"Hey, buddy, no dinner, no..." I trailed off, realizing again that we were not alone. I looked around, and it was then that I saw Carly. I shoved away from Snowden as my gaze narrowed in on her. "You?"
She nodded with a smile. "Yes, me again."
She turned to another man who moved to stand beside Jamison.
“Hooks, do you want to explain? Or should I?”
The man, who couldn’t be older than twenty-five, stared at me, his gaze unwavering. "You're sick, Hannah. Terminal, correct?"
Deb stood up along with another kid, and the two of them rushed the other children out. I watched them leave, and when they were gone, I turned back to Hooks and nodded. "Yes."
“What if I told you there was a cure?”
Chapter Nineteen
"H-how? I mean, how can you even suggest a thing like that, you don't know me. Is this a joke?"
"But I do know you." It was the dad. The one with the red hair. My eyes squinted at him. Ben. Ben! My eyes widened. Holy hell, it all came back.
"You're not human, are you?" I straightened my spine. “None of you are.”
Everyone was quiet. Hooks’ eyes narrowed. “What makes you say that?”
“I heard them.” I gestured to Win and Drex. Then I twisted and pushed Drex, a good and well-deserved push. “And don’t ever do that to me again. It felt weird and wrong.”
“Didn’t you mind sweep her?” Jamison asked Hooks.
Snowden turned to Hooks, his face distorted with frustration. “You! You did that! Get your kicks off of watching us fight, huh Hooks?”
“Son!” three manly voices chastised him.
Jamison glared at Snowden. “Cool it. We’re all high strung right now.”
I raised my hand and annoyingly waved it in the air as if I was a kid in desperate need of the facilities. “Ahem!”
Jamison slanted his gaze my way. “Yes?”
I dropped my hand and in a bitingly sweet voice I said, “You all suck. Like, royally. Now, what is this about curing me? That's the only reason I'm even still here. My logic has gone out the window, and a faux delusion of hope remains. Explain.”
The guy, Hooks, stepped forward. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Lamont Hooks, the one who has been searching for you.”
“Uh, Hooks,” Carly glared at him. “I helped.”
My mouth quirked up. That lady had spunk.
Hooks’ eye twitched. “And Carly helped.”
I tucked my arms into my sides as Snowden and Drex surrounded me on either side, and Win and Quinn stood at my back. I felt Drex put a hand on my shoulder and jerked away. Then I felt bad when his mouth pressed; his paradox eyes held hurt. “I promise you; I won’t do it again.” I sighed and leaned into him, accepting his apology.
“Ahem...” Hooks impatiently muttered.
I relaxed, and Snowden took my left hand; the feel of his cold rings against my warm skin made the reality of all of this more undeniable. I tightened my grip on his hand, still miffed at him, but I’d deal with the hurt later. Right now I needed his and Drex’s strength. “Tell me more, please.”
Jamison put his hand on Hooks’ arm. “Uncle?” Hooks paused but then nodded. Everyone was on edge. “Hannah, first off, what we talk about here, stays here. You understand?”
I didn’t but nodded anyways.
“Okay, then. You see, we are human, but we aren't. We are a race called Lydents. We have been around for eons. We hold a light within each of us that gives us talents, power, magic.”
Eyes narrowed, I asked him, “Are you saying you’re wizards? Witches?”
“We don’t like that term,” Dr. Churchill stated. “Our name, Lydent, comes from our ancient language which translates into 'Hidden Light.' It’s an honor to use that name.”
I shifted, embarrassed. “Sorry. Did my mom become one?”
“She was born one,” Win said from behind me. “Lydents aren’t made, they're born.”
Carly held up a hand. “Ah, not true. Walking miracle here.”
“Except you,” Hooks agreed; then, out of thin air, he produced a notebook and a pencil. My eyes widened. It totally could’ve been a parlor trick. He handed them to Carly. “Will you draw for me?”
She took the items from him. “Of course.”
He turned back to me and proceeded to give me a brief summary of their history. At the end of his foreign tale he said, “We killed her, and in return she cursed us.”
Quinn spoke, causing me to jump and swing my gaze his way. “With my last breath, my heart shall not perish. Forever beating in your depths, you will cherish.”
Drex picked up, “Burned deep within your cavernous walls. When it breaks, Kingdoms will fall.”
Snowden continued, “That is your curse, this your plight, all the lasses will not inherit their natural born light. You are my legacy...”
Win sounded from behind me, “...and this is my right. A wrong has been delivered on this horrid night. I curse you and this land forever and a day.”
Jamison spoke up next. “Age will not befall you, for your murderous ways. Unless willingly sacrificed, for my own shall you bleed; in death, the selfless act.”
Hooks’ gaze narrowed in on me. “Only then shall you be freed.”
Everyone fell silent. “Okay, what does this have to do with my illness and me?”
The good doctor stepped forward. “Girls were born without the light, magic. Because of that, the Lydent race was going extinct. But we found a way. Anna’s Potentia Elixer.”
“Is that her name? The one who did the curse?”
Drex squeezed my shoulders. “Yes.”
The good doctor went on. “The Lydent council found a way to bring the light back with the Elixer. Now it is the Lydent law that every female gets the shot made from it.”
Hope filled me. “Do they become like me if they don’t?”
Hooks spoke up. “No. You see, there was a downfall to using the Elixer. Lydent girls have become rare. And when one is born, they immediately receive the shot. Just like their mother had.”
I was trying to understand. “So, my mom got it?”
Dr. Churchill nodded. “Precisely, but you didn’t. No girl has ever not received it. But seeing you and how your body is reacting, it seems to need it. Over time, with all the mothers taking it, a child without could suffer like you have. I believe that, with the Potentia Elixer given to you, you could be whole again.”
“As a human?”
Hooks grew irritated. “Haven’t you been listening? You are Lydent, Hannah, a descendant of Anna Caldwell herself.”
Deb, who had come in while they were talking, had her arms folded and spoke up, “Are we going to the council with this?”
“No,” Dr. Churchill voiced. “It might be wise to hold off announcing her. We’ve never had a girl born part human. They might... not take kindly to that.”
“Well, then how do I get this shot?”
“Now that’s the tricky part. We don’t have any.”
“You don’t have any?!”
“Who does?” Jamison barked.
“When we need one, we request it from LD pharmaceutical in Canada. They make them as needed. And because of the cost, every vial is accounted for.” Dr. Churchill explained.
“So it’s a shit shoot, either way,” Snowden growled. “Why even have the damn stuff if we don’t have a way to get it?”
I squeezed Snowden's hand, grateful for the support.
"There has to be a way," Quinn started thinking out loud. "With all of our talents, we should be able to do something!"
I felt Win come around to my side as I looked across to Jamison, who just stared at me, pensive.
"Surely if we plead her case to the counsel, they will see reason," Deb argued as she turned to her husband, Dr. Churchill. "She's a Lydent no matter what else is running through her veins."
They were talking about me as if the council might not help. That they might be cruel enough to let me die rather than try the Elixer
on me. Maybe I was meant to die. And what about my grandparents?
I turned to Carly, who was drawing something quickly. Paper after paper, Hooks was collecting her sketches as he listened. What was Carly doing?
Win and Snowden's parents argued among themselves as Jamison walked over to us. When he reached me, his arms surrounded my whole body and held me tight. "That's why you do what you do. That's why you jump. Because you want to feel alive." My body trembled, knowing he was right.
He pulled back, threaded his fingers through my hair on the sides of my cheeks, and tilted my gaze to his. His mouth was pressed into a firm line, and his gaze was too severe for someone our age. "You listen to me. You might risk yourself everyday hoping to hold onto the life that seems to be slipping away from you, but I won't let you. Not anymore. You’re going to end up killing yourself. You’re not alone anymore. We’ll keep you safe. You have us."
Snowden's hand tightened on mine; I felt him lift it up and kiss the back of my hand as a cold band of metal surrounded my wrist and closed with a click. I jerked away from Jamison and pulled my hand out of Snowden's to see what was put on me.
I stared at the shiny silver bracelet that adorned my wrist. I touched it to try and slip it off, but it adjusted itself so it wouldn't go over my hand. My head popped up, and I wagged my wrist at them. The guys all seemed like they were getting ready for a fight.
"What the hell is this?"
They didn't answer, but Hooks did. His dark and brooding stare gave me chills. It made me distrustful of him. "It's a tracker bracelet. So we can keep track of you. Make sure you're not doing anything you're not supposed to. And to call on you when needed. You're a Lydent whether you want to be or not. You get to play by our rules now."
I walked over to him, trying to calm my racing heart, and got up into his face. "What if I don't want to play by your rules?"
He smirked. "Sweetheart, I'm the one who's going to figure out how to get that damn Potentia Elixer shot. You better keep yourself alive so I can do that."
I pulled back. "And how exactly are you going to do that?"
"That's for me to find out and you to follow the rules."
He moved to touch Carly. "You ready?"
"Sure! Just give me a moment."
She stood, her belly extending as she did, and waddled over to me. Twisting to the side, she gave me a hug. "He's not all bad. He's just trying to make peace. Listen to him."
She patted my shoulder then moved to Hooks.
Before leaving, Hooks sought out his nephew. "Jamison, I'll see you back home."
He nodded, standing in the group of guys that had sworn to keep me out of trouble, and nodded to his uncle. "Goodbye, Uncle; I won't be long."
A quick, bright light filled the area where they were and then they were simply gone. Magic was real. I wanted to know everything. "Can I do that?"
Quinn left and came over to my side; tilting my head up, he kissed my lips in front of everybody. "I'll show you."
Dr. Churchill cleared his throat as he stared at Quinn and I. "Are you sure you don't have a mark, Hannah?"
Uncomfortable with this question, I shook my head. "I'm not certain what you're talking about when you mean mark.”
Deb lifted up her pant leg and on her ankle was a circle design that was white with a shimmer of silver. Almost like a tattoo. The coloring looked like mine on my hip, but the designs were different. "Not all designs are the same or even in the same area, but the coloring and when you get your mark means everything. Did you get sick on your thirteenth birthday?"
I froze and carefully chose my words. "I got drunk. Sick as a dog and then never got better."
Dr. Churchill stared at me curiously. "Did anything show up besides your sickness."
I twisted my lips and nodded. "But I don't want to show you."
Deb came forward with a smile. "If it's an embarrassing place, you could show me. We can go on to the bathroom..."
Uncomfortable, I moved away, back into the sanctuary of the guys. I felt for a hand, and one of them clasped it. "I think, right now, I just want to go home."
Win leaned in and whispered, "Then let's take you home."
At that moment, a flash of light came and I felt disoriented. When the light cleared, we were in my room. Twisting around, I gaped at him. "How the hell?"
Win laughed, tossing himself on my bed to get comfortable. Arms behind his head, he gave me a panty dropping grin. “It’s called shimming.”
I folded my arms and tapped my foot. “Shimmy? Like ‘shimmy out of those clothes?’” I asked with a raised brow.
His grin grew. “Now that you say that... sure.”
I rolled my eyes then narrowed them at him. “Seriously, how do you do it?”
He tapped the spot beside him on my bed. “Come here and lay down with me. You’ve got to be tired.”
I debated for a moment before my shoulders drooped, and I threw up a careless hand. "Fine." I waved at him to scoot over. "Move over, buddy."
He shifted over closer to the wall on his side, and I eased in next to him. "Can't believe I'm doing this," I muttered, as my head rested on a firm bicep and my lifepack nudged against his stomach. His free arm wrapped around my stomach as his palm settled on the curve of my hip. My arms folded across my chest and I stared at the ceiling. "Comfy?"
His thumb moved back and forth across my hip, my shirt moving with it. "Mm-hm, you?"
I sighed. Crazy enough, I was. "So talk to me."
I stared up at the white ceiling, ready to take in everything he was going to say. It wasn't that I was ignoring him. I just knew looking at him while in bed could easily lead to kissing, then roaming hands and clothes being taken off. Yeah, I'd just keep my gaze focused here.
"So shimming is how we typically get around. I'm not sure if you'll be able to do it now, since you're sick and all, but you should be able to once you've gotten the shot."
"So, how does it work? You just say a chant or place and the magic takes you to where you want to go?"
"No. Shimming is attached to a memory. You have to remember a place and, in your thoughts and feelings, have the desire to go there. Unless you have one of these." He picked up my wrist that had the silver bracelet. "Typically, the council rules where you're sent when wearing a tracker cuff, but Hooks placed it on you. He'll be in charge of where you're allowed to go and where he might shim you."
Something about his explanation had me wondering. "So you can only shim to a place you've been before, unless you’re wearing a tracking cuff and the operator sends you elsewhere.” I turned and gave him a pointed stare.
He beamed. Probably happy that I was listening. "That is correct!" Annnd, he outed himself.
"You shimmed us here. In my bedroom."
His grin dropped. "Oh."
"Uh-huh." I poked his chest. "Wanna tell me how that happened?"
He gave me a sheepish smile. "Well, this is not the first time I've been in this house. A buddy of mine lived here for a while before he moved into the Jag area. This was his room. Since I knew you lived here, I shimmed us to the most logical place you’d have your room."
My lips twisted as I took in his expression. I couldn't tell if it was true or not. "Good lie."
He grinned. "Thank you."
My brows lifted as I half laughed and hit his chest. "What!"
"Had to check it out after a while. Just in case," he justified, his hand coming up to trap mine before I could move it.
I relaxed, my gaze staring into his forest green eyes. "In case of what?"
"In case you needed me or..." he trailed off, twisting his lips.
"Or what?" I prompted.
"Or just to check on you. That day you skipped school with Drex and he called me, he told me you were sick. Like, really sick. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
The hairs on my arms lifted. He came around when I was here. Kind of... weird. "When? When did you show up?"
His gaze softened. "When you were sleeping. I'd wa
tch you for a while. When you forgot to cover yourself with a blanket, I did that."
Who knew Win was a creeper? "That's all?"
"Yeah."
I took in a deep breath and let it out. "Okay, Creeper. I can deal with that. Just don't do it anymore. You're going to make me have anxiety about if you’re watching me or not."
His free hand combed through my hair, his gaze not remorseful at all. "Don’t make that my new nickname. I swear I won't shim into your room at night anymore."
Giving him a hard time, I went on with the name calling. “Stalker, creeper, weirdo. How do you think I feel now knowing you can just shim in here at any time? What if you popped in when my dad was in here? Or I was changing? No, Win, I can see the wheels turning. You’d do it again. Just to check on me. Don’t. Come to my window. Knock. Or hell, to the front door first. Don’t come in uninvited. Be a Vampire. Ask first.”
He chuckled. “You know that’s contradictory. I think there might have been a few vamps that took their invitation further than they should. Especially that one who sparkled.”
I shoved against his chest, amused. “Don’t compare yourself to Edward. Jacob was so much better.”
His head tilted back when he laughed. “Only you.” His sparkling gaze came back. “You are always doing the unexpected.
“Glad I can amuse you. Now, promise me.”
“I promise to call before coming. To go to your window first, front door second, before I shim into your room, if,” he stressed when he knew I was going to argue, “I feel like something might be wrong, deal?”
I caved. “Fine. Now tell me more about Lydents."
He leaned down and kissed my nose, then began his story. My body warmed. "Every Lydent at the age of thirteen goes through the marking, or changes. Way back when, before the curse, it was one guy to one girl, but since the curse, Lydent females are rare. To adjust, several Lydent men receive the same mark for the same woman. This group of guys is what we call bondmates. Since there are few Lydent women, some of the men don't receive a mate. At that point, the guys can choose to stay together and marry one human woman or split apart and marry their own."
The Bridge Over Snake Creek Page 15