by Jaymin Eve
Now, normally that phrasing would annoy me. Boys used it back home all the time, in an overtly discriminatory way. Like women who were strong and sure and confident were automatically “trouble.” When, in reality, strong women were too much for those boys to handle.
But Chase didn’t say it like that. He said it in a way that made me think that he knew I was going to disrupt his life, his emotions, the calm aura he possessed. I was going to shake up his peaceful existence, and that wasn’t something he knew how to handle. But there was no indication that he wanted me to be anything less than what I was.
“Let’s just deal with it one day at a time,” I suggested. “We have some real life and death stuff going on. Not the best time to try and unravel whatever connection exists between the four secret keepers and the four overlords of the houses.”
He shot me a half smile. “They told you about that?”
I shook my head. “Not in so many words, but I could deduce it from Emma and Lexen, and Callie and Daniel. Kind of made sense, especially with the … pull … I feel whenever you’re around.”
“Both couples had an immediate bond,” Chase confirmed for me. “But when the others described it to me, I think it sounded less intense than ours. At least at the start. It grew stronger the longer they were together. Ours—”
“Is really hard to ignore,” I finished for him.
He nodded. “Right from the first moment.”
This. Was. Insane. But I needed to follow my advice – take it one day at a time.
At some point, Chase remembered the tree thing and started to walk again, only stopping long enough for me to pull my shoes on. He led me through a clearing and into a section of densely-packed trees. When we were surrounded by dark tree trunks, the cabin still visible in the distance, he stopped. “I’m going to need you to trust me,” he said, releasing my hand.
Forcing myself not to mourn the loss of contact, I folded my arms across my chest, tucking my hands in under my armpits. “Think it might be a little early to throw the t-word around, especially considering you’re not…”
I trailed off, wondering if I was about to make some sort of rude, derogatory statement.
“Human…” he said. “You’re right, I’m not human, but our species are fairly compatible.”
“I see that,” I murmured.
Secret keeper one and two were making that very obvious.
“Am I completely human?” It was insane that I felt comfortable enough to ask Chase that when I hadn’t been able to bring it up to my parents. “I mean, being born in your waters and on Overworld…”
Shadows washed over his face, only a few rays of light able to penetrate the canopy here. The trees were particularly dense in the part he’d taken me to.
“You’re mostly human,” he told me. “You have human DNA, but you’re right, being born in the legreto of House of Leights, you inherited some of the energy of my land. The energy of the Galinta.”
“What’s a Galinta?” I asked, not sure if I was ready for the answer.
It’s better to know. It had to be better to know.
“The Galinta are an ancient species of tree gods. They fill my house, making it very limited on any open land. They’re sentient, and if they want, mobile. It’s the power from them which allows me to merge into another form at times.”
Tree gods? Merging into another form? Was he serious? “So … Lexen is a weredragon, and you’re a weretree?”
I mean … why not, right?
Chase’s eyes were laughing at me, even though his lips didn’t smile. “I assume you’re speaking of your werewolf lore, and if that is the case, then you’re on the right track.”
This was too much. I waited for the freak-out to hit me again, the need to run, but … it never came. I remained there, in the dark, with Chase.
“So, if I carry some of this energy from the Galinta, does that mean I will change into a tree?”
What would that even look like? All I could picture were those old Halloween costumes with the tree trunk you pulled down over your body, arms stuck out through holes in the side, legs through holes in the bottom, face through a cutout section of the trunk.
I almost laughed out loud at the mental image.
“You won’t turn into a tree.” Chase brought my attention back to him. “But you will have some advancements on regular humans. You’ll have the same longevity as Daelighters. You can be killed by normal means – you’re not resistant to bullets or anything. But if you don’t suffer a life-ending injury or get one of the few diseases that can hurt us, you will live for many years longer than humans.”
What. The. Frack?
Was he for real? “That’s terrible!” I almost shouted. ‘I’m going to outlive all of my friends and family. I didn’t sign up for that!”
Chase’s hand came down onto my arm, and again he soothed the crazed emotions inside of me. “I understand. But you should know that there are certain foods from our world you can give to your family to lengthen their lives considerably – increase their good health.”
His eyes bored into mine, and in those green-glass depths I found my calm again.
“If there have been secret keepers for over a hundred years, and we don’t die, what happened to the ones before us? Or the ones before them.”
I had so many questions. It felt like the moment I learned one thing, it only opened the door for a million more thoughts.
“There was only one set of keepers before you,” Chase told me. “One of them – Callie’s father, actually – was killed in an accident. The moment the line of four is broken, another four have to be brought in.”
Right, made sense. Because one of us led to the next one. “Poor Callie,” I said, my eyes drifting toward the porch, even though she was no longer there. “She said her mom was a horrible person, and her dad died.”
Chase nodded. “Both secret keepers had it rough, in different ways. Emma’s parents were killed by Laous in a fire.”
Sounded like I’d been lucky to have the life I did. My parents were getting a huge hug when I went back inside. “I’m glad they’ve finally found happiness,” I told him. Now we just had to make sure Laous didn’t screw it all up for everyone.
Turning back to look into the forest, I asked: “What did you want to show me? The thing I need to trust you for?”
He reached forward and put his hand on a nearby tree trunk. “Touch it,” he said, inclining his head toward the rough bark.
I took a moment to observe the spot I was about to drop my hand. You know, just in case there was a spider, or ant, or thorny plant. Nature might be beautiful, but it was also deadly as hell. Just ask that girl who died last month from a parasite going into her brain after she ate some tropical fruit. The story had been all over the news. For a while there, I gave up fruit completely.
“You need to relax your mind.” Chase’s voice interrupted my thoughts, and with real effort, I managed to focus on the feel of the roughness under my hand. “Let nature take away the human stresses and allow you a sense of peace.”
It should have been an impossible task. My mind had never been this full and confused in my life, but somehow, with his last instruction, I felt the tension drain from me. Tingles ran under my hand, tickling the palm, sending all the hairs on my arms up to attention. A part of me wanted to immediately wrench my hand away, because this was bordering on the weird again, but the stronger part was determined to learn everything I could. I needed to be prepared. Laous could have shown up on my doorstep a week ago and I would’ve had no idea what I was up against. That was not okay.
“Can you feel the energy?” Chase’s smooth voice sent more goosebumps across my skin. “To me it feels familiar, but also ancient and beyond my understanding.”
He nailed the description perfectly. I sensed, in a small sliver, the true enormity of nature. It had been here long before humans and would be here long after we’d all but destroyed this world. It had seen the rise and fall of every civi
lization, and it was still standing.
I felt completely insignificant. Like a speck of nothing.
“It’s incredible,” I breathed, unable to stop the tears from springing to my eyes. I’d never seen this beauty, and it had always been around me. How had I been so blind? I’d missed so much.
A warm weight pressed against my cheek, but I didn’t open my eyes. I just let Chase rub his thumb across the planes of my face, dispelling the tears there, while I continued to feel everything.
“The trees on Earth are not like the Galinta,” he said, voice low. “They long ago lost the ability to move and speak with words, but they can still communicate. They send messages to each other all day long. It’s Earth’s very own version of a network. And it’s essential to the survival of your world.”
“The same way your network is essential to your world?” I breathed.
“Yes…”
While I continued to explore this new connection with the world, he told me as much as he could about our two worlds. The reason for the treaty, how Overworld needed a permanent transporter, and how Earth had been having a lot of very serious weather activities, which calmed down once the stone was buried somewhere near the equator.
“Will I see this transporter?” I asked, finally opening my eyes.
The tears were long gone, and I felt at peace. “Yes,” he confirmed. “It’s how we’ll all get back to Overworld when we move on from here.”
We walked back to the cabin. I personally wanted to stay with the trees, feel that epic vastness a little longer, but people were going to notice us missing soon and start to worry. Each step away from the forest tugged at my heart, and I imagined not having to leave, being able to sleep amongst the gentle giants of the forest.
I never thought I’d want that … but it was the truth. I was starting to see the trees in an entirely new light, and I definitely had Chase to thank for that.
9
My father was pacing near the doorway, and the moment I stepped inside he wrapped his arms around me. “What part of stay near the house did you misunderstand?” he said as he pulled away. He didn’t sound angry, more like a combination of joking and upset.
“Sorry.” I screwed my nose up as I shrugged. “Chase was trying to explain his tree thing to me, and we sort of needed to be among the trees for that to happen.”
He didn’t get a chance to reply, because I had a bone to pick with him. “When were you planning on telling me that I’m going to live for like a million years?” I was going to guess this was what that exchange of looks between my father and Chase had been in the car, after the overlord told us of Daelighters’ longevity.
The conversation that had been going on in the background stopped, and then Brad was at my side in half a second, his long legs eating up the space between us.
“What did you just say?” he asked, somewhat breathlessly. His brown hair was even messier than usual, like he’d been running his hands through it a lot. I wondered if he’d been worried when I was outside.
“I - I…” I trailed off, not sure how to tell him that the plans we made as five year olds of being best friends for a thousand years might become an actual reality.
“The secret keepers receive energy from the houses they’re born in,” Emma piped up. She was on the single-seater couch, Callie squished in beside her. “Which means we’ll live much longer than humans. Maybe even as long as the aliens in this room.”
Lexen snorted but didn’t comment. He just leveled a wolfish – dragonish? – sort of smile on Emma.
Brad’s face went very solemn. “But … Maya can’t live forever if I don’t. We made a pact when we were five.” I wanted to laugh because we’d read each other’s minds. Again.
Swallowing hard, I reached out and took his hands. “Chase says there are some special foods you can eat that will also extend your life.”
“None of us know for sure how long the humans will live,” Chase added, “but the previous secret keepers look no older than you all. And they’re well over a hundred years.”
Callie made a face from her spot on the couch. “I just can’t believe my dad was sooo old. In the photos he looks twenty, at the most. It’s hard to wrap my head around it. I wonder if he had kids and a life before he met Mom. I have so many unanswered questions.”
Emma’s eyes widened as she turned to her friend. “Oh my God, I never even thought of that. It’s like Wonder Woman. Having to keep creating new identities to cover up the fact they don’t age.”
“That’s what our government does,” my dad said. “We facilitate Daelighters integrating into our community. We help with identifying documents and the like.”
After eighteen years of secrets, I finally understood their jobs. And they were so much cooler than I could have ever imagined. The theme song to Men in Black ran through my mind, and despite the fact that I had a target on my head, I still – mostly – loved this new reality.
“So … this food?” Brad was single-minded when he wanted to be.
“We’ll get you all started when we travel across to Overworld,” Lexen told him. “Emma’s guardians have been taking it with no issue, and they’re already seeing some cell repair and rejuvenation.”
Emma laughed. “You should see how excited Sara and Michael are. The grays are disappearing from their hair.”
“Hard to believe that only forty-eight hours ago I believed humans were the top of the food chain.” Brad shook his head. “Should have known … those Roswell shows were very convincing.”
Star, who had been quiet up until now, rose gracefully, crossing to us. She moved in close enough to nudge Brad, and he winked at her. Okay, then. Those two must have gotten to know each other while I was outside. Typical, he never could resist a pretty – stunningly pretty – face.
“Roswell and Area 51 is all smoke and mirrors,” Star added. “We like to throw out some distractions so that you’re all looking for little green men. That way, no one looks right under their nose.”
“No one questions the weird and wonderful that exists right around them,” my father confirmed.
I certainly never had. So, whatever they were doing worked.
Conversation died off then; everyone dispersed, back to what they’d been doing before we arrived. I was shown to a room with two twin beds. I would share with Brad because there weren’t enough rooms to go around.
“Are you comfortable with this?” Chase asked, filling the doorway.
Brad raised an eyebrow at me but didn’t comment. He wasn’t one of those men who had to throw their dominance around all the time.
I smiled. Chase hadn’t asked in a rude way. “Yep, it’s no worries. Brad and I have been best friends since we were little.”
My mom, who had just stepped out of the room next door, was now visible under Chase’s arm. “They’ve had hundreds of sleepovers through the years,” she confirmed. “We trust Brad.”
I pouted. “You don’t trust me?”
My mom just shook her head at me, that gentle smile tilting up her lips. “You, my little one, definitely need to be watched.”
She had a point.
Chase still didn’t look particularly happy, but he didn’t say anything except, “There are some clothing and bathroom essentials in there.” He pointed at the chesterfield closet. “We didn’t know what you would have or need, but if you’re missing anything, just let someone know and we’ll get it for you.”
Before I could even say thank you, he was gone. My mom took his place in the doorway, looking even tinier after Chase’s large frame had taken up so much space. “It’s only temporary.” She wrung her hands, as she did when she was stressed. “I really am sorry you had to be thrown in like this.” She shook her head with a rueful smile. “Would you believe I never knew a thing until I married Sam. They’re forbidden from telling anyone, bar immediate family.”
“Bet that came as a nice wedding surprise,” I guessed, chuckling.
She let out a low laugh as well
. “Yes, it was very difficult for me to understand. At first. But then I grew to love the Daelighters, their unique energy. The way they bring another element to our world. They truly add to it, rather than taking away.”
“You’ve always had such a beautiful way of looking at the world, Konami,” Brad said. He’d always called my parents by their first names. I did the same with his. “I’m really, definitely, a hundred percent this time going to try meditation one of these days.”
She just smiled, knowing that Brad and I could not seem to stop long enough to even breathe deeply, no matter how many times she told us we needed to center ourselves.
Crossing to one of the beds, I sank down, completely exhausted. “Shower and then sleep,” my mom told me. “I’ll wake you if anything happens.”
Her suggestion sounded like absolute bliss. I dragged my butt back up and walked to the closet. It was an antique, two-door monstrosity. Heavy wood frame, intricate filigree detailing, and so much excessive stuff going on. I was not a fan of antiques. Give me modern, sleek, and Hamptons any day.
There were two piles of clothes on a shelf inside, plus half a dozen shirts hanging up. One side was clearly for Brad – it was close to his pretty boy, Abercrombie style. The other was definitely more me. There was some brand-new underwear. Short denim skirts, high-waisted black shorts, a few cropped shirts, and some tanks.
Perfect.
I grabbed some underwear, what looked like a set of sleep shorts, and a matching tank. A bag of toiletries, which actually contained some makeup and everything, was on another shelf. Brad had one too, with a shaving kit and deodorant.
“They are thorough,” I said as I emerged with my hands full. “Remind me to thank them.”
Brad stepped in after me, going through his haul.
Moving out of the room, I leaned down and kissed my mom’s cheek, and then entered the large bathroom across the hall. This was the one we would share with my parents, which was a pain, but at least everyone else had their own bathrooms. It could be worse.
