Deception (Absent Shadows Trilogy Book 3) (20 page)

Mom laughed. ‘That would be the Wilson’s house. They always go all out every year.’

‘Oh yeah, I remember their house. I think we could have lights like that, but perhaps we should skip the Santa and reindeer, don’t you think Ceylona? I don’t think our front yard is big enough.’

She frowned before answering, and I could see a strong resemblance to Sam. It was that same frown I’d seen on his face many times.

‘Okay, we don’t need Santa and reindeer … but can we have lots of lights, right?’ she asked.

Sam shook his head, but his smile told me he would do whatever we asked him to.

‘Do you want to come with us?’ I asked him as I grabbed my backpack and threw it over my shoulder.

‘No, I’ll let you girls go pick out whatever you want. I’ll just drop around and see Michael … make sure everything is still under control. You know, it feels really funny, taking time off like this.’

‘It’ll do you the world of good,’ said Mom, her tone motherly toward Sam. It was nice to hear.

‘I’m sure you’re right. Anyway, why don’t the three of you girls, or should I say the five of you, go pick out what you want and I’ll see you back here a bit later,’ he said as he bent down to kiss the top of Ceylona’s head, then put his arm around me and kissed my cheek. Elizabeth and Cassie just laughed.

~~***~~

Ben and Henry were more than happy to help Sam with the lights. They’d all three been out there for over an hour already, and I began to wonder if I’d gone a bit overboard. But it was our first Christmas in our new house, and possibly the only one we’d have with Ceylona young enough to really get excited.

When they were finally finished, the three men came in and helped with the finishing touches on the tree. Then we all just stood and admired it for a moment—me possibly most of all. I mean, seriously, here we were: me, Sam, our three beautiful children, my mother, Cassie and Elizabeth. This was what Christmas was all about—family—and I knew we’d probably never have another one quite like it.

Debs had agreed to join us on Christmas day since Ian wasn’t coming back from Paris. And Crystal and Michael said they would love to come too. And of course there was Angelica. Sam had spoken to Michael about her, but that hadn’t gone anywhere. Michael had no concerns about her. But I still felt uncomfortable, and wondered how she had them all fooled. The thought of her being here, batting her eyelashes at Ben, was enough to send shivers down my spine. But how could I say she couldn’t come? I’d just have to put up with it. At least Ben hadn’t mentioned anything about her since arriving—although he had disappeared a time or two by himself, and I didn’t dare ask where he’d been. I suppose I really didn’t want to know—it was nicer just to think he was shopping.

But for tonight anyway, it was just the six of us. Well, eight if you counted Elizabeth and Cassie, but they were rather shy when the boys were around, and were keeping to themselves at the moment. So the six of us would enjoy a quiet family dinner, and then sit around and soak up the scent of our tree, and catch up on everyone’s activities. We’d all been doing shopping, by ourselves or in pairs, and there were already several wrapped presents under the tree.

Just a few days until Christmas, I felt like a little kid again, nearly as excited as Ceylona.

~~***~~

‘Lili? Where are you?’ Sam’s voice sounded desperate sending chills down my spine.

‘Down at Melbourne Central—just picking up a few last minute gifts. Why? What is it?’ I could feel the blood rushing out of my face, and the phone felt like a lead weight in my hand.

‘Where’s Ceylona? Is she with you? And what about Ben and Henry? Where are they?’ He was speaking so fast I could barely understand him.

‘Ben and Henry went for a drive—they borrowed Crystal’s car and went down the Great Ocean Road. But Ceylona is at home, with Mom. What is it? Your voice … it’s scaring me. What’s wrong, Sam?’ I asked unable to control the panic in my own voice now.

‘You’ll need to get home as soon as you can. Something is wrong. There’s something about to happen in the gardens. Get home quickly, and stay there.’

‘What do you mean something’s about to happen? What’s happening? What is it? Who is it?’

‘Zunios, I think. I’ve seen several very nasty looking vampires this morning, and they aren’t laughing. And the gardens … something isn’t right here.’

‘Okay. I’m on my way.’

‘Go home, Lili. Find Ceylona, make sure she’s safe.’

‘Yes, I’ll go straight home.’

‘And don’t go through the gardens—stay well clear of there, please.’

I quickly dropped what I’d been looking at and raced out the door. As soon as I was out into Elizabeth Street, I started running. It was, what, five or six blocks at most? I should be there within a few minutes. I ran down to Franklin Street, then up through the market car park, avoiding going through the gardens. Up Dudley Street, into Milton and there it was. I raced in the front door and stood for just a moment catching my breath enough so I could call out.

‘Mom? Ceylona? Hey, where are you guys?’

When there was no answer, I raced down the hall to the family room. Mom was sitting in front of the television, shaking her head as if to clear it.

‘What’s up, Lili? Back from shopping so soon?’ she asked. She had a confused look on her face.

‘Yes. Where’s Ceylona?’ I replied quickly, trying not to sound panicked.

‘In the back yard, playing with the dogs,’ she replied, but her voice had just a hint of uncertainty. She got up from her chair as I ran over to open the door that led to the back yard. I called, but my voice was met by nothing but silence.

‘She isn’t there. She isn’t here! Oh my God, she’s gone out somewhere with the dogs,’ I said, trying to hold back the full scale panic that threatened to overcome me.

‘Calm down, sweetheart. I’m sure she hasn’t gone far. I’m so sorry—I must have dropped off in front of the television. But she can’t have gone too far. It can’t have been very long.’

‘She’s probably taken the dogs over to the gardens for a play. And that’s the last place I want her right now. Sam rang—there’s something wrong.’

Mom picked up her handbag and threw the strap over her shoulder. ‘Come—we’ll find her. Don’t worry.’

‘No, Mom. You stay here, in case she comes back. She may just have gone around the block or something. I’ll get Elizabeth and Cassie to come with me.’

‘Are you sure? I think I should go with you,’ she said, guilt written all over her face.

‘No, really, you stay here. Someone needs to be here in case she comes back. If she does, don’t let her leave again. And ring me.’

I stepped out the front door and in my mind I screamed Elizabeth’s name as loud as I could. It was only a moment or two until I heard her humming, then I saw her there in front of me, Cassie at her side.

‘No need to scream so loud, Lili. What’s wrong?’

I quickly ran through the conversation I’d had with Sam, and as I did her normally cheerful face turned darker and darker.

‘We’ll find her, don’t worry. If she’s in the gardens, we’ll find her. We’ll bring her back here if we can, but if it doesn’t seem safe, we’ll get her into Henry’s tunnel. We’ll be able to hide there if there’s trouble.’

With that, she and Cassie were gone.

I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t just stay at the house, waiting. But I knew Sam didn’t want me in the gardens either. But how could I stay away? If Zunios was out there, how could I let my baby wander around, innocently?

I raced down the street, and then turned left and headed down toward William Street. I’d stay away from Sam’s tree, and sneak around the back of the gardens. I didn’t know exactly where Henry’s tunnel was, but remembering the direction he’d always gone when he left us at Elizabeth’s bench, I knew it was somewhere between her bench and La Trobe Street. I’d skirt around the outside of the gardens and look for Elizabeth—if Ceylona was there, she’d tell me.

I was there in a moment, but I couldn’t see anything. It was broad daylight, or at least it should have been. It couldn’t be any later than five-thirty or six, yet it seemed dark and hazy in the gardens. My mind raced—it shouldn’t be dark ‘til almost nine o’clock … something was wrong … really wrong.

I stood there, afraid to step into the gardens. Didn’t anyone else see it? People were walking past me on the street, heading home from work or off to meet friends for drinks. No one slowed or gave the gardens a second look. Were they all blind? Or was I dreaming? Was everything normal and it was just me—blinded by my panic?

I called out to Elizabeth, and within a moment she was there, in front of me.

‘Lili, you were right. She was here in the gardens, with the dogs. When I found her she wasn’t far from Henry’s tunnel so I took her there. It’s safe there. But something is very wrong. No one is walking through the gardens. You know there are normally all kinds of people walking through here on their way to the train station … but today, it’s like the gardens are off limits or something. They’re all walking around the streets.’

‘It isn’t just me then. There’s a haze, or something, isn’t there?’

‘Haze? Well, I don’t see a haze, but maybe that’s what you living people see. Whatever it is, there are no people in here. Ceylona’s safe for now, but I’m not sure she should be out walking … I mean, not even to go home with you. Maybe you should just go home on your own, and wait until whatever happens is over?’

‘Maybe I should, but I’m not going to. I’m not leaving Ceylona here, to face … whatever this is.’

‘Well, maybe we should ring Sam? Or I could go find him … tell him you’re here and that you’re both safe?’

‘No, please don’t. I’m sure he’d just tell me to go home, and I can’t. I can’t leave her here … alone.’

‘Okay then. Follow me. I’ll take you to Henry’s tunnel.’

‘How did you … I mean, how did Ceylona get in? I thought the cover was really heavy?’

‘It is, if you don’t know the secret to opening it that is. I just showed Ceylona what to do and the cover slid off—just like it always did for Henry when he was alive, and just as it does for Sam.’

‘Okay. There’s no time for explanations now. Just take me to her.’

~ Chapter Twenty-One ~

‘Ceylona! Are you okay?’ I nearly collapsed with relief when I saw her smiling face looking up at me shyly.

‘Yes, Mommy, I’m fine. But you look scared. You shouldn’t be.’

I couldn’t believe this was my little daughter talking to me. She was still so small and fragile looking, but she’d matured so much in the months that she’d been with Mladen. Even though she still looked like a child, her confidence spoke of someone much more mature.

‘Yes, Ceylona, I’m scared. Or at least I was scared. You frightened me, disappearing like that.’

‘Disappearing? I didn’t disappear. Only Elizabeth and Cassie can disappear. I just took Jackie and Zane for a walk, that’s all.’

‘Yes, I know, but you should have waited until Daddy or I could go with you.’

‘Why? I’m a big girl. Mladen said so. He says I’m very skilled for my age. And I’m almost four now. I’m not much younger than Ben and Henry.’

‘Oh, Ceylona, you’re a very skilled dhampira, I’m sure. But sweetheart, you’re still just a little girl. And it’s … not safe out here. Not today anyway.’

‘Yes … I could smell them. I was distracted, playing fetch with Jackie and Zane. But as soon as Elizabeth told me what was happening I could smell them. I’m a bit angry with myself for not noticing at first. I must pay more attention from now on.’

‘Yes, you must.’ I was amazed by her calm acceptance of the situation. She wasn’t frightened. She was annoyed at herself for not picking up their scent when she first arrived in the gardens.

‘Are you warm enough? Would you like my sweater?’ I asked, starting to take it off to hand it to her.

‘No, Mommy, you need it more than me. I’m fine.’

Oh, of course—she wouldn’t feel the heat or cold nearly as much as I did. I looked around at the tunnel, but it was so dark I couldn’t see the walls. Even so, I could tell it was amazingly spacious. And I felt safe in the knowledge that Henry had been an experienced miner so he’d known how to shore up the sides of a tunnel. I suspected we’d be safe down here for as long as need be. But it was damp, and the air smelled old. And as clean as Jackie and Zane were they still smelled like dogs, and in this damp environment it was just a bit overwhelming.

‘We can open the cover a little more, if you like,’ said Elizabeth, obviously hearing my thoughts. ‘It will be fine. There’s so much shrubbery—they won’t see us, and your scent won’t travel up out of here. Go ahead, Ceylona, open the cover a bit further so your mother can have a bit more fresh air.’

Ceylona reached up and slid the cover back another few inches. It helped considerably, as a bit of fresh air swirled down and into the tunnel. Elizabeth had been right—it was much more comfortable.

It wasn’t long before Zane started pacing back and forth; anxiously looking at Ceylona each time he got near her. But Jackie stayed at Ceylona’s side, sort of leaning into her the whole time.

‘He’s listening to the fight Mommy.’

‘The fight?’

‘Yes. It’s started. I can hear it too, but Zane’s ears are better than mine.’

‘Who’s fighting, Ceylona? Do you know?’ I asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep my voice calm.

‘Yes. They’re all fighting—Daddy, Crystal, Michael, Tom and Angelica. I can hear their voices and … other sounds they make,’ she said, looking at me cautiously. I could swear she was trying to keep me calm.

‘And what about Ben and Henry?’

‘They aren’t there. But there are a lot of others.’

I wasn’t sure if I felt relieved that Ben and Henry weren’t there, or not. I’m sure their help would have been appreciated, but they too were still quite young. I was almost afraid to ask, but I had to know. ‘And is everyone okay?’

‘I think so. But I should go and try to help them, Mommy.’

‘No, Ceylona. I’m sorry, but you’re absolutely not going,’ I said, with as much authority as I could muster. ‘It’s far too dangerous—you need to stay here with me.’ Dhampira or not, she was still my three year old daughter, and although I knew one day she’d be as much of a force as Crystal, it was not going to be this day.

‘Okay. I’ll stay here and protect you. It will be fine, Mommy, don’t be scared.’

I breathed a little sigh of relief. At least if she felt she was protecting me by staying, she wouldn’t be as determined to go. I tried to relax, but it was no good. I wouldn’t relax until it was over. And even then, it mightn’t end well. I cringed at the thought that Sam and the others mightn’t win this fight. They could be too outnumbered. I shook my head, refusing to entertain that thought. I had to stay positive. It would end well. It had to.

Elizabeth and Cassie, who had been standing quietly up until now, nodded to each other then looked at me.

‘We’ll go, Lili, if that’s okay with you? I don’t know how we can help, but we need to try—for Sam.’

‘Oh, yes, yes of course. I hope you can do something. Even if you can distract the ones he’s fighting it might help.’

‘Yes, we might try that. But somehow I don’t think that little distraction trick of ours will work this time. But we’ll try. You’ll be okay here, won’t you?’

‘Yes, please, just go. And tell Sam we’re safe. That’s all he needs to know.’

As soon as I’d thought the words they were gone. I stood there looking at Ceylona who had Jackie nearly glued to her leg, and Zane who was still pacing anxiously. I had to do something to distract Ceylona.

I asked her to tell me about what she’d been learning at school. I asked her do the ABC’s for me, and to count to one hundred, but she just looked at me like I was nuts. ‘That’s too easy, Mummy. Ask me something harder.’

So I asked her to do multiplication tables. It was working, a little—she had to focus a bit to get through them. She seemed proud to be showing me how much she’d learned in such a short time.

Suddenly, Zane stopped pacing, and he tilted his head to one side. Jackie whined, and leaned harder into Ceylona’s leg. Zane turned to look at Ceylona for just a quick moment, and then he was off. He sprung up the ladder and out of the open lid so fast that neither of us could stop him. Ceylona turned to me with a horrified look on her face.

‘I have to go, Mommy. I’m sorry …’ she said, already in motion.

‘Ceylona, NO!’

I grabbed out toward her arm, but it was no good; she sprung like a cat and was up the ladder and out the tunnel as quick as Zane had been. Jackie turned and looked at me. Her head was down, and she was wagging her tail very slowly, like a dog that’s been caught doing something naughty.

I knew I shouldn’t follow her, but I had to do something. I raced up the short ladder and popped my head out the lid. Jackie was behind me on the ladder, and the warmth of her breath on my legs seemed to give me courage.

At first, all I could see was the haze, but as I focused on the area up the hill near Elizabeth’s bench I caught some movement. I fixated on that, and as I did, the haze seemed to dissipate. A few moments later, I could see clearly, but the movement was so fast it was all just a blur.

Then something happened. I don’t know whether time slowed down for my benefit, or whether some Guardian Angel sensed my panic and aided me, but somehow everything became clear. It was as though someone had hit the slow motion button on the remote. The whole scene opened up in front of me—the whole, dreadful scene.

Sam was to the far left, engaged in a ferocious battle with a very large evil looking vampire. Elizabeth and Cassie and a few other ghosts were circling the pair of them, but their efforts seemed useless. My heart skipped a beat as this horrid being dived for Sam, but Sam ducked away just before he made contact and the other vampire went flying past him. It was hard, but I had to tear my eyes away—I had to find Ceylona.

Next I spotted Tom. He was fighting two slightly smaller vampires. Tom appeared to be laughing, as if he was egging them on. I would swear he was enjoying it, and he looked very much in control of the fight. Erranase was to Tom’s right, engaged in a fight with another very large vampire, but he seemed to have the upper hand.

Then to his right I saw Crystal. At first I thought she was in trouble as she was surrounded by at least five, maybe six, large and terrible looking vampires. She stood in the middle and as I watched I realized she was in complete control. I’d seen something like this before—a martial arts demonstration where one man fought off numerous opponents by constantly moving. This was exactly what Crystal was doing. She was in constant fluid motion, her beautiful hair swirling around her like some commercial for hair conditioner. It was almost as if she was doing a ballet routine—kicking one, then flinging the next overhead, then slamming the next one into the one beside him. She needed no help.

A bit further to the right I spotted Michael. He had four vampires surrounding him, and although nowhere near as graceful as Crystal, he was similarly in control as the vampires attempted to overtake him.

Back behind Michael and a bit to his left I could see a woman who looked like Rebekah. But it didn’t make sense that it could be her, as this woman wasn’t fighting—she was just standing there, her face frozen in an ugly grimace, watching the scene before her. It was odd, but I didn’t have time to think about what this meant—I still needed to find Ceylona.

To the right of Michael there was one more fight taking place. Although the woman’s face was covered by locks of her long dark hair, I knew it was Angelica. She was in a terrible battle with the largest of all of the vampires, and looked to be in trouble. Her opponent was more evil looking than anyone I’d ever seen. He was dark—not dark skinned, just dark, as if he had this horrible aura all around him, giving off a dark light or something. No, that wasn’t right either—he wasn’t giving off a dark light, it was more like he was sucking all the light into him. And as soon as I thought this, I could almost see Angelica’s energy being sucked right out of her too. This had to be Zunios, but he was too far for me to see his features, just as he had been that other time.

And then I saw Zane. He was racing around them and even from this distance I could hear him growling and barking. He was running in at Zunios and nipping at his legs, desperately trying to help Angelica.

Then I finally spotted Ceylona. She wasn’t much more than ten feet from them, a bit further around to the right. She was crouching down behind a large shrub—watching the fight. I could feel her indecision even from here. I felt a rush of relief spread through me—she was safe, for the moment at least, and didn’t seem in a hurry to get any closer to this horrible dark vampire.

Jackie must have spotted her at the same time I did, because she ran to Ceylona’s side and stood there protectively watching her. Zane must have seen the movement as Jackie ran up, because he glanced in their direction for a fraction of a second, and in that instant Zunios struck. He reached out and grabbed the dog by the hind leg, crushing it and then slamming him to the ground. I could hear the thump as his body hit the ground, followed by the most horrible yelp. Then there was silence.

‘Nooooo,’ screamed Ceylona.

Zunios turned at the sound and seemed to rise up even taller, focused now on the small girl who had cried out. He turned toward Ceylona, but having taken his eyes off Angelica, she seemed to regain her strength. She jumped on him from behind, clinging onto him like a monkey. He couldn’t shake her off and it appeared to annoy him enough that he stopped heading toward Ceylona while he tried to dislodge her. It looked like Angelica was starting to overcome him. Or maybe I just wanted it to be so.

‘Run, Ceylona. Run, now!’ I screamed, but my voice was lost in the sounds coming from all around us.

Ceylona ran, but not away as I’d wanted her to. She ran straight to Zane and crouched down on the ground next to his lifeless body. Jackie was right there with her. I could see Ceylona’s wrenching sobs as she held the dog’s head on her lap—it was heart breaking to watch her.

Then something changed. Whether it was Angelica’s successful overpowering of Zunios, or Ceylona’s cries, or the same Guardian Angel who’d helped me to see, I don’t know. But I could tell the balance had shifted in our favour. Tom, Michael and Crystal all looked to be just tidying up their battles. The vampire fighting Sam now lay on the ground with his limbs strewn in all directions, and Sam was running toward Ceylona. I sighed with relief—he would be with her in a moment and he’d keep her safe. She’d be protected from any foul vampires that might still be lingering.

Then another thought surfaced. Sam was running to Ceylona. Ceylona was crying over the lifeless body of Zane.

‘NO … Sam,’ I shouted, but again I couldn’t even hear my own voice.

This time I ran. The fight was nearly over, but even if it hadn’t been I think I’d still have run to Sam. I ran as fast as I could, but just as the fight had seemed to be taking place in slow motion, so too was my running. By the time I reached him, he was standing with Ceylona in his arms. She was wrapped tightly around her father’s neck, and she was crying into his shoulder. I threw my arms around the both of them, relieved that they were safe, yet terrified at the same time.

‘Here, Sam, let me take her,’ I said, lifting Ceylona away from him. She quickly threw her arms around my neck, and I could hear her murmuring Zane’s name over and over between her sobs.

When I looked at Sam he smiled, relief written all over his face. And as relieved as I was too, that my darling Ceylona was safe, I couldn’t help but notice his neck—still wet with her tears.