Impervious (City of Eldrich Book 1) (22 page)

“Wait a minute,” Meaghan interrupted. “So then who was stupid enough to attack Emily’s brother? John said his father had them executed, so obviously the ban was still in place.”

“Zayhna didn’t want his people to know how vulnerable they were, so he blocked them from the gateways but didn’t really explain why,” Melanie said. “Most Fahrayans accepted it, but there are always a few who think they’re clever enough to break the rules and not get caught. Zayhna never imposed the ritual on anyone, but he did have several would-be raiders executed over the years.”

“So, no plot?” Natalie asked. “Emily and her brother were just random victims?”

Melanie nodded. “Wrong place, wrong day.”

Chapter 38

I
t was into
this world that V’hren and John were born. Meaghan was surprised to learn that V’hren was the older brother. Succession was not dependent on birth order in Fahraya, but nonetheless, Zayhna’s selection of John as his heir infuriated V’hren.

“But Zhara was the greatest source of conflict between them,” Melanie said.

“Zhara?” Meaghan asked.

“John’s wife and Jamie’s mother.”

“Ah,” Meaghan said. “Of course. So your standard brother-versus-brother crap. But what’s that got to do with Matthew?”

“I’m getting there,” Melanie said.

“Get there faster,” Meaghan said with a glare.

According to Melanie, V’hren believed John had stolen everything that rightfully belonged to his older brother. His father had chosen John as his heir and Zhara had chosen John as her mate. Even V’hren’s son liked John better. “Jhoro’s mother died in childbirth,” Melanie said, “and V’hren blamed John. If John hadn’t—in V’hren’s mind at least—stolen Zhara, V’hren would not have had to settle for an inferior woman. He ignored Jhoro. He even suggested that Jhoro was not his, that his wife had been unfaithful.”

Natalie scowled, her tears now subsided. “Gee. I can’t imagine why Jhoro liked Uncle John better. With V’hren, it’s always somebody else’s fault, right?”

Melanie nodded. “V’hren’s tendency to bitterness and his sense of entitlement were the primary reasons Zayhna had not chosen him and the same reasons why Zhara rejected him.”

“And somehow that was all John’s fault,” Meaghan said. “So if he was such a jerk how was he able to turn everybody against John overnight?”
And when the hell are you going to get to the point?
“Big picture version, okay?”

“Upon being passed over, V’hren immediately began a whisper campaign against John. Trying to convince whoever he could that John was reckless and would be a bad king.” Melanie fidgeted in her chair, trying to avoid Meaghan’s gaze. “But ultimately the most useful fiction that V’hren planted was that John would conspire with the giants and destroy Fahraya.”

“And somehow Matthew stumbled into the middle of that and gave V’hren the opening he needed,” Meaghan said.

John had followed his father’s edicts regarding the human world but wondered whether such rigid isolationism was the solution. Fahraya was so poor and had so few resources that if the old stories of the riches to be found in this other world, stories now taboo, held even a grain of truth, then, if navigated with care, it could be a source of a far better life for his people.

Following Zayhna’s death, John, the new king decided to make a quiet foray into the human world to learn more. The punishments would stay in place, and these visits kept secret, until he knew more. The risk was huge. It didn’t matter that he was the king. If he was found out, he could be brutally executed. But the reward—he could give his people a better life. Plus, he’d be hailed as a hero and live on in the sagas.

“So,” Meaghan said. “Not entirely a selfless act.”

“Not entirely,” Melanie said.

“And V’hren wasn’t completely off base suggesting John was reckless,” Meaghan added.

Melanie sighed. “No. He wasn’t.”

Armed to the teeth, John, under the guise of a long hunting trip, slipped through a gateway into the human world and found himself in Eldrich. Face to face with Matthew and Vivian, who were on their way back from a visit to Troon, accompanied by Melanie. “There’s not much more to tell,” Melanie said, with a sad smile. “You already know how the story ends.”

Melanie translated between Matthew and John the best she could. Despite the language barrier and size difference, John and Matthew became fast friends. Vivian made her first amulet and a few weeks after his initial visit, John, in human form, was escorted around Eldrich.

Matthew showed him maps and photos, and impressed upon him the size and complexity of the human world. They tested how far from a gateway a Fahrayan could go before losing his strength and ability to fly. Matthew, wearing his own amulet, made a stealthy visit to Fahraya and met John’s family. During one final visit to Eldrich, John decided it was time to change the edicts to allow carefully planned visits to Eldrich and access to the wider world under Matthew’s guidance and protection.

“And somehow that went sideways,” Meaghan said.

Melanie nodded. “Yes, it did. V’hren had a spy who saw John enter the gateway. And somehow V’hren got wind of what John and Matthew were up to. When John returned, ready to announce his decision to open the gateways, V’hren was waiting for him.”

“But why didn’t John explain—”

Melanie cut off Natalie’s question. “He tried. But V’hren had done such a good job sowing the fear of an invasion—a fear that seemed to be supported by John’s furtive actions—that no one would listen. V’hren declared John a traitor and took control as king. His first act was to order John’s execution. And because John’s family had met Matthew during his secret visit, V’hren condemned them, as well.”

“They tortured Jamie’s mother too?” Meaghan asked, feeling sick. “Jamie had to watch that?”

Melanie sighed. “The few remaining shreds of V’hren’s sanity saved her from that at least. He had loved her once and still had enough feeling that he couldn’t bring himself to do that to her. Claiming it as an act of benevolence and mercy, he simply had her wings bound and had her dropped into a ravine near the gateway. She died instantly. As horrible as her death was, at least it was over quickly.”

“But he started the ritual on Jamie, didn’t he,” Meaghan said. “I saw the photos.”

“Jamie watched his mother die and his father tortured, and endured a few hours himself before Matthew and I arrived and stopped it.”

“And I’m betting John blames himself for what happened,” Meaghan said. “It’s not the physical abuse that broke him but the guilt. It’s why he let Matthew raise Jamie.”

Melanie simply nodded. The three women sat silent for a moment.

“What happened to Jhoro?” Meaghan asked.

“Jhoro escaped into the hills with a few of his friends before his father could seize him too,” Melanie said. “As you know from the photos, Jhoro met Matthew during his initial visit so he was complicit in the crime and subject to the same penalty.”

“But,” Natalie said, “Jhoro’s his son. V’hren couldn’t do that to his own son.”

“Oh, yes, he could,” Melanie said, her face grim. “And he would have, and still will if given the opportunity. Jhoro has been a fugitive over half his life trying to evade V’hren’s wrath.”

“He wants to torture his own son to death?” Natalie said, fury in her eyes. “What an
asshole
.”

Melanie smiled. “Indeed.” She lowered her head and rubbed her eyes with both hands. “He was always that. But—”

Meaghan cut her off. “There’s something else at work here.”

Melanie raised her head and stared at Meaghan for a long moment. “Yes. I believe there is.”

“Manipulating people to create fear and resentment,” Meaghan said. “Inflicting pain. Where have we seen that before? That’s who the Order is really working for. I’m thinking V’hren has the same boss.” She slumped in the armchair and stared at the ceiling. “So, we’re dealing not only with a megalomaniacal sociopath, but also an evil force that’s using him like a sock puppet?”

“Yes, I’m afraid we are,” Melanie said.

“Well, at least it puts the giant snakes back in perspective,” Meaghan said. “Time to talk to John.”

Chapter 39

M
eaghan found John
sitting on the front porch, Liddy playing at his feet and Ben asleep against his chest. After all the years without knowing his grandchildren, it was like John couldn’t get enough of them.

Liddy was chattering a mile a minute about Disney princesses while drawing on a yellow legal pad with a mismatched assortment of pens. John gazed at her, a look of wonder on his face, as he patted and stroked Ben’s small back.

Watching from inside the screen door, Meaghan felt her eyes sting with tears and stepped back before John could see her. Seeing his loneliness eased for a moment made her realize how bad it must have been for him all those years, alone with only his bees for company. To believe that the horrors inflicted on him and his family were his fault, no matter how good his intentions. No wonder he drank.

She thought of Matthew’s lonely years, of the estrangement between them, and how foolish it all seemed now. If John and Meaghan somehow managed to save Jamie and they all got home alive, it would be John who best understood what his son had endured. He’d have to put his guilt and shame aside, and step up and be a father again. She wondered if he was up to it. And if Jamie would be able to accept his father’s help after all these years.

Of course, it’s all moot, she thought, if we don’t get back alive. Which we probably won’t. With a sigh, she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and blew her nose on the crumpled tissue she found in her pocket. Keep moving, she told herself. No crying.

Meaghan pushed open the screen door and stepped out on the porch.

Liddy looked up from her drawing. “This is my Grandpa John. Are you going to get my daddy back?”

Meaghan nodded. “Soon, kiddo. And your grandpa’s going with me. But first I need to talk to him. Where’s your mom?”

“She’s sad. She misses my daddy. She went inside with the ladies,” Liddy said.

“Patrice is talking to
her
, downstairs,” John said. Ben wriggled and began to whimper. John murmured and rocked him until Ben settled back into sleep.

With Ben quiet again, John returned his attention to Meaghan. He wore the same look of wary shame that Meaghan had seen Jamie wear after his secret was first revealed. “Now you know my story I think. You still want to go to Fahraya with me?”

“Well,” Meaghan said with a weak smile. “I don’t really want to go at all, but since I have to, you’re coming with me.”

She felt her face flush and the tingly rush of blood through her body she always felt when he was near. A hell of a time to be weak in the knees, she scolded herself.

John spoke to Liddy. “Little honeybee, go find one of the ladies for me, to take your brother, while I talk to Meaghan, okay?”

Liddy nodded, jumped to her feet, and headed for the door. She stopped on the way to accept a one-armed hug from John. “Don’t leave to get Daddy until I get back,” she said.

He smiled at Liddy, the same wide free smile Meaghan had occasionally seen from Jamie. Years of care dropped from his face. “I promise. Now go buzz buzz and find Lynette or maybe Russ, okay?”

Liddy smiled back and ran into the house. They heard her shout “Russ!” at the top of her lungs. John shook his head, still smiling. He shifted the baby to his other shoulder and then looked up at Meaghan, who was leaning against the porch rail.

“We are going when it gets dark in Fahraya, yes?” John asked her.

Meaghan nodded. “Around midnight our time.”

“It’s dangerous after dark, but worse if they see us right away.” He stared at her intently for a moment. “Don’t worry. They chant for many hours. Hurt him a bit, try to scare him, but we got time. Lynette is telling him we are coming.”

“So, the connection does go both ways. Good.” Meaghan sat down on the porch steps instead of one of the chairs. Those were too close to John. She was giddy enough with several feet of space between them.

“That’s a good idea you give to Lynette. It’s not like words she sends, more like feelings, but it’s enough. The hardest part of the first day is fearing what is to come. We give him hope to fight with.” The baby stirred again. “Shh, little man. Your father is coming home, I promise.”

“I wish I had your confidence,” Meaghan said, the tears again trying to surface. She wouldn’t be able to push them down much longer.

“You are like your father. You’ll know what to do when it’s time.”

“What about you? Are you okay to do this? I know what . . .” she faltered. “I know what they did to you and what they were going to do. Are you sure you can go back there?”

He stared into the distance, silent, rubbing Ben’s back. Finally, he spoke. “I think I should have gone back a long time ago. To finish with my brother. But instead I drink and feel sad for myself, and now my son, he pays for it.” He shook his head. “You promise me, when you come home you make it right with your father. He was a better father to my son than I was, but he always wanted to be father to you.”

The tears now arrived despite Meaghan’s efforts to hold them back. She felt her face screw up. Her chin wobbled and, mortified, she heard herself whimper.

John moved to sit next to her on the porch step. He held the baby in one arm and Meaghan in the other, trying to comfort her. “Don’t listen to stupid me. I make you cry. Shh.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder and sobbed.

Lynette appeared in the doorway, followed by Liddy.

“Take the baby, okay?” John asked. “Take them back inside with you.”

Meaghan heard Liddy ask, “Why’s she crying?”

“She’s had a busy day, honey, and she’s tired,” Lynette answered. “You cry sometimes when you get tired, don’t you?”

“Does she need a nap?”

“Yes, I suspect she does. Now let her sit with your grandpa a bit, okay?” Lynette plucked Ben from John’s chest and herded Liddy back into the house.

Now John put both arms around Meaghan and stroked her hair while she cried. After a moment he scooped her up into his lap so he could hold her closer.

“You’ll be okay, shh, it’s okay,” he murmured.

Her tears tapered off and Meaghan became acutely aware of his body pressed against her. But she didn’t pull away. With his arms around her, holding her close, Meaghan felt safe for the first time since Natalie’s frantic call that morning. She knew it was an illusion, but she was grateful for the momentary comfort.

“Better now?” John asked.

She hiccupped and sniffed. “I need to blow my nose.”

“In my pocket.” He gestured at the pocket on his T-shirt with his chin, keeping his arms wrapped around her.

She carefully plucked the tissues out of his pocket, feeling his heartbeat under the soft, worn cloth. In that moment, she knew if she didn’t pull away, she would kiss him. And that would be a disaster. She had to stay focused.

Red-faced, Meaghan scrambled out of his lap and to her feet. She blew her nose loudly. “Thank you. I’m sorry to be such a baby.”

He gazed up at her, a knowing smile on his face. “You are so like my Zhara.” After a moment he added, “My wife. Jamie’s mother. She never liked to cry either. So strong, my Zhara.”

“I don’t feel very strong at the moment,” Meaghan said, still sniffling as the words tumbled out in a rush. “I feel like I’m about to go stumbling into something I don’t understand and unless you’ve cooked up a doozy of a plan that you haven’t told me about yet, I don’t know what to do. You say I’ll know what to do, but I . . . I don’t.”

John didn’t reply. She could see his lips moving like he was sounding out words and she realized he was trying to translate what she’d said.

“I’m sorry. I know I talk too fast,” she said.

“Nuh,” he said, smiling at her. “I hear too slow. I don’t know what ‘doozy’ is, but I get what you say. I’m thinking of a plan, but it’s not ready to tell yet. And Matthew had no plan back then and he got me and Jamie out alive. You’ll do the same I think.”

John stood up. He was standing on a lower stair so their eyes were level. He reached out and stroked her bare arm with his calloused fingers. Meaghan felt an electric rush where he touched her.

She took a step back. “I . . . it’s . . . this can’t happen,” she stammered.

“Why not?” He stepped up on the porch, close enough to touch her again. “I made myself alone for so long and today I know how stupid it was.” He stepped even closer. “It’s a long time alone for both of us.”

Damn you, Russ, she thought, why did you tell him that? Only Russ knew the details of her nonexistent love life. Meaghan took another step back. One more and she’d be backed up against the door frame. “If we . . . if I let you . . . then what happens if we do make it home? Do you stop drinking?
Can
you stop drinking?”

Now John took a step back. His face grew red and he stared at the floor. The shame was back.

Meaghan hated herself for a moment as she watched his reaction. But she’d been down this road before, with her father and with Greg, her long-ago boyfriend with the heavy fist. One detox didn’t change a thing. She wouldn’t subject herself to the betrayal, violence, and broken promises ever again. Her body might be ready to trust him, but her mind knew better.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice stiff. “I am stupid to think . . . I have to talk to Patrice.” He fled down the front steps and around the side of the house.

“God, I sure handled that well,” Meaghan muttered.

“Handled what?” Russ appeared on the other side of the screen door.

Meaghan yelped and whirled around. “Goddammit, Russ. Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

“I didn’t sneak up on anybody. I was making as much noise as I could. Didn’t want to walk in on a private moment,” Russ said. “Did you kiss him? There’s a pool going.”

“Did I
what?
” Meaghan felt her cheeks flame. “Wait, did you say there’s a
pool?
You assholes are betting if I’ll kiss him?” She glared at him through the screen. “There’s nothing going on. Nothing.”

“Sure. Right. Nothing’s going on. And it’s not a bet on if you’ll kiss him but when.” Russ pushed the screen door open. “Move. Let me out. Did it ever occur to you that something going on may be exactly what you need? It’s sure something he needs. John’s had more social interaction today than he’s had in the last eighteen years.”

“He’s a drunk. I don’t need that crap in my life and it’s not my job to fix him.” She refused to meet Russ’s eye.

“You don’t think people can change?” Russ asked. He plopped down on the settee. “Oh, that’s good. I’ve been on my feet all day.”

“I do think people can change, but only when they’re ready. I’m an idiot if I think I can convince him to change on my timetable.” She sidled over to the settee and sat down next to him. “You know that. Good intentions won’t fix him. It’s not a freaking fairy tale. One kiss won’t break the evil spell.”

Russ refused to take the bait. “I’m not saying he doesn’t come with a hefty pile of baggage. But at our age, who doesn’t? I’ve got three ex-wives and you’ve got such raging commitment issues you haven’t been on a date in ten years.”

“I don’t have commitment issues,” Meaghan said.

Russ snorted. “Right.”

“I can’t believe you started a pool, for God’s sake.”

“I didn’t start it,” Russ said, with a smirk. “Lynette did. After she saw you ogling John in the hall after his detox.”

“I wasn’t ogling him,” Meaghan said, blushing yet again. “And why the hell is my love life so damn fascinating all of a sudden? It’s not like we don’t have bigger things to worry about.”

“That’s exactly why,” Russ answered. “We
do
have bigger things to worry about. But we’ve done all we can from here and there’s nothing to do now but wait until midnight. Giggling over you and John gives us all something to do besides weep with fear.”

“Well, at least you can check that off the list. I’ve taken care of the weeping. But then I’m betting you nosy little jerks already know that. Some fearless leader I’m turning out to be.”

Russ reached over and took her hand. “Don’t sell yourself short. You’re impressing the hell out of us all. If it was me knowing I had to go to Fahraya, I’d be hiding under the bed whimpering. Jamie would be screwed.”

She gave him a wan smile. “You would not. I’m doing what anyone would do in this situation. If Jamie was counting on you, you’d step up. Everyone here would do the same. I’m nothing special.”

Russ shook his head, serious now. “No. You don’t get it. There are plenty of people who’d chalk it up as hopeless, leave him there to die, and get on with their lives.”

“But what kind of life would I have if I let him die? If I didn’t do everything I could to bring him home? If I didn’t die trying?”

“You’d have John’s life. He lived and his wife died. He couldn’t save her, and as far as he’s concerned, he let that happen to her. He didn’t die trying to save her and he’s been punishing himself ever since. If that were you, would you want the first person who made you think forgiveness might be possible—that there might be a way forward with your life—shut you down cold without a chance to prove yourself?”

“No. That would be awful,” Meaghan said with a sigh. She squeezed her brother’s hand. “How did you get so wise? For once I’d like you not to know me better than I know myself.”