With another bitter laugh, she pulled her hand free from the oozing bloody wound on her side, desperate to keep her soul conscious but also she didn’t want to lose this physical existence, if she didn’t have to. Forcing herself to move, she trudged forward one more step and then another, leaving a heavy blood trail behind.
At her side, Nocturne moved quietly, his ears up, his tail twitching, as he searched the surrounding area. Nobody would see him. Nocturne was the darkness of night, but then so was she.
She tossed her jet-black waist-length hair over her shoulder, wishing she had a moment to braid it. But lacking food, water, and even a bandage to hold in her blood’s life force, a braid was the least of her worries.
“Nocturne,” she murmured. “You go to him if I don’t make it.”
A tiny meow came from beside her. She felt it more than heard it. They’d always communicated like they were soul mates. So here they were, a broken-down fugitive and this precious soul that stayed at her side, no matter what.
*
Sitting comfortably in Stefan’s living room, a surge of electricity shot through the room, shocking Hunter Brill. “Whoa,” he exclaimed, jumping to his feet.
Another electric influx had the power surging inside the home, then sparking. Hunter turned to Stefan and Celina. “Will that storm cause a power outage?” He’d only stopped by for a quick visit, not even sure of the impulse that brought him here, but he had been long used to listening to it. Yet the power surges going off and on over the last hour were something different. Something he’d never seen before.
Celina shook her head. “What is going on?”
Stefan walked to the massive wall of windows at the back of the living room and whispered, “It’s not an electricity issue. Something, someone, is out there.”
Another spark lit up the room.
“Did you see that?” Hunter walked closer to the wall of windows, certain he saw an image out there. He narrowed his gaze, studying the energy, but it acted like live electricity, still sparking in place. Bizarre. And that said a lot, coming from him, a man who lived bizarre.
“I did,” Stefan murmured thoughtfully, “but I’m not sure what.”
Another flash lit the room.
In the fading light, Hunter caught sight of a woman.
“Is she … a ghost?” Celina asked, stepping closer to Stefan. “If she is, she’s not like any I’ve seen before.”
“No.”
Stefan’s words synced with Hunter’s. “It’s like a holographic image.”
“She’s young.”
“Midtwenties, hungry, afraid, … and injured.” Hunter wished the image had stayed long enough to learn something else. Something helpful, outside of the massive dark pain in her gaze from her white face. He turned to look at Stefan. “I have no idea what’s going on. I’ve never seen anything like this. Have you?”
“Yes, and no.”
“A little more detail would help,” Hunter said, with a note of humor, even as the light flashed again at a different location, showing the same woman, only slightly different. “Can we tell if this is in real time? Are these slices of her past? Is she close? Is she headed here? Lord, she’s not teleporting, is she?”
Hunter seriously hoped not. It looked like something out of a horror show, and the end result couldn’t be good. The next flash came faster, then another and another, completely surrounding them in the living room, as the three stood in wonder and, yeah, on Hunter’s part at least, … in horror.
The images and flashes were constant now.
“Is she in danger?” Celina murmured. “Or dangerous?”
Stefan wrapped an arm around her and held her close. “We are all dangerous in different circumstances,” he said, but his voice was barely audible over the crackling electricity.
Then suddenly it all stopped.
And silence reigned.
Until a knock sounded on the door.
*
Beth leaned against the wall adjacent to the doorway—well, more like sagged against it. But she was vertical. The trip had been horrific, yet she’d done it. But what waited for her? Other energies were here. She hadn’t expected that. She hadn’t allowed herself to consider it. She’d been solely focused on her friend of old.
Nocturne meowed at her feet.
“Sorry, buddy. I just need a moment.”
What if she was wrong? What if this person wasn’t who she thought he was? What if he didn’t care? What if he didn’t remember her? She leaned heavily against the wall, loath to reach for the door. She felt another piece of her soul splinter outward. Only this one moved into the house. She smiled upon seeing the beautiful open, airy space with the huge wall of windows. A beacon in the darkness—the ever-encroaching darkness—as her own vision narrowed down to a small pinpoint of light, then to almost nothing. And now the effort to stay upright was too much, and she did a slow slide to the ground outside the door.
Of course, outside. She was always outside.
In the far recesses of her consciousness, she heard a hard knock on the door. She wanted to run, to cry out a warning, but too late.
The darkness choked her before she could say a word.
Splintered as she was, multiple sensations poured through her soul, overwhelming her in sights, sounds, emotions.
A slurry of light shone down on her. Strong arms reached for her. She was lifted, carried inside. Light warred with the darkness. Softness warred with the extreme hardness of her world. Compassion and caring opened up old wounds that leaked with pain and sorrow.
She wanted to cry out a warning, but somehow they already knew.
She wanted to let them know why she was here, but somehow it didn’t matter.
She wanted to tell them who she was, but somehow they didn’t seem to care.
With the last of her strength, she opened her eyes, checking if she were safe or if she’d bet on the wrong door.
Fear struck her heart as she struggled to free herself from the stranger who carried her. “No,” she cried out. “No, it can’t be.”
“Shhh, you’re hurt,” he said gently. “Let me help.”
“No, it’s you. You’re a hunter.” There. She’d said it. The reality of losing it all crashed into her, tears leaking from her eyes. Over. The war was won. She’d lost.
“I am Hunter, yes,” he said, staring down at her in his arms. “That’s my name. I’m not, however, hunting you.”
“No,” she whispered. “Not yet.”
With the last of her energy, she whispered, “But you will.”
Chapter 2
Beth opened her eyes, her sight blurry, her heart slamming against her chest, as fear immediately gripped her soul. A voice whispered close to her, “You’re fine. Just relax.”
But relaxing was something he could suggest but she could not do. She’d been on edge, too alert and wily for too long. She didn’t say another word, letting her eyes drift closed, hoping that whoever was beside her would see her as sleeping.
“Good,” he said calmly. “You need rest.”
She shifted in the bed, loving the absolute softness against her skin. And then remembered Nocturne. Her eyes opened wide, she bolted upright. Immediately hands grabbed her shoulders and gently pressed her back down. She stared up with a wild gaze. “Where’s Nocturne?” she demanded.