"I like him. He's helped me over the years, in odd ways." Yeah, I met him the day of the house fire and he perched like some horrific gargoyle up in the tree, enjoying the show. He's left me gifts and threatened me, and because of your son; he's in my life...
Why had I said that? I dug my fork into my cake, scared I'd opened a lid I might not be able to close.
Marion studied me with a mother's gaze. The kind of gaze I'd seen her use on Rein and other parents I'd watched over the years. It was a gaze of intrinsic knowing and caring, a gaze foreign to me. It left me gutted, all those memories coming to the surface with their sharp edges and cruel intentions.
"I understand—"
I wasn't having any of it. She wasn't my mother. I didn't owe anyone any explanations for my life, for me.
"No, you don't understand. You show up here, thinking—what? That you can apologize and all that mean you showered me with will evaporate? I don't owe you or anyone anything." Inside my head, something came apart. I felt as if I were physically separating in half, the old Rachel with her clinging ghosts and the new one wanting to be reborn into another life. Marion was the type that needed a focus. Was that how she viewed me? Was I the new and next focus so she wouldn't have to face her own demons?
Marion sat, gasping, clenching the napkin as if it could save her.
"Marion, do you have any idea what my life has been like? It's been hell. I'm alone, if you haven't noticed. I don't have any family left, they died in a fire. Yes, I know, my psycho-sister was responsible for that, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm alone in this world. I didn't have a great family, but I do miss having one at all. My dad was the only thing holding us together, but when he died, it was open season on me. I was the punching bag, the scapegoat, the one to blame. It didn't matter what I did, how hard I tried, my mother didn't want me and my sister was out to shred me. You don't know anything about me or about enduring pain like that. You're family was rich and privileged, as you've been busy rubbing in my face. Do you know what it's like to have your own sister destroy you? Do you know what it's like to always end up being alone in the room?" I stopped, realizing I'd been shouting.
Suddenly, there was a warm touch on my arm. I looked down to find Marion's hand.
"I'm sorry. Please give me the chance to help, to be there for you. I..." She broke down sobbing. I waited until she composed herself. "Rachel, you are such a lovely young woman, you're artistic and talented and your grades have been amazing."
"My grades? What does that matter now? You had me kicked out of Lonsdale and I won't be able to graduate early. Abby's Road, that's where I'm going in January. Do you know what kind of a reputation that school has? I'll be lucky if I make it through alive."
She had to own it or protection or not, we couldn't share the same side of the road. I needed to hear it from her lips.
"I had no right to do that and I'll contact the Principal, Mr. Steen and have you reinstated."
I shook my head. "No, you won't. I'm not a pawn to push around on a board. I won't go back there, not to be with those snotty little shits. I've had all I can take from people. I'll take my chances at Abby's Road; at least there all I can get is stabbed or shot. It should prove a refreshing change from the daily hell I was put through. If Rein hadn't intervened for me, it would have been worse. They looked down on me, called me down. Tristan used to call me trash."
I waited, wanting to see her reaction.
Marion cleared her throat. "Yes, he ran into some difficulty, I don't know if you heard."
I smiled, unable to keep the malice from showing.
"Yes, and I'd say he finally pushed the envelope too far. Perhaps he'll take the lesson and grow as a person."
She was shocked. Marion went to put her fork in the cake, but set it down.
"Rachel, I'm sorry I had you removed from Lonsdale. I had no right to do that or to keep you from spending time with Rein. I am sorry; please know that if I could take it back, I would."
"Why?" I wasn't about to let the cake go to waste. It was excellent and I intended to eat every crumb.
"Because what I did and how I behaved was wrong. I had no right to harm you, and I regret it." Her sigh drifted past my cheek, I felt it touch my hair before fading off into the room.
That nagging little voice came forward, cornering me. Be an adult, Rachel. Prove that eighteen means being able to see beyond yourself.
I had a hard time letting go of past wrongs. I wasn't a forgiver or a forgetter, but wearing that badge hadn't got me anywhere. I took a deep breath before taking the plunge.
"I accept your apology." I took a large sip of tea, allowing it to steady my nerves. "Is that why you came here, or was there something in the note?"
"I've been trying to get hold of you, but with Beatrice and Ronnie away, no one knew where to look. I found a note on my kitchen counter, beside the coffee machine. I have no idea who left it there, but it said you and Nix were here. I wanted to find you before Christmas." She folded and unfolded the crumpled napkin, her hands shaking.
"Why before Christmas?" Rein had always gone on about Marion and her endless decorating during the season.
"I would like to invite you to stay for Christmas, with me. It would be the two of us, I haven't invited anyone else. Would you consider it?"
"But I'm here with Nix—"
"The note said you might be in danger and the only way to keep you safe was to have you with me. Is this true? Are you in danger?" Her voice held a note of desperation that left me without any choice but to be honest.
"Yes. I found out that I am in danger, but there is no place to be safe, so I've chosen the lesser of the two evils." Would she understand? Poor Marion was in the dark about what was really going on.
"It's something to do with Rein, isn't it? I can see it. I don't know why and I can't explain it, but ever since I took that ring back and started wearing it..."
"What? What's happened?" I sat forward. She had my attention.
"I've been dreaming of Rein. I'm walking up this rocky path to a castle and he's standing way in the distance. He keeps telling me to wear the ring. The last dream I had, he said I had to find you, to bring you close and keep you safe." She shook her head, her cheeks flushing. "You're going to think I'm crazy."
I lived crazy, but she didn't know that.
"Go ahead, nothing would surprise me."
"Rein said if I wore the ring, I could protect you. I don't understand why, but I believe it, I feel it." She searched my face.
"I had a dream similar to that, and I saw Rein. I think he might be coming through to give a message."
Marion let her breath out. I hadn't realized she'd been holding it, waiting for me to respond.
"I'm relieved you don't think I'm insane. Rachel, please pack your bag and come back to Lonsdale with me for Christmas and your birthday, I promise I'll make it special."
This was insane, but according to Yuri, I didn't have much of a choice. I didn't want to jump on it like I was desperate.
"We'll need to set some ground rules. If I'm uncomfortable, I will leave, do you understand?"
She nodded, a huge smile breaking out. "Yes, of course. I don't want to do anything to make you upset, I've done enough of that. We can go as soon as you're ready. If you want to stop by your place and get a few things, we can do that as well."
This had to be the craziest thing yet. Yuri had turned my day up-side-down and inside-out. Of all the ironies—the one person to keep me safe would be Rein's mother—that was if she kept wearing the ring.
"Don't take it off, not even to shower." I blurted it out, realizing after that it made no sense to our previous conversation. "Rein told me that when he gave it to me."
She seemed surprised, but nodded. "Rein said that to me in the dream. That's a bit spooky, Rachel."
Spooky? Marion had no idea that at this moment she was surrounded by spooky. She was sitting in spookville having tea and cake.
Rein had found a way to commun
icate with his mother through her dreams. She probably believed he was coming to her in spirit, giving her messages. I knew better.
"I have to break it to Nix. I don't know how he'll take it." I searched for Yuri, hoping he'd show and help me navigate this situation.
"I'll go with you to the room. That way, he can't do anything with me there. I don't know why, but I feel there is something very different about him, Rachel. I'm not saying he's bad; in fact, he is very handsome, but strange. I get the eeriest feeling from him. Is he quite a bit older than you?"
I choked on the last sip of tea.
"Yes, he has a few years on me."
Marion laughed, throwing the decimated napkin down. "Rein's father was older than me. I was eighteen when we met, but things didn't work out." A veil of sadness came over her eyes. "Shall we?" She left money on the table and we made our exit. I could feel Oscar's gaze on my back as we went to the elevator.
The floor indicator sounded and the door opened. I stepped out, feeling as though I were walking to my own execution. Despite finding out how Nix was using me for my blood, I still didn't want to hurt him. We had a strange bond between us. He had saved me that day from the fire, but had he detected the component in my blood? Had he known then?
"Okay?" Marion pushed a few stray hairs back, the way a mother would fuss over a child.
"I'm good. I hope you're brave, he can be intimidating."
"I'm no wallflower."
Hell, she wasn't kidding about that. I'd seen her in full rage and even a vampire might think twice.
I went to swipe the card, but the door opened. Nix held it while we went through.
"Mrs. Butler, you've decided to extend your visit with Rachel."
Over on the bed, I spied the clutch and beside it, the box with the necklace and earrings. A flash went through my head of what we'd shared earlier, when he'd fed from me while I'd watched in the mirror.
"I have to go." I stood, trying not to be affected by his nearness.
Nix's eyes glowed, the small glints of silver dancing around. He nodded.
"I see. I will miss spending Christmas and your birthday together. I had something special planned for us. I wanted to take you home, to my place."
Marion stood by the door, but didn't crowd us. Nix came closer.
"May I give you a kiss good-bye?" He didn't wait, but leaned in, claiming my mouth. I couldn't look away from his gaze; those green eyes making me want to stay. There was no anger in them, only a quiet resolve. His kiss was meant to leave me scarred with wanting and I found it difficult not to wrap my arms around him.
He broke away, but he wasn't done with me. Nix spoke close to my ear, allowing only me to hear his words.
"I know...everything. You may think I'm taking from you, but I want to give you the world, and more. Do you remember what I told you when we were on the beach that day? I told you I'd wait for eternity and I will."
I pulled back, but he reached, trailing his finger tip along my bottom lip. I was shocked to see a little blood on it. He licked it off, staring at me, daring me to say something.
"Blood and life, Rachel, they are one and the same." He spoke softly, and then stepped back from me. "Enjoy your Christmas ladies. If you need anything, you know how to get in touch with me." He grinned, winking at me. I caught the look in his eyes. This little game had amused him and he seemed to have taken it on as a challenge. His covert message to me was clear—it wasn't over.
Marion took one of the bags. "I'll be in the hall. Merry Christmas, Mr. Vicar." Obviously she thought it had gone well.
"Actually, it's Count Vicar, but that is perfectly fine."
Marion nearly tripped. "My apologies, I didn't know you were a Count." She left us then.
Nix held the jeweler's box out to me.
I shook my head. "I can't accept your gift. I hope you have a good Christmas." I fumbled, trying to pick up the bag.
Nix was over in a second. "Please let me put my branding back." He snaked his hand through my hair, bringing me close. The bag slipped off my shoulder, landing on the carpet.
"No." It came out weak and wavering, the way I felt. He had such a pull on me and it would take everything I had to walk out the door.
"I'm disappointed, I wanted to take you back to my castle for Christmas and your birthday. That was why I brought you here, but Yuri already filled you in on some of the finer details. I had wanted to give you something special for your eighteenth."
There was no missing his meaning.
"It will happen, Rachel. I love you and you're delusional if you think it's over between us. Forever, Rachel. Love is forever." He kissed me lightly on the mouth, and I breathed in his scent, memorizing the shade of green his eyes were at that moment. I almost wanted to stay, but the price would be me being drained of my life over time as he grew in strength. It wasn't that I would eventually fade and die, because that would happen either way, being mortal, my life was finite. It was that he hadn't been honest with me.
"You'd better leave; the others are getting restless and know about the ring and who you are. I'll be seeing you soon. Stay close to Marion; she's all that's between you and them."
I didn't need to ask who them was. His words hurt, they sunk in, reminding me I was making a choice, but what choice did I have, really?
∞
I sat in the front seat next to Marion. She drove like a maniac, laughing, babbling conversation at me as we sped along. I was too wired to hear any of it. Every so often I'd nod at her and smile. Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought of this happening.
We stopped at a drive-thru, but kept going due to the late hour. There were things about the day not making sense—like how long the day had been since Nix and I had checked into the hotel in the morning. Time wasn't adding up to what had transpired. I suspected time didn't pass normally at the Betherington.
"We're nearly home. Do you want to stop in your place to get some things, or would you prefer to wait until tomorrow?" Marion sounded chipper, as if we'd just returned from a summer road trip.
"Tomorrow." I was far too tired to bother with my place. If someone had got in, so be it.
When she pulled the car into the drive, I suffered a fleeting moment of panic.
"Do you realize I'll be inside your home?" Acid, acid, acid. This was hard for me. I wasn't someone that let go of past wrongs. I was a record keeper, a filer of nasty deeds, the ultimate scorekeeper.
The car did that little jerk as she put on the brakes. She'd parked in the covered area right next to the house.
"I should have allowed you into my home. I had no right to be mean. It's not going to be easy, Rachel, but I want to heal this." The car door was open and the interior light was on, revealing the dark circles under her eyes. She was tired and when we were at the hotel I'd been too busy being angry to notice.
"Do you have a spare room?" Rachel—could you be more sarcastic? Did she have a spare room? Only about six of them...
"I do. I thought you might want to sleep in Rein's room."
I climbed out of the car, closing the door after. She stood on the other side, sharing this moment of awkward.
"I don't think that would work for me." I heaved my bag over my shoulder.
"Here, let me help." Marion reached, but I shook my head.
"I'm good." I followed her to the side entrance, curious as to what the house would be like. I'd imagined it over the years, with fussy ornaments and expensive furniture. Marion had money and it was no secret she was from a wealthy family. The Butlers had been in Lonsdale for generations.
Inside, Marion led me upstairs. The house was older, and the decor reflected that. What surprised me most was that it wasn't overly fussy. The furniture was gorgeous, no doubt passed down from both sides of the family. Marion's nest was full of belongings that smacked of quality, craftsmanship, history and wealth. The space on the walls was covered with paintings and pictures and objects that held sentimental value. I set my bag down, wandering about,
taking in Rein's childhood photos.
"Those are my parents and here is one with my grandparents." Marion held a large oval picture out to me. I took it, getting a strange vibe from the photo. The frame was wood and polished, the picture inside protected by the glass cover.
"Who is she?"
"That is Abigail Westshire-Butler or Abby as she was called, my grandmother and a true humanitarian. She started Abby's Road, the school where you'll be attending in January. Her parents settled here before the area was developed. Back then it was farms and fields and vacant land. My great-grandparents owned several sections of land and when the road was put in, they named it after their only daughter, Abby."
"Abby's Road," I whispered. Why hadn't Rein ever said anything about this? "What about the school? Was it named after her as well?" I gazed down and into the face in the photograph. It was black and white and the paper had yellowed slightly over the years. Abigail was a striking woman and I'm sure she would have had her choice of marriage partners. Marion shared a close resemblance to her.
"My grandmother married into the Butler family. They were a founding family here in Lonsdale and very wealthy. Her parents, or my great-grandparents, were also quite well-to-do. After marrying Hammond Butler, Abby decided to put her money to good use. The area needed a school that taught grades eight to twelve. She had Abby's Road High built and even donated a parcel of land for the school. In her day, Abby's Road was considered a very good school and she worked at keeping it financially healthy with fundraising and community involvement. Lonsdale was built about fifteen years after, to help with the growing population. Over time, Lonsdale became the more affluent school and built a good reputation for itself."
I was stunned. Marion's grandmother had built the school?
"I don't understand, Abby's Road is rundown. What happened to it?"
Marion stared at me, her gaze going from the picture to me.
"After Abby died, my father refused to put any more of the Westshire money into its upkeep or running. The idea of using the Butler fortune was out of the question. He stopped all the donations and fundraising, wanting to keep the money for himself."
Abby's Road Part 1 Page 6
