Chapter 211 Chapter 211
“One of the first things we’re going to do once we’re off this mountain is hook you up with some elders that will help you tap into your cat and control her easier.”
“Is that possible?”
Jesse nodded, then moved his head from side to side, “most of the time. It’s not foolproof but creating a bond with your cat helps a lot.” He frowned, “I don’t think you had the time for that with how young you were, so she’s able to come out whenever she wants, which could be dangerous once off this mountain.”
“Yeah, I’ve learned that the hard way a few times.”
“You’ve left here?”
“A few times.” She took another sip of the coffee, no longer tasting it. “When they went down for supplies, or Leah and I tried it once on our own—” She sighed, “it didn’t go well.”
“We can talk details later, but just so you know, we’re leaving the mountain—now, what I need to know first, is there just the three of you?”
Evanna nodded her head slowly, she checked constantly for more. “As far as I know. Leah and I messaged each other a few years back and agreed if there were any more that we were aware of and the other wasn’t, we’d tell the other.” She pointed to the journal on the table beside the chair, “we use that.”
Jesse bobbed his head and looked where she pointed. “She mentioned that earlier.” His eyes connected with hers again, “okay, so there’s the three of you.” He bit his lip for a second, “that’s good, I’ve read a bit about your disorder…”
“You know why I’m like this?” She almost jumped onto the table to get closer to him.
“Yes, well, I don’t know a lot but Shaelan, my friend’s mate is a healer, and she knows much more than I do.”
Evanna took a deep breath and blew it out. Keeping her heart steady was getting harder, “okay, so what’s this disorder?”
“Dissociative identity disorder,” he searched her face, watching her carefully, “it used to be called multiple personality disorder…”
“It-it’s a normal thing?” She shrugged; it had a name.
“It’s more common than I knew of, but as I said I don’t know a lot.”
She couldn’t stop looking at him now. What was wrong with them wasn’t just them. She was relieved, intrigued, and terrified all at once.
“Once we’re back, Shaelan says there are ways of managing it…”
“Managing it how?” She’d tried everything for the last five years, to help Leah, control Minn, and get rid of this constant ache in her head. For this entire conversation, she wanted to rest her head on the table and close her eyes but knew that didn’t ease the pain at all.
“I don’t have those details, if you like, later when Shaelan calls, you can speak to her.”
She smirked, “on your little phone?”
Jesse nodded.
Evanna rubbed her forehead, the ache was not easing at all.
“Are you okay?”
The look of concern on his face she found endearing. “My head, it aches all the time, but after earlier, it’s not going to let up any time soon.”
Jesse frowned, “I have acetaminophen down in the van,” he pulled out his phone and looked at it, “I should check with Shaelan and make sure taking it is okay for you.” He looked back at her, “most medication doesn’t help shifters much, our metabolism burns through it fast, but if it helps…”
“This a seat-what—” she shook her head, unable to say whatever he just had, “it’s a pain killer?”
Jesse nodded.
“I’ve never had one. Aunt Pearl used herbs and teas,” she glanced over at the counter, “but they don’t work really.”
“I don’t have a signal here, but I will message her shortly and ask.”
“Message her?” She frowned what that was she didn’t know for sure.
“Yeah, you can,” he held his phone out and leaned across the table, “type a message to someone in it without having to call them.”
She watched as he tapped the screen and brought up a list of names, he hit one and started spelling out words—on the phone. “That’s crazy.” She grinned. “Everyone has one of those phones?”
Jesse leaned back again, “most people do, yes.”
“I have a lot to learn.” A pain stabbed through her head and made her wince.
“I’ll go message Shaelan and check my pack to see if I have any in it.” He got up.
“Hey,” she cleared her throat, “if you have another one of those bars, I’d take it.”
Jesse grinned, “I have a whole case of them in my van.”
“Really?” She stood up slowly. “We could run down and get them.”
Jesse held up his hand, “I don’t think you should go for any more runs today.” He glanced at the door, “I can shift and go down, but I can only bring up what fits in my pack.”
“Your pack?”
“Yeah, a small pack we wear to put our clothes in,” he shook his head, “I have some in the van, I’ll bring you one.”
“That would be cool.” She nodded, then froze for a second. “I can help with bringing more of those bars back up.” She darted into the bedroom. Hurrying, she went in and opened the closet. Digging around in the bottom, she pulled out Papa Low’s hauling bag, or that’s what he used to call it. Going back out she pulled it from the bag and shook it open.
“What is that?” Jesse came over.
“Papa Low and Grampa Virgil used to use them to haul things up from where the truck is hidden.”
He took it and looked at it.
“You put your head through here after you shift,” she motioned to the loop, “and the bottom is made to slide along the ground and not get caught up on everything.” She put her hand inside, “it’s padded on the bottom too, so if you’re hauling up eggs or something breakable, they won’t get broken.”
“This is ingenious.” He smiled at her, “I’ve been trying to figure out how to get things down the mountain when we leave.”
“When will that be?” She crossed her arms over her stomach, there were butterflies in it.
“That’s up to you and Leah. The Alliance is sending someone after we go to pack up things, but I don’t know how Leah is going to feel about leaving.”
Evanna looked over at the journal, “I’ll write her a message while you go get the bars.” She really liked them and wanted to eat about ten of them right now.
“I’ll see if I have any jerky as well.” He rolled the bag back up, “I have some juice and other snacks too.”
“Really? You’re like a traveling market.” She smiled at him. When was the last time she’d done that? Smiled. There was never anyone to smile at or a reason to smile to yourself up here…
“I travel a lot and need to be prepared for everything.” Jesse tucked the bag under his arm. “Let me check with Shaelan while I look in my pack.”
“Okay, I’m going to write to Leah now and try to explain things to her.” She bit her lip, then gave him a wide-eyed look, “there’s a lot to explain.”
Jesse cleared his throat, “just, please tell her I’m sorry about this morning and that I will do anything to keep the three of you safe.”
She searched his face for a moment, not sure why she was feeling emotional from his words. “Will do,” she whispered and then turned her back to him. Moving over she sat down in the chair where the journal sat and opened it. She couldn’t look at him right now, not when she didn’t under this feeling inside her. She heard the door close as he left.