Free Glimmer by Vivi Anna

head. “It’s not you. It must’ve been something I ate earlier.” Bending down, I snatched my keys from the ground and turned toward the door, making damn sure he couldn’t see my hands well.
    He moved toward me, stopping to pick up the Styrofoam box. “Here. Let me help you.”
    “No,” I blurted. “I can do it. Thanks.” As I struggled to unlock my door, a sudden jolt of pain zigzagged down my spine. The ache was so intense, I gasped.
    Severin reached toward me. “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. I just need to get inside.” I managed to push open the door, and then stumbled in after it. Severin was right behind me, my dessert and my purse—I hadn’t realized I had dropped it—in his hands.
    Another flash of pain rushed down my back. My vertebrae felt like they were snapping off my spinal cord like Lego pieces. Snap. Snap. Snap. Squeezing my eyes shut, I had to gain my balance by grasping the table in the entranceway. God, it hurt like hell. Searing dark pain that made sweat pop out on my upper lip.
    Severin rested his hand on my shoulder. “You’re in pain. I can feel it.”
    “Please, Severin, just go. I’ll be fine.”
    He set the box and my purse on the entrance table. “Nina, I can help you. I come from a very old race, probably older than you realize. We have healing powers.”
    I glanced at him then, and saw the concern and honesty in his face. I appreciated it. But this was something no one could help me with. This was from something deeper inside me. My fae side. My mother had warned me years ago that this would happen.
    Gritting my teeth from another slash of agony ripping through me, I managed to say, “I appreciate the concern. I really do. But I’m fine.”
    He knew I was lying, but decided not to press me. He ran a hand over my head, stroking me.
    God, how I wanted to lean into his touch, to experience his caress on other parts of my body. But I remained stoic. I needed him to leave and quickly.
    “You can trust me.”
    I didn’t respond, just kept his gaze, breathing heavily through my mouth. I wasn’t ready to trust him. I wasn’t ready to trust anyone. Not with this.
    After a final searching look, he turned and went out the door, shutting it behind him. The second he was gone, I sunk to my hands and knees and took in several ragged breaths. I thought I might throw up from the pain surging through me.
    The skin on my hands still glowed, but it was starting to dim. I watched as it faded and softened until the color was back to my regular alabaster pale.
    As the color ebbed, the pain also started to fade. When it had subsided enough that I could stand, I climbed the stairs to the bathroom as quick as I could go. I clutched the railing, afraid my shaking legs would fail to support me.
    Once in the bathroom, I tore at my dress, pulling it off in a quick tug. I turned and tried to look at my back in the mirror. From the pain that had rippled through me, I swore my skin had cracked open to expose the muscle and tissue beneath.
    But as far as I could see the skin was still intact. Still smooth and pale. Nothing had split open my back.
    Sighing with relief, I splashed cold water on my face, and then pulled my dress back on. I went into the hallway intent on going back downstairs to eat the cheesecake Severin had brought me. Suddenly, I was ravenous. My stomach growled in agreement.
    But as I took two steps toward the stairs, I stopped. Something on the wall gave me pause.
    I stared at one of the many paintings my father had created. One of his watercolors. About the only one I allowed him to put up on the walls--because it didn’t remind me of my mother.
    No, this one sort of reminded me of me.
    A woman stood in a meadow of wildflowers in a long flowing dress. Her long black hair blew from an unseen wind. Birds nested in the tree next to her. The sky was a brilliant blue with fat puffs of white clouds floating nearby. The picture was