Kingdom of Honor (Kingdom Journals Book 3) Read online

  I drew in a deep breath. “We can’t afford ten days. We’ll have to speed it up. I want to find Alena and Hunter as soon as possible.”

  “How do you propose to do that?”

  “We have all the clues from Camille’s visions. She created a document describing all her hallucinations. I memorized it. She saw Alena’s mom, Anne, escort Alena and Hunter to a safe house. If we get to the Anne, she will take us to Alena and Hunter.”

  “Why would she trust us?”

  “Camille’s visions, they will believe.” They had to accept our story. I would do anything to get them to trust me. It was our only hope.

  “Prepare for landing.” The captain announced over the intercom.

  “Not sure how that is different from now,” Grady commented as he tightened his seat belt.

  The mechanic acted as the co-pilot, and I could see him flipping switches. Then he spoke into a radio in Italian, I assumed getting clearance for landing. The plane dipped and swerved as we dropped altitude. Grady’s complexion turned an ashen green, and I prayed he didn’t puke. Out the window, I watched as we descended through the clouds and the city’s lights appeared below us. I’d always wanted to come to Rome. My fascination with religion and its credibility drew me to the city. All it took for me to believe had been for me to become a mystical being, and I chuckled under my breath at the idea.

  “You find my fears funny?” Grady gripped the seat.

  “No, sir.” I sat up straight. “Just laughing at myself. I never believed in God or miracles. Now I am supposedly descended from angels and can perform them.”

  “You’re only part angel. Don’t let it go to your head.”

  The plane jerked as the back wheels hit, and I braced for the complete landing. After another bump, the engines slowed, and we glided to a stop.

  “Better now?” I asked as we unbuckled our seatbelts and stood.

  “Not until my feet hit the pavement.”

  A cab arrived for us within ten minutes, and I climbed in the front while Grady and the pilot took the back seats. The streets grew narrower and transitioned from modern asphalt to cobblestone as we neared the city’s center. I took in building after building, barely believing I was finally in Rome. Passing a statue of an angel, I thought of Camille. I guessed she would love to see the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. When all this craziness was over, we’d explore the world together.

  The cab came to a stop. Before I could reach for the handle, the pilot had a knife at my throat. I knew not to make a move, but in my head, I mentally laughed. As if I couldn’t kill him with a thought.

  He spit something at Grady in Italian, and Grady responded in kind. I gave Camille’s father credit for his show of force. Up until that point, I wasn’t sure how much of an ally he would be in a real fight.

  “I’ll be five minutes.” He nodded to me. I figured he hadn’t given the cab driver the real address. That would have been stupid.

  “I’ll be here.” I hated the feel of the blade on my neck. It reminded me of Camille and the cold weight that pressed on my chest. On the verge of using my magic to shove the blade into his heart, I balled my hands into fists. The cab driver yelled at the pilot, and I wished I’d studied something other than Chinese. The driver ended the rant with the word polizia and reached for his mobile phone.

  The pilot turned the knife on the driver. The wide-eyed cabbie jumped from the car and slammed his fists onto the roof. I looked at the pilot, and he aimed the blade at me again. The pilot said something else in Italian, and I assumed it to be a threat of some sort. Again, the word polizia came up, and I guessed he didn’t want police involvement any more than I did.

  Seeing Grady approach, I breathed a sigh of relief. My eyes cut to the pilot and back to Grady, praying Grady had enough to satisfy the man. I didn’t want to harm anyone else. The image of the two guards I’d killed rescuing Camille flashed through my mind. Wondering if I could erase memories, I watched as Grady paid the cabbie, opened the back door, and slid in beside the pilot.

  Grady laid the packet of money on the seat and slid it to the pilot. The pilot made an exclamation in Italian. Grady reached for the package. Withdrawing the blade from my skin, the pilot pointed it at Grady. Opening the envelope, he laid the bills out one by one.

  Knife still in the air, the pilot took the money and stuffed it in his coat. He shoved the door open, jumped out of the vehicle, and ran down the street. The cab driver yelled at his retreating form.

  “What now?” My breath formed a cloud in the air.

  “Let’s go.” Grady tilted his head to the street.

  As we exited the car, the driver turned his attention to us. Bowing in apology, we backed away from him.

  I followed Grady up a hill to the corner. Halfway to the next block, he turned down an alley. The brick homes were lined up, one after the other with barely a foot between each. After the third house, we made our way down a flight of steps to a wooden door. Waving his hand in front of the entrance, Grady depressed the lever on the handle and ushered me in.

  “It wasn’t locked?” I scanned the room in front of me wondering if we were safe.

  “Magic. I spell the house so only I can get in.”

  A single bulb hung above a table, and Grady pulled the chain. Light illuminated the room, revealing a stove, cabinet, and small refrigerator on one side and cot on the other.

  Grady sat down at the table and pulled a metal box towards him. Stowing it under his arm, he stood. “It’s not much of a place. There’s a shower, and we’ll find you a blanket. You’ll have to sleep on the cot.”

  “Better than a tree.” An image of the cell I’d rescued Camille from flashed in front of my eyes.

  “We have food.” Grady opened the cupboard to reveal several cans of soups and beans.

  “I have some food in my pack. So, we’re safe here?” I spun around, surveying the entry points.

  “Magic proof, sound proof.” Grady swirled his index finger in the air.

  “Good. Do you want to shower first?”

  “No, you go ahead. I’m going to call Tyler and Janine. There’s probably something that will fit good enough up in the bedroom. Tyler’s about your size, so once we get to Iceland we should be able to find you something better to wear.”

  “Thanks.” I took the stairs two at a time.

  I showered and brushed my teeth with the supplies in the medicine cabinet. I washed out my wet outfit from the castle and hung it over the shower bar. Every single action—the shower, brushing my teeth, cleaning my clothes—had me wondering what Camille was doing. Was she lost in the forest looking for us? Had we fled too soon? Had they locked her up in a cell again? My stomach clenched as I thought about her being captured by Sonia. Forcing my legs to carry me down the stairs, I took a seat beside Grady.

  He punched a few keys on a laptop, and depressed the enter button. “We are booked on a flight to Reykjavik first thing tomorrow.” He slid a passport to me. “Good thing you have dark hair like Tyler.”

  My heart palpitated, and I rested my hand on my chest, wondering what my body was telling me.

  Grady’s eyebrows shot up. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, probably need food.” I raised my bag to the table and felt inside for the cured meats and bread I’d packed.

  “You have to help me convince Janine and Tyler this threat is real. Janine is very evidence based, so she won’t be easy to persuade.”

  I shook my head. He hadn’t given Camille the choice to embrace a magical world, I wouldn’t take away Janine and Tyler’s. “I won’t use mind control on them.”

  “That’s not what I mean. I’ll need you to show off your magic. I don’t seem to have mine back yet.”

  “You got in this place.”

  “It’s more of a magic print than a spell.”

  “Well, I can do some tricks then.” A yawn escaped my lips.

  Grady rose and retrieved two blankets from under the counter. Taking them, I tossed them onto the cot.
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  “Okay, well, I’ll see you bright and early.” Grady pulled the cord, turning off the bulb, and took the stairs two at a time.

  Lying on my back, I let the heaviness of the last two days sink in. I’d lost Camille. I rubbed my arm where she’d made me cut it the first time and huffed. Not one to be emotional about much, I wondered at how she’d worked herself into my heart, or more like how I’d pulled her into mine. Remember, Jude, she wanted nothing to do with you. She thought I was a spy out to kidnap her. Camille had finally realized I wasn’t, told me she loved me, and I abandoned her. I didn’t deserve her love. I should have stayed with her. Even if she hated me for it, I should have gotten her out, right then, without her dad. Tears formed in my eyes. No. I swiped them away. If there was one thing I knew about Camille, she was a survivor.

  I told myself this over and over as my body pricked with the strain of the past forty-eight hours. Vacillating between cycles of berating myself and thinking about what state Camille might be in, I finally succumbed to my exhaustion.

  The alarm sounded at five. Through the bathroom window, I noted a heavy bank of clouds. Slapping my cheeks after a shave, I forced thoughts of Camille out of my brain. I’d go crazy if I allowed myself to imagine what she might be going through. Downstairs, I stuffed a couple of the sandwiches I’d stolen from the castle in my bag. I followed Grady to the street where he had a cab waiting. My passport indicated I was a US Citizen named Thomas Smith. It held stamps for Iceland, Italy, France, England, and Spain. Grady also had US driver’s licenses and credit cards to match the passports. I guessed he was a pro at aliases and wondered how much the documents cost him. Then, I realized magic could get you anything.

  At the airport, with no luggage to check, we went straight to the security line. I slapped my leg, waiting to show my identification. When my turn came, I handed the guard my passport and ticket. He looked at me, then down at the document and returned it. Breathing a sigh of relief, I followed Grady to the gate.

  When the airplane took off, it entered the cloud bank before we got high enough to see Sardinia. Part of me had wanted to see the island, hang on to the connection of at least being in the same country as Camille. The other part of me pushed thoughts of my betrayal away. How could I be abandoning her like this? I’d told her I would stay with her, we’d figure things out together.

  Grady grabbed my arm. “There’s no other way. Give your knuckles a rest.”

  I turned my fingers over, realizing they were nearly raw from rubbing them on the armrest.

  As the minutes and then hours ticked on, my chest grew tighter and tighter, my breathing more labored. My arms developed chill bumps, and I stuffed my fingers in my armpits to keep them warm.

  “Just a day in Reykjavik and then we’ll be back,” Grady assured me as he handed over a second cup of hot tea brought by the flight attendant.

  “I’ll be fine.” I sipped the tea, forcing calming breaths in and out of my lungs.

  Landing in Iceland, we waited in the security line. My vision had grown hazy, and I struggled to keep upright. When we made it to the front, the guard took our documents. His eyes cut from the pages to me.

  “You okay there?”

  Grady wound an arm around my shoulder. “He has asthma. Dry air on the plane is never good for him. We forgot his medication. But he’ll be good as new once we get him to a pharmacy.”

  “I see.” The man stamped our passports and handed them to Grady.

  “How much wimpier could you have made me look?” I asked as we walked to the exit.

  “He doesn’t care.”

  “I do.” I coughed as the cold air hit my lungs.

  “You’re not looking so good, but I’m surprised you made it this far,” Grady said as we took seats on the shuttle bus.

  I sucked in another breath. “How do the coven members live with this burden? I mean if they can’t travel freely, they’re basically prisoners.”

  “Ah, that is the catch. The leader of the coven, Thanatos, dictates your status and thus your freedom. I am guessing you were given a very short leash. They probably assume you’re already dead. I’m surprised you’re not.”

  “Well, that’s something.” It was a sobering and yet freeing notion. If they assumed I’d died, they would be less likely to expect a rescue attempt. I’d have to use that to my advantage. I wondered if my vampirism helped sustain me.

  It was a short ride to Janine and Tyler’s hotel. Grady squeezed and released his fist as we made our way to their room. I speculated as to which of us dreaded this meeting more. Grady had years of lies to make up for, but it was me who’d left her vulnerable.

  “Did you tell them about Camille yet?”

  “No.” Grady’s brow furrowed.

  “Do you know what you’re going to tell them?” I thought Grady would have at least told them I was coming and something about Camille, but I guessed he thought it better to tell them in person.

  Grady pushed the button for the elevator. “The truth.”

  “Maybe I should start first.” I rested my back against the wall. My feet felt like dead weights, and I couldn’t catch my breath. “It is sort of the beginning of Camille’s story. It might be better than you coming out with ‘I’m a witch.’”

  “What line are you?”

  Feeling a surge of pride, I broadened my shoulders. “Gabriel’s, I’m a messenger. As you said, a herald.”

  “That you are, Jude.” He slapped a hand on my back. “I will use your council in this matter.”

  When Grady rapped on the door, Tyler answered. His eyes narrowed as they landed on me. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be with Dr. Antos and Camille in Italy.” He looked to his dad. “Dad, why is he with you? Where’s Camille?”

  “Tyler.” Janine appeared behind Tyler, and her eyes bore into mine. “Jude?”

  “Can we come in?” Grady took a step forward even though Tyler hadn’t budged from his position in the doorway.

  “Grady, Jude, where’s Camille?” Janine’s voice rose an octave as her eyes cut between the two of us.

  “We’ll tell you everything inside.” Grady motioned into the space.

  I checked the hall behind us and followed Grady into the small room.

  “Where’s Camille?” Janine demanded as I propped against the desk.

  I looked to Grady, whose eyes were trained on the floor. I would have used my mood control, but didn’t want to waste my energy on little things. “Let’s sit down.” I motioned to the small table and chairs beside the window.

  “No.” Janine squared her shoulders.

  I drew in a deep breath. “First,” I started, “we believe Camille will not be harmed.”

  “What?” Janine turned to Grady.

  “Hear him out,” Grady motioned to me.

  “Just tell us where she is,” Tyler interjected.

  “She’s still in Sardinia.”

  “With Dr. Antos?” Janine’s eyes bore into mine.

  “Yes, with Dr. Antos.” Pulling the chair from under the desk, I lowered myself to the seat. “This is going to be hard, but I need to start at the beginning.” I told them how I’d had reoccurring hallucinations every couple of years. Looking back, they seemed to form a pattern. Every two to three years, always as my birthday neared, they’d become more intense until they broke into my daily life. Each time, my dad would clear his schedule for a week and we’d move. He’d tell me maybe the change in surroundings would help, and it always seemed to, until the last episode the prior summer.

  “That’s why I sought out M…”—I almost said Miguel—“Dr. Antos, and came to the camp here in Iceland.”

  “Where you met Camille,” Grady supplied.

  “Yes, where I met Camille.” Reviewing how we’d bonded over our similar issues, I told them how I’d rolled the heater towards George with my mind. Glancing between them, I tried to gauge their reactions.

  “You mean like with magic?” Tyler asked.

  “Yes, I realize
d I could do things with my mind that others couldn’t.”

  “Like the characters in Camille’s visions? You believe you can do magic? What does this have to do with Camille?” Janine threw up her hands.

  I held my palm out. “I know this is hard. Camille and I can do magic. Dr. Antos held those camps to find kids with our abilities.”

  “This is crazy.” Tyler bolted out of his chair.

  Figuring there wasn’t any other way, I twirled a finger in the air calling to the wind to levitate the pillow from the bed. The pillow rose and hovered in front of Tyler, rotating slowly.

  Tyler ran his arm under and over the floating sham.

  Janine turned to face Grady. “Why are you with Jude?”

  “Miguel’s, or Dr. Antos’s, coven—”

  “A coven?” Tyler’s voice broke mid-word. “That term rolled off your lips like you’d known it all your life.”

  Wiping his face, Grady looked at his son. “I am an archeologist and a witch.”

  “You’re a witch?” Janine’s words came out barely a whisper.

  “Yes.” He pointed to the other sham, and it joined the first, hovering a few feet off the floor.

  I let mine drop. “Grady was abducted by Dr. Antos’s coven so he wouldn’t be able to rescue Camille. My dad is still held by the coven.”

  “In Sardinia?” Janine backed to the bed and sat on the edge. “And they have Camille, that’s what you’re telling me. You got out, but she didn’t.” Her head bobbed up and down, and I worried that she might go into shock.

  I knelt in front of her. “Camille is a strong witch. She is special, and they won’t harm her.” I left out that they probably needed her alive. I didn’t want the idea that her life might be in danger sitting in Janine’s mind. It was a heavy enough burden for me, and I wouldn’t impose it on Camille’s mom.

  “All these years”—Janine’s eyes traced to Grady—“you kept this from me. That our children could be witches?”

  Grady’s eyes dropped to his lap. “That’s why I travel. Witches are cursed. We’re not allowed to live in one place for more than two years. I didn’t want that for Camille and Tyler. If they didn’t join a coven by their eighteenth birthdays, they could live a normal life.”