Brush of Shade ((YA Paranormal Romance/Fantasy) The Whisperer's Chronicles)

by Jan Harman

“Shade? He’s been real good about helping me get acclimated to valley life.”

  “Lucky you.”

  I shook open a reusable canvas bag and said before the rumor mill picked up breaking news, “We’re just friends. The guy can be quite bossy in an older brother sort of way.”

  “That’s too bad. I heard he broke up with his girlfriend at the end of the summer.”

  “We’re lowly high schoolers. Besides, that would break his personal code or something not to mention the law.”

  “A girl’s got to look ahead. We are seniors,” she said, her eyes turning soft and dreamy.

  “Boyfriend?” I snapped my fingers in front of her face. “Track team? Ring any bells?”

  “Please, it’s Shade Grisland. Becky and Amanda are going to die.”

  I laughed, pleased that at least amongst Amber and her friends, that Shade was the one with celebrity status. Watching his reaction to teenage girls mooning over him all the way to the mall and back was going to be amusing. The fact that I was no different than them, I chose to ignore. After all, I had an excuse. I was the recipient of a Soul Oath, albeit for the reason of my health and safety, but still it was there between us, forever.

  Amber was filling me in on the best places to shop when Shade strolled over to the counter. Unaware of our earlier conversation, he smiled at Amber before asking me, “Are you about ready?”

  “Almost,” I said. “Did you know Amber and I are in the same class at school?”

  A fifty count box of half-inch nails slipped out of Amber’s hand, spilling all over the counter, tinkling against the glass. Blurred hands scooped up the nails and dropped them into the box. She stared at the box like it might sprout legs and walk off while two, crimson splotches erupted on her cheeks. Shade shot me a quizzical look, sighed, and dropped the box into a bag.

  He jingled his keys. “The pipe is loaded. I’ll pull the truck up around front. Are you going to need help carrying that out?”

  “I’ll help. I’m done with my shift,” Amber volunteered, still staring down at the counter.

  “Hold up, Shade,” I said, forestalling his retreat to a safe estrogen free zone. “I’d like to take you up on your offer. Amber and I were thinking of hitting a few malls over break.” I conveniently left out the part about her friends.

  “A few?” A polite mask of resignation settled over his face. “No problem just let me know when. Nice seeing you again, Amber. Tell Owen thanks for having the pipe stacked and ready. See you out front, Olivia.”

  “See, he spoke to you,” I said, fully aware that Shade with his excellent hearing caught every word.

  “Olivia!” Amber hissed, her cheeks flaming again.

  I picked up the nearest canvas bag. “Please, I tease him all the time. It’s fun.”

  “Wait right there,” she shouted over her shoulder as she dashed into a side room. A minute later she raced out, still pulling on her coat. “I’ve got the other two bags.”

  “Thanks,” I said, not at all upset that she was helping out just on the off chance that Shade spoke to her again.

  We were waiting in the vestibule for Shade’s truck to come in sight when Amber groaned and tried to bury her face between the two bags.

  “Something wrong?” I asked.

  “Start talking. Don’t make eye contact,” she said in a low voice when the door opened for a middle-aged gentleman with a narrow, pinched face and a receding hairline. Without waiting for me to respond she asked, “Are you going to Trent’s New Year’s Party?”

  “Are you kidding? The party is all Trent can talk about. Is there anyone he hasn’t invited?” I replied, trying to nudge her towards the automatic door, but she was frozen in place.

  “You ought to stay away from inferior stock, Miss Hastings. I’ve seen you with that human boy. Shameful. There are plenty of respectable clansmen like my son, Willis. With him you could be proud that you’ve done your duty to preserve your blood,” the gentleman said, crowding between us, shoving me to the side as if I wasn’t there.

  “I’m not a brood mare,” Amber retorted.

  The man leaned down close to her and spoke in a slurred voice that made her shake. “Next time Willis calls, you better be friendly.”

  “Leave her alone,” I shouted. “Amber, let’s wait outside.”

  A firm hand closed around my arm, squeezing uncomfortably when I tried to slip past. Startled, I stared up at churning seas and felt a twinge of unease. It just figured something would happen the first day that I’d returned to work since the attack had left me buried in snow. “Excuse me,” I said unable to stop my voice from quivering.

  His lips pulled back into a snarl, revealing yellowed teeth and releasing the stench of alcohol and cigars that permeated the confined space. I buried my mouth in my sleeve and dragged a filtered breath. Hatred scoured across my mind. Its terribleness rendering me paralyzed beneath its caustic touch.

  “We don’t need mongrels telling us what to do. They ought to be leashed, muzzled, and taught to obey,” he threatened, yanking my arm over my head, forcing me to stretch up onto my toes until my knee shook.

  Amber leapt forward, grabbing for his arm. “Let her go.” He shouldered her against a line of carts that clanked together and rolled away. Left with nothing to hold on to, she skidded on a wet spot on the entryway floor and ended up sprawled on her hands and knees.

  The moment the focus of his wrath switched to Amber, my mind ceased vacuuming up his twisted emotions. I was able to form clear thoughts that connected to my body. I swung the canvas bag, whacking him on his hip. Metal pipe fittings clanged together. Nails flew out of the bag, clinking against the shopping carts and spilling across the floor. The man swore and dug vibrating fingers into the soft tissue of my arm until I writhed on his leash, whimpering like a beaten dog. The next thing I knew, the bulletin board was coming at my face, too fast for me to put my burning arm out to stop the inevitable collision.

  Flyers and snowflakes fluttered into my face. Splayed fingers cradled my forehead, keeping it from striking the wall. Nearly invisible arms scooped me up and set me on my feet.

  “Girls, wait for me in my truck,” Shade ordered.

  One look at his face and I was motivated to do as he ordered. Icebergs had devoured seas.

  “Figures Lewis Fairdale would pick now of all times to come into the store,” Amber said as she climbed onto the seat next to me. “He’s always so foul tempered and worse when he’s been drinking. Owen’s the only one who can tolerate the man long enough to wait on him.”

  I barely heard the last part. Fairdale, as in a relation of mine? Just when I’d let my guard down, the valley had spat at me again. Perched on the edge of the seat, I ran my nails up and down the cold metal teeth of the zipper on my jacket. I wanted to go home. Too bad the home I’d just visualized was far away and didn’t belong to me anymore. “Why doesn’t Shade leave?”

  “The Grisland’s are loyalist and quite vocal in their support of traditions. He’s probably reminding Mr. Fairdale of his obligations.”

  “I don’t want a fight,” I said, feeling a sick twist of my stomach as Lewis Fairdale’s ugly expression of hatred pulled his lips back into a feral snarl. When he pointed at me in the truck, I had to resist the impulse to slump down in my seat and hide.

  “Oh, Shade won’t start a fight. Diamond level certification requires practically super human control. Don’t worry about Fairdale. Even when he’s drunk, he’s got sense enough not to tangle with a diamond.”

  Despite Amber’s reassuring assessment of the situation, I breathed a sigh of relief when Shade abruptly turned. Halfway through the door, he whirled about so fast that his movements were a blur. Fairdale skidded across the floor, slamming against the automatic door that couldn’t react fast enough. Shade raised his palm. The door flung open, crashing against the wall. Skidding on his rear-end, Fairdale sailed past the checkers ringing up customers.

  “Don’t worry, they’re all Whisperers. No one saw,” Amber rea
ssured.

  I sunk back against the seat cushion. It hadn’t occurred to me to check. But they had. It had been engrained in them since birth. I pulled my purse to my chest and stared straight ahead.

  “My apologies, ladies,” Shade said as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “Stay, Amber. I’ll give you a lift home as soon as we drop these bags at the shop.”

  “Did he attack you?” I asked breathlessly, finding it difficult to locate my voice. Churning seas, that were already showing signs of returning to their normal icy calm, held my eyes for a moment before turning away to back the truck out of the parking spot.

  “Just a shove to assert his dominance. It was out of character. The Enforcers will put him in a cell until he sobers up. If he bothers either of you again, call me.”

  “He tried to voice Amber,” I said.

  Shade shot Amber a concerned look. “Do you need a cleansing? I can contact my grandmother.”

  “I’m alright. He was too drunk to make a connection this—“

  “Has he bothered you before? We can stop by the bureau so you can file a report,” Shade said, keeping his tone gentle.

  “A couple of times,” she admitted, staring down at her lap with her hair hiding her face. “I thought about telling Mason, but then Owen stepped in to handle Mr. Fairdale’s orders.”

  “I’ll speak to your cousin. He’ll handle the situation.”

  During the drive, my irrational fears imagined hate filled eyes glaring out at me through every house window. I stared straight ahead, chewing on my bottom lip until we pulled into the alley where we parked. Shade scooped up all three bags and headed through the back entrance. I waited for Amber to say she wasn’t interested in going to the mall or being friends. When she followed me inside, I tried not to get my hopes up.

  “Do you think Shade could give us a ride to Gunnison tomorrow? I’ve got gift cards I could use to buy something sparkly to wear to the party,” Amber said, bubbling with excitement.

  I spun about, taking the last couple of steps backwards. “You still want to go after what just happened?”

  “I’m not about to let that sour old man spoil my day. You shouldn’t either especially not at this moment,” she answered.

  Her broad grin confused me. Maybe she didn’t know anything about the history between the Pepperdine’s and the Fairdales? Why the heck was she looking over my shoulder all excited?

  I turned about, expecting to see Hattie hunched over her work table. Instead, I ended up blinking several times with what I’m sure had to be a dumbfounded expression on my face. Hattie was at her unusually clean work table as was a large sheet cake decorated with my name and a riot of butter cream pink and blue roses.

  Voices shouted, “Surprise!”

  Amber laughed and gave me a nudge towards the table. People who’d been hiding behind boxes, shelves, or crouched together in the store window spilled out into the shop.

  During the chorus of “Happy Birthday” Trent scooped me up into a hug and kissed me once for each year. Only when my aunt came forward to give me a hug followed by Meadow and Rylan, did Trent relinquish his place at my side.

  When it was Hattie’s turn, her eyes were dancing with amusement. She’d changed into a jean skirt and a gold turtleneck. Beaded wire streamers stuck out of her bun like antlers. “The look on your face was priceless,” Hattie said. “Why hello, Amber. Welcome to my shop.”

  I threw my arms around Hattie’s neck and gave her a big hug. “I can’t believe you did this. I had no idea. Thank you.”

  “Now don’t you be thinking I’ve turned into an old softly. You still have to work for your coins.” She sniffed and muttered, “All these folks must be stirring up some dust.”

  It wasn’t until I turned to ask my aunt if she needed any help with the plates, that I noticed Shade and Shadow leaning against the rickety spool rack with their hands in their front pockets and their thumbs hooked through their belt loops. Neither man was speaking, or at least not out loud. Both had veiled eyes and angry set mouths.

  For Hattie’s sake, I set the ugly incident aside and played the surprised, birthday girl. I took Meadow and Rylan on a search of Hattie’s office for a marker to sign Meadow’s cast. When we were done, Trent was scooping ice cream into bowls while my aunt and Amber were slicing the cake. A loop from the knot in my stomach unwound. Amber had stayed, adding to my small but growing circle of friends in this troubled community.

  When Shade and Shadow finally joined the group at Hattie’s persistence, I made an effort to stay in character. “You were in on it,” I accused Shade as I handed him a slice of cake.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, his expression like his voice, grim.

  “Eat the cake. Have fun,” I ordered, ignoring his apology and the reason for it. His fork automatically went into his mouth. I chuckled. “Sorry, was that a bad order?”

  “Are you having fun?” There was no sting behind his words, just concern.

  “Yes,” I said and meant it. Although, my eyes were suddenly teary after I’d promised myself when I’d woke up this morning that I wouldn’t cry. My bite of the decadently rich, chocolate cake with its fudge filling sat like glue on my tongue.

  “Livi?” he said in his disarming drawl. “It was an ugly scene and on your birthday, too.”

  My smile faltered. “First birthday without . . . I just miss them terribly.” For Aunt Claire, I wasn’t going to turn on the faucet. I cleared my throat and tried to sound cheerful. “Thanks for coming, Shadow. Both of you please stop looking concerned. A girl only turns eighteen once in her life. The valley’s problems can at least wait until after I’ve had some ice cream.”

  “I think you can risk opening your presents,” Shade said, making room for Amber.

  “Oh, most definitely,” she said, shooting him a tentative smile. A rosy blush crept over her face. “I was thinking, Olivia, maybe you’d like to sleep over tonight? We could watch chic flicks and finalize plans for our shopping expedition.”

  Thankfully her nervousness around Shade kept her from seeing his slight grimace. At his side, Shadow smirked.

  “Trent and I are going to the movies tonight. Why don’t you and Dereck join us? Afterwards, we can turn it into a girl’s night.”

  “That sounds fun. I’ll go call Dereck.”

  As soon as Amber had walked away, Meadow squeezed in between the twins.

  “Hey, squirt,” Shadow said, giving her a gentle pulse into his brother.

  One of the whirligigs in the box over his head fell out, striking his shoulder. My pony tail flipped over my shoulder and wind chimes rang as far away as the front window.

  Everyone at the table turned to see who had caused the commotion. The rest of us were staring down at Meadow, watching her entire body quiver.

  In a gentle voice Shadow asked, “How long have you been able to do that?”

  “I . . . for a little while. Please, Shad, don’t be mad. I didn’t mean it. Don’t tell Mom and Dad.”

  “They don’t know?” He squatted down and kissed her forehead. “Hey everybody, we’ve got a newbie in the family.” He tipped his head back and exchanged a serious look with his twin. “Grandma Willow?”

  White flecks swirled in Meadow’s eyes. She grabbed his arm and pleaded, “I’ll stop. I promise!”

  A light pulse ruffled her hair. Shade placed a hand on her head. “Maybe if you ask nice, Shadow will take you under his wing for a while.”

  “Really? Cool!” Her expression turned serious and she leveled a determined gaze onto her cousin. “I want to learn how you— “

  “Newbie, there will be no wild stunts. You’re not even rated yet,” Shadow said sternly.

  Her mouth dropped open. “But you . . . My range is better than Rylan’s,” she announced with all the confidence of a younger version of them.

  “Is not,” her brother argued from the table.

  Shade laughed. “Brother, she’s all yours. Rylan, call your parents and give them the good news.”
>
  Twenty minutes later, Meadow’s parents and Sister Willow arrived at the shop. After lots of hugs and a few stern words, they were invited to have some cake. I held back, watching from the entrance to Hattie’s office, feeling like an eavesdropper on a private celebration. Shade caught my eye and pointed to the office.

  “You look upset. Are you thinking about the memory you took from my grandmother?” he asked, cracking the door.

  “It was horrible. Meadow’s so young.”

  “It’ll be different this time. Our families and the clan will watch out for her.”

  “Are you sure about Shadow teaching her?”

  “Trust me; there’s nothing that she can think of that he hasn’t tried. A few insightful joinings with him will scare her straight.”

  “Let’s hope so. If she’s like her cousins, Shad’s going to go prematurely gray.”

  That made Shade smile. He came forward and placed a box on Hattie’s desk. “Happy Birthday, Livi,” he said, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

  I opened the lid and found a pre-paid card. “You brave man.”

  “I figured if you were going to try on all those clothes, then you might as well buy something. But if you prefer, I can get you a gift card for overalls at Owen’s Hardware Store.”

  “Don’t you dare. What’s this?” I asked, pushing tissue paper aside. “It’s lovely,” I exclaimed, fingering the copper aspen leaf dangling from a delicate chain. I held it closer and found his initials on the underside of the curled tip of the leaf. “You made this? It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  “Hattie, gave me a few lessons.”

  “You’re talented.”

  “It’s nothing. I just dabble,” he answered, concentrating on rapidly folding the tissue paper into a tight square that he stuffed back into the box.

  “Help me get it on, please?”

  When he’d done up the clasp, he took my left hand and curled my fingers around the heart shaped leaf, so I felt the delicate, small tooth edges press into my skin. “When you feel lost, curl you hand about the leaf. It’ll be your happy memory, so you’ll always know that you’ve got a home,” he said, pulsing his dark chocolate voice along my bare neck, tickling the fine hairs.