Chapter Forty-five
We had made our way back to our quarters, both of us were tired as we walked there but as soon as I was ready for bed, I found that I could not sleep. My mind was filled with the thoughts of the night that has just passed.
“Please don't be too harsh on Marty, she was only doing as I wanted.”
William's fingers danced over the edge of my shoulder as we laid in the limited light, resting from a stressful night. This place was amazing, the lighting system was set up to glow through a fake window as if it was the moons light. It was beautiful and peaceful to rest in its milky hue. William wasn't used to sleeping in the light of the moon but altered the light pattern for me. It was sweet and after the night that we had, I didn't think I deserved it.
“She deserves it, she knows better. It's you, you know. You bring out the best and the worst in everyone. Marty was such a compliant and well behaved woman before you turned up, you devil maker. Even Nick misbehaves now, he was such a good boy.” He sighed. “You have us all wrapped around your little finger, anything you want, you get.”
I sat up and pouted, fluttering my eyes.
“Yes.” He hummed with a grumpy tone. “That's the look that you hook us with. Must be the fae in you. I couldn't imagine the elves having such luring powers.”
Settling back into his arms and into the warmth, I curled my finger around a lock of hair. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me tight to his body. All of the nightwear was gone, in favour of nothing. His words about pretty and perfect night dresses were long forgotten, all for a free show that he pretended not to see. It wasn't as if I cared, his appreciative glances and sly looks were good for the ego.
“So what did you discuss?”
“Well, we started with the dremalian spike and the overdose that led to your death. We agreed that it could be seen as an honest mistake provided that the mercenary did not know that you were only half fae. However if it comes to light that he did know then you have the right to press charges against him or rather his client. Then we moved on to more recent events, the arrival of the second person at the house, the fire and of course your abduction. We spoke of possibly getting in a sketch artist for you to describe the men that you did see, the cop as well. It would be ideal to get to identify who they are to ensure that they are dealt with appropriately. To abduct a person in broad daylight causes so many issues, more so when the abducted walks away from an accident with only a few scrapes.” He grinned as I lifted my head to the pillow beside him. “People ask questions, wonder where she went, causes far too many problems.”
I squinted an eye at him as he rolled onto his side to face me, his fingers trailing along the dip of my waist. “What would you prefer? Stay for the authorities to arrive?”
“Oh you mistake my words, my love. Your actions were the right ones but the problem still lies with the people that saw you. It does not matter, word has it that the woman in the crash went to the emergency some time later.”
I chuckled at him but stopped when the smile faded from his face. “What?”
“They suggested that you might be better protected with Hezekiah.”
“No.” I said abruptly.
“They said that my feelings have gotten in the way of your best interest and that it might be wise while the threat is looming.”
I sat up and looked at him, finding it hard to not scowl or frown. To keep my cool and not throw a tantrum. “I will not go, it is that simple. If they take me away then I will leave when he sleeps. If you send me away then you will regret it, not by any words or actions from me but in your mind. I'm right, aren't I?”
He nodded sadly.
“Then stand up for what you want, tell them that your feelings drive you to protect me more.”
“But you died and they abducted you, all while under my care. How can I stand before those men and say that I am doing my job to the best of my ability when it is so glaringly obvious that I cannot?”
I laid on the bed, pulling the sheet over me, staring into those stunning blue eyes. “I'm the one that is the concern here. I am the target, so my word is final. I am not going anywhere without you and the terrible two-some. If they cannot accept that then they can stick it up their arse.”
William chuckled as he wrapped his arms around me, kissing me on the top of my head. “Well, if you put it like that.”
“Promise me.” I looked up at him. “Promise me that you will fight for what I want, that you won't let me go.”
“I promise.” He whispered as he held me tight. “With all that I have, with every last ounce of fight in me, I will not let them take you away from me.”
Chapter Forty-six
Marty wrapped her willowy arms around me, hugging me hard. Even though there wasn't much of her, she was soft and cuddly. It was almost like a mother's hug or at least, what I imagined a mother's hug to be like.
“Don’t stress, he hasn't said another thing about it.”
I pulled away from the hug, still feeling incredibly bad about it. My friend trouble and I were always causing all sorts of grief for those around us. Previously it wasn't so bad, those around me weren't anyone that I truly cared about but Marty was different. I did care about her, I did value her and her friendship. I was just being distrustful towards William and dragging Marty into our relationship whether she wanted it or not.
“I can't help but feel bad about it. I should trust him better.”
She shrugged with a playful smile. “You're young, up until now the people that have been in your life have been untrustworthy. What else could any of us expect?”
William adjusted his tie as he walked out of the bedroom, looking at us warily. He looked perfect as always, it was like it was in a vampire's nature to constantly look good. As I thought about William and his constant perfection, I thought about Nick who always had the scruffy thing going on. Maybe perfection was different for every person, both men seemed at ease with who they were and how they appeared. William was freshly shaved, his skin had a dewiness to it that looked like it would be like silk to touch. I wanted to touch it, to feel it in these fleeting moments before the hair breaks through. The thought of them scraping against the tender skin of my inner thigh again was making me squirm with salacious feelings. I really was a pervert. He picked up his phone and squinted at it, turning it side on and then the right way around.
“Have you worked it out yet?”
“Regretfully, yes.” He sneered at the thing again. “Well, almost.”
I chuckled, knowing his distaste for them. He always tried to refuse having one but since the fiasco at the car park, he now understood the importance of always being able to communicate. He was with Marty several levels above us, trying to find black clothes to venture out into the sun. If Marty didn't have her phone with her, Nick wouldn't have been able to call and tell them I had returned. So now with a lot of complaining, William now had one. In the hour that he has been in possession of the phone he has managed to drop it twice, nearly blinded himself by holding the phone the wrong way and pressing the button to take a photo, pocket dialled Nick and vowed his ultimate revenge on some poor game.
“Are you ready for hours of boredom?”
I nodded, eager to stop thinking of him and what he could do to me and eager to tell the elders to stick their plans for me up their backsides. I had been told that I was not allowed to use the arse word. In fact, it would be wise of me not to tell them to stick things in places. I retorted, telling William he was wasting his breath telling me how to behave. If it was polite conversations, then I would be good. If it turned into an ordering Mary around and telling her what they thought was best for her, then I would tell them all what was on my mind. Arse words or not, I wasn't about to have my life planned by five men.
William held my hand as he pulled me along. His strides were longer than mine, his casual walk was a fast walk for me. By the time we made it to the meeting room, I had a stitch in my side and was puffing slightly. The guard on t
he door nodded with a smile, opening it for William and I guess me as well. Augustus was already seated in a tub chair by the fire, reading the newspaper. He flicked it shut and folded it, casting it to the table beside his chair.
“You are early.”
Augustus shrugged as he gestured to the paper. Even though there was an element of playfulness to his face, it seemed dark and sinister. His eyes looked to the paper for the briefest of moments before returning to me. “Just wanted to catch up on the day's events. Will you be joining us tonight Mary?”
His eyes were sharp as they watched me as I sat down, William beside me. Of course, Augustus didn't bother to look to his fellow master, his eyes were locked on me.
“Yes.” I said simply.
“Something is troubling you, do tell before the others arrive.”
William's grasp tightened on my hand, looking at me with urgency. “There are some that will be on your side and some that will not. Find your allies quickly and hold strong.”
I nodded and took a deep breath, turning to Augustus and hoped that he would become my allies. “I know of your discussions to re-house me, taking me away from William. I do not agree with it and I cannot allow it.”
He grinned with a slight chuckle, resting his arms on the edges of the chair. “Continue, plead your case dear child.”
“I can understand your concern that there have been the incidents where I have been in danger but I want to point out the remaining time within his care that I have had no issues.”
“And what of the time with the witch?”
Crud balls. No, he is wrong. Eliandra wasn't out to kill me, she just wanted me out of William's life. “I don't think that it really counts, my life was never in danger, merely my memory of William.”
“Point taken, continue.” His hand raised and gestured for me to continue.
I sighed lowly and looked up to William, the strong façade was slowly breaking. “I don't want to be anywhere else. If you take me away then I will leave when you lapse in your judgement.” I turned to look at Augustus. “And trust me, you will. No matter what you do, I will always try to leave. In doing so, do I not put myself in more danger?”
“We could put you in a jail cell, Hezekiah lives in a castle. I'm sure there would be a few of them somewhere in the depths of the beastly thing.”
“And how is that any different to what the fae would want for me? Why not be done with this nonsense and just hand me over to them? Putting me in a cell defeats the purpose of protecting me when all you would have at the end of it is a shell of a being that does not want for her life. Leave me to decide where I want to be, after all, is this not my life?”
Augustus grinned darkly as his eyes coldly assessed me. “Alright Mary, you have convinced me. I will petition for you to decide your own fate.”
“Thank you.”
“As will I.”
I turned to the familiar voice, Gabrielus was standing at the doorway, making his way to us. “I do not see sufficient reason to remove you. The transportation to another location in itself poses a problem. I think it would be wise to remain here, with William of course.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
Gabrielus grinned darkly as he sat down in the tub chair beside Augustus. “No doubt you do, my dear. Regardless of what Hezekiah and Elias want, you have three elders on your side, now you out number in your votes.”
Elias and Hezekiah appeared a few minutes after that, settling into their little circle of chairs. Elias didn't seem to care either way what the decision was, he stated that he was happy to remain at the keep for some time. I could see that he enjoyed the night life that this place offered. Hezekiah grumbled but accepted that the decision was the right one. He stated that he had thought about it on his way to the meeting and concluded that moving me around so much wasn't a wise idea and remaining at the keep would be ideal. Nick had come in with the sketch artist, detailing the man with my help. Then he proceeded to draw the three men that were in the van, I also gave a side view description of the driver.
“The blonde one was called Eminilo, the guy with black hair was called Kietan. The guy that seemed like he was their leader didn't get named. He looked a lot like the blonde guy only a little older. What's a manistri?”
“A fae god.” Augustus interjected. There was a 'but' in his tone, I looked at him and waited patiently. He grinned at me, it was the same skin crawling smirk that told me that I would not like what came out of his mouth.
“You would believe these men to be fae, yes?”
I nodded warily, I now doubted them to be fae even if I had only thought that way for a few minutes.
“That is because that is what they want you to think, the clothes that you described for this leader is a blatant forgery. A feeble attempt at creating a fae royal jacket.” He turned to the other men. “I think that they would be most unimpressed that someone is going around pretending to be them, abducting people and what-not.”
They muttered their agreement, passing the sketches around. I heard Nick mumble his request to be dismissed, William nodded with a flick of his hand and continued to frown at the picture in his hand.
“You realise they will blame the elves.” Elias added.
“Of course they will. For all we know, it could have been the lycans. Until they are found there is no knowing who they are and more importantly, who is behind all of this.” His cold gaze turned back to me. “Such drama for one person, who would have thought that so many would go to great lengths to get their hands on you.”
His eyes were wide with a wicked delight, like he knew something that he was hiding from all of us. He tented his fingers as his elbows rested on the arms of the chair, his ice coloured eyes trying to penetrate me. I remembered Hezekiah's words from our first meeting, that Augustus was a seer, or at least he liked to think he was. Had he seen something of my future? Was it similar to the dreams that I was having? I wanted to press him on the subject but the conversation had turned to the elves being behind this debacle. It seemed the logical choice, after all, who else would try and lay blame with the fae?
“It's not some kind of radical terrorist group trying to start a war between the two groups?”
The conversation came to a grinding halt as all of the men looked at me.
“Whilst it might be entirely possible that someone is trying to set them against each other yet again, the fact remains that only humans have radical terrorist groups. The elves and the fae have armies. With us, well we have each other in a united front against our enemy of which there is only one. And as for the witches, well, they are a solitary being that are basically in this life for their own purpose and nothing more. They do not bother with the troubles of others unless it concerns them directly. I think that we need to take a serious look at the facts. The elves are not aware that you are one of them, for all that they know, you are half human. It is only us that knows of your true nature and I know that I for one have not told another living soul. Anyone else?” Hezekiah looked around the room, all of the men shook their head.
“So you guys, Nick, Marty and Dimitri who seemed to be able to pick it too. How many would be like him?”
“The keeper is a task given to one soul, they care for the keep and rarely venture from it in order to maintain the protection. For you to come across another keeper, you would have to travel for several hundred miles. They can see the true nature of any being for obvious reasons. To maintain this is quite a burden and if you think he cares to make trouble within the varying immortals then you think wrong. He does not have the time nor the inclination to be bothered with such trifle matters.”
Silence had struck the room for a brief moment, I sat mesmerised by the flames of the fire licking at the air, the sound of the crackles and pops. All that I could think of was that I wanted an end to this nonsense, I wanted to be able to walk down the street without a care. It was draining, this hiding from an unknown enemy was sucking the life out of me.
“
Do all of the groups have a leader of some sort?”
They all looked around at each other, it was William that spoke instead of Hezekiah who seemed to be running the show.
“The fae and the elves have a king each, the lycans don't really have a leader as such and like Hezekiah said, the witches couldn't give two hoots about anyone other than themselves so they don't have a leader.”
“But could a representative be found with these groups?”
William frowned at me, turning slightly to look at me better. His sharp gaze stared at me for a moment and crinkled a slight sneer. “What are you planning?” He hissed under his breath. “I will not be in the same room as a lycan Mary and neither will you. Do not even entertain the thought.”
“Fine, I'll have the meeting without you.”
Augustus chuckled, covering his mouth with his fingers as he continued to snigger. Elias was lit up with delight, amused at watching us. Either William would crumple under my demands or he would hold strong, ensuring that he wasn't seen as weak in front of the other elders. I inwardly sighed, I did not want that to happen. I knew that his strength with these men was always a delicate balancing act, he had to appear that he had control of everything, that he was lord and master of all that were beneath him. And that meant me.
“Please find a middle ground William.” I asked quietly. “All I want is to meet with these people and ask them to be honest and tell me if they have issues with me. I want to walk free again, I grow weary of being surrounded by walls in stuffy rooms. I know I have anxiety when it comes to being in open areas but I want to deal with my issues, not ignore them. If you will not let me go then have a representative meet with them in neutral territory, ask for me.”
Deadly Beasts (The Curse of the Rose Book 1) Page 30
