hotel lobby and then he was free, through the front door and out into the cool of the night where he called out to a darkness heavy with rain clouds. He moved quickly across the land, desperation and confusion scrambling his mind. At the edge of his consciousness the presence of the rider was strong. As he neared Aunt Gwen’s house he began to run.
Chapter Twelve
Nicola called out to Paul, but he was already gone from the open doorway. She pulled the duvet around her and went to the door, but all that met her was an empty corridor.
How could he have done this to her? Abandoned her, just like Stefan had done a few nights ago, but this was worse, far worse. Something was happening to her and Paul was the only one who had the answers. Now he was gone and she was alone again. This time she could not escape the darkness that threatened to consume her.
Nicola stumbled back into the room almost falling over the sheets wrapped tightly around her. She sat on the bed feeling unable to breathe, her heart pounding in her chest. A paralysis held her and she could not move. Her mind was a chaotic torrent, while the noise rang in her ears, the life force raging through her. She fell back onto the bed and squeezed her eyes tightly closed, trying to shut everything out, but the noise was so bad she could not and she wanted to scream.
Slowly the noise lessened, the life force calming her. She felt it now as a presence, raw and wild, alien to her in its thoughts and emotions, yet with a consciousness she could recognize. It was gently probing her mind and soul, searching for something she did not know how to give, but at the same time it gave her respite from herself. The presence was pulling at her, urging her to follow its guide and she found her body responding again, muscles pulling limbs into movement.
More urgently now it called to her, and she rose from the bed, the duvet falling away. For a moment she saw herself in the mirror, the wild beauty of her slender body, and she did not recognize herself. She moved to the patio door of her room as if in a trance. She slid open the door and stepped out into the darkness. Rain was falling gently and, as she walked out, part of her felt it on her skin, felt her hair beginning to dampen and stick to her face, felt the wet earth on the soles of her feet, and all the time the presence was controlling her, gently but firmly, and all she could do was follow. Part of her mind recoiled in shock, unable to comprehend yet unable to act.
She began to shiver as the rain covered her body and cooled her in the summer night, and deep down she knew she had to go back to the hotel, to warmth and safety, but she could not. Her remembering mind was a sludge-like treacle, seeing through a thick mist, while the presence saw everything through her, fields and hedgerows, the cliffs, the sea moving restlessly in a deep swell, the rocks glistening with moisture.
Nicola wanted to sleep, drowsiness filling her, yet all she could do was walk away into the night, further and further from the hotel, from people, from life. She was shivering uncontrollably now, and heather was scratching her legs as the presence pulled her up onto the downs that sat above the cliffs. She did not know how far she had walked or where she was, only that there was nothing around her, no lights or signs of life where she could call for help.
Fear began to creep through the numbness in her mind and she tried to pull away, to stop walking and turn around, but the presence would not let her. She wanted to run, to call out, but it was as if a clamp held her mouth and rope was coiled around each leg, pulling her onwards. The rain began falling heavier now while in the distance thunder rumbled ominously. She suffered intense bouts of shivering as her body tried to keep its temperature, her hands and feet, arms and legs becoming leaden and numb, yet still she was not allowed to stop.
Nicola stumbled and fell. Mud was cool and clammy against her skin, heather pricking her back and face. She curled into a ball hugging