Shaking his head, Will grunted. “You’re not my father. I don’t even know you.”
“I’d like to change that.”
Will spread his feet apart, braced for a possible attack. “I think it’s a little late to play daddy, given our timetable with the end of the world and all. How about you say what you have to say, then leave?”
“I want to help you. Why won’t you hear me out?”
“My entire life you’ve known who I was, so the way I see it, you’ve missed plenty of opportunities. I found out the truth on my own, no thanks to you. If I’d known weeks ago, we might not be in this situation right now. Emma would have Jake and we’d have the advantage over Aiden.”
“I told you it couldn’t happen that way. There were rules.”
Will shook his head in disgust. “You people and your fucking rules.”
Reaching a hand toward Will, Marcus’s eyes softened. “We are your people, Will. Like it or not. You’re one of us.”
With a glare, Will pointed a finger at Marcus. “No. I’m nothing like you egocentric dickheads. I have one goal: save Emma, Jake and myself.”
Marcus’s voice lowered. “You can’t save all three of you. You know that.”
Panic threatened to swamp Will’s senses before he shoved it away. The dream had told him there would only be two, but he’d hoped to find a way around that rule. If there was an answer to this, it was probably in the book. The book that Will had let Alex take. The sooner he found Alex, the better. “We’re all caught up, so I’ve got to go.”
“Patience, Will. This game has lasted millenniums.”
“True, but you’ve have thousands of years to get used to it all. I’ve got about a week to figure this out and save the world.”
Taking a step backward, Marcus glanced toward the cabin. “I’m glad you finally see the bigger perspective.” His gaze swung to Will’s face. “I know you love Emma, but she’s one life. Thousands, millions are at stake.”
While he’d suspected it was true, Marcus’s confirmation chilled his blood. “This game has gone on for centuries with little consequence to humanity. Why would that change now?”
“Aiden’s a showman. He likes the big bangs and the flashy lights. He wants a large-scale production. Not to mention he wants more of a fresh start than just a new daughter. He wants to recreate the world. Then there’s Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum to consider.”
“Raphael and Alex.”
Marcus smirked. “They have their own agendas, besides saving their own skins. They’re both thinking long-term here. Are you?”
The question caught Will by surprise. “Long-term?”
“You need a goal besides survival. You need to be prepared for after the battle.”
“Prepared for what?”
“Prepared to rule the world.”
Will laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Marcus’s face twisted into a scowl. “I’m deadly serious. The winners, the survivors, rule. It’s best to have a plan in place so you can implement it immediately. After a major battle between the elements, the world’s liable to be out of whack.”
“So you say I need to fight for the survival of the world. What if I say my priority is Emma’s survival?”
“And of course your own.”
Will hoped to survive, but he wouldn’t tell Marcus that his long-term plan focused on keeping Emma and Jake alive. “I still don’t get why you created me. After all this time. What’s my purpose?”
“To double my chances of succeeding.”
“You mean taking over the world.”
“I mean restoring balance.”
While that might be partially true, Will knew there was more to it. “Nice try, Marcus, but you’ll need to do better than that.”
Marcus leaned his shoulder against a tree, the leaves overhead still smoldering. “I met Jake, did I mention that?”
That caught Will by surprise. “When?”
“He was with Aiden.”
“Why are you bringing Jake into this?”
“Not only do you need to think about after the game is done, but also who the players will be. Everyone will be forced to participate but each element must be represented.”
“What does that have to do with Jake?”
“How will Emma behave if Jake is one of the four? What if it’s down to the three of you?”
Will didn’t want to consider it. If he could ensure that the three of them were in the final battle, he’d only have to eliminate the fourth participant and convince Emma or Jake to kill him.
“Jake is the son of two elements. And every element must be represented.”
“He’s taking Alex’s place,” Will whispered.
Marcus’s eyes lit up “Of course, technically he could take Emma’s place instead. But then that would mean that Aiden would be eliminated by the final battle. How likely is that?”
The blood rushed from Will’s head and pooled in his feet. “He’s just a little boy.”
Marcus shrugged with a frown. “Some of us are unwilling participants.”
“So three elements have children to be their stand-ins, but what about Raphael? He’s on his own?”
“Unless he dredges up a child somewhere, but that would surprise me. He truly did love Emmanuella. In his own twisted way.”
Will swallowed his fear. “Four shall fight, two shall remain. You’re telling me I either have to kill Emma or her five-year-old son. What kind of sick monster are you?”
“I told you that I didn’t make those rules. That’s not how I prefer it.”
“But the voice in the dream said that all would fight and two would remain.”
Marcus’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “Yes, even the best-laid plans get altered. While the original intent was to have children represent the elements, the shadow realm intervened.”
Will’s back stiffened. “So who represents Water?”
“If one of us kills Raphael, he could stand in his place. Or one of the other elements. Who knows what will happen between now and then?”
“Who spoke in our dream? Who changed the rules?”
“The shadows. They rarely insert themselves into such matters, but when they do, they are not to be ignored.”
“I thought you ruled the shadow world. If you rule them, how can they issue rules?”
“Some things aren’t governed. The best you can hope for is to keep them in check. There is no ruling the shadows. Our goal is to keep them contained.”
“And if they’re let loose?”
“That’s part of the reason Aiden conceded to my demands. With the weakened powers of the elements, the shadows are close to escaping. If they’re let loose, gods help us all.”
Will shook his head in disgust. “I don’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth. I don’t trust you.”
“I’ve never given you reason not to.”
“You’ve never given me a reason that I should.”
An exaggerated sigh heaved Marcus’s chest. “I’m not the only one you should question. Why is Emma still alive? Why didn’t she try to kill Alex?” Marcus’s voice lowered. “I saw their encounter. Emma had the chance to attack Alex and she didn’t take it. Instead she practically handed him the book and he let her go. That doesn’t make sense. His best offense for the end is to eliminate all competition, yet he let you both live. You, I understand—he hadn’t tested your powers yet. But Emma…”
“Shut the fuck up, Marcus.”
“I’m not saying Emma did anything wrong. Maybe she froze up with fear, but at least consider the alternatives.”
“What possible reason would Emma have to join forces with Alex?”
“I can name one. Jake.”
Will shook his head. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Emma has made no secret what her main goal is: Jake. Alex might try to use that to his advantage.”
“You obviously don’t know Emma. She wouldn’t side with Alex after wha
t he did to her.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Marcus shrugged. “Just something to think about.” He took a step toward Will. “I think that’s enough for one night. Be careful from here on out.” Turning, he walked away, looking over his shoulder. “Watch out for the shadows. They aren’t to be trusted.”
“The shadows?”
But Marcus left without an explanation.
***
Antonia found Jake under an oak tree after his morning practice session with Aiden, tears streaming down his face. She settled on the ground next to him, resting her hands in her lap. Jake liked that she didn’t ask him questions. She was probably afraid of the answers. She was smart.
“I miss my mom.”
Keeping her gaze on the field below them, she took his hand in hers, placing it on her open palm so her hands made a sandwich out of his. Mommy used to do that sometimes. He sniffled and more tears fell down his cheeks.
“Your mother misses you just as much. Probably more.”
“She has Will. And the new baby. She doesn’t need me anymore.”
Antonia’s fingertips lifted his chin so that he looked into her face. Love filled her eyes. “You are her first baby. She will always need you.”
His shoulders lifted in indignation. “I’m not a baby.”
She chuckled and her hand dropped, covering his again. “No matter how big you are, you will always be her baby.” She sighed and a sadness crept over her face, puckering her mouth so lines crinkled around her cheeks. “Your mother would have died for you that day in Albuquerque if you had not have stopped her. You saved her life.”
Jake hadn’t considered that before, but it didn’t make him feel better. “She won’t love me anymore when she finds out the bad things I’ve done.”
“Your mother will always love you no matter what you do. She will know that you are forced to do these things. And it will make her even more angry at the horrible man who forces you to do it. Just like it makes me.”
Jake felt numb with terror. What if Aiden knew she was saying those things? What if he knew she was thinking them? “Antonia, you can’t say that! Aiden—”
She covered his mouth with her index finger. “Saying it or not saying it does not change what it is.”
“But Aiden, he knows things.”
A smile lifted her mouth into a soft grimace. “The truth is like a rare flower in this place, lost in the choking weeds of deceit. The garden must be pruned, Jake.”
Jake didn’t know what that meant, but he couldn’t let Aiden find out how she really felt. Maybe he could hide her thoughts from Aiden like he hid his own. Was that possible?
He closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of the lavender soap she used. He searched her mind and found her hatred for Aiden buried deeper than other thoughts, like what Jake should eat for lunch when they went inside. Did Aiden pay attention to what the staff was thinking? Would he notice if some of Antonia’s thoughts were missing?
“Do you see the vineyards?”
Jake opened his eyes and looked up at her in confusion.
She tilted her head toward the fields. “The grapevines in the vineyards? Those grapes are grown to make wine.”
He nodded. “I like to look at them. I like the way they grow in straight lines, but then the lines go in different directions.”
She smiled, staring out into the fields on the hill below them. “I like that too.” Her hand squeezed his. “Grapes grown for wine are a higher quality when they are stressed. If you withhold water or rainfall, the grapes will grow smaller, but the juice is more concentrated. The wine is better.” Pausing, she looked down at him. “If it were in his power, the vigneron would withhold as much water as possible, doling out only small amounts to force the vine into making smaller grapes. But the grapevines need water to survive so it is a careful balance.”
“How do you know so much about grapes?”
“My father owned a vineyard.”
“Where is it?’
She hesitated then waved her hand toward the valley. “This is it.”
Was this Antonia’s vineyard? If so, then why was Aiden in charge? “Where’s your dad now?”
“He has been dead for many years. He was killed by a demoñio.” Her free hand found the beads in her pocket. “Aiden is like the vigneron and you are the grapes. He wants you to grow stronger by withholding what you need most. Love.”
Jake’s eyes widened in surprise.
“He thinks if you learn to hate that you will be more powerful. You will be his weapon.” She paused. “Hate is an easy trap to fall into, but you are a strong boy.” She kissed the top of his head. “And you are also brave. Your mother’s love is more powerful than your grandfather’s hate, but you must be strong too. You must keep love in your heart.”
Her thumb stroked the back of his hand as the wind tickled his neck. Her words were pretty and for just a few moments, Jake let himself believe her.
***
The desert had never looked so good. The earlier events only proved that Will had wasted valuable time testing his own powers when they needed to concentrate on honing Emma’s.
Will watched her from the corner of his eye as he drove. Emma had been unusually quiet during the drive and hadn’t put up a fight when Will announced they were headed to New Mexico. Marcus’s words rattled around in his head.
I’m not saying Emma did anything wrong. Maybe she froze up with fear, but at least consider the alternatives.
That was Marcus’s plan. Divide and conquer. Destroy from within. It only meant one thing: Marcus wasn’t to be trusted, but then Will had already known that. So why was he still thinking about what he’d said?
Marcus had been right about one thing. Will needed to come up with not only a plan for when the battle was over, but how to make the outcome swing his way.
“I’ve been thinking about the final battle.”
Emma’s head lifted and she turned to him. “What about it?”
“What if we can manipulate who’s in it?”
She sat up. “What are you talking about?”
“The four elements have to be represented. All the big boys represent their elements, but three of them have children, the three of us, who could stand in their place. That leaves Raphael on his own.”
“Okay...”
“What if instead of waiting until the end, we eliminate our competition before the battle starts? We decide who we want in the battle and eliminate everyone else.”
She stared out the windshield. “You’re talking about murder.”
While he understood her reservation, he had to get her past that if they were going to survive. “Emma, there are seven of us, and only two will survive. In the final battle or before it, five of us will die.”
Her face turned gray. “Pull over.”
“What?”
“I’m going to be sick. Pull over.”
He swerved over to the shoulder, and she had the door open before he stopped, throwing up on the side of the road as she leaned out the opening.
Will looked around them for any sign of being followed. “Is it the Cavallo?”
She held onto the car door with one hand and the back of the seat with the other, her head hanging over. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Her back rose and fell as she took several deep breaths. “Now can I barf without carrying on a conversation?”
He watched her dry-heave for nearly a minute then handed her a bottle of water. She took a swig, spitting it onto the ground, then shut the door, leaning her head on the back of the seat. Her eyes sank closed, her lashes dark against her pale skin. “Eight.”
“Eight what?” But even as the words left his mouth he knew, the knowledge dropping the ground out from beneath him and sucking his breath with it.
Her eyes opened and she turned her head to look at him, her dark hair fanned around her face. “You said there were seven of us. There’s eight.”
He froze
in his panic, sorting through the implications of what her pregnancy meant. While he’d been excited at the thought of having a baby before, now was the worst possible timing. “Are you sure?”
Her eyebrows rose as her mouth twisted into a sarcastic grimace.
After hiding the confirmation of her last pregnancy for so long, he was surprised she told him this time. But then, she could no longer hide this one.
What did it mean for her ability to fight for her life? At least before, when her nausea had been an early warning sign of danger, it disappeared when the Cavallo showed up. Now it was bound to hit her at any time, making her vulnerable. Could she train hard enough without harming the baby? Did it even matter? Without Emma, the baby couldn’t survive. And Emma couldn’t survive if she didn’t train.
As much as he hated to admit it, Emma was Will’s primary concern. The baby would have to come third, after Jake. He only hoped she survived so the baby did too.
Her dark brown eyes watched him, her mouth pinched into a tight line as she waited for his reaction.
No matter what he thought or felt, she needed his reassurance. He pulled her against his chest, his arms tight around her back. “It’s going to be okay.”
Her face buried in his shoulder, she said, “No, it’s not. I’m tired of pretending it is. No matter what happens this won’t turn out okay.”
Will grasped her shoulders and eased her back to look into her face. “I’ll make sure you, Jake, and the baby are okay.”
“Will, we know I’m not strong enough to win this.”
He released her, gripping the steering wheel and looking out the window at the passing traffic. “That’s why we’re going back to the desert. So you can practice. Maybe we can rework the way you get your power.”
“It’s taken me weeks to get to this point. You’ve surpassed me in days.” She rested her cheek on his shoulder as her hand rubbed his arm. “You’re right. We need a plan for the battle and for after it’s done. But we need to consider all the factors. We need to be realistic.”
He shook his head, not trusting himself to speak.
“We don’t have to do it right now, but before it all begins, I’d like to know you have a viable plan. You can even have a Plan B and C. I just need to know before…” She sighed, her body sinking into his. “I just need to know.”
Redemption (The Chosen #4) Page 10