Enduring Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #3)(12)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Oh.”

“This is going to sound crazy, but I feel like I have been here before. I just walked out on the balcony that overlooks the garden, and I swear it is like I have seen the view.”

“That doesn’t sound crazy. Do you feel that with anything else?”

“I am going to go to bed.” Samantha carefully set down the instrument before hurrying me out the door. “See you in a few hours. Rest well.” She shut the door in my face before I could respond.

After what I’d seen in Energo, I no longer believed in coincidences. Samantha’s case of déjà vu held some significance, but I couldn’t figure it out. I walked down to my room and flopped on my bed. I forced every thought out of my head so I could get some much-needed sleep. I’d have hours to worry about it on our trip.

***

I did a double take when I walked downstairs and found Samantha in the den. “Samantha? What are you doing up?”

She barely glanced up from where she sat cross-legged on the couch with her chin resting in the palms of her hands. “Oh, I could not sleep.”

Something felt off. Samantha never looked so down. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just a bad dream.”

“Oh, anything you want to talk about?”

She stood and walked to the back hallway. “No. I am fine. You can go back to bed. I will take the next watch.”

I followed her. “I’m up anyway. We can do it together.”

“No. I am more than capable of doing it myself.” The steely tone in her voice had me nodding my head.

“Okay. See ya later.” I slumped down on the couch, completely confused. Girls were usually easy enough to understand, but Samantha wasn’t like any girl I’d met before.

Chapter Eight

Charlotte

“Ruth?” I whispered. Calvin was right outside the door, and I didn’t want him to think I was crazy. “I thought you were dead.”

This message is only for an Essence. If you can hear it, then it is for you.

Her voice was clear, yet it sounded old somehow—dated.

The scroll is not a scroll. Look to the swamps for the answer. Fighting darkness takes light, and light can only be wielded when an Essence lets in her other half.

“What?” I waited for more but heard nothing.

I slumped down to the hard wood floor and replayed the words in my head. The scroll wasn’t a scroll, so what were we looking for? We had to find a swamp, and I had to let in my other half. That had to mean Calvin. Did she mean to literally let him in? I buried my face in my hands. What did that have to do with wielding light? It was all really weird, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“Thanks for the clear and precise advice,” I said, even though I knew very well Ruth wasn’t there to hear it.

“Charlotte?” Calvin asked from outside the room.

“I’m coming.” I got up, dusting off my pants before walking into the hall.

“Did you find anything?” His eyes searched my face.

I tried my best to hide my emotions, but I knew that even more than Liam, Calvin could see through me. “Nothing physical, but she left me a message. Do you know where we’d find swamps around here?”

“Around here? No. The only swamps I know of are on the other side of the mountains.”

“We need to go there to find the scroll.” At least that part of the message had been clear.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“That is what we will do then. But I just spoke with Liam and Henry. Do you think you can hold that fog overnight?”

“Yes. Absolutely.” I’d managed to balance the fog while listening to the weird version of Ruth. My confidence in my abilities was at an all-time high. I had almost forgotten I was still holding it, and I couldn’t wait to tell my mom.

He took my hand. “Good.”

“Are we staying here tonight then?”

“There is an inn on the other side of this street. We can take a few rooms.”

“Oh, good. I wouldn’t feel right about staying in someone’s house, considering everything.” My words didn’t match my thoughts. Ruth’s message about opening myself up to my Gerard ran through my mind, and I could feel blood rushing to my face. I’d been thinking about sleeping with Calvin more than I should have been, considering the danger we were in, and I had finally made up my mind. What was the point of waiting when I wanted to be with him? We were already married in the eyes of Energo, and if finally sleeping together could potentially help us find the scroll, then holding back was definitely a mistake.

“Are you okay, Charlotte?”

I smiled. “Yes.”

“Good.” He led me to the stairs.

***

“There are three rooms, so whoever comes off watch will take the room of the man relieving him.” Liam tossed his stuff down in the hall on the second floor of the inn.

The two-story building had only three guest rooms. The majority of the first floor was taken up with a large bar. Back home, we probably would have called it a tavern.

“That will not be necessary. You and Henry will each have your own.” Calvin took both of our packs into the room farthest from the others.

Liam glanced at Calvin. “What? You don’t think Charlotte is safe in her own room?”

Calvin looked slightly uncomfortable. “That is not it at all. We will be spending our nights together from now on.”

“Is that okay with you, Char? You don’t have to, you know. I don’t care what united BS he throws at you, you don’t owe him anything.” Liam’s eyes implored me to walk away.

“I know I don’t owe him anything! I want to share a room with Calvin.” I tried to hide how flustered Liam made me, but I was way past embarrassed.

“Can I talk to you, Charlotte?” Liam shifted uncomfortably.

“For a second.” I headed down the stairs, knowing he would follow.

“Don’t do something stupid. Just because we’re in Energo doesn’t mean you have to follow their rules. Be yourself.”

“I’m not doing anything to follow rules. I want to share a room with Calvin.” I refused to look at Liam’s face. I didn’t want to see his expression. Instead, I walked back up the stairs. I could feel Liam right behind me. I stopped at Calvin’s side and put my hand in his.

“So… I’m going to take first watch.” Henry started to walk down the stairs.

“No. I’m taking it.” Liam looked at me in a way that got me right in the heart. His expression was equal parts hurt and anger. Neither felt good.