Elusion (Facets of Feyrie Book 1)

by Zoe Parker

  “Blah. Blah. Blah. I don’t care. Your pet can’t stop me, and he knows it.”

  The alpha turns again to the Schoth.

  “My lady, she is not what she seems. You must be cautious.” The alpha laughs at the Schoth’s words. She really isn’t that smart, is she?

  “She is in a room full of my brethren and a mage. What can she possibly do?” I hear her words but at a distance.

  The Magiks inside of me twitch. Something pulls me harder towards one of the couches. I step around platters of food, pieces of strewn clothing, and the bodies of shifters sitting on the ground.

  The couch is in the dark but my gaze can see its occupant clearly. A boy no more than ten lays upon it, completely nude. Bruises mar his flesh. Scars, some of them old, are all over him. Shackles tether him at the wrists to the velvet prison of the chaise.

  His green eyes lift and he looks at me. My breath catches at the emptiness in them. They’ve broken this child.

  Hesitantly, I approach him. I don’t want to scare him. I grasp the end of the chain and pull it easily from its connection. Kneeling, I carefully break the manacles on his bony, bloody wrists.

  For the first time, I deliberately seek a connection with a Dark Mark. Through layers of trauma, through layers of Light Magiks—that I tear through with menace. I find it. I find him.

  It nearly breaks my heart.

  “Knox,” I whisper, slowly he focuses those beautiful green eyes. He blinks, and the brightest hope I have ever seen lights them.

  So, he’s not completely broken. My hand shakes. I cup his cheek, using my thumb to wipe away the single tear that trickles out of his eye.

  “You came.” It’s a whisper of words, so soft. Filled with so much emotion.

  “Oh, Knox—I am so sorry it took me so long but I am here now. Are you ready to go home?” I’ve no idea where the words come from but they feel right.

  A small fragile hand lifts and covers mine. His fingers are even bruised. Oh, this poor child. I know what he’s endured. Know this is why I am here now.

  To save him.

  “Michael?” My voice is soft but he hears me.

  He is at my side in an instant. I feel a rage so profound it makes me shake. But I hold it in check. I must. It will scare the kids. That’s something I absolutely don’t want to do.

  Especially, to the delicate child in front of me.

  “It’s okay, Knox. This is my friend, and he has some lunch cakes in the car, chocolate ones—your favorite. Isn’t that cool?” Those bright mossy eyes turn back to me, and after a moment he nods.

  “Ruthie.” At the summons, she is at my side as well. “I’m going to send you outside with them, ‘cos it’s going to get really messy in here. But,” I say to Knox, “we have this cool ride outside full of buttons. You can play with them all until I get out there, okay?” I rub his cheek with my thumb again and drop my hand to grab a blanket off the floor. I wrap it around him.

  “Take him to the car. No one will bother you.” I pick him up and for a moment just hold him close to me. I kiss the top of his head and hand him to Ruthie who gives me such a sad look that it almost makes me lose my composure.

  So much suffering. I will see more suffering. I’m sure of it. As I watch Ruthie and Michael make their way outside, escorted by a darkness that keeps the shifters back, my eyes slit in anger.

  I will see more, yes, and I will make the guilty pay for it.

  “Ryan, you keep your fucking ass standing right there, in that spot.” I feel the Darkness seething out of me. Feel the temperature around me drop. Feel the monster I revel in, rising.

  I am my Father’s daughter. But this time, I am all my Mom.

  “Let’s see if those boobs are real or not, shall we?” I smile, teeth sharp. I let my glamour completely fall, let my Magiks push out as my eyes meet those of the Alpha bitch.

  Finally, I can let my rage free.

  “Oh, gods. Run!”

  But the Schoth’s warning comes too late. I am already moving.

  Fifty-Five

  Iza

  I look for sympathy inside myself, for making Ryan stand there and watch it all. There is none. For the entire fight, his wolf kept him rooted to the spot. He couldn’t even look away. The minute I killed his Alpha he became tied completely to me.

  Something his wolf recognized in the beginning.

  “There is a bus over there. Load all the kids into it and take them to this address. The wards will let you in. You have a lot to make up for and this is the first step.” I hand him the address while I tell him what I want him to do.

  “As you wish. I will get the boy and be on my way.”

  Like I said, submission looks good on him.

  “No!” Grabbing my composure, I try again. “He can stay with me. Take the money the pack had stashed, use it. And Ryan…” He turns to look at me. “If a single hair on any of their heads is harmed I will take it out of your skin, literally.” He nods again.

  Without a word of protest, he goes to do as bid.

  “He looks terrified,” Ruthie comments out the window. Good.

  When I get into the back seat of the Humvee, the weight of Knox crawling on my lap surprises me. He doesn’t seem to care about the gore covering me. So, I don’t care either. I wrap my arm around him and hold him close to my heart.

  I don’t know why I decide to keep him with me. But I’m going to.

  “You both need clothing and food,” Ruthie says after a few miles.

  Look at her playing mommy! I nod and give her a small smile. She smiles back and keeps driving.

  “I get what you said now, Dad,” I whisper, staring out at the road ahead of them. I don’t want my supposed fate but it’s leading me to things that I do want.

  Like helping Ruthie, Michael, and Knox.

  “Others will not be as easy as this watered-down lot.” His voice coming from beside me in the backseat should’ve surprised me but it doesn’t. I turn to him.

  “I know.” And I do. Things will only get harder from here. I have no idea how I’m going to do this, or if I’m strong enough to.

  “You two were close in that hell hole, weren’t you?” I know who he’s asking about. My heart rate speeds up like some doofy teen. Thinking of him always does that.

  Stupid hormones.

  “He saved me, Dad.”

  He opens his mouth to say more and then closes it, changing his mind. I decide to let it drop. I don’t really want to talk about Phobe either. Not right now.

  “I guess I’m not getting my leisurely stroll through the country?” I ask.

  Dad chuckles softly at my half-assed attempt at a joke.

  “You knew that when you started.”

  I did but I didn’t really acknowledge it until now. Fate has ahold of me, and I can’t deny it anymore. I look down at the dark hair just inches from my nose.

  Not when those like Knox are waiting for me.

  Fifty-Six

  Iza

  Knox needs clothing. There aren’t a lot of stores open at one am, but we manage to find a Wally-World. Knox waits in the car with Michael while Ruthie and I head in.

  The store is exactly like I want every store to be. Empty. Other than a guy pushing around a loud machine with a spinning flat wheel on the front and people stocking the shelves, there really isn’t anyone.

  Which suits me just fine.

  Knox is sleeping and safe, so we have a little time to shop. Ruthie and Michael both need clothes as well. And I want to get that Tablet I forgot to get at the Mall.

  Grabbing a cart, Ruthie follows me closely as we weave through the aisles. When I see something, I want or we need, it goes in the cart. Batman pajamas for Knox. I turn Ruthie loose in the young women’s clothes, and I round up a bunch for the boys, including shoes for Knox.

  I can take him another day to get a better pair. Ruthie already got his shoe size so at least I don’t have to guess that. Was funny how she did it. She held her shoe up against his foot and usi
ng a marker, drew a line where his foot ended on her sole.

  Clever.

  Socks, underwear. Michael will just have to make do with the size; I’m totally guessing. Skinny is the option I choose. I need another bra. Mine is soaked in blood, which is all tacky and gross now.

  I’m so glad I can glamour.

  With the clothes shopping out the way, I head back to electronics. I almost forgot the damn tablet again. I also got little odds and ends, more toothpaste, soap etc. Lots of toothbrushes. I’m not sure which kind Knox will like so I got one of each. Even a fancy one that spins and plays music.

  A video game system for the kids that I have to pay for in the back, along with a tablet for each kid and a laptop computer. Plus, headphones. I watch TV, I know how teens are. I don’t tease Ruthie about the box of maxi-pads she sneaks into the cart, either.

  Thanks to the science channel, I know what those are too. Shifters have menses very like humans. Right now, I’m sitting happy; I only have mine when I have a heat cycle. Once every few years.

  Grabbing some medical supplies, I feel like we’ve bought all we need to at this point. Now to pay and get out of here.

  Knox is still asleep when we get back to the car. Sleeping like he has never slept a full night. More than likely he hasn’t in a long time, poor thing. Tucking the blanket up around his chin, I slip a seatbelt around him and load our purchases quietly into the back.

  “Where are we going, Iza?” Ruthie asks from beside of me.

  “Where ever. We’ll end up in the place I don’t want to go, regardless,” I say, turning to look at her. “For now, we keep looking for…more people. The lost.” While I slowly make my way there.

  “Okay, you just tell me which direction and I’ll go.” As she spoke she put her hand on my arm, reassuring me.

  Ruthie is reassuring me.

  “First, food and a hotel. A nice one with fancy rooms, alright?” I suggest. Ruthie smiles.

  Kids are so easy to please, sometimes. I love that about them.

  Ruthie doesn’t let me down either. She finds the Gilden. Not like the one you can find on the side of most highways. Nope, she finds one of the rich people ones.

  This will be fun.

  The inside is just as posh as I expected it to be. Their potted plants are real too. I know this because I accidentally tear the branch off one of the trees as I walk past.

  In my defense, they are normally plastic.

  Looking around, I throw the branch in the elevator when it opens. Hoping the startled woman inside will forget my face until I have a room key in my hand.

  As I take the final steps up to the counter, my anxiety grows a bit. The way the clerk is eyeing me is not promising. But it does kinda piss me off. I swing my backpack around and dig out my ID and the black credit card. I have The Google God; I know what black credit cards with no logos on them mean.

  Smirking, I put them both on the counter. The counter made from real marble. This place really is fancy.

  “Can I—” The male clerk starts to greet me. Rudely. It’s all about the tone.

  “Madam, welcome to the Gilden. George that will be all.” The heavy-set man with the very nice hair steps around…George. His eyes are all for the black credit card.

  This fella has dealt with rich people who don’t look rich, before.

  “I am Harvard, how may I be of assistance this evening?” his greeting is pleasant. Not one bit of contempt bleeds through his voice or face. He’s good.

  “Hi, Harvard. I need one of your largest suites, please. For the week.” I smile as I speak. Might as well treat the kids. “And we will need room service. Steaks, rare, lots of them. Wait, just bring up 4 of everything.” Nodding as I speak he starts to check me in. Two swipes and both cards are returned to me.

  “We also have a variety of stores that carry any item you will need. If they do not, we can make arrangements for you.” His smile is genuine as he hints that I might need clothes, without sounding insulting. Now, this is service.

  Oh, Harvard where have you been my whole life?

  An idea strikes me. Snagging the fancy pen off the counter, I sign my receipt and write an address on it. “Can you please have business cards printed with this address on it? Simple ones.”

  “Of course. When do you need them completed by?”

  “As soon as possible. Also, do you have pay-per-view? The kids like movies.” I do, too, but I don’t need to admit that.

  “Yes, Miss Black. Are you by chance related to Ms. Nisha Black? You have the look of her.” The bottom of my stomach falls out at his question.

  “Yes, she was my mother.” His jaw ticks when he realizes what I’m saying without saying. The smile softens with sympathy. But Harvard is smart enough to not give me pity.

  “I will make sure your accommodations match hers. She was a welcome, frequent guest here. Would you also like to have a pool prepared in the morning? I know she liked to take early morning swims.” Harvard offers, somehow knowing I will appreciate the offer. Simply because she used to do it.

  “I’m more of a night person but we will love trying out the pool tomorrow evening. Also—” I write an amount down on the credit card slip in the tip section. Five figures. Harvard deserved it. “—This should tide you over until I check out.” The only sign of emotion was a slight widening of his eyes.

  “If you need, anything else, Miss Black, please, don’t hesitate to ask. We will be at your service.” I can hear the amusement in his voice as he hands me my room key card.

  It’s so nice to be treated decently for once. Go, go, black credit card.

  Casting a wave over my shoulder, I go outside to get the kids. A very nice valet opens the door for Ruthie and patiently waits for me to unload the heathens and our stuff. Of course, I tip him.

  A bellhop meets us at the door with a cart. Loading everything on it, he follows up with a friendly smile. Thankfully, I remembered to glamour myself and Knox.

  I’m pretty sure the dried bits of gore all over both of us might raise a few eyebrows.

  Fifty-Seven

  Iza

  Our room, holy meatballs. My mom had good taste. There are three bedrooms, at least, a large sunken living room with a large fully equipped kitchen. The bathrooms…yes, plural, tickled my inner dragon.

  “Holy shit,” Michael exclaimed, helping the bellhop unload our bags. I tipped him and shut the door behind me.

  “Right? This room is fantastic. Look at the size of the TV.” says Ruthie skipping to the living room to flop onto the sectional sofa. It’s curved and almost as large as the room. I laugh as she sinks into it with a contented sigh.

  “I’m going to get sleepyhead into a shower and some pajamas. You two, go wash up.” Ruthie groans at my instructions but gets up to do as bid. I hear her “Whoa!” in her bedroom’s bath.

  The bedroom is huge but I ignore it, focusing instead on getting Knox and myself clean. “Hey noodle, you ready to get all clean?” Knox is standing there with the blanket wrapped around him like armor.

  “I get to take a bath in that?” His voice is barely above a whisper but I have really good hearing.

  “Oh yeah. The swimming pool tub is all you, bud. Do you need any help?”

  He chews on his fingernail as he contemplates me. Nodding, he turns to look at all the soaps and such they have laying out.

  There is a big, fluffy, black robe wrapped in plastic hanging on the wall next to the stand-in shower. Hm. I pick up the phone—why there is one in the bathroom, I have no idea—and call the front desk.

  I recognize George’s voice. ‘Hello George, this is Iza Black in the Elegant Suite—” They didn’t have room numbers on this floor.

  “—what do you want?” Wow, that is not what I am expecting.

  “George, who is on the phone?” I hear Harvard, muffled, but close.

  “Miss Black, she wants us to fetch her something else ridiculous, I’m sure.” Does he not realize I can hear him?

  “You have n
o idea who she is, do you? You moron. That is the owner’s daughter!” Harvard whispers fiercely. I’m sure he thinks I can’t hear him either. “Give me the damn phone.”

  You get him, Harvard.

  And whoa, Dad own’s this place? How coincidental is that?

  “My apologies, Miss Black. George needs to go on his break. How may I be of service?” Now his voice sounds as polite as ever.

  Smiling, I watch as Knox fiddles with the facets and jets of the tub. I smile even more when he dumps the entire bottle of bubble bath in. That might make a mess.

  “I really am sorry to bother you. I was just going to ask for some robes for the kids. I need one for an eight-year-old boy and 2 teens, if possible…and, Harvard? I may have to buy a new bathroom tomorrow.”

  Harvard laughs at me, then clears his throat, getting back to Mr. Professional again. “Miss Iza Black, you can burn the entire building down, and if you wish it, I’ll lend you my lighter.”

  If Harvard was 25 years younger and a monster I’d totally do him.

  “Na, I don’t think we need to burn anything down…yet. By the way, are you the manager of the entire hotel, Harvard?”

  “No Madam. That would be Mrs.—” I cut him off I don’t care about her name.

  “Is she a bitch?”

  Harvard laughs again. This time longer.

  “Yes. If I am, to be honest.”

  “Good, you have her job now. Double the pay she makes now. You can verify it with my Dad. I’m sure he won’t say a word.”

  ‘Dad, when did you come here?’ Sensing he is either close or listening, I call out to him.

  ‘We searched every realm for you, Iza, including here. Your mother loved this place.’

  That explains why he bought it.

  ‘You are a brat for firing the manager.’ Dad’s voice echoes in my head with affection.

  Apparently, he’s been paying attention longer than I realized.

  ‘Eavesdropping is a sin, Dad.’

  ‘So is how you were made.’ I choke on my own spit.