by Kate Sweeney
As Grayson made the introductions, both nuns looked taken aback at the word inspector. Megan enjoyed the childish sense of “gotcha” when both nuns looked decided guilty. The police had that effect on some people.
With both nuns seated, Megan leaned against the desk, facing them. “Grayson and Corky have told me an incredible story, which I’m sure you know, so I won’t go into any more detail.” She looked at Sister Gabriel. “She also told me of how you became a nun, Sister. You’ve had no contact with your daughter or this Phelan Tynan in all these years? Not one letter, one phone call. You have absolutely no idea where they are or who your daughter is?”
“No, Inspector,” Sister Gabriel said. “On all counts.”
“And you saw Mr. Tynan change into a wolf?”
“Yes.” Sister Gabriel went on before Megan could ask, “And no, I was not imagining it. I was not drinking or doing any type of hallucinogen. I was cognizant of what I was doing and where I was. I may have been sixteen, but I know what I saw.”
“I do not doubt you, Sister. But you must understand I’m trying to make sense—”
“Make sense?” Sister Gabriel asked. She offered a sad smile. “I wish you luck in your endeavor.”
Sister Michael rose. “Will that be all, Inspector?”
“Yes, thank you,” Megan said; she watched both nuns as they walked out of the room. “You believe them?”
“What’s not to believe?” Corky asked.
“I had a thought perhaps they knew more than they were letting on, but I don’t know,” Grayson said. “My gut tells me they’re telling the truth.”
Megan nodded but said nothing.
“What next?” Corky asked.
“Where is Dr. Sebastian?” she asked.
Corky glanced at Grayson. “We’re not sure where she is,” Grayson said.
“And why is that?” Megan looked Grayson in the eyes. “What is her business in all this?”
Corky opened his mouth, then shut it. Megan waited patiently.
“She’s a colleague of mine. We’re working on something together. She’s not…”
“You’re lying, Grayson. I can tell.”
Grayson pinched the bridge of her nose. “Please trust me on this for now.”
“Why should I?” she asked, clearly annoyed.
“I have no good reason why you should.”
Megan heard the tone of resignation; she felt a wave of compassion for Grayson MacCarthaigh. “Fine. What about this Elinora? Or should I trust you on this, as well?”
“It would be helpful if you did.”
“Extremely,” Corky added with a weak smile.
Megan glared at both of them. “You two are really irritating me now.”
“Do not be irritated, Inspector Gaffney. I am Elinora.”
Megan whirled around to see an absolutely gorgeous woman standing in the doorway. She was tall with silky long dark hair and dark eyes. Her olive-colored complexion was flawless.
Megan was aware of two things: she was staring and Grayson MacCarthaigh was groaning.
Chapter 26
“Go away,” Grayson said through clenched teeth as Elinora ignored her. All she needed now was Sebastian to make an appearance. She sincerely hoped the vampire ran out of sun juice and was sleeping in some dark cave.
“Everything they told you is true,” Elinora said as she walked into the room. She looked at Megan, who was rubbing her temples. “What is the matter?”
“Nothing. Just looking for the rabbit hole.”
“I realize none of it makes sense,” Elinora said.
“True,” Megan said. “But it’s consistent. That’s a plus.”
“You have a sense of humor. This will serve you well.” Elinora looked at Grayson. “Because the liar’s moon is at hand. It will be the end and the beginning tonight.”
Grayson felt the chill run down her spine. Corky sat behind his desk. “We haven’t figured out the entire prophecy yet.”
“How much do we have?” Neala asked.
Megan joined them at the desk. Corky shuffled through his pages. “Let me read the whole thing first.”
He put on his glasses and started:
In the shadow of the crescent,
A mark is cloaked unseen.
The traitor’s song eclipse the moon,
Blackheart betrays the queen.
One emerges from the night,
At the behest of ancient call
A star falls from a distant realm,
Uniting and revealing all.
Midnight calls upon the light
Uniting moon and stars and trees
To see with eyes no longer veiled
Embrace the path of destiny.
Corky sat back. “We know, or think, that the traitor is Phelan’s daughter, who is marked with the rune sign. We know this because Sister Gabriel told us she saw this exact birthmark on her daughter before they took the child away. And whoever this woman is betrays the queen, but we’re not sure who the queen is. I suspect it’s Grayson, but I’m not totally sold on that idea.”
Grayson pointed to the second stanza. “I had a dream, or visitation, from my grandmother last night. She told me that Sebastian is the one from the night, called on by Tatiana. And Elinora is the star called on by Danu, and she would reveal everything. But Elinora said she had told me too much already. If she goes further, it will affect my destiny.”
“When did this happen?” Neala asked.
“The other day. We were talking about my new abilities and how I have to respect them and accept them as the gift they are.” Grayson noticed Corky had been intently reading. “What is it, Corky?”
“The last stanza,” Corky said. “Midnight calls upon the light.” He looked up at Grayson. “Midnight is Sebastian. The light is you, Grayson. It’s what Tatiana said to Sebastian, that you are both connected. The next line. Uniting moon and stars and trees. The moon is Sebastian, the stars refer to Elinora.”
“But what are the trees?” Neala asked.
“If you remember, the druids or ancient ones were often referred to as trees,” Corky said. “That’s you, Grayson. It will all come together, and ‘to see with eyes no longer veiled.’ You will see who the traitor is. And embrace your destiny.”
“I think you’re right,” Grayson said.
“Am I the only one who sees we’re missing an immortal?” Neala asked.
Grayson and Megan looked around. Elinora was indeed missing.
“Why would she leave?” Neala asked. “If she’s part of this and is supposed to reveal all, why not stick around?”
“I agree,” Megan said. “It’s the first logical thing I’ve heard. Did you happen to check if this Elinora was marked?”
Grayson shook her head. “It never occurred to me.”
Megan gave her an incredulous look. “You thought I was Phelan’s daughter, but you just accept this woman, or whatever she is, on face value? You’re a detective.” Megan headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Corky asked.
“To find your immortal, if that’s what she is,” Megan said over her shoulder. “All of you stay put.”
Grayson slowly sat down. “She’s right. Neala’s right. I believed Elinora. I-I didn’t check to see. I…” She looked up at Corky, who was frowning.
Neala knelt in front of her. “Grayson, don’t blame yourself. My God, she had everyone convinced.” She chuckled sadly. “It was Sebastian I didn’t trust, for heaven’s sake. You’ve had so much on your mind. Right, Corky?”
Corky looked up from his reading. “Right. No, wrong. Well, right that Grayson has so much on her mind, but wrong in that I don’t think Elinora is…” He stopped and scratched his head. “Something’s not adding up here.”
Grayson was barely listening to him. Suddenly, she felt inept and useless. Megan Gaffney had taken over. Elinora’s disappearance was now suspect, and Sebastian was nowhere to be found. “I feel like it’s all unraveling, and I have no control ov
er it. What the fuck is the point of these abilities I’m supposed to have?”
“How is Inspector Gaffney supposed to find Elinora?” Corky asked.
Grayson sprang to her feet. “She’s not. Maybe Elinora is leading her away from us…” She ran out of the room. “You two stay here if she comes back.”
“Gray, where are you goin’?” Corky called after her.
“I don’t know, but Megan couldn’t have gone far.”
Grayson ran through the courtyard, nearly running over Sister Gabriel. “Goodness, where are you going?”
“Did you see Inspector Gaffney, Sister?”
“Yes. She was headed toward Dungarin.”
“Thank you, please stay in the monastery,” Grayson pleaded.
Sister Gabriel held on to Grayson’s sleeve. “What has happened?”
“I can’t go into it now, please.” Grayson gently pulled her arm away and ran down the path away from the monastery.
She stood in the open green field, turning in all directions. “Where the fuck is she?” Grayson asked.
She must have been searching for at least an hour. She looked to the west; the sun had all but disappeared on the Atlantic horizon. Completely exhausted, Grayson sat on the stone wall. “God, what’s happening? Nothing is making sense here.”
Suddenly, she heard her grandmother’s voice, as she did the night before. “He has help. He will never do anything alone. You know who it is. Use your logic now. When the time comes, use the knowing.”
“My logic tells me it is not Elinora,” Grayson insisted, running her fingers through her hair. In the twilight, she looked skyward. The first of the evening stars had just started to show. Soon the moon would rise. “Logic, logic, MacCarthaigh.”
“Grayson!”
She whirled around to see Neala running down the path. She stopped short. “There you are. We’ve been looking all over. Did ya find her?”
“No, damn it. No sign of Megan or Elinora or fricking Sebastian. Damn it,” she yelled into the night. “Where’s Corky?”
“I left him at the monastery. He was going over something, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I was so worried about you.”
As Neala started in Grayson’s direction, Megan called out to them. “Stay where you are.”
Neala stopped. “There you are. Where have ya been? Did you find Elinora?”
“Yes. Dr. Rourke, please stand still.”
Grayson looked at Megan. “What are you doing?”
Megan pulled her revolver and held it at her side. “Everyone stay calm.”
“Grayson, it’s her. She’s the one,” Neala said frantically.
“She can’t be, Neala,” Grayson said, still looking at Megan. “What’s going on, Megan?”
“Elinora is not Phelan’s daughter. She has no mark on her,” Megan said.
“Grayson,” Neala said in a worried voice.
“It’s okay, Neala,” Grayson said. “Okay, so it’s not Elinora.”
Megan inched her way toward Neala; Grayson still watched her. “Megan, what are you doing?”
“Grayson, please,” Neala said, nearly crying.
“Megan,” Grayson said. “Talk to me.”
“Move away, Dr. Rourke,” Megan said, ignoring Grayson. “Just move away.”
All three heard Corky calling them as he ran toward them. Grayson never took her gaze off Megan, who watched Neala like a hawk.
Corky held the book in his hand. Grayson tore her gaze from Megan to Corky. “What’s up, Corky?” She tried to hold down her own panic. So far, Megan still had the revolver at her side.
Corky looked as though he wanted to cry. His hand shook as he held his book open to a certain page. “I-I hope to God I’m wrong.”
“Corky, what’s wrong?” Neala asked. “Somebody do something!”
“I am,” Corky said in a sad voice. He then started to speak, but Grayson heard Latin when he spoke. He spoke so fast, Grayson could hardly keep up. It sounded like some kind of chanting. She heard the word unlock.
It was then Neala backed up, frantically looking from Grayson to Corky when Corky finished. Grayson watched Corky, who closed the book; he looked so despondent, it confused Grayson.
Neala started to run for Grayson. “Grayson, what’s going on?” she cried out.
“Stop!” Corky yelled, putting his hand up.
Megan raised her gun and pointed it at Neala. “Stop now, Dr. Rourke.”
Neala flew into Grayson’s arms, crying as she clung to her. “Neala, what’s…?” Grayson winced in pain as the electric shock flew through her left hand and up her arm. It was nearly paralyzing. Her hand rested on Neala’s hip and the small of her back as she held her. Through the intense pain, Grayson held Neala at arm’s length. The visions slammed through her brain, causing Grayson’s body to jerk and spasm with each one.
Visions of Neala with Phelan at the museum, visions of her in Chicago with Maeve. Visions of Neala reading Corky’s book. What was she doing? Grayson thought as the visions bombarded her. Grayson looked into Neala’s eyes. With one swift movement, Grayson tore her dress away from her back and whipped Neala around.
In a daze, Grayson stared at the black circle bisected with a line on Neala’s lower back.
Neala wrenched her body away from Grayson, pulling her tattered dress around her.
Grayson then saw the bruise on her shoulder and the teeth marks. “Sebastian,” Grayson whispered. She remembered the night the vampire fought outside Irene’s cottage. Well, we did scuffle. I believe I got a good bite in.
“Neala…” Grayson whispered and stumbled backward. The realization ripped through her being as she repeated the prophecy, “Blackheart betrays the queen…My mother.” Grayson thought back to all the signs she missed. “My mother trusted you and loved you. All the time you were…you helped him.”
Neala shook her head. “Grayson, what are you saying? Of course it’s not me! Corky, tell her.”
The night they slept together and the morning afterward flashed through Grayson’s.
You have wayward hands, Miss MacCarthaigh.
“That night I spent at your flat. We slept together. You stopped me when I touched your back. You didn’t want me to see his mark. I-I held you all night.” She shook her head as if to purge the tender evening from her mind and continued, “That’s why you defended Phelan when he took the stone from the museum. You knew he’d be there and take the stone. How else could you get it out of there without it being in the news?”
Something else now made sense. “You killed Kathleen.”
“Grayson, what in the world…?” Neala pleaded.
Grayson didn’t even hear her; the scene played like a movie in her mind. She went on in a disbelieving trance, “That’s why there was no blood by her car. She recognized you on the side of the road and willingly got out of her car. She had Phelan’s personnel file. She came to you, and you butchered that poor girl.”
“Listen to what you’re saying. It’s not true.”
“Yes, it is. You’re Phelan’s daughter.” The sadness that swept through her caused a physical pang deep in her heart. “Neala,” Grayson whispered, almost awestruck. Tears flooded her eyes and she felt as if she were losing whatever sense she had left as she stared helplessly at Neala. She searched Neala’s face, gazed down her body, and when she saw it, her blood ran cold.
Neala held the athame in her hand. The same dagger that Phelan used to initiate the ritual during the residual moon. The very same dagger he drove through her back when he tried to kill her. The evil look on Neala’s face sent another staggering jolt through Grayson.
“Destroy her!”
Grayson knew it was Sebastian’s voice, but it sounded muffled and far off. Corky was yelling, as well. She looked over to see Elinora easily holding Megan at bay.
Sebastian, with fangs dangerously exposed, snarled again. “Grayson, destroy her!”
They all looked as if they were in slow motion.
“Do not inter
fere, vampire,” Elinora called out in a warning voice.
Grayson looked back at Neala as she raised the athame.
When the time comes, use the knowing.
Grayson raised her left hand toward Neala. The dagger then shot out of Neala’s grasp; in an instant, Grayson held it in her left hand.
Clearly stunned, Neala backed up; she kept backing up until she was at least twenty feet away. She then lowered her head and watched—no, stalked—Grayson. She moved a few steps to the right, backing up still. Grayson watched as Neala’s appearance began to shift. Her eyes turned blue-green as she angrily swept her long red curls from her face.
It sent a chill down Grayson’s spine when Neala let out a deep resonating snarl, “Yes, it’s true, and you were supposed to die in that warehouse bombing in Chicago. We’re sick to death of you. For a thousand years, my father has waited and hunted down the descendants of those who defied Figol, my grandfather. He was right to rebel against the druid elders. They had no idea what to do with such power. Neither do you. Who are you to deny him his destiny?”
Grayson, still visibly astonished, looked down at the dagger in her hand. “All this time. It was you.” She looked at Neala. “You helped us with the prophecy, knowing Phelan would kill my mother. You were at her funeral. You cried with me and Corky, for God’s sake,” she said, trying to grasp the reality. “You did all this. You fucking bitch.”
Neala let out a bloodcurdling howl and ran toward Grayson, morphing into the wolf as she ran. In the last moment, she snarled and leapt at Grayson, who raised the athame and plunged it into the wolf’s chest, not before its claws ripped through her upper chest and shoulder.
Grayson cried out as she fell backward, landing on her back. The wolf let out a pathetic whine as Grayson threw it to the side.
It ended that quickly. Off in the distance, she heard a terrifying, tortured howl that echoed through the twilight.
Suddenly, Corky was at her side. “Grayson, are you all right?”
Grayson nodded; she watched the moon in the cloudless sky. The hazy fog that shrouded its light dissipated and allowed the bright moonbeam to gently rest on Grayson as she lay there.