Anathema (Causal Enchantment #1)(93)
That left me, the dogs, the Forero kids, the two yetis, and the man who looked like Leo standing in the large room. “Valentina, Julian, please see Darlene about your accommodations,” Leo said to them. “You’ll need to share a room.”
“Where the hell are we, butler? And where are our parents?” Julian snapped.
Leo strolled over to stand in front of the future drug lord, a triumphant smile on his face. “I’m not the butler here, Julian. Here, in these mountains, I’m God. Piss me off once and you’ll be tossed to the wolves faster than you can blink. Your parents are vampire fodder. The only reason you’re not is because of Evangeline’s naivety. Understand?”
My eyes bulged, listening to Leo deliver the threat. Where did the sweet, old grandfatherly butler go?
Julian and Valentina disappeared in seconds, the message clear. Satisfied, Leo turned to the two yetis, addressing them in some odd language that I had never heard before. The yetis grunted in unison and left out a side door.
I was now alone with Leo, wary of what other surprises he had in store for me. I watched him calmly walk over to one of the bookshelves. He pulled down a book and began fanning through the pages until a thick envelope popped out. Plucking it from the pages, he placed the book back in its rightful place, then walked over to me. “Here.” He handed the envelope to me. My name, written in Sofie’s floral scrawl, adorned the front. “This should make a few things clearer.”
I stared dumbly at him. He ignored my dumbstruck expression and continued. “I’ll be getting settled in. If you need anything, just holler.” He gave one of the dogs—Remington, I recognized by the dark blue collar—a scratch under the chin, then strolled away, a knowing smirk on his face.
When he was gone, I turned to Max. “Who is that?” I whispered.
Max emitted a burst of snuffling laughter. That’s Leo. Long story. He’ll explain later.
“Do you know what’s going on?”
Read the letter.
I grunted, annoyed. I couldn’t tell if it was fear of misrepresenting the facts or pure laziness on the giant werebeast’s part that drove Max to such useless answers. I looked for a place to sit, taking in my surroundings for the first time. The place reminded me of a ski chalet, with its cathedral ceiling and stone fireplace. The furniture was all made of wood and plush, casual fabrics stuffed comfortably enough to sink into. Overall, a pleasant atmosphere.
I ended up sitting back down in the chair by the window, clutching the stiff, thick envelope in my trembling hands. What will I find in here? Was it going to tell me that Sofie had been lying all this time? Or that Caden and my friends were dead? There was only one way to find out. I exhaled heavily. “Like pulling off a Band–Aid, Max,” I murmured as I tore the envelope open, adding, “one that’s crazy–glued to my armpit.”
Inside were several pages of lined paper and a stack of photographs. Flipping through the pictures first, I saw they were the ones Amelie had taken during my last visit to the caves. Sofie had printed them for me.
My stomach dropped when I glimpsed a candid picture of Caden leaning up against a cave wall like a model in a designer jeans ad. He was smiling at something unseen in the distance, his jade eyes twinkling with pleasure. My heart ached at the sight of that smile; I needed so badly to see it again—see it so I could erase the murderous look now etched in my memory, the look on his face when he realized how much he wanted to kill me. He likely would have, had I not been wrenched out of there.
He had been right all along.
Agony tore my heart. I set aside the pictures for the time being and unfolded the letter to see Sofie’s elegant script.
Take a deep breath. First of all, let me assure you this is not another spell that will have you running on a wild goose chase to another world. I promise you that. You are still here, two feet firmly planted on Earth. I just won’t tell you where you are—for everyone’s safety.
If you are reading this, it’s because you have succeeded in bringing a vampire back with you—hopefully four, including your Caden. Now that you have, you will be relieved to know that the necklace will no longer transport you to Ratheus every night. But do not take it off. It has bound itself to you, to your heart. Without it on, your heart will stop beating.
You’re probably wondering why I have sent you to this snowy cabin in the woods. Do you remember me mentioning that there was a “complication” in unlocking Veronique’s tomb and that your necklace was needed to get her out? I feel I should explain the whole truth now …
Of course she hadn’t told me everything!
When I was casting the Causal Enchantment, I was full of raw angst and self–pity over the loss of Nathan, love for Veronique, and the intense need to one day find love again. All of those emotions melded together and resulted in the solution to our venom issue, but also an exceptionally cruel trick. The enchantment gave me the gift of love—a different sort of love, but just as compelling—when it bound itself to you.
Anyway, this was a gift with a condition. I would one day be forced to choose between you and Veronique. How, you ask? Well, when I first entombed Veronique within that statue, I basically encapsulated her heart within her pendant. Not physically, of course, but the life force of her heart. Releasing her was supposed to be simple enough. I just had to place the pendant within the statue’s outstretched hand.