Page 25 (1/2)

RUNS IN THE FAMILY

Yourfor a house of soiving it an expert flick with his wrist, skipped it across the top of the water Another thing he could do that I alanted to The others atching the water expectantly, so I did the sa as though there was a sudden change of current It turned toward us, the water building up anda small wake I’ll admit I was nervous Most of s that could kill me It was all I could do not to take a step back as the wave ca above the level of the pond

When it got within feet of the shore, the water shot up, spraying high into the air Little droplets, freezing cold, showered down onthere Well, standing being relative, considering she was still on the water andfor Her top half ell-​for hair She held out slender ar a sort of dress shape where it connected back to the pond

"Hi, Mohed It blew ht Reth had the hter, but she put hi next to a streaers as you lost every care in the world except the cool, cleansing sensation It bubbled with clear ," she said Her features rippled into a sh her to the other side, but the way her face ht you could see her expressions It was like Lend in his nor else, too Her heart, or where her heart would have been, seelowed fro for paranormals Why had I not noticed before?

"Cresseda," Lend’s dad said He looked happy and sad at the sa her It made me wonder what the faot hoain "I told you he would And he found the answer" She fixed her eyes on me I didn’t knohat to do, so I raised one hand in an aave

Lend looked down, shaking his head "No, I’ this, but I don’t have any answers"

Cresseda shook her head, water droplets raining down in front of her "You have the ansith you" She smiled, and her eyes, insubstantial as they were, seeh me "What a lovely balance Lend shohatever he wants the world to see and you see through whatever the world wants to show you"

"What do you mean?" Arianna interrupted

Cresseda shimmered like she was about to lose her form "Lend found what he was meant to find"

David frowned "You mean--Did you send him?" He turned to Lend "Is that why you went? Did she ask you to?"

Lend shook his head "No, I went because I heard you guys talking Didn’t you get that info fros are not as they should be Now they htfully And really unhelpfully, too She wasn’t -​sense departue, rando while he was in the Center It was obvious nohere he’d learned it "Change is co snow’" She sed, uncomfortable "That’s not about me"

She shook her head I didn’t knohether she was agreeing with"The waters are eed with sorrow "I aht?"

"How did you know about Lish?" I asked,

"She was part of the waters Return her to us?"

I shook ain "I can’t; she’s dead"

"Cresseda," David said, his voice gentle and leading, like he was trying to get her to focus "We know a littleyou could help us"

She waved one hand dismissively "This is not a matter of the waters--it is a matter of fire and spirit The path is not mine and I cannot see it" Lend’s shoulders sluroup looked disappointed "And, Lend? Stand up straight, stop slouching My beautiful boy"

I aluess she really was a rew brighter, then the water that for back to the pond with a loud splash

"Bye, Mom," Lend said softly

Arianna folded her arms petulantly "Well, that was a bloody waste of time"

"I don’t know," an all-​too fa" I turned around, terror bleeding froers trembled

Everyone else seeh only Lend looked scared Reth stood in the middle of the path like so stick--clearly freedoreed with him and he’d stepped up his fashion If he weren’t so breathtaking, he would have looked ridiculous On him it worked, and somehow made him creepier

"What do you want?" David asked, his voice even and cautious

"I’ve come to collect what’s mine" He smiled at me It was over Without his new name, I was powerless I didn’t even have any weapons He would takeanyone could do

"Don’t touch her!" Lend ju out his arms If I weren’t so scared it would have been adorable--Lend thinking he could fight off a faerie I wanted to cry I’d never see hiain and it brokevery tiresome"