by S. M. Bowles
"Yes. Yes indeed what happened," Sarah went to the door and deftly bolted it. She whirled to face me, her expression vastly different than it was a moment ago. "Ah, Emily," she leaned her weight against the door and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "How long has it been now? A year? More?"
I shook my head nervously, "I don't know what you're talking about. Why are you here and what happened to Evan?" I demanded. My thoughts went into a flurry of activity and couldn't settle on any one particular concern as she eyed me from across the room.
"Aww, he's quite a doll that one," she smiled. "Don't worry, Evan's fine. I don't have quite the resources that Herrik had, but I'll be sure to take good care of him for you once I've settled things with Freya."
"Did you hurt him? What did you do to Evan?!"
"Nothing that he wouldn't beg me to do to him...over and over and over again!" she laughed.
I grabbed the first thing I could reach and threw it at her head. To my amazement she seemed to disappear before it even left my hand. I watched the remote strike the door then fall uselessly onto the carpet.
"Tsk, tsk. That is no way to treat and old friend!" Sarah called from behind me.
"Oh, God!" I cried out.
"God can't help you now!" she bellowed. Instinct told me to run but as soon as I tried to move Sarah seized me and forced me to my knees. "You can't imagine what it's like out there! Freya has been searching high and low, picking us off one by one. She won't stop! She'll never stop until she's killed us all. But maybe she would for you. If I bring you to her, if I give her the one thing that will break Herrik and bind him to her forever!"
I watched in horrified disbelief as Sarah grabbed my face in her hands and her eyes bore into mine. She leaned down closer and closer. I saw her lips curl back and the vicious flash of her teeth just before she sunk them into my neck.
I closed my eyes. There was a faint click. I thought I heard the door swing open then close abruptly.
"Let her go!"
I fell to the floor in a heap. Dizzily I clawed at the bedspread and pulled myself up. My gaze fell on Sarah first.
"No!" I scrambled away. "No! NO! It can't be!" I turned towards the doorway and nearly fainted from the weight of all the memories that were assaulting me but I felt Avery bolstering me with his sensory gifts.
"Come, Emily," he held his hand out to me.
"Yes, go to him Emily, unless, of course, you ever want to see your brother again!"
I looked from one to the other.
"She's bluffing," he said.
"Am I?"
I didn't think she was.
"Do whatever you want to me Carah but please, please don't hurt Evan!" I took a step towards her and she smiled victoriously.
"Damn it!" Avery cried and lunged for me.
He threw his arms around me and ran us towards the door. It gave way as he rammed his shoulder into it and we crashed through the hallway into the wall opposite my door. The impact made a huge divot in the plaster but Avery quickly recovered himself and tossing me over his shoulder bolted for the stairwell. He jumped over the rail and we plummeted all the way down to the main floor.
The jolt from the landing knocked the wind from me and all I could do was lay limply over his shoulder as he raced us through the lobby. Suddenly we were outside and he was stuffing me into the backseat of the cab he had dropped me off in just a few short hours ago. He gunned the engine just as Carah came running out of the hotel. Her fist came down on the truck but she couldn't hold on. In a few short moments she was nothing but a pinprick in the distance.
"Did we lose her?" I gulped and nodded at his reflection in the mirror while a steady stream of tears slid down my cheeks. Avery's eyes filled with pity, "Sleep," he whispered. I tried to fight his mental command but I hadn't needed to use the trick Herrik had taught me for so long that my natural guards were too weak to resist. My head lolled and my body slumped sideways down the back of the seat and I fell sound asleep.
My fingers twitched as I woke and I quickly came to when I realized that someone was holding my hand.
"Evan?" I blinked.
"Ssh, Emily. No. It's Avery."
"Avery!" I tried to sit up too fast and my head protested with a violent stab of pain.
"I'm sorry. I know it hurts. You should know better than to resist," I could hear a faint smile in his voice.
I cautiously opened my eyes. "Where are we?"
"Just somewhere safe," he stroked my forehead and some of the pain and tension eased up, "for now," he added. "I need to take you home soon. We'll wait until you feel a little stronger then once I can get Artur's blocks back in place..."
"What?" I swatted his hand away. "No!" I shook my head and winced. "How could you even suggest that? I won't go! Not this time! I need to find Evan. I need to see Herrik. I need to..."
"You can't Emily. It's too late. Maybe not for Evan but for Herrik...he's not the man you remember. Not anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"I can find Evan for you. Carah may be a formidable tracker but she is lazy when it comes to her own concealment. It shouldn't take more than a night or two."
"Let me help you!" I clutched at his hand, "Then together we can all find a way to help Herrik!"
"We?! Emily, there is no we anymore! They're gone! Every single one of them is gone, including Herrik!"
"What do you mean gone?!" for a moment I thought the unimaginable.
Avery took a deep breath, "I cannot tell you everything but from what I understand Freya has...she's made Herrik take the pledge...she drained every last drop from him and replaced it with her own. Herrik is hers and with him every vampire that ever pledged themselves to him!"
I covered my mouth and gasped, "No...no that can't be possible!" I studied Avery's expression and my heart sank. "But how are you here then?"
"Artur." Avery shared the images of his experience with me and watched the understanding unfold on my face. "Yes, Emily. I am bound to him and he gave me but one command and it cannot be broken."
"Me?" I suddenly remembered the incident on the greenway.
"You."
"But what if...there must be some way...Where is Artur?"
"I don't know. He...I wasn't strong enough. There was no one to undo Herrik's pledge for him. I...I think he may have taken his own," Avery cleared his throat, "and even if he is still alive it is beyond hope that he could help us. Not as long as Freya lives."
I sat there for an endless moment considering everything that I had just learned.
"Daemon!"
"What?"
"Daemon! He never took the pledge. Herrik wouldn't let him."
"That's impossible."
"No. It's not Herrik told me himself."
"But we...all...saw...Good God!" Avery stood up and began pacing back and forth as he considered what Herrik must have done and the possibility of my words being true. "You're sure? Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes. Herrik wouldn't have lied to me, not about something like that."
"Daemon."
"Daemon."
"No one has seen or heard from him for years. Not since..."
My fingers flew to my neck but the object I was looking for wasn't there. "She must have it!"
"Who? Have what?"
"Daemon's charm. He gave it to me the night he left the compound. He told me it was his blood and that if I drank it and called to him he would come to me!"
"Where is it?"
"It's either at the hotel or...or Carah has it," I reluctantly admitted.
"Well, that's that then. It's too dangerous to take you back to the hotel. I'll find Carah and make sure that Evan is returned home safely."
"But..."
"I only have one objective. I'm sorry Emily," he reached out and before I could stop him the world went black.
Later that evening I found myself pulling into the driveway at home, my head full of all the good times Evan and I had shared over the weekend. Ares was at my window as soon as I could bring the
car to a stop. I was just as anxious to see him as he was to see me and after I managed to urge the door wide enough I squeezed out and hugged him close.
"Aww, I've missed you, too, baby!"
He covered me with kisses while my mom and dad waited for their turn to welcome me home. It felt like I had been gone forever rather than just the two short days that had actually passed. I hugged both my parents and then my dad offered to grab my things for me. Together, Ares, my mother, father and I all went inside where we talked about our respective weekends.
"Did you meet any of Evan's friends?" my mother asked at one point.
"Yes!" I immediately answered but as soon as I said it I wasn't quite so sure that I had. "Well, hmm, I..." I cocked my head at my mother and turned and looked at my father. They both looked as confused as I felt. "Maybe I'm just tired. It will all come back to me once I've had a chance to rest," I tried to sound reassuring but their confused expressions changed to concern. I fretfully looked away and tried to hide my apprehension.
"Are you alright sweetie?"
"I'm fine. I just need to," I stood up a little too quickly and the blood seemed to rush to my head, "to...rest..." my knees suddenly gave out and I tumbled to the floor.
"Emily!" my mother gasped and screamed.
My father dropped down beside me and propped me up, "Emily?"
"Oh, Daddy!" I abruptly threw my arms around him.
"What is it, honey?
I longed to tell him but I honestly didn't know, there was nothing there, nothing whatsoever that I could tell him.
"Evan," I whispered.
"What about Evan?" my father helped me back to my seat.
I shook my head, "I don't know...I just...I feel like..."
My father started to question me further but my mother interrupted him, "Maybe we should call the doctor."
"What? No! I'm fine, really, Mum. I'm fine! It's just been a long day. I think...I think I'll go take a bath and get ready for bed."
Before either of them could object I called to Ares and hurried upstairs. I ran the tap and while I was waiting for the tub to fill I called Evan's cell phone. Over and over again I dialed and each time it went straight to voicemail. I didn't know why I was so worried about him but in my heart I felt like something was terribly wrong.
I sat on the edge of the bath and as I thought through our weekend I couldn't help but imagine that there was something...something unusual about everything I thought I remembered. I tried Evan's number one last time and this time left a voicemail urging him to call me back as soon as he got my message.
All through my bath I kept glancing at my phone sure that it would ring at any moment but it never did. I went through the motions of my bedtime routine and after taking Ares out called Evan one last time. Again it went straight to voicemail and I quickly hung up.
"Oh, Evan," I thought to myself, "please, please call!" I set the ringer as loud as it would go and tucked my phone under my pillow then curled up beneath the covers.
After a fitful hour or two of sleep I woke up with a start. I was filled with a strange determination and felt convinced that I had to go back to the hotel. There was something there, something important that I had somehow forgotten and I absolutely had to have it. I got dressed and tiptoed from my room.
Ares was curious but didn't bother to get up as I eased my door open and crept down the hallway. I went downstairs and found the keys to the car hanging on the rack in the kitchen then I hurried towards the front door. Much to my surprise Ares was there, sitting down and facing away from me. He glanced back and his tail swept the floor and I knew he expected me to take him outside.
"No," I said. "Go lay down," and I pointed down the hallway towards the living room.
He stood up but didn't move from where he was standing. I tried to shove him out of the way and open the door but he growled at me and the harder I pushed the louder he got.
"Ssh, ssh!" I frantically tried to calm him. "No, Ares! No!" but he wouldn't let up. "Fine!" I grumbled. "I'll take you outside.
He quickly quieted and let me open the door. He leapt away as soon as it was wide enough and went straight for the car.
"Good Grief! What has gotten into you? You don't really think you're coming with me, do you?" I asked even though I knew he couldn't understand me. "Or maybe you do!" I thought as I neared the car and saw him pawing at the handle on the passenger door.
I had no intention of bringing him with me but every time I tried to get him to go back inside the house he bolted away. I gave up and hopped in the car thinking that I would just leave him there and my mother or father could let him in in the morning but then he started barking. I panicked, afraid that he would wake my parents and angrily got out and went to the passenger's door. I flung it open and he bounded into the passenger's seat where he happily settled himself.
"I don't know what has gotten into you but you, my friend, are a bad dog!"
Ares leaned over and lapped my cheek.
"A very bad dog," I laughed but my fears quickly curbed my mirth. I started the car and got us on our way.
Chapter 21
I was actually glad Ares was so persistent and that he had come with me. Despite all my anxiety I was exhausted and the monotony of the drive nearly put me to sleep more than once. If I started to look as though I were getting too lax Ares would either give a little yip or paw my arm reminding me to stay alert. By the time we drove into the parking lot at the hotel I had a nice welt on my right forearm from every time Ares made a swipe at me.
I hadn't thought at all about my intentions during the drive and wasn't sure what to do once we were there. I considered going into the lobby and asking the night-person if anyone had found something in one of the rooms. That didn't seem like it would produce much fruit, though, since I didn't know which room I had stayed in and I didn't even know what it was that I had forgotten.
I turned the engine off and sat in the driver's seat contemplating what I should do but Ares had apparently been still for too long and obviously wanted to get out. In my haste to get to the hotel I hadn't bothered to bring his leash but it was late and there certainly wasn't anyone in the immediate vicinity so I decided to let him out to stretch and take care of his needs.
Much to my dismay he shot from the car as soon as I opened the door and ran towards the back of the building. I chased after him and as I rounded the corner I thought I heard somebody cooing to him near the back entrance to the hotel.
"Whoa there big fella! You got me," the voice was filled with humor.
I looked in the direction of the back doorway and was astonished to see Ares there standing on his hind legs with his paws on some strange man's shoulders.
"Ah, so it is true and the culprit does always return to the scene of the crime!" the man called to me.
"Excuse me?"
He gently tugged Ares from his shoulders and together they approached me where I was standing in the dim light of a street lamp. For a fleeting moment I thought I recognized him and forgot that I should be afraid.
"Who are you? Do I know you?" I looked from the man to Ares and back again wondering if he was a friend of Evan's.
"Not intimately but I would be happy to change that if you like," he smiled suggestively.
"That's quite alright!" I said angrily. "Ares, come!" I pointed at my heel and pivoted away.
"Wait!" his voice was apologetic and when I glanced back the stranger reached into his pocket and fished something out then raised it up so it would catch the light, "Look familiar?"
Instantly I knew that it was the object I had so urgently come back to find. An image flashed in my mind of the man and a nightclub and a conversation we seemed to have had there.
"That's right," he nodded. "You do remember...something, anyway. I'm Colin, a friend of Daemon's and I am here to take you to him."
"Daemon! How do I know that name?" I wondered then looking at the necklace. "Where did you get that?" I demanded.
"Hmm," the
man studied me. "It's late and the sun will be up soon. I think you had better come with me. It will be much easier for Daemon to tell you than for me."
I shook my head, "No. Stay where you are! Ares, come!" I called again but he wouldn't budge.
"I guess the easy way isn't going to work is it? Fair enough," Colin took a step towards me but Ares suddenly came to life and his friendly demeanor fell to the wayside. "OK, OK!" Colin threw his hands up. "Just tell her to come with me, would you?" the stranger said to Ares.
Ares walked around behind me and nudged me towards the man. I stumbled a step or two towards him.
"What are you doing?" I looked back at Ares. "How did you get him to do that?" I turned back to the man.
"If you would just come with me..." Colin sounded exasperated and as if to second his suggestion Ares nudged me again.
Between the two of them I was overcome and against all my inner misgivings Ares and I followed Colin to his car. He let Ares into the back where he stretched out across the entire seat and put his head down. I eased myself into the passenger's seat and a moment later Colin took the wheel.
After about an hour of silent driving Colin pulled to the side of the road and stopped the car. He opened the glove box and after a moment of searching found what he was looking for.
"Uh. Well, there's no easy way to ask so I'll just do it."
Nervously and full of confusion I looked over at him.
"I need to...you'll need to, here," Colin wrapped a blindfold around my head. "I promise, it's just a few short minutes and once we're there you can do whatever you like with it."
It was terribly unsettling and I could feel myself trembling but I couldn't see a thing. The car started rolling again then several minutes and an interminable number of turns later it came to a stop.
"I really do apologize," Colin said. "You can take it off now."
I couldn't see much of anything but what I could see didn't look very promising. We seemed to be in a wooded lot of some sort and after helping me and Ares from the car Colin told us to wait there and that he would be right back. He took the wheel again and drove off. When he returned he led us towards a dilapidated building tucked into the corner of the lot.