Perilous Light (14 page)

“
Although my story may seem bizarre, my family’s suffering at the hands of Blake is not unique. Many of you have similar tales of the horrors committed under his leadership.”

“
Alexander claims Charlotte isn’t loyal because she left her Gerard, but if you know anything about the Essence-Gerard bond, I’m sure you understand how hard it was for her to leave. Charlotte fought against the bond to do the right thing. Now, it’s our turn. Sometimes doing what’s right isn’t easy, but that doesn’t change its importance.” I could feel the intensity in my voice, and I let it take over. “Sacrifice by its nature is hard, but we will have greater losses if we fail to act. It is paramount we defeat Blake. Should we wait for someone else’s mother or sister to get kidnapped, or worse,
killed
before we do something?”

“
Hell, no!” Ollis was on his feet, the contents of his mug sloshing over the sides as he smacked it down on the table.

Several men, so similar in appearance to Ollis that it was almost disconcerting, stood up in the audience. “We fight him!”

“
We fight for our families, we fight for the Essence, and we fight for the Source.” The leader of the Zales was on his feet as well—no one had introduced us, but I figured anyone that sparkled that much had to be a Zale.

Everywhere in the room, people pushed back their chairs to stand. I felt Bry’s strong grip on my arm, and Naomi beamed.

The Zale started a chant. “For our families, the Essence, the Source!” echoed through the room. It seemed funny that people were chanting about my sister, but I knew it was a good thing. The only person still seated at the table was Alexander, and only a handful of people sat in the audience. I knew we had won. I joined the chant, feeling the intensity of the words flow over me.

“
You did it!” I didn’t see Samantha move to the front of the room, but I felt her arms around my neck and the quick peck of her lips against my cheek.

I smiled and pulled her closer, high on the success of the event and on the way it felt to have Samantha so close. I looked up and saw Henry wink at me. Some signs were universal.

Chapter Fifteen:

Charlotte

Calvin brought me back to the cave right before dawn, and I barely had time to settle into sleep before it was time to get up. I tried to hide my exhaustion but I was sure everyone noticed. Luckily, I was able to keep myself awake throughout the day by thinking about Calvin and how amazing it was to be with him again. Even sleep deprived, I felt recharged.

We stopped for lunch by a small stream to replenish our water supplies. Stretching out in the low grass, I enjoyed the bit of warmth the sun provided. Lawson kept us entertained with stories of his childhood with his brothers, and I laughed so hard my sides ached. Next time Henry gave me a hard time, I’d have to bring up some embarrassing tidbit from when he was a kid.

In the middle of one of Lawson’s stories, I realized that James wasn’t with us. “Where’s James?”

Monty quirked an eyebrow. “Probably taking a walk.”

“
Oh, I didn’t see him leave.”

Liam studied my face. “I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”

Doubt flooded me once again. I started to picture James meeting with Blake’s men, and worried that the entire trip was one big trap. I knew logically that my thoughts had no basis. Instinctively, I recognized that James had spoken the truth about my mother, but my imagination was on overdrive and overwhelmed rational thought.

“
What’s wrong? What aren’t you telling me?” Liam asked quietly while Monty and Lawson talked.

“
Nothing, don’t worry about it.” Even with all the mental doubts, I still
felt
that James was good. I didn’t want to cause problems. I had to trust my instincts.

As we packed and prepared to leave, James reappeared with a sack overflowing with teal-colored berries. “Our supplies were running low, and I thought I recognized some berry bushes a little ways back.”

***

There were no natural shelters to be found, so
we slept out in the open that night. We were in an area that had once been dense forest, but had been cleared, leaving only a scattering of tree trunks. Thankfully, it wasn’t snowing. I lay awake under the clear sky, staring up at the stars. I couldn’t stop analyzing my feelings for Calvin. Reuniting with him felt so natural, so right—but almost too right. Liam took the first watch, so he was the only other one awake.

“
How do you know if something is real?”

“
You go with your gut.” Liam readjusted his position, leaning against a large tree stump to face me.

“
And what if your gut is wrong?” I didn’t make eye contact, embarrassed even to be having doubts again. I wondered what had happened to all my confidence from the previous night.

“
You hope for the best,” Liam answered in barely a whisper. I glanced over at him. He gazed up at the sky, unaware that I watched him. “Have you noticed how different the night sky is here?”

“
There are a lot more stars.” I caught Liam’s eye as I spoke, and the intensity of his gaze let me know that he knew about Calvin. “You didn’t try to stop me.”

“
I admit I followed you until you got on the horse. I thought about trying to call you back, but realized that I had to let you go.”

“
Oh. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just—”

“
I know, and I don’t blame you.” Liam’s tone was calm, but something else was behind it.

“
You trusted my judgment that much?” I sat up and pulled my knees to my chest.

“
Of course. You’re pretty intuitive now. I admit I still don’t like the idea that you spend so much time with
him
.” Liam nodded toward where James slept.

I laughed lightly. “After the way he kissed me the other night, I have to agree with you.”

“
But seriously, Charlotte, only you know what’s real and what isn’t. No one else can tell you what to think.”

“
Calvin says he’s on our side now. He says he’s going to help.” I anxiously looked at Liam, wondering what he thought.

Liam shrugged. “I assumed as much.”

“
You did?”

“
I figured the guy had to be smart enough to figure it out eventually. Besides, if he hadn’t, why would he just visit with you for a night and let you go?”

“
I know I can trust him, but my emotions are so out of control when it comes to Calvin.”

“
That’s to be expected. I know the whole Gerard-Essence thing is supposed to be natural, but it’s also weird. You’re only seventeen, and you’re tied to this guy you hardly know, who pretty much kept you prisoner. That has to be hard.” Liam seemed nervous. I guessed he was afraid I wouldn’t like his bluntness.

“
You’re right.” I pulled the extra blanket tightly around me. “It is weird, but the part that’s natural makes me forget the weirdness when I’m with him.” I felt tongue-tied trying to explain it.

“
And when you’re not with him?” Liam’s eyes searched my face for something.

His gaze unsettled me, and I paused briefly before responding, “When I’m not with him, I’m such a mess of emotions.” I rested my head on my knees. I hated admitting weakness.

“
You’re not embarrassed, are you?”

“
Of course I am. I feel weak.” I took a deep breath before lifting my head.

“
Weak? You’re anything but weak.”

“
I appreciate it, Liam, but I know I am. If I can’t control my emotions, how can I possibly be the Essence and help my mom or Energo?”

“
You’ll do what you have to do. You have it in you. You just need more confidence.” He paused as if deciding what to say next. “Speaking of your mom, are you excited to see her?” He had the art of changing the subject down pat.

“
I’m excited, but also nervous. Even if we can bring her back, it’s going to be strange, isn’t it?”

“
Strange? Like too much has changed?”

“
This is going to sound horrible, but I spent so long thinking she was dead that it’s hard to simply pick back up where we left off. Besides, I now know that almost everything about her childhood was made up. She held back so much from us.” It felt good to get my feelings out.

“
But you know why she did, right?” Liam asked. “To protect you.”

I didn’t answer; there was nothing to say. We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. One of the things I loved about spending time with Liam was that neither of us worried about filling the empty spaces; we could just exist.

Liam finally broke the silence. “But seriously, Char, you need to get some sleep, okay?”

I thought about arguing, but I couldn’t deny my exhaustion. It didn’t take long to fall asleep, as talking to Liam about my feelings had helped ease the disquiet keeping me awake.

***

I woke up well rested. I had only slept a few hours, but it had been a deep, dreamless sleep that did wonders. After a quick breakfast, we packed up our gear and started to walk again.

“
We will be there before nightfall.” James’s voice broke through the fog of my thoughts, and the meaning of his words hit me.

“
We’re going to see my mom tonight.” I felt weak. I understood the whole purpose of the journey was to get to her, but as we got closer, my fear intensified.

Monty placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Charlotte, you need to prepare yourself. Your mother is not going to look like herself.” When he touched me, I recognized the worry I carried that Monty was somehow upset with me. I guessed I had taken for granted the huge importance Monty held in my life, and the thought of disappointing him grated on me.

“
What do you think she’s going to look like?” I didn’t really want to know, but I needed to ask.

James didn’t give Monty the chance to answer. “She’s in a sleep-like state. My father figured out how to keep her powers controlled.”

“
So how do we know Charlotte won’t get hurt by whatever it is that has kept her mom weak?” Liam sounded concerned. I hadn’t even thought about it.

“
We don’t.” James’s face was emotionless.

“
I thought you were one of her Guardians. How could you knowingly lead her to danger?” Liam yelled.

“
I am not going to let her get hurt. Besides, Charlotte wants to do this. It is a risk she is willing to take.”

“
You act like she’s expendable. That’s bull!” Liam yelled. I had never heard him so impassioned.

“
Liam, no one is going to let anything happen to Charlotte. You know I would never put her in danger,” Monty said.

“
Even if it meant saving your sister?” Liam’s words were thick with implications.

“
I am not even going to answer that, Liam. Charlotte is my niece; I love her like my own daughter. I promised Emma I would always protect her children, and I have done my best.”

“
I know. I’m sorry. I don’t like this.” Liam wrung his hands and paced.

Watching Liam so distraught pushed me into action. I was done feeling sorry for myself; I had a job to do. “Okay. That’s enough discussion on my safety; we’re doing this. We’ve come too far to turn back. Besides, if we want the opportunity to defeat Blake, we have to get my mom.”

We came to the crest of a hill, and everyone fell silent. A wall that appeared to be made completely of ice loomed in the distance. We walked further, the others surrounding me protectively, and I shivered just looking at it. When we finally reached the giant wall, I realized that a thick layer of ice coated it.

“
Is this Icentris?” I asked, even though aware that it couldn’t be anything else.

“
It must be,” James said evenly before closing the distance between us and the wall.

Liam pointed to a tall archway. “So do we just walk through that arch? There has to be a catch, right?” The archway appeared out of place between the large stone walls, as though it should hold a gate.

“
I’d say we should scale the wall, but it is twice the height of the one at Bellgard, and even that one proved difficult.” Monty touched the icy wall, as if to see if it were actually solid.

“
If it is a trap, we are already caught. We are at risk out here in the open. We might as well enter.” Lawson spoke with conviction, giving me some optimism.

“
Let’s do it.” I started to walk through the arch, but James pushed me behind him.

“
Now is not the time to play hero, Charlotte.”

I expected the arch to open directly into a courtyard, like at Bellgard, but it led into a cave. From the entrance, I could see a faint source of light in the distance. Large icicles dangled from the ceiling, some nearly touching the guys’ heads. I started to panic. Something felt incredibly wrong, but I couldn’t figure out where the sensation originated. In the near darkness, I jumped when someone touched me, but it was only Monty trying to pull me closer. We had almost reached the light ahead when James and Liam suddenly stopped in front of me. Monty’s arm tightened and Lawson walked into me.

“
What’s going on?” I whispered, unable to see around Liam and James.

“
Stay back!” James and Liam yelled in unison.

I wanted to complain, but the words stuck in my throat when I heard an angry growl. Every inch of me turned cold.