‘I know,’ she murmured, ‘I know.’
He leaned his head against hers as a tear slid down his face. She ran her fingers through his hair and just sat with him staring down at Logan’s peaceful face.
‘Theo,’ Justin laid his hand comfortingly on his other shoulder, ‘you need to move. The house is burning now.’
Theo raised his sorrow filled face long enough to see his childhood home engulfed in flames and with it all his memories both the good and the bad.
‘It doesn’t matter anymore,’ he muttered, ‘they’re all gone now anyway, there’s no one left to care.’
‘I know,’ Justin replied sympathetically, ‘but the smoke will bring others and as far as anyone will know, you died in that fire. We can’t risk anyone seeing you.’
‘Theo,’ Olivia stroked his head gently, ‘he’s right. We’ve damaged the timeline enough.’
‘It doesn’t feel right just leaving him like this.’
‘I will take good care of him,’ Justin told him, ‘you have my word.’
‘Theo,’ James leaned over Logan’s body and grasped his forearm, ‘take the girls back to my house. Justin and I will take care of Logan, I promise.’
Theo looked up at his father and nodded slowly. Olivia’s heart broke again as Theo wrapped his arms around his brother and held him tightly. Cupping the back of his head in his hand he pressed him into the crook of his neck, tears spilling silently from his closed eyes. He rocked him for a several long seconds before pressing a kiss to his forehead.
‘Goodbye brother,’ he whispered as his voice cracked, ‘be at peace.’
He laid him gently on the ground and stood up. His gaze swept the grounds surrounding the house, the barn had collapsed into a smoldering pile of ash and the main house still burned. Nathaniel and Isabel were both gone and Stephen’s discarded body lay crumpled on the ground.
‘Where is Zachary?’ Theo asked in a deadly voice.
‘He’s gone,’ Olivia told him. ‘He crawled away while we were distracted.’
‘We’ll find him,’ Justin told him, ‘but judging from the hit he took from Olivia I’d say he’s crawled away to lick his wounds. We probably won’t hear from him for a while. It will be safe to take the girls back to James’ house.’
Theo nodded. Olivia turned to the two little girls standing to one side. Hester was calmly staring at Olivia, her arms cradling some sort of journal to her chest whilst her sister stood behind her with her arms wrapped around her protectively.
‘Hey,’ she dropped down in front of them and smiled carefully. ‘I guess you are both pretty scared and confused right now.’
‘I know who you are,’ Hester spoke up.
‘You do?’
‘You’re her daughter aren’t you?’ she replied.
‘Yes I am,’ Olivia sighed. There wasn’t much point in lying to them now, not when she needed their cooperation.
Bridget gasped and pulled Hester further away from her.
‘I’m not going to hurt you,’ Olivia held up her hands slowly, ‘I just want to get you someplace safe. Pretty soon there are going to be a lot of other people here and they are going to start asking questions.’
‘She won’t hurt us Bridey,’ Hester pulled herself free from her sister’s death like grip.
‘You don’t know that,’ she replied stubbornly.
‘Yes I do,’ she answered confidently.
‘What do you have there?’ Olivia asked curiously, indicting the journal in Hester's hands.
‘I found it in the barn,’ she held it out for Olivia to take. ‘It belonged to the other man, the one who looked like him.’ She pointed to Theo.
Olivia recognized the book as soon as Hester dropped it into her hands. She flipped it open to reveal journal entries and sketch after sketch signed TB. It was Theo’s journal. She’d found it hidden in a trunk in her house along with Hester’s journals when she’d first arrived back in Mercy. With a small smile she closed the book and handed it back to Hester.
‘Will you do something for me?’ she asked softly.
Hester tilted her head questioningly.
‘Will you look after this book?’ she told her, ‘it’s very important. You need to keep it safe.’
She nodded slowly.
‘Will you come with us?’
Hester looked at her for a moment before finally reaching out, tentatively taking Olivia’s hand.
‘Hess!’ Bridget hissed.
‘It’s alright Bridey,’ Hester looked up at Olivia and smiled shyly, ‘she’s mine.’
Olivia held out her other hand. Bridget stared at it as if it were a poisonous snake before ignoring it completely and walking past them and waiting. Sighing in resignation she turned and nodded to Theo and the four of them set out back across the field towards the woods and headed for James’ orchard.
It was well into morning by the time they arrived at the house, dirty tired and hungry. They sat the girls at the table while Theo found them something to eat and Olivia disappeared into the bedroom.
She stripped down quickly out of the borrowed men’s clothing she wore, removing the blood stained rags wrapped around various parts of her body where her wounds had been. Washing quickly in freezing cold water she pulled on the dress and petticoats she’d left behind and stepped back out into the main room in time to find Theo pouring out cups of warm spiced apple cider.
She sat down at the table opposite the two dark haired girls and sipped slowly from the cup Theo passed her, feeling the delicious liquid warm her weary body. Theo sank down onto the bench next to her and she slipped her hand in his reassuringly. They sat in companionable silence for a while but Theo didn’t drink, instead he sat and stared blankly at the cup.
‘You haven’t asked us about the book,’ Hester piped up suddenly.
‘What?’ Olivia tore her concerned gaze from Theo and focused on the little girl who was studying her curiously.
‘Your mother wanted the book, she didn’t say it but I knew.’
‘Hess!’ Bridget kicked her under the table in warning.
‘It’s alright Bridey trust me, it’s meant to be hers, not Isabel’s.’
‘I don’t want the book,’ Olivia sighed.
Hester nodded, her gaze serious as it locked on Olivia.
‘That’s why it’s meant to be yours.’
‘I really don’t want it,’ Olivia whispered.
‘We don’t get to choose our destiny, it chooses us,’ Hester replied sadly. ‘That’s what Mama always said.’
‘I’m so sorry about your mother,’ Olivia shook her head. ‘I was your age when I was told my mother was dead and although it wasn’t true I thought it was for a long time. I know how painful it is.’
‘She would have wanted us to help you,’ Hester replied, ‘she was always helping people.’
‘And look where that got her,’ Bridget interrupted bitterly, ‘she’s dead.’
‘Don’t do that Bridget,’ Theo told her sharply, ‘your mother was a good woman. She wanted to see the best in people, she trusted in them and that is a trait too few people have. What happened to her was not her fault. Yes, she trusted the wrong person. Isabel West has taken from all of us but your mother loved you, she gave her life to save you. So if you hold onto anything, hold onto her love for you, not your bitter feelings or it will end up changing you.’
‘I want her back,’ Bridget’s lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears.
‘I know,’ he stood slowly as he walked around the table and knelt down to her level beside her. ‘I want my brother back too but they’re gone. All we can do is carry them with us for the rest of our lives and then a part of them will live too.’
Bridget threw her arms around him and buried her tiny face in his neck and sobbed. Theo wrapped his arms around her and picking her up he settled down on the bench next to Hester with Bridget in his lap and rocked her slowly while she purged herself of her gri
ef.
Olivia watched them both with sad eyes.
‘Olivia?’
She turned her gaze back to Hester.
‘Ask me about the book,’ she insisted.
Olivia shook her head slowly.
‘Ask me.’
Olivia blew out a resigned but reluctant breath.
‘Is it even real?’ she asked, ‘or is it just a myth.’
‘It’s real,’ Hester nodded.
‘Where is it?’ Olivia finally asked.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Sorry?’
‘It’s hard to explain,’ Hester frowned, ‘it’s in a different place for each of us.’
‘I’m not sure I follow,’ Olivia shook her head in confusion.
‘All mother said was when you are ready to find it, the book will find you.’
‘That’s it?’ Olivia replied incredulously, ‘it will find me?’
She nodded.
‘You’re different than the rest of us,’ Hester frowned. ‘Your threads are different, so are his,’ she nodded in Theo’s direction as he continued to soothe Bridget gently.
‘Threads? How? How are they different?’
Hester yawned tiredly.
‘You both need some sleep,’ Olivia looked over at Theo who nodded in silent agreement. Bridget had cried herself out and fallen asleep in Theo’s arms.
‘Come on,’ Olivia held out her hand for Hester.
They stood and followed Theo into the bedroom, watching silently as he settled the sleeping child in the bed and removed her shoes. Hester turned to Olivia and hugged her tightly.
‘I won’t see you again Olivia,’ she told her softly, ‘you’ll be gone when we wake but thank you for saving us.’
She nodded, unable to find adequate words.
Hester kicked off her own shoes and climbed up into the bed next to her sister, wrapping her arm tightly around her comfortingly.
‘We’ll be alright,’ she whispered sadly as she closed her eyes, although whether she was reassuring her sister or herself Olivia couldn’t tell.
She pulled the covers up over the girls and kissed each one of them gently in turn, before turning and creeping from the room.
She stepped back into the main room and Theo pulled her into his arms, kissing her roughly. She sank into him, wrapping her arms around him and losing herself to his kiss. By the time he pulled back they were both breathing hard as he pressed his forehead to hers.
‘Olivia,’ he breathed painfully.
That one word seemed to convey everything he was feeling, all the love and loss and relief rolled into one messy sticky ball of emotion.
‘I know,’ she whispered holding the hands that cupped her face tenderly, ‘I know.’
And she did, words weren’t needed between them, she knew exactly what he was trying to say even if he didn’t.
‘It’s time to go home Theo,’ she told him softly, ‘we can’t stay here any longer.’
‘I know,’ he whispered, ‘but how?’
‘I can get us home,’ she told him confidently, ‘we’ll stay and say goodbye to James and then we have to leave.’
He nodded looking up as the latch lifted and the door swung open. Both James and Justin walked in wearily, stopping abruptly when they saw them both.
‘Where are the children?’ James asked.
‘In bed sleeping,’ Olivia reassured him.
He watched Olivia and Theo quietly for a few moments. ‘You’re leaving aren’t you?’
‘Yes,’ Theo replied, ‘we have to.’
‘I wish we had more time,’ he swallowed painfully.
‘I do too,’ Theo stepped closer, ‘but I’m grateful for the time we had and I’m grateful I found out the truth.’
‘Are you?’
‘Yes,’ he nodded, ‘and I’m glad I had the chance to know you, to know that my father was a good man.’
‘Father?’ Justin replied startled.
‘Theo,’ James tried to speak but his voice caught in his throat.
Theo simply wrapped his arms around him and pulled him in, hugging him tightly.
‘I’m proud to call you father,’ he whispered.
‘Son,’ James wrapped his arms around him and held him as if he never wanted to let go.
‘Why don’t we give them a moment’ Olivia suggested to Justin, ‘you can help me.’
Nodding quietly, he followed her across the room. While James and Theo said their goodbyes Justin helped Olivia retrieve her backpack from beneath the floorboards. She also gathered up Hester’s Grimoire and Emmaline’s journal. When she was finally ready she approached James and Theo.
‘Olivia,’ James wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight, ‘I love you. You’ve been a daughter to me.’
‘I love you too,’ she hugged him back, her eyes filling with tears. ‘I’m going to miss you so much.’
‘I’ll miss you too,’ he smiled sadly. ‘I don’t suppose you’d be able to come back and visit?’
She shook her head slowly.
‘Once we leave I have to seal this timeline,’ she replied. ‘We can’t risk any more damage than it has already sustained. Once I seal it we can’t return but then again neither can my mother or Nathaniel. Sooner or later the other Nathaniel will resurface, but hopefully by then Hester will be old enough and powerful enough to deal with him.’
‘I will make sure they’re safe,’ Justin told her, ‘they are both under our protection now. I give you my word they will be safe and cared for.’
‘Thank you Justin.’
‘What about you father?’ Theo asked James, ‘will you be alright?’
‘I’ll be just fine,’ he smiled. ‘I know both you and your sister are out there and you are safe and happy. I can’t ask for more than that.’
Theo nodded.
‘Will you tell her? Temperance?’ James asked. ‘Will you tell her about me?’
‘Of course I will,’ Theo promised.
‘Tell her I love her and I want her to be happy.’
‘I will,’ Theo answered painfully.
‘I will be alright Theo,’ James assured him. ‘Justin has asked me to join the Veritas, to take Logan’s place in the secret order of the Men of Truth. We will make sure he is never forgotten, his name and the sacrifice he made will live forever in the order’s memory. We will guard against Nathaniel’s return and protect Olivia’s family.’
‘We will also find Zachary,’ Justin promised.
‘I guess this is goodbye then,’ Theo said quietly.
James nodded, he hugged them both one more time and then stepped back.
Theo picked up the backpack and hooked it over one shoulder before picking up the books and holding them tightly he reached for Olivia’s hand. She looked up at him as she pulled the Timedhal from the collar of her dress. Clutching it in her fist she breathed in, her eyes filling with tears as they locked on James.
She felt the Timedhal pulse in her hand, the metal growing warm under her touch, her voice barely more than a whisper.
‘Take us home…’
Part 3
The Present
Chapter 24.
‘You missed a spot.’
Roni put the paintbrush down and took a step back. Hand tucked on her hip and her head cocked to the side, her eyes narrowed as she studied her handiwork.
‘No I didn’t,’ she frowned and turned to see Jake smirking.
‘What color is this again?’ Jake asked.
‘It’s oatmeal.’
‘It’s beige.’
‘No,’ Roni replied slowly, ‘it’s oatmeal.’
‘How do you know Olivia will even like it? After all it’s her library.’
‘Are you kidding? Did you see what was in here before?’ her lips pursed thoughtfully. ‘Besides its neutral, it’s warm, its inviting, its…its…’
‘It’s beige,’ Jake supplied helpfully.
She threw him a dry look.
‘I thought you were supposed to be helping?’ she asked pointedly.
‘I am helping,’ he wiggled the roller in his hand.
She chuckled, shaking her head as she turned back to the wall.
‘So where is the bit I missed?’ she waved her hand dismissively. ‘Because I gotta tell you I’m just not seeing it.’
Jake dropped his roller back into the tray of paint and stepped closer to the wall, the side of his body innocently grazing hers.
‘It’s just…about…here,’ at the last minute he turned his head angling his face away from the wall and crashing his lips down on hers.
She dropped the paintbrush and wound her arms around his neck, turning slightly so their bodies aligned. It wasn’t fair, nobody should be this good at kissing. Every time his lips met hers every single intelligent thought drained from her head, in fact she was sure her IQ even dropped a few points. His hand snaked up and grasped the nape of her neck, squeezing then releasing gently until chills danced the length of her spine, before he tilted her head slightly allowing him better access to taste her. He bit down gently on her lower lip and she was helpless against the low moan which caught deep in her throat…totally worth the IQ points.
His hands skimmed down her spine, leaving her skin tingling in their wake. He lifted her easily and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He pressed her back against the wet freshly painted wall leaving long strokes of color down the back of her hair and shirt. Her hands slid under the hem of his shirt, feeling ridges and hard muscle as her fingertips lightly scraped his smooth flesh.
‘Ahem,’ a throat cleared behind them.
They both froze.
Roni’s eyes widened on Jake’s face as they broke apart. They both slowly turned their heads to find Olivia and Theo staring at them in amusement.
‘I totally called it,’ she whispered to Theo, ‘you owe me twenty bucks.’
‘Something we should know about?’ Theo’s mouth twitched as he looked at Jake who still had Roni pinned to the wall with her legs wrapped around him.
They continued to stare speechlessly, eyes wide in shock as Olivia leaned slowly to the side, glancing around them.
‘Is that a butt print on my wall?’ her eyes narrowed.
The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum Page 151
