Page 89 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

I sat down asking her, “Are you ok?” She whimpered looking at me. I guess not. My instincts demanded that I comfort this wolf, so I started to pet her. I told her, “If I could help you, I would.” We just laid there together until I opened my eyes.

I heard whispering. May and Immy were still here. I called out, “What time is it?” May answered, “Midafternoon.” I stood and swayed on my feet. Thankfully, May caught me. My friend commented, “Odette, you are really pale. You need to eat something.” Food sounded terrible.

I shook my head, “I’m just going to go to sleep some more. You guys have a birthday party to get to. Don’t you?” May said, “We don’t have to go.” I snorted, “Nonsense, you should go.” Immy frowned, “Well, that’s….” I cut her off insisting, “Go. I’m just going to sleep.” Immy sighed then told me, “We will come back.” I nodded then locked the door behind them when they left.

My song and I were both sad. I got into the bathtub thinking the water would do me some good. I let myself go under the water. Flashes of the place I’d seen in my dreams came to life in my mind. I sat up out of the water with a start.

I looked at my phone and snorted realizing I needed more sleep. It had been a half hour since the girls left. I was not under water for a half hour. My phone started ringing and the name Key flashed across the screen.

Without even thinking I answered, “Hello.” Keaton’s relief came through his tone, “Odette, thank god. Please let me come over, I need to see you. My friends said you’re pale. I need to make sure you’re ok. Lisa means nothing to me.”

“Hell, my ex means less than nothing. She stopped meaning something to me when I left last semester. I have a protective instinct in me, that’s all you saw. I know you have one too. You ran to help Justin and Isla. They are both fine but worried about you.” His voice was lulling me to sleep.

I whispered, “I’m so tired, Key.” Keaton frantically yelled, “Odette! Odette!” I managed to get out of the tub and laid down. I told him, “I guess you could come over.” Keaton sighed in relief, “I’m practically there.” That was fine.

I went into my closet and found the shirt he’d left here, put it on, and laid in my bed. I tried to wait for Keaton so I could unlock the door, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I woke up when the song started, feeling whole again.

I felt tingles all over my body and forced my eyes open. Keaton was staring worriedly at me. His voice soothed all the broken pieces of me, “There’s those beautiful eyes, you were worrying me, My Song.” I asked, “How did you get in?” That seemed important. The song in my head huffed at me.

Keaton winked, “I picked the lock.” Instead of being weirded out like I should’ve been, I found myself grinning at him like an idiot. I whispered, “I missed you. It hurts when you’re not here, and I don’t understand why. I feel like my heart just got put back in my chest. I even wore your shirt. It still smells like you. I’m so tired, Key.”

Keaton kissed the top of my forehead, kicked his shoes off, and pulled me into him. He told me, “Rest, My Song.” I couldn’t help but do exactly that. I was floating again when I woke up. I sighed, “I’m really leaning into this water theme. It’s totally the Irish mob.”

I opened my eyes a second before I pulled back down under the water. I didn’t panic this time though; I just let it take me. When I went through the weird door thing, I didn’t need anyone to lead me anywhere. I simply walked to the throne room, but no one was there.

The utter disappointment I felt was obnoxious. I called out, “Caspian?” Nothing happened. I sighed, “Because you’re a crazy person calling out for people in some weird dream.” Someone said, “It’s not a dream.” I squeaked and whirled around.

I asked, “How did you do that? Who are you? Where did you even come from?” The man smiled, “I’m Cordelius. One of your half-brothers, and I’m quite silent when I move. Caspian is here now.” I turned back around.

Caspian called out, “Little sister, you called for me.” I muttered, “And you came.” He turned his head right towards me. Caspian replied, “I’ll always come.” I retorted, “Those are pretty words, but no one ever comes for me.”

My big brother smirked, “It seems your song boy did.” I asked, “How could you possibly know that?” Caspian answered, “Because you are here.” I told him, “Oh, well that clears it up. Oh wait, NO IT DOESN’T!” Caspian and Cordelius snickered.

Caspian said, “You told me not to answer your question about how to get here.” I pointed out, “Well, you haven’t really listened to anything I’ve said. So, why start now?” Caspian snorted, “I do listen.” Cordelius laughed at him.

Caspian insisted, “I do listen!” I teased, “Then you ignore what someone said, and do what you want to do.” Caspian sighed, “Little siblings do not understand the burden of being the oldest.” I said, “Little sisters are supposed to be annoying, from what I’ve observed anyway. I probably annoyed Lux because he had to do everything for me. That’s probably why he went away.”

Caspian disagreed, “That’s not true, Odette. Lux is probably trying to find you like we are. That’s how our mother would’ve punished him. By taking you from him and making you think that he didn’t want you.” I whispered, “She said they were fine until I came along.”

Cordelius snorted, “Of course she did. Did Lux like her?” I admitted, “No. I’m pretty sure he hated her.” Cordelius inclined his head like that proved his point, and it kind of did. Caspian asked, “Do you want to know how you get here?”

I whispered, “I guess I do. I like it here, and I can talk to you guys. Email is fine but seeing you is nice.” Cordelius snorted, “If you tell us where you are, we could see you too. You could come here for real.”

I admitted, “I don’t understand how you hear me, but you don’t see me. That’s weird.” Caspian coyly said, “Magic is weird.” I rolled my eyes, “Magic. If only it existed.” Caspian countered, “How else would you explain this?”

I reasoned, “My subconscious is tired of being alone.” Caspian sighed, “I’m sure it is. We are not really solitary beings.” I interrupted, “People but ok.” Caspian smiled, “You get here by falling asleep with your song, then longing to see us and understand what’s going on. The song inside you is trying to help you by bringing you to us.”

I groaned, “That makes no sense. You know that, right?” Although it was helpful to know how I could come talk to them. Even if it was just in my head. Cordelius asked me, “Do you really think it doesn’t make sense? Or do your human sensibilities make you think it shouldn’t make sense?”

I laughed, “Human sensibilities? We are humans. Why are you acting like we aren’t? Do you think you’re a mutant or something?” Caspian quickly said, “He just means how you were raised. Was how you were raised making you think things aren’t normal?” Well, yes.

Capsian continued, “When in reality your instincts say your emotions are not strange. You feel they are right. You kept saying things were too fast with your song boy, but that he doesn’t feel that way.” I acknowledged, “Well, no he doesn’t. I don’t know though; my song might be broken.”

Caspian asked, “Broken?” I explained, “It only usually sings about him, but then once it was a giant dog that was really far away. That I absolutely shouldn’t be able to see. It was a cute very large dog but still.” My supposed brothers exchanged looks.

Caspian carefully said, “Do let us know if you see the dog again. Don’t be surprised if it’s a wolf though, little sister. Also stay away from red eyed wolves. They are not sane.” I snorted, “Obviously, they have rabies.” Caspian agreed, “Or something.” I told him, “Your dad is very nice.” Caspian smiled agreeing, “Yes, he is.” No one said anything.

I felt myself being pulled away. I told them, “I’m being pulled away again.” Caspian urged, “Be sure to come back.” Cordelius said, “Or alternatively tell us where you are, and we will come get you.” Caspian said, “She doesn’t trust us yet, brother.”