Merlin's Children (The Children and the Blood)

by Megan Joel Peterson

  He had to do something.

  His gaze returned to the window. Placed on the adjacent side of the building from the window in Lily’s room, the view overlooked the narrow alley between the apartments and the shorter building next door.

  And just beyond the glass pane, a rusting fire escape clung to the brick wall.

  He had to believe his dad would listen to him. Eight years couldn’t have changed the man that much, regardless of the war and everything else they’d been through. And thus he could explain to him that, whatever the hell was going on, Lily had nothing to do with it and Ashe wasn’t like the rest. Hopefully, anyway. Whatever started this mess, it could end without another building in flames or a bunch of innocent people getting killed.

  Swallowing hard, he looked back through the doorway. Elias was pacing, one hand clenching into a fist while the other clutched the phone. By the kitchen, Cornelius hung up and then began dialing another number. Elias glanced to him.

  “William?” he asked shortly.

  “Alive. Getting out of town.”

  Elias nodded and resumed pacing.

  Cole exhaled slowly and listened for sounds from the next room, though Ashe and the linebacker had barely budged since the news came on. He doubted they’d leave Lily’s proximity any time soon. Carefully, he slid toward the window and thumbed the dusty lock. Hot air pressed against him as the window opened and nervously, he cast a glance to the living room.

  For the moment, the wizards were out of view.

  A pang of remorse hit him, despite the fact he knew there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t have explained this to Lily or warned her that he was going to leave, and not only because, thanks to Nathaniel, he couldn’t even get into the same room with her anymore. Explaining meant telling her the truth about his dad, and he couldn’t do that. Not now. Maybe not ever.

  He just hoped she’d forgive him when he saw her again.

  Swiftly, he swung a leg over the windowsill and climbed onto the fire escape, only to freeze as the grating creaked under his weight. A heartbeat passed. The metal didn’t move again. Remembering how to breathe, he hurried down the switchbacks of ladders to the ground. Hitting the concrete, he paused, taking the barest second to glance at the empty window above.

  And then he ran.

  *****

  Ashe let out a breath as the news mercifully cut to a commercial and brought an end to the litany of disasters no one could seem to explain. A man had been found dead outside a local eatery, while nearby, a four-car pileup on the interstate had resulted from a woman flinging herself off an overpass. Police were asking residents for tips, though preliminary evidence suggested a lovers’ quarrel that led the woman to kill herself after she’d murdered the man.

  It was painfully neat. And while the police hadn’t released names, it didn’t really matter. Survivors of the ambush by the restaurant had already called Cornelius with word that both victims were Merlin anyway.

  Raking a hand through her hair, she looked away from the screen. In the living room, Elias was still trying to reach the others, though Cornelius had switched a few minutes before to taking the calls coming in. Between the two men, communication now consisted of terse comments of names and statuses as they ran through a list of everyone they could think to reach.

  Katherine was okay. Ermengarde and the most seriously wounded were as well. The groups with the youngest of the children had still been on their way here, as the little ones couldn’t travel by portal after portal for long without becoming ill. A couple phone calls ago, the kids had all been successfully diverted elsewhere. Of the council, half of them were on the run again, bringing their constituencies in tow.

  The rest were on the way to the morgue.

  A shudder ran through her and she fought to keep it from being seen. Elias said no one knew of this place and she was working hard to let that be a comfort. As much as it could be, in any case.

  Across the room, Cornelius gave a look of annoyance to a cheerfully loud commercial. Swiftly, he muted the volume with the remote before returning to his call, bringing silence to the apartment for the first time in what felt like a year.

  Or near silence.

  Her brow furrowed as she glanced to the next room. The sound of traffic carried through the door, far louder than it should’ve been, and as she stepped from the bedroom, she felt the brush of warm summer wind drifting into the apartment. Pulse quickening, she rounded the door.

  The other bedroom was empty. The window by the fire escape was open. She swore under her breath as she rushed across the room and caught herself on the sill.

  Nothing moved in the alley. Her gaze raked the rooftops and streets, but of the few pedestrians strolling down the sidewalk, not one glanced her way.

  “Your highness?” Nathaniel called.

  She shoved away from the frame and raced back to the door. “Cole’s gone,” she said to the room at large.

  Elias cut off midsentence, with Cornelius a heartbeat behind.

  “What?” Lily cried.

  Scrambling out of the bed, the girl stared at her.

  “What do you mean ‘gone’?” Lily asked, clutching the footboard as if to steady herself.

  Ashe looked between the wizards and her sister. She strode into the bedroom. “Cole left, Lily. He climbed out the window and he left. Why?”

  The little girl’s expression melted from horror to worry, and her eyes darted to Nathaniel. Ashe followed Lily’s gaze and then twitched her head toward the door. Reluctantly, the wizard left the room, closing the door behind him.

  “Lily,” Ashe pressed.

  The girl eyed the door. “It’s those bad people, isn’t it? They’re making the fires the people on the news are talking about.”

  Ashe hesitated and then nodded. The worry deepened on Lily’s face.

  “We have to stop him,” Lily pleaded as she grabbed her shoes and tugged them on.

  Ashe’s brow furrowed. “Stop him from what? Lil, answer me already. Why’d Cole leave?”

  “He’s going to try to stop them. To protect us. He must be. But they’ll hurt him and maybe–”

  The girl cut off, breathing hard.

  Ashe stared at her. “Why would he do that?”

  “Because they’re horrible!” Lily cried as though it was desperately obvious. “And he’s so… he always… he knows his dad was a king so maybe he just thought he needed to…”

  Her face crumpled with fear. Ashe barely noticed.

  “His dad was…” she repeated slowly. “Wait. What?”

  “They killed his dad too, just like ours. Only his was the Taliesin king.”

  Ashe trembled.

  “Elias!” she yelled, spinning and ripping open the door.

  Magic flared around the wizards as she tore into the room.

  “Get us out of here now!”

  Without hesitation, Cornelius threw a hand toward the other bedroom door and darkness swirled instantly in the opening. Elias looked from him to the portal and back.

  “Safe house,” Cornelius snapped. “Go!”

  “What are you doing?” Lily cried.

  Ashe didn’t answer. Rushing across the room, she grabbed the little girl’s arm. “I’ll explain later.”

  Lily tugged away. “I’m not leaving! What if he comes back? We can’t–”

  “His dad killed Mom!” Ashe snapped.

  The girl’s face went slack with shock. Taking advantage of the brief lapse in resistance, Ashe hauled on Lily’s arm, dragging her from the bedroom. Regrouping, the little girl balked, shaking her head as she dug her heels in. “But–”

  With a snarl, Ashe swung Lily up into her arms and then raced into the void.

  Dense shag carpet caught her feet as she hit the other side and she stumbled, already looking around. Wood paneling lined the walls of the windowless room, and cobwebs hung in the corners. Only an ancient television occupied the space, its cracked screen giving little hope that it was usable, and through the bedroom d
oor, not even that much furniture could be seen.

  “What’s going on?” Elias demanded.

  Letting go of the struggling girl, Ashe glanced back as the portal spiraled and disappeared. “Where are we? How far is this from the other apartment?”

  “A few miles,” Cornelius said.

  “Can we get farther?”

  “Your highness, what the hell is going on?” Elias asked.

  “Cole’s dad is king of Taliesin.”

  For a heartbeat, the wizards froze. A curse escaped Elias.

  “Does anyone know about this place?” she asked Cornelius.

  “No.”

  “Can they track the portal at all?”

  Cornelius shook his head.

  Exhaling, she ran a hand over her hair as she looked to the other side of the room. Eyeing them all, Lily had backed herself as far into the corner as she could without running into the cobwebs.

  Elias cleared his throat. “How much does Cole know?”

  Ashe didn’t turn around. “Not sure.”

  Ignoring the wizards, she headed toward Lily.

  “I don’t believe you,” the girl mumbled.

  “Come on,” Ashe said, jerking her chin toward the bedroom.

  Grudgingly, Lily went. Ashe glanced over her shoulder as she followed.

  “You’re sure no one can find this place?” she asked Cornelius.

  “We’ll keep watch,” he answered.

  She nodded and then pushed the door closed behind her.

  “Has Cole been in communication with his dad?” she asked.

  The girl looked away.

  “Lily!”

  Turning back, Lily treated her to a baleful glare. “He’s not bad.”

  For a heartbeat, Ashe couldn’t determine if she meant Cole or Jamison, and then she decided it didn’t matter. She knew the look Lily was giving her. Drawing a breath, she paused, forcing herself to slow down and try another tack.

  “I’m not saying he is.”

  “Yes, you are!”

  “No,” Ashe responded carefully. “I’m not. I… I’m just worried, Lil. And I need you to help me not be. Okay?”

  Lily wouldn’t meet her gaze.

  “Has he been talking to his dad?”

  The girl shook her head. Ashe drew a breath for what felt like the first time in minutes.

  “Are you sure?”

  The brief glower was answer enough.

  “What can you tell me?”

  Lily clasped her arms behind her back and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

  “I need your help, Lily. Please. What’s going on?”

  Shrugging a shoulder, the girl didn’t meet her eyes. “He can’t talk to his dad. He died a long time ago.”

  Ashe paused. “Okay,” she allowed, setting aside for the moment the fact the statement wasn’t true. “And Cole told you that?”

  Lily nodded.

  “So when you say he’s gone to help us,” Ashe continued, “what’s he doing?”

  “What I told you,” Lily replied, her voice trembling. “He’s going to try to stop the bad people. He always… he always protects me. He doesn’t let bad things happen. And those Blood…” She trailed off, fear derailing her thoughts. “We have to help him. They might… they could…”

  Biting her lip, Lily struggled not to cry.

  “They’re not going to hurt him, Lil,” Ashe said quietly.

  The girl looked up.

  “Cole’s dad… he’s more than the king of Taliesin. He’s the leader of the Blood. And…” She paused, nausea spinning through her stomach as the look on Cole’s face at the factory finally fell into place. “I’m pretty sure Cole knows this.”

  Her brow furrowing in horror, Lily stared.

  “His dad’s name is Victor Jamison, and he’s not dead. He pretended that people killed him so no one would come looking for him, because some wizards took Cole away and Jamison wanted him back.”

  She wetted her lips. “And he killed Mom. Grandma. Grandpa.” She drew a breath. “Victor Jamison tried to kill our whole family.”

  Silence fell between them.

  “I don’t believe you,” Lily whispered.

  “It’s true. I wish it wasn’t, but–”

  “Cole said his dad was a good person!” Lily protested. “And he wouldn’t lie to me. He wouldn’t!”

  Ashe paused. She couldn’t push the girl much farther. “Maybe Cole just thought he was.”

  Lily floundered and then looked away.

  “Did he tell you anything about where he was going?”

  The girl shook her head.

  “What about getting in touch with him? Did he say anything about that?”

  Sorrowfully, Lily shook her head again.

  Ashe looked away, trying to marshal her thoughts. “Okay,” she said, nodding as much to herself as the girl. “Then this is what we’re going to do. We’re getting out of here. As far from Atlanta and all this as possible. But I need you to promise me something. If Cole tries to contact you or if you see him again,” she bent to catch the girl’s eye, “you can’t talk to him, okay? And you stay away from him. Just for now. Alright?”

  The little girl looked like she felt sick.

  “Lily?”

  “He’s not bad,” she mumbled.

  Forcing herself to breathe, Ashe fought down the responses that rose to mind. “Okay,” she agreed.

  Lily eyed her.

  “He’s going to be fine, Lil. It’s us I’m worried about. I need you to promise you’ll stay away from him.”

  “But–”

  “Lily.”

  The girl dropped her gaze to the floor. “Okay.”

  Ashe hesitated. “And,” she continued carefully. “I need to know if he was telling the truth about where you found the staff.”

  Exhaling in frustration, Lily looked away.

  “Please,” Ashe urged. “It’s important.”

  Lily’s gaze went to the door. Her lip slid between her teeth as anxiety gradually subsumed her expression again.

  “Lily?”

  “Where he said,” she answered softly.

  Ashe paused. “Really?”

  A desperate noise exploded from Lily. “What?” she cried, her voice breaking. “Are you calling me a liar too? He’s not a bad person and neither am I, but you just keep–”

  “Okay!” Ashe yelled.

  Breathing hard, Lily cut off.

  “Okay,” Ashe repeated more calmly. “I’m sorry. I just… you seemed…” She regrouped, shaking her head at herself. “I’m sorry.”

  Lily looked up, her expression more anguished than enraged. “I just don’t want you to get hurt,” she whimpered.

  “I’m not going to get–” Ashe started, and then the automatic response caught up with her. She swallowed, trying not to feel the phantom twinge where Harris’ bullet had torn through barely a week before. “I’m careful, Lil,” she amended quietly. “More than you know.”

  Lily’s lower lip trembled. Wordlessly, Ashe crossed the room and kneeled down, wrapping the girl in her arms.

  “I just… I can’t… with Daddy, I just…”

  Pained, Ashe closed her eyes, bullets having nothing to do with the tightness in her chest. “Shh,” she whispered.

  Lily buried her face in her sister’s shoulder.

  “We’re okay, kiddo,” Ashe told her.

  When the girl didn’t respond, Ashe pushed her back gently and looked into Lily’s teary eyes. “Hey. You calling me a liar?”

  Lily sniffled and shook her head, an uncertain smile hovering around the edge of her lips.

  “Good,” Ashe said.

  Taking a steadying breath, she climbed back to her feet and then ruffled the girl’s hair, producing a cry of protest from Lily, who instantly started smoothing her black waves. Her lip twitching, Ashe looked away, and her gaze caught on the door. Outside, she could hear the faint sounds of Elias and Cornelius talking.

  The nascent smile died. “W
ait here for me?” she asked Lily. “I just need to tell them what’s going on.”

  Lily looked as though she’d rather Ashe didn’t, but she just nodded.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  The girl didn’t answer.

  Running a hand through her hair and trying to school her features back into something resembling impassivity, Ashe headed for the door.

  “So?” Elias demanded immediately.

  Ashe glanced to Nathaniel. Without a word, the man disappeared into the bedroom.

  “She doesn’t know where he’s gone,” Ashe said once the door closed. “She thought Jamison was dead.”

  Elias let out a breath slowly.

  “Will Cole try to reach her?” Cornelius asked.

  “She promised she’ll stay away from him if he does,” Ashe replied. Her mouth tightened at their expressions. “And yeah. I know. But it’s the best I could get from her. She refuses to believe he isn’t just trying to protect her.”

  For a moment, no one spoke.

  “Could he be?” Elias asked finally.

  The wizard held up his hands at the look she gave him.

  “Hear me out,” he said. “I’m just trying to think this through. He had your sister with him for over five months, and he never delivered her to his father in that time. He showed up like a bat out of hell, according to you, on the night your father died, and the Blood nearly killed him for it. He was running away from Chaunessy Tower when you met up with him and now…” Elias’ brow furrowed at his own thoughts. “What if Lily’s not wrong?”

  Ashe stared at him.

  “We can’t take that chance,” Cornelius countered.

  Elias drew a breath, his expression clearing. “No, you’re right.” He glanced to Ashe. “What do you want to do?”

  “Besides get the hell out of here?” Ashe replied. Exhaling, she paced a few steps away, trying to focus.

  “I have numerous connections throughout the Carolinas,” Cornelius offered. “It would provide the chance to keep moving for a while.”

  From the corner of her eye, she could see Elias nod. “Most of the others have headed west and, I hate to say it, but that might lead the Blood to believe we’ve gone that way as well.”