《Shattered Blood》CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Advertisement
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sitting at the light in her RAV4, Haddie checked the message on her phone. She tried to ignore the smell of spice and coconut milk from her curry take-out. Her stomach growled.
Andrea had replied with one word, “Yes.”
Haddie sighed. Her three texts had been long, explaining Mark Colman’s second business and the oddities that Haddie had barely skimmed in the financial reports. She’d carefully avoided the strange origins of the fire. Somehow though, they fit, just not in Andrea’s defense strategy. A trip to the import business might give her a lead, if they were still open after his death. The phone on record had been his cell. Going there seemed the only logical plan.
This meant skipping her morning class. She didn’t worry, she would pass, but with the dog-fighting ring and now Mel, she’d put herself behind. She had to catch up on the paper that was due Monday over the weekend.
The light turned green and she followed a beige Camry, checking the traffic behind her. The odd SUV that might have been following her hadn’t shown up again. It very well could have been her imagination. The dogfight gang was still locked up; they’d failed to post bail, which was a good sign they were just a small group. Still, it didn’t hurt to pay attention.
Haddie turned down her street and groaned. Under the overhang of her two-story apartment, Dad leaned against his Shovelhead, parked beside her Fat Boy. How long had he been sitting there? His long auburn braid draped over his shoulder. With the shaved side of his head caught in her headlights, he almost looked Viking, but the black Harley shirt killed that image. He turned toward her, forced a smile, and stood up.
She pulled into her parking spot next to him and stared at the design her lights made against the wood siding. Shadows grew longer at each successive layer of planking that climbed up the wall. Why did he think it was okay to just show up? She had too much going on to deal with him tonight. Sighing, she shifted into park.
Advertisement
Haddie stepped out and gave him a tight-lipped stare. “What do you want, Dad?”
“You said we could talk later.” He wore his riding gloves with the fingertips cut out. He smoothed his hair from his forehead to the start of the braid.
She raised her eyebrows. And this was later? “I’ve got schoolwork.” Lingering at the side of her car, she ached to find out more — to understand. Their last meeting had left her more confused than she’d ever been. Only Mel’s case had helped her bury the impossible dates he’d given her.
“You’ve got questions. My answers will not make sense, but I’m willing to try.”
“Your answers don’t make sense.” She pulled her hair back and closed her eyes. “You lied to me, when I was a kid.”
“Yes. I lie to everyone about my age. Except when I finally told you I don’t age.”
She opened her eyes and shivered. ‘I don’t age.’ It had been the very statement he’d made when this all started. The answer she’d insisted he give her. The questions had started years ago when she was a teenager, and he’d managed to avoid answering for a long time. He didn’t grow old. He grew beards, mustaches, shaved the sides of his head, and had changed over the years, but he didn’t age. She’d managed a photo of him when she was eighteen, but otherwise he carefully avoided cameras and cell phones. He looked the same six years later. She felt weak, ready to cry; it had been a long day. She could see Mel being taken out of the office. Andrea’s curt replies and arrogant Detective Cooper still weighed on her. Haddie couldn’t take any more today.
“I —” She wanted to know, but she was too worn out. “I’m going to Portland tomorrow; if the rain holds out, I’ll ride. Do you want to come?” I’ll be fresh — awake. They could sit at one of the rest stops and clear this up. Her chest tightened at the thought. This close and I’m procrastinating.
Advertisement
He nodded and grabbed his helmet off the seat, a black skull cap. “Meet you here. What time?”
“Sunrise.” His favorite time. She hadn’t even thought the trip through.
He lifted his head as he buckled the strap. He hadn’t shaved his chin, leaving reddish-brown stubble. “Can we come in through twenty-six?”
Haddie snorted. “No. I’m not taking an extra four hours to get there. This is work.” She took in a deep breath, feeling like they had broken through some barrier. Weight lifted off her.
Dad grunted and threw a leg over his bike. “Sunrise. Love you.”
She didn’t reply as a large knot swelled in her throat. They’d become so distant. She walked around the back of the RAV4 to get to her passenger door. His Shovelhead blasted alive and the fumes filled the parking area. She had no appetite, but she’d eat. Then she had to get to work on her paper — get something done on it. Her dad pulled down the street as she retrieved her satchel and slid it over her head. She picked up the take-out bag and stared into her car. The day had taken its toll. Tomorrow promised some new resolutions, both in her case and with her dad. Revelations, hopefully.
Advertisement
Spirit King
After his sister and around ninety-nine thousand random people around the world disappeared in one day three years ago, Niko’s life had always been revolved around finding her. He was facing dead end after dead end, until one day he was summoned to another world along with ninety-nine thousand other people. Putting two and two together, he came to the conclusion that his sister was also summoned to this world three years ago. This world is filled with danger, and evolving is key to surviving. The evolved lived while those unable to adapt perished. With the hope of finding his sister as motivation, he aimed to become strong in this world of magic, monsters, demons, and gods.
8 219Development of hamster space civilization [Space strategy]
A new race in space. Who are they?! They are hamsters! They will eat, build, conquer, and grow in number! One day a galaxy will tremble under their boots... Image by pencilparker on pixabay
8 148The Written Scraps of the Star Sea
There is another cosmos that bears many mysteries and wonders. Another universe separate from our own but are not unknown. Obscure their stories may be, these are the written scraps of their stories relayed to thee. Read of their joys and dreams, and of the sorrows and hopes. .:: Hello. This is just a collection of short stories I've written mostly for therapeutic reasons. They are most unconnected. ::. Each story has their own blurbs put in the Catalogue. [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 151Noah's Ark
Noah’s Ark, a place where people with monstrous power gathered to prove their strength against one another. There are three different types of species that inhabit the islands. The first are the [Regulars]. Common citizen who hold zero power in terms of strength or ability, but make up the majority of the population and help make clans, cities, and guilds thrive. The second type of species are labeled as [Noah’s Chosen Ones], [NCO] for short. These are the people who were either born with Spirit Animals, or were able to fuse with Spirit Animal Eggs that are scattered throughout Noah’s Ark. Only people with a certain affinity with the egg are able to hatch it and fuse with the spirit. The third type of species are the [Demons] who come up from the Abyss to Noah’s Ark on occasion and wreak havoc on the people there. A common enemy for the the people on Noah’s Ark. The demons main goal is to help their Demon King Bahamut, take over the whole world and bring everything into chaos. Raion, however, was an [Irregular]. [Irregulars] are people who are gifted with talents and skills that make them as strong as [NCO’s]. Author's Note: This story is pretty much something I'm writing for myself. I've had this story in my head for about two years now and it's time to put it down in writing. Expect a new chapter every 2 days.
8 86Onyx Dragonling
There a story about Anthony Harris a 89 year old who died from a heart attack. Not caring one bit he let fate choose his next life for him. Now he a dragonling and curious about the situation he is in now. This is the first time for me to write.
8 111TejRan: Destiny Brought them Together ✔✔
a new story on tejran peep in to know more
8 76