Shadow's Dangers (28 page)

“Even though I’m sure you’re convinced otherwise, you and your brother have brought good things in my life, too. Since the death of Tess, having lost the only family I had left and that I cared for, I had the feeling that surviving was getting harder and harder. But recently, I’m finally living again and that is thanks to you, Garreth and Hayden.”

Eventually, she smiled. A real smile that couldn't be more sincere.

“Thank you, Deliah. I needed to hear that.”

In response, I smiled, too. Suddenly, something came to mind.

“Oh my God, I don't even know who you’re going to the party with!” I exclaimed suddenly.

“Nobody. I’ll go in a few minutes.”

She, Leighton Wates, probably the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life hadn’t been invited by someone? No, I might have misunderstood, it was certainly that.

“You mean you’re going to join him there? But how are you gonna make it, as Garreth and you have only one car and he takes it toni--”

“There is no one, Deliah,” she interrupted me kindly, amused by my tirade.

“What? This is ridiculous! Any high school boy would give anything to have one date with you!”

“Many of them actually offered to accompany me. I declined all their offers.”

“Many” probably meant that there was a crowd, but Leighton wasn't the type to show off or have an immeasurable esteem for herself, contrary to her brothers. Even though I loved Garreth, I had to admit that sometimes, he was worse than Travis when it came to his ego. However, I didn't understand why she had accepted no offer.

“Why? What's the...”

“I can't,” she said, cutting me off again. “It would be a betrayal.”

“A betrayal? Wherein? To whom?”

“A betrayal to Darnell. My boyfriend. Actually, I believe that the human equivalent of what we are would rather be husband and wife. He's in our community...and I’m here.”

I stared at her, speechless. Leighton had a husband. I had never heard his name before. She had never told Hayden and me. Not even to me, after I learned the truth about her and her brother. Why? I probably should have felt offended or betrayed but obviously, the subject was painful to talk about. Understandable since she had to be separated from him to watch over me.

On a sudden impulse, I went to her and took her in my arms, even if it wasn't my thing usually. I saw in her eyes how much she missed Darnell and how it was difficult for her to speak about him.

“I’m sorry I forced you, somehow, to tell me about him. I’m also sorry that because of me, you’re away from him.”

“Don't say that!” she replied, moving away from me, looking stern.

I was surprised, not expecting this reaction from her and not being accustomed to seeing Leighton with a hard expression.

“It’s not your fault if I am separated from him. I always had missions that forced me to quit the community for a long time. Even if I’m here, I see him from time to time when he comes to visit us. Besides, even if I couldn't see him, it wouldn't be your fault, because you never wanted to be involved in this. Only the
Enimae
after you are responsible for this.”

She hadn't asked to be assigned to protect my family from what Garreth had told me but I refrained from reminding her of that.

“While I understand this is difficult for you to talk about Darnell, you should have told me from the start that you wouldn't go with anyone to the party. I would have agreed to go to the damn party immediately to avoid you having to be alone in the midst of all those teenagers.”

My remark amused her, apparently, because she rolled her eyes before shaking her head slightly, smiling.

“Ah, Deliah...you’re always so nice with everybody. Believe me, an evening with teenagers doesn’t scare me. Instead, it's rather entertaining to see all the things that some can do during parties. You know, there are always those idiot guys with bets related to alcohol or those who enjoy playing strip poker. I asked to participate once and, trust me, you should have seen their faces at that very moment. They immediately made room for me at the table, believing they were going to get me naked. In the end, it's they who finished half-naked or completely naked for one of them. Too bad, there wasn't much to see.”

I exploded with laughter, with the scene in mind. Imagining Leighton doing that kind of thing was something straight out of
The Twilight Zone
, but it was funny. I would have to find a way to see that with my eyes, once, just to have a good laugh.

“Well, I think I should go now. My brother is impatient when it comes to you and he may arrive here before you tell him to come, so if I don't want to end up dead when he gets here, I’d better go.”

“Why would he kill you?”

She gave me an eloquent look, as if it were obvious.

“Because he will want to strangle me when he finds out that your evening for two will be shortened, and due to me.”

I laughed again. She wasn't wrong. Leighton didn't miss a beat and left, telling me that we would see each other again later. The front door had just snapped closed when I pulled out my cell phone. I quickly wrote a message to Garreth to tell him he could pick me up. Ready and willing to wait outside to get some fresh air, I grabbed my jacket, locked up and went to sit on the old wooden bench placed under the porch. It took less than a minute for my phone to beep and vibrate, signaling a new message which I immediately looked at. “Hope you have some warm clothes on. G.” I smiled, amused by the protector's role he sometimes took a little too much to heart, while sending him a message to tell him I did. However, my smile faded as quickly as it had appeared when I realized something important.
Ugh. We’re going outdoors.
I had thought that something would perhaps happen tonight, as he had said we would stay at his house but obviously, it wasn't in his plans anymore. This wasn't surprising at all, since he was always considerate of me and had already wanted to give me some time before we got together. I had to admit, it was probably better. I didn't know how I would have reacted if he wanted more than our usual make out session. I just knew I didn't want to have my first time before going to a party that was perhaps the last time I’d share with all my friends.

A few minutes later, the red Mustang emerged from the darkness in a recognizable sound, reminding me of something like the roar of a feline. I watched Garreth make a remarkable drift in my driveway. He wasn't the type to show off with his car, although he wasn't able to resist the call of speed. He was always careful. It was probably his impatience, as noted by his sister, which was showing in his behavior.

Waiting for him to get out of the car, I didn't make the slightest movement. But nothing happened. Usually having just parked, he was already out to get to me. Now, he didn't move until I was close to the car. He approached me slowly and without even greeting me, he pulled me to him and kissed me with strength and readiness. First surprised, I needed a few seconds before responding to his kiss and with less enthusiasm than usual. Perhaps it was the result of his excitement at the prospect that we would be alone for the first time, but I didn't like it when he was like that. When I was no longer able to bear it, I pushed him away. I welcomed the air seeping into my lungs. He stared at me, visibly proud of his performance. Yet there was nothing to be proud of, in my point of view. Even if I was going to keep quiet about it because I could understand his enthusiasm, I had not in the least enjoyed that kiss.

“Where do you want to take me?” I asked him, this question burning my lips for a moment, before adding, unable to help myself: “I thought we were supposed to stay home, enjoy the fact that your house is empty.”

I blushed slightly against his eloquent look. It came out completely wrong.

“You have planned to do something special? No, because if you prefer, I--”

“No!” I hurried to interrupt him. “Whatever your plan is, it’s fine by me.”

Make him forget his idea to go home, instead, when I wasn't ready to do anything, it was stupid for sure.

“I don't know why, I figured you’d say that, my love.”

I couldn't help but look strangely at him.

“‘My love’? That’s new,” I said.

He offered me a crooked smile.

“I thought it was better suited for what you meant to me.”

I gave him a smile, which further accentuated his. He motioned for me to get in the car. He climbed in while I went around and sat on the passenger seat and put my safety belt on. He started the engine and then we took to the road.

“Where are we going?” I asked, throwing him a glance.

“A beautiful meadow in Chugach State Park with a breathtaking view of the Turnagain Arm estuary and the mountains. Trust me, you’ll like it.”

In response, a curious sensation won me over. I didn't know why but his words seemed familiar. Or at least, they reminded me of something. But what? I didn’t know.

“It's good we go there because, actually, I’ve changed my mind about the party.”

He jerked his head toward me and stared at me, his eyebrows raised.

“I'd like to go,” I told him. “Not all night but at least an hour or two. I know...”

“We'll go there,” he interrupted me abruptly. “But after I have shown you the place I told you about.”

“Wouldn't it be easier to go to the party, first? After all, it’s closer,” I said, feeling that I was pushing the envelope way too far because his face tensed.

“No,” he replied in a final tone.

I didn't insist, for fear of ruining the atmosphere even more. For twenty minutes, the trip took place in a heavy silence. This could have gone on, but a murder of crows suddenly appeared out of nowhere and flew very close to the car. I thought they might crash against the windshield, causing Garreth and I to have an accident. I screamed, in spite of myself. However, nothing happened. They just continued on their way and we did the same. Damn, these animals had become a phobia, thanks to Travis! With a hand on my heart, I watched them as they flew away. I turned to Garreth and for one second, I perceived a glow in his eye that made me shudder, before his gaze softened.

“You alright?”

I nodded. The silence continued, which allowed me to avoid looking at Garreth. Now I was going crazy. I saw the crows and the next moment, I thought there was something wrong with my boyfriend. I had to pull myself together and quickly.

“Here we are, Beautiful,” he told me around forty minutes later.

I was so lost in my thoughts, trying to pass the time that seemed terribly long that I jumped at the sound of his voice. I fought hard not to observe him. I wasn't sure of being able to react normally in front of him and he would understand immediately that something was wrong with me if my eyes crossed his. I took off my seat belt and opened my door. Something about this car suddenly gave me the feeling of suffocation. I took a breath of fresh air and slowly, calm returned to me. Garreth left the car too and beckoned me to follow. We had to walk about ten minutes to get to the spot he wanted to show me. However, I didn't regret the change in our plans when I saw it. The meadow was there and it seemed gigantic. It was like a paradise between two pieces of forest. There were flowers everywhere and a splendid view of the mountains surrounding us and the Turnagain Arm estuary.

“You like it?”

His tone was warm and affectionate as he wrapped his arms around my waist. I suddenly felt better. Apparently, my futile fears and paranoid dementia had finally dissipated. I returned to myself.

“It’s... indescribable. This is perfect,” I whispered, spellbound.

Suddenly, with this view in front of me, the thing that bothered me when he told me where we were going hit me hard. My nightmare. The one where I was in the meadow with him, during which I saw another side of himself. The events of the evening took another dimension between his different attitude and the ravens. I turned slowly in his arms to face him.

“I was wondering when you would get that something was wrong,” he declared in a mocking tone.

His eyes were glued to mine and he seemed to...gloat? My heart missed a beat for this look, I had already seen. But not on Garreth's face. On Travis’s.

“What's going on,
my love
? Looks like you’re scared.”

“I...”

No other word came out. I was dumb with horror. The danger was there, I saw it in his pupils and felt it intensely. Only I couldn't believe it. It was Garreth, good God! He couldn't hurt me!

“You, what?”

“It can't be true!
You
can't be Garreth!”

He laughed, looking arrogant as ever and at that moment, I was convinced that it was Travis who was behind it. I didn't know how he did it, but it was him. Having had this revelation, I tried to escape by racing in the direction of the car. While running, I took my phone out of my pocket to try to call someone, anyone, to help me. I could only hope and pray that I could get reception in this area...or that Garreth wouldn’t stand in my way suddenly. Before crashing against his body, I stopped and spun around, determined to escape at all costs. The next second, I found myself lying face down in the mud. I was unable to get up for something kept me pinned to the ground in a painful grasp.

“It's useless to flee. If it’s not me, it's they who will get their hands on you. Your fate is sealed and you can't change it.”

Even though I was sure it wasn't my Garreth, his cold yet familiar voice snatched a tear from my eye. Travis was the worst monster the Earth had ever seen. How could he use his brother like this and try to make me believe that it was he who wanted to kill me?

“Garreth and Leighton will understand that you’re behind it, Travis. They will find my track and save me and they’ll kill you for what you tried to do. But it's not too late. Let me go and I won't say anything,” I said, trying to reason with him to save my skin.

It was my only tactic because Garreth and Leighton couldn't come to my rescue. And Lord, I didn't know how I would survive when another familiar voice said: “You see, I doubt I’ll risk anything if I kill you tonight or not.”

My heart felt like it had stopped beating while my blood became ice in my veins. Travis came to talk to me, only his voice wasn't close to me. I had believed until now that he was holding me down. Suddenly, the weight upon me disappeared and I was unceremoniously placed back on my feet.