Chapter 31 - Julie

Kaius and I are working in the museum, cleaning up and cataloging several mining-related items. We sort through a box of lamps, helmets, and clothing that miners would have worn during the Silver Boom and then move on to the ore samples and mineral collection.

The museum is my sanctuary now, a place where I can immerse myself in the history of our town. But today, my mind is preoccupied with the vision I had, the map that seemed to hold the key to the cuprite relics we're searching for.

I sit at a large wooden table, surrounded by papers and pens, trying to recreate the map from my previous vision from memory. My fingers move quickly, sketching out the lines of the mountains and rivers I remember, but I can't seem to get the details right. The lines blur, and the shapes lose their clarity. I grow increasingly frustrated.

Kaius comes over, noticing my frustration. He rubs the back of my neck with one hand as he leans over, peering at the map in front of me.

"Hey, how's it going?" he asks gently.I sigh, setting down my pen. There's no use. I just can't seem to recall the details well enough to recreate the map or is the difference of time as well that's muddying the landmarks.

"Not well. I can't seem to get it right."He sits down beside me, looking over my attempt at the map.

"Do you want to talk through it again?" he asks with a shrug.I nod, taking a deep breath.

"Yeah, maybe it'll help."He takes my hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I try taking a few deep breaths to ground myself and focus.

"Okay, start from the beginning. What did you see first?"

I close my eyes, trying to remember.

"There was a table. A large wooden table with a map spread out on top of it."

"Good, and what did the map show?"

"There were mountains, valleys, rivers, and forests. There was a ridge that clearly showed Cooper's Canyon and Greyson Ridge below it, the river," I say, the image becoming clearer in my mind. "The locations of the keys were marked in ink."

"What did the ink look like?" Kaius asks, his voice steady.

"It was old, faded," I say, my fingers moving to draw the lines again. "But still legible."

"Okay, what else?"

"There were names of places written in old-fashioned script," I continue, my mind focused on the details. "But I couldn't see all of them."

"You're doing great, Jules. Just keep going."

I add more lines to the map, my confidence slowly returning.

"There were also landmarks. I remember seeing a few, but I'm not sure what they were."

"That's okay," Kaius says gently. "Just add what you can."

We work together for a while, Kaius guiding me through the memories as I try to recreate the map. His presence is comforting, and he doesn't push me to use his abilities, knowing how much pain that caused us before. Instead, he helps me focus on what I remember, and slowly but surely, the map takes shape.

After a while, I sit back, looking at what we've accomplished. It's not perfect, but it's better than I thought it would be. That he can help me center and focus on it without having to dive back into my mind—I don't think I'll ever truly want to experience that again.

"Thanks," I say, giving Kaius a grateful smile. "I don't think I could've done this without you."

"Anytime," he replies, squeezing my hand. "You know I'm always here for you."

We sit in comfortable silence for a moment before the conversation drifts to my plans for the museum. He asks what my plan will be once we get everything ready to open.

"I really want to write a book about the town," I admit, my voice soft. "There's so much history here, so many stories that need to be told."

Kaius nods, his eyes warm.

"I think that's a great idea. You've already done so much with the museum, and I know the book will be amazing. And when the tourist season is slow, it gives you something to do if you want the distraction."

"I hope so," I say, feeling a swell of gratitude. "I'm just glad I've found a place where I belong, where I can do what I love."

"Me too," Kaius says, his gaze steady. "I never thought I'd find a place like this. A home."

"Me neither," I admit, leaning into him. "But I'm so glad we did."

We sit together, the warmth of the museum surrounding us. I feel a sense of peace settle over me, the realization that I've found my place in the world and that Kaius is here with me.

After a while, the rest of the team arrives, along with some members of the town. They've come to help with some of the cleaning and unpacking, and soon, the museum is filled with the sound of laughter and conversation. There's a peace in the air, a sense of community that makes me feel at home.

Lena sits in the far corner of the museum with me and Milo, talking about a recent vision that she had. Milo swooshes a mess of silver and black waves out of his eyes and stares at her intently with his eerie, two-tone eyes.

"Can you go over it again?" Milo asks, his eyebrows scrunched as he frowns.

"Sure," Lena sighs, drawing a shallow breath as she runs a hand over her growing stomach, "She said that she's seen through the veil to see the Naga. He's still trapped in the other dimension, but he's regaining power and clawing at it. Clawing at the very foundations that separate the two."

"And it would be a bad thing if he came back, right?" I ask. From the way they hint at what happened when they fought him, I already know that nothing good can come of it, but I feel the need to ask the stupid question.

"From what I've seen myself," Milo sighs, "If the Naga claims Ananke's Crescent, and he's able to mate, not only will he be able to create more of his kind, but he'll also control fate. He'd be free to bend everything to his will. Entirely."

"We really need to figure out that map from your vision," Lena says with a slow shake of her head.

"Oh, so it's just the absolute worst-case scenario if I can't figure it out," I offer with a worried, sarcastic smile. "Awesome, no pressure."

Peyton approaches, and Lena clears her throat with an exaggerated raise of her eyebrows. I nod in recognition of her signal, and Milo saunters off toward Cyrus and the guys.

"How are you feeling over here, Mama-to-be?" Peyton asks with a smile. I smile stiffly, trying to get into the chitchat of Lena's pregnancy and mom-wisdom Peyton is sharing with her, but my heart isn't in it. The weight of the visions that Milo and Lena have had hits me like a ton of bricks.

We spend the next few hours working together, repainting the walls and rearranging the exhibits. The museum comes to life, the dust and grime giving way to fresh paint and polished wood. We work tirelessly, their laughter and banter filling the air.

Kaius is having a hard time keeping his hands to himself every time he passes, and I can't help but notice the way he keeps glancing at me, a mischievous glint in his eye. I feel a rush of warmth, the familiar excitement building between us. I try to focus on the task at hand, but it's hard when I can feel his gaze on me.

Finally, I give in, catching his eye with a playful grin. He moves closer, his hand brushing against mine as he leans in.

"Meet me in the back room," he whispers, his voice low.I nod, my heart racing as I make my way to the back room. I slip inside, closing the door behind me, and wait for Kaius to join me. He's not far behind, slipping into the room with a grin.

"Alone at last," he says, his voice filled with warmth.

I step closer, my hands finding their way to his chest.

"Not alone," I tease, my voice barely above a whisper.

He laughs, pulling me into his arms. "Close enough."

We kiss, and his hands roam hungrily over my body, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down my spine. The world outside fades away as I lose myself in the moment and the feeling of his lips on mine, as well as the rush of tension that comes with the possibility of anyone coming in at any moment.

Kaius's hands grasp mine, pinning them behind me against the wall as he leans into me, the kiss deepening between us. I can't fight the small moan that escapes the back of my throat. This is a rush I can't quit.

I wrap a leg around Kaius's waist, enjoying the feel of his body, hard and tense against me. My breath catches as the door opens, and Bernadette steps inside, her eyes wide as she takes in the scene.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she says quickly, backing out of the room with a laugh. "I didn't mean to interrupt. Please don't let me stop you!"

"Oh fuck," I gasp, completely out of the moment, "Bernie, no! It's not what you think."

"No? I'm pretty sure it's exactly what I think," she laughs over her shoulder, giving us an apologetic smile. "Just not what I expected from you, our sweet, shy Julie. Get it, girl!"

"Kill me now," I groan as the door closes, and I hear her laughter floating down the hall.

As she leaves, Kaius shakes his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, that was a whole other kind of public action. I thought you locked the door?"

I laugh, stepping closer.

"I thought you locked the door. Now I need to die of mortification."

He pulls me into his arms, his touch gentle.

"We'll have to pick this up later," he says, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"Definitely," I reply, feeling the warmth of his embrace. "Not exactly in the mood now."

I look at the door, then up at Kaius, and shake my head.

"How about I just stay here? Live in here like a book hermit forever?" I ask with a frantic shake of my hands.

"Come on," he sighs, pulling me behind him out of the door, "The worst that'll happen is Bernadette will say something and they'll tease us for a bit. She may not even say anything. We'll never know unless we step out there and see."

We step out, and other than a wagging, blond eyebrow from Bernadette and a rather inconspicuous wink, no one seems to be the wiser. The raging blush that's covering my entire body recedes as I settle back into the banter among my friends.

We work together for the rest of the day, and the museum really begins to take shape. The walls are freshly painted, the exhibits arranged, and the floors swept clean. By the time we're finished, the museum looks like a different place entirely.

We stand together, looking at what we've accomplished, and I feel a sense of pride swell in my chest. We've built something beautiful, something that will stand the test of time but also now gives people a glimpse through time. It's a window into the stories that make up our town.

Kaius wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.

"It's amazing, Jules," he says, his voice filled with warmth. "You've done an incredible job."

"We all have," I reply, leaning into his embrace. "I couldn't have done it without you."

He presses a soft kiss to my temple, his touch comforting. "We make a good team."

I nod, feeling the weight of the day lifting from my shoulders. The museum is more than just a building to me now. It's a symbol of what we've built together, of the community we've created. And as I look around at the people who have come together to help, I know that we're not alone.

We're part of something bigger, something that will last. And I couldn't be happier to be a part of it.

A sense of accomplishment fills the air, everyone smiling and laughing as they pack up their tools and head out. We've done good work, and the museum is finally feeling like home.

Kaius and I stay behind, tidying up the last few things and planning to meet everyone at the diner for some food afterward. The museum is quiet now; the only sound is the gentle rustling of the leaves outside. I feel a sense of peace settle over me, knowing that we've built something beautiful together.

As we finish up, Kaius wraps his arms around me, holding me close.

"I'm so proud of you, Jules," he whispers.

"Thanks," I reply, leaning into his embrace. "I'm proud of us, though."

We stand there for a moment, basking in the museum"s warmth. It feels like home, like we've finally found our place in the world. And as I look up at Kaius, I know that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be.