Darlings (8 page)

“Andrew told you quite a bit?” he questioned
softly. 

“Enough that I think my head is going to
explode.” Gwen crossed her arms. Ashton. She remembered. 

“So, tell me about Ashton. She’s been a lie
this whole time as well, I imagine?” scalding hot tears began to
build in her eyes. Her friend, her only friend, was forced to be
her friend. 

He hated to see her cry. “She’s an Alchemist.
She and the thousands of others make sure the middle humans don’t
know about our world. Though, she’s not just any Alchemist, she’s
the granddaughter of the greatest human Alchemist that ever lived.
Her grandmother passed her knowledge to Ashton’s father who then in
turn has passed it to Ashton.” 

“So she’s human?” 

“Yah she’s completely human with superhuman
knowledge,” he tried to joke. Silence. Pete didn’t know what to
say. 

“Oh.” Gwen just wanted to go home. Go home,
get in her bed, and go to sleep. 

“Are you feeling okay? After the bond?” he
questioned. 

“Yah my head still hurts I guess, but other
than that I’m fine now.” Fine. Ha. 

“I could kill Andrew and thank him at the
same time for initiating the bond like that. It’s not supposed to
hurt that much, not anymore with the alchemists around now, but I
guess I do owe him for saving you…I’m sorry I wasn’t there
Gwen.” 

“You had no obligation to be there. Pete I
don’t even know you-” 

“But I know you,” he interrupted. 

“What?” 

“I left Everland and went into hiding in the
Middle world in 1892. I’ve been around a while. After I heard your
mom left, I kept an eye on her, knowing she’d have you. I wanted to
know you. It began as just curiosity. I watched you grow Gwen.
You’re mother let me see you for in instant the day you were born.
I fell in love the first time I saw your beautiful face. I’ve kept
track of you ever since…”

Gwen felt a little anxious. He had been
watching her? Her hands began to sweat. After a long silence she
asked. “Why haven’t I ever met you before now.” 

 “We have met before…”  

“When?” She whispered. Pete got closer to
her. His eyes were full of concern. She felt she should be scared,
but she wanted him closer. 

“Remember, two years ago when you turned
sixteen? You and your friends went to a party in the middle of
winter at Emmerson’s Lake?” Gwen remembered. It was the closest to
death she’d ever come. 

“Oh my God. It was you. You…saved me?” It had
been years. She searched high and low for the mystery man who had
saved her life that day. No one had ever come forward.

“Yah that was me. I was watching from afar,
making sure you were safe with all of the alcohol around. You were
pretty infatuated with that boy at the time, the scrawny one with
the blond hair -”

“Jesse?” 

Pete smiled. “Yah Jesse. Good kid. I knew I
had to follow you when you two went out, onto the lake. I knew it
wouldn’t hold. Actually, I was amazed you got to the middle when
the ice gave way, and you fell in. I went in after you…and back
again for Jesse.” 

Gwen didn’t know what to say. He had saved
her life. He was her mystery hero. “The doctors could never figure
out how we had managed to get from the middle of the lake to the
shore after falling in. It makes sense now. 

“Did my mom know?” Gwen asked
softly. 

“Yes, she knew. She couldn’t risk exposing
all of this though Gwen. If a human ever found a way into the
portal there’s no way of knowing what would happened to this world.
What would enter it. It takes a lot of practice, and there are
rules to portals” 

“Like the pirates?” Gwen asked. 

“Yeah, for starters. There are many other
creatures who reside in our word that could wreak havoc here.” Pete
looked so passionate. 

“I’m starting to remember these stories my
mom used to tell me before bed. They sound a lot like the creatures
I’ve learned about from Everland so far.” 

“Oh yes, her bedtime stories. They’re true.
It was always Janie’s way of revealing her secret without outright
telling you. She wanted you to live a normal life. Away from all
the dangers and responsibilities of Everland as long as you could.”
Pete looked a little uneasy. “I know it seems unfair Gwen. I’ve
always wanted to tell you but the risk was too great.” 

Just then, another SUV pulled in behind them.
Arthur got out first and walked around to open the back door. Jonah
and Mike jumped out. Tears were streaming down little Mikey’s face.
Forgetting about Pete Gwen jumped out of the SUV, running to her
brothers. 

“Gwenny, what’s going on? I was so
scared.”

 Gwen scooped the chubby little boy up
in her arms hugging him tightly. “Oh Mike it’s ok buddy.
Everything’s going to be fine. You’re with me now,” she comforted
stroking his messy hair. 

Jonah gave Arthur a death stare. “Monster
here grabbed us from the school parking lot, saying dad sent him to
pick us up because you were busy.” 

Arthur shrugged “Stranger Danger 101 little
buddy.” He said crunching into the apple he brought with him.

 What the hell’s going on Gwen?” Jonah’s
eyes darted from Pete to Arthur. “Are we kidnapped?” 

Gwen looked over her shoulder as if noticing
Pete and Arthur for the first time, “Oh.. no, we are not
kidnapped.” Gwen said. 

“Then what’s up? Let’s go home Gwen,” Jonah
said nervously. 

Gwen nodded her head. “You’re right Jonah, we
should get going home.” 

“You can’t go home Gwen. Not now. They’ll
find you there. They can sense immortals. Kind of like Andrew can
sense them.” Pete explained.  

Jonah looked confused and ready for a fight.
“Who in the hell are we talkin’ about Gwen? Who’s after
us?” 

“Come on kid. I’ll tell yah all about it.”
Koli said putting his arm around Jonah who just looked blankly at
Gwen, his bright blue eyes narrowed from beneath his black
hair. 

“I want to go too! I’m hungry,” little
Michael shouted squirming out of Gwen’s arms. 

“It’s ok Jonah. You can trust them.” Jonah
grudgingly walked alongside Koli and Mike tagging behind. 

“It all starts with us, the real heroes of
this story-” Koli trailed off as they disappeared into the
house. 

As soon as Gwen made sure her brothers were
out of ear shot, she turned to Pete. “If it’s not safe for us to go
home, how are my parents safe?” 

Pete looked worried. “Your mom is mortal now.
They shouldn’t be able to sniff her out. Besides, they left for the
time being. It will take a while for the portal to re-energize and
for them to regroup.” 

“How long’s a while?” Gwen prodded. She
wanted an exact answer.

“A couple days or so. No way to be sure. I
will have Art and Koli do a drive by your parents every once in a
while to be sure they are safe.” 

“Thank you.” Gwen added. “How are we safe
here? Can’t they sniff us out?” 

“Nope see those greenish sparkling rocks?” He
motioned to the landscape rocks Gwen was admiring on the way
in. 

“Yes? So?” 

“They are enchanted. Ashton and Tina worked
together to come up with one hell of a protection hex. It would
take a small army to get into the cabin. It deadens our scents and
makes the cabin virtually invisible to anyone from Everland. Once
inside these lines, we practically don’t exist.” 

Pete began walking to the large front porch.
Gwen followed obediently behind stopping before climbing the
stairs. “So what now?” She wanted to burst into tears
again. 

“Well…now we have to drink Gwen. I’s been
almost a year since I’ve been back to drink from the lagoon, and
you have to drink soon too. The mother stone is running out. It
needs our blood.”

“What happens if I don’t?” 

“You’ll die Gwen. Our immortality only lasts
if we drink.” Pete looked so serious. “Everland will cease to exist
without the mother stones magic. Everyone will die.” 

“So the entire fate of Everland is up to us?
Me. I see.” She couldn’t wrap her mind around what Pete was telling
her.

“Yes.” He walked back down the stairs and
locked eyes with her. “You and I are the only hope for our
world.” 

“Your world Pete. This is my world. This is
the only world that exists to me. Everything I’ve ever known is
here. My family, my friends are all here. Keeping my family safe is
the only thing that matters to me.” 

“You don’t think you have family in Everland
Gwen? What about your aunts and uncles? Cousins? You still have
family in Everland. There’s not as many of us left, but enough
worth fighting for. Not to mention all of the others who call
Everland home.” His tone lowered and the cocky boyish twinkle in
his eye disappeared. “If Everland ceases to exist, the entire
universe will be out of balance. Middle world could fall as well as
the others.” 

“Others?” Gwen asked. She found herself oddly
close to Pete. He was so passionate. Just then the front door
opened. Koli appeared. “Hey guys you, whoa. Sorry am I interrupting
something?” 

Pete stepped back. “No, we were just coming
inside.” He brushed past Koli. 

Koli looked behind him ensuring Pete was
indeed inside. “On his soap box again?” Koli quietly
asked. 

“Yah. I guess.” Gwen said. 

“Oh he gets like that. A little overboard
with the Everland will vanish stuff. Though, it really is true
Gwen.” 

She nodded. 

“Come on in we’re making lunch. Tina’s
special,” he offered. 

“Great, so mine’s sure to be poisoned.” Gwen
sighed. 

Koli very seriously added. “No, she knows she
needs you around.” He hesitated. “You were being sarcastic weren’t
you?” 

“Yah I was! You mean otherwise poisoning my
lunch would be a possibility?” Gwen asked shocked. 

“Well, she doesn’t like you much.” He
shrugged.

“Really? I never noticed.” 

“Really? How couldn’t you?” 

Gwen stared blankly at Koli. 

“Right. More sarcasm. Sorry.” Koli flinched
and squinted his eyes. 

“Why doesn’t she like me? I’ve never met the
girl! Not long enough to do anything to her anyway.” 

“Tina’s always had a thing for Pete,” he
whispered. “And fairies can be ornery little things, especially
when they’re jealous.” 

Tina appeared behind Koli. “Especially when
they catch someone talking about them,” she whispered snidely in
his ear hovering off the ground. 

Koli laughed nervously and walked quickly
into the house. 

“Well come on in, princess,” she bowed and
raised her hand as if presenting the door. The fairy rolled her
eyes and walked ahead of Gwen. The entrance to the cabin was
extravagant. The floors were covered with marble leading up to a
large double staircase that met in the middle at the top. They
continued past the stairs into to the kitchen. 

“By the way I wouldn’t eat the rolls if I
were you,” she added raising her eyebrows and tossing one Gwen’s
way. She struggled to catch it but managed to snag the bun just
before it hit the ground. Gee, thanks.

The kitchen was magnificent. Tall vaulted
ceilings towered above their heads. The impeccable dark hardwoods
appeared glossy beneath Gwen’s bare feet. She had always thought
her home

was nice, but this was a whole new ball game.
The kitchen was made from all natural stone and some sort of
cement. Earthy tones consumed the space making it calm and
spa-like. Gwen saw Mike sitting on a granite island in the center
of the kitchen shoving spoonful after spoonful of some succulent
casserole dish into his mouth. Tina dished another plate. 

“Jonah, do you want something to eat?” she
asked. Jonah was leaning against the cool glass patio doors that
overlooked the brilliant emerald and chocolate woods. An eerie fog
was beginning to set in. His breath made fluffy clouds on the glass
of the door. With a simple shake of his head, he answered Tina’s
forced hospitality. 

Suddenly he turned. “This is stupid!” Jonah
exclaimed. Arthur and Koli, who were shoveling food down at the
large dining room table, slid their chairs back, jaws clenched,
instinctively in protector mode.  Pete brushed his chest and
the two relaxed. “We should go get those punks that threatened my
sister. Meet them head on. Instead we are hiding out like some kind
of scared fools!”  

Tina rolled her eyes. “Calm down, wonder boy.
We’re working on something. As of right now, you would be smashed
like a little tiny bug,” she said, rubbing her thumb and forefinger
together. 

“Tina’s right, though a little blunter then I
would have put it.” Pete concurred. Tina shrugged and Pete
continued. “The pirates have pretty much taken over all of
Everland, there are a few royal campsites left, and some of us have
taken shelter with their guardians in Lycan country, well the parts
left.” Andrew flinched. “They are anticipating my return to drink
and spill into the lagoon, they will be ready and
waiting. 

“So it’s impossible to go back then?” Gwen
interrupted. 

“No, not impossible, just…difficult and
risky. If I… we can get our blood into the lagoon, Tina’s powers
will increase immensely. She’ll be able to do a lot to help us in
the fight against them. I’ll send word to the Manticans and the
rest of the regals tonight that Gwen has been sworn and is ready
for the return in one week. They’ll be prepared to fight in hopes
of holding them off long enough for us to replenish the mother
stone, and refuel all of our powers.” 

“Wait – our powers?” Gwen was
confused. 

“Wow, she really doesn’t know anything does
she?” Tina snottily stated. Gwen shot an innocent look her way
ready to defend herself when Pete chimed in.

“Yes. When sworn, you possess
certain…..abilities.” Pete said. 

“Like what kind of powers are we talking
here? Like super hero comic book style?” Jonah crossed his
arms.