Once Upon A Midnight

by Stephanie Rowe

  Irish pointed to a place where there was a cup of something steamy and ordered, “Sit.”

  On a deep breath, she pulled the chair out and sat at the dark wood table, wrapping her hands around the mug and peeking into it with skepticism.

  “It’s coffee. We do have the occasional werewolf over for meetings.” And then Irish looked at her, for a long time. That damn piercing eyeball thing he did when he was determined to wrench information from her. “You lied out there, Claire-Bear. Explain yourself.”

  “Did not. I killed Gannon. End of.” She sipped the coffee, making a face because it was black.

  “If you don’t tell me the truth, Claire, there’ll be repercussions.”

  She winced. “Like?”

  “An investigation the likes of which you’ve never seen. You have loose ends, Claire. Courtland might not have heard them, but I’m not Courtland.”

  “Loose-schmoose,” she replied, looking into her mug.

  Hadley snorted, but quickly quieted when Irish dropped a hand to the table to silence her. “Look at me and tell me this. If it’s true that you caught Gannon with Hadley, and even if you had to kill him because he came at you, why wouldn’t you at least tell me, Claire? Methinks, milady Librarian, something smells rotten in Denmark.”

  “Have you been to Denmark in your travels, Irish? I hear—”

  “Enough, Claire,” he warned, his voice like ice.

  Her eyes made brief contact with Hadley’s before she said, “Look, it happened exactly like I said out there. Gannon got angry with me when I told him I was going to the council and he—”

  Irish’s fist slammed down on the table, leaving a crack in it. “I said enough!”

  “Stop yelling at her, Irish!” Hadley screamed in protest, using her palms to rise and stick her face in her brother’s. “Leave her alone! It’s not Miss Claire’s fault! It was me! I killed him, okay! I killed Gannon because he was going to kill Miss Claire! It was me!”

  Claire rose to stop Hadley, but she shook her off, her next words choked and angry. “No! It’s the truth, and I’m going to tell him all of it! I killed him, and Claire was just protecting me! She was afraid if we went to the council they wouldn’t believe us because I’m a vampire and she told everyone she hated Gannon.”

  “Stop!” Claire yelped, her throat raw. “She’s had enough. Do we have to go over every gory detail tonight?” She couldn’t allow Irish to force that night out of Hadley when she was still coming to terms with it herself.

  But Hadley looked at them both, her eyes still flashing fire. “No, Claire. It’s okay. I’ll tell you, Irish, because I’m sick of seeing Claire get in trouble for it. I hate that everyone’s talking about her, calling her a killer when she’s not.”

  Irish’s face instantly grew sympathetic, his eyes full of worry. “Maybe Claire’s right—”

  “No,” Hadley said, an eerie calm in her voice. “I need to get this off my chest. I’m sorry, Miss Claire. I know I said I wouldn’t ever tell, but you didn’t do anything wrong.”

  Stunned to silence, Claire let her have the floor.

  With her head bent low, Hadley began. “This is exactly what happened. Gannon grabbed me when I was out after my curfew. I was on the edge of the woods where I was supposed to meet Sarah. He took me to Boomer’s, tied me up and called that man, and told him he was going to bring me to him. I don’t know what he did to the stuff that he tied me with, but I couldn’t move. I was powerless and sleepy, and I kept drifting in and out, like when you’re only sort of asleep. I only heard some of the things he said.”

  Irish grabbed her hand and held it, remaining silent while Claire shook from head to toe, remembering the visual of finding Hadley that way.

  “I remember Claire finding us, and I remember being really glad to see her. She yelled at Gannon to hang up the phone, and when he wouldn’t, she knocked it out of his hand. Then they were screaming at each other, but I don’t remember all of the words. I do remember she made him untie me, but when she told him we were going to the council, Gannon got really mad.” Hadley shivered at the memory.

  Claire gulped. Gannon’s anger had a life of its own, and it had frightened her, almost bringing her to her knees. He’d been enraged when she’d caught him, his eyes bulging, his face an ugly crimson.

  Irish squeezed Hadley’s hand and she continued. “He went after Miss Claire when she said that, screaming and yelling he was going to kill her. But Claire said she’d kill him before she’d let him take me anywhere. Then Gannon grabbed her by the hair and started smashing her head on the floor, and she tried to get loose but she was bleeding so much, Irish…She was just trying to keep Gannon from getting to me!”

  Irish’s eyes connected with Claire’s, hers full of tears, his warm with compassion.

  Hadley’s shoulders shuddered, making Claire’s heart clench. “I was already starting to heal, but I knew if I ran to get help, it might be too late for Miss Claire because Gannon was really strong. So I-I jumped on his back and bit his ear off to make him stop. I didn’t use my fangs, swear it! I know that sounds gross, but it was the first thing I thought of to stop him, but then…”

  Claire put a hand up, inhaling long and slow. “But that only made him angrier. I managed to roll away from him when Hadley bit his ear, but he threw her off and came right back after me. He had me by the throat. I think he was going to break my neck, and…” She shrugged her shoulders, a tear slipping from her eye. “Well, you know how to kill a werewolf, right? But Hadley was smarter. She went for his chest…” Claire stopped, gulping.

  Hadley’s gripped Irish’s hand. “I ripped his heart from his chest. I was punching him, trying to get his hands off Claire’s neck. I dunno, it all happened so fast. I guess I didn’t know how strong I was until his heart was in my hand…I was just so scared he was going to kill Miss Claire that I just did it! I didn’t think about it. I didn’t mean to kill him, Irish. I swear I didn’t.”

  Claire clenched her hands into fists and pressed them to her temples. “I tried to talk to him first, Irish. I did. If there’s any fault here it’s with me. I should have tried harder to keep him calm, but when I heard what he was going to do…I just lost it. But if I’m honest, I’d do it again. There was just no way I was going to let him hurt Hadley.”

  “So the brain stem thing?” Irish asked.

  Claire let her guilty eyes fall to the table. “I lied. I’ve had a lot of time to think about my story in case I needed one. Gannon died the instant Hadley…” The ugly image still made her weak.

  “Miss Claire said I was never to tell anyone what really happened. She said if anyone ever found out about it, she’d tell them she did it, so they wouldn’t come take me to jail. She covered it up for me and said she’d find proof so no one would doubt us.”

  Irish nodded, the dip of his head solemn. “Because you thought if you told Courtland what really happened, he’d have had Hadley arrested?”

  Claire’s nod was slow, her head throbbing. “You know what Courtland is like, Irish. She’d have ended up in some dirty cell, waiting around for an appointment with the council. We’ve seen it over and over since the government rulings. People like us being thrown in jail for long periods of time over the littlest things because the council is trying prove to the human government they have a leash on all of us. Imagine confessing to murder.

  “Hadley’s life would have been ruined. I refused to let that happen. So yes, I told her to lie if she had to until I could figure this out. I really hope you know I’d never encourage her to keep something like this from you under normal circumstances. But if anyone was going to jail, it was damn well going to be me.”

  She’d meant that then and she meant it now. No one was taking Hadley away from Irish.

  “Miss Claire said exactly that. Then she told me to go back to her house and wash up, go home and not say anything, but she promised she’d find proof of what Gannon did. I asked her about you, and if I should tell you, but she was afraid of what
you’d do to the Dogs. She said she’d tell you if she couldn’t find anything on her own.”

  Claire nodded her agreement. “I did tell her that. I told her to go to my house, wash up, burn her clothes, and go home. I had to try and figure it out before you got involved and a war started, Irish. But I swear, I was going to tell you as soon as I got back from the Zone.”

  “So you were afraid there’d be carnage.” Irish didn’t ask the question, he stated it.

  Claire scoffed at him, pointing over her shoulder. “Did you see yourself out there tonight, Irish? Did you see that rage when you heard a werewolf had kidnapped Hadley and planned to sell her to the highest bidder? They’d have been dead long before anyone was able to explain anything. Most of the time you’re reasonable, but sometimes,” she held up a finger and waved it under his nose, “sometimes when you’re angry, you’re very unreasonable.

  “I didn’t know you very well at the time. I’d only seen you cranky and angry. I was afraid to fully trust you, but I did know how you’d react if you knew Hadley was involved. You didn’t want to have anything to do with me for fear it would hurt her.”

  Irish ran a hand over his jaw. “Okay, I’ll give you that much. I get shortsighted when it comes to my sister. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to see straight with Had involved. But what makes you think I wouldn’t have reacted the same way even after you found proof about what Gannon was doing? What makes you think I won’t do that anyway even now?”

  Claire’s eyes met his. “Because you have a child in your care who needs you. If I had proof about Angus, there’d be no reason to beat Courtland to death to tell you something he doesn’t even seem to know. If I didn’t have that proof, heads would have rolled before you had all the information. What would that do to Rock Cove, Irish? We’re all just settling in after all the human government interference. Sure, our races have their differences, but for the most part if you exclude the occasional ruckus, it’s been a peaceful existence. Some of us have tried really hard to create a sense of community. I didn’t want to see that end. I didn’t want all the children here to experience what we did before the summits.”

  Irish’s eyes softened. “Wise words.”

  She exhaled her relief. “I did think about going to the council, but only briefly. If the Dogs thought a vampire killed Gannon, they’d have drawn and quartered her before you batted an eye anyway. So I kept the focus on me. Then I wondered what it would have sounded like if we’d gone to the council and told them what happened without solid evidence of Gannon’s part in this.”

  “Meaning?” he asked.

  “Meaning, we’d have had a snowball’s chance in hell of getting them to believe there was no malice involved. I told anyone who would listen I didn’t want to be mated to Gannon. It’s the perfect motive for murder. And you can’t really think I would have brought Hadley into it, can you? Not a chance. She’s a vampire. You know, a werewolf’s sworn enemy? No way was I going to go to council without irrefutable proof. No loopholes allowed.”

  Irish’s face relaxed. “Okay. So back to that night. Anything else I should know about even after I showed up?”

  Claire nodded, tears filling her eyes. “At first I panicked, but mostly I was just in survival mode. I just wanted to fix everything, and I was already prepared to take the blame long before you offered to help with…his body.” She winced. It all sounded so much different out loud. “The only thing I wanted to do was protect Hadley from being dragged through the mud and taken from you.”

  Everyone sat silent for a moment, the room growing thick with their thoughts.

  Irish was the first to speak. “So now we move forward. Figure out what’s on that thumb drive and take it to our respective councils.”

  “Wait,” Hadley said suddenly. “There’s more.”

  Claire’s head popped up and she frowned.

  Hadley’s eyes grew sad. “I was so scared when I got to Claire’s, but I also felt so guilty. I started to get a little paranoid about someone catching Claire, so I went back in case she needed help, and you were there, Irish. I heard you tell Claire you’d help her. I was happy because I knew you really would help her, but then I felt guilty all over again. Now you were involved in something bad that I caused.”

  Claire shook her head fiercely. “No, Hadley. You did not do this, honey. Please hear me when I tell you, you saved me from Gannon. You did what you had to in order to survive.” She wouldn’t have this innocent child live with that kind of guilt.

  Hadley dipped her head low. “You’re right, but I wasn’t thinking about that. I was just thinking about the kind of trouble Irish would get into if the Dogs saw him. I saw you take Gannon away on your bike, Irish. So I followed you…”

  Irish’s eyes snapped with realization. “It was you who moved his body, wasn’t it?”

  Hadley’s nod was slow, her face full of disgust quickly followed by remorse. “Yes. I moved his body. You didn’t bury him very well. I was afraid for you. Afraid Courtland would find him and maybe figure something out like they always do on those crime shows. You know, one little strand of hair is all the evidence they need to put you in jail forever? It was kind of my mess anyway. So I dragged him out of there and threw him into the ocean. I threw him as far as I could.”

  “Wait,” Claire interrupted. This was the first she’d heard of Gannon’s body being missing. “You moved Gannon’s body, Hadley?”

  Hadley’s answer came on another choked sob. “Yes.”

  Irish held up his hand before Claire had the chance to say another word. “I went back to do a better job of things, but his body was gone. I didn’t have the chance to tell you because by then you were in the Zone and unreachable.” He looked to Hadley, gripping her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m sorry you felt you had to protect me, honey. That’s my job from now on, okay?”

  Hadley nodded, her dark hair falling over her cheek and hiding her eyes. “I just didn’t want you to get in trouble.”

  Then Irish tipped Claire’s chin up, his eyes less like daggers now. “And you got Sweeten’s name from where? Thin air?”

  “That was me,” Hadley offered, her eyes still downcast. “I heard Gannon say his name that night. I just didn’t remember it right away because of everything that happened and whatever he tied me up with. But little bits and pieces kept coming back to me when I woke up the next day. I texted the name to Claire the minute I remembered it.”

  Claire swished the dark liquid in her mug around. “Gannon’s phone was ruined during our…tussle. I tried to piece it back together to see the number he’d dialed, but I guess it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. It was probably a burner.”

  Irish grabbed Hadley’s hands again, his eyes softer still. He loved Hadley, whether she liked it or not. “Were you afraid to tell me what happened, kiddo? Were you afraid I’d be angry because you snuck out?”

  Hadley’s expression softened now, too. She shook her head. “No. I mostly know what I did was something I had to do. You always said never kill unless there was no choice. But Claire saved me from him, and I saved her back. It’s what you taught me. Look out for the people who look out for you.”

  Irish smiled at her, ruffling her hair. “Now for the hard part. What the hell were you doing in the Zone, young lady?”

  Hadley showed instant remorse, her sadness marring her pretty features. “I followed Liam and the crew. I’m sorry, Irish. But I was so worried about Sarah. I knew she was there because of me. I heard the man who took her say she looked like the one Gannon described. They meant to take me. I didn’t confront them because I knew they were stronger. I smelled them first to check their strength, and then I came right home and told an adult. I know I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

  “Hadley, you do know I love you, don’t you? That I put restrictions on you for a reason? There are a million bad things out there these days, far worse than before the government rulings. Curfews are part of that, honey. I only want to protect you.”

>   “You’re right,” she murmured.

  Irish put a hand to his ear and actually grinned. “Say again?”

  Hadley rolled her eyes like any good teenager should, pushing her chair back. “You’re right. Now can I go see Sarah? Pleeease?”

  Irish looked hesitant, but Claire knew Hadley needed to see for herself Sarah was well. Angus had meant to take her, and Hadley knew that. If she were the kind of child Claire thought she was, she would internalize that.

  Claire patted Hadley’s hand and gave Irish her best pleading look. “She’s been through a lot tonight. She just wants to see her friend and do girl things—normal things. But I want you both to promise me something. You need to see someone, Hadley. Talk about what happened in the strictest of confidence to a trained professional. I’m sure your brother Liam knows plenty of people. He was a doctor, right?”

  Irish pulled Hadley to him and dropped a kiss on her nose. “Fair enough. We’ll talk more tomorrow about you seeing someone, okay?”

  She threw her arms around Irish’s neck. “Promise.”

  Pressing a last kiss to her cheek, he said, “Take Mondo with you.”

  Hadley skipped out of the kitchen, calling for Mondo, leaving Claire and Irish alone.

  She braced herself for his angry tirade. She deserved it. She’d known it would come when he realized Hadley had murdered someone, and Claire encouraged her to lie and cover it up.

  “Librarian.”

  She winced, preparing. “If you’re going to give me a dressing down, can you do it softly, using harsh words at a whisper-ish level? Because phew, I’m beat.”

  “Oh, I’m going to give you a dressing down all right,” he grumbled, snaking his hand around her wrist and plucking her from the chair. He pulled her tight to him, his arms around her waist, but she hung there like a ragdoll, afraid this was some cruel joke.

  Surely he was angry with her? This was a trick…Claire let her head fall back on her shoulders in order to look up at him. “Speak your piece and get the reaming over with.”

  “You did a bad, bad thing, Claire Montgomery. But if I’m really honest with myself, I would have killed every last Dog without asking any questions first. I’d end up without my head, Hadley’d have one less brother, and you’d have one less lover. So while I wish you’d come to me, trusted me, I think I understand what you were trying to prevent.”