Read Online Everlasting (Night Watchmen, #1) by Candace Knoebel - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Candace Knoebel
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I see a door ahead of me, but Jaxen walks past it. There are several spread out on both sides of the tunnel all the way to the end. At the midway point of the tunnel, Jaxen stops at a set of large, medieval-like doors with polished brass strips that are hammered crisscross against a solid piece of what could be oak. Instead of a door knob, there are two metal rings.
Jaxen reaches out and tugs the door open, then steps aside for me to enter. He keeps his gaze a safe distance from mine, and I ignore the probing frown he wears while his narrowed eyes watch me walk by.
“This way,” Jaxen says, guiding me over old-world style area rugs in deep burgundy and champagne colors set in front of a massive fireplace. The interior is built from deep, rich wood that makes the atmosphere feel cozy. My eyes wander hungrily over the room under the high dark wooden beams supporting the ceiling. A painted portrait of each of the Divine hangs over the top of the fireplace, each with a nameplate underneath. I skim over the names. Wistar, Owen, Garrick, Cecilia, Alesteria…I freeze on the last name.
Mourdyn; the one who betrayed us all, the one who led the hunt against all Hunters, the one who caused the proclamation that changed how we use magic. The orange hue from the fire reflects off the bottom of his portrait, giving him a sinister feel. It’s like his dark eyes are watching me, waiting for me.
“Faye,” Jaxen calls from the banister of the stairs.
I pull my eyes away and head after Jaxen up the open staircase. To the right and down the hall, we stop in front of Maddock’s door. Small black letters are etched across the glass, marking the room as Head Elder Room 205. My stomach rolls, leaving a sour taste in my mouth. What fate rests for me behind this door? What kind of trouble am I in? Everything happened so fast that I’ve barely had time to digest it, to let it sink in.
I don’t think I’ve wanted it to sink in, not just yet.
Jaxen opens the door and walks through. I follow behind, forcing one foot in front of the other, forcing a brave face. The room is large and keeps the same deep, reddish-brown colored wood along the ceiling, framing the room. Situated at the end of the room is a mahogany table meant to be stood in front of for judgment. Six wingback chairs rest behind it, awaiting their jury.
Residual panic drags lingering fingers down the back of my mind. Will I be made to stand there? To face judgment…possible banishment? I run my thumbs over the tips of my fingers as they hang by my sides, again and again and again. I turn and turn inside the large room, feeling like I’m living on a merry-go-round. For a room so large, it shouldn’t feel so small. I shouldn’t feel so choked, so lost, so scared.
“You okay?” Jaxen asks quietly from a few steps away. I turn around and face him. His lips are pressed into a slight grimace, but his eyes are deep and understanding. He’s a perfect stance of fearlessness, a statue of strength, a backbone I wish I possessed.
The room stops spinning but the fear still lingers. I straighten my shoulders and nod because it’s easier to lie that way. I don’t dare speak. I don’t want to admit it. I don’t want to be a coward. I want to be like him; strong. I thought the worst would be over after touching the Culling quartz. I thought I’d either be blessed or cursed, but, either way, I’d know the truth and it would be over. I never thought, not for a second, I’d be rushed out of the ceremony without an ounce of insight as to who I am. I never thought I’d be standing in an office with a Watchman, a very…handsome…Watchman who I barely know, waiting for the Head Elder to deliver the fate of mine and my parents’ future.
His feet move and he steps closer to me. He’s right in front of me. He smells of electrical wires and musk. The scent is soothing, like ginger to my stomach. His eyes follow after my gaze, and then fall back on me. “You know you’re safe here,
Jaxen reaches out and tugs the door open, then steps aside for me to enter. He keeps his gaze a safe distance from mine, and I ignore the probing frown he wears while his narrowed eyes watch me walk by.
“This way,” Jaxen says, guiding me over old-world style area rugs in deep burgundy and champagne colors set in front of a massive fireplace. The interior is built from deep, rich wood that makes the atmosphere feel cozy. My eyes wander hungrily over the room under the high dark wooden beams supporting the ceiling. A painted portrait of each of the Divine hangs over the top of the fireplace, each with a nameplate underneath. I skim over the names. Wistar, Owen, Garrick, Cecilia, Alesteria…I freeze on the last name.
Mourdyn; the one who betrayed us all, the one who led the hunt against all Hunters, the one who caused the proclamation that changed how we use magic. The orange hue from the fire reflects off the bottom of his portrait, giving him a sinister feel. It’s like his dark eyes are watching me, waiting for me.
“Faye,” Jaxen calls from the banister of the stairs.
I pull my eyes away and head after Jaxen up the open staircase. To the right and down the hall, we stop in front of Maddock’s door. Small black letters are etched across the glass, marking the room as Head Elder Room 205. My stomach rolls, leaving a sour taste in my mouth. What fate rests for me behind this door? What kind of trouble am I in? Everything happened so fast that I’ve barely had time to digest it, to let it sink in.
I don’t think I’ve wanted it to sink in, not just yet.
Jaxen opens the door and walks through. I follow behind, forcing one foot in front of the other, forcing a brave face. The room is large and keeps the same deep, reddish-brown colored wood along the ceiling, framing the room. Situated at the end of the room is a mahogany table meant to be stood in front of for judgment. Six wingback chairs rest behind it, awaiting their jury.
Residual panic drags lingering fingers down the back of my mind. Will I be made to stand there? To face judgment…possible banishment? I run my thumbs over the tips of my fingers as they hang by my sides, again and again and again. I turn and turn inside the large room, feeling like I’m living on a merry-go-round. For a room so large, it shouldn’t feel so small. I shouldn’t feel so choked, so lost, so scared.
“You okay?” Jaxen asks quietly from a few steps away. I turn around and face him. His lips are pressed into a slight grimace, but his eyes are deep and understanding. He’s a perfect stance of fearlessness, a statue of strength, a backbone I wish I possessed.
The room stops spinning but the fear still lingers. I straighten my shoulders and nod because it’s easier to lie that way. I don’t dare speak. I don’t want to admit it. I don’t want to be a coward. I want to be like him; strong. I thought the worst would be over after touching the Culling quartz. I thought I’d either be blessed or cursed, but, either way, I’d know the truth and it would be over. I never thought, not for a second, I’d be rushed out of the ceremony without an ounce of insight as to who I am. I never thought I’d be standing in an office with a Watchman, a very…handsome…Watchman who I barely know, waiting for the Head Elder to deliver the fate of mine and my parents’ future.
His feet move and he steps closer to me. He’s right in front of me. He smells of electrical wires and musk. The scent is soothing, like ginger to my stomach. His eyes follow after my gaze, and then fall back on me. “You know you’re safe here,
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