Of Fate & Forbidden Desire (The Gatekeeper Duet #1)

18. Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Protectiveness comes easily when I look at her, even while battling my conflicting feelings -Dina

T he car lapsed into silence as Ally turned her face back towards the window, effectively cutting off any further conversation. Movement caught the corner of my eye as Charleene began picking at the side of her thumb, pulling at the skin over and over. Without thinking about it my hand snapped out, covering both of hers and squeezing them gently to stop her from making herself bleed.

“What’s wrong?” I mumbled, keeping my voice quiet, so as not to disturb the two Fae.

“It makes no sense Dina,” She said back in a whisper, “Who am I, for that Vampire to be so insistent?” Her question was valid; it was very strange that he hadn’t just moved on to a new target and left her alone.

“I don’t know, babe,” I told her honestly, instantly regretting it when a tear rolled down her cheek. “It could be that his ‘master’ is looking for something specific, or it could just be that you escaped him and his bloodlust is calling for him to dominate you.” I quickly rambled, reasoning it out for myself at the same time. “All we know is that nothing this rogue has done so far has made any sense.”

“What do you mean?” Her question was timid and showed how scared she was.

“Normally a rogue who is on a killing spree doesn’t hide their actions, because they just don’t care. The bloodlust takes over their rational minds, forcing them to take more and more lives in the quest for sating the thirst raging within them.” I said, quickly explaining what we usually dealt with in blood-addled rogues. “However, this one has been very clever; we don’t know how long he has been killing or where he began. The only reason we’ve found him now is because he’s become cocky and sloppy.”

“But why now?” Charleene asked, her eyes wide and locked on mine.

“We don’t know, the only contact we’ve had with him was when he cornered you in York.” I told her, frustration over mine and Tilly’s failings when chasing the bastard bubbling to the surface. Charleene offered me a small smile, that barely turned her lips up at the corners and didn't reach her eyes, before pulling her hands from mine and losing herself within her thoughts as the miles flashed by.

Paying no attention to anyone, I pondered everything I knew of the rogue. He first came to the Council’s attention six months ago, when the Scottish papers in Glasgow began reporting about four different murders where all the victims had lost all of their blood. After the third victim, news began being covered in the UK media; at first it was small sections in the big newspapers then, after the fourth victim, the news programmes had picked it up and they suddenly stopped. Tilly and I had been sent to Glasgow to see what we could figure out about the murders, and to see if we could determine if it was a sick human responsible for the killings or a supernatural being.

Glasgow had been a bust, neither of our contacts in the Glaswegian police force could tell us if the murderer was human or super. All they knew was that the bodies had been found in different areas of the city, with their throats cut but no blood had been detected on their clothing. Nothing connected the victims.

Four weeks later, Tilly received a phone call from her contact in the Edinburgh police force: a student had gone missing, turning our attention south. Low and behold, a day later, the student’s body had been found, with their throat slit and again completely drained of blood. Puzzled, we headed there hoping to catch whoever it was in the action, yet we couldn’t find him. Witches in the city scried for the perpetrator with no luck, we searched the streets every night for a week, until two more bodies later we were no closer and they stopped again .

“Where’s all the traffic?” Ally’s voice dragged me from my thoughts. Glancing around I recognised the long winding drive, lined with tall trees and breathed a sigh of relief. “Is it protected?” Her voice continued, making me wonder just how she knew, noticing the curious glance Jace gave her.

“Yes, its reality is protected like in Hampsted Alyssa, it’s how you’ll both stay hidden from our pursuers.” I answered, frowning over at the red-haired woman.

“So what the general public see isn’t what we’ll see, right?” Charleene asked, drawing my attention from the strange fae.

“Correct,” I answered.

“Oh thank God, because I was thinking how can a person live in a bunch of ruins in England of all places.” Charleene’s response almost has me cracking a smile, at her naivety when it came to anything supernatural. After three hundred years her innocence was refreshing, allowing me to see our world with new eyes.

“Wait, this place is a ruin?” Ally shouted in surprise, turning in her seat so she could look at Charleene.

“Yeah,” she answered, passing her smartphone over so Ally could see the pictures she’d obviously been looking at.

“Impressive,” Ally stated after a few moments and handing the phone back, before flashing me a curious look, “and your friend Gladys owns all of this?”

“Technically the National Trust owns it, Gladys rents Kirby Hall out to them and receives a cut of the profits.” I rambled, my gaze fixed on the house as it came into view at the end of the lane. The route I’d taken would keep us away from any early tourists and take us to the back of Kirby Hall. I watched Charleene’s mouth drop open as she got her first look at the pale stoned building. Even I had to admit it was impressive, and had been since it’d been built. My foot tapped on the car floor as Jace drew his car to a stop next to Gladys’ tiny black Fiat.

“Is everyone you know rich as hell?” Charleene asked, her wide eyes pinned on Kirby Hall as she stretched, arching her back and pushing her breasts out, making me swallow as desire punched me in the stomach .

The sound of hurried footsteps inside the house distracted me as I replied, pushing down the surge of desire, “Not everyone.”

“Adrina!!” Gladys’ shrill voice filled the small courtyard around us, “what are you doing here?”

“Gladys,” I said, speeding towards her. She’s possibly the only person I know who’s smaller than me, however, that doesn’t stop her from dragging me into a tight hug. “We needed a safe place to rest for an hour or two.” I explained when she stepped back and her gaze focused on my companions.

“And who are your friends Drina?” She asked, her brows pulling together in a confused frown.

“That’s Alyssa and Jace,” I said in a low voice, indicating each of them in turn, before walking back to the car and Charleene’s side, “and this is Charleene.” My voice sounded different even to my own ears as I said her name. Gladys gave me an unimpressed look, her eyes fixed on the way our fingers entwined together.

“Well you better all come in, I’ve got breakfast, come on,” she instructed in her no-nonsense-voice, already striding to the house and propping the door open for us all. Tugging on Charleene’s hand that I still clasped tightly we followed, and from the raised eyebrow Gladys threw at me, I knew she’d be demanding to know what has happened soon. She’d known me long enough now, to know that I didn’t hold hands with anyone and I certainly didn’t bring people on my sparse visits. The Fae came soon after and I began leading the way as Gladys closed the door behind Ally.

“Wow.” Ally muttered as Gladys rejoined the front of our group.

At the same time Charleene said, “You’re so lucky to live here.” Her voice was quiet as she marvelled at the decor around her.

“Yep, it’s a shame that not everyone gets to see Kirby Hall in all its splendour but…” Gladys responded, trailing off and even I’m interested to know what else she was about to say, however she never continues the sentence.

“It’s beautiful,” Charleene complimented, not missing a beat, prodding Gladys to say something else and lose the far away look in her eyes .

“Elizabethan elegance in all its finest.” I heard her pride in the building in each word she uttered.

Gladys lead us into the kitchen she knows I hate. It has a long, black marble worktop, that flows seamlessly into a built-in electric hob, then to a massive Victorian, cream porcelain sink. All the while, a giant fridge-freezer hums away in the corner. In the centre of the room is the old Elizabethan wooden table, filled with pockmarks and burns which had built up over time. Around the table, Gladys had placed ten grey bar stools. I could see the look of confusion plastered on Ally’s face and found myself agreeing with her; what the hell had happened to this kitchen.

"How do you live in such a big place?” Ally queried, making Gladys double over with laughter, “What?”

When she finally calmed down Gladys shoot me an amused look, “Drina, have you been exaggerating again?” She asked fondly, pulling out tinfoil wrapped parcels from the oven, “I don’t live here, Alyssa was it?”

Ally nodded, her eyes wide as she stared at my friend’s back and waited for her to continue.

“I live in a small cottage right on the edge of the grounds.” She explained, placing a package in front of all of us except Dina.

“So why keep this place secret?” Ally blurted, as though she could not stop herself from asking, as she unwrapped the parcel in front of her, revealing a white polystyrene box.

“To protect it over the years.” Gladys answered plainly,

“From who?” Charleene asked, with a mouthful of food.

“Robbers, rich bastards that would want to own it for themselves,” she explained with a shrug, “it’s been in my family for the last couple hundred years or so, and as Witches, it gave us a big enough place to meet.” I watched as Gladys’ green eyes brushed over Charleene. I know she could feel that Charleene’s a witch, I also know how curious Gladys Kingsbrooke is, so her next question didn’t surprise me, “but you should be familiar with Coven practices hmmm? ”

What I’m not expecting is how the simple question makes Charleene react. She flinches before shrinking in on herself, almost like a balloon deflating. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, my brows lower into a frown.

“Charleene doesn’t have a Coven, Gladys, it’s one of the reasons we came here.” I told her.

“No Coven?” Gladys gasps, “what did you do?” she accused, shocking me for a moment when her eyes narrowed into slits at Charleene. Anger surged through me, joined by the fierce need to protect Charleene from Gladys and I wanted to rip her head off as I stared across at my old friend. Opening my mouth, I’m about to tell Gladys just what she can do with her accusations, however Ally’s angry voice beat me to it.

“She did nothing wrong,” she said, her voice firm and unyielding as she pinned Gladys with a look I can’t quite decipher, half derision and half shock if I was to guess, “why would you even jump to that conclusion?”

Gladys’ head snaps towards the Fae with a raised eyebrow and then I feel it. The hairs on my arms began to rise one by one as a static charge began to fill the air around us. I glanced over at Charleene, but other than being pale she didn’t seem to be letting off the magic.

“Because either her Coven is dead or they banished her,” Gladys stated, her voice flat, as she raised a finger and jabbed it at Charleene, “Witches protect our own, so which is it youngling?” she demanded.

“I…I...I don’t know?” Charleene stuttered and her shoulders began to shake.

“Adrina! What have you dragged me into this time, old friend?” Gladys demanded, not taking her eyes off of Ally as the magical current infusing the air grew stronger and stronger. “Why are you travelling with ancient ones and protecting an unknown witch?” Her voice was livid as flames licked across the back of Ally’s hands and I realised it was her magic I could feel building.

Anger coursed through me, anger that I hadn’t felt since I’d been condemned in much the same way by the London Coven for being different from the norm. Never had I thought Gladys would treat another witch in such a way, but here we were and I’d had enough.

“It’s a long story, Gladys,” I stated angrily, slamming my hand down on the scarred table top, making everyone’s eyes bounce to mine, as it shook. “Charleene is part of the Nicnevin coven,” I paused, drawing in a calming breath and holding it for a couple of seconds before continuing and pointing at the two Fae, “and as to those two, they shouldn’t even be here! But they are, so I’ve been tasked with making sure they leave. And hopefully soon.”

“The Nicnevin Coven?” Gladys questioned, “Drina, they haven’t been seen or heard from in what? Twenty plus years! And you’re right about those two, their kind do not belong here.”

Charleene’s gasp had all of us looking at her, “babe what’s wrong?” I questioned, keeping my voice soft so as not to further upset her.

“I’m twenty Dina,” Charleene whispered, confusing me, and it’s Ally who answered first, making me understand just what had rattled her so much.

“Charleene, just because they’ve not been seen in your lifetime does not mean they are gone,” She stated with conviction.

“Then where are they? And why was I adopted as a small child?” Charleene asked, her voice wobbling, “why did they abandon me if they’re alive?”

“I don’t know babe,” I soothed, nodding at Ally, “but she’s right, the High Council would not have sent us searching for them if they were dead. Please don’t cry babe.”

“Bloody Hecate and all her spirits!” Gladys crowed, almost clapping her hands in joy and making everyone at the table jump, “Adrina, have you finally…”

“Shhhh!” I hurriedly hushed, interrupting her before she could sprout such nonsense as talk about Mates. I saw Ally pale slightly as I glared over at Gladys.

“You're definitely in a heap of trouble Drina,” Gladys laughed, shaking her head as she looked over at each of the people sitting at her table, “eat up, you can all tell me just what the hell is going on while we eat. I’m starving. ”

The stench of salty bacon filled the air as everyone opened their boxes and began eating, and since I’m the only one who doesn’t require any food, I took over explaining everything to Gladys. She um's and ah’s along the way but doesn’t interrupt me, however once I drew to the end her brows were joined together in a deep frown.

“Ok then. Let's see what I’m working with,” she stated matter of factly, when everyone else finished their sandwiches, returning to my understanding friend. Sighing gratefully, I let Gladys choose how she wanted to continue with no comments, and urged Charleene to follow the tiny woman.

Gladys didn’t take long, striding back down the corridor and through the back door, she took us towards where her own cottage nestled, hidden by hedgerows.

“Erm where are we going,” Ally whispered uneasily behind me.

“Calm yourself, Forgotten, we don’t need you to explode before we’re hidden again.” Gladys demanded, not once breaking her hurried steps.

Charleene dropped back from my side and followed her. I watched as she took Ally’s hand in hers, “I’m scared too.” Her words barely reach me. She said them so quietly but I found myself smiling as Ally offered her a small smile in return.

Returning my eyes to Gladys, I follow her lead as she steps over fallen branches and dodge piles of dirt, before passing through a small gap in the hedge. Knowing what lies on the other side I walked straight through, quickly followed by Jace, and finally Ally joined, us pulling Charleene after her.

“Right, let me look at you both properly, stand here.” She motioned for Ally to move to the right, “and you, here Charleene,” Gladys said, pointing to a space about ten steps to Ally’s left.

“What do you mean ‘look at us properly’?” Charleene asked timidly, watching Gladys closely as she shuffled to the indicated spot.

“I’m going to try and see what led you both here, and try to determine the magic waking inside each of you.” Gladys explained, flashing me a warning look as I stepped towards them .

“You want to look into our pasts?” Ally’s voice wobbled on the quietly asked question, and her hands balled into tight fists at her side, betraying her fear and making Jace attempt to step from my side. But I held my hand out, signalling for him to stop, knowing Gladys wouldn’t hurt either of them as she continued explaining herself.

“Yes, Forgotten, I do. You are clearly here for a purpose, and I believe that Charleene here is as much a part of your journey as you are of hers.”

“Why are you calling me that? I have a name you know,” Ally snarked at her.

“Because you are of the Forgotten race, who left so long ago that you are now just a half remembered myth. Humans think you are a mystical race, but we, the supernatural, we know your kind abandoned us many moons ago. So yes, you have a name. But, you are also Forgotten to Witches.” Gladys muttered, confusing the hell out of me. I didn’t even know that Witches remembered the Fae, let alone had a name for them.

“Hhmmm, well do you mind using my name?” Ally said rudely, but I couldn’t blame her. Learning your whole life has been a lie must be just as frustrating for her as it is to Charleene, maybe even more so for the Fae woman.

“Very well Ally,” Gladys conceded with a small nod, “I’ll start with Charleene and then try and see you. Both you ladies be seated, and you two,” Gladys barely glanced at us before she continues, “make yourself scarce.”

Jace bristled beside me at the dismissal, so wrapping my hand firmly around his bicep, I went to forcibly move him from the garden. We’d only be a distraction if we stayed.

“I’ll be fine Jace,” Ally’s voice drew some of the tension from Jace’s muscles and made it easier for me to drag him behind me. With one last glance at Charleene, I pushed Jace through the gap and back towards Kirby Manor.

“Will they be ok?” He asked, speaking directly to me for the first time since we left his car.

“Gladys will not harm either of them.” I said, confidently taking another step away .

Ten minutes crawled by as we sat in silence when suddenly, with no warning what-so-ever, Jace sprang to his feet and darted back through the thin gap. Confused and concerned I followed soon after and the world dropped out from below my feet at what I found as I cleared the gap. My heart began thumping wildly against my chest as I tried to understand what my eyes were seeing. Charleene lay motionless, flattening the green grass below her as her eyes moved frantically behind her closed lids, while Ally lay in a similar position a few steps away from her. Gladys was already bending over Charleene when we entered, and all I could do was wonder what the hell happened.

My world contracted to Charleene and finally, after what felt like forever, I got my feet moving as Jace darted towards Ally.

“What happened?” I force out past the lump that’s suddenly clogging my very tight throat.

“I’m not certain,” Gladys replied sadly as she continued to check Charleene over.

“What exactly is she?” I shrieked at Jace, interrupting his mantra as he attempted to wake Ally. “Jacin, what type of ancient one is she?”

“It doesn’t matter,” He growled back at me.

“It most definitely does, she’s a ticking time bomb. None of us understand what triggers her, maybe if we knew what race she belongs to, it might help.” I shrieked before turning back to Charleene and blocked out everything else as my heart ripped in two.