“God, I hope not.” I heard Eddie laughing again as I opened the door to a heavily pregnant Libby in a maternity summer dress. Then, whizzing past her legs in a red blur of curls, a five year old I assumed was Ella flew through the house shouting,
“Ready or not, I will find you, bear!” Making Libby shout,
“Ella!” And she skidded to a halt, turned and said,
“Oh yeah, Happy Birthday Aunty Kazzy cakes.” I turned a stunned head to Libby and blurted,
“That’s your little girl?” She sighed and said,
“I know what you mean, so much of Frank’s side in her…the other day she asked me for her next birthday party if she could have a baseball theme, I nearly wept!” I snorted a laugh out.
“Can I go find Uncle Eddie now?”
“Go, be wild, run with nature and all that jazz… just be sure you come back a little girl who still likes hugging her momma!” Libby said in a funny accent and laughing, making Ella giggle. She smacked a kiss on her hand and threw it our way. Libby and I both caught it, as we used to do the same thing when we are kids. It came to me on sheer instinct and I wondered why I hadn’t yet broken down into a fit of hysteria.
“Oh, by the way, he’s not a bear anymore, he’s a wolf.” I told Ella before she went off running in search of my twilight zone husband.
“Cool! I love wolves, they’re my favourite!” She shouted excitedly and was soon out of sight. About five seconds later I heard a big over exaggerated roar, a fit of girly giggles and knew she had found her wolf. Then something weird happened…well even weirder than this at any rate. Deep in the back of my mind I heard a real roar, only this one was so far from fake, it wasn’t anything but terrifying and not in the least bit playful. My startled gaze shot to Libby, but she was in the kitchen grabbing some fizzy drink from the fridge and didn’t look at all freaked out like me. Well, I mean why not, after all it was obvious she wasn’t the one living in a different world and hearing monster’s cries of anger in her head.
Nope just me!
“Hey, there’s the birthday girl! Mrs Tucker herself, where do you want the beers and half the grocery store Libby bought…? ‘Cause she is pregnant and does in fact need to eat everything in sight and going with her to the store is my new living nightmare.” Frank said unloading some bags to his other hand after passing me the beers.
“I heard that!” Libby shouted and Frank winked and whispered on a smirk,
“Sure you did…sorry dear!” He walked into the kitchen and I was just wondering whether I should give Frank the real low down on living your nightmares, when I noticed something. I was just about to close the door, as this other reality was anchoring me to the scary mundane, when I saw a person standing on the other side of the street. I opened the door further and took an extra few steps out of the door to get a better look.
Could it be? No, this…he…could it? I dropped the beers and my unconscious steps led me all the way to the bottom of the driveway. From here, I didn’t have to question it anymore, as I knew where my other life had taken me and the man standing there staring at me was proof of my real destiny.
“Draven?” I said his name and felt a gust of wind blow around my body in answer. I didn’t even realise it until now that I too was wearing a summer dress, until instinct told me to hold down the skirt. But to be brutally honest, I couldn’t give two worlds about pulling a Marilyn Monroe right at this minute because there, in the light of day, was my only living dream...
My only life’s choice.
My only life’s destiny.
My only.
“Is it really you?” I whispered and I just knew at that moment the wind took with it my question and travelled to the other side.
“Keira.”
“Keira!” My name came from two very different men, two totally different lives and was heard by two loving but very different Keiras. Which one did I want to be? Which life did I want to live? Which man did I love more? The easiest answer lit up my soul so bright it could have shadowed the sun’s rays!
I turned to Eddie and with a single tear rolling down my cheek, I bit my lip to keep in the sob and mouthed the words,
“I’m sorry ET.”
I let more tears go when I saw the pain twist bitterly in his face and turned away from what represented that life, to look towards the one I wanted like my next breath.
Then I ran for it.
I crossed the road and made it to the other side, the side of supernatural beings and prophecies. The side of Heaven and Hell at war, of flirty Vampire Kings that hold little Northern blondes to ransom, of Angels that kiss me goodbye like I’m an elixir of life and with funny Imps and beautiful Demons named Sophia, that call me sister. Sides of the Viking protectors, Biker shadow Knights and cute little chocolate skinned Oracles that wear tutus. But even all this lay in the background to the man in front of me now…
The only side there was for me.
The Draven side.
And so I ran and didn’t stop until I threw myself into the arms of the only man in the world.
“Draven.” I let out on a breathy whisper as his arms circled me. He held me close and pulled me up until my feet were off the ground so he could bury his face in my neck.
“Home.” He said into my hair and I couldn’t hold it back any longer. I burst into happy tears so strong he had to hold my trembling body. I heard him keep saying the same word over and over on my skin,
“Home… Home… Home.”
“Yes.” I whispered back and then moved my head back because I wanted to look at…no, I needed to look at him!
“You didn’t wait for me…why Keira…why?” He said and the last word came out so anguished, it felt like being struck.
“I’m here Draven, I waited…I swear!” I looked into his eyes and when they looked over my head, I saw he was referring to the life on the other side. His dark eyes erupted into purple flames and then he turned his furious gaze down on me.
“Draven…I…”
“You carried on…I died and you carried on…you don’t belong in my world and because of that I can’t keep you.” Hearing this now turned that simple strike into a killing blow!
“Draven, NO! Don’t say these things! You have to know, I waited…Oh God I waited so long, I never gave up…I will never give up, do you hear me?!” I grabbed his face with both my hands and made him look at me.
“You don’t believe me?!” I asked on a caught breath that didn’t want to come out. Tears were now streaming down my face and felt like they would never stop.
“Draven, please!”
“No Keira, I understand now…I understand why this had to happen but I needed to see it for myself first, before I could let you go.” I cried out as my pain doubled. My sobs were only allowing me a few words to come through.
“No…N…No! Don’t…don’t sa…say that!”
“It is the truth and what must be done, I’m sorry my Keira…my love, there is no other way, I see that now.” He said sadly as though breaking and I knew he meant his words as seriously as he saw his duty to his people and I knew this because he let me go. He released me from his hold and it looked as painful as it felt.
“NO!” I panicked and wiped away my tears and snotty nose. I knew this was my last chance and I couldn’t make him see by crying. He started to turn away from me and I grabbed him by the jacket he wore.
“Draven, no! Now listen to me! I have not done this to you, that life…” I motioned back behind me at the house I wanted no part of.
“…that is not what I chose! I am somewhere else right now and I am doing everything, and I mean every…damn…thing to find you! I won’t stop…Jesus Christ, I won’t ever stop…do you hear me! I will find you and when I do, I am NEVER letting you go! Do you hear me!?” I shouted as even more tears fell around me, but his face didn’t change. He looked away from me and I stammered out,
“Dra…Draven…look at me.”
“I’m sorry Keira, I truly am, but it was ne
ver meant to be.” And then he tried to walk away, but I held on.
“Draven…Draven Please! I…love you.” But no matter how I begged or how the declaration of love was bleeding from my heart, his eyes remained determined. He gave me one last look, touched a fingertip to my cheek and then turned away from me for the last time. I watch in utter slow agony as the material of his jacket slipped through my grasp. I was left to watch as his back became smaller and smaller the further away the road took him and when nothing was left, I crumbled to my knees on a tortured cry, that sounded as though it was ripped from my very soul!
I was so torn apart, that I barley even registered when the world around me started to blow away like everything was made from black sand…
Draven’s black sand.
“Keira…Keira!” I heard my name being called and my hope soared. I lifted my head to see the last of the road disappearing but no Draven in sight. I was just looking back down when a hand came out of nowhere.
“Come with me Keira, I’ll keep you safe.” I looked up and saw Jared staring down at me, waiting for my hand.
“Can you hear me?!” I heard shouting in the distance, but where from I couldn’t tell as that distance could no longer be seen.
“Who is that?” I asked in a croaky voice, just as the sun came from behind the clouds, turning Jared into a looming shadow stood above me.
“He can’t help you Keira, only I can help you now.”
“What do you mean...? I still…I can still get Draven back?” The shadow bent on one knee and said,
“Well now, that depends on what you are willing to give me in return?”
“What do you want from me?” I asked thinking there wasn’t anything I wasn’t willing to give.
“You may think that now Keira, but would you really give another life for his?” I jolted back surprised.
“How did you…?”
“Hear your thoughts? In this place I can do many things.”
“And what is this place?” I asked looking up and taking in the nothing blank canvas that was my new world. He got closer to me and swept my loose hair back from my shoulder in a soothing gesture.
“This place is your projection, Keira. A place you feel safe enough to deal with your life’s choices.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We’re in your mind, Keira.” He whispered and just as my eyes widened, my body felt weightless. It was as though I was quickly sucked back into the now and I bolted upwards trying to catch onto something to slow my speeding flight backwards.
“Thank fuck for that! Keira…Keira can you hear me…? Answer me by the Gods be damned!”
“Shadow Knight?” I mumbled blinking quickly, trying once again to clear the blur. I was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace and I heard Sigurd’s deep chuckle by my ear.
“Yes lille øjesten, I am here.” He sounded like a man who had just been put through the rough end of being helpless. I held onto him and kept taking deep breaths to try and hold back the tears that were desperate to break free. It was that ‘crying for your mum syndrome’, you are utterly fine coping until,
A. You see your mum or
B. Someone asks if you’re alright.
Both times bravery and pride go take a parachute jump out the window. That was what being safely in Sigurd’s arms was like right now. All that had happened and not just with the dream, it was all trying to unload onto his shoulders to share the weight. Thankfully though, the other company in the room brought me under control before I could fall to pieces.
“Just a little bit longer.” Sigurd whispered into the top of my hair as though he had heard every one of my thoughts. I nodded because I didn’t have it in me to deny the truth of the matter. He let me go and held my face with both hands spanning the length of my head before letting me go completely. He lowered his head and caught my eyes, to which I nodded silently, communicating that I was ok. He nodded back and then released me.
“What happened?” I asked the room but it was Jared who answered me.
“I will explain but first…everyone out!” I saw Sigurd tense and the muscle ticking by his jaw told me he was grinding his teeth.
“That was not our agreement, Cerberus.” He ground out.
“Things evolve, Snake Eye.” He replied coolly and I wondered what I had missed when falling down the rabbit hole?
“Not today they don’t.” Sigurd said crossing his arms over his chest and I noticed he was now back to wearing his usual gear of black, black and dark grey. Even the hood was back but this time at least he didn’t try and hide his face from me.
“You want me to help the girl, then we play by my rules. Now, I won’t ask again.” He stood strong, carrying out his order with just one look at the room, which was enough to get people moving.
“I will not leave her!” Sigurd however, was clearly not getting the hint, so I felt it necessary to intervene.
“Are you going to help me?”
“Keira.” I ignored Sigurd’s warning and waited for Jared to answer me.
“If it is in my power and our terms are met.”
“And will you swear not to hurt me?” At this he didn’t hesitate,
“I give you my vow that no harm will come to you while under my care, and as you know Snake Eye, a vow of mine is not given lightly.” I bit my lip and looked towards Sigurd who was outright giving Jared the death glare. Therefore, I got up from the sofa I had been placed in and walked up to my protector. I put my hand on his forearm and waited for him to look down at me.
“Let me do this.”
“No.” He snapped, going back to glare at Jared. I gave his arm a squeeze to draw back his attention and said,
“I need to do this Sigurd, so I will ask you again, as a friend…please let me do this and I promise you…I promise that if he breaks his vow then I will…”
“…Then I will break him!” He interrupted me on a snarl at Jared. This prompted a laugh and Sigurd showed his fangs on a growl.
“Sigurd, please.” My word, it really was my day for begging!
“Fine!” He snapped and turned from me, clearly anything but fine with this new arrangement. He stopped by the door the others had left through and said without looking at me,
“I will be close.” And then he left, slamming the door until the frame shook.
“Okay…so now what?” I asked trying to break the tension. Jared gave me a coy smile and then motioned with an outstretched arm to the sunken seating area.
“Now we simply talk.”
“Talk?” I repeated in question as I walked down the three steps to the unusual seating arrangement.
“I believe you are acquainted with the term.” He teased and I relaxed at seeing the earlier Jared come back. His mood when we were alone was so different, it was hard to keep up with him.
“Ha, ha, yes as a Northerner I am known to practise the art.” I said making him smile and also thinking painfully back to Eddie’s comment that was of a simple nature.
“Sooo…what are we going to be talking about?” I asked extending the ‘so’ for comical value, which again made him smile. Although, thanks to his answer, my own smile was swiftly swept away and was left gaping wide open in confusion. So I asked a dumb sounding,
“Come again?”
“You want a way into Hell, then that’s what I will need.” I shook my head as though this was just his idea of a cruel joke.
“Umm…could you just say what it is you’ll be needing, as I didn’t think I heard correctly last time?” This got me another smile before he confirmed the sick feeling I had in the pit of my stomach was in fact warranted,
“A human heart…”
Yep, that’s what I heard.
Chapter 33
Affairs of the Heart
“Ok, so you know you’re gonna have to explain that to me because I am telling you now, I am not killing some poor bugger for a beast’s appetiser!” I said getting back up, making him do the same.
“Keir
a, sit back down and listen.” He held out his hand and led me to sit beside him.
“I’m listening.” I informed him in a haughty tone.
“I am not going to ask you to commit murder, I doubt you have it in you for starters.…that is unless you have before unknowingly driven another to commit suicide due to your endless questioning?” My reaction to his tease was to elbow him in the side, which is what I did before I even thought about who I was really doing it to! He let out a muffled laugh that was both shocked and amused (the last one I sent a thank you up to God for!)
“Can you really blame me, human remember?” I received a shrug of the shoulders and a sly grin, but no words.
“Right, so I think this would be a good time to explain about the heart thing.” I said bracing myself.
“Before we get to the fun stuff, let’s first get our agreement concreted shall we?” As I was sat next to him I decided to get cosy, so I turned to my side to face Jared and pulled one bent leg up to rest on the couch.
“Alright, what do you want from me, Jared Cerberus?” He mimicked my position turning to me, but instead he rested a bent leg on the other and bent his elbow at the back of the cushions.
“What I want isn’t something physical, but what I need is nothing more than I gave to you.”
“A headache then?” I couldn’t help running my smart mouth but I was happy to see he had the patience for it. I did get an eye roll though so I nudged him saying,
“Sorry, I promise to behave.”
“Now I know that’s not true.” He winked at me and I joined him in the eye rolling.
“Ok, so you need…”
“A vow, Keira.” This had me frowning before I asked in a wary tone,
“What type of vow are we talking about here?”
“A simple one really…I merely need you to vow that, when the time comes, you will back me in an endeavour that others will not.”
“That’s a bit vague, Jared.” I commented wryly.
“Besides, I don’t know what having me backing you would accomplish for your…um…cause.” I added making him smirk before saying,