Timeless (Immortal Love Series) (15 page)
Read Timeless (Immortal Love Series) Online
Authors: Amy Richie
The wolf whisked by me to chase the angel. I wanted to follow, to help her, but I remembered Nickolas’s voice. He was here somewhere, in the woods. I had to find him.
“
Nickolas!” I screamed as I tore through the growth. It tore back at me. I looked down at my hands and they were covered in blood.
Nickolas!” I screamed as I tore through the growth. It tore back at me. I looked down at my hands and they were covered in blood.
“
No.” Nickolas’s voice was pure agony.
No.” Nickolas’s voice was pure agony.
“
Nickolas, where are you?”
Nickolas, where are you?”
“
Run away!”
Run away!”
“
No, Nickolas just come to me.”
No, Nickolas just come to me.”
All of a sudden I was knocked backwards by the angel. She had come at me from nowhere. Her arms and gown were covered in blood. “You have to kill Dominick,” she snarled. She pulled her lips away from her teeth in grotesque anger.
My blood curdling screams echoed throughout the entire forest.
“
Calm down, Eva. You are ok now. You just had a bad dream.” Nickolas was trying to bring me back to reality. I opened my eyes to see him standing by the door. He had his hands up, palms facing me. “Can you hear me Eva? You are ok.”
Calm down, Eva. You are ok now. You just had a bad dream.” Nickolas was trying to bring me back to reality. I opened my eyes to see him standing by the door. He had his hands up, palms facing me. “Can you hear me Eva? You are ok.”
“
I have to kill him.” I was breathing hard and more than a little surprised that I was standing on the bed with my back against the wall. I was crouched low.
I have to kill him.” I was breathing hard and more than a little surprised that I was standing on the bed with my back against the wall. I was crouched low.
He was shocked into silence. “What? Kill who?”
“
Dominick. I have to kill him.”
Dominick. I have to kill him.”
“
What?” He flinched back.
What?” He flinched back.
“
A man named Dominick. I have to find him.” My voice remained steady.
A man named Dominick. I have to find him.” My voice remained steady.
“
Dominick who?”
Dominick who?”
“
I don’t know.”
I don’t know.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Ok, do you think you could drop the knife now?”
“
The what?”
The what?”
He pointed to my hand. When I looked down at my hand, I was clutching tightly to a knife, but I had a hold of the blade. Blood dripped down my arm.
I looked back at Nickolas, horrified. “Oh,” I gasped. I sunk to my knees and he was there instantly. He pried my fingers from the knife. I saw his nostrils flare and he leaned slightly away. I was afraid to see how bad it was.
“
Here. Let me see it,” Nickolas ordered.
Here. Let me see it,” Nickolas ordered.
I gave him my hand willingly. “Is it bad?” I asked anxiously.
“
Does this hurt?” He pushed gently on my hand.
Does this hurt?” He pushed gently on my hand.
“
No.”
No.”
“
I just…” but he didn’t finish.
I just…” but he didn’t finish.
“
What’s wrong?”
What’s wrong?”
“
It looked like so much blood, but the cut is so small.” He brought his head up level to mine. He did look confused.
It looked like so much blood, but the cut is so small.” He brought his head up level to mine. He did look confused.
I shrugged. His nearness always made my words stick in my throat. He left so suddenly that it left a hollowness in the room. I would have gotten up to follow him but he returned before I had time to react.
He had two long strips of cloth in his hand. He sat back down on the bed beside me and held out his hand. Without a word I put my injured hand into his. I couldn’t take my eyes away from him, but he was concentrating on the wound. “It appears to be already healed,” he murmured, half to himself.
I didn’t reply. He looked up and seemed surprised to see that I was still just staring. I smiled awkwardly. He smiled back. I reached my uninjured hand up to touch his face but he caught my fingers in his hand and kissed the tips.
“
How are you feeling now?” I was pleased that at least his voice was hoarse.
How are you feeling now?” I was pleased that at least his voice was hoarse.
“
Fine.” It was all I could manage to say. I couldn’t understand why he always left me feeling so breathless. We sat looking at each other for a long moment. He started to touch my hair but then his expression changed.
Fine.” It was all I could manage to say. I couldn’t understand why he always left me feeling so breathless. We sat looking at each other for a long moment. He started to touch my hair but then his expression changed.
“
What were you talking about before?”
What were you talking about before?”
“
Hmm?” I was confused. We weren’t talking about anything, were we?
Hmm?” I was confused. We weren’t talking about anything, were we?
“
Tell me about your dream.”
Tell me about your dream.”
My dream! My eyes widened as I remembered it. “I was in the forest again, but it was different.” My words were excited and hurried.
“
Different how?” He shifted his weight to put distance between us.
Different how?” He shifted his weight to put distance between us.
“
It was cold.” I shivered, remembering the wolf-creature.
It was cold.” I shivered, remembering the wolf-creature.
“
What else?”
What else?”
“
And…” I was embarrassed to admit that he had been there.
And…” I was embarrassed to admit that he had been there.
“
And what?”
And what?”
“
You were there.” He didn’t seem surprised.
You were there.” He didn’t seem surprised.
“
What was I doing?”
What was I doing?”
“
I didn’t actually see you. You were in the forest — lost. I only heard your voice.”
I didn’t actually see you. You were in the forest — lost. I only heard your voice.”
“
And?”
And?”
“
You told me to run.”
You told me to run.”
“
To run?”
To run?”
“
Yeah.”
Yeah.”
“
From the wolf?”
From the wolf?”
“
No. You told me to run away from you,” I admitted.
No. You told me to run away from you,” I admitted.
He did seem surprised at that. “Did you listen?”
“
No.” Obviously. “I couldn’t find you. And Neleh was very angry that you were there.”
No.” Obviously. “I couldn’t find you. And Neleh was very angry that you were there.”
“
Neleh?”
Neleh?”
“
My angel. She’s not my sister like you thought. It’s Neleh. It has always been Neleh.”
My angel. She’s not my sister like you thought. It’s Neleh. It has always been Neleh.”
“
Hmm.” He got up and paced to the window.
Hmm.” He got up and paced to the window.
“
She told me why I am here. She said I had to kill Dominick.” He didn’t look at me. “But I don’t know who he is. You know, he must be the wolf man in my dreams.” It suddenly made sense.
She told me why I am here. She said I had to kill Dominick.” He didn’t look at me. “But I don’t know who he is. You know, he must be the wolf man in my dreams.” It suddenly made sense.
“
But why you?” He kept his back to me. “How can you kill a werewolf?”
But why you?” He kept his back to me. “How can you kill a werewolf?”
“
It wasn’t a werewolf. He is only a man. Just a…scary man.” I stopped talking and looked down at my hands. “But there must be a reason she picked me. There must be more that I’m not seeing. I am missing something.”
It wasn’t a werewolf. He is only a man. Just a…scary man.” I stopped talking and looked down at my hands. “But there must be a reason she picked me. There must be more that I’m not seeing. I am missing something.”
“
We’ll see Neleh tomorrow.” His voice was distant.
We’ll see Neleh tomorrow.” His voice was distant.
“
Maybe you should just go without me. She will be angry with me.” My voice sounded small, even to my own ears.
Maybe you should just go without me. She will be angry with me.” My voice sounded small, even to my own ears.
“
Eva.” He clicked his tongue and came back to sit on the bed. “I’ll be right there with you. She won’t hurt you. I promise that I will keep you safe.” He winked and smiled to lighten the serious mood.
Eva.” He clicked his tongue and came back to sit on the bed. “I’ll be right there with you. She won’t hurt you. I promise that I will keep you safe.” He winked and smiled to lighten the serious mood.
I couldn’t help but return his smile. “I knew you were the hero of my story.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I am no hero, but I
will
protect
you
.”
will
protect
you
.”
“
Nickolas?”
Nickolas?”
“
Yes?”
Yes?”
“
Do you think Dominick could be one of the werewolves?”
Do you think Dominick could be one of the werewolves?”
He brought his eyebrows down in a scowl. “Not likely.” I must not have looked convinced because he went on to add, “Neleh couldn’t possibly expect you to kill a werewolf.”
“
You…you’re probably right.”
You…you’re probably right.”
He leaned back against the wall and pulled me to his chest. Soon my breathing evened out and I was able to relax against him.
Nickolas didn’t say anything more as we sat there. Occasionally he would stroke my hair or back, but mostly he just sat silent and still. I wondered what he was thinking about. It was probably the same thing I was thinking about — my dream and what it meant.
Nickolas didn’t seem to think it was all truth, but I knew it was. Neleh really was trying to remind me that I was supposed to kill Dominick. I couldn’t imagine killing anyone. Something was just not clicking into place. There were missing pieces, important pieces that I wasn’t seeing.
First of all, who was David and how did he fit into all of this? And the two men that I remembered? And Reva? There were too many characters to my story. No matter how hard I tried to remember, only bits and pieces came back to me. It was making me feel sick to my stomach. I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind.
As soon as I closed my eyes I saw a bright flash of light. I was sitting in a strange little room. Before too many images assaulted me, I opened my eyes again.
A single tear ran down my face but I made no move to wipe it away.
Chapter Sixteen
“
The sun has come up, Eva,” Nickolas said after a while. “Worry no more about your dreams. There is little truth to them.” He kissed my forehead and scooted off the bed.
The sun has come up, Eva,” Nickolas said after a while. “Worry no more about your dreams. There is little truth to them.” He kissed my forehead and scooted off the bed.
“
Where are you going?
Where are you going?
“
I am going to split wood. You wash your face, straighten your clothes, and come join me. I’ll be right out front.” He went over to the bowl and carried it with him out the door. He was soon back with fresh water. “This is not to drink.” He laughed and shook his head.
I am going to split wood. You wash your face, straighten your clothes, and come join me. I’ll be right out front.” He went over to the bowl and carried it with him out the door. He was soon back with fresh water. “This is not to drink.” He laughed and shook his head.
It made my heart lighter to see him back to himself. I rolled my eyes. “I know,” I lied.
“
It’s so you can wash up.” He laughed again and disappeared through the doorway.
It’s so you can wash up.” He laughed again and disappeared through the doorway.
I bounced off the bed, eager to hurry and join him. I splashed water on my face and put my shoes on. I couldn’t buckle them, so I just tucked the buckle in the top. I smoothed my hair back down and raced outside to join Nickolas.
As promised, he wasn’t too far from the front door. He was swinging a large piece of wood with a blade attached to the end. “What’s that?” I asked, sitting down on the ground near where he stood.
“
An axe.” He smiled fondly at me.
An axe.” He smiled fondly at me.
I bobbed my head and watched, fascinated by the motion of the ax making contact with the wood. There was already a big pile of cut wood on the ground. “Why are you cutting firewood if we are leaving?”
“
We’ll need it when we return.” He didn’t even slow down in his movements.
We’ll need it when we return.” He didn’t even slow down in his movements.
When we return. I liked the sound of those words. He intended for me to come back here with him. The thought made me smile. I loved this little house made of wood. It was so comfortable here. I leaned back a little so I could watch Nickolas.
The steady thump of the ax vibrated the air. I watched in awe as the muscles on his chest and arms strained against his shirt. He glanced my way often, winking when he caught me staring. I blushed and looked away.
I felt the whoosh of air when he sat next to me on the ground. “What are you thinking?” he asked, playfully nudging me with his shoulder.
“
How nice it is here.” I smiled and looked away, suddenly embarrassed.
How nice it is here.” I smiled and looked away, suddenly embarrassed.
“
Yes, it is nice here.” He gently pushed my hair away from my face. Why did my heart have to react like that every time he touched me? He laughed softly. It didn’t surprise me if he could hear my heart.
Yes, it is nice here.” He gently pushed my hair away from my face. Why did my heart have to react like that every time he touched me? He laughed softly. It didn’t surprise me if he could hear my heart.
He stared at me for a long moment. My heart reacted loudly. I guess he didn’t even have to touch me. I closed my eyes and tilted my face to the sky. Neither one of us said anything. As the sun rose higher in the sky, we both laid down in the grass. I rested my head on his stomach. Every so often he would brush his hand along my forehead or my hair.
“
Eva, you seem so content here,” he was the first to break our happy silence.
Eva, you seem so content here,” he was the first to break our happy silence.
“
I am content here.’
I am content here.’
“
Don’t you miss your family?”
Don’t you miss your family?”
I thought about his words carefully. No, I didn’t miss my family. I was really starting to wonder if I ever had a family at all. “I don’t remember my family. Right now, you are the only person I know.” I shrugged.
“
And that doesn’t scare you?”
And that doesn’t scare you?”
My eyes narrowed with confusion. I rolled over on to my stomach so I could see his face. “Scare me? You don’t scare me.”
“
I’m not trying to.” He chuckled lightly.
I’m not trying to.” He chuckled lightly.
“
Then what do you mean?”
Then what do you mean?”
“
I mean,” he widened his eyes, “aren’t you afraid that you might be all alone now?”
I mean,” he widened his eyes, “aren’t you afraid that you might be all alone now?”
“
Oh.” I felt my shoulders deflate. I let my chin fall to rest on his ribs. “Well I’ll…” my words faltered, “I’ll just…”
Oh.” I felt my shoulders deflate. I let my chin fall to rest on his ribs. “Well I’ll…” my words faltered, “I’ll just…”
He brought his hand up to stroke the back of my head. “I shouldn’t have said that,” he said very softly.
“
No, that’s fine.” I tried to sound indifferent. Realizing several things at once, I sat up quickly. He didn’t want me here. I was burdening him and he was letting me know as kindly as he could. I couldn’t let myself think he cared for me. He was being nice, that’s all. I would be on my own when he got me to the colony. I had to keep things in perspective.
No, that’s fine.” I tried to sound indifferent. Realizing several things at once, I sat up quickly. He didn’t want me here. I was burdening him and he was letting me know as kindly as he could. I couldn’t let myself think he cared for me. He was being nice, that’s all. I would be on my own when he got me to the colony. I had to keep things in perspective.
My eyes pricked with tears when I also realized that it was too late for me; I already loved him. And he didn’t love me back; he just wanted to protect me.
The instant a single tear escaped the confines of my eyes, he was up on his knees facing me. “Are you crying?” He was horrified.
I shook my head, trying to deny the obvious. “No. I’m…I’m…,” but my lips were shaking too hard to talk.
“
No, sweetie don’t cry.” He wiped the tears off my face with trembling fingers. “No, no, no, no. Sweetie, please don’t cry.”
No, sweetie don’t cry.” He wiped the tears off my face with trembling fingers. “No, no, no, no. Sweetie, please don’t cry.”
It was no use though, once one tear fell, the others followed. “I just hadn’t thought about being all alone yet.” My voice broke twice.
“
I didn’t mean it, Eva. You are not alone.”
I didn’t mean it, Eva. You are not alone.”
“
But I am.” I covered my face with my hand. “I am.”
But I am.” I covered my face with my hand. “I am.”
“
No,” he said roughly. He pried my face free so he could see me. “As long as I’m still breathing you are not alone.”
No,” he said roughly. He pried my face free so he could see me. “As long as I’m still breathing you are not alone.”
I hated that I was making this hard for him. He didn’t owe me anything. “You don’t have to say…” My voice was barely audible.
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