Don't Stop Now [Finding My Path Sequel]

Chapter 16

"You're back," Jaxon greeted us in his kitchen. Even though it was nearly the afternoon, he and Lina were both sipping out of mugs. The room smelled like the coffee carts in Republic City.

"How was everything?" Lina asked, looking at me expectantly.

I wanted to tell her everything. All of it, from what Mom said to what Andi said. But Andi and Jaxon were also looking at me, so I stuck to a basic answer. "Good. I got to meet my mom."

"And?" she probed.

"She seems really sweet. She's a fortune teller, too. A good one," I added, stealing a glance at Andi. She was hardly paying attention to me now. "How are you feeling?"

Lina's cheeks turned slightly red, as if she was remembering something embarrassing. Maybe last night. "I'm fine. Sleep and all that helped. And coffee." She motioned toward her mug. "Jaxon said you took care of me last night. Thanks."

I couldn't help but steal a glance at Jaxon, who was looking at Andi as she spoke. Jaxon, who had taken Andi in when her own mother kicked her out. Maybe I was wrong about him. "It was nothing," I told Lina. "I'd do it for you any time." Maybe that was how Jaxon felt.

"Come on, there's something I want to show you," Lina insisted, grabbing my hand and taking me through the halls of Jaxon's flat. We ended up in the guest room, the one we spent the night in. The sheets were made, with no sign that Lina had passed out there the night before.

Lina hurried right past the bed though. She pulled open the curtains of a window I hadn't taken much notice of last night. It looked slightly out of place in the flatbed walls.

"Look at this," Lina pointed out the window. I leaned down, following her gaze.

"What is that thing?"

"Jaxon's mongoose lizard! Isn't it the cutest thing ever!"

It was certainly something. From this height, all I could see was a humped, dark brown shape with spikes coming out of all angles. From what I could tell, which wasn't much, it was probably asleep.

"It's certainly something," I muttered. "Jaxon owns that?"

"Uh huh. Apparently satomobiles aren't exactly possible with the roads in the Lower Ring, so everyone just rides animals. His name is Pablo," Lina explained like she knew this her whole life. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Pablo huh? Is this how you spent your day? I hope that daredevil Jaxon didn't let you ride his little pet."

She rolled her eyes at me. "No, he didn't. Give him some credit. Jaxon's not so bad." Even coming from Lina, I couldn't bring myself to wrap my mind around it all. I knew guys like Jaxon. They got me into trouble in my younger years. Guys like that never end up be 'not so bad.' "What about Andi? Did you learn anything about her on your little field trip?"

I shrugged, thinking about it. "I guess so. I found out that she doesn't get along with Mom, although I couldn't tell you why. Also, my mom is a professional fortune teller."

Lina nearly laughed. I could tell she was trying very hard to keep a serious look on her face, so I shot her a grin that she had to return. "Seriously. And she's actually good. I had her read my palm."

Lina stopped laughing long enough to give me a long look. I thought she was looking at me, but really she was studying my jacket.

"Did she give you that note?" Lina asked. I must've looked at her like she was crazy. "You don't have to show me. I was just wondering."

Finally I looked down and saw a piece of lined paper clearly coming out of my coat pocket. When did that get there?

"Uh, I didn't even know that was there." Unfolding the paper, I read it aloud. "Tomi, hi, it's your mom. I didn't get much of a chance to really talk to you with Andi interrupting us today, but I would love to see you again. I'm free all day tomorrow if you have any interest in seeing me again. I left directions along with this note. Tell Andi or don't, it doesn't affect me. Love, Mom." My voice cracked at the last part. I tried to cover it with a cough.

"You didn't see her give that to you?" Lina questioned.

"No," I said, seriously thinking about it. "But Andi rushed me out fast. Maybe I just didn't feel it."

"So then what did she find out about you? What did you talk about with Andi there?" she wondered. "Does she know?"

"That I'm her son, yes." Though I'm not sure if that's what she meant. "She told me about my dad, and when she left him and took Andi."

"And?" Lina probed.

"And that was it. She mentioned a secret too. That her and my dad both had some. I'm not sure what that was all about..."

"Well, you know your dad's secret at least," she tried. "Now you do, anyway."

"And I think Mom must know it too. But is that something I should just ask? I mean...." I was losing track of my own words. Luckily, Lina could pick them up for me.

"I think you have to. She has a right to know more about this all, and so do you. Maybe you can answer each other's questions."

"There's something else," I said before I could think enough to stop the words. "About my dad and the--the bloodbenders." I was going to tell her, this is it. "I can't bloodbend."

Concern quickly turned to confusion in Lina's eyes. "I know that Tomi. You told me that, remember?"

"I told you I didn't," I said without looking at her. "But really, I can't." Pain leaked into my voice, like it actually hurt to admit it. Maybe it did.

Lina was looking at me, I was sure, but I didn't look back. "And that must be hell, I'm sure," she muttered without compassion. "Not being able to kill people on command."

I sighed, retracing my words. I was such an idiot. "It's not like that, Lina. It's just..."

"You want to fit in?" she guessed, hitting me spot on. "With the monsters, even though you aren't one? You'll have to wear quite a mask, Tomi." She stood up with force, like she was ready to stomp out of the room.

"Don't do this," I begged. "You don't have to leave me here, like I'm hopeless."

She sighed audibly, but stayed in the room. "Sometimes I worry you are."

I gave her a small smile. "Maybe I just need someone to give me some hope."

She glanced away at that. Maybe I'd gone too far. "Tomorrow," she said after a moment, "I'm coming with you to see your mom. You're going to tell her about the bloodbending, and maybe she'll tell you something else. Who knows." Then her voice got quieter, "I don't think you should tell Andi, though. After all, she doesn't know about everything yet."

I felt myself nod. "Yeah, that's smart. So we'll go. Tomorrow."

"That gives you a whole day to decide...everything, I guess," she said with a sigh. "And please think about bloodbending again. You don't know what it can do to you."

"It can't do anything now," was all I said, feeling crappy about it all. I hated to think she was right about this. It meant doubting everything I learned in the past two years. All that training, for nothing. I think I had a right to be a little upset.

Lina left the door open when she left me alone. I could hear her and Andi talking from the other room, but I didn't bother making out the words.

Instead, I lay on the bed, closing my eyes, letting my thoughts take me under.