Lyssa looked down at the newly turned earth. Her eyes stung with tears and hurt from crying.
“She tried to save me and now she is gone.” Zoey wrapped her arms around Lyssa tightly.
Lyssa just looked at Gwen’s grave thinking of all the times she made her dresses and costumes. Gwen was the constant in her life, an unmovable rock that would always be there weathering no matter what and now, she was gone.
“It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have gone outside and she wouldn’t be gone.” Lyssa felt the cool wind blow against her in the quiet cemetery.
“She did it for you Lyssa. She loved you very much and would do it a thousand more times if she had to.” Zoey’s words were soft and gentle.
“I never got to tell her everything I wanted to tell her. I never said-I love you.” Lyssa could hardly choke her words out.
Zoey and Lyssa stood in silence when footsteps came behind them.
“You never had to say a word Lyssa, Gwen already knew that and that is all that matters.” Sean said as he propped himself on his cane.
Lyssa went over and wrapped her arms around him. Sean embraced her gently kissing her on the head. “You always made her proud.”
Lyssa looked up at Sean. His skin was pale and for the first time looked weak. He smiled at her causing his scar to deepen. They stood in silence together as the gathering grey clouds blocked out the blue sky.
A light sprinkle of rain forced them inside where Zoey took Sean up to his room and began to put a wrap on his leg that looked raw.
“I used to heal better than this,” Sean regretfully said as Lyssa helped Zoey by handing her bottles filled with different oils.
“It is to be expected from the poison of a Drake,” Zoey said as she finished the bandage. “You are strong and very lucky.”
Lyssa thought of Dane. Could he have done this to Sean or was it another Drake.
Zoey and Lyssa left Sean sleeping, and instead of going downstairs, Zoey took Lyssa to her room.
“Lyssa I wish we had more time to prepare...more time to be together, but tonight we will be leaving for Avalon.” Zoey sat in front of Lyssa on the bed.
“So I’ll get to see my dad …also, right?” Zoey’s gaze didn’t look hopeful.
“We have to secure the Everspell first. Once we have that, then we will have some leverage.” Zoey smiled at her. “I want him back as badly as you do.” Zoey gave Lyssa a hug before leaving and told her to rest until they were ready to go.
The last thing Lyssa wanted to do was rest. If anything it made her even more tired. She sat in her room that had nothing more than the mere necessities in it; a bed, nightstand and a chair. Just like the room such was her life—just necessities. She wanted something more, something she had never risked or let herself do.
Lyssa jumped off the bed and went outside. The sun was bright and warm on her shoulders. She past a few Faes, some just walked and visited with one another while others looked like they were going this way and that carrying baskets and doing whatever duties they had to do.
Loud cheers and voices caught Lyssa’s attention. A small group, mostly boys, formed a circle around two other boys play fighting with wooden curved swords. Lyssa went over to take a look but only saw bits and pieces of the two boys that moved with great agility and gracefulness that only dancers had.
She strained her neck to have a look when they stopped for a moment. One boy took his shirt off and caught Lyssa’s eyes through the shoulders of the tall Faes in front of her. Her mouth dropped open as Wes met her gaze. At first he looked surprised, but that faded quickly and was replaced by gloating smile.
What does he think, I am watching him? Lyssa’s innocent on look didn’t look so innocent. She tromped off not giving him the satisfaction of her innocent curiosity that looked more like suspicious attraction. She left the crowd of boys to find a quiet place to be alone.
Lyssa then found herself in the orchard. She thought of Toby just about kissing her. Just about, that’s what it always seems.
The trees were ripe with fruit. Apples, plums and even a few grape vines graced the open land surrounded by the forest in the distance. Lyssa stopped and picked an apple from a tree. Her thoughts turned to Gwen.
They would always go in the fall to an orchard where you picked your own apples. They would take them home eat them with caramel or bake them. The memory made her smile slightly, but the memory couldn’t fill the hole she felt inside of her.