Fate Forsaken

by Chauntelle Baughman

  Ash nodded. “I would like to take a quick recess to think this over, before we reach our final decisions.”

  “Me, too.” David added.

  Costel nodded, along with Rhyannon.

  Cadence sighed. “Rhowen and Eldon, please step outside while the Council discusses this in private.”

  Eldon rose to his feet and strode to the door, meeting Rho in the doorway. He set his hand on her lower back and exited, shutting the door behind him. When he was confident they were out of earshot, he said, “You should have told me about that. What happened?”

  She tilted her head up, meeting his eyes. “Exactly what I told you. He came out of nowhere and tried to kill me. I defended myself.”

  “You had to kill him?”

  “He saw me daywalking, Eldon,” she whispered, her eyes serious. “I couldn’t let him run off and tell anyone. Especially our enemies. It could have compromised everything.”

  He hadn’t considered that. If Rho had been seen wandering during the day and their enemy found out, that would have ruined their only element of surprise. He probably would have done the same thing. Her ability to venture out into the daylight had to remain a secret, especially against Rhyannon. It had proved useful once before, and they would probably need to use the spell again.

  “I know you didn’t have a choice.” He studied her clear gray eyes. “I just wish I’d had a little heads up.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s been a long few days.” She shut her eyes tightly and bowed her head down. “With what happened to Lukas and everything, I’d almost forgotten about that guy.”

  His heart cracked a little at the mention of his dear friend’s name. “It’s okay.” He lifted her chin with the crook of his finger, and she lifted her eyes to meet his. “Listen, whatever happens, I’m here for you. We’ll figure this out together.”

  She gave him a timid smile. “I know.”

  He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly against his body. He’d do anything to keep her just like this forever, safe in his arms. Somewhere he knew she’d be safe from harm.

  They stayed like that for a long time, in silent commune. Sometimes the best part of being with her was knowing she understood him and he didn’t have to say anything at all.

  Thirty minutes passed before the door opened.

  Cadence poked her head out the door, her expression blank. “You can come back inside now. We’ve reached a verdict.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Rho stepped back into the room, the tension emanating from Eldon nearly palpable. Yet for some reason, she was eerily calm. Expecting the worst but hoping for the best. Regardless of what the Council told her today, she’d done everything she could to defend her actions. And most importantly, she’d protected her teammates.

  She took her seat beside Frederick and set a hand on her chest, the protection charms hidden beneath her black, long-sleeved shirt. Somehow their shielding power gave her comfort, although she had no idea why. They weren’t designed to keep her safe in a situation like this.

  Cadence rose at the far end of the table but didn’t meet Rho’s eyes. “You should know this vote wasn’t unanimous. However, as with all Council votes, the majority rules, and all decrees can only be overturned by a majority request for a retrial.” She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “In the case of the DarqRealm versus Rhowen Vasile, we find that you are a threat to the DarqRealm and its people. You will be exterminated.”

  Rho’s heart fell to her feet, the sensation knocking the air from her lungs. She didn’t need air to survive, but she felt like she was drowning all the same. Could they do this? Would they take her life so easily? Her gaze shot to Eldon. His jaw was open wide, his eyes even wider. Despite her efforts to expect the worst, she really hadn’t expected this. They were sentencing her to death. They were going to kill her for being a siphon, a rare species she’d only discovered she belonged to a short while ago—and a vampire, a creature she’d never asked to become.

  Frederick squeezed her knee beneath the table, the gesture the only thing keeping her afloat. There wasn’t a question in her mind that he’d fought for her. He would’ve done everything he could have to prevent this outcome, but ultimately, it wasn’t just his decision.

  “Okay,” Rho conceded, her voice rough.

  “However—” Cadence raised a hand, her mahogany eyes linking with Rho’s. “This sentence isn’t subject to action today. You are still a member of a team, and your mission isn’t complete. We don’t feel it would be prudent to exterminate you without giving you a chance to complete your task.”

  Rho let out a long breath in a rush. Not subject to action today? As in, she still had time? The relief was short-lived as fury built inside her mind. They only wanted her for as long as they could use her, and then they planned on throwing her out like yesterday’s garbage. Never mind the fact that she was a person with a life and feelings and people who cared for her. It wasn’t like this stunt was a total surprise, though. Preshea had said it herself—the Council wasn’t in the habit of destroying its people as long as they found them useful. So as long as she used her abilities to do the Council’s bidding, she’d have a little more time.

  She glanced back at Eldon again. A tiny sliver of gratitude worked its way into her soul as she stared at him from across the room. As angry as she was for what they planned on doing to her, she was so incredibly grateful for just one more day. His eyes were filled with a combination of fear and relief, and she couldn’t help but mirror his emotions. If everything she’d had with him were to be lost today, it would be a travesty. Her heart was raw as she studied his handsome face. They deserved more time.

  “You are free to go,” Cadence said, her eyes offering an apology. The Collective leader knew the verdict wasn’t fair and it wasn’t what she would have chosen, but the Council was designed like this for a reason. This had come down to a vote, and there was little anyone could do to change that now.

  “You can’t run from this,” Rhyannon hissed. “We will find you. Whatever resources you think you have at your disposal, we have more.”

  “Thank you.” Rho rose to her feet and offered a quick bow, ignoring Rhyannon’s commentary completely. The only thing she wanted to do was get the hell out of here.

  Eldon stood, and they shuffled toward the door unhurriedly, the eyes of the remaining people inside the room following their movements. When they got outside the door, Eldon waved a hand through the air, and the door shut behind them.

  He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms, pressing her tight against his chest. “I’ll never let anything happen to you. I swear it.”

  “It’s okay.” Rho breathed him in until the scent of fresh soap and dark spices coated her senses. “We still have more time.”

  “Not enough.”

  She pulled away slightly to gaze up at him. “Then we’d better make it good.”

  He nodded then glanced down the hallway. “Hang on tight. I’m going to have to jump you through the lines.”

  “But I thought—”

  The world around her began to warp, a blue haze coating her vision. She clung to Eldon’s waist, pulling him closer as the world around her began to twist and distort until she wasn’t sure if she was standing upright anymore.

  Suddenly they were traveling through a vortex of colors at warp speed, everything rushing by too quickly to register time or location. The wind rushed by, dancing across her face and pressing her long waves of hair against her cheeks. She lifted her head to try and see where they were going, but the wind was too strong. She closed them again and tucked her head against Eldon’s chest.

  Why had he changed his mind? Could it be that the amulets really did protect her from harm?

  After several long minutes, they came to an abrupt stop. Rho staggered and fought to keep her hold on Eldon, but her knees gave out on impact. She buckled, falling to the ground and taking Eldon down with her. They landed on a cool, soft cushion of grass.

 
A deep laugh sounded beside her, and Eldon rolled her on top of him. “You okay?”

  She blinked the world back into focus, relieved to see Eldon beneath her, still in one piece. “Are you okay?”

  He smiled up at her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Aside from the crash landing, yes.”

  “Good.” Fear kicked in, temporarily overriding the contentment she always felt around Eldon. She reached beneath her shirt quickly and pulled out the two amulets around her neck. “Oh, thank God.” Despite facing the Council, seeing Rhyannon again, and jumping through the ley lines, the Kamen was still safely strung on the moonstone amulet around her neck.

  “You took it off your finger?” Eldon asked.

  “Didn’t want anyone to see it.” She lifted a hand to display her ring finger. “You know. Just in case I forgot to take it off.”

  He captured her hand in his and brought her ring finger to his lips. “One day I’ll give you something you won’t want to take off.”

  She smiled down at him, realizing how much she wished that could be true. But with a death mark on her arm and a death sentence looming over her head, she just couldn’t do that to him. He deserved to have someone who could be his forever. Not only for today.

  “Maybe,” she said.

  A frown tugged on his lips, but he lifted his gaze to glance at the house. “Tim and Preshea are waiting on us. We need to secure that Kamen.”

  Rho nodded and rolled off of him then extended a hand to help pull him up. They proceeded hand in hand toward the house in silence, the only sounds around them the mating calls of the cicadas in nearby trees and the grass crunching beneath their feet.

  Eldon opened the back door like a gentleman and ushered Rho inside.

  She stepped into the kitchen. “Evette!” Standing at the center of the kitchen table was one person she hadn’t expected to see. Despite the invitation Eldon had extended to her, Rho had thought for sure that Evette wouldn’t leave Paris. “I’m so glad you’re here!” Rho rushed around the table and bent over to pull Evette into an awkward embrace.

  “How long have you been here?” Eldon wandered around the table to give Evette a tight hug.

  “Not long after you two left for the Council meeting.” Tim emerged from the living room, Preshea at his side.

  “Thanks for having me,” Evette said sweetly. “This is a lovely house.”

  “Take any room you want.” Eldon motioned toward the house. “There’s plenty of space.”

  Evette smiled. “Thank you.”

  Preshea cleared her throat. “So, how did the meeting go?”

  Rho glanced at the ground. “Good and bad. I’ve been sentenced to death, but not until I’m done with my job here.”

  “Those sons of bitches,” Preshea cursed.

  Tim growled. “You can’t be serious.”

  “They just want to use you and toss you aside?” Preshea asked. “Did no one speak up for you?”

  “Cadence did. So did Frederick,” Eldon said.

  Rho folded her arms across her chest and surveyed her teammates. “Rhyannon was there. I killed a man who attacked me just after the three of you left on the train. Because I used both my magick and my executioner skills to handle him, I’m a threat.”

  Tim grunted. “Bullshit.”

  “I agree,” Eldon said, wrapping an arm around Rho’s shoulder.

  Rho sighed. “There’s nothing we can do about it now, so let’s just focus on what we can do.” She unclasped the amulet around her neck and removed the Kamen from the chain then clasped the necklace again. She set the Kamen on the center of the kitchen table. “We need to put this with the others.”

  Eldon snatched the ring from the table. “Evette, do you mind giving us just a moment to tend to some team business?”

  Evette shook her head. “Of course not. I’ll make a pot of coffee.”

  Rho smiled. “That would be awesome.”

  The team turned and left the room, following behind Eldon. He stopped in front of the familiar landscape painting in the hallway near his office. With a steady hand, he reached out to touch the top right corner of the picture frame. The molding lifted from the painting, and the frame swung away from the wall. A black box sat inside, just as they’d left it before.

  Eldon touched each of the four corners of the box with his index finger before resting his palm at the center. Four clicks sounded loudly. The box swung open, revealing the small dial of a safe. He made quick work of entering the code, and the safe popped open. A tiny white box sat inside. He pulled it from the opening and set it on the ground, then placed the Kamen beside it. All four of them settled on the carpet in a circle around the box.

  Rho yanked a blade from her left boot. “You ready for this?”

  Tim, Preshea, and Eldon nodded. Rho ran the blade along each of her palms before passing the blade to Preshea. She repeated the action then handed the blade to Tim. When they’d all finished opening the blood ties, Eldon raised his hands.

  They linked their palms until the circle was unified, joined in blood and bound by choice. Eldon closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. The air around them charged with energy, the hair on Rho’s arms standing on end. Eldon’s connection to the line ran through them, rushing through the four of them in an unending circle.

  “The four who stand before the stones shall keep them safely here, for with one purpose we go forth, and none shall interfere,” Eldon chanted softly.

  Blue light passed from his right hand into Rho, then to Preshea, and then to Tim, until the light became a complete circle through their palms.

  Eldon kept his eyes closed tightly. “Sworn in blood and by our oath, our bond shall never sink. We call now on prior ties, our pledge of flesh in ink.”

  Rho’s palm began to tingle, the sensation familiar. The light running through them intensified.

  “For what you see that ties us now is only an act of choice. An alliance from within our souls is now given a voice.”

  The fire swirled faster until Rho could see no beginning and no end around them, only the flames of magick. Tim and Preshea said nothing as they gazed up at the blue light in wonder.

  “Alone as four and four alone, but now a tie is bound. Only by the bond of four may gifts herein be found.”

  Power erupted, charging the air with electric energy and knocking her teammates back. They released their hold on each other, letting go of the hands that had held their blood bond together. This time Rho didn’t fall on her back, but landed on her elbows.

  The blue light vanished, along with the Kamen that had been on the floor between them. Rho gazed up at the innocent painting on the wall, hiding the team’s greatest secrets.

  “And one more makes three,” Preshea said, pushing herself up off the floor.

  Tim rose to his feet and offered a hand to Preshea then pulled her to her feet.

  Eldon did the same, snatching Rho into a tight hug. “Let’s go see how Evette’s doing.” He pressed a kiss to her temple before releasing her.

  Rho nodded. “I’m glad she decided to come.” She and her teammates filtered out of the hallway and back into the kitchen.

  Evette sat at the center of the kitchen table, a coffee mug in her hand. She motioned toward the kitchen. “There’s more in there.”

  “Thanks.” Rho ventured into the kitchen and pulled a mug from the cupboard.

  Eldon, Tim, and Preshea settled into the empty seats at the table.

  “I’ve been doing some thinking,” Evette started. “And I’d like to join your team.”

  Rho froze, the carafe still in her hand. She spun around to face the kitchen table. “Are you serious?” She wasn’t sure how Evette planned to contribute, but she wasn’t opposed to a little extra help. Then again, they didn’t know Evette’s emotional state. She could be a liability.

  Eldon shook his head. “This is much too dangerous.”

  “I think I understand the danger.” Evette’s voice turned soft. “I lost Lukas because o
f it.”

  Tim rubbed his chin as he considered her. “I don’t know.”

  “I understand Lukas is gone, but that’s no reason to throw your life away,” Eldon reasoned. “He wouldn’t want this for you.”

  Rho turned to rejoin the group in the kitchen. “I don’t want to put you in harm’s way.”

  Evette set her mug down on the table. “Lukas is gone. There’s nothing I can do to bring him back. I grieve for the loss of the greatest love of my life, but I can’t stop my existence. I can’t stop living, or serving a purpose. Without Lukas, I have no purpose. I have nothing tying me to Paris. Even my job—I can teach anywhere.” She waved a hand through the air. “I believe in what you’re doing here. This mission is important. Lukas died to preserve your life, because he believed in what you were doing.”

  A lump settled into Rho’s throat. Clearly, Evette and Lukas had understood the risks when they’d taken them. They knew what could happen, and they did it anyway. To her, that was the definition of bravery.

  “Let me help you,” Evette continued. “You know my protection spells are top notch, and I’m great at research. Eldon, I can work with your sisters to research that death mark. I can try to find loopholes in Rho’s sentencing with the Council. The four of you have enough on your plate in terms of action. Let me do the recon work you don’t have time to do.”

  No one spoke for a moment as gazes were exchanged around the room. Rho’d never truly considered adding anyone to the team, although she considered Nick to be an honorary member. Research could be time-consuming. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone on the team who could handle things behind the scenes.

  Rho finally spoke up. “I don’t have a problem with this.”

  “Neither do I,” Preshea said.

  After a moment, Tim chimed in. “Me neither.”

  All eyes turned to Eldon, as if he were the final decision maker. Evette was a magick mover, as well as his friend. No one would proceed without his blessing.

  Eldon’s eyes narrowed, studying Evette before he spoke. “I’ll allow it.” He held up a finger. “On one condition. No fieldwork. The rest of us are trained to handle combat. If you help us, your only jobs are behind the scenes.”