Awry (The Archers of Avalon, Book Two)

by Fine, Chelsea

  Nate nodded at him with big eyes. “Oh you’ll see.”

  60

  Scarlet walked through the stable looking at all the beautiful horses. These last two weeks had been tough, but better than the two weeks before that, and the two weeks before that.

  Her mother was extremely ill and completely bedridden. Ana rarely spoke anymore, and when she did it was mostly nonsense. Her pain was atrocious. The castle nurses kept her sedated as much as possible, but there was little they could do. Ana was there in body, but gone in mind.

  Scarlet reached a hand out and stroked the large, warm face of the horse nearest her. Such a majestic beast.

  “Would you like to go for a ride?” Gabriel’s voice came up behind Scarlet; polite, kind.

  She turned and attempted a smile. “Oh no, I was just….just…”

  What had she been doing?

  “Just walking?” Gabriel looked at her with knowing eyes. He glanced at the ground and nodded. “I do a lot of…walking, too. It eases the sadness.”

  Scarlet waited until his eyes met hers before speaking. “Will the sadness go away?”

  Gabriel looked at the horse and stroked his mane. “Not today.” He looked back at Scarlet. “So what do you say? Would you like to ride?”

  Scarlet took a deep breath as she looked at the horse. She did not feel like riding.

  But, then again, she did not feel like doing much of anything.

  Exhaling, she said, “Yes. Yes, I would.”

  Gabriel smiled. “Very well. I will get a horse saddled for you and I will saddle one for myself as well.”

  “You will be joining me?” Scarlet raised a brow.

  Gabriel smiled weakly. “I could use the company.”

  ***************

  As the sun set, Tristan headed inside the monastery with two deer on his back. The monks met him at the door and happily relieved him of the weight. Tristan had been hunting for several weeks and had almost secured enough meat to feed the monks through winter.

  Game was not scarce in this part of the land.

  Tristan sat down at the long table in the old dining room beside a large monk named Gordon and watched Bartholomew, a strong monk who said very little, enter from the back door. The butcher of Tristan’s kills, Bartholomew was shirtless as he gathered the deer from the kitchen.

  Tristan’s eyes caught on a design on Bartholomew’s chest. It was dark blue and stained into his skin, but it did not look faded like the design Tristan continued to stain on his own body.

  Turning to the round monk beside him, Tristan gestured to Bartholomew. “What is that he has on his chest?”

  Through a mouthful of food, Gordon said, “That is a tattoo.”

  “Does it wash off?”

  “No, it stays forever. Like magic. Brother Elliot does them.”

  Tristan’s eyes brightened at this. A permanent ink?

  He would have to talk to Elliot about this.

  ***************

  Three weeks later, Gabriel galloped and raced on his horse through the trees and out into the far field. Scarlet laughed as he tried to keep up with her.

  They had been taking rides together almost every day for the last few weeks. Scarlet made him feel alive and took away the pain in his chest when he remembered Tristan. Gabriel’s favorite part of each day was the sound of her laughter.

  When they had reached the edge of the outer field, Scarlet slowed her horse to a walk and Gabriel came up beside her. “You gave me the slow horse,” he teased.

  She laughed and his soul lit up. “Do not blame the horse for your lack of skill in riding.”

  He smiled. “But it is the horse. This poor creature can barely carry my weight. Your animal, on the other hand, only has to carry a tiny woman.”

  Scarlet rolled her eyes. “You are too big a man for your horse? Yes, I’m sure that excuse works with the village girls.”

  He laughed with her and took a deep breath as they guided their horses along the field’s perimeter and rode side by side.

  “So where are we going today?” She smiled at Gabriel.

  “Today, we are going to the lake.”

  She smiled. “I like the lake.”

  Gabriel smiled back at her. “I know. That is why we are going there.”

  The lake made Scarlet happy. And Gabriel wanted to make Scarlet happy.

  61

  Scarlet entered Laura’s bedroom while Gabriel and Heather stood watch downstairs. Laura wasn’t supposed to be home for another two hours, but they didn’t want to take any chances.

  Scarlet carefully opened drawers and cabinets and shamelessly riffled through Laura’s things.

  Sexy shoes, sexy bras, sexy underwear….the only thing Scarlet was uncovering about Laura was her sexiness. Which was not new information.

  Moving on.

  Scarlet headed to the closet and started looking for things that would confirm that Laura was evil, or maybe Raven in disguise. She searched for any tell-tale signs; wigs…colored contacts…name tags that read “HELLO My Name Is Raven”…but no.

  Laura’s closet was even bigger than Scarlet’s and completely overrun with business suits and scarves, but no Head Ghosts or Bluestone weapons.

  Scarlet was starting to lose hope when she spied the black suitcase from Laura’s trip peeking out from behind a group of hanging dresses.

  Without hesitating, Scarlet pulled out the suitcase and unzipped it.

  The yellow flower was still there, tucked into the black Styrofoam casing. Scarlet contemplated removing the flower altogether but what if Laura opened her suitcase tonight and saw it missing?

  No, that was a bad idea.

  Scarlet pulled her cell phone from her back pocket and snapped a few pictures of the flower, being sure to get all the details. Maybe Nate could look it up online.

  After grabbing her pictures, Scarlet shoved the suitcase back into place and exited the closet. Taking one last look around Laura’s room and not finding anything else useful, Scarlet made her way back downstairs.

  “Wonder Woman?” she heard Heather’s voice say from the kitchen.

  “No.” Gabriel’s voice responded.

  “The Great Blondini?” Heather asked.

  Scarlet descended the stairs and found Heather and Gabriel in the kitchen. Heather looked excited. Gabriel looked bored.

  “No.” Gabriel shook his head at Heather. “I am not going to call you by any code names.”

  “But what if you get to have a code name too?” Her eyes brightened. “Maybe something like Fierce Jaguar?” She made a clawing motion with her hand.

  Gabriel stared at her. “Fierce Jaguar?”

  She wagged her eyebrows. “Or what about Hot Archer? Would you take on a code name then?”

  Gabriel pursed his lips.

  “Okay guys,” Scarlet said, walking into the kitchen. “I didn’t find any incriminating evidence, but I did get some pictures of that flower thingy in Laura’s suitcase so, we’ll see. Let’s get out of here before Laura gets back.”

  Scarlet hurried to leave her house. It felt weird exiting the front door. Like she no longer belonged there.

  But maybe she never had.

  62

  Nate’s mouth fell open the moment he saw the picture of the yellow flower. “Laura has this?”

  Scarlet stood with Heather, Tristan and Gabriel in Nate’s bedroom, everyone trying to peer over Nate’s shoulder at the picture on Scarlet’s phone.

  “Yes,” Scarlet said. “Do you know what it is?”

  Nate nodded and quickly uploaded the picture to one of the computers in his room so everyone could see. “It’s called Liferoot.”

  Heather moved her eyes from the computer screen and took in the many video game controllers, superhero posters and figurines. “Wow,” Heather raised her e
yebrows, “I feel like I’m in my little brother’s room. Except my little brother doesn’t have as many toys.”

  “Collector’s items,” Nate corrected, blowing up a picture of the flower on his computer screen.

  Gabriel eyed the hammer in the corner. “I’m glad you used the Zelda sword instead of the Thor hammer the other night. Trying to kill an Ashman with a plastic hammer would have been exhausting.”

  “It’s not made of plastic, it’s…never mind.” Nate shook his head. He squinted at the screen and everyone stared at the picture of the yellow flower over his shoulder.

  Scarlet leaned in. “You’ve seen this flower before?”

  “Yeah. But not for a long…time….” He zoomed in on the roots. “I can’t believe Laura has Liferoot. It’s supposedly been extinct for centuries.”

  Scarlet furrowed her brow. “Why do you think she has it?”

  “Magic.”

  “What?”

  Nate looked at her seriously. “The root of this flower is used in very old, very dangerous spells.”

  “Spells, hmm.” Tristan slanted his eyes at Gabriel. “That sounds like something a witch would do.”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes.

  “What kind of magic does Liferoot do?” Scarlet stepped closer to the computer.

  Nate studied the flower. “I don’t remember. But it’s definitely used for dark magic.” He looked at Scarlet and bit his lip. “And Raven used to use dark magic. A lot of dark magic.”

  Scarlet blinked. “So you think Laura is Raven?”

  “I think it’s a strong possibility.”

  “O-M-G,” Heather said. “Does that mean Laura is a witch?” She nodded. “Because I can see Laura as a sexy red-headed witch wearing a pointy black hat while stirring a caldron.”

  Nate nodded. “This plant is extremely rare and the fact that she has the whole thing, including the roots is textbook witchcraft.”

  Heather wrinkled her face. “How would you know?”

  Nate shrugged. “Because I’m from a family of dark magic.”

  “You’re what?” Scarlet’s mouth fell open.

  Nate looked at her in confusion for a moment, and then he nodded in understanding. “Oh, right. You don’t remember.” He clasped his hands together and cleared his throat. “I’m Nathaniel Fletcher. In the 1500s, my family practiced dark magic outside of Gabriel and Tristan’s village.”

  Scarlet was so confused. “Like Raven’s family?”

  He nodded. “Yeah.” He looked back at the flower and casually said, “Raven was my cousin.”

  Scarlet’s mouth fell even further. “You have got to be kidding me.”

  “You’re related to the psycho Scarlet-killer?” Heather’s eyes were on him like a hawk.

  “Yes,” Nate nodded, and turned to face them. Upon seeing their accusing expressions, he hurriedly added, “But it’s not like I conspired to kill Scarlet or anything. I didn’t even know Scarlet back then. Raven and I were cousins, not partners in crime.”

  Scarlet shook her head. “This is all so crazy.”

  “So what are you, like some kind of witch?” Heather eyed him up and down.

  Nate said, “Well, technically I would be a wizard, but it’s not like that. I don’t practice magic. I find it weird. And scary. And I was never really good at it anyway.”

  Scarlet scrunched her nose. “But your family is full of witches?”

  “My family members were not immortal, so they’re all dead. But yes, when they were alive pretty much everyone practiced magic.”

  “So wait,” Heather said, holding up a hand. “You’re telling us you were a wizard? But not a good wizard? You were like a misfit wizard?”

  Nate rolled his eyes. “It’s not like I sucked or anything. I just never got into it.”

  “This is just so weird.” Scarlet stared at the computer screen. “I can’t believe you’re Raven’s cousin. And I can’t believe Laura is Raven.”

  “Maybe,” Tristan interjected. “Laura may be Raven.”

  Scarlet looked at Tristan and for a brief moment their eyes met, and her heart kicked in response.

  “Well, either way,” Gabriel said, “Laura is up to something involving magic and it’s probably not for the good of mankind. So let’s just assume, for the time being, that Laura is evil. What should we do about the flower?” He directed his question at Nate.

  “I wish I remembered what spell that flower was used for.” Nate looked at the computer screen and frowned.

  Me too, Scarlet thought.

  Her head was spinning.

  63

  Gabriel stared at Tennius in disbelief. “What do you mean, he’s dead? He can’t be dead!”

  Tennius kept a stoic expression. “Your father passed away this morning. They believe he was poisoned, my lord.”

  Poisoned?

  “Who would dare to do such a thing?” Gabriel raised his voice. “Where were the guards? Where were you?”

  Tennius’s face grew red in anger, but he kept his voice controlled. “We were all there, my lord. Someone must have poisoned him with magic.”

  Gabriel’s blood began to boil as he charged out of the room and into the chaotic court. People were frantic and confused, running around the castle, but Gabriel couldn’t make sense of any of it.

  He simply marched ahead and let the chaos surround him as he headed nowhere.

  Later that day, he was donned the earl of the region, taking his father’s place, and crowds gathered to honor him. He should have been proud to be the new earl. But he was numb.

  His brother was dead. His father was dead.

  The only good thing left in his life was Scarlet, who stood by his side as he accepted his new title. She squeezed his hand throughout the evening, assuring him that things would be okay and that he would be a great leader.

  She was bright and beautiful. And she was the only reason Gabriel believed in himself.

  Or anything.

  ***************

  Two nights after Gabriel was made earl, Scarlet held her mother’s hand and watched her writhe in pain as she babbled.

  “Scarlet,” Ana said. “Take my brooch. Keep the brooch. It is not for the earl. Not the earl.”

  Scarlet nodded in confusion. Her mother had been spewing nonsense for nearly two weeks and Scarlet had stopped trying to find meaning in her words. “Yes, mama.”

  Ana started to cry and Scarlet cried right along with her, wanting to soothe the disease and take away the pain. She had known her mother was going to die, and she had had months to prepare for it. In a way, Ana had died weeks ago when her mind went mad. But that did not make their goodbye any less gut wrenching.

  “Please don’t die, mama,” Scarlet whispered. “I need you. I cannot do this without you.”

  Ana’s body started to convulse and Scarlet watched in horror as the life disappeared from her mother’s eyes.

  Scarlet was lost, confused, alone and completely broken.

  She was empty. Completely damaged.

  Scarlet had lost everyone in her life.

  Everyone except Gabriel.

  64

  Scarlet drove down Main Street, passing the bakery, the cemetery, and a small bookstore, taking note of how very quaint and normal the small town of Avalon looked. Tall trees lined the road, standing guard in front of the town library and the coffee shop.

  It was ideal and peaceful and it made Scarlet wish she were normal. She wished she wasn’t cursed and stressed about dying and emotionally connected to a guy she couldn’t touch.

  She wanted a normal life. A real life.

  Scarlet pulled into the Millhouse parking lot and parked. She looked at Heather beside her. “Why couldn’t you just call in?”

  “Uh, because I called in all weekend and now it’s getting to the point where I mi
ght get fired if I don’t do some face-to-face damage control with Clare.” Heather started to get out of the car, then looked at Nate in the backseat. “You don’t think Ashmen would come after us here, in broad daylight, do you?”

  Nate shrugged. “I doubt it. But no worries, Scarlet and I are here.”

  Heather rolled her eyes. “Like that makes me feel safe.”

  “Hey.” Nate looked offended. “I took out an Ashman not two nights ago.”

  “You did not ‘take out’ an Ashman. You ran a toy sword through an Ashman’s heart and barely slowed him down.”

  “It’s a collector’s item. And I didn’t see you trying to fight off the Ashman. You were too busy snoring in Gabriel’s bed.”

  Heather pointed at him. “I don’t snore.”

  “You slept in Gabriel’s bed?” Scarlet looked at her friend.

  Heather nodded. “Uh, yeah. There was no way I was going to sleep by myself when my memories were fair game to any and all Ashmen and Laura-slash-Ravens.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe Laura is Raven! That’s just so crazy.”

  “Shh!” Scarlet scolded as she looked around. “Laura could be nearby.”

  “Right.” Heather exited the car. “Are you guys coming with me?”

  “Yep.” Scarlet got out as well, but Nate stayed inside. “You’re not coming?”

  “I’ll wait out here. You know, just in case an Ashman shows up.” He smiled at Heather.

  “You suck.” Heather curled a lip at him before going inside, Scarlet right behind her.

  Heather kept looking over her shoulder as they waited in line at The Millhouse.

  “Would you stop being so paranoid?” Scarlet nudged Heather. “No crazy Ashman is going to attack us in a crowded coffee house.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  Scarlet said, “You’re the one who insisted on coming into town to talk to your boss.”

  “I know.” Heather tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I think I’m just a little rattled from seeing Gabriel’s blood all over the floor the other night.” She sighed. “And I’m scared to ask Clare for the night off. But I am just too freaked out to come into work and take coffee orders like there aren’t crazy Ashmen running around town.” Heather looked at her with big eyes and concluded, “Gabriel could have died, Scarlet.”