The Keepers

by Rae Rivers

  “Will you tell me about it?”

  “She’s dangling from a ledge and I’m holding her hand. Every time I’m about to pull her to safety, her hand slips. Every damn time.” He rested his head against the metal bars behind him. “And every time I wake up, I’m reminded that she couldn’t be saved, that I couldn’t help her.”

  “Ethan, you’re not to blame for her death.”

  His jaw tightened and for a while he didn’t reply. He cleared his throat. “After Sienna stripped Mason of his magic, we sealed him in the tomb. His brother, Warrick, was unconscious on the floor.” He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. “I shouldn’t have left her with him.”

  “Warrick was unconscious, Ethan. You couldn’t have known.”

  “She was there protecting Sienna, but when Warrick attacked Declan she died protecting him.”

  He seldom spoke about Sarah’s death. Losing her had affected them all in so many ways, the cuts brutal, irreparable, different, but equally traumatic.

  “She was my baby sister and we should’ve been the ones protecting her.”

  “She was a warrior. Like us.”

  He nodded and opened his eyes. “That night changed everything. We’d always been together, inseparable, and then suddenly she was gone. A big fucking gaping hole that couldn’t be filled. Sienna left, Declan went on a whiskey spree, and Archer became even more of a recluse.”

  “What about you?”

  He shrugged. “I got on with it. Someone had to hold all the shit together. I threw myself into the restaurant renovations. Figured she would’ve liked that. After all, the restaurant was her dream. When Declan and Sienna returned, I got caught up in defeating Warrick and Harper and keeping my brothers from killing each other.”

  “And now? Warrick and Harper are gone. Your brothers have patched their relationship.” They’d even reached a level of peace with Sienna and Kate that still evaded Ethan. “Maybe that’s why you’re suddenly having these dreams.”

  “It’s been more than two years since she died. Why the hell now?”

  “You were preoccupied. Now you’re not.”

  He looked at her for a long while but didn’t reply.

  Instinctively knowing he wouldn’t say anything more, Jenna sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. His arm snaked around her waist, drawing her closer. The movement felt good, warm, and she smiled. “Sarah would be furious to see how we’ve mourned her.”

  “Yeah, guess she’d kick our asses for all the moping.”

  Jenna had been a loner at the academy for so long and Sarah’s arrival had saved her. For the first time in years, Jenna had found something to hold onto. Her purpose. Sarah had helped her see that. They were Keepers, destined to protect and defend. If she withered away, her parents’ honour, their sacrifice, and everything they’d fought for would’ve been for nothing.

  So she’d fought harder, thrown herself into the training, determination overruling the emotion. In the process, her friendship with Sarah had evolved into one she’d treasured.

  She could easily picture Sarah’s face – short black hair, mischievous smile, and a zest for life. With three older brothers to live up to, the tiny woman had been dynamite. Feisty, outspoken, and confident.

  Jenna nudged Ethan with her elbow. “Remember that drama at the academy when one of the Mentors was trapped in his car?”

  “The one almost eaten by the creeper?”

  “The way he carried on, you’d swear it was about to devour him.” She smiled. “It was all Sarah’s doing.”

  Surprise crossed his face and he grinned, the motion triggering the dimple in his cheek. “That was Sarah?”

  “Uh, huh. She was furious because he refused to let us participate in an activity the guys were doing. Told her he’d put something ‘less challenging’ together for us.”

  Ethan’s smile widened. “So she wrapped his car in a creeper?”

  “With him in it.” She laughed, recalling the man’s outrage. “He never underestimated her again.”

  His low chuckle eased the tension.

  A gentle hum of an engine drew her attention and she stood, searching, instantly tracking the approaching headlights in the distance. She pointed at the train and stood. “Ever boarded a moving train before?”

  “We’re hitching a ride?”

  She flashed him a grin and held out a hand. He took it, allowing her to pull him up. “Riding portals and train-hopping. Who said life was boring?”

  “Beats sitting at home arguing with my brothers.”

  “Still want to be an accountant in your next life?”

  He laughed and shook his head.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Ethan couldn’t breathe, the stench of cigarette smoke and sweat and fifty shades of agitation making him feel as edgy as hell.

  He stepped up to the door of the train and shoved it open. The fresh air helped, despite the cold, and he inhaled the cool night air.

  The locals were familiar with train-hoppers but instantly curious about Ethan and Jenna. He could see it in their open stares and whispers. They kept their distance and Ethan kept his guard up.

  But no one seemed interested – or brave – enough to bother them.

  Only two lights worked, illuminating the train in a dim glow. The lack of seats had people crouched against the sides of the carriage, their bodies swaying to the rhythm of the train.

  A group of teenagers huddled against each other. Their pupils were dilated, their bodies an artwork of tattoos and piercings. The oldest boy, tall and skinny, skimmed a gaze across Jenna’s body.

  Ethan bit back the urge to reach for her, shield her. Stake his claim. But she stood her ground, head held high, and returned the scrutiny with a glare of her own. When the boy finally looked away, Ethan almost smiled.

  Almost. Because he knew that others wouldn’t be as easily diverted. Not in a place like this.

  A movement in his peripheral vision drew his attention. An older woman stood in the corner of the train, watching them. She wore a beanie over curly brown hair and a blue coat buttoned to her throat.

  He turned back to the door, just in time to see a stray dog limping beside the track, its head low, unperturbed by the roar of the train. It stopped to sniff a pile of garbage against the fence, scavenging for dinner, but scattered when a vagrant chased it away.

  They passed a bridge with a big gaping hole on one side, exposing steel reinforcements that dangled mid-air. The streets were mostly in darkness, lit by the odd streetlight along the sidewalks. Litter and chunks of concrete were scattered everywhere. The buildings resembled construction sites, half-built or dilapidated. Most of the windows were shattered, the discoloured walls covered in graffiti.

  Jenna appeared behind him, tugging at the collar of her jacket. She folded her arms, tucking in her hands. Her hair fluttered in the wind and her teeth chattered, but she leaned into the doorway, drawing in a deep breath.

  The urge to hold her, warm her, clashed with the agitation creating a shitstorm inside him. Instead, he remained still and studied her, sensing the energy that rolled off her in waves.

  Despite the danger, their environment, being back had triggered something in her. She’d been here before. Hot damn. What that meant triggered all sorts of questions he was forced to shelve.

  For now.

  Clamping the frustration, he turned his attention to the rowdy cheers in the distance. A crowd had gathered beside the tracks, surrounding two men in a fist fight, their cheers whipped away in the rush of wind as the train sped by.

  A shout rang out from the carriage next door. The door at the back of the train opened with a force that almost dislodged the hinges. A large man stood in the doorway, feet planted firmly apart. He had a bald head and a sleek row of black studs that lined each eyebrow. A thick beard covered most of his face.

  The woman in the blue coat gasped and recoiled into her corner.

  His presence caused a ripple of movement from the teenagers on the fl
oor, inconspicuous, but Ethan heard the rapid increase in their heartbeats. The kind usually triggered by fear.

  One of the youths elbowed his friend. “It’s Axel,” he whispered, moving toward the wall, eyeing Axel’s three buddies hovering directly behind him. They all wore identical studs on each eyebrow.

  Axel searched the train, pegging the woman in the corner with a fierce glare. “Where the hell have you been?”

  She stood rigid, unflinching when Alex stomped toward her. The thud of his steps echoed through the train, so heavy that Ethan felt the vibrations beneath his feet. With a little more effort, he even felt the vibrations of the woman’s racing heartbeat.

  Ethan welcomed the trickle of energy that swept through him and dismissed the voice that cautioned to reel it in. Deliberately employing a bored expression, he drew on his magic and targeted the flow of power. The wind picked up speed outside the train, howling against the windows.

  He added more power, channelling the air, moulding it to his will.

  All at once, the side doors burst open and an icy wind gushed through the train, sparking a ripple of surprised murmurs.

  Axel swayed and collided with the teenagers. One laughed, receiving an instant punch in the face for it. The boy reeled, clutching a bloody nose. His friends eased back, surrounding him. All but one. The skinny kid who’d ogled Jenna stepped forward, glaring at Axel, hatred oozing from his posture.

  Axel zeroed in on the younger boys. A small smile eased his expression, the kind that lacked humour. “You think this is funny?”

  “Axel –” the boy replied, but snapped his mouth shut when Axel grabbed him by the throat.

  Grunting, Axel squeezed. The smile had vanished. His bulk and strength gave him the advantage and he added more pressure, smiling when the motion triggered a round of choked gasps.

  The woman in the coat stepped forward. “Axel, stop it!”

  Axel glanced at the open door opposite him. With a low growl, he swung around and shoved the kid toward it.

  In a flash of movement, Jenna was there, using her body as a barrier between the kid and the door. He slammed into her, grunting on impact, and scrambled toward his friends when she pushed him away. Everyone gaped at her.

  She turned, finding Axel’s gaze. “Pick on someone your own size, asshole.”

  Axel burst out laughing and hitched a brow. “Who the fuck are you?”

  “Someone who despises bullies.”

  “But it’s so … fun.”

  “For you maybe. Not much fun for the kid.”

  “His problem.”

  “You’re twice his size.”

  “I’m twice your size.”

  Jenna lifted her chin in quiet determination. “Underestimating me ‘cause I’m a woman would make you a fool as well as an asshole.”

  The group of boys snickered, but were quick to shut up when Axel shot them a glare.

  Ethan took a step forward, his reaction hovering between admiration and wariness. Even though Jenna could kick Axel’s ass and most likely win, the man’s expression sent a ripple of unease through him.

  And he had no idea what the hell Axel was or what powers he possessed.

  When Axel took three heavy strides toward Jenna, Ethan slid between them. A rock-solid barrier.

  Axel halted in his tracks and looked at Ethan, challenge rolling off him in waves. “Let me guess. You don’t like bullies either?”

  Ethan’s brows hitched. “Attacking kids and women? Doesn’t say much for you.”

  “You speak for her?”

  “No one speaks for her.”

  “So back the fuck off and mind your own business.”

  “She is my business.”

  “Ah, that why you’re guarding her like a watch dog?”

  “Of course. I protect my own. Always.”

  Axel’s gaze flickered between theirs, settling on Ethan. A pregnant silence filled the air whilst Axel appeared to be mentally sizing him up. Ethan maintained his poker face and clenched fists, his body on full alert. They were evenly matched in height and size but Axel had three beefy backups at his heels.

  The train’s momentum changed, causing a rustle of movement as people gathered at the open doorway. The woman in the blue coat shifted, her attention still on Jenna. She mumbled to herself, the words a mere whisper that Ethan missed.

  A muscle worked in Axel’s neck. He took a step back and sniffed the air, breathing it in like he’d smelt something delectable. “I could smell your stench from two coaches down. Fresh blood. Guessing Hazel sent you. You’re new here.”

  What the hell did that mean? “That a problem?”

  “For you?” Axel grinned. “Absolutely. But for now, I’ll leave you to the others. If I smelt you, they will too. Maybe even the vamps and werewolves too.”

  “Good to know.”

  “Let’s see how long you last,” Axel said, his smile doing little to ease the malice in his eyes. The look on his face reminded Ethan of a predator toying with its prey. Still smiling, Axel backed away when the train slowed. Without waiting for it to stop, he leapt, followed immediately by his friends, their excited calls echoing through the night.

  “I could’ve handled him,” Jenna said.

  Ethan ignored the irritation in her voice and took her arm. “Of course”

  “So why the interference?”

  He led her to the door, scowling at the group of teenagers ogling them. Axel’s warning made him uneasy. Witches and warlocks were familiar to him. Vampires and werewolves weren’t.

  The platform consisted of a concrete slab. The steps had crumbled. Music played in the distance, a magnet for the teenage boys.

  Ethan followed, moving at the same pace as the others, despite the full run his instincts urged. Jenna sensed it too, the need to blend, matching his strides in silence. The music grew louder as they rounded the corner and walked through a wide arch. It had a faded name scrawled on the wall.

  The Square.

  A massive courtyard of abandoned bars. Dark grey cobblestones paved the ground, littered with concrete rubble and broken tables and benches. Most of the bars were boarded up – all but one. Soozie’s. A waitress swept the floor outside. Two prostitutes stood nearby, both dressed in cocktail dresses that were far too skimpy for the cold. The smell of their cheap perfume wafted through the air.

  When the teenagers settled at a table, the women called out a greeting and sidled closer.

  Jenna took Ethan’s arm and exhaled loudly. “I need a drink.”

  A beer bottle hurtled through the air and shattered on the ground.

  “Something tells me that one drink won’t suffice,” he grunted.

  A dustbin clattered and Ethan swung around, surprised to see the woman from the train standing outside Soozie’s. She straightened the bin and climbed the three stairs to the front door, pausing in the doorway to glance at Jenna.

  Their gazes locked and held for a long while before she disappeared into the bar.

  Jenna nodded in the direction of the woman. “I think we found our drink.”

  “She didn’t look very welcoming.”

  “That’s probably because she isn’t.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The first thing Jenna noticed when she walked into the bar was the old plumbing pipes that had been revamped into lights, the bulbs covered by whiskey bottles.

  Which made her think of Declan.

  The bar had an industrial feel, decorated with recycled material. A high ceiling, low lighting, wide arch windows and raw brick walls. Mismatched tables and chairs were placed throughout the room. A long counter made up of railway sleepers ran along the length of the back wall, the shelves stocked with glasses and empty bottles. A massive clock hung on the wall to the right, a red jukebox beneath it. The song they’d heard had ended, leaving the bar in silence.

  The woman from the train stood behind the counter, repacking glasses. She’d shed the beanie and coat and wore a black apron.

  “Following me?�
�� she asked, without looking up.

  Her quiet, guarded tone had Jenna reaching for an easy smile. “It appears we have the same taste in bars. You open for beers yet?”

  “It’s early.”

  “The money’s still good.”

  She glanced at Ethan. He’d disappeared toward the back, no doubt making sure they were alone. With a brief nod, she motioned to the chairs in front of her. “What can I get you?

  “Two beers please.” Jenna took a seat and glanced around. A blackboard stood against the wall, listing the daily special – soup. No doubt the only food on offer. The ingredients were smudged. “You expecting a lot of people later?”

  “Always. Give this place half an hour and it’ll be swarming with my regulars. My bar is one of the few still operating.”

  “I’m Jenna.” She jabbed a thumb in Ethan’s direction. “And that’s Ethan.”

  “You saved that kid on the train. Not sure if you’re either brave or stupid. Not many people stand up to Axel.”

  “What – who is he?”

  “He runs this district and everyone in it. You shouldn’t be going around asking that. All it does is mark you as a newbie in town. That’s gonna get you killed. You’re lucky Axel’s had his fill for the night otherwise he’d never have walked away.”

  “Fill?”

  Ignoring her question, the woman offered a hand. “I’m Susan.”

  Jenna reached out, surprised when Susan recoiled as though she’d been scalded, staring at the tattoo peeking out from beneath Jenna’s sleeve. Oh, crap.

  “Two beers coming up,” Susan said softly, backing away. Her strained smile faded as she reached beneath the counter.

  The baseball bat came out of nowhere.

  ****

  The shatter of glass, accompanied by Susan’s squeal, had Ethan bolting for the bar.

  Jenna had the woman pinned to the counter, using her body weight to restrain her. Her brows were puckered, her expression more one of irritation than anger. “What the hell was that for?”

  “Let me go!”

  Jenna glanced at the bat beside them, surrounded by glass. “A baseball bat? Really?”