Alpha Divided

“You think?”



She nodded. “It’s a protection spell. It’s something my mom used to do to me when I was having a hard time sleeping.”



“Did you have nightmares as a kid?”



“A lot. But not so much anymore. And I never had one so bad that it made me throw up.”



“Yeah. I’ve never felt anything like that before.” I didn’t know what else to say. It was already a little embarrassing that she’d seen me in such a state. But she was family. Even if I felt like I was only just starting to get to know her.



I rolled over and tried to think happy thoughts.



I didn’t know if I could take another dream like the last one. My heart couldn’t handle the stress. It was too hard.



I said a little prayer as sleep overtook me. God. Send me good dreams.



***



I woke up to the sound of a car honking. I sat up, going from sound asleep to totally awake in an instant. Claudia’s side of the bed was cold, and from the light streaming in the window, it was way past morning.



Two days of total horrible sleep must’ve really done a number on me. A clock ticked on Claudia’s bedside table and I tilted it toward me. Two forty-five. In the afternoon.



I’d really slept. Claudia’s spell thingy must’ve been the real deal.



I got up and went into the hallway. There was someone downstairs.



“—brought the food and—”



I knew that voice. “Dad!” Raphael looked a little startled as I flew down the stairs and jumped into Dad’s arms, knocking Dad back a few steps. It was overkill, but the nightmares and everything had left me feeling a little off center. I missed him. I missed home. I missed a lot of things.



“Hey there, baby.” He ran his hand down my back. “How’re you doing?”



I pulled away, even though I didn’t really want to. “I’m okay.”



“Well your mother bought the entire grocery store.”



I stepped out onto the porch to see her pulling things from the trunk. “Mom.”



“Reina de mi vida. How are you doing?” She put down everything she was holding and pulled me close to her.



“Better now.”



“Good. Te queiro mucho.”



“Love you, too.” I grabbed the stuff she’d set down. “Thanks for this.”



“Of course, anything for my baby.”



We set to the task of putting everything away. Claudia and Raphael made themselves scarce and honestly, it was really nice of them. Not necessary, but appreciated.



After we had it all unloaded and put away, Mom pulled out a dining chair and sat.



“Now tell your mother what has you upset.”



I looked between my parents but they were both giving me that look. The one that said I’d better tell them or else. Sure, I was old enough to blow that off, but I didn’t want to. I sat in the chair at the end of the table. “I’ve been having nightmares the past two nights and they’re sticking with me.”



“You’ve had nightmares before.”



“Not like this.”



Dad sat down in between Mom and me. “You know, dreams are usually driven by our fears and—”



“Unless they’re visions of the future.”



“And do you think that’s what it is?” Mom leaned into Dad as she talked. They were always doing that. Supporting each other. I guessed that was why I felt okay jumping in with Dastien. I was lucky to have a good model of a healthy relationship.



“No. I don’t think so. They’re nightmares. At least some of them are. Others…I don’t know. They might be visions.” I thought about the battle on the St. Ailbe’s quad. Even if I didn’t want those to be visions, I thought they might be. “But there are ones with Dastien and it’s not good.”



Dad laughed.



That wasn’t the reaction that I was looking for. “Glad my nightmares amuse you.”



“I’m sorry.” He sobered a little but the smile was still there. “There was a little while when your mom and I were long distance, and she used to have the worst dreams. She’d call me ranting in Spanish. It was completely nuts.”



Mom slapped his shoulder. “It wasn’t nuts. They were nightmares and they felt real.” She shook her head. “But your dad is right. My fears were consuming me, and my biggest one was that something would happen to take your father away from me. From cheating to death. I dreamed it all.”



Dastien cheating would definitely be a relationship killer. “That’s exactly it.” God. It felt so good to be normal.