Chapter 6

For a long time all I could hear was yelling in a language I didn't understand. The words sounded accusatory and angry, but I wasn't sure whether they were aimed at me, or someone else. The entity was gone, but I felt cold, colder than I had ever been in my entire life, the freezing sensation competing with the pain in my chest. But that wasn't what worried me in my dream-like state. That scary darkness from my dreams was all around me, enveloping me and keeping me hostage in my own body and mind. No matter how hard I tried to push and pry my eyes open, I couldn't move. Slowly, I started to panic, wondering whether I'd ever wake up and be my old self again.

I felt trapped, I felt bodiless. I felt panic rising inside me whether I'd ever wake up. I thought of my family, of what would happen to them if they heard I was gone. Gone, how final those words sounded. As if I was dead already. Was I dead?

I didn't know how long I lingered in that empty yet painful state, drifting in and out of consciousness. When my eyes finally fluttered open, I realized I was in my hotel room, propped up on a pillow in the middle of my bed. The clock on my nightstand showed it was already after 10 p.m. Gael sat beside me. When I stirred, he smiled and grabbed my hand. Something flickered in his eyes. It was the same dark shadow I had seen before, like a black flame lapping at dried wood, only this time my mind was fully operational and I knew I wasn't imagining things. I pulled back from him, but only a little.

"Hey, it's me," Gael said. "You were out of it for a while."

I swallowed and moistened my dry lips. "What happened?" My voice came low and hoarse, as though I hadn't spoken in days.

He held a glass of water to my lips and I took greedy gulps. The cool liquid soothed the scratchy sensation at the back of my throat. "You passed out from the heat."

I shook my head. "Something else must've happened. I remember the fortune teller starting her chatter, and then there was blackness." I shivered as I let my memories invade my mind. That was one scary place I never wanted to visit again.

"Trust me, it was the heat." Gael set his jaw, signaling the conversation was over. The black flame in his eyes flickered again. I finished my water and put the glass back on the bedside table.

"What did the fortune teller say?" I asked.

"What?"

I turned to face him. "She spoke for hours. I want to know what she said."

"Don't be ridiculous. When you passed out, we wrapped you in damp towels and I drove you home. You've been sleeping since the early afternoon." I peered at him. Somehow I knew he was lying, which didn't make sense. Why would he avoid telling the truth? Unless the woman had said something bad and he didn't want to upset me. I grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze, wondering why his skin felt cold as ice in spite of the smoldering heat outside.

"What did she say?" I persisted.

Ignoring my question, Gael got up and headed for the door, calling over his shoulder, "Why don't you take a shower while I get us dinner? I won't be long, and don't take off the scarf."

I stared after him, perplexed. Something wasn't right. I could tell from the way he treated me. He had never been this brisk before. Gael wasn't the most open and talkative person, but he had never been this secretive, brushing me off for no apparent reason. Did I say or do anything wrong?

Eventually I got up and stripped off my clothes, leaving the scarf wrapped around my wrist, then jumped under the shower. I slumped against the cold tiles, letting the hot water trickling down every part of my aching body before I went about checking my arms for any bruises where I thought fingers had pressed into my skin. There were none.

I turned off the water tap and stepped out, wrapping a large towel around me. The mirror had misted over with steam. I swiped my hand across its smooth surface and regarded myself. My large blues eyes were hooded, as though I hadn't slept in ages. My hair hung in thick wet strands. And then, for a split second, I heard something: a scratching noise, like nails on a chalkboard, but so low I wasn't sure it had been there at all. I checked the door, which was closed, then went back to the mirror, figuring I was imagining things again. When I picked up my brush to comb my hair, I could see in the reflection of the mirror that the window had misted over as though someone had breathed on it from the outside. A tiny drawing appeared. I turned my head sharply, noticing small lines on the glass. Frowning, I inched closer to read the word: PLEH. Someone staying here before me must've been dissatisfied with his vacation and written it. I couldn't agree more. Ignoring it, I turned back to the mirror to pull my hair into a messy ponytail, when the writing caught my eye again. In the mirror, PLEH spelt backwards: HELP.

My breathing accelerated, my heart racing in my chest a million miles an hour. The room was situated on the second floor with no balcony and no back garden. Someone must be playing a prank on me. Even though the voice at the back of my mind screamed to stay away, I removed the hatch and pushed the window wide open, leaning over the sill as much as I could. The space below was so tiny, one couldn't hide a flowerpot let alone an adult. Besides, a stonewall reached from the ground almost as high as the first floor. Unless someone had a pair of wings and could fly over it, I doubted they could climb over, breathe against the window and then dissipate into thin air a moment later.

I closed the window again. The writing was still there and for the first time I noticed the lines looking messy, like those of a child. The letter P ended with a tiny swirl. My sister, Theo, used to do that. Something clicked into place inside me. I had a strong feeling that it all made sense and yet I couldn't explain it. A cawing echoed outside. A moment later, a black crow perched on the windowsill, its beady gaze meeting mine. For the first time I was relieved to see her so I nodded and I swear she nodded back. Behind me the door burst open, startling me. I turned to see Gael enter.

"Ever heard of knocking?" I snapped.

"I knocked, but you didn't reply." He raised an eyebrow as he peered from me to the window and then back at me. "What are you doing?"

I followed his line of vision to see the crow was gone. "Taking a shower, like you said. Hope you brought dinner 'cause I'm starving." I walked past him, ignoring the hesitation on his face. I knew I should tell him everything, but something held me back. If he kept secrets from me then so would I. Besides, how could I explain what just happened without sounding like a lunatic who belonged into the nearest loony bin.

"I did," Gael said.

"Let me change first." Without waiting for an answer, I slammed the door behind me and grabbed clean clothes from the wardrobe, then slipped into my underwear, a pair of jeans and a baggy top, wrapping Gael's scarf around my waist because I figured just doing what he had instructed would save me a possible confrontation.

On the bedspread were disposable plates and cutlery next to a brown bag I assumed contained our dinner. The strong aroma of fried chicken hung heavy in the air. I slumped down next to them and piled food onto the plates as Gael joined me. I could tell he was still preoccupied from the deep frown across his forehead and the vacant expression.

"Not hungry?" I pointed at the untouched chicken wings in front of him. He managed a half-smile and took a bite. "Care to elaborate why you wouldn't tell me what really happened at the fortune teller's place?"

He let out an exaggerated sigh and turned to face me. A strange glint played in his eyes. So I wasn't imagining things. I bit down on my lip but didn't comment. "I told you nothing happened, Sofia. Why won't you just drop it? You're being ridiculous."

I nodded and met his gaze as he stared at me, cold and calculating. He was lying. Only then did I notice, after being out of it for an entire afternoon, he didn't even ask how I was. I had seen it before. My father had been that way. Not from early on, but after he had fallen out of love with my mother. But maybe he had never been in love with her. I moistened my lips and turned away.

"What's wrong?" Gael asked as though sensing my emotional undercurrents. I shook my head and smiled, wondering what I was doing here. I had never been in love with him. To expect something I couldn't give was just wrong. He had been my rock when Sofia died. Gratitude was about all I felt for him right now. For some inexplicable reason, I actually felt bad for it.

"Thanks for dinner," I said.

"Sure. I have some business to attend to. Why don't you get some rest and I'll see you in the morning?"

"Sounds good." I raised my cheek to him, more out of habit than of true need. He planted a sloppy kiss on my forehead, probably feeling just as disconnected as I did.

"Stay inside," Gael said. His tone was nonchalant, but the order didn't fail to register. I watched him walk across the tiny room and close the door behind him without so much as a good night. Maybe the guy had something on his mind, or he was indeed busy, but something didn't quite add up and I was eager to solve the mystery.

Deep in thought, I stacked the remnants of our dinner inside its packaging, considering whether to throw it all into the waste bin. I had never been a fan of smelly rooms so I waited a few more minutes to make sure Gael wouldn't come back, then slipped my naked feet into my trainers and opened the door.

The hall was empty, devoid of any signs of someone's presence. I closed the door behind me and tiptoed down the oriental carpet to the staircase all the while holding my breath as I listened for any sound. My heart hammered in my chest even though it was ridiculous since I had nothing to hide. Gael had instructed me to stay inside, but I was a grown up and no one had the right to tell me what to do. If he caught me and disapproved, he could just shove it where the sun don't shine.

For a moment, I hesitated in the doorway. When nothing stirred, I walked down the stairs to the ground floor. The entrance hall was just as deserted, so no one there to ask. Figuring the garbage bins had to be outside, I took the backdoor that led into a tiny communal garden. The moon was partly behind by thick clouds but gave enough light to see clear shapes. I scanned the area as my eyes adjusted. To my right, large bushes obstructed my view of what was behind. To my left, a large wall protected the hotel from the outside world. I saw nothing that resembled garbage bins but I wasn't ready to give up yet, not least because I enjoyed the cool air and the solitude.

The soft breeze left a cool sensation on my skin, turning it into goosebumps. I breathed in the crisp air and walked down the tiny path toward the bushes, then stopped in my tracks when I heard male voices. They were too low to understand, so I crept closer until I could make out one of them was Gael. I crouched next to one of the bushes and squeezed my hand through to part the leaves so I could catch a glimpse of what was happening on the other side.

I recognized Gael immediately by the light brown slacks and the white shirt he had worn half an hour ago when he brought up dinner. He had his back turned toward me. As he talked, his voice betrayed irritation. The other guy was a few inches taller than Gael with dark hair that brushed the black collar of his shirt. He was clad in blue jeans that showed off strong legs, but what caught my attention immediately were his striking blue eyes. I had never seen blue eyes like that, shining in the dark without any light source reflecting in them. My gaze moved to the pale skin of his face and neck. I, too, liked to shy the sun, but he was at least a shade paler and it made him look unnatural, not in a sick way but different.

"How many times do I need to tell you I don't have much time?" Gael's voice cut through the silence of the night.

"I heard you the first time," the blue-eyed guy said.

"Obviously, you didn't otherwise you would have found what I'm looking for."

"There's been a complication."

"Really?" Gael snorted. "And why would I care? You're being paid to do your job. How you do it is your business. As long as I pay all I want to hear about or see is results."

I scoffed inwardly, wondering why Gael was being such a jerk. That was no way to talk to a dog, let alone a human being. As though reading my thoughts, the blue-eyed guy's gaze shifted toward me and for a moment my breath caught in my throat. His sudden smile seemed out of place for someone who was being lectured by his boss, and yet I knew it wasn't addressed at Gael. It was for me. He knew I was there, hiding in the shadows.

I straightened my back, ready to dash for the house before the blue eyed guy betrayed my presence, but Gael beat me to it.

"You have twenty-four hours to get the job done. Better not waste my time," Gael called over his shoulder as he stomped past, unaware of my presence, his arrogance mirroring in his stride. Holding my breath, I waited until I heard the backdoor open and close behind him. Only then did I dare to turn around and my heart jumped in my throat.

He was standing right next to me, peering down with the same unnerving smile.

"Looking for something?" His voice was deep and low, barely more than a whisper. "I'm Kieran." He reached out his hand and I grabbed it, for some inexplicable reason trusting him.

"Sofia," I said, pointing at the bag in my hand. "I was throwing out the garbage."

"That's not the only thing you should be throwing out." Even in the darkness, I could see the twinkle in his eyes.

Ignoring his remark, I moistened my lips. "What was that all about? What's Gael looking for?" I knew it was none of my business, and yet I couldn't keep my curiosity at bay. His loyalty or work ethic would keep him from answering anyway, or so I thought.

"He's looking for a blade," Kieran said.

"You mean like a knife?" I stared at him dumbfounded.

Kieran shrugged. "Sort of an oversized one. Let's just say it could do more than prick your finger."

He couldn't be serious. Yet, his expression remained earnest. No flicker of a smile that he was joking. What would Gael need a blade for, unless it was a collector's item and worth a lot? I didn't ask because in my head I already had my explanation.

"Have I answered all your questions, Sofia?" The way he spoke my name almost made me giggle. His gaze regarded me up and down and then up again, settling somewhere below my chin. The telltale heat of a blush crossed my cheeks.

"You have. Thank you," I said, my voice surprisingly calm.

"Good. Then I hope you'll take my word of advice and go away from here as fast as you can. Far, far away. This is no place for a girl like you." He leaned in and planted a soft kiss on my cheek, then turned on his heel and…disappeared. Literally. I stared at the empty space where he had just stood a few seconds ago. My pulse gained in speed. Was something wrong with my head and I had just imagined things? First the man in the club, and now this one here. No one just dissolved into nothing. That was the stuff of action hero movies. It didn't happen in real life because it wasn't possible, not real. And yet I knew I had seen him and he had talked to me. Maybe he had a trick up his sleeve, like being pulled up in the air by invisible cords.

The breeze whipped my hair against my cheeks, jolting me out of my thoughts. Even though I didn't want to, I returned to the safety of my room, still holding the bag with the rest of our dinner in my hands. Kieran's words rang through my mind over and over again. He had advised that I leave, but my vacation had just started. I wondered what he had meant by 'no place for a girl like you'. Was this part of Rio dangerous? That certainly made sense. But I figured Gael wouldn't risk our lives if he knew the place wasn't ideal for tourists.

I entered my room and let out a shriek when I noticed the figure sitting on my bed. It took my brain a second to realize it was Gael. His face was contorted with rage, his brows were drawn together.

"I told you to stay inside." His voice dripped with accusation.

"Had to take out the garbage." I shrugged, forcing myself not to roll my eyes.

"The garbage bins are behind the house." His gaze fell on the bag in my hands, and he cocked a brow.

"That explains why I didn't find them."

"When I say I want you to stay inside, that's exactly what I mean. You have no excuse for venturing out," Gael said.

I turned to face him, my eyes throwing daggers. "I don't appreciate the way you're talking to me. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not your child."

"I know that," Gael said, slowly. "But you have to understand I was worried about you. You're in a different country. I've been here before. Brazil can be dangerous, so it's for your own safety."

"Fair enough." I felt myself soften. He had a point. It wasn't his fault he couldn't express his concern in a less controlling way. I smiled and slumped down on the bed, regretting it instantly. I could only hope he wasn't taking it as an invitation. He didn't.

"Just stay inside," Gael said before leaving.

I stared after him, seriously struggling to make sense of his attitude. One part of me tried hard to defend him while the other knew there was no excuse for it. Whether I liked it or not, he was being a jerk. I had seen it before, the tiny signs that indicated a controlling personality, but I figured having a boyfriend was better than being alone, particularly when I still missed my sister. Maybe it was time to call in a break until I knew whether this relationship was indeed what I wanted.

Leaning against the pillows, I untied the shawl from around my waist and tossed it on the floor. When guilt nagged at me, I got up and stacked it inside one of the drawers. The noise of flapping wings started almost instantly. A few weeks ago, I would've turned the room upside down to find out where it came from, but now I just snuggled under the blanket and pressed the pillows against my ears to drown out the unnerving noise. It was past midnight when I finally managed to fall asleep with Kieran's mysterious eyes and warning still lingering at the periphery of my mind.