Eliza's Shadow (32 page)

“And one of them at least had wings. She flew at us
after she rose out of the water.” I added quickly.

Uncle Harold squinted at the ceiling searching the
archives of his mind.

“You say they knew your name. What did they say
exactly?” He asked without taking his eyes off the ceiling.

I hesitated and allowed my mind to wander back to
the frightening event. “They said… ‘Join us.’” I repeated with dread hearing
the high shrieks in my head.

“High voices I take it? Could break glass?” He
asked.

“Oh yes.” I answered and glanced over at Ren.

He nodded in agreement.

Uncle Harold’s gaze dropped abruptly from the
ceiling and fell upon mine.

“Nereids. I’m certain of it. That is what’s been
hunting you.” He declared decisively.

“The question is why? Why is a flock of nereids
asking you to join them, Eliza Gowan?” He asked with a hint of suspicion.

I shrank back in my chair and averted my eyes from
his sharp gaze.

“Nereids. I seem to remember reading about them.
Are they of the faerie kind?” Ren asked eagerly.

Uncle Harold’s gaze broke from my face and he
reclined in his seat, taking a sip of tea before responding.

“Yes. Nereids are a tribe of water faerie, an
ancient species with a highly evolved and complicated society. Their magic, I
daresay, is frightfully evolved, as well. Even the most skilled witch would be
taking a risk in challenging a nereid, particularly since they rarely act
alone. You see, they are a communal kind. Their shared thinking strengthens
each one’s individual power. They live in small kingdoms scattered about the
world and are always ruled by a queen.” He explained.

“Being such an advanced and, honestly speaking,
superior species to humans in most ways it is highly unusual for nereids to
hunt a human. Though they are notorious for kidnapping all manner of others,
most often elves or faeries of other tribes. They seek only those who possess a
flavor of magic they wish to acquire.” He said gravely.

“Why would they want me? How did they even find
me?” I asked.

Uncle Harold leaned across the table and squinted
at me again, his eyes studying mine as if searching for the answer.

“That, my dear, is the golden question now isn’t
it? Nereids do not pluck those they hunt out of thin air. As a matter of fact,
it is known that they only hunt particular families of humans for there are
only a few of the magical minority still in existence who possess strains of
magic the nereids have not mastered.” He said solemnly.

His words washed over me, my ears filled with the
pulse of my heart.

“They hunt whole families?” I asked, the words
barely escaping my lips as my breath stuck in my chest.

Uncle Harold’s gaze hardened. “Nereids have
tracked particular bloodlines for centuries. They have hunted the unfortunate
few left like a bloody scourge.” He spat with distain.

I sucked in a breath and asked a painful question.
“What do they do with the people they catch?”

“Ah, and that’s where they are particularly
cunning. They rarely outright steal a person. You see, unlike earthbound
humans, nereids can move freely between their watery realm and ours. When they
walk amongst us, they appear human, and that is the crux of their brilliance.
Most often, they lure a person into their realm with promises of gifts or
grandeur. They force them to sign contracts in exchange for magical powers. The
problem with that little arrangement is that once a human enters the realm of
the nereid their memories begin to disintegrate. Like paper in a well. For a
short time, the human may recall their purpose in the nereid’s watery realm but
before long they’ve forgotten all about who they are, where they came from, and
how to return. They spend the rest of their days in murky befuddlement, kept as
pets, as the nereids slowly suck their power away from them, making it their
own.”

Uncle Harold’s words were at once a blow to my
chest so powerful my breath left me with physical force but they also ignited a
spark of hope.

“What can we do to stop them from hunting Eliza?”
Ren asked defiantly.

Uncle Harold hunkered toward us again and spoke
conspiratorially.

“That will be tricky. As I mentioned, nereids are
quite powerful and even our best magic may be no match for their strength but
do not fear, my dear. We will find a solution.” He said protectively patting
the top of my hand resting on the table.

“In the meantime, best to stay clear of open
water. It is their world out there, not ours.” He warned and then yawned.
“Pardon me.” He said and glanced at the clock.

“I know that I promised you two a celebratory
dinner but please excuse an old man. It’s getting quite late for me and I
really must retire now. Shall we reschedule dinner for tomorrow evening?” He
asked hopefully.

“Of course, Uncle Harold.” Ren said.

“Yes, yes, well, goodnight.” Uncle Harold muttered
as he stood and shuffled out of the room.

After a few moments of pensive silence Ren and I
looked gravely at each other.

“I’m sorry, Eliza.” He added sullenly.

“Had I known Uncle Harold never went down there
anymore, I probably wouldn’t have agreed to go. But as it turns out if we’d
never gone down to that river, we wouldn’t have found out that nereids are
behind the Shadow that’s been stalking me. Knowing what they are has got to
bring me closer to finding a way of stopping them.” I said hopefully.

He glanced up furtively and asked, “So then you’re
not too disappointed in me for nearly getting you kidnapped?”

I shrugged and concealed a grin. “Not too
disappointed,” Then quickly added, “Well, I’m exhausted. I think I’ll head up
to bed now too.”

“Goodnight, Eliza.” He said sheepishly.

“Goodnight, Ren.” I said and left the room.

* * *

I carefully closed the door and leaned my back
against it surveying my bedroom. The clock on the nightstand read eight
o’clock. If I was fast, I could probably catch the last flight of the night to
the U.S.

Dashing around the room, I yanked clothes off
hangers in the armoire and items strewn on the floor tossing them hastily into
my suitcase. A frantic sense of urgency propelled my actions. In the flurry of
activity, I didn’t hear the door open.

“Eliza? What are you doing?” Ren asked alarmed.

He stood in the doorway, his face frozen with
surprise.

I spun around to face him. I had hoped to slip out
undetected but now I realized a confrontation couldn’t be avoided. I knew he
wouldn’t let me go without an argument and I didn’t have time to spare. What I
intended to do sharply contrasted with his protective feelings for me, as it
should, since in all truth, I risked losing myself in the venture. I sucked in
a breath sharply before responding.

“I’m going to Moco, Ren. I have to find my
mother.” I said.

“What are you talking about?” He asked looking
baffled.

I stopped packing and stared at him, willing him
to understand.

“Don’t you get it? The nereids hunt entire
bloodlines. They’re the ones who took my mother and now they want me. I have to
find her… or at least try.” I said firmly and resumed my packing.

“Eliza, facing the nereids without a plan is
suicidal. I can’t believe you’d do this after what happened tonight. Besides,
you heard what Uncle Harold said. They’re more powerful than us.” He said
starting across the room.

I thrust my hand in front of me, warning him to
stop. “Maybe they are but they want me for a reason, right? So I’ve got
something they don’t have. Ren, I’m going.” I said with conviction.

He looked defeated and scared.

“Look, I’m sorry for putting you in this
position.” My voice trailed as I considered how he must feel.

“Eliza, please… I can go with you.” He argued.

“Ren, I can’t let you do that. This is serious.
It’s not your fight and it wouldn’t be right for you to follow me into danger.”
I stammered.

Pharos or no pharos, I had to go and there was no
reason for him to risk himself for me. Especially when the chances of winning
were not in our favor.

Ren stood still and stared at me with a look of
confusion.

Tears had begun to well in the corners of my eyes.

“Look, I know you’re my pharos. I know you feel a
sense of duty to protect me and help me with all my problems but this time, you
have to let it go. No, I shouldn’t be facing the nereids and neither should
you. I’m sure the Heka Council would bar me from doing what I’m about to do if
they knew but I have to go. I have to try to help my mother… if she can be
helped. And if she can’t, that’s for me to figure out. They could have killed
you tonight. I can’t let you follow me into this fight. And you know… you
shouldn’t.” I said, slow rivulets of tears snaked down my cheeks.

Without waiting for him to respond, I quickly
brushed the tears off my face and hefted my suitcase off the bed. I walked
across the room to the door resisting the urge to look back, to search his face
for a reaction.

Dragging my leaden feet, I left the room silently
and shuffled down the dark hall with the hope that I could avoid waking Uncle
Harold. My plan was rudimentary at best. I needed to find a cab and make my way
to the airport. Then I would convince the airline, by any means necessary, to
exchange my return ticket for a route to Savannah, the closest airport to Moco.
From there, I would find Cora. If she knew enough to cast the shrouding spell
on me so many years ago, she might have other information that would help me
rescue my mother.

The blow from behind knocked the wind from my
chest and nearly stopped my heart. I couldn’t tell exactly how Ren had managed
to swoop me from my path and pin me against the wall, rendering me immobile. I
found myself gasping for air, breathing heavily into his face, centimeters from
my own.

His own breathing was ragged.

Stunned, I focused on regaining control of my
senses and quickly became aware of the intense heat and pressure of Ren’s body
against mine. His strategically placed feet allowed his legs to mirror mine.
His knees pinned my thighs firmly to the wall.

My stomach fluttered as I felt his abdomen press
urgently against mine. With his chest pulled back, his head angled sharply down
and his face rested gently against my cheek sending his breath down the length
of my neck. Adrenaline coursed hot through my veins setting my nerve endings on
fire. I should have been angry but all I could do was melt into him. My mind dulled
by the ecstasy of touch, I lost all sense of place and purpose.

His hot breath filled my ear and his lips lingered
softly against my skin. The palms of his hands held my arms flat against the
wall but began to slide from my wrists in release. His hands moved carefully
down my arms and came to rest on either side of my waist.

Though my arms were no longer bound they remained
frozen in position, pinned against the wall. I closed my eyes turning all of my
attention toward the sensation of Ren’s body against mine. The cicada hum
connecting our beings swelled and blossomed into a shell encasing us inside.
The rhythm of our breathing merged into a single rapid beat. I allowed myself
to float blissfully in the intimacy of connection. Yet the nagging guilt I
harbored and the painful urgency of my mission rose from the depths of my
heart, reminding me that I could not stay.

I moved first tentatively and then with more
confidence. My arms broke free of the wall. My hands found the ripple of Ren’s
ribs beneath his t-shirt, then slid slowly to rest on his waist. At my touch
his breath deepened and fingertips pressed into my skin.

His cheek brushed against my jaw as he turned his
face directly toward mine. The flames I’d seen in the river tunnel danced
fiercely within his pupils as he peered intensely into my eyes. There was no
doubt about his intention.

“We’d get in so much trouble…” I murmured
swallowing hard against the lump in my throat.

“Forget the Council’s rules, Eliza. I want to be
more than just your pharos… or your friend.” He said tensely, his fingers
pressing into my skin.

Every nerve in my body leapt at his words. But I
forced my eyes shut, blocking out the emotion radiating from his, willing
myself not to give in… for his sake.

“Ren, I have to go.” I whispered my lips moving so
close to his.

His breath caressed my mouth and chin.

“And I’m going with you.” He stated with dogged
conviction.

“No… you’re not.” I whispered, my voice catching in
my throat as if my heart had reached up, trying to hold it back.

Ren’s body tensed like a guitar string. He cursed
softly under his breath. I didn’t move but softened under his touch, letting
myself enjoy the nearness of him and wondered if I’d ever be this close to him
again. The thought of never holding him or feeling his hands on me was
shattering when just moments before, I hadn’t even considered it a possibility.

At once, I profoundly felt what I might lose.

When I opened my eyes the blinding emotion was
gone from Ren’s gaze, replaced by resignation. His hands fell weakly to his
sides and he stepped back, severing our physical union. When he released me, I
felt more alone than ever, like my very skin had been stripped from me.

He turned and snatched up my suitcase.

I stared questioningly at him.

“Then I’m seeing you to the airport, if nothing
else.” He said sadly.

We slipped down the stairs to the front door and
exited the house stealthily to conceal our departure from Uncle Harold. Yet,
just before the door met the latch, I thought I heard a whispered farewell
slide through the crack.

“
Bonne chance
. Eliza.”