The Vaga (14 page)

‘But why, Sam? You could have been killed and she never would have known.’

‘That’s why I didn’t tell her,’ he whispers, his remaining energy weakening.

I know what he means. Getting close to anyone when you know your life is…complicated isn’t always easy. In fact, it downright sucks at times.

‘What do you want me to tell Phoebe?’

He winces at my words. ‘I don’t want her to know.’

‘Phoebe will grill me until she gets something. You know what she’s like. She would’ve seen that we’ve disappeared by now. How do I explain that?’

How do I explain any of it
?

‘Promise me…you won’t tell her…I’m a shifter,’ he says desperately as he grabs my hand and gives it a light squeeze. ‘Please?’

His eyes close and I feel his hand go slack in mine.

Looking down at him a pang of compassion courses through me. Here lies a man who saved my life, and Julian’s, and who loves my best friend. How can I
not
do as he asks? I suppose I could come up with a way to explain why I teleported Sam and his whole bed out of the room while leaving traces of blood behind? I mean, how hard could it be?

Magi snorts and I know she just picked up on what I was thinking. I sigh. ‘Okay, Sam. You rest now. I’ll be back to pick you up later.’

His breathing deepens and I quietly walk back outside and make my way to where Taqôq Wiyon is waiting.

‘Not much time for questions, Ray of Sun?’ he says as he looks out across the swamp.

‘Yes,’ I answer simply, knowing that my magic is starting to fade. I can feel it now. Teleporting is easier for me after all the years of practise, but I still can’t control it completely.

As if reading my mind he says, ‘First we drink.’ He passes me a cup of steaming hot liquid that he just plucked out of thin air.

I take it from him gingerly. ‘What is it?’

He grins. ‘Nectar of gods.’

Nectar of the gods? My eyes widen. ‘Seriously?’

‘No, not seriously. Now sit.’

I smile as I realise that he just made a joke. Even amidst all this going on it feels nice to smile, even if it is for only a brief moment.

We take a seat on a nearby log and sip in silence. The sharp earthy taste of ginseng, and the bitter woody taste of sage lingers on my tongue.

‘I thought you were gone,’ I say, remembering how quickly he disappeared after saving Magi’s life.

‘We never gone, Ray of Sun. Spirit lives in all things.’

I scoff silently. If that’s true then where is Mum?

As if sensing my thoughts he says, ‘She lives in you.’

‘You can hear my thoughts?’ I ask, surprised.

‘I hear many things.’

I can’t help but smile. Of course he does.

He clasps the chains at his neck and turns to look at me, the grey wisps of his hair falling across his weathered face. ‘Samoset is my grandson. Not all have his power. He is special.’

Knowing Sam now I would have to agree with him. I never would have thought that I would meet a shapeshifter in my lifetime. In fact, I never thought a lot of things. My mind wanders to Julian.

‘Ray of Sun.’ He touches my arm gently. ‘You must be careful. Not all is right with the world. You are in much danger.’

‘So everyone keeps saying,’ I mumble.

His grip tightens and his moon-like eyes beam into mine. ‘This enemy is evil spirit. Not human.’

A deep chill pierces me and Magi inches closer.

‘I see him in dream. Darkness he lives and light he feeds.’

He places his hand on my forehead and I am jolted by images that race through my mind at an alarming speed. I can see what he saw—a dark emptiness that holds no light, like a black void of space where life never even had a chance to take its first breath.

I strain my eyes to see further into the void and an outline of a man appears. He is standing on the rocky precipice of a dark beyond, his onyx cloak fanning out around him, rippling with power. He turns his head slightly and I see deep scars covering his face, as if he has known battle intimately. He stands both ancient and commanding against the storm of time.

My eyes are drawn inextricably to him, some magnetic force pulling me towards him, and for all my fear there is also awe. All around him shadows flicker in and out of my vision like dark spirits waiting to do his bidding.

Then all of a sudden he raises his head and sniffs the air, looking swiftly back over his shoulder towards me, his fiery silver eyes ablaze with power. His dark voiceless whisper echoes through my mind.

‘
I am coming for you.
’

My magic charges and I scramble away from Taqôq Wiyon’s hand, falling off the log as I do. Sharp, ragged breaths escape me and I look around in fear that the darkness will make its way out of the swamp and consume me.

Magi whimpers, and I can’t hide the fear that is crawling across my skin. Who was that? And what does he want with me?

‘You saw him?’ Taqôq Wiyon asks as he takes a casual sip of his tea, still looking out over the swamp as if the most evil of creatures hadn’t just revealed himself.

I regain some semblance of composure, telling myself that it wasn’t real, that it was only a vision, but the truth within me quickly overrides my best efforts.

He was real alright. If I reached out I could have touched him. I shudder at the thought, and with shaking hands I manouvre myself back onto the log. It’s hard to remain calm when Isis’ magic is coiled like a deadly cobra within me, ready to strike out at the enemy we both felt.

I reply with a curt nod, my mind still alive with his presence. Who was that? Then I remember Julian’s words from the game the other night.

‘
The Vaga are led by an Immortal named Erebus—the keeper of darkness and shadow.
’

It must have been Erebus I saw?

‘He is darkness,’ Taqôq Wiyon says, the lines of his face hardening.

‘What does he want with me?’ I ask, remembering Erebus’ words.

He stares at me and his eyes soften. ‘Darkness consumes light, Ray of Sun.’

If the meaning wasn’t clear, then it quickly became obvious. I am the bearer of the light, therefore Erebus wishes to consume me and my power. A surge of anger floods my body and I feel the flames of Isis stir within me.

So much for wanting to live a normal life. I realise now it will
never
happen. I’ll never get to be that girl. There are no white picket fences for me.

My resentment overrides everything else for a moment.

‘Does he want me or Isis?’ I ask.

‘You and Goddess of Sun are one now.’ He takes a sip of tea. ‘Darkness lives on fear, Ray of Sun. Fear found in war.’

War? Isis said the same thing when she threatened Uncle Jo.

‘Why does everyone keep mentioning war? A war between who?’

He shakes his head and the bones around his neck rattle softly. ‘Good and evil.’

Good and evil? This is starting to sound like a morbid fairy tale.

I rub my face roughly. ‘I still don’t understand?’

Taqôq Wiyon shakes his head sadly. ‘I fear you are a weapon to him.’

‘Weapon?’

Magi’s ears perk up, and he nods.

‘What sort of weapon?’

His opaque eyes darken. ‘A powerful one.’

Truth dawns on me as the last of my magic weakens.

Erebus doesn’t want to
kill
me
.
He wants to
use
me
.

After landing back in Sam’s room I expect to be
assaulted by both Julian and Phoebe, but the room is completely empty. It’s probably lucky that they aren’t here right now. I’m not sure my anger could have been restrained under the circumstances.

Looking down at my shaky hands, I feel the reality of the situation crushing in on me—Julian’s return, Sam being a shapeshifter, Taqôq Wiyon’s warning, Erebus being the ultimate enemy and the thing of nightmares…

Erebus
. Saying his name causes a whirlwind of emotion to swirl inside of me. If he thinks that he can use me to wage war then he is sadly mistaken. I’ll die before that ever happens. Isis be damned.

Magi barks and I look up to see her standing in front of the closed door where a piece of paper has been speared into its face by a small knife.

Julian
!

I get up quickly, forgetting everything else for a second, and grab the paper.

Elena,

I have taken Phoebe for a coffee and a chat. When you decide to join us again, you can find us at the cafe.

Make sure you bring a bloody good excuse as we’ll be dying to hear it.

Julian.

How dare he speak to me like that? Who does he think he is? I’ll bring a damn good excuse alright, and maybe a piece of my mind as well.

I yank the small knife out of the door, noticing the etching on its handle. The same words that are on Julian’s arm are the same ones on the handle, and after all this time I now know what it means.

Sanguinem in Latin means blood. Blood ties to his family, the hunt for blood, the taste of it? I want to know what it means, and I put it away with the other million questions I have for him.

My grip on the knife tightens, and I thrust it into my back pocket before storming out the door.

Making my way towards the café, I hear my name being called out and see Blake jogging towards me. His body moves in such a way that says he’s sure of himself but isn’t cocky about it, which just makes it worse. If he was a douche then it would be easier to reject him.

I groan inwardly as I watch the smile spread across his face. This couldn’t possibly be a worse time. I can’t fake normal right now.

I take in his tanned skin, the way his face lights up when he smiles, and his strong body moving towards me with the ease of a sultry predator. A sexy, hot predator.

Ama’s words trickle through me.
You have reached the age of sexual awakening.

‘Damn straight,’ I mutter.

Magi grunts and I look down. ‘It’s not my fault, Mags.’

She grunts again and pads away, standing a few metres back, but still keeping an eye on me, and on Blake.

‘Hey, Ellie,’ he says slightly breathless as he stops in front of me.

‘Hey, Blake.’

His eyes roam my face for minute and then he says, ‘I missed you at the game last night. I thought I saw you, but then you were gone?’

‘Yeah, I don’t do crowds very well,’ I respond a little coldly.

He frowns and then nods. ‘Listen, I know that you have stuff going on okay, that’s obvious, but…’ He scratches his hair and flashes me a lop-sided smile.
Oh crap
! ‘I like you, Ellie. And I think you like me too. So I wanted to know if you’d like to go out some time?’

My skin prickles with interest. Blake is gorgeous, considerate, smart, and not full of himself. Who wouldn’t want to go out with him? I’m attracted to him, that’s for sure, but then attraction has proven to be a fickle component when it comes to relationships.

Yeah, like with all your expertise you’d know
.

He takes a step closer and I hold my breath. ‘Ellie?’

All of a sudden a familiar warmth spreads through me and I know Julian is near. I look over my shoulder and can see him making his way towards us from the café. He does not look happy.

Oh sweet mercy!

‘Uh, listen Blake. I am really flattered but it’s just not a good time for me—’

‘Nope! I’m not buying the excuses anymore.’ His eyes deepen, emitting a smoldering quality.

His assertiveness is a little hot, and I falter. I look over my shoulder again and Julian’s energy is palpable. I have to intervene before this scene gets out of hand.

I back away slowly. ‘Okay, Blake. Call me later and we’ll catch up, alright?’

His eyebrows rise in surprise. ‘Really? I thought for sure you were going to reject me again.’ He smiles.

‘I have to go, but I’ll talk to you later, okay?’ I say as I turn away from him quickly.

‘Until then!’ I hear him call out.

I smile and wave him off before moving towards the inferno hurtling towards me.

Walking towards Julian feels like being drawn to a magnet. His energy pulls me forward, calling me to him. Unlike being drawn towards Erebus, which felt dark and menacing, Julian’s energy is protective and passionate.

His eyes are only on me as he drifts closer, but I know he is taking in everything around him, calculating all possible scenarios.

He lowers his head as he draws near, and I see his fists clench a few times. I raise my chin and straighten my shoulders. He can’t intimidate me. He takes in my reaction and his jaw twitches.

As we get closer the connection deepens until I feel like a sonar pulse is pounding through me with every step we take. I inhale sharply as we stop a few metres from one another.

‘Are you alright?’ His voice is filled with frustration but there is also tenderness.

‘I’m…okay.’

He folds his arms across his muscled chest and peers over my shoulder. As I look back I realise he’s watching Blake walking back towards the campus.

Oh, and here I was thinking that his concern was for me, but really it is about marking his territory. How typical.