Authors: Jess Parry
Jason watched the emotions playing across Siobhan’s face as they passed the buildings
reaching
over
, he took her hand in his
and squeezed
.
Siobhan turned
to gaze at Jason
smil
ing
a little smile
; she watched the dimples play across his face
.
The taxi pulled into an open spot between a bus and car parked with its hood opened. Two guys were bending over the front and pulling out suitcases.
Jason
paid the taxi fare
as Siobhan and Sarah
climbed out onto the sidewalk walking past the
parked
car.
“Why are they pulling suitcases out of the hood?” Sarah asked as she turned to where Siobhan was staring
“Silly, that’s the trunk here, the engine is in the back on those cars” Jason said between fits of laughter
Sarah slapped Jason’s shoulder and rolled her eyes “I’m not car and driver, I know enough to make sure it’s full of gas, to put it in drive and step on the gas or break…what more is there to know”
Barking out laughter, Jason shook his head at Sarah “A hell of a lot more”
“Well I can tell you the one bent over right now has a pretty nice ass” Sarah said as she threw her arm around Siobhan.
Leaning
in whisper
ing softly
for only Siobhan to hear “You could hit that ass and Jason couldn’t do anything”
Sarah looked up at Jason as he scowled at her before leaning back to Siobhan “I mean come on turnabout is fair play when the other does something stupid”
“Whatever the hell you are over there whispering
about
Sarah, just stop it” Jason boomed, his face turning red contorting in anger
“She was talking about the guy’s ass Jason; really, you wanted to join in that conversation?” Siobhan asked trying to divert Jason’s angry glare off Sarah.
Jason glared at Sarah again, before turning back around to take Siobhan’s hand lightly pulling her away from Sarah.
“Hey, how do we get to the library in this labyrinth for a college?” Sarah yelled at a group of people mulling about in the square.
A girl in the group turned to them
pointing
at a building across the way
“Thanks” Sarah called
as she
started off in the direction the girl had pointed.
Coming
to the entrance
, they
stopped looking at the ornate Georgian building before them. Walking through the doors they entered into the main entrance teaming with tourists as well as students.
Taking a few minutes they w
ander
ed
around the impressive structure,
silently taking in the sheer majesty of the old building.
Spotting
where to buy tickets for the tour
Sarah
rushed to the booth.
Returning a few minutes later
to where Jason and Siobhan stood ogling,
she handed them each a
ticket.
“I figured it was my turn to buy” Sarah joked as she opened the tour pamphlet “There is a group over there, I think we are supposed to be with them”
Merging
into the crowd
of obvious tourists, they listened
as
the
leader began instructions on what they could and couldn’t do.
“Here we go!” Siobhan whispered smil
ing
widely
“Oh yeah books” Sarah retorted
“Shh” Jason hissed at Sarah
They made their way around the long tables separating the main floor. The wooden floor was worn from thousands of transient people who had come into its inviting warmth over the centuries. A mix of students and tourists were sitting at the long gleaming wooden tables that reflected the books spread out before them.
Jason leaned over to Siobhan whispering “How can they study with all these people passing around them?”
“You learn to tune them out, what do you think it’s going to be like when we go to college?” Siobhan asked looking at Jason a smile ghosting her lips.
“Well, um…I haven’t tho
u
ght about it.” Jason answered quietly
Entering
into the Long room of the library, the speaker clea
red
her throat loudly to silence the group before she began her speech on the famous room. Siobhan stopped suddenly as the musky scent of hundreds of old leather bound books filled her senses. Looking up at the barrel-ceiling with its deep dark wood shining, Siobhan saw the heavy dust that clung to the shelves. The smell was intoxicating
as
Siobhan closed her eyes
breathing
in deeply.
The corners of her lips turning up as she pictured herself getting lost in one of those beautifully bound books
with its hidden treasures
. The adventure she was sure one of these old books
was
hidi
ng
was too much, her fingers
were
itch
ing
to pull one off the shelf, find a quiet corner and get lost for a few hours.
The noise around her becom
ing
muffled as the crowd began moving away; Siobhan opened her to eyes to see the room was almost empty. Looking around for Sarah and Jason,
catching
the
m
merging
in
to
the crowd. The group was moving into another portion of the library tour
,
the speaker was calling for everyone to be quiet and respect the students currently on site.
Stealing a quick glance around her, she ducked into one of the aisles.
Timidly running
her fingers gingerly across some of the leather bound books. Letting out the sigh she had been holding, she didn’t notice the air come out in a mist. The temperature quickly dropping around her
as a gray dense mist circled her
.
The room
fell into an
eerily quiet as the brisk air continued to cling onto the
surfaces as
hoarfrost lightly coat
ed
the books
. Everything began
shimmering as the light from the windows danced across the white sheen. Someone was humming softly; the seductive sound w
eaving
its way
to
Siobhan. The tune was elusive, but hauntingly beautiful, Siobhan found herself searching out the source.
Wandering
down a few aisles
, Siobhan felt her breath coming faster, nervous energy building inside her.
She reached a
small alcove near the back
of the last aisle, stopping abruptly as she caught movement from the shadows inside the tiny space
. Sitting on a striking dark wooden bench, was a lone figure hunched over a book, his face hidden under cascading golden hair. Black and blue streaks caught the light above the window
bringing
through the golden hue as the figure continued to read. Siobhan took in the long nimble fingers holding the book tenderly.
A soft
chuckle
filled the air around her
. Siobhan’s eyes widened as she realized that was the sound she had heard. It wasn’t humming but a beautifully soft laughter that clung to the air, calling for anyone to listen and seek it out.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to seek me out” The figures lilting voice wrapp
ing
itself around Siobhan
enchantingly
.
“I’m sorry, I was on a tour and got separated, I heard humming and thought it might be someone who could direct me back to my group” Siobhan’s voice
coming
out in a soft whisper.
“This story is quite entertaining, you should read it Siobhan, I think you would enjoy it”
the figures voice cloyingly filling her senses
“How do you know my name?” Siobhan asked fear r
ing
inside her
,
paralyzing her body as it whispered she should run from this man
“I’ve always known you; your soul will always call me to you”
Taking
a tentative step closer to the man, even as everything inside
Siobhan
was screaming to run
, she was enthralled by him
. She took in the dark jeans hanging loosely on his lithe frame, the dark wool sweater he wore that
hinting at
the strength in his wide shoulders. His boots were
coal
black, slightly scuffed at the tips, showing wear from years of use. He had yet to raise his head to look at Siobhan, sighing as frustration grew within her
, every fiber inside her pulsing in raptured curiosity
.
Y
earning to run her fingers through his silky hair, to entangle her fingers within
the soft stands, to slowly
move it from his face
, she took a small step towards him
. She longed to see what was hidden behind th
ose
waves of gold. She craved to ask wh
y he had
the blue and black streaks
added to his beautifully golden hair
. Catching herself reaching out to touch him, she pulled her hand back to her side, taking a step back.
“Ask, whatever is you are thinking inside that beautiful head of yours” his lilting voice sang to her softly
“I, how do you know my name?” Siobhan asked tersely
“I answered that one, what is the other question?”
“That wasn’t an answer. That was a vague response to make me think I should know you. I don’t, I can’t even see your face under all that hair” Siobhan replied agitation growing, but curiosity keeping her engaged.
“You know me, somewhere in the darkness of your mind, like recognizes like my love”
“Again with the cryptic response” Siobhan
whispered
sh
aking
her head
while retreating
another step away from him “I’m going back to my group. I’m sorry I disturbed you, enjoy your book”
Turning away, Siobhan took another step in departure as strong arms
suddenly
wrapped around her tightly.
An alluring c
oldness surround
ed
her
, coating her in
a
shiver
ing seduction.
“You know me” h
is lilting voice hoarsely
whispered to her
, closing her eyes as felt cool lips graze
lightly
across
her cheek.
The ki
ss seared itself into Siobhan her body
shudder
ed uncontrollably
from its power.
Leaning
into his embrace
,
she turned her head to look at him. She needed to see his face, nothing else matter
ing
at this moment, but looking into this stranger’s face. She felt safe in his arms, but she couldn’t understand how that was possible.
Maybe it was Marcus playing a joke on her. Except Marcus’s voice didn’t have the seductive lilt that this voice possessed. His voice was deeper; it wrapped itself around you, but left you feeling fear lurking in the depths.
This voice was almost soothing, as it clung to her, filling her with a deeply sated feeling of love.
Peeking
into the shadow of hair that still hung around the stranger’s face,
Siobhan
f
ound
intense green eyes peering
at her.
He was watching her intently; she could almost see
his sensuous
lips smirking at her. The feeling of falling rush
ing
through her, she felt wind crashing into her as her legs gave out. Darkness threaten
ing
to close around her, blindly reaching out to brace herself against the fall, she started to step out of the embrace.
“Dammit” she heard his strong lilting voice as he pulled her closer to him, but it sounded distant and far away.
Turning her quickly to face him, Ash pulled her up, shaking Siobhan as the fear of losing her gripped him. All she could focus on were the green of his eyes.
Concentrating
on his
luminous
eyes, the slight tilted up angle
with
long black lashes surround
ing
those deep green eyes. There was a darkness to them that clung just around the edges where the light seemed to disappear.
Pain stabbed at Siobhan,
feeling
power
she had never experienced before
rushing through her body, searing itself
to her bones. Bitter cold seeping
into her, her body numb from the pain, tears began streaming down her cheeks. One single tear fell slowly, tracking its way between the frozen lines along her face. It was glowing softly as it made its way toward the floor. Siobhan felt her body invaded as the man before her pulled her tighter into his embrace. She saw his eyes widen
ing
as he followed the path of the tear.
Watching
him reach out to catch the tear before it fell
, gasping at his cool touch to her burning cheeks
. Together they watched as the tear dropped silently onto the tip of his finger. It sat there for a moment before smoke billowed up
around them
as the tear vanished.