Dark Heart Rising Read Online Free Page B

‘Where are you, child?’
    Dalya tossed the corn on the ground and lifted her head. Her eyes, big and dark, searched mine.
    ‘I must say goodbye now.’ Her voice caught and I thought I saw the hint of tears in her eyes. She took my hand and gripped it in her own smooth pale one.
    ‘Dalya!’ This time the voice was male. Dalya and I locked eyes in panic, but it was too late.
    Footsteps advanced to where we were sitting. I swallowed. Half of me triumphant, the other half frightened.
    Now that I was here. I felt so insignificant.
    ‘Dalya, go back inside. Henora is nagging about you to anyone who’ll listen.’
    Not looking at me, Dalya got to her feet and walked stiffly back through the garden gate.
    Leaving us alone together.
    ‘Why did you come back?’ My heart contracted at the dull tone to his voice. He wasn’t pleased to see me. He sounded … annoyed.
    I looked up at him, standing so familiar: willowy, strong, lean. His floppy brown hair cut short, his green eyes a little lifeless.
    ‘I came back for you,’ I said. My voice sounded weak and distant. ‘I thought—’
    ‘You thought I would change my mind. That I could pretend I don’t have to do this.’
    Have to do this. A little hope stirred inside me. He doesn’t want to, he has to, I thought.
    ‘I don’t know. I suppose I didn’t think …’ I stood now, remembering how tall he was. Wanting so badly to press myself against him, bury my head into his chest and feel his strong hands stroking my back.
    For a moment I saw him waiver. I saw a tremble in his cheek and his eyes flickered. His wide soft mouth seemed to be struggling to stay set, stern.
    ‘Luca?’ I moved cautiously closer, my heart pounding.
    ‘Dearest, don’t disappear. You can’t leave me alone with all these strangers.’
    The garden gate creaked open and behind Luca glimpsed a full-skirted kind of cocktail dress, a low bodice, smooth honey skin, and silky blonde hair in a pretty chignon.
    Even from this distance I saw her green eyes – green like his.
    Luca’s own eyes shut, as though he were in pain, then snapped open again quickly. The light had gone out of them again, I noticed.
    ‘I’m coming, Lila,’ he told her, turning and smiling. ‘This young woman has lost her way.’ He kept his head turned. He didn’t see the hurt in my face.
    Somehow my pride took control of the situation.
    ‘Yes,’ I said briskly, ‘thank you for your help … I’ll be on my way.’
    I moved quickly, before my brain caught up with what had just happened, before the horrible finality of Luca’s behaviour bored a hole into my heart.
    ‘You’ll be OK.’ Luca’s voice betrayed a tiny note of regret, and he had stated a fact rather than asked a question.
    ‘Yes,’ I said as brightly as I could, ‘of course.’
    In front of me stretched the muted yellow of the corn field, and beyond that a patch of tall green trees. I focussed on them, picking up speed bit by bit until I was running, forcing through the heavy corn, ignoring the tears forging uncontrollably down my face.

    ‘Jane!’ I felt a rush of breath coming up through my throat and my eyes flashed open. ‘Are you all right?’ Soren’s hand took hold of my wrist. He pulled me up. Confused, I looked around me. His canvasses leaning up against walls, a cold draught coming through the windows. I seemed to be lying on an ancient sofa. A chaise longue. I leaned back on my elbows.
    Soren held out a glass of water. ‘Drink,’ he ordered.
    I took the water and swallowed the whole lot in one go. I felt a bit more human at least.
    ‘What day is it?’ I asked, taking in Soren’s bright almost-black eyes. With a sharp pain I remembered the field, and running, miserably, away from Luca.
    Soren sighed. He shrugged off his jacket and tried to put his arm around me.
    ‘You got a little … drunk,’ he said. ‘I apologise. I didn’t think a little champagne would have such an effect.’ He tucked my hair behind my hair.
    ‘I had a