Book One: The Girl (The Sanctum) (26 page)

"That is because you sound crazy asking about things that don't exist," Jools laughed.

The entire room shot Jools a look and she quickly shut up. Only Dev smiled.

"They most definitely do exist," Josiah insisted, "as I'm sure Dev will attest."

Jools looked to Dev, who simply offered a slight nod.

"As I was saying," Josiah continued with a triumphant smile, "now you're here and as you hope, I'm going to fill in all the gaps for you."

"Wait," Jools interrupted, "can we hear more about the Ghost Palaces?"

"No!" everyone yelled in unison.

"All right, all right," Jools backed off, "sheesh. A girl can't even ask a question around these parts anymore without getting her head bitten off by the whole lot of you."

"They're the palaces of the Ramyan warriors," Dev explained, "but are never visible to the untrained eye, almost as if they exist in another dimension of reality, hence the name Ghost Palace, which is really a Magical term; the Ramyan would never dream of calling their palaces such."

"But they exist in this reality, correct?" Jools asked.

"Yes, but only to those who know what to look for, and most do not," Dev offered with some finality.

"And you do, dad?" Jools turned to Josiah.

"Just drop it, Jools. Who cares?" Wyatt interjected.

"Shut up, Wyatt," Jools sneered at him.

"Enough, both of you," Sam chastised her children sternly, embarrassing both of them into silence.

"To answer your question, Jools, yes, I know what to look for but before you ask how, let me cut you off right there."

Jools mouthed her dismay.

"That is a story for another day," and Josiah left it at that.

“Good because as much as I respect anything and everything emitted from Jools’ mouth,” Ryker laughed then turned towards Dev, “I’d much rather hear how hot stuff over there is going to save us all.”

Jools elbowed Ryker in his ribs, but kept her attention trained on Josiah, wondering what crazy story was going to be revealed next.

“In a nutshell,” Josiah began.

“No ‘nutshell’ versions, dad,” Wyatt interrupted, sounding leader-like and commanding, “we need the entire story, with all the ugly details of whatever Dev’s parents and you and mom have put into play because it’s going to be us, the young warriors you’ve been training all these years, who are affected. So don’t sugarcoat it. Just give it to us straight and let’s go from there.”

Wyatt knew he shouldn’t speak over his dad like that, but he could not help himself. He needed to know exactly what they were up against and Sam and Josiah were the only people left alive with that information. And they had been keeping it secret for years.

Josiah shot Sam a look she understood immediately, as if to say I told you he could lead. A slight nod of her head and a smirk suggested Sam wasn’t sold yet, but could be convinced.

The amphitheatre was
draped in black, as always when the Circle of Ten called a vote. Candelabras in corners and chandeliers from the ceiling gave off a warm glow, in complete contrast to the matters at hand. Members garbed in the flowing, black robes of The Sanctum spoke in hushed tones, whispering to one another, considering matters, taking sides. Carter Breslin walked into the room and the chatter grew louder, some ignoring his presence, others shifting in their seats, wondering the reason for the meeting. Max entered minutes later, caught sight of his father and walked to the opposite side of the room to take a seat next to an old friend from The Academy.

Sensing the time was right, that enough minutes had elapsed since Carter made his entrance, Ava strode into the theatre and stepped to the podium. Garbed in her robes, her hair pulled severely into a bun and her bright, red lips tantalizing even from the back row of the room, she was breathtaking in a very ice-princess way. The room that two seconds earlier was loud and disorderly, immediately hushed, waiting for Ava to speak.

These were the moments she loved. When she knew The Sanctum belonged to her. When she knew people feared Carter, but they respected her. They listened to her. They followed her.

Ava glanced to her side and smiled coldly at Carter, noticing his left eye twitch when he glanced her way, fully aware he wanted to kill her, seething with rage at the power and authority she wielded. She caught sight of her son, sitting as far away as possible from his father, but completely attentive to her, smiling when she caught Max’s eye.

All was right with her family and her Sanctum.

Ava cleared her throat, a completely calculated tactic she felt made her seem less than perfect and endeared her to the audience. Smiling to some familiar faces, Ava held everyone's rapt attention.

"The Circle of Ten, Founding Families of The Sanctum: the Galloways, the Barksdales, the Allendes, the Edwards, the Khambaitas, the Ravensdales, the Leatherbys and the Sextons, London welcomes you," she began with the formal Sanctum greeting.

"All thanks, London," the audience replied in unison.

"We've brought you here today to discuss the most significant and detrimental events facing our beloved Sanctum since the Gods breathed life into the Code of Ten. In my recent review of our history, I can honestly say we have never faced such enemies, from within and without."

A wave of chatter erupted among the audience as members whispered to one another. Ava gave them a moment, letting her words sink in and create concern.

"Of course, you know all about the hybrid demon we have spent the last year hunting as my husband, Carter, has so helpfully kept you abreast of our failures with his periodic missives. Regarding the information he has provided, I would like to offer some corrections," she looked over at him and smiled sweetly.

Carter returned the expression, all the while considering the many ways he would torture her, given the chance to catch her alone.

"As Carter has mentioned on many occasions, this hybrid is strange in and of itself since demons rarely reproduce and when they do, we have swiftly killed their hybrid offspring. More dangerous for us is this particular hybrid's nature: she is half demon, half angel."

That piece of information won over any audience members not already married to Ava's cause. She allowed minutes to pass as members from the Founding Families seated on the stage and audience members alike discussed the significance of her information. More important than the information itself was the effect it had on those seated throughout the theatre: she represented all that a leader could be, most importantly, Ava was honest and forthcoming, quite the opposite of Carter with all his innuendo and hidden agendas.

"As all of you are well aware," she continued as the din died down, "we have never encountered such a being. That is until my son Max crossed her path in India a few months ago."

Ava smiled fondly at Max, seated in the back, looking arrogant and proud.

"He managed to survive the attack and was able to report back incredibly vital information. For one, the hybrid is a girl. An incredibly beautiful, smart and strong girl. She also had a family: a mother, a father and a brother. All three have been destroyed. Interestingly enough, many of you will know her mother, Maya, as she was the Sole Healer for The Sanctum for generations, and her father, Philip, who served as Chief Magjister to The Sanctum for just as long."

Again, wild chatter erupted throughout the room, many shocked to hear the information regarding Maya and Philip.

"As you will recall, Maya and Philip left The Sanctum with no warning or reason. One night they were here and the next morning, they vanished. Carter and I spent years searching for them, worried something terrible had befallen them, wondering if or when we would ever see them again, never believing they would simply up and leave. Well, silly us," Ava glanced over at Carter with a cold gleam in her eye.

"Not only did they leave, they took off with the sole intent and purpose of creating a being to bring an end to The Sanctum."

“As Founding Families of The Sanctum, we have been on notice since the beginning of time that the possibility existed for a hybrid creature to bring about the demise of our lives as we know them. The Book of Prophesy states as much, which is why we have always been vigilant in our hunt for and destruction of hybrid demons, because if there is one thing we must all protect, it is The Sanctum, as we are the moral authority for all Magicals, we are the peacekeepers, we are the protectors of humanity.

“Now this girl is in our midst, threatening our very existence. It is our duty as Sanctum to hunt her down and bring about her death, for she is just a girl and just as she was created, so shall she be destroyed.”

“We have it on good information that she is hiding in New York,” Ava paused for dramatic effect, “with the help of The Sanctum’s very own Clayworth family.”

This time a roar engulfed the room, drowning out Ava’s voice, forcing her to bring order by banging a gavel against the podium. A most unsophisticated gesture that infuriated her, but a necessary one.

“People, people,” she called to the crowd calmly, “everyone, please. Please. I understand this is very serious, accusing another Founding Family of such treason, but I promise you, I would never raise an accusatory finger against a fellow Sanctum without ample evidence of their wrongdoing. Trust that it is with a heavy heart that I share this with you and ask you to help me lead an attack on New York and the Clayworth family.”

“Ava!” Jasper Edwards, a member of the Circle of Ten, stood up suddenly and shouted, “this time you have gone too far. We have procedures in place for such action. You cannot simply accuse Sam and Josiah of such crimes without their presence.”

“My dear Jasper,” Ava purred from behind the podium, “I fully understand our procedures and under normal circumstances would most definitely invite Sam and Josiah to join us and hear the crimes they are accused of; however, these are anything but normal circumstances and we must act accordingly.”

“Kalinda and I,” Jasper turned to his wife seated next to him on stage, “will not support such nonsense. As a fellow Founding Family, I have every right to demand proper treatment of the Clayworths and instruct others not to follow you down this path of folly and destruction.”

“Of course, of course. You and Kalinda have every right to do just that. In fact, I will do it for you,” Ava offered as she turned to address the other eight Founding Families and Sanctum seated in the theatre.

“If anyone else feels as Jasper and Kalinda do, that I am unjustly accusing and trying the Clayworths without their presence, that I am overreacting to their treachery, please speak now as I do not want to take any action we cannot all agree upon.”

Ava sat back and waited, certain no one would join the Edwards in their foolishness, but ready to take care of business should others decide to surprise her and follow suit. She allowed minutes to tick by as she entertained herself, flirting shamelessly with a minion, knowing Carter watched her every move. When she tired of this and listening to Jasper and Kalinda’s failed efforts to rally the troops to their cause, she cleared her throat and the room quieted.

“I’m sorry, Jasper and Kalinda, but it appears you are both outnumbered in this vote as no one else seems to share your affection for Sam and Josiah.”

“That is all fine and well, Ava,” Jasper haughtily replied from his seat on the stage, “but we will not be bullied into a decision we cannot abide.”

Ava nodded her solemn understanding.

“Again, I am sorry you feel this way but respect your decision.”

“Thank you, Ava,” Kalinda replied with a sad smile as she grasped her husband’s hand in her own.

Luc Arsenault watched the happenings from the side of the stage with piqued curiosity, thrilled by Ava’s handling of the crowd, knowing it was his moment to shine. She turned his way and caught his eye, smiling slightly, hinting that it was time. Without wasting another second on lascivious thoughts of her nude body and how he could pleasure her, Luc strode across the stage, came to a stop behind Jasper and Kalinda and slit their throats from ear-to-ear, splattering blood on everyone seated nearby.

The dead bodies slumped forward and fell to the floor, pooling blood all around them. Luc casually cleaned his blade, waiting to hear any protest of his actions, ready to handle such in a similar manner. But none were forthcoming. The only real complaint seemed to be from those seated close enough to the Edwards that their robes were soiled by the splatter; everyone else seemed to approve the death sentences. That, or they were too afraid of the Breslins to say otherwise. Either way, Ava achieved exactly what she set out to that morning: full scale attack on New York.

Ava strode across the stage and retrieved the blade from Luc, kissing him deeply on the mouth, not caring one bit he was a vampire, so pleased was she with his performance.

She stepped back to the podium and addressed the crowd once more.

"My brothers and sisters, please accept my apology for the bloodshed you just witnessed but understand the Edwards were an enemy from within, just like the Clayworths, and deserve no better treatment than that they received."

Ava caught a minion's eye and nodded. Immediately a crew set into motion, removing the bodies from the stage and cleaning up the mess so the meeting could continue without further distraction. For that was all she ever considered the Edwards: a distraction.

"Thank you," Ava commented as the crew exited the stage. "And now, please, if we may, let us return to the matter at hand."

Dev closed her
eyes and focused, determined to leave the room, even if only for a few moments. She didn't need to read Sam and Josiah to know they were about to dramatically and irrevocably change her life, offer her some missing piece of the puzzle of who she was intended to be. And she just wanted a few more moments to be herself.

Her current self.

She knew she could never go back to being that girl in India. That girl was dead. But this version of herself, the version that knew she was special but didn’t know the fine details of what exactly made her special, she wanted to hold onto this version a bit longer.

So she found a hawk soaring over the trees of Battery Park and floated along with it, aimlessly, enjoying the freedom of flight, wishing suddenly she could do the same and fly away.

And who was to say she could not? Dev wondered to herself. She could escape all of this, find Qi and adopt the life of the Ramyan Warrior, haunting the edges of the living and the dead, part of neither world, belonging solely to herself.

Or she could live a life on the run. She was smart, strong and perfectly capable. The Breslins could chase her all they wanted, but Dev knew she could easily stay ten steps ahead of them, and when she didn't, she could simply kill whoever got in her way. She always wanted to visit Hawaii.

Or The Maldives.

Or even Alaska.

“Hey.”

A low voice and gentle, hesitant touch on her shoulder brought her back to reality. Dev sighed deeply, a profound sadness filling her soul.

Wyatt.

He was the reason. He would always be the reason. She could never leave him.

Dev leaned over, rested her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands.

Try as she might, Dev could not stay angry with Wyatt, knowing he would never do anything to purposely hurt her, knowing he loved her like he loved nothing else.

“You okay?”

She wasn’t. She could not remember the last time she was okay. She didn’t think she would ever be okay again. It was a state of being that was suddenly very foreign to her.

“I am,” she lied.

Dev turned towards Wyatt, never lifting her head off her hands, sensing the motion would take too much effort and she just didn’t have the energy. Not right now.

A tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek. Wyatt almost reached over and wiped it away, but stopped himself, uncertain how Dev would react to such an intimate gesture. She wiped it away herself, shocked and annoyed by her raw display of emotion. Then she slowly sat up, straight and tall, strong and determined, shot him a quick, sad smile and prepared herself for whatever came next.

Wyatt watched Dev slip into her cloak of Teflon and his heart broke a little for her.

“So, the unabridged version?”

Josiah’s question lingered in the air, waiting for someone to claim it. Minutes ticked by in silence, no one wiling to accept the responsibility.

“Please,” Dev finally replied, accepting the burden of her birthright, “the unabridged version.”

“As you wish,” Josiah replied before continuing, “it’s probably simplest to start at the beginning, with the creation of The Sanctum.”

Jools groaned loudly.

“We’ve studied this a million times,” she complained, “can we please just get to the good part?”

“I doubt you’ve ever heard this version, so just let me finish. As I was saying, the best place to start is with the creation of The Sanctum. The Gods breathed life into the Code of Ten, our guiding principles, and passed down our Book of Prophecy, foretelling major events in our history. Each family was entrusted with an item of significance to protect; the Book of Prophecy fell to the Breslins.

“Your parents came to The Sanctum as confidantes of the Breslins and remained in that role for centuries, guiding the family through its amassing of power and control of Sanctum affairs, helping in their overall dominance. Honestly, without Maya’s magic and Philip’s power, there is little doubt the family would be but a shadow of itself. Philip and Maya created the Breslins.”

Dev shuddered.

"In that role, your parents were charged with protecting and preserving the Book of Prophecy, a responsibility they immediately shucked. At the behest of Augustus and Victoria, Philip and Maya conjured another Book, an almost perfect replica of the original, and swapped the two before the first meeting of The Sanctum.

"I've always said The Sanctum is proof the gods are not perfect for when creating us, they made three major mistakes: selecting the Breslins as a Founding Family, giving them the Book of Prophecy and doing so in the absence of the other nine families. For the original Book contains the one prophecy that has led to all of this madness. And the only people that have ever read it are now all dead."

Dev listened to Josiah tell the warped story of her parents' apparent twisted relationship with the Breslins and felt sick to her stomach. She could not marry the memories of her parents to the people Josiah described. She wished she could make him stop but knew that was not possible. This ball started rolling centuries ago and it was not about to stop for her.

"The Book of Prophecy our families have followed for generations states that a hybrid demon will bring about the demise of The Sanctum, to the detriment of Magicals and humans alike, thus our centuries-long hunt and destruction of rare hybrids. For generations we have always believed we were protecting those we were created to serve by seeking out and destroying hybrid demons, as their destruction preserved The Sanctum and that in turn, protected and preserved the world for both Magicals and humans alike.

“This was an utter and complete falsehood.”

“There is no such prophesy in the original Book handed down from the gods. The real prophecy is much more telling.”

Josiah paused to take a sip of water, then continued, barely missing a beat.

"It states that The Sanctum will be corrupted by those deemed to protect its greatest treasure; a being half-angel, half-demon will right this wrong and alongside a Magical counterpart, will return The Sanctum to its original ideals and principles.”

“Dev is that hybrid?” Ryker asked.

Josiah nodded.

“Yes, Ryker, Josiah is talking about Dev,” Sam took over the confessional, “she is the hybrid from the Book of Prophecy.”

“How do you know she’s not just another hybrid needing to be destroyed?” Jools asked, not meaning to sound quite as harsh as she did.

“No one is destroying anyone,” Wyatt insisted.

“She didn’t mean it like that, Wyatt,” Ryker intervened before Jools could respond, “of course no one is destroying anyone because that prophecy is false, but Jools’ question makes sense. How can we be so sure Dev is the hybrid?”

“Did you listen to anything over the last hour?” Wyatt asked incredulously.

“Yes, I did,” Ryker ignored Wyatt’s rising irritation, “but I’m sorry. I need a bit more proof before I go running behind Dev into the form-a-more-perfect-Sanctum sunset.”

“No one asked you to go running anywhere,” Wyatt replied.

“Your parents, the heads of my Academy, are about to ask me to do exactly that,” Ryker responded, his voice rising, “and all for some girl I don’t know the damnedest thing about.”

“Then don’t do it!” Wyatt snapped.

Dev slammed her hands down on the table, the loud noise startling everyone.

“Kindly stop talking about me as if I am not sitting right here,” she snarled at Wyatt and Ryker.

“You tell ‘em, honey,” Darby chimed in, “their bickering is grating my last nerve.”

“I think everyone should let me finish before you start reaching conclusions about anything you’ve heard so far,” Sam forcefully suggested.

Sam’s tone of voice hushed the room momentarily.

“Go on, Sam,” Darby finally replied for the group, “ignore those fools.”

Sam could not help but smile at Darby; she rather loved the way the vampire treated the boys.

“Why did my parents do this?” Dev asked, unable to hold her tongue one second longer.

Sam knew the question was coming, she saw it in the pain in Dev’s eyes as Dev listened to the story of her parents and the Breslins.

“Your parents were good people,” Sam began.

Dev stopped her, not wanting to hear any excuses for her parents’ shortcomings and poor decisions.

“I know who my parents were, thank you. I don’t need you telling me whether or not they were good. What I need you to tell me is exactly what I asked: why did they do this? And by this, I mean me. I want you to tell me exactly why they made me. I want to hear you say it.”

Sam knew exactly what Dev was asking of her. She wanted the truth. The blunt, ugly truth.

“It was for love,” she began.

Dev rolled her eyes.

“Just hear me out,” Sam requested. “I didn’t say love for you, which I’m sure they experienced the second they met you, but to which I cannot attest. It was a love for The Sanctum. Or for the potential of The Sanctum. And for the world of Magicals and the ideal that we are here to maintain order and peace. That is why they did what they did.

“But I’m getting ahead of myself. As Josiah mentioned, Maya and Philip knew the original prophecy and after years of watching the family they once loved so dearly morph into a corrupt, dysfunctional, paranoid version of itself, they took matters into their own hands and set about to create the hybrid mentioned in the prophecy. When Jo and I crossed paths with them, your parents had finally found both the angel and the demon willing to help them. It took years to cultivate the relationships, but in the long-run, it was well worth it, for they were finally able to put their plan in motion.

“I think Maya opened up to us about what she and Philip were doing after sensing we were kindred spirits and would likely be willing to help them in any way we could. Jo and I were already butting heads with The Sanctum, questioning each and every act undertaken or overseen by Ava and Carter, and were more than eager to assist in anything that ran counter to their twisted agenda.

“Little did we know that joining our fates to those of Maya and Philip would change us so profoundly. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the night they told us about the Book and what they had done to it. We didn’t quite know how to react; it was as if the rug had been pulled out from under us. We had grown up with this idea that the very purpose of our existence, our basic identity and understanding of who we were revolved around this ideal of serving The Sanctum and bettering the world, for all beings. So to find out it was all a farce was quite devastating. Because even though we hated the Breslins, we loved The Sanctum. Wholeheartedly. And we believed in The Sanctum’s purpose. Fiercely."

The despair on Sam's face as she recalled the emotional toll of that revelation was still so raw, even after the passage of so much time.

"And yet you continued to carry out that farce, killing innocent hybrids for years, and to what end?" Dev asked bitterly. "All of this?"

Sam bristled at the anger in Dev's voice but understood the girl's need to lash out at someone. Her parents were dead, she was running for her life and she had just learned she was the embodiment of an ages-old prophecy.

"Yes, we did," Sam looked Dev straight in the eye and accepted her role in the deception.

"And you had no qualms sending your son and daughter, Ryker, other members of your Academy on deadly missions that you knew meant nothing?" Dev asked disgustedly, "because they were simply pawns in this game you and my parents decided to play? Because it's okay to sacrifice your children, other people’s children, for the greater good of the precious Sanctum, right?"

"That's one way to look at it," Sam replied.

Dev laughed, a sound so hollow and cold.

"You people are amazing," Dev sneered at Sam and Josiah. “Do you know Wyatt almost died a few weeks ago when you sent him out after some wolf The Sanctum claimed was seen with me? Did he tell you how she ripped him to shreds and but for Ryker he would be dead? Have you seen what the magic I had to use to save his life did to his body?

“Do you even care? My guess is no because as soon as you found out about me, you realized your little plan to save The Sanctum was coming to fruition and Wyatt became just another piece in the puzzle. That’s all any of us are to you. No wonder you and my parents were friends. You share the same belief that we’re all here merely to further your own agenda,” Dev spat in disgust.

“Hold on a minute,” Josiah came to Sam’s defense, “show some respect.”

Dev glared at Josiah.

“You’re hardly in a position to demand respect. That is the absolute last thing I owe either of you.”

Wyatt listened to Dev angrily chastise his parents and knew he should step in and stop her, but he didn't. He wanted them to face her anger and scorn, to listen to the effect the choices they made had on others. It was the least they deserved. And it was much better coming from Dev because if he started speaking and letting them know how he felt, Wyatt wasn't certain he and his parents would ever recover.

"Sweetheart," Darby felt the need to intercede on Sam and Josiah's behalf, defend them somehow.

"Don't you 'sweetheart' me. I might have saved you with my blood but I do not like you one bit. So save it," Dev spat at Darby, quieting the tiny vampire with her ire.

“I knew it!” Jools exclaimed suddenly, “I knew you used your blood to save her.”

“Of course I did. Your mom begged me to do whatever was necessary to save her life. So I gave her a bag of my blood,” Dev explained with a gleam in her eye. “Perhaps that makes Darby the beloved hybrid you people have been waiting for and the whole lot of you can just leave me the hell alone?”

“It’s not that simple,” Sam quietly noted.

“Of course it’s not,” Dev replied, “it never is, is it?”

"No," Sam agreed, “it never is.”

"Some comfort that is," Dev muttered under her breath.

"I'm sorry you are upset, Dev, but this is information your parents would have given you had they survived. Yes, you were created for a specific purpose, and one that benefits all of us sitting in this room, and I’m sorry you’ve had to learn some less-than-positive things about Maya and Philip tonight but I firmly believe this: they loved you dearly and spent their lives preparing you for this moment. You are a girl of tremendous wisdom and power, that much is inherent in your creation, but what you do with that wisdom and power, that lies within you," Sam explained.