Free Aconite (The Elektita Series Book 1) by Christine Alvarez

that nobody was supposed to be at work today. Yet here Jo
stood witnessing my insanity painted on the wall.
     "I've been
looking for you all day. I didn't think you'd be here going all Van Gogh on the
place," she said as she gave a nod to the wall with the moon on it. Before
I knew it I was smiling just as she was. Bliss. Van Gogh. Yup, that's me
alright. I didn't want to know how insanity and artistic ability coincided. I
wanted to bask in the silence. So I dug deep inside and pulled out the box that
I shoved everything unwanted and stuffed that thought deep inside hoping that I
would never have to pull it back out.
    "Really? What
did you need?"
    "Well, I was
going to take you out for breakfast but seeing as it is growing late we should
probably make that dinner."
    "What!"
I yelped; so much for that serenity. I bounded past Jo towards the back door.
The outdoor view was a replica of my painting. Holy shit, time truly did give
me a reprieve. In my mind only a few hours had passed. My stomach grumbled with
my realization. I thought I had drawn something from a dream instead I had
pulled the night sky in and threw it against the wall. The time that it had
taken me to paint the scene was nowhere within my memory. It was as though the
time never truly existed. Jo met me in the parking lot with my bag in hand.

CHAPTER NINE
     
     
     
    "Maybe we
should talk while we walk," she suggested.
    Without words I
could only nod in answer. I took my bag and slung it on my shoulder as we began
our walk, leaving my car behind.
    "Where is
your car?" I asked realizing that my car sat alone in the lot.
    "I
walked." Of course she did. It seemed like everyone in this town walked
most days. We walked in silence. An awkward tension began to build. Even the
night’s call couldn't sooth the unrest that had trapped itself in my mind.
     "I think I'm
going crazy," I finally blurted breaking the silence.
    "Well, if mad
artistic talent comes with going crazy then take me with you," she said
laughing.
    "I'm serious!
You saw my tattoo....it glows." I couldn't handle any more joking when I
felt like dying inside.
    "I thought
you said that had stopped?" Worry seeped into each word. She was nervous.
We kept our pace even though neither of us had decided where it was we were
going.
    "That's why I
went to the cafe early to find you." I stopped to face Jo hoping she heard
just how crazy I sounded. But she looked more fascinated then shocked by the
definite crazy that was this conversation.
    "Is it still
glowing?" she asked, craning her neck trying to catch a glimpse of any
sign of the weird tattoo.
    "No it's not;
that is what's odd. After I finished painting I realized that it was just a
normal tattoo again."
    "How is that
odd? Wouldn't that make you happy?" She seemed puzzled now. How would any
of this make me happy? I wanted to scream at her but I needed someone I could
talk to.
    "Maybe normal
is only temporary? What if I wake up after another dream with the horrid
glowing pain again?" I shot out belatedly realizing I had given too much
information.
    "Wait, what
dreams?" Her voice spiked an octave with the new tidbit of information. I
mentally kicked myself for letting it slip. But I knew with her interest piqued
there was no getting out of telling her now.
    I didn't know
where to begin or what to even say so I let silence fall over us instead. The
anticipation that rolled off Jo was palpable. I knew I couldn't ignore her much
longer, taking a deep breath I began my tale of how my life had gone absolutely
bonkers. Her walk turned jittery while listening to the details of my dreams. A
fierce wave of protection slammed into me causing me to omit the part where the
two men were Sebastian and Jonathon. I made them out to be faceless men as all
the other details came spilling out. Relief and exhilaration overwhelmed me at
finally being able to tell someone. Maybe now I could get confirmation of my
insanity and check into to the nearest insane asylum. But through