Supernova (18 page)

Dominic picked up a piece of bacon and bit it in half, thoughtfully looking at Availia as she sat in her chair beside him with her morning coffee.

“Availia, how were you able to do that thing you did that night you saved me?” Dominic picked up his fork to dive into the scrambled eggs. He was hopeful that, this time, she wouldn’t avoid his questions.

“Why whatever do you mean, Dominic?” she asked in a playful tone, raising her coffee cup to her lips for a sip. She knew exactly what he meant. He would give anything to know just one-quarter of the secrets the old woman was keeping.

“Seriously? You’re never going to explain all that bright light, hoodoo voodoo bullshit?” he asked, waving his fork around in the air. “I was floating above my own fucking body, Availia, and that shit just ain’t normal.”

“You watch your mouth, Mr. Grayson, or you’ll be walking around here with a bar of soap hanging out of it,” she scolded him in a motherly tone.

“Yes ma’am,” Dominic said with a slump of his shoulders as he hung his head in shame.

In all the time Dominic had been staying with her, he never saw a stern look on Availia’s face, and that day was no exception. It just wasn’t necessary. She had an air about her that commanded respect. Dominic knew how she felt about using foul language in her house. It didn’t belong there. He had done well to keep it at bay, but he was growing frustrated. It had been nearly a year since she brought him there to live with her and although she had told him a great deal about “The Light”, she had yet to tell him how it was possible.

“You’ve been with me for quite some time now, and I’ve observed you closely, Dominic.” He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He didn’t like feeling like he was being put under a microscope like some kind of science project.

“You don’t think you were worthy of being saved that night because of the things you’ve done in your past. But, you have to believe that regardless of any of that, you do have a far greater purpose in life. It’s very important that you fulfill your destiny,” she said as she tapped her index finger on the tabletop to emphasize her point. “That night in the graveyard, your free will was being stolen from you. It was not your choice to allow that wretched woman to take your soul, and by doing so, she would have altered your destiny, and thus, your fate and the fate of others.

An alteration of that magnitude will prompt the universe to intervene to make it right again,” she continued. “Since it was not your choice, I was able to use the Light to thwart your father’s and that demon woman’s attempt to divert you from your journey. You are more important than you know, Dominic. You have yet to discover your true destiny, but you will, in time.”

Dominic’s fork was suspended in air as he lifted one brow. “And, what exactly is my true destiny?”

Availia took another sip of her coffee and smiled at him sheepishly. “I don’t know the answer to that, although, I do have my suspicions. Your destiny is affected by the decisions you make, young man. Be patient and persevere. You’ll know when the time is right. Now, I must ask you a favor.” She sat back and placed her coffee cup on the table in front of her.

“Anything,” Dominic agreed without hesitation. He would walk to the ends of the Earth and back for the woman.

Availia smiled and patted his hand, knowing he felt he owed her, but she had only fulfilled a stop on her own journey by saving him. “I will need to leave soon. My granddaughter, Kerrigan, will be paying a visit and staying for a while. I need you to look out for and protect her, do your best to make sure no harm comes to her. She has a very important role in the universe, Dominic, and I think you’ll find that she will be equally important to you, too. The Light shines bright within that one.”

What she was asking wasn’t exactly going to be hard for him. He had become very resourceful on the streets and had managed to protect three people at once. Surely protecting one innocent little girl wouldn’t be as daunting of a task as that.

“With my life,” Dominic swore his allegiance. “No harm will come to her, Availia. You have my word.”

“I believe you,” she said, cupping his cheek in the palm of her withered hand. “I’m going to tell you everything you’re going to need to know to help my Kerrigan. It’s going to be a lot of information, but feel free to ask questions wherever you may have them. I need to know that you understand fully what you need to help her along the way. Now, eat your breakfast before it gets cold. Growing boys need proper nourishment,” she said with a wink as she pinched his cheek.

She had answered all of his questions and had given him more information than he knew what to do with. He would become Kerrigan’s friend, her confidant, her protector and as such, he would be there for her when she needed him the most. But she was so vulnerable, so susceptible to attack. Back at the lighthouse, it was like she had a target painted on her back that said,
Herein resides the essence of all that is good and powerful. By all means, come and suck me dry.

Dominic lifted his head from the steering wheel and raked his fingers through his hair. He tilted his head toward the roof of the car, as if he was seeing straight through it and into the heavens.

“I’m trying not to disappoint you, Availia. I really am. But, I didn’t know it would be this hard,” he said barely above a whisper, hoping she could somehow hear him. When he got no response – not that he really expected one – he reached into his glove box and pulled a crinkled envelope out. He got out of the car and stuffed it in his back pocket before he headed toward the house again, resigned to do his best to fulfill his promise. No matter what.

Inside he found Gabe waiting for him at the top of the stairs.

“She’s ready for you now,” he said.

For just a split second, Dominic allowed himself to think of how excited those words would make him if they had been under different circumstances. But then was neither the time, nor the place, for such thoughts. So he pushed them back and climbed the stairs, taking them two at a time.

Gabe moved out of his way and let Dominic go into the bathroom without him. Once inside, he came to an abrupt halt. The lid was down on the toilet, and Kerrigan was perched on the seat. She was wearing a thin, white wife beater – sans bra – and a tiny pair of boy short underwear. Her hair was thrown up into a messy pony tail with locks falling loosely around her neck.

“I actually feel much better now. I can walk back to my room myself, but Gabe wouldn’t let me,” Kerrigan said as she stood.

“You do look more like yourself, but I’d feel better if you didn’t overdo it and let me carry you.”

Kerrigan sat back down with a sigh. “Fine.”

Dominic went over and picked her up, cradling her against his chest as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Walking with her to her bedroom, Kerrigan absently played with the fine hairs at the back of his neck, causing him to shiver in response. She hadn’t missed his involuntary reaction. With a mischievous smile on her face, she decided to take full advantage of her position and continued to toy with him.

“Like I said, a tease,” Dominic said just loud enough for Kerrigan to hear.

“I’m sorry, is that bothering you, Dominic?” Kerrigan asked, trying to sound innocent while she stifled a giggle.

“Just remember; payback’s a bitch.” He responded by sweeping his thumb over her breast, narrowly missing the hardened peak that resided just beneath the thin material.

Kerrigan gasped, causing Dominic to chuckle at her response. She swatted at his shoulder.

“Not funny.”

Gabe was already in her room and had turned the bed down while he awaited her arrival. Dominic laid her down while Gabe pulled the covers up and tucked her in.

“Okay then,” Dominic said with a single clap of his hands. “Nighty-night.”

He turned and started out the door.

“Wait!” Kerrigan stopped him from leaving.

Dominic looked down at his watch. He had about fifteen minutes before ghost time, but he turned to see what she wanted anyway.

“Gabe, can you give us a sec?”

“I sure as hell hope it takes more than a second, girlfriend,” he said before walking out.

“What’s up?” Dominic asked, stealing another glance at his watch.

“Can you stay with me?”

Dominic would give her anything within his power, but that request just simply wasn’t possible.

“I would if I could, but I…well, you know, I have that thing I needed to do and all, and I’m already late.”

“Oh, right, the date.” The disappointment was evident in her voice, and she rolled onto her side to avoid looking at him.

Dominic hated the sound in her voice, and he hated even more that he had to let her believe the lie. He walked over to her and bent down, kissing her on the head.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“It’s fine. Just go,” she said, waving him off.

Her voice was muffled by her arm, and she refused to look at him. Dominic knew he couldn’t give her what she was asking, but he also couldn’t leave it like that either. He squatted down beside her and lifted her chin with a long finger until she looked at him. Without a word, he kissed her barely responsive lips with as much passion as she would allow. The kiss was an apology, but he knew only the truth would make her feel better. He should have never let things go so far between the two of them, shouldn’t have led her to believe there could ever be something more between them. It was his fault, and he had no idea how he was going to fix it. The kiss ended almost as quickly as it began, and, without a word further, Dominic left with Kerrigan staring after him.

After his transformation to ghost boy, he wandered back down to Kerrigan’s room. He had to check on her to see if she was okay. The good thing about his current state was that he could see the truth without Kerrigan feeling like she had to conceal her true feelings from him.

Outside her door, he could hear the quiet murmurings of Kerrigan and Gabe’s voices. The floorboard creaked under his feet, and he halted his movements. Kerrigan stopped talking mid-sentence and shushed Gabe so that she could listen for the sound again.

When no further sound could be heard, Kerrigan dismissed it as the house settling and went back to talking. Dominic closed his eyes and passed through the door because it was just too freaky for him to do it with his eyes open.

Gabe was lying in bed with her. Dominic was glad that at least someone could be there for her when he couldn’t. He moved to the corner of the room and listened as Kerrigan told her best friend everything about what she thought was a dream of her grandmother. Gabe was rubbing Kerrigan’s back, listening in complete silence, just taking it all in.

“That’s some shit, Kerr. I can’t believe you were keeping all that from me,” Gabe said when she finished. He shivered visibly and pulled the covers up to his chin. “Does it feel cold in here to you?”

“A little.” Kerrigan snuggled closer to him for warmth. “You believe me, don’t you? You don’t think I’m crazy?”

“Oh, the story is definitely crazy, but even you don’t have enough imagination to make all that up. I just can’t believe you told Dom Juan about it before me.”

“What? I didn’t tell Dominic anything.”

“He’s the one who told me to ask you about it, so I’m pretty sure you must have said something to him. It doesn’t really matter,” Gabe said dismissively. “So, let’s review. You’ve got some sort of freaky ability, and you’re supposed to use it to protect Dominic from something, and he’s protecting you. I get that part, but what’s really going on between you two? Because there’s sparks just flying all over the damn place when you’re in the same room, and I’m not talking about sparkler sparks either. More like big Fourth of July, blow it out your ass kind of fireworks and shit.”

“Um, he kissed me.” Kerrigan bit her bottom lip at her admission.

“You shut your dirty whorish mouth!” Gabe gasped and hit her with one of the throw pillows. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me! What was it like? ‘Cause that man’s lips look like they can make you ‘O’ on command.”

Kerrigan laughed at him. Dominic couldn’t help but smile at the sound. “Oh my gosh, kissing him was,” she started, getting that far away dreamy look in her eyes. “It was like…”

Of course it was that exact moment that Dominic decided to take a seat in the old chair, but he wasn’t paying attention, and caused it to slide across the floor a little. Kerrigan stopped talking and both she and Gabe sat up, their heads snapping in the direction of the chair at the same time.

“What was that?” Kerrigan asked in a rush.

“I don’t know. The house settling?”

“Maybe, if the house settling makes a chair move across the floor.” Kerrigan nodded toward the chair in the corner, noting its new position.

“You’re thinking it might be Grammy again. Aren’t you?” Gabe asked, watching Kerrigan’s expression.

“No. She said she wouldn’t come to me like that again.” Kerrigan backed up in the bed until her back was touching Gabe’s chest.

“Oh God, you don’t think it’s that ghost from the lighthouse, do you?” Gabe asked.