The Fall of The Fellowship

by Kelly Hall

  Thirty minutes later, after packing their gear and sending their bags down with Aziel and Eric who had covered for them so they could tell Rebekah and the others goodbye, they loaded into the car.

  Jarreth sat up front with Eric, and Canter sat behind him with their bags in the seat beside him as he stared at Katie’s picture on the phone. He made up his mind that he couldn’t sit and sulk forever, so he took out his phone and found a game to keep his mind busy.

  After a good half hour of silence, Jarreth looked over at the driver. “What’s up, Eric? Why are you so quiet?”

  “No reason,” he said, looking twitchy.

  “If you have something to say, let’s hear it,” Jarreth pressed, knowing he’d be able to get Eric to crack. The guy was a good hunter but usually liked to run off at the mouth.

  “I’m just tired, man.” He shrugged. “Then there’s the shit at the academy and how that’s all changing. Everyone is leaving, and I’m going to be stuck at that fucking academy until the end of the year.”

  Jarreth could sympathize. “Maybe you could hook up with us after, man. I know Rebekah would appreciate the support.”

  “I bet my parents would love that.” He gave a snort. “You two might be dead by then if you go after Kayne with her.”

  Canter leaned up between the seats. “How’d you know about that?”

  “There are rumors starting to spread. The Church made an announcement on the Elder’s website, and then there’s the new gear. By tomorrow, everyone will know for sure. It’s already spreading across social media.”

  Canter sat back as Eric slowed the car down to turn into the all-night diner which was as far as Eric could take them.

  “Thanks for the lift, man.” Jarreth held out his hand, and Eric took it, not bothering to look him in the eye.

  Canter opened his door, dragging his bag across the seat along with Jarreth’s. “Here, man.” He passed Jarreth his. “Thanks, Eric.”

  “No problem.”

  Canter shut the door and hitched his bag up on his shoulder. “Did he seem weird or what?”

  “Maybe he’s against Rebekah,” said Jarreth. “Probably just too much of a pussy to admit it since it’s obvious we’re on her side. I’m not worried about it. Let’s go inside and get our Uber lined up.” As they walked up to the door, the screeching tires of the academy’s SUV brought their head around.

  Eric sped away, and someone approached from the shadows. Canter’s eyes widened. “Katie?”

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Jarreth sighed. He had wanted his friend to be happy, but he hadn’t wanted the girl along for the ride.

  “I didn’t think you’d let me come along any other way,” she said.

  Canter’s eyes hardened. “You were right. It’s crazy and stupid, and I’d have told you to keep your ass back at the academy!”

  Jarreth couldn’t believe his ears. The guy had sulked for the past hour, and now here his girl was, and he was going to act like a hard ass. Jarreth grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the diner door. “You need to chill out. She’s here. I’m not happy about it either, trust me, but she obviously came to be with you. What are you lashing out for?”

  “Because she could get hurt, and let’s face it. She never said she’s coming along for me.”

  “I can hear you, assholes.” Katie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “And what does it matter why I came? I didn’t want to be left behind again.” She had come for Canter, but it was obvious that he didn’t want her to.

  Canter spun around and stormed back over to her. “Do you have your cell phone?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Good, you can call yourself a ride back to the academy, or you can call your parents to come get you.”

  “No, I’m a grown woman, so I can do what the fuck I want. And I’m coming with you, like it or not.” She walked into the diner, the bells on the door announcing her arrival.

  Jarreth grabbed the handle. “Dude, just let her go. Maybe you need this to see what she chooses.” He pulled the door open and went inside.

  Canter wasn’t going to let her off that easily. If she wanted to come, then she’d damned sure have to tell him why. He stormed in to join them.

  Jarreth and Katie sat across from one another, and Jarreth had already gotten on his phone. “I’m looking for a ride out of here,” he said to Canter as he approached.

  “Make sure there’s room for three,” said Katie, giving Canter a hard stare.

  Jarreth sighed. “Yeah, three and all of our stuff. I hear you.”

  Canter stood at the table, trying to figure out which side to sit on. Jarreth glanced up from his phone, and with a blank stare, he moved even closer to the edge, forcing the decision for him.

  “Move over,” he said.

  Katie looked up. “Ask nicely,” she said with enough venom in her voice that his back stiffened.

  “Please, can I sit here?”

  Finally she moved over so Canter could sit beside her. .

  “Why did you come?”

  She shrugged. “Seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”

  “It’s not too late to turn around, you know? I’ll call Father Timms and make him send Eric back for you. At least now I know what his fucking problem was.” Eric had known the whole time that she was hiding in the very back of the SUV.

  “Yeah, I threatened to cut his balls off if he ratted me out.” She ran her hand through her long, blond hair.

  Canter could smell her shampoo, and he remembered how soft it felt. As much as he would have missed her, leaving her behind, now he worried for her safety. Worse than that, she wasn’t likely to let him protect her. He knew Jarreth would only be worried about Delilah. “How’s your ankle feeling?”

  “It’s fine. Don’t worry. You won’t have to carry me.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to fight off her emotions. He’d already ditched her once, and now she felt like a fool for thinking tagging along would change anything. “You can make it easy on yourself and pretend I’m not here.”

  Jarreth hung up the phone. “That was our driver. He’ll be here in ten minutes.”

  “Great,” said Canter. “Just great.”

  Chapter 18

  By the time Eric Downey returned with the SUV, it was time to gas it up and load it down again. Rebekah knew with any luck, Jarreth and Canter would be off to a good start.

  Aziel returned from taking the last load to the car. “Is that everything?”

  “Yes, and Eric said the guys made it okay. But I’m afraid there’s something I should let you know.” He gave the sort of look that had Rebekah’s nerves on end.

  “What is it? Is something wrong?”

  “Well, that depends on your perspective, I’d guess. But I helped Katie Kelly stow away in the SUV. Eric left her with the guys.”

  Rebekah wondered what their faces were like when they saw Katie had joined them. She had a feeling that Jarreth wasn’t going to be too happy about their traveling companion. “Well, at least Canter will be happy. She is going for Canter, isn’t she?”

  Aziel shrugged. “I hope. Otherwise, it’s going to be a much longer trip than they expected.”

  “What about you? Are you all set here?” She didn’t know if he would stay on at the academy, go back home, or choose to go with her.”

  “I’d like to go with you if you don’t mind?”

  Rebekah wasn’t sure if he’d talked to Michael or not, but before she could ask, Commander Fisk came into the room.

  “I see the car is all packed.” He did a doubletake, seeing Lulu who had surprised everyone by showing up in a nice dress with sensible shoes. She had even done up her face with rouge and lipstick, and her hair was neatly combed. “Where do you think you’re going at this hour, Mrs. Pembroke?”

  Lulu’s lip peeled back, revealing more lipstick on her teeth. “I don’t think I’m going anywhere. I am, however, most definitely leaving this establishment for good.”

/>   Commander Fisk’s jaw dropped. “You mean you’re going to quit? Just like that?”

  She leaned forward. “Just like that. I’m sure the Church can find someone to replace me. They’re very good with their ‘out with the old, in with the new’ policies.”

  Commander Fisk swelled up like a toad. “But what about breakfast?”

  “I left instructions on the counter, so I’m sure you’ll manage.”

  Fisk turned and looked across the room where Father Timms was looking at his new issued commander’s shirt. “Commander Timms, were you aware that the Huntress had corrupted our cook?”

  “I’m quite certain Lulu was corrupted already,” he said with a straight face. The others in the room laughed, including Liam, who had obviously gotten to know Lulu in his short time there.

  Commander Fisk straightened his collar. “Well, then there’s no reason to make this a long goodbye. You can all clear out.” With that, he turned and left the room.

  “Well, that went over like a fart in church,” said Lulu, earning a laugh from the others. “Hey, Angel, would you help me to the car?”

  Aziel walked over and offered his arm. “It would be my honor, Lulu.”

  As the two walked out, Rebekah turned to Frankie. “I’ll be in a separate car and taking a different flight, so I wanted to tell you not to hesitate to call me if you need anything. The account is yours to use for your well-being and the care of the house. Find a good doctor and make sure to set up anything you need for the baby. I’ll trust you to get everyone settled in.”

  “I’ll do my best,” said Frankie. “The last place I expected to have the baby was Ireland, but I’m actually growing more and more excited. I’ll just miss everyone here, you know?” She glanced over at Father Timms, who stood with Liam.

  “He’ll be along soon.” Rebekah winked, causing Frankie to blush.

  Father Timms turned to shake Liam’s hand. “You’re going to be the man of the house until I get there. Be sure and take care of the ladies.”

  “I will, Father. I’ll be king of the castle.” He brushed off his shoulder and winked at Mace.

  Mace rolled her eyes. “I’ll look after him. I’m going to put him to work in the laboratory.”

  “That will be good. A young man needs a trade.” Father Timms looked at Liam. “You learn all you can, son. Your life is going to be one big adventure, it seems.”

  Frankie cleared her throat. “And I’ll make sure he takes his equivalency exam like we discussed. I checked his records at his old school already, and it seems he wasn’t kidding. He really did have the highest grades of his class.”

  Liam turned to Mace. “I told you I’m no dummy.”

  Mace gave him a devilish smile. “Will there be ghosts in the castle? Maybe they’re hungry for little boys with big egos?”

  “No ghosts that I know of,” said Rebekah, giving Liam a wink. “But it is a big place. I’m sure there could be a few spirits there that I hadn’t met. Especially down in the laboratory. It used to be a torture chamber.” She smiled when Mace’s eyes widened.

  “Careful, I’m only meaning to scare Liam,” she said. “I’ve got to work down there, too, you know?”

  Rebekah urged the others to follow her while Frankie and Father Timms picked up the rear, both walking slowly and chatting the whole way.

  Rebekah walked out the front doors and looked up at the building. It was just weeks earlier she had sat on the very steps and thought she’d found home, at least for a bit longer than she had stayed. Now, so soon and after so much had happened, she was going to leave again, this time for good.

  After seeing the others off, Aziel walked over to join her at their car. “That’s an assorted bunch.”

  “Ireland certainly won’t be boring for Ignis now.” She couldn’t wait until they were all there together. “We better get on the road. Have you ever met a naiad?”

  Aziel narrowed his eyes. “I can’t say I have.”

  “Then you’re in for a treat.”

  Chapter 19

  Jarreth felt something shake him awake, and his eyes opened to remind him he wasn’t at the academy but on a bumpy road somewhere between Vegas and Utah. Besides the bumps being an annoyance, the girl who had snuggled closer in her sleep wasn’t Delilah, but Canter’s girl, Katie.

  Before Jarreth shrugged her off his shoulder where her head lay against him, he couldn’t help but sniff her hair. If he could say anything about her, it was that she smelled like heaven. “I know I’m irresistible, but get off of me, sweetheart.”

  Katie stirred, her face scrunching up in a frown that gave away how much of a grumpy ass she was in the morning. “Fuck off, Barnes. I’m not used to sleeping in cars.”

  “Yet another reason you could have stayed back at the fucking academy,” he said with his voice low. “No one needed you to be here. You’re only going to slow us down with that gimpy ankle of yours.”

  Katie moved away and looked to the front seat where Canter slept sunk down in his seat with his arms folded. She would much rather have been snuggled against him. “My ankle is better, and I think I can keep up with you. Carrying that enormous ego of yours must slow you down a little.”

  “It’s not nearly as heavy as you and your drama.”

  “My drama?” She rolled her eyes.

  “Yeah, your little love triangle you have going. If you’ve tagged along to be with Grady, then you’re an even bigger bitch than I thought you were.”

  Katie hadn’t realized just how much Jarreth despised her. “What did I ever do to you, Jarreth? Are you afraid I’m going to take your friend away from you? Or are you just jealous because you’ve killed your chance with Delilah, and Canter might end up with the happily ever after and not you?”

  “Don’t talk about me and Delilah. You don’t know shit about us. As for my best friend, I want him happy, but I’ve had to sit and listen to him be miserable ever since you came into his life.”

  The words stung Katie so badly she winced. But she wasn’t about to let Jarreth get the best of her. She turned in her seat to angle toward him. “Fuck you. You don’t think you make Delilah miserable? I suppose that’s why she had to go to a fucking rogue camp to get away from your sorry ass. You’ve been a goddamned man-whore most of the time I’ve known you. And when she did give you the chance again, you blew it. I bet she’s already moved on. I’ve heard some of those men at the rogue camps are pretty fit. I bet they’d be real enticing for a girl who is vulnerable.”

  Jarreth could feel his blood boiling. “Fuck you!” His voice boomed, startling the driver who had been trying his hardest not to hear what was going on.

  The car swerved a bit, and Canter woke up as Katie shouted, “Fuck you too, pretty boy.”

  “What the hell is going on back there?” Canter turned and pegged them both with a hard stare. “You two should rest up for the fucking trip. We’ll have to do some hiking once we get there, and it’s going to be a long enough day without having to listen to you two bitching at one another.”

  The driver spoke up as he slowed the car down. “You’re already here, man.” He turned into the rest area and pulled into a parking spot.

  Canter looked at his watch. They had made good time. It was hours until sunrise.

  “Thanks.” Canter thanked their driver as Jarreth and Katie got out of the car and walked around back to get their packs.

  After Jarreth shut the trunk and the car drove away, Katie, who had at least had the foresight to dress for a hike and still manage to look sexy as fuck doing it, picked up her pack and put it on as Canter walked over to get his.

  “Sorry we woke you up,” she said.

  Canter was glad he’d apparently slept through most of it. “Yeah, well you two better hug it out or kiss and make up because we’ve got a long trip.”

  “Never going to happen,” said Jarreth, who strapped on his pack.

  “Then we’ll all just keep our mouths shut.” Canter stormed off to the trailhead. He’d already st
udied the directions Rebekah had given him.

  They moved carefully through the forest in the dark, not saying a word for nearly an hour. Then Katie felt something shift beneath her feet, and suddenly, she slipped. Luckily, she caught herself before she hit the ground.

  “Watch it,” said Jarreth. “We don’t need you cracking that weak ankle.”

  “The only thing that’s going to crack out here is your skull if you don’t stop being an asshole to me.” She didn’t come along to be abused, and while she wanted nothing more than to fall into Canter’s arms and beg him, it wasn’t her style. He’d already rejected her once, and the only thing that scared her in the whole world, even more than being stuck in the middle of nowhere with Jarreth fucking Barnes, was him doing it again.

  “Both of you just shut up. Don’t you hear that?” It was suddenly quiet enough to hear running water. “It looks like we’re going to have to wade through that creek.”

  “Did Rebekah mention a creek?”

  “No, she didn’t. But I’m sure I’m on the right path.” He actually wondered if he’d gone a little more north than northeast, but he would correct it down the river a bit. “Come on.”

  As luck would have it, the waters weren’t much more than ankle deep, and they were able to hit the forest again in a matter of minutes.

  “I sure hope you know where we’re going because I don’t,” said Jarreth.

  “I’ve got it. While you were chasing every girl in the academy during our first year, I was studying navigation.” He looked up to the sky to see the very first signs of the sun. “Won’t be long now, and we’ll have light.”

  “Then let’s not waste time. I can’t wait to see my girl.” He wasn’t going to believe what Katie had said about Delilah moving on. He knew her better than anyone. It would have taken a fuck lot more for her to move on, especially when she was probably still hurting from the way things ended.

  As Jarreth bounded through the brush, he noticed the trees had gotten a little sparser, and suddenly, he tripped, nearly face-planting over a log.

  But then the log moved. “What the hell is this?” The man jumped to his feet before Jarreth could recover, and suddenly, others followed with one warning cry. “Intruders!”