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more night?

Chapter 8
    (Camille – Bed and
Breakfast, Southern Ireland)
    Dinner conversation revolved more
around me than I would have liked. I didn’t have any real secrets,
but was not all that comfortable being the center of attention. As
the five of us sat together, it struck me odd that none of the
three had shared their names with us. The older woman asked me,
“So, how is it, Camille, that you were raised human?”
    “My mother never told me about being a
Centauride.”
    “Angela? She raised you to be a human?
Not a Centauride?”
    “Mom never married. She met my father,
William Strayer, a married Centaur. . . briefly. She died a few
months ago and told me who my father was. . . but not what we
were.”
    The old woman was quick to pick up on
the nuance that I’d shared, “You were born out of
wedlock?”
    I nodded. Both of the two men standing
on either side of her exchanged a glance. I wanted to know what
they were thinking, but I wouldn’t be able to concentrate enough to
listen to their thoughts while carrying on a conversation with the
woman. To date I’d only been able to “listen in” with Phineas, and
it was just the one time. She asked, “So how did she explain your
abilities?”
    I hated admitting this part, “It never
came up.”
    “Listening to others’ thoughts and
talking to the spirit world never came up?”
    “She never actually showed me how to do
it.”
    “What about your
grandmother?”
    “She was more interested in teaching me
Greek mythology than how to use the skills that every other
Centauride seems to have at birth.” Drake put a hand on my knee and
gave me a reassuring squeeze. He knew I felt inadequate every time
the subject of Centauride skills came up.
    “So, you do not . . . “
    I cut her off before she could finish
her question, “It’s sporadic.” I didn’t want her to know I was
worthless as a Centauride. “My stepmother, Gretchen, offered to
help me, but I haven’t had much time alone with her.”
    “It’s really much easier than that, my
dear. You are tense; I can see it on your face. I can feel it in
your demeanor. Relax your mind and listen to the voice that speaks
to you from the inside. You need only accept who you
are.”
    “I’m tense because from the moment I
found out Centaurs were real, I’ve been jerked every which
direction. My inner voice just keeps telling me to go back to being
human and forget about everything.”
    She shook her head at me and shared a
knowing smile, “No. Your inner voice guides you. ‘Twas my inner
voice that told me you needed me when you arrived on my front porch
unannounced. It’s my voice that tells me: you speak the truth. It’s
also my inner voice that tells me you have a long journey ahead of
you. Listen to yours; it will tell you exactly where you need to
be.”
    Drake confessed, “I convinced Camille
to come to Ireland. It was a huge waste of time since Zethus is
dead. We don’t have any defense against Zandra.” Drake, for the
first time since our journey began, doubted himself.
    The old woman nodded, “You are both
fierce warriors. You are deceptively strong and quick. Any who
attack you will not expect such a fight. Isn’t that right, boys?”
Her eyes twinkled as she good-naturedly jeered her two sons who had
been rendered helpless in a matter of seconds by Drake and me. “Get
some rest. You fall under my household’s protection this evening.
No harm will come to you while you rest. You have my
word.”
    I offered to help with the dishes, but
she wouldn’t hear of it. Instead, the woman escorted us upstairs,
to two awaiting rooms. My heart sank. After all of today’s
disappointments, I couldn’t stand the thought of sleeping
alone.
    Drake held up a hand, “I’m sorry,
Ma’am. Camille is my responsibility. Her father has entrusted her
to my care.”
    Irritated at Drake’s suggestion, she
answered. “You know the rules, young Nash.”
    “Yes, Ma’am, I do. But I am sworn not
to let her out