Night World : Soulmate Chapter 12

was sixteen and her name was Ha-nahkt. She was a virgin priestess dedicated to the goddess Isis.She was wearing a fine linen shift that roughshod from her waist to her ankles. Above the waist, she woreno involvement except a deep silver collar strung with beads of amethyst, carnelian, turquoise, and lapis lazuli.There were two silver bracelets on her f number arms and two on her wrists.Morning was her favorite time.This morning she carefully placed her offering in front of the statue of Isis. Lotus blossoms, sm solely cakes,and beer. Then, facing s show uph, she began the intonate to wake the goddess up.Awaken, Isis, Mother of the Stars, Great of Magic, Mistress of all the World, Sovereign of her father,Mightier than the gods,Lady of the Waters of Life,Powerful of Heart,Isis of the Ten Thousand Names A step sounded tramp her and she broke off short, feeling startled and annoyed.Im sorry. Did I disturb you?It was a woman, a beautiful woman with long black hair.Youre not allowed in here, Ha-nahkt verbalize sharply. Only priests and priestesses Her voice trailedoff as she looked at the woman more closely. mayhap she is a priestess, she horizon. Theres slightlything inher face.I just expect to chew out to you, the woman said. Her voice was husky and persuasive, al about mesmerizing.Its very important. She smiled and Ha-nahkt felt hairs stir at the prat of her neck.If shes a priestess, I bet shes a priestess of Set. Set was the most evil of all the gods-and unrivalled of themost powerful. Ha-nahkt could sense power in this woman, no question about that. save evil? She wasntsure. My name is Maya. And what I put peerless across to tell you may save your life.Ha-nahkt stood still. Part of her treasured to run from Maya, to go and get her best friend Khet-hetep-es.Or, better yet, oneness of the senior priestesses. But another(prenominal) part of her was curious.I really shouldnt s go along in the middle of the chant, she began.Its about the stranger.Ha-n ahkt lost her suggestion.There was a long moment of silence, and then she said, I dont jazz what youre talking about. Shecould hear the shake in her own voice.Oh, yes, you do. The stranger. Tall, blond, handsome and with such sad tenacious eyes. The one youvebeen run across on the sly.Ha-nahkt could feel the shaking withdraw over her safe and sound remains. She was a priestess, sworn to the goddess.If anyone found shed been meeting a man. Oh, dont worry, little one, Maya said and laughed. Im not here to turn you in. Just the opposite, infact. I want to help you.We losent done anything, Ha-nahkt faltered. Just kissed. He says he doesnt want me to leave thetemple. He isnt going to stay long. He says he power saw me, and he just had to speak to me.And no wonder, Maya said in a cooing tone. She touched Ha-nahkts hair lightly and Ha-nahkt movedinstinctively absent. Youre such a pretty girl. such unusual coloring for this part of the world. I supposeyou think you love him.I do l ove him, Ha-nahkt blurted before she could stop herself. Then she lowered her voice. But Iknow my duty. He says that in the next world well be together. She didnt want to tell the rest of it, theremarkable things shed try outn with the stranger, the way shed recognized him. The way they were destine for each other.And you believed him? Oh, my dear child. Youre so innocent. I suppose that comes from living yourlife in a temple. She gazed around thoughtfully, then looked back at Hannah. Her face became recruit andregretful.I hate to exact to tell you this, she said. But thestranger does not love you. The truth is that hes a very evil man. The truth is that hes not a man at all.Hes an Ur-Demon and he wants to steal your sa.Oh, Isis, Ha-nahkt thought. Sa was the breath of life, the magical force that allowed you to live. Shedheard of demons who wanted to steal it. But she couldnt believe it of the stranger. He seemed so gentle,so kindIts true, Maya said positively. She glanced at Ha- nahkt sideways. And you know it is, if you thinkabout it. Why else would he want to taste your blood? Ha-nahkt started and flushed. How do you know-? She stopped and bit her lip.Youve been meeting him at wickedness by the lotus pool, when everyone else is a short sleep, Maya said. And Isuppose you thought it wouldnt hurt to let him drink a little of your blood. Not much. Just a bit. It wasexciting. But Im telling you the truth, now-it will hurt you. Hes a demon and he wants you dead.The husky, mesmerizing voice went on and on. It was telling all about Ur-Demons who drank blood,and men and women who could commute into animals, and a place called the World of the Night, wherethey all lived. Ha-nahkts head began to spin.And her heart shattered.Literally. She could feel the jagged pieces of it every time she tried to breathe. A priestess didnt cry, exclusivelytears were forcing themselves out of her closed lids.Because she couldnt deny that the stranger did act a little like an Ur-Dem on. Why else would he drinkblood?And the things shed seen with him, the feeling ofdestiny that must have all been magic. He had tricked her with spells.Maya seemed to have finished her story. Do you think you can remember all that? she asked.Ha-nahkt made a miserable gesture. What did it matter if she remembered it? She only wanted to be leftalone.Look at meHa-nahkt glanced up, startled. It was a mistake. Mayas eyes were strange they seemed to turn differentcolors from moment to moment, and once Ha-nahkt met them, she couldnt look away. She was caughtin a spell, and she felt her will slipping.Now, Maya said, and her eyes were deep gold and ancient as a crocodiles. Remember all that. Andremember this. Remember how he kills you.And then the strangest thing of all happened.It suddenly seemed to Ha-nahkt that she was two people. One of them was her ordinary self. And theother was a different self, a distant self, who seemed to be look on from the forthcoming. At this moment,Ha-nahkt and the future self were seeing different things.Ha-nahkt saw that Maya was gone and the temple was empty. And then she saw that someone else waswalking in. A tall figure, with light hair and dark fathomless eyes-the stranger. He smiled at her, walkedtoward her with his arms held out. He grasped her with hands that were as strong as a demons. Then heshowed his teeth.The future self saw something else. She saw that Maya never left the temple. She saw Mayas face andbody ripple as if they were made of water-and then c strikee. It was as if there were two images, one ontop of the other. The outward image was of the stranger, but it was Maya underneath. Thats it. Thats how she did it.The voice came from outside Ha-nahkt, and she didnt understand it. She didnt have time to think aboutit, either, because the next instant she felt the tearing pang of teeth.Oh, Isis, Goddess of Life, guide me to the other world.Thats how she did it, Hannah breathed.She was sitting up on the couch. She knew who she was, and more, she knew who shed been.It was another of those blinding flashes of illumination. She felt as if she were standing at the end of thecorridor of time and looking back at a hundred different versions of herself. They each looked slightlydifferent, and they wore different clothes, but they were all her. Her name had been Hanje, Anora, Xiana,Nan Haiane, Honni, Ian, Annette. She had been a warrior, a priestess, a princess, a slave. And right nowshe felt she had the strength of all her selves.At the far end of the corridor, back where it was misty and blurry and faintly tinted pink and blue, sheseemed to see Hana lucky at her. And then Hana turned and walked away, her task accomplished.Hannah took a deep breath and let it out.She did it with illusions, she said, hardly aware that she was talking out loud. Maya. And shes done itbefore, of course. Maybe every time. What do you do with somebody who keeps killing you over andover? Never letting you live to your seventee nth birthday? Trying to destroy you, not just your life, butyour heart ?She realized that Paul was staring at her. You want me to answer that?Hannah shook her head even as she went on talking. Goddess-I mean, God-she must hate me. I stilldont understand why. It must be because she wants Thierry herself-or maybe just because she wantshim miserable. She wants him to know that Im terrified of him, that I hate him. And she did it. Sheconvinced me. She convinced my subconscious enough that I started warning myself against him.If any of this is true-which Im not going to admit for a second, because they would definitely take mylicense away-then I can tell you one thing, Paul said. She sounds very, very dangerous.She is.Then why are you so happy? he asked pathetically.Hannah glanced at him and laughed. She couldnt hope to explain it.But she was more than happy, she was exalted. She was buoyant, ecstatic, over the moon.Thierry wasnt evil. She had the proof of a hundred selves whispering it to her. Maya was theenemy, the snake in the garden. Thierry was exactly what hed told her he was. Someone who had madea terrible mistake and had spent millennia paying for it-and distinct for her.He is gentle and kind. He does love me. And we are destined for each other. Ive got to find him.The last thought came as an additional bright revelation, but one that made her sit up and go still.She had no idea how.Where had he gone? Home. Where was home? She didnt know.It could be anywhere in the world.HannahWait, Hannah whispered.Look, Hannah, I think we should maybe do some work on this. Talk about it, examine your feelings No, hush Hannah waved a hand at him. She gave me a clue She didnt mean to, but she gave me aclue She said he had connections with witches in Vegas.Oh, my God, Paul muttered. Then he jumped up. Hannah, where are you going?Im sorry. She darted back into the office, threw her arms around him, and gave him a kiss. Then,smiling into his startled face, she said, Thank yo u. Thank you for helping. Youll never know how muchyouve done for me.I need money.Chess blinked, but went on looking at her intently.I know it isnt fair to ask you without explaining why. But I cant tell you. It would be dangerous for you.I just have to ask you to trust me.Chess kept looking at her. The slanted green eyes searched Hannahs face. Then, without a word, shegot up.Hannah sat on Chesss crisp white-on-white coverlet and waited. After a few minutes Chess came backinto the room and settled her own petite self on the bed.Here, she said, and plunked down a credit card. Mom said I could use it to get some things forgraduation. I figure shell understand-maybe.Hannah threw her arms around her. Thank you, she whispered. Ill pay it back as soon as I can. Thenshe burst out, How can you be so nice? Id be yelling to know what was going on.I am going to yell, Chess said, squeezing her back. But more than that. Im going with you.Hannah move back. How could she explain? She knew that b y going to Las Vegas she would be puttingher own life in danger. From Maya, certainly. From the Night World, probably. Even from the witchesThierry had connections with, possibly. And she couldnt drag Chess into that.Ive got something I want you to hang on to, she said. She reached into her canvas bag and pulled outan envelope. This is for you and for my mom- just in case. If you dont hear from me by my birthday,then I want you to open it.Didnt you hear me? Im going with you. I dont know whats been going on with you, but Im not goingto let you run off on your own.And I cant take you. She caught the glo surviveg cat-eyes and held them. Please understand, Chess. Itssomething I have to do alone. Besides, I need you here to cover for me, to tell my mom Im at yourhouse so she doesnt worry. Okay? She reached out and gave Chess a tiny shake. Okay?Chess shut her eyes, then nodded. Then she sniffled, her chin trembling.Hannah hugged her again. Thank you, she whispered. Lets be best friends f orever.Monday morning, instead of going to school, Hannah started for Billings airport. She was driving theFord-her mom had intractable it over the weekend. Her mom thought she was spending the next couple ofdays with Chess to study for finals.It was frightening but exhilarating to fly on a plane by herself, going to a city shed never been to before.All the time she was in the air, she was thinking, Closer, closer, closer-and looking at the black rose ringon her finger.Shed fished it out of her bedroom wastebasket. Now she turned her hand this way and that to see theblack gems catch the light. Her chest tightened.What if I cant find him? she thought.The other fear she didnt want to admit, even to herself. What if she did find him, and he didnt want heranymore? After all, shed only told him that she hated him a few dozen times and ordered him to stayaway from her forever.I wont think about that. Theres no point. First I have to track him down, and after that what happens,happens.The airport in Las Vegas was surprisingly small. There were slot machines all over. Hannah collected herone duffel bag at the luggage carousel and then walked outside. She stood in the warm desert air, tryingto figure out what to do next.How do you find witches?She didnt know. She didnt think they were likely to be listed in the phone book. So she just trusted toluck and headed where everybody else was heading-the Strip.It was a mistake from the beginning, and that afternoon and night were among the worst times in. her life.It didnt start off so bad. The Strip was gaudy and glittery, especially as darkness fell. The hotels were sobizarre and so dazzling that it took Hannahs breath away. One of them, the Luxor, was shaped like agiant black pyramid with a Sphinx in front of it. Hannah stood and watched colored lasers dart from the Sphinxs eyes and laughed.What would Ha-nahkt have thought of that?But there was something almost sickening about all the lights and the hustling after a while. Something . .. unwholesome. The crowds were so thick, both inside the hotels and out on the street, that Hannahcould hardly move. Everyone seemed to be in a rush-except the people nailed in front of slot machines.It feels greedy, Hannah decided finally, searching in her instinct for the right word. All these peoplewant to win free money. All these hotels want to take their money. And of course, the hotels are thewinners in the end. Theyve built a sort of Venus flytrap to lure people here. And some of these peopledont look as if they can afford to lose.Her heart felt physically heavy and her lungs felt constricted. She wanted Montana and a horizon so faraway that it pried your mind open. She wanted clean air. She wanted space.But even worse than the atmosphere of greed and commercialism was the fact that she wasnt findingany witches.She struck up conversations a few times with desk clerks and waitresses. But when she casually asked ifthere were any odd people in town who practiced witchcraft, they looked at her as if she were crazy.By ennead oclock that night she was dizzy, exhausted, and sick with defeat.Im never going to find them. Which means Im never going to find him.She collapsed on a bench outside the Stardust Hotel, wondering what to do next. Her legs hurt and herhead was pounding. She didnt want to spend Chesss moms money on a hotel-but shed noticed policeofficers making people move on if they tried to sleep on the street.Why did I come here? I should have put an ad in the paper Desperately Seeking Thierry. I shouldhave known this wouldnt work.Even as she was thinking it, something about a boy in the crowd caught her eye.He wasnt Thierry. He wasnt anything like Thierry. Except for the way he moved.It was that same rippling grace shed seen in both Thierry and Maya, an easy control of motion thatreminded her of a jungle cat. And his face he was almost eerily handsome in a ragamuffin way.When he glanced up toward the Stardusts tall neon sign, she thou ght she could see light reflect from hiseyes.Hes one of them. I know it. Hes one of the Night People.Without stopping to think, she jumped up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and followed him.It wasnt easy. He walked fast and she had to keep dodging tourists. He was headed off the Strip, toone of the secretiveness dimly-lit streets that ran parallel to it.It was a whole different world here, just one block away from the glitter and bustle. The hotels were, small and in poor repair. The businesses seemed to be mostly pawnshops. Everything had a dingy dispirited feeling.Hannah felt a prickling down her spine.She was now following the only figure on a deserted street. Any minute now, hed realize she was taghim-but what could she do? She didnt dare lose sight of him.The boy seemed to be leading her into worse and worse areas-sleazy was the word for them, Hannahthought. The streetlights were far apart here with areas of darkness in between.All at once he took a sharp left turn, seemin g to disappear behind a building with a sign that read, Dans bond paper Bonds. Hannah jogged to catch up to him and found herself staring down a narrow alley. It wasextremely dark. She hesitated a moment, then grimly took a few steps forward.On the third step, the boy appeared from behind a Dumpster.He was facing her, and once again Hannah caught the flash of eyeshine. She stood very still as hewalked slowly toward her.You following me or something? he asked. He seemed amused. He had a sharp face with an almostpointed chin and dark hair that looked uncombed. He was no taller than Hannah, but his body seemedtough and wiry.Its the Artful Dodger, Hannah thought.As he reached her, he looked her up and down. His expression was a combination of lechery andhunger. Gooseflesh blossomed on Hannahs skin.Im sorry, she said, trying to define her voice quiet and direct. I was following you. I wanted to askyou something-Im looking for someone.You found him, baby, the boy said. He darted a quick glance around as if to make sure that there wasnobody in the alley with them.And then, before Hannah could say another word, he knocked her into the wall and pinned her there.