Auralunabella
If there is a key, there must be a door...
Charlie followed Darius out the front door, possibly for the last time. It saddened her, but there was nothing to be done about it. This would be the first place Mia would come searching for her, but it wouldn't be the last. She could only hope to stay a step or two ahead of her until she, no they, had a plan. She had to reconcile the fact that Darius would remain with her. It would be fine, as long as she didn't allow herself to fall back into the same routine of him taking care of her. She was a big girl now, and she would take care of herself.
When they reached the car Darius popped the trunk and tossed his bag in; she followed suit and closed it, making sure it was latched properly. It wouldn't do to have all of their gear flying out the back as they drove. She remembered the last time that had happened; they'd lost a week's worth of groceries to the highway due to her stupid mistake. She was determined to be better about things like that. Small mistakes would cost them a lot more than groceries now.
She was terrified, but a small part of her was excited as well. She knew she probably shouldn't be, but it did feel like kind of an adventure. Her life had been more or less uneventful; it felt good to be moving, doing something for a change. It would be a hard road ahead, she was aware of that, but it would be good for her. She felt that she was on the verge of unlocking something crucial to her development, as well as coming closer to finding information about her father. If Mia was still alive then her father could be as well. She had to keep telling herself that, even though there was danger, this could be a good thing. The most important thing was finding her father, or his body, though she wouldn't let herself think in that direction. It didn't matter to her if she died trying. She just wanted to bring him home again. She could die happy knowing that he was alive and safe.
Charlie hopped in the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt. She turned towards Darius. "So, how long will it take us to reach Galena?" she asked. She had heard of the place, but had no idea where it was. She hoped it wouldn't take too long; she felt more and more anxious as each second passed. She was eager to be out of there.
*
Andrew smiled apologetically when he saw Mia's reaction to the room. "Sorry," he shrugged, "but they take cash and they don't ask for ID. I figured it was the best place, all things considered." He arched his brow as she emphatically claimed the beat up couch over the bed, but he said nothing. It was of little importance.
"How are you feeling now?" He asked her, ignoring her suggestion that they order in. He was fine for now; there was no way he could stomach food after all the excitement. Still, it gave him warm fuzzies to know that she cared enough to consider his comfort.
He tossed his bag on the floor and sat on the side of the bed. "I have questions, obviously, but those can wait for now. I need to tell you something first." It seemed like a good way to break the ice. If he opened up to her first, perhaps she would have an easier time of it. He knew from experience she didn't like to share things about herself.
He had expected that he would be more nervous about sharing his secret; he had never told anyone about it before, but he didn't feel nervous at all. He was perfectly calm. He just wasn't sure where to start. He decided to keep it short and sweet; she could ask her own questions if she felt so inclined.
He cleared his throat. "Well, the easiest way to say this is, you aren't the only one who can... do things." He avoided her gaze and continued, untying his boots as he spoke. "For as long as I can remember I have been able to sense and manipulate people's emotions. You may be familiar with the concept if you've ever watched those cheesy teen vampire movies; one of them could do it too. It's different with me though. I can do more than just that, though I'm not sure how to describe it." He paused, racking his brain for the right words.
"I can not only manipulate emotions. I can kind of do the same thing with energy too. Not any energy. So far it has only worked on people. Meaning, I think can give you what you normally have to take. And it doesn't require actual contact. I can kind of... send it? I don't know how to explain it. Basically when I feel other people's emotions, it leaves a sort of residue, which I absorb, and it gets stored... somewhere. It's not intentional; it just happens. It doesn't make much sense to me. I've been able to hone it a bit, being around you. Your emotions are something else entirely. I've never felt anything so intense." He coughed, feeling a little embarassed, and glanced at her.
"Shall I show you?" he asked.
When they reached the car Darius popped the trunk and tossed his bag in; she followed suit and closed it, making sure it was latched properly. It wouldn't do to have all of their gear flying out the back as they drove. She remembered the last time that had happened; they'd lost a week's worth of groceries to the highway due to her stupid mistake. She was determined to be better about things like that. Small mistakes would cost them a lot more than groceries now.
She was terrified, but a small part of her was excited as well. She knew she probably shouldn't be, but it did feel like kind of an adventure. Her life had been more or less uneventful; it felt good to be moving, doing something for a change. It would be a hard road ahead, she was aware of that, but it would be good for her. She felt that she was on the verge of unlocking something crucial to her development, as well as coming closer to finding information about her father. If Mia was still alive then her father could be as well. She had to keep telling herself that, even though there was danger, this could be a good thing. The most important thing was finding her father, or his body, though she wouldn't let herself think in that direction. It didn't matter to her if she died trying. She just wanted to bring him home again. She could die happy knowing that he was alive and safe.
Charlie hopped in the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt. She turned towards Darius. "So, how long will it take us to reach Galena?" she asked. She had heard of the place, but had no idea where it was. She hoped it wouldn't take too long; she felt more and more anxious as each second passed. She was eager to be out of there.
*
Andrew smiled apologetically when he saw Mia's reaction to the room. "Sorry," he shrugged, "but they take cash and they don't ask for ID. I figured it was the best place, all things considered." He arched his brow as she emphatically claimed the beat up couch over the bed, but he said nothing. It was of little importance.
"How are you feeling now?" He asked her, ignoring her suggestion that they order in. He was fine for now; there was no way he could stomach food after all the excitement. Still, it gave him warm fuzzies to know that she cared enough to consider his comfort.
He tossed his bag on the floor and sat on the side of the bed. "I have questions, obviously, but those can wait for now. I need to tell you something first." It seemed like a good way to break the ice. If he opened up to her first, perhaps she would have an easier time of it. He knew from experience she didn't like to share things about herself.
He had expected that he would be more nervous about sharing his secret; he had never told anyone about it before, but he didn't feel nervous at all. He was perfectly calm. He just wasn't sure where to start. He decided to keep it short and sweet; she could ask her own questions if she felt so inclined.
He cleared his throat. "Well, the easiest way to say this is, you aren't the only one who can... do things." He avoided her gaze and continued, untying his boots as he spoke. "For as long as I can remember I have been able to sense and manipulate people's emotions. You may be familiar with the concept if you've ever watched those cheesy teen vampire movies; one of them could do it too. It's different with me though. I can do more than just that, though I'm not sure how to describe it." He paused, racking his brain for the right words.
"I can not only manipulate emotions. I can kind of do the same thing with energy too. Not any energy. So far it has only worked on people. Meaning, I think can give you what you normally have to take. And it doesn't require actual contact. I can kind of... send it? I don't know how to explain it. Basically when I feel other people's emotions, it leaves a sort of residue, which I absorb, and it gets stored... somewhere. It's not intentional; it just happens. It doesn't make much sense to me. I've been able to hone it a bit, being around you. Your emotions are something else entirely. I've never felt anything so intense." He coughed, feeling a little embarassed, and glanced at her.
"Shall I show you?" he asked.