“Can you reach it?” the driver asked.
He’d pulled up close enough to the gate so I could reach out and type in the code. I didn't know the code, and I didn't want to have to climb over the gate and walk in the snow all the way up the driveway, but it seemed that was my only option.
“I don’t know the code,” I informed the cabbie. I looked around for another way in, but all I could see was the locked gate. The cab was warm and safe and the thought that I would have had to get out and trek up the long driveway was upsetting.
“Then I can drop you off here.” He sounded a bit annoyed at my lack of knowledge. He didn't seem the least bit concerned about leaving me in the cold and dark.
I paid the driver and reluctantly got out. The cab backed down the driveway just as my cell phone buzzed with a text message. I didn't want to check it because I thought it was Alex asking me where I was, but instead of letting him worry, I decided to answer the text. I looked at my phone and didn't recognize the number. The text just consisted of numbers. I shivered against the cold as I realized it was the code to the gate, but I wondered who’d sent it to me. Of course, it had to be Kale, but I’d never given him my number. That was beside the point because he knew I was at the lodge, and I hadn’t told him that I was going there, either. I looked ahead at the cottage that I was to meet him in; it was moderately sized and looked very expensive, which once again made me question Kale’s living situation. He was my age and I couldn't believe he owned this home, so it had to be a friend or family member’s. But if he knew someone who owned this home, why was he sleeping in a mausoleum? The snow-blanketed lawn looked neatly manicured and the bushes and trees that weren’t were beautifully trimmed. The rest of the driveway beyond the gate had been recently shoveled free of snow. It was a small hike all the way up there, but luckily it wouldn’t be through knee-high snow.
I typed the six-digit code in the keypad and waited for it to open. After I heard a soft click, I pushed the gate open and entered the grounds. The gate closed. I was anxious to get inside where I was sure it was warm, but nervous at what answers awaited me. I walked toward the doors and realized I wasn’t afraid of who I was meeting, but of what he would show me. I passed a frozen cherub statue and said a little prayer, hoping whatever Kale did tonight wouldn’t freak me out too badly. It was eerily quiet. My boots made no sound against the cobblestone driveway. There was no traffic noise behind me, and I couldn't see or hear anything from the cottage. I stopped and scrutinized the darkened windows; it seemed as if no one was home. Maybe I had the wrong address. I almost looked at the note again when I remembered the code had worked on the gate, so this had the right home. But why was it so dark inside? I took a step back, letting my fear guide me. My heart sped up, and my breath came fast and in short puffs. When my cell buzzed again, I prayed it was Alex, so I could tell him where I was and that I was alone and on the verge of freaking out. When I looked at the phone, it was the same number that had sent me the first text message. I was too nervous to read it at first. I feared it would say something like “now I got you” or “welcome to the jungle.” I laughed at myself for being such an idiot. I’d come this far, and I wanted the answers that I’d been running away from for the last two weeks. I looked at the message and followed its instructions.
“Come in. It’s cold out there.”
The door was unlocked when I reached it. Inside the house was warm, and I could see a fire burning in the room in front of me, so I headed in that direction. Kale sat in the windowsill facing me when I entered the living room. His face was set alight by the fire, and his cool, dark eyes found mine and he stole my breath. He looked the same as the last time I’d seen him: pale, handsome, and mysterious. He wore all black, adding to the mysterious look he pulled off so well. His pale skin shimmered in the light of the fireplace, sending chills of anticipation down my spine. Anticipation for what, I didn't know, but I could feel it in my bones that I was where I belonged—close to him. He looked nervous, and I wondered why. I mean, he knew everything, and I knew nothing. Maybe he was nervous about my reaction to the truth, or maybe he was nervous about being around me after I’d rejected him. His back rested against the cold glass of the window. Arms crossed against his chest, he eyed me warily. Though he wasn’t fidgety, I could see he wasn’t fully at ease as he had been all of the other times we’d met. I felt uncomfortable under his stare, and I caught myself fidgeting.
“I wasn’t sure if you were going to come,” Kale said in a low, husky voice.
I couldn't find my voice to speak, so I stood there. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, and my mouth wouldn’t cooperate with me anyway.
He moved away from the window to the fire. “Is it warm enough?” He poked the fire, causing it to flare.
The room was getting warmer, and I was sure it wasn’t the fire, but I nodded. I removed my coat and hat and placed them on the back of the sofa. Kale still had his back to me, and I realized he was stalling. The fire was well on its way to warming the entire room, and he was still staring at it. I figured I should say something to get him started.
“So… what are we doing here?” I asked as I glanced around.
The room was painted a dark, smoky gray with white exposed brick. It didn't seem like Kale’s taste, so I assumed the cottage belonged to someone else. There was a view of a small frozen lake in the backyard and a small garden surrounded by a white stone fence that looked beautiful buried in snow and ice. The view of the kitchen was also amazing. I could see it through the rectangle-shaped bar that showed all stainless steel appliances and a beautiful macadamia-brown backsplash.
“Whose home is this?” I asked, amazed at how beautiful it was inside, though I should have expected it from the way the owner kept the grounds. I moved further into the room and rubbed my hand across a plush cream couch, feeling the cool, soft fabric before I perched myself on it, hoping to get comfortable in our awkward situation.
“It’s okay that we’re here, if that’s what you’re wondering.” He finally faced me. He walked over to the couch facing the one I sat on.
He looked different. Normally, he was this overly confident guy that seemed to let nothing mark him, but tonight he seemed nervous and unsure, which made me a bit nervous.
“What do you mean okay for us to be here?” I didn't know what he had planned, but whatever it was, I didn't want the owners to come home and be surprised by their home’s occupants and their actions.
His smile disappeared, and the emotionless face I had grown used to returned. Once, his face void of emotion made me angry, but now it upset me because it meant he’d withdrawn again.
“Are you afraid I broke in here?”
I didn't mean to imply he’d broken in, but he couldn't own this place, could he? I raised my chin boldly. “Well, no, but now that you bring it up, why are we allowed here tonight, but you sleep in a mausoleum in the woods?” I asked. A sudden wave of lucidity swept over me as I remembered the girls that had been killed in the woods. I struggled to catch my breath, embarrassed at my sudden inability to breathe and how Kale looked at me as if I was crazy.
He stood up and walked over to pat my back, but I put my hand up to stop him, ignoring the hurt and confusion that flashed across his face. Why hadn’t I remembered the girls? When I got his letter, all I could think about was that he could have the answers to the visions and voices I’d been experiencing. I looked at him, my face full of confusion and fear. I stood so fast that I had to catch myself on the side of the couch.
“What happened to Anna?” I rasped as soon as my throat loosened, allowing air to escape.
He looked at me, sending fear through me. I wanted to trust him, but it was difficult. My head wouldn’t stop trying to convince me something was off here. Kale moved closer, slowly, as if to show me he meant no harm. My heart raced, and the room heated up even more. I wondered if I would faint and embarrass myself once again, but luckily I didn't.
“I didn't have anything to do wi
th Anna’s death or the other girl who died.” His voice was warm and comforting, even though his words weren’t. “The men who murdered them thought they were someone else, and once they realized they had the wrong girl, they killed them.” He moved past me to the fire place and closed the vent to suffocate the fire, and I felt immediate relief from the heat.
“What do you mean? How do you know who the killer is after?” I asked, confused by his insight to the situation.
He stood there quietly for so long I worried he wasn’t going to answer my question, or the answer was something I didn't want to hear. I was tempted to ask him again, but before I could, he abruptly left the room and headed into the kitchen. When he returned, he handed me a glass of water and sat down.
“You’re going to need this.”
My throat was still a little scratchy, and I was grateful for the water. I took a sip and placed it on one of the coasters on the white marble table in front of us and sat back down.
“What do you—” I was interrupted by my cell phone vibrating and ringing in my pocket. I was tempted to ignore it until I remembered I’d left the lodge without telling anyone where I was going. I’d left a note, but I wasn’t sure if anyone had found it. When I looked at the screen, I saw Alex’s number flashing across and I was tempted again not to answer it.
“Who is it?” Kale asked, frowning. “Is it that boy?”
I frowned and looked up at Kale. “Boy?” His patronizing tone annoyed me. “He’s nineteen.” I was even more annoyed for allowing him to bait me. I sat back on the sofa, crossing my arms over my chest. My response may have been childish, but his comment really made me angry.
Kale moved closer to the edge of the couch, his eyes now soft and apologetic. The phone stopped ringing, and I stuffed it back into my pocket hoping that Alex wasn’t worried about me and that he’d found the note I had left for him.
“Sorry. Do you want to call him back?”
I could tell that Kale was trying to be indifferent, but I could see that he was still unhappy about Alex and the phone call. “No. I want you to tell me why I am here, then I want you to tell me how you know about Alex. And I want to know what you know about Anna and Janice’s murderers.” The room had cooled down considerably and I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth. I waited as Kale gathered himself to explain what was going on. I felt lightheaded with worry. Once the truth was out, it would be something I couldn't tuck away and forget.
“When I was younger, my grandfather told me the story I told you about the Eternal Ones.”
I remembered the story about the nomads who knew the secret to eternal life and the men who went in search of them. I sat back on the couch, hoping the warmth from the still burning embers would reach me because a chill started to creep back into my skin. Kale sensed my unease and he moved to the couch I was sitting on and took my hand. His cool skin soothed me with a familiar sensation. His hand was strong and smooth, and he gripped me tightly, demanding my attention.
“They found the secret to eternal life, and in doing so, sacrificed the Frenchman’s daughter. The Eternal Ones told the men their actions would either be the end of them or give them the ability to change the world for the better. The Eternals gave them directions on finding the girl once she was reincarnated and told the men how important it was they protect her.”
I sat beside him and absorbed his words. I closed my eyes, trying to produce a picture of the two men and their quest. I imagined the men as they traversed through the desert, tired and weather-beaten, with the hope they would survive long enough to find the answers for which they searched. Suddenly, I was hit by a wave of fear. My stomach knotted, and I feared I would pass out. The usual twinges of a vision crept under my skin. I felt Kale’s cool hand brush my cheek, calming me. I opened my eyes, surprised that Kale’s touch could affect me with such intensity.
“Why did the Frenchman trust the men to even bring her back?”
Kale frowned. “From what I understand, they did it because they had to. It was within the fifty years of service to the Frenchman.”
“Oh. So they did whatever the Frenchman asked them to do?” I leaned over to unbuckle my shoes and pulled them off. I was glad I had on my black socks instead of the rainbow striped ones.
“Yes, and that is why the Council of Immortals was formed. The men learned of the plans he had for his daughter and every Arc after that. After the fifty years were over, they formed a group of men to protect the next Arc that was born.” His dark eyes searched mine for any sort of recognition of the story.
But it all seemed so far away. I felt crazy for believing it. I had been in Ocean Trace with people who were truly insane, and by Kale’s actions, it was clear he wasn’t crazy.
“So, what happened to the girl? I mean, what happened to her that made the men want to form the Council to protect her?” I knew whatever Kale was going to tell me would be upsetting, but I still wanted to know. I needed to know.
He moved closer to me, and I could feel his breath on my cheek and his thigh as it brushed mine. Kale placed his hand on my shoulder and lightly pushed me back so I was lying down on the sofa. Kale moved to the floor and kneeled over me. I could feel his lips on my ear.
“Remember,” he whispered.
My pulse sped up and my body warmed. A wave of wooziness swept over me, and I was thankful I wasn’t sitting upright. I knew the wooziness was the result of an oncoming vision. I’d had way too many visions to mistake their symptoms for anything else. Kale was so close and I hoped he’d kiss me, but I could tell my body was gearing up for a major vision. I tried to move away from him, but he grabbed my arm and waist to hold me in place.
“What are you doing?” I squealed. “Let me go, I have to go!”
His grip was strong, and I couldn't move away from him. I tried to struggle, but my muscles tensed and locked. I screamed, but even had he released me, I wouldn’t have been able to get far. Panic spread through me. I prayed I wouldn’t pass out in front of him. Would he know what to do? He knew about my visions, but he’d never seen one. He would probably call an ambulance, which would mean I would have to explain to Eric and Sarah where I’d been and why. It felt like his hands were crushing me, but I no longer had the strength to try to push him away. The dizziness took over. My vision swam in front of me like waves of shapes and colors I couldn't make out. Kale whispered reassurances in my ear as I started to cry, overcome by fear and pain. My head felt as if it was going to split in two. How could he do this to me? I’d trusted him. I’d believed he wouldn’t harm me even as my head begged me not to.
“Listen to me, Ella. I want you to show me, and that way you will know why the Council was created and why you are now in danger.” His voice was soft and soothing.
My stomach dipped and I repressed the urge to retch. No longer worried I would embarrass myself, I just wanted this to end. There was no way I could explain why I’d ruined the Carltons’ family vacation, and I was sure to end up back in Ocean Trace. Normally the vision would have taken me by now, and I would be sick or unconscious, but it hadn’t. I could still hear Kale as he spoke.
“I need you to remember January 18, 1884, in France.” He stroked my hair.
I could feel his lips travel to my cheeks for a sweet and light kiss, then back to my ear. His touch was warm and soft; his voice pulled me deeper into the vision, and I stopped fighting. This was what I’d come for—the truth. I would only find it deep in the recesses of my mind.
“I want you to remember the actions of the Dark Prince and what happened to Hélène,” Kale whispered, as obsidian darkness surrounded me.
Chapter 20
* * *
France 1884 Castle Laurent.
* * *
I didn't have to guess where I was. The place felt familiar. I remembered Kale’s whisper in my ear, the way my body responded to his touch and his request for me to remember. He had somehow transported me here. I knelt with hands bound behind me, my eyes burned, and my thro
at raw from screaming. It was where Hélène had been reintroduced to Kale—the new Kale. I felt her fear, disgust, and love for him rolled into one emotion she couldn't understand. She loved Kale more than anything and had been willing to sacrifice her life for his, but her plan had failed. Kale stood before her with black eyes and pale skin—a soulless creature she no longer knew. The man that had promised her forever would indeed live forever, while she would perish here tonight. Everything was the same, but different: the way he looked at her with such intensity, the way his brow wrinkled when she’d done something he didn't like, or how she could feel his desire cascading off of him like a dense, searing wave that crashed into her and sent her heart into a frenzy of flutters and aches. Hélène and I were the same person and I could no longer call this a vision. As I sunk deeper into the memory, Hélène and I become one person and her experiences were mine, as well as her pain.
Kale’s bright green eyes were dark, unseeing oil pits swallowed by his unremitting need to spread his disease. His once honey-colored skin was pale and devoid of the warmth that life had once given him. His mouth, once capable of sending shivers throughout my body, could tear through my flesh and steal my warmth and life, though it would never bring him either. No matter how many breaths Kale stole, he’d never breathe again.
Laurent kept us facing one another as he circled us, taking pleasure in our defeat and pain. I hadn’t won our war, nor had I won any of the battles. I’d played my hand wrong and right into his, which lead my love to his death and rebirth. That was the worst part, knowing I would be reborn again and Kale would remain a cold, empty shell of himself, needing to take the lives of others to continue to exist. I’d heard of a group of men who had set out to protect people from Laurent, but I was forced to divulge their names and locations to him. The majority of the men were captured or killed. Some of the men didn’t blame me, but I was responsible for their suffering, and I was the only one that could fix it. Asked to remember locations and names which caused the majority of them to be killed or imprisoned and though some did not blame me I knew that I alone was responsible from their pain and I was the only one that could fix it. Laurent’s voice snaked his way into my head as I stared at what was once the love of my life.
Few Are Angels Page 16
