“Even if they don’t want to,” Logan added. That much I knew, too. Who would want to go home and be a slave like Ty was?
“Then all of this is about not going back to the time you were born?” I asked. I was still a bit confused on what he was trying to tell me. That was my exact dilemma. I didn’t want Ty to have to go home, and I was pretty sure Ty was liking the possibility of staying.
“Yes,” Logan answered and then went silent. He watched the water.
It still didn’t make sense. The goddess knew what I planned to do. I doubt she didn’t know that Logan was already doing just that. How was that a big secret?
“My mother was beautiful. She had the most amazing long blond hair,” Logan said quietly. I turned and looked at him. He was concentrating on the water. I had never once heard him even mention his mother. “She came here to this time to have me. After I had turned five, the goddess decided to make her go back home. My father reassured me that it was fine. Once I was older, I could travel back in time to see her. Until then, he would take me back as often as he could. He even told me I’d have brothers and sisters back in that time. Her life would go on, but we could still be a part of it. It was all just talk by my father, all just a dream he knew was a lie. She caught typhoid fever within weeks of returning to her time, and my father was never able to bring me to her. I never knew that would happen. All she would have needed was a simple antibiotic you can get at any pharmacy.”
“Why didn’t your dad just go back in time and change that? Why didn’t he go back earlier and give it to her?” I asked. Wasn’t that the beauty of time travel? You could go back and do things over as many times as you wanted.
Logan turned and gave me a sad smile. “I keep forgetting that she didn’t teach you anything.”
I waited as he went back to watching the water.
“I wish you could change things that easily,” Logan said quietly. “While we can travel back in time, we can’t really change fate too drastically. The goddess made us able to gain knowledge and learn from traveling, but we can’t change fate. If we could physically change the past, the time travel would have messed up the world several times over by now. Fate holds everything in check.”
“That’s why people have to go back? Fate?” I didn’t know how I felt about the concept of fate. I felt like I was meant to meet Seth, for whatever reason it may be, but was it fate? Would I have met him if I wasn’t in the present time? I’d have been somewhere in Nahrin hiding, and he still would have been a soldier. It didn’t leave many options for our paths to cross.
“Yeah, fate,” Logan replied. “No matter what I’ve tried, I can’t change my mother’s fate, and it’s not fair. If she could have stayed here, she would have been fine. If the goddess would just bend her rules.”
“But she can’t, can she?” I asked. I got the feeling that it was a permanent type of rule.
Logan laughed dryly. “Oh, she can do anything she chooses. She’s the goddess after all. No, she chooses to let people succumb to diseases they should never have gotten. She lets little boys grow up without their mothers. That’s the type of person the goddess is.”
“What if you could change it? Wouldn’t it throw off the balance or something?” I had to believe there was a reason for the goddess to have, and enforce, that one rule.
“Letting me have my mother would have thrown off the balance of the world?” Logan asked skeptically. He was right. That didn’t sound like anything major. “No. It’s just that she can’t stand for us humans to be happy. Do you know that she was human once? She had a lover that chose duty to his people over her. Her rule is one of a woman scorned. She couldn’t be happy, and thus doesn’t want us to be happy.”
It was hard for me to picture the dusty ghost of the goddess as being bad or vengeful. I never once got that feeling from any encounter I had with her. In fact, I felt the opposite. She was more like love, unconditional love, in the form of a breeze. I didn’t think she was trying to ruin his childhood by sending his mother back. I still didn’t like her rule, and would do anything to keep Ty from his fate in the past, but I didn’t think it was her fault. I didn’t blame her like Logan did.
“I knew from the moment I realized I couldn’t save my mother that I was going to change everything. I needed to be able to let people make their own choices. By sending people home, the goddess chooses for them,” Logan explained. His anger was simmering down as he stared out over the water.
“So you found a way to stay?” I asked. That was the exact thing I wanted to learn.
“Yes. I studied the stones, and found out how to use them. It took decades to figure it all out, but I have.” Logan grew silent in thought as he watched the water. I wanted to prompt him to tell me how, but I couldn’t come across as too eager.
Kye saw Logan as evil, and I understood from his perspective that he was. But I just couldn’t see him as all bad. Maybe it was because I still loved him a little, but Logan was still Logan. He was doing everything to make his own world right. I could feel the pain behind his words as he spoke about his mother. It was something he wasn’t over. I didn’t want to be with Logan, but I sure hoped they were planning something that wouldn’t hurt him either. Logan had enough hurt in his life.
“Every person you met tonight was someone that I saved,” Logan continued. This time his voice was brighter and more hopeful. “They’re the ones that wanted to live in this time. They live all over the world. They have real lives, and real families. They never have to worry about being whisked back to where they came from. They’re happy here. Each one is thankful I was able to save them.”
I had to agree with him. Not a single person at the luau seemed mad or upset. They all looked like normal, happy people. I’d have never known if he hadn’t told me that they were from different times.
“And how do you do that?” I asked. I couldn’t help myself.
Logan turned and grinned at me, all sadness fading from his face.
“All in good time,” he replied, finally standing. He offered me his hand. “You asked about the three ladies back in my palace. I needed you to see that the people who chose to stay are happy. Even those three are happy. Mais was a servant back in her old life. She was beaten every day. Now, in my palace, she’s in charge. She’s happy. They all volunteered to take care of you, they know how shocking it can be when you lose the ability to travel. They wanted to take care of you.”
Logan was spinning a great story. I was sure he wasn’t telling the whole truth. That I would need to get from Kye, if he could answer my questions. It was hard to tell with Logan. He was really good at what he was saying. He added just enough truth so that you didn’t question him, but it was still hard to pick through and see what was a lie and what was not. I reached up and took his hand. I was ready to head back home. It was all too confusing to sift through for the moment on my full stomach.
Logan wrapped his free hand around my back.
“I need you to see that I’m the good guy,” Logan said quietly, staring intently into my eyes. “The goddess is trying to keep people from their happiness. She’s trying to keep you from me. Please see me as the good guy.” He was pleading with me with both words and his eyes.
Logan leaned forward to kiss me, and I wished we could head back home. I felt bad for him and understood why he was doing what he was doing, but I just didn’t feel for him the way he did for me. I thought I could try to move on, but I couldn’t. I could never trust Logan completely. He would never be honest with me. I couldn’t tell him that, and I couldn’t just duck away from his kiss. I needed to pretend to fall for him to get him to tell me how to save everyone, even if my mother wanted to go back to the past, and Seth would be fine. I needed to be able to give Ty an option to stay. I owed him that much. He’d done so much for me, and this was the one thing I had to do for him. Logan leaned closer, and I closed my eyes. This was the acting part Kye said I had to do. I got it. A kiss was just a kiss; actors do it all the time in the movie
s. I just wasn’t sure if I was cut out to be an actress.
How did actors portray all that feeling? Was it like when you talked in front of a crowd and tried to picture them in their underwear? Logan in his underwear would be nice to look at, but it wouldn’t do anything to make me like him more. Now, Seth in his underwear was a sight I wanted to see more of. Logan’s lips touched mine, and I thought of Seth. My heart hurt to see him with Melissa, but it might not be what it seemed. There might still be a chance for us. I might get my Seth back.
I pulled back after I realized the passion I was kissing Logan with as I thought of Seth. Logan grinned and took my hand, not at all fazed by my kiss. My cheeks reddened, and I was grateful that the dim light of the moon hid them…at least until we were back in our house where the living room light was more than enough to show off the color. Logan grinned more. I quickly dropped his hand. It wasn’t my intention of mine to make him think I liked him more, but it seemed I might be able to act better than I was giving myself credit for.
“How was dinner?” Kye asked, coming from the kitchen with a sandwich in his hand.
I shook my head as my cheeks continued to burn. Kye raised an eyebrow at me.
“Great. Just great,” Logan answered for the both of us.
Great wasn’t exactly how I’d describe it, but it was getting me closer to my goal. Now I only hoped Kye really did have a plan to make this all work so that I didn’t end up as Logan’s prisoner.
Wednesday was the slowest, most dragging day of my life. It was because I was looking forward to Thursday and meeting with the guys. Even if Seth didn’t make it to the meeting, as Kye thought he might have trouble getting away from Melissa, I was still excited to see Ty and Dee again. It was strange to feel, but I actually missed them a lot more than I thought I would. I felt a loss when they went back to the past before, but I thought it was just because I was missing Seth. Turned out I was missing all of them. I didn’t know exactly when they’d become that important, but there was something missing in my life since I returned with Logan. I not only needed Seth, but I needed Ty, Dee, and even Kye around me as well.
When I finally finished my classes, I holed up in the library to spend the rest of the day studying. I had to catch up on my homework, but I was mostly avoiding Logan. Now that I knew the secret of the library, I had a feeling I’d be spending more time there. I didn’t want to be available for another date. It was way too confusing as it was. I didn’t trust Logan, and was hoping to be rid of him soon, but I kind of felt bad for him. He hadn’t had it too easy. He thought he had with me what I had with Seth, but there was no nice way to get him to understand he was mistaken. I already suspected he was living in a world of his making, but after last night, I was sure of it. Logan didn’t follow the goddess’s rule to save someone he cared about. It was clear that he wanted to be in charge and make the decisions. There were tons of people he had saved, and I somehow doubted they all meant something to him. Why he did save them was a mystery to add to my list.
After a late study session, I returned home to go straight to bed. I didn’t even see Logan, which was a relief, and I was asleep before anyone could interrupt me. I wanted to make the next day come fast, and sleep was the best option. I dreamt of many things, but could only remember pieces of my dreams when I woke. They were filled with images of Seth, but nothing that made sense. I wanted to see him. I needed to see him. I wanted to be sure that he still cared about me. I didn’t spend time dwelling on those dream fragments, but quickly got ready and made it downstairs to wait for Kye.
Kye was in no rush to go off to classes and dragged as he got ready. I waited twice as long as it took me to get ready, but there was nothing I could do. If I ran off to school without Kye, Logan would follow me. Kye knew this and took his time. Maybe it was part of his act, or maybe he was just torturing me.
By the time we finally left the house and made our way to the old building, I was as excited as I had been in weeks, maybe as excited as I had been when I ran off to find Seth and bring him back to my time with me. That didn’t turn out the way I had wanted it to, but this time I wasn’t going to do it alone. Together, with the guys, we could figure this one out. And as determined as Kye was to give me the ending I wanted, I hoped there was nothing that could go wrong.
I climbed the stairs two at a time and had to wait on each platform for Kye. He still was purposely taking his time and was driving me nuts. When I finally made it to the locked door, I didn’t wait for him. Kye was close behind, and I noticed he wasn’t stopping to take out a key this time. I tried the handle and found it open. I pushed my way into the room and saw Ty and Dee standing across the space. Seth wasn’t there. I was disappointed to not see him, but kept the smile plastered on my face for Ty and Dee. Dee came over and gave me a quick hug as Kye entered the room.
“No Seth?” Kye asked, noticing the same detail as me.
“You were right. He can’t seem to get away from Melissa,” Dee replied, moving back over next to Ty.
I should have already known that Seth wasn’t there. I didn’t feel him as I climbed the stairs, or came to the doorway. I guess I just hoped that the iron of the room would block that connection too, though I kind of doubted it. What I felt with Seth really didn’t have much to do with the time travel thingy. It was something more. Something between him and me.
“Do you guys get any time alone with him?” Kye asked, getting right into details.
“Yeah, she trusts us alone with him if we’re in our dorm room, but that’s it. If we try to leave, or go elsewhere, she always knows, and somehow shows up at the right moment. I don’t know how she does it, but it got old after the first few times,” Dee explained. He seemed to be over his crush on her. I was happy to see that.
“I’m sure it’s Logan,” Kye replied. “He wants to make sure Mari can’t get close to Seth. He thinks that if they are kept apart, Mari will forget about Seth, and their bond will be broken.”
“Is that all it would take?” Ty asked curiously.
Kye laughed. “Not even close. You can’t imagine how many times Logan has tried to break the bond between them. It doesn’t work like that.”
I wanted to point out that I was standing right there as they talked, but this was the most I had heard Kye speak about the time travel stuff since I met him. Every time I asked a question, he closed right up. Now, with Ty asking, he was freely talking. I looked up at Ty, who didn’t seem to think anything was weird, and then back at Kye.
“But you can’t tell me details because you promised Logan,” I finally figured out just how strange it was.
Kye grinned. “And I’m not. Ty was the one asking, not you.”
“But I’m standing right here, and can hear everything,” I replied. That made no sense. By being in the same room, I was getting all the details anyway. Kye’s smile widened and he turned back to Ty.
“Did you talk to him then?” Kye asked. I guessed as long as Kye wasn’t going to admit I could hear, it was fair game. No wonder I couldn’t keep up with Logan and his lies. This was a game that seemed to be played well by his family.
“Yeah. He’s up for anything,” Ty replied.
“And he wasn’t too happy to hear about the arranged marriage back in the past with Prince Logan,” Dee added. “I don’t think he’d have left the past if he knew that was going to happen.”
I shook my head. I forgot all about that. According to the Assyrians, I was married to Logan. I didn’t even get a chance to explain to everyone that it wasn’t true. I hoped Seth didn’t think I really was married to Logan.
“But it’s not true.” I looked between Ty and Dee. “Really, it isn’t.” I turned to Kye for help. He had been with me the whole time. He knew it wasn’t true.
“It may not have ever happened, but the Assyrians think it did. If they, or the Nahrin, find out Mari is back and locate her, they will take her to Logan.” Again, Kye spoke like I wasn’t in the room.
“Then she doesn’t go back wit
h us,” Ty replied.
“What are you talking about? Going back?” I asked, and looking between the guys.
“You aren’t safe here. Logan has all the power and can do what he wants. We need to head back. We need to get home,” Dee explained. At least he was talking to me.
“How is it any safer there?” In fact, I was pretty sure it was deadlier there, and life expectancy was just over half of what it was in the present time.
“Your father can protect you,” Dee replied.
“My father?” I still didn’t even know who he was.
“He protects all within our borders,” Ty added. He was making as much sense as Dee. I turned to Kye.
“Kemet is safe from Logan,” Kye explained, still not turning to me, but was obviously talking for my benefit. The guys nodded along with him. “There’s a special relationship between Kemet and the gods. Logan can’t interfere there.”
The three of them combined made less sense than my econ class. What they were saying was that it was safe. How could it be? Logan could time travel wherever he wanted. With the bracelet on, I was a prisoner in any time he could find me, and it seemed like he had no trouble doing that. Was Egypt encased in a large amount of iron? Did it even matter? Logan could take me away. How could they be certain I would be safe? And what was this talk about gods? I had only met the goddess. Were there more?
“I don’t really get what you’re saying, but okay. If it’s safe there, how do we get back, and how do we stay there?” I trusted them and hoped that my instinct about Kye wasn’t wrong.
Chapter 12
Changing the Game
I returned home no closer to getting away from Logan than I had been before I met with the guys. They were sure they needed to return to the past and that my father, whoever he was, would protect us all, but I wasn’t as convinced. No one told me who my father was, though they all seemed to know. How could he protect us? Was he a priest? Was he a god? Was there more than just the goddess? I had little knowledge of any of it, and no one to ask. Kye couldn’t answer my questions, and it wasn’t safe to ask Logan.