As passionate as his words were, Quinn refused to be swayed.
“Is there a way?” she insisted.
“No,” he answered, almost too quickly.
“Isaiah?”
“I have spent a thousand years studying the Sacred Book, Quinn. There is nothing in it that mentions a way to undo the Guardian charm.” Quinn sensed his words held both truth and lies, but he met her gaze levelly.
“I want to see the book – I want to see for myself.”
“Be my guest,” he gestured towards the antechamber where the book was kept, “but do you honestly think that you will find something in there that I haven’t?”
“Maybe you overlooked something...” Quinn faltered. The truth was, she had seen the book herself, had studied it – not as intimately as Isaiah, but certainly more than any other Guardian. And she had never come across anything that even remotely hinted at undoing the Guardian charm.
“Perhaps,” Isaiah smiled indulgently, “but I must get back to Monique and her mother. Feel free to take as much time as you need.” With that, he stood and headed out of the door, back to Monique and her mother, leaving Quinn with the disturbing feeling that for the first time he was not being entirely honest with her.
Quinn said a very curt goodbye to the others, but she did hug Piper before she left.
“I’m so sorry... about Rourke.”
Piper smiled tearfully, pursing her lips to keep from crying. Piper had been Quinn’s closest Guardian friend after Avery, and she had turned to Piper for companionship when Avery and Tristan had started their romance. Without Piper, Quinn doubted she would have survived the first few months of their relationship. Piper had kept Quinn’s confidence – she had never enlightened Avery as to how Quinn really felt, or how serious Quinn and Tristan’s relationship had been.
“I’ve missed you,” Piper murmured and Quinn felt a stab of guilt. Piper had been there for her through her loss, and now Piper was the one who had lost someone and Quinn was deserting her. Piper, Quinn and Blair were the only female guardians and Blair was hardly someone who Piper could confide in. Maybe having Monique join the Guardians would give Piper someone to get close to. Despite her youth, Monique would grow up quickly in this world, and Piper’s sweet, sensitive nature was perfectly suited to help her adjust.
“I’m so sorry,” Quinn repeated, but this time the apology was for her own selfish actions.
“I understand,” Piper assured her, squeezing her hand.
“Piper,” Quinn tried her last hand, “the twins...?”
“I’m sorry,” Piper was apologising now, “I couldn’t tell you anything even if I wanted to. I don’t know where they are.”
“But you could trace them?”
“Maybe,” Piper admitted, “but I won’t.”
Quinn couldn’t blame her friend – her loyalty to Summerfeld came first, as it should – but her words drove home the fact that Quinn was well and truly on her own.
Tristan approached her as she reached the double doors.
“Quinn...” he trailed off and she kept her eyes on the expanse of wood. She had learned some things about Tristan over the past few hours that she hadn’t yet processed. She needed time to think. She waited a few seconds but he said nothing more, and, with one swift push, the doors flew open and she walked out into the dark night.
Daniel watched her go, a sombre expression on his tanned face. Brushing away a stray strand of sandy hair that had escaped his ponytail holder, he beckoned Liam and Blair over.
“Follow her,” he instructed, “find out what she knows. I want that crystal.”
Daniel Kaiser had lived two lives in his one thousand years. The first half had been spent with Emily – his soul mate. Emily had been a Guardian too for five hundred years until she was struck down by the vampires who had ripped her crystal from her bloodstained neck; the same crystal that had been passed to Emily’s replacement; and then to Quinn Harden.
A vampire drinking the blood of a Guardian was the most depraved, abominable sin, and every Guardian’s worst nightmare. A Guardian’s blood contained trace elements of Fae magic and, by drinking their blood, a vampire became more powerful, more deadly than ever. Until the blood had worked its way out of the vampire’s system, a Guardian would have no chance of defeating it and, worse still, a Hunter could not track a vampire with Guardian blood in its system.
Which was why it had taken so long to find Emily’s killers. They had fed on her until barely a drop of blood remained in her body, subjecting her to the most foul, degrading act of depravity and stripping away her dignity in the process. Her blood running through their veins acted as a cloak concealing them from Daniel and the other Hunters who had searched desperately, without success, until Emily’s blood had faded from their systems. It was different for the Hunters. If bitten, which was a rare feat for the vampires, they could track the vampire through their own blood. Painful, but necessary. It was one of the many skills that the Hunters possessed over the ordinary Guardians.
When Daniel and the others had found Emily’s broken body, such was the Hunters’ rage that their combined fury had culminated in a Slayer emerging. Daniel had never confided in the Guardians that it had been Isaiah who had torn that village apart, and, as the older Hunters fell, the secret had died along with them, until only Daniel and Isaiah himself knew the truth. The burden of the Slayer is hard enough for any Guardian to bear, but for one as peaceful as Isaiah it was that much worse. That night of bloodshed had been his last foray into man’s realm. Afterwards he had sought the sanctuary of the Cathedral, and Daniel had never pressed him to return. A Slayer’s instinct to destroy vampires is all-encompassing, completely overpowering every other human emotion and it would have destroyed Isaiah. Inside the Cathedral’s charmed walls Isaiah could not sense vampires at all and he could live in peace. There would never be another Slayer - not as long as Isaiah lived, but this was a secret known only to the two of them.
The second half of Daniel’s life had been far less joyful without Emily to share it with. He had, however, killed more vampires than any other Guardian. Hunting had become an obsession – no matter how many vampires he destroyed, it would never be enough. Nothing could bring Emily back, but he would not rest until every vampire on Earth had been destroyed. It was all he had to live for, now.
Chapter 19
“I absolutely refuse!” Camille stood with her hands on her hips. Tristan had joined them in the record room. A large number of dusty volumes were open on the desk. Camille’s eyes darted around the room like a cornered deer, as though searching for an escape route.
“It’s not exactly something you can turn down,” Tristan said kindly.
“Even if I believed everything that you’re telling me – which I don’t,” she clarified quickly, “Monique is far too young to get involved. I mean my God, Tristan – you’re talking about vampires. Vampires!” she gave a snort of hysterical laughter.
“All the more reason that she should stay,” Isaiah pointed out. “Understand, we cannot change what has happened. But it has happened. And Monique is not safe in the realm of man – your world,” he added as she looked confused. “She is protected here – the vampires cannot get into Summerfeld.”
“Why?”
“It is protected by powerful enchantments which have not been breached in a thousand years. This is the only way we can guarantee her safety.”
“Why would they want to hurt her? The vampires?”
“That is what they do.”
“Well then she can’t ever be allowed near them!”
“Monique will not be exposed to our enemies for a very long time,” Isaiah soothed, “she has to undergo vigorous training and has much to learn. I will tutor her myself.”
“She has school!” This was such an irrational argument that even Isaiah was at a loss how to respond.
“Mom,” Monique interrupted, giving the others an apologetic grimace, “I’m not going back to school.”
&n
bsp; “Not going?” Camille swelled with indignation. “If you think I am letting you drop out of school, young lady...”
“Monique will be schooled here,” Isaiah finally found his voice, “if you wish, I will see to it that in addition to her Guardian training, she also gets a traditional education.”
“What, like home schooling?” Camille asked sceptically. She seemed determined to keep the conversation in safer waters – things she could understand.
“Mom, I’m a Guardian now. I’m not going to need to know things like Algebra and French.”
“Actually, French would probably come in handy,” Isaiah corrected, more for Camille’s sake than anything else. “Guardians travel all over the world and understanding the dialogue is always handy.” Camille blinked rapidly, torn between delight that Monique had been wrong and alarm that Isaiah was agreeing with her.
“Cami,” Tristan took a seat next to his sister and took her hand. They had the same clear blue eyes, but Camille’s hair was far darker than his blond. Monique came to stand beside him, facing her mother proudly. Monique had inherited her striking red hair and green eyes from her father, but the heart-shape of her face was just like her mother’s. “I know this is a lot for you to take in, but Monique has been marked. I am just as surprised as you – never before has a Guardian been so young – but it is what it is. She will not be able to leave; not because we will detain her,” he added hastily, as Camille’s head jerked up, appalled, “she won’t be able to leave because her heart won’t allow it. Being a Guardian is a calling – it’s in our blood.” Idly he lifted Monique’s hand and traced the white S-shaped tattoo. “The blood of the wards runs through her veins now... She is bound to protect them.”
Silent tears ran down Camille’s face as she gazed upon her child. Tristan would never lie to her; they had been as close as any siblings could be. She had mourned him for a very long time when she had been led to believe that he had died.
“Tristan, I...” she couldn’t continue, breaking into quiet sobs.
“I have an idea,” Isaiah murmured, stepping forward. “Perhaps it will be easier for you to accept if you see for yourself just what we are fighting for.”
Tristan’s eyes widened in shock.
“You’re going to take her inside?” he exclaimed. “Inside the City?”
“I don’t see the point of keeping her in the dark,” Isaiah replied calmly. “She has come this far.”
The Cathedral was far emptier now; most of the Guardians had passed through into the City, no doubt to visit their homes and get cleaned up. Only Piper remained, slumped at the council table, her eyes red-rimmed from crying.
“Piper,” Isaiah called gently, “could you keep an eye on things for me? I won’t be long.” Isaiah seldom left the Cathedral, and he would certainly never leave it unattended. As he waited for an answer the doors swung open and Garrett, the Hunter who Daniel had ordered away came through them.
“I saw Quinn leaving,” he announced, in explanation. “I figured it was safe to return.”
“Your timing is perfect,” Isaiah agreed. “I’m taking our new guests into the City. Please could you keep Piper company until I return?”
“Of course,” Garrett nodded, casting a curious glance at the two women. Isaiah turned back to Camille.
“May I?” he asked, holding out his hand, and after a moment’s hesitation she took it.
The second their feet touched the cobblestone in the courtyard Camille clutched her stomach. Tristan remembered the vertigo and the sensation of falling that he had felt the first few times he had passed through the Gateway.
“I’m going to be sick,” Camille croaked, “how can you stand that...” she trailed off as she gazed around, taking in the fountain and the beauty of the City square.
“Summerfeld,” Monique breathed, her face alight with excitement and wonder. She had come through the Gateway on her own, after a quick explanation from Tristan of how to do it.
“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Tristan muttered under his breath. Isaiah smiled.
“Monique brought her mother here as a Guardian, not a child. Her loyalty has already been established. I think it is safe to say that Camille is supposed to be here, she would never have found the Cathedral otherwise, even with Monique’s help. And don’t forget – Camille is descended from Guardians. A vestige of the blood of the ten runs in her veins, too. Many a Guardian descendent has visited the City – some, like Avery and Quinn, have even lived in it for years, despite not being Guardians at the time.” Tristan’s face crumpled for a second at the mention of Avery’s name, but he quickly regained control of his emotions and nodded that he understood.
“Can we see everything?” Monique asked, breathless with wonder, and Isaiah nodded.
“Before we continue there is something I have to say,” Camille looked pale, but resolute. “You say Monique must stay here - that she needs to live in this place?”
“Yes,” Isaiah answered, “it is essential for her training and crucial that we keep her safe. The vampires will stop at nothing to destroy the Guardians and Monique is nowhere near ready or equipped to deal with that. We do not take the safety of our own lightly.”
Camille nodded acceptingly.
“If I allow her to stay,” she announced, trying to cling to the notion that she still had a choice, “then I will stay too.” Tristan did a double-take, opening his mouth to deny the possibility, but Isaiah was too quick for him.
“Yes, I think that would be best,” he smiled accommodatingly.
“I still haven’t made up my mind,” Camille reminded them.
“Mom,” Monique groaned.
“I am certain that once you have taken the tour you will be inclined to stay.” Isaiah held out his arm invitingly, “Shall we?”
Chapter 20
Quinn was exhausted by the time she approached Brookfield the following evening. It was past midnight but she had made good time. Weary, depressed and in desperate need of a shower she looked forward to getting home. She had been vigilant and had ensured that no one had followed her back from Cliffdale. She didn’t want the Guardians to know where she was staying in case she needed more time. She was just cruising onto the Main Road a few miles from home when a dark shadow appeared directly in front of her car. With only a few yards' grace, she slammed on the brakes and the car skidded to a halt just inches from Drake, billowing smoke rising in protest from her tyres.
Quinn’s brow creased in confusion as he stared menacingly at her through the windscreen, and then she shoved open her door.
“What the hell are you doing?” she yelled, emerging onto the deserted street and slamming the door behind her. Her stake was tucked into her boot and her exhaustion only fuelled her anger and irritation. Maybe staking Drake would make her feel better – although Genevieve would have served that purpose far better, she thought wryly. Drake had saved her life, she figured she owed him.
“I could ask the same of you,” his hypnotic voice carried across the dark, and his green eyes bored into her. “Where are your children Quinn? And why are you really here?” Quinn’s righteous anger overrode her common sense.
“You’ve been inside my house?” she thundered, so irate that she made the fatal error of failing to register that he was using his hypnotic persuasion, trying to control her mind. Drake looked as though she had struck him.
“I asked you a question,” he sneered, suspicion coming over him, and too late Quinn realised her mistake.
“They’re not my children,” she answered quickly; “they’re my sister’s. They’ve been taken – kidnapped,” she corrected, “I’m here because I’m trying to find them.” This all came out in one long-winded sentence, so desperate was she to allay his suspicion.
“Who has taken them?”
“I have no idea.”
“Then why would you think they would be here?”
“I don’t. I just needed a place to hide – to research. I was... scared... I thought
perhaps they might come after me next.”
“You’re lying,” the words were so softly spoken that for a minute Quinn thought she had misheard him. It was impossible – a vampire could not detect a Guardian’s deception.
“How would you know that?” she breathed and his smug smile was all the answer she needed.
“I didn’t,” his voice was silky and ominous, “but now I do.” Quinn’s eyes widened in shock and horror. “Just because I can’t read your falsehoods doesn’t mean I don’t have exceptional intuition,” he continued, taking a step towards her, and she noticed his fangs were slightly extended. He must be furious. Quinn’s brain whirred, trying to think of a way out of this mess. She had her stake, but despite everything she didn’t want to use it.
“All right!” she lifted both hands in front of her in a submissive gesture. “I’m sorry. Yes, I lied. For some reason you can’t make me tell you the truth – Jude said I was a freak of nature,” she stuck to her original story – the vampire friend who had enlightened her as to their existence. “But I really am looking for my sister’s children. And I really am hiding here in Brookfield.” She met his cruel green eyes without any hesitation.
“Where have you been the last few days?” he probed.
“I can’t tell you any more than that.”
Drake considered this. He suspected she was telling him the truth; pieces of it, anyway. He had heard rumours of humans who were impervious to vampiric suggestion; perhaps Quinn was one of these rarities. Also, for some reason he didn’t want to kill her. It didn’t sit well with him, the thought of taking her life. Her fear and concern for her sister’s children was also genuine, he suspected, and for some reason this caused him discomfort. He didn’t like the fact that she was suffering and he felt an irrational anger towards those who had hurt her. He had come to something of a crossroad. In letting her live he was risking exposure and he had become accustomed to his life here in Brookfield. He couldn’t allow her to jeopardise what he had built and Genevieve would rip Quinn’s throat out in a heartbeat if she even suspected that Quinn knew about their real identities. There was only one thing for it. Keep your enemies close, Drake thought wryly.
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