Haeven (39 page)

I wasn't sure how to respond.

Daemon must have realized that I needed more
convincing, "When you were 16 years old," his voice took on an
eager, earnest tone and I was mesmerized by the sound of it,
"you...you did something for me that saved my life. I gave you that
charm to remember me by but it was also meant as a promise to help
you if you ever needed me and as a token of the bond we
shared."

Images were flashing in my mind, like
reflections in a pond but the water was too choppy for me to make
any sense of them.

"There's a way that I can show you the truth
and help you remember if you'd like."

I shook my head, "How?"

"You're afraid. I understand but Emily,
something happened to you. Something...something someone seems
willing to kill you for. Colin saw you at a club two nights ago.
You were wearing this," Daemon stroked the charm. "He wanted to
know who you were and how you knew me. So Colin followed you from
the club to your hotel to see what he could learn. He told me that
a woman went to your room and shortly afterwards a man. He said
there was a brief scuffle and that the man escaped with you over
his shoulder and that the woman chased after you."

"No!" I adamantly stated. "None of that
happened. I was visiting my brother. We spent the weekend together
and I went home."

"If it was a simple as that then why did you
come back?"

"I...I..."

Daemon looked down at the charm and my eyes
followed his.

"Please," he said. "You are in some kind of
trouble. You need help and I am offering it. It's the right thing
to do, helping someone in need...it is always the right thing to
do. You did it for me and now I must do it for you."

"Oh," I felt my lips trembling. His voice,
his words, they sounded so familiar they wrenched my heart. Though
I was reluctant to admit it, I knew he was right. I sniffled and
nodded.

"Good. There isn't much time so I need you to
trust me. Close your eyes, and try to relax. Whatever you do, don't
panic."

I took a deep breath. He released my hands
and gently took my face in his fingertips. Then I felt the pressure
of his forehead as he rested it against mine.

"Ssh," Daemon whispered, "it feels strange, I
know but it will only be for a moment."

It did feel strange but there was something
comforting in his touch and I willing let go of all the chaos that
seemed to be swirling around in my head. My memories slowly
unraveled one after the other, not just the ones that were
connected with Daemon, but my entire lifetime of memories. I felt
him flinch at one point when Penny became a part of them but other
than that Daemon was utterly quiet and still.

When it was over he pulled back and we just
sat there staring across at one another in total disbelief. After a
few minutes he leaned over and kissed my forehead.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "Everything that's
happened to you...it's all my..." Daemon sighed. "I take it you
haven't heard from Avery since any of this happened."

I shook my head
no
. 

"We'll find your brother Emily. I promise!"
His eyes went far away for a moment, "Wow," he said while shaking
his head.

I couldn't help smiling despite all my
apprehension.

"Wow!" he said again.

I wasn't sure what to make of his expression
there were so many emotions washing over his features. "Not what
you expected, huh?"

"Not at all!" Daemon looked away and for a
moment I thought he regretted learning everything that we had just
shared.

"Haeven, huh? That's what you call it."

"Well, that is what it is, or was, and the
spelling, of course, that was for you."

"And you lived there, ever since...with
Penny...and Artur and Avery and Car...that bitch!" he cursed but
quickly shook himself free of his anger. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

He smiled and turned his thoughts, "I don't
remember ever seeing Herr...my father so happy. You must mean the
world to him."

"He means the world to me," I reached out and
took Daemon's hand, "as much as Penny still means to you."

"Saving them isn't going to be easy."

"I know."

"You and I...we'll never be able to do it
alone. We're going to need some help."

"Yes, we will."

"Once we find Evan we'll have to search for
Artur. I'm sorry we can't do anything tonight...I need to
rest."

"I understand."

"Tomorrow, though..." Daemon's eyes went wide
and he grinned with some secret knowledge. "I'll send some things
for you and for Ares. Try and get some sleep if you can and when I
wake we'll make our plans."

After Daemon left he sent someone with a few
odds and ends to keep me and Ares comfortable throughout the day.
We were shown around the common areas that were available for us to
use and not long afterwards found ourselves alone in the vast
emptiness of their unusual dwelling. Though I didn't know where
Daemon and the others went when morning came there seemed to be
other chambers set off from the main floor we were on. Everyone
more or less just melted into the shadows and disappeared.

It was eerily quiet and I felt like a
voyeuristic intruder once everyone was gone. I thought about having
a look around but it seemed wrong to do it without a witness so I
tempered my curiosity and lay down on one of the sofas. Ares
stretched out on the floor beside me and together we slept for as
long as we could.

We woke before anyone else and passed the
time reading until Daemon finally returned to the living area at
dusk. He offered to take Ares outside for me and said that he had
sent someone for food and drinks for us both. "Have you been up
long? I'm sorry there was no one to keep you company."

"For a few hours but it was fine. It gave me
some time to think, actually."

"Good. Give me a few minutes and I'll be back
to hear those thoughts!"

Daemon called to Ares and he readily went to
him. I watched them head towards the elevator and shortly after
they were gone someone approached me with a tray laden with a
variety of dishes.

"Daemon wasn't sure what you would like to
eat, so I got a little of everything," she put the tray on one of
the ottomans and slid it closer to where I was sitting. "I'm
Meredith, by the way," she held her hand out, "but everyone calls
me Merry."

"Emily."

"I know," she nodded, "we all know who you
are. Daemon has told us the story more than once," she smiled and
blushed.

I liked her all at once. She had dark hair
and darker eyes and was girlishly pretty with her wide, dimpled
grin.

"Do you mind if I sit with you while you
eat?"

"Not at all. I would enjoy the company."

Merry took a seat across from me while I
began picking at the various offerings. "Daemon hasn't said
anything yet but I know he is going to ask us if we would like to
help you."

"Oh?" I was surprised that she was already
aware or at least somewhat aware of why I was there.

She smiled, "Word travels fast in this type
of environment," she waved her hand to indicate all our
surroundings. "I know he would do anything for you and most of us
would do anything for him."

Just then Daemon returned. Ares was several
steps ahead of him and hurried up to Merry to introduce himself.
She happily obliged his greeting and when Daemon finally made it to
where we were sitting I noticed that he wasn't alone.

"Wyatt," the newcomer said and after a brief
handshake he sat down beside Merry and took her hand in his. "So
you're Emily," he shook his head, "
the
 Emily?"

The way he said it surprised me and looked at
Daemon unsure how to respond.

"The one," Daemon relieved me by answering on
my behalf. "Is Colin back yet?"

"Right here," Ares darted away to meet him.
"Yeah, I got the good stuff Buddy!" Colin had a tremendous bag of
dog food slung over his shoulder and with his free hand gave Ares'
head a hearty pat. "Be right back," Colin nodded to us as he walked
past.

I heard the distinctive sound of kibbles
hitting a bowl then a tap running and a few moments later Colin
reappeared to join us and two more were approaching from the
opposite direction.

"Hey Daemon," a lanky blonde came over and
drew up a couple of chairs. He took one of the seats and the person
he was with settled into the other.

Colin casually sat down on the arm of the
couch next to me. Daemon eyed him but Colin just shrugged.

"Well, you all know who Emily is and why I've
asked you to join us this evening. I will not judge anyone who is
not willing..."

"Daemon!" someone shouted. It sounded as
though it was coming from near the elevator.

He zipped away before he could finish what he
had been saying. The others slowly rose and turned to face the
direction he had run off in. Some strange awareness filled me and
somehow I knew what was wrong.

"Avery," his image filled my mind.

I started walking towards the elevator and
saw him spread out on the floor with Daemon hunched over him and
two others that had apparently been the ones who had brought him
there.

"Where did you find him?" Daemon asked.

"In a schoolyard downtown. We were looking
for the brother like you asked and we were sure we would find him
there but this is who we found instead."

"Is he?" I fearfully asked as I gazed down at
the trio.

Daemon looked up and gnashed open his wrist
in reply. I couldn't see much more afterwards as they crowded
around Avery's body. Time seemed to stretch itself out while I
shifted from foot to foot and tried to get a glimpse of what was
happening. Colin and the others soon joined us and one by one I
examined their faces for some telltale sign of information. I knew
they would know without seeing whether or not there was any hope
for Avery.

"It's not working! Why isn't he
healing?!"

My heart skipped a beat, "I know," I shoved
my way through. I eased Avery's collar back and urged his shirt
down around his waist. There was the unmistakable wound and Avery's
blood was still seeping out of it. "You have to get the bullet out.
He won't heal until you do," I looked up at Daemon my eyes full of
hope but Merry was the one who came forward.

She placed her hands over Avery's abdomen and
concentrated.  She was utterly still and focused on the injury
and I didn't dare breathe in case it would disrupt her. Once she
had urged it close enough to the surface Merry plucked the bullet
out and dropped it onto the floor where it whirled and danced
around Daemon's feet. He stooped and carefully picked it up then
deftly disabled it. A moment later I heard Avery gasp and his body
convulsed once or twice before he managed to push himself to
sitting. "Herrik?" he cried and I caught a glimpse of the
astonished look on his face. He was pale, weak and worried but
alert.

"It's Daemon, Avery...Daemon."

I saw a smile tremble across Avery's lips.
"Jesus! It is you!" and he threw his arms around Daemon's shoulders
and hugged him close.

I could see Avery's face and every second
more color and vitality crept into his features then he finally
managed to urge everyone away and to stand up. There were numerous
cuts, scrapes and bruises peppered across his bare skin but they
were all slowly disappearing and healing with a preternatural
effervescence. He looked into Daemon's eyes then turned from Daemon
to find me standing there in the crowd watching his fantastic
recovery. I smiled nervously and shamefully.

"Emily!" he cried out and pushed through the
crowd to where I was standing. "How..." he looked around and I
distinctly saw him lock eyes with Colin.

"You!"

Colin threw his hands up defensively as he
stumbled across the floor to where Avery was standing, "Just
following orders," he looked at Daemon who quickly came to his
defense.

"Enough!" Colin and Avery both balked at
Daemon's command then Avery grudgingly recomposed himself and
released Colin who breathed a tremendous sigh of relief.

I took Avery's hand and urgently asked him
how he had gotten hurt, "What happened, Avery? Did you find Evan?
Does Carah still have him?"

Avery seemed reluctant to answer and Daemon
could sense that he had information to share but wasn't willing to
do it publicly.

"Here, let's go somewhere we can talk. Emily,
Colin...” Daemon turned to Wyatt, Merry and the others we had so
recently been seated with in the living area, “you, too.”

The rest of the crowd dispersed with a great
deal of murmuring.

"Emily, what are you doing here?" Avery asked
under his breath. "How did Colin convince you to leave your
home?"

"He didn't. I...I just came. I woke up and I
felt like Evan was in trouble and that I had to go to the
hotel.  Colin was waiting when I got there and he had
this...but," my voice fully expressed my confusion as I held the
charm up for Avery to see.

"So Daemon lured you back and sent Colin to
fetch you. How did he know...?”

"Colin said he saw me at the nightclub and
when he told Daemon..."

"I told him to stay away from you! That you
were not to be interfered with."

"That's right! It was you! You were at the
club, too."

"Of course I was, damn it! One objective,
Emily and yet you do everything in your power to thwart my
efforts!" he sounded angry but when I glanced up I could see a hint
of smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Daemon," he shook his
head, "how much does he know? Did you tell him about the compound,
about Herrik?"

"He...we..."

"So everything."

I nodded, "Yes," I softly replied.

Avery sighed, "Well, maybe it's all for the
best then."

"What's that supposed to mean?"