Discern (38 page)

I started sobbing.

His touch was no longer soft, as he squeezed my hand tightly. “You know that wasn’t true,” he whispered.

“I was only seventeen, and by the way she was acting, I figured it was. I never spoke to her after that day. Not because I was angry with her, but because she never came home again after that night. She was out buying the drug of her choice trying to forget her pain and crashed her car in the middle of road. She wasn’t wearing a seat belt, and her body was thrown from the car,” I sniffled, wiping the tears from my eyes.

“What did she hit?”

“Nothing,” I said. “There was absolutely nothing in the road, but whatever it was, it damaged the front end of her car and apparently ran off.”

“Was the car totaled?”

“Yes, completely totaled,” I answered. “Why?” I asked, unsure why he was questioning the details of her accident.

“Seems a bit odd.”

I was too exhausted from today’s activities to really press him any further. I would just have to take his word for it. “Yes, it was an unusual and horrible end to such a seemingly perfect life,” I agreed.

“Are you tired?” he asked, looking me over.

“Yes.”

No sleep could remedy today’s revelations, but maybe—just maybe—my sleep would be peaceful enough to be able to forget, if only for a night.

“I need a little rest myself,” he half-smiled.

“Are you sleeping here?” I asked anxiously.

“If you don’t mind?”

“No, of course not, I’d rather you never leave,” I admitted.

“I feel the same way.”

I slowly slid off the bed and stood up. I was a little lightheaded and almost fell to the floor. Andrew instinctively reached out for me.

“Are you okay?” he asked, heavy with worry.

“I haven’t eaten anything today,” I said, holding my head and dropping back down on the bed. I never had another chance to grab a bite after the confrontation with my father at the restaurant.

“Oh, Haley,” he gasped. “I’m so sorry,” he apologized frantically. “What would you like to eat?” He sat beside me on the bed and lightly ran his fingers through my hair.

“I’ll find something downstairs.” I looked up and tried to smile.

“No, no. You sit here. I’ll gather a few things and bring them to you,” he insisted.

Before I could disagree, he was gone. I began yawning and stretched my arms out in front of me. I heard footsteps and the door swung open.

Andrew entered the room holding an armful of food. “I decided to walk up the stairs from the kitchen the mortal way,” he grinned.

“Why?”

“I’ve never traveled with food before and didn’t want to make a mess,” he said, laughing.

“You know, you can call us humans rather than mortals,” I suggested softly. The way he said mortals made us sound like annoyances. I’d never actually heard him use the word the ‘human’ before.

“Does it bother you?”

“A lot of living things in nature are mortal, but they aren’t similar to humans, other than just their mortality. We have the ability to actually understand, create and love.”

“In my world, you’re either mortal or immortal,” he shrugged.

“In my world, immortals only exist in fairytales and horror movies.”

“But we do exist,” he grinned.

“So do humans, and your world is my world, too.”

A large grin stretched across his face “Then I shall call you all humans.”

“Good,” I smiled.

I grabbed the sandwich and package of potato chips from his hands. He bent down placing the open can of soda on the nightstand. “But I can never call you a Parevite, can I?” I asked cautiously.

“No. Immortal is just fine,” he answered flatly.

“That word doesn’t seem to suit your kind. You seem more extraordinary than just any ol’ immortal that you read about in books.”

“There’s nothing ‘extraordinary’ about my kind. If we had allowed humans the opportunity to know our true identity, than the stories would’ve been more creative.”

“True,” I said. I devoured my sandwich while stuffing potato chips in my mouth between bites. I was hungry and not concerned if I was eating like a lady at this point. I took a large swig of soda to wash everything down.

“My, you were hungry.”

“I’m only human,” I grinned devilishly.

“Yes, you are and the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”

He slid beside me on the bed, again. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. We had been alone several times together in a bedroom, but tonight was different. I had nowhere to go and neither did he.

“I should probably shower,” I suggested nervously, standing up.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

My expression was obviously showing my current emotional state. “Umm, I-I guess,” I said, trembling.

“I’m joking,” he smiled.”

“You’re awful!” I exclaimed.

“I just wanted to see how you would react,” he continued laughing.

“I’m glad this is a joke to you,” I huffed.

He immediately rose from the bed and stood before me, lightly clutching my hand. “Nothing’s a joke about this relationship. I do wish you felt a little more comfortable with your feelings, but I know in time you will.”

“Do I have that time?”

“Haley, I’m more determined now than I’ve ever been that the plan will be stopped. I won’t allow it to happen. The others will see the truth and help me succeed in stopping this.”

“I hope so.”

“I promise it will be stopped,” he whispered in my ear.

I rested my head against his chest. “Don’t promise me something you know might never happen.”

“There isn’t much I can promise, but loving you until I no longer exist is one of them, and the other is my determination to stop the plan,” he assured. “Go take your shower and stop worrying,” he said, tenderly kissing the top of my head.

Lifting my head from his chest, I strolled into the bathroom and shut the door for a little privacy. I looked in the mirror, realizing what a wreck I was. My makeup had long disappeared from my face many tearful episodes ago and my hair was slightly ratty.

Water began spraying out from the shower head. After shutting the sliding glass door, I realized I hadn’t locked the bathroom door, and Andrew could easily come in. I giggled slightly as I remembered his unique ability to travel—a simple lock would not stop him.

I poured the soap on the loofa and quickly scrubbed my body, hastily rinsing off. After washing the remaining makeup from my face, I shut the water off.

I lightly dabbed my body dry with a towel. I looked over at the counter. I had forgotten to bring a change of clothes into the bathroom. This was going to be awkward.

Wrapping the towel around my body and ensuring a tight grip, I nervously turned the doorknob. When I pulled the door open, there was Andrew, lying on his left side, head perched on his hand, staring right at me. “Did you forget something?” he grinned.

I flashed him a dirty look and headed for my dresser, which was conveniently close. I swiftly pulled open a few drawers, grabbing the necessary items and slipped back into the bathroom.

I threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Quickly brushing my teeth, I flipped off the light and swung open the door. “That’s better,” I smiled.

“So modest.”

He casually pulled down the covers, and I slid underneath them. “My soul wouldn’t be so pure if I wasn’t.”

“Modesty has nothing to do with purity,” he said, shaking his head.

“I remember, but it’s fun to see that annoying expression on your face,” I giggled lightly.

“Wow, someone’s ornery tonight,” he smiled.

“Just trying to lighten the mood,” I winked.

“I like it,” he smiled.

“Can I ask you a question?” I yawned, trying to fight the urge to fall asleep just a little longer.

“Of course.”

“Why were you so upset when I asked you to erase my memory?” I asked.

After all we had been through today, this did seem inconsequential, but he acted so strange, that I had to know.

“Would your feelings not be hurt, if I asked you to forget you ever knew me?”

“Obviously, but you were so cold toward me.”

“I’m sorry,” he sighed. “But I really can’t erase your memory.”

“You don’t have that ability?”

“Yes, I do, but I can’t erase yours,” he admitted.

“Because of my abilities?’

“No.” His voice was flat.

“Then why did you offer, if you can’t?”

“I only did to ease your mind in the beginning, but I could never really do it.”

“Why?”

“Because it would alter your soul, and I could never do that.”

“Oh,” I murmured.

He lightly touched my arm. “I’d never do anything that would harm you in anyway.”

“I know,” I breathed.

“I love you more than anything,” he whispered, leaning in and softly touching his lips to mine.

No kiss was as perfect as his.

He slowly pulled his lips away, leaning his forehead against mine. We looked into one another’s eyes. “I love you, too.”

My head softly hit the pillow and total blackness filled the room as I quickly drifted off to sleep.

19

Branded

There I stood alone, feeling the slightly cool, crisp desert air brush across my face. Strands of my hair gently tickled my lips as they blew in the wind. I gazed down at my feet noticing the gray, hard concrete below. My back was to a large stone house. I was facing out toward a dark, endless night. There was no light and no sound besides the howling wind.

There were chills running down my arms and legs. I stood there motionless waiting for something to appear. My heart began racing as I heard a loud thumping sound.

“Hello,” I croaked.

There was no response. I stood there waiting.

“Hello!” I shouted.

Again silence.

The end of the world had come, and I was the only human left. Before I could panic, I felt a warm sensation grabbing my arms and shaking my body, but I could not see this force. The thumping sound resumed, and I could faintly hear a voice. “Haley!” the familiar male voice shouted.

My arms began flailing, as I struggled to open my eyes, almost falling out of my bed. Warm liquid touched my face.

“Haley,” the familiar male voice said once more.

This time I recognized the voice. I wiped my eyes trying to focus. “Dad?” He was standing over me. In his hands was a damp washcloth.

“I had to do something to wake you,” he said, flinging the washcloth into the bathroom.

I heard the plop of the towel as it hit the counter. “I must’ve been in a deep sleep,” I yawned.

“You must have. I was out there banging on the door for five minutes.” His voice was worried.

“I felt you shake my body, but I couldn’t seem to end the dream,” I said, trying to sound coherent.

“I didn’t shake you,” he said baffled. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I yawned again. “Must have just been the dream.”

“Come downstairs before you head off to the shelter,” he said, turning to the door.

“Oh crap, I almost forgot about the shelter,” I said, now panicked. “What time is it?”

“8:30 and it opens at 10 o’clock,” he said. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine. I’ll be down in a few,” I said, forcing myself out of bed.

He nodded, closing the door behind him.

“That was close,” another familiar male voice said.

I reactively screamed, snapping my head in the direction of the voice. Andrew was lying in the bed. “Shh,” he said softly. “Your dad’s coming back,” he said, vanishing right before my eyes.

My bedroom door flew open. “What’s the matter?” my father huffed, trying to catch his breath.

“Nothing, I went to step down on my foot and it was a sleep. I almost fell down,” I lied nervously.

“Haley, you scared the crap out of me.”

“Sorry.”

“Get ready and come down,” he said irritated.

“Okay,” I said, heading in his direction to get him out of my room a little quicker this time.

I shut the door behind him, waiting to hear his footsteps heading down the stairs. I heard the thumping of his shoes against the wooden stairs and quietly locked the door.

“Are you still here?” I whispered.

“Yes,” Andrew said, slowly reappearing back on the bed. He lay there with nothing more than a pair of white and blue plaid boxers and a white tank top that hugged his broad chest. I could see the ripples of his muscular arms as he leaned his body to one side.

“Did you leave?” I asked, unsure of how he returned so quickly and trying to get my mind off his utterly perfect body.