Blood Oath (A Gabby Girls Adventure Novel, Book Two) (40 page)

"But, it’s the only thing that can save you." I sniffled.

"Gabi, you stop that crying. I’m not important. The
Book of Eternals
is your primary concern. The Underworld is just using me as a pawn in their game to get to you."

I wiped my eyes quickly. "Everyone is going crazy down there. The queens were attacked. Queen Harmonia is missing. I just found out I’m some necromancer thing. And I sense that the
Eternals
might be planning something really major. Really, how much do you people expect from a sixteen-year-old?" I was so close to really losing it.

"It’s a war. That’s what the Underworld wants—a war between the
Elementi
and the
Eternals
. Gabi, you must stop the war from starting," she said with agitation in her voice.

I jammed my hands on my hips angrily. "Uh, Grandma Celeste, exactly how am I going to do that? They’re not going to listen to a
Neophyte
. That’s just not going to happen."

"You’re the Akasha—the personification of spirit. So act like it!" she responded angrily. "Gabi, just find a way ask Priscilla to contact the Conclave of Noteos. They’ll know what to do. But whatever you do, do it quick. I sense an uprising against the
Normals
will be next." Her voice faded out, then faded back in. "Do not trust Queen Nemesis. Get the
Book of Eternals
back. It’s in the
Eternals’
chamber."

Her voice was low, then high. "Divine law."

"What? You have to give me a little more info than that," I squeaked with panic.

"It will be concealed in the personification of divine law." Her voice faded out.

"Grandma Celeste, please don’t go. I’m so lost without you!" I screamed hysterically.

I woke up feeling a cold, damp cloth touching my forehead. I looked around, dazed.

Priscilla looked at me urgently. "What did she say?"

I was shaken to the core. "She said something about hiding the
Book of Eternals
and stopping the war."

Veda looked at me glumly. "Well, it’s too late for that. Queen Harmonia is missing and feared dead, and Queen Nemesis is actually rallying the
Eternals
for some sort of battle against the
Elementi
and the
Banished
." She walked over to the window and peered out uneasily. "She actually has everyone convinced that the
Elementi
are behind the attack. She even went as far as to say the
Banished
are now working for the
Elementi
. It’s just pure craziness."

Priscilla was pacing back and forth anxiously. "That’s hogwash. The
Elementi
need us. Why would they attack the Queens? They’ve been our allies for centuries. And now, out of the blue, they’re joining forces with the
Banished
? That I do not believe." She threw her hands in the air. "This is a powder keg waiting to explode. Tons of
Eternals
are traveling through the portals without the permission of the
Elementi
, and all of them are heading here like this is some sort of battle station."

I jumped off the bed and ran over to the window. There was a mob of
Eternals
ranting and raving in the courtyard. "What can I do to stop this?"

Priscilla looked at me glumly. "Absolutely nothing. Not while everyone is so riled up. I’m going downstairs to the courtyard to see if I can talk some sense to them yahoos." She strode out of the room like a woman on a mission.

"Priscilla is going to need help with calming the crowd. I’m going to get some
Circles
to keep a watch on Celeste." Veda looked me calmly. "Gabrielle, there is nothing that you can do right now. Go back to your room, clear your mind, and come back here later. By then, Priscilla and I will have a plan to get her back." She touched my face, then walked out of the room.

I felt totally helpless as I watched the crowd argue and scream at each other. I knew that something had been put into motion that would only lead to destruction. My face hardened.
No. I’m not helpless. I’m the Akasha, well, whatever that means. Plus, Grandma Celeste would be so disappointed if I gave up right now. I can help, and I know exactly how
.

I walked over to the bed and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

"Don’t worry. I’m going to protect the
Book of Eternals
," I whispered with determination in my eyes.

I walked quickly out of the room, bumping into the two
Circles
standing outside Grandma Celeste’s room protectively. They both looked at me solemnly, nodding their heads with acknowledgment. I knew that no one was getting in that room while they were on watch.

I ran down the hallway and stopped at the blocked exit that led to the courtyard. There was no way I would be able to get through that crowd.

Suddenly, a figure stepped from the shadows. Instinctively, I jumped into Warrior stance, ready to fight.

"Whoa. First leveler. Relax, it’s me."

I sagged with relief. It was Justice.

"What are you doing sneaking around here?" I whispered angrily.

He looked at me broodingly. "I heard about Celeste, and I wanted to"—he stuck his hands into the pockets of jeans—"you know, help."

I looked at him angrily. "Why do you even care?"

Justice stepped in my face seething. "You’re not the only person who cares about her, you know." He ran his hands through his hair agitatedly. "Celeste is my friend. She’s the only one around here who actually talks to me because she likes me, and not because she wants something from me." He blew out calmingly. "I just wanted you to know that if you needed help, I’m here." He looked at me steadily, then turned to walk away.

"Stop, Justice." I was ashamed for acting so lame. "I’m sorry," I said softly.

Justice stopped walking and stood with his back toward me, his shoulders tense, with hands hanging tightly by his side.

"I’m just not used to…" I struggled to get my emotions back in check. "I’m just not used to anyone caring."

He turned around and walked over to me quickly. "Well, I care." He looked at me pensively. "I care about a lot of things."

I just stared at him, getting lost in his gray eyes. We stood absolutely still, just looking at each other. I cleared my suddenly parched throat.

"If you want to help, there’s something you may be able to show me."

He stepped even closer. "And what’s that?"

I could now smell the clean, soapy smell wafting from him. It was somehow comforting, drawing me closer to him.
Get it together, Gabrielle. Grandma Celeste needs my help
, I thought quickly.

Reluctantly, I stepped back. Justice ran his hands through his hair tensely.

"Yeah. Umm. How do I sneak into the
Eternals’
chamber?" .

His eyes widened. "Are you kidding? Why do you need to know that?"

I gave him an annoyed stare. "Do you know how or not?"

"Yes, I know where it is, but I need to know why you’re asking. I mean, that’s serious
Eternals
stuff, after all." He laughed huskily.

Anxious, I looked around. "It’s to help my grandmother. I need to find the
Book of Eternals
and hide it."

Justice looked at me steadily to the point of making me squirm. "Do you really believe that this will help her?" His eyes searched my face. "Because if we get caught doing this, it’s major trouble."

"I know that. That’s why I don’t want you involved, if it means getting you in trouble."

Justice smiled. "Trouble? ‘Trouble’ is my middle name. But I thought you knew that by now." He wagged his eyebrows playfully.

"So, if you want to know, I have to go with you. That’s the deal. Take it or leave it." He looked at me coldly.

I was torn. But I knew that from the hard look on his face that if I didn’t make the deal, then my chances of finding the
Book of Eternals
was slim to none. "Fine," I responded grudgingly. "But we have to go to the dorms and get my friends first."

He scoffed. "Are you crazy? You want to take your friends with you to steal the book?"

I looked at him stubbornly. "Fine, then forget it. I’ll find some other way to get the location of the book." I turned, starting to walk away.

"Stop" he said angrily. "Fine, we’ll get your friends." He turned and started to walk down the opposite way.

"Where are you going? It’s this way." I pointed in the direction of the courtyard.

"I know this place way better than you. We go this way," he said menacingly.

I looked at him with eyes steeped with determination.

"Gabrielle, we don’t have all day."

I stormed up to him. "Fine."

He smirked, "Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside to actually agree with me?"

"Whatever."

Justice quickly walked up the hall, making a left at a deserted section of the castle. He opened a very creepy-looking door, beckoning me through into a very large library-like room with windows covered with dusty curtains that looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in ages.

He looked around the room quickly before striding over to a large bookshelf full of dusty books and knickknacks. He yanked out a very large, dusty book from the shelf, spewing a thick plume of dust in the air. I watched in amazement as two of the bookcases unlocked, opening automatically to reveal a dark passageway.

He turned and winked at me. "Secret passageway."

I smirked at him before dusting away all of the dust that was now sprinkled on my face and hair. "At least you’re good for something other than making a lot of trouble," I responded saucily.

He reached over and lightly brushed a speck of dust from my cheek. "Maybe one day you’ll realize that I’m good for a lot of things."

There was that awkward silence again, where our eyes were locked. And frankly, I didn’t know whether he was serious or not. But from the very intense gleam in his eyes, I was going with the assumption that he might be very serious.

I stepped back awkwardly, allowing his hand to drop away for making my move to step over the threshold quickly. I stopped in my tracks when I felt his warm hand on my lower back.

Looking over my shoulder, I swatted his hand away like a fly. "Uh, hand?"

He smiled cheekily, holding his hand up in a defensive manner. "What? I’m just making sure you don’t trip over something."

"Please, that line might work with the other NCs, but not on me." I gave him a mean look. "No touching. Got it?"

He smiled smugly. "How do you know there are other NCs?"

"I heard about the NA contest, so please don’t play me. I’m a first leveler, not an idiot."

"I wouldn’t worry about any of the NCs and me." He paused with a serious gleam in his eyes. "This year, I’m completely focused on one in particular."

I snapped my head back to stare into the darkness quickly because I was flattered, and yes, a little bit peeved that it was obvious that this year his focus was on me, like I was some sort of game.

"You can run, but you can’t hide, first leveler," he muttered under his breath before chuckling loudly and following me through the opening.

I didn’t utter a word as we walked through the passageway, until we reached the end, which was blocked by a very solid brick wall.

I looked at him with frustrated eyes. "Okay, what’s next?"

He reached over me, brushing his chest against me slightly as he trapped me against the brick wall. I was one step away from panicking and doing some major damage to his sensitive male region, when the wall suddenly creaked open, streaming in sunlight.

He gestured toward the opening. "Ladies first."

I cautiously stepped over the threshold and found myself standing in the dorms’ lounge. I smiled at him hugely. "Okay, you truly are the master."

He staggered playfully like he was having a heart attack. "Finally a compliment, I’m honored. Truly I am."

I smiled. "Funny! So, can we go to my room now?"

He smiled at me lecherously. "Well, all you had to do is ask. I really thought that you were one of those take-it-slow
Circles
, but I guess my obvious
Ares
hotness is hard to resist."

I actually giggled. "Not." He was a seriously cool guy when he wasn’t trying to act so much like a bad guy. "Follow me."