by Rye Brewer
So we all went inside, and Jonah helped Gage down on the sofa.
It reminded me of when we first arrived at the high-rise, me and Sara, and the way she had rested against the cushions.
I looked around, trying to sense Sara but I couldn’t pick her up. She wasn’t there. I would’ve felt it if she was, wouldn’t I? I was even starting to question myself.
Philippa dropped to her knees by Gage’s side. One hand was still covering her cheek, where I had burned her, but that didn’t seem to do anything to her joy at seeing her brother. “Where have you been? What happened to you?” She leaned against him, wrapping her free arm around him.
“It’s a long story—I don’t even know all of it,” he said. His eyes weren’t on her, though. They were on his father. It was clear he couldn’t make sense of it.
I thought I could understand how he felt. I remembered when Allonic told me our mother was alive. How would I have reacted if she suddenly appeared out of nowhere, with no warning?
Then Gage looked down at Philippa. “Did you know he was alive?” There was no need to ask who he was talking about.
She raised her head. “No. Not until tonight.”
He looked at Jonah. “You?”
“Not for long,” Jonah murmured. “It was after you left, for sure.”
Fane cleared his throat and stepped forward. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Gage asked. “Not that there’s nothing to be sorry for, but I want to know what you think you should apologize for.”
“I would’ve come to you sooner. You have no idea how much I wanted to.” He looked over the three of them. “It was torture, every day. Every single day, I had to make the decision to stay away. Sometimes it was easier, sometimes it wasn’t. Sometimes I considered locking myself away to make sure I didn’t put you in danger by revealing myself.”
“How would you put us in danger?” Gage asked. He looked at his brother and sister for help, but they stayed silent.
“Just know that I wanted to,” Fane said, sidestepping Gage’s question.
Gage opened his mouth to speak, but something stopped him. He winced, touching his hand to his arm with his teeth clenched in pain.
Jonah stared at his arm. “Gage? What’s wrong?”
“I honestly don’t know.” He looked down, then moved his hand away from the spot he’d been gripping.
My eyes widened in shock when I recognized the same brand I’d seen on Jonah’s arm.
Identical, at least as far as I could see.
“You have it, too?” Jonah slid his sleeve up to his elbow and showed his twin his own brand.
Gage’s mouth fell open. “Do you know anything about it? it just showed up out of nowhere, just tonight.”
Jonah shook his head. “We’ve been trying to find out. I wonder why you have it, too.”
Allonic stepped forward. “Fane, I think—”
Gage made a strangled noise which shut Allonic up.
We all froze.
“Fane?” Gage nearly shrieked. “Did he call you Fane?”
Fane’s shoulders slumped. “Yes. He did.”
“You’re Fane? The Fane?” Gage looked at Jonah and Philippa again.
I felt sorry for him. He had been through so much and was only trying to make sense of what seemed like an impossible situation.
Fane nodded, wordless.
“But—but—no! That’s impossible. No. No way!” Gage laughed. “He’s legendary. He’s not even real, right? Like, half of what they say about him is probably made up. Right?” His eyes searched his father’s face. He was frantic for comfort, understanding, even though the situation was beyond all understanding.
“Son, there’s so much I have to tell you—and so little time to tell it. It can wait for now. Just know…” Fane took a deep breath. “Just know that your father, the man you used to know, is dead.”
“Don’t say that,” Philippa begged. “Please. You don’t know how hard it is to hear.” She was still at Gage’s side, and he slid an arm around her shoulders.
I told myself I should feel for her the way I did for Gage, but I couldn’t. Not when I still felt a rush of satisfaction when I saw the mark my blade had left on her skin.
“That doesn’t mean it isn’t true,” Fane replied. “You can’t keep thinking of me as the father I used to be. Too much has happened between then and now for me to ever go back to being who I once was.”
“Fane, I’m sorry to burst in on this,” Allonic said. “It’s very touching—” Was that sarcasm in my brother’s tone? “—But there’s something I think I can help you with.”
“What is it?”
I got the feeling Fane was glad for the distraction.
Allonic pointed at Gage’s arm. “The brands. I can read them.”
14
ANISSA
We all froze, surprised.
I bit back a gasp. “You can? You know what it says?” I took his arm.
He nodded. “It’s actually very easy.”
I snorted. “Yeah. Easy.”
“What does it say, then?” Jonah bared his arm to Allonic. “Do they say the same thing?”
Gage sat up, and Jonah sat beside him.
When they were together like that I saw the resemblance more than ever.
Almost identical twins, at least on the surface. Somehow, their personalities made them look different.
Jonah had confidence that made him carry himself a certain way, to where he appeared a little taller than his brother.
Gage usually had a chip on his shoulder that made his forehead crease in a frown. He never looked relaxed or at ease, and somehow that made him look older than Jonah sometimes.
But when they were both sitting there together, looking up at Allonic as he studied their brands, they could’ve been each other’s mirror image.
Allonic knelt on one knee by the couch, taking their arms in his hands. He nodded thoughtfully as he studied them, his eyes moving back and forth.
“Yes, these are virtually the same. They only change in that one refers to Jonah and the other to Gage. Otherwise, they are as identical as you two.”
“What do they say?” Fane stood behind his sons, and while I knew he wanted them to forget who he was or what he’d once been to them, there was a still a paternal instinct in him that made him hover there, protective.
Allonic’s voice was slow, deliberate as he explained. “You were right when you concluded that this was the work of Valerius. He’s marked them for protection.”
“Protection?” The twins looked at each other.
Jonah then looked at me, but I wouldn’t look at him. I focused on my brother, instead. It was childish, but I couldn’t shake the anger I felt whenever I remembered all the chances Jonah had to tell me the truth about Fane being his father. He’d deliberately hidden the truth, over and over.
“Yes,” Allonic confirmed. “These brands provide direction. Valerius wants them to go to him.”
“Go to him? Go where?” Gage asked.
“Wait a minute.” Fane rested his hand on Gage’s shoulder, cutting him off. It was an unconscious gesture, but one which I could tell meant the world to Gage. “Why does he want them? Does the brand say anything about that?”
Allonic shook his head. “No, but I can help you with that. At least, I think I can, based on what I already know about twins.”
“And that’s what?”
“They’re true twins, right? They were born human twins, then were turned over at roughly the same time?”
Fane nodded.
“I thought so. Because of this, the powers they already possess as vampires are amplified. It’s very rare for a pair of human twins to become vampires at all, and especially at almost the same time, just the way they were first born as humans. Extremely rare.” He looked at the two of them. “You’re special.”
“Funny, but I would give my right arm to be normal,” Jonah smirked.
“I’ve never felt special. I mean, I�
�ve never felt any stronger or better than anybody else.” Gage looked at Jonah. “You?”
“Not really.” He looked up at Fane. “Did you ever know this?”
“What parent doesn’t think their children are special?” he asked. “But no. I’ve never heard anything about amplified powers.”
“It’s not common knowledge,” Allonic admitted, “because these aren’t the kind of powers either of you would use in regular life. They’re powers an ancient, powerful vampire such as Valerius would find useful.”
“He wants us to go to him so he can take advantage of our powers. Do we have a choice in the matter?” Gage asked.
Allonic hesitated, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, but as far as I can tell it isn’t an option. The brands will continue to hurt until the pain becomes excruciating. You won’t be able to think straight or function for the pain. Eventually, you’ll lose your sanity.”
I shuddered. I might be angry at Jonah, but I didn’t want to see that happen.
“So there’s no choice,” Fane mused. “All right. We’ll take them to Valerius together.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Jonah asked. “I mean, this is dangerous enough. You don’t need to expose yourself to even bigger threats.”
“It’s not an option,” Fane said, almost dismissing Jonah out of hand. He returned his attention to Allonic. “So? What do you think?”
“I think it’ll be a challenge,” Allonic murmured as he continued to study the brands.
“Where is Valerius? Can you tell from reading?” Jonah asked.
“I think so. It looks as though he’s in Sorrowswatch.”
“Where’s that?” Fane asked. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s not far from ley lines I’m aware of in England.” Allonic looked up. “I can get you there.”
“What are ley lines?” Philippa asked. She had been quiet all throughout my brother’s explanation.
I noticed how she seemed to deliberately avoid looking at me—whether that was out of hatred or fear, I didn’t know or care.
“They’re invisible lines which run all over the globe. Along these lines, supernatural occurrences are more likely to take place, geographical spots with supernatural significance are likely to exist. In the places where they intersect, especially strong power resides.”
“Like what?” she asked.
“Many human monuments, stretching back to ancient times. The Great Pyramids of Giza, for example. Machu Picchu. Easter Island. Stonehenge. All of these reside along ley lines, and all of them harken back to a time when mankind was much more in touch with the supernatural. One of the great misconceptions of humans is that they believe they’ve gotten closer in touch with what’s real as they’ve left superstition behind—in fact, they’ve dismissed that which is truly in control of their existence, in favor of that which will never provide answers.”
“You know so much about this,” I mused, admiring my brother. “Can you help? I can’t imagine them going on their own when you already have knowledge that might help them.”
He looked up at me with a slight smile, an expression I was getting used to seeing. “That depends. Will you be involved?”
“Do you even need to ask?”
“Anissa…” Jonah trailed off.
I shot him a look.
If he knew what was good for him, he’d leave me alone just then. I wasn’t in the mood to go around the block again in regards to whether I was up to the challenge of going with them. As far as I was concerned, he didn’t get to tell me what to do again, not until he explained why he’d lied and especially not until he started telling me the whole truth.
Allonic nodded. “I can’t imagine disappointing our mother by not helping out when I know you’ll be involved.”
Out of the corner of my vision, I noticed Philippa’s eyes widen.
She must have been wondering who Allonic was.
It wasn’t her reaction I was concerned with just then. It was the gleam in Allonic’s eyes. I knew that gleam—I had seen it enough times in Sara’s eyes, and always when she had an ulterior motive. He wasn’t in it just to help me. What reason could he have to go along?
Whatever reason there was, it didn’t change the fact that we needed Allonic with us.
I nodded, then looked at Jonah—he was still sitting there with his mouth open, like he wanted to come up with a protest but couldn’t think of one fast enough.
“I’m going,” I said, and I dared him silently to oppose me.
He held my gaze for a long time, but I won when he looked away.
“I’m going, too.” Philippa took Gage by the hand and smiled at him.
“What about the clan? You can’t just leave like this,” Fane murmured.
“Scott can take care of things while I’m gone. It’s decided. I have to do this.” Her voice had the desperate edge of someone determined to prove herself.
I knew there was no sense in anyone trying to dissuade her.
Great.
All of us, traveling together.
No way that could go wrong.
15
JONAH
It was all so surreal, sitting there with my brother. Our father stood behind us. We were almost like a family again—except my brother was half-dead and claimed he didn’t know why, and my father wanted us to pretend he was dead.
I looked down at Philippa and wished I could wring her neck then and there.
Kneeling next to Gage, smiling up at him, holding his hand.
Why? Because she knew he was her ally after she announced Fane’s identity and I was pissed about it? Or was she really that thrilled to be with him again?
I told myself not to think the worst—she had been planning on looking for him after all, before I brought Fane here.
It just seemed to me like she was making a bigger deal over Gage being back than she should have, almost groveling at his feet.
I couldn’t help but wonder if that was because she wanted his protection, knowing she wouldn’t get it from me. Not when I was as furious with her as I was at that moment.
I should’ve known I couldn’t trust her. She was smart and wise, but she had no filter—and she never did know how to control her temper. I couldn’t have guessed she would’ve blabbed while attacking Anissa, of course.
What brought that on? Not like she ever liked Anissa, but something must’ve pushed her over the edge. I wondered what had been going on while I was gone.
And Gage.
I breathed out a heavy sigh.
I loved him, of course, but I couldn’t forget his betrayal. Whatever happened to him was his own fault for running off the way he did.
Looking at his scars, I could tell he’d paid dearly. Did he learn his lesson? Could I trust him? I didn’t know. I hated that I didn’t know. He was my twin brother, someone I should’ve been able to trust implicitly.
I wanted to rant at Gage. Look at what you did. He tore us apart. And now, lucky me, I had a brand that matched his. Just one more thing to tie us together.
“What do you think Valerius will want with us when we reach Sorrowswatch?” I asked Allonic. “Is there anything in the brand about that? A clue?”
He looked at it again. “I don’t see anything—he wouldn’t make it that Obvious.”
“Obvious?” I couldn’t help chuckling. “Yeah, this is obvious. I can’t make heads or tails of the symbols.”
“And he knew you wouldn’t be able to. Not everybody can. It takes knowledge of languages that are old and even extinct.”
Philippa spoke up. “Gage? What happened to you?” She traced his scars, grimacing.
“It’s a long story,” he muttered. “I wish I could say.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Now’s not the time to hold back on us,” I told him.
I heard Anissa snort from where she stood, behind Allonic. I didn’t have to ask what she thought was so funny.
She would hold a grudge until the end of time becaus
e she felt like I was holding back on her. What would it take to make her understand I was trying to protect my father—and her? Fane was right. Knowing his identity was dangerous. Now that she knew, protecting her was my highest priority, I could understand in part why he’d kept himself a secret from us.
Gage glanced at me from the corner of his eye, and I saw a little of the old resentment there. “I’m not trying to hold back on you. I’m saying I really don’t know.”
“How can you not know? I mean…” Philippa trailed off as she looked at the scars.
His face had been battered, too—his lip was swollen, his cheekbone and eye bruised.
Philippa frowned. “How could you forget something like that?”
“A spell,” Fane said under his breath.
“That was my guess—a spell, or I was compelled.”
“That’s a pretty big accusation,” I muttered.
“Do you have another explanation?” he asked. “I remember nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, after Philippa’s visit to headquarters. Everything after that is a blank slate. Not foggy. Blank.” He looked at all of us, one by one. “If any of you has an explanation that makes sense, please, let it out. Because I would like to know myself. You don’t know how it feels to not remember no matter how hard you try.” He leaned his head back against the couch and covered his eyes with one hand.
Philippa had the nerve to glare at me, like it was my fault he was upset.
I glared back at her. She had no right to the high ground.
Fane stood by the door, looking outside. “We need to get out of here—not just to get answers, but to make it less likely for someone to stumble upon me. I’ve already taken too many chances.”
I looked at him and wondered what it was like, always on the run. Never being in one place for too long. Not even being able to spend time with his family.
“The sooner we get this taken care of, the better,” I agreed, then looked at Allonic. “What should we do? Where do we start?”
“We need a witch to access the passage to Sorrowswatch. It’ll help us avoid the need for spiritwalkers.”