Watch Over You by Mason Sabre Page A

between his hands, and planted his mouth hard against hers. He kissed her the way he wanted to - hungry and needing. Like a man who had been starving for three years…and he had. He kissed away every fear she had. Every thought that made her more scared than the last. He kissed her so hard that all she would be able to think about was him and only him. He kissed her the way he had wanted to that day at the cemetery. He growled in satisfaction when he felt her melt against him. “Do you feel that Tara?” he asked gruffly when he released her mouth. “Do you feel me inside your mind?”
    She nodded.
    “I’m not like them. I promise. I can't explain it to you right now, but I need for you to trust me. Can you do that?”
    She didn’t answer.
    “I won’t let them hurt you. Whatever happens, okay?” He caught her hand in his again and then pressed their joined hands over her heart. “Do you feel your heartbeat? You feel me in there? You have to trust me. Your heart trusts me.” Taking hold of her other hand, he pressed it over his heart. “Do you feel my heart beating?”
    She nodded again and whispered. “Yes.”
    “Close your eyes Tara. Feel our heartbeats. Do you feel them?”
    They drummed together. Two hearts beating as one.
    She opened her eyes slowly, calmer. “How is that possible?”
    “I promise to you that I will explain. I can't right now. We have to leave. Trust me?”
    She gave a weak nod and he let go of her hands, certain this time that she would not run away.
    “Follow me.” He crept down the stairs, but when he looked back, Tara hadn’t moved. He nodded in encouragement and waved for her to come down. “It’s okay. I promise. I won’t let them hurt you.” The smoke was on the floor. It didn’t spread out, but piled up on itself, forming a more solid mass. Watching as it rose up from where it landed, Devan knew what it was forming and the sight filled him with dread. It was like watching sand drain in an hour glass. Soon, the smoke would transform and one of them would be inside. Tara would be lost.
    When he reached the bottom of the stairway, he looked back to Tara. She was on the middle step. “You can do it,” he urged. He glanced back at the smoke, watching it gradually grow in size. It formed legs and then knees. It was pouring in faster. The door rattled again. Another shadow moved closer. Now the pile was up to the thighs, the shape of its feet becoming clearer by the second.
    Tara clutched her chest as she watched the transition taking place right before her eyes. “We have to go Tara. There’s no time.” He held both hands out to her. She took one cautious step, her eyes darting from him to the smoke and back again. “I’ve got you. Come on.” She took one last fearful look at the smoke and then lunged herself at Devan. He caught her as she flew into his arms, and relief filled him from the inside out. He led her by the wrist, running through the dining room to the kitchen. He tried the back door, but it was locked. “Where’s the key?” he yelled.
    She ran over to the sink. There was a tin on the side. She rummaged inside and then tipped the contents out. Buttons and coins clattered everywhere as she spread them around and pulled out the key.
    Devan snatched it from her and fumbled to get it in the door.
    “Don’t open it,” she cried. “They’re out there.”
    Unheedingly, he opened the door with caution and poked his head out, intent on getting himself and Tara out of there. He checked both ways, but it was just darkness. Normal, ordinary darkness that didn’t move, didn’t eat people up. The shadows hadn’t reached this far yet, but they would soon. He reached back behind him for Tara and as soon as her hand slipped into his, he launched himself from the house, dragging her along. They ran across the patio, across the grass and past the shrubs and the potted plants, down into the shadows at the depths of the garden. Devan didn’t look back.

 
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