From the look on my face, Jo could tell I was mortified, so I explained about my reaction to him and she smiled. “Well, he seemed interested to know more about you so I wouldn't worry if I were you.”
I told her that I'd rather give the party a miss altogether and she suggested we at least go back and show our faces. We could always sneak off somewhere else if we felt like it.
Reluctantly, I joined her and she led the way back through the forest, until we reached the footpath I had walked on earlier.
It was then that I realised I could have so easily become lost within those trees that I was truly thankful to Jo for following me. After voicing my thanks, she became a little more serious... “If I'm totally honest with you, Lilly, it was Rose that saw you leave. She asked me to make sure you were okay and it was her that gave me the bag with the food. Of course I would have followed you had I known you'd ventured out into the forest alone but I hadn't actually noticed.”
“Well, I am grateful to you both,” I said, gently punching her on her shoulder as we approached the log home that was full of the sounds of music, voices and laughing.
Although gratitude enveloped me, I knew it wouldn't be the last time I ventured out into those woods. Although I knew I could easily get lost in there, deep down I had the feeling that the forest held the key to this secret and if nobody would tell me, I would have to find out for myself.
That night after everybody had gone home and I lay there in the darkness, I thought about Oliver and how stupid I must have looked on our first encounter. Fortunately Jo had assured me that Oliver wasn't the type of person to think of anyone as stupid. Apparently he was a great guy, loved by all and she was sure my initial reaction had just left him curious to find out more about me.
When we'd returned to the party, albeit briefly, I'd scanned the crowd for him and he'd looked up and seen me. I blushed like an idiot but he waved and flashed those beautiful white teeth at me in what can only be described as the most stunning smile... ever. My stomach had flipped before I'd disappeared back into my bedroom.
I was fully aware that I was beginning to look like a lovesick puppy and I felt stupid. I was almost fourteen years old and, although I had never had a boyfriend, I'd had my share of crushes at school. None of them were like this though. Perhaps it was just an after effect of losing my parents and I was looking for someone to love and to love me back.
Before I closed my eyes that night, I took one last look towards the forest – I'd purposefully left the blinds open so I could see outside. But there was nothing but pitch black all around, the only lights were those coming from the sky above, where a million glittering stars squinted brightly. The night sky in this part of the world was amazing. But just as I admired them, the pitch black reminded me once more about something Gabriel had said before, that black was the colour of magic. I wondered then if there was, in fact, magic around me.
A little while later I found myself back in the forest, surrounded by the sounds of running water and hundreds of birds twittering away. I was standing in the same spot where I had stood earlier and so I decided to do a bit of investigating. I climbed down the smooth rocks towards the water. It was icy blue and sparkling so bright that I had to shield my eyes.
As I bent down to touch it, a raven flew down and stood to my left, followed by another one to my right. They pointed with their wings to the opposite side of the river bank. I looked up and saw two cats – one pure black and one pure white. Their eyes as black as the night. They sat and watched my every move. Even when the ravens took to the sky, they didn't take their eyes off me. I looked upwards and saw them flying high above me, watching me from above and I felt as though I was being pulled between the birds and the cats. I couldn't understand but it was as though I needed to follow them... but did I cross the river to be with the cats or did I go upwards to be with the ravens? I looked up again and in a matter of seconds, I was up there with them, flying in the sky looking down on the two majestic creatures below. Again I felt a pull between them but for now the feeling of freedom, of flying, was just too good and so I remained with my two friends as we glided effortlessly above the trees. As I swooped down towards the water I saw three birds below. Three black ravens, graceful and serene. Then I realised what I saw was a reflection in the water. I was a bird. I was no longer a teenage girl. I had become a raven. The shock of the realisation temporarily stunned me and I had no control over my body. I fell towards the water.
I awoke with a thud... I'd fallen out of bed.
“Lilly... are you alright my dear?” said a concerned voice as a light was flicked on and my grandfather rushed in towards me.
“I heard you scream and then there was a bang,” he said worryingly.
I explained I'd just had a strange dream and it had made me fall out of bed. “I'm fine. No need to worry,” I said. But I couldn't help but notice that he looked a little preoccupied.
“A strange dream?” he'd asked.
“Just a dream, Gabriel. People have strange dreams all the time,” I laughed. “It's okay, I'm fine, go back to bed. I'll see you in the morning.”
He said nothing more, except to wish me a goodnight and he switched the light back off as he left me to think about the ravens and the cats and that exhilarating feeling of flying. But I soon fell back to sleep, this time managing a good few hours of rest.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A few days had passed since Oliver's party and I was beginning to feel like I finally belonged with this family in Canada, even though I still thought about my parents all the time. I had even started school. And although it was excruciatingly embarrassing having to stand in front of my new classmates as I was introduced, strangely enough I was welcomed with open arms by everybody.
I did have a feeling that being Jo's cousin did have a lot to do with it. That, and the fact that I have 'such a cute English accent,' they said.
The most surprising part about my going back to school was that I discovered that my love of reading had stood me in good stead and I was more advanced than everybody else in my class so I had managed to skip a whole year... something which had taken me by complete surprise.
While spending lunchtimes with Jo I could tell by the way people looked at her that she was one of the most popular girls in school. And it wasn't just because she was beautiful or because she had an aura about her. It was because she was caring and friendly and was just really well liked by all... teachers and students alike.
As we sat and ate lunch, Jo introduced me to some of her friends but none of them stayed to eat with us. She said she had something important to discuss with me alone and so her many friends happily went and sat elsewhere. It was odd she would need to talk to me about anything that others couldn't listen to... unless, I thought eagerly, she had something from my past she was willing to fill me in on.
“Gabriel called me this morning Lilly, and told me you had a strange dream the other night. Do you want to talk about it?”
She wanted to talk about a dream? I was surprised that such a big deal would be made from a bunch of way-out thoughts that were going through my head in my sleep.
“Dreams are our unconscious mind trying to tell us something. It could be something important. It could be a memory from childhood that you're blocking, maybe...?”
I laughed, “I don't think so, somehow, Jo. I dreamed I was flying. If I was ever able to fly, I'm sure I'd remember.”
She laughed too and we continued to eat in silence for a moment, but I could sense there was something she wasn't saying.
“How come Gabriel is asking you about this, anyway?”
“I guess they think I'm the best person to speak to you about anything... and everything. They can see we're becoming close and I guess they want to take advantage,” she laughed again.
“So you're like their spy or something?” I laughed.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that. But don't worry, I won't tell them anything you don't want me to tell them.”
I did think it was very weird that the subject of my dreams was something worth talking about and even more weird that our grandfather would try and find out more information about them. And why not just ask me? Not that it was really important. They were just dreams. Dreams weren't important. Not to me anyway.
“Well, if you really need to know – and I don't mind you telling him - in that dream, I turned into a raven. I doubt that's an early repressed childhood memory though,” I said smiling.
It was then that I recalled another short dream I'd had. “Remember when I went into the woods alone and fell asleep by the river? Well I dreamed of a woman and a raven then too. There's something about these ravens here, isn't there?”
Jo looked at me in a way she hadn't looked at me before. Almost as if she was looking at someone else. It was a little spooky actually. “Jo?” I whispered.
Her expression softened and she smiled and then the bell went, signalling the end of lunch break. “Saved by the bell, eh Jo?” I joked as she told me she'd see me later before I headed in the opposite direction to my next class.
All afternoon I couldn't shake the feeling that something strange was about to happen. It was Jo's expression that had started it all off. That feeling that she was looking at someone else even though she was looking right at me. Clearly our conversation about my dreams must have triggered something and there was just one person that had all the answers. Gabriel.
When I got back from school that afternoon, Meredith greeted me.
“Hi sweetie! How was your day?” she asked, giving me a quick hug as I dropped my bag on the kitchen floor and flopped down onto one of Gabriel's handmade wooden chairs.
“It was okay, thanks. Where's Gabriel?” I asked, eager to sit down with him and have a proper chat to find out, finally, just what was going on.
“I'm afraid he's had to leave town for a few days... which is why I'm here. I'll be staying with you until he gets back.”
I tried to hide my disappointment. I loved being with Meredith but I had been hoping to finally get some answers. And why hadn't he told me he was going away? Why was everything so secretive? Life seemed even weirder all of a sudden. Instead of getting the answers I craved, the questions were just piling up and I was becoming increasingly frustrated.
Early that evening, however, something happened to take my mind off things. Oliver came round to see me. Yes... to see me!
Meredith and I had just finished eating dinner, followed by a dessert totally new to me: pumpkin pie. I'd only ever read that pumpkins were for Halloween, after seeing pictures of them carved out to make creepy lanterns. I'd no idea something so delicious could be made from them. So there I was, totally stuffed with the top button of my new black jeans undone, the jeans that Jo had given me when she'd seen my wardrobe – or lack of it. So I was lazing on the sofa when the doorbell rang. I assumed it would be for Meredith so I stayed put, eagerly reading the first Harry Potter book which I had found on the bookshelf, when in walked Oliver. I just know I blushed from head to toe.
“Hi Lilly,” he said as I struggled to get up from the sofa and do up my button at the same time without him seeing.
“Er... Hi! What are you doing here?” I asked, hoping that I could be a bit more pleasant this time round and make a better impression.
“Well... I was kind of in the area and thought I'd pop by and say hello... so hello,” he laughed nervously.
“Hello.” God I felt stupid. Why couldn't I utter more than a few syllables to this boy?
He stood and looked around awkwardly.
“Er... why don't you sit down.” He sat.
And then silence again.
“Can I get you a drink?” I asked.
“Sure. A Coke would be great. Thanks.”
I rushed into the kitchen, via my bedroom where I brushed my hair and put on a little lip gloss (another gift donated by Jo), picked up two cans of coke and walked back into the living room. He stood as I entered the room and sat when I sat.
I found it a little strange, but assumed he was just being polite.
“So... Lilly. How are you settling in?”
“Okay I guess. Pretty well under the circumstances,” I said without even thinking.
“I'm so sorry about your parents.”
“I'm sorry about yours too.”
“Kindred spirits,” he said.
“Sorry?”
“I guess we're like kindred spirits. You and me,” he said with a sad smile.
I warmed to him even more than before and all I could think was that I just wanted to know everything about him. Again I was like a lovestruck puppy and felt silly.
“I'm sorry about the other day at your party. I didn't mean to be rude.”
“I didn't think you were rude at all. I thought you were... kind of cute, actually. Maybe a bit weird too,” he laughed.
He thought I was cute!
“I was disappointed that you left so abruptly though. It would have been a great party... if you'd stayed.”
“Sorry,” I managed to mumble.
“That's okay. I understand that being thrown into a party after everything you've been through was probably a little tough. All those people and stuff. I was very tempted to come after you but I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable.”
Thankfully, Oliver hadn't realised that I had hidden in my bedroom until everyone had left. I had been desperate to go out and speak to him again but was far too embarrassed.
“Are you always this quiet?” he asked as he turned to look me in the eyes.
I looked at him and shook my head, “No... not really. It must just be you.”
“Oh.” He looked disappointed.
“No... I don't mean that in a bad sense. I mean, it's like at the party. I just couldn't talk. I wanted to say so many things. I just couldn't. And now, I don't know where to start.”
“So it's not because you don't like me, then,” he asked, smiling.
“Oh no! Absolutely not. You're great. I guess I just get a little shy around you.”
He laughed.
“Why don't we start like this: I'll ask you some questions about yourself and you answer?”
I agreed. “So, do you miss England?”
“That's a difficult one because if I say no, that's almost like saying I don't miss my parents. But I honestly really don't miss England. I never felt particularly alive there, if you know what I mean. Here it's so different. I feel like I belong here. I never felt that over there.”
“I don't think it means you don't miss your parents. Of course you miss them. I still miss mine and they died a long time ago.”
I smiled sadly, “Ask me another.”
“What do you think of the Canadian hospitality?”
I laughed, “That's a funny question! But now that you ask, I never realised people could be so nice. I haven't met a single person here who has been unfriendly or rude. Everyone I've met – even just briefly – has been wonderful. That's probably another reason why I am falling for Canada.”
He smiled again and was silent for a few moments while he came up with another question.
“How are you enjoying school here?”
“Honestly? I love it. I always liked school because it was so good to get out of our apartment. I didn't feel as restricted there, and here... well it's a whole new ball game. For the first time in my life, I have more than one friend at school. Respect from everybody, if you know what I mean,” I said as I looked at Oliver's confused expression.
“You don't really understand me, do you?” He shook his head.
“Let's just say I lived a very lonely life in England. I was naïve. I didn't know anything about life. Yes I learned a lot in school, but school doesn't necessarily teach you about life, it just teaches you facts about life. I'm sorry, I'm rambling now.”
“Don't be sorry, Lilly. I think I understand what you mean. I'm just sorry that you had such a lonely upbringing. If you had grown up here, it wouldn't have been like that at
all. I would have made sure of that,” he added shyly, “I would have liked to have known you before now.”
I blushed again and he was clearly embarrassed, “I'd better go,” he said suddenly as he stood up. “Thanks for the Coke. Maybe we can see each other again soon?”
I nodded and smiled and before I knew it, he was gone.
As I went to sleep that night, I still had butterflies. Even though Oliver had made a quick exit, I knew it was because he was embarrassed about being so candid with me. He really liked me. He had pretty much told me so. And he thought I was cute!
CHAPTER TWELVE
The following evening, Oliver unexpectedly turned up again. It was almost a re-enactment of the previous night. I was sitting on the couch comfortably reading a book, full from eating a hearty dinner, when in walked Oliver wearing a shy grin.
“Hey Lilly. I hope you don't mind be popping in to say hi again.”
“Of course not,” I answered, as I made a mental note to make more of an effort with myself in future.
I offered him a Coke and he said yes. I ran into the kitchen, via the bedroom again, brushed my hair and put on some lip gloss before rushing back in.
But this time, as I handed him the can and we both sat down, he said, “You know what. Why don't we take a walk instead?” Standing up he placed the can on the coffee table almost as soon as he'd sat down.
Relieved to have something else to do, I jumped up and grabbed my coat, gloves, hat and scarf.
He laughed at me as I wrapped myself up and we stepped outdoors after I yelled to Meredith that we were going for a walk. She appeared briefly at the front door with a cheeky smile and winked at me before closing the door.
“So...” I said.
“So...”
“Here we are again.”
“Yup,” he answered as we walked slowly.
It felt like there was some kind of tension between us but I couldn't understand what it was, so I said nothing. Instead I waited for him to say something to break the ice. We walked for a few minutes until he finally said, “Lilly?”
When Darkness Falls - Six Paranormal Novels in One Boxed Set Page 116
