She said something to me with a smirk on her face that would’ve been enough to make me go into hiding a week ago. Only now it sounded like a challenge to me.
I was actually flexing my body to go after her, nails drawn and all. I felt a calm that was foreign to me but somehow felt right, like it had been a part of me forever.
Suddenly Thorn's fist came down on the table, breaking it in two and making everyone, including the blonde jump. Outside, the sky grew dark again and thunder rolled in.
"Mina you will die." That was Thorn's voice, but I don't think I'd ever heard anything so sinister in my life.
The girl, Mina, jumped back and said something else before glaring my way, and sauntering back, the way she’d come.
The feelings of darkness and cold that she’d brought with her dissipated a little, but I still had that sense of impending doom.
“Come, I will take you home.” He reached for my hand and it was only then that I realized I was shaking.
“But I have classes.” I tried to keep up with his hurried pace as he dragged me across the room with his siblings following behind.
“Not to worry, Natalia will collect your lessons for the day.”
The noise of the cafeteria flooded back in as if someone had turned a switch. No one seemed disturbed, leading me to believe that they hadn’t seen any of what had transpired. But how can that be?
“Thorn what’s going on, who was she?” it was hard to keep the green fangs of jealousy at bay. I mean he obviously knew her and she was gorgeous and the way she spoke to him...
My thoughts were cut short when I found myself pushed up against the nearest wall and his lips were on mine, his body pressing me into it hard.
This kiss blew all the others out of the water. He sucked on my tongue in a way that told me he never wanted to let go.
It was hotter than hell, making me forget for those few precious moments, just where we were.
When he lifted his head from mine and looked down at me with all that heat I had no control over my actions.
I pulled his head back down to mine and bit his lip hungrily. Now why did I do that? The growl he made reverberated through my body and warmed me between my thighs.
“We have to stop love; b’lyad’, fuck.” He rested his forehead against mine. “She’s not prettier than you lyubov moya, no one is. Don’t cry.”
He dried my suddenly appearing tears before turning and continuing down the hall, with my hand gripped firmly in his. His brother and sister were standing at the door, waiting for us, on full alert.
I wasn’t dumb enough not to know that there was something very serious going on here. They checked even the sky as they rushed me to Thorn’s car.
“I’m taking her home with me, you may follow after you’ve collected her things.”
He didn’t give them a chance to answer, just threw the car in drive and sped out of the lot.
We drove in the opposite direction from my home, but I didn’t question him. That dark menacing cloud followed behind us once again, and the wind howled and screeched against the windows.
Thorn kept a tight hold of my hand and that’s the only thing that kept me calm. The more he drove the more afraid I became.
I had the feeling that I was moving towards something that was going to change my whole life. But he’d promised that nothing would hurt me, and I so wanted to believe him.
“Thorn...”
“I know love I will tell you everything, just let me get you home to safety.”
“So I am in danger.”
“You’re in no danger as long as I’m here. Be still love and let me tell you what I must in my own time and my own way.
I had thought to give you more time but I see now that that was a mistake.”
“More time for what?” He looked over at me then, and the sadness on his face almost made me cry out.
We turned down a narrow street lined with trees on both sides. The air here was dark and thick, even at this time of the afternoon.
Again I felt that clawing feeling, as if something was puling at me with icy fingers. My breath grew short and I clutched at my throat.
“Easy lyubov, breathe for me.” He slowed the car but did not stop, his attention divided between the road and me.
“Why do I feel so sick all of a sudden?” there was a ringing in my ear and I felt as though I would faint any minute.
There were flashes of color flitting in and out of my mind’s eye, as he turned down the long driveway to the house that I had seen so long ago, in a dream.
I sat still in amazement as he walked around to help me out. “What is this place?” I looked around at everything that seemed so familiar somehow, but I knew the memory wasn’t real, how could it be?
I started walking across the grass, but not towards the house. My feet seemed to have a mind of their own as they carried me across the lawn, past the gigantic house and to the gardens beyond.
His voice was right behind me calling me back but I couldn’t turn back, I was being drawn...there, the little house in the woods.
My feet moved faster as I made my way towards the structure that seemed to call out to me. It felt like I was walking through quicksand, each step growing heavier, and there was a veil over my eyes.
I was running now as Thorn yelled for me to wait. How had I gotten away from him? The question was fleeting, as was every thought I had in that moment.
I was aware that I wasn’t quite myself, that something or someone else was leading me. There was a shrill laugh on the wind as my hand reached out for the doorknob.
A series of scenes played through my head as my hand connected and my knees grew weak.
The little girl, she seemed so familiar. And the boy, I knew who he was although he looked so different now; it was what was inside him that I recognized.
I fell forward through the door even as his voice yelled out to me, and then it happened.
Darkness, and in the midst of the darkness, as I felt myself falling, a tortured scream from somewhere nearby.
His face was the last thing I saw before the darkness overtook me. But even with all that was happening and had happened up until now, it’s the words I uttered that made the least sense to me.
“You left me.”
The look of torture that came over his face sent chills through me, as I gave in to the dark tentacles that pulled at me.
Chapter 18
THORN
I lifted her in my arms and ran to the house, calling for my mother. My fear was so strong I could almost taste it.
Realistically I knew she was okay, I could feel her heart beating against me, and hear her breathing in and out. But any kind of hurt to her was torturous for me. How could things have gone so wrong? I thought I had time.
There was so much I wanted to tell her, so much to share, but now I was afraid it was too late.
This is the very thing I wanted to avoid. If I could’ve spared her ever knowing I would have, but barring that, I would’ve chosen a better way for her to recall.
Her words pierced me to my very soul, because she was right, it didn’t matter the circumstances, I had left her, broken a promise.
“I’m so sorry malysh.” My mother met me at the bottom of the stairs, her face frightened, no doubt because of my unusual shouting.
“What is it, what’s happened, is that...”
“Yes it is.” I kept going because now was not the time for introductions. I’d brought her here for protection, with my enemies upping the stakes it would be stupid of me not to.
I laid her across my bed and sat next to her. She was gone away in her head, somewhere far from me. “Open your eyes malysh, please, for me.” I whispered the words urgently as she laid still as a stone.
Mom came in with a tray but I didn’t pay any attention, my eyes were focused on her for any sign. She looked so still and small, vulnerable.
The memory of Mina being that close to her made my blood run cold. I’d been working so
hard ever since I brought her home to avoid just that happening, though I knew it was a chance I’d have to take.
Just a few more days and this would’ve all been over. I closed my eyes, begging for a brief moment of peace.
She made a sound of distress in her sleep, but still she did not stir. As my mother left the room, it gave me a chance to reflect, to go back in my mind to where this all started, before either of us were even born.
The memories were too much as always, and I walked across the room to the tray where I was sure mom had left her cure all. I was a tad surprised to see the amber colored liquid instead of clear.
I threw back the scotch and placed the glass gently back on the bedside table, because I wanted to fling it into the fireplace until it shattered into a thousand pieces.
Moving back to the bed I touched her, the way I always need to whether she’s near or far. I’ve tried so hard to protect her, to spare her this. My poor baby, her life...
Now she has remembered, but not in the way I wanted. Now she had only the darker side of it and I must wait until she awakens before I can tell her all of it.
Her heart, that organ that beat in her chest, but that I can map with my own, was hurting. This for me was unacceptable.
She had known enough pain, I can’t...”Wake up Jasmine, open your eyes and look at me.” Nothing.
“Son what can we do?” My mother had returned without my notice and the sun, what little there had been of it, was now gone completely.
“There’s nothing, she’s not ill, her body just refuses to awaken because her mind remembers. Her heart is hurt, because for her she’s three years old again and has awakened to horror, and I wasn’t there.”
“But you were a boy, surely she can’t blame you for that, how could she?”
“Because I promised.”
“Oh come on, I’m sure she’ll understand that there was nothing you could’ve done...”
“How is it mother that you know our history and you cannot understand this? Jasmine and I are not like others; had I not left her they would never have dared.”
“But you were so young, and you didn’t even know of your strengths then. I’m sure when she wakes up, and you’ve had a chance to talk, she will be very understanding.
I looked down at her on my bed, the place where I’ve imagined her a thousand times. Even now, with her in that state, my body still reacted.
It was no use telling it not to, she’s the one woman that can overpower all my training, and that, without any effort on her part. She only has but to breathe and I am hers.
There was a lot to be done now, not least of all was telling her father this fantastical story of our lives and why our paths had crossed, but I wanted to tell her first. I also had to go hunt my enemies, but how could I leave her like this?
I wanted to be here when she first opens her eyes, so that I can answer all her questions, hold her as she relives the horror of her childhood.
She stirred and I sat on the bed next to her, willing her to come back to me. The silent tears that fell from beneath her closed lids tore at my heart, and I bit into the flesh of my hand so as not to cry out.
“You may go now mother.” I waited until she left the room, to lie down beside Jasmine and draw her into my arms.
Her body was still and cold, so cold. I tried rubbing warmth back into her arms and back as I held her as close to my heart as possible.
With all that I am, the one thing I cannot do, is take away her pain. I would gladly give up all I have, all that I am, to carry her pain in myself so that she never has to.
So great was my distress that I didn’t think of the one thing that was sure to work. There was one place where we’ve always met, where nothing else was allowed to intrude.
Chapter 19
THORN
Yes of course, why hadn’t I thought of it sooner? Brushing the hair back gently from her face, I cleared my mind of everything but her.
The sounds outside the window no longer penetrated, as I controlled my breathing, until I was almost in a state of comatose.
I nudged at the edges of her mind, trying not to intrude too harshly. This will not be as our other encounters.
I wasn’t sure who I was going to find in the mirrors of her mind; eighteen-year old Jasmine, or the little innocent that had been dragged from the night in terror.
The room was in darkness as I crept into her mind. Everything was still and all that could be heard was her breathing. I stood over her here as I had in my room not long ago.
“Jasmine, baby look at me.” I knew she heard me, because her breath hitched, but still she refused. I touched her face lightly with my fingertips, tracing a path down her cheek.
“I would never have left you my sweet, sweet, girl, had I known what was going to happen, I promise you.”
“I was so scared, I called for you, all night and all the next day. Why didn’t you answer me, you knew how didn’t you, or am I remembering differently? Angel.”
She remembered. “How much do you remember?” I held my breath as I awaited her answer.
“Everything.” Her voice was a tortured whisper.
“That night...?” again I held my breath, hoping for the best.
“Everything.”
I closed my eyes in slight despair. I would’ve loved to have spared her that. I could feel her pain, the anger and torment. I warred within myself as to what to do next.
For years there was no memory of it in her mind or heart. I’d searched diligently, even toyed with the idea of erasing the memory if it was there. It wasn’t too late to do that now, but would it be fair?
It was so hard sometimes to know what was right and what was not. I know my views where she’s concerned are old fashioned and out dated.
This too is one of the reasons I wanted to give her more time. When I do finally take her beneath me, I won’t ever be able to give her the space most women want.
Much as when we were younger, we will seek each other out at every turn, never wanting to be too far from each other for any length of time.
I will also, as her mate, seek to control everything in her life as my way of protecting her and our children.
They had tried to explain this to me in my training, but there had been no need. I had already experienced it to a point, since the minute she was born, only it was supposed to get worst.
“Would you like to talk about it?”
“I want to know everything. Who was that girl, and what does she have to do with what happened to my family?”
“What makes you think...?”
“I don’t know; it’s a feeling, a very strong one. I seem to be bombarded with them all of a sudden.”
So it had started. “Did you touch her?” the question asked with such venom jarred me for a second.
“No.” Her body relaxed and she unclenched her fists. “Open your eyes baby and look at me.”
Finally she opened her eyes and looked at me. I could see the change already, not complete, but it had started. The light was already beginning in her eyes; it was only a matter of time.
I told her as much as I could about the legend and our destiny. She listened with very little interruption, though there were times she seemed more than a bit skeptical.
Taking one of her soft hands in mine, I relayed the story in my head, just as it had been taught to me so long ago.
“In older times, we would’ve been accused of witchcraft, cast aside, spurned. Some of our ancestors, both yours and mine, have suffered that fate throughout the centuries.
But now men think differently and are somewhat more tolerable. They’ve also learnt that every gift is not of the darkness.
That all unusual abilities hadn’t been granted by sorcery! Now, instead of being hunted to destruction, we and other people like us, are being harnessed for our minds, for our extra powers, that are still asleep in most men.”
“People like us, what does that mean? Does that have anything to do with you w
alking in my dreams?”
“Shh, we’ll get to all that, just let me share this with you, and then I’ll answer all of your questions.”
She didn’t seem overly happy about that suggestion, but she laid her head back down and prepared to listen like I asked.
“There are great lines that go way back in the motherland and throughout Europe. Men started charting these lines over six hundred years ago.
Scholars and others of like minds have been monitoring, studying, dissecting these families. Culling out the weakest from among the strong.
Over time they were just a few of those lineages that grew stronger over the passage of time, while others languished and even more faded or squandered their gifts.
Some exploited their gift to their own detriment. Still others had been wiped out by the inquisition and other fallacies like it.
Throughout it all, there were two families that always seemed to rise to the top, whose strengths were always enhanced instead of depleted with each generation.
There was a great legend, one that many had thought to be folly, of these two lines converging. Of two members, one from each of these two groups wedding each other, somewhere in the future, which is now, our time, yours and mine.”
I saw her poised to ask another question of me, but my finger across her lips kept her silent.
“It was believed that if such a thing should happen, that the offspring of that duo would be almost indestructible. For sure the child would be extremely powerful.
As a child I knew nothing of this legend. Had I known, I would’ve understood the strange hold you have had on me, since you were in your mother’s womb.
It was later determined that it was because of that coming connection that my family and I had been led here, to the Americas, to you.
It was only after you’d been taken and I had been brought to the brink of madness that it had all come out...”
Her sharp indrawn breath at my words had me kissing her brow gently and wrapping her more securely in my arms.
“As I was saying, they had no choice then but to tell me the whole of it, young though I was, for fear that if they didn’t, I would surely lose my hold on reality.
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