Unleashed: The Deepest Fears Lie Within (Secrets of the Makai) (24 page)

“Tristan, your instincts are terrib—” Landon didn’t finish, apparently thinking better of it. “You’re exhausted. Take a few days off, find something you enjoy. Rest, relax, meditate. But whatever you do, let us handle Lazaro.”

Tristan clamped his jaw shut to keep from lashing out all over again. Landon would never recommend such a thing if he understood what Lazaro was doing.

Yet the doubt churned with every humiliating beat of his heart. He never would have survived on his own. Landon and Victor both knew it.

“Please, Tristan. Keep the watch. If you need us, hold the middle button down for more than five seconds. Victor has the twin.”

Tristan eyed the watch suspiciously. “Don’t you need it? As a work thing?”

“I’d rather you have it. I’m sure Victor would agree. Promise me you’ll stay at home for the next few days, and please don’t pretend you
want
to be a killer.”

Is that what he was doing? Pretending? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t promise Landon anything.

24
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K
ILLING
T
IME
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TRISTAN FINISHED LANDON’S PICTURE and tossed the leftover materials into the woodstove, then retrieved a sheet of the cotton rag paper for himself.

Sleeping only brought nightmares, but he could keep Lazaro out of his head if he consumed himself with something else. This time, the project he had in mind wasn’t homework and he chose the style he knew best: a sharp pencil.

He expected Landon or Victor to check in on him, just to make sure he wasn’t leaving, but neither had interrupted his work for the past two, maybe three days.

A light knock at the door broke his concentration.

Tristan quickly rolled the cotton rag and hid it in the cupboard under the bar, needing to steady himself at the counter for a few moments. He couldn’t stay awake forever, but the plan was to exhaust himself to such a high degree, Lazaro wouldn’t have contact with him in his sleep.

Tristan opened the front door, stepping aside when Charley bounced in with a big grin on his face.

“What’s the good news?” Tristan asked, taking a seat on the couch. Suddenly, he was standing on the cliffs of Ireland, looking over a calm ocean at sunset.

It used to be beautiful here, when it was full of life.
Lazaro stood next to him, wearing a long coat that blew in the breeze.

Where am I?

Always with the stupid questions.

How did I get here?

You must have wanted a well-informed tour guide, creating me in your subconscious dream-state.
Lazaro made a show of examining himself.
Thank you, I must say I look rather fabulous.

Tristan couldn’t wake himself up. For hours, they toured the property. Lazaro showed him mutilated corpses, as well as the holes near the greenhouse where the carnivorous creature, half-plant, half-animal, dissolved several men. Lazaro shared personal details of each statue as he uncovered them one by one, still in limbo, waiting for death or life to claim them.

The smell of bacon didn’t fit at all.

Tristan opened his eyes and stared at the well-oiled ceiling beams of his log cabin.

“Welcome to the land of the living,” Victor said, cooking in the kitchen.

“Where’s Charley?” Tristan asked. “He was just here.”

“Not since I’ve been.”

“Coffee?” Tristan asked, certain by the very distinct aroma. Maybe he really did ask a lot of stupid questions.

“I thought you were a chocolate drinker.”

“Coffee today,” Tristan said, determined to never fall asleep ever again.

“Good man!” Victor poured a second cup for Tristan from his thermos. “What do you want to do this afternoon?”

Tristan sat at the bar to watch Victor cook.

“We need to find you a hobby. Something to do in your spare time.”

“I’ve been working on homework for Angelina. Does that count?”

“Not really. Did Landon explain about...?” Victor looked pointedly at the watch on Tristan’s wrist.

“Yeah. He said—”

Victor cut him off with tutting noises. “I know what it does. It’s a one shot deal, got it?”

Tristan nodded, relaxing the tension in his shoulders, relieved that Lazaro seemed to be vacant. “I’m giving one of my assignments to Landon. Want to see it?”

Victor cracked a smile, trying not to laugh. “Angelina homework? For Landon?”

“It’s not that bad.” Though now that he thought about it, maybe Landon was too polite to be truthful. “I thought he liked it, but you’re right. Stupid idea.”

“You can’t take it back if he’s already seen it. I’m sure it’s great.”

“Then, what’s with the laugh?” Tristan scowled at waves of irritation and doubt rolling through every thought. “Wow. I am so sorry.”

Victor shrugged. “I’m not making fun of you.”

“I know. I’m just, cranky apparently.”

“Alvi has a niece in your class, and she says you don’t really do anything.” Victor kept his attention on stirring vegetables. “Is it not going well?”

“It’s going fine! I just don’t like doing it in front of everyone.”

“How hard could it be? They’re not national judges, they’re kids learning the same thing!”

“So what? I’d rather experiment on my own; there’s nothing wrong with that and I—” Tristan clamped his mouth shut, then took a sip of coffee followed by a calming breath. “Sorry. Rough night.”

“I’m not like Landon, but I can tell.”

Tristan stood from the counter, motivated by the buzz of caffeine tingling in his skin. “Magic seems to come so natural for them.”

“It’s not magic and they grew up with it. You’ll get the hang of it eventually.”

“It’s not that I don’t have the hang of it.” Tristan walked in circles around the couch, still debating if he should show Victor the picture or not. “If it’s not right, it sounded like Alvi could probably fix it.”

“Is this still about whatever you made for Landon?” Victor set his wooden fork down. “Let’s see it.”

Tristan continued debating with himself, chewing on his bottom lip.

“You’re the one who brought it up. Why not show me and get it over with?”

“Because...I’m sure it’s bad. Maybe not bad, but not good enough. I don’t want to make a fool of myself by trying to fit in when I obviously don’t.” Tristan tried to think logically, as Landon had suggested. “I mean, this is preschool stuff, you know? It’s not fancy or anything.”

“I’m not going to think less of you because you spent the time to make something for Landon.” Victor stirred in the skillet a few more times, keeping his attention on Tristan. “I might be jealous, but seriously, you’re freakin’ out for no reason.”

Tristan plucked the canvas from the bookshelf and tossed it on the counter. He stepped outside to wait on the front porch, so Victor could unroll it himself and take a look without faking a positive reaction.

Somehow, the fishing scene had morphed into a Charley-style scribble fest. Tristan covered his face and waited.

He should’ve tossed it into the woodstove with the scraps.

“What is wrong with you?” Victor said, standing behind Tristan at the front door.

“I don’t know what I was thinking. Throw it away. Burn it. I don’t care!”

“Hey.” Victor sat beside him, handing Tristan the rolled canvas. “It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen anyone make. Landon will love it!”

“Didn’t you see it? I—” Tristan unrolled the picture, barely recognizing his own work. “Something really is wrong with me. And if you tell me I’m doing drugs, I’ll punch your lights out.”

Victor nodded. “Come on, let’s eat breakfast and we’ll talk about Lazaro.”

Tristan wiped his face one more time before standing. “I’m sorry. I can’t seem to keep myself together.”

Victor motioned for him to sit at the table where an omelet waited, then topped off both coffee cups. “Tell me what’s going on. I’m all ears.”

Tristan poked at his food until Victor changed the subject.

“Would you want to go fishing again? I don’t think I asked, but how’d you do?”

“Caught a few leaves and rocks, that’s about it.”

“Next time, forget the casting part and use telepathy to put the fly exactly where you want it. Saves a lot of time. The fun part is watching the take down anyway.”

“Landon doesn’t mind?”

“Of course he minds, which makes it all the more enjoyable. Especially if you end up catching more than he does.” Victor nodded proudly, pointing to himself.

“You guys fish a lot then?”

“Nah. I think he prefers to fish by himself.”

Doesn’t take a genius to figure out why,
Lazaro added.
How ignorant can a person be?

Tristan left the kitchen to sit on the couch and closed his eyes.
How do I get rid of you?

Why would you want that? I could teach you a great many things!

Whatever.

You have potential. Using power makes us superior to the human race. We are gods! So the way I see it, you could waste your time with these idiots, fishing and doing your little crafty doodad things, or affect the world with me as your master. I can teach you how to be magnificent.

I don’t want to be magnificent. Or powerful.

Let’s see what you can really do. Test yourself. Do a little experimenting. He’d never suspect you of all people.

Tristan shook his head, shielding Victor from view.
No.

I don’t understand what the dilemma is. You’re already a heartless murderer. You don’t belong with these wimpy lovey-dovies. You’re above them and this. Look at the class they put you in. Even
I
have more respect for you than that.
There was a long pause.
I’ll give you time to think it over. You should consider the consequences if you don’t. Everything is up to you of course, but only I can save you.

Save me?

From yourself.

I don’t need to be saved from myself. I need to be saved from you.

“Are you listening?”

You’re half dead already.

“What?” Tristan looked up at Victor, who was offering the plate of food again.

“You really do need to eat something.”

Tristan shook his head. “Is it possible to be half dead?”

“Half dead?” Victor smiled cautiously. “I would think you’re either dead or not dead.”

Tristan put his head back and rubbed his temples. “Tell me about the security around Darnell.”

“Why?”

“You said you had security triggered to Lazaro’s DNA, and all his people, placed all around this entire mountain.”

“Yes, but—”

“How often do you check it?”

“Maybe I should get Landon for questions like this.”

“Does it always work, or do you have to maintain it somehow?”

“It always works.”

“Are there batteries? What if the DNA changes, or isn’t listed right?”

“You can’t change your DNA. What is this about?”

“I’m trying to think logically. What if he could find a way around your security and be somewhere in this cabin?”

“You’re talking about Lazaro?”

“I know it sounds stupid. But you said we could talk about him, right?”

“Security overlaps. There is no possible way he can get around anything without being noticed. Lazaro might have a grudge over what happened in Ireland, but trust me, we’ve taken extreme precautions. Eleonora knows what’s going on. This cabin is probably equally if not more protected than our own castle. Do you know what that means?”

“Eleonora is gone. What castle?”

“The Makai Castle.” Victor raked his fingers through his hair. “The castle is not up for discussion. But only a select few can appear within the walls of this cabin.”

“Who?”

“Myself, Landon, Madam Galina, Alpheus, and Donovan.”

“Why Donovan?”

“He’s high up.”

“Where is he now?”

Victor paused too long before answering. “Not sure.”

“You trust him completely?”

“Yes.”

“Who’s Madam Galina?”

“Our healer. Are you going to eat this?”

Tristan took the plate and moved to the table, poking at the omelet with his fork again. Logic didn’t seem to be solving anything. “Charley has been here. So has Eleonora. Is that a glitch?”

“I said ‘appear’. Anyone can walk through the front door.”

Tristan pondered the loophole in silence, glancing around the room. Surely Lazaro couldn’t camouflage his DNA and waltz right in.

“What you need is something to take your mind off things. Come on, at least try the eggs. Do you not like the food that’s being sent? I just sort of made my best guess as to what you would want, but we can change the order.”