The Awakening (12 page)

"Do you want to talk about it?" Zac
asked, fingers combing through her hair.

"Do you want to know about it?" she
asked, knowing exactly what he was getting at.

"It doesn't matter if I do or not. I'd rather
you share it if you want to, not because you feel obligated."

Sighing, she shifted against him, running her hand
across his stomach. "You know what my home looks like. You saw it from my
blood. It was the same, but different."

"How, so?"

"It was dead. Empty. The Coven had been there
and any trace of my family was
removed. Their belongings…memories…even their bodies. Nothing
remained in the physical world but an empty shell."

"Physical world?" Zac asked.

Feeling tears begin to prickle her eyes, she rolled
onto her back and stared at the ceiling. "I saw them. I saw them and they
saw me."

A strong hand cupped her face, drawing her eyes
back down to his. "You got a chance to say goodbye."

"I didn't deserve it."

"Whose place is it for anyone to decide who
deserves what. Even for ourselves."

His gaze flickered down to her lips and she rolled
over, her hand trailing downwards. "I love you, Zac Degaud."

"I love you, Aeriaya," he whispered, the
sound of her true name coming from
him reverberating straight through her soul.

Zac pushed open the door to the rooftop, icy air
blowing inwards. The morning was overcast and the sky looked heavy with the
promise of snow. He was going to call Gabby without the audience downstairs,
but his eyes focused on a dark form sitting on the edge of the roof, feet
dangling over the edge.

"Tristan," he said gruffly, the door
closing heavily behind him. Once, Zac would have loved to put a fist right
in the knight's face, but not any more. The thousand year old vampire had
proven himself and had come to realize that Aya's heart would never be his. A
tentative truce had formed between them, but things could still go either way.

"You and Arrow are on good terms again?"
he asked, without looking up.

"Yes."

Nodding, the knight looked at his cell and back out
across the grey sprawl of the city.

"I know we never got along," Zac said,
sitting beside him, "but I think we ought to."

"For Arrow's sake?"

"For no one's sake."

Tristan grunted, looking the younger vampire over.
"We're more alike that you realize, Zac. Perhaps if we'd been
better acquainted in the beginnin' I could have imparted some wisdom
on you and saved all the angst."

"You know I seriously doubt that. You're so
well put together like
the chivalrous knight you're supposed to be."

The knight laughed. "I can see
this recurrin' thing with us. I take a jab and you take one
in return."

"Rinse, repeat."

"Did Arrow ever tell you how I was
turned?"

That was the last thing Zac was expecting to hear.
"No," he replied. "The day you turned up in Louisiana
looking for her, she told me it wasn't her place. She did mention that it
wasn't pretty, but nothing more."

"I think you ought to hear it. I understand
you've gained some wisdom in the past week, but no one changes over night.
Especially not the immortal."

The old Zac probably would've pushed the knight off
the edge of the roof, but this one just shrugged. He had a point. Everyone was
a work in progress that was never completed. "If you think
it's necessary."

"I was born in Ireland in
the eleven hundreds to a poor Lord outside of Dublin. When
I was twelve, I was sent to London to squire for a man who would turn out to be
one of the first Knights Templar. The soldiers of God. It was a
great honor and I soon became one of the only men to be knighted that
wasn't a Lord in his own right. My blood was good enough for them and so it
was. I was happy for a time and then word came that the Crusades were to be
resurrected."

Zac just let him go. This was a time he couldn't
possibly understand, not like Tristan. Humans fought different kinds of wars
then, no less brutal, but for beliefs and ideology that were beyond him.

"I left a wife and baby daughter behind in
London and marched with not one but two Crusades to the Holy Land. It was my
duty as a Christian and a Knights Templar to follow the orders of the Church
and Crown and so it was. On what history knows
as the Fourth Crusade, it was I who turned the tide and allowed the
city of Constantinople to be taken. When I saw the horror
my brothers inflicted upon its people, I was
horrified…disappointed…betrayed. This was not God's will. Rape and murder in
his name was not what I was fightin' for. I went with a detail of soldiers
through the sewers lookin' for any of the enemy that had not been accounted
for. Anythin' to get away from the accolades that were bein' showered over
me." Tristan shook his head, his jaw stiffening.

"They lived in the sewers?"

"Yes. I didn't find any sign of the enemy, at
least not the enemy I was expectin'. The vampires that lived underneath
the city were rabid, foul things. Monsters with no sense of humanity
left in them. They mauled me within an inch of my life, but not before I fought
back. Their blood and mine coated everythin'. That was the only way I
could've ingested it. I managed to scare them away and by the time I was
brought to the surface, my wounds were too great. The healers could only make
me comfortable and so it was that I died in the night as was reborn into
somethin' that I didn't understand."

"But Aya said she found you?"

"Yes, but not until many years
later. They called me the Devil Who Walked." Tristan shifted
uncomfortably. "I plagued the forests of Austria so much so, that the
villagers left me offerings. Live offerings. I wasn't much different from the
beasts that changed me. If it weren't for Arrow, then I would either still be
there or someone would have gained the courage to stake me. She gave me some
tough love and brought my humanity back."

"That's why you're so loyal to her," Zac
mused.

"Yes, of course. We were companions after that
for a long time and yes I loved her as you do, but I would never do anythin' to
break what you have with her apart. She is my family now. It took me hundreds
of years to find her after we parted and I am loathe to take my eyes from her
again."

Instinctively, Zac felt jealousy rising in his gut,
but pushed it back down. He had nothing to be worried about where Tristan was
concerned. Theirs was a different kind of love. The knight obviously grew up
with a code of honor and loyalty and felt the same way towards Aya as he would
anyone who'd saved him like she had.

"Do you know what happened to your wife and
daughter?"

"It had been almost twenty years all told
since I'd seen them. Who was I to go back? If she had of seen me...it was too
great a risk to go back. I was unchanged for my thirty years, she would have
been almost fifty. Back then, there was a chance she would've already have
passed on. It was better they think me a dead hero than a live monster."

"Well, you have one up on me."

"It's not a competition. Just a way of
understandin' my intent towards Arrow."

"I get it." She saved him from endless
torment and if there was anything he understood completely, it was torment.

"We're not that dissimilar. We were both
created by monsters and not taught anythin' about control." 

"Yes, I guess we were."

"And whatever happens next, know that I have
your back."

"As long as I have yours, right?" Zac
asked with a grin.

Tristan laughed at his jibe and thumped him on the
back. "It goes both ways, my friend, or not at all."

Zac took out his cell, glad for the change in
conversation. "I'm going to try and call Gabby. I'm beginning to worry
about her."

"I'll leave you to it," the knight said.
"We'll wait for you downstairs."

Zac watched as he disappeared inside. Dialing the
witch's number with the uneasy thought's of Tristan's story echoing through his
head, he pressed the cell to his ear and hoped to god that she'd pick up. If
she didn't, then they were out of breadcrumbs to follow.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Gabby stood in the middle of the little room in the
Bed and Breakfast outside of Grasmere glaring at Regulus. They'd become a whole
lot closer since the night before, in more ways than one, but he was still
fighting her when it came to Aed. He knew as well as she did what they needed
to do, but as per usual he was having none of it. That meant they were arguing
about it. Again.

"I thought you were meant to be this
diabolical asshole," she said sullenly. "Not a child who throws a
temper tantrum the moment you don't get your own way."

"You're beautiful when you're angry," he
said with a grin, knowing that it would piss her off more.

"You know we have to meet with Zac and Aya.
Why are you being so difficult about it?"

He drew her into his arms, using his strength when
she tried to push him away. "Stubborn pride, dear one."

"Your stubborn pride is what'll get you
killed."

"Is that what you're worried about?"

"I worry about a lot of things."

"And it warms my heart to know that you worry
about me." He pressed his lips against the top of her head and she
crumbled against him. Why did it have to feel so good?

"I have to call Zac. He'll know what to
do."

"The last time I saw him, he was committing
suicide by tearing out my heart. Do you really want to trust what he has to
say?"

"
Regulus
," she shrieked.

"I'm acting on past experience."

"And so am I."

He looked down at her with a frown and pushed her
away, hands her shoulders. "You want me to trust you, so call him if you
believe it's in our best interests."

"Really? You're giving in?"

"For you," he murmured.

She hardly believed what he was saying. For the
first time, she felt like she had an even footing with him. Before he could
change his mind, she picked up her cell phone from the side table and turned it
on. As it sprung to life, Regulus began to back away.

"I can't be here for this," he said
thinly.

He was still annoyed with her and it wasn't ideal,
but contacting Zac and the others was the next logical step. They had to do
this together. Regulus wanted to be all powerful on his own, but this time it
wouldn't be enough.

"Don't be stupid," she said, glaring at
him. "And don't even think about doing your little vampire disappearing
thing."

"Vampire disappearing thing?"

"You know what I mean." She waved a hand
at him.

His lips curled into a smile and he sat on the bed,
stretching his legs out.

Just as she went to scroll through her contacts,
the cell began to ring, making her jump. Looking down at the screen, she saw it
was Zac and relief washed over her. She wondered if she'd been mulling over it
so much that the universe had sent out a subliminal distress call to the
vampire.

Raising the cell to her ear she said,
"Zac."

"God, Gabby," came his familiar voice.
"You know how worried we are about you?"

"Sorry," she replied. "I've been
tracking Aed."

"What? How?"

"I've got someone with me." She eyed
Regulus who was looking at her smugly. She might be softening towards him, but
she still wanted to slap that stupid smirk right off of his face.

"Who?"

"We'll come meet you. Where are you
staying?"

"We're in London at the Six's apartment in
Camden. I'll text you the address."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. A lot better if you know what I
mean."

"Good. I'm glad. Who's with you?"

"Everyone. Tristan, Nye, the Three. Aya. We're
all here trying to figure out our next move. We need you, Gabby."

"I need you," she answered. A snort came
from behind her and she turned to find the Roman glaring. Making a kissy face
at him, his expression instantly softened. Jealousy suited the founder,
especially when it was over her.

"Zac?" she asked, turning away.

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you're okay. You and everyone."

There was silence on the other end for a minute
before he said, "Yeah. Me, too."

"I'm coming. I won't be long."

"Okay, but just to let you know that Aed is
here in London."

"What?"

"A day and a half ago, he found me in the
street. Said I stunk like a Celestine."

"Are you okay? Aya? Where is she?"

"I'm fine. He took a chunk outta me, but I
fought him off. Aya is here and she's in one piece. She had a run in with him
in Grasmere a couple of days ago."

"I know. I saw the aftermath."

"You're getting around, then," he said
wryly.

"Did he take your blood?" she asked.
"He can read it like a book. Zac, if he…"

"He did," the vampire interrupted.
"But all he seemed to get was that I was in love with Aya. Then he threw
it all up again in spectacular fashion."

"Celestine blood…" she began.
"It's…"

"Poison or something. Chucked it up and tried
to claw his throat open."

"Well, whatever happened, it saved your
life."

"It seemed to weaken him enough so I could
crack his head open and get away. Haven't seen him since, so who knows where
he's gone."

"Okay," she sighed. "Hold on. I'm
leaving now, we should be there tonight."

"Gabby?" Zac asked before she could hang
up. "Who's with you?"

Hesitating she glanced at Regulus, who just stared
back at her like he was goading her on. Narrowing her eyes, she said to Zac,
"I'll see you soon." Hanging up, she shoved her cell into her
pocket.

"The apartment?" Regulus asked.
"That's original."

"You listened in?"

"You wanted me to stay."

"The shit's going to hit the fan the moment
they know you're alive," she warned. "You could at least be a little
nice."

"I don't know how to be nice." She
gave him a look. "Oh, okay, Gabrielle. I know how to be a little nice, but
I'm much better at being wicked."

She felt her cheeks burning and he chuckled.

Regulus gathered their things and they checked out
of the Bed and Breakfast. Then they were back in the car for the trip back to
London. As they wound their way through the Lake District towards Liverpool,
several police cars roared past, their lights and sirens blazing.

"I guess someone finally found the
carnage," Regulus said, dryly.

"Sometimes I don't know where that man
is," she said with a scowl. "The one that was with me last night.
Sometimes I think I'm fucking hallucinating. You don't seem to care about life
or death."

"I care a lot, Gabrielle."

"Could've fooled me."

"I know how to pick my battles and when to
walk away from them. I know how to fight."

"I'm not talking about fighting," she
said. "I'm talking about caring. There's a big difference."

His fists tightened around the steering wheel, but
he didn't answer, his steely gaze fixed on the road ahead. This was probably
something they'd argue about forever and a day without resolution.

"When did you…" She didn't quite know how
to end that question.

"The day you walked into Devil's
Kitchen."

That day back in New Orleans? An unknown witch had
summoned her and it had been Regulus that was waiting in that cafe. He'd
threatened and manipulated her into linking him to Zac and now he was telling
her that that was the first moment he felt an attraction to her?

"You do know that your family is under my
protection, now and forever…" He hesitated and she was taken aback. This
was new ground for him as much as it was for her.

"Once this is over and you take back your
kingdom of thugs."

"Yes."

"It's no use thinking of the future," she
said. "Not until this is over."

If
there was a future, she couldn't see things
working out without a hell of a lot of heartache. It was like she was the prom
queen dating a mob boss. In what universe was that morally right?

"Will you teach me how to track Aed?"

"Why?" He glanced at her out the corner
of his eye.

"We need to be ready for every possible
outcome," she said. What if something happened to him? She would have to
go on alone and without knowing how to find the hybrid, it would make her work
even harder than it already was.

After a moment he said, "Tomorrow."

The apartment building loomed above Gabby as she
gazed up at the facade. The top two floors radiated warm light and even without
it, she knew that everyone was at home. Six vampires and a Celestine hybrid.

Regulus was beside her, a hand on the small of her
back. "No time like the present, Gabrielle."

"Wait," she said, taking his hand.
Pulling him toward her, she pressed her lips to his. He kissed her back,
sliding his tongue against hers with a moan. Pulling away, she rested her
forehead against his, her skin tingling.

"What was that for?" he asked, running a
thumb across her bottom lip.

"Courage."

"They will forgive you in time. It was my
fault, after all."

"You may have started this Regulus, but it's
different now."

"It's no one else's business," he
growled. "You and I, whatever this is…it's between us and no one
else."

She took in his dark eyes, the curve of his
cheekbones, his annoying mouth and sighed. "You're right."

"I love it when you say that."

"Don't get used to it."

The Roman took her hand and led her inside, holding
the door open for her. It was only a few flights of stairs to the top, so they
walked together, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Zac had told her they
were staying in number six, right at the top and when she stood outside the
door, she knocked before opening it and walking into the fray.

At first no one did anything. Four sets of eyes shot
straight to her, then focused where she knew Regulus was standing just outside.
Aya, Zac, Tristan and Nye sat around the kitchenette and every single one of
their faces fell into shock.

Aya shot to her feet like a lioness, her eyes
beginning to change and before Gabby could stop her, she lunged forward with a
roar. The hybrid's hands circled around Regulus' throat and they fell backward
onto the floor with a crash.

Aya's hands began to emit a dull blue glow that
shone through her skin and the Roman let out a roar of anger, trying to pry her
fingers away. Gabby knew that once Aya had a founder in her power, that was it.
It would be too late to stop her, so there was only one option.

Focusing her will, Gabby poured it all into the
Celestine, and she froze, her expression falling into surprise.

"No," Aya cried as her power began to
subside. She fell back with a cry of rage, holding her head as Gabby willed a
few thousand synapses in her brain to misfire. Regulus sat up the moment
she let go and went to lunge for the hybrid, but Gabby focused her will on him
and his jaw stiffened.

"I'm not above hurting you both," she
snapped.

"I'll kill you," Aya hissed at the Roman.

Gabby stepped forward, putting herself in between
her and Regulus and let them go at the same time. They were both on their feet,
eyeing each other with a disdain that she couldn't fathom.

"No," she said, glancing at the hybrid.
"We need him, Aya."

"He's meant to be dead," she cried, as
Zac grasped her hand, pulling her away.

"I'm sorry I had to keep it from you, Aya, but
surely you understand why?"

"No, I don't. What's going to stop him
from trying to end me?"