Chapter 4

Megan and Nadia walked through the enormous house at a leisurely pace into Alaric's study. Since Havenswood Manor had become both their home, they'd each learned every nook and cranny it contained, they could probably even walk its halls blindfolded, despite its palatial size and maze of rooms and coridors.

"Seb was going to make me a Vampire on my thirtieth birthday last week."

"I know, you told me. So why didn't he?"

"Because everyone threw me a surprise birthday party."

"Yeah, I guess that probably did put a dampener on your plans, ha. Drinking your husband's blood and then having him snap your neck should be a private, intimate occasion, not shared with all your family and friends," Nadia quipped, tongue in cheek, but a hint of wistful longing crept into her voice. Sucking in a deep breath, she pasted on a cheerful smile, the corners of her lips rising in tandem with her inhalation. "It was a great party by the way. I remember it well."

"Do ye?" Megan asked doubtfully.

"Actually, I only remember about three quarters of it. The last part is a bit of a blur, but I think it involved some tequila shots and an umbrella."

Megan laughed. "If that's what ye remember I won't upset ye and tell ye what ye did."

"What did I do?"

"Do ye really want to know?"

"Not really but I think I should anyway."

"Ye got the tequila part right but that umbrella, was actually Mr Fergus' walking cane."

"What did I do?" Nadia asked again, almost dreading what she was going to hear.

"Ye used the handle to hook the guys about the neck and demanded a kiss. If they refused ye stuck yer hand down the back of their pants, grabbed their jocks and gave them a wedgie." Megan laughed and Nadia peeled back her top lip in disgust at herself.

"I really did that?"

"Ah ha."

"Did I happen to do that to Dan Hodges?"

"Yep."

"Well, that explains why his wife was giving me such a strange look yesterday when I said hi to her in the street. So, have you set a new date for your transformation?" Nadia asked, quickly taking the topic of conversation away from her embarrassing faux pas. Seriously, someone should ban alcohol from parties, or maybe it was her who should be banned. Fortunately parties around here were few and far between. They were a depressing reminder of her ugly duckling status.

At five feet seven inches tall, Nadia was the shortest of her sisters. Actually, she was the same height as her oldest sister, Teagan, she just felt shorter. She also had Teagan's sluggish metabolism. Nadia only needed to look at a piece of cake and she gained five pounds. However, since Teagan had become a true immortal, her weight no longer seemed to fluctuate. According to her husband, Saladin, Teagan was perfect in every way, smart, extremely talented in her Druid craft, beautiful and curvy in all the right places.

Nadia's twin sisters too, were perfect. Tall, slim, both have beautiful baby boys, who coincidentally were also born on the same day. They were talented with their magic and Druid gifts, especially Paige, since she was now a nearly immortal. Her husband Narayan, saved her life by giving her his blood from the Cup, the fabled Holy Grail, which he now controlled, thanks to Ariel, an Elder Angel. Her twin, Kaitlyn, lived in Fey so Nadia didn't get to see her very much but she was no less talented. Each of her three older sisters had incredibly handsome husbands who adored them.

That left herself and her younger sister, Elise single. Although she doubted Elise would be in the market for a Mate anytime soon. She'd shied away from all relationships, cutting herself off from even friends and family after she was kidnapped by the evil sorceress Morganna, a few years back. Elise was the most beautiful of them all but sadly, she barely noticed the advances of men, even when they were making fools of themselves right in front of her in a desperate, but futile attempt to get her attention.

Then there was her, Nadia. Besides her fluctuating weight, she had none of her sisters beauty. What she had was poor eyesight, hence the thick glasses she wore. She had plain features and almost no magical talent. While all her sisters had really cool, natural Druid gifts like freezing things in motion, invisibility, astral projection and walking through solid objects. Nadia could read, speak and understand any language currently or previously spoken. Wow, so cool. Not!

As far as Nadia was concerned, she'd drawn the short genetic straw.

That didn't mean she was jealous of her sisters. Not really. At least not because of the incredible attributes they were each born with. What she was jealous of was their happiness. They were each very content in their lives in their own ways. Would she ever find her own happiness? She doubted it. Deep down she didn't feel like she deserved it.

Her sisters were all perfect, wholesome women. Not a bad bone in any of their bodies. Nadia, on the other hand had a darkness inside her. It gnawed at her day and night, tormenting her dreams, clouding her judgment. It had been this way ever since she first read from that cursed book, Morganna's Grimoire.

"Not yet. With the latest artefact found, they're all on high alert fur any kind of trouble. I doubt we'll get any alone time in the near future. Now that I've made the decision not to be human anymore, it looks like I'm doomed to be this way for who knows how long. Another six months, a year? Maybe two? I'm thirty, I'm going to start wrinkling any day now. I already look older than Seb and he's nearly two hundred and forty years old." Megan grumbled.

Nadia shrugged. "Yeah, that sucks. I don't know what kind of trouble they expect, no one can even find the Manor unless their invited here. The place is warded like Fort Knox. Did you at least enjoy your birthday?"

Megan let out a huffing sigh. Nadia watched her friend and half expected her to stomp her foot in her build up to what she predicted would be a lengthy continuation of verbal venting of her pent up frustrations. And yep, she was right.

"Do ye know what's it's like to be at yer own birthday party wearing a medallion that makes ye forgettable? It sucks. Hardly anyone even remembered I was there. Not to mention going shopping or going to a restaurant. Waiters take yer order and the second they turn their back on ye, they forget about it and ye sit there starving and never get a meal."

Nadia covered her mouth with her hand to hide her smirk. She could sympathise with Megan, she really could. It was probably why they got along so well together, they were each social misfits in their own way. Besides, it was pretty funny. Even more so since Nadia had actually seen it firsthand on the few occasions Sebastian had given in and let her go out without an armed escort.

"Don't get me wrong, I love this place, but I'm tired of feeling like I'm trapped in a gilded cage."

"It's not that bad. You can still go out,…sometimes. And you've always got Sebastian. I'd love to have a man who doted on me like he does with you." Megan nodded her head from side to side as if considering the positive aspect of what Nadia was saying. Nadia went on, articulating her melancholy thoughts. Megan was the only person she ever really talked to besides Pan. The only one she didn't feel judged by. "I wish I had a man who loved me that much."

"I had those same wishful thoughts once, Nadia. But be careful when yer looking fur yer knight in shining armour that ye don't end up with an arsehole in tinfoil."

Nadia laughed. "I know. But unlike my sisters, my options are limited. Very limited. Zero in fact. I'm twenty three years old and I've never even had sex. Do you believe it? My experience with men is so limited that I honestly don't know what signs I'm supposed to look for that mean he's planning on sticking around for longer than one date." Nadia groaned.

"Well, in my experience. Ye can't just give yer heart to the first guy that shows interest in ye, he has to prove himself first."

"In what way?"

"Guys worthy of yer time are the ones who make time for ye. Guys will text and reply to girls they want to talk to. Never believe anyone who says they've been too busy. If they want to be around ye, they would be, ye won't need to ask them."

"I hear what you're saying but it doesn't help when there aren't any guys out there who want to date me."

"Ye know, there's a guy who's been working with Sebastian a bit lately, a Lycan who might be perfect for ye. He's tall, handsome, collects Star Trek memorabilia and he may or may not live with his mother,…but he's single. I could ask Seb to arrange a chance meeting," Megan waggled her eyebrows with a sly grin.

"He sounds like a twat."

"He's a nice guy."

"Maybe, but he won't be for long if I go out with him. I'm like kryptonite to men. Kryptonite with cellulite."

Megan huffed again. "Ye shouldn't be so harsh on y'rself. Have a bit of faith. There is someone out there for ye."

"I have faith that pigs might one day fly, that doesn't mean it's going to happen."

"Hmph, ye really are miss negative today, aren't ye?" Megan said.

"Pot. Kettle. Black." Nadia retorted with a sly grin.

It was a sad and disappointing day to discover her Universal Remote Control did not, in fact, control the universe. Not even remotely.

"Alright, I hear ye. Maybe we can both use some work on our positive thinking. With that in mind, are ye sure ye feeling up to going in there?" Megan asked.

"Definitely."

"I could wait for Cassie to get home."

"It's Grace's first official day of school today. You could be waiting an awfully long time if you wait for her. She was so nervous before they left this morning, I wouldn't be surprised if she stays at the school all day just make sure there aren't any problems." Nadia told her with a snorting laugh.

"I don't know why they're worrying so much, there are Lycan guards posted around the school, and besides, I have no doubt Tilly will stay by her side every minute of the day, just like every other day."

"True, but they're parents. They'll worry no matter how many precautions are taken." Megan could only nod. Motherhood was something she was never going to experience, not being mated to a Vampire. Not that she cared though. She was happy helping to raise Grace and Riley. They were enough of a handful on their own. Hmm, on second thoughts maybe Cassie should be worried.

"I could ask Abby to help."

"She went with Alex to do some shopping. And before you go suggesting anyone else, Alaric went with Cassie to the school. Narayan and Paige took Riley to Fey for the day, Sebastian is doing some work for Dray this morning, and if you ask Mrs P, I don't think you'd make it out of there before next week, she'll want to dust and polish every shelf and item in there. So your stuck with me."

"Okay. Yer really sure?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm really sure. So, can we just do this? Please?"

Not waiting for Megan to ask her yet again, Nadia stepped in front of her and pressed the release that opened the secret entrance to the lower level of the Manor. As the enormous fireplace moved back and exposed the old stone staircase, Nadia couldn't hold back a shiver. Not from the sudden gust of cold air that escaped the opening, but from foreboding.

It had been more than three years since she'd last been inside the storeroom. The room that housed not only ancient collectables from Alaric's exceptionally long life, but also dangerous and precious artefacts. Among these were the first two artefacts found, the Book of Thoth, and the Ring of Gyges. So too, was Morganna le Fey's grimoire, stored in a lead lined box on one of the shelves. Even now Nadia felt it pulling her back to its evil pages to finish the job it started on her.

Not today. Not ever.

Nadia kept her mind focussed on the stone she carried in her hand. Relic number three. The Cintamani Stone.

The two walked silently along the subterranean corridors until they reached the warded doorway.

"Are ye…."

"Sure? Yes" Nadia answered, rolling her eyes. Not wanting Megan to see just how uncomfortable she was feeling, she unlocked the seal and stepped inside the room and came to an abrupt halt. Instantly her eyes fell on the wooden box. Lead lined or not, it's contents attempted to seduce her nearer.

No! I can do this. I'm not tempted, not even slightly. She told herself.

What she needed was a distraction.

"Over here. Put the stone next to the others." Megan prompted.

Nadia felt like her brain had seized up, just like every one of her muscles had. It took more effort than she wanted to admit, to turn her gaze away from that box and toward the shelf Megan was indicating on the opposite side of the room.

Opposite side of the room. Thank God.

Nadia let out a tentative breath as she forced one foot in front of the other toward Megan and the other relics, her heart pounding so hard she was sure it was about to explode from her chest.

Megan watched Nadia with a cautious eye but made an effort to conceal it. Clearly it was a struggle for her to be in this room, but she was determined to face her fear and she admired her for that.

As Nadia approached the shelves which had been designated for the Templar artefacts, Megan picked up the Ring of Gyges, the second artefact found, and turned it over in her hand to look at it more closely. She dared not put it on her finger, they still had no idea what side effects these artefacts might cause. Nadia had already learned that firsthand from reading the grimoire that not all powerful relics were good for your health.

"It's hard to think that such a tiny thing could be powerful enough to make someone invisible." Megan said, almost to herself before putting it back on the shelf. "Do ye think Ariel lied when she told Alex that we'd learn the secrets of all the artefacts? She said it would come from acquiring the first one and nothing has happened."

Without conscious thought, Nadia handed the Cintamani Stone to Megan and picked up the Book of Thoth. "The angels never lie, but that doesn't mean they're going to tell the whole truth either." Nadia answered, taking a seat on a crate and opened the Egyptian book to flick through its pages, reading the ancient hieroglyphs out load.

"It's odd. This book contains two spells. One is supposed to allow a person to understand animals. The other one is supposed to allow someone to understand the Gods. You would think that being a book of spells, that this book wouldn't pose any challenge in a Druid's hands, particularly Teagan's. But nothing. Not even Gwyn ap Nudd, a Nephilim, could unlock whatever secrets it's supposed to hold."

Megan nodded her agreement and moved to stand at her side, shoulder to shoulder, to look at the beautifully drawn pages and sighed. It completely slipped her attention that she was holding the Cintamani Stone against her heart or that the opaque turquoise stone had begun to pulse with an internal light. Silently she made a wish that she could understand the books meaning, just like Nadia.

Nadia continued to read the book.

As Megan watched, the ancient words seemed to hypnotically crawl across the pages before her, its secrets and power laid bare. Was she tripping?

Like the approach of a violent storm, the air became electric.

A moment later the world went black.