Voice Of The Demon (Book 2) (43 page)

Terrified with every step, she readied the courtyard and headed immediately through the garden to the gate on the other side. She felt impending freedom in every bone of her body, urging her on. Two guards marched by, but they didn’t see her in the shadows. The huge oak gate was open, only the smaller iron barrier was closed. The lock clicked beneath her hand and she slipped outside, closing it behind her.

She kept close to the curtain wall until she was in sight of the lake. Then she darted out across the grass, running for the banks. She stumbled, again and again, but she didn’t stop. She just had to move, energy bursting from somewhere deep, tearing through her like the wind of vengeance. Gasping and exhausted, she finally reached the wood and dropped to her knees.

Nothing made sense any more. None of it. The secrets, the mysteries, the whole web of intrigue she’d fallen into. And now Robert had been hurt again. His vow . . . gone, just like that.

What would it do to him? Would that dark part of him feed off the humiliation, the pain, the hurt?

Jenn struggled to her feet and stumbled on through the forest.

She should never have let it get this bad. And now it was too late. Tomorrow she would be tied to that brute, Eachern, for the rest of her life. She would stand there in the chapel and say words she didn’t mean. But say them she would. She would not shame Jacob. Never do that. Even though the
words would be a lie. Then afterwards, she would . . . have to . . . give herself to that . . . man . . . and . . . But—

Was that all she was for? Was there to be nothing more?

Foolish, stupid girl! Such an idiot to think . . . to want for anything else. Why should she be so different – why shouldn’t she suffer? Why should she have the right to choose when those around her were denied that right? People like Robert, like her father.

It was too late for everything.

*

The forest was not silent, but certainly more quiet than the castle. There were no people around, no voices, no thoughts he could pick up inadvertently. It was about as silent as he could get.

Robert stood with his arms folded, leaning against a solid pine, its bark biting into his sleeve. He couldn’t sleep, the demon wouldn’t let him.

What a mess!

Poor Micah. For ever torn this way and that. Always trying to help, never feeling that it did any good. Always helpless in the wake of Robert’s moods. And he had sacrificed his own father’s trust in order to serve a man who was a complete and utter failure. And now there was not even his vow . . .

. . . By the gods, he’d been so close to losing control of the demon.

He should be leaving even now – but no, he would stay and finish what he’d begun. He would stay by her, no matter the cost. She was about to enter a world she had never desired, that she would loathe with every breath of her freedom-loving soul. The best thing he could do now – the only thing he could do now – was to see her up to that door safely. After that, he would turn and walk away, close that door finally and for ever behind him.

He left his tree and walked on down the hill. The dried leaves underfoot crunched with every step. The gentle breeze above sent more down to join them. Even without the moon he could see the myriad colours. But then, his sight had always been good – even before he’d known how it was
enhanced by his powers. A pity they were not much use for anything else.

The ground dropped away as he approached the stream. He paused to look around. This was the place. Here. This spot was where she’d first spoken to him. The first words of mindspeech. By the gods, he’d been so surprised. But everything she’d done had surprised him. Never once had she ever been conventional or predictable. Serin’s blood, how would she survive married to that monster Eachern?

He moved on through the dried and fallen bracken until he found the old ruined mill. Two stone walls still standing, tall in the night, hazy with moss and ivy. The jagged edge of one wall sloped down towards the stream on the right and ended in a rubble of stepping-stones and forest weeds. Inside was a darkness even his sight couldn’t penetrate. The roofless building gaped towards the sky, an open prayer for solitude, an empty waste of hope. This was where she’d been abducted. All those years ago. This was where it had all started.

In the morning, as soon as the wedding ceremony was over, he would climb on his horse and ride away. Go home and devote himself to his work. Forget the Enclave. Forget Selar. Forget everything – or at least try to.

He had to.

Robert moved forward again until he reached the arched doorway of the ruin. His hand came out and touched the damp moss, felt the cracks in the stone, the massive strength which time and neglect had humbled. Only the counter stone sat firm within its confines, holding up the arch at the same time as its weight drew the arch down. When it did fall, however, all its neighbours would drop too and the arch would be no more.

The cavernous interior beckoned like a dream of death, but he didn’t go in. He turned to go just as the moon reappeared from its cover of cloud and flooded the chamber with a dusting of seraphic white.

‘Robert?’

Serin’s blood – she was here! Standing by the window frame that looked out on to the stream. How could he have been so blind?

He stepped back.

‘Please, Robert, wait. Don’t go.’

Momentarily frozen with indecision, he then turned around to face her once more. She waited across the room, a ghost in shadow, insubstantial. Slowly she reached up and pulled the hood back from her face. He could see her eyes, but they weren’t looking at him. They were fixed on the floor by his feet.

‘I can’t stay here,’ Robert murmured, his heart beginning to pound violently. If he stood there any longer he’d bring the ruin down around him. ‘I must go back. I’m sorry.’

‘Robert, don’t!’ Her eyes lifted to his and he saw the tears fall down her cheeks. ‘Just tell me. What did I do? Why did you shut me out? Was it because I tried to help you? Because I failed? Was it because of Rosalind? Did I really do wrong in asking for your help? Why did you make me feel like an idiot? Please, Robert. Tell me what I did wrong.’

It was getting difficult to breathe. He should go. He should just turn his back on her and leave. Now. Tonight. They should never have this conversation.

But how could he hurt her again? All she wanted was a reason. Surely she deserved to know that much.

Yes, he would go – but his feet moved forward, not back. Forward until he was in the moonlight, close enough to see her clearly, but far enough away to still be able to leave.

She was waiting, her eyes fixed on his.

He tried to make his voice work. ‘I’m sorry, Jenny. I had no choice. Please believe me. You’ll understand one day.’

‘One day?’ She took a single step forward. ‘Which day would that be? Tomorrow, when I marry Eachern? Or perhaps next year – or maybe in twenty years’ time when we’ve all forgotten about this. Will I understand then, Robert? Will I?’

‘I love you.’

The words came out without his will, without even his acknowledgement. They just fell into the ancient ruin like drops into a pond.

Jenn stared at him, her eyes glistening with tears. ‘You …

When he spoke again, he did so deliberately, ‘Yes, Jenny. I love you. Do you understand now?’

‘No. I don’t. If you loved me you wouldn’t have been so cruel.’

‘But that’s why I did it.’ By the gods, this was impossible! Go now, while you still can! Move, feet. Get away. Leave her before it’s too late!

But his feet wouldn’t obey his commands. Again they moved forward, not back, as though his body were ruled by some new law, created for this night alone. Clenching his fists, he managed to stop again while still a few feet from her. She looked so fragile, and yet so very strong. The heart of an oak inside the body of a willow. If only he could reach out to her, hold her just for a moment. Kill the confusion which warred inside her, the confusion he had been so careful to create. If he could just hold her . . .

But he didn’t dare touch her. Couldn’t risk – But fighting was so hard. It had never been so difficult. Never before had he not even been master of his own body. So much of him wanted to take another step towards her – while the same voice inside screamed at him to turn and run. He would hurt her if he did, but he would hurt her so much more if he stayed.

‘You’ve always fought me, Robert, even when I just wanted to help you,’ Jenn whispered, frowning. ‘Every question I’ve asked has had a barbed answer. Even now, when we have this gift of mindspeech, you keep me shut out. Don’t you understand, Robert? Can’t you see I need you? I’ve always needed you. And tomorrow you’ll leave.’

‘Jenny, please! Don’t say any more.’ If he could just make her understand. ‘The Key said we were Bonded. That’s all this is. What I feel, what you feel. We’re being forced into this.’

‘The Key?’ Jenn took another step forward. ‘Do you think the Key has made you love me? Is it really so powerful?’

‘I . . .’ Her voice, her eyes, her nearness were wholly intoxicating. ‘I know how powerful the Key is, Jenny. I’ve been a slave to it all my life. I’ve tried to stop . . . to limit . . .’

‘Are you sure the Bonding is what you think it is? Is it not
possible that it could be something else? Mindspeech, perhaps? Perhaps even the reason for my own powers? You don’t know – can’t know for certain. You could be wrong.’

She gazed up at him with such trust. She was so beautiful with the moonlight in her hair. She was utterly breathtaking – and she was also very, very close.

‘If I’m wrong, why can’t I just walk out of here?’ Robert protested, but he was losing and he knew it. ‘Why won’t my legs obey me? Why don’t you leave?’

‘I don’t know, Robert,’ Jenn murmured. She glanced away for a moment, then her eyes met his again. ‘Perhaps you do love me after all.’

‘Jenny, please.’ And it was impossible to fight any more. Fight required will and he had none left. ‘Do you know what you’re saying?’

‘Yes, Robert. I do know.’

Then his hand came up and reached for hers – but the moment they touched there was a flash of light, a tiny bolt of lightning gone as quickly as it came. Just like before, when she’d put his
ayarn
back together. Startled, he tried to pull away – but couldn’t.

It didn’t matter. Not now. Softly, gently he touched her face, felt the coolness where her tears had been, wiped them away. He tilted her face up, brushed his lips over hers. A tremor wracked through his whole body, aching. In a daze of wonder, he kissed her again and she responded, deep, longing, yearning. Was this only Bonding? Did she want him as much as he wanted her?

As if waking from a dream, he pulled her closer until his arms were around her, hers around him. He held on to her, afraid the ghost would disappear and leave him alone once more. He trembled with the warmth of her body, the scent of her hair. Was this real?

No. She was here, in his arms. Her lips honey and soft dew. She drew him down deeper and deeper until he could see her again, standing beside the demon. But there was no danger here.

And no pain.

With angel’s wings, she wrapped her arms around the
demon and made it shrink. Soon it was invisible, nothing more than a shadow of remembrance. In one moment, she had done this. Made him whole. In another moment, the image would be gone. Only now could he see the extent of the blackness the demon had created.

No, Robert, she seemed to say. I cannot make the demon die. Only you can do that. You already know how.

Peace. That’s what this was. Simple peace. And in the peace, her image died away. But when he opened his eyes again, he could see her face clearly. There was more light now; they were surrounded by it. A deep, glowing blue nimbus which enveloped their bodies, but cast no shadows on the walls, no mark on the ruin to show that they were even there. What was this?

But he knew. He’d known all along what this was. Since he was nine years old he had known this day would come. Only now, when it was too late to stop, did he finally understand what it meant.

And Jenn understood, too. She smiled up at him, her fingers brushing across his lips, sending shivers of fire down his spine.

The Key had drawn them together. Now, even if he could stop it, he no longer wanted to try. With a smile, he kissed her again.
I love you, Jenny. Always remember, nothing will ever change that.

The blue nimbus flared then and Robert closed his eyes again. This time he let go completely and lost himself in her arms.

*

Micah started awake as the door crashed back against the wall. Tangled in the bedclothes, he struggled to get up. He reached for a candle, but knocked it off the bedside table. He could hear breathing coming from the door. There was a shape there, in the darkness.

Calmly now, Micah slid his hand beneath his pillow and brought out the dagger he always kept with him. He pulled back the blankets and slipped his legs over the side of the bed, but as his feet touched the stone flags, the shape in the doorway moved. One step forward. Then another.

‘Micah?’

The voice was harsh, but even so, there was no doubt who it was.

‘My lord? What’s happened? What’s wrong?’

‘Wrong? Nothing.’

Standing, Micah reached for the curtain, pulled it open a little. A film of moonlight stretched into the room, a powder of incandescence that touched everything.

Robert shied away from the light. ‘I . . . have to leave, Micah. Now.’

‘What’s happened? Is it Selar?’ Micah swallowed but didn’t dare move. ‘Or Jenn?’

Robert stepped back to the door. ‘I must go. I can’t stay here any more. Not now.’ He stopped, no longer breathing. This sudden stillness was worse. ‘I swore I’d protect her.’

Micah pulled on his clothes, his boots. All the while, he couldn’t take his eyes off Robert. But when he reached for his bags, Robert stopped him, a hand on his arm.

‘Will you do one final thing for me, Micah? Stay with her? I can trust no one else. Will you?’

‘Yes.’ The word was breathed out from the depths of his soul. ‘But what about you . . . ?’