Everlasting (Night Watchmen, #1) (5 page)

She wraps the band around the end of my hair, and then sets the braid over my shoulder. She tugs on my shoulder to get me to turn around and pulls a few strands to hang around my face before leaning back. “There,” she says, smiling her approval.
“Braids always look better in your hair than mine.” The unspoken between us speaks louder than any words could.

“Yeah,” I say with a half-hearted smile. She needs to hear it. I know she’s trying her best to be what I need right now and I don’t want her to feel like it’s her fault she can’t pull me completely from my funk.

She stares at me for a moment, searching my face, and then goes back to her vanity table. She sprays herself with perfume, and then sprays me. I nearly gag from the extra three sprays she gives herself before putting it back on the table.

“You spray any more of that on yourself and you’ll shrivel up into a fruity flower,” I say through a small coughing fit. She stops, smiles, and then sprays herself once more. I shake my head. “You’re too much.”

She opens her mouth, but then a knock sounds at her door and her dad, Jonathon, pokes his head in. “It’s time, girls.” He shuts the door, and I can feel my pulse beating in my neck. Since when did time move so quickly?

Katie takes a deep breath, smoothes her black, knee-high skirt out, and says, “Let’s go.”

I follow her downstairs and out the front door, and then hop in the backseat with her. Eliza, Katie’s mom, offers us gum. I take it. Maybe mint will help settle my nerves.

“Here we go!” her dad says. He puts the car in gear and takes off, leaving our little neighborhood in
Roessleville behind. I have to clutch my seatbelt to keep from looking back, to keep from checking the driveway for my parents’ car.

The small town disappears behind a blur of bright yellows and oranges. The trees are turning with the season. Eliza’s phone rings twice, and both times my heart forgets how to work and stutters. My fingers find my mouth, but my nails are chewed down so low I have nothing but the nail beds left.

She lifts the phone to her ear and says, “Hello, Maddock. Any news?”

I feel like I’m suspended by only my fingertips with each and every word she speaks into the phone. Jonathon glances over at her, searching her face. Katie looks up from her phone and over at me.

Say something!

“That’s good news then, right?” Eliza says. She looks back at Jonathon and raises her brows, nodding just a little. I wonder if he’s in her thoughts, if he knows the news before I do. “Okay. We will let her know. Thank you, Maddock.” She hangs up and turns in her seat to look at me. I’m a statue coming to life with anticipation. “Maddock says they’ve picked up their trail. Elite Watchmen are on it now. We should have word soon that they’ve found them,” Eliza says, her smile growing with every word. I smile too as the sick feeling in my stomach lightens a little. They’re going to be okay. They’re going to be found, and this will all just be a mere memory.

Katie grabs my hand and squeezes, smiling at me. “See?”

“Now you girls can get on stage and make us proud without a doubt in your mind,” Jonathon says, peering at me through the rearview mirror. “Mary and Russell are two of the best Watchmen in our Coven. There was never a doubt in my mind that they wouldn’t be okay. It was probably just a misunderstanding.”

“Yeah,” I say, nodding with his words. He’s right. A misunderstanding. That’s all.

“Do you have any preference to what side of the affinity bond you want to be on?” he asks.

I’m still thinking about my parents when Katie nudges me. He’s talking to me. “Oh me? Well, I’ve always loved the thought of being a Hunter,” I admit. I know it’s not often that a female is a Hunter, but when they are, they’re fierce. I’ve been repressed by my fear for so long that being the polar opposite seems attractive. Being fierce and independent seems freeing.

“That’s a surprise,” Eliza says, sounding amused. “I thought you’d want to follow Katie.” I don’t like the judgment I hear in her tone, or the way she looks down at her hands with her brows raised in disdain.

My words jumble. “I do, I mean…but I don’t know. I just…”

“She’s going to be a kick-ass Hunter,” Katie says in my defense. She quirks her brows at me. She loves going against her mother.

Eliza inhales sharply and spins around in her seat, catching Katie’s eye wiggling. “Katie Rose Coccia, you watch your language and wipe that grin off your face. Disrespect is unbecoming.” When she’s satisfied Katie’s been put in her place, she turns back around in her seat, clutching her purse on her lap.

Katie rolls her eyes and silently laughs. If they only knew half the things she’s said and done.

Jonathon clears his throat as he turns onto the interstate. “I think wishing to be a Hunter shows true strength,” he says, casting a quick glance to me in the rearview. “Being a Hunter, especially as a female, is rough. Even though our Coven has come a long way since the proclamation, there are still gender issues in the magic world.”

Eliza rubs his leg and looks at him lovingly, and I’m struck by homesickness. I should be riding with my parents right now. I should be having this conversation with them. What am I doing?

“Well, I think the proclamation is stupid,” Katie says, crossing her arms.

“Katie! You should never say such things. It’s heresy,” Eliza says.

“What? I’m serious. Before the Great Battle of the Covens, Hunters and Witches were able to do magic on their own. They didn’t have to be tied to someone for the rest of their lives. They didn’t have to have a
Culling
to tell them
who
they had to fall in love with and make babies with. It’s just so…medieval.”

I want to laugh, or maybe cry. I look at her, and the mischief in her eyes brings out the amber color in them.

“Right?” she asks me.

“I guess so,” I say, peering at her parents from the corner of my eye. They don’t look happy.

“Things are this way to maintain control and to keep our kind abundant. Without this ceremony, our numbers would dwindle,” Eliza says. It’s clear Katie’s treading the edge of Eliza’s patience.

“Not to mention, the old feeling of Witches hating Hunters and vice versa would more than likely strike up again,” Jonathon adds.

“It’s that way with or without the Culling, Dad. A silly rule isn’t going to change the emotions we feel.”

“Kat,” I whisper, giving her the shut up eyes.

She shrugs and looks down at her phone. “Just sayin’.”

“Regardless, these are the rules, and speaking of such opinions will only hinder your future within the Coven,” Eliza spurns. Her tone holds enough warning. “Now
, I will hear no more of this talk, not on a day such as this.” She leans forward and turns the radio on, filling the car with the sounds of opera and ending the conversation.

“Fifteen more miles,” Jonathon says.

I lean my head against the glass and close my eyes, shutting everything out. With every mile we travel, I go deeper into myself. The further I go, the safer I’ll be when the time comes to stand before the Coven.

The ride through the curving
countryside feeds the quake tremoring inside my bones. Through the fall-kissed trees fencing the winding road, I catch feathered glimpses of the historic sage limestone buildings settled on the hills of Troy. Bits of brittle green grass peek out from the webbing of oranges, reds, and yellows. My heart stutters when we turn on the main road and inch toward the gated entrance.

“We’re here,” Jonathon says from the front seat. I can’t understand why his tone is so lighthearted; so casual, calm.

Katie squeals with enough excitement for the both of us. “This is it! This is it! This is it!” She literally bounces in her seat which shakes the car. And the dread that’s stuck on my soul like tar.

I manage a smile, catching tiny bits of her viral excitement. My stomach flutters up to my heart and bursts into guilt. How can I be happy when my parents could be hurt? I can’t. Not fully. I fiddle with my hands on my lap and go over the rehearsed ways to act, the ways I want to act. Calm. In control. Whole.

I don’t even realize I’m tapping my foot to the beat of doubt until Katie reaches over and holds my leg down.

“Chill,” she says low enough for only me to hear. I do, and find my stomach sinking back into place. She squeezes my leg reassuringly, and then
lets go to peer back out her window.

The car stops in front of two large, black iron gates. The Coven symbol is welded in the center with intricate vine detailing. Two angled cameras on either side of the car zoom in on us. Jonathon removes his j
acket and rolls the long sleeve of his shirt up to his elbow. He sticks his arm out the window, showing off his affinity mark. A small, red laser beam of light scans over his mark, and, a second later, the gates swing open.

If all goes well, both Katie and I will be branded today. We will bear the shared affinity mark with our partner. I glance down at the inside of her elbow, wondering what hers will look like, as we continue down the short street lined in white elm trees. Their golden orange leaves majestically rain down on us.

Men in black suits and top hats stand out in front of the circular driveway, their hands kept uniformly behind their backs. Some open car doors and guide novices and parents toward the auditorium. My gaze drifts over the old buildings I’ve dreamed about for years and years. I lean in, and the tightness in my chest slowly expands. The cathedral-style clock tower in the distance strikes ten. Ten deep gongs sing over yards and yards of manicured fields. Gargoyles representing each of the six Divine roost on the Gothic-style roof tops.

When the car stops, I step out and walk around to stand next to Katie. I can’t help but feel tiny under the sights and sounds surrounding me. I tug on the cool air and drop my hands to my sides. I open and close them, not knowing exactly how I should be standing or what to do with myself.

“Welcome to the Night Watchmen Academy,” the man in front of us says in a monotone voice. He’s bored. Either that or he’s dull. It’s all over every inch of every word he speaks. “I’m Nathaniel, your guide.” He extends a lengthy arm out and settles his brown eyes on me. It’s then that I notice a small, white scar lining the corner of his mouth. He looks to be in his mid-twenties, with a broad nose the most prominent feature on his face. His lips are large and pink and contrast against the paleness of his freckled skin.

“We’ll be right behind you,” Eliza says to Katie as they get back in the car to park.

I want to ask her to stay with us or to give me her phone, but I don’t. She’ll find me if she needs to. She’s a mom. That’s what moms do.

Katie barely even looks back. I have to elbow her in the side just to get her to wave them off. “Sorry,” she says. The guilt in her tone is like a clenched hand around my throat.

“Don’t be sorry, Kat.” She’s entitled to her emotions. She has a right to fully enjoy this day. No one will take that from her, not even me. I’ll be damned.

She looks over at me and conflict sheens over her eyes.

I drop my gaze on her and raise my brows. “I’m serious.”

Nathaniel clears his throat. “Let’s get on with it, shall we?” he prompts unenthusiastically. Kat and I share a smile and follow him as he walks down the cobblestone path toward the grand auditorium. If I could, I’d bottle the air and keep it
with my most favorite things. There’s notable electricity in it that pricks at every nerve ending in my body. The campus is alive with the dreams of every novice past and present.

“I can’t believe this!” Katie squeals as we enter the large, double wooden doors of the auditorium. The noise of anxious chattering is almost deafening. People of every size, stature, and color fill the aisles and rows. Some stand. Some sit. Some stare up at the stage where the novices wait.

A part of me wants to crawl into a hole…the part that fears the outcome of today, the part that fears it will all happen without my parents. But the other part of me, the part I long to be, wants to embrace every smile, every laugh, every moment of this day for all that it is. I want to savor the beginnings of a lifetime, the beginnings of a destiny.

“Go straight down the aisle and on up to the stage. Look for your name taped to the back of your assigned seat,” Nathaniel says quickly before disappearing back out into the courtyard. Katie takes my hand and ushers me down the aisle. We make our way around those who crowd the aisle. She waves at a few people who I’ve never seen before, and then practically yanks me up the side steps to the stage.

I quickly count twenty-seven chairs, and a blade coated in poisonous realization stabs the spine of my brittle composure.
That’s it? That’s all that are expected at this Culling?
Katie’s eyes find mine, and I know she’s thinking the same thing- an odd number. That can mean one of two things; there’s either a novice with an affinity partner who’s not yet of age, or there’s a Defect amongst us. I want to shrivel into the furthest corner and hide from the inevitable.

“It’s not a Defect thing, Faye,” Katie says immediately, dropping her gaze on me and taking my hands. Her eyes scan over my face and go soft. “One of us will just have to spend our time on campus without our partner until next Samhain. You’ve heard of it before. It’s rare that it happens, but you know that not everyone hits the age bracket on time.” Her voice is a river of calm I want to drift down. Her surety is a warm blanket I want to stay under.

“That would be the better outcome,” I say, hiding my panic with a rocky smile.

“It’ll all be fine. I promise.” She squeezes my hand and smiles sympathetically. I nod. Best friends don’t make promises they can’t keep. “Come on.” She pulls me further onto the stage, leaving the momentary terror behind us.

Some novices are already in their chairs and staring out into the growing crowd with pale faces. Others are piled around a few different chairs talking. Night Watchmen are posted at different areas around the stage, each standing at attention, each blending in with the shadows. I don’t see a single familiar face aside from Katie’s.

“Let’s go say hi to Todd,” Katie says. “I met him at a dinner party my parents went to last year. He’s cool.”

I smile and back up a step. Meeting new people right now just doesn’t sound appealing, not when I’m focusing all of my will on remaining calm and in control. “I think I’m just going to find my chair and sit down. Take it all in, you know?”

She pauses, searching my face. “Okay,” she says, squeezing my shoulder before turning away. I watch her walk over to the clique of girls huddled around Todd. He
looks up and smiles at her, and then pulls her into a hug, warranting evil stares from all the other girls, which I don’t understand. Jealousy over someone you may or may not be partnered with is a waste of time in my opinion, especially since we’re minutes away from being told who our partner will be for the rest of our lives.

Well, all but one of us.

I look away, searching the crowd for Katie’s parents. I catch them taking their seats near the front of the stage and will her mother to look up at me. She sits and then looks up, her eyes connecting with mine. I hold my breath, hoping she can read my expression. She does. She shakes her head, and my heart falls. Nothing yet.

I look down at my lap and crack each and every finger knuckle one by one. The kid next to me doesn’t move. She seems just as nervous as I am. Black hair shields her face from view. I think I should say hi. It’s the polite thing to do, but I don’t want to. I think if I open my mouth, vomit will come out.

I make my eyes move back to the crowd. I make them see my surroundings. I scan every inch, refusing to cower to fear. I need to be aware. I need to be present. I feel the eyes of someone watching me and turn. Deep set, light green eyes study me from the shadows of the side of the stage. His rugged face is sculpted and covered in dark stubble. Dark brown hair is shaved on the sides with a little length on top that forms a skillful mess.

A funny feeling settles in my stomach as he holds my gaze. I can’t take my eyes away from his. I don’t want to. There’s something so familiar inside of them; so much misguided pain and pent up fear that seeks release. His brows dip a little in confusion, and then he looks away and back into the crowd. He’s a Watchman patrolling from the side of the stage.

I look back over at Katie, but she’s not there anymore. I scan the stage and still don’t see her until I sit back and she appears in front of me. She’s completely turned around in her seat. “It’s almost time!”

“Awesome.”

“Oh, stop being melodramatic. Smile.” She reaches out and pulls my lips up into some form of what she thinks is a smile.

I can’t help the nervous laugh that escapes as I smack her hand away. “You’re such a dork.”

“Can’t help it,” she says, settling back into her seat.

I smile with my head down, thinking about how glad I am that she’s here with me. Music streams in through the speakers of the auditorium, and I jerk my head back up. My pulse matches the fast pace as the Elder in charge, wearing bright red ceremonial robes, makes his way down the center of the auditorium. This is it. This is really it. I frantically search the crowd for my parents and can’t find a single face to settle my nerves.

The Elder makes his way to the podium and taps the mic. The audience goes quiet; the kind of quiet I could get lost in. Every novice sits a little straighter, their hands folded in their laps. I try to do the same, adjusting myself to match them. I can taste the anticipation. It’s sweet and sour, and I chew harder on my gum to try and bring back the minty flavor, but it’s hard and tastes like cardboard.

“Welcome, novices and fellow Watchmen,” the Elder says, his modulated voice booming through the room. His arms are held out in welcome, and his light smile somehow brightens the energy in the air.

Applause erupts around the room, startling me in my seat. I’m a second late in clapping, but eventually, my hands find each other.

He puts his hand down, and the gesture alone quiets the room. He takes the
mic off the podium and turns to address us. “I’m Elder Maddock, the Elder in charge of this Academy, and I have the honor of administering the annual Culling Ceremony for our territory.” His voice is a pillar of poise. His smile is its own entity, demanding respect and trust.

I’m too frozen inside the manacles of shock to even formulate a solid thought. I’m too focused on the name he gave. It repeats like a broken record through my mind, each time pushing me further and further into my seat.

Maddock. Maddock. ‘The’ Maddock. My parents’ Elder, the one who knows what’s going on with them, the one I’ve been waiting for a call from, the one who will deliver my freedom or banishment.

I think I begin to hyperventilate. I place my hand over my chest and feel the rapid beating and uneven rising and falling. Yep. Definitely hyperventilating.
Not here. Not now,
I tell myself. I don’t want to worsen the situation by thinking myself into a panic attack, but I can’t help but realize that
he’s
the one who’s going to tell me I’m a Defect. Or parentless. Or neither. Or both.

I glance up to the ceiling, imagining my gaze going higher and into the clouds where the Divine rest. Why him? What did I do to deserve this?

Katie turns in her chair, and my gaze falls back in place. She’s checking on me. Her eyes widen at the sight of me, and I know I must look bad. I feel horrible. Sweat soaks my forehead. Chills raise bumps along my skin. I’m a perfect contradiction of hot and cold. She lifts her hand and quickly demonstrates taking slow, deep breaths before turning back around to continue listening to the Elder.