Ripples (DROPLETS Trilogy Book 2) (16 page)

     My death was coming, I was sure of it. The knife hand cocked back and I was about to dive to the side when a dark blur rushed forward and crashed into the Hyven soldier. The shadow with gold hair slashed the knife hand off the dark merman. I watched as the severed hand fell into the sand with a sickening thud and my stomach churned. In horror, I saw Zale place both hands on either side of the dark merman’s face. My eyes squeezed shut and I turned away, as a shriek of pain and a loud crack resounded along the beach, and everything went quiet.

     I inhaled deeply, trying to still the harsh beating of my heart but my breath was ragged and shaky. When I opened my eyes, I looked anywhere but at the ground. Anything to keep me from seeing the remnants of the bodies. My hands shook violently and the images of the flashing blades and dripping blood passed quickly by as my mind latched onto the rotten tooth. It was all I could think about and the more I focused on it, the more I felt my stomach lurch in an attempt to empty itself onto the cold sand beneath my feet. Somewhere in my mind, I knew I was going into shock and with what little strength I had left, I tried to reach for something outside of myself.

    Just then, a loud splash reached my ears and I turned  my head in the direction of the noise. My first thought had been Zale had left me here on the beach with the four dead mermen, but then I saw what he was doing. He picked up each soldier, as though they weighed no more than a child, and threw him into the water with as little care as possible. I cringed when he picked up the dark one and I saw the head flop to the side at an unnatural angle. The plunk of the severed hand only made what little food I had in my stomach creep toward my throat. I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead and upper lip and closed my eyes again. If it wasn’t for the sea air, I would have lost all the contents of my stomach.

     I struggled to take deep breaths and as I did, clarity was restored and I remembered something Kryssa had told me once.

     It had been during those dark days, before Patrick’s attempted rescue, I had asked her where Wyeth, her deceased fiancé, was buried. She had told me he had been put into the water with ceremony. I asked her what it meant and she told me all merfolk were buried at sea, that when a merperson died, their body was placed in the ocean and they would dissolve into nothing.

     The memory came back to me now, forcefully, and it seemed as though it had been a lifetime ago Kryssa had told it to me.

     When I reopened my eyes, I saw Zale covering up the patches of bloodied sand. The ground was returning to its usual color, when all of the sudden, he stopped using his boots to overturn the sand and faced me. I couldn’t bring myself to look into his eyes. Instead, I stared at his chest that was covered in a blood stained white shirt. My breath became short and constricted as he started to walk toward me.

     Kryssa was right. He was dangerous and more powerful than I had realized.

     I watched as he got closer with every crunch of his boots. My senses heightened and I wanted to flee, but knew I couldn’t. Suddenly, he grabbed my shoulders and yanked me against his chest. Tears filled my eyes and spilled over, the fear that had consumed me since I found him missing in the truck, finally released. He held me tight against his chest, his warm arms surrounding my whole body. I sobbed into his shirt, knowing the tears were mixing with the partially dried blood, but I couldn’t seem to stop.

     The large warm hands, which were against my back, rubbed gently and after a while made my muscles relax. I shuddered as I tried to gather myself and maintain the emotions that were reeling within me.

     “Are you okay?” He asked, his throat clogged. I nodded my head and didn’t look up. His arms tightened slightly as he gave me hug, and then I felt his curled fingers under my chin.

     He lifted my face to his and I closed my eyes not wanting to show him how scared and vulnerable I had been. For some reason, I felt he would laugh at me for being a coward.

     Slowly, I opened my eyes and they met his with a cautiousness I didn’t know I possessed. The look he gave me made my heart pound louder than it had in months. He stared at me as though I was something special, I could see the fear that I was hurt, the relief that I was alright, and something else I thought I could name, but knew to be impossible.

     I don’t know how long we stood, just looking at each other with his arms around me and my hands pressed against his strong chest. I shivered slightly and knew it wasn’t from the cold, but Zale thought it was. With a quick movement, he scooped me up into his arms and walked away from the ocean back toward the shadowy buildings.

    Reaching a hidden alley, he put me back on my feet and reached down to retrieve his belt of daggers from behind a dumpster. I wondered why he hadn’t left it on during the fight, but decided not to ask. He clasped the belt around his waist and then pulled his dark jacket out from the same spot. It covered up the bloodied shirt and made him look more human.

     He turned back to me and scooped me up without invitation, to carry me through the darkness. I could feel the steady heartbeat in his chest against my arm and felt a stirring inside of me which I had thought was dead.

     “Put your hood up,” Zale whispered, and I did as he said. We had reached the movie theater parking lot and groups of people were milling about. I wondered which movie had just ended. It wouldn’t be sensible to let people recognize me at this time of night, in the arms of a stranger.

     Zale strode powerfully across the parking lot toward the truck until someone called out to him and his muscles tightened slightly. I tucked my head down a little farther, not wanting this person to see who I was.

     “Hey! Is she okay?” The friendly voice sounded concerned, but I didn’t move in any way, not wanting the light from the street lamps to shine on my face.

     “Yeah, she’s fine.” Zale called back, his voice sounding casual and carefree. “We were out on the shore and she fell asleep.”

     The other person chuckled and said goodnight to Zale, to which he replied, “Thank you, and you too sir.”

     His heavy boots continued to pound on the cracked pavement and a thought entered my mind.

     “How’d you get to be such a gentleman?” I asked just loud enough for him to hear and felt him chuckle. It was partially a joke, but in truth, I was really curious.

     We reached the truck and I was about to move when he told me to stay still and pretend I was asleep. Apparently, the friendly man, who had asked about me was parked nearby.

     I waited patiently as Zale somehow managed to open the door without dropping me and then carefully sat me down on the seat. I tilted my head back against the head rest in feigned sleep, but my eyes were partly open, watching him.

     He grabbed my seatbelt and pulled it across my body, clicking it into place. He lifted his eyes to mine and I suddenly became aware of how close our faces were. My breath caught, as his eyes drifted to my lips, and when he spoke softly his exhale touched my cheeks.

     “Are you sure you are okay?” he asked, and brushed his thumb against the side of my cheek.

     “Yes,” I said, barely a whisper.

     He pulled away then and shut my door. As he walked around the front of the truck and hopped into the driver’s seat, I felt as if I saw and heard it all from a far off world.

     My mind was in a whirl about the feelings he had just stirred in me, it reminded me of before and yet I didn’t want it to. I sat in my seat thoroughly confused and shocked to the core, at what had just happened.     

It was late when we finally reached home. The trip back had been laden with unspoken words and the silence was suppressed, as though each sound from the roaring engine and the wind outside the truck, was more pronounced than before. The emotions running through me were enough to make my heart pound heavily within my chest, and I remained quiet. The uncertainty of what I had felt when he touched me was enough to make me tremble.

     All the lights were off in the house, everyone must have gone to bed early. The side light was still on as it always was, a warm beacon welcoming me into the familiar house.

     Zale turned off the engine of the truck with finality; I unbuckled and hopped out of the vehicle without looking at him. My mind was still too much of a mess, to even think straight. I reached the door to the house and opened it quickly, not even pausing to hold the door open for him behind me.

     In seconds I was upstairs and in my room, my heavy jacket lay on the floor and I was in the process of taking off my long sleeve shirt when I heard his voice soft in the darkness.

     “Lissie?” he asked.

     I froze, standing with my back turned to the door. I dropped my long sleeve shirt on the floor, happy I still had my light blue tank top on.

     “Yes?” I tried to sound casual, but it didn’t sound that way. My whole body was shivering from something I had long held at bay.

     I never heard him move, so it surprised me when his warm fingers brushed my bare shoulders. I shivered again as he turned me around to face him. My eyes reached his and the dark pupils were so deep, I felt as though I was falling, falling into a place of security and warmth. There was also a glow in his eyes that I recognized, and when I looked at his lips, I knew what was coming.

     Slowly, hi head lowered toward mine as he gave me a reassuring look. I closed my eyes in response and began to slide my arms up to his neck, when I felt the soft brush of my rolling bracelet.

    
Patrick
, his name shot through my mind and tore at my heart. I still wanted him more than anything and the memories of him washed through me. I remembered him as he sat next to the glow of the fire in his log cabin. I saw him, as he jumped off the large rock at the waterfall. I heard his voice, as he told me he loved me and felt his lips on mine, as he kissed me with a passion I hadn’t known existed. His laugh, his eyes, his smile, his warm hands, his soothing words, his manner, all of it hit me so fast I gasped and turned my face away from Zale’s, just before he kissed me. My heart was hammering in my chest and my entire body shook.

     I felt the tears run down my smooth skin like pouring rain and I pressed my face into Zale’s broad chest. He held me while I cried, not asking what was wrong, but simply accepting he should comfort me. Yet, in the stillness I knew why the tears flowed so freely. It was as though my heart had broken all over again, or rather, I had broken my own heart.

     Leaning forward I let the tears fall out of my eyes and onto Zale’s rough jacket.  I knew I owed him an explanation but couldn’t find any words to say.

     We stood for a long time until my tears finally stopped and my body became still. All the while, his large palms rubbed my back gently as he waited for me to speak, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

     “Are you okay?” It was the third time he’d asked me that question tonight, and I bit my lip, still not lifting my face from the rough fabric of his jacket. I couldn’t tell him I was. After sobbing twice in one night, I was far from all right. 

    “Hey,” he curled his fingers under my chin just as he had on the beach and lifted my face upward. I braced myself for the emotions I would feel when I looked into his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

     I internally groaned, what could I tell him? My mind raced, trying to think of something that would give him the truth, but not everything. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings or make him angry with me. Although angry would probably be better. I deserved it, after what I had just done.

     “It’s just,” my throat was more clogged than I had thought it would be. “that, uh, well,” I bit my lip, “its Patrick.”

     I watched as comprehension filled his eyes and his face shut down and become that of the warrior again. No emotion could get through the solid barrier. It was a locked door I had only seen open on rare occasions. I waited for him to become angry with me, but instead, he stayed silent and let his hands slip off my shoulders.

     “Oh,” was all he said and he stepped back from me looking toward the window.

     “I’m sorry,” I whispered, the words feeble, but the best I had to offer.

     He turned from me and I was sure he was going to leave and never come back. In an instant images of what would happen flooded my mind and I knew they were true. He would leave, and in his anger Lathmor would take the brunt of his actions. My fear spread to those I knew on Lathmor, the faces of the princesses, the captain, and Elik filled my mind. Yet, underneath all the worry for those I cared for, was something more frightening. The reason I wanted him to stay was for me, and the very thought of it terrified me to my core.

     “I’ll be back,” he said, pulling me from my thoughts, and he walked out of my room. For a moment, I stood frozen in the darkness, and then ran to grab my pajamas and use the bathroom.

     When I came back, I stood in the door for a moment surprised by the sight before me. The bedside lamp was on and a soft yellowish glow cast shadows on the walls. Zale had changed into the pair of gray sweatpants and a clean white undershirt my father had given him; both were a little tight on his large body. He stood to the side of the room, lying down the sheets and blanket from his makeshift bed downstairs, onto my floor.

     “What are you doing?” I asked not even thinking before I spoke.

     “I would think it’s quite obvious,” his voice was sharp and made me sorry I had asked. He sighed loudly, “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone tonight. So I’ll sleep in here.”

     I nodded my head in response and tried to figure out how I was going to sleep, if he was in my room. I had done it once before, but it had been different then. Before, I had only been afraid of him, now I was afraid of myself.

     Tossing my thoughts aside, I threw my soiled clothes into the old weaved hamper in the corner, and made my way toward the bed where I sat down with crossed legs. Zale continued to set up his makeshift bed. I had a funny feeling he was taking as long as possible, just to annoy me.

     Finally, he finished and laid down on the floor, I clicked off the light and we were surrounded by darkness. The dim slits of moonlight coming in through the shutters looked eerie and I found myself worried. Images from the beach began to come to life in the silent room and I knew sleep would elude me.  A strong shiver of fear ran along my spine as I laid down on my back, staring up at the ceiling.

     The silence was uncomfortable and I wondered if Zale felt it too. I tried to lift my head carefully to see if he was moving, but only a large shadowy form was visible.  A sigh passed through my lips and I rolled over onto my side.

     I bit my lip when a question popped into my head and debated whether I should ask it. For the next few moments I had an internal battle, about whether I should speak or not, and when I finally made up my mind, I tried to figure out how to say it.

     Working up enough courage, I blurted out my question. “Do you think Bolrock has more soldiers out there?”

     My heart was pounding harder than I had previously realized. It seemed to be the only source that related time to my mind. I counted along with it, waiting for an answer and just when I had thought he was going to completely ignore me, he responded.

     “It’s possible, but it’s not like him to send a large group for something so simple.” He gave a hard laugh, “I was actually surprised I had to kill five of them tonight.”

     I let the silence hang there suspended and counted in my head. There’d only been four mermen on the beach.

     “You mean four, right?” I asked, trying to figure out how I had counted wrong.

     “No, five.” He said, his tone harsh, as though I was trying to discredit him of some award.

     “But how? There were only four Hyven on the beach.”

     “I killed the first one before I got to you,” he said bluntly and I felt blood rush to my cheeks. “I saw her waiting for you just outside the theater, so I went after her. I knew it wouldn’t take long to get rid of her, but it actually proved to be harder than I thought. She was one of Bolrock’s chasers.”

     “What’s that?” I asked, quickly butting in.

     “Chasers are trained to
chase
and kidnap others, they’re incredibly fast and it took me awhile to catch up to her. She was headed for the sea about a mile down from the theater; apparently, she hadn’t expected to see me. I killed her and threw her body into the ocean.”

     I shuddered at how casually he spoke of death. “So that’s why you weren’t there.” I said, more to myself than to him, but he responded anyway.

     “Where else would I have been?” His voice was incredulous, as though the knowledge of my wondering was unbelievable.

     I decided not to answer. I had already hurt him enough for one night; this would only add salt to the wound.

     “Lissie?” he asked, and I knew he was losing his patience with me.

     “I didn’t know.” I admitted, hoping it would be enough.

     “You must have had some idea,” he prodded and I hesitated to answer.

     “Yes,” I said slowly and he waited for me to explain. I thought my words out carefully and said weakly, “I thought you’d left me.”

     The following silence was again uncomfortable, and I shifted beneath the covers as I waited for him to speak, but he didn’t make a sound.

     “I’m sorry,” I said thinking it would help.

     He remained quiet for a long time and I found myself staring at my clock. I watched as the minutes slowly clicked, I counted four of them before he spoke.

     “Is that why you took out your knife?” His voice was deep and I could hear the restraint he was holding over his anger. I wondered how he knew I’d pulled out my dagger, until I remembered leaving the leather sheath on the seat. He must have come back and found it.

     “Yes,” the word was barely audible. “I thought you were gone and I knew someone was out there. I didn’t think. I pulled out my dagger and ran for the theater, but he tackled me when I was only halfway there.” I shivered as the memory of the Hyven soldier pouncing from the shadows replayed in my mind.

     Zale sighed, frustrated, “Why didn’t you just stay in the truck? I would’ve been back and you wouldn’t have been hurt.”

     “I didn’t know if you would be back.” The words came out before I could stop them, and I covered my mouth with my hand.

     “You what?” He was angry now, angrier than he had been before.

     I bit my lip and then tried to think of some way to reassure him it was all a mistake, just a misunderstanding between us. I lifted myself into a sitting position on the bed and tried to see him again. My eyes could just barely make out his thick solid form on the floor. I took a deep breath and ignored the nervous bubble in my stomach.

     “I’ve never been sure of where your loyalties lie. One moment you’re fighting for my safety, and the next you’re Morven’s warrior. You hate the Lathmorians, but you also criticize Bolrock, and he’s one of the Hyven.” My voice was getting pitchy, but I kept talking anyway.

     “I didn’t know what to think when I got to the truck and you were gone. You’d told me over and over again you would be there waiting, and I believed you. All I could think when you weren’t there was you had played me for a fool, and set a trap. So I took out my dagger and tried to make a run for it, and the whole time those mermen were chasing me and threatening me, I thought you had been the one to betray me. You don’t know how relieved I was when you showed up.”

     My breath was heavy when I finished and I closed my eyes trying to block out the roiling emotions that moved within me. I shivered in the darkness and waited for him to speak. Some part of me feared that I had lost him forever, lost the last little fraction of compassion he had for me.

     “I guess I’m the one at fault,” he said, his deep voice slicing through my thoughts and filling me with relief. His tone was a caress that warmed my heart. “I should never have left the truck.”

     “You saved my life. I can’t blame you for that.” I said, guiltily. He chuckled and I smiled even though I knew he wouldn’t see it.

     I sat in the middle of my bed for a long time unsure of what to say or do. For some reason, I had the feeling he was looking at me, that he could see me in the dark. Finally, I pulled the covers over me and let my mind drift off into sleep…

The waves pounded against the shore, rushing water surging toward my feet. The sand rose around my toes and as each waved crashed, my feet became immobilized by the weight of the wet packed sand. I tried to move my feet, but I was stuck and as the rain pounded my face all I could do was bend my head away from the pelting drops. “Lissie?” a voice reached my ears over the whipping, rain-filled wind and I opened my eyes. It was Patrick, his presence as welcome as a warm blanket after a long day spent in the cold snow. I tried to open my mouth to tell him it was me, but I stopped when I took in his expression. His eyes were wide with horror and stared down at my feet. I shifted my gaze and gasped as the pools of red foam swirled around my ankles. Looking back at Patrick, I wanted to scream, but now his eyes were focused on something else. He stared at my hands, and when I looked down once more a choked sob broke through my throat. Blood, it stained my fingers and remained even though the rain pelted against my skin. My lips tried to form an explanation but when I lifted my eyes to Patrick, he shook his head and left me where I stood. I cried out his name, but the red water only rose higher…