The Gray Tower Trilogy: Books 1-3

by Alesha Escobar

  “Hi.” My voice was weak.

  “Are you all right?”

  I nodded. “Can I...see my father?”

  He raised his hand to my cheek. He looked like he wanted to ask me a question, but something held him back. “I’ll walk you over to the infirmary.”

  Brande and I went up the staircase and made a left toward the infirmary. Two female nature wizards who were also nurses stood just outside my father’s door. They were having a quiet conversation and smoking cigarettes. I narrowed my eyes at them, waving my hand through the air to disperse the white smoke.

  “How is he?” I faced the tall one with glasses, and she cleared her throat and put out her cigarette.

  “He’s healing rather well, Miss George. Would you like to step in? He’s awake.”

  “Yes...thanks.”

  I opened the door and stepped in, Brande followed and closed the door behind us. My father was in a medium-sized bed with fluffy pillows propping him up in a sitting position. Master Moreau sat in a cushioned chair to the far left, keeping him company and scribbling on a notepad.

  Moreau greeted me with a warm smile, but my father’s eyes were downcast and his hands on his lap. Without lifting his gaze, he asked, “Isabella, is the courier here?”

  “Not yet, but he should be here soon.” I approached and wrapped my arms around my father.

  Brande took the seat next to Moreau, and eyed both my father and me with concern. I began wondering if he suspected anything, or maybe he noticed I had been gone for an “hour.” I felt terrible, and I felt stuck. But I trusted Brande, and if I could open myself up to anyone, it would be him. Tonight I’d pull him away and tell him everything. He’d help me figure this out. Maybe we could even enlist Father Gabriel’s help since he already knew about Ammon. Though I felt humiliated, I knew I couldn’t go on like this. If I ever allowed Ammon to use me again--it would all be over.

  I claimed the seat by the bed and gave my dad a peck on the cheek. He looked deep in thought, and it worried me that he said very little. Usually he’d already be explaining what we’d be doing for the next few days.

  I turned to face Moreau, who rested the notepad on his knee. “I’ll clear the storage room tonight and cast some preparatory spells. When the courier arrives with the talisman tonight, we will use it tomorrow evening to teleport our entire army to the Den--or, at least near the Den.”

  I nodded. “I’ll have Izsak call the other mansion and let them know to meet us here tomorrow afternoon. Have any more wizards come to join us?”

  “Yes, your numbers are quite impressive. Between our group here and those down at Victor’s mansion, we have over two hundred.” Moreau flashed me his cryptic smile. Maybe he thought he was being charming.

  “Dad, isn’t that great news?”

  He grinned. “It’s excellent. I’ve asked Brande to lead the wizards from the other group who’ll be joining us tomorrow, and Cathana will lead the wizards from this house. I’ve assigned Father Gabriel, Mehara, and Nikon to accompany you.”

  My expression fell. “What about you and Master Moreau?”

  Moreau cleared his throat. “Someone has to stay here and keep the talisman stable so that you are able to teleport back here. And as for your father...”

  My dad raised his head and faced me. A milky film covered his pupils, and he had a vacant stare. “I’m afraid I’m unfit to lead anyone. I’ll be here at the mansion.”

  My heart fell in my chest as I framed his face with my hands. Tears stung my eyes. “They said you were going to be okay.”

  “I’m alive, and in full possession of my mind and limbs. I’m neither the first blind man in the world nor the last.”

  My own vision blurred as I buried my face in his shoulder. “This isn’t fair.”

  “This is more than I deserve.” He wrapped an arm around me. “I realize that I have been selfish in some ways, and now our family is in more danger than it’s ever been. I’m afraid it’s up to you to make things right. You’ll rescue your mother, Johnnie, and Rachel. I’m sure of it.”

  I sniffed. “I’ll bring them home. I promise.”

  He sighed and reached for my hand. “You’re truly a gift to me.”

  I fluffed his pillow and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “I love you too. Now get some rest.”

  Moreau rose from his seat. “I’ll get started on the preparations for the talisman.” He slipped out of the room, taking his notepad with him.

  “Goodnight, Brande. Thank you.” My father sighed a deep breath and closed his eyes. I could tell his mind still went at a fast pace, thinking, projecting, and perhaps planning.

  “Goodnight, Carson.” Brande switched off the lights and we stepped out of the room, closing the door behind us.

  I raised an eyebrow. “Since when were you two speaking so nicely toward each other?”

  Brande smiled. “Since this afternoon. While you were resting in bed, I was helping the nurses and keeping your father company.”

  “Thank you for doing that.” I took his hand in mine. “Listen...there’s something I wanted to tell you--”

  He pulled me along and led me down the hall at a slow pace. “There’s something I want to show you.”

  “What is it?”

  “You’ll see.”

  I didn’t know whether to feel intrigued or frightened. Part of me feared that he’d open a door and show me Ammon sitting in a cushioned chair, proclaiming that we took out Nuremberg Castle together. We passed the staircase and continued down the hall. When we stopped in front of a set of double doors, I raised an eyebrow. “Okay, I’m a little nervous. What’s this about?”

  He leaned in. “Do you want to know a secret?”

  “Okay...”

  “I’m anxious about tomorrow.”

  I sighed. “So am I.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head against his chest, right over his heart. And then I gasped. “Brande, I forgot to release you from the heart-bind.”

  He had agreed to be placed under it during a time when I wasn’t sure if he was truly helping me or working against me. He accepted the heart-bind, promising to never harm me or betray me. Since then, he had proven himself in every way. If the Tower hadn’t been attacked and the whirlwind of events hadn’t distracted us, I would’ve already released him from the heart-bind.

  “I don’t care about the bind,” he said. “Even without it, you’d still reign over my heart.”

  I smiled. “All right, but why are we outside these doors?”

  He peered into my eyes, and it felt like he was gazing right into my soul. “I’m anxious about tomorrow. We don’t want to think about the possibility of failure, but it’s there. I’ve learned that I never want to live my life in regret, and if anything happens--”

  “It’s going to be okay,” I told him, though my heart held just as much anxiety.

  His voice became firm. “If anything happens to either of us, I don’t want to regret never having completed this.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  He grabbed the handles and pushed the doors open, revealing a conference room. A long table had been pushed to the back along with most of the chairs. Cathana Erin reclined in a seat next to Gregory, and they both stood and greeted us. Gregory looked suspiciously clean-shaven. In front of them stood Father Gabriel with a huge grin on his face.

  Wait a minute--a cleric and two witnesses.

  “Brande, before you do what I think you’re going to do, there’s something I needed to tell you. I have a problem.”

  “Let it wait. Whatever it is, I’ll always be there to help you.” He pulled me along.

  Why did I feel like I didn’t deserve this? Even though this was not what I had dreamed about when I fantasized my wedding, this was still the most beautiful gesture he could’ve given me. I would’ve wanted to wear a dress--not a blouse and trousers. Most importantly, I wanted my family and friends present. What would Mom think? What would my friend Jasmine Léon say? Sh
e had been waiting for this to happen to me, and she was all the way in France, singing and dancing on stage.

  We approached Father Gabriel and stood in front of him, facing each other. We held each other’s hands, and he held a steady grip on mine. My hands were sweaty and shaky.

  “You should’ve told me about this earlier.” I thought about asking him to postpone this, but when I saw the joy in his eyes, I just couldn’t do it.

  “Then you’ll have to let me make it up to you.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  He nodded. Gregory came forward and produced two ring boxes. Brande grabbed one of them, opened it, and slid a diamond ring onto my finger. “I got this for you back in Budapest. I had to ward it to keep you from detecting it.”

  I could taste the pure gold of the rings in the second box. Gregory held onto it and stood aside. I glanced at Cathana with a knowing look--this was probably how she and Joran got married. Cathana said to Father Gabriel, “There’s just one more person we’re waiting on.”

  I leaned in and said to Brande, “If we survive tomorrow, I’m going to want my kind of ceremony, with my family and friends.”

  “Done,” he said.

  “And we still need to talk.”

  “All right.”

  Master Moreau came in with my father. Though he couldn’t see, he still stared straight at me. “I couldn’t sleep,” he said with a wink.

  Moreau led him toward me, and my father gave Brande and me a warm embrace before easing into the nearest seat.

  “Please sign here...” Moreau presented a document and pen to Cathana, who signed as our witness, and then Gregory did the same. Brande and I signed as well. This really was going to be official.

  My father heaved a sigh and said to me, “I’ve missed so many things...from a simple scraped knee to your college graduation. And as fate would have it, I’m here for this. Please...continue.”

  I finally calmed down. The one person who I trusted to help me and stick with me through any hardship was standing before me, ready to bind himself to me in every way. I wanted to do the same, but most of all I didn’t want to fail him.

  I faced Father Gabriel and gave him a nod. “Okay, we’re ready.”

  66

  After our private ceremony, I exchanged hugs with my father and the others. It felt good to see them smile and laugh. A small part of me was tempted to say nothing to Brande and wait; I was happy and caught up in a wonderful moment, and to deliver bad news would be like waking from a joyful dream. However, deep down, I knew that this was something that I couldn’t put off. I needed to tell Brande what happened, and if he didn’t think I was insane, I’d need his help to get out of my entanglement with Ammon.

  I grinned at Father Gabriel, who was the last to leave the conference room. When the door shut, I turned to face Brande and motioned for him to sit with me. “Do you remember that gypsy woman, Delana?”

  He nodded. “Is she all right?”

  I gave a sad smile. “She’s fine. I’m the one who’s not all right.”

  “What is it?”

  “I helped her back in London by engaging in a Confrontation with a demon tethered to her.”

  He gasped. He wasn’t the gasping type. “Did you suddenly pick up a set of skills I’m not aware of?”

  Most wizards avoided Confrontations with demons. We only directly attacked them if we were desperate, filled with an incredible amount of faith, or were trained clergy. I was none of those things, though I was beginning to fit into the desperate category.

  “The exorcist, Maolán Martin, helped us.” I could imagine the grumpy old man sitting across from me, telling me in his Irish accent that I must’ve had rocks rattling around in my head.

  Brande looked relieved. “Good. So why are you still anxious?”

  I wrung my hands. “Because the demon’s back. He’s resolved to take me over because he wants to control my powers.”

  “Then we’ll ask Father Gabriel to help.”

  “I was thinking the same thing, but...there’s more to it than that.”

  There was a knock on the door, and I gritted my teeth. It was hard enough trying to spill all this, and I certainly didn’t need interruptions.

  Izsak poked his head through the doorway and smiled at me. “Isabella, the courier is here. We have the talisman!”

  “Thanks, Izsak. We’ll be down in a moment.”

  Brande squeezed my hand. “We’ll talk to Gabriel tonight. Let’s go downstairs.”

  “But Brande--”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  I sighed and got up, following his lead and heading into the hallway and down the stairs. The seat at the reception desk was empty; the receptionist had retired for the evening. Izsak appeared to have taken over the reception area and already had a steaming cup of tea for Joshua Morton.

  As soon as Joshua saw me, he smiled. Just a little. He wasn’t the type to smile, so this was the equivalent of a declaration of eternal friendship. He gestured toward a warded package sitting on the reception desk. “Here it is,” he said in his gruff voice. He rubbed the stubble on his chin and looked tired around the eyes.

  I grabbed the package and faced him. “Thank you, Joshua.”

  He took a sip of tea. “Thank me when this is all over and we’re still standing.”

  “Fair enough. Did you run into any trouble on your way here?” I doubted the final tracker, Samson Grom, would give up so easily.

  He sighed. “It was nothing I couldn’t handle.”

  I frowned when I tasted the sharp scent of iron from his blood. Somewhere beneath his clothes, he endured an injury. “I’ll...be sure to let Master Moreau know you’re here.”

  “Mr. Morton, it’s good to see you.” Brande shook his hand.

  Joshua let out a low breath. “Well, now that you have the talisman, do you mind if I get a room, a bath, and a bottle of wine?”

  Izsak gestured toward him. “I’ll show you to the guest wing.”

  Joshua walked with a slight limp in his right leg. He followed Izsak to the right and down the hall.

  We took the package down to the basement area, where Master Moreau was completing his preparations. The Master Enchanter had used chalk to draw a circle in the center of the room. He slid the point of the chalk along the floor, creating a long line, and then drew another circle.

  “I’m going to use these lines as guideposts to lay the foundations of my enchantment.” He gestured for me to hand him the package. “I’m not sure if the talisman could support the transfer of a large group of people, since it originally belonged to an individual. I’ll have to use my powers to enhance its effects.”

  “Thank you, Master Moreau. For everything.” I felt his magical energy layering itself over each line, lending them the strength and foundation they needed.

  “Now, let’s take a look at our little beauty.” Moreau opened the package and held his hand over the talisman.

  His fingers lit up with an opalescent glow, and it faded after a few seconds. He placed the talisman in the center circle. The miniature Asclepius wand was made of silver and shaped as a winged rod with a serpent entwined along the length. To the average person, it looked like a simple charm to hang on a chain. I had taken the talisman from a warlock I defeated in Spain, and it would teleport us within the immediate vicinity of the Den.

  Moreau spoke a soft incantation, and the talisman responded. It glowed and shot out a rush of magical energy. He nodded to himself. “It’s activated. I’ll let you know when I’ve actually got it tuned to where it needs to be.”

  Brande wore a satisfied expression. “I’ll call and let the wizards at the other mansion know.”

  I cleared my throat. “Let’s leave Master Moreau to his work.”

  Brande took the hint and left with me. We went upstairs to the main floor and down the hall to the guest wing. We knocked lightly on Father Gabriel’s door. He opened it and admitted us; he even mustered a smile, though I could tell we had woken him u
p.

  “We’re sorry to disturb you so late.” I sat in the wooden chair in the corner and gave an apologetic look.

  Brande sat on the edge of the bed, and Father Gabriel stood across from me. He observed me for a few moments before speaking. “This must be important. What is it that you need to tell me?”

  I drew in a deep breath. “Actually, it’s something I have to tell you both. You know about my Confrontation with Ammon, but what you don’t know is that when my dad and I fought those wizards at the police station, my father was injured to the point of death. He was dying. Ammon appeared and made an offer...”

  I couldn’t look in Brande’s direction, but out of the corner of my eye I could see him rest his head in his hands. Father Gabriel frowned and kept his gaze on me. In a shaky voice, I continued. “The offer was that he’d show me how to save my father, and I’d...give him an hour.”

  “Of what?” I heard Brande’s deep voice ask. I could tell he was upset.

  I felt a pinch between my shoulder blades, and my head began to throb. “Me. He used me as the Drifter. When you all thought I was in bed resting, he took me out at seven o’clock. I destroyed half of Nuremberg Castle.”

  Father Gabriel slowly blinked and shook his head in disbelief. “This is Ammon’s motif. He has a pattern.”

  Brande interjected. “Are you saying you were possessed for an hour?”

  I finally turned to face him. “I...could sense what was happening, but I couldn’t control what I did or said. I suppose that’s what it was. I tried telling you earlier, but everything started happening so quickly and...I completely screwed up.”

  “Whatever happens,” Father Gabriel said as he waved his hand emphatically through the air, “whatever offer he makes next, do not accept it. Do not make any further agreements with him. Even if he has all of us roasting over a fire pit, do not accept any further offers. Promise me this.”

  It almost scared me how authoritative his voice had become. Usually Gabriel was the soft-spoken cleric with a sense of humor and gracious smile. Now, I was afraid he’d threaten me with his silver sword.