Save Me

“Maybe recreate wasn’t the best word…”

“No, it wasn’t.” I half expected to hear wind beating up against the house with how angry my father sounded. But the air remained still outside, no sign of my father’s fury in sight. I was almost disappointed since he’d become completely closed off to me emotionally wise since we officially moved back into the house. “I would advise you move on to the rest of your evaluation.”

And that was the end of it.

She asked for me to show her around, my room especially. I did as I was asked and I felt Erik lingering around as she looked over my room. My father had allowed our former houseguest to take up residence in the attic again as long as he had no contact with his uncle or brother. The ghost hadn’t seemed to upset about that and agreed with no protest or pause. I knew Peter wasn’t too happy with it but I told him it wouldn’t really matter if Erik was there or not.

I’d made my choice and I was happy with it.

“Nice room,” she said.”

“I’d like to think so.” I followed her in and I knew she wasn’t leaving until after she talked to me alone. My suspicions were confirmed when she settled in my mother’s old chair and placed her notebook on the desk next to her.

“Come have a seat please. There’s something I would like to discuss.”

I sat Indian style on the end of my bed and I wasn’t even settled for a second before she said something else.

“I don’t think this is the most suitable placement for you.”

“And what do you think is the most suitable placement for me?”

The studying commenced yet again until she said, “Drake Paramore.”

I scoffed and the ghost seemed to mirror my sentiment, making the temperature in the room drop just a couple of notches. When she introduced herself, she also told me she was a Hunter and therefore knew about magic and the world connected to it. She was still startled, however, by the temperature drop and I saw a slight shiver as she looked about the room cautiously.

“Would that be a ghost?” I nodded. “I thought this house wasn’t haunted.”

“It’s not.” I felt a tug on my hair and corrected myself. “We have a ghost but he doesn’t necessarily haunt. He keeps an eye on me to make sure I’m safe.”

“Uh-huh. He doesn’t seem to agree with me.”

“No. He doesn’t. Neither do I, actually.”

“Regardless,” she turned her attention back to me, “you need constant supervision…”

“Why’s that?”

She set her mouth in a tight line as she analyzed my tone and demeanor. “After everything that’s happened, I believe you need support. You’re obviously not getting it here and you’re not happy.”

“How would you know? You’ve only been here an hour and I’ve only been here a couple of days. It’s called an adjustment period for a reason.”

“Your father…”

“My father and I are on delicate ground. I’m not going to lie and say it’s otherwise. However, I’d rather be in the situation I am now than live with Drake Paramore which would surely be something close to hell. And according to the judge’s orders, you can’t coerce me into doing anything I don’t want to do. That includes living with Drake Paramore.”

“I’m not coercing you. I’m just trying to make you see that maybe this isn’t the best place for you.”

“If it wasn’t the best place for me, then the judge wouldn’t have made it an option. If you have a problem with the judge’s decision, then you need to take it up with him. Not argue with me about it.”

Needless to say, she didn’t stay long after that. I watched her drive away from my window, trying to understand why she was pushing Drake so hard.

“She’s talked to Drake,” I whispered.

“She’s in his pocket,” Erik corrected. “I can tell you with great confidence that she’s probably calling him right now.”

“You know, that’s unsafe.” I glanced over at him while I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “I think I’m going to call Andy, warn him there might be an unsafe driver on the roads.”

Erik just threw me a grin and left the room.