Promises (51 page)

“
I won’t bite.” He winked.

Knowing I wouldn’t get rid of him so easily, I extended my hand and watched it get swallowed up in his.

“
I’m Cheyenne, Cheyenne Wilson.” He pulled up a chair beside me. He ran his fingers through his hair, taking a sudden interest in the textbook on my desk.

“
Whatcha reading?”

“
Calculus.” Why was he being so persistent to carry on a conversation? I really wasn’t in the mood. It’s not like we’d be living here long. No need to make friends and feel lonely once more.

“
Sounds like fun.”

I raised a brow. “Should be, since we’re
in
Calculus.”

“
Oh.” Colt chuckled and began arranging his books. “I thought this was my English Literature class. Um…” He looked up sheepishly. “Do you mind sharing? It seems I’ve got my schedule mixed up.” He flashed another brilliant smile. “I’d run back to my locker, but I don’t want to get a tardy my first day in a new school.”

“
Sure.” I slid the book closer. As much as I didn’t want to talk to him, I definitely knew what it was like to get lost in a new school. “You know, you should probably have someone help you…”

“
You offering?” His eyes brightened.

“
Uh…” Great, I had to open my mouth. I was inviting him in even though I didn’t want to.

“
Don’t tell me you’re as disorganized as I am.”

I rolled my eyes.

“
Let’s take a look at your schedule.” He pulled it from his pack and handed it over. I scanned it and quickly realized it was oddly familiar. “Hey, you have the same schedule as me.”

His smile grew. “Wow, what are the chances? Guess you’re stuck with me, huh?”

I sucked in a deep breath and my eyes shot open.

“
It’s okay, Cheyenne,” Callon said as he stroked my arm. “It’s just a bit of turbulence.”

My head was resting in his lap and I quickly remembered we were on a plane. I turned away, staring at the seat in front of me I didn’t need to see the sorrow in his hazel eyes. I wanted sleep to claim me again and bring to me my sunshine, my Colt. My few happy moments…my reason for living.

I’d never have imagined our chance meeting that day would have led to all this. At first it had hurt, knowing he’d been sent to watch over me, to protect me. A friendship built on lies. I’d been angry, devastated by his betrayal, until I slowly realized that he meant so much more to me. What he’d done and the circumstances around us couldn’t change; they could only be accepted. But even after our shared words of forgiveness and love, fate—the same fate that brought us together—ripped him from my arms. Forever.

How was I supposed to go on without him? He’d been my rock when my adoptive parents were murdered. He’d been the strong shoulder to cry upon when the world crashed down upon me. I’d fought to push both he and Callon away after I learned of the betrothals, but Colt was relentless. He’d promised to never give up on me.

When my transformation into a Timeless began, almost killing me, he’d never left my side. When my first powers surfaced, he believed in me. When I ran away, he followed, and yet had eventually understood my view and given me my space. When I was stolen away by Marcus, Colt came for me. He defied Callon’s orders, he’d said we’d always be together…

Until Marcus had killed him.

Marcus…
that name burned in my mind. The man who murdered my parents, my adoptive parents and now Colt. The man whose sole purpose in life was revenge for all the wrongs against him. He wanted not only to rule over all the Timeless, but the world as well. He was tired of hiding from humans. The only thing he needed was my power; then he’d be unstoppable in his conquest.

Colt and the others had come to my rescue, almost getting me clear of Marcus’s army, but then Marcus struck. Making the biggest mistake of his life. That day, as Colt had fallen, I’d nearly killed everything in the valley. I could think of nothing else but to destroy Marcus, not caring for anyone else’s life. Until Callon had crawled to me and begged me to stop. Stopping me from becoming as cruel and twisted as the man who’d murdered my love.

I adjusted my head slightly and stared at Maes. His head hung low, his black hair drifting over his rugged features, his eyes closed. Maes, a Tresez, a shape shifter cursed to serve Marcus, was now bound to me. He had sworn to protect me, because I was the only one who could break his curse; a curse my grandfather had put upon them for serving the Sarac. A curse I knew nothing about, let alone how to break it.

Maes had been difficult from the start. Rude, sarcastic, mean… and yet somehow he’d changed. He wasn’t the same man anymore. He’d help free me from Marcus, even though he knew it could someday cost his life. But was it because he wanted freedom from his curse, or was it genuine?

Daniel leant forward, and our eyes met. He looked awful, with bags under his eyes and his hair messed up. He’d lost his brother, and was fearful he was losing me as well.
Even seeing his heart breaking
,
I wasn’t sure I could hold on. Life held nothing for me anymore. I had no reason to stay. A dark vortex swirled around, drowning me in a bottomless pit of shadows. I was inches from the edge, an edge I didn’t know if I could return from. It would trap me in its suffocating grip, and snuff out the last of the light within.

A shiver raked me. I just wanted the pain to stop, and let me rest.

Callon adjusted the blanket, pulling it over my shoulders and I closed my eyes once more. My heart begged for my sunshine, to push the darkness away. Restlessly I waited, waited for the small spark that wouldn’t come.

Callon became still and I looked up. He was my future now. I’d been promised to him from the start, even before I’d ever known I was a Timeless, and the last surviving heir of the ruling Kvech clan. He seemed peaceful as he slept, but I knew deep down he was suffering as much as I. He’d lost his brother, his best friend…his heart was crushed as well.

His shoulders hovered over me protectively even in his sleep. His dark wavy hair drifting into his lashes, his unshaven whiskers. We were all barely surviving Colt’s death. We were all holding on by a thread. And mine was still breaking…

An elbow nudged my leg. Maes was watching me, and had seen me stir. His lips twitched as if he wanted to speak, but he said nothing. What could he say? What could
I
say? My last stinging words were to Callon, telling him he’d gotten what he’d wished for. That with Colt gone, I was all his, as he’d wanted from the start. It had been too many days since I’d said it. And I could never take it back.

Yet I hadn’t spoken completely out of grief and anger. Callon had known the truth, but refused to reveal it to me until it was too late. Triggering off everything that had led to Colt’s death. Running from the Trackers, meeting Maes, escaping from my guardians, and finally getting captured by Marcus. If he’d told me the whole story when I’d asked, I wouldn’t have acted so rashly.

But then again, he knew me too well. He knew I was stubborn, that I wouldn’t have listened. I’d still have tried to take on destiny by myself, fighting for a way for Colt and I to be together…

The cabin’s light dimmed and I looked away. I was waiting…waiting for the darkness to overtake my soul and finish me off, but that would be too easy. This was going to be long, slow and painful. Why should destiny be kind to me? She’d ripped everything else away, she wouldn’t be so merciful.

The seat in front moved and I exhaled. Why couldn’t I sleep? Being Timeless, I didn’t require much, but after the hard travelling and draining journey, I needed proper rest.

A voice broke through the cabin, announcing our arrival to Ireland. The lights flickered and Callon touched my arm. I lay still, content to stay put, but Callon pulled me up and I sighed.

He drew his arm around behind me. His mouth pressed near my ear.

“
It’s going to be okay, Cheyenne.” A gentle kiss followed. “Another day and we’ll be home at the estate. You’ll have time to rest and heal.”

I stared at my hands, folding them in my lap. It was never going to be okay. Colt had been taken away and nothing else mattered. Rest would never find me; my heart would never feel the light again. Besides, what good was a home when not all the family members could be there? It would always have a missing piece…

The plane began to descend, and I felt the vibrations through the floor. The captain announced it was eleven thirty at night. My jaw tightened. More blackness to feed into my distressed heart. Why couldn’t there have been sunlight? Why could I never get the source of strength I needed?

The landing was smooth, and we disembarked. I followed behind Callon as he led us through the terminal, his fingers intertwined with mine. If he’d not been pulling me along, I would have just remained on the plane. I was only vaguely aware of Daniel and Maes dragging our bags beside us. I kept my head down, watching the ground. We stopped and I was then escorted into a car. Callon moved in beside me and I stared at the backseat.

Colt should have been here with us. It had been the plan all along, at least initially, before Callon had decided to banish Colt. Why had everyone been so against us? What was wrong with wanting to be with the one you loved…

“
Cheyenne,” Callon said. “Come on, we’re here.” He tugged on my arm and helped me out of the backseat. I hadn’t even realized how far we’d come. I looked up to see a hotel. I shivered as a cool breeze brushed over us. It was as cool and lifeless as I was inside.

It wasn’t long before we were in our room. We were on the fifth floor; the only reason I knew was the annoying chime of the elevator. We stopped just inside and I kept my gaze averted, studying the drab carpeting beneath my feet. Footsteps echoed in different directions as I stood, waiting.

“
Cheyenne.”

I looked up to see Callon waiting near a doorway. “Come on, you need to rest.”

It wasn’t a question. I lowered my head once again and walked towards him. His fingers grasped my arm and he pulled me towards the bathroom. He closed the door behind me, and I slumped against it. I didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to do anything.

My eyes fell to the sink top, where a nightie lay folded. Tears welled in my eyes, and I choked back a sob. This had been a gift from Colt. I turned away and headed for the shower, desperate to wash away the gloom inside.

When I came out again, only a dim light in the corner of the bedroom was on. Callon sat waiting on the bed, his shoulders sagging, no longer strong and confident. He pulled down the covers for me, and I crawled in.

“
Sleep, Cheyenne.” A tender kiss touched my head.

The door only made the slightest creak as he closed it, but it was if my heart understood. It was the final closure for it as well. I was alone now…completely and utterly alone. I had no living relatives, no best friend, and no sunshine.

I curled my legs into my chest and held tight waiting for sleep to come.

“
Cheyenne,”
Colt’s whispery voice called out.
“Why’d you have to run away? Why’d you have to leave me?”

“
Colt!” I cried. “I’m here! I’m here!”

“
Cheyenne…”

“
No!” My body shook, as the memory of that day flashed before me. Marcus’ face was twisted with malice as he raised his hands out towards Colt.

“
No!” I bellowed. “No, Marcus, no!”

The blinding light blazed around me and I was thrown to the ground. The air grew frigid as I looked up to see Colt’s lifeless body. Cold, hardened rage took over, and a surge of energy burst through my veins. The darkness I’d been fighting to contain was rising, consuming everything. My anguish, sorrow, pain and anger were rising up, mixing together and feeding me with power.

“
Why’d you leave me?”
Colt whispered
. “Why’d you leave me…”

My hateful eyes met Marcus. I didn’t see a man; only a demon. The one who’d stolen everything from me. I raised my hands, ready to reduce him to dust, when Marcus spoke:

“
This is all your doing, Cheyenne. This is all because your of selfish actions. You killed Colt!”

I stopped breathing, tremors taking over my body. I’d brought this upon myself. I’d bottled up all my doom and despair and now it was unleashed, a wild beast that couldn’t be tamed.

My vision blurred with tears, and I began sobbing uncontrollably. My light, my sunshine was gone and it was my fault! I could never bring Colt back. I could never bring my parents or adoptive parents back. They’d all died because of me!