Chapter 7

As Hayden peeked up from his computer screen, his worried eyes landed on Nora once more. She sat across from him with the letter in her hand and a deep frown on her lips. Her face had grown pale, and it wasn't just because of the heavy rain outside banging against the glass.

"You've been very quiet ever since we got back from seeing Killian," Hayden observed.

Nora looked up but didn't say anything. She tried for a small smile that only lasted for a few seconds before vanishing.

"What's on your mind?" Hayden pushed.

"Killian....." Nora began slowly. "He saw my mom in the underworld."

"Yes," Hayden nodded. "That's how we got the address."

"Do you remember the night we first found out I was a vestal?" Nora sat forward slowly, her fingers still playing with the letter.

"Yes," Hayden looked down at her hands.

"Do you remember what Ares said?" Nora asked. "About vestals not having a soul?"

"I don't believe tha-"

"He also said whatever I am now is all that I get," Nora's voice grew faint. "No rebirth, no afterlife..."

"Nora," Hayden sighed and tried to reach for her hand.

"If my mother was a vestal, then why was she in the underworld?" Nora suddenly looked up.

Hayden felt the weight of what she was getting at land on his shoulders. His insides fell to the bottom of his feet as his blood started to run wildly. With his eyes locked with Nora, Hayden tried to think of something to say that would ease the pain in her eyes. But he didn't have answers. There was nothing he could say that would make her any less miserable than she was.

"I don't get it," Nora shook her head.

She leaned back in her chair and turned her head to stare at the heavy rain outside. The glass was coated with droplets, making it hard to see past the veil of water.

"Maybe the answers we want will be at this place?" Hayden looked back at the screen once more.

"What if they are answers I don't want?"

Hayden looked back up at Nora, "What do you mean?"

"If my mom was in the underworld then that means she was not a vestal. And if she was not a vestal ...." Nora took in a long deep breath. "Was she my mother?"

"Of course she was," Hayden frowned. "She raised you, loved you. All of your memories are of her."

"There is a 50% chance that all that was a lie," Nora muttered. "And the other 50% chance is that Ares was wrong about vestals....I don't think Gods are usually wrong."

"Oh you'd be surprised," Hayden said.

"Is it wrong that I don't want to keep looking for answers?" Nora asked. "I know it's stupid, but....I feel like the more I dig, the more I have no clue who I am. I'm looking for answers, but all I'm getting are more questions."

"You're overwhelmed," Hayden slowly rose from his seat and walked around the table to the other side. He took Nora's hand and pulled her up to her feet despite her small moment of protest.

"This is a lot," he whispered as she stepped into his arms. "But will you be okay giving up now and not knowing what all this really means?"

"No," Nora shook her head. "It'll keep me up at night for the rest of my life."

"I thought so," Hayden smiled.

Reaching up, he twirled a lock of her dark hair around his long slender finger and pushed it behind her ears. Nora's eyes watched his face as he played with her hair with a hint of a smile.

"We'll go," he said. "And we'll find out what's really happening."

Nora took a deep breath.

"But anytime you want it to really stop," Hayden gently pulled her closer. "I'll whisk you away."

________________________

The Aland Islands in the Baltic Sea were a cluster of 6, 700 small islands, with a population of only about 30, 000 people. When Hayden portaled them to one of these small island towns, Nora felt a wave of irritation wash over her like the sea they stood beside.

"What the hell?" She glared.

"This was the address..." Hayden said.

"Why here?" Nora demanded to know. "What's next? Am I Scandinavian?"

"I don't know..." Hayden held up his hands.

"Where are we supposed to go?"

"The town hall."

"This place has a town hall?" Nora arched her brow. "There are like three houses here."

"Boy, you're cranky," Hayden couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out of his lips.

"Yes, go ahead," Nora rolled her eyes and began to march down the street. "Laugh at my misery."

"Nora!"

Hayden ran after her, trying to catch up. Which didn't take too long given how long his legs were compared to Nora's. He hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her to his chest, pressing a kiss to her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," he said, adjusting the blue wool hat she wore.

Feeling slightly breathless and warm, Nora nodded, avoiding Hayden's eyes.

"Also, you're going the wrong way," he said. "The town hall is the other way."

"Oh," Nora looked over her shoulder.

"Shall we?"

"Lead the way," Nora took a small step back.

Hayden watched her for a moment, curious as to why she was so fidgety. But he decided to drop it as he took her hand and began to head towards the brick building at the end of the street.

"It's too quiet here," Nora said after a few minutes. "Do people really live here? I haven't seen a single person outside."

"I'm sure they're all tucked into their beds right now," Hayden said. "It's only 6 AM here."

Nora looked around, feeling uneasy, "I can't even hear a bird."

"It's really bothering you, isn't it?" Hayden looked down at her.

"No," Nora lied. "Maybe."

Without saying anything, Hayden pulled out his phone and his earpods. He handed one to Nora and put the other one in her right ear himself. Once she had put in the left ear, he hit shuffle on his playlist and smiled.

"Better?"

"Kanye West?" Nora raised her brow.

"Here," Hayden handed her his phone. "Pick whatever you like."

Nora began to scroll through the songs as Hayden held her hand and led her towards the town hall. She had to admit his choice in music was pretty tasteful. She found a bunch of her favorites along with a few that surprised her.

After the brisk short walk to the end of the street, Nora took off the earpods and handed them back to Hayden. She stared up at the large brick structure with it's black double doors and a gold lion's head. Together, they walked up to the door and made their way inside, following the signs that directed public visitors.

"Hello?" Hayden called out as they entered the lobby with it's empty front desk. "Anyone here?"

Nora looked around with amazement at the stained glass windows and columns. The interior was too strange for a building in Scandinavia. It was too dark, a perfect gothic architectural masterpiece. As Nora continued to look around, the small ding at the desk made her jump.

"We are closed," a tall skinny man in beige trousers and a striped button down said as he exited a room behind the front desk. "Visiting hours are from 9 Am to 5 Pm."

"We're here for a different matter," Hayden said.

"We are closed, sir," the man said once more.

"My mother sent us here," Nora stepped forward.

"Then she must have told you the visiting hours."

"My mother's name is Samara Kennedy," Nora stopped the man as he began to turn away. "She told me to come here."

There was a short pause. The lanky man's bony fingers froze on the door as he slowly turned back around.

"Please?" Nora took another step forward. "I just need to know why she sent me here."

With eyes that seemed too small for his face, the man peered at Nora. The look in his face was unreadable as he stood around silently, letting a few minutes tick by.

"Hello?" Nora looked at the man and then at Hayden. "Sir?"

"Samara Sigor," the man said.

"What?" Nora asked in confusion.

With a heavy sigh, the man walked around the desk and headed for the stairs.

"Your mother's name was Samara Sigor," he said, motioning for Nora to follow.

The girl looked at Hayden to see if she should follow the man upstairs. She waited for him to give her a sign.

"She was an old friend of mine," the man said. "I'm Arsenio Volna."

"I'm Nora Kennedy," Nora said from the bottom of the stairs. "This is Hayden..."

Arsenio stopped and turned to look back at them. His pinched features were unreadable as his eyes moved between the pair.

"You mother has left something for you here," the old man said, looking upstairs.

"What is this place?" Nora asked. "And why here? What if I never came here?"

"You would have been bought here," Arsenio said. "Eventually."

"Who are you?" Hayden asked, taking a step forward and standing beside Nora.

"I am a Sajara Guardian," Arsenio looked at Nora. "I'm sure you know what a guardian is."

"I do now," Nora muttered.

"Your mother was a guardian too."

"I thought...." Nora's head began to spin as her earlier fear resurfaced.

Feeling her anxiety, Hayden took her hand and pulled her a little closer.

"I thought my mother was a vestal," she said, her eyes watering despite her stubbornness to remain cool and collective.

"Did Samara not tell you where you came from?" Arsenio arched his brow.

"No...." Nora frowned. "Up until just a few weeks ago, I didn't even know I was a vestal."

"How...." Arsenio grew concerned. "How much do you know about who your mother was?"

"Nothing!" Nora shouted, feeling frustrated with the new questions rising in her mind. "She was a housewife. We had a normal life. She picked me up from school, always on time. Never late. I had homemade lunch. On weekends we went to the zoo."

Arsenio's face fell, "Come with me."

"Where?" Nora asked, gripping Hayden's hand. "You still haven't told me what this place is."

"This is one of the many shelters for guardians," Arsenio said. "Your mother used to run this place before she was tasked with taking care of you."

"Oh god..." Nora swallowed the lump in her throat. Her chest tightened and she leaned into Hayden, needing his support to hold her up. "She....she wasn't my mother, was she?"

"No," Arsenio said matter of factly. "And this is something she should have told you from day one. It's a bit concerning that you do not know where you are from and your purpose."

"Her purpose?" Hayden asked. "What is her purpose?"

"I can't tell you all standing here," the man clicked his tongue. "Come upstairs and I will give you the update."

"The last time I saw a guardian she was trying to stab me," Nora shivered. "How do I know you won't do the same upstairs?"

"I must apologize for that," Arsenio pressed his lips into a thin line. "It was rather a shock for us too when we realized Samara failed to do her job properly."

"Where are my parents?" Nora asked. "My real parents?"

"They're dead," Arsenio didn't even blink an eye.

Hayden felt Nora shiver once more. Her nails dug into his hand as she bit down on her bottom lip and stared at the man with tears in her eyes. He wanted to take her home. The way Arsenio spoke to her without any compassion for her mental health made him angry. Couldn't he see how distressed she was? Did he have to be so cold when delivering these life altering blows?

As Hayden stood holding Nora in his arms, his anger made the magic simmer below his skin. His jaw clenched as he looked back at the old man watching them. He wanted to take Nora away from it all. Away from whatever mess they were about to walk into.

"A moor?" Arsenio's face darkened, looking at Hayden and sensing his magic below his skin. "Your kind is not welcomed here."

Nora's hand tightened on Hayden's forearm.

"Nora," the old man held out a hand. "Come. We do not associate with Moors."

"No," Nora moved closer into Hayden's arms around her. "I'm not going anywhere without him."

"He is not allowed upstairs," Arsenio said with disapproval.

"Then we're leaving."

"No," Hayden looked at Nora. "We need to know what's going on here."

"I think I know enough," Nora shook her head. "My whole life was a lie. A lie these guardians constructed. I have no idea where I came from. My parents weren't even my real parents."

"We did it all for your own good, Nora," Arsenio said. "We mean no harm to you."

"I can't believe you," Nora looked back at the old man. "This is all too much."

"Nora, I th-" Hayden started but Nora shook her head.

"No," she stepped out of his arms. "I can't handle this anymore. My brain is a mush. My body can not take this stress anymore. I have no clue what the hell is going on and everyone keeps acting as if I should know everything when I've been lied to my whole life. I can't do this. I want to leave. Right now, I want to go."

"Okay, okay," Hayden pulled her back. "Relax. Take a deep breath....please."

"No," Nora shook her head, her cheeks turning red and her fingers cold. "Take me home."

Hayden looked at Arsenio who stared at Nora with concern. His old eyes seemed to show some hints of sympathy for the girl losing her mind at the base of the stairs.

"Hayden," Nora stomped her feet. "I want to go home."

"Yeah," Hayden nodded. "Let's go."

"Wait," Arsenio spoke up.

"No, I'm not staying," Nora shook her head. "Even if Hayden is allowed to come with me upstairs."

"I have something that Samara left behind for you," Arsenio said. "She had asked me to give it to you when you arrived."

"No," Nora shook her head, desperate to get out.

She felt the walls closing in around her, making it impossible to fill her lungs with air. Her insides turned and she felt so dizzy she was sure she was hurting Hayden from how tightly she gripped his arm.

"Hayden," she tugged like a child. "Let's go. Please."

Hayden looked at Arsenio, "Give it to me."

Arsenio's eyes narrowed as he stared at the boy. His mouth twitched as if he was about to say something insulting. But as his gaze fell on the desperation on Nora's face, he stopped himself and turned to head upstairs.

"Let's go," Nora reached up and turned Hayden's face towards her to catch his attention. "Please."

"Just give me one minute," Hayden pleaded, pulling her closer and kissing her temple. "I promise I'm taking you away after."

Nora buried her face in the crook of Hayden's shoulder. She knew the only reason she was able to even reach was because of how he was holding her up to his body. She was on her toes, with her arms wrapped around his neck tightly and his arms holding her protectively. Nora shut her eyes and placed her lids against the warmth of Hayden's neck, feeling his humming energy dance with her frightened heart. He turned ever so often and placed light soothing kisses on the edge for her face until Arsenio arrived with a small black journal.

"This is from Samara," he said, holding out the journal towards Hayden. "It's for Nora."

"Got it," Hayden said, taking the old book.

"Nora," Arsenio turned his attention to the girl hiding in the boy's arms. "Know that we are always here. After reading what Samara wrote for you, if you have any questions, I will gladly answer them for you."

Nora didn't reply. She tightened her hold around Hayden and hid her face as she felt him open a portal. Her body was too sick already to even notice the way the portal affected her. She felt the shift in the air as they vanished out of the town hall and into the open woods behind Hayden's parent's home.

"We're home," Hayden whispered to her, petting her hair gently once he removed her wool hat.

Slowly, Nora lowered her arms and picked up her head. Her lashes were damp and the tip of her nose was cherry red. She stared at Hayden with broken brown eyes as her heart stumbled throat a series of beats.

"Do you think I'll go crazy?" she asked.

"What?" Hayden frowned.

"I feel like I'm going to go crazy," Nora said. "I....my....my whole life.....everyone lied to me."

"I'm so sorry," Hayden felt his heart shatter for the girl.

"I can't even understand what I am feeling," Nora stepped back and tugged at her hair. "I'm angry. I'm so angry! But I'm also in pain....I can't breath, I- I can't make sense of what's happening. There is this pressure in the spot where my heart used to be and in the center of my chest I feel like someone is just sucking all the air out of me. I...."

Hayden stood helpless watching Nora. He wanted to pull her back into his arms and tell her he would make everything better. But he didn't know how to or where to even start.

"Am I a person?" Nora pointed to herself. "Because it doesn't feel like it right now. I feel like I'm watching all this happen to me from somewhere far far away."

"You're stressed," Hayden said. "And overwhelmed."

"I want to scream," Nora cried. "I want to scream at the top of my lungs until I can't anymore."

"Do it," Hayden said.

Nora let out a sob, pushing her hair out of her face and looking up at the sky.

"Do it, Nora," Hayden said, stepping forward. "Scream."

"What good will it do?" Nora closed her eyes and shook her head.

"I don't know," Hayden shrugged. "But maybe that's the only thing we can do right now."

Nora slowly opened her eyes. She stared into Hayden's green gaze, feeling her body sway as if she might collapse. He raised his hands and took hold of her arms, right above her elbows and pulled her closer.

"Scream," Hayden said. "Scream until you can't anymore."

His gentle touch made Nora's eyes water. Underneath all the storms inside of her she could feel something sweet and comforting blossom in her. But it was pushed to the edge of the earth by all the monsters lurking with their secrets in her life. And realizing that made Nora's eyes water even more.

She wanted Hayden. She wanted to be with him so bad that it made her broken heart expand twice its size and crawl into her throat. He had somehow become the searchlight in the storm she was navigating through. His eyes grounded her, comforted her and told her tales of how he too wanted to love her.

But the words never made it out of Nora's lips. She was drowning in the nightmare her life had become and she couldn't risk the only real thing she had. The only truth for the first time in her life.

Nora's eyes filled with fat tears as she stared at Hayden. He frowned, wiping her tears with his thumb.

"What is it?" Hayden asked, feeling the way her heart was bleeding.

Nora bit down on her bottom lip as sobs bubbled out of her childishly. She turned away and covered her mouth with her hands before she couldn't stop herself anymore.

Hayden stood back, just inches away from Nora as she lowered her hand and screamed. Her small hands balled into fists as she channeled all her anger and frustration into her lungs and screamed for her dear life. Her veins under her skin began to glow from the autura.

Hayden reached out and lowered his lips to the base of her neck, brushing them over her skin to calm the magic running through her system. Nora was burning up. She leaned back into Hayden as he wrapped his arms round her. Her screams died and turned into sobs as she leaned her head back on his shoulder, letting him hold her. Her whole body trembled, making Hayden's heart tremble along with her. He stood still, placing his head on her shoulder and not saying a word. The trees too held their breath as Nora cried.

_________________________

Hayden stood on the balcony of the treehouse and gazed down at the two jinns waking past just a few yards away. They paused and looked up to where he stood fiddling with Nora's silver watch. Hayden gave them a small nod of acknowledgment before they bowed their heads and walked off. When he was sure they were far far away on the other side of the perimeter, Hayden turned on his heels and walked back inside.

"Do you have to go home?" Nora asked from the daybed.

Hayden took in a deep breath and plopped down beside her, "Nah."

"We've been here all night," Nora said, shutting the journal on her lap.

"Are you worried about your reputation?" Hayden grinned, leaning back on his elbow. "Being out all night with me in the woods."

"What a scandal this will cause with the guardians," Nora rolled her eyes, her voice lacking it's usual sass.

Hayden watched her as she stared at the darkness outside for a while. His phone was somewhere on the bed playing a piano ballet, proving just the right amount of distraction from the silence outside. Nora looked down at the journal on her lap and ran her hand over the worn out cover.

"Anything new?" Hayden asked, shifting his weight to his right side.

"Just connecting the dots at this point," Nora's voice was too low.

"What do we have now?"

"I'm a vestal," Nora said, her eyes still on the journal. "My birth mother was a vestal. She worked with the guardians to protect the sajara. They helped her stay undetected from Zeus. When she died....Samara was tasked with raising me."

"How did she die?" Hayden asked. "Your birth mother."

"I don't know," Nora shook her head. "She didn't say in her writing."

"Did she say what your mom was helping the guardians with?"

Nora slowly nodded her head.

"And?" Hayden asked.

"The sajara..." Nora opened the journal. "It grows not from water but from blood."

Hayden stilled. His eyes stayed glued on Nora's face as she slowly turned the pages of the old journal.

"I'm guessing not just any blood," Hayden felt his insides turn.

"No," Nora shook her head. "It grows with blood from the high bloods of the feys or from vestal blood."

"Shit," Hayden groaned. "There are no high blood feys left on Earth."

"I know," Nora nodded.

"So your mother gave the guardians her blood to keep the tree growing," Hayden felt a cold shiver run down his spine.

Nora nodded once more.

"But why?" Hayden asked in confusion. "Why are they so hell bent on saving this tree? What purpose does it serve?"

Nora, once again, slowly closed the journal on her lap. She chewed on her bottom lip as she ran her fingers along the spine of the book.

"How dangerous are feys to jinn?" she asked.

"Very," Hayden said. "They kept jinns as slaves."

Nora swallowed the lump in her throat and slowly looked up, nodding her head. She held her breath as Hayden tucked her hair behind her ear and placed his palm against her cheek.

"What is it?" He asked.

"It...." Nora looked at the journal. "It says here the saraja is keeping the remaining feys alive."

"The remaining feys?" Hayden sat up. A deep scowl formed on his face as Nora looked up at him through her damp lashes.

"There are feys on Earth," she said. "Other than you and your mom."  

Do you think it's a good thing or bad thing that the feys are back?