Gabriel (21 page)

His grip around me tightened. “It's complicated, but nothing to worry about.”

“Please don't keep things from me.” I paused. “Tell me, and while you're at it, explain to me why you met with Hanora.”

He peered down, studying my face; he rubbed his thumb over my cheekbone. Satisfied, perhaps, that I was looking well, he finally released me and answered my question. “That's why you were in the field, where Jonah found you? You didn't trust me? You followed me to the cottage?”

“I didn't follow you. I sensed something was wrong, and I got to you.”

He took a moment, but then answered me. “Lai, the reason my light is less strong than it was has to do with my meeting with Hanora.”

“I don't understand.…”

Gabriel tucked my straggly hair behind my ear and shifted uncomfortably. “Hanora traveled with me for a very long time, Lai. I met with her and we spoke at length. We reminisced over our journey together, and I said good-bye, in a way that she understood was a final good-bye. I needed for her to stop following me to ensure your safety.” His expression was pained as he finished. “I guess you could say I lost a little bit of my light when that happened.”

Silence drifted between us as he waited for my response.

“Tell me the truth. Did you … I mean…” I gulped and Gabriel's eyes grew large, anticipating what I was about to say. “Were you
with
her?”

Gabriel looked surprised, stunned even, and he shook his head. “No, Lailah.”

He wasn't shining as brightly now, because he was sad that he had lost a close friend. One he'd had to give up, for me.

“I'm so sorry,” I said.

Gabriel nudged his nose against my own. Leaning in, he kissed me softly, and I thought he was shaking as he did. “Come on,” he said, once again entwining his fingers with mine and leading me away.

At the same second that Gabriel tugged my hand, a flame inside my chest seemed to ignite. Something was brewing inside me, the beginning of an electric storm. Striking against dry sand, the splinters of lightning bounced off my insides, unable to conduct the waves without any moisture.

I was suddenly hollow. I felt worse than I did before.

Gabriel noticed my hesitation. “What's wrong?”

Looking into his wide eyes, I couldn't tell him. “Nothing.”

He tilted his head, tracing every twinge in my expression, searching. And, for a second, as he stifled a breath, I thought that he knew. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Instead, his gaze fell to the ground, and he blinked rapidly before meeting my eyes again.

“Gabriel, I
promise you
nothing is wrong.”

He stalled but then squeezed his fingers between mine. “I love you, Lailah.” His words were uttered almost in a whisper.

I was confident then that he believed me. If I was wrong, if he knew the state of my soul, he didn't say. I wanted honesty from him, but perhaps that was not what he wanted from me. Perhaps, it was easier for him to live with the lies than to accept the truth. And if living the lie would mean he would live it with me, then I wouldn't say a word.

Never a word.

 

EIGHTEEN

W
E HADN'T EVEN MADE
it through the back door when a rumble disturbed the tranquillity of the new morning.

Ruadhan and Jonah both appeared within a blink of an eye as Gabriel and I watched the large motor home along with Little Blue and the truck-drawn caravan drive down the side of the property, breaking part of the fence as they swerved onto the grass, leaving deep, muddied tracks.

“It's okay,” I said calmly. “It's Fergal.”

Jonah stepped forward. “The Vampire Hunters.” His fangs cracked and a shrill hiss escaped him.

I realized that while I had been recovering, Brooke had likely enlightened Gabriel and Ruadhan as to where I had been, which meant that they probably knew these were the same people who had shot Jonah in the leg with a silver bullet and then thrown a silver net over me.

What they didn't know was that Brooke had been paying the group regular visits, pretending to be me. The door of the motor home swung open, and Brooke appeared. I tried to focus on her face—and was sure I could see a sheepish look splashed across it.

She flitted over. “Hey,” she said, sweeping her bangs out of her eyes.

“What the hell?” Jonah began, grabbing her by the shoulders. Prying herself from Jonah's clutches, she stepped around him. “So, erm, the Sealgaire—”

“The who?” Jonah snapped.

“The Sealgaire.” She shrugged. “That's what they call themselves.”

Gabriel's jaw dropped, as though this were not the first time he had heard of this group. After a moment, he looked to the others and translated, “The Hunters.”

“Yes, well, as I said, the Sealgaire—the guys—well, they came here to save the girl.” She glanced to me. “And when I told them we would be leaving quite soon, they insisted on coming here to help. You know, to protect me.” She fiddled with the buttons on her jacket.

I didn't think what she'd said could have possibly sounded any more ridiculous.

“Why would they want to protect a Vampire?” Gabriel's tone was dark, bordering on frightening.

I sighed. “They think she's me. They think Brooke is the girl they came here for.”

Everyone was staring at me now, and I wasn't sure what else to add.

“One of you, fill in the gaps and quick,” Ruadhan said, peering over my shoulder to the band of teenagers that were now filtering out of the vehicles.

“They tracked us to the Hedgerley house, before we left for Neylis. They shot Jonah, not far from there, when they saw him with me. They assumed he was a Vampire attacking a random girl, and they took me with them.” I paused, collecting my thoughts. “When they asked my name, I gave Brooke's. And then when Brooke—the real Brooke—turned up out of the blue the next morning, she called herself Lailah.”

“Love, why—” Ruadhan began.

“I didn't think,” Brooke said hastily.

“Point is,” I said, “shortly after her arrival, they started to think I was a demon. They don't believe that Vampires were human before. Iona—one of the girls—said they believed that they came straight from the mouth of Hell. And apparently that's near to where they live, in Lucan.” A whip of air brushed my skin as Phelan sped up the side of the garden on his Yamaha.

Brooke tipped her sunglasses to the top of her head. “I know I said I rescued Lailah from them but truth is, they released her because I convinced them that I was the girl they were looking for.”

“I knew you were lying,” Jonah said.

“You knew nothing. And you two were so concerned with Lailah's well-being that you didn't bother to question me.” Brooke snorted, looking from Gabriel to Ruadhan.

“Look, it doesn't matter. They only came here to find and save the girl.” I tried to reassure Gabriel, but my words were becoming weak.

Brooke interjected again. “I've been spending some time with them lately.…”

“You gotta be kidding me.” Jonah was angry. He looked as though he was struggling to restrain himself from having a full meltdown.

Brooke ignored him and turned to Gabriel. “Gabriel, they are okay; trust me. All light souls, they only want to help. And they can—please let them. Just until you leave.”

Gabriel ignored Brooke. His focus was on something behind her.

I followed his gaze and found it fixed on Phelan, who was leaning on his motorcycle, embroiled in a heated debate with Fergal. Phelan stopped, distracted by the sight of our stares, and he began to march over to us. From here, it looked as though his hand was clenched around the barrel of a gun.

Gabriel was gone, reappearing in a blur directly in front of Phelan. He snatched the revolver from his hand and flung it far away. They stood nose to nose, regarding each other.

Without hesitating, I tried to run over, but soon realized that I was not as fast as I had been before—nowhere near. As though my body were stalling, I stopped several feet behind the two of them and bent over, grabbing my legs.

Jonah was suddenly next to me. “The sun wasn't enough for you, was it?”

I ignored him, and after a moment he strode forward to stand beside Gabriel.

Fergal—not one to let Phelan take charge—also made his way over, and the four of them took defensive stances as they eyed one another in silence.

“Fergal!” Iona's voice chirped.

She didn't look at me as she met her brother by his side, taking his hand in her own. Gabriel's chin tilted in surprise, and a small, delicate pulse of light exuded from his aura.

Iona's eyes were like two moons wrapped in blue cellophane, unable to disguise their prominent glow. Her mouth fell agape as she said, “You.”

I strode forward to stand next to Gabriel, who, studying Iona, said nothing.

“Do you know each other?” I asked awkwardly.

“I remember you; you were there that night,” Iona ventured, gawking at Gabriel.

Gabriel tickled my shoulder and, after hesitating a moment, turned to me and said, “I'd like for you to go to the house and wait inside.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Gabriel said. “Jonah, take
Brooke
back to the house. I'll speak with him.” Gabriel gestured to Phelan.

Fergal puffed out his chest. “Naw, I'm in charge. You speak with me.”

Gabriel nodded as Jonah took me by the arm and proceeded to escort me back down the garden. I tried to protest, but I couldn't shake him off; his hand was clamped down too tightly.

Jonah noticed, and without looking at me, said, “What? Don't have the strength to get rid of me? That's a problem.”

Sliding along the slippery grass, I replied, “I could. I'm choosing not to. I'm fine. Anyway, what do you care?”

“I don't.” He steered me toward Ruadhan, who was holding Brooke by the wrist while she shouted at him. Brooke tugged herself away from Ruadhan and immediately began firing questions at Jonah, but he ignored her. Striding to the back door with Brooke in pursuit, he left me alone with Ruadhan in the garden.

I strained to hear what was happening inside. Jonah unzipped his jacket and threw it over the work surface as he moved through the kitchen. The clip-clop of Brooke's heels told me she was trailing Jonah as he strode through the house. I tried to focus on what she was saying, but it hurt. I needed blood; I needed the dark energy that it gave. My abilities, all of them, were fading, and that horrible dry feeling was creeping up my throat once more.

“Love, I'm going to join Gabriel. You'll wait inside?” Ruadhan asked, breaking my concentration.

I nodded and began to walk away. “Be careful, Ruadhan,” I said before closing the back door behind me.

Neither Brooke nor Jonah was anywhere to be seen, so I sat myself down at the kitchen table. Frustrated questions whirled around my mind. Iona recognized Gabriel, but she was sixteen; he wouldn't have known her long ago. Which night was she referring to? I didn't have any answers, and right this second I was in too much pain to think any harder.

My gaze fell on the bottle of vodka on the countertop. A quick drink might help. After checking to make sure I was alone, I wandered over.

I unscrewed the cap, clutched the glass with both hands, and drank. The spirit trickled to the back of my throat like wet cement filling in holes. I took another shot and wiped my mouth with the back of my arm.

I crouched down and drained away every last drop of alcohol, which brought some relief as it swilled around my system. I refilled the bottle with water from the tap and screwed the cap back on, set the bottle back on the counter.

“Hey.”

I spun around.

“Didn't hear me coming?” Jonah said.

“Of course I did.” I tried to keep the slur from my voice as I stepped forward.

“Where are you off to, exactly?” he said.

“Dunno,” I replied tipsily. Ruadhan hadn't exaggerated—alcohol really did have a greater effect on Vampires. Already I could barely see straight, but Jonah's bright-orange sweatshirt was proving helpful. I found myself grinning as I remembered making fun of it the day we took a trip out to the market in Mirepoix.

“What's so funny?”

I coughed, clearing my throat, and said, “Your sweater.”

“You said it suited me, once,” he replied coldly.

I bobbed my head and hiccuped. “I'm sure I was being sarcastic. You look like a pumpkin.” As I covered my mouth, I lost my balance and tipped forward into Jonah's chest. He automatically placed his hands on my waist to steady me.

“You've said that before, too, but you don't remember, do you?”

Was he challenging me? No … he couldn't possibly know my secret. “No,” I lied.

His eyes narrowed. I thought he was about to argue with me, but instead he peered over my shoulder. “Vodka might hit you harder than if you were human, but it wears off much faster, too. You'll be all right soon enough.”

“I don't know what you mean,” I warbled, but he had already lifted the glass bottle and was eyeing it suspiciously. In a flash, he was at the sink, and then back at the counter again so speedily that I barely caught it.

Tightening the lid, he peered over his shoulder at me and said in a hushed voice, “It was half-empty this morning. You filled it back up too high.”

“Oh.” Okay, so what? I reassured myself that there was no problem; no one knew that the sun hadn't worked, other than me and, perhaps, Jonah. And that was the way it was going to stay.

“When are you going to tell him?” Jonah said. But by the time I gathered my voice, he'd already left.

 

NINETEEN

I
FIDGETED ABOUT IN
the chair Brooke had sat me in while she brushed through my wet, matted mop of hair. She dragged the comb through the tangled ends, finally setting it down to pick up a pair of scissors.