Night World : Witchlight Chapter 14

Keller put her hands to her face. At premiere, she didnt recognize what was chance to her. concordly she realized that she was crying.She was shaking, Raksha Keller who wasnt afraid of allone and who never e preciseow her heart be touched(p). She was making those ridiculous lilliputian noises that sounded like a six-week-old kitten. She was dripping tears through her fingers.The worst thing was that she couldnt seem to make herself stop.Then she felt Galens arms some her, and she realized that he was crying, too.He was mend at it than she was. He seemed much employ to it and didnt fight it as gruelling, which made him stronger. He was able to stroke her hair and even to plump some words bring out.Keller, Im sorry. Keller rump I call you Raksha?Keller shook her head furiously, spraying teardrops.I invariably think of you as Keller, any route. Its just-you, somehow. Im sorry about all of this. I didnt think to make you cry. It would be better if youd never met meKell er ready herself shaking her head again. And then, just as she had the last time, she felt her arms pitiable to hold him back. She pressed her face against the softness of his sweatshirt, arduous to drive enough control of herself to speak.This was the problem with having walls so hard and high and unscalable, she supposed. When they came down, they crumbled completely, shattering into zeroness. She felt utterly defenseless right now.Unguarded vulnerable exclusively not alone. She could feel more than Galens physical presence. She could feel his spirit, and she was creation pulled toward it. They were falling to sop upher, falling into apiece other, as they had in the library. Closer and closerContact.She felt the touch of his mind, and once again her heart almost exploded.Youre the one. Youre my soulmate, his affable congressman tell, as if this were an entirely new idea, and he was just discoering it and rejoicing in it.Keller reached for denial, nevertheless it enti rely wasnt around. And she couldnt pretend to someone who shared her thoughts.When I first saw you, he said, I was so mesmerisedby you. I already told you this, didnt I? It made me noble to be a shapeshifter for the first time. Arent you proud?Keller was disconcerted. She still wasnt finished crying-but, yes, she was. With his warmth and passion shining into her, his arms locked around her, his mind open to her it was hard not to perplex swept up in it.I guess Im proud, she thought to him slowly. notwithstanding barely of some parts of it. Other thingsWhat things? he demanded, almost fiercely protective. Our history? The dragons?No. Stuff you wouldnt meet Things about-animal nature. Even now, Keller was afraid of letting him see some parts of her. Leave it alone, Galen.All he said was, Tell me.No. It happened a long time ago, when I was triad. Just be glad you maturate to pick what chassis of animal youll be make sense.Keller, he said. Please.You dont like animal nature, sh e told him. Remember how you pulled your hand away when you touched my shoulder in the music room?In the ? His mental voice trailed off, and Keller waited grimly to feel the retention of disgust in him. But what came wasnt revulsion. or else, it was a strong sense of longing that he was somehow trying to smother. And choked, wry laughter.Keller, I didnt pull away because I didnt like your fur. I did it because . . He hesitated, then burst out out, sounding embarrassed, I wanted to pet youPet ?Your fur was so soft, and it felt so substantially when I moved my palm the wrong way against it-just like velvet. And-I wanted to-to do this. He ran a hand up and down her back. I couldnt help it. But I knew it wasnt exactly appropriate, and you would probably start my jaw if I well- attempt it. So I took my hand away. He finished, still embarrassed, but half(prenominal) laughing. Now, you tell me what youre not proud of.Keller felt very warm, and she was sure her face was flushed. It w as just as comfortably that it was hidden. It was too bad-there was probably never going to be a time to tell him that she wouldnt mind being petted like thatIm a cat, after all, she thought, and was distantly surprised to hear him chuckle. in that location were no secrets in this kind of soul-link, she realized, slightly flustered. To cover her embarrassment, she spoke out loud. The thing Im not proud of-it happened when I was living with my first Circle Daybreak family. I used to spend a lot of time in my half-and-half form. It was easy for me to get stuck that way, and they didnt mind.I wouldnt, either, Galen said. Youre beautiful like that.Anyway, I was sitting on my foster mothers overlap while she was combing my hair, and I dont sack out what happened, but something startled me. Some loud noise outside, possibly a car backfiring. I jumped straight up and tried to race for my hiding place chthonic the desk.Keller paused, made herself take an even breath. She felt Galens a rms tighten around her.And then-well, my foster mother tried to hold on to me, to keep me from being frightened. But all I could think of was danger, danger. So I lashed out at her. I used my claws-I hold up retractable claws in that form. I would watch make anything to get away.She paused again. It was so hard to tell this.She had to go to the hospital. I bar how many stitches she needed in her face. But I remember everything else-being taken to another foster family because that one couldnt handle me. I didnt commit them for sending me away, but I always wished I could have told her how sorry I was.There was a silence. Keller could feel Galen breathing, and that gave her an shady sense of comfort. Then he said quietly, out loud, Thats all?Keller started, then get up her head a little and made herself coiffure the resembling way. Isnt it enough?Keller you were just a baby. You didnt mean to do any harm it was an accident. You contributet blame yourself.I do blame myself. If I hadnt been taken over by my instinct-Thats ridiculous. Human babies do stupid things all the time. What if a human three-year-old falls into a fluent pool and somebody drowns trying to rescue her? Would you blame the baby?Keller hesitated, then rested her head on his shoulder again. Dont be silly.Then how potful you blame yourself for something you couldnt help?Keller didnt answer, but she felt as if a crushing load was sliding slowly off her. He didnt blame her. Maybe she wasnt to blame. She would always be sorry, but maybe she didnt need to be so ashamed. She tightened her own arms around him. Thank you, she thought.Oh, Keller. Youre so wonderful, and youre so set against admitting it. Everything you do shines. Keller couldnt form any words for a moment. Then she said, Galen? When you do aim a form, choose something gentle.I thought you thought everybody has to be a fitter, he said, and his mental voice was very quiet. Some people shouldnt have to be.Then she just let him hold her.Another deathless time, while they some(prenominal) seemed to be floating in soft, gold fire. It flared around them and through them, joining them. sometimes she could hardly tell which thoughts were his and which were hers.He said, I used to write poetry, you know. Or try. My parents hated it they were so embarrassed.Instead of learning to be a inviolable hunter, their son was writing gibberish.She said, Theres this terrible dream I have, where I air out at the ocean and see a wall of water hundreds of feet high, and I know its coming and I can never get away in time. Cats and water, you know. I guess thats why.He said, I used to daydream about what kind of animal it would be most fun to be. But it always came down to the same thing, some kind of bird. You just cant beat flying.She said, One thing I always had to hide from my foster mothers was how much I liked to shred things. I thought I was being so clever when I would hide their panty hose after I used my claws on them. But when I did it on the sheer curtains one day, everybody knew.They talked and talked. And Keller gave herself up to it, to the simple pleasure of his thrift and the feeling that for once she didnt have to hide or pretend or defend herself. It was such a blessed relief not to have to pretend at all.Galen knew her, and he accepted her. All of her. He loved herself, not her black swirling hair or her long legs or the curve of her lips. He cleverness admire those things, but he loved her, what she was inside.And he loved her with a sweetness and a author that shook Keller to her soul.She wanted to stay like this forever.There was something else waiting for them, though. Something she didnt want to think about but that loomed just outside the brightness and warmth that surrounded them.The world theres still a world out there. And its in trouble.And we cant ignore that.Galen.I know.Very slowly, very reluctantly, Galen straightened, putting her away from him. He couldnt seem to let go of her shoulders, though. They sat that way, their eyes locked.And the strange thing was that the mental connection wasnt broken. They could still hear each other as they held each others gaze.We can never be like this again, Keller said.I know. He had set about it as clearly as she had, she realized.We cant talk about it we cant even be alone together. It isnt fair to Uiana. And we have to try to forget each other and just go on.I know, he said for the three time. And just when Keller was marveling at his quiet acceptance, she saw tears in his gem-colored eyes. Keller, its my fault. If I werent the son of the First endureWed never have met. And that would have been worse.Would it? he said out loud, as if he needed reassurance.Yes. She gave the answer mentally, so that he could feel the truth of it. Oh, Galen, Im so glad we met. Im so glad to have know you. And if we live through this, Ill be glad all my life.He took her into his arms again.We have it, Boss, Winnie said.He r eyes were glitter. Beside her, Nissa looked sedately enthusiastic.What? Keller asked. She herself felt calmly alert, in spite of almost no sleep the night before. She and Galen had stayed up late, teaching over the scrolls, making sure that there was nothing they had missed. They had already explained what theyd found to the others.Now Winnie was grinning at her.How to protect Iliana at the party on Saturday. Weve got it, and its foolproofNothing is foolproof, Keller thought. She said, Go on.Its like this. We put wards all around the Ashton-Hughes house, just like the wards Grandma Harman made for this house. The strongest possible from Circle Daybreak. But we put them around the house now, as soon as we can. We key them so that only humans can get in.And we add another layer of protection, Nissa said. Circle Daybreak agents posted around the house, starting now. Nothing gets in, nothing gets out that they dont know about. That way, when we go to the party on Saturday, we know i ts condom.We just whisk her from one safe place to another, Winnie said. As long as we can keep her in here until Saturday night, theres-no chance of any danger.Keller considered. We have to make sure the limo is safe, too. Absolutely safe.Of course, Winnie said. Ill take care of it.And Id want agents to clog the people who go hi somehow. Not just monitor. Would there be any way to do that?Without the family knowing? Nissa chewed her lip gently. What if we set up some sort of road crew near the bird-scarer gate? Theres bound to be a gate this is a mansion, right?Check it out. And wed better get plans of the house, too. I want us all to know the place by heart before we get there.City planners office, Nissa said. No, more likely the local historical society. The house is probably a historic monument. Im on it.Keller nodded. Hmm. She tried to think if there was anything else to worry about. Hmm, it soundsThey watched her, breath held.It sounds good, Keller said. I think theres just the tiniest, slightest possibility that it king actually work. But Im probably being overoptimistic.Winnie grinned and socked her on the shoulder. You, Boss? Perish the thought.Its so difficult, Iliana said. I mean, what can you wear to some(prenominal) a birthday party and a promise ceremony?And a Solstice Ceremony, Winnie said. Dont forget thatYoure trying to make things worse, arent you? Iliana held up one dress, then another. Whats right for a Solstice Ceremony?Something white, Winnie suggested.That would be good for a promise ceremony, too, Keller said. She was doing her very best to be patient, and finding it easier than she had expected.The last three days had been very quiet Iliana had agreed to stay dental plate from school even when her cold got better. Galen and Keller had scarcely spoken in that time, and they had never been alone.And that was all right. There was a quietness inside her to match the quiet air outside.They both had jobs to do. And they would do them as well as possible. Keller just prayed that what they did would be enough.White? I dont know if Ive got anything white. It has to be fancy because everything at Jaimes is fancy. I hope shes really okay.Shes fine, Keller said. You talked to her an hour ago. To her own relief, Jaime had stayed quietly at home for the past three days, too. The last thing she wanted was for that girl to be attacked again. But the Ashton-Hughes house, at least, was safe. For three days, it had been buttoned up tight, with Circle Daybreak agents watching every soulfulness who went through the gates. And run offing them, using the same wards that protected the house. No Night Person could cross the invisible line that encircled the grounds, and no person who tried to cross and was turned back by the wards would be allowed to leave without being tracked.All we have to do is keep her safe during the drive, Keller thought. First to the mansion, then to the meeting place in Charlotte. We can do that. I know w e can do that.She checked her watch. vex on, kid, its after eight, she said. We should be moving soon.Iliana and Winnie were both ransacking the closetPale blue, Winnie said, pale lavender, pale pinkIt has to be white, Iliana said.Im sorry I mentioned it.A knock sounded on the door, and Nissa looked in. Were back. You guys ready?In a minute, Keller said. Howre things at the mansion?Perfect. The witches say the wards are strong.Whos mystify in?Caterers and a college band. Thats all so far. All one hundred percent human according to the wards-and to Galen, who kept running up to the cars at the gate and trying to sell them Christmas Benefit teddy bears.Keller almost grinned. Galen would be good at that. The family moldiness have thought he was crazy.They never came out and complained. Nobodys come out, in fact, which makes things easy on die surveillance team. She sobered. Boss, why do you think the dragon hasnt tried something yet? Hes cutting it awfully close.I dont know. I thinkW hat?I think he must be betting it all on one throw of the dice. One all-out attack, fast and decisive.At the party.At the parry, Keller said. So wed better be on our toes.Weve got him locked out, though. Those wards are secure.I hope so.From the closet, Iliana squealed, I found itShe was holding a dress almost the color of her own hair, white with some sort of sparkling thread woven in. It draped in soft folds across her hip as she held it up for Winnies inspection.Perfect, Winnie said. You can get engaged in that dress you can go to a birthday parry you can celebrate the Solstice-you can probably get married in it if you wantYou can do whatever you want, but you have to do it now, Keller said, checking her watch again. But do you like it? I think I bought it last year.Its beautiful, Keller said, and then, as she saw the hurt in Hianas violet eyes Really. Its beautiful. Youll look wonderful in it, and Galen will be-very impressed.Where had that sudden hitch in her breath come from? She had gotten over it quickly, but she noticed that Diana gave her an odd look.Now, come on, everybody,* Keller said briskly, looking at Winnie and Nissa. Are you two ready?They both looked down at their ordinary outfits, then looked back up and shrugged in chorus.Yeah.I guess they can think were the help, Keller said. Everybody check your transmitters. I want to be in constant contact once we get there.Right, Boss.Got it, Boss.Iliana had put on the dress and was looking in the mirror. My hair, she began, and then she glanced at Keller. Ill just leave it down, she said. Okay? low-spirited is fine, down is great. Keller glanced at her watch and tightened her belt.Down is just right for a Solstice Ceremony, Winnie said. She added in an undertone as Iliana started for the door, Dont mind her. Shes always like this before a big operation.Its a good thing I didnt ask her about my shoes.Keller looked around to make sure there was nothing they were forgetting. Then she looked at the othe r three girls. They smiled back at her, eyes alert and ready for anything. Even the smallest one, who looked like a Christmas tree angel somebody had taken down and brought to life.Okay, people, Keller said. This is it. Its show time.Galen was wearing a dark sweater and pants that set off his blondness. It was casual but still appropriate for the promise ceremony later on. His eyes met Kellers briefly as Iliana said good-bye to her parents, and they both smiled. Not fake smiles, either. Simply the quiet, undemanding smiles of comrades with a job to do.Kee-kee Alex said from the door as they went to the car in the garage.That kid is up way too late, Keller thought She turned and waved.Blow him a kiss, Diana prompted helpfully. He likes that.Keller gave her a narrow sideways look and blew him a kiss.Kee-kee Suddenly, his round little face crumpled. Bye-bye, he proclaimed sadly.Oh, thats sweet, Dianas mother said. Hes going to miss you. He probably thinks youre going for good.Bye-bye , Alex said, and huge tears rolled down his cheeks. Bye-bye Kee-kee Bye-bye He began to sob.There was a little silence among the group standing by the car. Winnie stared at Alex, then glanced at Iliana.He doesnt-hes never had any precognitions, has he? she muttered.Hes a baby, Iliana whispered back. 1 mean, how could you tell?Hes just tired, Keller said briefly. Come on, lets go.