Book 4: Time to Move On

Michael

I haven’t been to Scarlet Thunder in… years. I didn’t realize how long it’s been until I pulled up to the back of the castle, somewhat startled by how small it looks compared to my memories from my childhood. Not that it's a small castle, but I'm much bigger now. I step out of my car, my face downcast against the rain as the sound of a door opening cuts through the downpour, and Cole’s voice echoes toward me in greeting.

“It’s about fucking time you showed up!” he shouts, beckoning me through a side entrance.

“It took me a lot longer to get here than I anticipated,” I reply, wiping rain from my face. “I had to spend the night at an inn twenty miles west of here.”

“Yeah, I heard. Want a drink? Something to eat?” Cole claps me on the shoulder.

I take a moment to take him in, noticing he’s put on a bit of healthy weight. He looks more muscular than the last time I saw him, and his pale skin has a glow about it that makes me think h