Awakening (The Magic of the Black Forest Book 2) (21 page)

“Now, now… Let’s not think about that especially after last night. It was both of our faults. Please tell me the rest.” I leaned my head against his forehead, looking closely into his eyes. We could have had eyelash wars our lashes were so close. Bradley would win with those long, luscious lashes.

After giving me a mildly quizzical gaze, he continued. “It didn’t take long after he bit me for the pain to start. I’m not sure how long I’d been in pain before I started
feeling
you and your emotions. Right before I called you I glanced at Cheryl. She claimed she was going out for a run but I felt something different, it felt like she wanted to hurt you. I was in too much pain to explain what I was trying to say. My words weren’t coming out right.

“Shortly after we hung up, the pain stopped. The change was complete. It was amazing, once the burning ceased, Natalia. I’ve never felt more alive. At first I’d forgotten our situation. I was lost by how the transformation changed my appearance, voice, vision and especially my thoughts. But then Dave said one word, just one word…” He held up his index finger to emphasize. “…and I took off running. It is amazing how fast I can run now, Natalia. If you thought I was fast before… I can’t wait to take you for a run.” Bradley sat there grinning, remembering. I waited for him to finish but he didn’t say another word.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I had to ask. Grabbing both shoulders I shook him, “What was the one word? Stop teasing me, Bradley.”

“Natalia.”
His smile took my breath away. “When I got to the house both Jess and Colleen were yelling for you. Cheryl’s scent was heavy in the house so I knew she had been here. Then Seager told me everything that happened. Minutes later Dave showed up. It was hard for me to tell my best friend that I was going to kill his girlfriend.

“I don’t know how much time passed; it felt like hours. We frantically searched the house and property. I was on our bridge trying to mind-link with you when I felt you scream and your fear. You were terrified. I concentrated by closing my eyes, picturing you in front of me, and suddenly you appeared, running towards me. At first I didn’t realize what was happening.

“You were relieved to see me, saying you had a bad dream but I knew you weren’t awake, that you had to be out cold and that I needed to find you. The image of you started to fade, and I heard Andrew yelling and cussing at someone so I told Seager to grab the compass.

“We were all lucky that you made the compass. Although it took us a while to work it, it led us right to you. Every time Cheryl ran in a different direction the compass followed.”

“It wasn’t just the compass, Nat. Brad followed your scent. He stalked Andrew while Andrew chased after you and Cheryl,
” Seager chimed in.

“I knew it! I felt you, Bradley. My body tingled all over when you were near.” I tried to remember something else but I couldn’t figure it out.

While sitting on Bradley’s lap he tossed the ball to Seager and it hit me. I replayed a few scenes from last night. Bradley could
feel
my body responding to his… To him. It wasn’t just the compass, or Andrew’s scent that led Bradley to me. Bradley could
feel
me and I could
feel
him.

Staring into his eyes I waited for his response, confirming my thoughts. Without him saying a word I heard his voice in my mind saying,
“It was incredible.”

Again, my body started to ache for him. All I wanted was him, right now, in our bed. I watched his eyes roll upwards and close as he embraced my heated desire for him. My lips were on his. Before I knew it, Bradley had us in our room and we enjoyed an afternoon in heavenly bliss.

Chapter 9

Weeks passed and we hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Andrew. It appeared that the trouble had passed. Things were going great, and we were enjoying the peace and quiet for a change. Bradley even tried talking Jesse into going home, but he refused, quoting. “It’s the calm before the storm.” Comments like that had me feeling skittish -- which in turn upset Bradley-- so I tried my best to ignore them.

Bradley’s new empathy skills were good in the sense that he knew what I was feeling without me having to say a word. Well, most of the time it was a good thing. His new skill gave him the ability to recognize the good
and
the bad emotions. When I’m sad or worried, so is he, and
that
part I didn’t like. And, there were the times when he ‘misinterprets’ my emotions. When that happens he’ll insist on looking into my eyes, analyzing, trying to pluck my thoughts from my mind. Thankfully he wasn’t able to do that, too.

Take today for instance, Bradley needed to feed. Yes, I was nervous but then I’m always nervous when he goes away. That didn’t matter because he needed to feed. It upset me to watch him suffer needlessly, to starve himself. It’s a double-edged sword. We both suffered when we’re apart, what couple doesn’t?

Luckily, Dave stopped over, without Cheryl, to pick up some tools and to check on us. He took one look at Bradley, noticed the dark circles under his eye and knew immediately that Bradley hadn’t fed in days. It took a while, but Dave eventually talked Bradley into going hunting.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been having little glimpses of visions. Most of the time, my visions are pretty clear and straightforward. However, lately, the glimpses were fleeting, passing swiftly so I’ve been force to write them down in a journal. I’m hoping that, like a jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces will fit perfectly together to create the premonition. Unfortunately, with the puzzle not complete I’ve been feeling frustrated and anxious. Bradley repeatedly asked why I’m so keyed up. And, so far, my telling him all is well, that he needs to train his new skill to understand it, has worked. With him out of the house, I had hoped to take the free time to analyze my notes and solve the puzzle.

But to my misfortune Colleen came over just as Bradley and Dave were heading out of the back door.

“Jess is running to the store. Do you guys need anything?”

“No, tell him we said thanks.”

“Did I just hear Brad leave out the back?”

“Yep, he and Dave are stepping out for a few.” She took out her cell and made a call. I attempted to say something when she held up one finger requesting me to wait.

“Hey, Jess, hon? Could you come back? Brad ran out.”

I grabbed the phone and cut in, “No don’t, Jess. I’m fine. The two of you saw what I can do. It’s because I trusted her, that’s how she got me. Please. What’s it going to be twenty minutes tops? I haven’t been totally alone for five minutes since forever. Please?”

Colleen took the phone back and finished her conversation with him.

“Now, Nat, please try to behave. Jess will be here shortly. Lock up after me.” She scowled at me and she left.

If I didn’t have the darn cast on, I would have jumped up and down, overjoyed, to finally have some alone time. That’s when my plans changed. Instead of putting my jigsaw puzzle together, I decided it was time to remove my cast and to finish healing my ankle.

After gathering all the necessities for the healing process, I sat down on the recliner in our living room, said a short spell and the cast vanished. That part was easy. For some reason it took me a lot longer than I would’ve have thought to heal my ankle. It’s been a few weeks, healing it should have been easier. Waving my hand over my ankle, chanting the healing spell, I heard Seager growling at the back door.

“Seager, are you kidding me?”
Please say yes, please say yes
, I thought to myself before restarting the healing spell again.

“
No. Hurry, finish up with your ankle.”

The sound of his nails tapping on the tile floor from his pacing back and forth traveled into the living room.

Concentrating even harder, trying to hurry, little beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

After mending my ankle, I was too tired to move, so I stayed seated for a few minutes.

It was then that my thoughts shifted involuntarily to Andrew running through the woods with me, out cold, in his arms. In the vision no one else was around, I seemed to be alone.

Seager yelling, “
HE’S HERE, NAT,
” ended the vision. He barked, jumping and scratching at the back door. His barking and growling seemed to be enough to keep Andrew at bay while I gathered my thoughts and energy.

Unable to delay the inevitable, I ignored the fear and exhaustion that tried to shackle me to the recliner and rose to my feet. Cautiously, I walked into the kitchen, scanning my surroundings while making my way to the back window. I couldn’t see anyone from that windowpane. A few feet over was the back door. When I looked out the door I started screaming, borderline freaking out. Quickly, so as not to be heard, I immediately covered my mouth and fell silent.

Andrew stood at the door leaning his forehead on the window, giving Seager a menacing evil glare that made my blood curdle.

“Natalia, can you come out and play?” The eerily menacing tone had my stomach spinning, warning me, telling me that it could end badly if we weren’t careful.

Lips pressed firmly, the corners of his mouth were turned upward, his sinister grin had me fearing the worst. Feeling his baleful gaze, there was a compulsion to look into his eyes. But, I knew what might happen if I gave in to my fear. 

“Maybe I should find my son and take care of him first.”

Falling for his ruse, hook, line, and sinker, I looked him right in the eye. Immediately, I felt trapped, chained and manacled, unable to move.

Andrew smirked; the tip of his tongue slithered out, licking his lips perversely.

“I promise, no matter what I decide to do I’m going to make you beg for me to finish what I started earlier. Then I’ll probably kill you. Well, I’m leaning that way.” The way his eyes held on to mine made it hard for me to turn away. I felt as though he was trying to pull me towards him.

Suddenly, the fear that left me frozen disappeared, replaced by a warm tingling sensation that seemingly wrapped itself around me, protecting me.

Turning away from Andrew, I telepathically cried out, “
BRADLEY!
”

A deafening roar broke the silence. At the same time, Andrew kicked the door hard enough to knock it off its hinges. Next he punched the doorframe, demolishing the aluminum trim and sending a crack racing up the inside wall towards the ceiling. Shielding my head from flying debris, I hadn’t seen him leave, or the direction he ran in.

Another vision stilled me. In the vision, I used my craft to repair the damage Andrew caused. Andrew hid in the trees watching me, waiting to take me again. Aware of my craft, he waited until I was alone. The first chance he could, he stabbed a syringe into my arm, drugging me before carrying my limp body off to his hideaway. Viciously, he took what wasn’t his to take by raping me repeatedly. When he finished he asked me to choose between eternity with him or death. A pain unlike any I’d ever felt before consumed every inch of my body. My blood on Andrew’s hands, he licked every finger slowly waiting for me to choose. I was bleeding out and knew if I waited long enough, I’d be dead anyway.

A set of cold hands grabbed both of my shoulders, ending the gruesome vision. “Natalia, are you okay?” Blinking a few times, refocusing, coming back to the here and now, I was relieved to see Bradley. Smiling, I reached out, wrapping my arms around him, holding him tight.

“I’m really beginning to like this new connection we have. I felt unbelievably safe the moment I felt you.” Leaning up, I kissed him.

Dave walked in a few moments later. “Wow, Brad, you’re fast.” Confused, he pointed to the door questioning, “What the heck happened to the door?”

“Andrew did it. He was just here.”

Bradley stared down at me with questioning eyes.

Picking up the lower part of the door from the kitchen floor Dave asked, “How did Andrew get past your shield?”

Bradley, ignoring Dave, was trying to read my emotions. “
Natalia…
” Lifting my chin until our eyes met, he stared into my eyes, concentrating. On what, I’m not sure. His head moved slightly, tilting, as if something were blocking his view. Arching his right eyebrow, the left side of his mouth curled slightly upward before his eyes grew wide and a snarl traveled up his chest, before escaping loud enough for Dave to hear.

That’s when it hit me, when I figured out what he was doing. Snapping my eyes shut I asked, “You can read my mind by looking into my eyes can’t you?”

“If I really concentrate, yes I can. I’m not very good at it. I still need practice.”

“Can every vampire do that?” I asked.

Bradley asked Dave for an answer.

“Not that I’m aware of, Nat. However, most vampires can speak to their true soul mates using telepathy, like you and Brad.” The thought of that made my knees weak. My eyes flung open and I smiled at Bradley. He laughed. Since it is just the three of us we decided to tell Dave more.

“Dave, Natalia can feel when I’m near.”

“Really? How do you mean?” Dave, intrigued, put the debris down and stood by us.

“My body feels him. It’s a tingling sensation that runs through me.”

“And I can feel her emotions or feelings like when she’s happy, sad, terrified or even excited.” A loving smile formed his lips as he gazed into my eyes. When he looked at me like that it felt like he was looking at my soul not reading my mind. Again, my hormones cried out for him.

“Shit!” Dave yelled, scaring the crap out of me, making me jump. “You’re like a super vampire, Brad. You can run faster than anyone we know, you can literally have a private conversation with your wife AND feel her emotions. The first two are good but that last one could really mess with you mentally.”

“I know what you mean. Before I changed it was hard for me to figure out how she felt. After the change, I was so confused about all the emotions coming from her that it took me a bit to figure out what they meant. I know what most of the emotions radiating from her mean, but there are some negative emotions that I still can’t figure out.  I believe it’s because she’s trying to hide her true feelings so as not to upset or worry me.” He turned his attention to me. “Natalia, I felt you were in trouble before you even called out to me. I was already on my way back. I just picked up the pace when I heard the fear in your voice.”

Turning around, talking to Dave, “The closer I got the less fear I felt radiating from her. When I grabbed her, she seemed relieved. Immediately she began trying to hide what happened here. With moments like that or when her reactions to a particular situation confuse me I try to read her thoughts.” He shrugged his shoulders while shaking his head like he has no other choice. “She likes her privacy so I don’t do it any other time.”

“Wait… You’re telling me you can read her mind just by looking into her eyes?” Mystified, Dave just stood there waiting to be corrected.

“Yes. You’ve never done something like that?” Bradley asked.

“Nope, but vampires can trap you with their eyes and make you do things you don’t want to.” Dave seemed excited by Bradley’s new vampire skills.

Out of the blue an image of Cheryl standing over my beaten, bloody body, appeared in my mind. It had me asking, “Dave, please don’t say anything to Cheryl?” I asked.

“I won’t, Nat. I promise you both; she will never hurt us again.” Winking at me, he asked Bradley, “So what do you think he’s up to this time?” Dave walked over to the back door. “His scent is right at the door but I don’t smell anything inside. Obviously he did that,” he pointed at the destruction caused by Andrew’s tantrum.

“I think he did that on purpose, sort of a test.” Bradley was about to ask a question when I motioned for him to wait a moment.

“I think Andrew may have read my mind. Maybe you inherited it from him?”

Worriedly Bradley asked, “You think he knows you can do magic? But how?”

“I think he found it in my eyes last time he had me held captive, or I guess it could have been this time. I tried to avoid looking into his but he just kept staring, pulling me towards him. It felt like I could not stop myself. Moreover, once I did, I became unwillingly trapped in his gaze. Bradley, I couldn’t pull my eyes from his, that’s why I called out for you. When I felt your presence I had the strength to let go.

“When I broke away from his gaze, he snapped, yowling and destroying the place before leaving.” I decided that I’d explain the rest later when we were alone. “Before all that happened, I had a feeling that he knew about me. His sarcastic smirk revealed that he had the advantage.”

“Dave,” squeezing my hand firmly, “do you think you can help Jess and I fix this door today? I don’t want to take any chances by having her do it, nor do I want us to be vulnerable tonight.”

“No problem. Let me give Cheryl a call to let her know that I’ll be hanging with you today. And, when Jess gets back, the four of us can run to the store. Okay?”