by Melissa Haag
“The Elders don’t have much to go off of,” she said quietly.
I smiled at her evasive wording. “No. They don’t,” I slowly agreed. “Maybe Elder Joshua’s arrival will help?” I still wasn’t sure what to do about him or how to expose him so he wouldn’t tell the other Urbat that I’d figured them out.
She glanced at me with a slight frown, and I could see her making the connections. “I hope so,” she murmured.
In the kitchen, I had to pause for a moment to gape in amazement. The heavenly smells that dotted the commons intensified as I stepped through the door. Several ovens lined the walls. The counters and stovetops were spread with numerous ingredients and dishes in various stages of preparation. So much food...
An older woman with long blonde hair came over to us. She smiled at Michelle. “Another sandwich?”
Michelle looked at me.
I watched another woman pull a turkey from the oven. The crisp brown skin called to me. “Turkey,” I mumbled in a zombie-like fashion.
The woman laughed and turned to watch the other woman baste the bird. “It’ll be another three hours until they’re done. Eighteen birds in all,” she confided.
Tearing my eyes from the food, I really looked at her for the first time. “Charlene,” I whispered recalling the memory of the girl at school. She didn’t look much different. Sure, a little older, but the face was unmistakable.
“Do I know you?”
“Charlene, this is Bethi,” Michelle introduced us.
Charlene held out her hand. I looked down at it briefly before meeting her eyes again. “I think it’s better if we don’t,” I said softly. She dropped her hand and eyed me curiously. “You have a lot of food to cook, and I don’t want to be responsible for knocking you on your butt. But I’m glad to have met you.” Charlene’s eyes flared in surprise.
“Same here,” she said. “I’ll get you something more to snack on. You look like you need it.”
“You know how it is when you’re on the run. You’re so busy moving your feet you forget to shove something in your mouth.”
She nodded again—the look in her eyes told me she really did understand what it felt like to be on the run—before turning away to get a plate. She loaded it with two pieces of pumpkin pie covered with a mountain of whipped cream, a large scoop of fluffy stuff hiding mini marshmallows, and an enormous square of bread pudding with cranberries.
“This should help,” she said handing over the heavy plate.
Saliva pooled in my mouth. I could only nod as I turned away. My stomach pulled a little as I carried the plate.
“Can I carry that for you?” Emmitt offered. I looked up. Apprehension spread through me. His eyes saw too much.
“Sure,” I said with false ease as I surrendered the plate.
The others had returned and sat in our recently abandoned seats. Seeing Luke sitting there calmly, his eyes meeting Gabby’s in some sort of silent communication hurt me even as those stupid crazy butterflies took flight in my stomach.
“If you’re feeling tired,” Emmitt said softly, “you could take this back to your room.”
I stopped walking and turned to him, meeting his eyes. “I’m not really tired as much as I just want to be alone for a while,” I said honestly, knowing that Luke could hear me. “So going back to my room sounds great. Would you come get me when something interesting happens?”
He nodded and turned to lead the way back.
* * * *
After Emmitt and Michelle left me in my apartment, I sat on the couch and shoved in a forkful of pumpkin pie. Still warm. I sighed and took another bite. I missed my mom. She made great pumpkin pie when we got together with her side of the family. Cousins, aunts, uncles, my grandpa. I wondered if she was with them. I hoped she was. So many times I lost the ones I loved. In a way, it helped me now. I still hurt for my mother in this life but also had a numb sort of protection from the hurt. Like scar tissue.
“So you want to be alone, huh?” Luke said as he let himself in and softly closed the door. “A bit rude, don’t you think?”
“No more rude than you running off in a drama queen fit so ‘Little One’ follows you,” I said.
He walked around the couch so he stood before me. His expression was slightly amused. “You’re jealous.”
I wanted to throw my fork at him. “No kidding. Look, either want me or don’t, but stop playing the middle ground. I’m tired of waiting for you.” That wiped the humor from his expression.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I had to suffer through a dream where I was drowned as a baby. If you would have let me Claim you, I'd have more control over the dreams. If you would have stayed by me, I wouldn’t have dreamed that at all.” Well, maybe not, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Bethi, I’m sorry about leaving you. The Elders had questions and wouldn’t be ignored.”
“I won’t be ignored, Luke. Decide.”
“There’s no decision. We are meant to be together. We just need to be patient for a little while longer. When you turn eighteen—”
“Just stop,” I yelled. “Do you hear yourself? Do you even know what you’re saying?” I lowered my voice in an imitation of him. “‘Bethi, I want to be with you, but first I need you to suffer for three more months. Being killed another ninety times—minimum—isn’t asking too much so I can feel virtuous when I allow you to Claim me.”
He bent down in front of me and plucked the plate from my hands. “Bethi, I swear. I will not leave you again. I won’t allow you to suffer another death,” he said softly brushing the loose hair back from my face.
“I already suffered one too many,” I said, standing. “If you add up all the years I’ve lived across all my lives, I celebrated my one thousandth birthday a couple decades ago. You’re not cradle robbing, you’re grave robbing. Think on that.”
He sighed and stood, too. We stayed like that for a moment. Me glaring and him skimming my face with an increasingly tender look. He stepped close and brushed his finger over my face, tracing my right eyebrow and then feathering into my hair.
“You have the most amazing eyes,” he whispered.
“I’ve heard that before,” I answered struggling against the hope building in my chest.
He leaned in and my heart started to hammer. The last time he kissed me he said it wouldn’t happen again. Did it mean he’d actually heard me? Had he changed his mind? My breath caught as I waited for him to close the last inch between us.
“I will do anything for you,” he continued. “Even wait.” He turned his head and kissed my cheek—my flip’n cheek.
I started shaking. “Get out. Before I hurt myself trying to hit you.”
He sighed and backed away. “Bethi—”
“No. No more. Go.” I turned my head away unable to look at him.
Stupid idiot.
He left the room. I slumped back into my seat, picked up the plate of dessert he’d taken from me, and gorged myself. Pie, good. Luke, bad.
After the last bite, I settled back with a groan. It felt horrible, in a good way, to be so full again; and it put me in a thoughtful mood.
Once Joshua was here, and we eliminated the threat of further information leaking to the Urbat, we could plan our next steps. Until then, I knew Gabby was watching for a sneak attack. I wished I could talk to her about it but couldn’t risk raising the suspicion of the Elders by sneaking into the padded room for a private conversation. That meant being patient and waiting. Just like Luke asked me to.
Screw waiting and screw Luke. I went to my room and strapped on the sheath and knife. I hated waiting, and I hated feeling so defenseless physically and mentally. I knew Claiming wasn’t necessarily permanent. I wanted Luke despite his pigheaded hesitation. But maybe I could find someone willing to let me Claim him, until Luke was ready. I could care less who I bit. I just wanted the dreaming to stop. At least, the death dreams. And, those would once I Claimed someone. They had in the past. The o
ther dreams were fine, and I could still learn from them.
I left the room and made my way to the commons. On the way there, I heard a lot of laughing and noise coming from another apartment. The door stood open. Inside, Michelle watched as two young boys wrestled with teens just a bit older than me.
“Paul, cheated,” one cried.
“Did not,” the other little boy shouted back.
“Liam. Aden. If you two are going to fight about this, then play time with Paul and Henry is done,” Michelle said.
There was a bunch of whining as the teens stood. I stepped back and waited for them to leave. They noticed me after they closed the door. I smiled. Either would do nicely.
* * * *
Paul sat across from me looking nervous, his gaze darting around the room. Henry had fled as soon as I explained the favor I needed.
“He’ll kill me just to have you back.”
“It won’t come to that,” I promised.
“Yes, it will. You don’t know our ways. He’ll challenge me to the death. I really want to help you, but I won’t have a chance.”
“Please,” I begged. As a Judgement I knew I held a certain level of attraction for all of them. Why was this so hard then? Technically, I’d been rejected three times now, counting Luke as a single rejection. Maybe I needed to stand up on one of the tables and start shouting it out. Take me...I’m yours.
A dream started tugging at me.
“If there wasn’t anyone else interested in you, I would agree,” he promised me. “But if he doesn’t kill me, my mom will.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I waved away his concern. “If he were really interested, why am I still unClaimed?”
Paul looked unsure. “I’m really sorry, Bethi.” His words held a note of finality.
“Whatever,” I mumbled and stood. When I turned, I caught Luke watching me from a few seats over. My eyes narrowed. He ignored me and looked at Paul, giving him a quick wink.
The dream hit me upside the head with a frying pan, and I staggered as I took a step toward the kitchen. The dizzy wave passed over me quickly, barely interrupting my slow progress. Still, Luke stood and moved to my side.
“Are you all right?” he asked with concern.
“Peachy,” I answered, tugging my arm from his grasp. Whatever dream waited, it waited impatiently. I could only imagine what horrors it wanted to share with me. I met Luke’s gaze. He had the power to change the message it bore just with his presence. Why did he continue to hurt me by keeping himself from me?
“I just need something to drink.”
He gave me a gentle smile that twisted my stomach with wishful thinking. “I’ll get it for you.”
He moved off to the kitchen. I moved off toward the doors.
* * * *
I meant to go outside to find someone else to beg to be my valentine. Instead, I collapsed in the hall with a dream tripping my feet.
A thin, bare shell of darkness covered my eyes. I could easily see shapes through it. Swirls of grey floated in and out of my frame of vision. Voices whispered. Some sounded like grating, unintelligible noise. Others spoke in clear tones.
Regardless of the sounds of the voices, the message was clear. “Free us.”
Unable to move, blinking but seeing nothing more than shadow, I lay trapped in a hellish unfeeling world.
Then she came. She stood out in vibrant clarity, her taupe grown robbing the surrounding shades of grey of their unique beauty. Her pale face held a kindness I’d never before witnessed.
“Child,” she whispered. “You can see me as the others cannot. Stand strong though you lack Strength. Be calm though you lack Peace. Wait for Wisdom. She will find you.”
Pain burst in the back of my head. “Move!” someone yelled. I forced my small legs to move, taking steps into the unknown with hands outstretched, hoping I wouldn’t fall. Hoping that if I did, someone would catch me.
The dream shifted, pulling me deeper.
I ran through the tall grass, the fronds whipping my face, making tiny cuts as I passed. The dry rustle of the grass behind me marked my pursuers.
I struggled to pull myself from the dream. Why was I always running? Once again, I’d merged with my past self.
“Come on, little one. Tell us what you saw,” a voice laughed.
A claw raked my back parting flesh. I screamed in pain and terror.
“Bethi, wake up!”
I woke swinging. The flat of my palm connected with Luke’s face. He looked surprised and quickly captured my hand in his gentle fingers.
Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as the residual pain lingered on my back. “Get away from me.”
“Bethi, I’m sorry—”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry... Try being something else for a change. Like on time,” I snapped picking myself up off the floor.
Hurt reflected in his eyes as he picked up a glass from the floor and handed it to me. “Here’s the drink you asked for.”
I took the glass and watched him walk away. He was always doing that. Walking away. But then again, so was I. We were hopeless.
Chapter Fifteen
I sipped the water and slowly walked the halls. After the pain had faded from my back, I regretted my words. I roamed, slightly lost, and hoped to find Luke, but I didn’t see him anywhere.
We were at a stalemate. He wanted to wait, and I desperately needed to Claim him now. Neither of us wanted to bend. Well, I’d been willing to bend by selecting someone else, temporarily. But he didn’t like that idea either. I needed a way to convince him to help me before it was too late. He didn’t seem to understand the risks. The attack on the way here showed the desperation of the Urbat. What would they do next? I needed to Claim Luke to calm the dreams so I could focus on their real message. It would also make it easier for him to find me if they took me. If I were completely honest with myself, I just wanted to Claim him because he was mine. Done. Forget the Urbat. Forget the whole the-world-will-burn crap. I just wanted Luke. I sighed. But I couldn’t just forget everything. Elder Joshua concerned me. Having the pack of Urbat pull back concerned me. Why hadn’t they attacked? There had to be something more, something big going on that I hadn’t yet figured out. And I needed to, fast.
A few more steps, and I recognized where I was. The door to the padded room stood before me. Closed, but I didn’t care. I needed help. Maybe the Elders could help me force Luke’s hand. I opened it, surprising Nana, Grey, Sam, and a new guy.
“Oh,” I mumbled. “Sorry.” I moved to close the door but Nana stopped me.
“It’s all right, Bethi. Come in. This is Elder Joshua. We were just discussing you.”
The Urbat Elder. He watched me closely, and I made sure to keep my face a blank mask. Having him here was better. We could keep an eye on him. I again wished there was a way to control him.
Inspiration struck. Finally! Luck was on my side.
Closing the door, I smiled pathetically at the group. “Sorry for interrupting. Nana, what’s your policy on killing potential mates.”
Nana looked concerned, Grey amused, and Sam curious. Joshua’s reaction was just as I’d hoped. Cautious. Trying to figure me out.
“It’s Luke,” I said to Nana. “He’s being completely stubborn about my age, and I think I’m going to hurt him pretty soon.”
Grey actually laughed. Nana smiled in understanding.
“Do you have time to take a break and help me talk some sense into him?” I asked her. I knew there was no talking sense into him. He’d already explained he didn’t have a pack leader because he didn’t want to be forced to follow rules. Elders only enforced laws. I just needed to talk to her in private, away from the other Elders.
“Certainly,” she agreed standing. “I’ll return promptly,” she assured the rest.
Anticipation made my head spin. I wrapped my arm through Nana’s and leaned on her for support as we walked the halls. I’d found a way to stop my dreams, a way to forestall the next Urbat attack, a way to
keep tabs on Joshua, and maybe a way to force Luke to hold still so I could Claim him.
I planned to Claim Joshua temporarily. Sure there would be risks. Luke would be both furious and hurt with my solution. Joshua would have the ability to find me wherever I went as long as we were Claimed. But the benefits outweighed the risks. Joshua would be driven to protect me. Even from his own kind.
The real problem was getting Joshua to let me bite him. I needed to get him alone, play it carefully, and hope Luke would forgive me afterward.
“Can you tell Luke to meet us in our room?”
“Already done,” she assured me.
The door opened before we reached it. Luke stood there waiting.
Nana preceded me. His eyes tracked my progress as I shuffled through the door. My heart beat heavily, and I suffered a moment of doubt. His declaration of what I mean to him, all the times he’d come after me...If I did this, it would do more than hurt him. I wanted to go to him, wrap my arms around his waist, and hold him tight. But I knew he wouldn’t let me. His resistance to us as a couple was the whole problem. I’d lived too many short lives. I wasn’t about to let any opportunity pass by in this one. I would solve our problem for us. I just hoped he wouldn’t hate me afterwards.
“’Bout time you’re where you should be,” I grumbled struggling with the guilt that filled me. As I passed him, he reached out, his fingers tracing the shell of my ear and tucking back a loose strand of hair. I forced my feet to keep moving.
“Now,” Nana started, sitting on the couch and waiting for Luke to close the door and join us. “What is the problem here?”
Luke stood beside my chair, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. He glanced at me a clear question in his eyes. Oh, the games I played.
“Before we start is it possible for you not to share this with the rest of the Elders? I know you have a special connection with them and everything,” I glanced at Luke quickly, playing into my hesitation, “but I really don’t want anyone else knowing this. I mean you can tell if someone is close enough to hear, too, right?”
“Of course. For the moment, we have privacy. And I won’t share the details of private conversations unless I ask first.”
