“A lot of people live with us, the majority of our family.”
“You all don’t move out and get your own places?”
“Nah. For what?” he says, crossed, as if the idea is absurd. “We try to stick together. We all have our own lives, of course, but we just live together.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“Two sisters. Three brothers.”
“Are you the oldest?”
“No, I’m the third child, second boy. You’ll meet all of them when you’re ready.” He steps closer to me and wraps his arm around my shoulder. I smile to myself. He takes comfort in our contact as much as I do. Little things like grabbing my hand or touching my knee, even bumping my elbow. My touch may do to him what his touch does to me—put us at ease.
I crook my pinky around his of the hand hanging over my shoulder. “Your dad was standoffish last night.”
“Yeah, my father and I have a, ‘hi son, bye dad’ type of relationship. When I need him to do something for me, he does, but that isn’t often.”
“Why?”
Nathan drags his hand over his chin and chews on his bottom lip before saying, “My sisters and I are Burdened. Our father hates anything not full-blooded Sephlem. When we were born, he tried to kill us.”
“What?” I blurt out.
“My mother wouldn’t let him.” He snorts. “It’s not our fault we were born this way, and they knew the possibility before they bore children. He doesn’t trust us, and would prefer we didn’t exist.”
“Wait. So neither of your parents are Burdened?”
He shakes his head and continues, “It’s not how humans carry dominant and recessive genes. For Sephlems it’s hit or miss. Unlike full-blooded Sephlems, Burdened babies can be more aggressive. As we grow, we can be unpredictable.”
The trail opens back up to the beach and leads back to his house. “Is that why he hates you? What’d you do?”
“We don’t know why he hates us or Burdened Sephlem so much. Supposedly, out of our family, except my cousin Olar, my sister and I are considered the most dangerous. Along with my mother, we beg to differ on that because a few of our family members have slaughtered their mates and others on a few occasions.” He pulls me to a stop, and we sit on the grassy area of the beach. I sit beside him, facing him as he faces the water. “I’ve had my instances of uncontrolled, but nothing to be dubbed as most dangerous. My sisters are really under control, and a little obsessed about it.”
How many has he―
“Don’t ask that, Tracey.” He cuts off my thought. “Neither you nor I are ready to have that conversation. It happened, I regret it, and it won’t happen again. Not while I’m out of control anyway.”
That’s a sensitive topic. I break our eye contact and look out to the water glistening with gold. I tilt my head and press my lips together, considering a less touchy question. “So, what is it about you and your sisters that makes you worse than others?”
“Death and killing were introduced to us at an early age. Thanks to our father, as he’s tried to murder us on two occasions, and me on three.”
I swallow hard, wincing at the second mention of his father trying to kill him. “When? Why?”
He stares out at the lake, arms resting on his propped up knees. “When we were babies, before we turned a year old. These are my mother’s memories and some of my brothers. As children, we’re easy to kill. We haven’t developed a shield of defense like we develop as we get older. I’ll tell you a little more about that later. My mother had walked in on him over both of us, smothering us. She’d stopped him in time. My sister, Taylor, is two years ahead of me. My kind ages slowly, especially as children, but it doesn’t slow the way we learn. After my father had tried to kill us the first time, a couple of years later it registered that’s what he was doing. Twelve years following, it was reinforced when he had seen us playing near the water.” Nathan points at the lake.
I look away from him to it, hands sweating as I visualize his next words.
“He’d grabbed us by the back of our necks and dragged us in. My sister and I had fought, kicked, and bit at whatever flesh of his we could reach as he tried to drown us. Taylor had started moving slower and slower after taking in gulps of water, and her eyes turned a shade darker than the emerald they usually are. When the color began fading, I’d lost it. That day, I found out my first ability.” Our gazes meet. “I can subvert the minds of others, making them do what I want when I want, or even terminating the brain completely. But that’s advanced over the years into something else.”
I want to ask what he means, but he quickly continues.
“I’d imagined my father’s neck being choked harder than he was holding us by ours, and he began choking.” There’s a long pause as Nathan picks some grass and tosses it in the wind. It blows away. “I’d taken his hands from us, and he stood still, knee deep in the lake, because I’d stolen his desire to move. I’d waded to my sister and dragged us out of the water. Taking in a breath of air caused her to choke after taking in so much water. She was coughing up water and blood, and it had scared the shit out of me. We had sat on the sand,”—he gestures to a spot nearer the water—“right there, catching our breaths for what seemed like hours. When she was finally okay, she had looked at our father and said, ‘do it, Nathan.’ Her first ability was similar to mine. She can tell if a person is being possessed or overtaken by someone else, and she can remove it, or them, as well.”
I expect there to be some remorse for what happened, or a notable rancor, but there’s ease in his tone and an odd lull in his eyes. He retells his past, a moment of pure darkness, as though it were nothing but a blip in his life.
“Taylor had grabbed my hand and repeated herself in a tone she’d never used with me since that day. Her voice was shaking, yet hard. So, I did it. We were kids and didn’t think about how it might affect our mother. I had made him face us and had him walk backward deeper into the water. We saw the concern in his eyes, but his face showed no emotion. I wouldn’t allow him to. I’d made him stop when his nose was just beneath the water’s surface. Taylor had told me to do it that way so we could watch the life drain out of his eyes. And we would have, but our mother’s screams and begs for us to stop distracted me.” He shrugs. “My father had emerged from the water with wide eyes, panting. I’m almost certain that’s a pretty good reason to hate us. I only wish that was where it ended because it wasn’t until years later that I regretted not killing him.”
I chew on my bottom lip, eager for what’s to follow. Could it get any worse than your own father trying to kill you? “What happened?”
Nathan scratches the corner of his right brow, saying, “I’d come home to an empty house. At least, I thought it was empty. By this time, I had gained other abilities, understanding and knowing death. I could kill and would kill if needed. I was different. In full control, yet chose not to control my beast. I was in the kitchen, and I still can’t remember what I was thinking or doing at the time. All I remember was my father had come up behind me, took me by my head―his arm tucked under my chin―, yanked it back, and sliced my neck with a pearl-coated knife.” He meets my gaze. “Pearl coating an object like a blade, is the only thing that can cause me some serious harm. It breaks through our shield and will puncture our skin. Keep that to yourself.”
I nod, making a mental note to get rid of my pearl jewelry.
“But he’d cut me from my ear across my neck.” He points to the scar I’d noticed the other night, following the line with his index finger. “My youngest brother, Nicholas, had walked in and screamed a high-pitched screech. My father had stopped to cover his ears. That’s why it stops in the middle of my neck. I heard the scream, but not as my father did. I blame it on the pain, but my mother tells me it was something else. I’d fallen to my knees, grabbing my neck, probably about to die when my youngest sister found me. She had Nicholas place his hands on my wound and heal it. Because a pearl-blade made it, the scar remains. Afte
r I saw it for the first time, I regretted not killing my father like Taylor had told me to do when we were kids. But I got over it for my mother. Although, I wouldn’t doubt that he might try it again.” He trails off and meets my eyes before looking back at the water.
I scoot closer to him, laying my head on his shoulder as a cool breeze dances around us. To ease his tension, I grab his hand. Nathan’s shoulders slack, and he takes in a deep breath.
I pinch my lips to the side and think of something that’ll change the subject. “Tell me some things you like to do.”
He leans forward against his legs. “Besides what I told you, I also like hiking and mountain climbing.”
Hiking, yes, mountain climbing, we’ll see. “We could go hiking one day with plenty of bug spray and high socks.”
“High socks?” he asks, shocked, in a singsong voice.
“Yes,” I state, “to keep the creepers out of my pants.”
Quicker than I can follow, he tackles me against the grass, grabbing at the hips of my jeans. “I don’t think high socks will keep creepers out.”
I grab his forearm, smiling. “Not creepers like you.” I peck his lips and croon, “But I don’t mind you creeping.”
“Mm-hmm,” he hums. “I’m glad to hear that. ‘Cause if you did we might have a problem.”
I glance past him, to the bright blue sky. My phone rings. Taking it from my back pocket, I look it over. “It’s Glen.”
“Are you going to answer it?”
“No. She’s with Scott and if it were something serious, he would’ve called you.”
“No. I left my phone in the house. I know you’ve wanted some us time. I’m giving that to you with no interruptions.”
I blush. He’s right. I haven’t seen him look at his phone once today. “That’s sweet, Nathan.”
My phone rings again.
“I think you should answer it, Tracey.”
I hit the answer and bring the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
Glen yells so loudly I can’t make out what she’s saying, only the animosity in her voice as she shouts at Scott. Scott shouts over her, telling her to give him the phone. “Hello, Tracey. Can you put Nathan on?” he asks.
I hand Nathan the phone. “Wassup, Scott? Okay, what happened? Well, it’s your fault. If you would just―. Okay, Scott. When? That’s fine. I’m sitting by the water with Tracey. We were talking. Something you and Glen should try.” Nathan hands the phone back with the call ended.
I take it, putting it back in my pocket. “What happened?”
“Our alone time is getting cut short. Scott and Glen are on their way over.”
“Uh oh.”
“They got into an argument. Scott can’t control himself, and he needs someone else around.” I roll my eyes. “If they get too annoying, they can take the family room, and we’ll take the basement or the other way around. They just need someone around who can make it to them fast enough in case things go sour.”
“Sour, huh?” They were okay the last few days, but I guess that’s because of us. “It’ll be just you and me tonight, though. No fighting or arguing like we’ve grown used to.”
“For sure.”
“How long will it take them to get here?”
“No time at all. Scott will drive fast when he wants to. But,” Nathan carries on, “back to those creepers and these pants.”
“You need to creeper in these pants.”
He leans toward me, and I fall back on my elbows. “If you keep talking like that, I just might.”
I love it how every kiss is new. His lips touch mine uniquely each time they meet and this almost floaty sense occurs where it lifts me high enough off the ground I can’t feel the earth, but not enough where I can touch the sky. I’m waiting for that moment. Impatiently waiting for his affection where everything around us evaporates, and only he and I stand on a blank slate, painting the colors of the wind.
“Ahem.” A female’s voice sounds from behind him.
Nathan pulls back and stares at me with ocean-blue eyes. “I see the color of my eyes now. They’re weird on me. But, I’ve pinpointed the mood.”
“How do you see them?”
“Through you.”
“Ahem,” the feminine voice calls again, annoyed.
Nathan rolls his eyes and then squeezes them shut. “Yes, Taylor?” he grumps without moving.
“Why are you at the beach being nasty?”
Taylor, the sister?
“This is my oldest and less-mature sister, Taylor. Taylor this is Tracey.”
“Tracey!” she squeals, sounding as if she’s smiling from ear to ear. A slight sting courses through me as a pretty woman, who resembles their father, pushes Nathan from me. Skin tone warm like Nathan’s, and eyes like her mom’s, she beams down with a face as happy as can be. “Aww, Tracey! It’s so nice to finally meet you!” She pulls me to my feet and embraces me.
I return her hug, tensing up as I do.
She breaks her excited gaze away from me and looks to Nathan. “Why didn’t you tell me she was out here with you?” she asks excitedly. “I didn’t even know you were here. Do mother and father know you’re here?” She looks back at me, smiling.
I return it. “Hi, Taylor. It’s nice to meet you.”
Her long dark eyelashes bat over her soft, amber eyes. Twisting around to Nathan, her dark-haired ponytail whips through the air.
“Yes, she met them last night,” Nathan answers with much less enthusiasm. “And I’m not ready for her to meet everyone yet. I also didn’t know you were home. When did you two get back?”
“Oh, a day or so ago. You are so pretty, Tracey,” she says, looking me over again as she leaves me for her brother. She hugs him tightly. “Aww little brother, I am so happy for you, and she’s beautiful. What did your father say?”
He pulls out of their embrace and comes to me with one arm around his sister. “Thank you, and he said nothing.” Her mouth moves, but I can’t hear her. “She knows everything, Taylor. I have no secrets.”
“Oh!” she gasps, hand flying to her mouth. “You took everything well?” I nod. “Even about what he is?” I nod again. “Even about our father?” I nod. “Even about his abilities?”
I give a less-certain nod. “A few.”
“Un-huh. And the killings?”
Stunned, my eyes widen. “The what?”
“And that is where we draw the line, my dear sister. She knows of it, but not in detail. Not because she doesn’t want to know, but because I don’t want to talk about it. And I don’t want you to talk about it either. Okay?”
“Understood.” She gives him a stern nod, then flicks her gaze back to me. “She’s strong, Nathan.”
“I know.”
And I’m standing right here.
“Oh. And Scott will be here shortly with his Glen, who knows nothing. So be normal and tell everyone else to be normal too.”
Taylor brushes Nathan’s arm from her shoulder. “I’ll let them know to respect everyone’s privacy and not to tip off Glen.” Heading back to the house, she calls, “It was nice to meet you, Tracey. Hopefully, Nathan will let us hang around each other sometime.”
“Nice to meet you too. Maybe,” I reply gracefully.
I bury my face in Nathan’s chest, breathing in his relaxing scent. “See what I mean about them going to want to steal you away?”
“Un-huh.” I look up at him. “You two hate your dad so much you refuse to claim him, huh?”
“Huh?”
“Taylor refers to your dad as your father.”
He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, it’s out of habit. You’ll only hear it from Taylor and me. Let’s head back. Scott’s here.”
The afternoon sun’s high, warming the once cool spring air. Outside of being around Nathan’s dad, Nathan’s house is quite peaceful, and I love the freedom over here. I’m eager to make it to the backyard so I can dump the sand out of my shoes.
Glen’s going to want to talk, and I hope she an
d Scott over their arguing. I’ve been avoiding talking because it’s so hard to not blurt out everything to her. I keep reminding myself that I don’t want to make it worse.
Oh my gosh! I grab Nathan’s arm. “I almost forgot. When I saw Glen and Scott asleep together, she had this oddly shaped snowflake under her eye. I’ve never seen that on her before. Is that like some marking or something?”
Nathan freezes and stares with raised eyebrows. “You sure you saw this?”
“Positive.”
He rubs his bearded chin with the heel of his hand. “Yeah. . . I mean, if it just appeared on her cheek that night. It’s Scott’s symbol. It means she’s his. They―.”
I slap my palm to my forehead. “Can you talk in a language I understand?”
He walks, and I follow. “Taking on your heart is the beginning to us mating, like an introduction to your mate. There’s no choice in that. Next, we have to be accepted by our mates, the woman is the one who gets to choose. Third, it’s sealed, and that’s the more complicated portion. At some point, maybe that night, they had to have sealed themselves by fu―. Um, having sex, and then completed it by sleeping and waking up together.” He pauses. “She’s bound to him,” he says, taken aback. Hand covering his mouth, a contemplative expression knits his brows and with them doing so, darkens the shadow over his eyes. He thinks until a revelation relaxes his face.
“Okay, and this is a bad thing? It’s why they can’t get along because they’ve bound.” I’m lost. The way he said it seems like it’s restricted.
“It’s not a bad thing, but, they aren’t ready. I’d thought things were bad for them because he was fighting the mating, but he gave in fully . . . to everything. He lost control. . .” His words fade off.
I’m not following. “I’m going out on a limb here and assuming you Burdened Sephlem have more than one way to lose control?”
Nathan nods. “Burdeneds need control in the world, so we don’t spaz out over someone pushing us and we rip their heads off. As Sephlems, though, when we mate, we need control to not become bound too quickly. If we give into that sexual desire without understanding our mates, or if our mates aren’t ready, it could destroy our relationships and ourselves. For example, Glen and Scott.”
Plight: A Dark Paranormal Romance (The Sephlem Trials Book 1) Page 14
