Gossamer (21 page)

Grant shoulders seemed to relax a bit.

Knowing I probably did not really want to know the answer, I asked anyway, “Who is she? And what does it mean?”

Grant took a deep breath then spoke. “She’s a banshee. They are often described as looking like a beautiful young woman or an old hag. They choose which way you see them.”

A chill crept up my spine. “Why was she in my dream?”

“To warn you, I guess.”

“But I thought you were here to warn me.”

Grant scratched his head and shifted his weight.

Conor seemed impatient as Grant tiptoed around the subject and finally jumped in. “Banshee’s warn of death.”

I gasped.

Grant glared at Conor and gave me a pained look.

“Who’s death?” I asked with a shaky voice.

“The person who sees them, but they warn with a scream. That is why it is important for you remember if she screamed. If she didn’t, maybe she was just warning of danger that could potentially be life-threatening.” Grant shrugged apologetically. “Honestly, I don’t know. I have never heard of anyone seeing a banshee that speaks. They just scream.” Grant was tender. “Kylie, I promise I will not let anything bad happen to you.”

Tears quickly filled my eyes, but I forced myself not to cry. My throat had gone dry and scratchy, and I couldn’t even begin to speak. I knew if I did, I would definitely sob. Grant’s expression was troubled, and he whispered something to Conor. Whatever he said made Conor walk off and leave us alone.

I continued to stand there, willing myself not to breakdown. Grant stood in front of me, only inches apart, and I looked down not wanting him to see how close I was to bawling.

“Kylie?” he asked, his voice filled with emotion. “Kylie, please look at me.” He placed his thumb and forefinger on my chin and guided my face up.

When I looked into his eyes, I couldn’t hold back. The tears that threatened slowly brimmed over. One by one they fell down my cheeks. I made no sound, but the tears streamed down my face nonetheless.

Grant wrapped me in a tight embrace. He whispered into my hair. “The dream meant nothing. Please don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry.” I wiped my face.

He pulled back and looked at me. “You have nothing to be sorry about. It just hurts me to see you this upset. I wish there was something I could say or do to make it better. Trust me, okay? The banshee didn’t scream–you aren’t going to die. We will get you home. You have my word.”

I attempted a smile. “I do trust you, Grant. You’re probably the only person I have ever trusted this much.”

His hands cupped my face and his thumb wiped away a few stray tears. He kissed my cheek.

“I would risk my life to keep you safe.” He looked me in the eyes. “And not just because it’s my job. I value your life. You are important to me.”

Mixed emotions roared through me. How could he say these things and not feel more for me? It exhilarated me to think he might, but I had no desire to get my hopes up. It hurt the first time I had to hear it, and I doubted it would be any easier the second time.

My mind went into overdrive, but I just stood there, inches away from him, completely incapable of speech. His hand brushed my cheek again, pushing back a few strands of dark hair, then traced my jaw line, his fingers trailing down my neck as his gaze went to my mouth. I was certain he was going to kiss me again, and I tried hard to keep my mind neutral. There was no way I was going to carry the guilt of forcing him into another kiss. He began to gradually pull me forward. My heart raced in anticipation. A tree branch snapped. Grant’s hand dropped from my neck and found my hand. His narrowed eyes scanned the area around us.

“What’s wrong,” I asked.

“There’s someone out there,” he whispered back.

“Maybe it’s just Conor.”

He shook his head. “I would know if it’s him.” He looked down at me. “We need to find him.” He led me down the path Conor had just taken, and I could sense his rising concern.

We were walking so fast, I almost missed it.

“Conor,” I gasped.

Chapter 15

Conor lay face down in the overgrowth. Was he dead? A scream rose in my throat but it never escaped as a hand covered my mouth. The way it sparked against my skin, I knew it was Grant. He stood behind me, with his mouth right beside my ear.

“He’s not dead. He’s just hurt.” He slowly removed his hand, and I exhaled the breath I’d been unconsciously holding. Still right by my ear, he whispered, “There is someone else out there. I don’t sense danger but since Conor is hurt, I can’t imagine whoever is out there is someone we want to meet.”

I scanned the tree line, more frightened that I actually would see someone, than not.

“Kylie, the portal is not far, it’s just that way.” He pointed to my left. “If anything happens, just run. Don’t worry about Conor and me. We will be fine. You just get to that portal.”

“How am I supposed to find it?” I asked, nervous with the thought of taking off alone.

“You will feel it. Just let it find you. It’s in you. It’s been calling you home all along. The dreams, the necklace, the magic that awoke in you the first time I saw you. It’s there, just follow it.”

We heard another sound behind us. “Grant?” said a male voice.

Grant squinted trying to make out the approaching figure. “Patrick?”

“Oh good, it is you.” A kid that looked about fifteen with red hair and a pale complexion, came out from the dense overgrowth.

Grant clearly recognized him but didn’t let down his guard. He subtly pulled my hand so I was more behind him, than next to him. “What are you doing here, Patrick?”

Patrick looked around, his eyes wide. “We need to get out of here. We should get to the portal. There is something out there. Did you see what they did to Conor?” He wore such an innocent expression, I felt sorry for the kid.

“I saw Conor. He’s hurt. Do you know who might have done it?” Grant’s tone was stiff. I could tell he was still unsure if there was danger.

“I had just crossed over. I met a human girl,” he flashed a smile. “She has a thing for redheads.” His smile broadened. “Anyway, I was going to meet this girl. Shortly after I crossed over, I saw Conor standing over there.” He pointed to where Conor lay.

“I was about to say hi, when there was a thunk and Conor fell over. Someone knocked him out cold. I immediately ran to him and saw someone fleeing. I tried to chase them but I lost them. I don’t have those cool extra senses like you and Conor. I’m just Fae.” Patrick shrugged. “Sorry, man, but let me help you carry him to the portal. We can cross him over and take him to a healer.”

Grant seemed to think this over for a second before relaxing a tiny bit. “Okay, let’s get him over.”

We walked to Conor and Grant flipped him onto his back. I knelt beside him and brushed some grass and sticks off Conor’s face. Poor guy. I hoped he’d be okay. Patrick crouched across from me.

“Well, I guess we should get him up.” He met my eyes. “I’m Patrick.” He stuck out his hand for me to shake.

“Hi, I’m K–”

“Kirsten. This is Kirsten.” I had no idea why Grant felt the need to hide my real identity but fully trusting him, I went with it.

“Kirsten.” I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

I then stood up and out of the way for Patrick and Grant. Each boy gripped an arm and carefully lifted Conor until they could drape his arms around their shoulders. The movement seemed to rouse him, and he mumbled something in a drowsy tone. His eyelids fluttered, then closed again.

“It’s okay, Conor. We have you. Just relax and we’ll get you to a healer.”

“What do you think they hit him with?” I asked shocked at how a big guy could be knocked out so easily. “I don’t see any scrapes or blood.”

“Magic.” Grant glanced at me and focused his eyes back on the path. I looked at him for an explanation. “It had to have been someone who could wield it. Possibly Fae, someone who can manipulate the elements or maybe even another púka. They could shape-shift into something large enough to take him down.”

I considered that for a minute. Conor had said some púkas were mean. Maybe one was after him, one that didn’t appreciate him helping Grant. My thoughts were cut off when a powerful surge of electricity coursed through me. The feelings Grant gave me were strong, but they couldn’t even compare to this sensation. It was like the hum from my dream multiplied by a thousand. My eyes widened, and I looked at Grant.

“It’s the portal.” He nodded his head in the direction in front of us.

“You feel that?” Patrick asked. “I didn’t think humans could sense it. Well at least, not until they actually crossed through it.”

I didn’t know how to respond. He clearly believed I was human, but I wasn’t sure if Grant wanted him to know I was part Fae.

Grant changed the subject. “How do you think we should go about this?” He looked at Patrick. “Do you want to just walk him through together?”

“What if there is someone on the other side waiting to harm him? The person who ran off could be waiting on him.”

Grant chewed that over. “Okay, I will go over first and make sure it’s clear.”

“No way, it should be me. I can’t let you do that. Everyone knows you and Conor are working together–they may be setting a trap to get you, too.” Patrick’s eyes were wide as he continued, “I will cross over. If it’s safe, I will return and help you with Conor.”

I could tell Grant liked this idea, although he probably didn’t want to put the kid in danger, it was clear he didn’t want to leave me alone either. “Okay. Let’s rest Conor up against this tree.” He pointed to a nearby oak.

After Conor was settled, the three of us walked back to the portal. It was strange being near it. Nothing looked different. In fact, all I could see in front of me were more trees. A person could walk right past it and never even know it existed.

“I will be right back,” Patrick said with a smile, crossed through some invisible barrier, then completely disappeared. I turned to Grant, my brows lifted in question.

“Shh,” he motioned for me to not talk. “Don’t say too much. I’m not sure what is going on but I don’t like it. Something doesn’t feel right.”

“How does this work?” I asked, staring in the direction of the pull I felt.

“No regular human could ever walk through it alone. In fact, if one was to walk past us right now, they would just end up over there.” He pointed to the trees in front of us. “You have to either be otherworldly, or have someone who is escorting you over.”

“That’s amazing,” I said with awe staring at, well, nothing. There was nothing to see, but the electricity vibrating through me was bewildering. I wanted to step through the portal more than I had ever wanted to do anything before. Grant was right about it calling me home. Every inch of my body longed to be on the other side.

“Do you think–” My question was cut short as a hand latched onto me and jerked me through the portal.

I would never forget passing through the portal for the first time. It was magnificent, although that word didn’t seem adequate. There was a sudden gust of cool air reminding me of entering automatic doors at a store and then every particle of my being came to life. As if I could sense billions of molecules bouncing against one another, creating energy. It was surreal. But the moment was difficult to enjoy due to the violence with which my arm had been yanked. It throbbed where the fingers clawed into me. Not to mention, my terror. One minute I stood next to Grant and the next I was wrenched into another dimension. My senses were on overload, pain and pleasure intermingling, but were abruptly put to a halt as I slammed into a tree.

My hand flew to my head, rubbing the back where a knot was sure to form. I slowly slid down the trunk, disoriented. My shirt caught on the tree and the rough bark scraped the sensitive skin of my back. It burned, but the pain was tolerable compared to the pounding in my head. My eyebrows met in confusion. As I tried to focus, I found Patrick standing in front of me. I turned just in time to see Grant attempt to follow me and slam up against an invisible force, then disappear from sight. Words flew from Patrick’s lips. They sounded foreign but that could have been due to my head injury. His chant was directed at the portal and seemingly kept Grant out or maybe me in.

“What’s going on?” I asked bewildered.

I desperately wanted Grant with me. I was frightened, but my thoughts were muddled. How did that kid grab me and throw me so hard?
Why
did he snatch me?

“Is it sealed?” said a female voice. I turned my head as I attempted to focus on the small, barely five feet, figure. Her perfect features were doll-like, from her almond-shaped eyes to her bowed pink lips. She had short, platinum blonde hair cut at varying lengths with a few random chunks dyed cotton-candy. Her black dress, though seemingly out of place, was beautiful. It had a ribbon belt tied into a perfect bow and a full, pink, tea-length skirt visible through a sheer black overlay.

Normally, I’d say she was adorable, being so tiny and cute, and having hair the color of bubble gum, but right now she looked far from it. Her eyes were narrowed and her mouth set in a rigid line. Her petite body turned to face me. She brushed her long side-swept bangs out of her face exposing her pale blue eyes. Her stance was clearly threatening–a hand on each hip, and though I would normally tower over her, she looked very intimidating from my current vantage point.