The Legend of the Light Keeper (The Light Keeper Series Book 1) (12 page)

“She saw a Shadow again and there was a Light that came and scared it away, though I never saw it. I had my eyes closed.” Talon shrugged. “She’s got some lungs.” He tugged at his ears.

“I thought I saw something. I figured you cut on your headlight,” Hunter said.

“You saw it too? It lasted just a second. Did you see anything else?” I had always hoped that someone else would see the Shadows. Perhaps Hunter had the gift too, but he just shook his head.

“You realize I’ve
never
seen the Light.” Talon said. “You could all be pulling my leg for all I know, and there it was tonight, right in front of me, and I still missed it.” He shook his head. “How many times have you seen it?” he asked Hunter.

“I don’t know, several. The first time was scary as hell. I thought I was going insane. I turned off my computer to go to bed and the room was dark. I had thought I needed to turn on a light to find my phone charger when all of a sudden, poof, and this Light came on and hovered in the center of my room. Before I could even react, it disappeared. I was unsure about telling Owen, until I turned on my light and found the mark on the wall where it had disappeared.”

“I thought he was a closet stoner or something till I saw it for myself two nights later.” Owen said.

“Then he wanted me to start sleeping in his room with him,” Hunter teased. Owen gave him a dirty look.

“Hey, that crap is scary,” he defended.

I watched them tease each other over who was the bigger chicken and knew I still needed to tell them all about Alyssa, the Light, and the diary. I was just about to speak up when they changed the subject. As I waited for my opening to bring the chat full circle, I fell asleep. Talon had started running his fingers through my hair again. I lay there and let the soothing strokes lull me into a trance, and I didn’t wake until he stopped and nudged me that it was time to turn in. He helped me up and led me toward the little shack where we’d planned to sleep through the night. On the way in, Owen thought he heard something and the boys left me inside with the spotlight while they went out to investigate. Talon promised he’d be just outside. When they returned they were all laughing.

“What did I miss? I asked Owen as he came in ahead of them.

“It was nothing, but on the way back to the porch, Hunter walked through a spider’s web. He’s freaking out and Talon’s looking for the spider, but he’s just as scared so I left them both out there acting like two little girls.” He saw where I had the sleeping bags laid out and frowned. Then he swapped his for Hunter’s, so he would be by me.

“What are you doing? I had them all straight, and besides, you snore!” I wanted him as far away as possible.

“Yeah, well you’ll thank me tomorrow, Hunter farts!” He smirked. “Besides, I’m keeping my eye on you and lover boy. I saw you earlier.” He narrowed his eyes, but kept the smirk on his face.

“That’s none of your business, Cousin,” I whispered.

Yeah, Cousin, that’s precisely why it’s my business,” he said, making it clear he was not giving up on his new role as over-protective relative. It was a shade from jealous boyfriend and it was exasperating.

He needed to accept how things were. My tenderness toward his feelings was waning. “Well, too bad, I’m telling my mom how I feel about him. So we’re going to be together.”

“Not tonight you’re not.” He shook his head in disgust.

“You’re sick. You know what I mean,” I argued.

“Yeah, I know what
he
means, too. Trust me. I know what’s on his mind.”

“And what’s that?” I waited as he started to look uncomfortable.

“Exactly what was on my mind two nights ago,” he finally admitted.

“Yuck,” I punched his arm.

“Yeah, the guy’s gonna be your brother soon, he should respect you and your mom enough to let it go. It’s just gonna cause problems.” He curled his lip in disgust.

“Step-brother,” I corrected. Since Owen couldn’t have me he’d never accept that Talon could.

“Whatever. You know how I feel about him anyway.” Owen had no real reason not to like Talon. He stepped closer to me.

I pushed him away and punched at his arm again. He smiled and grabbed me, holding my arms at my side. “Let me go,” I screamed playfully; we were both laughing and pushing at each other, sort of like he’d always done with his brother, only gently, because if he’d used the same force he used on Hunter, he’d hurt me, and I trusted Owen would never do that.

Talon came in when he heard me. “What’s going on?” He glared at Owen. “What’s your problem?”

“You!” Owen said, letting go of me. “You’re my problem, Thomas.” Before he could approach Talon, I held him back.

“We were just fooling around and playing like good cousins should.” I was afraid they’d fight and hurt each other. I gave Owen the eye to let him know to knock it off and let it go. “Let’s just go to sleep.” I lay down in my bag and fluffed my pillow.

They glared at each other a second longer and then Owen gave up, lying down in his bag next to me. Nothing more was said till we were all settled. Talon took my hand and I scooted my bag closer to his.

“Hey Talon, make sure you keep your zipper up,” Owen warned.

I smacked him with my pillow but Talon just laughed and said, “I can control myself. It’s not the first night I’ve slept next to her.”

“Yuck,” Owen mumbled. “I meant the sleeping bag.”

A few minutes later, after everyone was quiet, Hunter laughed. “Keep your zipper up!” It must have just struck him as funny.

I STARED
AT THE LIGHT
of Hunter’s lantern, holding Talon’s hand and trying to sleep, but I couldn’t. Owen was snoring like a grizzly bear. I couldn’t imagine what it was like to hear that every night. I considered pinching off his airway, but was scared he’d wake up swinging. Aside from his annoying snores, I had to pee. I was embarrassed to say anything before, but I’d never gone outside, ever. What if I peed on my feet? That would give them all something to laugh at. I wondered if Talon was really asleep, yet. Maybe he would take me.

“Talon?” I whispered. Nothing. He was asleep. I hated to wake him, but I couldn’t hold it. “Talon.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek, completely taking advantage. “Wake up,” I whispered in his ear.

“What?” he asked in a sleepy voice. His brows raised, and his eyes seemed so innocent that way.

“I have to go.”

“Go where?” he moaned.

“I have to go pee.” I was so embarrassed, I felt like a child.

“Oh.” He snickered. “Let’s go.” He stood up and grabbed the lantern. “Stay close.” I retrieved my roll of toilet paper and followed him out into the darkness behind the shack. “I’ll stay here, you go around the corner.” He handed me the light.

It took me a while to get around the corner without falling down. I finally figured out what I was doing and even managed to miss my feet.

Talon called out to me, “You okay, Lily?”

“Yes, just a balance issue,” I called back and heard his soft laughter in the darkness. I was still zipping up when I came around the corner. “Sorry I had to wake you up.” I handed him the light.

“Anytime.” He smiled. As I rounded the corner to walk back with him, the Light appeared in front of us. “Holy…” Talon whispered. We froze where we stood. It came closer and seemed to wrap itself around us both, and then I saw her again. Alyssa.

Her eyes pleaded with me now, asking for help. The visions of Alyssa’s past appeared once again.

The ground was cold and fragrant around me. A shadow stood over me, still pouring clumps of soil onto my chest. Once again I wanted to scream, but there was no sound. I felt a bubbly sensation in my throat. And then I rose up, light as a feather, higher and higher until I could look back down to the ground.

Alyssa lay in a shallow grave. She was dressed in a pale green dress that was stained down the front with her blood. Her throat was slashed. She lay there, the color in her cheeks waning, as she gasped for air. Her eyes were wide and so green that they pierced through me. I looked to the shadowy figure shoveling earth back into the hole. Who was it? I couldn’t quite see, but I had a feeling. The shadowy figure was large, like a tall, strong man.

He’d killed her. Something in my gut told me that Rex Mitchell had killed Alyssa. A flash of Light came and it was gone.

Talon lifted my head onto his lap. I could feel the hard ground beneath me, and something, possibly a stick, poked me in the side. “Lily, are you all right? You fell.” He was panicked.

“I’m fine. Did you see it?” I asked, already knowing, because the look on his face gave it away.

“Yes, it was amazing, but you scared me!” He tried to catch his breath.

“Was that all you saw?” I asked. “The Light and nothing else?”

“Yes, why? What else was I supposed to see?” He shrugged, clearly puzzled.

“We need to talk,” I mumbled.

“What?”

“I said, we need to talk.” I led him toward the porch and he stood outside against the railing as I paced. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you all, but when it happened, Owen had kissed me, you were
gone
, the whole cousin thing happened; then I fell asleep, and it just hasn’t seemed like the right time and—“

“Just tell me, Lily.” His voice deepened as he took my hand. I stared at my shoes, kicking at the ground.

“It’s going to sound crazy, but the night we saw the Light, that isn’t all I saw,” I said. Talon’s face pinched tight with confusion. “There was this girl in the Light, and well, turns out she’s my aunt, and her name is Alyssa.” I waited for his reaction, and he stared at the ground for what seemed like minutes.

“Wait, like
inside
the Light?” He cocked his head to the side, staring up at me.

I took his hand. “Yes, well, that’s not all, I—“

“That’s not all? You mean it gets worse?” he said, trying to keep his voice down. He wasn’t angry or being mean, but trying to take it all in. It sounded incredible.

“It’s odd, I know, but she showed me these visions of her murder. She took me there. Then there was this diary that Mom gave me and—“Before I could say another word, he pulled me in close.

“I believe you, Lily. It’s crazy and odd and I believe you, but I think you’re gonna have to slow down for this to make sense.”

“I was scared that you’d think I was crazy. I mean, I know you’ve seen some crazy things, but this isn’t what you bargained for when moving out here. Neither of us did.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, or with anyone else.” His hand traced up my back and into my hair. He pulled me close and crushed his lips against mine. His mouth was warm and wanting, and I leaned against him, pinning him to the railing. My hand slipped under his shirt around his waist, and then back to the front, resting on his tight abs. Warm fingertips brushed my midriff, sending a heat that licked through me, leaving me lightheaded. I was breathless as he pulled away, and I drew him back close for one last taste of his lips.

“I’ve just always wanted to be normal.” I closed my eyes, still holding on to him.

“Define normal. I mean, yeah, most people don’t see things like you do, but you’re special, Lily. Seeing those things and everything else that’s happened to you, it’s made you who you are. I kind of like you this way.” He waggled his brows at me and then kissed my forehead.

“Kind of?” Keeping my chin tucked, I peered up at him.

He smiled wide and held his fingers up to show me an inch. “Just a little bit.” He winked and then he kissed me, one quick peck on the lips, and then another to my forehead. It reminded me that my headache had returned. I rubbed my temples.

“We should go to bed,” he said. “Get some sleep and you can tell us all about Alyssa in the morning.” He was right, I’d have to tell them all, and knowing that Talon believed me calmed my nerves. It was never easy being different. I nodded and let him lead me inside where we tucked into our sleeping bags, cuddling a little closer than before. As I lay wrapped in his warmth, feeling the pain of my headache increase, I heard Mr. Hill’s mower pass in the distance. I listened to it fade away as I fell asleep.

* * *

Owen woke me. “Come on, Lily, time to get up. Brownies are callin’ ya.” He laughed. I could smell the chocolaty goodness as he waved the brownie inches from my nose.

“Save me one.” I rolled over and tucked my head back in the bag. I was no better in the morning at camp than I was at home in the comfort of my bed. My head was hurting, and I was thankful that it hadn’t kept me from sleep. Talon sat beside me and I perked up a bit.

“Come on, I don’t know if I can hold Hunter off of them much longer.” Owen was serious.

“Yep, they’re going fast, Cuz.” Hunter crammed another one into his mouth.

I stretched and rubbed my eyes, trying to focus. “Hey, did you tell them?” I nudged Talon.

“Tell us what?” Owen handed me a napkin with a brownie wrapped inside.

“We saw the Light last night.” I looked at Talon for him to agree. I was surprised he hadn’t already told them.

“When was this?” Owen asked. His voice was thick with suspicion.

“I had to go to the little girl’s room last night, and on the way back in, we saw it,” I explained.

“It’s awesome isn’t it?” Hunter nodded.

“Yeah, it was. Mr. Hill was out late, too. We heard him when we came back in.” Talon shook his head. “That man’s crazy.”

“You think he took the bait?” I asked, and then I bit my brownie, letting the chewy goodness melt in my mouth.

“Oh, that would be about right for him to take the bait when I’m not around.” Hunter said.

“He’d better hope not. We’re not there to keep Granny from getting to him.” Owen bumped fists with his brother.

“Oh yeah,” Talon said, nudging me. “You need to tell them about Alyssa.”

Owen raised his brows and grabbed another brownie. “Hot friend coming to visit?” he asked. “I want to meet her.”

I finished my last bite of brownie and raked my fingers through my hair, trying to tame the night’s abuse. “No, it’s not a
hot
friend,” I said, laughing at the stupid look on his face. I spent the next few minutes explaining things, much calmer with Talon at my side. He believed in me. Owen and Hunter took the news well too, and it was a comfort that no one thought I was crazy. Hunter didn’t even take the opportunity for some brotherly teasing, which was his specialty.

“I want to see this diary,” said Talon, as we were packing up our gear and getting ready to leave.

“Yeah, me too,” Owen added. “And I want to see those pictures. Now that I’ve got family coming out of the woodwork, I might see someone that looks like me.” He grabbed my bag from the floor and slung it over his shoulder.

I grabbed my pillow and sleeping bag. “I didn’t see anyone that looked like you,” I said. “Though, I wasn’t really looking either.” Leaving the little shack to load the four-wheelers, something shiny on the porch caught my eye. Another glance and I reached down to pick it up, but it was wedged in the plank. “Hey, I found something!” I said, trying to pry it up. “Help me, Talon, it’s stuck.” Talon pulled at it, too, but it wouldn’t come loose.

“How’d you see that?” Talon said.

“Here.” Owen opened his pocket knife. He pried it out and handed it to me. “It’s a ring, Lily.”

“Wow!” I held it up to the sunlight. It was a round solitaire diamond on a plain gold band. It seemed like it was very old, and my guess was that it would have to be considering the condition of the shack before we’d cleaned it up. No one had been around for years.

“You think it’s real?” Owen asked. “Might be worth something, huh?”

I slid it on my finger and it fit perfectly. “I’m gonna keep it.” I smiled.

“No way—sell it.” Hunter said. “Buy something really cool.”

“No, I like it.”

“Whatever. Girls are weird,” he said, shaking his head. He nudged at me playfully and headed off to load up.

Later, I showed Mom the ring and she agreed that it was antique, and real. She said to take very good care of it and maybe someday we could have it appraised.

* * *

Talon and I took turns showering. Mom said we smelled like mildew, which was exactly how the shack smelled. When he was done, Talon came into my room and shut the door.

“You know you’re gonna have to open that,” I reminded him, regarding the door. Mom had a rule about my door being shut, especially with mixed company, even if he was my soon-to-be-brother.

“I forgot.” He sighed, opening it. “It doesn’t matter anyway, they’re in their room.” Mom and Tom spent a lot of time in their room; probably doing exactly the things I was supposed to leave my door open to prevent. Talon sat on the bed with me and smiled. “You think leaving it open will stop me from doing this?” He leaned in and kissed me, and then he pulled away, smiling ear to ear. The blush stung my cheeks again. “So tell me more about this diary.”

I took the diary out of the trunk. “This is the diary of my great, great aunt Alyssa Harris.” I pulled out her picture. “This is her. That’s Granny’s father and this is Josephine, my great-grandmother.”

“Ah, the original Jo-Jo?” he teased, knowing how much I hated my nick-name.

“No, my
dad
was the original Jo-Jo. Now pay attention,” I scolded him playfully. “When I started reading I didn’t know who she was and, of course, I had no idea I was related to her or the Riley family. This tells about Alyssa and how she had a gift. It’s like she’s… struggling with it and she has this lady helping her with these sessions.” I paused as he stared at me clearly puzzled. “She has a boyfriend, Michael, and her mom wants her to go with this new guy Rex—and he’s like suspicious or something. It’s the strangest thing. She says she can read their thoughts. She can hear this Rex guy’s inner voice, and she says he sounds different, like he’s a different person. Some sort of impostor. I think she even knew who he really was, but it never says his name. Then Michael comes back to warn her about Rex. They decide to run away and are supposed to leave the next day, but that’s where the entries stop. So I never found out what really happened.”

“And you know she’s dead because she keeps showing you her murder in the visions?” he asked. He thumbed through the diary carefully, taking special care of the pages crisp corners.

“When I first saw her I didn’t know who it was, not until after Granny showed me that picture. I saw her the other night when I went out with the guys. That’s why I was so freaked out. She stared right at me, and her eyes were just as green as mine.”

“That’s strange. It must be a family resemblance,” he said. I nodded.

“She came at me, into me…through me… and then all of a sudden I was looking out of her eyes, into a different place and time, the time when
she
was alive and back when the town was here; when the shack was a post office next to a hotel along the railroad tracks.”

“Bragg? You saw all that?” he asked.

“Yes. Bragg. She’s shown me a few things. Last night I was lying in a hole and dirt was being shoveled onto my chest. I was being buried alive. My throat was cut. Well,
her
throat was cut. I couldn’t quite see him, but I think it was this Rex Mitchell guy. He’s the one that she was being forced to marry. He
killed
her! I think it’s because she found out who he really was because of her gifts. He slashed her throat and buried her way out behind the shack.”

“She keeps showing you this?” he asked. He made a sour face as I covered my mouth. Just remembering her lying there bleeding made my stomach turn.

“Bits and pieces. It’s awful. Sometimes I’m looking through her eyes, but last night I got to see it from my own. It’s really scary.”