Page 23 of Shadow Touched

Chapter Eight

The next morning, Leia rolled over andstretched, remembering the evening. After she and Brim had returnedto the party, she had thought he’d go off and do his own thing.Instead, he planted her right by his side as they mingled. Whenshe’d grown tired, he had escorted her to her room in thegrandstand and kissed her good night. She’d showered and crawlednaked into bed.

A knock sounded on her door.

“Leia?” Piper called through the door. “I’veleft some clothes out here.”

“Okay, thanks,” Leia said loudly.

“I’ve just made fresh brewed coffee andthere’s plenty of stuff for breakfast. Come on down whenever youwant.”

Her footsteps retreated, and Leia rose. Sheopened the door, grabbed the clothes, and hurried to dress. Thejeans were a little snug, the top a tad too tight across thebreasts, but they were clean and that’s all that mattered. Sheslipped on her shoes and headed downstairs.

No one was in the kitchen, so Leia pouredherself some coffee, adding a spoonful of sugar. She grabbed aslice of buttered toast resting nearby on a plate and headed towardthe back door. Watching her step as she stepped outside, it wasn’tuntil she was on flat ground before she looked up. Piper sat on thepatio chair, watching the twins run around and laugh. A shadowrested on her shoulder.

Leia didn’t remember dropping the mug ofcoffee. She didn’t hear it shatter on the concrete walkway. All shecould focus on was death lingering on her new friend and screamed.Men came running, and as she looked around, she saw the shadow ofdeath attached to everyone. She backed up, shaking her head, onlyhalting her retreat when Brim scooped her up in his arms.

“Leia! It’s me,” Brim said. “Look at me.Just me.”

Leia blinked. He filled her vision, blockingeverything else out.

“What did you see, Leia?”

“Shadows,” she whispered. She made sure notto look anywhere else but into his eyes. “On everyone.”

“What does she mean?” Kix demanded. He wassomewhere behind Brim, so she couldn’t see him. “What shadows?”

“Remember when I told you Leia helped me?She has an ability,” Brim said. “Leia, you need to tell mehow.”

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said softly. “But I’ve got you.Okay? You’re not alone. We have to save our friends.”

She’d spent her life running from the coldshadows of death, and even though she knew Brim was with her, Leiahad to dig deep inside herself to find the courage to face herfears. She nodded.

“Kix,” Brim said. “Come here.”

Kix stepped from behind Brim. Reluctantly,Leia broke eye contact with Brim to look at the White Deathpresident. A shadow rested on his shoulder.

“Look at her eyes,” Kix muttered.

Taking a deep breath, Leia reached forwardand slowly touched the vile specter. Immediately, images bombardedher mind. Tears ran down her face as she tried to figure themout.

“Breathe, Leia.” Brim’s voice cut throughthe blurring pictures. “You are in control, not the vision.Focus. Slow it down.”

She did as he said, taking a deep breath toground herself. Pushing aside the dizzying array of picturesspeeding by, she focused on one image at a time. Little by little,the whirlwind slowed, and she saw Kix being shot.

“A bullet,” she said aloud. “He’s hit with abullet.”

“Can you rewind a little?” Brim asked. “Whoshoots him?”

Concentrating, she turned her hand, like shewas turning the volume on a stereo, and Kix’s death rewound.

“A bullet hits the ground at his feet. Hedodges to the left and another one hits between his eyes.”

“Who, Leia? Who does this?”

She rewound even more and saw theattackers.

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