Chapter 211
Hours of sitting on the beach, staring at the endless ocean waves that came and went endlessly, just as predictably as the air in and out of his lungs, never slowing never ceasing, was therapeutic. The brilliant sky beyond the curve of ocean, painted in hues of pinks, yellows, and reds he never saw in Missouri sent an air of calm through him. For the first time in a long time, he wasn’t worried about what he needed to do or who he needed to be. He was just Christian, sitting on the beach, missing his mother, his father, and the woman he’d once loved.
When Dr. Morrow joined him, he didn’t look away from the sinking sun. The man who’d been his mentor from a distance for years didn’t need to say anything to let Christian know he was there and he cared. Relationships had never been easy for Christian for whatever reason, but this man seemed to get him. He was content to sit there with him in silence until Christian was ready to talk.
When he finally did open his mouth, more poured out than he intended to say. “I miss them,” he said. “My family.”
“I know. Me, too.”
He glanced at the doctor and saw understanding in his kind blue eyes behind his dark-framed glasses. He’d never asked about Dr. Morrow’s family before, never cared to. He didn’t feel like doing it now either, and at the risk of being rude, he didn’t. The doctor didn’t seem to mind. “It is what she wanted.”
“I know. And I am certain she’s happy right now, too.”
“Yes, I’m sure she is,” he said thoughtfully.
“No, I mean, I am certain, Dr. Morrow. I’ve been there.”
The scientist arched an eyebrow. “What’s that now?”
Christian sighed. It would do him good to get some things off of his chest he’d been carrying around for almost a hundred and fifty years. “I died once. I used the Blue Moon Portal to come back. Like Hamilton.”
“Oh.” it was all he said. No judgment. No questions. Just understanding.
Hamilton was likely there on the island somewhere, but Christian had no desire to track him down. He certainly didn’t want to have a discussion about their portal experiences. “You won’t say anything--to anyone?” He should’ve asked that first, but the weight of getting it out there was too much for him.
“Of course not.”
“Thank you. I don’t know what I brought back. But I think… it was something.”
“Could be.” Again, no judgement.
Christian had been waiting for a monster like Dracula to emerge all of this time, but as the years passed and nothing that dreadful ever did, he began to think perhaps that part of the story was made up. But then he’d heard of a monster who lived in the mountains of Klet and had to wonder if perhaps it wasn’t fiction after all. He hadn’t done enough investigating to find out for fear he’d draw attention to himself. Besides, the monster, if he existed, was only victimizing villagers in the surrounding area, not people likely to be missed. If the time should come that he would raise his ugly head like Dracula, then, they’d find a way to send him back to where he came from. Christian wasn’t even sure of his name. Something that started with a D, he thought.
“How long do you plan to stay?”
Dr. Morrow’s question jarred him. He’d forgotten he wasn’t alone. “On the beach?”
“No, on the island,” he said, biting back a laugh.
“Oh. I have to go back tomorrow. I have things to do. There’s an Eidolon Festival tonight, and Aaron thinks it might be… consequential.”
“Ah, yes. The Findley girl,” Dr. Morrow said in understanding. “Well, I’m glad you came. I know it meant a lot to Elizabeth. She was a good woman. She’d done so much for so many. She deserves to rest now.”
Christian nodded in agreement. She did. “Thank you, Dr. Morrow. For… everything.”
The scientist clapped him on the back. “Your mother was right, Christian. You are a Goodie.” He patted him one more time and then got up to head back across the beach.
Christian returned his focus to the fading sun. Dr. Morrow and his mother must see something in him other people never saw because most of the time, he didn’t feel particularly good. Not that he felt like a Baddie. But if there was a third choice, someone who did their job well, contributed what they could, and tried not to hurt anyone unless they deserved it, then that’s what he wanted to be. Perhaps he’d do better to think of himself as some form of moderate--a moderator. An equalizer.
Once the sun went down, Christian headed back to the airport. He was missing the Eidolon Festival, but he’d watch through the IACs the rest of the team had because of him. He did feel a change coming in the air. Whether it would be the addition of Cadence Findley to their team or something else, he didn’t know, but when she arrived, if she arrived, he’d be ready.
