Page 8 of Ever Dark Academy: Volume 6

“Wait. Let me just do this and they can speak to you as well as you to them,” Christian said.

He took out a large soul gem. It was a diamond. Clear and glittering. The center of it began to glow. Christian placed it on top of one of the boulders and there was a rush of energy that passed through Grayson. He let out a sigh and straightened up.

“Grayson,” his father said.

Grayson froze. He remembered that voice. He’d heard that voice. For a moment, he remembered seeing his father in a doorway. His father had been smiling. A grin from ear to ear. He had on a suit and tie. The tie had been tugged undone and he’d set a briefcase down. He’d clearly just come home from work. He swept into the room and picked Grayson up, swinging him around before bringing him against his broad chest.

“I missed you, big guy,” his father had said as he’d kissed Grayson’s temples. “So much. Did you miss me? Well, we’re going to have the best time, right?”

Grayson was stunned by the power of the memory. He could even smell his father’s aftershave. Spicy with a hint of warm citrus. He could remember the faint brush of whiskers on his father’s chin. He remembered resting his cheek on his father’s shoulder and feeling loved and safe and wanted.

“D-dad,” Grayson’s voice was tight and hoarse.

“Grayson, oh, my God! You can hear me! You can see me!” his father said, laughing and crying all at once. “I never thought… oh, God, I’ve waited so long to–but that doesn’t matter! I’m here. You’re here. We’re together.”

Grayson opened his mouth to say something else, but no words came. He trembled.

“Grayson, it’s okay. Everything is going to be okay,” his father assured him, reaching for him, but then stopping at the last moment.

“The soul gem is granting you power to speak, but touching is unwise,” Christian broke in.

“Right. No touching. Okay, okay, I can do that,” his father said, fisting his hands at his sides. “There’s so much I want to say. So much I want to tell you. How proud I am of you.”

“Proud?” Grayson’s voice was thick. “How could you be proud? Before I came here, I was… I was nothing.”

“That’s not true.” His father shook his head. “Grayson, that’s not true.”

Grayson felt the tears running down his face. “I was on the run. I stole. I lied. I did what I had to do. And then I–I got a crap job and a small apartment and hid–”

“You did what you had to,” his father assured him. “You were just a kid. And you kept it together. You helped others. I’ve seen you do it. And Sam talks about everything you did for him.”

“Oh, Sam, I didn’t do enough for you,” Grayson said.

“You did, kid,” Sam insisted as he walked towards Grayson while giving his stepfather a very wide berth. “You were so kind to me and everyone who needed help. The streets make you hard but you kept that kindness in you.”

“I was just scared to be who I really was,” Grayson answered dully. “I’m not some scared kid. Both of you know that, right?”

Sam and his father exchanged looks. They clearly did know that. Grayson scrubbed his face, wiping the tears away, even though they still burned in his eyes.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you both stuck around trying to help me,” Grayson said. It sounded like a rehearsed speech even though he hadn’t known he was going to have to say these things before they’d arrived at the memory garden and been told of his ghosts. “But you must also know that there is no further need for you to stay.”

Another look between Sam and his father. A knowing look as if they had anticipated him saying this.

“Because you’re the Immortal Ashyr?” his father asked.

“Exactly.” Grayson nodded. “This life is but a moment in time for me. It is nothing. I mean…”

“You’re a powerful, important person,” his father said. “You’re the General. People depend upon you to keep them safe. People who are powerful in their own right. Far stronger than Sam and I… even before we died. And they look to you for leadership and protection so why would you need us?”

Grayson winced. “You’re both very brave and strong in your own ways. I don’t want you to think otherwise. And I am beyond touched that you’ve stayed for me, but I know that this isn’t what you should be doing. You should be moving on. Starting new lives or going beyond.”

“Because you’re just fine without us,” his father filled in.

“I… yes, I am. I…”

Another memory came to him of running on chubby legs to his father in the yard. There was a sprinkler. Both of them were in swim trunks. His father was showing him how to jump over the sprinkler. The sun was bright and shining. The water was cool and refreshing. They’d both been laughing. He’d never laughed so hard as his father got sprayed in the face by accident when he hadn’t realized the sprinkler was turning back towards him. His dad had laughed too and chased him around the yard. He shook the memory away.

“I can understand why you don’t want to remember this life, Grayson,” Sam said, fidgeting with his hands like he did when he was nervous and wanted a drink. “Most of it was pretty ugly for you. Who would want to remember that? Even think about that? Especially when you’re someone important and special like you are? Plenty of other memories to keep you busy if you want to remember anything at all.”