The Revealed (The Lakewood Series Book 2)

by Sarah Kleck

  She gulped, then put on a haughty tone. “It’s not within your powers to pronounce a banishment against me.”

  “But it is within mine,” Enid said, stepping forward. “I, high priestess of Legatum Merlini, banish you, Karen Mayflower, for life.”

  Karen stood there, slack-jawed.

  “That’s not all,” Enid continued. “Gareth and I will now accompany you to the police.”

  Gareth stepped behind Karen and gave Aiden, who wanted to rush to his mother’s aid, an authoritative look that tolerated no contradiction, let alone intervention.

  “I’ll testify against you, Karen,” Enid said. “I’ll tell them everything I know about the murders of Anna, Benjamin, and Zara Lakewood.”

  Karen’s look turned to contempt. “Ha! You’re just trying to exonerate yourself,” she pronounced, as if Enid were bluffing. “You’ve known for years.”

  “I’m aware of that,” Enid answered. “I’ve been silent far too long.”

  “Enid,” Judith McHallern objected. It was the first time I’d heard her speak. Normally, the old lady only sat, bored, at the table, as if everyone and everything was an annoyance. For her, this objection was something like opening emotional floodgates. Karen gratefully turned to Judith and looked around the room as if seeking another ally. But even Aiden lowered his eyes and stared at the floor.

  “Be gone,” Jared said. “Be gone, and never show yourself here again.”

  Karen stared, uncomprehending, at Jared as Gareth ushered her toward the door.

  “Let’s go,” Gareth ordered.

  CHAPTER 16

  “I don’t know about you,” Jared said, “but I really need a bath.” He somehow managed to slip on his slanted smile.

  “That almost sounds like an invitation,” I replied, grinning back.

  “It is an invitation, Miss Lakewood,” he said. Then, lowering his voice in a dignified way, he added, “Lady of the Lake, Queen of the Water.”

  I smiled. “Right now, I’m just Evelyn.”

  “Okay, just Evelyn, how about it? Will you join me?” His grin broadened as he pulled me to him. I remembered being in the water in the grotto. Heat instantly flowed through me.

  “Sure,” I squeaked, swallowing the nervous tremor in my voice. Would it be different now that I’d lost my magic? Would I perhaps . . . feel different to him? Would it still be good enough for him?

  As Jared let water into the bathtub, I looked at myself in the mirror. Holy shit! Worn came to mind. I didn’t have injuries, not even a scratch—the water from the source had seen to that. Still, I looked pretty beat. There were deep shadows under my tired eyes—how long had it been since I’d had a good sleep? My clothes were dirty. Dried festival mud was all over my body. Clumps were in my hair.

  Jared stepped behind me and put his hands on my hips. He didn’t look any better. It was odd that I only noticed now. His arms were mud-encrusted, his face smeared with dirt. We were such an absurd sight that I laughed. How had the others managed to stay so serious the whole time? We looked like we’d completed the Tough Mudder in record time. Jared grinned in the mirror and kissed me on the side of my neck.

  “It’s about time we washed you,” he said in a deep voice, and lifted me up. I swallowed. My whole body was tingling with anticipation. I clasped my arms around Jared’s neck. He was shirtless.

  “You’re at least as dirty as I am,” I countered. “Maybe we should shower.”

  “You want the whole package,” he teased.

  “Jared!” I shot back. He carried me to the shower, turned on the water, and set me down.

  “Jared, no,” I protested. “My clothes!” But he silenced me with a warm kiss. The water flowed along our entwined bodies, washing the mud, pain, exertion, and exhaustion away. Jared undressed himself, then helped me out of my soaking clothes, before gently lathering me in soap from top to bottom. When we were finally clean, he turned off the water, lifted me up, carried me to the bathtub, and gently set me down. The water overflowed as Jared bent over me. His lips trembled as he pressed them against mine. His hands started to glow as they wandered along my legs, brushed over my belly, and gently massaged my breasts.

  His hands. His lips. His skin. I felt his magic. He was everywhere. He engulfed me and enclosed me completely. I pulled him to me and wouldn’t let him go.

  I awoke in bed twelve hours later. I stayed still and enjoyed the lingering warmth. We hadn’t slept well for days, and were so tired we’d sunk into a deep sleep. I smiled. Last night had been incredible. We couldn’t get enough of each other. If we hadn’t been so tired, we wouldn’t have stopped touching each other.

  I tried to orient myself. My head lay on Jared’s chest as it rose and fell. I supported myself on my elbows and stared into his sleeping face. As if he felt he was being watched, he opened his right eye.

  “Good morning,” I said.

  “Good morning,” he mumbled. “I hope I’m not dreaming.”

  “You’re not,” I answered, smiling.

  He started up with a grin, grabbed me, and rolled us over. We started where we’d stopped the night before.

  Breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, toast, butter, and black tea. I was hungry as a wolf and loaded up my plate. Jared grinned.

  “What?” I said with a full mouth. “I’m starving.”

  “Clearly.” He laughed and loaded his plate more than I ever could have. “I’m starving,” he joked.

  “Good morning.” Irvin sat down with us, opening a newspaper.

  Enid was still at the police station. Colin had spent the night with Sally and had not returned.

  “Where shall we start the search?” I asked, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

  Jared thought for a moment. “We have to put ourselves in her shoes. What would you do if you were Morgana?”

  “Hmmm,” I said. “I don’t think she’ll let the matter rest.”

  “I don’t think so, either. She’ll try to regain Avalon.”

  “She’s probably still very weak. So she’ll lay low to recover her strength.”

  Jared nodded. “She’s also lost her army.”

  “Yeah, she’ll probably try to find some new followers. Only the worst people are good for that.”

  “So the question is, where are the evilest people?”

  “According to police statistics, London has the most crime,” Irvin said. “Maybe that’s where we should start.”

  “Sounds plausible,” I said, “but London’s huge. How would we find her there? Providing she’s even in London.”

  “Well, I know some people who might be able to help us.”

  “Members of the Order?” Jared asked.

  Irvin nodded and rose. “I’ll make some calls,” he said, leaving the dining hall. At the door he almost bumped into Colin, who was grinning like the Cheshire cat.

  “What’s with him?” Colin asked, pointing at Irvin.

  “Very busy,” I said. “How’s Sally?”

  “I’m supposed to relay her greetings.”

  “Is she still upset with me?”

  Colin sat down and locked his hands behind his head. “I saw to it that she was relaxed,” he said and winked.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Did you initiate her?” Jared asked.

  Colin shook his head. “As long as Morgana’s out there, Sally isn’t safe.”

  “I guess you’re right about that.” I frowned. “Say, what day is it? I’ve completely lost track of time.”

  Colin glanced at his phone. “Um . . . Monday. Why?”

  I shrugged. “Don’t know. But, like, shouldn’t we do something normal again?”

  Jared laughed. “You’re probably right. That or we could wander the country with a freak show.”

  Colin laughed. “You’d be the main attraction. Jared Calmburry: the Boy on Fire.”

  I snorted, and my tea went down my windpipe.

  “Okay, serious now,” Jared said. “As long as we don’t know where Morgana is, there’
s really nothing we can do here.”

  “What time is it?” I asked.

  “Nine-thirty. Do you really want to do something?” Jared asked. “We could have lunch in town.”

  “Why not? I haven’t seen Sally for an eternity. I miss her.”

  Since Gareth hadn’t returned, Ian accompanied us into Oxford. Irvin insisted. He didn’t want to let us go unprotected, which was silly because Jared was far stronger than Morgana right now.

  I bubbled with joy once the drive was finally over. I was about to see Sally again. We hadn’t told her. I wanted to surprise her, and Colin had promised to play along. She was sitting alone at a table in the restaurant, poking at her food, when I came up behind her.

  “Hi,” I said, and a smile spread across my face.

  Sally turned, eyes wide in surprise. “Evelyn!” she cried. She jumped up, bumped the table, and spilled soup on the man at the next one.

  “Ow!” he screamed. Then he put on a sour face and slid his chair over. He calmed down when Jared put his hand on the guy’s shoulder and apologized.

  Sally threw her arms around me.

  “I missed you so much,” I whispered into her ear, and then pressed a big kiss on her cheek.

  “Are you well?” she asked as we all sat down.

  “Couldn’t be better,” I answered, grasping Jared’s hand.

  “You, too?” she asked Jared. “Those two said you were in trouble.”

  Jared nodded. “Yes, I’m well, too.”

  “I’m also well,” Colin said. He sat beside Sally and ran his hand under her shirt.

  “Stop it.” She slapped his hand.

  While we ate, Sally told us what we’d missed. We listened and laughed. Then talk turned to Felix.

  “The police still haven’t found him. That’s the number one topic around here.”

  “I don’t think they’ll find him,” I said, and tried to tell her with my eyes that we didn’t need to worry about him anymore.

  She frowned, gave me a probing look, then nodded. “I guess you’ll let me know more later.” This sounded more like a question than a statement. I only looked at her. One word could be a word too much. Any word could endanger Sally. The less she knew, the safer she was.

  I couldn’t help but look over the many people in the restaurant. All these people were clueless. They knew nothing of things happening right before their eyes, day after day. They drifted, untroubled, through their lives. Racked their brains about exams, parties, careers, not even sensing what creatures roamed this earth and what they were capable of.

  Yet, looking at my fellow diners, I slowly decided that ignorance might be bliss. Surely not for me. I had searched for answers all my life. Only now did everything fit together and make sense. But for those who were able to grow up sheltered in the bosoms of their families, it would amount to the destruction of their worldview if they ever found out how much evil there was around them.

  After all that had happened, it felt strange to sit in a plain, ordinary restaurant, yet it felt good to find some normalcy.

  All in all, I felt fine. Especially with Jared next to me and Sally across the table.

  “Man”—she shook her head—“you guys are full of secrets.”

  Jared took that as a cue to give us some time by ourselves. He clapped Colin on the shoulder and asked if he wanted to come along and run an errand.

  “It’s wonderful to have you back,” Sally said and pressed my hand. Whenever I looked at her, she beamed at me. It was beautiful to have her close by.

  I was so tempted to tell her what I’d experienced—because I wanted my friend to be part of my life and needed her feedback. But I remained steadfast. Maybe when all this was over and Morgana had been defeated and there was no more danger, but only maybe, we’d initiate her. In the end, that would be Colin’s decision.

  “And?” Sally asked, as we packed up our things. “Shall we go for a drink later? I’m buying.”

  “I don’t know. Have you asked Colin?”

  “Asked Colin? Do you think I need his permission?”

  “No, I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that—”

  “Is that starting again?” Sally asked.

  “It’s not over yet. We still have to be careful, you know.”

  “Really? You disappear for half an eternity and don’t even want to go for a drink with your bestie?”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Yes, it is that simple. Do you want to do something together or not?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Good, then let’s meet around eight at Berry’s,” she said, and triumphantly charged off.

  “We’re going to Berry’s at eight with Sally,” I announced when I got into the car.

  Colin turned to me. “You don’t say. I didn’t know about that.”

  “Now you do.”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea?” Jared asked.

  “I didn’t have a choice. She totally ambushed me.”

  Jared reflected. Then he shrugged. “Colin, the ball’s in your court.”

  Colin thought it over. “Why not?” he finally decided. “Morgana won’t be stupid enough to come into the lion’s den.” He grinned. “If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll keep the hell away from us.”

  Ian started the engine and drove off.

  “Enid, you’re back again?” I asked when I saw her on the way to my room. “How did it go?”

  “Well, I have to be off again right away. I’m only here to pick up a few documents for the police.” It was clear she was very tense.

  “Proof?”

  She nodded.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked.

  “Yes,” she said, nodding. “They just want to know everything in detail.”

  “What does that mean?”

  She took a deep breath. “Karen was right when she said I’d incriminate myself,” she finally admitted.

  “If that’s so, I’ll come along and testify on your behalf. I—”

  “No. I did it to myself. Now I must come clean. Don’t worry about me, Evelyn.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded and stroked my cheek. “I regret that I kept silent for so long.”

  “There you are!” Colin called. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

  “See you later,” Enid said and walked away.

  “Later, and good luck!”

  Colin looked, astonished, at Enid. “She’s back already?”

  “No, she’s just picking something up. Why were you looking for me?”

  “Well, I thought a little training couldn’t hurt. And I’m really hot for a good spanking from the Lady of the Lake.”

  “Is that so?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’d be delighted to assist.”

  “Training room, twenty minutes.” He went off, chuckling.

  After I’d changed, I wondered if Enid’s nine-year-old daughter, Jessica, would want to watch Colin and me mix it up a bit. Of course, Colin was physically superior, but I’d gathered combat experience and learned a few tricks recently.

  “Are you coming along?” I asked Jared, who’d taken a short nap.

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said with a grin.

  “You should put on some pants,” I said with a twinkle, pointing at his boxers. “I’ll get Jessie—we’ll meet in the training room.”

  The door to Enid and Jessica’s room was open a gap. I put my hand on the doorknob but stopped when I heard Enid speaking quietly to someone. I looked in—and was a little surprised to see Irvin take Enid’s face into his hands and kiss her gently.

  “Don’t worry,” he said, brushing his fingers through her hair. “You have nothing to fear.”

  I cleared my throat. They turned around with a start.

  “Evelyn,” Enid said, her voice a touch too high.

  “Please excuse me for bursting in like this. I’m looking for Jessie. Colin’s giving me a training session, and I thought
she might want to watch.”

  “Jessie . . . um,” Enid said, embarrassed. “I think she’s in the kitchen with Hilda.”

  “Okay, thanks.” I turned, stopped, and turned back toward them.

  “It’s lovely seeing the two of you like this,” I said, then walked off.

  Jessie was overjoyed when I picked her up at the kitchen.

  “Will Jared be there, too?” she asked excitedly.

  I nodded. When we got to the training room, she joined Jared, and they eagerly looked on.

  “Let’s see what you learned,” Colin challenged me.

  “Okay. But this time, you attack me.”

  “As you wish.” Colin was happy to oblige. “Ready?”

  “Always.”

  Without a warning, he punched at me. I saw it coming, grabbed his wrist, and twisted his arm behind his back.

  “Ah!” he cried, making Jared and Jessie laugh.

  “Again,” Colin demanded when I’d let go.

  “As you wish.” I focused on him. He’d be more careful this time.

  He moved so fast I didn’t stand a chance. I lay on my belly on the mat without an inkling of how he’d done it.

  “Evelyn!” Jessica screamed with wide-open baby-doll blue eyes. Jared clenched his teeth hard.

  “Everything’s okay,” I moaned to calm them down. But it wasn’t. I couldn’t move or feel my legs. My arm was stinging. I was struggling for air when suddenly an unpleasant tingling spread through my limbs, a sensation like going from cold to hot. Then feeling slowly returned. I tried to move my legs, then my toes. They worked. Man, had that ever given me a scare. I needed a few more seconds, but Colin helped me up.

  “How did you do that?” I asked.

  “That’s Kyūsho Jitsu,” he answered, almost proudly. “The art of vital points.”

  “How does it work?”

  “Certain nerve pressure points are anatomically exposed on the body’s surface. They can be stimulated with simple pressure. Acupuncture and other methods in Chinese medicine are based on this principle.” He smiled. “It can also be used in combat. You focus on nerve pathways, especially nerve endings and crossings of nerve tracts, found close to the surface. They’re distributed all over the body. Stimulation of these points by rubbing, pressing, or striking leads to a reflexive action resulting in pain, paralysis, or unconsciousness.”