Harmony (13 page)

       “Look, I don’t know what it is that you want from me,” I managed to squeak out, not as bravely as intended, “but if you think I’m going to be with you, that’s definitely not going to happen. I’m not Deirdre.”

       Connacher laughed evilly. “I don’t think you have a choice anymore. Cathbad has foreseen that you will be one of us.”

      
What?
I thought.
This was a tidbit Ian didn’t bother mentioning.
“What do you mean?” I hesitantly asked. Maybe I could fill in a couple of blank spots that Ian was conveniently leaving out before he…I didn’t even want to go there.

       “I’m surprised Ian didn’t tell you,” Connacher chuckled. “How gallant of him.”

       “Tell me what?” I desperately wanted to know.

       “Sophie, isn’t it?” Connacher said, stroking my hair. “Why do you think Ian left so abruptly?”

       I stammered, “I don’t know.” I had a sick feeling inside that I did know.

       “Should I be the one to tell her?” Connacher asked, looking up.

      
Who was he talking too?
I looked around and saw no one. I wondered if I could use telepathy with him too. I entered his mind tentatively and searched. It was horrible what I saw. Connacher was a monster ruled by vanity and jealousies. I saw a horribly disfigured old man.
Was this Cathbad?

       “Ahh, you’ve seen my Druid,
”
Connacher said, pulling me out of his mind. “I think he despises you more than I do,” he stated.

       “Why?” I was at a loss.

       “It’s not clear to me, but you are the reason he still lives. His life has been one of misery since Deirdre died.” Connacher supplied that much information. I had seen Cathbad’s misery.

       “You feed off of him?” I asked in disbelief.

       Connacher merely shrugged. “You wouldn’t believe the power I feel when I do.”

       I was going to throw up; I was repulsed by him and what he was. There was no goodness in him at all. Snuffed out long ago, I supposed.

       “What’s the matter? Am I not like your precious Ian?”

       That did it. I turned on him, anger bubbling up in my veins.
Stop it!
my mind, screamed and the light from my soul repelled him backward. Connacher retreated further into the darkness a bit surprised.

       He started to clap. “Bravo. But your parlor tricks are no match for me.”

       He was about to grab me when lights appeared out of nowhere, momentarily startling the both of us like deer caught in headlights. The car came dangerously close to hitting us.

       “Get in now, Sophie!” Max screamed. “Do you seriously have a death wish tonight? Who was that guy?”

       I quickly jumped into the car and slammed the door. I didn’t know what to say. I pulled my knees up and hugged them tightly as Max sped off. I was violently shaking from being out in the rain and nearly Connacher’s dinner or something like that. I shuddered.

       “Hey Soph, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell like that. What’s going on?” Max was clearly worried.

       “I’ll be okay, just a bit shaken. I’m glad you were there though,” I said, reaching for his hand. I needed the warmth of another human being.

       “What were you doing on this side of town? Did you seriously run all this way?” Max asked.       “Yeah, I guess I did,” I replied lost in thought. I was still trying to shake Connacher from my mind. I felt violated.

       “You are nuts, Sophie. I don’t know why I bother,” Max muttered, shifting gears.

       “Because you are my best friend and would do anything for me,” I batted my eyes, trying to lighten the mood. “And, I’ll tell Em you are crushing on her,” I added for good measure.

       “You wouldn’t!” Max feigned concern.

       “Okay, caught me there, but seriously, how did you know I was there?” I questioned.

       “That’s the weird part. I was on my way to your house, and I swear I heard your boyfriend Ian telling me to drive here,” Max said, shaking his head.

       “Ian?” I asked incredulously.

       “Yeah, something is not right with that guy, Soph. I don’t see what you see in him,” Max added. “Anyways, next thing I know, Ian’s calling me and I didn’t feel like I had any choice but to drive this way. Does that make any sense?” Max asked, turning to me with more questions brewing in his head.

       I hesitated because it made perfect sense. “No, it doesn’t,” I said.

       “Well, whatever it was, I’m glad that you’re okay. That guy looked deranged,” Max added.   “Yeah, he was.” I tuned Max out and only thought of Ian. Apparently, Ian’s telepathic abilities didn’t stop at sight only. He could control one’s mind too. Somehow, this didn’t comfort me at all.

CLIFFS OF MOHER, COUNTY CLARE

This was taking too long.
I’m wasting my time,
Ian thought.
It was foolish of me to think that I could summon the guardians.
It was dangerous to leave Sophie to her own devices. Connacher had already attempted to snatch her up. Thank goodness Max didn’t have a complicated mind. It was easy to guide him along to rescue her, even from this distance.
Rescue her!
That was supposed to be his task. He wasn’t sure if it was jealousy that he felt, but he didn’t like this feeling. The vampire in him was possessive. He didn’t want to share her with anyone. Too late now; he’d shown her more than he’d wanted too.

       Ian honestly didn’t think Sophie was ready for the whole truth. Yet, he could see she was not mad per say, but saddened by his lack of honesty. It tormented him to think she thought so little of him now. He had hurt her. The flight to Ireland had been uneventful enough, and finding Carmichael was another story. Confound the old man; he really could disappear when he didn’t want to be found. He’d heard that Ian was coming and apparently was still smarting from their last encounter. The underworld was not as complex as the myths made it out to be. Vampires weren’t great in numbers or organization. Very few vampires coexisted in one place together. He’d lived with Carmichael for a time, learning how to exist among humans without wanting to rip the flesh from their bodies and drain their blood on a daily basis. It had been the hardest decade of his immortality! Ian liked to think it was his previous human compassion that kept the demon inside in check.
Is that why I couldn’t harm Sophie as a child?
Something must have gone awry in his conversion. It still didn’t seem fair to invoke such evil on a child. He shuddered, remembering her traumatized face and body covered in her mother’s blood. He knew from that moment on, he’d invoked the wrath of Connacher. Ian still wasn’t quite sure what possessed him to reach out for Sophie and save her. He only remembered huge, emerald green eyes looking at him in confusion. He wasn’t sure anymore if he had saved her or just prolonged the inevitable.

      
Connacher!
He was a vengeful demon. Ian wasn’t scared of Connacher; he was just like him. It was his Druid that sent chills down his already-cold spine. He’d hid Sophie this long from Connacher and Cathbad’s clutches. That was his task. Falling in love with her, that was a problem.

       Ian finally found Carmichael in one of his favorite pubs. Sliding into the booth Ian said, “Finally give, up old man?”

       Carmichael sighed, “What do you want, Ian?”

       Ian congenially asked, “Buy you a pint?”

       Carmichael shot back, “You say that like we are old friends. I don’t like drawing unnecessary attention to m’self. I’ve got a good gig here in town.”

       Ian looked around and noticed the drum of the pub had trickled down at his arrival. One waitress finally had courage enough to bring pints over. “Carmichael, are you not going to introduce us?” she said flirtatiously.

       “Friend,” Carmichael mustered, “more like a nuisance. Fiona Cameron, Ian,” Carmichael said, sweeping his hand in Ian’s direction. “She’s made it her mission in life to watch over me.”

       Fiona passed a knowing glance at Carmichael. “Luv, waiting on you is the highlight of my night. Now play nice,” she shot back, then wound her way through the crowd back to the bar. Clearly, she was fond of the old man.

       “Want to explain?” Ian asked curiously.

       “None of your business,” Carmichael snapped..

       Ian chuckled. “Okay, I need a favor. Information,” Ian said, getting back to the reason he’d left Sophie all alone. He was on borrowed time so to speak.

       “What sort of information?” Carmichael asked.

       “How to contact the guardians.” Ian waited for the answer he was expecting.

       “Are you crazy? Why would you want to provoke them? Wasn’t last time enough, or has your brain gone all addle-like in the States?” Carmichael said, trying to reason with him.

       “It’s complicated.”

       “It’s that girl, isn’t it? The one you pissed off Connacher with?” Carmichael shook his head in disbelief.

       “Yes, but you know she’s not a child anymore, and she has a name…Sophie,” Ian tersely replied.

       Carmichael paused in his tirade. “You idiot! Didn’t you learn anything from me?” he spat in disbelief.

       “Look, this isn’t just about me. I need to know how to protect her from me,” Ian said defensively. “I know what happens. I’ve seen it. Cathbad made sure of that, but I don’t want it to happen.” Silence ensued. “Are you going to help me or not?” Ian asked in frustration.

       Carmichael contemplated his request as he chugged his beer. He finally replied, “I’ve heard that one can seek them by the Cliffs of Moher overlooking the bay.” 

       “Thank you,” Ian said earnestly.

       “Don’t be a fool boy. They are more soulless than you or I,” Carmichael warned.

       “I have to try. I owe her that much,” Ian stated.

       “You won’t find what you seek,” Carmichael vowed.

       Ian hadn’t been in Ireland in over ten years. The cliffs were pretty much unchanged if you discounted the new visitors center and parking lot. The jagged, sudden sheer drop into the ocean floor from the plains was breathtaking and timeless, carved by the hands of gods. How fitting to find the guardians at home in such a place. He’d walked here often—Galway. His home.

       Ian paused a moment in reflection of a life lived long ago. Only a few tourists remained scattered around, snapping pictures of the setting sun. A soft mist rose from the ocean as Ian gracefully picked his way down one of the cliffs’ many hidden paths toward the caves.
Carmichael was right
, Ian thought. He could sense their presence stronger here. They were beckoning him, daring him to seek them out. Guardians were fickle creatures. Humanity was of little consequence to them now. The only time they lowered themselves to be among humans was when it suited their purposes. The guardians’ sole purpose was clear—balancing nature. It was their only delight. Preserving nature, harnessing it. Humanity was a means to an end for them. Ian shuddered. They could be so perverse, and they thought
vampires were the lowest form of life.

      
“Deirdre!” Ian shouted above the roar of the waves crashing below. “Deirdre! Show yourself. I know you can hear me!” A swift wind pushed him closer to the edge than he liked. He pushed back. “You’re going to have to do better than that Deirdre.” She was taunting him. The mist turned wicked, and tiny drops like sharp blades sliced his skin. He couldn’t control the elements, but he could temporarily manipulate her mind.

       Everything ceased. Deirdre sat before him, flaming red hair cascading all about. Her eyes were aglow with something akin to anger. “Why do you seek me out, vampire?” Deirdre questioned impatiently.

       Ian stood his ground. “I’ve come about Sophia. I need to know if her future is set or if I can change the course of it.”

       Deirdre thundered, “You question our foresight?”

       “Yes!” Ian shouted back. “I’ve seen it too, remember? But my premonitions at the moment are a bit clouded,” he exclaimed.

       “Could it be because you’ve foolishly fallen in love with her?” Deirdre chided smiling. Ian hedged. Deirdre clucked her tongue as a mother would a disobedient child. “Ian, it has never been up to you to determine Sophia’s fate. She alone has the power to decide which path to take.”

       “But both end badly!” Ian felt desperate now. “What kind of choice is that? How can you give me sight if not to guide her and change what is to be?” he pleaded.

       “Have you not listened?” Deirdre roared. Her voice carried over the wind and the ocean. “This is a quest only Sophia can journey on. You are merely the means to an end—helping her reach this point in her existence. Whether she chooses to take you with her or not, that is her decision,” Deirdre said with finality in her voice.

       “How can the guardians be so cruel? You so cruel? You loved once. Have the centuries without Naois turned you this spiteful?” Ian spat out.

       “You vile, soulless creature! If you were not vital to Sophia’s path, I’d strike you down now, crushing you into a thousand tiny pieces. How dare you speak of things you do not know of?” Deirdre hit him not only with the force of her words, but the force of her aura. It burned Ian’s skin to be in her presence; it reminded him of Sophie in the forest. He persevered.

       Deirdre momentarily reflected over his resolve. It was strong; she had to give him that. “This only can I tell you…your fate lies with Sophia. She has already been confronted by one raven. This is only the beginning of her battle. She is strong, but stronger with you. I see only now what the others allow me to see, but I feel…conflict among the guardians.” With that Deirdre was gone.

       Ian sank to the ground allowing the cool ocean mist to cool his burning skin. His journey had been in vain; the guardians were useless and would not help.
I need to get back to Sophie,
Ian thought. He couldn’t accept that such a priceless gift given to him would be ripped away without a fight.