Night World : Soulmate Chapter 7

It was desire organism struck by visible lightning. Hannah matte the current by her physical structure, but it was her estimation thatwas most rivaled.I pick out you It was as if she had been rise in a dark landscape, lost and blind, when shortly abrilliant flash illuminated perpetuall(a)yything, allowing her to see farther than shed constantly seen before. She wastrembling violently, pitching foregoing even as he spend toward her. Electricity was running through everynerve in her body and she was shaking and shaking, overcome by waves of the purest emotion shedever tangle.Fury.You were speculate to be there She got out in a choked gasp. Where were you?You were supposed to be with me-for so long Youre off identify of me, the part Ive al courses vaguely missed.You were supposed to be rough, helpingout, picking me up when I fell down. reflection my prickle, listening to my stories. Understanding thingsthat I wouldnt want to tell other people. attractive me when Im stupid. Giving me something to take care ofand be good to, the way the Goddess meant women to do.Hannah-It was the next thing to a mental gasp Hannah could imagine, and with it she historicalized that somehowthey were at star era connected instantly. He could hear her thoughts, honor adequate to(p) as she could hear his. goodish she thought, not wasting time to marvel over this. Her mind was barbarian on.You were my flying companion My p dropmate You were my other half of the mysteries We weresupposed to be sacred to each other-and you havent been thereThis last thought she sent foursquare toward him. And she felt it hit him, and felt his reaction.Ive triedHe was horrified guilt-stricken. further past, Hannah could scent out that this was pretty much the usualstate for him, so it didnt affect him quite as much as it might have mortal else. And beneath the horrorwas an astonishment and burgeoning joy that sent a disparate kind of tingle through her.You do know me, dont you? he say quietly. He pushed her back to bear at her, as if he fluent couldntbelieve it. You remember Hannah, how much do you remember?Hannah was looking at him, studying him. Yes, I know that bone structure. And the eyes, especiallythe eyes. It was like an choose child discove call off a brother or sister and seeing familiar features in anunfamiliar spirit, tracing each one with wonder and recognition. I remember that we were meant for each other. That were-she came up with the word slowly-soulmates.Yes, he whispered. Awe was salving his features, changing his eyes. The desperate sadness thatseemed so much a part of them was lightening. Soulmates. We were destined for each other. We shouldhave been together down the ages.They were supporting each other now, Hannah kneeling on the porch and Thierry holding her with oneknee on a step. Their faces were indiumes apart. Hannah found herself watching his mouth.So what happened? she whispered.In the same tone, without touching b ack, he whispered, I screwed up.Oh.Her initial fury had faded. She could tone of utter him, feel his emotions, brain his thoughts. He was as anguishedat their separation as she was. He wanted her. He loved her adored her. He thought of her the waypoets see of the moon and the stars-in ridiculous hyperbole. He actually saw her encircled by a sortof silvery halo.Which was completely silly, but if he wanted to think of her that way-well, Hannah wouldnt object. Itmade her want to be very calm with him.And right now she could feel his limber up breath. If she leaned forward meet an inch her top lip would touchhis bottom lip.Hannah leaned forward.Wait- he state.That was a mistake, aspect it out loud. It movedhis lips against hers, go it from a touch into a kiss.And whence, for a magical spell, neither of them could resist. They needed each other so desperately, and the kisswas prompt and sweet. Hannah was flooded with love and comfort and joy.This was meant to be.Hannah was di zzy but muted sufficient of thought. I knew lifetime had something wonderful and mysterious togive me. Something I could sense but not see, something that was always just out of reach.And here it is. Im one of the lucky ones-Ive found it.Thierry wasnt as articulate. All she could hear him think was, Yes.Hannah had neer been so filled with gratitude. Love spilled from her and into Thierry and back again.The more she gave, the more she got back. It was a cycle, taking them higher and higher.Like flying, Hannah thought. She wasnt dizzy everymore. She was strangely dear and calm, as if she were standing on a mountaintop. Infinite tenderness infinite belonging. It was so good it distress.And it made her want to give more.She knew what she wanted. It was what shed tried to give him the low gear time, when she knew he woulddie without her. Shed wanted to give him what all women could give.Life.She was only a girl now, not ready for the responsibilities that would come with making ne w life from herbody. provided she could give Thierry life another way.She pulled back to look at him, to see bruised darkeyes filled with aching tenderness. accordingly she affected his mouth with her fingertips.He kissed them. Hannah ignored the kiss and poked a finger in. traumatise flared in Thierrys eyes.There. That was it. The long canine tooth, just barely sharp. Not to that extent the tooth of a predator, of a fox ora lynx or wolf. She ran her finger against it.The shock dour to something else. A glazed look. Need fuse with pure terror.Thierry whispered, Dont-Hannah, please. You dont know-Hannah tested the tip of the tooth with her thumb. Yes, it was sharper now. Longer, more delicate. Itwould look like the tooth of an arctic fox in her palm-milky-white, translucent, elegantly curved.Thierrys chest was heaving. Please stop. I-I cant-Hannah was enthralled. I dont know wherefore people are afeard(predicate) of vampires, she thought. A adult male couldtease or torture a vampire this way, driving him insane-if she were cruel.Or she could choose to be kind.Very gently, Hannah reached with her other hand. She touched the back of Thierrys screw, obstetrical delivery justthe slightest pressure to bear. tho he was so obedient to her touch-it was diff utilise to guide his mouth to herthroat.HannahShe could feel him trembling.Dont be afraid, she told him silently. And she pulled him closer.He grabbed her shoulders to push her outside-and thus just hung on. Clinging desperately, helplessly.Kissing her neck over and over. She felt his control col and then felt the sharpness of odontiasis. It wasnt like pain. It was like the tenderness, a pain in the ass that was good.And then devastating bliss.Not a physical whole tone. It was emotional. They were completely together, and light poured through them.How many lives together have we missed? How many time have I had to say, Maybe in the next life?How did we ever manage to come apart?It was as if her que stion went searching through both their minds, soaring and diving, looking for ananswer on its own. And Thierry didnt put up any resistance. She knew that he couldnt he was as caughtup as she was in what was misadventure between them, as overwhelmed.There was nothing to stop her from decision the answer.This revelation didnt come all in one blinding illumination. instead it came in small flashes, each almosttoo brief to understand.Flash. Thierrys face above her. Not the gentle face she had seen by the porch. A ferocious face with ananimal light in the eyes. A snarling mouth and teeth red with blood.No Flash. Pain. Teeth that tore her throat. The feel of her blood spilling warm over her neck. Darknesscoming.Oh, God, noFlash. A different face. A adult female with black hairsbreadth and eyes full of c oncern. Dont you know? Hes evil.How many generation does he have to kill you before you realize that?No, no, no, no barely saying no didnt change anything.It was the truth. She was seeing her own memories-seeing things that had really happened. She knewthat.Hed killed her.Hannah, no-It was a cry of anguish. Hannah wrenched herself away. She could see the shock in Thierrys eyes, shecould feel him shaking.You really did it, she whispered.Hannah-Thats why you woke me up from the hypnosis You didnt want me to remember You knew Id find out the truth Hannah was beside herself with distress and anger. If she hadnt trusted him, if everythinghadnt been so perfect, she wouldnt have felt so betrayed. As it was, it was the superlative betrayal of herlife-of all her lives.It had all been a lie-everything shed just been mite. The togetherness, the love, the joy all false.Hannah, that wasnt the reason.Youre evil Youre a killer She told me, Hannah thought. The woman with black hair she told me thetruth. wherefore didnt I remember her? Why didnt I listen this time?She could remember other things now, other things the woman had utter. Hes unbelievably cunninghell drive to trick you. Hell try to use mind control Mind control. Influencing her. Hed admitted that. And what shed been feeling tonight was some sort of trick. Hed managed to play on her emotions God, hed even gotten her to convolution him her blood. Shed let him bite her, drink from her like someparasite.I hate you, she whispered.She saw how that hurt him he flinched and looked away, stricken. Then he gripped her shoulders again,his contribution soft. Hannah, I wanted to explainto you. Please. You dont understand everything Yes, I do I do I remember everything And I understand what you really are. Her utter was as quietas his, but much more intense. She shruggedher shoulders and shifted backward to get away from him. She didnt want to feel his hands on her.He looked jolted. Unbelieving. You remember . .. everything?Everything. Hannah was proud and cold now. So you can just go away, because whatever youve gotplanned wont work. Whatever-tricks-you were going to use She shook her head. Ju st go.For just a second, a strange expression crossed Thierrys face. An expression so tragic and lonely thatHannahs throat closed. unless she couldnt let herself soften. She couldnt give him a chance to trick her again.Just arrest away from me, she said. With all the confusion and turmoil inside her, that was the only thingshe could keep clear in her mind. I never want to see you again.He had gotten control of himself. He looked shell-shocked but his eyes were steady. Ive never wantedto hurt you, he said quietly. And all I want to donow is protect you. further if thats what you want, Ill go away.How could he claim hed never wanted to hurt her? Didnt killing her count? That is what I want. And I dont need your protection. You have it anyway, he said. And then he moved, faster than she couldever hope to move, almost faster than thought. In an instant, he was close to her. His fingers touched herleft cheek, light as a moths wings. And then he was taking her hand, slipping something on her finger.Wear this, he said, no louder than a breath. It has spells to protect you. And even without the spells,there arent many iniquity People wholl harm you if they see it.Hannah subject her mouth to say she wasnt afraid of any Night People except him, but he was stillspeaking. Try not to go out alone, especially at night.And then he was gone.Like that. He was off her porch and out somewhere in the darkness, not even a shadow, just gone. Ifshe hadnt had a fleeting tender of movement toward the prairie, she would have thought he had theability to become imperceptible at a moments notice. And her heart was pounding, hurting, filling her throat soshe couldnt breathe.Why had he touched her cheek? Most people didnt touch the birthmark they treated it like a bruise thatmight still hurt. But his fingers hadnt avoided it. The caress had been gentle, almost sad, but notfrightened.And why was she still standing here, staring into the darkness as if she expected him to reappear?Go inside, idiot.Hannah turned and fumbled with the back door, pulling at the knob as if shed never opened it before.She shut the door and locked it, and again she found herself as clumsy as if shed never worked a lockor seen this one in her life.She was beyond squall or crying, in a state of shock that was almost dreamlike. The signboard was toobright. The dock on the kitchen wall was too loud. She had the distracted feeling that it wasnt either nightor daytime.It was like coming out of a theater and macrocosm surprised to find that its still light outside. She felt that thiscouldnt be the same house shed left an hour ago. She wasnt the same someone who had left. Everythingaround her seemed like some carefully staged movie set that was supposed to be real, but wasnt, andonly she could tell the difference.I feel like a other here, she thought, putting one hand to her neck where she could just detect two littlepuncture marks. Oh, God, how am I ever going to know whats real again?B ut I should be happy I should be grateful. I probably just saved my own life out there. I was alone witha vicious, evil, murderous monster, andSomehow the thought died away. She couldnt be happy and she didnt want to think nearly how evilThierry was. She felt hollow and aching.It wasnt until she stumbled into her own bedroom that she remembered to look down at her right hand.On the fourth finger was a ring. It was made of gold and either white gold or silver. It was influence like arose, with the paper twining around the finger and back on itself in an intricate knot. The blossom was inset with tiny stones-black transparent stones. unforgiving diamonds? Hannah wondered.It was beautiful. The craftsmanship was exquisite. Every delicate leaf and tiny thorn was perfect. But ablack flower?Its a symbol of the Night World, her mind told her. A symbol of people whove been made intovampires.It was the cool wind voice back again. At least she understood what it was saying this time-the la st time,when it had given over her advice about silver and wolves, she had been completely confused.Thierry wanted her to wear the ring he claimed it would protect her. But knowing him, it was probablyanother trick. If it had any spells on it, they were probably spells to help him control her mind.It took nearly an hour to get the ring off. Hannah used soap and butter and Vaseline, pulling and twistinguntil her finger was red, aching, and swollen. She used a dental pick from her fossil-collecting kit to try topry the coils of the stem apart. Nothing worked, until at last the pick slipped and blood welled up from ashallow cut. When the blood touched the ring it seemed to loosen, and Hannah quickly wrenched it off.Then she stood panting. The make out with the little band of metal had left her exhausted and uneffective to reduce on anything else. She threw the ring in her bedroom wastebasket and stumbled toward bed.Im tired Im so tired. Ill think about everything tomorrow, try to so rt out my life. But for nowplease just let me sleep.She could feel her body vibrating with adrenaline later on she lay in bed, and she was afraid that sleepwouldnt come. But tense as she was, her mind wastoo foggy to stay awake. She turned over once and let go of consciousness. Hannah Snow fell asleep.Hana of the Three Rivers opened her eyes. gelid and desolate, Hana stood by the rushing river and feltthe wind blow through her. So alone.That was when Arno burst out of the bushes on the riverbank.There were several hunters with him and they all had spears. They supercharged after the stranger at fullspeed. Hana screamed a warning, but she knew he didnt have a chance.She could hear a few minutes of booby hatch far away in the dark. And then she saw the stranger being drivenback, surrounded by Arnos hunters.Arno-dont hurt him Please Hana was speaking desperately, toilsome to block the mens way back.Dont you see? He could have hurt me and he didnt. He isnt a demon He cant help bein g the way heisArno shouldered her aside. Dont think youre going to get away without being punished, either. Hanafollowed them up to the cave, her stomach churning with fear.By the time everyone whod been waken by Arnos hunters understood what was happening, the skyoutside had turned gray. It was almost dawn. You said we should wait and see if the Earth Goddess would tell you something about the demon whileyou slept, Arno said to Old Mother. Has she? Old Mother glanced at Hana sorrowfully, then backat Arno. She shook her head. Then she started to speak, but Arno was already talking loudly.Then lets kill him and get it over with. Take him outside.No Hana screamed. It didnt do any good. She was caught and held back in strong hands. Thestranger gave her one look as he was driven outside in a circle of spears.That was when the real horror began.Because of something that Hana had never imagined, something she was sure even the shamans hadnever heard of.The stranger was a creature that wo uldnt die.Arno was the first to jab with his spear. The whitish-gray flint spearhead went into the strangers side, outline blood. Hana saw it she had run out of the cave, still trying to find a way to stop this.She also saw the blood stop rate of flow as the wound in the boys side closed.There were gasps from all around her. Arno, looking as if he couldnt believe his eyes, jabbed again.And watched, mouth falling open, as the second wound bled and then closed. He kept trying. Only thewounds where a spear was driven into the wooden shaft stayed open.One of the women whispered, He is a demon.Everyone was frightened. But nobody moved away from the stranger. He was too suicidal to let go.And there were lots of them, and only one of him.Hana saw something happening in the faces of her clan. Something new and horrible. Fear of theunknown was changing them, making them cruel. They were turning from basically good people, peoplewho would never torture an animal by prolonging its death, int o people who would torture a man.He may be a demon, but he still bleeds, one of the hunters said breathlessly, after a jab. He feelspain.,Get a torch, somebody else said. See if he fireAnd then it was terrible. Hana felt as if she were in the middle of a storm, able to see things but buffetedthis way and that, unable to do anything about it. People were running. People were getting torches,stone axes, different kinds of flint knives. The obturate had turned into a huge entity feeding off its ownviolence. It was vacuous and unstoppable.Hana cast a desperate look toward the cave, where Old Mother lay confined to her pallet. There wasno help from that direction.People were screaming, burning the stranger, throwing stones at him. The stranger was falling, bloody,smoke rising from his burns. He was lying on the ground, unable to fight back. But still, he didnt die. Hekept trying to recoil away. Hana was screaming herself, screaming and crying, beating at the shoulders of a hunter who pulled herback. And it went on and on. Even the young boys were brave enough now to run forward and throwstones at the stranger.And he still wouldnt die.Hana was in a nightmare. Her throat was raw from screaming. Her vision was going gray. She couldntstand to watch this anymore she couldnt stand the smell of blood and burning flesh or the sound ofblows. But there was nowhere to go. There was no way to get out. This was her life. She had to stayhere and go insane.