Harmony (16 page)

***

       Ian didn’t dare touch her after seeing the effects of her power on Connacher. Crouching down low by Sophie, he could smell the blood caking her limbs. The demon inside of him was raging for a taste of her bloodied body. Somehow, he managed to carry Sophie back to the car and drive back to his cabin. It was a struggle. When Connacher had dragged her off, Ian could almost feel his lifeless heart being ripped from his chest. He was only fueled by the need to keep her safe. He surmised that he’d given into the rage if only temporarily to defend her.
Was that
justification enough?
He saw that she had feared him, and that frightened Ian more. Not having Sophie lovingly look at him…that would be damnation.   Ian carried her into his cabin and gently laid her on his bed. She’d probably be embarrassed if he bathed her wounds, and he didn’t know if he could manage it. That part of her hadn’t been shared yet, but he could only imagine what lie underneath her tattered dress. He retrieved a washcloth, warm water, and began to clean her up. Sophie’s eyes fluttered open.

***

Ian was washing me…beyond humiliation…so not how I wanted this night to end.
I pressed my fingers gingerly to my temples, “Is he gone?” I could tell Ian wanted to grab and not let go, but he wasn’t sure if I was hurt anywhere else.

       “Yes, for the moment,” Ian replied tenderly in his ministrations. I looked down at my dress and started to cry, remembering what had just transpired.

       Ian wiped the tears away with a towel. “Shhh, don’t cry love. It’s all over now.” He bent his head closer and gingerly pressed his lips to my forehead.

       “I’m so sorry about my dress,” I sobbed.

       “Your dress?” Ian was dumbfounded. “Soph, we can get you another dress, but I can’t get another you.” Ian stroked my hair.

       “I know, but look at me…I’m a mess,” I said, trying to sit up. “You’re hurt too.” I noticed for the first time that Ian had gashes on his arm, neck, and chest.

       “Don’t worry about me; vampires heal quickly,” Ian said remorsefully and added, “I don’t think Grams is going to let you go out with me anymore.”

      
Grams!
“What time is it?” I fumbled around looking for a phone.

       “One in the morning. You’ve been out if it for awhile now,” Ian said, hushing me. “Don’t worry, I called her and said I’d bring you back in the morning.”

       I rolled onto my side and winced. “She was okay with that?” I asked.

       “I didn’t really give her a choice, Sophie,” Ian said, tentatively cradling my body. “I can only imagine what she’s thinking.” I cringed in embarrassment. “Do you think she’s safe?” I asked.       “Connacher is not interested in your grandmother,” Ian stated. “She is safe.” We lay in silence for a few more minutes. “I didn’t think you’d want me to bathe you…can you manage, or do you need my help?” Ian said, changing the subject.

       I started blushing yet again. “I think I can manage, but I’ll need some clothes.”

       Ian helped me to the bathroom. “I’ll leave some things on the bed. Call me if you need anything.”       I painstakingly peeled what was left of my dress from my body. I had bruises on my arms, sides, and thighs. Small cuts from the underbrush splattered my arms and legs. “Great. I look like I went through the briar patch.” I started to cry again thinking about Connacher. At least I was still alive. The hot water from the shower was both therapeutic and punishing. I wished that I had some sort of healing powers.
Maybe Ian could give me some of his blood…
I pushed that thought away, not sure where it had come from. This was going to be great trying to explain to Grams what had happened. I couldn’t scrub enough with the bar of soap to remove the filth I still felt from having Connacher touch me, lick my blood.
How could something be so vile?
It didn’t seem fair that Ian had that desire in him too. I’d always felt safe with him.

       Ian had left me a shirt and sweat pants. I toweled off as best as I could manage and gathered up his shirt. It smelled like Ian. —that same musky, vanilla spice my soul craved. It was the comfort I needed. The pants were huge, but manageable. I found a comb and surveyed myself.
I look terrible!
I was almost too embarrassed to see Ian, but I didn’t want to be alone.

       I found Ian in front of the fireplace tending to the fire he’d just built. He didn’t turn when I came into the room even though he knew I was there. He’d changed as well, and he looked dejected. I peered into his mind. He was sad and felt responsible.

       “Ian?” I said tentatively.

       Ian stood and crossed the room. “How do you feel?” he asked, searching my face.

       “A little better,” I managed a weak smile.

       Ian steered me to the couch in front of the fire. “Here, put this on. It will keep you warm,” he said as he handed me a blanket. Ian began to inspect my arms.

       “Ian,” I said gently, pulling his hand away. “I will be okay. It’s just not a pretty sight right now.” Ian gently raised my chin to look at him. “Sophie, even with all these cuts and bruises you will always be beautiful to me.” He shook his head. “Sorry about the clothes. I should have told you to bring something for later on the beach, but you kind of look adorable wearing mine,” he added with a smile.

       I remained still, mulling over the attack again. “Ian, what made you stop from attacking me like Connacher? I mean, I could see the thirst in your eyes and feel the rage, but you stayed back.”

       Ian shut his eyes. “It’s hard to explain. All my carnal senses were urging me on, but something inside kept insisting that you’d be gone, and that thought was more powerful than my desires.” I laid my head on his shoulder and remained quiet. “Sophie, you have to believe me when I say that I could not bear it if something happened to you. My existence up to this point has been pretty pointless. I like experiencing humanity again through you.”

       We remained silent for quite a while, watching the flames flicker and the logs crackle in the fireplace. “It sounds like you have a soul, Ian,” I finally said.

       “That’s not possible.” 

       “Ian, not everything is black and white. Haven’t we seen that already?” I said determinedly. “There is no logical explanation for you and me. I have to believe that there is a place out there for us.”

       Ian was thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t know if I can hope for that, Sophie, but I do know that I’m grateful for this time I have with you.” He reached down to gently kiss my lips. “It’s more precious than you know.”

       “Ian, don’t talk like that; it’s like you’re saying goodbye. Don’t give up on us yet,” I stressed.       “Soph, you’re exhausted. Let me carry you upstairs,” Ian said, pulling me up into his arms.

       “Will you stay with me?” I pleaded. I still felt uneasy.

       “You know I will.” He kissed my forehead again as he carried me up the stairs to his bedroom. I felt safe tucked into his bed with him lying next to me. I could picture many nights like this in the future. Ian’s arms were cold, but that didn’t dissipate the warmth I felt from his soul. He wasn’t ready to admit it or accept it was true, but I knew otherwise. There was no other reason why he didn’t kill me or turn me into what raged below the surface.

***

       Sophie was finally asleep, albeit fitfully. Ian tucked the quilt more tightly around her. He could lay by her side and watch her forever. She looked so peaceful. He winced at the cuts and bruises visible on her face.
I had been the cause of this, my betrayal of Connacher, his fate.
Ian didn’t want to hurt Sophie further, but he knew that the time was fast approaching when he would hurt her far beyond that of physical pain. His own premonitions of the future were unfolding. He’d seen this night played over and over in his mind.

       Ian stared up at the ceiling. He felt helpless to do anything about it. He couldn’t make Sophie’s choices for her—she had to decide.

       “Sophie,” Ian whispered into the night, “I vow this will never happen again. I’ll leave before I hurt you again. I love you, Sophia Marie Flynn,” he declared. That simple truth was what scared him more, admitting finally that he was madly in love with her too.

NIGHTMARE REVISITED

I don’t remember dreaming as I fell asleep, but I felt uneasy. My body could sense a change in the air. I knew Ian lay beside me, and that was comforting, but I had the fleeting notion that it wouldn’t always be this way, and that frightened me. I saw the meadow for its beauty; the various colors and lights, and how they intermingled and charged the air in and around me. I also felt the wind and tasted the water from the stream. I heard faint music in the background, the melody of that Irish song my mother and Ian sang to me. I couldn’t understand the words—it was in Gaelic—but my mind seemed to interpret it for me.
It was a lover’s song.
A song of promise and of union. It was
glorious
and rejuvenating to my soul.

       I saw something strange in the distance; something unfamiliar from past dreams. I was drawn to it. It was a woman—she was beautiful and somewhat familiar. She had crimson hair flowing down her back, airy clothes that flowed around her body, and eyes that pierced me to the depths of my soul.

       “Hello Sophie,” the woman said to me.

       “Hello,” I replied hesitantly. “Do I know you?” I asked.

       “I’m Deirdre.”

       The legend Grams had told me unfolded in my mind. “Deirdre of the Ulster? How can that be?” I inquired, disbelieving who I saw before me.

       She smiled. “Why do you doubt your destiny, child?”   “I’m not sure what my destiny is.”

       Deirdre sighed. “I’d hoped you would have figured it out by now,” she said, glancing around her.

“What do you want from me?” I pleaded.

“Your vampire reminded me of someone I used to love…it’s been a while since I’ve been challenged…I’d forgotten how tender devotion could be. I don’t have much time,” she urgently whispered. She was making me nervous. “How do you think you frightened the demons off?”

       “Connacher?” I asked in dismay.

       “Yes,” Deirdre replied in disgust. Clearly she despised him more than Ian and I.

       “I don’t really remember,” I said. “I felt powerful, like the energy of nature was fueling my aura.”

       “Go on,” she urged.

        “It was overwhelming. I felt burning in my veins; it felt like light,” I hedged, trying to find the appropriate words to describe what had transpired. “No, I was
light!
” It was finally clicking.

       “Yes, you are remembering,” Deirdre said urgently as she looked around. “Quickly.”

       I began rewinding the scene of the attack in my head. “Connacher touched me, and I think it burned him,” I suddenly said in recognition. “What does this mean?”

       “It means that you have the power to fight, use it wisely. I’ve already said more than allowed. It is up to you my child to decide your path.” She tenderly brushed a hand over my head like a mother would her child. “Use what has been gifted to you from our family.  It will make you stronger and see things more clearly.”

       I was confused. “Our family? Wait, don’t go yet.”

       She was already disappearing into the mist. She turned suddenly and gently touched my cheek. “Child you are a part of me, the goodness of my soul.” With that, Deirdre disappeared.

       I was so fixed upon her appearance that I realized too late that the air had turned colder and night had fallen. The darkness in my mind was choking. It had a name now; Connacher was near. I woke with a start.

       Ian looked concerned, “Soph, what’s the matter?” he said, pulling me closer. “I didn’t know if I should wake you.”

       “I saw Deirdre.”

       Ian tensed, “Just now?”

       “I know it’s strange, but she was in my dream too. She tried to explain my gift to me,” I said, lost in thought.

       “Is that all?” Ian ventured.

       “I think so,” I said, trying to remember. “She said I needed to learn how to control it.” Ian furrowed his brow in contemplation. “How do you think I should go about doing that? I’ve only seen it happen when I’m angry or feel threatened,” I said in dismay. “But it was
amazing!”
I said sitting up. “I could see the life forces, the energy of every living thing in nature; it was a beautiful harmony.”

       Ian sat quietly, and I waited for him to say something, but he remained silent.

       “Wait,” I continued, “I’ve heard that song—it was in Gaelic, but my mind somehow understood. It was a song of promise between Deirdre and Naois,” I explained. “It’s been broken, and I think she wants me to fix it. Do you think the song is what traps her here—keeps her tethered to this plane of existence?” I said thinking out loud.

       “It’s possible,” Ian replied. “Connacher’s druid, Cathbad was involved in the practice of dark magic. Perhaps he cursed her just like she cursed them.”

       I was overwhelmed, bruised, and tattered, but not alone. I drew strength from Ian. This tragedy was not our fault—but it was now or never, we had to finish it or we’d never know true peace. I felt the fog lifting and hope soaring as the pieces of the puzzle slowly came together. “Will you help me break the curse?” I asked.

       “Can I ever deny you anything?” he said, ruffling my hair.

       “First,” I said as I got out bed, “I should call Grams—I’m not going home yet.” I picked up the phone and called her. At first she wanted me to come home, but I somehow convinced her that everything was okay.  “I feel that there is something here that will help me understand my connection with nature, and I need Ian to teach me how to defend myself,” I told her. “I love you too, Grams.”