His eyes flickered.
Does he feel it too?
“Do not panic,” he told her before he slowly started to fade from view.
Terrified, Darcie tried to pull away with more force. She looked down to pry his hand off of hers, but she couldn’t see her hand. The faint outline of her arm was all she could make out as the fading continued to progress upward.
“Stop!” Darcie cried out. Her breathing increasing to dangerous speeds. She was going to hyperventilate.
She looked at the stranger with pleading eyes, begging him to stop whatever he was doing.
The fading reached his neck, but his face remained intact. His expression was sympathetic, but determined.
“It’s alright,” he repeated. “Trust me.”
The last thing Darcie saw was the stranger blink out of sight before she promptly did the same.
9
A breeze blew through her hair. Prying her eyes open, Darcie released a sigh of relief at the return of her vision. Though, the blue pupils were unable to focus on any one object around her. She tried to blink away the cloudiness when she remembered what had just transpired.
Darcie immediately stiffened and attempted to sit up from her horizontal position. The move was prevented by strong arms wrapped around her body…
She was being carried.
Looking up, Darcie saw the chiseled jawline of the man who rescued her. Her heart gave an unanticipated thump.
Feeling her gaze, the rescuer glanced down. His firm eyes softened when they met hers, but his voice remained rough, “You are alright.”
Darcie was lost in his gaze. She couldn’t help but feel as if she knew him from somewhere. There was something familiar about the green color…
“Darcie?” he questioned when she didn’t respond.
Feeling like an idiot, she quickly turned her head and looked at the surroundings. She was surprised to realize they were moving–that must have been the source of the breeze she felt.
The stranger kept a quick pace despite the load he carried. His stride was smooth, not jostling Darcie in the slightest.
“Darcie?” he repeated, not trying to hide his slight frustration with being ignored.
“I’m fine,” her voice croaked due to injured vocal cords. “Where am I?”
The stranger hesitated. “Thane’s house. Do you know Thane?”
She searched her muddled brain. “I met him last weekend,” she replied. “I thought he was just visiting Brunswick?”
“He is,” he replied.
Something about his tone tried to discourage Darcie from asking anything else, but she did not comply, “How do you know Thane?”
“He is my brother.”
“Really?” She tried to remember her morning run a couple days ago. “I think I met his other brother, Lome.”
“When?”
Darcie turned back and did not miss the tightening of the man’s jaw. “Last Sunday.”
“I see.”
Darcie closed her mouth. She didn’t know what was with the guy. One minute, he rescued her and looked sincerely worried about her well-being. The next, he was hard as stone.
It might be best to keep quiet, she told herself. She shifted slightly in his arms to watch as they moved past various objects in the unending hallway.
Portrait after portrait hung on the wood-paneled walls, looking to span multiple generations of the same family. The clothing ranged from modern formal to Victorian style. They even passed an older looking image featuring a young woman wearing Grecian garb.
It must be a costumed photo, Darcie acknowledged. Portraits from the time of Ancient Greece were practically non-existent.
Her eyes traveled from the walls to the random items lining shelves and tables. She spotted a painted vase which looked pretty old, as well as small marble statues. The stranger kept moving them towards an unknown destination.
She contemplated asking him to slow down so she could better look at the objects, but thought better of it. One quick glance told her he was still irritated from whatever upset him earlier.
The click of heels against the floor sent a jolt of fear through Darcie. Unconsciously, she pressed closer to the stranger’s chest and closed her eyes. Her hand flew to her throat. The image of the woman and her attack flashed through her mind.
“Hello?” the traumatic sound ceased as a new woman stopped her approach. “What is go–”
“Where are Thane and Lome?” her rescuer cut off the woman’s question.
“I’m not sure. Thane’s office, perhaps? Who is that?” The feminine voice drew closer, her shoes no longer causing loud clicks on the ground.
Telling herself she had no reason to fear the newcomer, Darcie opened her eyes. The familiar stranger’s face was the first thing she saw. He raised an eyebrow at her odd reaction. She could only give him a sheepish look and a small shrug. She wasn’t about to explain that she was scared of stilettos.
“Can you stand?” he asked.
Feeling silly for not insisting she stand on her own earlier, Darcie nodded and worked to gain her balance once the man placed her on her own feet. She wobbled for a second, and the stranger held her elbow to steady her.
“Thanks,” she told him as he removed his touch. Heat continued to spread through her arm in its absence. Once again, she wondered if he experienced the same feeling.
“Darcie?” the woman said her name, drawing both hers and the stranger’s attention. The fresh eyes scanned the teenager and the man behind her, analyzing them for some unspoken purpose. Darcie took the opportunity to examine her as well.
The woman was tiny–barely five feet tall if Darcie had to guess. She was thin and dressed in a flowing sundress that reached the middle of her short calves. The outfit seemed a little out of place for winter, but she couldn’t deny it looked very pretty.
Raising her perusal, Darcie noted her light brown hair coiled was into an elegant bun, further enhancing the girl’s appearance.
As she continued to observe her, Darcie started to wonder at the girl’s age. She dressed with an older style, but the newcomer looked like she could still be in her teens.
“Do I know you?” she finally asked, wondering how people she never met could know her name.
“No,” the young woman replied kindly. “But Thane has told me about you.”
“You know Thane?” Again, Darcie wondered how her new acquaintance could be involved in the odd situations.
“Bella,” the man behind Darcie interrupted before the girl could reply, “I need to find Thane and Lome. Can you keep an eye on her?”
Darcie turned over her shoulder and frowned at the man. She didn’t want to be left with another stranger. At least he had proved himself to be trustworthy when he rescued her from the attack.
Also, she resented the implication she needed to be watched like an infant.
The man pointedly kept his gaze on the woman he spoke to.
“Of course,” the woman, Bella, responded. “We can take a tour of the house.” She stepped closer to Darcie.
“No,” the man commanded, stopping Bella in her tracks. “No one else needs to see she is here. Take her to your private rooms. We will be there shortly.” The man turned and left without another word, clearly believing his order would be followed.
“My rooms might not be as exciting as the whole house, but they are still nice,” Bella offered, drawing Darcie’s attention away from the retreating man.
The petite girl stepped forward and extended a hand, “I am Bella.”
At the risk of seeming rude, Darcie forced herself to shake the offered hand. “Darcie.”
“Nice to meet you,” Bella’s sentiment seemed genuine. “Thane has nothing but good things to say about you.” Bella gestured for her to follow as she began walking down the winding hallways. Their pace was much slower, but Darcie found her interest no longer in the various artifacts placed in their surroundings.
“How do you know Thane?”
And why would he say good things about me? I hardly know him.
Bella’s lips turned into a happy smile. “I guess you could call him my husband. We’ve been together for what feels like forever.”
“You’re married?” Darcie couldn’t hide her disbelief. “But you’re so young!”
The woman released a charming chuckle. “I am older than I look.”
Darcie thought back on Thane and the little she knew about him. Looking at Bella, she knew the man had to be years older than the young woman in front of her.
To each their own, Darcie thought as she continued to follow the woman through various turns.
“Almost there,” Bella informed her as they approached a wide staircase.
The teen stared in awe at the intricate designs carved into the banister. She examined each detail while ascending, noting how each one was perfectly placed in the dark wood. The care taken created a masterful work of art must have been immense.
“Pretty isn’t it?” Bella noticed Darcie’s infatuation.
“Very.” Her finger trailed across the grooves.
“It’s one of the better pieces of woodwork in the house. Des was very dedicated to his carpentry phase.”
Darcie paused, and withdrew her hand.
The name sounded familiar.
She tried to think where she heard it when the memory hit her like a baseball bat to the gut–the three women mentioned someone named Des in their conversation.
Afraid of the connection between the attackers and the woman in front of her, Darcie halted her steps.
Bella stopped and turned with curiosity. “Everything alright?”
“Who is Des?”
She looked confused. “You don’t know Des?”
Darcie shook her head.
For a moment, Bella looked like she was about to say something, but thought better of it. “Forgive him. He often forgets his manners. Des is the name of the man you arrived with. He is Thane’s younger brother.”
Shocked by the information, Darcie could only nod, realizing she never asked the rescuer for his name. She resumed following Bella up the stairs as a million questions swirled in her head.
Didn’t the women in the restroom mention they were acting on Des’ behalf before attacking her?
Why would Des save her from them if that were the case?
Was she still in danger?
Darcie remembered Des’ concern when he examined her in the restroom, and how angry he seemed after seeing the marks on her throat. His reaction was not normal for someone who wished her harm… despite his gruff behavior afterwards.
With that acknowledgement, Darcie convinced herself the rescuer was trustworthy. However, she would be sure to remain on guard and try to figure out what was going on as soon as possible.
Bella stopped walking just outside of a heavy oak door. She pulled the iron handle and walked inside. Darcie paused at the threshold and held a hand out to the door. It looked oddly familiar.
“This is my room,” Bella announced cheerfully. “Well, my personal room. My bedroom is attached to Thane’s suite.”
Darcie turned and examined the space. It was massive. Wood décor continued to dominate, but there were feminine touches of fabric and knick-knacks which lessened the masculine touch the architecture created.
Following the walls up, Darcie gaped at the intricate painting displayed on the high ceiling.
During her travels with her father, Darcie was able to see the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. The vibrant colors and professional artwork were well matched by the painting above her.
“I chose this room specifically for the painting,” Bella revealed. “Is it not marvelous?”
Darcie lowered her head and looked at the girl in front of her. “Where am I?”
Bella tilted her head to the side and slowly said, “We are at the home Thane, Des, and Lome share. Along with a few others who I am sure cannot wait to meet you.”
Darcie shook her head. “No. I mean, where am I?” She might have been gone for two years, but she knew there was no house like that one within one-hundred miles of Brunswick.
Bella’s smile faltered. “Um…” She twisted her hands. “I think that is a question left for the brothers.”
“What is a question best left for the brothers?” Masculine scents filled the room.
Darcie turned and watched as Thane and Lome walked in, but her eyes were drawn to the figure entering behind them.
Des’ presence filled the large space. The air seemed to shift and center around the stoic figure as leaned against the nearby wall. Darcie could not help but take him in, and was surprised to note he seemed angry. The man’s posture was stiff, and a frown marred his handsome face.
Feeling silly for admiring his looks, she forced her eyes away and towards the other men. Darcie watched Bella’s smile grow when Thane approached and wrapped an arm around her small shoulders.
He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before turning his attention to her, “Nice to see you again, Darcie. Though, I wish it were under different circumstances.”
Darcie swallowed the lump in her throat. “Where am I?” she repeated the question to the men apparently capable of answering it.
“Well, it is actually quite a long story. We are in–”
“No.” Des interrupted his brother, fury rolling off him in waves.
Thane stopped and turned to face Des. The two brothers engaged in an intense stare-down, a silent argument being exchanged.
Finally, Thane broke the quiet, “Des, be reasonable. From the information you shared, it is clear others know about her. She is at risk and deserves to know why.”
“The only reason others know about her is because you and Lome drew attention to her with your little visit,” Des growled. “I told you she is not The One. It is your fault she is in danger.”
“Please,” Lome joined the brothers’ debate. “We are not to blame for the attack. Evetta is an evil harlot who would do anything to keep you single.”
“Evetta only believed Darcie was The One because you and Thane practically announced it to the world when you went to see her on Sunday.”
The two brothers looked surprised. They did not expect him to know of their visit. Darcie suddenly regretted sharing the information.
“Let’s not forget she was attacked before today,” Thane pointed out.
“The men at the club were human,” Des shouted. “They had no association with any of us.”
Darcie’s blood grew cold. Listening to the brothers’ words gave her an odd feeling. The smell of tobacco and liquor assaulted her nose as a dark memory tickled the base of her skull.
“Regardless, Darcie is in danger. She needs to know the truth,” one of the brothers replied.
Her heart beat increased as if she were running.
“What truth?” She vaguely heard Des’ question. “That she is The One? Guess what? That is not the truth. I would know.”
“I can’t believe that, Des,” Bella’s soft voice interrupted the heated argument. Each brother stopped and looked at the petite girl with respect. “Just look at her eyes. I swear, I’ve seen them before.”
“You are only seeing what you want to see,” Des responded but with a less harsh tone. “You all are. You want her to be The One, so you all believe her to be The One.”
A sense of Déjà vu hit Darcie. She swore she heard those words before.
“Perhaps the same goes for you,” Thane pointed out. “But in the opposite way.”
Des opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. He had no comeback.
A flash illuminated Darcie’s vision. She saw herself in the parking lot of the club, staring at the figures of three approaching men. She shuddered, and goosebumps covered her arms.
“She can help us,” Bella murmured to the room, oblivious to the teen’s anxious reaction. “With all six of us together, no one could rise up against us.”
Thane and Lome voiced their agreement.
&n
bsp; Des remained silent.
Darcie’s head whirled as she tried to deduce the meaning behind multiple parts of the conversation. She could barely understand half of what they said.
This has happened before.
“Will someone tell me what is going on?” Darcie whispered, practically inaudible except to herself. Her entire body felt heavy.
All four people looked at her.
“Who are you?” she voiced the plaguing question. “Who are you really?”
Everyone but Des kept their eyes on her. Darcie noticed him barely spare a glance before returning his attention to Thane.
Thane’s expression was kind as he responded, “We are immortals, Darcie. And we believe you are one of us.”
10
Darcie gaped at Thane like he’d grown horns. She must have misheard him.
“What did you just say?” Her voice sounded distant. From the corner of her eye, she caught the sympathetic look Bella directed her way.
“We are immortals,” Thane repeated. “And you are one of us.”
“She is not,” Des disagreed. At last, he turned to Darcie. She feared what she must have looked like at that moment. “I am sorry you were dragged into this, but it was a mistake.”
“Des–” Thane began, but was silenced by his brother.
“No.” Des’ green eyes abandoned her and whirled on his brother. “I will not allow you to lie to this girl. Her life is being tampered with for no purpose. She is not The One. It falls to you, Thane, to rectify this situation and ensure her safety.”
With that, Des left the room, leaving behind a stunned group. Darcie struggled with the sudden sense of loss his absence created.
“How can he not see she is The One?” Bella asked aloud. She smiled softly at Darcie. “I recognized you almost immediately.”
“Me too,” Lome offered in camaraderie. “Des is just being stubborn.”
“No,” Thane disagreed. “He honestly does not believe she is The One.”
“How is that even possible?”
Darcie had enough. She was done being talked about.
Enlightened Page 7
