The Return: (The Eternity Road Trilogy Book 2)

by Lana Melyan

  Eleanor’s throat tightened. She looked down. “I know. I loved her, too.” She took a sip from her cup and changed the subject. “There’s so much to do here. It’s impossible to keep this place in order alone. How did you do that?”

  “Oh, my dear, I didn’t do it alone. They all helped me when they were around. And when they weren’t, Samson hired one or two men to do the lawn and bushes, cut the trees, fix things. He also hired a couple of women every time I asked him to. They helped me to clean the rooms, the tapestries, to polish the silverware and all of the furniture. After the workers left, all they knew was that they did some work and got paid well for it, and I helped them forget the rest.”

  After tea, the two of them went to the garden and Eleanor put the flowers on the graves. The violets in front of the white marble and the daisies on the head of the fresh mound.

  “I already ordered the stone,” said Amelia. “It’ll be ready soon.”

  “Thank you,” said Eleanor quietly.

  Back in the castle, she went to Samson’s study. As she looked at the glass doors of the weapons cabinet and then at the floor, the image of Gabriella’s dead body flashed in front of her eyes, and her heart squeezed. She stepped to the desk and looked at Gabriella’s picture in the small wooden frame. Eleanor closed her eyes, remembering her last day in this room. Samson’s words, It would kill you echoed in her mind. But I’m back, as he promised, she thought.

  Eleanor opened the second drawer on the left side of the desk, as Riley had told her, and pulled out two journals with worn leather covers. She looked around one more time and went to Hanna’s bedroom.

  When she entered her and Craig's room, she put the journals and Hanna’s bracelet and ring on the bed. She had her bracelet on her arm, and Craig told her where he kept the ring.

  When she went to the dresser to get it, she heard footsteps. The footsteps were too heavy and measured to be Amelia’s. Eleanor turned around and saw Alec standing in the doorway.

  “Hi,” he said, grinning.

  Eleanor’s chest heaved with rage. “What the hell are you doing here?” she hissed at him.

  “I came to look at my new home,” he said in a calm voice, ignoring her reaction.

  “This will never be your home. But, of course, everybody is allowed to dream.”

  “Oh, I did. I’ve dreamed of seeing this castle since I was ten. Fray brought me here once, to show me the way. All I saw then were trees. But I kept coming, looking at trees, hoping one day I’d be able to cross that veil. And here I am.” He leaned on the door frame. “Would you like to show me around?”

  “You want a tour? Perfect. Let’s start with the garden. There are two graves there. We have you to thank for one of them, and for the other—your precious Fray.” She clenched her teeth. “Get out of here.”

  “I’m a Hunter now, and this castle is mine as much as it’s yours.”

  “You’re not a Hunter, you’re a killer. And just in case you didn’t notice, you are fighting on the wrong side. There’s no place for you in this castle.” The fury was choking Eleanor, but she remembered Riley’s warning and tried to cool down.

  “Eleanor, this is temporary.” Alec’s voice became soft and serious. “When this is all over . . .” He took a step forward. “Everything . . .”

  “Take one more step into this room,” said Eleanor in a low, menacing voice.

  Alec stopped. Standing with his legs shoulder-width apart, he put his hands in his pockets and straightened his back. “Sorry, I forgot my manners. This is your and Craig’s bedroom.” He frowned. “You think that means anything to me? Only a week ago you kissed me and you liked it.”

  “Don’t fool yourself.” Eleanor sniffed. “I didn’t know who I was. You know why I did it.”

  “It doesn’t matter why. It happened. You didn’t hate me. We were close.” He flashed forward, and before Eleanor could react, he locked his hands behind her back, pinning her arms to her sides. “I love you,” he whispered, his burning gray eyes looking deep into hers.

  In two seconds Eleanor thought of half a dozen ways to free herself, but instead of using them, she stared back at him and whispered, “Alec, let go of me.”

  Alec raised his eyes to the wall in front of him, where a portrait of Eleanor and Craig hung. His grip loosened. Eleanor pushed him aside and stepped away.

  “It means nothing,” he said mostly to himself, his eyes still on the portrait. He stepped to Eleanor and said, “I’ll see you soon.” Then he kissed her on the forehead and was gone.

  “What just happened?” muttered Eleanor. They all knew that Fray could show up at the castle at any time. But Alec’s appearance stunned her. She never thought about the things he just mentioned. He’d called the castle his home. Now she realized that the moment those transitioning vampires woke up, they’d be free to come here.

  She heard Amelia’s voice. “Eleanor. Eleanor, where are you?”

  “I’m here.” She ran downstairs.

  “Eleanor, who was that young man? How did he get here?” Amelia asked, astonished.

  “He’s new. Fray turned him. Amelia, he’s the one who killed Melinda. I’m afraid you’re not safe here anymore.”

  “That was him?” Amelia’s eyebrows jumped up. “So he has the same powers you have?”

  “Yes.”

  “My dear, you don’t have to worry about me. Samson’s powers are the only ones I can’t fight. Magic doesn’t work on him. But I’ll be able to protect myself from one Hunter.”

  “You don’t understand. The thing is, after those transitioning vampires wake up, they’ll be able to cross the veil.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” said Amelia, pondering. “But it’s good you told me. Even with your powers, vampires are vampires. They would be able to cross the veil, but not the castle’s threshold, at least not without Fray. Fray, of course, can invite them in. What I need to do is to put protective enchantments around the castle. It’ll warn me if someone shows up, and that’s good, because this man startled me. I wasn’t expecting to see new faces here. It will also buy me some time to see if I can do anything against Fray, maybe somehow block his invitations.”

  “I still think it would be better for you to leave the castle,” Eleanor said.

  “My dear, I’m here to take care of it and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. This castle is my home. I’m not leaving it.” She smiled kindly, took Eleanor’s hand, and patted it with hers. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

  Alec went to his car, parked just before the veil. He got in but took a long moment before he started the engine. He was overloaded with emotions, and he needed to sort them out.

  The castle was much more than he imagined. Only now did he understand the longing in Fray’s eyes every time he talked about it. The moment Alec crossed the veil, something went through him, and he felt his powers. When he passed the large wooden doors of the castle, he felt a connection to the place. Despite the fact that the people who lived there hated him, and he was, indeed, fighting on the wrong side, he felt like he belonged there. It was like coming home. Seeing and entering the castle made him a part of something big, something old, something powerful. It made him part of the legend.

  The other overwhelming sensation came from entering Eleanor’s bedroom. He was proud of himself for the way he handled it. He kept his emotions under control, even though his heart was screaming from satisfaction. The glory of it wasn’t the surprised expression on Eleanor’s face, but letting her know he could come there whenever he wanted. Alec felt so close to her now. The castle was the place where she had lived her previous life, and being able to go there would help him understand her, to know her better, to learn her history. But it hadn’t take long before his first, painful lesson.

  It was probably Craig’s absence that made Alec constantly forget about his existence. Seeing the portrait didn’t just remind him that Craig was real. Looking at that beautiful piece of art, Craig and Eleanor standing together in ol
d-fashioned clothes, stunned him with its truth. The history of their life and love poured out of it, opening Alec’s eyes, showing him what he was battling against.

  It doesn’t mean I can’t win, he told himself. I’ll find a way.

  “Did you bring it?” Fray asked the moment Alec opened the front door.

  “What?” asked Alec, walking into the living room.

  Fray turned from where he stood in front of the window. “What did I send you there for? Craig’s blood. Did you bring it?”

  “Oh, that,” said Alec, whose head was still busy with thoughts of Eleanor. “No. I looked everywhere you told me to, but the vials weren’t there: not his, not anybody's.”

  “Of course they weren’t,” grumbled Fray under his breath. “He isn’t an idiot; he knew I could use their blood for a location spell.” He looked at Alec from under his brows. “But we had to check.” He turned to the window again.

  Alec knew Fray was angry, mostly with himself. He knew that, no matter what Fray tried, he wouldn’t be able to find Samson. After the fight at Eleanor’s old house, they all fled: the vampires ran for their lives, and Fray tried to get the Book as far away as possible. But to Fray’s surprise, nobody followed them. Only now did Fray realize that Samson wanted them to leave so nobody would track him and Craig.

  “Why did she go there?” asked Fray.

  “For some old journals,” said Alec grimly. “There was also one of those Hunter bracelets. She wears hers; this one was probably for someone else. Where’s yours?”

  “Why? There’s no use for them now. We have phones.”

  “I want one. As a symbol that I’m one of you now,” said Alec, pacing up and down the room with his hands on his hips.

  “Have you ever seen me wearing it?” Fray raised one eyebrow. “That would make you one of them, not one of us.”

  “You’re still wearing the ring.”

  “It’s different. I’ve worn it for almost a thousand years, and I believe it’s much older than that. It’s different than others, special, like me, and that’s what it symbolizes.”

  “I want one,” insisted Alec.

  Fray narrowed his eyes. “What happened there? You seem a little off. Besides, you didn’t say anything about the castle. Did you like it?”

  “It’s because you started with the wrong question. It was my first time there, and all you care about is the information.”

  “So, did you feel it?”

  “I felt everything.” Alec stopped and threw a glance at Fray. “How could you give it up?”

  “I didn’t give it up,” Fray shouted suddenly. “I left because I hated them all. But it’s my home, and I’ll get it back.”

  “Good,” said Alec, not paying attention to Fray’s change of mood. “So what about the bracelet?”

  Fray glared at him. “Samson is the only one who has them.”

  “Hmm.” Alec frowned. “Then you can give me yours.”

  “This is about her, isn’t it? Do you realize what we are up to? We’re going to kill all of them, including the man she loves, and you expect her to forgive you for that? She’s a Hunter, for God’s sake. She’ll try to kill you at any cost.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. She liked me. I almost had her. I just needed a few more weeks.”

  “Alec, she isn’t the only woman on this planet,” said Fray, taking a step toward him. “You can have any girl you want.”

  “Those girls, with their boring, mundane lives, never attracted me. She’s from the old Hunter’s family, she died and came back. She’s a mystery, she’s unique. There’s no one like her, and never will be. You know that,” said Alec, gazing at Fray. “I loved her when she was Amanda, and now she’s become Eleanor, the woman who was my unattainable dream from the day you told me about her. I’m not giving up. I’m aware of the obstacles, but all I need is time.”

  19

  When Eleanor returned, it was almost dark. She walked into the living room and saw a young woman with light-chocolate skin and straight black hair sitting on the couch next to Riley.

  Eleanor glanced at him, frankly surprised. I suppose our conversation was fruitful, she thought. “Hello,” she said, smiling.

  Guessing her thoughts, Riley rolled his eyes. “Eleanor, this is Kizzy. The witch,” he said, emphasizing the last word.

  “Oh, sorry, I’m a little . . . I forgot.”

  “So you’re her?” said Kizzy with a crooked smile. “The legendary Eleanor? Such an honor.”

  “All Hunters are part of the legend,” said Eleanor, a little uncomfortable.

  “But you’re the only one who died and came back to life,” said Kizzy, leaning back on the cushions.

  “Yeah, whatever,” said Eleanor.

  “Did you bring my bracelet?” asked Hanna, coming in from the kitchen.

  Eleanor opened her handbag, pulled out Hanna’s bracelet and the ring, and handed them over.

  Hanna put them on. “I missed these,” she said nostalgically, pressing the ring to her coin, then to Eleanor’s. The green light shone first from coin number seven, then eighth on Eleanor’s and Riley’s bracelets.

  “We have a problem,” said Eleanor, dropping on the sofa across from Riley and Kizzy,

  “What is it?” asked Riley, looking wary.

  “Alec was at the castle.”

  “You’re joking,” said Hanna, coming forward.

  “You know what that means, right? I couldn’t convince Amelia to leave,” said Eleanor. She paused. “I don’t understand. Alec knew I was there. How?”

  “He’s probably been following you all this time,” said Riley.

  “I wasn’t followed. So how did he know where I was?”

  “Maybe they did a locator spell,” suggested Kizzy.

  “No. I see it now,” said Hanna, musing. “It wasn’t a spell; it was Debra.”

  “Huh?” Eleanor stared at her.

  “After you called me, she acted kinda anxious. She fidgeted with her phone. Then she said she had to go. Yeah.” Hanna squinted. “Apparently, she was trying to send a message, but she changed her mind because I was still there.”

  “That’s it,” said Eleanor. “She’s crazy about Alec, she’ll do anything for him. She probably organized that graduation party because he told her to.”

  “After all my warnings,” groaned Hanna. “Mark my words—she’ll end up like Nicole.”

  The front door opened, and Ruben and Kimberly walked in.

  “Hi,” said Ruben, his surprised look stopping on Kizzy.

  “Hi,” said Kizzy with a broad smile.

  “This is Kizzy, the witch. And this is Ruben and Kimberly,” said Riley, introducing them to each other.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” said Kizzy, her eyes fixed at Ruben’s.

  “Well, it’s nice to meet you, too,” said Ruben drily, looking away.

  “I never heard about a Hunter with the name Kimberly,” said Kizzy, leaning forward and running her eyes from Kimberly’s head to her toes.

  “She’s not a Hunter,” said Ruben. “She’s my girlfriend.”

  “Oh.” Kizzy bit her lower lip and leaned back again. She threw one leg over the other, and her short skirt jumped even higher.

  “How’s Luke?” asked Eleanor.

  “He’s okay,” said Kimberly, sitting next to her. “Ruben and I tried to distract him. We went out for ice cream, took him to a park.”

  “I think now is a good time to put a protection spell around your house, while David and Luke are staying at the hotel.” Eleanor turned to Kizzy. “Are you up for this?”

  “Umm, sure.” Kizzy shrugged. “If she’s in danger.”

  Something in Kizzy’s behavior displeased Eleanor. It was obvious she was really excited to meet the Hunters, but there was also something else. She wouldn’t take her eyes off Ruben.

  “No,” said Ruben. “There’s no point.”

  “What do you mean ‘no point’?” asked Hanna.

  “David hired people to cl
ean up the house, then he and Luke are leaving,” said Kimberly. “They’re going to stay with David’s mother. David says it’ll be better for Luke.” Kimberly sighed. “I agree. I don’t want Luke to go back to that house right now. A protection spell is not going to stop Fray or Alec.”

  “What about the funeral?” asked Eleanor.

  “They’ll come back for that. The police said they want to keep the body for a few days. They’re still working on the case and want to examine all three bodies to—” Kimberly swallowed. “So there’s nothing we can do right now. David said he’ll keep me informed.”

  “Did he even offer for you to go with them?” asked Hanna indignantly.

  Kimberly shook her head. “He said I should go to my mom’s cousin’s for a while.” She shrugged. “I don’t even know what she looks like.”

  “And you don’t need to find out,” said Ruben. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

  Eleanor read a slight disappointment on Kizzy’s face.

  “Kimberly.” Eleanor took her hand. “I know that in times like these, you might want to be with people who—”

  But Kimberly interrupted her. “I don’t have such people. There’s only Luke, and he’s just a kid.”

  “Right now there is no safer place for you than here, with us,” said Eleanor, giving Kimberly a one-armed hug.

  After a short moment of silence, Riley stood up. “Eleanor, you and Kizzy should go to your place. It’s better to do the spell before your father gets back from work.”

  “Right, let’s do this,” said Eleanor, getting up. “Then maybe I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”