Chapter 130: Chapter 14

ADELIE

^TWELVE HOURS LATER^

I tossed the book onto my bed, my feet aching and raw. My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to burst. If the book hunters didn’t kill me, the vampires surely would.

I collapsed onto the bed, my mind racing. What had I done?

I’d stolen the book right from under their noses. They hadn’t seen my face, but my actions were unmistakable. It was doubtful they knew many nymphs with such power.

I had to make a move before they discovered my location. I had a few days to myself. All I needed were the coordinates.

A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts. “Adelie,” Maeve’s voice called. I hurried to let her in. As soon as she entered, her gaze landed on the book.

She made a beeline for it. “Maeve!” I shouted, stopping her in her tracks.

“I just want to know what’s inside,” she said, her curiosity piqued.

I shrugged. “I’m not sure. I haven’t looked yet.”

She studied me, concern etched on her face. “Are you okay?” she asked. I nodded. “Michael’s been downstairs for a few hours. I told everyone you were out.”

I quickly freshened up, wanting to appear presentable and not reek of sweat.

I descended the stairs and was greeted by Michael, the one who’d helped me discover my gift. He looked the same as always. “Michael,” I greeted him with a broad smile.

He turned to me, his eyes taking me in. He stepped forward, took my hand, and kissed it. “You look radiant,” he complimented. I guess the last time he saw me, I hadn’t been wearing such heavy makeup and dark colors.

“Thank you. I wish your visit was under happier circumstances.”

“Me too. Can we talk somewhere private?”

I nodded. “Everyone’s waiting for us in the library.”

“Everyone?” he asked, surprised.

“I work with a team here.” His face fell slightly at my words, and we walked into the library where everyone was gathered around an oval table.

All eyes were on us as we took our seats in the heavy silence. From what I gathered, Michael had already met everyone. He was just waiting to meet me in a more private setting.

I glanced at him, and he noticed my anticipation. “Maeve was the one who called me here.”

I turned to Maeve, took her hand, and gave it a squeeze. She always knew what to do. I mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ to her.

My attention returned to Michael, waiting for him to speak. “Rogues were trying to kill you because you are the key to that book, Adelie. The book responds to your power. Very few possess such power. They’re trying to stop you.”

“Why?” I asked. “I don’t even know what that damned book does.”

He eyed me warily. “And it’s best if we keep it that way.”

I slammed my fist on the table. “All of the problems start because I’m kept in the dark. You all try to hide things.” I was livid.

“You’re strong, Adelie. But don’t be foolish.” I hated that he still didn’t trust my intentions.

“What are you here to say?” I demanded. “I need answers, Michael!”

Next, Kairos stood up, leaning on the table. “You’re here because you want to help. So help!”

“I can’t risk her becoming greedy.”

“You know her!” he argued.

“I know a lot of people. And a lot of them have deceived me.”

“Adelie isn’t evil. If she was, I’d be dead by now.”

“There’s still time,” I retorted bitterly.

Kairos looked at me as if I was being unreasonable. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to let Michael in on my problems.

Leonard chimed in, “I don’t particularly care about your animosity, but you’ll have to tolerate him for now.” Now Leonard was bossing me around.

“I don’t have to do anything,” I snapped back. “What I need is your best man fighting alongside me!”

He agreed without hesitation, pointing at Kairos. “Kairos is our best.”

“Then your second best,” I retorted.

“This isn’t a game, Adelie!” Kairos yelled at me.

“I don’t want you there!” I yelled back.

“You’re a fighter, Luna. Act like it!” His anger was palpable, but I had more reasons to be angry than he did.

I waited for him to calm down. As he sank back into his seat, I kept my gaze on him. “I’m also a woman. And it might be a foreign concept to you, but I am. I hurt sometimes. I feel things. I’m done pretending everything is fine. It’s not. I don’t want to fight while you’re there. I don’t want you in my head while I’m fighting for my life.”

I turned to Leonard, “Remember, a woman’s heart is the hardest to thaw, and I’ll never forgive you for the lies you told me.”

I looked back at Michael, “What’s so special about the book?”

He seemed to be debating with himself. I wasn’t sure what made him decide to answer. “They want you to think it’s insignificant. But it’s much more.”

“Vampires believe it contains sacred information about them, their strengths and weaknesses, their powers,” I said.

“Why would you think that vampires would record anything that could harm them in that book? Why would you think they would write down anything that could be used against them? And why hasn’t it harmed them while the book was missing? Because it’s not about what’s written there. Vampires just somehow managed to claim ownership of it.”

“What’s in there?” I asked.

“A thousand possible outcomes of your fate.” I furrowed my brow in confusion. “Aldred had the book, but I don’t think he knew what to do with it. He took it just to anger the vampires. If he had known, our lives would be very different now. The pages reveal different instructions on how to conquer the universe. It requires extreme precision, but it’s worth every dime.”

“Why…haven’t the vampires taken over yet?” I asked.

“They haven’t opened it.”

“They can’t?”

“They can, but they forbid their kind to do so. And they keep it to themselves to prevent others from getting their hands on it.”

All this time, I’d been led to believe that they were bloodthirsty and purely evil. They kept the book so no one else could destroy the world. They were protecting our world from destruction.

“Can’t they hide it? Destroy it?”

He shook his head. “If it were possible, it would have been done a long time ago. Unfortunately, it’s indestructible. And they don’t trust anyone else with the knowledge of the book.”

“How do they expect me to just take it and bring it to them?”

“Could you?” he asked. “Could you fight off an entire vampire coven to take a book that’s locked behind a dozen keys and an iron chest?”

I knew I could. Because I had done it not too long ago. The book was with me.

“I’m not sure,” I lied. “But how could they ever assume I could do that?”

Kairos finally spoke up from the corner. “What is their plan if Adelie refuses to get the book?” he asked.

Michael shrugged and then looked at me. “Kill you? Maybe negotiate with your son.”

I nodded. There wasn’t much more to say. Michael didn’t know anything else, and he left soon after.

As soon as I could, I retreated to my room, but someone was following me. “Maeve…” but when I turned around, it wasn’t Maeve.

“Kairos, leave,” I said, massaging my temples.

“They know you won’t willingly stay there. And they’ll offer you something you can’t refuse.”

“Kairos… I don’t want you here.”

“But I am!” he shouted. “I’m here and I’ll help whether you like it or not. But if you want to return to your son, you might need more help.”

He paced around my room. “What if you don’t go right away? When they send the coordinates. Wait for them to step out. Wait till they come for you. That way we can surprise them…and that could actually work. If other nymphs stay in hiding.”

I shook my head. “It’s too late.”

He gave me a wary look. “What? Why? The nymphs have been disappearing less. And once they’re cautious, they don’t get taken. It wouldn’t be smart to go to them. We don’t know their army. There could be a few people or a thousand.”

“It’s too late. I have to go…” I replied.

I moved to lock the doors. Kairos watched me suspiciously but didn’t say anything.

I sank to my knees beside my bed, peering underneath to find a single wooden block askew. I reached out, touching it. Even though it was just a piece of dead wood, it obeyed my command. The block shifted slightly, and I pulled out the book. That cursed book. I tossed it onto my bed, its leather cover dusty and worn.

Kairos stared at the book, confusion etched on his face before it was replaced by understanding. “How?” he questioned.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “I didn’t even show them my face. They didn’t see it was me. I ensnared them all in vines. They must have had their suspicions, though.”

“They’ll want to kill you!” Kairos exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice.

“Not if I’m the only one who knows its location,” I countered.

“Why did you take it?” He asked, his eyes searching mine.

I knew now the danger I had put myself in. But there was a reason behind my reckless actions. And that reason was him.

I met his gaze steadily. “So you wouldn’t end up killing yourself trying to retrieve it while they held me hostage.” I knew he would have tried. But he wouldn’t have stood a chance against the vampires.

He remained silent. Because he knew I was right.

Kairos nodded, irritation flickering in his eyes. “You think I would risk the world for your unrequited love?” he challenged.

Unrequited?

“I believe love can make people do irrational things,” I replied.

“Is that why you took it? For love?”

Yes. But I would never admit it.