I wasn't sure what was going on, and I didn't feel like asking either. As we walked into the living room, Iris was smiling and laughing... until she saw our faces. The whole room's mood changed instantly as we recapped the events again.
After several moments of weeping and gasps of disbelief, everyone calmed down.
Iris was the first to speak. "Tallis, I don't know what we would have done without you this past year. You've been the fresh air we needed on a blazing hot summer's day. Thank you again for saving my sweet Aria." Then she turned to Amelia. "Thank you, too, Amelia. You saw what none of us could. This family is growing stronger everyday, and you are now a part of the reason why." Then she turned to Henry, her praising continuing. "I'm glad you're here. You're all such a big part of this family."
She swallowed hard, needing a second to recompose herself. "I wonder how many breaches to our perimeter Taryn has made. There are probably trap doors all over the place. We need to do a full-scale inspection."
I chimed in about something that was bothering me. "I wonder why she didn't bring more with her? Tonight was the perfect opportunity for a fully functional ambush. There would've been very little resistance if they had been carrying more with them."
Tallis said, "She wasn't afraid of you. She knew everyone was going out. She knew you and I weren't staying together anymore. Fortunately, she had no clue about Amelia's existence. No one would have ever suspected her. She would have gotten away with it, and she would have been here, consoling the family."
He frowned as he cast his gaze toward the floor.
"She must not have known about the killer swimming pool either," Amelia chirped, trying to regain the lightness.
Iris smiled. "No, we keep that a secret from almost everyone. Which, now, I guess the secret is probably out. However, it did serve its purpose, though I wasn't expecting it to have to protect you while in your mortal form. I'm surprised they attacked you while you were in the water actually. But then again, they didn't perceive either of you as a real threat."
Allaysia walked over to me. "Aria and Amelia can stay with us until everything is fully checked. We haven't trusted guards in a long time, so our perimeters should be completely intact."
Oh no. My stomach just flew into my mouth, and I was pretty sure every immortal in here heard my heart speed up.
Iris nodded absently, her mind spinning in all different directions. "Thank you, Allaysia. That would be perfect, actually. It shouldn't take more than three or four weeks."
Three or four weeks? They planned to make me live with Tallis for three or four weeks?
Allaysia put her hands on my shoulders as she continued, seeming oblivious to my silent panic attack. "They are welcome at my house for as long as necessary. Henry is welcome, too. I know he has people looking for him as well. Tallis will be close, I assure you. He packs quite a punch."
I giggled slightly as I thought of how they hadn't seen the pool house yet, and that helped alleviate the depth of dread I was facing. Tallis looked at me and tilted his head, a smile of curiosity and amusement playing on his lips. Then he realized what I was giggling about. He smiled shyly even as he flinched. I think he had almost forgotten about it.
Iris looked at me, puzzled by my unexplained laughter. "What's so funny?"
Tallis answered with hesitance and a bit of embarrassment. "I kind of… well, I sort of … I broke the pool room," he groaned. "Sorry in advance."
Iris seemed amused and confused in the same expression. She led the way to the pool, and we followed at a leisurely pace—no one doing their freaky immortal speed stuff.
Iris shivered when her eyes fell on Taryn's body. Then she looked at all of the destruction surrounding her.
"Yes, he does pack quite a punch," she said softly, more to herself than anyone else.
Then she smiled and took Allaysia and Jaslene's hand. They didn't say anything. They just stared and suddenly the glass lifted back up, defying gravity and numerous other laws of nature.
It was like watching a jigsaw puzzle being put into place at a rapid speed, each piece going exactly where it fit. Then, with a flash of light, the room was just as it had been before the attack. No destruction, no shattered glass, no dead bodies. Speechless. Utterly speechless and awestruck—that was me. My mouth even fell open to prove it.
After a while, numerous conversations and strategizing, Iris told me I needed to pack. My stomach churned at the thought.
Tallis followed me to my room, looking out my far window the second he entered. He looked down to the pool that's pristine appearance betrayed the craziness of the night. With the evidence gone, it was almost as if it had all been one horrific dream.
I joined him and gazed down as he was doing. "That's a long way down."
He smiled as he stared at me, eyeing me in his saturated shirt. Some of the water had started dripping on him. I looked down and frowned, seeing the trails of water that were dripping on his shoes and shorts.
"Oh, yeah, sorry... I guess, well... it's wet now."
So stupid, I thought, wishing I could slap myself.
He laughed lightly. "It's not that. I was just looking at how perfectly unharmed you are after all that." Then he frowned and resumed staring back down "You asked me to stay, and I didn't. I keep trying to keep you safe, but it keeps putting you in danger."
I missed the happy, cocky, easy going Tallis. Brooding, guilt-ridden Tallis was growing old.