Ella Awakened by S. E. Duncan Page B

small puncture where a drug was administered that might have gone
unnoticed or the exact weapon used in a murder.”
    Ella couldn’t
help it; she had to ask the question.  “Did you lay your hands on my parents
after they died?”
    Her hands
were clasped tightly in her lap, and every muscle in her body seemed tense. 
Burke reached over and took both of her hands in his.  “No Ella, I did not. 
The body must be intact for me to be able to get a reading.”  He thought it was
best to just be honest with her.  He knew she still greatly grieved their loss.
    “I
understand,” she said.  She was looking at his hands wrapped around hers.  They
had known each other less than a week, but they had been through so much
together already.  Was it possible to live a lifetime in such a short time?
    Burke
untangled one of his hands from Ella’s and reaching over, gently lifted her
face so that her eyes met his.  “They didn’t suffer Ella.”
    Ella moved
closer to Burke and laid her head on his chest.  He wrapped his arms around her
and kissed the top of her head.  “What do you say we clean up and get some
rest?  Tomorrow’s a big day.  I need to go into the office and let Carl know
we’re taking on an intern.  We also need to come up with some kind of training
plan for you to get more comfortable with your abilities.  You must still be
tired from the awakening, not to mention you ran more than a marathon today.  I
think we’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
    “You’re
right, I am tired.”
    “You go
ahead and have a shower first.”
    While Ella
was in the bathroom, Burke got his things out of the bedroom and made up the
sofa for himself.
    ~~
    Ella woke
early the next morning to the smell of coffee and breakfast.  She sat up in bed
and stretched, then got up and made her way to the kitchen.  Burke was just
setting two plates on the table.  “Good morning, did you sleep well?” he asked,
turning to smile at her.
    “Yes, but
I’m feeling a little guilty about stealing your bed.”
    “Nonsense, I
slept great.”
    “This looks
amazing,” Ella said as she sat down. “So what’s on the agenda for today?”
    “Well, I’ve
rigged up a dummy in the back yard.  I thought you could work out and practice
some more with the sai this morning while I go into work.  I have some throwing
knives for you to work with, too.  I’ll tell Carl we’re taking on an intern
from the college and work out the details on that end.  Hopefully nothing will
be going on at work today, and I’ll cut out for an early lunch.  This afternoon
I’d like to work on your tracking skills.  Does that sound okay to you?”
    “Sounds
great.  You know, I was thinking; you and my dad dove through this portal after
the Demon so quickly, how is it that you have all of these things from your
home?”
    “What
things?”
    “Well, you
said you had some seeds with you that you planted, and that makes sense, I
guess.  But, what about your sister’s necklace and the case with the sai?”
    “That
necklace was Willow’s most prized possession.  Its value to her could be
compared to an engagement ring in this world.  Her love, Barret, had made it
for her on her fifteenth birthday.  He came from a long line of craftsmen.  I
never saw her without it on.  Barret told me later that they had promised themselves
to each other one night on the cliffs as the moons were rising over the ocean. 
After she was killed, and I laid my hands on her and experienced her last
moments, I vowed to avenge her.  Barret gave me the necklace, and I wore it on
a leather cord to remind me of my vow.  As for the sai, your father was wearing
them.  They are worn across the back in something called a chone.  I have your
father’s chone; we can fit it to you sometime.  When we came through the portal
we had only what we were carrying with us.  Healers carry a bolsay, which is a
leather pouch worn at the hip.  It hangs from the shoulder across the