Chapter 13 - Shane
When I arrive home, I can hear the girls talking in the living room. I pause by the front door, trying to gather the courage to go in.
This whole situation is insane. I’m afraid to walk into my own house. My people are dying. I don’t know if I hate Hyacinth or if she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
I rub my temples a little, then take a deep breath and go into the living room. Sadie and Trina look comfortable and composed, but Hyacinth turns her big violet eyes to me with a completely cold, blank face.
A trickle of discomfort runs down my spine. I could swear that I feel power emanating from her, just like I’ve felt from Sadie and Trina on occasion.
But they tested her for powers, didn’t they? If she were showing any sign of magic, Sadie would tell me.
“Hi, Shane,” Sadie says. “How are things with the pack?”
I shake my head. “Not great.”
“We’re about to head over there,” Trina says, getting up. “Our magic can’t heal anyone, but sometimes we can make people more comfortable. I think it’s worth doing.”
“And I’ll be heading to the manor afterwards,” Sadie says. “The elders are pretty freaked out, but they are using the time wisely. I’m going to help them research and try to find a new angle to this curse.”
“Okay,” I reply, nodding. “I appreciate your help. Thank you.”
“You just let us know if there’s anything else we can do,” Trina says, giving me a quick hug. “We’re all fighting with you.”
“Yes, we are,” Sadie says, giving my arm a squeeze. Before she leaves the room, she turns and gives Hyacinth a smile. “You’ll let me know if there’s any development?” Sadie asks her. “And you’ll think about everything I’ve said?”
“Of course,” Hyacinth replies with a small smile.
Sadie appears satisfied and leaves, but the room echoes with unsaid words.
What is going on here? Can the others feel those bad vibes from Hyacinth?
“Hello, Shane,” Hyacinth says, not meeting my eyes.
“Hi,” I reply, struggling to think of something to say.
I can’t stay cooped up in here with her—I’ll go insane!
“How would you like it if we went out to dinner?” I ask. “It’s too late to cook, and I’m beat. I’d love a decent meal cooked by somebody else, if you’re up for it.”
Hyacinth looks up at me in surprise, and her face breaks into a smile. “I’d like that,” she says. “Let me just go and get changed.”
She disappears down the hallway, and I go up to my own room, dressing in some more presentable clothes and combing my hair. When I see myself in the mirror, I look like I’ve aged ten years, and it makes me sigh.
I don’t even care. I’d sacrifice myself for the pack if it would work.
When I reach the living room, Hyacinth is waiting for me.
She’s wearing a deep blue dress of shiny fabric, tight around the bodice but with a flowing, loose skirt that hangs to her knees.
The shade seems to deepen the hue of her eyes.
The light makeup she’s put on enhances her red lips, pale skin, and blush across her cheeks.
“You look beautiful,” I say, meaning it.
She nods, taking a small step away from me. “Thank you,” she says with a sideways look that implies even though she’s accepted the compliment, she’s not going to get any closer to me.
We drive out to a small Italian restaurant and get a quiet table in the back. Once we’ve ordered, I realize we’re now trapped in a tiny well of awkward silence. Being in public has made it even worse.
Struggling for things to say, it occurs to me that small talk isn’t going to cut it.
We need to get to the quick of this. Pretending this situation is less than it is only hurts us.
“What made you decide to move to Silver Valley?” I ask. “You haven’t been here that long, have you?”
She shakes her head, giving me a hard look. “I don’t know how much I want to talk about my past.”
“And I don’t want to pressure you. But we have to make progress. It’s the only way to find out if you’re the right person or not.”
She nods slowly. “Okay, I understand that, but I’m not ready to give you all the details of my life before.” She takes a deep breath. “I came here to be independent and build a life I love. I didn’t plan on getting kidnapped and ripped out of my home, not to mention my business.”
“I’m sorry,” I reply, meaning it. “I really am. I don’t know what came over me that night. I heard the council talking, and I felt I had to take action. A very good friend of mine had just died. I definitely wasn’t rational.”
“Oh,” she says softly. “I’m very sorry. I never gave much thought to that.”
“I should show you the infirmary,” I reply, sighing. “But it’s just not a nice place to be. I want you to understand how serious this is, but at the same time, it’s utterly heartbreaking.”
Hyacinth laces her fingers together, thinking. Our food arrives, and both of us stay quiet until the server leaves.
“I do want to help,” she says. “But how? I don’t know what to do.”
“Did you read anything in your books?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “It’s all folklore. I thought it was just fun, scary tales. I never imagined for even a second that it was real.”
“But it is real,” I say firmly. “And surely you found something, anything we can use.”
Hyacinth sighs, looking down at her plate as she eats.
“The spooky stories I read were not connected to the historical records,” she says finally. “They were very noticeably separated, as if they were designed that way. You’d never know Lynette was a witch, or that Darian was a wolf.”
“Maybe we should find out what happened to Darian,” I say.
Hyacinth nods. “Honestly, my feelings are going in the same direction. I know Sadie said it wasn’t strictly important, but I think it is.”
“Okay, well, let me know what you need, and we can get started on it.”
Hyacinth nods and goes back to paying attention to her food. I’m lost for words again, wishing for something to break the silence when I realize that so far, I’ve made absolutely no attempt to cater to her needs.
“Hyacinth,” I say. “What sort of music do you like? I don’t want to get all corny here with first-date type questions, but I like to crank up the volume when I’m home alone, and I wouldn’t want to intrude on your eardrums.”
“Oh,” she giggles. “I’ve got the craziest taste in music you’ll ever hear. On my playlist, I’ve got heavy metal, trance tracks, pop, and Disney soundtracks. Even classical.”
“That’s so odd,” I laugh. “You must be a huge fan of music to like so many genres.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “Why, what do you like?”
“Oh, I’m very boring,” I reply. “Just some good old rock, midrange. Not too heavy.”
“I’ll have to introduce you to electronic music,” Hyacinth says, excitement shining in her eyes. “Some of it is absolute garbage, but there’s also some that is transcendent. It gives me goosebumps to listen to it.”
“That sounds great,” I answer. “Maybe later tonight, we could listen to some together?”
“Sure,” she says, smiling, and in that moment, I feel the wall between us crack and fall to pieces.
As we finish dinner and move on to dessert, our conversation turns to books, then movies.
Hyacinth comes alive right before my eyes, her cheeks glowing pink, and the vibrant violet of her gaze drinking me in.
I’m enchanted by the way her red lips curl up into a smile and how she enthusiastically talks with her hands.
“So, then,” she says animatedly. “The guy finds out the ghost isn’t a created entity at all—it’s from another dimension. And they thought they were opening a door to let the creatures in, but they fell into the other world, and it looks like the spirits intended that all along!”
“Sounds like one hell of a plot twist,” I reply, trying to follow her explanation. “I’m usually just into action films. This sounds terribly complicated.”
“It’s not,” she assures me. “Trust me, I’ll get you into spooky stuff. The ones that tickle your brain and scare you are the best ones.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” I say, laughing.
“Well, that’ll do for now,” she laughs. “But I’m determined to give you hard evidence sometime soon.”
Hyacinth looks down, realizes her plate is empty, and frowns a little.
“Did you want to order something else?” I ask. “I don’t mind.”
“No,” she says. “I have had enough; I’m just disappointed it’s over. This has been fun.”
“How about a walk by the lake?” I ask. “You can tell me the plot of another of your favorite movies.”
“Okay,” she says, smiling. “Let’s go.”
After I pay for the meal, we take the short walk to the park, and I’m shocked when Hyacinth takes my hand. A warm current of energy flows between us, and I don’t know if it’s from a growing intimacy or some kind of magic.
Those things may be identical.
As we walk, Hyacinth swings our joined hands a little, talking enthusiastically about another of her favorite thrillers. I pay attention to her words, but at the same time, I’m thoroughly distracted by her beauty.
She’s stunning under any circumstance, but when she’s happy… she’s utterly breathtaking.
Watching her toss her long dark hair back, laughing as she explains a devious plot twist, I can’t take my eyes off her. She tilts her head to look at me, and her smile is wide and warm, a genuine expression of affection.
When we reach the furthest point from the parking lot, Hyacinth stops, letting go of my hand to walk to the edge of the lake. I come up behind her and put my hands on her shoulders, and she leans back against me.
“Sorry, I’ve been a chatterbox,” she says. “I just haven’t had someone really listen to me in a long time. It feels nice.”
“I’ve enjoyed listening,” I reply. “I’ll happily go on one of these little tangents with you anytime.”
Hyacinth turns around, her dark violet eyes intense as she looks up at me.
“Shane… I’m feeling… something. I don’t know what it is, but I want to give in to it. I want to explore. Do you promise me that I am safe?”
“Yes, of course,” I answer, not really sure what she’s talking about. “You are completely safe with me, Hyacinth.”
“You won’t… use me?”
“Never.”