Soul Inheritance (27 page)

“
Don’t take it off, for anything. It’s protection against stuff here. I don’t know what all it works for, but definitely him having any power over you. You’ll be okay as long as we’re together.” Her expression was all business now as she emptied one of the packs and headed for the door.

“
But we were together before,” he protested.

“
No, that was different. He used Nigel to draw you away. He knew you’d do your duty no matter where that was and you fell for it. That thing on the path wasn’t real, it was an illusion. The power of persuasion, persuading us to see something that wasn’t there, to feel that degree of terror so we’d run in opposite directions, separating us. That’s why I had no power over it, why I couldn’t defend us. It wasn’t real.”

They made the trip to the truck and back unhindered. Once back Katherine unpacked the air mattress and put batteries in the inflation device. It was a bed in no time.

“
I don’t know about you but I’m stiff as hell from sleeping on that hard floor. I’m too old for this shit!” she joked, looked to him for a reaction.

Jim’s brow was furrowed and he rubbed the side of his skull. “My head is way out complaining th rest of me. God, I feel like I been hit with a bag of bricks.”

There was no resisting the cringe and nervous chuckle as Katherine stopped to look at the swollen knot on the side of his head. There was a bruise along the edge of the hairline. Gently she stroked the side of his face.

“
I’m so sorry,” she said sympathetically.

“
For what?” Jim asked.

“
Well,” Katherine cringed. “I kinda gave you that. Don’t you remember what happened while he had you?”

“
To be honest it’s all a little fuzzy.”

“
Well, let’s just say he used you to get fresh with Miranda, only she wasn’t strong enough to hold her own and get what she wanted.”

“
I’m confused. I thought she was on our side. She’s part a ya, right?”

“
I’m a little confused myself to be honest. I’m missing something. I know she’s part of me, but there seems to have been a break between her and me. Maybe in the time-line and I’m missing some information. But I’m going to take care of that.”

“
How?” He looked suspiciously at her.

“
I’m going to try controlling my dreams like I did last night to get the information I need. I need to know what separates us, what makes me unique, untouchable. Why they need me to come to them.” She smiled at his frown, hugged him around the waist. “It’ll be okay. I’m learning I’ve got a lot of control. If only I’d known that from the beginning. I need you to do me a favor.”

Jim looked down into the green eyes and felt his heart melt. He’d do anything for this woman and he didn’t even know why. It was just a fact and he’d come to terms with without even putting up a fight. If that wasn’t love he didn’t know what was, but he wasn’t willing to admit to it yet.

“
What kind a favor?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.

“
Just spend a nice evening with me. We’ll make a fire, cook something hot, talk… make love.” She grinned, shot him a questioning look. “What da ya say?”

“
Hum, sounds promising. And the reason for all of this right now?” he asked.

“
Well, just in case.” She slipped out of his arms, turned to her pack.

“
In case what?” he asked, concern creasing his face.

“
In case I can’t control the dreams like I hope I can. After all, I had Miranda to help before. I don’t have her now. This time I’m on my own.”

‡

Dinner eaten, lovemaking over, they laid on the air mattress snuggled closely together. Katherine looked up to see Jim watching her intently.

“
Ya be careful out there. I care ‘bout ya, come back to me.” He stroked her hair with one hand, caressed her face. She only nodded in return.

Dozing off she tried to put thoughts of him aside, kept coming back to his stare.

“
I’m falling for you, too,” she murmured, slipping off the edge of consciousness into sleep.

Katherine found herself in a house. Not the one by the lake, but in town. Street lights shined in through gauzy curtains that fluttered at open windows. It was the late sixties, maybe early seventies. A long silk nightgown flowed around her as she looked out on neighboring houses, most of their windows darkened.

The sound of footsteps on stairs drew her attention inward. A long braid fell over one shoulder as she turned to see who it was. A man casually entered the room, kissed her on the cheek. He looked familiar. It took Katherine a few moments to realize she’d seen his photo in the box from her father’s house.

“
Sorry I’m so late hon. I had some work to do at the store. How was your day?” Her grandfather went across the room, kicked off his shoes and put them away in the closet.

“
Alright I guess,” she said.

The round clock on the nightstand read nearly midnight. The man she presumed was her husband sat on the edge of the bed, pulled off his necktie, unbuttoned his shirt.

“
Come to bed,” he said, pulling back the blankets and climbing in.

Doing as he asked she climbed in bed beside him, watched as he turned out the light and snuggled up to her. His hot breath on her neck felt strange and foreign. For some reason she couldn’t explain it felt as though she wasn’t supposed to trust him. Hands wandering he kissed her hair gently.

“
Do you know how much I love you?” he asked in a whisper.

“
Yes. I love you, too,” she replied, not knowing what else to do. What ever this was it wasn’t her life, but one that had already been lived. She just had to follow along and see what happened.

“
Then you’ll understand,” he whispered, his mouth close to her ear as he slipped his hand over her face.

The pressure was intense, but not any harsher than it had to be. She could feel the tension between what he knew he had to do and the love he had for this woman. From the nightstand he pulled a handkerchief, stuffed it into her mouth, bound her hands above her head while he pinned her down with his body.

Tears ran down his face. His lips quivered as he leaned down and kissed her face.

“
I’m so sorry, but it’s the only way. You know it is. It’s the only way to set us free from the cycle. It’s the only way to cleanse us so they can’t have us any more,” he cried as he left the room to retrieve the gasoline from the hallway.

The smell was strong as he poured it around their bed. She struggled, cried, tried to tell him she didn’t want to be saved. Whoever this was wanted to stay where she was, living the cycle over and over. Wanted to build the family back to its former glory. Thoughts of her son and daughter ran through her head. They were her hope, they’d build them back to power, bring in fresh blood, start the empire anew. She fought for all she was worth against the bonds that held her. The leather belt was thick, unyielding as it cut into her wrists.

As he stood back and took out the match to light it they were suddenly no longer alone. She felt great relief when Greystone appeared at the doorway. He stepped through as the match was lit.

“
Nooooo!” he roared, striding forward, but it was too late. The match fell toward the liquid soaking into the carpet. Flames licked the foot of the bed, springing up all around her. She could feel the heat as the first fingers of fire embraced her skin and she saw Greystone recoil in horror as her husband jumped onto the pyre.

‡

Jim watched her sleeping, felt exhaustion setting in. Before he realized what was happening he had drifted off to sleep. He found himself in a house, climbing a carpeted stairway. One hand slid along the rail, in the other was a can of gasoline.

Desperation filled his heart, ruled his mind. His soul mate, his eternal love, waited at the top of the stairs for him to come home. Sitting the can by the door he went in; saw her waiting for him by the window, silk nightgown flowing around her body, hair braided over one shoulder.

‡

Katherine woke with a start, squirming and beating at her leg. The jeans she wore smoked as she fought to pull them off. After throwing them to the side she poured the nearest bottle of water on her scorched skin. It was blood red, as if she’d severely sun burned just the place the flames had kissed.

Jim jumped up in a near panic, paced to the side for a moment, running his hand through his hair.

“
Are ya okay?” Concern drowned his handsome features, but he resisted the urge to approach, remembering the zap he’d gotten last time. Afraid to have his worst fears confirmed.

“
Yea,” she let out a long breath, took another. “Yea. I think so.”

“
Did ya get your answer?” He tried to calm down.

“
Yea. I sure did. I owe somebody big time. No wonder Miranda sought me out. She wants back what she had. Her last husband loved her more than life itself. He killed them both.”

The wolves sang in the distance and Katherine listened for a moment before continuing. Jim watched her longingly, tried to decide what to do.

“
I don’t know why, but death by fire seems to be a way out. If the soul dies by fire it’s no longer bound to the pact. Though I guess it’s still bound by the family?”

Thinking about what she was saying Jim nodded. “Fire was once thought to be cleansing, that’s why they burned witches at th stake. That part makes sense, but being bound ta th family, wasn’t Miranda bound differently from the others? Wasn’t she bound by Greystone’s hand, not the pact. So if the pact with th family was broken it doesn’t mean th pact with him would be. Right?”

Katherine thought about it. “Yea, I guess you’re right.”

“
He didn’t know that. So how do ya break the bond with him?” Jim plopped down beside her on the bed.

“
Either their love has to die or she has to join him.” Katherine sighed, frustrated by a lack of answers.

“
Or,” Jim turned to face her, an idea sparkling in his eyes, “he has to join her. Now ya know two of his weaknesses. Ya just have ta find a way ta use ‘em.”

Miranda turned inside, churning in her depths like an angered viper. Katherine let her steam. Her own game had turned on her. She’d trapped herself within the one person most capable of destroying them both and given her the confidence to do it by letting her sample the power to be had. It never occurred to her Katherine would have an untapped strength of her own she didn’t know how to use. Now she fought to come to the surface, to take over and stop her before she could destroy the world that would make her strong again, give her power to live for centuries more with everything she wanted.

Chapter sixteen

As the sun broke through the trees Katherine and Jim slept peacefully in each others arms. The answers were almost within reach. To Jim important answers had already been found. The inexplicable attraction to the woman he’d waited his whole life for was no longer a mystery. The draw and fascination of McKlannen Lake and everything associated wasn’t as bizarre as everyone had always thought. For the first time in his life he knew he was where he was supposed to be.

The caw of crows in the trees woke Katherine. She removed the bolt and stood on the porch searching the treetops. Dappled sunlight illuminated the fall leaves. Bright red, orange, yellow and gold glowed as if lit from within and the air seemed lighter. The crows perched by the dozens in the treetops, staring with beady black eyes daring her to finish the journey.

Taking a deep breath she went back in. Jim was getting up and dressed, reloading the gun she’d returned to him last night.

“
You really think that thing will do you any good?” she asked with a laugh.

“
Well, even if it only makes me feel better it’s done some good.” He smiled at her, gave her a good morning kiss.

“
You have a point there.” She smiled, subconsciously looked at the hand with the ring on the pinky finger.

“
It’s still the’re. I’m not about to take it off.” He turned it on his finger. “But wouldn’t it be better spent protecting its real owner?”

“
No. I’ve got my own protection, not to mention my trump card. Miranda’s what he wants. In my body with the family power intact, to start over. Who knows how many souls are in some sort of holding pattern waiting to be born back into the family. After all, they can’t go anywhere else, until there are children born to the line, or the pact is broken, or maybe passed on, they’re stuck.” She proceeded to fill her pack. “I’m the safest person here in a warped sort of way.”

“
I have another weapon.” He went to the table, retrieved two small squirt bottles that, until this morning, had held liquid soap. “I filled them with lighter fluid. One good squeeze and a match and you’ve got a good fire.” He tucked it into her pocket, followed by a lighter. “Don’t hesitate. He’s got to join her and I think that’s probably the only way.”