The Star Child (The Star Child Series) (13 page)

She grabbed a pillow from the sofa and laid her head upon it.

Grabbing my own pillow, I rested my cheek against the soft fabric. Waves of exhaustion hit me, but I didn’t want to close my eyes for fear that she’d disappear. “Who was after us tonight? Was it the Children of Danu?”

“I believe so,” she said, “although we now refer to them as the Sídhe, as their motives are no longer pure. It is dangerous for me below ground, as that is their territory, and I am not sure that they would have been welcoming to you, either. I believe that they may have sensed our presence.”

“And the moat, the knife, all of that?”

“Basic precautions to protect against the inhabitants of Faerie. I did not want to take any chances with your safety.” She closed her eyes then and within minutes her breathing slowed, became heavier with sleep.

Moving closer, I wrapped my arm over her, taking care not to disturb her. I was so grateful not to be on my own. In seconds, I fell asleep on the soft quilt or, more accurately, I fell into a dream. I was definitely dreaming, as the environment that I was in was so very different from my own.

***

I stood, shielding Calienta, gripping a sword, as we clung together in a patch of fog looking out into the gray distance. I wore a white shirt, which was soaked through, and the same jeans that I’d just changed into. Around my neck, I wore the silver pendant that my mother had left me. Looking up, I met the eyes of the warrior. I smelled my own death, could foresee it in the half-crazed glare that he directed at me.

“You shall not be allowed the chance to destroy me, mortal. I know of the prophecy and I will overcome it. I will reign over this world when you have been destroyed. My father will pay for his mistakes.”

My eyes closed, wanting to block out the visual, but I immediately forced them open. I wouldn’t die with my eyes closed, a coward, but instead with them wide open and aware of my ever-approaching fate. The black mist clung to my skin as I welcomed death in the fading light.

***

“Wow.” I hadn’t meant to say that out loud, and I woke Calienta as I snapped out of the dream. I glanced at the clock. Seven a.m.

“What is it, Kellen?” Her voice was thick.

“I can’t talk about it right now.” I muttered the words before I noticed her expression. “I’m sorry, that was rude. I’m just not ready to talk about it yet.”

“When you are ready to discuss it, I will listen.”

For a moment I hesitated, but my stomach had other ideas. Shocker. It started grumbling at full volume. Embarrassed, I changed the subject. “Uh, do goddesses eat breakfast?”

She smiled, radiant. “It depends on what’s on the menu.”

“Eggs, ham, some bread? Coffee?” Whether she wanted those things or not didn’t matter to me; I planned on eating regardless.

“That would be lovely.”

CHAPTER TEN

FACE IN THE MIRROR

We spent the day together, the two of us. For the moment, the prophecy was forgotten, but it was only a temporary interlude. On such a bright and sunny day, it was tough to remember that Cabhan was out there, seeking to destroy the world. In fact, it was incredibly easy to delude myself into thinking that nothing was wrong.

We walked on the country roads and through the town, talking. Calienta asked me countless questions about my childhood, where I grew up, about my parents.

“Don’t you already know the answers to these questions? You’re mythical, after all.”

“I’m not mythical. I’m very real.” She crossed her arms and pretended to pout, but I’d discovered in a short time that she was never angry for long.

Changing the subject, I asked, “What happened with Rowan?” The name had come up repeatedly when I listened to the prophecies. I was curious. It seemed as though she hadn’t been in the picture for quite a while. “You haven’t mentioned her much. I wondered what happened to her. Is she on a star too?”

“No, Rowan married a mortal and chose to become mortal.”

“I know that Cabhan said that could be done, but I’m surprised that she’d make that choice.”

Calienta looked at me thoughtfully. “People make many interesting choices in the name of love.”

“I suppose they do.” I thought of my own parents.

Mulling on that, we walked in silence for a time before she spoke again. “Rowan was visiting Earth and met a man, a musician, who was very charismatic. He was exactly what she was looking for. She became mortal for him.”

“So, do you see her often?”

“Sadly, no. Mortals normally are unable to travel to our world; we can only choose to visit mortals. Time passes so differently for us that many months or years will go by before we chance to visit. I think she would be around sixty now.”

“So, you miss her?” Brushing my fingers along her cheek, I waited for her answer. She nodded, her eyes never leaving mine.

“What do you think she’d think about me?”

Calienta blushed and smiled. “She would like you, I think. You both have a great love of reading.”

“Do you like to read?”

The questions were off and running again. It was only when I got to the subject of her powers that she paused. “Why do you want to know?”

“Last night you made a cup explode, if I recall. What other things might I expect if I’m not on my best behavior?”

She laughed at this, the musical sound carrying across the air. “It’s simple. I can control the elements and I can fly.”

“Oh, well. Is that all?”
Nice one. Let’s try and be a little smoother.

“Yeah, your normal everyday powers.”

“Your speech is changing. You sound more like me now.”

“That’s something we do to blend in. We assimilate with the current culture when we visit Earth.”

“It’s odd.”

“What about me isn’t?” She smiled.

“Huh.” I liked her more and more every moment that we spent together. “Why don’t you want to tell me about your powers?”

She looked away for a moment. I could tell she was considering this and I didn’t press, though the possible answers intrigued me. I felt her nervousness again and wished that I could alleviate it.

“Last night you didn’t believe me. I was afraid that you’d think I was making everything up again. I want you to believe me.”

I stopped walking and placed my hands on the sides of her face. “Aren’t we past all that, Calienta?”

“Are we?” she asked.

“All I know is that when I kissed you, something changed for me and I can’t change it back. All I had to do was let go and believe.”

“You’re saying that you believe now?”

“Yes, I believe in you.” I kissed her again. This time I got a little farther before it started to rain.

Laughing, we ran to the house, which was a good quarter of a mile away. The rain came down in sheets, plugging my ears and blinding my vision, but I kept running and tugging Calienta’s hand. Despite the weather, I’d never been this happy. Then it hit me.
I loved her
. How it had happened overnight, I didn’t know, but love her I did.

The moment we walked into the cottage, Calienta was instantly dry and wearing new clothes. Not having those abilities myself, I decided that a hot shower was in order. “I’ll be back. I have to clean up the old-fashioned way.”

I’d no sooner walked into the small bathroom than I cried out. The face in the mirror wasn’t my own. The face that stared back at me was the face of a bronzed god, as chiseled and handsome as a work of art. I may be a guy, but I couldn’t miss these details.

“
I am watching
.” The voice reverberated in the small room as the face began to fade away and mine began to return.

Crap
. I’d recognized Cabhan from the cave, so there was no mistaking him. This was all I needed. Some revenge-seeking god wanted to take me out and appeared in my bathroom mirror, which was a little too stalker-esque for me.

“If you’re watching me, I hope you at least close your eyes while I take a shower.” My words were directed at my own reflection as Cabhan faded away.

Thunder rumbled as I stepped under the spray and tried to get my heartbeat under control. To my credit, I managed to take my shower without freaking out. However, I was pretty close to running downstairs.

***

I walked back downstairs and had taken Calienta’s warm hand in mine. “How is it that your brother can see me?”

The surprise on her face told me that this was something that she hadn’t expected me to say. “How do you know this? What did you see? Was it your dream last night?” Her voice was urgent as she spoke, but not fearful. I tried to see this as reassuring.

“Actually, he made an appearance in the bathroom mirror to let me know he’d be watching me.” I witnessed the concern as it played across her face.

“I didn’t expect that. He must know about the prophecy, then.”

“I didn’t want to talk about it, but he was in my dream. Just as he was about to kill both of us, I think, I woke up. It was about ten different kinds of freaky, let me tell you.”

I released her hand and went to make myself something to eat. Calienta followed me into the kitchen. After some searching, I settled on ham on rye. I wondered thoughtfully how long ham actually lasted before it went bad.

Watching Calienta’s face carefully, I filled her in on the additional details of the dream, or at least what I remembered. The memory was fading fast.

Needless to say, I was doing my best not to take all of this personally. Most guys my age would have graduated high school at this time and only have to worry about the lazy days of their last summer as a kid.

Me? I got to graduate from college, find the eternity-mate that I never knew existed, get singled out as some sort of high-king-god, and finally would have to kill some deranged evil god that was the brother of said eternity-mate. Oh, did I forget I’m supposed to save the world somewhere in there?

Without speaking, Calienta took my hand again and pulled me through the back door. We headed for the steps that led to the cove.

The dog that I’d fed some of my dinner to a few days ago instantly greeted me. Sprinting over in my direction, he seemed to be smiling, and brushed up against my leg for a pat and a chance to sniff my pocket for food.

“Oh, please, we don’t have time for any of this.” Disdain was inherent in Calienta’s tone.

“Geez, what are you, some sort of animal hater? I thought you all came to Earth to look out for us and guide us? Give the dog a break.” Bending down, I gave the dog a big hug, kissing him on the head. I fed him the rest of my sandwich, which he ate greedily. When he was finished, the dog looked up at Calienta and let out a small whine.

Calienta smiled slightly as I stood up. “I do love animals, Kellen. Just not when they overact their parts and waste a lot of valuable time.”

“Sorry I wasn’t timely enough for you, daughter,” a deep male voice said.

I turned to the right of where I stood only to see that the dog was no longer next to me. In its place stood a tall man with bronzed skin. He was naked.

“Ah!” I yelled.

“Father, do you mind?” Calienta asked, looking him in the eye.

“My apologies.” The man laughed. Instantly he was clothed in torn jeans, loafers, and a tight-fitting t-shirt.

Lugh’s looks hadn’t changed at all from the time I’d first met him all those years ago at the cove. If anything, he looked as cool as he did then, the dad that everyone wanted—the dad that I wanted.

“You’re the
dog?
” I stared at him, trying to figure things out.

“Yes, someone had to look after you.” He smiled.

“You ate my sandwich.”

“You gave me bad meat. I think we’re even.”

“Don’t mention it.” My brow furrowed as I contemplated the proper greeting that one should give to the father of a young goddess that he was supposed to marry.

Lugh was perceptive and instantly put me at ease by holding out his hand. He practically crushed my palm.

“You may shake my hand, Kellen. It is my wife you’ll want to bow to.” A hint of an Irish brogue clung to his speech.

“Is this some sort of god and goddess hangout? Seems like an odd place to reconvene.”

“One might think that, Kellen St. James, but the cove and your gran’s land is an area that was once revered by the Pagans as holy land. They used your gran’s backyard as a place to hold their rituals and perform worship services. Plus, it’s out of the way. We don’t attract much attention down here.”

“You mentioned the Pagans. That brings up a really interesting question…”

“Go ahead,” Lugh said patiently.

“They worshipped all of the gods and goddesses, but isn’t there only one god and heaven and hell and all that? I guess I don’t know how it all comes together.” This was a question that I dreaded asking because I didn’t know if I’d hear something that I didn’t believe in or couldn’t agree with.

“Kellen, think of every religion that you know of. Almost every one of them has a supreme being that is guiding the people. Many religions also have emissaries of their god.”

“And that’s what you are?”

“Basically, yes.”

“What makes each religion unique, then?”

“The debate isn’t usually about one supreme god, but instead about the diversity in worship and how the one supreme being came to power. The name of the religion doesn’t matter, Kellen. They are all special and unique. The only thing that matters is whether they focus on good or evil.”

“And you’re on the side of good, right?” Better to check one more time.

“Always.” He was serious now.

“And Cabhan?”

Lugh sighed and looked at the ground. That was the only answer that I needed. Parents could make choices for their children with the best intentions, I supposed, but who knew how they’d turn out?

“We were coming down here to look for you. Kellen saw Cabhan in the mirror and in his dreams,” said Calienta.

Lugh’s eyes snapped back to mine.

“Yes.” I wasn’t sure what else to say.

“I guess that means he knows about you and the prophecy. He must be working with someone who knows about it too.”