Clare cut in. "Classic bad boy, very sexy."
"I cal it unkempt," Kieran said. "Don't tel me he can't afford a pair of jeans that haven't been put through a shredder. What's taking him so long anyway?"
I cocked my head to get a better view. "He's fumbling around in the glove department."
"I hope he's looking for a map and not a weapon," Blake said, leaning against a tree.
I turned to face him. Blake must be nervous. That was about as much as he talked in weeks. "You don't have to join the mission. I'm not twisting your arm."
Blake pointed at Thrain's car, ignoring my statement. "He's coming."
We watched in silence as Thrain marched over to join the waiting party, eyes glittered in the moonlight. "It's up there," he said, pointing at the dense forest on the mountain behind us. "We need to reach the trees before the clouds clear again."
"A midnight strol —how romantic," Kieran said.
I fol owed the others up the path, pondering over what the demon cal ed a plan: find a way in, save the lass, find a way out. Maybe avoid a guard or two in the process. Didn't sound like much of a plan to me, but I wasn't one to argue as long as we didn't leave without Amber.
"I should've worn my trainers," Clare muttered.
"Don't break a heel," Kieran said.
Thrain laughed. "Stilettos are hot. Just tel me and I'l carry you."
"Thank you," Clare said. "Final y, a guy with taste."
"Since when do tattered jeans equal taste?" Kieran nudged Thrain. "You know I'm dating her, right?"
"Kieran, I said no trouble, remember? You're not even dating her." Groaning, I shook my head. I stood a better chance rescuing Amber with the help of my iPod.
"It's best we maintain silence from here on. We're on a mission, not a dating show," Blake said.
Irritated by their endless banter, I nodded even though I was several feet behind them and they couldn't see me as we hurried up the winding path. The trees looked al the same, but I could sense we were getting closer because the air had started to reek of Shadows.
A few minutes later, we stopped. Thrain dropped to his knees and rubbed soil between his fingers. "We're not far from their main trail. The gate is to the east."
"Keep north until we reach the fence," I whispered.
Thrain shot me a curious glance over his shoulder, before he took off again. We moved at a fast speed through the trees, almost invisible to human eyes, but not undetectable to Shadows. I could already see the fence in the distance, rising high against the dark night. Rebecca had entered once without the demon's abilities, but Rebecca was an excel ent manipulator. She could persuade a mortal to give away their life for her.
The immortal warriors had opened the gates and let her in, unsuspecting of the bloodbath she'd leave behind. That trick wouldn't pul again, which is why we needed a shape shifter to pretend to be one of them and make sure the way was clear.
The fortress was secured by a twenty-foot, barbed-wire fence about fifty feet away. A sign warned that it was electrical y charged. I focused on the gate—two guards patrol ing on the other side, cloaked in black and oblivious to what was going on. Their strong, earthy smel invaded my nostrils. I knew instantly their powers were limited based on their low rank in the Shadow hierarchy. Judging from their position, size and abilities, I could easily take them down if I had to, but I wouldn't. Not before Amber was safe.
Thrain stopped and pointed at the fence, whispering to Clare and Blake, "I'l distract the guards. You jump." He nudged Kieran. "You invented basketbal too? Or just NASCAR?"
"You should see my jump shot." Kieran grinned. "I know you'd feel safer with me around, but Aidan wants me back here. He claims I'm trouble."
"Shame." Thrain shrugged. "I'd have loved a race."
"He'l take you up on the offer another time," I whispered as I watched Clare and Blake disappear through the thicket. Thrain headed for the gate. Kieran and I dropped onto the ground, prepared to wait.
Chapter 18
Shooting Angel a timid smile, I stepped through the open door. To my surprise, I realised I was in a thriving terraced garden rather than a room.
Bright rays shone through the glass ceiling, settling on the fal en leaves in a wealth of colour. Dumbfounded, I peered around. How could there be so many plants in bloom in the middle of a bleeding mountain in freezing Scotland? I didn't even know Scotland had this many flowers.
"It's magic," the guard said, turning to face me. I recognised Devon.
"Do you mean magic in the literal sense?"
He shrugged, smiling. As usual, I was kept in the dark. My temper flared. "I thought you'd take the gift out of my head and then let me go," I snapped.
Devon cringed. "It doesn't work that way. You're part of the package."
Where did he get the impression I was keen on joining their little club? "You failed to mention I had a lifetime membership to Shadow Land."
He shrugged. "You didn't ask. Let's put it this way—" he grabbed my elbow and guided me down the cobblestone path "—I did you a favour. The company you kept was a bit shady."
I let out a huff. A Shadow cal ing vampires shady?
Devon continued, "Aidan's not even remotely human. You were flirting with danger. I rescued you, and barely in the nick of time."
I laughed. "So, let me get this straight. You slayed the dragon, jumped over the moat, climbed the tower of the evil king's castle, saved the princess, and rode off with her into the sunset aka Shadow Land. Why, you're my knight in shining armour."
His face remained expressionless as he nodded. "Just switch the castle for the gloomy McAl ister mansion. Aidan doesn't love you because he's stil in love with Rebecca. He'd do anything to raise her from the dead. Or why do you think he participated in the race?"
That certainly explained why Aidan wanted the prize so badly. But usual y, there are two sides to a story. I shook my head, unwil ing to let Devon twist my mind. Or maybe I couldn't handle the truth. "His plans are none of your business."
"What do you see in him anyway?"
"He doesn't leave the toilet seat up." I smiled bitterly, realising I had no idea who Aidan real y was.
"Doesn't your life mean anything to you?"
"Of course it does." I shot him a sideway glance, wondering where our conversation was heading.
"Then why on Earth would you hook up with one of the McAl ister brothers? You would've been dead before Christmas."
"Now you're being melodramatic. Must be part of the Shadow charm—al dark and gloomy."
Frowning, Devon stopped in midstride. "Are you trying to be funny? Do you think your brother and parents would've seen the joke in bringing flowers to your grave every day?"
The thought made my heart skip a beat, dread settling in the pit of my stomach like a heavy stone. "You know my family?"
"Yes, and you bet Aidan's been watching them too. He may seem like a nice guy, sweet and charming and al that, but behind his calculated façade hides a skil ed kil er. He chased you in the woods. You only escaped because other immortals were around and he wouldn't risk exposure."
Avoiding his gaze, I regarded the nearby bushes with their tiny white flowers. I couldn't get the thought of my parents crying at my grave out of my mind. "I put my parents down as my emergency contacts. You know, I never even wanted this job." I took a deep breath. Was it Aidan's mission to kil me al along? It made so much sense, and yet my heart wasn't quite wil ing to buy it. A sil y thing cal ed hope kept clinging to me. I turned away from the tal trees with their canopies of leaves. My gaze connected with Devon's as I tried to read his expression. "Why do you care?"
Devon inhaled and scanned the area behind me, black eyes glinting. "The first night we met I knew I had to save you. I couldn't bear the thought of Aidan ripping your throat out. It took everything I had to just walk away."
"Why?" I shook my head. "I'm sorry but I don't need saving. Maybe pour al that energy into a worthy cause, like saving the whales, or the Rainforest. I he
ar trees are being cut down at an alarming rate."
"He's kil ed before and he'l do it again," Devon said. "Doesn't it make your skin crawl knowing you were bunked up with Vlad the Impaler?"
"Huh?"
"Look him up when you get the chance. The point is, Aidan and Rebecca kil ed hundreds in their bloodlust hunt." Devon grabbed my hand, inching closer until we stood mere inches from one another. My breath caught in my throat as I stared into his black eyes. "The Shadows fight to keep humans safe from monsters on the prowl. I know our image was tarnished when Connor tried to kidnap you. But I want you to know my brother had only the best intentions in mind. He was desperate since he didn't know how much time we had left." His tone was honest. Even though he fel quiet, I felt as though his voice was stil talking to me at the back of my mind, whispering unspoken words in my ears.
"Who are you people?"
"We're the good guys," Devon murmured. His gaze turned soft as he brushed a wisp of hair out of my face. "I hope in time you come to see that.
Breaking away from Aidan wil be good for you. Besides, it can't be fun snuggling up to an ice cube every night." He hesitated. "Or shal I say, corpse?"
I smiled warily. "Al the more reason to invest in flannel nightwear."
Smirking, Devon pul ed away. "I'l end on this note. Aidan has kil ed his lovers in the past and I won't to let him repeat history."
"Why?"
He shrugged, avoiding my gaze. "Because I like you." For a moment, I wasn't sure I heard him right. I opened my mouth to ask in what way he liked me, but Devon took my hand and led me under the low branches of a tree on the narrow path. My hand felt strange in his as we crossed the open space. We turned right until we reached an opening in the wal and squeezed through into yet another corridor. He didn't let go of me until we halted in front of a huge door of polished metal.
Devon opened his mouth to say something when I lifted a hand to stop him. I'd heard enough. Now, I needed time to make sense of his words.
"Aidan's your sworn enemy," I said, "so it's hard for me to trust you."
"You trust him more? That's disturbing." The door opened. Devon let me pass through, fol owing a step behind. I took in the narrow stony passage with torches lit on both sides of a long aisle, marvel ing at how much it resembled the others we had passed. We walked in silence for a while, the dul thumps of our boots echoing from the wal s.
My mind reeled. There were so many questions I wanted to ask. Did Aidan say anything? Did he know about my deal with the Shadows? But I kept quiet, praying Devon would get the hint and keep his mouth shut too because I couldn't deal with more reproach and mind control, until we reached a great hal with a marble altar set up in the middle. A strong, chil y breeze swept my hair across my face. My heart started to race, hammering against my ribcage. Judging from the distance we had put behind us, we couldn't be anywhere near the open space with its blooming trees. The scent here was different too, less flowery, more earth-like and damp, just the way a mountain would smel in the cold Scottish summer.
Gazing around, I searched for the door to freedom. If I could just see it, I might be able to distract my captors and make a dash for the woods.
"You're shivering. Here." Devon took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. I mouthed a thank-you, careful not to give away my enthusiasm at being so close to a way out. His obliging attitude was part of his plan to sway me in the Shadows' favour. On the other hand, why would he want to deceive me when I was already cooperating? I was being paranoid again. He said he liked me. I wondered whether his words meant more than he let on. I took a deep breath and focused my attention back on our surroundings.
Devon led me past the altar to an opening in the wal , like a giant hole. Behind it stretched darkness. The dim light of the torches barely cast enough light to il uminate our way as we walked through, entering yet another corridor in this maze. A shiver ran down my spine. Even though I knew it wasn't from the cold, I wrapped Devon's jacket tighter around me.
"You okay?" Devon whispered, grabbing my hand again.
I nodded, but didn't pul away. We entered another open space. From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw motionless shapes leaning against the wal s, surveying our every move, waiting in silence as if they, too, were carved of marble like the altar we passed. Had they fol owed, or did they keep guard? Either way, there were so many of them, even if I found a way out, how far would I get before someone spied me and raised alarm?
At the far end of the space, a dais of stairs led to an upper platform with a door. Devon pressed his palm against a carved triangle. Light flickered where his skin touched the wood, and the hinges moved with a loud groan. We entered a rock chamber, and the door shut behind us.
Holding my breath, I looked around. More torches il uminated the vast room. Oriental rugs, in the colour of autumn leaves, covered the stonewal s. Thick logs burned in the huge fireplace to my right. I turned to the girl and the man seated on ebony thrones overlaid with red velvet when Devon hissed in my ear, "You're about to meet our queen, Deidre. Keep your head bowed."
Doing as he ordered, I caught a glimpse of ivory skin and silver hair that spil ed onto her dress, surrounding her elfin figure.
"I want a better look at the girl," Deidre said, her thin childlike voice ringing a bel .
"Go," Devon whispered as he gently pushed me forward, bracing me when I stumbled.
Deidre held out a hand and whispered, "Come closer."
I looked up, my gaze shifting to the bearded man sitting on the throne, pale and unmoving. When he didn't even blink, I turned to the girl, taking in the hip-long, silver hair, smooth skin and dainty physique. She looked barely older than twelve, but something glittered in her black eyes; old knowledge, pride and something else I couldn't pinpoint.
Deidre drew a sharp breath, then lifted one hand, motioning me to take a step forward. "This is Amber?"
"Yes, Deidre. She was chosen by the vampire," Devon said, head bowed.
"I stil can't see her face," Deidre said. I could hear impatience in her voice, so I approached, my boots making an unnerving clicking sound on the shiny marble floor, until I stood a few inches away from her.
"Chosen for what?" I asked, suspiciously, as I tried to push away the image of the girl in The Exorcist, a movie Dal as made me watch a few times. Eerie atmosphere. Check. Pale girl dressed in a flowing dress. Check. Weird talking. Check. I held my breath, waiting for the demonic voice to start cussing.
"I can't tel you. Revealing this particular secret shal be the vampire's pleasure, or agony, however he might see it." Deidre ran her fingers up my arm, barely touching Devon's leather jacket. "You've come to offer help in this dark hour?" Her authoritative voice stood in stark sharp contrast to her fril y dress and friendly smile.
"Yes, Deidre. Amber agreed to a pact: her skil for the vampire's life," Devon said. I shook my head. Was a verbal agreement even binding? I'd never heard of one to hold up in court. A good lawyer could surely get me out of this bad deal in a heartbeat.
Deidre's gaze never left me. She had the same coal black eyes as Devon and the other Shadows, as though they were siblings. Her lips were the colour of frozen rose petals, barely moving as she whispered, "Let her speak for herself, warrior."
"Devon's right, we had an agreement." I noticed the sword sheathed along Deidre's right hip. Honestly, a sword? Could she be more psycho?
Deidre placed a hand on my shoulder, and squeezed. A freezing sensation seeped through the thick material of clothes. I imagined myself slapping her hand away, but refrained from fol owing my instinct.
"I saw you in my dreams hundreds of years ago," Deidre whispered. "Yours is so beautiful and yet so tragic a fate. But first you'l reunite us with what is ours." Did she say hundreds of years? Unless my parents lied about my age, I was only seventeen. Deidre smiled coldly and continued her monologue, "You're a rarity among mortals and immortals, pure and striking. I reckon you've pledged your al egiance. Don't betray our trust or you'l die,
and the vampire with you." She paused, glancing past me at Devon. A guttural hiss escaped Deidre's throat. "He thinks they share a bond."
"Only fools believe in bonds," Devon whispered. "The vampire made it up to suit his purpose."
I cast Devon an irritated look because I had enough of al the bad-mouthing. They were Aidan's enemies and I didn't trust them. They might seem more human than a vampire, but between the bloodsucker and the Exorcist kid and her black-eyed clique, I'd take the bloodsucker any time.
"Did you know he has the ability to influence your mind?" Deidre asked. "He'l feed on you night after night, sucking your blood and destroying your wil to live."
"You're kidding." Aidan happened to leave that tiny detail out. At this particular moment, he didn't seem so mysterious, good-looking and eternal y al uring. A chil ran down my spine. Did I trade Cameron's wisecracking, partying and womanising for a guy with an uncontrol able hunger for human blood? My taste in men was despicable. What came next? A werewolf? A zombie?
Deidre returned to her throne, chiffon shuffling as she draped her frock around her. "That you're here shows me you're ready to beg for help, just like our Angel once did." She paused again, the sudden silence stirring a storm of different emotions in me. The Exorcist kid was lying. Aidan could neither mess with my mind, nor would he ever drink from me. And yet, he wanted something, something they al seemed to want. I couldn't trust anyone; not Aidan, not the Shadows, and certainly not bloody Dal as who brought this disaster upon me in the first place. From now on, I'd only trust myself.
"I need answers." My voice quivered. "Angel said I could never go home again."
The sudden oppressing silence hung heavy in the air. I could slice the tension with a knife. This was the moment I'd been waiting for. Maybe Angel and Devon didn't know what they were talking about. Deidre might let me go home in a few months. I should've been more specific by offering my skil for two years, three tops, and then demand to be brought home.