“Why did you come back, Cheyenne?” Jahlem asked quietly. “You could’ve stayed away.”
I kept my eyes closed, not wanting to see their gaze. Destiny kept bringing me back. Regardless of what I thought, or where I thought I should be, this was where I was, and this was where I’d stay until I could end it.
“I came back for you,” I replied, knowing it was the truth. I’d come back for the entire Timeless race, whether I wanted to or not.
Darrien’s hand touched mine. “Thank you,” he said, but the tone in his voice told me his real feelings. They wished I’d stayed away from the nightmare that was to come.
Another set of warm fingers grasped mine.
“We’re more than just your protectors, Cheyenne,” Jahlem said. “We’d willingly sacrifice ourselves for you.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but then didn’t reply. I didn’t want them to sacrifice anything. They’d given more than enough over the years with their forced servitude to Marcus. This was my destiny, not theirs. However, any help they could provide I’d willingly take.
I opened my eyes, as my mind began to whirl. Shad’s words about my mother’s journals lingered in my mind.
“My mother’s journals, where are they?”
Jahlem looked down, fiddling with the ice pack. Darrien sighed.
“Marcus burned them,” Darrien said.
My heart sank.
“All of them?” I’d only found pieces. Surely she would’ve written more. “Would she have hidden them?”
“He found and destroyed all that we’re aware of, Cheyenne,” Jahlem replied. “After you left, he found the pages in your room. He had us tear the place apart searching for any others.”
“We found some,” Darrien said and lowered his head. “We read what she wrote, but we found nothing of importance in the other copies.”
I stared at the ceiling. Any hope I had of finding more in my mother’s words was gone. Marcus had seen to it that they were destroyed. I truly was on my own.
My mind wandered to Colt, the misery he must be in with Daniel now gone, the misery in knowing I was the one who killed him. Tears misted in my eyes. My Daniel, the only brother I’d ever had, had been destroyed by the one he’d stood beside faithfully.
What a total and utter disappointment I must’ve been in Dex and Lilly’s eyes as well. The daughter they’d hoped they found was nothing more than a cold-blooded murderer. They’d have been better off not knowing me, like my parents had planned all along.
And Callon…would he return now? Would he reunite with his family so they could fight against Marcus? Fight against me? Regardless of the words I’d spoken to him, to everyone, they’d forever see me as a traitor. Following in the footsteps of my mother. But that was the choice I’d made, or rather the choice that had been made for me.
I needed to push all those feelings aside. I was beneath the enemy’s roof; surely there were things I could learn, weaknesses to be found and strengths to be toppled. The journals were gone, but I had Jahlem and Darrien. They’d lived under Marcus’s tyranny for a long time. I was sure they were more than ready to make a difference in the long, drawn-out war.
But right now, the most important thing I needed to do was earn Marcus’s trust. He needed to believe I’d returned for him. He needed me, but I was unsure exactly why. He had my powers, had demonstrated quite easily he could control them. Why bring me back here other than to torment me…unless I was to be a spectacle. A trophy to be paraded in front of Callon.
I closed my eyes as weariness threatened to overtake me. I hadn’t slept in a while, and with Jahlem and Darrien here, I felt a small sense of peace. I’d rest, then concentrate on why I’d returned in the first place.
“Cheyenne.” A hand gently shook my shoulder. “Cheyenne, you need to get ready for dinner.”
I blinked and looked up into caramel eyes.
“You haven’t much time,” Jahlem said, reaching for my arm, almost panicked. “Don’t make him wait.”
I sat up. An ice pack fell to the ground, and I took in my surroundings. The room was dark, only a faint light shining through the bathroom door. Realization came quickly. I was at Marcus’s compound. This hadn’t been a dream.
I made for the closet. If dinner was at eight, I couldn’t wear what I had on. I stopped in my tracks, and a shiver escaped me.
A formerly opulent chandelier hung askew in the closet, the bulbs flickering and exposing the shattered pieces. Clothes lay strewn about, some ripped to shreds, others torn in half. Shoes had been scattered from one side to the other. Marcus had gone to town after I departed. The room still vibrated with his anger and power.
I glanced down at my clothes. This was going to have to work. I bent and dug through the rubble, searching for a matching pair of shoes. I managed to dig up a pair of dark brown leather boots, and slid them on.
Finding a brush, I combed through my matted blond locks and pulled them back into a loose bun. I dug through the drawers, which surprisingly enough Marcus hadn’t touched, and found some makeup. He’d see through this ruse, no doubt, but I had to try something. I wasn’t going to let everyone down again.
“You ready?” A knock came on the bathroom door.
I hurried over and opened it. Darrien was waiting just outside. He looked me over and nodded. I didn’t need to explain to him what I was doing. They just needed to play their part.
“Let’s go,” Darrien said.
I followed him out of the room and then down the hall, stopping at the top of the stairs to calm my nerves. I was going to be playing a very dangerous game, one where I could get burned at any moment.
Darrien looked back at me, almost as if he was unsure I should even see Marcus, but I inhaled and took the steps slowly. We paused at the bottom of the stairs. Darrien held his hand up for me to wait. He disappeared around the corner into the sitting room.
I stared at the large French doors. Lights in the distance outlined the stables, and also revealed the new snowfall. My mind wandered to Shad. Regardless of his role in all of this, I didn’t want to see him die. If he’d stayed, it would’ve turned out like my dream. Marcus would have used me to end his life…I could only hope he’d gotten away. I could only hope he’d see it as a second chance. No one deserved to die like that.
Thoughts of death made me think of Daniel. Tears misted near the surface, and I stared down at the marble floor, trying to clear my thoughts. Marcus would only see my tears as weakness, and I’d been weak enough for everyone.
“This way,” Darrien said. He was waiting at the entry. His fingers grasped my arm, stopping me, his gaze unsure. “Are you sure you want to do this now, Cheyenne? I could make an excuse.”
Be strong, I told myself. I had to do this. I shook my head and squeezed his fingers, assuring him it was okay.
I rounded the corner to find Marcus staring out the back windows that lined the sitting room. A dim lamp was lit in the corner, and a fire was crackling in the fireplace. Darrien nodded and disappeared from sight.
Marcus remained perfectly still, watching the snowfall from the night sky. His posture was relaxed, with his hands in his pockets. He wore a dark grey sweater and jeans, and his hair had been combed back.
A brown leather sofa with two side chairs faced each other. An oversized wooden coffee table lined with black metal sat between them, with a red rug beneath it. The dark furniture and walls seemed to make the space smaller, almost suffocating. I stepped closer to the sofa, resting my hand on the cold upholstry.
“Did you rest well?” Marcus asked quietly, not turning around.
“Somewhat,” I replied.
The fire snapped loudly and I jumped. I stared at the flames, remembering I was the one who’d administered the lethal burn to Daniel. The desperation in his eyes came to the forefront, and I pressed mine closed for a moment.
“Having regrets?” Marcus whispered in my ear, his fingers wrapping around my arm.
My eyes shot open. He was standing in fro
nt of me, his blue eyes searching. However, there was no anger or resentment, only curiosity. He’d read my thoughts?
“About?” I replied.
His lips twitched, and he tugged me forward, gesturing towards the couch. I sank into the leather, but perched close to the edge. Marcus sat beside me, his arm coming around me to rest across the seat back. I couldn’t afford to relax, but he lounged comfortably.
He didn’t speak, but instead studied me. I returned the favor. The man who sat beside me was different from the man who’d greeted me this morning. Gone was the icy coldness, and gone was the ragged beard. In its place were shaven cheeks, and something different. It wasn’t warmth, but something close to it.
It was as if I was looking into Matt’s eyes. Matt who’d come and befriended me while I was alone. Matt who seemed concerned about me, the man who’d genuinely wanted to make me happy.
No, Matt didn’t exist. He never had. Matt had always been a disguise to trick me into thinking I was safe. Was this what he was up to? He wanted me to have the false illusion that he was harmless? My skin prickled. No, Marcus could never be harmless—ever.
He made no apologies for his earlier behavior, nor for the condition of my room. Not that I expected it, but his eyes spoke of remorse over his actions.
He reached forward, and I leaned back. He paused.
“I’m not going to harm you, my angel,” he said quietly, and moved his hand to my cheek, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
His fingers lingered on my neck, and a shiver ran down my spine.
“It’s a shame, really,” he said. “I had so much planned for us, our future.”
I knew what his plans were; he’d whispered them in my ears. He wanted to rule the Timeless and humans alike, with me by his side—but why? Or was his plan to kill me now? No, he could’ve already done that, many times, and yet he hadn’t.
“We still have a future,” I said, cringing inside.
“Perhaps.”
The clang of dishes on a tray caused me to look away. Marcus sat back and motioned for a light-haired boy to set the tray down on the table. The young man turned and departed without making eye contact. Marcus placed a plate covered in a silver dome in front of me, and another in front of himself. The blond boy returned briefly with a bottle of Merlot and two glasses, and then disappeared again.
Marcus poured the Merlot into the stemware and placed a glass before himself and me. He then removed the silver domes, revealing our dinner. Two rosemary crusted lamb chops sat atop wild rice. A rich dark glaze circled the plate.
He pulled two white napkins from the tray, and set one on my lap, as well as his own.
“Bon appetite,” he said and proceeded to eat his meal.
I picked at my meal, my appetite not present.
What game was he playing? One moment he was intent on making sure everyone in his compound knew I’d returned and submitted to him, and the next he was trying to wine and dine me? He was a master at this game, and I was still the student.
He finished his meal, and pushed our plates away. He handed me my glass of Merlot, and sat back in his seat, crossing his legs and swirling his wine.
“It mixes oxygen into the wine and enhances the flavor,” he said, as if I’d questioned his behavior. “You should try it.” He took a sip from his glass.
I stared down at the stemware in my fingertips; nothing was going to enhance tonight or any future nights. But I did as he asked and swirled the wine.
“Now take a sip,” he said.
I again did as he asked, and sipped the red wine. My eye twitched as the flavor settled in my mouth. Licorice, tar, and tobacco lingered on my tongue, and I forced it down.
“It’s a full bodied wine, fleshy, as this particular bottle was from a cold climate.”
I couldn’t have cared less where it came from, and set the glass down.
“It’s an acquired taste, not unlike me,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.
He set his glass on the table and leaned closer, stopping an inch from my face. His heavy breath smelled of currants and licorice from the wine. I didn’t move, but held my ground. I couldn’t show fear.
He inched closer, his lips just above mine.
“Your family ruined our wedding night, my angel,” he said, and placed a kiss on the corner of my mouth. “I think that should be rectified right away…”
I fought the urge to shove him away. My heart began to race.
The crash of a door slammed open, and heavy footsteps made him draw back. He stood facing me, his eyes turning dark.
“Marcus,” a dark figure said, remaining in the hall. He proceeded to speak French, and then footsteps echoed on the marble.
Marcus took a breath and headed for the hall. Silence fell.
I waited till I heard the door open and close, and then bolted for my room. I knew he’d play this card. I just hadn’t expected it so soon. I didn’t stop until I was safe in my room, where I collapsed on the dilapidated velvet couch.
I’d been lucky this time, lucky that he’d been distracted. I pressed my hands to my forehead. I knew he’d try again. I needed to be ready to deflect him if necessary.
Chapter 15
I paced the cold marble floor in my bedroom, unsure of what my next step should be. I’d been lucky this evening after Marcus’s comment of a ruined wedding night, lucky to have something distract him from me. How was I going to keep him at bay? Using my powers wouldn’t work, as he’d already quite easily demonstrated he could control me. I hadn’t a clue what to do.
My bedroom door opened and I tensed. Surely Marcus wouldn’t…my heart began to race. To my relief, it was Darrien and Jahlem who passed over the threshold, and into the light streaming from the bathroom into the bedroom. I took a small breath. Their arms were loaded with wood.
“We brought firewood,” Darrien said.
“Thank you.” I helped them stack it by the fireplace. Jahlem began arranging the wood to start a fire.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Obviously he’d seen the panic in my eyes earlier. I nodded, but I was only okay because they were here.
Jahlem reached for a match when I stopped him. He looked at me strangely when I rubbed my hands together, and then flicked my fingers at the dry wood. The warmth coursed through me as the flame began to take hold. Darrien knelt beside me, and I showed them my palms with the blue flame still pulsing.
“Something new I picked up,” I said, and then closed my palms as my mind wandered to Daniel again. The fire dispersed. Funny that I now seemed to have complete control of the element here, but then again I knew why.
“I only knew one other who could do this,” Darrien said quietly. “It was long ago.”
I looked up into hazel eyes.
“Who?” I asked.
“Jasalyn,” he replied.
“So it was true…” I whispered. “Dex and Maes guessed it came from my Grandmother, but they weren’t sure.” I stared at him. “You saw this firsthand?”
“Yes.”
I sat back on my knees, staring at the fire. There was so much I didn’t understand.
“But why now? Why would it show up now, and not when I first turned Timeless like my other powers?” I asked.
Jahlem settled in beside me.
“There are powers, inherent powers, that sometimes need what we’d call a jump start to start working,” Jahlem explained. “Your father married Sahara, but her powers were minor compared to his. This element never manifested itself in him because she wasn’t strong enough to ignite it.”
“But I married Marcus,” I said, thinking over his words. “He was more than powerful enough to jump start this for me.”
“More than powerful enough for many other things too, Cheyenne,” Darrien added. I turned to face him.
“What do you mean?”
“There are things hidden. Sometimes they have to be coaxed to the forefront. Given time and training, you have the potential to
become most powerful.”
It suddenly all made sense.
“Marcus wants me here because he knows this.”
They didn’t answer, which only confirmed it. He wanted me here to coax the powers out, to control me.
“But wouldn’t he have the same powers? We united in marriage, united in powers.”
“Yes, but it’s not like you think,” Darrien replied.
“I don’t understand,” I told him.
“You united powers, but they will remain solely yours unless you share them with him.”
“Wait…what?”
“He can’t take your Kvech powers. You can only give them to him of your own will,” Jahlem answered.
“But he has the Consilador’s powers. He took them.”
“He only received them because they were in the braid when you married.”
“But mine were in the braid as well.”
“And his joined yours, Cheyenne, but only temporarily,” Jahlem replied. “Now he has his, and you have yours, unless you give them to him.”
I stared at them. Why hadn’t my family told me this? Once again they had neglected to point out a piece of important information…or was it because I hadn’t asked? So much had gone on after marrying Marcus. Had they assumed Callon had already told me about how this worked? Should he have told me? Or had he been waiting till after our wedding to tell me?
“So how would someone give them to another?” I asked, wishing once more that I had the knowledge that would help me in my quest to defeat Marcus.
“We’re not sure,” Jahlem replied.
My brow rose.
“This is a Kvech thing. Other Timeless don’t typically deal with the transfer of powers,” Darrien explained.
“It’s only a Kvech thing?” I repeated. “Great, I should’ve known.”
“The Kvech are our ruling clan for a reason,” Jahlem said. “If they were to marry and unite their powers, giving their partner full access, it could be disastrous. No one person was meant to have all the clans’ power. It would cause them to go mad.”
Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four Page 20