Chapter Nineteen

 

Panic rushed through me and instinctively I slipped my hand into my pocket and clutched the Mossfire Stone. Ian’s breathing had changed at the sound of Weston’s voice, and I knew he was awake. Without really thinking I squeezed the stone tight and visualized the first thing that came to mind: wasps.

Instantly, the room was filled with the loud buzzing of winged insects and Weston let out a panicked scream. I jumped to my feet, as did Ian, and we turned to face Weston. Weston stood a few feet away, his long red hair covered his face as he violently swiped at the air while thousands of insects swarmed him. Behind him were three other men, also flailing at the wasps, and near the wide-open door stood Julian, hands bound and mouth gagged. His panicked cries were muffled by the cloth in his mouth, and his eyes were bugged.

I grabbed Ian’s arm and we bolted toward Julian. Nobody tried to stop us—they were too preoccupied with swatting wasps away. Thankfully, Julian’s legs weren’t tied, so he’d be able to run. I yanked the gag out of his mouth, and it flopped loosely around his neck.

“I don’t know how they got the drop on me,” he rasped, face flushed. “I didn’t fall asleep, I swear.”

“It doesn’t matter. Just run.” I pulled him after me, and the three of us ran out into the main area of the warehouse. I’d fully expected more people to be waiting outside the office door, but there didn’t appear to be anyone else.

We got to the main door and escaped into the cold dark night. With every step I expected someone to stop us. I had no idea how long my illusion would hold if I wasn’t there to keep it going. As he ran, Julian managed to struggle out of the ropes that bound his wrists. There was nothing but the sound of our feet hitting the pavement, and our ragged breaths.

“Where should we go?” I hissed, searching the darkness for somewhere safe to hide. “We can’t run forever.”

“This way,” Julian said, pointing to the left.

We made a sharp turn, following him down a slope. I half-walked, half-fell down the hill, cursing as branches scratched my face. Once at the bottom, Julian led us down another hill. We ran for an eternity, down winding streets and through cul-de-sacs. Eventually we wound up in an alley behind some stores in a part of town I didn’t recognize.

Julian ran up to the back of a tattoo parlor that had rune symbols etched into the building, and he banged on the door. Glancing around, his eyes wild, he truly looked terrified. “They must have used a spell on me. I didn’t see them coming into the room until it was too late.” He pounded on the door again. “Cecil, open the damn door!”

After a moment, the door rattled and opened. A slight man with silver hair tied up in a manbun and half his face covered in tattoos stood there. He wore fitted black pants tucked into knee-high leather boots and a black T-shirt. A diamond piercing glimmered in one nostril, and he looked startled as he blurted, “What in the hell, Julian. What are you doing here at this hour?”

“I have The Vessel with me. We need shelter. They found our hiding spot.”

Cecil blinked at me, and his face twitched with a look of awe. “Oh.”

“Where’s Irene?” Julian asked.

Cecil’s expression was blank. “I haven’t seen her in days. I thought she was with you.”

“I sent her here. She didn’t arrive?” Obvious concern fluttered through Julian’s voice.

“No.” Cecil glanced around and then stepped aside. “Come in. Quickly.”

Julian pushed me through the doorway first. I stumbled into the dark shop, tripping over my own feet. I felt my way along a long wall, noticing a red emergency exit sign lit at the front of the shop. The pungent scent of rubbing alcohol filled my nose as I moved through the small store. Behind me, a light was flicked on, and the room was doused in light. There were three tattooing work stations with tattoo machines, ink cups, needles. There was a reception area near the front windows and a narrow counter. Posters on the wall showcased some of the designs offered, and there was also a shelf with what looked like flash sheets and portfolios of the artist’s work.

“How did you escape?” Cecil asked. “If Sableth found you, how did you get away?”

“It wasn’t Sableth himself. It was his followers.” Julian slumped down into one of the tattoo chairs, breathing jaggedly. “If it had been Sableth, we’d probably all be dead.”

“Weston Bartholomew was one of them.” I met Cecil’s gaze. “Do you know him?”

Cecil nodded. “He’s a psychic.”

“He’s a fake,” I snapped.

Curling his lip in disgust, Cecil said, “Yes.”

“I should have known he’d be on the side of evil,” I muttered. “He came to my shop the other day and wanted me to merge my store with his. His offer made no sense.” I pulled the stone out of my pocket, and it shimmered against my pale skin. “If Weston is working for Sableth, I’ll bet he was looking for the stone. That’s why he offered to help clean up the mess.”

Ian grunted. “Whoever or whatever ransacked your shop must have been searching for the stone too.”

“It must have been Sableth that night. I remember feeling his evil presence,” I murmured. “The stone was in my pocket, but I didn’t know it. That’s why he couldn’t find it.”

“Then you accidentally activated the Mossfire Stone in the library.” Julian gave a wry smile. “And my cover was blown because I had to save your ass.”

“Thank goodness you came in time.” Memories of my first horrific meeting with Sableth shuddered through me. “And we’ve been running ever since.”

Cecil scratched his stubbled jaw. “You never said how you got away from Weston.”

Julian shot me an admiring glance. “Lorenzo used illusion. It worked beautifully.”

Julian was making it sound as if I’d planned the illusion that had helped our escape. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. “I didn’t even know what I was doing. It just kind of happened.”

“Lucky for us.” Ian frowned and shifted uneasily.

“All the drills paid off. Lorenzo was amazing.” Julian seemed proud of me. Almost like I was his prize hog.

“That’s good.” Cecil nodded. “That means it was instinctive.”

“It was probably the first time the stone didn’t fight me at all. It just worked flawlessly. I thought of wasps, and they were suddenly there.”

Julian smiled wearily. “Maybe the stone is finally accepting you, Lorenzo.”

Ian moved to sit in one of the other tattoo chairs. There were lines of strain around his eyes, and he looked grim. “So what now? Do we just keep running from place to place, praying they don’t get their hands on the stone? How long can we conceivably stay ahead of them? Tonight was too close, don’t you think?”

“I agree. What do we do next?” I instinctively looked to Cecil, perhaps because he was older than Julian. But he simply glanced questioningly to Julian.

Julian let out a fatigued sigh. “As much as I’d like to keep training Lorenzo, I think we’ve run out of time. We managed to escape today, but that was mostly luck and surprise on our side. Next time, Weston and the others won’t be caught off guard.”

“Yes.” Cecil’s expression was grim.

“I wish I knew where Irene was,” Julian rumbled. “She loves a fight. I hesitate going up against Sableth and his followers without her.”

Cecil’s expression tensed. “You don’t suppose she’s been grabbed, do you?”

“God, I hope not.” Julian’s voice was strained.

“They got the drop on Gordon and Thomas,” Cecil said. “It’s not inconceivable they could grab her too.”

Julian’s smile was tight. “I know what you’re saying, but Irene is a wily little thing.”

Ian seemed unusually ill-tempered as he said, “Hopefully Irene is safe wherever she is, but for now, I’m worried about Lorenzo’s safety. If we’re not going to keep hiding, and running is impossible, what’s the best plan of action?”

A pained expression swept Julian’s young face. “Unfortunately, I think it’s time we faced Sableth.”

Ian scowled. “Just like that?”

Julian narrowed his eyes. “If you think I like the idea of going head-to-head so soon with Sableth, you’re mistaken. But we’ve reached the point of no return. There’s nowhere we can really hide. Not forever. By not playing offence, we run the risk of being caught with our pants down again.”

“Do you seriously think Lorenzo is ready for that?” Ian shook his head. “He’s had one full day of training.”

“I know,” Julian snapped. “Don’t you think I know that?”

Cecil studied me, his dark eyes curious. “Yet when Weston got the drop on you guys, Lorenzo instinctively did the right thing.”

“Yes,” Ian said softly, “Thankfully, he did.”

Cecil pursed his lips. “You know, the lore doesn’t talk about years of training. In fact, it barely mentions that. What it mostly addresses is the importance of bonding between The Vessel and the Mossfire Stone. It speaks a lot of the protection provided by The Guardians and The Companion. It goes on and on about the wisdom and vision of The Teacher, who we now know was Professor Buckler. Training isn’t a priority, it would seem.”

“True,” Julian nodded.

I frowned. “The Companion? Who is The Companion?”

Julian’s face hardened. “We’re not sure if that is actually a true part of the lore.”

Cecil shot a surprised look at Julian. “Since when?”

Julian avoided his gaze. “Professor Buckler wasn’t sure if he was interpreting that title correctly. The protection of The Vessel is the responsibility of The Guardians alone.”

Cecil laughed gruffly. “Julian, that just isn’t true. I studied alongside the professor for many, many years. He absolutely believed The Companion was real.”

Julian’s jaw had a stubborn jut to it. “I don’t agree.”

Cecil’s gaze was shrewd as he watched Julian squirming. “Hmmm.”

“Anyway,” Julian said brusquely, “the time has come to face down Sableth. Fox Harbor is in chaos, and soon that will spread. He needs to be stopped now.”

While my stomach churned with anxiety at his words, I realized he was right. Sableth had to be stopped now, if possible. “And the theory is I’m supposed to somehow enter Sableth’s spiritual body and destroy him?”

“That’s what the lore describes.” Cecil rubbed his chin, studying me with a thoughtful expression. “It’s not merely a physical invasion. It’s also a psychic one.”

“Right. Julian explained that to me.” I shuddered at the thought of what was coming. “I also know if I’m not strong enough, I could die.”

Julian said softly, “We all will.”

“Yes.” Naturally, I was worried for myself. But it was unbearable to think that my failure would mean the destruction of those I’d never met as well as those I cared about. I could barely breathe thinking of Ian or Claire dead. I literally couldn’t conceive of that. The bitter knowledge that my failure would be the obliteration of Fox Harbor and possibly the world was still beyond comprehension. It wasn’t fair that all of that would fall on my shoulders. It wasn’t right. Yet I knew in my soul it was true.

I sat down quickly, my legs giving out. Ian rose and moved to my side, his hand resting on my shoulder. He didn’t speak, he just kept his hand there. A sense of calm descended over me, and I looked up to meet his honey-brown eyes. Once more that feeling that I’d always known him washed through me. I needed to remember this feeling when I faced Sableth. I needed to remember that failure wasn’t an option. I had to defeat Sableth. I had to. I had to protect the people I loved.

The thought that I loved Ian probably should have terrified me. It would have in the past. But knowing what I had to face with Sableth, it suddenly felt like a gift. I could feel he felt the same toward me, and instead of being scared, I felt honored. Grateful that someone like him would want me. Care about me. Protect me, if possible. How could that ever have seemed like a bad thing?

“When?” I asked hoarsely. “When should I fight Sableth?”

“In the morning.” Julian’s face was drawn. “It’s probably useless to tell you to rest, but obviously if you’re at your best tomorrow, that would be optimum.”

“I have living quarters upstairs,” Cecil said. “You and Ian can rest up there.” Julian scowled, but Cecil ignored him. “There’s a shower, food, and a warm bed. Take advantage of that.”

“What am I, chopped liver?” Julian groused, appearing slighted.

Cecil sent him a reproachful look. “You should know better, Julian. They need time together. You can pretend you don’t know the lore, but we both know you do.”

Guilt rippled through Julian’s light green eyes, but he didn’t respond.

Ian and I followed Cecil to the back of the shop where there was a narrow staircase. We went up the steep steps, and at the top there was a door. Inside was a small apartment. There was a tiny kitchenette with dated olive green appliances and a bedroom just off the cramped living room.

Once we were alone, Ian asked, “Shower?” He smiled. “I smell like a buffalo.”

I laughed. “No, you don’t. But I won’t say no to getting clean.”

“I’m starving, but I’ll feel better if I shower first. How about you?”

“Whatever you want,” I said quietly. “I feel numb.”

His expression gentled. “Come on. Let’s take a nice hot shower together, okay?”

“Okay.”

The bathroom was, as expected, also small. But the shower itself was fairly roomy. Especially compared to my tiny shower back home at the shop. We stripped in silence, and Ian got in first and turned on the water. He gave a little yelp when the water first hit him, and I laughed. He grinned at me, and for one moment, I let myself forget about the impending terror.

As I joined Ian under the water, I relished the feel of his hands and the clean water on my naked flesh. This could easily be my last shower. My last meal. My last fuck. I was going to enjoy each of those things with all my heart.

He soaped me up with cucumber and green tea shower gel. I sighed as he stroked me and kissed the nape of my neck. As I stood there I regretted the last five years I’d spent like a zombie. I’d turned my back on life because of what had happened with Nico. Now my life could very well end for real tomorrow, and I’d have given anything to get those five years back. Maybe if I’d met Ian sooner, we could have been happy those five years. Instead, I’d lived as if I’d died along with Nico. I’d wasted what was left of my life, grieving.

My heart ached as Ian kissed me, and I clung to him like I wanted to cling to life. His tongue explored my mouth, and I explored his muscular, soapy body, so happy I had one more chance to touch and taste him. We took our time, enjoying each other. By the time he entered me, I was trembling with need. He looked into my eyes as he thrust deep and slow, and it was so fucking intimate I could have cried.

I dug my nails into his back, moaning with pleasure and despair that I’d wasted so much of my life. I wanted more moments like these with Ian. I wanted a full life with Ian. I wanted dinners, arguments, movie nights, and all the things normal people who weren’t going to die the next day got to experience.

But that wouldn’t be my fate.

I cried out as I came against his stomach, and he groaned as his warm release filled me. Mouths joined, we shuddered and moaned, giving and receiving pure pleasure. My body shook and quivered as my climax slowly ebbed and flowed through me. He finished inside me, and after planting one sweet kiss on my lips, gently pulled out.

We rinsed off and then dried off, opting to walk around with towels around our waists rather than redressing in our dirty clothes. We’d have to put them back on tomorrow, but for now I enjoyed the feeling of being clean.

When we went into the kitchen, Ian opened the fridge. “Eggs? Sandwich? Steak? What are you in the mood for?”

“Remember the first time we slept together? I promised you a grilled cheese that you never got to have.”

“That’s true.” He met my gaze, and regret flickered there. “I wish I hadn’t left you that night.”

I shrugged. “I wish I’d asked you to stay.”

“Yeah.” He grabbed butter, bread, and cheese. “Okay, grilled cheese is easy. Let’s do that.”

I helped by buttering the bread, and Ian fried the sandwiches. Then we sat at the bar and gobbled them down. We stuck to water, forgoing the beer and wine available to us. I couldn’t afford to kill off any brain cells. I’d need them all to be firing tomorrow.

Once we’d eaten, we got in the bed and moved together. Again regret ached through me, but I pushed it away and tried to enjoy the feel of Ian’s arms. I rested my head on his bare chest, inhaling his clean skin. If I died tomorrow what awaited me? I wasn’t sure I believed in Heaven or Hell. I hoped I ended up with Nico, and Ian if he died too. And Claire. My eyes stung, but I blinked the tears away. I didn’t want to spend possibly my last day with Ian bawling.

“Was Cecil implying I’m The Companion?” Ian suddenly asked.

I hesitated. “I think so. Maybe. Much to Julian’s chagrin.”

“Yeah, Julian didn’t look happy about the idea. Cecil kept giving me strange looks. And then he insisted I come up here with you.” He rubbed his hand up my back. “I’m not complaining, mind you.”

“I’d have hated to spend tonight alone.” While the clean cotton sheets felt like heaven against my bare skin, I’d have happily slept on a bed of nails if that was the only way to spend my last night on Earth with Ian. “I’m grateful Cecil had you come upstairs with me.”

He kissed my hair. “I’d have snuck up here probably anyway.”

I smiled. “Yeah?”

“Sure. Why not?” He shifted closer to me. “Nothing could have kept me away.”

I smirked. “Is that because you wanted to sleep on a real mattress?”

He laughed. “No. Because I wanted to be near you.”

I nuzzled his smooth chest. “Maybe you really are The Companion. That’s a very companionable thing to say.”

“It makes sense I’d be The Companion. That would explain why the minute I met you, I wanted to protect you. I wanted to be near you. Needed to be near you.”

“Well, not the minute you met me. When you first met me, you were a dick. Remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” He grimaced and glanced down at me. “But you’ve forgiven me, right?”

“Definitely.”

“Okay, good.” His voice was a bit drowsy as he added, “This bed is amazing.”

“It is.” I smiled at how sleepy he sounded.

His breathing slowed and deepened, and a soft snore escaped him. I closed my eyes. I hoped to sleep too, but wasn’t sure I could. I focused on Ian’s sounds and the feel of his warm skin. If I died tomorrow, and there was an afterlife, I hoped I could bring the memories of Ian with me.

I didn’t ever want to forget how Ian had made me feel while I was alive.