Touched (7 page)

Ilyana seemed calmer today, more gracious. Why shouldn’t she be gracious, Keira thought? She’s won the battle already. Cooper belongs to her now. And for all I know, to that beautiful, young woman. Next to Ilyana, Keira felt small, ugly, human. She wanted to get out of there.

“Please sit down,” said Ilyana in a smooth tone, pointing to a red chair that was placed in front of her.

Keira went over and sat down on it.

“I hope your stay has been pleasant,” Ilyana continued, “and that you slept well last night.”

Keira wanted to tell her that she was famished, and hadn’t slept for a second, that her room was like a jail cell. But, instead, she summoned all her composure and held her silence. Keira knew that if she became rattled, she would give Ilyana even more fuel against her, and all would be lost.

“Yes, thank you,” Keira answered in a calm manner.

Ilyana smiled a strange smile. Perhaps she saw right through Keira, or perhaps she was just playing her own kind of game. Each tribe had its own rules, games, standards of procedure. Keira wasn’t yet part of any tribe. She’d been born part of a twin, but even that twin rejected her. The only thing she’d ever felt part of was Cooper, and the indigo light that came and guided her. Now, she could only depend on that.

“In our tribe, we belong to each other, we all do everything together,” Ilyana said pointedly.

Clearly, Ilyana was trying to make her feel even more like an outsider, but Keira suddenly realized that ultimately, she was stronger than all of them. That thought shocked and excited her. All of the Torches clung to each other, obeyed each other, did what was expected all the time. But Keira could come and go, she didn’t need to live in hiding, surrounded by a group for support. She had a different source of strength, and it allowed her to live freely anywhere in and the wonderful world.

“We do not want you to think we are not grateful for all you’ve done for Cooper,” Ilyana spoke eloquently, interrupting her thoughts. She spoke as though she were addressing a formal meeting of foreign ambassadors. “We are grateful. And we would like to give you a gift for your services.”

The only gift Keira wanted was Cooper. Ilyana had nothing else she desired.

“We plan to give you a pouch full of currency that humans use.”

That meant money, Keira understood.

“It will ease your way, wherever you go. Besides that, you can stay for a day or two more as you desire, to rest up. Then we will give you a guide, who will show you the way back.”

Keira didn’t want any guide they could offer. “All I want is to stay with Cooper,” she said.

Ilyana forcibly shuddered and shook her head strongly. “I’m sorry,” she uttered, “it’s out of the question.”

“He belongs with me,” Keira exclaimed.

Ilyana’s eyes opened wide, taken back by the intensity of Keira’s response.

“The two of you?” she stopped a moment, in horror, and shuddered. “You two haven’t
mated,
have you?” It was as if she couldn’t imagine anything more dreadful.

“No, we haven’t,” Keira said quickly. “We haven’t mated, but we have loved.”

Ilyana smiled. “Torches are only permitted to love one another. Only then can they know the true fullness of love. What the two of you felt was not love, it was attraction. Believe me, there is a huge difference between them.”

Ilyana spoke so quickly and heatedly that Keira could not think or respond. “You are not destined for Cooper. He is not destined for you. If he ever mated with you, it would be a disaster. He would forever be barred then from his true home. And from his true love as well.”

Keira stood up. She didn’t want to believe this. She wanted to fight for Cooper.

“Wait a moment,” said Ilyana. “I’ve called someone here to talk to you. Before you run and complain to Cooper, there’s something you need to know.”

That took Keira by surprise. She stood her ground, curious.

Ilyana ran a little bell, a few minutes passed, then the door opened and the beautiful, young woman she’d seen Cooper with walked in.

Tua walked in and curtseyed to Ilyana. Ilyana curtseyed back.

“Keira this is Tua,” Ilyana said.

“How do you do,” said Tua, staring at Keira deeply. “I understand that you were Cooper’s companion.”

“I
am
Cooper’s companion,” Keira protested.

Tua’s skin glistened and her features were even more perfect close up, as though they’d been carved in ice. When she spoke her eyes focused strongly.

“But Cooper is completely in love with me now,” Tua said matter of factly.

“I don’t believe you,” Keira said, her insides shaking.

“He told me so last night,” Tua continued, “it happened in a flash, as soon as he saw me.

“It happened too fast.” Keira was struggling not to believe her. “He’s under a spell.”

“We recognized each other immediately,” Tua was unshakeable. “It happens that way among the Torches when they meet their soul mate.” Tua’s beautiful eyes were now glistening. “And I am completely in love with him as well. We spent the night together.”

Keira gasped audibly. “You spent the night together?” It was more than she could bear.

Keira turned to Ilyana, who stood impassively by. “Is it true? Did Cooper and Tua spend the night together?” She had to ask out loud to make sure she heard right.

“Their union was destined,” Ilyana responded. “I had Tua come in and meet Cooper as soon as you left. He is at home here. He belongs with his people. He deserves to find the right love for him. He has a right to let his Shield down, and be safe. Cooper must realize he is not truly a Shadow Vampire. He is mostly Torch. He comes from Me!”

All Keira could do was absorb the horrible image of Cooper and Tua meeting each other, making love, spending the night in each other’s arms. Keira’s eyes became wet with tears.

“It was perfect from the first moment,” Tua uttered, excitedly. “The passion flowed, the delight was palpable. It was felt throughout the compound. This is an occasion of joy for us all.”

Keira’s mind was spinning. She thought Cooper went to his own room after the meeting, as she had.

“You understand?” Tua persisted.

 Keira nodded her head. “I’m beginning to.”

“You will leave the tribe and never come back?” Tua asked heatedly.

Keira looked right in her eyes. They were cold now and glittery, turning from blue to green. Keira was not frightened though. Neither Tua nor Ilyana hadpower over her. The only thing that did have power over her was the thought of Cooper and Tua in each other’s arms. That was unbearable. If Keira stayed another moment, she felt as if she would fall through the earth. She had to escape from all of it.

“Yes,” Keira said to Tua, “I will leave immediately.” Even as she said those words, Keira realized that she had to get out of here right away. She wouldn’t survive if she stayed. “You’ll never see me again,” she uttered.

“Wonderful,” said Tua, as she turned around, went to the door and fled.

CHAPTER 9

Keira left the Torch compound devastated. She took her backpack and slunk out the back door with the guides, not telling Cooper, or saying good bye. What good would it do to face him again? It would only make her feel worse, more rejected, and alone. And who knew how he would react?

He might be relieved. All along he’d told her things were temporary and she hadn’t listened. Now she understood what he meant. She and Cooper were from different tribes, had different journeys to take. Their paths had only crossed fleetingly, for a specific purpose and no more. Once again Keira wondered what
her
purpose in life was, but the pain she felt at separating from Cooper, stopped her from thinking clearly. As she left the compound, she felt as if she were being ripped apart, leaving half of herself behind.

 Ilyana hadn’t left any detail unattended to. She insisted that the guides drop Keira off at the far end of the trail, on main road. Once they did, they turned swiftly and left without so much as a good-bye. It was cold, wet, windy and Keira crunched down next to a tree, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm. 

It had all happened so quickly. Now Cooper was back home with his mother and Tua, the woman he was meant to love, and Keira was tossed away by the side of the road. Pain and anger flooded through her body, almost bursting her veins.

She couldn’t let it destroy her, though. She had to re-group, pull herself together, she couldn’t stay here. She’d have to take a leap of courage and take the next step. More than anything, she wished the indigo light would come, warm and guide her. Sometimes it came and gave her courage. Other times, it hung back, invisible, and she had to learn how to depend on herself.

Keira pulled out her backpack out and ruffled through it. To her surprise, her cell phone fell out, right into her hands. It had stayed with her all through her travels. For a moment she wanted to call home, but could not bring herself to. What could she say to them now? How would they respond? 

Then she thought of her first cousin, Toby, who she used to be close to and had moved to the South Side of Chicago. Keira’s family saw them a lot in the beginning, but then it tapered off. Toby’s father was then killed a plane crash a few years later. Toby was sent off to a boarding school by a guardian and after that Keira’s family had lost track of her. Last they heard she was working in some kind of club. Keira’s mother always spoke of Toby with scorn and Keira always felt badly for her.

Even though it had been ages since they’d spoken, Keira decided to give Toby a call. She dialed her number, and to her surprise Toby picked right up.

“Yeah,” said Toby, “what’s up?” her speech was slurred.

“Hey, Toby, it’s your cousin Keira. Remember me?”

“Sure,” Toby acted natural, didn’t seem at all surprised.

“It’s been a long time,” Keira said, feeling funny.

“No big deal,” Toby answered. “Things like this happen to me all the time. People I knew a long time ago are always popping up. What’s going on? How are you doing?” 

Keira told her that she needed a place to stay for a little while and Toby said that she had a small room in her apartment that Keira could use. For a few bucks, of course. Keira was grateful. Then Toby filled her in. She worked in a club a few blocks from the apartment. She gave Keira the address and told her to meet her at the club to get the key, if she came at night. Everything was arranged in a few moments, and then Keira hung up the phone.

CHAPTER 10

Keira’s bus in arrived at the South Side of Chicago after 10 o’clock that night. The streets were narrow, dark and littered with garbage, scraps of metal and boxes of all kinds. The buildings were poor and run down. A sense of doom hung over the neighborhood, with people roaming around, glancing over their shoulders as they walked. A perfect place for the Shadows, Keira thought, feeling as though she’d landed in hell. She stopped a second, listened for hissing, but didn’t hear any. Not yet, anyway, she said to herself.

Then she straightened up and shook her head.
Wait a minute
, she thought,
this is crazy. It’s just late at night in a strange city. Everything will look brighter in the morning. Besides, this is a good place to be now because it’s so crowded: with so many dark, miserable vibrations, if somehow the Shadows did track me here, they’d have plenty of other people to feed on.

Keira felt wrecked from the past few days and desperate to get a hot shower and good sleep. She took out the scrap of paper she’d where she’d written the address of the club Toby worked at. She had no idea what Toby did there. It had been so many years since they’d seen one another, Keira even wondered if she and her cousin would recognize each other now.

The club was called Rakanrovers, on West Ogden Avenue, just a few blocks south of the bus stop. Keira walked south and in a few minutes saw a seedy building with dimly flashing lights, surrounded by a steel yellow gate. Two large bouncers with giant muscles, stood at the gate checking ID’s, letting some in and keeping out others. A bunch of girls dressed in tight clothes, and guys in black shirts, straggled around, checking each other out.

Keira suddenly felt self-conscious about how she looked. She was dressed in slacks and a shirt that she hadn’t changed since she left the Torches. But for now, she had to forget about impressing anyone. She just had to get in, find Toby, get the key to the apartment and go there. Then she’d collapse on her bed and sleep for at least twenty four hours, she thought.

Keira walked to the gate boldly, acting as if she belonged. But, as soon as she got there, one of the bouncers walked over, stood in front of her, looked down at her and stopped her on the spot.

“Okay, baby,” he said, “where do you think you’re going? Show me your ID.”

 Keira had just turned eighteen. “My cousin works inside,” Keira said, “She’s expecting me.”

“Yeah,” he sneered, “tell me another.” He moved closer again to block her, his breath reeking of garlic and beer. Keira wanted to throw up.

“My cousin’s name is Toby and I’m moving in with her.”

“I couldn’t care less,” he sneered.

Keira tried once more, starting to get angry. “I’m only going in for a minute,” she said, “I need to get the key.”

As she spoke, his dark eyes leered at her. He seemed to be enjoying this. He had the power and she couldn’t budge him. She could talk all night long.

“Okay, honey, get moving,” the bouncer bellowed. “It’s a busy night.”

The anger in Keira began to grow stronger. She was in no mood for this. She didn’t need it.

“I’m not budging,” she said, her voice growing darker. Who did he think he was? He couldn’t stop her from finding her cousin.

The bouncer motioned to another one to come over and give him a hand. Then he lunged forward, as if to grab her and toss her out.

Keira looked into his dead, angry eyes. The other one was behind him now, backing him up. Outnumbered, she felt a long quiver rise through her back. In the past, Cooper would have tossed these thugs down the block with a flip of his finger. Now he was busy with a new woman. The thought of that further inflamed Keira. White rage rose through her. She breathed deeply, and felt electric energy rise in her hands.