A Glimmer of Hope (The Avalon Chronicles #1)(70)

“You’ve met Nergal?”

“Once. A few years ago. I think being blasted back fifty feet through a concrete wall means I lost that fight. He’s feared for a reason.”

“And we’re going up against him?” Harry asked, his awe replaced by fear.

“I really hope not. He’s never come to England before, and I can’t see why he’d start now. No, you’re safe from him.”

Layla remained silent for the rest of the journey, opting to look out of the window at the passing countryside. Eventually the car went down a dirt track, which after about a half mile revealed a massive complex ahead.

Tommy slowed the car and pulled in through the front gates, which were manned by several armed security guards. There were no twenty-foot-high walls, just a small wooden fence that encircled the property.

The car drove along the curved path up toward the stately home that sat at the apex. The house appeared to be several centuries old, and Layla stopped bothering to count the windows when she hit thirty. And that wasn’t even half of it. The building had two floors and ramparts on the roof where more armed guards patrolled. Yet more guards walked around the estate, across perfectly maintained lawns, and beside beautiful, ornate statues and colorful flowers. A large statue of a fish sat in the center of the lawn, water flowing out of its mouth and into the fountain below.

“What is this place?”

“It doesn’t exist,” Tommy told Layla. “Officially this is a pig farm.”

“I don’t think you want to keep pigs in there,” Harry said.

Tommy stopped the Mercedes behind the first car and got out, motioning for Layla to do the same.

The rest of the group were gathered at the bottom of a set of a dozen steps leading up to the double front doors, which were currently open. Two guards, a man and a woman, stood in front of them, like a heavily armed version of the staff from Downton Abbey.

“If the people in Downton Abbey all had machine guns, I’d have watched it,” Harry said.

“Because that’s what it was missing? Heavily armed soldiers?”

“Downton Abbey needed more Jason Statham.”

Layla stared at Harry in disbelief.

“Everything needs more Jason Statham,” Harry said by way of explanation.

“Everything?”

“Sure, why not? You’re telling me that show wouldn’t have been more entertaining if he’d kicked a few heads in?”

Layla considered it. “Fair point.” She turned to Tommy. “So, this is my new home?”

“Everyone’s new home for a while. Until we find and stop Elias and his people, anyway. There are thirty-seven of my people here, divided between four shifts, with two overlapping at any one time. That’s not including us. We are literally in the safest place I can imagine that isn’t on the moon.”

“Can you get us to the moon?” Layla asked.

“No,” Tommy said with a slight smile.

Layla followed Tommy into the house, admiring the beautiful decor and furniture. Colorful rugs lay on dark wooden floors, and paintings of landscapes adorned the white and blue wallpapered walls. Electric lights that had been made to appear like gas lamps sat beside them. A grand staircase led up and around to the floor above.

“How many rooms are in here?”

“A hundred and something or other,” Tommy said. “I never bothered to count. There are several in the basement. This place used to belong to a member of Avalon who really thought he could become a king. It was confiscated from him after his death and kept as a sort of hidey-hole, should we ever need one. Only three people in Avalon know it exists: Olivia, Elaine, and Lucie, the latter of whom is currently in charge of the SOA.”

“You trust all of them?”

“With my life. And with the lives of everyone here. If I didn’t trust them, we’d be somewhere in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country.”

A young man walked toward the group. He appeared to be slightly older than Layla, although considering Tommy was several centuries old and appeared to be no more than mid-thirties, the newcomer could have been any age. He had long dark hair that fell over his shoulders, the beginnings of a beard, and piercing blue eyes. His skin was pale, and he had several burn marks on one of his forearms.

“My name’s Jared,” he told Layla, his words wrapped in an Irish accent. He offered her his hand, which she took. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. This is all a lot to take in. Being an umbra takes some getting used to.”

“You could say that,” Layla agreed. “You went through something similar?”

He nodded. “It was a few years back now, but when I found the spirit scroll, it wasn’t exactly a good time. We’ll talk some more once you’re settled.”

“I’d like that,” Layla told him.

“Everything arranged here, Jared?” Tommy asked, breaking whatever moment had existed between Layla and Jared.

“Yes, boss. If Elias or his people turn up, they’re gonna find themselves in a bit of bother.”

Tommy turned to the face the rest of the group. “Remy, can you show Harry and Layla to their rooms, please?”

“You want me to carry their bags too?” he asked.

“I think walking with them is probably enough,” Tommy replied. “But I guess if you want a tip, you’ll have to carry the bags as well.”