Fallon POV
Bruce and I leave the Z brothers and the little magic shop. I do not feel like I know any more now than I did when I left home, but I have a book with my family history. I guess that is something. Maybe there is something in this book to help me sort out my past.
"You okay?" Bruce asks me.
I look up at his blonde hair blowing in the wind. The wind seems to follow us around. It is not windy, and I am not cold, but something in the breeze calls out to me or maybe him.
"When will you tell me who you really are, Bruce?" I ask him.
Bruce pulls my hand to his lips and gently kisses the top of my hand. He looks into my eyes, and I see something different. The wind continues to blow through his hair, and his eyes seem to change.
"I am nothing to fear. First, a drink and dinner, then we will dive into who I am and your family history," Bruce says.
We will go down Royal street to a small side street that seems to turn from pavement to cobblestone. It is not a street, more like a small alleyway. Bruce steps in front of me and disappears. I am reluctant, but I follow him into another unseen place. Bruce hasn't led me into danger. At least not yet.
I step into the cobblestone, and it turns into a restaurant. "Welcome to Umbra's place," Bruce says.
I take a deep breath. "Man, you have got a lot of explaining to do," I say.
"I know. Just promise to listen before you bolt," Bruce says. Now I am afraid. Well, maybe not scared but worried. I do not want to lose him as a friend.
Bruce leads me to a table. I watch the people as we walk. Everyone in here is looking. No, they are staring at me. "Do they know who I am?" I ask as we come to a table.
Bruce pulls out my chair, and I take a seat at the dark green table. Vines cover the walls, and I hear the rain. I want to take in every detail of my surrounding, the colors, the plants, and the people. Bruce does not interrupt me as I take notes of every little detail in my mind.
"It is beautiful, isn't it?" Bruce whispers after allowing me a few minutes.
"Yes," I say.
Something in the vines reminds me of a place my mother took me as a child. I cannot remember exactly where or why, but I remember these vines. I remember something calling out to me. Fallon Fallon a small voice whispered my name and it scared my mother. Where was this? Why were we there?
Bruce is seated to my right, with his back against the mighty vines. He touches one, and it seems to move with his touch, not because of his touch but with his touch. The vines are alive. I remember this. I remember the vines moving and reaching for me when I was little.
A young woman about my age comes to the table. "Umbra will see you soon," the woman says.
She hands me a menu, then smiles at Bruce. Was she speaking to Bruce or me? I look at Bruce. Sometimes I wish he didn't look into my mind. He nods.
"Are you a vampire?" I ask jokingly. You know vampires can read minds in books and movies. It would make sense if he was a vampire, but I am not sure how I would react if he is a vampire.
"No, I am not a vampire, but I can introduce you to a vampire if you like," Bruce says.
I laugh, thinking he has to be joking, but I stop laughing when I realize he is serious. "You are being serious right now," I say.
I look at the menu. I am hungry, but now I am scared to order anything here. I might get a vampire burger or something. Surely not. Bruce wouldn't bring me somewhere that would poison me or hurt me.
"What are you getting?" I ask him.
"A vampire burger and fries with a bloody mary," Bruce answers.
"Same," I laugh.
I look down at the menu, and there is a vampire burger with fires. "It's a vegan burger. I don't eat meat, remember," Bruce says.
"Yeah, well, I will have what you have," I say.
"Relax. Umbra will put your mind at ease. I planned to bring you here tomorrow after I told you about me and where I am from, but I think you should know tonight. Then maybe your family will make more sense to you," Bruce says.
"Maybe," I say.
The waitress comes over, and Bruce gives her our order. I zone out, looking around and listening to the rain. I think I see Anna in the reflection of the fountain. I am not sure. Christmas lights are covering the fountain, but I am positive I see her reflection somewhere between the water flowing and the bright lights.
"She is there, and the other two are over there in the vines," Bruce says.
I look to the vines and see Onya and Sonya watching me. They are keeping tabs on me and ensuring my safety. I am not sure if that should put me at ease or if I should freak out from the watchers.
Bruce reaches across the table and takes my hand. "I guess that is what you could call me, a watcher. I am a keeper of the supernatural and a caretaker, so to speak," Bruce says.
"A watcher? What do you mean by a caretaker? I mean, there are witches, vampires, and what else roaming around in the world? Are you my caretaker? I am confused. Is that why you are so nice to me?" I ask.
I think my heart would be broken if Bruce were only my friend because he is forced to watch over me. Is our friendship even real? What about that kiss and his kind words to me? Why did he bring me here? Is it his job to get me here?
"Stop! When I first met you, my task was to look after you, but then you became my friend, and I wanted more than a friendship. I knew I could never cross the line with you until you knew who you are and why you see things the way you do. It has been hard for me only to be your friend. I wanted to tell you so many times who you are, but under instructions from Umbra, I knew I could not," Bruce says.
"Things just got deep," I blurt out.
Bruce smiles and holds my hand tightly as he leans over and kisses my cheek. "You have no idea," Bruce says.
The young lady comes to the table and interrupts Bruce and me. "Umbra is waiting for you. I served your food and drinks in her private dining area. Quickly now," she rushes us.
Bruce gets up first. He takes my hand, and I follow him toward the back of the restaurant. I look for the ancestors in the fountain's reflection and the vines as they climb on their own, dancing along the wall. It has to be magic.
Bruce stops at the doorway to the private dining area of Umbra. "She is hard to look at but a very kind soul. Listen to her what she has to say with an open mind," Bruce says.
He leans down and kisses me on the cheek again—my heart races. No matter how Bruce came into my life, I know we belong together.