by Jaymin Eve
They both nodded. “Emma’s family was killed,” Daniel told me, “and she was manipulated into coming to Daelighter territory by Laous. He managed to kidnap her...”
The sound of my harshly indrawn breath filled the room. Killed. Kidnapped. What the freaking freak was going on here? Maybe my mom hadn’t been completely wrong about the danger in associating with this world. I just wished she’d given me more accurate information. Prepared me better.
“You’re the second, and as I said, you were born in House of Imperial,” Daniel continued, ignoring my obvious shock. “Your blood will lead him to the third, and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen. If Laous finds the starslight stone, he will break the treaty. Both worlds could be destroyed.”
I held two hands up, palms facing him. “Just … hold up. I need a second to understand what you’re saying.”
A second … who was I kidding? I wouldn’t process this in a year. Everything he was telling me was important and scary and insane. But the bottom line was really about my mom. We had to save her, then I could deal with the rest.
“Okay, so my mom…” I said, trying to keep my voice and breathing even. “How are we getting her back? What is the plan?”
Daniel’s head jerked up slightly, like he was surprised I wasn’t asking more questions about Overworld and Daelighters and me being a secret keeper. But I just couldn’t. Not born on Earth. Those words ran through my head over and over. It was too much. So I’d just deal with what my poor little brain could manage.
“We have a council in Overworld,” he said. “They are made up from members of the four houses. They’ve ordered me to stay in New Orleans for another day or so, until we can determine if Laous is here or has fled. They want you to head to Astoria. They can protect you there.”
I shook my head hard. “Not happening. I’m going to help you find my mom and kick Laous’ ass. Will I be staying here in this house?” I didn’t even give him a second to argue. “I don’t have clothes or anything. Is it safe to go back to my condo? Should we be checking it out for clues?”
Daniel tilted his head to the side, eyes slightly narrowed. “I couldn’t find out much on you or your family, but the little I did suggested you would be difficult and distrusting. Looks like my intel was somewhat accurate.”
Research? If that didn’t make a girl feel special. “Okay, stalker, did your research tell you that my mom is the only person I have in this world? It’s my duty to get her back, and I will do whatever it takes, including but not limited to, trusting a few alien douchebags and putting myself in danger.”
Logic told me it was going to be quicker for me to achieve my goals if I stayed close to the beings who understood what was going on here.
Michaels let out a yawn then, disrupting our stare-off. “I’m going to grab an hour of sleep before we have to head out. Can you wake this alien douchebag when it’s time to go?”
I blinked at him as he wandered off. He was literally the most random dude ever, even when fighting. Which also made him hard to best. At the time I’d been so proud of my skills, drawing on multiple disciplines to confuse and beat him. It hadn’t been easy, but I’d taken him down. Now I knew he had let me win, because these Daelighters were far stronger and faster than I could ever hope to be. Bastard. He’d thrown the fight. Throwing a fight was unforgiveable.
After Michaels left, Daniel continued to explain a few things to me. Mostly rules about what would happen if I stuck around with him. I was surprised that he hadn’t fought me about staying; seemed he didn’t care that much for the rule of his council.
I remained calm for all the new information, my brain processing as quickly as it could. It was kind of odd that I wasn’t freaking out more, but my gut was telling me these particular Daelighters didn’t mean me any harm. And I needed them. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer was really hitting home to me here. I’d never had friends, but enemies I was used to. I’d keep them as close as possible until I got all the answers I needed. I’d find my mom, then I’d figure out a way to ensure I never had to run from any of them again.
Even if it meant exposing them to the world. Or killing them all. Because I might be a secret keeper, but I never signed up for the job. They should have been more careful about who they entrusted to keep the worlds safe.
Chapter 3
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon by the time we were done with “tell Callie about all the freakiness in the world.” Daniel left me in my room while he went to deal with some Imperial business. He’d told me I could explore this house, but if I left, there would be a very good chance Laous would find me and kill me and my mom. With that sort of motivation, I decided not to act like I was too stupid to live and would remain inside. He’d said that he would do some recon later, and if I stayed by his side the entire time, I could go as well. I liked that we had a plan. It made me feel much more in control.
I could be patient until then.
Taking him up on the suggestion of checking out the mansion, I started with the room I’d found myself a temporary guest of. The house was by far the nicest place I’d ever seen in my life, with the feel of a building hundreds of years old, but which had been modernized throughout. The bedroom had high ceilings and rich burgundy walls, which stood out against the white crown molding. A white doorway led to a spectacular bathroom. It was tiled with slate and stone from floor to ceiling. The splashes of blue and gray went perfectly with the fluffy navy mat in the center, thick white towels in a small cupboard, and the large array of greenery in pots. Warm and inviting.
My eyes locked on the free-standing tub right by the window overlooking a garden, which I could just make out in the early morning light. The street was just beyond, and people were everywhere, heading home from the square. Despite the lack of privacy – because who would draw curtains on a view like that – I could easily imagine stretching out, reading a book, occasionally glancing out to the world beyond. It took a lot of control not to run a bath, but getting naked in a house of alien dudes didn’t seem like the smartest move. I’d wait and see if any of them attacked over the next few hours before I flashed my goods.
Reluctantly leaving the bathroom I continued out of the bedroom, finding myself in a long hall. All of the open doorways I passed were bedrooms, painted rich, bright colors, with wood and antique furniture. I liked that they’d kept a few original touches of character. Near the end was a small library with thick beams across the ceiling. I lingered in the doorway, which was strange because I wasn’t a huge reader. I preferred movies and television. Reading was actually something I struggled immensely with; words never quite did what they were supposed to. Letters didn’t stay in the order they should, so reading was … hard.
I’d mentioned the problem a few times to my mom, but she just told me I was lazy, and that if I wanted to get better at something I needed to practice it. After months of headaches and tears, I gave up on the entire endeavor. The world of books was not for me, even though I craved to know what was between each of the pages. Movies might be just the tip of the iceberg, but I had long ago accepted that I would never know the world below.
Tearing myself from the doorway, I tucked my dreams back inside. Nothing good came from wanting what you couldn’t have. I’d been disappointed too much already. It was time for me to live in the reality of my world.
I traipsed down the stairs at the end of the hall, admiring the highly polished sheen of the wood handrail. Everything here screamed money. Lots of money. The upkeep on a place like this would be ridiculous. Michaels didn’t strike me as the sort of guy who worked hard. His surfer bum vibe was from more than just his hair. Were all of these Daelighters rich? Or was Michaels just one of the lucky ones?
The ground floor was even more spectacular than the level above. It wasn’t as open-plan as was favored in more modern houses – houses I’d only ever seen in magazines of course. This design had large distinct rooms, separated by archways and alcoves, with deep,
bold colors, more burgundies, ochers, and even a teal dining space. The furniture was heavy and antique, like in the bedrooms, fitting perfectly to the era of this home.
It was really nice. Damn Michaels and his good taste in real estate.
After I’d explored, I ended up in the kitchen with its enormous rectangle island bench and an actual fireplace in the room. The fridge was modern, stainless steel, a three-door monster. Did these Daelighters eat normal food?
One way to find out.
Opening the door, I had to laugh. Inside was full alright, with a selection of beer and wine that would make a nightclub jealous. It was very clear why Michaels lived on the edge of the Quarter, an area usually reserved for tourists and those who liked to make their money from tourists. Locals hardly ever went there, from what I’d learned, but clearly these Daelighters enjoyed the party life.
“Hungry?”
I jumped back from the fridge, swinging around to find Michaels leaning against the kitchen bench. He hadn’t slept long, but definitely looked much more refreshed.
“I’m always hungry, but doesn’t look like you have anything here that is actual food.”
Michaels chuckled, moving around the other side of the bench to open the drawer. He pulled out a bunch of pamphlets, sliding them across to me. Walking over, I picked them up, finding that they were all delivery places.
“Order whatever you want. I have accounts with every single one of them.”
I took my time flicking through them before finally meeting his eyes. “I thought you were sleeping?”
He shrugged. “Like I said, I only need an hour. I’ll nap again later.”
No doubt he was an expert napper.
Before I could say anything more, Daniel entered the room. I zeroed straight in on him, menus forgotten. “When will we be heading to Jackson Square?” I asked, not wasting time on pleasantries.
Daniel’s heavy stare shifted between Michaels and me. Finally, he said, “We can go now, if you’d like. An early scouting trip. If Laous is still in the area, he’ll make contact. He’s no match for me, not now he’s lost the overlord power, so he’ll no doubt just deliver a message.” He focused on Jason then. “Get your people ready, though. Later today we’ll be the ones hunting.”
The daelighter nodded, not at all annoyed by the order. “On it, boss. We’ll be ready and waiting.” Then with a wink in my direction, he left the room.
Daniel turned to me. “I need to grab a few weapons. Wait right here.”
Like there was anywhere else for me to go.
He disappeared up the stairs, only to reappear a few minutes later dressed in similar clothes to before. He had changed his shirt for a long-sleeved black Henley that hugged his body and worked with the dark jeans, heavy black boots, and air of barely contained lethal power.
I wished I knew more about Daelighters and their abilities. Like the super speed thing. Could they all do that? What else could they do? Would any of my training actually come in handy against someone like Laous? There was nothing more annoying than stepping into the role of victim, being the one who had to be protected. I’d worked really hard to never be weak, but something told me I was going to be very outmatched by this alien species.
I needed more information. Knowledge was power. I was slowly coming to terms with everything I’d learned so far – the need to scream and freak out was fading – so maybe I’d ask Daniel some more questions when we were out.
As more of my fear faded, though, anger took over. This trickling urge to lose my shit was starting to churn inside of me. Fury was bubbling uncontrollably under my skin. I finally had somewhere to lay the blame for my years of shitty life – with these alien bastards. It was making me rage in ways I didn’t know my numb, dead-inside body was capable of.
“Are you ready to go?” Daniel asked, interrupting my mental planning of how to take down an entire planet.
“Yes,” I snapped back, pushing past him.
When he caught up to me at the door, he wore a half-smile, which only annoyed me more. Once he unlocked the door, he pushed it wide open and stepped back to allow me to exit first.
Just as I walked out, his hand wrapped around my arm. I tried not to react, but the heat from his palm branded me, along with the buzz of energy he sent into my blood. Non-human bastard.
“Don’t run,” he said slowly. “It’s going to annoy me if I have to chase you.”
I shrugged his hand off. “I want to find my mom. You’re my best chance of that. I will stick around until that part of my life is resolved.”
Keeping my word was important to me. I had so few things in my life that I could control; my moral high ground was one of them. Even these Daelighters would receive the same treatment. As we started along the street, I saw a sign. I’d been right before, Michaels lived on Esplanade Avenue, the street that bordered the Quarter and the Marginy. I had walked past it multiple times over my months here. No wonder I kept running into him.
Daniel was silent and predatory as we walked along. He constantly checked out the scene, keeping track of everyone and everything that moved around us. He scared me in ways – which I would never admit to out loud – I could not explain. There was just something so other about him, and yet at the same time, he looked human. Ish.
“How long have you been in New Orleans?”
His question took me by surprise, but it was an easy one to answer. “About two months. The longest I’ve ever stayed in one place was four months; Laous was lucky to catch us when he did.”
We pushed through a large group of people stumbling home from a bachelorette party. They were very intoxicated, singing, dancing, falling down. It had been the usual huge night in the Quarter. The streets were filled with empty cups and trash, which we kicked out of the way as we walked.
“I know you hate my kind,” he said, taking me by surprise again. “And I don’t blame you for that. Sometimes life just deals us a shit hand. Trust me, I understand.”
Something told me that he did. I’d known it from the first moment I stared into his eyes. Not to mention the wariness he wore like a cloak. It didn’t matter how highly-trained a person was, they didn’t act like they were in a warzone unless they had been in a warzone before. I didn’t know what sort of battle it was, but Daniel had definitely been fighting for his life at one point or another.
Sympathy bloomed within me and I hated the connection that was there between us. I wasn’t naïve enough not to recognize it. Whether it was that I was born in House of Imperial … or something else … there was no denying it any longer. Daniel stirred emotions inside of me and it was confusing as hell.
As soon as we stepped into Jackson Square, he closed the distance between us.
“Don’t wander off,” he told me.
Pressing closer to his back, I fought the urge to reach out and grab his shirt. I accepted I was human, vulnerable, especially compared to these creatures, but I was not weak. I would not rely on Daniel, but I could be cautious.
“Café Du Monde works for our cover,” he decided. “Maybe we can drag Laous out from whatever shadows he’s hiding in.”
From my observations, it wasn’t always that easy to get a table there, especially during one of the busy times. Right now, it would be filled with people looking for some early morning pick-me-ups after a big night. Somehow, though, the universe loved Daniel, because we walked straight into an empty double-seater.
“Sit,” he told me.
I crossed my arms over my chest and tilted my head to the side as I waited for him to realize that I was not a pet for him to order around.
He let out a grumbling sound. “Could you please sit down, because if the server passes us by, we won’t see them for another hour.”
He’d said please … good enough. Pulling out my chair, I dropped into it. Daniel took the other chair, sliding his massive frame in gracefully. I spent the next few minutes observing my surroundings, cataloguing exits, watching the people who sat around us.
/> My eyes ran over each and every individual, because even though I had no idea what Laous looked like, I felt like I would know him when I saw him. In my head, he was an evil, ugly asshole, and I should recognize that without any trouble.
A waitress skidded to a stop beside our table. “Ready to order?” she said.
I swung around to face her. She was tiny, her wild dark curls springing up on her head. She was lithe, built like a dancer, with huge blue eyes. There was no immediate accent – she didn’t sound like a local, but clearly already had the swing of this busy job.
“We’ll have a dozen beignets,” Daniel said without preamble. “And I’ll have a café au lait.” He paused and turned toward me. “Do you drink coffee? Would you like something else … tea … or maybe hot chocolate?”
I snorted, managing to keep it low and under my breath. But if the arch of his eyebrow was any indication, he still heard me. “If I don’t have coffee I’m inclined to turn into a raging psychopath. Literally.” Especially after being knocked out and waking with the headache of all headaches.
“That explains a lot,” Daniel said with a half-smile.
Ignoring him, because it did actually explain a lot, I returned my gaze to the pretty waitress. “I’ll have the same as … him. Make it large.” I jerked my hand in Daniel’s direction.
“No problem,” she said in a harried way. “Be right back with your order.”
She was gone as quickly as she appeared, disappearing into the crowd. Off to the side, I could see a line was starting to form as people waited for tables. Actually, that line had probably already been there. Daniel had ignored it just like the locals usually did. Tourists were the ones who waited in line.
I tried really hard not to bounce in my seat, but I’d had no coffee or food for hours. And it was beignets and liquid-life – aka coffee – from Café Du Monde, a running fantasy of mine for the past eight weeks straight. My excitement could barely be contained.
