Alex’s lips thinned. “Yes. Not even I was aware of that connection.” The information surprised Darcie. She thought her mother would’ve confided in Alex. Darcie had already contemplated being mad at the vampire for keeping her in the dark.
As if reading her mind, Alex continued, “Had I known, I would have told you.”
Darcie believed him. His expression displayed concern and regret. He felt bad for the surprise being thrown on her.
She turned to Des. “Did you have any idea?”
“Not a clue,” he replied honestly. “Charmian is the one sibling I would have never expected to break the rule. Well… her and Faine.” Mentioning the traitorous immortal brought Darcie’s mood down even more.
She frowned. “Any word on that? Has anyone found Faine?”
“No,” Des replied. “Lome has organized the search, but wherever she is, Faine is well concealed.”
“She is probably with Adir.” Darcie couldn’t imagine she would be anywhere else after witnessing Adir’s crime. Faine may have been horrified when she saw Adir murder Bella, but she did not attempt to stop it. She had no choice but to align herself with the rebel leader after that.
“Have you questioned Charmian?” The question came from Gregory. “She seems close with Faine.”
Des nodded. “She is. And we have spoken with Charmian. I do not believe she knows anything about Faine’s involvement or her location. Besides, now that she is under extra scrutiny, I do not think she would risk hiding any information.”
“What will happen to her?” Darcie asked, leaning forward to rest her elbows on the table. “She broke you guys’ law or whatever. Is she in trouble?”
“Most likely, Charmian will not see a repercussion until the rebellion is taken care of. But, even then, I doubt it will be anything severe. The main punishment will be the loss of The Council’s trust. Honor is a big thing among immortals, so it will sting.”
Darcie stared at a knot of wood on the table. She reached out and followed the lines of wood. “How was my mom able to conceal my gifts for so long?” If Charmian was really her grandmother, there was a lot of power in Darcie’s veins. She wondered how it didn’t make an appearance before she was around the immortals and the magical mask on her abilities lifted.
“Your mother is very powerful,” Alex answered her question. He offered nothing else; that was all Darcie needed to know in order to understand.
She looked back down at the knotted wood. She silently wished the food would arrive; she could use the distraction of eating.
Alex spoke to Des. “We need to develop a plan. Once Darcie masters the spell, we need to have the next move prepared so we can act in a timely manner.”
Darcie drew her eyes back to Des as he jerked his head in agreement. “My teams are still searching for Adir, but I have instructed them to spread out across the globe. Wherever he is hiding, once Darcie neutralizes his warlocks and their concealment spells, we will have no trouble finding him.”
Alex grunted with approval. “And then we can mobilize our forces against him. Brilliant.”
Darcie listened to their words with a feeling of unease. Their plan depended on her ability to use the ancient spell book, but she hadn’t made any progress thus far. She worried it might take longer than either of them had anticipated.
She was trying to work up the courage to voice her concern when the door swung open to announce a newcomer.
Lifting her head, Darcie froze as she took in the sight of the latest vampire to enter the room.
Lord Brian Rothschild, wearing the same charming yet secretive grin, glided in. His eyes locked with Darcie, and his lips widened. She was caught in his stare, unable to look away.
Suddenly breathless, she managed to ask, “What are you doing here?”
Brian’s smile grew. “Darcie dear, is that anyway to greet an ally? And to think, I thought you missed me.”
Movement out of the corner of her eye finally pulled Darcie out of the British vampire’s snare. Des’ hand flexed and curled into a fist. His eyes locked onto the newcomer. He wasn’t happy
Alex intervened. “You’re earlier than expected. Did you bring him?”
Darcie turned to her friend. “Bring who?”
As if summoned, a cloaked figure crossed the threshold. The hunched man’s clothing was worn and tattered. Darcie recognized him instantly.
She gasped. “The Elder?”
Des’ chair screeched against the floor as he stood to his feet. He walked around so he stood in between Darcie and the powerful being. “What is the meaning of this?”
Darcie looked around his torso and noticed Brian’s amused smirk. “Relax, Desmond. He is an ally.”
“An ally who worked for Adir,” Des countered with malice. “Forgive me if I am hesitant to trust someone so easily swayed.”
During the exchange, the Elder did not say a word. He did, however, lift his hood towards Darcie. Though she could not see his eyes, she knew he was looking at her, asking her to perform the service she promised when he helped set her free.
“He is sorry for the part he played in altering my mortality,” she said, clearing her dry throat. “Adir blackmailed him. He didn’t have a choice.”
“But-” She cut off Des’ impending reply.
“He helped me escape before Adir could…” she trailed off, knowing the room’s occupants could figure out the rest. “Trust me. He’s a friend.”
The Elder lowered his head ever so slightly, thanking Darcie for her words. She returned the respectful gesture. Then, she reached out and took Des’ hand in her own.
Des looked at her, and she could see the angry fire swirling in his eyes. She squeezed his fingers. “He helped me,” she tried to soothe his worry. “Things could’ve been a lot worse if it wasn’t for him.”
Des’ expression mirrored his warring emotions. He wanted to be reassured by Darcie’s words, but his instincts to protect her from the powerful being were great.
Darcie did not look away. She willed her own face to convey trust and calm. The Elder was there for a reason, but they would not be able to learn about it until Des calmed down.
Finally, he released a long breath. His thumb brushed against the back of Darcie’s hand, and he nodded.
Des faced the Elder. “Thank you for all you did to help Darcie.” The words were hard, but sincere. The Elder lowered himself even more, but he did not voice a response.
Brian clapped his hands once. The sound made Darcie jump in her seat. She glared at the smiling vampire. His eyes were bright. “Well, now that we have that out of the way, how about we get down to business?”
Des nodded and waved the two newcomers to the table. Darcie’s stomach chose that moment to growl again. She tried to muffle the noise with her hands. Food could wait. They had other things to discuss.
As Brian and the Elder settled in, Darcie had not noticed Gregory slip out of the room. It was only when he returned with a plate full of crackers and cheese that she realized he had left.
Darcie blushed when he set the plate in front of her, but she turned to him with a smile and mouthed, “Thank you.”
Gregory stepped back to his position across the table, and Darcie silently munched on the cheese as the conversation began.
“Thank you for coming,” Alex said to the Elder. It was the most respectful Darcie had ever heard the vampire sound. “I know your kind do not like to travel between the realms.”
The hooded man tilted his hood. “My brethren do not know of my presence here today, but when Lord Brian told me of the trouble with The Veritas, I could not deny my assistance.” Once again, the strong and youthful voice surprised Darcie. Its sound did not match the hunched figure.
She straightened in her seat when the Elder’s words finally registered. “You know about The Veritas?”
The Elder’s hood moved towards her. “Yes.”
“As do I,” Brian added unnecessarily. He shot her a flirtatious grin. “I find myself fascinated
with the magical world, both people and texts.” Darcie shook her head at him. Now was not the time or place for his flirty behavior.
“It is true,” the Elder vouched for the vampire. “Lord Brian is a master of reading ancient languages and spells. What he does not know, I will be here to assist.”
Darcie’s forehead creased. “Why do we need Lord Brian if you can read all of the book?” The mentioned vampire placed a hand over his heart in a dramatic fashion. Darcie ignored the over-the-top act. She knew her words did not really hurt him.
The Elder did not hesitate. “If I speak the complete spells, they will be activated. It is best for Brian to decipher most of the words. He is not a warlock, and therefore will not initiate any of the book’s powers while he helps you.”
Everyone in the room took a moment to process the information. It was news to Darcie, but based on the others’ reactions, it was also news to them.
“We appreciate your help,” Des said. He looked at the Elder and Brian. “Both of you. The Alliance is in your debt.”
The Elder bowed his head. “There is no debt. It will not make up for what I have helped Adir accomplish, but I hope my assistance will warrant your forgiveness.”
Darcie did not think twice. “I forgive you.” Though she couldn’t see beneath his hood, Darcie swore the Elder smiled.
“Well then,” Alex took charge. “Let’s not delay. Gregory, will you retrieve The Veritas?”
The second-in-command bowed low before disappearing out of the room.
“I do have one request,” the Elder stated. “I would like to speak with Darcie alone. I need to assess her abilities before we begin working with the book.”
Darcie could see Des prepare to refuse. Before he had the chance, she stood from her chair. “Sure.”
The Elder’s voice sounded amused. “How about a walk in the gardens? I very much enjoy the nature of your realm.”
“Sure,” Darcie repeated, not knowing what else to say to his odd statement.
She looked at Des. Noticing his tense expression, Darcie’s softened her own. “I’ll be fine.”
The immortal stared at her for a moment longer. Finally, he closed his eyes tight. When he opened them, he had conceded. “Alright. Promise to not go far.”
Grinning from ear to ear, Darcie leaned over and kissed his cheek, showing more public affection than ever before. “I promise.”
28
“You have made quite an impact on the immortal community.”
Darcie looked away from the balcony where Des and Alex observed her walking with the Elder. She shrugged at the Elder’s observation. “I really didn’t have a choice.”
Ever since Thane saw her in the Brunswick library, Darcie had been caught up in the magical world. And now that she was an immortal, there was no leaving it behind.
The Elder crossed his hands behind his back. “You are correct–your involvement was preordained. But I was talking about how much affection you have garnered from the immortals and half-breeds. You are loved a great deal. It is… interesting to see.” The pair followed a cobblestone path through one of the gardens closer to the house. Des, and surprisingly Alex, both insisted she stay close during her one-on-one talk with the powerful being.
Darcie looked at the Elder. “Preordained?” The rest of his speech was lost after the unique word. “You mean like fate?”
“Exactly like fate,” he replied, bending over to place his face over a flowering shrub.
He stood up and continued, “But unlike fate, your path was not a matter of chance or probability. It was decided by The Creator, himself.” The Elder made the statement without inflection. He was not attempting to sway her mind; he was simply relaying fact. It was his calm and confident cadence which made Darcie seriously consider the words.
“You are saying God planned for me to become an immortal?” She willed her limbs to continue walking through the garden. The sound of her footsteps filled her ears while she waited for his response.
“Perhaps not in the manner which it happened, but yes. The Creator planned for you to become an immortal. Just as Eshe and Bella before you.”
Familiar sorrow wrapped itself around Darcie’s heart. She missed her friend. “I guess that answers the question of my soulmate status.”
The Elder’s voice was patient. “You were already aware.”
Darcie nodded, turning back to face the blooming greenery around them. The conversation felt surreal. She knew the Elder beside her had unimaginable knowledge; Lome had revealed as much when Darcie first spoke about the powerful being. But hearing him discuss her life as if it was a well-orchestrated plan by a higher power… it was a lot to take in.
“You have questions,” the Elder stated. He stopped walking. “Ask them.”
Darcie blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. “You know about my life. About everything that has happened so far?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what will happen?” She licked her dry lips. “Do you know if I will succeed with the spell? Do you know if The Alliance will win?”
The tattered hood moved from side to side. “I am sorry to say I do not know what the future holds. Only The Creator is privy to that information.”
Darcie’s shoulders began to slump just as the Elder continued, “But I do know that you were created for a purpose, Darcie Abernathy. For too long, the immortals in this world have been tipping the scales. The Creator deemed they needed balance. You, Darcie, are the ultimate balance.”
She stared into the dark hood, not seeing anything. “What do you mean? How is that even possible?”
“Great powers reside within your soul, Darcie. Your gifts surpass all of those in existence. If your alliance had more time, I would request the privilege of taking you to Eirie. There, my brothers and sisters would strive to learn more about the powers within you.”
Darcie’s head was spinning. “I thought the point of this conversation was for you to figure out how much power I have.”
“The moment I laid eyes on you, I sensed the power within. That is why I prevented the bond with Adir. He would have destroyed all that is good if he gained access to you and your gifts.”
Her mind latched on to anything that would change the subject. “What’s Eirie?”
The Elder resumed walking. “Eirie is where I live. It is a city in my realm.”
Darcie thought about asking more but decided against it. She was at her limit for crazy reveals and mythical lands.
“How do you know all of this?” she asked, looking up at the sky as she followed him. “How do you know so much about ‘my plan’?” A part of her still doubted that she was anything special. It was a tough pill to swallow considering she grew up like a normal child.
“I know The Creator well.” The Elder let the statement hang in the air between them. He reached out, and Darcie watched his bone-thin fingers brush against a leaf on a low-lying branch. He plucked it off the tree and trailed the pad of his forefinger over the leaf’s veins.
He let the leaf fall to the ground. “I know you have many questions, Darcie Abernathy. There are many I am unable to answer.”
“In spite of this,” he carried on. “I hope you use your power wisely. Your destiny is bright, but riddled with self-doubt. I urge you to conquer your insecurities and embrace who you are.”
Darcie listened with an open mind, but she couldn’t deny the plaguing doubt fighting for control of her thoughts. “I don’t even know who I am,” she admitted in a whisper.
The Elder turned to her again. This time, his hand reached out and cupped the side of her face. “You are The One, Darcie. Not only are you the One destined to share the burden the Immortal of Death carries, but you are also The One created to balance the world between mortals and immortals.”
There was nothing more she could learn from the Elder. Despite Darcie’s roundabout style of questioning, the powerful being did not give away any more information. All he continued to say was “you are The One�
� and “trust in yourself”. Darcie thought it was much easier said than done, but she respectfully withheld her comments.
So, she returned to Des’ side. He placed two strong arms around her the moment she was in sight, and he breathed a relieved sigh into her hair. Darcie returned his embrace and closed her eyes, reveling in his warmth.
While she wished the Elder had been more specific about some subjects, he had not held back when it came to her and Des. The breathtakingly handsome immortal was destined to be hers, and no truth had ever made Darcie feel so happy.
Now, all they needed to do was take care of Adir. Then, they could finally figure out what the future held for them.
29
The air was dry and cool despite the time of year. Darcie shivered as a frigid gust of wind blew past her. Snowcapped mountains surrounded the quaint lodge she stood outside, and the bright light from the full moon highlighted the scene around her. In the distance, she could make out the sound of laughter.
Darcie’s eyebrows drew together. Where am I? If she wasn’t mistaken, she believed she was at a ski lodge. Based on the rocky edges of the mountain, she suspected it was somewhere in the Rocky Mountains.
A loud thump came from behind her. Whirling around, Darcie watched another piece of furniture fly across the room inside the lodge. Her eyes threatened to pop out of her skull. Did someone just throw a couch?
Glass breaking and shouting filled Darcie’s eardrums. Whoever was inside was not happy. She ducked behind a rack of skis as the back-patio door flung open.
Her eyes landed on the angry figure, and she had to bite her hand to keep the gasp from escaping her lips. Adir stomped out into the snow, pulling at the ends of his sun-kissed hair.
Darcie cowered to the ground, praying she did not reveal herself. She looked frantically at the snow and breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed she hadn’t left any footprints.
Enraptured: Immortal Chronicles Book IV Page 19
