“It means I'm damn glad we're alone, and if yer uncle's vibe is anythin' tae gae by, I'm daeing this now...”
Wrapped in his solid embrace I'm walked slowly backwards until I'm resting against a trunk, all while being kissed within an inch of asphyxiation.
He tastes of bitter malt, warmed like medicine, and administered to me with a tongue slowly dancing across mine, my lip kneaded between his, his left hand now cradling my head.
It's so good I close my eyes, breathing in his cedar shampoo, his taste, his spruce cologne wrapped in body warmed leather, and the faint scent of woodland infused jeans. Tattooing him into my memory, I pray this isn't our last moment together.
It's giddy being kissed by him. He's everything I ever wanted in a boyfriend, and even though he's tall and athletic, his kisses are so soft. His lips are smooth and supple, the feel of his nape under my hand is addictive, and his long hair and short stubble are entirely masculine and adult.
I can't explain how hot I find long hair on him. I can't imagine him having short hair. There's something primal... and...
right
... about his entire package. A gentleman caught in an untamed world, a sweet soul stuck in the body of a warrior... it's... perfect.
I desperately hope I'm not sent away.
*
Douglas:
This day is the longest I've ever lived. I started it a simple lad and have ended it with a complete paradigm shift.
Ma superstitions ha'e been confirmed and instead of terrifying the livin' daylights outtae me, it exhilarates me.
Lifting her so her feet dangle, I kiss her until I'm breathless and my hearing is dulled by oxygen deprivation. It feels right with her arms locked around my neck, tilting her head back and laughing softly into my mouth.
“You're going to get me into lots of trouble, I just know it,” she smiles, her voice lilting with emotion.
“Ah'm innocent. Don't be accusing me of instigatin'. I just met an unusual lass while out fishin' and she decided tae turn ma tranquil world upside down.”
Pressing a last kiss on my mouth, she stokes ma Celtic blood tae near boilin'. “You have to go or we'll never be awake in time to go cheer Roddie to victory.”
Firmly kissing her, with all ma might I squeeze her curves in a crush tae me, loathe tae release her. I finally set her feet back on the ground, refusin' tae say goodbye. I cannae say how final this feels, or how much I dinnae want tae go. I dinnae want tae leave her, I want tae take her with me, tae flee her mad family and escape tae somewhere safe.
Giving her hand a squeeze, I take the four steps tae the car, turning back to drink her in before leaving.
Hidden behind the open door I imprint her image in ma soul; hip long thick hair the color of spider silk, elegant legs in slinky black jeans, and eyes sparkling like two clear pools on a starlit night.
This isnae farewell. It cannae be. I won't let it be.
Blowing me a kiss with a swollen pout, her smile widens, and then she's gone and I'm standin' here alone smiling at a tree like a numpty.
The air blusters and the hairs on the back of ma neck raise. Hingeing tae the spot ma instincts holler from, I spy the two poker red eyes advancing toward me from the thickets, stampeding through the trees.
I dinnae ha'e tae even think about it, I dive intae the car, punch the engine into frantic life, and slam the gear shift intae reverse, scooting backwards downhill without the lights on, prayin I don't hit anythin'.
The whack of angry palms on the trunk force me tae jam my foot on the brake, the lights flaring hellish red intae the dark.
Looking forward, the dude from her garden is already at the grill, leaning both hefty arms ontae the hood and glowering at me through the thin glass separation' us.
His focus flicks tae the front of the car where the other shadow blocks ma escape, and ma leg starts jitterin' compulsively where it depresses the brake pedal. The sidhe growl shakes the metal and plastic interior, rippling through the car like thunder.
Standing straight, he flicks something at the windscreen, and I duck instinctively, shunting intae neutral tae prevent stallin', but it dies anyway. Waiting fer somethin' tae happen, it takes me three seconds tae look back up again, straight at the card stuck tae the glass.
Looking back at the other figure, the hulking shadow stumbles around and yanks ma door open, big hands clamping ontae ma jacket and hauling me out. The car starts rolling without ma foot on the brake and I struggle against ma assailant, smashing my forehead intae his nose, my leg coming up of its own volition tae knee him hard.
His grasp slackens with the impact and I break free, bolting efter the car, divin' in and yanking up the handbrake. I've barely had time tae catch ma breath when a hand finds purchase in ma jean's waistband and I'm flung backwards with force, impacting brutally with a tree trunk.
“No more shite Doug, ye've got some explainin' tae dae.”
Shaking ma heid, clearing ma vision, I shunt forward using the tree as a brace, ramming my shoulder intae him, forcing him backwards on the slippery mulch, all the way back tae the vehicle.
“Get in. If ye want tae live get the hell intae the car and let's just go!” I yell, not caring what he does, I'm just trembling tae get away from that man with the red eyes and deep voice.
Starting the engine again, flicking the lights on, I pause while I stare at the nine of diamonds, terror quelling my hope that everythin' will work out with Ellindt.
Roddie slams his door closed tae glare at me, then he looks at the windscreen.
We look back at each other not knowing what tae dae.
“Floor it, Doug.” His voice is shakin' and he's paler than pyre ash.
Swallowing hard, I nod, slamming the car back intae reverse and zooting backwards down the rustic path, all the way down, backing ontae the road. Shiftin' intae first gear, I pump ma foot on the accelerator tae speed away, shunting intae second gear, then third, my heart racing faster than the pistons.
Darin' tae look in the rearview mirror I see them standin' side by side in the middle of the road, their bright eyes glowing intae the predawn and siphoning the sanctity out of ma soul.
The damn nine of diamond's is still stuck on the windscreen and I wind down ma window, scrabbling tae get it off. Finally gripping it I flop back in ma seat and quickly close the window, flicking the card ontae the dashboard.
“Who was that?” Roddie asks me, his voice still trembling, looking behind us while we race away.
“A long gruesome death.”
Glancing from the road to the rearview mirror, and back tae the card, dread fills ma body like a deathly opiate.
The nine of diamonds is the Curse of Scotland. It's the promise of massacre and death.
Chapter 13
Ellindt:
Reappearing back in the passage, it's filled with an angry bright glare flooding out of the kitchen, illuminating the corridor like military searchlights.
“You are unfit to be a guardian! I left her with you for discipline and rehabilitation, not to go out on her second night to socialize! This is meant to be punishment!”
“Venix, you are being a hypocrite darling. Ellindt did nothing wrong tonight, it was your goons who are so quick to deliver your endless wrath that exposed our community tonight. You made Ellie young for this very reason! Now that she's succeeding you dare to rip it from her? I will not allow it, not on my watch, not ever!”
“Oh... you and the black watch! You'll never let that drop will you?” he shouts.
“Don't you dare! Venix, I will banish you from my land if you ever bring up that dark history inside the walls of my house!”
What? What are they taking about?
Creeping closer, my anxiety escalates to the point where my temperature reaches volcanic.
“I know you're out there, Ellindt. Show your face,” summons Venix.
Stepping into the kitchen, I face my enraged wardens. It's now or never.
Lifting my chin, steeling my posture in proud defiance, I stare up at him, “Uncle Venix, you told us we had to find a human to love us for who and what we are. I've think I've done that. You can't punish me for doing exactly what you told me to do.”
Five stars for me, my voice didn't even shake.
“Yes, I did say that, but Ellindt this is about exposing us on a whim. What are you trying to prove? Of all the places on the planet this is the last place you should be careening around the countryside telling people what you are!”
“I didn't tell him! He guessed!” Swallowing hard, I look at his clenched hands, no longer able to stare into his powerful eyes, “I just confirmed it when he was right.”
“And then what did you expect to happen? Not only did you tell him
and
show him, but you also brought him into our territory by bringing him home. I don't know what to do with you! You disregard every boundary and rule. They're there for your protection Ellindt. Yours and ours! And for the humans too! We haven't had a war with them for thousands of years and I'm beginning to think if anyone can start one, it will be you, the family's own traitor and instigator!”
You're not my dad and I'm tired of being victimized by you! Why do you always pick on me?!
“I'm allowed to tell my love connection, so I did! I didn't tell anyone else!” I shout, with dread draining my strength again.
“She's right Venix. It was Zarak and Arelstin who did more damage. We were fine until you decided to interfere,” says Selene.
Ellindt
.
“Fine! You call this fine?” He turns to glare at me, his hulk dwarfing the spacious kitchen, “One more slip up Ellindt and you're off to the disciplinarians. You have exactly one week, make the most of it.”
Then he vanishes, leaving in his wake a tension so thick it's suffocating.
*
Douglas:
“Roddie, what the hell are ye daeing here? Are ye insane!”
“Me? Dougie yer the one out mingling with Black Donald!”
“I'm no'. And dinnae change the subject. How're ye gaeing tae dominate the field tomorrow if yer up all night stalkin' me?” I argue back.
What did he see? Nothing from Ellindt, so it's the others. And I can just pretend ignorance on those two.
“Own up Dougie, who were those fellas?”
“I ha'e no clue! I swear! I've never seen either of them before. Why dae ye think I was runnin'? I wasnae runnin' fer my health Roddie, I was runnin' fer ma life!”
“Where's Ellindt?” he interrogates, looking at me suspiciously.
I'm findin' it hard tae concentrate on him
and
the road. Ma skin is still blighted with bumps of fear and I force my tone tae sound casual when I say, “I took her hame. She's probably in bed by now, as should you be!”
“Ah'll be fine,” he grumbles, obviously not believing me, but I dinnae care.
“Ye gave me a bloody heart attack, Rod. What were ye thinkin' smacking the back of the car like that? I nearly ran ye over.”
“Ah didnae see the other dude until he was right there. What the hell
was
that?” he says.
“I don't know, but I plan tae find out.”
“Don't go back there, just steer well clear fer awhile,” he says, chastising me like an old hen.
“Ellindt lives up there! I fear fer her life.” He'll buy that. Now he'll believe me.
“Oh hell... well dinnae go wonderin' at night. And next time take some artillery with ye.” He slumps in his seat, glaring at the familiar route to his house. “Dinnae take me home, Ah'll bunk at yer place tonight.”
I ken that statement just fine. He disnae want tae be alone. I can't say I blame him, but I somehow am pretty sure the nine of diamonds is meant fer me, no' him.
Turning the corner, a clang in the back near makes me lightheaded when ma blood thumps back intae fight mode.
He jumps in his seat, hingeing around tae face it. “What the crivens was that?”
“How should I know?” I'm so freaked out I pull over, stopping the car tae investigate the back seat. Flicking the interior light on I see a pale yellow tin decorated with holly leaves up against the left door handle.
Leaning between the seats I get a grip on it, pulling it to the front and staring at the tin like it's a land mine ready tae explode.
“Open it,” demands Roddie.
Liftin' it carefully, I give it a little shake. If it is an explosive it's a broken bomb, cos it rattles. Willin' tae risk it I pry the lid off, detonating the warm buttery scent of sugared shortbread intae the interior.
“Coh! Who gave ye those?” asks Roddie.
I love her magic. I love that she can leave me presents without me even seeing her daeing it.
“Ellindt. Her auntie baked them. When I took her home they were fresh outtae the Aga.”
“And ye just conveniently fergot that ye had a tin of biscuits back there?”
Offering him one to shut him up, I snap irritably, “Naw Roddie! I was kindae distracted by everything' else gaeing on! Fergive me fer momentarily fergettin' this was there!”
Folding his huge arms, he argues, “Bull! Ye didnae know it was there or ye wouldae said, 'oh yeah, them's biscuits from auntie'. Not stare at it like it was gonnae bite yer hand off!”
“Just shut yer gob and eat one. If we're lucky we'll get a couple of hours of sleep, at most. We'll talk about ma life and ma girlfriend when I'm not so damn tired.”
“So she
is
yer girl?”
“Damn straight she's ma pet, so stop nosin' around where yer no' welcome.” Selecting a shortbread square I snap the lid back onto the tin, giving him a grin, “But her auntie disnae look much older than her, and from what I can tell she's single.”
He gives me a dark smile, “Oh? So when am Ah gonnae meet this auntie?”
That reminds me, we never got tae ask her. Chewing, holding my finger up to stall him, I pry ma phone outtae ma pocket, checkin' fer messages. Teasing him, I mumble around the crumbly mouthful, “Heather's gonnae ha'e yer guts fer garters.”
“Heather cannae take a direct no, never mind a hint. I'm so fed up with her deciding we're an item. I cannae stand the lass.”