Indebted

by Amy A. Bartol

  I reach out and my hand trembles as I touch the screen where Molly’s image appears. She looks exactly the same, like nothing has changed with her. Seeing her smile again at whatever the person next to her says, she doesn’t even move when the tall man reaches over and gently touches her cheek, caressing his fingers down it. The look on Molly’s face slowly changes; her flirty smile seems to sag. My throat tightens and I find it hard to take the next breath.

  The man turns then, looking at the camera behind him. Walking towards it with the stealthy grace of a supernatural predator, his eyes never waver from it. His face is exactly the same as the image I have of him in my mind. His eyes have an iridescent shine in their watery-green depths, piercing with intensity. His ebony hair is artfully falling over his arching eyebrows and the planes of his face are just as beautiful as they ever were—as exquisite and youthful as they had been on the day that Aodh, his Gancanagh sire, had changed him from a faerie into a parasitic creature. Nearing the camera, he poises before the lens, like he is looking directly at me. “Mo chroí…” Brennus breathes. Hearing Brennus call me “my heart,” I instantly feel the burning infection of his venom within my blood flare up in response to his voice.

  CHAPTER 2

  Missing Pieces

  I feel all of the scars in me that Brennus has left behind as he continues to speak to me in his video message. “I missed ye at da chateau—’tis sorry I am for da mistake I made dere. I should have come ta ye meself, na sent da fellas,” Brennus says with regret, not looking away from the camera. “Finn tought we should be cautious. He said I may need ta send an ambassador ta ye—he tinks I may have hurt ye a wee bit too much when I tried to change ye. I tink he is right about dat, but I should have come ta ye meself, nonetheless—if nuting else den ta make ye see whah ye mean ta me.”

  “I’m jus a shadow on the floor wi’ out ye, Genevieve,”

  Brennus murmurs and his words are just barely discernable over the music in the background of the club. “I have lost all sense of purpose, save one, and dat’s ta find ye. Ta be so close ta ye and ta lose ye—’tis almost more dan I can endure.” Brennus pauses then and the lack of light from the camera hides the true pallor of his skin. He almost looks normal, except for the fact that he is unearthly beautiful. In the haze of the club, no one would ever know that he is an undead faerie. He looks like a supermodel and no human could detect the sweet, cloying smell that the Gancanagh emit from their toxic skin. He is the perfect lure for any young female: the ultimate killer.

  Brennus runs his hand through his dark hair and holds it to the back of his neck as a pained expression crosses his face. “I know ye will na believe dis, but I plan on doing tings differently dis time. I will na try ta change ye. Ye can decide when ye’re ready ta become one of us,” he says and I scoff at the computer, not believing him for a second. I can still feel the pain from the bites he gave me. The gnawing hunger registers in my mind along with the echoing agony of it. “I jus need ye near me, for now. I can make anyting happen when ye’re back wi’ me. Ye can come ta us now, or we can find ye. ’Tis yer choice, but ye may na like whah happens if ye make me come ta bring ye back home. I love ye, mo chroí, ye’re moin…but ye already know dat, do ye na,” he says the last part like it was not at all in question and a part of me believes him. I don’t know why I do—maybe it’s Stockholm syndrome, but I feel like one of his possessions, just waiting to be collected.

  “I have been giving our situation some tought,” Brennus continues as he casually glances over his shoulder at where Molly is standing. She looks dopey, like she just took something, but I know that she hasn’t. It’s Brennus’ touch that is making her act that way. His toxic skin contains a highly potent drug that is now rendering Molly his slave. She will do anything he wants now that he has touched her—everything. Peering back into the camera, Brennus says, “I do na want ye ta feel alone when ye come home ta us, so I found a friend for ye. We will turn her, and den ye can have her wi’ ye for eternity. Ye see…I plan ta give ye everyting ye want…anyting yer heart desires will be yers. Tell me where ye are, and I will bring ye home—’tis time, Genevieve. ’Tis yer destiny.” The screen goes black then for just a moment until the email window engages again. As I stare at the blank email I feel as if I have gone into shock.

  I’ve been lying to myself. No, it’s more like pretending that this wouldn’t happen, that somehow it would be prevented. I thought if I just keep things simple, just keep the few people that I love close to me, that I would be able to protect them. But, Brennus has eternity on his side. He can pick them off one at a time, until there will be no one left to protect. Will I then beg him to kill me, to stop the pain from the loss of everyone I love?

  I don’t know when this video was taken. Am I too late to save Molly? I wonder as panic seeps into my mind. A rational voice in my head tells me that the answer is yes. I was too late the second he touched her. Molly will crave him now and she will be his stalker if he doesn’t either turn her or drain her blood and kill her. She will be like a junkie looking for more of the toxin in his skin, unless she could somehow be cured, but I don’t even know if that’s possible for a human. I survived the venom of the Gancanagh bite because Russell had fed me venison blood, which ebbed my craving to drink Brennus’ blood, but his skin does not affect me. Brennus can touch me and I’m not susceptible to him like other beings are susceptible—like humans and angels.

  Brennus isn’t going to stop. He will come for me, but I already knew that. This is a game and it’s to the death, his or mine. This ends when Brennus ceases to be or when I become his undead Gancanagh queen. The only question is, how many of my friends will he kill before this ends? Maybe my defensive position is the wrong tactic to take with him. Maybe I should find him right now and destroy him, before he gets anyone else. The Gancanagh don’t respect anything but strength. Maybe I need to show them that it’s not in their best interest to pursue my loved ones or me. With that in mind, I begin formulating a response after I click on the reply button to compose an email.

  Brennus–

  You seem to have forgotten that I’m not like the others; your charms don’t work on me. My soul is not for sale and I will never surrender it. If you truly want to give me what my heart desires, then do not change Molly. If it is in your power, then I want you to let her go. It will NOT make me happy to have her as my Gancanagh BFF. What WILL make me happy is for you to go away and never bother me again. If you do not, I will make you leave me alone and you may not like what happens when I show you just how temporary you can be. If you refuse to hear me and you choose to come for me, I will see it as a declaration of war and I will not hesitate to kill you. Don’t make me do that. You are not my destiny. I’m your enemy.

  SO COMPLETELY NOT YOURS,

  Evie

  P.S. I want my stuff back you creepy stalker.

  Without contemplating the consequences of my actions, I click the send button and mail the reply to Molly’s account. Gazing at the screen, my throat tightens. Tears cloud my vision as what this means hits me. Molly is probably dead by now. Not dead, she’s undead, I think as flashes of the desolate cells beneath Brennus’ lair come to my mind. They won’t be in Houghton anymore so he couldn’t have locked Molly in one of those cells like he did to me. Dominion knows about the copper mine that the Gancanagh had inhabited, so they probably left the area. They couldn’t stay in the mine anyway, since Russell’s grenades blew it up when he rescued me from the Gancanagh.

  Remembering Russell walking into the mine to save me, forces the tears from my eyes. He was magnificent, I think as I wipe my tears with the back of my hand. He faced Brennus for me and wouldn’t let me surrender to him. I owe him my life and I have left him out there to fend for himself without me. Just like I left Molly out there alone. Crushing sadness grips me as something in my chest squeezes tight. I am too new to all of this: naive and stupid, but I can’t claim ignorance. I know what Brennus is capable of and I had refused to listen to that voice
in my head that was telling me that he’s coming.

  Staring ahead of me, the email alert window flashes onto the screen again. Seeing the brightly illuminated pop-up, the hair on my forearms rises as a chill passes through me. Dragging the cursor to the inbox, I depress the button near the keyboard. One message is in my inbox. It’s from Molly’s account again, but there is no tag in the subject line. They are actively monitoring Molly’s email. It’s not just a programmed response, I reason. Brennus has been waiting for me to contact her. Suddenly, I feel like a butterfly caught in a spider’s web. I open the email.

  My Dearest Heart,

  Had I not known before that you are perfect for me, then your most exquisitely executed note would have solidified it for me. I hope that you do not mind, but I showed it to the fellas and they are all most eager now to get their queen back. You may have to put up with a wee bit of chaffing when you come home because the fellas may not be able to help themselves; you are just too tempting.

  I am sorry to disappoint you, mo chroí, but we have already turned your friend Molly days ago. It took no time at all because she was most willing to be Gancanagh. She is very content, but she is a little irritated with you for not telling her what you really are. I explained to her that you were probably trying to protect her. She did not realize ’tis what Seraphim do.

  As for me being temporary, I can assure you that I am permanent and I am your destiny. You forget that I have tasted you. I know all of your deepest desires. The needs that you hide deep inside of you, I know them all. You want a family above all else. I will provide that family for you. You want other things as well, things that you don’t speak of to anyone. Ever. I will find your sire for you, I promise. I have been making inquiries, looking for your daddy. If he is here, we will find him.

  I do not fear you. I fear for you. You have aligned yourself with the wrong side. You cannot trust the angels. They will turn on you. If there is even an inkling that you could be seen as evil, it will be over for you. We are ever ready to protect you.

  It is you who is refusing to hear me. I am finished asking you, Genevieve, now I am telling you. Come to me before I have to come to you. I am not your enemy. I love you, and in time, you will love me too.

  So Completely Yours,

  Brennus

  P.S. All of your belongings are awaiting your return, my beautiful angel.

  Rage is overcoming me as thoughts of Molly’s death enter my mind. It’s just like the anger I feel when I think of what Alfred did to my uncle. Alfred viciously murdered Uncle Jim and I couldn’t stop him. I keep the secret of that anger locked away because it makes me feel as if the lining of my stomach is rubbing together when I allow it to rise up in me. My fingers are shaking as they fly over the keys of the laptop, responding with all the hatred I feel in this moment.

  Dear Walking Corpse,

  I will never forgive you for Molly. Send me your dead and I will bury them deep for you. I’m done making sense to you and I’m ready to face you. Come and die.

  Hate you,

  Evie

  I have only minutes to wait until the email alert window crops back up, delivering Brennus’ response.

  Dear Darkest Night,

  I’m already dead, but looking forward to seeing you…in China. Be there soon.

  Love You,

  Brennus

  I pick up the laptop and throw it across the room. It hits the far wall and showers in pieces to the floor. I push back from the desk and drive my fists right through its thick, ancient wood. It shatters and splinters into a pile at my feet. Looking around, all I can see is Molly’s face as it sagged after being touched by Brennus—I didn’t think to protect her. Of course she was a target. Brennus has all of my pictures—Molly is probably in half of all of those pictures.

  The room starts spinning around me as my fists come up to my eyes to try to blot out the images of what her death must have been like. It would’ve been gruesome. They would have fed on her blood before one of them allowed her to feed on him. I wonder which one of them turned her. Was it Brennus or Finn…it could’ve been any of them…maybe Declan or Lachlan. I’ll find out which one it was and kill him slowly… painfully. Several killing scenarios pulse in my head as it’s spinning like someone stuffed me in a blender and hit puree.

  Dizziness makes me sway on my feet. Bringing my hands away from my eyes, I feel as if I should be moving—I need to go to Molly—help her—it’s too late to help her. I need to go to Brownie and Russell. They need to be warned that Brennus is on his way to China now—he traced my email. He at least knows where the POP, point of presence, which I used to send the email is located. He will find me. If he gets close enough, he’ll probably be able to smell me, I think as nausea rolls through me. I need to warn Zephyr, Buns and Phaedrus—if he touches them, they will be Brennus’ slaves too.

  Reed, I think as the room sways again. I feel like I’m spinning in infinity. Unable to control the whirling, I crouch down on one knee, resting my head on my other knee. My hands go to the floor as I attempt to steady myself.

  I have to warn Reed…Russell…Zee, I think. The most unnatural feeling of lightness pulses through me like a shockwave while something lifts out of me. Looking up, my stomach twists as an image of myself becomes visible to me. It hovers near me like a luminous ghost for a few brief seconds. Blinking at the perfect representation of myself, I watch as my mirror image turns from where it is standing just in front of me. With a grim expression on her face, the glowing impression of me rockets itself forward so quickly that I can barely track it as it exits the room. I grit my teeth as another shockwave erupts within me. A second holographic image projects out of me like an ascending soul and immediately bolts from the room. When the third luminous “me” bursts from my body like a physical echo and leaves the room, I lose most of the dizziness that was overwhelming me. I stand on shaky legs and try to make sense of what I just experienced. As I stumble to the bed, I lean against the frame, willing myself not to fall onto it.

  I take deep breaths and raise a shaky hand to my forehead, but I pause when a movement near the door distracts me. Reed is staring at me from the entrance to our room. His face is blank, but there is pain in his eyes. He moves forward, engulfing me in his arms. He is not wearing his shirt and his charcoal-gray wings are arcing out menacingly. I inhale his sexy, masculine scent as he presses me to his chest.

  “You’re alive,” he breathes into my ear as his arms hold me like I’m a fragile flower. A clatter sounds behind me as he drops whatever weapon he had been holding. It sounds like some kind of sword as it hits the ground with a heavy metallic clang.

  “What?” I choke, pushing against him so I can see his face again.

  “I saw you. You passed right through me—there was such pain—sorrow when you went through me and then you just disappeared,” Reed says in a hushed and urgent tone, holding me to him and refusing to let me go.

  “When did you see me?” I ask, giving up trying to see his face. Instead, I hug him back.

  “Seconds ago—I thought…” he trails off as his voice thickens.

  “You thought I was dead?” I ask and he just tightens his grip on me until I wheeze and then he eases his embrace so that I can breath again, but he still doesn’t let me go.

  “How did you do that—send out a piece of you—your emotion to me?” Reed asks.

  “I—my emotion?” I ask in confusion.

  “At first, I thought I was seeing your soul when it approached me, but when it ran into me, right through me—I didn’t know what it was because it didn’t feel like a soul. It was raw emotion—panic and agony—but the scent…I could smell you, it left your scent on my clothes,” he says and pulls me back from him so that I can finally see his eyes. “How did you do that?”

  I shake my head numbly. “I…don’t know,” I say, seeing his beautiful face, his eyes searching mine. “I wanted to warn you—it’s Molly—they turned Molly and now they’re coming here,” I say in a rush. “I d
idn’t protect her and now they have her—they picked her up at a club—he said he turned her already—they made her a monster and I let them…” My voice breaks and I bury my face in his chest.

  “Brennus?” Reed asks in a dark tone, resting his cheek against the top of my head. “How did he contact you?”

  I manage to nod again, but it takes me a few moments before I can say, “I emailed Molly to tell her I’m alive and I found out she’s not.” Tears leak from my eyes to run down my cheeks. “Brennus made her a Gancanagh. He knows we’re in China. He’s coming. I’m sorry, I blew our cover.”

  “Shh…” Reed just holds me for a few minutes and then he asks in a quiet tone. “Is that how you felt when you learned Molly was changed…sorrow, pain?”

  “Uh huh,” I nod.

  “Your human emotions are…excruciating,” Reed utters in a soft tone. “I had no idea you feel that much. When the image of you hit me with such raw emotion, I could think of nothing but finding you.”

  “You don’t feel that…deeply?” I ask as I sniff to hold back more tears.

  “I do, but I didn’t know that you do too,” he replies. “It was almost unbearable when I thought you may be gone.” I squeeze my eyes closed and hug him tighter.

  “It was not intentional, I didn’t even know I was doing it. I was thinking that I needed to tell you what just happened and then, suddenly, images of me were spinning out of me,” I try to explain.