Fallen Love
Chapter 26

Chris.

I hate my mother right now.

– Well done! Congratulations, Mum, you’ve found the most effective way of making her leave,” I shouted softly so as not to wake the baby.

– But I didn’t aim at her.

– Oh no, how many children are linked to a witch? Only one. In your opinion, even if she destroyed the link, she feels targeted.

– Well…

We’re interrupted by Rose raising her hand. I’m surprised she’s talking about herself, well, without Esra.

– I’m sorry to interrupt you, but if I understand correctly, Esra broke your soul-mate bond?

– Yes,” I answer.

– That’s impossible, that kind of bond wasn’t created so that you could destroy it.

– But it is possible,” says Nick.

– Yes, by death, not by magic. However powerful the witch is, the spell would work but only for a short time, not in the long term.

So the link isn’t destroyed, Esra died for nothing. My fault. She was never the problem, I was. I was afraid to move forward and see that all was not black in this world and now I’m paying the price. Esra won’t give me a chance and yet I have to do something.

– Well, are you going to see her or not?

– Don’t get involved, I’ve got enough to do with the fleabag right now without you sticking your nose in.

– I’ve got a nose.

– Oh shut up Tracker.

– That one’s never happy, even the postman’s friendlier than you are.

Determined, I go outside then head behind the house, following her scent. I see her sitting against the wall, her eyes closed, Em at her side. Luckily she disappears when she sees me, causing the witch to open her eyes. She gets up to my level, sticking her hands in the pockets of her overalls.

– Sorry about my mum, she’s quite intrusive when she’s got something on her mind.

– That’s all right.

She’s too nice. She’s never been mean to us or anything, even though we deserved it when she cursed us out or gave us the shits. We’ve messed up with Esra but she never wants to blame us. That’s enough.

– If it’s serious. You take it all on yourself and never complain.

– Chris, really, I’ve already forgotten.

– That’s not true, you’re sad, I can feel it.

Esra bows her head, embarrassed by my words, but there’s no denying the link. Now that I know there’s nothing stopping us from being together, I’m not going to let her go. I take her place and sit down on the grass, inviting her to do the same.

– Rose said it was impossible to destroy the bond. At least not in the long term.

– I know,” she says. I thought it was just me, but …. your mother told me that the spell didn’t work on you either.

– It did at first, but the longer you were gone, the more I began to feel a lack.

There was a slightly awkward silence and when I turned my head towards her, she ran her hand over her cheek and stood up quickly.

– That doesn’t change the fact that I’m a witch Chris, you said so yourself.

– I was wrong Esra, I screwed up everything with you and I’m sorry, you’ve been through a lot because of me.

– I’d rather die than get hurt again.

Surprised, I stand up too. She wants to die rather than be with me. I know what she’s been through and that I’m mainly to blame, but I don’t intend to hurt her again. I take hold of her cold hands, which I don’t like at all.

– Esra, do you remember before I knew you were a witch? She nods. I’d like us to pick up where we left off.

– But you don’t love me, you never showed it after that.

– Because I hid it, the safety of my pack came before my desires. You don’t have to answer now, but I’m here.

– ESRA?

No, no, and no, why does she have to show up? I’m going to kill Lisa one day and you can’t blame me. Esra leans to the side and smiles at the she-wolf.

– Rose wants to leave, you have to come.

– Crap.

Without missing a beat we go back inside, where this time Emmett is present with bags strewn all over the floor. Rose is holding her daughter close, her shield activated. It’s weird to see another witch in my house. Well, no, two with the baby.

– Rose, calm down, we’re not stopping you from leaving, but you need to rest,” Nick tells her, holding his hands in front of him.

– No, you want to use my gifts to gain power.

– Never,” cried my mother.

Esra approached, catching everyone’s eye.

– Esra, I want to leave.

– Of course, but where?

– Home, my family will be worried. Camille’s father will be looking for us everywhere.

Esra shakes her head, knowing something that unfortunately doesn’t allow Rose to go home. I don’t think even a spell would bring her family back, too much time has passed. Tears appear in the corners of Rose’s eyes as she holds her daughter close. I understand her pain, but she has to face the facts, there’s nothing waiting for her. Waiting for them. Seeing her struggling with her emotions and her daughter, Esra breaks through the shield, making her wince, I don’t know what she’s going through but she keeps going and arrives in front of the witch. She takes the little girl in her arms, sends her to my mother and then takes Rose in her arms. The shield evaporates and Esra’s words come to me.

– I’m sorry, Rose, but they’re gone.

– What will become of me and my daughter?

– Come and stay with me, I’m rebuilding my parents’ old house, there’ll be room for you.

Rose shifts and looks at Esra, stars in her eyes. It’s OK for Rose to be part of our lives with little Camille, but certainly not in Avalon. No, no, here and nowhere else.

– Is that so? Why so much help?

– I found myself in the same situation as you when I was sixteen and a witch helped me. Now it’s my turn.

– Did you have a baby?

Hearing her say that Esra could have a child that wasn’t mine made me see red and I growled. Everyone looks at me but I disappear into the kitchen. I don’t even know why I’m so angry, Tracker adds to my anger with his own, but I have to calm down. It’s not true, I’m an idiot for thinking otherwise. She was sixteen and had just escaped from wherever she was being held, at no point did a child enter the picture. Footsteps approaching made me look up and just as I thought I saw Nick or Emmett I was pleasantly surprised to see Esra.

– What’s wrong with her?

– Nothing, forget it. It’s just stupid.

– I don’t think it’ll upset you.

– Rose mentioned a child.

– Yes and? …..

I think she understands because an ‘Oh’ comes out of her mouth, I could have laughed but I saw her frowning.

– No way, I mean, I was sixteen, no parents, no family, no home, yes I would have given up my powers rather than get pregnant.

She puts so much conviction into her words that I calm down, having a child seems to repulse her, yet I could see in her eyes when she was carrying the little one earlier, she was touched. On the contrary, seeing her as a mother would suit her perfectly, with me of course, otherwise I’d be committing murder. But it would suit her and I know she’d give anything for her child, that’s what dazzled me when I stared at her like an idiot. But I get the impression that she’s more scared than anything else. I’m not guessing, it’s what I feel and a thought about the link tells me that her feelings are revealing themselves to me, without her being aware of it.

– Are you scared?

– Of what? Having a child? she says curtly. So that when I’m dead he’ll be all alone like I was. It’s out of the question to take the risk.

– Who says you’re going to die? I growl.

– In your opinion, my parents ruled the magical world and look at the result, the same thing will happen to me.

– But you’re not alone, you’ve got a whole pack to protect you.

– Chris…

I move closer, cutting her off. If having a child means she has to give him up, that’s crazy, but I’d never accept losing her. I’ve got to get that idea out of her head, and on top of that I’ve got to make sure she wants children, with me of course.

– Just because it happened to your parents doesn’t mean it’ll happen to you, Esra.

– We don’t know. I don’t want to take any chances.

Obviously I’m not going to change her mind today. But I won’t give up. Esra turns to leave but I hold her back, bringing her closer to me, her perfume reaching me and I can breathe it in calmly without her seeing.

– How are you feeling?

She giggled, then calmed down a little, resting her head lightly on my shoulder. Since she’s smaller than me, she doesn’t go beyond my shoulder and has to look up to talk to me. I really like our size difference.

– Very tired,” she confessed.

– There’s nothing to stop you taking a breath.

– Don’t be fooled, I’ve got to reorganise the magical world, finish the house and find a job.

– Why don’t you come and live here? You don’t have to go so far away.

Her shrug of the shoulder tells me she’s hesitating. I suspect I’m one of the reasons she’s so far away, but I hope I’m the one who makes her stay. As the clock ticked away and the sun began to set, I led us into the living room and asked Nick to call a pizzeria to deliver our meals. In the meantime my father gets home and is told off by his wife for being late, so he keeps a low profile. The pizzas arrive and we sit down in the living room, most of them on the floor and the rest on the sofas and armchairs. Rose tells us about her life and to put her at ease we do the same, having more or less the same story, except for Emmett, the last one is Esra, but she obviously wasn’t listening to us and writes things down on a notepad.

– I’m sorry Rose, but they’re gone.

– I know it’s Esra Co’Wayne but I don’t know much about her, well just that she killed the master and freed us, fis Rose.

– Her parents died when she was thirteen, she was held for three years to give up her powers but thanks to Em she got out and met Melinda. We met at college and she met the boys, and that’s when the bond was born between her and Chris,” Lisa recounted. Esra saved us from the witches, the werewolves who were allied with them and, above all, the master.

Esra scratches her head with her concentrated pen, my father stands up on his way to her and I just watch. They talk seriously for about ten minutes before Dad resumes his seat, and I get up and sit on the edge of the armchair where she’s sitting. The language she’s using is unreadable to me and I think it’s deliberate.

– What are you trying to do?

– I’m trying to organise the magical world and it’s complicated, your father tried to help me but I don’t want to do what my parents did and include the wrong people in my circle.

– Do you know anyone among the fairies, mermaids and trolls?

– Fairies and mermaids are OK, but trolls are not. Why can’t I?

– Contact them, I’ll take care of the troll.

Esra nodded and took a bite of pizza, but some sauce stuck to the corner of her l*p and I couldn’t hold back, so I ran my thumb over it and brought it to my mouth. I smiled as I saw her blush. I’d missed this colour, a clearing of the throat reaches us and seeing everyone looking at us I can only smile but Esra doesn’t seem to think so as she suddenly disappears. I got up and set off in search of her; I couldn’t smell her in the house any more, so I went outside, where it was a great help to hear Alice calling out my soulmate’s name. A crowd gathered around her and everyone welcomed her with open arms. Everyone asked her a question and she answered them all, even the children’s. Now that’s a Luna. I thought she was just a witch, but she’s much more than that in reality.

– Are you going to stay with us? asked Alice.

– No, sorry,” replied Esra.

Several wolves huffed in displeasure but I made no comment, deciding to go and help her and asking the pack to return home. One by one they left, wishing Esra good night.

– Did you tell them to leave?

– To leave you alone, but yes.

I started off towards the forest but when I didn’t see her following me, I turned round. She looks at me puzzled.

– Come on, let’s go for a walk.

Esra joins me at a trot, then stops at my height so that we can walk properly. At first we didn’t say anything, only the sound of our footsteps in the forest reduced the silence. I wonder what she’s thinking.

– What’s on your mind?

I couldn’t help laughing. I look at her and see her smile.

– What did I say?

– I was wondering what you were thinking.

Realising that we were thinking the same thing, she laughed back. Jokingly, I nudge her slightly with my shoulder, but as she wobbles, she catches her feet on a branch and falls to the ground.

– What a loser.

I shouldn’t have laughed because I landed on the ground without moving. No, but she’s lucky to be a witch and to be able to do what she wants. Now that I’m open to magic, I realise that it must come in very handy. I think I must be too deep in thought as I get water on my face, brush the excess water away from my eyes and stand up straight, facing the culprit who’s holding back her laughter.

– I’ll get even with Esra, just so you know.

– Not even afraid.

Not even scared? She doesn’t know me, that’s obvious. Dressed and using my supernatural speed, I move so that I’m on top of her, which means that I’m also dripping on top of my witch, who looks at me with surprised eyes.

– Not even scared, eh?

– Technically I’m not scared, I’m just soaked.

Thinking of something that would make her heart beat faster, I search but in our position, I can’t think of what to do.

– K**s her silly, aren’t you supposed to have slept with tons of girls?

– Are you crazy? What if she rejects me?

– The way she’s looking at you, I’d be surprised, human.

– What’s Tracker telling you to do?