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Authors: Stella Cameron
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her head before raising a hand to knock on Leigh’s door. Campion, another of the hounds, must have been the other hound assigned to today’s Elin Watch.
Leigh opened the door wide. “I knew you were here,” she said, throwing her arms around Elin. “I heard what happened yesterday. You and I have to talk, really talk.”
She did know I was here before I knocked on the door. Elin went in and closed it behind them. She wanted to try communicating with Leigh telepathically, but wouldn’t without permission.
“Niles told me about that horrible Colin. One day I’ll share my own brush with him. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, even if I am in Sean’s black book for setting myself up.”
Leigh’s blond, tufted dog, Jazzy, his fur popping up and drooping over his black eyes, came to Elin at once and waited to be picked up. The dog was not of the otherworld, but he sensed that she liked him.
“We’d better get on with it,” Leigh said, all business now. “I never know when that overbearing mate of mine will come in and demand that I look at this or that.”
“I think he makes excuses to come.” Elin laughed. “He just wants to look at you. Sometimes I think he’s always worried something has happened to you. These men are possessive, not that I mind—most of the time.”
Leigh’s expression became faraway and she frowned.
“Did I say something wrong?” Elin said.
“No,” Leigh told her emphatically. “I wish he wouldn’t worry, that’s all. Elin, I’ve never mentioned this to anyone since, but we swam together in Saratoga Passage and I should have asked you something then but I thought you might think I’m pushy—or nosy.”
“I sensed there was something on your mind,” Elin said. They might have to feel their way toward understanding the paranormal talents each of them had, but they should get started. “Come on. Just say it?” They could help each other.
“You do know how few people could go into that water, particularly at this time of year, don’t you?”
“I’m sure,” Elin said. She didn’t feel the cold, but Sally had said most Deseran didn’t—most of the time. It could change under some circumstances but Sally didn’t know what they were.
“Did you see anything you thought was unusual when I showed you the crater in Chimney Rock—under the water?”
Nuzzling Jazzy’s head with her nose, Elin smiled to herself. They were fencing. “Not that I thought was unusual, no.”
Leigh looked disappointed. She pressed her lips together and looked around the crowded little office with the football posters left over from when Gabriel had used the room.
“I didn’t say I didn’t see anything,” Elin said softly. “Only that it wasn’t unusual to me.”
That got her Leigh’s full attention. She tucked pieces of her shiny strawberry blond hair behind her ears and watched Elin intently. “What wasn’t?” she asked when Elin didn’t continue.
Why play a game of “you first”? If she told Leigh something she didn’t relate to—without being too detailed—there would be nothing lost.
“Colors,” she said, watching the other’s piercing eyes. “The most beautiful colors streaming from Chimney Rock.”
Dark flecks in Leigh’s eyes stood out among the gold. “In ribbons?” Elin said. “Scarves of sparkling colors drifting from Chimney Rock. And I see them elsewhere, usually when I need strength.”
“Most can’t see them,” Leigh said. “They are part of the substance that makes The Veil between the human and the paranormal worlds. The Veil hides the otherworld from humans, but the otherworld sees everything. Do you know what we can take from The Veil and use for protection?”
Elin looked confused.
“Strength that becomes solid in our hands. You will have to use it one day, I think. Just scoop a handful from the color green. Hold it in your hand to give you strength. Or wield it as a weapon and it will be very hard and sharp.”
“I had no
Leigh opened the door wide. “I knew you were here,” she said, throwing her arms around Elin. “I heard what happened yesterday. You and I have to talk, really talk.”
She did know I was here before I knocked on the door. Elin went in and closed it behind them. She wanted to try communicating with Leigh telepathically, but wouldn’t without permission.
“Niles told me about that horrible Colin. One day I’ll share my own brush with him. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, even if I am in Sean’s black book for setting myself up.”
Leigh’s blond, tufted dog, Jazzy, his fur popping up and drooping over his black eyes, came to Elin at once and waited to be picked up. The dog was not of the otherworld, but he sensed that she liked him.
“We’d better get on with it,” Leigh said, all business now. “I never know when that overbearing mate of mine will come in and demand that I look at this or that.”
“I think he makes excuses to come.” Elin laughed. “He just wants to look at you. Sometimes I think he’s always worried something has happened to you. These men are possessive, not that I mind—most of the time.”
Leigh’s expression became faraway and she frowned.
“Did I say something wrong?” Elin said.
“No,” Leigh told her emphatically. “I wish he wouldn’t worry, that’s all. Elin, I’ve never mentioned this to anyone since, but we swam together in Saratoga Passage and I should have asked you something then but I thought you might think I’m pushy—or nosy.”
“I sensed there was something on your mind,” Elin said. They might have to feel their way toward understanding the paranormal talents each of them had, but they should get started. “Come on. Just say it?” They could help each other.
“You do know how few people could go into that water, particularly at this time of year, don’t you?”
“I’m sure,” Elin said. She didn’t feel the cold, but Sally had said most Deseran didn’t—most of the time. It could change under some circumstances but Sally didn’t know what they were.
“Did you see anything you thought was unusual when I showed you the crater in Chimney Rock—under the water?”
Nuzzling Jazzy’s head with her nose, Elin smiled to herself. They were fencing. “Not that I thought was unusual, no.”
Leigh looked disappointed. She pressed her lips together and looked around the crowded little office with the football posters left over from when Gabriel had used the room.
“I didn’t say I didn’t see anything,” Elin said softly. “Only that it wasn’t unusual to me.”
That got her Leigh’s full attention. She tucked pieces of her shiny strawberry blond hair behind her ears and watched Elin intently. “What wasn’t?” she asked when Elin didn’t continue.
Why play a game of “you first”? If she told Leigh something she didn’t relate to—without being too detailed—there would be nothing lost.
“Colors,” she said, watching the other’s piercing eyes. “The most beautiful colors streaming from Chimney Rock.”
Dark flecks in Leigh’s eyes stood out among the gold. “In ribbons?” Elin said. “Scarves of sparkling colors drifting from Chimney Rock. And I see them elsewhere, usually when I need strength.”
“Most can’t see them,” Leigh said. “They are part of the substance that makes The Veil between the human and the paranormal worlds. The Veil hides the otherworld from humans, but the otherworld sees everything. Do you know what we can take from The Veil and use for protection?”
Elin looked confused.
“Strength that becomes solid in our hands. You will have to use it one day, I think. Just scoop a handful from the color green. Hold it in your hand to give you strength. Or wield it as a weapon and it will be very hard and sharp.”
“I had no
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