Deadly Attraction

“Your kind would have made great environmentalists decades ago.”

With a shrug and a remorseful sigh, she contended, “It’s unfortunate we’ve cared more about the ecosystem than human life.”

“Maybe that’s where a balance can come into play. Isn’t there a way to provide creature comforts without polluting the world again?”

“I don’t know. But it’s something to consider.”

It seemed to Jade each race had much to offer, and the possibility of making those advantages mutually beneficial was certainly a notion to explore.

“Well,” she said, “I need to make a sweep along the eastern boundary and then north to my cottage.”

They continued with minimal chatter, both lost in their own thoughts.

When they returned to Jade’s house, Sheena said, “I’ll come by at dusk tomorrow to search for the necklace if you haven’t found it during your hunt in the daylight.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the help.”

“We’ll find it.”

Jade suddenly felt compelled to do something very uncharacteristic of her. She hugged her vampire friend.

With a laugh, Sheena said, “Oh! That came as a surprise.” But

she hugged her back. “I suppose we both still have much to learn about being a good friend.”

“I’m going to work on it.”

“So am I.”

Sheena bid her good night and Jade entered her cottage. She toed off her boots and settled on the sofa in front of the fire. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. Then she let out a long breath and allowed her mind to wander. Thinking of her past and comparing it to her current life caused yet another shift within Jade.

Closing her eyes, she released her tight hold on her emotions and they flowed through her, knotting her stomach and tugging at her heart. She neither ignored nor fought them. Rather, she gave in to them.

Tears instantly stung her eyes, but she didn’t push those back either. Her gentle crying turned into violent sobs that made her body convulse. She wept for her parents and all the things she regretted and the fact she’d lost one more thing that had meant the world to her—Darien.

But in the back of her mind, she knew expelling all of the emotions was the right thing to do. The necessary thing. Regardless of how painful it was, she needed the cleansing experience. Desperately.

Hours slid by and eventually the tears stopped flowing and her body ceased shaking. She sniffled and wiped away the stream from her flushed cheeks with the sleeve of her sweater. A few hiccups had a strange effect on her. She actually laughed.

Following some deep breaths, she told herself it was time to move on. Time to stop living one day at a time and focus on her future and her new role within the village. Time to allow her friends into her life, and be an integral part of theirs—human and demon alike.

She even decided to invite Morgan to dinner, the way her parents once had. Unfortunately, he’d have to suffer through her less-than-stellar cooking.

As for Darien… Jade couldn’t help but wonder if it was possible to win him back. First, she’d find the necklace. Then she’d take it to him at the castle and gauge the emotional climate. She’d force herself to weather any storm with him…as long he was interested in engaging, that was.

In the wee hours of the morning, fatigue set in and she permitted it to consume her.

* * * * *

Darien spent the better part of Saturday morning at the burned-out church. He stood on the ledge and stared at the land sprawled before him, having a magnificent panoramic view. The sun was shining, yet there were still patches of snow on the ground. Some of the tree limbs were laden with a half inch or so of fluffy, undisturbed white.

A breeze rippled the water in spots that had begun to thaw along the river. In two more months, the grass along the banks would be a lush, vibrant green. The wildflowers would bloom. The needles on the pines would be fresh and hearty, not dried and brittle. The river would flow freely, undulating with the rapids and the steady current.

The birds had already begun to migrate back from their winter in the south and they chirped in a lively way as they fluttered around, apparently in search of branches not covered in snow to perch themselves on or nest in.

Spring was Darien’s favorite season. Granted, it wasn’t in full swing now, but edging close.

He enjoyed the solitude and the scenery from his current post, though in the back of his mind, he toyed with the idea of leveling the tall structure on which the church stood. It was, after all, a constant reminder of what had happened to Jade during the fire wraith’s second attack.