Ether by Dana Michelle Belle Page A

rush to their next classes. I
pick my way reluctantly towards the library. It seems kind of pointless to try
studying right now.
                The library
is almost empty of other students. Two girls sit at a table to one side and the
librarian works quietly at her desk, but other than that the usual hushed
whisper of the library is absent. I glance toward Justin’s usual table, he isn’t
here yet. Instead of taking out my books, I make my way into the shelves.
Nestling myself out of view, I whisper, “Ephraim?” 
                Instantly,
I feel the warmth of his presence near me. I turn, a smile already on my face,
I can’t help myself. He is smiling, leaning arms folded against the book shelf.
In the artificial light of the library, in this dimly lit recess, he looks more
solidly real than I’ve ever seen him. On impulse I reach out to touch his arm.
Touching him is like trying to collect a handful of sauna steam. Something warm
and liquid pushes back against my fingers, but then my fingers slip right
through him.
                He frowns
as my fingers slip through his image and I step away, “We have to give it time
Becks, tactile persistence requires a very strong connection,” he says.
                “Tactile
Persistence?”
                “The
ability to channel Ethereal energy into a physically form in any lasting way,” he
explains patiently, moving in toward me, “But you didn’t call for me to talk
about metaphysics did you?”
                He is standing
close enough to me that I can smell his sun warmed earth and freshly mowed
grass scent. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath in. When I open them he is
so close to me that we are almost touching. My skin tingles with his nearness. I
am painfully aware of him on every level, as if my entire body is tuned to his
frequency. “I don’t like what’s happening Ephraim.”
                He winces, concern
playing across his face, “I wouldn’t hurt you Becks. I know this is strange but
you have nothing to be afraid of, really,” he implores, his eyes searching
mine.
                “I didn’t
mean you, or us, or whatever, I meant all the other stuff.” Did I really just
say ‘us’ as in, there’s an us ? I decide to gloss right by that. “I’ve
been, you know, almost dying a lot lately. And there’s other strange things
happening. At first I thought it was my imagination but something was
definitely wrong with Matt this morning and just now I saw this guy and his
eyes were completely bleak-” and I sound crazy even to my own ears.
                Ephraim is
looking at me with his liquid gold eyes and there is no trace of doubt or alarm
in his face, “You’re safe with me. The Numina may keep trying to kill you, but
I’m going to keep saving you. I won’t let anything happen to you. Besides,
you’re not as easy to kill as you used to be. One of the fringe benefits of
being ethereally bonded, you heal quickly and survive the impossible.” His tone
is relaxed and self-assured. The urgent fear I’ve felt since this morning slips
away, replaced with his calm confidence. I feel myself nod. His image
fluctuates for a moment, like a ripple passing across the surface of a pond.
“I’m with you. You’re safe with me,” he repeats.
                I take
another deep breath of his scent and when I look up he’s gone. The space near
me still feels the same though, earthy and sunlit. I think I can feel him, when
he’s near me, even if I can’t always see him. I find myself a table and pulled
out two chairs, one for him and one for me.  We sit together while I pretend to
study. My thoughts keep drifting between the feel of having him close to me and
the blankness in Matt’s eyes this morning. My skin tingles and crawls by turns.
     
    At the bell, I thread
my way through the stream of freshmen pouring out of the cafeteria. I step out
of the path of