Jewel - Daughter of Destiny

by Alison Smith

  ‘So what happens now?’ Bert asked.

  ‘The police have not, as yet, officially linked it all,’ Nik said. ‘I have to await instructions.’

  The two men slowly drank their wine. Bert placed his glass down onto the table and leant towards Nik. ‘There’ve been some dreadful rumours that the Prime Legend has been killed. Certain Sensitives, people I trust, have all reported an energy shift.’ He picked his glass up and drained it.

  Nik felt the colour, such as it was, drain from his face as he considered the implications of what his friend had just told him. Nik had been watching Jewel’s house earlier in the evening and had only left after all of the lights had been turned out. Even so, how could he have missed an energy shift?

  ‘How much do you believe, Bert?’ he questioned.

  ‘All of it now,’ Bert said quietly.

  ‘I’ll speak to people and see if I can find some concrete information. But, in the mean time Bert, keep your ears to the ground. If Monique has killed, or even tried to kill, the Prime … well it’s very worrying indeed.’

  Bert nodded and the two men stood to shake hands. Bert needed to be behind his bar. Nik quickly left the club. He needed to phone his superior.

  Jewel was dreaming. She was back in Sable’s herb garden and sitting on a small wooden seat. She put out her hand to stroke the wood. It was the same as her Woden egg and the pendant. The sun was shining gloriously in the sky and the air was warm on her skin. She could smell the scent of rosemary and of lavender.

  Sable glided towards her and Jewel was entranced by how beautifully serene she was. As before, Sable’s eyes were open.

  ‘Always remember the Wisdom Of All Ages Jewel, it is your destiny. I have come warn you …’

  ‘Jewel. Jewel!’ and then the dream was lost as Jewel realised that Diana was shaking her awake.

  ‘What time is it, Di?’ she said sleepily.

  ‘Around three in the morning. Oh Jewel, Katryn just sent a text to my phone.’

  ‘A text message at this time?’

  ‘You know my network seems to take ages sometimes. Jewel, she’s found him!’

  ‘Who? Bradley?’ Jewel snapped awake, fully.

  ‘Yes! She says he’s OK and they’re camping at the stone circle.’

  ‘Where we were for last night’s ritual?’

  ‘She doesn’t say. It’s just a short message but I should think that’s where they are. We all know that site so well. She said they will phone tomorrow.’

  ‘I’ll send William a text,’ Jewel said and quickly took her phone off the bedside cabinet. Smiling she keyed the welcome words and sent the short message to William’s mobile number. ‘And I’ll go to see Anton later and tell him.’

  ‘Any excuse,’ Diana laughed. The two girls hugged. Jewel tried to remember her dream. She struggled. She knew it had been important. But it had gone.

  Anton slowly stretched his limbs. He was tired and drained. Shifting into wolf shape and then back again without taking any blood at the full moon had exhausted not just himself but, he knew, everyone else who had joined him in keeping watch over Jewel last night. The twins had gone straight to bed on their return to the house in the early hours of the morning. He looked at the tumbler that still held nearly all of his measure of brandy. Yawning he stood up. Falling asleep in his study chair had not been the greatest thing to do, he thought ruefully.

  But they had kept watch over Jewel. He smiled. She really was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And, having seen her aura as she had received her extra power and energy, she was The One. He knew it. For sure.

  The room was dark and he quickly flicked his fingers causing the candles to light. Oh Sable, he thought, how I miss your energy. He remembered how much she had loved the Leather & Burgundy club. He made up his mind to go later, a few drops of Groupies’ blood would be just what he needed. There would be a live band tonight. He looked over at his desk. He had Jewel’s mobile number written down. Perhaps she would enjoy the club as much as he did? He would phone later to invite her. It would be their first real date, he mused.

  There was a noise in the hall and he glanced at the half closed door. The twins must be up and about, he surmised, perhaps preparing the evening meal. He walked towards the door intending to go to the kitchen and offer them some wine. Goodness only knew but they all needed, deserved, a little decadence. Jewel was safe. They would hold the ceremony to release Sable’s body to the four winds later tonight. And then he would go to the club, hopefully with Jewel at his side.

  Walking into the hall he sensed a different energy. A chill met him and he shuddered. Soft tendrils of silken thread wisped against his skin. He brushed them away but more appeared. And then tightened. More silk stretched around his body. He was caught in the filaments and with growing dread realised what it was. A web of silver silk. No! The silent shout echoed from his thoughts. His mouth was bound shut. He knew he wouldn’t die. Silver material couldn’t do that. But it itched. Every part of him that the web touched, itched. His skin started to develop the weals that he knew would become an angry red.

  He summoned every ounce of his remaining energy and focused it on the strands. One broke slowly and another snapped briskly. He continued with his focus but then felt heavier material surround him. Binding even his eyelids shut.

  He could hear a woman’s laughter.

  He was completely bound, hurting.

  Was Jewel safe? his last conscious thought.

  The web tightened some more and he sank into oblivion.

  Chapter 15

  Jewel approached the shabby looking door with trepidation. The large house stood alone at the end of the street and had once been grand. It now loomed in the night sky throwing shadows all around. From some distance away Jewel could hear a dog howling but no other sounds. She paused to gather her strength and wondered, not for the first time, whether she should have come.

  Most of the day had been spent reassuring Diana that she was strong enough to have dinner with Monique. Diana had been sure that there was more to this meeting than just dinner. Jewel knew that, at some point, she would need to be alone with her mother. She still tended to believe Anton’s version of events rather than Monique’s but she wanted to be sure. And, after all, this was the woman who had given birth to her. However disconnected Jewel felt, she was a part of Monique’s family. Whatever that meant.

  As she stood drawing strength, a picture of Anton came to her mind. Suddenly she felt a moment of fear and then of pain around her wrists. Almost absentmindedly she rubbed them and pulled herself up sharp. Keep focussed Jewel, she told herself. It had been strange that she couldn’t contact him. She couldn’t even feel his energy when she stretched her newly enhanced awareness.

  But she certainly had worked some spectacular magic today. She smiled, remembering Diana’s face when the two dresses had appeared on the kitchen table. One for each of them. How Jewel hoped her sister was enjoying her night out.

  She touched her pendant and closed her eyes. It took just a moment to check that her aura had its bubble of protection intact around it. Opening her eyes she put out her hand to knock on the door. It immediately swung open to reveal a wide, well lit, hallway. Walking in she saw another door slightly ajar. Pushing it open she held her head up high and strode in. Be positive and strong, she told herself. I am The Attrahere!

  Silence greeted her. Looking around she saw about a dozen or so men and women standing around the large room. They all seemed so much older than her. The silence stretched. No one spoke. Although they all held wine glasses, no one was drinking. No one moved. It was as if they were all frozen in a tableau, waiting for something. Jewel saw, from the expression on each and every face, that she had been expected but not wanted. Why wasn’t she wanted?

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen.’ Elijah’s voice boomed and Jewel turned towards the sound. There was another door leading into the room and she saw him standing next to it.

  ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I have great pr
ide in introducing your new Prime Legend.’

  Monique made her entrance.

  Jewel sensed a ripple of fear rush through the room, but it didn’t touch her. She was confused and, more than a little apprehensive, but not frightened. She watched as Monique glided into the centre of the room. She looked magnificent. How can she walk so well in such high heels? The bizarre thought flitted through Jewel’s mind. And then she tried to recall to her mind what Anton and Sable had said about the Legend of Vampires. Looking around she knew that he wasn’t there. Shouldn’t he be?

  No one spoke but then a glass crashed to the ground and Jewel jumped. Glancing around at the expressions on the surrounding faces she could see that this had been expected, but not wanted. No one in this room wanted any of this. But, from the straightening of shoulders and then a series of bows, Jewel knew they had all accepted it.

  Monique held a hand up and all eyes were not just focussed on her but riveted.

  ‘I am the Prime Legend. As we meet, the body of the previous Prime Legend is crumbling away into dust. I have the powers of all of the Prime Legends that have gone before.’ Monique paused.

  Jewel could see that she was relishing every word.

  ‘I have also woken the old ancient magic within ritual and the Gods were pleased. We shall return to the old ways. I have captured the Speaker and he is now bound. I shall show you.’

  Jewel heard a collective intake of breath as she tried to make sense of what Monique was saying. And then a chill ran along her spine. Hadn’t Sable told her that the Speaker was Anton? No. Surely Monique couldn’t possibly mean ... Dread began to replace the chill as Monique raised both of her hands and clapped three times.

  Heavy red curtains, that Jewel had thought hid windows, swished apart revealing a small stage. A large coffin stood upright and Jewel felt fingers of fear around her throat. If Anton really was the speaker that Monique had spoken of … she didn’t want to look but she knew all eyes were focussed on the coffin.

  Monique clapped her hands again and the coffin lid slowly slid open to reveal a body inside. Jewel moved closer and was aware of others doing the same. It was Anton, bound by silver cords which seemed as if they were cutting into his skin.

  Jewel dropped to her knees, ‘Monique please let him go.’

  ‘He is still alive.’ Monique’s voice cut through the room. ‘I just haven’t decided what to do with him yet.’ Then she clapped her hands again and the coffin lid started to close.

  Jewel couldn’t move. She extended her aura out to Anton and felt his energy. She put her hand to her mouth as she recognised some form of glamour. And then another layer of glamour. ‘Oh, Anton,’ she mouthed.

  Please leave. You must go. Anton’s voice, in her mind. Jewel experienced such pain as she had never felt before. It was as if a dagger had gone straight through her heart. Were they silver bindings? That must hurt. And yet. Jewel sent her awareness deeper. And found a calm energy layered underneath the pain.

  Tell me what to do, how to help you, she silently asked him.

  There is nothing you can do ... not now ... not yet ... you must go to Diana … I promise you that all will be as it is meant to be.

  Jewel stood up and returned to her place near the door to the hall. Monique had continued speaking and Jewel saw everyone listening intently.

  ‘And so that you ALL understand. Anton is no longer your Speaker. That role is now given to Elijah.’ Monique waved Elijah forward and he beamed a smile around the room. ‘And I shall now demonstrate what will happen to anyone for whom I no longer have a use. Elijah, bring forward the informant. We have no further need for him.’

  Elijah left the room silently and Jewel, for the first time, wondered why Monique hadn’t acknowledged that she was there. Perhaps that was as well, she thought, and took small steps backwards towards the door. She frowned. Who was it that was about to be brought in? Her heart stopped for a moment as the door opened again and Elijah brought in an unmoving body, dragging it as if it were a sack of potatoes. He dropped it at Monique’s feet.

  ‘ Perfect Elijah. And Jewel, my only daughter left is with me for this best of nights.’

  For the first time Monique looked directly at her and smiled triumphantly.

  Jewel started to form the words she now knew were needed to get away from here. She opened her mouth but couldn’t form the words.

  Monique clapped her hands. ‘My daughter will stand by my side and you will all join me in a celebration.’

  Jewel shook her head. This couldn’t be happening. She was supposed to stand by? Was another murder to be committed? Or had it already been? Anton, poor dear Anton, had been right all along.

  ‘Jewel. Join me.’ Monique called but Jewel continued to shake her head. This was not right. She breathed deeply to begin to clear her mind. She needed help.

  ‘Jewel. Stand by my side or take the consequences. I am stronger than you. Join me or else I will take your powers from you.’

  Jewel took a step backwards. ‘I call Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Bring shields around me.’ Jewel said the words, quickly repeated them and then stood still as the shields materialised around her. She realised that Monique had taken no notice and seemed to be in a trance.

  ‘Of course I will have to kill you to take your powers.’

  With those words Jewel knew that everything she had suspected or seen in visions was true. Monique had sealed Sable’s eyes and done much worse.

  ‘You killed the people I regarded as my parents!’ the words escaped from her mouth and she was stunned by Monique’s laughter.

  ‘Of course I killed them. As soon as the informant told me where you were. I killed Sable. I killed your birth father. And I shall soon take care of that dreadful witch as well. You have no family now apart from myself. Stand by my side!’

  Jewel briefly closed her eyes. I am the Attrahere. I summon cloaking mirrors around my aura. I will leave. She opened her eyes to see Monique standing over a man’s body. He seemed vaguely familiar. What had Monique said about him?

  Monique gave a flourish of her hand and the man’s head snapped from his neck with the sound of a tree branch breaking. Jewel recoiled in horror. And then she knew. He had not only betrayed her but Diana as well. The open eyes staring up at her had been smiling just a few hours before. Jewel’s heart was in her mouth.

  ‘Oh No. Chris, what have you done?’ Jewel said quietly. She knew that all of her mirrors were in place now and no one would be able to stop her. But she needed to go now. With every fibre of her being she wanted to go to Anton but knew that would achieve nothing. Not right now. With her heart breaking into a thousand pieces, she turned and ran. Back into the hall and to the door. Monique’s laughter followed her as she blindly struggled to open the door. And, with a strength from another dimension, Jewel ran and ran until the house was far behind her.

  Nik sat looking at his phone with a heavy heart. Bert’s hurried call, just ten minutes ago, had shaken him to the core. That Monique could have had an insider so close to both Jewel and Diana all along was chilling. No one had even suspected Chris. Nik knew that he should have suspected everyone. But Diana’s intended? Chris was her fiancé for goodness sake. He picked up his phone and stared at it. He had failed. He had to speak to the girls. Nik glanced at the clock. It was nearly midnight but this couldn’t wait. They had to be warned. Slowly, and with trembling fingers, he dialled the now familiar number. It was answered immediately.

  ‘Diana? It’s Nik. Nik Drake. I’m afraid I have bad news, my dear.’

  ‘I already know, Inspector Drake.’ Diana’s voice was broken and he knew that she had been told and it was destroying her world.

  ‘Please call me Nik, my dear. I take it you know about Chris? Is he there?’

  ‘No. He’s been gone hours.’ A muffled sob accompanied the word and there was an audible breath from Diana. ‘He took me to the park. We were supposed to go out for a meal. I thought we were setting the date.’

  Nik didn’t in
terrupt her hesitant words; he wanted to know just how much she had been told. He heard her blow her nose and then she continued.

  ‘He told me everything. He told Monique about Elsie and Paul Tapper. About the forest where Monique could find Jewel when we thought she had disappeared. Oh Nik.’

  Diana was openly in tears now and he could hear and feel her distress.

  ‘My dear…’ what could he say?

  ‘He had sex with her.’

  Her voice was almost a whisper and then there was just the sound of her tears. Nik waited.

  ‘He had sex with Monique. Then he came home and got into my bed.’

  He sensed so much betrayal in her voice. ‘Is anyone with you?’ Nik needed to know where Chris was but also that Diana was being cared for. ‘Is Jewel there?’

  ‘No she isn’t.’ Diana’s voice had a steely quality now. ‘She went to 46 Hall Street to have dinner with Monique. But I don’t think it was dinner.’

  Nik decided to be as truthful with Diana as she had been with him. ‘It appears that Monique has acquired considerable power. She may have captured Anton. Diana, please, who is with you?’

  ‘Katryn and Bradley are here. They arrived a few hours ago. I sent Chris to bring Jewel home. He caused all of this and I told him to make it right. He said he still loves me and has no real idea why he did it all. Then he kept talking about bats.’

  Of course, Nik thought. He really had failed. He should have added two and two earlier. Monique is of the bat race and Chris had his conservation work. Nik wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. How had he missed that connection? There was an audible sob again from Diana and Nik decided that this wasn’t the time to explain the link to her. But that time would come, he knew.

  ‘I think, Diana, that if he has, shall we say, come to his senses …’ he hesitated but deeply knew he had to prepare her. ‘If Monique no longer has any need for him … I think you should prepare yourself for the worst.’

  ‘Then YOU go to the address.’ The steeliness was still there and Nik admired her for it. ‘You represent the police. You go and bring Jewel home, Nik.’