Touched (5 page)

They found the boat, jumped into it, and Cooper quickly steered it out onto the lake. All went smoothly, as planned.

“Head northward,” Keira said clearly, her voice ringing like a bell over the smooth water. “We’re headed to Leelanau County, Michigan, going up towards Glen Lake.”

Cooper was delighted, his eyes gleaming as he steered.

Once off shore, they were finally able to unwind, as the boat moved smoothly forward. They headed north and the trees along the lake banks became thicker, sheltering them. Some of them still had a few autumn leaves left.

There was almost no one else on the lake. It was beautiful and freeing, as though they’d left the dizzy world behind and had the entire space to themselves. Now and then a cool breeze blew up, rocking the boat, reminding them that colder days were just ahead.

Keira stretched out close to him on the boat and smiled. He looked down at her from time to time and smiled back.

A huge wind whipped up suddenly then, pushing them forward even more quickly. At first it felt fearsome, then exhilarating, surrounding them with power, life and incredible energy.

“We are not going,” Cooper called out, “we are being taken.”

He laughed loudly as the boat raced through the waters. It was a fantastic journey they were on together. As they sailed in the wind, Keira felt more at one with him than ever before.

 Keira knew this exquisite time together wouldn’t last forever.
I love you
, Cooper, she kept saying to him in her mind.

“I love you too,” he called back to her in his mind, his words permeating every pore of her being. She took them in. She needed to hear them.

  Finally, the wind died down, and they sailed into an alcove.

“We’re close,” Cooper said. “I feel it.”

After a little while longer a dock appeared. They pulled the boat into it, anchored it, and got off.

There was no wind here. Instead, there were roads, surrounded by pine trees, along the side of a huge hill.

“My tribe is at the base of this hill. I feel it,” said Cooper.

They started walking along one of the roads, their hands clasped together.

Keira took a moment to feel the ground under her feet. It felt good. She took in the earth energy, needed it to balance again. As Cooper walked he closed his eyes, breathing in the bristling pines. He must feel as though he’s been dreaming, Keira thought.

“Open your eyes, Cooper,” she said softly then.

His eyes stayed close.

“It’s okay, we’re here now. You can open your eyes. You’re safe, I’m safe.”

Very slowly, Cooper opened his eyes. They were glowing warmly. Keira stared into them. He stared into her eyes as well. Their minds locked in gratitude and in awe.

The road they were walking on came to an end, leading to a slim, winding, unpaved trail.

“We’re here,” Cooper said. “It’s down that trail. For all of eternity, I will be grateful for this.”

Keira’s stomach clenched. She felt as though he were saying good-bye.

 “We have to walk down to the very end of the trail,” he continued. “They’re expecting us. The domes should be lit up.”

He let her hands go as they walked onto the trail, passing another sloping hill and ravines. They could make out the path clearly by the light of the stars.

“You’re sure they’re expecting us?” Keira asked.

He smiled. “I hope so. I don’t know about you, but I’m awfully hungry. We left before dinner.”

She laughed. Keira was relieved that he had said
us,
but could not help wondering whether she would be welcome in his tribe. Would she have to leave him at the domes?  A moment of anxiety gripped her. But as she weakened, Cooper became strong.

“We’re almost there now,” his voice was filled with strength and confidence. “I can feel it, too. Just follow me a few more paces.”

She moved next to him, took his hand, and the two of them walked to the end of the trail, breathing the amazingly fresh air which opened all their senses.

*

They arrived at the end of the trail easily, expecting to see the domes. But all that was there were dark, slimy rocks. Keira shivered. A few slippery lizards spread out on the rocks, looked up at them as they approached.

“We’re not welcome,” Cooper said, backing up. “It said if we didn’t belong here, all we would find would be these dark, slimy rocks.”

Keira felt a moment of despair.

“I’m the one who’s not welcome,” she said to Cooper.

“Ridiculous,” his voice grew louder. “You are the one who brought me here.”

Suddenly, Keira saw an indigo light flashing behind the rock. Her mind opened. Her vision cleared.

“Say that louder,” she commanded Cooper.

He spun around, looking at her as though she were mad.

“Do what I say! Make the proclamation. Loud and forceful into the night.”

“You are the one who brought me here,” his voice thundered, “we are both welcome. We need to be here.”

Keira felt the earth shake under their feet. “One more time,” she commanded, “Louder!”

Cooper’s voice rose up like a volcano, tearing all resistance away.

“We are both welcome!”

The words echoed and echoed and then, suddenly the earth parted, and tiny insects, like fireflies, flew around them, sparkling light, guiding their way. They walked a few yards closer, and there they stood - three huge, magnificent, golden, shining domes. They seemed to rise from the earth naturally, beckoning them.

Keira and Cooper walked up to the domes. A huge gong sounded as they approached, trees shook gently back and forth. Down behind the domes, a road sloped. From the bottom of the road, more light appeared. Then Keira saw two slender men, walking towards them. They were dressed in white pants, pale green shirts and had beautiful, yellow translucent eyes.

The men walked in harmony with one another. When they came in front of Keira and Cooper, they stopped at the same moment, and nodded.

“Welcome,” one of them said.

“Thank you,” said Cooper. He spoke without faltering or. His voice sounded loud, clear and filled with power.

The men did not look at Keira at all.

“We are here to take you to your mother,” the other man said.

“I am ready,” said Cooper.

Again, no mention of Keira. She began to feel as if she were becoming invisible, disappearing into the night. Would Cooper have to leave her here at the dome? Would the men let her in?

Keira scraped her throat loudly, breaking the spell, reminding Cooper that she was at his side.

Startled, he turned and looked at her.

 “I have not come alone,” Cooper said to them. “My companion is here with me at my side.”

The two of them raised their eyebrows and gazed at Keira.

“She brought me here,” Cooper said definitively. “Every step of the way.”

What would Cooper do, if they rejected her? Keira began to tremble.

“I will not enter without her,” Cooper announced urgently.

The men shivered a moment, whispered to one another, bowed slightly and acquiesced.

 “All right,” they said then in unison. “Your mother is most anxious to see you.”

“And I her,” Cooper shivered as well.

With her hand in his, Cooper and Keira followed the men down the ravine, and through the large, golden doors of the powerful compound.

CHAPTER 6

A huge marble foyer greeted them as they entered the compound. The walls were covered with red, velvet cloths and wooden benches lined the room. Three large silver doors were placed evenly along the sides.

“Follow us,” the men said, lifting their hands, causing one of the huge doors to open.

Keira and Cooper walked through the door, along a marble hallway and up a flight of stairs. When they got there, the men turned their heads and looked at her, uneasily. Clearly, she was a complication they weren’t prepared for.

“Please wait a moment,” they said to Cooper. “We will check with your mother and see if she wishes to see you alone.”

Keira breathed deeply, looking around. The place was majestic and immaculate, and even though it was dark out, it was glowing in here.

 When the men left, Cooper turned to Keira. “It’s awesome?” he said.

Although Keira felt uneasy, she saw that Cooper’s breathing had changed, that he was where he belonged, deeply at home. “This is where you were born,” she said softly.

Cooper smiled in a way that she’d never seen him smile before. A smile of deep ease and recognition.

In a moment, the men reappeared. Again, they looked only at Cooper.

Keira flinched.

“Naturally, your mother wishes to see you alone. We will show your companion to a room of her own.”

Away from Cooper? Keira felt the blood drain from her face. And where would he be sent? Were they going to take him away from her? She gave Cooper a glance filled with trepidation.

Cooper understood and responded immediately.

 “I’d rather have my companion with me,” Cooper said then, startling both the men.

“But your mother’s wishes?”

“Please tell my mother that without Keira, I would not be here.”

Keira’s heart pounded. Just as she was growing, so was he. New loyalties were developing, deeper awareness. With every pore of her body, she gave the universe thanks. He cared, he protected, she wasn’t alone.

The two men swirled around and left to deliver the message to Cooper’s mother. In a few moments they returned, nodded towards Keira and ushered both of them in, through a huge, shining door into Cooper’s mother’s room.

*

Ilyana, the head of the Torch Vampires, stood before them, flawless and shimmering. Dressed in a long, white gown with silver sparkles, ageless in her perfection and beauty, she extended her arms to Cooper.

“My son,” Ilyana breathed, taking in every aspect of who he had become. “My long lost son –.” She seemed momentarily overcome.

Cooper walked towards her slowly, tiny steps, head erect.

Keira wished she could see his face as he approached his exquisite, dazzling mother. Keira had worried that her presence in the room might be interference, but Cooper and his mother were so caught in the moment between them, it was as if she were not here at all.

Cooper put his hand into his pocket, drew out the ring, put it in his palm and extended his open hand to his mother.

“The ring!” she breathed, mesmerized.

It glistened wildly, throwing rainbows of the jewel’s colors up on the crystal ceiling.

“Our link forever,” said Ilyana. “And I have the sixth stone.” The two of them stared at one another, as if lost in an ancient dream. “I will give you the stone. Finally, finally, the ring will be complete.”

Cooper stood up slowly, and he and his mother embraced. A long, painful embrace with endless memories floating between them. Finally, Cooper put his head down on her shoulder, nestled it in, kept it there.

Keira was stunned. She realized that in this place, he was safe from the Shadow Vampires. The Torchs were a totally different breed. Emotion was permissible, valued even.

“I am sorry, so sorry,” Ilyana cooed, “all those years you were away from me. It couldn’t be otherwise, though.”

“I understand,” Cooper murmured.

Ilyana continued, “You had to be trained first hand to understand what darkness can do. You had to be tested. All these years, I waited and wondered and sent love to you. I sent messengers.”

Messengers?  Keira wondered if she was one of them. Had Ilyana sent her? She had no idea. Ilyana had not once even looked her way or acknowledged her presence in the room. Instead Keira felt as if she were entirely disposable now. She felt herself becoming invisible again, disappearing, worthless.

Ilyana and Cooper went on and on, talking, whispering, absorbing one another. It seemed as though hours were passing and that Cooper had forgotten she was waiting here. Keira suddenly felt exhausted, slid down and sat on the floor near the wall. She started to imagine all kinds of things until thankfully, a deep wave of exhaustion overcame her. She closed her eyes for a moment and swiftly fell asleep.

When she awoke, Cooper was standing over her.

 “Wake up, Keira,” he said. “My mother wants to meet you.”

Keira opened her eyes slowly. Where was she? The ceilings were made of crystal and there red velvet curtains all around. Then she remembered. Swiftly, she got up, stood beside Cooper and walked over to Ilyana. Keira approached her as though it were the most ordinary, natural meeting. As though she had every right to be here with Ilyana’s precious son.

Ilyana took two steps back as Keira approached. Her eyebrows arched and she stared at Keira.

“Thank you for bringing my son home,” Ilyana said, distant.

“You’re welcome,” Keira said. She didn’t like the tone of her voice, but she wasn’t afraid of her either.

 “I met Keira in Everstock at the high school.”

Ilyana took another step back. The thought of her son at a high school for humans seem to repulse her.

“Keira saved me from the Shadow attack at the cottage in Everstock.” Cooper was doing his best to build up her up, get his mother’s approval, but it wasn’t working.

“She saved you? Well, that’s something, anyway. “ Ilyana finally relented, staring more deeply at Keira for a few moments, then turning back to Cooper swiftly, her large eyes flashing.

 “You don’t know which tribe this young woman emanates from,” Ilyana was calling Cooper to attention. “You don’t know the source of her powers.”  Ilyana smiled oddly then, showing tiny pearly teeth. “There are all sorts of powers and all sorts of tribes. This is such a dangerous time now in the midst of war. We can’t discount the presence of spies.”

Again, Ilyana spoke as if Keira were not present.

“I am not a spy,” Keira spoke loudly, resenting the accusation.

“Then who are you?” Ilyana demanded.

Keira could not respond.

Cooper came close to Keira then, put his arms around her.

Ilyana shuddered. “I will assign a room for her to rest in for now,” she said.

Assign me a room? Keira thought. Apart from Cooper?