ROTU: Chapter Twenty

"Haku, you should learn to make me coffee before I get up, instead of standing there and just staring like usual," Jalena whispered hours later, her eyes still closed.

Haku, her tail wagging hard, covered Jalena's face in wet kisses.

"Useless, you are," Jalena teased as she opened her eyes slowly. "We've talked about this…if you aren't going to bring me coffee, you should at least bring me some wine—one or the other."

Haku trotted away, and Jalena closed her eyes again. The throbbing in her head was still fairly active even though its intensity had subsided. She pried open one eye when she heard a clank from the other room. Haku returned with a sealed wine bottle in her mouth and gently laid it next to Jalena.

Jalena laughed. "Where would I be without you?" Haku wagged her tail as Jalena sat up. "Okay. I take it back…you do have many talents, even though I don't think now is the time for wine." She pushed the wolf gently away as Haku licked her face again. "I'm okay, just give me a sec."

Jalena slowly stood and went to the bathroom to look in the mirror. Along with all her memories, her natural appearance had returned. She stared at her red-haloed violet and brown eyes then moved her hair back to look at the Lumsigne marking on her neck. The blue glow beneath it had disappeared completely. She traced her fingers over it, appreciative and relieved that she could see it once more.

The doorbell rang, jarring her from her thoughts.

"Jess!" Nadia yelled as she banged on the door.

Haku trotted to the front window and lifted her paws to its ledge.

"You're not answering your phone, and I was worried because of what happened yesterday," Nadia called through the door.

Jalena looked around in a panic. Along with her loss of memories of Elsaria, she had also forgotten that she lost the amulet and her watch.

"I'm okay, Nadia!" called Jalena. "Just a minute..."

"Okay, good," replied Nadia. "Hurry. It's freezing out here."

Jalena threw on a ball cap to hide her eyes along with a hooded sweatshirt. She pulled up the hood to hide her ears then yanked the door open.

Nadia moved past her, rapidly rubbing both her arms for warmth.

"Sorry," said Jalena as she grabbed an iron poker and stirred the embers in the fireplace. She added another log as she kept her gaze lowered. "I just got back from a run not too long ago," she lied.

"Well, I'm glad you're feeling better," said Nadia as she rubbed her hands by the kindling fire.

"Nadia, I'm happy you came by actually. I am going to be gone again awhile, so just look after the place for me."

"Are you going out of the country again?"

"Not sure where yet. Just open the gallery when you're up to it and use all the money you need."

"Jess, you've already paid me two years' salary."

"Take more if you need to."

Nadia smiled and shook her head. "Okay, well now that I know you're alive, I've got to get back home." She embraced Jalena. "I told John I was just coming by to check on you, but I still have to stop by the gallery to grab a few things."

"Thank you."

"You make sure to stay safe and check in because I worry about you," Nadia said.

"Pinky swear," Jalena said. "Kiss the boys for me."

***

Nadia drove slowly on the snow-covered streets a short time later and parked in front of the gallery to retrieve some invoices. She locked the front door after and turned to shuffle her way across the icy sidewalk to her car.

Instinctively, she reached out her hands as her foot slipped from beneath her.

"Careful there," a man said from behind as he reached out to catch her.

Nadia looked up into Kaelon's eyes.

"Oh!" A surprised laugh escaped her as her cheeks flushed. "Kaelon!" she exclaimed as he helped her straighten. "You sure show at the right time."

He grinned and adjusted his beanie. "It's been known to happen."

"Well, I just stopped by the gallery for some papers. We aren't actually open."

"I was just trying to see if I could catch Jess here and talk to her more about the paintings I bought."

"She isn't here." Nadia shifted uncomfortably. "In fact, she won't be back for a while."

"What do you mean?"

"She travels—sometimes for months at a time. She told me today she was leaving again."

The disappointment was clear on Kaelon's face. "Will she be gone long?"

"I'm not sure. Her trips vary in length."

"Can you give her my number?" asked Kaelon, his face lighting up again. "I know it's in the information I gave you for the paintings, but just make sure she has it. I have something I wanted to give her, but I'd rather do it in person."

"Yes! I would love to." Nadia took out her phone. "Just give it to me again, and I'll forward it to her right now. But, I have to tell you that sometimes she goes off-grid when she is away. There are times when I cannot reach her, so don't take it personally if she doesn't contact you right away."

He smiled. "I won't. The least we can do is try. If I don't hear from her, I'll check back with the store to see if she has returned." He gave Nadia his number.

"Merry Christmas, Kaelon."

"Merry Christmas."

Nadia watched him walk away, a look of giddy excitement in her eyes. "Damn, Jess," she muttered. "He shows at the right time and you disappear at the wrong one."

***