Night World : Huntress Chapter 9

No. This cant be happening.Jez had never snarl anything like this before, but she knew instinctively that it was dangerous. She wasbeing pulled into Morgeads mind. She could witness it surrounding her, enfolding her, a touch that was lightbut almost irresistible, that was trying to draw kayoed the most secret part of herself.And the most frightening thing was that Morgead wasnt doing itIt was something outside two of them, something that was trying to mix them to arrive ather like two pools ofwater being stirred. Jez could incur that Morgead was as startled and astonished as she was. The whollydifference was that he didnt seem to be resisting the force. He didnt seem terrified and unhappy about it,as Jez was. He seemed exhilarated and wondering, like somebody skydiving for the first base time.Thats because hes crazy, Jez in circulateection dizzily. He loves danger and he enjoys courting death-I enjoy you, a voice say in her mind.Morgeads voice. Soft as a whisper, a feather-t ouch that shake Jez to her soul.It had been so long since shed heard that voice.And he had heard her. Sharing blood make even humans telepathic. Jez hadnt been able to talk mentallysince-She managed to brush off the judgment off as panic surged through her. While maven part of her mind gabbleddesperately, Hes here, hes here, hes inside, what are we going to do now? another part threw up asmokescreen, flooding her thoughts with visions of mist and clouds.There was something like a swift gasp from Morgead.Jez. dont. Dont hide from me-Youre not allowed here, she snapped back, this time directing the thought sequential at him. Go awayI cant. For just a moment his mental voice sounded confused and scared. She hadnt realized Morgeadcould be confused and scared. Im not doing this. Its just-happening. however it shouldnt be happening, Jez thought, and she didnt cognise whether she was talking to him or just toherself. She was beginning to shake. She couldnt resist the pull that was t rying to bring her soul to thesurface and intermingle it with Morgeads-she couldnt. It was stronger than anything shed everexperienced. But she knew that if she gave in, she was dead.Dont be afraid. Dont, Morgead said in a voice she had never heard from him before. A voice ofdesperate gentleness. His mind was trying to wrap around hers protectively, like ominous wings shielding her,touching her softly.Jez felt her insides turn to water.No. NoYes, Morgeads voice whispered.She had to stop this-now. She had to break the contact. But although Jez could still feel her physicalbody, she seemed weak to control it. She could sense Morgeads arms supporting her and his lipson her throat and she knew that he was still drinking. But she couldnt so frequently as move a dactyl to pushhim away. The muscles that shed trained so ruthlessly to obey her under any circumstances werebetraying her now.She had to try another way.This shouldnt be happening, she told Morgead, putting all the energy of h er disquietude behind the thought.I go to bed. But thats because youre fighting it. We should be somewhere else by now.Jez was exasperated. Where else?I dont know, he said, and she could feel a tinge of sadness in his thought. round place-deeper. Wherewed really be to lasther. But you wont open your mind.Morgead, what are you talking about? What do you think is going on?He seemed genuinely surprised. Dont you know? Its the soulmate principle.Jez felt the floor drop away beneath her.No. Thats not possible. That cant be. She wasnt talking to Morgead anymore she was desperatelytrying to convince herself. Im not soulmates with Morgead. I cant be. We hate each other he hatesme all we ever do is fight. . .Hes impossible and dangerous and hotheaded and stubborn hes crazy hes angry and hostile . .. hes frustrating and galling and he loves to make me miserable . ..And I dont even believe in soulmates. And even if I did, I wouldnt believe it could happen like this, justbang, out of the blue, like getting hit by a train when youre not looking, without any warning or even anyattraction to the person in advance.But the very hysteria of her own thoughts was a sad sign. Anything that could tear away her self-controllike this was powerful almost beyond imagination. And she could still feel it pulling at her, trying to strip off the layers of cloud she was hiding behind. It wanted Morgead to see her as she truly was.And it was trying to carry her Morgead. Flashes of his Me, of himself. Glimpses that hit her and seemedto cut cleanly through her, leaving her gasping with their intensity.A little boy with a mop of tousled dark hair and eye like emerald, watching his beat walk out thedoor with some man-again. Going to play alone in the darkness, amusing himself. And therefore meeting alittle redheaded lady friend, a girl with silvery-blue eyes and a flashing smile. And not being alone anymore. Andwalking on fences with her in the cool night air, chasing small animals, f alling and giggling.A slightly older boy with longer hair that fell around his face, uncared-for. Watching his mother walk outone last time, never to go on back. Hunting for food, sleeping in an empty house that got messier andmessier. Learning to care for himself. Training himself. Getting harder, in mind and body, seeing a sullen typeface when he looked in the mirrorA boy even older watching humans, who were weak and silly and short- equald, but who had all the thingshe didnt give up. Family, security, food all night. Watching the Night People, the elders, who felt noresponsibility to help an abandoned vampire child.I never knew, Jez thought. She still felt dizzy, as if she couldnt get enough air. The images were dazzlingin their clarity and they tore at her heart.A boy who started a gang to create a family, and who went first to the little girl with red hair. The two ofthem grinning wickedly, running wild in the streets, finding others. Collecting kids the adults couldntcontro l or wouldnt miss. Walking around the worst parts of town, unafraid-because they had oneanother now.The images were coming faster, and Jez could hardly keep up with them.Dashing through the metal scrap yard with Jez Hiding under a fish-smelling wharf from JezHis first big kill, a stag in the hills of San Rafael.. . and Jez there to share the hot blood that warmed andintoxicated and brought life all at once. Fear and cheer and anger and arguments, hurt and sadnessand exasperation-but always with Jez interwoven into the fabric. She was always there in his memories,fire-colored hair streaming behind her, heavy-lashed eyes snapping with challenge and excitement. Shewas everything bright and raring(predicate) and brave and honest. She was haloed with flame.I didnt know how could I know? How could I realize I meant so much to him ?And who would get down thought it would mean so much to her when she found out? She was stunned,overcome-but something inside her was singing, as well as.S he was happy about it. She could feel something bubbling up that she hadnt even realized was there awild and heady interest that seemed to shoot out to the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet.Morgead, she whispered with her mind.She could sense him, but for once he didnt answer. She felt his sudden fear, his own desire to run andhide. He hadnt meant to show her these things. They were being forced out of him by the same powerthat was dragging at Jez.Im sorry. I didnt mean to look, she thought to him. Ill go away. No. dead he wasnt hiding anymore. No, I dont want you to go. I want you to stay.Jez felt herself flow toward him, helplessly. The truth was that she didnt know if she could turn awayeven if hed wanted her to. She could feel his mind touching hers-she could taste the very essence of hissoul. And it make her tremble.This was like nothing shed ever felt before. It was so strange but so wonderful. A pleasure that shecouldnt have dreamed of. To be this close, and to b e getting closer, like fire and bright darkness merging To feel her mind opening to himAnd because the distant echo of fear, like an animal screaming a warning.Are you insane? This is Morgead. Let him see your soul pry open your innermost secrets andyou wont live long enough to regret it. Hell tear your throat out the instant he finds outJez flinched wildly from the voice. She didnt want to resist the pull to Morgead any longer. But fear wasshivering through her, poisoning the warmth and closeness, freezing the edges of her mind. And she knewthat the voice was the only rationality left in her.Do you want to die? it asked her point-blank.Jez, Morgead was say quietly. Whats wrong? why wont you let it happen? non just you dying, the voice said. All those others. Claire and Aunt Nan and Uncle Jim and Ricky.HughSomething white-hot flickered through her. Hugh. Whom she loved. Who couldnt fight for himself. Shehadnt even thought of him since shed entered Morgeads mind-and that terrified her.How could she have forgotten him? For the last year Hugh had represented everything good to her.Hed awakened feelings in her that shed never had before. And he was the one person she would neverbetray.Jez, Morgead said.Jez did the only thing she could think of. She threw an image at him, a picture to stir his memories. Apicture of her walking out, leaving the gang, leaving him.It wasnt a real picture, of course. It was a symbol.It was bait.And she felt it hit Morgeads mind and clash there, and strike memories that flew like sparks.The first meeting of the gang with her not there. Questions. Puzzlement. All of them searching for her,trying to find a hint of her unique Power signature on the streets. At first laughing as they called for her,making it a game, then the laughter turning into execration as she stayed missing. Then annoyance turninginto business organisation.Her uncle Brackens house. The gang crowded on the doorstep with Morgead in front. Uncle Bracken looking lost a nd sad. I dont know where she is. She just-disappeared. And worry turning intogut-wrenching fear. Fear and anger and sorrow and betrayal.If she wasnt dead, then shed abandoned him. Just like everyone else. Just like his mother.And that grief and fury building, both perfectly equilibrate because Morgead didnt know which was thetruth. But always with the knowledge, either way, that the world was cold because she was gone.And then her appearing in his room today. Obviously alive. Insultingly healthy. And unforgivablycasual as she told him he would never know why shed left.Jez felt Morgeads outrage swelling up, a dark wave inside him, a coldness that felt no mercy for anyoneand only wanted to hurt and kill. It was filling him, sweeping everything else away. Just being in contactwith it started her heart pounding and shortened her breath. Its raw fierceness was terrifying.You left me he snarled at her, three syllables with a world of bitterness behind them.I had to. And Ill never sign alize you why. Jez could feel her own eyes stinging she supposed he could sensehow it hurt her to say that. But it was the only thing that would work. The pull between them wasweakening, being smashed away by his anger.Youre a traitor, he said. And the image behind it was that of everyone whod ever betrayed a friend or alover or a cause for the most self-seeking of reasons. Every betrayer from the history of the human world orthe Night World. That was what Morgead thought of her.I dont care what you think, she said. You never cared, he shot back. I know that now. I dont knowwhy I ever thought differently.The force that had been trying to drag them together had thinned to a silver thread of connection. Andthat was good-it was necessary, Jez told herself. She made an effort and felt herself slide away fromMorgeads mind, and then further, and then further.Youd better not forget it again, she said. It was easier to be nasty when she couldnt feel his reactions. Itmight be bad for your h ealth.Dont worry, he told her briefly. I can take care of myself. And youd better believe Ill never forget.The thread was so fine and taut that Jez could hardly sense it now. She felt an odd lurch inside her, apleading, but she knew what needed to be done.I do what I want to, for my own reasons, she said. And nobody questions me. Im leader, remember? press studIt was a physical sensation, the feeling of breaking away, as Morgead was carried off on a wave of hisown black anger. He was retreating from her so fast that it made her dizzy.And then her eyes were open and she was in her own body.Jez blinked, trying to focus on the room. She was looking up at the ceiling, and everything was alike bright and too large and too fuzzy. Morgeads arms were around her and her throat was arched back, stillexposed. Every nerve was quivering.Then suddenly the arms around her let go and she fell. She landed on her back, still blinking, trying togather herself and figure out which muscles moved what. Her throat stung, and she could feel dampnessthere. She was giddy.Whats wrong with you? Get up and get out, Morgead snarled. Jez focused on him. He looked verytall from her upside-down vantage point. His green eyes were as cold as chips of gemstone.Then she realized what was wrong.You took too much blood, you jerk. She tried to put her usual acidity into the words, to cover up herweakness. It was just supposed to be a ritual thing, but you lost control. I shouldve known you would.Something flickered in Morgeads eyes, but then his mouth hardened. Tough, he said shortly. Youshouldnt have given me the chance.I wont make the same mistake again She struggled to a sitting position, trying not to show the effort itcost her. The problem-again-was that she wasnt a vampire. She couldnt recover as quickly from loss ofblood but Morgead didnt know that.Not that hed care, anyway.Part of her winced at that, tried to argue, but Jez brushed it aside. She needed all her strength and everywall she cou ld build if she was going to get past what had happened.It shouldnt have happened, whatever it had been. It had been some horrible mistake, and she was luckyto have gotten away with her life. And from now on, the only thing to do was try to forget it.I probably should tell you why Im here, she said, and got to her feet without a discernable wobble. Iforgot to mention it before.Why you came back? I dont even want to know. He only wanted her to leave she could tell that fromhis posture, from the tense way he was pacing.You will when I tell you. She didnt have the energy to yell at him the way she wanted. She couldntafford the luxury of going with her emotions.Why do you always think you know what I want? he snapped, his back to her.Okay. Be like that. You probably wouldnt appreciate the chance anyway.Morgead whirled. He glared at her in a way that meant he could think of too many nasty things to say tosettle on one. Finally he just said almost inaudibly, What chance?I didnt come back just to take over the gang. I want to do things with it. I want to make us morepowerful.In the old days the idea would have made him grin, put a wicked sparkle in his eyes. Theyd alwaysagreed on power, if nothing else. Now he just stood there. He stared at her. His expression changed slowly from cold fury to suspicion todawning insight. His green eyes narrowed, then widened. He let out his breath.And then he threw back his head and laughed and laughed and laughed.Jez said nothing, just watched him, inconspicuously testing her balance and feeling relieved that she could defy without fainting. At last, though, she couldnt stand the sound of that laughing anymore. There wasvery little humor in it.Want to share the joke?Its just of course. I should have known. Maybe I did know, underneath. He was still chuckling, butit was a vicious noise, and his eyes were distant and full of something like hatred. Maybe self-hatred.Certainly bitterness.Jez felt a chill.Theres only one thing that coul d have brought you back. And I should have realized that from theinstant you turned up. It wasnt concern for anybody here its got nothing to do with the gang. Helooked her straight in the face, his lips curved in a perfect, malevolent smile. He had never been morehandsome, or more cold.I know what it is, Jez Redfern. I know exactly why youre here today.