The Gates (8 page)

“She seemed awfully easy on us,” I whispered to Gavin.

“Later, love,” he whispered back, squeezing my hand.

A seductive haze of clouds surrounded the gates, weaving in and around their golden bars, and I couldn’t see clearly past them, even when I squinted and tried to focus. I felt I’d entered a hidden city on a cloud, and looking behind me from where we’d come from, Samira’s cathedral looked much smaller now in the distance. My pulse raced, wondering if we’d see Audrey and Gabe.
Please, please, please let them be alive!
We’d had no choice but to leave our best friends when we last escaped, when we stepped through to the other side.

The other side.
The thought intrigued me. Gavin had told me this is where the transubstantiation process took place for reformed vampires. Once you requested admittance to exile and your wish was granted, Samira’s magic automatically lifted the curse as you passed through the gates.

“So none of you will change when we enter?” I chanced another whisper. He nodded his head no, giving Victor his full attention.

“You’ll be staying in the East Village, sir,” Victor said. “I trust you’ll find accommodations for everyone there.” His thin, frail face indifferent, he pulled a long skeleton key from his pocket that matched the gates’ golden color. The exchange with our guide felt strange. Sinister and polite at the same time.

“Thank you, Victor,” Gavin said, then leaned toward him, asking quietly, “Can you tell me if our friends are still alive?” I strained to listen, desperate for information.

“They were admitted with curses lifted as requested, sir. Although I’m unsure of their status since their entrance.”

They’re alive!
My heart leaped, and I couldn’t contain myself. “So you don’t know where they are?”

Gavin’s head jerked toward me, warning in his eyes.

“No, I do not. Last I heard, they were seen near the windmill in the East Village,” Victor murmured, taken back by my outburst.

“Thank you, Victor.” Gavin shushed me, shooting me another look.

With one quick slip of Victor’s key, the gigantic golden gates began to ease open, pushing through the cloudy haze, beckoning our entry.

“I do wish you all … luck,” Victor mumbled, looking down, before he scurried off.

Gavin signaled our flock to move forward, and as we ascended farther up a short incline, the clouds began to dissipate, revealing a wondrous sight. I blinked, stunned to find a sprawling, bustling village nestled in a deep valley, with medieval architecture and rustic sheds and barns. A mixture of Gothic arches and Renaissance-style columns lined small wood churches or chapels, and men herded cattle in the distance and through the cobblestone streets. The city didn’t look much like a city at all, but instead, enchanting arrangements of villages surrounding a main village, scattered to the east and the west, where rolling hills painted the horizon.

“This way.” Gavin pointed toward the eerie windmill that sat at the peak of the village’s hill, straight ahead, toward what seemed to be Main Street. Smells of wheat and farm animals seized my senses, and I gasped at the modest peasant clothing the villagers wore, in awe that such a place existed outside my favorite fairytale worlds.

“Everything is handmade here,” Gavin said when he saw my expression. “Culture shock, I know.” He smiled warmly, gripping me around the waist, securing me to his side.

“More like time warp.…” I continued to scan our surroundings. My perceptions quickly went from enchanting, to bleak, and then to depressing. Guards shouted commands at villagers, using whips to direct their orders. Some of them plucked fruit and goods straight from the marketplace stalls, squashing and destroying them as they strolled by just for fun, disgusting, smug looks on their faces as they delighted at the terror they inflicted. Gavin had told me the exile was guarded, briefed me on life in Amaranth, but this was not what I’d pictured.

“Gav …”

“They don’t hurt them, Cam,” he whispered in a hushed breath. “But they have control here, and sometimes it’s … abused. It’s okay, baby.” He pulled me closer and ushered me along.

“You sure you know where you’re going, man?” Josh came to walk beside Gavin and me, looking as uneasy as I felt. “These people don’t look too thrilled to see us.”

He was right. People stared at us, the intruders, eyes wide as they moved away, cautious in their paths.

“They’re just intimidated. I can sense their fear. We’re strangers, not guards.” Gavin lifted his arm slightly to give the passersby a friendly wave.

What were we supposed to say?
We come in peace? Take us to your leader?
This was all so strange. I started to feel even further removed from my element.

We reached the East Village and Gavin led us toward a tall, lanky house with a roof made of wood pilings and straw, adjacent to the hill where the windmill stood. “I think this is it,” he whispered, approaching the house’s doorway.

“Gavin!” The door sprang open and out came Gabe, astonished, and though thin, glowing from head to toe. He looked relieved, thrilled to see his best friend. Gavin dropped his bag and tackled him. They embraced and patted each other on the back. Gavin held Gabe’s shoulders to stare at him, his expression ecstatic.

“Man, I wasn’t sure …”

“I know, Gav. I know, man. When I heard you escaped, I thought for sure—”

“Human looks good on you.”

I smiled at their reunion, wanting to rush up and squeeze Gabe myself. But I didn’t want to interrupt their moment. And I was too distracted, my eyes searching for her.

“And Camille!” Gabe turned to me beaming, scooped me up and spun me around in his arms, his now-human eyes full of life. “You have no idea how glad I am to see you!”

I hugged him back, squealing. “Me, too, Gabe. I—I don’t know what to say…” I started crying, the joyful tears flowing uncontrollably, barely aware of the others, who stood behind Gavin and me, glancing at one another.

“Oh, my—” A voice gasped from behind them. “Camille!”

Audrey. She was really here. She dropped a bucket of water she’d been lugging to run toward me, pushed through the other vampires and smacked into me full speed, smothering me in her arms, hugging me tighter than she’d ever hugged me before. Shrieking, I squeezed her back, tears blinding me, my insides bursting with glee. I didn’t realize just how much I’d missed her until I saw her beautiful face and grabbed the side of her head, feeling her dirty-blonde hair between my fingers.
It’s real! She’s really alive!

“You guys are human!” I shouted, nearly knocking her over when I tightened my hug.

“We thought you two were dead, Camille Hart. What the hell were you thinking, pulling a stunt like that!”

“I—I’m so sorry, Aud. I never meant …”

“Water under the bridge, damn it. Just keep hugging me! And don’t ever, ever scare me like that, ever again. I could’ve strangled you!”

Thoughts of her abrupt decision to become immortal without telling me rang in my head, but I decided to hold my tongue. I squeezed her tighter until I felt Gavin caress my elbow.

“I know we’re excited to see each other, but we need to take this inside, love.” He whispered this into my ear, letting Gabe lead the way inside. We all piled into the house, Audrey and I hand-in-hand.

“There are some more bunks upstairs,” Gabe announced to the other vampires, pointed to the wooden ladders. “Everyone will have to double up. This is the best we could do. We weren’t sure how much room we’d need. I thought for sure you’d be …” His eyes teared up. He cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

Everyone began talking among themselves, wandering about to claim sleeping quarters. The house, a large cottage really, was hot and stuffy and smelled like sweet hay, complete with a little kitchen area lined with pots and kettles for cooking. Gabe and Gavin immediately started opening bags and passing around blood while Audrey whisked me to the cooking area. Soon, we each held a chalice of rum.

“Cheers to … everything!” She squealed again, slung an arm around my shoulder.

“There’s so much to say, I don’t even know where to begin …” I coughed as I took a swallow of my drink. Music suddenly filled the house and I looked to see Gavin and Gabe, sitting on hollowed-out logs in the main gathering area, playing strange-looking guitars.

“Well, start with telling me who
that
is.” Audrey cocked an eyebrow as she motioned to Scarlet, who was dancing in the middle of the room, everyone crowding around to join her.

“Oh, Aud. You never could resist salacious gossip.”

“Nope. Spill.”

“I think she’ll be happy to enlighten you,” I choked out, and took another swig of my liquid bravery. Scarlet stopped dancing and headed our way.

“Hey ladies,” she cooed as she sidled up. I tucked my green-eyed monster away and took a deep breath. We hadn’t even begun our mission yet. If I didn’t get this jealousy issue under control soon, we’d have even greater problems to contend with. And I wasn’t about to let Scarlet’s swaying hips be the cause of our demise.

6

SCARLET FEVER

“So Gabe is yours?” Scarlet giggled, took a sip from her chalice. “Yummy.
J’adore
!”

“Yeah.
J’adore
, too,
mon amie
,” Audrey replied, a fake smile plastered on her face.

“And you changed for him, just to come here with him? Pardon
moi
, but that seems awfully rash.”

“You’re pardoned.”

I shoved my elbow into Audrey’s side. “Be civil,” I hissed through my teeth. The three of us huddled around the kitchen’s warm fire as the sky grew black, its eerie blush-hued crescent now present through the window. The strange shadow over the moon still threw me off; the Amaranthian moon was so striking compared to earth’s.

“
Excusez-moi
, darling,” Scarlet said to Audrey. “I just can’t fathom giving up so much for one of us, let alone only to be turned human again. Seems rather silly.” She giggled innocently.

“Not that it’s any of your business,” Audrey said through clenched teeth, “but I have a family history with the frozen souls. Looking for an old family member of mine while I’m here, in fact.”

“Audrey,” I nudged her again, rolled my eyes.

“It’s okay, Camille,” Scarlet said, finishing her drink. “I didn’t mean to pry. Just curious.” She shrugged, returning her attention to Audrey’s less-than-amused face. “If you wouldn’t mind sharing which family member you’re looking for, perhaps I can help you find them. I have a long history with the Amaranthians.”

Her tone was matter-of-fact.
She has a long history with a lot of things, I’m sure.

Blithe, she added, “Why, I used to work for Samira’s servants.”

She did? What was she, the entertainment?
I reigned in my temper again and quietly scolded myself.

“Really?” Audrey piped up, caught off guard. “Uh, I mean … thanks. Her name is Cecile, actually. I learned she came to Amaranth years ago, worked as a seamstress I believe? I’ve been searching for her, asking around. No one seems to know what happened to her.”

“Cecile, Cecile, Cecile …” Scarlet chewed over the name, ran her finger across her lip. “I’ll ask around, do some digging. If you haven’t run into her by now, it’s unlikely she’s within the city walls.”

“Yeah, I haven’t had any luck so far, but I’ve been looking for her since I arrived. Thanks for the offer …”

“Of course, honey.” She winked. “Well, I suppose I’ll let you ladies chat. I
must
find out the name of this tune Gavin’s playing. It’s simply divine.
Enchantée!
” She flitted her fingers in the air and slithered away from us.

“
Bitch,
” Audrey snapped underneath her breath.

“Audrey, she just offered to help you.”

“What? You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re just going to let her go sit next to Gavin like that? Would you look at those hips? My
God
Camille, who is this chick?”

I sighed, turned and poured myself more rum. She was
so right
. “Ready for this one?” I took a delicious swig. She shook her head emphatically. “That chick? She’s his ex.”

“Cam. You need to get over there.
Now
. She’s lethal.”

“Thanks, Aud. Nice to have you back. Damn.”

“Do it while you’re brave, Cam,” her eyes rolled to my rum. “Tell her to take a hike while you still can.”

“It’s nice to know you have so much confidence in Gavin.”

“Camille,” she grabbed the chalice from my hand and poured me another shot. “Would you just
look
at the girl? It’s hard for even the noblest man to say no to
that.
It’s not him I don’t trust. There’s something about her …”