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

23. Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

She must wake up, I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t… -Dina

I ’d not spoken the entire drive, instead my mind had run through all the ways I would kill Ally and consequently Jacin, if Charleene didn’t wake. Since finding her laying on the grass in the clearing, I’d realised I would do anything, kill anyone for her. I just hoped that Donovan could do something to bring her back to me because the waiting was eating away at me.

“Nothing,” Ally spat, dragging me from my thoughts and back to another of their arguments. Why can’t she just get over herself? I thought, down right sick of all the anger and shouting that has been going on between them.

“Well aren’t you two at odds,” I said, sarcastically, looking at Charleene, wondering where the hell she was and what she was doing.

“So what or Who is waiting for us at Cusworth Hall?” Ally asked.

“Donavon, he comes from an old line of witches, ones gifted with sight and spirit,” I explained, “Gladys says he’ll be expecting us, take the next left.” I informed Jacin, my eyes not leaving Charleene. Jacin followed my directions and I relaxed a little more as, after a few minutes, the car turned onto a secluded road.

“Do all witches have big private homes?” Ally said, interrupting my vigil again. What is it with her and the bloody questions?

“They’re custodians, they don’t own the houses, just keep them safe.” I explained, pretending I’m talking to a small child instead of the adult she should be.

“Keep them hidden from humans, you mean?” she retorted like a smart-ass .

“Safe, hidden, what's the difference? If humans knew of the artefacts inside these buildings, all they’d do is pilfer them. There are enough rich people, ruling over the poor in this world without a care, just waiting to make themselves even richer.” I grumbled back, enlightening her to the state of the world in which we live.

Ally didn’t respond as the road we’re travelling on opened up and Cusworth Hall came into view. The house was impressive, built in the shape of a ‘U’ with three interconnected wings. Glancing at the side of Ally’s face a small laugh escaped me. Her mouth was hanging open and her eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Not what you were expecting?” I asked her, as Jacin pulled up before the huge entrance door.

“Not at all,” she said quietly, still staring up at the house in wonder. Ah to be mortal and seeing everything for the first time again, I thought to myself, a little jealous. I’d seen almost everything in my life as a vampire. Until Charleene entered my life, I’d thought nothing could surprise me.

“What happened to the barrier?” Ally asked innocently.

“It’s a protected building, not hidden,” I stated, standing from the car. Walking around to the other side I unclipped Charleene’s seat belt and continued, “the museum is open to anyone wanting to visit it,” my voice softened as I lifted Charleene out of the back seat.

“You could have just said that earlier, you know?” Jacin admonished me, clearly upset with how much enjoyment I get out of baiting Ally.

Giving him a one shoulder shrug, I walked towards Cusworth Hall, wanting to find Donovan as quickly as possible. Ally’s feet scrambled on the gravel as she scurried to catch up. I reached the steps leading to the front door when Donovan himself swung it open.

“Ah Adrina, you’re here,” he said, offering me a compassionate smile, before he eyed Charleene in my arms and his face turned solemn. “Follow me,” he instructed, gesturing to the hallway I could barely see behind him. With a grateful nod I walked past him and paused in the open entrance hall. Cusworth Hall is a wonderful place, where humans come to learn about their history. I ignored it all, instead focusing on Donovan himself. He was a small man with a round belly and blue eyes. I’d never met him before, but if Gladys trusted him with this then so would I. That woman had a penchant for collecting trustworthy people.

“Can you help her?” I asked, nodding down at Charleene as he led us through the house, “we’re not sure exactly what’s happened to her, but Gladys suspects she’s gone on a spirit walk, whatever that is.” I quickly told him, not wanting to waste another second, and praying to any god that would listen for him to save her.

We were just nearing the end of another hallway on the second floor when Ally’s gasp drew our attention. She was standing stock still in the middle of the hall, her eyes wide as she stared at the walls around her. Frowning, I watched as her gaze returned to the three of us watching her, then Donovan waved his hand towards a room and I followed him inside.

A giant bed took up much of the room, with a large set of drawers and comfy looking sitting chair occupying the rest of the space. There was no TV, in fact the only electrical item in there seemed to be the small chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “Please make yourselves comfortable, I’ll be right back.” Donovan said kindly, his voice little more than a whisper as he nodded towards the bed, and turned to the Fae who were still standing in the hallway.

Laying Charleene down gently, I ran my fingers through my short hair, tugging at it to centre myself as I waited for Donovan to return. I heard him speaking to them as they walked away, further off down the hall, and I felt grateful that he was putting us each in separate rooms.

“Where are you, babe? ” I asked aloud, needing to break the oppressive silence that hung in the air, as my eyes returned to Charleene.

She was as white as a ghost and her breathing was still steady. She looked peaceful with her long hair splayed out on the pillows. Other than the flickering of her eyes beneath her eyelids, she shows no other signs of being alive. My heart sank as I perched on the edge of the bed and took her hand in mine. My thumb caressed the back of her hand as Donovan returned.

“She is dear to you.” He stated, and I turned my face towards where he stood in the doorframe.

“She’s my whole world.” I told him honestly.

“Strange for a vampire to care so much for a witch,” he observed, stepping closer, “illegal even, for you.”

“I know my own Coven’s laws,” I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him.

“And so you should, Adrina, you uphold them after all.” I went to answer him, but he held up a hand and continued speaking, “Why would you risk death for her?”

“Because she’s worth it.” I replied without thinking, taken aback by my own admission. “She’s my mate.” I admitted aloud for the first time. I’d been pretty sure before all this, but seeing her lifeless on the ground, my heart had stopped beating at the thought that I’d lost her. That was when I’d truly knew what she was to me.

“Well that certainly complicates matters. Mates are a rare thing nowadays and are to be cherished.” Donovan said with a kind smile, “Hecate knows what she is doing after all.”

“It doesn’t bother you that I love her?” I needed to hear him say so.

“No, as a Witch I do not care that you love her, it’s an outdated vampiric law, if you ask me,” he grumbled, closing the distance between him and Charleene.

I moved to the side as he studied her, mumbling under his breath as he took in her pallor and then gripped her wrist in one hand, while placing his index and middle finger against her pulse point. I dared not breathe when he closed his eyes and silence reigned within the room.

“It is as Gladys suspected, Charleene is indeed spirit walking.” Donovan said grimly, opening his eyes to meet mine.

“What does that mean?” I asked, stroking my hand up and down her leg, needing contact with her for comfort .

“Her spirit has left her body, astral projection I think it’s called now,” Donovan informed me, and my heart settled a little more. I’d heard of astral projection before and knew witches who’d done it many times before.

“Can you help her return?” I asked, flicking my eyes to him, where he now sat in the comfy chair next to the bed with his eyes closed.

“Hush, now, and let me see if I can find her.” He said irritably, opening one eye for a second, before closing it again and furrowing his brow in concentration.

The seconds ticked by slowly as his eyes flickered—much like Charleene’s—beneath his eyelids. I began to pace the room, the soft carpet muffling my footsteps as the seconds turned into minutes, which dragged on into almost an hour. I was beginning to worry for his return when suddenly his eyes snapped open and his head flicked to the right. “What happened?” I ask. startled by his sudden animation.

“She’s in danger.” He said, pushing quickly to his feet. Fear flooded through me at his words.

“How can I help her fight?” I gasped, crossing the small space between us quickly and gripping onto his shoulders.

“What?” He asked back, confused.

“You said Charleene’s in danger, how can I help her fight when she’s like that?” I was almost wailing, as panicwhich, until recently,I hadn’t felt since I was human overtook all rational thought.

“Not her, The Ancient,” Donovan clarified, calming my fear, but stoking my rage as once again the Fae is bringing trouble to our door.

“I’ll bloody kill her!” I snarled starting towards the door, but Donovan’s steady hand on my arm makes me pause.

“I fear she does not know what she is doing, but I must go help her, otherwise we’ll all be in danger.” He said, attempting to push me back towards the bed, “Stay with her.” And those three words have the desired effect as I give in and slump in the chair he’s vacated .

“I swear Charleene, that Fae girl you like so much, brings one more problem my way and I’ll wring her damn throat.” I grumbled aloud. “She’s been nothing but trouble, and you wouldn’t be where you are now, if not for her.”

Talking to her eased a little of my guilt and pain, making me feel lighter, as if unburdening myself.

“If you wake up, I promise to show you just how much you mean to me. You’re my light in the dark, my sunshine,” I told her, wondering if she could hear me. “I don’t know if you can hear me or not…”

“Her ears can hear you but her mind will take no note.” Startled, I’m on my feet in seconds, turning around to see Donovan standing just inside the room. I was so completely focused upon Charleene that I hadn’t heard him coming. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever managed to get the drop on a Vampire before.” He joked.

A small laugh slipped free and I instantly felt guilty over finding something funny, when nothing else felt right. If I could cry, my face would be soaked, however as a vampire our bodies don’t react the same way they did when we were human.

“It’s ok to feel joy, Adrina, it is in times like these that you must hold onto any happiness you can.” His eyes were kind and crinkled at the edges when he smiled at me.

All I can do is nod and return to watching over Charleene.

“She is not on our plane,” he said solemnly, confusing the shit out of me.

“Then where is she?” I wondered aloud.

“It is said that Hecate herself created a place using spirit, a place for those who are not yet ready to move on from life.” He explained calmly, “I believe she is there, walking with our Goddess.”

“Will she return?” I asked, fearing what his answer might be.

“Honestly,” he paused, sucking in a deep breath and waiting for me to look up at him. Steeling myself for the worst, I met his eyes. “I don’t know. I’ve never known anyone still living that has spirit walked in that place and survived. ”

My heart sank, and my hand flew up to cover my throat as it started making a strange sound and I realised I was sobbing. “No, she must come back.” I pleaded aloud to anyone listening. The day I’d died and been reborn as a vampire was the day I’d turned away from my human faith. However, now I prayed to any and every God, to bring her back to me.

Something wet rolled down my cheek. Surprised, I wiped it with my finger and when I looked down red coated the side of it. Huh, so we can cry , I thought to myself, shocked as I’ve never seen one of our kind cry and in the last three hundred years I’d not felt much, let alone felt anything strong enough to cry over. What have you done to me, Sunshine? I thought staring at the blood tear smeared over my finger.

“There is still hope Adrina, she may yet find her way back to you.” Dovovan said kindly, squeezing my shoulder gently. Sniffing, I looked up at him and offered a weak smile.

“I have to believe she will, or I’ll break.” I told him honestly, wiping away another blood tear that fell.

“Gladys’ spell to preserve her body is a good one. It will hold for another four days, I will also add my own protections on her and a spell to help her find her way back when she is ready.”

“Can you not just bring her back?” I asked selfishly.

“Not without risking myself to the same fate,” he apologised sadly, “Pulling her back before she is ready could also cause damage to her mind.”

Nodding, I picked up her hand in mine and tuned out everything else.

“Everything you love dies.” He drawled down at me, “look at the mess you have made trying to keep this one alive.”

There was blood everywhere, I’d been lost to a frenzy, the bloodlust too great to hold off any longer. Staring up I met his cold, calculating eyes and hate flooded through me. He did this to me, made me into this monster.

“I never wanted this.” I croaked up at him, making him laugh cruelly.

“Nobody ever wants this.” He replied, his lips pulled thin and tight. “Clean it up and next time I give you something to eat, you better well eat it quickly, I won’t have this again.”

“But they are people.”

“And so were you when I fed from you. Do you really think you were supposed to turn?” he snapped, raising his hand in the air as if he’d strike me again. I flinched back, moving closer to the cold small body still cradled in my arms.

“I hate you!” I snarled at him, and instantly regretted it when his fist connected with my head and I saw stars.

“No one will ever love you now.”

Opening my eyes, longing filled me as I realised how evil my Sire had been. I’d kept his words and let them impact my life. Never allowing anyone to get too close, even Tilly who’d only ever been kind and loving to me, I’d kept everyone at a distance. Charleene however had been like a freight train, barging her way past every defence I’d normally put in place and tearing them to shreds. My Sire’s words fill my head again as I look down at her, so fragile and peaceful. Everything you love dies. His cruel words seem very apt right about now.

Needing a change of scenery, I placed a soft kiss on Charleene’s forehead, “I’ll be back soon, Sunshine.” I whispered, before walking out into the empty hallway, looking for Donovan. Closing my eyes I let my enhanced hearing flood my senses, picking up on Ally’s voice as she spoke with him and following it to an almost closed door.

Ally’s broken whisper was clear through the small crack, making me pause on the threshold, “Can you find Lilah?”

Donovan’s voice didn’t answer, and when he remained quiet, I pushed the door open and found Ally standing before the older man, “What’s he doing?” I demanded, wondering what trouble she’s brought upon us this time.

“Looking for Lilah, I think,” she whispered.

Donovan’s lips tightened before his blue eyes met Ally’s and he shook his head. She looked gutted at his response. Donovan opened his mouth to say something when a sharp intake of breath had us all turning to find Jacin in the doorway, looking like a wasp had just stung his manhood.

His eyes were narrowed on the three of us and his face should have been bright red with the anger pouring off of him in waves, “Well doesn’t this look comfy.”

He looked straight at Ally and even I had to admit she’s got insane inner strength as she met his gaze without flinching or faltering, “Jace, get a grip we were just talking.” I almost laughed at the heavy eye roll she gave him, before asking what we were all wondering, “what do you want?”

“I want you to be safe Ally, I want for us to find Lilah and for us to go…” He cut himself off with a snarl.

Ally turned to Donovan, giving him a small smile before she shoved past Jacin, forcing him out of her way. “I’m not fragile Jace, I can handle more than you think and I will get answers one way or another,” she snapped and walked off.

Jacin moved into the hallway to follow her, but stopped when Donovan spoke, “Let her be.”

“My whole life has been spent learning how to protect her, but how am I supposed to protect her from loving the wrong man?” Jacin questioned, his voice breaking half way through.

“Everyone must make their own mistakes, young man, you included.” Donovan answered cryptically and Jacin’s face crumpled.

“You love her.” I stated, making both of them turn my way.

Jacin didn’t answer, but the blush staining his cheeks and his protectiveness was answer enough. Nodding at him, I turned to leave.

“I can’t help but love her, she’s always been the one for me.” Jacin answered brokenly.

“Sometimes the feelings we think are love can be missguided, and if the other person’s heart does not beat for you, it can be a fool's errand.” Donovan’s quiet voice filled the room, “sometimes we have to let them go to love them.”

His words were wise and I watched as Jacin really took them in, my heart aching with all this talk of love as my thoughts returned to the woman who held mine in a vice. Wanting to be with Charleene, I left Donovan and Jacin alone and head back to our room.