Chapter Eight
“I’m sorry,” Benjamin stepped away from me as the music faded into something faster. “I was under the impression that Miss VanHaven didn’t have a significant other.”
“I don’t,” I said turning slightly to him and then back at Kelan.
“We need to go Abi, it isn’t safe here.” Kelan pulled me by the arm.
I pulled it back. “Lou said it was and Jack knows of my mother. He watched her apartment for her. If the scepter is anywhere it’s in there and he won’t leave his party right away because he doesn’t want to be rude to his guests.”
Kelan looked from me to Benjamin. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.” I know he was second guessing me thinking that my hormones overcame my logic…and maybe it did, just a little.
“Come along Abigail, we don’t want to disrupt Jack’s party,” Barnabus said coming up behind Kelan.
“I would listen to the gentlemen,” Benjamin said emphasizing the word gentlemen. “It has been a pleasure Miss VanHaven and I do hope we meet again as you’re always welcomed to the Fisher Building.” His hand slid down my arm catching my hand in his and slowly lifted it kissing the back of my hand gently with his eyes smiling at me. I’ve never had a man do that before and now I know why women get that same look of awe mixed with enchantment at the gesture.
Benjamin nodded at the guardians and faded into the crowd. I turned and glared at both of them.
“Victoria is on the loose and we have Jenna—your cousin, in the hallway. Please Miss VanHaven,” Barnabus said motioning with his hand towards the door.
I followed and the shadow man that let us in, opened the door for us and shut it quickly blocking every ounce of noise off. The hallway was quiet except for Jenna’s voice.
Nate stood in front of her as Donavan held her by her arms.
“And to think…all this time Danielle had you, not you her.” Jenna’s voice said with amusement as blood ran down her nose. “You thought she was a siren and thought you could use her…like you do everyone else.”
I stood a distance away looking at her. She wasn’t the polished, confident and mostly arrogant looking person I was used to seeing. Her eyes flashed with fear like a cornered animal. Her normally slick straight hair was tousled like she had never combed it. Jenna looked like an entirely different person altogether.
Nate slapped her across the face.
“Stop it!” I yelled even though I wanted to do that a few times myself.
Jenna lifted her head and smiled at me with the pupils of her eyes so large they nearly took up her entire iris.
“Ah, Abi. Abiabiabiabi.” She slurred my name together as fast as she could then began to giggle with evil giddiness. “I thought the scepter was in my stash from great old Aunt K, but I guessed wrong. You have the key and Victoria will come after you.” Jenna laughed as she tried to pull away from Donavan’s hold. “She killed your mother and she never got to finish the whole job! She’s coming after you Abi, right after you open the door.”
Kelan pulled me back as she tilted her head back and laughed like she had lost her mind.
“Where’s Victoria?” Donavan asked in his stern voice shaking her so hard Jenna’s head flopped back and forth. Her long hair curled around her face like it was alive.
Jenna glanced at him and half smiled. “Behind you,” she said with a chuckle.
Donavan this time punched her and knocked her out. I tried to step towards her, but Kelan stopped me again.
“Take her to Sanctuary and make sure she doesn’t get away.” Barnabus commanded stepping beside Nate and Donavan.
Donavan lifted Jenna’s limp body and took her down the hallway to the lobby area where the two fairies had disappeared.
“What happened to her?” I asked looking from Nate to Barnabus and then Kelan. “What happened to Jenna?”
“That’s what happens when you’re a mortal and join the Circle,” Nate said without emotion. “She found out about the Circle a long time ago and Victoria posing as Danielle enchanted Jenna. She made her believe she was actually going to share power with Jenna.” Nate looked over his shoulder. “That’s what happens when you make a deal with Victoria.”
I looked away. It was true; Jenna always wanted to be in control of everything. It was always that way, sharing was never her quality and now I guess it cost her more than she could have guessed.
“It’s unfortunate for her and I’m sorry for you Abigail, but the scepter is still not in our hands.”
“We need to get into the apartment right now.” Nate stood beside Barnabus. I looked at him wanting to ask about Meg, but I knew this wasn’t the place or time.
“There’s a trick to that and…it’s still locked up somewhere.” Barnabus stepped in front of me and drew in a deep breath. “We must Abigail.” I knew what he wanted to do or more like have Kelan do. He wanted to use Kelan’s Sight Premonition. I looked away not wanting to gaze into Barnabus’s eyes with so many arrays of greens.
“I only want Kelan there when he does it.” Barnabus shook his head.
“And me,” he said softly. “Both Kelan and I will guide you and the extra set of ears never hurts. We have to get the information straight.”
Borrowing a bedroom in Jack’s apartment, I sat in a high back chair that was cushioned and covered with yellow and white polka dots. In fact, the whole room reminded me of a circus. Bright colors, elaborate furniture, and a canopy bed covered with long silk panels of material, looked like it was the big top tent.
I sat as Kelan and Barnabus talked quietly to each other looking out the blackened window that only showed my reflection. The music had faded and I could hear Jack say goodnight to each of his guests.
Kelan then pulled up an identical chair and sat in front of me.
“I don’t want to do this.” I gazed at him knowing that he wasn’t going to say I didn’t have to.
He smiled and chuckled a little bit. “I promise it won’t be like last time.”
He took my hand and ran his fingers over mine playing with them. It tickled and soothed me at the same time. His blue eyes then met mine and like a magnet to metal, I couldn’t stop him from drawing me in.
I felt the familiar pull at the back of my head and the visions passed like he was thumbing through them himself. I had no control over anything, like I was a leaf at the mercy of a violent stream.
Suddenly things slowed and I could see my mother sitting on the floor. I went up to her.
“Not now Abi,” she said with a smile.
“What is that?” I could feel my childish wonderment of everything as I pointed to what was a long pole with a ball of curving metal rods. To me it looked like a tiny jail with a clear bead on top.
“This is something important.” She wrapped it up in a white sheet and stood up holding it. I could see her long hair pulled back and dirt smudges on her face.
“Mommy, you have dirt on your face.” I smiled at her giggling.
She smiled back and lifted me up. “I’m about as messy as you, aren’t I?” Her eyes twinkled and then turned serious. “I have to give you something, Abi. You won’t understand now, but when you’re older you will need it.”
“What is it?” I asked.
She sat me down and then she sat in front of me. “Want to play a clapping game?” I shook my head playfully and she laughed. “Put your hands out with your palms barely touching mine.” I did and she smiled at me.
Suddenly a rush of electricity filled me. I screamed wanting to pull away, but couldn’t.
“Daddy!” I yelled at the man with the brown hair and vivid green eyes that stood behind my mother. He came towards us only to be stopped by some invisible shield.
“It’s o.k. Abi,” my mother said in a soothing voice that warmed me like bath water after I had been playing outside all day in the snow.
My body fell limp and I slumped into her arms wit
h the gentle soothing of her humming voice.
I could feel myself being pulled back like a leash had been around me. A blur of visions passed by like racing cars all melting into only flashes of colors and faces. I fell into a cloud of blackness with only the murmur of voices in the distance. I didn’t understand them and I didn’t want to.
“Abi,” Kelan whispered in my ear.
I didn’t want to open my eyes, but stay in that one moment where Kelan was close to me. I could feel him gently run his finger along my hairline. I forced my eyes open and looked at him. He smiled still sitting close to me.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’ve been better.” Gingerly I sat up.
“Do you remember anything?” he asked.
I didn’t answer right away. “Well, I did at the time, but now I can’t. I do remember getting electrocuted, I think. At least that’s what it felt like.”
“It wasn’t electricity.” Barnabus stood in the doorway and stepped inside closing the door behind him. “It was energy, or a spell if you want to call it that, and it was meant for your protection.” He sat on the bed looking at me with his green eyes that suddenly filled me with familiarity.
I gazed at him for a moment. “Protection from what, Victoria—”
“No,” he said, “protection from the handling of Victoria’s scepter.” He looked away. “I should’ve known that’s what it was for…I should’ve told you sooner when I found out…”
I could feel my stomach fill with butterflies and then drop to the floor as goose bumps ran up and down my body. I looked into his green eyes, the only green eyes that had ever mesmerized me and looked at me with love.
“What…what are you saying, Barnabus?” My mouth was dry.
“I knew your mother very well and…I tried to save her that day, but she couldn’t be saved. She didn’t want to be saved.”
“I saw her die.” The words were bitter on my tongue. “I saw the blood and the one who is responsible for it.”
“Victoria didn’t kill her.” Barnabus stated flatly. “I did…she wanted me to.”
“You—” I started to say as I stared into his sorrowful eyes holding onto the bedpost for leverage.
“She was dying. Victoria didn’t give her the satisfaction of death. The poison was slow acting and it would’ve been weeks before she died. I didn’t want to kill her, she begged me to relieve her of the inevitable.” Barnabus drew out a long ragged breath. “She did it for you Abigail and she did it for me—I loved her and still do and all I can say is that…I’m sorry for not being there for you, but it’s what was for the best. The farther you were away growing up…the better.”
“What are you…” I stopped and looked into his green eyes. Those eyes I had looked into as a child. “I saw you.”
“Abigail VanHaven, I’m your father.” Barnabus came to the conclusion that I only suspected was right.
I turned and sat on the bed hanging onto the bed post and staring into the vivid rug with all the happy, bright colors reflecting back to me.
“Is everything alright—because I seem to keep getting more of your guests at my door.” Jack now dressed in a green silk night shirt and matching pants stood crossed armed leaning against the door jamb.
“If everyone would like, I can show you to Emma’s apartment so you can all get out of mine.” Jack raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “I’m sorry, it’s late, I’m tired and I’ve run out of hospitality and I know you’ve waited long enough…in more ways than one.” Jack looked more at me.
We went into the living room that was covered in glitter and littered with streamers, glasses and empty bottles. The magic of the room was gone and all that was left was the stale odor of over perfumed air.
Barnabus kept his distance from me. I was still numbly piecing everything together. Kelan stayed close to me and I could feel his curious gaze mixed with concern. His hand brushed against mine and as if instinct took over, I reached for it curling my fingers through his.
Kelan’s head snapped towards me in surprise as I felt the same inside. I didn’t look at him only tightened my hold on his hand. He returned the squeeze and I could feel the warmth from his touch. Suddenly, I felt secure like a blanket had been wrapped around me.
“Yes, I think I need to call the cleaning lady right away tomorrow. I would definitely call this an emergency. Wouldn’t you my dear?” Jack went over and curled his lanky arms around Lou whose robust figure was full compared to his lankiness.
“I think it’s a lost cause—better call in a redecorator.” Ella crossed her arms standing in a pool of glitter.
Jack rubbed his forehead and expelled his breath. “I’ll be sure to do that next time you come.”
“I don’t plan on a next time.” Ella put her nose in the air.
“Good, then we don’t have a problem.” Jack clapped his hands. “Welcome everyone else and I know the time here is dire.”
“I’m just sorry I missed your party.” Roan went through the bottles searching for one that had Nectar in it. “It was a long ride here and unfortunately we can’t speed like the guardians can. Otherwise, we would’ve been here earlier Abi.”
I nodded my head as Donavan came through the door followed by a petite woman with long blonde hair. She was dressed in the same black clothes as the rest of the guardians except she had on knee high boots that wrapped around her tiny feet like thick socks.
“The building is secure,” Donavan said taking off his sunglasses. I wondered why he wore them in the middle of the night.
“Let’s move,” Nate said getting up from the bright pink chair in the shape of a daisy. He flipped his phone shut and shoved it in his pocket letting his eyes meet mine for a second.
“Let’s go VanHaven.” Nate motioned towards the door. “The rest of you benefactors stay here.” He turned to the four of them. “You shouldn’t even be here in the first place.” Nate mumbled under his breath as I followed Kelan out the door.
“I hope no one sees me in my nightwear and I don’t think they will this late or early…however you want to look at it.” Jack shrugged his shoulders as we stood in front of the door that had a small silver plate screwed to it with the number 24A etched in it. I looked at the doorknob wondering how many times my mother had gone through this same door.
“Here you are,” Jack said with a click of the key and a turn of the silver knob.
The door creaked open and I stood looking at the darkness of the room. The only light that came in was from the constant illumination of Chicago and its buildings. A musty smell rolled out like a fog as I stood at the threshold.
“You can go in, you don’t need me.” Jack put his fingers to his chest. “I only go in to check the heat and toilet…or actually I send my cleaning lady and she was just in here. Emma hasn’t lived here in about twenty years, but she owns it and being the good neighbor, I watched it for her and now with you here I assume it’s all yours.” He smiled and then started to walk away. “I would be a better guide, but I’m exhausted and it seems I’ve got four of your guests in my apartment to tend to.”
“I’ll go in with you,” Kelan said coming to my side.
“Very romantic…you young guardian.” Jack chuckled walking away shaking his head. “Please don’t bother me unless you absolutely have to—I’m tired…need my beauty rest.” His voice echoed followed by a click of the door.
“Let us go in first.” Donavan grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him. “Kelan you guard her and the rest of us will go in to make sure it’s clear.” Donavan nodded for the blonde girl to go in followed by Nate and Barnabus.
I stood close to Kelan as the four guardians scattered like spiders in the apartment. It didn’t take them long and Donavan motioned for us to go in.
I wasn’t sure what to expect after twenty years of no one living here. The dry air was stagnating and void of any smells.
There wasn’t any furniture, appliances in the kitchen and a bare light bulb that glared down at us. I looked up at the tall ceiling that was the same stamped metal ceiling that was in Jack’s apartment. Hardwood floors gave way to tile in the kitchen.
“You said she probably had it secured somewhere, but where?” The blonde haired girl asked.
I pulled on Kelan’s arm. “Who is that?”
Kelan started to lower his head to my ear when the girl stopped and looked over her shoulder at me.
“I should’ve introduced myself. Sorry about that with everything going on I forgot and I can proudly say that I get my guardian manners from Donavan here,” she said with a snicker from Donavan as he paced the floor nearly blending in with the darkness. “My name is Sage Greene and it’s a pleasure to serve you Abigail VanHaven.”
“You know my name,” I said surprised even though I knew she probably knew more about me than I did myself.
“Yeah, Donavan filled me in on everything. I’m sort of his partner-in-crime on top secret cases.” Her gold hair caught what little light the lonely bulb gave off. Her delicate lips curled upward and she held out her thin hand greeting me in a handshake. To me she didn’t appear she should be a guardian—Sage was simply too little and fragile looking. But I’m sure Donavan wouldn’t let someone incapable of taking care of themselves tag along.
“Aren’t you supposed to be working instead of socializing then?” Donavan’s eyes reflected the light like a cat eyes would. I stepped back looking at him as he fixed his gaze on me.
“Yes, I’m going to check the back rooms.” Sage’s footsteps were as silent as the room itself as she faded into the shadows with a small flashlight in hand.
Donavan came closer to me with his inquisitive cat-like eyes. “Do I frighten you Miss VanHaven?” That question brought everyone’s eyes on me.
“I don’t think you frighten her. She just doesn’t know what you are.” Barnabus came closer to me cautiously as if he was still unsure of our newly found father-daughter relationship.
Donavan tilted his head to the side. “I’m what you call a sylph guardian.” He stood in front of me and paused acting like I knew what he meant. I shook my head. “My kind is called many names by the idiotic humans: wind people, angels, and now most recently, men-in-black. And Lucy, Gwen’s door keeper, calls me by an ancient name—hollowman.” His voice was cool and informational without any emotion. “I prefer to be included as a guardian, since we serve the treelords and always have. That’s it Abigail, there is no mystery to me as much as you think.”
I looked up at him with his flickering eyes. Lucy said he came from the shadows and I could believe that since he seemed to be a shadow himself. I started to ask him about what Lucy meant when she said he came from the shadows when Sage’s flashlight caught everyone’s attention.
“Hey, I found something—in the bedroom.” Sage peeked behind the wall shining her flashlight on the ground.
Donavan’s eyes shifted with the light as he slightly smiled at me and turned fading into darkness.
The Librarian's Daughter The Story of Abi VanHaven Page 8
