Soon, her ball of yarn had run out, and the woods around her were silent. When she stopped and came out of her self-induced world, she noticed a large bird. The crow had settled in the fir tree right outside her window. Its large dark eyes stared at her studying her soul. It was the same one she'd seen following her around for months. She had some mind to think that maybe it was her stalker.
How crazy is that? There are no such things as shape-shifters or werewolves. There is nothing more to magic than smoke and mirrors performed on stage. I might run a New Age store, but that doesn't mean that I believe in what I sell. The only things that I believe in are the books in the store. They are the only things that are real. Jayd shook her head. This is ridiculous. The crow is a crow. They all look alike. It's not following me. Damn, I'm out of yarn.
She sighed and stretched. When she did, she realized that it was past sunset, and her muscles were screaming from sitting for so long. Everything had frozen since she'd been in one position. When she got up, her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten since breakfast. The thought of food made her queasy. Maybe she should eat. Maybe she shouldn't. Aubrey hadn't sounded too concerned when Jayd told her she wasn't feeling well and to close up the shop early. Jayd was glad she had hired Aubrey, even though the massage therapist was little strange and saw life a little differently from most. Jayd had never seen her eat anything solid because she was always drinking some plant or soy concoction. Aubrey said it was to keep her body pure of toxins. Jayd didn't understand it, but hey, Aubrey was always normally on time and never complained if they weren't busy. She was the closest thing Jayd had to a friend at her job. And Jayd had given her the only set of keys she had in case anything had happened.
Jayd opened her refrigerator and stared at the contents. There was two-day-old Chinese food and some leftover pizza she'd bought from the place down the street. It was a good joint. The cheeseburger pizza included a pickle and mustard on every slice. She never thought she would like pickles on pizza, but it turned out pretty good. Right when she reached for a slice, Jayd heard a loud bang outside. Her heart hit somewhere behind her eyes and landed at the top of her throat. She jumped, letting the fridge door swing shut. Jayd grabbed the countertop and scanned the rooms. All of them were dark except her living room. She lived in a split-level ranch with her bedroom, bathroom, and den downstairs. Her kitchen, half bath, and large living room were upstairs. The bang sounded from outside in the forest almost if a cannon had exploded at her neighbors’ house.
You are way too jumpy, Jayd. Nothing's going to happen. In the back of her mind, something didn't set right. After her heart slipped back into her chest, Jayd decided she wasn't in the mood for pizza or Chinese. So she opened her freezer and plucked out a pint of strawberry ice cream. Inside her drawer, she grabbed a spoon and a bottle opener. From her cabinet, she pulled out a bottle of red wine and didn't bother to get any glasses. She shut the light off with her elbow and padded downstairs. There she maneuvered her way around in the dark until she was able to flip the light on with a free finger. When she did, her own reflection startled her, but there wasn't anything else in the room with her. She sat down on her futon, snuggled in the corner with her blanket around her, and waited.
Jayd hardly touched the wine, but she ate the whole pint of ice cream. The flickering of different television shows kept her company. The volume remained on mute so she could be aware of what was going on around her. Somewhere near three in the morning, her stamina gave out and she fell asleep.
When she woke up, what was left of her ice cream had melted onto the carpet. The wine smelled from turning into vinegar. She wrinkled her nose at it and wondered what she'd been thinking last night. The birds twittered outside. The sun was shining. Jayd got up and shivered when she realized there was a chill on the morning. She looked at her clock and saw she had gotten only four hours of sleep. Her head was pounding, and her stomach upset. If she wanted, she could crawl under the covers and get another two hours of sleep before her deadline of getting up and going to open the shop. Slowly, she got up and found she was steady on her feet. She picked up the ice cream carton and padded upstairs, wincing at the glare of the sun. It showed how badly her windows needed to be cleaned. Tomorrow. I swear I'll clean the house tomorrow. Jayd laughed when she looked around the kitchen and the dining room. Nothing was amiss. Every knickknack and book was in its place like it had been the night before.
Jayd threw the soggy ice cream container into the trash. When she turned around, something on her fridge made her blood run cold. A startled cry escaped her lips. There, stuck to the refrigerator, was another envelope. A red one this time. With shaking fingers, she snatched the envelope from the magnet. Opening it, Jayd pulled out the card. The writing was the identical flowery handwriting on all the others. She dry swallowed and scanned around the house. She didn't see anything.
"Hello?” she half called out and half whispered.
The only sound that answered her was the loud cawing of a crow. Maybe the crow is the same guy who had come into the shop months ago. She searched the corners gazing where even the slightest shadow stood. There was still no one. She glanced back to the red parchment. Tears welled in her eyes when she read it.
Forgive me for missing our engagement last night. I do regret that something came up. I assure you I shall keep my promise and see you tonight, Jayd. No matter where you go, or think you can go, I will be there for you.
Jayd crushed the paper in her fingers and then shoved it in her pocket. Hurriedly, she grabbed her purse and keys from where she'd left them on her breakfast bar. The need to get out of the house consumed her enough that she didn't even think where she was going. She had to find some kind of order. She hated to admit it. Jayd needed some help. Tears wet her eyes when she climbed into her car and started driving. The note said that it didn't matter where she went, he was still going to come after her. No matter what. If that was true, then she wanted to be somewhere on her own turf. The shop. There it was smaller. People would be there. And Seth was working today.
Maybe I should tell him. He's always asking me what the matter is. He's noticed me being on edge these past few months. I've just never wanted him to get involved with this mess.
Jayd shook her head when thoughts ran through her mind. Budding trees zoomed by her while some were still skeletal bare. The only green in the woods were the fir and pine trees. Along the way to the shop, she barely saw another car on the twisting and turning roads. Finally, she arrived at the store. She parked out front and tried to insert her key into the door. Her hand shook so much that she wasn't able to connect to the keyhole. Tears of frustration streamed hot down her cheeks when she let her head fall against the glass. She beat her fist against the door. The street was still, but soon there would be cars roaring up the road because the business day would soon begin.
I can do this. I really can. She took a deep breath, but her hand still trembled. Jayd missed the keyhole again. A scream of anguish left her throat when she couldn't get the door open.
"You look like you could use some help. Why don't you let me give it a try?"
Jayd recognized that smooth deep voice. She looked up and turned around. Standing before her was Seth. At first, she thought he was a mirage brought on by her hysteria, but once his fingers brushed against hers when he plucked the keys from her palm, she grasped he was real. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him, buried her head in his chest, and let out her pent-up tears.
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Chapter Four
The sudden hug from Jayd startled Seth. He froze and wasn't sure if he should react. However, in the state she was in, something was wrong. He didn't have to be a supernatural being to sense that. Automatically he returned the gesture. Her whole body trembled. She seemed to have had an awesome fright. The Raven Warrior had watched her house last night and through the morning. Something had stirred the atmosphere, but it could've been a passing fairy or some other creature. In his years, he'd wit
nessed lots of things. He had killed many more. There were some beings for which he had no name. Beasts so horrible they were beautiful in their uniqueness. But last night, he circled the house when he got bored of sitting, a tingling sensation had started at the tips of his tail feathers and blanketed him. Something was around. Whatever it was, it knew the art of blending in with the shadows. It was a night creature. There were hundreds of things it could have been. Seth couldn't tell if it was native to the forest. It could have been an evil brownie or a gremlin. The thing hovered around Jayd's house for a few seconds and then was gone. It irritated him more than he'd wanted to admit. When he sensed it, Seth used to power to search the Grey, the void between the worlds, and yet, he saw nothing. It was hiding itself well. He had seen Jayd run out of her house early and decided it was best to follow her.
Seth winged himself over the towns, following the twisting roads that wound their way through forests and over rivers. Even though he left the same time as Jayd, he had arrived way ahead of her. The shadows caressed him when he transformed into human form. It was the first day of the full moon. During these times, he had the choice to be a Raven again since flying was a convenient and much faster way to travel. Once the sun kissed the horizon, his feathers fell away like ashes. Over the years, he learned he might have been cursed, but his powers had grown with age. No longer did his feathers recede back into his skin, they turned to dust and shadow. Of late, in human form, he'd noticed some of his dreadlocks were beginning to change color at the root. At first glance, Seth thought they were gray, but he would never age since he'd been cursed. His locks were turning silver like Caleb's hair. It meant that eventually all of his feathers, and his eyes would become silver too. It went along with his growing powers. It troubled Seth some. He had been so alone for so many years that if his outward appearance changed anymore, he would be singled out among the humans. Would his skin bleach out also?
Once his feathers fell away, his cramped muscles screamed out in thanks when they were able to stretch into his mortal form. The Raven Warrior always forgot the weight of his hair when it fell halfway down his back. Among the dreads, he had trinkets woven into his hair. Some he'd had when he was cursed. Some he had collected over the years. They jingled together when he moved his head. The subtle clink of bells was music to his ears. The cold air of the morning caressed his naked flesh while he stood in the alleyway. The chill didn't bother him in Raven form, but once his feathers dropped away, he was susceptible to the elements. The wind stroked his flesh, causing all the little hairs on his body to stand up. Hunger pangs hit him. So did a burning thirst. He needed to eat, but now was not the time because Jayd was going to be arriving soon. It wouldn't be good for her to find him naked. Seth did wonder what her reaction would be. He smiled when he pushed the hunger aside. After twenty-five hundred years, he had disciplined his mind enough to control the hunger and his thirst. He looked down at his form and with a wave of his hand donned his normal attire. Black jeans and a long black shirt that snapped up the front. His dreads were bound back in a black ribbon. On his right hand, he had a gold ring given to him back when he was mortal by the priest who had inducted him into the Priesthood of Ra. The man had been a father to Seth after Seth realized that he was not going to hurt him where the other priests had demanded his body for their own whims. It was a simple band of thick metal that had become part of him
With another thought, the weight of his silver sword landed in his hand. He lifted it to the sun. The light, shattering into a thousand rainbows, glinted off the blade, which acted like a prism. The sword was light in his grip. Hieroglyphics etched into the metal stated his name and the date he was cursed with a warning to any who went against the Raven Warriors. The edge was thin enough to compare to a piece of paper, but sharp enough to slice a diamond in half. It could cut through anything. The blade was three inches across and three feet long. The pommel was of the winged goddess Nephthys. She was sister to the great goddess Isis and the one who watched over Death. She was the goddess he worshipped and called upon when he was cursed. Nephthys had enfolded her wings around him, infusing Seth with her dark power, cursing him for an eternity, all because he had been put on the sacrificial altar to her.
Seth shook his head while he stared at Jayd. He didn't need to worry about his past or about how hungry he was. A slice of desire cut his heart from Jayd's arms wrapping around him. He suppressed a shudder. Automatically his body tightened. I will not let this happen. I will not revert to my feathered form. She needs me.
Seth released his arms from around his boss and let her cry a moment longer before he pushed her away. When he did, he saw her red-rimmed eyes and how much she hadn't slept. Something was going on that she wasn't telling him. He didn't know what it was, but he was sure going to find out even if Jayd didn't let him into her personal life. He knew it wasn't another guy, because she wasn't dating anyone.
Taking the keys from her still-shaking hand, Seth slid one into the lock and, with a turn, heard the bolt click when the door gave. He opened the door for Jayd and let her pass in front of him. When he did, Jayd turned and gave him the brightest smile she could. Her cheeks were rosier than normal from crying, and her eyes were glassy from lack of sleep. Crumpled clothes hugged her. Seth had never seen her so disheveled. Her world incorporated order. She wasn't a neat freak, but tidiness made her feel complete. It gave her something to concentrate on, especially after her aunt died. It helped her deal with the passage of time.
Once inside, Seth closed and locked the door, making sure the sign still showed closed. He sat Jayd down in one of the chairs in the corner on the other side of a bookcase so they'd have more privacy. He brewed her some tea and got himself a glass of water. It would help stave off the thirst parching his throat and shrinking his insides. Then again, it didn't compare to the thirst which came with standing outside under the sun at high noon for hours in the desert. In the shadows of the great pyramids, which in his time were even ancient, his whole body had felt on fire. It was one of the tests given to him in the priesthood to see if he was worthy of being a disciple of Ra, the mighty sun god.
He gulped down the water and got another glass before he went and sat across from Jayd.
He handed her the tea. Her fingertips brushed against the inside of his palm, reminding him of velvet. His groin tightened. Seth pushed away his body's response and reminded himself. He had to be a Warrior and see what the matter was because something told him Jayd was in danger. He was not going to let his promise to Gabrielle fall to the wayside.
Jayd's hand was not shaking while she sipped the tea and then blew the steam off the hot liquid. She seemed lost like a little girl wandering in the woods who wasn't sure who was going to rescue her. Seth sighed and rested his elbows on his knees when he looked at her. “Jayd, what's the matter? I've never seen you so beside yourself. Will you tell me please what's bothering you?"
His employer looked up and met his gaze. Her skin had blanched. The silence spread before them. She chewed the inside of her lip and gripped the porcelain cup a little harder. Seth could make out the tension in her fingers and her wrist with his keen vision. Her gaze settled behind him on some unknown title she was studying while she made up her mind to tell him, to let him into her life and reveal the deeper workings of her emotions. Slowly, she reached into her pocket and withdrew a rumpled red piece of parchment. Her hand quaked when she held it out to him. He reached over, careful not to touch her again. The paper was of a fine grain. It was custom-made. It had a particular smell he couldn't place but reminded him of the catacombs he had wandered in the priesthood. The handwriting was feminine, with lots of loops on the tops and ends of letters reminding him of something from the eighteenth century. The marker used to write the note was something that could be found in any stationery store. He darted over the message. Dread filled him. Why hadn't he seen this? Why hadn't he sensed something or someone hovering around her? His gaze settled back on Jayd. It took her a moment to start talking. Whe
n she did, her voice was far away almost if she was trying to ward off the messenger who had written her the note.
"I've been getting gifts and notes for the past three months. I'm hearing things in the shadows. Whispers in the dark. At first, I thought it was just me going crazy. Too stressed and overworked maybe. After a while, the gloom seemed to thicken like there was someone watching me from the darkness. There's even this crow that I keep seeing. I swear it's following me, spying on me like it's staring into my soul."
A bolt of fear ran through Seth. He hadn't realized that Jayd had noticed him. The Raven Warrior didn't like that she noticed the shadows were more tangible. He hadn't been lurking in them. Whoever was observing her was going to claim her. He wondered why they hadn't appeared last night. There had been something at her house. It wasn't his imagination that he felt something or had the tingle go up his tail feathers. It wasn't a creature that was native to the forest. Whatever it was, he was not going to let it get Jayd.
"What else has been happening besides the notes? Do you know who it is? Have you gone to the police?"
Jayd shook her head and told him about the teenager who had come into the shop three months ago. When she described her customer's appearance, Seth's heart sank. He wasn't sure, but his gut told him it was a true creature of darkness. If that were the case, it would not stop until it got Jayd. He had only directly dealt with vampires a few times in his many years of existence. Vampires were immortal and hard to kill. He'd exterminated only one nest back in the fifteen hundreds with Arik, but ever since then, they made a point to stay away from vampires. They hardly took any interest in magickal humans. When they did get someone in their sights, they wouldn't cease. Whatever this one saw in Jayd, it was going to come tonight. He had to stay with her. The beast had to be killed. One slice of his sword through the creature's neck and it would crumple to the floor, turning to ash. The thought of Jayd being one of those cold, bloodthirsty monsters turned his stomach. Stealing away her warmth would condemn her to an eternity of hell. She was a creature of the sun and not the night.
Whispers in the Dark [A Raven Saga Book 3] Page 4
