True Fate (22 page)

 
"Now
we all have work to do. We don't need to meet again unless there's an
emergency. I will see you Saturday.” he said with a bow and went to his room to
make sure he had everything he needed.

"You ready to go then?” she asked Aaron.

He nodded, "Yea let's go."

They left the house and got in the car Nia
touched the bracelet and sent Eric a message.
'I'm going now, I'll see you
in my dreams.’
she sent him.
'See you,’
was his reply.

Nia and Aaron opted to pick up fast food and go
back to his place so she could get her car and be on her way. Their lives
beckoned and she had to convince her family and Rhea that Saturday was the day.

Aaron was going over possible excuses for his
upcoming absence. He'd think of something. Although he was certain Leo wouldn’t
really care.

Chapter 12

Nia walked into the office and hugged Rhea.
"Let's take a walk.” she said looking at her apologetically.

"Oh-kay.", Rhea said
questioningly.
 

Adam shrugged his shoulders at Rhea, "Don't
worry Rae, I got this!” he said putting his feet up on her desk and nearly
toppling the chair back. The girls laughed and went outside grabbing hard hats.

Down by the docks was the noisiest place and the
most private. Especially where they were going. They got on one of the company
golf carts and drove close enough to their destination, parking on the side
lines out of harm’s way should a crane malfunction. They walked a little ways
and then straight back through the containers. Nia hopped up on a half size
crate then pulled herself up to the top of the large container and Rhea
followed.

All of their stuff was still there in their chill
spot untouched and now Nia was certain she could keep it that way as soon as
Eric taught her how to work the glamour thingy. They sat on their bean bags and
Nia started.

"Okay first off, sorry Aaron lied to you but
he has no idea that you know what you do. And second I'm sorry for bailing on
you last night. I couldn't sleep after my dream meeting with Eric. He took
Avery with him and I guess I blacked out from power overload. I did some crazy
stuff too! No one told me how or that I even could, but I made an entire house
come out of the ground basically. It was Eric's house. That really took up most
of the time we were there. We learned to manifest in the dreamscape and how to
block and put out thoughts to each other. It's pretty cool.” Nia paused.

"That's freaking crazy! And cool! Man I wish
I could be with you during all this. I hate being an outsider. It really
sucks.” Rhea said pouting.

'Relax.”
Nia sent to Rhea's mind.

"Holy crap Nia!” she spat and then giggled.
"That's so cool! Oh see if you can hear me!” Rhea closed her eyes and
concentrated.

'Nia stinks.’
Rhea thought in Nia's direction. "Did you get that?” she asked Nia,
puzzled.

"Yea I'm just stunned and no I do not
stink!” Nia said.

"So this thing with you and Aaron, is
everything still okay?” she asked Nia super slow.

"Yeah, I can't really explain why I am so
comforted by having him close but I miss him right now.", Nia said and
they laughed loudly and Rhea shushed Nia.

Nia held up a finger and relaxed and pushed out
the privacy bubble around them and it wasn't until it passed over her that Rhea
said, "What. Is. That!?” she asked over pronouncing every word.

Nia clapped and giggled "Its privacy!
Ta-da!” she exclaimed.

Rhea clamped a hand over her mouth, letting out a
muffled, "Holy crap! Nia!” she smiled.

Nia continued to fill her in on everything she
learned and her crazy abilities. They figured compulsion may be how she calmed
animals and elements might have played a part in the whole wind pushing them
from the road. She shared about her and Aaron's Promise marks and Rhea's eyes
teared up.

"Nia, that's amazing! So you love him
already?” she asked.

"I don't know I think maybe but it's so soon
and crazy. I mean I can't imagine myself with anyone else ever. I feel so... I
don't know. I just know we're meant to be. It's like some weird sense of peace
about it too ya know. Can you imagine! Me? Miss cautious and guarded! Can you
believe it!?” Nia said eyes wide.

"Wow Nia that is dee-eep.", she said
dragging out the last word.

"Yea. But he promised we would take it slow
at my pace. I'm just scared the strong emotions I'm feeling for him are going
to send my senses packing and I'm going to go all in too fast and get hurt.
Even though he's assured me he would never and couldn’t ever hurt me. Avery and
Eric are promised too and all of this is secret from Darragh or Sean to you.”
Nia said taking a deep breath.

"Okay well we can talk about it more in a
bubble in the bathroom or something right? Is it invisible?” she asked.

"Yeah it is.", Nia answered.

"We really do need to get back.” Rhea said
looking at her watch.

"Your dad should be getting back soon.” she
informed Nia. She nodded and they went back to their desks.

With doggie bags in hand Vince and Al walked into
the office, "Could you put these away, Rhea.” Vince asked.

 
"Sure.", she said grabbing the bags
and heading for the break room.

"Dad!” Nia said giving him a big hug.

"Hey Sweet Pea. So you had a lunch date did
you?” he asked.

"Yea, it was Aaron.” she said with pink
cheeks.

"You really like him don't you?” he asked
then he just froze and gripped her wrist tightly wrenching it up to inspect it
closer, "I need to talk to you, now,” he spat practically dragging her to
his office.

"Dad, ow!” she complained leaving a stunned
Al, Rhea and Adam to wonder what was happening.

 
Suzy
walked in from her lunch break, "Hola everybody!" she said looking
around. "Did I miss something?” she asked.

"Oh...uh... nope.” Rhea said.

Albert headed to his office with Rhea close
behind. Adam looked at the computer screen busying himself.

"Nia what have you done?” he asked looking
at the soul stone on her wrist.

"What are you talking about dad?” she said
snatching her wrist away.

'
There's no way
', she thought. ‘
He couldn't know.’

"Listen to me Nia there are things you don't
know, unless something happened?” he paused searching her eyes as his face fell.

"Nia, did something happen?” he asked
sounding almost hurt.

The room was spinning for Nia ‘He couldn’t
possibly know.’

Swiping his thumb across her wrist her father
exposed her bond marks and he dropped her hand like it was on fire.

"Dad, I...” she started but was interrupted
by his hand in the air silencing her.

“Who’s your Guardian?” he said with his jaw
working.

"What? How.... How do you know about that?”
she asked fighting the urge to stomp her foot like a spoiled child.

"Nia, sit down, now.” he ordered.

She sat reluctantly and stared at him
disbelieving.
'Aaron, I don't know how but my father knows. I'm talking to
him now. I’m kind of freaking out.’
she sent through the bond hoping he
heard her, her head was spinning and the urge to wretch was twisting her
insides.

Pacing for a second in front of her dad seemed to
be weighing out his options but she felt the need to make sure her mind was
blocked completely.

Everyone had been stressing not to trust anyone
but this was her dad. She was torn but she was going to be careful.

'I’m on my way. I'll be there as quick as I can.
Be safe Nia.’
Aaron sent to her.

"So...” her dad said coming to sit in the
chair beside her. “Who are you bonded to?” he asked and she knew him well
enough to know he was scared but had little patience in his tone.

"It's Aaron.” she said shakily.

He took a deep breath and let it out slow.
"Okay, but I also got a different vibe from him. What do you know about
him?” he asked pushing further for answers.

"Seriously you think I am just going to sit
here and talk about this while you question me!? No way, I don't think so! I
wanna know how you know about any of this!” she said standing abruptly.

He reached for her arm, "Nia please sit
down.” he asked trying to sooth her. She ripped her arm out of his grasp.

"No! Not until you give me something, tell
me how you know!” she hollered as tears formed in her eyes.

"Please don't yell, someone might hear you.”
he said lowly.

Nia closed her eyes and let the tears that had
welled up fall freely then she pushed out a bubble and her father gasped.
Opening her eyes she sat or crumpled rather to the chair. This on top of
everything else put her way past her breaking point.

"Nia, I'm close.’
Aaron
sent, feeling every ounce of her desperation and hurt. She didn’t have to ask
him to come to her he was going.

Beside himself Aaron grabbed his keys and ran out
of his office leaving everyone staring at him. He heard Becca call his name but
he didn't have the time, Nia needed him and he had to go now! He felt like he
was suffocating as he started the car and pushed the gas down as far as it
would go. This guardian bond thing was more intense than he ever thought
possible. He was weaving in and out of traffic praying she could hold it
together until he got to her. He knew she was at the docks he just didn't know
exactly where. He spoke the general location to his GPS and he was on his way
to Delgar.

Deep, breathtaking sobs ripped through her as she
let the grief of her father’s lies sink in. Her world was crashing in and
suffocating her by the second. Just when she thought she would scream and lose
consciousness she felt him wrap his arms around her she just didn't care. How
could he know, all this time, and not tell her? Something..... Anything! She
wondered who else knew. Was she a joke? The fate of a people and everyone knew
about it but her?
 

"Nia, Nia please stop crying and look at
me," she heard her father but couldn't come out of the broken numbness of
her heartbreak. This had to be the worst heartbreak ever. Worse than any guy
could dole out, she was sure. She couldn't see straight anymore and the tears
had no intention of stopping. This was it, she didn't care what his reasons
were for keeping this from her.

"A...Aaron,” she whimpered and her dad felt
helpless. He just didn't know what to do, he didn't mean to hurt her he just
freaked out, he needed to explain but there wasn't much he could tell her.

"Aaron.", she cried as she shook loose
of her father’s hands and melted to the floor.

Moments later she heard a bang and felt a tight
embrace and then she was lifted from the floor and cradled like a child.
Smelling his cologne first Nia knew it was Aaron. She sobbed into his chest as
he carried her out of the bubble and out of the office, hearing her dad's final
attempt at having this conversation, "Nia, please,” he pleaded with his
voice fading.

Rhea followed them out the door and grabbed her and
Nia's purses in passing, Adam followed close behind.

"What the hell happened?” Rhea asked freaked
out, she had never ever heard Nia cry like that, not since prom night.

"I don't really know.” Aaron said as he
opened his passenger side door placing Nia carefully inside.

 
"I'm
coming with you.” Rhea said as Aaron nodded securing Nia’s seatbelt.

Rhea turned to Adam, "Cover for me and clock
out at five, then call me okay?” she said and he gave her a weak smile.

"I hope she's okay.” he said sincerely.

Rhea told Aaron she'd follow in Nia's car and he
just nodded. Pulling out of the ship yard and away from the docks her guardian
whisked her away from the pain.

Vince paced his office enraged, he saw Aaron's
promise mark the second he entered the office. Not only was he Nia's Guardian,
but he was her soul mate too? How could this happen and no one think to inform
him. Sure he hadn't been a part of that world for a long, long time but they
had their ways.

He would give her some space and keep this to himself,
for now. It would give him time to get in touch with some of his former
associates as he liked to refer to them to find out exactly what was going on.

Rhea's phone rang five minutes after she left. It
was her dad. "Rhea what's going on?” he asked.