Part 9 (1/2)

He came downstairs to help me stand. I didn't accept his help. ”I want to find the person who did this.”

”Why?” he asked. I could tell he knew the answer but wanted to hear me say it.

”I want to kill them,” I said coldly.

He touched my shoulder. ”You have changed, Gwyneth.”

I had no idea what he was talking about, but that was becoming the norm, so I ignored it. I turned and went into the house. Pallo followed close behind me. He didn't make any sound when he moved, and that was creepy. He smiled at me. He knew his stealth mode routine was getting to me, so he quit.

I poured myself a gla.s.s of ice water and sat at the table. Pallo joined me. He told me that shortly after I had fallen asleep, Caradoc and James came. He and James went looking for Caleb. Caradoc cleaned me up. I looked at him sternly, but he ignored me. They had looked all along the river's edge for him and found nothing. They decided to split up, and each one took a side of the river and searched the woods. Pallo found blood in the woods but nothing else. He put his head down as he told me that it was rare for trolls to leave much of their victim behind. I winced. I didn't want to think about Caleb dying that way. I couldn't.

Pallo then informed me that I had slept for almost two full days. He stayed here in the bas.e.m.e.nt during the day and slept. Caradoc and James had headed back to the city shortly before I woke.

I looked at Pallo, soaking in the information he'd given me. I ran a hand over my stomach. If I had slept for two straight days and my belly was completely flat, then that meant that there was a good chance that I was not with child.

Pallo's gaze rested on my stomach. ”How are you feeling?”

I nodded, but as I started to answer him, a wave of nausea hit me. I ran to the sink and began to dry heave. I felt Pallo's cool hands on my forehead.

”Try to relax, Gwen.” He never called me Gwen. He was trying too hard now.

I started to cry. ”They said that I would never have children of my own. I've always wanted children. Now I may get my wish, but the child will never know its father.”

”You miss him?” he asked, sitting once more.

”Yeah.”

I looked at him leaning back in the chair. I had to do a double take. He was wearing a red plaid s.h.i.+rt and a pair of dark blue jeans that looked to be a bit big on him.

”You're wearing my father's clothes?” I started to laugh a little. He looked so out of place in plaid.

He propped his elbows on the table. ”I didn't expect to be staying. My clothes are being laundered. I hope you do not mind that I borrowed these.” He put his hand up to unb.u.t.ton the s.h.i.+rt.

”No, Pallo, its fine. You can have them. I was going to give them away. I just hadn't gotten around to it yet.”

He gave me that wicked little grin of his again and I melted.

”Thanks,” I said.

”For what?”

”For being my friend.” I reached out and patted his hand.

We cleaned up the house as best we could. I packed a few articles of clothing and we loaded them into Caleb's red truck. Pallo and I drove back to the city together, and I dropped him off at Necro World, swearing I'd be back shortly. I headed off to get some information.

I stopped at my apartment first. I had promised Pallo that I wouldn't, but I was pretty sure he could tell I was lying so I didn't know how much that counted. I went in and changed and threw a few things in an overnight back. I was learning that it was definitely better to be prepared. I headed off in search of answers.

I pulled Caleb's SUV up outside of Ken's firm and went to the sixth floor, heading for my office. When I got inside, I saw that my phone was blinking. I had voice mail. I was guessing that missing work for a few days meant that I had a ton of phone calls to return. I glanced at my computer. My inbox was probably full too. Oh, well, they would have to wait. I grabbed my Rolodex and skimmed through the names. I needed to find someone who could help me find out who was sending these creatures after me. I wanted to meet them face to face, they would answer for Caleb. I had numbers for almost every sort of paranormal or supernormal contact in the area. I flipped past Lyle Martin's name and stopped. Martin was a self-appointed expert on the behavioral patterns of supernatural and mythological creatures. I had personally never put much stock into what he said, but I was willing to give him a try. The last time I had seen the guy he was appearing on a local talk show.

I phoned the number on the card, but got his answering machine. I started to leave him a brief message concerning a close friend of mine being attacked by trolls on two different occasions and was about to hang up. The phone clicked.

”h.e.l.lo?”

”Mr. Martin?” I asked surprised to have gotten through to him.

”Yes, Gwyneth, it is I.” The fact that he knew my name should have creeped me out. It wasn't like the d.a.m.n phone was in my name. If anyone it would be Ken. ”You mentioned something about h.e.l.lhounds, and trolls?”

”Yes.” I told him everything I could, leaving out the parts about me having s.e.x with Caleb.

Martin was silent for a minute. ”I see, this is most interesting ... I would like very much to speak with you about this face-to-face.”

”Yes, I understand, but I won't be able to meet with you anytime soon, and as I'm sure you can tell ... time is of the essence.” Truth was, I probably could have met with him, but he was creeping me out.

”Yes,” he said, long and drawn out, ”I shall offer you this one bit of advice.”

”Yes?”

”Your past is never far behind.”

The line went dead. I looked at the receiver and then back at my Rolodex. I scratched the word nut job on Lyle Martin's card and thrust it back in place.

I recognized Ken coming down the hall by the sound of his voice. I didn't want to deal with him right now. I picked up my phone and dialed his office and was relieved to hear him race down the hall to grab his phone. Good old Ken, he was one of those people who just couldn't stand to let the phone ring. I gave it a second to ring some more and heard his door opening. I bolted out of my office, raced down the hall, and waved at Judy, the receptionist. She was trying to tell me that Ken was looking for me. I nodded and pushed the door open to the stairwell. Running down six flights of stairs in August will take it out of just about anyone. I hit the lobby and headed for Caleb's truck.

It was a lot later than I thought it was. Hadn't the sun only come up a little while ago? It seemed that way, but it had taken me a lot longer at my apartment and driving around than I'd thought. Mid-afternoon approached. Pallo would be waking soon, and I had promised to go back and stay at his place for the night. I got in the truck and headed towards Necro World, flipping on the radio. Caleb had a CD in--Less Than Jake. I sat there in awe for a moment. The guy lived for four hundred years and listened to punk cover bands? I don't think I could have been more surprised. I switched to the radio. I had no problem with the band. In fact, they were one of my favorites, but I was in the mood for something a little softer. I hit the scan b.u.t.ton and concentrated on the road. The stereo ran through the various channels over and over again. It all started to sound the same to me. It faded into background noise as my thoughts drifted to Caleb.

I could still smell the fresh scent of his hair. My legs tightened thinking about the touch of his body. His dark green eyes would forever stick with me. The sound of his voice, so soft compared to Pallo's and Ken's. So ... coming from the radio?

I slammed on the brakes. Thank goodness no one was behind me. I looked at the radio, half expecting to see Caleb fall out of it. I heard his voice again. He was speaking with someone I didn't recognize. The other voice was male--deep, and strong. I heard him, but what he said made no sense to me. It was gibberish. It was like listening to a foreign language for the first time. I was lost, but I knew that was Caleb's voice, I was positive.

The channel changed. I hit the radio to try to retrieve the sound of Caleb. I had forgotten that I was scanning through the channels. I pushed the seek b.u.t.ton and heard nothing but music. Had I imagined the whole thing? Had I been so wrapped up in my thoughts of Caleb that I just invented it? I didn't know. I didn't know much anymore, except that Pallo was right. I needed to stick close to him until things blew over. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw that I had ama.s.sed a small procession behind me. I pushed on the accelerator and went to Pallo's.

Chapter 13.

I walked around Pallo's room and tried to find something to do. The guy didn't have anything to entertain himself with in here. Looking at the enormous bed, I laughed to myself when I thought about what kind of entertaining the room was set up for--none of which consisted watching a movie. Spying his dressers, curiosity got the best of me and I cracked open a drawer. I yanked it open all the way when I caught a glimpse of its contents. It was full of s.e.x toys of all shapes and colors. My mouth dropped open, and I felt myself blus.h.i.+ng.

I really had to get out more.

”See anything you like?” Pallo whispered.

I hadn't heard him come in--no shocker there. I could have slammed the drawer shut and made up some silly story to cover my b.u.t.t. I didn't. I put my hand in and touched something s.h.i.+ny and clear. It was a long gla.s.s rod rippled with irregular b.u.mps. I jerked my hand away. I hoped that wasn't what I though it was.

”You are one sick puppy!” I said.

”Thank you,” he said and licked the back of my ear.

I faced him. He was wearing a black, silky pair of pajama bottoms, similar to the ones he wore the night I met him. They were just as low on his hips as the other ones, and I caught myself s.n.a.t.c.hing glimpses of his bare, rippling chest. I forced my gaze back to his face and found him grinning.