Touched (9 page)

“I’m disappointed,” he said in a silky tone, which he knew was irresistible.

“He’ll be here in a minute,” she shrugged.

The loyal kind, Percy thought. Rare these days. And foolish. Especially when she’s got someone like me, inviting her.

“I’m only in town a short while,” he interrupted her, his tone becoming silkier, melting her objections. “You can see him anytime.”

“That’s true,” Amanda murmured, caught up in the powerful energy he was sending.

He could feel her heart beginning to pound.

“Let’s go now, before he arrives,” he said then, excited, reaching his hand out for her. “You can tell him you were tied up in a class. We can go for just a few minutes. We don’t have to stay away for too long. I just want to get to know you.”

Amanda shivered.

 She’s helpless in the face of my energy, he thought. He reached out his hand for her further.

“Sorry,” she said, turning to leave.

Then he came close up behind her, surrounding her with vibrations she could not resist. “Please,” he said in a silk tone. “

 “Just five minutes,” she said. She turned around and put her slim, cool, gentle fingers into his palm.

Despite himself, Percy shivered. It felt good, too good. His energy bristled. What was going on?

“Let’s go,” she said, her voice like a clear bell. “We only have a little while.”

Percy held her hand tighter and they quickly ran down the steps, along the road, away from the school.

*

This one was really different. Percy had no idea why they both felt so absolutely at home with each other. Usually the girls were excited or frightened, and he felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. This time, he too, felt strangely excited.

Amanda breathed deeply and turned to look at him, her eyes filled with wonder. Her beautiful eyes threw him off his game. As they walked in the direction of the lake, she squeezed his hand warmly. Percy knew he should put up his shield, but this was so new to him. When she squeezed his hand, he felt warmth running up the channels to his heart. He’d never felt anything like that before. It was fascinating and he wanted to experience it.

“I’m so glad you’ve come to Everstock,” Amanda said, as they came to a deserted bench under some trees.

To Percy’s amazement, he was glad she was here too.

They turned and faced each other directly. He saw pools of light and happiness swirling in her eyes. It was beautiful, fascinating.

“It’s been such a hard time for me,” Amanda said as they sat down. “I was in a coma for a long time.”

Percy couldn’t believe she was telling him this. He had no idea what to say. No girl had ever opened up to him, or trusted him like this. They usually just wanted to get in bed, experience pleasure.

 “I couldn’t talk about it to anyone,” Amanda went on. “I don’t know why, but I can talk about it with you.”

This was not what Percy expected. Not at all.

“What happened in the coma?” he asked, curious then. He tried to convince himself that he only wanted to know so he could get more information, locate Keira, her dangerous twin. But the truth was, he wanted to know everything about her, too.

“Everyone thought I was dead, or almost dead,” Amanda started, “except my twin sister Keira. Keira knew what was happening all the time.”

It was a perfect cue. Percy knew he had to dig in, ask about Keira, where she was, how to get to her?  But he couldn’t. His heart started pounding. He was off mission. Why?

“I saw things and people you could hardly imagine,” Amanda continued. It seemed as if she could talk to him all day and night.

Percy couldn’t stand hearing anymore. He leaned over on the bench and put his hand over her mouth. It was warm and soft to the touch. His mind reeled. Then he did what he always did, leaned over and kissed her.

They kissed for a long, long dazzling time, her energy blending into his completely. He closed his eyes and his mind started whirling. He knew he had to pull away, put his shield up as fast as possible. But he couldn’t. It was hard to block out a moment like this, lost in the depths of an unknown delight.

CHAPTER 12

 Cooper awoke in his room two days later, suddenly realizing where he was. The time had flown by in a whirl, as though he’d been in a dream. He sat up in bed and looked around. His room was large, well-appointed and decorated with great care. There was a huge bed for him to spread out on, silk sheets, exotic rugs on the floor and low, marble bureaus for him to put his clothes. A large, graceful plant stood in the corner of the room, and next to it were two, small sitting chairs, upholstered in dark velvet blue. The furniture seemed timeless, as if no one ever really lived in it.

Everything had clearly been arranged to make Cooper feel completely comfortable here, cared for. But something was off, and he felt it in his bones. No matter how beautiful it was wherever he looked, he felt something was missing. What was it?  Why did he feel so off balance, as if a part of him were gone?

He went into the bathroom, which had beautiful opal tiles, a chandelier and huge bathtub, and drew himself a bath. It had been a long while since he had the luxury of bathing. When the tub was filled, he eased down into it and let himself soak as he closed his eyes. Finally, he’d come home. He’d met the mother he’d always longed to see. Not only her, but the entire tribe he’d been born into had welcomed him home whole heartedly. All those years with his father, trapped with the Shadow Vampires, could now drift away. He never belonged there in the first place.

Cooper closed his eyes and went over the events since he’d arrived. He remembered the welcoming celebration and dinner, being introduced to Tua and seated next to her during the meal. In many ways, she reminded him of his mother, dazzling, beautiful, adoring of him right from the start. He’d felt incredibly drawn to her for a while, as if he were meeting a part of himself.

But then it changed. Something was missing. The next day, he grew tired of her. She’d been raised in the compound and had never left. It wasn’t anything like being with Keira. He couldn’t talk to her at all the way he and Keira talked.

At that moment his whole body stiffened and trembled at the same time. Keira! Where was she?  He tried as hard as he could to remember what happened to her after they’d been sent to their rooms. He couldn’t remember seeing her the past few days. How could she have escaped his mind?  He was stunned to his very core. How could he possibly have forgotten about her, after all they’d been through –after all she’d done for him?

Cooper jumped up out of the tub, dried himself quickly, pulled on fresh clothes and raced out of his room, seeking his mother. He had to find out where Keira was right now. He longed to go to her and tell her the whirl of events had clouded his mind.

When he charged out of his room into the hallway, he ran into a large group of Torches who were drifting along, on their way to the dining room. Everyone was well groomed, smiling, balanced. Their energy was steady and peaceful. Cooper felt as if he were on another planet. Part of Cooper loved the vibration they were sending out, felt nourished and supported by it-- but another part felt restless. There was more to life than this.

All of the Torchs were so happy to see him when he came out of his room. There were dazzling smiles, open arms, a sense of endless love. For a few moments Cooper was swept along with them towards the dining room. Then, the thought of Keira struck him again. Where was she? He had to talk to his mother right now.

He tore himself away from the crowd and turned back in the other direction then, towards Ilyana’s room. A few eyebrows raised as he changed course. Apparently no one here stepped out on their own or moved in the opposite direction. Everyone went along with the flow. When Cooper tore away, he saw a ruffle of shivers go up the Torchs spines.

“Where are you going?” a lovely young woman, Jana, asked, playfully, as he turned to leave.

“I have to see my mother for a few moments,” said Cooper.

Jana giggled and batted her eyes. “Really? We thought you were trying to find Tua.”

Cooper stiffened. What was she talking about?

Cooper raced then to Ilyana’s door and banged on it strongly. In a moment it slid open, welcoming him inside.

Ilyana stood there in a lime green silk gown, brushing her hair, getting ready for the day.

“Why such a commotion?” she asked icily. She looked displeased as Cooper entered. “There’s no need to bang and crash around here. Here we are gentle with one another. You’ll get used to it, soon.”

Cooper felt distressed at the idea of getting used to this, though.

“In the meantime, please do not cause havoc,” Ilyana continued.

What kind of havoc? He just banged on her door. She meant more than that, though. Cooper watched her looked deeply into his eyes and saw that she knew exactly what he was feeling. She knew someone must have said something about him and Tua.

“Where is Keira?” he asked, filled with emotion.

Ilyana simply continued brushing her hair.

Cooper began to feel frightened. “Is she still in the same room you gave her when we arrived?”

Ilyana put the brush down slowly. “Why all the concern with
that person
?” she asked.

“
That person
is important to me,” Cooper wanted to stamp his foot hard on the floor, but stopped himself. “She is my companion.”

“Torch’s do not have companions outside the tribe,” Ilyana said definitively.

“I do. She belongs to me.” Cooper’s eyes flared. “Where is she?”

Ilyana swung towards him and glared, her eyes turning into bolts of green. “She is gone.”

“Gone?” Cooper felt as though he’d been punched in the belly. “What are you talking about?”

“It was Keira’s choice. She chose to leave. She didn’t belong here, didn’t fit in. From the moment I saw her, I didn’t like her. But I kept trying, did everything possible to make her comfortable. Nothing worked. She hated the place, hated the food, felt irritated by the people.”

Cooper gasped audibly. That wasn’t like Keira.

“And when she saw you with Tua, it was the last straw.”

Cooper felt the blood drain from his face. “Saw what?”

Ilyana took a deep breath and motioned to a red velvet bench for him to sit on. “Sit down, Cooper.”

“What did she see? What happened?”

Ilyana lifted the edges of her gown with two hands, stepped to the bench opposite him and sat down. “At times, in the beginning, the shock of entering your original tribe can be so great that one forgets what has just happened. Usually, memory returns by itself in a little while.”

“What happened with Tua?” he kept repeating. He felt like gagging at the thought of Keira seeing him with her.

“The two of you fell in love instantly,” Ilyana continued, “as was predicted and planned. She is your twin soul, the one intended for you. She was intended even before you were born.”

Cooper felt like scratching his body all over. He didn’t love Tua. “She means nothing to me,” he said.

Ilyana gasped. “It is forbidden for the Torchs to speak in that manner of one another. She is your intended.”

Cooper’s head began to spin. Thoughts of Keira filled his mind and his blood. He didn’t want another woman. He only craved Keira.

 “You are forbidden to mate with a human,” Ilyana’s voice grew louder, more shrill. “Completely forbidden.”

“Keira is not totally human,” he said, his tone rising as well.

“But she is not a Torch! A Torch mates only with a Torch! In all of Torch history there are only a very few cases of hybrids being born.” 

“I am a hybrid,” Cooper said softly then. “You mated with another tribe.”

Then, suddenly realizing what he was saying, Ilyana stepped backwards and almost fell. Her face grew white as he gazed at her.

“And I’ve paid the price for it for hundreds of years.” Her hands started to flutter at her sides. “And so have you. You never fit into your father’s tribe; you always longed to come home.”

Ilyana was right, he had always longed to come home, but now that he was here, it wasn’t so simple. He didn’t completely fit in here either. Was he destined to wander for eternity, without a place to truly rest in?

“You have a responsibility to this tribe,” she went on. “We need you. You are a powerful creature and once you become comfortable with your new home, there are incredible gifts you can receive from us – and share with the world at large. There is a war going on. We need you to head our tribe. When I put the sixth jewel in the ring it will be completed. Victory will be assured. That ring can only be completed if you stay here with us.”

Cooper hung his head.

“Your life is not your own,” she continued. “We are here on a mission to bring light to the world and fight the forces of darkness. And now, at the cusp, the dark forces are gathering from every corner, trying to overturn us. If we stay solid, if we do not separate, they must fail. If one of us breaks ranks and deserts The Torchs, our power decreases significantly.”

Cooper raised his head and looked in her eyes.

“Tua adores you,” his mother went on. “She will be a fine partner. Together you will bring more Torchs to the tribe. Exquisite, powerful, unconquerable Torchs.”

Cooper couldn’t bear the thought of mating with Tua -- not when Keira was out there somewhere alone.

“Keira also needs me,” he said softly.

“Who is this awful woman?” Ilyana almost shrieked. “What power does she hold over you? When she saw you and Tua together she ranted and raved. She swore revenge. Her powers must be from the other side. Is that what you are seeking?”

Cooper’s heart started pounding. It was hard to believe that Keira ranted and raved and swore revenge. Could his mother be lying to keep him here? He didn’t know.

“Your precious Keira swore to rip you limb from limb.”

That went too far. Cooper didn’t believe it. It was Ilyana who was ranting and raving now.

“Jealousy does horrible things to hybrids,” Ilyana continued. “Whether or not you believe me, you have no choice in this matter. The doors to the outside world are closed to you now.”