Midnight Runes (The Bestowed Ones)

by Celeste Buie

  “I never would have asked him to do it, even if we were still together. It makes me crazy that people do things for me that affect my life without consulting me. I can’t help feel responsible, but to the same point, it can’t be my responsibility.”

  “If there was a way to get him out of it, would you?”

  “If there was, would you tell me what I had to do?”

  He laughed. “You’re forgetting there are always options. Some have a much higher price than others. The real question is if the consequence is worth it.”

  “You talk a lot about consequences.”

  “It’s the currency of life.”

  His words resonated, and I knew them to be true. It went beyond the obvious “look both ways before crossing the street” or “wear a seatbelt when in the car.” Not doing those could have immediate, tragic results. Sometimes it ended badly no matter the amount of preparation taken. What about the decisions that must be made where the outcome wasn’t immediately visible? What about the decisions that were chain reactions, where each step led to more decisions and more potential outcomes? How are we to navigate life? No wonder older people talk so much about what they wish they had done differently. Life can be full of regrets.

  “Tell me more about how the group works.”

  “It’s Mafia-like in that they control, or try to control, those of us who have gifts. They like to use us for their own benefit, usually related to their multiple businesses, but sometimes it’s personal.” He stared out at the ocean. “It didn’t always operate the way it does now. We used to have traditions. We used to pay homage to the Source to show our gratitude for all It has given us. Now their actions center on personal affairs to propel the top people forward.”

  “What does he make you do?” I quietly asked, suddenly afraid of the answer.

  He closed his eyes. “Different things,” he answered.

  Uneasiness injected itself into my stomach. I sat forward, no longer relaxed enough to recline against the chair. “How bad?”

  “I’d rather you didn’t know.”

  I scanned his face. “How bad?” I repeated.

  He shook his head and stared off into the distance.

  “Murder?” It was the worst thing I could think of.

  He clenched his jaw and held it that way for what seemed like minutes.

  I shook my head, my eyes wide with the realization of what he was confessing. He was capable of hurting people. He had a violent side, but I also knew he would only fight in self-defense. My mind flashed back to that day in the hallway, the way he looked when he told me that he used it as a last resort. And here he was, silently admitting to what? Murder? It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be possible. I swung my legs to face him. I hoped looking at him head-on would lessen the stress screaming through my body.

  Finally, he cleared his throat. “Mostly he likes us to intimidate his nonconforming customers—I can drop them off on a snow-covered mountain, put them in a jungle, or in the middle of the Grand Canyon…anywhere. It only takes a few minutes of exposure to change their mind. They aren’t much use dead. But it happens.”

  I stayed silent. He didn’t offer revelations of this magnitude often.

  “The first time he ordered me to kill, it was a man who threatened to go public about the organization after a promised business deal fell through. I followed him around, studying him, trying to figure out what I was going to do. He had a wife and a family. He was a loving, hardworking man who just wanted to provide the best for them. I could see the regret he had entangling himself with them just to gain an edge on his competition. Knowing that made it worse. I did the only thing I could think of. I left him in the middle of the Sahara desert. When I reported back to the leader, he was impressed with my innovative solution. He uses me when he’s feeling inventive.”

  “How many times have you done something like that?”

  “Three.”

  I climbed onto his chair and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I know you don’t feel this way, but you’re a good person.”

  He scoffed. “You’re right. You measure with a really bizarre yardstick.”

  I distanced myself from him so I could see into his eyes. “These are things you’re forced to do. It’s not a thrill for you. You’re not sadistic.”

  “It doesn’t release me from my actions.”

  I settled in next to him. “There’s still a chance they’re alive. Someone could have found them or they could have made it to a village or a road.”

  “Are you always so optimistic?”

  “Haven’t you ever watched Man verse Wild or I Shouldn’t Be Alive? It’s possible.”

  “Their families don’t know they’re alive. They don’t know what happened to their loved ones. They just disappeared. Think of the torment they’re living with. I caused that.”

  “I can only hope one day they’ll be able to know the truth—that rather than outright killing them, you relocated them. It doesn’t change how I see you. I just wish there was a way to rid yourself of this horrible person,” I muttered.

  “There are really no good options. The only solution is a permanent one.”

  I closed my eyes. “So this is something you’ve thought about.”

  “I plan for everything.”

  “Why are you finally telling me all of this?”

  “You deserve the truth. I’d rather tell you than have you find out some other way.”

  “Are you and Trevor going to play nice at my parents’ party?”

  He laughed. “That’s a good question.”

  “Maybe it needs to be an order,” I muttered.

  CHAPTER 43

  There wasn’t much to do the day of the party besides wait for everyone to arrive. We had taken care of the prep work during the week, something I now regretted. The free time was detrimental to my peace of mind. I needed something to occupy me. I texted Elyse, encouraging her to come early.

  Within a few hours, the house was full of friends and family. Their conversations drifted throughout the decorated living room, dining room, and kitchen. The size of the guest list required the addition of two dining tables. We had decorated the living room in a Thanksgiving theme, the dining room for Christmas, and the island and table in the kitchen were designated for New Year’s. I caught bits and pieces of conversations as I floated around refreshing the punch bowl and refilling the appetizer trays.

  My parents had hired a caterer. They didn’t spring for servers, too.

  I noticed Trevor and Landon talking, or more specifically, arguing in a corner away from the rest of our friends. It was the type of arguing that’s done in public places to not draw attention. More is said with body language than word volume, and only by knowing them did I know what was going on. I heard Trevor’s response as I approached.

  “I took care of her in a way you never would have.”

  “You foolishly rushed into something you know nothing about,” Landon responded.

  “I know that you need to leave her alone. There’s no need for you to even be around her anymore. I don’t know why you even want to attempt what you’re suggesting.”

  “Attempts are for failures. I don’t fail.”

  “You’re so arrogant. Why would she want it anyway?”

  “Hi, boys. We’re getting along, right?” I injected.

  “Yes,” Trevor said a little too quickly, and I looked to Landon for the real answer.

  Landon gave Trevor a level stare then said to me, “He told your parents what he thinks is my involvement in the group.”

  “That’s the reason you’re giving? How did you even know about that?” Trevor asked Landon.

  “I told Landon what you said about our parents, Trevor.”

  “Why do you tell him so much?” Trevor asked.

  “It was just a natural part of our conversation!”

  “You know the rules. There are penalties when you break them,” Landon said.

  “They deserved to know what might ha
ve been coming for their daughter.”

  “Bottom line, it was Brynn’s decision what to tell them, not yours,” Landon said.

  “I can’t believe—”

  “So what does this mean?” I cut Trevor off.

  They glared at each other.

  “I choose Trevor’s consequence. Time and place,” Landon said.

  I shivered at the power in his voice. He infused it with such authority that I knew the outcome was not in my favor. The fact that Landon refused to make eye contact unsettled me more than I could put into words.

  “Blasphemy and sharing our secrets are very serious offences in the group,” he continued. “I have to choose the proper penalty for his transgression or be viewed as a pushover.”

  “That’s a lame excuse, Landon,” I challenged. “So you’re saying this is all about your reputation?”

  “It’s about establishing a starting point, a new beginning for me in a new area.”

  I acknowledged that Landon had the chance to sentence Trevor to a fate worse than the one Trevor chose for himself to keep me out of it, but I denied he would really do that to me.

  I opened my senses to determine how he truly felt. I started to feel there was another purpose behind his plan when he sharply looked at me and inclined his head. “I must make preparations. Trevor, later.”

  “I want to be there,” I stated.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Landon said.

  After Landon left, I studied Trevor, wondering what it was about him that attracted trouble. I felt him scrambling for a resolution.

  Trevor held my hand and said, “Don’t worry about it. It’ll be okay.”

  He didn’t believe it, and I didn’t either.

  Dread filled me. Yet again, I found myself in a position I couldn’t change. I couldn’t prevent Landon from doing what he thought was fair to pay Trevor back. I couldn’t take back what Trevor had done months ago to make Landon feel the need to take action against him.

  I had faith Landon would find a solution that all involved would feel was a fair level of severity. But his attitude disturbed me, and I couldn’t figure out why he felt different.

  Elyse called my name and waved me over. A bunch of friends were here to have fun, and it was a party after all, so I couldn’t isolate myself trying to make sense of Landon. Trevor and I joined our friends for dinner, and we hung out with them for the rest of the night. They shared their thoughts for spring break destinations—a challenging topic for me because of my parents’ stipulations. They insisted I find a way to make it work for our senior year, and I gave them a noncommittal response.

  Zach suggested going to a movie he wanted to see, and Samantha jumped on her phone to search movie times. My parents okayed me going even though it would make it a really late night.

  The party cleanup was minimal since the caterer took the empty food carafes with her. The friends who were going out after helped, and we made short work of what was left. The dishwasher had a full load and another waited its turn on the countertop. I rinsed the last of the appetizer platters and left them to dry in the rack with the others.

  I grabbed my purse and checked my cell on the way out.

  No message from Landon.

  Trevor and I drove to the theater with Jared and Elyse. I was too full from dinner to buy anything from the concession stand, but I waited while Trevor did. We sat as one large group in the nearly empty theater.

  Fifteen minutes into the movie, I leaned forward to get everyone’s reaction. Zach had either been completely fooled by the movie’s trailer, or he had wanted to play a joke on us by taking us to a terrible movie. When Samantha confronted him, he justified his movie pick by saying it had been given good reviews. We stuck it out and made the best of it by laughing at the ridiculous lines, their delivery, and general plot. It was such a terrible movie that Zach would never live it down.

  After the movie, we piled back into Jared’s truck. Trevor lingered in my driveway after Jared and Elyse had driven away. He was in great spirits, completely opposite from how he had been when Landon left. In fact, he was better than he had seemed in months. I was glad for his optimistic outlook, but I didn’t know where it suddenly came from. I certainly wouldn’t be so happy-go-lucky if I was in his situation, but maybe he had his own solution to his penalty on technical grounds.

  “Do you know what’s in store for you?” I couldn’t help asking.

  “I know what he’s going to do. I’m going to beat him to it.”

  I looked at Trevor and evaluated him, the situation, and what I could do about it. I didn’t like it, but I accepted the answer was nothing.

  “Good night, Trevor,” I said.

  “Good night, Brynn. See you soon.”

  I went inside, washed up, and collapsed into bed.

  • • •

  The moment I opened my eyes, I knew Landon had decided the time and place of Trevor’s sentencing. It was all happening too fast. I hadn’t had the chance to talk to Landon, to reason with him. To encourage him to find a solution that allowed him to maintain his façade yet didn’t harm Trevor—and me by extension.

  Landon and Trevor stood across from me, an overhead light eerily illuminating them, partially hiding their expressions in shadow. Their defensive stance matched the harsh angles highlighted on their faces. Darkness engulfed the rest of the space, wherever we were. I stared past them and took in symbols sketched on the wall. I sensed others around us; their anticipation of what was to come crushed me. Instinct told me they had included the infamous leader and his orderlies. I didn’t care about any of them. I cared about the two people in my sight. Was Landon’s conversation on the beach warning of things to come? Did he relish telling me what he was about to do to Trevor?

  I hadn’t predicted him capable of this level of treachery.

  “Don’t do it,” I said, giving him a warning he didn’t need. It was part threat, part request. He already knew what I didn’t have to vocalize: if he did this, we were at war. There would be no reversal of his action. Nothing he could ever do would change this.

  “Brynn, Trevor knew the rules and deliberately broke them. I have the right to select the severity of the punishment. You cannot influence my decision, or interfere in what I choose once I decide it. I purposely brought you here so you can have this experience,” Landon said.

  “What experience? Knowing what happened to Trevor while everyone else in his life wonders? Send me with him,” I pleaded, hoping my sacrifice would snap him out of this decision. In all likelihood, I had just signed my death certificate. What remote location of the world was he going to drop Trevor in?

  I took a step toward them and felt an invisible force resisting me. I attempted another step forward, but my foot hung in midair. The energy pushed back, preventing my advance. It felt like I was walking into a wall. I retreated to my original position, and the pressure evaporated.

  “Landon, take this rune off,” I demanded.

  Landon smirked, and while it wasn’t the playful smirk I had grown to love, it reminded me of a time I wanted to get close to him before I knew it was him in the woods.

  I had to touch Landon before he disappeared with Trevor.

  I closed my eyes and inhaled a long, deep breath, seeking that place inside myself that had the ability to override runes. I had overrode the one Trevor put on me to avoid contact with Landon, and I knew I could override the one Landon had placed on me now.

  I found that part of my brain, encouraged it to come alive, and willed it to weaken the rune. It immediately softened. I tested out its strength and was surprised and exhilarated to advance a step. My eyes flew open and met Landon’s.

  Landon turned his head and nodded. Orderlies surrounded them in an instant, forming a physical barrier. I continued forward, determined to get to them, but I was outnumbered by Landon’s guards, who kept me at arm’s length. I unsuccessfully tried to pull out of their grasp. The more I fought, the stronger their grip became.

&nbs
p; I backed away from the orderlies, and they released their hold. My brain refused to process it. I looked desperately at Landon, hoping he would admit this was a sick joke or a really bad dream. It had to be a dream. Was he really going to go through with this? He would do this to me, to us? I knew the answer to that. Or thought I did. Someone I cared about—trusted with my life even—was going to betray me by way of someone else I loved and trusted with my life.

  “This will finally avenge my ancestors for their weak decisions,” Landon said. “Trevor’s sacrifice will reverse the damage inflicted to my family name and raise our standing in the group. He made himself an easy target by his rookie mistake.”

  Trevor rolled his eyes, an act that said he thought Landon’s little speech was overdramatic. I couldn’t believe he felt comfortable enough to find humor in this. I couldn’t believe he wasn’t freaked out at his situation. Why wasn’t he resisting this? Why wasn’t he fighting Landon? Why didn’t he freeze everyone but us and get us out of here? It would be a temporary solution—we couldn’t run forever—but it was better than not fighting. This couldn’t be Trevor’s solution—to just go along with whatever Landon wanted. There was no grim acceptance coming from him to justify his laissez faire attitude.

  There was something deeper going on, and I was in too much shock to process the purpose behind it.

  “I’ll find him,” I vowed to Landon through gritted teeth. I infused it with every bit of emotion I felt. Trevor smiled warmly. “I’ll find a way. No matter the cost.”

  Landon’s demeanor slightly softened. He cleared his throat and continued, “This is what I want. This is what I’ve always wanted. You’re just collateral damage.”

  I felt my heart shatter. It splintered and fractured like tempered glass hit by a single devastating blow, sending a shock wave throughout my body. As the weight of crushing despair separated the pieces, they crumbled and disintegrated. I was numb to the dull ache in my chest, the black hole threatening to engulf me if only I agreed to let it. Part of me didn’t care if it did.

  I was hollow, desolate. I would never function the same. I would be forever broken. Just the thought that he could think of doing this crushed me. This wasn’t something I could heal from.