I hear him mumble some sort of phrase, and within moments there’s a small ball of light hovering over his hand and positioned in front of his chest. I’m momentarily blinded by the brightness of the light.
Once my eyes adjust to the dimness and the scarce source of light that Degory produces, I can see we have entered a small living area. To the right, it opens into a small kitchen and dining room, and in the back corner of the living room is a door. I assume it’s a bedroom and bathroom, but I won’t know until I’m able to see for myself.
There are white sheets covering the furniture in both the living room and kitchen. I step up to, what looks like, a couch and carefully roll the sheet off of it so the dust won’t create more of a mess. I place the sheet on, what I think is, a coffee table underneath another sheet, and sit down. The couch is comfier than I expected it to be.
Degory watches me carefully the whole time I uncover the couch. I think he’s waiting for my reaction, whether that be a meltdown from taking me away so quickly or freaking out and demanding that he answer my questions.
When I sit down, he moves towards a small fireplace that’s situated in the wall opposite the couch. He grabs wood from a cabinet next to the fireplace, and places the logs neatly inside it so he can easily start a fire. Within moments, the room already feels warmer and more welcoming. Less like it’s been empty for over a century.
Once he’s certain the fire will sustain without his assistance and is satisfied with the amount of wood inside the fireplace, he comes over and sits next to me on the couch and takes the spot on my left. Worry lines his face again.
He wraps his arm around my shoulders, and pulls me towards him so my head is lying comfortably on his shoulder. I breathe him in, smelling that fresh fallen snow scent that follows him everywhere.
I close my eyes, listening to his heartbeat fall into rhythm with mine, letting his familiarity relax me. I have no idea where we are, but being with him, in his arms, makes me feel like I’m home. Like everything is going to be okay again. I don’t ever want it to end.
“Where are we?” I whisper up to him, keeping my eyes closed.
“This belonged to my family when I was still alive,” he reveals in a hushed tone.
No wonder it’s so dusty.
It probably hasn’t been inhabited in several decades. Maybe even centuries. He grabs my legs with his hand and picks them up with ease, so they are resting on top of his thighs. Then, he relaxes his arm across my legs, trying to get as much of our bodies to touch as possible.
Being so close to him, I can feel the tension in his limbs – something is really worrying him. Even his presence isn’t keeping away the nagging anxiety in my belly now. He wouldn’t be this concerned without reason.
“Degory,” I call, softly. “What’s going on? What’s wrong?”
He sighs deeply before speaking. His brow furrows creating a deep line along his forehead.
“About six hours ago I was called into an emergency Captain’s meeting,” he announces, finally.
He hesitates, still not fully understanding what had happened. He takes a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing his story.
“We were informed that there was some unusual activity in the Living World and that strange spirit activity was found. A team was to be dispatched to retrieve the suspect which created the strange spiritual activity, and return them to Eden for … questioning.”
He’s quiet for a moment. I think he’s digesting what he is saying for the first time since he heard the news in the Captain’s meeting. Like he hadn’t given himself time to comprehend the situation before taking off to find me before anyone else could.
I can see his face lose color by the second, and can identify every shade before it turns completely white. If I didn’t know he was already dead, I would have thought he had died in front of me. It’s like he doesn’t have any blood flowing through him.
“We were then told that if we spotted the suspect, to be cautious and bring them in by any means necessary,” he continues, gulping air as if it is a rare commodity and luxury.
Emotions rather than cool logic are in control.
“As soon as I heard your name come out of the Head Captain’s mouth, I came straight here.”
Chapter 12
He rubs my back with his arm, not wanting to let me go, the reality and weight of the situation taking its effect on him. I can feel his body shaking, afraid I’m going to suddenly disappear.
“Won’t they know you’re gone?” I query. “That you’ve come for me?”
“Yes and no,” Degory says matter-of-factly. “They know I’ve gone, but they are not privy to our relationship – our connection. Even if they did, I’m quick, and none of them know about this cabin. We should be safe here for a while. Not forever, but for the time being, until I can figure out a plan.”
“Maybe I should just turn myself in to them,” I suggest, concerned about how this could affect him. “I don’t want to get you into any trouble, Degory.”
“Believe me,” he reassures me, kissing the top of my head. “Nothing they could ever do to me is worse than thinking about what they would do to you if they get ahold of you.”
That sends a shiver down my spine. Not only has he been a Reaper for over two centuries, he’s a Captain which means he has seen his share of destruction, war, death, and even torture. Yet, thinking of what they would do to me is somehow worse than any of that.
“What are we going to do?” I yawn.
I should be terrified of the situation we are in, but I can’t help feeling safe in his arms. It makes me realize how late it really is. He isn’t fazed by my yawn at all, though. Not taken aback, or offended. Completely indifferent.
“It’s going to take them time to analyze the areas where you have used this power you somehow possess, then track your movements from there,” he informs me. “The Research and Development team has a device that can track the almost indistinguishable imprints one’s spirit leaves on a place when they cross it, but it takes them time to get it here and fire it up.”
“The imprint fades over time, but that won’t stop them from looking for you,” he continues. “We are going to stay here until I think of a new plan of action. I promise I will figure something out.”
“Okay,” I say softly.
I believe him, but it’s all still very strange. To think – some otherworldly place that I didn’t even know about just a few days ago, wants me captured and detained.
Isn’t heaven supposed to be peaceful?
Plus, drowsiness is kind of taking over my brain function at the moment, so anything I say won’t be very coherent.
“Can you tell me what happened, now?” Degory asks.
“What do you mean?”
I’m not sure if it’s because I’m tired or what, but I can’t understand what he wants me to say. I feel a bit stupid, but another yawn escapes my lips, distracting me from the momentary feeling of inferiority.
“With these powers you have suddenly,” he clarifies, brushing my hair with his fingers softly, trying not to alarm me with his curiosity.
He doesn’t want me to lose my relaxation after a hectic evening.
“What happened?” he asks. “When did they appear? Do you know why you suddenly possess them?”
I shake my head in response, waking up enough to tell him about the first time I used this fire power of mine, the second time, and everything Ms. Kingsley told me about why I might have my powers.
He listens intently and doesn’t say a word until I finish. He simply drinks in the news to make sure he understands everything. It doesn’t make me nervous either, since I have gotten used to his ‘old school’ politeness. I’ve had a day to get the hang of the idea, he’s only hearing it for the first time and trying to digest it all.
“Did you know that would happen?” I ask him.
I’m a bit anxious of his response. If he did know, why hadn’t he told me something like this might happen? If he truly c
ares as much for me as he lets on, why didn’t he warn me?
“That you and I meeting would have this type of reaction and cause this gift?” I say.
He hesitates and then shakes his head before responding.
“No, not exactly,” he reveals.
I release the breath I had been holding in waiting for the rest of his answer.
“I’ve heard rumors and fables of Reapers having such an influence on a human, but I’ve never known anyone it has happened to, so I assumed it was a myth. A tale that someone made up to make their peaceful life more interesting.”
“From the stories, the human and the Reaper both need to have intense spiritual power, and a deep emotional connection between each other for it to even be possible,” he says. “Even then it is unlikely under the best of circumstances.”
“I never imagined that getting close to you would put you into such danger,” he sighs. “If I had known, I never would have forced my way into your life.”
“You didn’t force your way into my life,” I whisper, groggily.
He doesn’t respond, though. I think guilt is eating at him and won’t allow him to believe me. I want to comfort him but my mind is too foggy to come up with anything.
So, we sit in silence. From the sound of it, the way he describes it, this is something that’s almost destined to happen for us. With how rare it is, there’s no way it isn’t meant to be.
At least, that’s what I want to believe. I do care deeply for Degory, and that’s all I know for sure. That’s all I need to know. Nothing else matters as long as I have him.
He adjusts himself, lightly lifting my legs so he can get out from underneath them, and places them back on the couch where he had been. Without a word, he crosses the room to the door in the back, and opens it.
I hear him shuffling around in there, but can’t tell what he’s doing and I’m too tired to get up and see. After a few minutes, he comes back out and picks me up off the couch like I’m a child, holding me close to him. It still surprises me that he can pick me up so easily.
I try to struggle so he will let me go, but he’s too strong for me. I have a hunch he’s holding back a lot of his strength, especially knowing he can destroy a whole town if he really wants to.
Either way, I may be sleepy, but I can still walk on my own. I’m a stubborn individual who has gotten used to taking care of herself. Still, it feels amazing having him care so much about me. After a few seconds, I stop my protests and snuggle into his chest.
He carries me into the room he was just in moments ago. I was right. It’s definitely a medium sized bedroom. The queen-sized bed seems huge compared to the twin size one in my room at home. The bed is set up against the back wall with the large, wooden headboard off to the right-hand side.
An armoire stands at the foot of the bed with two feet of space between them. A dresser is next to it, situated near the door. Next to the headboard, there’s a small nightstand with a digital alarm clock sitting on it. It’s the only thing that looks somewhat new in this entire cabin, which makes me wonder how often Degory visits.
There is, also, a door to the side of the nightstand that I, assume, leads to a bathroom.
Degory sets me down on the side of the bed carefully before confirming where the bathroom is. He says something about going to wait outside the room while I get ready for bed, and that there is still clothing inside the dresser if I want to change.
He hesitates, shifting his feet, but exits without another word. I think he was waiting for me to say something, but I can’t get passed the grogginess. I feel bad, but can’t find my voice to call him back. He shuts the door behind him, so I do my best to stand and change on my own.
It isn’t too difficult, but I’m really slow changing into pajamas.
I take off my winter coat, and my other winter clothes. It’s gotten sufficiently warm inside thanks to the fire that Degory made for us. I set my clothing on top of the chest-high dresser, and open one of the drawers to see what’s hiding inside it.
There are a few large white t-shirts in the top drawer and nothing else. I open the second one to find a few faintly colored night gowns that look like they came out of the early 1900s. I take one that is a light shade of blue and put it on. It makes me think of ice. That shade of blue, in turn, makes me think of the boy waiting outside the door for me to finish.
I change as quickly as I can and open the door, letting him know he can come in. I tell him that I’m going to use the bathroom before turning away from him. I’m not sure if he’s going to change out of his black robe and white, sleeveless jacket, but I leave that up to him.
I don’t say anything to him, though, because I don’t want him to think I expect him to change. I want him to be comfortable being himself with me, so I want him to come up with the idea himself. I’m curious to see what he decides to do. I retreat to the bathroom where I do what I can to clean myself up and relieve myself before sleeping.
Rinsing my face with cool water, I wash my hands, hoping I don’t smell bad. Otherwise this is going to be a really awkward evening. I take a moment to look at myself in the mirror to make sure I don’t look completely disheveled.
With the old-fashioned nightgown, I look like something out of a classic movie, or a modern one set during the Great Depression. It’s strange, but the dress is sort of flattering, too. It accentuates my hips and has some pretty frills across my chest to keep the outfit from being too revealing. It’s kind of cute.
When I finish and am satisfied that I look presentable, I knock on the door to get Degory’s attention and ask meekly if he’s decent. He is polite because of how he was raised when he was still alive, but I’m more awkwardly polite.
I have never seen a boy naked, and I don’t feel like making this night any more awkward or terrifying for myself. My lack of experience and nerves keeps me from being bold. I know that I love him, but I’m still too anxious to make a move – even jokingly.
After confirming that he’s dressed, I leave the bathroom and sit down on the side of the bed again, feeling utterly exhausted from all the excitement this evening. Curious, I peek over at him to see how he’s clothed.
He’s standing next to the dresser – he’s taken off his white jacket, but still has the black robe on. There is, also, a pair of black baggy pants underneath I hadn’t noticed before because of the jacket. I wonder how often he takes it off. Probably not very often since other Reapers and spiritual beings need to know his rank.
I’m happy that he feels cozy enough with me to remove himself from his responsibilities and just be himself.
He is situated in front of the dresser when I come out of the bathroom, but as soon as I sit on the bed, he walks over and stands in front of me. He looks down to me, tracing the outline of my face with his right forefinger delicately – like I’m a fragile porcelain doll.
His touch sends shivers running down my spine, invigorating my senses. I would be disappointed if it were anyone else ruining my sleepy state, but I’m happy to have a few more waking minutes with him before it’s officially time for bed. He leans down and kisses me tenderly on the forehead.
“You should lie down,” he suggests, chuckling quietly seeing me more awake.
“I don’t know,” I tease. “I’m not all that tired anymore.”
“It’s getting late, lovely,” he coos. “You need your rest.”
“Are you saying I need my beauty sleep?” I giggle.
“No,” he snickers. “You’re absolutely gorgeous without sleep. It’s just been a long day, and tomorrow won’t be any different.”
“Okay, fine,” I cave, smiling up at him. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t feel like sleeping just yet, I was going to keep watch in the living area.”
I pout, wanting him to snuggle with me.
“You said it’ll take a while for them to find us…” I hint, still not feeling bold enough to tell him exactly what I want. “Can’t you place some sort of magi
c barrier thingy to hide us from them so you don’t have to stay up? Or is that impossible?”
I don’t really have any idea what I’m saying, but I hope he will understand. I feel like he knows me better than anyone so I hope he can decipher my gibberish. He used some sort of incantation to create light for us when we first arrived at the cabin, so I assume there are other things he can create using that same methodology.
That, or I’m talking out of my ass and embarrassing myself. Which is highly likely.
“If you would like me to lay with you and hold you, just say so,” he grins, reading me like an open book.
I can see laughter in his eyes as he gazes down at me. He catches me red handed when I’m trying to be subtle. It’s strange having this sort of connection with someone. I barely know him, yet I feel like I know him better than anyone, better than I know myself even, and I know it’s the same for him.
My cheeks burn from embarrassment. I’ve never had an interest in a boy or even in having a boyfriend, so I’m definitely not used to being so forward with anyone, and I can sense it’s the same for him. I bite my bottom lip before speaking.
“Will you lay in bed with me and cuddle instead?” I ask, sheepishly.
I can’t really hide my face, so I stare at my feet instead. My cheeks burn a little warmer, too. I look back and forth from my hands on my lap to my feet, so that he won’t see me blushing like a naive child. I’m not sure which to focus on while I wait for him to respond. He uses his hand to lift my chin so my gaze meets his again.
“Of course,” he replies, sweetly.
His smile outshines the fire in the next room.
“Don’t ever look away when you blush, though,” he teases. “You are adorable when you blush.”
He knows saying that will make me blush even more, and I can feel it in my cheeks as he grins at me. Excited and embarrassed, I lay down on the bed and scoot close to the wall – my back against it – to try and hide my face from him, playfully.
Waiting a Lifetime (The Waiting Series Book 1) Page 11