Shadow of the Mark

by Leigh Fallon

  He hesitated and then wrinkled his nose. “Okay, but we’ll talk about this later.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about,” I called out to him as he went into his room.

  Half an hour later, Fionn showed up at the house. His silhouette was clear through the window by our door. I fled back up the stairs, hoping he didn’t see me.

  “Megan, couldn’t you get that?” Dad asked, stepping over me where I huddled on the top step. He threw on a shirt as he ran down to open the door.

  “I can’t talk to him. Please, just tell him to go home.”

  I listened from my perch as Dad and Fionn discussed “the breakup.” Fionn was worried, but after enough reassurances from my dad that I was fine, he eventually left.

  Dad pushed his damp hair off his forehead and tucked in his shirttails. “I think we need to talk.” He put the kettle on. “Do you want some tea?”

  I reluctantly nodded and sat down at the table.

  Dad joined me. “Fionn seemed genuinely concerned about how you left things with Adam.”

  “It’s complicated, Dad.”

  “I’m not going to get involved, but if this is really over, be sure to do it right. Loose ends have a habit of blowing in the breeze and getting more tattered and messy with time.” He smiled and rubbed my arm. I was a bit taken aback by his uncharacteristically insightful remark. “Don’t look so shocked. I was young once, and well . . . it was something your mom used to say.”

  “Dad, there are so many loose ends, I wouldn’t know where to start to fix them up.”

  Dad set the tea on the table. “I wish I could help, but when it comes to matters of the heart, I’m not so great on the advice front. I’m a good listener, though . . . when you’re ready to talk.”

  I leaned over and gave him a hug. “Thanks, Dad.” I wished I was five again and he could make everything better, but I knew that wasn’t possible. I needed to get out of the house. I needed to think, and I didn’t want to be here when Petra got back. “I think I’ll go back to Caitlin’s house. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all. Maybe you should stay with her tonight, since I’ll be at the club late.”

  I nodded. “Dad, I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for what?”

  “I’m just sorry, you know, that you have to work so hard fixing up the mess.”

  “Don’t be silly, Meg. These things happen.” He laughed. “It should be the storm gods saying sorry, not you.”

  Caitlin was coming to pick me up, but I needed some air, so I set out to meet her along the way. As I locked the front door, Randel swooped down and landed on my shoulder. “Hey, Randel. You here alone?” Randel squawked and flew across the street, where a figure caught my eye.

  Chloe stepped out from the shrubs. “Hey, Meg.”

  “Chloe.” I guess it was inevitable that she would be here. The others wouldn’t be allowed to come, and they still thought I needed protection. Couldn’t they see that I was the only dangerous person around? “You don’t need to be here. You should go back to Rían.”

  “It’s my job, and besides, I thought you might need to talk.”

  “And what makes you think I’d want to talk to you?” I said, brushing past her.

  She fell into step beside me as I headed down the hill. “How are you doing?”

  I flashed her a scowl. “How do you think I’m doing?”

  I wanted to blame her for everything. She was the one who had wormed her way into our lives. She was the one who flaunted her physical relationship with Rían in my face, making me think I could have one too. With every step I took, my anger grew.

  Chloe pulled up in front of me to halt our progress. She nodded at the trees that whipped around with my rage. “You better calm down before you go throwing another hissy fit that will destroy the town even more.”

  “Don’t tell me to calm down! Things are working out nicely for you now, aren’t they? You’re in with the Knights, and you’re buddy-buddy with all the DeRíses. It must feel pretty good to be you at the moment.”

  Chloe’s face turned to stone before she whispered, “You don’t know shit.”

  “Excuse me?”

  She threw her arms in the air and screamed at the sky. “You think everything is just la-di-da, don’t you?”

  I swung back at her. “Oh yeah, everything is just perfect in my life. Look around you, Chloe. This is my life crumbling right before your eyes.”

  “Megan, there’s a lot more going on here than tragic love stories. Don’t you see?”

  “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

  She moved toward me with her arms outstretched. At first, I thought she was going for my neck. I gasped and tried to duck away, but she grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “This isn’t about the Order versus the Knox anymore. This is so much bigger. Forget Adam for one second, and look around you.”

  I called on the air between us and flung her away from me, landing her hard on her backside. “Stay away from me. My biggest mistake was trusting you. I will never be so naive again.”

  She sprung to her feet easily. “That’s more like it. You need to start using your element defensively. You’re going to need it.”

  My blood ran cold as her words sliced through me. “Tell me what you know.”

  She shook her head and stepped back. “I’ve already said too much. I’m bound by the Knights, but . . . I’ve tried to help you figure it out. Didn’t you get the note I slipped you?” She took a deep breath and sighed. “Believe it or not, I actually care about you. I can’t stand by and wait for it to happen.”

  “You planted the list of names in my pocket?” My element pulsated, wanting to be unleashed, but I quelled it and focused my attention on Chloe. “Tell me what those names have to do with me.”

  She clenched her fists. “I can’t.”

  “TELL ME!”

  “They . . . they were all Cluaíns. The Order destroyed them. The Circle of Truth has been waiting for the next Cluaín for so long. We’ve been instructed to protect you at all costs but not to intervene. I just . . . I find it hard to just stand by, to let you deal with this alone.”

  My element flickered in irritation, blurring my sight and covering my peripheral vision in a haze, like I was peering out a foggy window.

  “Deal with WHAT?” Suddenly something hit my face, and I felt like I was lifted right off the ground. Confused, I lost my balance and fell backward, smacking my back on the concrete. “What th—?” It came again, this time on my other cheek.

  “Megan! What’s wrong?”

  “Chloe!”

  “I don’t see anything.” Chloe grabbed at the air around me. “There’s nothing there. What’s going on?”

  The air whipped around me, looking for my assailant, but there wasn’t one. Chloe crouched, with her arms out, waiting for the next attack. I felt groggy, dizzy. My head wobbled on my neck, then hung heavy to the side. I felt the ground moving beneath me, as if I were being dragged. Each bump on my spine stung, like my back was sliding over something hard. My eyes darted around as I tried to make sense of what was happening. I hadn’t moved an inch. Black spots obscured my vision, and my ears felt plugged, muffling the sounds around me. A scream, a shout, a thud, and a dull ache rippled through my skull. Then I heard Áine’s voice. It was the only clear sound in the cacophony of muted chaos.

  “Megan, help us.” I pushed past the distressing noises, pain, and dark fog that clouded my brain. Chloe was shouting. Her lips were moving, but I couldn’t hear her. I took a deep breath and focused on her mouth, squeezing all other sensations from my mind. Slowly words started to form.

  “Megan, what’s happening? What’s wrong?”

  My pulse quickened until the blood raced through my system, flooding me with dread. “It’s Áine—she’s hurt. She needs my help.”

  “How do you know?”

  “She was in my head. She told me. We have to hurry.” I jumped to my feet and started running, not sure where to go next.r />
  Chloe caught up and pulled me to a stop. “Megan, this could be a trap. Stop and think for one minute.” She took out her phone. “Let’s call the house first.”

  I didn’t want to waste time calling; I needed to get to Áine—and fast. My legs itched and trembled as adrenaline mixed with my element, ready for flight.

  Chloe listened for a second. “No reply. I’m going to try Cú.” She tried a few numbers. There was no reply from anyone. Then her phone vibrated as a text came in.

  Phones to silent. Get Megan to a secure location and wait for contact.

  “Shit,” she muttered. “We have got to get out of here.”

  “I told you. Let’s go!”

  Chloe’s phone rang. She exhaled sharply. “It’s Adam.” She hit the answer button. “Adam, we were just coming to look for you.” Chloe’s face dropped again. “Oh, it’s you. Yeah, she’s here. Hang on.”

  I grabbed the phone. “Adam?”

  “It’s me, Matthew.”

  “Matthew? What’s wrong? Where’s Adam? Is Áine okay?”

  “I don’t know. I just got back to the house, and everyone was gone. I heard Adam’s phone ringing. Is everything all right? Where are you?”

  I didn’t answer him. I grabbed Chloe and pulled her into the air that whistled around me. “We have to get to the DeRíses’.”

  She screamed as I lifted us off the ground. She wriggled out of my grip and fell with a sickening crunch, dropping awkwardly on her arm. “Shit.” She chewed on her bottom lip and pulled her arm to her chest. “You . . . you can’t use your element openly. If there is danger around, you’ll be a sitting duck.” Her face paled.

  “Chloe, I’m so sor—”

  “No time for that. I need to get you to safety. Let’s get out of here.”

  “I can’t leave the others. We have to go to their house.”

  “Forget it. It’s against protocol.”

  The wind whirled dangerously around us. “You can’t stop me.”

  “Ugh! Fine, but from now on, listen to what I say and stop using your element. You’re leaving residuals everywhere.”

  I jumped as Caitlin pulled up alongside us and nervously got out of the car. “What the hell is going on?” she asked, shielding herself from the vicious winds. I’d forgotten she was picking me up.

  Chloe looked at her and smiled grimly.

  “We’re not involving her,” I said.

  “She’s already involved. Get in,” Chloe ordered, opening the back door of Caitlin’s car and pushing me inside.

  “Oh my god! Something’s happening, right?” Caitlin said, excitement creeping into her voice as she jumped back into the car and gripped the steering wheel. “Is it the Knox?”

  Chloe’s jaw dropped. “You told her!”

  I leaned into Caitlin’s shoulder. “You remember all that life and death stuff I told you about? Well, this is it. This could get dangerous. You don’t have to come.”

  Caitlin swallowed hard. “Where to?” She put the car into gear and pulled out with a jerk. The Micra jumped, shuddered, and cut out.

  “Agh!” Chloe gasped, cradling her arm and sucking in a breath.

  “Oops, sorry, I still stall when I get nervous,” Caitlin muttered, turning the key in the ignition again.

  Chloe finally exhaled. “The DeRíses’. And gently does it, please.”

  When we got there, the house was dark. As we approached the back door, Matthew emerged.

  “What’s going on?” he asked. “Caitlin! What are you doing here?”

  “Well, I, um, well . . . hang on, what are you doing here? I thought you had gone back to the UK?”

  “My flight was canceled because of the storm. I go back tomorrow. Where is everyone?”

  I looked around, taking in the stillness of the yard. “I don’t know. They should be here. Wait, if you decided to stay, where have you been?”

  “I was just hanging ou—”

  My Mark began to sting. In the next instant, I was assaulted by the Sidhe’s whispers. Danger, danger. They swirled around me, disorienting me for a moment. “Matthew, I think we should get inside the house.”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Go in the house. I need you all inside now.”

  Chloe looked at me wide-eyed, before her demeanor changed. “Megan, Caitlin, get in the house NOW!” Seeming to forget her injury, she grabbed Caitlin by the arm and shoved me toward the house.

  Twenty-six

  VOICES OF OLD

  Danger, danger.

  “Matthew!” Chloe shrieked, her good arm beckoning him toward the back door.

  A slight smile curled Matthew’s lips. “All right, all right, I don’t know what all the fuss is about.” He followed Caitlin inside.

  Danger, GET OUT! The whispers became more incessant and distinct. I shook my head, trying to get clarity.

  “Chloe, the Sidhe’s whispers . . . they say to get out.”

  “What are you talking about? The safest place for us is in here, quick,” Chloe demanded.

  I fought against the voices telling me to leave and struggled toward the house. Just as I reached the door, a brown, dusty haze fluttered in front of me, like a mass of dust particles caught in the sunlight, hanging in the air. Now, get out now! The dust shuddered and combined, taking on form. A grainy version of the Sidhe materialized, but just as he opened his mouth, the dust vanished, revealing Matthew standing in the doorway. My blood ran cold.

  “Megan, what are you still doing out here? Chloe wants you inside.” He smiled and held out his hand.

  I eyed it suspiciously. “Something’s wrong.” I stumbled on the step, and Matthew reached out and steadied me. The Sidhe had tried to warn me, had attempted to appear to me. But it had all stopped. Now all I felt was the sting of danger in my Mark.

  “Megan, I’m sure everything will be okay. Come inside and sit down until we can find the others.”

  I nodded warily and let him lead me into the kitchen.

  Caitlin’s face was pale. “Megan, I’m scared.”

  Chloe ran down the hall, slinging a leather harness over her shoulder. In the holder was a silver sword of intricate Celtic design. She checked rooms and shut doors behind her. In the kitchen, she climbed onto the counter and peered out the window. “There isn’t anyone in the immediate vicinity. I need you all in an interior room. I’ll keep watch.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  I turned just in time to see Matthew pick up Rían’s hurley club and swing it at Chloe’s head. The hard white ash made contact with a sickening thud.

  The impact threw Chloe forward, but she remained upright as if suspended by an invisible thread. The next few seconds felt like an eternity as I waited for Chloe to draw her sword and swoop around. She didn’t. Instead, she slumped to the side, her head smacking on the countertop. Then time sped to normal, and my hearing kicked in. I wished it hadn’t. All I could hear was Caitlin’s scream as Chloe fell from the counter and slammed into the cold, hard tiles. She twitched for a moment and then went still.

  I dragged my eyes from Chloe to Matthew. He stood with the club resting on his shoulder, wearing a grim face.

  “Shit! I’ve never hit a girl before,” he said, his voice a little tight. “I just meant to knock her out.”

  Anger seared through me. I threw out my arms, calling on my element. A wind swirled from my hands and shot at him, but just as it got to Matthew, it seemed to split in two, and instead of hitting him, it knocked Caitlin off her feet and broke the window on Matthew’s other side.

  Matthew’s mouth turned up into a wry smile. “I’m afraid that isn’t going to help you.”

  My heart thudded, and my mouth went dry. I didn’t need to see it. I could feel it. Matthew had the amulet. “You’ve been Knox all this time?”

  Caitlin, winded and trying to catch her breath, shuffled toward Chloe on her hands and knees. “Wha . . . ,” she gasped. “How could you?”

  Matthew’s face softened as he crouched
down beside Caitlin. He ran his hand through her hair and down the side of her stricken face. “Caitie, I’m sorry. This was never supposed to involve you. You shouldn’t even be here.”

  Caitlin cringed away from his touch.

  “You’re Knox,” I spat. “How did we not detect you before?”

  His face crinkled in disgust as he drew in a sharp breath. “I’m not Knox!” He shuddered. “I’m Order, born and raised. I’m one of the good guys. The Knox are a filthy group of power-hungry Anú worshippers. Seriously.” He looked genuinely insulted. “Can you see me worshipping Anú Knox? She’s one creepy chica.” He laughed a little maniacally.

  “She’s creepy, Matthew, really? Anú’s been dead for centuries.”

  I blocked out Caitlin’s quiet sobbing, trying to call on my element again, but through my element, I could nearly taste the shield around him.

  “I told you, you’re wasting your time.” He reached under his T-shirt and pulled out the amulet. “Fionn should have let the Order put this in the crypt.” He picked up the stone and gazed at it. “Such fuss over a stupid necklace. Oh, and FYI, Anú is alive and well and, as luck would have it, is waiting to meet you.”

  “That’s crap! Where are the DeRíses?”

  “They’re with Anú, of course.” Matthew lifted Caitlin by the arm and gently pulled her away from Chloe. “Come on, girls, we’re going for a little walk.” He motioned with his head toward the door. “Ladies first.”

  I moved toward the scullery, scanning around me for anything I could use as a weapon.

  “Don’t even think about it, Megan,” Matthew said behind me. “I’ve got Caitlin and a hurley, and I’d prefer not to use it on her.”

  Caitlin let out a sob.

  “Nothing personal, Caitie. Let’s just get through this, and we’ll all go our separate ways, okay?”

  We headed through the yard and into the fields behind the DeRíses’ home.

  I turned and caught Matthew’s eye. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Because I deserve better, that’s why!” He sighed. “Look, I put up with all of the Order’s shit. I agreed to become Áine’s intended. I played by the rules. All I wanted was the easy life, and up until now, I got that.”