Free Torment by Lindsey Anne Kendal Page A

them let any harm come to you I would hunt them down and kill them.”
    I walked over and stood about a foot in front of him. He constantly fixed me with his eyes.
    “I called out to you for more than a week, not once did you answer me,” I said. “Why?”
    “Because I was trying my best to stay away from you.”
    “Why though, did I piss you that much?”
    “Yes you did, but that’s not the reason.”
    “Why then?”
    “Because I was getting too close to you,” he said, moving away from me. “I can’t allow myself to do that.”
    “I don't mind,” I said, walking after him.
    “You would, believe me you would.”
    “No I wouldn’t! I hate it when you leave me, and I miss you like crazy…”
    “Keira, don't! I’m doing my best to fight this. Don't make it any harder for me.”
    “Is this why you used to just turn up, because you wanted to be near me?”
    “Yes,” he said, looking at me again. “But I can’t…”
    “You can.”
    “I need to go.”
    “Take me with you, Eligos…just for a little while, please.”
    “No, your friends will worry about you.”
    “So I’ll call them and tell them I’m with you.”
    “No, not now.”
    He stared at me for a moment before disappearing.
     

Chapter Twelve
    Surprise
     
    When I got home I jumped in the shower and then flopped down on the sofa in the living room. I didn’t move until I heard Lily and Jake come in from work. I said hi and then went outside and sat on my swing, staring at my grave that still hadn't been moved. My mind was completely clear now.
    “I’m sick of seeing that miserable face,” Eligos said as he appeared next to me. “It doesn’t suit you.”
    “So make me smile then.”
    “Get your car keys,” he told me, standing up.
    “Why?”
    “More bloody questions! For once just do as you’re told!”
    He grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the house. We walked in and I got my keys out of the kitchen.
    “Hey,” Lily said, rather shocked when she saw him.
    “Hi, Lily, how are you today?” he asked her.
    “I’m great, thank you.”
    “Glad to hear it. Now I hope you don't mind but I’m stealing your friend for an hour or so.”
    “Oh, OK, well at least I know she’ll be safe, or at least she will be if you don't end up fighting again.”
    “We won’t fight and I won’t keep her too long,” he told her.
    We walked through the hall, out the front door and towards the car.
    He wouldn’t tell me where we were going; he just told me to head into the countryside. He wound the window down and sat back with his eyes closed, letting the breeze blow on his face and through his hair. I had to fight with myself to keep my eyes on the road. He was so amazingly gorgeous; I could happily sit there and stare at him all day, every day.
    “We’ve been driving over half an hour – where are we going?” I asked.
    “You can stop anywhere you like, it doesn’t really matter; I was just enjoying the breeze too much to stop you driving.”
    I slammed my foot on the break and we screeched to a stop.
    “What was that for?” he asked.
    “Oh look at you asking questions,” I said nastily, getting out of the car.
    “What’s wrong with you?”
    “You’re what’s wrong…You infuriate me!”
    “OK,” he said carelessly.
    He got out of the car and leaned against the bonnet.
    “You know sometimes I wonder why I speak to you; I wonder why I don't just let you quit,” I said coldly.
    “Because you know you can tell me anything; you can talk to me about things your friends don't understand. Oh and because I know that some part of you, no matter how small, actually likes me. Why else would you have gotten so pissed when I said I was quitting?”
    “You keep telling yourself that.”
    He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. He held it in the palm of his hand and then a few seconds later, it burst into flames. I watched as he let the ashes fall to the ground. Then he spoke.
    “See how pissed she is,” he said, looking up