Chapter Twenty-Two
KARL
Day 72
"Curse? What the fuck does that mean?" I pace back and forth in the kitchen while the kettle protests on the stove. Mickey passed out around thirty minutes ago, mumbling something about a curse and the need to find someone called Dakota. The screeching of the kettle finally reaches my ears, I turn and lift it, then pour water into four cups. Harry slinks out of the back door and I reach over and close it behind him. I guess he's got squirrel shit to do. Garrot strides into the room and begins searching cupboards for something. "What do you need, Gar?" I ask as I stir the tea.
"I don't know. Something, anything." He answers, slamming his fist into the fridge. "This waiting around is killing me. It's been seventy-two days, Karl. Fuck! I feel like she’s dead." Tears brim his eyes, "I miss her." Those tears fall as he admits it.
We all miss her, and none of us is coping with her loss. "I know, bro, I know. I'm hoping Mickey will help or can help. He said something about a curse, did you hear him?" I stop making the tea and turn to face him as he leans against the counter.
"Yeah, but he seems a bit... crazy. William leaving has done a number on him. Mind you," he laughs without emotion. "We all are right now. Shit, I still can't believe Le has fallen. So quickly, too. I miss him. He's killed people, Karl, there's no coming back from this. I don't know how much more loss I can take." His voice is rough with emotion and his eyes are haunted.
"We will get them both back, Gar, I miss them both too, but we can't give up. Not ever. We will defeat that bastard and bring home our girl, maybe... maybe she can bring Leyland back, too." I try my best to comfort him, but I know it's not enough. Nothing will ever be enough, the only thing that will heal us is Everly coming back to us. Mickey bursts into the kitchen then, his face is pale and sweat drips down his forehead. "What's wrong?" I rush to him, my hands gripping his forearms.
"I must cure you, then, and only then, can we save those we love most in this world." His voice sounds weak, yet terrified. My stomach does somersaults as his body glows yellow.
Garrot
Day 72
Mickey pulls Karl out to the back garden, Victor and I follow, Leyland handcuffed between us. Earlier, Mickey knocked him out with a spell, and I got him off the roof with my power. When he woke shortly after I cuffed him, he was less than happy to be caught, again.
We make it to the glade quickly, the darkening sky above us provides enough light to see by.
"Circle the water, spread out evenly," Mickey instructs us, we obey without a word. Whatever it takes to bring back Everly and Leyland, we’ll do it. Leyland sits on the ground, his wings strapped down with heavy rope so he can't fly away. The cuffs on his hands prevent any pink light leaking out and sapping all the love from our hearts. "Good, good. Karl, you first. Enter the water, you must relax and open your heart and mind." Mickey’s glowing yellow, his face pinched with strain. As if the effort of standing is almost too much for him. The yellow glow around him seems to take on a mind of its own as it floats across the top of the water towards Karl. Mickey chants in a language I don't know, the words sound French but I'm no expert. Brown light glows under Karl 's skin, his inner light.
"The fuck?" Leyland asks no one in particular as black light pours out of Karl and disperses into the air. He sucks in a sharp breath and the ground beneath our feet rumbles. Karl throws his arms out to the sides, palms up as more inky smoke pours from him. I look at Victor, he looks at me. Karl calls out as the substance mixes with the air and disappears.
Karl blinks, hard, and for a second I think he won't open them again. But when he does, I see clarity that hasn't been there for months.
"The spell has been broken, ah," Mickey wobbles on his feet a little. "Now, Garrot bring Leyland in the centre." I do as I'm asked as Karl wades out and stands where I was. His skin is pale as he watches me drag a kicking and screaming Leyland in.
"No! Don't you dare use your voodoo on me, you freak!" Mickey merely shrugs at Leyland's outburst. The water makes it easier for me to manoeuvre him. When we bob in the middle of the pond, Mickey performs the same thing he did to Karl. I hold Le tightly so he won't slip under the water and drown as inky smoke rises from his skin. It burns me as it leaves him.
Leyland
Day 72
When Mickey begins talking, my whole body tenses and when an inky smoke rises from my skin, it's like a veil has been lifted from my eyes. The world around me, that used to be black and white, is now colourful. The water changes from dark and foreboding, to crystal clear and inviting. Garrot's arms are firm yet gentle around my waist. I allow myself to sink back into him, seeking comfort, if only for a moment. His hot breath skirts across my cold skin, the sensation has my long since limp dick twitching.
"Garrot," I can't help the murmur that leaves me as his hardened cock slides across my arse. Memories assault me. Everly. Garrot. Karl. Victor. Their hands and mouths on me. The look in Everly's eyes as I made love to her. Garrot's soft touches and sincere words. It's too much, my mind can't handle the number of images, videos and words form a storm inside my mind. Darkness creeps into my vision, and the world goes black.
Karl
Day 72
Mickey performed his spell on all of us, but it took a lot out of him. He's upstairs resting while Victor, Garrot and I stand over Leyland's unconscious form on the couch.
"Anyone seen Ari?" I ask the guys. I haven't seen her, maybe she just left. I'm met with shakes of heads and mumbled no's. Looks like she split.
"Do you think he will remember, as we do?" Victor asks me, his huge face pale while his hands shake. When the darkness left our hearts, memories of our time with Everly came flooding back to us. It was like a block had been placed inside us. We knew we had to get her, but not why. Not truly. We knew she was missing, and Poseidon had her. We remembered she carried Leyland's child. But it clouded our memories. Changed them. Confused us. We kept trying spells from witches who didn't intend to help us, we knew they would fail, and yet, we carried on trying. Despite the obvious truth. We can’t fake our way into Atlantis, there was only one way in, we just don't know it yet. Leyland believing she abandoned him, took his baby and ran. Instead of the truth, she had no choice but to go with that monster to save us all. Garrot seeing Everly, talking to her. It was all part of the spell. Now our minds are clear I hope we can work it out.
Mickey explained this before he fell asleep earlier.
"I hope so, Vic." I reply, breaking away from Leyland to look out of the window. Snow falls in small tufts, lazily making their way to the ground. It's colder now, more so than it should be. It's almost like the whole world feels her absence.
"Do you think it will fix him, Karl?" Garrot asks as he strokes the side of Leyland's face. I have no answer for him. All we know is there has never been a recorded incident of a fallen coming back from this. I silently pray Leyland can and will.
"I don't know, but we mustn't lose hope. Let’s rest, tomorrow, we need to pull our heads together, come up with a plan. It's no wonder none of our plans worked, none of us knew what we were fighting for. But we do now, and God help anyone who gets in our way." I growl and turn towards the door; my goal is to get to the ocean. If I'm going to work out what my mother wants me to do, then I need to be as close to Everly as I possibly can, and the only way to do that right now is by being inside the sea.
BY THE TIME MY FEET touch the sand, it's already dark. The moon's light bounces off the waves on the black ocean, making the scene before me look like a painting. It's like a veil has been lifted from my eyes and I can finally see in colour. My Everly is in there, all alone, with Leyland’s baby in her tummy. She must be frightened. Does she think we are dead? It's been seventy-two days. We have not been able to find a way to rescue her. Shame rolls through me. Some protector I am. A terrible commander I turned out to be, when I can't even keep those I love safe. But all that changes today. Somehow, some way, I will get Everly back and in one piece, too. I take o
ff my socks and shoes, and wade into the ocean until I'm knee deep. The current rocks me back and forth as I dip my hands into the cold water. Closing my eyes, I concentrate on the love of my life.
HOURS PASS, THE MOON sinks to the skyline. I moved from the ocean to the sand a few moments ago. The cold soaks into my skin, making my teeth chatter. I lay on the beach, completely alone and think. Replaying my mother's words over and over. I try to work out what she meant.
Look down, look up, be brave, be fearsome, for the land is yours, almighty Earth child. You needn't look farther than inside for all that you seek.
Look down. I rest my head on my hand and stare at where the sky meets the ocean. The line between the two barely discernible as the moon is reflected back at the sky. Twin skies. Look up. Twin moons. I close my eyes and the memory of Everly's vivid red hair floating in the salty ocean replays. It changes, the silky strands turn into stone. They sink to the bottom as my heart pounds. I see myself standing above her, my large frame casting a shadow over her. I lift my hand and raise her hair to the surface of the water, where it floats. She smiles up at me, the love I see reflected at me in those ocean coloured orbs remind me of the sea during summer. Deep blue. Sunlight creeps under my lids, telling me that the moon has set, and the sun has risen.
Suddenly, I see it all. I know exactly what I need to do. I spring to my feet and rush back home. A plan forms in my mind as I run.
Everly, I'm coming for you.
Chapter Twenty-Three
EVERLY
Day 13 in Atlantis
Darcy rests on the bed and Gordon paces the length of my room. The colour has returned to her skin, she's no longer white. I sit on the chaise, looking out of the window as I rub my belly. My hands are bandaged, Darcy, despite recovering from being crushed by rocks, insisted she take care of my superficial wounds. I didn't have the heart to remind her that I could heal them. When I told her about me telling Gordon about her being his consort, her whole face turned coral red. I swear, steam came from her ears. When she calmed down, she wrapped my hands and finally laid on the bed when Gordon demanded she nap. She had thrust her chin in the air, ready to deny his order. But when she blinked, it took longer than usual to open them again. She finally relented and is now snoring softly. Gordon hasn't said a word all night. All he has done is walk from wall to wall, his lip between his teeth. The colour leached by the pressure, they turned white some time ago.
"Gordon, you're making me seasick. Either sit down or go away, will you? I can't take your pacing anymore." I sound angrier than I am. My head pounds and the baby hasn't stopped kicking all night. Meaning I have not slept a wink.
"I am sorry, sister. It's just," he pauses and stops behind me, his blue tinged hand on my shoulder. I turn and look up at him, surprised, "She is so fragile. Almost human. How am I meant to protect her?" We both know he means to protect her against his father. Poseidon.
Swinging my legs around so I'm facing the room, I shrug my shoulders. The soft, pink blanket Darcy draped over my shoulders slips down, pooling around my bum when a painful kick inside makes me wince. I press one hand to my stomach, the other I lean against as I tilt my hips up, the pain radiating through my pelvis. My eyes squeeze tightly.
"What is it, Everly?" Gordon's voice pulls my eyes open.
He even sounds... concerned? "The baby, he or she is stretching out. Owee." Another jab to my ribs brings tears to my eyes.
"May I?" Gordon asks, quietly.
I nod, knowing he is asking to touch my belly. I'm not concerned he will hurt the baby; I'd explode his head before he even got the chance to try.
Gingerly, he leans forward and places the palms of his cold hands on either side of my bump. The cold feels good against my heated skin. The baby wiggles, then kicks under Gordon's hand. His eyes flick up to meet mine filled with awe.
"It’s a miracle." He mumbles as he watches his hands bob up and down as the baby moves around. What should be a cute moment, an uncle feeling his niece or nephew move for the first time, is bitter. Leyland has never felt his child kick. Not properly. Karl, Garrot and Victor have never seen our child move within me.
Do they think we are dead? Are they even looking for us? What happened to Leyland that affected me so?
"Gordon, what did you mean when you said you were well aware something was happening to one of my consorts?" My body stiffens as I speak, dreading the answer.
"I have checked on them." He replies as he moves away from me, he sits on the floor, his head hung low. "They are alive, I made sure of it."
"What do you mean, made sure of it?"
"I had the Orgh, the large sea creature that had your Kraken in the ocean, throw him on land. Father wanted the beast to kill them all, but the creature owed me a favour, so I used it to keep them alive." He explains while playing with a tassel on his sandal.
"Oh, thank goodness!" I yell too loudly; I look over his head to check I didn’t wake Darcy. She stirs but doesn't wake. "Thank you, Gord, thank you." I lean as much as I can, which isn't much, and reach for his hands.
"Don't thank me yet, Everly, your cupid, is no more." The colour drains from my face, black spots dance across my vision. The room spins as I stand.
Leyland is dead?
William
Day 78
As I close the door behind me to an old, dilapidated house, I can't help but pine for Mickey's company. But my mother left strict instructions of what I must do. I won't put him at risk. I plan on making sure he is as far inland as possible if things go sideways. Which, if Karl and the others can't get to Everly in time, it will. Letting out a sigh, I make my way back through the forest. The canopy of leaves above me barely lets any light through, making the road ahead of me appear foreboding. Whatever could get me out here is nothing compared to what Poseidon will do to me if he gets his hands on me. Angela, his fourth wife, met her untimely demise because I escaped. For months she begged me to end her misery. Being his wife was a fate worse than death. I couldn't do it though, she was a good woman. She would have set so many of her husband's wrongs right if she were allowed. But he treated her like he treated his other five wives, like a slave. His plaything. Nothing. A possession. He raped her daily, claiming she was his favourite. His evil knew no bounds.
As I made my escape, she followed. A group of Elite cornered her. Her screams feature in my nightmares. At the time, I didn't care so much. I didn't care. All I thought about was getting out of there. But now, guilt eats at my insides. Everly is there now. In that monster's hands. I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her, or the baby she carries. Mother left me in charge of making things right. Of seeing her plans through. I just hope I don't mess up.
"Goodbye, Willy." The Lycan behind me yells as I walk down the path. "Be sure to give Eddy my love." He giggles, knowing full well Eddy hates me, and would sooner kill me on sight rather than help me. As I reach my car, I pick up my phone and click the button on the side. A photo of Mickey and I at the top of Blackpool tower is my screensaver. He used his power to block the wind, a yellow light shining around us both. I face him, my eyes on his face, an adoring look in them. He smiles into the lens. He looks so full of hope. The photo was taken moments after I told him I loved him for the first time. A memory I'll never forget. One that keeps me going as I travel the country alone.
Throwing the phone back into the glove box, I start the jeep. The next leg of my journey might very well be my last if Eddy has anything to do with it.
Everly
Day 13 in Atlantis
"No, he is alive. But he has struggled with losing you, he," Gordon pauses, finding the right words. "He has lost all hope and believes you dead. Our father, I mean, mine, or," he struggles, I put him out of his misery.
"Poseidon."
"Yes, well, he had a curse placed upon your men, it made them believe you were dead, but not really. It was a complicated spell. I'm not privy to the details. But I know it was meant to confuse them so they wouldn't find a way to find yo
u. Once he found out they were alive, he sent a witch to do the deed."
My mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. My mind can't take in all he says. Poseidon cursed my guys so they couldn't find me. What. The. Fuck.
"And are they still cursed? Do they think I'm dead? What happened to Leyland? Did Victor die?" So many questions zoom through my mind, I can't get them all out in the order I need answers to.
"They’re all alive, but I believe a witch has lifted the curse, they’re recovering." He answers, softly.
"Oh, thank god!" My legs turn weak below me and I sit on the bed next to him. "Thank you, for sparing their lives and for keeping an eye on them. Now, can you get a message to them for me?" I grip his arm firmly, trying to convey how desperate I am to speak to them. Even if it's only in a letter.
"I cannot. I am being monitored closely since I have been spending so much time with the two of you. If I was caught, I would be killed." He admits.
My shoulders sag and I let him go. Tears slip down my cheeks unchecked. I'm so glad they're alive, even if they have been cursed and then cured. At least I know they’re ok. It explains why I’m still here without them.
"I understand." I sigh and stand, my whole-body aches. "I gotta pee." I turn and walk into the room that is by far my favourite. The walls are still see through from earlier and as I sit on the loo, I watch a pair of sea turtles spin above me. Their large bodies make light work of gliding through the water as they spin, dip and flip. Clearly, they're having way more fun than I am.
The Everly Davis chronicles Page 51
