Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink Read Free Book Online Page A

to help you.”
    “So you went with him to locate the keys.” It is not a question.
    He nods, looking at his hands.
    “Did you know about Henry? That he was hiding the list of keys from Alice?”
    “No. Your father never told me where he kept the list. I always thought it was in the book. If I’d known…” He looks up, his
     eyes haunted. “If I’d known Henry had it, I would have done more to protect him.”
    We sit in the silence of the carriage house, each of us trapped in the prison of our own memories. Finally I stand, placing
     a hand on his shoulder.
    “It wasn’t your fault, Edmund.”
    It was mine,
I think.
I couldn’t save him.
    I start toward the door of the carriage house.
    I am halfway there when I think of something. Something I cannot yet answer.
    Turning around, I call to Edmund, now sitting in the chair with his head in his hands.
    “Edmund?”
    He looks up. “Yes?”
    “Even with everything my father told you, how is it possible that you can be our guide to Altus? Its location is a closely
     guarded secret. How is it that you know the way?”
    He shrugs. “I’ve been there many times with your father.”
    I did not think it possible to be further surprised. Yet I am. “But… why would my father go to Altus?” I laugh wryly. “Obviously
     he was not a member of the Sisterhood.”
    Edmund shakes his head slowly, meeting my eyes. “No. He was a member of the Grigori.”

6
    “Everything is packed and ready to go.” Edmund stands near the horses at the front of the carriage, hat in hand.
    It has been only a week since Aunt Virginia, Edmund, and Luisa arrived from New York, but it seems like a year. The trip to
     Altus is no small undertaking. It is a journey that requires horses, supplies, and assistance. When we first discussed the
     necessary details, I thought it impossible to arrange everything so quickly, but somehow, everything has fallen into place.
     Philip will continue to search for the keys in our absence, though he is none too happy about my traveling with only Edmund
     for protection.
    I am still reeling from the discovery that my father was a member of the Grigori, but there has been no time for further questions.
     Clearly there is much I did not know about my parents. Perhaps the journey to Altus will help me find more than the missing
     pages.
    As I descend the steps at the front of Milthorpe Manor, I notice the single carriage and wonder what has happened to the other
     arrangements made over the past week. “Edmund? Where is the rest of our party? Did we not arrange for additional horses and
     supplies?”
    Edmund’s nod is slow. “We did indeed. But there’s no reason to make a fuss on our way out of the city proper. Everything has
     been arranged and the rest of our assemblage will join us at the required time.” He pulls a pocket watch from his trousers.
     “Speaking of which, we ought to get moving.”
    I look over at Luisa, supervising the loading of the final bags into the carriage, and stifle a laugh. Sonia and I had no
     trouble packing lightly as suggested by Edmund, but Luisa has not been a part of the preparations Sonia and I have undertaken
     over the past year. As she watches Edmund load one of her bags, I can almost hear her running down a mental list of packed
     hats and gloves, though she surely will not wear either after this morning.
    I roll my eyes and spot Sonia speaking in hushed tones to Aunt Virginia by the steps leading to the house. Luisa joins me
     as I make my way to them both, and soon we are all standing in a huddle, each wondering how to begin the difficult task of
     saying goodbye when we have only just come together again.
    As always, Aunt Virginia does everything possible to make the moment easier.
    “All right, then, girls. Be on your way.” She leans in to kiss Luisa’s cheeks, pulling back to look into her eyes. “I enjoyed
     traveling with you from New York, my dear. I shall miss yourspirit; just remember to tame it when