Brown jumped back. Her eyes went wide and her golden skin went white. She grabbed my arm, but I couldn't reassure her. My own heart was pounding.
The essence of Talia's mother was in him. He wasn't holding anything back. That deep magic sparked into me. He could feel me and even as I shook to the core, I couldn't dwell on it. I felt him searching for me. Something shifted and a channel opened to me. I heard him talking to Emily.
"Ems. Emily, are you there?"
When she didn't answer, his anger kicked up a notch.
"That bitch. What'd she do to you?" I heard his growl. "Wake up!"
Emily stirred behind us. She rolled over on the lounger, but her eyes stayed shut.
"Davy, this is not fun."
"Was it ever?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"What if I can't do magic? I don't know how else to help."
They howled again. The sound echoed all around. It ricocheted off the rocks. They zapped around us. Brown gasped again and whirled in a tight circle. Her fear was so strong. She was rattled to the bone.
"Brown," I started.
"What?" She glanced everywhere, but at me. She kept jumping in place. The shadows were terrifying her.
It grew dark in the next instant. The light sailed away and the night sky rolled in its place. Only one person had the magic to do that.
"What just happened? This isn't right." Brown clung to me. Her nails dug into my arm.
"It's Pete," I seethed. "It's easier for wolves to hunt at night. Vampires don't see as well as they do."
"I'm really starting to get scared now," she whimpered.
I grew tired of the wolves' antics with their howling. I felt the Immortal kick inside of me and closed my eyes. It was only a matter of time before she burst free. When that happened, there was no going back.
I said again, "Brown."
"What?"
"Look at me."
She grew still and turned. When she did, her eyes widened. "Aren't you scared?"
"No."
"I wet my pants, not in the good way." She shuddered.
"I'm not scared because…" How could I say it?
"Because?"
He howled again. This one was long and drawn out. It was meant for intimidation, but it had the opposite effect on me. The Immortal rattled inside of me now. I could barely hold her back. She wanted out. She wanted his blood. She wanted to reclaim Talia's essence into the rightful body. Mine.
I opened my mouth, but my body shook.
Brown's eyes grew into saucers. She stepped back and her hand let go of my arm.
The Immortal burst free in me. I couldn't hold her in and my eyes switched like a light had been turned on. It now looked like daylight to me. Brown's ashen face was stretched from
her fear. I saw the veins in her neck and the blood that pumped into her heart. Everything in her was a colorful three dimensional x-ray.