She winced and drew in a shuddering breath. “I think I need another dose of the drug.” Cyrus leaned over her and flipped open the compartment in the dashboard in front of her. Inside was the familiar syringe and vial. “I thought you might.” Somehow… that made her feel a little better.
Chapter Two. Cousin Fortieth Removed
Edinburgh was a hustle and bustle city. But, Eden decided, it was definitely one of a kind. Beyond the constant flow of traffic and a road system she couldn’t get her head around, and beyond the colourful people and bohemian chic students, was a fairytale world from ancient times, smacked down in the centre of everything. It was kind of epic.
Cyrus, who had been to Edinburgh more times than he could count, pointed everything out like a seasoned tour guide and Eden drank it all in, excited and amazed. They drove onto Princes Street, which Cyrus told her was really famous for its stores. The castle was at the other end on the west side. Eden was desperate to see it. But because of the road system, Cyrus turned left at the famous Balmoral hotel, an exquisite Victorian building with a gothic clock tower.
“The Balmoral Hotel was once called The North British Hotel built for North British Railway.
Traditionally, the clock is set two minutes fast, so that travellers make their train on time at the Waverley train station below us.”
“Cool.” Eden smiled, as they drove over a long bridge. “Whoa.” Her eyes widened as she gazed to her left. “Do the Greeks know Scotland stole stuff?”
Cyrus smiled. “Calton Hill. That is the National Monument, built as a memorial to those who died fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. It is modelled on the Parthenon but they ran out of money when they started building back in the late nineteenth century, and still it remains incomplete.”
“Yeah, getting that. What about all the stuff in front of it?” Her guardian snorted, she was guessing at her use of the word ‘stuff’. “Other monuments. What is left of the old Calton Jail…” He drifted off as buildings obscured their view. The traffic lights turned to red giving Eden some time to look around. She wasn’t familiar with most of the store names. She gazed at people in line at a bank, others in an Italian restaurant on the corner, others coming out of a hotel, and some brave folks dashing across a cobbled street, trying to beat the bus coming straight for them.
“It smells different here.”
“What does it smell like?”
“Warm?” She shrugged. “Exciting. It’s old… but new. There’s something kind of comforting in that. And I know those technically aren’t scents but… I don’t know…”
“I think I understand.” Cyrus smiled again and moved the car forward as the lights changed. “That road is The Royal Mile. I will take you down here once we are settled.” Eden craned to have a look but the traffic was moving too fast. The buildings in Edinburgh were all old: Georgian, Victorian, pre-War. Some retailers she recognised, others not so much. Some were like market stalls made into stores, creating a kind of hodgepodge of classic elegance and quirky tourism. There seemed to be a ton of college types hanging around, and as Cyrus manoeuvred them through streets that seemed to blur together, he pointed out the University of Edinburgh.
“Student central,” he explained.
Eden barely got a chance to take in the courtyard that shared the same paradox as the rest of the city. With two beautiful old buildings overlooking it and then a kind of dingy late 20th century-looking building on the far left it was certainly different that was for sure. They swept around it, and as they followed the road she could see the back of the main campus. There was a huge building of modern architecture and further up buildings of mid-to- late twentieth century design, including a towering building that Eden, if she were human, would have hated to have classes in. She’d be dead by the time she reached the top. She drank in as much of the city in as possible, listening to Cyrus’
soothing voice. But the closer they drew to their destination — some place called Morningside — the more nervous Eden grew, and the more the city began to lose its lustre.
“No need to be anxious, Eden.”
“Yeah. I just… this is it… you know.”
“I know.”
They seemed to be driving out of the somewhat frantic buzz of the city centre and into a quieter area of Edinburgh. It looked mostly the same; there just weren’t as many pedestrians, although the traffic flow never stopped. Finally they turned down a side street off the main street, passed an old art deco theatre that caught Eden’s eye, and came to a stop in a marked parking space outside a row of houses. Beautiful houses. Not huge, but they definitely had a sense of grandeur about them. A large black door with a gothic brass knocker drew Eden’s attention to a house on their right. It swung open and a tall guy in jeans and a plain t-shirt stepped out, his shoulders straight, his eyes casting around the street before settling on Valeria’s Volvo as she pulled in, in front of Cyrus.
“Who’s that?” Eden asked softly.
“That is Neil McLeish. The Scottish Neith Councilman.”
“I didn’t know we were meeting him.”
“The family of Merrit’s bloodline live on the same street. It would have been unavoidable and not to mention rude of me not to make my presence known to Neil. This is his territory.” Cyrus unclipped his seat belt and Eden followed suit, trying to still the trembling in her fingers.
“Technically, I thought this was your territory?”
He threw her an arrogant smile. “Technically.”
Laughing, she got out of the car only to come face to face with Noah. Her smile dropped abruptly, and in response he glowered. She found it hard to believe Noah was seventy years old. He was such a child sometimes.
Noah strolled by her to fall into step with Cyrus. At the top of the stone steps they greeted McLeish. Valeria smiled reassuringly at her and nudged her forward. “This is just a formality,” she murmured.
“Is… are my mother’s bloodline in there?”
“I assume so.”
She drew in a couple of calming breaths, glad that she had just administered a dose of the drug. It was helping. She just hoped to god her eyes didn’t bleed white. Her mother’s family would want nothing to do with her if that happened.
“Eden,” Cyrus called to her and she picked up her pace, reminding herself she wasn’t a coward and that this was her only shot. As soon as she reached the top of the stairs Eden’s eyes met McLeish’s. She knew instantly that this wasn’t going to be easy. His blue eyes were dark with scepticism and wariness, and the clench of his jaw gave away his unhappiness with the ‘situation’ presented before him.
“Neil, this is my daughter, Eden,” Cyrus introduced her. Eden nearly fell off the steps but, knowing Cyrus approved of poise, she quickly schooled her features, trying to master her surprise over his announcement. Cyrus was introducing her as his daughter??
That little girl inside of her who had dreamed of a father who read bedtime stories, and sheltered her from the evil deeds of the world, wanted to reach out and grab hold of the connection he had declared and never, ever let go. But the little girl who had grown up with a father who murdered people in their basement shuddered with fear and shooed the hope away with a scowl.
McLeish didn’t seem surprised by Cyrus’ claim which made Eden wonder if Cyrus had already proclaimed her his kin prior to their arrival. “Miss Winslow.” He nodded.
“MacDouglas.”
“Sorry?” McLeish frowned at Cyrus’ interruption.
“Miss MacDouglas. I have had her name changed to Merrit’s surname.” Well that was the first she had heard about it. To hell with poise! Eden threw him a disbelieving look, ignoring Noah’s huff of disguised laughter
