A Vision of Green (Florence Vaine #2) (11 page)

My goodness, did I speak to an actual deity tonight? Is Green George a Green Man, or are the Green Men created in his image? One thing that coincides with him being the God of the forest was when he said that the forest and the creatures there belonged to him. It makes sense, because he also said that I was a descendent of his children, the elves, and elves are beings that live in forests, if my memory serves me correctly. I really wish I could talk to Frank about this, but it might be inappropriate to go calling him only a few hours after I'd broken up with him, even though he was adamant that we would remain friends.

I type in the name “Silvanus” and see what comes up. There are always so many different names for the same Gods, they vary from country to country. Perhaps Silvanus is Green George's true name. There was a slight touch of deception to his aura when he'd introduced himself. Maybe he thought Green George would make him seem less intimidating and scary. It definitely doesn't sound as foreboding as Silvanus, I think to myself, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

I scan through the information I find about Silvanus. The following are the most important facts I come across. Silvanus is the father of the forest and the Roman God of nature and woods. His appearance is that of a cheerful old man (definitely
not
what I saw) but then again I can't have expected 100% accuracy from the internet. He defends the forests from those who seek to do them harm and he hates anyone with evil intentions. He restores balance in all things.

He sounds like one of the good guys, so I can't imagine why the Nephilim would want to interfere with him. Remembering that I have a meeting with Sam tomorrow, I rip a piece of paper out of a copy book, get into bed and scribble out some questions that I want him to answer for me.

Who is Green George? Is he Silvanus the God of the forest, or someone else?

Why is he here in Chesterport?

What other creatures are there in the forest?

What exactly are elves? And am I distantly related to them? Is that why I'm an Empath?

When I'm finished I put the paper down on my bedside cabinet. The questions swirl in my head before I fall asleep and they blend with my dreams.

The next day at school I do my best not to run into Frank, but we don't have too many classes together so it's not so difficult. I've always been a master at blending into my environment so as not to be noticed. Mostly I've found that if you keep your head down and stay quiet, people won't bother you. Although I think that's mostly because teenagers are more interested in themselves than those around them. It would astound you what I pick up on in auras sometimes, people having seemingly deep conversations, but in their colours you can see that they're always trying to steer the topic back onto their own favourite subject; that being themselves.

The period before lunch is when I have to go and meet with Sam, so I make sure I have my list of questions at the ready. Unfortunately, when I get to his office he opens the door and inside sits a grey haired woman in her fifties with a smiling face and kind eyes. I have no idea who she is, but I get the distinct feeling that I'm not going to be getting any alone time with Sam to pester him for information today.

Sam introduces me to the woman whose name is Nina, and who is apparently going to provide me with speech therapy for the next few weeks. I grin and nod, all the while inside I'm cursing Sam for interfering and putting me on the spot like this. I haven't got the nerve to tell Nina that I'm sorry she came to the school just to see me, but that I'm not interested in her services. I'm such an odd sort of coward. I can face evil witches and hold late night conversations with possible forest Gods, but I can't bring myself to tackle something as small as my own speech impediment.

I'm in two minds as to whether I should stay and deal with this or do a runner, but then I look at Nina's aura and how she's emoting to my situation. Sam must have filled her in on my whole “back story”, not the Empath part, the part about my dad. Her intentions are just so good and all she wants to do is help me. I can't bring myself to walk away. I push forward through the brick wall that is my own petty fear and step into the room properly to say hello to her.

She holds my hand in her own, putting her other hand over our clasped fingers. I once read that this kind of gesture indicates the person with the hand on top is trying to assert their dominance over the person they're shaking hands with. I don't think that's what Nina's trying to do though, I think she's trying to settle my nerves by making contact. Her warm touch slows my nervous thumping heart just slightly.

“
You two can spend the hour in here, I won't be back until after lunch,” says Sam with a smile. The cunning little...he asked me to meet him here today under the guise of having a counselling session, when really he was planning on surprising me with a bloody speech therapist. I know he's not trying to be cruel, he's trying to help, it just feels like I'm being swindled. I wish he'd have run the idea by me first.

After he's gone it takes me a few minutes to warm up to Nina. She can see I'm anxious so she asks me a few benign questions about myself before getting into the whole “therapy” part of this ambush. I think she might also be trying to gauge how bad my stammer is by having a chat with me. I find myself messing up even more because I know she's taking inventory of my speech.

By the time the bell rings for lunch I feel like I've just taken part in one of those awful drama workshops. Only it wasn't so embarrassing since there was only me and Nina in the room and not a whole bunch of random strangers. I found some of Nina's techniques slightly strange, like when she got me to stand up, shake my shoulders and make thrilling noises by rolling my tongue at the same time.

I'm all set to write the whole thing off as a massive waste of energy, but after I've said goodbye to Nina and started making my way down the corridor my mouth feels different. The muscles are suddenly looser or something, the imaginary clamp that normally holds down my tongue and makes me mess up my words no longer has such a strong presence. Wow. So this speech therapy gig actually works. Suddenly I'm looking forward to next week's session more than I thought I would.

When I get near my locker I notice someone standing by it, waiting for me. Frank. My heart hurts just looking at him and not being able to show him how I truly feel.

He smiles when he sees me, but I can make out something small in his aura that he's trying to hold back. Pain. Well, I guess that makes two of us with hearts that are hurting then. Only now I feel guilty too, since it's my dad who's orchestrated us breaking up with his blackmail and threats.

“
Hey,” he says as I step up beside him and open my locker to throw some books in.

“
Hello,” I reply, feeling a weird need to be formal around him all of a sudden.

“
Let me help you with that,” he adds, taking my bag from me and holding it open so I can transfer my books more easily. His fingers brush mine, intentionally I think. He seems to shudder at the touch and leans in closer to me. His eyes focus on my lips, which are hanging open slightly.

A tension filled moment passes before he pushes some of my hair behind my ear and whispers, “Do you know how much I want to back you up against that locker and kiss you right now?”

His words turn me into a statue, and I stand there, glued to the spot, unable to breathe a word. I feel like I'm truly experiencing the saying “between a rock and a hard place” for the very first time. If I wasn't being held hostage to my dad's threats I'd probably take it upon myself to push
Frank
against the lockers and kiss him. Staying away from him is like depriving myself of something as vital and necessary as air.

“
You shouldn't say things like that,” I tell him, taking my bag out of his hands and zipping it up.

His blue eyes study me closely and he lets out a long breath before he answers, “I know.”

I look at him and say, “I'm so sorry...” but I trail off because I know that if I say another word I'll just start crying.

Frank's face is so full of compassion and understanding. I feel like I'm betraying him in some fundamental way. He probably thinks I'm not ready for the intimacy that always transpires between us and that's why I'm backing away from what we have. If only he knew how weak I am, submitting to a man I subconsciously still want to heal. A man who is probably far beyond being saved at this point.

“
You don't need to apologise Flo, if this thing between us is too much for you then you need to take the time to figure it out and decide what you want. I'm well prepared to wait. I'd rather wait for you than settle for some other girl who'll never make me feel the way you do.”

The very idea of Frank with somebody else makes my stomach roil with uneasiness. I guess I never thought that my dad's ultimatum would keep us apart forever. I just need to stay strong until I can get him out of my life for good. I'm glad Frank's willing to wait for me, even if it's selfish to make him give up his time for the hope of something that might never happen.

I smile at him. “Thank you.”

He sucks in a breath. “God, you're beautiful when you smile, you know that?”

I look away awkwardly and Frank laughs. “Okay, my bad. I'll try not to say things that make you uncomfortable from now on.”

I nod and we walk together to lunch, while Frank tells me about how Alex almost made himself sick the night before by having a pancake eating competition with Kevin and Benji. Apparently Hayley went nuts when she came into the kitchen and discovered the mess they'd made. I momentarily consider telling him about Green George and the events of last night, but I don't want to ruin the normality of our conversation as we laugh about Alex and his craziness. Forget about the supernatural, I'd give up knowing all of it just to experience this one moment, this one thing that's real.

“
So I'll pick you up later this evening?” asks Frank, pulling me out of a daydream I'd been having about elves and the possibility of what other creatures I might stumble upon if I went into the woods. The school day has just ended and Frank is walking me to my locker.

“
Huh?” I respond, not understanding what he'd be picking me up for.

“
The psychic night at the book shop with Hayley,” he explains. “I'm going to bring you.”

“
Oh right that's tonight, I completely forgot. I can m-make my own way there,” I tell him, hoping he won't push the issue.

“
No need, your house is on my way. Save your legs the walk,” he says, brushing off my protest.

I quickly try to think up an excuse, but fall short. All I can come up with is the truth. “Could you maybe wait at the end of the road for me then? I don't want my dad seeing you.”

Frank's brow furrows and suspicion clouds his aura is one fell swoop. “Why not?”

“
You know how he is, if he sees me getting into a car with a guy he'll start asking questions. I'd like to avoid the c-c-confrontation.” Little does he know my dad already asked the questions, set out his position and made me crawl in order to appease him.

Frank stops me in my stride, his hand latches onto my elbow as he pulls me to stand in front of him. “Is there something you're not telling me Flo?”

“
Of c-course not,” I answer, the blatant lie feels like acid on my tongue. I try to swiftly change the subject. “Did I mention that Sam ambushed me with a speech therapist? Her name's Nina, I thought I w-w-wouldn't like her but she's actually really nice.”