Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 495(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Steering my truck away from school, I quickly forget about Robert and his friends, and my thoughts turn to my charge, who gave me the cold shoulder today. At first, I thought I was making progress, but she suddenly changed toward me, and I’m not sure why.
I know she likes to spend most of her free time by the waterfall, but I can’t just show up because it will look creepy.
I stop by a diner and order a burger and fries to go, which I eat in my truck. Once I’m done with the way too greasy meal, I start the engine again.
My thoughts revolve around Alchera during the drive out of town, and I come to the conclusion that I’ll have to win her friendship before approaching her about going home.
Home. I’ve only been on Earth three days, and I’m ready to return to Vaalbara.
Everything is different here. The fast pace. The processed food. The filthy air. The people who don’t give a shit about each other. The list is endlessly long.
Everyone keeps staring at their phones and hardly pays attention to what’s happening around them.
To make matters worse, I’m staying at a motel just on the outskirts of the town. It’s flea-infested and makes me long for my own house every time I enter the room.
Why was Alchera angry with me today?
Once again, the thought pops into my head as I turn up a road, and I’m tempted to enter her mind for the answer.
During all the years I’ve trained with my father, I’ve learned a lot. He taught me how to fight. How to not invade my charge’s privacy by intruding on her thoughts, but to focus more on her feelings. Only when I sense distress from her, is it acceptable to enter her mind.
It's the only reason I didn’t listen in on her thoughts when she told me to leave her alone.
Fuck, it would make everything so much easier, though.
No. She might feel you in her mind, and it will freak her out.
Now that I’m here on Earth with Alchera, it’s clear as daylight she’s far from happy. Not once have I seen her smile, and she doesn’t interact much with any of the other students.
I actually get the feeling she’s hiding, trying to blend in with her surroundings.
It doesn’t sit well with me. It makes me want to wrap my arms around Alchera so she’ll feel safe, but I’m pretty sure she’ll lose her shit if I try that right now.
I let out a sigh as I turn the truck up another road, and ahead, I see Alchera duck into some bushes.
Shaking my head, I drive past her before turning onto a dirt road. I park the truck behind two large trees, and climbing out, I jog back toward the trail Alchera takes to get to the waterfall.
When I get close and hear rushing water, I deviate from the path, and finding the large tree I hid behind after I arrived on Earth, I see Alchera near the pool.
She’s sitting with her legs pulled up and her arms wrapped around her shins, looking more fragile than the strong immortalis I know she is.
I focus on her emotions, and feeling she’s much calmer than when she was at school, I let out a breath of relief.
My eyes drift over her face, and I take a moment to drink in her beauty. She’ll be downright exquisite once the glamor from the elixir is removed and her human mask falls away. She’ll also look a little older because she’s turning twenty-one soon, and not eighteen like she thinks.
Fuck, there’s a lot she’s going to have to adjust to.
I wish I could go to her to explain everything and tell her about our bond.
Instead, I settle for watching over her until night starts to fall around us.
When Alchera gets up and lets out a heavy sigh, my arms ache to hold her so I can offer her comfort and strength.
Jane / Alchera
When I wake up, I almost have a heart attack.
“What the hell?!” My voice is thick with sleep as I glare at Molly, who’s leaning over me.
The real shocker is that she’s already dressed and ready for school.
I bring my left wrist close to my eyes so I can see my watch. It doesn’t help because my sight is blurry from just waking up.
I growl at Molly, “What time is it?”
“Ten past six.” She sits down on the side of my bed. “I got up early, so we can talk while you get ready.”
I stare at her, totally sure she’s losing her freaking mind.
Climbing out of bed, I walk to the closet while saying, “You never get up early. Are you feeling okay?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m fine.” Sitting cross-legged on my unmade bed, she gives me an expectant smile.