The Lore Series (Box Set): All 3 Books In One Volume

by Chad T. Douglas

  “Let me change and we’ll go eat.” She kissed him on the forehead.

  “You don’t think the Royal Navy will find us here, do you?” Molly asked Tom as she dug into her beef and rice.

  “Not for another day or two, and when they do, I’m going to make sure they never come looking for us again,” he promised her. “This afternoon we’re going to go out to a shop. It should benefit us to pay a quick visit. I’m going to get dressed. As soon as you finish, fetch anything you wish to bring and come get me in my room.”

  “All right.” Molly soon finished with her dinner and climbed the stairs up to her room. She strapped La Flor to her right thigh before heading back downstairs and knocking lightly on Tom’s door.

  “You have the ring, yes?” asked Tom, meeting her at the door.

  “Yes, always,” Molly replied, glancing at her hand.

  “Then let’s be off.”

  Tom led the way as they walked along Barcelona’s curvy streets, heading westward across town. He said little, but when he did speak it was to make comments on the dry weather and the meal the maids had prepared. Simply listening, Molly inserted a few words here and there, but she was more concerned about Tom’s odd behavior. He always acted as though he knew more about where they were going and what they were doing than she did. But there was an unusual degree of hidden knowledge Tom kept locked away behind his deep blue eyes. He appeared to know more about complete strangers than they knew themselves, and more about his own future than any man or woman could know. How?

  After twenty minutes of walking, Tom paused before a tiny building with one door, its single window shaded by a small awning.

  “Here it is.” He walked up the three steps leading into the doorway and hesitated. “Wait here for a moment.”

  “What is it? Is something wrong?” Molly asked warily.

  “Oh, no, just … one moment, if you please.” He disappeared through the doorway.

  Standing nervously outside, Molly kept her eyes on the door and occasionally peeked over her shoulder, feeling as though she were being watched.

  Tom strolled into the dusty old shop. There were several long, tall shelves lining the walls, built to such a height they touched the ceiling. They were lined with oddities and trinkets from many far-off kingdoms, empires and tribes—small knives, crystals, jewelry and navigational items in abundance.

  A short, Spanish man of about fifty years emerged from the back of the shop, eyeing the grinning Tom. He swept his thinning hair back and scratched his chin.

  “Gabriel Vasquez?”

  Gabriel squinted in curiosity and then burst out in glee. “Thomas! Dígame, cómo está usted?” He rushed forward and threw his arms wide.

  Tom allowed himself to be embraced, and then quickly stepped back. “How have you been, Mr. Vasquez? How is business?”

  “Not so much business anymore. I travel now. I got away from the dangerous crowd a long time ago, Thomas. And you?”

  “Traveling as well. I came across a particular navigational piece you crafted for my father years ago, and I’m curious as to how it works exactly.”

  A knowing look fell upon Gabriel and his eyes widened. “Oh, yes, yes, the rings?”

  “Well, yes, one ring. I can’t seem to find the other.”

  “Ah well, a shame, but you do have at least one?”

  “Yes, yes, with me. I would also like to offer you something quite unique in exchange for a tutorial on the ring’s magical functions.”

  Gabriel waved the notion off. “Oh, well, anything will do Thomas. In fact I believe I’m still in debt to your father. Consider it a favor.”

  Tom grinned. “Well, I have no money with me at the moment anyway, but what if I offer you a memory?”

  A puzzled expression crossed Gabriel’s face. “A memory, you say? Your father liked to play these kinds of games with me, too.” He shook a finger and chuckled. “What do you mean, a memory?”

  “Let me show you. One moment.”

  Tom reappeared in the doorway outside and beckoned to Molly.

  “What is it, Captain?”

  “Would you like to come in?” he asked, gesturing for her to step inside.

  “Um, yes. Of course.” Cautiously she followed him inside.

  Tom led her to the middle of the room and stepped aside. As Gabriel studied Molly, any distinguishable expression faded. He looked as though he’d heard thunder on a sunny day, or as if he’d woken up in a stranger’s bed. His small mouth parted, but he didn’t speak.

  Molly stared back blankly at the man before her. Thomas hadn’t told her who he was, but she knew. She could feel her heart beat in her throat, and the blood seemed to drain from her face.

  “Gabriel Vasquez, allow me to introduce you to Molly Bishop,” Tom said needlessly.

  When Tom spoke the man’s name, Molly felt a prickling the skin of her arms and the nape of her neck. She looked into the man’s startled eyes, never before having seen a pair so identical to her own. She knew not what to say or do. There he was, just steps away. Her father. Real. This was her father, the man who had left her for others to care for. Her father, who had given her a gift that would erase all memories of him from her mind. Was he stunned by rejoice or remorse?

  When Gabriel spoke, his voice was barely audible. “Lucia?” He slowly smiled and took her in as if she’d just been born again before his very eyes.

  Tom looked at Molly curiously. “Lucia, is it?”

  “You look like your mother. I thought … I thought I was seeing a ghost.” Her father stepped toward her, his voice cracking.

  “My mother?” Molly repeated blankly. Tears glistened in her eyes as her lips curved in a tremulous smile. She took the compliment as if he’d called her Aphrodite, despite having never seen her mother.

  Gabriel hobbled over to Molly and hugged her tightly.

  Molly stood in place, unresponsive for a moment as conflicting feelings warred within her. Then with a great sob she returned his embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Gabriel stepped back. “Let me look at you, Lucia. I can hardly believe it is you.”

  “Nor I, you,” she replied. “Thomas has told me fascinating things about you. Has he said anything to you of me?”

  “Nothing at all, Lucia. I have not seen him in ages, and he surprised me today.”

  Again they embraced. “I thought I would never see you,” she said, her voice trembling. And then when Thomas said I would find you in Barcelona, I was afraid you would not love me.”

  Again Gabriel stepped back, this time with an alarmed expression on his face. “Not love you? But that would be impossible, my beautiful child! I am the one who fears not being loved!”

  “Fear not,” She took his hands.

  Tom paced the shop, studying the items on the shelves. “Oh, señor, I meant to tell you, she’s inherited your talents. She says there is a map within the ring that I mentioned.”

  Gabriel gazed with wonder at his daughter, bringing her hand to his lips. “Can you see it, Lucia?”

  “Oh, yes. When the sun hits it just right, I can see the constellations. It’s a beautiful ring…” She wanted to say ‘Father,’ but awkwardly withdrew the term from her sentence.

  “And you’ve never been taught this by anyone? Not a magesmith?”

  “No. I was just able to see it.”

  “Strange. But very fortunate, and rare. I always knew you would be a special girl,” Gabriel said with a gleam of admiration tinged with an undercurrent of guilt in his eyes.

  Tom intervened. “I can’t see it at all. I was hoping you could teach me.”

  Gabriel dropped Molly’s hand. “I don’t want to disappoint you, Thomas, but you may never be able to read it.” His tone was sympathetic as his smile faded and he turned to the young man.

  “Why’s that?”

  “I always purposely protect my gems from the abuses of people who carry the marks such as the one you carry on your back, Thomas, ever since the Order of the Blood M
oon came back into power. Not to mention many other such people and...” he paused “...things.”

  “How could you tell? I—”

  Gabriel cut him off. “A magesmith has ways of knowing many things, Thomas. I’ve done business with many men, werewolves, vampires and even stranger beings than you would believe.” From his finger he took a ring fitted with a simple grey pebble and handed it to Tom. The pebble changed to a glassy yellow, like a wolf’s eye. “That ring spotted you before I did. Yellow indicates any person nearby carrying a mark. White reveals those lacking any,” he explained with a grin. “Red for vampires and black...” he shuddered.

  “What’s black for?” Molly asked.

  “Demons,” said Gabriel.

  “I should have guessed I couldn’t surprise you,” Tom remarked with a laugh, “So there is no way for me to read the ring, then?”

  “As long as you carry a mark, I cannot help you, Thomas. I am very sorry,” Gabriel said, apologizing and frowning. “I know you did not choose your curse, but I cannot reveal any secrets to you or anyone else who is cursed in such a way. I promised myself that a long time ago, after the Highland Wars in Britain, the ones your own father fought in. The horrible things the Grey-Reivers did with my magic and so many others’ …”

  “If I can’t follow the map, how am I supposed to find Harlan?”

  Gabriel shrugged. “Your brother cannot read his either, Thomas. You may never find him, but listen to me. It is a lost cause either way.” He lowered his voice for Tom’s ears only. “Your father would not want you and your brother to behave this way.” Gabriel knew exactly why Tom wanted to find Harlan.

  “I have good reasons to find him!” Tom fumed.

  “Good enough reasons to do what must be done to cast off a curse?” Gabriel challenged him sternly.

  Molly stood aside, a pitying expression on her face. She avoided eye contact with Tom.

  Gabriel glanced at Tom and then at Molly. After a moment he smiled and looked down to the floor. “I can sympathize, Thomas, but I cannot teach you. I have long disassociated myself with your kind. But perhaps Lucia could.”

  Molly grabbed her father’s left hand in both of hers. “I’ll do anything to help him, Father.” The word was not so difficult to say.

  Gabriel felt the sincere love of a daughter in the warmth of her palm. “You have the ability,” he assured her before she could finish. “You are younger and sharper than I, Lucia. You are of much more help to Thomas than I could be.”

  “What must I do?”

  “If he must know, you have all you need to teach him. All you must do is figure out how. I cannot tell you. It is a family secret. Bestow it upon whomever you wish, but it is not so easily given.”

  Tom intervened again. “I do appreciate it, señor.”

  “Always an honor to assist a Crowe,” Gabriel replied with a smile. Reluctantly he withdrew his hand from Molly’s. “It’s getting dark. I trust I’ll see you again, Thomas? Lucia? Thomas, I know you will watch after my daughter, yes? I would love nothing more than to catch up, but not in this place and especially after nightfall.” He gave Tom a stern look.

  “He’s been doing a fine job,” Molly affirmed, feeling something she’d never been able to before—the need to win a parent’s approval.

  “Very well, then. Make sure she returns to her bed tonight safely. I must send you both off before the streets begin to swarm with unpleasant characters. Lucia, goodbye.” He hugged his daughter once again with great strength. “Come and see me again soon, my daughter. I will not sleep until you do.”

  “I’ll come back as soon as I can. I have much to tell you.” Molly said with a long-lost girlish excitement.

  “I am glad! Return before my old ears are no good!” He chuckled to disguise his lingering regret over all the years lost between them. “Oh, Thomas, before you go, I must give you something. I’m certain it’s in the back of the shop.” The old man entered the back of the shop to retrieve the item, returning after several minutes of digging through boxes and jars. “Take this with you.” He placed a locket in Tom’s hand. It was simple and golden, smooth like a butterscotch candy. A single stone, like the one in Molly’s ring, was set into it. It contained a small amount of light that swirled and glimmered deep within the gem. “Keep it. Guard it. Do not open it. Do you understand? Your father had but one to give and he gave it to you, not Harlan. He instructed me to find you and give it to you only on the condition that you were determined to find your brother and there was nothing stopping you. I can see there is not, but still I urge you to make your choices carefully.”

  Tom’s eyes grew curious. “What do you mean?”

  “You will know. I cannot tell you. It was your father’s wish.”

  Confused, Tom accepted the locket and tucked it away. “Well, thank you.”

  “No trouble at all. You two had best journey back home.” A bittersweet smile crossed his face.

  “Molly.” Tom motioned her toward the door.

  She started toward it, then ran back to hug Gabriel again. “Until we meet again …”

  A great sigh escaped his lips. “Daughter. Now. You must really go. The streets harbor danger.”

  She let go of him and rushed toward the door, not looking back as she said, “Good-bye!”

  “Goodnight Thomas, Lucia.”

  Tom waved as he followed Molly out of the shop.

  Once outside, Molly paused. “No words can express my gratitude, Thomas. You’ve helped me, so I promise I’ll find a way to help you.”

  “Then tonight begins a long journey, Miss Bishop.”

  Gabriel Vasquez practiced in the magic trade for most of his life. He lived in Spain where, as I have said, the magic trade was everywhere, but well hidden. He’d sold his share of magical goods to both noble and untrustworthy men and beings, and once, after a sour deal between himself and some non-European traders (rumored to have been a shamanic tribe of some kind), Mr. Vasquez began to practice much more selectivity. After the Highland Wars, Mr. Vasquez vowed to never again sell to werewolves or vampires. At that time clans and cults were far too numerous, volatile and ambitious to trust with magic.

  The Grey-Reivers in Britain were a particularly abrasive group of lupomorphs, responsible for creating a sore tension between mortals and non-mortals in the Isles. The clan was composed of the descendants of early reivers, mostly human Scottish families, who, during the late thirteenth century, joined numerous other families (some English) in stealing cattle as a preferred livelihood. They had to be quickly and violently dealt with decades ago after they nearly burned down a large English town using particularly potent fire-based magic. The clan had consulted a small community of Welsh druids sympathetic to the Grey-Reivers, and with their help, called forth a helldog—a fiery hound spirit—over which they soon lost control, thus beginning a war from what was meant to be an act of outspoken vandalism.

  The Grey-Reivers’ actions were foolish. Mr. Vasquez was particularly fortunate that the magic he had sold the Grey-Reivers was all spent during the creation of the helldog. Otherwise he would have been discovered and most likely blamed for some of the havoc. Mr. Vasquez was certainly aware of his buyers’ plans when he sold them the magic they requested. It was so specific that anyone with any degree of magical knowledge would have spotted the intent to summon an archaic being—a practice that has for so long been taboo that the idea of anyone’s attempting it now is almost too difficult to believe. Mr. Vasquez just saw the opportunity to make a strong profit, and most likely assumed the Grey-Reivers would never be able to achieve a summoning.

  The locket Gabriel gave Thomas was an incredible artifact that would eventually affect the lives of more than one person—indeed, thousands, if we consider the greatest and farthest-reaching effects. Thomas did not know exactly what the truth behind the locket was, but his assumptions were close enough to lead him to use the locket in such a way that its purpose was served as intended. But the locket must wait for now. There is muc
h that is important to tell before we come to that.

  It is also an interesting coincidence that Thomas gave La Flor to Molly shortly before Gabriel handed Thomas the locket created by John Crowe. The two items would join together to greatly affect the events of this tale. La Flor was a soul well, something Thomas had failed to tell Molly. Thomas had nicked it from Henry Bardow after killing him in the Caribbean. He did not find it in Spain, as he had told Molly. Henry Bardow, like many desperate werewolves, had intended to find and kill his infector, but he never got the chance.

  This reminds me of something Thomas once said to me during one of our many conversations: “That’s what all people have in common, Geoffrey—each of us is out to kill something, whether it is a man, a moment or a memory.”

  Geoffrey Mylus,

  May 3, 1833

  ~~~

  Once back in east Barcelona, Thomas led Molly into the house and hung up his hat. “I had originally planned to sail again sooner, but I’m going to assume you would like to stay in Barcelona just a bit longer.”

  “I would much like to talk with my father at least once more, if that’s all right. It’s still baffling just seeing him in person.” Her voice held a mix of excitement and anxiety.

  “That can be arranged. I am greatly concerned about the Royal Navy, but I can send you in a carriage tomorrow morning if you like.”

  “That will be fine. We don’t have to linger any longer than we have to.”

  Thomas looked her over carefully. “How is your shoulder faring?”

  “It’s doing well, thank you. Your nursing is very effective.”

  “No pain, I hope?”

  “None at all.”

  “Would you like new bandages?”

  “If you think that would be best.”

  Tom exited the main hall and called to Sofia as Molly headed upstairs. A new fire grew brightly in the fireplace as Molly sat on her bed. Pulling down her dress to expose the bandages, she peeled them off.