In the Shadows (The Blaisdell Chronicles) (21 page)

The sound of Ellen’s maniacal laughter brought me back to reality.

“Recognise this, do you?” she sneered, stroking the now familiar jewel-encrusted hilt. “Don’t worry. You’ll soon have it back.”

Ellen screeched as I stamped my shoe on her foot and wasted no time in escaping through the woods, although I could soon hear her chasing after me. The rain was heavier, slashing my skin like thousands of needles, but I couldn’t stop, knowing she wouldn’t be far behind. Nathan’s voice echoed in the trees. It was too dark to see properly, and I stumbled on the hem of the gown. I winced against the sting from fresh cuts grazing my knees, but I got to my feet and carried on.

The sound of rushing water made me slow, and when the moonlight came into view, filtering a silver path, I realised I’d nearly stumbled over a cliff edge. I turned around. Finding nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, I hugged my body, willing it not to break.

Soon, Ellen’s profile came into view, the steel blade in her hand shining in the glow of moonlight. She smiled triumphantly, waving it in my direction, coming closer.

“Tell me, Lady
Lucia, how does it feel knowing you’re responsible for your lover’s death?”

My bottom lip trembled at her accusation. I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to hear her lies. Not anymore.

It wasn’t my fault! I didn’t know he was alive!

I opened my eyes and she was right in front of me.

“You should have listened to me.”

Her palm came up and she slapped me.

My eyes burned with tears.

“I
did
try to warn you.”

Another slap, this time harder.

I placed my hand over my skittering heart, willing myself to be calm.

Even in the wan light, I could see her eyes glittering in amusement. “You’re the one who made this happen. You took him away from me.”

She grabbed the front of my dress, pulling me close enough that I could almost taste her bitterness. My pulse became weaker, the air in my lungs draining. She might as well have been strangling me. “So
I’ll
take him from you.”

I suddenly became aware of how close to the edge of the cliff I was, and heard the rush of water below.

“Death is the only option. You’ve got nothing else to live for, have you?”

I tried to speak, but my throat was hoarse.

Ellen sighed, the tip of the blade tapping against her chin. “Shall I let you do the honours?” She cocked her head. “No answer? Shall we let the stones decide?” She jiggled the rune stones in one hand, keeping her eyes on me. “I can’t wait to take him for a test drive.”

“He’ll never touch you!” I cried out, finally able to speak.

“He will when I convince him I’m you!”

She reached out and drew blood from my arm. I screamed in frustration and pain, nearly stumbling over the cliff edge. Her arm reached out again, and for a moment, I thought she was going to push me off, but she was only wiping the blood off my arm with her hand. I fought the sickening anguish in my stomach, when I saw her take the knife, and with barely a wince, slice the blade through her own palm, mixing the bloods together. Wide eyed, I saw her hands cover her face and begin her mantra. Moments later, her hands were gone, and I saw my own face staring back. 

“This won’t be permanent, as you didn’t give your blood willingly. So I’ll just have to take enough of your blood to satisfy my purposes. Of course, you won’t be feeling so good.”

I covered the gash with my other hand, trying to stop the bleeding, wincing against the pain. It was hard to concentrate on an escape plan when my head was beginning to spin.

“I’ve grown bored of changing faces all of the time. So you’ll be pleased to know that you’re going to be my last victim. I’m going to start afresh. Of course, you won’t be around much longer to know of my success.”

What was she planning?

“Finally, Nathan will realise it was the girl he loved who ended his life.”

Flashes from past and present assaulted my mind, and something buried inside my chest expelled, like a dormant volcano suddenly coming back to life. That energy I’d once felt bubbling had returned. Ripping the hem of my gown until it reached my thigh, my leg flew up, kicking the rune stones out of her hand. I had hoped in her panic, she’d have dropped the knife, but she still held it in her other hand as she recoiled in a furious surprise.

“How dare you!”

“How dare
you
! I’m not about to let you kill Jonathan or I. We are going to make our own destiny. Together.”

Her mouth curved into a predator’s snarl, white teeth bared, her eyes blazing with an anger that would challenge the devil himself.

“Lady Lucia?”             

“Lady
Stark, although your title is debatable.”

Roaring what sounded like a battle cry, she charged forward, the knife poised above her head.

Caught by surprise, my footing stumbled on the precipice.

But then Lady
Stark was hurled away from behind, and tossed into a muddy puddle a small distance away.

“Nathan!”

His hair was dishevelled and he had a split lip again, along with a few cuts on his jaw, but otherwise he seemed fine.

“You’re OK,” he breathed. “Thank God.”

I wept into his damp, dirty shirt.

“Jonathan, get away from her!” Still wearing my face, Lady Stark was on her feet, holding the blade in her hand, pointing it in our direction. The mud and dirt on her person made her look like a savage compared to the beauty she had once been.

Nathan glanced between the pair of us, his forehead creased. He hadn’t seen Lady
Stark’s face when he pulled her off me, until now. “What game is this?”

I touched his arm. “She wanted us to pay. She was going to kill me and pretend to be me so she could kill you too.”

“Damn you, Eleanor!” he said from gritted teeth. “I’d have known the truth.”

“Damn
you
, Jonathan! I came to you for help and you turned me away, even though she wasn’t alive anymore! I was on my own, and went into hiding, but those wretched Bow Street Runners caught up with me! I was hanged and it was all your fault!”

“No, it was
your
fault!” Nathan curtly responded. “You murdered your husband! And I know
you
were responsible for my death, even though it was never proven! The blood stains are on your hands, not ours!”

Lady Stark turned on me; the steely glare in her eyes would have made me stumble had Nathan not been holding me. Fury erupted from her mouth, and she leapt at me, trying to slice with the knife, but Nathan pushed me out of the way in time, only for him to be hurt instead.

I had no time to register what had happened. Lady
Stark was running towards me with the knife, but just before she struck, I felt my hands grab her wrists, holding the blade back. The energy was rising faster, and I could feel Lucia giving me strength.

We can do this.

When I kicked her abdomen, she shrieked. The metal made a clanging noise as it landed somewhere on the shaded ground.

Lady
Stark growled. She hit at my face, pushing me nearer the edge again.

She tried again, but this time I grabbed her wrist with my left and punched her face with my right.

“Damn you, Lucia!”

I came further from the edge, she stopped me and went for my eyes, but I was too quick and twisted her arm by her spine.

She groaned.

I kicked her in the back and she crashed to the ground.

The moonlight betrayed the rune stones glittering by her side.

I reached them first and tossed them behind my shoulder, sending them over the edge of the cliff.

She threw dirt in my face, briefly blinding me.

I felt my body being tackled to the ground, and as my head landed roughly, I realised I was right on the cliff edge again. I tried pushing her off, but she was using all of her weight.

“You think you can beat me?” she shrieked, raining punches on my cheeks. “As long as I’m around, you’ll never win! You and Jonathan will always suffer!”

Bending over me, groaning with rage, she dragged me up, and I knew she planned on sending me over the cliff edge. Instead, I grabbed the front of her dress and head-butted her. She howled in pain,
her head snapping back, but she held on to my gown, tugging me with her. Both of us were teetering on the edge, the gravel under our feet as slippery as ice.

Just then, hands grabbed my waist from behind, freeing me from Lady Stark’s grasp. She struggled to regain her balance, and stumbled backwards,
her scream echoing loudly as she fell. I looked over the edge and saw her disappearing under the water, her body swallowed by the waves.

It was over. Without her, Nathan’s nightmares would end and we could finally be together.

“She’s gone, Nathan. We’re finally free.”

I then realised the hands were no longer on me. Turning around, I saw Nathan, sprawled on the ground.

But when he didn’t move, I started to panic. Was it already too late?

The sight of his wound in his side made my heart twist. Raindrops blended with my tears, as the sky seemed to shake. There was no comfort to be found.

And then his eyes opened and warm relief displaced the cold fear that had been flooding through my veins. I clung to his chest, feeling his heart beating under his clothes.

“You’re alive,” I breathed, squeezing him tightly, recoiling when he winced. Without hesitation, I removed my satin scarf and tried to stop the bleeding.

“Can’t get rid of me that easily.”

With the bleeding coming under control, I sighed in relief.

“About Alex…”

“I didn’t kill him, Luce.
I couldn’t. He’s just tied up at the moment.”

I nodded, pushing back a lock of his hair from his eyes. “I know
you wouldn’t have. Despite everything, you’re brothers.”

“
Half
-brothers,” he swiftly clarified. I couldn’t help but smile a little.

His other hand tilted my chin up, making me drink in his serious gaze.

More than anything I wanted to kiss each bruise, each cut, banishing all the hurt inside of him. I glanced again at his wound. “I have to get help.”

I tried getting up, but Nathan’s hands grabbed my waist, pulling me back down. My throat was heavy from crying.

“Please let me go. I hate seeing you like this. It reminds me of everything—”

His fingers traced a delicate pattern over my cheek, preventing my words. “
You know it’s not fatal. Please, Lucy. I need to tell you something.”

I held back my tears, and waited.

Soon, both of his hands were cupping my face. “I’m glad this happened. If it hadn’t, we’d never have this extra chance fate has given us. For the past two hundred years, you’ve been in here. Lady Stark had her magic, but it’s you who cast a spell on me.”

I smiled at his sweet words. “
I was heartbroken when you left me. I don’t know what I’d do if it happened again.” 

His hands held mine. “How could I ever let you go? You are everything to me, Lucy. I was a fool to not run away with you that night during the rainstorm. I’ve long regretted my actions. But now I have this second chance to be with you, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe, and in my arms, for the rest of my life. Nothing will tear us apart. I should have said this a long time ago, but I’ll say it now. I love you, Lucy. I always have. And I always will.”

Nathan grinned, his white teeth the same shade as the snow that was just beginning to fall.

When his lips crashed over mine, I could feel my skin come alight, like a crackling bonfire, as electricity ran through my veins. This time, there was a sense of urgency, like we were throwing all of the love we felt for one another into a single kiss. His lips brushed my neck, and I suddenly remembered the skin was exposed. He held up the blood stained scarf from his cut, tossing it aside. His wound still looked particularly gruesome, but it had stopped bleeding at least. He spoke firmly. “You don’t need this anymore, Lucy. You’ve always been beautiful.”

His hand curled around the back of my neck, as his lips pressed over my scar. I closed my eyes and savoured the feeling of love seeping into my skin. It was only then I realised that Nathan was right. From now on, I’d stop wearing those scarves, especially if it meant Nathan would kiss me there. Something about being kissed just there felt delicious. Besides, the scar was a part of me. A reminder of the past I’d shared with Nathan. Without it, I wouldn’t be here today.

His kiss on my neck became stronger. He made that beautiful growling noise again and I felt myself whimper.

And then, quite deliberately, his face just inches from mine, he stopped. His fingers gently fell across my cheek, and he closed his eyes, just as our lips met. I kept my eyes slightly open, but his remained closed, and the kiss deepened. Happiness spread throughout my body, warming places I never knew existed. Now with Lady Stark gone, Nathan was able to kiss me properly. I never knew how hungry I’d been for it, until it actually happened.