Timeless - Mark Tuan

Chapter 4

Engaged? She's not a witch is she? 

"What?" 

Did I say that out loud? "Uhm...I mean ... She's not here, is she?"

He looks really panicked now. He paces the room, rubbing his face with both his hands as I put the last piece of clothing on me. "She's waiting in the office, actually. Shit. I'm really sorry, Annie."

I sigh ... both in relief and frustration. "Don't blame yourself. I had a part on it, too." I tell him. "We won't be seeing each other after this. I promise you. I'd just contact James if I need anything." I got what I needed anyway.

"We won't, right?" He looks somewhat relieved himself. "This is ..." he awkwardly spreads his arms to his sides, hesitating to come closer. But, he still does. He wraps his arms around me, hugging me real tight. "I know you don't want to hear it anymore, but, I'm sorry. I really am. I wish it were different ... the way we met I mean."

I let out a fake chuckle. "Don't worry, Mark. It was great while it lasted." I pat his back. "Run along now. You don't wanna be more late than you already are." I step away from his embrace. "Thanks for showing me around. I think I can manage on my own. I want to stay a bit longer if you don't mind."

"Of course." He furrows his brows again. "Not at all. Take your time. I'll send James to come and get you."

"Don't bother. I know my way back to your office. I can take a cab or something."

"You sure?" 

I nod, showing him a smile as to ease his worries. 

"Great then. Uhm..." He's already by the door, he turns around again, "I..."

"Just go." I giggle.

"Right." He nods. And with that, he leaves me alone in the suite. I hear him talking to someone on the phone on his way to the elevator, I'm guessing it's the fiance. 

I slump back on the couch, exhaling aloud. Still exhausted from earlier, I lay for a while. It doesn't matter. I take off my gloves and look at my hand again. How is this possible? Not even a day. 

This is the first time this happened. This ... being regenerated from 'sex' this fast. Not to mention, I haven't even done my usual ritual. 

You see, just like when I took those kids' lives, I would have to perform a ceremony before the transformation would take effect. I would usually do it two or three weeks after 'coupling'. When I'm sure there's life starting to form inside me. 

________

"Can you describe it?" Mae is saying as we all gather in the study at night. 

"How can it not show in the orbuculum when the boy saw it himself?" Cecilia asks, puzzled, too. 

"I don't know." I really don't. I haven't encountered anything like it before. 

Mae is in front of her laptop. "Shadow ghosts." She blurts out. 

"What?" I turn to her. 

She moves the laptop so I could see the article she's reading. "It could be a shadow ghost. Some of them can be easily caught on camera when they move too slow. However," she reads on, "there are a few who can't be caught even with black magic."

"I think I've heard of them before." I suddenly remember a story I was told in one of my journeys. "They're just ghosts trapped in this world with a mission to fulfill. I've actually met some witches who have freed some of them."

"So," Mae furrows her brows, "this 'shadow' ... let's say it has a mission, why is it following you? Could it be you it's after? For what?"

"To kill her?" Cecilia is not sure of what she just said. "But why? If it's Gillian who summoned this entity, why would she want you killed? Why now?"