Chapter 183: Saying Goodbye
When someone knocked on the kitchen door, I spit out my mouthful of corn flakes. A little edgy, Syd? I wiped up the early morning mess quickly before rushing to see who it was.
Blood's smiling face looked back at me through the glass. I jerked the door wide, gaping at him.
"Syd," he said in his slow drawl. "Yo."
Why did the sight of him standing there make me want to burst into tears?
"Hey, Blood." Only then did I remember I was in my T-shirt and pajama bottoms with the silver kittens on them. Sassy's idea of a joke.
He bobbed his head, black hair falling over his made-up eyes. "Sorry to just show up. You know. Uninvited."
"You're always invited." I stepped back. "Come on in."
But he shook his head. "Was thinking a bit of a stroll."
I hid my sigh. My cereal was getting soggy. Galleytrot lifted his big head from the floor, watching me.
"Sure," I said, grabbing a hoody from the closet and sliding my feet into flip-flops. "Let's stroll."
The big black dog padded after us as we left the driveway and turned toward the park.
"I just wanted a chance to say goodbye." Was that a hint of sadness I heard in his normally mellow voice? "To talk some before I go."
"When are you leaving?" I found my lower lip trembling a little. Maybe it was all the loss I'd gone through already.
"This morning," he said like it was nothing. "That's why I'm here so early. Wanted it to be a last hurrah sayonara."
This morning. Like, pretty much right this minute. "Won't your folks be mad?"
"Naw," he said. "They get it. It's like this every time." He shoved his hands through his hair, straightening to his full height for the first time since I'd met him. He was even taller than Quaid, broader across the shoulders, beefier. I'd never noticed before, but he had a killer body.
Yeah. Great, Syd. Pathetic, really.
He parked himself on a bench, patting his knee with one big hand. For a moment I was shocked. Was he inviting me to sit in his lap? Awkward. But no. Galleytrot moved forward immediately, dropping his head for Blood to scratch. The black dog groaned in pleasure, eyes closing.
I perched near Blood, not sure what to say, my misery growing.
"Listen," he said, "I'm not here to, like, gloom out your channel. I just wanted to let you know some things." He stopped petting Galleytrot for a moment, long enough to unsnap his favorite leather bracelet from his wrist before handing it to me. It was big enough I could wear it on my forearm but I'd always admired the silver thread embedded in a pentagram on the surface.
"For you," he said with a smile. "To remember me by."
I took it, still warm from his arm. "Thank you."
"Syd," he said, "I never get too attached to people." He squinted at me. "You know what I mean, right?"
I nodded. I did.
"This time, though," he sighed, "I messed up a little. There was Pain, you know? Constance." He laughed while I frowned. "Yeah, that's her real name, you didn't know?"
"I thought it was Mia." I was sure it was Mia. But wait, hadn't Alison told me differently once before?
"Her first name is Constance," he said. "Her mom's fave. Middle is Mia. Her pick." He sighed. "She's the most confusing creature I've ever met. Contrary. Stubborn. Fabulous." Blood actually looked sad now. "For the first time... I'm going to miss someone." He glanced at me. "A couple of someones. Don't get me wrong. I like Al and Si and Beth. They're great. But you get me, Syd." Blood stared down at Galleytrot while he stroked the dog's ears. "And that doesn't happen every day."
I held up my fist. He grinned that slow, gentle grin of his and bumped it.
"Yeah," he said. "You and me, we have to stay in touch. Okay?"
"You've got my email." It sounded weak, but he nodded.
"I do. Expect to hear from me, got it?" Blood stood up. "Gotta go, I guess."
I hugged him, my face pressed to his chest, trying not to cry. "Bye," I whispered.
He left then without another word or a look back, covering the ground in long strides even though he didn't look like he was moving very fast. He was gone so quickly I didn't have time to lose it in front of him, fortunately.
No, I saved it for Galleytrot, spending the next few minutes hugging him and sobbing.
Man, I hated how much I cried sometimes. And I thought Mom was a supernatural faucet. I seemed to leak tears at the least provocation these days.
"He's a good friend," Galleytrot said. "Gives great scratches."
I laughed, hugging him harder before letting him go. "Thanks, big guy."
He licked my cheek, massive tongue sliming the whole side of my face. "You're welcome."
I giggled some more, using the hood of my sweater to clean my face. I looked down at the armband, sighing softly over the loss. Blood's visit cemented it for me. Everything was falling apart. I'd had so little time to enjoy it. But, I knew what it was like to have good friends, at least. Not everyone could say that.
I just wished it could have lasted a little longer.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts, I didn't notice we weren't alone until Galleytrot started to growl. I looked up instantly, and into the smirking faces of the Dumont cousins.
"Aw," Jean Marc said, making a sad face while his brother laughed, "did the little mortal leave you, Sydlynn?"
"Was he your boyfriend?" Kristophe failed to keep his face straight as he spoke.
"Screw you." I was on my feet, in their faces before I could think things through.
"Not my type," Jean Marc said, voice deep, "but perhaps Kristophe would oblige you."
He would so regret going there. Regret.
Before I had a chance to say another word, Galleytrot shoved his way between me and the brothers. He stood to his full height, eyes flaming red, a deep and threatening growl making his entire body vibrate. And the ground under my feet, for that matter.
The pair seemed nervous for a moment. But only a moment. Movement to my left, their right, and the redheaded woman appeared. She didn't make a threatening gesture, but she was staring at Galleytrot. He spun his huge head toward her and chuffed a warning.
She chuffed right back.
Kristophe thought that was hilarious. I wondered how funny he'd think it would be when Galleytrot tore her lovely throat out.
Were or no were, there was no way she was a match for one of the black dogs of the Wild Hunt.
"Watch your dog," I snapped at the brothers. "She's about to get her ass kicked."
Jean Marc snickered. That was when I felt them. The entire pack, out there, watching us. At least a dozen of them. The woman lifted one eyebrow at me. I smiled sweetly back.
"Try it," I said in a voice dripping with sugar and light. "I won't need Galleytrot."
The bodyguard stared at me for a moment before bowing her head and backing off a step.
The brothers weren't expecting that, I dare say. Kristophe actually scowled at her while Jean Marc's smile slipped and fled.
"Good morning, children." Mom stood next to me, smiling her best coven leader smile, not touching me, but standing close enough she might as well have been. I laughed on the inside at the insult.
Both brothers growled something under their breath. Mom nodded to the were bodyguard and she nodded back, the same way she did to me. With respect. Interesting.
"I'm happy to have happened upon you," Mom said, command behind her tone, magic too. Both Jean Marc and Kristophe stiffened when they felt it. I wondered how often they were disciplined, if at all. "Please tell your grandmother we'll be arriving at the hotel at eight this evening. There will be six of us in attendance."
Part of me raged Mom had interfered. I was handling things just fine on my own. The other part knew if she hadn't arrived, things would have gotten messy. So, just as well.
Still sucked. Although I was sure the brothers and I had a confrontation coming at some point and I wasn't taking bets against me.
The boys took off, slouching toward the street, turning to town. I moved to follow them, only to feel Mom's hand on my arm and the pressure of Galleytrot against my legs.
"Syd," she said, "sweetheart."
I watched them go, the red haired bodyguard keeping my gaze until they disappeared around the corner. "What?"
"Let me deal with this. Please." I met her eyes. She really was asking, not ordering.
"Mom," I said, "you can't ask me to just take it."
She shook her head with a deep laugh, kissing me gently. "I would never ask such a thing," she said, "because I know it's impossible. You've changed so much, Sydlynn. I am so very proud of you."
That weakened my resolve. She knew exactly what to say.
"Fine," I said. "Okay? Fine."
"Besides," she hooked her arm into mine and led me home, Galleytrot panting softly beside us, "you were planning on going to town in that?" She eyed my pajama bottoms. "Really, I thought I taught you better."
***
