I knew though. My suspicions grew more and more solid each time I spoke with Marik. I knew in my gut he once loved someone in my line. He must have made the decision to choose duty over love, or she did. Either way, a love once existed. And because he knew what love felt like, he knew James really would make the best choice as it related to me. Again, I was finding it harder to believe Marik was truly a traitor, despite how much I hated him at the moment.
“He may always be skeptical of his son, but he knows him. He knows James wouldn’t let anything happen to me unless he were dead.”
“At least they agree on that,” Caroline said.
“What if the traitor is here? We still don’t know for sure that it’s not Marik himself! Will we have much time to plan or be prepared, if they know our every move?” Riley questioned.
“Nick and James will keep their own plans to themselves. James and Marik may even be able to arrange a few things in secret that James can use, as long as they are working together. Don’t even doubt that he has the whole traitor situation on his mind. James thinks of everything,” Caroline smiled reassuringly.
We sat, waiting for the boys to emerge, in comfortable but tired silence. I sat on the barn floor, leaning back on my arms. I felt safe here, especially with the vampires meeting below us. I wasn’t sure how many more times I would actually feel safe. It’s something I took for granted before. It wasn’t like my life before James arrived could ever be dangerous. I had a normal life, even a slow-paced life. My total ignorance of danger meant that I didn’t truly understand the comfort in safety. Now, after everything we had been through with Emma, and what I endured when Audrey abducted me, I recognized the feeling and literally basked in it. Taking deep breaths, I was more than thankful for all the moments when I felt safe. Especially now.
James and Nick emerged from the basement of the barn, and we traveled to a remote motel. Apparently, the council wanted to think and re-group to discuss things further the next evening. I hated feeling like we were on the run and hiding under the radar, but with the focus being aimed at the council, we didn’t dare plan our next move until we knew exactly whom we could rely on to support our side.
James and Nick seemed determined to discuss different strategies all day, when they weren’t running undisclosed errands. Meanwhile Care, Riley and I kept ourselves busy. We all accepted the situation and knew this was how it would be for a while, but that didn’t make things any easier. At the end of each day, I felt simply grateful that the people I loved remained safe.
I turned to the unused television and stared at the black screen before dropping onto the couch, flicking through the stations mindlessly. I was trying to banish my recurring thoughts about Audrey and the wolves searching for us, wondering what kind of attack they might have been planning.
"Where are you?" Riley asked, taking a seat on the couch across from me.
"Wondering if Audrey is any closer to finding us," I answered honestly.
Riley got up and moved closer, sitting next to me now. He put his arm around me and pulled me into his side.
"They won't let her anywhere near you, Ariya. These guys are on top of it. Just do what they say, okay?"
Caroline snorted. “Ariya listen? That’ll be the day!”
I threw the pillow from behind me across the back of the couch at her and turned to Riley.
“You're right," I said, smiling back at him, and sitting straighter. I flipped the channel to Top Gun and decided to leave it there for Riley.
"Nice," Riley beamed in appreciation at me.
We were silently watching the movie and my eyes teared up at Goose’s death. I was glad that now I had passed my twenty-second birthday, my emotions were under my control again and back in check. One of the side effects of my gift was an overly emotional personality. I rarely felt steady for long and I never seemed to react in a rational manner to things. Thankfully, now my emotions were reined in again, but it was Goose for goodness sakes! How was it possible not to get emotional during that scene? I noticed Riley was holding his breath too.
"Sissy," I nudged him.
"Hey! It's the dude's best friend. Guys are allowed to have moments like this."
"Oh, are there specific rules written down somewhere?" I questioned him, teasingly.
"Yes. Guy Code 101. Emotions may only be shown at the death of Goose in Top Gun or at any point in The Notebook, if you were forced into watching it with a girl. Tears lead to cuddling, which leads to sex, making it acceptable in this form." He began to recite the rules to me.
“Oh, hush!” I punched his arm and he pretended to wince.
The door opened, signaling the return of James and Nick from their most recent run.
"I love this movie!" Turning, I saw Nick walking towards the couch. He sat down in a very human-like motion on the couch to the left of us.
We all sat quietly, taking in the rest movie. The strange schedule we were on caught up to me and I felt my eyes begin to slowly droop, despite my efforts to stay awake.
“Don’t get too comfortable, beautiful,” I felt James’s fingers brushing my hair out of my face. “It’s almost time to head back.”
I smiled, enjoying the closeness and gradually woke up long enough to see that the others seemed ready to head out.
We made our way back to the barn. James asked us to stay above ground again, even though I could imagine how much angst it caused him, knowing he’d be further away and therefore not focused exclusively on me. Honestly though, I seriously doubted the wolves would dare attack a council meeting. I also doubted that our traitor, whoever it was, would be so dumb as to leak out any of the plans just yet.
We sat for a few hours, listening in from above, and I began to lose patience. James and Nick were supposed to be well-respected in this world, and yet it took so much convincing, even with all the reliable information we had, to get these cowards to join forces so that we could oppose Audrey. The longer I listened in, the angrier it made me.
Caroline was watching me, smirking at my agitation. “I’m guessing you’d like to speak your mind?” she asked, already knowing what I’d say.
“I think you know the answer to that.” She nodded, probably realizing that arguing with me wouldn’t change my mind. Or perhaps she was just as bored as I from waiting. We opened the cellar door and descended into the council meeting uninvited.
James glanced up disapprovingly as we walked in. Marik was perched on his soap box, admitting that although we were under a true threat, he understood any reluctance to go to war, and suggested perhaps a select few should manage the situation. I barely caught the end of Marik’s comment that everyone needed to be on the same side when I nearly exploded. I couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“We are obviously not on the same side!” I spat out, clenching my fists in a rage.
If I’d wanted the attention of the Protectors, I had it now. Their heads turned, some looking interested, some surprised, some disgusted at my outburst.
“Bite your tongue, child,” Marik’s sharp warning rang out. His tone might have previously caused me to back down and just let the others deal with him, but we were running out of time for that.
“I will not! Your arrogance has blinded you to what’s going on around us. My father was recently attacked! And given the lack of direction from everyone, it looks like his life will just be another casualty on your ever growing list.”
“Ariya, that’s enough,” James touched my arm to draw me back, but I couldn’t let this go.
“James, I am not one of you. Therefore, I’m not bound by your rules of hierarchy and respect.” I turned to face Marik again, watching his formerly calm demeanor ripple with fury just beneath the surface. Let him be angry! It was better than idly sitting by.
“You are not someone I trust. You are not a strong leader. You have a practically immortal army and yet you allow people to be routinely sacrificed as if it were just a minor glitch in some master plan.” I turned to address the rest of them. “When you begin to
realize what vast numbers of you exist, what difference does it make if you won’t do anything? Your sole purpose here is to protect those who cannot protect themselves. That’s the only reason you were created!
“Audrey will continue to destroy everything in her path. She’ll eliminate any obstacles and she won’t stop with the supernatural world. She’s hungry for power now and mercilessly cruel. She will even target those who have nothing to do with our world. Are you content to let that happen as long as this precious gift is kept safe? We must fight back! The abilities we’ve been blessed with were intended to bring peace to the world, a peace not everyone even knows they need.”
“And what would that prove?” one vampire shouted.
“Do you think you know more than those of us who have been around for hundreds of years, child?” another chimed in.
Marik replied, “There will always be evil. We will outlive this threat, just as we have outlived the others.” He turned his back to me, virtually dismissing me as if his simple words and the skepticism of the others had put me in my proper place.
“I don't accept that,” I snapped back. “I refuse to let people continue to risk their lives for me. I refuse to possess a gift that could help people and just sit uselessly on the sidelines. I will do everything in my power to stop her. And I don’t need your permission. But I ask for your support. She’s coming for me. And you can stand there to fight her with me, or you can try to run from her. But she’ll find us. Eventually, we have to do something.
“I don’t want to run. I’m tired of hiding and skulking around, watching the people I love being threatened by incessant danger. She must know that you will do nothing. After all, I’ve been tortured and kidnapped; and now, my family has been attacked and yet, none of that provides a valid enough reason for any of you to believe your way of life is in jeopardy. What will it take for you to realize she intends to come for you? She knows you will hide and remain in the shadows, so she continues to strike without restraint. She fully intends to expand and complete her domination, knowing that no one will stop her until it’s too late.
“So, let’s prove her wrong. Prove that we are not a selfish, cowardly group who prefer to hide and refuse to employ a long-forgotten gift. We’ll fight back. Use me to fight her and kill her. Use me to destroy her for good.”
James looked terrified at the very thought, but also proud in his own way. I knew now was the time to act. We had to ensure that we turned the council in our favor. I needed for them to muster up their courage, feeding off my resolution, or at the very least their fear of extinction, and try to stand up and resist instead of fleeing underground.
There was murmuring among some of them, side conversations and expressions of deep thought.
A man emerged from the shadows. Roland.
“What bravery from one so young,” he said as he walked towards me. He began circling me as if he couldn’t figure me out. I stood my ground. Other members of the council looked surprised as well; they must have thought he left after his few comments yesterday.
I stood there quietly, letting him survey me like I were a toy, or an amusing new distraction. It wasn’t exactly eerie, but it seemed as if this centuries-old vampire couldn’t quite figure me out.
“I may be young, but I know right from wrong. Audrey is evil; and she will continue to spread her wickedness like a poison.”
He clasped his chin, nodding his head in agreement.
“It appears the more we learn, the more accurate that statement may be. But the fact remains, attacks on you are not attacks on all vampires. As it were, she simply seems to target your warrior class. And our responsibility does not deem it necessary for us to also protect and cherish your gift, however alluring that may be,” he said, watching for my reaction.
“Sir, the warrior class actually protects us all. How many times have the Protectors been called upon to watch over those who cannot take care of themselves?” James gently inquired.
Roland’s eyes seemed to glisten when James spoke, like he was both fascinated and amused by James’s words. By the way the other council members and vampires treated Roland, I couldn’t imagine many dared to disobey him.
“Perhaps we can further discuss this issue in the coming…” Roland stopped speaking. A stark silence descended over the entire group.
Instinctively, I looked at James, seeing his eyes fill with hatred as he changed into his Protector mode. A howl in the distance that even I could hear preceded a tingling sensation through my spine and I shivered. James was beside me in less than a second.
“There’s not much time,” he shouted, addressing the entire room. “Everyone must…”
The wooden planks above us suddenly snapped and gave way before a mass of wolves fell into our meeting space. Immediately in no time at all, gnawing, clashing and fighting broke out from both sides. The vampires whizzed around the wolves who clawed and snapped in response. James fended off two wolves before I could even blink to acknowledge my fear.
I turned around, looking for any weapon I could use to defend myself. Where was that all-powerful, silver dagger when I really needed it! I lunged when I saw a splintered, wooden plank that had broken off to the side where James was previously standing. He was currently fighting with a wolf.
“What are you doing, Ariya?” he grimaced through gritted teeth as he finished off the small wolf.
“Helping!” I shouted before spinning around to join in.
“You can’t be…” He turned and my eyes widened when I spotted the two wolves approaching him. He charged them and I pulled the wooden plank back, preparing to stab it at whomever, or whatever I needed to.
James flung the wolves together and I jabbed one in the side. James looked on in approval. “…serious,” he finished, shaking his head and getting back to the task at hand.
The influx of snarling wolves suddenly grew larger. I lost track of Caroline and had no idea where Nick and Riley were either.
“Ariya, get down for a moment. I don’t like this,” James ordered, but quietly considering the chaos we were in.
I obeyed and peeked around a barrel I had squeezed behind that was up against the wall.
Vampires were fighting all around me, and they seemed to have an easier time than I imagined they would, dispatching the wolves. But some of the council members looked weak to me, and I worried for their safety.
The sheer volume of enemies growing in the meeting area seemed to be overwhelming.
“James, run!” Nick suddenly appeared out of nowhere, blurring closer. He shoved us towards one of the tunnel entrances that I didn’t notice before. More wolves than I had ever seen in one place were trampling clumsily, overeager in their hurry to go down through the entrance they made from above.
James grabbed my hand and we raced away from the chaotic scene of the wolves attacking the council members.
“Riley…” I started.
“Caroline will take care of him. We have to keep you safe.” I squeezed his hand and we ran faster. Suddenly, James lifted me up, whirling us through the darkened tunnel. I buried my head into his neck and closed my eyes, terrified of what might have happened in the room. James slowed down seconds after picking me up, hesitant as he looked toward the exit ahead.
Taking my hand again, he began to lead me out but froze the moment we fully emerged from the tunnel.
“Ariya, my dear!” a cold, calculating voice, one that still haunted my dreams, came out of nowhere.
James frantically searched for the source of the voice, but he couldn’t see her, and neither could I.
“Tsk. Tsk. James.” Audrey clicked her tongue. “You always ruin my fun by being so brave.”
James’s body flew away from me as if he had just been hit by something. Audrey appeared completely out of thin air, walking right towards me, yet somehow she managed to remain completely invisible mere moments before. He was up in an instant, charging at her figure with a hatred I hadn’t ever seen from him.
�
��Stay away from her!” he yelled. Audrey started to throw her hands up and use her magic against him, but James was faster than she anticipated. He knocked her backwards, but instead of getting angry, she laughed.
“You can’t fight me and win, James. I’m much too powerful.”
I instantly realized in that moment that although I truly had no idea how to begin fighting someone with her power, the years of self-defense classes during my entire life, thanks to my paranoid grandfather, suddenly made sense. Perhaps all I needed was a precious moment, a singular moment when I could observe how she operated and see an opening, thereby providing me with the knowledge I needed to defeat her when the time came.
James refused to give up, and charged her again, quicker and more silently until I couldn’t see either of them. They were no more than fleeting blurs and rushing wind past my face whenever they moved.
I felt motion behind me and Audrey suddenly stopped. She glared at me as if she were wondering if she could make it to me before James attacked her again.
She effortlessly grabbed me by the throat and pulled me in front of her. “Careful, dear,” she smirked, and James halted.
“Audrey…” he started.
“Where did this Audrey come from? Am I not your mother?” she teased.
“Not anymore,” he grimaced, his eyes darting around, calculating the options.
She squeezed tighter and I gasped, unsuccessfully trying to take in more air. James launched his attack and surprisingly, threw me off to the side. They were ensnared again, whirling around, when all at once, they both stopped. They were looking towards the area we had originally come from and I wasn’t sure what they heard. However, it was important enough to stop Audrey from accomplishing whatever her goal was when she first approached us.
“This isn’t over,” she sneered before escaping in the distance. “We’ll meet again soon, Ariya!” Her sing-song voice rang out, echoing in the darkness around us.
James ran off in the direction she left. “No, James!” I yelled, but he wouldn’t stop.
The motion behind me eventually caught up. What looked like a swarm of faceless bodies flew past me, heading off in the direction Audrey had just gone, following James.
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