Page 56 of Those That Are Lost
The voices start multiplying in my head and my lungs start challenging their role to pull oxygen into my body. Ty will calm it, I know it. He always does. I need to find him.
Racing through the empty common room, I use my vampire speed to reach the bedrooms. Bursting into the room I’ve been sharing with Ty with enough force the door bangs loudly, I’m met with nothing but empty space.
“Ty?” I call even though I know he’s not in here. Silence.
Turning on my heels, I’m back in the hall and jogging to the offices where he spends a lot of his time. I get to the one Eetu and Theodora share and knock. Silence.
Where could he have gone?
“I think he might’ve headed up to the cave.”
I spin at the voice. It’s Eetu.
“What?”
“I guess you’re looking for Ty?”
I nod.
“He asked me where the cave was earlier. The one Joey and his guys were at the night you arrived. I thought it was because he wanted to show you the lights. They really are stunning from up there. Maybe he just needed a night alone.”
No.My chest screams.
“Where is it?” My voice comes out much more growly than I intended. The male in front of me doesn’t even flinch, but he does give me a stern look. He doesn’t respond straight away and I can tell he’s weighing up my intentions, whether I’m about to cause more heartache to the male he considers a nephew.
“Please.” I soften my voice, openly pleading a little. “How do I get there?”
Eetu’s eyes soften. “Head out the rear entrance, toward the training ground we’ve been using, but before you exit the trees, take the fork to the left. It's a good hike, about halfway up the mountain but the views are worth it. And the cave is kitted out with the essentials.”
“Thank you,” I’m calling out over my shoulder as I’m already moving.
This trek is no joke.Especially in the dark.
I’ve been running slash climbing as quickly as I can, but with the snow, some parts are too perilous to move at vampire speeds.
I don’t feel worried, however, as shadows dance ahead of me, guiding my way and showing me the best way to navigate the steep path. I’d left the forest a while ago, the track turning into a narrow pathway which zig-zags up the side of the cold harsh rock face. It would definitely be easier on four legs.
I’ve spotted multiple sets of prints, going both ways, telling me the wolves do indeed do this in their human forms. It doesn’t help me confirm that Ty has come this way, I’m trusting the shadows for that.
Breaths laboured with the effort, I force myself to jog, the path smoothing out into a straighter section so I can see where I’m going. The drop to my right is sheer and a guaranteed death if I fall—well, it would be to a human or shifter.I don’t wish to find out if a vampire would survive.
The thought strikes me and I wait for the voice in my head to disagree. It doesn’t come. It doesn’t mean I’m cured, or fixed, or whatever, but I think letting my guard down more with the wolves—and Ty and Henry—is weakening the thoughts in my head. I still feel like I’m useless and broken half the time but the ones telling me to harm myself have been less frequent for a few weeks now.
I slow down as I reach the next turn. Stepping round the corner, I expect to see another climb but instead I’m greeted with a wide plateau. It's a gravel shelf carved into the mountainside. To my left I notice the inky blackness of what looks like a cave entrance. And ahead of me is a male sitting on the edge of the ledge, legs hanging over the lip and body leaning back on his hands.
Ty stares out at the dark ridge line of neighbouring mountain peaks sitting stoically against the skyline. The valley below is cloaked in so much darkness, I can’t discern where the valley floor is. The stars form a glittering canvas above the mountains surrounding us. If I paused to look, I’m sure I would be mesmerised, but all my focus is on one thing.
I pause as Ty turns to look over his shoulder at me. A thousand words pass between us and yet not a single one is spoken. I feel the pull of invisible strings tugging me to take the remaining steps between us. I swallow and give in, moving one stride closer.
“Red.” His voice, filled with pain, cracks my soul. “Please, don’t come closer. Not tonight.” He turns back to the scenery.
I move anyway. I can’t not.
“Red,” Ty warns, voice quivering with thick emotion. I want to remove this pain, which I think I may have caused.
“Ty.” I take another step before I’m at the ledge beside him. Slowly, I lower myself so that I match his position. Dangling off the edge isn’t nearly as terrifying as the way he sounds right now.
“Ty,” I repeat. “Please, talk to me. Why did you leave?” I don’t want any assumptions. The only indication that he even heard me is a locking of his jaw. “Ty, what’s going on?”
