Forsaken (Fated Saga Fantasy Series Book 8) (35 page)

Offspring of the Grosvenor would be this powerful.

What a terrifying thought… but it fit. Why else would one of them have come here?

But why not just take them? Why leave them in an orphanage in the human world?

He needed to consult with someone on this before taking action.

This was a potentially dangerous situation and needed to be dealt with cautiously.

He needed someone neutral. Someone he could trust.

Someone not Juliska Blackwell…

Kanda… the Tunkapog…
he left the orphanage at once, in a great hurry. They might not have much time to act. If he did this right, he could deal with this and get back to the island before morning. Before Juliska met with Amelia. He needed to be there to make sure everything went smoothly.

Arnon grabbed a leaf and recorded a message sending it off right away. It flew up into the air and vanished. Five minutes later, Kanda, her brother Nashua, and a few others he did not know, appeared in front of him. After a quick greeting, he hastily explained what was going on. They were gravely concerned as well and understood his need for a second opinion.

“Why didn’t you seek out your own council’s assistance?” asked Nashua.

Arnon sighed. “I have reason to believe that our new Banon, Juliska Blackwell, may have been corrupted by Jurekai Fazendiin during her captivity.”

“You found your proof then?” lamented Kanda. She’d hoped for a much different outcome.

“Yes. And no. I’ll explain later. The point is, it’s not safe.”

“Kanda told me you were having such fears,” said Nashua. “I am sorry. It’s a shame, if it’s true.”

“It is. My evidence is not concrete, but it all points back to Juliska I’m afraid.”

Kanda reached out and gently touched his arm in comfort.

“Regardless of whether I am right or wrong, we must deal with these infants right away. They could be a danger to others, or themselves. They could accidentally out or world. Of course, if Amelia has her way, she will do that anyway.”

“Another grave concern,” agreed Nashua. He got quiet for a moment and then turned to the three that had accompanied him. “Retrieve these children. Quietly. Bring them back here at once.”

They left without hesitation.

“What’s your plan?” asked Arnon. “I’m leaving this up to you. I know you’ll be fair.”

“I do not have a plan yet, other than protect magic. Magic cannot be revealed, at least not by two helpless infants. And if they are indeed children of an immortal…” Nashua shook his head. “We will take them to our home, and protect them for now. We will all have to decide a course of action. It cannot be our decision alone.”

Arnon agreed.

“I need to return home. I must be there for tomorrow’s events. So far, Amelia has been cooperating. And I can tell you both that she is
not
responsible for PanSofia’s death, or the poisoning of Banon Havelock. Not that she hasn’t caused a lot of trouble.” He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.

“Are you okay?” Kanda asked him.

“Yeah. Just a little tired I guess.”

“It’s a relief to know Amelia is not guilty of these terrible acts,” said Nashua. “Am I correct to assume you believe it is Juliska that is truly responsible?”

Arnon nodded.

Kanda put her hand to her stomach as if the very thought was making her sick.

“Unfortunately. I’m also thinking she might not be working alone. But that’s something I’m not even close to…” he cleared his throat. Then shook his head, stretching his eyes as everything suddenly went blurry. 

“Arnon?” called out Kanda. He could not answer. There was a sudden pain in his chest and he clutched at his heart. Nashua and Kanda caught him as he staggered and started to fall. She looked up at her brother with a fearful gaze.

“This looks just like when the Banon was poisoned.”

Nashua did not wait for his companions to return with the infants. He took Arnon back to his people immediately, and they set in to saving his life. Kanda arrived not too long after with the infants. A healer took them, to look them over and care for them while they worked on saving Arnon.

Kanda went into his room and grabbed his hand. His eyes were still open but he could not speak. They knew what poison had killed the Banon, she hoped this was enough to find a cure before it was too late.

At the least, and unfortunately, this confirmed their suspicions.

Someone realized Arnon was getting too close to the truth. They were trying to take him out before he could reveal all he’d discovered.

Nashua strode in after checking in with the nurse and the infants.

“Kanda…” he called out softly. She looked up but did not let go as their healers worked to save him.

“Brother…” she returned softly.

They both felt it. A shift. A changing tide. A new power rising…

Kanda and Nashua glanced toward the door, both thinking of the infants… and a prophecy made long ago…

#

Juliska Blackwell stood before Amelia and her followers.

As well as those loyal to her.

“I thought you had agreed to meet with me, in private,” stated Amelia. 

“I changed my mind.”

Amelia glared unhappily over this development.

“Have you changed your mind?” Juliska asked her. “Are your goals the same as they were a week ago?”

“They are the same,” Amelia spoke firmly.

“That’s all I needed to hear. Conversation is over.”

Juliska stepped back and addressed Amelia’s followers.

“You have been given ample time to make your choice. This is your final opportunity to change your mind.”

Her eyes crossed Milo Jendaya and his wife Kay, who was holding her young son, Sebastien. She pleaded with Milo, silently. He shook his head, truly looking sorry. But he wanted off the island.

No one deserted Amelia. They stood strong and determined at her side.

“I understand your desires to live amongst the outside world. However, have we not had a good life here? Have we not been safe here? To go out into the world and think that people who do not know, or understand, magic, will accept you, is wrong. Magic had to go into hiding for a reason. Need I remind you of our past torments? The very reason our ancestors came to live on this island? Hiding is our only option!”

Her supporters roared their support.

Still, no one left Amelia’s side.

Juliska caught the eye of her brother, Alex and her younger siblings. He supported her, but what she did next would affect them greatly. She sighed, her heart heavy in the fact that she was glad just then, that her mother had died before this day came.

She looked at Amelia and her group.

“You want a life of your own? You may have it at your own peril. I send you off with no animosity, but with a severe warning… should your actions prove dangerous to any of my people, you will force my hand. If you endanger the world of magic by revealing it to all the world, you will not only suffer my wrath, but that of everyone in the magical world.”

All were silent. Listening intently.

“You are henceforth banished from this island. From your families and friends. All ties to this world, where you were once safe, are severed. From this day forward.”

There were gasps and cries from both groups.

What else did they expect? This was their peaceful solution.

“It is too late to change your minds,” Juliska stated. “Balaton, escort Amelia and her followers off this island to a location of their choosing. Now. And make it so they can never return.”

Her gaze swept through the Balaton, wondering why Arnon was not here. As head officer he should be here. He had missed the meeting this morning as well.

She’d cornered Ian and asked him if he’d seen Arnon since the night before.

In the process, got the answer she needed. He knew. And he’d told Arnon.

He never came out and said it, but she could see it in every move he made. Every nervous blink of his eyes. The ways his hands fidgeted needing something to keep them busy. A whiff of fear she’d never smelled on him before.

A gift from her vampyre side? She wasn’t sure, but it came in handy.

Ian claimed he had not seen Arnon. That actually was not a lie. He’d hurriedly scurried off claiming he’d look for him… it was so obvious he was afraid of her. But she hoped he was a solvable problem. She didn’t want to hurt anyone else.

But Arnon missing was not a good sign.

Juliska refused eye contact with anyone, least of all her siblings, and disappeared into her office. She asked to be alone for a few minutes and everyone obliged.

Banishing Amelia was the right choice.

She knew it was.

It was the only way to bring peace back to the island.

But the pain she’d just caused so many people would only now become real. In time, they’d all come to understand it was best this way.

And now, she could focus on bringing Colin home.

She’d wait a day. Twenty-four more hours. To let the initial chaos and shock over this day fade before tracking Colin, bringing him home and adopting him. She wanted desperately to go to him, but held back, knowing she’d be heavily watched and missed if she disappeared for too long right now.

Plus there would be more meetings. To realign and fix things for those who remained loyal. To figure out how to get life on the island back to normal. Even if that was a new normal.

She breathed in and let it out slow, determined not to let this thing with Arnon and Ian take her back down a dark road.

#

It was touch and go for hours, but Nashua’s healers were able to remove the poison from Arnon Jacoby. He was sitting up in bed, looking worn, but alive. Kanda had not left his side once.

“Are you hungry?” she asked him.

“You just fed me an hour ago.”

“You look so tired.”

“I am, but I’m alive thanks to you.”

She smiled hesitantly.

“My brother and I have been talking, we feel certain this was a direct attack against you.”

“I was getting a little too close to the truth, wasn’t I?”

“We think so. The poison is a slow acting poison. It might have been given to you hours before, or even days before. Do you have any idea who could have slipped it to you?”

He shook his head. “Too many to count. How long was I out?”

“Just over a day. A lot has happened.”

“The infants?” he assumed.

“That, and some…”

He waited for her to continue.

“We took a sample of their blood and tested it. They are from the Shogharne bloodline. It does not narrow down a mother or father… but they are definitely offspring of the Grosvenor. It also appears they are twins. They have a tight bond for little ones so new to the world.”

“How can you tell?”

“We have someone in our tribe that can sense emotions,” explained Kanda. “They sensed that the infants were afraid and lonely, and were comforting each other like siblings would. If we separate them, they cry, almost nonstop. We put them back together, they are quiet and content. Astonishing really… they’re so young. And rather adorable. Everyone is madly in love with them already.”

He chuckled. “What will become of them?”

She didn’t answer right away.

“What is it?” asked Arnon.

“Are you feeling well enough to join a meeting? I think you’ll want to be present for this one.”

“Now you’ve got me very curious.” He lopped his legs over the side of the bed. She helped him dress and walk down the hall. He stopped when he saw Amelia Cobb standing next to Nashua. She nodded an apprehensive hello.

“What are you doing here?” His tone was accusatory.

“Not what you think.”

“Let’s all sit,” suggested Nashua. “And talk.”

They each took a seat. Nashua nodded to Amelia to go first.

“I’m sorry. I know what you must all think of me. And although this began as one specific endeavor, it has now turned into something more. First,” she turned to Arnon. “I did not kill…” he raised his hands for her to stop.

“I know you didn’t kill anyone. I got my proof last night right before I was… poisoned. I’m not thrilled with you right now, but I know you’re not a murderer.”

Amelia bowed her head for a moment saying a silent word of thanks.

“Let us try to put our differences aside then,” she said after a moment.

Arnon agreed. He’d hear her out.

“Second, you should know… your sister, Nina, is with me. And her family.”

“What? I just saw her…” he wanted to say days ago, but realized it had been weeks. He let out a disgruntled sigh. Too busy to notice his own sister had sided with Amelia…

“You’ve been busy, Arnon. But look on the bright side; she’s better off with me anyway.”