‘Ah … Of course.’
Stepping onto the lawns I saw that there was a large amount of mist across the field. The grass under my feet was damp as I made my way to the stables. The door was ajar and I could hear laughter coming from inside. I quickened my pace, intent upon finding Jack. When I slipped through the open door it took me a moment to find him. I spotted him inside one of the stalls, saddling a handsome palomino steed. His sleeves were rolled up over his arms and I watched as he threw the saddle over the back of the tall mount. Georgia stood next to him, very close, talking rapidly and smiling to her fullest extent. She wore attire fit for riding and a handsome tan cloak that matched her caramel hair. Georgia placed her hand upon Jack’s arm and leaned close to him in order to tell him some private joke. Jack laughed freely and turned to face her once the saddle was in place. Her hand lingered upon his arm. She toyed with a button on his shirt. They were standing far too close to one another for my comfort. Anger flooded me.
‘Jack,’ I said loudly.
Jack jumped away from Georgia as though an electric current had shocked him.
‘Hey!’ he smiled. ‘You’re up!’
He made his way to the stall door and opened it, stepping towards me. My body language was standoffish and he seemed to notice this.
‘I was just helping Georgia saddle up,’ he offered as a way of an explanation.
‘I noticed,’ I said. My hands were shaking.
Georgia came towards us and stood next to Jack. ‘I was just suggesting that perhaps the three of us could travel together.’
‘Oh.’ I didn’t feel comfortable elaborating on what I was thinking.
‘I said we would just slow her down,’ said Jack with an apologetic expression upon his face.
‘I’m sure the journey would go much faster with good company.’ Georgia nudged Jack playfully.
‘Jack has good company,’ I said through gritted teeth.
Georgia pursed her lips. ‘I see.’
This was the reason I did not like making new friends. There was no way we could travel with another person when we must hide Hawthorne and there was no way I would send Hawthorne away, just so Jack could cosy up to some woman he barely knew.
‘We would slow you down,’ I said to her with narrowed eyes. ‘And we have other business to attend to along the way, don’t we Jack? We are going to … Scyre … to visit … we are visiting-’
‘My father,’ Jack lied.
‘I see,’ Georgia said with raised eyebrows. ‘That is too bad. Perhaps we could meet up when we reach Concord City? I think you’ll find I’m rather persuasive.’
‘Of course,’ Jack beamed.
‘We are leaving within the hour,’ I told Jack, interrupting the lingering eye contact he was sharing with Georgia.
‘Right. Yes. I’ll get my things,’ he said, rather pink in the face.
I turned away as Jack kissed Georgia’s hand and bade her farewell. My face felt hot.
‘Goodbye Jack. Farewell Fire-Demon.’ Georgia said to my back as I walked from the stables, Jack following me.
Muttering under my breath, I walked from the stables until Jack and I were a hundred meters away, in the shadow of the lodge.
‘What are you playing at?’ I said, turning to him.
‘What?’ He looked around nervously.
‘She wanted to come with us!’ I said, pointing over his shoulder towards the stables.
‘I didn’t suggest it. I only said -’ he stopped abruptly.
‘What? What did you say?’
‘It’s nothing.’ Jack waved a hand. ‘I just wanted to get to know her, that’s all.’
Anger boiled in my stomach and I was sure that Jack could feel the heat emanating from my body.
‘Avalon,’ said Jack, his brow furrowed. ‘Your clothes are smoking.’
‘What?’ I asked. I looked down. Billows of smoke floated up from my clothes, ‘Oh.’
I patted them down. It would not be a good idea to ignite my clothes for I had so few of them. I must control my temper.
‘What’s really bothering you?’ said Jack, colour flooding his cheeks. ‘The fact that I talked to another girl? Or that someone seems genuinely interested in me?’
This pulled me up short. ‘What?’ I said aghast.
‘Well?’ he pressed his hands on his hips.
‘It’s nothing like that!’ I said, flabbergasted. ‘You have completely missed the point. We are travelling to Concord City with, what other people might refer to as, a monster! Not only that, but we are going to the City to find my family! Or did you forget that too?’
‘No,’ said Jack. ‘Of course not.’
‘This is not the time to flirt,’ I said, the colour rising in my face. ‘Jack … I need your help to reach the City … I can’t afford for you to become distracted, no matter how pretty the girl is.’ I swallowed hard. ‘Please don’t make me go alone.’