Chapter 26

     Walking into the house, I am expecting the worse. The house is quite making our worry increase. Wyatt takes off towards the stairs without second thought. I head towards the living room, while the other four go into different directions. Pressure seems to be pushing down on my heart. I don’t need something else to happen so soon.

     The door creaks open, and something pops out at me. Flinging my hands out, I blast my fire at the person out of reflex. I see Eli standing wide eyed in the middle of my fire. It seems to just float around him. He holds his hand out to touch it, and it moves away. Standing there, were both in awe.

     Giggling, he runs through it. It parts like the Red Sea. He twirls around with bliss on his face. I don’t understand what is happening, but I have to admit it is awesome.

     “Mommy?”

     “Yeah, Eli?”

     “The chair is on fire,” he says while still spinning.

     I just smile at him. “That’s cool, sweetie.”

     “Ivy! Will you please put out your fire?”

     I turn and look at Blayze. She flashes me a sheepish smile and motions at a chair which happens to be on fire. I bring the fire back quickly, and the chair is snuffed out. I look towards Blayze again and her face is hesitant. She opens her mouth then closes it again.

     Finally, she squares her shoulders and begins to speak, “I’m really sorry about everything. Clay explained it to me. I honestly didn’t know. I can’t believe I actually believed her. No offence of anything, but your mom is evil. She was going to blow us all up.”

     I laugh at her causing her to relax. “None taken. Now, we can forgive and forget if you do one thing for me.”

     “Deal.”

     “Okay, well where is everyone?” I ask still not completely understanding the situation.

     “Oh, they were playing hide and go seek, which explains why Eli was in here by himself.”

     I twinge of anger went through my body as I thought of Eli being alone, but I let it go. They were just playing, and Cynthia didn’t know that anything could have been wrong. I glance at Blayze. “You ready?”

     “Um, yeah?” she asks me making me laugh.

     Ten minutes later, and I am lying in a bathtub with my bathing suit on. I know it seems odd, and believe me I expected making the darkness go away would have nothing to do with lying in a tub full of water. It’s what Blayze said to do though, and her being the one who know what she is talking about, I didn’t question her.

     She rolls up her sleeves and gets down on her knees beside the tub. “Okay when I push you under, don’t freak out okay? I know you don’t trust me after the whole let’s battle thing, but I really need you to hold your breath.”

     With that she plunges my head under the water. My first instinct is to thrash about, but I calm myself and let her do her thing. Opening my eyes, my vision is distorted. I can still make out the white glow that is coming from her eyes. I look around in the water, and black gunk starts exiting my body through my pores. The once clean water soon turns to black.

     Not being able to hold by breath any longer, I tap on the hand that is holding me under. For a few seconds nothing happens, and then I am yanked out of the water. Standing there dripping oil like substance from my body, I look at Blayze with new found admiration.

     She grins at me before holding her hand out. “New start?”

     “New start,” I say while shaking her hand, “but now I need a shower. I’m thinking the twins can clean the bathtub later.”

     She laughs before exiting the bathroom. Stripping off my bikini, I jump into the shower. The hot water relaxes my muscles allowing me to think about the past couple of weeks. So much has happened so fast. I feel like my head is spinning and doesn’t know where to stop. One thing I do know though is who I am going to choose. The difficult part is going to be breaking the other one’s heart.

     I dry off and slip on my clothes before walking down the hall with dread. Opening his bedroom door, I prepare myself to tell him the news. Something stops me though; I notice a white piece of paper sitting on his pillow.

     Making my way towards it, I notice my name written on the outside. Opening it up, I read:

     Dear Ivy,

          I know that once the bracelet is off, you will choose him. It’s obvious in the way

          that you stare at him as if he is your world. I didn’t want you to have to actually say the

          words out loud. Not only would they have made you feel horrible, I think they would

          have crushed me. I’m leaving, and I’m not coming back. I guess I wasn’t supposed to

          help you make the decision in the prophecy, but how could I stand by and watch the

          person that I love go through so much pain? How could I make you decide who to push

          away when you obviously wanted us both close? I don’t know when I will see you again,

          but I want you to know that I will love you forever. If anything ever happens to him,

          expect me to swoop you off your feet.

     My love for eternity,

                                       Chris

     I clutch the letter to my chest as I fall onto his bed. Sobs release from my body while tears stream down my face. I can’t believe he left without saying goodbye to my face. I know that I am being irrational, and its better this way. I just didn’t expect him to be gone so fast. Not after everything that has happened to us. Not after everything that we have been through together.

     He was my best friend. I love him like a brother and he just leaves me? The letter is pulled from my grasp. After a few seconds, warm arms wrap around me. Cradling me, he rocks me back and forth whispering soothing words into my ears. I glance up into his beautiful blue eyes and see only love.

      Leaning up a tiny bit, I capture his lips with mine. He momentarily freezes before kissing me back. As soon as it starts though, he pulls away. Feeling rejected, I lower my head and let more tears drop.

     Aaron puts a finger under my chin and lifts my head. “Ivy, I wasn’t rejecting you. I love you, and when you’re not so vulnerable, I will gladly make out with you for hours.”

     I chuckle and snuggle back into his arms. Even if everything is still chaotic around me, there is one place I will always feel safe, right here in his arms.