by Sky Winters
Xander pulled away abruptly. “Let’s go to the clearing,” he said, and Savannah nodded in response, noticing the urgency in his tone.
They took Xander’s motorbike to the path that led up to the clearing, Xander holding Savannah’s hand as they manoeuvred their way up the steep hills, past the trees, past the little signs of life, past the noise, and to the furthest tip of the mountain.
By the time they'd reached flat ground again, Savannah was a little tired, but enthusiastic. The light was beginning to fade and she knew they had made it just in time for the sunset. Savannah and Xander walked into the clearing, bright with sun-painted color, with clouds in hues of lavender, gold, and rose.
Savannah took a breah. “Wow!”
They moved to the bank of the lake where Savannah saw every color imaginable reflected there. It was like the water had been transformed into a cesspool of color that made her want to jump in, and find every secret each of those colors contained.
“This is amazing.” Savannah said.
The water winked cheekily at her and the wind made shallow ripples in its glass-like surface, so that one color moved into the others to create a unique spectrum. There was a glow about the lake, some kind of muted magic that Savannah sensed, as though from a great distance.
“The water,” she whispered.
“What about it?” Xander asked.
“It feels as though it’s talking to me.”
Xander smiled. “The lake is sacred,” he said. “We believe it contains magical powers.”
“What kind of powers?”
“Healing powers, strengthening powers, and cleansing powers. That’s what the legends say, though…I don’t know if it’s actually true.”
“You’ve never tested the legend?” Savannah asked.
“I’ve never needed to, I hope I never do.”
Savannah looked back at the little crystals that seemed embedded in the lake. “I think it's true,” she said with conviction.
“Can you feel it?” Xander asked glancing at her.
“A little,” Savannah replied. “But I don’t know if that's what I’m sensing, or if my mind's just working overtime.”
Xander laughed. “You want to go in?”
Savannah looked toward Xander in surprise. “Now?” she asked.
“Why not?” he asked with a shrug and a slow smile.
It was like that first day they'd spent together, with only a few minor changes. Back then Savannah had been a stranger to him, with only the strange and inexplicable bond in common, that neither one could understand. He had trusted her enough to bring her to this perfect place and they had swum together in the lake’s clear waters and kissed under the sun’s golden rays.
“Okay,” Savannah said, and Xander came forward.
He undressed her slowly and tenderly, as though he were scared she would break. His eyes combed over every inch of her and Savannah felt her blood rise in response. She reached out instinctively and pulled Xander’s shirt off of him. When they were both standing naked in front of each other, Xander took Savannah’s hand and they walked into the lake together.
Savannah had expected the water to be cold and sharp, but despite the sun’s failing rays, the water was warm and soft. It rushed at her from all sides and draped itself around her like a caress. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Savannah felt the stress that had been gripping her for the last few days slip away. She turned into Xander and kissed him passionately, thrilled to find her mind released of worry, no matter how short the reprieve would be.
“This feels amazing,” Savannah whispered, her lips pressed against Xander’s neck.
She clung to him as Xander’s hands wrapped around her, and they turned together in the melding mists of color. There was a slight chill of magic in the air, surrounding both of them, tickling their skin lovingly.
They kissed in the water, long and slow, and then they moved out onto the bank, unwilling to put their clothes on just yet. Xander pushed Savannah back onto the soft grass gently and then he moved on top of her. The chill clinging to her body died instantly as Xander’s body came over hers, his skin filling her with new heat.
They kissed under the fading light of day and as Xander entered her gently, Savannah looked up at the bright stars twinkling in the faded midnight-blue sky. There were still edges of color clinging stubbornly to the clouds, but a few rabid rays of moonlight were quickly extinguishing them.
Afterwards, Xander rested his head against Savannah’s chest and they lay entwined and completely content in the comfortable silence.
“I wish it could always be like this,” Savannah said quietly.
“It will be,” Xander assured her, and he kissed her breasts. “Once this is all over, all we’ll have left to do is swim, eat, and make love under the sky.”
“That sounds perfect.” Savannah sighed. “But what about the pack?”
She felt Xander tense instantly. “I thought we agreed not to talk about the pack today.”
“You’re right,” Savannah said slowly. “Forget the question.”
Xander propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down at Savannah as his fingers traced the contours of her face. Every so often he would bend down and place a kiss on her cheek, brow, or forehead. They lay there until they were both completely dry, and then they dressed slowly, as though they had all the time in the world and no place to go.
Savannah had just put on her shirt when a flash of light coursed through her field of vision, and she knew a vision was imminent.
“Savannah?” Xander’s voice sounded worried.
Savannah ripped her hearing aid off quickly, and closed her eyes. “Something is coming,” she said, concentrating on the wave that was about to hit.
Savannah gasped when the vision finally came over her, the clearest one she'd ever had. She froze into place, willing herself to ignore everything else and pay attention. She was only mildly aware that Xander was standing next to her, but the moment the next flash of light came, she forgot where she was and whom she was with.
She saw herself standing in the clearing close to the lake, but the lake was cast in bright sunshine. Savannah could tell the sun she was seeing in her vision was a few days older than the one that had just set. Then she saw Marissa. Her face was contorted in a scowl, and her eyes were ablaze with fury. She was running towards Savannah, a stick in her hand raised in attack.
Savannah watched in shock as Marissa ran toward her, double-time, and plunged a fiery blue dagger straight into Savannah’s heart.
“Savannah?”
Savannah shook herself out of the last remnants of her vision. Even though she was currently herself gazing into Xander’s sad, grey eyes, she could still see Marissa’s fierce beauty as she ran ahead.
“What did you see?” Xander said.
Savannah read the words on his lips. Even though she couldn’t hear him, she could sense the concern that was virtually dripping from his aura.
“I saw what I always suspected would happen,” Savannah said at last.
“What did you see?” Xander said. Savannah slipped her hearing aid back in.
“I saw my future,” Savannah said, “clear as day.”
Xander fell silent and waited for her to continue.
“I saw my death,” Savannah went on slowly. She glanced at Xander’s eyes, willing him to believe her, fearing that he wouldn’t. “I saw Marissa plunging a knife into my heart.”
Chapter Eight
“What?” Xander said blinking at her in shock.
“Marissa,” Savannah said, her voice colored with anger and bitterness. “I saw her run toward me with a dagger in hand…she plunged it into my heart!”
Xander stood before her as though he were carved in stone. His eyes turbulent and filled with disbelief. “Say something.” Savannah begged. “Say something.”
Xander looked her head on, and Savannah knew he was choosing his words carefully. The magic that had eng
ulfed them only moments before seemed to have abandoned them, and Savannah could feel only fear and unease and anger.
“Savannah--”
“I saw it!”
“I know you did,” Xander said calmly as he took a step forward. “I know you think you saw it–"
“Think?” Savannah repeated as she cringed away from Xander. “Think?”
“You’re pregnant, and sometimes, that can influence your visions,” Xander said trying to calm her.
“Don’t do that,” Savannah said angrily. “Don’t treat me as though I was some jealous idiot who can’t control my raging hormones. This has nothing to do with my pregnancy. It’s what I saw and it's what's going to happen soon.”
“Marissa would never hurt you,” Xander said adamantly.
Savannah turned and started walking away from him.
“Savannah,” Xander cried as he ran after her. “Wait! Please stop and talk to me.”
“You don’t believe me?” Savannah demanded and she turned around to face him again. “And yet you trust her?”
“I’ve known her my whole life--”
“And you’ve known me for a fraction of a second in comparison,” Savannah interrupted him. “I know that as well as you do, but it doesn't change what I saw.”
“What if what you saw was a mistake?” Xander demanded.
“A mistake?” Savannah asked incredulously. “How can you think that?”
“Because you yourself have told me that your visions are rare, and when they do come to you they aren’t clear. What if you simply saw what you wanted to see as opposed to what actually is?”
Savannah stopped short and stared at Xander. “Which is it?” She asked in a thick voice. “You don’t believe me, or you don’t trust me.” For a split second Savannah found herself thinking of Abel and the fact that he would have believed her vision without second thought.
Xander sighed in frustration. “I do believe you and I do trust you--I just think that, in this instance, I have more information than you do.”
“And what information do I have?” Savannah demanded.
“I think you're scared and that fear's clouding your judgement,” Xander said, trying to reach for Savannah’s hand.
Savannah shook him off and started to walk away from him. Xander followed close behind, imploring her to stay and talk to him. “Savannah please,” he said, “I’m on your side.”
“Really?” Savannah said, coming to another stop. “Are you really on my side? Because it doesn’t feel that way to me. In fact, it feels like you’re on Marissa’s side.”
“You don’t understand,” Xander said desperately. “I know Marissa.”
“Maybe you’re the one who’s blind,” Savannah said hotly as she continued on the winding path down the hill. It was harder to move in the darkness and walking downhill was always more treacherous than walking uphill. Savannah slipped a few times. The last time Xander grabbed her just in time.
“Slow down Savannah,” Xander cautioned. “You’re going to hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine,” Savannah snapped, pulling from herself from his grip and resuming her pace.
When they reached the bottom of the hill, Savannah stood beside Xander’s bike and fixed him with a cold stare.“Just take me home,” she said.
“Savannah--”
“Please,” Savannah begged tiredly. “I don’t want to talk anymore. I just want to get home.”
Xander stared at her a moment longer and then shook his head in defeat. “All right, I’ll take you home,” he said.
The ride back to the house was filled with a dark silence and Savannah felt every beautiful moment she'd experienced in the last few hours melt away. She felt as though she were alone again, which only served to strengthen her resolve. She was right to have taken matters into her own hands. She was right to have sought help.
When Xander stopped the bike in front of her house, Savannah got down without saying a word, and started toward the house.
“Savannah,” Xander called out before she reached the door, “please.”
Savannah turned around to face him. “Give me some time,” she said. “I need a break.”
Xander looked at her forlornly for a long moment, and then he nodded once. “If that’s what you need.”
Savannah turned her back on him and walked into the house. She closed the door on Xander, and for some unfathomable reason, Savannah found herself thinking about Abel as she climbed the stairs to her room.
Chapter Nine
Savannah woke early the next day, after a night of shapeless dreams and hidden monsters. She felt the dark circles under her eyes before she saw them, and longed for the soft, cushy pillows of her bed, wishing that she could have just a few more hours of dreamless sleep.
She put on her oldest and most favorite pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and her most comfortable hoodie, grabbed her backpack, and headed down the stairs.
“Savannah?” her mother called from the kitchen.
“Hi, Mom,” Savannah said as she stuck her head in the door. “I’m going out for a bit.”
“It’s early,” her mother pointed out.
“It’s not too early for hiking,” Savannah said with a small smile.
“Wow! You're really into this hiking thing, aren’t you?” her mother said.
“I know--it’s surprising to me, too,” Savannah replied.
“Maybe I’ll join you one day and see what all the fuss is about,” her mother said.
“That would be nice.” Savannah nodded and attempted to leave the kitchen.
“Hey,” her mother called, “what about breakfast?”
Savannah stuck her head back in. “What are we having?”
“Waffles.”
Savannah went to the table and took a waffle from the plate. She crunched into it and gave her mother a smile. “That should do it,” she said, and then she waved goodbye as she left the kitchen.
She drove the car to the foot of Grey Mountain and stared up at the steep hill. It looked familiar to her now, despite the fact that she'd only made one journey there before. All of the smells that had been foreign to her the day before were starting to make sense now. She began to climb, glad that her pregnancy still allowed her to be active and limber.
She was half way to the cabin when she heard a voice behind her. “Hello Savannah,” it said.
Savannah rushed around and found herself face to face with Abel. His brown-gold eyes were on her and his expression was unreadable.
“Abel,” Savannah gasped, feeling a shiver jerk through her body. She was uncertain why Abel’s presence affected her so much. Maybe it was because it made her feel as though she had no control. “I didn’t sense you there.”
He smiled a slow smile, which opened up his face and accentuatd his good looks. “That's the point of being protected--no one is supposed to sense me.”
“Whom exactly are you protecting yourself against?” Savannah asked as she fell into step beside Abel.
“The wolves, of course,” Abel replied. “If they could sense us then it would be easier to track us down in order to destroy us.”
Savannah felt discomfort flood through her. “I don’t think Xander would want to harm anyone…not even someone he considered his enemy.”
“Then you don’t know your future husband very well,” Abel said without humor. “The wolves hate us, and if we were to set one foot on their territory, they would rip us to shreds.”
“Does that mean there are lands within Grey Mountain that you can’t enter?” Savannah asked.
“The town is neutral ground,” Abel replied, “but the mountains have been cordoned off. The witches get the tiniest portion of it, while the wolves get the lion’s share.”
Savannah hesitated a moment. “Are there many other witches in Grey Mountain?”
Abel glanced at her with his burning gold eyes. “My grandmother and I are the last ones,” he said. Savannah detected an edge of sadness in his t
one.
She reached out and placed her hand on Abel’s arm drawing him to a stop. He looked at her in surprise, and she read the question in his eyes. “Abel,” Savannah started, removing her hand from his arm rather quickly, “I can speak to Xander. I can make sure you and your grandmother need never fear the wolves.”
Abel looked at her and smiled. “That’s kind of you.”
“It’s the least I can do,” Savannah said adamantly. “You didn’t have to agree to help me. In fact, you have absolutely no reason to.”
“The reason I had was in your eyes,” Abel said softly. “I saw the fear there. I saw the worry. How could I turn you away when you were desperate? When desperate people do desperate things, chaos is sure to ensue.”
Savannah nodded. They kept walking toward the cabin. She was more grateful than she could say to have Abel by her side, giving her the hope she needed.
“You have something to tell me?” Abel said.
Savannah glanced up at him in shock. “How did you know?"
“I sense these things,” Abel said with a small smile. “And I am a witch, and there's magic all around us.”
“Have you been to the clearing?” Savannah asked abruptly, remembering the magic she'd thought she'd felt yesterday, when she and Xander had been in the lake.
“We can't go there,” Abel said. Savannah detected an edge to his voice. “That's the wolves' territory.”
“I'll take you there, one day,” Savannah said. “When all this is over and things are peaceful again.”
Abel laughed, but it was without humor. “You are very naïve.”
“I’m not. I just choose to believe in the best possible outcome.”
“That's a nice way of saying you're naïve,” Abel said as they approached the cabin. “Now, tell me what you came here to say.”
“I had a vision yesterday,” Savannah admitted. “It was the clearest vision I've ever had.”
“Which leads you to believe what, exactly?”
“I’m not sure,” Savannah said. “I think it means the threat is real and imminent.”
Abel nodded and then opened the door of the cabin to let Savannah pass through. The moment she entered she was hit with several different scents, each of them were pleasant in their own way, but Savannah’s senses spun with the onslaught of olfactory signals she was receiving.
