by Valia Lind
This king and his followers, they're in for a fight of their lives. I don't have a plan, I don't know what I'm doing, but for right now, at least, I'm not alone. Eric and I are on the same page. I hope it stays that way long enough for us to figure out if the king really has returned.
It's another few hours, but then the forest opens up in front of us and the paved road stretched in each direction. I have never been so happy to see civilization in my life.
When we reach a motel my feet are killing me and my body screams for me to lay down. Eric does a quick sweep of the area, but I don't make it farther than the doorway of the front office. He talks to the man behind the counter, before leading me toward the rooms farthest away from the office.
The moment we're inside I head for the bathroom.
"Let me check it out..."
"I got this," I raise my hand, stopping him before he can get in front of me. Even from where I'm at I can see that this is a one room, one small bathroom situation. There's nowhere to hide.
Once inside the bathroom, I shut the door and stare at the shower. Without a second thought, I strip, before grabbing the bar of soap and stepping under the water. After two days in the forest, I'm surprised the shower doesn't turn black immediately. I've never felt so grimy in my life.
For the first time it hits me that I'm actually out. I know that I've been out, that we had to outmaneuver our way out of that forest. But it didn't feel so until this very moment. When I'm taking a shower with actual full pressure in the shower head, and there is a locked door between Eric and I.
The moment I think of him a million questions race to the surface. He has to have his own reasons for busting me out. But he's not sharing. Not that I blame him. It's not as if I trust him either. Even after everything he's done. But that's just the nature of the game we're playing. We're together because it works in our favor right now. Nothing more, nothing less.
But I still have to ask the hard questions.
When I step out of the shower, I realize I'm not about to put on my dirty clothes back on. Which raises all kinds of issues. Wrapping the towel around me, I try my best not to feel self conscious, but maybe Eric has an idea. After all, his clothes are just as dirty as mine.
I find him sitting on the bed, a flip phone in his hands.
"I didn't think people still used those," I say, and watch his eyes fly up to meet mine. There's a moment of hesitation on his part, as his gaze does a quick study of me, and if my skin wasn't already heated from the hot shower, I'm sure it would be letting off some steam at the moment. There is an undeniable predator in his look and I'm not scared of it. Just the opposite.
"Here," he seems to visibly snap himself out of his staring, and turns to grab something, tossing it my way. I catch it just in time, and glance down to find soft cotton between my fingertips. "It's the best I could do for now."
He stands then, grabbing the other half of the cotton pajamas set from the bed and walks towards me. His body brushes my own, as he steps past me into the bathroom. I think he's going to say something else but after one hot gaze, he shuts the door in my face.
"Such manners," I mumble, but I don't hesitate to pull the shirt over my head, before proceeding to towel dry my hair. The shirt falls over my thighs and at least there's that. I'm not even going to ask where he got them.
That's when it dawns on me that he'll be wearing the other half of the set, which means his chest will be naked. And I'm officially an overexcited mess of hormones and I have to get a grip on myself. Being a shifter means Eric has supernatural senses. I don't need him sensing anything.
When the shower shuts off, I race towards the bed, jumping under the covers. Thankfully, we don't have to share. That would've been awkward. Eric pulls the door open and I immediately become engrossed in braiding my hair. I can feel him move through the room, but I'm not ready to look at him.
After a few moments, he takes a seat on my bed, forcing me to look at him.
Holy cheese on a cracker the boy is built! If I was one of the regency heroines Kelsey loved so much I'd be fanning myself right now.
"We should get an early start tomorrow. How are your injuries?"
"Healing."
One word is all I manage as I struggle not to ogle him. I really need to get myself under control.
"Do you need me to--" he moves closer but I put out a hand.
"I'm good. Really. Using the magic helped."
He nods, giving my face a quick study, before getting up.
"It's not safe to use magic here, but I'm a light sleeper."
"I know," I say quietly, thinking to all the times he's heard me moving around in my cell. Now seems as good time as any to ask. But for some reason, I'm hesitating. I shouldn't. This is important. To my safety, if nothing else.
"Why did you do it, Eric?" I finally manage, my words making him pause just as he was about to reach the light switch. At first, I don't think he'll answer, but then he speaks up.
"You are not what I expected. You don't belong there."
Then, before I could utter another word, he shuts the lights off, and gets under the covers. Slowly, I slide down under my own, my thoughts on what he just said. There's more to it. That much I know. But the knowledge that he saw something in me, something that didn't put me in the same category as all those others, it warms my heart.
It's with that thought that I finally fall asleep.
Chapter 9
The next morning comes too fast. It's the light peaking through the closed blinds that finally coaxes me from my sleep. The feel of the bed underneath me is heavenly and I don't want to move. Sliding up to a sitting position I stretch my hands overhead, when I notice that Eric is also awake. His eyes do a once over, before he drops his legs on the opposite side of the bed and sits up. Looking down I see that my own legs are exposed, twisted in between the comforter and I pull them up discreetly. Eric's back is tense and I can't help staring at it.
"Do you think you can do something about these?" Eric asks as he motions to our dirty clothes. Glancing down at myself I realize that we can't exactly be going around in this half dressed state.
"I can do a cleansing spell, but it won't do much. It might also alert them where we are."
"Then, we'll work with what we got."
He heads to the bathroom then, grabbing his clothes on the way. I can't help but watch his progress across the room, and I'm sure he doesn't miss a thing. Once the door is shut between us, I let out a slow breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Eric is affecting me. I can't deny that. But he also drives me completely insane with his bossy attitude and half audible grunts.
While he's in the bathroom, I dress quickly, eager to go. Even with all the distance between us and the prison, I'm anxious to put more. The thing is that I have no idea where we're going from here. Eric said he has questions and we both need to figure out the whole king coming back situation, but where to start? I can't go to my parents. It would put them in too much danger and I'll already need their influence once all of this is over. Because whatever happens, I'll have to stand in front of the council. There's no going around that.
The sad truth is that I don't even have friends to reach out to. If things were different, I'd call Kelsey. But they're not and I won't put anyone else in the same situation she ended up in.
"You're thinking so hard you might hurt yourself."
I don't even hear the door open, but when I glance up, Eric is leaning against the doorway, once again dressed in his dark jeans and pullover.
"You know this from personal experience?" I reply, raising my eyebrows. There's a split second where I think he's actually going to smile, but he doesn't. Moving out of the bathroom, he begins packing, so I duck in.
"Where are we going?" I ask, when we're out the door a few minutes later.
"We need to regroup and come up with a plan of action."
"Cool. That doesn't answer my question."
He must hear the annoyance in my voice, throwing a
look over his shoulders.
"We need to get a ride into town. I have some friends waiting for us."
"Town? Friends?" I'm not exactly sure how we're supposed to get anywhere, to be honest. We're basically in the middle of a long stretch of road. From what I can see, the motel and the gas station are the only two things around. I'm trying to process everything that's going on, but if I'm going to be honest with myself, I'm spinning.
"Keller," Eric suddenly stops walking, turning to face me. He still hasn't used my first name, but at least he's using some form of it now. "Do you trust me?"
His question takes me by surprise. I don't know why, since he asked something similar before, but it does make me pause to reevaluate where I stand. While I do believe he can try and overpower me if I tried to leave, now that my magic is active, I can give him a run for his money. So if I wanted to, really wanted to, I think I can disappear. But where would that leave me? With no resources and nowhere to go. I decide to be honest.
"Not as far as I can throw you. But I do need you."
Something flashes in his eyes and only years of self discipline keep me from fidgeting under that intense gaze. An eternity passes as his gaze scorches my very soul.
"Good," he finally speaks, breaking the connection. "Then we're on the same page. But I do have a place for us to go and a plan on how to get there. I'm assuming that's more than you have?"
I don't care how unladylike like it may sound, I growl at him. His lips twitch at the side and the disappointment at not actually seeing a smile is sudden and intense. Seriously, what is happening to me? I have to get a grip. Being in isolation has definitely screwed with my mind. And my body.
"Fine, Mr. Hannibal Smith, what's the plan?"
This time, I swear he starts to smile before turning away. His next words are thrown over his shoulder.
"We find a ride."
What he meant to say is that we hitchhike. It's not as if I'm opposed to it. It just seems like such a random plan. Shouldn't he have a car stashed somewhere nearby?
"Are you nervous we'll get kidnapped or something?" Eric asks, as we wait for the man who agreed to give us a ride to finish picking up his snacks at the gas station. We already picked up a few things and I will be the first to admit that I enjoyed that bag of chips a little too much.
"I can take care of myself. I guess I could protect you too, if it comes down to it." The sweet smile I throw his way is automatic, before I even realize what I'm doing. He stares at me as if I've lost my mind, and maybe I have. I'm taking all of this with a lightness I don't actually feel.
"You are something, aren't you?"
"Why thank you."
Just then, the truck driver comes back and we climb in the back. Eric begins a random conversation and the man readily engages, while I watch the scenery pass us by. It feels strange trusting Eric with my freedom, but he did get me out of the prison. Without me having to ask him. That thought will stay at the back of my mind, of that I have no doubt. I watch his profile, memorizing him in the early morning light.
Shifters and witches have always coexisted. But I can't say we've ever been close friends. Our world is made up of so many realms, there may be a place where witches and shifters are more than mere acquaintances. The idea is intriguing to me. Even more so as I study Eric.
There's something underneath that hard exterior, of that I have no doubt also. Although, the exterior is distracting enough that one may forget to look deeper. If there was a magazine for hot shifters monthly, Eric would be on the cover eleven months of the year. He turns his head suddenly, catching me looking, and instead of glancing away, I hold his gaze. He may be a shifter, but I'm a Protector. I can stand my ground.
Okay, I'm not a full fledged Protector and I may never be. The thought brings enough sadness to my heart that I finally look away. In just a few months, I would've been going off to the academy. Kelsey and I would've tried to be roommates, pulling all the strings we could to make that happen. Maybe I would actually flirt with the boys, using all the skills Kelsey has taught me.
A tear slips down my cheek and I wipe it away hurriedly. Crying is definitely not allowed. I have to harden my heart or I won't survive this. But she was my sister and I will never stop missing her.
Eric keeps up a steady conversation with the driver, and after a bit their voices become a background noise, while I can't seem to tear my gaze away from the passing trees. It's funny how I've never thought about the forest or the clear blue sky as anything but what they are. Yet, here I am, tearing up at the sight because it's been weeks since I've seen it last and I forgot how beautiful it is.
I'm not sure if I'll ever be the philosophical type. But I have decided that I will do my best to never take anything for granted ever again. It's not as if I've taken Kelsey for granted, but I do with I was more appreciative of her and our friendship. I just wish we had more time.
But memories are all I have left. And time is what I will use to make sure those memories don't go to waste.
Something is coming and I will do my best to make sure it doesn't destroy us all.
Chapter 10
When the truck driver pulls up at the next stop, we've driven for miles. The sky is dark now and my stomach is rumbling for something other than gas station snacks.
Eric gives the man some cash and waves goodbye, as I straighten my clothes and look around. We're in yet another small town. At least this one seems to have a few more buildings down the road. My eyes zero in on the diner sign and my stomach answers in kind.
"Let's get some food, shall we?"
There's a note of lightness in Eric's voice and I narrow my eyes at his back as I follow him. If I could just pinpoint where we stand, that would be mighty helpful. But I couldn't understand him even if I was given a manual.
I head for the restrooms the moment we're in side, splashing my face with water and rinsing off some of the traveling grime. It's crazy how tired I feel after doing nothing all day.
My reflection stares back at me in the small cracked mirror and I almost don't recognize myself. Last night, when I took the shower, I took special care not to stare. But today, there is a fascination in my sunken features. I'm thinner than I've ever been, but also stronger somehow. The determination still shines in my eyes, but so does sadness. Splashing more water on my face, I head out to meet Eric. At least when I'm around him I can keep my thoughts mostly in check and away from the sorrow.
"Where to next?" I ask once we've ordered our burgers. I also got a milkshake and that comes first. Eric watches me dive in, and honestly I don't feel any shame. I slurp it up like it's the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. And let's be honest, it's been a while.
"We wait here."
When he doesn't go on, I roll my eyes.
"Couldn't I have gotten the model with more conversational skills?" I grunt, as he meets my gaze. "Are you do for an upgrade soon, too appear more human?"
I grin, completely unfazed by his glare. But I really think I'm starting to get under his skin. If the small twitch to the left side of his mouth is any indication.
Our food arrives then and I forget all about wanting answers. I just want to eat. This is definitely another one of those small pleasures that I'm not taking for granted from now on. A daze comes over me and before I know it, I've eaten half of my burger and fries. My milkshake was gone before I even dug in.
"What?" I realize Eric is watching me, as he picks up one of the French fries from his plate.
"Nothing."
"If you're about to shame me for eating, you can keep it to yourself."
"I would never do something like that," his brow burrows and somehow I believe him. He doesn't seem the type. But he's still watching me.
"Earth to Eric," I wave my free hand in front of his face, and he visibly jerks. But I don't think that has anything to do with my hand. He stares at me as if he's seeing me for the first time and I realize it is the first time I've said his name. Isn't it? Or maybe it's the first t
ime when it feels familiar. Because it does. There are building blocks between us now and I can't explain what they are, or what exactly they're building. But I don't feel so out of sorts with him anymore. Maybe it's just me being sappy. I'm enjoying my food a little too much right now.
"Time to go."
Eric's voice draws me back to reality and I glance up to him looking at someone over my shoulder. A girl of about seventeen, with long red hair, is just walking through the door, beelining for where we're sitting.
"We gotta move. They're right on our tail."
She gives me a quick smile, before her eyes return to Eric. He stands, dropping some cash on the table. I don't hesitate to follow suit, getting up just as fast.
"Mitch is out back," the girl nods in that direction, before turning and heading back out the door.
"Who's that?"
"Move now, questions later."
"Bossy," I mumble, but I'm right on Eric's heels as we head for the back door. The moment we're through Eric motions me to the left, where a dark sedan is waiting. A very large boy gets out of the front seat, holding the passenger door open.
"It's a pleasure," he winks at me as Eric runs around the car and gets into the driver's seat, before shutting the door. I climb into the passages side, and the boy shuts it behind me.
"Get your seatbelt on."
I'm reaching for it, when Eric steps on the gas, peeling out of the small parking lot. I barely have enough time to click it into place and notice the large boy running back into the diner.
"Are you going to tell me who they are? And what's happening?"
"They're part of my team and we're being chased, remember?"
"But—“
That's when I feel it. The magic of the Scryers. Glancing around I notice the few cars on the road, but I'm not seeing anyone in particular. But if I concentrate enough, I can feel them. They're looking for my magic.
"I'm as cloaked as I can be," I say, watching Eric's jaw tighten.