The Librarian's Daughter The Story of Abi VanHaven by M.M. Gavillet

I witnessed my mother’s murder. That was the only thought that kept running through my head along with the blood and her screaming my name and also the woman responsible for it.

  “It was Victoria.” I stared blankly at the wall as Kelan knelt beside me.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He hesitated slightly and then ran his hand up and down my arm. I smiled at him.

  “If it wasn’t for you, I’d never know and someone wanted it that way. A man with green eyes and brown hair,” I sat up. “He said something or started to say something before I was pulled back.” I could only wonder what I did while I was “out” and I hope it wasn’t anything embarrassing.

  “What did he say?” Kelan asked.

  “Gone,” I quickly replied. “Gone was all I heard. He was still speaking to me, but I couldn’t hear the rest of his words.”

  Kelan sat back in the chair resting his forehead in his hands and his elbows to his knees as he looked at the ground. “It could be a spell of some sort and if it was, I opened it easily almost like it was meant to be opened one day.” He then looked back at me. “I think someone wanted you to remember.”

  “Who could it have been?”

  “You know if you’re going to try to be romantic and all, blow out the candle when you’re done or do your business downstairs.” Beannca stood leaning against the doorjamb her green eyes flickering. “If you’re going to have sex all over the house, remember that other people live here and really you shouldn’t because you don’t live here.”

  “We weren’t having sex.” Kelan blurted out and turned to her as she half smiled.

  “Whatever you say lover boy,” she walked away with her words drifting behind her.

  I couldn’t look at Kelan as my cheeks felt like they were going to explode with rushing blood.

  “Don’t listen to Beannca, she’s a siren remember? Everything revolves around manipulation.” He gently turned my head catching me by the chin and making me look into his magnificent blue eyes. For a flicker of a second, I felt a pang of wanting what Beannca had only assumed we had done.

  Lou insisted that I stay for dinner, but her warm smile and pat on the back felt like she was extending that stay as long as I needed. I didn’t know what else to do and I had to answer the several missed calls and texts I’ve gotten from Meg. She was probably going out of her mind with worry.

  I finally text her back and said I was staying with Grace and I was fine and agreed to meet her at her house.

  “Oh, Abi, you’re alright!” Meg wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. “You can stay here you know.”

  I embraced her as Nate loomed in the distance looking at me without expression.

  “No, it’s fine. Grace said I could stay with her.” I lied right through my teeth. “She needs help going through everything and stuff.” I continued that lie and Meg shook her head.

  “They said it was an electrical fire and luckily no one was hurt and only two buildings were damaged,” Meg said taking a sip of her tea.

  Her hand shook slightly as she put down the delicate looking cup to the saucer. Meg then smiled as Nate came up behind her putting his hands on her shoulders.

  “Why don’t you go lie down, you look exhausted.” She reached for his hand and nodded her head.

  “Abi, I’m sorry, I haven’t been feeling well lately. You’ll have to excuse me.” Meg got up and went upstairs leaving me alone with Nate.

  “What did you do to her?” My words were stern and my voice low. I glared at Nate trying to threaten him with my eyes.

  He didn’t seem bothered and he didn’t look like he was concerned with my question. Nate simply sat down on the couch and then motioned for me to join him. I didn’t move, I wasn’t his little lap puppy. I folded my arms over my chest and cleared my throat.

  He looked up at me with his dark eyes. “Please Abigail,” his voice almost pleaded.

  Hesitantly, I sat down, just on the edge of the couch.

  “I know by now you know that I’m a guardian and you’re the daughter of a librarian. And you know what we do and what is out there living and breathing that humans think is only fable.”

  “I also know about Daniele.” Nate didn’t even twitched with concern and looked at me with a passive expression. What he had done to Meg evidently didn’t even faze him.

  “I found this at the fire.” He bent down and from his briefcase he pulled out the wooden box that my mother had intended for me to have. “I see you have the ring with you, but the key,” he opened the box, “is still here and belongs to you.”

  I sat with opened mouth as he handed the key and then the box to me with the letter still folded inside.

  “Why--” I asked in shock.

  Nate smiled. “We have a common enemy and now she knows where you are.” Nate stood up.

  Nate was as clear as mud to me. He once shot mean looks and made it clear he didn’t care for me and the next he’s confiding in me.

  I held the box on my lap looking down at it. “Victoria will find you. You need protection from the guardians. I’ve arranged a place for you to stay here in Minton.”

  “I’ll take care of myself.” I stood up clutching my box and glaring at Nate. “I already have a guardian protecting me.”

  Nate looked at me with sarcastic amusement. “A guardian?” he mocked.

  I stood my ground squaring my shoulders. His smirk fell and a look that I’ve never seen before flooded in his eyes.

  “This is serious Abi. He’s inexperienced and hasn’t had any proper training. You will be living blindly in danger. Victoria has a lot of allies and she wants the scepter that your mother took from her.”

  “I don’t trust you Nate.” I spat his name out. “I know what you did that night with Danielle and Meg will find out.” I started to turn towards the door when he grabbed me by the arm.

  “If you do, it will kill her.” His words were desperate.

  “It may hurt her, but she deserves the truth. Now get your slimy hands off of me.” I glared.

  “No, I mean it will kill her.” He looked away running his hands through his hair.

  I looked at him and for the first time his metallic shield that always surrounded him was crumbling.

  “What do you mean?” I shook my head.

  “It will literally kill her. She was poisoned, somehow,” Nate said looking away as if he was trying to calculate something. “She was poisoned by one of Victoria’s minions.” He finally came to a conclusion. “Like I said we have a common enemy and Victoria must be destroyed.” He pointed towards the ground looking at me from under his arching eyebrows. “I can’t make you go anywhere you don’t want, but remember, my offer may not always be there.” His voice warned me in a gentle tone. “You’re a lamb Abigail VanHaven and you’re playing with wolves.”

  I left in the little blue car that Nate, through some unspoken agreement, had given me since I got the title in the mail with my name on it. I felt bad for hating Nate at the same time I hated him being mysterious. I wanted to go back into his house, stomp my foot on their hardwood floor and demand to know what he means and what he knows. I could feel tears sting my eyes as oncoming headlights flashed by me. Meg, she didn’t look good. I had to do something for her. I still didn’t believe Nate. He was only telling half-truths if what he said was even true. I wasn’t about to let him on anything I knew if he was doing the same.

  A tear followed by another fell from my cheek to the partially charred box. I thought of Grace and wished she was here. I hung on to the hope that she had finally called Kelan.

  I got back to the half-way house hoping Kelan would be there. Light streamed out the windows and the smell of roasting chicken leaked from the screen door. I went inside and saw Lou by the oven pulling a large roasting pan out. She had on rainbow colored oven mitts that matched her broomstick skirt. She was humming unaware of my presence.

  “Abi
, why are you crying?” She asked without even looking at me.

  “What? I’m not crying.” She turned with a slight smile.

  “I’ve been around long enough that I can smell tears, especially ones with great sorrow.” Her voice was compassionate. “If you want, I’ll listen.” Lou’s tone was a welcoming comfort and suddenly I found her arms around me.

  Her touch was as gentle as a summer wind. I couldn’t stop my tears and with her apron she dried them for me.

  “Thanks, I mean, I’m sorry.” She motioned to sit and I did. “But you hardly know me Lou.”

  “I don’t have to know you to listen to you.” Lou’s words had everything on them but a welcome mat.

  “I went to my cousin’s house tonight, Meg. Her husband, Nate, said she was poisoned by one of Victoria’s followers. But I don’t trust him.” I concluded quickly. “He’s a guardian and I caught him kissing a woman. One of his employees, right at his house and I recorded it only to have him erase it on my phone somehow.”

  “Her name is Danielle, and she’s a siren.” Beannca seemed to appear out of the shadows. Her green eyes radiated with life. “She’s in my group and she likes guardians. I mean, that’s all she likes.” Her eyes widened. “She mentioned his name before gloating about how she was screwing a lawyer. That’s what Nate is, isn’t he? ” I shook my head. “Yeah, she went into great detail talking about all of their…meetings . She’s a little arrogant bitch if you ask me.” She folded her arms like a pouting child. She then looked away as if to savor something of long ago. “Guardians…are a rare breed, full of life…” She smiled. “I’m surprised the guardian took her to his house. Very dangerous…only adds to the danger, very… erotic.” Her words trailed off like honey dripping from a spoon.

  I couldn’t help but to be drawn into her. Suddenly, I could feel my blood rush through my veins, everything intensified as Beannca only smiled at me. Her words, her eyes and the way her mouth curled into a smile, it was like she was a giant vacuum cleaner of sex. She pulled it out of me willingly and I had the desire to do anything she would ask.

  “Enough!” Lou’s hand slammed on the table. I snapped from my trance. “Beannca you know better.” She pointed her finger at her.

  Beannca pulled back mindlessly tilting her head to the side and then looked at me. “That was a small taste of what sirens do. Just be glad I’m not male.”

  “Why don’t you tell us about this Danielle and make your presence here a little more useful.” Lou with a flick of her hand made one of the chairs slide towards Beannca.

  “Fine, I don’t like Danielle anyhow.” She sat down a little ways from the table where the chair had stopped. “I’ve only seen her in the group and know she is just about done and ready to advance to fly solo. I know she works with Nate and as far as I know, Danielle is seeing him exclusively. And that’s not normal for a siren.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s like she really has reformed herself to belong in this world…boring if you ask me, but I’ve only started the group,” she said with a sly smile and a tone that she didn’t have to reform herself, at least not yet.

  “Really, that’s all?” Lou asked with raised eyebrows.

  Beannca shook her head. “Yeah, that’s it. She’s that boring. Not a normal acting siren.” She then smiled. “She kind of keeps to herself and hasn’t given many details on her relationship with the guardian.”

  “—probably because she doesn’t want everyone to know.” Lou rubbed her chin. “She might be working for Victoria.”

  “Sirens don’t work for anyone.” Beannca’s eyes flashed as she leaned towards Lou. “They only work for their own kind or themselves. Not anyone, especially a rouge librarian.”

  “Unless the reward is too sweet to pass up, even sirens have weaknesses.” Lou only looked at Beannca who glared back with slit eyes.

  “It would have to be pretty sweet.” Beannca concluded.

  “But why with Nate? What if she’s just having an affair and nothing more?” I asked.

  “A siren just messing around with a guardian—I don’t think so.” Beancca shook her head. “There has to be something more.”

  “Beannca’s right.” Lou looked at me then at Beannca. “How about you find out the dirt on her?”

  Beannca smiled slowly with her eyes flickering like green lights. “I’d love to find some dirt.”

  Morning had come too soon. I tossed and turned most of the night and when I was sleeping really well, the sun blasted through the window hitting me right in the face. I got up and waited for everyone to use the bathroom first before I did.

  I took my time getting ready since I had no real job to go to and then went downstairs to an empty kitchen. Lou left a note saying that there were meetings and errands to run. And they had to take my car. I looked outside and the empty driveway proved how gutsy they were. At least at the end of the note was the word thank you

  I really didn’t care that they did, especially since they opened their door to me, but it would’ve been nice for them to ask.

  Suddenly my phone vibrated in front of me. I jumped slightly as I wasn’t used to getting many phone calls. I picked it up and it was Kelan. I couldn’t contain a smile as I answered.

  “Hey, get ready, I’m ten minutes away.” I could hear the wind echo in my phone.

  “What makes you think I’m not already ready?” I got up and went upstairs as quickly as I could and tried to find something of Beannca’s hand-me-downs to wear.

  “I’ve only known you for a little, but I know you sleep late.” Kelan was right but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of it.

  “I’ll be ready. Where are we going anyhow?” I asked putting a pair of jeans on with one hand.

  “Donavan agreed to meet us,” he paused. “I think he knows something about Grace.”

  A lump formed in my throat.

  “I’m waiting. I’ll meet you in the driveway.”

  Kelan’s black truck shone like liquid in the sun despite the grim feeling of meeting a guardian and wondering what had happened to Grace. I got in the truck and Kelan smiled at me, like he always did.

  “I thought I would have to wait,” he teased.

  I rolled my eyes and smiled. “I said I would be ready.”

  “Your shirts on inside out,” he motioned with his eyes, “and backwards.”

  I looked down at the small tag staring back at me that said wash, gentle cycle, non-chlorine bleach…

  “You’ve got to be kidding me?’ I whispered to myself.

  “Better fix it because Donavan is a head guardian from Chicago and… I told him you’re a librarian.”

  “What?” I couldn’t believe that Kelan told him I was a real librarian.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I know I shouldn’t have, but it was the only way he would meet me. And,” he looked over to me with his summery looking eyes, “don’t you want to know if he knows anything about Grace?”

  “Yes,” I said without hesitation. “Now don’t look.” I started to pull my arms out of the shirt scrunching in the seat as far as I could.

  “I’ve seen you before.” Kelan’s voice shot through me. “Who do you think healed your burns and scrapes from the night Grace’s shop burned down?”

  I felt bile run up to my mouth. “You what?”

  “Don’t worry Lou was there.” He kept his eyes on the road. “It was either have severe burns and cuts or be healed. I thought you would prefer to be healed and that was the only way to do it.” Our eyes met for only a brief moment.

  I felt more embarrassed than angered and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hide or cry. I looked away and then down at my arms. I can still feel the embers land on me scorching my skin. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Kelan.

  “Thanks,” I said meekly. He didn’t reply, but I could see his lips curl slightly into a smile as I looked at him watching the road pretending I wasn’
t looking at him. I didn’t feel violated like when Nate saw me, but glad Kelan was there to save me even if he did have a peek at me.

  I switched my shirt quickly and sat back in the seat as we parked in front of Grace’s house.

  “Any word from her?” I asked.

  Kelan shook his head with a somber gaze. “Let’s see what Donavan has to say.”

  I could feel his cold stare before Donavan made himself known. I got out of the truck trying not to look intimidated as he came out of Grace’s house. I stopped looking at him then at Kelan. What was he doing in her house? I felt like questioning him demanding what business he had in there. But instead, I gazed over at Kelan who smiled slightly at Donavan who maintained his cold, stone-like persona.

  “Let’s go inside, there are too many eyes around here.” Donavan’s voice was like a cold winter wind that tunnels inside of your ears until it reaches your core and freezes it. I shivered as I went up the stairs gazing over at the empty rocking chair. I looked around wondering if Lucy was anywhere nearby.

  Donavan went inside like he owned the place and motioned for us to sit.

  “So this is Abigail VanHaven—the librarian.” He took off his dark glasses, folded his gloved hands and grinned at me with amusement. I looked between him and Kelan. “You are no more a librarian than I am a ballerina.” His thick, deep voice was jovial through his harsh sounding accent. “I can see that and…Kelan, I knew that before you even told me.” His brown eyes looked even darker surrounded by his mocha colored skin and the white of his eyes. “Don’t lie to me, I’m being generous to you by accepting your application especially without representation and you’re not off to a good start.”

  “I know, but…I didn’t know if you would meet me. And with Grace…” Donavan held up his hand.

  “Grace is fine. She’s in sanctuary because the Circle is gaining strength. Victoria already has power and she doesn’t even have her scepter yet.” Donavan’s eyes slid over to me like two beams. I wasn’t sure if I should believe Donavan about Grace and avoided his stare. “That’s where you come in.”

  I straightened and cleared my throat that had a lump in it. “I don’t know how I can help you.” I shook my head. “I’ve only found out about all of this.”

  “Henry has heard much about you. Your mother had Victoria’s scepter and your mother is the one who hid it in a book, a book that isn’t cataloged at any library.” His eyes widened as if my mother had committed a terrible crime.

  “But Abi doesn’t know where that book is at.” Kelan spoke for me.

  “Of course she doesn’t, at least not from the memories that she can remember. The knowing of it is there, we just have to dig.” Donavan emphasized the word dig as if he was going to go into Grace’s kitchen and get it out with a spoon if he had to. “You have Sight Premonition?” He asked gazing steadily at Kelan.

  “Yes,” he replied with a slight hesitation.

  “Then I suggest you dig deeper and find it.” He nodded his head towards me keeping his eyes on Kelan.

  “Excuse me, but I don’t even know who you are.” I wasn’t afraid of him. “I saw you at Grace’s shop talking to her the night it burned down.” I folded my arms as if to say “explain yourself.”

  “I know, I saw you too and asked Grace if she wanted you to join us.” Donavan casually replied not intimidated of getting caught. I looked at him with opened mouth. “She said she tried to get other retired librarians involved, but had no luck. That’s when she called me. I’m a head guardian and,” he looked over at Kelan, “a recruiter.”

  “Grace wants you safe and when we were just talking, we were attacked. The members of the Circle are everywhere. They thought Grace had the scepter and came after her, but their real target was you. They know that now and are watching.”

  I felt the blood drain from my body and my head went light.

  “You mean the fire, wasn’t meant to scare Grace?” Kelan asked.

  “No, it was meant for Abigail and they will come after you again,” Donavan said flatly.

  “But who are they? Do they live here?” I asked.

  “Some do and some don’t.” He was vague in his answers and I was beginning to get tired of it. I thought of mentioning Nate, but decided not to since I didn’t know Donavan true intentions.

  “Look, I know you don’t know me, but let me reassure you that I have your safety in my best interest. Grace told me everything from your Aunt Kathleen to the box you got from your mother. I’ve known Grace for a long time and I would never do anything to harm her, we work together.” His voice finally softened. “I hope you understand this Abigail VanHaven.”

  I looked at him for a moment. He was a peculiar man like something lurked just under his skin that wasn’t human, I could feel it. And at the same time, I felt like I could trust him.

  “I was trying to find you and was glad Kelan contacted me.” He glanced over at Kelan. “Otherwise someone from the Circle could’ve gotten to you sooner. Where are you staying now?” He asked Kelan.

  “—at a halfway house on the edge of town,” Kelan was willingly giving him information and evidentially more trusting than I.

  “You need to get out of there. I’ll arrange a place for you.” Donavan stood up. “There’s no need to drag benefactors into this.”

  “So when do we leave?” Kelan asked standing up as well.

  Donavan gave him a quick glance. “Abigail will be leaving as soon as possible. For now, I’ll give you the responsibility to watch her.”

  Kelan seemed pleased at his new duty and followed Donavan out the door holding the screen door open. A breeze blew against the window and the rocking chair began to sway back and forth. Lucy.

  I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Kelan nodded his head a lot and Donavan looked back at me nodded and said he would be in contact with me and expect to leave soon. I didn’t press him with too many questions because I wasn’t going to leave with him. Something about him wasn’t right.

  Kelan came back inside as Donavan went down the steps. I went to the window to watch him leave. I pushed back the curtain to see nothing but Grace’s well cared for garden. I stood there realizing now that I don’t remember another car parked outside when we pulled up. Could someone have picked him up? I would’ve seen them or heard a car pull up. It was like he had vanished into thin air.

  Hardly believing it, I decided to step outside.

  The warm air brushed against me and the wind chimes filled the air with their music.

  “Where did he go?” I whispered to myself.

  “I hate them hollowmen.” I turned to see Lucy smiling and knitting in her rocker. “Nice to see you again, Abigail VanHaven.”

  “Hi Lucy,” I said turning to her. “What’s a hollowman?”

  Lucy didn’t take her eyes off her knitting and this time I looked at her face instead of her flashing hands.

  “What just left…he isn’t human or enchanted sort. He’s what evolved from the shadows.” She glanced up at me.

  “But he knew of Henry and Grace.”

  She smiled as Kelan came out locking the door behind him. “I need to go into town and…” I tugged on his arm alerting him of Lucy.

  He glanced over at her then at me. I shook my head as Lucy continued to rock back and forth.

  “Kelan Blackwell a guardian of a long line. Don’t you think it’s about your time?” Her laugh was bubbly like she didn’t have a care in the world.

  “But what about the hollowman Lucy?” I stepped in front of Kelan.

  “They’re like rats and guardians shouldn’t leave without hats.” From Lucy’s hand flew something black towards Kelan.

  Her movements were like flashes of lighting and her image faded like a shadow dissolving in the sun. I stood there looking at the empty and motionless rocking chair that had abruptly stopped and then at Kelan who took off a black top hat. Lucy had given him a
gift—one of her gifts.

  “I’ve never met Lucy before, but Grace had mentioned her a lot.” He looked at the hat.

  “Last time I was here she gave me a scarf.” I looked at the hat with him. It was soft with a tin band of grey at the base and on the inside was a tiny crest. “What is that an eagle?”

  “No, it’s a phoenix—the bird that is born of the ashes. It doesn’t exist, well, not anymore. And it’s the symbol for the guardians.” He then scrunched his nose up and sighed. “Where am I going to wear a top hat? I don’t understand, Lucy.” He looked at the rocking chair and raised his voice, but she didn’t come. The rocking chair swayed a little, but the occupant was gone, only coming if she desired.

  “Well, you could wear it around and pretend you’re Abe Lincoln.” I teased with an annoyed smirk from Kelan. I thought he was tall enough and with the dark hair and lanky frame he could pass for an Abe Lincoln…a hot one that is.

 

  Kelan wanted to drive into town before we went back to the halfway house. I watched the trees go by in blurs of green. I fidgeted with the ring on my finger. I couldn’t help but to think of everything from my mother’s note to Grace. Was she really alright? I looked back at Kelan. He didn’t seem bothered, just going with the flow and totally trusting Donavan. That still struck a chord with me.

  “How well do you know this Donavan? Lucy called him a hollowman.” Kelan’s nearly black hair fluttered in the wind. I noticed he had let it grow out since I’ve met him and now it was curling slightly at the tips that pointed at his blue eyes. “What’s a hollowman?”

  “I’ve never heard of one and,” he looked over at me, “you can’t always go by what Lucy says. She has her own terminology for things.” I suppose she could and if Kelan had never heard of them, then maybe she just called him that like I call Nate a jerk.

  “How are we going to find this scepter, and when or if we do, what are we going to do with it?” I asked.

  “Contain Victoria with it and then put it into a book that will be stored at a library.” Kelan made it sound so simple.

  “Really, that easy, huh?” I didn’t think it was funny, but Kelan smiled and laughed a little which in turn made me smile, even though I didn’t want to. Kelan had a way of doing that.

  “Why make it any harder than it is?” he said as he opened his door part way. “I’m going into the courthouse and drop off my application and sign a few papers. I’ll be right back.”

  “So is this the guardian headquarters or secret lair?” I looked at the stone building that looked to be the oldest on the square among all the other buildings.

  Kelan only shook his head. “No, the courthouse is just a place where we keep records and the registry.” He shut the door and then leaned through the open window. “The guardian’s hideout is off limits to librarians anyhow…” He then smiled at me as I shook my head watching him go up to the courthouse doors.

  I sat in the truck holding Kelan’s top hat. The material was like silk and smooth to the touch. I wondered if Lucy meant it as a joke or if she had a purpose for the hat. She called Donavan a hollowman. That name, and the way she said it, didn’t sound good the more I thought about it. I didn’t think Kelan was right about her just “calling him that”, like she was calling him a bad name. I decided I would ask Lou when I got back.

  I looked out the window and towards the wooden double doors that led into the courthouse. It opened and a group of several girls dressed in skirts and dress pants all walked together talking and laughing. They must be employees that were going to lunch. They walked in front of Kelan’s truck as I shifted my eyes from them to the door waiting for Kelan.

  I turned the ignition just enough to turn on the clock to see the time. It was noon, which made sense from all the people exiting the building.

  I looked out the window and a blonde haired girl caught my eye. She was dressed in a dark skirt suit wearing black stilettos and pacing the sidewalk. I would recognize her in a sea of blonde haired bombshells. It was Danielle.

  I quickly slid down in my seat as she stood looking down the street in the distance as if she was waiting for someone. Just barely peeking over the edge of the window, I watched her. Thank goodness she didn’t see me. I was only a few parking spots away from her.

  Danielle’s wait wasn’t long. A black SUV pulled up and with a smile to the driver, she got in. I would also recognize that vehicle anywhere—it was Nate.

  I scrunched even farther feeling that one of them probably had X-ray vision. They drove off just as Kelan opened the door and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

  I sat back up, but not quick enough for him to catch me in my awkward position.

  “Abi, is everything o.k.?’ Kelan got in and shut the door behind him.

  “Yeah, it is now. I just saw Nate…and his Barbie doll.”

  He started his truck with a raise of his eyebrows. “Nathanial Hawthorne has a Barbie doll?”

  “You know what I mean,” I said looking out my window to see if I could catch a glimpse of them. “There’re gone.”

  “Nathaniel Hawthorne is your cousin’s husband right?” he asked.

  “Yeah, unfortunately,” I replied. “And the boy toy of some blonde chick.”

  “You know Nathaniel is a guardian.” His voice questioned.

  “Yes, he told me, more or less.” My thoughts flashed back to the night Nate saw me naked. I felt sick just now realizing that he was the first man to ever see me naked. “He said the guardians had high hopes for me. He told me that when I was staying at their house and…I caught him in an affair.” Kelan slid his eyes over to me as if to say continue. “He was with Danielle, a blonde that Beannca said was in her group and is a siren. I had the evidence on my phone, but somehow, Nate erased it and now I can’t tell Meg. She’d never believe me if I told her what I saw.”

  There was silence after I got done telling Kelan everything. I wasn’t sure if he cared, or if he was just thinking about it.

  “So Nathaniel is seeing a siren behind his wife’s back and you had evidence that is gone now?” Kelan asked.

  “Yeah,” I looked at him.

  “And what about your cousin,” he gazed over at me.

  “What about Meg?” My voice snipped at him

  “Could she be involved in a relationship as well? I mean, some guardian-librarian-enchanted being relationships are pretty open.” I looked at him with open mouth.

  “Meg, I don’t think so!” I knew what he was implying and the thought of Meg committing adultery or even being in­volved in some twisted relationship, wasn’t even a possibility.

  Kelan didn’t say another word as I sat looking out the window wishing this ride was over in more ways than one.

  Chapter Six