I avidly nodded though with a recalcitrant air about it. I feel like everyday something brings me closer to destinies I have yet to uncover. But, nonetheless, I’m struck dumb with every outtake that finds me breathing fear. Words were sometimes like ammo. They could strike you with fear worse than an arrow. And worse was sometimes knowing ahead a time what the words were.
“What do you mean?” His voice trailed off with a hint of bitterness looming around it. Calum lifted his Conan sized foot erratically to his leg as he asked undeniably scared of the full implications. He folded and refolded his tree trunk-sized arms showing me just how bothered he was by it.
My father looked to me for permission or to say. I said neither.
“They can communicate with their minds.”
Calum’s gasp was louder than the fans in the summer gazebo that I wished I could sit under at this very moment to escape this cruelty. “How long have you known?” He looked at me.
Lee was choking across the room.
I searched Cas’ eyes for what he wanted me to say. Is it mine to reveal?
We can’t have secrets if we are to keep his loyalty.
I looked back at Calum. “Since he rescued me at the party.”
“And you?” He directed to Cas. He’d guessed more than I thought he would. He really shouldn’t show his intelligence behind the Hunter look. He comes off so HUNTER.
He is one Stace.
I turned to Cas still strategically far away from me with an exasperated look. I know! I sure as hell know it.
He was so clinical and soldier like when he was in his Lord Cross character.
Cas answered him, “Many long years. I arrived in the world knowing her name.” He was usually more aloof, but of course now, he wanted his point made.
You’re usually really good at evading direct questions. It would be nice for you to have that now. I WILL remedy that.
How may I ask? He didn’t move a muscle or give away that we were chatting so to prove my point, I worked to make him flinch.
I am not oblivious to what you are doing to show your ownership. Distractions work both ways.
Any time.
Our little private conversation was not so private with the way I’d moved closer and brought my face up to his, no help on his part. It was too obvious what we’d been doing. And my facial expressions hadn’t improved with hiding it even if his are blank. Cas did this on purpose so I’d challenged him right back. I tried even after I realized to make my face lukewarm and unreadable like his.
Calum was watching us with such intensity that I couldn’t decipher malice or fascination. Maybe, both. He came out of the stare and back into focus when Szar pushed father to continue. “Also, the connection between Calum and Stace.”
Cas crossed his leg over his knee in standard manly fashion. He was uncomfortable now. Oh, the webs these gods weaved.
Calum followed Cas' gesture but stood his chest erect in a classic standoff pose while seated and spit out a half laugh that should have eased tension, not added more. I didn’t want to speak much so I chose a demo hoping for a quick and easy assessment from the crowd. My fingertips barely touched the back of his hand when we both jumped backward from the jolt. It had been days since we touched like this so it seemed stronger.
“And forgive my intrusion, but what did it do when you were closer than that?” Szar pushed. I want to kill him right now for stonewalling me. This instant.
“I never said that!” I seethed knowing Szar was trying to push me to talk. He used my own words to retaliate filling the air with an impenetrable fog of curiosity.
“Just.Did!”
My fingernails pinched the skin in my fists. I wasn’t entirely sure what his aim was but I went for it anyway since it was out there now. “It was painful.”
“But we both took the pain with the pleasure,” Calum had to throw in looking at my white knuckles and raising the hair on the back of my neck.
Cas raked his body up a foot. I slammed my hand flat into his chest. I glared at Calum and sneered, “That was out of line. The pain grew the more we touched so don’t make it more than it is.” Okay. End this, please.
My father did only after his own discomfort was acknowledged with a long attempt at clearing his throat. “And we come to Szar. He was created to right the Valkyrie court when the prophecy was fulfilled. Now that I believe much of it has occurred I may just be bold enough to share the rest.” He paused looking around at each of us again as if reading our eager faces seeing his fear looking out at our own.
"What about the Were? He has to have it too." Calum made the room gasp. Men gasping in unison just wasn’t right in my book.
"We will get to him," my father added.
“The gods needed a Valkyrie leader, a Vampire leader, and Hunter leader, a Were leader, and the one leader who would forgive the cliché, rule them all. Stace, you are not Valkyrie, you are not of my bloodline as Szar is. You are as Thorn has told you, the goddess Anat in her true form on Earth to right the wrongs of man and what the factions have done to our world. We will unite them into a world that will one day work together to accent one another and cohabitate, not destroy each other. You can and will do this. It is said. Do not doubt your capabilities. I have seen you talk a Were into giving up it's only weapon, make allies with Hunters, best my greatest warriors with a sword, and land three knives in the chest of one of my very own guards."
"That was an accident. He was dressed as a Hunter."
"You killed a Hunter?" Calum clipped.
"Whom was trying to kill me first," I clipped back. Beside the point. And he didn’t die till later so I don’t count him as a kill.
"You command more than you realize."
I pondered greatly for what amounted to only about thirty seconds before I swallowed and said pensively, “What assures you I am all this?”
“My wife of one year and nine months told me. She gave me the prophecy and predicted every day of your life to me.” His eyes glazed over as if the memory haunted him. “Because she took my hand and showed me every minute of your life and what comes to pass.”
I was on the edge of my seat now with understanding. “You already know the future?”
His head went to his hands now. He cried. My father actually knows how to cry. I’d never seen it. I looked to Szar for help. He and I both rose together and hit the floor in front of him.
“Father, do you know mine too?”
His head shook a soft no. What could this mean?
It means just what it does, Stace. That you are the only one.
I stood to protest Cas and give him a piece of my mind. Szar’s darkened future leader voice said deeply, “Park your real estate back down and listen.”
I ignored him and turned back to face Cas with my typical rapid fire reaction, “Nej! NO CAS, it doesn’t. This just can’t be true. I’m not this ONE. I went along with all this before because people I cared about were in danger, but matching birthmarks and mysterious letters don’t make us all superheroes.”
The scarlet letter burning my skin like a branding iron lit up like it had a mind of its own. I know it’s all in my head, but it still feels like fire that might take over my body and leave just an ember of my existence.
The dreams—
Cas’ hand flew up but I stopped it after my quick breath, “No! Dreams don’t count. Some of this could just be coincidence.”
I wasn’t aware of how this looked to the group until all of their faces were in a solid shock at me answering Cas’ obvious thoughts. Oops!
Calum stood fast, “But you are. You didn’t see yourself that first day at the school. You kick butt in every ring. You hold back what you can really do. You feel things like feelings of others and their growing still, I...”
“How did you know about that?” I popped off.
“Lee is half Valkyrie,” he mumbled. Oh, forgot traitor boy again. Thanks for the reminder that he can read my constantly changing emotions.
“All t
his connection talk, the names, the marks,” Calum gestured to all our stomachs, “the trinkets like rings and letters left behind.” He looked up a second. “It all fits. And you know it.”
“He’s right. You said Thorn’s name at birth and he said yours. Cassius that is. That is no coincidence. I’ve known that for so many years even with the little clues along the way, I couldn’t help but see the possible outcomes even knowing the future like I did. You have something from every faction, from your mother as she foretold, and then some,” my father’s muffled speech filtered through the room. He wasn’t himself. “They don't. This centers on you. Get the powers you need and control the ones you have."
"I have control of the ones I own."
"With your Valkyrie powers of persuasion, no male that isn’t your blood relative can survive it unless you get it under control.” His eyes went to Calum. Was he insinuating that Calum only like me because I made him like me?
“Just be sure it’s controlled,” he added.
Calum blanched.
I know he's wrong. I just don't know how to prove it. “Okay fine. So where does that land me?” I didn’t want to talk about something else I had no say in.
My father raised his face no longer wet. “It leaves you where you’re safest until we find out how to proceed. Until you see your purpose.”
I knew his answer without asking. “Whether you’re ready to make that decision or not, Lord Cross has the means to protect you like no other or he will die trying.”
“How are you so sure?” I asked with doubt.
Cas snorted beside me.
I didn’t mean the protecting me part.
Cas gave me a frustrated level ten look, “Anastacia.”
Cas saying my name, and not his incessant nickname, meant he was aiming for clarity. He wanted me to pay close attention to what he was saying outwardly and in between the lines. I didn’t have an argument. There was nothing I could do. “So when Lord Green is in place, we resume normal life and just wait for it, whatever that is.”
“Yeah, sis. Whatever comes our way, you have us “muscles” to rough up the bad guys. Sit your pretty ass down and let the big boys take care of business.”
He said this just to get a rise out of me. I chose to smirk at him and let it go. THAT was so hard to do! I also noticed every single person in the room held their hands into fists now. We were definitely the warrior types. Boy, did I not fit in.
“It will not be long,” my father added.
What the he—heck does that mean? Did he really know?
Your father knows the future Stace, let him be. To know a part of everyone’s fate, yet he only knows yours, and how that involves others allows him to know ours too. It is the biggest burden to live with. He has lived with it since you were born.
Does he know his own death? My mind tossed it’s subconscious cookies.
Cas didn’t respond. I folded over him and flung my head to his arm to hide my face. I looked up soon eyeing the herculean effort my father was displaying to conform me to his plan. “I will do what you say. Whatever it is.”
Lord Hathown, my father, visibly let his shoulders drop an inch and I felt his fear dissipate immensely. I’m sure I am the only one who noticed.
The moments to pass in the next half hour were the tensest moments I’d ever encountered in my so called life. All the details were worked out and not another word of what all we were was mentioned. Nor was a meeting with Cord Ryan arranged.
We said goodbye. I went back afterward to the Hunter school for the last time to pack my things at my own insistence with a deliberate frostiness to cure my frustrated aching heart. Cas walked me through my court to acquire a few extra things I needed in my old room that the lady's maid might have missed. I didn’t want to think about who touched the rest of my stuff that Cas’ people moved for me. He let me go alone to the school and told me he’d wait on the edge of the wood line.
I didn’t want to face him yet. He was my captor and he didn’t feel the least bit capsized by the burden I would most likely be. He looked rather triumphant when he walked me out of the room of people.
I waited for Calum knowing he’d be standing there after Maze, Liz, and even Lee said their goodbyes. I reminded them all that it wasn’t goodbye, but see you later. I had everything ready and turned to go. Calum was in my doorway with the singled out stare that he wore well.
I looked at the perfect way he leaned on the doorframe that caught any girl’s attention just by being him. It had me! He was gorgeous.
Calum caught my look and gave a toothy grin to add danger already there with his mussed hair that was now longer falling a little in one eye. He reached his arms out open and I gave him what he needed waiting for him to find a way to release me. When he did he looked down into my eyes wanting me to give him the answers he wanted but instead stepped back and surveyed me up and down telling me, “You really are amazing, you know that?”
“Not really, just appealingly different to your Hunter girls.” I couldn’t ignore my Valkyrie internal calling card anymore. I’d hid the effect for so long. I just hoped now that it was said out loud, that it didn’t mean Cas would leave because he thought I’d persuaded him to like me.
“No, you have a glow. An ethereal almost look about you that no other comes close too. I can see it now that I am more clear-headed. I still have the upmost feelings for you Stace, no denial there. I have this peace inside somehow that I am right with you. I am not going all ‘effing girl on you or anything, I just want you to know, I’m okay with this. I don’t want to lose you.”
“That is the most wonderful news I’ve heard all night. Will you walk me to the wood line?”
He put his hand on my back to follow me out. His hand happen to be where the circle was cut of the tank I’d chosen to wear attempting coolness for a hot night. We both jolted up and then we laughed. It was the most beautiful sound.
I hated to dampen the mood, but I wanted his opinion on something. “Why were Quinn and Lee there if they are untrustworthy?”
He leaned against a pine. “Lee is technically a go between so whether he is selling juice to others hasn’t been questioned by anyone but you. He is an excellent fact finder.”
“Gopher.”
“Yeah. He has many names. Most not appropriate for sharing.”
Agreed.
“And Quinn has been named the new dean. I will stay in the apartment my dad had. Quinn will be next door. Remember, what you and I know about him isn’t what the rest do. Lee is his nephew. They both have major status in our world lining from royalty. The Hunter faction sees Quinn as striking gold for the school since they see me taking on “apprenticeship” to my dad.” He rolled his eyes and pranced about, “Your brother and I have joked about our new duties for hours. We are lords in training.”
Szar and Calum best buds. I couldn’t see it, but it works.
“For now, we watch. They confirmed any of their doubts today and there’s no reason why others can’t know about us. Quinn and Lee are probably not our worst enemies anyway. If anything, they fear us maybe.”
“You don’t see it as them knowing the chink in our armor. It could hurt us to let others know what we can do if Borgon is working with Quinn and Lee is feeding facts to him. They can build against us.”
“Or we can make him scared. Even twist the facts when the time is right to alter the outcome. Remember Stace, think with your four walls.”
Calum was a true Hunter. He thought like a fighter.
“Alright. For now. I trust your instincts.”
He looked at me funny. “You do?”
Guess my growing people skills still weren’t all they were cracked up to be. I concluded that conveying how I felt wasn’t my strongpoint either. He couldn’t even tell I had every bit of confidence in him.
Calum was still leaning on the tree keeping a safe distance from me that I knew he worked hard at. He seemed a little more at ease as an audience of two with all the “god and goddess
” talk, but just now he uncrossed his legs and shoved a hand in one pocket. I knew that meant he was uncomfortable.
“Calum,” I said wanting him to see my honesty, “I have and always will think you are very good at what you do. That first day in the gym you commented I held back. You held back too. And we may not be together, but we are still more powerful united. I want to see you strong, magnificent as you are.”
His deadly smile perked up, “Magnificent, huh?” His ego boosted ten levels.
“Don’t let it get to your head!”
“Already there, babe.”
He latched off the side of the pine and followed me closer in to where Cas would join us.
When we were just inside the tree line I felt Cas waiting, pulling at me with the magnetic force field we were connected with and not just our minds. I wondered if my father knew about the other connection.
Calum said to the darkness, “Take care of her.”
Cas stepped forward now and I walked eagerly to him wanting to feel him. He didn’t ask. I knew he’d heard. When I looked back, Calum was gone. That chapter was over. A new chapter has begun.
Chapter Seven
It was the worst of times...
When I woke the next morning, Cas was gone. My father called late the night before and insisted I stay at the manor instead of even riding in the motorcade. I was angry, but C as promised to make it up to me. I already felt like a hermit princess in wait.
I was alone in the Cross Manor with the exception of servants and guards. This place was easily twice the size of the Valkyrie mansion that I now deemed most definitely just a manor of sorts. I thought it odd the last time I’d stayed here that the servants were human. And even more odd that the guards were not. I guess Vampires do not see fit to serve others at menial tasks. They have to be warriors. What did I really see myself as? The same right? I’d never once considered a life of cooking or cleaning.
I laid there too long thinking over everything that’s happened since the day I went to the Hunter school. So much. Calum. My brother’s crazy set-up kidnapping though part of a bigger plan. Borgon and his unknown minions, but several fishy allies who seem to be on both sides like double agents. We knew of some, but not all. We knew the Elves were involved evident by the fact that they have attacked me twice on someone else’s word. I didn’t see much of the first time since Cas kidnapped me at my own eighteenth birthday party before they could get to me. That was a good thing but ironic in that I was the kidnapped and now consider him my whole life.
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