Night World : Soulmate Chapter 12

was sixteen and her name was Ha-nahkt. She was a vestal priestess dedicated to the g eccentricess Isis.She was wearing a fine linen shift that dismiss from her waist to her ankles. Above the waist, she worenothing except a deep coin collar strung with beads of amethyst, carnelian, turquoise, and lapis lazuli.T present were two silver brace permits on her upper weapons system and two on her wrists.Morning was her favorite time.This sunup she carefully placed her attainering in front of the statue of Isis. Lotus blossoms, low-t geniusd cakes,and beer. because, facing s let bring outh, she began the chant to wake the goddess up.Awaken, Isis, Mother of the Stars, Great of Magic, Mistress of every(prenominal) the World, S everyplaceeign of her father,Mightier than the gods,Lady of the Waters of Life,Powerful of Heart,Isis of the Ten Thousand names A step sounded freighter her and she broke off short, encountering galvanize and annoyed.Im sorry. Did I disturb you?It was a wom an, a beautiful woman with dour opprobrious hair.Youre not eitherowed in here, Ha-nahkt said sharply. Only priests and priestesses Her persona trailedoff as she looked at the woman more than closely. perchance she is a priestess, she feeling. Theres virtuallything inher slip.I only indispensableness to talk to you, the woman said. Her voice was husky and persuasive, almost mesmerizing.Its very important. She smiled and Ha-nahkt felt hairs stir at the congest of her neck.If shes a priestess, I bet shes a priestess of Set. Set was the most mephistophelean of all the gods-and unmatched of themost powerful. Ha-nahkt could sense power in this woman, no question approximately that. and annoyance? She wasntsure. My name is Maya. And what I rent to tell you may save your life.Ha-nahkt stood still. Part of her requisiteed to run from Maya, to go and get her best fri arrest Khet-hetep-es.Or, better yet, single of the senior priestesses. only another part of her was curi ous.I really shouldnt stop in the pith of the chant, she began.Its around the stranger.Ha-nahkt lost her pool cue.There was a long molybdenum of silence, and whence she said, I dont k forthwith what youre talking more or less. Shecould hear the shake in her avouch voice.Oh, yes, you do. The stranger. Tall, blond, impartsome and with such sad off-key eyeball. The nonpareil youvebeen meeting on the sly.Ha-nahkt could feel the shaking take over her whole body. She was a priestess, verbalise to the goddess.If anyone found shed been meeting a man. Oh, dont worry, minuscule one, Maya said and laughed. Im not here to turn you in. Just the opposite, infact. I emergency to help you.We havent dumbfound anything, Ha-nahkt faltered. Just kissed. He says he doesnt want me to leave thetemple. He isnt press release to stay long. He says he byword me, and he just had to discourse to me.And no wonder, Maya said in a cooing tone. She touched Ha-nahkts hair piano and Ha-nahkt exp iredinstinctively a air. Youre such a pretty girl. Such erratic coloring for this part of the world. I supposeyou think you love him.I do love him, Ha-nahkt blurted before she could stop herself-importance. Then she lowered her voice. save Iknow my duty. He says that in the next world well be together. She didnt want to tell the rest of it, theremarkable things shed seen with the stranger, the way shed recognized him. The way they weredestined for each other.And you believed him? Oh, my dear child. Youre so innocent. I suppose that nonpluss from active yourlife in a temple. She gazed around thoughtfully, then looked put up at Hannah. Her face became grave andregretful.I abominate to have to tell you this, she said. still thestranger does not love you. The truth is that hes a very evil man. The truth is that hes not a man at all.Hes an Ur-Demon and he wants to withdraw your sa.Oh, Isis, Ha-nahkt thought. Sa was the breath of life, the magical force that allowed you to live. Shedheard of demons who cherished to steal it. exactly she couldnt believe it of the stranger. He seemed so gentle,so kindIts true, Maya said positively. She contemplated at Ha-nahkt sideways. And you know it is, if you thinkabout it. Why else would he want to relishing your blood? Ha-nahkt started and flushed. How do you know-? She stopped and bit her lip.Youve been meeting him at wickednesstime by the lotus pool, when everyone else is asleep, Maya said. And Isuppose you thought it wouldnt hurt to let him drink a little of your blood. Not much. Just a bit. It wasexciting. But Im telling you the truth, now-it will hurt you. Hes a demon and he wants you dead.The husky, mesmerizing voice went on and on. It was telling all about Ur-Demons who drank blood,and men and women who could channelise into animals, and a place called the World of the Night, wherethey all lived. Ha-nahkts head began to spin.And her heart shattered.Literally. She could feel the jagged pieces of it every tim e she tried to breathe. A priestess didnt cry, only separate were forcing themselves out of her closed lids.Because she couldnt deny that the stranger did act a little like an Ur-Demon. Why else would he drinkblood?And the things shed seen with him, the feeling of component part that must have all been magic. He had tricked her with spells.Maya seemed to have finished her story. Do you think you give notice remember all that? she accepted.Ha-nahkt make a short gesture. What did it matter if she remembered it? She only wanted to be leftalone.Look at meHa-nahkt glanced up, startled. It was a mistake. Mayas look were strange they seemed to turn differentcolors from moment to moment, and in one case Ha-nahkt met them, she couldnt look aside. She was caughtin a spell, and she felt her will slipping.Now, Maya said, and her eyes were deep gold and ancient as a crocodiles. Remember all that. Andremember this. Remember how he kills you.And then the strangest thing of all happened.It suddenly seemed to Ha-nahkt that she was two people. One of them was her ordinary self. And theother was a different self, a distant self, who seemed to be looking on from the future. At this moment,Ha-nahkt and the future self were seeing different things.Ha-nahkt sawing machine that Maya was gone and the temple was empty. And then she saw that someone else waswalking in. A tall figure, with light hair and dark fathomless eyes-the stranger. He smiled at her, walkedtoward her with his arms held out. He grasped her with hands that were as besotted as a demons. Then heshowed his teeth.The future self saw something else. She saw that Maya never left the temple. She saw Mayas face andbody pleat as if they were made of water-and then change. It was as if there were two images, one ontop of the other. The outward image was of the stranger, but it was Maya underneath. Thats it. Thats how she did it.The voice came from out-of-door Ha-nahkt, and she didnt understand it. She didnt have t ime to think aboutit, either, because the next pulse she felt the tearing pain of teeth.Oh, Isis, Goddess of Life, guide me to the other world.Thats how she did it, Hannah breathed.She was sit up on the couch. She knew who she was, and more, she knew who shed been.It was another of those blinding flashes of illumination. She felt as if she were rest at the end of thecorridor of time and looking back at a one C different versions of herself. They each looked slightlydifferent, and they wore different clothes, but they were all her. Her name had been Hanje, Anora, Xiana,Nan Haiane, Honni, Ian, Annette. She had been a warrior, a priestess, a princess, a slave. And slumpfulness nowshe felt she had the strength of all her selves.At the far-off end of the corridor, back where it was misty and blurry and faintly tinted pink and blue, sheseemed to see Hana rapturous at her. And then Hana turned and walked away, her t need accomplished.Hannah took a deep breath and let it out.She did it with illusions, she said, hardly aware that she was talking out loud. Maya. And shes done itbefore, of course. Maybe every time. What do you do with somebody who salvages killing you over andover? Never letting you live to your seventeenth birthday? Trying to abrogate you, not just your life, butyour heart ?She realized that Paul was gaze at her. You want me to answer that?Hannah shook her head even as she went on talking. Goddess-I mean, God-she must hate me. I stilldont understand why. It must be because she wants Thierry herself-or maybe just because she wantshim miserable. She wants him to know that Im terrified of him, that I hate him. And she did it. Sheconvinced me. She convinced my subconscious enough that I started warning myself over against him.If any of this is true-which Im not breathing out to admit for a second, because they would definitely take my permit away-then I can tell you one thing, Paul said. She sounds very, very dangerous.She is.Then why are you s o happy? he asked pathetically.Hannah glanced at him and laughed. She couldnt bank to explain it.But she was more than happy, she was exalted. She was buoyant, ecstatic, over the moon.Thierry wasnt evil. She had the confirmation of a hundred selves whispering it to her. Maya was theenemy, the snake in the garden. Thierry was exactly what hed told her he was. Someone who had madea terrible mistake and had spent millennia paying for it-and searching for her.He is gentle and kind. He does love me. And we are destined for each other. Ive got to take care him.The last thought came as an additional bright revelation, but one that made her sit up and go still.She had no idea how.Where had he gone? Home. Where was home? She didnt know.It could be anywhere in the world.HannahWait, Hannah whispered.Look, Hannah, I think we should maybe do some work on this. Talk about it, examine your feelings No, hush Hannah waved a hand at him. She gave me a clue She didnt mean to, but she gave me aclue S he said he had connections with witches in Vegas.Oh, my God, Paul muttered. Then he jumped up. Hannah, where are you going?Im sorry. She darted back into the office, threw her arms around him, and gave him a kiss. Then,smiling into his startled face, she said, convey you. Thank you for helping. Youll never know how muchyouve done for me.I need capital. beguiler blinked, but went on looking at her intently.I know it isnt fair to ask you without explaining why. But I cant tell you. It would be dangerous for you.I just have to ask you to trust me.Chess kept looking at her. The slanted green eyes searched Hannahs face. Then, without a word, shegot up.Hannah sat on Chesss spiffy white-on-white coverlet and waited. After a few minutes Chess came backinto the direction and settled her own petite self on the bed.Here, she said, and plunked down a credit card. Mom said I could use it to get some things forgraduation. I figure shell understand-maybe.Hannah threw her arms around her. Thank you, she whispered. Ill pay it back as soon as I can. Thenshe burst out, How can you be so nice? Id be yelling to know what was going on.I am going to yell, Chess said, squeezing her back. But more than that. Im going with you.Hannah drew back. How could she explain? She knew that by going to Las Vegas she would be positionher own life in danger. From Maya, certainly. From the Night World, probably. Even from the witchesThierry had connections with, possibly. And she couldnt drag Chess into that.Ive got something I want you to hang on to, she said. She reached into her canvas bag and pulled outan envelope. This is for you and for my mom- just in case. If you dont hear from me by my birthday,then I want you to open it.Didnt you hear me? Im going with you. I dont know whats been going on with you, but Im not goingto let you run off on your own.And I cant take you. She caught the glowing cat-eyes and held them. Please understand, Chess. Itssomething I have to do alone. Besides, I nee d you here to cover for me, to tell my mom Im at yourhouse so she doesnt worry. Okay? She reached out and gave Chess a critical shake. Okay?Chess shut her eyes, then nodded. Then she sniffled, her chin trembling.Hannah hugged her again. Thank you, she whispered. Lets be best friends forever.Monday morning, instead of going to school, Hannah started for Billings drome. She was driving theFord-her mom had stock-still it over the weekend. Her mom thought she was spending the next couple ofold age with Chess to study for finals.It was frightening but exhilarating to fly on a plane by herself, going to a city shed never been to before.All the time she was in the air, she was thinking, Closer, closer, closer-and looking at the black lift ringon her finger.Shed fished it out of her bedroom wastebasket. Now she turned her hand this way and that to see theblack gems catch the light. Her chest tightened.What if I cant play him? she thought.The other fear she didnt want to admit, even to herself. What if she did find him, and he didnt want heranymore? After all, shed only told him that she hated him a few 12 times and ordered him to stayaway from her forever.I wont think about that. Theres no point. First I have to track him down, and after that what happens,happens.The airport in Las Vegas was surprisingly small. There were slot machines all over. Hannah collected herone duffel bag at the luggage carousel and then walked out of doors. She stood in the warm desert air, tryingto figure out what to do next.How do you find witches?She didnt know. She didnt think they were likely to be listed in the phone book. So she just trusted toluck and headed where everybody else was heading-the Strip.It was a mistake from the beginning, and that afternoon and night were among the worst times in. her life.It didnt start off so bad. The Strip was loud and glittery, especially as darkness fell. The hotels were sobizarre and so blazing that it took Hannahs breath away. One of them , the Luxor, was shaped like agiant black pyramid with a Sphinx in front of it. Hannah stood and watched colored lasers dart from the Sphinxs eyes and laughed.What would Ha-nahkt have thought of that?But there was something almost sickening about all the lights and the hustling after a while. Something . .. unwholesome. The crowds were so thick, both inside the hotels and out on the street, that Hannahcould hardly move. Everyone seemed to be in a rush-except the people nailed in front of slot machines.It feels edacityy, Hannah decided finally, searching in her mind for the right word. All these peoplewant to win free money. All these hotels want to take their money. And of course, the hotels are thewinners in the end. Theyve built a sort of Venus flytrap to crotchet people here. And some of these peopledont look as if they can permit to lose.Her heart felt physically heavy and her lungs felt constricted. She wanted atomic number 109 and a horizon so faraway that it pried your mi nd open. She wanted clean air. She wanted space.But even worse than the atmosphere of greed and commercialism was the fact that she wasnt findingany witches.She struck up conversations a few times with desk clerks and waitresses. But when she casually asked ifthere were any odd people in town who practiced witchcraft, they looked at her as if she were crazy.By nine oclock that night she was dizzy, exhausted, and sick with defeat.Im never going to find them. Which delegacy Im never going to find him.She collapsed on a bench outside the Stardust Hotel, wondering what to do next. Her legs hurt and herhead was pounding. She didnt want to spend Chesss moms money on a hotel-but shed noticed policeofficers making people move on if they tried to sleep on the street.Why did I come here? I should have put an ad in the publisher Desperately Seeking Thierry. I shouldhave known this wouldnt work.Even as she was thinking it, something about a boy in the crowd caught her eye.He wasnt Thierry. He wasnt anything like Thierry. Except for the way he moved.It was that same cockle grace shed seen in both Thierry and Maya, an easy control of motion thatreminded her of a jungle cat. And his face he was almost eerily good-looking in a ragamuffin way.When he glanced up toward the Stardusts tall neon sign, she thought she could see light reflect from hiseyes.Hes one of them. I know it. Hes one of the Night People.Without stopping to think, she jumped up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and followed him.It wasnt easy. He walked fast and she had to keep dodging tourists. He was headed off the Strip, toone of the quiet dimly-lit streets that ran parallel to it.It was a whole different world here, just one block away from the glitter and bustle. The hotels were, small and in poor repair. The businesses seemed to be mostly pawnshops. Everything had a dingydepressed feeling.Hannah felt a prickling down her spine.She was now pursuit the only figure on a deserted street. some(prenominal ) minute now, hed realize she was tailinghim-but what could she do? She didnt dare lose potful of him.The boy seemed to be leading her into worse and worse areas-sleazy was the word for them, Hannahthought. The streetlights were far apart here with areas of darkness in between.All at once he took a sharp left turn, seeming to disappear behind a building with a sign that read, DansBail Bonds. Hannah jogged to catch up to him and found herself staring down a narrow alley. It wasextremely dark. She hesitated a moment, then grimly took a few steps forward.On the thirdly step, the boy appeared from behind a Dumpster.He was facing her, and once again Hannah caught the flash of eyeshine. She stood very still as hewalked slowly toward her.You following me or something? he asked. He seemed amused. He had a sharp face with an almostpointed chin and dark hair that looked uncombed. He was no taller than Hannah, but his body seemedtough and wiry.Its the Artful Dodger, Hannah thought.As he reac hed her, he looked her up and down. His expression was a combination of lechery andhunger. Gooseflesh blossomed on Hannahs skin.Im sorry, she said, trying to make her voice quiet and direct. I was following you. I wanted to askyou something-Im looking for someone.You found him, baby, the boy said. He darted a quick glance around as if to make sure that there wasnobody in the alley with them.And then, before Hannah could say another word, he knocked her into the wall and pinned her there.