The walk home shouldn’t have been long, but he was reveling in his thoughts and the memory of her body pressed against his. It was almost impossible to believe that Aislyn had agreed to marry him. How had he become so fortunate to have the most beautiful lass in the world as his own?
Soon enough, he found himself standing outside of his own door, and he realized he was also quite lucky that nothing had snuck up on him out of the shadows as he made his way home since he was paying absolutely no mind to his surroundings and would have been an easy target should anything, earthly or other worldly, chosen to claim him.
He was still soaring when he quietly opened the door. However, he needn’t thought of disrupting his family members’ sleep, as all three of them were up, and clearly something was not right. Genty sat in a chair near the unlit fireplace, her mother on the floor beside her, holding her hand while Granddad stood behind her, his hands pressing on her shoulders. His sister was sobbing so hard, her entire body shook with each mournful sniffle.
Aaron closed the short distance quickly, coming to a halt right in front of her. “Genty? What happened?”
“Oh, Aaron, thank God,” his mother said, bringing herself to her feet and wrapping her arms around him. “I was so worried about you.”
“I’m fine, Ma. I walked Aislyn home. What’s wrong with Gen?”
“It was just awful,” his mother began, turning back to face her oldest child who could hardly catch her breath, she was crying so hard. “They were attacked on their way home. She hardly made it out alive.”
“Oh, my God,” Aaron exclaimed, nearly unable to believe the story. He dropped to his knees and flung himself at his sister, his arms encircling her waist. “Are you all right, Gen? Please tell me they didn’t hurt you.” He began searching her arms and neck for scratches, knowing even the smallest scrape could lead to an infection.
“She’s fine,” Granddad assured him. “We’ve done a thorough check over.”
“They didn’t touch me,” Genty managed to get out between sobs. “It was everyone else.”
“Everyone?” Aaron repeated, scooting back on his knees so that he could look up at her.
“Yes,” she confirmed. Though tears still rolled down her cheeks, her breathing was becoming more even. “They came out of the bushes, near Min’s home. Loughlin shouted for us to run, and I took off into the fields. Min did, too, but she stumbled. Quin stopped to help her up and then… all I heard was screaming. I took shelter behind a tree, unable to run further, and I could see them, outlined against the night sky. Four Dark Ones, three of my friends, all being taken. I knew there was nothing I could do to help them, and so, once I caught my breath, I took off running again, leaving them all behind.” Her eyes began to gloss over then, shock taking over. Shaking her head slowly, she said, “I just left them behind.”
“You did what you had to do,” Granddad assured her. “You did what Loughlin insisted you do.”
“I was a coward,” Genty insisted, her head resting against her elbow on the small dining table. “I should have stayed and fought for my friends.”
“If you had, they’d still be gone, and so would you,” her mother argued, using her hands to dry the tears that streaked her daughter’s face.
Aaron was silent for a moment, but he could feel the anger building up inside of him. That sound he and Aislyn had heard, that must have been one of the Dark Ones during the attack. “I’m sorry,” he began, standing in front of his sister, his arms crossed. “I should’ve been with you.”
“I’m so glad you were not,” Genty assured him. “I don’t know what I would have done if I needed to protect you, Aaron, but I certainly wouldn’t have run away. They might have gotten both of us.”
Running his hand through his hair so forcefully that a few strands actually came out, Aaron exclaimed, “We cannot continue to live like this. In fear for our lives day after day. The number of crosses in the cemetery continue to grow, the fright in the eyes of the children, in their parents, is more evident each time another attack such as this one occurs. How much longer will we sit by and do nothing?”
“There’s nothing we can do,” Granddad insisted. “We have the agreement.”
“The agreement?” Genty said, turning so that she could look up at him. “Loughlin was a member of the Order, Granddad. You know that. So was Quin. If the Dark Ones can claim us now, then why can we do nothing in return?”
“Do not speak those words,” Granddad replied, his voice a sharp whisper. “Do not speak of them, or they will come.”
“They will come anyway,” Aaron said, his hands on his hips now. “Is there truly nothing that we can do, or have we only said that we will not because of this so-called agreement?”
His Granddad dropped his eyes, his shoulders slumping. “There is nothing we can do. We are powerless against them.”
Aaron knew his grandfather to be an honest man, but something about the way he said those words let him know he was not being truthful now. “Then why is there a difference between the members of the Order and the others?” he asked. “Surely there must be something to distinguish us.”
“If there ever was, no one knows what it is now,” Bree said, standing next to her daughter’s chair. “Although I think there must be something as well. There were rumors when I was younger, stories of defeated Dark Ones, banished to ash.”
“We will speak of this no longer,” Ferris demanded, pounding his hand on the table loud enough to leave it quaking for several seconds. “We are part of the Order, and we shall honor the agreement. At least, as long as I walk this earth, that is the choice my clan, the McReynolds clan, will uphold. Anyone who wishes to do otherwise may leave this house!”
The air between them was thick for several seconds as they all stared at Granddad in stunned silence. After a few moments, Genty rose from her chair, smoothed her gown, and said in a hauntingly calm voice, “I will be leaving. If not tomorrow, then the next day. I can no longer stay in a country that allows its people to go hungry while sending food abroad, who refuses to address those we do not speak of, who treats us as if we are slaves.”
“Oh, Genty,” Bree said, tears streaming from her eyes. “Where will you go?”
“To America,” she replied, as if her mind had been made up for quite some time. “I have a bit of money I’ve saved from the sewing I’ve taken on, and while it isn’t much, it is enough to make passage. Loughlin spoke of coming with me….” Her face was brave and her voice didn’t waiver, but Aaron could see her beginning to crack as she spoke his name. “His sister lives there, in Boston. I shall join her family there.”
Leaving their mother gasping, Genty finished and turned to go. Bree’s hand shot out and caught her daughter’s shoulder. “Might we speak on this in the morning, when cooler heads may prevail?”
“My head is cool, I assure you,” Genty replied over her shoulder without turning to face her mother. “We can talk about it, but I will not change my mind. This Ireland is not the one in which I wish to raise a family. If you choose to stay, then, I’m afraid we must live our separate lives.”
In all of his years, Aaron had never heard his sister speak to their mother in such a fashion. As he watched her ascend the ladder to the loft, he realized she must already know that he had asked Aislyn to be his wife. Without her little brother in the house to watch over, Genty would be free to pursue the life she’d always dreamt of. Now, however, thanks to the Dark Ones, she’d be forced to find someone else to live out those dreams alongside.
Aaron swore he would never let anything of the sort happen to his sweet Aislyn. If there was a way to protect her, he would find it—or die trying.
Killarney, Ireland, 1847The potatoes were nothing but black mush. He’d spent hours tilling the ground, removing the rocks, tending the soil, planting the seeds, and now, all he had to show for it was a handful of black death. While he’d had the forethought to plant a few other crops as well, the potatoes were the only way they had to make any money, and with the little home the villagers had helped them build at the end of last year when he and Aislyn had tied the knot, needing a bit of repair already, he could have used the money. Now, it would be nearly impossible to even buy seed for next year’s planting.“What you got, lad?” Kian called, stepping through his acreage to Aaron’s. “All rot?’“Yes,” Aaron assured him. “Nothing but stink and filth. You?”“The same,” Kian nodded, his hands resting on his hips. “Shannon will have a conniption when she hears.&r
There were a few locations in town where one might seek out knowledge, but the best place was the tavern, and so they decided to try their luck there. Despite the early hour, the doors were open, and more than a few citizens gathered inside, their complaints and worries reaching the ears of the newcomers before they’d fully stepped inside.Many spoke of the rotten potatoes, how there was no end in sight, how the Englishmen refused more than a token show of help, and how the Irish were left to starve or forced to move away. Only a few hinted at the rising death toll in the village attributed to the others, and no one dared speak those words. One man, who’d clearly been there for quite a while, was crying about the death of his son just a few days earlier, and while his friends attempted to console him, it was the mead that began to quiet him after some time.“There’s nothing that can be done, then, to save the crop?” Kian was asking a group
After a few moments, he returned to Kian who was rubbing the back of his head but otherwise looked just fine. “Who was that fellow?” Aaron asked, glimpsing back the way he had come.“I don’t know,” Kian admitted. “But I’ve never encountered someone so strong.”“Or so fast.”“You don’t think he could be a… Dark One?” Kian asked, finally moving his hand off the back of his head.“No, I don’t think so,” Aaron said quickly, though he wasn’t sure. If Ward really was a Dark One, wouldn’t he have destroyed them? Why would he offer an explanation for the English’s reaction to the Dark Ones? No, he didn’t seem to be evil—just leery of trusting anyone. And definitely not human, though what he might be, Aaron had no idea.“Come on,” Kian insisted, tugging on Aaron’s sleeve. “Let’s go visit our paren
The plan worked and the Dark Ones gave chase to the two men, abandoning the children and rushing after the meddlers instead. Aaron knew there was absolutely no way that he could possibly outrun the Dark Ones; he had heard numerous stories of those who had tried and failed. Even as he began to accept that his fate was sealed and that he may never see his sweet Aislyn again, he realized a strange sensation, one he’d certainly never felt before, was beginning to spread throughout his body. His legs began to tingle, and while at first he thought it was due to the speed he was approaching, he soon realized that wasn’t it at all. He suddenly felt stronger, faster than he had ever before.A quick glance over his shoulder revealed that Kian was taking another path, a smart move. Perhaps that way one of them would escape. However, as the monsters closed in, they also split, and Aaron knew he’d have to turn and face his assailant soon. He couldn’t keep running f
Neither of them made mention to their wives what had happened, though they didn’t discuss keeping it a secret. It just didn’t seem like the sort of thing one mentioned to a person who was not there; no one was likely to believe them anyway.The next morning, Aaron met Kian outside near the road. They decided they must return to the tavern to try and find Ward. Without a word to their wives of where they were going, they set out, certain that Ward would have some answers, though the longer time went by, the more Aaron began to doubt anything about the experience was real.As they walked along, Kian voiced the same thoughts. “That did really happen to us, didn’t it?”“I think so,” Aaron shrugged. “I mean, it couldn’t be a dream or else one of us wouldn’t remember, right?”“Right,” Kian agreed, though his voice wavered. “I do hope those girls made it home safely. I would hate
“Very good. You are quick learners,” Ward nodded. “Kian O'Braonain, your clan was one of the greatest Hunters in all the world many hundreds of years ago. All Vampires feared the silver swords of the O’Braonains.” Turning to Aaron, he continued, “And the McReynolds clan comes from the descendants of the great Guardian Leaders. Not only that, your mother’s clan, the O’Riordans, were also highly skilled Guardians. With the blood of both of these clans coursing through your veins, you are sure to become one of the strongest Guardians of all time.”Both men were still having trouble accepting the information. Aaron looked at Kian and only shook his head. His friend, a stunned look in his eyes, finally asked, “May I have some water?”With a smile, Ward stood and crossed to a cabinet where he produced two glasses and filled them with water from a pitcher sitting on the counter before he took his chair.
Killarney, Ireland, 1847The pain shooting through Aaron’s body was agonizing. Though it tended to radiate through his limbs most of the time, there were moments when his stomach muscles contracted so tightly, he thought he might pass out from the pain. Likewise, he’d had a throbbing headache for the last several weeks, and each time he moved he felt like his cranium might split in half.The Transformation process had begun nearly three months ago, and though it had started off with just the uncomfortable shooting pains in his limbs and soreness in his muscles, with each passing day it grew more unbearable to the point that he wasn’t sure how much longer he could take it.Despite the anguish, he had work to do, and so he pushed through the pain each day from sunup to sundown, getting us much work done on the farm as he could, though he knew he would’ve managed so much more if he’d only been pain free.Kian was also i
A few days later, Aaron returned home to find Aislyn on her knees, retching into a bucket. Running to her, he dropped down next to her, pulling loose strands of her red hair back out of the way. “Are you all right?” he asked once she had finished and began to steady herself.“I’m fine,” she assured him, managing a smile.He rushed to bring her water and a towel to wipe her mouth. Once he helped her up and over to the bed, where she insisted on sitting instead of lying down, he took care of the bucket and ran back to her side. “Aislyn, do you have fever?” he asked, feeling her forehead. “When did you start feeling ill?”“A few weeks ago,” she replied, but she was still smiling, and though he had no idea what there was to be happy about, he took a deep breath and let her continue. “Aaron, I’m not ill,” she assured him, placing her thin hand on his knee.“What do you me