Hidden Worlds

by Kristie Cook

  “Don’t be embarrassed. I love this place, too.”

  “Eli, what do you want?” I pulled from his grasp and went to stand at the edge, looking over the water. “I don’t think I can take much more tonight.”

  “I need you to understand something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “That you are the most important person there is for me and I have never loved nor wanted anyone before I met you.”

  “So,” I turned to look at him, “you were just going to marry her and not love her?”

  “Don’t you remember what I said about our kind?” he answered slowly and came forward. “We don’t love. Angelina doesn’t love me,” he said and I hated her name coming out of his mouth. I grit my teeth. He huffed and rubbed his neck. “Sorry.” I shrugged so he went on. “I don’t love her. She doesn’t love me. It’s a game. My parents orchestrated our marriage when we were born. She has always had some fantasy about it and when I left, it just made it worse. She finds it all a game to play and, like my brother, tracks me from city to city. Sometimes she finds me, sometimes she doesn’t. Usually, I just head out of town as soon as I catch wind of her. But I have a dilemma this time.”

  “What?”

  “You.”

  “Don’t let me stop you,” I said sulkily.

  He inched closer. “I blanked at your house when you told me, and for that I’m sorry. I know what it must have looked like to you to say that to me and for me to not respond.” He inched even closer. “But I was so shocked that she’d found me so quickly. My brother must have tipped her off. And that she had talked to you … it wouldn’t be wise to provoke her and the idea of her speaking to you when I wasn’t there … made me sick with worry for you.” He inched the final inch. I was shivering in the cold, my arms crossed over my chest. Eli put his arms around me and slowly pulled me to him. He sighed when he realized I wasn’t going to fight him. It was as if my arms uncrossed themselves and wound around him. He looked down into my face. “Clara … you have to know how I feel about you by now. I’d never, ever do anything to hurt you. The very thought of you in harm’s way makes me hurt. Please. I need you to believe me. Angelina is a hellish witch who cares for no one and nothing. Her sole want of me is to carry on our race and make her parents proud.”

  “But what about the other one? They both lied? That’s what you’re saying?”

  “Ah,” he said in understanding. “You must have also met my sister. Mara and Angelina travel together sometimes. She’s equally as unpleasant. I’m so sorry. I hoped we’d have more time before my past came to catch up with us.”

  “Are you leaving?” I asked and was very unhappy with that thought. Even though I was still processing everything he was telling me.

  “No,” he said vehemently. “Why do you always jump to the conclusion that I’m about to skip town?”

  “Because I …” I sighed and pulled back some, twisting my ring. “I don’t …”

  “I am not Tate,” he insisted. “Tate was an idiot who took for granted what he had. I have no intentions of doing that. That is, if you’ll still have me.”

  “I don’t know. I’m so tired, Eli. I’m tired of feeling like I can’t trust anyone anymore.”

  “You can trust me,” he said softly. “Tell me what I can do? I need to earn your trust, Clara. I want to.”

  “I don’t know what you can do. I’m scared.”

  “I know,” he said knowingly and I looked up to his face to see him. He was holding it back, but I saw how hard he was straining. “Everything will be ok.”

  “How?”

  “Because I’m here and I’m not going to leave you. I could have left a hundred times already. I could have just used you and been on my way. I could have just left after Angelina and my sister showed up. But I’m here,” he insisted. “I’m here because I need to make sure you’re ok and safe. I want you, Clara.”

  He was right. Why go through all this trouble? Why put up with my ex and come talk to me if there was a chance he could leave? He wanted to be here. I turned my ring and looked at him. Could he be the guy my mom always told me about? A guy who loved me and would do anything for me? Who loved me for me?

  He saw me rubbing my ring and moved my fingers away as he took over. His thumb caressed it lovingly and I felt my anger melting away.

  “I’m not going anywhere. Even if you won’t have me, I’ll still be here to make sure you’re safe-“

  I cut off his response with a swift hug around his neck. He pulled me up off the ground and held me tightly.

  “I want you to stay.”

  “You believe me?” he asked quietly.

  “Yes,” I breathed. “This is going to sound very cheesy, but please don’t hurt me. I don’t think I can take anymore heartache right now.”

  “You have nothing to worry about on that front,” he promised and put me down gently. He took my face in his hands. For a few seconds we just stared at each other with silent understanding. We were announcing that we were together, a couple, in for the long haul, we were defining the relationship. I pushed up on my tip toes to kiss him quickly and was awed at how right it all felt. It was like my body knew something I didn’t. He pulled back slightly. “I’ve been given a gift, a chance at a new life with you. There’s nothing in the world worth risking that.”

  I nodded and smiled when he laced both our hands together. His fingers lovingly caressing mine.

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “I wish I had let you explain before, but … your sister and … the other one were very convincing.”

  “That’s what they’re made to be like,” he replied. I nodded again and yawned. He smiled sadly. “I’ll take you home so you can sleep.”

  I felt a spike of unease about that. The thought of Eli alone, or me alone for that matter, was unnerving after everything that happened. Eli’s grip tightened on mine and I watched him closely.

  “Does it ever get easier for you?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never felt positive emotion before. Your negative emotions affect me just like everybody else’s, but your positive emotions have ten times the effect on me.”

  “Is that normal?”

  “Yes,” he said cautiously, “but, usually when we pair up with someone, they are …” he looked uncomfortable, “the mates are … they’re evil, like us. The Devourer feeds off the despair and hatred of a human who matches their own and it makes them all the more powerful because they are never starved. I’ve never heard of a Devourer feeling positive emotion before. It seems you and I are one of a kind.”

  I smiled despite what he had just said. The end part was pretty good.

  “I kind of like that,” I mused softly.

  “Me, too,” he said against my forehead. “Home,” he said and then I was standing in my bedroom again.

  Chapter Eleven

  After Eli left, I sat on my bed and contemplated the day. It was only about six o’clock by this point. Eli had promised that he’d come over, as planned, tonight for dinner. He left me so I could take a nap and think about everything that had happened. I was thinking alright …

  About his tongue ring.

  Was that shallow? After everything that happened I couldn’t get the feel of his tongue ring—a smooth little silver ball—as it moved against my tongue and lips, out of my head.

  When he’d dropped me off in my room, he had kissed me for a very long time. He’d been afraid that I was done with him and needed assurance that I truly believed him and was going to wade through the craziness to make this work.

  If I was completely honest, I was scared myself. I didn’t know what his sister and Angelina were up to or how to get rid of them. I didn’t know what to do about his brother either, but Eli assured me that he had no intentions of leaving me. We’d work this out somehow, and then he had kissed me silly. His hands on my lower back pressed and pulled to bring me close as I gripped his upper arms. When he had finally pulled back he said, “Do you feel that?”

  I
had no idea what he was talking about, but he swiftly said his goodbyes and promised to see me in a couple hours.

  I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes to accept the darkness. I knew I’d be alone when I closed my eyes and that was ok. If Eli was going to be coming to me and taking me to places when I closed my eyes at night, I’d have to start learning to take a nap or two.

  ***

  The doorbell woke me. I jolted up and glanced in the mirror, smoothing my hair. I ran down the hall and stopped to take a calming breath—so it didn’t look like I’d just ran down the hall—and opened the door to find Eli with a little sly grin. I bit my lip and started to return it but once again I just knew.

  “Enoch,” I said angrily. “What are you doing at my house?” I tried to keep calm. Knowing he could literally feel and taste my fear made it that much worse.

  “So it’s true,” he said in an angry awe and came a little closer as if examining me. “I can feel it.”

  “Feel what? What are you talking about?”

  “You’re bonded with him.” He gazed at something between us with disgust. I watched him curiously.

  “With Eli? What?” Enoch came even closer to completely invade my space. I sucked in a quick breath and he groaned slightly. “I’m not going to hurt you, silly. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. You don’t see this?”

  He motioned between us. I looked and saw nothing but air and space. I looked at him questioningly.

  “When we mate-“ he started, but was interrupted by Mrs. Ruth.

  “Eli! Nice to see you again.” She glanced between us. “Well, let him in, Clara, don’t just stand in the door, honey.”

  “No,” I said quickly, “this isn’t Eli.”

  She raised her eyebrow and gave me an amusing look. “Ok,” she said sarcastically. “Eli, come on in. Dinner’s almost ready.”

  “No really, this is Enoch, Eli’s twin.”

  “Oh,” she said and looked closer to him. “Identical. Wow, I’d have never known. How nice that you came, too. I’m sure we have plenty if you want to stay for dinner.” She held out her hand to him. “Ruth, the Pastor’s wife.”

  “Enoch,” he said smoothly and took her hand, bringing it to his lips, before I could stop him, and kissing it. “Pleasure,” he rumbled.

  Her face flamed a shade between red and pink. “Oh,” she whispered. “Um.”

  I pulled her hand free and glared at him.

  “He’s not staying,” I assured her. “He just came by to say farewell as he skipped out of town. Isn’t that right, Enoch?”

  “Well, it doesn’t look like there’s much fun to be had here anymore,” he explained flatly.

  “Goodbye, then. Safe travels,” Mrs. Ruth said briskly before turning to go back to the kitchen.

  “What is wrong with you?” I hissed at him.

  “Evil being,” he said and pointed to himself. “If that’s not an excuse, I don’t know what is.”

  “There’s no excuse for being a jerk.”

  “But she’s the Pastor’s wife … Do you not understand the irony of this whole situation?” he said clearly enjoying himself. “One evil being at your door, kissing the hand of your adopted mother who’s married to the Pastor with whom you live. You, the sweet, innocent, unscathed mate of my twin brother who renounces what he is, but is also … an evil being. I mean, you can’t write this stuff.”

  “Just get out of here,” I said and tried to shut the door.

  “’Fraid I can’t do that, love,” he said sweetly as his hand snapped out swiftly to hold the door open.

  “Don’t call me that.”

  “But you’re family now,” he said sarcastically and jerked me forward with a hand on my wrist. He pulled me out the door and pushed me against the house side, my wrist still in his surprisingly gentle grasp. “Don’t you understand what I’ve been trying to tell you?”

  “No, I don’t.” I tried to pull away, but he held tight. “You’re hurting me.”

  “No, I’m not.” He grinned and inched forward. His face was almost touching mine and I held my breath. “You little liar,” he breathed and I felt it wash against my lips.

  It was true, he wasn’t hurting me, but I wasn’t comfortable like this either.

  “Let me go,” I commanded in a whisper.

  “Not until you hear what I have to say.”

  “What?” I said in exasperated annoyance. “What do you have to say?”

  “That you’re in trouble,” he said low and foreboding.

  Before I could speak I heard a growl off to the side. We both looked in that direction to see Eli. I wasn’t surprised to see him. He’d told me he was coming over, but I was surprised to see his face at least a shade too red to be normal and the veins in his neck and arms were blue. Yes, blue and bulging. He shook with rage and I felt a second’s spike of fear as he speared his brother with a glare.

  His gaze immediately shot to mine and he visibly calmed; his veins seemed to be less prominent and his fist shook less as he heaved a long breath.

  “Don’t be scared of me, Clara,” he said gruffly.

  “Have you looked at yourself, brother?” Enoch chimed happily, but didn’t release me nor back away. “I haven’t seen you this enraged since I stole that girl from you in Philadelphia.”

  “That was over a hundred years ago and I was stupid back then. I am not the same, as it seems to so easily escape your grasp, brother,” he spat.

  “I’m not the only one who lets things slip their grasp.” He leaned back a little, but held me firmly to the wall. Eli’s eyes shifted to the space between us and his eyes widened to impossible half dollars. Then his gaze settled on me.

  Anyone else would have been frightened out of their mind. But you see, the look on Eli’s face was something indescribable. The way he felt for me, the affection, the care, the … love, was all over him as if I could see it written in ink there.

  “Clara,” he said, his voice was almost a beg.

  I didn’t understand what was going on, but I wasn’t scared of it either. Enoch interrupted anything that was going on between us.

  “You see?” He turned to look at me again and sneered. “I couldn’t hurt her even if I wanted to. So you can relax, little girl.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked in a harsh whisper.

  “You don’t see that?” Eli asked.

  “See what?”

  “Come here, Clara. Enoch, let her go.”

  Enoch’s hand gently released my wrist and he backed away. I made a swift move to Eli who had completely returned to himself. He was no longer filled with rage, and his eyes never left my face.

  I let my fingers hover over the skin of his neck over a vein, plump it pumped his blood, but was invisible now. I asked the silent question with my eyes as I took my hand away.

  “Forgive me for that. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  “What was that?”

  “It was protection,” Enoch said across the porch. “He thought I was hurting you.”

  I ignored him. “What do you see that I don’t see?” I asked Eli.

  “We’re bound,” he said, barely a whisper, in fact I really just read his lips.

  “What does that mean,” I asked in the same fashion.

  “It means that Enoch is correct. He can not hurt you … because he, too, is bound to you.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “There’s a string …” His fingers moved between us into clear air and nothingness. “Why can’t you see it?”

  “A string?”

  “There’s a barbed strand here … between you and I and between you … and Enoch.”

  I gulped. I glanced at Enoch and he was stoically watching me. He didn’t look like he was surprised so he’d apparently already seen it. I looked back to Eli. He touched my face softly, almost as if seeing if I was real. I heard Enoch tell him, “No, don’t,” but I didn’t understand why. Then my gaze snapped alive with a new brightness.

  Alt
hough it was darker I could see better than before. Like it wasn’t dark, but a bright sunny day. The colors of Eli’s white shirt and black button up and the grass below us was contrasted to high definition levels. But most importantly, I saw the string attached around my wrist and his. It was black and barbed as he said, like it hooked into us like barbed wire, taut and ridged, but I didn’t feel anything. It had a haze around it and the ethereal look of it made it seem smoky and unfocused.

  His fingers barely caressed my cheek and then slid down my neck and arm. When he looked back up his face changed. He tilted his head to look more closely into my eyes. His jaw dropped slightly and a stunned breath blew across my face.

  “I told you to stop,” Enoch said behind us. “Idiot.”

  “What?” I said confused. I felt a prickle of unease shoot through me that whatever he was going to say wouldn’t be something I’d be thrilled about.

  “My eyes.”

  “What about them?”

  “Your … I completely forgot. Your eyes … are like mine now.”

  “What do you mean?” My heart pounded. “They’re purple?”

  “No, they’re green, but you can see like me. When I touched you I gave you my perspective. The green is just a backlash, some kind of mishap or something. We have no idea why they turn green instead of purple, but it happens when the two bound ones touch for the first time. You noticed the sight?”

  “Yes,” I answered and looked around again, “everything is brighter and more focused.”

  “How are we going to explain this to your guardians?” he mused more to himself.

  “Wait,” I asked in my most calm voice. “My eyes are really green? Really?”

  “Yes,” he nodded solemnly, “and they’ll stay that way.”

  I wanted to panic and I wanted to do … something. But I knew my reaction was important right now. The way Eli viewed me and handled me from now on hinged on my reaction to this moment; my reaction to something supernatural and awe inspiring happening to us. We were bound somehow. And that part of the equation thrilled me. It was the other stuff that was making me want to bolt. I thought long and hard about my next statement. One, to make sure I wasn’t lying to him and the words were true and two, to make sure my voice was calm before I said them.