He knew that voice, and glanced around to find who called to him, fully expecting to see Gloria or Ellie. He saw neither.
“Eorricris!”
The woman with the long white hair caught his eye, and his breath held in his throat.
It can’t be.
She walked toward him in a calm manner which defied the chaos around her. The white hair hung past her bare breasts, yet revealed the curve of her waistline and the large flare of her hips. She wore a small loincloth to cover her sex. As she approached, he pegged her just over six feet and muscular, but still, incredibly feminine.
He didn’t know what surprised him most … the things he’d seen in the past few minutes, or her arrival.
As he stared at her, his chest constricted, and he found it hard to breathe. He backed away from her as he shook his head. The woman from his dreams now stood directly in front of him, and he wanted to run.
“Who …”
He couldn’t even speak in full sentences.
“We must go,” she said as she reached out for him. “We’re both in danger.”
She placed her hand on his forearm, and the jolt resembled a bee stinging him. He pulled away and took another step back.
“W-who are you?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he studied her features.
The same bright blue eyes he’d seen in his dreams stared back at him. He noted the scar down her face and neck and that ended somewhere on her breast beneath all the hair.
“My name is Tirvu. I know you recognize me—I can see it in your face. However, I do believe that it would be best if I explained more when we aren’t out in the open and our lives are not in jeopardy.”
A form coming toward them caught his attention over her shoulder. As it emerged from the shadows into the street light, he gasped. It looked to be a demon. Red eyes glared at him, long fangs hung over its lips, lengthy claws sat at its fingertips. Its skin looked scarred and mottled, as if it had suffered third degree burns. Its gaze focused on Tirvu.
Without a second thought, Eric grabbed her shoulder and pulled her behind him.
The demon hissed and lunged.
Eric grabbed onto it, gagging on the smell of rotting flesh and sulfur. Despite his sheer size, the demon seemed unnaturally strong and was able to wrestle him to the ground in seconds, its fangs flashing and spittle dripping out its mouth as it wrapped his hands around his neck.
He gasped for breath, his eyes watering from the stench as he tried to get out from under it.
Tirvu stepped up next to him, her foot visible in his peripheral vision. She palmed the demon’s face and pushed, sending it flying off of him.
As Eric backpedaled and struggled to get to his feet, she stepped in between him and his attacker. A white glow emanated from her as she held her arms out wide to her sides, almost as if she invited the demon to come at her.
“Go back to Hell before I tear you to pieces and bathe in your vile blood,” she snarled, her voice a deep, sultry sound that sent a tremor throughout his body as he realized she meant every word of her threat.
His eyes widened as the aggressor took off running in the opposite direction. That had been the last reaction he’d expected.
Tirvu turned to him, and he understood why the demon had run. Her blue eyes shined even brighter while fangs protruded from under her lips. The glow around her began to fade as he scrambled to his feet and backed away from her.
She may have just saved his ass, but he had a strong desire to get away from her. He had no idea why she was standing in front of him, but he had the distinct impression that she was directly responsible for all the blood and gore in his dreams. Based on what he’d just seen and heard, she’d had every intention of taking a bath in demon blood.
“Now, as I said, we are both in danger. If that didn’t prove it, I don’t know what will.”
He nodded and took some deep breaths as her eyes dimmed. His body trembled, and he still had a hard time breathing. He glanced around, wondering if he could possibly be in one of his dreams.
Bedlam and confusion still reigned. Angels flew above him while people ran from the town square. Wolves chased other wolves, and ghostly transparent figures walked among the crowds.
He gazed at Tirvu again as she stared at him expectantly, her fangs and the shimmer around her now gone. Shaking his head, he tried to clear his thoughts.
She obviously understood what was happening in Saint’s Grove, which was more than he could say. She’d also proven that she could handle herself against the demons while confirming he didn’t stand a chance. He had no idea how to fight off a demon, or a vampire, or a wolf.
“We must go, Eorricris.”
Why the hell did she keep calling him that?
If she’d wanted to hurt him, she would have already done so. He bent down and placed his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath. Pinching the skin just above his knee, he didn’t know whether to be relieved it hurt, or not. He reasoned that if it did cause pain, that meant he probably was awake; if it didn’t, he resided in one of his nightmares.
He didn’t like either option.
The woman was fierce, a force to be reckoned with, and he had to trust her and hope she didn’t turn on him. He was way out of his league battling these paranormal beings, and she seemed to know what she was doing.
He stood to his full height. “Where I’m staying isn’t too far away.”
“Lead us there.”
As he jogged toward Gloria’s, he kept his eye out for any other beings that wanted to cause them trouble, not sure what he could do about it if one did. The demon’s strength had proven that he was way out of his league, so he imagined he’d have to rely on Tirvu for protection.
That thought brought on a whole other slew of questions. He didn’t consider himself a slacker in the strength department. He worked out regularly with weights and did a lot of cardio, yet his attacker had overpowered him within seconds. If Tirvu hadn’t been by his side, he’d be dead.
So if she’d been able to slam the demon away from him, had fangs and a strange glow around her, what exactly did that make her?
She jogged next to him, her gaze trained on the road ahead, as well, obviously on the lookout for any incoming danger.
Tonight, he’d seen angels, demons, vampires, and a woman that had turned into a wolf. If he hadn’t had the experience himself, he never would have believed it if someone else had told him the story. Either he’d completely lost his mind, or everything he’d seen tonight had been real.
Where had they all come from? Why had they all come? Would they be returning back to where they originated?
So many questions.
Once they were in a safe place, he had a feeling Tirvu would be able to provide him with some answers.
5
Tirvu followed Eric to where he was staying, a purple house nestled in the trees. He ran through the rooms yelling for someone named Gloria, but apparently, they were the only ones there at the time.
“We have to make sure all the doors are locked,” he said, sounding terribly winded. “And we can’t let anyone in.”
“That’s correct,” she replied as she walked around the living room area and studied the room.
On one wall stood a large fire chamber. The black, leather couches and chairs had been arranged around it so that it could be enjoyed and warm those who took their seats. Golden lamps with red tassels sat on the end tables, casting soft light around the area. A large, floor-to-ceiling window faced out toward the forest, which meant with the lights on inside that people could see them, but she and Eorricris couldn’t see out. She didn’t like it one bit.
“How do we block out this pane?” she asked.
Eric came over and pulled on the red swaths of cloth on each side, effectively covering the window. He then sat down on the couch and ran his hand over his head, still breathing hard. She believed it to be from stress and anxiety, not from the physical exertion. He appeared to be in top con
dition.
As his gaze darted around the room, she took a moment to study him. His skin held the same rich, dark color he’d had when the Event had happened the first time. His features also looked similar, but there were minor differences. The cut of his cheekbones seemed much more pronounced, as did the fullness of his lips. The subtle changes only added to his beauty.
Suddenly, he stood and began pacing the room. “Who are you? What the hell just happened out there?”
He didn’t meet her gaze, only glanced over at her every couple of seconds.
His stress was evident in the way he balled his hands at his sides, his bunched shoulders, and the deep furrow between his brows. She needed to remain calm so that she didn’t upset him further, but at the same time, the urgency of her mission nipped at her insides.
She smiled and slightly bowed her head while lacing her hands in front of her. Hopefully, she looked harmless.
“My name is Tirvu, as I have already told you. If you would like to sit down, I can answer the rest of your questions.”
He continued his strides behind the couch, his shoes echoing on the hardwood floor. Finally, he walked around and sank back into the sofa. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.
“I know I sound crazy when I say this, but I think I saw a vampire tonight,” he murmured as he rubbed his hands together.
“Yes, I’m sure you did,” she replied as she sat on the opposite end of the couch.
He’d seen her fangs and the glowing light around her before she’d fully changed into a dragon. She had also noted the stark fear on his face when she’d met his gaze after she’d threatened the demon. Although it went against everything she longed to do, she decided that giving him some space would be the best thing at this point.
“And … and angels.”
“Yes.”
“T-that thing … was that a demon? It looked like a demon to me.”
He finally turned to her, his face a mask of confusion, the crease between his brows even deeper.
“That is correct. It was a demon.”
“And you …”
He placed his head in his hands and closed his eyes. She waited patiently for him to finish the thought.
“So, I’m not losing my mind?” he asked, glancing over at her once again.
“No. Everything you saw tonight was real. You are quite sane.”
“None of those things are supposed to be real,” he murmured as he shook his head.
Wait until he found out what she was, what he had once been, and could possibly be again.
A grin turned her lips as she sat quietly and studied him. Butterflies tickled her stomach as she took in his broad shoulders and black, inky skin glistening with sweat. She understood it would take some time for him to process all that had happened this night, but once he had, she intended to convince him to help her find the Moonstone.
He seemed so confused and shaken, a state she did not like to see him in. Without thinking, she reached out and placed her hand on his bicep. As he jumped to his feet, his eyes widened, hands fisted at his side.
So much for giving him space and time to calm down.
“I will not hurt you, Eorricris. I am only trying to comfort and offer an explanation.”
“Why do you keep calling me that? My name’s Eric.”
She lowered her head and stared at the floor for a moment. She knew he would not remember his given name from so long ago, but she had also hoped that it wouldn’t be the case. A painful sensation gripped her throat as she realized he truly did fear her, and he had no memories of what he had been … of what they had been together.
However, no matter how bad his actions and words hurt her, she had to remember that if she didn’t focus on the true task, her world—the world he’d once been a part of—would come to a bloody end.
She took a deep breath and gazed up at him, determined to remain strong. “Yes, of course. My apologies, Eric. Now, if I could please explain what you’ve just witnessed, and what needs to be done, then we can move forward.”
He hesitated for a moment before sitting on the other side of the sofa, leaving at least a foot between them.
She sat back on the couch, trying to push her own feelings aside. There was much more at risk here than her own desires.
“I think it is best for me to put the happenings of tonight into simple terms,” she said as she stared at him.
Bits of fear still shone in his eyes, along with confusion. He wrung his big hands as if he would tear off his own fingers.
“That’s fine. Just spit it out because I’m about a half-second away from losing my shit.”
“Very well,” she said with a nod. “Tonight, the astrological Event caused the seams of the universe to open. As I stated before, you were not wrong when you say that you saw angels, demons, vampires, etcetera. The barrier that keeps all of our worlds separated has vanished.”
“Why are they all here? Is it happening all over the world?”
She shook her head. “I don’t believe so, but I can’t say for certain. All the paranormal creatures are here for different reasons. Some, like the demons, have arrived to cause nothing but trouble. The angels are here to fight them until it’s time for them to go back to Hell. The vampires, the werewolves, the fae, the witches … all are here for different reasons, both good and bad.”
For the first time since arriving at the house, he fully met her gaze. His ebony eyes searched every inch of her face, and heat welled within her. How she had missed his penetrating stare! Three hundred years ago, it had been impossible to keep her feelings hidden from him because it had seemed he could see directly into her soul and read what was there.
“What are you? Why are you here?”
Yes, the crux of her visit.
She cleared her throat before speaking, hoping that her truth wouldn’t frighten him. She needed to keep her voice calm, her words neutral.
“I suppose to humans I would be considered a dragon shifter,” she said, watching for his reaction.
He furrowed his brow as his eyes widened. “Does that mean what I think it does?”
“What do you think it means?”
“Y-you’re sitting there right now looking like a human—a very unique one—but you can change into a … dragon?”
She grinned and nodded, hoping that he would also remain calm. He had to come to an understanding of what her goal was in visiting him, and what he used to be.
He stared at her a moment, the ticking of the clock on the mantle the only sound in the room. Finally, he shook his head and stood, returning to his pacing.
“I don’t believe this,” he muttered as if talking to himself. “I’ve been drugged or something. That cookie. The cookie had drugs in it. It had to.”
She sat back on the couch and crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for him to bring the conversation back between the two of them.
With her snowy hair and her topaz-blue eyes, yes, she supposed she did look a little different than the average human female. One also didn’t see a woman with her height and build very often, and she’d yet to find a human woman with such an awful scar down her face. However, most females didn’t battle creatures with fangs and claws, either.
“That has to be it,” he continued. “There was LSD or something in the cookie. I’m seeing and hearing things. That woman on the couch isn’t real. That baker should be in jail. And all those kids who ate from that store … all of them must be sicker than—”
Just then, the front door opened. Tirvu looked over her shoulder to see a thin woman with red hair. As she narrowed her gaze to try to figure out if the visitor was friend or foe, Eric hurried over to her.
“Gloria! I’m so glad to see you,” he proclaimed, and he gripped her by her biceps. “I think I’ve been drugged. I’ve seen the craziest things tonight. That woman who works in the bakery … I think she slipped drugs into the cookies or something. We have to call the police!”
Gloria glanced over
at her, then smiled at Eric. “Who’s your friend?”
Eric shut his eyes for a moment, then looked over at her. “You can see her?”
Gloria nodded. “Yes, and I don’t think you’ve been drugged, Eric.”
As Gloria moved toward her, she got to her feet.
“And you are?” Gloria asked with a hesitant smile.
“I am Tirvu, member of the dragon clan, Protectors of the Forest.”
Gloria raised an eyebrow, but then nodded. “Dragons, huh? Well, I suppose that shouldn’t surprise me.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Eric muttered under his breath, shutting his eyes and shaking his head.
“I’m a psychic, Eric,” Gloria said, keeping her gaze on her. “I hear the voices from the other side, the voices of the dead. They’ve been telling me this would happen for weeks, saying that they would come through the ether and my services wouldn’t be needed any longer. They would take care of their unfinished business themselves. However, I wasn’t prepared for the vampires and all the others I saw tonight. If this young lady says she’s a dragon, then I’m certainly not going to doubt her.”
Tirvu grinned and bowed her head. She appreciated Gloria moving along the process of convincing Eric that everything he’d seen tonight was real.
She turned to him. “Eric, I understand that this is quite a shock, but we don’t have much time.”
“That’s the second time you’ve said that,” he replied, looking at her. “What’s the big hurry?”
“If you could please join me here on the couch once again, I can explain.”
He hesitated for a moment, then sighed as he made his way back to the sofa, his brow sweaty with confusion and worry. She wanted nothing more than to bring him into a hug and comfort him. She hated seeing him in such a state.
“I’m going to make some tea,” Gloria announced. “I’ll be right back.”
Tirvu and Eric sat in silence for a moment. He stared at the rug and she at him, the ticking clock on the mantle above the fireplace once again the only sound.
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