by Alex Lux
DEREK
O, I am fortune's fool!
— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
I BENT DOWN to pick up her shoes, and, when I looked up, she'd disappeared. This had never happened to me before, and I had no idea what to make of the situation. Should I chase her? Give her some space?
She was running around Seattle, barefoot, barely dressed, in the cold, at night, without any way home. Surely she'd come back. Right?
I called her cell phone, but heard it ringing near me and realized she'd also left her purse. Great.
Pacing back and forth, I considered my best option, then made another call.
"Aren't you supposed to be on your date?"
My sister—straight to the point.
"I am on my date, but she ran away?"
"What did you do to her?" I could hear the laughter through the phone.
"This isn't funny. I didn't do anything to her. I took her to that restaurant you suggested, which she loved by the way. We had a great time, and then, when we walked back to the car, we kissed. Probably the best first kiss I've ever had but, mid-way through it, she freaked out and ran off, leaving her purse and shoes. What do I do?" My eyes darted down the street, looking for any sign that she was coming back.
"You go after her, stupid."
"But doesn't she need some time to clear her head? I don't want to piss her off or freak her out even more."
She sighed. "Trust me on this one, bro. You need to go after her."
"Okay, thanks. I'll let you know what happens."
"And try not to terrorize any more women in the meantime."
"You're a brat." She hung up before I could, but her banter lightened my heart a bit. This had to be just a misunderstanding. Perhaps the kiss had been too much. I'd find her and sort all of it out.
I threw her purse and shoes in the car and debated whether I should walk or drive. Driving would be faster, but if she went down walkways I couldn't drive I'd never find her.
She was barefoot and freezing, so she'd need to sit and warm-up as soon as I found her. The car would be better for that. I could always park and walk if need be.
With that settled, I slid into the driver's seat and slowly pulled out of the parking spot, then drove in the direction she'd gone.
Had this been any other girl, I'd have been pissed. Instead, I was worried. I didn't know what I'd done wrong. Had I hurt her? Scared her? Traumatized her in some way? She seemed so innocent, so pure. Had she never been kissed like that before?
It was that innocence that drew me to her. She didn't play games or use seduction to woo me. She said what she thought and meant what she said. No other woman had affected me this way before. I didn't want to lose her before I even had the chance to get to know her better.
A small nagging voice in my mind took that moment to remind me that I didn't plan on sticking around long enough to get to know anyone, but I ignored it and continued to scan the streets for signs of this girl who had already burrowed her way into my heart.
I thought about what Master Kyoung had said, that she and I were meant to be together. He'd always had a bit of a psychic bent, and I'd never known him to be wrong about anything. If he was right about her, then I had to fix this.
After circling the neighborhood for fifteen minutes, another kind of fear settled in my gut. I should have found her by now. She could be hurt.
A hum of magic buzzed through me as I brought my shifter powers to the surface. With heightened senses, magical and physical, I scanned the area, sifting through different scents and sounds and emotions, until the scent of rose perfume drifted into my car.
Her perfume.
I tracked the direction it came from and concentrated harder. A swell of fear blasted me, causing my heart to stop.
She was scared. Terrified. In danger.
And I might not make it in time.
NINE
Forget to Think
ROSE
O teach me how I should forget to think
— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
TERROR FILLED ME, pulsing through me with each step I took. Some part of my brain acknowledged that my feet had frozen into ice cubes, and that as numb as they were, I'd never notice if I stepped on something sharp or dangerous until it was too late. But the more I thought about what I'd almost done, the smaller that part of my brain got.
I looked down at my bare hands, shocked and ashamed that I'd let my guard down like that. I could have killed him, wiped out his mind and soul with the fire burning in me. Its hunger consumed everything once given freedom, and I'd almost let it out tonight.
The burn of his kiss still lingered on my swollen lips. His scent clung to my skin. I craved him so much it scared me. I could never allow myself to lose control like that again.
Lights flickered off as the last of the businesses in this area closed. Bars would be open, and be warm. I could call Ocean and have her pick me up. I looked around, but didn't see anything that looked like a bar. In the distance, I saw lights from what I assumed was the Seattle Science Center. The Space Needle filled the sky, even though it wasn't the tallest building in Seattle.
I walked toward that area, not sure how far away it was or if there would be any answers for me there, but not ready to face Derek after that kiss and my embarrassing and hasty departure.
I'd run away from the guy.
Barefoot.
Only the sheer horror of my actions eclipsed the mortification I felt in that moment. He must hate me. Certainly, he'd never want to go out with me again, which was probably a good thing.
I'd have to find a new martial arts instructor, which sucked, but it was necessary. Whatever power he had over my heart and body had nearly undone me, and him. He didn't know the danger he was in being with me, and I could never tell him.
My whole life I'd lived under this curse that prevented me from getting too close to anyone.
I thought I could handle it, that I could live this way—until I met Derek.
I'd tried to convince myself that he wasn't really the man in my dreams, that I'd superimposed his face—and body—into my fantasies after meeting him, but I didn't believe my own lies.
And tonight I'd fallen under the spell of Derek so completely that I'd lost myself, and my dark gift had taken over and nearly devoured us both.
I failed to pay attention to where I was walking until I found myself by a beautiful fountain in a courtyard near the Seattle Science Center.
In anticipation of the holidays, lights shone down on the asphalt and projected a lightshow of snowflakes and colorful Christmas tree ornaments.
Walking through the lights, I made my way to the fountain and the large Christmas tree glowing with festive decorations.
Nothing appeared to be open, so I sat by the fountain and watched the light and water dance together in synchronicity.
As the fever of lust cooled, I considered at least a hundred better ways I could have handled that kiss rather than running off like a twit, shoeless and without my purse. I could have stayed and pulled away gently, citing inexperience and wanting to take it slow. It would have been true. I could have said I felt sick and needed to go home. That also would have been true, in a way.
Anything but what I'd done. And now look at the mess I was in.
Tears filled my eyes and trickled down my cheek and into the swirling water below me. If throwing coins into a fountain made wishes, what did the tears of a broken-hearted girl make?
The scuffing of shoes on cement pulled me out of my wallowing. My pulse raced as I shifted to see who had made the sound. I wished and hoped for it to be Derek, but in my gut I knew it wasn't.
Turning away from the water, I saw two figures walking toward me through the heavy mist that coated Seattle.
I didn't get a closer look until they approached me. They looked to be in their early 20s and had the staggered walk of people who'd been drinking too much. So, there was a bar around here after all. If these two were
indicative of the clientele it brought in, maybe it was best I hadn't found it.
The tall one on the right wore low hanging jeans and a baggy shirt that came down to the middle of his thighs. The bandana around his head made him look like a Hollywood reject for a gangster movie. The shorter, meatier guy to his left at least had his pants on properly, but that was about the only improvement to his looks.
Walking with his groin thrust forward, the tall one leered at me. "Look at this, Johnny. Looks like the little flower lost her way. You must be cold in that skimpy dress of yours. Maybe my friend and me can warm you up a bit."
Johnny licked his lips, and I would have laughed if I hadn't been so scared.
Not scared for me, of course.
Scared for them.
My dark gift had already been called up once tonight, and it sat on the edge of my consciousness, waiting for its chance to strike. These two jerks had no idea what they were about to get themselves into.
"I'm just waiting for my boyfriend. My shoe broke and he left to get me my other pair. He should be back in a minute or so." I poised myself as if I hadn't a care in the world. "You might know him? He teaches martial arts and is pretty famous for his fighting skills."
My insides shook as they neared me. They didn't look convinced, or the least bit deterred from their course of action, and I had no intention of allowing myself to be raped or killed.
"I might believe that, except ain’t no one out here but us. So I'm thinking you're lying to me. And no one lies to me. Not never. Ya hear?" His voice dropped two octaves, and Johnny pulled something from his jacket.
A knife.
On instinct, I jumped into the fountain, hoping they wouldn't want to get wet on such a cold night. The ice water sent pulses of pain through my feet and legs, and I worried that I might be doing permanent damage to myself. Could I get frostbite this fast?
I had no time to consider my own question as the men laughed and joined me in the fountain. "You think a bit of water will keep us away? We're gonna party tonight, little girl. We have more friends who'd love a taste of such a fresh peach."
He slid his hand over my shoulder and pulled down the strap to my dress, revealing the black lace bra under it.
I smacked his hand away and yanked my strap back up. "Get the hell away from me, now! I will scream so loud you'll need a hearing aid for the rest of your life."
"Oh, this one has some fire in her, Johnny. You like fire, don't ya?"
Johnny nodded, but didn't speak, and as I looked into his eyes, I shivered. He looked cold inside, heartless and empty and vicious. I wouldn't be the first girl he used that knife on if he got close enough, and I wouldn't be the last.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to use my powers on these two. I'd be saving other innocent victims from future pain and death.
Power filled my hands, and I wished I could do other kinds of magic, control other elements, but aside from a few enhancing spells, I was useless. This dark gift was my only strength, the only thing that could save me just then.
"This is your last chance to leave me alone. Don't come any closer or you'll regret it." Not true. There'd be nothing left of them to regret anything.
I imagined how I looked from their eyes. A scantily clad girl, dripping wet and defenseless. Nothing I could say would convince them of the danger they were in.
Images of Derek's martial arts demonstrations flashed in my mind, and I wondered if I could throw them off balance with my skills, then run like hell.
When the spokesman for the group stepped closer, I kicked out like I'd been taught, but he caught my foot easily and pushed me back. I fell into the water, hitting my head on the fountain. Bright lights spun in my eyes as I tried to focus.
They leaned in to me, one spreading my legs while the other reached for my shoulders. I extended my hand, touching the one without the knife, channeling my power. It trickled at first, my fear at war with self-preservation. The wolf-boy's face flashed in my mind, and I pulled my hand free as adrenaline surged in me, panic overriding thought as those memories transported me to that moment, as I stared at his lifeless eyes. My heart hammered in my chest, pushing so hard I felt it in my ribs.
My head ached and nothing made sense. Time, faces, events, they jumped around, jumbling in my mind.
"Come here, little bitch. I'll show you what a real man can do."
I pushed him away, trying to control my power, and Johnny lashed out with his knife and sliced across my right bicep. I cried out in pain as my blood mingled with the water, turning it pink.
I couldn't hold back anymore. I had to protect myself. Holding in a sob of grief, I touched them both at once, and just as I was about to unleash every dark thing inside of me, they pulled away and turned to someone approaching us.
"Get the hell away from her, or I will kill you both and eat your hearts for breakfast."
That voice, I knew that voice. He growled under his breath, sounding more animal than human. I couldn't see him through the mist and the two men blocking me, but I knew Derek had come. He thought he was saving me, and maybe he was… saving me from the guilt of taking two more lives. Saving me from having to become the person I hated most.
I pushed myself up as my attackers sauntered over to Derek with a cocky disregard for the danger they were in.
The fight couldn't have lasted more than two minutes. Derek took them out with a few carefully chosen kicks and punches, until they both lay on the ground, unconscious. When he turned to face me, his eyes glowed with a supernatural light that disappeared as he ran toward me.
"Rose, are you okay? Oh my God, I was worried I wouldn't find you in time."
Water splashed on him until his white shirt clung to the muscles of his body. My own clothes had probably turned into a second skin, but the pain in my head and my arm made concerns about modesty insignificant.
He reached for me and pulled me into his arms. "You're bleeding. He cut you. I'm going to rip his head off and feed it to him through his ass."
The violence in him should have scared me, but it only made me feel safer, protected. "Don't. Let's just go. I don't feel well."
He nodded, then lifted me into his arms and began walking back to his car.
If I hadn't been so cold, so tired, and in so much pain, I might have protested. But I wasn't sure I could actually walk any distance in my condition, and his arms felt so good, so right, around me. His strength gave me peace and comfort. I rested my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes, content to forget about everything else for this one moment and think only of him.
TEN
Sweet Sorrow
DEREK
Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.
— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
"I SHOULD TAKE you to the hospital to have that cut stitched. It looks bad." Actually, I should just take you to my house, dry you off, get you in warm clothes and heal you. I didn't care if it would expose our family's secrets, the thought of her suffering tore at something inside me, and the shirt I'd given her to stop the bleeding had already turned bright red.
"No, I'll be okay. I just need to go home." She shivered next to me, and I increased the heat and broke several speed laws to make the drive shorter.
"I'm sorry I'm getting your car all wet. I'll pay you for the cleaning."
She looked at me with those large eyes, so sad, so scared, and I wanted to go back and kill those two guys who had hurt her.
We hadn't talked about the kiss, about why she ran, and I didn't want to make her life more miserable than it was by bringing it up, but I had to know if I'd see her again. "I know this would qualify as the worst first date ever. I'm sorry. It's my fault. If I hadn't been so… enthusiastic with that kiss, none of this would have happened. And don't worry about the car. My family cares more about people than cars."
"It's not your fault. And I know I owe you an explanation for why I ran, but�
�� I don't know what to say. I got scared, I guess. You're… " she stuttered, nervous. "You're the first person I've ever kissed like that."
I didn't know what to say to that. I figured she was inexperienced, but she was also a beautiful, funny, intelligent and caring woman. How had she gone her whole life without being kissed?
Looking in her eyes, I knew she spoke the truth. I also knew she was holding something back, but I could hardly judge someone for having secrets when my secrets trumped all. "You're far too amazing to have escaped high school without a kiss."
She averted her eyes and smiled. "I was homeschooled. My family is pretty private, and so I never interacted much with people my own age. My parents don't even know I'm on a date with you. They'd freak if they found out."
"You are over eighteen, right?" Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants, if she turned out to be a minor?
"Yes, of course. I'm nineteen. But, like I said, I had a sheltered life. When I met you I just, I don't know. I liked you. I wanted to get to know you better. I'm tired of living under their rules and their expectations for what my life is going to be."
I stopped at a red light and looked at her. "I can relate to that. I'm really sorry. If I'd known, I wouldn't have kissed you, as hard as it would have been to resist."
She winced, and I thought I'd said something wrong, but she showed me the shirt, too full of blood to be of much use, and her wound still bled.
"If you won't let me take you to the hospital, at least let me stitch it and dress it for you, otherwise you'll need a hospital."
"Are you a doctor?"
"No, but I have a lot of experience. Trust me. Can you do that?"
Her eyes glazed over in pain, and I knew she wouldn't last long if we didn't stop the bleeding. She nodded, and I pulled over into a motel parking lot. "Stay here, I'm going to get us a room."