“You’re thin as a rail though. Did they feed you?” She ran her hand down my arm.
“Sure, Mom.” I motioned to Camille. “This is Camille.”
Mom’s head jerked to face Camille. “Oh, dear, where are my manners?” She shed her glove and stuck her palm out to Camille.
Camille slid her hand in Mom’s. “It’s nice to meet you Ms. James.”
“Oh, it’s Emma. Wow, your eyes are so dark. Where’d you get those?”
“Mom.” I cringed at Mom’s inability to control the thoughts shooting from her mouth.
“Sorry, that’s not how I should react the first time you bring a girl to meet me. Of course, it would have been fine if you brought a boy too. He’s never introduced me to any of his girlfriends. I’d see pictures from homecoming or prom but never met them.” She straightened her back and slapped her hands to her legs. “You’re probably thirsty and need a little restroom break from the drive. Let’s head back to the house.”
She spun and walked to her basket. I followed behind, taking it from her as she picked it up. “Thank you, it’s so good to see you. How was”—her eyes darted from me to Camille—“your camping experience?”
“Good. We spent some time in Italy too.”
“In Italy? Wow, how did that happen? You’re keeping up with your schoolwork, right?”
“Yes, Dad found this European school exchange program.” I hadn’t thought about what I’d tell her, and I was glad I thought of something on the fly.
“Your dad found it for you?”
“Yeah.”
“How is he?”
“Good, I guess. You know Dad, always off somewhere.”
“How about your Nan and Pop? They’re so nice to call me every week.”
We reached the porch and ascended the stairs. She set the basket on the wood planks. “I’ll get some drinks. Why don’t you guys find some seats?”
The door slammed behind her, and Camille and I surveyed the area.
“Let’s swing.” She pulled me to a suspended wood bench.
I wondered if there could be a more idyllic location. The tree-lined pastures, green even in winter, seemed to spread across the land like a carpet. The air smelled of berries and jasmine. The breeze made it just cool enough, and the most beautiful girl smelling of honey and flowers sat beside me.
“It’s beautiful here. I can see why your mom loves it.” Camille kicked her feet, propelling us back.
“I’m a bit biased, but anywhere you are is beautiful.”
Camille’s head shot back, and her laugh echoed off the ceiling. “That was the corniest thing you’ve ever said.”
“I mean it. You’re beautiful.”
“You’re making me blush.” Her hands went to her cheeks.
“Why are you making her blush?” Carrying a tray of ice glasses, Mom flung the screen door open with her hip.
“You could try to hide that you overheard our conversation,” I told her as she approached.
Mom looked at Camille. “Did he tell you I have amazing hearing? Why hide a gift? That’s what I always say. Of course, nature loves a balance. That’s why I live out here. Never sick a day in my life except for the food allergies.” She shoved the tray towards us. “My mom thought I was crazy. But now that Jude has them too, it means it was just genetic.” She shrugged and handed me a glass of lemonade.
“That makes sense.” Camille smiled, and her eyes darted to me.
“Never knew my father. Wait—” She froze. “Sorry, here I am going on about myself. How rude. You’ve never been here. I’ll give you a tour.” She jogged down the steps.
Between describing the various buildings and areas of the farm, Mom asked Camille question after question about where she was from, where she’d lived, her family, her aspirations. I couldn’t imagine bringing a girl who didn’t know about vampires to meet Mom. They’d probably chalk up her odd mannerisms and excitability to some type of social disorder. That would last until her next manic spree and then eventual drug binge cycle. I berated myself for being so negative. She’d been at the commune for four years without a single downturn. I had to admit, this was what she needed.
We ate lunch with the members of the community, sitting around a huge wooden farm table. The twenty-some-odd people were mostly the same since Mom came there. A few always drifted in and out, but the main group stayed constant. I guessed Mother had become one of those permanent members. I wondered what she’d do when she outlived them all. I’d probably have to tell her about vampires and witches eventually.
I watched Camille the whole day. How she held her head, listening to Mom, answering questions, interacting with the other people. The way she ate, her mannerisms, gestures, her smile.
“You’re quiet.” Mom squeezed my arm.
“Just enjoying being with you.”
“And in love,” she whispered.
My face flushed, and I looked to my plate and then Camille. “I guess.”
“I know.” She winked at me and popped a strawberry in her mouth.
I leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Let’s not make it a big deal. We’re only seventeen.”
“I won’t. Treat her nice. Don’t be like your father.”
My jaw tightened as she mentioned Dad. “I don’t plan to.”
“I know.” She cupped her hand to my cheek. “You’re a good boy.”
“I’m a man now, Mom.” I straightened my back.
“And so you are.”
After lunch, we saddled up three horses and rode the trails around the property. Camille rode like a pro, and I couldn’t have imagined a better day.
“When will you be back? I’ve missed you. I’d love to see you more often,” Mom said as we walked to the car.
“I’m not sure. I’m here on break from the exchange program.” I continued the lie I’d started.
“Oh, well, don’t you know when it ends? I’d like to come to your graduation.”
“Their schools go through the end of June. I’ll let you know.” My eyes darted to hers. “You’d come to my graduation? How long has it been since you’ve been off this property?”
She slapped at my arm. “We go into town for supplies at the farm store.” We stopped in front of the vehicle. “Okay, well, call, or write, or something.” She pulled me to her, wrapping me in her signature bear hug.
“It was nice to meet you.” She gave Camille a half-hug.
“You too, thank you for today.” Camille waved to Mom.
I opened the door for Camille and wound round to the driver’s side.
Camille’s fingers tapped on her leg as we made our way along the double rutted drive. “I know why you don’t like Alena.”
“What? That’s the first thing you say to me after this amazingly successful day.”
“Why did you use the word successful?”
“Because Mom didn’t embarrass me too much, and you looked like you were having fun.”
“Well, I hope you had fun. I haven’t had that good of a day since Iceland.”
“Duh, yeah, I was in that same freaky castle with you, remember?”
“You’re deflecting.”
“Are we fighting?” I pulled onto the main road.
“No, you are still evading the topic.”
“Of why I hate Alena? What does that have to do with today?”
“Are you kidding me? You know what I’m talking about.” She slapped my leg.
I glanced at her, and her eyes bore into mine. Still, I didn’t want to admit it.
She rolled her eyes. “Jude, do I have to say it? Alena’s mannerisms are just like your mother’s. The choppy, quick actions, the overzealous personality, it’s so obvious. You were mad at your mom, and you transferred that to Alena.”
“Thank you, Dr. Antos.” I moved my free hand to the steering wheel and focused on the road in front of me.
“You’re not mad at me. You know it’s true.”
I glanced her way. “I could never be mad at you.”
“Were you mad when I got myself caught?”
“Yes, I was mad then.”
“Then admit that you don’t like Alena because she reminds you of your mom.”
“Fine.”
“Good.” Her smile spread across her face, and she folded her arms across her chest.
“For the record”—I took her hand—“I was mad when you got caught, but not angry with you. I was furious with myself for leaving you alone.”
That night I saw a man, dressed in a long tunic, surrounded by a crowd. A smaller group approached the man. A leader of that group stopped in front of the man. “Hail, Master.” The leader kissed the man in the long tunic.
“Friend, why are you here?”
When the leader stepped back, his followers surrounded the man. Wondering where I would see my father’s face, I looked between the two men.
“Do you not know me?” The leader turned to face me. I looked at the sword I held in my hand. “I am Judas Icarus.” The leader’s face transformed to my dad’s.
As I had the night before, I woke in a cold sweat. Tossing my covers aside, I paced the room. In successive nights, my dad had starred as Eve, Judas, and then Brutus. I felt betrayed by my father—that had to be it. Perhaps being with my grandparents stirred the feelings within, bringing them to the front of my psyche. I took to rising early to work out and drinking blood twice a day to keep my energy up. I didn’t want to worry or burden Camille and planned fun outings for her family every day.
We took a ferry to Santa Catalina Island, drove up to Malibu, and visited the Wild Animal Sanctuary near San Diego. Other than Tyler being paranoid, they were perfect days. We lay on our towels on the beach, walked trails on the island, had lunch in Malibu, and ate ice cream cones like we were ten.
By Friday, Grady had all the arrangements made for Janine’s parents to occupy their new home. He reserved a car to take them, and we waited in the foyer for the driver. I took Camille’s hand after she’d said goodbye to them, and we watched as they walked to the street and loaded their things in the car. Tears streamed down her cheeks as they drove away. She buried her face in my chest. Hugging her to me, I kissed the top of her head. “Everything will be all right. In six months, you’ll be living on the vineyard with them, stomping grapes every day.”
She titled her head back laughing. “Your fantasy, not mine.”
Watching Camille talking and laughing with her parents and Tyler, on our last night in LA, I let my mind drift to thoughts of my dad. For as angry as Camille had been at Grady, she had forgiven him. Perhaps I’d been too harsh on Dad. Maybe he deserved a second chance. Could it be that my dreams were prompting me to save him from his fate in Michael’s coven?
“You with me or not?” Pop’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. “You playing or not? What’s going on in that mind of yours?”
“I’m thinking I should go rescue my dad.”
Pop stood and slapped me on the back. “Well, it’s about time. I was wondering if I was going to have to shove it down your throat. You won’t be sorry, and checkmate by the way.” He pointed at the board as he walked away.
Staring at the chessboard, I wondered if it were even possible. I couldn’t involve Camille, Alena, or Hunter, but Grady and Tyler might be willing to help. Marcus owed us a favor, so I might be able to use him. I smiled at Camille across the room.
She glanced my way, and her cheeks turned pink as our eyes met. Each day she’d gotten stronger, her color improved, and I thought I noticed her eyes lightening. She tried using her magic, to no avail, but I knew the chelation therapy would work. It had to.
“Thank you.” Camille kissed my cheek as we took our seats on the plane the next day.
“For what?”
“For giving me this week. It was wonderful, and you made it happen.”
“No, you made it happen.” I bumped her arm with mine.
“I wouldn’t have come without you pushing me. You knew exactly what I needed.”
“A month in a godforsaken frozen tundra land and then another month as prisoners in a castle with someone will do that.”
“Iceland wasn’t that bad.” She traced circles on my hand.
“It was cold and dark.”
“And Italy was cold and dark.”
I looked out the window and back to her. “Yeah, Italy was worse.”
“I’m glad you decided we should rescue your dad.” She wrapped her hand around mine.
“We aren’t going to get my dad.”
“What do you mean, you said—”
Squeezing her hand, I bent down so we were eye to eye. “I said I was going to get my dad. You’re not going anywhere near that compound.”
“But, I could help.”
“Or you could get caught again. Both you and Alena have proved it’s not safe.”
When the flight landed, we exited in a hangar and loaded into a windowless SUV. They took us to an airstrip two hours away, and we transferred to the plane inside a hanger. Our flight took off at sunset, or so my watch indicated. We wouldn’t see the sun again for days if not months. But with Camille by my side and a clear mission in my head, I welcomed the next stage of our journey.
“You got here yesterday, and you’re asking us to help you rescue your father?” Alena slammed her hand down on the table. “It makes no sense. It’s not central to our mission. We’d be wasting time and energy.”
“I’m not asking you to help. I’m not even asking your blessing. I’ll gather a team on my own. Grady and Tyler are willing to join me. I’m just asking permission to use Marcus.” Pop’s words had picked at my brain for a week, and I blurted them out as a Hail Mary. “My grandfather said I wouldn’t be sorry. I think there was more meaning in that statement.”
Hunter shook his head. “You can’t know that. But until Camille has her magic back we’re in a holding pattern. I think”—he looked to Alena and back to me—“that if Anne doesn’t mind you using Marcus, it shouldn’t jeopardize our mission.”
“What?” Alena’s hand went to her hip, but she refocused on me. “You could be wasting your energy, getting your hopes up for nothing. I’ve been waiting for my dad to show up for almost eighteen years. Your grandfather probably meant that you wouldn’t regret rescuing your father from an evil coven of witches. That’s not a hard thing to guess.”
“Maybe my dad could be someone important, someone who knows something about the sword. I have no idea what he was doing in his travels.”
She turned to face Hunter. “We should at least have Chalondra read him before we decide. It would be good to know where his father’s alliances may lie. We don’t want to lose Jude for nothing. He’s one of the strongest on our team.”
I stood a little taller hearing the value Alena placed on me.
“That makes sense.” Hunter nodded. “You should have Chalondra read you.”
Finding Chalondra and Orm in the study, I asked her to take my palm. I’d avoided her like the plague in fear that she’d confirm exactly what I’d believed all my life: my dad was a deadbeat who left his son for months at a time to travel the world for his own pleasure.
Chalondra took my hand and closed her eyes. “You are of the house of Gabriel, and a member of the Alonso family coven. Like others of Gabriel’s line, the Alonso coven are messengers.” She opened her eyes. “But many of them became very resourceful and started to reap knowledge and store it for future use.”
“That’s it?” I cocked an eyebrow. “Sounds ambiguous.”
Alena appeared in the doorway, Hunter on her heels. “He could be a keeper of knowledge? Or a nobody?”
I spun to face her. “So, now you’re eavesdropping?”
“But what knowledge is the question.” Orm stood and shuffled to a shelf. “Maybe Jude’s father is more of an asset to Michael’s coven than we guessed. If he knew you were a herald, it could be why he went to great lengths to protect you.”
“Or he could be a nobody who collected useless pieces of trivia.” Alen
a plopped into the seat Orm vacated. “I still don’t want him using Marcus. We could need him for something else. What if his gratitude only goes so far?”
“I’m doing this with or without Marcus.” I stomped out of the room. Still, I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew Camille was okay. Finding her in the infirmary, I sat beside her bed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were starting the chelation so early today.” I took her hand.
“It’s okay, I’m a big girl.”
“But, I want to be here.”
“What? So, you can be bored out of your brain? I’ll be fine.”
“Well, I’m sitting with you anyway.” I moved to the end of her bed.
The nurse brought an IV bag filled with clear liquid and explained the process. The compound in the fluid would bind to the toxic heavy metals, and her kidneys would filter the compound out.
“Fingers crossed.” Camille held up her entwined fingers.
We spent the two hours reading spells, and when appropriate, I practiced them.
“So, what now? I don’t feel any different. Are my eyes lighter?” Camille asked the nurse when all the solution had transferred through the IV.
The woman’s eyes cut to me and back to Camille. “It may take a while to see any changes. Perhaps up to twenty-four hours. Drink lots of water and come back immediately if you have any odd reactions to the medication.” She fitted a Band Aid over the injection site.
“You should take double your vitamins and calcium for the next week.” Reaching in her pocket, she offered Camille a handful of small packets containing two pills each. “Take one packet morning and night.”
“Thank you.” Camille pulled her sleeve down and stood. I followed her into the hall. “She was totally lying to me,” Camille whispered as we exited the infirmary.
“You don’t know that.”
“Are my eyes any lighter?”
“No, but you heard her, give it time.”
“I’m doing research.” She increased her pace, and I followed her to the computer bay. Sitting in front of a laptop, she typed in the keywords. After reading a page, she spun to face me. “There are six different chelating drugs.”
The Kingdom Journals Complete Series Box Set Page 68
