“It’s so beautiful,” I said. My voice seemed too loud even at a whisper in the stillness.
He turned, and I heard and felt his sigh. “Not so much as you are.” His hands cupped my face and I closed my eyes, expecting to feel his lips upon mine. The warmth through the link was enough to tell me what he really wanted, and I had to admit that getting heated with him sounded a lot more appealing than a simple kiss.
SPLAT! Snow splattered against his back, exploding on both of us. I went to scream but he covered my mouth, a huge grin spreading on his face.
Shh… he silently said. Mitch is over behind those trees.
My heartbeat returned to normal as he crouched down, scooping up his own snowball and chucking it, lightening fast. I had misjudged which tree. I didn’t see Geoffrey’s ball hit; I only heard the echo off the frozen landscape and saw the brief splatter of impact. The small tree seemed to quiver.
I wanted to join in, but their game was far too fast. There was no way I could even begin to keep up. The sound of the impacts constantly changed location, sometimes simultaneously. I crept low to the ground, thankful for the snowsuit, edging around to catch a glimpse. I caught sight of Pepper, her dark hair streaking by in the moonlight. She and Mitch were double-teaming Geoffrey. But then out stepped Robert, and Tracy’s long hair flew wildly as she hurled her snowballs with deadly accuracy.
Perhaps there is a way, I heard inside.
How?
See through me. I could feel his smile at the thought.
I slid back and crouched down, trying to stay small. I closed my eyes and reached out to him. The link was humming with our electricity. Instantly his sight became mine; the moonlit night just as bright as day. Their eyesight was amazing in the dark. Through his eyes everything seemed normal; everything moved, and it sounded just like any other family enjoying a snowball fight.
I understood more as I thought it through. For him and the others this was the norm. The echoing voices seemed normal, and the snowballs appeared to fly just as if an ordinary person were throwing them. But, as an added extra, I could also catch their individual scents.
Pepper’s was sweet, like lilacs and jasmine with a hint of fresh rain. Tracy’s lingered heavy, thick with incense and teak, while Robert’s was a bit like patchouli mixed with musk. Pine and flannel came from Mitch, but that could have been because he was high in the trees pelting us; his green flannel shirt barely concealed him among the limbs, though I doubted he was truly trying to hide. His bellowing laughs gave his location away easily.
I couldn’t make out Geoffrey’s scent, but then it dawned on me that I was receiving his perceptions through the link, and he wouldn’t catch his own scent. I looked down at our hands and had to think twice. What I thought was a snowball was actually a frozen sphere of solid ice. It’s a good thing I wasn’t in the midst of this fun; one of those would wipe me out cold, literally. I noticed he had set up a huge snow wall as a barrier—as had everyone else.
It was amazing to watch. To see them dodging and diving gracefully at the volleys they threw at each other, it looked almost choreographed. Geoffrey turned to make his way over to me, but Pepper nailed him in the back of his shoulder. He dropped and rolled like a gymnast while returning his own shot, and he hit a small tree instead of her. He took one giant leap and cleared the thirty or forty yards that separated us. His eyes were gleaming so brightly, and his hair had snowflakes throughout, glittering like diamonds. With a quick shake of his hair he showered me in frozen crystals.
“Would you like to join us?” he asked enthusiastically.
I stared at him in confusion. “Did you just ask me if I wanted to join a snowball fight, with you guys?”
“Yes.”
“Good joke,” I laughed without humor. His eyes still held me, asking me to come and join. “You are joking, right?” I pushed.
Pepper skipped to my side. “Come on, Megan! Please?” she pleaded. Her hair was sprinkled with ice drops, forming a crystal halo around her face. Then her eyes looked past me, carefully scanning for something. She looked at Geoffrey, and an unasked question crossed his features.
“I think she can,” she replied to him.
“I can what?” I said, glancing back and forth between them in confusion.
Geoffrey’s face was lit up with excitement. He placed his hands on my shoulders, trying to reign in his own energy. “We think that if you open yourself up—all the way, through the link—you’ll be able to join us.” He was practically bouncing up and down with the energy that buzzed between us.
“Really?” My normal reluctance was the only thing holding me back. The others continued the war, unaware of what I was about to try.
“But it’s your choice. You seem to be enjoying it, so…” His voice was tender and soft, yet his eyes were full of mischief. As his finger traced my cheek, I hesitated, then with a deep breath I took his hand, smiling.
“Okay. It’s now or never, I guess.” The excitement made the butterflies in my stomach flutter even more. I closed my eyes, concentrating on the link.
“Wait!” he said, causing me to look at him. He took my face gently between his hands. The instant his lips touched mine I knew it wasn’t going to be our
normal, polite kiss. This kiss simmered under the surface, then an explosion of venom warmed my tongue.
I froze, my eyes flashing open. Geoffrey, what are you doing? I hollered silently as the venom saturated my mouth.
To help make the bond stronger for a short time, his voice whispered inside.
Why is it so potent?
Your tolerance is low, that’s all. We’ve been… polite… for a while now. Even now, his voice smiled as we pushed the line again. I gave in readily, quickly feeling intoxicated on the pure taste of energy. His hands found my shoulders, separating us all too soon.
“Easy, my love.” His smile was devilish. “Ready?”
I nodded, closing my eyes, opening myself up as far as I could push. The energy flooded my body, through the strands of my hair, tensing down the muscles of my arms, flowing out of my fingers. My legs felt light and flexible; on the inside of my boots, each toe seemed to flex and grip. Suddenly the air around me filled with sounds that had been hidden from my limited human senses: the slight crunch of snow below my feet, the caw of a crow startled out of its perch. I could hear its feathers ruffle in frustration as Robert jumped into the upper limbs of a tree.
I realized I could see each needle of that fir tree, peeking out from under the snow. Even better, I could see the color variations among them on each branch. The moonbeams reaching down through the dark skies were actually a kaleidoscope of colors, blending and shifting along each spoke of light. I stared at my hands and felt a solid strength. I opened my mouth to take a breath, and suddenly tasted the air for the first time.
I could clearly make out everyone’s individual scent even more acutely. And while that was astonishing in itself, new scents now flooded my senses. I could taste the icy winter, the snow, the extreme clean, the pureness of the air mingled with pine and cedar. And under that, there were layers of decaying leaves and soil—the earth, raw and full of life.
I took a step back to get my bearings; it was a bit overwhelming. Both Geoffrey and Pepper held still, smiling, waiting to see if I’d done it. Only a few seconds had passed, yet I’d experienced so much. Then, across the link, he sensed that the change had happened, and the energy between us was a burning, flowing river with no barriers.
“Is this how you feel all the time?” My own voice rang out like a perfectly tuned chime. I clamped my hand over my mouth, surprised at my own sound. With a slight chuckle he took my hand in his and shook his head. The waves of his hair distracted me; the many different shades and hues of each strand were brilliant in the moonlight.
“Yes, but it’s commonplace for us. It’s all new for you.” He caught a strand of my runaway
hair, tucking it back under my hood. The sensation of his skin on mine caused a fiery pull deep down inside me, and I looked away so as not to get caught.
“I could get used to this,” I said as I flexed my hands and bounced on my toes. Then inside I heard a sad reminder.
Don’t forget… there are consequences.
As if to echo his concern, Pepper added, “Well, don’t get used to it. The side effects will be bad enough, even with the small amount of venom in your system.” She eyed me suspiciously, then poked me with her forefinger. “I’ll be watching you, missy!”
I shrugged her off; I’d cross that bridge later. Right now, the snowfield was my playground. I scooped up the snow, pressing it together firmly, rounding it perfectly. It wasn’t quite ice, yet it was harder than freshly fallen snowflakes. The texture intrigued me, as did the spectrum of colors dancing off the surface.
Robert was still in the tree; Tracy and Mitch were targeting him as he launched the last of his remaining snowball stockpile. I rolled back on my heels and then crouched low, putting all my weight on the balls of my feet. I thrust upward to jump, not realizing I’d over-compensated, and into the air I went. With perfect vision, I found him in the branches and let the snowball rip from my fingers in mid-air.
Robert never saw it coming. He toppled out of the tree into the snowbank below. I touched down softly, the snow beneath me soft as a featherbed. The strength and energy that coursed through my veins was amazing. I could walk, run, and jump like never before. I didn’t land on the ground; it seemed to rise up to me as I descended. The night was lit up as bright as day.
The farther and harder I pushed myself, the more my confidence grew in leaps and bounds. Though I did my best to outrun him, Geoffrey caught up with me and playfully tackled me down. We lay back on the snow and looked to the heavens, relishing in the raw and expansive energy of the link. I felt invincible. His eyes held mine, and I could feel him marveling at what I could do through the power of the link. Then a shadow crossed his face as the others caught up with us, totally shocked at what I had done.
“How’d you do that?” Robert asked, brushing off snow from my attack. Tracy and Mitch followed close behind him, curiosity clearly visible on their faces.
“Got off a lucky shot, I guess,” I said, waving him off. “Maybe you’re not as fast as you thought, tough guy.” I playfully punched his shoulder and instantly regretted it as a surge of pain flowed up my fist to my shoulder. I was most definitely still human. I shook off my arm and took off my goggles, not needing them any more—and that’s when they noticed it.
“Megan? What’s up with your eyes?” Tracy said in surprise.
“Huh?” I thought for sure they’d seen me before without my shades, but this wasn’t a typical reaction to my quirky eye color. Pepper whipped out a pocket mirror and held it up for me. Reflecting back was a pair of silver eyes—they weren’t my one-blue-one-green set. The silver color had returned, taking over both irises.
“Whoa!” I said, spinning around and slamming the goggles back on. Geoffrey’s arms embraced me, giving me a bit of sorely needed privacy.
“The link mythology didn’t mention this,” Pepper mused. “How are you feeling?” She prodded me but I chose to keep my head down, full-fidget mood in swing. I kicked the snow around, trying to avoid eye contact.
“I’m fine, seriously,” I snapped, then was instantly sorry. “Sorry about that,” I said to her.
“The link?” Mitch said. “So that’s what you’ve been digging up? The fable?”
There was no denying it now.
“Yes,” Geoffrey said. “I’ve had Pepper researching it, but we keep hitting dead ends and false leads.” His words revealed a level to his frustration I hadn’t grasped before.
“I thought the link was supposed to be some superhero guy,” Mitch continued, adding to the already awkward moment.
I was right there, in front of them. “Sorry to disappoint ya there, stud,” I snapped back rudely. I felt the beginnings of a headache.
“And here I thought those stories were just myth,” Robert said, shaking his head.
I suddenly realized that both Robert and Mitch had the same profile in the moonlight… yet they were also different.
Yes, they’re fraternal twins. I thought you knew that, Geoffrey spoke through the link, just for me.
“Oh, come on, you guys!” I said, determined to change the subject and turn the attention elsewhere. “Let’s keep going. I’m just getting warmed up!” I tossed snow in their faces, then Geoffrey and I took off running.
With the mythology lesson forgotten, we played for hours. But then I could feel the after-effects hitting me, and one in particular caught Pepper’s notice. I tried my best to hide it, but I was so dehydrated that I took a bite from a snowball. That’s when real concern crossed her face—and Geoffrey picked up on it within a nanosecond.
“Houston, we have a problem,” Pepper said solemnly. Everyone stopped and gathered near the snowmobiles. “Her aura is totally off. It’s clear—like she doesn’t exist.”
I felt Geoffrey push across the link, searching for my weakness. His shock played out clearly. “This can’t be! Pepper, tell me this can’t be happening to her!”
Okay, he was officially freaking me out. “What is it?” I asked, scanning frantically for a non-existent water bottle. I was so parched I could drink a lake right about now.
His words came through in my mind, painfully slow. You’re not dehydrated. You’re thirsty.
Well, yeah. That’s what happens when you get dehydrated.
His expression told me I was way off, and worry aged his face. Not that kind of thirst.
Suddenly, I realized how dark it was, and how absolutely frozen I was. How had I not noticed this sooner? What was happening to me? I looked up at the moon, now covered by clouds as my vision tunneled out. “Um, I don’t know about you guys,” I mumbled, “but I kinda want… to go… home.”
“Geoffrey, it’s not water she’s craving,” Pepper said. “It’s your thirst.”
“Megan!” I heard him call out, and then I was pulled under.
Chapter 21
I walked through the silent woods. Snow blanketed every life form, big and small. I felt cold, but something was pulling me, directing me. That’s when I saw the cave opening, black and unyielding. Seeking any kind of shelter, I stumbled in and stood at the cave’s mouth, away from the darkness within.
Something caught my eye, a tiny flickering of light. Where’s there light, there’s warmth, I remembered. My frozen body was yearning to lie down and sleep, but I knew that in my weak and tired condition, sleep would kill me. I struggled to keep up with the light as it danced farther and farther inside the cave, and then suddenly it went out, extinguished before I could catch up to it. I was left in the darkness.
I fought the fear that threatened to take me over, pushed myself up against the rough, earthen walls, and I discovered a small ledge. Here, I thought to myself, I can rest for a minute to catch my breath.
I felt it on my neck, the cold breath of death. It wasn’t going to take me, not if I had a say in it! It wrapped itself around my hand, slowly and gently turning me, and I was no longer cold. Instead, I felt the radiating love that only Geoffrey could give to me. The link was alive and his strength flowed across it, along with his desire for me.
My body stopped hurting as his lips found mine and his sweet taste saturated my very being, breathing life back into me. I held on, trying to wake up, to reach the surface of the darkness, because I knew who was there waiting. My eyes flashed open as I gasped for air, every muscle aching as though I’d been run over by a truck. Geoffrey’s hands were cupped around my face as I stared wide-eyed at my guardian angel, who had just rescued me again—and not just from the cave, but from death itself.
“Geoffrey…” I tried to speak, but my throat felt like sandpaper a
nd my mouth was dry. I saw a small glass of water on the nightstand and I grabbed it, but as I tried to drink it I realized it was heavily chlorinated, like a swimming pool. He leaned out of the way as I spit it out all over the floor.
“I’m so thirsty,” I whispered, but my voice sounded like I’d downed a fifth of whiskey. I recognized the four walls of my apartment, though, and felt a little better. The early-morning sunlight was peeking through the drapes.
“Here, my love. Drink this.” He stroked my hair soothingly as he handed me a mug filled with something that had my mouth watering just from the aroma. I recognized it as I drank it as the wine he had been drinking backstage the first night I’d met him. It eased my headache and squelched the fire in my throat.
He watched me carefully as I quickly finished it, and I started feeling almost human again. I’d never had a hangover, but this had all the earmarks of one. “What happened?” I asked.
“We don’t know. Pepper kept an eye on you most of the night, but I sent her and the others home to hunt. The link is growing, Megan—changing, somehow. It seems that you are able to experience my hunger as your own.” He stopped abruptly, seeing the panic and confusion on my face. “But she thinks these symptoms may disappear if I am careful with you… and I will be. I couldn’t live with myself if something were to happen to you.”
His fear for me was clear through his thirst-darkened eyes, which I understood far too well now. I could smell his scent in the air, taste it on my tongue—and it made my mouth water. I had a fleeting thought, and he caught it before I could flip the switch and block the image.
“Do you think it’ll work?” I asked, hoping desperately that he’d give in. I had a gut instinct that it might alleviate my own aches and pains.
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