The Lost Chalice (The Relic Seekers Book 3) (28 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY

K
ENDALL
’
S HANDS TINGLED
as she held the chalice. Everyone gathered around her, including the rogues, and stared in awe at the simple cup. She felt the life of the man who had made it, a poor carpenter who’d never realized his creation would become a legend, the most sought-after object in the world, the cup used by Christ himself at the Last Supper. Its existence would stir imaginations and greed, and bring both death and healing. There were cracks in the cup from use and dark stains that Kendall knew were blood. She’d watched as the cup was filled. Swallowing, she handed it to Nathan. He held it for several moments, his throat working, his eyes glistening. And then Jake took a turn, his strong hands trembling as he looked inside. His misty eyes met Kendall’s. They handed it around the circle, one person at a time, allowing each to hold the cup that Christ himself had held.

“I don’t know how it could have gotten into my shop,” Aunt Edna said, frowning at it. “I do remember that cup now, though. You had it with you. I thought your father had given it to you for your birthday. Such a terrible gift for a little girl. Your father was a good man, but he was always thinking about relics, so I switched it for a ring. That little silver one with a daisy. Oh my. I had no idea this was the Holy Grail. No wonder that man was trying to steal it. Rotten bastard. He took up two of my best rooms pretending to be two different people so he could snoop around.” Aunt Edna’s eyes brightened. “On the other hand, Doris Clune can’t say she had the Holy Grail at her bed-and-breakfast.”

Kendall shot Nathan and Jake an alarmed glance. “Aunt Edna, you can’t mention this. Not a word. This is life and death.” Kendall wondered if Raphael could temporarily erase someone’s memory. The rogues knew about the discovery, which made Kendall nervous, since they were troublemakers. But she suspected they wouldn’t be awake long enough to tell anyone about the Holy Grail.

Aunt Edna patted Kendall’s arm. “I won’t dear. But what will you do with it?”

“We’ll hide it,” Kendall said.

“What should I do with her when she wakes up?” Aunt Edna asked, looking at Brandi.

“Keep her here until we have time to get back to the castle,” Nathan said. “That’ll give us time to hide the chalice.”

“You mean for you to hide it,” Jake said, a sarcastic scowl forming on his face.

“I’ll hide it,” Raphael said. He took the chalice from Kendall and stared at it, his eyes darkening with memories. Kendall felt his grief, still raw after two thousand years, and knew that even now he agonized over his role in the crucifixion.

After they gathered up the chalice, which they’d hidden in a plain cardboard box, they said their good-byes to Aunt Edna and left Brandi asleep on the sofa. They had decided to travel to the airport together, where a jet would be waiting. Nathan didn’t want the chalice out of his sight. He was taking his role as a guardian seriously, although technically, he wasn’t one yet. Kendall was too, even more so since she was the only keeper now that Marco was dead. She couldn’t bring herself to be away from the chalice. Raphael would have taken the chalice and transported himself back to the castle, but he wasn’t well enough, so Nathan exchanged his rental for a large SUV, and they all loaded up as Aunt Edna waved, yelling out something about a wedding.

Nathan drove. Raphael sat in the front passenger seat, his eyes closed. Kendall wasn’t sure if he was resting or sleeping. He must be grieving for Marco. The two of them had been part of this brotherhood for so many centuries. Kendall sat next to Jake and Fergus, while the rogues were in the third-row seats. The trip was both hellish and hilarious. Fergus kept glancing back as if one of the rogues might stick a dagger in his back through the seat.

“You do realize Aunt Edna almost sold the Holy Grail for three dollars,” Nathan said.

“You’re the one who sent it there,” Jake said.

“I had no idea what it was,” Nathan said. “I just wanted to give Kendall something nice.” He gave her a shuttered glance. “There was something about it that drew me, but I thought it was just another old cup. He had dozens.”

“What are we going to do with them?” Jake whispered, motioning with his head toward the rogues. Even though they were dressed in modern clothing, borrowed from Nathan and Jake, they didn’t appear to belong in this time.

“You’re not planning to do anything with us,” the blond rogue said. “We’ll make our own decisions.”

The other one nodded in agreement.

When Fergus seemed sure they weren’t going to stab or mutilate him—basically, when they’d fallen asleep and were snoring—he grew quiet. Kendall felt the sadness surrounding him.

“Fergus, are you OK?” she asked.

“I was just thinking about Marco. I’m going to miss him.”

“Me too,” Kendall said. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

“If he was the one who hired you to take care of me, you must have seen him over the years,” Nathan said.

“No. Only when he hired me. Everything else was handled anonymously. Money, reports.”

“Reports?” Nathan asked. “What reports?”

“I sent him reports on you. He wanted to know how you were progressing.”

“You didn’t tell me that.”

“I couldn’t then. You had to be protected. Though now I don’t believe your father was in the witness protection program as I was told. His lie was for your own good. He cared for you very much and he needed me to make sure you were safe.”

“And you did,” Kendall said. “I hope Nathan realizes that you’ve dedicated your life to protecting him.”

Fergus blinked rapidly and sniffed. “Thank you, Kendall.”

He didn’t call her Miss Kendall now. They had been through too many dangerous adventures for any kind of formality.

“I do realize,” Nathan said. “Thank you, Fergus.”

More sniffles. “You’re quite welcome. You should be grateful to Marco. He’s the one who made sure you lived.”

“And I guess Marco didn’t try to protect Kendall the same way because he believed Adam was the one who’d taken the vow, when it was really the other way around.”

“Yes, I believe so,” Fergus said. “The Protettori may have known that she was there, but Nathan—Adam—took the blame and said he took the vow, so the brotherhood wouldn’t have been as upset with her.”

“Seems odd,” Jake said. “Marco went to such lengths to protect Adam. I’m surprised he didn’t do something to make sure Kendall was protected.”

“What do you mean?” Kendall asked.

“I wonder if Marco didn’t have another reason for his actions.”

“I guess we’ll never know now,” Nathan said.

“Are you OK?” Kendall asked Jake after everyone had drifted into silence.

“You mean how does it make me feel to know my father is a monster? That he killed my mother, even if indirectly?” Jake’s mouth twisted. “Peachy.”

Kendall slipped her hand into his. “You’re not responsible for his actions, any more than he’s responsible for yours. We can’t help who our parents are.”

They drove to the airport and boarded the waiting jet. No flight attendants were allowed on board since Nathan couldn’t trust anyone with their secrets.

The rogues had to be persuaded, with a few threats from Raphael, to climb aboard the
bird from hell
. Later, the blond got airsick and vomited all over the floor. Fergus swore he was not cleaning it up, but ended up doing it anyway because he said the rogue wasn’t doing it right.

“Couldn’t you have made him fall asleep?” Nathan grumbled to Raphael.

“No,” Raphael hissed. “I keep trying, and it doesn’t work.”

The bald rogue stayed glued to the window, exclaiming at the impossible sights until he finally fell asleep without Raphael’s help.

“He travels through portals, yet he’s amazed at an airplane,” Jake said.

It was a long journey back to the castle. The jet landed on the private airstrip just as darkness was falling. The place was hardly recognizable from the first time they’d seen it. Raphael and Marco had lived here in solitude, protecting the Protettori’s relics and treasures. Now the place was crawling with guards. A necessity, Kendall thought, but it must be troubling to Raphael. And now he was alone.

“It won’t be the same without Marco,” Kendall said. She hadn’t known him that long, but she had grown terribly fond of the old man. “He shouldn’t have gone after the Reaper without us.”

Jake mourned the old keeper too. He may have been a little loony, but he had been a good man. “I don’t know why he felt so responsible for the problems the Reaper has caused.”

Nathan rubbed his arm where the tattoo was hidden. “He didn’t tell the other members of the brotherhood about Kendall and me taking the vow, but I don’t see why that would make him feel so guilty that he would take on the Reaper himself.”

“I think Marco had a lot of secrets,” Kendall said. “Some we’ll probably never understand.”

“He was a very private man,” Raphael said.

Hank and two other guards met them. Hank gave Nathan an update on security at the castle and Nathan’s mansion. The other rogues had been rounded up and sedated, and were being held in a secure room. One without a bolt-hole.

“We need to prepare for a funeral,” Nathan told Hank.

“Where will we bury him?” Kendall asked.

“The catacombs, I suppose,” Nathan said. “Is that agreeable with you?” He glanced at Kendall and Raphael.

Kendall nodded. “He needs a place of honor.”

“No one wants to know what I think? Is this a Protettori thing?” Jake asked.

Nathan rolled his eyes. “What do you think, Jake?”

Hank interrupted before Jake could answer. “Bury whom?”

“Marco. The Reaper killed him in Prague. Didn’t you tell them?” he asked Raphael.

“I told no one,” Raphael said. “I didn’t want you to find out and be distracted by grief.”

“I don’t understand,” Hank said. “Marco is here. I saw him not five minutes ago headed for the chapel.”

Kendall gasped. “The Reaper!”

Raphael and Nathan’s eyes had already lit. “He must be able to get past the statues if he’s disguised as someone else,” Nathan said.

“Get Kendall out of here,” Jake ordered. “Nathan, take her.”

“No, I’ll go with you. You can’t handle him alone. Hank, get her inside the castle and hide her. Call for backup.” Nathan and Jake took off running. Raphael was already out of sight.

Kendall waited a second, and then followed.

“Come back,” Hank called. “You have to stay with me.”

“I’m not letting them face the Reaper alone. We have to help them.”

“They’ll kill me,” Hank said, running after her. “Dammit. You are stubborn.” He called for the other guards to follow. They all hurried past the garden wall that housed the maze. Ahead of them, Kendall saw a light coming from the chapel. She caught up with them outside the old church.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Jake asked when he saw her.

“I’m not leaving you to face him alone.”

“Stay behind me,” Nathan said, frowning at her.

“He may be here for the treasure,” Jake said. “Raphael said he didn’t really move it.”

When they caught up to the guardian, he was staring at the Reaper, who was still disguised as Marco.

“Bloody hell!” Nathan said. “Why isn’t he doing something? Kendall, get out of here.”

Raphael and the Reaper turned as the trio approached. Raphael wore a stunned expression, but the Reaper just smiled. “Ah, you’ve returned. I must say I’m very glad to see you.”

Nathan and Jake came together, forming a wall between Marco and Kendall. “What are you doing here?” Jake asked.

“I came to visit the stones,” Marco said. “We need to complete the vow soon. Not now, of course, but perhaps tomorrow.”

Kendall’s senses were sparking like fireworks. She saw Marco as a child, as a young man, a father—that was a shock—and as an old man. She took a step closer. “Marco?”

“What are you doing?” Jake yelled, grabbing her arm. “He’s not Marco.”

Raphael reached out and touched his wrist to Marco’s. “He is. But how? I saw you dead.”

Marco smiled. “I still have a few tricks up my old sleeve. Some that even you don’t know about.”

“You’re not dead.” Kendall’s eyes grew damp.

“Let me guess,” Nathan said. “You drank the fountain water from the Holy Grail and you’re eternal.”

“No,” Raphael said. “He’s just very powerful. I assume you’ve all heard of Merlin.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I
TOLD YOU
,” Jake said, after they had dismissed the guards. He, Kendall, Nathan, Raphael, and Marco were still in the chapel. “I knew he was Merlin.”

“That’s how he got past the statues without a cross,” Kendall said. “Remember, the Reaper took Marco and Brandi to the temple together? I didn’t realize it until later, but he didn’t have a cross.”

“He didn’t need one,” Jake said. “He’s Merlin.”

“So he’s not a reincarnation like us?” Nathan asked Raphael. He and Kendall had been firing questions at Marco. Jake was curious, but he was more worried about the consequences of all this.

“No, he’s the original,” Raphael said.

“Like you,” Jake said, looking at the engraved standing stones in front of the chapel. This was where it had all started, where Kendall and Nathan had taken the vow. They were Protettori now, or would be officially after they finished the vow in the ceremony tomorrow. The gnawing worry that Jake had been facing for days was turning into a monster. Kendall and Nathan were growing closer. The bond they already had from childhood and from their past lives as Arthur and Guinevere—if you believed Raphael—would only grow stronger now that they were part of a secret brotherhood whose members lived for centuries, and even longer.

Jake knew Kendall cared for him, and he hoped that she more than cared, but what would happen to them? Even if Kendall chose to spend her life with him, eventually he would die. She would keep on living. So would Nathan. No doubt Nathan would eventually end up with her. Jake was torn with relief and jealousy. He knew Nathan loved Kendall, and she would need someone to watch over her if she lived for centuries . . . or longer.

But he wanted it to be him.

Was it better for him to get out now and leave her to Nathan? She loved Nathan too, or some part of her did, and Nathan would look after her in the same way Jake would.

Jake became aware of Marco speaking in low tones. “I didn’t realize Gregor was one of the statues or I would never have awakened them. I shouldn’t have anyway, but I was desperate to save you.”

“Gregor must be powerful if he can kidnap the Reaper,” Kendall said. “And the Reaper’s gifts didn’t affect him.”

“All the brotherhood were powerful to some degree, but Gregor was special. Very intelligent, strong, and determined. If only I had known Raphael put those vagabonds to rest. I thought they had died.”

“I apologize for not telling you,” Raphael said. “I didn’t know what else to do with them. I couldn’t kill them, and I didn’t think you would. I certainly didn’t expect you to try to wake them.”

Marco stroked his beard, thinking, his blue eyes more alert than Jake had seen before. “I hope Gregor is weakened since he just emerged from his resting state.”

Nathan frowned. “He didn’t say what he wanted. I assume it was the chalice.”

“Perhaps,” Raphael said.

Marco froze, hand still clutching his beard. “You don’t think . . .”

“I’m afraid so,” Raphael said.

“Afraid what?” Jake asked. “What aren’t you telling us now?”

“The fourth relic,” Marco said. “Gregor protected the fourth relic for many years.”

Kendall’s eyes flashed. “What’s the fourth relic?”

“The Tree of Knowledge,” Nathan said.

Marco frowned. “How did you know?”

“Raphael told us. He doesn’t want us to destroy the Reaper until Raphael finds out where the tree is.”

“The Reaper has it?” Kendall asked.

“At one time, he did,” Raphael said. “I believe Gregor thinks he still does. They were always rivals, each trying to find the rarest relics first. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of them.”

“You don’t think they would work together?” Kendall asked.

“Let’s pray not,” Marco said. “If either of them were to get the other three relics, this final piece would be devastating in their hands.”

“So we’ve got two supervillains looking for the relics now, not just my evil father?” Jake said.

Marco looked so pale Jake thought he might pass out. “Your father?”

“Would you believe the Reaper is my father?” Jake gave a dry laugh. “I’ve remembered my past.”

“But how can that be?” Marco asked.

“He claims he loved my mother, but she was frightened of him. She took me and ran away. I think she found out what he was. I was there when she died. I was just a little kid, terrified, so I blocked most of the memory. I still don’t remember it all.”

“Welcome to the club,” Nathan said.

Marco seemed shaken. “Are you certain?”

“He must be,” Nathan said. “Jake didn’t take the Protettori vow, but he’s discovered a wicked gift. He can paralyze people and stop objects somewhat like the Reaper can. That should be proof.”

“The gift of telekinesis. Like Luke had.” Marco looked troubled. “So he killed your mother?”

“He says he didn’t, not himself, that it was some accident. He feels guilty over it.” Which troubled Jake. It didn’t fit the picture he’d built of the Reaper.

“This is a shocking turn,” Marco said. “I would like to hear more about it later, but I’m afraid I need to rest.” As he left, he stopped and took Jake’s hands in his wrinkled ones. “I’m so sorry for your trouble, but you aren’t responsible for your father’s actions.” He held on to Jake’s hand for a moment longer. “We should all get some sleep. It’s getting late, and we’ve had quite an adventure. Tomorrow at sunrise we will complete the vow. You are embarking on a long and dangerous journey.”

“Will we be”—Kendall swallowed—“like you and Raphael?”

“She means how long will they live?” Jake blurted out.

“A lifespan varies, even in the Protettori,” Marco said. “It depends on many things. Danger, battles, how much water you drink, your mental and physical condition, and some of it is controlled by genetics.” He paused, and his eyes swept over Jake. “But it could be assumed that you will live a very long time. I will say good night.” Marco patted Jake’s hand again, and then walked away.

Kendall watched Jake, her green eyes somber. He was certain she was thinking the same disturbing thoughts.

“Would you like to see where I moved the treasure?” Raphael’s question was directed at Jake.

He felt like a kid who’d been offered a consolation ice cream cone because he hadn’t won the prize. Raphael used his key and opened the stone doorway in the floor. They followed him down the steps. At the bottom, he pushed the switch, and the torches flared to life, lighting the empty room.

“Stand back.” Raphael put his key into an opening in the floor, one Jake hadn’t noticed. He turned it and the room began to move. It rotated counterclockwise until another room appeared. It looked the same, except it was filled with treasure.

“The treasure was here all the time,” Jake said.

“It never left,” Raphael said. “It was just hidden.”

“A revolving room,” Nathan said. “That’s bloody brilliant.”

When they had rotated the room back so that it appeared empty again, they filed up the steps and quietly left the chapel. Nathan and Kendall were standing near each other, talking. Jake stopped at the door and looked back at the stones, his thoughts in turmoil. They walked back to the castle in silence, each contemplating what tomorrow would mean. When they reached Nathan and Jake’s door, the three of them stopped. Kendall gave Jake an awkward glance. Jake even glimpsed a hint of pity in Nathan’s eyes. Nathan understood what this meant too.

Jake might have her now, but Nathan would have her for eternity.

“I’m going to bed,” Kendall said, searching his face.

“Then I’ll say good night,” he said, ignoring the invitation in her voice, and with Nathan watching, Jake kissed Kendall softly on the lips and left. He had some thinking to do.

Kendall didn’t see Jake that night. Or the next morning. She dressed, wearing a skirt and blouse, since she didn’t know what was expected for such an occasion. Not that there was a precedent. There had never been a female keeper in the Protettori. Three cheers for the female race, she thought. She kept waiting for a tap on the door. She didn’t want to go through this without Jake’s support. This was hard for him. Hard for her. She was torn. One part wanted to run away with him and forget about the Protettori. But the other part couldn’t leave Adam. Nathan. Arthur. And she couldn’t walk away from protecting the relics. She wouldn’t. Deep down, Jake wouldn’t want her to.

The sun was almost up now. She couldn’t wait any longer. With a glance at the bed where she’d first spent the night with Jake, she left the tower and walked down to meet Nathan. He was waiting for her, dressed in khakis and a dark-blue shirt. They stared at each other wordlessly. Then he reached for her hand. “Are you ready for this?”

“No.”

“Me neither, but we’ll be all right. We did it before.” He smiled, Adam’s smile, and she felt a ray of comfort. He’d always looked out for her, and he would now. But this was going to be for a long, long time.

They walked to the chapel together, passing her parents’ lonely graves. She wondered if her father’s ghost would be there to witness her carrying on in his footsteps. Like father, like daughter. And the mother she’d never known, would she know what Kendall had become? And Jake, was he going to miss the ceremony? She glanced over her shoulder.

“He’ll come if he wants to,” Nathan said.

Kendall nodded but didn’t say anything. They reached the chapel and found Marco waiting. His eyes looked bright. He was wearing his robe, and he did indeed look like Merlin.

She had so many questions for him, but now only one thing was on her mind. Where on earth was Jake?

“Take your places before the stones,” Marco said.

Kendall and Nathan moved into place as if they were a bride and groom at a wedding. She remembered standing here before, reading the words on the stones, hearing Adam begging her to stop. But she hadn’t, and now he was involved in this too. A guardian of the Protettori, and she was the new keeper.

“Are you ready?” Marco asked. The old man looked happy to be relinquishing his title. “You remember how it goes. Repeat the words on the stone.”

“Are you starting without me?”

Kendall turned and saw Jake standing in the door of the chapel. Raphael appeared behind Jake, his face grim. “You won’t believe what he did,” the guardian said. “The damned fool took the Protettori vow.”

“Bloody hell.”

Marco’s eyes twinkled, and Kendall thought he hid a smile. “When?”

“Last night,” Jake said with a grin.

“You’re sure he took the vow?” Marco asked Raphael.

Raphael nodded. “I read his memories.”

Kendall was so overjoyed she wanted to cry. Jake had just taken the oath that she and Nathan had taken in their youth. They would all be together now. For a long time.

Nathan looked conflicted. Kendall could feel his anger, but also a sense of relief.

“Well then,” Marco said. “Jake, take your place next to Kendall so we can make this official. Raphael, you will witness.”

Jake stood on the other side of Kendall and slipped his hand in hers. “Ready.”

“You bloody bastard,” Nathan said, and took Kendall’s other hand.

“You think I was going to let you two do this without me?” Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Hell no! We’ve got two villains and another relic to find.”