Eternity

by Teresa Federici

  I could only watch as the wolf contorted in pain, his huge black body twisting against the onslaught of Padraigan’s power. His lantern-like eyes were narrowed with agony, and I almost cried out at the humanness in them.

  I don’t know where it is, I’ve told you that.

  I could hear his voice in my head, and it was the voice of a man in pain, no trace of an animal in it. I would have expected something guttural and rough. It made what I witnessed even worse.

  “Liar! I know you’re keeping it from me. Do you want to be a werewolf forever?” Padraigan shouted, increasing the agony that he heaped on the werewolf called Damien. It brought him to lay flat on the ground, his legs scrabbling at the dirt, back arched as though electricity was being run through him, and I figured that’s what was happening, considering my own taste of Padraigan’s displeasure.

  You hold that over me like a carrot dangling from a stick, but I begin to doubt you know how to rid me of this curse.

  There was defiance in his voice and I silently cheered him on.

  “I don’t need you werewolf. I have others to do my bidding that I don’t have to bribe, that would be more effective than you have proven to be.” His voice was dripping with derision, and in another show of defiance Damien laughed, the surprisingly strong sound echoing in my head.

  If they were any better than me, you’d have Gareth and his woman already. They were in his lab, in her house and haven’t discovered anything. Even the one in the lab can’t find anything.

  We were right; Padraigan did have spies at the lab. Now we had to find out who and what they were. I found myself cheering for Damien, which was ludicrous because he was working with Padraigan, but obviously under duress.

  Padraigan unleashed another punishing round of torture on him, and Damien howled aloud and in my head, the sounds so loud and colors so bright, it made me clap my hands to my head in pain. I fought to push them out, to close off my mind, but I wanted to hear more.

  “They found out the two of them were together, which is more than you’ve done. Find that house!” Padraigan ground out, then was gone, just like that. One minute he had been there, terrible in his power and anger, the next there was just an empty space where he had been standing and Damien lay there, his sides heaving in pain, his eyes closed. I couldn’t decide what to do. Part of me wanted to go to him, the other part to run away.

  I watched him, marveling at what he was. For all that I knew he was a werewolf, it amazed me that he resembled nothing more than an unusually large wolf. I knew he could stand on two legs, having seen him in the clearing before, but that was the only resemblance to a man that he had, and those bright green eyes.

  He raised himself to a sitting position and a tremor coursed through his body, the fur standing on end. He looked right at me.

  I know you’re there. The question is, how did Padraigan not know it?

  I jerked, my whole body poised for flight. How could he know?

  I won’t hurt you.

  I don’t believe you.

  He stood on all four legs, and gave a shake, like a dog would do after a bath. If he had been standing next to me, his shoulders would have come up to my chest. I was out here in the woods alone with him, but I still didn’t know if I was dreaming or not.

  If I wanted to hurt you, I could have done so when you were here with your friends the other night. I watched the entire time.

  Bet you enjoyed that, didn’t you? Three women, two of them naked, alone in the woods.

  He laughed again, the sound strong and echoing in my head.

  I have no desire to hurt innocents. That’s Padraigan’s territory. And as far as naked women go, I am still a man.

  Pervert!

  He looked at me, the green eyes glowing as though catching light.

  You’re bold, I’ll give you that. Don’t you feel any fear, being helpless here with me? I could dispatch you easily, what with you separated from your body.

  I shivered, but not from cold. He answered my own question. My body was back in a nice warm bed, while my spirit was standing out here in the cold night with him.

  You just assured me that you wouldn’t hurt me. Why?

  He roamed around the clearing, but stayed away from me, not coming within twenty feet or so, and I wasn’t about to budge from the shelter of the trees. He cast glances at me, speculative glances that had me wondering what he was thinking. He had closed his mind to his thoughts.

  He stopped at the far end of the clearing and turned to look at me.

  I told you. I have no desire to hurt you. I have nothing against you. Your man, I have something against.

  You could easily use me to hurt him.

  What the hell was I doing, giving him ideas? He seemed to consider this for a second, the wolfish expression hauntingly human.

  You have nothing to do with what’s between him and me.

  Gee, that’s chivalrous.

  Yes, I rather think it is.

  I snorted. A chivalrous werewolf, who knew? We regarded each other across the clearing, neither one knowing what to say next.

  You know, whatever Padraigan has over you, he’s never going to give it to you. Even if you tell him where the house is.

  He didn’t say anything, just watched me. I grew uncomfortable under the green-eyed scrutiny, crossing my arms protectively over my chest.

  Why do you think I know where the house is?

  Why does Padraigan want to know where it is so badly? I countered.

  He chuckled, his big head moving side to side.

  I won’t tell you why, although you could probably guess it.

  I nodded, acknowledging his words. I knew it was because of the secret lab, and because he could destroy us at the house with no questions being raised, but I didn’t let Damien know I knew that.

  I ask you again, why didn’t Padraigan know you’re here?

  I don’t know. Maybe because he was so intent on hurting you?

  That seems as good a reason as any.

  He turned to leave, our conversation apparently over, but he gave me parting words to think about.

  He knows the house is close. He won’t get that knowledge from me until I’m ready to give it.

  I started to say more, but he was gone.

  I opened my eyes to see Gareth standing over me, his hands wrapped around my arms.

  “Where were you?” he asked, worry etched on his face and in his eyes. I sat up, pushing back against the headboard. How much to tell him? All of it.

  “I was in the clearing. Padraigan and the werewolf were there. His name is Damien.”

  “What?” If he could be paler than he already was, he would have been. He sat down heavily on the bed next to me, horror replacing the worry in his eyes.

  I quickly filled him in on what I had witnessed and the conversation Damien and I had. He listened intently, never breaking eye contact.

  “So, the hairy bastard knows where the house is but won’t tell Padraigan yet. Why?” Gareth wondered aloud.

  “Why seems to be the question of the decade. We keep asking it, but we can’t come up with anything. Like how long has Damien known where the house is? It has to be from before the shield spell. But why hasn’t he told Padraigan?”

  “As insurance? If Padraigan is holding something over his head, maybe he’s keeping that information close because, like he said in the clearing, he doubts Padraigan is going to give him what he wants. I would doubt too.” Gareth could only speculate, but he seemed right on target.

  “Maybe I could get him to help us? Maybe he could turn coat.”

  “Oh, no. You won’t be talking to him again.”

  “Really? Apparently I can, whether you like it or not.” I glared at him.

  He met my glare with one of his own. “What if Padraigan had known you were there? He could have taken you out very easily.”

  “He didn’t know, for whatever reason. I think maybe he can’t sense me when I’m astral projecting. I didn’t say that to Dam
ien, but I think that’s why he didn’t know I was there.”

  I could see that my argument made sense to him, but he was still glaring at me.

  “Did you fight him that night in the clearing? He told me himself he has a grudge against you, so I find it hard to believe you two didn’t get into it that night.”

  “No, we just exchanged some words. I told him to leave and not come back, but it’s obvious he didn’t listen to me. Now, he’s led Padraigan close to the house, and he’ll pay for that.”

  “What about who he has in the lab? They could be screwing around with the research, halting it.” I changed the subject. Damien was working with Padraigan, but I could tell he wasn’t bad. I didn’t like the thought of Gareth going after him. I didn’t want to think of either one of them being hurt.

  “When we go in on Monday, I’ll quietly do a little research of my own. Do you think that you could get a sense of who it is?” He let the subject be changed, thankfully.

  “I can try, but if they’re protecting themselves, I probably won’t. Still new at this.” I slid down on the bed, yanking covers up to my chin. There was still a small part of me that wanted normal back with a vengeance.

  “Please don’t drift off again.”

  I couldn’t tell if he meant sleep or projection.

  “Why don’t you come to bed and make sure I don’t.”

  He sent me a smile. “No, I think I’ll go check the property, make sure there isn’t anything lurking that shouldn’t be.”

  “Gareth…”

  He cut me off. “If you won’t agree to not contact the wolf again, then I can’t agree to not protecting my property.”

  “I don’t think he’s all bad Gareth. He’s held to Padraigan for a reason.”

  “He wants me, that makes him bad enough in my eyes.”

  I watched him walk out of the bedroom, the door slamming a little in his wake. I had sent him away angry, dammit. I flipped over on to my side and tried to go to sleep, but sleep eluded me. I couldn’t get the vision of Damien in pain out of my head.

  I tossed and turned, trying to work the puzzle out in my mind. Why wouldn’t Damien tell Padraigan where the house was? If he wanted Gareth destroyed, then it would be so simple. Unless he wanted Gareth himself, and Padraigan wouldn’t agree to it. If Padraigan wanted to be the one to take down Gareth, that could be it, but Damien had a chance to get Gareth the other night and he didn’t.

  Was there something Gareth wasn’t telling me? I didn’t think there was, but there could be.

  On Monday morning, I walked out to the garage ahead of Gareth, and stopped in my tracks. There in front of me was a shiny new red Jeep.

  “Do you like it?” he whispered from behind me. I turned and hugged him, holding on tight. He had been distant Saturday night when he had come back, and all day Sunday we hadn’t said much to one another. I had worked next to him in the lab, but silently, and we moved around each other like wraiths, neither one knowing what to say.

  “I’m sorry. I just don’t want anyone hurt. I don’t want you to look for him in case he’s wanting to kill you.” I refused to cry, though the urge to do so was there.

  “I’m sorry, Anna. You’re under a lot of stress and I didn’t think about that. I’m used to taking care of only myself.” He rubbed my back, his cheek on the crown of my head.

  “I just don’t want to think about you being hurt. Leave him alone, please? It’s not for his sake that I ask you, it’s for ours.” My tears were winding down, but I was still snuffling.

  “I know, I know. I won’t go look for him again.” His voice was hushed, soothing, and it went a long way to drying up the rest of my tears. I leaned away from his wet chest and looked at him through still moist eyes, and he handed me a handkerchief. I wiped my eyes and nose and gave a watery laugh. “I’m a mess.”

  He ran his fingers through my hair, smiling at me. “A beautiful mess.” He agreed and I playfully slapped him on the arm.

  “I thought it more appropriate if we didn’t arrive in the same vehicle this morning.” He placed the keys in my hand, closed my fingers over them.

  “Thank you.” I kissed him, long and deep, making up for the distance between us since Saturday night.

  “I was worried that you wouldn’t want me to replace the Jeep for you.”

  I grinned impishly. “I have no problem with a handsome, rich man buying me gifts. Can you pay off my student loans too?”

  “You just want me for my money?”

  “And your body.” I danced away from him as he reached for me, my laughter echoing in the big garage. I jumped in the Jeep as Gareth got in the Rover and opened the garage doors. It was another sunny day, and I was thankful for the dark tint on the Rover. His exposure would be minimal, but it still worried me. He still had to drive and then get into the building.

  He had let me do a detailed analysis on the sunscreen, and I was confident in its abilities to protect him, but even being the scientist that I was, I didn’t want to take any chances on him being injured. Nothing was fail-safe.

  I watched him in my rear view as I drove, keeping his face with its dark sunglasses in view. He knew I was keeping tabs and every once in a while would give me a finger wave.

  At work I parked the Jeep and dashed in, and he drove past as I was running in the door.

  “Congratulations, Dr. Greer.” Gerry called out as I trotted past, and I gave him a smile and a wave. I didn’t wait for Gareth this time, and took the elevator up alone. I went into my office and fired up my computer, still not used to having my own office. I sat behind the desk and pulled up my file on who I wanted to be on my crew.

  The day went by and Gareth took me to the lunch we never got to have last week, which I found hilarious. He took me back to the pub, and as we went into the dark interior, I saw the waitress that was there the night I saw Gareth with the blonde. She tipped me a wink when she saw me with Gareth and I nodded.

  He watched me as I ate, and we talked about inane subjects, like who would be on my crew and what we were going to do when we got home. We didn’t bring up Padraigan or Damien, and we didn’t mention who could be the spy in the lab. I knew Gareth was checking his employees, but I didn’t ask how.

  “Are you about finished?” he asked, nodding toward my chili fries with a shudder.

  “Don’t you miss food?” I whispered, leaning over the table.

  “I don’t think that I would eat that even if I could eat food. And yes, I miss food, and drink, but I’ve learned to live without it.” He whispered back.

  “Don’t knock chili fries until you’ve tried them.” I threw my napkin over them anyway, and stood up. He stood and put money down on the table and we went out, Gareth putting on the shades and pulling gloves over his hands.

  Standing there in his long wool coat, Armani suit, dark glasses, and gloves, he looked like the successful business man that he was, and no one who passed by him would think anything else; other than the fact that he was unbelievably gorgeous. We elicited quite a few appreciative glances from women passing, and if Gareth hadn’t been so oblivious to them, I would have been insanely jealous.

  We kept up the small talk back to the office, at one point Gareth asking me what I was like as a teenager.

  “Why teenager?” I tilted my head to the side, curious as to why he picked that age frame.

  “It’s when your identity is forming, what you’ll start moving toward as an adult.”

  “I’ll buy that. I wasn’t your typical teenager, what with my mother’s illness. I didn’t have many friends, because I didn’t want to take time from my parents, plus I had all these,” I waved my hands in the air “imaginings, as my mother called them. This was my early teen years. I had seen things for most of my life, but I don’t remember doing things.” I thought back to my youth, and I couldn’t think of one instance when I had done something magickal.

  “‘Imaginings’?” He asked, casting a glance at me.

  “Well, to borrow a phrase,
I saw dead people. Don’t get to the movies much, do you?” I asked at his puzzled look. He shook his head, his expression going from puzzled to wry.

  “No, can’t say that I do.”

  “Anyway, I saw ghosts. Our house was an old cape, circa 1760, and it had a lot of history, both the house and the grounds. I would see people walking through the house and outside, dressed so differently from how we were dressed, which looking back was bad enough. The eighties, you know. Ok, no more pop culture references. I know you’re a vampire but you didn’t live under a rock.”

  “I didn’t live under a rock, but I was a business man. I’ve been in suits for the last hundred and fifty years. I didn’t pay much mind to fashion trends.” There was laughter in his voice and I loved the way he sounded when he wasn’t so serious.

  “Well then, I will stick to no more pop culture references. I would tell my parents that there were people in the house, but they couldn’t see them, and my mom didn’t want to think that her daughter was insane. As I got older, I saw other things.” I stopped, thinking back to my childhood, trying to pick out instances that would interest him.

  “What other things?” he prompted as he made a turn onto Route 13.

  “I saw a werewolf one night. I couldn’t sleep, and the moon was full. It was really bright in my room, and it had just snowed, so I was sitting at my window, in the seat where I would daydream sometimes, staring out at the fresh snow. I think that I was debating whether or not to go out there when he stepped out of the woods onto the back lawn.”

  “What did you do?” He turned to look at me, and I couldn’t tell what his eyes looked like through the dark glasses, but his voice was curious.

  I smiled, remembering. It wasn’t funny at the time, but I could smile about it now. “I flew back to the bed, threw the covers over my head, and prayed to God that it didn’t see me. I must’ve gone through a hundred Hail Mary’s and a hundred Our Fathers before I fell asleep.”

  “Had you seen vampires before I waltzed into your life?”

  “I thought I had. It ushered my way into what I fondly refer to as my Goth phase. Wore black, died my hair black, started reading up on all things mythical, started to read about witchcraft, but my mother put a stop to that real quick.”