by Tricia Barr
She made a quick stop to her room to change into her workout gear, leaving her phone on her bed. She didn't want to be reached. She wanted to focus on hitting the punching bag over and over and over again without wondering if her dad would apologize through text message. He wouldn't, but still.
Juliet raced to the Defense Room, practically falling over her feet when she saw who was inside. Men wearing the same uniform that looked so handsome on Nik patrolled the defense room, scanning the faces of those inside as if sizing up who to recruit next. Juliet scowled. If she was going to have soldiers breathing down her neck while she tried to ground herself, there was definitely going to be a fire accident.
Pulling her headphones securely over her ears, Juliet roamed the room with eyes of steel. She stared down every guard she passed until she reached the boxing corner. She needed to hit something before she hit someone. So punching bag it was. She hit play on her #GirlBoss playlist—not to spite the guys she’d dated, but to spite the man in charge and all the robots he brought with him. Excluding Nik, of course.
For the next half hour, Juliet focused on the punching bag only. She got lost in the music and let her frustration out through her jabs and hooks. She worked up quite the sweat, but moved on to the treadmill for a two-mile run before heading back to the punching bag.
When she finally felt the anger leave her, she turned off her playlist and headed toward the exit.
But a soldier blocked her path.
And just like that, her fury was back.
“What? Am I not allowed to shower?” she huffed.
“Every student must do a minimum of one sim fight after training.” He wore a straight face, but she still couldn't quite believe it.
“Excuse me?” She knew the rules, but this was ridiculous. “That was extra practice! I’ve already completed my vampire kill quota.” Her heart rate picked back up, and this time it wasn't from the workout rush. Okay, so maybe she hadn’t done a sim today, seeing how she’d skipped all her classes, but that really was an extra workout, not her normal training time. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Do I look like a comedian?”
Juliet cringed. Her hands began to sizzle white hot, but a voice from behind the soldier spoke up.
“She can join me for mine. Thanks, buddy.” Jesse patted the disturbed guard on his shoulder, then stepped past him and toward Juliet. Surprisingly, the mean man walked away without another word.
“Thanks. I almost just lit him a new one. Seriously, though? Like, what the heck is next? We’re gonna work ourselves to death. I hate this.” Juliet wished she had the bag next to her again so she’d have something besides Jesses to hit. But her sore muscles weren’t as ready for another round.
Jesse walked with her toward the sim room where another soldier gave them an eyebrow raise before punching in some code.
“It could be worse.” Jesse's tone had a sad lilt—hopefully it wasn’t because he’d heard that she was back with Nik. Still, he looked calm and collected, even as the walls changed and three vampires appeared before them.
“How are you so zen about this? It’s unfair and you know it,” Juliet said when they’d finished. It was fun whipping out her fire-rope again in a non-life-threatening situation, but she was so ready to be done. She stumbled a step or two, feeling a bit light-headed. She was probably dehydrated. “And I thought you’d do better with a bunch of sim-vamps.” She’d killed all of them.
“Well, I'm not zen. But personally, I’d like to stay off their radar.” He gave her a tight smile, and it ripped her heart in half. “After Kol tested out of defense today, none of us want to fight to our true potential. Afraid of receiving the same offer he got. None of my friends want to join up, at least.” Jesse shrugged, then picked up some blue boxing gloves hanging on the wall just outside the sim room
“I didn't know about Kol,” Juliet said quietly, speaking more to herself.
“A word of advice?” Jesse offered.
She nodded.
“Don’t squeeze in any more extra practices. One of the recently-turned hounds passed out this morning because the soldiers wouldn’t let her have a break.”
“Thanks,” Juliet said. Her feet felt like lead, her arms like wood, and she just wanted to curl up somewhere dark and warm. She’d way overdone it—and not by choice.
Jesse shrugged, then winked. “Thanks for dispatching those vamps for me.”
Juliet smiled. It was nice to know that Jesse was still there for her as a friend.
***
Juliet and Nik’s secret spot in the library felt like it was theirs again, and it was the perfect retreat from the chaos of Lord Dracul. Juliet spent the rest of her day there, since she could barely move after her workout. She waited, hoping Nik would join her when he could. She still didn't have her phone to check, but she assumed he would show eventually. Her emotions were so out of whack that she didn't want to be found by anyone that wasn't Nik.
Or Myreen, but that couldn't happen.
Frustrated, Juliet sat cross-legged on the dusty floor. With her hands in front of her, she closed her eyes and welcomed the lingering heat in her body. She felt it collect in her stomach like a group of butterflies coming together. Focusing, she led the heat to her arms, then to her fingers. Usually, she’d feel a single spark with the release of her flames, but this time her fingertips looked like sparklers on the Fourth of July. And her fire didn't come out the red-orange color she was used to, instead blazing a blinding white. It felt bizarre, but more than that, it scared her.
Juliet shook her hands out, but they felt heavy, like she was carrying bricks. Why was she having such a hard time with her power after so much success? The uncertainty from school came to mind, as well as the rest of the emotions that ran through her.
Maybe that’s all it was. I should try again.
With her eyes tightly closed, Juliet took a few deep breaths. She thought of her fire and the comfort it brought. She thought of the exhilaration it gave her. And she thought of the bond and control she’d had with it. Again, it started in the pit of her stomach and grew and grew until it filled her arms. That amount of fire could be dangerous, but she needed her fire to work. She didn't care what damage came from it.
A push of bravery was all she needed, and the thought of Myreen in the hands of vampires was all it took. Heat sparked through her fingers, the orange-red glow coming together in a beautiful, perfect sphere.
But she felt her control begin to fade. Heat turned cold, the fire in her hands turning as blue as the sky on a cloudless day, though it still glowed and flicked like flames. She didn't know what to think and didn't want to panic again, so she stuffed it back into her body. What could be wrong with her?
When Nik finally showed up, he startled her so much that she almost called to her heat. But she stopped herself before she could fail again—this time in front of someone else.
“Hey, you. Are you alright? You seem... distracted.”
She knew he was just being nice. She looked like a hot mess with her hair in a haphazard bun and bags under her eyes. But with everything going on, she wanted to keep her little power troubles to herself. She didn't want to add stress on anyone else.
“I'm okay. Just gotta try to get better sleep. How was your day?” She looked away from his intense stare. He always seemed to know when she wasn't telling him everything. But he didn't push.
“It was crazy. The general... I just don't agree with any of this.” Nik fell back into the empty chair and a cloud of dust blew around him. “Did you hear a student fainted in defense?”
She nodded. “I heard. A hound.” Juliet buried her face in her hands. A moment later Nik wrapped his arms around her. “And yeah, you’re preaching to the choir.”
“And now Kol’s gone,” he said, his voice eerily quiet.
“I heard that, too,” Juliet said, her volume matching his. “Are you okay?”
Nik sniffed, then kissed her on the head. “I’ll be okay. Kol will be
okay. What about you?” He rested his forehead on her shoulder.
“You're here. I'm good.”
“Me too,” Nik said. Juliet clung to Nik’s arms, not willing to let him go just yet. “I have good news, though.” He paused, and Juliet nodded to let him know she was still listening, unsure if she could trust her voice not to wobble. “I worked out my duties so I’m positioned near the library. I’ll be able to meet you here just about whenever.”
Juliet nodded again. That was good. She definitely needed Nik now more than ever. And she’d tell him just how upset she was over all the changes—later.
For now, she would soak in his presence and the love he gave her. For now, she wouldn’t freak out about the loss of control over her powers. For now, she’d smile and bottle her worries until there was no room left.
Chapter 5: Oberon
“So let me get this straight,” Ren Suzuki said, his short black hair disheveled. Heavy bags were under his eyes, and he needed to shave. His patchy facial hair made him look old and worn. Oberon knew that he looked just as bad. Probably shabbier, actually. After all, Ren wasn’t the one who’d been marched out of his position at the Dome. He’d left willingly.
The kitsune took a sip of his steaming cup of tea before continuing. They’d been holed up in a small hotel in Chicago, just in case anybody at the Dome reached out for help. They hadn’t heard anything yet.
The room was tight, with two queen beds and a small table surrounded by a couple of chairs—where the duo now sat.
“You really have been working with a vampire behind the scenes? We’ve been away from the school for five days, and now you decide to tell me that bloated dragon general was right?”
Ren’s incredulous tone caused Oberon’s heart to flare defensively.
“I hope you, my friend, will let me explain things, unlike Eduard did,” Oberon replied, his patience teetering on falling apart.
Ren scowled, his fingers turning white from squeezing his ceramic cup. “You better explain. The Oberon Rex I know would never have vampire dealings. Ever.”
Oberon sucked in a deep breath, held it for a few moments, then released it slowly. A little bit of calmness entered his soul. “You actually met this particular vampire once, back in South Dakota.”
“South Dakota?” Ren gave him a questioning look, then snorted. “I met a lot of vampires in South Dakota. I also killed most of the ones I came across.”
Thinking of Leif, Oberon chuckled. “Not this one. He’s not one for fighting. Although, you did encounter him during a fight. Remember the convenience store we visited right before the vampire attack on The Island?”
“With the doofus cashier who’d been bitten the night before?” Ren asked. “Yeah, I remember. But there were two vampires in that store.”
Oberon nodded. “The male vampire is who I’m referring to.”
A flicker of humor played at Ren’s eyes. “The last thing I remember seeing was food and candy flying through the air after he went crashing into a stand. Like fireworks.”
Ignoring the visual that came into his mind, Oberon said, “His name is Leif. And he defected a few years after The Island fell.”
Ren stared at him, as if waiting to see if Oberon was trying to pull his leg. Realizing that Oberon was dead serious, he said, “Wait. How does a vampire defect? Has that ever happened before? And how in the world do you know he really defected?”
Oberon held up his hand and cast his eyes toward the light weaving through the white curtain covering the hotel’s window.
“Too many questions,” he said. “Just... let me relay what happened with Leif Villers. Fifteen years ago, Delphine used her abilities and found a family of harpies in Seattle. The family had a set of triplets dealing with their first shifts all at the same time. I went to recruit them, because I knew the school could help.”
“The Lowry girls,” Ren said. “Yes, I remember them.”
“It turns out Delphine hadn’t been the only one to discover them,” Oberon confirmed. “I arrived just minutes before a group of vampires converged on the Lowry household.”
Ren’s eyes sparked with interest.
“I shifted in an attempt to protect the Lowry family from the attackers, but I was caught off guard, and the vampires were quick. I had three on my back, holding me down before I could finish shifting, and they were far too strong for me to throw off. Manipulating the weather would’ve put the Lowrys at risk. And that’s when Leif came.”
Ren blinked once, then twice, then three times. “A vampire... turned on his own and took down three vampires?
“The three on me, yes,” Oberon said with a nod. “But he killed the three other vampires going for the Lowrys first.”
“Why?” Ren asked in confusion. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he saved your life. But why would he fight his own kind to save a few shifters?”
Oberon sighed, slumping forward. “Leif Villers is a complex man. He hates what he is. But he hates the vampire cause more. After being a part of the destruction of The Island, Leif cast himself out from among Draven’s forces. After having numerous discussions with him, he moved to Chicago to keep an eye on vampire activity. There are many reasons the Dome has remained safe for as long as it has—your technology, for example, has shielded us from evil eyes. But Leif has ensured that vampire activity has stayed at a minimum here. Until Kendall Green spilled everything to Draven.”
“By my ninth tail, Oberon,” Ren said. “Why haven’t you told me about this before?”
Oberon chuckled. “Because I was afraid. Afraid to tell anybody about my dealings with a vampire.” The room seemed to darken, but Oberon knew it was only his mind. “It seems I didn’t have to tell anybody. Eduard was sharp enough to do the digging himself.”
Ren looked into his cup of tea, which was no longer steaming, and muttered to himself.
“What’s that?” Oberon asked, looking for some kind of solace from his friend.
Ren shook his head. “Just mumbling a few choice things I’d like to do to a certain fire-breather right about now. He cast you out for protecting the school!”
Oberon looked back at the window, hoping the light would brighten his mood. It didn’t. “Eduard did what he did because vampire dealings look bad.”
Ren slammed a tight fist on the small table, sloshing his tea up and over the lip of his cup, making a mess. “He did what he did because he wanted your position! He wanted Myreen!”
Oberon couldn’t argue with Ren’s outburst. It was true. But thinking about Eduard’s true motives only stirred the boiling pot of aggravation within.
“Where is this Leif dude?” Ren asked. “He sounds like a good fellow to join our little duo of exiles.”
Oberon shook his head. “I don’t know. I last saw him in Canada. He was the one who supplied me with the gryphon sightings in Yukon. I haven’t heard from him since.”
“You mean the bad intel?” Ren questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“He was given the bad intel by Draven,” Oberon defended. “I’ll admit, I accused him of it at first, but he was as surprised as I was by the lack of gryphons in the area.”
Ren shrugged, placing a finger in his tea and swirling its contents. “I suppose a gryphon, a kitsune, and a vampire is probably more of a first line for a joke, anyway.” He used his fingers to make quotation marks as he named them. “Still, you should tell Delphine your story about Leif.”
“Even if she knows the truth, what will she be able to do?” asked Oberon. “Eduard’s in charge.”
His phone, sitting upside-down on the table nearby, buzzed loudly, causing both friends to jump.
“Maybe that’s your vampire buddy now,” Ren said, licking his tea-covered finger, then took another sip from his cup.
Oberon turned his phone over. “It’s Delphine,” he mumbled, hardly believing she was actually calling.
“After five days, she realizes how much she misses you,” Ren said with a smirk. “You going to answer it or what?”
The phone’s vibration seemed to cause Oberon to freeze. Why would Delphine be calling? A simple check-up? Was something going on at the school? Had Myreen discovered another shifter form to add to her chimera repertoire?
Ren reached over and snatched the phone. Tapping the screen a few times, Ren said, “Lady Delphine, we are delighted to be graced by your melodious voice.”
The funny thing is, Oberon knew there was some truth to his words. The kitsune had been infatuated with the leader of the mer ever since she’d appeared after The Island was destroyed.
“Cut it, Ren,” Delphine said with a tone that was anything but melodious. Ren had put the phone on speaker mode. “Where’s Oberon?”
“I hope you’re doing well, too,” Ren said sweetly, winking at Oberon.
Oberon shook his head. “I’m right here. How are things at the Dome?”
“Not so good, actually,” Delphine said after a mild pause. “Two nights ago, we were attacked by Draven and his vampires.”
Her words felt like a blow to Oberon’s chest, the air taken right out of him.
“What?” Ren said, sitting straight up.
“They very nearly cracked through the top of the school,” Delphine continued. “But that—that can be fixed and reinforced. The worst news is that Myreen was taken—”
“Taken?” Oberon boomed. “The military leader is directing the school and Myreen got taken?” What good was Eduard if he couldn’t even protect the shifter world’s most valuable asset?
“That’s not entirely what happened,” Delphine corrected. “Myreen surrendered herself on conditions that the vampire attack would end. She allowed herself to be taken to save the school.”
“It’s like the vampires knew you were gone,” Ren whispered, arching an eyebrow.
Oberon ignored Ren, mostly because he doubted the vampire attack was based around his dismissal. Not even Draven would have known about that.
“Where did they take her?” Oberon asked.
