“And definitely call me if you need any demons killed or vampires slain.”
“Preferably when I’ve finished my holiday, sir,” Michael added.
I laughed. “Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”
They left. I turned to Felicity. “Thanks for helping me out,”
“You don’t have to thank me, Alec. It’s my job.”
“I know but I pulled you away from your father while you were supposed to be looking after him.”
“He’s doing really well. I don’t think he really needs me there anymore.”
“That’s good.”
She nodded and then took a deep breath as if she were about to say something she’d wanted to say for a while. “I’d like to stay there a bit longer if it’s all right with you.”
“Of course that’s all right. Take all the time you need.”
“I just need to straighten things out in my mind. A lot has happened recently and I don’t want to go rushing headlong into anything while I’m still dealing with things from the past.”
“Are you talking about us?” I wasn’t even sure what “us” meant’ we’d shared a couple of kisses and intimate moments but it hadn’t progressed beyond that.
She nodded. “I know I said this before and then I changed my mind. I feel so stupid.”
I placed my hands gently on her shoulders. “You shouldn’t feel stupid for telling me how you feel. It’s fine. And you’re free to spend as much time with your parents as you want. Just don’t feel like you have to stay over there to avoid me, okay?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
“And make sure you’re on call when I want you to research something for me.”
She smiled. “Of course. Speaking of research, I may have found a cure for Mallory’s curse. I need to look into it some more but it seems that the curse could be lifted if Mallory puts the heart from the Box of Midnight into the mummy of the sorceress, Tia.”
“That’s great news.”
“It is and it isn’t. We don’t know where the mummy is or even if it exists. As I said, I have to look into it some more.”
“But it’s a start,” I said. I didn’t add that we also didn’t know where Mallory was. I was sure she’d get in contact with me eventually.
Victoria poked her head out of the back room. “Are you two ready?”
Chapter 32
When Felicity and I arrived in the stone circle at Bodmin Moor, it was early morning, local time. The sky was dull gray and a thin mist hung over the moor. I had the bowl of flowers in my arm, the torc in my hand.
I’d considered returning Gloria to her forest in Faerie but had been told by the witches that now the Lady of the Forest was dead, her part of Faerie would wither and die and become dead ground.
So I would return Gloria’s remains and her torc to Vivian, the Lady of the Lake.
Now that Gloria was dead, the torc would slowly die too, losing its power until it became nothing more than a piece of gold jewelry. Until that time, the Lady of the Lake could keep it safe.
“It’s cold,” Felicity said, hugging herself.
“I’m surprised the Blackwell sisters didn’t give you one of their sweaters,” I said, grinning. We left the stones and walked along the dirt path to where the Volvo was parked. I held the door open for her and Felicity got in.
I got in the passenger side and we drove to Dozmary Pool. When we arrived there fifteen minutes later, I said, “You should head for Sussex. I can handle this.”
“Are you sure? You’ll have to walk all the way back to the stone circle.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I think this is something I should do alone.”
“Alec, you’re not responsible for her death.”
“I feel responsible.” I opened my door and climbed out of the car. “Safe journey. Text me when you get to your parents’ place so I know you arrived safely.”
“I will. I’ll look into that cure too. And perhaps you’d like me to see if I can find out anything more about the Midnight Cabal.”
“Yeah, that’d be great.” I closed the door. After giving me a quick wave through the window, Felicity set off along the road.
I stood and watched the Volvo disappear into the mist.
Then I turned and walked to the lake.
When I got to the edge of the water, I looked out over the pool. The water was calm, reflecting the gray sky and clouds.
I had no idea if Vivian knew her sister was dead or not; faerie communication was a mystery to me. Maybe the Lady of the Lake had no idea the Lady of the Forest was dead. Or maybe she’d felt a disturbance in the Force or something.
I set the bowl of flowers on the ground and, holding the torc in my hand, said, “I failed you. And I failed your sister. I told you I was going to get the torc to her and help her get her forest back but it didn’t work out that way. So I’m returning this to you.”
I flung the torc out into the lake. It splashed into the water. I picked up the bowl. “The vampires that were holding your sister captive tortured her until she perished. I brought her remains here so she can be with you.” I took a handful of the white flowers and scattered them onto the lake, followed by another and another until every last petal was floating on the still water.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save your sister,” I said. “But I swear to you that I will avenge her death. The group responsible is called the Midnight Cabal and they are my sworn enemies.” I remembered my mother wearing the pin that declared her allegiance to the Cabal and added, “Every last one of them.”
The lake was silent. I watched the flowers floating on the water’s surface for a moment before deciding it was time to make the walk back to the stone circle and then go home.
I hadn’t expected a reply from Vivian; I’d simply come here to do what I thought was right. The torc had been returned; the Lady of the Forest’s remains laid to rest with her sister.
I took one last look at Dozmary Pool and turned way, ready to trudge over the misty moor.
A noise from the center of the lake caught my attention. I turned to see the chainmail-clad arm of the Lady of the Lake thrust from the water, as it had been when she’d given me the torc.
But this time, her hand clutched the grip of a sword.
When I saw the weapon pointing at the sky, my pulse began to race. Its blade glimmered even in the dull morning light.
It was of simple design but I immediately knew what it must be; the sword I’d read about as a child, the weapon that had been wielded by King Arthur when he led his knights of the round table on their quest to vanquish evil.
Excalibur.
Afterword
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Dead Ground (Harbinger P.I. Book 4) Page 20