Haeven (41 page)

I instantly knew what Finn was suggesting and
considered whether or not I should offer myself up to the idea.

"I think we should wait for Daemon to get
back. It wouldn't be right for us to intrude on Emily's thoughts
like that," Merry interjected.

"Intruding! She's asking us to risk
everything for the people she loves but what about us, huh? And the
people we love!"

Merry was about to reply but Colin spoke up
before she had a chance, "He's got a point," Colin looked hesitant
but thoughtful.

Merry looked away unwilling to sway me one
way or the other. Finn glared at me as if to say there was only one
answer in his opinion and Colin seemed to be willing to let the
chips fall where they may.

"Of course. I'll do whatever I can."

Finn drew his chair closer while Merry and
Colin took a seat on either side of me.

"Are you sure about this?" Merry asked.

I nodded and curled her hand into mine.

It had been sometime since I had done this
last and I naturally resisted their efforts to view my memories.
Then Merry squeezed my hand reassuringly and I slowly relaxed and
let the cloak fall from my thoughts. We sat together for several
minutes and during that time the three of them sifted through all
the images of Haeven and the people who lived there that I had
locked away inside my mind.

At one point I felt like someone was trying
to get a closer look at some of my more intimate memories and I
abruptly pulled back breaking the link. I was sure it wasn't Merry
but otherwise I couldn't tell if it had been Colin or Finn that was
the culprit.

"I'm sorry," I apologized when I realized
what had happened. I rubbed at my temples. "It's been a while since
I've done anything like this and I think it is just a little too
much for me," I looked at Merry who smiled softly, knowingly. "Is
there somewhere I can go to freshen up a bit?" I asked.

"Sure. I'll show you."

As Merry led me away I couldn't help feeling
that she was somehow disappointed.

"Not in you," she affirmed. "I couldn't tell
if it was Colin or Finn but one of them was getting a little too
aggressive."

"You felt it, too?" I asked.

Merry nodded, "I'm sure it was nothing.
Here," she stopped in front of an open door and flipped a
switch.

When I was done I found Merry waiting for me
just a few steps from where she had left me. She waved me over and
together we went back to the living area. Colin was still there but
Finn had gone off to do something on his own.

"I always wondered where Daemon got the idea
for this," Colin thoughtfully stated. "It's not quite on as grand a
scale as Haeven but it's a nice place to hang your hat."

"It is," I said and smiled. "Do you think any
of what I was able to tell you will be useful?" I asked.

"You mean other than that you would give your
life for your brother, that Herrik is a great man and that Haeven
is absolutely worth saving?"

I couldn't help smiling.

"Actually, we learned quite a few things. The
problem with your information, though, is that it's old and I'm
sure there have been some changes. I think if we compare your
knowledge with Avery's and hopefully Artur's they will be able to
evaluate the possibility of where those changes most likely were
made."

"Well, I'm glad it wasn't completely
useless."

"Not at all. At the very least it gave us an
idea of how many people we are likely to face once we manage to get
inside." Then he gave an awkward chuckle, "I really hope you chose
your friends well!"

Hearing his words made me wonder. There were
so many people besides Herrik and Penny that must have been left
behind and I shuddered at the idea of them all being under Freya's
control.

"And what about all the humans? What became
of them?" I thought but kept those questions to myself. I felt a
swell of tears threatening my eyes and anxiously blinked them
away.

"Hey," Colin put a hand on my knee, "we'll
save them and Haeven, too," he glanced at Merry who nodded her
agreement.

I tried to mirror their optimism but I'm sure
I didn't succeed. Thankfully Ares decided it was a good time to
interrupt us and begged Colin to feed him again.

The night slowly wore on and though Merry and
Colin did their best to keep me entertained my thoughts kept
drifting back to Daemon, Avery and the others. Every time I thought
I heard the elevator my heart would leap with the anticipation of
seeing them all returning safely and with any luck
successfully.

I tried eating again when Merry offered to
fix me another tray and while I nibbled she and Colin told me
various stories about themselves and their lives with Daemon. He
was very much like his father, I realized, and though he wasn't
trying to accomplish the same things he seemed to inspire the same
love and devotion that Herrik had always managed to inspire.

Eventually their store of anecdotes began to
run low and they turned from offering information to asking for
some.

"So, how did you end up in Haeven, anyway?
I'm not sure whether Daemon knew or not but if he did he never told
us the story," Colin looked hopeful as his words died off and so
did Merry but she obviously felt that Colin's question might have
crossed the line.

"The night I met Daemon he was very badly
hurt. He was hiding in the crawlspace underneath my house and I
just happened to be the one who found him. I knew he needed help
and I...I willingly offered it. I don't know who or why," I lied,
"but someone was after Daemon, someone who was desperate enough
that they wouldn't hesitate killing anyone who got in the way of
finding him. When Herrik learned what I had done for Daemon and
realized that I was in danger he had me brought to Haeven and I
lived there ever since."

"How did you escape?"

Merry rolled her eyes at Colin but I didn't
see the harm in answering.

"I...I didn't. When the council was over and
Herrik's fate seemed inevitable Artur came and...he...he did
something that knocked all but the strongest vampires out. He and
Avery grabbed me and Herrik then they forced us into the elevator.
There wasn't enough room for us all and Herrik...he...leapt out and
pushed Artur in...he sacrificed himself so that we could all get
away. I tried...I wanted to stay and fight but..."

"Oh," Colin's eyes went away for a moment,
"he was in love with you. You were in love with him!  The two
of you were in love!  Did you ever..."

This time Merry didn't hesitate, "Colin!" she
cuffed his shoulder.

"Sorry...I just thought...you know...I'm
single, you're single...are you single?" I wasn't sure if he was
being serious or just trying to make light of his recent
remarks.

Merry didn't seem to have any doubts, "Jesus,
Colin! This is hardly the time!"

"Hey! You can't blame a guy for trying."

I laughed at them both, "It's OK. I do love
Herrik. I've always loved him."

Neither of them seemed to have much to say
after my confession and it made me a little uncomfortable. I wanted
to ask if they disapproved somehow but I didn't have the courage.
When we finally did start talking again it was Colin who was the
first to venture a word or two.

"Well, it's getting late and I have a few
things I need to do before morning," he said. "I'm sure Daemon will
be back any moment now. Do you mind if I take off for a bit?" Colin
laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Not at all. Thank you for sitting with me so
long," I smiled up at him.

After he left Merry stood up as well.
"Colin's right. It is getting late."

"Oh," I suddenly realized what was wrong with
each of them. They had put their own needs aside and spent nearly
the entire night with me. "I understand," I assured her.

"Is there anything you need before I go?"

"No. I think I'll just take Ares out real
quick then try and get some rest," I yawned and stretched. Ares
perked up when he heard his name and came over hoping to discover
why he was needed.

"Maybe I should come with you," she said
though she looked somewhat hesitant. "Daemon didn't want you to
leave the building."

Finn happened to be walking by as she said
it, "I can take her."

To me he seemed to appear from nowhere but
either Merry didn't think anything of it or she was too anxious to
get away to have noticed. She gratefully accepted his offer. "Oh,
thanks, Finn," and said goodnight to us.

I felt somewhat hesitant but didn't really
see the harm since Ares would be with me.

"So they haven't gotten back yet, huh?" Finn
asked as we got on the elevator.

"No," I sighed, "and as far as I can tell no
one has heard from them either."

"Well, you shouldn't worry. It wouldn't be
the first time one of us has had to spend a day out there," he
waved his arm.

"Yeah," I bit my lip. "It's just hard not
knowing."

Once we were outside we let Ares wander off
to take care of whatever business he had.  While we waited for
him to return Finn tried apologizing to me for being so persistent
in his earlier questioning when we were all talking about Haeven
and who might still be there.

"It's OK," I assured him.

"I guess I'm just feeling a bit apprehensive
about getting involved in all of this, for Davit, for myself and
all the people we share our lives with here."

"That's perfectly understandable," I did my
best to sound sympathetic.

"And even if we don't go with Daemon when he
tries to rescue his father and your brother," his voice changed and
there was an odd shift in Finn's demeanor, "if he fails, we all
fail. Once she knows of us, Freya and her people, they will come
after us won't they?  She will kill us all...kill us all for
helping you and Daemon!"

"What are you saying, Finn?"

"What am I saying!? What I'm saying is that I
can't...I won't let that happen!" he lunged for me.

When I woke I found that I was slumped over,
the side of my head pressed firmly against the passenger window of
the car I was in. The sun was just peeking over the horizon and I
could barely lift my head to see it I was so weak. I tried to sit
up but when I did I suddenly realized that my hands and feet were
bound with what appeared to be the seat belt.

"Awake are we?" Finn chuckled. He reached
over and grabbed a handful of fabric from my shirtsleeve and
wrested me upright.

"Oh, God, Finn! What are you doing?"

"Just protecting my self-interests."

"Whatever you're planning it won't work," I
said calmly, decisively.

"I'll take my chances. Your friend Carah
seemed to think giving you to Freya was worth the risk. I shouldn't
think it would matter if you came from her or from me."

"And what do you expect to get in
return?"

"A free pass for me and Davit when Daemon
tries to take Haeven."

I shook my head, "She might make a deal with
you but you're sadly mistaken if you think Freya will honor such an
agreement." Finn didn't respond and after a few moments I
confidently added, "She'll kill you the moment you hand me over."
He looked a little nervous by my assertiveness. "You didn't think
this through, did you? Well, it doesn't really matter at this
point. You have to either take your chances with Freya or hope that
Daemon will forgive you. For what it's worth I'd put my faith in
Daemon if I were you."

Finn just clenched his jaw and shortly after
our conversation he parked the car and ushered me into a
non-descript, cottage style home. It was obviously too late for
Finn to take me to Freya right away so he locked me in one of the
closets and there I spent the day. I tried to escape my bonds and
called out every half hour or so hoping that some passerby would
hear me. Wherever we were, though, it must have been remote. There
were no sounds from traffic or any other common, suburban noises,
just the occasional bird call and a creak or two from the otherwise
silent house.

I tried to stay alert but found myself dozing
off more than once. I was hungry and thirsty and my muscles ached
from being unable to stand and stretch them for so long. After a
while I actually began to wish that Finn would come back just so I
could have a chance to move for a moment. It seemed like an
eternity before the sliver of light that shone through the crack
beneath the door became a shadow again.

Soon after the sun went down Finn returned.
Without a word he dragged me to my feet and shoved me towards the
open doorway. Apparently he was in a hurry and more determined than
ever to go through with his plan. After he took the wheel he seized
my wrist, "Show me where to go!"

"I don't know the way," I confessed.

"Yes, but you've seen it! Now show me or I'll
force it from you if that's what you'd prefer!"

I reluctantly opened my mind and shared the
images of the many drives to and from Haeven on the occasions that
I had been out with Herrik. It was apparently enough and nodding
Finn started the car and got us on our way again.

It seemed to take much longer than I would
have expected. Finn grew more and more annoyed as the hours passed.
He stopped several times to take another look at my memories and at
one point he got so annoyed I thought he would break my wrist when
he couldn't learn anything new.

"I'm sure Freya would prefer me in one
piece," I growled when the pressure of his fingers grew close to
unbearable.

"Fuck!" he screamed and punched the steering
wheel with clenched fists. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

He muffled his anger and started driving
again. Before long I began to recognize my surroundings as they
zipped by and knew that we were near the access road that would
bring us to the compound.

"We're close," I mumbled hoping to soothe him
further.