Voices of the Sea (14 page)

Chapter Sixteen

A
lone, Lora mulled over the previous day’s events in her mind. She recognized the extreme exhaustion she felt was due to her poor night’s sleep and the frequent nightmares. Lora dreamed she watched her mother drown in the sea, but she could not move from the sand, as if she were frozen to it. She could only scream her mother’s name as she gasped for air, flailing around in the black water; even the ocean refused to answer her pleas for help. Lora’s father woke her as she called for her mother, and soothed her back to sleep, brushing her forehead with his hand as he whispered comforting words.

When she awoke this morning, she saw her father sleeping in the green armchair next to the window; in his sleep, his face looked even more aged and worn than the night before. She readied herself without waking him, creeping around the room, staying as silent as possible to let him sleep. Picking up her phone from the nightstand, Lora found a message from Ryan, asking her to call him first thing in the morning. Word of Lora’s dangerous encounter the night before must have spread quickly.

“Hi,” she said when Ryan answered, his voice still heavy with sleep.

She could hear him catapult out of bed through the phone. “Are you okay?” he asked, the sleepy sound leaving him. “Are you hurt?”

Lora delighted at the concern in his voice. “No,” she said, “I’m fine.” She heard a great deal of background rustling on the phone as Ryan spoke.

“I’m coming over right now. You shouldn’t be left alone anymore.”

Lora realized the anger from the night before had left her. She’d been so furious with Ryan, but now . . . well, now, she only had a burning desire to see him. Devin was right—she had no right to put the entire Clan in danger. The Sons of Orpheus were too dangerous, and they were better off leaving Pacific Grove. Ryan’s presence had only solidified the need to keep them safe. She’d acted so vicious on the boat. One near-death experience and a few hours of sleep made her realize how poorly she had behaved, and she needed to make it up to him.

Another notion lingered in her mind, refusing to go away. Ryan was a Siren. She didn’t have to stay away from him anymore.

Lora couldn’t deny the longing she felt for him. His body close to hers stayed foremost on her mind. “I’ll leave the door unlocked,” she said.

“No,” Ryan said. “Keep it locked. You need to be careful. I’ll knock when I get there. “Lora hung up and glanced in the mirror. She found her cheeks were flushed, and her hair hung wildly about her head. Quickly, she pulled a comb through her tangled brown hair, brushed her teeth, and dabbed on a bit of makeup. Grabbing her jeans off the floor, Lora pulled them on and changed her shirt to a form-fitting black sweater. She finished off the outfit with silver flats. Satisfied, she closed the door behind her so as not to wake her father and skipped down the stairs, her energy returning.

Ryan’s Jeep pulled into her driveway minutes later. Lora opened the door to let him in, welcoming the smell of the ocean which entered with him. For a moment the two stood, awkwardly facing one another, silent as the cold morning, until Ryan rushed forward and held her in his arms, burying his face in her neck. His body felt warm and hard, yet melted into her as they embraced. Lora breathed him in.

“When I heard you’d been attacked . . .” His voice cracked and trailed off, his embrace tightening.

“I really am all right,” she whispered, pulling away from him so she could peek into his dark eyes. “They didn’t hurt me.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened. “They tried to kill you,” he hissed. “If they had hurt you, I would have hunted them down and murdered them all.” His face softened for a moment as he pushed a loose strand of hair from her face. “I might yet,” he added. “I couldn’t stand it if they killed you. I’ve lost so many people already.”

They didn’t have to keep their feelings at bay any longer. Lora’s heart beat hard, his words passionate and joyous to her ears. Her feelings were strong for Ryan, and grew stronger every minute. Every touch sent her further over the edge, and the suddenness of her longing both frightened and thrilled her. She’d only met Ryan a month ago, yet deep inside she felt as if he’d always been a part of her soul. She couldn’t deny their chemistry, as if there were some electric current running through both of them, connecting their souls, binding them together.

Sighing, Ryan took a step away, though he did not let go of her hands as he spoke. “I’m sorry,” he said, shuffling his feet. “I should have told you the truth from the beginning, but Devin asked me to keep everything a secret until she could make sense of it all and introduce me to the Clan.” His eyes stole a glance at her, but were filled with shame. “Deceiving you was the worst thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Lora observed him with new eyes. Her treacherous body leaned into his, unable to hide her longing, her desire to be close to him, and perhaps something deeper. “I forgive you,” she said, stepping close, kissing his neck on the vampire-bite freckles. Lora heard him catch his breath as she kissed him. He grasped her face with his hand and pulled her into him, pressing his lips against hers. The kiss deepened, strong and passionate before Ryan pulled away and let his cheek rest against hers.

“You can forgive me some more if you want to,” he said, making her laugh.

“I’ll tell you what?” she said, her lips close to his ear. “Why don’t you make it up to me?”

“How?”

“Spend the day with me,” Lora said. She could feel his lips form into a grin against her face.

“Nothing would please me more,” he answered, wrapping an arm around her waist as he pulled her close. “What would you like to do?”

Lora gave him a coy grin. “It’s a surprise.”

They walked outside into the overcast morning. The rain from the night before had ended, but a muggy mist remained, spread between the silent cypress trees. He stayed next to her, leading her to his car. The door squeaked when he opened it for her. “I like surprises,” he said, touching the small of her back as she ducked into the passenger seat. “Do I get a hint?”

She shook her head. “Nope. But I think you’ll love it.”

Smiling, Ryan shut the door.

“Do you like living in Pacific Grove?” she asked him when he joined her in the car.

“It’s all right, I guess. It isn’t home, and it’s colder here.”

“Oh? Colder than Half-Moon Bay?”

“Half-Moon Bay had more sunshine,” he answered. “Especially during the summertime. This winter felt especially cold, though I’m sure you can guess why.”

Her sense of dread, temporarily forgotten, returned. “The Sons of Orpheus?” she whispered.

Ryan nodded. “Yes. That is why it’s so cold here right now, even though summer should be coming. Instead, it feels like the end of November.”

Ryan’s car smelled like pine trees, unusual considering he always smelled of the sea. Lora sat in the passenger’s seat with her hands in her lap, staring out the window, resisting the urge to reach out and grab his hand.

She directed him to Lighthouse Avenue, heading west past the shopping centers and quaint hotels, toward the coast. “Look for Ridge Road,” she said. “It’s a small intersection.” A few minutes of silence passed between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Instead, each enjoyed having the other close by.

“My dad always said they bring the cold with them because of Orpheus’ hardened heart,” Lora said. “He hates the Sirens because one survived, and because his wife did not.” The gray clouds outside only confirmed her story.

“Yes,” Ryan said, not taking his eyes from the road. “That is what they say.”

“I’ve lived in Pacific Grove my whole life. It’s hard to imagine being anywhere else.” Lora admitted.

“I envy your stability,” he said, his voice earnest. “I always wanted to live in the same place for more than a few years.” The light in front of them turned red, and Ryan stopped the car.

What a different life he had lived.

“Were you happy moving around?” she asked.

“No,” he admitted, turning to her. His dark eyes saddened. “The last three years in Half-Moon Bay were the best, though. My parents were always worried we would be discovered, so they stuck to the coastal towns, moving from clan to clan. They liked to move around, keeping our identity a secret.” Ryan paused to glance at her, and then turned his attention back to the road as the light turned green. “I didn’t like it. But when we got to Half-Moon Bay, we finally joined a clan. It was the first time I felt a part of something.”

Through the car windows, the sea sang a mournful tune, which made Lora wonder if Ryan influenced the ocean’s song. “What about your mom? Didn’t she mind moving?”

“No,” he said. “She was happy as long as my dad stayed with her.” Ryan turned back to the windshield, and then shrugged. “I loved my family and they made me happy, but making new friends always took a while.”

Lora glanced at his handsome profile. “I find that hard to believe.”

Ryan glanced at her, smiling. “Why?”

She hesitated, embarrassed to reveal her true feelings. “You just seem like a nice guy.” Lora turned to the window, hoping to conceal the lie. The rain fell, and the drops were like tiny bubbles on the windshield.

“Thanks,” he said, but his voice sounded doubtful, as if he didn’t believe her, which Lora found curious. She hadn’t expected him to lack confidence.

Ryan turned onto Ridge Road and glanced at her for further instructions. “It’s up ahead, on the right,” she said.

“What am I looking for?”

“Over there,” she said, pointing to a wooden sign.

Ryan read the words aloud. “Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary.” Eyes narrowed, he stole a glance at Lora. “What is this?” he asked.

“My favorite place to be, after the ocean, of course,” she said, her own excitement growing as Ryan pulled into the parking lot and stopped the car. Her memories of this place were strong, and the ocean’s song changed with her growing anticipation.

As soon as the car stopped, Lora jumped out, dragging Ryan along behind her toward the dense grove of eucalyptus trees towering above them. Despite the heavy clouds, the morning sun, still low in the sky, cast a glimmer of light through the thick eucalyptus leaves. Lora could see many of them moving like lazy flapping birds in the shadows. She took careful steps, still holding Ryan’s hand as she led him deeper into the grove.

“The leaves are different,” he said, squinting his eyes to better distinguish the sight before him.

Lora squeezed his hand. “That’s because they aren’t leaves,” she answered. “Watch your step.”

The sky and the sea consumed the universe. The clouds parted for the first time in weeks, letting the sunbeams thread through the trees, finally revealing the magnificent black and orange butterflies that looked like leaves on the branches. The ocean sang a song of triumph, of homage to the Earth which contained it. Lora closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the music and the sun. Both bathed her in their warmth. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

Ryan nodded in agreement. “Very,” he said. “I’ve never seen this many butterflies at one time. Do they come here every year?”

“Yes, but they usually don’t stay this long. As soon as it gets warm, they fly north; but because of the Sons of Orpheus, the weather hasn’t changed. The poor butterflies are confused.” Lora’s eyes flew with them as they traveled from leaf to leaf, tree to tree, fluttering about in the shade of the eucalyptus grove. A cool wind rustled her jacket and she shuddered, wishing for the warmer air of summer, a season which, as long as the Sons of Orpheus stayed in Pacific Grove, might never come. She felt Ryan’s hand stroke her hair.

“We’ll find a way to stop them,” he said, but his voice did little to convince her.

“How?” she whispered. “The police don’t have a clue who they’re really searching for, and most of the Clan is leaving the area immediately. I’m not a warrior. I don’t have the first idea how to stop them from killing us.”

He pulled her into her arms as she shared her fears with him, holding her against his chest with strong arms, soothing her anxious soul. The Sons of Orpheus seemed unstoppable at the moment, a mysterious predator who sought to destroy them. Her mind muddled with uncertainty.

Ryan’s arms were warm and safe. “You’re strong, Loralei. Stronger than you realize, and you are a Guardian. Our ocean did not bless you with your gifts for no reason. She’ll help you stop the Sons; I’m sure of it.”

Lora sighed. “I’m not Guardian yet,” she said.

“No. But Devin told me how powerful you are. Imagine what will happen as you grow into your gifts, when you find your counterpart.”

“Perhaps,” she said, shuffling her feet in embarrassment. Two people in the same month had admired her power, but Lora didn’t feel powerful at all. “My abilities have developed very slowly.”

Ryan pulled away and cupped her face with his hands, gazing deep into her with his dark eyes. “I’d like to see what you can do, sometime, if you’d like to show me.”

Blushing, Lora turned away. His interest overjoyed her, but she worried she might disappoint him. “You make me sound like something amazing.”

Ryan stared at her with baffled eyes. “But you are amazing,” he said, “with or without a Siren’s gifts. I think you’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met.”

Her pounding heart betrayed her as she studied his strong face, so earnest with feeling. Her heart pulled in two different directions for this man. His face exuded inner conflict, yet maintained bravery despite his difficulties in life. She longed to hide him away, to never share him with anyone, to keep him for herself.

“Your eyes are sparkling,” he said, “like light off the sea. What are you thinking?”

Lora spoke softly. “I’d like to share my gifts with you.”

Ryan stroked her lips with his knuckles. “I hope one day you’ll share everything with me.”

“I’m fairly certain I will,” she answered, her breath shallow with longing. But not now, not today. She had already revealed too much. “Soon,” she said, watching as the clouds merged, blocking out the sun.