“Ahh, so the cat is out of the bag,” laughed Carmelo.
Gabriel nodded and said, “Well, it's funny that you should use those words exactly Carmelo because I believe that the cat is quite literally out of the bag... I believe that Tabitha here is, in fact, of the feline variety.”
Jo moved forward to sit at the foot of the bed, clearly curious. Carmelo followed, standing behind her with his hands lovingly on her shoulders.
Tabitha sat on one side of the bed and I sat on the other.
Gabriel took a sip of his tea and then handed it to me to put down.
“I believe Tabitha is part of our family.”
We all gasped.
“But how?” I asked.
“Tabitha has kindly filled me in on her life but it wasn't until she mentioned, right at the very end, the name of her mother... Lori,” he said and he turned to look at her, “that's why you looked so familiar to me when you first arrived. You are Rose's grandchild, Tabitha. You are Lilly's second cousin.”
And we both shrieked and laughed and leaned over Gabriel to hug each other.
“That means that Lori is still alive!” I gasped, “We must return home to tell Rose.”
“This is wonderful news, Gabriel. Would you like me to send news to Rose?” asked Carmelo.
But Gabriel declined, “I think this is something that needs to be done in person by Tabitha and Lilly. But thank you, Carmelo. In the meantime, I need to decide what I am going to do. And you, Carmelo, and you, Jo, need to decide what you are going to do too. If you understand my meaning.”
Jo turned to look at Carmelo and he smiled down at her.
“Perhaps you would like to discuss this in private?” asked Gabriel.
“Well, actually. We've already decided,” Jo answered quietly, “I am going to go home and finish high school and then I am going to return to live with Carmelo and help with the Elders,” she said and Gabriel smiled.
“That is a wise decision, my dear. It also gives your parents a few months to come to terms with this situation and to accept Carmelo into the family... but don't look so worried Jo, I believe that your parents will understand. After all, this family has a long history of love at first sight,” he chuckled.
His earlier words hadn't gone amiss with me and I asked nervously, “But what about you, Gabriel? What do you mean you need to decide what to do?” as I remembered that the Elders had invited Gabriel to live with them in the mountains.
“We will leave you two alone for now, Gabriel. So you can talk,” said Carmelo as he, Jo and Tabitha walked out of the room. At the same time I heard Tabitha asking Jo if she could tell her a little about Rose.
“So what did you mean, Gabriel?”
“Lilly, I already knew that I would one day come and be with the Elders. I just thought that it wouldn't be for a few more years but since this has happened to me, I feel like an old man. I don't think I will ever fully recover from the fall. I think you know that too,” he said sadly. “This is my destiny and I have therefore decided not to return home with you.”
I sobbed, not just because he wasn't coming home, but because Vivian had hurt us once more. She had injured my grandfather and although he would recover, his body would never be as it once was.
“What am I going to do without you?”
“You'll be fine. You'll be absolutely fine. And with your amazing ability, you can come and visit me whenever you want to, okay?”
I nodded sadly. “But what will I tell the people in town?”
“I will give you letters to give to my close friends. I will tell them that I had to move away to take care of an elderly relative in the north. They will understand.”
“But what about Ben? He'll be devastated,” I whispered.
“I will tell him the same thing. He will get over it. He is young.”
I knew he would, but he would be hurt not to see Gabriel for one last time. Not to be able to say goodbye. I knew how he would feel and I didn't want him to have to go through that.
“Through you, we can exchange letters. Then it won't be so bad for him, okay?” and I agreed.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Three days later, we were ready to set off home but there was one thing I needed to do before I left. I asked Carmelo if I could see Vivian. Although he wasn't keen, he did understand that I needed some kind of closure. And since coming to Canada, I had changed. Not only was I turning into a young woman, but I had also become much stronger and I felt the need to stand up to her once more.
“It is very cold where she is being held beneath the mountains. You will need a cape or a coat to keep you warm,” said Carmelo.
“Here, have mine, Lilly. I will wait up here until you come back up,” said Jo as she removed the coat she had put on in readiness for our departure.
I took it and wrapped it around my shoulders before I followed Carmelo and a few others deep down into the mountain where she and Charlie were being held until their trial.
“What will happen to Charlie?” I asked him.
“Some of our witches are working on a spell to try and undo the curse she has placed on him. If we can do so, we will return him to his original self and he will be set free, although he will have no memory of what happened to him,” I wasn't sure I liked the idea. He was responsible for seriously injuring my grandfather after all.
“Lilly, please remember that this poor man was not responsible. He has been changed at the hands of one of the most evil witches we have ever seen. If we change him back, he will be a different man. We cannot hold him responsible. However, if we cannot reverse the curse, we will have no choice but to hold him accountable with his mistress, Vivian.”
Charlie was being held in a cell beneath the mountain. It was clean and comfortable and he was being fed and looked after. As I peered through the tight bars, I tried to see him as the man he used to be. An Englishman who had been kidnapped and cursed and forced to do the most evil things. I suddenly had a vision of London all those months before when my father and Vivian had vanished, I had a flash of a newspaper headline, 'Entrepreneur Charles Austen Missing'. I wondered if this could be the same man.
“Charles? Charles Austen?” I said gingerly, hoping for a response.
Charlie looked up and for a second there was recognition in his eyes.
I explained this to Carmelo, who assured me that it might help the witches return him to his former self and I felt some relief. I knew I couldn't lay the blame with the poor man. Full responsibility was with the witch who was being held even deeper into the mountain. Even with Jo's coat enveloping me, I felt chilly and shivered as we approached another cell which was smaller and not quite as comfortable as Charlie's. There were several people outside on guard, but from what I could see, there was little need. Vivian was still pining for her beauty. The looks that would probably never return, thanks to me.
She sat curled up on the floor in the corner, even though there was a perfectly comfortable bed. As she looked up, I saw that the scar had returned to her face. The scar given to her years ago by my brave sister just seconds before her death.
She sat rocking backwards and forwards like a little child, repeating the same words over and over again.
“I am beautiful, I am beautiful, I am beautiful...”
“No, Vivian, you're not beautiful. Not at all,” I said, wanting to inflict more pain. “You will never be beautiful again. I've seen to that. You will spend the rest of your life ugly. You have whiskers on your face, hair on your hands and a scar that will never disappear. You deserve even more suffering for what you have done. You deserve to rot in hell.”
In what seemed like less than a split second, Vivian was standing inches from me. Her fingers had poked through the bars of the cell and she had seemingly picked something from the coat I was wearing. I looked at her face and saw that her eyes had turned red. She was whispering something, something incomprehensible. A spell.
“No!” I screamed.
Carmelo moved lik
e the speed of light towards us, he opened the cell quickly and grabbed her, holding her by her neck up against the wall. She could barely speak and I feared that it was too late. What spell was she trying to cast?
He loosened his grip for just a second and she began to laugh, an evil sound that echoed throughout the mountain.
“Too late,” were her final words before he tightened his grip. I heard a crack and her head flopped to one side. She was dead.
But it was not over. A scream was heard from the top of the steps and a desperate voice shouted, “Carmelo, Lilly, hurry!”
Running as fast as I could, I dreaded to think what we would see when we reached the top. But I knew that it must be Jo. She had been standing there waiting for us. She had given me her own coat and Vivian had removed something. A hair.
Tabitha was crouching down, holding Jo's body in her arms, “She just collapsed. She said she couldn't breathe and she collapsed. Do something. Quick. She's dying!” she cried.
I couldn't see straight. The image before me made me feel physically sick. Jo was going to die. It was Vivian's ultimate revenge. The death of a loved one. Perhaps she had thought that I would die. She probably thought it was my hair she had taken. She was wrong. It was Jo. My lovely cousin Jo was on her deathbed.
I cried, sobbing loudly while Carmelo held her in his arms as the life slowly drifted from her body.
“Carmelo!” shouted a familiar voice. Gabriel. “Carmelo, you must save her. You know what to do. It's the only way. Carmelo... you must. It is meant to be.”
I was confused, how could she be saved? She was on the brink of death. Seconds until Jo no longer existed in this world.
Carmelo turned to look at me, “I'm sorry,” he whispered before he leaned forward and took her arm to his lips and bit her gently, then harder until I could see her blood drip onto the ground.
I couldn't take in what was happening and before I knew what was going on, my vision blurred and I fell to the ground.
CHAPTER THIRTY
“Lilly, Lilly,” said a soft voice as I felt a damp cloth being dabbed across my forehead. I looked up to see Tabitha smiling down at me. Zoltan stood at her side.
I had been carefully laid on the bed in which I had slept the last few nights. Confused, “How did I get here?” I asked and then I turned my head to see the empty bed to my side.
“Jo!” I shouted and jumped up. I suddenly had a vision of her death and I felt like I'd been kicked hard in the stomach. It almost winded me and I had to sit back down again.
“I'm so sorry, Lilly. Carmelo had no choice. It was the only way she could live,” Tabitha said as I recalled seeing Jo being bitten by a vampire, the vampire that loved her.
“I'm okay,” I said, “can I see her?” I asked.
Zoltan shook his head, “They won't let anyone see her for a while. She needs some time to adjust to the change. They're not quite sure how it's going to work, her being a changeling and all.”
I told them I needed to see Gabriel and so we walked to where he was waiting, sitting in a large armchair outside the door of the room where Jo was being cared for.
“Oh Gabriel,” I said when I saw him. I rushed to his side and knelt down, putting my head on his knee.
“There there. Don't worry, she'll be fine. I'm just sorry you had to see that,” he said reassuringly.
“It's all my fault, Gabriel. I wanted to see Vivian for the last time. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone down there to speak to her.” He gently stroked my back and assured me that it wasn't my fault at all.
“It would have happened one way or another, Lilly. At least Jo is alive, in a manner of speaking. And this, this is something that she would have eventually wanted. She would have asked Carmelo to do it. Don't blame yourself, Lilly. Don't do that.”
I heard noises from the other side of the door, and then it opened and Carmelo walked out, closing it behind him. He looked sad. My stomach twisted, fearing the worst.
“Jo is going to be fine,” he said. “Lilly, I'm so sorry. I hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me.”
I stood up and stepped towards him. I put my arms around him and hugged him tightly, “Carmelo, there is nothing to forgive. You saved Jo. That is what matters. I just wish I hadn't wanted to speak to Vivian. This may never have happened otherwise,” I whispered.
“Lilly!” shouted a voice from the other side of the door. Although it sounded like Jo, the voice was slightly different, smoother somehow but in pain. “Lilly!” she yelled again.
Gabriel looked concerned, “Is it safe Carmelo? Surely not so soon?” he asked.
Carmelo explained that when somebody becomes a vampire, they usually need weeks, sometimes months or more, to adjust to the transformation. They have a thirst for blood that cannot be quenched until they have mastered the art of control.
“So at this stage, Gabriel, no, it is not safe,” he added.
“But she wants to see me, and I want to see her,” I said, stepping forward and putting my hand on the key to unlock it.
“No!” Gabriel yelled, “No, Lilly. I will not lose you,” and he tried to stand up. He was very weak though and he struggled.
“Gabriel, please. If Carmelo comes in with me, and perhaps Ursula, I'll be safe. I need to see her. I'll be safe,” and he nodded his head and gave in. Tabitha knelt by his side and took his hand in hers tightly and they sat and waited patiently while I turned, took a deep breath and opened the door.
Jo was lying on a bed, handcuffed. I was sure though that if she really became desperate she could easily break them off her wrists. I'd heard how strong vampires could be.
I stepped further in and whispered her name.
She turned to look at me, “Lilly,” she cried. She looked as if she was in a lot of pain and it hurt me to see her like that.
Even in pain, she looked absolutely stunning. The combination of vampire, woman and raven had an extraordinary effect on her. She was beautiful before, but now everything about her beauty was increased a hundred fold. Her black hair had grown longer and even darker, if that was at all possible. Her blue eyes had turned so deep in colour that even though they continued to be blue, they were almost black. Her pale skin sparkled and her nails had become like talons.
“Jo... I'm so sorry,” I whispered.
Jo shook her head, “Lilly, eventually, this is what I would have wanted. I wanted to be with Carmelo and this would have been the only way. It was just sooner than I thought it would be, that's all,” and she squirmed and winced again. “Vivian is dead now. That's what really matters. When I can, I will come home, okay?” and I nodded as the tears rolled again. “Lilly... thank you. Tell my family I love them and that I will be home when I can. Please tell them the truth. Tell them they can't come here until I have control, okay? I love you Lilly and I will see you soon,” and she tried to wink at me. “Now go... please go,” she said as she pulled uncontrollably on the handcuffs, while Carmelo and Ursula held her down.
“I love you too Jo. I will see you soon,” and I tried to smile as Ursula moved towards the door and opened it, ushering me out as I attempted to hold back the tears.
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
I had been home for just over three weeks. It was strange living in the house without Gabriel, but I had accepted the fact that he was meant to be with the Elders and I would see him soon. Sammy and I had decided that once Jo was strong enough to come back to see us all, we would return with her to visit the Elders, Gabriel in particular. We had decided that we would leave at night and travel together as mountain lion and raven. Well, part raven.
I had hoped that when Vivian had died, her curse on Sammy would automatically be lifted. Even the witches with the Elders had said that the curse should disappear but when I finally returned home, Sammy was still the same. A man with two big black beautiful wings. Wings to be proud of, I told him at the time. We were all confused why the curse had not been dropped, but nobody had the answer.
The curse on Charlie, however, had been lifted and he was now a free man. Carmelo saw to it that he had found his way back to London safely. I had seen his return home on the news on TV. He maintained that he had absolutely no idea what had happened to him or where he had been.
His family were shocked and amazed when he came home safe and well and I was happy for him. Truly. Vivian was responsible, not him.
I was adjusting to life without Gabriel at home. It was a strange time in my life, especially considering that Sammy and I were now living in his house with two house guests... Tabitha and Zoltan had moved in, making it an unusual household – a changeling, a werewolf, part raven part human and a potential changeling in the making! Although we were an odd combination of people, we got on tremendously well together.
Rose had been ecstatic to see me when I came back. She told me that she had been so worried and hugged me tightly. I had decided not to mention my momentous discovery until Tabitha was there with me. I knew she would arrive a day later so Rose and I just enjoyed some time together, just the two of us. We spoke about Gabriel, Jo and Carmelo and of Vivian's death. When I left her that night, I was so excited about what would happen the next day.
I had knocked on Rose's front door later the following day and greeted her with a hug before she noticed I wasn't alone.
“I've brought someone to meet you, Rose,” and Tabitha stepped forward with the biggest grin on her face. Rose's face changed immediately and she had to sit down, “Oh my goodness,” she said, knowing immediately that she had a strong connection with this young girl.
“This is Tabitha... your granddaughter.”
Rose let out a gasp, both her hands moving to her cheeks.
“My... granddaughter? You are Lori's child?” she whispered and Tabitha nodded. Crying, Rose stood up, steadied herself and took her in her arms. “Lori is alive?” she asked and again, Tabitha nodded and smiled. “I have a picture of her,” and she put her hands in her coat pocket and pulled out a small wallet. Opening it, she revealed the face of a woman smiling happily and Rose began to cry tears of joy as she hugged her long lost granddaughter for what seemed like ages.
When Darkness Falls - Six Paranormal Novels in One Boxed Set Page 132