by S. A. Carter
He places his hand on my forehead and I am jolted by images that race through my mind at an alarming speed. I can see what he saw—a dark emptiness that holds no light, like a black void of space where life never even had a chance to take its first breath.
I strain my eyes to see further into the void and an outline of a man appears. He is standing on the rocky precipice of a dark beyond, his onyx cloak fanning out around him, rippling with power. He turns his head slightly and I see deep scars covering his face, as if he has known battle intimately. He stands both ancient and commanding against the storm of time.
My eyes are drawn inextricably to him, some magnetic force pulling me towards him, and for all my fear there is also awe. All around him shadows flicker in and out of my vision like dark spirits waiting to do his bidding.
Then all of a sudden he raises his head and sniffs the air, looking swiftly back over his shoulder towards me, his fiery silver eyes ablaze with power. His dark voiceless whisper echoes through my mind.
‘I am coming for you.’
My magic charges and I scramble away from Taqôq Wiyon’s hand, falling off the log as I do. Sharp, ragged breaths escape me and I look around in fear that the darkness will make its way out of the swamp and consume me.
Magi whimpers, and I can’t hide the fear that is crawling across my skin. Who was that? And what does he want with me?
‘You saw him?’ Taqôq Wiyon asks as he takes a casual sip of his tea, still looking out over the swamp as if the most evil of creatures hadn’t just revealed himself.
I regain some semblance of composure, telling myself that it wasn’t real, that it was only a vision, but the truth within me quickly overrides my best efforts.
He was real alright. If I reached out I could have touched him. I shudder at the thought, and with shaking hands I manouvre myself back onto the log. It’s hard to remain calm when Isis’ magic is coiled like a deadly cobra within me, ready to strike out at the enemy we both felt.
I reply with a curt nod, my mind still alive with his presence. Who was that? Then I remember Julian’s words from the game the other night.
‘The Vaga are led by an Immortal named Erebus—the keeper of darkness and shadow.’
It must have been Erebus I saw?
‘He is darkness,’ Taqôq Wiyon says, the lines of his face hardening.
‘What does he want with me?’ I ask, remembering Erebus’ words.
He stares at me and his eyes soften. ‘Darkness consumes light, Ray of Sun.’
If the meaning wasn’t clear, then it quickly became obvious. I am the bearer of the light, therefore Erebus wishes to consume me and my power. A surge of anger floods my body and I feel the flames of Isis stir within me.
So much for wanting to live a normal life. I realise now it will never happen. I’ll never get to be that girl. There are no white picket fences for me.
My resentment overrides everything else for a moment.
‘Does he want me or Isis?’ I ask.
‘You and Goddess of Sun are one now.’ He takes a sip of tea. ‘Darkness lives on fear, Ray of Sun. Fear found in war.’
War? Isis said the same thing when she threatened Uncle Jo.
‘Why does everyone keep mentioning war? A war between who?’
He shakes his head and the bones around his neck rattle softly. ‘Good and evil.’
Good and evil? This is starting to sound like a morbid fairy tale.
I rub my face roughly. ‘I still don’t understand?’
Taqôq Wiyon shakes his head sadly. ‘I fear you are a weapon to him.’
‘Weapon?’
Magi’s ears perk up, and he nods.
‘What sort of weapon?’
His opaque eyes darken. ‘A powerful one.’
Truth dawns on me as the last of my magic weakens.
Erebus doesn’t want to kill me. He wants to use me.
Chapter 12
After landing back in Sam’s room I expect to be assaulted by both Julian and Phoebe, but the room is completely empty. It’s probably lucky that they aren’t here right now. I’m not sure my anger could have been restrained under the circumstances.
Looking down at my shaky hands, I feel the reality of the situation crushing in on me—Julian’s return, Sam being a shapeshifter, Taqôq Wiyon’s warning, Erebus being the ultimate enemy and the thing of nightmares…
Erebus. Saying his name causes a whirlwind of emotion to swirl inside of me. If he thinks that he can use me to wage war then he is sadly mistaken. I’ll die before that ever happens. Isis be damned.
Magi barks and I look up to see her standing in front of the closed door where a piece of paper has been speared into its face by a small knife.
Julian!
I get up quickly, forgetting everything else for a second, and grab the paper.
Elena,
I have taken Phoebe for a coffee and a chat. When you decide to join us again, you can find us at the cafe.
Make sure you bring a bloody good excuse as we’ll be dying to hear it.
Julian.
How dare he speak to me like that? Who does he think he is? I’ll bring a damn good excuse alright, and maybe a piece of my mind as well.
I yank the small knife out of the door, noticing the etching on its handle. The same words that are on Julian’s arm are the same ones on the handle, and after all this time I now know what it means.
Sanguinem in Latin means blood. Blood ties to his family, the hunt for blood, the taste of it? I want to know what it means, and I put it away with the other million questions I have for him.
My grip on the knife tightens, and I thrust it into my back pocket before storming out the door.
Making my way towards the café, I hear my name being called out and see Blake jogging towards me. His body moves in such a way that says he’s sure of himself but isn’t cocky about it, which just makes it worse. If he was a douche then it would be easier to reject him.
I groan inwardly as I watch the smile spread across his face. This couldn’t possibly be a worse time. I can’t fake normal right now.
I take in his tanned skin, the way his face lights up when he smiles, and his strong body moving towards me with the ease of a sultry predator. A sexy, hot predator.
Ama’s words trickle through me. You have reached the age of sexual awakening.
‘Damn straight,’ I mutter.
Magi grunts and I look down. ‘It’s not my fault, Mags.’
She grunts again and pads away, standing a few metres back, but still keeping an eye on me, and on Blake.
‘Hey, Ellie,’ he says slightly breathless as he stops in front of me.
‘Hey, Blake.’
His eyes roam my face for minute and then he says, ‘I missed you at the game last night. I thought I saw you, but then you were gone?’
‘Yeah, I don’t do crowds very well,’ I respond a little coldly.
He frowns and then nods. ‘Listen, I know that you have stuff going on okay, that’s obvious, but…’ He scratches his hair and flashes me a lop-sided smile. Oh crap! ‘I like you, Ellie. And I think you like me too. So I wanted to know if you’d like to go out some time?’
My skin prickles with interest. Blake is gorgeous, considerate, smart, and not full of himself. Who wouldn’t want to go out with him? I’m attracted to him, that’s for sure, but then attraction has proven to be a fickle component when it comes to relationships.
Yeah, like with all your expertise you’d know.
He takes a step closer and I hold my breath. ‘Ellie?’
All of a sudden a familiar warmth spreads through me and I know Julian is near. I look over my shoulder and can see him making his way towards us from the café. He does not look happy.
Oh sweet mercy!
‘Uh, listen Blake. I am really flattered but it’s just not a good time for me—’
‘Nope! I’m not buying the excuses anymore.’ His eyes deepen, emitting a smoldering quality.
His asserti
veness is a little hot, and I falter. I look over my shoulder again and Julian’s energy is palpable. I have to intervene before this scene gets out of hand.
I back away slowly. ‘Okay, Blake. Call me later and we’ll catch up, alright?’
His eyebrows rise in surprise. ‘Really? I thought for sure you were going to reject me again.’ He smiles.
‘I have to go, but I’ll talk to you later, okay?’ I say as I turn away from him quickly.
‘Until then!’ I hear him call out.
I smile and wave him off before moving towards the inferno hurtling towards me.
Walking towards Julian feels like being drawn to a magnet. His energy pulls me forward, calling me to him. Unlike being drawn towards Erebus, which felt dark and menacing, Julian’s energy is protective and passionate.
His eyes are only on me as he drifts closer, but I know he is taking in everything around him, calculating all possible scenarios.
He lowers his head as he draws near, and I see his fists clench a few times. I raise my chin and straighten my shoulders. He can’t intimidate me. He takes in my reaction and his jaw twitches.
As we get closer the connection deepens until I feel like a sonar pulse is pounding through me with every step we take. I inhale sharply as we stop a few metres from one another.
‘Are you alright?’ His voice is filled with frustration but there is also tenderness.
‘I’m…okay.’
He folds his arms across his muscled chest and peers over my shoulder. As I look back I realise he’s watching Blake walking back towards the campus.
Oh, and here I was thinking that his concern was for me, but really it is about marking his territory. How typical.
‘Where’s Phoebe?’ I ask, ignoring his territorial response.
His eyes blink back to me and they convey his real emotions. He was genuinely worried. ‘She went to the restroom.’
I nod and the silence between us widens.
‘Is she okay?’ I ask.
He cocks one eyebrow. ‘What do you think?’
I bristle at his words. Of course she’s not okay. Who would be okay with all of this? My shoulders slump. ‘Look, I can explain everything, but Phoebe can’t know about—’
‘Ellie!’ Phoebe yells out running towards us.
Crap balls!
Julian gives me a we’ll-talk-later look and I brace myself for what I know is coming.
‘Where the hell did you go? And where is Sam?’ Phoebe says looking behind me.
‘Phoebs, I can explain.’
‘Explain?! Explain how you were supposed to help me and then disappeared with my boyfriend? That type of explaining?’ She puts her hands on her hips and throws icy daggers my way.
‘Do you want to listen or just yell, Phoebs, because I can go there if you want to?’ I square my shoulders.
She must see something in me that tells her to back off because she eyes me warily, then relaxes her stance a little. ‘Fine, but it better be good!’ She turns on her heel and walks over to the nearest park seat.
I follow her over and can feel Julian’s eyes boring into the back of my skull as he takes up the rear.
Phoebe sits down and fans her blonde locks away from her face. ‘Okay, I’m listening.’
I decide not to sit as I need to keep moving. I’ve only had a minute to think of some story to cover Sam and I hope it’s enough.
‘Sam got into a fight early this morning.’ She raises her eyebrows. ‘Apparently he was out for jog when he was mugged. He was embarrassed to tell you, so I took him to hospital.’
She eyes me suspiciously and folds her arms. ‘Mugged? Really? You think I’m that stupid?’
‘Uh…no, but I’m telling you the truth.’ My gaze falls to Julian and he rolls his eyes.
‘So my boyfriend was mugged and beaten, and instead of telling me, you decide to teleport him and his entire bed to the hospital?’ she asks.
‘Well, I wasn’t thinking properly and panicked and so…yeah, that’s what I did.’ I bite my lip and know that my excuse was completely lame.
Phoebe stands up and walks towards me. Leaning in slowly she says, ‘You better find a more plausible excuse than that crap because I’m not believing it, Cole.’
I swallow the lump in my throat and look to Magi for help. She gives me an idea. It’s not something I have ever done, and I would never normally use a spell on Phoebe, but this is serious and I have no other option.
I reach out and touch her arm, ‘Samanatha tara, bohema denatera.’
Phoebe eyes go blank before closing shut, and as she begins to stumble Julian steps forward and catches her.
‘What did you do?’ he asks as he cradles her in his arms.
‘I put her to sleep,’ I say, crossing my arms defensively.
‘I can see that. Why?’
‘I promised Sam I wouldn’t tell her.’
Bang up job on that one Ellie!
He eyes me warily. ‘Care to tell me what that promise was about?’
I look around us to find the park somewhat deserted. Other than the café doing its normal busy trade, the parkland is all but empty. Everyone must be in class…
‘Damn it!’
‘What is it?’
‘My exam. I forgot all about it. So much for my scholarship now.’ I could kick myself for forgetting. It might seem strange to think of an exam when I have more important things going on, but I’ve worked really hard to get where I am, and now it could all be in jeopardy.
Julian moves closer to me, still holding the sleeping body of Phoebe easily within his arms. ‘Elena, there are more important issues right now.’
I scowl at him. ‘Yeah of course there are, Julian, you’re so right. Why hadn’t I thought of that?’ My hands go to my hips and his lip twitches.
He places Phoebe down onto the seat gently and then turns back to me, running his hand through his hair. ‘You need to calm down and talk to me.’
He’s right. I do have to tell him. It’s not just my life in danger here anymore.
‘Firstly, let’s start with Hercules back there. Who is he and what does he want?’
I stifle a choked laugh. ‘Are you serious? That’s what you want to talk about? Geez, Julian, if I wasn’t mistaken I’d think you were jealous?’
His face is unmoveable but the slightest twitch in his jaw lets me know that my words have hit their mark.
I laugh. ‘You’re really jealous? This is crazy. You don’t even know me. And where do you get off telling me who I should or shouldn’t hang out with?’
His eyes move past me again and then he shakes his head, relaxing his stance. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry. I just…’
‘What?’
He scratches his hair, turning his face away from me. ‘It’s nothing. Forget about it.’
Biting my lip, I ignore the urge to make him feel better. His feelings really aren’t my problem, and yet…they are. I watch him walk over to Phoebe and his body language tells me that he’s struggling with all this just as much as I am. Up until this morning I thought that my life was on the right track to normal. I’ve spent years trying to make it normal, while still remembering my promise to Isis and my loyalty to my family. But now as I look at him, I know that normal is not going to be easy, and in fact it’s probably next to impossible for someone like me.
I sit down next to Phoebe, making sure not to squish her head. Magi lays her head on my lap, watching Julian.
Julian kneels down before me. ‘Elena, look at me.’
I raise my face to his and it very nearly takes my breath away.
Blake has nothing on Julian, not even for a second, and I realise that without knowing him I am already in love with him. I let out a short, crazy laugh. Some people would classify this moment as a delusional episode.
‘What’s so funny?’ he asks, frowning.
I shake my head. ‘Nothing, and everything.’ I look down at my hands and he wraps his large hands around them with tenderness.
‘Elena, I know this is all a lot. I also know that while I’ve been able to get to know you over the years, even if it has been in a stalkerish-kind-of-way, that you haven’t been given the same opportunity.’ He smiles, and the warmth of his touch makes me feel safe.
It isn’t just the getting to know him part that freaks me out. It’s that when I’m around him I want him so badly. I thought wanting him in my dreams was bad enough, but now he’s here in physical form and the urges are just as strong, if not stronger. Is it normal to feel that so quickly? I wouldn’t know, because apart from feeling like this about Julian I haven’t even kissed a guy before.
Maybe Ama is right. Maybe I am a prude. A timid, frigid prude who thinks she’s in love with a man she doesn’t even know. And how do I know that it’s even real? I mean Isis could be making me feel these things. Maybe it’s not coming from me at all?
I hope there’s a nice little asylum close by to campus so Uncle Jo and Aunt Lily can visit me regularly.
I push aside the disturbing thought that maybe I am in fact going insane and refocus on Julian’s words.
‘Thank you for being an understanding stalker.’
He laughs, and the deep timbre of his voice makes my heart sing.
I smile and Magi nuzzles me gently. She senses what I feel and apparently she’s okay with it, which also makes me feel slightly better. Though better isn’t the same as sane, is it?
‘I have an idea,’ he says raising his chin.
‘What?’ I ask, hoping he won’t tell me that we should have sex and get that out of the way too.
‘How about we take this time to get to know each other? What about twenty questions?’
‘Twenty questions? What is that?’
He pulls his hands away from mine and my heart skips a beat at the absence of his touch.
Sitting down on the grass he stretches out his legs and leans back on his arms, his muscles flexing along his forearm.
‘It’s where we take turns asking each other questions until we reach twenty. Maybe a bit lame, but it’s a start.’
He watches me, waiting for my answer.
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I think about it. Could it hurt? Probably not, but the thought of opening up to him seems slightly insane considering our history. And do we even have time for this right now? I scan the park for any danger lurking around.