by Kade Cook
Shane’s thoughts drift as he drives through the darkness, reflections of all the Realmfolk at the bar keeps entering his mind. He wonders how it is that she came to find that particular place. He has heard the bar’s name mentioned before in conversations involving minor issues with rogues in the Veil, and after finding her there, he begins to question a few things.
“Gabrian.”
“Yeah?” she says quietly.
“Why did you pick that particular club to go to anyway? Bangor has plenty of places that are more mainstream, less obscure and easier to get to than that one.”
Feeling strange about answering the question, and knowing that she promised not to tell anyone about Ayden, she lies. “It looked loud and dark. I just wanted to get lost for a while.” She turns her stare back to the window, hoping that was a good enough explanation.
Shane recalls Rachael mentioning that Gabrian had been going out every night for a couple of weeks. After watching her on the dance floor, about to commit to the next step, he has a sneaky suspicion that somewhere along the way she met a rogue Vampire at one of the clubs and was grooming her, enticing her into turning completely. Not able to push this idea out of his head, he decides that as of this moment on, he would become her shadow for real.
“Hey…”
She turns to look at him.
“The pain will not hurt this bad forever.” His eyes meet hers. Knowing the consumption of her struggle, his face softens as he gives her a hopeful smile then directs his attention back to the dark road ahead of them.
All Gabrian can do is stare. His voice held the same kindness it had before they knew who each other were—back when things were still an experiment. Not able to speak, she nods and turns back to the window. Tears silently escape from her tired eyes, blurring her vision, and she tries desperately to fade back into the night.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Bar Harbor’s Best
HESITANTLY, GABRIAN AGREES to meet with Ethan in front of the Bar Arts Building. As Shane promised, he says nothing to anyone about her involvement with using light energy, but she confesses everything to Ethan anyway. She tells him as way to find freedom from the guilt of her sins, but she is terrified of what he is going to think of her once he has heard what she has done.
Without even blinking an eye, he smiles at her with his kind, hazel brown eyes, warming her heart and melting the ice that has encased it.
“Everyone falters, Gabrian.” Wrapping a strong arm around her shoulder, Ethan gives her a quick encouraging hug—giving her a bit of physical incentive when he noticed her hesitation. “Even I have had my moments of weakness.”
She looks up at him as they walk the path toward the academy. “I can’t believe that for a second, Ethan.” She continues along with him, shaking her head, not able to conceive his open confession. “You are always so in control. Everything is composed and eloquent in your decisions. You are an exception to the rule.”
“Ah, if that were only true, Gabrian. I am no exception; I am just like every other rogue that the Elders ever feared,” he admits, glancing down at her. His eyes see her, but his vision is far away—clouded by memories of a darker time. “The only difference between them and me is that I just try a little harder than they do, and...I have hope.” He looks over at her with his noble face and smiles knowingly. “Believe me, it is a constant struggle that I fight every day.”
She stops moving forward for a moment, processing the message he has just sent her. Shane nearly trips over her from behind and gives her a look of confusion. She just shakes her head at him, waving her hand to tell him it is nothing, then hurries to catch up with Ethan before they reach the school.
“There he is,” Ethan tells her as he points to a tall dark-haired man that just opened the front doors and stands waiting for them on the steps, his grey aura flaring brilliantly around him. Gabrian feels her energy level rising just from his presence.
“This is Matthias,” Ethan says out loud to Gabrian and reaches his hand to greet the man. “Thank you for meeting with us.”
“For you, anything,” Matthias replies. Lowering his head, he dips his chin to his chest ever-so-slightly as a show of respect for his Elder, and accepts Ethan’s hand in comradery. “When your highly respected mentor asks for a favour, it is not something you say no to.” They both laugh and the two men share a warm embrace then return their attention to the true matter of their reunion.
“Matthias, I would like you to meet a good friend of mine.”
Gabrian looks up at Ethan, surprised at his introduction of her but pleased that he sees her as such.
“This is Gabrian Shadwell.”
“Yes, so I have heard. The human-turned Borrower,” he announces playfully. “I was wondering if we would ever meet.”
Normally, whenever she heard someone refer to her that way, she always got agitated with them, but for some reason, it did not seem to bother her when Matthias said it.
Shane hears the flirtatious tone in Matthias’s voice, and suddenly, he feels very protective of Gabrian, deciding immediately that he does not like this guy.
“Matthias is our head instructor here at the college. You will be in good hands.”
Matthias smiles, acting a bit embarrassed about Ethan’s high praise.
“Hm, hm.” Feeling left out of the conversation and purposely being ignored, Shane becomes irritated with his apparent invisibility. He pulls back his shoulders and folds his arms across his chest—raising his chin in defiance, he announces his presence.
Ethan realizes he has overlooked Shane and introduces him. “Sorry about that, forgive me. Matthias, I would also like you to meet Shane Kage.” Shane glares at Matthias but reaches out his hand anyway to exchange polite greetings.
“What, no hug?” Matthias jests, not bothering to return his gesture.
Shane’s brow furrows, giving the Borrower in front of him an icy glare. Biting down hard on his tongue—trying to remain silent—he grinds his teeth as he retrieves his hand quickly and steps back, not impressed with his joke.
“I know who he is,” Matthias reports to everyone. “He was to be in the next generation of Shadow Guardians deployed for the Covenant of Shadows. First in his class, from what I was told, and quite a fearless warrior, so rumour has it.”
Shane’s face flushes a bit, still upset about having to put his commitment to the Guard on hold due to his oath to Gabrian’s parents. “Such a pity. What happened with that anyway?” Matthias says, baiting his new acquaintance in order to see what kind of a rise he can get out of him. “Change your mind?”
Hearing the condescension in Matthias’s voice, Shane clenches his fists, refraining from his longing to squeeze the life out of Gabrian’s new instructor. “No. I did not change my mind. My oath to Gabrian’s parents took precedence over my own wants. I am still training… would you like a demonstration of my skills?” Shane steps forward as he finishes his question.
“No, that will not be necessary. But thanks,” Matthias taunts. He puts his index finger flush with his firm pouted lips and looks at Shane as if he is confused about something. “Funny though...?
“What?” Shane grunts, eager to lay him out.
“The thought of a Shadow Walker actually protecting a Borrower,” Matthias says smirking at Shane. Chuckling in a breathy way, he cups his chin and shakes his head—taunting him with unkind eyes. “I guess if you live long enough, you will see everything.”
Realizing Shane is about ready to tear Matthias’s head off, Ethan decides that now might be a good time to move inside with Gabrian’s introductions.
“Anyway, I am sure Gabrian would like to get settled in and become familiar with her new surroundings,” Ethan interjects, placing his hand on Gabrian’s shoulder. He gives her a slight nudge to get her started toward the door. “Shall we?”
Shane begins to follow them into the school when Matthias steps in front of him and stops him dead at the door, holding out his arm to block his entrance.
<
br /> “No need for Shadow Walkers inside these walls. We are quite capable of making sure she is well taken care of.”
Matthias’s condescending tone shreds at Shane’s nerves, but he stops at the doorway, watching Gabrian and Ethan continue on without him down the corridor.
“Run along now, Schaeduwe,” Matthias hisses. His eyes focused and severe, he waves her Guardian away like a bothersome pest that needs to be done away with. “She will be fine.”
Instinctually, Shane growls in frustration and steps into Matthias’ space, towering over him; his body casts a shadow that consumes the instructor’s form as he exhales his words of warning. “Have her at the door by four.”
Matthias gives him a sickeningly sweet smile then replaces it with an undaunted and mirrored stare, his eyes unblinking and still. He turns his back to Shane and darts into the building, letting the large wooden academy door swing shut and slam in Shane’s face. Matthias smiles in triumph and hurries to catch up with his guests.
“What was that about?” Gabrian asks him, squinting her eyes and brushing her hand through the loose tangles of ebony hanging around her face, twisting the ends around her fingers as she wonders if this is the kind of behaviour she can expect from him.
“A little harmless fun is all,” Matthias assures, glancing across his shoulder in her direction and shrugs, still wearing a cheery mischievous grin. “No need to worry.”
They walk a few more steps forward through the warm pine-coloured walls that line the hallway of the academy. The pictures that hang on the wall are like those of the New York Legacy School, but the life that roams so freely within these walls feels different—unsettling yet familiar—like an old friend that has been estranged by harsh words.
“Here we are.” Matthias points at a sign on the solid dark brown door to their right.
ENERGY CONSERVATORY. It says in big bold letters.
The entrance looks different than all the other doors they had passed. The closer they get to it, the more Gabrian’s fingers begin to burn. She reaches out to touch it and pulls her hands away quickly, feeling something odd about it.
“Why does this door look so different from the rest?” she asks, guessing that the answer must have something to do with Magik.
“The door looks different because it is,” Matthias explains. “It is enchanted. Come inside and see.”
She gives him a wide-eyed glance. Cold prickles skate across her skin causing her to looks away and study the peculiarity of the door once again, reserving her trust until it is earned.
“Come on, it is fine.” With a subtle pull at the edges of his firm strong lips, his mouth curves upward, reaching the corners of his eyes, and enhances the gilded shimmer of hazel within them. He reaches down and opens the door in front of them to reveal a large chamber filled with strange objects Gabrian has never seen before. The room is partitioned off into what seems to be very particular patterns.
There is something off-putting about the room that makes her feel leery of entering it. She awakens the energy within her and walks through the archway. In the middle of the doorway, something surrounding the entrance causes her senses to go wild for a moment. A feeling of being constrained encompasses her like that of the wards inside the Covenant of Shadows. But once she steps through the entry, the pressure is gone. She looks back and sees Ethan still standing on the other side of the door.
“You are not coming?” she asks, watching him examine the doorway.
“No. I have to get back to work. Matthias has offered to help you while I am working. I have no worries about his ability, and neither should you. You are in good hands, and besides, I was his mentor. How bad could it be?” He chuckles and gives her a big toothy grin. “You will do fine. I will check in with you later to see how things went. Okay?”
She looks at him, unsure about his decision to leave her there, but decides that if Ethan believes Matthias is capable of her instruction, then she should as well. “Okay.”
“Have fun,” he says, giving her a slight wave as he walks away, back toward the entrance of the academy.
She stands in the doorway, watching him go. Out of instinct, she searches for the hum of energy inside herself and pushes it out against her surroundings, getting a feel for the room like Ethan had taught her. She tries to expand her reach but feels it stop short at the strangely curved metal walls and then at the doorway.
“Not the trusting kind I see.” Matthias’ voice finds her from the back of the room, and his words invade her concentration.
“It is not that. I was just curious about the room.”
“Curious is good,” he says, his voice much kinder than it had been earlier—no longer pompous like it had been when he spoke with Shane.
“I know I asked you already, but why did you taunt Shane like you did?”
He swaggers over to where she is with tender humor whispering on his lips. She sees a more attractive side of him now that he is not being a pretentious jerk.
“I am not particularly fond of Shadow Walkers. Especially ones with over exaggerated self-worth complexes.”
She lets out a burst of involuntary laughter at his candor then quickly covers her mouth with her hand to smother the sound. Although she has never said it herself, she completely understands the meaning in his words, and laughs again, feeling the binds loosening from the stranglehold that her life has had on her for months.
The tension that Gabrian had felt about this strange new arrangement between Matthias and herself resolves to some degree at Shane’s expense. She starts to think that maybe this new acquaintance has something to teach her after all.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Jealousy or Duty
MATTHIAS BEGINS GABRIAN’S training where Ethan had left off. After a few weeks with Matthias, Gabrian finds her confidence again, no longer doubting herself. Matthias, much like Ethan, has a way of making her feel appreciated, and helps her to find the beauty in her gift again.
Now that the weather is turning, and the cold stretch of winter is about to be over, they start venturing out and about the village. Matthias explains about usage of energy more in detail. He helps her understand that they are not limited to the essence of humans but that of animals as well.
They take daily trips to visit the nearby hospitals, hospices, and even a few animal shelters—any place he thinks might lend some help. She is learning that her special abilities really are a gift—making life a bit more bearable for everyone she touches is like being witness to small miracles every day—and the fact she is the one responsible for them slowly fills the empty void she has carried around since her parent’s death.
Though Shane is not welcome inside the academy, Matthias holds no jurisdiction over the outside world. Shane follows them from a distance everywhere they go but lets them have their space. He watches as Gabrian’s kindness invokes her ability of control and it flourishes with each gift of light she offers the sick and suffering. He cannot help but feel happy for her, seeing the radiance of her beauty begin to show in her aura.
He also begins to notice that Gabrian and Matthias are spending more and more time together. On occasion, he has also noticed that Matthias takes the liberty of touching her face while removing a strand of hair that has fallen and has begun to put his arm subtly around her while explaining a lesson. The bond between them becomes much more familiar than Shane is comfortable with. He convinces himself that it is strictly out of duty that he cares enough to be upset about it.
While mental training is one thing, Gabrian’s need for physical training is a bit of a surprise to her. Ethan had encouraged her to start running again to help with her concentration, but Matthias insists she take on some combat skills as well.
She struggles at first with it, but Gabrian learns to listen to Matthias’ thoughts while he spars with her. She takes note that he does not guard his intentions very closely and begins to anticipate his moves before he makes them—using this flaw to her advantage. Lately, her black feat
hery friend has been making it a habit to join in on the fun as well by squawking loudly at exactly the right moment to distract and irritate him. Gabrian is pleased with this added bonus.
In mid-spar, Gabrian’s face loosens its grasp on her feral mask, the one she shrouds herself within when engulfed in combat with Matthias, and steps out of her stance, dropping her hands. “I have been thinking,” she says.
Matthias keeps his guard up, not trusting her to keep her hands to herself. “Oh, you have, have you?”
“Why do I need to learn to fight?”
Matthias lowers his hands, and his face softens—slipping his pressed lips into a lop-sided grin, surprised by her unexpected inquiry. “Well, like the Shadow Walkers, the Covenant also recruits Borrowers to uphold certain aspects of the law. If there ever is a need to track down someone that causes the Covenant of Shadows to become concerned then we, as the peacekeepers, need to be prepared to do so. We need to be strong enough to contain and on occasion, destroy them.”
Gabrian recollects the flashes of bloodied bodies from Ethan’s mind that he had allowed her to see when she first inquired about Vampires.
“From my experience in peacekeeping, the desire to stay alive normally outweighs the need to serve the law, making the hunted that much more dangerous than those who hunt for them.”
She rubs away the sweat beading on her forehead with the back of her hand then nods in understanding, but the confusion of why she needs to be trained has not been explained to her. Matthias sees the conflict in her mind.
“And from what I have witnessed so far, with your mental capabilities, and an unexpected but intriguing ability to outfight even me, I think that you would make an excellent candidate for a peacekeeping tour.”
Gabrian laughs at his preposterous suggestion, and suddenly springs upward. She twists herself around in mid-air; landing behind him, she slides her arm around his neck, committing to a chokehold.