Into Darkness: The Akrhyn Series (Book 1)

by Eve L Mitchell

  Sloane strolled over and opened the door with a flourish. “Why me, of course.”

  “Of course,” Tegan laughed softly.

  “Ooh look, you laugh,” Sloane tilted his head to the side as he watched her. “I didn’t know if it was possible.”

  “I do that,” Tegan said with some excitement.

  “What? Laugh?” Sloane asked curiously.

  “She tilts her head when she’s thinking. A trait you both have from Cornelius,” Leonid explained.

  “Cool.” Sloane’s smile grew slowly as he watched his cousin.

  “Tegan, I will leave you for this evening. Try to sleep,” Leonid said as he directed a pointed look at Sloane. When Sloane answered him with a wink, Leonid left the room, shaking his head, closing the door behind him.

  “He’s odd,” Sloane declared.

  “He can still hear you,” Tegan reminded him as she lifted her pack onto the bed and unzipped it.

  “I don’t care, I would tell him he is odd if he were still here,” Sloane shrugged as he sat on Tegan’s bed.

  Tegan stopped pulling her clothes out of the backpack as she looked at her cousin. “You try to take my food from my plate, now you sit on what is to be my bed?”

  “You don’t like sharing?” Sloane asked as he propped himself against the pillows. “Do you think it’s because you’ve been raised as an only child?”

  Tegan stared at him, at a loss for words. “What?” she finally managed to get out.

  “You know, it’s just you and him in wherever you stayed, he doesn’t eat, so… did he forget to feed you? Is that why you don’t share?”

  “No!” Tegan gave her cousin her full attention. “Are you genuinely asking me that? Was I starved?”

  “Sloane likes to ask ridiculous questions to get a rise out of people,” Michael said as he came into the room through the connecting door. “You get used to him.”

  “A rise?” Tegan asked.

  “A reaction,” Michael explained as he sat in the chair at the dressing table.

  “Oh,” she turned to look at Sloane. “Is that why you tried to take my food?”

  “It was a carrot!” he laughed as he made himself comfortable. “And no, I took the carrot because I was hungry.”

  “Sloane is also always hungry,” Michael supplied from his chair.

  “Were you starved as a child?” Tegan asked him.

  Sloane looked at her and then looked past her towards Michael. “Okay, I don’t have a clue if she is serious or not.”

  Tegan looked blankly at each of them before she grinned and resumed unpacking. Sloane reached over and picked up her clothes.

  “By the Ancients, do you have anything that is not black? Or fatigues?”

  “No.”

  “You only have training clothes and gear in here?” Sloane tossed the clothes back at her in disgust. “We need to take you shopping.”

  “I train, I patrol, I don’t need to do anything else,” Tegan shrugged as she took out some books.

  “You need to live,” Sloane said as he straightened.

  “Is this one of your ‘rise’ things?” Tegan asked as she opened a drawer and started folding her clothes away. She placed the books in the drawer too, carefully arranging her clothes over them.

  “No. This is my serious-as-Drakyhn things,” he answered her. “Michael,” Sloane glared at his friend for back up.

  “We don’t live as strictly as you do, Tegan,” Michael started, he held his hand up to stop her from interrupting. “We take the threats just as seriously, but there are more of us and we are required to do more than just hunt and patrol.”

  Tegan frowned at them both before turning back to her unpacking. “Well, all I’m required to do, is patrol.”

  Sloane went to speak again but stopped when Michael rose to his feet. “You must be tired. We should leave you to settle into the room and relax.” He walked over to the adjoining door as Sloane reluctantly got to his feet. “We can talk more in the morning?”

  Tegan straightened as she looked at him. She suddenly felt unsure, but she answered firmly, giving nothing away of her nervousness. “Yes.”

  “Okay,” Michael smiled at her, hoping to ease her tension. “You are welcome here, Tegan.”

  “Thank you.” She tried to return the smile, but she knew hers wasn’t as convincing.

  “You won’t need to get up at four-thirty tomorrow,” Sloane said over Michael’s shoulder. He had turned away before he saw her frown.

  Michael noticed it however and came back into the room. “We have a gym with treadmills and other equipment if you want to stick to your routine,” he told her softly. “I wouldn’t advise the grounds, or leaving the grounds, without one of us yet.”

  “I can take care of myself,” Tegan reminded him.

  “I know, it’s not you I am worried about.” Michael nudged her shoulder with his and this time Tegan’s smile was easy and genuine.

  “I can use the gym tomorrow,” Tegan conceded.

  “Thank you. If you’re lucky, I might even get up to come train with you,” Michael said as he walked away.

  “If I’m lucky?” Tegan queried.

  “Well, I don’t want to smash your self-esteem on the first day,” he was chuckling softly as he closed the adjoining door behind him.

  Tegan sat on the edge of her bed, smiling at his teasing. It was teasing wasn’t it? Tegan looked around the room slowly, finally taking it in, without cousins on her bed or half-brothers on a chair. The walls were neutral in colour, dark brown heavy drapes sat closed over the window. She didn’t bother checking her view, she wouldn’t spend much time in her room. The closet ran the length of the wall, which she went over to and hung up her coat, the drawers built in along with hanging space, keeping everything contained. She opened a door and found the adjoining bathroom and Tegan was delighted to see it didn’t have an interconnecting door to Sloane’s room. She had been worried he would be invading all her space; she checked the interconnecting door and was relieved to see it locked. Her hand hung hesitantly over the lock before she turned and went back to the bed without turning it. Tegan had seen towels in the closet and kicking off her boots, she padded over to the closet, grabbed some towels and then headed into the bathroom with her toiletries and locked the door behind her.

  After a long shower, Tegan felt better. She had unbraided her hair in the shower and it hung long and heavy down her back. Wiping the mirror, Tegan combed her hair from her face. She stared back at herself critically, turning her head to the left and the right, checking her features. She looked so much like her father and brother – it was disconcerting. She knew her half-sister was blonde like her mother, Mikayla, had been, but she had never seen a picture of Zahra to know if it was just the colour of her mother’s hair she inherited. Tegan had always believed she looked like her mother, dark hair, almond shaped eyes, high cheekbones, full lips. But Salem and Michael had black hair like hers, so black it had a blue sheen to it. Their cheekbones were just as high, their noses just as straight, their lips just as full. Tegan had her mother’s almond shaped eyes, but her eye colour was bluey-violet, like her father’s and brother’s as she discovered tonight.

  “They must have looked like siblings,” she muttered as she combed her hair again before rebraiding it. “Maybe that’s why no one questioned their friendship. They looked so alike no one was paying attention.” She slipped her sleep clothes on, simple cotton shorts and a t-shirt, before going back into the bedroom. She was not surprised to find Sloane lying on her bed.

  “Cousin?”

  “Did he feed you his blood?”

  Tegan stared at her cousin in astonishment. “I cannot believe you asked me that. You are very blunt with your words, aren’t you?”

  “Yip, I have no filter.” He sat up on the bed as he grinned at her. “I find it easier this way.”

  “You’re lucky I don’t hurt you, for the disrespect you show my father.” Tegan walked over to her bag, placing her dirty c
lothes inside. “No. Father never fed me his blood. You should be ashamed of yourself for asking,” she admonished.

  “I’m older than you,” Sloane stated as he lay back down on the bed.

  “What’s that got to do with the price of fish? It’s quite obvious you aren’t wiser, so are you suggesting that you are senile?”

  “The price of fish? I have never heard that saying before!” He laughed at her as he lay relaxed on her bed. “Good to know you’re feisty!” Sloane grinned at her as his hands propped his head up. “I knew you would be.”

  “And I knew that a child of Cornelius would be flawed.”

  “Ow, that’s a low blow, cuz.” Sloane sat up again and looked at her. “Do you want to exchange tales of childhood loneliness and demanding expectations?”

  “No. Simply because I wasn’t alone and I had no demanding expectations, and if I did… I met them.”

  “Cold!” Sloane laughed as he stood up. “You’ll be just fine here.” He walked over to the interconnecting door. “Sleep well Tegan, may the Ancients watch over you in your slumber.”

  Given all his teasing and easy smiles, Tegan was surprised when her cousin gave her the formal goodnight. “Sleep well, Sloane, may the Ancients watch over you in your slumber,” she returned with a slight inclination of her head.

  “I hope not, and if they do, I hope it’s only Arflyn and Brindlelay that are watching, I’ll give them a show.” Seeing Tegan’s incredulity at his blasphemous words, Sloane ducked out of the room.

  “Forgive him, Ancients, he is young,” Tegan whispered her apology to the room, before climbing into bed. She turned off the nightlight and settled in to sleep, a few moments later she was smiling over her insolent cousin.

  Tegan woke at her usual time, she lay in bed for a few more minutes before rising. Her sleep had been peaceful, despite the strange surroundings. The bed was soft and comfortable, and the pillows were fluffy, reminding her of clouds. She padded into the bathroom and took care of her morning routine, finishing with a quick splash of water on her face, she would shower later. Quickly unbraiding her hair, Tegan ran a brush through it, it was still damp from last night’s shower and she quickly rebraided it for training. Pulling yoga pants and a sports bra from the drawer, Tegan slipped on a pair of sneakers, before heading for the door. She noticed a piece of paper under her door and opened it curiously.

  Tegan, the gym is down the staircase, take a left at the second corridor on your right, turn left and the gym is the third door on the right.

  Michael

  Tegan smiled as she placed the note on her dresser, she had memorised the buildings floor plan before coming here. She knew where the gym was without the directions, but she appreciated his thoughtfulness and recognised it as a peace offering for his heated words last night. It seemed to be another offer of friendship and she would gladly take it. Jogging easily down the stairs, making her way to the gym, Tegan didn’t meet anyone on the way. She frowned as she wondered where the night watch was, they couldn’t be so secure in their defences that they did not need a watch? Did her entry into the building last night not prove they were weak? Or did they think it was the fact her father was a Vampyre that they put the security breach down to? A Vampyre had penetrated their Headquarters, rather than a barely adult Sentinel.

  When Tegan arrived in the gym, it was empty. Although she had been looking for other Akrhyn on the way here she realised she was grateful she was alone, as she did a few stretches and lunges before getting on the treadmill. The machine was intimidating. Having so many programmes and settings she wasn’t sure where to start, so she opted for just increasing the speed until she was running at her usual pace. Halfway through her run, the door to the gym opened and she heard someone come into the room.

  “You again?”

  Tegan turned her head and saw that it was one of the males from last night, was he Kai or Darus?

  “May the Ancients bless you on this day,” Tegan greeted as she turned her head and faced forward again.

  “You alone?” he asked, ignoring her obvious dismissal of him.

  “No, I am here with several Akrhyn.”

  “Oh great, you’re sarcastic.” He walked around so he was in front of her. He was tall and broad, as were most Sentinels. With his blond hair, chiselled features and blue eyes, he was attractive, Tegan realised as she assessed him.

  “By the Ancients you look exactly like him,” he stared at her open mouthed. His eyes then ran over her and a slow smile appeared on his face, “well not exactly like him.”

  Tegan continued her run as he assessed her. “Why are you staring at me?”

  The Sentinel’s face reddened as he looked away quickly. “I’m Kai.”

  Tegan nodded at him as she ran, reaching forward she increased the pace. “Time me,” she stated, “five minutes,” she instructed as she ran faster.

  Kai nodded, after a few minutes of standing in front of her, he walked around her on the treadmill. Tegan tried not to let it distract her, but she could feel his eyes on her, and she wasn’t entirely sure he was appraising just her technique.

  “You’re staring at my behind?” Tegan grit out through clenched teeth as she continued on with her punishing pace. A soft laugh was her only answer and she cursed the fact that even as fast as she was running, she couldn’t run from him on this stationary piece of equipment.

  “Time,” Kai declared.

  Tegan reached out and decreased the pace of the treadmill, starting her cooldown period. The door to the gym opened again and the other Sentinel from last night came in.

  “Why are you in here?” he called out to his companion before he noticed Tegan properly. “Ah, I see.” He walked over to them both and she felt his appraisal of her also, much like Kai’s.

  “You both seem to be fixated with my form?” Tegan snapped as she stopped the machine completely and stepped off.

  “It’s a good form,” the dark haired one said with a grin. “I’m Darus.”

  “Tegan.”

  “How are you related to the Elite Elder?” Darus asked curiously as he stared openly at her. He seemed to be able to keep his eyes on her face at least, unlike the other one, Tegan noticed.

  “It’s complicated.” All three turned to the voice and Tegan saw that Michael had come through the door, Sloane stumbling behind him, rubbing his eyes, looking like he had just woken.

  “Tegan…” Michael trailed off as he looked at her. Something in his tone must have been unusual as it caused Sloane to look up in confusion, looking at Michael and then Tegan, before his own eyes widened in alarm.

  “By the Ancients!” Sloane yelled, hurrying over to her, pulling off his t-shirt at the same time. “What are you wearing?” Sloane was in front of her, blocking her from the eyes of Kai and Darus. “Put this on, now.”

  Tegan looked at him, the t-shirt and then down at her clothes, nothing was showing, except her stomach, otherwise she was completely covered. “Why?”

  “Put the shirt on and I’ll explain.” Sloane’s jaw was set, his eyes were drilling into hers. Shrugging, she slipped the top on all the while looking at Sloane patiently – waiting for the explanation, but instead of talking to her, he turned to Darus and Kai instead. “Out. Now.”

  Both males looked like they were going to argue but Michael stepped up beside Sloane and folded his arms as Sloane continued to glare at the two Sentinels. Tegan realised they were both trying to block her. She moved out from behind them, if they were going to come to blows, she needed to be able to defend them. Kai and Darus both looked at her as she moved out from behind her cousin and brother and Sloane and Michael mirrored her movement until again, she was behind them.

  “He said go,” Michael growled at them both. “Are you defying a Ranked Sentinel?”

  Darus and Kai both dropped their eyes in submission, shaking their heads, turning about quickly, they left the gym. Tegan heard them muttering as they closed the door behind them.

  When Sloane was sure they ha
d gone, he turned to Tegan. “What in the name of Delfar are you wearing?”

  “My training clothes,” she pulled the t-shirt up to show them. “I don’t understand, I always wear this.”

  “When you are at home and no one can see you!” Sloane exclaimed, “You just gave those two an eyeful that they shouldn’t be seeing from the Principal Elder’s daughter!”

  “I don’t understand what you’re saying, I’m completely covered,” Tegan protested as she looked to Michael in confusion.

  “You are covered,” Michael agreed, shaking his head slightly at Sloane who had been about to protest. “But your clothes are quite… revealing.”

  “That doesn’t even make sense! How can I be covered and be revealing at the same time?” Tegan exclaimed frustratedly. “Neither of you make sense to me when you speak. He’s standing there with no shirt on, why aren’t you berating him for being revealing?”

  “Daughter?” Leonid walked quietly into the room and surveyed the three of them. “Are you alright?”

  Tegan quickly took off Sloane’s t-shirt, tossing it to him in disgust as she strode to her father. “They both got agitated and altogether unreasonable at my training clothes.”

  Leonid looked at her and frowned as he assessed her normal training clothes. “This is my fault. I apologise, daughter – I never gave thought to your training clothes.”

  “This is ridiculous! There is absolutely nothing wrong with how I look.” Tegan scowled at Michael and Sloane.

  “There is absolutely nothing wrong with how you look.” Sloane agreed, coming to stand beside her. “You have a gorgeous figure,” he carried on, saving Leonid from having to explain and the elder male shot him a grateful look. “You’ve curves in all the right places and those clothes you’re wearing, leave absolutely nothing to the imagination. You may as well be naked.”

  “But I’ve always worn this?” Tegan turned to her father in confusion, her cheeks warming as she thought of Sloane’s words, had she been showing too much?

  “How many males of our age are you used to seeing?” Michael enquired softly, as he too came up to stand beside them.