Cirlce of Fire by Heather Parsons (graded readers TXT) 📖

your new here but Caedman is off limits. He's my man. We've been together for a long time and even if we don't act like it all the time, it doesn't mean you can swoop in and take him from me. I know he's fond of you and says your important but I don't care

. Leave him alone! Do I make myself clear?" She asked after walking far enough away from everyone else so no one could eaves drop. The fierceness in her voice scared Sierra enough to heed her warning. As far as Sierra knew Giselle could probably turn into some horrific animal and kill her if that's what she wanted to do. There was no doubt about it and that along with fear was the reason why she nodded in agreement.
"Good I'm glad we can come to this little agreement. Now do you want something to drink or are you still planning on leaving?" She asked with a smile on her face.
"You go on ahead. I don't know what I'm going to do." Sierra said just above a whisper. Her voice shook with fear she couldn't possibly control. But one thing for sure Sierra knew she didn't want to be here any longer.
Giselle dropped her arm that was more than supporting Sierra upright and walked away. With her out of sight, Sierra sunk down on the plush green grass and stared off into the night. Caedman is the only one she knew here and now because of her fear she's agreed to leave him alone. Stupid, blah! Left one nightmare behind only to end up in another.
Laying back and staring up at the sky felt like she was in a dream. This was her first cloudless sky and the stars all shone brightly, looking like someone had thrown pixie dust into the air to watch it sparkle and shine. Some stars shone brighter than others while most of them stayed further back and twinkled. It was beautiful and peaceful and made her want to cry. The moon itself was the brightest star of all. Giving off colors of it's own into the mixture. It looked so close, that Sierra reached her hand out and attempted to reach for it. For some resemblance of what she knew. Something to connect the worlds together.
Sierra closed her eyes and saw both Patrick and Travis standing side by side. Their similarities were uncanny. The same height, facial features, build, muscles, they had to be the same person. Had to be! It was torturous. This was definitely

hell.
“Sierra, my love. Your safe, I'll always be there to protect you.” Her eyes shot open at the sound of his voice. Was it real? She sat up and listened closer to hear it again. But the only sound came from the wind and the trees swaying in it. Dreaming about Travis was stupid. She had to close that door, tightly. Push it with all her might and seal it forever.
He's not here to protect you, your on your own Sierra. Travis is gone.

But when she turned the corner and saw Giselle standing across the street, Sierra could feel the fear seeping back in. Giselle's eyes were sparkling with hatred as she glared at Caedman and the females that surrounded him. He on the other hand looked to be having the time of his life. Smiling and laughing, enjoying being home again. And seeing this Sierra wanted to run, to escape this horrible place.
"Sierra why don't I take you home, you look exhausted." Patrick said coming up behind her silently. And before she could stop him, he had his arm around her waist, holding her close.
"Of course if your waiting for Caedman. I can tell you he'll be awhile before he'll leave. And Giselle, don't worry about her. She's all bark and no bite." He smiled and laughed a little at his own joke. As horrible as Sierra felt his smile actually made my heart skip a beat and his touch was warm just like everyone else but it didn't have the electricity that Travis' touch had. This comparing and remembering sucked.
"Sounds great but I don't have anywhere to go." She spoke just above a whisper. Looking around everywhere but at his face. And then Sierra locked eyes with Giselle's and she wanted to find the deepest hole and bury herself in it. Trembling with fear.
"She won't hurt you. She has a habit of telling everyone to leave Caedman alone, even me every once in awhile but really she's harmless. If it makes you feel better, I'll tell her to back off. I won't let anything bad happen to you." As he said this she turned her head and stared at him. Could he have said what she thought he'd said? Or was she just hearing things that she so desperately needed to hear? Her heart beat faster in her chest and her breath was trapped in her throat.
His arm dropped from around her waist and started walking towards Giselle, taking her non-response as answer enough. But at the last moment she reached out to stop him. More afraid of being alone than whatever he intended to say to Giselle. "Please don't leave me." Her voice broke with tears.
"I'll be right back. I wasn't really going to talk to her but if you want, I will. I'm going to get us something to drink unless of course you want to come with me." He said with a smile. Sierra shook her head no, her legs were still shaky and she'd probably end up falling on her face. So instead of doing that she found a wall that happened to be close by and slid down it, until she was securely seated on the ground. Stretching her legs to get some feeling back in them so she could walk without the fear of falling. Or the need of support.
"I see you've met Patrick. He's a nice guy but I've never seen him around a female longer than ten minutes before. He tends to loss interest fast so when I saw him talking to you, it really surprised me." Sierra turned her head to see who was talking and received yet another shock of her lifetime.
Oh, God, why?

Sierra dug deep inside hoping to get her lungs to work, needing air but feeling as if the tight hold on her chest would not ease.
"A-are you two...?" Her voice squeaked and the hold on her tightened more. Out of the corner of her eye she spied Patrick moving this way. Feeling light headed from lack of oxygen caused Sierra to see things that couldn't possibly be there. Did his eyes lighten? Was he smiling at me?

"Patrick and I together. Oh no. Don't get me wrong, I've tried to make things work but he's clearly not interested in me." She said and her eyes looked to where he was too.
"Casey. What a surprise. I didn't think you were talking to me." Patrick said as he took a seat next to Sierra. And once again for reasons unknown she felt like the third wheel.
"Patrick don't be silly, I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to her." Casey said but her eyes filled with sadness.
"Here Sierra. I picked up something to eat for you and a drink just in case." He said handing her what he brought. Turning her head to him she saw again that sparkle in his eye.
"Thank you." Sierra felt the corners of her mouth tilt up and quickly moved her eyes to look at the ground. Being in the middle here felt worse than being in the middle before. Maybe it has a lot to do with Patrick looking a lot like Travis and feelings that she's never let go of towards him. Ugh! She wanted to scream, this is too much for one night!

"Sierra since you're new here and probably haven't met that many people do you want to come to the lake tomorrow? We're going to have a picnic and swim and I can introduce you to everyone else." Casey said starting up a new conversation. Clearly the silence between them was too much for her.
"That sounds nice but I don't have anything to wear." Sierra whispered, diverting her eyes back to the ground. Heat rose in her cheeks as she thought about going in what she had on or worse, nothing at all. And then her memory resurfaced on the last swimsuit she wore and shuddered.
"Oh that won't be a problem. I have plenty and Patrick, if you're not to busy you're welcome to join. If you want to." Casey stated and began to stand up.
"I'll go if she goes." He said looking at Sierra.
Oh great, this just gets better and better

, Sierra thought as she looked up and saw his eyes pleading with her. Nodding her head, she thought this could be fun. God, please let this be fun. I really need fun right now.

"Good I'll see you both tomorrow then. Bye, Sierra. Patrick." Casey whispered his name and walked away. She watched her leave before turning her attention back to him.
For some reason Sierra felt herself leaning closer to him, their shoulders touching and for a moment she thought there'd been electricity between them. Did his eyes widened at that same moment then slowly softened? Hope cascaded inside her as his arm wrapped around and she placed her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. Not realizing until this moment how tired she really was. And with the smell of him, his scent was soothing her tensed muscles, relaxing them Sierra felt herself fall into peaceful bliss.

THREE

ANGEL LAKE

REMEMBERING his strong arms picking her up off the ground and the gentle breeze blowing her hair around brought a smile to her face. And when she raised her own hands putting them around his neck, it was a dream come true. Never once did Sierra open her eyes and see exactly who he was. Wanting every thing that's happened so far to be a dream and this feeling now to be real. In her mind this person who was carrying her was Travis. So wrapping her arms around his neck seemed harmless and falling deeper into sleep, she breathed in his scent and dreamed more. The calmness of it caused her mind slip