by Jan Harman
Chapter 21
Dancers spilled out of the family room and into the hallways. Squished against the family room wall opposite the DJ, I could feel the music vibrating against my ear and through the soles of my shoes. Maybe I should’ve stayed to watch the end of the water basketball game. Unlike the bikini clad flock of giggling girls, I’d been miserable in that humid air wearing jeans and a long sleeved sequined shirt. Between the accident and subsequent surgeries, I had scars that I wasn’t ready to reveal. Plus, my current batch of bruises was turning interesting shades of putrid yellow, so I looked like a canvas that had erupted in splotches.
A cool breeze caressed my flushed cheeks. Through a gap in the dancers, I saw that someone had opened the patio doors. I inched forward and found myself pulled into a conga line. Since it was making better progress, I went along for the ride. For several grueling minutes the constant jarring movements irritated my tender ribs and sore leg. I weighed my options, an embarrassing collapse or another dose of winter’s bite. I’d already given the gossips too much fodder since my arrival. I wrenched free of the hands on my waist and slipped through the open doors. Brisk air went right through my shirt, chilling my damp skin. I turned around and watched for the end of the conga line. The darn thing seemed to have run into congestion and was now moving at a snail’s pace.
A quick glance about the patio revealed a flagstone walkway bordering the narrow planting bed next to the house. Perfect, I could follow the walk and cut back into the house through the doors off the solarium, practically stepping right into the buffet line ahead of the crowd. Trent had promised to meet me there in time for the countdown to midnight.
Twinkling lights hung like streamers from the trees while groupings of votive candles burned in recesses set into massive stone planters. A warm breeze tickled my cold hands. I aimed for it, finding a small heater at the base of a planter. Now that my eyes had gotten used to the dark, I discovered more heaters tucked under the built in benches that lined the opposite side of the patio. Toasty stones radiated heat through my thin shirt while the heater warmed my feet. I sighed. My idea of getting ahead of the crowd lost its appeal. What the heck, I still had plenty of time before I had to dive back into the press of bodies. I might as well wait for Trent to plow a path.
“Look at all of them kids. Do you know how many families are represented?” a gritty voice said from the other side of the planter, interrupting my peace and quiet.
“All in good time,” another male voice cautioned.
“I wouldn’t lose any sleep over torching the Cassidy’s ranch,” gritty voice said, sounding as though he were salivating at the mouth over the opportunity the party presented.
Frigid air might as well been pouring out the heater; I’d gone quite numb inside. I strained to hear over the music that was blaring through the door. A laughing couple stumbled past my position. I flattened against the wall, praying the men hadn’t left.
“He doesn’t want an arson investigation. The accidental death of eight or ten well connected kids should be enough to throw the valley into a panic,” the second man said.
“Bah. Forget panic. I say strike now. Go for victory.”
“Do it and he’ll feed you to the investigators. Look at the bright side. There are plenty of windows that overlook the pool. It should be a hot show.”
“Is she still in there?”
“No, she headed back to the party. But her boyfriend, the Cassidy’s son, is still there.”
Gritty voice laughed. “That’ll draw out her terror.”
I clenched a trembling hand over my mouth. Not that I could’ve gotten a sound out. Minutes dragged by. I forced myself to wait, hardly daring to breathe until I was certain that I was alone. I dug into my back pocket for the foreign device, seriously missing my cell phone. With the walkie talkie pressed so close to my mouth that I’d probably sound garbled, I pushed the button to beep Shade, confident that his would be in his hand.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, coming straight to the point.
“I overheard two men planning to hurt the kids in the pool.” I couldn’t bring myself to say kill, but I knew the urgency in my voice conveyed my meaning. “They’re going to start a fire.”
“Where are you?”
“Do something!”
“Where are you?” he shouted, his voice practically leaping out of the device.
“Safe on the patio off the family room.”
“I’m coming. Stay there. Do you hear me? Shad and I will handle this.”
They were quick, and it wasn’t that far from their friend Mason’s place, but what if they didn’t get here in time? I stared in the direction of the pool house towards the soft glow of lights spilling out into the night through the long bank of skylights. It had taken me several minutes to weave my way through the breezeway and two halls filled with kids. A direct route on the empty walk that connected the lower poolside terrace with this upper patio would save time. All I had to do was get to the pool deck, stick my head in the door, and yell fire.
Once I cleared the patio and left the laughing voices behind, my footsteps dragged. Shadows pressed closer. Disturbing memories transformed branches into long-fingered hands that clawed at my hair. Close by something tapped. Heart hammering, I half turned towards the safety of the crowds, ready to leave the situation to Shade. A cold breeze swept down the stairs carrying with it the smell of pine mingled with cranberry votives. Simple, and yet, it had the power to ground me in the real world. I had survived that terrible night. Certainly I could face a night shadowed yard. The pull of the music folded about me, becoming my partner against the dark. Together we broke into a steady beat.
I plunged ahead, skidding and slipping on ice patches, thinking for safety sake they should leave the recessed lights on year-round. I made it as far as the next set of stairs that led down to the lower level gardens and terrace, when my guiding lights from the pool suddenly winked out. Icy fingers closed over my heart and squeezed. I launched myself down the flight of stairs, taking steps two at a time, swallowing my cries inside my clamped mouth. Back on the walk, my hip clipped a decorative post then the side of my head grazed what I thought was a bird feeder. I refused to slow down, choosing to rely upon snow drifts and the faint glow of holiday lights buried beneath two feet of snow to keep me on the sidewalk when I had nothing else to guide me.
Any second I expected to hear frantic shouting or worse, agonizing screams. Music from the successful party wafted on the breeze, descending onto the secluded terrace from the noisier upper levels. Even if I could stop puffing long enough to shout, no one would hear. Too many minutes had already ticked by. All because of my stupid leg and a boat load of issues my classmates were going to die!
I replayed the layout of the pool room in my head. Had the door been at the far end near the barbeque pit? My toe caught the brick lip that marked the wide patio that curved about the pool house. I stumbled, thrusting my hands out in front of me as I fell.
“What have we got here? You’re supposed to be inside with the others. Get up.”
I rolled away from gritty voice towards one of the shadowy blobs that might be a bush. Gusts lashed the patio, driving ice pellets into the windows, rattling them so hard that I was certain the glass would crack. Abruptly the wind switched directions, swooped low, and raced along the patio, hail cracking against the brick. Ice daggers riddled my shirt, stinging my back. From the far side of the patio came the low rumble of something heavy rolling over the pavers. A whimper slipped out of my quivering lips. I scrambled to my feet just as the block on wheels shot out of the inky blackness. I spun towards the path with it on my heels. A burst of air, the crack of snapping wood, and then it was upon me, knocking me over.
I squirmed out from beneath the mass and onto my knees, forming a plan certain to upset Shade. Ice had seeped into the seams, sealing the cabinet door shut. I stared into the darkness, tracking the heavy thud of boots on the pavers. My breaths came in frightened spurts as I prie
d and yanked, scraping nails across the wood paneling of the bar. “Please, I twisted my ankle.” I moaned over the sound of the door wrenching open. Fingers found the edge of a drink tray.
A rough hand grabbed my left arm and yanked me to my feet. I went limp, putting as much of my weight as possible into it. The grip tightened, and the man leaned conveniently closer. My right hand curved up with the tray parallel to the ground, catching him in the throat.
He hit the bricks, choking and gagging. I kicked him for good measure. From the sound of his agony, for the first time tonight, my aim was perfect. I hobbled across the patio, envisioning myself tripping over a piece of patio furniture that someone had forgotten to pack away for the winter.
Under the gloom of the overcast sky, I used my freezing hands to count off the three, plate-glass windows. Just as I reached the entrance, frantic pounding erupted from the other side of the glass. I tugged. Metal jangled. Trembling fingers fumbled with a padlock suspended off a heavy chain looped between the set of double doors. The key was probably in that man’s pocket. Crap, I had to go back.
I took a nervous step. Something beeped behind me. I yelped and fell back against a door with a thud. Kids screamed and shout. I jerked away from the banging that only I could do something about. Heart thumping loud enough to wake the dead or at least one downed assailant, I stumbled forward. From my pocket, the walkie talkie beeped again as a cheery rendition of “Jingle Bells” streamed into the night. It took a couple of tries for my frozen fingers to yank the angrily beeping device out of my pocket.
“Where are you?” I yelled into the device.
“At the pool house, putting out the electrical fire.” In a suspicious tone Shade demanded, “What’s that racket?”
“The kids beating on the patio door. It’s been chained shut. I’m going to get the key.”
“From where?” his voice exploded over the air.
My eyes locked on the faint outline of a man illuminated by a handful of twinkling holiday lights that had gotten unburied when he skidded off the path. “You don’t want to know,” I answered.
“Don’t move!”
I stuffed the device back into my pocket. Shade was busy. It was up to me.
Ready to run, I kicked the man’s leg. He didn’t move or make a sound. Oh, God, I’d killed him! I sunk to my knees in a slushy mess that soaked through my jeans. Freezing water bathed my skin, instantly making my teeth chatter. I shook uncontrollably as I searched his jacket pockets, stopping several times to blow across burning fingers that didn’t want to bend properly. Nothing. From behind me the shouting grew louder, punctuated by several screams. Frowning, I slid a finger into his jeans’ pocket.
A hand snatched my wrist, twisting hard. “Should’ve run while you had the chance, girl.”
Vibrations drove brutally into my wrist. Fire burned through my nerves. In the dark, my shocked mind supplied a circular saw severing flesh and bone. I writhed and screamed, clawing at his hand.
“So you want to play?” Thick fingers closed about my throat, jerking my head about like a bobble head doll. Pinpricks of light exploded behind my clenched eyes. Desperate for air, I kicked and thrashed wildly, my free hand prying at rock hard fingers.
A gale swooped around the pool house, tossing the bar aside as though it was nothing more than a piece of dollhouse furniture. My assailant dragged me to my feet. “Show yourself or I’ll snap the girl’s neck,” he shouted.
Instantly the gale stopped. “I am here,” a voice filled with menace answered.
“Show yourself!”
My legs swung in an arc. In spurts, I surfaced and remembered for half a strained breath to claw weakly. My air-starved, frightened mind converted my limp, swinging body into that of a woman I’d seen once in a circus, spinning from a rope high above the crowd. In my case, things took a nasty turn. The rope frayed and snapped. I screamed or at least I did in my head. Ground rushed up to meet me. Over the crowd’s horrified cries, I heard a sick gurgle followed by a pop.
Firm and yet, surprisingly giving, my landing wasn’t the bone shattering impact I expected. Cold air rushed into my bruised throat, filling my lungs and clearing my head. Muscular arms clamped hold, restraining my struggles against a hot, vibrating body.
“You’re safe. He won’t hurt you again,” Shadow reassured, his voice, like his body, quivering with anger.
“Key,” I shouted or tried to, but all that came out was a rasping whisper that made my throat ache.
“Don’t need one,” a glacial voice said close by.
Relief welled up. Shade would get the kids out. The heat pouring off Shadow beckoned. I buried my face against his shoulder and stuffed my icy fingers under his collar.
He jerked and drew a quick, startled breath. “Give a guy a warning. Jeez your hands are like ice.” He tipped my head back and said, his voice rough, “Did that SOB hurt you?”
A light shined onto my face. “Saving me twice is going to ruin your tough guy image.”
“Wasn’t me this time, although I did catch you. I suppose I get partial credit for the assist.” The flashlight was lowered; its light redirected. I tried to turn to see what was going on. Shadow’s arms tightened. “Don’t look,” he said kindly.
“The kids? The men?” I asked in an attractive croaking voice.
“The kids should be fine with some fresh air. Thankfully, it’s a big room; it would take a while to fill up with smoke and toxic fumes.” As though talking about it triggered the need, he turned his head and coughed.
“What was keeping the door from opening?” Trent asked over squealing girls spilling onto the deck.
“Ice made the doors stick,” Shade said, pointing his flashlight at the crowd of wet bodies covered in dripping towels. “Go around the other side and through the garage. Check in with Mason.”
“Everyone this way,” Trent shouted, holding his hand out for the flashlight.
During the exchange, the beam highlighted Shadow on his knees with me cradled in his arms. The dripping, freezing kids surged around the corner too cold and too frightened to notice or to wait for Trent to take the lead.
“What is going on here?” he demanded, taking a step towards us.
Shade blocked his path. “Get inside and tell your parents to meet us in your dad’s office. Have them tell the firemen the fire is still smoldering in the locker rooms. Call Olivia’s aunt.”
“But Olivia?”
“She saved your lives. She’ll be fine in a minute.”
Trent hesitated, but then the breeze picked up, carrying with it the sound of sirens blaring over the music. After a final worried look, he ran after our classmates.
Too bad I couldn’t deal with Shade until later, much later. From across the patio, his intense stare bore holes into my head. Conflict avoidance seemed like a wise choice for self-preservation, so I closed my eyes. In all honesty it did help with the spinning sensation I was still experiencing. Unfortunately, my calm moment lasted all of a couple of seconds. My Shade radar flared to life.
“Can I move to the tropics?” I croaked out when his very hot hands clasped my cheeks.
“Try not to talk until Dr. Long checks you out,” he ordered, his tone all business. Gentle fingers explored my throat. “Shad, the light. Olivia, open your eyes.”
“I’m fine,” I replied, doing as he ordered to avoid an eruption of his temper.
He studied my pupils, his hard expression never changing. Next, his fingers moved on to explore the latest lump on my temple. I winced. That was all it took to set him off.
“What were you thinking? I told you to wait. When I give you an order, I expect you to obey. That’s the only way this is going to work. If I can’t trust you, you’ll never leave home again. Of all the idiotic, lamebrain ideas, taking on a Whisperer on your own is pure suicide,” he shouted, his fury unleashing rolling seas that churned icebergs into crushed ice.
“I was trying to get the door open, so the kids could escape,” I retorted, wishing
Shadow would let me stand. At least that way when I spoke, I wouldn’t look like a victim, again.
“I told you not to talk.”
“Then stop asking me questions,” I yelled back, my eyes scrunching as the effort to talk scraped my raw throat.
“She’s got you there, brother,” Shadow said.
Shade uttered a guttural roar. His palms slapped the air, slamming the patio doors closed. In a cold voice he retorted, “Since when do you take Olivia’s side or mine?”
In a smooth motion, Shadow was on his feet, standing sideways to his brother with me positioned out of the line of fire. I expected anger, but his tone was even and his words were accompanied by a low humming sound. “You don’t want to do this now. We’re all on edge. Olivia’s cold. We should get her inside before folks spill out here,” he said, pointing to the figures pulling open the curtains for the upstairs windows, so more light would spill onto the patio and the body.
“Don’t use your talent on me,” Shade snapped.
“Then don’t need it.”
“Who . . .” I had to try a second time to get the question out. “Who did this? Don’t say leave it to the council. Was it—”
“Purist,” Shade said with such venom that it sounded like he was swearing. “I recognized the man from bureau briefings.”
Looking was a bad idea, but I couldn’t help myself. My shocked cry came out like a strangled gargle. Shadow dashed across the patio and up the first flight of steps. Kind though it was, his gesture was too late to shield me from the ugliness that was my life. I’d seen the pool of blood from the man dangling upside down from the bar with his head twisted completely around until it hung crookedly off his broken neck. I shuddered, replaying the eagerness in his voice as he’d plotted murder. Tonight the purist had revealed how far they were willing to go, and Shade had responded. I couldn’t see how it was possible to avoid a war.
“Is it their goal to kill all the humans, to wipe all trace of us and what we’ve stood for from this valley? It’s too horrible too contemplate, but we must or at least I must. That will be my job when I become the warden,” I said, my voice thin and shrill even with my injured throat.
