Aylin closed her eyes.

             
"
Wait until we get our November gales. Although, it is starting to feel like we’ll be getting them early.
"
Terra nodded, looking out at the turbulent lake.

             
"
Actually, I’ve heard of them.
"
Aylin opened her eyes.
"
Jordan, the woman that is running my shop now, she and her husband came here for a wedding a number of years ago. She said she might as well have been home standing on a cliff watching a raging storm roll in. She said the waves could get very serious.
"

             
"
Serious enough to bring down those large cargo ships,
"
Terra agreed.
"
Most famous was the Edmund Fitzgerald.
"

             
"
The song?
"
El perked up.

             
"
You’ve heard it?
"
Terra was beside herself.

             
"
Don’t be so surprised,
"
El snapped.
"
My father was really into shipwrecks. Whenever I hear the
song
I think of him.
"
After a beat she was quietly humming the haunting melody.

             
"
El, you are full of surprises.
"
Terra shook her head.

             
Blake pounded on Owen’s front door. He had seen Owen’s car in the driveway, so he knew the man was home, and probably plugged into headphones and up to his elbows in motherboards and circuits. But today he didn’t care. He needed his friend.

             
"
Damn it Blake,
"
Owen said after he ripped open the door.
"
What the hell?
"
His hair was disheveled and was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and a t-shirt with a picture of Han Solo with the quote ‘Don’t mess with the Han.’ The man won’t ever give up Star Wars. It’s just another layer to Owen.

             
"
You were sleeping?
"
Blake raised his eyebrows. It was after noon, and he had been awake for a while already.

             
"
Not anymore,
"
Owen stepped aside, letting Blake in. Owen lived in a tiny home that was always in disarray. The living room alone held two computer towers and four monitors, and the bookshelves were a mix of electronic equipment, Star Wars action figures, pictures he’d taken on his trips in other parts of the world, and more electronic equipment. Blake’s eyes landed on the two standard movie posters above the couch. Owen had obtained the Empire Strikes Back poster when he was thirteen, and the Indiana Jones Temple of Doom was given to him from Blake.

             
Owen grew up obsessed with Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Blake once wondered if it was just a Harrison Ford thing. He had to admit the guy was pretty smooth, but he soon realized it had been only a coincidence. Owen owned every single Star Wars book written, and to this day they were still published, written by many different authors. Blake didn’t see any of the books in the living room, and assumed they must be in storage. The house was too small to display all the memorabilia that Owen had collected over the years.

             
"
It’s two in the afternoon. Are you nocturnal now?
"
Blake crossed his arms.

             
"
I was up late, computer stuff.
"
Owen shoved the pile of notebooks aside on the couch and plopped down.
"
What’s up?
"

             
"
I need you to come with me to Duluth.
"
Blake decided to stay standing rather than try to find where the chair was. He walked over to the bookshelf and picked up Lord Sith. Blake never really got into the whole Jedi thing, he was more of a G.I. Joe kid, but since he spent all his spare time with Owen it rubbed off on him.

             
"
Why?
"
Owen asked, trying to stifle a yawn.

             
"
Well, uh, Terra and her friends are spending the night there, and I want to go keep an eye on them. I can’t really give you the whole explanation, but I just need to make sure their safe.
"
He should have put more thought into his reason for following the women to Duluth. As in, thinking up a reason period that didn’t involve anything magical. He was still having flashes of Aylin collapsed on the ground, staring into the sky with a vacant look in her eye. He had no idea what to do or how to help her. It had scared him, and that got under his skin. He tried not to fear much of anything, it’s not the way things work with him. He was usually the one doing the intimidating.

             
Blake couldn’t ignore the fact that he also wanted to murder whoever hurt Aylin. It had caught him off guard, and it had hit him hard and fast. As soon as she was breathing and shaking in his arms he wanted to look in every corner to find whoever did it to her. If he found them, he couldn’t help what he would do to them. It was an animal instinct, and he wouldn’t try to turn it off.

             
They were just beginning to get to know each other and he wanted a chance to see where it would go with them. This intense feeling for her unsettled him. He wanted to open it up and let it shine bright and true.

             
He set the figurine back down with more force than intended, and turned to face Owen again.

             
Owen frowned up at him. His hair hung in his eyes, and he pushed it back with both hands, blowing air out of his mouth.
"
Are they in trouble?
"

             
Blake shifted his weight awkwardly.
"
Maybe. I’m not sure, but it feels like it. But I need you there just in case.
"

             
"
Are you looking out for Terra or Aylin?
"

             
"
Both. Jesus, are we done with the third degree? Are you coming or not?
"
His annoyance was simmering dangerously just below the surface. He really should have thought this through. Maybe he should just go alone.

             
"
Yeah, sure. Let’s go spy on them.
"
Owen shrugged.
"
Nothing creepy or wrong with that.
"
He smiled at Blake.
"
Let me shower and pack a few things.
"
He pushed up off the couch.
"
I have a few bugs we could plant on them, then we can listen to their every word too.
"
He winked.

             
Blake stopped.
"
Bugs? What the hell kind of crap are you into now?
"

             
Owen shrugged coolly.
"
Just a little surveillance, you know.
"

             
"
No, I don’t know.
"

             
Owen leaned against the doorframe leading to the short hallway.
"
I have to pay bills, just like everyone else. Just a little cushion for comfort.
"

             
"
Owen, what have you been up to?
"

             
"
Nothing really.
"
Owen smiled brightly.
"
How about those bugs?
"

             
"
Not a chance.
"
 

             
The women first checked into a hotel in Canal Park, within walking distance to the pier. The room looked out onto the lake near the drawbridge that led to Wisconsin, and they could see a mass of dark clouds in the distance.
"
Nope, not even a storm is going to stop us,
"
El said with determination and her hands on her hips.

             
"
Just in case we should bring rain gear with us,
"
Terra said, packing rain jackets into her tote.

             
"
Always the sensible one. You being the earth faerie and all should love the rain.
"

             
"
Oh, I do. There is nothing like the smell of rain in the air. But I’m not really into getting soaked when I can avoid it.
"
Terra sat down on the edge of the bed.
"
Aylin, you’re very quiet today.
"

             
"
You are,
"
El agreed.

             
Aylin, who was standing with her arms crossed and gazing out the window turned to face them. She knew it hadn’t been the best idea to try and hide her emotions from them. It would have only taken a little nudging and she would melt. But she didn’t want to ruin their day, and needed some actual fun.
"
Something happened this morning.
"
She held her hand up to stop the two from speaking.
"
I don’t want to talk about it now. I want to have a good time today, and tonight, and clear my head. Is that okay with you two?
"