The Lost Chalice (The Relic Seekers Book 3) (27 page)

“You try telling them that,” Fergus said, managing to look snooty and exhaustedat the same time. “I tried, and they kidnapped me. The barbarians forced me into a portal, and we came out in Virginia.”

“We’re not barbarians,” the blond said, gobbling down a pack of sliced turkey. “We’re guardians. Or sentinels. I’m not sure which.”

“A portal, like the one in the temple?” Brandi asked.

“Yes. It was terrifying. My head is still spinning, and then I had to rent a car and drive them here. And they make the most god-awful noises. Tell me
they’ve
found
it
.”

Assuming
they
meant Kendall, Nathan, and Jake and
it
meant the chalice, she told him no. “Not that they would tell me if they had. Did Marco come with you?”

“Marco?” Fergus’s significant brows pulled together.

“Nathan called and said Marco showed up at the antique shop.”

Fergus went pale as a dead Irishman. “Marco can’t be here. He’s dead.”

Marco was moving so fast Jake was sure he must have been sipping from the fountain. The old man disappeared down a side street, and Jake followed. He felt a warning prickle a second before he heard words he’d never expected to hear in his lifetime. “Hello, Son.”

In an instant, Jake was trapped in an invisible web against the wall, just like the one in the temple. Marco’s wrinkles and white hair started melting and his faced changed into another face, a series of faces. The Reaper moved closer and studied Jake. “I’m sorry for this,” he said, “but precautions are necessary. You’re very strong. So like your mother. She was strong too.”

Jake couldn’t have moved even if he weren’t frozen. The shock of hearing the Reaper admit that he was his son, hearing him speak of his mother in the way a normal father would speak of his child’s mother, was like falling through a crack into an icy pond.

“Did you kill her?” Jake asked.

“Not in the way you think.”

“I was there. I heard you arguing. You were angry with her.”

The Reaper looked surprised, and his face stopped moving. Jake saw him clearly for the first time. Graying hair, middle-aged—
he’d probably aged since drinking from the wrong chalice—and then Jake had a brief memory of the man smiling as he bent to tell Jake how much he was growing. How proud he was of him. Jake couldn’t have been more than two or three at the time.

The Reaper reached through the invisible wall holding Jake and touched the side of his head as a father would caress his young son. Jake’s throat worked, and the darkness that had swallowed his past faded. He remembered his mother, his father, the large home that he’d thought was a castle because it was so big. The secret rooms he hadn’t been allowed to enter. His mother’s love, and then her fear, always watching him and his father.

“I was angry with her. She had done a terrible thing. She stole something from me. But most importantly, she took you.”

That rattled Jake. “I know you killed her. I saw her in a grave.”

“She died, but not at my hand. Not directly.”

“I don’t understand.”

“She was ill, already dying. She wouldn’t have told you that; you were too young for such burdens.” His face sagged. “But I think you were burdened nonetheless.”

“She died of illness?”

“No. It was an accident.”

“What, she fell? That’s what they all say.”

“No, she didn’t fall, but it was truly an accident, for which I bear the guilt. If I hadn’t tried to find her, it would not have happened. I had no idea you were there. If only I had known.” His mouth thinned, and for a moment he looked old and frail. “I searched everywhere for you, but I couldn’t find you. I thought she must have taken you to the . . .
there.”

“Taken me where?”

“Where she lived. Where were you?”

“I was hiding in the trees. She made me promise not to come out.”

“And you kept the promise. You adored her. You did whatever she asked.” He smiled. “She called you her little knight in shining armor.”

Knight. That threw Jake, as if he weren’t already in a mind spin. Did all mothers think of their sons as knights, or could his have known about the reincarnation/doppelganger thing?

“She loved you very much.” The Reaper’s smile faded. “Loved me once too. A great love.”

“Until she discovered that you’re evil and really old?”

He smiled. “You had a brilliant wit even as a child. Evil isn’t as simple as it seems. In fact, it can be quite complicated.”

“You’ve killed people.”

“Only when it was necessary.”

“It was necessary to slaughter your own brotherhood?”

“I won’t speak of that with you,” he said, as if Jake was a child asking about grown-up things.

“Is she still buried there?”

“No. That wasn’t a grave you saw, just a trench where she fell. I came back and moved her body.”

“Where?” He felt angry that a whole part of his life had been lost, and he could never get it back.

“To my vault. I would like to show you sometime. I would like to get to know you again. You can’t imagine my joy when I thought I’d found you again.”

“That’s why you hired me?”

“I needed to make sure.”

“How did you find me?” Jake asked, thinking what an odd conversation this was.

“It was part luck. I had given up, and then I saw an article in a magazine about treasure hunters. You were in one of the pictures. I knew your face. I knew it was you, but I had to be sure.”

“So you hired me to break into the prince’s palace?”

“I killed two birds with one stone. I needed to see you in person, and I needed the best man for the job. I didn’t know what the prince was about, or I wouldn’t have involved you.”

Jake looked down at his paralyzed body. “Strange fatherly sentiment for someone who has his son lashed to a wall.”

“It’s for your own good. I need you out of the way so I can find the chalice.”

“You want eternal life.”

“I want my life back.”

That didn’t make sense, but Jake was tiring from struggling against his bonds.

“I need the chalice. I’m going to leave you here while I locate Kendall. I hadn’t expected to encounter you in the antique shop.”

“Take me with you, and I’ll convince her to give you the chalice.”

“You love her enough to lie. But I’m not sure I could trust you there with her. She already lied to me once when she told me I had the Holy Grail in the temple. You can see the results of that. I’m older than I have ever been.”

“Don’t hurt her.” It wasn’t a demand. It was a plea.

“If she cooperates. But I must have the chalice. At all costs. I will see you soon.”

The man who’d ruined Jake’s life, a father he hadn’t even remembered, walked away and left him pinned to a wall.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

K
ENDALL WAS SORTING
through old dishes, her head in a trunk, when her phone rang. It was probably Aunt Edna calling to read them the menu. She’d gone down to the diner to get them lunch. Kendall banged her head as she grabbed the phone.

“Kendall, this is Fergus. Is Marco with you now?” Fergus’s voice was trembling.

“No. Fergus, are you OK? Where are you?”

“Good. You must leave there immediately—you, Nathan, and Jake.”

“Jake’s not here. He went after Marco.”

She heard Fergus’s shocked indrawn breath. “He’s not Marco.”

“Fergus, what are you talking about?”

“Marco isn’t really Marco.”

Nathan had his face close to hers, listening to the conversation. He took the phone from Kendall and put it on speaker. “Fergus, have you been drinking?”

“I have not. You need to know, sir, that Marco is dead.”

“We just saw him,” Kendall said.

“That wasn’t Marco. His body is at the castle. Raphael found him in Prague, dead.”

Marco was dead. “No.” Kendall clutched Nathan’s arm. “Jake! He doesn’t know.”

Nathan put an arm around her shoulder. “Fergus, where are you?”

“On the way there. I have backup.” There was a scratching noise and the phone disconnected.

“We have to find Jake,” Kendall said.

“We will, but I’ve got to get you to safety first.”

“No, we have to find Jake first.”

“This is what Jake would want you to do. I’ll find Jake.”

“I don’t care what he would want. I don’t care what you want. We’re finding Jake together.”

The antique shop’s bell rang and Marco stepped inside. He was Marco one second, and then he was Thomas, and then Brandi, the visitor’s appearance changing like a holographic sign.

Nathan growled and shifted as he faced the Reaper—now Thomas again—and was immediately thrown against the wall, where he struggled and yanked against the air.

Kendall recovered from her shock and lifted her hands, but it was too late. Her body was frozen in place, feet stuck to the floor.

“I won’t hurt you,” the Reaper said. “I just need the chalice.”

“I don’t have it.”

“You can find it. Your gifts are remarkable.”

“I’ve tried to find it.”

“Perhaps an incentive will help. You do remember our agreement? Your friends’ lives in exchange for the chalice?”

She nodded. “Where is Jake?”

“He’s unharmed. Angry, but unharmed. You still love him even though he’s my son?” His eyes were sparking.

It was true. Poor Jake. “A son isn’t responsible for his father’s evil.”

“I grow so tired of that word. As I just explained to Jake, evil is a complicated thing; not always what it seems.”

“You’ve killed and destroyed for this chalice.”

“For good reason. Now, I need you to concentrate and find it for me, and I won’t hold you accountable for your trickery before.”

Nathan’s growls were more ferocious.

“Very impressive,” the Reaper said, sparing a glance at Nathan. “You will be magnificent when you learn to control your gifts. I know the chalice must be here. I’ve been reading your thoughts.”

“That’s rude,” she said.

The Reaper laughed. “It is, but we all must do things we don’t like. Now focus, Kendall. Please. I am a desperate man.”

What was she to do? Trick him again? She could lay a false trail or say anything was the Holy Grail. It wouldn’t work for long, but she needed to get Nathan free. “I will make a deal with you. Take Nathan and Jake and leave them outside the castle. Leave them paralyzed. I’ll have someone get them, and when they’re safe, I will go with you and show you where the chalice is.”

“What a tangled web you are caught in,” the Reaper said. He was Brandi now. She had been telling the truth about what happened at the town house, as Kendall had already suspected. “You love them both. Love makes you vulnerable, you know. I have loved an incomparable love.” Thomas smiled from the Reaper’s face now. “I pity you. Two loves. I never recovered from one.”

The shop’s bell rang again. Fergus, Brandi, and three rogues rushed in, Gregor, the blond, and the bald one. Brandi stared at the Reaper in Thomas’s body, her face flushed angry red and her fists clenched. Fergus tried to grab her, but she rushed at the Reaper with a scream. “How dare you use my brother’s body!”

“You are a troublesome crew.” The Reaper put up his hands and Brandi joined Nathan on the wall. “I did not want Thomas dead,” the Reaper said. “I was upset with him for betraying me, but I understand the loyalty of family.”

“You killed your own brothers,” she spat out, flailing against the wall. “Don’t talk about loyalty.”

He shifted back into Marco, and flung the others against the wall. Except for one unfrozen sentinel. Gregor.

The rogue smiled. “That will not work on me, Luke. You know my gift is stronger than yours.”

Fighting wasn’t working. Jake was wild with fear. If he didn’t clear his thoughts and find a way out of here, Kendall could die. He calmed his mind and tried to think his way out, but he was still trapped. He wished Raphael were here.

Just as last time, Raphael walked through the wall.

Jake didn’t question it. “Get me out of here!”

Raphael had him down with the flick of a wrist. “Where are they?” the guardian asked.

“I think they’re at the antique shop. How did you know where to find me?”

“I could see you from the street. I’m surprised he left you alive.”

“I don’t think he likes killing family. I’m his son.”

Raphael’s half-tattooed forehead rippled with surprise. “His son? Interesting. Very interesting. Come with me.” Raphael wrapped his arms around Jake. Instinctively, Jake felt his eyes close. “Let’s go rescue them.”

Jake’s eyes opened, maybe a minute later, maybe instantly, he didn’t know. He and Raphael were in Aunt Edna’s antique shop. Kendall was frozen in the middle of the floor, while Nathan, Fergus, Brandi, and two rogues were pinned to the wall. Only the redheaded one called Gregor was free, facing the Reaper. Nathan was so livid he looked like his skin would burst, but he couldn’t get loose.

Jake’s head was swirling. The spinning moved down his body until he felt like he was a vortex of energy. He thought he’d been struck by the Reaper until he saw the Reaper fall. They all fell to the ground. Except Gregor and Raphael.

What the hell had just happened?

Shocked faces stared at Jake. They could move their heads and speak, but couldn’t move their bodies, just like it had happened with the rogues at the castle.

“It was you,” Raphael said, surprised. “I told you to be careful what you wished for.”

“Jake’s the one who paralyzed us at the castle,” Nathan said.

Jake was stunned. He’d done this? But how? He didn’t have any special abilities. He hadn’t taken the Protettori vow. He looked at the Reaper, who was watching him with a look of shock. And pride. Genetics. “I guess I’ve found my superpower,” Jake hissed. “Thanks, Dad.” He stalked over to the Reaper and bent down. “I should kill you.”

The Reaper looked at Jake and his eyes saddened. “I know. I’m to blame for so much of your pain.”

Gregor stepped forward. “I cannot allow that.” The rogue opened his arms wide, and objects flew from the shelves, hurtling across the room. Jake dived for Kendall and felt something strike him in the head.

When the barrage was over, the Reaper and Gregor were gone.

“What in the world happened?” Brandi asked, slowly getting to her feet.

“I think Gregor kidnapped the Reaper,” Fergus said, rising while straightening his jacket. “He’s very good at it. That’s what he did to me; kidnapped me and forced me into a portal.”

Jake had wondered why Fergus and the rogues were here.

“It was not our idea,” the blond rogue said. “Gregor insisted we help him. We will not answer for his transgressions.”

“Why would Gregor take the Reaper?” Kendall asked.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s good.” Raphael’s eyes looked like a tiger’s. “I wish I’d never turned Gregor to stone. I should have had him killed.”

Nathan was helping Jake check Kendall over for injuries. “I thought you couldn’t.”

“I can’t. But Marco can.” Raphael’s face darkened. “Or he could.”

“Marco could kill another one of the Protettori?” Jake asked. “How?”

Raphael’s voice was hushed with awe. “Marco was special.”

“I can’t believe he’s dead. He saved my life.” Kendall glanced at Jake, her expression almost apologetic. “The Reaper has to be destroyed.”

Jake’s mouth was hard. “I know. I’ll be the one to do it.”

“You can’t kill your own father,” Kendall said.

Jake shrugged. “Why not?”

“I’ll go after Gregor and the Reaper,” Raphael said.

“What good will that do if you can’t kill them?” Jake asked.

Raphael’s face darkened, his expression deadly. “I can’t kill them, but I can turn them to stone and smash them into pieces.”

“You can’t travel now,” Kendall said. “Remember what happened the last time. You’ve been traveling too much since then.”

“As soon as I’m rested, I’ll go. We’d better find the chalice in case they come back to get it. The Reaper won’t stop until he has the Holy Grail.” Raphael’s eyes hardened. “And God knows what Gregor is after.”

“We’ve looked everywhere,” Nathan said.

“You haven’t looked hard enough,” the guardian said. “I know it’s here. I can feel it.”

“You can sense the chalice?” Brandi asked.

“Yes.”

“Well, that would have been nice to know,” Jake said. “Why didn’t you search for it?”

Raphael studied the antique shop like a dog looking for a rabbit. “I can only sense it if it’s nearby.”

“We need to do something about her,” Nathan said, looking at Brandi. They all knew she wanted to destroy the Grail.

Brandi backed away. “Like what?”

Raphael shrugged, lifted his hand, and Brandi fell asleep. Nathan grabbed her as she dropped. “A little warning would be nice.” He laid her on one of Aunt Edna’s nicer pieces, an antique sofa.

Kendall gave Jake a hug. “I was so afraid he would hurt you. How did you get away?”

“Raphael? He’s like a big genie. I wished he was there and there he was.”

“That’s not possible, is it?” Kendall said, looking at Raphael, who was moving around the room.

“None of this is possible,” Jake said.

“How did you do the paralyzing thing?” she asked.

“I don’t know. It just happened.”

“I thought the gifts came by the vow,” Kendall said, knowing Jake hadn’t taken it.

“Don’t ask me,” Jake said. “Ask Raphael.”

Raphael frowned. “So did I. But it would appear you can also inherit them,” he said, and vanished through the wall, only to reappear again a minute later.

“That’s unnerving,” Jake said.

Nathan eyed Jake. “So you’ve got a gift too.”

“It would seem so. Do you want to be my guinea pig? We can test it again.”

Nathan shook his head and walked off. “I’m going to check the shop again.”

“You don’t have any idea where the things in the suitcase went?” Kendall asked Aunt Edna again. She had shown up just in time to miss the action, thank God.

“I don’t recall,” Aunt Edna said. “There were some old things I just gave to Goodwill.”

Nathan blanched. “Don’t tell me the Holy Grail is at Goodwill.”

Jake looked at his watch. “I guess we’re going thrift-shopping.”

“Wait,” Aunt Edna said. “If you’re going anyway, I have a few more things to donate.” She went to the basket of grab bags on the counter. “These haven’t sold, and they’re just taking up space. I can’t believe no one wants a surprise antique for three dollars.”

Jake picked up the basket, and one of the bags fell out. Kendall picked it up and a bolt of energy shot up her arm. “Oh my God.”

“It’s all right, dear,” Aunt Edna said. “They’re just really old junk that’s been collecting dust.”

Kendall started ripping the bag.

“What are you doing?” Aunt Edna asked.

Kendall let the paper drop and held up a wooden cup. “It’s old, but it’s not junk.”

“Bloody hell,” Nathan said. “It’s the Holy Grail.”