Jocelyn holds out her hand, and I pass her the box. “That looks familiar.”
She frowns as she continues to examine the box. “Do you remember that constellation necklace I have, the one your mom told me was the Messier star cluster?”
I stare at her. “The one my mom gave you for your birthday when we were kids?”
Jocelyn nods slowly. “That’s the one. The shape of that necklace seems perfect for this box.”
Aidan fishes out another sandwich and unwraps it.
“That makes sense. Messier Thirty is a star cluster in the Capricornus constellation. Seems right that it would be a key to his birthstone.” He shoves another bite into his mouth as Jocelyn and I stare at him.
I turn back around and look at Jocelyn. “Please tell me you still have that necklace.”
Jocelyn winks, smiling broadly. “I keep everything. Remember?”
“You know where it is?” She nods, and I relax into my seat.
“Then we go to your house after the cemetery.” I glance at the dashboard clock. It’s five after ten. I’m just about to comment that Sarah is late when a sharp rapping on my window makes me jump. I face the window to find Sarah staring at me.
Jocelyn unlocks the door with a click.
Sarah slides into the back seat next to Aidan. “I’m sorry I’m late. I got a phone call from Simona, the Guardian of Aquarius. She says most of the Guardians are safe and in hiding. They can’t find Morgan, the Guardian of Pisces. And no one has heard from Julia recently. She’s the Guardian of Sagittarius.”
I lock eyes with Jocelyn as Sarah hangs her head, a shadow crossing over her face. “I can’t help thinking that this is somehow my fault. It’s our sacred duty to keep things like this from happening, and I failed. People are dying because of it. Friends are dying. At least two stones are missing, maybe three.”
I reach into the backseat, laying my hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. “You aren’t responsible for this. You’re helping us stop Taurus. That counts for something, right?”
Sarah nods, looking up at me with tears glistening in her eyes, the weariness plain on her face.
My heart breaks for her. Sarah and Hanna have always been close, and I can’t imagine what this is doing to her. “So, let’s get this done. Tell us where we’re going.”
“Hillside Cemetery.”
Jocelyn pulls in through the wrought iron gates that are propped open, driving extremely slow and careful, with the small road almost impossible to see under the snow. The cemetery feels peaceful. Wreaths and poinsettias for the holiday decorate some of the old headstones that we pass. I’m hit with a sudden pang of guilt about what we’re planning to do.
Sarah leans between the front seats. “Drive straight back and all the way to the left. Grandma Karen was one of the first to be buried here.”
Jocelyn carefully steers us through the headstones, dread sinking deeper in my stomach the closer we get to the back of the graveyard. She makes the left turn, following the winding road to the back corner.
“Look!” Jocelyn gasps, pointing as she mashes the brakes, the Jeep fishtailing on the ice, lightly bumping a small, brick mausoleum.
We jump out of the car and run the rest of the way to the back of the graveyard. One by one we stop next to Karen’s grave. We’re too late. A pile of muddy snow guards the left side of the plot, and a six-foot hole gapes out of the frozen ground. The lid of Karen’s coffin is smashed in, her bones exposed and dusted with a thin layer of snow.
Sarah drops to her knees, sobbing.
Jocelyn kneels beside her, rubbing Sarah’s back, her eyes fixed on the open grave.
“Should we cover her back up? I can’t believe someone just left her like that.” Jocelyn peels her eyes away to look up at me.
I stand there, hugging myself tightly, trying to keep out the cold I feel inside and out. “Do you think Taurus has the stone? Sarah, are you sure she had it buried with her?”
Sarah’s shoulders heave as she sucks in deep breaths, shaking her head. “I’m not sure.”
Aidan crouches by the edge of the hole, searching the bottom. “We need to get down there and check.”
“Don’t you think if it were there, they’d have it?” I pace the side of the grave, both anger and sadness welling up inside. “I can’t believe this.”
All I want to do is stand there and scream, but that isn’t going to do anybody any good. I have to settle down and think. I turn to Sarah, who had finally managed to get slightly under control. “What was it that made you think she had it buried with her?”
Sarah stands, brushing the snow off her knees, and straightens her clothes. “An old friend of hers, Violet, used to tell stories to me when I was young. My great grandmother had known her when they were younger, but Violet was old, almost too old when I knew her. She used to tell me about a ring she was fascinated with, but Grandma Karen would never let her hold it, and never even took it off. It was a gold ring with a large sapphire, surrounded by diamonds and emeralds, and Violet used to tell me how it glowed with its own light. Violet said Grandma Karen wouldn’t even part with the ring in death.”
I glance over at Aidan, who sits on the edge of the grave, his legs hanging over like a grim swimming pool. His eyes are closed, and he frowns, deep in concentration. From the tingling in the air, I guess that he’s feeling for the stone.
I turn back to Sarah. “What else do you know about Violet and who else have you told?”
I have a nagging feeling, but I’m not sure what it is.
“Nobody.” The crying had stopped, but her eyes are bloodshot and glazed. Sarah takes a deep, labored breath. “Violet died years ago, but she has family that still lives in her old house. Her daughter, I think.”
Aidan pops up from the side of the grave, dusting off his pants. “It’s not here. I can’t feel it. I don’t feel anything, so I don’t think it was ever here. If it had been here that long, there would be residual energy.”
I sigh, relieved that they probably didn’t have the stone yet, but frustrated that we were back to square one. “Do you think Violet’s daughter would mind a visit? She might know something we don’t.”
I stare out the window.
Violet’s house sits in a rough part of town, long-forgotten with barely any signs of life. Down at the end of the street, the house hides behind several oak trees of varying sizes. The taupe-colored paint peels from the siding, and the white trim is almost gone, exposing the weathered wood beneath the paint.
“Are you sure anyone still lives here?” I ask as we slide out of the Jeep.
Sarah steps up beside me, staring at the dilapidated house, and nods. “That family doesn’t care much for material things. If it’s standing, they’re okay with it.”
She squares her shoulders and walks up to the front door. Grabbing the knocker, she struggles to lift it as the years of rust protest the movement. Finally, she works it loose enough to knock.
We wait, huddling together. Just as Sarah reaches for the knocker again, the door creaks open a sliver. She steps forward.
“Hi, I’m Sarah. Can we come in for a minute?” The door swings a little wider, and with a quick glance at me, Sarah pushes her way inside the doorway.
The house is dark and cold, a musty smell hanging thick in the air. I keep one hand on Sarah and trail the other along the wall, for fear of tripping over something in the dim light. I let go of Sarah, slapping at the air as I walk through a spiderweb. The feeling of the ghostly web sticks with me, regardless of how much I wipe my face.
We turn the corner into the living room, and I’m temporarily blinded by the blazing fire in the hearth. I stand there blinking, trying to clear my vision, and gasp as the room comes into focus. It looks as if we’re in a different house.
The living room is warm and brightly lit by the blazing fireplace. The overstuffed furniture is worn and covered by a rainbow of crocheted blankets. Nature paintings fill every inch of the beige walls.
A woman s
tudies us with glittering silver eyes from a fluffy armchair by the fire, her legs covered with one of the blankets.
“My name is Ciara. You must be Violet’s daughter?” I stand there under her scrutiny, fidgeting, as I wonder how to start.
“You may call me Violet.” Her voice is soft and musical, like a bell.
“You’re named after your mother?” I raise my eyebrows and wince at my question. I hadn’t intended to be rude, but her eyes twinkle with amusement, and I relax.
“Tell me what it is that you want, child.” Violet adjusts the blanket across her legs.
“Sorry. We’re here because your mother used to be friends with Karen, Sarah’s great-grandmother, and, well, we’re hoping to find an old heirloom of hers, and we thought maybe you could help.” I wait, but she continues to watch me. The longer I look into her eyes, the more I feel I’m staring down a wolf. When she doesn’t answer, I start gushing.
“Well, we don’t know if your mother ever told you about Karen’s ring. Her family has had it for generations. Sarah is looking for it, and we’re trying to help her. And…” I don’t know what else to say.
Violet smiles, crow’s feet crinkling at the edges of her eyes. “Have a seat.” She points to the floor at the foot of her chair.
The four of us sit without question, forming a semicircle around her legs, like a teacher and her students at story time.
“Pay attention.” She winks at Aidan, and I glance at him, wondering what that was about, but he stares at her unwavering like she’s a goddess. Frowning, I turn back to our mysterious host. “I am Violet. I have no children. Just Violet.”
Sarah gasps. “What do you mean? If you’re Violet, you’d have to be well over a hundred years old.”
At Violet’s sharp glance, Sarah shuts her mouth.
Violet closes her eyes, the energy around her vibrating. Her face glows, changing before our eyes. Wrinkles appear all over her face, her skin waxy and sagging. Her hair fades from black to snow white, hanging in thin wisps around her face. She cackles, her voice raspy.
Violet keeps her eyes closed as the vibration picks up and the wrinkles disappear. Her hair shines once again thick and black, and her skin is still pale but with a rosy flush in her cheeks. She looks as if she’s only twenty. She opens her eyes and laughs at our slack-jawed faces. “I am one and the same. I choose how people see me. Now, are you ready to listen?”
The four of us nod silently in unison.
Violet settles back into her chair. “I am older than this planet. As old as time. Some have called me the Watcher. Others call me the Historian. Either one fits. I’m also a safeguard of sorts. I record the history, and it is my duty to make sure that everyone follows the rules. I don’t interfere unless it is to keep the peace between the Zodiacs and humans. I watch and record history as it happens. I even watched as the battle for the council and leadership of the Zodiacs raged in the shadows.”
A movement to my right catches my eye, and I turn to watch the fireplace as the dancing flames take shape, illustrating her story.
“I watched as they slipped into centuries of uneasy peace. Then the humans came along, and the Guardians were formed, through the same ritual of sorts as the Zodiacs themselves. Some of the Zodiacs, through the years, have tried to overstep their bounds. Each time the Guardians have avoided catastrophe. Often with the help of their house, other times through sheer human will. No time has it been easy. In the last century, more than one Zodiac has tried to rule the world. When I met Karen, she was uneasy, knowing that one day, Taurus would take his turn at the Earth. She kept the stone on her always, even at the risk of her safety, and even when the Guardianship passed to your grandmother. People emerged from the shadows, and in the end, they murdered her for it. I was able to retrieve the stone, and your grandmother tucked it safely away.”
Tearing my eyes away from the fire, I study the ancient woman. “You know where it is, don’t you?”
Violet stares at me, her eyes piercing straight through me. “I know only the clues that were given to me. I will tell you, only because the peace of the world is at stake. It is not just the Zodiac that will cause you problems. Greed rules an ancient order of mages.”
She closes her eyes. “The place to start is a match to the stone. From there, you must partner with the element, but beware of the cold. Take refuge where there is only one, and there you will find the stone, filling a space that stormy waters would not.”
She opens her eyes, chuckling softly. “The world rests with you, young Guardian. It is imperative that you find that birthstone.”
I mull the words over in my mind, making sure I memorize every detail.
“That doesn’t even make any sense. What does any of that mean?” I glance from Violet to the others, and they all look as confused as I feel. A thousand questions swirl in my mind, but she waves me off.
Violet softens. “I know things seem overwhelming. The stakes are higher than just life or death. Remember that you have destiny on your side. Believe in those who would help you, but overall believe in yourself. Your abilities are beyond anything any of us imagine. Now hurry. Capricorn can only keep the Guardians safe for so long. Even now his strength wanes. You’ll always know where to find me, even if I can help you no further right now.”
Violet raises her hands above her head, slamming them together with a loud crack. The fire flares out of the hearth, engulfing the living room and everything in it. I squeeze my eyes shut, throwing my hands in front of my face.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I wait for the fire that doesn’t come, slowly opening my eyes to find that I’m standing in the snow with the others outside Violet’s house. The front door is sealed shut. “What the hell was that?”
“Beats me. That was crazy. Do you think Violet is really that old?” Jocelyn digs the keys out of her pocket, heading back to the Jeep.
“She’s that old.” Aidan slips his arm around my shoulders, steering me to the car, a wistful smile on his face. “She’s the only one of her kind. I’ve heard rumors of her, bedtime stories, but I never thought I’d get to meet her.”
We slip into the car, and this time I let Sarah sit in the front seat. “Does any of that make any sense to you, Sarah?”
Sarah shakes her head, staring out the window. “I feel more lost than when we got here.”
She throws her hands up. “Now what?”
“We figure it out.” I look at Violet’s house. It seems so quiet and ordinary as Jocelyn pulls away from the curb, making a U-turn and driving back to town. My mind still thinks we had just stepped between worlds.
“Sarah, we need to run another quick errand. Can we drop you somewhere and pick back up with you in a little while? Until then, see if you can think of anything to figure out that riddle.”
“Sure. You can just drop me off up here at the corner. I can walk to the diner from there. I need to check in to keep everything looking normal.” She unhooks her seatbelt, waiting for Jocelyn to stop, the Jeep fishtailing as she hits the brakes. Sarah jumps out of the car, turning back before she shuts the door. “Be careful, and call me when you’re ready. Try and hurry. We’re running out of time. The ritual is tonight.”
“Yeah, I know.” I wave as Sarah shuts the door, stepping carefully onto the sidewalk.
Jocelyn turns the corner, driving in the direction of her house.
A black van slams into the driver’s side of my Jeep.
The sound of screeching metal, screaming girls, and breaking plastic rip through the air. Airbags deploy from both sides, filling the vehicle with smoke.
We rock to the side of the street. The force of the collision and the popping airbags leave me with a ringing noise between my ears.
“Jocelyn! Are you alright?” She’s bent over silently, her chin touching her chest. I turn to Aidan, who struggles to get out of his belt.
“You okay?” He nods as the belt finally clicks free and slides across the back seat, as the van backs up, and with squealing
tires, slams the car again.
“Jocelyn!” Still no answer.
“Go! We have to get out of here!” Aidan reaches across me, opening my door, and shoves me so hard out the door, I lose my footing, landing hard on the icy ground.
“Damn it!” I struggle to my feet. “Get Jocelyn!”
The van backs up again. It stops, and the two front doors pop open. Shots ring through the air, and I dive back to the ground, Aidan landing beside me.
I look up through the passenger window and see Gresham sneering at me as he reaches around Jocelyn. “No!” I try to get up, but Aidan holds me down as Gresham waves his gun at me through the window.
Gresham pulls the trigger, and the bullet flies overhead as it shatters the window, glass raining down on us.
“He’ll kill you if you get up.” Aidan lets me go, inching his way closer to the vehicle.
Loud rattling cuts through the air, and I’m relieved to see a beat-up white truck turning down the street.
The doors to the van slam shut.
Slowly, I raise my head again, but Gresham is gone. So is Jocelyn. “Jocelyn!”
Gresham hits the accelerator, struggling to maintain control as they fly down the street.
I get up, running after the van, screaming at the top of my lungs.
The old truck stops, brakes squealing, and a white-haired man jumps out of the truck. “Are you two alright?”
Aidan grabs me from behind, throwing a quick wave at the old man, and pulls me until I stop. “Come on. Look at me.”
I take deep breaths, trying to focus on his face.
“They took Jocelyn. We have to follow them.” Hot, angry tears pool in my eyes, blurring my vision.
“They’re gone.” Aidan looks down the now empty street. He gently strokes the hair out of my face. “We’ll get her back. They aren’t going to hurt her.”
“You don’t know that.” Crushed, I bury my face in his shoulder, wrapping my arms tightly around him.
“I do.” Aidan steers me gently toward the Jeep, leaning in through the passenger door to check if it starts. The engine rumbles to life with a few new noises, and he helps me inside, closing the door. Sliding into the car, he looks at me. “If they keep her alive, they know you’ll come to get her.”
The Tenth House Page 14