Heather Graham - Keeper of the Dawn

When they were back down the hill near the car, she scurried to the ground and resumed her true form.

“That’s it,” she said. “That’s the church I saw in my nightmare. Well, the inside of it anyway. You were there, and Brodie and Rhiannon, and I was...”

“You were going to be killed,” he said flatly.

“We have to use this knowledge, Mark. I believe we were given a warning. And I know Father Gunderson—I know him because he’s Elven. Well, half Elven anyway.”

He swore softly to himself. “Of course. I knew there was something about him.”

She smiled. “It’s because he’s mixed. His father was Elven. His mother was human. I think he’s spent most of his life being as human as he could. He’s a good man, I know. I’ve seen him in the councils for years.”

“We have to tell the others everything we saw in our dreams—maybe they’ll know what it means,” Mark told her. “For now, we need to go and get the Hildegards.”

* * *

Mark knew that Alessande was suspicious of the entire Hildegard family—and with good cause.

After all, Brigitte had tried to kill them twice.

But both Alan and Charlaine looked so horrified and confused, Mark couldn’t imagine that even shapeshifters could put up such a front.

Alan swallowed hard. “Is—is Brigitte all right? Forgive me—I understand that she tried to kill you, but...she is my sister.”

“Brigitte is all right, but you have to understand that we’re holding her and have no intention of letting her go,” Mark said.

“But she’s...safe?”

“Yes, she’s safe. I gave her a good bite when she tried to rip me to shreds, but Alessande and the Gryffald cousins took care of her, and she’s fine—conscious, and claiming to be the brains of the Bring Sebastian Back to Life movement.”

Alessande spoke up then. “We need one of you to talk to her. We’re getting desperate. Whoever is doing this is still keeping an Elven girl captive. We’re trying to get her back before they use her in one of their rituals.”

“Because if they do—she dies,” Mark said.

“Let me get my jacket and we’ll follow you in my car,” Alan said.

As they drove back to the House of the Rising Sun, Alessande said, “The church is so close to the mansion and Father Gunderson said that he was a friend to the Other community. Do you think the Hildegards know that church? Maybe some of them have even attended services there over the years.”

“It’s quite possible,” Mark said. “Likely, as a matter of fact.”

The dogs greeted them enthusiastically on their arrival, then growled warningly as they saw Alan and Charlaine exit their own car.

“Are we all right?” Alan called.

“Unless you suddenly go crazy and attack one of us,” Alessande said.

“We’re here to help,” Alan reminded her.

“Of course,” Alessande said. “Please, follow me.”

They headed for Gwydion’s Cave, where Brodie let them in. Mark didn’t give them time to admire the wonderful assortment of decorative artifacts as they passed through the house; he led them straight to the basement.

When Alan entered, they all stood back and let him take the lead. “Brigitte,” he said sternly.

“Alan!” the youngest Hildegard gasped. For a moment she looked as if she were little more than a very innocent child.

Mark knew better. And glancing over at Alessande, he could tell that she was feeling the same.

“Brigitte, what have you done?” Alan asked, walking over to her.

Rhiannon, who had stayed to watch her, rose and backed away from the couch, allowing Alan room to sit down.

Brigitte seemed to shrink away from him slightly. “Alan, I... We are Hildegards! I read the diary years ago, and I knew that Sebastian was destined to come back. I only did what I had to do as a member of our family.”

“Brigitte—you killed people!” he told her.

“No, I never killed anyone,” she protested.

“Oh?” Alessande said angrily, walking up to stand at the foot of the couch. “Two women are dead, and you claim that you’re the head of what’s going on, so you killed them. They were held captive, held in terror—and then their throats were slit. Not to mention a junkie, a drug dealer and your own butler.”

“Jimmy killed himself!” she cried.

“Out of fear of facing a more horrible death?” Mark suggested.

She swallowed hard. “Okay, I’m not the head of the cult.”

“Then who is?” Mark hadn’t meant to shout, but his voice was so deep and powerful that the room seemed to shake.

Brigitte definitely did.

“I don’t know! A priest, but I don’t know his name or even what he looks like,” she swore. “I...I met him when I was bringing flowers to the tomb. He was wearing heavy robes, and he wore a gold mask under his cowl, and he told me that I was a Hildegard, so I had to help. I had to get the Transymil moving on the streets to make money, and I had to start showing up for the ceremonies, because Sebastian was waiting. And there was something about him.... It was as if I had no choice but to do what he said.”

“So you were there when the other girls were killed,” Rhiannon said harshly.

Tears suddenly welled up in Brigitte’s eyes. “I was, but I didn’t kill them!”

“Where were they killed?”

Brigitte hesitated, looking from each of them to the next. She was clearly about to deny that she knew, but then her brother lashed out at her.

“Where were they killed?” he demanded.

She exhaled and whispered. “At the church.”

“At what church?” Alessande asked, her voice thick.

“The church by the house—St. Ann’s.”

There was silence in the room.

“I don’t believe that!” Charlaine exploded. “I know Father Lars. He would never allow such a thing. He’s a good man. And the church...the church has been consecrated!”

“They weren’t killed in the church,” Brigitte said. “There’s a section of the cemetery, overgrown and filled with broken stones. It’s where they’ve buried the dead-by-suicides since the beginning of the last century.” She winced. “It isn’t hallowed ground. Oh, my God, Alan, don’t...don’t be angry with me. Don’t—don’t turn away from me. I just wanted our family to rise to its full potential. I didn’t want to kill anyone—really. I didn’t. And when I saw that people were dying... I was afraid. I was afraid to back out. That’s the truth—I swear it,” she vowed.

Alan looked at Mark, seeking mercy for his sister.

“Barrie will be back soon. She’s Keeper of the local shapeshifters. Brigitte’s punishment will be a matter for her to decide,” Mark said.

“I didn’t kill anyone,” Brigitte insisted again.

“You tried pretty damn hard to kill Mark and me,” Alessande reminded her harshly.

“But...I failed. I probably failed because I didn’t really want to kill you,” Brigitte said.

“Why did you do it, then?”

Brigitte was sitting up, and she looked across the room at Mark. “I was ordered to kill you by the priest. He gave the orders for the girls to be taken. And he’s the one who killed them.”

“Why sell drugs? What was the money for?” Alessande asked.

“For the new world order, I suppose.”

“Why didn’t the priest approach your brother and you cousin?” Mark asked. “They’re Hildegards, too.”

“Because we aren’t weak idiots,” Charlaine said.

“Alan...” Brigitte begged, and grabbed his hands.

Alan disentangled himself and stood. “I’ll ask our Keeper for mercy on your behalf, though I’m sure this will also be a council matter. People were killed,” he said. “For now...”

“Take me home, Alan. Please, take me home.”