Page 8 of Heart's Keeper

That definitely wasn't right. She looked around and saw his favorite chair by the window and the radio on the table next to it. The faded red rug on the floor was falling apart, threads poking every which way. Outside the window, Lana could see the dock and her father's boat bobbing gently. In a bowl by the chair was a cigarette still burning, a slender trail of smoke coming out one end.

Lana stood there for what felt like hours just looking around the empty room, and in that time, it never occurred to her to think she was dreaming. Eventually, she called out, "Hello?" to anyone who might be near, but her voice came out like an echo drowned out by waves. She thought she heard someone in the kitchen, and she moved toward the door. As she walked inside the kitchen, the room turned back into her and Xerus' den.

Lana watched Xerus sleep, and a soft red light began to envelop the room. When she turned her head in the direction of the bath, she saw instead a large glass screen with several men behind it, staring at her. She recognized every single face, and her heart dropped at the sight of seeing the generals, her old friend Jacob, and Cole Kingsley looking back at her. They watched her. No, studied her. And they smiled.

Cole came up close to the glass and grinned. "He's truly a magnificent specimen, isn't he?"

Blood slipped from his nose, but he didn't so much as wipe it away. Lana shook her head, unable to understand. Blood trickled down the glass screen until it gushed in torrents, blocking the men from sight. Lana felt her heart racing out of control. She went to shout back at them and, as she turned her head, found Xerus crouched behind her. Eyes red like hellfire, bloody teeth bared. Rage and emptiness in his eyes. His tail whipped back, and, with a violent snarling roar, he leaped at her, and Lana screamed.

Gasping for air, Lana woke. Sitting up, she looked down at Xerus, and her heart leaped in her chest. He was still sound asleep.

Trying to calm her breathing, Lana carefully got up, the air hitting the sweat along her back, chilling her, making her shiver. She moved toward the bath and stopped, placing a shaky hand over her eyes.

She'd had dreams about the past before but not something so vivid as the one she just had. Not in a very long time.

It was the stress of going back. Of remembering what had happened, that was all. They rarely talked of Lazris, but with everything that was happening now, it was bringing back unwanted memories.

Lana dropped her hand and looked back over at Xerus once more. She thought again about their trip home after Jara and their conversation in the bath. He'd said he was restless. That he felt urges he couldn't explain. She suddenly wished she had asked him more about it. Though he had put her mind at ease then, she still felt anxious. It wasn't like him to be restless for no reason. She wished she knew what he was thinking.

Lana exhaled slowly and turned back for the bath. It was better to put it out of her head. They had more serious matters to worry about now. Tomorrow they would have to prepare to leave; to prepare themselves for a return to human civilization.

And hope my kind don't try to kill Xerus and imprison me while we try to save them, Lana thought bitterly. She hadn't spoken with a single person since she left. Who knew what kind of trouble she and Xerus were getting into this time?

Chapter Four

When Lana woke the next morning, she found herself alone once again and Xerus missing from their den. Choosing to believe he had decided to wake early to gain a fresh start on all that needed to be prepared for their journey, she quickly washed and dressed and headed for the central chamber above. When she didn't find him there, she made for the terrace where they sometimes took breakfast. There, Xini had prepared a groundmat with various dishes and spiced tea underneath a small canopy. The sun's light was only just peeking over the horizon, and a few tyili—long-necked birds with horned beaks—sung down in the trees below. When Xerus was nowhere to be seen, Lana asked Xini if she had seen him.

"He went out before the break of light to hunt," she responded.

Lana took a seat down on the groundmat and frowned. "Oh." It was odd that he would go out a second time in a row and not tell her. And to leave the grounds now when they had so much to prepare for was also very strange. She looked up at Xini who quietly went about checking the plants along the terrace wall and shooing away a couple of mirrul that chittered at her before disappearing down to a level below. She seemed quiet and kept her eyes averted which made Lana feel suspicious. "What is it?" Lana asked.

Xini glanced her way, then turned back to another potted plant. "Did you talk to your predomis about his distance?" she asked suddenly.

Lana didn't respond at first. She took a sip of tea and set the cup down before saying, "Yes, we talked. He says he has been restless but doesn't know why. That he's felt a pull to something but can't explain what. He claims it's due to being away for so long, but I'm not sure."

Xini flicked her tail and tilted her head but remained quiet. Lana traced a finger along the rim of her teacup and watched her. She could tell the vrisha female seemed more rigid than usual. "Why do you ask, Xini?"

Xini looked back at her, and her eyes made Lana feel a slight jolt in her stomach.

"I'm sure it is nothing to be concerned about," Xini said. "But he did seem a little off when I saw him go."

"Off how?" Lana asked.

Xini looked around the terrace as if trying to find the right words. "He seemed...distracted by something out in the jungle. He kept very still, watching down below for a long while before he eventually left. I tried to ask him before he passed the house gates if he needed anything from me but when he turned to look at me..."

"Yes?" Lana asked after a long pause.

Xini's eyes fixed with hers. "He looked at me like he didn't recognize me. Then his warning scent filled the air."

Lana's eyes widened. He only ever excreted his pheromones when there was dire danger. But he had never ever used it on a housekin or even those within the haven. Any other time was a sort of heat scent, and it was only ever with her. The scent reminded her of the smell of fresh coffee but with others, it was not so pleasant and drove them to fear.

"Do you think maybe he was dreaming? Perhaps he was sleepwalking?" Lana asked. Though she had never once encountered him or any vrisha sleepwalking and didn't even know if they did such a thing.

Xini shook her head. "No, I don't think so."

"Maybe it was too dark, and he didn't recognize you?"

Even with the look Xini gave her, Lana knew it was a foolish explanation. Vrisha could see very well in the dark.

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