Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four (3 page)

Chapter 2

I
watched Brogan and Maes cautiously climb the stairs to the old building. The creak of the metal doors caused me to cringe. Maes glanced back as Brogan entered the dark building. He hesitated for a moment, as if unsure he wanted me out of his sight, but then turned and entered.

My
mind wandered back to our first meeting, when he dragged me out of the rushing water and saved my life. He wasn’t who I thought he was. He was dark and mysterious, menacing and challenging. He was larger than life, like Colt, but in a medieval way with his black hair, broad chest, and his jade-rimmed eyes that continually searched. At times, I felt like they could see into my soul.

He
’d called me
mon espoir,
his hope. He sought me out to help him break the curse over the Quaysaar clan, the curse that made him shift into a Tresez. Tresez were horrid creatures that resembled hideous mythical dogs, grotesquely large, and with fangs that could rip you apart in seconds. It was a curse cast over him by my grandfather because his father chose the wrong side.

The curse was weakening
, though. The stronger Tresezes could shift into their human form, but Maes had been without his clan ring for generations, until I found it on the bottom of the lake in Ireland. He’d waited for such a moment for so long, only for it to be destroyed the moment I married Marcus.

In
his eyes, I’d failed him, and the once strong connection we had was severed forever. His anger, his despair—he didn’t need to say anything more. His actions told me everything. He’d sided with Brogan, Callon, and the others. They all saw me as worthless—a failure—and a new threat. But I’d show them they were wrong. I’d get the Consilador’s powers back, and Callon would return.

Mandi’s
muzzle nudged my back, followed by a whinny. I knew she was with us. I’d heard her several times. I didn’t turn around, but instead stepped back and leaned into her neck. She’d missed me as I’d missed her, but any joy in our reunion was whisked away by my current situation.

“We’ll find him,” Colt said near my ear. “I’ll find him and bring him back, I promise.”

I should’ve felt warmth from his words, from his knowing exactly what I’d been thinking about, but I didn’t. It was obvious Callon didn’t want to return.

I
felt Colt’s stare upon me, knew his uncertainty and that he was full of questions. The heat from his chest heated my arm. He was there waiting in case I fell. Waiting to pick me up, dust me off, and put me back up on my feet…the same feet that had trampled over my family’s hearts.

I heard m
y family in the background, whispering, murmuring to each other. They all stayed back, wary of what I might say or do. After all, they’d just witness a breakdown of sorts, a nightmare that was more than alarming. A nightmare they were sure was only the beginning.

Even Koda
, who’d defended me, had doubts. He couldn’t quite put his faith in me yet. He needed proof that the decision I had made was in the best interest of the clans, and he couldn’t see it. His trust was wavering, weakening as each day passed.

“Cheyenne,” Colt said
pointing to the mine, “they’re ready.”

I
looked up to see the others already heading towards the building. I’d been too wrapped up in my own thoughts to realize they were walking away from me, not that they wanted me here.

“Come on.” Colt
lightly gripped my arm, tugging me forward. Daniel trailed alongside me as well, his eyes downcast. His powers were gone. No more jumping, no more private conversations with his brothers; the things he loved so much. I watched his footsteps out of the corner of my eye. From time to time he’d come closer, then awkwardly move away. Was it because he’d lost his powers? Did it make his steps unsteady? Or was it because of me? Was he fearful of getting too close?

We
came to the stairs, and I looked up at the steel doors. The metal had seen better days. The rusted hinges bled orange near the edges, which only made me think of the bloodshed yet to come.

I
glanced back at the meadow. Mandi and the other horses were grazing lazily. Thoughts of running to Mandi and riding off tempted me. But where would I run? To search for Callon and then have him reject me again? I probably wouldn’t even make it to Callon before Marcus found me again. My only choices were between staying here, or running back to Marcus…not really much of a choice at all.

I
took a step forward as the faint sunlight began to illuminate the dark entry. A chill ran over my skin as I passed over the threshold. Marcus had been here. I inhaled a shaky breath and a fine mist trickled from my mouth. The chill was real.

Maes held a kerosene lantern
, lighting the way as he walked ahead of us. He stopped in the center of what looked like a large open space.

“What do
we need to do, Maes?” Dex asked, hidden in the shadows of a darkened corner.

“The old mine has a generator
. No doubt it will take work to get it running again.” Maes glanced towards Colt. “I’m going to need your help.”

Colt nodded.

Daniel inched closer to me, fiddling with his sleeve.

“As for the rest
of you, once the generator is running, we’ll have some light. There are rooms upstairs that need to be gone through. Brogan and Koda, I need you to work on the well pump outside.”

Colt squeezed
my arm. “Daniel will stay with you.”

I
watched Colt and Maes head down the dark hall, and with them went the small amount of light. I followed Daniel and the rest toward the sunlight streaming through the entry. Koda and Brogan brushed past us, searching for the well pump.

Lilly glanced at
me as Nakari and Layla led her down the stairs. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to speak, but she didn’t. Instead she disappeared around the corner of the stone building.

I
sat down on the wide stairs, Daniel beside me. Why were we playing house here? Why weren’t we searching for Callon? I twisted and leaned my back against the cold wall, waiting for what I knew was to come. Dark blue eyes met mine. He sighed.

I
examined his features, all that I’d missed about him. His skin was darker than I remembered, most likely from his constant vigil over the last three months. And his black hair hadn’t been cut since before the
almost
wedding with Callon.

He
reached out to grasp my hand, but pulled back. It was as if he was afraid to even touch me now. Bree moved to sit in front of him. She tried to force a faint smile, but gave up. Instead she leaned on his leg, resting her head there. Her long brown hair tumbled over his jeans, and he cupped her head tenderly as he moved his gaze down, avoiding mine.

Clayton and Skylar gave
me a sidelong glance before moving down further into the valley. Even they were unsure of me now.

“
They’re going to take care of the horses,” Andre explained, taking a seat on the ledge behind me. Apparently she hadn’t deserted me yet. She played with a stray black strand of hair. Her blue eyes met mine for a moment and then she looked away.

“
It’s not going to be easy around here, Cheyenne,” she said quietly. “What you did…”

“Changed everything.”
I finished her sentence.

“
I just wish…”

“Wishing gets
you nowhere, Andre. Reality is what brought me to my decision.” I rubbed the frayed denim on my knee. I knew what reality I was now in—it was going to be hell.

Her
blue eyes met mine in frustration. “You’re the one who jumped the gun.”

“Jumped the gun? Seriously?” I snorted.

Her jaw firmed, and she crossed her arms. “I just wish we could have talked it out.”

“And what
would that have done?” I shook my head and stood. “It wouldn’t have changed a thing. It just would’ve cause more problems. Callon would never have seen it my way. He’d have sent an army in and caused more deaths—more pain—needless loss! As it is, you’ve changed everything! Marcus may not be chasing us, but he’s coming for me, and the biggest fear I have now is losing everyone I love!”

Andre blinked.

I took the steps two at a time as hot tears scorched my face. The dry grass crunched under my feet, and I stopped beside an old metal and wood outbuilding, leaning against its side.

I
’d never felt so lost, alone, and trapped all at the same time. I picked a piece of stray grass and played with it. My thoughts wandered to my parents, Qaysean and Sahara.

I
couldn’t completely blame them for what they’d done; they had acted out of desperation, out of fear. I knew from my mom’s journals she felt trapped and alone. Just as trapped and alone as I felt now.

“Timeless,”
I snorted. I could still hear Callon telling me I was different, and I still remembered the numbness I felt when I found out I’d age one year for every one hundred years. And the fact that I’d have to transform first. I snapped the grass stem in half. The transformation hadn’t been easy, either. It was misery ridden, all but unbearable, and almost ended in death.

Not to mention that when
my transformation was complete, I was to marry my betrothed, Callon. Who would have imagined it turning out like this? Who would have known Marcus would fight so hard for me, would seemingly kill Colt only to have him bring me to his doorstep. Every step I thought I’d taken myself had always been guided by someone else…

Warm fingers
brushed hair from my neck as a bulky arm snaked around my waist, pulling me closer. Colt leaned his head on mine. I closed my eyes. His touch was different now. It was as if he was afraid of me.

“Will
you tell me what happened earlier? Why you were screaming?”

I
exhaled a shaky breath, as flashbacks of the nightmare appeared. Callon, lightning, death. A shiver raked me, and I stared out into the field. I didn’t want to talk about it.

“You can’t always keep everything bottled up
. I just want to help.”

“There’s nothing
you can help me with, Colt. I made this bed, and I’ll lie in it.”

He
turned me around, lifting my chin and forcing me to look into his icy blue eyes.

“No, we’ve been through too much for you to push me away.
I won’t allow it. We’ll make it through this together, no matter the outcome.”

Tears beaded at the back of
my eyes, and I fought to control them. “But the outcome might be the death of everyone I love.”

“Then so be
it. You made a choice, and I’m standing behind it no matter what.”

“So am
I,” Daniel said as he stepped beside Colt. “We’re a family, and a family always sticks together.”

“But
I’m an outcast among my family, Daniel,” I replied.

“And
we’re outcasts with you, Cheyenne,” Colt said. “It’s not like I got the warmest reception.”

He
drew me into a hug, and gently rubbed my back.

“Callon left because of
me,” I reminded him.

“He’s hurt
. He’ll come back,” Daniel said, reminding me of his constant optimism.

“We’ll find him, Cheyenne,” Colt added. “I told you earlier, I’ll bring him back, I promise.”

Colt promised, and I could only hope he’d come back. We needed him, I needed him.

“Come on, the lights are
on. We’ve got cleaning to do before we can rest,” Colt said.

I
followed him and Daniel back to our new dwelling.

“Why are we here, Colt? We’re not that far from Marcus.”
Not that I knew for sure since I’d been sleeping.

“Maes thinks this is the best spot for the time being. We’re right under
Marcus’s nose, and we can keep track of what’s going on.”

Keep your enemy closer…
my mother’s words rang in my head. Maes was probably right, but if he wasn’t, it could be disastrous for everyone here.

We
stopped in the cobblestone entry. The musty smell of dirt hung in the air, along with hundreds of dust particles that danced before my eyes.

White sheets were draped
over what appeared to be furniture in the main room. A large fireplace that I could walk into took center stage. It was flanked by enormous sandstones and a timber hearth.

The sound of curtains opening drew
my attention. Layla and Brogan coughed as the cobwebs and dust filtered down. Rays of light streamed in.

I
glanced down a long hallway leading past a large wooden dining table and ending in a kitchen. Lilly moved in the opening, her head down and a broom in her hand.