Divine Mortals (31 page)

I waited a while longer, not sure how many minutes ticked by, hidden behind the veil of willows until I felt my hands and feet go numb. Eventually when I was satisfied she wasn’t coming back and I was too numb to stay any longer I pushed off, emerging from the shadows of the trees back into the sun. Stiff and slow from the cold the going was far more difficult than when I had crossed earlier. Eventually I made it and hauled myself out, grabbing my towel I wrapped it tightly around myself sarong style, I didn’t muck around, sweeping up my clothes and mobile, I kicked on my flip flops and ran awkwardly up the narrow bank to the car. My feet squelched noisily as I ran and I had to be careful not to slip on my rubber thongs. Leaping into the old red hatch I locked the door behind me, I was dripping onto the seat but didn’t care.

It took me a moment to get my breath back and my hands shook from a combination of cold and fear as I tried to put the key in the ignition.

The car roared into life and I pulled a U-Turn, speeding back up the farm track towards the house.

I couldn’t believe she had followed me, what did she want from me? Shouldn’t she be looking for Robert? I tried to gather my thoughts, to think clearly despite being almost paralyzed with fear.

The selfish part of my mind kicked in, I didn’t want Robert to know she was here, I couldn’t stand the possibility of him going away any sooner than he had to. The rational side of my brain told me that perhaps that was what was supposed to happen, Robert was different to everyone else, well almost everyone. A new bout of shivering came on as I thought of Allison. Perhaps his destiny had already been set. He was not meant to be mine, this much was becoming obvious.

The thought of Robert leaving hurt more then I imagined possible, I was vaguely aware of my tears as they began to run down my cheeks, dripping warmly onto my knees. Robert had become such a big part of my life since I had come here, actually the biggest part, just the thought of walking away from him made me feel as if my heart was being ripped from my chest.

Realization hit home like a jack hammer, Robert
would
leave me, there was no choice, they would have him, he was destined for that, whatever that was, not for me. It didn’t matter that he was my soul mate, he would be gone and neither of us would be able to do anything about it.

My vision blurred with tears that I didn’t want to cry, not yet.

I came up the track to the house a little too fast, the car fishtailed sideways on the gravel as I turned sharply in front of the garage, coming to a halt with the tires sending up a spray of dirt. Dust flew around me as I leapt from the car, still dripping wet and wrapped in my towel. I ran, barefoot now, up the porch stairs and through the back door to my bedroom, slamming the door quickly behind me. I fell back against it, shrinking slowly until I was sitting on the ground. Tears rolled silently from my eyes and into the hair that was still plastered against my cheeks.

I took a deep breath.

“Ava!” his voice broke through my tears, full of worry and alarm, I jumped in fright, huddling back against the door before the rational side of my brain told me it was okay. I brushed my arm across my eyes, wiping away the tears, I didn’t want him to see me crying.

I heard his feet land gently near my window and a split second later I was lifted off the floor, as though I weighed nothing, he held me tight in his lap oblivious to the fact I was soaking wet.

“What’s happened?”

“Nothing,” I sniffed,

“Nothing doesn’t do
this
to people, nothing doesn’t cause a bout of Nascar driving,” worry etched his voice, “Did someone hurt you?” he growled, his entire body tensed.

“No,” I spoke quickly, trying to compose myself, I looked at him through my tangled hair, his head was cocked towards the window, a look of frustration on his face.

“Dammit,” he spoke so quietly I could hardly hear him, “Shawn’s looking for me.” he was torn,

“I’m okay,” I said peeling myself from him, his shirt wet from where he held me, he didn’t seem to notice.

“You’re not okay,” I could hear his frustration, “Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m fine, really.” he didn’t believe me, his eyes narrowed as he took in my appearance.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” he half stood, looking unsure as to whether he should stay or go.

“Ava, are you inside?” Pops voice rung down the hallway, I tensed and so did Robert.

I turned on the best smile I could muster.

“Really I’m okay, I’ll talk to you tonight. Now go before we are both in more trouble then we’re worth.”

“Ava,” Pop called again, I looked back towards my closed door,

“I’ll be out in a minute Pop,”

When I turned back he was gone.

I sighed deeply, my thoughts in a jumble that matched the knots in my stomach, toweling my hair dry and throwing on my clothes I trudged out to speak to Pop.

After I had finished with Pop I went back to my room, my mind was still turning in circles, I had more questions than answers at the moment, something I should probably have been used to by now. Flinging my door shut behind me, my heart stopped and my breath died in my throat.

Allison turned from where she had been admiring herself in my mirror, her smile grew as she took in my disheveled damp appearance.

“Hello Ava.”

Prancing over to my bed she perched elegantly on the end of it, the silence dragged, I didn’t answer, I couldn’t, I could barely breathe let alone speak. I swept my tangled hair behind my ears, finally managing to take a deep breath, I tried to look relaxed but I was afraid the shake in my hands would give me away.

She looked at me with interest.

“I see your weren’t expecting me,” she paused, “trying to drown yourself at the river rather than speak with me was a little bit of an overreaction though wouldn’t you say?
And
might I add a little insulting, I always considered myself to be excellent company.” She looked thoughtful for a moment then shook her head and carried on,

“Anyway, I decided that maybe I should come and find you in a setting where you wouldn’t try and commit suicide,” She flicked her long auburn curls over her back, her smile turning nasty.

“Although that
would
make this situation a lot easier.” She smirked, “Take a seat, I think we need to chat.” She patted the space on the bed next to her.

“I’m fine standing,” My voice was shaky, Allison shrugged,

“Suit yourself,”

“Why are you here Allison?”

“No Ava, the question is why are
you
here and what do you think you’re doing?”

“What the hell do you mean?” I growled, surprised at the strength in my voice.

Her eyes searched mine for a long moment before she sighed,

“Robert has been following the path set out for him since he was a child.” her voice was reminiscent, recalling fond memories, her eyes drifted past me until I knew she was seeing the past.

“He grew as he was meant to, learnt early on to disguise the things that made him different, his path stretched before him as it should,” her tone suddenly dropped, turning icy as her eyes focused on me once more.

“And then
you
.”

I swayed a little under her gaze, her eyes burned into mine and I felt completely unable to hide under her scrutiny, it was as if she could see all I was, every thought, every feeling.

“You have to leave, you have to break off whatever
this
is.” She gestured towards me with a flick of her hand, discounting me as unimportant.

“I don’t have to do a damned thing.” I spoke calmly, “I
will
be with Robert as long as he wants me to be, what gives you the right to demand anything of him, or I, or for that matter, to say what he does or with who?”

Her laughter surprised me, high and loud, I cringed a little in fear of someone hearing, my eyes flicked to the door, I hoped Pop was outside again.

“Well how sweet,” she sneered, within a heartbeat her face was only inches from my own, her movements so similar to Roberts it was totally disconcerting.

“What you two are doing
is
damned,” she hissed, “You just cannot comprehend the extent, let this be a warning.”

I took an unconscious step backwards, away from her hard gaze, my back hit the wall. Allison stood her ground staring down at me with cold green eyes, her skin so porcelain you could almost see the blood pumping beneath it.

“You
are
in danger by being with Robert, he
cannot
be with you, end of story, no ifs, buts or maybes,” her expression transformed into a sympathetic smile.

“Listen to me Ava, You make him weak, an easy target for the unseen. There are plenty more guys out there, and one of those are for you, But Robert isn’t, he’s ours – distance yourself or we will do it for you and trust me
that
would not be a pleasant experience for either of you.”

Her head pulled back slightly, her gaze lost for a moment, I knew from seeing Robert do this that she was listening to something. Her smile grew again and she looked back at me.

“It seems I’ve been heard, you know you really should tell him to mind his own business, It can’t be any fun when he listens to
all
your conversations.”

With that she turned and leapt in one smooth, impossibly fast motion, disappearing through my window in a swirl of ivory skin and glistening red hair, her laugh lingering behind her.

I knew he was coming, I tried to compose myself as best I could, not the easiest thing to do when you had just been threatened in your own home. Rushing to the bathroom I slammed the door, it took me a moment to lock it, my fingers shook so badly. I needed to buy a little more time before I saw him, I needed to try and get my thoughts straight or at least calm myself before he was here. I dove into the shower and tried to relax beneath the heat of the spray. It seemed impossible, Allisons words played over and over in my mind.

All too soon I finished and climbed out, realizing to late that I hadn’t bought any clean clothes with me and I wasn’t exactly keen to put my damp ones on again.

Wrapping the towel carefully around me, making sure I was decently covered, I opened the door to my room.

It was empty.

I stood for a moment, shocked, my hair dripping coolly down my back.

Where was he?

I had no doubt that he would be coming, Allison had said that he was and if anyone knew it would be her. But where was he now?

Walking slowly to my window I peered out towards the sheds and each way up and down the porch outside.

Nothing.

Leaning my forehead against the cool wood of the window sill I closed my eyes. What if he had met Allison as she left. What would he do? More to the point what would she do.

Shit, why wasn’t he here? I wasn’t ready to face him, I still didn’t know what I would say when I saw him, yet I wanted him here with me, my entire being yearned for him to be here.

This was all spiraling out of control, I didn’t know what to think anymore.

Roberts future had been mapped for him, it had been destined since his birth, a future that was as fixed for him as mine wasn’t for me.

A future that was not supposed to include me, and full of those willing to take drastic action to make sure his future remained without me.

Where was he.

“Dammit Robert!” I spoke harshly, slamming my hand down on the window sill.

“Ava…” Nans voice sounded from the kitchen, “Dinners up sweetheart.”

I sighed, closing my eyes, letting the breeze wash over me. I wouldn’t think right now, I couldn’t. Wherever the hell Robert was I was sure he wouldn’t stay away for long, not now that he knew about my visitor. I would just have to sit back and wait.

H
e didn’t show up that night, I left my window open, my lamp on, waiting. I watched the hours tick by and the house around me grow silent as Nan and Pop retired for the evening. But I didn’t call him. I couldn’t, something stopped me, there was a reason he wasn’t here, I wasn’t sure what it was, but a feeling of dread was starting to creep in, to gnaw around the edges of the barrier I had put up to protect myself.

I woke later from the cold, shivering as I pulled the covers from the floor where I had kicked them. He was there, his silhouette dark against the night sky where he stood outside my window.

“Hey,” I spoke softly, squinting into the night, unable to make out anything except the shape of him.

“Can I come in?” his voice was equally soft, but there was something else. I nodded, knowing that he could see me even if I couldn’t see him.

I heard his feet land softly on the carpet as I leant over to switch on my lamp, instantly lighting the room in a soft yellow glow.

“You don’t have to ask to come in you know,” My voice not much more than a whisper, “you normally don’t…”

He didn’t answer, his eyes burning into mine, my heart skipped a beat, but for the wrong reasons, something was very wrong, I could feel it.

“Where were you this afternoon? Allison said…” he flinched as I spoke her name,

“Allison said you were coming.”

“I was.”

“And…”

He turned, pacing away from me, running his fingers through his hair,

“And then I couldn’t,” he said, turning back to face me for a second, pain flared somewhere in the depths of his dark eyes before he continued to pace.

I shook my head, confused, what did he mean?

He watched me, his own expression confused and angry as he marched silently backwards and forwards next to my bed, his hair stood on end from where he had been running his hands through it in frustration. He looked drawn and worried and resigned, it was the resigned part that made my blood run cold and my hands shake.

“I’m so sorry Ava,” he was next to me in a flash, his searing hot hands grasping mine, a solid link between him and I.

“What are
you
sorry for?”

He let go almost instantly, pushing me back a little so he could look at me, the unguarded pain in his eyes made my heart ache.

“I can’t put you in danger like this, I didn’t think it would lead to you being threatened, I thought the danger would be mine, not yours.” His voice rose a little in anger and revulsion before he dropped it again.