Ethereal: The Light in the Shadow

by Zoe Knights

  Eddie narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What… exactly?” she asked slowly.

  “Just… reassure someone, so they don’t go running off to my dad,” Sam explained quietly. But, at the mention of his dad, Eddie felt a chill shoot down her spine; for was it he who stole Sam as a baby?

  She swallowed, nerves building in her stomach. “Who?” she whispered tentatively.

  “You’ve already met her,” Sam said back quietly. “Please,” he added lowly in earnest. “Do you still trust me?”

  Eddie breathed in a little too quickly, trying to discern what was going on behind those brown eyes that were an exact replica of Eleanor Finley’s. Finally, she broke their gaze to pick up her coat and beanie.

  She turned back to him after squashing down her frizzy curls with her woolly cap. “Okay then,” she said with a firm nod. “Out of the way.”

  Sam looked relieved, and he stepped back, moving further up the branch to give her space.

  Eddie gulped at the drop that was below, hesitating on the sill.

  “I won’t let you fall,” Sam’s voice drifted over to her on the cool wind.

  She looked at him, and though her stomach flipped, she believed him.

  Shakily, she clambered out, and Sam held his hand out to her. Eddie took it, allowing him to help her to the trunk. They climbed down, Sam first as Eddie followed, struggling a little in her jeans that were a touch too small.

  “Did you know Quinn wasn’t in the room?” Eddie asked quietly as they finally reached the grass below.

  “Of course, I ensured it,” Sam said simply.

  Eddie frowned at him. “Are you kidnapping me?”

  Sam chuckled, shaking his head. “You certainly made it easy for me if I were.”

  Eddie narrowed her eyes. “Where are we going?” she asked, crossing her arms over her coat.

  Sam sighed slightly, his eyes flickering over her. “Not far,” he promised. “To the trees, no further.”

  Eddie nodded, steadying her nerves and walking on with Sam, her feet crunching over the crisp and frosty grass.

  She could feel Sam’s gaze on her before he spoke. “My father can’t know that you saw anything…” he said quietly.

  Eddie met his gaze. “Who exactly is going to tell him?” she asked with a frown.

  Sam seemed nervous to tell her. He hesitated over his words. “Neeshka,” he said the strange name softly, and Eddie’s mind’s eye was instantly filled with visions of the terrifying beast before it disappeared into shadow. She looked ahead to the trees, cold fear settling in her heart at the thought of seeing that creature again. “She is concerned because…” Sam was still quietly explaining, “well, if you knew about me… I’d be in a lot of trouble, danger – really. So-”

  Eddie looked at him quickly through the moonlight. “What?” she breathed, her brow contracting.

  “But it’s ok,” Sam said quickly. “Because you don’t know. But… she needs to know from you… that you don’t know.”

  Eddie shook her head, looking away from him. “I hope you realise how convoluted you’re being,” she muttered.

  Sam looked at her oddly. “I… know,” he said after a long moment, the softer tone to his voice taking Eddie by surprise. “Thank you for… for coming with me. For trusting me.”

  She glanced at him uncertainly. “What would happen to me if your father found out?” she asked quietly.

  Sam swallowed quickly, glancing ahead to the trees. “I’m not sure,” he murmured lowly. “I’d rather make sure to avoid that risk altogether.”

  Eddie watched Sam’s face closely, noting the tightness to the corner of his eyes. She wanted to ask who his father was. But she knew the answer she would receive.

  They reached the cover of the trees, and the temperature dropped a few more degrees. Eddie hugged her arms to her chest, shivering on the spot and Sam had the nerve to laugh at her.

  She glared at him. “Really?” she said flatly. “Is now really the time?”

  Sam chuckled again, shrugging off his own coat.

  “Here…” suddenly he was walking behind her, his overheated body blocking the wind. Eddie instantly stopped shivering and instead froze to the spot; his presence behind her overwhelming.

  She heard the rustle of his coat before she felt it touch her shoulders, and she felt the tingle shoot down her spine before his hand brushed her arm as he moved back, leaving the warm jacket draped over her.

  She gave him a long, hard look, still struggling with her internal reaction to this before sighing roughly and giving in, pulling her arms through the jacket to put it on properly.

  “Thanks…” she muttered gruffly.

  Sam smiled a small, crooked smile. “You know… I never told you that you were right,” he said in a soft, teasing tone.

  Eddie raised her eyebrows.

  “I did have fun,” he explained idly. “With you. On the excursion, and without sex no less. A revelation, to be sure.”

  Eddie snorted, a dry smile touching her lips, but she shook her head, looking away. “Well, I think my revelations were a little more… pressing than yours,” she said wryly.

  Sam’s smile faded. “Yes…” he muttered lowly. “Well, anyway. Are you ready?”

  Eddie’s stomach flipped and nerves scattered through her instantly. Sam must have seen this in her eyes for he lay a tentative hand on her arm for a moment. “It’s ok,” he said quickly. “We can wait a minute.”

  But, Eddie shook her head. “No, it’s fine. Just… um… what if she doesn’t believe me?” she turned to meet Sam’s gaze with wide eyes. “Will she…”

  “She won’t hurt you,” Sam said straight away. “I promise you that. Just tell her what you saw… and that you won’t go looking for more.”

  Eddie’s heart pounded in her chest as she thought back to the article open on her laptop about Sam’s mother. She bit her lip; she didn’t want to tell him, afraid of his reaction. So she nodded quickly, swallowing down her sudden urge to hurl.

  “Okay,” she whispered, surprised that her voice didn’t waver for her insides felt like jelly.

  Sam nodded slowly, in his eyes he looked as nervous as her. He turned his gaze to the darkness where shadows loomed in masses. “Neeshka…” he whispered her name and Eddie’s heart sped up in trepidation.

  He didn’t speak again; instead, he waited and so did Eddie, her eyes flickering from him and to the empty space where his gaze pointed.

  She almost thought the beast was not coming, but then…

  Her breath caught, and her eyes went wide as once more she saw a disruption in the very space of reality itself. Shadows melded around an invisible creature, forming themselves into the shape of a huge, jet black wolf.

  Eddie couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe, her eyes locked on the creature as it slowly walked toward the dim light just breaking through the trees from the moon.

  A twig snapped under one of the beast’s huge paws, and Eddie jumped violently at the sudden noise, grabbing Sam’s arm beside her like a vice, and Neeshka paused.

  “It’s okay…” Sam whispered, surely feeling Eddie’s speeding pulse even through the fabric of his shirt. He carefully pried her hand from his arm, and instead held it in his. Eddie grasped his fingers like a lifeline, nodding shakily.

  Then, Neeshka finally moved into the silvery light.

  And Eddie’s breath caught in her throat.

  For she was beautiful. Such a thought was the last Eddie could have imagined, and yet the fact remained. Her fur was as black as night and so perfectly sleek when it was not raised along the ridge of her back in defence. She was slender and with a face like a wolf, though she was twice the size, and her glittering diamond shaped eyes the colour of rubies were nothing like the fearsome blood-red embers Eddie had seen that ominous day.

  Eddie’s grip on Sam’s hand slackened, and she realised he’d been watching for her reaction this whole time with apprehension in his gaze.

  She nodded at him quickly,
just managing the smallest of reassuring smiles.

  “Um…” she began a little shakily, slowly letting go of Sam’s hand to step forward carefully. “Hello,” she continued tentatively, her gaze now locked with Neeshka’s otherworldly eyes. She glanced back at Sam, “Does she speak?” she whispered.

  Sam actually gave a very small, quiet laugh. “No, of course not,” he said like she was the crazy one and she frowned at him. He cleared his throat. “But she understands. Just… just tell her.”

  Eddie turned back, and she nearly jumped to find Neeshka even closer, the strange wolf-like beast observing her closely. She breathed in quickly, fighting her every instinct to run. “Okay then, N-Neeshka,” she said after swallowing thickly. “I… I’m Eddie. You probably already know that. But um… well look I… I don’t know er… what you are, exactly. Or… or Sam,” she said awkwardly, her nerves at a paramount as Neeshka tilted her huge dark head to one side, those eyes glinting with the moon. “And I… well I won’t ask about it or anything. I promised, Sam. And… well, you don’t have to worry about me. I… I don’t want Sam to get hurt either.”

  Neeshka moved her head closer, her nostrils quivering at the end of her long, slender snout and Eddie realised she was sniffing her which gave her the strangest urge to giggle. It was in such contrast to the other emotions she felt that it nearly made her sick.

  She swallowed again, but Neeshka breathed out a puff of air from her nose, her large pointed ears lowering submissively and she walked off around Eddie and over to Sam who laughed, relief coating his tone.

  Eddie turned with wide eyes, watching the huge beast lope slowly, muscles rippling through her large haunches as she moved to stand behind Sam.

  “She believes you,” Sam smiled widely, turning to pet Neeshka’s neck before aiming his smile at Eddie again. “And she likes you,” he added, sounding thoroughly pleased at such an outcome.

  Eddie exhaled slowly, a strange trickle of relief running through her while her muscles almost hurt from the adrenaline and the surrealistic situation had her head swimming.

  A small, almost breathless laugh tumbled from her lips, and she smiled too. “She’s… well, she’s beautiful…” she said quietly, moving tentatively closer to Sam and the wolf.

  Sam smiled, a soft and small smile, but it was genuine and perhaps the most beautiful thing Eddie had ever seen. “I think so too,” he said quietly before turning his gaze on Eddie. The look he gave her was one she could not decipher, but whatever it was she liked it. She liked the tender turn to the corner of his lips and the warmth in his chocolate brown eyes. She couldn’t help the smile that grew on her lips in return.

  Sam looked away quickly, clearing his throat slightly. “Well um…”

  “Could I touch her?” Eddie asked suddenly, her eyes gazing back over the beautiful, otherworldly creature stood before her, defying every ounce of logic she once had in her. How could she resist when previously she would never have believed this to be real?

  Sam nodded silently, beckoning her closer and Eddie slowly closed the gap between them, coming to a halt by Sam’s side with Neeshka’s sleek dark form before her. Her fur shimmered slightly with each rise and fall of her breath and her head turned, dark ruby eyes glimmering as they locked with Eddie’s.

  Eddie breathed in steadily, this time it was excited nerves that tickled her stomach. But, she hesitated, biting her lip. “Is this okay with her?” she checked quietly.

  Sam exhaled a small laugh. “Yes,” he whispered back. “She particularly likes it just here…” he showed her by running his hand down the side of her sleek neck, starting just below her ear.

  Eddie nodded quickly, taking another breath and keeping her gaze on those dark red eyes, she lifted her hand slowly to the beast’s neck.

  With one last bout of courage, she closed the gap, her hand landing upon soft, delicate fur and a shaky breath fell from her lips, and she smiled. She let her hand glide down Neeshka’s neck, running her fingers through the sleek hair and scratching softly at the base of the wolf’s throat.

  Neeshka rumbled quietly, and Eddie looked at Sam to find his eyes already on her, that little smile continuing to tweak the corner of his lips. “I have to admit…” he murmured quietly. “This is not how I expected you to react…”

  Eddie turned back to Neeshka, patting her again, in awe of this magical creature. “What were you expecting?” she asked quietly.

  “A lot more screaming,” Sam chuckled. “I’m… glad you like her,” he continued softly. “It’s… strange having someone else here with us.”

  Eddie looked at him, her green eyes filled with wonder. “I can’t believe this is real…” she whispered. “I…well I really want to ask what she is. But I won’t,” she added quickly. “But I can’t pretend not to wonder…”

  Sam watched her for a moment longer, hesitating before he finally said, “I should probably get you back to your room…”

  Eddie turned to look at him, knowing he was right but not wanting to leave for when would she get to see something like this again? Would he ever let her back here?

  “I’m sure your friend is worried…” Sam added lowly.

  Eddie sighed, taking her hand back and this time Neeshka surprised her by stretching her front legs out before her, flexing her back, then standing up again and walking away from the two.

  “Neeshka agrees,” Sam said lowly.

  “Alright,” Eddie relented, casting one more look at the wolf before turning away. “Let’s go then…”

  Sam led her away, and Eddie couldn’t help but glance back, just catching the surreal ripple effect in the air itself as Neeshka disappeared.

  “How does she do that?” Eddie whispered in mild awe.

  Sam looked at her, and he seemed torn behind his guarded eyes. “She can… meld through shadow,” he admitted quietly.

  Eddie shook her head slowly, another disbelieving laugh falling from her lips. “This is insane…” she murmured, looking up at Sam. “As weird as this is to say,” she continued quietly, “thank you.”

  Sam swallowed, unable to smile in return. “Mm…” he murmured lowly.

  They reached the tree just below Eddie’s dorm, and Eddie cast Sam a last, lingering glance. “So um…” she began quietly. “What happens now?”

  Sam tilted his head, frowning slightly. “What do you mean?” he asked a little quickly.

  “Well… can we still talk?” Eddie asked hesitantly. “Or… or is this it? I did what you needed me to do?”

  Sam frowned further, biting his tongue in hesitation. “We… shouldn’t,” he said finally, his words a little stunted.

  Eddie couldn’t hide a wave of disappointment for it flooded her eyes. “Oh…” she looked away quickly. “Right. Well-”

  “I said we shouldn’t… not that I don’t want to,” Sam cut in quickly, and Eddie looked back to his gaze that was hesitant, uncertain and still guarded. “But then… I’ve never been so good at doing what I’m supposed to do…”

  A small smile shadowed Eddie’s lips, not quite coming to light yet. “Then, I suppose… we will just see what happens?”

  Sam hesitated again, a frown pinching his brow. “Do you… actually want to keep talking to me?” he asked quietly. “Even… even after everything? Even though I can’t explain to you almost anything?”

  Eddie looked at Sam seriously, her large green eyes open and honest. “After everything that’s happened… you’re the only one I feel I can speak to without feeling insane,” she admitted softly. “Even though you can’t explain it… at least with you… I’m not having to lie.”

  Sam’s brow contorted further. “But I am,” he said lowly. “Every minute I’m with you and you don’t know who I am… I’m lying.”

  Eddie shook her head slowly. “You don’t have to tell me who you are for me to get to know you. The real you.”

  Sam continued to look at her, his brow furrowed, confusion swimming in his eyes. He didn’t say anything, and Eddie exhaled sli
ghtly, a small, dry sort of smile ghosting her lips. “We’ll just… see. Ok?”

  Sam still did not speak, seemingly lost in some internal battle with himself and Eddie slowly backed away toward the trunk of the tree.

  “Goodnight Sam,” she said quietly, turning around. “See you in class…”

  She climbed the trunk, trying to do so as lithely and co-ordinately as possible for she could feel Sam’s gaze on her the whole way.

  She carefully crossed the large branch to her window before glancing back down one last time.

  Their eyes met through the darkness and the distance, their gazes lingering just a moment longer than necessary before Eddie looked away.

  She pushed open the French glass window as quietly as she could, slipping inside her dark room where it was warm and silent.

  Quinn was curled up in her bed, but the moment Eddie shut the window, the lamp switched on, and Quinn sat bolt upright, clearly not asleep.

  Eddie stared at her, she stared back.

  “So,” Quinn was eyeing her coat, and it was only then that Eddie remembered she had Sam’s jacket. Again.

  Shit.

  “Okay… this is not what it looks like,” Eddie said hastily.

  “Uh-huh,” Quinn said dryly.

  Eddie blanched, pulling off Sam’s jacket and trying to ignore the urge to stick her nose in the collar where his enticing scent was drifting from. She tugged off her beanie too and sat down on her bed to remove her boots. “Really,” she said seriously. “I was…” she trailed off, having no clue what to say that could possibly explain this.

  “It’s okay, Eddie,” Quinn said, but she sounded a little stiff. “You don’t have to explain it. I suppose I just… thought we were good enough friends for you not to need to lie.”

  Eddie’s stomach twisted with guilt. “Quinn,” she looked at her friend earnestly. “I’m not lying. I am not hooking up with Sam. It’s…” she sighed lowly, falling back onto her bed and looking up to the ceiling. “It’s complicated…” she muttered.

  Quinn frowned slightly, but she seemed to believe her. “… Alright,” she said slowly. “So… what are you… like, secretly dating or something?”