The Final Hunt

Chapter Five - Kyle

He got home and knew something was missing, he could feel that she was gone and had a momentary panic until he pulled out his phone and looked at the text she'd sent. Thank Goddess.

Kyle grabbed a coke from the fridge and set himself up on the couch, flipped the TV on and tried to breathe out the discomfort he felt whenever they were apart. His chest felt tighter and his breath caught in his throat. He suddenly felt a calling deep within him, a yearning to be with Maggie.

He leapt from the couch and fumbled with the keys in his pockets, grasping them with what felt like numb fingers; he reached the door and locked it behind him. It seemed to take 10 times as long to get to the car, he felt as though he was drunk, stumbling towards the Bug instead of heading straight for it; his feet were sluggish and his eyes blurry until a light gleamed from within him, within his soul.

It felt as though he was drowning, and the light was him coming up for his first full gasp of air. He breathed in deep and his head was filled with Maggie; her need for him and his for her made his heart pound so much that it hurt. He couldn't get the car going fast enough. He punched in her number as the car sped off of the driveway and down the road towards town; he didn't know where he was going but he felt her pull taking him there.

"Kyle?" She answered on the second ring, he couldn't speak, he let out a big sigh and immediately felt his breath come back. "Baby what's the matter?" Her voice was laced in panic.

"Where are you Maggie? I'm coming to get you." She recited the address just outside of town and he bolted there, praying that no-one caught him going 20 over the limit.

"I'm coming honey; I'm coming to get you." He raced the car into town and parked in the lot outside the apartment block, lurched out of the car and punched the lock button as he ran off towards the steps, taking them two at a time and hammering on the door.

"Maggie!" He demanded, "Honey please open the door." He softened towards the end, needing to see her, to feel her.

As he lifted his fist to knock again the door swung open and he saw Maggie next to another girl, they'd both been crying.

He reached for his mate and pulled her into his arms, and breathed her in, instantly feeling so much calmer. Kyle bent down and kissed her hard on the lips, his tongue searching for entry into her mouth; she granted him entry and kissed him back, throwing her arms around his neck.

When she finally pulled away he lay his forehead against hers and breathed out a pent up, tense breath.

Maggie leant in and whispered "I needed you too." before turning back to the girl that was now staring at Kyle in amazement and introduced her as Annie.

Annie was tall and slim, athletic he'd guess; the type of girl he'd usually go for before he'd met his mate. Now she was just a girl.  A girl who seemed to ignite a pull in him; different from the mate pull he felt with Maggie.

It was a solid, platonic pull; it felt like familiarity and friendship. He couldn't put his finger on it. Had he met her before? She squirmed under his watch and he shook his head briefly.

"...Annie and then she..." Maggie's voice was playing like his favourite song in his ear but he couldn't focus. Annie just stared at him with longing in her eyes. It was his turn to feel uncomfortable until Maggie pulled him out of thought.

"Baby?" She chimed.

"Hmm?" Kyle tore his eyes from Annie to look at her., she chuckled.

"Honestly it's a good thing I'm not the jealous type isn't it." she winked at Annie and they both smiled, Kyle began to flap.

"No honey I wasn't... I mean I was but not in... I mean, you're very pretty Annie but Maggie is... and we're..." his eyes darted between the two of them and he blew out an exasperated sigh to which they both laughed at.

"Kyle, my love, this is Annie. She is the mate of a Seer, Taliah." Maggie reached for and squeezed Annie's shoulder in sympathy; Kyle recognised the pull as that of kinship between himself and Annie; mates of their Seer's. 

"Annie, hi, I'm Kyle.  Usually a lot more articulate than before I do apologise, she just drives me crazy." He nudged Maggie's arm playfully and instinctively reached to hug Annie; she returned the embrace.

"Taliah was the exact same, she could make me feel like the most amazing person in the world but could also make me so silly around her. She was, and always will be, the love of my life." She smiled a weak smile and her eyes glistened.

Maggie squeezed his hand to get his attention and her thoughts swam into his head; 'Taliah was one of Ashton's victims Kyle. Annie is still grieving. She cannot get over the loss of her mate.' Even in her thoughts Kyle could hear Maggie's sob so he kissed the top of her head.

"Annie, I'm so sorry for your loss." She nodded her head at him and they followed her into the kitchen to sit down and carry on with what Kyle assumed would be a difficult conversation.

As she boiled the kettle to make them all coffee,  Kyle couldn't help but think about Maggie and how he'd feel if he lost her; he'd never get over it, he'd rather die himself than lose her.

"It is a bit like that," Annie said, pulling him out if thought, she was staring at him from across the table. "I think about leaving this world every day," he was confused. How did she...? "Sorry Kyle, it's written all over your face." She explained, he forced his face to be nondescript, "I would, if I thought it would help. I know she's with the Goddess and if I kill myself, I won't be there with her." She shrugged and sipped on her drink, "I'm now stuck between being without her on earth for the rest of my life, and being without her in the afterlife for eternity. It hurts but this is the better of the two options." Her eyes watered again and his heart broke for her.