Intangible

by J. Meyers

  But still.

  She googled vampire.

  Thirty minutes into it, she’d discovered nothing new. Everything she read said they were mythical. A figment of people’s imaginations for the past two thousand years. She could feel her shoulders relax as she read.

  Though something gave Sera pause. Vampire stories had been told since biblical times. If they’d been around that long, maybe it was possible that the stories weren’t completely made up. Maybe there was actually some truth to them.

  No, that was ridiculous. They didn’t exist.

  Sera took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. She felt better.

  Except she really didn’t.

  She turned off her computer and went back to her wall. A very small brush and some light blue and red for stars. She tried to focus completely on painting the star strewn sky. One here, another there. Some blue added to that one. This one needed a little red.

  There was no such thing as vampires.

  Jonas. Jonas confused her. What he did—grabbing the scary guy—it was as if he’d been looking out for her. Protecting her. But he was stalking her. Wasn’t he?

  She shook her head again, and felt like screaming. Her brain was stuck in place and she couldn’t sort out or make sense of what had happened. That guy had said something about her dad. An eye for an eye. She had no idea what he meant by that. Perhaps he’d been a disgruntled client or someone her father had helped send to prison. And was glad for her dad’s death. The thought of that—of someone finding joy in her father’s death—just hurt. This was too much. She didn’t have any answers. She felt as if she didn’t understand anything.

  Her stars started swirling into the vortex of the dark sky she’d painted. Out of control. Just like her mind. She couldn’t even stay focused on painting for five minutes. What was the matter with her?

  She took her brush off the wall, put away her paints and brushes. After rolling up the tarp to tuck it away, Sera found herself sitting on the floor feeling sorry for herself.

  Nothing in her life was normal.

  Except Marc. He was funny and sweet. And he wasn’t under the delusion that he was a vampire. Or a werewolf. Or a leprechaun. Or whatever. He was perfectly normal.

  Sera sighed, leaned her forehead against the arm of the blue chair she sat next to. If only she could have something normal in her life. Something good. Something she could depend on. If only she could have Marc.

  NINETEEN

  Sera caught her breath as Marc walked into Muddy’s. He smiled at her, lifted his eyebrows. And that was it. All it took for her defenses to crumble and a small ache in her chest to flare with want. What was it about him? No one else had ever affected her this way.

  Maybe she could do this. Maybe she could date him. Maybe she could handle both helping and healing others, and her feelings for him.

  She could be disciplined about it. Organized.

  Then she remembered her dad, and those crumbled defenses were instantly back in place. Solid. Marc-proof. She sighed and waved him over to their table.

  “Hey.” Marc blew into his hands, rubbed them together.

  “Hey yourself.” Luke toasted him with his coffee cup. “Grab a mug and a seat.”

  Sera watched Marc stroll back to the bar to place his order.

  “Close your mouth, Sera. You’re drooling.” Luke reached over to wipe her chin.

  She swatted his hand away. “Am not.”

  “Are too. Isn’t she, Fey?”

  Fey’s eyes flicked back and forth between the two of them. A smile played on her lips. “I don’t think that puddle on the table is spilled tea,” she said.

  “Ha, ha.” Sera didn’t even look down, she was still watching Marc. “You two should take this routine on the road. Seriously. I’m dying laughing.”

  Marc turned, coffee in hand, caught her eye and smiled. Warmth flooded Sera’s face, and she suddenly didn’t know where to look, so she let her gaze slide around the room.

  It was more crowded than usual today. Every table was full. Some regulars she recognized, but there were quite a few people she’d never seen before. Probably tourists. As her eyes swept the room in her quest to avoid staring at Marc, a flicker caught her eye. She stopped, looked in one place and there it was. Something flickered. No, someone flickered. Like Jonas did. Like that woman, Meghan, had. It was so quick, so small, the flicker. It was like the shimmer of a mirage. Right there. Sera could see it clearly right in front of her.

  And to her right. And to her left.

  She slowly looked around the room. There were probably eight people who had that slight shimmer to them.

  All staring at her.

  She was barely aware that Marc sat down at the table.

  Goose bumps raised up on her arms and scalp. Who were these people? Were they ghosts? They looked like they might not be entirely of this world. She looked down into the mug clenched in her hands, trying to concentrate on the heat radiating from it, the light flower fragrance of her chamomile tea. Without lifting her head, she glanced around the room again.

  They were still there. Still staring. Still flickering.

  A couple of them glared. Several appeared interested, almost like they hoped she’d come over and strike up a conversation. Yet others looked frightened as they stared, as if they would bolt if she were to make a move toward them. A part of her was tempted to try just to see what would happen. If she wasn’t so spooked by their very presence she’d do it.

  “What are you doing?” Fey leaned down and whispered to her. “Luke and I were just teasing, you know.”

  Sera leaned over toward Fey. “There are a bunch of people staring at us.”

  Fey looked up and scanned the room. She was immediately on her feet. Luke and Marc gaped up at her, coffee mugs paused in midair.

  “Uh, Fey?” Luke looked around the room to see who else was watching.

  Fey had gripped her left wrist with her right hand in front of her chest as she scowled at each shimmery person in turn. Out of the corner of her eye, Sera almost thought she saw one of them snarl at Fey, but when she looked straight at that person his mouth was closed tight.

  “Oh my god,” Luke said and slapped the table. “You’re a part of a flash mob, aren’t you.” He looked around. “Is this place even big enough for a bunch of people to dance? Or are you going to sing?” He tilted his head to one side, wrinkled his nose. “Can you sing?”

  “We need to get out of here,” Fey said, voice low, as she glanced around the room.

  Sera exchanged a look with Luke, then turned to Marc, who shrugged.

  “Okay. Why?” Luke said.

  Sera leaned into the table. “There are a bunch of people staring at us,” she said.

  Luke looked around the room again. “They’re not staring at us, Sera. They’re staring at you. I can put a stop to that.” He stood up, but Fey grabbed him with an iron hand.

  “No,” she said, “don’t. It’ll make it worse.”

  “It’ll make what worse?” Luke said. “Who are they?”

  “I’ll explain later,” she said. “For now just trust me.”

  “Fey—”

  “Luke, trust me. Please.”

  Luke looked around the room again. “I do not have a good feeling about this at all.” He headed for the door with Sera and Marc following. Fey strode out behind them.

  As soon as they were outside Sera stopped and turned to Fey. “What’s going on? Who are those people in there—do you know them?”

  “Not now, Sera. We’ve got to go.” Fey tried to grab hold of Sera’s arm, but Sera jerked away.

  “Yes, now. Tell me.” Sera stood with her arms crossed over her chest and tried not to wonder whether those weird shimmery people would come outside after them. She glanced quickly at the door. Empty, no one coming.

  Fey stepped close to Sera and spoke quickly. “I know this isn’t fair, but I can’t tell you right now. It’s not mine to tell yet.”

  “Then whose is it?�
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  Fey shook her head. “Just trust me.” She laid a gentle hand on Sera’s arm. “Have I ever lied to you?” Sera shook her head. “So then trust me. I will explain when I can. I promise.”

  Sera stared at her a moment.

  “Sera, please. We need to go.”

  Sera turned and started walking toward their car and Fey fell into step beside her. Luke and Marc had already walked half a block before they realized that Sera and Fey hadn’t followed, so they waited at the end of the block.

  She glanced at Fey and couldn’t help but shiver as the cold air came swirling up from the lake. Though it wasn’t the chill that caused it. Nor the strange people inside.

  It was Fey.

  It was time, Fey thought as she watched Luke and Sera drive away. She stood in front of her house until they turned the corner and then glanced around to be sure no one was watching. And disappeared.

  In a single breath she stood hidden in the trees surrounding Luke and Sera’s house. She scanned the area quickly. No one around. No humans, nothing else. Good. She would wait until they pulled in and got safely inside. Then she would go visit her father.

  For it was time. The vampires knew. And vampires were not known for keeping secrets, so it was only a matter of time before the others in the Realm knew as well. And they would all come. Especially those with darkness in their minds, in their hearts.

  A whisper of air to her left and she felt a presence. Jonas. She didn’t even turn her head.

  “They know.” His voice was deep, quiet.

  “I am aware.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  Now she did turn to look at him, eyes narrowed. It was not his place to question her and she was about to remind him of that, but the look of concern in his eyes stopped her. He cared, she realized. He wanted them kept safe, too. That was unheard of in a vampire. No wonder Lilith favored him as she did. He was so unusual, so different, Lilith would want to keep him around for the novelty alone.

  “I am going to complete the circle of protection,” she said. “By tomorrow they will carry the Mark.”

  A special Mark of protection, connecting them to the Light Elves, needed to be placed on their skin, and soon. She’d been waiting until she had to do it, because it was a Mark that would always be visible. Similar to the tattoos adorning some humans, so it was not something that she easily could have placed on them as young children. Thankfully she hadn’t needed to, and they were old enough now that it wouldn’t seem out of place. This Mark would fade when they were not in danger, and stand stark when they were. It would call the Light Elves to help them, wherever they were. It would forever bind them to her people in the Realm.

  Jonas nodded. “Lilith knows,” he said.

  Fey closed her eyes. So. It really was time.

  The crackle of tires over gravel jolted her attention back and Fey’s eyes flew open as Luke pulled into the driveway. She and Jonas watched them in silence as they laughed together walking up onto the front porch. Sera opened the door, then they both disappeared into the house.

  In the quiet again, Jonas said, “I’m going to see Lilith. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thank the Hills she likes you. You are the only one who can talk to her.” Fey put her hand on his shoulder, the surprise on his face made her smile. “Lightspeed.”

  And she was gone.

  TWENTY

  Luke shut his laptop with a little too much force, leaned his elbows on the table, and pressed his palms against his eyes. It would be so much easier to figure things out if he had all the information, if it had come as a complete vision. Of course, if it had he would have had no time to try to stop it and Sera would already be dead. So perhaps he shouldn’t wish for what wasn’t.

  He needed to wish for what could be.

  As it was, he had time. The vision wasn’t complete yet. Though now that he’d had several visions about her death, every time he felt one coming he was terrified that the vision would be the final one. And he wouldn’t be able to stop it because he still hadn’t figured it out.

  He pressed his hands harder into his eyes. He had to be able to stop it. He couldn’t live with this vision coming true.

  Across the room, Sera lounged on the couch, totally oblivious, sketchbook propped on her knees. She squinted at her drawing, three pencils laced through the fingers on her right hand, an eraser clutched in her left.

  He couldn’t lose her. And he didn’t know how to save her. He was at a standstill and hadn’t a clue what to do.

  Sera looked up from her sketch pad and gazed intently at Luke without saying a word. She raised her eyebrows and Luke smiled. She wanted a snack. He didn’t know how he knew, but he just did. Sometimes it seemed as if her thoughts became his.

  Didn’t really matter. He needed a distraction for the moment, and this would do. As he and Sera both started to get up, he spotted their mom standing in the doorway.

  “Popcorn?” Their mom held up the bowl in her hand, and walked toward the couch.

  “Hey! We were just going to go make some.” Sera put her pencils and pad on the coffee table in front of her. “I’ll get drinks. Who’s thirsty?”

  “Coke,” Luke said. “No ice.” He leaped over the back of the couch and landed right next to his mom, strategically close to the popcorn bowl.

  Their mom shook her head at Sera. “No, thanks.”

  Sera headed off to the kitchen.

  “Smells good.” Luke leaned forward to grab a handful of popcorn from the bowl as his mom placed it on the table. “How do you always know?”

  “I use my psychic-mom powers.” She settled herself on the couch next to Luke, and tucked her legs up under her. “But only for good.”

  Luke looked at his mom and bit back a smile.

  “What?” she said.

  “Nothing.”

  “You don’t think I’m psychic?”

  “Nope.” Luke couldn’t have stopped the smile even if he’d wanted to.

  “I could be.”

  “Nope.”

  “You could be what?” Sera said as she came back into the room carrying two full glasses.

  “Mom thinks she’s psychic,” Luke said, and reached for the glass Sera held out. “Thanks.”

  “Really.” Sera smiled wide at Luke.

  “Really.”

  “No, not really,” Their mom said, laughing. “You two are impossible. Can’t a person make a joke?”

  Sera sat down in the chair next to Luke’s end of the couch, put her glass on the table and reached for the popcorn.

  “Only if it’s a good one,” Luke said.

  “And funny,” Sera added.

  Their mom threw popcorn at the two of them, which they both tried to catch in their mouths. She laughed, and shook her head. For a moment, Luke thought, she really looked happy. But then she got quiet. She’d done that a lot since their dad died.

  “You okay, Mom?” Sera reached over and placed a hand on her arm.

  “Yeah,” she said. “I’m okay.” She looked back and forth from Luke to Sera. “There is something I need to tell you, though.”

  Luke looked at Sera, then back at their mom. This was it. Whatever it was she’d been wanting to tell them for a while now. She was finally going to do it. Luke waited for her to continue.

  She took a deep breath and exhaled. Luke nodded at her as if to say it’s okay, we can handle this. He saw Sera reach for her necklace.

  “I’m going to preface this by admitting it is long overdue. And apologize for that. Your father and I didn’t agree on when to tell you, but now that he’s gone—” She pressed her lips together for a moment, and closed her eyes. “I am truly sorry that you haven’t known this all along. I thought you should have. But your dad was afraid it might hurt you in some way. Or hurt our family.”

  Her eyes settled on Sera’s hand that still fingered her necklace. “I’ve never told you where your necklaces came from.”

  Sera’s eyebrows shot up, and s
he looked at Luke then back at their mom. “Didn’t you give them to us?”

  Luke sat up and leaned forward.

  “They were a gift from your…” Their mom paused for a moment, and she looked from Luke to Sera. “Your…birth parents.”

  No one moved. Luke’s mouth hung open, his mind stuttered and stopped.

  “They died when you were babies.”

  Sera stood up suddenly, then just as quickly sat back down. Her mouth gaped, her eyes were two immense silver dollars on her face. She clutched at her necklace. Luke gazed blindly at the coffee table for a few moments, trying to process what she was saying—and failing. Then he raised his eyes to meet his mom’s.

  She spoke quickly, quietly. “I couldn’t have children. Dad and I tried for years. We went to doctors. We tried everything. But nothing worked. I wanted you both so desperately. From my soul I wanted you.

  “Your birth parents and six older brothers died in a fire. That’s all I know about it. I don’t even know where and I have no idea how you two survived. But I’m so glad you did. When Dad and I got the call about you two—it was literally the happiest day of my life. And then when I had you in my arms, I almost couldn’t believe that you were mine. That I was this lucky. From that moment I have always believed that this was meant to be. That you were meant to be mine. That somehow it was fate.

  “You two changed my life. You brought joy back into it. You brought life back into it. Dad loved you. And I love you. You are my children. This doesn’t change that. I believe that you were born to be my children, though you did not come from my body. And I hope that you can forgive me for not telling you this years ago.”

  Luke’s brow was furrowed, his mind sluggish. He’d known that whatever she’d needed to tell them was important, but he hadn’t expected anything like this.

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” he said.

  “Were you hiding it from us?” Sera sat with her head in her hands.

  “No! No, we weren’t hiding it. We weren’t ashamed of it. I hope you don’t think that. We—Dad—I don’t know. He didn’t want you to know. I think he was afraid you’d feel weird about it. Or about us. Or think we weren’t really your parents. I don’t know. But, I mean, it was never a big deal to me. So what if I didn’t give birth to you? You’re my kids. But with Dad—I think his mother said some things, but I don’t know.” She ran a hand through her hair. For a moment her eyes settled on the bowl of popcorn that now lay abandoned. “I’m sorry we didn’t tell you. It was wrong.”