As always, Jackson was the ever-wise person who knew just what to say and when to say it. He appeared a little changed and the dark circles around his eyes were a lot deeper than before, he was clearly stressed, and I hated seeing him in any sort of torment.
He was incredibly important to me and although I would have liked to shield him away from the dangers that come with our job, I knew he’d never allow it and as my second-in-command, his job came with an awful lot of responsibilities, but I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d prefer at my side.
Feeling something suddenly cold across my neck almost made me jolt out of my chair and I fiddled around my neck to find the gold necklace Darius had given me.
When and how did that even get there? I wasn’t wearing it and I believed it was still in its box in my pocket, had he put that there? How? Pulling the chain out to reveal the symbol of the star and an arrow going through it, I held it up towards the little fire light we had remaining to examine it a little more.
“I’ve seen that symbol before.” Jackson said, his interest piqued.
“You have? Where?”
“In the archives, it’s the symbol for Van Helsing's original family, before he married, before he even took the blood oath and well, created your line. How did you come to find it?”
“Darius. He gave me the necklace earlier, before the fire. He said it will help me in finding the answers I need or some bullshit.”
“Hayley, that symbol is on all the witch books from Lady Elizabeth Grey as well. Can I see it?”
Taking the necklace off without even a second’s thought, I handed it over to him and he played with the charm, looking at it closely and going silent for a minute or two as I watched the gears in his head turn at the possibility of anything. He handed it back to me after a moment, and I popped the necklace back on, feeling almost a little naked without it.
“This necklace was lost almost three hundred years ago. There is a theory that Van Helsing’s first love, his greatest love, was related to Elizabeth Grey, one of her daughters in fact. I think she was her last daughter, Cecily of York, but don’t quote me on that as its long-lost history. He had the necklace forged to protect her from danger and like your friend said, to help aid her. It’s a key of some sort, I believe, a decoder.”
“Now, you’re just making things up.”
“Don’t knock our history, Hayley, it wouldn’t surprise me if half the stuff we have been taught and read is the truth. I mean how many humans think vampires are people who sparkle in the sun and fall in love with humans? When they are actually the complete opposite. Well, unless they are the ancient ones who can hide in the daylight for short periods.”
Jackson gave me some food for thought but I could feel my eyes begin to grow heavy and as much as I would have liked to stay up talking for the rest of the night about our families tied up history, sleep was finally calling me.
Wishing him goodnight, I headed to my tent to fall asleep in the most uncomfortable bed I have ever slept on and considered getting up and sleeping on the floor. It would have been more comfortable.
8
The next few days went by quickly and uneventfully, other than rebuilding the foundations of the house and ordering new furniture and whatever else we needed, I longed to head back to my apartment to feel a little sense of normality.
In my absence from the city, many teams had gone to RavenBlack to continue protecting the population there and to do some form of recon on my attacker, but, of course, they came back empty handed every single time. I was still none the wiser of who Darius was and it was beginning to get on both mine and Jackson’s nerves as even he couldn’t find any information out in his own close circles.
It was as if Darius was a ghost.A nomad.
Once the bedrooms were semi-finished, the recruits were allowed back in and to their delight, they were sleeping in actual warm beds and not the cots that were incredibly uncomfortable.
I was finally ready to head back to the city but sadly, as discussed and almost ordered by Jackson, Molly, and Eric, I was to stay put and stick to the house in case someone tried attacking me again. When I refused, Eric insisted on coming with me to stay with me at the apartment. It was the last thing I truly wanted.
“You know, I am a big girl, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.” I said as we walked through the front door.
“I know, but there’s nothing wrong with having some back up.”
“Well, you can sleep in the guest room. Don’t you dare think this is some sort of way to get back into my pants.”
“Hayley, I am here to do my job, nothing more and nothing less. If by chance you end up needing some company one night, I will refuse you. Don’t worry, I got over you a long time ago.”
Although Eric’s words weren’t meant to sting, as he only ever spoke kindly, they did hurt a little. I always felt Eric’s feelings for me wouldn’t go away. Perhaps that was also cruel of me to think so, no one should have to go through the torment of liking someone and not having their feelings returned in full, it’s painful.
“Ouch, that hurt.”
I said sarcastically while holding my chest and rolling my eyes, before heading to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of white wine, closely followed by Eric who took a seat at the breakfast bar. He took my glass as I turned to put the bottle back in the fridge and had a sip. Sighing, I grabbed another glass and poured myself another drink.
“You know, we used to be such good friends, best friends even, and then you came to live here. And now,” He paused as if to think what to say next. “Now, you act as if you’re better than us back at the manor when you came from there.”
Taken aback by his words, I tried to think on how to reply. I had to get out of the house once my parents were buried, it didn’t feel right living there anymore and not waking up to them every morning.