Blood Oath (A Gabby Girls Adventure Novel, Book Two)

by T. L. Clarke

  "Drago, please don’t make me choose between you and the Fire Conclave. Just do what has been ordered by the conclaves."

  He started to argue with her, but stopped cold when her eyes narrowed with displeasure.

  "Fine, I’ll follow the conclaves’ orders." He smiled with malice. "But don’t forget all of my stipulations. And all of them must be fulfilled, or the deal is off." He spat, "And you better find a way to get her over here fast, so that she can start Elementi Warrior training."

  She looked away, smiling coldly. "Leave that to me. Just do your duty, little brother, and do not fail. Remember, our lives depend on your success or failure."

  chapter

  SEVENTEEN

  I walked quickly across the courtyard, breathing in the fresh night air calmingly, slowing my pace as I walked toward the gardens instead of going back to the dorms. Something about the gardens seemed so welcoming, and the more I walked, the calmer I became. I found myself standing in Grandma Celeste’s favorite spot, so I sat down quickly. I now understood why this spot was so special. At night, it was dark and secluded, giving me the full view of the lush gardens.

  I leaned against the thicket of flowers and vines, relishing the peace and the aromatic scent of roses. Then I suddenly heard the approaching mumbling in the darkness. My eyes narrowed, searching through the darkness, spotting the approaching figures, and I hoped that they couldn’t see me as I held my breath.

  I didn’t recognize them because the darkness of the night enveloped them, but as my eyes adjusted to the pitch-black, I could clearly see that it was a guy and girl strolling through the gardens. The girl suddenly stopped, reaching up on her toes to kiss him passionately. She eagerly leaned against him, wrapping her arms around him, but puzzlingly, he just stood there, frozen, not responding to her at all. Then I heard a guttural sound that erupted from his throat as he lifted her up, kissing her back passionately. They leaned against the tree, going at each other like crazed people.

  I scooted back nervously, feeling like a pervert because I couldn’t escape without being seen. So, I just sat there, paralyzed, watching some serious and embarrassing PDA, when I heard the crunching of branches and leaves as someone walked up behind me. Panicking, I looked around frantically.

  "Relax, it’s just me."

  I sagged with relief; it was Justice standing behind me with his hands shoved in his jeans pockets, looking at me suspiciously.

  "What are you doing here?" I whispered frantically.

  He looked at me suspiciously. "I’m taking a long walk to clear my mind. What are you doing here?"

  I looked at him with embarrassment, pointing to the couple kissing against the tree. "I’m stuck here, and I can’t leave without being seen by them."

  His eyes narrowed, and then his face hardened. "Jeez, get a room, why don’t you?" He sat down quietly beside me.

  "They just appeared out of nowhere and started going at each other, but I can’t make out who they are."

  He laughed coldly. "Chaos and Thallo."

  "Really?"

  I focused my gaze, and he was right. It was them. My heart squeezed momentarily. "I guess the rumors were true after all. They are together."

  His gray eyes quickly searched my face. "That won’t last long. Chaos never keeps them for long. He’s too obsessed with climbing the Ares ladder to be saddled with a girlfriend. Well, on second thought, it’s Thallo that we’re talking about, and she’s has been hunting him for a while, and everyone knows, what Thallo wants, Thallo gets," he responded bitterly.

  My eyes narrowed at the pure bitterness that laced his voice. "You sure know a lot about Chaos."

  "Oh, I know him real well being that he’s my older brother."

  That’s why Justice looked so familiar; he reminded her of a younger Chaos.

  "Wow, that’s a whole lot to live up to, huh?"

  "More than you know." He settled back comfortably. "Well, since I’m here, I might as all well enjoy the show. Maybe I’ll pick up some good pointers to use on the ladies" he smirked, winking at me.

  I gave him a menacing look. "If you touch me, I’ll break your arms."

  He laughed mockingly. "Who said I was talking about you, first leveler?"

  I bristled. And continued to look at Chaos and Thallo engrossed in kissing. "Seriously, this is so wrong. We’re actually sitting here watching them make out."

  He scoffed, "What do you want us to do? We can’t move without getting caught. So, like I said, sit back and enjoy the show."

  I rolled my eyes with exasperation. He was right. If they got caught by Thallo and Chaos, it would look totally disgusting, like they were deliberately spying on them. At least this way they would be bound to finish real soon and no one would be the wiser. Or at least I hoped.

  Thallo laughed, grabbing Chaos’s hair roughly. "Come on now. Stop the games, Chaos. This is inevitable."

  He swooped down and kissed her neck roughly.

  I cleared my suddenly dry throat uncomfortably. Chaos stopped cold, peering through the darkness like an eagle. His mouth suddenly tightened, and I immediately knew that he saw us. Thallo was so busy groping him that she didn’t even notice our exchange.

  I held my breath as Chaos stared at me piercingly.

  "Don’t look now, but I think we’ve just been spotted," Justice whispered loudly.

  While I was quietly plotting my escape, Justice just sat there indifferently. "We’ve got to run," I replied with a panicked voice.

  His gray eyes narrowed. "Why? He’s already spotted us, so there’s no sense in running. Anyway, I have nothing to run for; I’m just sitting here with a very pretty first leveler, enjoying the scenery."

  "Uh, what? Are you crazy?" My voice squeaked.

  Chaos pushed Thallo aside, striding over to the middle of the garden. "Okay, you two, out!" he barked.

  Justice smirked, "Seems like Chaos is a little bit angry. Shall we go see what his problem is?" He jumped up and strode over to Chaos nonchalantly.

  I looked at him with annoyance. What’s wrong with him? He thinks that this is some sort of game.

  Chaos looked at me angrily. "I know that’s you, Gabrielle. Get over here."

  I bristled. How dare he bark orders at me like I did something wrong when it was him and Thallo practically pawing each other like animals in the wild?

  I strode out, walking over him to him angrily. When I reached him, Thallo was standing by his side, looking at me curiously, and Justice…well, he was standing there with a not-too-innocent look on his face. And Chaos was absolutely thunderous as a muscle in his jaw flexed.

  Chaos’s eyes narrowed as he looked from Justice to me. "What were you two doing back there?" he asked frostily.

  I almost cringed at the coldness in his tone. "What?" I looked at him, confused.

  He scoffed, giving me a look of disgust. "I think the question was clear, Gabi. What…were…you…doing back there?" His tone was icy cold.

  "Huh?"

  I was scratching my head on this one when Justice gave me the sexiest smile ever. I looked over at Chaos, who was so angry that he was actually shaking. That’s when I put it together; my eyes opened with realization.

  "Oh!" He actually thought that Justice and I were making out in the dark. "I know that you are not accusing me of anything."

  Then Justice did the unthinkable. He pulled me into an embrace, rubbing his hand along my back slowly. "We have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, Gabi." He winked at me playfully.

  I just stood there in shock.

  Chaos’s eyes flashed angrily. "Both of you should be more concerned with training instead of doing God knows what back there. I advise you both to get back to your rooms right now."

  The tone of his voice spurred me to action. I pushed Justice away, giving him a look that could kill. "First of all, don’t talk to me like that. We weren’t the ones out here practically ripping each other’s clothes off in the middle the garden like some hard-up teens." I scrunched my nose up with
disgust as I looked at Thallo pointedly. "By the way, Thallo, way skanky."

  A laugh escaped from Justice, but was cut off by Thallo’s deadly glare.

  I continued. "Second, I’ll go back to my room when I’m good and ready."

  His eyes narrowed, and I realized a little too late that I triggered something ugly in him. Chaos moved so fast, barely a blur, as he caught me in his hands, cupping my neck like I was some sort of disobedient puppy. "Don’t disobey me, Gabi. Just don’t go there, not now," he snarled.

  I was frozen with shock as he forced me to look into his now-coal-black eyes. Why was he so angry? I didn’t even have time to respond before I was whipped out of his hands in another blur of movement by Justice as he shoved me behind him protectively.

  Chaos growled.

  Justice stood firm. "I wouldn’t do that if I was you," he said, giving Chaos a look like he was ready to pounce and rip his throat out. "You’re taking this Guardian thing a little too seriously, Chaos, by getting all emotional like some jealous boyfriend."

  Chaos and Justice squared off angrily, raring to fight.

  Chaos growled. His eyes were deadly. "Don’t do this, Justice. Don’t put her in the middle of something that’s just between you and me." A muscle in his jaw pulsed.

  I stepped out from behind Justice, shivering, but not from the cold. They both looked feral, deadly. It was like a whole different side of them had been revealed, and this side scared the bejesus out of me.

  Justice laughed coldly. "Brother, you know that Gabi has everything to do with this, with us; our destiny is locked, and it’s all because of her." He looked over at me with eyes black as coal, almost soulless.

  I actually stepped further away from him with confusion. The sheer power that emanated from him cast a shimmering net of energy around me that was sapping my body, making me nauseatingly weak.

  Chaos leapt at Justice, grabbing him by the throat. "Stop it, Justice. Leave her alone. You don’t have to answer to the call of the Taint."

  Thrown into uncontrollable defense mode, I pushed my hands out, sending the energy back, breaking its hold on me.

  Justice shook his head like he was trying to wake up from some sort of dream, his eyes going from black back to light gray. "Don’t I? Maybe I’m not as strong as you to resist it. Maybe I don’t have as much as you do to keep me from it." He pulled out of Chaos’s grip, standing with fists tight and body shaking with unleashed rage.

  Thallo’s face tightened as she looked at me with a look of utter disgust and blame. She pushed me away as if I was the problem that needed to go away. "Enough! Gabrielle and Justice, get back to your rooms now!"

  I looked at her with resentment, but didn’t say anything. I knew that I shouldn’t have been in this very explosive situation. But I wanted to rip her throat out because of the way she was looking at me, confrontational, catty, like I was in her way.

  I grabbed Justice’s sleeve. "Come on, let’s go."

  Justice pulled away, giving Chaos a menacing stare.

  I shut my eyes, running my hand over my face. "It’s not worth getting into trouble, Justice."

  Chaos’s gaze never left Justice. "Yes, you better listen to the little Circle, Justice. She’s trying to save you from getting a well-deserved thrashing."

  Justice growled, taking a step toward him. I touched his shoulder gently; Justice swung around, but when he saw my pleading look, he exhaled loudly as I looped my arm through his and gently tugged. "Come on."

  We turned around and strode away from Chaos and Thallo. When we reached the edge of the garden, I could hear Chaos and Thallo arguing furiously in low tones. I smirked; obviously all was not well in lovers’ land.

  We walked toward the castle in complete silence. When we reached the edge of the courtyard, I stopped short, rounding angrily on him. "Look, I don’t know what family drama is going on between you and Chaos, but leave me out of it, okay?"

  He looked at me innocently. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, first leveler."

  I crossed my arms in front of me. "Oh, you don’t, huh? You all but said that you and I were making out in the dark, and you know that will never happen," I said with an icy voice.

  Justice stepped close to me, his chest brushing against my body. "Never? I don’t know about that," he said with a very husky voice.

  I pushed his chest with disgust, then threw my arms up. "I give up; just leave me out of your family drama. I don’t want any issues with Chaos."

  His face tightened. "Oh, I see, you still think that you have a shot with him," he laughed mockingly. "Be careful, first leveler. Chaos is not the type you want to tangle with."

  I pointed my finger in his chest. "You know full well that this has nothing to do with getting with Chaos." My face twisted angrily.

  I was so tired of all this cloak-and-dagger mystery stuff. I wanted answers, and now. "What was that whole thing about us and destiny?"

  His eyes clouded over, his face tight. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

  I stepped in closer, not letting him escape. "Oh, you don’t know what I’m talking about?" I grabbed the front of his shirt with trembling hands. "You said it. You said that I have something to do with your and Chaos’s destiny, and I want to know what."

  He looked back at me blankly.

  I was one fine step away from going hysterical, and once I passed that line, it was going to turn ugly.

  "Right now, Justice."

  I pushed him, angry that everyone was hiding things from me that had everything that had to do with my life. No more secrets, I was tired of secrets. I shoved him again with more strength than I thought I had. He stepped back with a smirk on his face, and that was it, my breaking point. I flicked my hand, sending a spark of white energy over his head. Justice jumped back, shocked.

  I looked down at my now-trembling hands. Where had that come from? Sheer rage was rolling over my body, uncontrollable rage, first slow, simmering, pressing me to unleash something that I knew was really bad.

  Justice’s eyes softened as he grabbed my hands. "Don’t, Gabi. Let it go. Let the anger go. I apologize, okay?"

  My breath slowed, calmed. "What’s happening to me?" I looked at him scared out of my mind. "Look, I get it, there are things going on that maybe I shouldn’t know…right now…but please just tell me something, like what by the goddess is the Taint?"

  He sighed, looking away, then back at me cautiously. "It’s short for the ‘Tainted,’ as in tainted blood." He swallowed hard. "The Tainted are children born from a parent that’s a Banished."

  I stepped back. Did he know about my father? My eyes opened wide with fear.

  He stepped in closer, leaving little space between us. "The Tainted have the blood of the dark Underworld coursing through their veins, the mark of the Underworld, which can be claimed at any time."

  "What is the claim?" I croaked.

  He looked at me darkly. "It’s the call to serve as the Underworld’s foot soldier."

  I avoided his penetrating stare, swallowing hard. "Uh, but what does that have to do with you and Chaos?"

  "Because Chaos and I are considered Tainted. Our father is a Banished."

  Oh, by the goddess, my head was swimming. I actually swayed toward him, causing him to wrap his arms around me strongly. I tried to step back quickly, but he tightened his hold, placing his chin on the top of my head; his closeness was confusing me even more, and I started to actually nuzzle into the warmth of his chest.

  Why hadn’t Grandma Celeste told me that I was considered a Tainted? My hands trembled angrily and pushed against his chest hard. Why was everyone keeping information from me? It was like they were all hell-bent on telling half the story.

  Something flashed across his eyes. "You won’t get infected with the Taint by touching me, first leveler," he sneered.

  "Huh?" I looked up at him surprised, forgetting that he was even there for a minute. "So your father is a Banished? What about your mother?"

  He sho
ved his hands into his jeans pockets angrily. "My mother," he spat like it was distasteful, "is the head of the Conclave of Boreus—earth. And my father…was the king of the Ares Warriors."

  I looked at him with shocked eyes. Now, some of the pieces were fitting together, not all of them, but some. "So King Helios is your uncle?"

  His mouth twisted sardonically. "Finally, the first leveler got it. It took you long enough."

  I rolled my eyes. "You do know that you’re a giant butt? Jeez, relax. Why didn’t they just tell me? What’s the big secret?"

  He scoffed, "If you haven’t noticed, this whole world is about secrets. Wake up, first leveler; do you actually think that they’ll tell you everything? They want to keep you fumbling in the dark; it’s more fun that way. The gods are up there playing games with our lives like one big chess game. The Eternals and Elementi are just pawns…disposable. Just remember that."

  I jammed my hands on my hips. "Why are you looking at me like that? Like I’m so ridiculously naive?"

  He ran his hands through his chocolate brown hair, tousling it even more. "Because you are. Wake up, Gabi. Look around you." He gestured around him. "You mean absolutely nothing to them. They’ll use you and spit you out in a blink of an eye. Stop being so darn naive."

  I poked him in the chest. "Uh, don’t talk to me like that. Ever."

  He just laughed at me like I was some sort of joke.

  "Ugh, I give up." I swiveled on my heels and stormed away.

  "Night, first leveler," he screamed after me.

  I shook my head with disgust. "Whatever."

  chapter

  EIGHTEEN

  Brooklyn grumbled, flopping down tiredly in the middle of the C-Yard to lace up her boots. "Seriously, we probably shouldn’t have stayed out so late. I’m so ready to just sleep right here. Just come back for me later and pick me up for lunch."