An Unexpected Betrayal

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Trinity followed at a slower pace. Although Troy had his own place, he spent enough time here he kept several changes of clothes in the spare room which had pretty much become his room over the years. He mostly stayed when him and Rod were up late planning a new job or the three of them had been sitting around talking late and he’d had a few too many drinks with Rod.

Reaching her room, Trinity turned on the light, the room dark with the curtains drawn. But she wasn’t about to open them. Not with the storm outside. Music filled the house, loud enough to drown out the sound of thunder and she smiled, grabbing underwear, jeans and a t-shirt. Troy always looked out for her, like now, putting on music so she didn’t have to hear the thunder. He’d started out being like an older brother, but over the years, he’d become as much of a friend as a brother, despite the age difference. He’d also promised to take her to her first nightclub when she turned eighteen next year. That was after she’d tried to convince him to sneak her into one a few months back.

They planned to be waiting at the entrance, ready to enter the moment the first of January arrived, less than four months away. She’d been born just after midnight, missing out by minutes to be the first baby born in the hospital that year. Her father regularly accused her of throwing herself into everything like it was a competition, not wanting to miss out on coming first again. A smile formed. He was wrong. She didn’t mind not having the terrible baby photo, her father had taken of her, in the paper. Not like the other poor kid who had probably never lived down his photo.

After she showered, she headed for the kitchen where Troy was rummaging in the fridge and cupboards. “The bathroom is all yours.” She spoke loud enough to be heard over the music.

“How does a stir-fry sound?”

She nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll get started while you wash.” She made a face. “I can smell you from here.”

“You didn’t smell much better earlier. I nearly had to wind down the window of my ute.” He headed towards the bathroom.

“Sure.” She spoke before he was out of sight, stepping around the kitchen bench that divided the kitchen from the dining area, the lounge suite past the dining table. The laundry was in a room behind the kitchen so there were no windows to give her a view of the storm. The closest window was on the other side of the open plan area and the curtains were drawn. As were the curtains at the sliding door, near the dining table, that led out to the patio and the outdoor eating area. There was no way she’d be eating out there tonight, even though it was sheltered from the rain.

She tried to push thoughts of storms, lightning and thunder from her mind, focusing on the music that filled the house as she took ingredients from the fridge. When Troy joined her, he silently helped prepare the food, moving easily in the kitchen with her after the amount of meals they’d prepared together over the years. He’d been the one to teach her most of what she knew about cooking. She handed him a hand towel when he turned off the tap after washing his hands.

“Have you thought about cooking for a job?”

She shook her head. “I enjoy it, but not that much.” A lull in the song occurred in time for thunder to be heard. She shuddered.

“It’s okay.” Troy wrapped his arms around her. “We’re safe in here and as soon as Rod is home we’ll have dinner.”

Rod strode towards the kitchen bench separating the kitchen from the dining area. “Anything I should know?”

“Yeah.” She let go of Troy, drawing away from him, catching sight of the glint of humour in her father’s eyes. “Troy is softer than a marshmallow.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Rod breathed in deeply. “Dinner smells good. Give me a few minutes to shower and I’ll join you.” He strode towards his bedroom doorway, stopping before he entered. “Grab a beer out for me.” He closed the door behind him.

Dinner was on the table before Rod returned and the music remained loud. He glanced at the stereo in the lounge area, but didn’t ask for it to be turned down before joining them at the table. They spoke over the music as they ate, the meal filled with laughter and teasing.

When Rod and Troy began to talk landscaping, Trinity rose from the table, having already finished her meal. “I’m going to read for a bit.” An old favourite might help keep her mind off the storm outside. It wasn’t like she could go to bed. Seven o’clock was far too early to expect to fall asleep.

Troy grinned. “No fantasy or urban fantasy.”

She poked her tongue out at him. “I’ll read what I want. For that comment, you can do the dishes.” She strode to her room, ignoring his protests and her father’s question about what they were going on about.

Stepping into her room, she pushed the door closed as she reached for the light switch. A moment before the light went on, she saw the curtain lit up from behind, causing her to shudder at the reminder of the storm she couldn’t hear. Light filled the room and she took several steps forward before freezing, staring at where the statue had stood.

Her mouth opened, but no sound came out, the music continuing to play in the background. Closing her mouth, she slowly shook her head, unable to believe what she saw. She closed her eyes, counting to five before she opened them again. A sound escaped. She shouldn’t have closed her eyes, he was a lot closer now. “Who are you?” Her words were soft and for a moment she thought he might not have heard them over the music.

“Kinnon.” He came a little closer, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His white blond hair was pulled back and tied at the nape of his neck, his tawny gaze was direct and sharp and his legs were encased in leather breeches.

Her heart sped up at the sound of his deep voice, her gaze drawn to the chest she’d rested her palm against that afternoon. “You can’t be real.” She started to reach for him, stopping before her hand made contact.

He stepped forward. His chest pressed against her palm. “I’m as real as you.”

She slowly shook her head. This was impossible. Yet he felt warm and solid beneath her hand. “Statues don’t come to life.”

“Those under a Troll enchantment do.”

“Troll-” She broke off to shake her head again. Obviously he wasn’t real. Something had happened. Had she been struck by lightning? A shudder ran through her as the image of the tree being struck played over in her mind. She should have known that’d be the way she’d go. She could almost smell the burning timber.

“What did you do with my brothers? I know you took them with you. I heard you talking about them even after you wrapped the cloth around me.”

“You heard me?” Realising her hand remained against his chest she lowered it.

Kinnon grinned. “I’m not a chauvinist.”

She noticed he didn’t deny being arrogant or overbearing. Her gaze was drawn to his tawny eyes and she watched as the humour in them faded. “Did I die?”

He grabbed her upper arms. “How can I convince you I’m real?”

She backed away, pulling out of his grip at the urgency in his voice, thinking of Rod and Troy at the dining table. “Don’t touch me.” She had no idea what was going on, but Kinnon was a stranger. An armed one at that.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

She turned reaching for the door handle. His hand closed over hers, his body pressing her against the wall near the door. “I’ll scream.” His body was warm and solid, the music loud enough a scream wasn’t likely to be heard.

“Don’t. I’m not going to hurt you. I need your help.” His breath brushed across her cheek.

“Please.”

He loosened his grip. “I’m not going to hurt you. I want to know that my brothers are unharmed.”

She twisted so she could meet his gaze. “Your brothers? The warriors with you?”

“The knights that were with me.”

“They’re outside.” She dreaded the thought of opening the curtains and seeing the lightning, but if it would make him release her, then she was sure she could manage. “If you let me go I can draw back the curtain and show you where they are.”

“No. Don’t open the curtains.” His grip tightened on her. “Promise me you won’t open the curtains while I’m in the room.”

Before Trinity could answer, there was a knock on her door. “You okay in there?” Troy called out.

“Answer him.”

His sharp tone startled her, causing her voice to fail.

“Trinity?” Troy called out louder.

“Tell him to go away. I never said I wouldn’t hurt him.”

Fear raced through her and she tried to escape. Kinnon was stronger and it was impossible. The door opened and Troy stared at them for a couple of seconds before he tried to drag Kinnon from her. When Kinnon’s hand went to his sword, she ran across the room, grabbing hold of the curtain. “Back off or I’ll open it.” She had no idea why he didn’t want it opened, but that didn’t matter.

Kinnon backed away from Troy, who stood gaping when he got a good look at him. “I don’t want to hurt either of you, but I’m not about to let you activate the enchantment or harm my brothers.”

Troy looked from Trinity to Kinnon. “What the hell is happening?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” She continued to hold the edge of the curtain. “If you don’t tell me why I can’t open the curtain, then I’m going to open it.”

“Starlight activates the enchantment. It lasts for twelve hours. I need to be out of the light before those twelve hours can expire.” Kinnon took a step towards Trinity. “Let go of the curtain.”

“The days must be twelve hours long by now.” Trinity kept hold of the curtain.

Troy shook his head. “Not for a couple of days.” He looked Kinnon up and down. “Is the archer real too?”

Kinnon faced Troy. “All of us are real and none of us belong to either of you.” He faced Trinity. “The Trolls are cunning. Starlight is the perfect way of keeping a curse going. The sun is but a star that is close to us. Longer days won’t help.”

Rod entered the bedroom. “I’m going to turn…” His voice trailed off as he caught sight of Kinnon, his mouth remaining open for a moment. “He looks like one of those statues.”

Kinnon again reached for his sword.

“Don’t think about it,” Trinity warned.

“If you take a message to my mother she’ll take care of everything.” Kinnon lowered his hand, looking between each of them.

“What is going on?” Rod’s voice was unnaturally loud as the last song of the play list ended, bringing silence.