A Shade of Vampire 40: A Throne of Fire(35)

I watched them talk, half involved in the conversation and half watching us all from the outside, still trying to get my head around the fact that we’d actually managed to find them and that they were alive and safe. I could see that they had changed. In Benedict it was subtle, but I could detect a sadness beneath his enthusiasm—a wariness that had never been there before, that should only ever really belong in a person three times his age. I realized that my son had seen too much while he’d been here—they had obviously been through a lot. I’d sent them to Murkbeech for them to have fun and learn survival and team skills. It looked like they’d learnt some harsh life lessons instead.

In Hazel the change was more pronounced, and at the same time, more confusing. Part of it was confidence. She seemed to walk a little bit taller, like she was more solid, more sure of herself. Hazel had always been a daydreamer, part present, part thinking about the latest book she was reading or some fantasy that her head was concocting. I didn’t know if it was our sudden appearance or a fundamental, permanent change, but she appeared more present, more in the moment. Was that because of this sentry she was dating? Or something else?

“Hazel, are you all right?” the sentry asked, studying her intently.

“I’m fine,” she nodded.

I frowned. Why did he seem to be wary of her interaction with us?

“I can look after Mom,” Benedict added, “if you want to go ahead with Tejus?”

“Hazel?” I queried, worried. What was all this about? Why was Benedict watching his sister as if something was wrong?

“She’ll remain with us,” Caleb snapped.

The sentry ignored us all, watching for some kind of confirmation from Hazel—apparently not convinced by her telling him she was ‘fine’.

“Honestly, I’m good. We’re almost at the castle.”

The sentry nodded, walking on, leading his strange bull-horse by the reins. I bit my tongue. Whatever it was would come out eventually—it looked like I needed to have a long chat with my daughter. There was definitely something going on that I was missing.

Wasn’t he too old for her? He seemed like a fully-grown man, and I still considered Hazel just on the cusp of young adulthood. It wasn’t just his age that made me skeptical about his suitability for my daughter. He had a darkness about him, not uncommon to supernatural creatures, but he certainly had a ‘tortured soul’ thing happening: dark, brooding, deadly-looking. A born fighter. That kind of man was in danger of sucking all the light out of my daughter.

From our small interactions so far, he also seemed over-protective of Hazel. And controlling. Huh. I tried to ignore the similarities between him and the rest of the Novak men. Was the attraction to kidnappers a genetic thing?

But the Novak men were also brave, good and righteous on the inside—once you got under the hard exterior, despite their sometimes obvious flaws.

Was Tejus the same? I wasn’t convinced. I hoped that this thing between the two of them was just a crush, because quite frankly, so far, he’d just come across as an arrogant ass.

“Tejus.” Benedict broke off from his chatter, calling out to the sentry in a breathless voice. “I think… I think I can feel it.”

“I know,” he replied. He jumped up on his horse, turning it around as the creature reared up, and grabbed both Benedict and Hazel, flinging them on behind him.

“Hey!” I exclaimed.

“I understand that your kind has superior speed. Run to the castle and don’t look back,” he instructed us. “Tell the rest of your team to do the same. ASH!” he bellowed over our heads, catching the attention of another sentry who rode at the back of the line.

“I’m right behind you,” the other replied.

The other sentries started to gallop off with their bull-horses. Tejus led the way—Benedict turning his head to look back at us, his face ghost white and his expression terrified. He grabbed the hand of a red-headed girl who I was certain was human, pulling her along with him.

“Let’s move out!” my dad yelled to the rest of GASP.

Caleb and I started running after our kids, heading for the castle as fast as we could. The dragons and Hawks flew above us, the jinni appearing every few yards or so and then vanishing, reappearing ahead as they got to know the area. Mona, Corrine and Ibrahim did the same.

As we ran, I started to feel something prickling at the back of my neck—the strange sensation of a million invisible eyes watching me.

“Caleb?” I called out, wondering if he could feel it too.

“Just keep running,” he replied.

I nodded. Nothing would stop me. Whatever we were running from, I had no desire for it to reach us. It was dark, malevolent and black, like a great abyss was yawning behind me—wanting to consume us all.