Even though my mind flooded with images of what just happened, I kept pushing them off to the side. I didn’t want to bear any more of this reality, at least not without some rest. I drifted off to sleep much faster than I expected.
My dreams were a scattered mess until I found myself plopped on an oversized fluffy couch. My awareness was all about the couch. I rubbed my hands across the fabric, enjoying the texture, then fluffed up the pile of pillows and plunged my head down on the mound.
It was a strange sensation to have my eyes closed in my dream. I could feel someone’s fingers stroking my head. The crinkling sound of the soothing caress parting my hair on my scalp reminded me of the ocean. The strokes were in even, rhythmic strides like waves crashing on the shore. The room around me was warm and cozy.
“It is nice to see you relaxing.” Kaden’s smooth and sexy voice never disappointed.
I smiled and maybe moaned in agreement for a moment. I was enjoying the head rub way too much to start talking.
His hands made magic in my hair. He began his strokes lower around my ears and the back of my neck. The tension was melting away.
He caressed my neck from my shoulders all the way up to the crown of my head. His touch sent signals of pleasure to all parts of my body. I wanted more; I wanted his hands to rub all the way down to my toes.
He didn’t stop touching me for a second. “What is on your mind, darling?”
I let out a sigh. “Oh, just about everything, but I’m trying to work hard at having nothing on my mind at the moment. This feels so good.”
“You enjoy my touch?” he purred softly.
“Can’t you see the smile plastered across my face?”
“Indeed, you are looking more loosened up. I enjoy giving you pleasure.”
Everything about him screamed pleasure—pleasure me, pleasure you, pleasure, pleasure, pleasure. I laughed to myself.
“Let me ease your mind. You will feel better after you talk about what is bothering you. Is it your grandmother again?”
“Not exactly. I’m still upset with her for not telling me about who I really am.”
“What do you mean who you really are? Were you adopted or something?”
“No. I wasn’t adopted, although my grandmother was my guardian most of my life. That wasn’t a secret. Apparently I’m the secret.”
He stopped rubbing me for a second. “You sure are a secret worth keeping.” He laughed a little. “Seriously, though, what is so secret about you?”
“Kaden, I wish I knew. I feel as normal as the next person. All these crazy people might just want me to be something I’m not. I don’t know what’s worse—me being as special as they hope and they’ll never let me go; or if there’s nothing about me worth keeping, then they’ll probably just kill me.”
“You don’t really think anyone wants to kill you, do you?” He continued to stroke my hair.
I opened my eyes and looked up into his forest-green irises. “I do, and I’m scared.”
I nudged myself closer to him, crawling halfway up his lap like a cat and curling up. He put an arm around me and rubbed my arm. It was one of the first times his touch felt caring instead of sensual.
I couldn’t quite get comfortable and started to squirm in his lap. The pain in my ribs was relentless. The agony that coursed through me woke me from my slumber.
I hoped I slept longer than it felt. I really was enjoying snuggling up to Kaden. I wished someone were really rubbing me, at least my hair. It might have been the only thing that didn’t hurt.
Sleeping was a joke. I decided to get out of there for a while and hoped I felt better when I got back. I had nothing to lose except time and pain.
I just wanted to be somewhere that made me feel good. I closed my eyes and in an instant, I was inside one my favorite buildings. Never a religious person, I’d been to churches on occasion, but this church was unlike any other.
The Holy Cross Church was nestled at the top of a red rock formation in Sedona. I loved the view of the red rocks that surrounded the building. They towered behind and you could look out across the desert to see many famous rock formations.
I took as much of a seat as I could on one of the benches. I just loved the way the sun cast streams of light and shadows across the room. The warm glow of the red prayer candles gave me a sense of comfort.
Being permitted in the church, I could only guess I wasn’t evil. Unless that was just something they made up for the movies.
I enjoyed just sitting there watching the tourists come and go. I relished the look in their eyes, the amazement as they gazed through the wall of glass that shaped the cross. The views were spectacular. Some of the tourists were there in memory or prayers for a loved one. They made certain almost all the red votive candles were lit. Many of the patrons came up from the gift shop proud of their purchases, whispering to loved ones about what they bought.
I remembered when life was just that simple. Or at least I thought it was. Maybe all those years, Gram carried around the awful burden of truth. Thinking about it, I was amazed that she was able to smile through all the lies. It must have been hard to go through life knowing all those creatures walked among us.
I say “us,” but that joke might be on me. It was unclear what group of “us” I belonged to anymore. Since my bloodline was unlike the rest of humanity, I was supposed to be transforming into something that had powers. I wished I had someone who could tell me more about the implications my blood could have. I wondered if there were others like me out there.
My mother was the only person who knew my father, and I could only hope he was human. I wondered if he knew about me. My mother and grandmother never mentioned anything about him. He was never a part of our lives. But I never thought much of the fact that we didn’t have a big family. I had so much love from Gram; I didn’t need to question where else I might receive attention.
I always kept to myself, even in school. We moved often enough that I didn’t bother to build lasting relationships with other kids. I didn’t care who liked me or thought I was cool. I knew they would forget me soon enough.
I tried not to think about it, but I wondered if my mom thought about me. How could she have left me? Gram always said she was in a dark place. I hoped her dark place was nothing like the dark place I was stuck in. She probably just got hooked on some life-wasting drugs. For all I knew, she was dead.
Thinking back to my dream about Gram and Mom at White Sands sent a wave of sadness over me. What if the reason I dreamed about them being together was because she’d passed on to the other side and was, in fact, with Gram? Maybe that was the best place for her. I always quietly prayed we’d be together again. This would have been a great time for her to be there for me. Instead, I am alone with no one to turn to.
Maybe she could astral project as well. How did I not think of trying to find her before? Maybe I could connect with her out there or at least just see if she was okay.
“Kasha?”
I turned around to the unexpected sound of my name. I was so lost in thoughts of Mom, I stopped paying attention to the people coming and going through the church. The sun had all but set, leaving only the two of us standing in the sanctuary lit by the moon and the glow of the flickering prayer candles.
Even in astral form, Graven’s eyes remained the same silvery grey I could so easily get lost in. He looked almost the same as he did in his physical body. Well, the human version of him anyway. He stood before me dressed in his usual fitted tee and perfect designer jeans. He even wore a pair of sexy Rocky brand snake and waterproof boots. I’m not sure what use he could have for a pair of those in the astral plane, but I envied his attention to detail. I hadn’t really mastered the shoe thing myself. It would have been nice to see him in the flesh, the way the shadows would have bounced off his chiseled features. Yet his eyes still managed to have a unique sparkle.
“What are you doing here?” I crossed my arms in front of me, breaking the silence.
; “I needed to see you again. I want to…” He blew out a breath and his eyes jetted around the room before returning to lock in on me. “There are so many things I want to say, to ask, to explain. Are you okay?”
He inched his way closer. For a minute I thought he was going to reach out and touch me. I backed out of reach.
“No, I’m not okay. Not in any way am I okay. My body is battered and beaten. If I go back, the physical pain is too much to bear. Here, it’s my mental pain that makes it hard to hold on. There’s so much I don’t understand. What do you want? You should just leave me alone.”
He stood there looking at me. For someone who came seeking a talk, he sure didn’t have much to say.
“And what the hell are you anyway?” I let go of myself and waved a hand at him.
“I am of the Fromarian Clan of Gargoyles. My brother and I are the last of our line. I can tell you all about my heritage and my family at another time. I’m worried about you now. I need to find you!”
“You did find me. Here I am.” I nervously shifted back and forth. “How did you find me here anyway?” I demanded.
“I feel like I’ve known you for centuries. It was so easy to connect to you. I’ve been waiting for you.” I could see in his eyes he struggled to find the words to express whatever he tried to convey.
“You and everyone else it seems,” I replied. What did I care what he was looking for or if he thought he knew me? Give me a break.
“No, not like that. I’ve been trying to find you since last night. There’s something blocking me from finding you in your physical state. Once you projected, I could sense you. I wanted to give you some time alone, so I’ve been just hanging back.”
“You’ve been watching me this whole time?” Could he really be so nervy? Can I not get any privacy?
“No, I was outside. I could feel you getting ready to take flight so I had to let you know I was here.” He paused. I waited.
“I knew there was something about you from the second I laid eyes on you, something special.”
“Yeah, like I was pretty much naked and had the look of a lost puppy dog.”
“Well, there is that.” He nodded and his lips curled up in the corner just enough to let me know his mind was filled with images of me in my birthday suit.
“But there was something more intense. I wasn’t certain if you were the one, but I cannot deny it.” His eyes became sincere and were as solemn as steel.
“Which one, the one with all the great super powers?” I snapped at him. I was so sick of hearing about how special I was and how great I would be.
“Honestly, I really am unaware of what kind of powers you have or if you have any power other than being able to astral project. Anyone can do that. Of course, it just usually takes them years to master what you’ve been able to do in days.”
He closed the space between us. “Hear me out for a minute. Please.
“A long time ago, I crossed paths with a witch, a seer, if you will. She grabbed my arm as I was walking through an outdoor market. Most of the time, I wouldn’t have paid a woman like that any mind. They were almost always looking for a handout.
“When she grabbed me, her grip was that of an iron cuff. I was taken aback by the strength she had. She took hold of both my arms. Time and motion around us all but stopped. Her eyes went completely white.
‘She will need you. You must betray your heart and walk amongst the darkness in order to find the truest light. You will know when The Taker tries to take what can only be yours.’
“She released me and her eyes regained their color. Time no longer stood still. The crowd around me started to roar so loud I almost didn’t notice her still talking to me. Her voice this time was softer but had an edge of agitation.
‘Son, can I help you? Why do you stand in my path, staring at me in that way?’
“She gave me a slight shove and then she was on her way. How long I stood there I will never know. I was stationary for an extended period of time, trying to digest and sort out what she might have been talking about.
“I had no idea who the she was to which she referred. All I got was that there was a female in need of help. At the time, I had no knowledge of anyone called The Taker. The one thing that was real to me was how powerful the encounter with her was. Probably one of the most intense experiences I’ve ever had with a witch or otherwise.
“I have carried her message with me for too many seasons to count. From that day forward, I knew there was a path for me. I have made choices against my heart to find my way to you.”
I uncrossed my arms. “You can’t be serious. You expect me to believe that? I don’t even know you. How dare you blame me for your choice to work with the scum of the earth?”
He tried to interject, but I held up a hand and continued.
“And another thing… How can you refer to me as what can only be yours? Just because this man or evil dark lord has kidnapped me and stolen me from the real world doesn’t make me part of your prophecy or your destiny.”
“The old woman wasn’t the only one who told me about you. About ten years ago, there was a woman at one of our functions with The Taker. She looked like an angel. I knew she couldn’t be, especially because she accompanied the darkest being I’ve ever known. Her yellow and white hair hung down past her bottom, and she wore a white gown that touched the floor. It was like looking at a beam of white light.
“When she walked past me, her eyes flashed a bluish silver. No one was within earshot; she made sure of that. She grabbed my arm and whispered to me,
‘You are the key to the treasure. She will need you. You will need her. Together you will bring the light.’
“After she released my arm, she walked away. She never looked my way again. She was as serious as could be. I knew better than to approach her or question what she said to me. If I had, it could have put both her and me in danger. I knew she was referring to the same female as the witch a few lifetimes ago.”
Before he could go on with his story any longer, I interjected. “So what exactly makes you think I’m this treasure that you need? Or that I need you?”
“Excuse my bluntness, but you clearly need me. You are flying blind out here. You are a captive locked away where no human could ever find or save you.”
“So you’re going to save me now?” I laughed at him. Maybe I meant to insult him. He already deceived me once.
“Or I will die trying!” He wasn’t fazed by my rudeness. “I am by nature a protector. My kind has been employed and enslaved by many powerful people throughout time. Once we dedicate ourselves to our charge, it is very hard to break it.
“Sometimes there is a rare type of bond that unites us with another; the connection is broken only by the death of the other. I suspect there is a chance we are meant to have this union.” He knew he treaded lightly with his confession.
“If I’m wrong about the level of our connection, it has no bearing on my commitment. I have dedicated myself to finding and protecting you since the day that witch grabbed my arm. My connection and dedication to you has grown over the centuries. I knew in my heart I would know you the second I laid eyes on you.
“Did you feel it? When you looked into my eyes that first time in the conference room?” He searched my face for conformation.
I huffed a little and looked out the window. I didn’t want to answer him, but the truth was I did. I did feel something. It was instant. I trusted him. I didn’t know why or how, but I knew I could go with him. I just wasn’t so sure I trusted that feeling.
“There was something, something different about you. I was drawn to you. I felt like I could trust you. That’s why I think I went with you and didn’t follow Ziona.” I reconsidered my openness with the truth. It may have been a mistake.
“The things you told me and taught me about astral travel were true and did work for me. I believed in you. That’s why I went to seek you out.” I hit him hard with my eyes. “You deceived me. Why didn’t you tell
me what you are or that you knew these other people aren’t altogether human?”
“I did not deceive you. I told you there were things I couldn’t tell you at the time. I was unsure of who you were. I felt it in my heart that you were the one, but I had to be sure. I was cautious not to tell you too much. For one thing, I didn’t want to scare you away. More than that, I didn’t want to tell you anything that could put you in more danger.”
“Well, I almost died anyway. Anton, Levi, whatever you people call him, did unthinkable things to me. I don’t know if my body will ever recover from the damage he inflicted on my flesh and bones.” My voice was well above a whisper.
“Perhaps maybe if you could have told me about what they are, I could’ve better protected myself. If my grandmother would have told me any of this, maybe I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
“Listen, there is a chance that is true. Sometimes bad things bring about changes that we need. That is why they’re trying to break you. They know in extreme conditions we must search deep within for the strength and power to save ourselves. That can mean different things to different people. You cannot deny that you are now different. Only you know what transformations you have made in your heart.”
I moved over to the wall of windows and looked out into the distance at the rock formations that surrounded us. I observed the Madonna and Child and imagined it was my mom holding me as a baby, the nuns standing there praying over them, over us. I hoped someone prayed for me now.
I turned back to find Graven standing tall behind me. He was double my size even in this state. His eyes captivated me, and I found it hard to speak.
“I am different. My heart has hardened. I don’t know if I’ve transformed into anything but a paranoid and frightened woman. I haven’t noticed that I can do anything special. I did talk to my dead grandmother briefly. Twice, actually. Does that count?” I stumbled over my words. His presence was all-consuming.
“Did she tell you anything special? Was she able to answer any of your questions, anything about why they might be keeping you?”
Taken (Breaking the Darkness) Page 14
