Eternity

by Teresa Federici

  “Oh, don’t worry, I’m not going to lose it yet.” I mumbled, crossing my arms over my chest. I stared into the night, willing Gareth to come out of the path that was just visible in the full moon light.

  “It is very hard to kill vampires, but a werewolf…” her words were cut off by a sharp gesture from Harley, and I caught the movement in the reflection from the glass doors. I rounded on them.

  “What about a werewolf?” I asked, my voice a low growl.

  “Well, vampires and werewolves are mortal enemies, and each is almost designed to destroy the other. It’s a balance thing, like predators and prey. If neither one of them had a natural enemy, they would take over the earth. It’s almost impossible for a man to kill either one, so they are capable of destroying one another.” Teagan’s explanation did nothing to alleviate my worry, only served to enhance it. Why the hell was the damn mutt out there anyway?

  “There he is.” Harley stated, and I ran back to the doors just as Gareth opened them, and I threw myself at him. He caught me in a tight hug, holding me to him for a moment, and then I pulled back and lit into him.

  “Don’t you ever do that to me again! There was no need to play the hero, you didn’t have to fight him!” I railed at him, my hands on my hips, my eyes wild. He just watched me as I ranted, casting occasional glances at Harley and Teagan, who were stifling laughter.

  I sent them a dark glance and they shut up.

  “Are you done?” he asked quietly when I stopped to take a breath, and something in his voice caught my attention. I nodded mutely.

  “I was not fighting. I wanted to find out why he was here. Not surprisingly, he wouldn’t tell me. He knows better than to come near my property.”

  “Do you know him?” I asked dryly, my foot tapping the floor.

  “Yes, he’s the werewolf that Noah saved my life from, the flea ridden bugger.”

  “Has he been back here since you err, fought over food?” Teagan asked, her expression thoughtful.

  “No, and that’s been quite a few years. What are you thinking?”

  “Maybe he’s working with Padraigan.”

  We all chewed on that for a bit. It could be, but if he already knew where Gareth lived, then Padraigan knew.

  “I find it hard to believe. Vampires and werewolves working together?” Gareth shook his head. “It’s almost impossible.”

  “Almost, but not really, if they’re working toward a common goal, like to destroy you.” Harley put in and I sent her another black look, but she just shrugged. “Look at it this way. Padraigan wants Gareth dead because he’s trying to eradicate vampirism, and this werewolf wants Gareth dead because, well, Gareth stole a meal?” her voice was puzzled at that last part, and I could tell why. Why would you want someone dead because of a lost meal?

  “No, not because I stole his meal, for Christ’s sake. I got in a few good, well, uh…”

  “Bites?” I supplied, and he nodded.

  “Ouch, that had to hurt him for weeks, if not months.” Teagan winced, but gave a smile of approval and a thumbs up to Gareth. He acknowledged the accolade with a regal head tilt.

  “He got me though, almost killed me. If Noah hadn’t come through the woods…I most likely wouldn’t be here.”

  I closed my eyes, not wanting to picture what had happened.

  “Don’t werewolves heal fast, like vampires? Why would your bites hurt him for so long?”

  “It’s part of that balance thing I was telling you about. Vampire saliva is venomous to werewolves, though no one knows why. And the sheer jaw power of a werewolf is enough to rip apart a vampire easily, despite the hard musculature.” Teagan gave me another lesson that I had no desire to learn, another picture of Gareth being torn to shreds by the black furred, green eyed creature that could’ve been watching us right now forming in my mind.

  “I really have had enough for tonight, you guys. Can we continue this in the morning?” I yawned hugely, bringing a hand up to smother it, but I noticed that Harley and Teagan were drooping too. Gareth looked haggard, if that were possible, but of course, he didn’t sleep, so one thirty in the morning to him was the same as one thirty in the afternoon.

  “Yeah, I have had way too much excitement for one day. The bedrooms are where?” Harley asked, picking up one of the bags that they had in the clearing.

  “Up the stairs, first two doors on your right.” Gareth waved vaguely in the direction of the main staircase and Harley and Teagan took themselves upstairs with calls of “Goodnight” floating down. I answered them and then turned to Gareth, who had taken up his place in front of the doors, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his trousers. I moved next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder, gazing out into the night with him. He reached up to place a hand on mine, and placed a kiss on my temple. I opened my mind to him, and he for me.

  “I used to run my property at night, not caring about anything in the world, whether it was running into a werewolf or a human, and I would come across both of them occasionally as they hunted or grew curious about these woods. Now, I have to have a protective circle surrounding my house, and can’t let you out of my sight.” His voice didn’t hold any sorrow for the freedom he lost, but it still made me sad. If it weren’t for me…

  “Oh bollocks, if it weren’t for you. You are worth more to me than anything in my long years, and if I have to shackle myself to you for all eternity, I would, and gladly.”

  “Only if I were a vampire, otherwise you would be shackled to a corpse after about forty-five years.” I put in hopefully. He groaned in misery. “I thought we were done with that.”

  “We will never be done with that argument, not until I’m a vampire.” I smiled up at him, but he just scowled.

  “Oh, well, we can discuss it later.” I gave a shrug, closing the subject.

  I moved through the living room, turning off lamps as I went, then I hesitated at the switch that controlled the lighting fixture over the island, and turned to look at him over my shoulder, going for a sultry look.

  “Are you coming to bed?” I asked, my voice husky. Just the thought of being back in the big bed with him heated my blood and brought a flush to my skin. He turned from the wall of windows and moved towards me. I flicked the switch on the light and laughed as he caught me up in his arms and carried me up the stairs.

  At one point in the night I awoke from a deep sleep to see him standing at the windows, his body limned in moonlight that cast a pale glow on his already pale skin, the flush his last meal had created long gone. He was staring intently out into the night, but at my movement he turned to look at me, a slight smile playing about his mouth.

  He moved back to the bed and lay next to me, staying above the covers so as not to make me cold, but I protested and tugged at his arm until he moved enough for me to pull him completely next to me.

  “I don’t want to make you cold.” He whispered against my temple as his lips nuzzled there, and I squirmed even closer to him, throwing a leg over one of his and wrapping my arms around his waist. With a sigh I laid my head on his chest and his arms came around me in surrender.

  “You could never make me cold. You build heat in me like a fire.” I whispered against his skin. My eyes were heavy and I fought to keep them open.

  “You need to sleep. I should be staked for keeping you awake like I did.”

  “That is the only good reason to keep me up.” I yawned. My body tingled in remembrance of what he had done to keep me from drifting off to sleep, and then I quivered as he dragged the backs of his fingers down my side in a gentle caress.

  “Sleep now, Anna. Get your rest.” I was already mostly asleep, so I mumbled something incoherent as my eyes slid the rest of the way closed. The last thing I remember feeling was his lips trailing kisses across my forehead, sending me into a deep slumber.

  I went down the stairs the next morning, dressed and up early, no sign of Gareth in the bedroom, so I was in search of him when I went into the kitchen and screamed. He defin
itely scared me more than I scared him, although he did almost drop the orange juice carton he held in his hands.

  “Who are you?” I stammered, my hand going to my chest where my heart was giving the old college try to climb out of my body.

  His eyes drifted over me as he poured himself a glass of o.j., and I was able to get a good look at him. He was tall, as tall as Gareth, with light brown hair that was strategically shaggy and deep-set bright blue eyes. His skin was a light olive, and looked like he had just stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad. His overall look was that of the classical good looks that made women swoon everywhere, with a strong square jaw, slightly pointed chin, full mouth and those amazing eyes.

  “I take it you’re Anna?” he questioned, his voice deep and powerful.

  I hitched a hip and placed my hands on my waist.

  “Yes. Oh wait, let me guess. You’re Noah.” I said it as a statement, animosity in my voice. I remembered what Teagan and Harley had said about him, and I was prepared to dislike him, even though he was here to help me.

  I watched him warily as he came towards me, his walk slightly cocky and arrogant. Arrogance in Gareth suited him, but this guy just made it seem like he was better than everyone else.

  He put out his hand to me, and I put my hand in his. I was not prepared for what happened. Similar to what happened to me when I first touched Gareth, a shock traveled up my arm, but that’s where all similarities ended. He yanked me close to him, his eyes searching mine, and I could see him, although it wasn’t him, standing on a platform, a noose around his neck. He wore the homespun clothing of a peasant, and even at the hour of his death, his eyes were defiant, so sure of himself.

  With a gasp, I yanked my hand away from him and moved to put the island between me and him. He laughed, shaking his head.

  “Where did you come from?” he asked, his tone demanding.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “No need to. I don’t have a pardon to give you. Where did you come from?” he repeated, taking another drink from his juice.

  “I was born here, well, not in Weare but in Manchester. What does that have to do with anything?” My heart was still racing, and I struggled to calm it. Did he give me that vision of what had to be an ancestor of his or did it come to me naturally?

  “Some old sorcerer families around here. What’s your family name?”

  “Greer. No one in my family is the least bit magickal.”

  “Wrong, someone is.” He sneered, and I was starting to really not like him. Granted, his physical appearance was enticing, but if his attitude didn’t improve…

  “I think I would know that, don’t you?” I shot back at him, and he leaned over the island to peer into my eyes again. Suddenly his own eyes softened, and a real smile formed on his full mouth, replacing the smirk that had been on it from the first. It disarmed me totally. I blinked at him, and he laughed, a deep pleasing sound.

  “You really wouldn’t if they didn’t want you to know, though why someone would shield you from this is beyond me. Gareth is right, you are a sorcerer, a potentially powerful one too.” His confirmation of that knocked me to the core, and if I hadn’t been near a stool, I would’ve collapsed. As I sagged onto it, he came around the island and crouched in front of me, grabbing my hands and chafing them.

  “It’s ok, I can help you. I can’t imagine what this is like for you, to be the age you are and just be finding this out.”

  I looked down at him, realizing he wasn’t such a bad sort. Oh, he was naturally cocky, but I didn’t think he was mean with it and he was trying to make me feel better.

  “How old were you when you found out?” I cleared my voice, my question sounding like a squeak. He sat back on his heels, releasing a deep breath.

  “I was four when I threw the cat in the pool.” I wasn’t sure what that had to do with finding out you were a sorcerer, until he went on with another laugh. “I threw the cat in the pool using my mind.”

  “That was mean thing to do!” I said, but I was laughing. I think that I had done the same thing, although in the conventional way.

  He shrugged. “She called me a bad name, so I wanted to get back at her.”

  “Wait, the cat called you a bad name?” I didn’t think that I would ever get used to this strange world I had wandered into.

  He nodded, straitening from his crouch.

  “Yes, you know, we can talk to animals, call to them.”

  “I could make a killing as the new Dog Whisperer.” I said wryly, and he laughed again.

  “You probably could, once you’re in control of your powers. I’ll have to give that more thought.” He tapped a finger at his temple.

  We were laughing together when Harley and Teagan strolled in, and I turned at the sound of Teagan’s voice, dripping with disdain. “Oh great, he’s already corrupted her.”

  Noah’s head whipped around to fix her with a glare and Harley shoved her, hard.

  “Teagan, where’s your manners? I’m Harley O’Connor, pleased to meet you.” She offered him her hand, and he took it, shaking it with more warmth than the eyes that were still trained on Teagan.

  “Blessed be.” He inclined his head to her, and she repeated the gesture and the words.

  “Your name, witch?” Noah drawled, his voice matching the disdain in Teagan’s. He moved forward to shake her hand. She stared down at it like it was something grotesque.

  “None of your business.” She replied, turning her back on him and walking back up the stairs.

  “Okay, that was not like her. I’m so sorry.” Harley stammered.

  “You don’t have to apologize for me. I’m not sorry.” Her voice floated back down to us from the second floor and Harley and I looked at each other helplessly.

  “Um, well, oh hell, there really is nothing to say after that.” Harley shrugged helplessly and smiled at Noah.

  “I don’t really expect anything different from her kind.” Noah replied, although he was still watching the staircase, as if he wanted her to come back down. I looked at Harley, expecting her to be furious, but she was watching him with speculation in her eyes.

  “That’s ok; I don’t think she expects much from your kind either.”

  He looked over his shoulder at her, and nodded at the counter point.

  “And you? What do you think of my kind?”

  Harley took a while to answer, the speculation still lurking behind those jade green eyes.

  “I don’t hold what someone is against them. You’re no better than me, and I’m no better than you. We’re just different.”

  He seemed to be digesting this when Gareth walked in from outside, and instead of just wind following him in there was snow also, and for the first time I noticed the blizzard outside. The sky was overcast and dark for nine o’clock, and the clouds had the same bruised look to them as they did yesterday, but this was definitely a product of nature.

  “Noah, I hear you’re already making enemies, as usual.” Gareth said as he came over and shook Noah’s hand. Noah laughed, and pounded Gareth on the back. I wondered that he didn’t break his hand. Noah looked at me, and I shrugged. I had to bring Gareth back in case things had gotten out of hand.

  “I’m not going to let a little witch ruin my day. How’ve you been?” he asked Gareth. At that moment Teagan came back in, her bag slung over her shoulder.

  “The little witch is leaving. I won’t stay in the same house as him.” She sneered as she swept past us, her head held high.

  “Teagan honey, there’s a blizzard outside.” Harley told her from where she sat at the island. Teagan came to a full stop at the window wall, her head tilting until she was staring up into the sky.

  “I wouldn’t do that. This is a right nor’easter. Anything you do to alter it will make the news.” Gareth spoke to the back of her head, the browns and pinks of her hair muted in the gloomy half light. Her shoulders slumped slightly, but when she turned, her eyes were full of disgust as she looked at Noah.

 
; “Great, now I’m stuck here with him.”

  Noah laughed again. “It’s really a barrel of laughs to be here with you. Your extreme dislike of me makes for a very comfortable and hospitable atmosphere.” He sat down on one of the couches, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his hands laced at the back of his head. He did look really comfortable.

  “You started it, with your rudeness. Does it bother you that someone can give you a taste of your own medicine? Or are you just so used to people falling at your feet to bask in your glory that you can’t stand it when someone doesn’t?”

  “I would love for you to fall at my feet. Would you be kneeling?”

  Teagan launched herself at him with a gasp of indignation, and with a snort of laughter Gareth caught her in mid-flight, swinging her around by the waist and carrying her to the other side of the great room. Teagan fought against his hard arms, her legs pin wheeling in the air, like she was running in place. Gareth just held her until she quit, sagging in defeat.

  “Do I need to separate you two?” Gareth asked, setting her gently on her feet.

  Noah bounced lightly to his feet, his tall form surprisingly graceful as he came into the kitchen.

  “No, I can behave myself around her if she can. After all, what can she do to me?” He picked an apple out of the basket on the island and bit into it.

  “I can do plenty and it wouldn’t take magick.” Teagan snarled from Gareth’s arms.

  Noah stared at her intently then laughed his cocky laugh again.

  “That would definitely not feel good. But just remember, if you succeed, there’s no one to help Anna.”

  “Get out of my head.” She spat at him, and it was so reminiscent of me that I had to stifle my own snort of laughter.

  “I wasn’t in your head, little witch, I was just looking at a possible future that included you cutting off my—“

  “Okay, we are all adults here, I think.” Harley said, casting a meaningful glance at Teagan and Noah. Noah shrugged his broad shoulders good-naturedly and took another bite of his apple. Teagan remained quiet so Gareth stepped away from her.