Field of Innocence (The Euphoria Series) (12 page)

“No, but I think you’ve had enough for the day. The sun is going down, your boyfriend has returned, and I feel obligated to get you home now.” Jarreth walks a little further ahead of them and out of earshot.

Calandra throws her head back and laughs heartily, though she is unsure of why the statement is so funny.

Tristan leans into her. “Nice to see you, too, Cal. Glad to know you missed me.”

The pressure fills her head again as she realizes this cannot end well for anyone.

****

Jarreth, Tristan, and Calandra sit on the couch in his little cabin. Jarreth has his bottle of pink liquid out on the table and two shot glasses. He pours some into each of the glasses.

“Two?” Calandra says as she pulls herself out of the swirling thoughts in her head and realizes what he’s doing.

“Both for me, don’t sound so excited.” He chuckles.

Tristan watches them both carefully. In an effort to ignore the tension building in the room, Calandra straightens up with an idea. “That, I believe, is where you’re wrong!” she says, and in one swift movement she grabs one of the glasses and gulps down the liquid before Jarreth can stop her.

It’s sweet and a little sticky, but it doesn’t burn at all. It is thick and soothing as it slides down. Something familiar swims in her as she drinks it, but she can’t quite put her finger on it. She puts the glass back down on the table and smiles daringly at Jarreth.

He simply stares at her, shocked. “Well played, dear, well played.” He chuckles as he takes his own shot.

“So, now that I’ve had it, are you going to tell me what it is?”

“I think not. Let that be a lesson for you to not drink or eat things that you have no idea what they are. Especially in Faerie. We’re not all as innocent as I am.” He winks.

“Somehow I doubt that.”

“What? You think they are all innocent?” Jarreth now has alarm on his face.

“No, I doubt that you are that innocent.” She laughs and points at the shot glasses.

“This is true.” He frowns slightly and refills the glasses. “However, comparatively, I’m not so bad really.”

“Compared to who?” Calandra giggles.

Tristan scoffs and goes upstairs. He had been less than uncomfortable since he came strolling back into the scene unexpectedly. Calandra has a feeling he had expected Jarreth to leave when they got to the tree house. To be honest, Calandra had expected him to as well, but he didn’t, and she wasn’t going to push the issue.

“Others here I guess.” He shrugs and hands her another glass. “Seriously though, Calandra, what Drake was telling you, the amount of power and evil in the person that you choose to love directly effects the person you will become and in turn, what this world becomes.”

“Why do I feel like there’s a warning in there?” she asks and shoots the liquid back.

“Because there is,” he begins as he takes his own drink. “If you fall in love with evil, this world is history. There’s your warning, without a riddle even!”

“No pressure or anything, right?” Calandra chuckles and lays her head back on the couch as the drinks begin to make her vision swirl together.

“None at all,” he whispers. “You don’t need any pressure, I can take it away.”

Calandra’s entire body freezes just as her emotions start to drain out of her, thanks to Jarreth. “No, I don’t think you can,” she says simply and sits up straight. “I think you need to go. I need to go talk to Tristan.”

Jarreth’s eyes flash green and return to baby blue again. Without a single word, he stands and leaves the tree house. Calandra sighs at the turn of events the day managed to take. Tristan is upstairs upset and clearly they have some things to discuss. Too many emotions clutter her head and she feels like she may explode. Sighing audibly, Calandra leans back on the couch and closes her eyes to the entire situation.

Chapter Fourteen

Possibilities

“So, you’ve been holding up well in my absence I see,” Tristan says as Calandra sets a plate in front of him.

Jarreth’s body has gone stiff. He is sitting over his plate with his fork in his hand in midair, but he’s yet to take a bite. Calandra had managed to pass out on the couch last night instead of going to talk to Tristan, which made things awkward, to say the least. To make matters even worse, Jarreth showed up first thing this morning before she had even woken up, which left things beyond awkward. Calandra isn’t even sure where Tristan stayed and somehow she feels that would be the wrong question to ask. Calandra smiles timidly at Tristan and shoots a quick glance over at Jarreth. The room feels as if it is filled with pressure and at any moment it might combust.

“How have you been?” Calandra’s question slices through the tension in the room.

In typical teenage boy style, Tristan is already shoveling food down his throat. Regardless of any life situation or drama going on, a boy still has to eat! Jarreth watches him in shock, his own fork still in midair.

With food still in his mouth, Tristan responds, “As good as can be expected I guess.”

“So you’re haven’t been, like, tied up in a dungeon or anything apparently,” Jarreth’s voice sounds cold and Calandra shoots a glare at him.

Tristan quits eating and cuts a look at Jarreth. “No, I’m not. I’ve been kept in a tiny room, but when I finally left Drake told me I didn’t have to stay in there. Although he did suggest I not come looking for Calandra. Nonetheless, here I am … and here you are.” Tristan looks back at Calandra. “So does he actually stay at his house at all? He does have one, right?” he says he with an extra dose of hate and tilts his head toward Jarreth.

“Of course he has his own house, Tristan.” Calandra feels the temperature rise in the air around her as the pressure turns up a few notches.

“And yet, he’s here.” Once again Tristan puts an emphasis on the word he and he shoots Jarreth a sideways glance.

Jarreth’s body tenses, his eyes flash red, but he doesn’t say anything.

“Yes, Tristan, he’s here, trying to help me with things.”

“Hmm,” Tristan scoffs.

“So, why exactly don’t you just go home?” Jarreth finally breaks his own silence. The question is directed at Tristan, but he doesn’t look at him. He finally starts in on his own breakfast.

Calandra simply plays with her own food. She pushes it around on the plate with her fork, unable to actually make herself eat.

“I can’t go home.” Tristan has a very matter-of-fact tone to his voice. “Even if Drake would let me, I’m not leaving without Calandra.”

Jarreth opens his mouth to say something, but Calandra drops her fork and holds her hand out to stop him. She shakes her head at him and cuts him a look. Jarreth fights to take in a breath and stops himself. Tristan looks at Jarreth suspiciously and turns curious when he looks at Calandra.

“It’s … complicated,” she says simply and looks back at her plate.

“Dang it, Calandra!” Tristan slams his fork onto his plate and pushes it away. “What is wrong with you?”

Calandra looks up at him with her jaw dropped. He’s never lost his cool with her before, she’s never even seen him angry. They’ve never argued, nothing more than merely teasing each other and roughhousing. This new side of him cuts a slit through her heart and allows everything to bleed out slowly.

Jarreth’s entire body tenses and he finally drops his fork that he’s been holding midair during the majority of the morning conversation. “I—” His voice is harsh and his eyes have yet to change back to their normal blue yet, they are staying red for longer than Calandra’s ever seen them. “I will
not
have you come into this house and talk to her like that!” Jarreth stares at Tristan with an intensity Calandra’s never seen in anyone before. Part of her expects Tristan to spontaneously combust from the glare.

Calandra lets out a breath, forcing her powers to will her to focus on the here and now. She holds up an index finger to Jarreth and walks over to the cabinet where he’s chosen to stash his mystery juice. She pulls out a shot glass and the bottle of pink liquid. Too many emotions from all of the drama she’s caused pulse through her when she looks at it and she has to remind herself to focus on the task at hand. Keep Jarreth and Tristan from killing each other, she tells herself. Shaking her head to clear her mind, she turns and heads back to the bar. Tristan is watching her carefully, a disgusted look on his face. She gives a slight smile to him and then steps right in between the two of them. She pours a shot of the liquid, which reminds her that she still has no idea what it actually is, and places it in front of Jarreth. He is still looking around her to stare at Tristan, who is squirming in his seat under the intense glare.

Calandra moves to the side to catch Jarreth’s gaze and clears her throat. As if he’s been pulled out of a trance, Jarreth responds and looks a bit lost, but he focuses on Calandra. She nods her head toward the shot glass she’s placed in front of him. “Drink and chill!” she scolds.

Jarreth looks as if he’s going to challenge her momentarily, but instead he takes a breath, turns in his chair until he is no longer facing Tristan, and takes back the shot. He keeps his head turned up momentarily with his eyes closed, enjoying it more than Calandra has seen him do before. The motion reminds her of Drake and makes her feel uncomfortable. He finally turns his head back up and slams the glass on the bar. Calandra taps his hand a few times and pushes the bottle closer to him to signal him to have more if he needs it. She then turns to face Tristan, who is giving her his own scornful look.

“It’s just … I need to be here, Tristan. People here, well, they need me.” She tries to think of a way to put it all into a statement that makes sense, but she can’t seem to find the words. She tries to think of a way to lessen the blow that she may never return to the mortal world, that he should probably just go home, start all over and forget all about her. She quickly realizes she can’t say any of it without crying, so she decides against it.

“And what about the people at home who need you?” Tristan’s voice is quiet; he is hurt.

“No one needs me, Tristan, not there.”

“Your dad.” Tristan looks down at the bar in front of him before he continues, “Me.”

Calandra sighs heavily. How was she supposed to do this again? It seemed like a much easier task when it was just an idea in her head, but now that she’s actually started, it seems significantly harder. She focuses her powers up around her once more, and feels the comfort their presence offers. She is beginning to be thankful for the powers she has received, even though they are limited, she has discovered they are especially nice for times that you don’t want to feel things.

“My dad, I’m quite sure, couldn’t care less at this point where I end up or if he sees me again.” Calandra looks away and begins twisting her fingers into each other. “You can go home without me, Tristan, there’s no reason for you to stay here.” She suddenly feels torn in half. There are two separate people on either side of her and she wants to find a way to please both of them, yet Tristan is going to get hurt and she knows it deep down. Judging by the look on his face and his shallow breathing, he seems to know it, too.

“I can’t leave yet anyway. I’m not exactly tied and bound type kidnapped, but I do still have limits,” Tristan says. “So, what, you’re never coming home then?” The look on his face when he says it is a mixture of hurt and confusion. Calandra’s heart bursts open and a spurt of blood pours out.

Calandra looks down at the bar, unable to form a single word. She opens her mouth, then closes it again. She sighs and decides instead to pick up Tristan’s plate as a distraction. She walks over to the sink with it and begins cleaning it.

“Well, that answers that I guess.” Tristan mumbles, “I assume
you
encouraged this.” He turns to face Jarreth.

“If you mean encouraged her to follow her destiny and do what she’s meant to, then yes I did. You can’t make me feel guilty for it either, so don’t waste your breath.” Jarreth pours himself another shot without so much as looking at Tristan.

“What she’s meant to do or what you want her to do? The two seem to be quite different.”

Calandra finally decides the plate is more than spotless and that she should focus on mediating the debate that is heating up around her. She turns to see Jarreth gulping down a shot and immediately pouring himself a new one.

“What she’s meant to do, Tristan. Do not come here and chastise me. Need I remind you that you are in Faerie and you ought not to mess with beings you do not understand. It will get you in more trouble than you’d know what to do with.” Jarreth inhales and takes his shot. Calandra notices that his eyes are still red. “Now would you like to continue this battle or return to your prison?”

“Need I remind you that I never left here, you’re the one who came over this morning and ruined the day.” Tristan’s voice holds confidence, but his face doesn’t show any.

“Okay.” Calandra finally decides it’s time to fully intervene. She walks around the bar where she can get a good look at the both of them. She turns to face Jarreth first. “You, take one more drink and then I think you need to go and leave us alone.” She gives him a look to signify that he doesn’t need to challenge her at the moment. She takes a breath to get a little more courage and turns to face Tristan. “And you,” she begins in on him, “do need to learn exactly who you are dealing with before you wind up getting yourself killed, Tristan, just saying. I know that Drake has much less patience than Jarreth does.”

Calandra hears the shot glass slam down onto the bar next to her again and realizes Jarreth has already taken his shot. He places his arm on her back and sends a shock of electricity through her. Her body naturally caves into the jolt and she smiles in response. Tristan tenses.

“I’ll be around when you’re finished if you decide you need me,” Jarreth tells her, his eyes are finally back to their gorgeous shade of baby blue. He stops next to Tristan’s chair as he passes by. “Don’t think I won’t know if she needs assistance just because I’m not where you can see me.”

Confusion crosses Tristan’s face.

“Faerie,” Jarreth explains, “seriously, learn something of it if you plan to survive in this world for long.” Jarreth rolls his eyes before he strolls out of the kitchen.

The pressure in the room drops drastically once Jarreth is gone. Calandra sighs in relief and hope rises in her that maybe the rest of this conversation can go over slightly decently. Hopefully a bit more like the way she has been planning in her head.

“So what?” Tristan breaks the silence unexpectedly. “You’re just gonna let him come back over once you’re done dealing with me?”

“Is that really the question you want to go into right now?” Calandra asks, trying to shy away from the hurt that is plainly written on Tristan’s face. She can’t deal with that right now.

“No,” he sighs, “I guess it’s not, but I believe I have my answer regardless.” Tristan looks away and Calandra sits in the stool that Jarreth left abandoned.

“Listen.” Calandra finally figures out how to form full sentences again. “Things are just …” The ability abandons her almost instantly.

“Complicated?” Tristan finishes for her. “Yeah, you said that already.”

“I’m sorry that you got pulled into all of this, Tristan. I think that’s all I can really say.”

“Sorry? After all we’ve been through together and now all of this, that’s the best you have for me?”

“It’s just that I belong here now, Tristan.” Calandra adjusts herself nervously in her chair. “I can’t leave, it’s just that simple.”

“That’s not simple at all, Calandra! You have a life, we had a life, just in case you’ve already forgotten about it.” Tristan stands up and moves in front of her. “Look, I can see you have your own thing going on here and I guess I shouldn’t have come.” He runs his hand through his hair to brush it from his face. “I take it you know where to find me should you desire to do so. Do what you need to do, I guess, but don’t forget that you had a life and people who cared for you before this place. This isn’t the only place you belong.”

“I really am sorry, Tristan. I wish you could’ve been left out of all of this.” Calandra’s heart has completely bled out around her now and she’s having trouble breathing.

“Don’t be.” He surprises her with his response. “I would have driven myself insane wondering what in the world happened to you.” Tristan places his hand very lightly on her cheek. Calandra fights the urge to lean into it. “At least this way I know what happened to you.” Tristan smiles his heartbreakingly gorgeous smile before he turns and walks off. He stops in the doorway that connects the kitchen and the living room and turns to face her once more.