Minutes Before Sunset (20 page)

36

I loved how she curled up under my arm, how she seemed to fit into the space as if it was meant for her. Because it was
.
I’d ignored the reality of impending danger and replaced it with the comforting notion of significance. She was mine—my girl—and I actually cared about someone, even when I couldn’t care about myself. To abandon her was impossible, but to stay was selfish. I didn’t know what to do.

“Shoman?” She stretched her legs and looked up at me. Her purple eyes were illuminated, like stars against the night sky, but it wasn’t midnight, and the night was dying. We had to leave soon. “Are you okay?”

“Perfect,” I said, sitting up beneath the shelter of our crevice, yards from the main forest. I hadn’t seen the force of shades my father had sent out to find her, but I didn’t trust the silence. Shadows could be anywhere in blackness.

She bit her lip and sat up near me, holding her knees. “We should leave soon,” she said. She knew the rules. We always had to return seconds before sunrise.

“I know,” I said, grabbing her hand as I stood. I pulled her up with me. “But I wanted to show you something.”

“What is it?”

“Wait,” I said, leading us from the shadows and toward the grassy riverbed. I pointed to the sky, the clouds lightening with every moment. “Just watch.”

She arched her neck, flicking her gaze over the mediocre spring shower. Thick raindrops fell from the sky, splashing against the water, and rain glittered against her hair. “I don’t see anything,” she said, turning back to me, but I pointed back up.

“Now you will.”

Bats, hundreds of them, circled and dipped, dove and flew, twisting through the air as they collected their dawning breakfast. She sucked in a breath, and her gasp brought shivers to my spine in the same way the image of morning bats had when I first saw them as a child.

Every moment before a storm, especially between night and day, they came out, flying around the sky with a synchronized hunt. It appeared to be a dance, a game of sorts, but it wasn’t. It was a life cycle.

I grabbed her hand, and she squeezed mine back. “How’d you know?” she whispered, and I shrugged, wanting to enjoy the moment rather than explain the reasoning behind it. My mother had shown them to me.

“They’re beautiful,” she said, and I nodded.

“You are, too,”
I told her, diving into her mind with my voice.

She tensed, briefly turning away from the scene. “I’m not used to hearing your voice inside of me,” she said, smiling afterward. “But I like it.”

Her thumb traveled across my palm, and my heart thundered through the touch. I could feel her heartbeat; it was racing, too.

“I thought you’d like it,” I said, watching the bats as they dissipated. The sunrise was coming. “I had—”

I stopped. Tiny hairs on the back of neck stood up, static electricity flowing through the thickening air. The warm wind seized, and the river quickened, sizzling beneath the sudden change in temperature.

I tensed, yanking her into the trees. She stumbled, falling against my chest, and I grasped her shoulders. She was rigid. “What was that?” she asked, and I shushed her.

I knew the feeling all too well. A light was near, and they weren’t alone.

“Shoman—”

“Don’t talk,”
I said, and her toes dug into the shredded leaves. We had to escape.
“Follow me.”
I pulled her out, but it was too late.

Wind whipped around the valley, and the trees bent dangerously in half. Beneath us, the grass exploded, twisting into a whirlpool of green and black. I grabbed her, protecting the back of her neck with my hand, and closed my eyes. Suddenly, I was thankful for Luthicer’s test months back.

I could handle the feeling, the ripping and burning of the electricity crawling across my skin. I clenched my teeth, put my back to it, and took the blow. It smacked against my body, and we fell to the ground, digging our knees into the dirt.

My vision spun when I opened my eyes, and I blinked, looking over the nameless shade in front of me. Her purple eyes were wide, and her already pale skin had drained to gray. Her mouth was open, but she didn’t speak.

“This was much better than I was expecting,” a woman said, and I turned, springing to my feet.

I knew that voice.

“Fudicia.” Her name spat out of my lungs uncontrollably.

Her long, blonde hair was blinding against the dawning light, but her black eyes were holes, twinkling only when she dragged them over me.

“I was expecting someone else,” she said, briefly signaling to the man beside her. “Thought I could train him with some real-life experience.”

The boy was nowhere near the man I’d expected to see by her side, but I wasn’t complaining. I could handle him. He was young and scrawny, and his different colored eyes signaled what he truly was, a half-breed.

“It’s a little dangerous to bring him around me; don’t you think?” I asked, steadying my feet as my girl clutched on my back.

Fudicia crimson lips spread into a grin as she leaned over to look at her. “Who’s this? A friend?”

My chest tightened. She didn’t know about the third descendant. How was that possible?

“Let her go,” I said, “and we’ll deal with this ourselves.”

Fudicia cackled. “There’s no such thing as negotiation in war, Shoman,” she said, cocking her brow. “Don’t you already know that?”

I grabbed my shade’s hand and tried to contain our molecules, but my body tingled. I hissed, grinding my teeth, and Fudicia continued to smile.

“You can’t transport with our energy around,” she said, stepping forward. “It’d only hurt you more.”

We had to escape.

“Hold on,”
I said to my trainee, and her nails dug into my arm.

I shot up through the air, breaking off branches as I split the tree line. The Light energy burned, but I ignored the feeling, forcing our bodies through the suffocation. We flew, straight toward the forest, and I could feel them following. Their energy. The Light.

A blast of fire struck my leg, and the force knocked us from the air. She screamed as we fell, but I held her, feeling my muscles rip as we tumbled. I smacked the ground, and my chest heaved, forcing the air out of my lungs. I wheezed, but jumped to my feet. I’d felt the pain before. It was nothing.

“You’re seriously running?” Fudicia asked, inches away as I pulled the third descendant to her feet. She was shaking. “That’s weak.”

The half-breed circled around us, and I glowered. “He’s weak,” I said, pointing at Fudicia’s oblivious comrade. “And you’re weak for using him.”

“Like I care if he gets hurt,” Fudicia said, waving her hands over us. “I have the first descendant in front of me.”

The half-breed’s eyes flickered. “What?”

“Don’t worry,” she said. “He can’t hurt you anyway.”

She spoke too soon. I shot forward, punching him across the face, and his jaw dislocated beneath my force. His face hit the ground, and I kicked at his ribs, but missed. A blast of purple mist collided with him, and he spiraled through the air.

The third descendant had attacked.

“Don’t use your sword,”
I said, knowing she’d expose herself at any moment.

She blinked back, and Fudicia tensed, glaring at the girl behind me. “You.” She pointed at her and moved closer, but I stepped in front.

“Leave,” I said, but Fudicia raised her hand. I barely had time to turn to my trainee. “Run!” I screamed, and the attack struck the back of my head.

I bent over, regaining my composure, and watched as she fled, sprinting through the trees. Fudicia screeched, readying to chase her, but the half-breed was on his feet. “I got her,” he said, and I reached out.

Fudicia’s nails dug into my arm, and my blood boiled. Poison. She smiled, and her breath pressed against my cheek. “I didn’t think you could care for anyone but the third descendant.” Her words locked my jaw. “Don’t you know?” she continued, rasping against my face. “I killed her a long time ago.”

Abby’s car wreck flashed, and I was there—bleeding in the car as I watched a young blonde lean in, surveying the damage. Fudicia was Abby’s murderer.

I elbowed her stomach and shoved her sternum. She flew backward, smacking against a tree, and I didn’t hesitate. I ran for the third descendant—the real one—and I didn’t even cover my back as I did so.

I had to get to her.

Bursting through the trees, branches scraped my arms and tore my skin. Blood trailed out of my veins, revealing the reality of Fudicia’s poison. She weakened my ability to heal.

My breath was rigid, and my heart was racing as I whipped through the shadows. Beneath the morning light, I was weaker, but the forest was blanketed with darkness. My power was rising.

“Shoman!”

The half-breed was standing above her, glaring as he wrapped his hand around her hair. She screamed, kicking up dirt and leaves as she scratched at his wrists.

He didn’t even blink.

He yanked her to her feet, and I shot forward, suddenly pulled backward. Fudicia latched onto my shoulders, tossed me to the ground, and pressed her boot into my neck. I grabbed her foot, but she didn’t budge. “Back down, boy,” she said, and I writhed beneath her.

“Let. Her. Go.” My voice pressed against her weight.

She added pressure, looking up at the half-breed. “Give me the girl,” she said, and the half-breed gawked.

“What?”

“Now.”

He dragged her forward, and she stumbled behind him, staring at me the entire time. Fudicia, in a flash, wrapped her fingers around the girl’s neck. She didn’t move. “What’s your name, shade?” Fudicia asked, but she didn’t speak. “What’s your name?”

My girl spit in Fudicia’s face, and Fudicia seethed. Her hand lit up, and my girl’s flesh burned beneath her grasp. She cringed, and a sickening smell clouded the air. “See if you survive that,” Fudicia said, dripping poison into her veins as if it was her specialty.

“No!” I tried to move again, but my chest was heaving. I couldn’t breathe.

The third descendant went rigid, her eyes widening, and Fudicia licked her lips, staring at the girl for a lingering moment before she tossed her. The nameless shade spiraled through the air, smacking against the ground, and the half-breed kicked her body down a ravine.

I couldn’t stop myself—even though I knew the power would take everything out of me. My arm sprang out, as if it’d made the decision, and my fingers spread out. The Dark energy consumed me, and my body shook.

Fudicia jumped backward, nearly tossed by the wave, and her blackened eyes widened, consuming her expression. My sword began to form, and then she was gone in a flash of light. The half-breed lingered, his face twisting from side to side as he surveyed the forest, and then he was gone, too.

They’d returned to their shelter—the Light realm, a place shades couldn’t enter, let alone follow.

I sucked in a breath, and my energy collapsed. My chest was on fire.

If I had a name to call her by, I would’ve shouted for the third descendant, but I didn’t. I scurried up, standing on shaking knees, and practically fell down the ravine. At the bottom of the hill, her body sprawled across the wet ground. Thunder rolled across the sky, and, as I neared her, my fears became a reality.

Her hair was no longer the slick black wave that it used to be. It was curly and brown, sticking to the dirt. Her porcelain skin was covered with dirt, and blood matted her forehead, covering an array of forming bruises. Her legs and arms were the same, but she was no longer a shade. She was a human, and she was unconscious.

I stiffened as I fell next to her, checking her pulse. She was alive, but I knew who she was and couldn’t move.
This is not happening.
I shivered, pulling her into my arms as I tried to wake her. She didn’t budge, and her head sank into my lap like it had so many times before, except she’d been awake then. She’d been a shade. She’d been a secret.

And now she wasn’t. The third descendant was exposed.

37

I dragged a warm washcloth across her torn skin before tucking the covers beneath her. She didn’t keep her bedroom as clean as I did, which wasn’t surprising. I was only glad that I hadn’t tripped over anything when I transported inside. The last thing I needed was her parents catching a shade in their daughter’s bedroom. They didn’t even know what a shade was
.
She’d told me that much.

I wiped the blood and dirt from her face, and then I stood up from her bed and walked into the bathroom. I rinsed the washcloth off and returned to her side, avoiding my reflection at all costs. I knew what I’d see, a mangled mess of bloody failure. It’d only be a matter of time before my father or Camille realized I hadn’t returned at the normal time. I’d get caught—again. But I couldn’t just leave. She needed my help; she was hurt.

The first thing I checked was the spell embedded into her neck. It was burnt and spreading, and so was mine, but I wouldn’t use my remedy on me. It was hers as soon as she woke up.

I ran my fingers along her wrist, and she shuddered, her eyes flicking open. They were no longer purple.

Her gaze fluttered over me, but her brow furrowed. “Shoman?” Then she looked around, and her demeanor flipped. She shot up and covered her face with her hands.

“I know who you are, no matter if you cover your face now or not,” I said, and she scooted against the wall. She couldn’t even sit up without support. Her face was so pale.

“But—you can’t know.” Her lip quivered. “You’re not supposed to know.”

“It’s done, Jessica,” I said, forcing a smile. “I won’t tell. Your secret is safe.”

She shook her head and brought her knees up to her chin, hugging her legs as she had so many times before. How had I not realized who she was?
Jessica did everything that the nameless shade had done. Because they were the same person.

I still couldn’t believe it, even with her in front of me.

She swallowed and tapped her nails against her kneecap. “You know my name,” she said, and I nodded. Could she figure out who I was?
I didn’t know.

“I can’t tell you mine.”

“I know.”

My jaw locked. It was the only way I could keep myself from speaking. I wanted her to know.

“What happened?” she whispered, and I shook my head.

I didn’t want to talk about it. We’d almost been killed, and it was my fault. If Fudicia hadn’t thought Abby was the third descendant, Jessica would be dead, and it’d be my fault. It was always my fault. It always had been.

“Come here,” I said, patting the edge of the bed next to me, and she leaned forward. I reached into my collar and pulled off my necklace, allowing my tree pendant to swing between us. “I need you to drink this.”

She blinked. “Drink it?”

I twisted the top and pulled down the stump. The black liquid waved inside the branches. “It’s a remedy,” I said, handed it to her. “You were poisoned.”

A gasp escaped her lips. “What do you mean?”

“Just drink it.”

She pressed it to her mouth and tipped it back. Her neck moved, and she cringed, squeezing her eyes shut. She coughed and handed the necklace back to me. “That’s disgusting.”

“It’s medicine; what’d you expect?” I said, draping the jewelry over my neck. As long as the leather was visible, Camille wouldn’t know I’d used it.

She shook her head again. “That’s the worst tasting medicine I’ve ever had.”

“And it’s saving your life.”

Jessica bit her lip. “It’s that bad?”

I nodded, and she grabbed my hand. I knew I had to pull away, but I couldn’t.

“What about you?” she asked, and I shrugged. I’d been attacked too, but she didn’t have to know. I could handle the pain. I’d been trained to. She shifted. “Thank you, Shoman.”

I didn’t respond. I didn’t deserve the praise.

I stood up, moving away from her, and her bed creaked as she attempted to move. “You won’t be able to use your powers for a long time,” I said, briefly turning back. “The poison attacks your powers, so that medicine prevents the transition.”

Her mouth opened. “How will I see you?”

“You won’t.”

“But—”

“Jessica,” I sighed and leaned against her window. This was everything I’d ever dreaded. “I’m leaving,” I said. “And I’m not coming back.” Removing myself was the only way she could be safe. “Don’t come looking for me either.”

“What?” Her voice quavered, and she stepped off her bed. She trembled, and I caught her before she fell. Her body was too weak to stand.

I sat her down and tried to move back, but she dug her nails in my arm, grasping me. “Why are you doing this?” she asked, and I was unable to look away. Her eyes were watering, and I was breaking.

“I can’t be with you anymore,” I said, and her grip tightened.

“Shoman.” She wasn’t letting go. “You can’t do this. You don’t mean it.”

Apparently, she was talented at telling if someone was lying to her. I forced myself to look away. “I do.”

“Is it because I’m Jessica?”

No.

“Don’t change,” I said, and I forced my body to compress into shadows.

She grasped the air as I dissipated. “Don’t leave me,” she said, and then I was gone. She was safe.