Timber let out a low growl. “Do not finish that sentence if you value your life.”
“Threatening me doesn’t help.”
“Jealousy makes me want to rip limbs from bodies.”
I frowned. “You’re jealous of a man who no longer exists.”
“I’m jealous of anyone who has touched you and tasted what I taste. I’m jealous of anyone who experiences life to its fullest, warmth of a good woman with a good soul, when I know I’m damned to Hell, so yes, I’m jealous.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He sighed and then joined me on the bed. “I’ll remember that running water is a trigger, and until then,” He placed a hand on my thigh. “I think I may have a minor solution.”
I stared down at his hand, the black branches covering his skin swirling with madness across his thumb and forefinger. Pulsing with an energy that seemed to be doing its hardest to keep whatever was inside him.
In.
“What’s your minor solution?” Darkness chose that inopportune moment to just slither across the bedroom floor. I lifted my feet to the bed and shuddered.
Timber stared it down then looked up at me, his red eyes flashing. “Don’t fear the darkness. Often times the evil resides in plain sight.”
Slowly, I lowered my feet to the ground. The black didn’t touch me; it swirled around my ankles but didn’t do anything except for exist. “What is it?”
“If I told you, you’d think you’d lost your mind.”
“Try me.”
“Remnants of the underworld, shadows that take souls.”
I lifted my legs again. “Just to be sure.”
Timber cracked a smile. “The darkness has to ask permission to take any living thing, so to you it’s harmless.”
“And what about you?” I wondered out loud.
He sighed heavily. “Part of me thinks it’s waiting,” He pressed a finger to the middle of his palm where the seed had taken root. “Waiting for the day this covers me whole, waiting to finally take my borrowed soul and my restored soul to a place of final rest.”
“What happens if the darkness pulls the borrowed soul first?” I wondered.
“I imagine that my restored soul, the one given to me by the Creator, would stay imprisoned in this body while the borrowed one finally got rest. Not the happiest ending to the story but at least the woman who died will finally know peace.”
“But will you?” I asked.
“Peace.” He repeated. “What a magical, nonexistent idea.” He turned to me. “This is going to hurt, I’m not a vampire. We don’t feed for pleasure. It will sting and you’ll want to fight me, but it might be worth trying.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What would be worth trying?”
“Blood carries memories, if you’re reborn, I can search the older ones and try to put the puzzle pieces together. The only reason I won’t be able to do it is if someone or something has purposefully put a block there.”
I chewed my lower lip. “Why would anyone or anything want to block a memory? My memories to be specific?”
He was quiet for a few seconds. “Perhaps unleashing what’s locked inside is too powerful or a threat. Maybe some things are purposefully kept weak and searching so that those who feel threatened by them remain strong.”
The darkness slithered away from us then, back under the door and out of the room.
“Well, that was creepy,” I said under my breath.
“Welcome to my world, human.” Timber just sighed like he was annoyed he was still living in it, and then pressed my body back against the bed. “Try not to enjoy my touch too much.”