‘Information?’ Ash’s brow rose questioningly. ‘I can’t imagine any information you have would be of value to me, certainly not enough to cancel out the debt owed.’
‘Even if it involves Thomas’ son?’ he replied.
‘Thomas’ son is dead,’ Ash answered carefully. ‘He was lost to the Void, after the collapse of one of the Otherworld realities caused by your destruction of the crossroad. In fact, Thomas is very, very angry with you. Last I heard you had moved up to the very top of his ‘people to destroy’ list, which is impressive. You rank even higher than Azariel right now and those two have been trying to kill each other for nearly two thousand years.’
‘What if I was to tell you not only is Thomas’ son alive, but that I know how to find him?’
‘You lie,’ Cyrus hissed.
Ash held up his hand, his gaze still firmly fixed on Nathaniel as Cyrus once again fell silent.
‘Well you certainly have my attention,’ Ash rubbed his bottom lip with the pad of his thumb, his eyes narrowing sharply on Nathaniel. ‘You may continue.’
‘I will tell you how to find him but I want something in return,’ he answered shrewdly. He knew he had something Ash wanted badly, no matter how cool he played it.
Ash indicated for him to continue.
‘One of my associates was captured at the crossroad by Hades; I understand he is being held in the catacombs below Hades palace. I need you to help him escape.’
‘I assume you’re talking about that filth Zachary,’ Cyrus smirked. ‘Let him rot; I heard Hades has been amusing himself by cutting off pieces of him with a blunt knife.’
Sabine hissed violently and started forward her hands outstretched like claws, as if she intended to scratch his eyes out. Cyrus snarled in return, his wings snapping out into their full raised wingspan, his body crouched in an aggressive stance, braced ready for a fight.
‘Go ahead little demon whore, try for me and I will rip that pretty face of yours clean off,’ Cyrus taunted.
‘I really wouldn’t,’ Ash sighed. ‘Nathaniel keep your little pet under control, she really is no match for Cyrus. I myself have seen him dispatch an entire army by himself. I wouldn’t anger him.’
Nathaniel thrust Sabine back toward her sister.
‘Keep her under control Saffire, or I will make you both suffer for it,’ he whispered ominously. ‘Now is not the time for your disobedience.’
Saffire grasped Sabine and pulled her close, her eyes burning as darkly as her sister’s.
‘Of course,’ she grated from between clenched teeth.
Nathaniel turned back to Ash.
‘Well?’
‘It would not be easy,’ Ash mused, ‘but it can be done.’
‘You’re not seriously considering risking everything for Zachary?’ Cyrus replied incredulously.
‘You have proof that he is still alive?’ Ash’s eyes narrowed.
Nathaniel stepped closer, opening his palm. A small vortex of vivid green demon smoke swirled in his palm and when it parted it revealed a clear glass sphere, inside of which was a moving picture, a memory of Sam standing by the water’s edge talking to Olivia.
‘Incredible,’ Ash stared into the sphere, ‘he looks older, but it’s definitely Samuel.’ Ash looked up at Nathaniel, ‘how is it he looks older? He was not much more than a boy when he fell into the Void.’
‘He’s a time traveler.’
‘Impossible,’ Cyrus scoffed.
‘It isn’t,’ Nathaniel replied evenly, ‘he can translocate through time.’
‘No sentinel has ever been able to translocate across time.’
‘He can,’ he shrugged, ‘I’ve seen him do it.’
‘This is perfect,’ Ash began to laugh slowly, leaning back on his throne thoughtfully, ‘a sentinel that can translocate through time. Azariel will have a fit when he finds out. He will stop at nothing to kill Samuel and Thomas will do anything to protect his precious son and legacy. This could be exactly what I have been waiting for.’
Nathaniel stood silently, knowing he’d won and trying not to gloat. He’d hooked him, now he just had to reel him in.
‘Very well,’ Ash stood, ‘I’ll return your precious Zachary to you, although in what condition, I can’t guarantee you.’
‘With a pulse will do,’ Nathaniel replied coolly. ‘For what I have in mind, he doesn’t need to look pretty.’
‘Fine,’ he agreed, ‘once I have him we’ll meet back here and you will give me the location of Samuel and your word not to reveal any information about him to anyone.’
‘Agreed,’ Nathaniel nodded.
‘The same goes for your companions,’ Ash warned.
‘Agreed,’ Saffire spoke up, squeezing her sister’s arm so tightly her nails drew blood.
‘Agreed,’ Sabine finally answered, still glaring hatefully at Cyrus.
Nathaniel turned to leave, following Sabine and Saffire to the edge of the dome.
‘I mean it Nathaniel,’ Ash warned, his voice was low and deadly, causing Nathaniel to pause and turn back toward him. ‘The minute anyone else finds out Samuel is still alive he becomes worthless to me; if that happens I will kill Zachary and then I’m coming after you.’
Tammy Burnett had had a long day; being the Mayor of Mercy was certainly no cake walk. It had been one long miserable, frustrating day of listening to a never ending list of complaints and soothing ruffled feathers. In fact all she’d been thinking about for hours was getting back to her apartment, and slipping into a hot bubble bath surrounded by candles, with Sarah McLaughlin playing quietly in the background, a glass of Merlot in one hand and a romance novel in the other.
Finally and blissfully alone, with only her cat Jules for company, she shed her thick robe, hanging it on the back of her bathroom door; the scent of vanilla and apple blossom hung heavily in the air and the softly flickering candles danced in the darkened room.
She slowly lifted one foot and stepped into her old Victorian claw footed tub. Stepping in more fully she sat down, drawing in a quick breath as her skin became accustomed to the hot temperature of the water. Leaning back into the water and surrounded by bubbles, she let out a long sigh of pure unadulterated bliss. Jules leapt up and sat on the closed toilet seat, watching her with vivid green eyes.
She’d just relaxed into the water and closed her eyes when suddenly she heard a loud pounding at her apartment door. Frowning, she looked across to her closed bathroom door, as if she could see right through it. Why the hell was someone pounding on her door at this hour? She hadn’t buzzed anyone in, maybe it was one of her neighbors. She groaned in dismay, she really didn’t want to deal with anyone else's problems tonight. Maybe if she just ignored them, they’d think she wasn’t in and go away.
She closed her eyes again, enjoying the soothing lap of the water against her skin. After a few moments the pounding came again. Growling in frustration she hauled herself out of the water and not bothering to dry herself off she grabbed her robe and wrapped it around her damp body, jerking open the door viciously.
Striding across her apartment she yanked the door open to find the one person she’d been successfully avoiding for the past few weeks standing nonchalantly on the other side.
Mac’s gaze raked slowly down her body from her pinned up tousled hair to her pink toenails, taking in her robe and her flushed, damp skin.
‘You didn’t even check the peephole before you opened the door did you?’ his blue eyes narrowed accusingly.
‘Layton,’ she frowned, ‘I didn’t buzz you in. How did you get up here?’
‘Exactly,’ he replied, ‘I could have been anyone.’
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked in confusion.
‘Yeah, about that, sorry I’m late; I got held up at work.’
She stepped back in surprise as he marched into her apartment, with a pillow under one arm, a sleeping bag under the other and a large duffel bag slung over one s
houlder.
‘Where should I put my stuff?’
‘Your stuff?’ she repeated slowly, ‘I’m not sure I understand…’
‘I guess here’s fine,’ he replied as if she’d not spoken at all.
She watched in confusion as he stacked the sleeping bag and pillow at the end of her couch before dropping his bag down on the ground and taking a seat.
‘God it’s been a long day,’ he groaned.
‘Layton,’ she frowned, ‘I don’t know what game you think you’re playing but now isn’t a good time. I’m tired and as you can see I was about to have a bath.’
‘Go ahead,’ he grinned, the creases in his cheeks deepening as his blue eyes twinkled mischievously, ‘don’t mind me. Besides it’s not as if I haven’t seen you naked.’
‘That’s not the point,’ she replied in annoyance as she tightened her robe. ‘What do you want?’
‘That’s a loaded question right now,’ he muttered as his eyes drifted to her exposed legs.
‘Layton,’ she snapped, ‘will you please focus. What are you doing in my apartment?’
‘Moving in,’ he smiled widely, ‘so the only question is, which side of the bed do you want, roomie?’
Tammy sucked in a deep breath, pinching her nose and breathing out through her mouth as she tried to rein her temper in.
‘Layton I swear to God I am going to bash your head in with my tiffany lamp any moment now. The only thing stopping me is that it happens to be one of my favorites. Now I suggest you start talking and this time, try making some sense.’
‘I had a very long, very interesting conversation with your brother a couple of hours ago.’
‘Theo?’ her forehead wrinkled in concern, ‘is he okay? Is Olivia okay? What happened?’
‘Everything’s fine,’ he held up his hands reassuringly, ‘no one’s hurt, injured, missing, kidnapped, unconscious, or dead…yet…’ he muttered the last part under his breath.
‘Then what’s going on?’
‘Why don’t you take a seat?’ he patted the couch next to him, ‘and I’ll fill you in.’
Tammy’s eyes narrowed suspiciously and she took a seat primly on the opposite chair.
‘So fill me in then.’
‘Okay then,’ Mac leaned back letting out a tired breath as he scratched the back of his neck. ‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed but some pretty weird stuff has been going on around here lately.’
‘There’s always pretty weird stuff going on in Mercy,’ Tammy replied dryly.
‘Believe me I get that,’ he smiled, ‘but this is more. It’s like it’s building towards something. Jake’s mind reading thing is getting worse.’
‘Worse how?’ she frowned, ‘do you mean stronger?’
‘Yes,’ he nodded, ‘he says it’s been getting stronger and harder to control, particularly over the couple of months or so.’
‘Since Olivia and Theo got back?’
‘Yeah,’ Mac frowned, ‘that’s what I figured, but it’s not just Jake. Even Theo says his visions have been getting stronger. He’s been having dreams,’ Mac told her softly. ‘He saw both you and Olivia at Boothe’s Hollow with Nathaniel. He said you…that you were…’
‘That I had my throat slit?’ she replied calmly, ‘that he had to choose between me and Olivia and their children.’
‘You know?’ Mac frowned in confusion, ‘how?’
‘You seem to forget that I have the same gift as Theo, only I’ve had more time to hone my skills. My visions are strong but they are also very clear. Not only that but I can control how far ahead I see.’
‘You knew?’ Mac repeated angrily.
‘Yes, I knew,’ Tammy sighed, ‘and Theo is right. At some point Olivia and I will end up at Boothe’s Hollow and that’s where I will die.’
‘No,’ Mac shook his head, ‘why the hell didn’t you say something?’
‘Because there is nothing you can do,’ she rose restlessly, needing to put some distance between the two of them. ‘I’ve tried looking further but I can’t see beyond the end of my own lifespan. I die at Boothe’s Hollow and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.’
‘The hell I can’t,’ Mac rose angrily from the couch, ‘you should have told me.’
‘Why?’ she snapped, ‘so you can get yourself killed trying to protect me?’ her eyes blazed darkly as her voice dropped to a whisper. ‘I told you before…I won’t have your blood on my hands.’
‘Jesus Christ Tammy,’ Mac raked his hands through his hair in frustration, ‘so what? You’re just going to give up; on you and me; on life? You’re just going to sit around and wait for the son of a bitch Nathaniel to come for you?’
‘I don’t have a choice,’ she shook her head; ‘I’m living on stolen time anyway.’
‘What the hell are you talking about?’
‘I should have died back in Salem, but I didn’t. Theo, Olivia and Sam all interfered. I wasn’t supposed to be here; I was supposed to die when I was nine years old. This is just fate’s way of putting things back the way they’re supposed to be.’
‘That’s just bullshit and you know it,’ he replied, ‘so tell me the real reason.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ she replied stiffly.
‘Yes you do.’
‘Look,’ Tammy replied coolly, ‘I don’t need you barging into my home and yelling at me. This is the way things are, they can’t be changed. I’m not afraid to die.’
‘No,’ he replied quietly, ‘you’re afraid to live.’
‘I’m not,’ she whispered.
‘Yes you are,’ he moved closer to her as she watched him warily.
‘You don’t understand,’ Tammy shook her head.
‘Then explain it to me.’
‘If I live, Olivia dies,’ Tammy snapped, ‘that’s what the visions have shown me. Theo needs Olivia, he doesn’t need me.’
‘I need you,’ Mac closed the distance between them, taking her face in his hands, ‘why can’t you see that. It’s always been you, no matter how hard you fought me... I love you, why can’t you accept that?’ he whispered. ‘Why can’t you just trust me?’
He glanced down into her confused eyes and suddenly he understood. She’d never had the chance to know her mother, she’d been raised by an abusive alcoholic father, who turned out to not be her real father, not to mention one brother who was a twisted, mentally unstable Witchfinder and another brother, who loved her, but was desperately unhappy trying to deal with an unstable wife suffering from Schizophrenia. She’d been pulled out of time and dumped down in the modern world with no one she could talk to or confide in, trying to adapt to a world so different from her own and at the same time hide her gift of premonition. All the men in her life had let her down whether by accident or design. She’d never let anyone in; never had someone to take care of her. Her life had been one long stream of abandonment, so much so that she had no sense of her own worth. She couldn’t bring herself to trust that her life had value.
‘I love you Temperance,’ he whispered. ‘I have loved you from the first moment I saw you and I will love you until the day I die.’
Her eyes widened and her lip trembled; he’d called her by her real name. She’d always been Tammy to him, a person who didn’t really exist. Her breath caught and her throat burned hot with an emotion she couldn’t name and didn’t know how to deal with, but for a moment it felt like he saw her, really saw her.
‘Layton,’ her voice cracked and she shook her head unable to find the words.
‘Theo will take care of Olivia, she will be fine, she always is,’ Mac told her, ‘but Temperance, I’m not quitting on you, no matter what you do or say. I will stand right beside you, or if Nathaniel comes after you, right in front of you.’
‘You can’t…’
‘If Nathaniel wants you, he’s going to have to go through me,’ he told her stubbornly.
‘But the visions,’
she shook her head, ‘the future I saw...’
‘Can be re-written,’ Mac told her. ‘In the future that I see Temperance,’ he stroked her face softly, ‘we grow old together.’
‘Don’t…’ her voice choked in her throat and her eyes burned with tears, ‘Nathaniel will kill you.’
‘No he won’t,’ Mac smiled down at her, ‘but let’s look at this logically, knowing what we do. If you’re right and Nathaniel kills me and then succeeds in killing you at least we’ll die together, but if I’m right we all stand together, defeat the demon, then you and I get to live happily ever after. We might not get to have children of our own now, but thanks to your brother and Olivia, we’ll have a niece and nephew to spoil outrageously.’
‘You seem so sure,’ a tear slid down her cheek tipping over onto his fingers.
‘I am,’ he wiped away her tears gently. ‘I won’t leave you Temperance, no matter what happens; don’t ask me to stand back and do nothing because I can’t. So until this is all dealt with and the book is safe and the demon is dead, I’m going to take my pillow and my sleeping bag and I’m going to camp out on your couch for as long as it takes. Consider me your guard dog.’
‘Layton,’ she leaned into his body, feeling the warmth and strength of him as he wrapped his arms around her, soothed by the deep gravelly timbre of his voice. ‘What am I going to do with you, you stubborn man?’ she sighed.
Mac’s mouth curved into a smile.
‘Marry me eventually I hope.’
20.
Olivia sat on the steps leading down into her back yard, overlooking the lake. Pulling her sweater tighter against the chill coming off the water, she wrapped her hands comfortingly around her cup of tea. The sun was starting to dip lower in the sky with the onset of evening, making the water sparkle like it was covered with fireflies.
The huge stone gateway still speared up from the lake, but she was becoming accustomed to seeing it everytime she looked out of the window or stepped outside. Even though the intrusive whispering had now dulled to a more manageable level the gateway didn’t seem to be going anywhere.
The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum Page 182
