Hidden Realms

by Unknown

  Nathan nodded. “I had two contacts that kept tabs on her for me.”

  “Who?”

  “An old psychic and a supervisor.”

  “A supervisor?”

  “Travis. He’s who led us to the compound, under the pretense that it was a safe house.”

  “He’s your mole, then.”

  Nathan nodded in agreement. “I know he was the one that set us up, but I don’t understand why. What do the Skotadi want with her? And why do the Kala want her dead?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Alec asked with a low chuckle. He glanced between Nathan and me, and seeing that the answer wasn’t as obvious as he thought, continued, “Because Kris is a Skotadi.”

  The words came so easily and confidently, it was impossible not to believe him. I nearly choked on my own saliva when I forgot to swallow. Then my mouth ran dry.

  Just as confidently, Nathan piped in. “Maybe her parents were, but she’s choosing Kala.”

  “In her case, it doesn’t matter,” Alec said. “She doesn’t get a choice.”

  I finally found my voice. “Why don’t I get a choice?”

  “Kris.” From Nathan’s tone, I knew he didn’t want me to believe what Alec was saying.

  I wasn’t sure what I believed, but I had to hear what Alec knew. “Alec?” I prodded.

  With a sly grin directed at Nathan, Alec turned to address me directly. “The earliest hybrids had blood so pure that they had no power over the pull to one side or the other. They couldn’t change what they were born in to.”

  I nodded along. Nathan had explained this to me. As hybrids became more human, the pull lessoned and they were able to choose willingly. So why couldn’t I?

  Alec continued, “You were created directly from a union of Hades’ four demigods. That makes your blood more pure than that of even the first hybrids. The demigods that created you were demons, making your blood almost pure evil.”

  My evil blood ran cold at his words. I glanced at Nathan, and wished for him to say something to refute Alec’s claim. He stared at Alec and said nothing. That wasn’t a good sign.

  I looked between the two of them. “What does that mean?”

  Alec answered me. “That you’re destined to cross over to the bad side. Like me.”

  The laugh Nathan emitted was almost sadistic.

  “Are you not listening?” Alec jeered at him. “She’s as pure as they come. She’s going to be the strongest living hybrid, and she belongs to the Skotadi.”

  Nathan still wasn’t convinced. “She had no idea what she was. I didn’t even know. How do the Skotadi know?”

  “Because they created her,” Alec said like he was tired of repeating himself.

  “Why did they create me?” I piped in.

  “The Kala were the first to create a super-hybrid in an attempt to gain enough power to finally win the war. The Skotadi found out, and created a super-hybrid of their own.” Alec paused and leveled his eyes on mine. “Me.”

  Nathan chuckled at the same time I squealed, “You?”

  Alec glared at Nathan before turning back to me. “I was the product of their first attempt.” He sounded bored with his answer. “They didn’t get the perfect blend that they were looking for, I guess, and tried again. The result was the ultimate weapon of war—you. They kept me around to be your number two, figured I could be of some use to you later as they use you to bring down the Kala and bring about a flood of evil upon the world.” He ended the most influential statement of my life with a casual shrug like it was no big deal.

  “So what about this super-hybrid of the Kala?” Nathan asked like he was merely amusing Alec, and didn’t really believe his wild stories.

  “He’s one obstacle the Skotadi are trying to overcome. For some stupid reason, he fled the protection of the Kala base a few weeks ago, and has been on the run ever since. The Skotadi are looking for him, and they almost got him a few times, but he keeps getting away. They’ll find him, though, and then there will be nothing to stop the Skotadi, nor Kris and I.”

  ‘The Skotadi are looking for him’?

  Him? The boy in white? Is that who Alec was referring to? Is that why Lillian had drilled me for his location? Because he was the Kala’s lone hope to win the war? My nemesis?

  And why would he flee the protection of the Kala if he was their great hope? Something told me it had to do with me and those dreams. Not that I could figure out what any of it meant. Not right now. There was a good chance I would throw up any minute. Only focusing on the guys’ arguing voices kept the bile down. For now.

  “Good luck convincing her to join you,” Nathan jeered.

  Alec smiled coldly. “You’re really in denial, aren’t you? She. Doesn’t. Get. A. Choice.”

  “That’s why you’re Skotadi before you’ve finished developing,” I concluded quietly. The guys stopped glaring at each other to look at me. “You can’t prevent it.”

  And neither will I. I shook my head, not wanting to believe what I was hearing, what I was thinking, what I was saying.

  Alec looked at me sympathetically. He understood like no one else could. He hadn’t chosen Skotadi. He too was being forced. That must have been what he meant when he said he was Skotadi, but insisted that he wasn’t evil. Not yet.

  Silence filled the room for several long excruciating seconds before Nathan broke it. “If they knew about her, how is it that she didn’t already know about this? If she’s so important to them, why didn’t they protect her, come for her sooner?”

  Alec had a quick answer. “You were probably the problem actually. Me, they followed. They came and got me out of a foster home when I was fourteen. They would have done the same with Kris, but they lost her when she was eleven. I’m assuming you had something to do with that.”

  Nathan met my eyes warily. Things were adding up. He knew it as well as I did.

  “How did they find her now?” Nathan asked.

  “My theory? You again. They knew you were playing around in her life.”

  “So they were watching me?” Nathan asked skeptically.

  Alec threw his hands up. “It’s just a theory, but it makes sense. They had no idea where she was for six years. They found her from all the media craze after the car accident. I’m sure you had a part in that, too.”

  Nathan and I shared another look. When he pulled me from the car, he had inadvertently led the Skotadi to me. He looked physically ill over coming to that realization.

  Alec continued, “They enrolled me in school right after.”

  “To lure me in?” I wasn’t able to keep the hurt I felt from coming through in my voice.

  Alec leaned forward in his seat, and took my hands in his. “I really messed up though, because I started to care about you,” he said. “Every day I had them buzzing in my ear, telling me what I had to do, and I couldn’t go through with it. I don’t want this for myself. I don’t want it for you.”

  I met his eyes and saw the sincerity in them. I wanted to believe him.

  He lowered his voice and I knew that what he had to say was for my ears only, but he had no choice but to say it in front of an audience. “You know the moment I decided I couldn’t do it?” He hesitated, and made me hold his gaze before he continued. “It was that moment on the playground, when I kissed you. I felt something I still can’t explain. I had to kiss you again just to make sure.”

  It had been my first real kiss. I remembered every detail of it vividly. A slow burn crept into my cheeks at the memory. Under Alec’s intense gaze, I felt open and vulnerable.

  “I was going to tell you everything.” Alec broke the connection between us, flicking his eyes at Nathan. “Then he showed up.”

  “And we barely outran a mob of Skotadi that night,” Nathan said viciously.

  “I had nothing to do with that,” Alec said, dropping my hands to address Nathan. “They must have known I was having second thoughts and sent another unit to bring her in.”

  “Or you’re just trying to get
her to trust you again,” Nathan said coolly. “Trying to redeem yourself? With a Kala army invading the compound, who would have killed Kris if they found her, you breaking us out wasn’t some hero move on your part. It’s what the Skotadi would have wanted anyway. They want her alive.”

  “Kris, yes. Not you,” Alec spat in return. “Don’t forget I saved your ass, too.”

  Nathan shrugged, unimpressed. “Again, to win Kris’s trust back.”

  I rubbed my hands over my face with a groan. There were so many angles. So many theories. So many what ifs. How would I ever know the truth? Alec blamed Nathan. Nathan blamed Alec. They both hated each other. I had romantic issues with both of them.

  “Is there anything we can do?” I asked Alec in desperation.

  “If there is, I haven’t found it yet.”

  There was a heavy silence that filled the room, smothering me. Finally, Nathan broke it, his voice thoughtful. “There’s a way to turn Kala to Skotadi,” he started slowly, forming his thought and words carefully. “If they can do that, there must be a way to turn Skotadi to Kala. Or prevent turning Skotadi in the first place.”

  I turned to Alec excitedly. “Do you know how they did it?”

  “I didn’t even know they had until you told me.”

  “Could you find out?” The hope in Nathan’s voice matched mine.

  “After I aided and abetted your escape and blew up their base? Doubtful. I’m sure I’m at the top of their Most Wanted List right next to the two of you.”

  Until then, I hadn’t considered what repercussions Alec might face for helping us. “Do you think they’ll come for you?” I asked him.

  He nodded without hesitation. “They’ll lock me up until I complete development, and then I’ll want to cooperate with them.”

  “What are you going to do?” My voice rose in concern.

  Alec looked pleased with my alarm. I thought he might have glanced in Nathan’s direction to make sure he noticed before leaning forward in his seat to create an intimate zone between the two of us.

  “I’m going to have to go on the run until I figure a way out of this,” he said. “I’d be more than happy to help you out, help you to rein in your evil impulses as they spring up on you. I’ve got experience. You’re more than welcome to go on the lam with me—”

  “Over my dead body,” Nathan cut in.

  “That can be arranged.” Alec was so quick to turn his attention from me to Nathan, I was certain he had purposefully given that speech to set Nathan off.

  Nathan was just as quick to respond. He pushed away from the wall and stood up straight. “Let’s go, pretty boy.”

  Alec returned a cold grin that made him look a little...well, evil. “You’re forgetting that I’m on my way to becoming the second strongest Skotadi alive. The only reason I didn’t kill you on that path was because you had a coated knife, which I see you don’t have anymore.” Alec pushed to a stand. “We can go again, if you don’t believe me.”

  “Nobody’s going again.” I jumped up and grabbed Alec’s arm before he could take another step. I placed myself between the two of them and pointed a finger at each. “You two are going to have to get along, whether you like it or not. What happened to the camaraderie from yesterday?”

  “That was a one-time thing,” Alec answered. “It was only for you.”

  It was clear from his expression that Nathan agreed.

  At least there was one thing other than their hatred for each other that they agreed on. They both cared about me.

  “Then continue to do it. For me.”

  That might have been the only thing I could have said that got them both to back down. Still, just in case, I kept my stance in the middle as Alec retreated to his chair and Nathan reclaimed his post against the wall. Callie looked a little disappointed at missing what would have been a hell of a fight. I knew because I had seen it once already. I didn’t need a sequel.

  I looked between the two of them. “Now, what are we going to do?”

  “We?” Nathan asked.

  I turned to face him. It was clear he didn’t include Alec into any equation he was a part of. “Yes, we. You, me, and Alec.” There was the subtle sound of a throat clearing behind me. “And Callie,” I added without removing my determined eyes from Nathan’s.

  “He’s a Skotadi, Kris.”

  “So am I.” I ignored the cold shiver that ran down my spine at those words.

  “No, you’re not,” he said with just as much bullheadedness as I expected.

  Alec started behind me, “I’m pretty sure we—”

  “Shut up, Alec.” I kept my focus on Nathan. “We’re going to need his help.” I turned to Alec and added, “If you’re willing to help.”

  “That’s why I came back for you,” he said to me. “To help you.”

  I heard a snort behind me and turned to the source. Nathan was looking at me like I was crazy. He gestured to Alec, “He’s one of them.”

  “I’m one of them,” I hissed between my teeth.

  I felt Alec and Callie glancing between Nathan and me as we stared each other down. It was obvious we had some talking to do. Callie was the first to pick up on the vibe. I heard her approach Alec behind me.

  “Wasn’t that a McDonald’s we passed last night down the street?” she asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Let’s get some breakfast to bring back.”

  There was a hesitation, and I sensed Alec’s reluctance to leave. Finally, miraculously, Callie nudged him by us. She gave me a reassuring nod as they passed.

  I had all intentions of standing my ground, putting up a fight, and staying strong. The moment the door shut, leaving Nathan and I alone, the gravity of the situation hit me, and I crumbled.

  I was going to become a Skotadi.

  CHAPTER 28

  I wanted to run, to escape the future that awaited me, but settled for bolting outside onto the back porch. It was midmorning now, yet the sun that beat down on me did nothing to lessen the chill that coursed through me, and I wrapped my arms around myself.

  Nathan followed. “Kris?”

  “This can’t be happening.” I spun to him. “Can it? Is this real?”

  With Alec gone, Nathan’s wall was down, his features soft and caring. His concern was visible, but he pushed even that to the side as he pulled me into the confines of his arms. They folded around me as if to shelter me from my own destiny. I gripped ahold of them, seeking his strength.

  He lowered his mouth to my ear. “I won’t let it happen.”

  “This might be the one thing even you can’t save me from,” I murmured against his shirt.

  He bristled like I had offended him and pushed me back to look down at me. “I’m not going to stand back and do nothing.” There was a challenge in his voice.

  “I’m not either,” I returned.

  “Then we’re in agreement.”

  “That’s about the only thing we agree on,” I muttered.

  A ghost of a smile curled his lips. “I wouldn’t go that far. We agree on some things.”

  “Not the big things.”

  Nathan’s arms dropped from their wall of protection around me. “Like Alec?”

  I nodded. Why was Alec such a sensitive issue for him? Okay, aside from the fact that Alec was supposed to be evil...because he wasn’t. Not really. Not yet.

  Alec wanted to help me. Didn’t he see that?

  “I know you don’t like him,” I started. That earned me a snort from Nathan, but I continued unfazed, “but I think I’m going to need his help.” I pulled my shoulders back and met Nathan’s eyes firmly. “I want his help.”

  I waited for a response from Nathan and, when it came, it wasn’t what I expected. In fact, it came out of nowhere. “What were you crying about earlier?”

  Talk about a change in the subject. I backed up a few steps. “What’s that have to do with anything?”

  “Just answer the question.”

  “When you tell me what the rele
vance is.”

  His nostrils flared. “Did it have anything to do with Alec?”

  “What? No.”

  Why would he think Alec had made me cry?

  “Then what was it?”

  “Why does it matter?”

  “It just does.”

  I gave him my I-can-be-a-stubborn-bullheaded-pain-in-the-ass-too face.

  “Kris, I need to know why you were crying. What were you upset about?”

  Why?

  “Kris...”

  “It was you!”

  He backed up as if I had slapped him. “Me?”

  “Yes, you idiot. You almost died, in case you forgot. I sure haven’t.”

  He looked strangely relieved, but sounded skeptical. “You were crying because of that?”

  “Am I not allowed to be upset that you almost died because of me?”

  “I didn’t—”

  “What were you thinking?” I connected a balled up fist with his chest. Then another, and another, and he let me, before grabbing my wrist after the third strike.

  His voice was softer than his grip. “Only about getting you out of there.”

  “And you would do it again.” Those were his words, spoken to me last night, which I repeated bitterly.

  “Yes.”

  “Why? Why would you do that for me?”

  He let go of me and shrugged his shoulders. “Isn’t it obvious?”

  I shook my head. I wanted to hear him say the words. I needed to know if I was right, or if I was completely wrong in thinking that I was more to him than the little girl he had guilted himself into protecting. He had kissed me, so I couldn’t be that far off base, right?

  “I care about you,” he answered.

  Though he said the words I had hoped to hear, one question still remained. Was it the little girl, or the mature young woman she had become, that he cared about?

  “You don’t have to keep protecting me, Nathan. I’m not that little girl anymore.”