Authors: Melissa Haag
* * * *
A gentle touch pulled me from sleep, and the soft glow of the lantern greeted me when I opened my eyes. Everything around me was silent and dark, except Winifred. She watched me from a chair beside the bed.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like someone bit my neck,” I said softly. Actually, I felt thirsty but the idea of walking all the way downstairs for a drink made my mouth seem a little less parched.
“Weren’t you supposed to leave already?” I asked.
“Yes. I should really leave within the hour. I didn’t want to go without speaking to you first.”
“About what?”
“What happened. I promised you’d be safe here...” Regret and sorrow pulled her face into a slight frown.
She had promised, yet I didn’t blame her for what had happened. Promises are dangerous things. They were thin and frail and much too easy to break. My life had taught me that.
“Winifred, no one is ever really safe. I don’t hold you responsible for what happened.”
“You should. I spoke the command to everyone here, and as new ones came, I spoke it to them as well. He somehow slipped by me.” She sighed. “I wish I knew how.”
Thomas’ sudden appearance and the abrupt end of my attacker ensured she would never know. But at least, I knew that creature wouldn’t bother me again.
None of them would.
Chills danced along my skin as I recalled how I’d hardened my will and physically pushed him away with it. In my desperation, I’d tried to wield it as Winifred had done and succeeded, in a way. However, the implications of what I might be able to do now frightened me.
“If it’s all right with you, I’d like to sleep some more,” I said quietly.
She nodded. “Mary’s in here with you. Her father and a few other older, Mated men are here to help keep the order as well as report any newcomers to me. I will do everything I can to keep you safe, Charlene.” She tenderly touched the top of my head. “And I am so sorry for what has happened.”
“I know.”
“I’ll see you again in five days.”
I closed my eyes. Five days. If I could sleep through them all, I’d be fine. Yet, I knew it wouldn’t work that way. Even though I’d asked for rest, I had a feeling the men would still want to see me.
* * * *
For the next three days, I skulked about inside. Mary didn’t comment on my pensive quiet or complain when I drifted off without helping clean up the dishes. I wanted to help, but I knew if I stayed in the common room too long after eating one of the men would knock on the door for some reason or another.
So I slept, ate, and stared at my bedroom walls until I wanted to scream with boredom and maybe just a little resentment. My neck, though still sore, felt the tiniest bit better each day. The swelling went down, and the stitches started to itch, but I knew better than to scratch them. The scabs from the original bites were flaking away.
While I stared at my wall Wednesday morning, wishing for something to do, the door opened. A man with light hair and an inquisitive expression stood there.
Panic surged, robbing me of breath, but not thought. My will solidified, not a cane but rather a branch, thick and heavy and hard to wield. Regardless, I pulled it back ready to swing it forward. Sweat beaded my upper lip, and I began to tremble, not with fear but from the effort.
“Mary is worried about you,” he said, not moving into the room. “Her father and I have cleared the yard if you’d like to come out for some sun and a walk.”
I hesitated a moment then released my breath and my panicked defense.
“You cleared the yard?”
He nodded.
I stood and edged to the window while keeping an eye on the man. I wasn’t about to turn my back on him. His brow furrowed in concern as he watched me. I spared the yard a quick glance and found it empty like he said. How had he managed that? Satisfied he at least told the truth about the empty yard, I motioned for him to lead the way.
Mary sat at the table in the common room when we pushed through the door. She perked up at the sight of me. The man nodded to her, and she smiled at him in return.
“Given my recent bite,” I said, watching her, “maybe it’s better if you don’t send strange men to come get me.”
She cringed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think of that. This is Paul, my father’s brother.”
I glanced at the man again, noted little resemblance, and said a quick hello.
“So how did you manage to clear the yard?”
“We told them you weren’t going to step out until they gave you space,” Paul said.
Space wasn’t what I’d needed. But I would take it, anyway.
“How much time do I have?” I asked.
Mary shrugged and glanced at Paul. He scratched his jawline and thought for a moment. “I’d say an hour or two before they get too impatient and start trickling back in.”
Walk outside or take a bath? It was a hard choice. Fresh air and sunshine tempted me. Maybe I could have both if I hurried.
I walked to the pump and started filling the pot. Mary seemed to read my mind because she went to the fire and added wood. Once I had the pot hung over the flames, I went to the door and opened it.
A cool breeze swept through the room. Outside, birds sang. I stepped into the light, closed my eyes, and sighed. The clearing was empty but the woods beyond was not. Their wills tickled my senses. The men waited and probably watched. It didn’t dim my enjoyment of the moment. I soaked up the sun, tilting my head only slightly, just enough to show my stitches. After a few moments, I walked back inside, determined to make use of my time.
Two hours saw Mary and I both bathed in tepid water and our dirty clothes washed. As we stood outside, hanging our clothes on the line someone had setup for us, I sensed the restless wills of those near. I excused myself, and Mary was quick to follow me.
I’d barely made it to the other end of the common room when someone knocked on the door. Before I could take another step, the door swung open and Thomas strode in.
“Enough,” he said, his gaze immediately falling on me.
“Excuse me?”
“You made a big speech about showing you kindness and consideration, then you run off and hide. Where’s your consideration for us?”
My mouth dropped open. I barely registered that he stalked across the room. What I’d said was that it wasn’t a game. How did he get a speech from that? Why did he think I needed to show them consideration? After everything they’d put me through?
“By hiding in here, you’re denying us a chance to show you any kindness.”
“By leaving me alone to heal, you
are
showing me kindness.”
He stopped in front of me and slowly shook his head. His nearness worried me, and I shuffled back half a step. He scowled and followed.
“You are not allowed to hide in here like a frightened rabbit.”
I stopped and stared at him, too angry to speak for a moment. A rabbit?
I had every right to cower in here. Despite my stitches and still sore neck, almost every man out there had the same thought: Try again. They couldn’t even give me the week I’d asked for to let me rest. It wouldn’t have been a surprise if they all started stomping their way into the room insisting.
“Wait. Why are you in here?” I asked.
“To talk some sense into you.”
“No. I mean, why you? Why not Paul or Henry or one of the other men out there waiting to meet me? You’ve already met me, talked to me, and told me you’re interested in me. Why did they let you through the door without a fight?”
He cocked a humorless grin at me and leaned close. A finger of fear trailed down my spine, and I struggled to hold myself still. He hadn’t attacked me. He’d killed the man who had. But I knew he still wanted to bite me.
“Who says they didn’t fight me?” His exhale brushed my ear on the side that was still stitched up. I wanted to step back but didn’t want to prove his words about hiding in fear correct.
I’m not defenseless, I reminded myself.
He didn’t immediately pull away. Instead, he stepped closer, set his hands on my shoulders, and breathed deeply. I trembled.
“Charlene,” he said softly, “let me protect you.”
I turned my head slightly to meet his gaze, our faces inches apart. The twist pulled at my healing skin.
“How? By letting you bite me? That’s not protection. If you wanted to protect me, you’d promise never to bite me or let anyone else try.”
He scowled, and I could feel his frustration and anger. His fingers on my shoulders twitched, and I held my breath. Without meaning for it to happen, my will solidified again. I held it ready.
After another moment, he straightened away and let his hands drop. With relief, I dropped the hold on my will as he gave his attention to Mary, who hesitated by the exterior door.
“Gregory misses you,” he said to her. “He didn’t realize he wouldn’t be able to spend time with you when he agreed to a postpone Claiming.”
Mary flushed, and I grew angry. He was only trying to manipulate the situation to get me to return to my old routine...if you could call it a routine. But how dare he make Mary feel guilty.
“Gregory is welcomed in here any time,” I said, staring at the back of Thomas’ head. “Just as Paul and Henry are. In fact, any of you who are not interested in biting me are welcome.”
He turned to eye me.
“And I’ll know when someone’s lying,” I said, crossing my arms stubbornly as I’d seen him do so many times.
He slowly bent his head in acknowledgement. Then, he turned and left.
A moment after Mary closed the door behind him, someone else knocked on the door. She arched a brow at me, and I nodded.
She pulled open the door. A smile lit her face at the sight of Gregory. Guilt jabbed me a bit. I turned and made my way back to my room. There, I went to the window and seriously considered my circumstance.
I was so convinced there was nowhere else for me. But, how did I really know for sure? Was I willing to continue to risk my wellbeing by staying here? I watched men stride from the trees. They looked at the laundry, the closed door, then up at my window. I didn’t flinch away from their stares. I’d known they weren’t ready to give up. More came until the yard filled. I saw Thomas, Paul, Henry, and Anton in their ranks.
This wasn’t how I pictured my life when I’d left. I’d known it would be hard, that there would be struggles. But to this degree? No. I’d imagined I would eventually find a place to settle down where I could start over, and people wouldn’t care where I’d come from. I thought I would find a place where the Pennys of the world wouldn’t find me. Though I doubted Penny would find me here, I also began to doubt I could live any kind of life here.
With what I’d learned about my power during my attack, I was no longer a prisoner. I could defend myself against these creatures. I looked down at the number of men in the yard and wondered if I was crazy enough to try leaving. Did I actually think I could fight them all? Yet if I stayed, didn’t I face that same potential fate? Just a few minutes ago I’d wondered what was keeping them all from storming into the room.
With a sigh, I turned away from the window. The bag I’d brought from home leaned against the dresser. Could I leave? Would they let me? I wouldn’t know if I didn’t try.
I packed what few clothes I had into the bag. The zipper sounded like thunder in the room, loud and ominous.
Mary and Gregory broke apart when I walked into the common room. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glassy from his kiss. I grinned at her. She returned the grin until she saw the bag over my shoulders.
I didn’t say anything as my smile faded as well. Gregory turned from Mary and moved toward the door.
“Gregory,” I said. Just his name. The warning in my tone was clear.
He stopped and watched me move to the pump. I listened to the metallic screech as I filled my water container. When I finished, I turned toward the pair. They still watched me, Mary with concern and Gregory with a carefully blank expression.
“Charlene—”
“Mary, please,” I said with a shake of my head. I didn’t want those outside to have an idea that I meant to leave until I was out there. I made my way across the room, hugged her, then went to the door.
Standing tall, I pulled it open. Bright light blinded me as I stepped out and turned toward the drive. Men moved out of the way, their actions slow and expressions puzzled. It wasn’t until I walked halfway down the drive that one of them stepped in front of me.
“Where are you going?”
He was a face in a sea of faces. A man I might have met, but didn’t remember.
“I’m not sure yet,” I said.
“But you’re leaving?” he asked. Everyone watched me.
“Yes, I am.”
Growls arose.
“Don’t go,” another said. “I know I can Claim you.”
The man next to him pushed into him, and they both fell to the ground, fighting. Others started pushing at their neighbors.