Lonely Souls

by Karice Bolton

  “I’m not making any promises,” I said, enjoying the last couple of seconds of being held by him.

  “That’s my Triss.” His gaze was intense as he let me go.

  I think he thoroughly enjoyed having this effect on me and knew nine times out of ten it would work on me.

  “Okay, so I’ll show you what I came up with, and I’m not holding you to it, but I think you’ll be kind of impressed.” His boyish grin returned that made my insides tense and twirl with desire.

  “Have at it,” I said, smiling.

  He opened the box back up and grabbed the black snake, which was not doing wonders for my well-being. He started bending down like he was going to put it on the ground.

  “Whoa! What are you doing?” I yelped.

  He stood back up, holding the squirming reptile, and tweaked his head at me.

  “I have to put it on the ground before I can cast my spell,” his lips tugged into that smile once more.

  “It could come slither toward me before you manage. I don’t think this is gonna work,” I tried again.

  “Listen, give it a chance. It’s pretty cool.”

  “Fine,” I nodded my head, and I took about eight steps back.

  He placed the snake on the ground, and like I predicted, it began gliding across the weeds.

  “Mutare serpens ad auxilium sagittariis,” Logan commanded.

  The snake flew into the air, twisting and spiraling, resembling nothing of its prior form, hardening into its final crescent shape that Logan quickly grabbed out of the air before it fell to the ground.

  I was stunned. He had turned a snake into a bow like it was nothing. I ran over to the bow that he was holding, admiring his handiwork. The only reminder that this had once been a living creature was the snake’s head at the tip of the bow.

  “There’s even a bowstring,” I uttered, touching the bow, gliding my fingers along the recurve in complete amazement. “Are there arrows?”

  “An unlimited supply,” he said, beaming.

  “How does that work?” I eyed him suspiciously.

  “Every time your fingers or mine draw the bow back, an arrow will appear. No need to carry them around in a quiver.” His happiness couldn’t be hidden with this invention. “I knew how much you loved archery when you were younger.”

  “I’m stunned that you could come up with something like this,” I uttered.

  “I studied my craft hard, Triss.” His eyes darkened. “I also made it so that you can command the arrowheads to have different points; flames if you need, or even electricity once the arrow hits the intended target.”

  Oh, no. Was this part of black sorcery? Amazing or not, I wouldn’t be able to use this weapon.

  “You’ve got that look again,” I gently prodded. “What are you thinking?”

  “Doesn’t matter,” he mumbled. “Here, take hold of this.”

  “It matters to me. Remember the walls I’m fighting to take down? You promised you’d do the same,” I said staring at him. The creepy vibe came over me as I thought about this being a snake only moments earlier as I began to grab it.

  “It’s tough knowing that the skills I learned when practicing under your father and all of the studying I did seems to have a use, yet I don’t want them to. I want to believe that no good can come from that side of things, but it’s proven to be handy lately,” his voice low.

  “Is this part of black magic?” My voice was trembling, as I shook the bow at him.

  “No,” he nodded quickly. “It’s not, but—”

  “Your discipline is what’s protected me, protected us. It’s not the black magic.” I touched his arm. “I believe you when you tell me that you left the dark arts for me, and I know you won’t let me down.”

  “Thanks, Triss,” he replied, his gaze intense.

  “Well, you’re the one who brainwashed me, so you better not let me down,” I smirked.

  “Nice,” he replied flatly. “Aren’t you sorry you asked?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Now let’s watch you take a shot. I’ve got a target set up over there,” he said, pointing next to the towering cedar tree. Sure enough, a huge sheet of white paper with a hand drawn black target marking the spot to aim at was hung up. He had a mound of dirt behind the target to catch the arrows, not that it sounded like we needed to retrieve them, but it was a good safety feature. Leave it to Logan to be so thorough.

  “I’ve got to tell you that after this little trick and training session you whipped up, my healing spells look quite tame,” I sighed, shaking my head.

  “But necessary,” he affirmed, gently touching my waist, making me feel like my knowledge was just as valuable as his.

  “This thing can’t turn back to the snake, can it?” I questioned.

  “Not until you say the magical words, which I haven’t told you yet,” the light returning back to his eyes, “so you’re safe.”

  I let my fingers glide around the handle of the recurve, noticing the smoothness as I secured my grip. I took a deep breath in, letting the oxygen settle in every part of me. I wanted to show him what I was made of and needed to steady my breathing to ensure a bulls-eye off this shot.

  “Thanks for this,” I murmured before letting my first three fingers curl around the string. And as promised, a silver arrow appeared with the knock of the arrow pinching the bowstring in between my index and middle finger. I was locked and loaded. The feeling of power that holding this weapon produced inside me was exhilarating. Raising the bow up to my intended target, I let my fingers draw the bow back into a full draw, feeling all of my muscles flex in my shoulders, arm, and chest. Looking down the shaft of the arrow, I focused on the large center dot that Logan had encircled for me and released the string from my fingertips, keeping my form as the arrow was shot through the air with lightning speed, finding its home in the middle of the bulls-eye.

  “Nice one,” Logan said in complete wonderment.

  “Probably should stick with this rather than with martial arts,” I said, grinning.

  “You didn’t lose your skill since the last time we shot together,” he said, shaking his head with arms folded crosswise in front of him.

  “When your first bow is placed in your hands at the age of six, it tends to stick with you,” I said, grinning. “This shoots really nicely.”

  “I think it has more to do with the person behind the bow than the bow itself, but I’m glad you feel comfortable with it,” he said, his eyes glimmering.

  “As long as the thing doesn’t slither away when I’m not expecting it, I think I’ll be fine. I’m glad you convinced me to give it a chance. About those flame tips?” I pressed, completely in my realm.

  “Maybe you’re not just a healer, Triss,” he said, his voice low and dark, and I knew his words were coming from a place beyond today’s target practice.

  “Only time will tell,” I mused.

  “Or circumstance,” he uttered.

  “That too,” I agreed.

  “To cause flaming tips,” he began, “say ‘Fragor Sagitta’ when you release the bowstring. While the arrow is traveling the flame will build until it hits the intended target.”

  Logan was sitting under the tree watching me take shot after shot, and I enjoyed the attention that he was giving me. His eyes seemed to eat hungrily every movement I made, and he was so enthralled with me that I didn’t want to disappoint, but my muscles were starting to feel a little fatigued after the many arrows I had released into the target.

  “I think it’s time to make this thing slither again,” I said reluctantly.

  He jumped up from where he was sitting and came over to me, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the cardboard box.

  “So I wanted you to become attached to this whole process before I told you everything,” he said coyly.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, perplexed.

  “This snake is your snake,” he confessed. “It’s charmed to stay with you.”

  “St
ay with me?” I argued. “I don’t think so.”

  “It will always be a distance from you but close enough if you need it,” he assured me.

  I knew he was right. What was the point of having a snake that could be turned into a weapon if I had to go find it or let it out of an aquarium tank? And maybe it wasn’t so bad.

  “It’s gonna be in the house?” I asked with a shudder.

  “No. It’ll be close enough to reach you in times of trouble, but it won’t be in the house,” his smile wide.

  “Intentum forma,” he chanted, and the bow lost its stiffness and turned into a wriggling snake once more as he placed it in the box.

  “Won’t it just follow me? Do we need to keep it in the box?” I asked, already starting to warm up to the thing.

  If it was able to slither around on its own accord, I wouldn’t have to worry about feeding it. Maybe it wasn’t so bad.

  “I think it’s been through enough. I thought we’d be kind to it and walk it back to the house to release,” he smirked. “It’s growing on you isn’t it?”

  “Yes, and that’s not the only thing,” I shot back, giggling.

  “That’s what I’m hoping,” his eyes wicked with desire. “Weren’t there a few things you wanted to show me?”

  I looked over to the fleece blanket where I’d placed my tinctures and oils and flushed. Guess it was my turn. He walked over to me, sliding his hand into mine pulling me over to the blanket.

  The chill in the air was growing, and I figured a rainstorm was on its way in the next day or so. I wondered if Trevor was still scouting around for me, and I wondered if Jenny or Angela knew about it. I stopped to watch the breeze control the flowers, trees, and birds. They all had a certain dip and sway with the motions of the wind that helped them stay securely planted or soar higher because of the push. It was an odd thing to be able to tap into that same energy whether it was mastering weaponry or healing, and I thought about how different the world would be if everyone would pause their busy lives long enough to learn how to engage the energy around them for a greater purpose.

  “If the human race allowed themselves to explore their strengths, rather than point out the weaknesses of others, we would be a lot farther ahead, wouldn’t we?” I asked.

  “Wow, Triss. Where’d that come from?” Logan asked, turning toward me, bringing me closer.

  I shrugged looking up at him, feeling his gaze intensify.

  “I was just thinking back to what that guy Don said at my mom’s memorial service. He was so quick to dissect how I was handling things,” I muttered. “If he had concentrated on himself and making the world a better place—” I stopped myself, my breath catching.

  “Well, we don’t have to worry about what he thinks anymore.” Logan’s voice was sullen, his gaze somber remembering back to our night at the covenstead.

  “That’s what I mean. He forced an outcome for himself that neither of us would have wanted,” I said, my voice breaking.

  “I wondered when that night would hit you,” he said, his voice soft and speculative.

  “I guess I’m just a walking rollercoaster of emotions,” I retorted. “It wears me out.” I huffed, as he grabbed my waist, pulling me into his arms.

  “How are you doing with it?” I murmured, nestling into his chest, wrapping my arms around him.

  “It’s been tough. I’ve tried to put it out of mind, but it forces its way right back in.”

  “Do you still believe it was the only way?” I asked softly.

  “I do, but I hope that’s as bad as it gets,” he whispered into my hair.

  “You don’t believe it will be though do you?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “I don’t either,” I sighed. “I think it’s going to get a lot worse.”

  “How about we go back inside and take a rain check? I think we’ve covered enough ground so far today,” he suggested.

  “My father’s in Saranac Lake, isn’t he?” I asked, startling Logan. “He probably sent Trevor.”

  “We don’t know that for sure,” he finally said.

  “He’s got my mother too, doesn’t he?”

  “Triss, we don’t know that for sure,” his voice adamant.

  “I wish there was a way to know for sure.”

  And he was silent, holding me close while I listened to the beat of his heart quicken telling me exactly what I needed to know.

  Chapter 24

  “Remember when we used to play up in the attic and how freaked out we used to get?” Logan laughed, circling his finger on the table, looking up at me with that smile that was impossible to ignore. I was thankful for this friendship that spanned the ages.

  “Yeah, I do! It didn’t help that you’d hide behind things and jump out me.”

  “And you always ran right into my arms screaming and hitting me,” he smirked.

  “You certainly were calculating even at a young age.” I smiled.

  “I knew what I wanted and had to get my fix somehow,” he said with a sardonic laugh, pleasing me greatly.

  “I haven’t been in the attic since we were both up there like in sixth grade or who knows when,” I said.

  “Do we dare go up there, for old times’ sake?” he asked bemused. “See if it’s really as scary as we thought?”

  “Yeah, let’s do it!” I jumped up, pulling him from the kitchen chair. “You just have to promise not to let go of my hand! No matter what!”

  “You’ve got my word.” His deep blue eyes caught mine, and the flutter returned. We both grabbed a lantern and ran down the hall, stopping at the closet door. I grabbed the handle and pulled it toward me, releasing a loud creaking sound.

  “Guess nobody’s opened this for a while,” I laughed, swiping at the plume of dust that escaped, trying not to cough.

  Logan reached up and pulled the chain down from the ceiling, bringing the peculiar wooden staircase down. It was very narrow, and the opening into the attic was even smaller than I remembered.

  “Oh, my gosh. Remember, we used to climb on the shelves to reach that chain? I guess you’ve grown up a bit,” I joked.

  “The shelves would probably break,” he said smiling.

  “Off your weight, not mine,” I smiled.

  “You want to go first or do you want me to?” he asked.

  “I’ll go.”

  I climbed up the first two stairs, and the nervousness began passing through me. Logan tapped my leg. I was actually at his height now on the step.

  “What’s up?” I asked, turning around.

  “I think I should go first after all,” he whispered, climbing onto the ladder next to me. Before I could move up or down to let him by, he gently touched my chin, bringing my lips up to his. “Now close your eyes.”

  His lips met mine, and the familiar energy began racing between our bodies. I couldn’t continue to fight my feelings for Logan much longer. I remembered back to the very first time I’d been kissed. It was right on these very stairs by Logan, and I thought it was the best day ever. Now we were older and his lips were searching mine for a meaning that was so much deeper, and I knew I might not be able to turn back. With every kiss I returned, I felt his embrace tightening around me, and my fear diminishing. His fingers began running up my spine, the thin camisole not creating much of a barrier at all, as I felt his lips press harder against mine, sending my emotions into another world.

  He slowly let his hands fall from my waist, his lips breaking from mine leaving a smoldering mess deep inside of me to deal with.

  “Don’t stop,” I pleaded, looking into his deep blue eyes.

  His lips tugged upright slightly as he realized the effect he had on me; I let my body lean on him a little more. His eyes were blazing with an intensity I wanted to tap into, but it seemed he was uncertain.

  He leaned down, kissing my hair, moving it back off my shoulders slowly with his hands, tickling my skin as he went. I began squirming on the ladder, and he steadied me with one glance.

&
nbsp; “Be still,” he murmured. “I can’t have you falling off the ladder.”

  I giggled a little and tried to detach my gaze from his, but I couldn’t. His eyes were mesmerizing and the longer he held my gaze, the weaker I became.

  Trailing my neck with his finger, he leaned back down tracing the path with his lips, sending a divine amount of bliss through me while he worked his way back up to my lips.

  “Surely, you’ve done that before,” I replied, breathless.

  “Only in my dreams,” he whispered, wearing a shy smile, “with you.”

  And he began kissing me once more, producing a quiver that ran down my spine thinking of everything that statement implied. With everything that I had been going through, hearing those words created an overwhelming amount of emotions that crashed down on my soul. I could feel the tears begin to develop, but they weren’t tears of sadness. I was beginning to surrender my heart to his, and I didn’t want anything to get in the way.

  The softness of his lips left mine and I wanted so much more. I wasn’t ready for it to end, but he wasn’t coming back for more. I slowly opened my eyes to see him watching me, gauging my reaction.

  “I’m sorry, Triss. I know you’re not ready, but having you so close is harder than I thought,” he confessed, biting his lip, looking at me with his deep blue eyes that always caused me such confusion.

  “Don’t be sorry. I liked it,” I murmured. His lips were so soft, and the connection between us meant something. I wasn’t ready for it to be over. I needed the comfort his embrace provided. His arms were still wrapped around my waist as I leaned against the stairs, and I hoped I wasn’t about to do something I would regret.

  “Now close your eyes,” I whispered.

  His lips twitched upright into a brief smile as his eyes closed, following my command, and before I knew it, his hands moved quickly up my spine reaching my neck, bringing my lips to his once more. The desire that was stirring inside of me was unquenchable, but there was nothing I could do about it. It wasn’t time for our worlds to be connected, no matter the frenzy that was building inside. The tenderness of his lips stopped their journey, and his hands slid back down to my waist as he sensed my reluctance.