Read Rhionan (A Gurruffallo Accessory) Page 11

eleven

  Twisting me gift from Shawny around me wrist, a bracelet he braided from five strands of white material that he managed to commander when we were children. He gave it to me when we were younger and just beginning to have feelings for one another, in a childish way. We shared an immature luv back then that grew into something real. Something that would have lasted us throughout all time. We had our whole lives before us and Shawn represented it with a bracelet he braided for me. A single item that means more to me than any other possession I own.

  I told me family me horrible story, leaving out the part about me being unable to die. I expressed to them how well I fought. Catriona's escape. Thor coming to the rescue – Even how I thought he died before me verra eyes. I didna know his story for still being alive so I didna give them any details on why I thought he were dead. Lastly, the guard hit me in the back of me head. Then, I woke up in Armand's strange house yesterday unable to remember anything.

  To clear things up about Armand, I explained he found me unconscious and barely breathing. He didna know the clan I hailed from but to save me he took me back to his home deep in the woods. Once Armand nursed me back to health and I woke up, he sent me home. Looks of concern changed to gratitude as they asked to meet the man who saved me life. In response to their hope, I averted their concerned gazes and lied, “I probably couldna find me way back again.”

  Honestly, telling them I came back from the dead would have been easier, but I didna want to alarm them.

  Waiting for someone to respond to me story, I nervously twined me hair through me fingers. I stuck mostly to the truth, leaving out pieces here and there because I'mna a good liar. They sat quietly taking in me story until I broke the silence, “Where's Cat? How is she?”

  “She's well,” Mum's soft voice engulfed me. Me fondest childhood memory were Mum singing the old songs to us. I would fall asleep to her soothing and comforting us every night with the graceful sound of her voice. Even though she has aged, her voice brought back the memories of me childhood, giving me warmth in a dark time. “She left with Thor, after Shawn...” Mum couldna finish. To her, losing Shawn is the same as losing one of her own. “She wanted to go h-home,” Mum choked. The blood stopped in me veins. Me heart ripped out. Shawn's dead, Cat's gone, what's next?

  Aye, Catriona's happy with Thor but I never imagined she would leave with so many loose ends. She's a people pleaser. Death, and a mourning Clan, is a lot to walk away from. I understand she's in mourning too and doesna want to risk losing the babe by staying here. I just wish I could see her, let her know I'm well.

  “We're gonna follow her and Thor before the week's end,” Mum continued. “Once life calms down.”

  Mum said the right words to depress me further. Never, in all me years, would I have thought Da and Mum would leave the Clan. Rolling over to face the wall, as the loss of Shawn and the emptiness in meself took over, I slipped back into unconsciousness.