by Megan Duncan
It was hard for me to visualize the threat. All I could picture in my mind was Ana’s face covered in my blood. If The Dark were any worse than her, which I was certain they were, then we were all in big trouble.
“I’ll go. I know the city and the palace layout,” Arrick said confidently.
Over the past week, scouts had been sent out to figure out the state of the Noire region and to locate Ana. They had failed.
“You will be a walking target, Arrick. Just because the city is running normally, doesn’t mean every vampire in that region isn’t aware of what’s going on. It will only take one of them to see you. Just one!” Jarvan shouted.
“No one will see me. I swear it,” Arrick protested and looked to my father for his approval.
“He’s right.” I hadn’t meant to interrupt, but I believed in Arrick. He had been my guardian my whole life; now it was time I paid him back somehow.
I stood by his side, pushing back the tingle in my gut as our hands brushed, and raised myself to my full height. “He has experience in the region and I trust him. Arrick will be the one to go. If you must” I looked to Jarvan with anger boiling inside me, “then someone will go with him.”
My father’s smile peeked from within his beard, but quickly vanished when Jarvan turned his way. “We must handle this delicately, your majesty,” he said. “If anything goes wrong, we could turn the eye of evil unto us.”
“That’s enough. We have debated long enough. Some of you have seen the dark ages, as have I. I understand your resistance, but doing nothing, only invites war to our doorstep. We are a region of peace, but peace must be maintained.” Jarvan opened his mouth to protest, but my father slammed his heavy fist onto the table to silence him. “Arrick will go and get as much information as he can.”
A few heads in the room nodded in agreement. I was glad. It appeared that Jarvan was the only one that didn’t agree. I might have been born in this region, but I didn’t share the stand by and watch ideals that Jarvan seemed to desperately cling to. I had a hinting suspicion my father felt the same. Sure, we both favored peace. So far, I thought Naos was the perfect place to live, but there was no way in hell I would let anyone threaten it in any way. The Dark may not have done so directly, but if they gained the power they wanted by taking Nicolae’s throne it would only be a matter of time.
As everyone filed out of the room, I stayed behind. “Are you sure you want to go back?” I wanted to hear the words directly from his mouth. It was going to be very dangerous and I guess I was worried about him.
“Without a doubt.”
Something about him had changed since we had been in Naos. Being back home had made him more confident, more focused, making him all the more attractive. I imagined that bringing me home safely had earned him a lot of respect, not from Jarvan obviously, but definitely from everyone else. From me too. I didn’t think I was just a job to Arrick. At least I hoped I wasn’t because I didn’t want to be.
My father approached, “How soon can you be ready?” he asked, locking arms with Arrick in a show of respect. For the first time I truly saw Arrick for the warrior he was.
“Tomorrow night.”
“Good. You have three days. Learn as much as you can and get out. Do you understand?”
“Three days?” I said, surprised. It took us nearly that long just to get here. How did he expect him to get there, investigate and return in such little time?
“It’s more than enough time,” Arrick said. “Don’t worry, Claire. I am fast.” He winked at me. I sensed through our connection that he knew something I didn’t - and then it hit me. He was going to run there. My mouth fell open. I knew Blood Mates were faster than vampires, but I guess I didn’t realize just how much.
Arrick nearly skipped out of the room, saying he had a lot to do to prepare. I wanted to follow after him. There was one simple request I had for him on his quest. I needed him to find Robin and Dmitry. I at least had to know that they were okay.
My father’s grip on my shoulder shook me from my thoughts. “That was quite a sight to see, Claire. You, speaking your mind to Jarvan. I’m proud of you.” He lowered to my height to look into my eyes. “Always speak your mind and be honest. Even when you have to do it to a grumpy old Blood Guard,” he laughed. It was a deep thundering sound and it made a small giggle escape me. I still couldn’t believe I was finally home. “Someday you will make a marvelous leader, but for now,” he said, gripping my chin in his meaty fingers, “Have fun. I love to see you smile.”
My face lit up at his kind words and I sped down the hallway in the direction Arrick had gone. Hopefully, I could track him down and make my request. It wasn’t too much to ask. Was it? I wouldn’t be able to stay behind unless I knew that he would at least check on them. The thought of The Dark attacking the palace made me worry for their safety daily. They had to be okay. They just had to.
It took some searching, but I finally found Arrick after almost an hour. He was sitting in one of the small prayer rooms within the Château. So far I had found two such rooms, both seemingly identical. Not much larger than a walk-in closet, the prayer room held a few benches, a statue of Nyx and thousands of candles that made the room glow in a soft rosy light.
Arrick was kneeling, his head lowered, faint murmurings of his whispered prayers hanging in the air. Not wanting to interrupt, I leaned against the door frame in the entry, waiting for him to finish.
“Are you going to stand there all night?” he asked, glancing up at me.
“I wasn’t planning on it.” I replied entering the prayer room toward Arrick’s sarcastic smile. “I was trying to be polite and let you pray in peace, but if you are going to be so rude about it, I’ll make sure to interrupt next time.” I took a seat across from him on a bench and crossed my legs, swinging my foot rapidly in anxiousness. Arrick grabbed it to hold it still.
“What’s got your panties all in a bunch?” he asked. Then, after a final look at the statue, he turned to leave. “You coming?”
I sighed heavily and followed after him. He was so hard to figure out. One minute he was a duty bound Blood Mate, the next he was consumed with passion for me, and now he was acting like I was his annoying kid sister or best friend.
I lengthened my stride to keep pace with him. “I wanted to ask you something before you leave.”
“I know. What is it?” There was a hint of irritation in his voice. Did he already know what I wanted to ask?
“Okay,” I inhaled deeply. I wasn’t sure how I should bring it up, so taking my father’s advice I came right out with it. No reason to dance around the truth. “I wanted to ask you a favor while you are back in Nicolae’s region.” Arrick winced, but I continued before he could start an argument. “I need to know they are okay. Robin and Dmitry.”
I had been asking every time I saw Arrick to try to contact them, to at least send a message, but he always refused. I didn’t have the guts to be asking anything of my parents, especially since I had brought so much trouble with my homecoming, so asking Arrick was my only option. I knew I was driving him crazy, but they were important to me.
“Anything else?” He spoke through clenched teeth. I just stared at him dumbfounded, and he turned on his heel and marched swiftly down the hallway.
Seeing him walk away made my heart ache. I couldn’t let him leave like this. “Arrick!” I ran to his side quickly, pushing my incredible speed to its max. I grabbed his arm and forced him to turn and look at me. “What’s your problem?” Probably not the most tactful way to go about it, but I wanted answers.
“What do you want from me, Claire? You want me to be your errand boy?”
What was he talking about? One simple favor, and now he was throwing a tantrum? “No,” I said, as snotty as I could. “I wanted the person I trust to do something for me that I can’t do myself. I’m sorry that’s too much to ask. Listen, Arrick, I don’t know what your problem is, but you better figure it out. You can’t keep throwing my emotions around like you
r play toys.” This whole hot and cold thing had to stop. Either he liked me or he didn’t. He was either jealous or he wasn’t. “Decide how you feel about me; I can’t keep playing your games.”
He stared at me, hard. Despite our connection, I couldn’t sense how he felt. “I know how I feel about you.”
My heart skipped a beat. Did I really want to know? “Then why are you acting like this?”
He shifted his weight, considering his answer before he spoke. “I’ll try. I can’t promise I’ll come back with any information on them, but if I see them I will let you know.” He smiled slightly. I could tell it was fake, but I stepped aside and let him continue on down the hallway.
He stopped and turned to face me. My heart fluttered hopefully.
“Meet me in the gardens in an hour. I want to show you something”
I smiled and nodded.
I made my way out of the Château and onto a secluded area of a beach near Naos. I thought some time alone would clear my thoughts; that way I could be completely relaxed when I met up with Arrick later. Hearing the crashing waves, so close was incredibly soothing. I climbed down the rocky coast, my shoes dangling from my hands. Walking barefoot was much better. I enjoyed the cold feel of the rocks and the gritty texture of the sand between my toes.
There was a large, washed up log on the shore. It was sandy and the bark cracked in jagged trails along the length of it Seaweed was tangled around one end. Yet, it looked somewhat perfect, lying idly on the beach in the moonlight. I tossed my shoes to the side and plopped down atop the log.
Twirling my necklace about my finger, I popped the locket open and closed with my thumb. The more I looked at the images inside the more heart broken, angry and lonely I became. Yes, I was happy in Naos and with my new family, but Liz, Robin and Dmitry were all my family too in a way. They were all as dear to me as Ione and Cathair and even Arrick, although I fought those emotions and lost most of the time.
I stared up at the sliver of moon and prayed that Nyx would keep them all safe. The stars twinkled at my words and I smiled. Maybe Nyx could really hear me. I didn’t know for sure, but it was a comforting thought.
I dug my toes into the sand and licked my fangs as I enjoyed the sense of peace, until the hairs on my neck stood on end. My nerves vibrated in warning. That familiar sensation that I was being watched returned. I bolted upright and scanned my surroundings. Nothing was around. I focused my hearing, past the crashing waves, past my own breathing. The city came to me, faint by normal. I spun, searching desperately, heart racing.
That’s when I saw it. A dark figure standing atop a cliff, high above me. I stood frozen, staring at it, trying to push my abilities to their max. I had to see who it was. My body instinctively stepped forward, my toes dragging in the sand. The figure reacted, crouching down, but still very visible. Even with a sliver of moon in the sky, I could easily see the silhouette of a person.
I took another step, the figure becoming the tiniest bit clearer. They were hooded, a tall staff grasped in their left hand. I could feel my instincts growing, the vampire nature inside fighting to be released. This was my chance to get answers. This couldn’t be just some onlooker. They were watching me. They had to have answers and I wanted to get them.
Crouching, I prepared to unleash my speed to scale the cliff. Maybe if I captured this person, he or she could help prevent a war. Maybe they could help us find the missing piece we needed to keep The Dark from stealing the throne from Nicolae.
I sprang - and the figure threw something at their feet. A cloud of purple smoke enveloped them. I propelled my body faster. My muscles were warming up to the task, the rocks providing easy leverage to climb upward to the cliff above. A howling scream cut through the peaceful night.
Reaching the top, I leapt into the haze of purple smoke - but the breeze had almost dissipated it entirely - and the figure had gone.
I slammed onto the hard earth and a growl erupted from me. How could they get away? What was that purple smoke? I was nearly panting in my rage, tears of anger streaming down my dirty face. I failed.
Chapter_7
Feeling defeated and ashamed, I slowly made my way back to the Château. I burned the few details I had to memory. I needed to be on guard. I knew they would be back and I had to be ready for them. Was it Ana watching me or was it someone else? A member of the The Dark spying, keeping tabs on me?
I knew I should probably tell someone, but what could I really say?
I made it back quicker than I had wanted to, even though I had been dragging my feet. I needed time alone to think and there were too many servants, Blood Guard and vampires around. Plus there was Arrick. He had to have felt my rage when the mystery figure disappeared. In fact, I was a little surprised he hadn’t run out to check on me. He was my Blood Guard; wasn’t that his job? Maybe whatever was going on between us was affecting his duties.
I quickly washed my face and ran a comb through my hair before heading for the gardens to meet Arrick. Almost as an afterthought I splashed some of the lavender perfume he had bought me and headed out the door. I knew I was probably late to meet him, but hopefully he would still be waiting for me.
I found him sitting on a stone bench, twirling a freshly picked flower in his fingers. When he heard me approach he bolted up and ran a hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
He handed me the flower as more of a peace offering than a romantic gesture, but I took it gratefully. “I wouldn’t miss it.” I tried to sound excited in hopes to ease his nerves. “Where are you taking me?”
His face lit up and I could feel his body relaxing through our connection. “The temple.”
I took his offered arm and sniffed absently at the flower as we walked. I didn’t want any of the stress of what had happened on the beach to ruin our time together.
“Where were you earlier?”
I silently cursed myself for thinking about it, but at the same time I couldn’t help but smile at his sensing the change in my emotions. He was so much more attuned to my feelings than I was to his. I wonder why that was.
“I went to the beach.”
He glanced at me briefly, wanting a more detailed explanation, but I didn’t know what to tell him. It would only distract him from what he had to do if he was constantly worried about my safety. Besides, what could I say?
I saw some creepy person at the beach and when I chased them down they disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. I would sound like a nut case.
“I just wanted some time alone to unwind and clear my head.” It wasn’t a complete lie, so I didn’t feel totally guilty about it.
Luckily, Arrick nodded his head like he understood. “I’ve felt how stressed you’ve been. And I know part of that is my fault, so I’m sorry.”
I kicked at the tiny pebbles along the path as we exited the western edge of the gardens and started our ascent up the rocky mountain side that shadowed the back side of the palace.
“I’m sorry too,” I admitted. My words seemed to break through the pounding of our footfalls and resonate in the night. Their meaning weighting them down heavily.
We continued on in silence. Through our connection I felt what he felt mingling with my own emotions. He was confused and frustrated, that much I was sure of, but I could also sense how much he cared for me.
I wasn’t sure if our connection made it harder or easier for us to talk to each other. From the way things were currently going, I would say harder. I had always been the type of person to keep things bottled up inside. Now, because of our bond, Arrick was the stopper to that bottle. He knew everything I kept from everyone. Even the things I tried to hide from myself.
That thought made me think I should feel more sorry for him than I already did. The poor guy had to deal with my battling emotions constantly. It was hard enough for me to deal with on my own.
I tore my eyes from their vacant gaze at my feet and flick them up to Arrick. He was intently focused on
our path, either to be certain we were going the same way or perhaps because something else was on his mind.
His eyes cast downward onto me and softened. My stomach fluttered and I angled my body to walk closer to him. It felt comforting to be around him - and it felt more and more right the less I fought it.
“This way.” Arrick placed his strong hand on the small of my back as he pointed with the other to a fork in our path. It zigzagged upward on the small mountain-side. I looked up to see were they led, but I could spot only a small splinter of white peeking between the pointed rocks at the summit.
His touch reminded me of our first kiss. It seemed like so long ago and the memory made heat burn in my heart. I wanted to kiss him again. I dared to steal another glance at his face and what I saw there made me blush.
Arrick was as intent on our path as he was before, but there was a small smirk on his lips, too. He had felt the small flicker of passion I had.
A giggle escaped me and, with it, so did the remaining tension of the earlier events on the beach.
“What’s so funny?” He looked down at me, amused, and bumped me with his shoulder. I bumped him back.
“Nothin’,” I smirked. “So, they had to put the temple at the top of a mountain, did they?” I asked, trying to change the subject. I was giddy enough already and I didn’t want his charm to melt completely. Yet.
“Of course. As close to the stars as they could get it,” Arrick said, the amusement still lingering on his voice. He knew I was deliberately trying to change the subject.
I was actually getting nervous around him. Seriously, what was wrong with me? It wasn’t not like this was our first date. In fact, we’d never even been on a date, but what we had already gone through surpassed anything any knew couple could ever imagine. Still, there was something new and exciting and magnetic about him. No matter how hard I fought it, I would always get pulled back in.