Adir clasped his hands together at the small of his back. He began to walk towards the left side of the room, not venturing any closer to Darcie in the process. “Well, you see, I was trying to figure out a way to lure you out of the mansion. I was struggling to come up with proper motivation, when it occurred to me that I had never had the pleasure of meeting your father. Needless to say, I thought the event was long overdue.”
Blood pounded in Darcie’s ears. Her heart clenched. “Leave my father out of this,” she threw all of her strength behind the command. “He has nothing to do with this.”
“Oh, I quite agree,” Adir surprised her by saying, pivoting to walk back towards his original spot. “But, I wanted to drop in. You know, just to say hello and introduce myself. Imagine my surprise when I saw John Abernathy leaving that dusty museum in Rome, and I recognized him.”
“You recognized him?” Bella found her voice. She looked at Adir, a question in her eye.
“I did,” Adir replied, turning to look at Bella. Then, his neck rotated until his gaze met Darcie’s. “Honestly, I was astonished. How could I have not realized?”
He let the question hang in the air between them. Darcie suspected where he was going with the conversation, but she refused to take him there just in case she was wrong.
Bella, however, had no idea what was going on. “Realized what?” she asked, glancing between Adir and Darcie. “What are you talking about, Adir?”
“You do not know?” he asked with fake concern. “Do not worry. I didn’t either. Not until I saw it with my own two eyes. Now that I know, however, I cannot believe I did not see it sooner.”
“Know what?”
Adir’s creepy smile grew exponentially. “That our dear Darcie is not only a descendent of Charmian, but also of Eros.”
No one said a word. Adir stood, staring at Darcie in triumph, daring her to contradict his words. Bella, however, looked shocked beyond belief.
“B-but that is impossible,” the immortal woman sputtered. “It cannot be.”
The teenager swung a curious gaze to her friend.
“But it is,” Adir replied. “Darcie is the descendant of two immortal bloodlines. It is rather extraordinary.”
“I don’t see why it matters,” Darcie said, attempting to deflate Adir’s moment.
“It matters because you shouldn’t be able to exist,” Adir replied. “Never before have two immortal bloodlines mixed. You are an anomaly. An extraordinary anomaly.”
Darcie thought back to the conversation with her mother. She did not act like being the descendant of two immortals was a big deal. Why was Adir acting like he’d just won the kidnapper’s lottery?
“It doesn’t matter,” she told Adir. “Regardless of whatever you think, I am not going to help you. You are wasting your time.”
“Tsk-tsk,” the immortal wagged his finger. “Is that any way to talk to someone who has the power to cause you pain? To harm your friends? Or even your family?”
My family?
Time stopped. Even the sound of the fluorescent lights grew quiet following Adir’s not-so-subtle threat.
“You have my dad?” she asked in a terrified whisper. There was no one else he could mean. “Please… don’t hurt him.”
Adir did not laugh, or even so much as smirk. The immortal placed his hands into his pockets and asked in an obvious tone, “Now, why would I wish to harm my future in-law?”
29
Darcie stared at the immortal. She must have misheard him. “Your what?” Her voice cracked on the two words.
“My father-in-law,” Adir replied, a pleased and secretive smile starting to cover his lips.
She should have understood the implication, but it took Darcie a moment to truly grasp what Adir was trying to convey. “We aren’t together,” she said, not knowing what else to say.
“Of course not,” he allowed with uncharacteristic patience. “But I am determined to ensure your powers will not be available to the alliance. And there is only one way to do that.”
Her mind raced. Darcie darted her gaze between the confident Adir and the confused Bella. She had hoped her friend might provide insight into the rebel’s statements, but Bella looked as baffled as she felt.
Tired of trying to guess his meaning, she finally turned and faced Adir. “What are you talking about?” She was through playing into whatever game he laid out before her. He was messing with her, and she did not find it funny.
“It would be best to show you,” he replied, pivoting on his heel and striding back towards the metal door. “Come.”
She balked. “You are letting me leave?”
He looked back over his shoulder. “You were never intended to be in here. Come. Let me take you to the main house.” He resumed his exit.
Darcie didn’t move. “I won’t leave Gregory in here.”
Adir stopped walking. His posture grew rigid in the doorway. With eerie slowness, he rotated and pinned her with his gaze. “Either you follow my requests, or your friend will no longer be in a state that warrants you to worry.”
She met his unrelenting gaze and wavered. Darcie glanced down at Gregory. He was still unconscious, but at least he was alive. She didn’t know if Adir would follow through on his threat, but she wasn’t sure she was willing to risk it.
“Alright.” She lifted her gaze. “But promise you won’t hurt him. If I go along with what you want, you leave Gregory alone.”
Adir bent at his hips and gave her a low bow. “You have my word.” Then, he stood and moved until he disappeared past the doorway. Without a word, Bella’s skirt swished as she trailed after him.
Despite every instinct telling her not to do it, Darcie stepped forward and followed the two immortals out of the bare room. Once past the doorframe, she glanced from left to right and realized no one stood there waiting for her. She took a second to pull the metal door towards her until it rested against the frame, but she made sure to not close it entirely. If Gregory ever woke up, he would have a way to escape as long as no one walked by and realized the door wasn’t shut.
Not knowing which way they went, Darcie flipped a mental coin before veering off to the right. She increased her pace, noting that the walls on either side of her were as empty as those in the room she’d just left. Off in the distance, she heard voices. Proceeding cautiously, she turned the next corner and was welcomed by the sight of Adir, Henry, and Bella waiting for her. She was disappointed she hadn’t managed to find a way to escape instead.
Her blue eyes threw daggers at the warlock as she finished her approach. How could he be working for Adir? After taking the time to train her? The brothers trusted him. She had trusted him. Darcie felt the betrayal deeply.
Henry, though, appeared unbothered with her violent stare. His attention rested on the immortal man beside him.
He looks like a dog waiting for his master’s command.
Once Adir noticed her arrival, he moved and led the entourage out of the bland hallways and into the bright, Italian sun. Darcie shielded her eyes and followed the trio as they wove their way across a paved walkway. The cobblestone winded through an elaborate, well-kept garden until it led them to the base of an immense Italian country estate.
She kept her eyes trained ahead. She refused to acknowledge or admire the elegant architecture or priceless décor as she followed the group into the home. She would not be impressed by anything of Adir’s.
Instead of walking into a vacant house, Darcie was stunned to realize the massive home was teeming with people and activity. Groups of attractive men and women fluttered around them, looking preoccupied. Some even brushed past her, almost knocking her off balance.
“What’s going on, Adir?” Bella voiced the question. She looked just as shocked as Darcie to see so many people running around them.
“The rebellion is organizing a party for this evening” he stated, continuing to lead them through the home. “It should be quite the event.”
“A party?” Darcie
watched her friend pick up her pace until she was beside Adir. Bella leaned forward and muttered something to the immortal. She couldn’t make out what she said, but she heard Adir’s response loud and clear.
“To celebrate Darcie joining our cause, of course.”
Like hell.
Darcie kept the curse to herself, but there was absolutely no way she was going to go along with whatever plan Adir had conjured up. Despite what she told him to keep Gregory safe.
Getting herself out of the mess was imperative, but she needed to figure out what, exactly, Adir had planned. Once she knew the level of crazy she was dealing with, then she could figure out what to do.
“Ah, here we are,” Adir clapped once before the door in front of them swung inward. He moved past Bella, dismissing the immortal’s continuing questions. Darcie hesitated at the threshold. Bella stood there, unmoving.
“What is he planning?” she asked in a whisper. Adir had entered the room and began conversing with those inside. They were also very attractive, leading Darcie to believe they were lesser immortals. “Why am I here? What does this party mean?”
“I honestly don’t know.” Bella’s voice sounded barely louder than a gentle breeze.
“Henry.” Darcie jumped at Adir’s loud call. She watched the warlock approach the imposing immortal. The room’s occupants turned curious gazes her direction.
“My Lord?”
“Please escort Darcie to her chambers. I have some business to attend to before we can get the change underway.”
Henry bowed. “Of course.” Then, he moved towards her.
“Let’s go,” he said with no inflection. Without waiting to see if she followed, he moved down the hallway. Darcie never wanted to hit someone so much in her life.
She followed him down a maze of hallways. Along the way, Darcie couldn’t help but notice how many people around her would stop and stare as she walked by. At first, she thought she might have seen some of the immortals before. But their awed expressions and subsequent whispering quickly brushed that idea aside.
“Why are they staring?” she asked Bella. She’d followed close by ever since they left Adir.
“They’ve heard all about you,” she responded. “They’re curious.”
Darcie could only imagine what they heard. She hoped it was limited to her supposed connection with Des and nothing more. She sincerely hoped that Adir had not been spreading crazy rumors regarding her magical abilities.
“Bella?” she said the name in a whisper.
Dim brown eyes met her gaze. “Yes?”
“Do you know what Adir was talking about earlier? He said something about in-laws, but I really didn’t follow.” Darcie thought the immortal might be experiencing schizophrenic symptoms. He jumped from one topic to another in the blink of an eye, and she had no idea what to make of anything he’d said so far.
Bella was not given the opportunity to answer. Henry interrupted their conversation. “You will be tied to Adir,” the warlock revealed. “The brothers will not have access to you or your abilities.” His steps did not slow down.
She forced herself to not let the statement affect her. “But how is that possible?” Darcie yearned for more information. “Is he planning a spell or something?”
She crossed her fingers, hoping Adir’s plan was as simple as that. She’d never heard it said, but Darcie was sure every spell could be undone. Or, at least, have its side effects minimized. Whatever the immortal planned to do with her, she hoped there was an easy solution once she managed to escape.
“Hardly,” Henry said plainly, but did not elaborate. He stopped outside a set of wide double doors.
He gestured towards the entrance. “Your room.”
Not knowing what else to do, Darcie grabbed the iron ring and pushed. She gaped at the scene.
The room was massive, even larger than her room at the brother’s mansion in Greece. The four-post bed was ornately decorated and embossed in gold. Deep maroon fabric covered every soft surface. Varying shades of dark gray and green rounded out the color scheme. Darcie was too afraid to touch anything except a cylindrical neck pillow she found on the desk chair. She picked it up and clutched it to her chest as she continued to take in the invaluable objects throughout the room.
Finally, Darcie looked back at Henry as Bella moved past her further into the room. “What is going on?” The room was too nice – too fancy for a prisoner. She knew Adir prided himself on seeming hospitable to his abductees, but the room she found herself in was fit for royalty. Something had to be going on. He had to have an ulterior motive.
The warlock did not answer her question. Instead, he simply said, “Don’t bother trying to escape. This room is warded by some of the strongest witches and warlocks in the world. You will not be able to get out. Adir will be by shortly to get the transition started.”
“What transition?”
Henry started to shut the door.
Darcie rushed forward, putting her hand on the door. He paused. “What transition?” she asked again with more force.
Henry stared at her. “Step back.”
She was beginning to panic. What wasn’t he telling her? She decided to try a different tactic.
“Why are you doing this, Henry? We all trusted you. I thought you were a friend.”
Perhaps she’d been naïve to think the emotional statements would guilt the warlock into helping her escape. A part of her even expected a dismissal, but nothing could have prepared Darcie for the cold and calculated grin her ex-trainer threw her way.
“I am glad to hear I played my part so well,” his tone was thick with disdain and malice. “Now, step away from the door before I am forced to move you myself.”
Darcie was stunned. Her blood boiled, but a chill raced across her skin. She didn’t know if she wanted to throw something at him or cower away.
Before she could decide, Bella placed a calming hand on her shoulder, gently guiding her back into the room.
“Very good,” Henry praised insincerely, observing her retreat. “Perhaps you can be obedient, after all.”
The snarky comment made the decision for her. Darcie pulled back and threw the decorative pillow with all her strength. She wanted to wipe the cruel smirk off of his face. She wanted to scream and shout and make him pay for betraying her and the alliance.
Unfortunately for the insulted teenager, Henry closed the door just as the green fabric collided with the door. Her fingers turned white as she clenched her hands, listening to the warlock laugh as he walked away.
30
The sun had started to set, and Adir still hadn’t graced her with his presence. Despite being exhausted, Darcie refused to allow herself a moment to sleep or relax. It was hard to believe that not even twelve hours had passed since she left the Virginian safe house. She hoped that the surprise attack had ended the moment Henry managed to steal her away. She forced herself not to think about what might have happened otherwise. It wouldn’t do any good to worry about her friends and allies.
Instead, she focused her efforts on trying to talk with Bella. She wanted to convince her friend that she was making a mistake. Adir wasn’t trustworthy, and she was wrong to be helping him.
But Bella wouldn’t change her mind. She kept saying everything she did was for the good of everyone, including Thane. Sure, she felt bad about going against Thane and causing him to worry, but Bella was sure he would understand.
Darcie wanted to pull her hair out. It was like she was speaking with a stubborn child. No matter the logic she used, Bella would not be swayed. She was seconds away from completely losing her temper when Bella said something which made her pause.
“Wait.” Darcie turned to look at her. “What did you just say?”
“I said, ‘I don’t think you can fix this,’” Bella repeated herself. “I made my choices, Darcie. If you were my friend, you would trust me when I say I am doing the right thing.”
Though she would never be able to say Bella’s actio
ns were right, her words gave Darcie pause. They were eerily similar to those said by her best friend, Marie, the last time they spoke. She would never forget how she’d unleashed her judgement out of frustration and anger.
Sure, her childhood best friend had started the argument, but Darcie did not need to call her out on her poor choices regarding her boyfriend. It wasn’t the time or place. Just like now wasn’t the time or place to confront Bella. All that would do is push the immortal further away, and she needed an ally, now more than ever.
She let the fight and frustration seep out of her. “You’re right,” she told Bella. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to argue.”
Bella’s brown eyes widened across the room. “Really?”
She bobbed her head. “Really. I’m just glad you’re okay. I’m just freaking out about what Adir is planning to do with me.”
Darcie watched the immortal’s brows furrow. “I thought he simply wanted to keep you from using your powers to help the alliance. Now, though, I’m not entirely sure what he is planning.”
Sensing the opportunity to seek answers, Darcie prepared herself to ask Bella more detailed questions when they were interrupted by an unexpected arrival.
One of the double doors swung in, drawing both of the young women’s attention. Darcie thought her eyes would pop out of her head when she saw the immortal step through the doorway.
“Faine?” she cried out. She’d never been so happy to see someone in her life. “You found us!” Of all people she imagined might rescue her, the timid and quiet immortal had never crossed her mind.
“Well, it’s not like she had to look. I led her right to you,” Adir’s voice proceeded his entrance. Darcie realized immediately that something wasn’t right as he casually walked in behind the timid immortal.
Her eyes scanned Faine. She looked more confident than the times she’d seen her in the past. Usually, Charmian was the more boisterous of the pair. Faine often stood in the background and let her immortal sibling do all the talking for her.
Envisioned (Immortal Chronicles Book 3) Page 23
