Gauntlet Rite of Ascension (34 page)

              “I don’t know what ye went through, but I know ye were never raised to understand what was happening to ye. I knew what to expect and still almost killed Patrick.” She finished, looking at me openly, hoping I would open up back.

              I sat with my head hung. I knew it hurt for her to tell me that. All I could see was Sara’s face right before I watched as the Beast killed her. What was going through her mind? Did she think it was me killing her or did she know I wasn’t there, that a monster had taken my place? The thought that she knew it was me and that I was the monster brought another wave of pain as the idea came of its own freewill, my mind unable to stop the thoughts from rushing over me.

              Eavan sat patiently, without pushing. She turned back and sighed, beginning to continue cleaning her boot.

              “Sara.” I said in a low voice.

              Saying her name out loud gave it less power to overwhelm me.

              “Her name was Sara.” I said again, this time a little louder.

              Eavan turned to me with still calm, seeming willing to wait all night for me to continue if I needed to.

              “We had lab together.” I said tentatively, looking into Eavan’s eyes, seeing only understanding and compassion within their depths.

              “I wasn’t very popular in school, she was. We became lab partners after she came to class late and I was the only one left without one. She never seemed to mind. She was kind and smart. She treated me like an equal, never making me feel left out. I fell in love on that first day.”

              “She had a boyfriend and so I waited, buying my time. In retrospect I was actually a coward, afraid of rejection. Near the end of the school year she broke up with him and I kept telling myself I was going to ask her out, but deep down I knew she’d say no. Then one day I was bitten by a wolf. I had a newfound sense of confidence and I asked her out. To my amazement she said yes.”

              “We had a great time; she was wonderful, as smart as she was beautiful. It was the perfect night until the Beast rose. I had no idea what was happening and I hid within myself. I cowered like a child in the dark recess of my mind, hoping this thing wouldn’t find me. I watched as it went after her and ripped her head from her body.” I stopped and took a deep breath, willing myself to continue.

              “I did nothing as it took her life and then the lives of two others. By the time I fought back and won it was too late for them, they were dead. Sara was dead because I was a coward; I was too weak to fight. I will never be too weak again.” I finished.

              She didn’t try to tell me I was wrong or that I shouldn’t feel as I did. Instead she just looked out into the distance with me. She reached over and took my hand; we sat like that for I don’t know how long.

              “My dad used to say that the power of the Beast is immense. He said it could almost be unlimited if wielded by the right person fer the right reasons. Sometimes the lessons of how important it is to have control over the Beast are in direct correlation to the person’s potential.” She said after a while.

              I thought about what she said. She wasn’t telling me how I should feel or that I wasn’t a coward, instead she was telling me to embrace these facts and use them to fuel my will, in the same way I accepted the Beast and used my will to give me power over it. She was telling me I could gain control over what happened and use it instead of letting it use me.

              I squeezed her hand and turned toward her, we were only a foot apart and her red full lips drew me like the call of a deer draws in the wolf. I leaned in and kissed her and she never backed off, slowly at first then growing with more passion. It stretched on and we finally parted, both of us breathing heavy, our bodies screaming to continue. I realized her words had sunken in and pierced through the pain of Sara’s death. I hadn’t forgotten about Sara and what happened, but it also didn’t stop me from enjoying the moment with Eavan. It seemed to have dissolved into my being and added a core of strength to me, the depth of which as yet unknown.

              Eavan smiled and raised her eyebrows in a quick movement.

              “Ready to see what’s on the video?” She asked.

              I had almost forgotten about that as we both got up and went over to the antennae array. I climbed up while she kept watch. I came back down with the small receiver and placed it into Eavan’s outstretched hand. She took it and then pulled out a phone from her pocket. She uncoiled a small cord and attached the receiver to her phone. After a few seconds the download was complete and I took the receiver back to the top of the array. Hoping back down I met Eavan at the edge and we sat back down. We looked at the phone’s screen and waited for the video to start.

              Max came into focus as he sat at the computer in the cabin. Katrina stood behind him and her hand was casually placed on his shoulder.

              “I don’t know exactly what you were expecting to see, but I’m afraid you might be disappointed. The only interesting thing that happened was around three a.m. Here it is.”

              The video shifted to one of the cameras as it recorded the outside wall of the Den. There was nothing on it but the wall, a small area of grass and the hint of a tree line. After about ten seconds of tranquility, movement drew my attention to the far corner of the screen. A rabbit bounced into view and hopped parallel to the trees; it then took one tentative look around before moving out of the screen and out of view.

              Max popped back onto the screen, he had a wide grin stretched across his face.

              “Maybe more luck tomorrow?” He asked.

              The video blinked off as the sound of someone closing the door leading up to the arena broke the silence of the disappointment the video had left behind.

              Eavan and I both looked at each other realizing we had nowhere to go.

Chapter 30

              “We have every right to be here, don’t act guilty.” I said to Eavan.

              She nodded and put her phone away.

              “Ah, the arena, it has been years since I have been up here.” A woman’s voice laced with a strong Germanic accent drifted to me.

              “It seems like we aren’t the only ones up here.” I heard the sorcerer say. The woman’s words were full of a ripe sensuality that gave her speech a magnetic quality, whereas the others dripped with badly concealed scorn.

              Eavan and I turned to face the newcomers. I was unsure of how to proceed but Eavan stood up and motioned for me to follow her lead.

              “The view is beautiful from up here.” She said as the two came closer.

              I stood next to Eavan and my mouth threatened to fall to the floor seeing who the hooded sorcerer was with.

              The woman stood almost seven feet tall. She had a strong athletic frame that glowed with a healthy tan. Her movements were confident and aware of its effects on men. She had golden hair that fell in soft waves, ending just below her shoulders. She wore a pair of white leather pants that accentuated her long legs. White high heels gave her even more height while a light blue sweater cut low in the front kept the slight chill at bay.

              She turned her clear blue eyes to me and a smile lit up her face showing flawless white teeth.

              “What a treat. It appears we have run into both of the candidates for the Rite. I am Veronica, this is Hilliard.” She said, nodding slightly.

              Hilliard, the sorcerer, still wore his hooded robe. His face was hard to discern as it was covered in shadow. I saw him nod by the barest of movements in greeting.

              “Very nice to meet ye, my name is Eavan and this is Eric. We were actually just leaving so it appears ye will get the space all to yerselves.” Eavan said with more calm and grace than I expected.

              “Ah, well. I don’t want to keep you. Of course. I look forward to seeing you both again at Vicktor’s party.” Veronica said.

              “Aye.” Eavan said.

              When I didn’t say anything she elbowed me in the ribs.

              “Oh, yes, we’ll see you at the party.” I offered awkwardly.

              We gathered our things and left them alone in the arena, walking back towards Abaddon and my room.

              “She was pretty.” Eavan said looking at me sideways.

              I wasn’t sure, but I thought I saw the smallest hint of jealousy.

              “Huh? Oh, well if you like the whole tall, supermodel blonde hair bombshell sort of thing.” I said.

              “Really? Yer not into supermodel bombshells?” She asked.

              “Nah, they are too fragile. I like my women with more fire. I’d rather have someone I don’t have to worry about breaking but who still makes me nervous every time she looks at me.” We had come to my door and she stopped before entering, turning to me.

              “Oh really?” She said tilting her head and placing a hand on her hip.

              “Absolutely.” I hid nothing from her. I honestly liked Eavan. Yes, she was beautiful, but the energy and vitality she possessed was more appealing to me than a nice pair of boobs.

              She studied me for a minute before smiling, then she reached up and kissed me again. The smell of her skin after being outside in the fresh air was enough to stop any thoughts I may have had.

              She broke the embrace then entered my room. Abaddon sat at the table with Oengus. Both of them seemed to be waiting for us.

              “There you are, now we can see what the cameras recorded.” Abaddon said.

              “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. Eavan and I already watched it and they didn’t record anything.” I said.

              Abaddon still wanted to see for himself so we loaded the footage onto his laptop and he and Oengus watched the rabbit as he searched for something to eat.

              I thought he would be mad, but he kept his calm posture.

              “If Vicktor is smuggling something or someone either they haven’t brought them in yet or they have found another way.” Abaddon surmised.

              “My father was Pack leader for years; did you guys discover any hidden passages or secret rooms?” I asked.

              “Not that I know of. There is only one area that would even remotely be considered a place that might have secret passages.” He said looking up at me.

              His eyes clouded over as he realized he had just given himself the answer. At the same time, I remembered what I discovered while I was setting up the cameras that could hold the answer.

              “The foundation.” I said.

              Abaddon nodded in agreement.

              “What are ye two talking about?” Oengus asked.

              “The Den is sitting on a river. It has extensive below ground foundation engineering to keep it anchored in case of a flood.” Abaddon offered.

              “Aye, I spent some time as a young member working to help fortify some of it after a heavy rain season.” Oengus told us.

              “Thomas and I would routinely inspect the lower levels to make sure they were in good repair, we never found any hidden tunnels or anything.” Abaddon said.

              “That was what, eighteen years ago? It’s possible nothing existed then. It may now.” I speculated.

              “Eric and I can check it out.” Eavan offered.

              “No, you two need to stay here. I don’t want you to be seen down there. There is no plausible reason for it. Oengus and I will check it out.” Abaddon said.

              “We can help.” Eavan argued.

              “Ye need to keep yer noses clean. Leave it up to us Eve.” Oengus told her.

              “Alright, but I don’t like it.” She said.

              “Good, now we have a lot to do before the rest of our clansmen arrive.” Oengus stood up, nodding as he left our room.

              Eavan stood up and went with him. She stopped just before leaving and turned to me.

              “Don’t do anything foolish.” She said. “At least not without me.”

              “Wouldn’t dream of it.” I answered.

              The door shut as they left.

              I spent the rest of that day in my room, Abaddon and Oengus went to search the lower levels and he came back later without finding anything. The next few days passed without incident. I checked the footage every evening and found nothing on them except the normal traffic you’d expect.

My thoughts kept wandering back to my father. I couldn’t stop myself from worrying that he might be in danger or hurt. I was sure the vampire Lord knew something and I wanted to leave in search of her. I wanted to find her and force her to tell me what she knew but understood that would be foolish. Vicktor knew something as well and it was with him that I had to start looking.