108 - Road Trippin’ I
108 - Road Trippin’ I
Nel
“So, are there any of your marks close to the Whitemountain area?” Nick asks, munching on a French fry from the burgers we just ordered to take away. After placing the rest of our supplies inside, he comes to stand next to where I am studying the map I’ve opened on the car hood, pulling me into his embrace.
“Depends on the route we follow, but it’s possible to reach. Why go there? It’s further up on the mountains, not exactly on our way.”
“I own a chalet there. It won’t be busy at this time of the year and my connection with it isn’t common knowledge. Are my reasons strong enough for you, my ever-questioning, curious spitfire?”
We’ve been on the road for three days. We’re deliberately going in circles, avoiding all places that I can think of. Up to now, our entire expedition is quiet, therefore successful. To my utter surprise, we seem to get along too well. Since we fled on our own, Nick's demeanor has changed drastically, even though I can't prevent negative thoughts from crossing my mind and somber memories from spoiling my mood at times. Perhaps if our encounter had begun smoothly, everything would have been easy and this could be some sort of honeymoon.
Well, that’s too many ‘ifs’ for one thought, and he’s expecting some response.
“Sounds like a plan… It shouldn’t be more than a three-hour drive. Let’s go!” I say, hopping in the driver’s seat, and he stares at me with an incredulous smirk and a brow almost lost in his hairline as I’m fixing it to fit my own legs’ length.
“What? I’m bored sitting here and filling my head with gloomy scenarios. You could use some rest, after all. You’ve been driving for endless hours the past few days.”
Ha! That did the trick. Men are so predictable. Just serve them a bit of an ‘it’s because I care about you’ speech and tadaaa…
Nick reluctantly sits in the passenger seat and we set off. We are in an inhabited area, but soon the small villages give way to a delightful green scenery. The few scarce trees transform into a thick forest as we go uphill toward the mountains. The road follows a crystal clear brook. It calls for me to open the window, and I can’t resist its enchantment, allowing the song of the birds and the refreshing sound of the water flow to fill the car.
“I love this smile,” he says.
I turn to look at him with a slight surprise. No doubt, I didn’t realize I was smiling at all. Our condition is critical and I’m the top wanted person in the supernatural world of the country at the moment. Not quite what one would call a pleasant situation.
“Most of the time, I seem to erase your smiles instead of causing them. Even now, your expression was grim until some minutes ago. I can’t compete with some birds and a stream…” he adds, with blatant bitterness in his voice.
“I’m trying to escape from a crazed coven of witches who hate me for just existing. Don't flatter yourself. For a change, it’s not you who causes the grim face this time.”
His hand lands on my thigh. A simple stroke with no outspoken sexual intention is enough to set me on fire. We have filled our past few days with a lot of carnal contact, as it should be between two mates, but it never seems to meet our needs. He’s somehow creating an insatiable monster out of me. As if on cue, he sniffs in the air and smirks.
“There’s a beautiful small lake nearby. We could stop to eat there. We’ll have plenty of time for this when we arrive at the hotel. I’m not exactly a tourism expert, but I know James is, and whatever poked his interest and got him to invest in can’t be less than the finest.”
“Hmmm, did Mr. CEO just admit he’s not an expert on something?”
It’s so difficult to resist the temptation to tease him. He winces. It’s rare for him to let someone see him vulnerable at all, and he’s been doing that a lot since we departed.
“Despite your image for me, I’m not much of a pompous wiseass. I have lots of insecurities, and I don’t mind if the people close to me know about them. If I’m being honest with you, I never cared what others think, unless they belong to the closed circle of the individuals that I respect. Maybe this was one of the key factors to my success,” he says with a simple shrug.
______
It’s about sunset when we reach Whitemountain. As expected, Nick’s directions bring us to the most illustrious lodge around. The area is breathtaking. On a slope, between high trees, a handful of hotels and expensive-looking villas overlook the nearby mountain and a famous ski center located there. Of course, during this season there is no snow, yet there are several parked cars around. The weather in most areas is still warm, so it makes sense to have visitors hiking in the mountains before the snow period begins.
Upon our arrival, a polite valet approaches us with a porter close behind. I’m not used to this celebrity treatment. Neither am I used to just abandoning my vehicle and everything in it for other people to take care of. At the reception, Nick nudges me with his elbow to give my ID and name, which is surprising the least to say. He knows I’m traveling with fake papers under a non-existent identity. Why does he avoid telling them who he is?
“Welcome to our hotel, Miss Ribbs. What type of room would you and your partner like?”
I turn to glance at him, not knowing what to answer. We spent our previous nights in motels and small family-run B&Bs in basic rooms, only requiring cleanliness, but this is his property. His normal standards are way off my own.
“A superior double room would be great,” he says. “One with a view if available.”
“Of course, sir. Give me a moment to check.”
The sweet receptionist is getting on my nerves. Despite being polite and efficient at her work, her stolen glances at Nicholas are at least enraging. Does she know so little about shifters that she can’t get the meaning of the mark on his neck? He’s making no effort to conceal it, which often leads to several questioning stares when they spot my flawless one. She types something, then waits for some seconds, makes a quick call and turns back to us.
“My apologies… Unfortunately, we have no superior double with a view available, as they were all booked for a wedding reception. But since there’s otherwise a low demand during this period, please accept our offer for a free upgrade to a junior suite. It would be the most convenient choice for a pleasant couple escapade.”
Say what? Does she seriously think Nicholas is mated to someone else and we’re an illegal couple? Maybe I should allow my nails to grow a bit, just enough to rip her eyes out...
Wait, what on earth is wrong with me? Getting possessive over a male I literally despised and ran away from till some weeks ago?
‘Damn Ellie, get back here, you love-struck puppy!’ I think as she turns around, presenting me with her tail, and retreats into our mind. If wolves could giggle, I’m pretty certain she’d do that too.
Nick fights hard to conceal his laugh as we enter the aforementioned suite. He certainly caught my murderous intentions and, for some unfathomable reason, they seem to entertain him big time. Unlike him, I can’t simultaneously adapt to the luxurious scenery around me. My fingers run over the plush leather armchairs facing the gigantic window, over-viewing the slopes. The view is breathtaking, and it somehow appears familiar, but then again, a mountain slope is for sure a wolf’s natural environment. It is supposed to feel this way.
Someone has lit the fireplace. I guess it was while we were having a drink in the hotel bar to provide them with some time to prepare the room. Without meaning to, I must look like a child, as I jump on the bed and the mattress is so good. This is how I expect it would be to lie on a cloud.
Nick approaches with another glass of brandy in his hand, which I accept with a smile, and he moves to sit next to me. The crackling of the fire fills the room as the smell of timber and leather mixes with a pleasant pine room fragrance. Its warmth and the slight burn in my neck from the drink relax me as his musky scent fills my nostrils and a whole distinct set of thoughts flood my brain.
“Should we order some dinner, or are you full already?”
His voice bursts into the bubble of my thoughts, and an altogether irrelevant question arises.
“Why didn’t you tell them who you are?”
His smile grows even wider.
“Why should you be so perceptive and curious? Aren’t we supposed to be traveling undercover?”
“Don’t you start with me, Mr. CEO! I know you enough to recognize there’s more.”
“I’m just double-checking them because I had my doubts. My contact here, their manager, is someone I’ve got wrapped around my finger. He once crossed the line, and I made it pretty obvious I won’t grant him a third chance. The level of services offered to some random customer matters more to me than how they would treat their main investor. What’s important is that it’s safe here. Don’t worry!” he says, caressing my hair.
“Hmm, in that case, I could use a steak with some mashed potatoes…”
I’m not too satisfied with his answer, but his affection will have to do for now. I can let him pamper me a bit and shower me with his attention.
“Okay, let’s have dinner and sleep early tonight. The sunrise is gorgeous on these mountains, just perfect for a morning run. What do you think?”
“Sleep early? Oh… No, no, no… you’re not getting away so easily, Mr. You promised something in the car earlier!”
With a swift move, both our glasses land graciously on the coffee table next to us. Soon after that, I find myself caged under his sturdy frame, with his lips just inches apart from mine. Torturously close, but not touching. My breathing grows labored, but he simply chuckles and gets up.
“Look at you… Hasn’t someone become a greedy little minx?”
‘Greedy, little minx?’ I scoff inwardly, as I get up stomping my feet and grab my grandma’s book on my way to the armchair on the opposite side of the suite.
______
I shouldn’t have eaten the whole steak. I wasn’t even that hungry, but it was too yummy and I was too angry with Nicholas, so I had to keep my mouth occupied to resist fighting with him. But now, my stomach feels like hell. Nick is soundly asleep next to me as I get up to hunt for some soda in the minibar. It must be sometime in the middle of the night because it’s very dark and everything is quiet.
With the precious can tightly in hand, I slump into my favorite part of this room. Maybe when this is all over, Nicholas will agree to visit this place again for some days. I could just stay nestled here all day, relax, enjoy the mountain view and read some good books.
Wait, I don’t even know if my plans should include him or not after this is over. In fact, I don’t have the slightest clue if this can be over with us intact at all, but we must focus on positive thoughts and plans to stay sane, right?
A pale glint somewhere in the middle of the slope catches my attention. What on earth could it be so late in the night? Sure no one would dare go hiking when it’s so dark. Whitemountain is famous for its many accidents among hikers. As I try to concentrate on the scene, to see if my newfound powers may help me identify its source, a powerful wave of nausea hits me and I nearly fall to the floor. It is nowhere near anything I’ve sensed before. Almost as if an invisible hand punched me straight in my stomach, destroying all my concentration.
This officially doesn’t look good. I decide to wake Nick up and perhaps pack and leave right away, but my feet won’t follow my brain’s orders. Abnormal drowsiness takes over my senses, and panic sets in. I want to scream for help, but no voice comes out of my mouth either. A magical black hole is pulling me in and I can do nothing to resist.
When I open my eyes again, I have a horrible headache. I’m no longer on my loveseat but on the slope. Although it’s not the one in my dreams, the emotions it emits are more or less the same, maybe even worse. I can now discern that the glint was a circle of lit torches between big stone gates, and I’m standing in the middle. My limbs are free, but I still can’t move them at all. The fire seems to absorb all my vital energy, leaving me weak and helpless.
I examine the surrounding area as best as I can, but I appear to be alone. An unnatural silence has befallen the place. That being said, I inspect the torches and my panic deteriorates. Their flames are immobile, frozen.
What is going on? Where am I?
A silhouette appears from the shadows behind their intense light, just as I begin to pinpoint that the reason I can’t move is, in fact, that time has somehow stopped in this plane.
“You took your sweet time to figure it out.”
It’s a weird thing. Although it’s approached enough for me to make out its appearance in full detail, I still can’t tell if it’s a woman or a man. Despite the peculiar situation and my former panic, I don’t feel threatened by its presence.
“Who are you?” I ask.
It doesn’t answer, just scoffs.
“Please help me!” I try again.
It sneers once more, but this time, its face contorts into something ugly.
“Why do that? I hate you. Everything is your fault, so it’s only fair you suffer its consequences,” it answers.
Despite its harsh words, the sound of its speech is so pleasing.
“I don’t even know you. What have I done for you to hate me?”
Its face distorts even worse to such a degree that it’s barely recognizable anymore. An angry snarl leaves its throat, and it takes all my bloody concentration to make out its next words.
“What you did? You killed me…”