After lunch, Azar and Maayan showed up, packed for the long weekend. To appear somewhat normal they took the train into town this time, instead of their usual magic portal. Maayan was bouncing around, excited about their scenic trip up the mountain. To burn off some extra energy we decided to go outside and rake the front yard. The plan was to make piles so we could jump into them later. Azar ended up taking the rake from me after watching me feebly try to do yard work with one good arm. I made a face when he stole my rake but was happy enough to go sit on the swing under the oak tree to supervise the clean-up process. Grandpa had just pulled up in his truck with Casimir when Maayan noticed something near the front gate.

"Someone is here!" they announced.

Azar stopped raking and I jumped up from my spot on the swing to observe the expensive-looking sports car pulling up our small dirt road. The gate was locked so the driver stopped just outside our mailbox, idling a moment before the engine shut off.

"Who is it?" Azar asked, squinting at the car.

"No one I know," I said with a shrug. The windows were tinted so I could see inside and I didn't recognize the vehicle from anyone in town, it was too fancy. Grandpa and Casimir had gotten out of the truck, joining us near the large oak tree. I glanced up at Grandpa's face and he didn't seem pleased.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"That better not be who I think it is," he growled. "I thought I told him to stay away."

My eyes widened because I still wasn't used to the fact that I could understand Terrarish.

How will I tell grandpa about this? I can't tell him about the kiss. I was still convinced that the kiss Casimir and I had shared sparked my sudden talent for this second language. Weird things seemed to happen when the two of us came in contact. Looking back to the first time we shook hands I did inexplicably faint. At the time I thought it was exhaustion but perhaps it was something else. As much as I wanted to share the knowledge of my new skill with Grandpa I was worried. My guardian was a little weird about boys, which is why I never told him about my dating life or lack thereof. I was thinking of going with the learning through dream osmosis theory instead. It made just as much sense.

The car door opened and I let out a strong 'ugh' when I saw the familiar hulking shape of Zachary rise from the vehicle. He saw us immediately, all staring at him, and hesitated before moving slowly over to our gate.

Grandpa began stalking over to him, mumbling as he stomped down the path. "I will bury him up to his ears and let the earth crush him until he begs for mercy."

"D-don't..." I stopped myself, covering my mouth before I could respond. Casimir glanced over at me, a fearful expression on his face. I could tell he didn't want me to spill the beans on my new talent, at least not just yet.

"Yikes," Azar commented simply, snubbing out his okashi and stuffing the remaining stick in his pocket.

"Many yikes," Maayan added, watching Grandpa carefully. "Should we go over there?"

"Yeah, I'm not gonna do that," Azar stated.

"It would be wise to give him space," Casimir said plainly.

Grandpa had reached Zachary and I could see the pair talking, but I couldn't hear them from this distance. I saw Grandfather point angrily at Zachary's car, perhaps he was telling the boy to get lost.

"What is he doing here?" I grumbled. "How does he know where I live?!"

Casimir coughed nervously. "Well, a simple internet search is all you really need to—"

"Oh hush you," I spat out, pushing at him half-heartedly. I stared at Casimir for a moment, wondering if he could hear the conversation with his advanced hearing. I didn't get to ask because my grandfather came storming back, his expression serious. Zachary was still standing at the gate, watching him go.

I glanced curiously back and forth between the two, gesturing at Zach as I spoke. "So what is he still doing here?"

Grandpa let out a long sigh. "He says he wants to apologize to you, Diana."

"Well, he can just take his apology and shove it up his—"

"And to Azar," Grandpa said, cutting me off.

Azar shook his head, throwing his thumb over at me. "What she said."

"I would suggest talking to him," Grandpa pressed, placing his arms behind his back. "You could use your talent to see if he is being truthful."

I scoffed loudly, shoving my hands into my coat pockets angrily. Everyone was silent as I pondered this idea. I somehow doubted Zachary was really sincere but it would be nice to know once and for all if it was the wraith that made him a jerk, or if that was just the way he was.

"Fine, I'll talk to him," I relented. "But he's not coming inside my house and I'm not going to talk with him alone."

"I'll go with you," Azar offered. "If he tries anything I'll burn his car to the ground."

"I'll go too!" Maayan offered, jumping up and down in excitement.

"You might as well bring him over here," Casimir requested, staring up at his mentor. "Because none of us are leaving Diana's side."

"Fair enough," the elder earth elemental said with a shrug. Grandpa turned to walk down the path, unlocking the gate and letting Zachary walk ahead of him, like a guard leading a prisoner.

As Zachary approached I could see immediately something was different about him. He was still huge, coming in at an impressive 6' 4", with a broad chest and stomach, heavy muscles, and thick arms. I was shocked to notice that he had cut off almost all of his blond locks, which he used to wear in a faded, slick-back style. Now it was super short, leaving only an inch or so on top, the sides still shaved down to nothing. Despite his new haircut, it appeared as though the young man had not shaved in some time, giving him an eerie five o'clock shadow on his chin and jawline. This was a departure from his usually smooth face and it aged Zachary significantly. His walk seemed almost defeated, and his eyes were cast downward, even as he attempted to take in the scenery of the farm. He was dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a brown leather jacket, his hands tucked in his pockets. He stopped a good five feet in front of me, glancing up slowly to meet my eyes.

"Hi," he said simply.

"Zachary," I muttered.

He paused, staring at me awkwardly. I could feel his fear and also something else, perhaps a smidge of gratitude. I wanted to touch him to get a better read.

"I-I don't know where to start," he croaked, his shoulders hunched in defeat.

"How about, 'sorry I sliced your arm open'," Azar countered, his tone flat.

I placed a hand on the fier elemental's arm, worried he might lunge at Zachary if he got too heated.

"Of course, I'm sorry about that," Zachary blurted out. "And all of the other terrible things I did this past few months, what he made me do..."

"'He'? Who is he?" I asked. "Do you mean the wraith?"

"Yes," Zachary said softly. "He called himself Glycon."

I shivered when I heard this name, my mouth going dry. "He told you his name?"

"He said lots of things, mostly he talked about you. He was obsessed with you, I mean, with your blood."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," I muttered. I glanced around at my bodyguards, all watching Zachary intensely. As far as I knew not many people survived a wraith possession, so this might be a good chance to figure out how they operated.

"Are you saying the wraith controlled all of your actions this past month?" Casimir cut in, apparently curious as well.

"No, not all of them," Zachary admitted, pulling his hand out of his pocket to run his fingers through his hair. "But he was always there and eventually he just took over. When that happened I would lose large chunks of time."

"Tell me, was it you or him that watched Mr. Burke attack me, doing nothing while you filmed me in a closet?" I demanded, my face flush with emotion.

"I don't remember anything from that night, you gotta believe me," Zachary swore.

"And the attack in the nightclub?" Azar challenged.

Zach shook his head and I swear I saw tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "No, nothing."

We were all silent as we watched Zachary fight back his emotions, a strange new visual for the normally cocky young man.

Grandpa looked over at me, his chin resting in his hand as he watched our conversation. "Well, Diana?"

I let out a sigh, reaching out my good arm toward Zachary. "Your hand please."

"W-what?"

"Hand, now."

(To be Continued in Part 2)