“He will meet us there,” Thomas replied, as Arianna finally saw the large black wings on his back. “If I were you I’d hold on tight.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. Arianna sucked in her breath and complied, though it felt strange to be so close to anyone besides Devin and Turner. Arianna felt her feet lift off the ground as she closed her eyes; she was afraid of heights. A moment later she was being set down on the roof. “You can let go now,” Thomas added.
Arianna blushed, pulling her arms from around him. Gabriel was standing at the doorway waiting.
“Mori got this open, but he will close it again once we get inside,” Gabriel explained. Arianna nodded and followed behind him. Gabriel paused in the doorway as he took one sniff of the room below. Gabriel turned back to Thomas, “Go back and tell Devin and Turner to get here as soon as possible.”
Arianna heard the door snap shut, and the grinding of the metal protection barrier moving into place as she continued to follow Gabriel through her apartment to the staircase leading below. Arianna paused at the sweet, almost cotton candy-like, smell.
“What is that?” she asked Gabriel in only a whisper.
“Baku can sense death,” Gabriel replied. “In myth, baku eat dreams. That includes the dreams of people asleep, and those that lay dying.” Gabriel reached back and offered his hand to Arianna, who was still standing at the top of the stairs. “We must go help them, and not let on that we know how bad it is.” Arianna nodded and took her uncle’s hand. Gabriel led the way into the dimly-lit room below. He seemed to glide across the dining room to the two dying men.
“Is that you, old friend?” Lord Randolph hoarsely whispered.
“Who else could break into your house successfully, old man?” Gabriel replied. “And I brought your granddaughter.”
“Ari?” Lord Randolph whispered.
“Grandfather,” Arianna replied, before breaking into tears at the sight of her grandfather, who had been so strong, lying withered on the floor, unable to move, or even open his eyes. “I’m here. How do we help you?” she begged.
“Arianna, listen to me now,” he paused to breathe. He straightened his frame slightly and opened his eyes as he spoke, showing the last flicker of the man he had been for a lifetime. “I’m an old man, and I’ve lived a long time. I’ve seen more than I ever wanted to see and lived more than one lifetime. I regret not staying to protect you, but that was never in the cards for me. I have trained Devin to do that, as he will be able to stand by you always. Follow his orders, and those of your uncle here, and you will be safe.” The regalness of the man before her faded as he slumped back down.
“I entrust her to you now,” he spoke to Gabriel. “Now, go help Bran. The Tricity isn’t ready to be without him.” Lord Randolph pointed to a plate nearby that was smeared with his blood. Gabriel stood and took the plate across the room to where Lord Winter lay unconscious. He opened the large man’s mouth, and smeared the blood inside. Gabriel returned to Lord Randolph’s side and heard more metal clanking as the main doors to the apartment were flung open.
Turner rushed across the room to his father and knelt beside him. Devin did the same to Lord Randolph.
“It’s time to keep your promise,” Lord Randolph whispered to Devin. He coughed before speaking again. “Please, take her away. She doesn’t need to see this.” Devin nodded and followed this one last order from Lord Randolph.
“He will be awake in a few minutes. He will be fine now,” Gabriel said to Turner, who was still holding his father’s hand. “Please join Devin and Arianna.” Turner stood and nodded, looking back at his father before helping Devin to pull Arianna into a standing position.
“But,” Arianna began to complain. Gabriel tapped her forehead, and Arianna slumped into Devin’s arms.
THIRTY
Arianna awoke to the commotion around her. The ballroom was filled with people rushing to help the wounded that were crying out. Devin was in one corner with an injured human, while Turner was running back to him with more bandages. Arianna stood and slowly walked through the mess of people. She could only faintly hear her grandfather’s heartbeat. He was still alive. Gabriel was near him. Arianna listened as she walked into the hallway without Devin or Turner noticing.
“You should see it,” Gabriel said quietly. “She is magnificent. Everything we hoped for.”
“I wish I had the chance,” Randolph replied quietly.
“Now, with it complete, we don’t need to worry any longer. She had complete control. It’s truly amazing.”