“Hello?” I answered.
“Hey Princess Snow,” Dallas said cheerfully.
“Hi! I have so much to tell you I don’t even know where to start.”
“Well I can’t wait to hear it all. But I want to hear it in person so open your door would ya?” I ran to my door and there he stood with two coffees’ in his hand. He was a lifesaver.
I waited until he set them down before I jumped into his arms. He enveloped me into his warm and comforting arms. He smelled like stinky bar but I didn’t care. At this point I didn’t care if he smelled like trash, I still wanted his arms around me.
He lifted me up and carried me to my bed. We laid in it and just stared into each other’s eyes. When he finally kissed me I didn’t want to stop but I had to tell him all about my Watcher and of course about the cabin. I hoped he could get the time off of work. Now I was nervous to tell him. I didn’t want to go if he could not be there. I don’t think that I would have fallen apart at Richard’s or at Landon’s if he were with me. It was then that I realized that he made me feel stronger and stable. Even though he did I also couldn’t think straight while I was with him. Like how I should have been focused on the fact that he was undressing me instead of thinking about my Watcher or the cabin. So I shut it all off and helped him out.
“You seemed preoccupied, are you okay?” He asked as he dressed himself. I just laid there staring at his tattoos and I regretted seeing him dress.
“I am I guess, I’m sorry. I did enjoy being with you just now.” It was very true. Making love to him was beyond perfect. “But a lot had happened since you left that day at my fathers.”
“Oh I’m so sorry. You did try to tell me that and I totally ignored it. I guess I just wanted your body too bad to think about anything else.” I laughed but he didn’t. He was serious.
“Well I wanted your body too. So I kinda decided it could wait.”
“Well tell me. I want to hear about all of it.” He lay next to me and played with my hair while I told him everything that he missed. Except the vision Landon and I shared. I figured he didn’t need to hear about that.
“Can you take the time off? At least for a few days?” I tried to make a pouty face but I don’t think it helped my case. It probably made me look stupid.
“I think I may be able to swing it. I can ask if the new guy can cover for a few days. But I have class Wednesday and it’s in a restaurant so I kind of have to be there.”
“Yay!” I squealed. “Okay I want to leave and be there today. Can you leave with me today? Then we can have a whole night just to ourselves.”
“Oh I think I can definitely swing that. For a whole day, and night, alone with you? No doubt about it. But I have to get a few hours’ sleep and a shower. Can I crash here?” I nodded and kissed his nose. He was so cute.
“Take a shower first cause you smell like a bar.”
“Oh, thanks.” He joked and then I got to see him undress which was just what I wanted. As he showered I packed my bags and had a little breakfast. I heard the shower shut off and then I heard a big thud as he fell into my bed. I shut the door to give him some peace. I decided I would go for a walk and then go to Landon’s and tell him to come to the cabin tomorrow.
Chapter 20
A Finger’s Touch
The walk was long and brisk. As the sun came out I found myself wanting to stay out longer and go do some shopping. So I walked to some of the shops along the bay near my apartment. I had wanted to check them out but never got the chance. The first store was a typical candle store filled with candles and incense. Not long after I left with a minor headache. Once I reached the outside I took several breath’s of fresh air and felt better. The next store was the one I had wanted to visit the most. I was called Angel’s & Air. On the outside it looked like a bookstore but as I walked in I realized I had been a bit off. It was a bookstore, but also was a coffee shop, oxygen bar and ceramic trinkets and gifts. The book section was tiny but I perused the sections on Angels. I guess I hoped to find a book on “How to Ward Off Demonic Angels” or “How to Have Normal Dreams Again Once Your Soul Mate Invades Them.” But no luck. I did come across a book on past lives. The premise was really unbelievable, a boy who remembered his past lives. I decided to not buy that book for I fear that it would cause me to cry. I had been doing enough of that the past few days.
I checked out the oxygen bar and passed on that as well. What drew me closer were all the ceramic gifts. They were so beautifully done. Angels flooded the shelves. The scary thing was they all looked so much like Ianni and Lillith. So human yet, their huge wings took over their whole bodies. It was then that I saw a glass figure of a man and woman, not quiet holding hands, but their hands were very close. The man walking in one direction and the woman in the other. She stared straight ahead but he looked back at her with a face of regret and longing. It was spooky and familiar.
“Ah, I see you have found one of my favorite pieces.” I looked up to see the lady from the oxygen bar. She had a kind face. She looked about forty or so but she had shockingly red hair. A lot like Ianni’s hair.
“Yes, it’s beautiful. What does it represent?” I dared to ask.
“Well it’s my own representation of loss.”
“Loss?” That was not what I saw in it.
“Well, loss of love. He lost her and she carries on in her life like she is happy. But see her hand almost touching his?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“Well she is not entirely ready to lose him forever. She still has him at a fingers touch away.” My body filled with chills and I gasped. Her eyes questioned my reaction but I just nodded and tried to blow it off.
“Looking for anything special?” She asked me with a franticness to her voice.
“I am not sure. Just looking for something for my boyfriend or maybe even for my friend. She just got engaged.” The word boyfriend came out more choked than smooth. It was so foreign to me to say.
“Well I bet she is with her soul mate. I have a lot of soul mate items. I make all of these here.” She led me to the other shelves and she wasn’t kidding. There were a ton more items with a man and woman embraced and almost every one of them had an infinity symbol added to the piece.
“Infinity,” I spoke.
“Yes, well really Affinity, but the symbol is the same.”
“What did you say?” I could not believe my ears. I had never heard that term used before recently and now this woman had said it and I was certain she knew exactly what it meant.
“Affinity. I have books on it are you interested?”
“No I know what it is. My mother she told me.” It wasn’t exactly true but I couldn’t tell her my Spirit Guide told me. I would look crazy.
“Your mother must be very smart if she knows Affinity’s. That’s very rare. I will let you keep looking. I will be over there if you need me.” She pointed towards the oxygen bar and walked away. I noticed her nametag said her name was Katherine.
I continued to look for something rare to get Kerri. After a few minutes I found a beautiful wood carving of a couple at an altar. They appeared to be outdoors. There were flowers surrounding their feet and it looked so perfect for what I imagined for them. I could imagine Kerri putting it on a shelf to show off for years to come. There was an inscription on it that simply said, ‘Union’. I turned to look on the other side of the wall and I noticed a burnt orange feather on the ground. When I looked up Ianni was standing in front of me. I jumped and almost dropped the sculpture. She reached out and grabbed it to secure it.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in a hushed whisper.
“You need to get out of here. This is not a safe place.” She had a very worried look on her face but I couldn’t understand what she meant. This place was harmless.
“You should leave, not me. Someone could see you.”
“I mean it Avery! Pay for your stuff and go back home. Now! I am your Guide, it’s my job to Guide you, and this place is very dan
gerous.” She was completely serious. I didn’t see the harm in a store like this.
“I don’t see the problem but whatever you say.” I gave her a bit of attitude. That was what you got with me lately. I had about no patience with being told what to do.
“I can’t say much but the shop owner, she is meddling with the wrong kind of crowd. Oh no, here she comes.” Just as she said it she disappeared, only leaving behind another feather. I did see Katherine walking my way so I decided to just take Ianni’s advice and pay for my stuff.
“Oh, all set?” She asked.
“Yep, sure am, thanks.” I walked to the counter and heard the doorbell ring as someone else walked into the shop.
“Oh honey you came to visit me,” Katherine said. I looked up and saw a handsome man wave towards her. She looked so happy to see him. He was tall with graying hair but a very GQ face. He belonged on the cover of some magazine or on TV, not in a town like this. He smiled and every one of his teeth gleamed white. I was very impressed with Katherine’s taste in men.
“Is that your husband?” I asked.
“Oh no. He is my soul mate though,” she beamed. “Ben come over here, this young lady she knows of Affinity’s, isn’t that rare?”
I was a little struck at his name. It sounded familiar but I took a second look at him and he did not look like anyone I knew. He walked over and stuck out his hand. I took it and his grip was firm. He looked me right in the eye.
“Hi I am Benjamin, Katherine’s other half. Nice to meet you.”
“Hi, I am Avery.” I said as we continued to shake hands.
“Avery, what a beautiful name. Very unheard of for a girl.” That was rude I thought, although it was sort of true. I couldn’t blame anyone for being honest.
“Avery you must come and try Katherine’s oxygen bar. She has so many blends it would shock you. Have you tried any?” He asked as he tried to lead me to the counter.
“No thanks I really should get going. But, maybe next time.” I pulled my hand from his grip and went back to the counter. Suddenly he turned to Katherine and he looked into her eyes very deeply and said, “Lock the shop we are closed for lunch.”
“Wait…I haven’t paid yet.” I protested. Were they going to close up with me in here? Were they so desperate to talk to someone about Affinity’s? She did as he said and ignored me completely. After she walked away he turned on me and grabbed my hair.
Chapter 21
Hold Your Breath
I screamed. It had all happened so fast I didn’t expect it at all. His grip was firm like his handshake and he was not letting go. He dragged me over to the oxygen bar and slammed me into the chair.
“Sit down Avery,” he said through clenched teeth. “You have caused a lot of grief to me lately and I will not have that.” My head spun in half confusion and half pain.
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about I just came here, I never met either of you before.” Now I was sobbing. I was terrified. He laughed and it sounded so much like Dedrick’s laugh I screamed again and he slapped me. I tasted a bit of blood inside my mouth. I was now in a state of shock.
This was really happening to me. Stuff you heard of on TV but never expected to happen to you. Ianni was so right to tell me to leave. I should have left right when she told me too. Now I was trapped in this store with a bunch of freaks and no one would know I was here, except Ianni. But what could she do to help me? I just prayed that she would tell someone. If she even knew at all what was happening.
“Now, like I said, Katherine has many blends of oxygen. Some are infused with a scent of strawberry or coconut. In my opinion you need this one.” He pulled up a mask with his right hand while his left had most of my hair in it. “This one has Yulu infused in it. Oh it’s perfect for the person who can’t sleep. Can you sleep okay Avery?”
I shuddered. It had to be Dedrick! Who else would know so much about me and also be so evil? Evil! Then it came to me. Dedrick had said that he had someone who showed him the way of the Dark Guides. His name was Benjamin.
“Putting the pieces of the puzzle together yet?” His voice sounded grainy and mean.
“Let me go you freak! I am not giving in to you and I won’t fall into your traps."
“Oh come now Avery. This isn’t a trap. I just happened to come by and see my soul mate and here you are. That is not a trap, that is coincidence. Don’t you think?” He continued to yank on my hair. “I knew meeting Katherine would do me some good at some point. Now I can stop playing house and I can take what’s mine.”
“What’s yours? What do you want from me?” I asked.
“Why your soul of course. You see, Dedrick may have promised dear old mommy that he would just take Landon, but she did not factor in that I would want you. I thrive on twin souls. Do you realize how strong that it makes us?”
Even though he held my hair I shook my head in disgust. What he said was true. Dedrick made a deal to not take her, or me, but that didn’t mean that another Dark Guide could not take me.
“What about Katherine? Is she a Dark Guide too?” I looked at her. She looked so confused and scared as she bit her nails.
“Oh no, she is just another minion of mine. She is just a soul to use when the time comes. She is a twin too. Can you imagine how strong I will be?” I had no idea how strong he would be and I didn’t care. I definitely had to get out of here somehow. Katherine started to look more scared than confused now. I think she understood what he was saying. She edged toward the counter. I watched her taking small steps back and she put her lips to her mouth making a small quiet “Shh” sound. Benjamin fumbled with the attachments of the mask to the oxygen. I was too scared to do anything.
“Now here we go,” he said. “You are going to go to sleep and dream. And when you do Dedrick will come to you and guess what? Landon will come save you again. Landon is already sleeping, I am sure of it. I am sure he will be surprised when Dedrick takes him. You will be too weak to say no to any of Dedrick’s demands. With this much Yulu you will be so out of it.”
I started to squirm, finally trying to fight back. Just hearing that Landon will be taken any minute from now gave me the incentive I needed. I knew if Benjamin put that mask on me that it would be all over. We would lose the battle that we hadn’t even started. As I moved his grip tightened on me and he threw my head back. He put his face so close to mine and then his face shifted. The gorgeous GQ look was gone; he was now a young faced man with blonde hair in dreadlocks and eyes so black I could see my own reflection.
His wings slowly started to stretch out behind him. They were as black as his eyes but they looked aged and worn. Not as beautiful as Ianni’s or Lillith’s wings. I heard Katherine gasp but Benjamin paid her no attention.
“Don’t move!” He screamed. “You are going to do this. I won’t play games with you like I do the others. I am taking you willing or not.”
“What others?” I cried. “Like Katherine?”
“Oh yes just like her. She was just a weak soul when I found her. Just a few promises and she was begging to make a deal with me. It was only a matter of time before I take her too.”
“What do you mean by ‘take’ her?” I figured if I could stall him by asking questions then whatever Katherine was trying to do she would have a bit more time. I hoped that she had a good plan.
“Take! You know the definition don’t you? I procure souls Avery. I need them, they make me stronger. I feed on them. They are my means of “food”. Whereas you sloppy humans eat cheeseburgers, French fries and all that nasty crap, I eat the souls of well, you and others like you. I prefer Affinity’s because they make me stronger but I will take any soul. Especially when I can’t find an Affinity.” He continued to yell his words in my face. “There are times when I go many years without finding them. That’s when I will take just about anyone. It’s not hard to find a willing soul. Some pathetic human who is so willing to sell their soul for just a bit of happiness.”
He laughed li
ke he had just told a funny joke but it wasn’t funny. I knew my mom had made a deal with Dedrick. I also knew Katherine was a victim just like my mom was. She had no idea what exactly Benjamin was. She was fooled and thought he was her soul mate.
“Now sit still and let me do this or the ramifications will be very dangerous to you and those you love.” He started to fit the tubes in my nostrils and the others behind my ears. I could feel the stream of air start. I held my breath. I started to pray that someone would help me. I could not hold my breath forever.
Just as my lungs felt like they were going to explode I thought of Dallas and how much I wished we had more time. I hoped he would be strong after he learned about my death. I thought of Aunt Paul and how I hadn’t seen her much. I also thought of my father and how he and I could have just been starting to get to know each other. We could have had a real relationship if time allowed it.
Lastly, and more deeply, I thought of Landon. I thought of how I had failed to save him like I wanted to. I mostly just thought of his face and his beautiful tortured eyes. It was at that exact moment that I realized that I had been falling in love with him. I closed my eyes and took a breath. I just could not hold my breath any longer. The smell was strong, I knew it was Yulu right away. I had smelled it several times from the steam of my teacup. It was sort of earthy but sweet as well. It was a good smell. Not one I disapproved of but at this moment I didn’t really have a chance. I could feel myself falling asleep and I could not fight it any longer.
The Many Lives of Avery Snow Page 17