Betrayed: Breaking the Darkness Series Book Two

by Felicia Starr

  "I don't know what you are thinking, but I don't like the vibe I am getting from you right now," Graven said closing one eye as if needing to focus better on me.

  "I just wish I had someone to talk to about what is happening to me. Please don't take that personally. I know I can talk to you, but I need someone who can explain what is happening or what to expect next." I didn't mean to insult him.

  "I know, and I will help you unlock that information, whatever it takes, I will be by your side. I know you are frustrated. I also understand why you aren't telling me everything." He rubbed up and down the sides of my arms. "I know it will take time for you to completely let me in. I will wait as many lifetimes as it takes. What about your Gram? Can you try and talk to her? She must have some of the answers you're looking for."

  "As much as that is probably true, it's not like I can pick up the phone and call her." I sighed.

  "There must be a way you can reach out to her. There are mediums and people who see spirits all the time."

  "I don't know, it just kind of happened. When she did come to me it was so brief. And there wasn't really a conversation, more like her just sending me a message. Before I could ask her about anything she was gone again." I bowed my head. I missed her so much.

  "Kasha, think about what has been happening to you. Everything you put your mind to happens. You might not have all the answers or understanding to who you are, but it is no secret between us that you are getting stronger. Your connection to the elements is rising to the surface. I saw it with my own two eyes this morning. Maybe you just need some quiet time to tap into the spirit realm."

  "Spirit realm?" I asked.

  "You are some kind of supreme elemental, Kasha. You have the ability to use and control the elements around you. When you are ready your light will shine so bright it will touch everything in its path."

  "Ok guys, I'm off." Maritza came out in a shiny light grey pants suit with a tight lavender top under the jacket. I don't know what looked sexier, the way the sheen on her fitted pants made her butt look like a million bucks or the top she had on that pushed her breasts up just to the point of overflowing. "I don't know how long I will be. I have a series of interviews set up so we can have at least a skeleton crew ready for our grand opening. We can always bring over a few people from Black Reign to smooth out the rough edges for the first couple of weeks."

  "I love your hair, you did not just color your hair while you were getting ready did you?" She had it blown out so that her curls were barely there and tinted purple to match her top.

  "This? No it's hair chalk, I set it with hairspray. It will wash out. We can do your hair later or tomorrow if you want. Pink might be really cool with that gorgeous red hair of yours. Call me if you need me." Maritza was out the door before I could protest.

  "Looks like it's our turn to get ready. And thank you for being so supportive. It really does mean a lot to me. I draw strength from you. Knowing that you are here for me helps to quiet my fears and along with this," I touched my chest, "it helps me keep my feet grounded and my mind clear... At least most of the time."

  "That is all I can ask for." He grabbed my hand. "Now how about a really good hug."

  After he let me go I went to my room to grab a new outfit. Lucky for me I picked out some things that would easily go with the only boots I currently owned. When I crossed back through the living area I saw Graven on his phone. I didn't want to interrupt him so I went straight for his shower.

  I was tempted to turn the steam feature on again, but I wanted to get showered and ready as quickly as possible. I pondered what I would even say when we got to Patience's house. Maybe they left already. I told them that someone might be coming for them. If they were smart they would have left town and found a safe place to hide.

  Somehow I knew Patience enough to know that she was a stubborn old lady that had a fire burning inside of her. I feared that this time just might get herself burned. I hope Phaela told her I stopped by.

  I was in and out of the shower in four minutes flat. That may have been the fastest shower I ever took. I brushed my hair and weaved it into a braid. Lucky for me, Graven had a stack of small black rubber bands on the counter.

  I pulled on a pair of dark chocolate skinny jeans and a Nomad Hemp-Wear zip-up shirt. I could try to lie, but why bother, I was in love with that shirt. It was a creamy caramel color that matched my boots. I loved that fact that I could zip it all the way up over my branding on my chest. Besides, the higher the zipper was zipped the more you could see the ruche detail that started at the tips of the pockets and worked their way up to the cowl hood. I felt like me, just a really expensive version of me.

  I hung up my towel and turned to walk back out of Graven's room. I nearly collided with his chest, which was now breathtakingly naked. It was hard not to stare at his broad, tightly cut muscles or the way they narrowed down to his tight core. I had no choice but to stop there. His large belt buckle was still holding up his fancy jeans, that looked like the same as any other pair of jeans except for the label.

  "Wow, that was fast," he said.

  "I saw you were on the phone, I didn't want to disturb you. I am going to throw on a touch of make-up and then I will be ready to go." I pat him on the shoulder. "The water is probably still hot, I bet I am ready before you get out," I teased.

  "You should be careful when challenging a gargoyle. It is in our nature to defend. Even if it is as small of a thing as a friendly duel of speed." He smiled impishly. "You better hurry up if you are to honor your word, my lady."

  I bowed and turned with a pep in my step. I wasn't big on make up so a little mascara and some clear lip-gloss would do the trick. By the time I got back out to the living area, Graven was sitting on the couch with his feet up.

  I could smell his fresh scent from the doorway. His hair was clearly wet, but slicked back into his perfect ponytail with a fresh tee on that I am pretty sure that I saw in the boutique.

  "Did you buy that shirt today?"

  "Yeah, I saw it on the way out and snatched it up. I thought you might like it." He spun around.

  The front of the shirt was a soft black crew neck tee, but on the back there was a really cool white graphic of a mirrored lotus flower and low and behold the logo for Nomad. What were the chances?

  "Cool, I am actually wearing one of their shirts that I got today, look at us," I announced.

  "I would like to do more than look at us." His eyes squinted and his nostril flared as he growled out a breath. "You look good enough to eat."

  "Aren't you full from that cheeseburger?" I laughed nervously. I knew what he meant, and I wanted to sink my teeth right back into him.

  "Never too full for something so sweet." Even though his smirk was playful I knew he meant it.

  "Let's get out of here so we can try to get back before Maritza." He winked at me. "I'm going to call down and have Jesus pull up the truck for us."

  "Cool." I grabbed two apples off of the fruit basket and opened the door. Graven was not more than a step behind me.

  "You know where we are going, right?"

  "Pretty much, but I have only been there while I was astral projecting. My sense of direction might not be as good as I assume it to be. I guess I can always project there on the way if need be. You can follow me. I know you are like a walking compass."

  "I would follow you to the depths of hell if that is what you asked of me." He grabbed one of the apples from my hand and crunched down on it as we got into the blacked out SUV.

  Before Graven put the truck in gear his phone rang. "It's Kaden, I texted him earlier to see if he knew anything about who was after the story keepers. Who knows, it might even be his shady ass. Graven answered the phone, I wished it was on speaker.

  "Brother. Have you any news for me?

  "What?"

  "Didn't I tell you not to hang with those guys?

  "Whether you need a lecture from me or not, you will always get one. Might I remind you I am still you
r elder-...Yes, she is with me, of what concern is she to you?

  "She is already in danger! What did you do Kaden?"

  "That's just great! Don't go disappearing; I am not done with you. You had better get your story straight by the time we get back to Sedona, and I want the truth, Kaden."

  Graven tossed the phone in the back seat. He pinched at the bridge of his nose and slowly smoothed out his eyebrows. I watched the tiny muscles at his jaw line twitch as he tightened the space between his teeth.

  "What's going on?" I clicked my seat belt and turned to him. "What did your brother say?"

  "He said that last night the Basset brothers got word of some story keepers in New Mexico. They left late last night. Hopefully by my brother's standards of late last night he meant early this morning. Sedona is only about six hours away. If they are not here in Santa Fe they could be any minute."

  "How would they know to come to Santa Fe? New Mexico is a large state. There could be others in a different town?" I hoped I was right.

  Graven threw the shift into drive and sped out of the gates. "Kasha, you and I both know that there are few and far between of their kind, may it be possible that other story keepers reside in New Mexico? Yes. Likely, I don't think so."

  I gave him directions as he drove, I didn't think that the ride would be too far, hopefully we would get there before trouble arrived. "What was he saying about me?"

  Thinking about Kaden talking about me made my stomach feel funny. It was a cross between nauseated and excited. Either way, I didn't like it and I hoped that Graven couldn't sense that I had emotional confusion for his brother. Especially since I really didn't know him.

  "He said you were in danger and that we shouldn't go to your friend's house. I don't know how he knows anything about you, but I am going to get to the bottom of it. I really hope he didn't do anything stupid."

  "What kind of danger? And what kind of stupid would he be mixed up in?" I asked.

  "I don't know. Everything he gets mixed up in turns out to be dangerous and stupid. I am always trying to clean up the mess he leaves behind. I have been for a long time. I have tried to honor my parents and do right by him, but..." He just shook his head.

  "I don't care what kind of danger I am in. I know I am in danger. I may not have seen the worst of it, but I now have something I did not have before I was taken."

  "Your powers?" he asked while making a sharp right turn off the highway.

  "The power of knowledge. My grandmother always told me how important a good education was. She told me often that the most powerful thing was a proper education. There was an infinite amount of things you could achieve in life with the right acquisition of information. My 'powers' are indeed a helpful addition as well." If only I could grasp the ability to use them at will.

  "You are awe-inspiring. Even in the face of danger you hold your head up and claim your place. You are a fierce female, my mother would have liked you," Graven said and smiled at me.

  I gave him the last set of turns. "Do you mind if we put some music on for the last few minutes?"

  "Sure, anything in particular?" he asked.

  "Anything really, maybe something on the upbeat side. I just want to try and chill for a few minutes."

  We pulled up the driveway and parked the big black truck. I really missed my Cherokee; I wondered what Ziona did with it. Maybe Graven could manage to talk her into letting me have my ride back. If not, I would have to just appreciate Graven's hooked up version that was by far way nicer than my shit kicker. But I liked the way it was beat up, rugged and rough around the edges, but still had heart...kind of like me.

  "There aren't any cars here. Do you think that anyone is home?" he asked.

  "Only one way to find out. Maybe their VW is parked in the garage or around back where we can't see it." I walked up to the door and wrapped my knuckles three times on the old wood door. I couldn't help but notice it needed to be sealed or stained.

  I didn't see a bell so I knocked again, but louder. I rolled my eyes over to Graven as we stood there waiting for someone to come to the door. "Hey, we are talking about three old people here, maybe you should use those muscles of yours to knock a little louder."

  Sure enough those muscles did something. On his second knock the door opened slightly. It was possible that someone didn't close the door all the way for the lock to click. Nonetheless, I felt flutters in my belly.

  Graven stepped in front of me and put his arm up to keep me behind him. He pushed the door so that it opened enough for us to see into the foyer. "Hello? Is anyone home?" he shouted into the house. There was no reply.

  "Kasha, I don't have a great feeling about this. Maybe I should go in alone and check to see what the scene is in there."

  "Umm no, I am coming with you. For starters they are my friends and second of all you are not leaving me alone out here."

  "Ok, but stay behind me." He pushed the door open all the way.

  Graven led the way, but we didn't make it very far. We only took a few steps into the living room and we both froze.

  I actually gasped for air and held my hands over my face. My knees got weak and I was sure to wind up on them any second. I couldn't look away, but I knew I should have. I should have known something was wrong all this time. I asked for Axel over and over again.

  Now he was plastered to the wall in some kind of vegetative state. There were knives stuck into the sleeves of his shirt. It appeared that they were holding him off the ground, but I had a good feeling it was magic that was holding him up on the wall.

  "Graven what is wrong with him? Is he dead?" I couldn't stand the thought, and where were Phaela and Patience?

  "I don't know, I am guessing not." Graven approached Axel's body with caution. "I have never seen anything like it. I can't really make out his other bodies or an aura. It is not like when someone has passed. There is a grey fuzz around him. Do you see it?"

  "No, not really, I might be too upset to focus right now. What do you think it means?"

  "There was probably some kind of spell cast on him or he was poisoned by something or someone. One thing is for sure, whoever did this to him was sending a clear message."

  "I knew something was wrong. I should have pushed her harder to tell me the truth instead of going on about me. Maybe I should have been less worried about wanting Patience to find out about my necklace and the prophecies that everyone thought I was at the center of. Who would do this?" I started to feel the hot sting in the corners of my eyes. I rolled my eyes up forcing the tears back.

  I heard a creak of the door and before I could even turn to see who it was, Graven was between the foyer and me. He took in a stance that I knew was one that could lead to him shifting.

  "What are you doing in my house? Who sent you?" Patience demanded.

  I got up off my knees and rushed past Graven, nearly knocking him over in the process. I wrapped my arms around her so hard I made her drop her bags.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

  "Oh my gracious, Kasha! Is that really you?" she pulled me back to get a good look at me. "What are you doing here, how are you here?"

  "It's a long story, but for now I am out and somewhat safe. What is going on here?" I pointed to Axel.

  "I... well, I. He is stuck like that. There is only one person I knew that might have had a recipe for an antidote. You and I both know she is gone, and as for Phaela knowing a medium; that was a bunch of bull crap." Patience felt her up-do to make sure all the hairs were still in place.

  "How long has he been like this?" I asked.

  "Since the day after we saw you at the Flea." Her eyes had much darker circles under them than I remembered.

  "Why didn't you tell me, you had a chance to tell me...we were alone, I asked you what was going on with Axel. I knew something was wrong."

  "I didn't want to worry you. You had enough to worry about. All I wanted to do was try to figure out a way to help you. That is the honest truth." Patience rubbed around th
e edge of her lip making sure the red lipstick was not smudged. "It just isn't the whole truth. You really shouldn't be here."

  "Why not? Who did this to him? Did Ziona and The Taker do this to him? Will he be ok?" I had to have answers.

  "I don't know if he will be ok. Either I find an antidote or I turn you over with all of the information I have about you and your family."

  "To The Taker? This is just grand." I had enough.

  "No, not The Taker. Please don't trouble yourself with us. We are old; you are young and have a huge destiny that awaits you. You can't let us stand in the way of all the wonderful possibilities your life has to offer."

  "My life is no greater than that of yours or Axel's. We are all human beings, and entitled to live our lives to the fullest."

  "That is just it, sweetheart. We are not all human and life isn't that simple." She picked up her bags and put them on a console table. "Look, Axel and I both knew the dangers that we could be getting into when we started to take an interest in you. I told you I have known your Gram for many years.

  "I think she knew the darkness was coming, she asked us to look after you. At the same time, Phaela came knocking. She forced Mage to make her a tea that would allow her to see astral projectors. I thought it was more to keep an eye on me, but she must have somehow known that you would be able to project.

  "She forced my hand at helping her to dig up answers about you. She has been searching with me to find information about you and what you would be capable of. Phaela is not my sister. I tried to warn you that you must not trust anyone."

  "What? She's not your sister? But she knows everything about what has been happening to me."

  "I'm sorry, sweetie, I had to be very careful about what I told you or asked you in front of her."

  "Why didn't you tell me? I met you in astral form at the coffee shop. She would never have heard us talking. I asked you if Axel was ok. Why did you lie to me? I trusted you." All my anger about what had happened to me came rushing back.

  "Kasha, I told you to trust no one. I warned you to be careful what you say and whom you say it to. I hoped that you would understand that I meant including me. Remember that sometimes it is those closest to us that wear the invisible mask of deception."