‘Why don’t you use your ability?’ Fin asked in a hushed voice, aware Tom was oblivious to Nick’s psychic power.
A light bulb might as well have pinged on above Nick’s head.
Fin observed his friend’s response and added, ‘You must be able to direct your visions; like when you showed me, you didn’t just see random things, you saw stuff relating directly to my life. So maybe if you focus on Kerra …’ He trailed off.
It was true; Nick had found a new layer to his ability when he proved his power to Fin. He’d seen events from a perspective that wasn’t his own, but a kind of third person instead, like a god watching over.
His lips compressed. He nodded, determined.
With closed eyes, he imagined himself as a tree. This was how it had worked before. Roots and branches stretching outward, passing through physical objects and entwining with the universe, connecting to everything. Nick slumped his shoulders, breathed slowly, and further weaved his mind into the fabric of the world. He visualised the branches reaching out to Kerra.
In an enormous room with grey walls and a shiny floor, he walked cautiously. He sensed something was off, but the reasons why were out of reach. He was looking up at metal beams across the ceiling, and square patches where it seemed lighting should have been switched on. It was dingy.
He looked down slowly, and there she was. Approaching him.
She still wore her bright green jacket, but it was muddy, and her red-and-white polka dot blouse, but that was bloody, and her black skinny jeans, torn, and only one lime Ugg boot remained on her left foot. A new item of clothing was present: a big black scarf wrapped around her neck.
She hastily limped towards him, her face pale and slack. She looked so ill, and her eyes had a hollow stare. He ran towards her and stretched out his arms; Kerra extended hers too.
They were about to embrace …
‘Kerra!’ His eyes shot open. With his head hanging low, he panted. His thoughts swam to figure out where he was, what he’d seen, what it meant. He looked up at Fin.
‘She’s alive.’
CHAPTER SIX
AUSTIN’S CHOCALTE EYES were fixed on Juliet when she turned to look at him in the pedal boat. This was their third date. He had a large nose, ridged halfway down, and a bony face that would have suited glasses. His lips were full, as if inflamed, and of a deep reddish-purple colour that stood out against his pallid complexion. Little ears poked out of short-but-unruly black hair.
To Juliet, he was a handsome geek.
‘I know this is odd to point out, but your eyes look so healthy,’ she said, admiring how the whites of his eyes were so white.
Austin laughed, a sudden and unique sound. If there was a social norm when it came to laughing, his quick burst of mirth deviated from it. ‘So do yours,’ he squeezed out in response, struggling through amusement.
‘Do you work out? Eat healthy?’
‘Nope.’ He elongated the ‘n’ in ‘nope,’ and at the end of the word he made a pop sound with his lips, then cheesily grinned. His teeth were long, thin rectangles, whiter than white.
‘You look like you do.’
He laughed again. ‘Is this your attempt at flirting?’ He raised his eyebrows, and his pouty lips quirked.
Juliet didn’t answer at first. I don’t know! I’ve never flirted with anyone before... have I? She’d had one long-term relationship that was devoid of emotional attachment (at least on her part), and she’d only lost her virginity because she thought she should have by that age. She hadn’t felt the urges she experienced now. ‘Maybe it is.’ She mustered some confidence … and then some more. ‘Is it working?’
‘Hmmm. Remains to be seen,’ he teased.
A giddy buzz ran through Juliet. She tried to process the reasons she found him so attractive. He was handsome in an unusual way, but that wasn’t ‘it’; all she kept coming back to was how betrayed she felt by her parents (as if that had anything to do with Austin). Her mum and dad hadn’t spoken to her since the argument, and she wasn’t sure if they would any time soon. They’d probably planned on staying at her house, as they usually did when visiting, but whether they were stopping in a hotel now or had jumped on a plane, she didn’t know.
Forget them. They should be the ones to make it up to me.
The pedalo Juliet and Austin were in was bright yellow. They’d stopped pedalling for a bit so they could talk while floating calmly over Eradon Lake. There were many watersports and activities available at the lake—windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing—and as today was warm and settled, Austin had suggested a casual date of pedalling and enjoying the view. The perfect chance to talk and get to know each other.
‘Have you spoken with your sister yet?’ Juliet asked.
A soft wind tousled Austin’s black hair. He seemed taken aback by the question. ‘Oh. Uh, no, I haven’t. I’m still gathering research, you know? Then I’ll talk to her when I have all the ideas put together.’
Austin worked as a researcher for his sister, an interior designer who lived off island. A few weeks ago, Roy had called Juliet to say a man had come into Chanton Hillview café asking about the inspiration for the décor and requesting to meet the manager, or the person who’d designed it. Juliet’s staff may have put it all together, but she had been the one to pick the colour scheme, layout, and furniture. Although reluctant to leave her home, she agreed to come in and talk to the man.
And that’s where she first met Austin, in her own café. His confidence and individuality had intrigued her, and by the end of their meeting they’d exchanged numbers, under the pretext of further discussing interior design.
Within a week, they’d texted over a hundred messages to each other, and then Austin asked to see her again, but in Amiton this time. They met up at the bus station in the upper grounds, and because Austin had only arrived on Lansin Island two weeks before, he wanted to see all there was to see: the best places to eat, the historical sites, the beautiful buildings, all the tourist shops, and the local Pagan stores.
When showing him around, Juliet side-stepped Creaky Crystals, afraid to bump into Nicolas, but she was so unsubtle about it that Austin asked why she avoided the shop. ‘It’s just not one of the better ones,’ she had answered hastily. They finished off that day going to the cinema, and mutually decided they’d just been on a ‘date.’ The week after that, they had a meal together, which ended with a kiss goodbye. A kiss that had lingered.
Juliet continued, ‘Is your research going well so far?’
‘Yeah, I’ve found some good stuff. Like, I took a look at that café down from yours, at the other end of the high street ... erm, Cho-Ko Lounge? It’s a totally different feel from yours, but it gave me some awesome inspiration.’
Juliet frowned. ‘I see.’ Her tone was cold. ‘Consulting with my rivals already?’
‘Uhhh …’
She let him flounder for a bit longer, then said, ‘Relax, I’m joking.’ With a little smile, she shook her head. ‘The couple who own that place are lovely. And anyway, they cater to a different clientele.’ She pulled a face as if to say ‘So there!’ then laughed, grateful to be in a light mood.
‘Jeez, Juliet ... I thought that was it. I half expected you to push me in the lake, and pedal off.’ A laugh barked out of him. He gave her his eyes while they both grinned.
Juliet shocked herself with her reply: ‘You wouldn’t be able to make it up to me if I did that.’ She tried not to smile. What the hell am I doing? Throwing myself at him like this? She had no sympathy for the type of woman who was left ‘heartbroken’ after falling for any man who told her she had the bluest eyes he’d ever beheld … and then ditched her after sex. Unless that woman was Kim; Juliet had comforted her best friend in similar situations a few times in their late teens.
Austin grinned. He reached over the ridge in the middle of the boat and put a hand on Juliet’s knee. His eyes had a soft shine to them as they seemed to take in different parts of her body. His apparent desi
re frightened and excited her.
She’d been apprehensive about today. With a better handle over her ability, she wanted to prove to herself she could passively block out the spirits, but going to Eradon Lake was basically jumping in at the deep end. It was too close to The Burning Grounds, and while Juliet remained soulless, she would avoid that place like the plague. Seeing the spirits of sixteenth century ‘witches’ did not appeal to her, especially considering the horrific manner in which they had died. But so far, not a single disturbance had occurred: no sudden temperature shifts, no phantom voices, no twitches in the air.
‘Are you enjoying our date?’ asked Austin.
A fine mist hovered over the water. It made for a secluded feel, a romantic privacy. ‘I am.’ She put a hand on top of his.
‘Oh, you’ve hurt yourself.’ He nodded towards Juliet’s finger with the plaster on.
Juliet took her hand back. ‘I cut myself while making a salad.’ Remembering how her fantasies of Austin had distracted her and caused the little accident, she felt a warm rush come over her. Embarrassing.
‘Clumsy,’ Austin teased.
The cut didn’t hurt at all now, so she raised the finger close to her face to inspect it. When she touched the plaster, it fell away, the wind catching and carrying it out to the lake. Juliet tried to grab it, hating the thought of littering, but was too slow. The plaster landed gently in the water and bobbed farther away. ‘Dammit.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Austin, ‘we’ll pedal over and get it in a minute. We don’t want a swan choking on it.’ He laughed.
Juliet would have laughed back, but she was too busy staring at her index finger. Where the cut had been there was only a fine line now, white and completely sealed.
‘Are you okay?’ asked Austin.
‘Huh?’
‘You seem away with the fairies or something.’
Juliet rubbed her thumb against the faint white scar. No soreness. ‘I’m fine. The cut just healed faster than I expected.’ She put her hand back on Austin’s and decided the next time she saw Tamara she’d talk to her about the supercharged healing.
In Austin’s company she felt less agoraphobic, and the absence of ghosts had returned a massive chunk of her confidence. Today, she had made the effort of leaving the house without wearing her long fur coat. I don’t need it.
Austin’s pale skin looked amazing in his surroundings; it was as if the white mist had settled on his face and the colour had been absorbed by his skin. His appearance reminded Juliet of the glamorous vampires idolised in contemporary popular culture (minus the fangs): flawless, sexy. Recently, she’d casually watched an episode of a TV series featuring vampires. She wasn’t usually intrigued by programs so heavy on the paranormal side (somewhat paradoxical, considering her ability), but she’d hurried to switch it off when one of the living dead used some kind of mind control on a human.
She still had nightmares over Aldrich Grendel.
‘Come, on. Let’s pedal some more.’ She retracted her hand and began to pedal. She noticed how Austin had just as much energy as her; no matter how fast her legs went, knees bobbing up and down, he easily kept up. Without either of them breaking a sweat, they continued for an hour or more.
At some point, they both pedalled so vigorously that Juliet’s leg slipped and made an ungraceful thud on the bottom of the boat, rocking it. Austin’s laugh was instant and loud, out of control. He even snorted. Juliet experienced a fit of giggles too.
‘I’m too fast!’ said Austin excitedly. ‘I’m like The Flash!’ His voice grew louder in his zest.
Still laughing, Juliet said, ‘You’re such a geek.’
‘No!’ he exclaimed suddenly, his voice angry. ‘I’m not.’
There was a silence; even the natural environment seemed to pause. Juliet sat there, nonplussed. Her heart rate had picked up. The feeling of seclusion wasn’t so romantic anymore.
‘Okay,’ she said, putting it clear across that she didn’t appreciate his tone. ‘I was only making a joke.’
Austin’s lower jaw jutted out. He huffed rhythmically for a few seconds, then after closing his eyes hard and reopening them, he pulled a jokey face that seemed to cleanse his distress. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that.’
Juliet admired him for apologising so promptly, and was willing to let it slip. Extra drama wasn’t on her wish list right now, though she did want an explanation. ‘It’s fine, but why did you get angry at me?’
He made a funny shape with his lips, then said, ‘It’s nothing, really. Like … it doesn’t really matter.’
Sure it doesn’t matter. ‘Okay. I don’t want to pry. It is only our third date …’ She tried to sound fair. ‘But at some point soon in the future, will you tell me how I upset you?’
He laughed in a reasonable way that showed his agreement before he had to voice it. ‘I promise.’
A large dismal cloud appeared above.
‘Looks like rain,’ said Austin, and his mouth took a downturn.
Juliet arched her neck to assess the sky. ‘Let’s head back, then.’
They changed direction and pedalled to the boathouse, jumping out of the pedalo and returning it to a politely cheerful man.
‘Is our date over, then?’ Austin asked, gluing his eyes to hers. Juliet had caught a bus from Chanton to Willow and then walked to Eradon Lake to meet up with Austin in the morning. Austin must have walked or used public transport, as he had no car on the island.
‘You can get the bus back to my house with me if you like? There’s not much to do, but I’ll make you some food and drink.’ She wondered if she really meant that, or if she was offering more. Her lips pulled in, and without thinking, she moistened them inside her mouth.
Austin’s face lit up. ‘Sounds good to me.’
They walked to Willow together. Halfway there, Austin grabbed her hand and held it. His was warm and strong. Juliet’s face turned hot. It pleased her that he could make her blush, an extremely rare occurrence. She had avoided romantic relationships for a long time, though; maybe her face would be flaming red more often from now on.
She smiled.
Luck was on their side when they reached the bus stop: Although it had just begun to rain and there was no shelter, a bus arrived the same time they did.
They were in Chanton within thirty minutes, but by then, fortune had abandoned them. The sky was chucking it down, raindrops drumming the shelter they found themselves beneath. After a gaze out at the downpour, Juliet made a pained expression, then grabbed Austin’s hand and led the way. They ran towards her home. Juliet couldn’t help but laugh at their misfortune the entire way. By the time they stumbled through the front door, they were drenched.
‘Gran?’ Juliet yelled. No answer. ‘I hope she isn’t out in this.’ She assumed Lillian was out with Susan, a friend from yoga class.
Austin burst out laughing. ‘I’m soaked.’
‘Me too.’ Juliet moved her head side to side, looking about. ‘One second, I’ll get a towel.’
She took off her shoes and jogged to the downstairs bathroom, used a towel to take the soak out of her hair, discarded it, and then chose a fresh one and returned to Austin, dripping as she went. ‘Here.’
Austin took the towel and ferociously rubbed it over his head. When he put his arms back down, his short hair was fluffy.
Cute. A tingle ran down Juliet’s front.
‘My clothes are wet, wet, wet.’ Austin passed the towel back to her.
‘I would grab you something to wear, but I don’t have any men’s clothing.’
‘I’ll wear anything!’ he replied, with another burp of a laugh.
He began to take his top off, and Juliet heard the wet fabric peel away from his skin. She should have politely looked away, she should have gone to get a dressing gown or anything for him to wear, but instead she stared at his pale body as goose bumps prickled over it. When his tee-shirt was gone, she saw his nipples, small and hard. He was slim, bu
t fit.
He must have noticed her looking, because he moved closer. Juliet took the wet top from his hand and dropped it carelessly. Splat!—it hit the floor. She brought the towel around his back and pulled it over him as if to keep him warm—a ploy to get her body next to his.
She was becoming uncomfortably cold, her clothes chafing, clinging. Austin, with his full lips looking moist, grabbed her hips suddenly and yanked her pelvis close to his. He kissed her.
His tongue pushed into her mouth, flicked hers, circled, retracted. Juliet felt his hands move over her hips, then under her top. Up, up, his fingers moved; he pulled the sodden blouse over her head and dropped it. Splat!
‘Wow.’ He moved back a little, jaw dropping as he took in her upper body. She blushed.
Well, that didn’t take long.
She noticed something sticking out of Austin’s jeans then. The head was on show and it reached his bellybutton. As if he hadn’t realised, he looked down and laughed suddenly. ‘Oh. Sorry about him,’ he said. ‘You just look so good.’
It had been so long, and being wanted pleased her; she got an urge to please Austin right back. But for a moment she looked down and away, pressing her lips together into a tight line. What am I about to do? She gave a hesitant, and hopefully imperceptible, nod to herself. I’m twenty-six. I’ve done this before … It’s okay to want this.
It was as if her acceptance had unbarred the gates of her desire. Although she wasn’t experienced, she would try her best. She wanted to be good at it. Moving her hands behind her back, she unclipped her bra and let the black lingerie slip off. Austin’s eyes glued to her breasts.
She stepped close to him, so her nipples touched his chest, then moved down his body, letting them stroke his flesh the entire way. After undoing his jeans slowly, then pulling his boxers down at a torturous pace, she put his length into her mouth. Not wanting to stop and ask if it was okay, she listened to his moans to gauge her talent. She developed a rhythm and kept at it, there at the entrance to her house, having hardly advanced from the front door.
A Body Displaced (Lansin Island 2) Page 8
