Betrayal 2012 (14 page)

Malcolm assured me that he did not mind playing practice doll.  He was appalled at what Lucian was doing with his kind and if his help would stop him, then he was willing to do it.  I had to admire his outlook.  It was mature and insightful, two qualities I needed to vastly improve upon.

My brain was dead by the afternoon, so Jeremiah allowed me to quit early.  I was so tired that all I really wanted to do was crawl into bed, but when Malcolm followed me into the kitchen, I knew that there was something he needed to say.

“I heard about your selkie,” he said by way of introduction to the conversation.  Not exactly what I was expecting.

“About what?”

“That you saved him but your power scared him and he left you.”  Well, that was blunt.  He must have read the reaction on my face.  “I’m sorry.  I don’t mean to be insensitive.”  His large hand ran over his bald head and he sighed.  “I think that I just wanted to let you know that you guys can get past this.”

“How do you know?”  Malcolm had never met Brendan and he certainly didn’t have any insight to our relationship.

“Because you’re not like the others.  You may have this gift, or curse,” he said with a wry smirk, “but you are not evil.”

“Gee, thanks.”

He smiled wider and I noticed two identical dimples in his cheeks.  “I’m not real good with words.”  Pausing for a moment, he collected himself.  “I think what I’m trying to say is that he would be lucky to have you.”

“That’s probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”  I swear I saw his dark skin blush.

“You mean well and you’re obviously in love with him.  If he is smart, he’ll realize that.”  This time I couldn’t hide my smile.

“He said that he’s coming back to me.”

“Really?  That’s great.”

“Yeah,” I sighed.  It was great.  I just wondered why I was feeling so attracted to Graham when I should only be thinking about Brendan.  But what if he changed his mind again?  What if he couldn’t resist the call?  I suddenly had a thought.  “You haven’t felt the call yet?”

All selkies were required to breed with humans in order to continue their line.  Apparently the urge to mate just kicks in one day and then nothing else in the world matters.  Brendan said that he wasn’t going to do that to me, but how did he really know if he could resist.  Malcolm was staring at a spot on the wall beyond my shoulder.  “No, not yet.”

“But you will, right?  They all do.”  He nodded solemnly.  “Is it possible to resist?”

“I’ve never known anyone who could.”  Seeing that realization pass over my face he continued.  “But I also haven’t known very many selkies who had promised their love so strongly to someone else before feeling the call.  Perhaps it will be different for you.”

I sighed again.  “Perhaps.”  Not only was I tired, but now I felt completely dejected after having this conversation.  I’m sure that wasn’t Malcolm’s intent, but the thought of losing Brendan again when I didn’t even really have him back for sure, just crushed me.

Excusing myself from the kitchen and our intense discussion, I walked upstairs to my room and curled up on the bed.  I needed something else to think about.  Grabbing my phone, I checked in with my sister, Palmer, and then finally with Kain.  Everything was running smoothly without my presence and that made me feel even worse.  No one needed me.  Although once I stopped feeling sorry for myself, I realized that they all did need me.  That was why I was here.  Lucian was going to continue killing us until someone took care of him.  And the only way to him was through his army of zombies.  I wasn’t narcissistic enough to think that I was going to have to do this on my own, but I knew that I would play an important role in some form or fashion.

Feeling a little bit better, I spent the rest of the day in the ocean swimming around leisurely to let my mind and body relax.  Two of Jeremiah’s protectors accompanied me, but they stayed far enough away that I had at least some semblance of privacy.  And if I had really thought things through, I would have realized that this was probably going to be the last time that I would have some peace for quite for a while.  Once my training was over, I would have to jump back into my leadership role and take us into a war.

Perhaps coming to Jeremiah’s was less like a chore and more like the calm before the storm.

Ten

The next two days were pure torture.  Not only did Jeremiah push me until my brain couldn’t control a flea, but Graham did not return when he was supposed to.  I didn’t ask why.  Not because I wasn’t curious, but because I could tell that Jeremiah was waiting for me to ask.  He’d sensed some of the tension between the two of us and I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of butting into my love life.

Although, I will give credit where credit is due.  Jeremiah Williams was a master at controlling his powers.  The way that he could pull on minds and tweak his commands to only a few while controlling the many was beyond impressive.  His simple tricks and visualization techniques enabled me to not only take control from Jeremiah, but also hold that compulsion while he fought against me.  When I earned my first smile from him, I knew that I was making an impression.  I was proud.  Not that I wanted Jeremiah to take credit for all of it, but he’d definitely helped.

My phone was ringing when I entered my room just before sunset on the third night of my stay.  With the way I was progressing, Jeremiah thought that I would be able to leave by the end of the week.  I felt a small sense of comradely with the man who had repulsed me just seventy-two hours ago.  He was an arrogant and obsessive individual, but he taught me how to be a better leader and there would always be a part of me that was grateful.  Even if it was buried very deep inside.

Almost missing the final ring, I breathed into the phone.  “Hello?”

“Eviana?  Oh good, I’m glad I caught you.”  It was Kain and he sounded a little panicked.  “Are you still at Jeremiah’s?”

“Yes, where else would I be?”

“Good, that’s good.”  Something was going on with him.

“Kain, what’s happened?”  My stomach twisted in fear at the thought of another one of us being killed or shot or hurt.  I didn’t think that I could handle it.

“There’s been another attack.”

“What?  Where?” 

“It was a cruise ship off the coast.  Actually it wasn’t too far away from your area.  I think it was heading to Bermuda.  Apparently a rogue wave capsized the ship and nearly everyone on board drowned.”  That was horrible, but how was this linked to Lucian?  I asked Kain as much.  “He called the Council after it happened, claiming responsibility and warning that this was only the beginning.  He’s been making demands and one of them includes speaking with you.”

“Why me?”  Surely I wasn’t that important.

“He’s not being clear.  He just keeps demanding a face to face sit down with you and the Council.”

I swallowed hard.  “Well are they going to give him that?”

“They don’t want to negotiate.”  As much as that worried me, I tended to agree with their sentiments.  No one should give Lucian what he wanted.  It would only make him feel that much more powerful.

“So what do we do?”

“You need to come home and then we’ll work with Andre and Adele and try to figure something out.  Actually, is Graham still there with you?”

“He’s supposed to be,” I grumbled, but Kain didn’t notice my sarcasm.

“Good.  Well, maybe you can also talk to him and get a better idea about how the Council usually handles situations like this.” 

I had a feeling they haven’t had to deal with someone like Lucian in their lifetime.  But I agreed to try.  We said goodbye with a promise that I would check in with him in the morning and hopefully be on a flight by early afternoon.

Dinner was a little later this evening and when I walked into the dining room, my heart fluttered at the sight of Graham sitting down next to Jeremiah and sipping on his wine.  He caught my eye and winked, forcing me to look away so that no one would see me blush.  I sat in my usual seat and begin picking at the cheese.  I’d been working so hard the past few days that my appetite was ferocious. 

Jeremiah was busy discussing the recent attack with Graham.  His arms were flailing around dramatically like he was actually upset by this. 

“That is not the way to get things done,” he was saying.  “A cruise line?  How idiotic.  What could he possibly gain by attacking a ship full of humans?”

Graham cleared his throat.  “It wasn’t just humans.”  Both Jeremiah and I stopped moving.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“There was a clan gathering on board.  I think it was a family reunion or something.”  My heart plummeted.

“Do you know which clan?” A sinking feeling was growing in the pit of my stomach.  Lucian and his cronies had murdered an entire mermaid family.

“It was the Shannons,” Graham replied solemnly and I sucked in a breath.

The Shannons.  Lily Shannon.  I hadn’t known her long, but we met at Cotillion and she’d attended Kain’s inauguration.  She was a fun girl who lived life to its fullest.  And now she’d become another one of Lucian’s victims.  I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

Jeremiah was stunned by this information as well.  “He has gone too far.”  Shaking his head, he took a long drink of wine and seemed to be lost in deep thought.

“Why couldn’t they get away?” I asked, wondering what would have had to happen in order for an entire clan of mermaids to drown.  We didn’t breath underwater, so drowning was always possible, but they should have been able to save themselves.

“We don’t have all the details yet,” Graham began.  “I would guess that they were trapped somehow.  Either in their rooms or underwater.”

“What could possibly be capable of trapping them?”  Graham and Jeremiah exchanged a look but before they spoke, I’d answered my own question.  “The water sprites.”

Graham nodded.  “That is one possibility.”

“What else could there be?”

It was Jeremiah who answered this time.  “Someone with the ability to control water.”  I instantly looked at Graham.  He was probably the most powerful water user I knew.  His disappearance the last few days was perfectly timed with the attack, but he would never do something like this.  It was too malicious and uncharacteristic of the guy I thought I knew.

“He must have somebody on his payroll now,” Graham continued.  “I will check with Adele and see who the possible suspects are.”

“You guys keep a record of things like that?”

“Of course.”

“Oh.”  I guess that made sense.  I mean the Council was our governing body.  Why wouldn’t they keep records of those who had an insane amount of power ready to be wielded?

Our dinner was served but I’d completely lost my appetite.  Not wanting to be rude, I picked at my food until Graham and Jeremiah finished.  I wanted to excuse myself right away; however there was one more topic to discuss.

“I need to go home tomorrow.  Kain, Andre, and I need to work with the Council to decide whether or not to speak with Lucian.”

“They won’t negotiate with him,” Graham said stiffly.

“Well, we just might have to change the rules.  I am tired of people senselessly dying because of Lucian’s delusional ideas.”  As I said those words, I realized that I really believed them.

Jeremiah smiled.  “And there she is.”  I made a face at him.  “There is the leader we’ve been waiting to see.”