They left the diner and raced into Cooper’s blue car, to take the ride to the cottage where Cooper felt the letter was buried. It was wonderful being with him again, thrilling to be taking this drive together across the countryside. The weather had turned cooler, but there were still flashes of autumn leaves on some trees, although most of them were bare by now. As they headed north, the wind grew crisper.
Keira knew that the strain of what he’d been through was easing up and he was more himself again now. As Cooper sat beside her, driving, she felt his powerful energy and a surge of longing gripped her. She wanted him to hold her again, kiss her the way he had before. She wanted their bodies to intertwine.
“Cooper,” she murmured, filled with desire.
He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the forehead. The feel of his lips thrilled her. They awoke energy and love inside. She stretched out her arms to him, and he took her hand in his. She could feel his strength and caring. His touch also calmed her anxiety that this could not last.
Keira feared that sooner or later he would leave her. This was too wonderful, too perfect. What had she done to deserve it? And Cooper was not even part of the human race. – She had to keep reminding herself of that. It didn’t make sense, though. She felt more connected to him than any human she’d ever met. What could that possibly mean? Keira wanted him to talk to her now.
As if reading her mind, he said, “Time is short. We have to get there. They’re reconstituting. Soon they’ll be after us again with more vengeance than ever. They live off vengeance, they’re dedicated to revenge. It gives them power.”
Keira felt no fear. An odd kind of peace had enveloped her. She felt a huge sense of calmness and ease.
“And besides, we’re not even sure where we’re going,” Cooper continued, pressed.
“Who is ever sure of anything?” she replied softly.
Cooper laughed. They understood each other, gave each other courage.
“Who are you, Keira?” he asked lightly. “Every day there’s a new surprise.”
“I have no idea who I am,” she said. “Neither does anyone else. Humans pretend to know, but they do not. They pretend to be someone important and special, but deep down underneath, they’re all scared.”
Cooper grew silent, taking it all in. Keira knew that he craved to know all about humans. He’s only lived with his father all these years. Keira thought of her own father for a moment, and felt a deep pain in her heart. They’d left on such horrible terms. Would he always hate her? Would she ever see him again? Was he wondering now where she was, searching for her? It was too much to think about, though.
As she thought about her father, Cooper reached out and took Keira’s hand. It gave her strength and hope to be hand in hand. It was a strange kinship between them, Keira thought. Not only did they share similar feelings, they knew just what the other felt and thought.
“I was thinking about my father,” she said.
“I know,” said Cooper.
“It’s hard,” Keira said, as a tear fell from the edge of her eye.
Cooper leaned over and brushed the tear away. “I’m sorry, Keira.”
“I know you need to find your mother, too,” she said.
“Will I?” he asked softly then.
“You will,” said Keira, certain of it.
He laughed, and then suddenly there was a loud noise in the sky. They looked and saw a group of long, dark birds, flying together across the lake. They were beautiful, strong, fearless in their journey through the sky. Keira looked at them in awe. This is a sign, she thought: they were accompanying them.
But it was more than that and Keira knew it. Every pore of her body turned into listening. She became open to any thought and sound, didn’t want to miss the slightest whisper or sound. These birds were guiding them to their next stop.
“We’re very close”, she said. “These birds will guide us right to the cottage.”
The birds swirled together, looped around and flew in the direction of a cluster of pine trees. Then they disappeared from sight.
“That way,” Keira pointed. “Through those pine trees. The understanding came to her in waves.
Cooper turned the car to where she pointed, following her every word. She knew he trusted her now. But it wasn’t her he was trusting. He was trusting the universe, who was using her as a messenger. A beloved messenger.
*
Cooper drove along a road that led to an opening in the woods, surrounded by pine trees and bramble. They parked got out and walked into the cluster of trees and saw what looked like an old broken down shack sitting in the middle of a field behind them. It was made of old bricks, filled with weeds and thistle. Behind that there were two narrow paths that intersected.
Cooper stopped and stared. “This is not so different from the place I was raised in, where the Shadow Vampires live,” he murmured.
Keira didn’t know they lived anywhere. “Lived?” she asked.
“Root in,” he corrected himself. “I mean the place they gather in, return to. The place they raise the young Shadow Vampires in. Of course they’re spread across the world, but the main coven in this country is hidden behind pine trees and rocks. I used to love the smell of pine trees as a kid, growing up.”
Keira was startled for a moment. She had a hard time picturing Cooper growing up among the Shadow Vampires. After her encounter with them, she wanted to get as far away from them as possible now. “Were they rooted on Lake Michigan?” she said.
“No,” Cooper said. “Closer to Chicago. Near a lake there, too. And, of course they swarmed into the city, regularly. It wasn’t so far from Everstock.”
“Not good to think about the Shadows now,” she said. Keira felt herself receiving a new power now, she was more and more able to sense directions. This new power amazed her, thrilled and excited her. The world was opening up before her like a huge flower blooming at dawn. When she remembered how confused and clouded the world used to seem, she wondered how she ever was able to live that way. “Let’s focus on where we are,” she said. “Look at this cottage. I think it’s it.”
The tiny, wood thatched cottage sat in a clearing. A streak of sunlight led them to it. If you didn’t know it was there, it would be very easy to miss .The clearing was surrounded by thick trees and two large boulders stood in front of the door.
Cooper hit one of the boulders with his fist. “Blocked!” he scowled, “wouldn’t you know it.”
But Keira was delighted. She felt at home in this spot, tremendously close to Cooper here and protected from any harm. She was eager to get inside. Keira walked up to the boulders. She took them in, sensed their energy and in a flash realized that she was larger than they were, stronger than any obstacle. These boulders were no match for her.
She leaned against one, stroked it, and as if it were a tiny pebble, with one swift push, rolled it aside. Then she did the same with the other boulder.
Cooper watched in awe.
“Your strength is quadrupling,” he exclaimed as the boulders rolled down the pathway and stopped about six feet away.
Keira felt chills run up and down her arm. What would have been a huge task for her even a few days ago, was now nothing. She was thrilled, but also needed more intensely to know where these powers were coming from. What was wanted from her in the long run?
The cottage inside was fresh and welcoming. There was a main room with wicker furniture, a hand woven rug and windows bordered by white shutters and offering a view of trees, bushes and a little lawn outside. A small kitchen was at the far side of the living room, with a yellow wooden table for them to eat at. Off the main foyer were two little bedrooms, each with twin beds, made up with fresh linen and clean, worn, wool blankets. It was unsettling to see the place so well cared for.
“Who does this belong to?” Keira asked.
“No one,” said Cooper. “These places are hideouts, prepared and waiting for the Shadow Vampires all over the world, should they need them. The cottages are scattered everywhere. You just have to know they are here, and be able to find your way. I heard about this place-- and others-- for years.”
Keira breathed deeply, wondering if she and Cooper could actually settle in and live here? They could use time alone together, to find out how to make their relationship grow and who they could possibly be to each other. She looked over at Cooper and shivered. He looked so gorgeous standing in the dim light that came in through the windows. His eyes glowed and his body rippled with strength and energy. She longed to go over and hold him, but was also afraid. There was nothing keeping them apart now. There was no place they could go to be away from each other. Would her love for him destroy him? Destroy her? Could they tolerate the closeness and the intensity?
Sensing her feelings, Cooper turned his gaze to her and ran it up and down her body. Keira felt his desire, flowing over her, through her. He wanted her too, but she felt he was being careful and protective of both of them. She had no idea who would make the first move, or if the first move could even be made?
As if hearing her thoughts, he turned away and sat down in a chair on the far end of the room.
“I want to show you something,” he said, to break the mood between them. Clearly, he wanted to stay on focus, not be distracted from the reason they had come.
Keira went over and sat on a chair opposite him.
“What do you want to show me,” she asked. They were just beginning to live together, she reminded herself. This was different from quick, furtive, meetings at school. It was okay to go slower, understand each other more deeply. For all they knew, it could save their lives.
Cooper pulled something from his pocket and put it in the palm of his hand. Then he opened his palm, reached out and showed it to her.
It was a beautiful, gleaming, silver ring, with 5 small jewels set it in – an emerald, amber, ruby, opal and amethyst. There was an empty spot next to the amethyst, where a sixth jewel had fallen out.
Keira was dazzled by it.
“This ring belonged to the Torches for hundreds of years, and was then in my mother’s possession. My father stole it from her, when he kidnapped me. All through the years he looked at it. It gave him strength, connected him to her, and her tribe. From time to time, he even showed it to me.”
“It helped him in his battle with them?”
“No,” Cooper bristled. “I believe he missed her. He still cared for her.”
Keira was shocked. “Really? I thought the Shadow Vampires were at war with all the other tribes?”
“They are. But my father had a moment of surrender after a battle with her tribe. He said when he saw my mother he was so drawn, he couldn’t overcome it. They mated and I was born. My father was punished greatly for it for ten years, but he never really regretted it. He was always very attached to me. I always thought it was my mom he was attached to -- that I was the link.”
“At least you were born,” Keira said, looking at him now, so tall, shining, knightly.
“But once you cross the line, and mate with someone from a different tribe, the system is damaged. Your tribe is also in jeopardy. One way or other, there’s an aberration and it threatens the entire system. But it’s also possible for great beings to be born like that.”
Keira felt that Cooper was a great being. She wanted to tell him so, too.
“Most hybrids are completely destroyed early on. My father refused to let me be destroyed. He fought it, insisted I was different. The Shadows listened to him because he was the fiercest one of them all, completely dedicated to the mission. But in secret, I saw him look at the ring.”
Keira saw how important it was to Cooper that his father and mother cared about one another. Did he still want them to get back together? That wish was so common for humans. Keira wondered if it affected him too?
Cooper just stared at the ring in his palm. “I’m going to show this to my mother when I find her. It’s our link. She has the jewel for the sixth slot in her possession. It’s been said that when the slots are complete, when the sixth jewel is put in, the ring will bring incredible power to whoever has it.”
Suddenly it struck Keira that this ring belonged to his father.
“How did you get this ring?” she asked, open mouthed.
Cooper looked straight at her then, his eyes gleaming. “I stole it from him when I ran away. I don’t know if he realizes it’s gone yet. But I have it now.
Keira shivered. “You want the power?”
“No, I don’t care about power at all. I want to find my mother, to know who she is and who I am. I want to meet the tribe I was born into!” The words tripped off Cooper’s tongue.
Keira wanted to go over to Cooper, put her arms around him, tell him she cared so much for him, just as he was. But it wasn’t time. His shield was up around him and she couldn’t move any closer. His yearning for home also stirred a yearning in Keira. Did she have a true home as well? Was there some place she could find a real family in? She felt that being with him would bring her closer to finding that out.
He looked up from the ring and gazed into her eyes then. For a second he broke through the wall between them, sent waves of love towards her. But then he quickly receded back into his world.
“There is a letter buried somewhere here for me,” he said. “The letter will tell me where to go. My mother’s waiting for me. Then Cooper got up and turned away abruptly, walking out the front door.
For a second Keira became frightened that he was leaving, that she wouldn’t see him again. She wanted to call out to him. But she took a deep, swift breath. He was going to search for the letter. She had to relax and trust. She had to let him do what he had to, go where he belonged and be who he was. She couldn’t depend on him forever. He had his life and she had hers. What was hers going to be? She had no idea. It was up to her to discover.
She went to her bag and pulled out one of the few objects she’d taken with her-- her journal. As Cooper roamed the woods outside, she sat there and wrote.
What am I doing here, and what will become of me? Cooper is searching for his home and mother. What am I searching for? Day by day my powers are growing, and I have no idea why or where they’re coming from. I used to think they came from the indigo light. Now I’m not sure. How I wish the indigo light would come and tell me. For now, it’s left me on my own.
There are some things I do know though. I know that I love Cooper and that he and I must be together now. But why that is, and where it will take us, I’m not sure.
Will he ever kiss me again? Will he ever hold me close? Can we truly be together, the way we both long to? I can’t go back to my family now, maybe not ever. So I live like this, moment by moment, belonging nowhere, waiting to see what will come of us.