by Kade Cook
Shaking her head in disbelief, she pulls at a strand of hair draped across her shoulder, twisting and wringing it, wishing it was his neck instead. “You are such a jerk. I could have been obliterated.”
“Yes, I suppose you are correct…on both accounts but yet here we are.”
“I can’t believe, out of all the beings in this Realm, you are what I get to call father,” Gabrian mumbles and grits her teeth, walking away from the spot where Adrinn is perched. Her eyes hurt from looking at his smug face.
“Um…sorry,” the fiend stutters, his blasé attitude replaced with confusion. “I don’t believe I heard you correctly. Would you mind repeating that last bit?”
Dropping down on a moss-covered rotted log, Gabrian rests her elbows upon her knees and runs her fingers through the top layer of her ebony hair, gripping it in her hands at the back of her head. She huffs out a loud groan and repeats her words in disgust. “I am Cera’s daughter.”
Adrinn’s face is stripped clean of expression. His mouth hangs open, unable to construct the hoity-toity grin that usually resides there. The wheels in his head turn in the silence, gathering memories from the past, and he feels the pain resurface of a long-ago time where something more was at stake—his heart. She had never once given him a reason to believe there was another life involved. Even after he found his way back from the depths of Erebus, and rushed to find her, to beg for her forgiveness and to tell her he understood she did what was expected of her and pressured into sending him away, she mentioned nothing.
Adrinn gathers his composure and softens his approach as he opens the silence between them. He recounts the love story of her mother and himself in the way his eyes remember it. The darkness he is betrayed as is the version they, the Covenant of Shadows, want her to see—the way they know she will be influenced and abide by their rules.
“Even when she cursed me to the Darkness, I never stopped loving her.” He confesses to Gabrian in such a soft tender voice she has no choice but to believe him. “I dwell within confounds of Erebus and in every measure of this world, within nature, there is always a way around the quest of man. They thought they were rid of me.” Adrinn laughs out loud and shakes his head. “Such arrogance rules the Covenant of Shadows. They have no idea just how deep the rabbit hole really goes. The Darkness of Erebus holds many truths for those who would see it for what it truly is and once I discovered what they are, I returned. I needed to find Cera. I needed for her to understand so I went looking for her, but on that journey, not many nights after I escaped, instead of finding her, I found you.” His replay goes on to explain that his questioning Gabrian when she was a child was to seek information and the possible whereabouts of his beloved.
“But they told me that you had crossed the line, given in to unforgivable sins of the fever, and had to be done away with.”
He slinks in closer to Gabrian and rests his bodiless form down beside her. “The hands of the righteous are more often than not stained heavily with blood of innocents. Do not let yourself be fooled my, dear. Before I became this” —he motions his limb to swipe over the remnants of his humanly form— “there were rumblings within the Covenant. Some members had begun to think Markim, your grandfather, to be old and useless. They wanted control for themselves. The Silver Mage had been in rule for far too long and the high table was in need of cleansing. They fed Markim lies about his daughter’s suiter, me, to upset him, and make him unable to see me clearly for who I was—making me a distraction. Markim became obsessed with keeping us apart. Not able to talk with Cera, I confided my troubles to a young friend of mine, Symone. Your mother became confused by Markim’s pressing accusations, especially about the girl, and judged me fiercely by every action I did.”
Gabrian’s recall of the history her parents told was quite a different account of what happened. Her eyes narrow as she questions his delivery of the story. “But they told me that Vaeda saw you in the city. She told Cera she saw you take life and discard the lifeless body like it was trash.”
Adrinn’s soft thoughtful expression altered at these words. The revelation of who had ratted him out to Cera causes his face to harden around the edges as he makes mental notes of the new findings. He refocuses his attention back to the matter at hand and intends to rectify what the Covenant has done. “My dear girl, that story Vaeda spun so willingly was only built of half-truths. I had gone to the city to find work to secretly build a life for your mother, to secure a future for us. I was being hunted in the city by the Covenant’s Peace Keepers—given the green light to do away with me on sight—in the honour of Cera’s standing. I was merely defending myself upon being attacked.
“As well, the night Markim died. It was the night I planned to go to Cera, to convince her to run away with me, but Markim intervened before I could reach her. He saw what I had planned in my mind and went mad with rage about my intentions. He tried to destroy me. So, my only choice was to defend myself the only way I know how, and tragically, the old man fell. Knowing that no one would believe me, that it was self-defence, I fled.
“The Covenant quickly told lies to cover any evidence of involvement on their part, filling your mother’s mind with doubts about me. I tried once more to convince her to leave, but it was too late, she had already been fed enough trickery that she could no longer see the truth in my confession. I loved her with all my heart,” he said, barely more than a whisper escaping his mouth. Gabrian feels the sadness reek in his confession. “I still do. All I wanted was to be together. But,” he offered, tone changing to a solid sound. “…the venom of the Covenant runs deep. It is deadly to those who would swallow down the poison, constructed truths, and the lies they are painted with.”
“But they said…”
His eyes, which were warm and sincere for a moment, are now covered in a layer of ice, smothering out any measure of kindness that had lingered there before. “We can sit here for centuries discussing what was said and what was not,” he chimes out and glides upright, slithering forward, hands tied neatly together behind his back. “If you wish for the answers you came to seek, I strongly implore you to look well within the conscience of your own righteous leaders for the truth. For it is within, the true colours of what they truly are will be revealed.”
His eyes dance over his shoulder at her in a quick knowing glance. Finding a word breaching the wall of silence within her mind, a word screaming so loudly within her thoughts he was unable to ignore, Adrinn allows Gabrian some advice. “An abomination,” he says clearly, her eyes jumping at him from her squatted position below. “It is a name given by weak minds—poisoned and compelled—a name given by the cowards who would have the weak believe as much and rid the world of this labeled evil. But to those who understand, an abomination, my dear, is a beautiful phenomenon—a precious flower that should be loved and adored for the magic that dwells within its petals,” Adrinn riddles, looking out beyond the edge of Thunder Hole, his eyes holding a new sadness as he stares into the dimming fragments of light. “It is a travesty, but some would cut it down mid-bloom, deny it life’s journey, and let it turn to dust rather than see what it becomes, or the beauty it could bestow on the world around it.” The cryptic tale ends with an abrupt stop. His eyes, now filled with a cautionary cue, rush to meet Gabrian’s. “Wickedness flourishes deep within the almighty Covenant, so heed my warning and mark my words, little vampire. Seek your answers from your Boragen Elder, Ethan. He will see it before anyone else because he has dealt with it before.”
“I thought you said the Covenant was tainted and evil.”
“Not all, my dear. Everyone has evil within them. It is a choice to be wicked.”
54
RESPECT
Gabrian’s eyes flutter open in the dimly lit room, the diminished amount of light failing to tell her the correct time of day only that it is on the edge of darkness, which side she is unsure of. She pulls in a slow breath, replaying her trip to Thunder Hole, and tries to untangle the truths Adrinn had woven int
o his warning. The stories the Elders have fed her and the tragic tale her friend, father, whatever he is has spun for her are at complete opposite sides of the spectrum. Gabrian’s head starts to ache as she tries to figure out who is lying. But she senses the odium for her around the High Table from those in attendance—especially two Elders in particular.
Cimmerian and Caspyous.
Their open show of distaste for her presence makes her wonder just how far would their contempt push them…how far would they stretch the law to protect the few?
All she knows is that Ethan is the key to unlocking the answers. Adrinn is not telling the whole truth, she can feel it, but if there is anyone she can trust, it is Ethan so she must find a way to get him to open about his past. It is a burden he has tried to hide from her, to protect her from knowing the dark truths of her kind.
The angles of the furniture’s shadows begin to mesh. Instead of her room getting lighter, it seems to be doing just the opposite. Her eyes jump to the ticking menace on the wall and a rush of adrenaline stings her flesh as the clock strikes the hour.
“Crap!” Gabrian spits out, jolting her torso upright in a panic. “The Covenant!” Jumping to her feet, still dressed and covered in dirt from her forbidden visit to her father’s, she hurries to the shower. Cranking the lever to the left, Gabrian disrobes and jumps into the frigid spray of water with no time to waste on comfort. Somehow, she has managed to waste an entire day. Tynan no doubt is waiting downstairs to escort her to the meeting and he is all about the rules. Even though he loves her to no end, for a Guardian, being late for an official Covenant of Shadows meeting is not an option.
***
Inside the binding walls of the Covenant, Gabrian feels the magic as it constricts her essence around her. She scours the crowd edging its way toward the High Table, all of them bubbling with curiosity of what is to become of the wild youngling, the notorious trouble maker that has entered their Realm undetected and ever since caused havoc at her every turn. But she can’t be bothered today with all their mind rumblings. She is on a mission to find Ethan. She must talk to him before the meeting starts. Maybe he holds the secret that will explain everything, one that will give her a leg to stand on before the fangs of the Elders come out to bite at her throat.
Warmth on her arm distracts her in the hunt for a moment. “Gabe, honey, the meeting has started, and we are late.” The fact is, their tardiness will wear on him, a show of lax in his dedication—to him it is a show of weakness. Tynan rubs his chin, eyes narrow and hovering over all those seated at the High Table. He huffs and returns his focus on her. “Well, I can’t change anything now. What is done is done.” His strong warrior stance falters and he shifts uncomfortably in his own shadow, unsure of how to comfort her, how to protect her.
“It’s gonna be all right.”
Gabrian nods, pressing her lips tight, and hopes that he is right. Her eyes well up at the corners from the sincerity in his voice. “Okay, Uncle Ty.”
“Just stay tough, don’t let them tear you down. You have support at the table who believe in you so remember that, okay? You are not alone up there even though it may feel like it. Put up your defences but tell the truth as you know it. It will all work out.”
Gabrian gives him a forced smile for his sake. For a big tough guardian that has probably seen more horror than she will ever know, his heart is gentle—at least where she is concerned.
“You ready?” he asks, nearly tearing up himself.
“Yah,” she whispers, letting her eyes rest in his.
He grabs her in a quick embrace and kisses the top of her head then lets her go to face the covenant.
It is time.
Her heart leaps into her throat as they edge closer to the table. Vaeda rises from her perch, her beautiful face warm and inviting as she stretches out her hand to motion toward Gabrian’s usual spot. “Good evening, Gabrian, please come sit down.”
Gabrian nods and marches to the stone chair. Ignoring all the taunting whispers, she lifts her chin and continues her stride, still searching the table for Ethan. She lets out a sigh when their eyes meet. A friend—her friend—one with answers.
Ethan, I need to talk to you.
We can talk after. We must get through the formalities with the concerns brought to the house first. Then we can talk about anything you wish to discuss. Just answer their questions as best as you can and try not to tick anyone off in the process.
Gabrian catches the humour around the edges of his eyes as the words reach her mind. But he still cannot hide from the seriousness of why they are all gathered here.
She bites her lips and nods with a subtle dip of her head.
Fine but if I make it through this—
When… he interrupts
Fine, when I make it through this, we really need to talk. It’s about something my father said.
What? Ethan’s humour is gone and his eyes hold a strange storm within them. What do you mean your father?
Adrinn…I went to see him and he told me…
Gabrian, what were you doing with that thing? If the rest of the Covenant finds out that you are counseling with it, with him, do you know how much trouble you would be in?
Yes, I know, but he told me the Covenant is tainted, that the responsibility for the attack on me the other night lies within the Elders of the Covenant. Her eyes slip to peer at the group in front of her, snagging on Cimmerian and then Caspyous.
Gabrian, that monster knows nothing but lies and evilness. Why would you believe anything he says to you after what he has already done?
I don’t know…there is just something that rings true about it. I can feel it in my gut. Those men kept calling me an abomination, Gabrian’s eyes widen, returning to her friend as she silently pleads with Ethan to listen to her explanation. She bends forward, resting her mouth on her fisted hand, and bites at the edge of her lip. …That they were told to kill the abomination. Adrinn thinks there is more to this attack than just a random act, and that I need to be done away with because of what I am, because of the fear of what I may become.
All right, all right…calm down. Let’s just get through this first then we will figure out a plan to sort out this conspiracy theory you have been informed of. Deal? Ethan rubs his hands through his hair, leaving it in a mess as he drops his arm to rest on the marble table in front of him.
Deal, Gabrian says, rolling her eyes. If, that is, I do survive this.
It will be okay, you have more friends than foe sitting at this table. Just breathe.
Okay, breathing it is. She gives him a fake smile and inhales a deep exaggerated breath.
Oh, and please bite your tongue if you can.
Fine. Biting of the tongue has commenced. She purses her lips together tightly in a show of faith in her friend’s words.
Fine.
Having kept his eyes glued to her since she entered the room, Caspyous catches the silent conversation being had between Gabrian and Ethan. Knowing that nothing good can come of this, he goes out of his way to make it stop.
“When the two of you are done having your privileged and private conversation, maybe you might want to remember to address the questions of your Elders in the proper way, out loud,” he booms at the table, not looking at either of them at first but then raises his eyes slowly. He gives Ethan a narrowed glance then lets his focus slip across the table to rest upon Gabrian, allowing the hatred he feels for her show in his eyes, and lets its intensity reach her, making Gabrian feel as if it is burning a hole through to the center of her soul.
Throughout the inquisition, Gabrian answers when questioned and retells the happenings to the best of her ability. She allows Ethan to display a mental replay of the events to the members of the High Table up until the part where the explosion had occurred and she was thrown from the building. The imagery is too hazy and confusing to use as evidence. At that point, Arramus picks up the story, explaining what he encountered upon finding her body within the burning debris. Ga
brian is even a little intrigued to listen to his recount of when he had found her, still on fire.
He continues explaining that her injuries were minor compared to what they should have been, not to mention the exaggerated speed of her recovery. Even for a Boragen, being blown to bits and set on fire should have put her regenerative abilities into overdrive, taking days to recover, but this is unheard of.
Her eyes shift to the left. She catches something in the rumblings around the table, something that hitches her breath in her lungs. It is a word, not spoken out loud, but a rancid thought swirling with such malicious hatred that catches her attention—a thought that grabs Ethan’s attention as well.
Ethan, did you hear that?
Yes, I heard it.
Well?
I will look into it. You stay out of it.
Fine.
The meeting runs on, emotions running at the table becoming elevated beyond a diplomatic display of confidence. Vaeda and Orroryn agree to dismiss Gabrian until things can be sorted out and brought back under check.
“I can’t believe that this thing has you all fooled. Since the moment its presence was discovered there has been nothing but disruption and mayhem, all of it fallen around us with the youngling running wild at the center.” Caspyous shouts, his face reddened and his eyes piercing, filled with accusation. “Orroryn and Vaeda have become complacent when dealing with these issues not to mention the side entourage of Elders who have a claim of obvious affection for it. Even Cimmerian’s tolerance for the creature has subsided into succession.”