by Grace White
“Stanton, do we have a problem?”
I sensed him in front of me and opened my eyes to meet his concerned glare. “No, sir. No problem.”
“Scouts are coming out to watch you soon, but they’ll take one look and turn around and move on to their next player if you keep playing like that.” He turned and yelled something at the guys still on the ice, and I clenched my gloved fists at my side. “Whatever it is, find a way to compartmentalize that shit and get your head in the game, son, or you’re going to be throwing away your future over some high school drama.”
“Yes, sir,” I said through gritted teeth. The guy next to me shifted away, giving me space. The tension rippling off me was palpable.
He regarded me for a second, tilting his head to the side. “Get out of here. Get your head together. Next time I see you, you’d better be thinking straight. Got it?”
I nodded and left the rink, ignoring the heavy stares from my teammates, especially Laker. If I was going to survive the season, I needed help. Sucked for me that the only person who knew how to help was the last person I wanted to talk to.
“Want a ride?” Laker pushed off his truck and made his way over to me. I’d hung around after most of the guys had left to shower and dress. It was always quiet out on the ice after practice or a game. Sometimes, I liked to watch the Zamboni resurface the rink. There was something calming about it. By the time I left, everyone had gone. Or so I thought.
He’d obviously noticed my car was missing. I hadn’t driven over; instead, I had chosen to walk. It was only a few blocks from my house, and after the strained conversation with Mom, I needed time to clear my head before practice. Not that it had worked.
“I’m good,” I said, brushing right past him.
“Kai, come on, I’ll take you straight home. Scouts honor.”
“Your honor means shit.”
“Ouch.” He laughed, rounding his truck to the driver’s side when movement caught my eye. There was nothing, but I’d seen something. Or someone.
“Thanks.” I tried to sound genuine. “But I think I’ll walk. I need to clear my head, work through some stuff.”
His eyes almost bugged out. “You’re sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
“Whatever, man. Just don’t get into trouble. I don’t want to get a call that you need me to bail you out of jail.”
“Not going to happen.” He knew me better than that.
I kept one eye on Laker’s truck as he drove out of the parking lot. As soon as the sound of rubber on tarmac faded away, I started toward the spot where I’d seen movement. “I know you’re there,” I called into the darkness. “What are you doing here?”
Silence.
I inched forward, moving further into the shadows between the rink and the delivery alley.
“You saw me?” Isaac stepped into the stream of light.
Saw wasn’t the right word for it. I hadn’t really seen anything. “Sensed, I sensed you.”
He clutched his jaw and made a low humming noise. “Does that happen often? Sensing things?”
“Only with …” My throat closed, forcing down the word.
“Miss Cattiva.”
I nodded, the tendons in my neck tensing.
“Interesting.”
“Why are you here?”
“I was hoping we could talk?”
No was the logical answer. Since he arrived in town, everything had gone to shit. But unlucky for me, Isaac was the only person who could help me, which was exactly why I found myself agreeing. I was sure I’d caught his mouth pulling into the faintest of smug smiles. Bastard. He actually enjoyed this.
“Just so we’re clear, this doesn’t mean anything. But I need to get my head back in the game.” And forget all this crap. “And you said you could help.”
“Michael,” he said, and I frowned. Michael? Who the hell was Michael?
“What is this place?” I glanced around the high-ceilinged room. It reminded me of a church; the one Mom used to take me to every Christmas. We weren’t religious by any stretch of the imagination, but she liked to attend the holiday service.
“It doesn’t matter.” Isaac paced, his arms clasped behind his back while Michael—who turned out to be a big surly guy who hadn’t said two words on the ride over—stood in the corner, arms folded over his black-clad body.
What was with all the black?
“Do I have to get one of those? Is it like standard issue or something?” It was an attempt to lighten the heavy mood, but it was lost on them both. Michael scowled disapprovingly, and Isaac let out a frustrated sigh.
“Kai, this is serious.”
“Right. My bad.” I hated how compliant I was around him, but it was like he held some kind of magical power over me. That or I had serious daddy issues, seeking his validation, even after all this time.
He stepped forward and said, “Close your eyes.”
“Excuse me?”
“Do you want my help or not?” He arched his eyebrow in challenge, and I stiffened. What the hell, it wasn’t like I had another option. Reluctantly, I tipped my head back and squeezed my eyes shut.
“Okay, now focus on my voice. Tell me what you feel.”
“Restless. Like I have all this energy to burn, but no matter how much I push, how hard I skate, it doesn’t get rid of it.”
“Good. Now picture the gi … Miss Cattiva.”
Her face filled my mind. Long blond hair framing her delicate features. God, she was beautiful.
“Tell me what you feel now.”
“I don’t know.” I resisted.
“Kai, in order for me to help, you have to work with me.”
Inhaling a deep breath, I craned my neck from side to side and focused. On her eyes, her uncertain smile, the way she looked at me through her long lashes. “I want her,” I stated with conviction.
“Is that all? Really focus. Let everything else go.”
I did as he asked, letting his voice and our weird surroundings all fade to the background until there was only Daiya.
“I want to protect her.”
“And? Focus, Kai,” he barked.
Something flickered in me, and I recognized the feeling. It had been the same when I’d seen Joel at the party.
“Kai?”
Daiya’s face started to morph in my mind’s eye. It was still her, but it wasn’t. I started to shake, hot and clammy, and my whole body vibrated. My fists clenched at my sides, the tips of my fingers pressing into my palm until it stung.
“Kai, what is it?”
“I can’t explain it, but something isn’t right.”
“That’s your hunter, son. It recognizes her demon.”
My eyes went wide, my breath ragged. That was what this was?
“I would never hurt her.”
“Are you sure?” Isaac’s gaze didn’t falter as he said the word.
She ignited something in me; I’d felt it before. I’d been too aggressive with her, but I would never hurt her. Would I?
“It’s in your blood, Kai. Just as it’s in hers.”
“You have to help me.” I didn’t ever want to hurt her. Even if I couldn’t accept our situation, Daiya would always mean the world to me. No one could take that away from me—not even my ancestry.
Isaac regarded me but didn’t speak.
“I love her, Dad.” The word felt unfamiliar on my tongue. “You have to help me. Help us. Tell me what to do, tell me how to stop feeling like this.”
He glanced over at Michael, who remained stoic and unmoving, and nodded. When his hard gaze settled back on me, I knew I had my answer. I just wasn’t sure it was the one I wanted.
DAIYA
“She’ll be back later.” Demi threw down her cell phone and joined me on the edge of the bed. “Don’t worry about her.”
She must have noticed the deep frown on my face, but she didn’t say anything else.
“It’s not safe,” I added. There was a good
chance someone had followed us to the city.
“Devlin’s a big girl; besides, she isn’t alone.”
My head snapped up. “You mean the guy at the bar?”
“Don’t look so surprised. You know what she’s like.”
“I- I didn’t think …” The words died on my lips. Who was I kidding? This was totally Devlin’s style.
“It was a bad idea to take you there.” Her hand covered mine; the one curled over the edge of the bed, gripping tight.
Hindsight was a great thing. I thought I’d be okay. I hadn’t anticipated someone hitting on me because my head was too crowded with all things Kai and the Dei Venatores.
“Has that happened before?”
I shook my head and then let out a heavy sigh. “Once.”
“What happened?”
“It was different.” I hadn’t tried to attack Joel, but I’d felt it, the resistance, the urge to make him pay. “There was a guy; he, umm, he got a little handsy.”
My sister gasped. It was quiet, but it echoed in the motel room, flooding my mind with memories I’d much rather forget. “When? Why didn’t you say something?”
“It doesn’t matter. Kai was there, and he stepped in before anything could happen.” She didn’t need to know Joel had put his hands on me. “But the guy, I felt something around him. I can’t explain it.”
“I don’t know what to say, Daiya. None of this is textbook. Mom didn’t prepare me for any of this.”
She didn’t have to tell me. Mom hadn’t prepared any of us.
“It’s the demon. It’s getting stronger, but not in the way I thought.”
“What do you mean?”
I hadn’t told anyone this yet, but I pushed down the fear. The judgment. “I thought it’d want other guys.”
“It should,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“It only wants him, Demi. It’s very territorial over him.” Another girl only had to so much as look at Kai, and I wanted to gouge her eyes out. It had happened more than once at school already. Sneaking a sideways glance, I saw Demi watching me, her mouth in a tight line, and then she said, “Ready to tell me what’s really going on?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, inhaling a shaky breath. “He knows, Demi. Kai knows.”
She didn’t respond, and I hoped it was because she wanted to give me space to explain and not because she was freaking out.
“His father, Isaac, told him everything. Okay, not everything, but enough. He said he needs time.”
“Daiya, I’m—”
“It’s okay. Our connection is real, Demi. I don’t know if the prophecy is for real or if it’s even possible, but I know what I feel.” Kai loved me, and I was almost certain I was in love with him.
“I believe you.”
Hearing those words a couple of weeks ago might have lifted some of the burden pressing down on me, but it was too late now. Too much had happened. When I needed her most, Demi had turned her back on me. I wouldn’t forget that in a hurry, but I had no room for grudges in my life right now, either.
“I tried to tell Isaac that Kai will get sick if we’re apart, but he didn’t want to hear it. I’m sure he knows more than he’s willing to reveal.”
“Kai is his son. I imagine he would do anything to protect him. He’s our enemy, Daiya. You can’t trust him. You know that, right?”
“There’s more to it.” I felt it. Isaac was still hiding things. How he knew Mom. Their relationship. The fact that it sounded like the Dei Venatores was having an internal argument over the authenticity of the prophecy.
“He knew things, Demi, but he didn’t know about Kai. It makes no sense.”
My sister remained quiet. The silence stretched between us until she said, “It’s late. We should get some sleep.”
I wasn’t sure I could sleep, not with a million thoughts running through my head, but our conversation ended, so I changed into my pajamas and brushed my teeth before getting into bed. Demi did the same, switching off the light after her. I lay there, staring up at the ceiling and tracing the patterns with my eyes.
“You really think Devlin will be okay?”
“She’s not like you and me, Day. She needs to get out.”
“Yeah.”
“She’ll be fine. Good night.”
“Good night, Demi.”
“Morning.” I smiled at Demi who was just waking up. I hadn’t slept well. Devlin had rolled in and passed out on her bed still fully clothed. “Should we wake her?” I glanced at our sister, but Demi shook her head. “No, leave her for a while.”
“I want to visit Heather.”
“Okay. Do you need us or do you want to go alone?”
“I can go alone. You’ll hang out here and wait?”
She nodded.
“Okay. I’m going to call a cab then, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Devlin will probably be out all morning. I think I saw a diner across the road. I might grab breakfast to take out.”
I hesitated. Perhaps splitting up wasn’t the best thing to do, but we couldn’t go into hiding forever. “Be safe,” I eventually said, grabbing my cell phone and dialing a cab.
Twenty minutes later, I was standing outside Heather’s door again. It felt like no matter what happened, I always ended up back here. Usually leaving with more questions than I came with.
“Heather?” I knocked again. It was unlike her to keep me waiting, her sixth sense or whatever the hell it was normally alerting her to my arrival. “Heather?” I tried again. This time, the lock rattled on the other side of the door, and a solemn-faced Heather answered.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” I rushed out.
The old lady stepped back to grant me entry. I slipped inside, a heavy feeling settling in my chest.
“I got word from old Jessie.”
“You did?” I turned around to face her. “And?”
Heather’s gaze dropped to the floor, and she shook her head softly. “She’s gone, child.”
“Gone?” I asked. “What do you mean gone?”
“They got to her.”
“They?” I barely managed to get the word out over the lump in my throat. “You mean the Dei Venatores? They killed her?”
Heather swayed on the spot, and I thought she might faint right there. I rushed over to her, steadying her with my arm, and led her to the couch. “What happened?”
“Yesterday morning, I received a package. It was a letter from Jessie with instructions to perform an incantation. If it worked, I would know she was safe. If it failed …” She smashed her lips together, fighting back the tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” My hand gripped hers tightly. “This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. I’m sorry.”
“Child.” Her voice was stern. Sure. “This is not your fault. You cannot change destiny, my dear. Old Jessie knew that just as your mother knew that.”
“My mother?”
Heather shirked out of my hold and leaned over to the coffee table beside the couch. “Here.” She handed me an envelope. “I hope this brings you the answers you seek and, with it, peace. I’ll give you some time.” The old woman whispered something—another one of her blessings—and left the living room, giving me space.
I stared at the letter in my hand. A single word—Daiya—scrawled across the envelope with a gold pen in handwriting I had never forgotten. My fingers trembled as I slipped one underneath the edge and tore it open.
Dear my sweet Daiya,
If you are reading this, I can only imagine how scared and confused you must be. But do not fear, my child, because you were born for greatness. It lives within you and grows stronger with every day that passes. It is the reason I fought so hard to protect you from the world we inhabit for so long.
We are Lilituria. But I think you always knew we were different, right from the moment you were old enough to navigate in this world. And just as I knew one day you’d Awaken, I also knew you were different.
Your compassion and kindness for others knew no bounds, and it breaks my heart to know I never witnessed the woman I always knew you would become.
I don’t know how much you have already unearthed about the prophecy or the path you are on, but know this: you are the key, my daughter. And when you find the one you’ll love, then in him, you have found the lock.
But do not expect the road to be easy – humans are fickle creatures, often guided by darkness. Greed, jealousy, self-preservation. But none are more selfish than the Dei Venatores. Their Code has been distorted through time – bent into something to serve their ends and their ends alone. You cannot trust them, Daiya. Not even the ones who claim to be your allies. I should know; I tried to give my heart to one once.
Trust your sister. Trust Jezebel and Heather. Trust your instincts. But most of all, trust that you were chosen to bring peace to our kind and restore God’s faith in men.
Love will prevail.
Yours,
Mom
I wiped at the tears running down my cheeks and onto the paper in my hands. Mom knew—she’d always known I would end up here. But so much still didn’t make sense. I didn’t know enough of our world, the Lilituria, or the Dei Venatores. I was just a girl who wanted a different path from the one she was born into. I didn’t want to be half-demon; I’d always known that, sensed it.
“Daiya?” Heather stood in the doorway, eyeing the letter in my hand. “It was from your mother?”
I nodded, and she came and sat beside me. “Did you find what you’re looking for?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. She said I can’t trust the Dei Venatores, but Kai is Dei Venatores, Heather. How am I supposed to love him if I can’t trust him?”
“I think you’re missing the point.”
I reared my head back, her words a kick to the stomach. “Excuse me?”
“Kai didn’t choose to be Dei Venatores, just as you didn’t choose to be Lilituria. I told you once; what we are doesn’t define us, it’s who we seek to be that matters.”
