The Black Fortress

by E. G. Foley

  He made her want to scream, and yet somehow his charm lured her back inevitably to their former mutual teasing in spite of herself.

  Ignore him, she advised herself.

  You can’t ignore me.

  I hate you.

  I hear that a lot from females. Right before they throw themselves at me.

  Fuming, Isabelle shook her head and thrust him out of her mind.

  He followed at a respectful distance, still on Guardian duty. After all, if the unicorns charged, he could always turn himself into a cloud of smoke.

  Determined to put some distance between them so she could at least think straight, Izzy strode on across the moonlit meadow. But when she came to the medieval ruins of the abbey that had once stood on Jake’s property, she was drawn toward its lonely beauty.

  She wandered into the ruins, glancing at old, broken pillars and hollowed-out archways of stone in what had been the chapel’s nave.

  Before long, she found herself looking up at the moonlight shining in through the last remaining stained-glass window in the place.

  Tall and narrow, it had been oddly preserved through the ages, probably by some sort of magic. There were unicorns in range, after all.

  The stained glass actually showed a life-sized portrait of an angel. One they knew well.

  At that moment, Janos drifted into the ruins several paces behind her, glancing around at the toppled chunks of timeworn stone.

  “But my Soul wanders,” he quoted as he approached.

  “I demand it back

  To meditate amongst decay, and stand

  A ruin amidst ruins; there to track

  Fall’n states and buried greatness…”

  Isabelle turned with a rueful smile in spite of herself. “Lord Byron.”

  He looked impressed. “You know the work?”

  “Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.” She returned her guarded gaze to the window. “Interesting poem. Dreadful man.”

  “Ah, that’s a bit harsh,” he said lightly. “A great poet. A rebel.”

  “Mad, bad, and dangerous to know?” She slanted Janos a pointed glance.

  “What are you looking at me for?” he asked innocently.

  “Oh, no reason.”

  “Humph. To be sure, you’re safer with me right now than you’d have been out here with Byron. Hold on—” Janos suddenly noticed the window, and his eyebrows shot up. “Is that…?”

  She nodded. “Dr. Celestus.”

  “Really?” Janos stepped past her, studying the window. “It does look like him. Though he was in considerably worse shape last time I saw him.”

  “It’s him.” Izzy nodded. “Apparently, he’s had a connection to Jake’s family line for centuries.”

  “What, like a guardian angel?”

  She shrugged. “Something like that, I believe.”

  “Huh.” Janos stood gazing up at the window.

  As portrayed in colorful glass, the angel was blond and tall, fine-featured. He had white-feathered wings, wore a simple white robe with a gold cord around his waist, and carried a sword in his hand.

  “Ooh, look at that.” Janos stepped closer, then pointed at the weapon. “That’s a brightwield! Oh, I should’ve loved to have one of those in hand when I…”

  His words trailed off, but not before Izzy saw the images that flashed through his mind because of their bond.

  Dreadful spatters of blood. Dying demons falling before the darkling blade in Janos’s hand. Terrible howls; fearsome Noxu baring their teeth at him; fire, chaos, and rage all around.

  And there, slumped in a cell, the poor, maimed Light Being in chains, his glow dimmed, bloody stumps on his back in place of wings.

  “Oh my God,” Izzy whispered at the sickening sight.

  As she reached out to steady herself on a hunk of stone, Janos turned to her sharply.

  “Isabelle!” He rushed to her side. “You saw that?”

  “You really did that?” she countered, dizzied by the scenes from his memory. “You slew those demons and saved him? I heard that you had…”

  “You should sit down. I’m so sorry.” He took her elbow and steered her over to the nearest fallen pillar, where he made her sit down. “I didn’t mean for you to witness any of th—”

  “It’s all right,” she said. She was still a bit shaky, but the nauseating wave of lightheadedness at all those flashing violent images was already passing.

  “Should I go get some smelling salts?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, amused at his solicitude. “Stop making a fuss.”

  Standing in front of her, Janos leaned forward, bracing his hands on his thighs. He searched her face with a frown. “But you’re pale.”

  “Look who’s talking.”

  His eyebrow arched, then he smirked.

  Shaking her head to clear it, Izzy was already feeling better when she looked at him with a sudden inspiration. “Janos!”

  “What?”

  She pointed at the glass portrait. “You saved Celestus! Don’t you see what this means?” Hope flooded her heart.

  He shook his head.

  She took hold of his shoulders as an eager smile broke out across her face. “Maybe Dr. Celestus can help you! Once he gets well, of course.”

  “Help me what?” he asked, wrinkling his nose.

  She actually wasn’t sure. “I don’t know! But something. Maybe there’s a way to un-vampire you.”

  “Un-vampire?”

  She nodded eagerly. “Maybe! I mean, if anyone could, he’s an angel! He has connections, if you take my meaning. To someone who can always take evil and use it for good.”

  For some reason, her hopeful suggestion seemed to sadden him. “You would say that,” he murmured with a wistful smile. Then he straightened up. “Don’t you ever lose faith, Izzy?”

  “No,” she said. “I don’t let myself.” She rose from her cold stone seat.

  Janos stepped back to give her room, but still studied her. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Are you?” she countered. “After that battle in the Black Fortress, I mean. You killed the worst creatures there. It looked beyond horrible. So, how are you?”

  He looked surprised at her question. “Nobody’s ever asked me that before.”

  “Well? Do you need to see a healer?”

  “I’m looking at one,” he whispered.

  She smiled uncertainly. It was true that the Order usually lumped the empaths in with the healers’ category.

  “Of course,” he added with a roguish smile. “I’m a big boy.”

  Isabelle tilted her head and studied him, amazed.

  “What?” he asked. He really had no idea how much of a hero he was.

  “Read my mind,” she said softly, staring at him. “I dare you.”

  He looked at her for a long moment, already sensing her thoughts. “No,” he said, “I don’t think I will.”

  “Then I’ll tell you aloud.” She reached up and caressed his cheek. “I love you, Janos.”

  He stared at her, stock-still. She could see he was astonished, but for once, he didn’t make a joke.

  She moved closer, her stare locked on his. “Thank you for saving Celestus. Thank you for rescuing Red and bringing Ravyn and Tex home safe. Thank you for doing all of that…for me.”

  His eyes dipped to her lips, but he remained perfectly motionless, almost as though he was holding his breath.

  “You’re welcome,” he said.

  When she tilted her head back, coyly offering her lips, he looked away.

  “Don’t do this me, Isabelle. Please,” he said quietly. “Leave me just one thing I can know for sure I did right.”

  Izzy stopped cold as understanding flooded in, shredding her romantic haze. Good Lord! What was she doing? Tempting him to throw away his last shred of honor? Who was being selfish now? Her usually strict conscience must have nodded off, but it came roaring back and was appalled at her.

  Janos was unmoving, clearly wanting to k
iss her as much as she wanted to be kissed.

  But, with clarity returning not a moment too soon, Izzy realized what would happen if either of them acted on the impulse.

  They’d send him away.

  Derek. Her parents. Aunt Ramona. Dani would tattle. Someone would find out, because she was no good at lying.

  And she’d never see him again. Janos would be banished from their party and maybe Merlin Hall, shunned forever.

  He would no longer be allowed to serve as any sort of Guardian, even an unofficial one—and, if that happened, he’d be utterly alone.

  And the darkness would swallow him.

  “I’m sorry,” she forced out as she stepped away sharply and turned aside, her pulse pounding. “You’re right, of course—I apologize. How dreadfully forward of me.”

  Janos closed his eyes with a flinch, both pained and relieved she had moved out of range.

  Disaster avoided—but only just.

  Izzy still tingled from his nearness. “Please forgive me,” she added, still trembling with her back to him. “I-I didn’t understand.”

  “Now you do,” he said quietly.

  “Yes.” She nodded, too ashamed of her own recklessness to look at him.

  “Good.” Janos paused. “We should be getting back.”

  Then he stepped out of the ruins and went out into the moonlight to wait for her, leaving her alone for a moment to collect herself.

  Izzy was deeply shaken by her own lapse in judgment. Celestus seemed to frown down at her from the stained-glass window.

  She closed her eyes and shook off her attraction to the most unsuitable of all suitors as best she could.

  Through one of the glassless windows on the other side of the crumbling ancient church, she could see him standing out there.

  How alone he was. Tenderness filled her as she realized how badly he needed to stay with their group. The lot of them were the closest thing he had left to a family. And, to be sure, if he lost Derek’s trust all over again because of her, Janos would lose what little self-respect he still possessed.

  He’d never say it aloud, but she got the feeling that Derek was more or less his idol. Gazing at the beautiful vampire silvered by moonlight, Izzy’s heart throbbed with the desire to protect him.

  Though he was nigh indestructible, he had known so little kindness.

  She finally understood that what Janos really needed was something innocent in his life. Something good. Not just another smitten female drooling over him. He had chosen to pin his last few chivalrous ideals on her; now it was up to Isabelle to prove worthy of them.

  She took a deep, steadying breath and blew it out, smoothing her hair. Fine, then. Just friends. Since he had been adamant that she was too young, and, since she knew, deep down, that he was probably right, Izzy made her peace with it.

  A sensible girl really ought not to love a vampire, after all, if she could help it. It was hardly what Mother would call a suitable match.

  She would just have to content herself with going back to how it had been between them before.

  Let the future take care of itself. Instead of kissing him senseless, she could help him, the poor benighted warrior, see the beauty in life again, help him find new reasons for joy.

  That she could do without ruining either of them.

  Squaring her shoulders, Isabelle finally managed to recapture her runaway heart and pin it back safely onto her sleeve, where it usually lived.

  Only then, once she had composed herself, did she rejoin Janos outside.

  “Shall we?” He avoided her eyes when she returned and gestured toward the distant iron doorway to the mine.

  She nodded, resolute. “Let’s.”

  They began walking back across the field.

  Neither spoke.

  She wondered if he was angry at her again because of this. In truth, she felt a little stupid. “Um, sorry about that.”

  “About what?” he asked, sending her a private little smile that said all was forgiven.

  Izzy smiled back in relief; the glimmer in his green eyes made her heart dance. But yes, it was best to pretend that spellbinding moment of temptation had never happened.

  They strode on in silence, their steps perfectly matched.

  “You know,” he said with a wary glance at the woods, “I can feel those bloody unicorns stalking us.”

  She laughed, grateful for his quip breaking the tension after all the awkwardness. “They’re not stalking us!” She smacked him in the arm. “They’re hoping I’ll come and see them.”

  He gave a mock shudder. “You’re on your own there, sister.”

  “No one invited you anyway.”

  “Hold on…” He drifted to a halt, glancing to the right. “What’s that?”

  “What’s what?”

  He walked about ten feet to the right, the tall grasses whispering as he passed.

  Izzy looked up curiously as Janos bent down, reaching for something concealed amid the wildflowers. He picked it up with a low exclamation of wonder.

  It looked like a white wand, glistening in the moonlight.

  Izzy lit up at the sight of it and hurried over to join him.

  “What is this?” he asked.

  “I’ll give you one guess.”

  He frowned at her. “A unicorn’s horn?”

  She nodded. “Let me see it.”

  “Here.” His hand brushed hers as he gave it to her. They both ignored the jolt of awareness.

  “One of the colts must have shed it this past spring,” she said, examining it.

  “They do that?”

  “Only once, as they approach full maturity. Then the adult horn grows in.” She marveled at the pearl-white spire. “Oh, it’s beautiful. It’s nearly perfect! Bravo to those sharp vampire eyes of yours. Do you know how valuable this is? Unicorn horn has extraordinary healing properties.”

  “I’d heard that. May I?” Janos took it back from her and inspected it, testing its durability and lightly touching the tip. “Sharp! You know, personally, I’d have this made into a dagger if I were you.”

  “A dagger?” She shook her head, resting her hands on her hips. “Guardians.”

  “What? Bits of unicorn horn have been embedded in bladed weapons for centuries.”

  “Yes, for added power, I know. But what would I do with a dagger?”

  “Er, we’re about to go to war?” He sent her a sardonic look.

  “Oh, right.” She sighed. “I’d almost forgotten for a moment.”

  “I daresay this would make a fine weapon.” He held it like a spike, gauging its weight in his grasp. “It would put my mind at ease if you had something more practical to defend yourself with than just that Keeper’s staff of yours, anyway.”

  “Maybe you’re right.” She took it back from him and studied the unicorn horn in the moon-glow. “Maybe it would make a good knife.”

  “You should have Maddox fashion it into a weapon for you,” he said with a nod.

  She gave him a coquettish smile. “Or you could do it.”

  Janos snorted. “If I cut myself on that thing, it’d probably poison me. Besides, the blacksmith’s son is better at making weapons than I am. I’m sure he’d be honored to do it for you. Speak of the devil,” he added, nodding toward the iron door several yards away.

  “Miss Bradford!” Maddox barked, marching out with his shoulders bristling. “Come back inside! The concert’s over. Your governess is looking for you.” He paused but couldn’t seem to help himself. “I don’t think she’d be very happy with you if she found you out here alone with him.”

  “He’s right, of course,” Janos said cheerfully to her. “I’m a terrible influence.”

  She tossed her head. “I don’t care. I’m still mad at him.”

  “Aw,” Janos chided with a teasing glance. Then he snatched the unicorn horn out of her hand and started striding toward Maddox. “Ho, Stick!”

  Izzy followed reluctantly. She would rather stay out here with Jan
os than go back underground.

  “Bet you can’t make Isabelle a dagger out of this.” He tossed it to the lad, which nearly gave Izzy an apoplectic fit, but they were Guardians, both of them, and Maddox’s well-honed instincts allowed him to shoot his hand out in time to catch the horn before it stabbed him or even hit the ground.

  He examined it. “What is this?”

  “Give you two guesses,” Janos drawled.

  “A unicorn horn?”

  “Clever lad! Miss Bradford was just saying how she’d love to have it made into a dagger. Think you could manage that?”

  Maddox studied the horn with fascination, then sent her a wary look as she joined them. “I don’t think Isabelle would really want that.”

  “She does,” Isabelle replied.

  “For self-defense,” Janos said. “And who can blame her, what, with all the nasty folk who’d like to see her dead?”

  “Thanks for the reminder,” she said lightly.

  “My pleasure.” Janos looked at Maddox again. “Of course, if you don’t think you can do it, I could try to muddle my way through, but I’m not as good at this as—”

  “No, no, of course I can do it,” Maddox said. “I’ve never worked with this material before…” He sent Izzy a hopeful look. “But I’d be happy to try.”

  Janos smiled broadly. “There you are, Miss Bradford! You see? I knew this fine young fellow would agree. I have no doubt you shall soon find yourself in possession of a capital blade, and, as for you, Stick, impress her with your work, and you might still have a chance with the lady.”

  Izzy pursed her lips as Janos clapped Maddox on the shoulder, ignoring his scowl, then headed back inside.

  Rogue. She knew what he was up to. He was trying to shove Maddox at her as a preferable replacement for himself. But it wasn’t going to work.

  Sure, Maddox might be closer to her own age, but Izzy didn’t care. Her heart was already lost to the scoundrel.

  “Come along, children! It’s not much of a party without us, so we’d better get back inside. Spit-spot!”

  Maddox shook his head at the vampire’s carefree air, but Isabelle supposed she didn’t mind going back in. Especially if Miss Helena was looking for her.

  The Guardian lad gestured to her to go ahead of him. Isabelle nodded prim gratitude to him and went. She was not eager to go back down into the gloom of the mine. But now that things were somewhat fixed between her and Janos, she felt a lot better about everything.