Promises (14 page)

Hidden dangers...

As we rounded the corner, Colt was waiting with my jacket in his hands. I allowed him to assist me. “Cheyenne,” he said meekly.

I cut him off. “Don’t say anything, Colt. Let it go for now. You’re not going to ruin my day over this.” I sighed and glanced up into his weary blue eyes. I wanted him to know it was okay. What was done was done. He had already taken the worst of my words. But what hurt more was knowing in my heart that I missed him so much.

I looked over my shoulder at Daniel. “I may be afraid of spiders, but I don’t run away when a question is asked.” Daniel disappeared, only to reappear in front of me, causing me to jump.

“
True, but you are awfully scary when you get mad.” Daniel pushed a granola bar into my hand and vanished again. I smiled; Daniel had a way of lightening an edgy situation.

“
Note to self,” Maes said, feeling the need to chime in. “Don’t get Cheyenne mad.”

“
Wise words,” I mumbled and turned towards the door.

Taking a firm hold on my elbow, Colt ensured I didn’t take a tumble again on the ice. He helped me in the truck. I slid to the center and buckled myself in.

Christmas was just a couple of days away; I wanted to get them a little something. I’d been so callous to them, trying to shield myself from their affections; I needed to show them that deep down I still cared. That I knew they’d given everything to keep me safe, and I was grateful. It would be something they could remember me by when I was gone…

After making several stops, I noticed Maes was becoming more relaxed around larger crowds. It was probably because he was enjoying intimidating anyone he caught staring. He was also more comfortable around me—around all of us. Maybe it was because he’d been playing poker with us or maybe he was softening around the edges. I wasn’t sure, but I did know it had to be his actions that were keeping the Trackers and Tresez away. He was growing on me, whether I liked it or not. Whatever his intentions, I’d found myself becoming attached to him in an odd friendship I didn’t understand.

He’d been somewhat cruel and cold at first, but now it was as if I was seeing the real Maes—the one he’d kept hidden from others. Even his comment before we’d left was meant to be funny; I was sure of it.

Callon only allowed me to enter a single store alone, as all four guardians paced around the entrance, searching for anything out of the ordinary. Besides the constant threat of danger, there was also the trust issue. They were still unsure if I’d make a run for it. I could have, but I wouldn’t today. As I returned, relief spread over them like a wave.

“
Thank you,” I said. Callon nodded.

We completed our trip to the grocery store. I was only picking out what we needed for Christmas dinner, as my appetite had gone down again. It wasn’t a good sign. Callon watched, he knew, but he didn’t say a word. Something was brewing, and it was making him nervous.

The drive home was pleasant for a change. The tension appeared to have lessened somehow. There still was no laughter, but Colt and Callon were no longer walking on eggshells. They must have made some kind of peace. Unconsciously, I leaned into Colt’s shoulder. Colt’s arm remained at his side, but his fingers brushed my thigh. I closed my eyes and rested my head against the seatback. Strange; I hadn’t felt tired earlier.

We arrived home and quickly settled in for the evening. I was in a quiet mood, which wasn’t unusual, though that didn’t stop the others from watching me with concern.

I waved off their concern so I could go to my bedroom alone. I was feeling out of sorts. I was on an emotional roller coaster with no one to talk to about it. I was surrounded and under constant guard, yet I still felt isolated. I dug through my bag and pulled out some pictures. The picture Lilly had given me of my birth mom and the picture I had of my adoptive mom were at the top of the stack. I also found a few photos of Colt and me. I didn’t know why I had stuck them in my bag before I left my home in Sagle, Idaho, but now I was glad I had.

I stared at them, wondering what my moms would say to me. What advice would they have given me? Was I being foolish in still loving Colt? Would they have told me to follow my heart, or would they have said I needed to fulfill my destiny? A destiny I didn’t want or understand.

Soft footsteps approached, and I looked up to see Daniel hesitating in the doorway.

“
Chey,” Daniel said softly. He’d only called me Chey one other time—when he’d been worried for me. It was his way of sharing that he knew I was hurting. He jumped and sat on the bed. I moved the pictures aside.

“
What’s wrong?” he asked.

I didn’t say a word as I collapsed into his arms. I didn’t cry, even though I wanted to. I just wanted a hug—with no strings attached. Daniel was the only one who was safe—the only one who didn’t have an agenda behind his smiles.

Daniel rubbed my back. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

I wanted to scream
yes
, but what would I say? He wouldn’t necessarily understand that I didn’t know myself. I was tired of the confusion, tired of the tortuous touches—the glances and deeper, searching gazes. My walls were breaking down. If I didn’t leave soon—I didn’t want to even think of it.

“
I’m fine, Daniel,” I whispered.

“
You’re sitting here alone, staring at pictures. You’re not fine.” Daniel hesitated. “You’ve closed yourself off, and you don’t want to let anyone in, but I can tell…you’re hurting.”

“
I’m fine,” I repeated.

Daniel drew back, leaving his hands on my shoulders. His blue eyes told me he knew. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”

I sighed. “Yes, it does. This is the only way. I can’t take any more heartache.”

“
No one wants to hurt you.”

“
It doesn’t matter. That’s what will happen. I’ll be the one hurt in the end. If I remain closed off, it won’t be as bad.”

“
I won’t hurt you, Chey. I promise.”

“
I know.” I inhaled, fighting to regain control. Then I pulled away and gathered up my pictures, setting them on the nightstand. “Come on,” I said as I took hold of Daniel’s arm. “Let’s go sit by the fire.”

Daniel hugged me one last time as he stood. “I’ll always be here if you need me,” he said compassionately. “Always.”

“
I know.”

My guardians’ attention remained focused on me for the rest of the evening. They didn’t breathe a word, but I felt their stares. Daniel brought my guitar, and I played. Callon offered to make me dinner, but I declined.

I retired early, working quietly outside my closet in the bathroom. I just needed to add the finishing touches to their gifts. I wasn’t quite sure why I was making them Christmas presents, but I felt I needed to leave them with something…to let them know I loved them without saying the words.

I stashed the gifts away and washed up for bed. When I came out, Callon was waiting. I watched him glance at the pictures on the nightstand. He pulled the covers down, and after I crawled under, he tucked me in, throwing an extra blanket on top of the mound of blankets. It was snowing again, and I watched the flakes through the balcony windows. He stroked my hair gently as he sat beside me. I didn’t push him away. I didn’t think I could bear the loneliness. My eyes closed, and soon I fell asleep.

As the mornings passed, it became increasingly harder to drag myself out of bed. I was sure Callon sensed something building, but if he had any ideas what was happening, he kept them to himself. I already knew I was about to have another transformation. And it wasn’t going to be good.

It began to eat at me gradually. On our runs, I couldn’t keep up my usual pace, but Daniel and Maes didn’t seem to notice. Maes’s attention was focused on the forest for any signs of Trackers or Tresez.

In the cabin, I hardly spoke. Even Daniel couldn’t get me to break a smile. I attempted to look as though I was eating, making a sandwich and taking a couple bites only to bury it in the trash. If Callon had been with me in the mornings, he’d have thrown a fit.

Christmas morning arrived, and I was worse; however, I wasn’t running a fever. I made sure my mask was in place before entering the kitchen. I couldn’t show them what was happening. I just needed to pull this off a little longer.

I skipped my run and made breakfast for everyone. My guardians were pleasantly surprised and inhaled everything I presented to them. We sat around the table, and I forced myself to talk, to show them I was all right. After cleaning up, I began the process of preparing Christmas dinner. I made sure I had everything ready to go. They’d left me alone to cook when I shooed them out of the kitchen. They didn’t seem to notice I was off today, but I had to re-read directions several times. My mind felt like it was in a fog. I was forced to lean on the counter to hold myself up. It was building quickly—I didn’t know how much longer I’d last.

Somehow, I managed to struggle through. When Daniel peeked in and saw I was done, I attempted to look casual. Smiling, he pulled me to the couch in the great room. His face was filled with excitement. He was like a small child, anxious to present his gift. He placed a small box in my hands.

“
Merry Christmas, Cheyenne,” he said. Slowly, I opened the box, and my eyes went wide. Inside was a pair of beautiful silver earrings made up of three carved leaves. They had a slight tarnish to their edges, and I smiled. Daniel knew I loved old things—the more beat up the better.

I grabbed him in a hug. “Thank you! They’re perfect.”

“
You’re welcome. I just wanted you to have a piece of me you could wear.” Daniel said. “To keep me in your thoughts.” He glanced down at his hands.

“
Daniel, you’re always in my thoughts.” My heart ached, knowing I’d be leaving him, too.

Daniel moved to the side, and Maes stepped forward.

Maes was presenting me with a gift?

“
Cheyenne,” Maes said, sitting on the coffee table before me. “I wanted to give you something that represents hope. Hope that one day you’ll see just how extraordinary you really are. Hope that you will fulfill your destiny. And hope that you’ll free my people and yourself someday.”

My heart sank. Another heavy burden pressed upon me. I tried not to think about it as Maes reached in his pocket and pulled out a leather necklace. A small ruby colored stone was attached with a silver clip. He placed it around my neck. “This is the stone of my people, just as you have your ring. This is among the last of its kind.”

Tears bubbled to the surface. “Maes, you should never put this much hope in me. I don’t want to let you down…I don’t even know if I can fulfill anything…I—”

Maes leaned forward and grasped my fingers in his. “I have faith in you,
mon espoir
.”

“
Mon espoir?”

“
My hope,” Maes replied. “Our hope.”

I closed my eyes briefly as he stepped away, knowing it was Colt who was now perched in front of me. I was growing weaker by the moment, and it wasn’t just physically anymore. As I looked up, Colt’s icy blue eyes were so soft, loving—it was killing me. He pulled out a small white box and placed it in my hands. I untied the ribbon and slowly opened it. My heart leapt into my throat. Two magnificent bracelets were sitting inside, and they glowed as they touched.

These were the rocks from the cave. The cave where Colt had showed me his heart and opened up his soul for me to see only hours before I found out I was betrothed to Callon and Marcus. He had been trying to win me over, make me so madly in love with him that nothing else mattered.

I could only stare, filled with disappointment and guilt. Why was he doing this to me?

Colt took the box and pulled the bracelets out. He lifted my wrist and placed them on my right arm. “Cheyenne,” he said, looking me in the eyes. “I wanted you to have these rocks for two reasons. First, I want you to remember what happened that day in the cavern, what we shared together.

“
Second, I want you to know these rocks will always be a light in your life, as you have brought light to mine.” Colt locked the bracelets together so the magical light appeared. “All you have to do is bring them together to remember my love.”

My tears began to tumble down my cheeks as Colt leaned forward and tenderly kissed my forehead. He drew back, and I saw the despair and agony. They knew now. He glanced at Callon.

Callon sat next to me. Colt was still holding my wrist. “It’s back, isn’t it?” I said in a hushed tone.

Callon reached forward, his fingers gently brushed my hair aside. “Yes.”

“
We can’t stop it, can we?” I whispered.

“
No,” Callon said solemnly.

“
It’s bad, isn’t it?”

My guardians didn’t need to answer—I read it from their faces. I reached into my pocket. My fingers fumbled over the charms as I pulled them out. I hadn’t had the chance to give them their gifts, to tell them what they meant to me. I was giving them a piece of me, each charm held the meaning of love and eternity. I would love them eternally. I had to tell them. I would be leaving soon—they had to know.

Colt drew me forward as I slumped into his arms. The leather bound necklaces containing the charms fell from my fingers as I fainted. My head rolled back and heaviness overcame me.