“Stop it,” I shouted leaving the kitchen.
“I love you, Lei-Lei!” She made kissing noises at me as I gagged and ran faster into my room.
This sinking feeling in my gut would not go away. I rubbed my hand over my stomach, trying to ease the ache, but I knew this had nothing to do with a physical condition and everything to do with the fact that something was coming.
And that something was not good.
Chapter 7
Lorelei
After dinner, I went to bed early, telling Kyara that I had a terrible headache. As I had them often, she just gave me a hug, whispered “Happy birthday, Lorelei,” and handed me a wrapped present before sending me upstairs.
I changed into comfortable clothes leaned back against my headboard as I opened the gift. It was a beautiful illuminated copy of Dante’s Inferno. One of my favorite classics, I had read the book so many times I had certain passages memorized. I carefully thumbed through the pages, looking at some of the beautiful illustrations.
My eyelids soon grew heavy, and I placed the book to a secure spot on my bookshelf before crawling under the covers. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was fast asleep.
∞∞∞
The wind howled around me as rain pelted me in the face, soaking me to the bone. Flashes of lighting arced across the sky and the deafening roar of thunder caused me to scream into the darkness. I frantically looked around, trying to take in my surroundings, but only blackness greeted me.
I cried out as I tried to move, but my wrists and ankles bound with rough rope to a large stone altar, preventing all movement.
I shivered, my night shirt soaked through, chilling me to the bone. “Help!” I screamed as loud as I could. I knew I was in a dream, yet this was not one that I controlled. I tugged at the ropes, the rough fibers biting into my fragile skin. Blood dripped down my arms, mixing with the rainwater.
I heard whispers in the dark in a strange language. I knew I did not speak it, but I understood the evil words as they filtered through the darkness.
“He comes, he wakes. You will free him from his prison.”
Dark hooded figures emerged from the tree line, with flickering candles that stayed lit amidst the rain, clutched in their hands. The chants grew louder as they crept closer to me. The ominous feeling in my gut intensified as they grew nearer causing waves of nausea to wash over me.
Demonic laughter erupted from all corners of the forest and the trees started to close in on me. The thunder grew louder, the booming echoes mixing with my howls of pain. My head was throbbing, the laughter along with the strange language were all that I could hear. An image of a man shackled to a wall appeared in my mind. He smiled at me, long fangs gleaming, blood-red eyes swirling with malice, taunting me.
“You will free me, daughter of the Primal.”
Sobbing, I cried out one last time for help. “Kaniul! Vincent! Please help me!” The evil man reached into my mind, trying to bend me to his will. Crush my sanity. The pain so intense, my vision clouded as I fought to stay conscious.
Two of the hooded figures hovered above me. “She is perfect, my love. She will free him.” He reached up and removed his hood. Scars covered half his face in whorls, his dark, flat eyes looked me over from head to toe. There was heat and malice in his gaze, causing me to shudder and whimper in terror. His dark hair was cut close to his skull and black tattoos crept up his neck in sharp lines and patterns, adding to his grim appearance.
Hood removed, the other figure ran a hand down my face, her nails biting into my skin. “Her blood is strong and will make our lord whole again.” Blonde hair was plastered to her face and her eyes were wild as she jumped up and down in glee. Her fingers continued down my neck until they encountered the necklace at the base of my throat. As she touched it, she let out a howl of pain as it burned her flesh.
A roar pierced my ears and the two figures jerked their heads to the right. They hissed and were gone in a swirl of cloaks.
“Lorelei!” I heard a new voice reach for me. A large hand extended out to me. “You must take my hand.”
I would recognize that voice anywhere.
Vincent.
The rain was falling too hard, the lightning had receded, and I could see nothing but the hand inches from my face. I screamed louder as the compulsion from the evil figure grew stronger in my mind. His laughter echoing in my ears.
“Theera.” The one word penetrated the haze of pain. I opened my eyes again as I felt the ropes binding me disappear. I slowly reached for the hand. Our fingers touched and with a jolt I was pulled from the storm and the nightmare faded.
I awoke in a cold sweat. My throat was parched, my head throbbing in painful pulses. I reached over to my bedside table for the bottle of water.
Taking a long drink, the nightmare faded. My head felt hazy, as if I was drunk. My movements were sluggish as I slowly got to my feet and moved towards the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face, gasping in surprise as I saw my reflection in the mirror. My ice-blue eyes were glowing, light radiating out of them as I stared in fascination at myself. What is happening to me? I thought, groaning as my head began to throb with renewed vigor. The glowing faded, and I was left looking at my normal reflection.
I exited the bathroom and looked longingly back toward my bed. The sheets were a mess thanks to my thrashing. I didn’t know if I would be able to get back to sleep again after such a vivid nightmare. Yet, as I looked at the bed, I started to feel my eyelids grow heavy. I let out a long yawn and moved to crawl back under the covers. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was fast asleep.
Unlike the nightmare of earlier, my dream had taken me to my usual field of fragrant heather amidst large evergreen trees. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply, the aroma soothing my fractured psyche. I looked up at the full moon shining brightly down, illuminating the meadow with a pale light. Shadows danced across my skin in pale slivers with the movement from the trees and heather.
A figure approached from across the clearing, putting me on full alert. “Lorelei, it's okay.” He held his hands up in a gesture of surrender.
It was Vincent.
Relief washed over me. My emotions taking control of me, I ran to him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight, whispering words of encouragement softly into my ear. I took a step back, exhaling deeply and centering myself once again. This man made me forget myself.
My throat grew dry as I tilted my head back to look into his eyes. His face was regal, with a strong jaw, high cheekbones and arched eyebrows. His full lips slanted up in a slight smirk. But it was his eyes that held my attention. Long lashes framed red irises, edged in black that expanded toward the center of his pupils in a brilliant burst. I stood transfixed as I couldn’t look away from his hypnotic gaze.
How many times had I dreamed of those eyes? Haunting me in my waking hours. The only thing I could remember from my dreams were those eyes. They were everything.
He blinked and his smirk expanded into a full smile. “Cat got your tongue, Theera?”
I swallowed and croaked out “Hi.” I breathed in and out, trying to calm my erratic heartbeat. My mind was racing. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. Hi? Wow, that was original.
“Hello again, Lorelei.” Vincent cocked his head slightly, concern falling over his features. “After your earlier vision—and the fact that you projected to me this morning—we need to increase your defenses and the best way to do so is to visit you here.” His two-tone eyes sparkled. As he spoke, I glimpsed his sharp fangs.
I gasped and my hand reached up to touch his lips, seeking the fangs, trying to determine if what I was seeing was real. He parted his mouth, and I swallowed harshly at the view of the pristine white pointed teeth. A double set of perfectly sharp and deadly fangs were set in his mouth. I couldn’t take my gaze away from them. My fingertips ran from his full lips down the smooth surface of his fangs, fascinated by the way he shuddered in response.
Vincent groaned, his eyes glowing in the
pale moonlight. “You are playing with fire, little one.” His voice was husky, sending a shiver down my spine as warmth pooled in my core. His large hand grasped my wrist and pulled it away from his mouth, halting my exploration. He placed a gentle kiss on my inner wrist, just above my rapidly fluttering pulse. My eyelids fluttered down and a small moan escaped my throat.
“Vincent.” I breathed his name, my voice barely audible.
My whole body trembled as his warm breath washed across my neck. “Lorelei.” He gathered me into his arms. “You are going to wake up and not remember your nightmare.” His thumbs traced a delicate rhythm along the exposed skin of my waist. A palm glided up my torso to my neck and tilted up my chin, and I was drowning in his eyes once again.
Strange words flowed out of his mouth, I felt the power beneath the lyrical tone of his voice and it made my skin crawl as it rolled over my body. “Vincent, what are you doing?” Warmth spread from his hands into my body, racing through my veins like liquid fire. The burning sensation made me cry out in agony.
He blinked, pity and regret clouding his eyes, but he did not stop his chanting. His figure wavered, skin transforming into a deep red color as thick black horns formed on his forehead and swept back along his hairline into a point above his head. Red bled from the pupils of his eyes and colored his irises, lips turning black and fangs lengthening to extend into lethal points outside of his mouth.
The words stopped and silence fell. The echo of my heartbeat and my heavy breathing the only sounds in the clearing where we stood. Vincent’s arms were wrapped loosely around me, his form returning to normal as he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and muttered. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, theera.” I felt his sorrow as his fingers clenched in the fabric of my shirt.
“Vincent, no. Please don’t send me away.” The words faded as blackness clouded my vision and I collapsed into darkness.
Chapter 8
Lorelei
Kyara was standing over my when I opened my eyes, the sunlight slicing through my vision and piercing my skull like a knife. I hissed as feeling slowly returned in my limbs and my consciousness returned. My whole body ached as if I had run a marathon, my throat burned with thirst and my head throbbed in vicious pulses.
“Finally,” she exhaled, running her hand over my forehead. “You are awake. I was so worried.” Her face was full of concern as she reached over to my nightstand to retrieve a bottle of water. Helping me sit up, she unscrewed the cap and lifted the bottle to my lips so I could take a long pull of the refreshing liquid.
I swallowed harshly, the water only dulling the burning sensation in my throat. “What happened?” My voice was gravelly, sounding as if I hadn’t spoken in weeks.
“You have been sick with a fever. This is the first time you have woken in days.” She ran a cool cloth over my face.
Days?
My mind tried to think back and recall my last memories. My birthday, the feeling of impending doom. My dreams. Vincent. He was in my dreams. I tried to isolate the memories. What had happened? I couldn’t recall what happened. The only thing I remembered were flashes of lightning, red eyes, strange chanting, fangs.
The last words he said to me.
I’m sorry it has to be this way, theera
“No!” I screamed and sat up sharply. The room spun, vertigo overtaking my body and Kyara immediately helped me back into a reclined position.
“Lorelei, you must stay calm and rest. Your body is trying to heal itself.” She sat on the bed next to me and pulled me into a side hug. Her arms were comforting around me and she stroked my hair gently. My eyelids grew heavy as I relaxed and listened to her soft humming.
“I don’t want to forget him,” I whispered as sleep took me once again.
The sounds of doors slamming and men shouting interrupted my sleep. Sitting up, I groaned at the tightness of my muscles. The screams grew louder as I put my feet on the floor, my heart fluttering rapidly inside of my chest. I crept quietly to the door, turning the knob silently and opening it just a crack to peer out into the hallway.
“Where is she? We know she is here.” Sharp sounds of a scuffle echoed from downstairs. Kyara murmured a response that my ears could not hear.
“If the council thinks they can hide her from us forever, they are sorely mistaken.” An evil laugh followed. I slowly peaked out of the open door and peered around the wall to look at the scene below.
I covered my mouth as a sound escaped my lips. Kyara was being held by two men, as she bled profusely from a wound on her neck and another on the side of her face. She held her head high, looking at the man in front of her with malice. She spit a mouthful of blood at him and she smiled as the red liquid dripped down his face.
“You will never take her.” She began to chant in a strange language and symbols on her body started to glow with a brilliant white light.
What the hell? What was I seeing?
The man leaned down and grabbed a handful of her hair, forcing her to look up at him. “Filthy witch, your spells won’t do any good.”
“Lorelei you must run. I cannot keep them distracted for long. Grab the black duffle bag from inside your closet, it will have everything that you need.” My eyes widened in shock. It was the first time Kyara had spoken to me telepathically.
“I can’t just leave you!”
“You must, darling. My purpose as your guardian is to protect you. You must stay safe. Get out of here now!”
A silent sob racked my body, but I couldn’t turn away from the grim scene. The man had pulled a knife from his jacket and was tracing it along her skin, his dark eyes glinting with hatred. “Your blood will taste sweet.” He dragged the knife along her cheek, red welling up behind it. He licked at the knife and laughed mirthlessly.
“Lorelei. Go now!”
“I love you Kyara,” I mouthed the words as well as projected them into her mind. I grabbed the black bag from deep in my closet as well as a coat and running shoes. I knew I would never return here, and the thought almost crippled me. I paused as I caught sight of my violin case on the coffee table. Knowing I couldn’t live with myself if I left it, I gathered into my arms, clutching it as if it were my lifeline.
Moving to the other side of the room, I opened the large French doors as quietly as I could. I looked left and then right before stepping out onto the deck. I was greeted by darkness. A crescent moon hung low in the cloudy sky, its light barely illuminating the forest beyond the house. I held my breath and slowly climbed down the lattice on the side of the house to the ground. The road was well over a mile down the gravel driveway. How would I escape?
“The car is parked halfway down the drive. The keys are in the center console. RUN! I can only hold them for a little longer.”
The scream that followed made my knees weak, and I almost fell to the ground. I steadied myself and started to run as fast as I could. Gravel crunched under my sneakers and my breath came out in white clouds in the cool night. I felt tears trail down my face as I felt Kyara’s pain.
This was all because of me.
Opening the door to the Lexus SUV, I tossed the bag into the passenger seat and fumbled for the keys. Inserting them into the ignition and turning it, I looked in my rearview mirror to see the lights from the house. Three dark figures started running out the front door, pointing in my direction. I quickly shifted into drive and slammed my foot on the gas pedal.
Impossibly, they reached the car before I was able to get up to speed. I screamed as their bodies collided with metal and glass. One reached up and jumped on the side, punching his arm through the back window. I pushed the gas pedal harder and screamed “Get off my car, you bastard!” The others fell off as the car accelerated.
Only one bad guy remained.
I was rapidly approaching the country road that would lead me to the civilized world as a thought sprung into my head. Reacting quickly, I braced myself and jerked the wheel sharply to the right. My eyes glanced up to the rearview mirror, and I sa
w the man lose his grip and fall to the ground, rolling across the pavement. I pushed the vehicle as fast as it could go. The other men were not in sight.
I did not fully breathe until I saw the bright lights of the Portland skyline as the sun rose over the horizon thirty minutes later.
Now what? I thought in despair. Kyara was surely dead. I had nowhere else to go. No one else to turn to. No one that I could reach at least. I pulled over at a rest area and leaned my head on the steering wheel as I assessed my situation. I thought of the bag that Kyara insisted that I grab and reached over to pull it onto my lap as I unzipped the top.
A folded piece of paper was tucked gently on top with my name written across it in Kyara’s elegant handwriting. I opened the note with shaking hands.
My Dearest Lorelei,
If you are reading this, it means that they have found us. It also means that your powers are beginning to awaken, and you are in grave danger. You must use what is in this bag and find a safe place to blend in and not draw attention to yourself.
You began as just an assignment for me, but I grew to love and care for you. You have a bright spirit and the strength to get through what is coming your way. Know that my love will always be with you.
There is enough cash and documents to get your started in a new city. In the phone will be directions to a safe house for you in Los Angeles. It is somewhere you can just be another face in the crowd. The people that are looking for you will never stop. You must not draw attention to yourself, or all of our efforts will be in vain. Kaniul will be on the lookout for you, but will not make contact in case they are following him.
Trust your instincts, they will not steer you wrong if you follow them.
Don’t forget your music.
All my love,
Kyara
Tears streamed down my face as I finished the letter. There was so much that I still did not understand. Where were Kaniul and Vincent? Would I see them again?
Frustrated, I searched the rest of the contents of the bag. Bundles of cash were stacked and banded together neatly. I let out a small whistle. Quickly counting, there was about twenty-five thousand dollars. Also included were a full set of documents: A passport, birth certificate, social security card transcripts, immunization records, and letters of recommendation.
Into The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy) Page 6