“
I took a step inside and fumbled for the light switch. It was so black-like the black water… Where was that switch?
Just like the black water, with the orange flame flickering impossibly on top of it. The flame that couldn't be a fire, but what then…? My fingers traced the wall, still searching, still shaking- suddenly, something Marcel had told me this afternoon echoed in my head, finally sinking in… She took off into the water, he'd said. The bloodsuckers have the advantage there. That's why I raced home -I was afraid she was going to double back swimming.
My hand froze in its searching, my whole body froze into place, as I realized why I recognized the strange orange color of the water.
Maggie's hair, blowing wild in the wind, the color of fire…
She'd been right there. Right there in the harbor with me and Marcel. If Sam hadn't been there if it had been just the two of us…? I couldn't breathe or move. The light flicked on, though my frozen hand had still not found the switch.
I blinked at the sudden light and saw that someone was there, waiting for me.
VISITOR UNNATURALLY STILL AND WHITE, WITH LARGE BLACK EYES intent on my face, my visitor waited perfectly motionless in the center of the halt, beautiful beyond imagining.
My knees trembled for a second, and I nearly fell. Then I hurled myself at her.
‘Olivia, oh, Olivia!’ I cried as I slammed into her.
I'd forgotten how hard she was; it was like running headlong into a wall of cement.
‘Bell?’ There was a strange mingling of relief and confusion in her voice.
I locked my arms around her, gasping to inhale as much of the scent of her skin as possible. It wasn't like anything else-not floral or spice, citrus, and musk. No perfume in the world could compare. My memory hadn't done it justice.
I didn't notice when the gasping turned into something else-I only realized I was sobbing when Olivia dragged me to the living room couch and pulled me into her lap. It was like curling up into a cool stone, but a stone that was contoured comfortingly to the shape of my body. She rubbed my back in a gentle rhythm, waiting for me to get control of myself.
‘I'm… sorry,’ I blubbered. ‘I'm just… so happy… to see you!’
‘It's okay, Bell. Everything's okay.’
‘Yes,’ I bawled. And, for once, it seemed that way.
Olivia sighed. ‘I'd forgotten how exuberant you are,’ she said, and her tone was disapproving.
I looked up at her through my streaming eyes. Olivia's neck was tight, straining away from me, her lips pressed together firmly. Her eyes were black as pitch.
‘Oh,’ I puffed, as I realized the problem. She was thirsty. And I smelled appetizing. It had been a while since I'd had to think about that.
‘Sorry.’
‘It's my fault. It's been too long since I hunted. I shouldn't let myself get so thirsty. But I was in a hurry today.’ The look she directed at me then was a glare. ‘Speaking of which, would you like to explain to me how you're alive?’
That brought me up short and stopped the sobs. I realized what must have happened immediately, and why Olivia was here.
I swallowed loudly, ‘you saw me fall.’
‘No,’ she disagreed, her eyes narrowing. ‘I saw you jump.’
I pursed my lips as I tried to think of an explanation that wouldn't sound nuts.
”
”