Angel of Death: Book One of the Chosen Chronicles (55 page)

Jeanie nodded and finished tying the bow on the other shoe. She was not looking forward to leaving at this moment, but she was famished and at least she would be able to help. Anything to get the Good Father back sooner rather than later was better than sitting around waiting. What she could not bear to see was the distress on the Angel’s face.

“One more thing,” came Fernando’s voice as he re-entered the parlour once more. “Jeanie, if you wouldn’t mind?” He held out his arm in an inviting way towards the bedroom.

Intrigued by the use of her name, Jeanie rose and strode down the hall with the Noble in her wake. The bedroom door stood ajar, morning sunlight spilling into the hall. A smile quirked her lips as she entered the grandiose bedroom brilliantly illuminated with warm radiance. It did not take her long to untie the drapes and draw them together. Fernando would also have the extra protection of the drapes hanging from the canopied bed and she wondered what the master bedroom looked like.

“Thank you,” said Fernando, stiffly, as she exited.

“Consider us even,” she smiled as she walked back into the parlour.

Fernando watched Jeanie’s shapely form retreat. Sniffing in amusement, he shook his head, entered the room and closed the door, a kernel of respect for the mortal girl developing.

He sat on the couch, the knot of worry tying itself tighter in his gut, as he watched Jeanie emerge from the hallway leading to Fernando’s room. Whispers of russet and copper hair snuck out of the bun she had twisted it into a bun at the nape of her neck, framing her tired face in soft tones. He had to stop her from doing this foolish task. Jeanie’s help in obtaining passage to Calais was one thing, but sending her to find the office was too dangerous. Oathbound or not he could not allow her to fall into danger, not again. Rising from his seat, he followed her down the other hall to the master suite.

The door opened at her turn of the gold and crystal knob, spilling bright sunlight into the hall. He should have expected it, but his thoughts of sending Jeanie out in a foreign country to look for the den of their enemies distracted him. He gave a gasp as he leapt back out of the direct light, taking shelter towards the end of the hall.

“Are ye alright?” she called, turning around to face him. Genuine concern washed over her features. She wanted to see the master bedroom before she headed out for breakfast and to search for the office. Never having been in such a grand place, she wanted to check out every nook and cranny. She felt a little kid again off on an imaginary treasure hunt and this time she wanted to find the treasure for real.

Nodding, he watched through squinting watery eyes as she entered the room. After a moment or two, darkness prevailed and he followed.

The master bedroom was grand, much larger than the entirety of his flat. The king sized curtained canopy bed sat against the far wall, its drapery open on the side facing him. Across from the bed, against the opposite wall, a large fireplace with a mahogany mantle was set with wood, ready for a match to be lit. A writing desk large enough to make Notus shake with envy sat beside the entrance to another hallway that ran back the way they came but along the curtains blocking the sunlight.

Jeanie popped her head out from the hall, an ecstatic smile of wonder on her face.

“Ye should see the bathroom!” she exclaimed, coming to stand beside the Angel next to the bed. “It’s huge! And there’s a closet that’s bigger than the Good Father’s room.”

Her smile was infectious and he placed his hands on her shoulders, fingers brushing against the loose strands of hair. Oh how he loved to feel the softness of her cinnamon curls. He could understand her excitement at being housed in such luxury, as it was his first time as well. Notus tended to travel much more modestly. They would be most comfortable in the suite, though it appeared the bed was smaller than the one custom built for him back home.

“Ye’ll be fine while I’m gone?” she asked, reaching up to caress his face when she saw the slight smile fall to a frown.

Pulling away from her embrace, he stepped back towards the bed. A sly smile played on her face for a brief moment believing something more nefarious might occur before she left until she caught the worried look in his eyes.

“Jeanie, you can’t go,” he stated matter-of-factly. He did not mean to make his tones harsh, but what was done was done.

Incredulous green eyes widened and then narrowed. “What d’ye mean? Of course I’m goin’,” she blurted. “That’s why I’m here, aren’t I? T’help.”

“Of course you’re here to help, Jeanie.” He took a step towards her, but she pulled back. “But it’s too dangerous.”

“To find an office?” Jeanie could not believe what she was hearing. Her heart began to hammer in outrage. “Dinna ye trust me?”

“Of course I do,” he said, his voice rising to match hers. “How can you ask that of me? I’ve trusted you more than
anyone
in my life. It’s
them
I don’t trust.” He shook his head, exasperated.
 

“I’ll be fine, Gwyn.” Her voice took on a hard edge. “I’ve taken care of myself before, ye ken that.”

“Like when you were captured?” He knew he should not have brought up the topic, but he had to hammer in the point. Going and finding a ship to sail is a world of difference than going to the lion’s den to find out who the tamer is.

Jeanie’s mouth opened and closed in outrage before she found her voice. She could not believe he was using that as an excuse. “How dare ye? That wasna my fault if I recall correctly. Yer the one who brought me home. Yer the one who told me t’get some sleep.”

The pit of his stomach froze in realization that Jeanie believed it was his fault she had been captured and maybe she was right. Jaw tight, he swallowed. “Yes, and I’m the one who should have been there to protect you. But I wasn’t. But now I can. You’re not going.”

Green eyes flashed in fury and she strode towards him and jabbed him in the chest with her forefinger. “I am and that’s final.” Turning, she stomped towards the door only to halt at finding him blocking her path. She had not seen him move. This time it did not surprise her. Crimson eyes glowed angrily.

“For Gods sake, Jeanie.” He loomed over her. “You’re in a different country with a different language and I can’t be there to protect you. I can’t trust that you’ll come back safe.”

“Och, that’s it, isn’t it?” She walked away towards the windows. “Even before I ken what ye were ye had me come along, but now ye think I canna do what is needed without ye protecting me?”

“Stop twisting my words, Jeanie. You know that’s not what I’m saying.” He stood beside the bed watching her beautiful face fill with anger.

“Then why am I here?” Her raised voice rang through the room. “Just to warm yer bed and take care of ye during the crossing?” She would not back down. This was of a deeper issue and she was going to root it out. “Yer problem is ye dinna trust no matter how much you say that ye do. Ye canna even trust that I‘ll come back. Hiding beneath yer cloak and the Good Father, yer more fearful of the world than anyone I’ve ever met,. Sure ye may hae good reason, I heard what those people said about ye at the restaurant, and them no knowin' ye. But ye hide only allowin' none but the Good Father and me t’see ye – to ken who ye really are. And then no’ fully.
 
I’m sure that if it had been possible and Fernando hadn‘t shown me what he did ye’d still would hae hidden from me too.”

The shots hit home and he took a step back as if slapped. Heart pounding, he shook his head.

She knew she should not have said anything about what had happened in the ship once she saw his face fall and his ruby eyes widen. “I trust ye. I just wish ye allowed yerself to trust as much as those that love ye, trust ye. Trust me with this. Ye canna do this. I‘ll come back. I promise.” Pulling the drapes back flooded the room in sunlight. She had to make her second point and this was the only way.

Not fast enough to recognize her unbelievable intent he leapt back into the shaded darkness of the draped canopy bed. Eyes shut tight against the burning light; he felt his ankles begin to heat as the sunlight spilled under the drapes. Sitting heavily on the bed, he hugged his knees. He had not been this close to burning alive since he was wounded during the Crusades. This time the woman he loved caused it. Crushed that she could do such a thing to him; his breath caught as anger vied with the pain of such betrayal. A warm hand touched his face and he started. Drawing back from her touch, he opened his eyes, blinking in the brightness to behold her saddened, yet firm, expression.

She hated having to do this, knowing how much it would hurt him. Even with all his powers as a vampire he was so terribly limited by his inability to trust in himself, more so, without being able to go out during the day. That was why she was here. He needed to be reminded of it.

 
“Gwyn,” she said softly gazing into his pain filled eyes as she touched his face. “This is why I’m here. Ye canna move around during the day – I can – and we need to get the Good Father back now, no’ later. Trust me, please?”

Lowering his legs to a crossed position on the bed, he lifted her hand from his face and hid his eyes behind his cupped hands. His stomach clenched at the realization that she was right and no matter how timorous he felt at her solitary excursion he had to let her go. He felt her lips on his head.

“I love ye.” She whispered, her head pressed against his. “I promise I’ll be back well before night fall.”

He looked up at her, their faces almost touching. Concerned green eyes gazed into his and she leaned in to kiss him. It was not what he wanted, but he would take what he could get and before he knew it Jeanie pulled away to gasp for breath. A small smile lifted her face.

Their hands lingered together as she stepped away until the sunlight captured her and forced him to drop his hand and his gaze. He heard her step across the Persian rug towards the door and knew if he did not say anything now he would regret it.

Daring to peer across the brightly lit room he called, “Jeanie, please be careful.”

The dark fuzzy image that was Jeanie turned. “I will.”

The sound of the door closing left him trapped on the island of darkness. He did not know if she had done that on purpose, but surmised that most likely she did so as to keep him from stopping her. Apprehension filled him and he knew he could not sleep just yet. Horrific images of Jeanie being captured or worse flowed unwarranted. Unable to actively do anything about it, he pulled the heavy brocade drapery closed, cutting off as much of the sunlight as possible and damned himself for a fool. He should have asked her to close the window coverings. Now he was trapped on the island the canopied bed created.

With a resolute sigh he shifted over to the centre, sat, raked his hair back with his fingers and closed his eyes. He had no choice. He had to trust that Jeanie would be alright without him. He needed to believe that she would come back to him. She was strong, smart and beautiful, and he prayed that it would be enough. Unfortunately it did not halt the smouldering anger of being imprisoned on a dark island in the middle of a sunlit sea. The implication of her trust of him fuelled that hurt.

Taking several deep breaths, he relaxed enough to begin the meditative practices he so desperately needed. As he did so a thought blossomed in his mind, popping his eyes wide open.
Oh dear Gods, Fernando must have heard everything.

The clean cool white linen sheets felt absolutely wonderful. This was a better room than he had expected and he just loved the curtained canopy bed that now draped protectively around his supine form. Even the mattress supported him perfectly. Captain Richardson knew how to pick his hotels and Fernando promised that if ever he saw that American again he would thank him for the advice, and once all the craziness of the poisoning of the Chosen was over with he would have to bring Bridget here. Now that would be a nice well-deserved vacation.

A smile lifted his lips until he heard a commotion outside of his room. Closing his eyes, cutting off the view of the intricately carved wood canopy, Fernando concentrated on the noise. Surprise pulled his eyes open with the realization that it was the Angel in a heated argument with the girl.

The smile returned. It was the perfect opportunity to glean more hidden secrets, and the first he discovered was the Angel’s name. No Chosen knew the Angel’s name, and now he did. He closed his eyes in hungry anticipation to hear more confidential information.