Shades of Atlantis (32 page)

He’ll understand, I interjected.

She took a step closer to Caleb and asked harshly. Are you back for good? Is whatever it was and I don’t want to know She raised both her hands, palms facing him. is it sorted?

I’m here to stay, Caleb replied firmly.

She took another step toward him. You’d better be, she warned with tightened eyes.

My heart overflowed with love for Amanda at that moment, facing up to Caleb in my defense a Guardian who could knock her down with one flick of his wrist. She turned back to me.

As long as you’re happy. She lowered her eyes. If you talk to Ben, can you please tell him to call me? I don’t care what the problem is, we can figure it out.

Yes, I replied softly, knowing I was lying, I couldn’t promise anything about her and Ben at the moment.

Amanda walked toward me and embraced me warmly. I hesitated, afraid she would notice with close contact the difference in me. She didn’t, or if she did she didn’t show it.

You look great, you really do. It’s obvious he’s what you need, she expressed affectionately.

She thought I was so alive, so different, because of Caleb’s return and not that his return was because I was different. I hugged her back. She pulled away first.

I’m going to try to get some sleep, she murmured, leaving a wide space between herself and Caleb as she walked past him.

We’ll be away for a few days, Caleb informed her hesitantly.

Oh, she replied vaguely, showing no interest in Caleb’s announcement.

He continued, regardless. I’m taking Triona to see my family. She shrugged but made no verbal response. I watched her walk up the stairs, my heart full of pity for the girl that my brother loved. I looked at Caleb, my eyes pricking with tears. He wrapped himself around me quickly.

I will fix everything, he whispered softly into my hair. He held me tighter. I don’t know how yet, but I will.

Family

Caleb thought it might be easier on Amanda if we weren’t around her until we figured out why there was no trace of my family in the Guardians records. I knew the real problem would come later for her and Ben, a Guardian in love with a human. I argued about leaving her, but Caleb assured me it was safer for her this way. I resented the Council more than words could say; humans may no longer be their family, but they were still mine.

The sun was high when we arrived in an exclusive-looking residential area in the city of Oxford, north of London, best known for its prestigious college. I remembered that Caleb told me his father worked in many colleges across the world, and I wondered if it was the reason they lived here or if it was to be near Caleb and me. On a quiet tree-lined street, enormous wooden entrance gates opened slowly, allowing us to enter a small courtyard, completely hidden behind gray brick walls. My stomach was churning all the way here, and as the gates opened up, I began to feel sick. Caleb reached over and took my hand, examining my face.

What is it?

I gulped far too loudly. They must hate me, your parents, I stuttered, my panic rising with each passing second.

He sighed, brushing a stray hair from my face. My parents don’t blame you for — they blame Seth. He said Seth’s name with such viciousness that I caught my breath. He parked in a carport beside the Porsche Boxter he drove in Camden. To the far side of that there was a silver Prius and a red BMW.

You kept the Porsche?

Of course. He grinned. It has sentimental value. It reminds me of the night we met. You refused to allow me to escort you home and reduced me to following you. I felt like such a stalker that night. I half smiled, recalling how I’d felt like the crazy person. It seemed a lifetime ago, and I wondered if he’d thought of himself that way all the times I’d sensed him near since then.

Caleb held my door open, allowing me to climb down, and he sniggered light-heartedly at my efforts. I scowled at his innocent expression before he kissed me gently, making the blood rush under my skin. Taking my hand, he led me to the doorway.

The sun glistened off the copper roof of the single-story house. The front door was dark wood with a glass-paneled wall on either side that led into a bright hallway. Huge skylights flooded the interior with natural light. I could see all the way to a courtyard garden at the back. Caleb urged me forward past a metal and wooden stairwell to a lower floor before we arrived at the sitting room.

Caleb winked at me, placing his hand on my lower back and leading me further in. It was an imposing room, a series of flat walls roughly plastered and connected by thick, weather-beaten wooden beams running up the walls and meeting at center of a domed ceiling. Two wide, plain-glass doors pulled back, bringing the garden into the room. Wooden garden furniture adorned the graveled patio and lawn area. An internal arched doorway opened into a kitchen complete with every modern convenience known to man. The colors were light, and there didn’t seem to be much unnecessary furniture, just the two large over-sized couches, an enormous dark wooden cabinet, and a fireplace set into the wall.

An extremely handsome man with dark hair and dazzling blue eyes entered from a doorway I hadn’t noticed. His features matched Caleb’s.

Despite his height and sturdy frame, he moved elegantly across the room.

Without thinking, I ducked behind Caleb, holding tightly to his arm with both my hands like a small child, and peeking out from behind his back.

The man’s expression stayed calm while his eyes scrutinized me; they were truly breathtaking, the exact shade of Caleb’s. They held a youthful glint and a kindness that reminded me of Lewis but at the same time were depthless, as if he held countless secrets behind them. My heart raced uncontrollably. I heard Caleb sigh; he reached around to pull me to his side again, and immediately I felt foolish.

Triona, this is my father, Samuel Wallace.

Samuel put his hand out hesitantly, apparently in an attempt not to intimidate me further. He looked no more than in his mid-thirties. Embarrassed, I shook his hand timidly. I’m very pleased to meet you, sir. I sounded too formal.

He laughed. I’m very pleased to meet you too — at last. His sincere expression put me a little more at ease.

Caleb draped an arm around my shoulder, keeping me at his side. Ben will be here early in the morning, he said. I could feel his pulse vibrate where his wrist touched my arm.

I know. Samuel moved to the couch and sat down, motioning for us to do the same. Joshua will pick him up and bring him here. The Council isn’t aware of the recent changes, and I’d like to keep it that way for the time being.

I sat silently beside Caleb, holding his hand on my shoulder and trying to keep my breathing even.

That’s good, at least, Caleb responded. They shared the same deep, smooth voice.

Samuel turned his eyes quizzically to me, making me blush. Now, you are a bit of a mystery, aren’t you? I returned his gaze, confused. There is no trace of your real parentage in existence, no history. My eyes darted from him to Caleb and back. What do you mean? I know who my parents are, my aunt and uncle

Aren’t your aunt and uncle, he interrupted. They are human. Someone has gone to great lengths to keep you and your brother hidden. I couldn’t breathe; this was getting more ludicrous by the minute. Foolishly, I’d thought Caleb and I were free to be together now, but it seemed it wasn’t like that at all, and yet more obstacles stood in our way.

I need to call my family, I whimpered, rubbing a hand roughly on my knee.

No, Caleb barked, keeping hold of me. They can’t know anything about this. You don’t want them involved if they don’t have to be. I stared at Caleb for a moment. My eyes glazed over. You — they didn’t kill you — the Council. You were involved with a human, and you’re still here. His eyes flashed to his father and back to me, and his brow creased. It’s different, Triona. His cheeks colored. My father and I, we made a deal. I glared at him, and he looked away, mortified. Samuel’s eyes lowered.

What kind of deal? I demanded. I shuddered; something inside me told me this couldn’t be good.

Caleb swallowed hard, clearly debating whether he should tell me, and Samuel seemed unwilling to interfere with his decision.

I want to know, I insisted, but before I could take another breath, my body began to shake. My eyes widened. No. You can t!

I did what I had to do to keep you safe, Caleb retorted.

You bargained your life for mine! I exclaimed, aghast. That’s what Seth meant — one of us has to die.

Samuel’s eyes darted up, his expression distraught for such a brief instant that I wasn’t sure I’d seen it at all. My stomach twisted violently, and it hurt to breathe. They’re still coming for you, aren’t they? I forced out.

Caleb’s lips pressed together in a straight line, and then he frowned, ignoring my question. You can’t call them yet. There are no allowances made for humans raising Guardians in secrecy. The room was closing in on me; I needed to get away. I stood and made my way to one of the garden doors.

Carmel and Lewis are safe for now, Samuel added kindly. I’m sure he thought he was reassuring me. We have no idea what they know, and it’s better the Council doesn’t think they’ve been hiding young Guardians, knowingly or not.

I gripped the window frame for support and concentrated on calming myself. My heart slowed, and my breathing eased. I’m getting better at this, I thought, controlling my temper.

How did I change into one of you? I turned and focused my eyes on Samuel sitting on the couch. Tell me everything you know. Now, I demanded.

He looked taken aback by the force behind my demand. I was too.

Triona, he explained softly, glancing over to Caleb’s worried expression.

There is so much you have to learn. Normally, you would be aware of this from a very early age.

Tell me, I insisted again.

Okay, Samuel exclaimed, holding his hands up. First, you didn’t change into one of us. You’re either born a Guardian or human. He lowered his hands. We live for four hundred years, give or take a few decades, but we only awaken to our true selves when our bodies fully mature. It’s usually a slow process, and sometimes even painful.

I thought of the migraines I’d been struggling with.

With you and your brother it seems accelerated. He looked at Caleb and back to me. Caleb watched you.

I know, I said flatly. From the time we first met I could sense when he was around. I half smiled to myself. I could feel him every time he was near. Caleb caught my eye, a look of guilt radiating across his face before he looked away.

Well, Samuel continued, he recognized some of the signs of awaken-ing in you, but we needed to be sure, so we began to research the records of the Council and, as we expected, found no trace of you. Even so, you are obviously one of us.

I wrapped my arms around my body and blew out air. What about my memories of the fire, and why aren’t there more of you running around?

Why not just make more little Guardians to overthrow humans? I didn’t mean the harshness in my voice.

Your memory His eyes strayed to Caleb sitting with his head in his hands.

I’ll answer that, Caleb said, turning his head away. When Seth hurt you, I panicked. I’d failed you, and I knew I couldn’t protect you. I was ashamed of what I am. I didn’t know how to comfort him when I hated that he left me. Joshua arrived at the house too late to help with Seth, but I had him move you to safety. It wasn’t hard to make it look like I died in the fire; we’ve covered our tracks before. I sneaked into the hospital and used a kind of persuasion to hide your memories of that night. It was difficult. I’d never used anything so convincingly before, and don’t know if I could ever again. He lifted his face to look at me, regret in his eyes.

Why not take all my memories then? I sneered, lifting my eyes to him.

Why not make me forget I loved you at all?

The misery in his expression overwhelmed me. I couldn’t trust myself; even my words had more power than I was used to. I hadn’t meant to hurt him so deeply.

I tried, he explained. I wasn’t strong enough. I’m too tied to you, too selfish to wish for you to forget me. Samuel moved nearer to place a soothing hand on his back. Caleb winced, shamefaced.

Reproducing, his father finished for him. It isn’t as easy as you might think. Because of our extended life, the cycles of a female Guardian’s reproductive system take longer. There aren’t many windows of opportunities, you might say.

Caleb stood and approached me, tentatively putting his arm around my shoulder. Enough for the moment, he said firmly.

No, I argued, removing his hand from my shoulder. My body was rigid.

Samuel remained seated, watching our exchange. Concern for his son was clear in his face.

The prophecy, I continued. The one Seth believed was about us? They both flinched at Seth’s name, and Caleb returned to where he had been sitting. Samuel stood and began to pace the floor, inhaling deeply.

I’ve spent years studying it, and I don’t know — No one knows much except that a queen of the DÈ Danann wrote it, and it concerns a child, born from both races, returning to the seat of power. We don’t know, despite what Seth thought, if it’s a dark prophecy or if it’s true at all. The Council will never allow such a child because they refuse to take a chance either way.