Haunting Shadows (Book 2)

Chapter 48

Cold sweat soaked me when I once again awoke screaming. It was probably early morning, judging by the darkness that blanketed the world beyond my windows. My nightmares had still not stopped. I rubbed my left shoulder with my right hand as I tried to get my heart rate to go back down to normal. I didn’t understand. Why hadn’t they gone away yet? Hadn’t they just wanted to tell me that Andreas was there, that he had wanted to try and save me but was too late? Perhaps there was more to them than that. But how long did I have to continue suffering through them?

I slipped off the bed, too anxious now to try and go back to sleep. I pulled on a gown and started heading down to the kitchen. The only thing that could calm me now was a nice hot cup of tea. The hallway was dark, all the candles that lined the walls now extinguished; everyone else must already be asleep.

It was harder than I thought having to navigate through this house without a single candle lit. I was sure that when I had stayed here before that there was always at least one candle providing light. Of course I knew there was a simple solution to my problem, but as James had pointed out, I was afraid of fire.  And I wasn’t getting over that fear anytime soon. I made my way blindly down the hall, using the wall as my guide. 

“Lighting a candle is much simpler than stumbling around in the dark, little witch.” My stomach did a little flip at the deep timbre of the familiar voice, my heart stopping a little at his usage of the nickname he’d given me.

I bit my lower lip. “Contrary to what you may believe, I still have very little control over my abilities.”

A small flame suddenly appeared and I could see where he was standing. He was much closer than I thought. The dim light reflecting off him did little else than indicate that he was once again shirtless. I forced myself to look away.

“Is it that, or is it because you have developed a certain aversion to fire?” Damn him for being so observant.

I frowned. “So what if it’s a little of both? Perhaps I just like moving around in the dark.”

I could faintly make out his amused smirk. Sucking in a deep breath, I started walking away from him, further down the hall to where I believed the stairs were located. Of course he just had to notice and follow me.

“What are you doing up so late?” he asked, easily falling into step next to me, using his candle to provide the much needed light I craved but would never let on to.

 “I could ask you the same question.”

“And I would answer it after you have.”

I pinched my eyes shut for a few seconds before replying. “If you must know, I couldn’t sleep and wanted to go make myself some tea.”

“Great idea, considering your aversion to fire.”

I balled my hands into fists. “I do not have an aversion to fire.”

He moved to candle closer to me to prove his point, and I shied away automatically only to curse myself a moment later. “Yes, I see, you love fire.”

“What do you want, Andreas?”

“That is a very loaded question, little witch. Allow me some time to consider it and I will get back to you once I fully figure it out.”

We reached the stairs and I picked up my pace. Andreas didn’t let that deter him and matched my speed. “Why couldn’t you sleep?”

“I just couldn’t.”

He grabbed my arm as he stopped when we reached the bottom of the stairs. “Why won’t you tell me?”

“Why should I?”