“Hey, if Mari wants to see dioramas, then that’s what she shall get,” Logan replied in his princely voice.
“Fine, lead the way,” I said, and Logan began to walk.
We didn’t go more than a few feet before the glass cases beside us had tiny people in them. I paused to look, not letting go of Logan’s hand. It was more little Egyptian people. There were great big pillars within the diorama, and they were being painted. I smiled. I had seen these types of dioramas many times, but I never pictured them life-sized until now.
“If you like your men in shendyts, I can always just walk around the house in a towel. Basically, it’s the same effect,” Logan commented as I peered closer at the Egyptian men.
I turned a smacked his chest. “That’s not what I’m looking at.”
Logan laughed.
“I never imagined the past was this colorful. I always thought people who made these just liked to paint things. The past always equaled brown, broken-down ruins for me. It isn’t though, is it?” I replied. I kind of wished I could go to the exact place I was looking at and see it being done.
“No, it isn’t,” Logan answered.
I walked to the next window and peered inside. There, the large temple from the one before stood completed. Inside the courtyard was filled with at least a hundred or more soldiers, charioteers in the front with one man leading them. I glanced at the plaque and read the name: Ramses II. Who hadn’t heard of Ramses? I looked closer at the little figures, and could imagine the men in Seth’s camp. This scene before me felt real. It might not have looked like this exactly, but things like this did happen in the past. People like Ramses existed.
“How many of these men do you think returned home?” Logan asked.
I looked up at him. I wasn’t thinking that, but it would be a good question. I shrugged.
“Not as many as that left with their hero Ramses,” Logan replied, now looking at the little figures with me. “They said he came from the blood of gods, but he was just a man, like every other person there. War isn’t as beautiful as it’s made to look here. Many don’t return. Even good men, even well-trained soldiers don’t come back alive.”
I got the hint. Seth would be one of those men. He was military. His family was military. Seth’s only fate was to serve a pharaoh like Ramses on whatever quest he was called to do.
“Let go of him in your heart, and I will teach you how to save them all,” Logan replied, still looking at the figures.
Clicking heels got both of our attentions, and we were back in Chicago immediately. Logan looked past my head and behind me. I turned to see Kye shimmer into view.
“Logan, we have a slight issue,” Kye said. Logan looked at Kye and nodded.
“I’m sorry to cut our date short,” Logan said to me as I stood there, looking between them. At least this time he was telling me, and not leaving me to find out he wasn’t going to return from the restroom.
“Is everything okay?” Miller asked, approaching us.
“Yes,” Logan replied. “We need to head back now.”
Miller nodded and turned to walk away. I opened my mouth to ask about Miller when Kye interrupted.
“I can stay with Mari at the house while you sort it out.”
Logan took my hand as I looked at Miller. He glanced back only briefly as we faded. Logan let go of my hand and disappeared a second time after leaving me in my room with Kye. I looked over at Kye and was about to ask about Miller, but instead I kept quiet. One by one, people I had already met were becoming connected to everything in ways that I never imagined. What more was there to hide? Would Kye tell me? I doubted it. He said he was there to help me, but obviously he was there to help Logan. I wanted to trust him, yet I was still unsure how he was linked to everything.
Chapter 8
Disaster of a Double Date
I wasn’t looking forward to my double date with Seth and Melissa. After looking at all the models of Egyptians the day before, my dreams were filled with images of Seth. He filled not only my waking, but also my sleeping thoughts now. How was I to let go of him if even my unconscious was thinking of him? It was impossible to get my heart to let go, and my subconscious mind was determined to hang onto him, too. Tonight wasn’t going to be rewarding for either my heart or subconscious. Seth wasn’t going to be my date, he was going to be Melissa’s. How was I expected to deal with that? And then Logan wanted me to see him and only him. My life was getting too complicated. Having to get through this double date was just icing on the cake.
I finished getting dressed and pulled my hair back into a ponytail. We weren’t going anywhere fancy like the day before, and I appreciated that. I was almost ready to go when I went to put my necklace on. I felt like I needed to wear it all the time now to keep it from disappearing again. It had left me once, and I didn’t want to lose it again. The blue turquoise stone served as a reminder to me that I was doing all of it for my mother, my friends, and for Seth. The necklace that I had lost years before was enough to keep me grounded. I thought about how nice it was to have it back as I clasped it around my neck, but I was just as happy to be wearing jeans with my sweater. This time we didn’t have to fake travel, which meant warm clothes and winter outside.
Logan waited downstairs for me. He hadn’t returned the night before, and Kye had stayed with me. He even insisted that he sleep in my room on the window seat. I had no clue what that meant, but I didn’t ask. I had a feeling I didn’t want to be part of Logan’s schemes.
The more people I learned about, who were stuck in times that were not their own, the more I wondered about what Logan had been doing for years. I was planning to go against the goddess to save my friends, but I still didn’t know why Logan had figured out how to do what he was going to show me. Why could he possibly want to keep people from their times? It didn’t look like the three servants were upset with him, but I didn’t speak their language, so there was really no telling for sure. I was being kept in my time against my will. Were they also? Logan knew a lot about time travel. I wanted to learn, but other things I was fine being in the dark about. Kye showing up in the middle of our first date to pull Logan away was one of those times I was sure I wanted to remain ignorant about.
I hurried downstairs after I saw that we would be late, and found Kye on the couch watching TV. He had spent a large part of his time back watching TV. It was as if he were studying the twenty-first century through the shows he found. I mean, it is called reality TV after all, but it was hard to get him to understand there was very little reality to it at all.
Logan was standing by the couch, watching outside, as I came down the stairs. He turned, holding my coat out for me. Yep, I was running really late. Oh well. It wasn’t like I wanted to go anyway. The less time we had to spend at dinner with Seth and Melissa, the better.
It was a quiet drive to the restaurant. Logan was off in his own world, and I was busy staring at the scenery as it passed. Winter was beautiful in the North Country, but really cold. It was best to view it from inside.
When we finally parked, I didn’t want to leave the warm car.
“You can’t just beam us in?” I asked Logan, feeling the cold seep into the car immediately after he shut off the engine.
Logan smiled for the first time since our date the night before. “And what will everyone think when we just show up inside?”
“That they missed us entering?” I replied. It wasn’t feasible, but it was worth a try.
“Sorry, princess, but you’ll have to endure. You kind of deserve having to be tortured by the cold, you know,” Logan added. “You choose to go this far north for college. There are plenty of good choices in Chicago, or even Florida.” I got the distinct feeling that Logan wasn’t a fan of the cold at all, even less than I was at that moment. I was glad to see him smile. It was going to be an even longer meal if he was mad.
We got out of the car, and Logan threw his arm around me as we hurried to the front door. His little bit of extra warmth w
as appreciated, until I entered and found Seth just inside the doorway watching us. His face was smiling, but his eyes were not. I cringed a little bit on the inside. That wasn’t a great start. He was going to think I really was with Logan.
“Mari,” Melissa called to me, taking me from Logan’s arms to hug me quickly, like we hadn’t just seen each other days ago. I still wasn’t used to this Melissa, or rather, this nice Melissa. It was too weird. I had all the old memories, even if she didn’t.
Melissa continued to hold onto me as we were shown to our seats. Logan got in on one side of the booth, and Seth on the other. Melissa let go to slide in next to Seth, and I had to sit with Logan, even if it felt like I was betraying Seth in the process. My darn heart wasn’t letting me have an easy time with any of this. I hated myself enough as it was, but it was difficult to have to deal with the date and seeing Seth beside Melissa. Logan smiled, and pretended to be happy to be there, but Seth wasn’t even trying. He was scowling at Logan. I didn’t catch what was said between them as Melissa talked to me, but I was sure it wasn’t good.
“So Logan was telling me the other day in calculus that you dated him once back in high school,” Melissa said as the waiter gave us menus.
“Um, yes,” I replied, not as enthusiastically as it should have been. This was going to be impossible. How was I expected to convince Logan I was into him, and moving on from Seth, when I was worried about every word that came out of my mouth? I didn’t want Seth to get the wrong idea. This double date was a horrible idea.
“Then why’d you break up?” Melissa asked, prying into our dating life further.
“You know, going off to college and all,” I said, not exactly telling the truth. What was I supposed to say? Well, he was a crappy boyfriend that was running off and leaving me alone all the time, but you know, it’s all fine now because he was time traveling and had no choice. Part of his job and all. Yep, that would work.
“But you’re at the same school,” Melissa commented, very confused.
Logan threw his arm around my shoulders. I tried not to look at Seth’s face. “I wasn’t planning to go here, but I couldn’t stay away from her. Mari was the one I let get away, and I had to follow her. I had to win her back.”
“Maybe she left you for a reason,” Seth suggested as the waiter returned. “Running away from you could be the big hint on this one,” he quickly added before the waiter took our order.
A glare passed between them as Melissa ordered, unaware of the situation.
“Aw.” Melissa turned back to us. “I think it’s romantic that he followed her off to school. That means he really cares.”
“Oh, I do really care. Thankfully, she didn’t find a replacement for me, and I have a chance to woo her all over again.” Logan picked up his drink and took a sip. He was challenging Seth, and Seth wasn’t going to back down from it.
“I need to use the restroom,” I stated, standing and causing Logan’s arm to fall off of me. Seth was getting too pissed. This date wasn’t going to work after all.
“I can go with you,” Melissa suggested. I nodded. With Melissa away, maybe they could get it all out of their systems and go back to playing nice by the time we returned—if either of them knew how to play nice.
Melissa shadowed me to the back of the restaurant as I followed the signs. She kept raving about Logan as she talked about what a great boyfriend he was. If it wasn’t for my deal with Logan, I would have turned and told her that she could date him if she thought he was that great. But it wasn’t fair to Logan. He truly was putting in the effort. I had promised to try to get to know the real Logan. He was different from before. Unfortunately, my heart was already taken, and even after breaking up it didn’t matter. Seth would always have it.
After we had finished in the restroom, we made our way back to the table. I hoped the boys had sorted their differences out, and we could finish the meal. As we reached the two guys, I realized I had to go back to the restroom.
“I’ll be right back,” I told them. “I forgot my purse.”
I hurried back to grab it before they began their fight again. I was unsure if they were even trying to keep their disdain from Melissa, but I didn’t need her asking more about that. Seth’s interest in me was enough to make her hate me the first time. I didn’t want to know what she would be like now if she found out that he and I had a past. This time I would be a friend betraying her, not just a stranger.
I stepped outside the restroom, and was immediately pulled around the corner where waiters and waitresses bustled past. I would have normally fought such treatment, but I knew whose hands they were as soon as he touched me.
“Why are you doing this?” Seth asked.
“Doing what?” I asked back.
“I know you don’t want to be with him,” Seth replied. I hated that he knew that. I hated that he wasn’t convinced and moving on. I hated that he didn’t blame and hate me. “So why are you?”
“How do you know I don’t want to be with him?” It was the only reply I could think of at the moment.
“Because you love me.” Seth stared intently into my eyes, daring me to disagree with him.
“Seth, you need to move on,” I told him, avoiding his accusation, which was true.
“I’m not moving on. I never will,” Seth answered. He was clearly still upset over Logan playing boyfriend with me.
“Well, we can’t be together,” I replied, crossing my arms to keep from reaching out to him. The warm fuzzies in my arms where he was touching me were still there. They were calling for me to touch him back. It was hard not to.
“Who says? Logan? He doesn’t get to tell us what to do.”
Seth was angry, and I didn’t blame him. I was furious about the situation at first, but now I was just sad. I had to give up my dream of a life with Seth in order to keep his own life from ending early. I could never tell him that as he wouldn’t care. But I cared, and I cared enough for the both of us. I needed Seth to live. If that meant I had to give him up, then that was what I’d do.
“I say… I say we can’t be together.” It hurt to tell him that.
“What?” Seth asked. Pain laced his voice. He was fine blaming Logan for everything, but he needed to know it was also my decision. Logan was the one making me do it, but it was ultimately still my choice.
“I say we can’t be together,” I repeated. It hurt to say, but he needed to know.
“Why?” he asked.
I didn’t reply. I couldn’t tell him the real reason, so I added nothing more.
“Why don’t you trust me enough to tell me the truth?” Seth asked.
“The truth is we’re done. We can’t be together anymore. I’m sorry, but that’s it,” I replied.
Seth finally let go of my arms. He pulled back and stared at me.
“Was it all a lie then? Did you really ever mean what you said to me?” Seth asked.
I bit my tongue. I wanted to say, yes, I meant it all, but that would just make him fight the truth more. I needed him to let go so that I could let go. I wasn’t strong enough to do it myself. I would greedily string him along forever if I could and get away with it.
Seth stepped back more. “Did you ever truly love me?”
I looked down at the ground. Yes, I had loved him then, and I loved him now, but that didn’t change anything. We still couldn’t be together.
“Fine, Mari. I want you to tell me what’s going on, but I can see that you won’t. I hate that you won’t let me help you. Fine. You get your wish. We’re done. I’ll stop bugging you,” Seth added, defeated. His anger was gone and replaced by sadness. I hated to do that to him. I hated to hear it in his voice.
I finally looked back up to see the back of him as he walked away. I waited a few moments as the tears came. It was truly over with us. Our life together would never be. It stung, and I couldn’t help but cry. Seth was my soulmate, and there was nothing Logan could do to change that. Logan could be the nicest person in the world, and the
most devoted significant other from this day for the rest of our lives, but it wouldn’t be the same. No one could ever replace Seth.
After wiping my tears away, I made my way back to our table. I was surprised to find Logan sitting there alone. He had his phone out and was busy speaking to someone. He didn’t even notice me as I approached. I waited until he was done before sitting across from him.
“Did they head out?” I asked.
“Yeah. Seth said something about not feeling well, and they left. Melissa offered to nurse him back to health.” Logan grinned. “I have a feeling he has a case of broken heart-itis if I assessed things correctly.”
How could Logan be happy about someone else’s misery?
We returned to the car after dinner to find Kye waiting for us inside. Logan immediately disappeared to take care of whatever they were up to. Kye was left to drive me home, but since he really wasn’t from our time, I took the keys to drive myself. I did try to unsuccessfully kick Kye out and make him time travel back to wherever he came from, but he refused to leave me alone. I was pretty sure that was Logan’s doing and not Kye’s.
When we got back to the house, I just wanted to be alone. It didn’t take much to understand that wasn’t going to be the case because of Logan’s orders. Kye followed me right upstairs to my bedroom.
“Please,” I asked him, “I promise not to run anywhere. Where would I go anyway? It’s freezing out. My only time traveling friends hate me. I’m stuck here.” I pulled at the bracelet that was still secure around my wrist. I really couldn’t go anywhere. Logan had to stop worrying that I was going to physically run away.
Kye rolled his eyes at me. “Do you really think I’m with you to prevent you from traveling?”
I looked at him. Why else was he on twenty-four-hour duty when Logan left? I waited for him to explain. Yes, I thought he was with me to keep me from spoiling whatever plans Logan had.
“I’ve been here so that you aren’t alone. I’m your friend, Mari,” Kye replied. “I know what it’s like to not have friends, and Logan’s done a very good job keeping all yours away. I don’t want you to feel like you’re all alone in this. I’m here, and will be for as long as you want me to be.”