Chapter 206
No wonder Aaron didn’t come back. He was lying on his back beneath the mammoth stone fireplace, out cold. He would’ve loved to have stopped to see what was wrong with him, but he needed to fulfill his obligations.
A man with a bag and gloves hurried by, coming from the interior of the room. He stopped and glanced around, as if he were looking for someone to help. “Excuse me!” Christian called, praying this tall fellow with the handlebar mustache was a Healer. “There’s a Hunter with a severed arm in the dungeon. Can you help?”
“Yes, of course,” he said. “Show me?”
Christian glanced at Aaron once more. Seeing that he was breathing, he took off for the dungeon, the Healer in tow.
When they reached Margot’s side, Morris explained the situation to the Healer, who introduced himself as Diego from Spain. He began working on Margot immediately. The others moved aside to give him some space.
Ward had his handkerchief out and was attempting to wipe the blood from his chin. “Did you see Aaron?” he asked.
“Oh, yes. He… hit his head.”
“What’s that?” Catherine asked, her hand clutching her chest. “Is he well?”
“I’m not sure. I saw that he was breathing and then brought Diego down here.”
“Where is he?” Catherine was already raising her red velvet skirts off the ground as if she were about to fly up the stairs.
“In the foyer beneath the fireplace,” Christian called. She didn’t even ask Ward’s permission to go, only took off as if Aaron were her lover.
“Do they need our help upstairs?” Ward had gotten most of the blood and returned his handkerchief to his pocket.
“No, I believe they’ve got the bastard. I felt a shift in the energy just before I entered the great hall.”
“Yes, I felt it too.” Ward looked over his shoulder at Margot. She seemed stabilized now. Some color was coming back to her cheeks. “Very well. I will go see what else I can do. Well done today, Christian.” He patted Christian’s shoulder and headed up the stairs.
Christian said nothing. He hadn’t done a particularly stellar job. What’s more, neither had Ward. If Christian had relied on someone else to take over his command the way Ward had, he’d be ashamed.
Deciding there was nothing more for him in this basement, Christian headed upstairs as well, not to help, but to find some fresh air and decompress.
Hours later, after the sun had come up and most of them had returned to camp, Christian was sitting alone beneath a tree, a book in his hand, when Catherine came from the direction of camp. “There you are. I’ve been sent to fetch you.”
“Me? For what?” he asked, closing the volume. He hadn’t been of much help the last several hours, but the others seemed to have it under control, and he hadn’t gone too far from the tents, just in case.
“I wasn’t told. I was just asked to find you and then report to Mr. Findley’s tent.”
Christian raised an eyebrow. Was he in some sort of trouble? Placing his book in his pocket, he walked with Catherine to the aforesaid destination.
“That was quite the ordeal, wasn’t it?” she asked.
“Yes.” He wasn’t in the mood to chat, especially not with a pretty girl who clearly preferred another Guardian over him.
“I can’t believe they got him. Thanks to Aaron.”
“Aaron?” Christian stopped walking. This, he had not heard. “Whatever do you mean?”
She was forced to stop as well. “No one told you? He went upstairs just in time to stand between Dracula and the front door, through which the monster was attempting to escape. He slowed the beast’s retreat just enough for Van and her team to catch up and behead him. That’s how Aaron ended up against the wall unconscious. Dracula himself tossed him across the way.” Catherine continued on her way, and Christian fell in line beside her.
He was laughing. It wasn’t on purpose, but he couldn’t contain it. “He stopped Dracula by becoming… a projectile? Really, where’s the courage in that?”
She was angry now. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, Christian! Aaron’s being touted as a hero by everyone, including Van and Mr. Findley! You be kind or else….”
“Or else what?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. It wasn’t as if she could hurt him. Of course, she didn’t know that. As far as she knew, he was a normal Guardian, and she could shoot and kill him.
Catherine didn’t finish the sentence. They were at Jordan’s tent. An assistant greeted them, went inside, and came back a moment later. “They’ll see you now.”
“They’ll?” Christian wondered aloud, but when he went inside, Jordan wasn’t alone. Aaron was with him. Christian held back a snort and an eyeroll. Hanging out with the Guardian Leader was he now? Simply because he fit the bill of an object easily tossed across the room? Why? Were there no balls or boomerangs present?
“Ah, Christian, Catherine. Thank you for joining us.” Jordan shook each of their hands. “Aaron and I have something we’d like to discuss with you.”
Christian braced himself, afraid he’d be accused of not fulfilling his duties appropriately, but on the contrary, Jordan had been told otherwise--correctly, he added. He had done all he was asked to do and then some.
“Aaron has told me that both of you performed bravely during the mission. Others have stated that the three of you worked well together. I am forming a new team, and I would like to invite the three of you to be a part of it.”
Christian’s heart began to flutter. Was this the leadership opportunity he’d been searching for?
When Jordan continued, that dream was shattered. “I’ll be forming a Southampton team. I’ve asked Aaron to be the Area Leader, but I would very much like it if the two of you would be his first team members. We may add existing LIGHTS members from other teams or fill the rest of the positions with new recruits, but I think this will be a dynamic team, one willing to take on all sorts of challenges, including potential threats aboard the ships leaving dock from Southampton. Now, what do the two of you think? Christian, it would be temporary for you as I foresee the opening of the technology lab we’ve discussed within the near future, but in the meantime, I believe this will give you a chance to leave the US and make a name for yourself elsewhere, get some broader experience under your belt. Catherine, I can tell by your expression that you’re thrilled and will accept.”
“It would be an honor!” Catherine gushed, reaching out and grabbing hold of Aaron’s arm as if they were old friends--or more. He smiled at her, but then looked at Christian, raising an eyebrow and waiting.
Christian wasn’t sure what to say. He was disappointed to say the least. He’d hoped to be given a leadership position himself, not be put off again and moved to another team--one in Britain of all places. He hated the British.
Aaron looked him in the eye and said, “I believe you would be a great asset to us, Major Henry.”
There was something about the energy exuding from the man that made him nod his head. “Very well,” he said quietly, thinking he was likely to regret it. Perhaps it would be a short assignment, Going overseas would be exciting, though. He had no one at home waiting for him, after all.
“Wonderful!” Jordan said, patting each of them on the back. “We’ll get it set up right away. I have a good feeling about this little team.” He laughed heartily, and Christian smiled, because that’s what a person was supposed to do in this sort of situation. But deep inside, he felt a seed began to grow, a seed he could only describe as disdain. How a person could simultaneously generally like and respect someone and also loathe them was something he couldn’t explain--not scientifically anyway. But that’s how he felt about Aaron McReynolds. It was impossible not to like him. Yet, if he could pull his dagger just then and ram it into the man’s neck with any sort of lasting results, he’d do it. None of it made any sense, and yet it also made more sense than anything else Christian had ever felt in his entire life.
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