Page 64

Story: The Gloaming

“Nick,” he said flatly. “She resembled Erin because any dolt can see how you care for her. But while I don’t doubt the events of today were distressing for you, I am sure they were almost as unnerving for Erin.” I could almost see Adam hold back his eye roll. “I confess, I’m a little offended no corpse has yet to resembleme, actually. But then, who could compare?” He smirked, but quickly became serious again.

“Do be logical about this – you must know Erin is no safer with you gone.”

“You won’t lure them away, anyway—” I added.

“It may only widen the span of destruction,” Isabel finished.

Nicholas dragged a worn black duffel bag from under the bed without looking at any of us. “You cannae know that.”

“I think wedoknow, Nick,” Isabel said, incensed. “Jonathan’s death was to hurt you.Allof this has been to hurt you – including hurting Erin. The entire scenario has been orchestrated from the start to bring you here, to avânatorthat may actually challenge you, for once.” She spared me a glance,and I took the compliment without comment.

“If, as I suspect, the perpetrator has discovered that Erin has no interest in killing you, then it only follows that their plans have had to adapt accordingly.”

My chest tightened at Isabel’s words. She was right. Everything that had happened came back to Nicholas – not to me. I might have lost friends, but my grief hurt Nicholas almost as much as it did me. And now, seeing him prepare to leave… “That’s why you were the recipient this time. They’re trying to break you down. Manipulate you into doing something you’ll regret.”

“You can’t deny, it’s clever,” Adam said quietly. “Rather what one might have expected from you in centuries past.”

Nicholas shook his head, a wayward lock of dark hair falling into his face. He pushed it back in agitation.

“To stay might at least limit the damage. Wherever you go – whoever you might call upon for sanctuary – would only become involved themselves,” Isabel said.

“And tell me, Isabel – is my being here keepin’ Erin’s family safe? Did it keep those lasses safe? My last livin’ descendant?” He answered. “If I leave, it might show them I dinnae—”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but I knew what he meant.That you don’t care.

Isabel shrugged. “Were I in their position, I should consider your departure cause to make a grander gesture,” she responded. “Perhaps dispose of Erin or Adam to make my intentions clear.”

I bristled. “Not to undermine your point, Isabel, but I can take care of myself.”

“Yes. But so far,yourselfis the only person you’ve been able to take care of.” Isabel raised one eyebrow at me. “No offence.”

Ouch. She was right, though. Everyone I should have been protecting had been hurt. More than that, a complete stranger had died today just because she had the misfortune to look a little like me – and there was fuck all I could do about it.

Nicholas leaned against the carved bedpost of the massive four-poster, his impossibly long legs stretched before him. The ivory sheets lay rumpled and unmade, and as they shifted beneath him, the faintest trace of his earthy pine scent reached me from across the room. It was strange to think of vampires needing ordinary human stuff like beds, though I guess it wasn’t really an ordinary room.

“They might hurt her to bring me back,” he repeated to himself. “It worked last time. They were here before I was.”

“Yes.” Relief flooded through me. “And maybe there’s something in that we can use against them – let them think they’ve got us cornered. But right now, we’re wasting time.”

His eyes burned as they met mine. “I dinnae like feelin’ so… powerless.”

“I know.” I murmured. “So let’s do something about it.” I crossed the room and grabbed his hand, thrilled at my own daring. His eyes widened, and that familiar half-smile touched his lips. “Tryin’ to save me too, now, eh?” he asked lightly, his fingers curling around mine. I looked to the others.

“I think we can all agree we’re not exactly a step ahead, here. I have no idea where they’re getting their information from, but nowhere feels safe anymore.”

I looked to Adam. “You’re rich, right? Are you paranoid too?”

He frowned delicately, and I had to laugh. “Do you have anywhere in the house that’s more secure?”

Adam glanced at Nicholas. “The library, perhaps? I’m – ah – rather protective of my collection.”

I grinned. “Perfect. I’d forgotten you had a library,” I lied. “Not too shabby.”

Isabel’s laughter was a delicate tinkle in the air. “You should see his other properties,” she grinned. “Follow me.”

We followed her back down the spiral stairs and toward a set of huge, heavy oak doors at the end of the first floor hallway. Isabel strode ahead and flung them open with unnecessary drama. I stifled a chuckle at the clichéd image, tugging Nicholas along behind me, a bemused expression still lining his face.

19: Revelations & Rejection