The Pacts We Make For Love: A Dark Contemporary Fantasy by S.K. Nova

Author:S.K. Nova [Nova, S.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-26T05:00:00+00:00

Alissa wondered how Sophie was taking her absence. This was Sophie’s first night in years sleeping without Alissa. No doubt she’d migrated to Duane’s room. Normally she had trouble sleeping in new spaces, but in Kay’s luxurious bed, she drifted off in a matter of minutes.

She woke covered in sweat, heart thundering, with the bedsheets wound around her arms and legs like ropes.

“Alissa, wake up!”

She blinked her sleep-fogged eyes. The waking world rolled back a tide of dreams, washing away witches and swamps and grasping claws and an endless, gnawing Dark. The smell of stars and darkness lingered.

“Wh-what?” Alissa’s asked, the words rasping her throat.

“Are you alright? You were practically screaming.”

“Oh fuck,” Alissa said, pushing herself upright. She rubbed her face. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. Were you having a nightmare?”

“Yeah, I get them sometimes.”

“You were screaming like you were stabbed. Come here, you’re shaking like a rabbit.” Kay gathered Alissa into her arms.

“God, this is embarrassing,” Alissa said, face pressed against Kay’s shoulder. “I can call my Mom to pick me up if you want. I’m soaked in sweat. What was I saying?”

“Nothing intelligible. And don’t do that. You can wear some of my clothes. Maybe you should take a hot shower. That’ll help you feel better.”

Alissa followed Kay’s prescription. Nozzles in Kays shower sprayed from every direction, massaging her like dozens of tiny hands. She hugged herself and let the water wash away the nightmare’s pain. Her dreams were always worse when Sophie wasn’t nearby. Best not to dwell. Dwelling took her down dark paths.

She stepped from the shower, smelling of lilacs and gooseberries. Kay’s pajama dress was small on her, but it’d have to do. Anything was better than her sweat-soaked pajamas. “Thanks for letting me borrow your PJs.”

“All good. You want to play some video games? It’ll take your mind off it.”

“I’m pretty tired now that I’ve showered. Let’s go to sleep.”

She eased into the bed. As soon as the lights went off the shakes started. Fucking hell. She gritted her teeth. No bitch ass nightmare was gonna make her lose her shit. Her fingernails dug red crescent moons into her palms. This would not be happening if Sophie was here. The shaking worsened. Her breaths came in great heaves, like the bellows of an overworked forge.

“I think you’re having a panic attack,” Kay said softly. “My Mom sometimes has them.”

Wide-eyed, Alissa stared into the dark with glassy eyes. She didn’t reply, couldn’t reply.

“I’m here for you. Tell me what will help, if you can,” Kay said. Her voice was an ethereal breeze. “I’m going to count to ten. Count with me. One. Two. Three.”

Alissa latched onto the singsong rhythm of Kay’s voice. Four, Five, Sixseveneight.

“You’re doing great,” Kay said. “Stay with me. I know you’re real scared, but it’s gonna be ok. This will pass. Just follow my voice. Would it help if I massaged your shoulders?”

Alissa nodded her head. Kay kneaded the tension from her shoulders and bit by bit the world came into focus.

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