THE WORDS TUMBLED OUT and I’d almost choked on each one, glancing over at the door, hoping Fabian would end my trial and this terrible fear of losing Ingrid forever.
And by my own hand, no less.
The truth had no choice but to find its way, sparing nothing.
Ingrid’s back was pressed up against the far wall. “I don’t believe you!”
“It happened at Stonehenge,” I continued, trying to get through to her.
“You’re lying.”
“Afterward, Alex took you back to the Mount. You actually witnessed my transformation.”
“I didn’t, William.”
“Fabian really did wipe your memory.” It sounded fantastical, convenient even.
“Stay right there!”
I made a gesture to reassure her I would.
She pressed her hands to her face trying to hide her terror. “There’s no Fabian Snowstrom.”
“You’re holding back something, Ingrid.”
“What?”
“If you’d have shared it with me we’d be out of here by now.”
She was staring, full of mistrust.
“I know how this sounds,” I said. “I don’t expect you to believe me.”
She slammed her hand against her mouth stopping any further words from spilling.
“I told you Orpheus is dead because I didn’t know how to explain this to you,” I said.
“Please, William, let’s leave now.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
The end wall shifted and shoved me forward and I turned round to see it advancing toward us. I pushed up against it trying to slow its advancement.
Ingrid screamed.
“Fabian!” I yelled, pressing my shoulder against the advancing brick.
“Do something!” She reached out, pushing against the wall with me.
The space was closing rapidly.
Ingrid backed up against the end wall and I turned to face her, pressing my body against hers, trying to protect her. “Ingrid . . .” I said. “What’s your biggest fear?”
She clutched my forearms realizing. “I want to enter your world and know it completely.” She glanced over my shoulder, her eyes wide.
I shook my head. “Ingrid, say it.”
“William, my biggest fear is that I’ll fall in love with you.”
The wall pressed against my back and crushed us together.
She screamed. “I’ve fallen in love with you!”
The wall stopped.
And then it started its seemingly effortless journey back. Both of us reached out into the freedom of the space that now surrounded us. The wall reached the end of the room and kept on going.
We dashed to our right, quickly entering a larger chamber.
There standing before us was Fabian Snowstrom. “Real freedom is from yourself,” he said calmly. “What other entrapment is there?”
“You could have killed us,” Ingrid said.
“Fear’s more likely to do that,” he answered.
“The wall was metaphorical,” I said.
“And you overcame it.” He pointed to his right. “Powder room.”
I gave Ingrid a signal it was safe and watched her head off in that direction.
The low ceiling and fine brickwork gave the place a closed in feeling. At the far end of the chamber were three office chairs positioned to face each other. Next to one of them rested a leather flask.
“The journey back is waiting,” Fabian said.
The wall shifted, returning to its original position behind me. I turned to face Fabian again, still unsettled that he’d forced my hand. “Was that really necessary?”
“You were worrying too much about what she’d think of you,” he said. “Wasting time, William.”
I gave a shrug. “Is it really possible to separate?”
“We believe so,” he said.
“How long do I have?”
“The sooner you revert the easier it will be on you in the long run.”
“Are we talking weeks, months?”
“Days, hopefully.”
I was stunned. “I’ve yet to find the scrolls.”
Fabian glanced in the direction of where Ingrid had disappeared. “That’s why you need her.”
“I’m not sure getting her any more involved is a good idea.”
“That’s not up to you.”
I hesitated, shocked by his bluntness. “Do you know what’s poisoning us?”
He gestured for me to follow him toward the chairs. “We know who it is. But not what. Not yet, anyway.”
“Are the Stone Masters responsible?”
“Sovereign. They’re poisoning themselves.”
I sat on the edge of the chair opposite his. “And Sovereign transfer it to vampires who drink from them.”
Ingrid reappeared and Fabian gestured for her to sit with us.
“Why did you want to see me?” Ingrid asked nervously.
“You don’t base all of humanity on the sole act of one,” Fabian said.
“You’re saying not all vampires are bad?” She crossed her legs, getting more comfortable, still shaken.
“Ingrid?” Fabian spoke her name with affection.
She shook her head as though coming out of a daze.
He leaned toward her. “So now you know about William.”
“How am I meant to wrap my head around something like that?” she asked. “I don’t know who or what to believe anymore.”
“The truth always surfaces.” He glanced back at me. “William is the balance of the two now.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Ingrid asked me, her frown deepening.
“You wouldn’t have believed me,” I replied.
She shook her head in disbelief.
“Ingrid, you were with Jadeon just before it happened to him,” Fabian said.
Her shoulders slumped. “He told me that, but I . . .”
“You witnessed William’s resurrection,” he offered. “His formation.”
She shook her head again. “Fabian, is it true you wiped my memory?”
“I did.” He rose and gestured for her to approach him.
“Why did you do that?” she asked.
“You weren’t ready,” he replied.
Her brow furrowed. “How did you do it?”
“You were given a little of his blood to drink,” I said.
Ingrid slammed her hand to her mouth.
“Quick and painless,” Fabian reassured her. “But you’re ready now.”
“For what?” she asked.
“The knowledge of us,” he told her. “Come closer, my dear.”
Ingrid glanced my way for support and then took a wary step toward him.
Fabian reached for her left arm and slid up her sleeve, running his fingertips over her brand. “This encircles a birthmark, see?”
Ingrid peered closer.
“This circle with a small dot in the middle symbolizes a circumpunct,” Fabian continued. “The balance of female and male energy. William marked you his equal.” Fabian kept his attention on her. “Balance is sacred.” His forefinger circled.
Ingrid’s frown softened.
“Change. We fear it but cannot live without it,” said Fabian.
“Why did you put us through that?” She pointed back toward the small chamber.
“To help you face your fear,” he explained.
“Of falling in love?” she murmured, shaking her head, realizing. “That’s . . .”
“Tragic,” Fabian finished her words. “Let me ask you this—” He placed his thumb on her forehead and pressed in-between her eyebrows. “Do you want to know?”
“Know?” she asked.
“The night your father died,” he said.
“I don’t understand,” she murmured.
“You went in, Ingrid.” Fabian pressed harder.
She looked puzzled. “No I didn’t.”
“Oh but you did,” Fabian said. “And we need to get
that little girl out of there.”
I stood up, daring to defy the ancient who was about to push Ingrid too far.
Fabian detected my reticence but kept his attention on her. “The memory is repressed. If she can’t see it, William, neither can you.”
“What happened inside that room?” I asked.
“Shall we see?” asked Fabian.
Ingrid gave a subtle nod, not really understanding what she was consenting to. Fabian closed his eyes and pushed harder.
Ingrid’s mouth gaped, her jaw slackened, her eyes glazing over as though Fabian had sent a jolt of energy right into her frontal lobe.
Something crashed.
Glass.
A thirteen-year-old girl standing before a closed door that towered over her. Her small hand resting on the doorknob.
“Turn it,” came Fabian’s voice.
On the other side of the door was a man dangling in the center of the room from an open attic. He was strangled. The chair kicked from beneath him, tipped over. A family photo smashed into pieces.
A thirteen-year-old Ingrid turned to see Fabian standing there in the corner. He gave a supportive gesture for her to continue . . .
Searching for the scissors she knew her mother kept in one of the upper linen drawers, Ingrid’s hands shook as she reached in and pulled them out, guilt ridden for disobeying her mother for even touching them. Righting the chair that had fallen, she stepped up onto it and reached for the rope around her father’s neck, cutting furiously . . .
“He’s already dead, Ingrid,” Fabian said softly.
The scissors fell.
All this time Ingrid had suppressed this memory, never once facing her childhood pain, never standing still, perhaps unconsciously afraid it might one day find her. And it had, in the form of the underworld, in an altogether different kind of pain promising to drown out her torment.
With her small hand in his, Fabian led her out, pausing in the doorway, allowing her a moment to glance back and see that the room was now empty.
Ingrid broke away and staggered back, finding her footing, spinning awkwardly as though expecting to find herself in her childhood home.
The spell broke.
Ingrid let out a sob.
“It’s over now,” Fabian said, trying to comfort her.
Ingrid’s tears stained her cheeks. “All this time I didn’t think . . .”
I wrapped my arms around her, kissing her forehead again and again until she calmed. “You did everything you could,” I whispered.
Fabian picked up the flask, unscrewed the lid and poured a light brown liquid into it. He handed Ingrid the cup.
She took it and sniffed the contents.
“Tea.” Fabian gestured we were to sit again.
Something told me Fabian had put some thought into our meeting.
He pointed upward. “How was the London Bridge Tour?”
“We missed most of it,” I said, taken with how swiftly he’d moved on, and glanced over to check on Ingrid.
“But not the important stuff,” Fabian continued. “Boudicca, Queen of the Celts.”
Ingrid sipped her drink; steam wafting.
“History, isn’t it intriguing?” Fabian directed the question to Ingrid. “Everything we do has a consequence.” He waved his hand through the air. “Better now?”
“Better,” she replied, though she was still clearly fazed.
Fabian’s face crinkled into a smile.
“Why did you leave after I was transformed?” I asked the question that had been burning a hole in my heart.
“Jadeon knows why,” he said. “Look deep within you and all questions will have the answers you seek.”
I sat back, sure I’d never know.
Ingrid was staring at me, searching for any evidence that I was indeed the Jadeon she’d once known, desperately trying to grasp an impossible concept.
“Jadeon was to become the next Stone Master,” Fabian continued. “Before Orpheus turned him.”
“That was a long time ago.” I glanced at Ingrid, uncomfortable to discuss this in front of her, and not even sure she was up to it.
Ingrid leaned forward, intrigued.
“Jadeon never did study our origins,” Fabian said. “All those books of your father’s and you never read them.”
Fabian’s words reached some part of me that had seemingly lain dormant.
“Boudicca was the first Stone Master,” Fabian said. “The first Stone Master was not only a woman but also a vampire.”
“Boudicca was a vampire?” Ingrid asked, “But I thought the Stone Masters were vampire hunters?”
“Vampires were once ruled by a joint alliance of immortals and mortals,” he said.
“This is documented?” I now knew why Fabian wanted to meet us here.
“Boudicca’s husband Prasutagus was mortal,” he said. “Together they ruled the underworld.”
“An allegiance between vampires and mortals?” I tried to fathom it.
“Until Boudicca led an uprising against the Roman Empire,” Fabian explained. “She died in battle. Her husband inherited the title. After that only men became Stone Masters.”
I sat back, astonished.
“Much has changed.” Fabian waved a finger. “Within the last fifty years the Stone Masters have struggled to control Sovereign.”
“Who are Sovereign exactly?” I stood, too restless to remain seated.
“Guardians,” he said, “of Dominion.” He held my gaze. “They guarded the one destined to become the grand ruler of the Stone Masters.”
I was amazed I’d never heard of this until now.
Fabian made a gesture that he understood my reticence, but nevertheless turned to Ingrid. “That secret society you payed a visit to in London is Sovereign. They were once members of Stone Masters. Sovereign’s new directive is to wipe out every last vampire.”
“How?” Ingrid asked.
“They’re poisoning them,” I told her. “Rendering them confused.”
Ingrid looked horrified.
“Vampires wander into daylight,” I said, gravely.
“The Stone Masters need Dominion to take back control.” Fabian offered a reassuring smile. “He will stop this annihilation of our kind.”
“That’s why the Stone Masters severed their allegiance?” I realized. “They disagreed with Sovereign on how to manage the vampires.”
“The Stone Masters are ready to return to joint rule,” Fabian said. “Vampires and mortals governing together.”
“I need those scrolls,” I said.
Fabian looked solemn. “Sovereign has them now, I’m afraid. Several years ago they raided the Stone Masters library and stole them.”
“Any idea where they may be keeping them?” I asked.
“None,” said Fabian.
“I’m having a hard time putting the pieces together,” Ingrid admitted.
“That’s because a piece is missing,” Fabian said.
“We need Dominion,” I said. “Where do we find him?”
Fabian lowered his gaze. “I’m afraid there’s an issue even more pressing.”
Ingrid caught our interaction.
Fabian gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m afraid your friend Blake has been poisoned.”
Ingrid became panicked and leapt to her feet.
Fabian rose. “He’s safe at the Mount. Alex is watching over him.”
“Is there a cure?” her voice sounded frail.
“The poison eventually dissipates,” Fabian said. “Metabolizes. Though until then, if left unobserved the vampire forgets the threat of daylight.”
“Fabian, can you return my memory?” She glanced my way. “I want to help but I can’t do it unless my memory’s restored.”
“I’ll allow it.” Fabian appeared thoughtful. “William, she imbibes an abundance, less than needed to turn her, but enough to kindle her. And then you keep her awake.”
Ingrid’s face flushed with excitement. “Will it be re
turned completely?”
Fabian’s full attention stayed on me. “Maintenez arousal sensuel continu.”
“Was that French?” Ingrid asked.
I sighed, and gave her a look of the obvious.
She blushed wildly, realizing.
“Both of you can discuss this later, perhaps?” Fabian said. “Your first step of this journey should be taken at the Mount.” Fabian strolled away, nearing the far corner.
“What does that mean, exactly?” I asked.
“Keep Dominion safe.” Fabian paused and peered back to me. “The truth will out.”
Chapter 25
THE NIGHT AIR CHILLED my bones, and I turned my attention to the cloudy night sky, banishing the moon if only for a moment.
Waiting for Ingrid on the castle roof, I stared out over the ocean admiring the way Marazion’s city reflected bursts of light off its surface. The Mount felt like home again, and this once stagnant melancholy was now lifting. Though I still didn’t feel ready to take on that which seemed cruelly daunting.
Sensing Ingrid’s approach I continued to direct my attention toward the horizon, not quite ready to see what she might convey.
Standing side by side with nothing but the sound of the rolling waves caressing the shoreline, Ingrid and I shared a moment of calm and eventually she snuggled against me. I wrapped my arm around her, feeling her warmth as she relaxed.
“Jadeon,” she whispered at last, squeezing me tighter.
I realized I’d been holding my breath.
“How does drinking your blood help me get my memory back?” She looked up at me.
“Apparently for a mortal,” I began, “blending imbibed blood with your augmented arousal initiates a biochemical reaction, and a transformation naturally induces a heightened state of awareness.”
“And afterward I’ll remember everything?”
I gave a reluctant smile.
She sucked on her bottom lip, her gaze drifting.
Affectionately I rubbed her back. “How about you just believe everything I’ve told you?”
She gave what looked like an unconvincing nod. “I’ve been trying to work out who’s the dominant one.” She lifted her head away from my chest and peered up. “Orpheus had a penchant for terrorizing people.” She watched me carefully.
“Jadeon’s tamed the dragon.”
“I can see that.” She took my hand. “Do you really believe those ancient scrolls hold the key to reversing this?”
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