Echoes & Silence Part 1

by Angela M Hudson

  “Hexes?”

  “Morgana is extremely powerful. I don’t believe she’s stupid enough to do anything to hurt you or the baby, but… something she said to me recently got me thinking she may have interfered with David. But I think it best you be cleansed as well—to be safe.”

  “Well, I’ve been fine, Drake. But David… he’s been in pain.”

  “Pain?”

  “Yeah. I don’t know what’s causing it, but he’s visibly in pain—”

  “Then you must act quickly. And tell no one what we’ve spoken of, not even David.”

  “Why?”

  “If Morgana has cursed him, she’ll be keeping an eye on him. It’s a matter of vanity, like a serial killer stalking his victims’ families to see their pain. She may do something stupid if she thinks she’s been caught.”

  “Okay. So… what, I just go to the Stone at dawn?”

  “That’s when its power is at its greatest. Go there, ask for its wisdom. But be prepared, Amara; if Morgana has done something to David, you may need her to undo it. Do not take any rash action against her. You will remember, at all times, that she is family. No matter what.”

  I bit my teeth together. “Fine. I won’t wring the little bitch’s neck, but I will punish her if she’s interfered, Drake.”

  “I would not deny you that,” he said simply. “And I trust, with your compassionate heart, you would not be too hard on the girl. She hasn’t led a very easy life.”

  “I understand.” I nodded, clutching the edges of my dress so firmly my fingers went numb. “So, do you think it’s possible she’s turning David against me?”

  “Do you?” he asked in a high voice. “I haven’t been there, Amara. I know only what I hear, and from what I hear, he hasn’t been kind.”

  “He hasn’t. At all.”

  “He loves you, Amara,” Drake said kindly. “If he’s in any way denying that, there must be good reason for it, and I don’t believe it is because you betrayed him.”

  “Then you don’t know David.”

  “I know him better than any of you. And one mistake on your part will not be enough to sway him from you eternally. There must be something else keeping him from coming to you.”

  “Well, maybe Lilith told him what she told me.”

  “What did she tell you exactly, aside from that fanciful nonsense that God wants you to be with Jason?” he said with a laugh.

  “That the reason I needed to be with Jason is because he’d save us.”

  “Save you from what?”

  “I don’t know. Death, I guess.”

  Drake went completely quiet.

  “Drake?”

  “I do not trust Lilith when it comes to Anandene.”

  I touched my belly. “But she encouraged me to have a child, knowing it would be Anandene.”

  “No, she, unbeknownst to you, encouraged Arthur to be the father.”

  “I thought it was you that asked him to ‘impregnate’ me.”

  Drake laughed. “Why would you think that?”

  “Arthur told me.”

  “My dear, if you conceived with Arthur, that would completely ruin my plans.”

  “Then that was the point, wasn’t it?” I flooded with realization. “She doesn’t want Anandene to exist. She—”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh God.” I cupped my belly. “Then, does that mean Arthur might hurt the baby?”

  “No. Arthur was ignorant to Lilith’s true plan. She gave him no reason why she asked him to fornicate with you, and forced him to find a way to convince you on his own. He is faithful to Lilith, but not enough to ever knowingly hurt you.”

  I wanted to ask why Arthur would be “faithful” to a Lilithian deity, but I also didn’t want to start accepting conjecture as fact, like I did with the dagger, and decided to err on the side of caution and suspicion first. “How do you know all this?”

  “Morgana,” he said simply. “She is my eyes and ears.”

  “Then why didn’t you try to stop Arthur?” I challenged.

  “By the time Morgana knew his intentions, it was too late; you were already pregnant. Of course, you’d also already slept with Jason—an act you would not have committed had Arthur kept his filthy hands off you.” Drake simmered his rage with a hard breath.

  “Well, it’s not something I like to think about. Believe me.”

  “I understand,” he said, adding with a warm chuckle, “However, even I’d have slept with Jason to avoid a sexual rendezvous with Arthur.”

  I laughed. “I just wish I’d avoided both mistakes.”

  “Why, Amara? They’ve done nothing but strengthen you.”

  “No. It messed everything up with David and I.”

  “No. His inability to swallow his pride and admit his love for you has messed that up.”

  “He shouldn’t have any love for me now, Drake. I’m impure in his eyes.”

  “Rubbish. And clearly, by that statement, you are just as naive as you were when you first arrived at the manor.” He exhaled. “Don’t you understand, my darling? Lilith has played your young, confused heart for some time now—molding and shaping you to her will. What makes you think she’s not been playing David against you as well?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Ask yourself if you truly believe David can fall out of love with you. Then ask yourself why you have believed all this time that he has.”

  “It’s my duty to believe it, for a start. If I’m supposed to be with Jason—”

  “You’re not supposed to be with Jason. Get that whole notion out of your head! Lilith, damn her prying soul, has an agenda of her own.”

  “So neither her nor Morgaine wants David and I happy together?”

  “No. But the question is… why?”

  “Good question.” I thought for a second. “Could it simply come down to hate?”

  “No. You need to seek wisdom from the Stone, Amara. It does not tell its secrets in black and white, but you will find yourself with a greater sense of purpose, perhaps understanding, by simply asking for a resolution—or perhaps by asking what the question is that you need to ask.”

  “Then I guess I need to be up at dawn tomorrow.”

  “Yes, and keep David out of it for now. Just until you’ve gotten to the bottom of this business with Morgana.”

  “Okay.”

  “Of course, you could take him to the Stone,” he suggested. “He’s sworn in as a protector of the realm, and any magic or curses, even any Watching Spells linked to his blood or soul will have no power there. You could talk openly—warn him.”

  “Morgana wouldn’t be able to hear?”

  “Not if she’s using magic to keep an eye on him. If she follows you, I can’t guarantee she won’t hear, but her black magic will be of no use there.”

  I looked down at my hand. “Mine is, though.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I healed a leaf—brought it back to life.”

  “Is that so?” He laughed. “You’re a Healer.”

  “I don’t know what I am, I—”

  “I just told you,” he stated. “You’re one of very few immortals ever with the power to restore life, Amara. You are very blessed.”

  “I am?”

  “One day,” he said, “you will learn how to properly harness and use your powers. When that happens, no man will ever need to suffer the tears of loss.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, one day, you will have the power to bring a man back to life.”

  My world rocked around me. “But…”

  “Do not question it. This power belongs only to the worthy—the ones strong and noble enough to make decisions about who should live or die. You must have an incredibly pure heart, my dear niece.”

  “One you’ll stop from beating in eighteen years.”

  “Well,” he said, dragging the word out. “With this new information coming to light, perhaps we may need to work out another deal.”
<
br />   “Really?”

  “Let’s not talk of it now. There is plenty of time.”

  “Okay.” I nodded, allowing myself to be hopeful. “So how do I work on my powers? I mean—”

  “It’s instinct, Amara. You will dream, you will feel, and as you live each day, questions will come to you. Only once they come are you ready to seek the answers. When that time comes, you, on your own, with your heart and your mind, will find them.”

  “Time.” I nodded. “That’s life’s greatest lesson.”

  “Yes, but so is love. And I wish you the best of luck, Amara, in healing yours.”

  “Thank you,” I said, and Drake hung up the phone.

  * * *

  “Hey.” David plonked down heavily, almost humanly on the garden swing beside me.

  “Hey,” I said rather solemnly.

  “Something wrong?”

  “Is something not?” I looked at him savagely. “Oh, right. Of course, no one’s around so you can actually be civil to me.”

  He sat back slowly, resting both hands in his lap.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, rubbing the moodiness off my face. “I’m just a bit hormonal. I guess it’s making me more sensitive lately.”

  “You sure that’s all?”

  “Yes. No.” My shoulders dropped, and I took a deep, relaxing breath. “Also, I talked to Drake today.”

  The energy surrounding David changed then. I felt the stiffness before I noticed it in his limbs. “What did he want?”

  I hesitated, slowly cupping my hand over the wriggling alien in my belly. “Just checking in.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the presence of something unnatural then, reminding me that Morgana, or maybe even Lilith, might be listening.

  “Care to elaborate?” he said, leaning around to smile arrogantly right into my face. “He’s our enemy, remember, Ara. You can’t just—”

  “He’s not a threat, David.”

  “He is a threat, Ara.” He sat back calmly, closing his hands in his lap again. “Perhaps now is a good time to tell you he’s made plans to waltz in here and take my uncle.”

  “How do you know that?” I spun sideways to look at him. “Who told you?”

  “Jason read Morgana’s mind the other night. She’d spoken to Drake only hours before.”

  “When does he plan to come?”

  “Soon.” His eyes didn’t actually change color but as they lowered to his lap they seemed to darken.

  “Do you… I mean, what do we do?”

  “Arthur says let him come. He’s not worried.”

  “How can he not be?”

  David smiled then, just a half turn of his lip, but it was enough to light up his eyes. “Ever seen what he can do—my uncle?”

  I shook my head.

  “He has the power of physical manipulation. He can make a man pick his own nose just as easily as he can force a room of soldiers to stand still while he escapes.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  “Nope.” His smile moved out to spread across his entire face then. “So don’t worry too much about Arthur. He’ll keep himself safe.”

  “You hope.”

  “Well, he’s never gone up against Drake before. I’ve seen him battle against unthinkable forces, Ara, but—”

  “You’re worried he’ll be no match for the all-powerful king?”

  He nodded.

  “I won’t let anything happen to him, David. I promise.”

  “It’s not for you to promise, Ara.”

  We sat quietly for a while then, both off in our own thoughts, looking up intermittently to smile at each other when one of us thought something a little funny. As the sun hung lower in the sky, casting fiery orange light across David’s nose and lip, he turned to me and said, “Hey, wanna hear a story?”

  “Sure.”

  He settled down a bit in the chair and turned his knees slightly to face me. “While I was in Paris, I learned a little more about Drake’s history.”

  “How?”

  “I found an old journal. Well, Morgaine found it.” He widened his eyes. “Sorry. Morgana.”

  “And she gave it to you?”

  “Yeah. Only because there wasn’t anything in there about the contract. It was all about his childhood.”

  “He had a childhood?”

  David rewarded my sarcasm with a gentle chuckle. “He and his father were estranged, turns out. Vampirie left Drake when he was a small boy, and Drake grew up knowing nothing about what he was. Until he killed a man.”

  “Oops.”

  “Yes. Oops. It was shortly after he turned twenty-five and his vampirism set in naturally. His mother, who’d been his only companion as he grew, cast him aside. He went off in search of his father, not knowing where to start. But as the decades rolled into centuries, he never found him. And by that time, he had a following of over a hundred vampires he’d created—he called them Family.”

  “That’s a lot of vampires.”

  “Yes. And they did a lot of killing. In the end, it was Vampirie that found Drake.”

  “Why?”

  “To stop him. Murders had reached unbelievable numbers and the original vampire wanted it to stop. But, with no way to kill vampires, they needed to find a way to get everything under control. Vampirie warned Drake that Nature would find a balance if this murdering didn’t stop, but Drake refused to listen. By the time of the Black Plague, there were over a thousand vampires in the world, spread out through three continents.”

  “And that was around the time Drake met Arthur?”

  David nodded. “Just before that, Drake did some math, realized that at the rate of creation versus deaths, there would be no food for his kind within fifty years. All humans dead. Gone. So he tried to get control, but the vampires he’d created had become arrogant and selfish. They wouldn’t listen. Gave him no respect at all. So, he created a Council of men who would swear ultimate allegiance to him and had them split into groups around the world to find and capture any vampires that refused to adhere to the new laws. But while they gained some control, it wasn’t enough. Anyway, a century or so later, Vampirie fathered Lilith to a human girl. And Drake fell completely in love. He was like a father to her, practically raised her.” He stopped, and his expression changed, taking my face in with a look of interest. “And now, here’s something you don’t know.”

  “Ooh, I’m already excited.”

  David smiled. “Lilith was kidnapped when she was eighteen by a group of rebel vampires. They… she was raped and abused by them for months on end and, finally, as they were about to kill her, she attacked one—bit him. He writhed and screamed and fell down dead,” he said, rolling his hand in the air as if he was casually listing a bunch of names. “She used the distraction to escape. But when she finally made it home and Drake found her wandering the forest, she was incoherent, shaking. All she kept saying was that she killed a vampire. It was from that day forth that they had the weapon they needed. Vampires were then rounded up for Lilith to kill if they couldn’t behave and it soon became apparent that she was not only a weapon but was also immortal. A few months later, she gave birth to the first born Lilithian. But it was the offspring of a man that raped her, so she had Drake slay the baby when it was born.”

  I covered my mouth. “He didn’t do it though, right?”

  “From what I gather, no.”

  “What happened to it?”

  “No one knows. We only know now that he kept the child, because he mentioned something about a secret he’d keep from Little Lily until the day he died—that Evada lives.”

  “Evada?”

  “It means Child of Sin in the old language.”

  “Well, what makes you think Evada is this child Lilith wanted killed? Maybe she was some other child.”

  “Because he mentions that she was Lilith’s firstborn.”

  “Whoa.” I exhaled deeply, my chest caving. “So, do you think she’s still out there somewhere?”

  “Who kn
ows?” He shrugged, looking so young as he did it. “But it makes for an intriguing story.”

  “I’ll say.” I sat back. “This family has way too many skeletons.”

  David laughed. “And curses.”

  “Yes.” I wrapped my hands over my bump—the bump that had ended my apparent curse to bear only females.

  “Wanna know the worst curse your family has?”

  My gaze moved sideways to see the cheeky smile before I asked him to go on.

  He reached over and delicately ran his thumb across my lashes. “These big blue eyes of yours.”

  “How are they a curse?”

  “Because I’ll be damned if I can ever stay mad at you for long.” He smiled fondly at my face, his own eyes softening and taking in every inch of me. “I wasn’t even going to stop and talk to you, but then you looked up at me, and I couldn’t help it.”

  I tried not to smile. I tried not to let it sink in to my soul and make me believe we could be together again. Because we had something fighting against us right now, which meant none of what he was saying could be trusted. And whether that was a hex, or maybe Lilith trying to force this future where Jase and I had to be together, or just plain old-fashioned hatred, I couldn’t let myself hope. I couldn’t let his warmth into my heart, because he could turn around at any moment and scorch me with his cruelty.

  “You are very beautiful, Ara-Rose,” he added, and that warmth got in to my heart anyway, melting it a little. “No matter what you’ve done to hurt me, I will never be able to look at you and think otherwise.”

  “Except to tell me I’m fat,” I challenged, testing the waters.

  He winced, looking away. “Can I say something in my own defense about that?”

  “Be my guest.” I offered the floor.

  “I didn’t know you were pregnant that day in the kitchen and, seeing your tummy sticking out like that, it was a shock.”

  “You thought I was carrying your brother’s child?”

  “No. That thought never even crossed my mind. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what was wrong with you. I certainly didn’t think for a second you were pregnant.”

  “But even after you found out I was pregnant, you still said I was fat, and—”