“That.” Charlotte gestured at the grey ash staining the sofa. She was impressed with Drake’s quick thinking, but frustrated that Tane had interrupted them.
“Is that...?” Tane grinned evilly.
“It was.”
Upstairs Drake shoved his fist into his mouth, choking down his emotion. He felt eternally grateful that Tane had arrived when he did. Fear trickled down his spine at the hold Charlotte still had over him. He was so absorbed in his own self-loathing that it took a moment for him to realise his phone was vibrating in his back pocket. Recognising Lenora’s number, he lifted it to his ear.
“Where are you?” he demanded.
“I’m still here in the middle of nowhere. Do you know they don’t even have a mall?”
“I told you to deliver the message and get out of there.”
“She wants to see you.”
“I’m not interested. Tell her she needs to focus on defending the City.”
Lenora wasn’t fooled. “What’s happened?”
Drake took a shaky breath. “She killed Genevieve.”
“Oh my God. Why?”
“Why do you think?” Charlotte didn’t need a reason to do the revolting things she did. She was simply vicious without conscience.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing,” his voice broke, and he rubbed brutally at his face. “I did nothing.”
“Good,” Lenora exhaled in relief. “It’s imperative she trusts you. I’m sorry about Genevieve, but you can’t do anything to change it and I don’t want the same thing to happen to you. You know how evil she is.” He didn’t respond. “Drake?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” Lenora was silent for a long moment.
“She’s getting to you, isn’t she?” He didn’t deny it, and she wished she wasn’t so far away so she could beat some sense into him. “Drake, listen to me, you cannot let her get to you. You don’t want to get caught up in all of this.”
“I’m already caught up in it, Lenora! I’m right in the eye of this shit storm!”
“Can you get here? To New Haven?”
“As luck would have it we leave tomorrow. Charlotte’s bringing an army up there.” The words were flat, hopeless.
“The Guardians won’t stand a chance. What can we do?”
“Tell them to run.”
“They won’t leave the wards unprotected.”
“Then they will die!”
“Quinn has asked to meet you. She’s bringing another Guardian with her.”
“Of course she is.” He sounded exhausted.
“She needs help, Drake,” she admonished.
“What are we doing?” he laughed hollowly. “We’re trying to help people who would murder us all. Hundreds of vampires will be in New Haven. If we help the Guardians, we will be responsible for their deaths.”
“And if we don’t, we will be responsible for the death of every remaining supernatural creature left in this world,” she retorted. “And might I remind you that you dragged me into this mess in the first place. I told you to leave well alone. Now pull yourself out of that hole you’re digging and get here.” She hung up.
Chapter 37
The day of the proposed meeting with Drake dawned and Quinn went in search of Kellan.
“What do you mean you don’t want them moved?” he asked, when she informed him of the change in plan.
“I mean, they need to stay here, for now.” Quinn could understand his confusion. They had been planning the relocation of the Chumana hatchlings for weeks, searching for the ideal habitat, and now, on the eve of the day they were to settle them into the basin, Quinn had changed her mind.
“Why?”
“I can’t tell you. I’m sorry, Kellan, but you have to trust me.”
“Are they in danger?”
“We’re all in danger,” Quinn replied solemnly, and a look of understanding crossed his face.
“Sage…” his daughter’s name slipped out involuntarily and Quinn felt her throat go dry. So many lives were at stake.
“I will do everything in my power to protect her,” she vowed.
Isaiah had sent Camille and the twins away yesterday on the pretence of a holiday abroad. If there was a Judas in their midst it was unlikely that he or she would be concerned about the children, and the further away from Summerfeld they could get, the better. Camille had been nothing short of delighted, but she had hesitated when she learned Monique would be staying behind.
“It’s a particularly important phase of her training,” Isaiah soothed her fears. “She won’t be home much so I thought you could use a break.”
Monique had not questioned the lie, but Quinn had noticed the wary look in her eye as she waved her mother away.
“What is going on?” she demanded the second they were gone.
“There may be trouble coming,” Quinn answered honestly. “Nobody knows except me and Isaiah. We thought it best if we got your mom and the twins out of here, just as a precaution.”
“I’m assuming you want me to keep this to myself?”
“For now.”
“Does uncle Tristan know?”
“No.”
“What do you think he’s going to say when he finds out his children are gone?”
“Let me deal with that.”
“Actually,” Isaiah mused when Monique was gone. “I think you should leave it to me to tell Tristan. He’ll be less likely to argue.”
“Are you sure you want to come tonight?” She still couldn’t believe that Isaiah would be leaving the Cathedral.
“Yes. I’ve told only Daniel, although I didn’t tell him where we’re going. He will be here to watch over things while I’m gone.”
“Okay,” Quinn nodded. “I’ll meet you here at sundown.”
The afternoon passed slowly and Quinn went for a walk to clear her head. She found herself in the field and was surprised to see Rowena picking cornflowers. Her small basket was filled with the delicate blooms.
“I use them to make tea,” she explained as Quinn approached her. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
“They’re good for treating all sorts of things; fever, congestion, not to mention they add a gorgeous splash of colour.” She smiled shyly.
“Knock yourself out. It’s not as if we don’t have enough.” Quinn gestured at the abundant field and Rowena turned to gaze across the sea of blue.
“It’s more beautiful than I could ever have imagined,” she admitted reverently.
“How is Balthazar?” Quinn asked, noticing how Rowena’s face softened at the mention of his name.
“He’s good. Better now that he’s seen Jonas,” she paused, as if considering her words, “I should have known you wouldn’t harm him.”
“Who, Jonas?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “He caught me up on everything that happened to him while he was here. Riding unicorns, playing with dragons, dinner at Monique’s… it sounds like you gave him a real hard time.”
“He’s not a bad person,” Quinn conceded.
“Neither is his father.”
“What happened between the two of you?” She had asked before and Rowena had not offered any information save to say she had betrayed him, but Quinn couldn’t figure out how two people who so clearly cared for one another could be so distant.
“Our way of life wasn’t easy,” Rowena began hesitantly, setting her basket down on the ground. “There was never enough food, never enough gas, never enough… anything. I did what I had to do to provide for my family.” She spoke with absolute conviction and Quinn found she couldn’t judge her, even though she had a pretty good idea of what it was Rowena had done. Prostitution was not uncommon amongst the gypsies, but Quinn would never have expected it from this particular gypsy woman. Rowena was more refined than most of her people, and she had an air of haughty pride about her. Quinn could only imagine how difficult it had been for her to lower herself to doing that for money. “When Balthazar fo
und out, he couldn’t live with it.”
“I can see his point.” Quinn certainly wouldn’t be able to accept it.
“You haven’t lived our life.”
“Fair enough, but what about now? I assume you won’t be offering those services here,” she smiled to show she was only teasing. “Maybe you could start again, with a clean slate?”
“I’d like that.” Rowena’s wistful tone made it clear that she didn’t believe it was possible. Picking up her laden basket, she turned to leave.
“Rowena,” Quinn called her back. “You should make amends. You never know when it might be too late.”
After Rowena left, Quinn sat alone for a long time as the sun sank lower in the sky. In her mind’s eye she recalled the day, not so long ago, when Isaiah had found her in this very spot and told her that Avery had been killed by wolves. The fact that Caleb had been working with Charlotte was evidence enough that he had most likely been involved in her sister’s death, and with that, she had to be content. She couldn’t chase a ghost. Avery was gone, and she had ensured that Jack and Ava would be safe. It was time to heed her father’s words and embrace her destiny. She would not let Summerfeld fall no matter what price she might have to pay.
Chapter 38
When Quinn arrived at the Cathedral, Isaiah was wearing his traditional Guardian garb, complete with greaves and arm-bracers, invoking memories of the night she had killed Caleb. That night had brought her and Isaiah together and bonded them somehow. She trusted him implicitly and she sensed he felt the same. Of all the Guardians, save for Daniel, they were the two who most fiercely championed their cause.
Daniel was already there when she arrived, sitting at the council table, his face a mask.
“I should be with you,” he spoke to Isaiah directly, and something passed between them that Quinn couldn’t understand.
“I’ll be fine,” Isaiah replied. He had not told Daniel the real reason he was leaving the safety of the Cathedral for the first time in over five hundred years, and Daniel had not questioned him.
They drove in silence until they reached the portal. The instant they crossed through it, Isaiah let out a cry of pain and Quinn slammed on the brakes.
“Isaiah?” she asked frantically as he writhed beside her.
“I will be fine,” he hissed through gritted teeth, echoing the same words he had spoken to Daniel. “Just keep going.” Obediently she continued, casting anxious glances at him every few seconds and wishing she knew what was going on. Isaiah breathed slowly in and out through his mouth as if trying to calm himself and, by the time they had reached the edge of the woods, he seemed to be in control once more.
“I’m sorry about that,” he apologised when they rolled to a stop. “It’s been a long time since I was out here.” It was not really an explanation, but Quinn didn’t press him.
She led the way through the woods, her senses on high alert for any sign of danger. They were almost at the clearing when Isaiah doubled over again, clutching his head. Quinn crouched beside him trying to locate the source of his discomfort, but within minutes he had recovered and stood slowly upright.
“I think I’ll be okay now,” he murmured, a sheen of sweat glistening on his pale skin.
“What’s wrong with…” she stopped suddenly, sensing a vampire nearby.
“Quinn?” a deep voice intoned, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’m here,” she called back, moving toward the sound of Drake’s voice. “Come on,” she gestured Isaiah forward, “he’s right over here.”
She broke free of the trees and into the clearing, spotting Drake immediately. Her knees went weak at the sight of him, but he wasn’t alone.
“Lenora.” For just a fraction of a second Quinn thought she had spoken the name out loud, but then she saw Lenora’s eyes widen and she turned to see a look of complete astonishment on Isaiah’s face. It was Isaiah who had spoken Lenora’s name, in an exclamation of shock and recognition.
“How is this possible?” Isaiah sounded shaken to the core. Lenora didn’t look half as composed as usual either, in fact, she looked terrified.
“You two know one another?” Drake finally spoke, and the deep timbre of his voice was like music to Quinn’s ears. As he stepped forward, Isaiah’s body convulsed once more and Lenora took a step back.
“Get away from him,” she warned, grabbing Drake’s sleeve and retreating slowly. Drake stumbled backward, but Lenora only had eyes for Isaiah. “You shouldn’t have brought him here Quinn,” she continued.
Isaiah pulled himself together with a massive effort. “I won’t hurt you.”
“Like hell you won’t,” Lenora hissed. Quinn looked to Drake for answers, but he was just as confused as she was. Until Lenora spoke again.
“He’s the Slayer.”
Quinn felt relief flow through her. Lenora had made a mistake; that was all. She turned to Isaiah, waiting for him to deny it, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. He didn’t contradict the accusation and Quinn realised it must be true. Suddenly it all made sense; the reason that he never left the Cathedral and why he had such a strong physical reaction to Drake and Lenora’s presence. He had sensed them the moment he had left the safety of Cliffdale’s enchantments.
“No,” Quinn whispered. “You can’t be.” When he didn’t answer, she covered the space between them in a few short strides, grabbing his left arm and pushing back his heavy silver wristband. Her eyes fell on the ornate tattoo adorning his wrist. Even in the palest light of the waning moon there was no mistaking it. It shone red as blood.
Finally the truth was revealed, the reason Isaiah always wore the heavy silver wristband. Why, despite the overwhelming threat of the growing vampire population, no slayer had emerged. Because one had existed all this time. One who had found sanctuary in the quiet stillness of the Cathedral; one who denied his very nature. Isaiah had been the Slayer all along.
“We have to go,” Lenora repeated. Her panic was the catalyst Isaiah needed to snap out of his stupor.
“No,” he said, his voice stronger. “I will not harm you.”
“You have no control over it,” Lenora countered.
“It’s been five hundred years. I have learned to control it.”
“How?” Quinn was skeptical and she too was concerned for the safety of the others. “You’ve been inside the charms all that time.”
“I have lived with my guilt all that time,” he insisted, “And regret can be the most powerful of teachers.” His statement made no sense to Quinn, but it halted Lenora in her tracks. “How is this possible?” Isaiah continued, his amber eyes never leaving hers. He gazed at her as if he were drinking her in, as if he couldn’t tear his eyes away. “How are you alive, Lenora?”
“How… how do you know one another?” Quinn asked, when Lenora made no attempt to answer the cryptic question. The chemistry crackling between them gave her an inkling, but she couldn’t believe it possible.
“I’m sorry,” Isaiah spoke directly to Lenora, ignoring Quinn’s question.
“Sorry!” Lenora scoffed. “You’re sorry? You tried to kill me!”
“I did kill you!” Isaiah heaved with emotion. Lenora opened her mouth to retort but Drake had had about as much as he could take.
“Enough!” he roared, stepping away from Lenora. As he got closer to Isaiah, Quinn automatically moved between them. Noticing her protective posture, Isaiah’s shoulder sagged.
“I give you my word, Quinn.” She searched his face, but saw only truth and sincerity reflected in his gaze.
“I think you had better start at the beginning.”
Isaiah took a seat on the soft grass, his body rigid with the tension of keeping his Slayer instinct in check. Quinn could only imagine the exceptional self-control he was exerting. The Slayer was not bound by conscience and could not rationalise. He was created for only one purpose – to seek and destroy.
“It all happened so long ago,” Isaiah began, “when Emily was murdered.”
/> “Daniel’s Emily?” Quinn asked, kneeling beside him.
“Yes. We were very close, the three of us, having been through so much together, but none of us was ever closer than Daniel and Emily. They loved each other to the depths of their souls. When Emily was killed, Daniel’s grief was almost too much to bear. It threatened to consume him and I felt his pain as though it were my own. When we discovered that the vampires had taken her crystal, I felt a rage I had never known… and then came the pain.” He mindlessly rubbed at his wrist, recalling the searing agony as his white tattoo had blazed red. Isaiah had been an ordinary Guardian before becoming the Slayer, his primary instinct to protect, not to destroy. Becoming the Slayer had turned him into the worst kind of Hunter. “I think I made the choice to take it from him,” he intoned hollowly, his smooth forehead creased. “I remember praying that he wouldn’t turn, knowing the rage and the pain would never die if it was bound inside of him by the curse.”
“It turned him into a monster,” Lenora whispered, and Quinn remembered that she must have played a role in what had happened.
“I don’t deny that,” Isaiah agreed. “Nobody ever knew that I had fallen in love with a vampire,” he explained, guilt coupled with sorrow. “I tried to fight it, at first, but in the end I couldn’t, I had to be with her.” Quinn knew instinctively that he was speaking about Lenora. “I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t stay away from her. And so we met, in private, and I started to believe I might be able to spend eternity with her. I even convinced myself that one day the other Guardians might accept her.”
“That’s why you turned away from the Quest,” Drake breathed, finally understanding why Lenora had given up the search, and why she hated it so much. Lenora didn’t reply, her eyes fixed on Isaiah.
“What happened?” Quinn prompted, realising they were both so lost in their memories they had forgotten she and Drake were present.
“I underestimated the Slayer curse. That night, I did terrible things… I destroyed more vampires than I can remember…” His words invoked Drake’s own memories of that night, and his blood curdled as he remembered the terrifying wrath that had rained down upon the village. “I was so angry,” Isaiah continued softly, “and my rage fanned the flames of the Slayer’s curse. I was afraid of what I had become, of what I had done, and so I went in search of the one thing I thought would bring me back, would make me the man I was before.” Quinn blinked, sensing where the story was heading.
Guardians of Summerfeld: Full Series: Books 1-4 Page 52
