Death of Magic by Tia Didmon & Victoria Crawford

Author:Tia Didmon & Victoria Crawford [Didmon, Tia & Crawford, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Butterfly Publishing Inc.
Published: 2023-08-09T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

“Deep pond lake,” Indego said through the tattoos.

I couldn’t stop the shudder that ran through my body. I hadn’t returned to the lake since the day A.J. died. Eight months after my best friend drowned, my parents had and Kliona hadn’t taken me anywhere in public and I doubted she ever returned to the government-run park either. It had always been popular with the townsfolk for swimming and walking the trails. Even the fishing was reported to be good, but nothing could make me return to the scene of that crime despite it being deemed an accident. I took a step back before Daryn grabbed my hand. I would rather face that travesty of a council again.

My eyes darted around the carnage in the bookstore, as if it could offer refuge from my past. “You should go. Drop me off...”

“No, Shannon. I understand how traumatic the lake is for you. We all struggle to return to areas where we lost someone. While hunters come to expect this, the first loss is always the worst. You were never given the opportunity to come to terms with the events at the lake. Kliona should have taken you back a year or two later, but she couldn’t face the truth. The lake is part of our territory and honestly, your son will spend time there in the warmer months. You can’t avoid it because of what happened. It has changed a lot over the years. There’s a new boat ramp and the beach area has been expanded. There are several more walking trails around the lake as well.”

I willed my heartbeat to slow. I was fully aware my fear was irrational. A.J.’s death was an accident. There was nobody to blame, but that event was the start of the shit sandwich that became my life. “I know you are right. It is just hard to...”

“I understand better than you can imagine. When our first team member died, I took it really hard. Every time I pass that alley, I still get a chill, but I have had to patrol it a hundred times since then. We can’t let fear incapacitate us. That can get a teammate killed, or worse, you.”

I looked down. “I am not as strong as you, Daryn.”

He put his thumb on my chin and tipped it up. “That’s not true. I had the best instructors. People who knew how to deal with loss and help us get past it. Placing those feelings in a closet and closing the door doesn’t make them go away. They just fester and build until you are something like Kliona.”

I knew he was right, but that fear had thirty years to fester and it was an infected wound I wasn’t sure I could heal. “I’ll try.”

Daryn dropped his hand. “Good. Talk to me. Tell me what is going on with you at all times. When you want to leave the site, just tell me. This time, it is only important that we show up.”

“Okay.” He took my hand and led me outside the bookstore and to the car.

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