The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance (Trisha Telep) (Kitty Norville 0.50)

Izzy felt her feet moving, felt the warm strength of her hand in his, as she followed him up the steep staircase that twisted around and around to the top of the lighthouse.

Zek could hear her footsteps behind him. Her clothing was unfamiliar, the blue trousers and the knitted sweater manly, but there was certainly no way he could mistake her for anything other than a woman. The tight fit of her clothing around her curves, the soft line of her mouth, her long, curling fair hair were all very feminine.

In other ways, too, she was different to his Isabel - stronger, less inclined to obey him without question - and this worried him. Last time Isabel had stayed safe up in the lighthouse while he faced Neptune. Would she be so easily persuaded this time?

He had promised to do the Sorceress’ bidding in return for finding Isabel, and now all he wanted was to keep her.

He stood on the landing and waited for her to catch up. By the time she reached his side he’d decided there was no right way to tell his story, so he simply began to speak. While he spoke, the images crowded in on him.

He explained to her about the bargain he’d made with Neptune on the voyage from Nantucket, and how in return his life and that of his crew was spared. “In time I forgot about it, or pretended I had. And then the storm came and the steamer was heading for the rocks.”

That storm was like nothing he’d ever seen before, nothing he’d ever experienced. The wild tearing at the very fabric of the lighthouse, the pounding against the thick-glassed windows, as if the wind and rain wanted to come inside and attack him.

“We were up in the lantern room. I wanted to be sure all was well and that the lamps were burning bright. And that was when we saw him.”

“I know,” she whispered, “I remember that part.” She shuddered. “The light went out.”

“Yes,” he said bleakly, “the light went out, and nothing I did would relight it. Without the light the only chance I had of warning the steamer about the rocks was to send off some rockets.”

“You told me to wait here for you.”

“I went out into the storm. It was so bad I could hardly see anything. I took the rockets out onto the edge of the cliffs ...”

“He was waiting for you. Neptune.”

She was shaking, and gripped her fingers together tightly. He could see her remembering the monster rising up through the waves, the seawater pouring from its blue skin, black eyes without any whites, unblinking and with nothing human about them. Mortal, it had said, its voice deep and hollow, I am here to claim what is mine. We struck a deal and now it is time for you to honour it.

“The steamer,” Isabel murmured, her face chalky. “He’d come for the steamer and all those lives.”

Zek didn’t disillusion her. “I tried to light the rocket but I fumbled. Nothing was working and I understood then that Neptune was controlling matters. He could have squashed me flat with his hand, but that wasn’t what he wanted.”

“I know you did everything you could to save the steamer. You lost your life ...”

She didn’t understand; she didn’t know the truth, and he wasn’t going to tell her. Heart in his mouth, he remembered how he’d watched Neptune’s black eyes peering into the lantern room. Isabel was standing, silhouetted against the faint light from the single lamp she was holding, and a smile curled the monster’s lipless mouth. The unblinking gaze dropped to his again, and Zek saw the greed.

It was Isabel the monster wanted.

He had stood, frozen, and listened to the steamer’s keel grinding against the rocks, and even though the wind was screaming he could hear the cries of the passengers and crew as they realized they were about to drown. And all the while the monster had stared back at him, enjoying his pain, and knowing there would come a point where he could no longer bear it.

I will give you my life, Neptune. Take me instead. Please . . .

No, mortal. I want Isabel. Give her to me.

The steamer was going down, the screams heart-wrenchingly desperate, more so because Zek knew it was impossible for him to save them. But it was equally impossible for him not to try, although he knew he would drown in the attempt. He’d turned to look up at Isabel, a final glance, thinking that at least she was safe. Then he’d dived from the cliff into the swirling, violent sea.

“Zek?”

Izzy felt another gust of wind strike the outside of the lighthouse, shaking it. Rain splattered. Lightning flashed, illuminating a violent world, before the thunder followed.

“This is the same storm, isn’t it? The Sorceress has taken us back in time so that we can get it right.”

“Yes.”

“Well then, we will get it right. We have to. I can’t live another 150 years without you, not again. We’ll do whatever we have to.”

He smiled, but it was a wary smile, and she almost laughed. It was becoming obvious to her that she was far more forceful and independent than the Isabel he’d known before. Just as well, considering what they had to do. She had no intention of waiting patiently in the lantern room while her man went out, alone, to save the world. This time her place would be right by his side.

They’d reached the trapdoor into the lantern room and climbed through. Time really had jumped backwards because the old, unused lamps were burning brightly and, as she stared, the lighthouse flashed out a warning over the waters below.