“Sean?” her voice echoed through the stillness, startling even her. But Magnus was no longer there. He had vanished again, as before.
Cora opened her eyes, she was still in the bed, and Sean still in his chair asleep. Light poured in through the window as morning approached. She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. It had just been a dream. She lay back down on the pillow and watched Sean as he slept. As she listened to him breathe, she searched her heart for some amount of trust to give him. Without warning he opened his eyes and caught her gaze. Cora rolled away embarrassed. She noticed the time on the clock; checkout time was in fifteen minutes. They had slept all night and most of the early morning. Magnus’s warning echoed in her thoughts. “You must keep moving.” Her life was in danger, which was a fact that she could not change at the moment. She knew herself that it was only a matter of time before Sean’s father would find her, if it was not today or tomorrow, then soon. She really had no other choice than to lay her trust in Sean, she must. It was hard to trust anyone, even Sean, who had saved her life. She had closed her heart off to anyone for a long time, because letting anyone in was just too painful. But with Sean it was different. Every time she looked at him, she felt as if her heart ached to trust him.
Sean rose from the chair, muscles aching. Cora turned and perched herself on the edge of the bed. Sometime in the night, Sean had removed his shirt exposing a bare well-toned and strong chest. She had thoughts running through her mind that she shook her head to rid herself of. “We need to get going. Checkout time is in ten minutes.”
Sean glanced over at the clock, a bright digital light displaying the time. “Is it really that late?”
She could hear his voice in her mind; she hoped that he could not read the thoughts in hers. She turned away as he donned his shirt and put it on. He glanced over at her to see her back faced towards him, he smiled.
Cora shrugged her shoulders. “I guess we were both more tired than we thought.” she paused. “But I don’t think we should stay here again tonight. We need to keep moving.”
“I agree. Staying in one place too long could give my father a better chance of finding you.”
Cora turned, her eyes twinkling. “So you will help me then?”
“Of course I will help you. My father has already hurt enough people.”
She thought of Magnus, and the words he had told her. “Trust yourself, and most importantly, trust Sean.”
As they got their things together and headed out the door, Cora glanced over at Sean. “Trust him,” she thought.
It seemed as though they had walked a long time. Sean had remained silent through most of the journey. Cora decided that she had taken enough of this silence, and even a conversation of the mind was better than nothing. “Do you have any idea of where we are going?”
Sean rolled his eyes. “We need to get away from here.”
“Yes, I know that, but where?”
He let out a deep sigh. For a long moment, she heard nothing from him. Then as clear and loud, his voice came through her mind. “Some place that is far away from here, I don’t know where, just anywhere but here. Do you always ask this many questions?”
“Well, yes. When my life is in danger it’s nice to know what the plan is. It’s not like you’re the one he is after.”
Sean stopped walking and looked her straight in the eye. “You know, you should really learn to trust my judgment and stop questioning everything I do. If you want me to help you, then you’re going to have to learn to trust me.”
There was that trust thing again. “I’m doing my best you know.”
“Well your best isn’t good enough. I need your full trust.”
She threw up her hands in frustration. “Ok, but I have to be involved. You have to let me in on what you’re thinking, planning. Can you do that?”
Sean was silent as he gave her a look and walked away. A moment later when Cora was trailing close behind, she heard her answer, “When you can learn to trust me, yes.”
They came to a town, small and quaint with only a few homes and businesses. Cora watched as Sean walked towards a small bank that held an ATM in its lobby. She almost gasped when she saw him take out a card and withdraw a large amount of money. Next, he led her to a train station where Sean paid for two tickets. The train ride would be a welcome relief to Cora as her legs ached from the non-stop walking most of the day.
Cora boarded the train and looked around. The train was sleek and modern, with wide walkways that took them to a car of their own. Cora took a seat next to a window as she watched a downtown section of a city whisk by. Tall sleek modern buildings were nestled among streets and walkways. Cora realized this was the first time she had ever been away from home. Everything should have been exciting and new to her, if only it had been under different circumstances. She looked over at Sean who had taken a seat across from her. His head was laid back, his eyes long closed. This was going to be a quiet trip, she thought. Turning back towards the window, Cora laid her head back against the seat and watched everything go by.
The country now came into view as trees sprouted abundantly. The sun was just starting to set as it gave a soft purple glow to the sky. Sleep soon found its way to her as she closed her eyes and drifted off. And she hoped that it would be a dreamless one.
CHAPTER SIX
A JOURNEY OF THE HEART
Sean awoke to the soft snores of Cora. He would not awake her as he knew she needed her rest. Mortals bodies tended to wear down faster than a Mer’s. Their bodies were just not made for the same exertion as his was. It was hard enough to know when the next time would come when they would both be able to enjoy a good night’s rest. Sitting back in his seat, Sean wondered how much Cora really knew about his father. One thing was certain in all of this; Cora had landed herself into a huge mess. Sean wanted to know why, why would his father come after her? These were answers that he needed if he was going to continue protecting her, answers to help him understand what his father was up to. He could question her, maybe even look into her thoughts for those answers. But he did not like the idea of intruding into one’s mind against their will. To him, the act seemed to be wicked and unnatural to say the least.
The question still nagged at him, why her, why his father, and for what purpose? Sean had heard rumors and stories of his father’s dark and sinister deeds, but the acts were usually not against mortals. The urgency he had felt on the beach that day when his father had come after Cora was different. And if his father wanted Cora, that was in no way good for her. He was aware of what his father was capable of, he would harm her, if not kill her. It was all too much to take in. Sean stopped himself from thinking about it, startled by all of the thoughts. So he decided instead to think about who his father once was.
The memories were still too painful to think about. They left him raw and burning for what once was. If only his father had not given up and turned to the dark like he had. His father used to be a warrior who fought hard, fought to save a life instead of taking one. But that was then, and now his father was just something evil, dark and monstrous.
There was also another thing that bothered Sean, the ring that Cora wore. He knew from the moment he saw it that there was a sense of familiarity to it. Now above all, he wished he had paid more attention to his father’s teachings of the ancient legends and lore of the old ways. He was almost positive that the ring was somehow connected to his peoples past. Sean fought down the bitter taste of regret, the regret of not being able to do more to help his father. But as much pain that was in his past, he did not regret helping Cora. Protecting Cora felt right, the first right thing in a very long time. There could never be any regret for that. No matter what happened, at least he could rest assure that he might be able to keep Cora safe.
It was not her fault for what was happening. She was innocent and beautiful. It wasn’t as though Sean hadn’t noticed. He had not forgotten what beauty was, it’s just that he had not seen it in something so innocent in a very long time.
But now, in the clear and bright light of day, her vitality and glow almost blinded him. He watched her as she stirred from where she was, her eyes slowly opening, and for a moment he stopped breathing. She turned to look at him, and he could feel his heart race. To him she was temptation and heaven, but also the taboo of a forbidden fruit. There was danger in his kind mixing with her kind. There was a reason why their two worlds did not coexist. But whenever she looked at him, he felt a sense of completeness, as his world seemed to merge with hers.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked as she stared back at him with a questioning look.
Sean already knew why, but it was not something that he would say to her. He felt about as nervous as a young mer. He couldn’t meet her eyes; he averted them towards the window. Light was just starting to show on the horizon, “Dawn is coming.” Changing the subject would be good. “The train will be pulling into the depot soon. I think it would be better to move on foot from here on out.” He caught the look on her face, “At least for a time.”
“Thank goodness for that, I don’t think my legs could walk as much as yours. It’s funny how you never seem to get tired.”
“I’m a mer, our stamina and energy is much different than yours.” He became silent for a moment. “I was thinking that my father seems to become stronger at night. We may want to start sleeping in the day and travel at night. It might give us a better chance of moving further away from him.”
Cora stretched out her arms and yawned. “As long as we get to sleep, I have no problem with that.” she smiled, “That was my first step in trusting your judgment.”
“I suppose it was.”
When the train pulled up to the station, they both exited, finding their way into the town. What they found was a small patchwork of homes dotted with age and wear. There did not seem to be anything remotely dangerous or suspicious, just a few homeless dogs searching through discarded trash that lay about. “I believe it to be safe enough; we’ll be getting off here. We can find someplace safe where we can gather some rations together before we head out again.”
They began to walk, searching the small town for a store that held the supplies that they would need.
“Why do you care, why did you decide to help me?”
The question caught him off guard for a moment. “I already told you why, my father has hurt enough people.”
Cora turned away and walked faster ahead of him. “Fine, don’t tell me then.”
Sean stood there watching after her with a bewildered look on his face. He would never understand women. Cora was stubborn; she could be a little spitfire when she wanted to, with the heart of a warrior. She reminded him of the old tales his father would tell him as a young mer, the ancient worlds of legends and prophecy. But those times had been long lost with most of the stories. Out of the corner of his eye, Sean spotted what appeared to be a store. Making a low pitched whistling sound; he gestured to Cora and waved her over. Whistling was about the only human sound he could mimic, but when need be, it came in handy.
He could tell by her actions that Cora was still upset. She gave him a look that was both hot and bitter, but she still followed. Entering the store, a woman of about forty, plump and grumpy sat behind the counter eyeing them both suspiciously, a bit too wearily for Sean’s likes. Going up and down each isle collecting what they could, they approached the counter with the woman still behind it. The same suspicious look still remained for whatever reason; she didn’t like Cora or Sean. She began ringing up the items. “This is a quiet town, and we would like to keep it that way. If you have any intentions of staying, I would advise against it. We don’t welcome drifters to these parts.”
Cora could see the anger forming across Sean’s face. Before he could protest, Cora decided maybe this was something she should handle. “We’re not staying, just passing through.”
The woman remained silent, but the smug look never faded from her features.
Outside it was just beginning to rain. “Well that was fun.” Cora raised her hand above her eyes to shield them from the droplets.
Sean turned his face upwards towards the sky. “Some people are just like that woman in there, they don’t trust anymore. It hardens the heart and soul.”
Cora turned giving him a dirty look. “I’m sure you’re not talking about me.”
“What’s that old saying that your people have, Cora? If the shoe fits?”
Angry, Cora could not think, she could not speak. All she could do was stare, with that one single word echoing through her mind, trust. She was not as bad as what Sean had made her out to be. She was nothing like that woman in the store. It felt impossible. Was it impossible? Why was it so hard? Why couldn’t she bring herself to trust? It was hard because she would have to allow someone to get close. The possibility of getting hurt was at the forefront of her mind, a pain that she feared most. And for the first time in a very long time, she wanted to let someone in. Sean.
Again, Magnus’s words returned to Cora, with the one word alone, trust; a word like a warning to her. Always she had lived by instinct, an instinct to trust no one, but herself. Now everything had changed. She had learned to live alone in this world, her world, one that she did not dare to open to anyone. The words rang through her with a hard reminder, “Trust him.” Raw emotion and pain tore at her, pushing her to let go of the past and embrace the future. “Trust,” the word echoed through her, and she knew it was true. Not impossible, but true.
“Sean, please look at me.” She could sense the moment he entered her mind.
“I don’t know how to show you that you can trust me.”
Cora could feel the tears forming in her eyes. “I do trust you, I do.”
Sean turned to face her, his wet blonde hair curling around his face, his eyes gleaming with a familiar sparkle of the sea. He walked over to her, and for the first time Sean was able to see a glimmer of what he had longed for, Cora’s trust in him, utterly in a gift freely given, tender and fragile. Trust.
She tried to turn away, but he was there in an instant. His eyes unbearably looked straight into hers. He did not touch the essence of her, but he was there with her, close and within the center of her mind. Cora did not divert her eyes away, but instead walked over and took his hand in hers. “Can you feel it? Can you feel the trust that I give to you?”
He tried to pull away from her but she wouldn’t let him. Sean swallowed hard still trying to pull away, and still she refused to let go. “Talk to me,” she urged. “Say something, anything.” She sensed him within her mind, his voice as nervous and fleeting as his bodies actions suggested.
“What am I supposed to say?” he replied softly. “That I don’t know if you really mean what you say? That I don’t know if I can even trust myself anymore?”
“Can you trust me?”
“Can I? Can you trust me? Trust is so sacred, once lost, is very hard to get back.” He looked into hers eyes with a gaze both hard and serious. “I don’t want your words unless you truly mean them, Cora. If you could give me that one gift of trust…” he could not finish the words.
He tried to let go of her hand, but still Cora held on. She knew how serious this was. She could feel her heart finally open, allowing herself to trust. There was something in her that recognized this important and special moment. This was something she wanted more than anything she had ever wanted before.
“Even if things get hard, even if… it breaks your heart?” those last words he had spoken surprised even Sean.
Cora looked into his eyes and found them beginning to glisten over, his last words lingering in her thoughts, her heart. She was feeling something so strong, it was overwhelming. It touched the very essence of her soul. Trust, what a concept, it was never something that had been easy for her.
He leaned in close to her, close enough to feel the warmth of his body flow over hers. She could smell the sea on him. Her lips parting only slightly close to his. “I can’t explain what I am feeling, but I know
it’s as real as the air I breathe.” her voice was low and husky.
Sean’s eyes still met hers, “It’s the same as I feel, Cora. There is something so powerful between us, almost bonding. It connects us to each other, sings the ancient melodies of the heart and soul.”
“I don’t feel quite like myself, almost like something in me that has lain hidden has suddenly awakened.” Cora felt as if she could lose herself in Sean forever. She looked deep into his eyes, yes; she could definitely lose herself in them. What was she feeling? Was it confusion, desire, fear, or something more? No, it was deeper, much deeper, as if the life she once knew was now gone to her, in its place, leaving her changed forever.
Slowly, he brought his lips down to hers, kissing her softly. She closed her eyes savoring this one moment. He pulled back just as slow, gazing at her with those deep sea blue eyes. Pulling her close, he held her in a soft and gentle embrace. “Please let this last forever,” he murmured softly. “I don’t ever want to let you go.”
Bringing her hand up to touch the lips that had kissed her only a moment ago, “Then let us make it last for a lifetime.”
Sean grasped her, pulling her harder against him, finding her lips once more. “I entrust you with my heart.”
…
Over the years, Cora had lost count of the numerous family members she had been handed off to. As a child, she had lost both of her parents, each only a month apart. And so began a numerous number of homes and families she had been sent to. After several families not wanting her, she had lost her trust and closed herself off from the world around her.
Cora had been too afraid to think that a future in which she felt wanted was something she could have. But now, Sean was changing all of that, allowing her to see the world in a new light.
…
The sun was only starting to set as the two walked hand in hand. Sean suddenly stopped in the middle of the dirt path and watched the side of a stand of trees not far from where they stood. Cora became tense as she saw the stress on Sean’s face. “He found us.”
Blue Moon: The Ring of Mer (Seer's Of The Moon) Page 5
