The Beast Within
Page 15
Chapter 15
Ella was standing behind the door arms folded over her chest when she heard the key in the lock “What the hell Karina!” she started, stopping mid sentence when she took in her best friends dishevelled appearance.
Karina fell into Ella’s now opened arms and sobbed uncontrollably. Ella looked up to see Ian standing in the doorway, his face was bloodied and bruised and his dirt covered clothes were torn. A long gash stretched the length of his face and neck. Ella cast a suspicious look in his direction but knew Ian hadn’t done this. He didn’t have it in him to harm a hair on Karina’s head and accepted the fact that he would do anything to protect her. He gave her a cordial nod. “I’ll check on her later,” then pulled the door closed behind him.
“Karina, what happened? I was so worried when you didn’t come back. Security and the police have been looking for you all night.”
Karina let out a long sigh “Xavier,” was all she could manage before she broke out into another fit of gulping sobs. Ella guided her to the lounge and consoled her best friend “Xavier did this to you?” she asked, her voice terse and controlled.
Karina shook her head “No, Larry did this to me, in the car park. Xavier was there and stopped him.”
Ella cast a wary glance at Karina “Hun, Larry was found dead in the car park. Did Xavier kill him?”
Karina nodded “To protect me, but then he turned out to be a psycho and stole your car and tried to kill me.”
Ella’s eyebrows shot up in astonishment “What? We have to call the police. Is he still out there?”
“No! Ian stopped him.”
“But Xavier is still out there somewhere. He knows where you live. What if he comes here?” Ella shrieked, phone in hand dialling the police. Karina snatched the phone from her, holding it at arm’s length “No Ella, you can’t.”
“Why not? Karina, the guys a psycho you said it yourself. I’m not having him come here in the middle of the night and kill us both in our sleep. I know you care about him but you can’t protect him.”
Karina cringed at the thought of Xavier and what they had been through. The intimacy she felt with him, the connection. How he woke up the faerie inside her to make her realise what she was. All pieces in the game he was playing with her. “Ella he’s not coming back,” she assured.
Ella eyed Karina cautiously “Did Ian do something to him?”
Karina looked away from her friend’s accusing eyes and let out a deep sigh of frustration then handed the phone back to Ella “He can’t hurt us Ella.”
Ella nodded in understanding; the subject was closed for now. She was confident Karina would tell her everything when she was ready.
Two weeks later Karina knocked on the door of the house she previously shared with Ian. He answered wearing his usual suit and tie “So, the accountant thing is a cover for your superhero status?” Karina joked. Ian laughed and loosened his tie, moving aside for Karina to pass “I’m ready to know,” she said.
Ian nodded and the pair sat at the antique dining table that Karina loved so much. He told her everything, how the Tuatha De Danann had been eradicated over the last century by lycanthrope, shape shifters, werewolves whatever she wanted to call them to help her process the information. They had discovered that the blood of the Tuatha De Danann would lift the curse placed upon them and they would be able to lead normal lives. No one counted on a faerie having a secret affair with a wandering Greek woman who would bare his child outside of Ireland. Unfortunately Karina was one of the last ones left.
“Xavier told me why he was cursed. It seems like such a harsh punishment for having impure thoughts about a woman.” Karina said.
Ian let out a snide laugh. “I’m sure Xavier’s actions were much more severe than what he alluded. A curse like that was only performed as the most severe of punishments. His crimes against the church would well outweigh his curse.”
“What about Larry? He seemed so harmless.”
“Xavier was the one to curse Larry. He had a price on your head Karina, and needed someone to do his bidding. Unfortunately Larry was expendable.”
Karina’s mind was swimming as she tried to process all of the information Ian was telling her “So what does that make you?” she asked.
He smiled a cheeky half smile, one Karina had not seen since the day they met. His smile was one of the first things she had noticed about Ian so long ago. “I am a Guardian. A descendant of King Manannan and Queen Cleena. Their bloodlines have all taken on the role of Guardians to protect the Tuatha De Danann.”
Karina sat forward with her head in her hands.
“I heard you say you have protected me from more dangerous things than Xavier.”
Ian nodded “Yes, there have been many attempts on your life Karina.”
“Thank you,” she whispered unable to look him in the eye, Karina knew this was a weak show of gratitude considering Ian put his life on the line for her on a daily basis.
He reached over and rubbed his hand along her back. “There have been so many times that I wanted to tell you the truth but couldn’t. I really thought pushing you away would somehow spark your true inner self. But all it did was put you in danger. I understand if you no longer want me as your Guardian.”
Karina looked up to Ian, her face stricken at what he was saying “No! I can’t live without you. I need you in my life. No one knows me better than you.”
He smiled a grateful smile. “Well since you now know the truth and still feel that way can I take off this monkey suit?” he gestured to his clothing “I really hate wearing it.”
Karina laughed “Of course and can you please be yourself. Not the stuffy corporate persona you think you need to be.”
“Done.”
Karina fell back onto Ian’s shoulder and he put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. She knew this is where she wanted to be and felt like she had returned home.