by Jen Pretty
A shadow suddenly blocked out the sunshine that I had been soaking in.
"We should go pack," Armond said.
I opened my eyes to stare daggers at him. "We have a bit more time. It won't take long to pack,” I gave him my puppy dog eyes, “Just five more minutes," I begged. Armond was a sucker. I knew he would give in when he shook his head and smiled. "Thank you.” I closed my eyes again as he stepped to the side and I let the warm sun blind me through my eye lids again.
"I don't want to go either," Armond said, "However, we do have a plane to catch. Let's at least head in the direction of the villa.”
I tipped out of my hammock, ungracefully, "Alright, but we are coming back here. Soon. Very soon," I demanded.
Armond just smiled and turned me towards the world I had come to know. The much weirder world of monsters and magic. Our timeout was over.
Once our bags were packed, we loaded into the boat and were rowed back to the mainland by a local who offered a shuttle service to and from the island in his small fishing boat.
The hustle and bustle of the city was overwhelming after our week in solitary. As soon as we were back in cell service, got out my phone and called Luke. "Hey, cousin!" I shouted into the cell phone.
"You don't have to yell, Lex," Luke laughed. "How was your vacation?"
"It was amazing. How's my condo?" I bought Luke a condo in my building since he wanted to stay in town and I wanted him to be close by, if I made it home again soon from Italy, that is. Luke was overseeing the renovations on my condo. It needed a lot of work after what Joshua had done in it
"Great! The carpenters are finished, and the dry Waller's are working away. The painters are ready to go, and the bathroom renovation is half done." I had decided I needed a much larger tub with jets. "I think it should be done in a couple of weeks." "That's awesome. Thanks for taking care of it for me. How's Lacy?" I asked tentatively. She had been having trouble settling in.
"A bit better. She bonded to Evan so she would be more stable here and in Homeland. She's still struggling, but I think she is coming around a bit."
Armond caught my eye and indicated the giant illuminated screen displaying departures and arrivals.
"I think I have to go, Luke, but give my love to everyone, and I'll be home soon."
"Alright. Be careful, Lex." Luke said
"I always am, Bye."
"Bye." He said as I disconnected and quickly sent a few emails back to the board members of my daddy's corporation while we were standing in line. I let them know I was still living but carrying on with my vacation then I powered off my phone. I followed Armond through the gate with my boarding pass in hand.
The flight was uneventful, although incredibly dull, and we landed in Italy on time. Once we got off the plane and into the airport, I heard Armond laugh. I looked up to find a hapless looking man with a chauffeur cap and a sign that read "TIMEKEEPER" in big black letters. Lord help me, it made me think of Reg and miss him just a little.
"My name is actually Lex," I said to the man as I approached. "Please call me Lex."
"Oh yes, right. Of course, timekeeper. How silly of me. Excuse me. I'm so sorry about this." He crumpled the sign and put it in the trash can. "Let me get your luggage, and we will be on our way, very quickly." Then he hustled off to baggage claim. He was a bit skittish, it seemed.
Armond was laughing at me. "Do you think he thought I was mad?" I asked him.
"You do get a bit snippy about your name," Roman replied.
I rolled my eyes. He might have been right.
The chauffeur came back with our luggage and led the way to the limo waiting outside. I didn't usually ride in Limos, but it wasn't new. For Galas and large fundraising events calling for black tie, I would take a limo, but I was more comfortable in a town car. Armond was planning to teach me to drive when we got home. I had never learned since I lived in the city and always had a driver.
We climbed into the back of the immaculate car as the chauffeur put our bags in the trunk then he shut our door and hustled around to get to the driver's seat.
The man drove like a lunatic which I thought was funny but Armond was white-knuckled on the seat. After about an hour drive through tight, twisty roads, we finally pulled up to a giant white house. It was three stories tall and built like a bunch of boxes stuck together, but the grandiosity was quite evident. There were ornamental gardens on either side of the driveway which, incidentally, forked off at a large pool or pond. I would probably swim in it if I lived here, but it looked more decorative.
When the limousine stopped, several people came out of the front door of the house and down the steps. A man opened our door and offered me a hand out while a few others gathered our bags from the trunk. We were ushered up the steps and through the front door of the mansion.
The inside was even grander. The foyer was two stories high with tapestries hanging on the walls and shiny copper railings lining limestone steps up to a vast open hallway with doors on either end. There was a painting on the ceiling like in the Sistine Chapel. You could feel the history here, and it seemed fitting for the millennia-old Fae.
The house staff led us up the stairs and then on a jolly walk about the massive building till we arrived at a suite of rooms meant for royalty. There were separate sitting room and bedroom as well as a large washroom. I discovered as I walked the space. The bedroom had a large walk out balcony that overlooked a glittering lake and cliffs with evergreen forest beyond. The whole thing was all a bit like a fairy-tale castle.
When I was done investigating, I walked back to the sitting room just as Armond thanked the staff and the man who had helped me out of the limo informed him that the elders would meet us for dinner in the dining room. The butler would collect us in 2 hours.
I decided to spend some time in the large bathtub. It was deep, and there was a selection of sweet-smelling bath oils and soaps.
Finally well cooked, I got out and started to work on my hair and makeup and then slipped into the ball gown I had brought with me for this occasion.
"You look spiffy," I said when I noticed Armond leaning against the door frame to the bedroom.
"I look like a penguin," he said smiling.
There was a knock at the door. I assumed it was the butler who would take us down to dinner, so I got up and walked across to Armond. "Let's go meet these old guys."
He snickered. "Maybe don't call them that at dinner."
I laughed and rolled my eyes before opening the door and walking out. I was eager to officially meet these Fae that had been literally hopping in and out of my life the past few months. Some in my dreams even.
As we walked into the massive dining room, I had to hold back my laugh. The room was giant and could comfortably seat 300 for dinner, but right now there was only one table. It was long enough to seat at least 50 people but had just two men and two women sitting in the middle across from 2 seats set for us. I wished I had worn flats, but since I had heels on, I loudly clacked as I hustled across the granite tile floor to keep up with Armond's long stride.
Armond pulled out my chair and then sat, and I looked across at the elders.
"Hello children, I'm glad you could join us," one of them who I had met before said. His name was Francis, and he was a jumper, like Victor.
"Hello, Master Francis," Armond said. "Thank you for inviting us to your home."
He gave a single, silent nod, accepting Armond's words.
"We are very pleased with your success in resolving the vampire war. I trust you have both healed." Said one of the women whose name I didn't know. I should have spent more time asking questions.
"We have, Mistress Anne. Alexandra has an injury that could not be healed, but we are otherwise whole." Armond reached over and took my left hand. I glanced up at him, but he almost looked hopeful, which was weird.
"May I see your hand, child?" she asked. I paused for a moment, I was still self-conscious of my crooked hand, but when Armond squeezed my other ha
nd gently in assurance, and I reached my right hand across the table towards her.
Her eyes were sad as she looked at it and then she reached out and touched it. Hot, dry heat came pouring through her fingers and into my hand. I was tempted to pull my hand away, but the look on her face made me pause.
"You suffered much for our people, I wish I could heal this for you, but I'm afraid nothing more can be done."
"It's alright." What more could I say? My disfigured hand was a constant reminder of the man who had killed my whole family and tortured me, but I would get used to it eventually, plus it was growing stronger and proving more useful every day.
Our meals arrived then, so I took a deep breath and left the past behind me for now, knowing I would probably carry those demons for some time, if not forever.
"So, tell me, Armond," started the Fae whom I knew was Theo. He had visited me in my dreams. "How are the hunters handling this change in their lives?"
"Thank you master Theo; they are doing well. Most are still at the hunter house enjoying downtime but will soon go to work as private security officers with the new company founded by Lex. I think they will do well at this." Armond informed him.
Theo smiled. "Very good. I'm pleased to hear they will be kept out of trouble. Before the war most hunters were troublemakers, you know. It wasn't until the war gave them focus that they found their calling and straightened out."
I had never thought of that. I could imagine the hunters as Vikings pillaging cities and sailing large ships, or perhaps riding horses into battle, but they aren't made for simple lives like a farmer.
I smiled at the idea of Armond weeding a garden. He looked at me then and raised an eyebrow like he knew where my mind had wandered. I just smiled at him.
"Alright young ones, let us get down to business," Francis said. "There is another land that has made a portal to earth. We don't believe they are hostile, but we need to make sure and form an alliance with them. Eliza," he said, indicating the elder at the table who hadn't spoken yet, "has seen the 2 of you in their land and so, we bring this task to you. We have the location of their portal, and you will leave for that location tomorrow with our best wishes and hope for a quick and easy alliance with these new people. Master Henry's top advisor will go with you. He should arrive tomorrow morning."
My eyes got big. "Why is a vampire coming? We don't need any help from a Vampire." I said, dropping my fork with a clatter. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, child," Anne gently said to me. "They are our allies now; you have nothing to fear from the vampires."
My face must have given away my skepticism because she went on. "The vampire who is accompanying you is quite old and loyal to Master Henry. It's important for our treaty that we show faith in Henry's control of them. The vampires have to see strength, or they will revolt. Particularly now, while his leadership is so new and his ideals are so far from those of his predecessor."
I couldn’t argue her point, so I just nodded my acceptance and ate my meal.
Once we were finished, the elders wished us luck again and said good night. As they were leaving, Eliza turned back to me and whispered: "Remember you are stronger than all that will come." Then she was gone.
Fantastic. I love cryptic messages from the elders.
I was pretty sure that meant we were going to have an exciting adventure in this new land. I had decided I didn't much care for exciting adventures, but it seemed I didn't have a vote. I looked over at Armond, and his brow was furrowed.
The butler entered and indicated we should follow him. He led us back to our room. We walked the whole way in silence. As soon as the door clicked shut I filled Armond in on what Eliza had said. His face grew dark and his hand twitched like he wished he were holding a sword to fight off whatever might come. “There is no point worrying about it yet. These elders are crazy; she could mean anything,” I said trying to calm him.
He took a deep breath and when he let it out he looked remarkably calmer. "You're right. I just wish I knew what we were in for. Hunting vampires is pretty straightforward, this seems more like a political visit. I'm not much for negotiations."
I laughed, "This is my forte, don't worry." I smiled brightly. I was kind of perfect for this job. I had been working out contracts and making deals since I was a child watching my father from my seat in his office at my miniature desk. As long as these new people were reasonable, we probably didn't need to worry.
I went to the bathroom to get changed and ready for bed with Eliza’s words to me still lingering in my mind. I could tell Armond it would probably be fine, but in my gut I knew it would not be fine.
When I walked back out to the bedroom, Armond was already in bed.
"It feels like the end of something important," Armond said. "Like saying goodbye."
"I know what you mean. It's not the end though; this is just an adventure." I replied curling into him.
“You're right, we will go and see these new people and then came back to earth and maybe go on another vacation," He said laughing.
I smiled at him and then closed my eyes, and before I knew it, I was asleep.
The next morning I woke to the smell of food and coffee and the sound of Armond in the sitting room speaking to someone whose voice I didn't recognize.
I staggered up and moved slowly towards the door, still not ready to be awake. I knew my hair was probably a mess, and I was still wearing my fleece pajamas, but I needed coffee.
As I walked into the sitting room, Armond and a stranger turned in their seats to look at me.
"This is Roman. Henry's second in command," Armond said quickly. I froze unable to breath or move. It was a Vampire. I realized Armond couldn't move for a whole different reason. In my shock, I had stopped time. I hadn't done that once since I stabbed Joshua which was also the last time I had come face to face with a vampire. Roman, for a vampire, was a bit breathtaking. He had a strong jaw and mischief written all over his face. His red eyes were not as bright as Joshua's eyes had been, or any vamp I'd met before, for that matter. He seemed relaxed even though I had stopped time, but since he could apparently still move, as he demonstrated by reaching up and pushing his brown shaggy hair out of his face, I guess he didn't have any reason to be concerned.
"My god. You are even more beautiful than they said," The vampire said softly.
I took several slow breaths and let go of my magic, allowing Armond to move again. The vampire just sat there staring at me. Surely he knew who I was.
I was still stuck. My hands were shaking, so I curled them into fists. My right hand didn’t quite make a solid fist, but I was able to make it into a fist-like shape. I felt my magic start to build again and took some more deep breaths.
"It's nice to meet you," I lied. Apparently unconvincingly.
"I understand why my presence would make you uncomfortable. I can assure you, I mean you no harm," he looked sincere but I wasn't about to start trusting a vampire without cause.
"Ok," I said shifting to move wide around him towards the coffee without turning my back to him. Coffee might not help me, but it couldn't hurt.
Armond stood up and walked over to me, "You don't have to worry, Lex. Henry wouldn't send someone who wasn't perfectly loyal to him, right? You trust Henry."
I did trust Henry, but this vampire wasn't Henry and all I could see when I looked at this vampire was his red eyes and sharp teeth.
"Ok," I muttered before crossing to the cart of food and picking up the steaming hot carafe.
Thankfully it did contain coffee, so I poured it in the awkward silence. Both men sat still and watched as I took a sip. It wasn't too hot, so I drank a bit more to try and make my brain work. I had no choice but to get used to this vampire who would accompany us. So I took a deep breath and let it out slowly then walked back and sat on the arm of a chair across from the vampire leaving a strategic coffee table between us.
"So, you want me to believe you aren't evil, tell me where you were while this war was
going on," I demanded.
"I was here. In Italy. I vaguely knew that the American vampires had found a leader and were waging war on the Fae but the Fae are strong here, since this is the home of Fae elders, and there are many hunters. We have not fought the Fae here for many, many years."
I narrowed my eyes at him. He sounded convincing, but vampires are sneaky. Except for Henry, I hadn't known one who wasn't evil. "Swear it," I said.
"What?" he asked
"Swear you don't eat babies and murder Fae." It seemed reasonable. There wasn't any real way to be sure he was on the straight and narrow.
He looked at Armond, who had his blank hunter face on, then back at me. "I swear I don't eat or kill anyone. I only feed on willing donors."
I studied him a moment longer. "Alright," I said and slid down into the seat of the chair to enjoy my coffee but kept my eye on him anyway. If Armond hadn't killed him and Henry had made him his second in command, he was probably ok.
He looked confused for a moment longer then shook it off and looked back to Armond. "We will leave in an hour. I'm supposed to meet with the elders before we head out so I'll do that now and meet you two downstairs. He smiled at me then stood and left.
"That was awkward," I said once he left.
"It wasn't awkward till you accused him of eating babies," Armond snickered.
Armond might have a point there. "Fine, did you already eat? We should probably eat and then get ready to go. Do you know how far we are from this doorway?”
Armond walked to the cart and grabbed two plates of food before coming back and sitting across from me where the vampire had been moments ago. "It's about a four hour drive, but apparently we have a bit of an off-road hike to get to the door. It will give us time to get to know our new travelling companion a bit better before we make the big step into the new world."
