The Secret Trinity Unearth (22 page)

“Your job is to save me. Is that what an Eartha Keeper is?” I asked. The warmth in my tone was quickly fading.

“My job as your guard is to protect you, to watch over you. But, with the amount of trouble you go looking for, I suppose saving you would be a more accurate description,” he said with a bit of mockery in his tone.

I crossed my arms and pursed my lips, “Well maybe if you had told me what was going on from the start, instead of appearing in my bedroom all scary and mysterious and freaking me out, I would not have gotten us into this mess. So job well done, thank you,” I repeated matching his mockery.

I no longer feared him but I was irritated with how quickly he had gotten under my skin. I thought I saw his mouth curl to a grin at my remark, but he recovered too fast for me to tell for sure.

“That was not my intention. I broke my orders by making direct contact with you. I did not mean to confuse you further.” He admitted a little warmer this time.

“And who do your orders come from?” I asked, still annoyed by his rudeness.

“My father,” he replied flatly. I stared at his profile with my eyebrows raised, waiting for the rest of that sentence. Then his eyes flickered toward me.

“My father is the Eartha King,” he said, giving up on vague answers.

“So, what, you’re some sort of Prince?” I asked sarcastically, finding it hard to believe that a prince would be so rough around the edges. His jaw went tight giving me a touch of pleasure that I could get under his skin too.

“Well I don’t sit on a throne all day while jesters entertain me, if that’s what you’re getting at. It is more of a leadership role than anything else. Besides, I pretty much have my hands full with you.” He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling at his own comment and I gritted my teeth again.

“What is going on exactly? Why did Liam come to get me and lure me here? Why didn’t you tell me who he really was? Am I the last female Aira on the planet or something?” I furrowed my brow still not understanding why I was trapped in this hell. Clay’s face turned to stone and he was gripping the wheel so severely that his knuckles had turned white.

“That was a lot of questions and unfortunately the answers will have to wait until you meet my father. I am not really at liberty to explain why he makes the choices he does, since we rarely see eye-to-eye.” He gulped down hard and I sensed some sort of turmoil in their relationship.

I wanted to push further but then a flash of Morgan crossed my eyes and I shut them tight trying to get a clear picture. She was looking out a huge window into a heavily wooded forest, with a grave look of despair on her face. A guy with red hair had a comforting hand resting on her shoulder.

“What was that?” Clay asked whipping his head in my direction when I opened my eyes coming out of the vision.

“Where are my friends?!” I asked sharply. His eyebrows came together creating a vertical line between them.

“Holy...did you just trace! That energy is like fire. I knew it! Those masking spells didn’t stand a chance against you.” His voice came out just as sharp.

“Clay, where are they?” My voice came out as a whiny squeak when he didn’t answer my question.

“They are waiting with Grant at my parent’s house,” he answered with his brow still furrowed.

“Is that the base player from the band?” I asked recalling the image of him trying to comfort Morgan. She was probably sick with worry about me. Clay looked at me wide-eyed.

“Yeah...did you see him?” he asked, returning his eyes to the road.

“Yes,” I answered, breathless with relief that I had confirmation of their safety from someone other than Adam.

“When Kayla brought Morgan over to talk to Grant, very quickly they both became dizzy and started slurring there words. It had come on so rapidly we realized that Liam had drugged all of you and that he was going to make his move tonight. I went looking for you while Grant dealt with Adam and got them out.” He explained with some tightness in his throat recalling the memory.

“But Adam is Fae. What kind?” I inquired.

“Yes, he is Aira Fae, but he was taken from his parents and raised by the Famorii King Thaddeus, Liam’s father, until he died.” I gasped audibly but Clay ignored my reaction and continued.

“It was the only family Adam had so his world is warped by lies and deceit.” The revulsion in Clay’s voice was evident, and I felt sorry for Adam.

“And…” I started to ask another question but Clay cut me off.

“I know you have many more questions, but they can wait until we get to the house. My father has much more patience than I do. Think of me as your silent bodyguard.” He said this to cut me off but the edge in his voice was not impatience. It held something else, again something I could not place.

I slumped back in my seat, “Great, nothing more uncomfortable than having some stranger lurking around me, silently watching. It will be like the good old days,” I replied with dripping sarcasm. Out of the corner of my eye I could tell he was suppressing a smile, but he did not say another word for the rest of the drive.

*****

We must have been heading way out of town, because the more turns Clay made, the more rough and rural the road became. No cars had passed us for at least fifteen minutes and the road became pitted and bumpy, flanked by tall trees that arched over us like a bridge. Eventually he turned off the road into the forest, and now we were driving on flattened grass, clearing the trees just enough not to scrape the side of his car.

After a mile or so Clay stopped the car and hopped out leaving the door open. The headlights flooded him when he stepped in front of the car and turned toward the vast and endless forest. The beams of the car glowed onto the scenery, bringing to light impossibly tall mossy trees overhead which cloaked fields of colorful wildflowers.

Clay put his hand out into the air like he was resting it on a surface, but there was nothing there. He mumbled something that I couldn’t make out under his breath. Then a sheet of shimmery light radiated beneath his hand as if he were unlocking some invisible force field.

He jumped back in the car. I looked at him perplexed but he ignored it. He put the car in drive and moved forward slowly. The car was instantly sucked into some sort of clear jello bubble which spit us out the other side, like a haunted car wash. When we came out the other side, an entire town appeared before my eyes behind a grand arched gate, fit for royalty.

“What was that?” I asked marveled by this quaint secret city, nestled in the forest.

“It is a kind of masking spell we use to keep our community hidden. Welcome to Draíochta,” he said with a grin.

The slotted silver gate creaked open as Clay drove under the arch. The arch was made of silver and gold, carved into intertwining vines as thick as tree trunks. The vines were detailed with delicate clovers and large flowers, and the flower buds were replaced with gemstones of bright rubies, sapphires, and amethyst, in all different cuts and colors that sparkled with intensity when our headlight beams light passed by them.

Clay continued to drive at a snail’s pace in order for me to take in the surroundings of this mystical city. We drove down a brick-laid street which had a multicolor herring bone pattern to it. Because of the late hour it was quiet outside and all of the little shops and restaurants looked closed for the night. The buildings were picturesque with thick wooden shingles on the roofs, and exotic potted flowers hanging in the leaded glass windows.

The sidewalk looked as if it was dusted with gold flecks, and it was lined with small trees that somehow still had their leaves in the middle of winter. But these were not ordinary trees, because the leaves they held actually glowed, acting as street lights. The glowing leaves were the colors of fall in golden yellows, burnt orange, and lipstick reds, which seemed equally impossible for this time of year.

Clay turned off the main road onto a narrower street which was dotted with houses. The homes were modest in size but they all seemed elegant with their own unique touch. Some had patterned slate chimneys or wrap-around porches inlaid with metal accents. Others had big windows in unusual interesting shapes, or gorgeously carved front doors with the detailing of a true artist. I had literally been driven into a fairytale land. It was the most beautiful, delightful place I had ever seen.

Straight ahead at the end of the road a house bigger than all the others came into view. This enormous log home was the only one on this street with dim light glowing through its front windows, and it had smoke puffing out of the stone chimney. The dark wood and copper accented facade had intricately laced vines twisting up its sides.

Clay pulled up to the log home where a few other cars were already parked and got out. I sat in Clay’s car trying to collect my nerves. I had seen more paranormal things tonight than I could have ever imagined in my whole life. And yet, I realized this was just the beginning.

I got my bearings and managed to open the passenger door to step out. As soon as my foot touched the frozen ground the copper lined front door flew open slamming against the inside walls. Morgan and Kayla burst through the door, their eyes frantic until they landed on me standing by the car. They both broke into a sprint, heading right for me. I ran to meet them half way, and we crashed into each other wrapping up in a three way hug.

I swallowed down overwhelming emotion. There were no words for this reunion. I knew exactly what they were feeling, complete and utter relief that we were together and safe, for the time being anyway. I could feel the tears rising up, the deepest ones that I had been suppressing since the moment I sat in Clay’s car. I pulled away knowing that if I started to cry I would not be able to stop. I had to keep my composure. I had to be strong, for once.

Kayla looked at me as I pulled free from our hug, “Ari, I do not know what we would have done if…” she trailed off, her voice quivered with tears, and I dropped my eyes to the ground knowing I could lose it at any moment.

“I know…” was all I could say, and the three of us let out a broken sigh simultaneously.

I heard Clay’s footsteps from behind, “Let’s go inside,” he said as he passed us moving toward the front door.

My feet were numb against the frigid ground. I needed to get warm before I got frost bite on my toes. I followed Clay up the porch steps into the house with the girls beside me.

The log home opened up into a vaulted great room with huge wooden beams across the ceiling. A three tiered, circular candelabra chandelier hung from its peak. A beautifully detailed stone fireplace with its chimney running up the length of the wall lay straight ahead, framed on both sides by tall windows. I realized these were the windows I had seen in my vision of Morgan.

A single staircase was against the left wall leading up to a second floor. The honey colored floors matched the ceiling and all the furniture was big and overstuffed in earth tone colors. Even though it was ten times bigger and more elegant than any log home I have ever seen, the air smelled of cedar, and I was surprised by how cozy and inviting it felt. Sitting on the overstuffed couch was the guy from my vision who was comforting Morgan. I walked right up to him and held out my hand.

“Grant, I assume. I cannot thank you enough for helping my friends.” He blinked and gulped hard; his facial expression was stunned. I creased my forehead with confusion as he looked past my shoulder. I followed his eyes turning my head. Clay was standing a few feet behind me. Clay nodded once, answering some silent question I did not understand. Grant extended his hand and shook mine slowly, staring at me.

“It was my pleasure,” he said, and a look of guilt crossed his face, “though, I cannot take much credit. Adam hardly put up a fight,” he confessed. He dropped his hand from mine, and I walked to the fireplace to stand directly in front of it, soaking up the warmth of the crackling flames. Kayla and Morgan sat down on the other couch across from Grant but Clay remained standing with a stiff posture.

“Are you two okay? I mean, what happened?” I asked facing toward the girls on the couch, as I wiggled to get the feeling back into my fingers and toes.

Kayla shrugged, “It’s kind of a blur. We were talking to Grant and my head was spinning, crazy dizzy all of a sudden. I thought I was going to pass out and Morgan said the same thing. Grant led us out the back door for fresh air. When we got to the alley I could barely stay awake. Adam came charging outside and tried to take us but Grant got in his face calling him a traitor. After that it was all a haze of flying bricks and wind blowing so hard that I fell over, taking Morgan down with me. When the wind stopped Adam hovered off the ground, and then he flew away! I thought I was hallucinating and then I passed out,” Kayla sighed slumping back on the couch. Morgan picked up where she left off.

“Yeah, I woke up first in Grant’s backseat and started freaking out. I thought he was trying to kidnap us and I put a choke hold on him.” She laughed for a second thinking of it before she continued.

“Grant pulled over and an earthquake shook the ground until a chunk of mountain raised up underneath the car. That woke Kayla up pretty quick.” She stopped to exchange a smile with Kayla.

“We were trapped in the car on the edge of this man-made cliff in the air. It sort of forced us to listen to what Grant had to say. After he explained what was really going on, I remembered that Shannon had given us that champagne. Besides, I knew something was not right with Liam. He felt off somehow. He was always a little too…” Morgan trailed off unable to pinpoint the feeling and she looked over at Grant.

I didn’t know what was more surprising, the man-made cliff she described, or the way I just saw Grant and Morgan look at each other. I used to look at Liam that way and now all I felt was emptiness. I had managed not to think about him for a few minutes, and now the mention of his name sent a pang to my heart. I took off Clay’s coat and I looked down at my hands. My clothes were dry again but my hands were still shaking.

“I am so sorry. I cannot believe I dragged you guys out here. I am so, so sorry,” I whispered, unable to express the gravity of my remorse for putting my best friends in danger.