“Justin! Amber!” she called in alarm, sprinted down the passage and turned the corner towards the noise.
“Here, Keira! Come sit with us,” Amber waved from where she sat next to Chloe.
“Hi,” Chloe greeted with a smile and patted the bench next to her.
“Hallo,” Keira said, out of breath. “Is everyone okay?”
“Yes, silly. Come watch the show!” Amber said, bouncing up and down in her seat.
Keira looked around. She had an elevated view into a large, rectangular room, measuring about forty by thirty feet and with twenty foot high walls on three sides. The front wall seemed to be made of transparent safety glass, through which she could see two men circling each other.
It was Marco and Rafael, both shirtless and seemingly intent on killing each other.
“What are they doing?” Keira gasped.
“Training,” Chloe replied. “The castle is shielded, so when we use our magick in here, it doesn’t ripple out into the Akasha. It is perfect for practicing.”
“Oh,” Keira said, trying to seem knowledgeable. “It looks like a squash court.”
“Only bigger and much stronger,” Chloe answered. “It has to be.”
A particularly hard right hook from Marco sent Rafael crashing into the front wall.
“I see what you mean,” Keira winced.
“We learn how to fight physically and magickally,” Chloe explained. “It is important that you know how to box, or do judo, when your opponent can also do magick.”
Down in the Pit, Rafael laughed, stood up, and ran at Marco at full speed. His hands were stretched out before him and an invisible force pushed Marco until he was pinned against the back wall. A sudden flare of fire enveloped the brothers; the heat on Keira’s face made her flinch.
“Woohoo, go Marco!” Justin yelled and jumped up and down, clapping his hands.
“Go baby!” Chloe called and seemed completely unconcerned with the fact that her partner was out of sight behind a wall of flames. She turned to Keira and said, “I can show you the rest of the school later. There are more classrooms down that passage.” She pointed to her right.
They were distracted as Rafael erupted out of the fire ball and rebounded off of another wall.
“Bloody hell!” he swore and got up with a groan.
“Are you all right there, brother?” Marco asked with a grin as he stood, panting and covered in sweat.
“Yeah, yeah,” Rafael shrugged. “I’ll get you next time.”
The brothers laughed and slapped each other on the back. They opened a door in the safety glass, grabbed towels from a bench and walked up the stairs to join the small group in the viewing gallery.
“Oh, hi, Keira,” Rafael said when he noticed her next to Chloe.
“Morning,” Marco said.
“Morning,” Keira replied. She didn’t know where to look. Marco stood in front of her, clad only in a loose pair of black track pants. His bare skin glistened in the soft light.
He is beautiful, the stray thought flickered in her mind.
Keira glimpsed a tattoo in the shape of a flame on his upper right arm. He caught her looking at it.
“It is the same as Chetan’s pendant,” she said, trying to sound casual.
“Yes,” he nodded. “It is the sign of the Firewalkers. I told you that Chetan was my mentor.”
“Cool,” Keira mumbled, then mentally cringed. She couldn’t believe she’d said that. If only she had an excuse to flee.
“Would you like to join us for lunch?” Chloe asked the two men, rescuing Keira from her embarrassment.
“Thanks, but we have to go check on the guards.” Marco answered Chloe, but his eyes were on Keira.
“See you later, gorgeous,” Rafael whispered to Chloe, and they shared a long kiss which had the children giggling and Keira looking at her feet.
“Justin, maybe you could go and show Keira the pups later this afternoon,” Marco suggested, ignoring his brother.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Justin and Amber shouted.
“Sure,” Keira said, welcoming anything that would get her out of there.
Chapter 14
“Chloe has been probing for a week already, and she still can’t See what Daemon is doing. She said it’s as if he’s raised a shield over his headquarters in New York; as if it’s disappeared off the map,” Victoria said to the old man sitting opposite her.
“Hmm, I can’t see how he could have managed a shield of that magnitude by himself. It took the full Council days to raise the one around the castle, remember?” Leonardo Savelli said, stroking his silver moustache.
“Yes,” Victoria frowned. “But we have underestimated him before, to our detriment. I will propose to Council that we have a joint Seeing, with Chloe as our binder. We have to know what he is planning.”
“That is true. But what of our spies in New York? Any news from them?”
“No, Marco hasn’t heard anything, and that is even more worrisome.”
“Hmm, it is not like them to not report in on schedule.”
Victoria sighed. “I am getting too old for this, Leo. It is time to hand over to the next generation.”
“I agree, but to make Keira the next High Priestess? I don’t know, Victoria,” and it was the old man’s turn to sigh. “She is so young. She has had no training in our ways. Our world is as foreign to her as life on Mars. What makes you think she would even want to join us?”
“I know she will; it is in her blood. Her destiny will not be denied.” Victoria was adamant.
“Hmm.” Leo stroked his moustache once more. “It will take more than that to convince the Council members she is indeed The One.”
“Leave it to me,” Victoria said. She would not be denied either.
A discreet cough sounded as Amber’s mother entered the library with a tray piled high with sandwiches and coffee.
“Ah! Just what I needed,” Leonardo called and gallantly took the tray from her.
“Thank you, sir,” the cook curtseyed and turned to leave the room.
“Wait, Maria!” Victoria called.
“Yes, ma’am?” the cook asked.
“Your daughter, her name is Amber, correct?” Victoria asked.
“Yes, ma’am. I hope she didn’t—”
“No, no, everything is perfectly fine,” Victoria smiled. “In fact, it might be good news, if you are amenable to the fact that she has magick in her?”
“Madam! Oh, that is wonderful news. We are so proud, thank you, thank you!”
Victoria laughed. “I saw her this morning, she was on her way to Keira’s room, and I picked up a flicker of potential from her. Please ask her to come and see me after the Council meeting.”
“Oh! Madam—I am so happy. She will be so happy! Oh, thank you, thank you!” Maria rambled on and on, gripping her apron tightly.
“You are very welcome. Now, do you know where Keira is?” Victoria asked the overwhelmed woman.
“Yes, ma’am. She’s having lunch in the dining room.”
“Good. Could you please ask her to come see me, here, when she’s done.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll do that right away, and thank you, thank you again!” Maria curtseyed before she ran out of the room.
“Hmm,” Leo beamed as the door closed behind the proud mother. “It is days like this that make it all worth it.”
“Yes,” Victoria smiled. “And it makes me even more determined to ensure that Keira does not lose any more of her birthright than she already has.”
“Hmm.”
*****
Victoria was still sitting in the same chair in front of the tall windows when Keira came to see her. Leo had excused himself and the lunch things had been cleared away.
“Hi, Aunt Vic. You wanted to talk to me?” Keira asked.
“Yes, I did. Please, come in,” Victoria said.
Keira took the seat vacated by Leonardo and gave her aunt a hesitant smile. They hadn’t had the opportunity to have a p
roper talk since their arrival, and she didn’t know how she was going to tell her aunt about the decisions she had made while touring the castle that morning.
“So, what do you think of the castle?” Victoria asked.
“I love it, Aunt Vic. The history behind this building must be amazing.”
“It is,” Victoria answered. “And I would like for you to become a part of that history.”
“Aunt Vic—” Keira started.
“Keira, I know this must be overwhelming and I know that you are angry at me for keeping you from your true birthright. But please allow me to make up for that now. Stay here, with me, and I will show you what it is like to be a Guardian of the Akasha. You will train with the Draaken and take your place as Leader of the Wilde Family and, later, as High Priestess of the Guardians.”
“I can’t,” Keira shook her head.
Victoria said nothing.
“I am sorry,” Keira said, firmer this time. “All of this,” she waved her arm to encompass everything, “this is not me, it is not who I am.”
“But you are mistaken, Keira. It is exactly who you are. It is your destiny,” Victoria said. She leaned forward as if to emphasise her point.
“No,” Keira shook her head. “My destiny is in London. I’ve decided I will tell my parents that I want to be a professional photographer, maybe travel the world for a while and build my portfolio. I have worked very hard to put all this—weirdness—behind me. I am not going to throw that away.”
“You don’t realise what you are saying, dear child. Stay here, where you are accepted for who you really are.”
“But I don’t know who I really am, don’t you see? This—this thing you call a gift—it’s been a curse to me my whole life. It’s made me hide and lie, and the only thing I’ve ever wanted was to finish school so I could leave.”
“Keira, please—”
“I’m sorry, Aunt Vic. An hour ago I saw two men, brothers, fighting and flinging each other around and treating it as if it was a big normal game. Well, this is not normal and it is not a game. I can’t be part of some underground organisation and—and actually killing people. Because I know at some point it will be expected of me, and I can’t do that. I don’t want to hurt anyone. And I can’t have these people look up to me and expect things of me and then I fail them.” Keira pleaded with Victoria to understand, but she was also determined that she would not be swayed.
“But your magick—” Victoria said.
“I have managed to keep it under control for many years. I don’t need the magick to be happy,” Keira said. “And this Daemon—person, he knows who I am, but once he realises I want no part of this, he will leave me alone.”
Keira could not read her aunt’s expression. The older woman leaned back in her chair, her eyes examining Keira as if she was taking stock of her for the first time.
“I am sorry,” Keira said again. “But you will have to find someone else. Someone who is better suited to this kind of life. Someone who has grown up with it all.”
Victoria took an audible, deep breath. “At least promise me one thing,” she said.
“Yes?” Keira asked.
“Promise me you won’t leave until after the Council meeting. Let’s spend a few days together, just you and me. We’ll talk about renovating this old heap of stones,” Victoria tried to smile.
“I promise,” Keira replied softly. It took everything she had not to cry as she got up to leave.
“Thank you,” Victoria said and lifted a tired hand to wave to Keira as she closed the library’s door behind her.
*****
Keira wanted to get to her room as quickly as possible. The conversation with Aunt Vic played in an unending loop through her mind; she wanted to be alone to get a grip on her emotions. Her aunt’s disappointment was a hard blow to her conscience, but she didn’t feel as if she had any other choice.
I am not cut out for this! I am not a fighter, I am scared of heights, I HATE getting hurt. How can she even ask this of me? I am not the person she thinks I am. Better to go back to London and continue living my life the way it was before. Damn it! Things are never going to be the same.
No, it will be. I have to calm down and think about this logically. I am not some kind of…Amazon warrior.
Neither is Chloe, a small voice whispered in her mind.
“Oh shut up!” Keira snarled out loud.
Lost in her frantic thoughts, she nearly walked into Justin, pacing up and down in front of her room.
“Keira, I thought you’d never get away. You promised to come and look at the pups, remember?”
“Oh, Justin. I’m sorry, but can we do it tomorrow? I am really tired.”
“No! We have to go now, before it gets dark. She hides them in the night and then it’s really difficult to find them. Please Keira, you promised! Amber’s mom said she can’t go, she has to help in the kitchen or something, so it is just you and me.”
Keira looked at Justin’s expectant face; she’d already said “No” once today, she couldn’t bring herself to say it again.
It’s not as if he’s asking me to save the world or anything.
“All right, let me get a jacket. Wait for me by the front door, okay?”
“Okay!” Justin called as she opened her door. “Be sure to get comfy shoes, we have to walk a bit!”
“Oh great,” Keira grumbled.
She was still distracted when she arrived at the front door and jumped when a tall figure stepped out from the shadows.
“Mind if I join you?” Marco asked.
“I thought you were inspecting the guards—or something,” Keira answered, suddenly breathless.
“All done,” he said. “Besides, it gets dark quickly in these woods. I will go with you. It is not a good idea to be outside the walls at night.”
“Outside the walls? Why are your dogs outside the walls?” Keira asked.
“Come on you guys!” Justin called and Marco didn’t have a chance to answer as they hurried across the courtyard. They stopped at a small wooden door set in the outer wall next to the raised drawbridge. A guard emerged from the shadows. “Out again Justin?” he asked.
“Hi Frank. Yeah, I want to show Keira the pups. Don’t worry, Marco is going with us.” The guard let them pass. Keira could hear him lock the door behind them, then a clunk as he dropped a wooden bar across it as an extra precaution.
She followed Justin as he skipped down stone steps leading to the moat. They got into a small wooden boat, and Marco took up the oars and rowed them to the opposite bank. Justin hopped out, tied the boat to a wooden post, and disappeared down the road without waiting for them to catch up.
Marco held his hand to Keira and helped her out of the boat.
Stop it! Keira scolded herself as his touch burned electric tingles up her arm.
He led the way as they followed in the direction Justin had taken. After a few minutes of walking in silence, Marco turned off the road, down an almost invisible path through the undergrowth. The trees closed above them and it was as if they were slowly submerging into an underwater world, filled with hushed sighs and whispers. It became progressively darker and Keira was suddenly glad that Marco had come along.
She loved the woods on her family’s estate and used to slip out at all times of the night to wander among the trees with only a small flashlight to light her way. Yet here, the woods felt less friendly, less welcoming. It was as if they resented the humans’ intrusion.
Just as Keira was seriously considering turning around, Justin stood waiting for them.
“Where are the—”
“Ssshhhh!” he whispered. “Follow me, Keira. I have to warn them that you are coming, although they probably know already,” and he disappeared into the trees.
“Oh, bloody hell!” she muttered and heard an amused chuckle. She glared back at Marco as she made her way forward down the footpath and promptly stumbled over a rock. She gasped and stretched her hands out to break her fall, b
ut Marco was there to catch her and swung her up into his arms, lifting her off the ground.
Keira’s breath caught in her throat and she instinctively flung her arms around his neck. He carefully, slowly, put her back down until she stood on her feet.
Time seemed suspended.
Marco gave a soft groan as his arms circled tighter around her waist.
Oh, this feels so right, Keira thought, making no attempt to break free.
“Hey, you two, come on!” Justin called. Keira heard a frustrated sigh from above her head and couldn’t stop a small smile from forming around her lips. She allowed Marco to take her hand and lead her on down the path.
He is as affected as I am, Keira thought. But how is that possible? We don’t even know each other. She couldn’t help but wish her friends were here, it would have been great to ask their advice. She had no doubt that Sammy would be cheering her on, while Alison would caution her to take it slow.
In a clearing in the woods, they found Justin sitting in the grass, playing with three grey pups, their tails wagging and ears erect. They bared their teeth and mock stalked each other, pouncing and rolling, getting up and chasing each other through the grass. On either side of him were two huge adult wolves, staring directly at Keira. Growls rumbled in their throats.
“Oh!” Keira gasped.
“Move very slowly,” Marco warned and led her cautiously closer.
“Cool it!” Justin said and poked one of the wolves in the ribs with his elbow. Instead of attacking, the wolf gave him an embarrassed look and the rumbling stopped.
Keira felt her mouth hanging open and quickly closed it when Justin laughed.
“It’s okay, Keira. Come closer and I’ll introduce you. This is Ylva,” he said, pointing to the female. “And this Varg,” he pointed to the male.
Keira carefully extended her hand, palm up, to let the female wolf sniff her. A pair of very intelligent amber eyes locked with hers and there was a familiar rush of warm emotion as she connected with Ylva.
They’re no different from my friends at home! she thought with relief, and laughed when she picked up on Ylva’s indignation at being compared to the small red foxes Keira played with as a child.
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