Seventh Mark (Part 1 +2) (13 page)

However, the
girl surprised the beast and attacked first. Shocked, the Grollic
turned back into human-form and they fought. He raped her when he
gained the upper hand.

Blood gushed
from a wound, she tried to cover herself and stop the bleeding.
Devastated, she stared at the blood now on her hands. Her blood.
Her lover killed. Everything gone. Revenge flowed through her
veins. She slapped the Grollic-man, covering his mouth with her
hand. Her blood on his tongue, the man swallowed and choked. He
died as if poisoned.

With renewed
strength and anger that seemed deep in her core, she followed the
Grollic’s scent and found his pack. The girl killed them all, one
by one, pouring her blood into their mouths, or open wounds. She
experimented with each death, learning more as each Grollic
struggled against the poison.

Her life would
never be as it was. She could not return to where she had come and
everything here was shattered. Before long she realized a tiny
being grew in side her belly. She vowed vengeance on every Grollic
for atonement – even if it took an eternity to fulfill.

Finished I sat
back in the chair. How the original story got turned into a
fairytale was beyond me. Grabbing the pad of paper and a pen on the
desk, I jotted down to reread the Grollic version and compare.
Similar story, but two totally different views.

I glanced at
Grace. She sat in the red chair reading with her head down, her
hair concealing her face.

I cleared my
throat and she looked up. “That’s a pretty gruesome story. Is this
Red Riding Hood horror-story your version?”

“Our version?
Does that journal tell it that differently?”

I shrugged. For
some reason, I didn’t think she’d believe any or agree with the
other version. With both version in my head, I probably had a
better idea of what really happened than anyone and yet, I wasn’t
so sure. “It’s sort of the same but just the way they saw it.”

“I never paid
much attention to it. Michael and Caleb take it more seriously.”
Grace shrugged. “The Grollics started it all.” She started reading
again and didn’t look up.

End of that
topic, I guess.
Setting the history book aside, I picked up the
next one and flipped through. It looked like some genealogy or
family tree. I couldn’t make out many of the names except I noticed
a name similar to Caleb’s with a blank line beside it. I started a
“maybe” pile beside the Riding Hood book. The rest of the stack
didn’t appear to have anything helpful I could use. The first book
on the next pile had a fold on the corner of a page. Caleb’s and
Michael’s names were handwritten on it, marked with some kind of
seal.

“That’s our
Coven; it’s like a family mark.” Grace stood beside me, making me
jump.

I hadn’t
noticed her get up. “Why are their names here and not yours?”

“Michael’s
expected to continue Caleb’s work with the Elders. I’m expected to
be mated with someone from the Higher Coven.” She straightened,
then shrugged with one shoulder.

“I thought
–”

Grace
continued, ignoring me. “The Higher Coven is the oldest group of
descendents from the girl in the story you just read. They are the
original and most powerful. Caleb’s one of them; actually he
is
the oldest. He was one of the offspring of the Red
Maiden, her firstborn. She bore sons to create soldiers in her war
against the Grollics.”

Wide-eyed I
stared, her words completely foreign.

“There were
eight of them who survived the war that killed her. She bore ten
sons, two died in the first war. Three of the remaining eight have
been destroyed. Now only five remain and they are the Higher
Coven.” She touched my shoulder. “I know this sounds confusing but
there’s something you need to understand. Each of the five have an
understudy that’s expected to take their place should anything
happen.”

She paused,
waiting for me to pick up on something. I had no clue what. It
seemed to be on the edges of my mind but I couldn’t grasp what.

“
Michael
is Caleb’s understudy,” she said slowly.

No wonder Caleb
appeared to be royalty and didn’t want me, some nobody, around
Michael.

Grace continued
talking, “I’m expected to be mated with one of the other four
understudies. This’ll strengthen our power should anyone try to
step out on their own or go against the Higher Coven.”

“Wait a minute,
back up. How can you be expected to be mated with one of them? I’m
confused. What about the whole Siorghra-thing?”

“Caleb’s quite
sure one of the four understudies will be my match. I’ve never met
any of them, yet. Caleb wants to keep them away for now.”

“Huh? What
happens if you meet someone you want to give your Siorghra to?”
Maybe the same is planned for Michael
. A stab of jealousy
burned inside me. I reached for his Siorghra.

She laughed.
“I’ve been around this long and haven’t met my mate. It seems I’m
still waiting to find him.”

“Does he have
to be one of you? Can you pass your Siorghra to a…a living
human?”

She appeared
unphased. “Usually no, but it does happen. For me, I don’t think
Caleb would allow it. He’d eliminate the problem.”

I gulped. It
sounded like I was pretty much screwed.

“I don’t mean –
shoot, I meant for me, not you. Things are different with Michael
and you. Caleb sees this, and he knows how Michael feels. It’s
Michael’s choice. If Caleb tried to force him with a decision,
Michael would step down as his understudy.” Grace’s eyes shone with
pride. “Michael’s very special. He’s stronger than Caleb in ways.
Caleb would never go against him and try to eliminate you. The risk
would be too great.”

And being the
kid who can read Grollic can’t hurt
.
“So you’ve never fallen
in love?”

“No, but
believe me, I’ve tried.” Grace giggled.

‘Me,
either…I’ve never been in love before that is.”

“Before…
Michael?” She smiled. A big, happy, irritating one. “One of these
days you’re going to have to tell me what it’s like. You an’
Michael. It’s –”

“What time do
you expect Caleb and Michael back?” I interrupted, my face burning.
How could I explain something I wasn’t sure of myself?

“Should be
around ten or eleven, barring no complications, of course.”

“Complications?”

“Yeah, you put
five males—who each think they’re the most powerful—in one room and
things sometimes get messy. Understudies usually keep things calm,
but something always comes up and ruins the mood for everyone. I
think tonight was more of an emergency meeting, and Caleb has the
journal. Won’t be much fighting when they see it and hear Caleb’s
got someone who can read it.”

Lucky me…
always at the right place at the wrong time. “How often do they
meet?”

“Like four time
a year.”

Sounded like a
school board. “Does everyone live here, in North America?”

“No, but it
isn’t a problem.”

I nodded, but I
didn’t understand. How could I even begin to fathom it? My fingers
tapped against the wood of the desk. The rest of the books on the
desk and none of the ones I looked through on the shelves seemed to
offer anything. I had no clue what I was looking for.

The secret
seemed to lie within the Grollic book of mine.

The door to the
office swung hard against the wall, making me jump in my seat.
Caleb burst in and then stood by the doorframe with his arms
crossed tight against his chest. Waiting for something. He glared
in my direction.

Oh crap! I’m
in his seat.
Cheeks burning for the fifteenth time that day, I
leapt off and hurried to the other side of the desk. Caleb said
nothing, just stomped over and sat down. Michael rushed in, faster
than humanly possible. His arms slipped under me, and had me in his
lap as he dropped into the red seat before I even exhaled a breath.
He gave me a quick squeeze before setting his hands lightly on my
hips.

Sarah came in
and stood behind Grace. “How’d the meeting go?”

Caleb began
stacking and organizing the books around him. My little pile all
scuffled in the mix. “The Higher Coven is interested in meeting
Rouge. Seems no one is able to transcribe the book, and they are
wondering what she may be. A few left wingers think she may be the
key to winning the war.” The last line carried a note of
disgust.

Underneath me,
Michael stiffened.

Caleb glanced
up, as if sensing Michael’s reaction. “Seth, of course, is quite
excited to meet Rouge. He thinks she could be a traitor. Or have
Grollic blood.” He held his hand up to stop Grace and Sarah from
speaking. “You needn’t worry. Michael was very adamant she’s not.
He believes Rouge’s pure.” He loosened his tie. “Seth suggested we
test her with our blood. If she dies and stays dead, she’s Grollic.
If she dies and lives, she’s one of us. If nothing, she’s
human.”

“Never!”
Michael’s voice stayed controlled as he replied to Caleb, but under
me, his entire body was tense.

I didn’t know
what to think. A tiny part of me hoped they’d test, and I’d turn
out to be like them. Why else would I have this gift? The other
ninety-five percent screamed it didn’t want to freakin’ die.

Caleb
continued, “I disagreed. If Rouge lives, she may lose the ability
to translate the book. Michael also told the elders about Damon and
the misunderstanding on Halloween.”

Misunderstanding?
Wait a minute, back up. Caleb thinks I’m one
of them?
My heart raced with sudden excitement. Were they able
to figure out if someone was one of them before they died? Now I
had a million questions I wanted to ask.
Can it, Rouge. Now is
not the time.

Sarah pulled on
her sleeve. “None of the elders know of the journal? Is it safe to
assume the Grollics aren’t aware we have it?”

“Yes,” Caleb
said. “Thus we need to get all the information from it as soon as
we can.”

In comes the
Grollic whisperer.

“We still
haven’t seen a single beast since September, and even then, it
wasn’t by us.” Michael’s tone matched Caleb’s.

“How do you
know? Maybe it became distracted by
her
.” Caleb pointed at
me then stood. “Do you not think it’s too silent? Those damn beasts
don’t sit quiet.” He punched a fist into his palm. “They attack,
and they move on. Those fools do not know how to blend into the
human world without leaving a messy trail.”

“It
is
very quiet.” Michael sighed and pulled me closer. “Something is up.
They’ll make a mistake. They always do.”

I stretched
against Michael, my left shoulder blade burned and my neck was sore
for my head turning back and forth with the conversation.

Caleb checked
his phone. “Seth and Tatiana will be here in a couple of days.
They’ll do their scouting. Until then, it is business as usual. We
cannot give away anything. We must let them think we assume
nothing.”

“Who’s Seth?” I
asked.

Grace leaned
forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Seth’s one of the
Elders. Tatiana wears his Siorghra.” She straightened. “Speaking of
guests, Rouge got kicked out of her house this afternoon.”

“What?!”
Michael looked at me and then glared at his twin. “Why didn’t you
tell me?”

“Everything’s
taken care of.” Grace rolled her eyes. “I am capable of handling a
situation. I’m not useless.” Lips pursed and face tight, she pushed
her shoulders back.

I wondered if
she’d actually physically fight with her brother. Probably not a
good idea to find out. I think Caleb and Michael underestimated
Grace. I slipped off Michael’s lap and stood beside the chair. “I’m
eighteen next week –”

“So they kicked
her out,” Grace finished.

“Technically
Jim kicked me out. Sally left,” I joked, trying to make the
situation not sound so bad.

Grace smiled.
“It’s better Rouge’s here. If the Grollics find out about the book
or her ability…she’s safe with us.”

I stared at the
journal Caleb had set on top of the pile. “I don’t want another war
to start because of me or this book.”

Caleb snorted.
“This war has nothing to do with
you
.”

“Stop!” Michael
roared.

Everyone
turned, surprised. More had obviously gone on at the meeting they
weren’t saying. I’d never seen him on edge before.

“I’m
sorry—”

“Don’t you dare
apologize!” Michael’s voice softened, “You’ve done nothing wrong.
This war started long before you were alive and will continue long
after you’re gone.” His eyes narrowed when he turned to Caleb.
“Watch it.”

“Don’t you dare
threaten me!” Caleb’s voice turned to ice.

“Enough!”
Sarah, who’d been virtually quiet until this point, spoke sharply.
One word and both men set their lips into tight lines but neither
said another word. Arguing sounded like a regular thing in this
house. She pointed at both boys. “Let Rouge go over what she knows
with Michael. They need a chance to talk. We can discuss whatever
we need to in the morning. Rouge’s going to stay in the pool house,
so Seth and Tatianna are going to need the cabin by the lake. We
need to do groceries and get things organized. Tomorrow’s going to
be a busy day.” She walked over to the office door and motioned to
Caleb and Grace. “They need a bit of space.”

Michael and
Caleb or Michael and me? I made a conscious effort to close my
mouth after Caleb and Grace followed Sarah’s order.

The sudden
silence in the room made me conscious of how I probably needed a
powder room break. If I looked as tired as I suddenly felt, a break
wouldn’t be enough, I’d need a vacation. I leaned over the desk and
ran my finger over the leather of the journal.
Warm and
comforting
. I almost wanted to hug it. “After watching Caleb
and Grace follow Sarah like puppies, I have no intention of not
doing what she says.” I grinned. “Shall we get started then?”