Some believed that it was because of her that Seven was given the gift of fast travel. He could bend time and space to his will. Not a time traveler by any means but, rather, he could travel above it.
We bade farewell to Elemi and made our way toward the ship. Valentina was giddied with excitement. “There he is.”
Seven emerged like a giant at the head of the ship’s bow. He was barbaric, with arms thicker than most men’s thighs. But he was not like most men. He was not a man at all. He was a warrior.
Seven came down to greet us. His long black hair blew wild in the warm Louisiana wind. His skin was sun soaked and glistened underneath a hint of stubble. His eyes lit up like two gemstones reflecting the light of the sun, full of honey and amber. Even aboard this massive ship, he resembled a god.
There was a crew of about thirty on board. Some Dhampir, some human, but all of them intent on their duties. They moved around the ship like an orchestrated dance, preparing us for departure.
Once on deck, we were encased in magic. It cracked and sizzled like a lightning storm, yet soft and quiet like a slow breeze. It took a few moments to adjust my vision and my senses.
Seven’s height was greater up close. He towered over us as Valentina squealed with delight. She batted her eyelashes at him. “Seven, you are looking rather well.”
He picked her up and spun her around. “You are a sight for sore eyes. The gods would leave the sky if they could to come down and ravage you.” Valentina giggled as he set her down.
His golden eyes turned toward me. “You must be Gray.” I nodded while he looked me over. He gave me a slight bow. “I am humbled and enchanted.” He spoke like a nobleman, but that was the extent of his refinement.
Aldric was not impressed. He raised his chin to look him square in the eye. “Nice ship, but I’ve seen better.”
Seven chuckled. “And you are?”
“Aldric Bannister.”
Seven stiffened and narrowed his eyes at Valentina.
Aldric scoffed. “Is there a problem?”
The uneasy look on Seven’s face left as quick as it came. He flashed a smile at Aldric. If it was insincere, I couldn’t tell. “No problem, my friend. We can’t all be perfect.”
The tension was as thick as it was deafening. Aldric was going to have to stop telling people his last name.
I broke the silence. “Thank you for letting us aboard your ship. I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
Seven’s face softened. “Yes, of course. Welcome. Come, let us have a drink.”
The whiskey was warm and didn’t last long in my glass. With Valentina and Seven catching up below deck, Aldric and I were alone at last. I needed to know what he was thinking. One minute he wanted nothing to do with me, but then there he was on the docks protecting me from the Witches.
“What made you change your mind?”
Aldric stared out at the sea. He ran a hand through his damp hair. “I sat in my apartment for hours, next to the corpse on my floor. As horrified as I was, I couldn’t get you out of my head. I kept replaying everything over and over again. Everything you said, I knew it was true. Then Elemi walked in. She took one look at me and made the decision. She couldn’t lie to me anymore.”
The thought of Aldric stuck in that room with a dead body made my stomach turn. I should have done things differently.
He continued. “So she turned on my magic. As soon as the first spark pulsed through me, I understood.”
Aldric was different. His words were more direct, intentional. His voice smokier. But the biggest change was his eyes. They were still blue, but now filled with a far-away sorrow. The burdens of our kind weighed upon him. It crushed me.
“I’m sorry, Aldric. I brought all this upon you.” I couldn’t look him in the eye.
He lifted my chin up. “No, you were right. I am a part of this. I shouldn’t have let you leave that night. I promise you, it will never happen again.”
“But this is all my fault. If I hadn’t gone to New Orleans, the Consilium would have never known about you.”
He shook his head. “Don’t blame yourself. You and I both know they would have found me either way. I’m just happy you found me first.”
My heart skipped. I was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. I wanted him in every way. My eyes couldn’t hide this.
Aldric leaned in close. His fingers traced the collar of my shirt. I drew in a sharp breath as he pulled me to him, his grip tight on my waist. In that instant, his lips came down, hard upon mine. My hands were in his hair as we clawed at each other like wild animals.
His breath was hot as his tongue plunged deeper into my mouth. The scent of his blood filled my nose as I kissed his neck. I wanted to taste him more than I had ever wanted anything else. He pressed me up against the rail. All rational thoughts faded away. I forgot who I was. Who he was.
The salty air was refreshing against my skin, still warm from Aldric’s touch. We stood side by side, breathless. I wasn’t myself with him. Or maybe I was never myself before.
I strained my eyes to catch a glimpse of land. There was nothing but water in every direction. We were traveling on another plane of existence. Above time, as Seven explained it. The world whipped by us in a blur of fog and particles, even as we stood still on the ship.
The human crew went below deck to sleep. As midnight approached, the Dhampir crew stood watch. Valentina and Seven huddled together at the stern, deep in conversation.
There was an ease between them. They laughed and reminisced about wars and conquests from another time, long ago but not forgotten. This wasn’t their first adventure. I had a feeling it wouldn’t be their last.
It was hard to keep track of time on the ship. It was as if it was its own clock. We had been traveling for hours in total darkness. When night lifted, the morning star shined down upon us like a beacon of light.
A chunk of land became visible. An island, floating just a few yards ahead of us. It wasn’t there, and then it was. At its highest point stood a lighthouse made of stone and glass. Just below that was a sprawling villa, milky white and drenched in ivy. It was spectacular.
My mouth dropped open. “Where are we?”
Seven’s eyes lit up. “In the Sea of Magia. And that is the sacred Hall of Secrets.”
I wasn’t sure what I was more in awe of, the richness and beauty of this angelic island or the fact that Seven’s ship managed to get us here and past its cloaking spell.
My skin tingled as its magic glided over me. A new energy shot through me as I wondered what strange and unusual secrets we would find. Before my mind could wander any further, a figure emerged on shore like an apparition.
Seven sucked in a sharp breath. “The Keeper.”
I was expecting an old man. I imagined he would’ve had the appearance of a monk or a priest. Instead, he had a youthful face. His brown hair was cut short, revealing scalp. He was slender, but with broad shoulders and a square jaw.
Dressed in all black, his rolled-up sleeves and open collar revealed he was covered in tattoos. I tried to decipher their meaning, but the symbols and markings were unfamiliar. His eyes were clear and bright. He was neither young nor old. He just was.
The Keeper didn’t speak as he motioned for us to follow him. The villa sprawled across the hills in the distance. The island it was on was massive. It was hard to believe he lived here by himself. A burden or a blessing? In loneliness, you have no attachments. No one to cling to, but also no one to lose.
We followed him through several gardens filled with foliage I had never seen before. The colors were so bright and vivid, they didn’t look real. He took us down paths lined with fully grown trees that were smaller than the palm of my hand. Emerald leaves covered the ground like a blanket. They didn’t crunch underneath our feet but were soft and spongy.
We also passed larger trees that stood over ten feet tall. Red and purple flowers hung from their branches like wind chimes. Each gentle gust of wind exuded scents of jasmine and ho
neysuckle, dark chocolate, black pepper, and lemon meringue pie.
We crossed over a dozen stone bridges as we made our way higher up the hill. The temperature changed with each step. The air became cooler, icier, as we climbed in elevation. The ground was covered in snow and slush. Skeleton trees lined the path before us. All those rich colors were gone without a trace.
Approaching the gates of the villa, the snow liquified and the sun shone down on us once again, melting the ice crystals from our hair and clothes. I was dumbfounded. The Keeper regarded my confusion.
“Elemental magic.” His voice was low and wistful.
I still didn’t understand. “Forgive me, but I thought only Witches could do magic.”
The Keeper smiled. “Magic needs only a vessel, and not all vessels are called Witch.”
His words lingered as I struggled to find the meaning behind them.
Seven stopped us at the gates. “This is as far as I go, my friends. Valentina, my lovely, until we meet again.” They embraced, and he gave her a soft peck on the forehead.
“Gray, it was a pleasure.” Seven looked me up and down, much to Aldric’s annoyance. “Aldric, you are a lucky man.” Seven chuckled as he made his way back down the hill.
Aldric rolled his eyes and began to mutter something under his breath.
The Keeper raised his hands. “Come, we have work to do.”
Nine
The Hall of Secrets was much more than a hall. The Keeper walked us through endless hallways, secret passageways, and spacious libraries holding books from floor to ceiling. There were hidden doors and staircases that went in every direction. He even took us down to the underground catacombs. They were damp, musty, and a bit unnerving.
The Keeper gave us a brief history as we walked. He explained how the Hall was built on sacred ground. That it contained everything from history books, potions, talismans, and ancient scrolls. This was the center of all things that belonged to our world. It was his duty to protect it, just as The Keepers did before him.
We ended our tour at a small room near the entrance. It was warm and inviting. A green couch sat in front of a stone fireplace, next to a couple of brown leather chairs. Their arms had begun to crack and wear from being gripped. A dark wood coffee table stood in the center.
The Keeper motioned for us to take a seat. His eyes glowed from the firelight as he spoke. “First, to move forward, you must come to terms with your own secrets. All of you.” His eyes burned into mine. “There is much at stake. You must be willing to sacrifice your own desires for the greater good. The Sang Magi is our most sacred text. It was taken from me.” His face twisted in agony.
Valentina nodded. “We know the Consilium has it, but how?”
His eyes darkened. “Pythia. She spent some time here. I didn’t know…she was already working for Tobias.”
My stomach turned. “I will get it back for you. I promise.”
His expression softened. “I have no doubt, but you are not ready. Not yet.”
The Keeper turned to Aldric for the first time since we had arrived. “You are a Bannister Witch. Just awakened, but I can sense your power. I know you wish to link with Gray. For you, becoming a Dhampir will not be difficult. Painful, but not difficult. Be sure it’s what you truly want. There is no undoing it.”
Aldric’s eyes darted around the room as he shifted in his seat. It never occurred to me that he could be having second thoughts again. His face was pale and clammy.
Sensing the uneasiness, The Keeper showed us to our rooms. We followed him down another hallway on the opposite side of the Hall. He brought us into an alcove with three doors.
“Get some rest. We’ll begin your training in the morning.” With that, he disappeared around the corner.
Valentina stumbled into one of the rooms as she mumbled something that sounded like “goodnight.” Aldric lingered in front of the second door. Butterflies swam in my stomach. I was nervous. He had remained quiet all night. It worried me.
His fingers fumbled nervously as he ran a hand through his hair. The awkward tension was palpable. I swallowed hard. “So, um, do you—”
“Goodnight, Gray.”
My heart sank. Why was he being distant? I was too tired to persist, though. All I could muster was a nod. Closing the door behind me, I couldn’t help but wonder if he was ready for all this. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.
The morning light came in sharper than I had anticipated. The sun was brighter here. Elemental magic. I still didn’t understand how it worked. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to. A knock at the door broke my train of thought. My heart leaped, then sank.
Valentina’s voice was hoarse and unsteady. “Gray, can I come in?”
I sighed, disappointed, but waved her in. She poked her head through the door, her red curls sprawling across her shoulders like ribbons. There was something about the way she crept in, with her back hunched and head lowered. It was a stark contrast to her usual perfect posture.
A familiar prickle traveled up my spine. “Val, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes darted around the room. “I spent all night thinking about what The Keeper said. About secrets. We all have them, but mine might be the worst. We need to talk about that night, Gray. The night you woke up.”
A wave of nausea hit me. That was the last memory I wanted to revisit. “There’s nothing to talk about. Dragos helped Pythia put me in a coma for three years. You protected me until I woke up. End of story.”
Valentina’s face tensed, tightening her cheeks and jaw. “Well…I may have left out a few details.”
My stomach turned. I didn’t want to know the details. I didn’t want to hear about Dragos anymore. “It doesn’t matter now. Can we please move past this?”
“No. You need to know how you woke up. I’m sorry, but I lied. You didn’t wake up on your own. There was a Witch who broke the spell. She wanted to help. Please, don’t be mad at me.”
A sharp knife twisted in my gut. “Who was the Witch?”
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her words floated out, just above a whisper. “It was Jane. Your mother broke the spell.”
The room spun around me. My knees trembled as I struggled to remain upright. With fists clenched, I paced around the room like a lunatic. I wanted to throw her against a wall. Valentina eyed me like a hawk. I was on the verge of losing it.
“Why Jane? Knowing what she did to me, how could you call her?”
Valentina drew in a sharp breath. “I was desperate. There were other Witches that tried, but the spell was too strong. I needed you to wake up. I didn’t want to be alone anymore.”
Her voice trailed off into sobs. Throughout four centuries, I had never seen her like this before.
My heart ached, but my anger subsided. “How did you know she would come? That she wouldn’t betray us?”
Valentina sniffled and plopped down on my bed. “I didn’t. But I was out of options. She came right when I called her, and she left just as quick. She begged me not to tell you. She said it was best if you didn’t know.”
Valentina was terrible at keeping secrets. The fact that she kept this from me for this long proved to me just how manipulative Jane really was. I couldn’t blame Valentina for this.
“Thank you for finally telling me. I know how hard that was for you.”
Valentina wiped the tears from her cheeks. “So, you forgive me?”
I sighed. “Of course. But don’t ever keep something like that from me again. Especially when it comes to Jane. She can’t be trusted.”
She threw her arms around me in a fit of relief. “I promise. Never again.”
I wanted to believe her, but I knew that promises were hard to keep in this world.
The Keeper waited for me in the study. He relaxed in a chair by the fire. “Cup of tea?” Aromas of sage and lavender wafted from his cup. It reminded me of England. I was a long way from there now.
I shook my head. “I need something stronger.”
&nbs
p; The Keeper nodded and left the room. He came back moments later with a carafe of blood.
I licked my lips as the dark red liquid slid down my throat.
By the way he watched me in quiet contemplation, I could tell this wasn’t the first time he had catered to my kind. His eyes held many secrets. Flickers of magic, and something even more ancient than that.
He smiled as if he could read my thoughts. “Let us begin.”
Ten
There were many things I needed to come to terms with. Things I needed to confront. I have laughed in the face of chaos and found fleeting moments of joy, but the anger was always bubbling right below the surface. It threatened to destroy every shard of light.
The Keeper took me on an extended tour of the libraries, describing in detail the history of our kind. Some of it was familiar and some was not. I knew that we were created by Apollo, and that the Witches came from his twin sister, Diana. I also knew that our two races were connected because of them. What I didn’t know was that Tobias believed that linking us with blood magic was the only way we could attain salvation. The only way we could ascend and return home to the gods.
Tobias’s intentions might be noble, but his methods were insane, and I doubted the gods would welcome him with open arms. Turning people against their will and forcing them to link, where was the salvation in that? The irony was that we would have to do just that to beat him at his own game.
The Keeper came to a halt outside an ornate wooden door. “The ceremony room. This is where you will link with Aldric.”
I stepped inside and let out a gasp. A large oak tree grew in the center of the room. Its branches twisted up through the ceiling. The ground was submerged in water, with only narrow bridges to navigate around. They were built in a star shaped pattern surrounding the oak tree.
The only light in the room came from hundreds of torches that ran across every wall. It took my breath away. The magic was heavy. It was as if the room had its own heartbeat.
Blood and Magic (Blood and Darkness Book 1) Page 7
