by Marta Szemik
William sat up with a puzzled face. His heart had skipped the same beat as mine. He inhaled as well. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. I felt it too.” I placed my hand in the middle of my chest. The throbbing pressure was gone.
“Yes, but yours skipped first, mine second. What changed?” he asked.
“I accepted who I am. My other half.”
“That would explain why the beating went back to the way it was before I met you.” He came to my side, leaning over so his ear was against my chest, separated only by my T-shirt. I used all the willpower I had to control my desire. The butterfly-like flutter in my stomach returned and I bit my lip. But William was a gentleman and went back to sit in the armchair. “I was certain of my path, and then when I saw you . . . when I saw how alike we were—the loneliness and isolation—I hesitated. I wasn’t sure whether I could do this. But now my heartbeat is adjusting to yours. It always wanted to beat to the same rhythm but couldn’t. Not until now.” He looked up at me. “We’re on the same path now.”
“How exactly could you have been lonely at school? I mean, look at you.”
“Now, is this a question for me or you?” He raised his eyebrows.
I bit my lower lip. “I just thought—”
“I was home-schooled,” he interrupted.
“Why?”
“I’d lived with my parents in seclusion. I never had to keep the secret of being a vampire, and never wanted to. I don’t think I would know how.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to assume you weren’t lonely.” I yawned.
“It’s all right. You couldn’t have known. Go back to sleep, Sarah.” He came over and gently pushed at my shoulders until I sank into the mattress.
“Good night.”
“Good night.” He shuffled back to the chair.
I turned to lie on my right side, then on my left. Then I flipped on my back and stared at the ceiling. After a while, I looked back toward the window and the chair where William was resting.
The ticking of the alarm clock pounded in my ears. It was close to two in the morning and William was still sitting upright, snoring with his eyes open. I went to his side and brushed the back of my hand against his cheek. He didn’t flinch. With my right arm behind his shoulders and my left under his knees, I braced to lift him. This would be the first time I’d used my strength since my run in with the bear.
When I held William a few inches above the chair, he murmured, “I’ll find you, Sarah. I’ll never let you go.”
I carried William to the bed, where he stretched his long limbs, and lay down beside him, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body. His warmth wrapped around me, just as it had in the park. It didn’t seem to matter how far away he was; I was beginning to understand his presence and how to sense him. With my eyes closed, I listened to William’s deep, rhythmic inhalations and loud exhalations.
I stared at the yellowing ceiling, noting my first night away from home. Would I ever retrun to Pinedale? My instinct told me I would, but it wouldn’t be home anymore.
Chapter 9
After forty minutes of tossing, I turned to my right side, rubbing my stomach to settle its loud grumbling. It didn’t help, but the whiteness of my hands distracted me; they were so pale they almost glowed in the dark. The last drop of saliva passed through my throat, scratching it, and I reached for a water bottle on the bed table. My stomach growled again.
Not wanting to wake William to ask for more blood, I scribbled a note, left it on my pillow, and crept toward the door, remembering a vending machine around the corner at the end of the long building and the Cheetos and bubble gum within it. When I turned the doorknob, it squeaked, but William’s breathing remained deep and even. My foot nudged the door open, and the hinges squeaked even louder. William still slept. Sliding through the crevice, I slipped out and pulled the door shut behind me.
I fiddled with the coins in my pocket, but my stomach pulled me toward the end of the building. The alley was dark, only lit by a streetlight at the motel’s entrance. As my eyes adjusted, my ears tuned in on rustling behind the garbage bin. My throat itched. Feeling a hook in my stomach, I was drawn toward the smelly bin to the discarded leftovers it held—and the rapid heartbeats of five rats. My mouth watered. Hunched lower, I focused on the prey, then leaped over the bin.
They had no chance. Four rodents wriggled in my grip while I fed on the first one. I concentrated on the warm, fresh blood flowing into me, into my veins, and contemplated what else I might find once the rats were done—the burning in my throat had eased, but my stomach wasn’t satisfied.
My ears perked up. A raccoon across the road groomed itself in the bushes. Anticipating its blood, I turned toward the street—and froze.
About ten feet awa stood a tall man, observing me. His glowing purple eyes pierced mine. He wasn’t just a man. If he had been, I would have run away already.
I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid he’d extract secrets from my brain. Is he still there? I peeked through thin slits in my eyes. He hadn’t moved, but the glow in his eyes softened. The lump in my throat passed with more ease, and I opened my eyes, taken aback by the familiar shade of his purple pupils. Frozen, I was unsure whether to run or let the seeker do as he pleased, but again, he didn’t move.
Is he a seeker? He looked like one, but he wasn’t dressed like one. The plain jeans and a hooded vest were a far cry from a long cloak. Despite the casual clothes, his demonic mien was undeniable. Seekers’ eyes were orange, his purple. Taller than the others I’d seen, his feet were planted in a wide stance. Long fingers clutched an object he held in his left hand, the blue streaks emanating from it were diluted by the light from the streetlight around the corner.
The man looked at me as if this wasn’t the first time he’d seen me and I recognized something familiar about him. I noted the twitch of my right arm as I prepared to defend myself. My hips shifted, positioning my body to lunge while he scanned me from the bottom up as if to make sure he’d found the right person. His head cocked to the right, and I thought I saw a smile. I frowned. According to William, seekers could not show genuine emotions. So maybe he wasn’t a seeker after all. I wasn’t ready to fight one; at least, I didn’t think so.
I moved my right foot back; he moved his foot forward. Could I outrun him? I hesitated, noting the outline of powerful thigh muscles under his jeans. Maybe I could outsmart him.
“Can I help you?” I tried to sound calm and untroubled, but my voice shook.
“I think I’m the one whose help you need,” he said.
His comforting tone did not match his demeanour. I recognized it but couldn’t remember from where. Was this a trick? “I don’t understand.”
A door slammed loudly in the motel; it didn’t startle either of us.
“Are you Sarah?”
I knew I shouldn’t reveal my identity to anyone and wished I’d stayed in the room with William. The gurgling of my stomach disagreed. I glanced toward the five carcasses piled in a small pyramid, wishing I’d had time for the racoon across the street.
A cloud floated away and allowed a few stars and the thin crescent moon overhead to light the alley. The neon sign flashed around the corner, sporadically splashing its brightness into the illumination from the streetlight and the blue glow in his palm. Only the rustle of leaves broke the quiet of the forest.
He cocked his head to the other side.
“Who are you?” I asked, trying to add some bravado to my tone. His stance seemed familiar, as did the purple eyes that held mine.
“I’ve been looking out for you for a while. It’s never been the right time to formally meet.”
I took another step back. My heartbeat quickened.
“Don’t fear. My name is Eric.”
The name sounded familiar. Could he be here to help us?
“I’m a demon, and I’m bound to you forever. They call me the evil-bender—”
In front of the garbage bin, a motel d
oor slammed into the wall as it flew open. William dashed into the alley. His gaze darted to me, his eyes pleading for me to come to his side. I didn’t move, remembering Eric’s almost identical step earlier. Then William refocused on the demon. His eyes sunk in and contours of his cheekbones intensified. William’s forehead wrinkled as the vampire instinct took over. Only then did I see a dozen fleshy spikes just below Eric’s chin. I hadn’t noticed those before; my gaze had been hypnotically fixated on the purple eyes.
William tore an iron bar from the railing along the side entrance. He came at the demon with speed I didn’t think possible and swung the bar behind him, prepared to strike.
The evil-bender stretched out his hand. A bright light shot from his palm. It hit William in the center of his chest and lifted his feet off the ground. He flew backward and indented the asphalt when he landed, bones cracking and air gusting from his lungs on impact.
“No!” I ran to kneel beside his limp body. William lay on his side, unconscious.
The evil-bender smiled wickedly. Furious rage boiled in my veins. My muscles tightened, shoulders broadened. First I’d take care of this demon, then I’d tend to William. I let out a roar, turning back toward the attacker.
As I prepared to launch forward, a vision appeared of another world—a world I had not seen before. A long corridor stretched before me, its walls painted with landscapes more beautiful than any art I’d seen on earth. Candles in wall sconces burned smokeless and illuminated the hall. Silky plush carpeting covered the floor, patterned along the edges with gold stars. It smelled like home; it felt safe and peaceful.
It was unlike any dream I’d had and it lasted less than a second before I was back in the dark alley.
Eric’s wicked smile hadn’t faded, but now it didn’t seem to be meant for me as his gaze skidded to the side. Is it for William? I wondered, holding his still body. When I stood, my rage was ready to explode from inside me. Stepping in front of William, my knees flexed, and I was ready to strike, ready to protect William.
I no longer wanted to know who this man was and I imagined ripping his throat like a savage beast in revenge for what he’d done to William. Any demon whose calling began with “evil” couldn’t be good. I narrowed my eyes, knowing I wouldn’t go down without a fight.
The evil-bender stood still, looking at me as if I were I child who needed to be taught too much in a short time. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it and shook his head. Tension fuelled his purple gaze, which was no longer directed at me. An orange glow of another demon’s eyes rushed at me from the corner of the building. Those eyes definitely belonged to a seeker.
He’s a spy! Eric is a spy for the seekers! My insides twisted, but I didn’t show it. I held my stare on the traitor, hating him for hurting William. Any hope I had vanished. Eric was here to find us and make sure we couldn’t get away before others arrived.
Talons outstretched, the seeker flew straight at me. Eric, still facing me, seemed unfazed. I wanted to move, but my feet had been glued to the ground by a blue glow under my soles. Either my instincts had been asleep for too long, or Eric had more tricks up those long sleeves than I thought.
The seeker sprang toward me, but in the tenth of a second it took him to pass the evil-bender, Eric stuck his arm out and grabbed the seeker by his throat. The demon squeaked and released a high-pitched yelp. I slapped my hands over my ears. The demon squirmed, but Eric didn’t let go. He winked at me, and I heard, Don’t worry, I’ll find you again. We’ll get through this. Except Eric didn’t move his lips.
He stepped back and disappeared with the seeker into a blue mist.
“William. William!” I hurried to his side, breathless.
William remained unconscious. I shook him by his shoulders, then pressed my ear against his chest, listening for air entering his lungs. His torso rose with a drawn breath, then fell on an exhale, and I took his face into my hands. “William, come back to me, please.” My eyes blurred.
“It’s okay, Sarah. I’m okay,” he whispered, opening his eyes.
“Are you hurt?” I pulled him into an embrace.
“Nothing time can’t heal. Where is he?” William sat up abruptly, and his heartbeat skipped. “Did he hurt you?” Grimacing, he lifted his hand to the side of his head and I assumed he was probing a bruise.
“No, he’s gone. Don’t move. Let me help you back inside.”
He shivered but didn’t pull away as I helped him to his feet. We staggered back into the room. I left him on the bed to get ice and rushed back with a bucket. William moaned when I pressed a handful of ice against his head, but he didn’t argue.
“Who was he?” he asked, seated on the edge of the bed. “Where did he go?”
When I pulled the ice away, he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. William reached in his backpack for a silver flask. Thunder sounded in the distance.
“He was a demon. An evil-bender.” I told William of the meeting in the alley, including my vision and Eric’s hold on the seeker. William tipped the container of blood to his mouth and after a few sips, the glow of his skin returned as if he’d had a magic potion. I placed my hand to the back of his head. I knew the bruise would soon be healed and the lump would shrink.
“Here.” He took my hand and placed it on his third rib. “Push down and up by a fraction until you feel it locked. It will heal quicker.”
I leaned into the bone and pressed my palms hard. The bone cracked.
William shut his eyes and tensed his jaw.
“I’m sorry.” I pulled my hands away.
“No. That’s good.” He exhaled. “I don’t know who this evil-bender is, but your vision . . . How did you do it? I thought you could only get premonitions in your dreams. The relaxation theory was just a theory—you weren’t relaxed in the alley, were you?”
“No. I don’t know why I got the vision. What was that place?”
“The high underworld.”
“As opposed to the low one?”
William rolled his eyes, chuckling. “That’s exactly what I would have said.” He laughed again.
“You’re making fun of me!” I accused.
“Never!” He smirked. “The high underworld is where the keepers maintain the balance between good and evil. Not many have seen it.”
“You’ve been there,” I guessed.
“Yes. The entrance is in Spain, behind the Caballo Falls in Monasterio de Piedra. I was eight. My parents took me.”
Outside, a strong gust of wind whirled leaves into the air. When the rustle of settling leaves faded, another rumble of thunder roared, this time closer.
“Sarah, you shouldn’t have gone out. When I saw you weren’t here . . .” William tucked my hair behind my ear.
I read the fear he’d felt when he found himself alone. “I’m sorry. I just needed some fresh air and food. It won’t happen again.”
“We have to be more careful now. This is the second demon who found you; others can, too. A seeker has been here; others will follow his lead.”
“Shouldn’t we leave?” I looked toward the door.
“No, it’s still safer here than the airport.”
“I don’t think Eric meant to hurt me. He took care of the seeker.”
“I hope you’re right.” William sighed. He moved to double-check the window and found it locked. Droplets of rain began splattering against the glass. “But if he didn’t want to hurt you, what did he want?”
“He said he’s bound to me forever.” I paused. “And that he’d find me again.”
William frowned. “We have four hours of sleep left.”
“You need to lie down. You hit your head pretty hard.” I pushed lightly against his chest, urging him to sit down in the chair. There was no point in asking him to lie down on the bed. He was just as stubborn as I was.
“But—”
“I won’t go anywhere, I promise.” I bounced onto the bed.
He didn’t argue. His face was lined with exhaustion, his e
yelids drooping. Although his body did not need a break, his head did. The hum of rain soothed, and unlike earlier, William’s eyes finally closed.
Chapter 10
William woke at six in the morning. The sun’s rays had crept above the horizon. His eyes moved back and forth below his half-shut eyelids: then he patted the sheets on either side of him with his hands. Our arms touched. I heard his heartbeat speed up, but he calmed it almost immediately.
“Hi.” He rolled over to hover above me.
“Hello.” I controlled each breath as it left my lungs. William’s lips had swollen during the night. Mine quivered when I thought of the certain pleasure I would feel if they touched his. “How’s your head?”
“Okay now.” His gaze found the chair, then came back to the bed. “I don’t suppose I sleepwalked to the bed.” The eyes holding mine twinkled.
“You didn’t,” I answered, striving to sound casual. “I figured there’s enough space for both of us.” I tried to forget I wore skimpy underwear and a T-shirt underneath the covers. My breathing quickened.
“Hmm. And how exactly did you manage to get me in bed with you?” he teased.
“Oh, stop it. You know I carried you.” My stern tone melted as the heat from his body radiated to warm mine.
“You did?” William widened his eyes. “How could such a fragile little thing like you carry someone like me? I’ll have to find a way to thank you. Perhaps—” He lowered his face closer to mine.
“William!” I feared what would happen if he came any closer. It took all the strength of will I had to keep my arms at my sides, hands gripping the sheets. The urge to throw them around his neck and crush his lips against mine made my mouth water. I wanted to feel their tenderness and taste their sweetness. To have them caress my face, my neck…