Five

by Christie Rich

I shut the door. Natalie’s muffled crying wafted up to me after I turned off the music. “He’s gone,” I said softly. “I made sure.”

  She scooted out from under the bed, her eyes red and swollen. Her face was a cast in misery.

  “Do you believe what he said?” I asked.

  She lowered her gaze to the floor, shoving her hands in her pockets. “How can I?”

  “I don’t blame you for not trusting him, but I think he really does love you.”

  She plopped onto the couch. Her bright, teary gaze locked to mine. “You have no idea how much I wish that were enough.”

  Why did life have to be so complicated? Love should be the great leveler; the thing that obliterates all other emotions into the insignificant rubble they are. “What are you going to do?”

  She shook her head, her gaze traveling to the door. “I’ve got to leave. I should have gone immediately, but I don’t want to. Sam is the first man I have actually loved.”

  I lowered to the cushion beside her, scooting away from the glaring sunlight shining through the window. “There has to be a way. I don’t think he wants to hurt you.”

  Her expression turned sour. “He may not have a choice.”

  I cocked my head. “That isn’t true. There is always a choice, even if we don’t like it. He could choose you over his mom.” My words felt hollow. If the Order was involved, these two really were in trouble. I still didn’t know much about it, but an organization that had existed for centuries wouldn’t let two people just disappear.

  She brushed away the glistening stream racing down her cheek. “I could never ask that of him.”

  An idea was forming. “Let me talk to Zach. Maybe he could help.”

  She turned toward me, letting out a staggered breath. “How do you mean?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not sure about much when it comes to Zach, but I think he has connections.”

  “Unless he can get me off the planet, I don’t have a chance. Even if Sam doesn’t do it, Roger will find someone who will. He might even be sadistic enough to kill me himself. I just wish I knew how he found out.”

  I handed her a tissue. “Have you spoken to anyone else about what you’re working on?”

  She sighed, taking her time in answering me. “You are the first. My whole family thinks I’m in Chile working on an environmental piece. I don’t have any idea who could have known about this story. Like I said, I haven’t been able to contact anyone.”

  I smiled to reassure her, but it didn’t seem to help. “We’ll get you out of here, Natalie.” I started to add ‘don’t worry’ to my statement, but I didn’t want to give her false hope, either. For once since I came here, I realized that someone might actually have it worse than I did. At least I didn’t have anyone trying to kill me.

  “Do you mind if I stay until it gets dark?”

  “I really wish you’d spend the night. I have to get ready for work. Promise you won’t leave until I have a chance to talk to Zach.”

  She nodded and moved to my bed. She lay down without asking which bunk was mine. I didn’t care. She was asleep before I could get my things together for a shower.

  I pulled the candy from my pocket. I brought it to my lips and then set it on my dresser. I gathered all of the others from the floor and placed them next to the first. The three-second-rule didn’t apply anymore. I should have found the idea of putting the candy into my mouth revolting, but five shiny globes called to me. Was this how a drug addict felt? I had no idea how long they would last. I hoped they would sustain me for a while, but I couldn’t let myself have one until the hunger was unbearable.

  I groaned and put the candy into my drawer because I couldn’t risk Natalie eating some. I had to go to work in an hour. As tempting as it was to quit tonight, I didn’t know how much longer I would be here. Mrs. Lambert’s wad of cash wouldn’t last me all that long, especially if I ended up running. My car wasn’t the most economical.

  How was I going to tell Alex that I had lost his brother’s book? I wasn’t even sure if he would believe me.

  I decided to take a shower. I had to do something to distract myself. My stomach grumbled in protest when I shut the bathroom door. I stood in front of the mirror. My eyes were puffy. Even if I slept for a week, I doubted the dark circles would go away.

  Was my life ever going to stabilize to normal? Was there such a thing, or was it just an unobtainable ideal that had been droned into my head since I was little?

  Aunt Grace had tried hard to make me believe I was like everyone else. Why would she do that? It just seemed cruel to me now.

  I had only been able to read about a fourth of Lily’s journal, but I knew enough to understand I would never have the life I set out to get. Tears streamed down my cheeks. Would I ever even see my family again? Sarah was only seven. I had planned to take her to Disney World after I graduated. And I had so much to tell Jenny about boys. I wanted to help her through the emotional rollercoaster she would soon be stuck on. Travis was a pain most the time, but he wasn’t all bad. He had stood up for me at school a few times. Was he enjoying Snow College? Did he have a girlfriend?

  I forced myself to stop dwelling on things that would only lead to more misery. I dragged my weary frame into the shower and let the water wash over me. Life had seemed so simple at home. All I had to do to get what I wanted was work hard enough. I still held a hope that I could somehow stop the inevitable, but it was a tiny flame in a rushing wind.

  Maybe Zach could find fae food for me? I doubted I could make it through the night without that candy. I was absolutely sick from the meal I had eaten, but I was still ravenous.

  I blow-dried my hair and put on my make-up. My skin was ashen, my cheeks pale, my eyes wide and haunted. I took way too long in the shower. I dressed quickly then rushed to meet Zach, but I had to catch the bus when he didn’t show up. With trembling fingers, I dialed his number. It went to voicemail. I tried a few more times but gave up as the bus pulled to the curb. I was already late. Why had Zach blown me off? He said he would give me a ride. Was he okay? Had the fae hurt him, too?

  The doors slid open. My lungs filled with a chilly autumn wind. My hair whipped wildly around my face. I didn’t have time to deal with it. I tucked it beneath my sweater and sprinted. I raced in and out of groups of students that were leisurely walking to their destinations. I ignored the looks I got. My skin prickled uncomfortably when I entered the library. Were the lords here? I hoped not.

  I hurried up to Mr. Hansen’s office after clocking in. I knocked timidly, hovering in the doorway.

  He looked up from a stack of papers and motioned for me to come in. “Ms. Tate, how good of you to show up. If I didn’t know better, I would think you don’t really want this job.”

  Something about his words hit me wrong. How would he know anything about me? I hadn’t spoken more than a few words to him. “It isn’t that. I’ve had a lot happen the last few days. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  He leveled an irritated look at me. “Be sure that it does not. I have plenty of applicants who would love to have this position.”

  I slumped in my chair. “I understand.”

  He glanced at the door as if he expected someone to be there. His gaze traveled to the grandfather clock in the corner. He didn’t bother looking at me. “Good. I wanted to explain some of your duties to you.”

  This meeting seemed rather pointless to me. What was so hard about putting books away or doing grunt-work for the senior staff? “Okay.”

  He glanced briefly at the clock again. Was he in a hurry?

  He stood up and pushed away from his oversized walnut desk, turning toward the window. “The University has obtained some rather unusual items, and I need a discrete person to catalogue them.”

  I smiled. If it got me away from Alex, I didn’t care what he asked me to do. “That sounds good to me.”

  He gestured toward the door. “Shall we go?”

  He led me to the basement in overbearing silence.
I had already been down here the other day, but I hadn’t realized that it was so big. He took me down more stairs and into a small room with no furniture. An ornately carved door waited for us at the other end. He glanced at me warily as though he were determining if I could really be trusted. What did they have down here anyway?

  He opened the door. “After you.”

  I glided past him but was more than suspicious at this point. When I turned to look at him, he shoved me into the room and slammed the door.

  Darkness engulfed me. My shrill scream sounded small. Where was I? I pummeled the door then rammed into it until my shoulder hurt. Someone laughed menacingly behind me. The scratch of a match being lit preceded the tiny fragment of light.

  I still couldn’t see who it was, but I recognized the theatrical laugh of Roger Wayne.

  He lifted the candle under his chin turning his features into a ghostly mask. He leered and waved his fingers. “Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo.”

  Even though his mocking was swallowed up by the enormous room, he terrified me. The scrape of his chair sliding backward propelled me into motion. I planted my palms against the rough stone wall behind me and moved as silently as I could. The light was so dim I may as well have been in full darkness. He came nearer. I was surprised he left the candle on the table.

  “You do not disappoint, Rayla. I hoped you would flee from me. You tricked me the other night. You must tell me how you did it. I thought you weren’t one, but it appears that you are. What fun. I haven’t been this interested in a girl in a really long time. You are nothing like your little friend. She was pathetic. I would have devoured her in minutes if you hadn’t come when you did. Alex is a fool for believing in your innocence.”

  I kept silent while I worked my way around the wall. I wanted to tell him how wrong he was about Cassie. I wanted to stand up for my best friend, but that would only lead him to me faster. I didn’t care what he had to say about Alex. I couldn’t believe Mr. Hansen was working with Roger. I couldn’t believe I had been idiotic enough to follow him alone, but how could I have insisted he bring someone else along. I should have quit right then. Stupid, stupid, stupid. My foot hit a barrier. I lowered to the floor, reaching out for the object. An icy step sent gooseflesh up my spine. Should I follow the staircase or search for another door?

  “Rayla, where are you. Come out, come out, wherever you are.” His singsong voice was eerie in this place. His sadistic laugh pummeled into me. “You are smarter than I thought you were. I could turn on the lights at any time. But what fun would that be?”

  I climbed the frigid stairs on my hands and knees. When I reached the top, my fingers dug into cool earth. The air was thick and dank. His voice rang out below me. “I wouldn’t go up there if I were you.”

  I hesitated. What would happen if I did? I could feel him coming nearer. A vein at my temple pounded in my ears. I wished Zach was here. Why hadn’t he come for me?

  The sound of foot hitting concrete got me to move. I stood slowly, reaching for a wall that wasn’t what I had expected. Cool rectangular subway tiles met my fingers.

  “You’ll get lost. They’ll find your body in a few weeks. The tunnels go everywhere. Only those who know how to navigate them can come out safely.”

  Better lost or dead than anywhere near him. I hurried up the incline. I took the first branch. I concentrated on the soft sound of my feet as they traced the floor instead of letting the blackness overwhelm me. Why was I so afraid of the dark?

  His steps were sure as he followed me. In his usual flamboyant nature, he whistled the theme of Jeopardy. Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo, Doo-doo-doo. “Give up. I promise not to harm you. I only want to talk. I have so many questions for you. You can have that diary if you like. There are plenty more where that came from. I don’t care.”

  I turned another corner. He was right about one thing. I would die down here if I didn’t find a way out. I backed up to the wall, hoping he would pass me unawares. I gathered a handful of dirt at my feet and tossed it up the other tunnel. A musky scent filled the corridor. His breathing was light but still discernible. I froze where I was, not even daring to inhale. I waited a few minutes before I headed the other way.

  I moved slowly, not sure where I was or if I could find my way back to that cavernous room. I stumbled down the corridor, clinging to the wall for balance.

  I felt him behind me. Had he heard me? I quickened my pace, taking care not to make another sound.

  His voice erupted in my ear as his arms clamped around me. “Gotcha.”

  My shriek echoed in the tunnel making it sound unnatural. He slammed a hand over my mouth, laughing. The other slid up my ribs. I kicked behind me. It didn’t faze him.

  “Oh, that was exciting! I really hated to end it, but I’m afraid I am on a time crunch. They will be here soon.”

  At his command, the lights blazed on. I shut my eyes from the glare. He pulled me down the tunnel. I kicked and tried to bite him. He just laughed—each one more sadistic. He was insane.

  I threw my weight into him as we reached the stairs, hoping to topple him over. “Stop fighting me, Rayla. I have been extremely patient with you, but I am swiftly running out.”

  I went rigid in his arms. He brushed my scar, stopping abruptly.

  “What is this?” He turned me around giving me a halting look. “Be good.”

  As if that was happening. He jumped sideways before my knee could strike his delicate pieces. He shook me hard. My neck spasmed from the jolt.

  “I said, be good.”

  I stood still while he lifted my shirt. His other hand kept a firm hold on my arm. I didn’t dare move when I saw the hardness in his cold brown eyes.

  He bent toward my torso. “I haven’t ever seen one like this.” He ran a smooth finger over my raised flesh. “It looks like a scar.”

  I stiffened at his touch. “It is, you idiot. Let me go.”

  He looked up at me, his tawny eyes full of laughter. “Oh come now. We both know that isn’t going to happen. Did you try to cut out your mark?”

  I glared at him. “I never had one.” Where had the rasp in my voice come from? I cleared my throat. “I got this in an accident.”

  He surveyed me, his expression doubtful as he stood. “And I am supposed to believe that? You have been seen with lords. I have no idea how you have escaped them, but I want to find out. You could be very useful to me.”

  “What makes you think I would ever help you?”

  He laughed, his resultant smile pleasant. “What makes you think you have a choice?” His gaze lingered on me coating me with an oily residue. “You do have the look. That was why you were invited to my house. I was disappointed to find out that you weren’t, but you are. Aren’t you?”

  I clenched my fists. “Do you really expect me to understand you?”

  He cocked a winged brow. “You are an Elemental, no?”

  “No.”

  He shifted his head to the side. “No as in ‘yes’ or no as in ‘no?’”

  I rolled my eyes. “You are ridiculous.”

  He chuckled. “Thank you, my dear. That is the sweetest thing I have heard all day.”

  He pulled me to the bottom of the stairs. The room looked like a museum. The mortared rock walls could have been those of an Arthurian castle for all I knew. Glass cases glittered in the light, housing ancient relics. Books lined the inner walls. I couldn’t see the ceiling. He led me to an imperial table set squarely in the middle of the room, pushing me onto a rickety chair that squeaked under my weight.

  “Do I need to tie you?” he asked nonchalantly.

  I yanked my chin out of his clammy hand. “As if I’d tell you that.”

  He slapped my cheek lightly and tweaked my nose. “Perhaps I should. As exhilarating as our chase was, I don’t have time for another at the moment.”

  I crossed my legs. “What could possibly be more pressing than this?”

  He sneered. “We’ve caught your silly little friend trying to run away. Sam has convinced m
e she may be useful, but that is yet to be seen. Two interrogations in one day are rather inconvenient.”

  My heart sank. How could I help Natalie now? “How ever do you put up with it?”

  He shrugged. “I know. I have a hard life, but most of the time it is worth the trouble.”

  I glared at him, leaning closer. “What are you going to do with Natalie?”

  “You are quite a noble one, aren’t you? Here you sit. I could be moments from killing you, and you’re worried about your friend.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Just tell me.”

  He didn’t hesitate. His tone was irritated. “If you must know, Sam is going to take her to one of our training facilities.”

  I noticed a map on the wall, but I didn’t dare let my gaze linger. Bright colored pins were scattered across the globe. “What for?”

  His gaze moved to the map. Glancing back at me, he blocked my view. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “It’s why I asked.”

  His expression turned stone cold. “Enough. When did you get your scar?”

  I didn’t see any harm in telling him. “When I was twelve.”

  He smiled widely. His handsome face was a flimsy veil hiding a monster beneath. He pulled a chair up to mine then turned it backwards and lowered onto it, his gaze intent upon me. “I see, and you said that you never had a mark.”

  “Nope.”

  When he rocked forward a bit, his shirt sleeve lifted, exposing a tattoo of that weird design on the inside of his forearm.

  “What is that?” I asked.

  “I forget how little you know about what you are. It is the fivefold symbol.”

  Well, that was helpful. “But what does it mean?”

  He ran his finger over the top circle. “This, my dear, is the key to real power. The first circle represents air.” His finger moved clockwise, touching each of the other circles. “Fire, water. Earth.” He moved to the center circle. “Let’s not forget the most important and elusive of all elements, ether, or void, if you prefer.”

  He looked at me curiously. “Are you certain you didn’t have a mark where your scar is now? It would have been slightly lighter than your normal skin tone.”

  “I already told you. I didn’t have one.” There were five elements? I thought there were four. That had to mean there was one more lord. I didn’t want to accept where my mind was headed. Was that why Zach was acting so strangely? Could he be a lord? No, that was absurd. Even with as handsome as he was, he didn’t compare to the rest of them.

  “This, indeed, is curious. I would really like to keep you, but we will see if that is a possibility in a few moments. Unfortunately, we haven’t made enough progress as to not need the fae to accomplish our designs.” He stood fluidly and pushed his chair away. “In fact, here they are now.”

  When the heavy door swung open, the thrall of four lords blasted into me. Taylor was the first to enter the room. After one glance at him, I swayed on my chair.

  Luke was next. He raised a brow as if to say, “I told you this wasn’t over.”

  Jett sauntered into the room, cocked his head to the side, saluting me. Only one person had ever done that before. He had to be the mysterious rider. He was the man in the woods. I shuddered.

  Finn strolled in looking bored. He nodded.

  “Thank you for coming,” said Roger. “I understand that you have claimed this girl as an Elemental. As many of you know, she does not carry a mark. Take off your shirt, Rayla.”

  Completely stunned by his demand, I looked up at him. He was serious. I folded my arms across my chest protectively. “No.”

  He hovered over me, anger flooding his features. He yanked me to my feet. “I will do it for you then.”

  “Do not touch her,” Jett said, breathing hard as if he was planning to throw Roger against the wall if he needed to. He stepped closer. “She is no longer your concern. You may leave.”

  Roger hissed, “That is what I have been trying to tell you. It appears that you all have been mistaken. I was going to show you.”

  Luke shook his head. “We concede she does not carry the usual markings, but that does not discount her from being an Elemental. There is a possibility she could be the Nexus. In any case, she belongs to us. You may have her when we are done, but not until.”

  Roger visibly stiffened. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. His tone was that of barely concealed furor. “You can’t still be waiting for something that won’t ever happen. Every Elemental has been catalogued since the beginning. There has never been one and never will be.”

  Finn shot a tempestuous glare at Roger. “How dare you think to tell us what will be, boy. We govern your very existence. You may not believe in prophecy, but we do.”

  “What prophecy?” I asked, but no one bothered to answer me. I was becoming dizzy as my gaze bounced like a ping-pong ball between the two of them. Roger’s antics could work to my favor if I played this right. I cleared my throat. “I will do what Roger asked to prove that I am not an Elemental.”

  Silence occupied the space as every man in the room turned his attention to me. Their gazes were a sticky film as they followed my movements.

  I kicked off my shoes telling myself that being in my bra and panties was no different than wearing a bikini. Unfortunately, I had never been comfortable being so exposed. I sighed in frustration, unzipping my jeans, wriggled them to the floor and stepped away. My socks were not coming off no matter how absurd I looked.

  I felt like a stripper with the way they watched me. How could someone do this for a living? Steeling my nerve, I lifted my sweater over my head. My hands got stuck in the cuffs. I smiled, embarrassed, as I wrestled free of the fabric. Some exotic dancer I’d make. I pulled my hair up and twirled. “See. No mark. Would you all leave me alone now? You’re really screwing up my life.”

  “You could be hiding my mark,” Jett said in the deepest baritone I had ever heard. I could happily listen to that sound for eternity.

  That aside, I couldn’t figure out what was he playing at? He knew that I didn’t have one. He was probably trying to cover for the other day. If he only knew that he hadn’t been the only one who had confronted me alone. I shook off the shudder that rippled slowly under my skin and pulled one side of my panties lower, exposing my hip. I gazed up at him with a look of triumph.

  He cocked his head to the side, his dark braids swaying. He smiled. “The other one.”

  Of course. I fought a strong wave of déjà vu, and it wasn’t because of yesterday. Something about the way he moved nearly brought back a memory, but I couldn’t pinpoint it. I turned and exposed my flesh.

  His smile turned fractional. Each step he made toward me set off a quake through my insides.

  I returned his grin, hoping he couldn’t see how much he affected me. “Look, you guys are gorgeous, and I’m really flattered you want me. But I have nothing to offer you.”

  Jett stopped a foot from me and lowered to his knees. “You won’t mind if I see for myself?”

  “Be my guest.” I trembled under his watchful eye. I was mortified. No guy had ever seen this much of me up close except for maybe Zach and I guess Roger, and now I had five scanning every inch of my body. He pulled the fabric lower, but I kept a hand on the hem just in case he took it too far. His expression shifted moments before he touched my scar. Power surged through me stronger than I had ever imagined possible. Pain jolted my frame, but I kept myself externally calm.

  He stood, caressing my thigh as he rose. I kept my gaze steady as his emotions flooded into me. More than anything he was disappointed. I had expected anger or, to be honest, pure evil. I covered my unease with a faulty smile.

  He turned toward the others. “It is not here, and even though I would rather not admit it. We have not addressed one explanation.”

  Luke stood by Jett looking down on me determinately. “I feel this girl more than any that have come before her. She has to be mine. Besides, he isn’t here to claim her.”r />
  “Yes,” a familiar voice said from behind me. “I am.”