Crimson Secrets

by Garnet Davenport

  Declan reached out for it and wrapped it around my shoulders. Matt’s coat was so long on it felt like it was swallowing me whole.

  “Hey, Declan.” Duncan threw his black coat, which he must have taken off before he transitioned, to Declan and then walked off. Declan grabbed it and put it on. He made a grunting sound when he put it on. I was sure it was because the shoulders were tight on him. Then he buttoned it down.

  “I’m going to walk with you.” Declan spoke quietly, bending down slightly, getting my attention. I just nodded my head in agreement and waited for them to walk toward his body.

  “I’ll go get the SUV,” Matt said, transitioning and taking off for the SUV.

  “I’ll go with you,” Duncan said quickly, transitioning and trying to catch up. He turned back to look at me as I stared straight into the trees, not blinking. I was cold. This was the first time that the snow made a temperature change for me. I had shivered and clung onto the black coat that almost came to my knees.

  They continued past me, and I held back from them. I stepped forward. I knew that I couldn’t show emotions right now. We were still not safe and we had to get out of there quickly.

  Declan walked quickly behind me. “Shay?”

  I turned to him.

  He grabbed my hand and we intertwined our fingers. “I got your letter.”

  I looked at him with surprise. “I didn’t send it. I lit it on fire.”

  He just cocked his head a little and chuckled. “I know. I could smell it.” He chuckled again. “We are bonded enough for it to still make its way to me. I have heard of this happening before but nobody in our generation has this ability. You are rare… Special.” I didn’t say anything back to him. “Shay?”

  I stayed quiet until I had given myself enough time to be able to speak any words. Every time I talk to anyone I get more information about myself or that monster called the Morrígan. I looked at him, realizing we were getting close to Tommy’s body. “I understand.” I could feel that I had blood on my face and neck and I already knew it was covering my hands as it dried in the cold air. The sticky feeling of the dried blood made me sick as I spoke. I couldn’t believe what had just happened.

  He squeezed my hand tighter and I looked up and saw Tommy lying on the ground motionless. I jerked just a tad and stopped in my tracks. Declan came and wrapped his arm up and around my head. “I know.” It was a sight that I will never forget and I will not allow myself to cry.

  Duncan and Matt came driving up in the SUV within just a moment of us getting to Tommy. I turned my head toward the SUV and saw the lights flash into my eyes. A vivid memory had come to me of Tommy and me playing with my dad outside in our yard when we were little. My dad was trying to teach us how to play football. Tommy picked it up quickly and became a star in my dad’s eyes. I had more trouble being clumsy and falling onto the ground. I remember looking up and seeing my dad shake his head in disappointment. Tommy came over to me and grabbed my hand, helping me up, then giving me a child-like hug, and then I watched as he went back to my dad and started to play again.

  The lights turned off and Duncan got out of the driver’s side. They had changed clothes when they had gone to get the SUV.

  “This is unusual,” Declan said and he knelt down to Tommy’s body. He looked up at me.

  “What’s unusual?” Duncan asked, walking toward him, handing him clothes like it was a normal routine.

  “The bullets. Most hunters by trade use bows and arrows. The accuracy and legacy of the bow and arrow mean more to most traditional hunters. These bullets show the inexperience that this hunter had.” He stood as he finished his thought.

  Matt had walked up to us as Declan spoke. “Shay, why don’t you go get into the SUV?”

  I didn’t move. I just stood there shivering and staring at Tommy’s body.

  He took a step toward me. “Come on.” He started to push me away from what was about to happen. He opened up the passenger side door. He had handed me clothes to change into and a towel. I wiped the blood off my face and hands. My movements were shaky and unprecise. I changed then sat in the passenger seat, and he reached over and buckled me in, then stood leaning just inches from my face. “We have to move him.”

  I turned to look him in the eye. I was at a point where tears were starting, and then he put his right hand on the side of my face. “It’s my fault,” I said.

  “No, it’s not. It will get easier,” he said.

  The most famous words that get said when someone you love dies. I know that he knows this feeling from when his mother died, but this just happened. How long do I get to be sad or angry? When can I be happy again without feeling guilty? Declan blinked and leaned in to kiss my cheek. “I will be back.” He pulled his hand away from my cheek and shut the door.

  I could hear them talking indistinctly and then the back hatch opened up and the SUV moved as weight was added to the back. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t turn to see him.

  “Hand me that blanket,” Declan said.

  I felt a gust of wind as the blanket was unfolded and flowed downward. Thud. The hatch closed and they walked around to open the doors to get in.

  ➢18 True Intentions

  I sat in the passenger seat and looked out the window as Declan drove. He reached over and grabbed my hand. “Unfortunately, this happens too often. With Tommy being a part of the guard it was more likely to happen. Do you want me to talk to your parents first?”

  I finally turned away from the window. “No.” Then I turned back to the window. I could feel Duncan in the back seat, angry that Declan was holding my hand and that I was letting him and that he couldn’t do anything to help this situation. “It’s not your fault.” I spoke quietly never looking away.

  It became quiet for the rest of the ride back to our little town where I thought nothing exciting or bad ever happened. My parents. Did they know this was going to happen? They had to know something. How will I ever trust anyone ever again? We got to my house and Declan pulled into the drive and turned off the SUV.

  “Are you okay?”

  I figure this would be a question that I would get asked quite a lot. “No, not okay.” I just opened the door and stepped out. Walking normally up to the door, I couldn’t really decide if I should knock or just walk in. I hadn’t been there in such a long time, it seemed. It was almost time for winter break, and I should be in the best year of high school with my brother, not mourning the loss of him. Knowing what my parents have let happen to me made me angry and that helped. I put my finger on the doorknob and twisted it. Declan had gotten out of the SUV and started walking toward the door.

  “Mom? Dad?” I said.

  My mother came running from the kitchen to give me a hug and the instant that her arms were around me I felt the emotional hit that it was really happening. “Where’s Dad?”

  Her arms were on the sides of my upper arms. “I think he’s upstairs. What’s wrong?”

  I looked at her. “He really needs to be here. I don’t think I can do this more than once.”

  She looked at me and yelled toward the staircase. “David, can you come down here?” My mom took a step toward me. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”

  My dad came down the stairs. “Shay, sweetie what are you doing here?”

  I almost couldn’t speak the first time I tried. “Th…there was an accident.” I gulped.

  I turned when I heard a knock on the doorframe. “Mr. and Mrs. Evans.” Declan was at the door.

  I turned back to my parents and saw my dad grab my mom’s hand. “Honey.” She turned back and forth between Declan and my dad.

  “Mrs. Evans, I am so sorry for your loss.”

  I turned to my mom as soon as he said it. “No. He can’t be.” She turned to grab onto my dad and she dropped to the ground sobbing. My dad held onto her looking at Declan.

  “He fought by my side in honor,” said Declan. “It was a hunter that ended him.”

  I didn’t know what to say; I had never seen
something like this happen before. Declan took one more step into the room. “Thomas will be able to be put to rest tomorrow. Would you like anything special for him?” Declan spoke so well, I realized that he has had to do this more than he really wanted to. He probably had to do it when Hellena died. I couldn’t imagine it, to lose your mate then to have to act as if it didn’t affect you. No wonder he never really recovered. My mom was still sobbing, curled up on the floor.

  My dad looked up at Declan. “Not right now.”

  Declan bowed his head. “Sir, we will be taking Thomas to the mortuary from here. Shay will need to be at the mansion with us tonight. You and your wife are welcome to come there until the services in his honor.”

  My dad looked at him. “Thank you.” Declan walked out as I stood there a moment longer just watching my dad as he tried to console my mom. I didn’t know what to think. My dad looked up at me, and I turned and walked out the door after Declan.

  He had been waiting just past the garage door for me. “Are you okay?”

  I looked at him. “Don’t ever ask me that again.” I walked away from him and got back into the SUV. Duncan and Matt sat quietly as Declan came to the driver’s door and got in. We drove in silence to the mortuary where Matt got out and went in to get a gurney to take Tommy inside. I couldn’t watch it happen. I only felt the SUV shake and then heard the noise from it happening. It was one of the worst sounds I had ever heard.

  Then there was a man’s voice that I didn’t recognize. “Is there a family member that can identify him on paper?”

  I saw Declan look back at my door in the side mirror. “Yes, but not right now.” He looked back at the man and then reached out to shake his hand with money being passed. I realize that something would have to be said, no normal person would just accept that he died as a wolf from being shot by a rifle. Declan must throw his money around a lot for them not to ask how someone died. Duncan and Matt walked back outside and then came to get into the SUV.

  “Hey, Shay, it’s going to be okay. I promise,” Matt said calmly with his hand on my shoulder. I never looked at him. He just sat back in his chair and put his seatbelt on. Duncan remained quiet.

  Declan came around to the SUV and got in. He started the SUV and drove in silence. We turned onto the Callamores’ long drive and started up toward the mansion. It was past nightfall at this point, and Duncan quickly got out and opened my door for me. I looked up at the house. I now hated being anywhere, because I don’t have a home anymore.

  I saw Mary and Maxwell come running out from the front door. “Shay, come on in. We missed you.” Mary came up to me and gave me a hug.

  I saw Maxwell next. “Woofie, I am here for anything yous need. Anything.” They both grabbed me around the shoulder with one on either side of me helping me walk up the stairs through the front door. Everyone walked in and the door closed so loudly that I jumped when it happened.

  Mary just squeezed me tighter. “I’m just going to go upstairs to my room.” I realized that I said my room and I wasn’t sure how I liked that.

  I kept walking toward the stairs and then I heard her, Edness Callamore. “My dear, I am so sorry.”

  I turned to look at her. “Why are you sorry?”

  She looked surprised that I had said that. “My dear, I know you are suffering and I will not take anything that you say seriously, but this is my home, and you will still show respect for me.”

  I looked at her in anger. “Respect?” My voice started to become louder. “Are you planning on turning me over to the Morrígan?” I crossed my arms over my chest. She didn’t look surprised at all, but everyone else did. “I’m right, aren’t I? In fact, I’m almost certain that you have been behind so much of what has happened to me. Between getting kidnapped, tortured, and then the attack that just happened when my brother was killed. Aren’t you?”

  She just looked at me and spoke calmly. “My dear, if I truly wanted to hurt you I wouldn’t have to find someone else to do it.” She turned around to Declan and Duncan. “My boys, you are in love with both of them. Imagine what would happen if one of them were to be killed. You would simply cease to exist.” She never looked back at her grandsons after she made her threat. She just stood there and threatened their lives.

  My eyes widened in shock. “You wouldn’t hurt your own grandchildren, would you?” She never answered the question.

  Instead, footsteps from the den came into the foyer quickly. “Mother. Stop.” It was Julius Callamore. “Shay, there is no threat to you or to my sons. I want you to know this. Mother doesn’t like being confronted with any accusations of any kind.” This was the first time I had seen him take his role as the next Finich, and it was halfway surprising. He smiled and took a few steps forward. “Tommy will be missed. He was one of my personal guards while out of our territory. I want you to know I will do whatever it takes to bring justice to the hunters.”

  I looked him straight in the face. “I don’t want justice, and I want revenge.”

  He stepped back, startled as my vision changed and my eyes glowed a fire red. I turned and went up the stairs, quickly hearing them all talk below. “What is happening to her?” Julius Callamore asked.

  “Her abilities are growing so quickly,” Declan said. I could hear that Declan spoke while his arms were crossed over his chest; his air intake was different.

  Then I heard Matt scratch his head and swallow before he spoke. “I don’t know what I saw her doing while we were out there.”

  Duncan stood quietly. I could hear his heart beating; it was loud and overwhelming. He had pain in his heart for Tommy and for me. I tried to pace my heart and slow it down. I opened the door to my room and sat on the bed.

  I could hear his heart slow some. “I need to go shower,” he said as he interrupted Declan while he was speaking and walked away from them. As he walked closer and closer to my door his heart sped up more as mine also did. I hated being connected to both of them. It was like being pulled in two different directions at the same time with one heart. He stood on the other side of my door breathing hard. “I know you can hear me,” Duncan whispered.

  “What do you want?” I said.

  His heart raced more. “I want you, but I want you to be okay more. Will you open the door?”

  I sat nervous for a moment. “No.”

  He sighed. “Okay. I’m just down the hall.” I heard him walk away from me.

  I sat listening longer to the conversation happening between Edness Callamore, Julius, Declan, and Matt.

  “She’s different now. I don’t know what happened to her while she was gone, but it’s not the same Shay.” Matt said with sadness.

  Declan started to pace back and forth. “I can’t tell anything. She almost feels like a stranger to me. I just feel this pull toward her and that’s it.”

  Julius spoke up. “This she in question apparently has just gone through a very traumatic ordeal. The only question that needs to be asked is, how can I help her? And that is all. Do I have everyone’s understanding?”

  There was an agreement in the room and then Julius turned to his mother. “Mother?” He questioned the woman that I believe has had a lot to do with my traumatic time away from here.

  “Julius, if Miss Evans no longer wishes to stay with us I will not force her.” She walked out of the room.

  Declan spoke aggressively at his father. “You can’t let her continue to act like this toward Shay. One day Shay will decide between Duncan and me. Then she will be legally a part of this family.” He walked off after he spoke.

  A different voice from the door spoke with excitement. “Matt!” His heart pounded faster with the same excitement. “Ange.”

  She ran into his arms, her high heels tapping on the floor as she rushed. “I was so worried about you. What happened?”

  Matt hugged her tighter. “Tommy was killed by hunters.”

  I gasped when he said it. I hurt. My heart hurt. It had broken for my brother and hearing it over and over hurts agai
n every time.

  I heard a knock at the door. “Who’s there?”

  He spoke softly. “It’s Julius. May I enter?”

  I took a deep breath through my nose. “Sure.”

  He opened the door and stepped into the room closing the door behind him. “Shay, I know that this is a rough time in your life, but I must ask. What will your decision be with my sons?”

  I looked at him. “I will not make a decision. I can’t. I will not risk losing either. I would rather deny having the choice than to risk either of their lives.”

  He sat next to me, put the palm of his hand on my thigh and turned to me. “It’s not that simple. If you don’t select one of them, you will never recover.”

  I shook my head and scoffed. “What does that mean?”

  He grabbed my hands. “The tradition is that you choose your mate or there will be death.”

  I pulled away from him just ever so slightly. “My death?”

  He nodded his head. “Honestly, yours, Declan and Duncan. There has never been a mac tires heart that can be divided. It can be devastating for everyone. I just need you to know that there must be a decision. I know what it feels like to be in this position for Declan, and they have the right to know.”

  I took a deep breath. “How long do I have to decide?”

  I felt anxious waiting for him to answer. “There is no designated time frame, but you will feel it and you will not have much time after that. You cannot run from a destiny.”

  I shook my head in the realization that I will have to pick one of them. I have an evil powerful mac tire after me, a sorcerer, I can’t trust anyone, and my brother just died.

  Julius stood and started to walk toward the door. “I know you have plenty on your mind and now is not the time to throw something else on it, but decide for you. It’s hard to lose someone that you have bonded with. It is also hard to watch someone you love be unhappy.” He paused. “Good night.” He left the room closing the door.