Life moved forward, ever forward. She?d lived for a long time: seen so many things, met
so many people, that there were times she forgot that her unique view of the world
wasn?t shared by everyone. See? Kate had seen a lot, so when she finally waltzed into
the inn after doing a little people watching out on the porch, she wasn?t all that shocked
that the man who had shot her months before seemed to just appear behind her.
Gem?s reaction was the first she noticed, the shocked expression on her face, so she
turned and looked behind her, and there he was. Derever. Her jaw literally dropped as
she watched him?he looked exactly the same, just softer around the edges. He was
unarmed but that didn?t mean anything to her. Weapons could be hidden anywhere. Gem
introduced her to some man whose lap she was sitting on, Amber asked her if she
wanted a drink. It all flowed over her like a waterfall, muting the conversation as she
made all the right responses, turning it all into background noise. All she could see was
his face.
As the others started noticing him, she slowly started to come back to reality, preparing
for the danger he represented. Amber offered him help, her response was a quick knee
jerk ?No, don?t help him.? She stepped a little to the side, still watching him, waiting for
his move. If she noticed Gem?s look of shock she didn?t show it.
He answered Amber then looked at her again, stepping forward. Kate matched his
forward movement with a backward step of her own. He wasn?t going to get close
enough to hurt her this time. The last time she?d let his looks and his manner distract
her, she?d actually been interested. Seeing him again, knowing he was dead, was
stirring up a whole storm of emotions in her.
?You need to go away.? She lifted her finger like a shield and pointed at him. ?And not
come any closer.? The second part was the most important to her. Sweet words and a
dance weren?t going to distract her this time.
?I can?t go away. I?m bound here.? His voice was cool, distant, like talking to someone
through an old static phoneline. ?And I could not hurt you again, even if I wanted to.?
She didn?t believe him. A little part of her wanted to but she knew better?he had shot
her, she had killed him, he wouldn?t be here if he didn?t want something. ?Yes, let?s trust
the guy who the last time I saw him, shot me.? Her voice was bitter as she shook her
head. ?Not gonna happen.?
?Your friend the dragon ate me.? He sounded almost casual as he discussed his death.
He was more concerned with touching and running his hand through the edge of one of
the tables. His expression was painful, thoughtful.
?Good, I hope it hurt. A lot.? Icer eating him was news to her. Honestly, she?d never
thought about the man again after she knew he was dead, and she?d known that right
after she stabbed him and shot the liquid nitro into him. She took her normal defensive
stance and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him.
?Less than I would have imagined. I?m sorry.? He stepped closer to her, his movements
slow, measured, as if he knew she was about to bolt at any time.
He was right, and she stepped back and away from him as she answered, ?You do
realize that ?Hey, I?m dead now, sorry I shot you.? doesn?t cut it, right?? She wanted to
run, to get away. It wasn?t just fear that was driving her but the fact that even now she
wanted to talk to him. ?Go away.?
?I can?t.? His answer was unsatisfying, annoying. ?Someone named Livinia requested it
of Lord Iannos. They promised, if I did it, they would make me like them.? His
statement of the facts was just that, no embellishments, nothing added, just telling her
what had happened, how he?d found himself there at the Inn that night pulling the trigger
of a gun and shooting her four times in the gut.
?So you?re haunting the place, I?m going to have to see you now?? Her rage could melt
ice and terrify lesser men. ?Awesome?you shot me...? Her statement overran the first
part of his explanation, but Liv?s name caught her attention. ?I know who asked it.? The
depth of her anger surfaced as she snapped at him. ?You still made the choice to do it
and now you?re making a choice to...I don?t know, what are you doing now?? She
couldn?t understand why he was talking to her. Did he think he needed some sort of
forgiveness to move on? Was he mad she killed him and haunting her to make her pay?
There were so many reasons he might be talking to her and none of them were good.
?If I told you, you would not believe me.?
At least he had that right. She uncrossed her arms so she could take off her coat,
for some unknown reason still talking to him. ?I don't have to answer your questions,
but you owe it to me to answer mine, Mister ?I shot you and didn't ask any questions
beforehand.?? If she were to tell the truth she?d have to admit she was most upset about
him seeming to want her to give him some sort of absolution when, from what she
understood, he?d never asked a question before he shot her and left her for dead in the
Inn.
?You were only injured. I'm dead. Who owes what to whom? ? He was smiling at her,
like they were friends, like it was all a joke.
?You're dead because you were stupid, and you're not really dead if you're here
talking to me, are you?? Her chin lifted as she spoke the words, her eyes hot on him. If
looks could kill, he?d be dead. Again. For good. She could almost forgive him making
a decision to kill her based on facts, based on not liking her?based on anything other
than a vague promise from a clan of vampires.
She watched as he carefully tested the stool as if he expected to fall through it. ?I was
stupid because I believed a lie. And I am not sure what else I am if not dead. I have not
eaten or slept, and this is the first time I have been able to talk to you.? Apparently she
was supposed to feel sympathy for him, the poor murderous ghost who couldn?t eat or
sleep because he?d believed a lie and tried to kill her.
She leaned against the bar, facing him. ?Why are you talking to me??
He countered her question with one of his own. ?Have you never believed a lie?? And
watched her in silence as he waited for her answer.
She decided to slip her coat off as she thought, setting it on the bar between them. ?This
isn?t about me. You?re very annoying,you know. Shooting me,and now bugging me and
refusing to answer questions.? Again she was letting her temper get the better of her,
letting it show as she struggled to get it under control.
?I did answer your question. You haven?t answered mine.? He was momentarily
distracted by her shirt, ?I always meet Mr. Wrong? was written on the front, with a little
round character next to the words. She knew he was reading it because his lips moved
as he did so. ?Your believing a lie is why you're talking to me? That makes no sense,
and I have no intention of answering any of your questions.? More defenses went up as
her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together. ?You shot me, I hope you?re suffering
and as annoyed as I am.?
?You asked me what I was doing now. You asked me whether I was really dead. That's
two questions. I'm sure there were more, but I've forgotten them already.? There he was,
sounding all logical again, trying to make her look like the crazy one. It was annoying.
?If you weren't already dead I'd kill you. You sure I can't kill you again? Myself this time?
Cause that would be fun.? As she spoke to him she leaned a little closer to him, the first
movement toward him she?d made all night.
?I'm not annoyed, no.? It was annoying how he just looked at her with that stupid smile
on his face, it was annoying how he kept sounding so logical, it was annoying that he
was even there at all. ?Stab me. I am sitting right here. Unarmed, as far as I can
tell.? He gestured to where his sword should have been and honestly it was too good of
an offer to say no to. If nothing else, it would help a little with her annoyance at him.
So she did it, the only indication was a quick ?Ok,? then the knife was out and in his
chest. She pressed a small button on the hilt and the nitro and other gases were
released. ?This doesn?t make us even.? It did feel good though, stabbing him, just
having him sit there and let her though was a little disappointing. Revenge kills were
always better when you hunted them down, made them pay, and then killed them.
He grimaced in pain but didn?t fall over dead. Instead the cool of the nitro just whooshed
out of him and brushed her hand. His next movement actually shocked her: he leaned
forward and brushed his lips against hers in a cool kiss.
Her shock wore off fairly quickly and she stabbed him again. ?A ss.? Then the knife was
put away and she scrubbed at her lips with her hand. He had balls, she had to give him
that, but why wouldn?t he? He was dead, he had nothing to lose and had apparently
decided that she was the person he needed to talk to.
The face he made at the second stabbing wasn?t satisfying, and of course he started
asking questions again, ?Where did you get that knife? I?ve never seen anything like it
before.? Of course he?d ask about the knife, most of the men and half the women who?d
seen it in action had panted after it.
She watched him as she answered. ?Didn?t I say I wasn't going to answer your
questions? Your letting me stab you and then kissing me isn't going to change
that. What the hell was that anyway? Kiss the chick you tried to kill?? He was confusing,
trying to kill her, then kissing her? He was up to something, she was sure of it, and she
needed to find out what.
?You?re pretty. What did you ask me again?? Then he turned to look at the bottles of
booze behind the bar. Nothing says ?I don?t mean what I say? like complimenting
a woman and then looking longingly at liquor bottles.
The initial fear and anger were starting to fade, as they did so things started to click into
place, ?I've asked you why you're talking to me. You said this was the first time you
could talk to me. Have you been here the whole time?? The thought of that was very
disturbing to her.
?Yes, I told you, I can?t leave.? With that statement he walked through the bar to try and
touch one of the bottles he?d been looking at so longingly a few minutes earlier.
A thought occurred to her. ?Maybe that's your punishment then. Stuck here forever. Only
not talking to me.?
?Except I am.? He was sighing over the bottles, she almost felt sorry for him. Only?not.
?Go talk to someone else.? She watched him as she spoke. ?You've been here a little
while, I'm sure you've watched people here. Go talk to them.? It still didn?t make any
sense to her, him talking to her.
When he looked over his shoulder at her she could see a bottle through it. ?It was mostly
you that I watched. When you were not here, I tried to leave.? That thought was
unsettling so she responded the only way she knew how, with sarcasm.
?Plotting other ways to kill me?? Her smirk matched her tone.
?It was a lie. Why would I want you dead now?? He was using logic again, and it
annoyed her. She honestly didn?t know what he wanted or why he was here.
?What do you want from me?? Her head tilt was to cover up her wanting to look at him
again.
?You ask me that, again, as if my answer might change. It won't. ? She watched as he
picked up a glass, then watched as it slid through his hand and shattered on the inn
floor. She leaned up onto the bar, her feet dangling off the floor, looking at the shards of
glass there. Neither of them moved to clean it up.
?Why were you watching me then??
?For the same reason. Why were those people badgering about men and how much you
needed one?? He?d hit a target there.
Her groan was loud and her face twisted as she kicked her feet and hopped back off the
bar. ?Why would I answer your questions again? Why am I even talking to you?? She
deflected, like she always did when she didn?t want to answer something.
?Because you like to dance.? He stated this like it made perfect sense. He was watching
her again, looking into her face in this way that just unsettled her.
So she took a hop backwards and away from him, ?You?re insane.? She wanted to get
away?but at the same time she didn?t.
He apparently could feel what she was feeling. ?Maybe. I wasn't, before. But
being dead changed my perspective. Still, I might be insane, but you haven't left, and
you're not stabbing me anymore.?
Damnit, he was right. She needed to gain the upper hand and quickly. ?Stabbing you is
unsatisfying?you're still here.? She grabbed her coat and started for the door.
He followed her. ?Would you kill me again if you could??
Such a simple question, so she gave a simple answer, ?If it was painful and there was
lots of blood and screaming and death? Yes, yes I would, just to get back at you. Or I
might just threaten you a lot and make you think I?m coming after you so that you
wouldn't even sleep in your bed comfortably.? She looked at him as she spoke, keeping
her eyes on his.
?I could pretend to do all the screaming and death.? Then he smiled, he smiled that
charming smile and again she was annoyed.
Her face twisted a little. ?What's the point in that? Maybe I wouldn't kill you after
all.? Her smile was wicked as she finished. ?There are worse things than death.?
?A day-long ride after an all-night ride?? He actually looked innocent as he said it.
?No.? She just left it at that, looking at him.
He looked back, a game of chicken between their eyes.
?If I leave you can?t follow can you??
?No? His answer echoed hers from a few minutes earlier. ?The porch is as far as I can
go.?
?Works for me.? She smiled that smile at him again. ?Just making sure you're attached
to the building and not me. I can leave you here.?
His face was blank as he answered her. ?You could if you wanted to.? He walked past
her to the door, trying to open it but failing on the first try, finally making his hand solid
enough to pull it open and looking back at her.
?You need to find a new playmate, someone else to talk to, because you and me? So not
gonna work. I don't even like you. ? She moved closer to him and the door he was
holding open for her. ?I mean when the opening line is ?Lets dance, bam bam bam? and
the second one is ?I'm a ghost but I'm sorry?? Just not good.?
He laughed at her, the sound was odd, like icy branches hitting a window pane. ?That is
your summary??
Her annoyance showed again as she answered, ?Pretty much, it?s correct.? Her shrug
accompanied her next question. ?Why? What?s yours?? She didn?t know why she asked
him but she actually did want to know his feelings on the subject.
?I made a mistake that I paid for. I have proven that I am no danger to you. I think we
should begin again.? He must have lost focus again because the door slid through his
hand and started to close. He caught it with his shoulder then stepped out onto the porch.
She followed, ?I don?t trust you. Even if you?re dead.? It was true, he was far too
dangerous to trust. In more ways than he knew.
?I do not expect you to. Would you trust any stranger? Trust is earned over time.?
?Ugh.? The word was drawn out. ?Does this mean we?re going to be spending time
together?? She had to admit that there was a little bit of happiness at that thought.
His palm flattened against the railing as he leaned forward and he peered out into the
darkness. ?You?ll come back.? The statement was simple, the feelings it stirred up in her
weren?t.
?Not for you.? She slid her arms into her jacket, wondering again why she was feeling
this way.
?Maybe not. But you'll come back, and I'll be here. Even if you can't see me.? He didn?t
know her, didn?t know her history or how she?d react to his words.
?That?s just creepy, you know that right? ? She looked at him, wondering if he could
understand what she was saying. ?It?s stalkerish and icky.?
?I would love to have a choice and I would have if you hadn?t killed me.? It was the
first sign of anger she?d seen, when he looked at her he wasn?t smiling, but she was,
inside.
?You deserved it. You shot me.?
?Minor annoyance.? He gestured toward her. ?Death.? He then set his hand against his
chest.
?You didn?t know that when you shot me.? Her hand lifted and she poked him in the
chest with a finger. At first there was resistance, it felt like leather, and then her whole
hand slid into him. His scowl was dark as he stepped away from her. He lifted a hand
and rubbed the spot her hand had just been as he sat on the railing.
?Does it bother you when I do that?? Yes, her mind was working again. Anything to
annoy him and put him off balance was a tool she?d use. Over and over and over
again. Her finger pressed against his shoulder as she tested her theory.
?And I also thought, when I did it, that?? He?d started before she?d poked him, this time
he was ready though and her finger only encountered soft leather. ??yes. It doesn't feel
especially good to have things sticking out of me. Do you like it when people stick things
in you??
It almost seemed like he was laughing at her. She smirked as she hopped up onto the
railing next to him. ?Depends. And what did you think when you did it?? She wasn?t
going to let his statement go that easily.
?I haven't stuck anything in you.? What he said might have seemed innocent but she
wasn?t buying it.
?You shot me. Though if you'd stuck something in me first I'd be more pissed than I am
now.?
?I was sad.? He admitted, and she was shocked for a few seconds.
Her laughter was slightly bitter. ?Yeah, right. You were sent to kill me, you had to know
that.?
?That?s what I thought, yes.? She couldn?t be sure but it felt like he was telling the truth,
finally.
?We danced, it's not like you knew me for a long time and then had to kill me.? Her
shoulders lifted in another slight shrug. ?You might have felt guilty but not sad.?
?You don?t have to believe me for it to be true.? His voice was starting to sound more
distant, colder.
Her eyes scanned his face, looking for answers, ?So you're stuck here, stalking
me, which puts me in this hell with you.?
This time it was his shoulders that lifted in a shrug, ?As hells go, it could be worse.?
?Oh yes, being stuck talking to the guy who wanted me dead is just so cool.? Her
chuckle echoed off the empty street.
?You're not stuck. There is not a bit of glue on that wood.? He lifted a hand and pointed
at her sitting on the railing, then crossed his arms over his chest.
?So I can just ignore you from now on? You'll leave me alone?? His point had her
hopping off the railing and standing on the porch.
?Do you want to be left alone?? Such a simple question.
Never one to answer directly, she set her hands on her hips and asked a question of her
own, ?If I asked you to, would you stop watching me??
?Maybe.? His feet were planted, firmly on the porch, his head tipped to one side.
Her movements copied his, head tilted to one side, ?Why were you sad and what were
you promised??
?I was sad because you were lovely, and I could not imagine what you had done to
deserve death. Killing you was the last thing I wanted to do.?
?So what were you promised that you did it? Without question, you took the job.? This
was something she couldn?t understand.
?I was promised immortality.? On some level she?d known that was coming. He flickered
for a second as he said it.
All of her senses sharpened as he said that. ?Who?? One of her hands reached forward
toward his arms, trying to grab a hold of it.
Whatever he was trying to say was lost in static and interference. Her other hand
reached over to try and grab him. ?Answer me!?
He solidified for a moment, ?I did.? There was anger on his face, anger and frustration
as he reached for her as well. Then he disappeared.
?No you didn't.? She turned around, frowning, looking for him. ?I didn?t hear you.? She
stomped a foot like a child. ?This is not fair! I'm not coming back you know. You can just
stew here all alone.?
There was no answer.
?Arrrrrrrgh!? Again her frustration surfaced. ?I hate you! A lot!? And with that parting
shot she stormed down the front porch stairs and into the night.
so many people, that there were times she forgot that her unique view of the world
wasn?t shared by everyone. See? Kate had seen a lot, so when she finally waltzed into
the inn after doing a little people watching out on the porch, she wasn?t all that shocked
that the man who had shot her months before seemed to just appear behind her.
Gem?s reaction was the first she noticed, the shocked expression on her face, so she
turned and looked behind her, and there he was. Derever. Her jaw literally dropped as
she watched him?he looked exactly the same, just softer around the edges. He was
unarmed but that didn?t mean anything to her. Weapons could be hidden anywhere. Gem
introduced her to some man whose lap she was sitting on, Amber asked her if she
wanted a drink. It all flowed over her like a waterfall, muting the conversation as she
made all the right responses, turning it all into background noise. All she could see was
his face.
As the others started noticing him, she slowly started to come back to reality, preparing
for the danger he represented. Amber offered him help, her response was a quick knee
jerk ?No, don?t help him.? She stepped a little to the side, still watching him, waiting for
his move. If she noticed Gem?s look of shock she didn?t show it.
He answered Amber then looked at her again, stepping forward. Kate matched his
forward movement with a backward step of her own. He wasn?t going to get close
enough to hurt her this time. The last time she?d let his looks and his manner distract
her, she?d actually been interested. Seeing him again, knowing he was dead, was
stirring up a whole storm of emotions in her.
?You need to go away.? She lifted her finger like a shield and pointed at him. ?And not
come any closer.? The second part was the most important to her. Sweet words and a
dance weren?t going to distract her this time.
?I can?t go away. I?m bound here.? His voice was cool, distant, like talking to someone
through an old static phoneline. ?And I could not hurt you again, even if I wanted to.?
She didn?t believe him. A little part of her wanted to but she knew better?he had shot
her, she had killed him, he wouldn?t be here if he didn?t want something. ?Yes, let?s trust
the guy who the last time I saw him, shot me.? Her voice was bitter as she shook her
head. ?Not gonna happen.?
?Your friend the dragon ate me.? He sounded almost casual as he discussed his death.
He was more concerned with touching and running his hand through the edge of one of
the tables. His expression was painful, thoughtful.
?Good, I hope it hurt. A lot.? Icer eating him was news to her. Honestly, she?d never
thought about the man again after she knew he was dead, and she?d known that right
after she stabbed him and shot the liquid nitro into him. She took her normal defensive
stance and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him.
?Less than I would have imagined. I?m sorry.? He stepped closer to her, his movements
slow, measured, as if he knew she was about to bolt at any time.
He was right, and she stepped back and away from him as she answered, ?You do
realize that ?Hey, I?m dead now, sorry I shot you.? doesn?t cut it, right?? She wanted to
run, to get away. It wasn?t just fear that was driving her but the fact that even now she
wanted to talk to him. ?Go away.?
?I can?t.? His answer was unsatisfying, annoying. ?Someone named Livinia requested it
of Lord Iannos. They promised, if I did it, they would make me like them.? His
statement of the facts was just that, no embellishments, nothing added, just telling her
what had happened, how he?d found himself there at the Inn that night pulling the trigger
of a gun and shooting her four times in the gut.
?So you?re haunting the place, I?m going to have to see you now?? Her rage could melt
ice and terrify lesser men. ?Awesome?you shot me...? Her statement overran the first
part of his explanation, but Liv?s name caught her attention. ?I know who asked it.? The
depth of her anger surfaced as she snapped at him. ?You still made the choice to do it
and now you?re making a choice to...I don?t know, what are you doing now?? She
couldn?t understand why he was talking to her. Did he think he needed some sort of
forgiveness to move on? Was he mad she killed him and haunting her to make her pay?
There were so many reasons he might be talking to her and none of them were good.
?If I told you, you would not believe me.?
At least he had that right. She uncrossed her arms so she could take off her coat,
for some unknown reason still talking to him. ?I don't have to answer your questions,
but you owe it to me to answer mine, Mister ?I shot you and didn't ask any questions
beforehand.?? If she were to tell the truth she?d have to admit she was most upset about
him seeming to want her to give him some sort of absolution when, from what she
understood, he?d never asked a question before he shot her and left her for dead in the
Inn.
?You were only injured. I'm dead. Who owes what to whom? ? He was smiling at her,
like they were friends, like it was all a joke.
?You're dead because you were stupid, and you're not really dead if you're here
talking to me, are you?? Her chin lifted as she spoke the words, her eyes hot on him. If
looks could kill, he?d be dead. Again. For good. She could almost forgive him making
a decision to kill her based on facts, based on not liking her?based on anything other
than a vague promise from a clan of vampires.
She watched as he carefully tested the stool as if he expected to fall through it. ?I was
stupid because I believed a lie. And I am not sure what else I am if not dead. I have not
eaten or slept, and this is the first time I have been able to talk to you.? Apparently she
was supposed to feel sympathy for him, the poor murderous ghost who couldn?t eat or
sleep because he?d believed a lie and tried to kill her.
She leaned against the bar, facing him. ?Why are you talking to me??
He countered her question with one of his own. ?Have you never believed a lie?? And
watched her in silence as he waited for her answer.
She decided to slip her coat off as she thought, setting it on the bar between them. ?This
isn?t about me. You?re very annoying,you know. Shooting me,and now bugging me and
refusing to answer questions.? Again she was letting her temper get the better of her,
letting it show as she struggled to get it under control.
?I did answer your question. You haven?t answered mine.? He was momentarily
distracted by her shirt, ?I always meet Mr. Wrong? was written on the front, with a little
round character next to the words. She knew he was reading it because his lips moved
as he did so. ?Your believing a lie is why you're talking to me? That makes no sense,
and I have no intention of answering any of your questions.? More defenses went up as
her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed together. ?You shot me, I hope you?re suffering
and as annoyed as I am.?
?You asked me what I was doing now. You asked me whether I was really dead. That's
two questions. I'm sure there were more, but I've forgotten them already.? There he was,
sounding all logical again, trying to make her look like the crazy one. It was annoying.
?If you weren't already dead I'd kill you. You sure I can't kill you again? Myself this time?
Cause that would be fun.? As she spoke to him she leaned a little closer to him, the first
movement toward him she?d made all night.
?I'm not annoyed, no.? It was annoying how he just looked at her with that stupid smile
on his face, it was annoying how he kept sounding so logical, it was annoying that he
was even there at all. ?Stab me. I am sitting right here. Unarmed, as far as I can
tell.? He gestured to where his sword should have been and honestly it was too good of
an offer to say no to. If nothing else, it would help a little with her annoyance at him.
So she did it, the only indication was a quick ?Ok,? then the knife was out and in his
chest. She pressed a small button on the hilt and the nitro and other gases were
released. ?This doesn?t make us even.? It did feel good though, stabbing him, just
having him sit there and let her though was a little disappointing. Revenge kills were
always better when you hunted them down, made them pay, and then killed them.
He grimaced in pain but didn?t fall over dead. Instead the cool of the nitro just whooshed
out of him and brushed her hand. His next movement actually shocked her: he leaned
forward and brushed his lips against hers in a cool kiss.
Her shock wore off fairly quickly and she stabbed him again. ?A ss.? Then the knife was
put away and she scrubbed at her lips with her hand. He had balls, she had to give him
that, but why wouldn?t he? He was dead, he had nothing to lose and had apparently
decided that she was the person he needed to talk to.
The face he made at the second stabbing wasn?t satisfying, and of course he started
asking questions again, ?Where did you get that knife? I?ve never seen anything like it
before.? Of course he?d ask about the knife, most of the men and half the women who?d
seen it in action had panted after it.
She watched him as she answered. ?Didn?t I say I wasn't going to answer your
questions? Your letting me stab you and then kissing me isn't going to change
that. What the hell was that anyway? Kiss the chick you tried to kill?? He was confusing,
trying to kill her, then kissing her? He was up to something, she was sure of it, and she
needed to find out what.
?You?re pretty. What did you ask me again?? Then he turned to look at the bottles of
booze behind the bar. Nothing says ?I don?t mean what I say? like complimenting
a woman and then looking longingly at liquor bottles.
The initial fear and anger were starting to fade, as they did so things started to click into
place, ?I've asked you why you're talking to me. You said this was the first time you
could talk to me. Have you been here the whole time?? The thought of that was very
disturbing to her.
?Yes, I told you, I can?t leave.? With that statement he walked through the bar to try and
touch one of the bottles he?d been looking at so longingly a few minutes earlier.
A thought occurred to her. ?Maybe that's your punishment then. Stuck here forever. Only
not talking to me.?
?Except I am.? He was sighing over the bottles, she almost felt sorry for him. Only?not.
?Go talk to someone else.? She watched him as she spoke. ?You've been here a little
while, I'm sure you've watched people here. Go talk to them.? It still didn?t make any
sense to her, him talking to her.
When he looked over his shoulder at her she could see a bottle through it. ?It was mostly
you that I watched. When you were not here, I tried to leave.? That thought was
unsettling so she responded the only way she knew how, with sarcasm.
?Plotting other ways to kill me?? Her smirk matched her tone.
?It was a lie. Why would I want you dead now?? He was using logic again, and it
annoyed her. She honestly didn?t know what he wanted or why he was here.
?What do you want from me?? Her head tilt was to cover up her wanting to look at him
again.
?You ask me that, again, as if my answer might change. It won't. ? She watched as he
picked up a glass, then watched as it slid through his hand and shattered on the inn
floor. She leaned up onto the bar, her feet dangling off the floor, looking at the shards of
glass there. Neither of them moved to clean it up.
?Why were you watching me then??
?For the same reason. Why were those people badgering about men and how much you
needed one?? He?d hit a target there.
Her groan was loud and her face twisted as she kicked her feet and hopped back off the
bar. ?Why would I answer your questions again? Why am I even talking to you?? She
deflected, like she always did when she didn?t want to answer something.
?Because you like to dance.? He stated this like it made perfect sense. He was watching
her again, looking into her face in this way that just unsettled her.
So she took a hop backwards and away from him, ?You?re insane.? She wanted to get
away?but at the same time she didn?t.
He apparently could feel what she was feeling. ?Maybe. I wasn't, before. But
being dead changed my perspective. Still, I might be insane, but you haven't left, and
you're not stabbing me anymore.?
Damnit, he was right. She needed to gain the upper hand and quickly. ?Stabbing you is
unsatisfying?you're still here.? She grabbed her coat and started for the door.
He followed her. ?Would you kill me again if you could??
Such a simple question, so she gave a simple answer, ?If it was painful and there was
lots of blood and screaming and death? Yes, yes I would, just to get back at you. Or I
might just threaten you a lot and make you think I?m coming after you so that you
wouldn't even sleep in your bed comfortably.? She looked at him as she spoke, keeping
her eyes on his.
?I could pretend to do all the screaming and death.? Then he smiled, he smiled that
charming smile and again she was annoyed.
Her face twisted a little. ?What's the point in that? Maybe I wouldn't kill you after
all.? Her smile was wicked as she finished. ?There are worse things than death.?
?A day-long ride after an all-night ride?? He actually looked innocent as he said it.
?No.? She just left it at that, looking at him.
He looked back, a game of chicken between their eyes.
?If I leave you can?t follow can you??
?No? His answer echoed hers from a few minutes earlier. ?The porch is as far as I can
go.?
?Works for me.? She smiled that smile at him again. ?Just making sure you're attached
to the building and not me. I can leave you here.?
His face was blank as he answered her. ?You could if you wanted to.? He walked past
her to the door, trying to open it but failing on the first try, finally making his hand solid
enough to pull it open and looking back at her.
?You need to find a new playmate, someone else to talk to, because you and me? So not
gonna work. I don't even like you. ? She moved closer to him and the door he was
holding open for her. ?I mean when the opening line is ?Lets dance, bam bam bam? and
the second one is ?I'm a ghost but I'm sorry?? Just not good.?
He laughed at her, the sound was odd, like icy branches hitting a window pane. ?That is
your summary??
Her annoyance showed again as she answered, ?Pretty much, it?s correct.? Her shrug
accompanied her next question. ?Why? What?s yours?? She didn?t know why she asked
him but she actually did want to know his feelings on the subject.
?I made a mistake that I paid for. I have proven that I am no danger to you. I think we
should begin again.? He must have lost focus again because the door slid through his
hand and started to close. He caught it with his shoulder then stepped out onto the porch.
She followed, ?I don?t trust you. Even if you?re dead.? It was true, he was far too
dangerous to trust. In more ways than he knew.
?I do not expect you to. Would you trust any stranger? Trust is earned over time.?
?Ugh.? The word was drawn out. ?Does this mean we?re going to be spending time
together?? She had to admit that there was a little bit of happiness at that thought.
His palm flattened against the railing as he leaned forward and he peered out into the
darkness. ?You?ll come back.? The statement was simple, the feelings it stirred up in her
weren?t.
?Not for you.? She slid her arms into her jacket, wondering again why she was feeling
this way.
?Maybe not. But you'll come back, and I'll be here. Even if you can't see me.? He didn?t
know her, didn?t know her history or how she?d react to his words.
?That?s just creepy, you know that right? ? She looked at him, wondering if he could
understand what she was saying. ?It?s stalkerish and icky.?
?I would love to have a choice and I would have if you hadn?t killed me.? It was the
first sign of anger she?d seen, when he looked at her he wasn?t smiling, but she was,
inside.
?You deserved it. You shot me.?
?Minor annoyance.? He gestured toward her. ?Death.? He then set his hand against his
chest.
?You didn?t know that when you shot me.? Her hand lifted and she poked him in the
chest with a finger. At first there was resistance, it felt like leather, and then her whole
hand slid into him. His scowl was dark as he stepped away from her. He lifted a hand
and rubbed the spot her hand had just been as he sat on the railing.
?Does it bother you when I do that?? Yes, her mind was working again. Anything to
annoy him and put him off balance was a tool she?d use. Over and over and over
again. Her finger pressed against his shoulder as she tested her theory.
?And I also thought, when I did it, that?? He?d started before she?d poked him, this time
he was ready though and her finger only encountered soft leather. ??yes. It doesn't feel
especially good to have things sticking out of me. Do you like it when people stick things
in you??
It almost seemed like he was laughing at her. She smirked as she hopped up onto the
railing next to him. ?Depends. And what did you think when you did it?? She wasn?t
going to let his statement go that easily.
?I haven't stuck anything in you.? What he said might have seemed innocent but she
wasn?t buying it.
?You shot me. Though if you'd stuck something in me first I'd be more pissed than I am
now.?
?I was sad.? He admitted, and she was shocked for a few seconds.
Her laughter was slightly bitter. ?Yeah, right. You were sent to kill me, you had to know
that.?
?That?s what I thought, yes.? She couldn?t be sure but it felt like he was telling the truth,
finally.
?We danced, it's not like you knew me for a long time and then had to kill me.? Her
shoulders lifted in another slight shrug. ?You might have felt guilty but not sad.?
?You don?t have to believe me for it to be true.? His voice was starting to sound more
distant, colder.
Her eyes scanned his face, looking for answers, ?So you're stuck here, stalking
me, which puts me in this hell with you.?
This time it was his shoulders that lifted in a shrug, ?As hells go, it could be worse.?
?Oh yes, being stuck talking to the guy who wanted me dead is just so cool.? Her
chuckle echoed off the empty street.
?You're not stuck. There is not a bit of glue on that wood.? He lifted a hand and pointed
at her sitting on the railing, then crossed his arms over his chest.
?So I can just ignore you from now on? You'll leave me alone?? His point had her
hopping off the railing and standing on the porch.
?Do you want to be left alone?? Such a simple question.
Never one to answer directly, she set her hands on her hips and asked a question of her
own, ?If I asked you to, would you stop watching me??
?Maybe.? His feet were planted, firmly on the porch, his head tipped to one side.
Her movements copied his, head tilted to one side, ?Why were you sad and what were
you promised??
?I was sad because you were lovely, and I could not imagine what you had done to
deserve death. Killing you was the last thing I wanted to do.?
?So what were you promised that you did it? Without question, you took the job.? This
was something she couldn?t understand.
?I was promised immortality.? On some level she?d known that was coming. He flickered
for a second as he said it.
All of her senses sharpened as he said that. ?Who?? One of her hands reached forward
toward his arms, trying to grab a hold of it.
Whatever he was trying to say was lost in static and interference. Her other hand
reached over to try and grab him. ?Answer me!?
He solidified for a moment, ?I did.? There was anger on his face, anger and frustration
as he reached for her as well. Then he disappeared.
?No you didn't.? She turned around, frowning, looking for him. ?I didn?t hear you.? She
stomped a foot like a child. ?This is not fair! I'm not coming back you know. You can just
stew here all alone.?
There was no answer.
?Arrrrrrrgh!? Again her frustration surfaced. ?I hate you! A lot!? And with that parting
shot she stormed down the front porch stairs and into the night.