“Did you find the magistrate and my father?” she asked.
The brothers looked at each other and then shook their heads.
“Neither,” replied Erik. “The magistrate and his wife were both gone and their house dark. We waited as long as we could, but were told they’d left yesterday. We couldn’t get into your bakery. And all things considered, we figured it might be better if we didn’t force our way in. We weren’t sure how your father would react.”
She nodded. “Plus, I magicked the entire building.”
“Is Gerall awake?” asked Jamen.
“Barely. His chest hardly moves to breathe.”
“Then there is nothing left to do,” said Flint.
An air of anguish suddenly subdued the entire room.
“I’m going to kill him.” Flint burst from the front hall and ran through the solar.
“Flint!” Erik yelled.
Hass and Ian ran after Flint as he burst through the door and headed to the stable.
“Wait!” Eloa tried to get Erik’s attention. “Gerall said something. He said Snow could help him.”
“Snow?” asked Erik.
“No,” said Jamen. “Flint would—”
“Flint would do it if it would save his life. Just like with Snow. He’ll come around.”
“This isn’t smart,” said Jamen.
“You have no choice,” replied Cinder. “Unless you want Gerall to die. Call your sister. Turn him into a vampire. It’s your only option.”
A vampire? Eloa’s heart thundered. That’s how they fixed Gerall? By turning him into a vampire? She tried to wrap her mind around it. What would he become? Dark? Twisted? Bloodthirsty? Guilt ran through her. How could she even worry about him turning into something like that when she had evil coursing through her veins?
“Do it,” she said. “If it’s what he wants and it’s the only way, then do it. I’d rather have a vampire for a husband than no Gerall at all.”
Erik and Jamen shared a tense moment, and then Erik nodded. “Call her. I’ll tell the others.”
The brothers parted, leaving only the women standing around her. A week ago, all she’d had to worry about was hiding her ears. Now she had a whole myriad of secrets to hide, and the majority were not hers.
“It’ll be all right.” Zelle took her hands. “I know you’re scared, but becoming a vampire won’t change who he is. There will be an adjustment period, but you’ll have all of us to help you. Whatever either of you need.”
Eloa nodded, and the women pressed in around her, hugging her tight.
“You’re not alone anymore,” said Scarlet. “Don’t worry.”
The affection of the women both soothed and smothered her. She’d never had friends before, let alone a family.
Soon footsteps ran through the great hall toward them. The women backed up, and Eloa gasped as Snow, skin like pale stone, appeared in a blood-red gown, her dark hair flowing wildly around her. And at her side, a man just as pale with long blond hair and bright, sharp eyes.
Without a word, they ran past the group and up the stairs. Jamen grabbed Eloa’s hands and pulled her with them, the rest of the women close behind. More yelling followed, and soon Hass, Ian, Erik, and Flint raced up too. When Eloa entered Gerall’s room, Snow sat on the bed bloody tears falling down her cheeks. She whipped around and quick as light slapped Erik.
“How could you not tell me? How could you!” she yelled. “Did you think I didn’t deserve to know?”
The man came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Easy, Love. They’re hurting too.”
“I’m sorry,” said Erik. “It all happened so fast.”
Snow burst into tears and turned into her husband’s chest.
“Eloa,” Gerall’s voice came out weak and soft. He held his hand out to her, and she crossed to him, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I’m here.” She picked up the rag and dabbed his head.
“You... understand... what... Snow—”
“You want her to turn you.” Eloa’s hand warmed at the slightest touch of his fevered brow.
Gerall nodded. “I... want... your... blessing...”
“You don’t need my blessing,; you need to make this decision for yourself. It’s your life.”
“Our... life...”
“Our life.” It wasn’t lost on Eloa that the entire room had gone silent. Everyone waited for her decision. A decision of life or death for another human being. A man. The man she loved and wanted to be with. “I would rather have you than not have you. But you must decide this for yourself. I cannot do this for you.”
Gerall searched her eyes and then nodded. Turning his head slightly, he looked at the group. “Snow.”
She rushed forward and took his hand, kneeling on the floor beside the bed. “I’m here. I’m here.”
Snow’s husband joined them. Gerall looked up at them. “Do... it...”
Snow nodded and bit into her wrist. She held it over Gerall’s mouth, and Gerall drank down the dark oozing liquid. After a minute, Snow removed her wrist and sealed it shut with a lick.
Eloa looked at Gerall and waited. She waited for him to do something. For the color to come back to his cheeks. For him to sit up and smile. Anything. But he didn’t.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “Why didn’t it work?”
“It will work,” said Sage. “But first, he must die. We can wait, or...”
“No,” said Eloa. “We... we can’t just kill him.”
“We aren’t,” said Snow. “We’re giving him a new life.”
“Do it,” said Gerall.
“No,” replied Flint. The brothers held him back.
Gerall looked to Flint. “It’s what I want.”
“It’s not what you want,” Flint said. “It’s what you’ve got.”
“Look at me,” said Snow, getting to her feet. “Am I really so bad that you wouldn’t want Gerall to be like me?”
“You know that’s not what I mean,” he replied.
“Isn’t it?”
“Come,” said Zelle. “Let’s go check on the twins.” She took Flint by the arm and led him from the room. It amazed Eloa that such a tiny, demure woman could have so much sway over such a hulk of a man.
“I’ll do it,” said Sage. “Quick. Painless. And then he’ll come back, and he can move on with his life.”
“We can’t just turn into vampires every time one of us is going to die,” said Hass.
“Why not?” asked Ian. “It’s like having a second chance. Defying death. I love it.”
Hass shook his head.
Snow stood and took Sage’s hand. “I’ll stay with you.”
He kissed her forehead. “No, Love. You shouldn’t see this. You go with your brothers, and I’ll call you when he’s awake. He’ll need to feed quickly after turning so if you could arrange that—”
“We are all here,” said Hass.
“He can drink any of us,” finished Ian
“Let’s clear the room.” Erik looked at her. “You, too.”
She looked at Gerall, and he nodded. “You... shouldn’t... see... this.”
She bent over and kissed his fiery lips. “I’ll be here for you when you wake.”
He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her hard. “I love you.”
She smiled and wiped her fallen tears from his face. “I love you too.”
Snow took her hand and led her from the room. Gerall’s eyes never left hers until Snow closed the door.
Eloa’s entire being ran cold.
“Why don’t we get some tea?” said Snow. She threw Eloa a tight smile, holding her hand so tightly that she wasn’t sure if it was to steady Snow, or herself.
Snow nodded and then led Eloa from Gerall’s door. Eloa looked over her shoulder and her mind flooded with terrible images of what Sage was doing to Gerall at that moment.
“That dress fits you nicely,” said Snow. “I’m glad that you and my other sisters are
getting use of them and not just letting them hang in the closet and turn to dusty rags.”
“He’s not going to be in pain, is he?” Eloa asked, not even noticing her dress
Snow’s eyes softened as she led Eloa down the stairs. “Not at all. Sage loved Gerall as we all do. I feel terrible for my poor husband. I’ve asked a lot from him.”
Gerall fought to keep his eyes open, but they burned like someone had poured acid in them. Sage looked down at him with pity.
“Just so we’re clear. I don’t want to nor will I derive any pleasure from doing this,” he said.
“Better you than my brothers. Or Snow,” Gerall replied.
“You understand what this means. There will be no more outings in the daytime— no more walking among humans without thirsting for their blood. You will have to keep vigilant every time you are around your brothers, your niece, and nephews, even the one that sat here holding your hand. This is not a thing to take lightly, Gerall.”
Gerall opened his mouth to reply, but Sage held up his hand.
“But even so, even as hard as this will be for you, of all of Snow’s brothers, I believe you have the best temperament to succeed in the change.”
Well, that was something. It didn’t matter anyway, though. He would rather have one more week with Eloa only to have her tell him she couldn’t bear to be with him as a vampire, then to die and leave her so soon.
“Do. It.”
Sage nodded. He leaned in close and pushed Gerall’s head to the side. “Close your eyes.”
Gerall closed his eyes, and a sharp pain pierced his neck. He grabbed the sheets and clung to them as blood ebb out of his body. First, his toes began to cool. Then the sensation traveled up his legs to his torso. His fingers tingled, his pounding heart slowed, and the burning left his arms and chest to be replaced with a shard of ice in his torso.
Sage reached up and grabbed Gerall’s head between his palms. “Forgive me, Snow.”
Gerall’s head cracked to the side and then... nothingness.
Ten minutes later, a slow set of footsteps descended the stairs. Eloa and Snow turned and looked into the hallway. Sage emerged, a trickle of blood running down his chin. His eyes were vacant and lost. Snow rose and went to him, wrapping him in her arms. He hugged her mechanically.
“Forgive me,” he said.
She stepped back and cupped his face in her palms. “No. Forgive me. I should never have let you bear that burden.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “I need to go home.”
Snow nodded. “We’ll go right now.”
Eloa got to her feet. “But what about Gerall?”
Snow turned to her. “It will be several hours at least before his change is complete and he wakes. I’ll be back before then.”
Eloa watched as Snow and Sage disappeared around the corner.
With the Gwyn brothers congregating in their rooms and the wives tending to their young, Eloa suddenly found herself completely alone.
Several hours. It would be several hours before he woke. It gave her time. She had a good idea where she thought her father might be. She could get there and back in less than two hours. And when she returned, she’d be able to give Cinder the answers she’d been searching for.
Eloa rushed up to Snow’s room and threw open the door. Striding to the closet, she rummaged around inside until she found a pair of shoes and slipped them on her feet. They were a tad too big, but they’d work. Then she slipped on a cloak and fastened it around her neck.
She headed back down the stairs and through the front hall to the door.
“Where are you going?”
Eloa spun to find Cinder standing in the entrance to the great hall.
“To find my father.”
“But Gerall—”
“Will still be d- sleeping when I return. I won’t be long.”
“Eloa, I don’t think—”
“I can get you the answers you seek.”
“In light of everything, I think that can wait.”
“Can it? When Gerall wakes, I have to tell him what I am. I can’t do that unless I know for myself.”
“You are Eloa. The woman he loves. Same as yesterday and the day before.”
“But am I? I used that magick and ever since all it has done is beg me to use it again. I feel it inside. Swirling. Growing. Wanting to be unleashed. And I want to unleash it. If I don’t find out what I am and how to control this magick one day, not in the too distant future I will unleash it, and I am afraid if I do that, I’ll never come back from it. So please, do me this favor. Stay with Gerall until I return.”
“Will you return?” Cinder asked.
“Only death could keep me from him.” Eloa opened the door and stepped out into the fresh night air. She breathed deeply and then ran down the drive.
Eloa’s legs ached from the walk as she headed down the lane into eerily quiet Westfall village. Eloa glanced around, but most people had already retired at the late hour. She sighed at the sight of her bakery. The lights remained off inside, and nothing seemed amiss as she crossed the front window and headed to the hut in the back. The covered windows showed not a spec of light from within. For a moment, she wondered if her father had run from Westfall. But where would he go?
Eloa walked up the small porch and used her magick to unlock the door. Inside, her father lay on his bed in the corner. A tiny fire flickered in the smoldering ashes in the fireplace. She closed the door and then lay her cloak over the back of a chair.
“Papa.” She shook his shoulder. “Papa.”
He woke with a start and rolled over, brandishing a knife. Eloa backed up a pace as he blinked at her and then recognition dawned on him.
“Eloa my child.” He pulled her into a hug. “Where have you been?”
“With Gerall and his brothers. He was injured, saving me from Charlie.”
“Charlie? Did he hurt you?”
“No. But Gerall... he was poisoned.”
“I am so sorry, Eloa.”
“The Gwyn brothers came to find you but couldn’t get in, so I came to get you.”
“You sent them?”
“Yes. Queen Cinder of Ville DeFee is at their home. She would like to speak—”
“No. No. I cannot speak to her.”
“But why?”
“There are things. Terrible things in my past. Things you don’t know.”
“That you are dark fae?”
His expression drooped with sadness. “I should have told you sooner. I tried to warn you. Tried to tell you not to use that magick...”
“Papa, how did you become dark fae? I don’t understand. They died out a century ago.”
He nodded. “They did. But I was in the library one day studying, and I came across a book. I didn’t realize what it was at the time, but soon I figured out it was a history of the dark fae. How they came to be after mixing their magick with the mages. I was stupid and young and intrigued. So, I left Ville DeFee and went to the mages. I didn’t tell them I was Fae. I hid my ears. I studied with them for close to a year before they found me out. I ran before they could kill me. But with nowhere to go I went the only place I could, home. For a few weeks, my mother was so happy to have me home that she couldn’t see the change in me. My brothers did, though. One night they cornered me and beat me into telling them where I’d been. So, I showed them where I’d been and what I had learned.” His voice trailed off as he stared at the floor.
Eloa’s chest squeezed so tight she feared it might crush her heart. “You killed them,” she whispered.
He nodded but didn’t meet her eye. “I hadn’t meant to, but the magick took over. I then realized what I’d become. I ran that night and never went back. It’s a capital offense to use dark magick. And a capital offense to be a dark fae.”
“You should have told me,” she said.
“What good would it have done to have you angry at me? Scared of me? Scared of yourself?”
“I am scared. Sca
red because I have a power you did not explain to me. Powers I was unaware I even possessed. Unaware that I could-”
His eyes widened. “Eloa, what did you do?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
“I said I did nothing.”
He jumped to his feet and grabbed her arms. “You’re lying.”
Gerall’s skin pebbled as if he’d plunged in an icy pond. Every inch of him should be shivering, but surprisingly, it didn’t bother him. He opened his eyes to find everything around him in crystal clear focus, although he wasn’t wearing glasses. He inhaled deeply and caught the scents of everyone in the house. He smelled their scents, their sweat, and the flavors of their blood.
His stomach growled with hunger. A pain shot through him, up his throat, burning it from the inside. He sat up and hopped to his feet- the wound in his gut nothing more than a memory. Every fiber of muscle in his body moved tighter, lighter, and ready for action. He took in his room. Out of the corner appeared a beautiful, golden-haired woman.
“Cinder. Where’s Eloa?”
She walked forward slowly. “You shouldn’t have woken for several more hours. Let me get your sister. She just went to talk to your brothers.” Cinder’s steady steps headed for the door.
In a flash Gerall stood in front of her, making Cinder’s eyes widen in surprise. Her fingers twitched, and sparks of magick flicked off them.
“Where is Eloa?” he asked again.
Cinder’s pulse skipped, and fear wafted off of her. She backed up half a pace.
“I told her I would stay with you until she returned. She’s only supposed to be gone another hour. But like I said, you weren’t supposed to wake yet and—”
“Where is she?” he demanded. Anger pulsed through him, heating his thoughts and clouding his vision.
“She went to Westfall to find her father.”
“Westfall? Alone?”
Cinder nodded.
“And my brothers let her go?” he boomed.
“Your brothers didn’t know until after she left. The magistrate is missing, so we didn’t-”
Footsteps pounded up the stairs and down the hallway. Gerall scanned the room in a flash, grabbed his tunic, and jumped through the glass window before the door opened. For a second his body soared through the air and then he landed on the gravel below. Above him, his brothers yelled for him to stop, and Snow screamed his name, but he didn’t care. He only cared about Eloa and what might happen to her going into town alone.
Gerall's Festivus Bride Page 13
