Lust

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  “For the new Allure. It was twice the usual bounty reward. The Force must really want her.”

  “The Force?” I struggled to stay in control. I needed a plan. I couldn’t let him take Daisy, but I had no idea how many others were waiting outside.

  “Yes. I see you’ve heard of our esteemed body of law enforcement.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Daisy? Come out little one.”

  I held a hand behind me to keep her back. There was no reason for her to engage with this guy. I glanced around the room. I didn’t see anywhere to hide her if a fight broke out. Hopefully she’d stay low.

  “You’ve been a bad girl, and you’re leaving Violet and Hugh to pay for it all alone.” He snickered.

  Daisy made a low noise behind me.

  “You can make this easy or hard.”

  “We’re not going with you.” Daisy stepped to my side.

  “Of course you are. The question is whether you come easily, or whether you get yourself hurt in the process. Either way, you are coming with us.”

  “Us? I only see you.”

  “Oh yeah?” He smiled. “Come in, Barton.”

  Another man, dressed in a similar manner as the first one walked in carrying a small cane.

  I smiled to myself. I could take two Allures easily, with or without a cane. The trick was keeping Daisy out of the way so she didn’t get hurt. “We’re not going with you.”

  “I don’t really care whether you come. The bounty is on the girl, not you.”

  “She isn’t going anywhere without me.” I gritted my teeth.

  “Then come join the fun.” His lips twisted into an evil smile.

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Have it your way.” He gestured for Barton to turn off the light.

  As soon as the light switched off my eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Suddenly a hazy black shadow appeared in front of me. I stepped away, but then the shadowy haze appeared to multiply, until a half dozen surrounded me. I was separated from Daisy.

  I punched one, but my arm went through it as though it were a vapor. I tried to step outside of it, but I couldn’t. I was completely engulfed by the darkness. All of the black vapors coalesced together around me, creating a single form that nearly suffocated me.

  “Owen!” Daisy screamed from behind me. I turned to watch the first intruder throw her over his shoulder.

  I fought harder against the dark vapor, but I couldn’t move. I was stuck in the dark presence. The harder I fought, the more labored my breathing became until I felt suffocated.

  “Have fun with the Shadow,” He called before he walked to the door.

  “Daisy!” I screamed in vain as she was pulled from the house. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Glendale slip outside. I hoped he was really on our side and stronger than he claimed to be.

  13

  Daisy

  I struggled against the man holding me. He was an Allure, I could feel it, but he seemed even stronger as I kicked his chest as hard as I could.

  “Stop fighting me.” He pressed down on my legs so I couldn’t kick anymore.

  “No.” I punched his back. “I will not stop fighting until you let me go and bring me back to my friend.”

  “Your friend?” His voice was hoarse and low. “Something tells me he’s more than a friend.”

  “What the hell do you care?”

  “Because that’s what is causing all the problems.”

  “Last time I checked I wasn’t causing any problems. Other people were causing the problems.” I wriggled against him again, but all that got me was a tighter grip.

  “Violet and Hugh are in a heap of trouble because of you. You’ve been given a gift, quit fighting it.”

  “You’re an Allure?”

  “No kidding, cupcake.” He pulled me along across a dense forest. Wasn’t there anyone around to see? I was in trouble, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t worried about Owen.

  “That’s why you’re such a jerk.”

  “Oh yeah?” He roughly adjusted me in his arms. “Hating your own now?”

  “Not my own. I don’t want to be one.” I gritted my teeth. I was angry, and there was no one around to calm me down. Maybe that was a good thing.

  “Not wanting something doesn’t change it.”

  “It should.”

  “You sound like a spoiled brat.” He tightened his grip.

  “You’re hurting me,” I grunted.

  “No I’m not.”

  “How would you—”

  He laughed. “Can’t fool an Allure, sweetie.”

  “Could you stop with the pet names?”

  “Don’t like them?”

  “No. Not at all.” I kept him talking to keep myself sane. Silence wasn’t going to be a good thing.

  “What would you rather me call you?”

  “Nothing.” I tried again to loosen his grip. It resulted in him holding me even tighter.

  “I have to call you something. You won’t care what I call you in a few days anyway.”

  “A few days?” My chest clenched. “That’s all the time I have left?”

  “You make it sound like you’re dying.”

  “I am. Losing my ability to feel is death.” I stopped struggling. If he tightened his hold again I wouldn’t be able to breath.

  “Quit it. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

  “Why?” I ground my teeth. “I’m about to lose everything I’ve ever loved and makes me who I am.”

  “You’re going to live forever. You’re going to be one of the most powerful creatures any world has ever seen. You should feel lucky.”

  “There’s nothing lucky about my life.” That wasn’t entirely true. I was lucky to be born to a loving family and to have found Owen. Having his love was lucky, but then there was everything else. The magic, the vampires, becoming an Allure. They were the antithesis of luck.

  “Stop.” He spun me around. “It’s time for you to face the music.”

  I shook my head. It was the only resistance I could give. “I know you can’t feel, but I can. I’m going to enjoy the last days I have. Please. Let me see Owen.”

  “Why? What’s the point?”

  “I love him.”

  “And that matters? Spending more time with him will only make it harder on him. It’s been a long time since I’ve loved anyone, but I wouldn’t think that’s how you’d want to treat him. Is it?” He sounded like Violet. Maybe that’s how all Allures viewed love, but I wasn’t an Allure yet. I knew that Owen would want the time together even if it made the future harder. He’d have to move on either way.

  “So wanting to see him makes me selfish? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Just say it then? What’s your point?” I blinked, attempting to hold back tears that were threatening to spill. I refused to cry in front of this guy.

  “You need to focus on the big picture. You are in trouble. Serious trouble.”

  “I know I am. I’m losing myself.” In the end that was more important than anything the Force could do to me.

  “Stop worrying about losing your human side. It’s already gone.”

  “Just tell me. Where is he? Is he still at Violet’s house?” I hoped somewhere in this man was some shred of human understanding. Violet had it. Maybe he did too.

  “He’s being escorted back home as we speak.”

  I shook my head out of disbelief this time. Owen couldn’t leave. Not yet. “No. That’s not possible.”

  “Not possible?” He pulled me forward into his chest. “Do you really think you are in a position to argue about what’s possible?”

  “I have nothing left to lose.” I didn’t have anything left if I couldn’t stop the change, and I wasn’t going to be able to stop it on my own. I had to escape this jerk, find Mount Majest, and beg an audience with the Elders. Nothing about that would be easy, especially without someone to help.

  “Actually you hav
e plenty more to lose.”

  “Is that a threat?” I shivered. Was he talking about Owen? My family? Nothing else mattered. I was done worrying about protecting myself.

  “No, it’s reality.”

  “How much further do we have to go?” I wanted to know how much longer I had to escape. I assumed it would be easier to escape out in the woods rather than with the Force.

  “Tired already?” He sneered.

  “No, but—” I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. “If it’s far we should probably keep moving.”

  “You’re suddenly in a rush now?” He asked suspiciously. “Do you think making me paranoid is going to change anything?”

  I shook my head. “No. At least if he get to the Force I can see Violet.”

  “That’s the first logical thing you’ve said since I met you.”

  “Yeah, well.” I needed to play it cool. Whatever was out there didn’t want to be seen by my captor. I took that as a good sign.

  He turned me around in his arms and continued his march forward.

  “You never answered my question.”

  “Which one?” His hold was lighter now at least.

  “How far are we? I’m tired. There I admitted it.”

  “You’re weak. You really need to let go of that human side.”

  “It sounds like I don’t have a choice about it.”

  “You don’t. I’m only pointing out why losing it will be a good thing.”

  “Sure.” I noticed the movement again out of the corner of my eye, but I played it cool. “Could you loosen your hold?”

  “No.”

  “I won’t run away.”

  “And why would I trust you?”

  “Where else do I have to go?”

  “Back to find lover boy.” He did a high pitched impersonation of a female.

  I ignored his failed impression. “I don’t know how to get home.”

  “I’m not letting go of you until we reach the Force. I’ll be in a lot of trouble if I lose you. I’ll also be out of a lot of money.”

  “Can we at least stop for some water? I’m thirsty.”

  “Once again, you need to let go of that human side.”

  “Gotcha. No need to keep repeating yourself.”

  “There’s a river with fresh drinkable water nearby.” He turned deeper into the forest.

  “Why are you doing this job?”

  “I already told you, it’s double the usual bounty.”

  “And you are that hard up for money?”

  He laughed. “Money? I’m an Allure. You think I can’t get enough money on my own?”

  “Then what’s the bounty?”

  “You really don’t know anything yet.”

  “No, I don’t. No one tells me anything.”

  “It’s no wonder Violet hasn’t told you.”

  “Why not?” I froze. I knew I wasn’t going to like what he had to tell me.

  “I don’t want to make you angrier than I have already.”

  “Tell me.”

  “You really want to know?” He turned me so I was looking at him again.

  “Yes. I want to know.”

  “What do you think it is? What do you think an Allure would want that they can’t get themselves?”

  I thought about it. Allures could have nearly everything. Except for one thing. “Feelings.”

  “You are smart.”

  “The bounty is for feelings? They pay you with feelings?”

  “Not exactly. It’s for a glimpse of a memory with feeling.”

  “One memory? And just a glimpse?”

  He looked me straight in the eye. “After years without feeling you will understand how strong a glimpse can be.”

  “You said this was double the bounty. What does that mean?”

  “I get to choose two memories, or one twice.”

  “Which will you choose?” It didn’t matter that we were talking about turning me in to get it. I had to know. Rational or not, I wanted to understand this man.

  “One memory twice.”

  “What’s it a memory of?”

  “My parents on the day I graduated high school.”

  “Oh.” I reflected back on my own high school graduation.

  “They were proud of me. Beaming. I miss that feeling. Of knowing I made someone proud.” He sounded far off.

  I blinked back tears as I thought of how my mother had cried. It had rained halfway through, but we didn’t care we were wet. High school was over, and the rest of our life was still in front of us.

  He broke me from my thoughts. “And that’s exactly what Violet wanted from you. Maybe she wanted to take you straight to the Elders so she could get a bigger reward. Cut out the middle man of the Force.”

  I shook my head. “No. She wouldn’t use me that way.”

  “Why not? You have so much to learn.”

  “Because she wouldn’t.” I had less confidence. Why wouldn’t Violet turn me in for access to memories with emotion? It was the only thing she couldn’t get herself.

  “Keep telling yourself whatever you want. We’re getting water, and we’re moving on. I have a bounty to collect.”

  “Yes, your bounty.” I was overcome by a sadness like none I’d ever had. I was going to become one of them. A being willing to do everything for even a glimpse of emotion. What was the point of going on?

  14

  Owen

  Feeling helpless was becoming far too common for me. I was supposed to be invincible. The strongest of the strong, yet once again I found myself unable to protect the girl I loved. The darkness was relentless, but if I stayed completely still, I could get some air. Whatever this blackness was, I’d never come across it before. The first Allure had called it a Shadow, and that was a good name. It had only appeared when the light was turned off, which meant I had to find a way to get the lights turned on if I wanted to get rid of it. At least in theory. Since I couldn’t move, getting to the lamp was going to be difficult.

  Barton broke his silence. “Why did you come here? Why not stay home where it’s safe?”

  I struggled to speak, but no words came out.

  Barton sighed. “You can let him breath.”

  The smothering lessened, and I tried again to speak. It wasn’t easy, but after a few deep breaths I muttered a few words, “I came here with Daisy.”

  “Forget about Daisy. She isn’t going to care about you in a few days. I can see the change. She’ll be full Allure soon and won’t even give you the time of day.”

  “Not if I can help it,” I grunted. It hurt to speak from inside the Shadow as it continued to restrain my movements, but it felt good to at least breathe.

  “You can’t help it. There is absolutely nothing you can do.”

  “Yes, there is.” There was always a chance.

  “Why are you so full of false optimism? It’s going to get you nowhere.”

  “Why do you care?” I choked out. “Why bother to keep me here? Let me go so I can fail and prove you right.”

  “The only place you are going is back to your own realm. You don’t belong here.”

  “Yes, you’ve said that before.” I didn’t belong there. Neither did Daisy.

  “I’m waiting for back up, and then we’re out of here.”

  “Backup? If I’m so weak and helpless, can’t you do it yourself?” Taunting your captor wasn’t always a good idea, but maybe if I distracted him the Shadow would lay off. Somehow he was controlling it.

  “Of course I could.”

  “Then what are you waiting for?”

  “I’m following protocol.” Barton restlessly strode back and forth in front of the door twirling his cane.

  “I wasn’t aware Allures had protocol.”

  “We’re as organized as you are.”

  “Glad you think The Society is organized.”

  “Shut up. The time will go faster if you keep your mouth closed.” He peered out the window.

  Suddenly the door
burst open, and Violet immediately turned on the light. The tightening around me stopped abruptly, and I could breathe normally. The dark forms were gone.

  “Hello, Barton. Still playing with your toys?” Violet strode toward the startled Allure and grinned.

  I shook my arm. I could move. I took several deep breaths, trying to get myself back to normal. Violet and Barton were my best clues to finding Daisy.

  “You’re supposed to be with the Force.” Barton stepped back from the door. “I’m only in your house because Gabriel said I should.”

  “Then you can leave my house now.” She pointed to the doorway.

  “Fine, I need to deport this one anyway.”

  “He can stay. He’s in my house after all.” She shot me a warning glance, and I took it to mean I needed to stay quiet.

  “Gabriel’s orders were to take him home.”

  “And I say he stays.” She walked over and stopped mere inches from him. “Are you really going to refuse to listen to me?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I’m leaving.”

  “Good, but first tell me, where is Gabriel? I fear he has my good friend with him.”

  “He’s taking her to the Force.”

  “Thank you, you can go.” She shooed him to the door.

  “That was far too easy.” My breathing had finally returned to its normal state.

  “Getting rid of him?” She closed the door behind him.

  “Yes.”

  “I can be rather persuasive when I want to be.” She ran her hand over a few dusty books on the bookshelf.

  “We have no time to waste. They have Daisy.”

  “I understand that.” She smiled. “Didn’t you hear me asking Barton about it?”

  “Then why are you still standing here? We need to go.”

  “We will. I’m deciding on the best course of action.”

  “The best course of action is to leave and rescue her.”

  “Except that we are likely outnumbered.”

  “I can take them.” Anger and frustration pulsed through my body. I could feel adrenaline building up.

  “Like you took them just now?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not looking to destroy your masculine confidence, but you can’t take them. You don’t understand what you are up against, and you underestimated your opponent.”