{"id":81,"date":"2009-11-20T12:30:58","date_gmt":"2009-11-20T17:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/atfmb.com\/Evermist\/?p=81"},"modified":"2010-02-11T21:31:37","modified_gmt":"2010-02-12T04:31:37","slug":"chapter-nine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/atfmb.com\/Evermist\/2009\/11\/chapter-nine\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter Nine"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2009, Patrick Hester.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved<\/p>\n

Chapter Nine<\/h1>\n

“You\u2019re so tense.”<\/p>\n

Eli felt the warmth of Millie lying beside him, hugging against him.\u00a0 They lay together on the roof of The Widow’s Apron, staring up at the sky.\u00a0\u00a0 Her scent is strong when they are this close, her head tucked just under his chin, her arm draped across his chest.\u00a0 The blanket is only part of the reason he is so warm in the chill of the night.<\/p>\n

“It’s your father, isn\u2019t it?” she asked.<\/p>\n

He nodded, eyes focused on the stars above.\u00a0 Part of him couldn\u2019t help but wonder, as it always did, where they came from.\u00a0 Legends told it was from somewhere up there, that they\u2019d traveled on boats that cut across the night sky instead of the oceans.\u00a0 That was so long ago, though, that no one knew for sure if it was the truth, or simply a tale someone had told once to amuse a crowd.<\/p>\n

From the time he first heard the story as a child, he\u2019d wanted to know more, know the truth.\u00a0 He\u2019d spent hours upon hours in the library at school, looking for any books that might contain more information, but all he ever found were more myths and legends and most of those contradicted each other.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t let him get to you,\u201d she said, squeezing him closer.\u00a0 He smiled, briefly.\u00a0 It did bother him.\u00a0 More than he ever thought it could.\u00a0 How could any man feel for a son the way his father felt about him?\u00a0 It made no sense.\u00a0 Yes, they had their disagreements, their arguments, but to do the things his father had done recently meant it was far worse than he ever could\u2019ve imagined.<\/p>\n

The stars twinkled above and he wondered if, like their origins, this would be another great mystery to plague his life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if you write a letter?\u201d Millie asked.\u00a0 \u201cTell him how you feel.\u00a0 I could deliver it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was shaking his head as soon as she mentioned it.\u00a0 Leaning on his elbow, he sat up to look at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely not.\u00a0 Fesh was right \u2013 my father is powerful, he\u2019s rich and he gets what he wants.\u00a0 The last thing I want is for him to know about you, put us together and decide that maybe the best way to get to me is through you.\u201d\u00a0 He pushed an errant hair away from her face, hooking it behind her ear with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t want you to be hurt,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d she said, mouth a thin line.\u00a0 She was only able to keep the stern look for a moment before a lopsided grin spread across her face.\u00a0 \u201cSo, you really care for me then?\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked up at him, eyes wide and lovely, lashes batting at him and he felt all the moisture in his mouth dry right up.\u00a0 He tried to say something and it came out as a hoarse croak that made her giggle.\u00a0 Somehow, she managed to wriggle her way even closer to him, which he didn\u2019t think possible.<\/p>\n

“I watched the ship dock this morning…” she murmured in his ear, her breath hot against his skin, sending shivers down his body.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

She shifts, slightly, one leg snaking up and around his leg.\u00a0 Her hand, resting upon his chest just beneath the blanket, slowly slips to down his waist\u2026<\/p>\n

“…no,” he says, breathless.\u00a0 “I never..\u00a0 I mean..\u00a0 I’m not trying to…\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t\u2026”<\/p>\n

“I would,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI want this, Eli.\u00a0 Want you to come back to me.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t\u2026\u00a0 I want this, Eli.”<\/p>\n

Elias pulled her closer, his lips meeting hers, a fire suddenly burning in his chest like a monster beating against a cage, demanding to be set free.<\/p>\n

\u2026and the night passes all too quickly.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 2009, Patrick Hester.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved Chapter Nine “You\u2019re so tense.” Eli felt the warmth of Millie lying beside him, hugging against him.\u00a0 They lay together on the roof of The Widow’s Apron, staring up at the sky.\u00a0\u00a0 Her scent is strong when they are this close, her head tucked just under his chin, […]<\/p>\n

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