No residual aches or splotches in my vision, the squeezing pressure had simply disappeared. And all because I listened to a voice in my head˗˗˗yeah, that doesn’t sound crazy at all. To me it wasn’t, that message left no room for argument, and had brought the knowledge that someone had approached Jared in my absence. I guess the headache was an unfortunate side effect of Ivyssa’s call.
Confirmation would have to wait until Jared transformed back into his humanoid form. He did say that a Stone Walker could sense when another was around, so that too could explain the sudden pain in my head, my human brain probably had to adapt to a new ability it wasn’t used to.
֍ ֍ ֍
It was unacceptable. That damn human woman allowed my dearest Jared to become vulnerable. How dare she allow him to fall into such a feeble condition?
Her pathetic attempts at derailing my hunt were laughable. A few stray bullets weren’t going to slow me down. I am sure by now that she is aware that I am tracking them thanks to Ivyssa’s powers coursing through her weak human veins. At least she managed to find Jared a space for his renewal. If he would have perished, I would have ended the little bitch right then and there.
While she completed her border sweep, I would pay Jared a visit. It had been so long since I laid eyes on him. Matters became complicated the moment he started his dalliance with that first human woman. If only I had gotten to him sooner. We could repair our relationship and he could stand by my side as I eliminated a bothersome pest.
I placed a white rose in his hand. It was a token of my love, but I couldn’t linger. The simple gesture was a routine of ours. I pray to the Goddess that his anger hasn’t allowed him to forget that. “Goodbye for now, my dearest Hawthorn. Rest well. I’ll be watching to make sure that human takes care of you.” I spoke softly into his ear.
No further intervention would come from me. Why not let them solve the lantern clues for me, and then I could reap in the spoils of their hard work. Both calculating and efficient, two of my best traits would help to gain a flawless outcome, or so my former lover said.
֍ ֍ ֍
Jared’s whole body began to shift as his smoky shield dissipated. He no longer looked like death was just around the corner. I would never have forgiven myself if I had lost him.
“Feeling better?” I asked.
“You have no idea how much. I thought I was a goner.” He half chuckled.
“Don’t joke about that. I was worried.”
“I’m sorry. I am just thankful to still be alive.” His tone was remorseful.
“Since you are in better spirits, I need to talk to you about Stone Walker abilities, and why your former queen just gave me one hell of a headache.” Jared wasn’t prepared for my hounding. That’s too bad. I needed to know if I should start carrying a bottle of aspirin on me or not. Nursing an on again off again migraine while on the run would severely dampen my mood. It was a sure way to dampen any astute revelations I might have.
He started to stretch to relieve the stiffness in his muscles from having remained sedentary for so long.
16
Bones popped and muscles were pulled taut. Jared had regained motion, his body arching like a tiger awaking from a long overdue rest. The reflexive movements were feline in form, which added a dangerous edge to his disentanglement.
“Someone was here. I heard their voice.” He felt violated, like his personal space had been breached by an entity that followed us with a taunting glee. Hence my inquiry about Stone Walker abilities, which Jared brushed off to regale me with his disconcerting encounter.
“I know. Ivyssa told me, if you want to call a freaking migraine a calling card. Oh, and she was quite adamant in telling me to hurry.” It was not an experience I wished to repeat.
“I remember the headaches quite well. Though with enough practice, the pain eventually does go away, replaced by a dull water in your ears sensation.” He spoke, reminiscence of his past as a child. The recalled memory eased away most of my uncertainty. Good to know I wasn’t going crazy. Well, not yet anyways.
“So it’s an ailment you had to put up with when you were younger.”
“Yes. It happens the first time a newly illuminated child attempts to locate another Stone Walker with their elemental powers, or if they try sensing the presence of another power source in their vicinity.” Made sense, unless you had a natural talent, then I guess you didn’t have to deal with the usual side effects. From personal experience, using a new skill for the first time was never easy.
“It really must have taken you off guard.”
“I’ll say. I’ve been lucky enough to be one of the few that doesn’t normally get headaches, so yeah, it wasn’t pleasant.” By not pleasant, I meant like an invisible blunt object being repeatedly hammered across the back of my head.
“Ivyssa must have felt that it was necessary for you to have access to this ability. Should I need to renew my energy again, you’ll now be better prepared to protect me.”
“Even if I didn’t have this power inside of me, I would still do anything to keep you safe.”
Jared traced the curve of my jaw with his hand. I felt like we were the only two creatures in the world. His loving expression awakened a rush of blissful warmth that surrounded my heart, assuring me that we were strong enough to make it through the deadliest of fires.
“I know you would, and I would do the same. No sacrifice is too great, if it means keeping you safe.”
He noticed the splash of white held between my fingers. “What is that in your hand?”
“It’s a white rose. I found it tucked beneath your knuckles after I rushed back from my patrol.” A flash of apprehension crossed his features.
“That voice I heard, it was a woman. She told me to remember that this rose was a token of her affection. A fragment of a memory comes to mind, but I just can’t latch onto it. She also knew that I was with you, and that you were human.”
“This mystery woman has to be our stalker. Leaving that rose was proof enough, probably just another means of toying with us. The whole sentimental ruse could be just that, a way to get into your head and throw us off of her trail.” It couldn’t be a good sign that she was aware of our difference in species.
“I don’t think that’s it Alex. There was something familiar in the way she spoke, but once again I’m drawing a blank. I can’t place where I know her from.”
“Damn, if you can’t even remember a woman who obviously cares deeply for you, we need to watch our backs. We don’t need a re-enactment of Fatal Attraction thank you very much.
“Duly noted, although I think you’re exaggerating a bit. If this woman truly is our stalker and meant me harm, she could have done so.” She may want him alive, but I on the other hand didn’t garner any of her sympathy.
“Keeping us in her sights would be the next logical move if I were her. Why search for Lapisera’s Dagger herself when she can just keep tabs on us from afar.” It was an elaborate theory that couldn’t be ruled out.
“You’re too logical sometimes, you know that?”
“You just don’t like being wrong. The FBI agent in you down right detests the implication.” I wasn’t conceding completely. The cleverly illustrated story he concocted may prove to be just a fantasy and nothing more. Still, it definitely warranted further investigation.
“Guilty as charged. You’ve got me Mr. Kingston.” I was grinning from ear to ear. The playful kitty had come out to play.
“Bat your eyelashes all you want, my theory will not budge.”
“I know, but I couldn’t resist having a little fun at your expense.” It was kind of cute when he got all defensive. It was another piece unlocked of the complex puzzle that was Jared.
He just shook his head in exasperation, chuckling at my childish antics. Though amused, a watchful eye analyzed the garden from canopy to roots. His tense predatory gait spoke of a man on the hunt, a man looking for any threat that needed to be neutralized.
A tingling shi
ver ran down my spine, perhaps in response to his protectiveness, or the slight glow that tinted Jared’s icy blue orbs. He was using one of his Goddess given abilities to see if the mystery woman was nearby. Stone Walker’s always knew when another of their kind was around.
Because of my body’s reaction to her presence, it had been assumed that she was a Stone Walker as well. And the fact that she referred to me as a human, my mortal status was worthy of her notice. Ivyssa seemed to acknowledge that as well. Why else would she tell me to hurry? The elemental magic that I was borrowing had felt this woman’s proximity to Jared and alerted me of the danger.
While we were in the process of theorizing, her unwelcome appearance led us to believe if getting her hands on Lapisera’s Dagger was her end game, then she was also involved in murdering Serena and Erika. This crazy psycho also knew Jared somehow. The very concept made me ill. How on earth could he be connected to such a vile creature?
After assuring me that she was out of his range, we crossed the parking lot back to the Corolla. With no immediate location in mind, the highway took us further east. An answer would turn up, and that Haiku wasn’t going to solve itself.
I had meant it as a joke, not really expecting a serious reply. “So I don’t suppose that while you were napping, any breakthroughs on the poem occupied your mind?”
With a moment of peace achieved, I didn’t want to waste it. Our latest encounter was still bothersome when I thought about it. This woman was on our tail, and it was just a matter of time before she revealed herself again. Her supernatural GPS tracking system was locked onto me, and I had no clue how to deactivate it. Neither did Jared.
“Glad you asked. I was worried that you had forgotten about it. Your inquisitive mind never ceases to amaze me.”
“Aren’t you hilarious?”
“I’d like to think so. And to take away the suspense˗˗˗yes, I think I may have cracked most of the Haiku. I believe our beacon with a guiding light is a lighthouse.”
“There are tons of lighthouses on this planet, could you be more specific?”
“Indeed. The spelling of the word color for instance, that’s the French spelling, so I hope your passport is valid.” It was, but only for another four months. I guess it was going to get some use for a planned excursion across the Atlantic Ocean.
17
“France? You can’t be serious. So what, the spelling is a little funky. Whoever created the poem system could have misspelled it in their haste to please the current Azulyrian royalty.” I found it hard to believe that the next clue would lead us so far away.
“Oui mademoiselle, c’est vrai. That’s correct by my count. We need to head to northern France, if that’s narrowed down enough for you,” he was smug. I guess this was payback for the si señor speech I had leveled his direction. Arrogance was unbecoming for an intelligent man like Jared, yet I was deserving of it.
“I suppose you just happened to know that there is a lighthouse in northern France.”
“Actually no, I didn’t. An online encyclopedia search is your culprit. I was going to tell you about it after we stopped to eat, but as you are well aware of, I didn’t get the chance.” His body had become riddled with pain, and nothing else concerned me. Finding a place for him to renew his energy was all I could focus on. I did wonder why he was fiddling with his phone.
“Did your article specify where we should be hunting for this lighthouse?”
“The Pink Granite Coast was the top result. Will that stave off your impatientance for the time being? We still have a ways to go before we reach the New Orleans International Airport.”
“Be happy that I thought it would be a good idea to bring my passport with me, and insisted that you bring yours.” Pink granite, I guess that explained the blushing stone beacon line.
“Yes my dear, I applaud your forethought.” He was only humoring me. Good enough in my book. So long as we were in agreement that I had the better planning skills.
“Does this lighthouse have a name, or is it some random abandoned site?” Dust and debris wouldn’t deter me, but an unstable foothold, that was where I drew the line. Unless it was an absolute emergency, then I would consider taking the risk. I really didn’t want to break my neck over some relic, though its value went beyond monetary acclaim, it was the key to solving Erika’s murder and reviving Jared’s homeland.
“It is the Ploumanac’h Lighthouse located in Perros-Guirec near the Côtes-d'Armor.”
“Sounds mighty pretentious, those French really know how to go over the top with naming conventions, don’t they?”
“It’s no different than the naming traditions in Azulyria. Each region named their children based on a set of guidelines. Like in Hedaris, the central Facet where I am from, our names are derived from plants and flowers.”
“That explains Ivyssa’s unusual name. She was from Hedaris as well?” The base root of her name was Ivy, a plant known for its whimsical aesthetic and propensity for shrouding stone walls.
“Yes she was.” Jared’s mouth tilted in a rigid crease. I could tell that he was thinking of the past, and the tragic fate that had befallen his place of birth. My sympathy didn’t feel like enough. There was only one way to fix this, and that was finding that dagger and bringing Azulyria back to the surface. I wonder, did that mean that Jared would leave me?
“Would I be breaking some kind of code by asking what your real name is, although I would understand if you didn’t want to tell me just yet?” His eyes flickered in decision. Maybe I had overstepped. A genuine smile blossomed before me, chasing away my worry.
“About time you asked me that, it took you long enough.”
“Excuse me for trying to respect your privacy. Next time I have a burning question, I’ll ask when it’s the most inconvenient.”
We squabbled like a couple of children sometimes. It amazed me that we hadn’t killed each other yet, but then I look at him and know why. We were two pieces of a whole that complemented each other in ways I didn’t know were possible.
“Do you still want to know then?” His smile became serious.
“Yes.”
“It’s Hawthorn.”
“Just Hawthorn˗˗˗so you only have one name, kind of like Cher or Madonna.”
“In Azulyria, we don’t have family surnames. It wasn’t until I got older and we had to blend in with the rest of the population, that I adopted a new identity.”
“Now that I know, do you want me to˗˗˗?”
“No, you will continue to call me Jared as you have been. As far as the world knows, Hawthorn is dead, and unless we succeed that’s how it shall remain.”
“Jared, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be. You didn’t do anything wrong. Naturally you would want to call me that, but I can’t take the chance of raising suspicion if someone should hear you.”
Sadly my species balks at the very idea of a race with magical abilities. We are so dead set in our ways that any inkling of exoticism ultimately equates to different, and therefore inferior to the human race. God forbid that Stone Walkers became part of the mainstream population˗˗˗there would be all kinds of racists out there drooling over the chance at hating them for no reason.
With so few of them left, it would never happen though. If the military didn’t get to them first, it would be some nut with a shotgun hunting down Stone Walkers one by one in hopes of taking out the witchcraft wielding “monsters.” Ignorance in most cases led to fear, and I don’t see the human race evolving anytime soon to the point where it didn’t.
“So we’re really going to France, too bad I won’t have time to take in the tourist attractions. I hear their above ground cemeteries are quite extraordinary.”
“Only an architect’s daughter would say such things.”
“Can’t be helped, I like what I like.” This was one of the few interests that both Erika and I found thought evoking. She just took “strange and unusual” to a whole new level. Her birthday present was
undeniable proof of such. Rusted chunks of metal and wires mixed with bright pastel colors compared to my love of earth tones, the contrast in our design choices was striking. And don’t get me started on the crazy looking surrealist paintings she had hanging on her walls. I was pretty sure that at least one of them had given me nightmares. Erika would be chomping at the bit to see a Parisian cemetery. Popping down for a visit surely could be arranged, if not for my sake, but to honor Erika’s memory.
18
I couldn’t argue with the efficiency of air travel, not when the complimentary snacks and meals were top notch in the edibility department. Compared to some of the crap I ate while on the job, it was gourmet. Could have done without the bumpy turbulence, it was making me queasy, and I would rather keep my meal in my stomach instead of in a paper bag. Jared held my hand through the worst of it.
The jostling was tame compared to the drop in altitude. I almost screamed, but contained the urge. My gasp did earn me a sympathetic smile from a passenger across the aisle. It was nice to know that not all of humanity was doomed with selfishness. To further ease my frayed nerves, Jared removed an oblong piece of rock from his pocket. The smooth surface reminded me of clouds on a summer day; shades of violet blue and gold mingling together in wavy striations. He held it out expectantly.
It was warm to the touch, and as I picked up the rock, there was an uncanny desire to run my finger along its golden-toned veins. A cleansing wave swept over my body, removing the fear that clouded my composure.
“What is this?” I asked.
“This stone is a healing talisman. It’s a simple spell that most Stone Walkers can wield to their liking. I crafted this one to aid with mental fatigue, and you were certainly in need of it.” I ignored the subtle jab.
Threads of Blood and Silk: The stone Wielder's Legacy Trilogy Book 2 Page 6