Drawing Bloodlines (22 page)

“My thoughts exactly!” sai
d Jonathan, glaring at Malick.

There was silence in the room again. Jonathan broke his glare at Malick only to find Dr. Col
vers staring at them. Dr. Colvers had a gloomy look on his face as he placed the decaying leaf he cradled in the palm of his hand back on the table. “Excuse me,” he said, softly and with a nod.

The group watched on as Dr. Colvers exited the room. “Oh my God, guys!” cried Lafonda, cu
pping her mouth with her hands. “I forgot he was still in the room.”

“Poor Dr. Colvers,” said Angela, in a sympathetic, but almost childlike voice. Her bright blue eyes now looked sad. “CW has really lost a lot — his job at Oxford — his r
esearch….”

“CW?” asked Nathan, abruptly.

“Yeah,” said Angela, her voluminous blonde curls bouncing on her head. “CW. It’s a part of his initials and it’s cute.” She suddenly wrapped her arms around herself and shuddered. “Besides, we have to have something cute to balance out that creepy smile of his.”

“Yeah, nice try,” grumbled Alan, from the table. You could still see the smirk on his face, even though his eyes were glued to his cell phone. “But honestly, I prefer Crazy Colvers myself.” Alan looked up. There was a serious look on his face now. “And besides all that, I smell a rat. It sounds like the Order has someone working for them — from on the inside
.”

“Precisely!” proclaimed Jonathan, tu
rning to gawk at Malick again.

Malick ran his fingers backward through his dark brown hair and then cleared his throat. “Well, LaDonda will be here in two days,” he said, first appealing to Lafonda and then the group. “If we want to get you guys cloaked, now is ou
r chance. We need to go now!”

Lafonda sighed again, this time running her hand through her long and shiny black hair. “Why can’t we just wait for my grandmother?” she asked. “I’m sure when she gets here
….”

“If you want to keep waiting on your gran
dmother, be my guest,” interrupted Malick. With haste, he zipped up his leather jacket. “And how long did it take for them to tell you about your family legacy and your family’s connection to the Order?” He turned to face Nathan and then quickly turned to look back at her. “Oh wait, they didn’t. I forgot you’re still waiting on that.”

Nathan studied Malick hard before taking a step closer to Lafonda. “Look,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “For whatever reason, Roy and LaDonda — Amelia and Avery — did what they thought they needed to do by kee
ping us in the dark.” He cast his gaze downward and then released a slight chuckle. “And I know this is going to sound so ironic coming from me, but I’m tired of all the secrets, Lafonda.”

Lafonda started to look away, but she noticed the resolve in his brown eyes. “It was just ye
sterday that we almost lost Jonas,” he said, firmly. “And we came here to protect ourselves and those we care about.” He released her shoulder and toke a step back. “And that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not waiting on LaDonda or Roy — or Amelia or Avery.” He turned to look at Angela, Jonathan, and then Malick. He even paused long enough for his eyes to connect with Alan. “Regardless of our legacy, whatever it might be, it’s time that we knew the truth and to take responsibility for our own lives.”

Nathan turned to find Jonathan smiling at him. “And that even includes the possibility of me being the Fire
walker,” he said with a smirk.

Angela grinned as she cheerfully passed Nathan and then
took her red pea coat from the back of her chair. “We’re behind you, Nathan,” she said, looking at Lafonda. She forcibly nudged Alan to standup. “We didn’t come all the way here for nothing.”

Jonathan gave Nathan a light pat on his shoulder. He pr
oceeded past him to get his coat from the armrest of the large reddish-brown couch. Nathan followed behind him and Jonathan handed him his gray hoodie. Slowly, Nathan slid his arms in the sleeves as he waited for a response from Lafonda.
The silence is killing me,
he thought.
Aren’t you going to say something?

“Okay, Nathan,” she said finally, and Angela beamed. “I’m in.” Lafonda turned to find Malick grinning at her and dramatically she rolled her eyes. “I’ll … go convince my mot
her.”

“I’ll come with you,” said Angela, enthusiastically, but suddenly her face went blank. “But what if we can’t? What if
we can’t convince your mother.”

“Then we’ll just have to stick to the
original plan,” said Lafonda.

“The original plan,” repeated Ang
ela. “Oh, you mean, sneak out?”

Lafonda paused before opening the wood-paneled glass door to the main house of Black Manor. “Yup,” she said. She gave a quick glance to Nathan before stepping in. “If that’s what we have to do.”

The glass windows around the conservatory shuttered and Alan settled back into his seat. “Yeah, like that’s going to work,” he muttered. “As if no one’s going to notice that all of us are gone.”

Nathan looked down, zipping up his hoodie. “Wait!” he said, abruptly, holding up the remaining coat from the ar
mrest to the couch. “Whose white jacket is this?” Nathan looked around the room and everyone was wearing a coat. “Leah!”

13

LEAH’S INDEPENDENCE

The glass side door of the conservatory that connected to the outdoor patio swung open. Nathan stood outside on the light brown, sandstone floor and eagerly scanned for Leah.

“I’m telling you, she’s fine,” said Malick, stan
ding in the doorway and catching the glass door before it closed. “I promise you she’s not in danger.” He laughed. “She’s standing over there by the trees.”

The late afternoon sun glared in Nathan’s eyes as he tried to catch a glimpse of Leah. Without saying goodbye, he left Malick and darted down the
pepper-colored stone steps. “Don’t forget to get something of value from Leah,” he shouted after him. Malick’s voice stumbled as he hastened to continue. “You know what I mean! Something of sentimental value!”

When Nathan approached the edge of the grass that e
ncircled the stone walkway, he paused. The plush green lawn behind Black Manor rolled on as far as he could see. Only a few trees that dotted the landscape interrupted it.

Over to his left, by a cluster of trees, he could see Leah’s silhouette as the sun’s rays peeked through the branches. Swiftly, he headed t
oward her, the sound of grass squishing beneath his feet. He could see her face now as the object in her hand reflected light into her face.

Leah turned around to greet him and smiled.
Her eyes look so warm and her face so soft
, he thought to himself.

Nathan smiled and his stomach suddenly filled with bu
tterflies. Leah continued to smile and everything just seemed to fade away. With everything going on, the attack at the Justin Bloomer concert, almost losing Jonas, the expedited trip to London, and the attack on Dr. Colvers and his assistant at his office, he had forgotten how infectious her smile was. It made him feel normal, as if everything would be okay. “You look amazing,” he uttered, abruptly, his cheeks turning red now.

“You too,” she said, taking a few steps to meet him. Quickly, she raised her arm and the object in her hand bounced light into his eyes, temp
orary blinding him. “Stop!” she warned. “There’s a fire pit in front of you. It kind of sneaks up on you if you’re not aware of it.”

Nathan stopped, shielding his eyes. He looked down, moments from stepping into the shallow fire pit. It was made out of the same pepper-colored stones that made up the stone steps to the Black Manor patio. He allowed his gaze to run over the black hole in its center as he walked around it. “Thanks,” he said, continuing toward her. He turned to look at the pit again. “That looks like fun.”

“As long as you don’t fall in it,” she laughed, gazing down at her scuffed shoes.

“Ouch,” he said, standing next to her. He lowered his arm. He could make out what she was holding now. “Are you okay?” Nathan winced at the sight of the bright red bruise on Leah’s elbow. “That looks like it hurts.”

Slowly, he reached out toward her elbow and Leah dramatically recoiled. “I’m okay,” she said. Nathan looked surprised, but he also had a confused look on his face. Intently, he gazed into Leah’s eyes as his face softened. “Really, I’m okay,” she repeated, holding tightly to the silver and gold object in her hand. “It’s just a scratch.”

“It looks more than a scratch,” said Nathan, reaching out toward her again. This time Leah turned away from him, quickly shoving the crescent-shaped medallion into the kni
tted bag that draped across her shoulders.

Nathan frowned. He took a step forward, while eyeing her bag. “Um, Leah?” he asked, a ser
iousness to his tone. “Is there something going on that I should know about?”

Leah forced a smile as she turned back around to face him. “I–it’s nothing,” she said. She fid
geted with the strap over her shoulder.

“Maybe I should hold the medallion,” he said, taking a
nother step forward and extending his hand.

“No!” shouted Leah, forcibly. Nathan’s eyes grew wide and he took a step back. “I’m fine,” she said, lowering her voice. “I mean … it’s f
ine.” She secured the strap over her shoulder again, pulling the bag closer to her body. “I got it.”

There was a brief silence as a small gust of wind rustled among the leaves of the trees in front of them. Slowly, N
athan twisted his mouth off to the side before opening his mouth to speak. He stopped mid-sentence, however, after noticing the large tree limb that hung to the ground from one of the larger trees.

“Come on. Let’s head inside,” stuttered Leah, after fo
llowing his gaze. She attempted to guide him by the arm, but Nathan continued to examine the ground around him. Leah fidgeted with her bag again, as Nathan stepped forward, noticing the small branches and leaves scattered around them.

“What happened, Leah?” he said, turning to look back at her. “Those leaves look freshly fallen … just like the bruise on your arm.” He looked down at her scuffed white tennis shoes and then at her snow-white knuckles as she clutched her bag.
I swear if she holds on to that bag any tighter.

“Leah, have you been using the medallion!”

Leah’s cheeks suddenly burned a bright red. “I–I, no!” she said. Flabbergasted, Nathan shook his head. He had a serious look on his face as Leah’s lips quivered. “Yes!” she said finally. “But everything is fine. Nothing happened.”

“Ar
e you serious!” shouted Nathan.

He had a shocked look on his face as she nonchalantly walked past him to place a hand on the massive fallen tree limb. “You don’t see Lauren or
the Fallen Ones around do you?”

He paused, the lines on his forehead softening. “She has a point,” he thought to himself. He looked past her and out into the green open field.
If she’s using the medallion … her powers, shouldn’t they be attacking us by now?

With a triumphant look on her face, Leah smiled. “Look, I’ll show you,” she said, reac
hing into her bag.

“Are you crazy!” shouted Nathan, seizing her hand. U
nexpectedly, he paused to take note of the markings etched into the bark of the tree over her shoulder.

Mesmerized, he dropped her hand and his feet staggered as he made his way toward the tree. Its bark had been r
emoved and carved into the trunk were the words,
For the Dead Shall Rise Again
. Slowly, Nathan reached out to run his fingers across the letters. “Déjà vu, much?” he muttered.

“I saw that earlier,” said Leah, peering over his shoulder. “But what’s so Déjà vu about it?”

“It’s like the big oak tree right outside the front gates of Grimm Cemetery, but instead of this,” he said, pointing at the deep etchings in the tree. “It says
Don’t Speak Ill of the Dead
— and it’s carved in Latin.”

“Well,” grumbled Leah, “I wouldn’t know. The last time I was at Grimm Cemetery, I didn’t have the luxury of being brought through the front gates.”

Leah had an ornery look on her face, but it quickly melted to resolve. “But with this,” she said, swiftly taking out the medallion. “I don’t think anyone will be dragging me anywhere else against my will.”

Nathan winced as he spun around. “Do you not realize how much danger you put us in by using that thing?” Again, he failed to take it from her and frowned. “Did Malick put you up to this?
”

Leah appeared to marvel at its gold and silver metals as it glinted in the light. “No,” she grinned, placing it back into her bag. She took him by the hand. “Look, I promise you, I would never put any of us in danger.” There was a gleam in her eyes as she started to pace. “You saw its power Nathan — at the concert — it can be used against them.”

“Yeah,” he said, “and I’ve also seen how it can be used against us. Does Pius not ring a bell?”

Leah shook her head and then rolled her eyes. “And if I master it, learn how to use it,” she continued. “It can be used to protect us — keep us all safe.”

“Protect us, keep us safe?” he repeated dramatically. “Why in the world would you chance using that thing if you’re trying to keep us safe?” The frown lines on Nathan’s forehead appeared again. “You know the Scarlet Priests can find us if we use our powers!”

“I know, I know,” said Leah, sounding almost euphoric. “But I just knew that it wouldn’t!” She giggled. “Look at me. I’m talking as if the medallion is a person.” She grinned, her warm brown eyes shining with life. “Something just told me that it was safe. Since yesterday, I kind of just understood its power — as if it was speaking to
me. I just knew it was safe.”

“What was speaking to you?” asked Nathan. He had a concerned look on his face. “The meda
llion or the power? Look, you’re starting to sound weird, Leah. And after all we’ve been through that’s saying something, especially coming from me.”

Leah rolled her eyes and turned away from him. “Maybe we should have told Avery and the others about the meda
llion,” he muttered.

“What?” exclaimed Leah, spinning around. She took him forcibly by the hand. “We talked about this. We agreed we could handle this ou
rselves.”

Nathan had a deep look of concern on his face and Leah released him before he could retract his hand. “Look,” he said. “Everyone agrees that we should leave now — to try to get cloaked while Avery and Jonathan’s dad and CW are figuring out what to do about the prophecy. Lafonda and Angela are talking to Lafonda’s mom right now to try to convince her to take us shopping, and Malick is collecting  personal items from everyone to take to the shop to get blessed — to cast the protection prayer over them.
”

“CW?” asked Leah.

He shook his head. “It’s what Angela’s been calling Dr. Colvers,” said Nathan, sounding frustrated. Quickly, he shrugged. “Anyway, the point I’m trying to make here is that maybe we should take the medallion with us, have them look at it at the shop.…”

“
Absolutely not!” shouted Leah.

Nathan appeared slightly taken aback by her response. “Maybe they can tell us why the Fal
len Ones want it so bad,” he said in defense. “Maybe even tell us who this person is that they are looking for, the one they seek.”

“No,” said Leah, adamantly. “I’m not handing over the medallion so that some stranger can take it from us. They’ll want the power for themselves.”

“They’re not going to take it from us, Leah,” said Nathan with a sigh.

“You don’t know that,” she snapped. There was a brief moment of silence as they both realized they were at a stan
dstill. Abruptly, Leah went through her bag. “Here, what does Malick need?”

“S–something of sentimental value,” said Nathan, hes
itantly. He sighed. “Malick said the more attached you are to the object, the better.” He reached into his pocket and ran his fingers across the smooth cylindrical object that was hidden in his mom’s picture frame. “I still have to figure out what I’m supposed to do for Bobby and Jonas. They’re all the way in Illinois. Why couldn’t he have told us this earlier?”

“Here,” she said, removing her necklace. It was gold and felt lightweight in Nathan’s hand. “It was Jamie’s,” she said. “My roommate freshmen year. She was wearing it the night.
…”

Nathan thought he saw tears forming in her eyes, but she turned away. “I promise,” she said, after a quick wipe of her face. “Everything is okay.” She smiled and then gave him a peck on the cheek. “I’ll go get my coat.”

“It’s on the armrest,” said Nathan, calling out to her. “On the couch, in the conservatory.”

Leah turned around, but continued to walk backward. She smiled. “Things are on the up and up,” she said, while pa
tting her bag. “I can feel it!”

Nathan sighed heavily and then rubbed the back of his neck. He turned to cast his gaze into the beautiful open field, but the etchings caught his attention again. “What’s that?” he said, taking a step closer. Beneath the phrase,
For the Dead Shall Rise Again,
was three small letters. He squinted and muttered. “GCG.”