She shrugged whilst flapping her hand towards me, as if to show that it was nothing on her part. When I turned towards Gabriel, expecting him to echo my words of appreciation, I found his eyes were hard and his expression firm. Now that there was just the three of us, I couldn’t escape the animosity emanating from him as he stared at her, causing me to wonder what their history was.
Deciding that it was irrelevant for the moment, I turned towards Eris. ‘Who are you?’
She tutted dramatically. ‘Did you not tell her about me Gabriel?’ She feigned being hurt. ‘At least tell me you told her I was coming?’
‘She is the one I sent for.’
I recalled the conversation, and knew that if I had known how beautiful she was then, my outburst may well have been worse, if that was at all possible. I recognised how much I had changed by the fact that I no longer cared, although maybe some of that had to do with how Gabriel looked at her with distain.
‘Ana. I suppose you could call Ris…Eris my sister in law.’ He placed his arm protectively around my shoulder.
I couldn’t help but stare. It wasn’t that he had been married, I had already guessed as much, or even that Eris was his sister in law. It was just impossible to understand how he could feel such animosity for someone who was family, especially when I had so few relatives of my own.
‘Pleased to meet you,’ I said, holding out my hand. I had been brought up to mind my manners, whatever the situation.
Eris grinned as she took my hand. ‘She really is quite funny.’ I didn’t understand what I had done. Maybe his kind didn’t shake hands.
‘You can see the problem.’ Gabriel indicated to me with a tilt of his head. ‘I called you because I want to know what harm it could cause her, and if anything can be done.’
‘Well you really have been bad Gabriel,’ she chastised him playfully. ‘I would never have thought you would have it in you to change someone as you have this poor girl.’
I was exhausted and filled with buried grief. Eris’ amusement was starting to grate.
‘It was an accident, Eris.’ Gabriel’s tone was warning. ‘You know very well I wouldn’t deliberately do something like this.’
She laughed. ‘Well a girl can live in hope can’t she?’
‘Well?’ he growled. He leant across the table towards her, with his fists clenched and his lip turned up. Why she was taunting him so much?
‘Well what?’ she asked innocently as she relaxed back in the chair. He remained rigid, though shocks stabbed at the air, as if his rage was made up of bolts of lightning that he was hurling her way.
‘Please don’t,’ I begged, gripping his arm. There had already been too much violence for one day.
‘You are a priestess,’ he snarled through gritted teeth. The tremors that rippled through his body as he tried to control himself were so violent, it was as if my teeth were being shaken out by the contact. ‘You have studied the ancient texts and I need you to tell me what is happening.’
‘Fine,’ she pouted, maybe able to see the danger she was creating for herself. ‘But to be honest Gabriel, all I know is that as with the Fae, it is irreversible.’
My throat closed up with panic. ‘Will I become like them?’
Eris smiled at me as if I was an infant. ‘Have you not told her anything?’
‘She knows how they were created.’
‘Good that’s a start then,’ she said. ‘You can’t become a Fae, that’s unless Gabriel was being extremely reckless.’ She smiled at him and winked. It was as if she really couldn’t help herself. ‘When Talamiis converted the children into the Fae, he did it by forcing his own genetic makeup into theirs, which in turn changed their DNA. That is not the case with you. Do you understand?’
I did, although I still didn’t grasp the implications. Gabriel obviously felt the same. ‘Will it harm her?’
‘Unlikely. But there is no known record of this ever happening before.’
‘How did it happen?’ he asked, echoing my exact thoughts.
‘I’m not sure anyone could answer that. Theoretically it isn’t possible.’
We fell into an awkward silence and I looked around the now clean kitchen, trying to banish the images that threatened to overwhelm me. My eyes returned to the table and I studied the sphere and dagger that were lying in the middle, the tool for all the destruction that had occurred. I reached over and picked the dagger up.
It was a dull, dark grey in colour, though polished, catching the lights in a similar way that my leather sofa did when freshly cleaned. Its width was about an inch, and it was extremely slim, maybe only a couple of millimetres thick. Including the handle that was big enough to grip in my fist, it was shorter than my forearm. But it was heavy, as if it was a fully sized sword instead of a small blade. The sides were wickedly sharp, so much so that I was sure that if I dropped a piece of cotton on it, it would slice right through without any problems. Both sides were inscribed with symbols that I had never seen before, rectangular in their design.
‘What does this say?’ I asked Gabriel, holding the blade out to him.
He carefully took it from me and turned it towards the light.
His lip curled as he read it. ‘The rough translation is the passage to life of the Fae.’
As I held out my hand to Gabriel to take the dagger back, Eris picked the sphere up and turned it around in her delicate hands.
‘You know there is only one person who could create this,’ Eris said as I took hold of the handle.
‘Who?’ I asked. I glanced towards her as I withdraw the blade and Gabriel hissed sharply. When I turned to him, I dropped the dagger in shock. ‘Oh my God,’ I breathed.
The single tear of blood that welled over his finger was so small compared to what I had seen so far, but the sight of it shook me to my core. The blade would have barely brushed him, but even if it had been thrust into his hand, he shouldn’t have had any sign of injury.
‘It is fine,’ he quickly reassured me. ‘See, it has already healed.’ He wiped his hand over the injury and held his finger out to show that he spoke the truth.
‘But how? You can’t be injured. I saw you stab yourself before, and it did nothing.’ Hysteria began to creep into my voice. It was something so small, but it was the last grain of sand that tipped the scale. I had had enough and I thought that I might well snap. ‘How is it that you are bleeding?’
‘Calm down.’ He took both my hands in one of his, while pushing the dangerous weapon into the middle of the table.
‘But how?’
‘I take it she doesn’t know about Daku.’ Eris grinned as she picked the blade up.
Gabriel kept his hands on mine and spoke softly, in a way that calmed the storm within. ‘Remember I said that we could not be harmed by any weapons known to man?’
I nodded.
‘Daku is a metal that can only be found deep beneath the earth’s surface, and it is rare enough that humans have not come across it yet. It is the only material that I cannot manipulate.’
‘But I don’t understand. Even if you can’t manipulate the dagger, why couldn’t you just move yourself around it like you did the kitchen knife?’
He sighed deeply and pressed his lips together as if he was deciding whether to tell me something. Eris watched us with interest.
‘Because when it has contact with us,’ he finally said. ‘We lose all our abilities. If in human form, we are effectively human, with human strength and speed, and we can be damaged as a human can be.’
‘So Daku is your kryptonite then?’ They both looked at me, frowning with confusion. ‘Never mind,’ I added. ‘Can I ask you something Eris?’
‘Of course,’ she responded, the playfulness back in her voice.
‘How is it that you could move the dagger and Gabriel couldn’t?’ Gabriel stiffened and clenched his hands together.
Eris sniggered. ‘She hit a sore spot there didn’t she Gabe.’ He glowered at her. ‘I’m a priestess,’ she said p
roudly. I looked at her blankly. ‘I trained for many of your lifetimes to learn the secrets of the elders and now I can manipulate pretty much anything with concentration. Gabriel here was also studying before….well before he stopped,’ she added, her voice dropping in volume.
‘You know why I did,’ he growled.
Eris hesitantly reached her hand towards him. ‘I’m sorry for what happened.’ Her voice was full of a gentleness I hadn’t heard her use yet.
I shifted in my seat and looked down at the table, aware I was witnessing a private exchange. She dropped her hand as if she had just become conscious I was there.
‘It’s all in the past now,’ she said. She beamed at me, though I was sure I could detect a sadness in her that was also betrayed by shadow in her eyes. ‘Anyhow, I had best take my leave.’ She jumped up fluidly. ‘It’s been fun and extremely interesting.’
Even though her words caused a spark of anger within me, I thought to ask if she wanted to stay, after all she had saved my life. But Gabriel sat in stony silence, ensuring the words never passed my lips.
She skipped lightly to the door. ‘Oh and Gabriel.’ She stopped and turned to face him. ‘Be careful. You know what will happen if they find out.’ With that final warning she was gone.
I turned towards him expectantly. ‘What did she mean by that?’
‘Nothing,’ he said, pulling me closer.
I didn’t believe that for one minute, but was beyond caring. ‘Where did she put Lexi?’ I asked.
‘Somewhere she will be found soon. She also thought to appear as Lexi in public, so that there will be no suspicion on us.’
I should have pushed to find out how Eris had changed her, and what cause of death she had staged, but I couldn’t bring myself to deal with the lie right now. ‘I’m going to bed,’ I said instead.
Neglecting to brush my teeth, I slipped under the covers, hoping to be instantly swept away into oblivion. I was disappointed. As I lay there, flashes played across my mind. Every time I tried to direct my thoughts, they returned to Lexi and how I had caused her death.
I heard the knocking sound before I realised that it was the echo of my teeth chattering. My whole body was frozen as if I had been out in the snow all day, leaving my hands and feet so numb I couldn’t feel them. Gabriel held me tenderly within his arms, tucking the covers up around us. I didn’t cry. I wanted to, if only to release the knot in my chest, but for once my tears wouldn’t fall, instead choosing to stay locked inside.
Chapter 11
I spent the next day in a haze. Gabriel cooked, but I didn’t eat. He tried to engage me in conversation, but I wasn’t interested. I sat on the sofa with my arms wrapped around my legs, staring off into space, not really thinking of anything, but allowing all my thoughts to flow over my mind, each one never quite catching hold. Sometimes I would feel as if grief was going to overwhelm me, but then numbness would spread over my mind, signifying that Gabriel was trying to dull my pain.
At ten, I turned on the night news to find the story of a hit and run several miles from my home. The name of the victim wasn’t released, but I knew it was Lexi and a pressure built up in my chest until I thought I might explode. When I went to bed, I lay with Gabriel’s arms around me, not able to sleep until the early hours.
I awoke after only a couple of hours fitful sleep, with my lips pressed together in order to contain the scream that my nightmares caused. As if it hadn’t been awful enough living through it the first time, my mind wanted to assault me with the memories once again.
Taking care not to disturb Gabriel, I slipped out of bed and made my way downstairs. I avoided looking at the photo of Lexi and I, taken on one of our rare nights out, and collected all my Uni books before settling onto the sofa.
At seven thirty there was a light knock on the door. To my surprise I found Carl stood nervously on the door step.
‘Can I come in?’ he asked hesitantly. I stepped back to allow him entrance and he stopped just inside the door.
‘Ana, I’m so sorry. I heard on the radio this morning that Lexi died in a hit and run accident.’
Even though I already had this knowledge, it was as if I was hit with a sledge hammer. Hearing it from him suddenly made it all real and tears sprung from my eyes as my chest heaved.
‘I didn’t want you to hear it at work,’ he continued as he fiddled with his glasses. ‘I know how close you both were.’
‘Thank you,’ I choked. My relationship with Carl was strained at the least, and it touched me that he would come out of his way like this.
‘I have covered your shifts for the week. If you need more time I can organise something.’
I took a deep breath to try and control myself. ‘I don’t want time off,’ I told him with more force than I intended. The thought of rattling around the house with my memories to keep me company was awful.
He shifted uneasily as he studied me, taking in the tears that although had slowed, still silently fell. ‘Okay, but I don’t want you in for your late today.’
‘But…’
‘No buts,’ he said. My arguments would fall on deaf ears, so I nodded meekly in agreement. He was probably right.
I thought to offer him a drink, but he declined, saying he had to get to work. When he gave me his condolences, it was so heart felt, that I realised that I didn’t know anything about the man who had been my boss for over a year. I could now see, that what I had always thought was coldness, had only been professionalism.
When he left, I took a moment to gather my strength before returning to my Uni books. It was only minutes before Gabriel came down, having been woken by the thud of the front door closing.
‘You do not need to worry about your studies right now,’ he said.
‘I have exams soon,’ I replied without taking my eyes off my work. ‘The world doesn’t stop because I don’t feel like participating in it.’
He wanted to say more, but thankfully kept it to himself.
Focusing on my work helped and the haze began to dissipate. Even though I still felt somewhat disconnected from the world, there were times that Gabriel managed to make me smile, even if they were only small ones.
I had just put my books away for the evening when Gabriel looked up, with his head on a slight angle.
‘You know how you have always wanted to meet my friends?’ He had a distant look to his face that caused a cool sliver to travel down my spine.
‘Yes,’ I said uncertainly.
‘Now’s your chance.’ He turned towards the lounge door, his grin so wide I thought his face might split. It wasn’t long before the doorway was filled with a huge form, so large that he had to dip his head in order to fit through.
They smiled at each other for a second, before Gabriel crossed the room towards the tall man. They held out their hands as if they were going to shake, but instead they gripped the tops of each other’s arms and sort of bumped shoulders. I guessed it was their way of greeting each other. They laughed easily and Gabriel gazed at the man as a younger brother might, with respect, admiration and love. This was confirmed by the warm feeling that reached across the room to me; well from Gabriel anyway, as unlike everyone else, there was nothing from the stranger.
‘How are you old friend?’ Gabriel asked slapping the stranger on the back.
‘Good as always,’ the stranger said with a husky voice.
Even though they released each other, Gabriel placed his hand on the shoulder of his friend. ‘What name do you go by now?’ he asked as he guided him in my direction.
‘Adam. What about you? Are you still using Gabe?’
Gabriel chuckled. ‘You know me. Never did like change.’ He had never been this relaxed and buoyant, and the feeling was starting to infect me, almost like a bubble had exploded inside of me, sending fizzy tingles throughout every cell. I felt nice after all the darkness that had been swirling around in there since Lexi’s death.
The man was taller than Gabriel by at least four inches, and al
though he had similar chiselled looks, his hair was short and dark and there was hardness etched into his features, the complete opposite to the softness that Gabriel displayed. The muscles through his white t-shirt were rounded and defined, rippling with every movement. Everything about him screamed dangerous, and I couldn’t help but be intimidated by his presence.
‘This is my oldest and dearest friend Adam,’ Gabriel said, pulling me into his embrace.
As he introduced us I could feel his pride for me and my heart swelled with love. I had been so closed off to him for the last couple of days and I touched his hand to convey my feelings, before turning to face the person who obviously meant the world to him.
His eyes were the colour of liquid dark chocolate, so dark that it was nearly impossible to detect the pupil. I became locked in his stare as he scrutinised me. He glared, as if my presence was offensive to him, his look penetrating me as if he could see into my soul.
Unable to breathe or speak, I nodded in acknowledgement, shocked by his attitude and the fear it caused in me. Gabriel was so absorbed with his own happiness that he couldn’t sense my distress, or that my own brief happy feeling had taken flight. Finally he freed me from his gaze, allowing me a sigh of relief as he turned towards Gabriel.
‘So this is what caused the problems with the Fae?’ The way he said ‘what’ instead of ‘whom’, with his voice full of distain, confirmed that he detested me.
‘Don’t be like that,’ Gabriel quietly beseeched. ‘It was not her fault.’ He pulled me tighter towards him. ‘Anyway, how did you find out about it?’
‘Eris.’
Gabriel’s eyes tightened at the mention of her name. ‘I should have known she couldn’t remain silent.’
‘She is concerned for you.’ Adam’s tone was gentle, but when he glanced in my direction, his lip momentarily curled with contempt. ‘You have to forgive her Gabe.’
‘Sirus died trying to rescue her,’ Gabriel said, his tone louder and tinged with anger. ‘All because she was arrogant enough to think she could complete the mission on her own.’
‘There was no way to know that Vakros was there and Eris paid greatly for her mistake and not just with Sirus’ death.’
Night of the Fae (Ana Martin series) Page 11
