Wild Shadow : A Sweet Paranormal Romance

by Martha Dunlop

  It was so peaceful on this cold, drizzly day he felt as though he was the only person there. He felt free but, at the same time, the loneliness that always hovered at the edges of his awareness surged forwards. He spent his life surrounded by people, fending them off so they didn’t notice his differentness. He was recognised everywhere he went in Wildley Forest Village, but nobody really saw him. His disguise was so absolute that he sometimes wondered who his real self was. Only his mother had ever seen him properly, but he had a growing hunch he might be able to add Tabitha to that short list.

  He ran out into the rain, jogging over to see the flamingos, which were stomping their feet in the pond. At least they were enjoying the downpour. He sighed, it was time to go home and get dry.

  He ran back to the entrance, trying to warm up. His clothes were soaked through and he was shivering, but he stood in the doorway to the shop, looking out at the expanse of grass, trees and enclosures, loathe to leave. He turned and walked into the shop, admiring the artwork, T shirts and cuddly toys, but there was nothing he needed and he had no excuse to spend his meagre pay.

  A lone woman with scraped back blond hair was gathering leaflets together at the reception desk.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Dylan said, smiling in an attempt to smooth away her irritated expression. ‘Do you have any jobs going?’

  ‘Do you have experience?’

  ‘Not with animals, but I work in the customer service industry. I’d be interested in anything: the cafe, the shop, something like that?’

  ‘We have a vacancy in the children’s Playbarn. Here.’ She handed him a job description, an application form and a blue biro. ‘Fill that in and give it back to me on your way out. You’ve nearly missed the deadline.’

  Dylan sat down at a wooden table in the corner of the cafe. He started filling in the easy bits of the form first, padding it out to include as much of his customer service and team leadership experience as possible. He had no background with children, but he wasn’t going to pretend. They could hire him, or they could hire someone else.

  The same woman was there when he walked back to reception. He handed her the form with a smile, but she glared as she looked him up and down, and then took the piece of paper and started reading.

  He was running out of reasons to stay. If the tiger didn’t show up sooner or later, he’d have to leave.

  Dylan wandered around the stacks of souvenirs, books and clothes. He picked up an iron sculpture of a tiger roaring and shivered. Turning, he saw the white tiger snaking between the displays. ‘I wondered when you’d show up,’ he murmured, trusting the animal would hear and understand.

  The tiger grunted.

  Dylan looked around now, wondering if the woman at reception would notice, but rather than screaming, she was walking towards him. He looked for the tiger, but it had disappeared.

  ‘Do you have time for a chat now?’ she said, raising her eyebrows.

  ‘A chat?’

  She held up his application. ‘I’m doing the interviews. This is your only chance if you’re actually interested in the job. Unless, of course, you’d rather shop?’

  ‘No,’ Dylan said quickly. ‘Now is good.’

  ‘We’ll just chat in the cafe.’ She gestured to the seating area at one side of the large shop. ‘Order an espresso and whatever you’d like. Tell Samuel to put it on Sophie’s tab. Then take a seat. I’ll be with you in a minute.’

  Dylan walked over to the coffee bar and smiled at the man behind the counter. ‘One espresso and a cappuccino. Put it on — Uh …’ He gestured towards the woman, who was talking to someone by the reception desk. ‘Her tab. Sophie?’

  ‘Sure.’ The man in the cafe nodded and turned around to work the espresso machine.

  ‘What’s it like working here?’ Dylan asked. ‘Do you enjoy it? Are they good people?’

  ‘Meh.’ The man shrugged. ‘It’s packed out or empty. But at least I’m not out in the rain or picking up rhino shit. It could be a lot worse. I’ll bring them over when they’re ready.’

  Dylan nodded and sat at an empty table.

  The woman strode over, a clipboard and fountain pen in her hand. She sat and started writing without looking at him. ‘So, Dylan. Why do you want this job?’

  Dylan took a measured breath. ‘I need a change.’

  ‘And our zoo is the place for you to figure things out?’ She raised her eyebrows.

  ‘Erm … I have a lot of customer service experience from my job at the cafe.’

  She was silent for a moment, watching him, her head tilted to one side. ‘Your CV says you haven’t worked with kids.’

  ‘No.’ He felt her focus drain away as she made a note on the clipboard.

  Her smile was polite but detached. ‘Thank you—’

  ‘I’m in a band.’ Crap. Why did he say that? He was desperate.

  She looked up at him. ‘And?’

  ‘Dealing with the fans is like managing kids. Sometimes there are hundreds of them, all at once. They can be angry, over excited or flat, and I have to pull them with me. It’s my job to inspire them to feel better, to do better.’

  ‘Hmm,’ Sophie said, writing something down on the paper. ‘That’s very interesting.’

  A woman walked into the café and Dylan’s breath caught. Tabitha! He raised his hand. She nodded and started walking over to the table.

  ‘You know her?’ Sophie asked.

  Dylan nodded.

  The woman pursed her lips. ‘Interesting,’ she said again. ‘I think that’s everything. I have your contact details. I’ll be in touch.’ She stood up and gathered the papers together.

  ‘It’s nice to see you, Tara.’ Sophie said, holding out a hand to Tabitha. ‘I hope you’ve had a productive day?’

  Tabitha shook it. ‘Yes, thank you.’

  Sophie nodded and walked back towards reception.

  ‘Why did she call you Tara?’ Dylan asked, suppressing a smile.

  Tabitha rolled her eyes. ‘She always does. How do you know Sophie?’ She glanced over at the woman’s retreating back.

  ‘I don’t, not yet, but maybe I will,’ he said with a smile. ‘I’ve just applied for a job.’

  Tabitha’s face lit up. ‘Then maybe I’ll see you around more often.’

  ‘Are you heading back into Wildley Forest Village?’ Dylan said. They started walking towards the door. ‘Would you like to join me for dinner?’

  ‘Well, that all depends.’ Tabitha looked up at him, her eyes narrowed, her head cocked to one side. ‘Will I have your friends to deal with? Because, to be honest, I’ve had enough drama for one day after Max’s theatrics.’

  ‘Nope, we’re rehearsing later, but for now it’s just mum and I. She’d be delighted if you came too. You’ve made yourself a fan.’

  Tabitha’s lips turned up. Her shoulders relaxed. ‘The feeling’s mutual, I assure you. I wish I was that close to my parents.’

  ‘It sounds as though there’s a story there?’

  ‘Not really.’ Tabitha spun around as a huge gust of wind caught in her hair. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes, smiling up at the sky. ‘Isn’t this weather gorgeous?’

  Dylan laughed. ‘I hadn’t really thought about it like that. The rain didn’t improve my trip to the zoo, if I’m honest.’

  ‘Oh, but it did.’ Tabitha grinned. ‘You had the place virtually to yourself. Did you enjoy the zebras?’

  ‘Were you watching me?’ Dylan asked, narrowing his eyes. ‘How did you know I was at the zebras?’

  ‘Just a lucky guess.’ She laughed. ‘But my lucky guesses are usually right.’

  15

  Tabitha

  The sun was sinking behind the roofs, bathing the tiles with a glossy, orange glow when they walked down the main street in Wildley Forest Village.

  ‘Is that Max?’ Tabitha asked as she slowed down.

  Rachel was outside her front gate. A tall, dark-haired man circled her wheelchair.

  ‘And mum?’ Dylan’s
eyes widened. ‘Look at him crowding her.’

  Dylan took off at a jog and put himself between Max and his mum. There was a whirring as the chair moved backwards. ‘What’s going on here?’ Dylan pushed up his sleeves.

  ‘I see the cavalry has arrived.’ Max rolled his eyes.

  ‘Do I need cavalry, Max?’ Rachel asked, moving around Dylan on the pavement, but keeping the distance between her and Max. She tipped her head back to look him in the eye. ‘You used to be such a lovely boy. Your mum is one of my closest friends.’

  ‘You remember me?’ he asked, doubt in his voice.

  ‘Of course,’ she said, frowning. ‘I know you and Dylan didn’t hit it off, but that doesn’t mean I’d forget you. What’s wrong, Max?’

  ‘Nothing’s wrong. I don’t need your pity.’ He walked backwards a few paces, and then spun and strode off down the street.

  ‘That was strange,’ Rachel murmured.

  ‘That’s the least of it,’ Dylan grumbled under his breath.

  Rachel frowned, her head tilted to one side. ‘What do you mean? Max always used to be a nice boy. There must be something wrong.’

  ‘I’m afraid that’s pretty normal for him now.’ Tabitha sighed. ‘And Dylan’s not Max’s favourite person. Just take care around him, please?’

  Rachel frowned again. ‘Of course. I didn’t know you knew him.’

  ‘I’ve been sketching the tigers at the zoo for a while now. He’s their keeper. I guess that doesn’t mean much in itself, but I’m pretty sure he thinks I moved here to be closer to him. In fact, I’d had enough of that long bus journey to see the cats and I needed to be able to draw them in person more often.’

  Rachel nodded, ‘A pretty girl turns up at his enclosure every day. I can see why he might allow himself to become entranced by that idea. Still, I’m sure it will be easy enough to set things straight. Would you like to come inside, Tabitha? You could join us for dinner? The food is almost ready and there’s plenty.’

  Dylan grinned. ‘Too late. I’ve already invited her.’

  Rachel’s face lit up and her eyes sparkled in the glare of the streetlamp. ‘Great, give me ten minutes.’ She winked, and then turned her chair back up the path and into the house.

  Dylan rolled his eyes.

  Tabitha looked down at the pavement, her cheeks flushed. She wasn’t normally this easily embarrassed. Dylan was shaking up every corner of her normal.

  Their hands were almost touching. She was acutely aware of the warmth coming from his body next to hers, of the prickles that ran over her skin where they almost brushed up against one another.

  Tabitha cleared her throat and reached out, feeling the rough edges of the garden wall under her fingertips. ‘Your mum’s something special, you know? She gives people a chance.’

  ‘I hear you.’ Dylan held the gate open, letting Tabitha walk ahead of him up the path to the house. The door was standing part-way open and she could hear Rachel singing as Dylan swung it wide and stood back to let her through.

  ‘You guys get settled,’ Rachel called through to the hall. ‘It’s almost ready.’

  16

  Tabitha

  The room was so lived-in compared to Tabitha’s dusty, half-unpacked cottage. The sofas were expansive and comfortable. The coffee tables were heaped with magazines and books, and the lush, purple curtains were drawn tightly closed against the darkening night. One corner of the room was dominated by a huge drum kit. A pair of black drumsticks had been left lying across the snare, and the music stand was stuffed with as much paper as it could reasonably take. Next to it, an acoustic guitar sat on a stand.

  ‘Who plays the guitar?’ Tabitha asked, running a finger along the wooden curve of the body.

  ‘Me.’ Dylan’s voice was husky. ‘I play the drums in the band, but I started the guitar first. I used to play along to CDs in my bedroom and then Mum got me lessons.’

  ‘So why do you play the drums in the band?’

  He shrugged. ‘I love it. The drums create the heartbeat. They hold the music together, binding the different lines into a single entity. I feel the wholeness of the music when I play.’

  Tabitha smiled. ‘That’s how I feel about my painting.’

  ‘Do you always paint tigers?’ Dylan picked up the guitar and sat down, resting the instrument on one thigh and plucking at the strings with his fingers while he turned the pegs to tune it.

  ‘Not always, but mostly. Cats are my muse. I paint Emily too, my Siberian cat. You met her the other day.’

  Dylan nodded. His eyes were hooded, his fingers beginning to pick out gentle rolling chords.

  ‘She’s a beautiful cat. Has she settled into her new home?’

  Tabitha smiled. ‘Emily’s not like most cats. We have a strong bond. She knows when we’re home, even if it’s a new place. She won’t leave me. Do you live here with your mum?’

  ‘No,’ Dylan smiled. ‘I live with my friends, but I keep my instruments here because we live in a flat. There’s no playing allowed. It’s annoying but, luckily, Mum likes to listen to us play. In fact,’ he looked at his phone, ‘we’re practicing here in a couple of hours.’

  ‘Can I ask you a question?’ Tabitha suppressed a smile.

  Dylan raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Why is the band called Instantaneous Rock?’

  Dylan laughed, a belly laugh Tabitha hadn’t heard before. ‘We spent days trying to name the band, but we’d had enough. We came out of a science lesson where we’d been learning about Instantaneous Rock Transformations, and I commented that would be a good name for the band. That was it. It was all quite random in the end.’

  Tabitha laughed. ‘I love that. Do you sing as well?’

  Dylan smiled. ‘I do, but don’t tell Linden I said that.’

  ‘Will you sing for me?’

  He looked down at the guitar, watching his fingers moving over the fretboard, plucking out notes and harmonies as he began to hum. Tabitha leaned back into the comfortable chair, allowing herself to relax for the first time in days. In this house, she felt safe.

  The fire flickered in the grate next to Dylan, throwing light over his face. A lock of hair fell onto his forehead and worry lines that she hadn’t realised he possessed had smoothed out. He closed his eyes and began to sing.

  Dreaming of a place on the other side of here,

  Dreaming of a me that’s only shadow.

  The road appears to lead away

  But always comes back home.

  The image shifts and fades

  And again, I’m alone.

  The words tugged at her heart and brought tears to her eyes. They reminded her of all the goodbyes she had mourned, all the futures she had seen dissolve. His voice was deep, husky. It sent shivers through her, opening her heart as she allowed herself to sink into the music.

  Dylan’s gaze locked with hers as he sang, the verses flowing from him like water. She felt emotion pouring from him and somehow knew he felt unable to express it outside of his music. She wondered what held him back. His mother was so open, so loving, she couldn’t imagine what he might feel unable to tell her.

  She felt her consciousness moving outside of her body, felt her tiger double begin to form. She knew the moment Dylan recognised it, saw his eyes widen, heard his breath catch. He looked over at her, wondering if she saw it, but she didn’t react, didn’t give anything away. Her tiger rubbed up against his legs while he played and she felt the shiver run through her own body. Felt the tingles in her skin as they touched. There was no separation, no division between her, the tiger, and the man who sang just for her.

  As the song ended and the last note faded, Dylan sat perfectly still, his fingers just above the strings of the guitar. Tabitha felt the image of the tiger begin to disintegrate. She saw him watch the cat dissipate, sensing his disappointment. The two halves of herself merged as the song faded from the air, but the magic was still palpable.

  Dylan put the guitar back on the stand.

  ‘Y
ou have a beautiful voice,’ Tabitha said. ‘You should let your friends hear you.’

  Dylan leaned back in the chair and sighed. ‘Linden got there first. They’re creatures of habit, that lot. It’s hard to break cycles that have already been set in stone.’

  ‘Nothing is ever set in stone,’ Tabitha whispered, her voice resonating with something deeper than logic. ‘The only given is change, and those who resist it ultimately have it forced upon them. Don’t be that person. I’m sure your friends are great guys but they’re trying to hold you static in a place that works for them, because you’re always there for them. But where is the care for you?’

  Dylan swallowed. ‘How do you know this stuff? I mean, you’re right, I know you are. But you’ve barely met them. How would you know?’

  Tabitha shook her head. ‘It’s really not hard to spot. Did you write the song yourself?’

  Dylan smiled, but seemed sad. ‘I did, but it’s been a while since I wrote anything new.’

  The doorbell rang.

  Dylan groaned. ‘Damn. They’re early.’

  Tabitha sighed. She knew who was outside. She felt their chaotic energy as strongly as she could hear their aggressive banter. The atmosphere she and Dylan had created was crumbling, replaced by his anxiety about her meeting his friends. It wasn’t the right time. The friction between these two realities was too much right now. She picked up her bag and coat, and walked past Dylan to the kitchen.

  Rachel was wheeling back and forth with plates piled high with food. Tabitha put down her things and picked up a plate with each hand.

  ‘Oh, thank you,’ Rachel said. ‘I may have gone a bit overboard.’

  ‘It looks amazing. I’m so sorry I can’t stay.’

  ‘You can’t?’ Rachel’s shoulders slumped. ‘Why not?’

  ‘Dylan’s friends are here. Trust me, it’s better this way. Another time?’ She put the plates on the table and came back to lean on the worktop.

  Rachel took Tabitha’s hand. ‘Don’t let them drive you out.’