Harmony (12 page)

FORESHADOW

The next two weeks were pretty much the same. I went to school, Ian waited for me after school, then he took me to work and patiently read while I manned the circulation desk at the library. He snickered quite a bit making it hard to work with all the crazy book requests I got from some of the more vibrant patrons. When he wasn’t pestering my mind with mundane questions, he tutored me in Calculus since Mr. Harris couldn’t teach adequately without using some football metaphor. On Friday night, we had a standing double date with Emily and Max. I think Ian enjoyed having the extra company; it kept our excessive kissing in check for one thing. I had enjoyed watching Ian and Max preen in front of their prospective ladies, showing off their competitiveness.
Boys!

      
“Yes!” Ian exclaimed bowling another perfect frame.

“Dude, another strike?” Max said in disbelief, “You’ve got to be in a league or something.”

“…or something,” Ian smirked.

Max cracked his fingers, “Ok, here we go.” Max effortlessly released his ball, gliding towards the pins. Strike! “There it is…yes!” Max retaliated, “All yours old man.”

I was pleasantly surprised; Max was holding his own against Ian. However, he was clearly at a disadvantage. Ian stepped up and in perfect form let his ball sail— inevitably towards another strike. I flicked my wrist and a small draft of air pushed his bowling ball to the left. Seven pins down. Ian looked dumbfounded, but quickly recovered glancing my way.

What?
I mentally projected.
Don’t look at me.

Ian sighed.

“I don’t believe it!” Max exclaimed, “Knew you were too good to be true.”

“Max!” Emily said elbowing him, “Totally not cool. I’m so sorry Ian; he was challenged as a child. Say something…” Emily whispered to Max.

Must I endure his taunts?
Ian asked.

I smiled.
You know it’s only fair. They will never bowl with us again.

“Fine. Good game, man,” Max said extending his hand.

“Yes, good game,” Ian conceded looking at me pointedly.
      Fine…but how about blowing his ball the other way next time? My ego has been bruised.

I laughed.
You are the most amazing boyfriend ever
—
I’m sure your ego will survive.

No matter how much I enjoyed bonding with my friends, Sundays with Ian were my favorite—time alone that I treasured. He’d take me driving. It didn’t really matter where—just the thrill of the ride was satisfying. My newfound connection with nature left me craving the outdoors; I felt more alive and my senses heightened.

       We also spent countless hours talking. We talked about Ireland, dreams, wishes, and wants. He could figure most of mine out on his own if he probed my thoughts, but I enjoyed it more having him ask. Basically, we did things most couples did while dating. I was even beginning to feel normal again. There was always that fear in the back of my mind that said it wouldn’t last, but I pushed it aside not willing to accept it quite yet. We didn’t talk about that day in his cabin; I sensed Ian was trying to give me these moments in a world where I didn’t quite belong to anymore. We were living in a bubble about to burst, and I really didn’t care.

       But today was different. I knew it the moment I woke up. The skies were darker and it was raining. Not that I didn’t enjoy rain, but this didn’t feel like a cleansing rain—rather an act of sorrow. It was as if the elements knew before I did that this day wouldn’t end well.

       School was duller than usual, and even Em and Max seemed gloomy. Something was definitely off. I couldn’t escape the building fast enough when the final bell rang. I pushed my way through the front doors and skidded to a halt. Ian wasn’t waiting for me after school. I wasn’t sure what to do. Did I wait? Walk home? I couldn’t sense him telepathically either. I waited for a few minutes, then started walking. If I didn’t hurry, I’d be late for work. Out of the blue, wheels screeched to a sudden stop and Ian rolled down the window of his car.

       “Sophie, I’m sorry. I lost track of time,” he apologized. I quickly climbed in and kissed his cheek.

       “Ian, it’s okay. Walking is good for me. Truth is, I’ve gotten rather spoiled the past month having you chauffer me around,” I said in the most pleasant voice I could muster. Ian glanced over and squeezed my hand. He seemed preoccupied. I wondered if I should pry. Usually when he was brooding, I let him be. It was happening more frequently.

       “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or do I have to find out myself?” I challenged him. “What?” Ian seemed rather confused.

       “Hello! Earth to Ian. Where are you in that sexy brain of yours?” I questioned, hoping he caught the teasing tone of my voice. “I’m feeling a bit neglected in this fabulous car,” I added for good measure.      “Soph, I’m a bit distracted today, aren’t I?” Ian said. He squeezed my hand and winced. We continued to ride in silence. The air was so thick you could cut the tension with a knife. The ride to Grams seemed to take an eternity. Ian parked under the elm out front and sat staring out the window, still holding my hand. I didn’t get out, because I wasn’t sure if I should leave him be or ask.

       “You have to go away, don’t you?” I stated, knowing it before I spoke. I didn’t want to believe it. “Where are you going?” I asked trying not to sound alarmed or convey my rising fear of abandonment. It was choking me. My mind jumped to all sorts of possible explanations. “Are you okay? I thought you were hunting regularly here. Did something happen?” I fidgeted with my hands in my lap, trying not to sound too desperate and panicked.

       “It’s not what you are thinking, Sophie, “Ian tried to reassure me. “I’m meeting up with some others, and I would prefer them not coming here.”

      
Other vampires? Are they friends?
I hadn’t seen that possibility coming. “I thought you said that vampires are nomadic and preferred not to travel conspicuously in groups.”

       Ian sighed. “True, but contrary to popular belief, there are others like me,” he snapped. He was hurt by my remarks and a bit angry.

       “Please don’t be mad. That’s not what I meant,” I said facing him. “Are you in trouble?”

***

      
It was too late for either of them to turn back now
, Ian thought somberly. He had to finish what had been put into motion so many centuries ago. It irritated him that he was still not at liberty to tell her all he knew and what he suspected to be true. If anything, he needed to find out how to protect Sophie now that her power had manifested. It was only a matter of time before Connacher would sense her presence, he most likely already had.
I know I’m being selfish,
Ian thought,
but I won’t let them destroy her like they did me.

       “I’m not sure, but I sense a change coming, and I don’t like it,” he replied tersely. “I’m actually going to Ireland to request a meeting with the guardians.”

***

       I was shocked. “Well, I’m coming too,” I replied without hesitation.

       “No,” Ian said more sharply than intended.     “What makes you think you can stop me?” I was mad as hell. Who was he to tell me what I could or couldn’t do?

       “Soph, please. I beg you let me do this alone,” Ian pleaded. “I’ll be worried the whole time about your safety, and I don’t even know if they will grant my request.”

       I couldn’t resist the pull of his eyes—they spoke volumes to me. “I don’t like this,” I said reluctantly. “I have had a bad feeling all day about this.”

       “I know. I do too, but it can’t be put off any longer.” Ian nervously raked his fingers through his hair and rolled his shoulders. “Connacher is getting closer to figuring out where you are, and he’s stronger,” Ian said.

       “I know. I see it too,” I said defeated.

“What do you mean that you see it too?” Ian asked.

“It’s weird, but the other day I felt something different when I was trying to connect with you. I brushed it off as the dark part of you, but maybe it wasn’t,” I said thinking.

Ian looked concerned, “I should have sensed it too…I’m sorry.”

 “How long will you be gone?”

       Ian shrugged, “It’s hard to say. Will you please try to stay out of trouble while I’m gone?” He suddenly grabbed me into a bear hug. “Don’t do anything out of the ordinary.”

       “I won’t,” I said, climbing out of the car and pulling my jacket more tightly around me to ward off the biting cold of early spring. I blew Ian a kiss. “For good luck,” I smiled, “and call me every night.” He didn’t need to say it, but I knew he missed me already, and regretted leaving me behind.

       Ian sped off, and I stood still in the driveway for a long time lost in thought. The air was definitely different. Something sinister was coming. I shivered. Hopefully, Ian would be back in time. I saw things more clearly now. My nightmares were almost trivial now; a foreshadowing of things to come. I quickly ran inside to warm myself and bolted shut the front door. The ravens were coming.

CONNACHER

Despite the uneasiness that surrounded me, nothing out of the ordinary had happened in the past week. I mechanically pulled on shorts and a sweatshirt preparing for my evening run. It was one of my daily try-not-to-think-about-Ian rituals.
He’d been gone a whole week!
I could sense him, and we communicated nightly on the phone, but the distance made it harder for me to concentrate on his location, or maybe he was intentionally blocking my sight. I chose to think it was merely an ocean that broke the telepathy.

       “At least he’s alive,” I muttered as I clamored down the stairs. “Grams! I’m going out running. Be back soon.” I didn’t even wait for a response as I bounded out the front door. Ear phones in, iPod set. Fall out Boy blaring, I started to run. I didn’t have a direction or set path—I just ran. I didn’t want to hear anything, see anything, and least of all
feel
anything. I punished my body physically; the physical pain was cathartic, and more bearable than the pain in my heart. The crashing, deafening music helped to block out any stray thoughts of Ian.
Did he think of me or wonder if I was okay? Miss me?
I was beginning to doubt that from our brief nightly phone calls. My inexperienced teenage self poked a hole in what my very old soul told me was real. “This is ridiculous,” I muttered. Who could I talk to that would understand what was going on? They’d think I was a nutter! Thank you late-night British programming. See what I was reduced too? On one hand, my life was fantastic, and on the other hand it was surreal. But hadn’t I seen enough in the past month to deny there was some sort of mystical energy surrounding us all? Grams seemed okay with it, so why couldn’t I wrap my brain around it too? Perhaps, I didn’t have enough faith in myself to pursue this path.

       The pain started to kick in, and I pushed on forward. I loved the way the light danced through the leaves of the trees and the sweet caresses of the wind darting in and out. Nature was peaceful yet powerful. I was amazed at how easy it was now to see what had been in front of me my whole life. All my senses were stronger; I liked the power that surged in me—a constant, comforting humming.

       I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t even realize it was raining. I turned around to head back home. I’d gone further today than I’d thought. Night was descending faster than normal, and I suddenly felt anxious. I pulled out one of my earphones and heard a menacing squawk overhead. I could swear it was a raven! I felt him before I saw him. Connacher was out there. I knew it.

       The rain came down in droves, pelting my arms and head. The elements were trying to help how they could; the rain was confusing his sight of me and dissipating my scent so he couldn’t precisely track me. I might have a small advantage—maybe salvation was in sight. My legs were cramping. I just needed to get home and prayed silently that all the late-night research on vampires and legends paid off. The one consistent strain in all the stories was that vampires couldn’t come into your home without being invited.

      
He was closer.
I could feel his coldness rip through me and the hiss of his voice on my neck. Connacher was calling out for me. Running clearly wasn’t an option anymore. I’d seen Ian in action plenty of times, and there was no way I could out run him. I did the only thing I could do; I stopped and turned to face my enemy.

       He descended upon me faster than I imagined, and even though I knew he was there, I jumped back in surprise. Still panting and heaving from my run, I put on a brave face and said, “Connacher.” He studied me for a moment, walking around me like an animal stalking his prey.
So this is what it feels like to be dinner.
I decided it sucked. He was younger than I had expected, with slick, black hair tied at the nape. He was built like a warrior with harsh features that at one time might have been handsome to look upon, but now his eyes were fathomless, black, and dead. I shuddered.
Not someone you want to meet in a dark alley,
I thought.

       He was quick, by my side, and his face nearly upon my neck. I felt sick inside. His breath was like a cold vapor reaching up and taking hold of me. Icy hands gripped my shoulders. My body’s reaction to him was completely opposite to that of Ian’s. I felt the darkness that surrounded him literally sucking the energy from me.

       “You’re not as strong as Deirdre would have us believe,” Connacher said, sneering and tracing a cold finger down my arm. “This isn’t even a challenge for me,” he scoffed.
Perhaps Cathbad was wrong,
he thought,
he’d been wrong before he remembered darkly.
“No matter,” Connacher added dismissingly.