Night World : Huntress Chapter 9

none This cant be happening.Jez had never mat anything a a comparable(p)(p) this before, hardly she knew instinctively that it was atrocious. She wasorganism pulled into Morgeads genius. She could discover it surrounding her, enfolding her, a touch that was light only well-nigh irresistible, that was trying to d stabbing bug out the most secret plowshare of herself.And the most frightening thing was that Morgead wasnt doing itIt was something outside both of them, something that was trying to integrate them together like 2 pools ofwater existence come tored. Jez could life that Morgead was as startled and astonished as she was. The exactlydifference was that he didnt take guardianship to be resisting the force. He didnt seem panicked and un joyful about it,as Jez was. He seemed exhilarated and wondering, like somebody skydiving for the for the first time conviction.Thats because hes crazy, Jez sight dizzily. He loves d exasperation and he enjoys courting death-I enjoy you, a spokesperson utter in her mind.Morgeads voice. Soft as a whisper, a feather-touch that shook Jez to her soul.It had been so long since shed heard that voice.And he had heard her. share caudex made evening humans telepathic. Jez hadnt been able to talk ment wholeysince-She managed to cut the persuasion off as panic surged by means of her. eon one part of her mind gabbleddesperately, Hes here, hes here, hes inside, what are we going to do this instant? a nonher(prenominal) part threw up asmokescreen, flooding her thoughts with visions of mist and clouds. at that place was something like a swift gasp from Morgead.Jez. dont. Dont hide from me-Youre not allowed here, she snapped cover, this time directing the thought straight at him. Go awayI cant. For dependable a moment his mental voice sounded confused and scared. She hadnt recognise Morgeadcould be confused and scared. Im not doing this. Its alone-happening. tho it shouldnt be happening, Jez thought, and sh e didnt bed whether she was talk to him or just toherself. She was beginning to shake. She couldnt resist the pull that was trying to acquire her soul to thesurface and intermingle it with Morgeads-she couldnt. It was stronger than anything shed everexperienced. provided 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 nearly hers protectively, like nighttime 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 strong-armbody, she seemed powerless to comprise it. She could backbone Morgeads blazonry supporting her and his lipson her pharynx and she knew that he was still drinking. But she couldnt so much as dissemble a finger to pushhim away. The muscles that shed cooked so ruthlessly to ensue her under any circumstances werebetraying her now.She had to try another way.This shouldnt be happening, she told Morgead, position all the muscularity of her terror lavatory the thought.I last. But thats because youre engagement it. We should be somewhere else by now.Jez was exasperated. Where else?I dont jockey, he said, and she could feel a tinge of sadness in his thought. Some place-deeper. Wherewed veridically be together. But you wont extend your mind.Morgead, what are you talking about? What do you prize is going on?He seemed genuinely surprised. Dont you know? Its the soulmate principle.Jez felt the fundament drop away beneath her.No. Thats not possible. That cant be. She wasnt talking to Morgead any longer she was desperatelytrying to convince herself. Im not soulmates with Morgead. I cant be. We hate to each one other he hatesme all we ever do is fight. . .Hes impossible and dangerous and red-hotheaded and stubborn hes crazy hes angry and hostile . .. hes frustrating and vexatious and he loves to make me miserable . ..And I dont even weigh in soulmates. And even if I did, I wouldnt believe it could happen like this, justbang, out of the blue, like get hit by a train when youre not tone, without any warning or even any draw to the person beforehand.But the very hysteria of her own thoughts was a defective sign. Anything that could sever away her self-controllike this was powerful almost beyond imagination. And she could still feel it pulling at her, trying to exotic dancer off the layers of cloud she was hiding behind. It essentialed Morgead to see her as she unfeignedly was.And it was trying to show her Morgead. Flashes of his Me, of himself. Glimpses that hit her and seemedto cut cleanly through her, going away her gasping with their intensity.A little son with a mop of tousled unfairness hair and eyes like emerald, watching his mother walk out thedoor with some man-again. Going to play alone in the darkness, curious himself. And so meeting alittle redheaded fille, a girl with silvery-blue eyes and a flashing smile. And not being alone anymore. And paseo on fences with her in the cool night air, chasing small animals, falling 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 come back. Hunting for food, sleeping in an empty house that got messier andmessier. teaching to care for himself. Training himself. Getting harder, in mind and body, seeing a sullenexpression when he looked in the mirrorA boy even older watching humans, who were weak and silly and short-lived, but who had all the thingshe didnt sop up. Family, security, food every 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 coterie 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 couldntcontrol 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 in that respect to share the hot blood that warmed andintoxicated and brought life all at once. apprehension and happiness and anger and arguments, pine 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 gainsay and excitement. Shewas everything bright and eager and brave and honest. She was haloed with flame.I didnt k now how could I know? How could I realize I meant so much to him ?And who would perplex thought it would mean so much to her when she found out? She was stunned,overcome-but something inside her was singing, alike.She was happy about it. She could feel something bubbling up that she hadnt even realized was there awild and heady delight that seemed to shoot out to the palms of her work force 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 abrupt fear, his own desire to run andhide. He hadnt meant to show her these things. They were being hale out of him by the same powerthat was towging at Jez.Im sorry. I didnt mean to look, she thought to him. Ill go away. No. Suddenly he wasnt hiding anymore. No, I dont want you to go. I want you to stay.Jez felt herself bunk 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 made 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 be getting closer, like fire and bright darkness merging To feel her mind opening to himAnd then the distant echo of fear, like an animal hollo a warning.Are you insane? This is Morgead. Let him see your soul appreciate 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-hand(a) in her.Do you want to die? it asked her point-blank.Jez, Morgead was saying quietly. Whats wrong? why wont you let it happen?Not just you dying, the voice said. All tho se others. Claire and auntie 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 rouse 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 routine into annoyance as she stayed missing. past annoyance turninginto worry.Her uncle Brackens house. The gang crowded on the doorstep with Morgead in front. Uncle Bracken looking muddled and 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. fairish like everyone else. Just like his mother.And that grief and wrath puddleing, both perfectly balanced 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 violence was terrifying.You left me he snarled at her, three syllables with a world of bitterness behind them.I had to. And Ill never tell 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 selfish of reasons. Every betrayer from the tale 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 travail a nd 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 health.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 take to be done.I do what I want to, for my own reasons, she said. And nil questions me. Im leader, remember?SnapIt 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 as well bright and too large and too fuzzy. Morgeads arms were around her and her throat was arched bac k, 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 center on him. He looked verytall from her upside-down vantage point. His spurt 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 misidentify again She struggled to a sitting position, trying not to show the military campaign itcost her. The problem-again-was that she wasnt a vampire. S he 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 could build if she was going to get past what had happened.It shouldnt have happened, whatever it had been. It had been some monstrous 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 extend 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 age the idea would have made him grin, put a wicked luminance 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 couldstand without fainting. At last, though, she couldnt stand the sound of that laughing anymore. There wasvery little brain 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 nefarious 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 could 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, vicious smile. He had never been morehandsome, or more cold.I know what it is, Jez Redfern. I know exactly why youre here today.