“They won't see us because they aren't supposed to.”
Fate walked into the area, not far from where they had their campfire. He was as clear as day, the fire illuminating him in an alarming way but neither of the occupants noticed him. But their chocolate lab was staring right at Fate.
The dog definitely knew he was there. I could hear a low growl but he didn't make a move toward Fate. The couple was too busy arguing to notice something amiss with their dog.
Feeling more confident, I stepped out beside him.
He leaned his head down slightly to the side. “You can talk.”
“How do they not see us or hear us? Are we invisible?”
“We’re just as tangible as we were a few hours ago, just shielded from view.”
The man went back from arguing to screaming again. He was carrying on and on about her flirting with someone, all while she denied it.
The man was twice her size and loomed over the small brunette. Her hands were shaking as she cowered. He'd hit her before, even if I hadn't seen it, I'd know it. The evidence was there in her very stature, the pleading in her large eyes. She was scared.
I wanted to scream at her. You knew what he was capable of. Why did you stay? Why didn't you leave before now?
I cringed because I knew what was coming. His large fist connected with her stomach. I flinched with the pain she must have felt. And I also realized, whatever was going to happen, right now he didn't intend to kill her. He hit her somewhere that could be hidden and not on her face. So what was going to changed things? That part I hadn't seen.
I watched her bent over form, hoping the outcome I'd seen was wrong. Maybe it would be okay. She straightened and I saw a look in her eyes I recognized. Something had snapped. The fear was gone.
Oh no, lady, this was not the time to get some balls. This was a time for her to cling to fear because it might save her life. Fear isn't always bad. Sometimes it's the lighthouse on the shore telling you to steer out of the storm.
Don't do it. “Please.” I looked upward.
Fate turned to me and I thought I saw regret in his face as well but he turned back to the scene quickly.
She straightened to her full height of a foot less than him. “You bastard! I'm leaving you and if you try to stop me I'll fucking kill you!”
His hands struck out and were on her throat. He actually lifted her from the ground just by her neck. She grasped at his arms and clawed at his face. Her feet kicked wildly but never hit their target. He was choking her to death.
I didn't think about what I should do or not do, I reacted. Fate lunged for me but missed. I caught myself before I fell over the log that appeared in front of me. I ducked a branch and then another one, somehow untouchable now that I was desperate. I leapt on his back before he even knew I was there, and with a knowledge I'd never had in my human life, sprang into action. I broke the man's neck with a hard yank to the side.
He fell to the ground almost instantly and I fell on top of him.
The wind kicked up and loud claps of thunder boomed in the near distance.
Fate was at my side almost instantly pulling me off the guy but it was too late. I'd heard his neck snap and he wasn't moving. Nothing to be done now.
He knelt down next to me until his face was an inch from mine. “What the hell did you do?”
I looked down at the guy and then back at Fate. “I think I just gave him what was coming to him before he could screw that poor woman up any worse.”
I motioned to the woman I'd saved. She was staring right at us, eyes huge. Uh oh, she was certainly seeing us now.
“How? You shouldn't have been able to.” He was now looking right at the woman too, even though he was talking to me.
The woman was on her knees, still gasping air back into her lungs. Her eyes never left us.
“Who are you?” she managed to finally say with a raw voice, the marks on her neck already angry looking. “Are you angels?”
I wondered what type of religion this woman believed in that murder seemed like a saintly act. The guy had been such a bastard, I wasn't sure I should fault her logic.
Her eyes darted back to Fate. But if she thought he looked like an angel, she really had a screw loose.
“No, we aren't,” I said.
“Watch what you say to her,” he said quietly under his breath. “Unless you want her to end up dead after all your handy work.”
“What's happening?” the woman said, looking from me to Fate.
I saw the minute he had determined the new way forward out of this. From his initial reaction, I knew I'd thrown a pretty big wrench into the plan so it wasn't a bad rebound time, all considering. It was better than mine anyway since I had no idea what to do now. My ideas had never gotten past taking out the big brute.
He turned to the woman. “Janet, you aren't going to tell anyone we were here. I know that's what you are planning to do right now. I also know the police will never find any evidence of us and you will land in jail.”
Fate had a strong presence by nature, but concentrated and in control as he was right now, I couldn't take my eyes from him. He was potent. I didn't want to admit it, but he lived up to every ounce of what you would expect someone in charge of people's fate would be.
“Do you understand me?”
When I didn't hear a response, I forced myself to look at Janet who was nodding.
“You will tell them that he was strangling you when he accidentally tripped.”
His presence was flawless but his logic was off. I cleared my throat to get his attention before I said, “That'll never fly in court.”
“I'm cleaning up your mess. You did your part, let me handle it now.” I held my hands up in surrender and let him continue.
He squatted down next to her. “Repeat that back to me.”
She repeated it back to him verbatim. When she finished, he nodded.
“That is going to keep you out of jail. Do you understand?”
She nodded again and he seemed satisfied.
“One last thing. He's got money hidden. I don't know where, but it's there. You'll find it if you look. It's enough to keep you and the kids going.”
Again, just a nod.
“You're going to be okay.” He gently cupped her cheek, as he said it. Then he stood up and grabbed my arm like he was an uncouth animal, yanking me after him into the woods as rain started to pour down on us out of nowhere. The forest was lit with flashes of lightning.
What was that all about? Why could he be so sweet with her?
“I can't believe you did that.” He wasn't screaming but he was beyond mad.
“I'm not sorry.” And I wasn't, not even a little. Murdering the guy didn't even seem to bother me this time. Maybe it would later? Could I just be in shock? Nah, it didn't feel like that this time. Much less traumatic the second time around. I guess you really did get over it.
I'd had clients tell me that but I'd never believed them. I also never thought I'd have the opportunity to find out either. Life's full of those learning moments.
I think my words pissed off Fate even more because his grip tightened and no matter how quick I walked, he seemed to up his pace just enough to have to pull me along.
“You can act like a cave man all you want, still not regretting it.” It was the exact opposite. I was invigorated by what I'd just done. I'd saved a woman, who I didn't even know had kids. The life I'd saved her children from was enough to make me smile, in spite of the rain now pouring down on me, or the angry man dragging me through the woods.
He finally stopped but didn't let go of me as he dug into his pocket with the other.
“You can let go you know. I don't have anywhere else to be.” I waved my free hand around toward the dark forest we were standing in.
He looked at me with such intensity I wasn't really sure if he wanted to kill me or fuck me. And not in an, I want to have sex with you because you're so special and pretty. It was more along the lines of I have a penis and you aren't listening to me.