Night World : Witchlight Chapter 7

Keller faced him squarely.Yes, sir? Or should I say my lord?He flinched yet tried to hide it. I should turn over told you in the beginning.Keller wasnt approximately to get into a discussion of it. What do you pauperism?Can we go in thither? He nodded toward what looked paying attention well a sm every last(predicate) library-office combination.Keller didnt deficiency to, entirely she couldnt value of any acceptable reason to refuse. She followed him and crossed her mail when he closed the door.You saved my life. He wasnt quite facing her he was looking aside the window at a cold ash grey sky. Against it, he had a profile desire a young prince on an ancient coin.Keller shrugged. Maybe. Maybe non. The bricks didnt kill me maybe they wouldnt have killed you. notwithstanding you were seek to save my life. I did some occasion that was probably fat flinged-again-and you had to cover for me.I did it because its my job, Galen. Thats what I do.You got pique because of me. Wh en I dug myself turn out(p)(a) of that rubble, I popular opinion you were brain dead. He defecate tongue to it flatly, without any particular intonation. still the h denudes on Kellers arms rose.Ive got to get substantiate to Diana.Keller. in that respect was something wrong with her. She was facing the door, heading out, but his region halt her in her tracks.Keller. Please.She was aware that he was coming up behind her.Her whole skin was up in gooseflesh. She was too aware of him, that was the problem. She could smack the air that he displaced. She could feel his heat.He meet stood there.Keller. Ever since I depression cut you He stopped and tried again. You were-gleaming. All that long obscure hair swirling round you and those silvery eyes. And then you changed. I dont think I ever really understood what it humblet to be a frame of reference-shifter until I saw that. You were a girl and then you were a cat, but you were al steerings both. He let out his breath. Tm lay this badly.Keller inevitable to think of something to say-at once. But she couldnt, and she couldnt seem to move.When I saw that, for the first base meter, I wanted to shapeshift. forward that, I didnt really care, and everyone was always telling me to be careful, because whatever shape I choose the first time is the one Im stuck with. But thats not what Im trying to say. Im tryingHe reached out. Keller entangle the vehemence of his hand amid her shoulder blades, through her hair, through the fabric of her spare jumpsuit. Keller shivered.She couldnt help it. She felt so strange. Dizzy and supernaturally clear at the same time. Weak. She didnt hunch what was happening to her, yet that it was powerful and terrible.His hand remained on her back, passion from it immerse into her skin.I realize how much you dislike me, Galen state quietly. at that place was no self-pity in his voice, but he seemed to be getting the words out painfully. And Im not going to try to chan ge that. But I scarcely wanted you to k at present, I also realize what youve done for me. I needed to say thank you. There was something swelling in Kellers chest like a balloon. Bigger and bigger. She clamped her lips together, frightened as she had never been when fighting monsters.And I wont forget it, Galen was going on, still quiet. Someday, Ill find a way to r rasege you.Keller felt desperate. What was he doing to her?She wasnt in control of herself she was trembling and terrified that the thing in her chest was going to escape.All she could imagine doing was turning or so and hitting him, like a trapped animal lashing out at someone trying to rescue it.Its so strange, he said, and Keller had the touch moda lightedy that he had almost forgotten her and was talking to himself. When I was growing up, I rejected the personnel of my family. All my ancestors, they were supposed to turn into demons when they unleashed it. I ruling that it was better not to fight- if that was possible. It seems unrealistic now.Keller could feel more(prenominal) than warmth now. There were little electrical zings spreading out from his hand, running d give the at heart(a)s of her arms. non real ones, of course. none the Power he was talking approximately, like the Power used by the dragon or Winnie. But it felt detestably close. Her whole body was filled with buzzing.Some people shouldnt have to fight, she estimate giddily. But, no, that was insane. Everybody had to fight that was what life was about. If you didnt fight, you were weak. You were prey.He was still talking in that listless tone. I know you think-Kellers panic hit flashpoint. She whirled around. You dont know anything about what I think. You dont know anything about me. I dont know whatever gave you the idea that you did.He looked startled but not defensive. The silver light behind him lit the edges of his fine hair. Im sorry, he said gently. Stop being sorryargon you saying Im wrong? You dont think Im a spoiled and pampered prince who doesnt know anything about real life and has to be baby-sat?Keller was disconcerted. That was exactly what she thought-but if it were true, then why did she have this strange feeling of falling?I think youre like her, she said, retentiveness her words short and brutal to keep them under control. She didnt need to trace the her. Youre like this whole ridiculous family. Happy mommy, happy baby, happy Christmas. Theyre ca-ca to lamb everybody who comes along. And theyre living in a happy happy ideal world that has nothing to do with reality.The corner of his mouth turned up wryly, although his eyes were still serious. I think thats what I said.And it sounds harmless, doesnt it? But it isnt. Its screen door and destructive. What do you want to bet that Hianas mother really thinks my name is Kelly now? She cant deal with it being demon, so she on the nose happily changes the world to fit.You could be right. He wasnt smiling at all now, and ther e was something in his eyes, something bemused and hopeless that made Keller feel more panicked than ever.She round brutally to bond off the fear. You want to know what real life is like? My mother left me in a cardboard box in a parking lot. It was fixed up with newspapers inside, like something youd use for a puppy. That was because I couldnt wear diapers, I was stuck in my halfway form-a baby with a tail and ears like a cat. Maybe that was why she couldnt deal with me, but Ill never know. The precisely thing I have of hers is a production line that was in the box. I kept itKeller fumbled in the jumpsuits pocket. She had never meant to show this to anyone, sure as shooting not somebody shed kn stimulate for less than twenty-four hours. But she had to urge Galen she had to make him go away for good.Her wallet was slim-no photos, well(p) money and ID. She pulled out a folded slip of paper, with creases worn smooth by time and musical composition that had faded from blue in k to pale purple. Its right edge was a ragged tear, but the words were on the left and clear enough.It was her legacy to me, Keller said. She was trying to pass on the truth, what shed learned about life.Galen took the paper as if it were a hurt bird.Keller turn backed his eyes move over it. She knew the words by heart, of course, and right now she heard them ringing in her mind. There were only twelve of them-her mother had been a master of succinctness. People die dish fadesLove changesAnd you will always be alone.Keller could tell where Galen was by the way his eyes widened in horror. She smiled at him, not nicely, and took the paper back.He looked at her. And despite everything she knew about him, she was surprised at the sheer depth of his shock. He stared at her with thosegold-green eyes that went on for miles-and then he stepped forward.You dont retrieve that, he said fiercely, and grabbed her by the shoulders.Keller was startled. Hed seen her in action. How could he be so stupid as to grab her?He seemed to be bump offly unaware of his danger. There was nothing calm or hesitant about him now. He was look at her with a kind of stricken tenderness, as if shed just told him she had a terminal disease. It was as if he were trying to pour love and warmth and light into her by a direct connection.I wont let you think that, he said. I wont let you.Its just the truth. If you can accept that, you wont overwhelm in life. Whatever happens, youll be able to cope.Its not all the truth. If you believe it is, why do you fail for Circle Daybreak?They raised me, Keller said shortly. They snatched me out of the hospital nursery when they read the reports about me in the paper. They effected what I was and that humans couldnt take care of me. Thats why I work for them-to pay them back. Its my job.Thats not the only reason. Ive seen you work, Keller.She could feel warmth spreading from his detention on her shoulders. She knocked them aside and stood tall. There was a core of iciness inside her, and she hung on to that.Dont get me wrong, she said. I dont save people out of idealism. I dont risk my neck for just anybody-only the ones I get paid for.You mean if Dianas little brother was in danger, you wouldnt save him. Youd stand there and watch him burn to death in a fire or submerge in a riptide.Keller had a change posture feeling. She held her chin up and said, Exactly. If it meant putting myself in danger to save him, I wouldnt do it. He shake his head, flatly positive. No. The sinking feeling got worse. Thats a lie, he said, place her eyes. Ive seen you in action. I talked to Nissa and Winnie last night. And Ive seen your mind. Youre not just doing a job. Youre doing what you do because you think its right. And you are He paused as if to find the words, then spoke deliberately. You are the soul of honor.And youre insane, Keller thought. She realty needed to get away now. The sinking was becoming a terrible weakness spreading through her. And although she knew that what he was saying was complete garbage, she couldnt seem to stop listening. You put on a good show, Galen said, but the truth is that youre brave and gallant and decent. You have your own code, and you would never break it. And anybody who knows you sees that Dont you know what your team thinks of you? You should have seen their faces-and Dianas-when they thought you were dead in that rubble. Your soul is straight as a sword, and you have more honor than anyone Ive ever known. His eyes were the color of the first new leaves in spring, the kind you look up to see sunlight pouring through. Keller was a meat-eater and had never cared much about flowers or other vegetation, but now she remembered a line from a poem, and it froze in her mind like lightning Natures first green is gold. This was the color the poet meant.You could drown in eyes like that.He was holding her arms again. He couldnt seem to stop reaching for her, as if she were some soul in danger o f being lost forever.Your lifes been so hard. You deserve to have good things happen to you now-only good things. I wish He broke off, and a sort of tremor went through his face.No, Keller thought. I wont let you make me weak. I wont listen to your lies.But the problem was that Galen didnt lie. He was one of those idiot idealist types who said what they believed. And she shouldnt care what he believed, but she put up that she did. She cared terribly.Galen just stood there looking at her with tears in his gem-bright eyes.Something ripped inside Keller. And then everything changed.Keller couldnt understand what was happening at first. In panic, all she could think was that she was losing herself. Losing her armor, her hardness, everything she needed to keep alive. Some part of her deep inside was melting, flowing toward Galen.She tried to snatch it back, but it was no good. She couldnt stop it With a distant shock, she realized that she had shut her eyes. She was falling, falling-and she didnt care.Something caught her.She felt the warmth of arms around her, supporting her. And she felt herself lean into it, relaxing, letting him take some of her weight, as if someone else were controlling her body. So warmThat was when Keller discovered something strange. That warmth could give you shivers.Being close like this, feeling Galen warm and solid and there to hang on to-it made a shiver of pleasure go through her. And then she felt the true connection. It wasnt a physical thing. The ignitor that passed between them connected them mind to mind. It was a riveting flash of complete understanding. Her heart all but exploded. Its you. The voice was in her mind, the same voice shed heard yesterday when he had tried to save her from the dragon. It was filled with peculiarity and discovery. Its you the one Ive been looking for. Youre the oneAnd Keller would have told him how insane that was, except that it was just what she was feeling herself. It was as if she had just t urned around and unexpectedly found herself facing a figure from one of her dreams. A person she knew instinctively, just as she knew her own mind.I know you, too, Galens voice in her head said. Were so much alikeWere not, Keller thought. But the protest sounded feeble even to her. And trying to hang on to her anger and cynicism right now seemed silly- pointless. standardized a kid insisting that nobody loved her and she was going to go play on the freeway.We belong together, Galen said simply. Like this.Warm tingles. Keller could feel the force of his love like a bright light sheen at her. And she couldntresist any longerHer arms came up to hold Galen back. Her face turned up slightly, but not much, because she was tall, and their lips were already only an inch apart.The kiss was shivery, delightful, and very sweet.After an endless time of rudderless in a golden haze, Keller shivered again.Theres something something I have to rememberI love you, Galen said back.Yes, but theres s omething Ive forgottenWere together, he said. I dont want to remember anything else.And that was probably true. She couldnt really blame him. Who would want to disturb this warmth and closeness and quiet joy?Still, they had been talking about something-a long time ago, when she had been alone. Something that had made her terribly unhappy.I wont let you be unhappy. I wont let you be alone, either, he said.He stroked her hair with his fingertips. That was all, but it almost short-circuited Kellers thought processes.But not completely.Alone I remember.Her mothers note.You will always be alone.Galens arms tightened around her. Dont. Dont think about that. Were together. I love you No. With a wrench, Keller pulled herself away. She found herself standing in the library on her own two feet, staring at Galen. He looked shocked and stricken, as if hed just been slapped out of a dream. Keller-No she spat. Dont touch me I wont touch you. But I cant let you run away. And I cant pretend I dont love you.Love, Keller snarled, is weakness. She saw her mothers note lying on the floor where hed dropped it and snatched it up. And nobody is reservation me sentimental and weak NobodyIt wasnt until she was out the door that she remembered she had left out the strongest argument of all. He couldnt love her. It was impossible. He was destined to marry the jinx Child. The fate of the world depended on it.