Night World : Soulmate Chapter 11

Hannah stirred.She vaguely snarl that something was wrong, something implyed doing. and wherefore she remembered. The carShe had to stay awake, had to prolong the car on the road. . .Her eyes flew open.She was already off the road. The cross had gone roving everywhere the open prairie, where there was almostnothing to hit except sagebrush and tumble-weeds. It had ended up with its front bumper against a ill-natured pear, bending the cactus at an impossible angle.The night was very quiet. She looked around and found that she could see the light of chesss house,behind her and to the left.The engine was off. Hannah turned the key in the ignition, besides only got a grinding sound.Now what? Should I get place and walk?She tried to concentrate on her body, to figure out how she tangle. She ought to feel terrible-after all, shed alienated blood and swallowed who knew what kind of poison from Thierrys veins. merely instead she only felt strangely dizzy, sparingly dreamy.I prov oke walk. Im fine.Holding on to her length of dowel, she got out of the car and started toward the light. She could hardlyfeel the rough ground and the bluestem grass under her feet.She had gone about a hundred yards toward the light when she heard a wolf howl.It was such a distinctive sound-and so incongruous. Hannah stopped in her tracks. For a wild moment she wondered if coyotes howled.But that was ridiculous. It was a wolf, just like the wolves that had attacked her at capital of Minnesotas. And she didnthave boththing made of silver.Just keep walking, she thought. She didnt need the composed wind region to tell her that.Even in her lightheaded state, she was f seriousened. Shed seen the savagery of teeth and claws keep out up.And the part of her that was Hana of the Three Rivers had a gut-deep fear of wild animals that thecivilized Hannah Snow could never begin to approach.She gripped her stick in a clammy palm and kept walking grimly.The howl sounded again, so close that Hannah jumped inside her peel. Her eyes darted, trying to pickobjects out in the darkness. She felt as if she could see better than accustomed at night-could the vampire bloodhave through with(p) that? But even with her new vision, she couldnt spot anything moving. The world around herwas deserted and eerily quiet.And the stars were very utmost away. They blazed in the sky with a parky blue light as if to show how distantthey were from human affairs.I could die here and theyd go discipline on shining, Hannah thought. She felt very small and veryunimportant-and very alone.And then she heard a breath drawn behind her.Funny. The wolf howls had been so loud, and this was so soft and yet it was much more terrifying. Itwas close-intimate. A personal sound that told her she definitely wasnt alone.Hannah whirled with her stick held ready. Her skin was crawling and she could feel a wash of acerb fromher stomach, notwithstanding she meant to fight for her life. She was at one with th e cool wind spokesperson her marrow wasdark and cold and steely.A tall figure was standing there. Starlight reflected off pale blond hair.Thierry.Hannah leveled her stick.Whats the matter? Come back for more? she said, and she was pleased to find her component part steady.Husky, but steady. She waved her stick at him to show what kind of more she meant.Are you all right? Thierry said.He looked-different from the blend beat shed seen him. His expression was different. His dark eyesseemed pensive again, the sort of expression a star magnate have if it cared about anything that was goingon underneath it. Infinitely remote, but infinitely sad, alike.Why should you care? A wave of dizziness went through her. She fought it off-and apothegm that he wasstepping toward her, hand reaching out. She whipped the stick up to the exact level of his hand, an inchfrom his palm. She was impressed with herself for how fast she did it. Her body was moving the way it had with the werewolves, ins tinctively and smoothly.I suppose I had a life as a warrior, she mused. I study thats where the cool wind voice comes from, justthe way the crystal voice comes from Hana of the Three Rivers.I do care, Thierry said. His voice said he didnt expect her to believe it.Hannah laughed. The combination of her dizziness and her body instinct was having an odd effect. Shefelt brashly, doltishly overconfident. Maybe this is what drunk feels like, she thought, her mind wanderingagain. Hannah-Hannah made the stick whistle in the air, stopping him from coming any closer to her. Are you crazy?she said. in that respect were tears in her eyes. Do you think that you can just attack me and then come backand say Im sorry and its all going to be authorise? Well, it isnt. If there was ever anything between us, its allover now. There is no second chance.She could see his face tense. A muscle twitched in his tight jaw. But the strangest thing was that shecould have sworn he had tears in his eyes, too.I t infuriated her. How dare he pretend to be hurt by her, after what hed done?I hate you. She spat the words with a force that startled even her. I dont need you. I dont wantyou. And Im telling you for the third time, keep the hell away from me.He had opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but when she got to I dont need, you,he suddenly shut it. When she finished, he looked away, across the shortgrass prairie.And maybe thats best, he said almost inaudibly.For you to keep away?For you to hate me. He looked at her again. Hannah had never seen eyes like that before. They wereimpossibly distant and shattered and still like the peace after a war that belt rafted everyone.Hannah, I came to tell you that I am going away, he went on. His voice was like his eyes, bloodlessand quenched. Im going home. I wont bother you again. And youre right you dont need me. You canlive a long and happy life without me.If he judge her to be impressed, she wasnt. She wouldnt believe words f rom him anymore.Theres just one thing. He hesitated. Before I go, would you let me look at you? At your neck. I wantto advance certain(p) that-another fleeting hesitation-that I didnt hurt you when I attacked you.Hannah laughed again, a short, sharp bark of a laugh. How stupid do you think I am? I mean, really.She laughed again and heard an edge of hysteria in it. If you want to do something for me, you can turnaround and go. Go away forever.I will. There was so much strain on his face. I promise. Im just worried about you getting indoorsbefore you faint. I can take care of myself. I dont need any help from you. Hannah was feeling dizzier by the minute, butshe tried not to let it show. If you would just leave, Ill be fine.In fact, she knew she wasnt going to be fine. The antiquated spots were swarming in front of her eyes again.She was going to pass out soon.Then Id better start for Chesss, she thought. It was insanity to turn her back on him, but it was worseinsanity to stand her e until she collapsed at his feet.Im leaving now, she said, trying to sound clear and precise and unlike someone who was about to fallover unconscious. And I dont want you to follow me.She turned and started walking.I will not faint, I will not faint, she told herself grimly. She swung her stick and tried to take deep breathsof the cool night air. But tufts of grass seemed to be trying to trip her up with every step and the entirelandscape seemed to rock every time she looked up.I will not faint. She knew her life depended on it. The ground seemed rubbery now, as if herfeet were sinking into it and then rebounding. And where was the light that marked Chesss house? It hadsomehow gotten over to the right of her. She corrected her course and stumbled on.I will not faint.And then her legs simply melted. She didnt have legs. The rest of her fell slowly toward the ground.Hannah managed to break her fall with her arms. Then everything was still and dark.She didnt go out completely. She wa s floating in darkness, feeling woozy even though she was lyingdown, when she sensed someone beside her.No, she thought. Get the stick. Hell bite you hell kill you.But she couldnt move. Her hand wouldnt obey her.She felt a down in the mouth hand brush her hair off her face.No Then a touch on her neck. But it was only gentle fingers, running lightly over the skin where shed beenbitten tonight. They felt like a doctors fingers, exploring to diagnose. She heard a sigh that sounded likerelief, and then the fingers trailed away.Youll be all right. Thierrys voice came to her softly. She realized he didnt think she could hear him.He thought she was unconscious. As long as you stay away from vampires for the abutting week.Was that a threat? Hannah didnt understand. She braced herself for the piercing pain of teeth.Then she felt him touch her again, just his fingertips brushing her face. The touch was so immeasurablygentle. So tender.No, Hannah thought. She cherished to move, to kick him away. But she couldnt. And those delicate fingers were moving on, tracing her features one by one. With the lightest of touchesthat sent helpless chills through her.I hate you, Hannah thought.The touch followed the curve of her eyebrow, trailed down her cheek to her birthmark. Hannah shiveredinwardly. It sketched the line of her jaw, then moved to her lips.The skin was so sensitive here. Thierrys fingers traced the outline of her lips, the join between upper andlower. The chills became a fluttering inside Hannah. Her heart swelled with love and longing.I wont feel this way. I hate you. But a voice was whispering in her mind, a voice she hadnt heard in what seemed like a long time. Acrystal voice, soft but ringing.Feel him. Does this feel like that other one? Sense him. Does he tactual sensation the same, sound the same ?Hannah didnt enjoy what to make of the words and didnt want to. She just wanted Thierry to stop.The fingers brushed over her eyelashes, thumb stroking over the fra gile skin of her eyelids as if to keepthem shut. Then she felt him bend closer.No, no, no.Warm lips touched her forehead. Again, just the barest touch. Then they were gone.Goodbye, Hannah, Thierry whispered.Hannah felt herself lifted. She was being carried in strong gentle arms, moving swiftly and smoothly.It was harder for her to stay conscious than it had been before. She had a strange feeling of tranquillity,of security. But she fought to open her eyes just a crack.She wanted to see his hands. She didnt think there had been enough time for the pencil wound to healcompletely.If the pencil wound was there.But her eyes wouldnt open-not until she felt herself being lowered and placed on solid ground. Then shemanaged to lift heavy eyelids and dart a glance at his hands.There were no marks.The knowledge burned through her-but she didnt have any strength left. She felt her eyes lapsing shutagain. Dimly, very far away, she could hear the faint echo of a doorbell.Then a soft voice in her head. You dont have to be afraid anymore. Im going away-and so is she.Dont go. Wait. I have to palaver to you. I have to ask you But she could feel cold air all around her and she knew he was gone.A moment later she heard the door open, and the sound of Chesss mother gasping. She was on theClovises doorstep. People were shaking her, talking to her.Hannah wasnt interested in any of it. She let the darkness take her.It was when she let go completely that she began to dream. She was Hana of the Three Rivers and shewas seeing the end of her own life.She saw the bruised and damn figure of Thierry rising up to kill his torturers. She felt it as her turncame. She looked up and saw his savage face, saw the animal light in his eyes. She felt her life flowaway.Then she saw the end of the story. The glimpse of the corridor through time, the recognition of hersoulmate. The freeness and the promise.And then just shadows. But Hannah slept peacefully in the shadows until morning, unafraid.The kickoff thing Hannah saw when she woke up was a pair of glowing green cat-eyes looking down ather.How do you feel? Chess asked.She was lying in Chesss bed. Sunlight was streaming in the window.I cant tell yet, Hannah said. Disjointed images were floating in her head, not quite forming a wholepicture.We found you last night, Chess said. You ran your dads car off the road, but you managed to make ithere before you collapsed.Oh yeah. I remember. She did remember the pieces of the puzzle suddenly clicked together.Maya. Thierry. The attack. The car. Thierry again. And finally her dream. Her own voice saying, Iforgive you.And now he was gone. Hed gone home, wherever home was.She had never felt so confused.Hannah, what happened? Are you sick? We didnt know whether to take you to a hospital last night orwhat. But you didnt have a fever and you seemed to be breathing fine-so my mom said you could justsleep a while.Im not sick. This was the time to tell Chess everything. After all, that was the reason shed beenrunning to Chess in the first place last night.But now now in the intense morning light, she didnt want to tell Chess. It wasnt just that it might putChess in danger, either from Thierry or the Night World in general. It was that Hannah didnt need to talkabout it she could cope on her own. It wasnt Chesss problem. And I dont even know the truth yet, Hannah thought. But that is going to change.Hannah, are you even listening to me?Yeah. Im sorry. And Im okay I felt kind of dizzy last night, but now Im better. Can I use yourphone?Can you what?I have to call Paul-you know, the psychologist. I need to see him, fast.She jumped up, steadied herself against a brief wave of giddiness, and walked past Chess, who waswatching her in bewilderment.No, Paul said. No, its absolutely out of the question. He waved his hands, then patted his pocketsnervously, coming up empty.Paul, please. I have to do this. And if you wont help me, Ill try it on my own. I think self-hypnosisshoul d work. Ive been doing a pretty good job of dreaming the past lately, anyway.Its too dangerous. Paul said each word separately, then sank into his chair, hands at histemples. Dont you remember what happened the last time?Hannah felt sorry for him. But she said ruthlessly, If I do it on my own, it may be even more dangerous.Right? At least if you hypnotize me you can be there to wake me up. You can throw a glass of water inmy face again.He looked up sharply. Oh, yeah? And what if it doesnt work this time?Hannah dropped her eyes. Then she raised them and looked at Paul directly. I dont know, sheadmitted quietly. But Ive still got to try. I have to know the truth. If I dont, I really think I may goinsane. She didnt say it melodramatically. It was a simple statement of fact.Paul groaned. Then he grabbed a pen and started chewing on it, glancing around the room. What is itthat you would want to know? Just presuming that I concord to help you. His voice sounded squashed.Hannah felt a sur ge of relief. I want to know about this woman who keeps warning me, she said. Hername is Maya. And I want to know how I die in my other lives.Oh, terrific. That sounds like fun.I have to do it. She took a deep breath. She wouldnt let herself look away from him, even though shecould feel the warmth as her eyes filled. Look, I know you dont understand. And I cant explain to youhow important it is to me. But it is important.There was a silence, then Paul said, altogether right. All right. But only because I think its safer for you to bewith somebody.Hannah whispered, Thank you. Then she blinked and unfolded a piece of paper. I wrote down some questions for you to ask me.Great. Wonderful. Im sure youll be getting your degree in psychology soon. But he took the paper.Hannah walked over to the couch and got herself settled. She shut her eyes, telling her muscles to relax.Okay, Paul said. His voice was very slightly unsteady, but Hannah could tell he was trying to make itsoothing. I want you to imagine a beautiful violet light