Shadowwalker

by Rhonda L. Print

  “After the ‘sessions’, as they called them, I would be led back to the small room I was kept in.”

  I swallowed hard, the motion bitter on my tongue and as painful as if nails had grated down my throat. “The convulsions began then, and I shook until my body ached.”

  Raven’s voice spoke in my ear. When did he move so close to me? “Do you still have them?”

  “Convulsions? No. Just the lingering fear,” I whispered, blinking back tears.

  “I’m sorry.” Sincerity etched his voice. “I won’t put you through that again. You have my word.”

  “How did you watch me during the day?” I asked. “I mean, if you die at dawn…”

  “I used the injection to prevent me from being dead for too long, and fortunately for both of us, you didn’t go out until late morning. Why is that?” he pondered.

  “I’m not a fan of the dark.”

  “So why didn’t you choose to sleep through it?”

  “I could keep it at bay if I was awake.” I shrugged. “Backward, I know, but…”

  “It comforted you.”

  “Yeah.” I smiled. “I guess it did.”

  Chapter 7

  The next time I woke, Raven’s arm and leg were draped over me, protecting me even in sleep. The clock on the nightstand said four, but judging from the brightness of the room, it was afternoon, not morning.

  I checked Raven to see if he was breathing, and then finding that he wasn’t, quietly slipped from under him and padded down the stairs. It was odd. Raven’s skin was cold and he didn’t breathe, but he was alive and would soon be driving me crazy.

  Digging through the cabinets netted me a tea bag and cup, so I filled it with water and popped it in the microwave. I stretched and watched the cup spin around in the microwave and then caught the door before the beeper disturbed Raven’s slumber. Could he even hear it? There was so much I didn’t know about vampires, about him.

  While the tea seeped, I walked to the back window and peered out. I knew Raven would be angry if I left but decided that it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I stepped out of the back door and got my first glimpse of the house I slept in and its surroundings.

  The majestic stone house sat atop one of the many mountains surrounding the property. There was a forest of tall pine trees dotting a low mountain range.

  White clouds drifted in the pale blue sky, and the sun that filtered through them gave it an ethereal look. Like an ever-changing work of art, it was painted in shades of grays, blues, and purples. Birds sailed high above me, their long wings flapping briefly before abandoning themselves to air currents that Mother Nature provided. I envied their freedom as they soared into the sky. A line of pinion pine trees surrounded the expansive open field. The area between their boughs was too narrow to see where one ended and the next began. They seemed to serve as a natural barrier between Raven’s world and the outside.

  A small lake sat within the pine-surrounded oasis, a small rowboat bobbing on its still waters and the stone house reflected in its mirror image. Ducks flowed gracefully across the gentle water. It was the bird I could more closely relate to. Like me it was all easy calm above the water but was kicking furiously just below the surface where no one could see. All of its energy focused on merely staying afloat.

  I turned to survey the house, admiring its structure that fit so well with its setting. Stone boulders imbedded in dark mortar made up the exterior of the home, its top surrounded with windows. It seemed a fitting place for Raven; rugged, beautiful, serene, and aloof.

  I noticed a rooftop patio and deciding to explore it further; went back inside and locked the door behind me.

  Tea in hand, I climbed the stairs to search for the entrance to the patio. I slipped past the bedroom I’d slept in, frowning when I saw four additional doors. Raven said mine was the only bed in the house, and I decided to find out for myself.

  The first room was completely empty, not even a rug covering the hardwood floor.

  The second led to a bathroom that housed a large clawfoot tub. Masculine yet opulent, the room boasted an enormous shower enclosure with multiple jets surrounded in black granite that matched the countertop. Double sinks sat below two framed mirrors.

  The next door I tried was locked. I jiggled the handle and attempted a peek through an old fashioned keyhole but couldn’t see much of anything.

  “Can I help you find something?”

  Raven’s husky voice startled a yelp out of me. “I-I was looking for the balcony.”

  His head cocked to an angle, considering the truth of my words. “How did you know there was one?”

  “I saw it from outside. Lovely home you have—”

  “You left the house?” He stabbed a finger at me, instantly angry. “I told you to stay inside.”

  I’d expected his anger but still startled and took a long step away from him.

  Dropping his hand, Raven’s jaw tensed as he took a deep breath through his nose and let it out on a sigh as if summoning a large amount of patience for his wayward ward.

  He must have received it because he closed his eyes momentarily and then said, “C’mon, it’s through here.”

  Allowing myself a small smile of triumph, I followed Raven through the fourth doorway, which led to a stairwell. I followed him up, and he hit the light switch and revealed a sitting room with an enormous fireplace; a large flat screen television hung above it. The opposite wall housed a large overstuffed sofa with a coffee table where I set my now unwanted tea.

  “Video games?” I nodded toward the console on the coffee table.

  Raven lifted a shoulder and smiled sheepishly. “It passes the time.”

  “Uh-huh.” I smiled at the abashed expression on his face as I teased him about the game console.

  Every inch of wall other than the column of fireplace was floor-to-ceiling glass windows that offered a panoramic view of the breathtaking grandeur of the Arizona scenery.

  Moving closer to the window wall, I couldn’t stifle my gasp. “It’s like being in my own castle tower,” I murmured in appreciation.

  “There is a sliding door to the balcony. This switch,” he indicated a button on one wall, “opens the shutters.”

  Realization hit me. “You can’t go out there,” I said, embarrassed I hadn’t thought of the sun’s effect on him.

  “Not for about another hour. The sun will slide behind the mountains by then.”

  “How can you be in this room at all?” I suddenly felt the need to shield Raven from the light.

  “Special glass.” Pride and wonder was evident in his words.

  Hmm…

  “The view is…magnificent.”

  “Yes, it is,” he said, without taking his eyes off of me.

  Damn. How does he do that? How does he liquefy my bones with a glance?

  “You can go out,” he offered with a flourish of his arm.

  “I can wait.” I walked back into the hallway.

  Raven was standing in the doorway, and my body brushed against his as I passed him and stepped into the hall.

  “Zen.” My name came from his lips on a whisper. With one swift movement he turned and planted one hand on either side of my head, pinning me between his body and the wall.

  My breathing accelerated, adrenaline pumping my heart to a rich staccato as his gaze penetrated mine. And there it was again, that strange and exhilarating zing of electricity that set my every nerve on edge.

  Raven’s fingers gently brushed an errant strand of hair off my face and behind my ear. He let his hand brush down the curve of my cheek, stopping to rub his thumb along my bottom lip, sending goose bumps shimmering down my body.

  “I didn’t sleep well,” he said suddenly, and the turn of events confused the hell out of me.

  “I-I thought you died at dawn.” The man was unnerving me.

  “I do.” He tilted his head, assessing me. “For a while. Then it morphs into sleep, unless I choose to ignore it and wake.” />
  “Why didn’t you sleep?” I felt like it was somehow my fault and hoped that his dream had been as provoking as mine.

  “I’ve never slept with anyone in my bed before,” Raven admitted.

  My heart skipped a beat and I blinked up at him. “Why?” I asked when I finally found my voice.

  “It is when any vampire is most vulnerable, and I have never felt the need for company in my bed.”

  My brow furrowed in doubt. “You mean you’re a virgin?” I wasn’t buying that for a minute, and my tone clearly stated that.

  A smile split his face, and the effect it had on me took my breath away. “I am hundreds of years old, little one, so, no, I am not a virtuous man.”

  Is he mocking me?

  His hand slid behind my head, cupping the nape of my neck, and I leaned my face into his arm just a little.

  “Would you like to see the underground living area?” Raven asked, stepping away from me.

  I reached for him, reluctant to lose the comfort of his body. “Raven,” I pleaded.

  “It is all I can offer you.” He took another slow step back, his hooded eyes hiding any emotion that may have been there.

  The words “for now” seemed to hang at the end of his sentence.

  “Okay.”

  Raven’s wide smile caught me off guard, and I found myself beaming back at him as he took my hand and led me to the office.

  He opened it without the key this time.

  Still grasping my hand, we went into the large closet and again he pressed his palm to the glass panel. It sprung to life, and with quick fingers he entered the code that caused the door to a staircase to slide open. My body tensed with leftover emotions from being trapped as a child.

  Raven squeezed my hand reassuringly and gently rubbed his thumb across my knuckles. My body stayed tense but for a reason far different from trepidation. Raven was holding my hand, and I felt like a schoolgirl with her first crush, the feeling resonating in the stupid grin on my face.

  Raven visibly relaxed as his own smile spread across his lips, crinkling the corners of his eyes. He looked…boyish and sexy as hell, my libido noted happily.

  I dutifully stepped into the corridor, and the door immediately closed behind me. I was expecting a dank basement, but what lay before me was a wide stairwell brightly lit with antique brass wall sconces. Curiosity and fear used my mind as a battleground. I wanted to learn so much more about Raven, and if it came in bits and pieces, I would take what I could get. Raven pulled my hand to his lips, and after placing a heart-stopping gentle kiss upon them, pulled me down the steps.

  The absence of windows did not mean an absence of light. The space was bright without being harsh. Cream-colored walls decorated with colorful art gave an airy feel to the open concept space. A living area with access to a small kitchen circled off into a main corridor.

  “There really are no other beds in the house,” I mused.

  “I never felt a need for one.”

  “Other women…” I couldn’t bring myself to finish the sentence.

  “I have never had another woman in my home, Zen.” Through dark eyes filled with emotion I could not yet name, he said, “Only you.”

  “Oh.” For a long beat we simply looked at each other, my green eyes to his blue. Then he tugged at my hand and continued.

  “There is a library and work-out facilities down here if you’d like to use them,” Raven offered, leading me down a hallway toward the back of the house.

  “Really? Do you have a treadmill?”

  He smiled brightly, joy obvious on his chiseled features. “Come, I’ll show you.”

  We continued deeper into the corridor until it opened again to reveal a space full of state-of-the-art exercise equipment. I squealed in delight when I saw the large swimming pool, complete with a rock waterfall that flowed into a bubbling spa. “Oh, Raven, it’s wonderful!” I let go of his hand and kicked off my shoes as I practically skipped to the edge of the pool. I dipped a foot in and sighed. It was the perfect temperature, warm enough to be soothing and cool enough to refresh. I lowered myself to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest briefly before rolling up the legs of my pants. Sitting on the edge, I sank my feet into the water, closed my eyes, leaned back on my arms, and sighed.

  When I opened them, Raven was standing above me. “You like?” he asked, flashing me another boyish grin.

  “I love.” I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, my tension expelling with it.

  “How is this possible?” I swept my hand out, indicating the glass-enclosed atrium.

  “Special treated glass. Money makes anything possible in the human world, Zen.”

  “How, exactly, do you make a living?”

  “I possess a very specific set of skills, Zen. I use them to my advantage and am paid very well to do it.”

  “A little cryptic, don’t you think?”

  He lifted his shoulder casually, but his eyes darkened enough to let me know I was in unwelcome territory. Not wanting to ruin the mood, I quickly moved on.

  “It’s wonderful, Raven.” I reached up to him. He took my hand and settled in behind me. I let my head fall back on my shoulders so I was looking up at him. “Thank you.”

  He shifted so he was partially to my side but still supporting me with his arm. “If I had known it would bring you such pleasure, I would have brought you here sooner.” He placed his finger under my chin and gently tipped my face up. “I will keep you safe, Zen. And I will try to make your stay here as…” he pursed his lips in thought for a moment, “…uneventful as possible.”

  Chapter 8

  Silky smooth and cool, I rounded my third lap in the pool and then rolled onto my back and let my body relax enough to float on the water’s surface. My mind drifted along with my body, and I wondered how long I would need to stay with Raven. I’d realized that while I wouldn’t have chosen seclusion, I was grateful for the safety it provided. All things considered, it wasn’t the worst place to hide. While I couldn’t freely go outside, the treadmill and swimming pool helped me to burn off nervous energy or work off frustration caused by my new, reluctant roommate.

  True to Raven’s word, days had passed without incident. I noticed that we had fallen into a companionable routine. We were simply getting to know each other, and we moved about the house together in the choreography of a couple who had lived comfortably together. Before long, I had to admit, even if only to myself, that I had fallen for him. If he felt the same, he gave no indication of it – he’d never again tried to kiss me, and I found myself missing it. I decided it was time to drop him a few hints.

  I flipped to my stomach and swam to the edge of the pool, hoisting myself to the deck and wrapping myself in the warmth and softness of the towel I’d left there, nearly dropping it again when I turned and saw Raven standing in the doorway. “You scared the hell out of me.” I took a deep slow breath to control my frantic heartbeat.

  “You looked so peaceful.” Raven’s gaze took a slow, steady walk down my body. There had been no bathing suit among the clothing Raven purchased for me, so I’d chosen a teal blue pair of boy shorts and matching bra for swimming. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

  I had the pleasure of watching him swallow, hard. Taking advantage of the situation, I did a slow turn. “Do you like it?”

  “It’s, uh, nice. I just don’t remember telling the personal shopper to add a bathing suit.”

  “It’s not a suit.” My lips tugged into a wicked smile. “Was there something you wanted?” I asked sweetly.

  Raven gave a slow shake of his head. “I thought you might like to take a walk with me on the property after dinner.”

  “Outside?” I asked. It’d been days since I’d been out of the house and then, only briefly, when I saw the upper balcony. Sure, I’d spent some time out on the balcony, but that wasn’t really outside.

  Raven shrugged. “Just on the property, but I thought you might like to…”

  I jumped
into his arms and kissed him soundly. I hadn’t meant to kiss him, it just happened, but the moment our lips met, desire exploded, sending shivers that had nothing to do with the cold air on my wet skin. I stood there a moment, my fingers clutching his shoulders, waiting for a response from Raven. I waited as time seemed to slow and my blood thickened, my heart pumping. Anticipating his rejection I dropped my arms to my side and took a step back. “Give me five minutes to change.”

  Raven grasped my hand, pulling me back to him. “This is a bad idea,” he said a moment before he took my mouth in a searing kiss that curled my toes. His arms snaked around me, cradling my back until he dipped me lightly and groaned into my mouth. Sinking my fingers into his hair, I traced his lips with my tongue. He plunged his tongue into my mouth, and the kiss went from hot to sizzling. My lips were swollen and my breath heaving when he lifted me upright and ended the kiss. His clothes were damp where my body pressed up against his. “I-I should get dressed.” I stepped away on watery legs.

  “I still think this is a bad idea,” he said, with much less conviction than the first time.

  “Then why does it feel so right?”

  * * * *

  A light breeze teased my hair from its tie as Raven and I walked the path leading toward the lake where I’d seen the rowboat bobbing in the waves. Moonlight cast a silvery glow on the world, lending an ethereal feeling to the night. I didn’t want to spoil the mood, but there were so many questions I needed to ask.

  “Would you like to go out onto the lake?” Raven asked, interrupting my thoughts.

  “In that?” I eyed the small boat warily.

  “She’s sound. C’mon, I’ll do all the rowing.” Raven led me out onto a small dock, reached down and untied the rope that secured the boat, and pulled it in closer.

  Raising an eyebrow at the boat, I took a tentative step forward. “Are you sure?”

  “It’s safe, I promise. Neither one of us will bite.”

  I couldn’t help smiling at the devilish grin he flashed me as he reached out to me. Taking his hand, I stepped into the boat and took a seat. Raven followed and within moments was rowing us out onto the lake. Reflections of the mountains glimmered off the water’s surface in mirror images. The smooth surface of the water was interrupted only by Raven’s sure strokes and the wake of a pair of ducks and their ducklings as they glided across the lake.