Hunting Shadows (Shadows 3)

I forced my mind away from my lurid thoughts and strove to keep a blank expression on my face. My skin felt heated from the way his eyes studied me, roving up and down my body in a way that made me believe he didn’t think I was as lacking as I thought I was.

When his eyes finally met mine, he smiled at me faintly but his words were wholly appropriate. “Want to swim some laps?”

I nodded my head although I wasn’t that strong of a swimmer. Maybe it would help take my mind off inappropriate things.

We walked to the end of the pool where there were two empty lanes. Ryan far outpaced me but I tried to ignore him as I concentrated on my strokes. I swam for a while until I felt myself start to tire and then pushed myself up to sit on the edge of the pool with my legs still in the water. I watched Ryan as he continued to swim, his strong arms and legs propelling him in the water like he was born to swim. After a few more laps, he stopped in front of me.

“Do you see her?”

I started guiltily, realizing that I had been concentrating on him rather than looking for the girl from my vision. I needed to get my head on straight and my priorities in order. I studied the students in the pool and then shook my head. “No, I don’t see her. What if she doesn’t come to the pool that often? Then we’re screwed.”

“It’s the only thing we have to go on,” Ryan said as he lifted himself out of the water. I gulped as I watched rivulets of water running down his body until I finally forced myself to look away.

“I feel like we spend so much of our time just waiting,” I said, staring down at the water. “It’s so frustrating.”

“I guess it comes with the territory of being a seer. It can be tiring, but it’s worth it when you’re finally able to eliminate a vardoger.”

I nodded but didn’t look at him. Instead I kept my gaze on the entrance in case the girl from my vision appeared. After we grew tired of the water, we walked over to a cluster of chairs that were set up in an area next to the pool. I kept my eyes on all the students entering the pool room but I still had no luck after a couple of hours. My flagging spirits were lifted when I saw Jenny enter and I waved her over.

“What are you doing here?” she asked in surprise. I gestured to Ryan before speaking.

“Ryan felt like a swim so I came with him since you have to be a guest of a student to use the pool.”

“It’s a sad substitute for the ocean, but it’s the closest thing we have around here,” Jenny said to Ryan. Her expression brightened as she spoke. “Have you ever been to Florida?”

Ryan smiled. “I have. I can see why it’s hard to get used to Rochester after having lived in Florida.”

I rolled my eyes as I groaned. “She’s had four years to get used to it. You’d think she hadn’t been through four winters here.”

Jenny sighed. “You never get used to seeing gray dreary skies instead of blue.” She shook herself out of her reverie. “Anyone want to join me for a swim?”

Ryan took her up on her offer but I declined, preferring to just watch them swim laps. They were both strong swimmers although Ryan was much quicker due to his size advantage. I alternated between watching them swim and studying every person who came in. Unfortunately, I still had no success.

Time passed, Jenny left after a while, and students came in and out of the pool but I still hadn’t seen the girl from my vision.

“Why don’t we come back after lunch?” Ryan suggested. “There’s no point in starving.”

I reluctantly agreed and we went to the student center after changing back into our clothes. We ate quickly and then went back to the pool but it was for naught. By the time the pool closed at six, I still hadn’t seen her and I felt dejected when we left.

Back at the apartment, Simon was waiting for me impatiently. I had called him and told him about my vision and where I was, and while he hadn’t been happy that I hadn’t told him earlier, he hadn’t gotten upset which I was relieved about. Still, he looked worried when he saw me.

“I was about to go looking for you.”

“I told you where I was,” I said, giving him a quick kiss. “There was no need to worry.”

His lips thinned but he didn’t argue. He practically lived in our apartment now, only going back to his place when he needed more clothes. I had apologized to Sarah since she had to put up with extra people always being underfoot, but she had waved off it off, telling me not to worry. She and Grant often spent the night at his apartment, but I still felt guilty about Simon’s constant presence. But not guilty enough to tell him to stay at his own

place. I was still comforted by him being around and it was hard to fall asleep without him next to me.

Sarah was going out to dinner with Grant and sleeping at his place tonight so it was just the three of us in our apartment. Even though Simon and Ryan had gotten used to being around each other, there was always a palpable tension between them and it was a relief when it was time to go to bed.

“I’m disappointed you didn’t tell me about your vision earlier,” Simon said once we had settled into bed. I sighed, hearing the hurt in his voice.

“It was early when you left for class and I was still processing it.” I decided he deserved the truth. “I know you just want to protect me, Simon, but I’m a seer. This is what I’m supposed to do. As much as I appreciate you always wanting to be there, you can’t be. And I have to learn to do things on my own.”

“But you weren’t on your own,” Simon said bitterly. “He was with you.”

“There’ll be a time when he won’t be. Right now he’s helping me, but after I defeat my father, there’ll be no reason to see him again. But you and me… we have to figure out how to live our lives together. And I can’t live it with you always hovering over me.”