Divine Mortals (8 page)

“Well perhaps you can tell
them
what I think.” Roberts voice was surprisingly light.

“You have no choice Robert, I don’t need to remind you.”

“I won’t be going.” Roberts voice dropped to a growl, I felt my skin crawl at the sound of it, menacing and deep.

“Yeah you will, there’s no choice in the matter.” The dark haired man smirked.

“There’s always a choice,”

“Not for us, you knew this, you’ve always known this, we’ll be seeing you soon.” he tilted his head to the side, eyeing Robert while three separate emotions seemed to play out across his dark face, curiosity, anger and something else, sympathy perhaps?

“Interesting”, he snickered, his voice chilling, “Perhaps we’ll be seeing you sooner than you think.” he turned his back and sprinted through the trees, so close I could feel the breeze from his passing.

Almost instantly the birds started singing again in a deafening chorus, the leaves rustled in the breeze and the sounds of the world came back to me again, had they ever stopped?

It took me a moment to breathe.

What had I just witnessed? I wasn’t even sure I could trust my own eyes, it didn’t seem… possible.

How could they move like that? How could they glow? It wasn’t normal, it wasn’t human!

The world began to spin and I stumbled away from the tree, looking for somewhere to sit.

My feet collapsed under me and my head swam, the dark was closing in. I bent my knees and tried to put my head between them, the buzzing in my ears grew louder and my vision splintered in a disjointed array of greys.

“Oh crap.” I whispered, the cool leaves of the forest floor touching the back of my head as I collapsed in a dead faint.

I don’t know how long I was out, it could have been five seconds or five hours, when I came round I took a moment to gauge how I felt before opening my eyes. My head pounded, I felt like my entire body was one large bruise. I wondered briefly where Lucifer’s steed was, probably happily at home nibbling grass, his reins dangling off his neck and the saddle still on his back, it was going to be a hard walk home, at least it was all downhill.

I realized with a start that I was sitting up, I could feel bark pressing uncomfortably into my back.

My mind flashed back to the scene I had witnessed in the paddock and my eyes flew open, I gasped and had to stifle a scream. Robert sat only a few feet away on a fallen log, staring intently at me, a small sideways smile lit his face as my eyes flew open.

“Welcome to the land of the living,” he narrowed his eyes, his tone cool, “What on earth are you doing up here all bruised and bleeding? One of Fred’s prize cattle attack you?” his smirk was arrogant and self-assured.

I pictured again what I had seen in the field, a small line formed between his brows as he took in my reaction.

“I…You,” I couldn’t quite get across what I wanted to say, my tongue felt heavy in my mouth.

What the hell was that
?

I was starting to question if I had seen it at all or if it had been an unconscious dream after I fainted.

Taking a deep breath I decided to play it as cool as I could.

“Who was that in the field with you?” I asked, pulling a twig from my hair, trying to look indifferent and not flinch from the pain.

The line on his forehead deepened again briefly but this was the only change in his expression and he hid it quickly.

“There was no-one in the field with me.”

His voice had an edge to it, daring me to question him.

“Oh,” I feigned belief, “what are you doing up here then?”

“ I came up to check the fences,” he sighed, trying to look as if this errand bored him, “You know, Fred wants to send cattle up here in the next few days so he asked me to check the field first.”

“Hmmm,” I mused, “but I thought the track was too rough, isn’t that what Pop said?”

His expression hardened.

I hadn’t imagined the two of them, actually I had no doubt about what I had seen. Robert stared at me for a long moment his deep brown eyes searching mine, before they darted to my forehead. Standing slowly he came towards me, kneeling only inches away he stared intently at a point just above my eyes, his breath warm on my face. I couldn’t deny it, Robert was stunning, I was finding it hard to keep my train of thought while he was this close.

“That looks like it really hurts,” he murmured, his voice softening as his eyes shifted down to meet mine. My breath caught and I shook my head trying to think straight. Moving my fingers gently across my forehead I could feel a large lump just above my left eye, I probed it gently, flinching as pain shot through it and my head began to throb.

“You may have concussion. I should get you home, you seem to be a little confused.” He smiled charmingly as he ran his fingers through his hair, the only outward sign of his frustration.

“What?” I frowned, pulling my face sharply back from his and abruptly hitting my head against the tree.

“Ouch, Dammit.” I rubbed the back of my head feeling a deep throbbing headache start somewhere between my eyes.

“Oh no you don’t, not that easy,” I growled, “don’t suddenly pretend you’re charming and polite, we all know you’re arrogant and self-centred, tell me what’s going on, what were you two doing? How is it you can both… glow.”

I hesitated for a moment while my mind caught up with my words and I considered that perhaps I should be a little more afraid of someone who could, well, glow!

“Who are you?” I asked my voice now little more than a whisper.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” he hissed, his beautiful eyes cold.

“Oh yes you do, you can’t lie your way out of this, I know what I saw and what I saw wasn’t, well… it wasn’t normal.”

He rocked back on his heels, looking torn, fear flashed briefly across his expression followed quickly by something else, anger, regret… relief?

He stood in a burst of movement so quick that I gasped, spinning towards me he looked as though he truly hated me.

“Damn it Ava!” he growled, flinging his hands in a furious gesture above his head.

“Why did you have to come and stay with Fred and Norma… Why did you have to be here today? You know…” His eyes were accusing, “You’re not even supposed to be up here, the track is too dangerous.”

I didn’t know what to do, what to say, I just stared back at him, completely dumb struck. His outburst surprised me, he was angry about more than just my seeing him, he seemed angry I had come to the farm at all.

“Damn it,” he mumbled again, pacing away from me. I began to wonder if he was going to leave, if I should call him back again. But before I could say anything he swung and kicked the base of a spruce, I flinched flinging my hands to my ears, the sound piercing as the tree split straight up its length like a clap of thunder, birds rose from the top branches screaming in indignation at the interruption to their perch.

He didn’t even seem to notice, not the tree or me gaping at him as I looked from him to the newly murdered spruce and back again. He was pacing backwards and forwards, the sun streaming through the canopy above, dappling shadows across his hard features, his shoulders set tight. He was clearly working through the situation, the concentration obvious upon his face as he bit his lower lip in thought.

My vision began to blur and my skin prickled in sudden heat.

“Oh crap,” I muttered for the second time, the world was starting to spin again, I couldn’t faint now. Dropping my head between my knees once more I waited for the sensation to stop.

Within half a second I felt Roberts arms come around me, lifting me easily, I mumbled something to him, telling him to put me down. He ignored me, walking swiftly, more swiftly then a man should be able to, out into the sunlight of the field, sitting me down on a log near the center.

“Is that better?” all traces of anger were gone, he actually looked worried now, “I thought maybe the sun on your face might help.”

I managed a small smile,

“Thanks.”

I waited on the fainting symptoms to truly disappear this time, silently counting back from a hundred, breathing slowly the entire time.

Ninety nine, ninety eight, ninety seven…

I was only starting to realize, since Robert had carried me, just how sore the ribs on my left side were, I would hate that horse even more if I had broken them, I guess Grandpop was right when he told me not to take the plateau track.

Seventy two, seventy one, seventy…

I pushed that aside and tried to think about the more immediate issues I faced, other than feeling like I had been run over by a freight train.

Robert.

He seemed genuinely worried about what I had seen and I wasn’t sure why. If one of us should be worried then I was guessing it should be me, after all, I didn’t have the crazy super powers he and his companion had shown should I need to fight him off. What if he decided I was easy enough to get rid of, problem solved, no one would know any better about him. His secret safe again.

Forty seven, forty six, forty five…

I snuck a quick look his way from behind my hair, he was gone.

Panicking I flung my head up the rest of the way, making it pound all over again. Finally I found him, a small speck on the other side of the field. This field was huge, at least a quarter mile wide, how had he gotten over there so fast? I dropped my head again to try and ease the pounding,

Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen…

What WAS he?

I didn’t know how I was going to get this information from him, but one thing I did know was that I would find out before I stepped off this field, I would know the secret he was hiding.

Seven, six, five…

I breathed again looking up just in time to see Robert approaching at super speed from across the paddock, he moved elegantly especially for someone so muscular. The speed was incredible and he covered the distance in the blink of an eye to stand before me again without seeming at all out of breath.

He stared down at me, his expression completely unreadable, his emotions carefully hidden behind his dark amber eyes.

“Tell me.” I said simply, He shook his head but I cut him off before he could speak.

‘Robert, clearly you aren’t…… normal, tell me. You can’t pretend this hasn’t happened.”

“I assure you I can.” His lips pulled up at one side as he gave me a cheeky grin.

“But,”

“Ava your horse is about half way down the track, it’s only an hour till we lose the light and I don’t think you should be sitting up here in your current state questioning me.” He grinned a heart stopping smile, “Actually you look like death, I’m going to take you home so you can get patched up.”

“Wait,” I protested, my head spinning again, I blinked trying to clear my vision.

“
No
Ava,
you
wait,” he cut in with a little too much force, he consciously relaxed his posture, pulling his fingers through his hair in agitation as he calmed down.

“I meant to say, I need to think this through. I will tell you. Later. Now please… let me get you home.”

“Promise?”

“Yes!”

Before I could protest any further he scooped me up again, holding me tight against his chest and then we were hurtling across the ground. The speed was terrifying and amazing, the wind pulling the hair back from my face, an uncomfortable reminder of my unceremonious trip up here. I buried my face in his chest and closed my eyes, sure I could feel his chest vibrate as he chuckled. My mind swirled again with possibilities, after only a minute or two we began to slow and I dared peak again. I tried not to let the shock show plainly on my face, this couldn’t be real. I would have to wake up soon.

“Your steed my lady.” Robert snickered.

I couldn’t believe how quickly we had descended the hill.

“You have GOT to be kidding.” Was he really expecting me to get on that death wish again? I looked back towards his grinning face, Yes that was exactly what he was expecting.

“There’s no way.” I croaked, wishing my hands would stop shaking and that I didn’t sound so terrified, why should I be scared of a horse after the way I had just been transported from the field.

“Well,” Robert considered with faux thoughtfulness, “you
could
walk beside Beaut while we lead him the rest of the way home or you could ride him while I lead, personally I don’t think you’ll make it all the way back without collapsing, but it’s your choice.” He was grinning again, he knew damn well I couldn’t walk the rest of the way.

“Or,” He considered for another moment, “are you are so taken with me carrying you that you would rather we continued on as we were?” he smiled so widely at this that I considered turning on my heel and marching down the hill on my own just to prove a point, only the small fact that my body felt like Jell-O stopped me.

“Fine.” I answered brusquely, storming to Beauts side and taking his reins in my hands.

“Be Nice.” I prayed quietly to him. But before I could lift my leg to try and heave myself into the saddle I was lifted gently off my feet and placed lightly on his back.

“What is it?” Robert spoke quickly as I winced, worry thick in his voice as he removed his hands from my sides. He had just placed me, as if I weighed no more than a feather, back on the horse.

“My ribs,” I wheezed as my left side really started to throb. Robert looked shocked and immediately remorseful.

“I’m sorry,” he said hurriedly, “I didn’t realize,”

“It’s okay,” I murmured softly, “that’s what you get when you fall from Satan’s Spawn.”

Robert smiled up at me, although worry still tinged his expression.

“Well,” he mused to Beaut, “Seems you haven’t made any friends today.”

With that he turned and led me and the horse down the hill at the regular human pace, much slower and not nearly as comfortable as when he had carried me.

My thoughts were a jumble of what I had seen, Roberts apparent split personality and my aching body. Robert had gone from being the arrogant, rude antagonist we all knew to someone who actually showed he had human emotions, if no actual physical human traits. His worry at my injuries was real, how was it that he had managed to fool everyone into thinking that he was the stereotypical handsome guy with a big ego, when it had only taken me stumbling upon him once unannounced to realize he was anything but. Actually he was someone who was sympathetic and charming, when he needed to be, as well as completely and utterly inhuman.