He chuckled and, with an exaggerated macho voice, said, “Honey, no way you’d sleep through that.”
“Good,” she said, “because I want to enjoy it too.” She yawned, curled up against him, and sank deeper into the huge soft mattress.
He smiled as he listened to her steady breathing as she slumbered away. He loved her response because they both knew where they were going with this relationship.
Andy had taken him aside earlier today and again told him, “God, man, please wait until this case is closed.”
“She has nothing to do with the murders,” he told his friend and partner confidently.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “You know it won’t go well if you have a relationship with a suspect.”
“We’re friends,” he said. “That’s all it is.”
Andy looked at him distrustfully. “I don’t know about that,” he said. “I know your reputation.”
“And that’s all it is, a reputation,” he said. “And she is not a woman to be trifled with.”
Andy thought about it, then nodded. “No, she’s a keeper,” he said, “so you need to be prepared for that.”
“I struggled at the beginning,” he admitted. “And then I just gave up. I guess it’s a case of finally meeting somebody worth keeping.”
“I can see that. But you really, really need to make sure that you don’t let this develop any further until after the case.”
“I know,” he said. “I know.”
And it didn’t take very long before her breathing became slow, deep, and rhythmic. He knew that she had dropped right out. He lay here—calm, quiet, and peaceful—in a place he hadn’t expected to be so fast but delighted that he was.
This woman never took care of herself, and that was something she needed to do, particularly now.
As he drifted off, he sensed something different, something unusual. He didn’t open his eyes quickly. He laid here quiet, his eyes closed, figuring out what was bothering him. And then he opened his eyes just a hair, wondering if there was an intruder, but how could that be?
And that’s when he saw the black tendril wrapping him around the base of the bed. He stared at it in shock. What the fuck is that?
Exactly what I told you to look for, Stefan said.
He froze, as Stefan’s words slammed into his mind.
It’s all right, Stefan said, the fatigue in his voice evident. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m looking for this actual energy, I wouldn’t have heard you in the first place.
And you’re talking to me in my head?
Yeah. It’s much easier sometimes, he said. Although, if you keep fighting me, it won’t be easy at all.
Right, he said. He was dealing with the fact that this other voice rumbled through his head, and he couldn’t tell if it was real or not.
My voice is real, Stefan said. So take a look at that energy, and try to move slowly so you can see it full-on. See if anything is distinctive about it.
Distinctive about energy?
Yes. Don’t mock it, Stefan snapped. Just do it.
Richard took a look at the tendrils. It’s hooked on her ankle. It’s black, fading to a light gray on the outside. It’s pointed at the ends.
How long is it?
I don’t know. Maybe a foot, a foot and a half. If you can talk to me in my head, can you see it too?
No, he said in frustration. I can’t see through your eyes. Sometimes I can, but, in your case, I can’t.
Well, I won’t be too upset about that, Richard said.
Can you see any other energy there?
You said there was a lot.
I also said a lot of them weren’t a problem.
Okay, so I see the black one. Something really light, a pulsating gold energy is up around midchest, he said. She’s not sleeping deeply. And these are just like hazes.
Yes, that’s exactly what it is, he said. She’s not sleeping well because she’s probably got too much going on in her head. If you reach out mentally, think to pull out the black energy. And I’m not talking about the black energy at her ankle, but something up into her head. Pull it out, and she should start to ease down and sleep better.
Even as Richard reached a hand up to her head, following Stefan’s instructions and pulling out these invisible black threads, he could see that her restlessness was calming, and she slipped into a deeper, more intense sleep. Well, that’s quite nice, he said. I don’t know what we’re doing here, but it seems to be working.
Now is the gold haze over her chest raspy or soft and smooth?
Sandy looking, he said instantly. He couldn’t believe he was seeing any of this anyway.
And you may never see it again, Stefan said. I’m trying to help you to see it, so that would be one of the reasons why it’s as clear as it is, but, if you wanted to, you could see this all the time.
Following Stefan’s instructions again, Richard drew his gaze ever-so-slowly down past the gold, finding some redness at her belly, and a little bit below, a grayer energy. Some of the colors are intermingled, he murmured.
Think about her, how you feel for her, and place a hand over the gold energy, Stefan said, and just smooth it gently.
Feeling like a fool, his hand six inches above her body, he gently soothed and stroked the golden energy that looked more tarnished and sandier than anything. For how long?
Is it making a difference?
He studied it and then realized it was. It’s becoming softer, smoother.
So, do it a little bit longer, until you can’t see any more improvement. That’s probably all you’ll get done today. And then we’ll take a look at the other energies.
What is that gold one?
All the people who she’s lost and is holding dear to herself.
Not currently alive people?
No, he said. She had a very close connection to Elena, and I’m sure you’ll find that’s one of the main elements
