39. Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Hydessa

I shouldn't be surprised that after the memory that came to me the previous night, my dreams are now filled with more memories of that time.

***

17 years ago

Each night I hear Link whimper from his nightmares where he is sleeping in the guest room. And each night I sneak in there to hold him to help him sleep like my parents do for me. He may think he deosn't have anyone, but I meant it when I said I will be there for him.

"Shh, it's okay, Link," I say quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. I settle beside him, the mattress barely moving or making a sound under my small weight. He stirs, as though sensing me there, and I reach out to gently stroke his hair, mirroring what my mom does for me.

The moonlight is shining into the room, casting shadows across Link's face. He relaxes under my touch, his breathing slows as the last of his nightmares fade away. I don't want to leave and have his nightmares return like a monster under the bed, so I stay there, watching over him while he sleeps, trying to protect him from something I can't see. My hand finds his in the dark and he clutches at it like a lifeline.

The nights are hard for him, but we always find something to keep us busy during the day. When I'm lucky I can make him smile, and he knows just how to make me giggle.

It's been two weeks since he came to stay with us and while I always loved having my twin, I find a different kind of comfort with Link. We are behind the house, playing close to the forest. But we can still hear the sound of my parents' music in the distance. We aren't allowed to go into the forest, so we play as close as we can. Seanna is at a friend's house again. She doesn't like Link, so I wasn't upset when she left me behind.

"Your parents like strange songs," he says.

I giggle as I slowly spin around to one of the songs. "Yeah, they do. Some are good, some are weird."

Speeding up, I keep spinning until I'm dizzy and fall down into the grass. He laughs at me, that rare smile making my heart feel like it's full of butterflies. Walking over he looks down at me and then lays down at my side. We stay there in silence for a while, listening to the music, giggling over the music and funny words.

"This one is not a normal song," he says with a laugh as a familiar tune comes on again. They seem to be playing a list on repeat. "What is it even about?"

Listening to it I try to figure out what the lyrics mean. "I think maybe the singer met someone that hurt her?" I suggest with a shrug.

He hums and when I look toward him I can see that the thought has upset him. I'm not stupid, even being little I know that someone hurt him. I can tell he's scared of something when he goes to sleep. The fear in his eyes when he wakes from a nightmare only confirms it.

"I don't like that someone hurt her," he whispers. I know he means himself.

I sit up and look down at him in the grass. "Me either. Maybe we should pretend it's about something different," I suggest and offer him a smile.

He sits up, his lips twitching as though he likes that idea, but then a frown creases his face, his eyes squinting as he thinks about it. "I'm not sure you can change it to something nice with the words she keeps singing."

I tilt my head, listening again. It's a catchy tune but it is sad. "Maybe we can pretend that we are burying treasure. When she says about digging a heart's grave it's like burying all the secrets and everything that makes our hearts happy and sad like it's treasure."

His face lights up then, happy again. I stand, excited as the idea builds inside my mind. He props himself up on his elbows and watches me with a smirk as I do a spin to the song.

"My mom says that we all have shadows and darkness inside us. She says my dad's are her partners in shadows and darkness. One day I hope I'll find the same, someone who will look after my heart's grave. The treasure of everything I love and the things that make me sad too."

His face is serious again when he stands up. "I could be your partner," he says simply. I giggle but he reaches out and grabs my hand. "I mean it, Dessa."

I shake my head. "We aren't old enough, silly. Mom says we won't know who our partner is until we're old."

He shakes his own head in response. "But I already know."

And so do I, but my mom is right, we aren't supposed to know yet.

He huffs, his frown deepening. "I'll prove it. All those stories in movies say we should have a bond. I watched one where they said a blood bond is the strongest of them all."

I screw my face up. "We aren't vampires."

Giggling he shakes his head. "We don't drink it. I think they called it an oath. It's like a promise."

Understanding what he means I bounce on my feet. "Yes! That's exactly what we can do. I even have my pocket knife."

Reaching down, I pull it from my shoe. It's little but it has a knife in it.

"Why do you have that with you?" he asks with a laugh.

"My dad always tells me to be prepared," I smile in response as I flick the knife out. Then I pull a face at the thought of it cutting me. "Ummmm, I think you need to cut me, I can't cut myself."

Link rolls his eyes, taking the pocket knife from me. I hold out my hand, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. "Should it be a heart? Like the song?" I ask. He nods quickly, and when he starts to press the knife to my skin, I whimper and look away.

It hurts a little, but I concentrate on the feeling of Link holding my hand. Before I realize it, he says he's done. I blow out a breath and look down at the mark. It's not a huge heart and it's mostly shallow, but blood stains the outside.

"Your turn," I say as I take the knife back. "Which hand?"

He shakes his head and pulls on the neck of his shirt. "It's meant to be a heart, right? Then put it over my heart."

I stare at him wide-eyed, but he isn't changing his mind. I'm glad his shirt is black and my mom won't see the blood. Leaning closer, I use the point of the knife to cut the shape of a heart into his skin. He makes a noise a few times, but he doesn't cry either. When I'm done, there's blood trailing down his skin. I'm strangely proud of the heart I made.

He grabs my hand where he cut it and puts it against his.

"You dug my heart's grave," he said, eyes wide and solemn, locked on mine as if sharing a profound secret. "And now you're the keeper of its secrets, my partner in shadows and darkness."

"Forever," I whisper, and he nods, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips that feels like a promise too.