Of Scars and Secrets (Time Walkers Tales Book 2)
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Sunlight streamed through the delicate lace curtains as I sat nervously at a small table by the window, my hands fidgeting with the silverware. The quaint restaurant bustled with lunchtime diners, yet all I could focus on was the impending conversation with Elias.
”Are you going to eat that or just stare at it all day?” Elias asked, breaking the silence between them. He glanced pointedly at the untouched salad on my plate.
I looked down, realizing I had been lost in thought. ”I”m sorry, I”m just not very hungry,” I admitted, forcing a weak smile.
Elias studied me closely, concern furrowing his brow. ”You”ve never been one to skip a meal. What”s going on, Sophia? You seem...distracted.”
I hesitated for a moment, weighing her words carefully. ”There”s something I need to tell you. It”s about Nicholas.”
His eyes darkened slightly, but he kept his expression neutral. ”What about him?”
”Nicholas has returned,” I said softly, avoiding his gaze. ”And we”ve...we”ve decided to resume our relationship.”
Elias exhaled slowly, his fingers tensing around the stem of his wine glass. After a moment, he spoke, his voice low and controlled. ”I’m glad you told me the truth. If being with Nicholas is what makes you happy, then I won”t stand in your way.”
The sincerity in his words surprised me. I had expected anger or resentment, but instead found acceptance. Maybe Elias truly had changed from the man I once feared.
”Are you sure you”re okay with this?” I asked hesitantly, searching his face for any sign of deception.
”Of course,” he replied firmly, offering me a small smile. ”We”re friends, aren”t we? Friends want each other to be happy.”
Relief washed over me as I returned his smile. ”Thank you. It means a lot to me.”
We finished our lunch in comfortable silence, the tension between us dissipating with each passing moment. As we exited the restaurant, Elias insisted on driving me home.
”Really, it”s no trouble,” he assured me as I climbed into his sleek black car. ”Besides, I have business to discuss with Connor.”
I nodded, grateful for easy resolution to a difficult situation. The drive back to the house was filled with light conversation, and by the time we arrived, I felt as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Despite the looming threat of the Keepers and the uncertainty surrounding the Elixir, I knew that at least one thing had been resolved – my tenuous friendship with Elias remained intact, and it was more than I could have hoped for.
After we arrived, Elias walked me inside the house, his intent gaze scanned the surroundings, searching for Connor. ”I do need to speak with Connor before I go,” he said, almost absentmindedly.
”I don’t think he’s home right now,” I replied, uttering the lie without compunction. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed Julius and Alec walking toward us from the hallway. The sight of my brother-in-law as an adult was still jarring, and the tension in the room seemed to rise as he approached. In fact, it seemed that Alec was racing toward us, and Julius was simply following him. I had no idea why Julius would allow Alec anywhere near Elias, and I panicked. I knew that introducing Alec to Elias would be fraught with danger, and I silently prayed that Elias wouldn”t suspect who Alec truly was.
”And who is this immortal? I do not believe we have met.” Elias remarked, studying Alec with a scrutinizing gaze. Alec”s wavy dark hair framed a confident face, his blue eyes meeting Elias”s stare without flinching. There was an air of self-assurance about him that belied his youthful appearance.
“I’m sure you haven’t met every immortal in existence, Elias,” Julius quipped. “What are you doing here, in any case?” I could see the undercurrent of unease beyond his gaze, and I realized that Alec had likely orchestrated the meeting.
“I’m here to speak with Connor. You might as well tag along, I suppose. This concerns all of you,” Julius replied.
Alec, seeming to jump out of his skin, boldy extended his hand to Elias. ”I’m Daniel Cameron,” Alec lied, using his father”s first name and mother”s maiden name as an alias. He looked suspiciously at Elias, as if trying to discern his intentions.
”Daniel, this is Elias,” I interjected, hoping to keep the conversation as brief as possible. ”He”s an old friend of mine. He’s the Prime Keeper of the Northwest clan.”
”Ah, I see,” replied Alec coolly, still eyeing Elias with a hint of distrust.
Elias’s gaze flicked between Julius and Alec, his expression revealing very little.
Julius placed a hand on Alec’s shoulder, and I could see he gripped it tightly, as if to steer him along—and I knew Elias saw it, too. ”We”ll have to catch up another time, though. Daniel and I have some business to attend to,” he said.
”Of course,” Elias replied, his voice guarded but polite.
I watched the door close behind Julius and Alec, my heart pounding in my ears. I knew that Elias”s gaze never left me, but I couldn”t bring myself to meet it just yet. Instead, I focused on steadying my breathing and prepared myself for the confrontation I knew was coming.
”Who is he?” Elias demanded, his voice low and tense as he stepped closer.
”His name is Daniel Cameron,” I replied, attempting to maintain a neutral tone. ”He”s working with Julius on some project.”
”Really?” Elias”s voice dripped with skepticism. ”And you expect me to believe that?”
”Believe what you want, Elias.” I crossed my arms defensively, refusing to give him any more information than necessary.
Elias”s eyes darkened as his frustration grew. ”You”re playing with fire, Sophia,” he warned, his voice sharp. ”You”re endangering our secrecy, violating sacred laws.”
”Enough!” I snapped, my anger flaring. ”This is none of your business, Elias. I don”t have to justify myself to you.”
”None of my business?” Elias repeated incredulously. ”I”ve been your friend when you needed someone the most, and now you”re keeping secrets from me. That man,” he continued, jabbing a finger in the direction where Julius and Alec had disappeared, ”is Nicholas”s brother. I may not know all the details, but I”m not stupid.”
The blood rushed to my feet at Elias”s words, fear gripping me tightly. I had hoped that he wouldn”t piece together the truth about Alec. But I refused to let him see how much his accusation affected me. ”You”re mistaken,” I said coldly. ”Now, if you”ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
”Fine,” Elias spat, his eyes burning with anger and betrayal. ”But you should know that creating another immortal without permission is punishable by death. And the Keepers will come for you, Sophia. They”ll come for all of you.”
”Get out,” I hissed, my voice shaking. We were exposed, and it was all my fault.
”I”m not your enemy,” Elias said quietly, the anger in his voice fading. ”Hear me out.”
I hesitated, torn between wanting to maintain my anger and the ever-present need to keep Elias on our side. I knew that if he turned against us, it could mean disaster for our plans.
”Alright,” I relented, crossing my arms. ”What do you have to say?”
Elias stepped forward, his gaze locked onto mine. ”I”m not the monster you once thought I was, Sophia,” he began earnestly. ”Haven”t I shown you that? I”ve been there for you when no one else was. You can trust me.”
As much as I didn”t want to admit it, Elias had proven himself to be a loyal friend, even after I had chosen Nicholas over him. And now, with the truth about Alec at risk, I needed his loyalty more than ever.
”Alright,” I whispered, my voice wavering. ”We... we”re trying to fix this. There”s a way to return Alec to his mortal state. That”s all I can tell you.”
I watched as realization dawned on Elias”s face, his eyes narrowing. ”Connor and Nicholas are searching for the Elixir, aren”t they?”
I clenched my jaw, unwilling to give him any further information. But the look in his eyes told me that he already knew the answer. I shook my head, and he ignored my denial.
”There”s something you need to know about the Elixir.”
”What is it?” I asked hesitantly, my voice barely audible.
”The Elixir will do what you want,” Elias began carefully, his gaze searching mine. ”It will return mortality to an immortal... but it does more than that.”
He told me the truth of what the elixir could do—the entire truth. The silence that followed was deafening, heavy with the unspoken implications of Elias”s revelation. My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle, but I found myself unable to ask the question that burned in my chest. Instead, I stared at him, eyes wide, waiting for him to continue.
”If you use it, you must be prepared for the consequences.”
With those cryptic words, he left, the door clicking shut behind him.
I sank into a nearby chair, my body trembling. I felt the last vestiges of hope ebbing away. The future stretched out before me like an abyss, dark and uncertain, and for the first time, I wondered whether it was truly possible to change the tides of fate after all.
As I paced the cold, stone floor of my room, my mind raced with the revelation Elias had shared with me. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, suffocating me. I glanced around, unable to focus on anything but the dark secret I now carried.
”Miss Wyndham,” Leonard called from the other side of the door, his voice hesitant.
”Yes, Leonard?” I answered, trying to keep my tone steady.
”Mr. Neilsson and Mr. Connor have returned. They request your presence in the lab immediately.”
”Thank you, Leonard,” I replied, swallowing hard as I opened the door. My heart hammered against my chest as I made my way to the underground facility. This was the moment I had been dreading since Elias”s departure – the moment when I would have to shatter the fragile hope that Nicholas and the others had so carefully built.
I found them gathered around a table in the lab, the Elixir glinting menacingly under the harsh lights in a tiny vial. Alec was absent, apparently entrusted to Bash’s care, but the rest of them were all there.
”Ah, Sophia,” Connor said, looking up at my arrival. ”We”ve obtained the Elixir. We’re about to call Alec in to give it to him.”
”Wait,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. All eyes turned to me, questioning. I could see the hope in Nicholas”s gaze, and it took every ounce of strength I had to continue. ”We can”t give it to him.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Confusion and disbelief swirled in the air, thickening the tension.
”What do you mean we can”t give it to him?” Nicholas demanded, his voice strained. ”Why not?”
”Because it does more than simply return mortality to an immortal,” I said, struggling to meet his gaze. ”Elias told me... and the consequences are dire.”
”Consequences?” Connor questioned, his tone sharp as he leaned closer. ”What kind of consequences?”
I hesitated, knowing the words that followed would change everything. Finally, I spoke, my voice shaking.
”Once an immortal becomes mortal again with the elixir, all their time becomes due. They will become mortal again. If the immortal is young enough to still live a mortal lifetime, it will not matter much—but if one is centuries old—”
“Alec has lived longer than a mortal lifetime,” Ronan interrupted me. “His time will immediately come due, won’t it?”
I nodded. I felt the sting of tears in my eyes, and I looked at Nicholas.
The room seemed to close in around them as the implications of the truth settled over them like a shroud. I could see the pain in Nicholas’s eyes, the hope that had once burned so brightly now extinguished.
”Then we”ll find another way,” Nicholas said, his voice breaking with emotion. ”We won”t give up.”
”Explain it again,” Connor demanded, his voice hard and unyielding. ”How can Elias know this? Does he know about Alec?”
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding painfully in my chest as I recounted how Alec evaded Julius and came to meet Elias. ”He confronted me about who Alec was, and when I refused to tell him, he accused me of endangering the immortals” secrecy. It was then that he guessed Alec was Nicholas”s brother.”
”I am sorry. What was I going to do, tackle him in the foyer?” Julius muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
”Where is my brother now?” Nicholas asked, directing his question at Julius.
”Training with Bash,” Julius replied. “I thought it might keep him occupied.”
”Then I need to see him.” With that, Nicholas turned and strode purposefully from the room, his determination evident in every step.
I watched him go.
”Dad,” I said, my voice barely audible above the hum of the machines around us, ”how do we help Alec now?”
He looked at me, his brows heavy over sad eyes. ”We”ll keep trying until we have no other choice. It’s all we can do.”
Until we needed to relieve him of his suffering, just as my father once did for my mother.
The silence was heavy between us when I finally found Nicholas. I could feel the weight of his anger, simmering just beneath the surface as we walked side by side back to the house.
”Nicholas,” I said, my voice tentative, ”I didn”t tell Elias anything he didn”t already know.”
”Yet you still felt the need to see him behind my back.” His words were clipped, a dangerous edge to his tone that sent shivers down my spine. Would this be the thing that broke us, the tear that would not be mended? I did not blame him for his anger, but I would not allow him to wield it without having said my piece.
”Behind your back? I simply had lunch with him. I wanted to make sure he wouldn”t cause any problems for us. For Alec.” I tried to defend myself, but my voice shook slightly under his intense gaze.
”Did you?” he asked, stopping as they reached the door to their bedroom. His eyes bored into mine, searching for something that seemed to both reassure and infuriate him at the same time.
”Did I what?” I asked, my heart hammering in my chest.
”Did you make sure he won”t be a problem?” His fingers tightened around the doorknob, knuckles turning white as he struggled to maintain control over his emotions.
”Nicholas, I did my best,” I said quietly, reaching out to touch his arm. ”He claims he wants only friendship now, and he even offered to help us if we need it. But he knows about Alec, and he suspects what we”re trying to do.”
”Damn it!” He slammed his fist against the door, making me jump. ”We can”t trust him, Sophia. Elias has never been our friend.”
”Maybe not before, but he gave me his word,” I whispered, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. ”I thought you trusted me.”
”Of course I do,” he said, finally meeting my gaze. ”But not him. Not when it comes to you.”
”If you are accusing me of something, then just say it,” I demanded. I could not contain the words, but I regretted them the moment they spilled from my lips.
Nicholas glared me, his eyes wild. I saw it there then, that whisper of the man he was, the warrior he kept contained beneath the fa?ade of a mild-mannered modern-day man.
“Were you with him, when I was gone?” he asked.
“No,” I choked out, my voice breaking as the tears spilled down my cheeks. ”I love you. More than anything.”
”Then prove it,” he growled, his eyes darkening with a raw, primal desire that caused a flush to creep immediately up my neck.
As he reached for me, his lips crashing down on mine with a bruising intensity, I responded with equal fervor. We tore at each other”s clothes, our hands roaming and grasping in a desperate attempt to claim and possess each other completely.
Nicholas lifted me up and pressed me against the wall, our bodies meeting with an almost violent urgency. He thrust without preamble, the sensation of our joining only fueling the fire that raged between us.
We were frantic, our movements fueled by anger as much as passion. And as we moved together, our bodies slick with sweat and desire, I matched his ferocity with my own possessive need, determined to prove my love for him in the most primal way I knew.
”Mine,” he growled into my ear as he reached his peak, a fierce declaration that left me breathless.
”Yours,” I whispered back, clinging to him as we rode out the waves of pleasure that threatened to consume us both.
As we lay entwined in each other”s arms afterward, my breathing slowly returning to normal, I stared up at the ceiling, my thoughts racing. I couldn”t help but wonder if we would always be locked in this constant battle, our lust and pain forever intertwined.
The room was cloaked in shadows, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. I lay awake, my head resting on Nicholas”s chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The warmth of his body against mine offered a sense of comfort, and yet I couldn”t shake the gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach.
”Nicholas,” I whispered softly, tracing my fingers along the contours of his chest. ”Do you think we”ll always be like this?”
He stirred, his arms tightening around me protectively. ”I don”t know,” he admitted, his voice thick with sleep. ”But I know that I will always love you. That I can promise you.”
”I love you too,” I murmured.
As the night wore on, and the shadows grew darker around them, I found myself praying for the strength to face whatever uncertainties lay ahead, knowing that only time would reveal the true cost of the choices we had made.
The morning sunlight slanted through the lab”s windows, casting a warm glow across the ancient artifact I held in my hands. It was a small bronze statuette, its intricate details revealing the craftsmanship of bygone eras. Once, such an object would have captivated my attention for hours on end, but today, my thoughts were elsewhere.
I traced my finger along the curves of the statuette, but my mind was filled with images of Nicholas. The way his dark hair had fallen across his brow as he slept beside me; the sound of his voice, rough with emotion, whispering promises in the darkness.
”Earth to Sophia,” Julius snapped, his voice breaking through my scattered thoughts. ”Are you planning on actually doing any work today, or are you content to simply daydream?”
I blinked, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. I glanced over at Julius, surprised to see a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. It was uncharacteristic of him to show any warmth, let alone tease me so gently.
”Sorry,” I murmured, trying to regain my composure. ”I”m just...distracted.”
”Clearly,” Julius replied, rolling his eyes. ”If you”re not going to be of any use to me here, perhaps you ought to go find your men. I hear they”re training for battle on the back lawn beyond the garden.”
”Training for battle?” I echoed, my curiosity piqued. ”Why?”
”Because Bash and Nicholas seem to think they”re still living in the Middle Ages, apparently,” Julius grumbled. ”Always preparing for the next threat, as if we haven”t got enough problems to deal with already.”
”Maybe they”re right,” I ventured cautiously. ”With everything that”s happened lately, it might be wise to be prepared.”
”Fine, fine,” Julius conceded, his tone softened with resignation. ”Go on, then. Get out of here and let me do all the work, as usual.”
Despite his gruff words, there was a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I couldn”t help but return the gesture, grateful for the brief respite from my troubled thoughts.
”Thank you, Julius,” I said quietly before turning to leave the lab, my steps carrying me towards the back lawn and the promise of a momentary escape from my worries.
I made my way across the estate grounds, the vibrant colors of the garden and the distant sound of laughter from the training grounds drawing me forward. As I approached, I could see Nicholas and Bash sparring on the back lawn, their movements fluid and graceful. It was a dance of power, agility, and precision – one that both men had long since mastered in their centuries of existence.
”Nicholas!” I called out as I drew nearer, attracting the attention of both combatants. Their swords clanged together one last time before they separated and turned to face me. Alec sat on the ground waiting his turn, his arms crossed over his knees, and a sour look upon his face. I glanced at him, but I did not linger.
”Sophia,” Nicholas greeted me with a warm smile, his blue eyes shining brightly in the sunlight. ”You”ve finally decided to grace us with your presence.”
”Julius practically kicked me out of the lab,” I admitted with a sheepish grin, feeling a faint blush color my cheeks. ”He said I was too distracted and no use to him.”
”Maybe he”s right,” Bash chimed in with a teasing smirk. ”You do look like you”ve got a lot on your mind.”
”Enough with the teasing, Bash,” Nicholas warned, his tone light but protective. ”Sophia”s here now, let her be.”
”Thanks,” I said. I offered him a grateful smile, appreciating the support against Bash’s insatiable humor. ”What are you two doing out here, anyway?”
”Training for battle,” Bash replied simply, twirling his sword effortlessly between his fingers. ”Never know when we”ll have to defend ourselves or our own.”
”Julius mentioned that,” I replied, watching as the two men resumed their sparring match. It was mesmerizing to see them move with such skill and determination, each strike and parry a testament to their strength and resilience.
As I watched them duel, my thoughts drifted back to the lab and the artifact I had been studying earlier. I couldn”t help but wonder if I had made the right choice in declining immortality, choosing instead to live out my life among these powerful beings who had embraced eternal existence.
Was I strong enough to face the challenges that lay ahead, knowing that one day, time would take its toll and I would be left behind?
”Are you alright, Sophia?” Nicholas asked gently, noticing my distant expression as he disarmed Bash and ended their bout. Alec, who had been watching sourly from the sideline, jumped up ready, for his turn. He did not give Bash a break, engaging him immediately with a strike of his sword. I did not like the idea of Alec holding a weapon in his hands, but the men seemed not to think much of it, but I could not keep my thoughts to myself.
“Is it really a good idea to let him fight?” I asked. Nicholas glanced at Alec, then back to me.
“It seems to keep him occupied. Julius thinks keeping his mind busy will bide us time.”
Time before the Madness completely took hold, he meant. I nodded.
”All right,” I assured him, forcing a smile onto my lips. ”You know what’s best, I suppose.”
”Come on, then,” he said, offering me his hand. ”Join us. We can train together, as a team.”
I hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, allowing myself to be drawn into the fray. As they trained together, laughter filling the air, I pushed my doubts aside and focused on the present – determined to make the most of things.
”Quite the mighty sword you”ve got there,” I teased, my eyes dancing over the weapon in its harness on Nicholas”s back.
”Ah, but a man must train if he hopes to beat back those who might try to steal his beautiful woman away,” he replied with a grin.
I laughed, my earlier worries momentarily forgotten as they shared this brief moment of levity.
Connor appeared at my side, his gaze appraising the battling duo. ”I was thinking of joining them today,” he announced, flexing his muscles in a comically exaggerated manner. We all laughed at the older man”s antics.
”Alright then, I”ll take on the winner!” Connor called out, his tone challenging. In response, Bash hurled an insult at him, momentarily distracted from the fight. Alec seized the opportunity, pressing his advantage with renewed vigor.
As the battle continued, my laughter faded, replaced by growing concern. I watched as Alec”s movements grew increasingly agitated, the lines of tension etched into his face. Under Bash”s relentless commands, it seemed as though he was losing control.
”Nicholas,” I said quietly, my voice laced with worry. ”What”s wrong with Alec?”
”Growing up in the Norse village, one of Alec”s favorite pastimes was training for battle with the other Vikings,” Nicholas explained, his own concern evident in his eyes. ”He”s grown into quite the powerful adult.”
”Did he really want to stay in the past with the Norse?” I asked, my heart aching at the thought.
Nicholas hesitated before responding. ”He did. But he chose to return here to be with us.”
The laughter died in my throat as I watched Alec suddenly snap, his sword forgotten as he launched himself at Bash with a primal snarl. The two men crashed to the ground, Alec”s forearm pressing down hard on Bash”s neck, cutting off his air supply. Bash choked, gasping for breath.
Nicholas left my side. ”Enough!” he roared, charging forward and tearing Alec away from Bash. ”What the hell is wrong with you?”
Alec”s eyes were cold, distant, as if some part of him had retreated into the shadows. It sent a shiver down my spine, and I could see the harsh reality etched on Nicholas” face as well.
”Sorry,” Bash wheezed, trying to laugh it off, though the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. ”Guess I pushed him too far.”
Nicholas helped Bash up, keeping a wary eye on Alec. With a final, venomous glare, Alec threw his weapon onto the ground and stalked off toward the garden and house. I hesitated, torn between wanting to comfort Nicholas and fearing that I might only make things worse.
“I’ll go to him,” my father offered.
”Let him go,” Nicholas murmured, placing his hand on Connor’s arm. ”He needs time to cool off.”
As we stood there, two Guards who worked with Bash approached, their faces grim. They escorted a stranger across the lawn, a man whose rough attire and calculating gaze marked him as a mercenary.
”Who”s this?” I asked.
”Someone we need to deal with,” Nicholas replied darkly, his eyes never leaving the newcomer.
A cold shudder raced down my spine as I watched the mercenary approach, flanked by the two Guards. He had a predatory air about him as if he could sense their vulnerability and intended to exploit it. I glanced at Nicholas, whose jaw was clenched in anger, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
”Explain,” Connor demanded as they came to a stop before them. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying a chill that seemed to echo the tension between the group.
The Guards exchanged a glance before one of them spoke, ”We caught this man surveilling the wall on the south side of the property.”
Connor turned his steely gaze to the mercenary, who met it without flinching. ”What do you want?” His voice held the authority of his role as Prime Keeper, and even the mercenary seemed to recognize it.
”I was hired to capture Alec Neilsson,” the mercenary said casually, but there was an undercurrent of menace in his tone. ”But I”m here to make a deal. You see, I think you, can offer me a more lucrative arrangement to go away and never return.” He paused, letting his words sink in. ”In exchange, I”ll tell the other Keepers that Alec is dead.”
My chest tightened. Was this some kind of trap? Would my father even consider such a proposal?
”Declined,” Connor stated firmly, cutting off any further discussion. ”Guards, imprison this man until I decide what to do with him.”
”Wait,” the mercenary said with a sly grin. ”You should know that unless you take care of this situation, they will kill Alec. There”s nowhere in time you can hide him – they”ll never stop until he”s dead.”
”Get him out of my sight,” Connor ordered, his voice cold and unyielding.
The wind stirred the grass beneath her feet, sending a chill down my spine as I watched the guards haul the mercenary away. Nicholas stood beside me, his jaw clenched and eyes stormy.
”Go back to the house,” he commanded, his voice cold and firm. He cut off my questions before they could even form on my lips. ”Please, Sophia. Just do as I ask.”
Swallowing hard, I nodded, reluctantly tearing my gaze from the retreating figures of the guards and their captive.
”Be careful,” I whispered, casting one last glance over my shoulder at Nicholas and the other men who remained behind.
As I retreated to the safety of the house, my footsteps echoed through the empty halls, each step carrying me further away from the danger that had infiltrated their sanctuary.