Page 20 of Safe in Shadow (Pine Ridge Universe #22)

T he Stranger huddled close to his windscreen.

The last time it had rained this hard, he’d sought refuge inside the broken-down old mansion, but that place was a hazard.

Last time he’d gone inside, he must’ve tripped over something in the dark.

Hit his head. Slammed his fingers in a door hard enough to break them.

Fortunately, it had been Friday night. He was able to get back to work on Monday, and no one on his route noticed.

“Not going in this time,” he muttered, turning off the road and pulling behind the house, making tire tracks in the wet grass. At least the ground will be soft, he thought, parking close to the woods.

IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG to dig a hole. He didn’t need to make it too deep or too large, and he’d had a lot of practice.

How long had he been coming here? Twenty years?

Maybe he had missed a year here or there.

He didn’t remember the women or their names.

They were all the same, all iterations of Pamela, dull pale skin and dry, dyed hair.

They all had the same mementos—shoes, clothes, jewelry, purses, usually bearing some bloody residue from the process of making them more “compact,” and all wrapped up in the bloody beach towels.

He always got a few new ones each summer in preparation for another visit to Hilltop, always ready for the next Pamela.

Still, it was nice to walk in the woods. Take the long way out, seeing if he could identify all the places where he’d left his little “gifts.” It was definitely his “happy place.”

It was when he was trudging back to the car, his hands and knees muddy, his little fold-up “survival shovel” swinging in his hand, that he saw her.

Pamela.

Naked in one of the upper windows, just a glimpse of blonde hair above a bare back and long legs.

He ripped off his glasses. They were always playing tricks. Turning live women into dead ones.

Why not a dead one into a live one?

But no, even with the glasses off, he could still see her outline—just blurry. Her gloriously nude body was still too thin for his tastes, but it was alive, moving away from the window.

“Pam?” he gasped, dropping the shovel in the grass. His soaking sneakers slipped and slid on the wet turf, but he struggled forward. “Pam!”

He’d done it! Somehow, he’d done it. He’d finally undone his mistake with enough gifts!

Maybe that’s why he always felt compelled to bring Pamela these little offerings each year.

Maybe it was all a bad dream, and he’d never hurt her.

That’s right, it was a bad dream! He’d always prayed it was just a bad dream.

Wished it was a bad dream. Stupid accident.

It was some other girl. Not his Pam. His Pamela had run away, but she’d come back.

She knew he’d been waiting.

Excitement and longing washed over him. Now he’d fix it. She’d leave with him, and they’d get married, and it would all be okay. It would be like no time ever passed, and the last twenty years had never happened.

NYX LAID HIS EXHAUSTED , thrice-sated Grace in her bed and curled beside her.

Thunder and lightning were rattling around the mountains tonight.

In the midst of their feverish lovemaking, the power had gone out, but it didn’t matter.

She had barely made it a few steps on her weak, shaking legs before letting him catch her.

He smiled as he felt himself slowly draining away, turning from solid to liquid darkness, drawn back to his spawning place. “Good night, my love.”

She looked up at him as he began to slip away, lids lowering. She said, “I love you.”

She loves me. It was the first time he could ever remember sliding into his little portal to the Netherworld feeling content.

Memories intact.

Forgiven.

Hopeful.

Perhaps Shades can use a spirit bottle, like ghosts. Maybe we can travel—well, short trips. I can help her here, with her little business, her dreams. There will be new books to read. Games to play. People to watch. Maybe some others will hear me. If not... I have her.

When she dies... Will she stay with me? Perhaps we could leave together?

Doubts poked him. In his time, relationships were not usually built solely on love or attraction. They were a matter of practicality. What he had with Grace... surely it was impractical for her?

Cynthia claimed to return your love, too.

Can you even love? Are you merely grasping for whatever you can reach, and she is the only thing available?

Nyx let himself dive deeper into the abyss, feeling dark energy soaking into him, restoring him, even as he heard the distant growls and chitters of wicked things waiting to drag him down past the point of no return.

He would not sink so far.

I don’t have all the answers—but I have hope.

GRACE WAS ENJOYING her dream, even though she was naked in it. Usually, that would be a nightmare, but this time, she was covered in white clouds and sunshine, and there was so much radiant white that she doubted anyone could tell if she was naked as a newborn or wearing a ballgown.

The main thing was that Nana was there, and she was in her own ball of radiant white. “You never do things the way I expect!” Nana chuckled.

“Nana!”

“So, you finally found yourself a fella. And you said you loved him.”

“Well... It felt right to say.”

“Not a lie?”

“No, Nana, I promise.”

“Why do you love him? Seems like after years of fighting off Cupid’s arrows, you took a direct hit.”

“I think... I think I liked Nyx, even though he was odd and eerie. I liked him. I didn’t love him. But I enjoyed being with him.” Grace gave Nana the side eye. She probably shouldn’t tell her all about the sexy stuff.

Nana nodded. “But?”

“But I loved him as Silas. Silas Cameron was a good man. He loved and trusted. He protected his brother. He chose to give up Heaven to stay in a torturous existence on Earth to try to save his brother’s life.”

“A sucker for a hero. Runs in the family. When I saw G-pop in his uniform... Oooh,” Nana sighed and fanned herself.

“He was willing to give up eternal bliss, and then further willing to risk his soul to save his brother by doing something pretty drastic. I understand it. He had to use what he had when he could. The threat could move—and he couldn’t. He’s smart. He has a head for business.”

“I know you like that.”

“We have some things in common, and I think we’ll have more. Don’t be mad at me.”

“Mad at you? Honey, I’m always in your corner. I’m always on your side. Even when your mother and father aren’t, I am.”

“That never changes?”

“Not even when we’re in different places.” Nana came forward and cupped her cheek. “You love Silas, be with him.”

“I do love Silas—although he doesn’t want to be called Silas, though. I think it brings up bad memories.”

“Nyx is a nice name, too. Unusual, but nice.”

“He’s unusual but nice, too. I think he’ll have a long time to heal, but... Well, I don’t seem to mind that.”

“You have an appreciation for old things and the time it takes to build things.” Nana shook her head in awe. “Now that you tell me all of this, it clicks. He’s actually a nice fit for you, sweetie.”

“Thank you. Now, you tell me all about you. Where’s G-Pop? Can I— Nana?”

Grace watched with a suddenly aching heart as Nana's face faded and the lights went out.

Somewhere in between awake and asleep, she heard something slam downstairs.