Predestined (Existence Trilogy #2)(14)

Human form? Any longer?

“What do you want?”

He took a step toward me and I pressed up against the door of my car. The cool metal did nothing to soothe the strange heat coming off his body.

“Hmm... I should have guessed you’d ask that question first. You always cut to the chase,” he flashed the crooked grin I’d always loved. “But I need you to trust me and listen.”

Trust him? Not likely.

“Have I ever hurt you Pagan?”

Well... not exactly. I responded only with a small shake of my head.

“And I never will. Haven’t I always been there when you needed me? The tree, the lake, the time you were lost... the time you were dying from the disease in your body.”

Realization washed over me and I stared at him. His blue eyes. The shape of his jaw. His posture. The curve of his lips and sound of his voice. He -- Leif was -- he was the boy from my dreams.

“It’s you.”

A regular guy would need clarification from my simple statement but Leif wasn’t regular. He understood what I meant. So instead, he simply nodded.

“Why? I don’t understand.”

“You were promised to me. My father’s power healed you and in return your mother promised your soul to me.”

I was obviously dreaming again because this sounded ridiculous.

“I see it in your eyes,” his grin grew larger, “your soul knows me. The fire is there.” He held up a mirror which came out of nowhere and I stared in horror as my eyes were no longer their familiar green but instead were the color of fire. My pupils were surrounded by what looked like flickering orange flames.

Trembling, I shook my head and pushed away from the car to put more distance between us.

“Pagan--” he started then his face turned furious as he tilted his head upward and was once again gone.

“I missed him again, didn’t I? Well, shit!” Gee hissed.

I sagged against the bumper of my car and wrapped my arms around my waist.

“You okay? He didn’t touch you did he?”

I turned my face up to look at Gee and she stiffened, staring directly into my eyes.

“Your eyes,” she said reaching out and touching my cheek carefully. “What the f**k?”

I shook my head and stood up turning away from her. I needed Dank. This was bad. My eyes were beyond creepy.

“Where’s Dank?” I croaked, not wanting to cry in front of Gee. She wasn’t the kind of being you wanted to get emotional in front of.

“Get in the car, I’ll drive.” Gee commanded, nodding her head to the passenger side. Normally, I wouldn’t be okay with her driving because everything Gee did she did dangerously but at the moment I couldn’t concentrate enough to drive. So I did as I was told and sank down into the passenger seat.

“Where’s Dank?” I repeated as she cranked the car and backed up entirely too fast out of the driveway.

“In Afghanistan dealing with those idiots who blow themselves up.”

“When will he be back?”

Gee sighed and glanced over at me, “Not for awhile, Pagan. He’s got to deal with the voodoo creep stalking you.”

I reached up and pulled the mirror down to study my eyes. Their normal color was back and the sickness in my stomach eased some.

“Your eyes were freaky Peggy Ann. I ain’t gonna lie to you. That was some freaky, freaky shit.”

“I know! Don’t you think you should tell Dank?” I just wanted him back. I missed him and after my run-in with Leif I needed to feel secure. As much as I loved Gee she didn’t give me the security I needed.

“I’ll tell him but right now I’m not leaving you. The Voodoo prince is hot on your tail. So I need to stick close. No more running off to try and talk some sense into Dankmar.”

I fought the urge to cry. Instead, I bit the inside of my cheek and kept my eyes focused on the passing houses.

“It’s okay Peggy Ann. I got this.”

I wasn’t so sure about that but I sat silently as she sang off key to a Three Doors Down song that was playing on the radio.

Once we pulled into my driveway I didn’t wait around for her to get out. If I couldn’t have Dank then I wanted my mom. Thankfully, her car was here. As I reached the door I glanced back at Gee.

“I’m going to go hang out with my mom for awhile. You can make yourself at home in my room.”

“While you’re at it why don’t you ask her about the Voodoo crap she’s got you all mixed up in?” Gee replied, then vanished.

I walked inside and was relieved to see Mom curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn instead of tucked away in her office writing. CSI Miami I could drag her away from. Her writing, not so much.

“Hey sweetheart, did you enjoy eating over at Miranda’s?”

I sank down beside her and grabbed a handful of popcorn wondering if I’d be able to actually eat it after the scare I’d just had. I needed to be careful how I sounded. If Mom heard even the slightest unease in my voice she’d perk up and begin grilling me with questions until I caved and told her everything. Focusing on keeping my tone casual and unaffected I replied, “Yep, we had boiled shrimp, corn on the cob and salad. The salad had raspberries, pecans, and goat cheese in it. It was surprisingly good. Even with the sweet dressing.”