by N M Thorn
“Oh?” Cole gave him an arched stare, the corner of his lips curving up. “What happened to Mr. I-work-alone?”
“Ha-ha. The circus left, but the clown is still here,” growled Damian, eliciting a chuckle out of the vampire. “Can you get serious for two minutes?”
“No, why?” Cole shrugged lightheartedly but then raised his hands and added, “Okay-okay... I’m serious. What can I do to help?”
“Out of all the magical graffiti in that room, there was one rune I recognized,” said Damian. “It wasn’t really a rune or a sigil, but rather a signature. Possibly, this signature belongs to the people who placed all this protective magic.”
“Whose signature was that?”
“Guardians,” replied Damian, leaning back in his chair.
“Guardians?” repeated Cole, his pale skin becoming parchment-like yellow. “As in the Guardians Order? The Order of highly powerful witches and wizards regulated by the Destiny Council? Please tell me it wasn’t them you had in mind.”
Damian dropped his head, dread settling in the pit of his stomach. More than anything, he didn’t want to have anything to do with the Destiny Council or their representatives in this world.
Regulating the supernatural affairs in all realms, human and magical, the Destiny Council was one of the most powerful organizations. Yet, the way they ran their business wasn’t always transparent, even for those who served them. Working in mysterious ways, they kept all the supernatural beings under their strict supervision, making sure that the World of Magic wouldn’t get exposed, and that the Board of Destiny would run its course, uninterrupted and unaffected by outside forces.
“Yes, Cole, unfortunately, it was their signature,” replied Damian quietly.
“How can you be so sure?”
Damian folded the sleeve of his T-shirt up to expose his upper arm. He channeled some of his magic and brushed his fingers over it. A rune glowing with bright white light materialized on his skin. It lingered there for a moment and then dissipated.
“This is how I can be sure,” said Damian, avoiding Cole’s horrified eyes. “I can never forget their signature, even if I wanted. It’s branded into me.”
“Dima—”
“Don’t ask me any questions I can’t answer,” growled Damian, and Cole snapped his mouth shut, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going take a trip to Chicago to visit the Guardians HQ,” replied Damian, lowering himself on the chair.
“How are you going to get in or get an audience with the Archmage for that matter?” asked Cole. “They don’t let anyone even close to their property without a personal invitation as far as I remember.”
“I know.” Damian lowered his face into his hands and stilled, dealing with the disarray of thoughts racing through his mind. When he moved from Florida to Arizona, the plan was to start clean—no old acquaintances or old enemies. Showing up at the Guardians Order uninvited was never in his plans. “Do you know Jamie Coldwell?” He lifted his face, meeting Cole’s troubled gaze.
“The young librarian?” he asked, unable to hide his surprise. “What about him?”
Damian smirked. “That young librarian is a Guardian wizard.” He leaned back, folding his arms. “After you leave, I’m going to talk to him and see if he agrees to help me. I’ll have to trust him with some information, of course, but he’s my only hope to see the Archmage in a civilized and peaceful manner. Besides, something tells me he can be trusted.”
Cole nodded, but the tensed set of his shoulders betrayed his true feelings. “What do you want me to do?” he asked quietly.
“Couple of things. First, I need you to do some research for me while I’m gone,” replied Damian. “The Lady of the Mirror is not evil. She’s never killed anyone. I believe, every time when she made an appearance to the members of the founding families, she was trying to warn them of some kind of danger. I need a way to communicate with her.”
Cole rubbed the back of his neck. “I think I can do it,” he replied after a moment. “I already have some ideas on who she is, but I need confirmation. What else?”
Damian got up. His eyes fell on the cat, curled up on the counter. He caressed her back, listening to her purr.
“I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone,” he said, turning back to Cole. “Unless Jamie can open a portal, I can’t teleport, and flying to Chicago is not an option for me. So, we’ll have to drive, and it’s about a twenty-six-hour trip in one direction. If everything goes well, I should be back within three days.”
“You need me to keep an eye on Paradise Manor?” asked Cole.
“Yes, from the inside,” confirmed Damian. “Before I leave, we should talk to River and Sam. You’ll have to take my place and guard her. I trust you can keep your urges under control?”
“What kind of urges do you have in mind?” Cole rolled his eyes, and an uneven smirk appeared on his face. Damian sighed, shaking his head reproachfully, and Cole’s smirk grew wider. “Relax, big bro. I’m a big boy. I can control my thirst and all other ‘urges’.” He got up, all humor gone from his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll be a real gentleman, and I’ll do everything I can to keep her safe while you’re away.” Glancing at his watch, he picked up his tablet. “I have to go now, but if you want, I can give you a ride to the library.”
A few minutes later, Cole parked his car in front of the main entrance into the library and shut down the engine. “Call me as soon as you get to Chicago?” he said softly without looking at Damian.
“I’ll be all right. Don’t worry.” Damian smiled, feeling the tension and unease in his brother’s voice. “Besides, I’ll see you tonight before I leave. Relax, Cole.”
“I’m as relaxed as I can be.” Cole turned slightly to face him. “There is too much you’re not telling me. And I understand that for whatever reason your past cannot be disclosed, but when it comes to the Destiny Council and their representatives in this realm, I just...” His voice trailed, and he frowned, his fingers pulling down on his tie. “I wish you could tell me the truth.”
“One day... I promise.”
“There is something else, too,” Cole continued, dropping his hand onto his lap. “The Queen is keeping close tabs on me. I’m positive I was abducted on her orders, but I have no idea what her true agenda is.” Cole glanced at Damian, his eyes shadowed by concern. He wasn’t scared, but he was asking for help without actually saying the words.
“Do you think she knows you’re my brother?” asked Damian.
“I don’t know, but the thought crossed my mind. Not once.” The vampire sighed and averted his gaze. “Even if she does, you know I would never do anything that could hurt you, right?”
Damian smiled at him, and for a moment, an image of a small boy with platinum curls replaced the man sitting next to him.
“I’ll kill her if she touches a hair on your head,” Cole growled, his eyes shining scarlet under his dark sunglasses. “But there is a chance I won’t have to do anything.”
“What do you mean?”
“Problems in paradise.” Cole shrugged. “The Queen’s opposition is growing stronger by the day, and Roxana has a hard time keeping them at bay. To be honest, if I move my loyalty to the other side of the royal throne room, she’s not going to enjoy it. I have money, and you know how it is—money talks, bullshit walks.” He chuckled bitterly. “That could also be the reason for her strange behavior. She’s trying to dominate me any which way she can.”
“Including—?”
“Yes, including that,” replied Cole. His face turned ashen, and he raised his hand to stop all other questions. “I’m fine. Remember our earlier discussion? There is always someone who yanks your leash. If it’s not her, then it’s my maker. If it’s not him, then someone else will show up. A sacred space is never empty.”
“If she treats you like this, why don’t you support the opposition?” asked Damian, the words barely breaking through his cons
tricted throat.
“Not so easy,” replied Cole, shaking his head. “The political games and intrigues of the Vampire Courts are complicated, and things are always not what they appear to be. She’s old. A lot older than me, and she still has a lot of supporters in the underground circles. As much as I want to see her dead, I must be careful. One wrong move, and it’s ashes to ashes for me.” He fell silent, thinking of something. “Especially now that you’re back with me. I hate to say it, but since the Shadow Slayer moved to Blue Creek, the blood games became a lot more dangerous and complicated.”
“Dammit,” muttered Damian. “I had no idea that by moving here I would—”
“Stop. What are you talking about?” Cole interrupted him, looking heavenward. “Every day, I thank all the gods for bringing you back in my life. Forget about everything else. I’ll be fine. I know how to navigate the Royal Courts. Not the first time for me.”
“Watch your back?”
“Always.”
Damian opened the door and walked out of the car, bending down slightly to see his brother.
“I’ll see you later on at Paradise Manor.” Cole waved his hand and started the engine.
Chapter 20
~ Damian Blake ~
Damian followed the speedy sports car until it turned the corner and disappeared from view. Rubbing the back of his neck, he headed toward the library, a heavy feeling of dread twitching in his chest. Everything Cole had told him left a bad taste in his mouth, and his scalp was prickling at the thought that his move to Blue Creek had put his brother in a dangerous situation. He sighed. There was absolutely nothing he could do about it, except for being there for Cole whenever he needed him.
He approached the library entrance and pulled on the door handle. It was still closed. Glancing at his wristwatch, he realized that it wouldn’t be open for another ten minutes and was about to walk away to sit down on the bench when the lock clicked, and the door opened up. Jamie Coldwell stood on the other side, a wide, friendly smile on his face.
“Damian,” he said, gesturing for Damian to come in, “you’re a little early today, but I thought I would open for you, anyway. It’s too hot to hang around outside.”
“Thank you,” said Damian, slipping into the cool, air-conditioned room.
Jamie walked toward the front desk but didn’t sit down. Instead, he propped his elbow on the counter, leaning slightly on it.
“Are you still researching the history of the founding families?” he asked, looking at him with curiosity.
“I am,” replied Damian, “but this is not the reason I’m here today. I was hoping to have a private conversation with you, Jamie.”
Jamie straightened, his shoulders as tense as his face. “About?”
“I’m about to ask you for a huge favor and something tells me you’re not going to like it in the slightest,” said Damian calmly. “But I need help, and you’re the only person I know who can help me.”
“Wow,” exhaled Jamie, his dark eyebrows lowering over his eyes. “That’s not a good preambular.” He pointed at an empty desk. “Why don’t we sit down, and you start by telling me what’s going on.”
Damian headed toward the desk and pulled a chair out, positioning it to face the young man.
“Jamie, I’m going to be as honest with you as I can be, and I hope you understand that everything I tell you must be kept in strict confidence. The lives of good people depend on it,” said Damian.
“Now, I like it even less,” murmured Jamie, but waved his hand for Damian to continue. “Don’t worry, what happens in the library, stays in the library. Go on.”
Damian shook his head, an uneven smirk curving his lips. “Jamie, I know what you are, and I’m sure you understand what I mean when I say, I need more than your verbal promise.”
Jamie went white, and his hands clenched together so tightly, something cracked in his joints. “How could you... You are... You have...”
“Yes, I have magic, and yes, I can sense yours,” replied Damian, putting an effort into sounding friendly. “Between us, you’re not very good at concealing it. Besides, when you told me about your previous job, you said you worked for a military-like institution. I assume you worked as a guard for the Guardians Order at their headquarters in Chicago.”
Jamie opened his mouth, ready to say something, but Damian raised his hand interrupting him.
“Don’t worry,” he said softly. “Your secret is safe with me.” He snapped his fingers, and one of his daggers materialized in his hand. He placed its tip against the desk, folding both his hands atop the pommel. “I swear, you’re safe with me.” Taking the dagger carefully by the blade, he offered it to Jamie.
“You want me to swear an oath,” mumbled the young man, his eyes growing wider. Damian nodded, and Jamie took the dagger. Placing it in the same way Damian had done a moment ago, he continued, “I swear, anything you’re going to say to me is never going to be repeated to anyone.” As Damian took his dagger back, making it vanish, Jamie folded his arms on the top of the desk. “Why don’t you start by telling me who you are, Damian? It’s kind of unfair you know what I am, but I know nothing about you.”
Damian chuckled, thinking how truly young Jamie was. “I’m no one, Jamie,” he said softly. “As far as the World of Magic, I’m a wizard and a Child of Earth with some serious limitations to my powers.”
“Child of Earth,” repeated Jamie in disbelief. “But there’s only one registered Child of Earth, and he’s not in our realm.” He shook his head, leaning forward a little. “It’s not possible.”
Damian raised his arms and connected with his element, making the floor tremble. “It’s possible, Jamie.” He lowered his arms, folding them on his lap. “This is why I’ve said, I’m no one.”
For the next thirty minutes, he told him everything that had happened since he arrived at Blue Creek, only leaving out his personal connection with Cole Adams. When he finished, Jamie sat quiet for a few long minutes, staring at his hands. Damian didn’t bother him, allowing him to process the information.
“The founding families and Paradise Manor have always been surrounded by a veil of mystery as well as endless gossip and speculation,” he muttered mostly to himself. “My father spent years trying to break this veil and wound up with nothing.”
“So, what is it going to be, Jamie?” asked Damian. “Are you in?”
The young man raised his eyes at Damian, and a soft smile lit up his face, turning his eyes into two narrow arches. “Hell, yeah! I’m in. I’ll help you get an audience with Archmage Allerton. I have to finish what my father started.” He thought for a moment, his expression losing its cheerfulness. “Besides, River Evans is a nice person. She doesn’t deserve to die... Neither did Nick...” His voice shook, and he swallowed hard. “I’ll do what I can to help you, Damian.”
“Thank you,” exhaled Damian and leaned back in his chair, just now realizing that all this time he had held his breath, expecting Jamie’s answer. “Can we leave tonight? Let’s say at eight?”
Jamie thought for a brief moment and nodded. “Yes, it gives me enough time to do everything I need to do.”
“You understand that as a Child of Earth, I can’t fly. I can drive, but I don’t own a car.” Damian threw a guilty glance at him. “What are you driving?”
“Honda Civic,” replied Jamie, but as understanding dawned on his face, he added, “Never mind that. I’ll rent something bigger and pick you up at Paradise Manor at eight.”
Thanking Jamie one more time, Damian left the library and headed straight to the hardware shop, hoping to catch Sam there. Even though the shop was about a ten minutes walk from the library, by the time he reached it, sweat was running down his face and back, plastering his shirt to his body.
Damian opened the door and walked inside a small shop overloaded with assortments of home-improvement merchandise and tools. The odor of different paints and lacquers mixed in with the scent of wood hung in the air, and the sunlight made its
way in through a large window upfront, reflecting in glass jars and plastic cases. A wave of cold air caressed Damian’s overheated skin, and he took a deep breath, enjoying the absence of the blistering heat, even if it was just a temporary reprieve.
Sam sat behind the counter, reading the local newspaper. As soon as Damian walked in, the old hunter lifted his head and folded the newspaper, putting it away. His kindhearted smile graced his face for a brief moment but was quickly replaced by an expression of concern.
“Damian,” he said, rising, his face beyond pale. “Is everything okay?”
“As okay as it can be.” Damian made his way to the counter and halted there, his eyes traveling over the wall with a variety of tools, starting with hammers and screwdrivers and finishing with drills and blades for electric saws. He switched his attention to Sam and continued, “You know that I would never do anything related to River’s safety without getting your approval first?”
“I know,” replied Sam, waving his hand impatiently. “What’s going on, kid? Spill it.”
“Well, the good news,” started Damian, “I was able to open that door at the end of the hallway in the left wing. The bad news, I now have another mystery on my hands, and this time, I know I can’t solve it on my own. I need to get information, and the only place I can get it is in Chicago.”
“In Chicago,” muttered Sam, pursing his lips. “Are you planning to hitchhike your way there, too?”
“No, sir.” Damian smirked. “This time I’m driving. I’ll try to be back as fast as possible, but I know I’ll be away for three days minimum.”
“Is River going to be safe on her own?” Sam’s voice shook, and he frowned, nibbling on his lip.
“This is what I wanted to talk to you about,” said Damian. “I don’t want River to be alone at night in Paradise Manor. Also, I don’t think she should move out. Don’t ask me why, I just know it. Call it intuition.” He glanced at Sam with a half-shrug. “Besides, she won’t do it, anyway. So, while I’m gone, I want Cole Adams to take my place.”
