Bound by Time (4 page)

Isobel tossed her dirty clothes in the hamper then climbed under the hot spray, willing the uneasy feelings to wash away with the water. The floral scent of her shampoo filled the room along with the steam. She took her time, enjoying the privacy and the luxury of taking a long, hot shower she rarely got at college.

When she finished, she wrapped one towel around her long hair and another around her body. Pausing in front of the mirror, Isobel wiped away the steam on the surface and stared at her misty reflection. Her rich green eyes gazed back, and she stared for a long time at the young woman in the mirror. There was nothing different about her. Nothing new. Amelia wasn’t exactly an aura expert. Uneasiness suddenly crawled through her, sending the icy fingers of a nameless fear around her heart as she stared wide-eyed at the mirror.

The reflection blinked, a slow malicious smile spreading across its mouth.

Isobel froze. She closed her eyes and forced herself to take several deep, calming breaths. Energy hummed through her system, and that scared her more than what she thought she’d seen. The energy faded back behind the block in her mind. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

Her reflection stared back like normal. She was exhausted. That was the only logical explanation. Reflections didn’t do things like that. Not in the real world. Isobel snatched her brush off the countertop and brushed her hair, staring at the mirror in defiance. Daring her reflection to try it again. Not that she had any idea what she would do if it really did. Probably run screaming. Her reflection, however, matched her move for move. She gazed at the mirror a moment longer before leaving the bathroom.

She threw the towels on the floor and pulled on a pair of night shorts and a T-shirt then switched off the lamps before crawling into bed. A good night’s sleep would clear her mind. Instead, she stared at the closed bedroom door. It seemed a flimsy barrier between her room and the window. Rolling over, she shut her eyes and began mentally unpacking everything she’d brought home. Exhaustion settled in and she finally drifted off.

Damien watched the house next door from the shadows, staring at the darkened upstairs windows. She was there. After all this time, it had finally come together in one place. He tried not to think of all the past times he’d failed.

A sense of anticipation filled him, as if the world waited for something to happen. Waited for what was coming. His eyes traveled to the round window on the second floor. It would happen. Everything was finally right. Except it wasn’t coming. It had all ready arrived.

S
trange dreams invaded her sleep. Dreams where the sense of something coming lingered in the flickering shadows of the fire that surrounded her. Where her birth mother, Rihanna, struggled to speak to her, but she couldn’t hear the words. And then one word came through, so clear and loud, it echoed in her head.

“Eusebia!”

Isobel jerked awake and sat up so fast she made herself dizzy. “Ugh.” She leaned to the side and pressed her forehead against the cooler sheets on the other side of the bed, her hair falling in a thick, heavy cascade around her. A light sheen of sweat dampened her face and body, and the sheets were tangled around her legs. A dull headache thrummed behind her eyes. She felt like she’d barely slept.

Slowly, she dragged herself from bed and stumbled to the bathroom, needing a shower again. She hated waking up overheated.

She took a quick shower then stood resolutely in front of the mirror to brush her hair. Just as she had thought; her reflection was just a reflection. Amazing what a tired mind came up with. After pulling on a pair of shorts and a lightweight tank top, she slipped her feet into flip flops and walked toward the door.

It was only a window, nothing more. Something that should be admired for its beauty.

A blast of icy air greeted her as the door swung open and Isobel thought she heard that word again,
“Eusebia.”

Shivering slightly, Isobel stepped onto the landing. The window glowed in the ambient light of the morning. It didn’t seem as menacing now. In fact, its beauty shined. Isobel crossed the space and stood right in front of it. She leaned forward until she was almost close enough to brush her face against the colored glass. She gazed out toward the neighboring house.

The nephew stood beneath a tree, staring up at her house. Odd. He looked incredibly tense. She stepped back and examined the window. Pure, sweet energy filled the air around her. A faint, tattered white glow seemed to cover the colored glass for a moment. Through the veil of light, the window appeared aged and tiny cracks ran through the glass. Fear surged through her system and the energy fled, taking the fractured glow with it. Frowning, she reached toward the window. It looked in perfect condition again.

“Isobel?” Elizabeth’s voice called up the stairs before Isobel could touch it. “Are you awake?”

Isobel dropped her hand and turned away. “Yeah.”

“I thought I heard you up and around. Come on down and get something to eat.”

Isobel glanced back at the window. The crimson center glared at her again, and something dark reached across the small distance between her and the window. It brushed her skin with cold fingers. Isobel jumped back. She almost slipped on the soft carpet of the stairs as she scrambled down them.

Isobel steadied herself. She needed to calm down and think rationally. Except everything couldn’t always be explained that way. What her birth mother had been able to do couldn’t be explained that way. Neither could Amelia’s gifts.

Something wasn’t right with that window; she felt it in her gut. Who could she talk to about it? Her dad would freak out. Elizabeth would listen, but she didn’t believe in those sorts of things and would tell Isobel she was letting her imagination get away from her. Perhaps Amelia…

No, not Amelia. Isobel wasn’t going to disrupt Amelia’s summer with her own silly fears. She could handle this. There was no need to get Amelia all riled up and telling her would do just that. Something lingered around the window, but in the end it was just a window. Even evil spirits could only do so much to a person. Ghosts were real. Isobel knew that; she’d seen them. Some sort of bad energy must be connected to the window.

She glanced around the house, suddenly not as happy to be spending the summer at home. Just a few days ago, Isobel had reveled in the independence of living alone for a while. Now, a sense of unease stole her happiness.

Sorsha gave a trilling meow as she strolled up and wound herself between Isobel’s ankles. She scooped up the cat and carried it with her to the kitchen. Elizabeth smiled at her when she entered the room. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

“What time is it?” Isobel asked, turning to look at the clock on the microwave that read 10:30 a.m. “No wonder I woke up with a headache. I hate when I sleep that long.”

“I figured you were tired so I didn’t wake you.”

Isobel pulled a bagel and a handful of strawberries from the fridge. “Where’s Dad?”

“He had to go into the office today to work out some final things before the trip. I have to run some last minute errands today. Do you want to come?”

“Sure.” It would be great to spend time with her mom. Getting away from the house for the day didn’t sound too bad either.

After breakfast she grabbed her purse, ran a brush through her hair one more time, and then walked out onto the front porch to wait for her mother. It was good to be outside, like it was easier to breathe. She glanced toward the neighbors but saw no one.

“Ready?” her mom asked, joining her on the porch.

Isobel nodded. As her mom locked the front door, Isobel walked toward her mother’s car trying to ignore the window that stared down from the second story. She climbed quickly into the passenger seat, anxious to get away. Far enough away so it couldn’t watch her.

They spent most of the day tying up last minute details and taking time for some shopping. As they came back down the driveway, Isobel watched the house. It looked like a thin shadow lay over it—like something dark had descended upon it. Her mother didn’t seem to notice. She was singing along with the radio. Elizabeth looked up at the house and smiled. “I just love that window. Such a pretty thing.”

Isobel nodded but didn’t say anything. Instead, she suppressed a shiver and wiped her sweaty palms on her shorts. Elizabeth grabbed several of the bags out of the backseat and headed inside, leaving Isobel to get the rest. The weight of the watching window fell upon her and for a moment its darkness enveloped her. Her chest tightened. The air felt thick and oppressive. Behind her mental block, her power strained to be set free. She struggled to pull air into her lungs. Putting her hand to her chest she sagged against the car, staring at the concrete of the driveway. Her heart raced with panic, and a strangled sound escaped her as little black spots swam across her vision.

“Are you okay?” a deep, husky male voice asked as the shadow of wings fell across the ground.

Her eyes closed a moment, and Isobel was sure she saw a flash of bright light through them. The darkness fled as fast as it had arrived. Isobel dragged air into her lungs.

After a few more deep draws of air, she opened her eyes and looked up. Ice blue eyes, darker around the edges and framed by black lashes, regarded her. Concern flickered in them. The man ran a hand through his thick, black hair. A blue T-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and displayed the well-defined, hard muscles of his body and arms. He was more than a foot taller than her five feet two inches. He had to be at least six-four. She tore her eyes away.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, his voice gentle. To see her eyes again, so close, it was almost too much to bear. “I was coming out to work in the garage and saw you.” It was a lie, but he couldn’t tell her the truth. “It looked like you were having trouble breathing, and you’re as white as a ghost.”

Isobel swallowed. What the hell had that been? She looked up at him again. “Um…” What could she say that wouldn’t sound like she belonged on a psych ward? “I think the heat just got to me for a moment.” Her eyes fell on the strange charm bracelet on his wrist. Except they didn’t look like ordinary charms. They were religious symbols—many she knew and others a complete mystery. Maybe he couldn’t decide what he believed.

Her gaze returned to his face.”I’m okay.” She hoped she sounded convincing.

He nodded, a slight furrow between his brows. She wasn’t okay and wouldn’t be for a while. “If you’re sure. Do you want me to carry something for you?”

There was that concern again flickering in his eyes. Eyes no man should be allowed to have. “No.” Her mother would have a heart attack if the guy they had asked her to stay away from walked into the house. “I think I can get it now.”

“If you’re sure... And try to drink more water. You’re probably dehydrated.” He turned and started walking back toward his house.

“I didn’t catch your name.”

He paused and turned to look back at her, the familiar ache settling in his chest. She didn’t remember him. Not yet. “Damien. Damien DeLuca.” A smile played upon his lips. “I didn’t catch your name either,” he said though he already knew the answer.

“Isobel Moore.” She offered him a smile back. “Thanks for offering to help me.”

Damien’s eyes took on an intense, serious look. “Anytime you need help, I’ll be right there.”

As he walked away, Isobel sensed there was more to his words than what he’d said. She grabbed the remaining bags out of the car and shut the door with her foot. Glancing up, she noticed the shadow on the house had lifted, though some still remained centered around the window.

She looked over at the neighboring house. How had he arrived in her driveway so fast? Between the two lots, nearly an acre separated the houses. Isobel looked up at the sky, hoping to catch sight of the bird. She had seen a shadow of wings, big wings. Whatever it was it had a large wingspan. She wished she could have seen it. She loved watching birds. They were so graceful.

Giving herself a slight shake, she crossed the driveway and climbed the front steps. Once inside, she set her two bags at the bottom of the stairs and carried the rest down the hall to her parents’ room where her mom was already sorting through things.

“Do you need any help?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I have my little system here. Any help will only confuse me.”

Isobel expected the answer. “Do you want me to order something in for dinner?”