by Olivia Harp
She was distant now.
Or maybe he was just projecting his feelings onto her.
***
Cassie walked into her apartment, turned on the lights and went straight to the window.
The SUV was no longer there, obviously.
Just what is going on?
The weather was nice so she left the windows open, the semi-transparent, beige drapes flowed in the wind silently, the soft light of the lamp gave them a certain glow that she loved.
Raiden was distant. That’s what it was. Ever since the cabin, he didn’t text her and in the cafeteria he seemed... off?
It was as if the magic suddenly faded. Well, not entirely.
Every moment they were together he seemed to enjoy her company, at least as much as she enjoyed his.
And Deeandra seemed to like her too, she was open and happy. She was honest and polite and a lot of fun to be around with. He adored his kid, and she could tell why.
Dee was just like her dad, but in a different sense. Raiden was kind of hot blooded, but hid his emotions very well, I can see through you, big man; Dee, on the other side, wore her heart on her sleeve.
She gave her best to every single thing she did, all her strength, all her optimism. She didn’t hide it; she wore her colors proudly.
Cassie smiled, going into the kitchen.
Her apartment was not big but she made it cozy enough for one. She didn’t need much. Besides, who wants to clean a super big apartment that’s used almost exclusively for sleeping? She was hardly there lately.
She poured water on a cup and put it in the microwave, four minutes, just to be sure.
He loved the play, he was almost as excited as Dee when we came out. That thought made her happy.
She opened a cabinet and found the Chamomile tea she was looking for.
You yourself said this wasn’t serious, so don’t start with the depression, Cassandra Bennett.
The microwave rang four times and she took out her burning hot cup, put the tea bag in and watched the water turn to a faint yellow brown color.
She walked to the living room and passing through the kitchen’s door she had a realization.
He doesn’t want his daughter to see me as a date. He doesn’t see me as a partner.
The realization made her stop in her tracks, making a bit of tea spill out of the cup, burning her thumb and index finger.
“God damnit!”
The pit of her stomach felt hollow, her chest heavy. And now you really did it, even though you said you wouldn’t. You put yourself out there like an idiot.
She sucked on her thumb to numb the pain.
“I have to call him,” she said out loud. Her heart going a million miles per hour. Then she saw her reflection in the window.
She was pretty. And hell if the sex wasn’t amazing. He said so himself. She took a deep breath and calmed down.
Okay, let’s not do anything rash. Act like an adult.
So... now what?
She sat down on her couch, the night breeze caressing her skin, and nodded in silence.
Nothing. She wasn’t going to do anything.
She took a sip of her tea.
If he wants to talk to me, he can talk to me.
She wasn’t going to send him any more texts, or call him. She wasn’t going to pressure him into anything. She can’t be the one initiating the conversation every time.
Not this time, at least. He’s texted me and invited me places, it’s not like he’s been ghosting me.
Yeah, she was going to give him some space. She needed that, too. Everything was happening too fast.
And I can’t be that high maintenance. Or that clingy. I’m strong, I’ve never needed anyone. If he wants me, I’m here. And I’ll see.
She opened an app on her cell phone. She could text him right now, to see what was going on.
But she opened her music streaming app and Soft Jazz started playing on her small, Wi-Fi speaker.
She walked to her bed room, searched on her small book case for an interesting title to read and settled on a short romance novel.
She liked those kind of books. They always had happy endings. If only real life worked out that way, she thought with a sigh.
She was fine.
She would be fine. She was certain of it.
She tried to ignore the lump on her throat.
Tears tried to come out but she held them back.
No way she was shedding any more for a guy.
She chuckled.
For a guy. Come on!
She cleared her throat and started reading, trying her best to ignore the tears that spilled down her cheeks.
Chapter 25
Raiden parked on the manor’s driveway. Elizabeth opened the door to greet them. Dee ran to her inside the house.
“How did you like it?” Elizabeth asked.
“Nana you have to see it, it’s the best!”
Elizabeth laughed and picked up Dee, she was rambling, telling how a scene went, then the colors and the costumes, then back to another scene and about the Fairy Godmother and then the Witch flying and—
Raiden’s bear was uncharacteristically angry. It started snarling and growling as soon as he got out of his car.
“So you’re leaving tomorrow?” Raiden asked, subduing his animal as best he could.
Deric nodded.
“We haven’t found any cause for concern,” he said, “I don’t think there’s any risk.”
“You don’t think?”
Derick chuckled and grabbed Raiden’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be safe with us.”
“Good night dad,” Dee said, taking her Nana’s hand, going upstairs.
Raiden saw his child go and every hair on his body bristled. He didn’t like this but it had to be done. He had to calm himself down. He couldn’t control everything. It wasn’t healthy.
“All right,” he nodded, “I’m not worried. It’s just... you know how she is. Reckless.”
“Like her dad.”
He smiled.
“Afraid so,” he admitted, “you tell her the Rot is around and she’ll run to see it. The kid is fearless.”
“She’s strong too. Don’t underestimate her.”
“You’re sure you don’t want my help?”
“Are you okay with that?”
Raiden shrugged.
“We’ll reach the tribes by mid day,” Deric said, “we’ll be back three days after. Enjoy your little vacation.”
Raiden smiled.
“Good night Deric, best of luck.”
Raiden shook his hand and in his eyes he found nothing but love for his granddaughter.
She was going to be safe.
***
All the way back home, Raiden felt like a ticking bomb. His bear growled and snarled, violently trying to come out, but he resisted.
He couldn’t be with Cassie. Not yet. Not until the Shadowlands risk had been dealt with.
He remembered his late wife, lying still, full of wounds. Her eyes looking at him.
He wanted to save her but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again. Not with Cassie. She’d been more than he ever expected from the world. She was his mate.
He fucked up but what could he do? Make the same mistake again? Put Cassie at risk? She was a human. She was fragile.
The safety of his mate and his child came before his happiness.
He was angry.
Why does this kinds of things always happen at the worst time?
He smiled.
Not much fun in that.
He got home, shut the door behind him and looked for her on his cell phone contacts.
It was late. Past twelve. She hadn’t been online for a few hours now.
“Shit,” he said.
He went upstairs and sent her a text.
“You awake?”
He took off his shirt, left the phone on the bed and let out a growl that rattled the walls of his
room.
The phone vibrated.
“Can’t sleep,” she replied with a smiley face.
He called her, it took a few rings for her to answer.
“Hey,” she said, her sweet voice was like music.
“Hey Cassie, sorry I’m calling you so late.”
“It’s okay, I was reading.”
He chuckled. Then there was a moment of awkward, pregnant silence.
“Sorry I didn’t call before, it’s been... busy over here,” he said.
“Is everything okay?”
“Well,” he said sitting on the bed, “listen, I’m not gonna dance around the subject. I fucking like you, you’re awesome and I feel like the past couple of days I’ve been an asshole to you.”
He could sense her smiling over the phone.
“Yes you have.”
“I left my phone here, then got busy with some—”
He thought about it. He wasn’t about to say it on the phone.
“Do you wanna get breakfast tomorrow? I’ll explain everything.”
“I’m busy tomorrow morning.”
Shit. Fuck.
This was the first time she said no to an invitation.
“Okay, well...”
“Unless you wanna go super early. Like, at seven a.m.?”
He smirked.
“You want me to pick you up?”
“Sure but, Raiden... do you really want to do this? Dee might get the wrong impression.”
His bear snapped inside, it was going ballistic, roaring and clawing and trying to come out.
“We said we were going to take it easy and look where we are,” she finalized.
She had to know he wanted her. She was his mate. She had to know everything.
“Do you want me?” he asked.
“Well, I...”
“Say it.”
She paused for two seconds, he knew she did, just like he wanted her. They knew each other too well now.
“Yes,” she said in a whisper.
“Then Dee will understand,” he said, “see you tomorrow.”
“See you.”
He ended the call.
His bear was going insane. He was sweating. This was a true soul mate.
And he would get her back at any cost.
***
He had trouble sleeping at first.
It wasn’t the excitement of finally setting everything in order, of being able to be honest with Cassie.
It was something else. Something he couldn’t exactly define.
He dreamed of the old manor. Deric and Elizabeth sitting on their comfy chairs, not noticing the stench. They were smiling at each other, Dee playing on the floor.
And everywhere around, little by little, their hardwood floors, their walls, their old furniture and beds and closets and pictures on the wall, they all started rotting.
A grandfather clock started chiming and Dee stood up and ran to see it.
The Rot crawled on the walls nearby without her noticing. It wanted her. It had failed to take her once and after all these years it had gathered enough strength to try to take her back again.
Dee screamed and that loud yell was still ringing in his ears when he woke up.
Sweat covered him from head to toe. He wiped his forehead and checked the time.
It was five thirty in the morning.
They just left.
His bear was angry. It wanted to fight. It wanted to kick back the Shadowlands and the Rotting disease it brought with them into oblivion.
“That was it,” he said, holding his breath.
In the house. That’s what it was. He didn’t consciously feel the Rot but his animal did. He could still smell the faint stench of it attacking his nostrils, the smell of death, masked, trying to hide itself from the creatures that could destroy it.
It had been waiting for his child.
And now that everyone thought it was a false alarm, it would take her.
He ran out, anger about to rip him apart.
He was angry with himself. He should have seen it. If his daughter suffered even a scratch. He’d enter the Shadowlands themselves and end them.
Even if he had to do it alone.
***
He was on auto-pilot. He covered the road back to the Nicholson’s in a second, he didn’t remember any details.
He reached the parkway and bolted to the house.
The door was open.
He wasn’t thinking. He went straight up to his daughter’s room and then it dawned on him.
The presence. The Shadowlands was here again. They hid well enough for the Tribes to make a mistake. They fooled them. They fooled him.
He roared and stormed out of the room. He knew where to look for. He jumped from the second floor to the first and before he could shift he smelled Elizabeth.
“Raiden!” she yelled.
He bolted to the kitchen, the side door leading outside was hanging open on one hinge, the window broken.
Elizabeth laid on the floor, sitting up against the kitchen drawers.
“Where’s Dee?” he roared.
“Deric went looking for her,” she said crying.
Raiden bent to pick her up but she raised her hand.
“Leave! I’ll be okay. They came in the night, Deric shot at them but they were after Deedee.”
“Did they take her?”
“She wasn’t in her room, Raiden.”
He jumped out of the kitchen into the back garden and started shifting into his bear.
The cave.
She had to be in the cave.
Chapter 26
Raiden’s bear was faster and stronger than it ever was. It thrived on fury and right now, it wanted to kill. They dared touch its pup, and now they were in for a holocaust.
It was a long way over there. The scent of the Rot was everywhere around. It slithered out of the forest, the thread of disease reaching out on the plains all the way into the house.
It wants her. It knows she’ll bring strength to the Tribes. She was much more important than they let anyone know. The tribes knew that having an elk spirit on a bear’s body would help them fight any threat.
Even he had sensed her daughter’s feelings, a radiating warmth that spoke to his own animal. He understood her in ways that could not be measured or explained.
The forest was near when he spotted something —someone— on the grass.
He saw small traces of blood over the blades. It was not a Shadow creature. It was Deric.
He pressed forward and saw him walking as fast as he could, carrying something with him.
A shotgun.
He almost laughed.
He roared, Deric stiffened in place and slowly turned around. When he saw the polar bear the fear in his eyes turned into hope.
Into a thankful prayer to the sky.
“Raiden!” he called, limping towards him, bleeding from a gash on his right leg. He was a shifter, he could heal faster than a human, but it would take him a long time.
Raiden’s bear subsided. It knew the man was needed right now. It might be a beast, but it wasn’t dumb. Its thirst for blood would be better quenched if he knew what it was up against.
And more importantly, it wanted to know about its pup.
The animal turned into a man mid stride. Raiden looked at Deric, his stinging gaze full of anger.
But it hadn’t been his fault.
“What happened?” Raiden shouted, Deric was still a dozen or more yards away.
“They came in the night. They knew!”
Raiden reached him, the gash in his leg was worse than he thought. Probably tendon damage.
“You’re all right?”
Impressive, how Deric got this far.
He didn’t answer, he was too distraught.
“We were sleeping, Ray, the house trembled and the stench, oh my God the stench...”
His eyes shifted down, then back to Raiden.
“I ran out the bedroom, Dee was on
the first floor, I saw something going after her to the kitchen.”
“What?”
“A spider, a... monster, I don’t know... I ran downstairs, the door was broken. I saw Deeandra in the distance,” his voice broke, “I’m sorry Ray, I’m so sorry. I went after her but something attacked me.”
He pointed to his leg, “Beth hit it with the gun and shot it, square in the eyes.”
“But it didn’t do shit.”
“It jumped at her too, then we heard Dee screaming outside and the creature just left.”
“Warn the tribes. You know where I’m headed.”
“I’m going with you.”
He stopped him, “you’re not going anywhere. Your kind doesn’t heal as fast; you’ll only get yourself killed.”
“But—”
“Shut the fuck up and listen,” he said. This wasn’t a request; this was an order.
“You’ll go back to your wife and try to send a message to the tribes. Tell them what happened, they might be in danger.”
“What about—?”
Raiden shifted back into his bear. Running as fast as he could. Every muscle in his body burned, but he was almost there.
***
He was deep inside the forest now; he knew the way by heart. And even if he didn’t, the scent of the Rot was impossible to miss, it didn’t care about being found out anymore. It had what it came for.
Then, his sense of smell picked something else.
He was no longer alone.
His blood boiled, the claws on his paws turned into carving knives.
Two creatures resembling wolves, but completely black, oozing a dark, goopy oil snarled from behind some trees and jumped at him.
They were the size of a small bull, their obsidian-like fangs thirsted with hatred.
It didn’t matter. Raiden roared and jumped ahead to meet them.
His human side had disappeared, he was only instinct now, all the bottled up fury throughout the years was exploding.
He brought down his paw on the first wolf like a meat cleaver and smashed its head to pieces. It didn’t even whimper or cry. One moment it was growling and the next it was dead. The other wolf went by his side and bit his left hind leg.
Pain.
He missed it.
Raiden’s bear snarled, the wolf wasn’t letting go of him and that was fine. It would be easy to kill that way.
His claws ripped it in half, the fetid oil spread over the undergrowth.
