by Kelly Hall
He got up from his bed, shrugged on his pants, pulled on his boots, and grabbed Katie’s sword. He put it on and then hurried out to the courtyard.
Ignis was still standing across the lawn, where the rubble of the south tower was now an organized mess. Ignis had stacked many of the rocks around, using his magic and a bit of muscle, and retrieved many of his journals, which he had stacked up in piles. He tucked away the loose pages that had come out of them, and as he made his way over, Canter could imagine the time it would take to put them all back together.
“If you’re coming to kill me, make it fast. I’m halfway into this job and already quite sick of it.”
“I’m not going to kill you.” Canter stopped and noticed the orange cat sleeping on a short stack of books as if he were right at home again in his south-tower library.
Ignis tossed another rock to the rockpile, uncovering another page of his journals. “Good, because you haven’t any reason. Besides, it’s me who should be insulted.”
“Really? You’re going to go there?” Canter folded his arms in front of him, if only to keep from striking out at the mage.
Ignis stopped what he was doing and turned toward Canter. “Hey, I’m grief stricken over Katie. I admired her too. And I would have never done anything to hurt either of you. I thought you knew that. But imagine coming home and being accused of such a thing. Against people you love, especially. How could you all think that of me? Aside from Rebekah, you were closer to me than any of those other young hunters.”
Canter nodded fiercely. “I know. And that’s why it hurt me so much to see you—or whatever it was that looked like you—do that to the one person who meant everything to me.” He took a deep breath and tried to push back his emotions.
“Yeah, and it hurt me too that you would spy on me, but I know you were just following Rebekah’s orders, so I won’t hold it against you. Even though you didn’t even keep it a secret.”
“I’m not going to argue with you. I came to tell you I’m sorry for what happened to your library. If I hadn’t brought Katie there, then none of this would have happened.”
“Already forgiven, hunter.”
“So, you’re really all that stands between our kind and total devastation?”
“Pretty scary, isn’t it?”
“That’s why you stay with Rebekah, isn’t it? She protects you as much as you protect her. And the world needs you both.” He walked over to the rubble and picked up a large rock. Then he turned and put it on a pile.
“Yes. That and because she’s my family. You might not understand this, being that I’m a mage and all, but my own family threw me out and disowned me. And I built the hunters with Rebekah. So, while you all see me as different, she doesn’t. She and I see me as one of you.”
“Yeah, I get that. I know what it’s like to be different and want to be accepted. Being a hunter, my race never mattered either. Neither did the fact that I’m an orphan.”
Ignis had always thought the fact that they were both orphans gave them a stronger connection than he had with the others.
He watched as the young hunter hefted another large chunk of stone. “You don’t have to help if you don’t want to.” Ignis figured Canter had better things to do.
He dropped the stone into another stack. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. I can’t sleep, and being around Jarreth and Delilah is making me sad. I mean, I’m glad they have each other, but…”
“You don’t have to explain,” said Ignis. “I know what that’s like too.”
“Besides, if anyone is going to help you with your sacred journals, it might as well be someone who had already read them.”
“How many did you read?”
“Not many. Only a few.”
“You know, Rebekah had suggested something, and while I turned down the idea, I’m not sure now that it’s such a bad idea.” He picked up another few pages and then put them inside one of the books.
“What’s that?”
“She thinks I need an apprentice. Someone who can learn from me, know all of the history in case something ever happens.”
“I’ll be dust long before you, so it seems.” Canter had no idea how old the mage was, but he knew his own life wouldn’t be as long. Hunters died from old age, and while they could live a long life well past that of a regular human, they were not immortal like Ignis seemed to be.
“Yes, but you can pass it on to the next, and then so on. It would come in handy if anything ever happened. Like if someone found a way to capture me? It never hurts to have someone who could strategize against the enemies.”
“Makes sense.”
“Besides, I’ll need help getting this organized.”
“I’m helping Mace too. With the weapons and with her training.” He knew he could do both, as long as he was at the castle.
“Training?” Ignis had never known the woman to want to be marked. She had actually always gone against it. “To be a huntress?”
“No, but improving her fighting skills couldn’t hurt regardless.”
“True.” Ignis knew the young woman wanted to talk about their relationship, and he’d avoided it so far, hoping they could remain friends.
Canter looked at the rubble and what very little was left of the south tower and its surrounding wall. “What are we going to do about this? Where will you store them now?”
“I was thinking the west tower. The bottom floor is a bit damp, with the dungeon flooded, but high in the tower isn’t so bad, and we’ve used it to store other things. I’m sure we can make it work, but it’s going to take a lot of manpower.”
“Well, Rebekah has a lot of manpower coming. Supposedly, Brock Barnes and his men will be here soon.”
“I’ll get them to help me clear the area, and then we’ll move the books on our own. I doubt many of them speak vulgar Latin.”
“I have to admit, it was a challenge for me as well, but for some reason, I was always fascinated with the dead language. I spent hours on it as a boy, and it came to me fairly easy compared to other languages.”
Ignis laughed. “That’s probably because it’s in your blood. You’re a descendant of Atticus Arrius.”
“I know. I read that in your journal.” Canter walked over and squatted down to move another rock.
“Ah, well, if you ever have any questions about him, I’d be glad to help. He was a good man. And I knew him all of his life.”
“I used to see his name in the Great Hall back at the Academy, and I wished I could be like him, even though I didn’t even know anything about him. His name was so strong and mysterious. I guess it was meant to be.”
“I’d say so.” Ignis walked over and nudged the cat to remove him from the stack. “Come on. I need to stack another one.”
“Here, let me help you,” said Canter as he reached down and picked up the cat, who stayed limp as a noodle in his arms. “We’re good friends. He went away with me, and we were going to see the world together.”
“You were going to steal my cat?”
“He’s yours?” Canter stroked his back, and he began to purr.
“Well, he belongs to the castle. He’s a good mouser.” Ignis had hoped he would keep the mice away from his books. He didn’t want them to chew on his books and make little mouse beds out of them. “I named him Marmalade.”
“You did?” Canter looked down at the lazy feline. “You didn’t tell me you had a name.”
“Well, he looks the part, doesn’t he?”
“For sure,” said Canter. “My uncle used to love the orange marmalade that the nuns made.” He looked up toward Ignis. “What do you think you’ll teach me?”
“Everything in these books. You won’t be able to perform my level of magic, but you’ll be a damned good scientist when I’m finished with you, and you’ll understand how my magic works.”
“Wouldn’t you do better to have a mage come and be your apprentice?”
“I’m afraid that’s not a good idea.
I could never trust anyone with that kind of power not to use it against me or Rebekah. There are too many secrets in our history, and I need to always make sure that whoever we pass this knowledge on to will be sure not to use it against my Rebekah.”
“Our Rebekah,” Canter corrected.
Ignis smiled. “Exactly. She is far more important than anything else.”
“Well, you can trust me.”
“I know I can. You wouldn’t ever betray Rebekah, even if it meant death. You not only have a reason to live, but nothing to lose if you die. I don’t have to worry about you cracking under pressure. You’ll do what’s right.”
“I will.” Canter put the cat back on the stack of books, which was now several books higher than before, and then he turned back to the rock pile, where he busied himself with more of the heavy stones.
“Marmalade,” said Ignis to the cat. “It seems you’re not out of a home after all. And there are sure to be plenty of mice for you in the other tower.”
“Should we go and check it out?”
“You mean right now?”
“Sure, why not? No one is going to mess with your books, and it might be good to go ahead and see what we’re dealing with.” He wanted to know where he’d be spending a lot of his time.
Ignis dusted off his hands. “Sure, let’s go.” He waited for Canter to drop his last rock, and then Marmalade even got to his paws and stretched.
They went to the west tower, which was much closer to the sea just beyond the castle wall. Ignis led Canter inside, and the air was so damp, Canter could feel the moisture with every breath.
“Makes it tough to breathe,” Canter said. “Reminds me of the New Orleans swamp.”
“It’s mostly rainwater runoff and the moisture in the ground. It has needed repair for centuries.” Ignis could hear the frogs and no telling what else was living in the water below. “I know several pretty girls who would like it.”
Canter gave a half-hearted smile but found that he wasn’t ready for laughter. “Is this where they stay when they come to visit?”
“I’ve thought about it, but she’s never been here.” He gave a half-hearted smile of his own, and Canter couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
If anyone knew how it was to live without your true love, it was him. But at least he knew she was still around, living, breathing. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was his sweet girl, the color of her cheeks pale with death.
As they climbed the stairs, which were terribly dusty and covered with a fine layer of green algae, Canter tried to think of something else. But it was no use.
“We left this level bare. There is just still too much moisture. You’ll find it’s not nearly as bad the higher we get. Rebekah had me put screens on the windows to keep the birds from roosting, and we left them open so the sun could shine in. It’s very effective in keeping it dry, considering.”
They walked up the stairs to the next level, and Canter could already feel a difference. As they continued up higher, it did get better. “Have you ever thought about fixing this place up for yourself and Talia?”
“I’m not sure Talia would want to live here. We’re happy with the way things are.” But was he really? He had told himself that for so long, it was almost as if he couldn’t think of it any other way. As if he’d programed himself long ago.
“So,” said Ignis as they reached the top. “Here’s where we’ll be.”
Canter stepped past the mage and walked into the large room. There were so many windows around, and every one was covered, some with screens, some with boards. The floor was crowded with boxes and many things that seemed to be collections from years ago. There were two bust statues and many other things covered with sheets and stacked in boxes. “Do you think we’ll have room?”
“As soon as we clear this out, hang the art on the walls, move some things to the east, we’ll be all set.” He moved a box from the floor to another stack to make his way over to a large desk. “I’ll have Brock get his men on this as soon as they get here. Let them work for their keep.”
“I’m sure they’ll love that.” Canter walked over and looked out the window, where as far as his eye could see was the sea. He liked the view on this side of the tower. There was nothing to remind him of what happened in the south tower, just the peaceful sea beyond to soothe his aching soul. “I want to face the table this way.”
Ignis stared toward the rocks below. As long as he didn’t go getting any bad ideas, he’d accommodate. “I think we can make that happen.”
Canter was ready to do something. He needed something to occupy his time, or he was going to go crazy. “When I can get started?”
Ignis clapped him on the back. “Whenever you’re ready, friend.” His heart filled with peace that he could be of service to the young man in his hour of despair, even if it was only a small step in making things better.
Suddenly, there was something at his feet, and he looked down to see Marmalade rubbing against his ankles.
“I think he likes it,” said Ignis. “He has a new home.”
Canter reached down and picked up the cat, who purred and looked out toward the water. “That’s two of us.”
Chapter 18
Turning in the mirror, Rebekah smoothed down her top and then reached for her black leather jacket. Ready to check on Liam, she had played her look down, choosing not to wear anything special, even though she’d spent a little extra time contemplating if she should or not.
The last time she’d donned a pretty dress—make that sexy, slinky, and a little slutty—she had paid dearly for it. Not only had the church used it against her, but she had lost the respect of her hunters, something she never wanted to happen again.
And as if on cue, there came a knock at her door. “Come in,” she said.
“Hey, it’s just me,” said Delilah.
“Oh, hey.” She was surprised to see Del there alone, and for a moment, she waited for Jarreth to join her.
Delilah walked in and closed the door behind her. “I thought you might have a second.”
“Sure. Did you have any problems with the east tower?” Rebekah hoped it would clean up well enough to be accommodating to their guests.
“No problems at all. It looks quite nice actually, even though it’s outdated. Oh, also, Brock called and said that they had a delay and are still a good six or seven hours away. So, I guess we won’t see them until morning.”
“Oh, well thank you.” She gave a nod, but Delilah looked as if there was something else on her mind. “Is there anything else I can do for you? Is it about Katie’s death?” She wondered how Delilah had held up through it all and hoped she could find words that would offer comfort if needed.
“No, it’s not that. After Jarreth and I finished up, we decided to rest a bit, and while he fell right to sleep, I couldn’t.”
“We’ve all had a lot on our minds,” said Rebekah.
Delilah gave a half-hearted smile. “Yes, but I got on my phone and went online. I kind of have this obsession with a certain paranormal news podcast. They talk about a lot of different things, including Hunters and Vampires. There are rumors going around about both.”
“I see.” Rebekah wondered what kind of rumors had spread about her this time, but she knew that she had to ignore the nonsense and keep her mind on her tasks. She had the church against her, and Kayne was way too for her. Then there was Liam and the fact that the academies were trying to create their own hunters. “Well, I’ve no time for idle gossip. I’ve learned to shrug it off a long time ago.”
“This isn’t about you. Actually, I’m not sure if this is even something you want to look into, but I can’t stop thinking about it. There was a guest on the podcast earlier. They said they had been running with some friends who told him about a guy who was recently turned. He said the young man had just received his Hunter’s mark, and that now he’s a vampire. They had met him before. He was new in town, had showed off his mark, and even bragged about knowin
g the Immortal Huntress, and the next time they saw him, he had turned.
Rebekah raked her hand through her hair and brushed it off her shoulders. “Relax, Delilah. I’m not worried about that. Hunters are immune. It’s like I told you. Besides, do you think they meant Liam? Where did they see him?”
“No, actually, I was thinking about Cooper. Jarreth said he had a hard time reaching him after he went to London, and now he’s dropped off the face of the earth. What if he’s the hunter that changed? The report came from London.”
“If it makes you feel better, I’ll check into it. But I’m sure Cooper is fine. I saw his commander the day of my trial, and he assured me things were okay. Cooper’s at an exciting academy, and I’m sure they are keeping him busy. I wouldn’t take it personally.” Rebekah felt a little guilty for not checking on his transfer status, but it had come at such a bad time, she didn’t have a chance.
“I guess you’re right. Those people who call in can be weird at times. It’s probably someone trying to start a conspiracy theory.” She hesitated a little but figured Rebekah would know best. “Are you going to check on Liam?” Delilah looked her up and down. She wasn’t dressed to go to Kayne’s, or at least, it was nothing compared to the way she’d looked before.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. I thought I’d go before our houseguests arrived. If Brock found out where I was going, he’d want to go along, and I’m afraid that’s one trip he wouldn’t come back from.”
As much as she wanted to forget, Delilah still despised the Huntress’s fondness and faith in their enemy. “I wouldn’t underestimate Brock Barnes. I’ve known him my entire life, and he’s a strong man and a smart hunter. Maybe with him here, you can figure out what to do about the stigmata and capturing Kayne. There has to be a way, right?”
“I love your faith in him. But I’m afraid when it comes to Kayne, only God would know how to kill him. And the stigmata will take more than a miracle.”
Delilah laughed. “Then perhaps I had better start praying.” She walked to the door. “Let me know if you find out anything, okay? And tell Liam I love him. That I wish things were different.”
