Flames in the Midst (The Jade Hale Series) by Sarah Reckenwald Page B

almost certain she had used it during the few years we spent as a family.
     

Chapter 6
     
    In my sleep, I returned to my peaceful lagoon.  Once again, I swam through the cool, crisp water, diving beneath the surface and emerging again to the warmth of the sun.  Here, all the world stood still and waited on me to finish my swim.  Cameron, too, waited for me to finish my swim.  He sat on the smooth, flat rock at the end of the lagoon, sunning himself and apparently unaware of my movements through the water.  I wanted to be angry and let the hate I housed for him bubble to the surface of the water and char the rock he sunbathed on, but I could not bring myself to feel those emotions in this serene place.
    I swam back and forth, staring at him, willing him to incinerate on the rock, but nothing worked.  I could not summon my hatred for him.  I stopped swimming and began treading water about five feet away from the rock.  I should have been furious I could not destroy him.  I should have been furious he had invaded my private lagoon, my calm in the midst of the storm my life had become.  I should have been furious with him, but I couldn’t bring that emotion up.  It was as if this place could not hold anything negative, and yet, he sunned himself on the rock.
    Without making a sound, I swam up to the edge of the rock, away from where he lay, and pulled myself out of the water.  I quickly pulled on a sundress that had been waiting for me.  I could feel its warmth drying my skin and radiating through my body.  Cameron did not turn and look at me until I had finished dressing.
    “Hello,” he greeted, as if we were old friends, his copper skin glistening in the sun.
    “What are you doing here?” I asked, expecting venom in my voice but hearing softness like honey instead.
    “Waiting for you, of course,” he answered, “Why else would I be here?”
    My heart actually skipped a beat.  I could not be happy he waited here for me, but it felt like the greatest thing in the world—like my life could not be complete if he were not waiting for me.
    “Well, to be truthful, I’m not actually here.  Not this place exactly, but you know where I am,” he added knowingly.
    “Salem?” I asked, confused about the feelings rushing through me.  Cameron played a part in my mother’s death, whether he intended to or not.  He took my abilities from me that night.  He prevented me from saving her.  Still, I could not bring my feelings of hatred to the surface.  I wasn’t sure what I felt.  Compassion?  Sympathy?  Pity?  Or was it something else entirely?  Something I couldn’t bring myself to articulate or even think.
    “Yes, Jade,” he continued, sounding calm and patient, his voice matching the surroundings of my oasis.  When he said my name, I felt transfixed by his words.  “Salem.  I am waiting for you.  Where are you?”
    “I’m,” I hesitated, unsure if this wasn’t more than a dream.  If it was more than a dream, I couldn’t give anything away.  It could be a trap.  That could be why he sounded so caring and I felt so hooked on his every word.  This could all be a part of a spell to find out where I was hiding.
    “I’m somewhere else.  Getting ready,” I managed to respond.
    “Good.  You should be getting ready.  But don’t take too long, okay?”  He leaned in towards me.
    “No problem.  Will your father be waiting with you?”  I didn’t move towards him, but I also couldn’t bring myself to move away.
    “My father will be waiting, too.”  Now he leaned back.  Father was the only word holding the venom I had expected from both ends of this conversation.  The rest of his words remained soothing to my ears.
    He stared into my eyes for several minutes.  I couldn’t speak.  I couldn’t move.  I found myself powerless against his gaze.  Finally, he looked away and stood up.  He looked down at me one last time.
    “Be prepared.  Come and find me.  Salem, 1692.”