Chapter 11
When we approach the porch of the house, Terry squints towards us as if he thinks he might have lost his mind. He stands up. “How the hell did you two get out of here?” I don’t have to ask to know he’s talking about Aria and Crispen.
Crispen grins wickedly and Aria rolls her eyes as if Terry is being silly.
Forrest chuckles and pulls a package of cigarettes from his pants pocket. He pulls one out and lights it before offering Terry one. Terry takes one and tosses a beer down to Mason who catches it easily and cracks it open. We all take seats on the porch. The porch isn’t very big so it’s a little squishy. Terry offers everyone a beer, even the hunters. I refuse mine but everyone else seems delighted by the cans. I wonder who Terry had ship all these supplies out here.
Terry lights his cigarette and then passes his lighter to Mason who lights his. The smell of the smoke is overwhelming and I have to focus on other smells and other things so it doesn’t give me a migraine. I’ve never liked the smell of smoke so having it amplified with my immortal nose is entirely disturbing.
“You’re all going to get lung cancer,” I warn the three men.
They all laugh simultaneously. Terry finds this the most amusing. “I’ve been smoking for centuries, Megan. You forget that we’re all immortal and cancer is a demonic disease, one we wouldn’t design to let ourselves contract.”
I suddenly feel stupid. “Either way it’s still gross,” I decide.
Aria nods in agreement. “It is pretty gross. I’ve never understood how Mason or Crispen could suck on those things. At least Crispen quit a few decades ago.”
Crispen smiles at his sister. “You said you hated it, so I quit. Do I get the best big brother award?”
Aria purses her lips. “No, Crispen, I love you both the very same.”
Crispen’s smile falters a moment. “But he’s a demon. That has to at least give me a little bit of an advantage.”
Aria tilts her head at him in dismay. “No. I love you both. Family is family, Crispen. Demon or not.”
Crispen seems a little hurt by this but perks up when Aria leans her head against his shoulder and closes her eyes. “Can we go to bed yet?” she pleads. “I really don’t think any of them are going to try to kill us.”
Crispen debates this seriously. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to get much sleep around a bunch of demons, but yes, you should rest. When you wake up, I’ll take my turn.”
Aria seems she doesn’t have the patience or the energy to argue this. She gets up from her lawn chair, says goodnight to each of us and then sleepily moseys on into the house.
A long silence ensues before Landon and Crispen enter the house to work on alchemy and discuss Crispen’s history with the alchemists. Mason joins the discussion not long after as he believes he might have some interesting input. He was older than Crispen and Aria when they first met the alchemists and he was the first hunter created.
I remain on the porch listening to the leaves of the trees ruffle and the waves roll in from across the island. I practice zoning in on specific sounds like a frog croaking on the other side of the island or the sounds of the men’s voices as they talk inside. I’m getting better but I still find it far easier to just not allow myself to tap into my supernatural hearing. There’s nothing wrong with my human senses. I don’t know how demons or hunters for that matter can focus on anything with so much constantly going on around them with all of their heightened senses. It’s distracting.
I remember that we left two bodies on the beach, one still breathing. Terry goes to gather them while I decide to lay down for the night and relax. This turns out to be harder than I thought because Forrest won’t stop yapping in my ear and asking me questions. Terry tries to get him to leave me alone and focus his attention on playing cards with him but Forrest seems far more interested in me than the poker game.
At sunrise, everyone goes out to the beach for a game of football besides me, Terry, and Aria. Terry’s excuse is that sports are silly. He apparently has no want to chase around an inflated piece of rubber. He sees no point. Aria decides to make breakfast and I offer to help.
We fry up some eggs, bacon, and sausage as Terry reads a book. I guess you never get too old to read.
“I’m surprised Crispen went. I think he’s really trying to make things up to me. I hope he’s really sincere about all this and he really has found a way to accept what Mason is now, what you are even. He’s trying. I see that much,” she concludes while draining some grease from the bacon into a cup. “I see how it’s hard though, because it’s hard for me too. It’s hard for me to accept the fact that last night Mason killed someone just to gain strength. But then, don’t the hunters do the same? Oh, I don’t know. It’s so confusing. I think I find it easier to accept when I think about the big picture and not each and every life that’s being taken, you know? Like obviously the demons are doing humanity more good than harm in the long run. I get that, but it’s just…”
“Unfair,” I fill in. “Unfair that many people have to give their souls for the safety of others.”
She nods and smiles softly, without happiness. “Exactly.” She turns back to the stove. “But then I think about all the lives that I’ve taken. Demon lives, yes, but still. I can’t imagine taking any one of the demon’s lives on this island. They’ve all been kind to me and to Crispen even. They saved Crispen’s life and they’ve done so much for Mason, even after he killed so many of their kind.”
“I wouldn’t be too regretful, Aria. Not all demons are like the ones on this island,” I remind her hopefully to reassure her.
Terry mutters, “Not all, no, but some, the changelings you’ve killed just to harass your brother Aiden. They were friends, family even. They were good men.” Not helping Terry. I glare at him and he shrugs as if he doesn’t care if he hurts her feelings.
“You know, you’d think that after how many years of being on this planet around other people you’d have better people skills, Terry,” I evaluate. I am aware that I’m probably coming off a little rude. It’s not that Terry is a bad person because he’s not. He’s actually one of the best people that I know. It’s just that he could be a little more caring towards people’s feelings sometimes.
Terry grins. “And lie? For what? She should feel guilty for what she’s done.”
I give up and Aria remains silent.
Mason comes back to the house with a broken leg that needs to mend. Apparently Forrest gets a little competitive. Breakfast is ready anyways so Terry goes out to grab the rest of the men.
“How long does it take a broken leg to heal? Do you need a soul?” I ask Mason.
“Nah, it should heal in the next hour or so. I should have lots of energy left over from last night.”
Since he’s trying not to walk on his leg, I go and fix him up a plate of breakfast. He doesn’t eat much. He doesn’t care much for human food these days, so I end up eating most of what I’ve brought him myself. I can’t resist bacon.
Mason squeezes my hand in his and sits next to me on the couch so that our shoulders are pressed against each other’s.
“Well aren’t you two cute,” Aria observes, finishing up her own plate and placing it into the sink.
I catch Mason smiling. How long has he known he’s had feelings for me? How long have I known I’ve had feelings for him? Surely since before last night I just didn’t want to admit it to myself because of Aiden. Aiden. I’m supposed to try and smooth things over a with him a little today.
Mason’s thumb rubs small circles over the back of my hand casually.
Aria looks like she’s about to combust with pride. I have to look away from her, especially since my thoughts have just veered in Aiden’s direction.
“I’m going to go see if I can get ahold of Aiden and smooth things over with him,” I tell Mason and Aria. “I’ll just be down by the beach. I need to focus so I can’t stick around here when all the boys get back.”
Just as I say thi
s, the boys come bursting through the door laughing and joking around. Crispen is smiling genuinely like he’s had a great time with them. Aria looks content with this. I stand up, wondering what took them so long when Forrest calls to Aria, “Sorry, we had to finish the game! We couldn’t just quit in the middle of it! Not even for bacon.”
Aria smiles at him and I don’t miss the way her eyes wander from his eyes to his bare chest. Mason stiffens and I see he’s noticed this too. Does Aria like Forrest as much as he seems to like her?
“I’ll be back soon,” I tell Mason very quietly. He releases my hand reluctantly.
“I’m coming,” he informs me and stands on his sore leg.
“Your leg,” I remind him as if he might have forgotten.
He rolls his eyes. “It’ll heal even if I walk on it.”
Not what I was talking about. “Isn’t it sore?”
He nods. “Yeah, but it’s not bad. I’ve been through far worse pain.”
He’s right just last night he was in horrendous pain. I can’t imagine the amount of pain he’s suffered in all of his life.
We walk out the front door and I feel Terry’s skeptical eyes on our backs. When the door closes, I tune into the conversation going on inside the house. Forrest talks Aria’s ear off and Crispen asks Terry about the island and how he ended up owning it. Terry speaks up, interrupting everyone, “Where are they off to?”
Aria addresses him, “She’s going to try to get ahold of Aiden again like you wanted her to.”
Terry is quiet a moment. “Why is Mason going with her?”
“Moral support probably. They’ve been living together for weeks you know. He’s been helping her handle everything and adjust to life as a demon while also himself adjusting to his new life. I imagine they’ve become like brother and sister,” Aria says as if Terry should know this. She’s covering for us. Good, because I don’t know if I can trust Terry with Mason and I yet. I also should have assumed that keeping something from a very observant ancient demon wouldn’t be a piece of cake.
In a very low tone I whisper to Mason, “Terry’s already caught onto us.”
“Megan, I think he started assuming things before we got to this island. The man is perceptive.”
I don’t doubt it.
I try to help Mason take some of the weight off of his leg, but he refuses my help. We make it to the beach after a long, slow walk and I plunk down under the same tree I did yesterday.
“Before you do this, Megan, I need to know something,” Mason requests. “Was last night serious or were you just hurt from your fight with Aiden?”
I blink slowly, not comprehending what he’s asking me. “Huh?”
“Do you really have feelings for me? Serious feelings I mean. I’m just wondering because I really want to open up to you in ways I haven’t opened up in a long time, but I’m afraid that if I do you might just pick up and move on like you’ve already done with Crispen and Aiden. I need to know this is real and serious not some childish relation. I want something serious. It’s not easy for me to open up to people. I have a hard shell.”
Does he think that I’m just doing this for my own entertainment? I guess it’s not that terrible of an assumption to make considering my last two relationships. I don’t exactly have a good record. Unlike with Aiden or with Crispen, I can envision Mason and I having a future. “I’ve only really known you weeks, Mason, but yes, I’m very serious. More serious than I’ve ever been, but I do still have feelings towards Aiden. As for Crispen, I never saw him and I in a relationship. It wasn’t anything close to serious.” I realize that I have a habit of leaning on the person who’s there most for me. Am I doing the same thing with Mason? No. Mason is everything I loved most in Aiden plus everything I need in a partner. Mason is the one person who understands me most. Not only does he understand me but he cares and has the time to be with me.
“I get that. The part about you still having feelings for Aiden, but I guess what I’m asking is if in the chance that Aiden manages to snap out of the darkness, are you going to run back to him?”
I swallow hard as I think intensely about Aiden. Aiden is always going to be busy with the demons. The demons will always be his first priority. The castle is always going to be dangerous for me to live and I might not even get to return to him for decades. As someone so young, decades is a very long time. As much as I love Aiden, I’m confident that Mason and I can build something even stronger than what Aiden and I had.
“Aiden and I’s time has expired. As much as I love him, and I do love him, even if he did snap out of it, it wouldn’t work,” I decide confidently. “And Mason. I am serious about you. I really am. I’m more serious about you than anything in my life. That being said, I haven’t been sure of much, but I think you and I just need time to figure this out.”
He seems to agree, even relax a little.
I pull the small wooden bowl Landon gave me from my pocket and use the small knife I keep in my jeans to cut my palm a little bit. I let blood drip into the bowl as I begin saying the gibberish I was taught.
“Aiden?”
Nothing.
“Aiden, I need to speak to you.”
Nothing.
“Don’t ignore me, Aiden. We need to talk.”
Nothing.
“Aiden…” I trail off losing my words.
“Megan, I’ve dropped all charges on Forrest and I’ve called my men off searching for you. Crispen may do as he pleases. My final gift to you, my love. As you asked, I will discontinue speaking to you. Please, though, if you need anything, let me know. I am worried for your safety,” Aiden finally speaks. I think I hear pain in his voice. Pain. He's worried about my safety? Confusion stirs in me. Not long ago he didn’t give a damn about my safety and just wanted me by his side.
“Aiden, is that you?” I ask hopefully. Has he snapped out of it already?
There's no reply.
“Aiden?”
Nothing. Irritated, I decide that Aiden hasn't possibly snapped out of it because if he had he'd reply to me.
I open my eyes to find Mason staring at me calmly.
“How'd it go?” he asks, sounding hopeful.
I tell him what Aiden said and his brows furrow. We go tell the others. Landon goes back through the portal to see if the news is true and Aiden has called off the bounty on my head, Forrest’s, and Crispen’s. He returns hours later with the news that what Aiden said is true.
He couldn't speak to Aiden personally because he was in meetings all day.
Forrest and Terry return to hell with a story about rebels kidnapping them but they escaping.
I watch as Landon too returns to hell through the portal and then at night while Crispen, Aria, and Mason are speaking intensely about everything they remember of the alchemists and jotting it down for Landon in the living room, I sneak outside to the portal and manage to slip through it without any of them knowing it. Not that I'm not a free person. I mean technically I'm not doing anything really wrong, but it feels like I am because I know they would try to stop me if they found out I was going to try and speak to Aiden. Plus, Mason would be hurt because I told him that I'm done with Aiden.
I sneak through the halls of the castle, realizing that I've popped up through a closet in a dusty room that I don't recognize. I have no clue where I am which isn't good. I'm not sure where I was expecting to pop up. It's possible I didn't think this through much. The halls are empty, very empty. They're also silent. Strange.
I pass by a window and look out of it to find that I also don't recognize what's outside of the castle. I start wondering if I should turn back when a voice startles me from behind.
“Miss Megan, ma'am,” the thickly accented female voice says. I turn as a woman bows. I don't recognize her but she clearly knows me.
“Where am I?” I ask confused. “Which way to Aiden’s office?”
The woman hesitates. “It is down the hall a mile and to the left at the end. You must climb the stairs two s
tories there and then you'll recognize where you are I'm sure.” A mile? How big is this place? “I'm glad to see you alive and well after everything that's happened here today.”
What? I look at her again and realize that she looks sad. Her young face is dimpled with worry.
“What do you mean?” I ask her, not understanding.
“Have you only just arrived?” she wonders.
“Seconds ago,” I explain.
She grimaces. “A fifth rebel attack on the castle this morning. This time they got past the third line of guards. Eight royals from the castle killed and fifteen who were visiting. Many more are injured and almost sixty servants dead. Almost all of the castle’s guards have been slaughtered as well.”
An overwhelming amount of saliva is suddenly in my mouth as I begin to panic. “How long ago did this happen?”
“Only three hours ago,” she whispers. “Ma’am, sir Aiden is missing.” She sets down the towels she’s carrying and pulls something from her pocket. It’s Aiden’s necklace. The one I’ve never seen him take off. The one he told me his daughter made him years ago before she was killed.
“One of the guards found this in the courtyard. It’s the last place he was seen,” she says, offering it to me. “The pures of the castle have scattered in case of a second attack. You, too, should go now while you can.”
I take the necklace from her and tuck it safely into my pocket. “Why the hell was Aiden in the courtyard? Shouldn’t he have been in one of the safe rooms waiting the attack through while surrounded by every guard in this building?” I ask worriedly.
“Aiden was determined to fight for his people. He wouldn’t cower away in a room while others fought. He said it was cowardly to do so.”
I have to admit that this sounds like Aiden. The Aiden that isn’t influenced by darkness. I thank the girl for her help and follow her directions to Aiden’s office. From there, I can find my way to the courtyard. As I run around, I pass a few guards and servants who look to me as if I’m crazy for sticking around. Each one I pass I ask if they’ve seen Aiden. None of them have. I find it weird that no one kicks me out of the castle because Aiden threatened me in front of them all when we staged the break up. He said he’d kill me if he ever saw maybe again. If they haven’t kicked me out, is that a sign that Aiden has told them I am permitted here again?
Changeling (Black Petals Book 2) Page 15