Just on the edge of the opening to the forest, a stone archway with specks of black and silver granite seemed to beckon to me. Black iron fencing with a gothic design seemed to run for miles.
Mesmerized by the strange natural form, I began to run until I was right in front of the arch. I had no idea where it led or what I would find behind it, but something about this place had me curious.
“What are you doing?” a voice asked from behind me.
I spun around so fast, I lost my footing and felt my body beginning to fall. Without anything to reach for to save me from the inevitable fall, I threw my arms out in front of me to brace myself.
Only, I stumbled into a broad, heaving chest that felt more like stone than a human body.
Ace’s arms reached out and grabbed me at lightning speed. As I realized I had been saved, and wasn’t lying on the ground below, I looked up to find Ace’s blue eyes locked on me.
However, he had a nasty scowl plastered across his chiseled face that made a shudder race down my spine.
“I’m sorry, you startled me,” I said, moving out of his grasp. “Thank you for catching me.”
“You didn’t answer my question,” Ace growled out, his arms now angrily folded across his chest.
White hot anger filled me as I watched his face morph into anger.
This guy had a serious case of rudeness and I wasn’t about to let him talk to me like that.
Placing my hands defiantly on my hips, I glared daggers his way.
“Well, it’s really none of your business what I do on my own property,” I snapped.
Ace’s gaze never left mine. A cocky smirk grew on his face and my anger turned to fury as I watched him look down at me. “Your property ends there,” Ace said, pointing behind me to the edge of a pond.
Oh, well he did have me there, but still, I didn’t like his attitude or intrusion.
“I was going for a walk, if you really must know,” I said, rolling my eyes.
The heated evening sun was scorching and only adding more fire to my already ignited mood. As Ace towered over me with his six-foot height, I attempted to seem larger than my own five-foot-two frame.
“You looked like you were looking for something,” Ace replied, his attitude grating on my nerves.
“I was just exploring behind my house and I guess I went too far. I will just turn around and head back,” I said, acting as though I knew how to get back. I was done with this conversation and Ace. I had no idea how he and Maylee were related at all. They were stark differences-- like night and day.
When I began walking, I made right turns, then left. I had no idea where I was or how far away from the farm I truly was. Ace had made it clear that he didn’t like me and the thought of being stuck out here with him didn’t settle with me.
“You are going the wrong way,” he said, watching me like a predator watches his prey.
“How do you know that?” I asked.
My internal voice was screaming at me to stop talking to him. But, I was beyond the point of listening to my own reasoning.
“Because, I know you,” he said.
“Oh yeah, who am I?” I asked, placing my hand on my hip. He was just messing with me. I had seen the way he bossed around Maylee, he wasn’t going to act that way with me. Ace hadn’t bothered to say more than two words to me before now; he knew nothing about me.
“You are Lizzie Bufford. Daughter of Sadie Sanders,” he stated, and my blood ran cold.
I tried to tell myself he only knew that because Maylee possibly told him, but the way he spoke to me, made me believe he knew a truth that I didn’t want exposed.
“Congratulations, you know my name,” I mocked. “Where is your sister? Doesn’t she need you bossing her around?” I quipped.
Ace must think he is so cool, like the town’s own Ryan Reynolds or something. But, I wasn’t impressed at all by his large ego or lack of manners.
Taking a step closer to me, his eyes glowed. They were an alluring blue, like frozen ice on a cloudless day. His blond hair was short and swept to the side. Everything about him was alluring and dangerous.
“Sadie, I know who you are,” he whispered.
If I hadn’t been so focused on him, I might not have heard the words correctly. They were soft and gentle like a slight wind brushing up against your cheek.
“Who am I?” I asked, unsure if I really wanted to press him. My heart began to race as my body filled with dread. Something told me I wasn’t going to like his answer.
“I know about you and your family. You are not like the others around here,” he announced, this time his voice was strong. No longer was the gentle sound I had just heard. “You need to just leave things be. We have been protecting this area far too long,” Ace stated.
“Is this some joke? Are you and Maylee trying to mess with me?” I asked, my voice shaking. This wasn’t funny and I wanted nothing more to get out of there.
“You, Lizzie,” he began, moving now only inches away from me, “Are a Shadow Seeker,” he finished, his crystal-like eyes boring deep into mine.
Gulping down my own fear, I stood my ground as my legs shook beneath me.
“What are you talking about? Look, I don’t know who you are or why you are trying to mess with me, but I’m not going to stand here and listen to you any longer,” I said, beginning to turn so that I would somehow get out of this wicked forest.
“Your mom is a Mediator to the dead. Your aunt had powers, too. You, Lizzie, will develop your powers here, if you haven’t already. But, what you don’t realize is that my kind has been protecting this area for decades. We don’t need you,” he warned.
Twirling around, I was beyond shocked at the information he had just given me. No one could know that information unless…
“Are you a Ghost?” I asked. It was the only reasonable explanation. Only the dead would know that information, because it was my mom and aunt who they sought after.
Laughing, the first glint of a smile spread across his face.
“I am hardly a Ghost,” he began. “I am part of Crow Haven, and I am a Shifter of sorts. I am a Shielder,” he stated.
My mind began to race and the world around me became a blur. The last thing I remember seeing was his face shift to dark as the world around me grew into nothing more than a haze of blackness.
Chapter Seven
Mad World
I could hear a voice somewhere above me; but as I struggled to open my eyes, a deep searing pain shot through my body. The air was cooler, much different from how I remembered it last.
“Are you awake now?” the voice asked again. This time, I recognized the sound. It was darkly familiar and something stirred deep inside of me, telling me to be on high alert.
Eyes shooting open, I sat up, only adding to my already pounding headache.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to scoot my body away from him.
I was on the ground of the forest, leaves and dirt muddying my clothes as I lay beside a stranger.
“Well, until you passed out, I was trying to warn you about being back in Nicholasville,” he said, clearly sounding annoyed.
“Why would you warn me? Besides, how do you know all of that information about my mom and my family?” I asked, the questions pouring out of me.