Demon Within (21 page)

Caster and Ellanor trailed behind Jace and his new friend from Blackhill. Jace was smitten with the warrior, and Caster didn’t blame him, she’s stunning. Not to mention equally interested in weaponry, like Jace; they look like the perfect couple. They’d talked non-stop since leaving Darkmide.

‘What do you think to Jace’s new friend?’

‘She’s, different.’ Ellanor grinned.

Ellanor assumed all Kai’s warriors would be men so it was a surprise meeting Kiera. But Jace had informed her and Castor that no one could speak with Kai without Kiera and her brothers’ permission, so she was a valuable ally. She must be held in high regard, and Ellanor could only assume she could take care of herself. There was an array of weapons strapped to her body, she couldn’t imagine how many others were hidden away. At least Jace was happy, which is more than she could say for Caster.

‘How are you feeling? Have you thought about what you’re going to say to Garlan when you meet him?’ Ellanor knew Caster was worrying; he’d been waiting a long time to meet him.

‘I’m okay.’

‘Liar.’

‘You’re right. I’m worried, and I’ve got no idea what I’m going to say.’

Caster felt a knot in his stomach as they rode through the main gate and into the town of Blackhill. It was busy and thriving; he’d not expected everything to be as organized. The town was run by an ex-slave and a band of warriors who’d spent the last four years making up for lost time; enjoying the finer things of life and not working form the dawn until dusk, they had a lot of living to catch up on. Caster had expected chaos, he couldn’t imagine they’d know anything about running a town, but he was proven wrong.

The festivities for the wedding were almost finished. Riding through the main road, led by Kiera, there were garlands and flowers hung everywhere, and a large building directly in front of the courtyard was also extensively decorated.

‘I’m guessing this is Kai’s place?’ Caster spoke quietly. ‘He has taste, I’ll give him that.’

If Caster wanted to change his mind it was now or never. Taking in a deep breath he watched Jace and Kiera dismount then turned to Ellanor.

‘We’re doing this then?’

Ellanor squeezed his hand tightly. ‘It’s going to be fine, I’m sure of it. Come on.’

Jace stood alongside his parents and waited for instructions from Kiera. She turned to walk away shouting, ‘This way, come on,’ over her shoulder.

‘This is it my love.’ Taking Ellanor’s hand, Caster followed Kiera. He grabbed Jace by the arm and pulled him along. ‘Come on son, let’s get this over with.’

***

Teila waited by the reception room and scowled when Sabe approached her alone. She didn’t like to be kept waiting and they were running late.

‘Where’s Kai? We need to leave now. The others are waiting.’

‘My apologies, he’ll be here shortly, he’s just sorting out a small issue.’ Sabe bowed his head. ‘Can I get you some wine or something to eat?’

‘No thank you.’

Teila shoved her hands up wide sleeves; Nissa and Eloise were already in the room and both feeling uncomfortable under Teila’s frowning gaze. They were relieved when Kiera joined them, accompanied by two men and a woman. Narrowing his eyes Sabe looked over the young man behind her.

‘This… is Caster of Stonegarth.’ Kiera grinned when Sabe’s eyes widened at her introduction of her new friends.

‘Is it really?’

Sabe moved towards Caster and extended his hand to welcome him, but Caster didn’t even look at him. Distracted by Eloise, Caster was oblivious to anyone else in the room.

‘Um, Caster? I’m Sabe, Kiera’s brother.’

‘What? Oh forgive me.’ Caster finally took Sabe’s hand and shook it briefly but he couldn’t take his eyes away from Eloise. Everyone noticed his obsession with her; including Eloise and she looked around the room nervously.

‘Forgive me.’ Caster extended his hand to Eloise. ‘You are as beautiful as your mother.’

‘You… you knew my mother?’

‘I did.’ Caster smiled and studied Eloise in closer detail. She was the image of her mother, and just as enchanting as Charlain had been. ‘It was a long time ago.’

Sabe raised his brow to Kiera. ‘Is that his wife?’ Pointing to Ellanor and whispering.

‘Yes, and their son, Jace.’ Kiera whispered back.

‘So, this is the man from the Highlands that the King was so afraid of?’

Kiera nodded. It was a little embarrassing, seeing Caster so taken with Eloise, Sabe was thankful Kai wasn’t here to witness it.

Eloise felt uncomfortable as Caster stared at her, but intrigued too. ‘How did you know my mother?’

‘We were betrothed, when I was young.’

The only people that didn’t gasp at hearing his words were Teila and Caster’s family. Sabe leaned towards his sister. ‘Where’s Garlan?’

‘He’s gone hunting with Leon. Kai thought they’d be bored while you and the others were going to the ceremony, so he told Brion to take them to hunt deer.’ Her voice was kept low but she didn’t look at him because she didn’t want to miss any exchange between Eloise and Caster.

‘I can’t wait for them to return.’ Sabe grinned before wincing hard when Kiera dug him in the ribs to silence him.

Jace moved closer to his mother and taking her hand, gave it a squeeze. Pleased his father had told him about his past in Brightstone before they’d set off, he’d been surprised to learn his mother already knew.

It took a moment for Eloise to register what Caster had said, she frowned. ‘I’m confused.’

Caster lowered his head and realized this must be quite a shock to hear. But he was curious.

‘Forgive me Princess, but, could I ask if you were gifted with the same powers as your mother?’

Teila standing by the door suddenly took an interest in the conversation and edged towards the table.

Nodding and looking to Caster, Eloise was happy to confirm his query. ‘Yes, I have.’

‘That is truly amazing; I know she’d be so happy to hear that. You can make the rain and snow, fire and everything?’

‘Yes, all of that.’

It brought happy memories to Caster. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath as he remembered the first time he’d met Charlain.

‘Where was your mother from?’ Teila pushed forward and addressed Eloise with interest.

‘I’m not sure, I think Brightstone? I’m sorry I don’t know many details about my mother.’

‘No, she was from Stormbroke, her family came from that town.’ Caster quickly corrected, then smiled.

Teila’s brows rose. ‘And you are able to control the elements?’

‘Yes, always.’ Staring up to Teila with wonder, ‘You’ve heard of this before?’

Smirking, she nodded arrogantly. ‘Do you want me to tell you where your gift came from?’

‘Yes! Tell me!’

‘Your powers were handed down to you, from your mother, and her mother and so on, going back many generations; a gift from the seraphim. The first woman was named Ciara and the angel who loved her was Anael. It is forbidden for an angel to join with a woman but wanting to show his love, he gave her his control over the elements and promised it would be pass to every daughter born from her line.’

Sabe whispered to Kiera. ‘I can’t wait for Kai to hear this.’

‘Can’t wait for me to hear what?’

Sabe jumped slightly when Kai appeared behind him and Kiera from the hallway, Kai quickly scanned the room at the new guests. A sharp gasp directed his gaze onto Ellanor, who stared at Kai with her hands covering her mouth.

Caster rushed to his wife’s side. ‘What’s wrong?’

Sabe slapped Kai on his chest in ill humor.

‘Aw he’s not that ugly.’ He chuckled, but nobody else laughed, or even lifted a smile.

‘Mother, sit down.’ Jace quickly pulled a chair from the table and aided his mother along with Caster to help her sit. She was rigid and her face was frozen in shock. They didn’t understand why seeing Kai would cause this reaction.

Kai frowned and looked to Sabe, ‘Who are these people?’

‘Oh, they’re Kiera’s new friends, may I present, Caster of Stonegarth, from the Highlands.’ Turning back to face Kai with raised brows and a wide grin, he waited for him to realize who he was.

He looked at the poor woman sat down with her son by her side, ‘This is your family?’

Caster nodded. ‘My son Jace and my wife, Ellanor.’

Ellanor’s shocked expression as she continued to stare at Kai was making him feel uncomfortable. Kai’s reputation was widespread, and from the look of the woman’s face, Kai assumed she’d heard about some of his less attractive qualities.

‘You have no need to fear me.’

‘I don’t.’

Rising from the chair, Ellanor moved closer to Kai. Caster and Jace froze as their mother reached her hand to touch Kai’s hair, seemingly in a trance; she gently brushed her fingertips through gold and blond strands.

He quickly grabbed her hand to stop her. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’ve seen hair like this before, on your father.’

Kai sneered and pushed Ellanor’s hand away. ‘What do you know of my father?’

‘You’re my son.’ Tears fell as she remembered her lover.

‘Ellanor!’ Caster charged forward and pulled her away in disbelief. ‘What has possessed you?’

‘Let me go Caster! I’d know my son anywhere.’

‘You’re baby died, remember?’

Ellanor shook her head. ‘I don’t know that, it was my father who told me he’d died.’

Tears flowed down her cheeks as she looked into Casters eyes. ‘I know this is my son, he’s just like his father, beautiful.’

Thinking the woman mad, Kai turned his back and started to leave, ‘Let’s go, we have a ceremony waiting.’

‘You have three birth marks below your navel!’ Ellanor’s voice brought him to a sudden halt.

Eloise watched Kai’s face chance from anger to confusion. The room was deathly quiet. Seeing Kai’s furrowed brows, she wondered if there was truth in the woman’s words.

Spinning on his heels, Kai’s voice echoed around the room. ‘The image of my mother’s face as she sold me to the slaver is forever in here!’ Pointing to his head, he glared at the woman. ‘YOU! Are not my mother!’

‘I was told you’d died! I know you’re my son, you have these marks?’

‘It doesn’t matter if I have them or not!’

Kai charged towards her, Caster and Jace quickly moved to stand in front, blocking Kai.

She grasped at the pendant around her neck. ‘I have this.’ With shaky hands she removed the pendant from around her neck and held it out. ‘This is from your father, a gift for protection.’

Teila marched towards Ellanor, and barging between Kai and Caster, she snatched the amulet from her hand ‘Who gave you this?’ she snapped.

‘My lover, after he was-’

‘Your lover was seraph?’ Teila’s eyes narrowed.

Nodding and feeling embarrassed as Caster stared at her, Ellanor continued. ‘He told me we needed to be careful, and that if he were caught, he’d be punished. He was, I saw him burn in a dream.’

Sabe rolled his eyes and shook his head. ‘This is ridiculous! You woman, are mad!’

Jace stepped towards Sabe and was about to draw his sword but Ellanor grabbed his arm.

‘Stop Jace! I know you all think me mad, but I speak the truth.’ Her soft gaze fell to Kai. ‘You are the image of your father, his name was Adram, and he was a beautiful angel.’

‘Adram is no more!’ Teila blurted in a bitter tone. ‘And you are to blame for his demise when you lured him to your bed! This amulet is not his gift, it’s from Anael.’

Eloise quickly asked. ‘I thought you said he was the angel that gave the gift of summoning the elements?’

Teila glared. ‘I did. Anael has dominion over the air, thereby influencing love and passion. He’s also a protector of life and health.’

‘So why would he give this to me?’ Ellanor snatched the pendant from Teila and held it to her chest.

‘I cannot presume to know the future, but for whatever reason, he must have known one day it would be used, but if anyone should wear that.’ Teila’s eyes indicated towards the amulet, ‘it should be Eloise.’

Ellanor tightened her hold on the pendant, she’d believed it had been a gift from her lover all these years and wasn’t ready to part with it. Seeing Kai, and knowing he was their son without any question of a doubt, she wondered if the woman knew what happened to Adram.

‘You seem to be knowledgeable in all things, what happened to Adram?’

‘He is fallen, burning for all eternity for his sin. He is now Adramelech, and for his vanity he was burned, his beauty gone forever. If Kai is your son, he would be possessed by a demon, not an angel.’

Eloise clasped her hand over her mouth to stop any noise escaping, both Kai and Sabe turned to her anyway and glared.

Ellanor stepped back and fell into the chair behind her, clutching her pendant to her chest. Instantly by her side, Caster comforted her while Jace still guarded his mother, standing fast with his hand on the hilt of his sword. The silence was broken when Teila addressed Kai.