Chapter Twenty-Two
I quickly change and take off my makeup, smiling to myself with lingering thoughts about what the future holds. I’m about to begin a new life, a new adventure with a new family and with the man I love. I can’t wait. Taking the clip out of my hair, I place my toothbrush back in the drawer and turn off the bathroom light. I notice Ascot’s bedroom is dark as I make my way down the hallway, and pause at the door.
My mouth snaps shut, holding back the question I was about to ask when I see Ascot sitting in the chair next to the aquarium. He’s perfectly silent and his eyes are closed as he holds Caduceus, slowly slithering in his arms and threading between his fingers. Then I remember his promise to communicate with the Cad about Kevin. I stay quiet in the doorway and watch, frozen with nervous curiosity.
Ascot’s face twists, brows swiftly knitting together and then his body jerks as if in a dream or maybe a nightmare. I have to stop the urge to go to him, watching closely as the serpent continues his gentle movement along Ascot’s forearms.
Quietly, I clasp my palms together, waiting for Ascot to come out of it. I hold my breath silently praying there’s a way Caduceus can somehow make Kevin go away. I’m finally a part of a real, tangible, accepting family. I can’t and won’t allow an abusive monster to ruin something I’ve longed for my entire life.
Finally, Ascot opens his eyes and stares straight ahead for a moment. I try to stay patient, my heart beating faster when he blinks several times and gets to his feet. He doesn’t see me and turns, facing the aquarium, the lower half of the snake’s body dangles with elegance. Ascot lifts his hands, and gently places Caduceus back inside, along the white rocks. I don’t move, mesmerized by Cad’s shiny, black scales as they settle along the stones and into the warm, white sand. Ascot shifts and I blink, quietly clearing my throat.
Ascot glances up. “Oh, hi,” he whispers, a ghost of a smile forming across his lips. “I didn’t see you there.”
I move closer to him and touch his shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he runs a hand through his hair. “We need to talk.”
Oh crap.
“Sure,” I step to the edge of the bed and take a seat.
Ascot sits next to me, his expression unreadable as he turns to face me. “Caduceus showed me his vision.”
“What about?” I ask, trying to prepare myself for the worst.
Ascot lets out a long breath. “Kevin,” he sighs, “you were right, he’s consumed with anger and wants revenge. Every day that goes by he’s getting more powerful, more aggressive.”
“Jesus,” I whisper, “maybe Sylvia and I can make him go away?”
Ascot shakes his head. “Not likely considering Caduceus sent you the exact same warning.”
I look away recalling the fury in Kevin’s eyes and glance back up. “Did Caduceus give you any advice?”
Ascot slowly nods and clenches his jaw. “Yes,” he says, getting to his feet, his back facing me.
“What is it?” I stand and reach out, touching his shoulder.
He turns and looks down at me, a vein in his forehead beginning to swell. “Cad said that there’s only one way to get Kevin to stop.”
I swallow, locking eyes with him. “Which is?”
His lips tighten into a thin line and he looks away.
“Ascot?” I whisper, moving to face him. “What are you not telling me?”
He glances down, nostrils flaring. “I have to bring him back.”
“What do you mean,” I swallow again, “bring him ba...?”
“You know what it means, Elise,” he cuts me off.
My stomach drops and I shake my head in disbelief. “No, no, there has to be another way. Let me think for a second,” I begin to pace. “I’ll talk to Sylvia, maybe she’ll know what to do.”
“Elise.”
“There has to be a way.”
“It’s no use,” he whispers, “Kevin knows I can bring him back.”
“How?”
“I don’t know,” Ascot shakes his head. “All I am sure about is Kevin will haunt all of us, you, me, Tammy…even Camilla if nothing is done.”
“Wait a second,” I can feel the blood rushing to my face. “You can’t. How the hell would we explain his return? You saw him, I saw him, hell, the police and coroner saw him, too.”
“Apparently he promised to go away and never come back.”
I smirk. “Yeah right, like I believe that bullshit.”
“Either way, I don’t have a choice.”
“But you can’t, what if your father or,” my mouth goes dry, “your grandfather finds out what you did?”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“How? They somehow knew I was immortal. You actually think you can keep this away from them?”
He raises his brows. “That’s just it,” he sighs, “Zeus could never detect when I used my gift, which is one of the reasons I could stay hidden.”
“How did he know you were doing it then?”
“Because I was young and stupid, that’s why,” he frowns and begins to pace. “I was arrogant and self-righteous, I practically shoved it down his throat,” he shakes his head. “And when I figured out how to make myself immortal, that was the last straw.”
“Because mortals shouldn’t have the power to cheat their own death…” I whisper, trailing off in thought.
“Exactly,” he whispers, “so essentially, I can bring Kevin back without anyone knowing.”
“Dear God,” I rub my temples. “This is bad, Ascot.”
“But it’s the only way,” he says, his tone washed in guilt.
“Hang on,” I look up at him. “What about our trip? We’re leaving next week.”
He clenches his jaw again. “I’ll have to do it before then.”
“No!” I raise my voice. “Tell Caduceus to make Kevin wait. If we’re gone, there’s no way of knowing if he’ll keep his promise,” I plead. “He could be lying. He may have no intention of leaving Tammy and Camilla alone.”
“We’ll just have to trust him, that’s the deal we made,” he explains, “I bring him back and he never returns.”
“Oh,” I glare up at him, “so it’s a done deal, just like that?”
“What do you want me to do, Elise? Allow Kevin to continue haunting and tormenting his own family and possibly come after you and me?”
“Well, no…”
“Then we’re just going to have to trust that Kevin will keep his end of the bargain, besides...” he trails off.
“Besides, what?”
His face clears. “He knows I’ll kill him for good if he doesn’t.”
Whoa.
I stare up at him in silence as my mind races. The more I go over it in my head, the more it feels like a bad idea.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he whispers, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I’m telling you, we don’t have a choice.”
“It isn’t right, Ascot, it’s just not right,” I shake my head.