Page 35 of Jacob Michaels is Not Here

“It will be delightful to face you in battle once more.”

“That’s a little dramatic,” I said evenly. “But okay.”

“You won’t be as lucky the next time.”

I stared at the figure a moment longer, then sighed and turned my attention to the lake once more.

“That has always been my assumption,” I mumbled. “How many times can a guy get lucky?”

“You are not scared?”

“Terrified.”

“But you know this is inevitable?”

I nodded.

“You can release me and be done with it, then.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Of course, you can. It is what you do. It is what you were born to do.”

“No. It’s not.” I stated firmly. “It is what my father was born to do. I just got shafted, didn’t I?”

He was chuckling again. “I suppose that is accurate.”

“I won’t release you. Ever. You will have to find your way to me. In the meantime, I will be preparing for you. My memories aren’t so foggy anymore.”

The figure stood there, staring out at the lake.

“So…when you find your way to me, you’ll have to work up a sweat to claim your prize.I’m stubborn like that.”

“That is why I am so eager for us to meet once more.” The figure said, finally turning to me. Icy blue eyes glowed out at me. I wanted to shiver, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.“I think you will be the most satisfying opponent I have seen in…a very long time. Breaking you will be thrilling.”

I laughed lowly.

“I’d like to see you break me,” I replied firmly, staring back into those icy eyes. “You might win, but you will never break me.”

Those eyes stared back at me for what felt like an eternity.

“You could have run away. Like your father. Saved your wishes for another day.”

“That would have meant I was broken, wouldn’t it?”

“You are a stubborn creature.” He chuckled.

“You have no idea.”

The hooded figure turned slowly away, glancing out to the lake once more and I mimicked his movements.

“Dawn will be arriving soon.” He said simply. “I cannot be here for that.”

“Then leave.”

“I will soon. But you must know, if you won’t release me, I will do my best to convince you otherwise. I may not be able to reverse what you’ve done, but my wolves do not need their memories to take orders. They are always eager to please.” His voice dripped with sadistic humor as he spoke.

“I hope you like dead wolves.”

The figure cackled loudly, his head falling backward. He continued falling back until he was falling in on himself, bending over backward until he was nearly a circle, then he blipped out of existence. Looking into the space he had just occupied, I sighed to myself and looked out at the lake once more. Dawn would be arriving soon. The sun would peek over the horizon and make the water warm and golden instead of cold black and white. Lucas’ lawn would start to dry and not be so swampy. And life would go on. For the time being.

There had barely been enough time to stare at the lake and think about the arriving morning when I startled awake in bed once more. My eyes shot open, but I did not sit up or jerk—I just simply woke up suddenly. Lucas had his head on my chest, and his arms wrapped tightly around me. He was breathing deeply, contentedly. And the only thing I smelled in the air was Lucas’ soap. But I could swear I heard a cackle on the wind outside.