by LJ Swallow
I have nothing but the clothes I arrived in, along with an impetus to return home and find out what mess is left. Dragging my hands through my thick brown hair, I make my way to the kitchen.
Joss sits at the table, toast in one hand and phone in the other. The sun through the kitchen window picks out golden highlights in his hair, and I can't help the heat surging inside my belly. He looks up, the green eyes that match his friends' filled with a warmth to match his smile. Joss sets the phone down beside his plate.
"Morning, Verity, how are you?"
"Vee. And confused. I need to go home and see what the place is like and whether it’s inhabitable.” I chew my lip. “I really hope my cat is with the neighbours.”
“Heath went back and looked over your place. He never mentioned a cat.”
Relief flood in. “And is the flat intact?”
“A little burned around the edges.” Joss gives a light-hearted laugh, which I don’t share. “You probably can’t live there until it’s fixed up. One of us will take you home to collect some things."
Collect? "I don't know if I'm staying here.”
"Because we told you about demons and vampires?"
He fixes me with his look of truth and my stomach surges for a different reason. Maybe the truth I'm reading in him is his belief and not reality.
But his friends didn't chastise him for teasing me.
"No, because I hardly know you."
"Who else are you going to stay with?"
He looks back at his phone. Good point. I grit my teeth against my narrowing options. Hotels are expensive and could come with added demon.
I shift from foot to foot. "Um, Joss. Where do you keep your coffee? I'd like a cup."
"Oh shit, sorry." He stands and rakes a hand through his hair. "I'm not used to visitors."
The pursed lips and vulnerable edge softens me against his actions. There's something about a thoughtful guy with a softer side that sucks me in.
"Right. Coffee's here. Instant, I'm afraid. Milk in fridge. Do you want toast?" He opens cupboards and the fridge, dragging out items required for breakfast, and I smile at his fussing.
"Your house is very clean," I say, looking around the spotless kitchen. There aren't even any fingermarks on the stainless-steel fridge. "Especially for a bunch of guys."
"Yeah, Ewan's a bit of a clean freak. Are you sure you're not hungry? I can make you something."
I shake my head and watch as he spoons instant coffee into a large blue mug. "Can I ask you something too?"
"I imagine you have a lot you want to ask." He turns and rests against the kitchen bench, long legs outstretched.
Joss wears a plain grey T-shirt today, with black jeans. The muscle definition across his chest and strong biceps barely covered by the sleeves distract me. An image of stroking the fine blond down on his arms flutters into my mind and I push it away. Following last night's revelations and some of the reactions he has to me too, I'm unsure if he's a mind reader. And if he is, I don't want him coming across unclean thoughts.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"Joss. Smith."
I splutter. "Smith? Really?"
"Am I lying?"
I pout at his knowing look. "No. And how do you know I can tell if you’re lying?"
"Firstly, most people would've told me I was lying about demons and shit last night. Second, I know it's your thing."
“’Thing’.” I laugh.
He shrugs. "I have a ‘thing’ too. I detect people's emotions." He pauses. "So, it means I can detect when inhuman creatures are around too. Soulless ones whose emotions are limited to hunger, lust, and anger." The kettle clicks off. "How do you have your coffee? White?"
His switch from the extraordinary to the mundane catches me off guard. "White. Two sugars."
"Aww, seriously? But you're sweet enough."
I roll my eyes at his comment but he remains serious. "I'm not lying, you're cuter than I expected."
I really wish I had not imagined this man naked in his bed with me last night. Okay, that was excusable because it was my subconscious and not deliberate. Right?
"Stop flirting and tell me what you mean about 'my thing’.” And creatures and demons and hell what will they tell me next?
"Your name, I'm sure you made the connection. You're Verity."
"Yes, ironic."
"No, you're Verity. Y'know. The word. Truth."
"Yes," I repeat. "I know the definition."
"No, you don't understand.” He stirs the coffee and drops the spoon in the sink. "You're obsessed with the truth, aren't you? You're delving into the lies woven around the world. Ones that blind people with ignorance."
This personality trait fits my name, absolutely, and I stick to Vee mostly these days. I’ve never liked Verity.
"Kind of. I know you were telling the truth about the paranormal world last night, or you believe you are."
"Oh, I am." Joss passes me the cup and his fingertips brush mine. A sensation triggers along my arm, buzzing through, similar to Heath's touch yesterday. I hastily lift the cup to my lips and sip.
Joss's eyes darken, and I almost spill my coffee when he cups my cheek. "There's a lot you need to know, but here's the most important—I'm going to look after you."
Considering the amount of heart racing in the last 24 hours, I'm going to end up with medical problems. And this? I've always been the “strong woman who doesn't need a man,” from car maintenance to assorted DIY jobs, but the words tighten my stomach. He's earnest, and I don't need to sense the truth this time.
"Like Heath did?" I say.
Joss drops his hand and frowns. "He was the one who needed to be there last night, although we didn't expect him to be that reckless."
An image of the man with the knife in his back flashes, and the guys' annoyance Heath killed the violet-eyed man. "What are fae?" I ask. "I've heard the word but don't know about them, like I do vampires and werewolves."
"The fae are one of the supernatural races who live side by side with humans. Their realm was being destroyed, and the fae were dying as their magic faded, so they crossed over to your world. Here, they can take magic from humans." He bites his lip. "Through sex, usually.”
Oh god, too much detail. Don't say that word in such a low tone with a look like that. Joss's closeness messes with my head, a desire to touch him the way I do when I'm close to Heath. I'm awkward around new people, especially guys, but with these three, it's as if I'm with family. Well, not family, because the way my body's lighting up around Joss isn't sisterly.
"They crossed over what?"
"Through portals connected to our world."
This is too much crazy talk for me. I sink onto a chair again, and Joss sits opposite me. "I'm lost. In more ways than one."
Joss rubs my arm, as if he needs to place a hand on me to stay connected the way I unknowingly want to. "There are portals in this world to other realms, which need to be kept sealed. Some of these realms are decaying, and when the portals were still open, those whose populations were dying out came through. Vampires, fae, shifters... demons.”
“Apart from I have never heard of portals, why would they come here?”
“Every race who’ve managed to establish themselves here find something available from humans to replace what they lost. Fae, sexual energy to fuel their magic. Vampires, blood. Shifters, mates."
"And demons?"
"The world." Heath's voice comes from the kitchen doorway, and I turn. He looks between us. "I thought we were going to talk about this together?"
"She's impatient."
"How do you know all this?" I ask.
"Ah, go and find Ewan will you? Haul his lazy ass out of bed." Heath inclines his head to the stairs behind him.
Joss glares at him. "You're closer."
His childish response would amuse me apart from the growl to his voice. Three men in a house together? Their friendship, however tight, will always be threatened by one wanting to be the top dog.
Or four. Where's the other guy, Xander, they mentioned?
In response, Heath drags a chair and sits at the table, back to Joss. "Did you sleep okay?"
"I'm sure she did. My bed's very comfortable," says Joss and winks at me.
Thank god, I'm not a blusher. "Kind of. Well, not really."
"Oh really?" Joss pokes his tongue into his cheek and raises both brows. Okay, I am a blusher right now because I swear he knows what I imagined.
His broad figure leaves the room.
"Your flat's intact, by the way," Heath says. "I headed back after you went to sleep last night. The fire fizzled out, probably when I killed your attackers."
I shudder. “Joss said. And the bodies?"
"Also fizzled out."
Is he serious? "And this man was a fae?"
"Yeah. We've been watching your flat because we expected this to happen."
I stare. "So you are stalking me. That wasn't a coincidence two nights ago."
"Not stalking you but the people following you. Haven't you been aware of them?”
I chew my lip. "I'm paranoid people are following me all the time, in reality and online. Considering my extracurricular activities, it comes with the territory."
"Yeah, well this time is wasn’t paranoia. In the last few days have we’ve become sure you're Verity. Or the one we're looking for, anyway."
I run my fingers down my cheek and stare back into his green eyes. Again, I want to reach out and touch him, to hold onto a safety I can't explain. I expected a desire to run from the house as soon as daylight hit but I feel safe with these three men, which makes no sense.
“Looking for Verity. Because everybody's looking for the truth, huh?" I give a weak smile.
"I heard Joss explain you were Truth."
"Yes, and Joss said he's a kind of empath too. Two days ago, I would also've said he was slightly unhinged for believing in demons, but now... I think he's sane."
"I'm glad to hear that, Verity."
"Vee. Please can you all stop calling me Verity."
"Yeah, Death." Joss reappears and plonks himself back onto a chair next to his friend. "You should understand since you don't like your real name either."
"I knew a girl at school who said her surname was De'ath. We joked she's a vampire. Is that why you call yourself Heath?”
Heath scowls and picks at the table. "No. Joss is being awkward."
"There's no getting away from it, Death."
"You want me to tell her who you are?" he retorts.
"Go ahead."
Heath shakes his head. "You're a douche sometimes."
A dishevelled Ewan appears in the doorway, shirtless, sweatpants resting low on his hips. This guy's toned to the point that if I saw him in a magazine, I'd swear he's photoshopped. The ink across his chest and on his arms merges into a canvas I'd love to explore. Bedhead, sexy dark hair, longer than the other guys, is mussed above his bleary eyes.
Their faces are sculpted the same—do their bodies match too? I'd lay bets they do.
As soon as he looks in my direction, I snap my gaze away. Three men and I'm constantly perving on them all? Really, not good.
"I was up all night coding, can't this wait?" he moans. "I had to finish up before the Order jumped one step ahead."
"And?" asks Heath.
"Their email server is fucked." He turns a rare smile in my direction, eyes filled with a genuine friendliness. "No 'turning it off and back on again.'"
I return his smile. "You work in IT support too?”
"Not really. I work in screwing up everybody else's IT." He flicks long fingers at Heath. "He's Death so his skills are self-explanatory. I'm good at spreading viruses." I look blankly as he gestures at himself. "Pestilence?"
"Ewan...," warns Heath.
"Oh, come on. She believes everything else, and it's pretty damn important she knows." He folds his arm across his impressive chest. "We're the Four Horsemen."
"A code name for a team of hackers spreading viruses?" I ask. "Is that why you know me? Through the blog and community?"
"No. Actual Four Horsemen," replies Ewan. "Though probably not the version you've heard of."
"I bloody hope not. I'm twenty-one and not keen on an apocalypse just yet.”
Joss chuckles. "You're really not what we expected."
"So you're Famine and he's Pestilence?" I ask semi-sarcastically. Ewan nods. "And your missing mate... War?"
"Yup."
"So, you're a mass murderer?" I ask Heath. Surely this smooth looking guy can't spend all his time with blood on his hands.
"Only if you count non-humans. I'm not the only one. They do too." He points at Joss and Ewan. “Although I’m quicker and more efficient than these guys."
"Hmm. So, I guess your friend War is out hunting victims?"
"Well, Xander's more of a strategist, but when he's away this long, it's likely strategising and negotiation have failed, and conflict is the game."
I hold a hand up. "Stop there. Demons, yes. Fae, okay, but Biblical figures? Nope. I told you I don't believe in that crap. How bloody ridiculous, you—"
"I'll drop the last one on you, should I?" interrupts Ewan.
Heath stands and growls, "Ewan. No."
"You're the Fifth," says Ewan.
And grins.
8
VERITY
The room sways and I place my mug on the table before I drop it. "Excuse me? Fifth what?"
"The fifth Horseman. Or 'Horseperson' if you prefer." Ewan's smile snakes further across his face.
Heath steps forward and pushes him in the chest. "Stop screwing with her, dickhead.”
Ewan grabs his arm and pushes him to one side. "Why? Why protect her after all this time? We need Verity up to speed. Now.”
"Not now, Ewan," he says in a low voice. I whip my head from man to man, attempting to keep up with who's telling the truth.
"I'm a harbinger of the apocalypse?" I ask with a side of snark. "Sure."
"A hacker," puts in Joss with a warning look at Ewan. "He's messing with you. Your skills. You can help us. We're hackers, on the same mission as you to expose people."
I close my eyes and soak in the energies around me, detecting not just their tension, but who's telling me the truth.
"Oh for fuck's sake," says Ewan. "I am not spending the best part of three years looking for our missing part to dance around and ease her into the truth. She's the Fifth and that's it. End of story."
"That's ridiculous. Don't you think I'd know if I was some... whatever you are and not human?" I reply.
"You're human. Unique, but human."
“This is bullshit!" I stand and slam my chair backwards. "I've put up with enough of this. I want to leave now. Take me home."
"Vee, no, listen," says Heath.
I need air. Huge, lungfuls of fresh air. Stumbling from the room, I make my way back along the slate-tiled hallway to the dark wood front door. Pulling the black metal handle down, I pray the guys haven't locked me in. When the handle moves, stiffly, I throw all my strength into getting out of the house.
The uneven ground around the house is muddy following recent rain, and my shoes squelch as I run across the makeshift driveway towards the lane leading towards the road. But I have no idea where I am? My hair blows behind me as I keep going, my tight chest constricting further as I go. Run. Leave. Find road. Flag down car. The escape process runs through my head. I know the villages surrounding my town, I'm sure I can locate where I am.
Damn the bloody fae for setting fire to my phone.
Fae. Bile rises again and I halt, leaning over and sliding my hands down my knees and tears build. Please make this stop. The wind bites my arms through the thin material, cooling the perspiration away from my body. News that vampires and demons are real, that supernatural creatures attacked me, okay, I can accept as the evidence is there. But Horsemen? Me involved in all this? No. Can't be true.
"Vee!" A voice travels through the wind towards me, carrying i
nto the silent space around.
The gate to the road is a few hundred metres away, the house equally as far from where I stand. I spin around in case all three guys are chasing me, but Heath's the one who's approaching. My instinct to run drops away the closer he moves to me, as if something inside tugs me towards him.
"Vee, please stop." He pauses, far enough away to not threaten me. "Please don't leave."
"What's happening?" I say and finally the tears I've held back for hours spill. Pissed off, I scrub a cheek with my sleeve. "Yesterday you asked me out for a drink like we were an ordinary guy and girl, and now I’m wrapped up in something as weird as things I investigate."
"I'm sorry. I wanted to get to know you first so we had some trust. Ease you into the idea."
"Let me guess, the others didn't agree."
"There wasn't any mutual agreement, no." He smiles. "Besides, I liked I had the chance to get to know you better. I had a chance to be around you first, and that made up for being forced to take the shitty job.”
Heath rubs his mouth, and I watch the action, absent-mindedly wondering what his mouth feels like, what would've happened if I kissed him last night.
Last night when the world was different. Recent events slam into my reality again and I heave in a breath, more tears escaping my eyes.
"Oh Hell, Vee." Heath takes my hands, and circles them with his strong fingers, holding tight.
We've touched before, fingers brushing, and when he held my hand to help me last night, I never noticed the extent of the effect. This time it's clear. Something more powerful than the attraction I have to him pulses through my blood, sharpening my senses and wiping away the weakness caused by my fear. We look back at each other, transfixed, as I grip him in return.
An energy hums between us, spiralling in the air around, and as we continue to look at each other, this pulls us closer. "Is Ewan telling the truth?" I whisper. "Am I part of... you all?"
"You know he is, Verity.”
"He can't be. I'm ordinary. Human."
The surging energy builds despite my words, and he pulls me closer. "Yes, but no. You're part of this. Of us. We need you." His chest brushes mine, the thick cotton against my thin shirt, but I feel him as if we were naked, my body firing with a different energy. "Please stay."
