by S. L. Baum
Link eased the star out of my hands and snapped the fishing line as if it were a gossamer thread. He slid the ring onto the third finger of my left hand.
“God, I love you,” I murmured, and his lips were immediately on mine.
“That’s my line,” he smiled as he scooped me up, to cradle me in his arms. His lips never left mine and he continued to kiss me in a way that sent an electrifying shock through my body. He held me close, much longer than any mortal man could. It was as if I was made of air.
“You are so strong now,” I murmured against his lips, not wanting to break away.
After another minute, when I truly needed the air, Link pulled back. “I’ve got powers,” he smiled.
“Awesome powers,” I agreed.
chapter eighteen
BEGINNING AGAIN
My name is Emily Johnston, seventeen year old high school senior. And, I have recently added to the town gossip machine that has been running at full force since Christmas day.
The first bit of juicy information, that got the machine oiled up and started, was the discovery of two dead men. They had apparently been fighting each other at the top of Bridal Veil Falls, sometime after dark on Christmas Eve. They, strangely enough, were involved in a gun and knife battle that ended when some bears stumbled upon them and attacked them, driving them toward the falls. The two men and the two bears, fell over the falls. The bodies were found in the late afternoon, on Christmas Day, when some ice climbers stumbled upon them. The local police were still piecing together the clues left at the scene.
I obtained all this information from Summer, when she called me, breathless with excitement and fear, the day after Christmas. The fear part came from the fact that, although the authorities believed there were two bears involved in the attack, there were bloody bear tracks leading away from the base of the falls. An alert was put out for an injured bear, who had already attacked two men, and may still be alive and dangerous.
This news brought a ray of hope into the eyes of Lizabelle, our new Shape-Shifting friend. She immediately left our house, along with Cozmo – they were now inseparable - in search of the bear. We were unsure if it was Elliott or Rowan that had survived the fall. They needed to track the surviving Shifter down, to find out.
Our friends departed, with anticipation and caution. Lizabelle wanted answers. She wanted to know why her brothers would take a murder for hire job. She insisted that it just wasn’t something she could have ever imagined them doing.
The second bit of information, given to Summer Paxton by yours truly, was that I was quitting Telluride High School. I told her that I’d been taking extra online courses and was only one credit away from my diploma. Technically I am not a High School drop-out, since I’d be finishing my coursework online. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Plus, this would have been my sixth senior year. I have the five previous diplomas to prove it, each with a different name, but still me. I had to go through the coursework, I had to pass the tests, so they’re mine. I just couldn’t spend another day posing as a High School student, especially after all that has happened to me since we’d moved to this town.
The third bit of information, was again about me, this time spread promptly by Delilah and Summer.
Early afternoon, on New Year’s Day, I’d just walked out of the Chinese Restaurant with Link at my side. We were picking up take-out, when Summer and Delilah spotted us and ran over to say “hi!” I’d been sporting my new engagement ring, since the moment Link slipped it on my finger. Delilah started screaming, “Oh my God!” at the top of her lungs, in the middle of Colorado Ave., the second she spied it.
They gushed, I beamed, and I’m sure that by now the whole town thinks I am “with child”. I heard a few whispers, almost immediately. Why else would a seventeen year old girl decide to leave High School and also become engaged? Little do they know, it’s entirely impossible. There has only been one virgin birth that I am aware of, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the next candidate for that miracle. In a few months, when my belly still hasn’t grown, people will have no choice but to admit that the rumor was false. I’m a very patient woman. I can wait until then for my apologetic glances.
Lulach still hadn’t returned. I guessed that murderer was slicker than he thought. Either that or he got a lead on another one, right away. I was sure we’d see him soon. There are so many questions we still need answered.
Link was still adjusting to the brightness of sunlight. He’ll always need to wear sunglasses, the darker the better, during daylight hours. We found him a pair of ridiculously dark goggles, and we actually skied. It was grey and overcast on that particular day, so it helped immeasurably. There has only been one time, so far, that Link experienced the blood-lust. James was able to misappropriate a bag of O positive from work. Link stuck a straw in it and sucked it right down. It was a gruesome version of a kid’s juice pouch.
I still feel guilty, but Link keeps telling me that it’s not so bad. He says he will endure whatever it takes to be with me. That is the best feeling in the world.
New Year’s Day was a day for reflection. It was one week since the turmoil, one week since I had almost lost Link, and one week since I had irrevocably changed him. It was also one week of being engaged, one week of basking in blissful love, and one week of knowing that the Lords were no longer out to get me. It was one lovely, peaceful, wonderful week.
I sat at the kitchen table, eating my Chinese food, with Link beside me.
“Your brain is going a hundred miles an hour. I can almost hear it buzzing beside me,” Link broke the silence.
“Just thinking about... well everything,” I sighed.
“That’s a lot to think about,” Link smirked.
“Okay, I’ll narrow it down. Just thinking about all that’s happened to us in the last week,” I sassed back at him.
“Are you worried about gossip?” Link asked.
“Maybe a little.”
“I’m glad they know.”
“Who knows what?”
“I’m glad your friends saw us today. I’m glad they saw the ring. I want everyone to know that we belong together,” he smiled.
“My age, my dropping out, our engagement – it’s scandalous,” I reminded him.
“Let them talk,” he waved his hand through the air.
“You’re right, I know. It’s just that I’ve never felt like anyplace was home, and this could be it. This could be a home for us... for awhile anyway...” I paused
“We can make this our home. The young married couple will fit in nicely with this town. The gossip will fade. I promise. So, you’ve never given me an answer,” he raised his eyebrows.
He wanted to know when we’d be married. I’d been stalling for the entire week, trying to decide on the most appropriate time. “How about in February, after Emily’s birthday?” I suggested.
“I guess I can wait for that. It’s just a few weeks away. Then you’ll... well Emily’ll be legally considered an adult. Caterer, florist, photographer... We’d better get started if we’re gonna pull a wedding off so soon,” Link whistled.
“No way, buddy. No Telluride wedding, although it would be beautiful. I want it to be private. I want to get away, to escape from Emily, to be wild and free,” I smiled.
“So where are we going?”
“Vegas baby!”
“Who’s going to Vegas?” Marcus asked as he and Eve entered the room.
“Apparently, Charity and I are getting married there next month,” Link answered.
“Not without us you’re not,” Eve furrowed her brow, slightly hurt at the prospect of not being invited.
“Exactly,” I answered. “Won’t it be fun? Link and I, Catherine and James, you and Marcus... oh, and you’ll have to get a hold of Cozmo and Lizabelle. Marcus, do your brain phone thingy. All of us together in Vegas,” I jumped up to grab Eve’s hands. “I’m getting married!” I squealed.
“Correction... we’re getting married,” Lin
k beamed that brilliant smile at me and got up to encircle me in his arms.
“Now that’s a plan,” Marcus and Eve chimed.
There is a car in the drive, Marcus flashed the message into our heads at the same moment that I became aware it.
I ran to open the door, and found Christopher exiting Lulach’s limousine. I instantly knew that Christopher was running an errand. Because Lulach, in fact, refused to be out in the sunlight, and it was not yet sundown.
“He sent me with news,” Christopher spoke quietly. “Can we go inside?”
“Of course,” I stepped back to allow him entrance.
“He heard about the surviving Shape-Shifter. He is worried that the Shifter may be aware of Mr. Knight’s, um changes. If the Shifter wants to harm you still, there are people he could notify,” Christopher relayed the message.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” I admitted.
“Who could he tell?” Link wondered aloud.
“Beauvais,” Marcus and Eve answered in unison. It was as if they were sharing a brain now that Marcus could get into her head so often.
“One of many, I’m afraid,” Christopher answered.
“Please thank him for me,” I managed a weak smile.
“He said to keep this,” Christopher said as he handed me a white business card. “It has all my information on it. Contact me anytime and Lulach will come. He doesn’t think that a threat is necessarily imminent. He just wants to make sure you are aware of the possibility.”
“We appreciate the warning,” Link responded.
“I’m on my way then. Lulach is engaged with Dark Counsel dealings. He regrets that he was unable to come himself. Goodbye,” Christopher turned abruptly and opened the door to leave. He was strictly business, that guy.
“I knew it was too soon to breathe easy,” I sighed.
“That doesn’t mean anything. The Vampire just wants us to keep an eye out. And we will. We will be vigilant in all our dealings. But that doesn’t mean stop living, stop enjoying life,” Link coaxed the smile back to my face.
“So we have a trip to plan,” Eve bounced her way back to the kitchen.
“I’ll grab your laptop so you can do a little internet research,” Marcus offered and bounded up the stairs.
“What if we have to leave and start a new life somewhere else?” I worried.
“Then we do,” Link answered.
“You’re right. It’ll be an adventure,” I said.
“What should my name be? I assume I’ll need a new name. I’ve never done that before... a secret identity, an alter ego,” Link winked.
“You’ll have to remember it, and answer to it, and let it become a part of you. I have trouble doing that sometimes. Don’t you think you may want to pick it yourself?” I asked.
“Nope,” Link shrugged.
“Okay then, I choose David, a solid biblical name, King David.” I said. “Whenever you have to stop being Link, you can start being David. You are the King,” I stated.
“And you are my Queen!” he replied.
I held his face and smothered him with a thousand small kisses. I covered every inch of his beautiful face, and finally came to rest my lips on his. Eve stepped backwards as quietly as she could, and headed up the stairs, re-directing Marcus, who was halfway back down.
I pulled away to look into his eyes. “Don’t stop now,” Link displayed a devilish smile and leaned in for another kiss. Instead of a thousand small kisses, he grabbed onto me for one deep delicious kiss. My head began to swim and I gasped. His heart began to beat faster. I could feel the blood rushing through his body. I smiled.
It was hard not to smile lately. I was about to begin my life. The life I was supposed to live. One filled with friendship, and love.
The End...
for now.
Please visit http://slbaum.com for updates on Charity’s story and to find out when the next installment of The Immortal Ones is on its way.
*****
READ A CHAPTER FROM THE SEQUEL (available now) ...
MY LINK IN TIME
The Immortal Ones
chapter two
BLOOD & LUST
I snatched my phone from my desk and punched in James’s cell phone number. Voicemail - as usual. “What else did I expect from the doctor?” I mumbled aloud as his message played, and I waited for the beep. “Link needs more you know what, and he needs it now!” I spoke into the phone. I ended the call and texted the exact same message.
James would check his phone soon, I hoped. He was usually pretty good about it. It just depended on how much time he needed to spend with his current patient. I stood by my desk for a moment, contemplating my next move, trying to think of anything that would help Link cope with whatever he was dealing with.
The phone buzzed in my hand. James had texted back. He was leaving the medical center in five minutes and was coming home “with supplies.” That was good. I breathed a sigh of relief. That was very good.
I walked down the hall and knocked lightly on Link’s door.
“Don’t come in, Charity. I feel better with some space between us,” Link called out.
“I’m just letting you know that James will be here soon,” I spoke through the door. “Thirty minutes at the very most. Hold on, babe. Close your eyes and rest.”
“Thanks, Charity. I’ll be fine ‘til then. Love you.”
With my forehead resting on the door to his room, I whispered back, “I love you too.” Then I pushed away from the door and forced myself to walk down the hall, back to my bedroom, and wait until James arrived.
The second I heard James open the door to the house, I ran toward the stairs. “He’s in his room,” I called out.
My fumbling nature, that seemed to come out at the worst possible moments, took over. I snagged my foot on the side of the banister, and I stumbled forward. My hands flew out in front of me, bracing for the fall. The palm of my left hand hit the corner of the metal post at the top of the stairs, and my skin split open.
I sucked in loudly as the pain registered in my brain. After I steadied myself, I stared at the bloody diagonal gash, which started at my pinky finger and ended at the bottom of my thumb.
“Charity, what did you do?” James asked as he bound up the stairs, taking them three at a time.
“It’s minor. Just deal with Link,” I shook my head.
James held a portable cooler in his right hand. “I had a feeling this morning,” he remarked, as he reached the top step. “He looked off. I don’t know how else to explain that. Just off. I think I was waiting for the call from the moment I left the house.”
“You guys really should have told me you were doing this little experiment,” I scowled, and opened the door to Link’s bedroom.
He was standing on the other side of the bed. His hands were knotted into fists and pressed firmly at his sides. My favorite smile was nowhere to be found. The features of his face were tense, and that was putting it lightly. Tightly wound was closer to the truth.
“I already told him that,” James replied as he looked at Link’s over stressed state. “You’ll be in the loop next time.”
“You’re bleeding, Charity,” Link spoke through gritted teeth.
“I’m fine, I swear.”
“Just put it on the bed, James,” Link said, his voice strained. “I don’t know if I should trust myself right now.”
“Breathe in through your mouth, Link. Take a deep one, and try not to use your sense of smell,” I offered. “I trust you. I’ll always trust you. Plus, it’s not as if you could do any lasting damage to me,” I said. I glanced down at my palm as the last bit of flesh knitted itself back together and the wound disappeared.
I hurried into Link’s bathroom, quickly rinsed the blood from my hand, and turned back around.
James placed the cooler on the bed, and I noticed that Link was already holding the pointed metal straw that he now kept for these situations. Relief flashed in his eyes as he quickly moved over to t
he bed, sat on the comforter, placing himself right next to the cooler, and opened it. Link extracted a unit of blood (O-positive, his favorite), and plunged in the straw.
I could only describe this scene as... Juice Pouch City. I could just picture some random three year old kid with his favorite juice pouch. It seriously gave me the creeps to think about it.
The metal straw allowed him to quickly access the blood, and suck it down to the last drop, without the bag being upside down in its normal hospital position. He could probably use that tube thingy, but he liked his metal straw.
After he downed the first four hundred fifty milliliters, Link reached in and grabbed another bag-o-blood. As he slowly sipped at the second one, I sensed his pulse returning to normal. I closed my eyes and concentrated on our connection, checking to make sure that he was really okay. He was beginning to feel like himself again, to me at least.
“Okay, if I thought I’d experienced bloodlust before – I was wrong! That was bloodlust. That was, if I don’t get blood soon I will have to go out there and get some! I am not a fan of that feeling.” Link breathed in deeply through his nose. “You don’t smell quite so delicious now, Charity,” he smiled.
“I’m gonna take that as a good thing,” I weakly smiled back. “Now can we all agree that our once a week schedule, that we were observing before, needs to be put back into place?” I stressed my concerns.
“No Charity, I’m sorry, but we can’t. We need to push Lincoln to his upper most thresholds. Maybe you don’t like that idea, but it is the only way he will be able to build up a resistance to these urges. I spoke to Christopher on the phone about this. Lulach was in favor of our plan. It took him several years to get to a ten day gap. Link has done it in a few weeks. Since Link isn’t a full Dark One, he should be able to go for longer periods of time.”
“Oh sure! You discussed this with Lulach and his chauffer, slash personal assistant, Christopher - but not with me. This story gets better by the minute,” I spewed heavy sarcasm to cover my distress. “You saw him James. You saw the panic in his face when you got here!”
