I spun around to Anders.
“GRAHAM!” I screamed. “Where’s Graham?”
Anders rolled his eyes, thinking about my question slowly, carefully, as if to torture me. “I don’t know,” he drawled. “He said something about fixing a mailbox . . .”
I drove faster than the speedometer on the tiny car would even register. Every time we hit a bump in the road, I was afraid the axels might split in two, but I couldn’t slow down. I had to get home.
We screeched up my grandparents’ drive, and as I threw on the brakes, a small shower of pebbles hit the windshield. Before they hit the ground, we were running past the dented mailbox, racing to the front door.
It was wide open.
We ran around the first floor, and then the second. No one was home. No Graham. No Gran. And then we saw it.
A letter stuck to the kitchen cabinet with a small dinner knife, written in blood-red ink. It was from Graham. “My Dearest Maren,” it began. Sickening. I forced myself to keep reading:
I am so sorry to have to get your attention in this manner, but when I visited you yesterday, you were most unkind. I had hoped to convince you to come with me then, but your fancy feathered friend showed up, ruining my plans. I had no choice but to return today and take your sweet grandmother in your place. I am, of course, willing to make a trade—you for her—although my offer does have a few requirements. First, it expires at midnight tonight. At that time, I shall kill her, as I did your little friend Jo.
I gasped. Jo! Graham killed her! I swayed a bit, feeling like I might pass out. Gavin wrapped his arms around me from behind to steady me.
“Go on,” he whispered in my ear. “It’s a’right. I’ve got you.”
I continued:
Second, you must present yourself to me personally at Campbell Hall. You must come alone, as no one else will be permitted to enter with you. And as you know, your flying fool is not allowed on our land. I consider this a very fair offer, Maren, and I encourage you to accept it. If you do not, know that I will not stop in my pursuit of you. I will kill your grandmother, and then, one by one, kill everyone close to you until you surrender. I will annihilate the entire village if I have to, but make no mistake, Maren; I will not stop until I possess you.
Yours Ever, Graham
I put the letter down. Gavin and I spoke at exactly the same time. “We have to go . . .” Although we each ended our sentences differently.
“. . . to my village,” Gavin said.
“. . . to Campbell Hall,” I said.
CHAPTER 34
This isn’t right! There has to be another way!” Even though we were approaching the end of the long drive that led to Campbell Hall, Gavin was still trying to convince me not to go. It was dark outside, but huge white lights hidden in the lush landscaping licked the sides of the walls, illuminating the great house like a ghostly museum. The mansion was ominous and frightening. And deadly quiet. There were no other cars. No signs of servants. No sign of anyone.
“I’ve already told you,” I said. “I have to go. There is no other way. Graham killed Jo, he has my grandmother, and he’s going to kill her if I don’t go in! What do you want me to do? I can’t lose one more person. I can’t!”
I parked the car and got out. We were going to walk as far as Gavin was allowed. That spot turned out to be really far from the front door. Too far, I thought. We stopped underneath a giant tree, a twisting Scots pine that looked as if it might have something to say.
“I understand that,” Gavin replied. “But I can’t lose you! And if you go in there, you’re done. It’s over. You’ll never come back out.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said. “How do you know I can’t convince him to let us both go? He had his chance in the hedge maze when I was drugged. He let me go then. Maybe I can reason with him.”
“And maybe you can’t.”
“Then I’ll convince him to leave with me. Tell him we’ll run away together,” I suggested. “I’ll lead him out so that you can have at him.”
“He wants you, Maren. He doesn’t want to leave with you. He wants to have you. As soon as you go in there, he has everything he wants.”
“I still don’t understand why he would go to all this trouble just for me. Can’t he have any girl on the planet? Why me?” I asked.
“Because you’re you,” Gavin answered softly. “There’s no one else like you on the planet. You’re beautiful, charming, clever . . . I’d do anything for you.” He reached out and stroked my hair. The compliments made me feel wonderful, but I was too embarrassed to acknowledge them.
“Yes, but you know me,” I said.
“I don’t just know you,” he interrupted. “I love you.”
That I couldn’t ignore. “I love you too.” I cradled his free hand in both of mine. “But Graham doesn’t know me at all. He’s just obsessed with a girl he has never really met.”
Gavin withdrew his hand. “You’re right. He’s obsessed. He’s obsessed and possessed. The worst combination possible. You’re not going in there.”
“What else do you want me to do? He’s holed up in there with my grandmother. I have to go in. I have to try. I’m sure I can do this, but I need you to think that too. I need you to trust me.”
“I do trust you, Maren. It’s him I don’t trust. Please, please don’t do this. I can’t get enough of you, Maren, and I’ve only just found you. You were made for me, and I for you. We’re soul mates, can’t you see that? More destined to be together than two creatures ever have been. I’ve been waiting for you for hundreds of years. I can’t lose you now.”
“You won’t lose me,” I said. “Ever. You have me forever. I’m yours. Nothing can change that.”
He didn’t look convinced. “My passion for you is clouding everything. I used to work alone, I was alone, and now you’re part of me. You’re my breath.” He cupped my face in his strong hands, making my entire body tingle. “I know you have free will, and I cannot make you do what you do not want, but I’m asking you . . . No, I’m begging you, please do not go inside.”
I stepped backward, letting his hands fall from my cheeks. “Don’t ask me that. It’s not fair. I can’t just leave my grandmother behind,” I said.
“Let me go for help,” he suggested. “Surely someone else—”
“Who?” I interrupted. “No one from your village can go in, either, and Graham said if we bring anyone else, he’ll kill her! And we’re running out of time. I can do this, Gavin. I know I can. You heard my plan. I’ll lead him outside.”
“It’s a good plan, Maren, if it works. But if it doesn’t . . . Arrgghhhh!” He twisted and punched the tree trunk. The air filled with a rumbling like thunder, and the tree splintered in the middle. “Arrggghhhhh!” he yelled again, a primal scream of pain. He threw his fist into the tree again. His hand dripped blood.