Windswept (The Airborne Saga) (36 page)

             
“Thanks again, Mom. Anyways, how do you like it living with Nate? Still all roses and daisies?” Avery asked when she heard no other voices in the background. School hadn’t started yet, but Leela probably talked on the phone somewhere in the dusty stacks of a dark library.

             
“Roses and daisies? Sheesh, living with him in the beginning was the worst. And I mean the worst. He leaves his dirty clothes in the clean basket, smells like onions before he takes a shower in the morning, and fought with me over using the extra closet for shoes. It could only get better from there.”

             
As Leela spoke, Avery slipped in through the grand doors to the main hall. The harpies on post knew her so well that they didn’t even hesitate. Inside, the place smelled of some lemon cleaning supply, but it also equally sparkled. She traversed the halls from memory but never remembered how deceivingly big this place actually was.

             
“Anyways, I kind of like it now. Took some getting used to…I’d ask you how well you’re getting along with Mason, but then, as much as I want details, I don’t want to know.”             

             
So Leela couldn’t shake all her disfavor for Mason but it only made Avery laugh harder.

             
“It’s alright. I’m too cool with sparing the dirty secrets there either.”

             
“See! There are dirty secrets. You’ve already said too much. Ughhh Avery, I am picturing the worst now. Don’t you do anything that will compromise college now and I mean anything. I mean...”

             
“Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean.” Avery’s laughter should have quit but even red-faced, it still seemed too funny. She wiped spare tears out of her eyes before she reached her room and came to a halt.

             
“We’ll Skype after class. I have to let you go,” she whispered this time. She could already hear the two familiar voices sounding muffled through the door. Leela made one more jab about making it to class on time before she hung up. A soft knock to the door silenced the voices.

             
Avery pushed the phone into her jean pocket and finally remembered that she was covered in plaster and dust. This hardly seemed like an outfit to wear but she hadn’t actually thought about it while working.

             
“Come in,” the doctor’s voice called and she found no place to run. At least releasing her hair from its containment, she allowed the dark black curls to tumble to her shoulders. She slipped inside and welcomed the fresh scent of coffee and cinnamon. She knew Mason was there before her eyes found him, and just like a school girl, her heart fluttered too much. Determined to keep immature reactions in check, she dropped into the red cushioned chair beside him and faced the doctor.

             
“I believe I have found the correct cocktail to stop the deterioration of the magic’s individual elements. Stable but still around, this is the best route for the Willow magic. But I wished to examine your progress one more time before I gave Mason his own cocktail,” the doctor explained. He’d worked a miracle, slipping something to save them by Stern, and yet didn’t ask for praise. He was truly loyal, continuing with his duties. Avery held her arm out but the faded black of the Willow hadn’t changed and would probably never change again.

             
“I’ve felt great. No problems,” she told him, although she knew that’d never be enough to satisfy his prodding curiosity. It remained more complicated than that. The elements of the Willow magic had broken down but stayed put. With it, she’d zapped Stern off his feet and saved her and Mason’s life by creating a frenzied reaction. But at the same time, the effects the magic gave her were minuscule in comparison. She knew it when her knees and palms had bruised purple from her work this morning. This magic wouldn’t heal her. It wouldn’t protect her. Or be anything compared to that of the Willow magic. The doctor clearly thought this too.

             
“It’s not coming back, you know. You’ve become used to the Willow magic I can see, but know that’s its powers are not coming back. You must readjust your life. Remember you are mortal.”

             
“This one won’t let me forget.” She jabbed a thumb in the air towards Mason but he didn’t smile. Something dark in the green of his eyes, she closed her mouth and made a mental note to ask later. The doctor’s other tests had become routine. A poke and prod here and there. She had the uncanny ability to make things cold or dewy. It wasn’t exactly the superpower she wanted but it also didn’t summon itself like the Willow magic. It’d be like no more than wearing a simple amulet, the doctor said. He’d moved onto Mason and tipped the tarlike substance down his throat. She remembered the bitter thick taste that coated his throat just looking at it. Cringing, she didn’t relish watching him struggle to swallow it while he had all of the napkins and water-chaser possible.

             
After he finished the gagging, gasping, and lighting up as if he’d never felt better, the doctor excused himself. Alone finally with Mason, she stood and made the space between them nonexistent. Perched on the arm of his chair, she all but sat on his lap. So she’d gotten audacious as time had gone on—sue her, she figured.

             
“Why am I not seeing smiles? Why are you so anti-smiles lately?” While she’d intended it as more of a joke, he answered seriously.

             
“Because half my kingdom has been burnt down by rebels who nearly took our lives. And they did take many lives anyways. The council is gone and the times unprecedented. Without Eva, I am the last of my bloodline. I don’t know how to go on. How to move to replace them. How to be Prince.”

             
The weight of his words didn’t go unnoticed by her as she felt them instantly weigh on her shoulders as well. Not immediately knowing how to respond, she stared at her shoes.

             
“I don’t know much about the government. But, Mason, all I know is that your people followed you. They loved you enough to rise up against an army. They’ll love you while you figure things out.”

             
Mason made a face.

             
“You’re right. I know that,” he answered in the affirmative, but the grimace didn’t shake. Before she could ask, he said, “That medicine really tastes awful. The aftertaste is worse than the first.”

             
She laughed, but couldn’t regret it fast enough. Mason’s arms had slipped around her lightning fast and yanked her into his lap. He sealed his lips on hers just as quickly and Avery gagged on the taste.

             
“Ugh get off!” She gasped but he held on. After a moment, she did little to fight. The taste had dissipated in favor of the sweetness of the kiss. When he pulled away, her head felt light.

             
“I’ll teach you some manners one day.”

             
“Human manners I’m not interested in.” He gave her a half-cocked smile. “But you know you like it.”

             
Avery rolled her eyes, too afraid to deny it while her face remained flushed.

             
“Are you going to miss it? The Willow magic?” she asked him.

             
“No. The only good thing that ever came out of it was you. I still, to this day, haven’t figured out how the odds worked out. You found it in California. One amulet among sea glass and rocks. Impossible. If you hadn’t, I’d likely be dead.”

             
She rolled her eyes this time while his mood stayed on serious things. Shifting her head, she nuzzled her face into his neck and breathed in his musky scent.

             
“If I hadn’t, I never would have known this world existed. Or you. I hate all the people that have suffered for the Willow magic, but I’ll never stop being happy it existed.”

             
Mason’s fingertips snaked up her back, but he didn’t fully embrace her.

             
“You’re covered in paint, Avery.”

             
Remembering suddenly, she pulled away with newly pink cheeks.

             
“Paint, dust, plaster…”

             
He sighed.

             
“Come on, I’ll take you up to our room to get a shower.” He shifted so she stood and then held her hand. She held it happily, willing to follow this harpie anywhere.

             
“So, Mason, about you all installing some stairs in this building…”