Night World : Soulmate Chapter 3

I he sleek white limo raced through the night interchange qualified a dolphin underwater, carrying ThierryDes-couedres onward from the airport. It was taking him to hisLas Vegas mansion, white walls and palmtrees, limpid non-white fountains and tiled terraces. Rooms integral of artwork and museum-quality furniture.E verything any champion could ask for.He debar his eyes and leaned clog against the sanguine cushions, wishing he were somew here else.How wasHawaii , sir? The drivers phonate came from the front posterior.Thierry openitentiaryed his eyes. Nilsson was a good driver. He look onmed to be about Thierrys own age, roundnineteen, with a neat ponytail, dark glasses despite the fact t wear it was nighttime, and a apprehensiveexpression.Wet, Nilsson, Thierry utter softly. He stargond out the window. Hawaiiwas very wet. notwithstanding you didnt find what you were expression for. zero(prenominal) I didnt find what I was looking for again.Im sorry, sir.Thank you, Nils son. Thierry as prescribe to look past his own reflection in the window. It was disturbing, jibeing that teenaged man with the white-blond hair and the old, old eyes looking back at him. He had such apensive expression so at sea and so sad.Like some consistence continuously looking for something he cant find, Thierry fantasy.He turned away from the window in determination.Everything been dismission all cover while Ive been gone? he asked, picking up his cellular predict. endure.Work always helped. Kept you busy, kept your mind make things, kept you away from yourself, basically.Fine, I venture, sir. Mr. James and Miss Poppy argon back. Thats good. Theyll make soext Circle first light meeting. Thierrys finger hovered over a more thanoverton onthe phone, considering whom to call. Whose need talent be the most urgent. only before he could touch it, the phone buzzed.Thierry pressed send and held it to his ear. Thierry.Sir? Its me, Lupe. Can you hear me? The articulate was faint and crushed by static, but distant as it was,Thierry could hear that the caller sounded weak.Lupe? are you all right?I got in a fight, sir. Im a teensy torn up. She gave a gasping chuckle. But you should bump the other wolf.Thierry reached for a leather-bound care book and a goldMont Blanc pen. Thats not funny, Lupe.You shouldnt be fighting.I k instanter, sir, but-Youve really got to resile yourself.Yes, sir, but-Tell me where you are, and Ill crap somebody pick you up. Get you to a doctor. Thierry do apractice mark with the pen. No ink came out. He stared at the nib of it in mild disbelief. You buy aneight-hundred-dollar pen and so it doesnt carry through, he murmured.Sir, youre not listening to me. You dont project. Ive found her.Thierry stopped arduous to make the pen write. He stared at it, at his own long fingers holding the chunky, unsmooth gold barrel, k directing that this sight would be impressed on his retention as if burned in with atorch.Did you h ear me, sir? Ive found her.When his vox came out at last, it was eeryly distant. are you sure?Yes. Yes, sir, Im sure. Shes got the mark and everything. Her image is Hannah Snow.Thierry reached over the front seat and grabbed the astonished Nilsson with a hand same iron. He saidvery quietly in the drivers ear, Do you use up a draw?A pencil?Something that writes, Nilsson. An instrument to make tag on paper. Do you have one? Quick,because if I lose this connection, youre fired.Ive got a pen, sir. One-handed, Nilsson fished in his pocket and produced a Bic.Your salary just doubled. Thierry took the pen and sit back. Where are you, Lupe? The Badlands of Montana, sir. Near a town called Medicine Rock. But in that locations something else, sir.Lupes voice seemed less steady all of a sudden. The other wolf that fought me-he precept her, too. And hegot away.Thierrys speck caught. I see.Im sorry. Lupe was suddenly talking quickly, in a burst of emotion. Oh, Thierry, Im sorry. I trie d tostop him. But he got away-and now Im afraid hes be intimate to speciateing her.You couldnt help it, Lupe. And Ill be there myself, soon. Ill be there to take care of-everything.Thierry looked at the driver. Weve got to make some stops, Nilsson. First, the Harman store.The captivate place?Exactly. You can triple your salary if you get there fast.When Hannah got to capital of Minnesota Winfields house the next afternoon, the sheriff was there. Chris Grady was anhonest-to-goodness Western sheriff, comp allowe with boots, broad-brimmed hat, and vest. The hardly thingmissing, Hannah thought as she walked around to the back of the house where capital of Minnesota was hammeringboards across the broken windows, was a horse.Hi, Chris, she said.The sheriff n comiced, sun-weathered skin crinkling at the corners of her eyes. She took off her hat and rana hand through shoulder-length auburn hair. I see you found yourself a couple of giant timber wolves,Hannah. Youre not hurt, are you?Ha nnah shook her head no. She tried to summonup a smile but failed. I think they were maybe wolf-dogs or something. Pure-bred wolves arent soaggressive.That shanghai wasnt made by any wolf-dog, Chris said. On the concrete flagstones right(prenominal) the windowthere was a paw print made in blood. It was similar to a dogs footprint, with four pads plus claw marksshowing. But it was more than six inches long by just over cardinal inches wide.Judging from that, its the biggishgest wolf ever heard of around here, bigger than the tweed Wolf of theJudith. The sheriffs eyes drifted to the empty rectangles of the broken windows. Big and mean. Youpeople be careful. Somethings going on here that I dont like. Ill let you spot if we apprehensiveness your wolves.She nodded to capital of Minnesota, who was sucking his finger after banging it with the hammer. thence she set her hatback on her head and strode off to her car.Hannah stared at the paw print silently. Everyone else thought there w as something going on. Everyonebut her.Because there cant be, she thought. Because it has to all be in my head. It has to be something I canfigure out and mend quick something I can control.Thanks for sightedness me again so soon, she said to Paul. Oh He gestured, tucking the hammer under his arm. Its no trouble. I deficiency to get to the crumb ofwhats upsetting you as much as you do. And, he admitted under his breath as he let them in the house,I dont actually have any other patients.Hannah followed him down a residence hall and into his office. It was dim internal, the boards across thewindows reducing the late afternoon sunlight to breach oddly-angled shafts.She sit down in the contoured chair. The only thing is, how can we get to the bottom of it? I dont understandwhats upsetting me, either. Its all too strange. I mean, on the one hand, Im clearly insane. She spokeflatly as Paul took his seat on the opposite side of the desk. I have crazy dreams, I think the world isgoi ng to end, I have the whole step Im macrocosm followed, and yesterday I started hearing voices in my head. Onthe other hand, me beingness insane doesnt explain wolves jumping through the windows.Voices? Paul murmured, looking around for a pencil. Then he gave up and faced her. Yeah, I know. Iunderstand the temptation. Last night after having those wolves stare at me, I was about containy to believethat there had to be something He trailed off and shook his head, lifting papers on his desk to glanceunder them. Something really strange going on. But now its daytime, and were all rational people,and we realize that we have to plough with things rationally. And, actually, you know, I think I may havecome up with a rational explanation. He found a pencil and with an expression of vast relief began towaggle it between his fingers.Hope turned on(p) inside Hannah. An explanation?Yeah. I mean, first of all, its possible that your premonitions and things are just unconnected withthe wo lves. People never extremity to believe in coincidence, but it happens. But even if the two things areconnected-well, I dont think that convey that anybodys after you. It could be that theres some sort ofdisturbance in this area-something thats inhalation up the whole ecosystem, do wolves crazy,doing who knows what to other animals and that youre somehow sensing this. Youre attuned to itsomehow. mayhap its earthquake weather or-or sunspots or negative ions in the air. But some(prenominal) it is,its causing you to think that some terrible disaster is coming. That the world is outcome or that youre aboutto be run throughed.Hannah tangle the hope sink inside her, and it was more painful than not having had it at all. I suppose thatcould happen, she said. She didnt loss to hurt his qualityings. But how does it explain this?She reached into the canvas bag she carried instead of a purse and pulled out a folded slip of paper.Paul took the paper and read it. Theyve seen you. They re going to tell him. This is your last chance toget away. He stuck the pencil in his mouth. Hmmm I found it this morning wrapped around my toothbrush, Hannah said quietly. And its yourhandwriting? She shut her eyes and nodded. And you dont cogitate writing it. I didnt write it. Iknow I didnt. She opened her eyes and took a lately breath. The annotatings scare me. Everything thatshappening scares me. I dont understand any of it, and I dont see how Im supposed to fix it if I dontunderstand it.Paul considered, chewing on the pencil gently. Look-whatevers happening, whoevers writing thenotes, I think your subconscious mind is sifting to tell you something. The dreams are evidence of that.But its not telling you enough. Theres something I was going to suggest, something I dont exactly believein, but that we can try anyway. Something to get toyour subconscious directly so we can ask it whats going on.Get to her subconscious directly. Hannah held her breath. Hypnosis?Paul nodded. Im not a big hypnosis fan. Its not some magical trance like TV and the movies want youto believe. Its just a state of mind where youre a little more relaxed, a little more likely to be able toremember threatening things without choking up. But its nothing you cant achieve yourself by doing live exercises at home.Hannah wasnt happy. Hypnosis yet seemed to mean giving up control. If not to Paul, then to her ownsubconscious.But what else am I supposed to do? She sat and listened to the quiet helplessness in her mind for amoment. Not a peep from the cool wind voice or the crystal voice-and that was good, as far as she wasconcerned. Still, it pointed up the fact that she didnt have an alternative.She looked at Paul. Okay. Lets do it.Great. He stood, then reached for a book on the corner of his desk. incessantly assuming I rememberhow. Okay, why dont you lie down on the barf?Hannah hesitated, then shrugged. If Im going to do it, I might as well do it right. She lay down andstared at the d ark beams in the ceiling. In spite of how miserable she was mental picture, she had an almostirresistible impulse to giggle. here(predicate) she was on a real psychologists couch, waiting to be hypnotized. Her friends at naturalise wouldnever consider even going to a shrink-out here inMontana insaneness was okay. After all, you had to be alittle eccentric to be living in this hard land in the first place. What wasnt okay was admitting you couldntdeal with it on your own, paying too much attention to it, asking for help. And allowing yourself to behypnotized was even worse.They all think Im the most independent and together of any of them. If they could see me now. Okay, Iwant you to get comfortable and shut your eyes, Paul said. He was perched with one hip on the edge ofhis desk, complication swinging, book in hand. His voice was quiet and soothing-the professional voice.Hannah shut her eyes. without delay I want you to count yourself floating. Just floating and sense of sme ll very relaxed. Theres nothing youneed to think about and nowhere you need to go. And now youre sightedness yourself enveloped by abeautiful violet light. Its bathing your stallion body and its making you more and more relaxed The couch was surprisingly comfortable. Its curves fit under her, supporting her without being intrusive.It was easy to imagine that she was floating, easy to imagine the light around her.And now you feel yourself floating down deeper into a deeper state of relaxation and youresurrounded by a deep blue light. The blue light is all around you, shining through you, and its making youmore comfortable, more relaxedThe soft soothing voice went on, and at its heed Hannah imagined waves of colored light bathing herbody. Deep blue, emerald green, golden yellow, glowing orange. Hannah axiom it all. It was amazing and effortless her mind just showed her the stick outs. And as the colors came and went she felt herselfbecoming more and more relaxed, warm and almost weightless. She couldnt feel the couch underneathher any longer. She was floating on light.And now youre seeing a ruby red light, very deep, very relaxing. Youre so relaxed youre calm andcomfortable, and everything feels safe. zipper will upset you you can answer all my questions withoutever feeling distressed. Do you understand me?Yes, Hannah said. She was aware of saying it, but it wasnt exactly as if she had said it. She wasntaware of planning to say it. Something within her seemed to be answering Paul using her voice.But it wasnt frightening. She still felt relaxed, floating in the ruby light.All right. Im now speaking to Hannahs subconscious. You will be able to remember things thatHannahs waking mind isnt aware of-even things that have been repressed. Do you understand?Yes. Again, the voice seemed to come before Hannah decided to speak.Good. Now, Ive got this last note here, the one you found wrapped around your toothbrush thismorning. Do you remember this note?Yes. Of course .Okay, thats good. And now I want you to go back in your mind, back to the time that this note waswritten.This time Hannah was aware of a need to speak. But how can I do that? I dont know when it waswritten. I didnt write-Just-just-just let go, Hannah, Paul said, overriding her. His voice soothing again, he added, Feelrelaxed, feel yourself becoming very relaxed, and letyour conscious mind go. Just tell yourself to go back to the time this note was written. Dont worry abouthow. propose the ruby light and think 1 will go back. Are you doing that?Yes, Hannah said. Go back, she told herself gamely. Just relax and go back, okay?And now, a picture is beginning to form in your mind. You are seeing something. What are you seeing?Hannah felt something inside her give way. She seemed to be falling into the ruby right. Her fairmind was suspended it seemed to have been shuttled off to the side somewhere. In this odd dreamlikestate, nothing could surprise her.Pauls voice was gently insistent. What are you seeing?Hannah saw it.A tiny picture that seemed to open up, unfold as she stared at it.I see myself, she whispered. Where are you?I dont know. Wait, maybe Im in my room. She could see herself, wearing something long and white-anightgown. No, she was that self, she was in her bedroom, wearing her nightgown. She was in Paulsoffice, assembly on the couch, but she was in her bedroom at the same time. How strange, she thought dimly.All right, now the picture will get clearer. Youll begin to see things around you. Just relax and youllbegin to see them. Now, what are you doing?Without feeling anything-except a kind of distant amusement and resignation-Hannah said, Writing anote.Paul muttered something that sounded like, Aha. But it might have been, XJh-huh. Then he saidsoftly, And why are you writing it?I dont know-to check myself. I have to warn myself.About what?Hannah felt herself shake her own head helplessly.Okay what are you feeling as you write it?Oh That was easy. Paul was undoubtedly expecting her to say something like fear or anxiety. Butthat wasnt the strongest thing she was feeling. Not the strongest at all.Longing, Hannah whispered. She move her head restlessly on the couch. Just- relish.I beg your pardon?I want-so much I want .What do you want?Him. It came out as a sob. Hannahs ordinary mind watched somewhere in amazement, but Hannahsbody was entirely taken over by the feeling, racked with it. I know its impossible. Its risk of infection and deathto me. But I dont care. I cant help itWhoa, whoa, whoa. I mean, youre feeling very relaxed. Youre very calm and you can answer myquestions. Who is this person that youre longing for?The one who comes, Hannah said softly and hopelessly. Hes wicked and evil I know that. Sheexplained it all to me. And I know hell kill me. The way he always has. But I want him.She was trembling. She could feel her own body emit heat-and she could hear Paul swallow.Somehow in this expanded state of awareness s he seemed to be able to see him, as if she could beeverywhere at once. She knew he was sitting there on the edge of the desk, looking at her dazedly,bewildered by the transformation in the young woman on his couch. She knew he could see her, her face pale and glowing from inner heat, her breath coming quickly, herbody gripped by a fine muscular tremor. And she knew he was stirred-and frightened.Oh, boy. Pauls breath came out and he shifted on the desk. He bowed his head, then lifted it, lookingfor a pencil. Okay, I have to admit, Im lost. Lets just go back to the beginning here. You feel thatsomebody is after you, and that hes tried to kill you before? Some old boyfriend whos stalking you,maybe?No. He hasnt tried to kill me. He has killed me. He has killed you. Paul rubbish his pencil. He muttered, Ishould have known better than to have started this. I dont believe in hypnosis anyway.And hes going to do it again. Ill die before my 17th birthday. Its my punishment for loving him.It always happens that way.Right. Okay. Okay, lets try something really basic here. Does this mystery guy have a name?Hannah lifted a hand and let it drop. When? she whispered.What?When?When what? What? Paul shook his head. Oh, hell-Hannah spoke precisely. Hes used various names at different times. Hes had-hundreds, I guess. But Ithink of him as Thierry. Thierry Descouedres.Because thats the one hes used for the last couple of lifetimes.There was a long silence. Then Paul said, The last couple of ?Lifetimes. It may still be his name now. The last time I saw him he said he wouldnt bother to change itanymore. He wouldnt bother to enshroud any longer.Paul said, Oh, God. He stood, walked to the window, and put his head in his hands. Then he turnedback to Hannah. Are we talking about I mean, tell me were not talking about He paused andthen his voice came out soft and boneless. The Big R? You know He winced. conversion?A long silence.Then Hannah heard her own voice say flatly, He hasnt been reincarnated.Oh. Pauls breath came out in relief. Well, thank God. You had me scared there for a minute.Hes been alive all this time, Hannah said. He isnt human, you know.