Awakening (Book One of The Geis) (13 page)

It was an hour before dawn when Rourke hiked the rough trail heading up to the Intermittent Spring. It was slow going, and he had to stop frequently to let the buildup of pain in his leg subside. It gave him time to gaze at the stars and reconsider what he was about to do.

Somewhere out there in the black night sky was the world he called home. Over the centuries he had looked to the heavens and imagined that one of the lights he saw emanated from the sun that warmed Tír na nÓg. But if he ever found the right one, he didn’t know it by the way he felt. He had been gone far too long.

A cold breeze blew past Rourke, whistling as it rose up the canyon wall. In the darkness, tall pines rose on either side of the mountain height. They looked like people, watching and waiting for the scene that would play out here.

He looked down at Ansul, who rarely left his side these days. It had been too long since he had heard his friend’s voice and seen his true stature. The lizard flicked his tongue out to taste the early morning air. Rourke knew the awesome power that was once possessed by his friend and protector, but after so many years, he wondered if the power was still there. Would it be enough to protect him in the end?

As Rourke reached the steep incline leading up to the mouth of the spring, he was forced to put more weight on his bad leg to keep from falling. Layer upon layer of pain shot through his leg until it formed a prison of anguish and fury. No wound or disease caused the pain Rourke felt. It was the result of the same powerful magic that bound him to this earth. It was the price Rourke had once paid to save a life.

But Rourke pressed on, having learned long ago that he could endure such pain if the reason for doing so was strong enough.

As Rourke reached the top, the large stream of water flowing from the spring diminished. He stood, using his cane for support as he waited for the water to subside and take his pain with it.

The lizard drank from the clear, pure water, and then flicked his tongue out at the early dawn air. He tensed, taking a defensive posture. Something was coming through the spring.

As the last trickle of water left the spring, all went quiet. The subtle breeze flowing through the pine needles and aspen leaves only amplified the feeling that the sounds of the forest were fleeing some monstrous evil that would immerse the world in silence forever.

A dark shadow crept from the spring’s opening in the mountain. Rourke covered his mouth and nose to block out the cloying scent of rotten fruit that drifted toward him.

Just feet from where Rourke stood, the shadow condensed into something more substantial. For a split second, Rourke saw an impossibly cruel face emerge from the pure darkness. It was the face Rourke saw in his nightmares—the face of Cliona, the one who had haunted his steps for centuries and taken from him so many of those he loved.

As the tendrils of darkness swirled and congealed around the dark figure, a light ignited within it and spread like wild fire until Rourke was forced to shield his eyes. The flames receded, leaving the ghost-like form of a young woman, ethereal and captivating.

The wraith gathered her flowing robes around her slight frame. Everything about her was delicate, from the small jewel that pierced her right nostril, to the long white locks of hair that flowed around her face and down her back. Cliona appeared to glow in the starlight.

Rourke found it hard to keep his guard up while beholding such an exquisite creature. He gestured to his throat, expressing his desire to speak. Cliona waved her hand. The effortless gesture allowed sound to escape his throat.

“Your last victim was very beautiful, Cliona,” Rourke said in mock greeting. He hated that she had the power to give him speech. But it felt good, like stretching a muscle that lay dormant for too long.

“She certainly had a unique quality about her.” Cliona’s voice was as seductive as her appearance. “I prefer her younger form, before it became lined with an overburden of cares.” Cliona glanced at the lizard. “To what do I owe this welcoming party? For centuries I have tormented you and taken the ones you loved. And yet you—and your pet—have never taken the time to welcome me into this world.”

“I do not welcome your coming, Cliona. I would return all that you have done to me and more, if it would not canker my soul and end up being an exercise in futility.”

“Oh come now, my dear, dear, Rourke,” Cliona’s voice was soft as silk. “Don’t tell me you have grown bitter?” Cliona circled Rourke, trailing her delicate fingers along his chest and back. Ansul hissed in disapproval. “I’ve been doing you a favor.”

“A favor?” Rourke asked, incredulous.

“Why yes, Rourke. Every time I return to Tír na nÓg, I come back to find that you have formed relationships. Friends and family are a burden to one such as you.” She paused when she reached his chest again. Her fingernails elongated into razor-sharp claws. “What? Did you think I enjoyed killing those that would give you reason to grow comfortable here?”

“I know you enjoy it, Cliona.” Rourke had watched her work too many times to think otherwise. “You live to destroy those that might have the happiness that was denied to you.”

Cliona’s smile grew wicked. She shrugged.

“Cliona, I’ve come here to offer you a bargain.”

Cliona laughed. “It amuses me that you think you have anything that I want.”

Rourke felt the lizard stiffen at his side. He stepped toward Cliona. “I’ve had centuries to stew about the nature of the curse that brought me here. I was foolish to make such a geis and expect that Saoirse would honor her side of the deal.”

“The geis is not for mortals to honor or dishonor, it simply is,” Cliona snapped.

“So you say,” Rourke said. “But Arbitors like yourself are tasked with making sure the geis is balanced and not undermined.”

“How little you know.” Cliona lowered her head, looking at him through frosty lashes.

“When the people of Tír na nÓg find out that you came here to manipulate the terms of the geis for your own purposes, it will shake their faith in the Arbitors’ neutrality. The secret of Tír na nÓg will be compromised, and the council of Arbitors will turn against you.”

“What a wonderful imagination you have, Rourke. You are operating under the assumption that I am going to let you return to Tír na nÓg. When the geis allows you to return, you will be without its protection.” Cliona smiled. “I’m afraid you won’t make the journey.”

“Think what you will, Cliona. I will return to Tír na nÓg when the time comes, and if, for whatever reason, I don’t, Ansul will carry the message to the council.” Rourke gestured to the lizard at his side. “But if you bring no harm to the girl and her family, I will forever hold my peace about what I have witnessed here.”

Cliona’s eyes narrowed and she screwed her lips together, making her otherwise beautiful face look feral and dangerous. “Why would I give you a favor? You, who are as helpless and frail as the humans who fill this world?”

“You underestimate them, as you do me.”

“What you offer to give me, I can freely take. So live in fear, Rourke. And know that when you mourn the loss of your newfound pupil and her family, that it is I who took them from you.”

“Saoirse will not bring Keevan back to you, Cliona,” Rourke said with all the sadness and empathy he could muster.

Cliona growled. With a simple gesture, she caused Rourke’s throat to seize again. “You are not worthy to speak his name. Mark my words, Rourke. The day the geis awakens and you attempt the return home, you will find me blocking your way. Except this time, the geis won’t stop me from finishing what I’ve started.”

Rourke tried to speak again, but his throat felt pinched, and no sound came from his lips.
You do what you think you must,
Rourke signed.

“I’m afraid you are wasting your time.” Cliona stepped around the lizard and headed down the mountain pass. “You won’t be returning home anytime soon.”

I’ll do what I must
, Rourke signed. But Cliona didn’t look back.

I’d never been to a movie theater that only had two screens. Lucas laughed when I pointed it out, telling me that this new theater was state-of-the-art, unlike the old theater in town that used to show new movies a month after they were released.

The movie was slow, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t concentrate on the plot with Lucas sitting close enough to touch. I was hyper-aware of his nearness, and halfway through the movie, Lucas took the hand I had strategically placed on my thigh.

The nerve endings in my skin flared, setting my heart to racing. I couldn’t focus on the movie, but I wished the second-rate film would never end so I could keep my hand in his as long as I could. When the movie was over, Lucas kept ahold of my hand. We walked out to the parking lot.

Lucas slowed as we neared his pick-up. “Do you want to go and get something to eat?”

“Are you still hungry?” I asked. Lucas had bought a large popcorn and drinks for each of us. When I had only made a dent in the popcorn, Lucas had finished off the rest.

He laughed, “The only time I’m not hungry is when I’m eating. Let’s go to the Red Baron.”

The drive-in restaurant was only a few blocks away, so we decided to walk, with me practically skipping to keep up with the stride of Lucas’s long legs. We passed a few stores, their closed signs a reminder of how early the town settled down for the night.

I snuck a look at Lucas. He looked straight ahead, his other hand tucked into the pocket of his canvas jacket. Was it possible that he could be so calm when my insides were jumping around? The evening was flying by—I willed it to slow down.

“Your dad was at my house the other day,” Lucas said.

“Really?”

“He was meeting with my dad about a new ski resort that might go in.”

I remembered hearing Dad say something about a land appraisal for a resort. “I didn’t know that they were in business together.”

“Your dad wanted to know if we hang out.”

“What did you say?” The thought of Dad and Lucas having a conversation about me made my stomach do a flip.

“I told him I was taking you out this weekend.”

I groaned, “I bet he took that well.”

Lucas laughed, and his cheek dimpled. “I didn’t really say that.”

I punched Lucas in the arm and he pretended to be hurt.

“He told me that you were at the feis last weekend. I didn’t see you there.”

I bit my lip and considered how to answer. “I left early.”

“Did you dance?”

“I tried. They wouldn’t let me compete because Rourke isn’t certified to teach Irish dance.

“And Rourke’s the janitor?” Lucas looked doubtful.

“Yeah, he’s a pretty awesome dancer. He doesn’t need a certificate for me to know that.”

“So, because he doesn’t have a certificate, you can’t dance?” Lucas squeezed my hand. I couldn’t help smiling.

“Well, it doesn’t stop me from dancing, but I can’t compete with Rourke as my teacher. I need to find someone who is certified.”

“And then you can compete?”

“I think so.”

Lucas looked down at our interlocked hands. “Did you see me there?”

“Yeah, I did, but you were sitting by Taminy’s family, and I guess I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to say hello.”

“You should’ve. I wasn’t with Taminy. When her mom saw me she insisted that I sit by her.” Lucas shook his head. “She can be a bit controlling.”

“I’ve noticed,” I said. Hope flared in me. If Lucas didn’t go to the feis for Taminy, did he drive all the way there for me?

“Let me know when you get to perform, and I’ll be on the front row.”

My face flushed. I studied a crack on the sidewalk, sobered by the memory of why I left the feis early. When I’d come home that night, I’d told Aunt Avril about Mrs. Saddlebury trying to force Zoey out the door. Aunt Avril didn’t say much, but her face told me that the matter wasn’t closed.

“There’s the Red Baron,” Lucas said. “I’m starving.”

The delicious smell of barbecued burgers hit me before I saw it. The restaurant itself was tiny, but a covered patio extended from the building, with a place underneath it for picnic tables. Giant hand-painted signs advertised burgers and fresh raspberry shakes.

Cars circled the patio with their windows rolled down, and carhops darted back and forth between the cars and the restaurant. Heavy snow clouds hung low, threatening a storm. I zipped up my jacket.

“Let’s eat outside,” Lucas said, letting go of my hand. I sat across from him at a picnic table.

I looked up at the menu painted above us. “What should I get?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll order for you.”

Lucas ordered two raspberry shakes, drinks, and a ‘Big Red’ burger with fries. The carhop smiled at Lucas, flipping her long ponytail every time she wrote down something.

“Anything else?” she said, shifting her weight so that her hip swung in Lucas’s direction.

Lucas smiled at her and she beamed. He looked around the girl at the windows of the restaurant. “No, this is great.”

The carhop popped her gum and went back inside.

After watching another carhop walk between cars, I decided that being on the cheer squad or drill team must be a requirement to work here.

Lucas leaned on the picnic table. “So how do you like being the new girl in town?”

I relaxed. “I didn’t think I would like the valley at first.”

“What do you think now?”

Star Valley was beginning to feel like home. “It’s growing on me.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t wait to get out of this small town.” His gaze wandered to the carhop window behind me.

“Why?”

“You can’t make a name for yourself here.”

I thought about it. “That may true, but you don’t get lost in the crowd as easy here.”

“What crowd?” Lucas laughed.

I smiled, knowing that I would go over each word he spoke to me later. For now I just wanted to take everything in.

“Did you have a boyfriend in Utah?” Lucas leaned across the table and played with the napkin next to my cup. My heart hammered and I kept my hand on the table next to his.

“No.”

“What a shame for a beautiful girl like you to get lost in the crowd.”

I blushed.

He covered my hand with his, tracing little circles on my hand with his thumb. My heart fluttered as his touch echoed in every vein of my body.

“Here’s your order.” The carhop plunked our tray down on the table and spun on her heels. I pulled my hand away reluctantly and took a drink to hide my nervousness. A tangy blend of cool sweetness with a touch of sour exploded on my tongue.

“This is good. What’s in it?”

“It’s a scotch and soda.” Lucas laughed at the look on my face. “It doesn’t have alcohol in it, just lime and vanilla.”

He peeled the paper off of a giant hamburger with ham and cheese melting over the sides. In the time that it took me to eat half of my raspberry shake, Lucas ate a full meal. I excused myself to go to the restroom.

Inside, the restaurant was filled with even more people sitting at booths. The greasy scent of fried food didn’t smell nearly as appetizing as it had when I was hungry.

I turned the corner and bumped into someone coming out of the restroom.

“Sorry,” we said at the same time. It was Taminy, dressed in the red shirt and black apron that the other carhops wore. I should have known that she would work here too. She sniffed and pretended like she didn’t recognize me, walking right past me into the kitchen.

I shut the bathroom door and leaned against the sink, pulling out my phone to text Christa. I already had three texts from her, asking me how my night was going.

Hey.

Spill it.
Even though Christa was on a date with Derek, her response was immediate.

Things are good.
I grinned as I typed.

How good?

Pretty dang good.

Like kissing good?

Not THAT good.

Could happen . . .

I looked at myself in the mirror. The skin on my neck was clear. No rash.

Gotta go,
I typed.
I’ll call you.

I twisted a few curls back into place and put a fresh coat of lipstick on, then changed my mind and took most of the color off.

I walked back through the restaurant, checking to see if I could spot Taminy behind the order counter. I pushed open the door to the patio and stopped short.

Lucas still sat at the picnic table, his back to the window, one bent leg resting on the seat. Taminy stood next to the table, pen in hand with a black apron tied around her tiny waist. It looked like she was taking his order, but the conversation wasn’t about fast food.

“You brought her here on purpose, didn’t you?” Taminy pointed her pen at him.

Lucas gave Taminy a dazzling smile.

I clutched my chest as all of the air in my lungs escaped. I backed into the door. Cold nausea hit my stomach.

Lucas looked past Taminy to where I stood in the doorway. “Oh good, you’re back.” He motioned for me to sit down.

Did he think I didn’t hear what she said? Or that I would blow it off? Not knowing what else to do, I crossed behind Taminy and sat on the bench, my back stiff. Had Lucas known that Taminy worked here? The answer was painful. Of course he had.

“Oh, hi McKayla,” Taminy flipped her hair and moved closer to Lucas. “Did you have a good time at the feis? Oh, wait, I forgot, you can’t compete.”

I clenched my fists until my fingernails bit into my palms. “Don’t worry, I’ll be at the next one.”

“I really wish you could. Too bad you can’t come up to Jackson for lessons.” Taminy put her hand on Lucas’s arm. He didn’t make a move away from her. “Do you want me to get you some fries to go?”

“I can’t turn my back on free food.”

A customer flagged Taminy over. She winked at Lucas as she walked away.

I didn’t know I could be so happy one minute and then plunge into despair the next. Lucas didn’t really want to get to know me. Instead I was caught in crossfire between him and Taminy. The thought made me want to cry. But instead, I took a deep breath.

“I’m not hungry anymore.” I forced myself to look Lucas in the eye. “Please take me home.”

“Hey, what’s the matter?” Lucas leaned forward and tried to take my hand again.

I pulled my hands out of reach and put them in my lap.

“McKayla, please listen,” Lucas said. How could I still thrill to have him say my name when I knew that he was using me?

“No, I get it.” I stood up. “You needed someone to show off to Taminy. You got what you wanted, now please take me home.” Tears were threatening my vision. I blinked hard.

“That’s not it at all.” Lucas’s voice hardened. He stood next to me, taking both of my hands. “I’ve been having fun tonight. And I think you’re pretty amazing. Give me a chance.”

I softened at his touch. I wanted to believe that he cared for me.

Taminy backed out of the swinging door with a tray in her hands. When she saw us standing, hands clasped together, she stopped.

I looked up into his face. He gave me the same stunning smile he had used on Taminy a few minutes earlier. I broke free of his hands and backed away.

“I’ll find my own ride home.” I didn’t want to see the look on Taminy’s face. Running back inside, I pulled out my phone and dialed Christa before remembering that she was out with Derek. She answered before I could hang up.

“Hey you. Why are you calling me when you are on a hot date?”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. “Things aren’t working out so well after all.”

“Where are you?”

“At the Red Baron.” I looked out the window to where Lucas stood next to Taminy. He said something to her and she turned on her heels and pulled out her pen to take the next customer’s order. Lucas stared after her before walking back toward his truck.

“We’re in Alpine and won’t be home for a while. Hang on, I’m texting Josh right now to come and get you.”

“No, don’t—” I tried to stop her, but she had already taken the phone from her ear. I didn’t relish the idea of having to explain to Josh why I was stranded at the drive-in.

“Josh is on his way. Sit tight,” Christa confirmed.

I left the restaurant, taking a wide detour around the parked customers to sit on the sidewalk, trying to look as casual as possible. What a disastrous ending to a perfect day. I swallowed my emotions, allowing a numbness to take over.

Josh pulled up next to the curb and jumped out. I opened the passenger door and he held it open for me, his eyes meeting mine for a brief second before he shut it. He walked around the front of the car, and I scrambled to think of a good reason for why he had to come pick me up from a date.

I looked for Lucas’s truck, but he had already gone. As we pulled away, I caught a glimpse of Taminy, smiling as she took down an order.

“You ok?” Josh asked, glancing my way before concentrating on the road.

“Yeah.” My voice came out shaky and I squeezed my hands together in an attempt to keep control. “Thanks for picking me up.”

“Not a problem.”

We drove in silence, and I was grateful that I didn’t have to come up with an explanation. When we got back to town, I counted the fence posts as we raced past them, trying not to think of what went wrong. I wanted to run to my room and cry out my frustrations into my pillow.

Josh pulled into my driveway. A light was on in the kitchen. Mom wouldn’t be expecting me home for at least another hour. Excuses for coming home early formulated in my head. I got out of the car—ready to thank Josh for the ride. To my surprise, Josh turned the engine off and came around to stand next to me.

“Did Lucas hurt you?” Josh faced me, his eyes searching my face. “Did he try, I mean—”

“No, it wasn’t like that.” I looked down at my hands, blinking back tears that threatened to spill. “I’m sorry you had to come and get me.”

Josh held his hand out. “Can I see your phone?”

I pulled it out of my pocket, curious about his request.

He flipped through the apps and then typed something before handing it back to me. “My number is in your contacts now. Use it anytime.”