I know. He took another gulp of beer. What the hell am I going to do once all this is over?
What do you think you should so? What do you want to do?
What he should do and what he wanted to do were two very different things. They don't have to be, Michael. She's a very resilient young woman. She'd fit nicely into our circle.
And have her share his world of darkness? As much as he ached to do just that, to finally have someone to walk by his side, it wasn't right or fair to ask her to do so. Darkness had been too much a part of her life already.
You should at least give her the opportunity to refuse, Michael. She doesn't want me in her life. She doesn't want anyone in her life. Amusement filtered down the line. That sounds terribly familiar. Wonder where I've heard that before?
He smiled. I have to leave her. I have no real choice.
Believe an old witch when she says the future is clouded when it comes to the two of you. There is no clear-cut choice here, no right or wrong.
He ran a hand through his hair. Fat lot of good that advice does me. Then listen to your heart Michael. It may be buried deep, but I know it's there somewhere. Now get something to eat before you fade into shadow.
She broke the contact. He sighed and finished the rest of his beer. Seline was right. If he couldn't touch Nikki's mind now, after all they'd shared, what hope did Jasper have?
He pushed out of the chair that had been his home for the last thirty-six hours and walked across to the window. The late afternoon light washed through the lace curtains. Even in his weakened state, the sun held no threat.
But fatigue did.
He had to eat, had to regain strength as quickly as he could. When he finally caught Jasper, he had to be fit enough to take him.
The bastard had to pay.
* * * *
She floated in a soothing sea of darkness, a world without sound, without worry. At peace. Yet something within was restless, needing to be gone from this place. A voice called, but she turned away, not wanting to confront the pain it represented. The voice would not be ignored. It filled her mind, demanding her return, relentless in its pursuit. Stirred to life, she finally woke and opened her eyes.