The Darkest Touch

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

They were loading up the car when Ryder got a phone call.

Angelique froze and tried to listen to the voice on the other end. When Ryder hung up, he turned to her.

“Dalton’s bringing Isabelle. We’ll meet them.”

“I thought you said it was a bad idea to get us together?”

“Change of plans.”

Weird, but she wasn’t going to question it. Not if the end result was seeing her sister. “Okay. Where?”

“Near Catania. On the northeast side.”

Angelique zinged with trepidation. “Is Isabelle all right?”

“She’s fine.”

They climbed in the car and Ryder headed out. They were a few hours away, and she couldn’t contain her excitement at seeing her sister again. But she wondered why now, and especially when Ryder was so adamant earlier about keeping them apart.

“Something is wrong. What is it?”

“Your sister is pissed. And something happened. We figure you can help.”

“What is she upset about?”

“Don’t know. Something about your mother’s diary and some secrets your mom wrote in there. Dalton found it and read it. He didn’t go into detail, just said there’s some serious shit in it.”

“Secrets? Secrets about what?”

“He didn’t say.”

Dammit. She didn’t know Mother had kept a diary. And how did Isabelle get hold of it? And more important, why wouldn’t Izzy tell her about it? If there was something upsetting in the diary, why wouldn’t her sister confide in her?

She needed to talk to Isabelle as soon as possible. And see that diary. She was dying to know what was in it that was so earth-shattering.

After several hours in the car-an utterly silent drive, since her mind was preoccupied with questions-they arrived at a charming city on the outskirts of Catania. She barely had a moment to bask in the stunning verdant sloping hillsides, crystal blue water, and ancient, Baroque architecture before Ryder careened around a corner and headed up a narrow path, effectively blocking her view of the gorgeous city.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Up.”

“So not helpful.” Especially since she couldn’t see anything except steep, narrow road and clustered housing.

She finally had to stop trying to look around because the road really was heading. . up. She was plastered against the back of the seat and could do nothing but lean her head against the neck rest and look to the sky, which seemed to be getting closer with every mile.

Ryder finally cleared the small road and tightly packed houses and turned left where the road began to curve. They were still going up and at a steep pace. They seemed to be headed toward a magnificent-looking castle ruin.

“Are we going there?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

Damn. Her blood stirred, excitement fueling her veins with a rush of adrenaline. Despite her worry for her sister, the archaeologist in her was chomping at the bit for a chance to explore the castle.

“Are you sure we can get on the property? We’re not going to be breaking in or anything, are we?”

“Trust me, we won’t be breaking in.”

The castle was isolated at the top of a hill, nothing around it but sheer cliffs-a perfect point of protection against ancient enemies. By the time Ryder slowed down and nearly crawled the car through the narrow stone wall entrance, Angelique wanted to leap out and run to the front door. She was dying to get inside. Her love for ancient ruins had taken front and center in her mind.

“This is breathtaking,” she said as he drove the long curved path-more crushed stones than road, really-that led them to the thick door.

“Uh-huh.” He put the car in park.

She turned to look at him. “Oh, come on. Even you have to admit this castle is pretty cool.”

“It’ll do as a point of protection against anyone trying to get us. But then again, you and I both know demons can get at us from anywhere. So we’ll see.”

“Ugh. You’re no fun. Where’s your love of history?”

“I never had a love of history. Ask Mrs. McCann.”

“Who’s Mrs. McCann?”

“My high school World History teacher. I got a C minus.”

“C minus? You suck.”

He snorted and got out of the car. Angelique did the same, helping him unload. As they did, the front door opened and she whirled around, hoping they wouldn’t find demons standing there.

Instead, a familiar face greeted her. At least she thought she’d seen him before. Deadly handsome, with short, spiky dirty blond hair and an Australian accent.

“ ’Bout time you got here, mate.”

Ryder looked up and quirked a smile. “Hey, Trace. How are you enjoying Italy?”

Trace wrinkled his nose. “Not enough desert. Too much culture. Too pretty. Needs more dust.”

Ryder laughed and turned to Angelique. “You remember Trace?”

She nodded. “Yes. From our time in Australia.”

“I remember you, too, gorgeous. Still as pretty as ever.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Ryder grumbled, brushing past Trace as they made their way into the hall of the castle.

“Staked your claim already, did you?” Trace asked, lifting the bag from Angelique’s hands.

“No. Just. . don’t.”

“Oooh, I think he’s got a thing for you, honey,” Trace said to her with a quick wink.

“Fuck off, Trace,” Ryder said with a low warning tone to his voice.

Angelique listened to the interplay between the two with great interest. So much that she initially brushed past the fact that while the fortress was ancient and crumbling on the outside, everything on the inside was polished and new, from gleaming wood floors to leather furniture and state-of-the-art electronics spread around the great room off to the right. It was a geek’s paradise in there.

How strange. Who lived here? Who owned this castle?

“I could feel the testosterone level rising in here, and figured Ryder must be back.”

Angelique turned around as a very tall woman with long, curling black hair walked in. Another of the demon hunters.

“Mandy, right?” Angelique asked.

She grinned. “Yeah, and you’re Angie. Or is it Angelique?”

“Either will do just fine.”

“Ryder,” Mandy said as he walked by.

“Mandy. Everything secure?”

“Tight.”

“Who’s here?”

Trace stepped up next to Mandy. “Just us. Lou sent us. The rest of them are on a hunt. Damn demons are making strange appearances all over the country, so we’ve been split up. Oh, and a Keeper.”

Ryder arched a brow. “Not Lou?”

“No. Local guy. Michael. He just got here, too. Come on in and I’ll introduce you.”

They moved into the large entryway and a man dressed all in black walked out of the great room.

Wow. One of the things Angelique had remarked about in Australia was that all the demon hunters were gorgeous. She hadn’t expected a Keeper to be the same way. She thought they were. . older. This one wasn’t.

“This is Michael,” Mandy said. “He’s one of the Keepers of the Realm of Light.”

He didn’t look old-world at all. Extremely tall, powerfully built, with wavy black hair and stormy gray eyes. Full lips and an aristocratic nose. He was damn gorgeous.

He walked toward her and held out his hand to shake hers. “Bonjour, Angelique.”

“Bonjour, Michael,” she said.

“Comment allez-vous?” he asked.

“Merci, bien. Et tu?” She was surprised when he began conversing with her in French. They carried on a casual conversation about their trip and the weather for a few moments, until Ryder cleared his throat.

“Sorry,” Michael said, turning to him. “You must be Ryder.” They shook hands, and Ryder looked annoyed.

Angelique couldn’t hold back her smile. Maybe Ryder was a little jealous. She liked that.

“Lou has brought me up to speed on what’s been going on. I’m hoping I can be of some help. He’s sorry he can’t be here, but the demons are keeping them busy throughout the country. He’s working with your people and mine.”

“The demons are hunting for the black diamond,” Angelique said.

“Probably,” Michael said. “Or for the diamond and Isabelle. And you.”

“They don’t appear to have had any problems finding me,” she replied.

Trace frowned at Ryder. “You’ve had skirmishes?”

“Yeah. With some new forms of demons. They appear out of a mist and can’t be killed with our traditional weaponry.”

“Sounds like we need a debriefing,” Mandy said. “I’m cooking in the kitchen. Figured you’d be hungry. Let’s talk and eat.”

Angelique’s stomach rumbled at the mention of food. “You’re saving my life,” she said to Mandy.

“Yeah,” Trace said from behind Angelique. “She cooks and kills demons. I might have to marry her.”

“In your dreams,” Mandy quipped.

They ate, and Ryder and Angelique filled them in on what had transpired with the demons they’d battled.

“Lou told me about the new breed of demons. We’re working on designing new weaponry for you to use,” Michael said.

“I think you’re kind of young for a Keeper,” Mandy said, stating what many of them probably thought, too.

Michael smiled. “My father was a Keeper-one of the few who defied the Sons of Darkness when they began slaughtering the wives and children of Keepers in order to dwindle our numbers. Because the female demons were sterile and could not reproduce, they thought in order to keep the war between us balanced, they would make sure our side couldn’t reproduce, either. But my father refused to let the Sons of Darkness win. When his first wife and child were killed, he remarried. After I was born, he hid me away, teaching me and training me in the ways of the Keepers.”

“And you survived,” Angelique said.

Michael nodded. “I survived. There are more of us around than the Sons of Darkness know. And we’re stronger now than ever before.”

“So the Keepers are. . magical?” Angelique asked.

“We each have certain gifts that are passed down from generation to generation.”

“Cool,” Trace said. “Lou seems to know where demons are. He senses them.”

“All Keepers can,” Michael said. “It’s useful.”

“Understatement,” Ryder said. “We could all use that ability.”

“Trust me. I’m here to help. One thing at a time. The Sons of Darkness have their agenda, and we have ours. First is to take care of those under our protection. The second is to deal with the black diamond, with Angelique’s assistance, of course.”

All eyes turned to her. Right. She had promised Ryder she’d give that up if he reunited her with Isabelle.

Then again, she hadn’t seen her sister yet, had she?

“Is Isabelle coming?”

Michael nodded. “She should be here within the day.”

“Then we’ll talk about the black diamond after she gets here. I have to make sure she’s safe first.”

The black diamond was her bargaining chip. And she wasn’t going to give it up until she had her sister back.

Ryder glared at her, and she knew why. Earlier, she’d offered to lead him to the black diamond in exchange for his taking her to Isabelle.

Things hadn’t quite worked out that way, though, so now the plan had changed. And if he was going to be pissed off about that, so be it.

Izzy had to come first. At least right now.

Ryder could understand that, couldn’t he?

“They’re gathering,” Tase said with a satisfied smile.

Aron nodded. “As are we.”

Tase looked around at his brothers. “Humans are stupid. The Realm of Light is scattered.”

“Our demons have done well,” Badon said. “We’ve kept the Realm splintered, fighting throughout the country. The Realm is busy watching the demons; their hunters are forced into smaller groups in order to keep up.”

“It’s just as I planned it,” Tase said, rising from his place at the table and looking over them all. “Soon we will have it all. The black diamond, and the Queen of Darkness. All it takes is knowing we have the power and the knowledge. And most importantly, the strength. Are they ready?” he asked Badon.

“They are perfect,” Badon answered with a slight bow of his head. “More and more coming to us every day, desperate for what we have to offer. Apparently immortality, supreme strength, and perfection are quite a lure.”

Tase’s lips curled upward. “This domination will be so easy. I’m almost sorry there won’t be much of a battle.”

“I would not underestimate the Realm of Light, Lord Tase.”

Tase shot a lick of fire toward his brother, Kal. Kal was normally silent and generally went along with the other Lords, but he was never one to stand at Tase’s side; Tase knew he’d have difficulty with Kal. Kal didn’t even flinch as the fire singed his skin. Of course Kal would welcome the pain.

“I never underestimate them. I simply undervalue them. They mean nothing. Ben and Bart were weak. They let Lou and his demon hunters walk all over them. They thought with emotion. We know better. Our power is stronger now, and we will defeat them this time.”

“I still think you are unwise to believe this will be an easy battle. Humans are known to fight with heart, to use their very souls in their efforts to secure victory. They will not go down easily,” Kal argued.

“They are nothing but flies on shit,” Badon said. “Tase is right. With the humans we are turning now, our power is great. Our force is stronger than ever. The Realm stands no chance.”

“Those words have been spoken before. And still, here we are, no closer to our goal than we’ve been for centuries. Do not count out the Realm yet, my Lords, or you will regret it.”

“Do you stand with us, Kal, or against us?” Tase asked, fury making his flames expand. The others pushed away from the table, their icy countenances unable to bear his heat. He didn’t care, his ire was so strong.

Kal, however, didn’t move. “I am always with you, but I will always speak my mind, as you well know. . brother.”

Kal would have to be dealt with. Insurrection within the Sons of Darkness would never do. But now was not the time. Tase had worked hard to obtain his position as leader, and the great evil one was watching. . always watching. Judging him to see how he handled even the slightest uprising.

“I enjoy your challenges, Kal. I welcome them. And a voice of reason reminding us to be careful is a good thing. Your comments are duly noted. We will not underestimate the Realm of Light. But I think you will be the one surprised when you see how easy it is to crush them under the might of the Sons of Darkness.”

“We shall see, my Lord,” Kal said. “We shall see.”

The group disbanded, and Tase fought to gather his temper, wishing he were empowered to destroy at will. But their Father had not given him such abilities as yet. He would have to prove himself first.

And he would.

When the Realm of Light was destroyed and the Sons of Darkness walked the earth controlling all, the Father would give him supreme control.

And when that day came, the first thing he would do is reduce Kal to a pile of smoking ash.

Rewards and punishments.

Someday, he would be king.