Page 55 of These Eternal Bones
“No…” The wash of sadness that takes over her bright eyes hits me hard. I don’t fight the desire to comfort her. Gripping her hand in mine, the sand stuck between our palms. “I found myself here instead, now such a thought is silly.”
“Why not go home? Find someone to help you spend your days?”
"My soul is content, mistress, so I wouldn't leave if Icould.”
“I am not who you think I am, Péal.” I don’t know why I say it; the words taste like a lie on my tongue. Denial seems more comfortable than acceptance. I’ll grant myself a few more moments of it.
“Why, of course not. You are always someone entirely different, but the same.”
A sudden, loud laugh bursts from me as I release her hand, slamming my forehead against my raised knees as I blink away the sudden rush of tears that fill my eyes. “Is everyone here ill of the mind?”
Am I to believe it all?
“Excellent question, mistress. I hadn’t considered it, but very possibly. It has been a great many years wandering the same halls. Even so, you are certainly you. You smell the same, you see, and you make the master smile. The master does not smile when your soul rests.”
“Why don’t you all just… leave?” It’s a simple question, one with an answer that hopefully won’t lead to a spiral.
“We cannot, but master said I mustn’t speak about such things.” She snaps to a stand, her constant energy enviable as she dusts off her skirts.
“There are more who cannot leave?”
“Supernatural's, yes. The humans go as they please.” Before I can respond, she cuts me off. “There was a creature here once who had the gift of foresight.”
I shake my head in disbelief as she helps me to my feet. “They could see the future, truly?”
“Oh yes, it was excessively uncomfortable.” She giggles at the look on my face as she tugs us toward the water.
“Where are they?” She glances up at me from behind pale, thick lashes as she edges her boots into the water. No doubt soaking them. “Péal?”
If my mind wasn’t on fire, I’d laugh at the obvious internal battle she fought trying to keep quiet. Her lips pulled between her teeth as she kicks at the waves.
“I just want to understand.” The words leave me in a whisper. “I feel as if I’ve been dropped in the middle of a bizarre planet with little to no information on how to survive. Everyone knows everything about me, exceptme. I’m the only one left in the dark.”
Her eyes meet mine, and I can tell the moment she decides to tell me. “You mustn’t tell him I said anything to you, mistress. The Nephilim would do a terrible job of cleaning the mess if he removed my head. Tien despises cleaning as well, it puts him in a horrid mood.”
My lips part in shock, so much so that I only faintly realize she’s pulled my boots into the lapping waves with her, the icy chill workingits way past my socks. “Master ripped her spine from her. It was a ghastly sight, staining the carpet something terrible.”
“My god, why?”
She chuckles as if this is a perfectly normal conversation, pulling us deeper into the water. “She foresaw something he did not like.”
“What?” I gasp as the icy water slaps at my shins.
“Your death. A true one.”
There is a long pause as she lets go of my hand, taking several steps back, her brow furrowed. Nothing makes a sound aside from the waves as I stare at her in shock.
“Oh! And she said something about a witch, but I’m quite certain your mate killed them off.”
That does it. The snap I’d been waiting for hits like a ton of bricks as I stumble in the water. Tears crest in my eyes as I turn heading toward the shore.
What I wasn’t ready for was a blast of frigid water. A yelp leaves my throat, the sound setting off a flash of orange against the coast up high on the cliffs. My heart warms for a moment at the sight of the fox, his tail swooshing as he sits on his haunches, simply watching us. I get the sense he’s more standing guard. Another gush hits me as I pivot, my eyes incensed as they land on Péal. Her hand clasps over her mouth to stop her giggles.
“Are you insane? It's freezing out here!”
She giggles again, and I can’t backtrack fast enough as she reaches out, sending another gust of… what? Air? It slams the water, pushing so much on me that I splutter like a fish.
“Péal, stop it!” I screech, only to be hit again. This one so strong it knocks me on my butt as a wave crashes over me, the icy water stealing my breath. “What is wrong with you?!” I push the water back at her,splashing her with my measly wave, which only seems to delight her. She laughs wildly, spinning gracefully away.
