BLOOD LEGACIES
Chapter 518: The Girl Named Tessa Parker

Chapter 518: The Girl Named Tessa Parker

"I’m Tessa’s mother," she introduced.

A great deal of relief washed over me like a wave "Really?" I said hopeful, that means I wasn’t going crazy then. I didn’t want to admit it before but... I thought I was losing my mind and the only thing that kept me going was getting to the bottom of this.

Tessa’s mom being here was exactly what I needed.

"Yeah I was—"

I cut her off "I’m so sorry um..." I paused.

She offered a sweet smile. "Just call me Carol"

"Yes Carol, I’m Emma. I’m glad you’re here, I’m sure Tessa should be here by now, I’ve been worried"

She blinked not once or twice and then like a slow season change, her smile faded. "W-What?"

"Let’s go in" I pulled out my keycard and stepped forward to open the door, it did with a soft click and I gave way for her to come in.

"Emma" she began in a shaky tone but I was more than determined to bring Tessa to her, also I would be relieved to see her too after being unable to for a whole day.

"Tessa! Your mom’s here" I called. Classes are over so she should be here already. I eagerly anticipated to hear her loud squeak which always caused me to wince in pain but presently I would very much welcome that discomfort if it meant seeing her jumping like a rabbit and rushing to where we were.

"Please stop"

I turned to Carol who didn’t meet my gaze. I fix my smile back "Carol, it—"

"Just stop!" she barked, her lips trembling as her eyes turned glassy. She sobbed deeply as she tried to force the tears back that came with a storm. "I-I-I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled and..." she sniffed trying to force back the tears. "Oh god!" she broke like I had just caused her extreme pain. "Why are you doing this?"

I was more confused than ever, unsure of what I had done wrong. "I—" I started to move forward, but Dace stopped me, his hand gripping my arm. I turned to him, utterly baffled. "Dace"

He shook his head slowly, his expression unreadable, offering nothing for me to hold onto. A cold chill crept over me, unsettling and sharp. I turned back to the crying woman and swallowed a lump in my throat not knowing what to do, I caused this. This woman was crumbling in front of us and strangely so I could picture her like I was during Vanessa’s death.

"Mrs. Parker" Dace stepped forward and like a switch being flipped on, Dace’s eyes grew sad and his expression remorseful. "I’m sorry for this misunderstanding. This must be hard for you"

She remained silent. He gently rested his hand on her arm in a gesture of comfort. "Is there anything I can do to help? Anything?"

"That’s sweet of you" she sniffled, bringing her eyes to him and no longer feeling tense by his presence but more at ease. A warm smile touched his lips, but I could tell it was fake. Still, a strange feelings washed over me—he was willing to do something like that for a woman he didn’t even know.

"I’m sorry" I voiced.

However, she didn’t spare me a look as Dace led her away and they engaged in little conservation.

I stood there the whole time, frozen temporarily as a moving team came to take Tessa’s stuff away, her furniture being moved and Dace helped with all the arrangements. I had no idea how long I stood there, feeling cold and hollow, arms wrapped tightly around myself. My arms ached, and my feet throbbed, but I couldn’t move. Everything around me blurred—people, sounds, the world—until it all faded away but I was still unable to grasp anything.

It weighed heavily to the point my short breath was not enough until my mind went numb, I couldn’t think that instant.

The sudden thunder cracked through the sky, sharp and harsh, a strike that shattered the stillness around me causing me to jolt back to earth. Dace slowly walked to me, the mask gone and replaced with his monochromatic features, but curiosity drowned his gaze.

Finally getting a hold of myself I walked to the stairs to my room, the light turned on automatically the moment I stepped in, I took off my shoes and walked barefoot to the window, the ceiling curtains sliding open by the sensors, revealing the storm taking place, the trees blowing in one particular direction, the rain blazing through and the thunder cracking like the clash of gods.

All sounds faded into nothing, leaving me unable to hear or feel anything. I was just... lost, trapped in that moment. But then, the soft echo of footsteps broke through the silence, grounding me. The scent that followed stirred my senses, and with it, warmth returned, pulling me back into feeling once again.

"How long did you know?" I asked, my tone too heavy to form the words properly.

"Weeks before you came to JU"

I sighed heavily.

"I did some background checks on your roommates. Wendy Walker and Tessa Parker"

Silence followed and it was maddening, my heart skyrocketed as he continued after giving me a moment. "A few weeks ago there was an incident, I didn’t dig deeper into it but Tessa Parker went missing, with several investigations which were kept under the warps not to alarm the students, her remains were found and she was confirmed dead"

I twirled abruptly, breathing heavily. I didn’t want to believe him, I really didn’t but Dace couldn’t lie about this and at the same time I wasn’t lying either, this only made the situation harder to grasp.

"I talked with her Dace, how do I explain that?"

"You don’t"

"Was I hallucinating? Was I?" I ran my hand through my hair. I couldn’t be. Because I talked with her, laughed with her, and ate with her. In this half-empty dorm of loneliness, she was the one who made it worth it.

She can’t be dead.

"She’s not dead" I shook my head stubbornly. She was too real, there had to be an explanation for this.

"Emma"

"She’s not dead!" I shouted, my lip trembling as I squeezed my eyes shut. Suddenly, I felt a strand of hair shift behind my ear. Slowly, I opened my eyes, and Dace stood before me—the proximity sent a rush of warmth through my body. Though I still felt hollow inside, with him here, I felt whole again.

"She’s not," he agreed with me. "But not in the way you think"

I let reason come but it still breaks me. "You think she came to me?"

"Maybe"

"But I’m not connected to the dead, Hayden is"

"The more reason why we need an expert like her,"

"I can’t ask that of her, she’s probably caught up with things and..." I sighed.

"Emma"

I forced my eyes back to his. "Call her"

I automatically turned away from him and fished out my phone. I didn’t have it in me to call so I sent a text.

I sobbed as I turned back to him, and he stood there in silence, just as I did. The air grew thick with awkwardness, and I knew I had to break the silence—but he spoke first.

"I should go."

I froze, my eyes widening in disbelief. What?

"Samuel will watch you; he’s nearby," he said, glancing at his watch. "Are you going to be okay?"

"You’re leaving" I murmured, feeling my heart split into two.

"Yes"

"W-Why?"

There was a pause from him before he spoke "Because it’s best for you"

My lips parted, but I was at a loss for words; a scornful laugh escaped before I could suppress it. "What I want or what you want?"

He didn’t reply, just stared at me intently, as if he were trying to unravel the confusion in my eyes.

"You need peace, baby, not me"

"How can I..." I paused, letting the silence stretch between us, each heartbeat echoing in the quiet. Finally, I found the courage to speak. "You don’t know what I want"

"Then tell me what you want" he said like he waited every second to ask me that question.

I froze again, my mouth refusing to move despite my urge to speak. Slowly, he advanced toward me, and I instinctively stepped back, retreating until my back pressed against the cold window. He halted, just within arm’s reach, but his hands remained pocketed.

"Is it that hard to say, baby girl? Or are you scared that once you say it I’ll not feel up to it as you do? I’ll not feel anything?"

"I don’t even know if you still do" I voiced. "In the class, with Tessa’s mom, you were a completely different person"

"Is that what it is then?" he narrowed his eyes. "Do you want me to fake it? To give you an illusion?"

"It’s not an illusion if it was once you"

"I can’t, not with you, what you see now is what I have become"

My lip quivered.

"If you can’t accept it then I’ll wait until you do, and then I’ll show you that I don’t need fucking emotions to love you"