Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) (21 page)

Nothing? Something isn’t right here.
Suddenly a butterfly, camouflaged as a flower in a nearby bush, fluttered in front of Chel’s face while Kaeleigh looked on with awe. Chel gasped and whispered, reciting what the butterfly had spoken to her. “Danger. Danger... shouldn’t be here.” Chel’s look mirrored Kaeleigh’s with an expression of horror and fear. Panic began crawling up Kaeleigh’s spine as she grabbed her friend’s hand and turned away from the castle, walking swiftly toward Finn, who approached as he saw the fear in the girls’ eyes. He didn’t question, just took up position next to them.

Kaeleigh searched Daegan’s eyes, but she was suddenly hit with an icy revelation: she wasn’t sure what his motivation was in bringing her to this place. Now that they had arrived was he freed of his vow to protect her? His job was fulfilled and she didn’t know where his loyalties lay, if he in fact even knew himself. Without waiting for his response she turned with her two friends and began to head toward the path they had just ridden up. Kaeleigh didn’t care how they got out of there; she was gripped with an overwhelming need to escape and she would get her friends out.

“Welcome!” a powerful feminine voice called out from behind them.

Iciness shot up Kaeleigh’s spine at the mere sound of it, like nails screeching down a chalkboard. The woman’s voice was friendly enough but there was an intimidating edge that informed you who was in charge.

Kaeleigh turned and donned a pleasant smile, not willing to be intimidated by this woman, yet not wanting to piss her off right away. The woman before her was dangerously beautiful. She had long red curly hair laid perfectly around her shoulders and stretching down past her backside, drawing attention to the voluptuous curves that she was obviously not hiding as her gown hugged all the right places before it fanned out in multiple pleats, reminding Kaeleigh of a mermaid. The ribbed bodice of the piece was exquisitely beaded and the entire gown shimmered a lovely emerald green with the reflection of the daylight, even though the sky seemed to be perpetually overcast. She was beautiful but Kaeleigh couldn’t shake the goose bumps tingling her skin or the feeling of darkness that rolled off the woman.

“Going somewhere, young ones?” the woman said in a forced light tone, apparently trying for welcoming. “I must have the pleasure of meeting my guests. Come, Daegan, do make the introductions.” She said “guests” like she was trying to cover a bad taste in her mouth. She looked sharply at Daegan, expecting something from him.

Daegan gave a slight bow, which must have been what she wanted because she smiled and handed him her hand with a flourish to be kissed, which made Kaeleigh want to gag. That he took her hand and kissed it made her want to gag even more. Something rose from deep within her seeing him bowed, submitting before this woman; she suddenly felt a flare of anger that she quickly tried to get in check when she saw the subtle yet visible narrowing of Daegan’s eyes. Not to be missed by the lady as she also subtly detected something with an inhumanly fast flicker of her gaze between Kaeleigh and Daegan. Although she didn’t acknowledge it, Kaeleigh knew she must have seen it.

“Should we not wait for Master Wren, my lady?” Daegan asked, subtly pronouncing that she should not be the only Guardian privy to the news of their arrival.

Maleina shot him a penetrating gaze and Daegan’s arm twitched, the only part of him giving away that there was any distress, and possibly only Kaeleigh noticed. “No. Master Wren,” she said a bit drawn out as if to attempt sarcasm, “is in chambers and not to be disturbed.” Taking a deep breath, she seemed to get a grip and soften but only slightly. “Daegan, be on with it, or I presume I can call upon my son to comply.”

Daegan nodded tightly then stood rigid and formal with legs shoulder-width apart and hands forward in false casualness as he began the introductions. “My lady, this is Kaeleigh and her friends Chel and Finn,” he said as he gestured to each person. He continued, but only focusing on Kaeleigh, “Kaeleigh, this is Lady Maleina Endíl, Paladin of the territory of Feraánmar.” There was a subtle pleading in his eyes and Kaeleigh assumed he was asking her not to make trouble.

Fine.
Kaeleigh gave just a slight bow of her head. Her friends did a bit more with their acknowledgments, Finn giving a formal bow and Chel a slight curtsy.

This woman, this Maleina, there is something about her, something very... wrong,
Kaeleigh thought, feeling more agitated by the minute. She wore the false mantle of royalty well, but not well enough to be believed. Kaeleigh wouldn’t trust anything coming from this woman and she wondered how Daegan could possibly associate with her. Then again, she didn’t really know Daegan, but she just knew there was more to him. Kaeleigh couldn’t quite put her fingers on what it was but he didn’t belong here and she was pretty sure he knew it too.
I wonder what his angle is.

“Very well, Daegan and Halister, show our guests in and get them into some
appropriate
attire for our meal,” was all she said, and then she turned, dramatically walking inside with the train of her dress swishing across the floor as she sashayed through the foyer.

“Guests! More like prisoners,” Kaeleigh mumbled under her breath, but everyone was close enough to hear except Daegan, and she knew he heard her as he gave a slight frown and rubbed his forehead as subtly as he could.

Halister entered the extravagant entrance, using an arm gesture to beckon the rest to follow him. As they followed each took note of their surroundings, unable to do anything but gawk as they took in the white marble floors that jutted up against rose-colored walls that also looked hard and smooth like marble veined with an even deeper red that spread wild throughout. It almost had a homey look to it. Almost. Except for the creepy, itchy sensation Kaeleigh was getting all over her skin like tiny bugs in a sci-fi movie searching for entrance.

An enormous white wood chandelier with candles hung high above the center of the foyer. Large gold ornate frames hung on the walls but oddly held no pictures or mirrors, leaving the room with a flat, empty feeling. Kaeleigh couldn’t take her eyes off the chandelier and finally asked to no one in particular, “I’ve never seen white wood like this before, what kind is it?”

She felt Daegan put his hand lightly at her back giving her a slight nudge forward, and in a deeper, more disturbed voice than she had heard him use before, he answered, “It’s not.”

Kaeleigh questioned him with her frown, but he stared sternly ahead, obviously not going to give her more than that. Frustrated, she pushed her shoulders back, shook him off, and walked faster to catch up with the others who were only slightly ahead of them. Her feelings of unease rose, but she continued to take deep breaths willing it under control, and she swore she heard Daegan barely even whisper, “That’s it, keep it under control.” Part of her felt a small swell of pride at his praise and the other was completely annoyed how easily he noticed.

Halister led them through an archway and down a long corridor with tall windows placed every ten feet or so that looked out onto a large open grass area with gardens and trees; it was a beautiful view. It looked like what she would imagine the Garden of Eden would have looked like.
How can something so beautiful have such a hollow feeling to it?
“Deception” was the word that kept whispering into her mind. She could see how the effect was intended to endear guests to this place, or more subtly to its leaders. Surprised, she could even see how it was affecting her friends, with the look of awe on their faces—even Finn’s—as they looked around at everything completely under its spell. Kaeleigh needed her friends to be sharp if they were all going to get out of this place.

Stepping up in between them, she grabbed their arms. As soon as she touched them, she willed them to feel what she was feeling. Both stiffened instantly and looked around again at everything they had just been in awe of. They scowled and looked up at her, understanding dawning on their faces.

“Stay alert,” Kaeleigh whispered and nodded for them to keep going but hoping they would continue to feel the underlying truth of where they were. This was not somewhere for them to remain for long.
Hopefully we CAN leave,
Kaeleigh thought with a chill running down her spine.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Halister suddenly stopped in front of a large antique-looking oak door that was rounded at the top. “This is a guest suite so there is a common room and two bedrooms for your comfort. I assume you would all want to remain together,” he said as he pushed open the large door and stepped inside, sweeping his arms in a grand gesture.

It was a lovely room with all white decorations and bed linens, but still held that same hollow feeling that left the hairs on Kaeleigh’s arms standing at attention. Placing her hand on Hal’s arm as she walked by him, she spoke sincerely, knowing he was truly trying to make them comfortable, “Thank you, Hal.”

Hal smiled at Kaeleigh and briefly caught Daegan’s eye as Daegan stayed back leaning against the door, not fully in the room. Hal stiffened subtly at something he saw in Daegan’s eyes. Then in typical Halister fashion, he continued his tour, holding on to Kaeleigh’s hand still on his arm as he escorted her around the room showing them where everything was at. Finally, he added, “There will be
proper
”—he gave air quotes mocking his own mother at the word “proper”—“clothing sent up for each of you as I believe you will be expected to attend the evening meal in the ballroom set usually just for the family—which of course means this is where Maleina and Wren will probably interrogate you,” he said with a wink at Chel. He then headed toward the door, giving Daegan a pat on the chest as he walked by.

Daegan was watching Kaeleigh with a careful, neutral expression on his face as she walked around the room with her hand outstretched, lightly touching the furniture and looking about the room as if she was seeing something else altogether. He couldn’t help wonder what she was seeing. Daegan knew there were things here that he wished he didn’t know about or feel himself, let alone wish for her to feel. There were evils here, but unfortunately he had grown familiar with and accustomed to the way his skin crawled, because of course he had the feeling every day of his life, as if some evil was alive lurking just under the surface of his skin. Sometimes he even succumbed to the pressures and control it took from him. He was only so strong and he didn’t want Kaeleigh to experience that. Knowing that Kaeleigh was only just beginning to experience her gifts, he hoped that Maleina wouldn’t see a threat and they could leave sooner than later, but that was only a hope. Unfortunately, hope didn’t go far in this part of Alandria.

Daegan shook himself from thoughts of his inner demons as Kaeleigh got closer to where he was leaning, his arms crossed over his chest giving his best impression of intimidation. Kaeleigh stopped suddenly, drawn to the marbled wall just to his left. She grazed her hand ever so lightly over the smooth texture of the wall with an inquisitive frown on her face. She gasped and pulled her hand away as if the wall had shocked her, her eyes big as saucers. He knew what she had felt. His gut clenched at her expression. She looked at him sharply then back at the wall. Again not directing her question to him specifically, she asked, “What... I mean... I think the wall, it was
thumping
.” She raised her hand to again touch the wall, but Daegan stepped beside her, grabbing her hand before she reached it. She first looked to his hand gripping hers then up to his face. Finn and Chel inched closer, concern written on their faces, until Finn saw Kaeleigh’s arm in Daegan’s grip. He moved right up next to her, almost between them, and growled at a low decibel, “Let her go, Daegan.”

Kaeleigh flinched a little at his tone but replied, “I’m fine,” a little sharper than she meant to. She was more concerned with the wall than with a testosterone war right beside her.

“Why is the wall pulsating, Daegan? Like it has...” She gasped again and quickly stepped back right into Finn, who grabbed onto her shoulders protectively, not sure what was happening. Pale as a ghost, she looked back up at Daegan. “No! It couldn’t be! Could it?”

Daegan uncomfortably shifted his eyes away from hers but stood straight and nodded, giving her the answer she was dreading. Finn and Chel looked back and forth, confused. Chel even stepped up to touch the wall for herself but Kaeleigh reached out and grabbed her arm, afraid for her friend to feel what she had. Still Chel said, “I know. I’m not touching it but I don’t feel anything next to it.”

“No, you might be able to smell it though, with your keen sense of smell you should be developing as a shifter,” Daegan added flatly. Chel took a baby step forward, inclining her head in slow fractions, sniffing as she went. It took her a few tries but suddenly she jumped back.

“Blood! I smell blood, but I don’t understand...” Chel stammered as she looked frantically back and forth between everyone there, even Hal, who had stopped in the hall presumably waiting for Daegan.

“What?!” Finn, growing more agitated by the second, advanced on Daegan. “Explain!”

But it was Hal who stepped up to answer as Daegan seemed to be on the edge of knocking Finn right out of his personal space. Kaeleigh, possibly stupidly, stepped up between Daegan and Finn and put a hand on each of their arms, trying to break their lethal stare that seemed to paralyze them. Fortunately for her, Finn stepped back and glared at her as he whipped around, stepping further into the room and gesturing for Hal to “continue” with his explanation that he hadn’t even started yet.

Hal stepped back into the room. “Yes, it is blood.” He looked almost ashamed as he said it. “It is the life force that keeps up the glamoured ‘veil’ that Kaeleigh was so easily able to
feel
her way through. It, for lack of a better word,
feeds
Maleina’s magic. I don’t think she knows that we know what it is for but I figured it out awhile back.” Halister took a deep breath, waiting for the question he was sure would come next. To his shock it came from Chel, not Kaeleigh.