Chapter 30
“This is going to be much easier if we’re both looking, Anne.” Cornelius sounded more amused than anything. “You’re the one who knows what you need.”
Anne breathed in deeply. She wasn’t safe. There was no doubt about that. It was easier to feel how much he’d changed when they were in his home.
“Cornelius…”
“Please don’t act like you’re scared of me.”
All he needed to do was get her further into the basement. If she went over to the other bookcase it would be so much easier. Only she wasn’t herself, and he felt her fear, in a way he’d never been able to before. Something was different.
“What if I am?”
Cornelius turned to look at Anne, hand on his hip, the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Easy words for him to say, but attempting to leave might cause more problems, especially if he went to Titus to warn him she was working against him.
“Where should I look?”
“Any of the others, but it would be best to start with the biggest. That’s where you’re most likely to find the older journals.”
With a nod, Anne crossed the room, trying to ignore the way her mind screamed at her to leave, she wasn’t safe, Cornelius was a danger to her…
The books were a useful distraction, although the darkness seemed stronger than before. Anne breathed in deeply. If she found what she needed it would all be worth it, but keeping Cornelius as her ally rather than her enemy wasn’t going to be easy. Not if he had been taken, the way many had before.
Being in the same space was more than he’d hoped for that morning. Maybe running into Anne, talking to her, trying to convince her they needed to have a proper conversation, but it all went much better than planned. Cornelius studied her as she looked at the books, temptation stronger than he was.
Cornelius stepped behind Anne, wrapping his arms around her waist. She stilled.
“What are you doing?”
“I know I said before nothing would happen, but I think we both understood I was lying.” He breathed in her scent. “Tell me how you plan on stopping Titus, and I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“You’re already helping.” Anne didn’t move, heart pounding hard in her chest, the darkness so strong in him she didn’t know what Cornelius might be capable of. “This is enough.”
“No, it’s not.” He tightened his grip. “You’re my only chance of surviving the ritual, Anne. I need to do more.”
“All I need for now are the right journals.”
Cornelius laughed, but it wasn’t the same as before. He stepped to one side, hands still on her arms, lips close to her ear. “What, exactly, does that mean? Are they from your first life?”
“No, not the first. The Darkholmes weren’t allies then.”
“Fortunately we are now, because who knows what path I might walk otherwise. One I couldn’t have before this, my strength not enough for me to go against Titus, but I’m not who I was, thanks to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You gave me the truth, even though it terrified you to go against him.”
Next thing Anne knew she was held in one of Cornelius’ arms, looking up into eyes she’d never seen before, the darkness within them a reminder of others who’d lost themselves. For it to be Cornelius… it was inevitable, considering all the time he spent with Titus, and yet she hoped he wouldn’t.
“Last time we were together it was my belief I’d die soon which led to me kissing you. Now, Anne, I’m not planning on letting than happen.”
Of course he wasn’t. The darkness was giving him strength he’d not had before, enough he thought he’d be able to stop Titus, a mistake others made.
“It’s not that simple.”
“You being here makes it easier, though.”
“What are you doing?” Natalie’s voice was the last thing Anne wanted to hear. “Cornelius…”
“Go upstairs, Natalie. This has nothing to do with you.”
“Are you having an affair?”
Cornelius sighed. “Would you care if I was?”
“You’re my husband.”
There was no doubt from the anger in Cornelius’s eyes what was going to happen next, as he gently set Anne to one side. She turned to the bookcase, feeling the power within Cornelius growing, not willing to watch what happened next. It was enough to hear Natalie’s gasp.
The sound of Natalie dropping to the ground wasn’t unexpected. Anne didn’t turn. Couldn’t. Leonora was right to tell her not to be alone with Cornelius, because being alone with him wasn’t safe, whatever feelings he might believe he had for her. He’d been corrupted, and so had they.
“Well, that was interesting.” Cornelius studied his hand, Anne’s fear growing, because she was beginning to see exactly what he was capable of. The power he’d gained would change everything. “I almost like you being scared of me. Only I need you to know I’m never going to hurt you, Anne.”
Cornelius turned, eyes on Anne’s back, and when she looked at him, glancing over her shoulder, he smiled, using a gentle hand to move her closer.
“I should check on Natalie.”
“Leave her. She’s not important.”
Their eyes met, his lips, closer to hers than they were before, and he wanted it.
“She is the mother of your children, whatever you may feel about her now. Jonathan…”
“Do you really think bringing him up now is a good idea, Anne? Reminding me of the choices you made in the past?”
The man she knew was entirely gone, for the time being. He might have the strength to fight later.
The way he kissed was another sign of the changes. Cornelius was forceful in a way he hadn’t been before. It wasn’t exactly a surprise, not with everything else that had already happened, and yet Anne found herself struggling to accept who he’d become, the same way she had before.
Pushing Cornelius away was a reaction, and one Anne wouldn’t have had, if it wasn’t for the certainty she was on her own. With how things were it seemed less likely she’d have help from Titus, panic setting in for a moment. The fury in Cornelius’ eyes told her exactly how foolish she’d been.
“I’m sorry. This is just… a lot.”
“You should make better choices now, Anne. We both know what can happen when people are transformed by the darkness.”
In that moment Anne knew she wasn’t only dealing with Cornelius, but something much older. She breathed in deeply.
“What do you want?”
“Do you seriously need to ask that question?”
“Probably not, but it’s best for me not to assume anything.”
“A good decision to make.” The fury faded a little, but not enough. “Smarter than you were a moment ago. I see you’re beginning to understand what you’re dealing with. Cornelius is lost.”
“Not entirely.”
“Maybe not, but he’s going to need help.”
“Unfortunately for you he has it.” Titus’ voice came from the stairs. “I suggest you let my sister walk away from this. We both know I’m the one you’re interested in.”
From the flicker of amusement Anne wasn’t so certain. “Are you, Titus?”
“Cornelius isn’t strong enough to be of interest to you.”
“Who are you to make that decision, as though you can understand the reasons for it?”
“I understand better than you can imagine. Let him go.”
“That’s not happening, and your sister is staying too.”
“Last time you failed.”
“Did I?”
There was more happening than Anne truly understood, her memories of those taken by the darkness less useful than she hoped, but then those times Titus mostly kept her out of it. He hadn’t been able to with Cornelius, her own choices leading her to where she was. What was she missing?