Daylight Chapter 3 – A Treat for being so patient

 

And the moment you’ve all been waiting for… A special treat just for you!

 

Chapter 3

That familiar feeling rustled within me and I sat up,
gasping. A fierce chill ran over me and my breaths grew heavy. I pulled my legs
to my chest wrapping my arms around them.

“Hey, it’s all right, Cheyenne,” Daniel croaked as he
appeared at my side. “You fell asleep on the couch.”

I was still in
the living room. Footsteps approached from the hall and I turned. Callon paused, glancing
at Daniel. Callon gave a slow nod and moved closer.

“Did you have a bad dream?” he asked.

I looked away. What had happened? Last I remembered I
was sitting with Callon and Daniel and then began having memories of
Colt…somehow I fell asleep with no dreams till now. But wait, it wasn’t a
dream, it was a feeling. It was that
unknown something inside me wanting to wake again.

“Sweetheart, you have to tell me so I can help,”
Callon cooed softly. His hand rested on my forearm.

Tell him what? I didn’t know how to explain it. This
wild presence inside me wanted its release again like on the mountainside.

“Cheyenne, look at me.” He lifted my chin and forced
my eyes to meet his. “It’s okay. But I can’t help unless you speak.”

Daniel shifted uncomfortably.

“I’m fine,” I whispered.

“You’re shaking, Cheyenne,” Daniel said, his voice
quivering. “I—I just want to help.”

“I know.”

“Time will heal all wounds, Cheyenne, you just need
time,” Callon said.

I shook my head. Time would never heal this wound; it
would only make it bearable.

I looked beyond Callon’s shoulder and watched the
morning light stream through the terrace doors. Sunlight was what I needed. “I
want to go outside.”

“Let’s go.” Callon stood, extending his arm.

I followed him and quickly made it to the terrace.
The morning air was crisp and clean and I inhaled deeply.

“Over here,” Daniel chirped and I went to the chaise
he’d moved closer.

As the red and coppery lights began to grow, I stared
out at the lake, watching the mist retreat from the dark surface, dancing its
way back into the forest. It would stay in the background waiting for night
again, not unlike what was inside me. Always lurking, waiting…

The sun lingered across the treetops and the streaks
of light now glistened off the water. Warmth finally touched my cheeks and I
closed my eyes. A peace began to flow over me and I realized Daniel had moved
closer as well.

I was back—here if only for the moment—if only for
the day.

“I’m going to be all right,” I murmured.

Callon squeezed my hand as I continued to soak in my
light.

“You want to tour the place?” Daniel piped up. “You
only saw a small bit yesterday.” There was still that uncertainty as he brushed
the hair from his eyes.

“I just don’t want to overwhelm you.” He pushed his hands
into his pockets.

I smiled.

“I’d love to.”

The playful grin that I loved about Daniel emerged if
only for a moment allowing me to glimpse a small bit of happiness. Quickly he
pushed it back down and replaced it with worry.

“How about we start from the beginning?” Callon
asked.

I nodded and headed after them into the house. We
passed through the main sitting room, connecting to the long gallery, and then
out the enormous entry doors. I didn’t bother to look back as we strolled down
the large stone porch with a fountain circling it. We stopped, but the long
gravel drive continued on, disappearing into the lush trees.

“Turn around,” Daniel said.

I did as he asked and was shocked at the sheer size
of the home.

“Welcome to the O’Shea Estate,” Callon said.

“It’s a bit overwhelming,” I muttered. I couldn’t
remove my gaze from the gray stone. It wasn’t anything I could have imagined.
Acres of green fields flanked both sides, before they disappeared into the
forest beyond. “So it belongs to all of you?”

“It belongs to me,” Callon replied. “To you and me
now.”

I looked down at the gravel beneath my feet…you and me. Not Colt, Daniel and
himself, but he and I. I swallowed, and pushed back the tears that wanted to
flow. There would never be anything belonging to Colt again.

“Cheyenne?” Daniel jumped closer.

I faintly smiled, trying to give them some optimism.
I should focus on the estate. I needed a distraction and this would serve well.

The stone terrace we’d passed over earlier ran around
the entire front of the house. Small seating areas and stone benches littered
it. To the left were large windows that opened up to the main sitting area
inside; to my right lay a second story.

As we moved over the gravel drive, I took into
account the details of the landscape. Every bush had been hand-trimmed and the
grasses were manicured with the most precise detail. Even the flowerbeds were
spectacular. How many workers oversaw these?

“I’m very particular,” Callon added, as if he knew
what I was thinking.

I lifted a brow. “I’d have never known.”

A small smile emerged as he reached for my hand.

“You have no idea,” Daniel said.

“Come on,” Callon said.

We headed back to the main entrance and I couldn’t
help but wonder how or where the black entry doors came from. I felt so slight
and small standing before them. They had to be at least ten feet tall.

I followed Callon inside, and my gaze fell upon the
hallway. It was filled with beautiful tiles that I’d not seen earlier.

“They’re from a local quarry,” Callon explained.
“It’s called Connemara marble.”

“It’s stunning.” I said. The lighter and darker
shades of brown blended together seamlessly. If was if an artist had
meticulously perfected each one with a fine brush.

My eyes took in the stairs. The handrails, spindles,
and stairs were made of the same material with a red oriental carpet runner
trailing down the center.

Daniel suddenly appeared to my right and I caught
sight of another room with glass doors and bookcases. A library.

He pointed to the top of the stairs and I followed Callon
up. A small bench sat below a scenic oil painting. I paused, studying it.
Somehow it was oddly familiar.

“It’s the lake you can see off the terrace,” Callon
said. “We used to swim in it in our younger days.” He remained still, as if
lost in some far off memory. I watched as his jaw tightened and brow furrowed
before he looked away and faintly smiled. “It was always cold, but we didn’t
seem to mind.”

Guilty I’d brought up a painful memory, I pointed
down the hall. It was my turn to distract him. “How many rooms?”

“Fifteen bedrooms.”

My eyes widened. I’d never been in a home with
fifteen bedrooms; never been in one with more than four. But this was a manor, not a home. And it was ours now.

“How big was your family again?” He’d told me at one
time, but I just couldn’t remember clearly.

“Big.” Another smile perched on his lips, but it
didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“And how many wives did your father have?”

“Too many,” Daniel chimed in.

I hesitated for a moment. “He wasn’t married to them
all at once, was he?”

“No,” Callon replied.

“So what happened to them?”

“Some died by accident, childbirth or acts of war.”

“Childbirth and accidents?” I was about to add more,
but thought better as the too fresh memory of Colt’s death rose to the surface.
It was a fact, Timeless could die.

Sympathy crossed over Callon’s face and he squeezed
my hand.

I sighed, dreading my next question.

“How many wives do you have, Callon?”

Daniel fiddled with his hands and looked down the
hall. Callon was staring at the painting when he finally answered.

“None.”

I swallowed. Once again he was hiding the truth from
me, but why? If I were to marry him, why did he continue to keep secrets?
Didn’t he know this built a barrier between us?

“Do you know which room you’re in?” Daniel jumped to
my side acting as a mediator.

I glanced back down the hall and realized I hadn’t a
clue. I could get lost in this place. “No.”

“This way.” Daniel pointed and I followed.

I counted the doors so I’d know in the future. They all
looked the same to me. We stopped and I watched as Daniel slipped a pink tassel
on the crystal handle. He smiled.

“There. This way you won’t forget.”

My chest tightened. This was my Daniel, always
looking out for me. I leaned forward and drew him into a hug.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

“I’d do anything for you, Chey. All you need do is
ask.”

“Hmph, how pathetic.” A low French accent growled in
the hall.

Maes.

“What’s it to you?” I stared down the jade-eyed
monster before me.

Moments passed with no reply, but I noted that Callon
exchanged a dark glance with Maes.

“So you’ve seen the estate,” Maes stated. “It’s about
time you came out of that room.”

My entire body began to tighten. Irritation flaring
and that thing splayed too near the
surface. It was if I was ready to do battle, my anger suddenly growing at the
hand that I’d been dealt. My fingers balled into fists, but before I could act,
the hall vanished and I was back downstairs.

“You don’t need to deal with him right now,” Daniel
said softly. He whisked me into the kitchen and pulled out a stool for me.
“Here, have a seat and I’ll make you a sandwich since you didn’t eat last
night.”

He opened the fridge door and began gathering his
supplies. I watched, letting the rage fade away and taking deep breaths. As
much as Daniel sympathized, he couldn’t understand what I was dealing with.
None of them could.

I was adrift in a dark stormy sea with nothing to
cling to. My light, my hope had all been crushed. Everything I’d ever loved had
been dragged away from me and pushed below the raging waters never to be seen
again.

“Ham and cheese?”

Briefly broken from my thoughts, I nodded.

The only resolution in sight was Marcus’s death. That
would mean this dark force inside me would have to be freed, but how could I
even think of such a thing? I’d almost killed everyone by allowing it out the
first time. I pressed my shaking hand to my forehead, brushing my hair aside.

A plate slid before me. My hands curled in my lap as
I stared at it.

“I promise I didn’t poison it,” Daniel forced out a
chuckle.

“I know.” I picked up the sandwich and ate half
before I couldn’t stomach anymore.

He packed up the sandwich and placed it in the
fridge. “I’ll save it for you in case you get hungry later.” Hopeful eyes met
mine. “I know I sound like Callon, but you’ve really lost too much weight,
Chey.”

I stared down at my hands. I knew I’d lost weight,
but I really didn’t care. Food had no taste anymore, nothing had flavor.

“I’ll try and eat more,” I said.

Daniel remained quiet for a few moments.

“We have a surprise for you.” He waved me towards the
door. “Come on, you’ll like this.”

I remained still. What was he up to?

He turned back, waiting for me.

I sighed and followed him out the kitchen and out
onto the terrace. Irritated voices instantly rose, one French and another more
familiar that I hadn’t heard for a long time.

“Cheyenne!” Lilly cried out. She hurried up the terrace
stairs and wrapped me in her arms. “Sweetheart, we’re here now, it’s all going
to be better now.”

My heart pounded against my chest. Dex and Lilly were
here! But what had Callon told them?

Lilly’s black hair pressed against my cheek. “We’re
so sorry.”

I began to shake, trembling from head to toe. The
feelings I’d pushed away all came flooding back at once. Memories of Colt
flashed before my eyes. Our last day together in the cave where he showed me
the stones, before I found out I was betrothed to Callon.

I fought to inhale, but the air wouldn’t fill my
lungs.

“Shh,” Dex whispered as his arms encased us further.
“We’re here to help, Cheyenne.”

“He’s gone,” I muttered. “Colt’s gone.”

“We know,” Dex replied.

“We’re here now,” Lilly repeated, her tears mingling
with mine. “I wish I could change things for you. I wish you didn’t have to
suffer as much as you have.” Her voice shook. “It’s going to be okay. You’re
not alone, Cheyenne, you’ve never been alone.”

We remained in a silent embrace for what seemed like
an eternity before Dex and Lilly drew apart. I kept my head lowered as Callon
pulled me beside him, his hand rubbing my back.

“It’s been a bit rough around here,” Callon said
softly. “But Cheyenne’s strong, she’ll pull through.”

“Suffer?” Maes muttered under his breath, “She knows
nothing of suffering.”

“Maes!” Callon jerked away from me. “Enough!”

Jade-rimmed eyes met mine, cold, dark and
unemotional. The dog had no heart after all.

“Come on.” Lilly locked her arm around and pulled me
towards the field. “Let’s go for a walk.”

Lilly led us down a grass path, leaving the rumbling
voices behind. The sound of horses whinnying in the distance caught my
attention.

“I’ve missed you greatly, Cheyenne,” Lilly said. “I—I
wish Dex and I could have been the ones to raise you…”

My throat grew tight and I kept my eyes forward. “If
you’d been my guardians then chances are you wouldn’t be here right now,” I
replied.

She sighed. “It’s just that you would have known us,
we would have told you the truth, and you wouldn’t have closed yourself off so
much.”

I didn’t reply. Chances are they would’ve hidden
things from me as well, especially if it had been my parent’s wishes. There was
also a reason why I’d closed myself off. No connection, then no pain when they
departed. Colt had been the only one to break down that barrier and now he was
gone too. Proving I’d been right all along.

Lilly stopped and turned towards me.

“Don’t lock us out, Cheyenne. Callon told us what’s
been going on.” Her shaking hand brushed her black locks behind her ear and our
eyes met. “I wanted to come the moment we found out, but Callon held us back.
He didn’t want to push you farther over the edge than you already were.” Her
blue eyes softened. “I want to help, I want to be the one you confide in. I
want to love and nurture you…”

“You want to take the place of my mother,” I finished
her sentence.

“I want to love you as your mother, Sahara, would
have wanted me to.” Her shoulders sagged forward as her gaze moved to the
grasses. “Your mother and I become close in her final years, and yet she never
told me about you. I know why now.” Tears began to stream down her cheeks.
“It’s because she wanted me here for you now. She knew her life was coming to a
close and she was ensuring you were taken care of.”

I stared at the fragile woman before me. She was
bearing her heart to me, opening it up if I’d just accept. Was this truly what
my mother would have wanted? I just couldn’t accept any more misery in my life
if something were to happen to Lilly or anyone else.

“I know,” I whispered. I reached out and touched her
hand, squeezing it.

A tear-stained smile rose on her lips.

The fenced pasture ahead caught my eye. Two black
stallions were working as a distraction. We stopped at the fence and watched
them run and prance until they neared. I stood up on the rail.

They were tall, at least eighteen hands each. Their
black coats shimmered in the sunlight giving off a bluish tint. I studied them
as they gave wild snorts. They were almost identical. The only distinguishing
difference between them was that one had a notch missing in his ear.

I reached out to them with my mind, cooing and
calming them until they became still. I stretched my hand out and the notched
eared beauty moved closer, nudging my hand across his snout. His black eyes met
mine in understanding. The other moved closer, his head hovering near my cheek.
A gentle nod caused his snout to brush my cheek and then he moved away. Both,
however, remained immobile just a few steps away from me.

“I knew you had this gift, Cheyenne,” Lilly said
softly. “I could see it even before your transformation.”

I stepped down and looked around at the vast estate
around us.

“You can talk with them, right?” She asked.

I nodded.

“Can they communicate with you?”

“No, it’s just one sided.”

“I used to be able to talk with animals…” Lilly
trailed off.

I stopped in my tracks. “Used to?”

She smiled. “Yes.”

“What happened?”

Before she could answer, a voice spoke.

“Enjoying your walk, ladies?” Callon asked. I jumped,
releasing a small squeak. Where’d he come from?

Lilly smiled. “Yes, I thought it would be nice for
the two of us to have some girl
time.”

Callon’s smile brightened and for the first time in a
long time it seemed to reach his eyes. “I think that would be the best thing
for Cheyenne right now,” he replied.

I turned my attention back to the matter at hand.
“Lilly, you said used to.”

She smiled and then glanced at Callon, but no reply
came.

I was so over this non-disclosure. I turned on
Callon, brows puckering, shoulders tensing when suddenly it all faded away. I
stared at the man whose face had softened and weary eyes pleaded. He reached
out and took my hands in his as Lilly departed.

“I promise not to hold back on you, Cheyenne, but
I’ve just barely gotten you back. I’ll not allow anything or anyone to push you
to those dark depths.”

“But I just want to know…”

“And you will, but I need you whole again before the
weight of all that you bear comes crashing down on you. I was wrong in holding
back earlier, but you have to believe me it was always for your protection.” He
moved closer, lifting his hand to tilt my chin up. “First I want to see those
bright blue eyes of yours once more. Not the gray clouded haziness that’s been
there. I want the Cheyenne that I came to love and adore before all of this
started. I want to see you smile, I want to hear your laughter. I want to feel
the love I know you still have inside of you.”

Soft, warm, supple lips touched mine. A swarm of
butterflies erupted in my stomach and my lids lowered.

“I want you to be surrounded with love and support,
the love of your family, of those that care about you more than caring about
what you will become.” His sultry breath blew across my cheek. “You told me
that you wanted to start over, love, well I’m asking the same for me. I want to
start over; I want to hold nothing back. I want to love you with my whole heart,
and I want to protect it from ever being broken again.”

A tender caress brushed the corner of my mouth and my
breathing hitched.

“I love you, Cheyenne, and I intend on loving you for
the rest of my life,” he whispered.

A cool wind swirled around us and I shivered from the
chill.

He pulled me into a hug, his strong arms surrounding
me. Strength was what I needed right now, I was weak. Too many failures
encircled me, too many that I could never take back.

“Come on.” He kissed my forehead. “Let’s get back before
your goosebumps get any bigger.”

I nodded and walked beside him.

“You see the lake?” he asked.

My eyes followed the shoreline as it disappeared into
the tree-lined hills.

“It looks pretty big.”

He smiled. “It is.” He turned us and pointed out
towards the estate. “You see all this land to the left and right of the
estate?”

“Yes.”

“That’s all ours.”

“Looks like a lot of work.”

He chuckled. “It is.”

“Who takes care of it?” I asked. “Since obviously you
don’t live here all the time.”

“It’s been in my family for many generations. We have
an arrangement with the Campbell family who maintain it for us.”

“So they’re human?”

“Yes.”

“But wouldn’t they know you and your family are
different?”

“Yes, but they took an oath.”

“An oath?”

“Yes, an oath to serve and preserve our lands and
protect our names.”

I stopped.

“What do they get in return?”

“Protection.”

Okay, but still.

“They’ve never once let out that you were different?”

He faintly smiled. “No. It’s different over here.
Families serve for generations upon generations. They knew the oath they were
taking, and knew the consequences if it were ever broken.”

I raised a brow. “What would be the consequences?”

Callon looked away. “Death.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

I hesitated. “So—so you’d follow through on this if
the oath was broken?”

“Of course.”

Here was another side of Callon I’d not seen before.
Somehow I knew it was there, but maybe it was because I’d chosen to ignore it.
It made sense. Callon was a leader. He was one to follow all the rules—always.

“Come on.” He pulled me along.

We continued meandering through the field, stopping
to pick wildflowers before we made it back to the terrace.

“Here, let me put those in water for you,” Callon
said. “I’ll be back soon.”

He disappeared through the doors and I sat on a chaise,
staring out into the horizon watching a lone crow fly overhead.

I’d made it another day.

“Cheyenne,” Maes rumbled.

My breath caught and I scrambled back onto the
chaise.

“Quit sneaking up on me!” I snapped, glaring at him.

A small smirk rose on his lips. Before I could retort
again, the crow cawed. I turned, watching small sparrows chasing it away.

“Did you know,” Maes said, “that in Irish mythology,
crows are associated with Morrigan, the goddess of war and death.”

I stared at him blankly for a few moments. “What’s
that supposed to mean?”

He sat in a chair across from me.

“The Morrigan was the goddess of battle. She’d
sometimes appear in the form of a crow and fly above the warriors. Her purpose
was not to attack, but to render the warriors helpless at the right moment.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Are you trying to scare or warn me?”

“That is entirely up to you, mon espoir.”

Great, now he was back to calling me his hope.

“Don’t call me that, Maes.”

“More are coming.”

“What?” I grew rigid. “Who’s coming?”

“Koda, Nakari, Clayton and Skylar.”

My stomach began to roll with nausea. Dex and Lilly
were here, that was all I needed. Why bring others I didn’t know?

And why Koda…

“Maes!” Callon snapped. “Get in here!”

Maes smirked to himself, before he departed towards
the terrace doors. But my anger was now directed at a new target.

    What
did Callon think he was doing to me?