by Tim O'Rourke
If I was going to learn to deal with the feelings I still had for Potter, then what better way than to keep myself busy? Taking one hand from the steering wheel, I reached into my coat pocket and retrieved the key Ravenwood had slipped into my hand. With one eye on the twisting road ahead, I glanced down at the key. It glinted in the sunlight that bounced off the dirty windscreen. What did the key open? I couldn’t help but wonder, my investigative instincts racing to the fore again. And what of Ravenwood? Had his corpse been stolen away? If so, whom by and for what reason? But what if Ravenwood was still alive? Where was he now and would he try and strike out against Sophie again?
There was more than enough for me to investigate – more than enough to take my mind off Potter. But was it enough? I had to work with Potter every day. There would be other investigations – more time spent alone together. Perhaps if I had someone to love – someone to love me? Someone who would help me make that painful transition into this new world.
Slowing my car, I drew to a halt outside the cottage where Nev rented the barn out back. I looked through the windscreen. Why was I here? Had I planned to come? I knew I owed Nev an apology – some kind of explanation at least as to why I’d run out on him the other night.
I climbed from my car and made my way up the path toward the cottage. I followed it around the side of the house to the back. On the other side of a small meadow, I could see a squat-looking barn. It was made entirely of wood. I made my way toward it.
Curling my hand into a fist, I rapped on the door. It swung open. Nev looked surprised to see me at first – a faint smile on his lips. But then as he remembered what had happened between us on my birthday, his smile quickly faded.
“I didn’t think I would ever see you again,” he said, standing in the open doorway, folding his arms across his chest. He was wearing that faded denim shirt again, the one with the flecks of oil paint all over it. His hair looked as unkempt as ever.
“I just wanted to come and explain,” I said.
“There was no need,” he said. “I think I understand.”
“But you don’t – not really,” I said. “Can I come in?”
“It’s a bit inconvenient,” he said, looking back over his shoulder at an easel standing in the room on the other side of the door.
“I understand you’re busy,” I said, turning away from the door. “Perhaps another time…”
“No, wait,” he called out. “Come in – please.”
He stepped away from the door, heading back into the barn and covering the easel with a large sheet. I followed him inside, closing the barn door behind me. The barn was sparsely furnished. Apart from the bed in the far corner, most of the room was cluttered with large canvases. Some of them had been painted on, others were blank.
“Did you paint all these?” I gasped, heading toward the paintings.
“Yes,” he said.
“They are amazing,” I smiled, picking one of them up and holding it at arm’s length before me. The picture was of the sea. It looked black and choppy, and in the distance there were giant black cliffs. They looked like rows of jagged fangs. I could tell it was a picture of the Ragged Cove. But in the picture the cove looked more like how I once remembered it to be.
I put the picture down, turning to face Nev.
“Where’s the necklace?” he asked, sounding a little disappointed. “Didn’t you like it after all?”
“I loved it,” I said. “But someone broke it.”
“Who?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, thinking of Sophie. She really didn’t matter, I tried to convince myself. “Could you make me another?”
“I guess,” Nev shrugged. Then staring at me with his bright blue eyes, he added, “So was that guy really your boss?”
“The guy in the restaurant you mean?” I said, although I knew what he meant.
“Yes.”
“He doesn’t matter either,” I said, trying to tell myself that was true. I wanted to change the subject. I didn’t want to talk about Potter or Sophie. For now at least, I just wanted to forget about the both off them.
“What’s under here?” I asked, reaching out and tugging at the sheet Nev had pulled over his easel.
“Don’t touch that…!” he gasped, but it was too late.
The sheet fluttered away from the easel. I stood and stared at the painting.
“Oh, wow,” I gasped, putting my hands to my face as my cheeks flushed red. I looked at the painting of me.
In the picture I was naked. I was standing, my long, black hair draped over my shoulders covering my breasts. My hands were folded in my lap. One knee was bent forward and two giant black wings grew from my back. It was then I realised where I had seen myself looking just like that before. It had been in a dream I’d had before my friends had gone into the town of Snakeweed and battled with Luke and the Lycanthrope. In the dream, there had been a statue of me looking just as I did in the painting that now sat on Nev’s easel.
“Why have you painted me like that?” I asked.
“It’s not a painting of you,” Nev said.
“Who then?” I said, glancing at him.
“It’s a painting of a statue I once saw,” he said, covering the picture with the sheet again.
“Where is this statue?” I asked him.
“Miles from here,” Nev said.
“Where?” I pushed.
“In a town called Snakeweed,” he said. Then looking at me, he added, “Are you okay, Kiera? You look a bit…”
“I’m just a bit embarrassed for thinking such a beautiful woman could be me, my body is nowhere near as beautiful as that…” I started, trying to cover my surprise at what Nev had told me.
“I wouldn’t know,” Nev said.
“Wouldn’t know what?” I asked.
“How beautiful your body is,” he said, eyes fixed on mine.
I matched his stare. “You said you wanted to paint me, well now’s your chance,” I said.
Slowly, Nev came toward me.
“Where do you want me to pose for you?” I whispered.
“On the bed,” he said, taking me in his arms and kissing me.
Kiera Hudson & The Adoring Artist
(Kiera Hudson Series Three) Book 3
Coming Soon!
Now Available to Pre-order from Amazon by clicking on the following links!
Amazon.com
Amazon.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.au
More books by Tim O’Rourke
Kiera Hudson Series One
Vampire Shift (Kiera Hudson Series 1) Book 1
Vampire Wake (Kiera Hudson Series 1) Book 2
Vampire Hunt (Kiera Hudson Series 1) Book 3
Vampire Breed (Kiera Hudson Series 1) Book 4
Wolf House (Kiera Hudson Series 1) Book 5
Vampire Hollows (Kiera Hudson Series 1) Book 6
Kiera Hudson Series Two
Dead Flesh (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 1
Dead Night (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 2
Dead Angels (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 3
Dead Statues (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 4
Dead Seth (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 5
Dead Wolf (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 6
Dead Water (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 7
Dead Push (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 8
Dead Lost (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 9
Dead End (Kiera Hudson Series 2) Book 10
Kiera Hudson Series Three
The Creeping Men (Kiera Hudson Series Three) Book 1
The Letha Infected (Kiera Hudson Series Three) Book2
The Jack Seth Novellas
Hollow Pit (Book One)
Seeking Cara (Book Two) Coming 2014!
Black Hill Farm (Books 1 & 2)
Black Hill Farm (Book 1)
Black Hill Farm: Andy’s Diary (Book 2)
A Return to Black Hill Farm (Book 3) Coming 2014!
Sydney Hart Novels
Witch (A Sydney Hart Novel) Book 1
Yellow (A Sydney Hart Novel) Book 2
Raven (A Sydney Hart Novel) Book 3 Coming 2014!
The Doorways Trilogy
Doorways (Doorways Trilogy Book 1)
The League of Doorways (Doorways Trilogy Book 2)
The Queen of Doorways (Doorways Trilogy Book 3) Coming 2014!
Moon Trilogy
Moonlight (Moon Trilogy) Book 1
Moonbeam (Moon Trilogy) Book 2
Moonshine (Moon Trilogy) Book 3
Samantha Carter – Vampire Seeker Series
Vampire Seeker (Samantha Carter Series) Book 1
Vampire Flappers (Samantha Carter Series) Novella
The Vampire Watchmen (Samantha Carter) Book 2
The Tessa Dark Trilogy
Stilts (Book 1)
Zip (Book 2) Publishes October 2104
The Mechanic
The Mechanic
Unscathed
Written by Tim O’Rourke & C.J. Pinard
Flashes
Flashes (Book 1)
You can contact Tim O’Rourke at
www.kierahudson.com or by email at [email protected]