Curse of Shadows and Light (5 page)

“
Tell her… tell her not to trust Anastasia. Even though she might want to, tell her to keep her guard up. I’m not sure she’s on our side.”

Corrine’s eyes widen, and she pushes up her glasses. “What do you mean not on our side? Is she bad? Are we in danger?”

I shake my head and walk over to the door. “No… you’re fine. Just tell Liora exactly what I told you. Nothing more, nothing less. Tell her the
moment
she awakens. Got it?”

Corrine nods enthusiastically. “Tatiana is fine and dandy. Her twin sister, not so much. Got it.”

My hand is turning the doorknob when she adds, “Wait, Lucky… Can I ask you something real quick?”

I glance back to the brightening window. “Make it fast.”

She squishes her mouth to the side and bites her lip. “Who is Bones?”

My breath catches in my throat. I pause and turn back to her. “Why? Where did you hear that name?”

She twists the edge of her comforter and avoids my stare. “Well, earlier today you, I mean Liora, she was sleeping and kept moaning his name. Like she was calling him. And it just sounded so… I dunno…
sexy
. And I could tell Kieron was irritated.”

So
that
explains Kieron’s weird behavior. Liora went and had herself a naughty little sex dream about Bones. I’d laugh if it wasn’t so tragic.

“
Bones is someone we both knew and cared about very deeply,” I murmur. “He recently died, so I’m sure she was just acting out something.”

“
She kept saying, ‘baby, my baby, Bones, my baby…’”

I hold up my hand. “Okay I get it. What can I tell you? He was a hottie. Now
don’t forget
to tell Liora what I said to you. That’s the only thing you need to worry about, okay?” I turn and hurry out the door and back to my room before she can see my trembling hands and the tears filling my eyes.

Bones.

My best friend, my lover, my partner in crime, my protector, my salvation, and my ultimate heartache. Not just in this lifetime, but in many others as well. Even after his death, Bones had saved my life. It was his ashes that allowed Kieron and me to defeat the Light-angels who were trying to kill us. Kieron told me later what the ‘dirt’ really was, and that Bones had left me that final present from beyond the grave.

But that was only partly true. It wasn’t his final present. Bones left me another gift of life… an entirely new being growing inside of me. Still probably not much bigger than the eraser of a pencil, I can feel its spirit throughout my entire body. There is a life growing inside me… and Liora.

And I have absolutely no idea what to do about it.

Chapter 5. Liora

Early morning sunlight streams through the cracks of the curtains, and the oversized room shimmers under the soft golden rays. The opulent and unfamiliar décor throws me…
where am I
?

I sit up and shake my head, confused by the luxurious surroundings. This is obviously no motel room. But…?

I get off the massive bed, wander to the sliding glass door, and ease it open. The salty-sweet air of the Pacific Ocean greets me, as its waves gently welcome the new day. I take a few steps out onto the patio and see the enormous mansion off to one side.

What? We’re still at Anastasia’s house?

I hurry back inside and close the door. What’s going on here? And where are Corrine and Kieron?

Suddenly I remember my last conscious thoughts from yesterday, and my stomach seizes up in a painful knot. I stagger back over to the bed and collapse on it as tears fill my eyes. Through my growing sobs, I almost don’t hear the light tapping on the bedroom door.

“
Liora? Liora, you up?” Corrine asks as she pokes her head in. She sees me, and her face crumples as she rushes to my side. “Oh no! No, it’s okay! Don’t be sad. Everything is okay! Lucky told me to tell you that Tatiana is fine… it was all just a trick or a test or something. Tatiana is fine.”

I stare at her, my jaw hanging open. “Wh-what?” I hiccup.

She pushes up her glasses. “Yup. I don’t know the whole story, though. I assume that’s what you’re upset about, right?”

I nod, still unable to really process what she’s saying.
Tatiana is alive and is okay?
I almost can’t hope to believe her.

“
A trick? But why?”

Corrine shakes her head. “I don’t know the details, sorry. Lucky just came and woke me a few minutes ago and told me to tell you. She was really insistent I tell you the second you woke up. Only I wasn’t really sure when that was. Sorry if I was late.” She bites her lip and looks at me apologetically.

“
I’ve only been awake a few minutes. I mean, you’re absolutely sure? She’s
positive
that Tat is alive?”

“
Yes.” Corrine nods, and relief floods through me. “And I’m also supposed to tell you that you’re
not
to trust Anastasia,” she adds in a conspiratorial whisper.

I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean? Why not?”

She shrugs and crosses her arms. “Dunno exactly. Lucky didn’t really elaborate. She’s not one for the details, I guess. She just said to keep your guard up and don’t trust her. She might not be ‘on our side’, whatever that means.” She uses her fingers to make air quotes. I can tell she’s getting a kick out of playing the role of messenger between Lucky and me.

“
Lucky doesn’t trust anyone, especially humans. She’s just being paranoid.” But the woman
had
apparently lied to me about Tatiana being dead… a callous and twisted way to greet someone, I must admit. Perhaps she does have something up her sleeve.

I get back off the bed and start to look around. I check out the empty walk-in closet, and the massive bathroom. Nice. “So why are we still here?” I murmur, almost to myself. “And where’s Kieron?”

“
From what I could gather, which wasn’t much, apparently we’re safe here. Might need to talk to Anastasia and Kieron for more details. Lucky was in a bad mood last night so I didn’t really get much, other than the fact that we’re staying here for a while.”

Hmph.
When is Lucky
not
in a bad mood? “And Kieron?”

Corrine shifts her gaze away. “He’s in another room on the other side of the house.” Suddenly she gives a big grin. “You should go see the rest of the place; it’s really something else. Even if that lady isn’t very friendly, at least we can’t say her accommodations are poor.”

“
I wouldn’t say anything about this whole place is
poor
,” I mutter, as I open up my bag to put on some fresh clothes. I’m a bit surprised to have woken up in the same thing I was wearing yesterday. Lucky hadn’t bothered to change or unpack or anything, and I wonder why not. She cares more about her wardrobe than I do and is usually out of mine and into hers within moments of taking over the body.

“
I know we just got here and you just woke up and all, but… ummm… I was wondering … I mean I hate to ask and all…” Corrine pauses and shifts her feet uncomfortably.

I give her a questioning glance as I start hanging some things in the empty closet. I swear it’s almost as big as my old bedroom was.

“
What is it?” I ask, as I smooth out one of Lucky’s vintage gowns.

“
Well, I hate to ask… And I do have a few dollars. But even though this place is nice and all, there’s stuff I need… like soap and shampoo, and a razor… toothpaste… deodorant… some socks and pajamas… stuff like that. I only threw in a few changes of clothes when we left—”

I hold up my hand. “Say no more. We’ll go shopping right after I get cleaned up and get organized. I need a ton of stuff too,” I note, rechecking the bathroom. Other than a few fluffy towels hanging on the racks, there’s nothing in it. Even cheap motels leave you with a travel-size bar of soap. Just another sign that our hostess is less than enthusiastic about our presence here.

“
Sounds like Kieron is up,” Corrine says, as we hear noises coming from the kitchen. “Are you two… are you and him okay?” she asks sheepishly.

I shrug and refold a long sleeved t-shirt. “Fine, I guess. Why?”

She heads to the door and pauses. “No reason, I was just wondering. I’m gonna check on the food situation and see what’s good for breakfast. You coming?”

“
Be there in a few,” I tell her and return to my unpacking. Why would Corrine ask about Kieron and me? Does she know something I don’t? Did Lucky say or do something?

I shake my head and close the dresser drawer. Finally I decide to take a quick, soapless shower and let the hot water do most of the work.

I’d learned long ago not to let my brain get too twisted wondering about Lucky and her shenanigans. If I let her, my demon half would quite literally drive me insane. As in legit, mental-institution -whackjob- straightjacket-with-the-padded-walls
nutso
. I can’t allow myself to feel blame or responsibility for her words or actions. She is herself, and I am myself.

One body—separate identities.

But as I suddenly leap from the shower and race naked and dripping wet across the bathroom floor to vomit mercilessly into the toilet, I’m sadly reminded that she and I are not as distinct as I would like us to be. I may try to fool myself into thinking that what she says and does doesn’t affect me, but obviously that isn’t the case. It was during
her
time that she put us in this position. Because of her, I have a life growing inside me that I had no part in creating. I have no memory of the conception, just the sudden knowingness of it.

I feel the certainty of the new life, just as I am certain Bones is the father. I can still smell him, taste him, hear him. He is inside me in a way I never knew was possible, and for the first time since our split there is a certain sense of peace in my soul. A calmness. Feeling his energy mixing with mine makes me more whole than I’d ever been in my life. Even now, an outcast on the run, in a place where I’m not wanted and trying to find my purpose in a cruel and unforgiving world… somehow I feel like everything will be okay.

I wipe my mouth and stand up. I gargle some clean water from the faucet and look at my reflection in the mirror. Physically I look the same. Maybe even a bit better. My bony hips seem smoother and rounder, and my face fuller. Even my eyes, which I know have a tendency to look hard and cold, are softer… kinder.

What will I tell Kieron? How will he handle the news? Even though it wasn’t
me
who cheated, he’s always said he loves us as one. To him, Lucky and I are just different sides of the same coin. He loves the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’, metaphorically—and literally—speaking. So how will he feel about her being unfaithful to him? And not just with anyone, but with Bones? The one who had been the closest to her her whole life until Kieron showed up?

Even though Bones is dead now, betrayal is not something most people can easily forgive… even someone as strong and loving and understanding as Kieron.

Just as I finish pulling a clean shirt over my head, a light tapping on the bedroom door interrupts my thoughts. “Yeah,” I call, assuming it’s Corrine reporting back with the food update.

But it’s Kieron. He pokes his head in. “You decent?”

“
Just a sec…” I shimmy on some jeans and quickly button them. “Come in.”

He walks through the doorway and flashes me a smile. “Mornin’.” He holds out a plate with some buttered toast. “There’s not much here in the way of food, but I was hoping this’ll tide you over until we can stock up.”

I take the plate and set it down on the dresser. “Thank you. That was very sweet.” I place my arms around his shoulders, tilt my head back and wait for his kiss. When it comes, it’s brief. Almost perfunctory.