Secret Keepers: The Complete Series

by Jaymin Eve

  “You’re not as worried about your mom as I would’ve expected.”

  A flash of anger cut through me, wiping away those tendrils of excitement I’d stupidly allowed to build. I leaned forward on the table, my eyes no doubt flashing my fury at Daniel.

  “You know nothing about my feelings.” My rebuke was low and forceful as I emphasized each and every word. “My relationship with my mother is complicated. I don’t want to see any harm come to her, especially not at the hands of a Daelighter. But just because she’s my mom by blood, doesn’t mean she’s ever acted like a true mother.”

  Because we were so close, our faces only inches apart, I saw every emotion that crossed Daniel’s face. His eyes blazed with gold, and judging by the angle of his jaw, he was clenching his teeth. There was a darkness in his gaze, and just like I’d known he’d been to war, in some way I also knew he understood what I was saying about family. On a personal level.

  “Who in your family?” I asked, most of my anger gone now.

  There was a long pause; I didn’t think he was going to answer. Then, as the waitress reappeared with our order, he said, “The ones who cared are long gone. The rest are blood only. Not family.”

  That made sense considering he was related to a psycho like Laous. Another chink loosened in my cold, dead chest – my heart actually hurt for him. His confession had been matter of fact, like it didn’t affect him, but I saw deeper. The wounds were still raw.

  We were quite the pair.

  Still, there was no way to be truly sad when I had coffee and beignets sitting in front of me. So why couldn’t I take my eyes off Daniel? It was like for the first time in my life I felt camaraderie with someone. Damn him! Why did that someone have to be from an alien species that had been hunting me my entire life?

  “I’m going to need you to tell me more about this world that I’ve been dragged into.”

  He nodded. “I will tell you everything you need to know, but not here.”

  I accepted that and was finally able to turn my attention to the food before me; the scent of coffee could no longer be ignored. Leaning forward, I closed my eyes and slowly inhaled the rich, dark aroma. When I picked up my cup and took the first sip, a low moan actually escaped from my mouth. I was no longer in control; my senses were firing, and this was probably the best coffee I’d ever had.

  The plate of beignets, topped with their white powder, was my next focus. Reaching forward I lifted one, careful not to disturb the sugar. I really wanted to inhale as well, taking in their unique scent, but a nose full of powder was not my idea of a good time.

  As I took my first bite, my next moan was much louder. Movement from across the table drew my attention, and I was surprised to find Daniel just staring at me. His coffee remained untouched in front of him, and he had not started on a beignet.

  That was worrying – no one ignored these fluffy clouds of delicious. Had he seen something that I missed? Was Laous here somewhere?

  “Everything okay?” I asked as I swallowed the last of the ball of magic.

  He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “I’ve just never seen someone quite so passionate about food before.”

  For a brief moment, I contemplated letting the embarrassment that was trying to well up take over. I didn’t though, mostly because I sensed Daniel wasn’t insulting me. There was … interest in his gaze. I’d surprised him.

  “Does your kind eat food?”

  Since I was struggling not to shove the entire plate of beignets in my mouth, the only explanation for his reticence was that they didn’t eat. Maybe Michaels’ menus had just been for show. Or for the human girls they brought back from the Quarter.

  Daniel answered by reaching forward and snatching up a beignet and popping it into his mouth without spilling a drop of the white sugar.

  Well, okay then.

  A waiter passed by our table, his hand snaking out to grab my almost empty coffee cup. Quick as a flash, I latched onto his forearm. Narrowing my eyes on him, I said, “The only reason you should be touching my cup is if you plan on refilling it.”

  His mouth dropped open as he looked between me and my mug. “So … so sorry,” he stuttered, before quickly releasing the handle and hurrying away.

  Shaking my head, I was reaching for my coffee – before another overeager staff member tried to remove it – when Daniel let out a low rumble across from me. The sound drew my attention, and as he tensed, so did I.

  “He’s here, isn’t he?” I asked, no louder than a whisper.

  Daniel inclined his head ever so slightly, and without another word, I quickly ate another beignet, because I knew this was going to be my last chance. Laous was here.

  It was time to get my mom back.

  Chapter 4

  It might have been my imagination, but it seemed the café got really quiet then – a lull, like it was holding its breath, waiting for a storm to hit. I couldn’t see anything out of place, so Laous had to be behind me. I didn’t want to turn my head and alert this asshole to our presence. Not until I knew the plan.

  “Okay, so he’s here. Has he spotted you?” I murmured, pretending to take a sip of coffee.

  Daniel lowered his head, which in no way did anything to hide him. He was humongous, like the worst person ever to try to play hide and seek. “He’s busy right now trying to set fire to the building.”

  “What?”

  I couldn’t stop from spinning now, scanning across the crowd. It took me about five seconds to spot him. He was standing in the main entrance, looking pretty unimpressive. Besides the fact that he had a shaved head with the dark red symbols tattooed on the right side like Daniel, I would never have thought that he was a Daelighter.

  He was so … ordinary. Squinty eyes. Weedy arms and legs. Roundish body. Like a bunch of body parts had been put together, but nothing actually went with the other. He took a step forward, lifting both of his hands on either side of him. When they were around shoulder height, I felt the first flickers of heat.

  Daniel’s chair crashed as he shot to his feet, his hands also filled with fire. I added that to my mental list of Daelighter abilities and moved myself even further down the evolutionary ladder. Some of the other diners started to react, but since a lot of them seemed to be drunk, they weren’t panicking as fast as they should have been. Most of them probably thought this was some sort of NOLA show, but they’d change their tune once they felt the very real heat from the flames.

  Laous shot out balls of fire, catching the nearby awning, which was almost immediately alight. It was then the patrons started screaming and rushing from the café.

  “Guess he’s not afraid of you,” I quipped to stem my nerves. Part of me was thinking I should have taken the council up on that offer to go straight to safety.

  “Just stay close to me,” Daniel warned, positioning himself protectively before me, “until I figure out what he’s up to. No Daelighter would make a scene like this in public, but Laous clearly does not care about any repercussions of his actions now.”

  Great, he was a complete madman and he had my mom.

  “Remember,” Daniel said, “Laous wants you. He needs your blood and will stop at nothing to get it. Protecting you is my first and only priority.”

  I could tell that Daniel was majorly regretting allowing me to stick with him, but it was too late to do anything but try to get out of this alive.

  The café had emptied, flames roaring across the front of it, and … Laous seemed a little scarier as he strolled toward us. Especially since there was nothing I could do against magic fire.

  “I’d suggest leaving now,” Daniel warned Laous. “Return Callie’s mother to her home and get out of New Orleans.” He sounded so casual. “You’re no longer overlord. The power of our house is mine to command.”

  Laous paused, a disturbing sort of smile tilting up his thin lips. “I don’t need the power from Imperial any longer. Did you know that the stone I procured from the first girl does a lot more t
han just lead me to the next secret keeper?” Before Daniel could answer, he continued on: “I’m going to find the original starlight stone, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. Soon, Daelighters will realize how stupid we were to place true power in the hands of these grubbers.”

  “Grubbers…?” I murmured.

  “Ignore him,” Daniel bit out. “It’s … a term that some Daelighters use for humans.”

  Should have guessed it was a derogatory name. Sounded like they thought we lived in the dirt and bathed in mud. It didn’t bother me, though. The opinion of Laous was not going to keep me awake at night. What he did with my mother, on the other hand, was a different story.

  “Where is my mom?” I asked, proud of how well I kept my cool. In my head I had already punched him in the throat six times. Twice in the balls.

  He chuckled. The piece of shit actually laughed. “She’s really enjoying her time with us, you know. I didn’t expect her to be so…” He tilted his head to the side like he was trying to find the right word. “Spirited. She’s quite spirited.”

  Rage filled me, but before I could reply, sirens filled the air, responding to the fire that was halfway to destroying one of the Quarter’s most famous landmarks. The smoke was thick and black, and I was just worrying about being trapped in here, when Daniel took off. I finally got to see his speed in action. Whoa. It was almost like he disappeared and reappeared in another spot. In the same instant. Superfast. I added that to the list.

  I watched, mouth hanging open as Daniel waved one hand across the six-foot flames and they instantly died off. He was back at my side in another moment, and the shock and awe on my face must have caught his attention. “House of Imperial specializes in fire. I can counter anything he throws at us.”

  The creep in question crossed his arms over his round chest. “That might be true, but don’t forget, you’ve been overlord for days, I was the ruler for a lot longer than that. I know the power better than you.”

  He strolled closer to me and I braced for a fight, dropping lower into a stance more suitable to strike and defend myself. Daniel repositioned himself, standing between me and the crazy pyro.

  They faced off at each other, Daniel definitely the more intimidating of the two. I liked his calmness the most; it gave me some confidence. Laous flicked his hand and an object flung free from the cuff of his jacket. A small stone, with a chain attached to one end. Like … a necklace.

  Laous whipped it out, keeping hold of the chain, while the stone slammed into Daniel’s shoulder, cutting through the shirt and embedding deep. Ignoring this, Daniel took a step closer to Laous, wearing a look of complete loathing. Flames spread up over Daniel’s arms, moving in increments across his body.

  “I have the power of the justices now,” he growled. “I will use them to end you. To end this before a war breaks out.”

  Laous shook his head. “You’re missing the bigger picture, Daniel. You always did. Just like your father.”

  The flames were almost to his chest now. He was literally turning into a human fireball. On the edge of the café, suited-up firefighters spread out in all directions, and I was just about to mention something when Laous moved. He slammed a hand into the stone, pushing it all the way into Daniel’s shoulder.

  With a roar, the taller Daelighter dropped, his body shuddering like he was being struck by lightning, over and over. I just stared dumbfounded at Daniel, on his knees, with sparks of energy racing across his body. It even flickered through his eyes.

  “Run, Callie,” he grit out, trying to get to his feet, only to have the lightning power slam him down again.

  Before I could scream, or react, or run – because that sounded like a great idea – a fist slammed into the side of my head. I dropped to my knees, ears and head ringing, blood filling my mouth, while stars filled my eyes. This wasn’t the first punch I had copped, but considering I was still suffering from being knocked out earlier, I couldn’t handle another. Rolling to the side, I got out of strike range of his feet, using a nearby chair to pull myself up.

  Daniel was swearing and growling, and as I turned in his direction, I was astonished that he was up on one leg now, fighting whatever was holding him.

  “Miss, are you okay?” A fully suited-up fireman stepped into the building for the first time. Through his mask, I could see concern creasing his face, and as he glared at Laous, I guessed he’d seen the punch.

  I opened my mouth to warn him of the danger he didn’t realize he was in. I’m sure he thought he could take Laous on, and in any normal human circumstances he would have. But these weren’t normal circumstances.

  Before I got the words out, Laous launched an arc of fire our way, completely engulfing the firefighter. It took me a minute to realize I was screaming, and I wasn’t the only one. Other suited-up people rushed in to try and save their friend, and it was then that Laous launched into the second part of his plan. Something cold slammed into my cheek, so icy it numbed the spot immediately, while pain burst in my head, causing darkness. Wait, no, the darkness was because my eyes were closed. I couldn’t open them again, I literally had no energy in that moment.

  No. No, no, no. Shit, if I fell asleep now, it was all over. But what the hell could I do? Daniel was still being blasted with whatever weapon Laous had hit him with – though he was fighting it, he hadn’t won yet. And the last human who had tried to help was engulfed in flames.

  Concentrating as hard as I could on breathing and moving, I rolled. I’d mapped the layout of this building when I first walked in, so I knew where the exits were. Laous, who must have expected me to collapse immediately, reacted slowly. I heard the sound of chairs crashing as he tried to follow me. I stumbled to my feet, squinting as I deliberately knocked a table into him.

  I took off in a rapid, unsteady gait. One of my eyes had closed again; the other remained in a half squint. I was bumping into lots of tables and chairs, but as long as I got out of here and back to the mansion, I could get some help. Michaels was there; he could contact others.

  A hazy human came into view and I realized another brave firefighter had stepped up to assist me. I had the vague idea that if I managed to collapse against him, he would be safe from Laous’ flames, because the psycho needed me alive. Just as my arms went out, ready to dive, I was snatched up from behind. This time there was no fighting against the blow to my head. Darkness dragged me under and my scream was the last thing I heard.

  Blood woke me. Well, the taste of it. I choked and spluttered, trying to clear my mouth and throat. It felt as if there was a thick, bloody coating across my teeth and tongue. My head was screaming at me again. One day in the presence of these Daelighters and I’d been unconscious twice.

  Seriously, this had better be the last time or I was going to do something drastic. What that drastic thing was, I had no idea, but it would be huge.

  Focusing on useless threats was better than dealing with the thrum of fear coursing through me. I had no idea where I was; the room was dimly lit … some sort of fancy condo … nice wood floors, thick drapes, marble-topped furniture against a nearby wall.

  These Daelighters had way too much money to play with.

  Daniel. Worry for him was building within me, even though I was probably the one in the worst position. But I got the feeling that not much hurt Daniel, and whatever the stone was that Laous had hit him with, it did something unexpected. Laous might not be this overlord any longer, but he clearly had a range of techy little gadgets and inside knowledge on how to disable us. And a crap-ton of money. A scary combination.

  I struggled against my bindings – I was strapped to a chair. Every girl’s dream, right? There was no give at all in whatever was tying my hands behind me. I had never been great with being restrained, but I refused to let the panic take over. I needed to keep a level head until I got out of here.

  Continuing to struggle, I managed to wiggle my chair forward. It actually slid quite easily on the wood floor. Maybe I wouldn’t have to get my han
ds free to get out of here.

  Focusing on the door across the room, I started sliding forward. As I moved, I briefly contemplated calling out to see if my mom was here, but knowing I’d probably only alert the people I didn’t want to alert, I remained quiet.

  Halfway there, my head throbbed so badly that I had to stop for a moment. Breathing deeply through the pain, I gave myself only a few seconds before starting again, managing to find a good rhythm. Strangely enough, only one of my ankles was secured tightly to the chair leg; the other was quite loose, which meant I could use it for balance.

  My eyes adjusted to the darkness. There didn’t seem to be much in this room, which was working to my advantage. As the door came into clear view, my heart rate jumped into a thrumming pace. I wasn’t exactly being quiet, scraping this chair across the floor, so the closer I got to the escape, the higher my chance of detection.

  What if Laous was right on the other side of this door? What did he plan to do with me? I’d obviously been tied up in here for a reason.

  There were just too many things I didn’t know about this world.

  That anger flared again. My parents should have prepared me better for this eventuality. Sure, my father had a somewhat decent excuse, being dead and all, but my mom had plenty of time to fill me in about the reality of being this stupid secret keeper, which I didn’t even get a choice about.

  The last few feet to the door took the longest. When I was only a few inches from the handle, I paused to decide how I was going to go about this. There was still no give at all in my hands despite my constant struggling, and one loose foot was not useful in opening a door. Tilting my head as low as I could, I tried to see more of the chair. Thick wood legs, carved and styled into roped elegance. Crap. It wasn’t a cheap wooden rickety number that I could easily smash. It was one of those fancy solid pieces that would still be around a hundred years from now – and I would probably still be tied to it, a skeleton, with both hands and one leg bound.