Javier squeezed her hand suddenly overcome by a rush of emotions. Hera got to her feet and smiled;
“We all have a habit of complicating things don’t we? Sometimes the solution is simple. Love Javier, is as simple as that. If you had another child would you love Bee less? Of course not, you’d love her and you’d love the second child just as much for who they were. Loving Cassia won’t change your love for Charlotte. This isn’t a curse, you’re lucky; lucky to get a second chance at something many people never find. Now, I must go, I’ve got a pile of jobs to get through.”
Javier looked up quickly and nodded, he didn’t trust himself to speak. Hera rested her hand on his shoulder and, for that brief moment, he felt a wave of calm and comfort flow into him like a balm. Then she left.
Javier walked to the edge of the beach and watched the waves. The calm Hera had sent him seemed to settle deep inside his heart and, for the first time in years he suddenly felt that he could see a future for himself. A future that stretched beyond just the following day. Turning back up the beach he tidied away the deck chairs. Time to get back to work. Later, he would think about the ceremony. It was long overdue.
CHAPTER 14
“Your Katie has worked her magic again.” LaSalle grinned at Max.
They had all convened in the study as ordered. Harry Marshal was right, thought Javier, their attack was imminent. LaSalle’s eyes had taken on the gleam of the hunter. Their Supreme Commander continued;
“Our little gang of self-styled knights communicate via the dark web, no obstacle for Katie. They have a full meeting of the gang arranged two nights from now. It is an initiation ceremony no less and it will take place at that warehouse. That is when we hit them.”
“How hard?” asked Javier.
“Not as hard as I would like.” answered LaSalle bleakly;
“Those guys are heavily into peddling class A drugs and have been clever at hiding their activities from the police but, Javier, I agree with you, over twenty dead Humans would attract too much attention. Therefore this will be a joint hit with the Empaths; Rafe, you will lead our team. The Empaths will incapacitate them using their mind games and then we will wipe their memories and reset things a bit. Simple.”
Rafe chuckled darkly; “And if someone were to drop a heavy hint to the boys in blue that would wrap things up nicely.”
This was just up Rafe’s street, thought Javier, he needed to keep it professional. Rafe was a clever commander and a skilled warrior; whatever designs he had on Cassia. He wondered what his role would be. LaSalle’s grey eyes were steely;
“Javier, you and your warriors will hit Dion Erebus and his men simultaneously. We now know where they are. He has the dagger, I want it captured. No holding back; finish it this time Javier, you already owe him a bullet. As he and his gang are all Empaths you will be joined by a team from Venice.”
Javier suddenly knew what was coming next;
“Led by whom?” He already knew the answer.
“Chronus himself. He volunteered. He’s damned good in a fight as we already know.”
LaSalle concluded;
“This has turned out to be more about revenge and criminality than the old style slayers we all feared had returned. However, a young boy died horribly and another may have gone the same way had it not been for you, Javier and your Cassia. I also have to tell you that we have a copy of a certain document in our possession that relates to Draco Erebus; again, thanks to that very intrepid woman. I cannot share it with you yet, it is currently restricted to our High Councillor, me and Aries Achilles in Venice. Based on what I have read so far I am certain that we will be approached to help find him and bring him to justice. That is all.”
What was Chronus’s game? Javier was certain he hadn’t shared the fact that he had a copy of the journal with Hera’s brother, his boss, and now Javier was in an extremely awkward predicament. He could really do with discussing this with the only other person who knew, who he realized he trusted; Cassia. Why had LaSalle referred to her as his Cassia? It had certainly caused Rafe to sit up and take notice. God, they were behaving like adolescents in the schoolroom.
As the meeting broke up and everyone left the study Javier hung back. There were two reasons for that. Firstly, he didn’t think he’d be able to contain his aggression if he saw Cassia dressed up and heading out with Rafe’s arm draped all over her and secondly, and more importantly, he needed to ask LaSalle something he should have asked years ago.
“Javier? You have a question?” LaSalle paused with his hand on the phone, his sharp eyes narrowed.
Javier reached up and quickly pulled his collar tighter. The marks Cassia had left on his neck had almost faded; he had mourned that fact when he had examined them in the mirror as he shaved. Surely LaSalle couldn’t see them. That was not important; he took a deep breath.
“Will you take me to Charlotte? If…if it is convenient...you are busy…” Javier tailed off lamely, indicating the phone.
LaSalle dropped the phone as though it was suddenly on fire and stood bolt upright as his eyes flared with shock; he recovered quickly.
“It can all wait. Follow me Javier of Seville, I will take you to her.”
Neither of them spoke as Javier followed LaSalle’s marching figure down into the underground corridor. They must have presented a grim and purposeful sight because three of their foot soldiers jumped out of their way and flattened themselves against the wall as they swept past.
Soon they were deep in the bowels of the old tenth century castle. LaSalle paused to take down two old pitch torches from their ancient iron sconces and lit them with a flick of his lighter;
“Never got this area wired up for electricity. We are heading down to one of the first rooms hewn out of the rock Javier. This bit is about a thousand years old. Ready?”
In all the decades he had lived on the Island Javier had never visited this part of the castle and, as LaSalle led the way down ancient passages cut from rock he realized he had never even known this place existed. The smoky flames from the torches lit on rough walls and the air was cold and musty with the scent of centuries. The passage ended at a towering wooden door. As Javier lifted his torch he saw it was black with age and studded with huge iron nails. The top was curved to fit into the line of the passage’s stone roof. It swung open silently as LaSalle pushed and Javier stared in astonishment at the room they entered.
An enormous circular room with a domed ceiling had been hewn out of the rock. A stone bench had been cut into the wall and followed the curve of the room; it reminded him of chapter houses he had seen in old cathedrals. As Javier raised his torch higher he saw a painting of a dragon with massive outstretched wings and a lashing tail. It was almost identical to the depiction he had seen in the gigantic sacred cave in the Arctic Circle. Underneath the dragon was the prowling figure of a black wolf; the emblem of the LaSalle family.
“This was once the most secret and sacred room in the castle.” explained LaSalle;
“It was here that the warriors of our race were initiated into service and where they mourned their fallen. Charlotte is here.”
Javier approached the high stone dais in the exact centre of the room. It was painted in red and black and gold and covered with sacred runes in the old language. At each of the four corners stood a tall ornate gold candelabrum on which burned thick ivory beeswax candles. The room was golden with their soft light and sweet with their honeyed scent.
The long box containing Charlotte’s remains was exquisitely carved with her name and bloodline interlinked with his. It was placed centrally on the dais. A vase in front of the box was filled with fresh flowers. Javier reached out and touched them in wonder;
“But…who put these here? Who lit the candles? I mean, you had no idea I was going to ask to see her…” his voice cracked and he felt LaSalle take the torch from his hand.
“Ysabeau, Katie, Rosa, Madame Lemond and old Louis take it in turns. They make sure candles are always lit and bri
ng the flowers. We would not want her left in the dark.”
Javier’s vision went wavy. Eight years; they had kept vigil for eight years waiting for him to do his duty, to carry out the last service he owed to the woman he had loved. He laid a trembling hand on the box.
“I am a coward my Lord LaSalle.” he whispered, letting the tears slide down his face and drip off his chin.
“That is complete nonsense Javier of Seville. You are a brave and honourable warrior.” LaSalle said gruffly.
Javier laughed bitterly;
“Oh, I can face my enemies; swords, bullets, knives…bring it on. Too cowardly to face up to the death of the woman I was bonded to through blood itself though. Too cowardly to let her go and see that she is returned to the great Infinite. My duty, mine alone. I am so sorry Charlotte.”
“Do not judge yourself so harshly Javier. If I had lost Ysabeau when she was injured this summer I do not know how I would have carried on. The mere thought of losing our bonded consorts makes cowards of us all. Can you imagine Gabriel now without his Hera? She is his light and what about Max without his clever Katie?”
LaSalle stood beside Javier, one firm hand gripping his shoulder;
“I remember the day you pledged your oath as commander. That was when you first brought her to the Island. Ysabeau commented that her smile would light up the gloomiest of rooms.” LaSalle said. Javier scrubbed at his eyes then smiled as he remembered;
“She wore a green dress and I remember telling my father that I felt as green as that dress, so afraid of not living up to what was expected of me, of letting you and him down.”
“You never let us down Javier. You were the best warrior for that post and, my god it was a difficult rise through the ranks for you, being the son of Alejandro of Seville. Your father was harder on you than on any one of us, had to be I suppose. You dealt with it all without complaint, we all saw that.”
They stood together, lost in their shared memories then LaSalle gave a low chuckle;
“All of us unbonded warriors celebrated when you were joined to Charlotte. Do you know why?”
“No, why?” Javier asked as he traced his fingers over Charlotte’s name carved on the box.
“Gave us a chance with the ladies. Before, one look at you with that great Spanish sword you used to wear strapped to your back and they were swooning. We never stood a chance.”
They both laughed.
“There was no one else for me from the night we were first introduced to each other.” said Javier.
“At least you were introduced, the night I met Ysabeau she cut me with her sword.” murmured LaSalle touching his throat; “I knew she was mine from that moment.”
“Javier…Charlotte loved you very much, she would want you to be happy.”
There was an awkward silence. Had LaSalle noticed, wondered Javier, and if he had, what about the all seeing eye of Gabriel? Were he and Cassia the subject of benevolent speculation amongst the happily bonded couples in the chateau?
“I will leave you alone. To find your way back simply follow the line of torches, I will light them as I return.” said LaSalle.
“Thank you, thank you all. I shall begin preparing for the ceremony immediately.” said Javier. Yes, he thought, Hera was right, it was time.
Cassia materialized before the great doors of the chateau and stood completely still with her eyes shut and her face turned up to the sky. Oh, blessed silence. When you had a Vampire’s hearing the assault on your eardrums in these nightclubs could be excruciating. Leaning down she pulled off her high strappy shoes and groaned with relief; the sacrifices a girl made for fashion. She was about to buzz for entrance at the security panel when she hesitated; if she went in she would have to talk to Flavia and whoever else was about. She wasn’t in the mood for small talk. Then there was the risk of running into Javier. Well, she was totally mixed up on that one. She tugged at the hem of her short red dress. Perversely she had put this on especially so he would see her in it; to show him that what had happened between them had not affected her in the slightest. Of course, he had stayed closeted away in the study with LaSalle and Rafe had been the one who had practically salivated as she teetered down that elegant staircase.
Abandoning her evening bag and shoes in front of the door Cassia turned and headed along the path to the nearest beach. She could get used to living here, she thought, mid-September and it was still deliciously warm. If there was no-one about she might even take a quick dip in the sea. As she walked through the woods she stopped, cursing as she stepped on a pine needle. Then she froze as she heard sounds coming up from the smaller beach that was at the end of path that ran to the left. It was the sound of someone chopping wood with an axe.
Overcome by curiosity she took the left hand fork until she emerged through the woods onto the beach where someone was working relentlessly. She would recognize Javier anywhere by the way he moved. He tossed the axe onto the sand then started carrying logs over to the structure he was constructing close to the tideline. Cassia edged nearer watching as he aligned the logs crossways over the layer below and roped them together securely. The rectangular shape was already over four feet high. Her hand flew to her mouth as her mind flew back to the time she had helped her mother construct her father’s funeral pyre. Javier was making the ritual preparations laid down in the ancient texts; the final service owed to his bonded consort. Cassia started to back away into the trees, this was private and she should not be here.
Javier suddenly turned sharply in her direction almost as if he had sensed her presence. Well, he might have, his blood ran in her. Either that or he had caught her scent.
“Cassia! Wait, don’t go.” He ran across the beach to join her, wiping his face on the sleeve of his shirt. Cassia folded her arms defensively. She could remain calm; after all he was just a friend.
“You’re filthy.” She said abruptly as she surveyed his clothes streaked with dirt and sand from the logs. He smelled of the fresh sweat that made his shirt cling to his body and under that was the scent of his skin which always made her feel quite dizzy. Guilt surged through her; here he was building his dead consort’s pyre and she was lusting after his body and his golden brown eyes.
Javier smiled slowly and Cassia’s heart pounded.
“Well, a very good night to you too. It’s barely past midnight, Rafe brought you back early.”
“He didn’t. I shifted back by myself. I’ll leave you to it.” Cassia started to turn away but Javier grabbed her arm, his smile disappearing instantly;
“What happened? Did he try something? Cass, answer me.” Aggression darkened his eyes in a flash and Cassia reached out to calm him;
“No, no Javier. He was a complete gentleman. I…I just wasn’t in the mood. I’m sure I bored him stupid and was a total blow-out as a date. I pleaded a headache and left him to the attentions of a very happy blonde.”
Javier stepped back and raked his hand through his hair as he took a calming breath then smiled again;
“Good, that’s alright then. Ditched for a blonde…Cassia Mathrafal, what an insult.”
“Ditched voluntarily Javier of Seville.” Cassia answered severely as she flicked her long hair back over her shoulder. Really, he could be insufferable.
They stood together in awkward silence for a moment before Javier said softly;
“Are you alright Cass? I’m so sorry about last night…”
Cassia reached up and covered his mouth gently;
“Stop. Now is not the time. You must focus on what you are doing for Charlotte. I could help you build it like I helped my mother.”
Javier took her hand and held it in both of his as he looked over at the pyre.
“You know the ritual Cass, a female may have assistance building her consort’s pyre but a male may not. I must do this myself; I need to do this myself. I will complete the ritual tomorrow; I should have done it many years ago.”
Cassia squeezed his hands;
“You’re doing i
t now. Your friends here won’t leave you to go through it by yourself. I’m sure their voices will join yours to convey her soul back to the stars Javier.”
“And you? Do you think…could you come too Cass?”
Cassia looked down and cleared her throat as she shook her head;
“I’m not sure that would be right. I didn’t know her, I wasn’t her friend.”
“But you are mine. Sorry, I should not have asked.” Javier’s hands tightened quickly before he stepped back; “I need to get on.”
He turned to go then stopped;
“Would you look in on Beatriz for me? I explained what I was doing and she seemed to cope with it but I would feel happier if someone was keeping a close eye on her.”
“Yes, yes of course. I’ll find her, don’t worry.” It was the least she could do, Cassia thought, wishing she could help him through this and knowing he had to do it alone. Ignoring the voice in her head telling her that it was wrong; wrong time, wrong place, she stepped forward and threw her arms around Javier hugging him tightly;
“You’ll be fine Javier, you’ll do it right, I know you will. Everything is going to be fine.”
Pathetic choice of words, she thought, words that didn’t express even half of what she wanted to say to him. She felt Javier’s arms pull her in close then his cheek rested against her head. They stood locked together in silence as he took a deep breath in then let it out slowly until she felt the tension ease out of his body. It was intimate and comforting and curiously terrifying. She could stay like this forever and never let him go; everything felt…right. Reluctantly she pulled away, holding him at arm’s length;
“Go. I’ll find Beatriz.” She gave him a little push then nodded in acknowledgement as he smiled his thanks and ran back across the beach to the pile of logs.
All the way back to the chateau Cassia worked hard at blocking out her thoughts and distracting herself with tiny inconsequential details. What kind of idiot walked through a pine wood with bare feet? Pine woods smelled lovely; the whole island was pine scented. Perhaps she should buy a little house in the south of France, Flavia would love it. Picking up her bag and shoes she buzzed for entrance and as the locks disengaged with heavy clunks it was as though someone had opened the lock gates in her heart and the feelings poured through in a torrent. She was in love with Javier of Seville. Completely, totally, head over heels. What an utter bloody disaster.
JAVIER Page 17