I could tell there was something on his mind when he climbed into the driver’s seat beside me.
Even before he opened his mouth I knew and my mouth went dry as I sensed some...danger, uncertainty? There was something in the air between us suddenly. Still nothing could dim the glow I felt from having spent the night in his arms.
“There are some things that we must discuss soon Milaya; no don’t tense up on me love, I don’t want you to worry okay. It’s not going to be bad I promise.”
“You do know that when you tell someone not to worry, it makes their worrying even worse.”
I didn’t give it much thought as I wasn’t worried at all at the moment, in fact, I felt very free and happy.
I was beginning to suspect he had something to do with that. Like he was manipulating my emotions somehow.
But if that were true, then I would have even more questions than answers yet again.
It would mean there was something more than met the eye going on here. Which I had already begun to suspect, but was too cowardly to look too deeply into.
“But you mustn’t worry all the same. I will protect you always.” He got a sad look then before he cleared his throat and started the car.
“What’s the matter?” he’d gone so sad all of a sudden, and just as with everything else about him, I felt it. It was becoming rather strange, this feeling his emotions, another phenomena for me to obsess over.
I know that there’s something not altogether normal about me being able to feel him so strongly, though it felt right with us somehow. But since I’d been sick, I seem to be doing it more and more.
At first I hadn’t realized that that’s what I was doing. I had thought they were my own feelings, but now I know that somehow I can pick up on some of his, especially when he lets his guard down.
I’ll have to pay more attention and see if this is true, or just another figment of my imagination.
“Nothing’s the matter love.” He lifted my fingers to his lips for a kiss as he maneuvered the car through the streets.
I noticed the absence of the black cloud and the strange wind of the day before, and he too seemed a little more relaxed as we drove on without incident.
“Well can I have a hint at least?”
“Not at the moment, we’ll talk better at home I think.” He seemed to have to give it some thought before nodding his head. I guess I’ll have to wait to find out what my mystery guy was up to.
“Are you staying today?”
“Yes, for a time and then I must slip away, but I will be back later, tomorrow at the latest.”
Where was he going? Was it that special group that dad had said he belonged to, or worst, was it another girl?”
The car pulled over to the side of the road sharply and I threw my hand out to brace against the dashboard, but everything seemed to stop just before I connected and I was safe in my seat.
How the hell did I do that? I didn’t have time to ponder as he turned me to face him. “I cannot tell you all now but know this, I have loved you for all of your life, you will never disrespect me again with your thoughts.”
“I...” well I guess I knew for sure now that he heard my thoughts loud and clear.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. What do you mean you’ve loved me all my life? How can that be when we only just met?”
“I cannot tell you, not yet but soon. I need you to trust me, I need you to follow what your heart tells you about me.”
How would he know what my heart says? And what’s with all the secrecy? “Just tell me one thing; am I going to get hurt?”
“I will die before I let that happen.”
‘Again’. My eyes flew to his, I’d heard the word in my head; I know I had. “Did you just think the word again?”
He closed his eyes briefly before opening them on mine again. “And so it begins. It will only be a matter of days now, can you let me do what I must and then I will tell you everything I promise.
Please believe me when I say that there’s nothing on this earth that can get through me to harm you, nothing.”
***
I would be lying if I said that the day hadn’t lost some of its shine after that, but it was saved all the same by him being there with me constantly throughout the morning, until he wasn’t.
Then his brother and sister seemed to be constantly around me for the rest of the day after Thorn disappeared.