Eternal Shadows (34 page)

He lay in the hammock, gently swinging from side to side like a breeze. A small leather book in one hand, the other cradling his head. I moved to stand beside him, just out of the path of his smooth motion.

“What are you doing?”

“Reading.”

“I see that. What are you reading, and why is it more interesting than me?”

He laughed, and set the book down on his hip, propped open. “Not more interesting, just currently occupying my thoughts. There’s room for you here.”

I carefully climbed into the hammock with him, certain I would manage to flip us both over, even with vampire reflexes. But, no. We remained off the floor. I was on a roll. I settled into his side, tucking myself under his arm. It always amazed me what a perfect fit this position seemed to be.

He picked up the book again.

“So what are you reading?” I hadn’t seen any title on the cover. The book looked old, maybe it had been worn away.

“Sara Teasdale.”

That sounded familiar. I grabbed the book and pulled it so I could see the page he was on.

Love and Death
, it said at the top of the page. I read the poem quietly to myself.

Shall we, too, rise forgetful from our sleep,

And
shall my soul that lies within your hand

Remember
nothing, as the blowing sand

Forgets
the palm where long blue shadows creep

When
winds along the darkened desert sweep?

Or would it still remember, tho' it spanned

A
thousand heavens, while the planets fanned

The
vacant ether with their voices deep?

Soul
of my soul, no word shall be forgot,

Nor
yet alone, beloved, shall we see

The desolation of extinguished suns,

Nor
fear the void wherethro' our planet runs,

For
still together shall we go and not

Fare
forth alone to front eternity.

I suddenly remembered.

“This is the poem you were reading that day I saw the first box. The day I met the general.”

“Yes.”

I hadn’t taken the time to really read
it the last time. I’d been more interested in getting under Rhys’s skin. I read the stanzas again, and then again. The truth of the words rang like distant bells in my head.

“After everything happened, I remembered this poem,” Rhys said, playing with my hair. “That day was the first day I had read it, but something about it stuck with me, so when we packed to come here I found the book again.”

“You think she was a vampire?” I teased.

“Not likely.”

“Maybe she knew one then.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because what else could the poem be about?”

“The afterlife.”

“Isn’t that what this is?”

“I don’t think vampirism falls under most people’s general conception of the afterlife.”

“Hmm. Maybe.” I shifted onto my side so I could see his face. I traced each line, memorizing them as though for the first time. I certainly planned to never again rise forgetful.

But that made me remember something that had been bugging me. Something I really didn’t want to bring up, but now I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“Rhys, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” He set the book aside and took a lock of my hair in his hand, twirling it about his finger.

“It’s about something Malachi said,” I warned him.

I saw the beginnings of that line above his eye, but he didn’t look away or anything. “What did he say?”

“Well,” I didn’t quite know how to broach the subject. “When he was…you know, trying to kill me, he said that if I died this time there would be no coming back. He said my soul would be done.”

“Ah. That.”

“What do you mean ‘Ah. That’?”

Rhys sighed. “We have no proof, how could we? But as far as anyone can tell, a vampire has never been reborn again. Humans, obviously, come back. We can detect them, find them sometimes, if the connection is strong enough. But there are no records of a vampire being killed and returning as a human soul.”

“Oh.” That sucked. “Does anyone have any idea why?”

“Some think the soul is changed so that it cannot move through time in such a way anymore. Others think it’s because we have no soul, that our soul already moved on.”

“Well, that can’t be right. Otherwise you and I wouldn’t feel the way we do.”

He smiled. “You’re probably right.”

“All the same, we should probably be careful not to die.”

“I’m okay with that.”

“So what if the sun extinguishes like the poem says? Or what if the world ends?”

“Then, as the poem says, we shall not fare forth alone.”

“I like that.”

My cellphone rang somewhere across the room. I groaned. The thought of ignoring it occurred to me, but I got so few calls—closer to none, really—that I had a feeling whoever it was, it was important.

Nearly dumping Rhys from the hammock, I rolled free and dashed to find my phone. One more second and it would have gone to voicemail.

“Hello?”

“Kass? Oh, God, Kass, I’m so glad you answered.”

Sara? “Of course I answered. Why wouldn’t I? What’s wrong? You sound…weird.”

“I was worried about you.”

“Worried about what?” Everyone thought I was at some fancy resort spa. Nothing to worry about here.

“Haven’t you seen the news?”

News? “Uh, no, not really. This place is kinda remote. No TVs or anything like that.”

Sara went quiet. All I could hear was something that sounded like nervous tapping. “Oh, God. I didn’t think I would have to tell you. Maybe I shouldn’t. You’re healing, resting and all that.”

“Sara, you’re scaring me. Just spit it out.”

“Well, those things, those creatures, like what happened to you—they’re everywhere.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It wasn’t just you. Things like that are happening all over. Everyone’s afraid to go outside. Anyway, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to add to your stress. I just needed to make sure you were okay.”

I felt dumb. Like my tongue wouldn’t work. But finally I managed a few words. “It’s okay, don’t worry about it. I’m glad you told me. And I’m safe, I swear. You make sure you stay safe, okay?”

“I’ll do my best. Call me, okay?”

“I will. I promise.”

The call didn’t last much longer. Just a few awkward goodbyes before I finally got up the strength to press the END button.

I knew Rhys was watching me without turning around. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You know why.”

I turned on him, my phone clenched in my fist. “Is this how it’s going to be? Keeping me in the dark? My friends are out there. My family. I have people out there.”

He sat balanced on the edge of the hammock, and looked me in the eyes. “You were sick, you had enough to worry about. But you’re right, I should have told you sooner than this.”

“You should have told me,” I corrected him.

A nod was my only answer.

I chucked my phone onto the couch and made my way back to the hammock, standing at his knees. “So what happens now?”

“Changes. But deciding what isn’t our job. Following orders later is.”

“That sucks.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

I sank down beside him, sending the hammock into a quickly controlled swing. Another bout of silence followed. But inside my head everything was way too loud. I couldn’t stop thinking about Sara and her family, and everyone else I cared about
who wasn’t safe on a remote tropical island like I was. Safety sucked when you couldn’t share it.

Rhys coaxed me to lie down again beside him, and we swung in silence for a long time. I think I was about to fall asleep when I heard him speak.

“I got something for you.”

“Really?” I twisted the fistful I had of his shirt. “What?”

He moved so quickly the hammock didn’t so much as shake. Something glittered in front of my face. I reached out and took it, turning it over in my hand so I could see it clearly.

A coin. Red. With a shield on one side and a wreath on the ot
her. Inside the wreath a large
2 cents
had been printed. “What is it?”

“A two cent piece. From 1872. They are rather hard to find. This will be easier to practice with since the weight is more even.”

I tried passing it over my hand once. It went easily. I let it fall off my little finger and caught it. “A lot easier.” The sixpence, while I loved it, was so old and unevenly cut it made the whole process difficult. Of course, I hadn’t realized that until I had a neatly minted coin. “Thank you. I guess this means you want your sixpence back now.”

Crap
. I had forgotten. Though I’d packed the coin carefully, kept it on my person throughout the entire flight, my caution had not extended to our destination. I had made a place for it on my dresser, but this morning…it hadn’t been there.

Crap
. I hadn’t finished looking for it yet. Millie had interrupted me.

“If you don’t mind,” Rhys said.

Crap, crap, crap.

“Nope. I don’t mind. I did promise to give it back after all.” I grinned, hoping he wouldn’t notice my panic attack.

“Why don’t you go get it? We’ll see who can keep the coin going the longest.”

Oh, shit.

“Uh, okay! Sure. I’ll be right back.” I tucked my new coin into his pocket for safe keeping, then dragged myself from the hammock, praying some kind deity would have returned the coin by the time I reached our room.

Rhys laughed and grabbed my hand. “Is something wrong, Kassandra?”

I turned and looked at him. His blue eyes were downright hysterical with contained amusement.

“Oh my God! You know! You know and you’re making fun of me!” I pounced on him, sending the hammock rocking violently back and forth. I punched him, half serious, in the shoulder. “You’re terrible! Why would you put me through that?”

He laughed and caught my fist before I could land another punch. “I’m sorry, love. I confess. I was the one who took it.”

“I hate you!” I swung with my free hand.

He caught it, too, and pulled me down until I was underneath him on the hammock. “You do not hate me.”

“Well, I ought to.”

“Does this make things better?”

A chain jangled and pinged as it unrolled from his hand. At the end, held securely by a thick bail, was the sixpence, shined and polished and looking better than it ever had in my lifetime.

“What is that?” I asked.

“A present. You should recognize it.”

“But, why?”

“Well, while you were healing I watched you clutch it day in and day out. And then I watched you stress yourself over making sure it made it here safely, so I came up with an idea that would solve the issue of you constantly worrying over losing it.”

“I didn’t worry constantly…” Okay. Yes I did. “But it’s yours. Don’t you want it?”

“I want to enjoy seeing it around your neck every day.”

I fought the smile that wanted to break across my face. I wasn’t done getting back at him yet. “Oh, I see. It’s like a mark of ownership.”

“You could look at it that way.”

“Like a collar,” I teased.

“Yes.” He knew I wasn’t serious.

“You’re not playing right. You’re supposed to be insulted that I would think such a thing.”

“I know you better than that.”

I snatched the now-pendant from his hand and reached back to fasten it around my neck. The coin was cool against my skin. I liked it very much. “Fine. I’ll wear it.”

“Good.”

I fingered the coin on my chest and thought of Bryn. I had a piece of history that corresponded to each of them now. The new coin was from Eva’s time period. I wondered if he had done that on purpose. Probably not. But I would use them as reminders. Mementos of what we had once had, and lost.

I wouldn’t lose him again.

I hooked my legs around his and looked up at him. “Are you sure you want me? I’m more annoying than Bryn or Eva.”

“More interesting.”

And then he kissed me.

Sneak Peek!
Coming soon . . .
Darkest Whispers

I woke with a start, ice cascading down over my neck and along my spine until my toes curled.  The sheets around me felt like hot lava in comparison.  I threw them off, arms flailing and legs kicking.  Rhys caught me by the wrists, awakened by my struggle.  I felt the back of my hand collide with his soft cheek once before he was successful in gently restraining me.

“Kassandra,” he said, firm yet calming.  “Look at me.  Wake up.”

Oh, I was awake.  I was so very, very awake.  I couldn’t tell him that, though.  My mind raced far too fast.  I dropped my head back to the pillow and stared straight up at him.  My wrists still encased safely within his hands, I grabbed his face, partly to reassure myself he was real, partly to make sure he listened.  “Something’s wrong.”

Rhys shook his head, taking my hands in his and drawing them down, weaving his fingers with mine.  “No, Kass.  Everything is fine.  You are safe, I promise you.”

“No.  Something’s wrong.  I feel it.”  I kept my eyes on every shadow, afraid some evil creature would jump out at any second and steal him away. 

I saw him pause, rethink his next words.  He knew as well as everyone else that these feelings were not to be brushed aside.  “Kassandra, you’re overreacting.  It was probably caused by a dream.”

He didn’t even believe that.  I could see it in his eyes.  I pulled him back down to the bed and rolled over until I was tucked up against his side.  “I don’t remember dreaming,” I said, holding myself up on one arm so I could still see his face.  “And I’ve never gotten a feeling from a dream before.  That’s a terrible excuse.”

He sighed, his posture illustrating his surrender.  “You can’t blame me for trying.  But what could have possibly set you off?  You were sleeping soundly.”

Ugh.  He hadn’t been sleeping; he had been watching me sleep again.  How many times did I have to tell him how slightly creepy that was?  However many, now wasn’t going to be one of them.  The chill reintroduced itself, giving me goosebumps.  “I don’t know.  I just know that something terrible is about to happen.  I’ve never felt it so strongly before.”  This was worse even than when Sara had been in danger.  That had been a harsh pain, this . . . this was an ill feeling.  I felt sick. 

He brushed my hair from my face.  “Nothing is going to happen to you.  I swear it.”

I forced down the lump of fear that tried to strangle me and focused on the feeling, trying to decipher whatever meaning it carried.  “It’s not me.  I’m not in danger.  At least, not yet.”

“No one’s going to hurt you.”

I buried my face in his shoulder for a moment, breathing in his scent to ground myself.  “You keep saying that, but . . .”  I stopped.  His chest didn’t rise and fall with the habitual breathing he usually practiced.   I waited; waited for him to draw breath, for him to move, but he didn’t.  He was still as stone.  I pressed my hand to his chest, over his heart; my desperation made it more of a slap.  The action must have alerted him to his mistake.  He breathed in. 

I sat up.  “You know something.” 

“You’re the psychic, not me.”  He made a feeble attempt at a smile.  I wasn’t laughing. 

“You don’t have to be.”  Panic held me, choked me.  I couldn’t even keep my eyes on him.  I looked at everything and nothing, all at once.  “The General took you aside today, he told you something.  You’ve been off ever since.  You keep assuring me that I’ll be fine, and you don’t lie to me, so it must be the truth, but that means . . . that means someone else is in danger.”  My voice had gone up an octave. 

Rhys sat up so quickly I had no choice but to fall onto my back.  He leaned over me, taking my face in his hands even as I pushed and grabbed at his chest.  “Kassandra, stop.”

I couldn’t hear him.  My mind raced, the chill wracked my body, and I knew,
knew
, with absolutely no uncertainty who my stupid ability was trying to warn me about. 

“It’s you!  You’re in danger.  And you know it.  You didn’t tell me!”

He changed tactics, releasing my head and instead grabbing me around the shoulders and pulling me up into his arms.  I locked my arms around him out of instinct, gripping the feeble fabric of his tee-shirt in my fists.  He held my head to his shoulder like you would a child.  “Please, Kassandra, let’s not do this now.”

“Not do what?”  I took comfort in feeling his skin against my cheek, but for how long?  “What’s going on?  Tell me now.”

“I would rather not.”

“That’s not fair!”  I wrenched away from him so we could be face to face.  “What did the General tell you?”

“I’m not in any immediate danger.  Will that satisfy you for now?”

“No!”

“Please?” 

We both had each other’s face in our hands again.  He looked so desperate, so tortured, that whatever response had begun to creep up my throat died and floated away.  My heart broke seeing that expression.  I’d never felt that kind of pain before, like someone had smashed my chest with a hammer.  I didn’t want to cause him that in return.  I bit my lip to keep from saying anything else and tasted blood.  Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. 

Rhys stroked my cheek with his thumb.  “I don’t want to remember tonight this way.  I know it’s hard, I know it’s unfair, but please, let’s just pretend everything is fine.”

I had to swallow before I could speak.  “But it’s a lie.”

“So then we lie.  We lie for tonight, and in the morning we’ll have more than enough truth.”

“Do you promise you’re not going to leave me?”  I couldn’t bring myself to think beyond that simple word, “leave.” The awful feeling that had woken me had already promised far worse than that.

He looked me straight in the eyes.  “I promise my life is not in immediate danger.”

I didn’t like that promise at all.  We had both phrased too carefully.  “Okay,” I said, not sure how much more I could take, “you can start lying to me now.”