That’ll teach him to kiss me like that, and then act like nothing happened.
“Hey Axel! How’s Kendry?” Shelly’s voice drifts from the doorway, and I smile.
“Hey, Shelly!”
She appears around Axel, enveloping me in a huge hug. “We were so worried for you! Brigid said you were up and around again though, so I thought I’d come see if you were hungry.”
“God, yes. I’m starving.”
She smiles wider. “The boys went in search, so we should be able to catch up.” She takes my arm in hers, leading me out of the door. Axel follows a few steps behind. Giving me my space, it seems.
“So…I hear you met the Conclave yesterday.”
News travels fast. “I did.”
“Well? What was it like? What were they like?” Her face is full of barely contained curiosity and excitement.
Startling? Informative? Insane? “Um… Well, it was interesting.” I give her a half laugh.
“Interesting? That’s all you’ve got?” The look of skepticism she gives me is off the charts. I can’t help but grin at her enthusiasm.
“It was pretty overwhelming, to be honest.”
“I’ll bet!”
“You have no idea,” I say with a laugh. “For one, I had no idea there were so many different kinds of paras out there.”
Shelly cocks her head and looks at me. “Why do I get the feeling there’s more to it than that?”
I hesitate, and glance back at Axel. I have no idea if I should say anything about Dad or not. Or any of it, for that matter. Axel shrugs, as if to say, It’s up to you.
But then I don’t have to decide what to do, because when we find Thom and Caleb, Dad is there chatting with them.
“Kendry,” he says, standing and hugging me. “I’m glad to see you safe.”
“Hey, Dad.” I can’t say more, because I’m suddenly fighting the blush I can feel creeping up my neck. Thinking about last night’s attack means thinking about other things. If Axel won’t even acknowledge what happened between us, there’s no way I want to tell the father I haven’t seen in years.
I suddenly realize what I really need is some girl time with Shelly.
“Wait, what do you mean?” Shelly asks, right on cue. Her face is a study of confusion. “This is your father?”
This time my blush is different. “Yeah, I, um.” I sigh. “Dad, this is Shelly. She and Caleb are…yeah. Um. Shelly, this is my dad. Cernunnos. Or Herne the Hunter. Or whatever. Which do you prefer, anyway?” I ask, turning back to him.
Dad laughs. His eyes still crinkle at the corners, like I remember. “Either is fine. Herne is less of a mouthful than Cernunnos, so I’ve gotten a bit used to it.” He shrugs.
Shelly’s eyes are wide. But I’ve got to give her credit, she shakes it off pretty quick. “So you’re…”
“It’s complicated,” I interject as she fades out. She nods as I give her a we’ll talk later look.
“So second question, what did he mean safe? I thought you were safe.”
“There was another attack last night.” Axel says it straight up, no nonsense.
Thom and Caleb don’t look shocked, but Shelly grabs my arm. “What happened?”
I look at Dad, unsure how much to say, but he nods at me as if to say, It’s your story to tell.
It’s like he and Axel are on the same wavelength. Which is annoying.
“I, um… One of the gargoyle guards pretended Grittanus was attacking to lure Axel off. But he was smart enough to double-back, so it was fine. Not even a scratch.” On me, I add in my head. Axel had his share, but they were gone, vanished with the night. Even if I could still taste the blood and rain from our kiss. “What happened to him, anyway?” I ask, turning to Axel.
Axel actually smiles, the first I’ve seen on him in too long. But it’s not the nicest of smiles. “I gave him to the gryphons. Made sure they told your father.”
Which explains how Dad knew. I can’t decide if I’m pleased, or not.
“Anyway, that’s all there was to it.” Except for what came after. But apparently we’re not talking about that.
Which, right now, I’m actually okay with.
*
We manage to get seated and eating. I have no idea where the food came from, where it ever comes from. But I’m grateful. Bacon and eggs and fresh bread and hash and so much more than I’ve seen in a long time. Supermarkets don’t exist anymore, haven’t for a while. We got along all right in Greenbriar because it was a small farming community before, but I know a lot of other places weren’t so lucky. But since I’m sitting in a castle full of every myth that ever stepped straight out of every book I’ve ever read, I shouldn’t be surprised at the food.
“You know Kendry, chewing is generally considered helpful.”
I look up from my plate and both Thom and Caleb are laughing silently. I swallow. “What? I’m hungry.”
“We can tell,” says Thom. “That’s what, your third plate?”
“Second.” I stick out my tongue. “Though I might still go for a third,” I concede, looking down at my almost-empty plate.
Shelly elbows Caleb, and I smirk. “What?” he says.
“She spent a day and a half unconscious, and yesterday with the Conclave. I know I didn’t see her for dinner. I think she’s entitled to eat. Besides,” she adds with a glance, “I notice you’re both on your third plateful.”
Thom smiles unrepentantly, still chewing. “Yeah, but we’re werewolves. Hungry is how we come.”
I shake my head, and keep eating.
Eventually, Shelly and the boys make their excuses and leave. Things to do. I don’t know what, but they certainly seem to be involved in something. I’m glad, in a way. I’d hate for them to be kicking around waiting, while everything goes on around us. But I do make sure to catch Shelly and mouth, Later? She nods before leaving, and when I turn back, Axel and Dad are both staring at me.
“Kendry…”
And here it comes. “Dad—”
His raised hand stops me. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but you need to. You’re in danger.”
I sit back and try not to roll my eyes. “I kind of got that impression. Someone want to clue me in as to why?”
Dad and Axel exchange a glance before Dad answers. “Because of me. And while Axelrod did the right thing bringing you here, I think it’s obvious that you might be in even more danger here than you were out on your own.”
“But why?”
Dad gives Axel another glance. “Because you’re my daughter. Beyond that, I can’t go into it right now. But I need you safe. Last night’s attack only proved again to me that there is more to this than a single traitor.” He sighs, running a hand through hair that is no different than it was when I was twelve. Dark brown with red highlights, and a hint of grey. “I fear Grittanus was only one among many, that this treachery reaches far deeper than many realize. Not all of the Conclave are willing to see that.” He turns to Axel. “I need you to take care of her. She is far too vulnerable.”
“She won’t leave my sight.”
Dad nods. “Good. I can’t risk her.”
“You know, you don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here. I don’t need a babysitter.” I’m edging towards bitchy, but I don’t care. Maybe it’s because I still know so little about my father and his world.
“No, you don’t.” Dad refuses to rise to my bait. “But there’s so much you don’t know, so much I don’t have time to tell you. What you do need is a protector and guide, and I trust Axelrod with my life. More importantly, I trust him with yours.”
I wave off his implicit trust in Axel. I already know that. “Why can’t you tell me?”
Dad sighs again and rubs his face. I almost want to pat his hand and welcome him back to parenthood. “I’m trying to keep us all safe, Kendry. I’ll tell you what I can, when I can, and hope that Axelrod can fill in what I can’t.”
I hate it when the person I want to argue with mak
es sense. But maybe I can get different answers out of him.
“Dad…” He cocks his head. “What was it you were talking about yesterday when we left? The veritas…”
“Veritas Lapidem. The Stone of Truth. It’s…well, calling it a demi artifact is probably the best description I can give. It produces an aura with a certain radius, and anyone or anything within that radius cannot say or do anything that is not the truth. It doesn’t compel answers, so silence is a way around it, but no one can lie within its influence.”
“And you want to use it on the Conclave, so you can find the traitors.”
“Yes.”
“If it’s that easy, why haven’t you done it?”
Again, with the sighing. “To compel anything is a violation of decency, at the very least, if not basic right. It’s so easy to cross the line, to become that thing you’re fighting against. It’s happened throughout the history of the world, both among paras and humans, and it begins with small things like this.
“To paraphrase a rather wise human, whom I happened to know well, those who are willing to give up freedom for safety deserve neither freedom nor safety.”
I’ve heard that before. “Ben Franklin, right?”
“He’s the one.” I shake my head, and he smiles sadly. Dad actually knew Ben Franklin. How cool is that.
“So is there another way, besides this stone of truth?”
Axel finally breaks his silence. “We’re all worried it’s gone too long and too deep for that. Our only other option seems to be waiting for them to strike.”
“Actually, I’m hoping the threat will bring them out of the woodwork. I’m also worried it will, and we won’t be prepared.”
It’s not long before Dad returns to the Conclave and their deliberations. I feel like I’m at loose ends, waiting for something to happen. I can’t help Mom, can’t keep myself safe, and I’m somehow stuck in the middle of some giant conspiracy that will change everything about the para world.
“Everything alright, Kendry? You’ve been staring off into space since your father left.” His words bring me back, breaking my thoughts into pieces. We’re still sitting at the table.
I don’t look at him. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. You’ve had a lot thrown at you.”
My memory immediately flashes back to last night. The rain, the feel of his hands on me. The roughness of the rock behind me.
I can’t figure out why he’s being so distant today.
I push away from the table and head for the door. I don’t want to be around him right now.
Except he’s there to stop me, his arm barring the door.
“I was serious about not letting you out of my sight.”
I glare at him. “Really?”
“Your father has enemies, Kendry.” His eyes are deadly serious. “I have enemies. You have enemies now, just by having anything to do with either of us.”
“Yeah, well, since you’d clearly rather not have anything to do with me—”
His dark eyes flash, and I’m glad, because at least it’s something different than his stony silence. “What the hell is your problem, Kendry?”
I choke. “My problem? You kissed me, Axel. And it wasn’t a peck on the cheek. But when I told you I wanted you, you tuck me in bed like a freaking child! And don’t even get me started on the epic stone shoulder this morning!”
His jaw clenches tight, and instinct makes me take a step back. But only one, and I don’t take my eyes from his.
Finally, he grinds out an answer. “Now is not the time.”
I step forward, instinct forgotten. “Oh, but last night was?”
“I’m trying to protect you, Kendry!”
“From who? From whoever’s out to get me, or from you?”
Axel’s silence is almost more intimidating than his anger. But after a minute or two, I guess he realizes staring me down isn’t going to faze me. He pushes away, almost snarling. “Your safety is my first priority. My only priority. Last night shouldn’t have happened.”
“But it did happen!”
“It can’t happen!” His arm sweeps out, sending the remains of out breakfast crashing to the floor.
I stare at the broken shards, and the one bowl that’s still wobbling whole against the stone floor. The surrounding silence is deafening, and my quiet words seem incredibly loud. “Then maybe I should say screw it, and choose to make the change to a para. Then I could protect myself, and you wouldn’t have to deal with me.”
This time when he pins me to the wall, it’s not to kiss me. I don’t think, anyway. The look in his eyes, I can’t tell. The absolute anger I see makes me think he’s more interested in putting his fist through the stone at my back. But then his eyes flicker down my face, resting on my lips for a second so short, I’m not sure I didn’t imagine it.
He leans in, slowly, hands on either side of my head. “You are mine to protect, Kendry Hartshorn. My responsibility, my guardianship. And the only thing that will stop me protecting you is being dead. Are we clear?”
I shove him away, which is about as effective as shoving a brick wall. “God, I’m sick of being useless and having to be protected! And the last thing I need is you holding it over my head. I don’t need to be your damn responsibility!”
“You know shite-all about being a demi, or my responsibility.” His voice goes all quiet, and the faint accent I’ve never been able to place suddenly thickens. “Last night… I can’t regret what I did, kissing you. But God and all his angels know it can’t happen again. Oiread agus is mian liom é a.”
The last part Axel mutters with a defeated look in his eyes, and I don’t understand either the words, or the look. His hands drop as he pushes off the wall, turning away from me. As fierce and full of righteous rage he looked a moment ago, all I want to do now is hold him tight.
Which I can’t do, not without starting the argument all over again.
But I can apologize. “I’m sorry, Axel.” And I mean it. “I hate being the weak link. I want to be able to take care of myself, for once. That’s all.”
He sighs, still facing away from me. “The life of a para means watching the humans you love be born, live, and die, all in a blink. Your mam included. It means watching the world change, again, and again, and again. There are as many bad things about being para as there are about being human. And the demis have it hardest.”
I shake my head. “I don’t get it. You live forever, you’re practically invincible, you’re super strong... Dad said the other demis all have some kind of crazy power...”
His answer is a long time coming, leaving my words trailing off into nothing. “My kind have been feared and hunted for millennia. Your father’s kind have been revered as gods, yes, but also blamed and reviled. And now that the world knows about us again, they’re eager to pick up the persecution right where they left off. Your heritage is at odds with itself. And it’s going to be a long time before the two sides come to terms with each other.”
I stare at the table, trying to absorb his words. I know he’s right. “I still have to make a decision. Soon.”
He finally looks at me. “Yes. You do. But you need to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into before you choose.”
The unspoken implication is that he won’t be able to protect me from that choice, when I do make it. But I’m saved from saying anything else by a knock at the door, and Brigid walking in.
She looks from one of us to the other. “Now, I know things aren’t great, but really, you two. You look like someone killed a puppy.”
Axel and I look at each other, but nether of us say anything.
“Anyway,” she continues, coming in to sit while I slide back to my own chair, “Herne asked if I would come talk to you. Answer as many of your questions as I could.”
“What kind of questions?”
“Whatever questions you have. Ask anything. About being a demi, about the choice you face, the pros and cons. Anything.”
�
��Anything?”
She laughs. “Yes, Kendry. Anything.”
Suddenly confronted with the opportunity to ask anything I want, my mind goes blank. Axel stands up. He’s back to not looking at me. “I’ll be in the next room so you can talk.”
“What happened to not letting me out of your sight?” It’s as close as I can get to asking him to stay.
“Brigid will take care of you.” He slides the doors closed between us with hardly another sound.
I shake my head at him and turn back to Brigid. “What’s it involve, choosing?”
She gives me a look that says she knows there’s something going on, and she’s choosing to ignore it. “There’s no big ceremony or anything, if that’s what you’re asking.” She settles back in her chair. “It’s a choice you have to make with every fiber of your being. You have to know what you want. Any uncertainty, and the choice will be made for you.”
“How does it work? I mean, Dad said something about my twenty-first birthday, and having to choose before then, but I can’t imagine choosing is all there is to it.”
“No. There’s something you drink that facilitates it. It’s been called a lot of things over the centuries. Ambrosia, nectar, soma, amrita. The Norse got it right. It’s a type of honey mead, made a very specific way. You drink it, you wake up different. Or the same, depending on your choice.”
“Why twenty-one?”
“Just the way it is. Originally, it was thought that if a person lived that long, they proved they were strong enough to deserve the choice. Now…” Brigid shrugs. “Who knows. Maybe it’s something coded in your—our DNA.” She blinks, almost like she’s shaking the question off, and returns to the topic. “Traditionally, we give the mead the night before your birthday. Without it, you simply remain human. But your chance at making the choice is gone.”
“So I don’t have much time.”
“No.”
“If I choose demi…does it hurt, changing?”
ParaWars Uprising Page 13