Haeven

by S. M. Bowles

  "I'll go. I'll do it. I'll exchange myself for Evan. Avery can take me,” I said without hesitation.

  "Absolutely not!" Avery leapt off the couch.

  "That is not the answer, Emily. No...we won't let you," Daemon confidently stated.

  "But maybe..." Merry's voice trembled.

  Wyatt looked at her, "What did you say?"

  Merry shook her head, "No, it was nothing," she recoiled nervously.

  "It was, though, I think you're on to something," Wyatt persisted.

  Daemon eyed them both from where he was sitting, "What are you two mumbling over there?"

  "Merry has an idea," Wyatt spoke loud enough for everyone to hear and she anxiously clutched at his hand as though she was begging him not to say anything more.

  Everyone grew quiet again with curiosity.

  "Well, I was just thinking...Avery knows the compound...its layout, its defenses. And I thought that if we did give Emily to Freya we could get someone or maybe even a few of us inside, enough to disable some of the alarms and take care of some of the guards. We don't have the numbers to overwhelm them but with the element of surprise on our side," Merry cautiously conveyed her thoughts.

  "It's too dangerous. It will never work," Avery dismissed the idea.

  "No, she's right. It could. If we planned it well. Freya...she...she would want to show off. She wouldn't want to celebrate her victory alone. She would want everyone to know. She'd keep me...at least for a day or two. Daemon...Daemon should be the one to bring me. He never took the pledge so she'll never know the real reason he's there. He'll have to convince her...make her believe that he wants to see Herrik suffer. His father prevented him from being with the woman he loved and banished Daemon from the compound when he tried to thwart his father's will. Why wouldn't he want his father to suffer a similar fate! Think what Daemon could do on the inside! He could find followers, undo Freya's pledge..." I was speaking with a frenzied fervor.

  "For Christ's sake, Emily! Are you mad?"

  Avery's outburst shocked me back to my senses and my insides seemed to wither as I suddenly realized what I was saying and the futility of it all. I stood up, my eyes full of tears intending to walk away and hide from all the shame I suddenly felt.

  "Wait, Emily. I think you're right. I think we can do this," Daemon bit his lip, "I know we can do this...but you'll have to give me one more night. There's one more person we'll need if this plan has any chance of succeeding," Daemon turned his gaze on Avery. "You're going to have to tell me where Artur is."

  "But I don't know," Avery shook his head.

  Daemon smiled, "Oh, but you do," he raised his hands, "it's buried somewhere in there and I intend to dig it out!"

  Chapter 22

  Avery batted Daemon's hands away. "I’m sorry, I can't let you do that."

  "Why not?"

  "It's too...it's too...there are things..."

  I thought I understood why Avery was so reluctant, he had feelings, emotions that he couldn't possibly bring himself to share with Daemon.

  "I'm sure there are things that Herrik has shared with him out of necessity that it would be best if no one else were to know."

  Avery tossed me a look of gratitude but Daemon looked skeptical, "Colin then?"

  Avery took that as a worse affront than sharing his thoughts with Daemon, "Not a chance!"

  "Well you haven't got much choice! We're rather limited on people with that particular gift..."

  "I'll do it," Merry interrupted. "If Avery feels comfortable with me and is willing to let me try."

  Daemon turned expectantly towards Avery and waited for his answer. "Yes," he nodded, "but I would prefer to do it without an audience."

  "Fair enough. We'll wait here. Merry, you can use my office if you'd like."

  "Sure. We'll be back as soon as we find what we are looking for."

  We watched the two of them leave. Wyatt seemed a little nervous and was the last to turn back once they were finally out of sight.

  "So what are you plans if you do actually find Artur?" I turned to Daemon.

  "That is the plan – finding Artur. Once we release him from Herr...Freya's pledge he'll be able to help us figure out the best way to go about saving Evan, Herrik and the others."

  "And if we don't find him?" Colin asked the obvious question that was on everyone's mind.

  "Then we'll do whatever we must. Emily sacrificed everything for me – her friends, her family, her home. With or without Artur, with or without any of you I intend to pay her back."

  "Daemon," I shook my head.

  "Yeah, Daemon! As if any of us would let you try and do this alone!" Colin's brow furrowed in anger and disbelief. Ares got up sensing the sudden hostility and laid his head in Colin's lap. "It's alright, buddy! No one is gonna leave us out! We're all in this together aren't we? High five!" Colin held his hand up and much to my surprise Ares gave it a happy slap.

  "Alright...how are you getting him to do these things? He can't possibly understand you...but"

  "It's a gift," Colin chuckled.

  I rolled my eyes.

  "No really...it's a gift...one of my gifts. I talk to animals," he laughed at the ridiculousness of his own statement.

  "He doesn't talk to animals," Daemon called to Ares and he obediently went to Daemon's side. "He's showing Ares images and pictures of what he wants him to do and Ares is just following the suggestion. To Ares it's his own idea. He sees the picture and imagines that he thought of it all by himself and acts out whatever he visualizes."

  "Huh," I sat back as I considered the explanation. After a moment I realized that I had overlooked something Colin had just said. "Oh, and just so we're clear, we are leaving Ares out. There's no reason to make him take part in any of this."

  "I think we should let him make his own decision, right Buddy!"

  Ares yipped as if in agreement.

  I started to interject again but my eyes caught Merry and Avery returning and we all stood up anxious to hear what they had to say. Merry came and resumed her seat by Wyatt but Avery stopped at the edge of the living area and motioned to Daemon. Together they went off for a number of minutes and though we could all see them their conversation was completely inaudible to any of us.

  "Alright," Daemon nodded agreement to whatever Avery had said. Their conversation apparently over Daemon looked our way, "Wyatt," he called, "Davit," the lanky blonde stood up and they both made their way toward the group.

  Once they joined Daemon and Avery there was another silent conversation between the four of them. A few moments later Wyatt and Davit led Avery away while Daemon approached the rest of us where we were still standing in the living area.

  "I think we have the information we need but we don't have much time. Colin, Merry, I want you to stay behind and look after Emily. She is not to leave the building and neither are either of you. If there is anything you need that we don't have here you'll have go without or if it is an absolute," Daemon put extra emphasis on absolute, "necessity send someone for it. Make sure they are discreet! The last thing we want is someone following them back and leading them here."

  Then Daemon turned to me and took my hands, "Wish me luck!" he smiled and pecked me on the cheek. "We'll be back before dawn." As he finished the statement we saw the others making their way down the hallway towards the elevator. They all looked very grave as they glanced back to where Daemon and I were standing saying goodbye. I had a hundred questions but Daemon cut me off, "Gotta go!" and before I could protest he had joined the others.

  They all had their backs to us as they piled into the elevator and the door closed behind them. I slumped down onto the sofa and wondered how I would make it through the night knowing they were all walking into a situation that they might not be fully prepared for.

  "There's worse to come if they succeed," Colin interrupted my thoughts. "Maybe you should save your concern."

  It sounded harsh but I knew he was being sincere.

  "Well, it will
be a long night if we just sit here worrying about them. Maybe we should try and make the most of it," Merry looked from me to Colin and Finn. "You haven't said anything since any of this happened, Finn. I know you are worried about Davit but there's something else going on in there, too," she sounded teasing, "do share!"

  I noticed Finn earlier when he came and sat down with Davit after I first arrived. He was so still and quiet though that I felt like I had overlooked him ever since. When he answered it wasn't with the same buoyant expression that Merry was wearing and my heart shrank when I heard his response.

  "I'm sure Daemon will find this Artur and I understand what he expects us to do once he does. I'm not sure any of us are fully aware of what we are getting into though," he waved his hand to indicate more than just the handful of us sitting in the living area. "This...Haeven..." he cocked his head and met my eyes, "Daemon hasn't told us much about it but I suspect that it is more than just an oasis for lost souls."

  I felt terribly offended by what he was saying and how he said it but he was absolutely right. The compound was a beautiful refuge for both our kinds but a well-guarded one, too. I had always thought of it simply as my home and with Herrik, Avery and Artur looking after both me and Penny I hardly knew a moment of fear the entire time that I had lived there. It was more, much more than that, though. In reality it was a virtual fortress and many of the people who called it home were well-trained and if necessary merciless killers.

  Finn started to say something but Merry quickly moved to hush him.

  "No. He's right. Haeven is as dangerous as it is beautiful and under Freya..." I bit my lip.

  "You need to tell us what you know," Finn insisted.

  "It's been more than a year since I've been there and really I kept to the lowest levels. I'm not sure what I can tell you about other than the garden and some of the common areas that I have been to."

  "You may not think it much but I'm sure you've seen a lot more than you imagine. Maybe you should let us be the judges of what you know and what you don't know!"

  "Finn!" Merry gasped.

  Again I recoiled at the accusation in Finn's voice but as I studied the three of them I honestly didn't see any harm in telling them what I could remember. I took a deep breath, "Haeven is...it's carved, I guess, into the hillside overlooking the canyon. That I know of there is only one access road and it is the only way in or out of the compound. The road is...it's disguised somehow and even though I travelled it dozens of times it was always with Herrik. I never once saw it or was able to recognize it on my own."

  Colin, Merry and Finn all looked at me expectantly while they waited for me to go on. I was still gathering my thoughts though and it took a while for me to begin speaking again but once I did I found my memories came quicker and more precise with the telling. Haeven had been my home for seven years and I realized that Finn was right and that I did seem to know much more about the layout and dynamics of it than I would have guessed.

  As I continued to speak though, the more I missed it and the more personal my tale became. Soon I began telling them not only about the compound and its layout but about the people who lived there, the ones I knew, the ones I cared for and the ones I loved.

  Eventually I realized that I had gone off-topic and hastily apologized for the lapse.

  "No...this is good," Colin quickly interrupted. "Knowing who you cared for is going to give us the best indication of who cared for you and who is most likely to rally to our cause once we get inside."

  "I agree with Colin," Finn clenched his jaw as he said it. "Maybe you should show us some of these people so we'll be able to recognize friend from foe."

  I instantly knew what Finn was suggesting and considered whether or not I should offer myself up to the idea.

  "I think we should wait for Daemon to get back. It wouldn't be right for us to intrude on Emily's thoughts like that," Merry interjected.

  "Intruding! She's asking us to risk everything for the people she loves but what about us, huh? And the people we love!"

  Merry was about to reply but Colin spoke up before she had a chance, "He's got a point," Colin looked hesitant but thoughtful.

  Merry looked away unwilling to sway me one way or the other. Finn glared at me as if to say there was only one answer in his opinion and Colin seemed to be willing to let the chips fall where they may.

  "Of course. I'll do whatever I can."

  Finn drew his chair closer while Merry and Colin took a seat on either side of me.

  "Are you sure about this?" Merry asked.

  I nodded and curled her hand into mine.

  It had been sometime since I had done this last and I naturally resisted their efforts to view my memories. Then Merry squeezed my hand reassuringly and I slowly relaxed and let the cloak fall from my thoughts. We sat together for several minutes and during that time the three of them sifted through all the images of Haeven and the people who lived there that I had locked away inside my mind.

  At one point I felt like someone was trying to get a closer look at some of my more intimate memories and I abruptly pulled back breaking the link. I was sure it wasn't Merry but otherwise I couldn't tell if it had been Colin or Finn that was the culprit.

  "I'm sorry," I apologized when I realized what had happened. I rubbed at my temples. "It's been a while since I've done anything like this and I think it is just a little too much for me," I looked at Merry who smiled softly, knowingly. "Is there somewhere I can go to freshen up a bit?" I asked.

  "Sure. I'll show you."

  As Merry led me away I couldn't help feeling that she was somehow disappointed.

  "Not in you," she affirmed. "I couldn't tell if it was Colin or Finn but one of them was getting a little too aggressive."

  "You felt it, too?" I asked.

  Merry nodded, "I'm sure it was nothing. Here," she stopped in front of an open door and flipped a switch.

  When I was done I found Merry waiting for me just a few steps from where she had left me. She waved me over and together we went back to the living area. Colin was still there but Finn had gone off to do something on his own.

  "I always wondered where Daemon got the idea for this," Colin thoughtfully stated. "It's not quite on as grand a scale as Haeven but it's a nice place to hang your hat."

  "It is," I said and smiled. "Do you think any of what I was able to tell you will be useful?" I asked.

  "You mean other than that you would give your life for your brother, that Herrik is a great man and that Haeven is absolutely worth saving?"

  I couldn't help smiling.

  "Actually, we learned quite a few things. The problem with your information, though, is that it's old and I'm sure there have been some changes. I think if we compare your knowledge with Avery's and hopefully Artur's they will be able to evaluate the possibility of where those changes most likely were made."

  "Well, I'm glad it wasn't completely useless."

  "Not at all. At the very least it gave us an idea of how many people we are likely to face once we manage to get inside." Then he gave an awkward chuckle, "I really hope you chose your friends well!"

  Hearing his words made me wonder. There were so many people besides Herrik and Penny that must have been left behind and I shuddered at the idea of them all being under Freya's control.

  "And what about all the humans? What became of them?" I thought but kept those questions to myself. I felt a swell of tears threatening my eyes and anxiously blinked them away.

  "Hey," Colin put a hand on my knee, "we'll save them and Haeven, too," he glanced at Merry who nodded her agreement.

  I tried to mirror their optimism but I'm sure I didn't succeed. Thankfully Ares decided it was a good time to interrupt us and begged Colin to feed him again.

  The night slowly wore on and though Merry and Colin did their best to keep me entertained my thoughts kept drifting back to Daemon, Avery and the others. Every time I thought I heard the elevator my heart would leap with the anticipation of seein
g them all returning safely and with any luck successfully.

  I tried eating again when Merry offered to fix me another tray and while I nibbled she and Colin told me various stories about themselves and their lives with Daemon. He was very much like his father, I realized, and though he wasn't trying to accomplish the same things he seemed to inspire the same love and devotion that Herrik had always managed to inspire.

  Eventually their store of anecdotes began to run low and they turned from offering information to asking for some.

  "So, how did you end up in Haeven, anyway? I'm not sure whether Daemon knew or not but if he did he never told us the story," Colin looked hopeful as his words died off and so did Merry but she obviously felt that Colin's question might have crossed the line.

  "The night I met Daemon he was very badly hurt. He was hiding in the crawlspace underneath my house and I just happened to be the one who found him. I knew he needed help and I...I willingly offered it. I don't know who or why," I lied, "but someone was after Daemon, someone who was desperate enough that they wouldn't hesitate killing anyone who got in the way of finding him. When Herrik learned what I had done for Daemon and realized that I was in danger he had me brought to Haeven and I lived there ever since."

  "How did you escape?"

  Merry rolled her eyes at Colin but I didn't see the harm in answering.

  "I...I didn't. When the council was over and Herrik's fate seemed inevitable Artur came and...he...he did something that knocked all but the strongest vampires out. He and Avery grabbed me and Herrik then they forced us into the elevator. There wasn't enough room for us all and Herrik...he...leapt out and pushed Artur in...he sacrificed himself so that we could all get away. I tried...I wanted to stay and fight but..."

  "Oh," Colin's eyes went away for a moment, "he was in love with you. You were in love with him! The two of you were in love! Did you ever..."

  This time Merry didn't hesitate, "Colin!" she cuffed his shoulder.

  "Sorry...I just thought...you know...I'm single, you're single...are you single?" I wasn't sure if he was being serious or just trying to make light of his recent remarks.