Until the Stars Burn Cold

by Nicole Hurley-Moore

  Mia’s hand brushed against his. Her fingers were soft but they left a trail of fire across his skin. He glanced up and saw her eyes widen. He held her gaze for an instant before looking back to the couch. His fingers scooped up the ring but as he pulled his arm up he lost his balance and fell into Mia. He tumbled backwards on the couch and she landed beneath him. Her body was soft and warm. As his head nestled against her neck he could smell her heady perfume of roses and honeysuckle mixed with spice. Her heart beat rapidly beneath his hand. Turning his head he stared at her face. His eyes traced the lines of her high cheekbones and the arch of her soot colored brows. Suspended in a moment, Jinn breathed in her scent and her breath as their lips inched slowly towards each other. The heat of her body almost seared him and his breath quickened in anticipation. But as his mouth almost touched her he felt her pull back. Jinn let his hand fall as she pushed herself up into sitting position.

  “Um, so did you find my ring?”

  “What? Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t look,” Jinn said as he dropped the trinket into her waiting hand.

  “Oh thanks, it’s my gold hoop earring. I’ve been looking for that,” she said as she stood up. “Maybe I should put it in my room before I lose it again.”

  Mia scuttled out of the room as quickly as she could, leaving Jinn alone.

  ~* * *~

  Mia cast a clandestine glance at Jinn, they were both sitting in the living room, Jinn watching the news while she was pretending to read. Letting out a small sigh, she closed the book. What was the point of even trying as she had just read the same paragraph six times and still didn’t know what the hell was going on? Her eyes ran down the fine profile of his face, lingering upon his lips. Their near kiss had rattled her. It had been the one and only thing on her mind since it happened. It had taken enormous will power for her to walk out on him. The idea of kissing him, sleeping with him seemed almost natural and Mia didn’t know why. Ever since he had come into her life there had been something familiar about him. As if they had already met before. Which was just crazy.

  Or maybe she was just reading all too much into it. Perhaps thoughts of Jinn and what she would like to do with him stemmed from the fact she had been living like a nun for almost a year.

  Dropping her head she idly fingered the book in her lap. She had to stop lusting after Jinn, it wasn’t right nor was it fair. It would be wrong to try and start something when the poor guy didn’t even know who he was… well, he did know his own name but not what or where he was from. Seducing him would only complicate things later on. Mia stood up from the lounge.

  “Is everything all right?” Jinn asked with concern flickering in his dark eyes. Eyes that Mia tried really hard not to get lost in. He stood up and closed the distance between them in two strides.

  “Yes, it’s just that it’s getting late and I have to be at work a bit earlier than usual in the morning. I thought that I would go to bed.”

  “Goodnight then and may your dreams be pleasant,” he said with a smile.

  It was the type of smile that turned her insides all gooey, and she was sure her dreams would not be pleasant. Dragging her gaze away from his sexy mouth, she tried valiantly to link a comprehensible sentence together. He was standing close, looking down at her. A dark lock of hair fell forward, over his forehead. Impulsively, Mia reached out her hand and brushed it aside. It was only when she felt the silky texture of his hair and the warmth of his skin that she realized what she had done. Taking a step back she dropped her hand by her side.

  “Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I guess I’ll… umm, see you in the morning,” she said as she backed her way out of the room.

  “Goodnight Mia. Are you sure that you are well?” he said. His voice sounded even but his eyes held hers with a dark intensity. “Are you sure that you don’t want to stay with me?”

  Yes, yes I want to stay. I want to kiss you and feel your arms about me! “No, I really should call it a night.” She loved the way he said her name. His voice was warm, dark and enticing, but if she didn’t get the hell out of there God only knows what she would do. “I’m fine,” she lied, wishing that her voice didn’t sound so high pitched. “Just tired… goodnight.”

  She didn’t wait to hear his reply, and Mia wondered if he had any idea of the chaos he was causing. Sending up a few dozen silent prayers she made it to the stairs. She needed to escape, to get away from him before she did something really, really stupid.

  Chapter Five

  He had been watching her all night. Perhaps it was because of the way her eyes smiled when she looked at him, or how she would bit her bottom lip whenever she was concentrating. Whatever the reason, he was captivated. It felt as if he had always known her, which was madness since they had only been together for such a short time. He had been living in Mia’s house for nine days, and yet there was a familiarity about her that confused him. Mainly because he didn’t know how he knew what she was about to say or how she felt, but somehow he always did.

  His eyes kept returning to the strap of her turquoise top which was slipping over her shoulder. He found himself envying it, wishing it was his lips that slid over her soft skin. Jinn took a deep breath and tried to suppress the wave of longing and lust that surged through his body. The problem was, he couldn’t stop thinking about when she had brushed the hair from his eyes. Her fingers had been cool and smooth against his skin and the longing in her eyes had made his heart pump faster. He was doomed to relive the instant over and over again. He wondered what it would be like to touch her, kiss her and have her in his bed. Taking a breath, he clenched his hand into a fist to stop himself reaching across the table and pulling her to him. He wanted her but perhaps it was too soon, the last thing he wanted to do was scare her away. He should go to bed … or he should go for a walk, maybe the cold night air would clear his head.

  “Hey Jinn, are you okay? Did you remember something?” Mia asked as she stood up from the table and carried her cup to the sink.

  “No, sorry,” he said as he rose and walked slowly towards her; unable to resist her siren call any longer. “I draw a complete blank. The only things I remember are the sea and the boats and my name.”

  “I’m still sure that your memory will come back. Hey, just try not to beat yourself up about it,” she said before casting a glance at the wall clock. “It’s getting late, I’m off to bed.”

  He was standing in front of her and for an instant he almost lost his nerve. “I want to thank you for everything that you’ve done for me.”

  Mia looked a little uncomfortable and couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “I told you before, you really don’t have to thank me. I… I kind of enjoy you being around.” She pushed her hair behind her ear.

  He took one more step and closed the distance between them. He watched the rise and fall of her breasts and instinctively knew that she was nervous. He wondered if he moved closer whether she would stay or flee. Taking a chance he leaned into her, his body not touching her, but almost. He could feel the heat from her, and he heard the quick intake of breath through her warm peach lips.

  “Do you, Mia? Do you really want me in your house?”

  She lifted her head and stared at him with her grey-green eyes. “Yes.”

  “Do you want me in your life?” He smelled her soft fragrance of full bloom roses. The scent was warm and inviting and reminded him of… damned if he could remember!

  “Yes.”

  “Do you want me in your bed?”

  “Yes, I mean no! I mean I should be going to bed,” she said quickly as she tried to drag her eyes from his face. “By myself.”

  “Do you want me in your bed, Mia?” He didn’t give her chance to answer. He dipped his head and sought her lips. They were soft and warm and more than he had imagined; they magically opened for him and he felt as if he was Ali Baba and the cave had just revealed the treasures that laid hidden within its depths. Her arms wound around his neck as he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. She softened withi
n his embrace and he felt his heart quicken its pace as he became lost in her; in her touch, her scent… in Mia. Yet after a blissful moment he sensed her pulling away and breaking contact.

  “I do Jinn, but not yet, not now. It’s too soon,” Mia said as her eyes shimmered with suppressed passion. “I need a little time to think, to sort my feelings out.”

  He straightened but kept his hands upon her slim hips. “I will wait, galiya. I will wait until you are ready.” Jinn briefly closed his eyes as he felt her hand glide down his cheek.

  “I’m not sure if we should take the chance. How can we start something when we don’t know what the future may hold, or more importantly your past?”

  “Does anyone know what is to come?” he said softly as his eyes searched hers. “I want you Mia.”

  “I know, and I want you too. But for now it’s goodnight,” Mia said with a small smile before turning away and walking out of the kitchen.

  “Don’t run away, stay with me.”

  “I can’t Jinn, I’m sorry.”

  “Then goodnight,” he called as he watched her disappear. He ran his hand through his dark hair. He could still taste her on his lips, and he wanted her above all else. He sat back at the table and tried to get his emotions under control. The minutes slid slowly by, each one marked off by the loud ticking of the wall clock. She had gotten into his blood, yet maybe Mia was right to wait. How could he ask Mia to be with him when he didn’t even know himself? Troubling thoughts made him pause.

  What if someone is waiting for me? Do I have a woman, a lover, a wife... children? What if I have a perfect life with love and family just waiting for me to remember? The idea rattled him. Why couldn’t he remember? Feeling restless Jinn got up and paced through the house, turning off the lamps that Mia had scattered about in the living room and checking to make sure the doors were locked before he made his way upstairs. All was quiet and as it should be, but as he reached the top of the stairs the hairs at the back of his neck began to quiver and stand on end. An uneasy feeling settled over him, something was wrong. He felt it in his bones. Quickly he crossed into his room, pushed back the heavy damask drapes and looked out the window. The room was at one side of the house so the window looked down onto the overgrown side garden; all was still except for a light breeze ruffling the leaves. Waiting in silence for several minutes he scanned the garden but nothing caught his attention, yet the feeling persisted. It was as if darkness was surrounding Mia’s house, it could not penetrate the boundary yet it lingered as if it was waiting.

  With growing concern, Jinn left his room and slipped silently into Mia’s. The cream drapes were thrown open allowing the moon to shine through the frail curtain and illuminate Mia’s sleeping form. She was lying on her side in the middle of her large bed, her long dark hair fanned over the fat pillows and the moonlight caressed her cheek. The sight made him pause, but he forced himself on. He could hear her soft rhythmic breathing, and with great care he walked over to the window seat.

  He scanned the front garden and the street below. The wrought iron fence looked like a row of tall spears in the night, a line of defense that appeared to protect the house and its inhabitants. He couldn’t shake the feeling of uneasiness, yet all was still save the gentle wind. He was beginning to believe that his wariness was a mere figment of his imagination when a slight movement across the street caught his attention.

  Narrowing his eyes, he tried to make out the shape that clung to the silhouette of the trees across the road. It was hard as the light from the row of street lamps cut a sharp contrast to the shadow, making it all the more difficult to see. A figure wrapped in darkness hung back between the trees, watching the house. Jinn pushed back the curtain and stared at the form; he wanted it to know that its presence was known and he was not afraid to face it. He would protect Mia at all costs and just as he had made up his mind to run downstairs and confront the shadow figure; it stepped forward and out into the light. He was a tall, thin man with light colored hair. He was dressed in black and stood motionless staring at the house. Staring at Jinn.

  Jinn turned, intent on going downstairs and facing the stranger, but as he moved an agonizing pain shot through his brain, momentarily blinding him. It felt as if his head was being skewered with hot pokers. He clutched his head and stumbled back, his knees buckling at the edge of the window seat. Sitting down hard he hunched over and tried to breathe through the intense pain. It was excruciating, burning and building pressure, it felt like his head explode. The pain moved and targeted behind his eyes and temples, he tried to call out to Mia but found he was unable to move. So he sat motionless and prayed that it would stop. Not knowing how long he sat in the darkness, he tried to relax as the pain slowly began to recede.

  The pain was diminished, but hung about like a bad headache. He felt moisture trickle down around his mouth, and wiped it away. Even in the darkness of the bedroom he could see the blood over his hand; tentatively he touched his nose and realized that the blood was coming from there. Pushing himself up from the window seat he made his way to Mia’s dresser where a large box of tissues sat. Grabbing a handful he tried to stop up the blood as he walked out of the room. He wanted to be sure that the house was still locked and secure.

  Flicking on the lights, he took his time making sure that all the windows as well as the front and back doors were locked. He looked out of the bay window in the living room; the wrought iron gate was still firmly shut, and there was no sign of the mysterious man. Only after he was satisfied that all was well did he return to the kitchen. Turning on the faucet and grabbing some paper towels, he to clean himself up. The blood was all over his face, his hand and down the front of his new white shirt. He shrugged out of his shirt and dropped it to the wooden floor before hanging over the sink and splashing the cool, clean water over his face. Straightening up he felt the cold drops of water slide over his skin, running down the column of his throat. As he reached for the paper towel an image flashed upon his mind’s eye. He could see gulls flying in the clear blue morning sky and the stone steps beneath his feet, below a small blue boat with a cream sail bobbed up and down in the sea. The image slowly faded, and Jinn hoped that bit would be replaced by another. He waited but nothing else appeared. Annoyed he picked up his shirt, flicked off the kitchen light and headed upstairs.

  Silently he slipped into Mia’s room and made his way to the window. The street below was deserted and all was still, Jinn turned, but stopped as he stared at Mia’s sleeping form. He moved closer until he reached the end of her bed, she was truly beautiful. Yet there was something more than familiar about her; something that seemed to nag at the edges of his brain. Something he knew that he should know. Then in space of a breath, Jinn’s memory came crashing down upon him like a turbulent waterfall. Faces and places from his past crowded and swirled furiously, threatening to overwhelm him. He remembered how the full moon had hung in the sky, the scent of Rose of Damascus, the chaotic colors of bolts of silk that lay in his warehouse, the busy bazaar and the small blue door of the date seller. All that was forgotten was remembered.

  He looked down at Mia’s slumbering form. Her face so familiar, he knew every line and curve. How could he have ever forgotten her and how did they find themselves so far from their home? He parted his lips in the night dark room and only one word escaped. “Shuri.”

  ~* * *~

  Adwan - 793 AD

  Shuri gathered the black cloak around her as she made her way through the streets of Adwan. Keeping to the edge of the buildings she slipped by in the shadows. The only sound was that of her wrist full of thin gold bangles tinkling together. Looking up at the night sky she saw that the full moon was partially hidden by a bank of dark clouds, and she was thankful for it. Making her way to the edge of the town, she paused and scanned the area, until she was satisfied that all was still. Then, without a backward glance she hurried through the town gates to the open countryside beyond.

  Following the crooked path, she made her way towar
ds the sea. Shuri did not slacken her pace until she felt the sand beneath her feet. Only then did she stop and take a breath. There was a cold wind blowing off the sea, it tugged at her cloak and pushed the hood from her head. Biting her bottom lip in concentration, she realized that she could taste salt. As the town slumbered in the distance, Shuri turned her attention to the rocky outcrop ahead.

  She had exhausted all hope. For years she had sought out ways to release Jinn from the curse of the ring, but had been unable to do so. Wise men, magicians and seers; not one could break her uncle’s spell. Alima was her very last chance. They said that the old woman was mad and dangerous. They said that she was a witch, a sorceress, and she could not be trusted. But Shuri did not care, she would move the very heavens to save her beloved. She should be content as she was surrounded by an easy life and a family that loved her. Even Farrokh loved her but she could not bear to think that Jinn was suffering.

  The ring lay heavy between her breasts as she approached the rocks, they loomed above her head and their silhouette against the night sky looked like a great tower. The witch should be close. It was said that for those who dismissed the warnings, the old one would be found at the rocky outcrop on the eve of the shortest day.

  A shiver danced up Shuri’s spine and for the briefest instant, her nerve failed her. Perhaps she was a fool chasing a rumor, a legend and standing on a deserted beach in the middle of the night. But she knew that she could not return home. Not yet. Pushing down the fear, she scrambled over the smaller rocks until she came to a flat area. The tall rocks rose above her, blocking any easy escape. Looking around she saw a small pile of sticks, what was once the remnants of a long dead fire. She was scared, but she would not turn back. Leaning against one of the stones, she braced herself. It was rough and cold against her hand.

  “What you do seek, daughter?” The voice was the merest whisper, curling around Shuri’s ear.