The week after Christmas goes by in a blur. I sleep, eat, and study. I make time to visit Enid, after a few days, and spend the afternoon with her in an attempt to make up for lost time. Time, I will never be able to get back.
Marie and Antoine are at the house, but the cloud of gloom that shadows them is hard to ignore and dispel.
Enid tells me that Ava is coming for dinner and that she would rather swallow a toad than sit through dinner with her, but then again Marie wants to get to know Ava better since she will replace her daughter. It seems that Marie holds Mason dear, and she wants to see him happy. Maybe, Marie will like Ava better than she liked me since Ava is of quality stock, and I'm me.
I lack refinement, a social status, I'm a recluse with very little desire to step onto the outside world, even more so now that Micah is hunting me, more fervently than ever before.
I'm not afraid of myself. I'm afraid of how far he will go to achieve his goal. And I have a feeling that he will stop at nothing. And at this point, I'm feeling selfish, and an absolute ass for not giving up and just letting him take me.
I'm merely prolonging the inevitable.
Saturday swings in with the force of a blizzard that buries Morston under a thick layer of snow. It is a devastatingly beautiful sight, except for the fact that everything has come to a standstill. Shops have closed down until everything is clear, and many other attractions have closed their door for the time being.
I look out the window and wonder if Ashely will turn up as he said he would. Although I find it hard to believe considering that the snow has piled up on the roads to a record six feet high, and even higher in other places.
Glancing at the watch, I notice that is approaching fast midday and there is no sign of Ashley from where I'm sitting on the roof. I know there won't be, but one can only hope. And I can't exactly blame the man for not digging his way through miles of snow, can I?
When I'm a few seconds away from turning into a block of ice, I slide back inside the loft through the window and lock it shut. Something I've never done before, but with the weather in such a bad mood, I'd rather not risk being buried in snow while I sleep.
If Ashley couldn't get through, then that means that Mason won't be here either for our training session.
Ignoring the sudden pang of desolation, I plop myself on the bed and pick up a book that I've been reading. I'm determined to finish off all the material that has been assigned for the first year. It's not like I have anything else to do.
Hours drift by, and I try my best to keep my mind occupied with various activities in order to keep myself sane. I still have two weeks until Laira and David return.
Morston buried in snow on a full moon night is magical. The sky is crystal clear, the stars are twinkling above me almost mockingly, while the silver glow of the moon reflected in the snow, makes Morston look something out of a fairytale.
Sitting on the roof, I watch with my heart in my throat, waiting to see if Mason would turn up. There is very little hope that he will.
It is so quiet that I can hear my teeth clatter because damn is freezing cold.
Rustling in the trees catches my eye, followed by the fall of big chunks of frozen snow. I know it's him, I can feel it on my skin, before he is even in my line of sight. It is hard to explain the sensation, but it is akin to the way a magnet would move particles of iron, following the pull, unable to resist. All of that but it is happening under my skin.
It is an unnerving feeling, but I have to smother, stomp it to death because he doesn't want me, or if he does, he refuses to allow himself to feel anything for me ever again. Complicated, doesn't begin to cover, but it could be simple if he would just stop being such an ass. Only time will tell.
Mason lands on the roof with a thud, exactly ten minutes before our agreed time, and I'm impressed by his determination to keep his word.
" I didn't think you'd come," I push myself up while he stands a few feet away from me, staring at me, hallowed in the moonlight, he looks very god-like. Or maybe my emotions are exacerbating the way I see him, because in my eyes, Mason is many things, and I love each and every single one of them. Even his stubbornness, and assery when I'm not on the receiving end.
" There is nothing that will stand in my way," He says quietly with an edge to his voice.
" Since Ashley didn't come today, I thought that neither would you," We are not that far apart, and I can see the frown slowly coming to life on his face followed by a sharp grimace. I regret having said it, but it's too late, not taking it back now.
" Why would Ashley come to see you?" The tilt of his head, tells me that he is not pleased with the turn of events. I have no reason to feel guilty because we've kissed a few times, and then after he made sure to let me know that he regretted doing it.
" We were supposed to go on a date today," In spite of knowing that I don't owe him an explanation, I still feel the anxiety creeping up on me, at the scowl forming on his features. It is only for a split second, and it's gone the moment he blinks.
" We should head down. We are wasting time," He says in his customary stern tone and leaps off the roof.