Titan Elite (Demigods Duet Book 2)

by Kolleen Fraser

  “No texting me, no visiting me, but you’re okay with sending some creep to spy on me? This is ridiculous, what is going on with you?” It’s like body snatchers, sweet Silas has been replaced with this jerk in front of me.

  His hands run through his messy blond hair. “I don’t know about anything anymore. Working with my father has made me see a lot of things differently. When I told him I was coming on tour with you, he lost it. He’s against the Titans and hates Marcus, me being here is putting so much strain on everything. You don’t understand, his work is important, so much more important than this ridiculous tour.” And there it is, five minutes into our conversation and we are back to the same argument we always have.

  “If you don’t want to be here then maybe you should leave.” That came out bitchier than I had planned. I always knew his life was going in a different direction than mine. “The more time we spend apart, the harder it is to see how we ever fit together in the first place,” I admit. Silas was always the perfect son; I should have expected no less than complete loyalty to his father. “Maybe us spending time apart was the right choice, for both of us. We never really found our way back to each other after Asher returned. There has always been something blocking us from moving forward.”

  “Something or someone? Maybe it’s always been Mason,” he replies.

  “Hey, don’t blame him for our end, we managed to screw that up all on our own.”

  “Whatever, the meeting is about to start, better head down,” Silas says. I say nothing, not wanting to drag out this conversation any longer.

  ***

  Marcus and Mason are standing at the head of the table where everyone is seated, speaking to each other in hushed voices before turning toward us.

  “Alright,” Mason says clapping his hands once in front of him. “Look at this team. You guys are going to kick some serious ass,” he says with a smile. Always bringing the energy up, unlike Marcus who steps forward with a scowl, business as usual.

  “We have a few things to go over before the prep team arrives tomorrow. You all know each other, most of you have some kind of bullshit drama and resentment toward each other. That shit ends today. I will not tolerate any drama on tour, I don’t give a fuck who slept with whose boyfriend or who knocked who unconscious.”

  I smirk at Adam, who flips me off in response. Douche.

  Marcus slams something down on the table with a bang, causing me to jump. I stare at what appears to be a silver bracelet about an inch thick with a red light glowing dimly along the edge.

  “This is a power blocker. All demigods are required to wear them on the mainland. Which means all Titans are required to wear them on tour. It ensures you won’t use your powers in polite society and as a bonus it has a tracker built in so they know where you are at all times. Basically it’s a shackle to keep the so-called monsters in line. The only time it’ll be deactivated is right before you go into the arena and will be reactivated immediately after.” Strict protocols but I guess this is to be expected, the whole reason we were sent to the Academy to begin with is because of violence or behavioral problems.

  “No matter what we do, we will always be prisoners in their eyes, won’t we?” Imari states with sad eyes.

  “Yes,” Marcus states bluntly. “And you will play the part perfectly. Be exactly what they want us to be while in the public eye. But we will not be kept under their thumb completely will we Adam?”

  “Damn right, boss,” he answers with a smirk.

  “What does it have to do with him?” I ask, though I should have assumed he played some part behind the scenes, why else would a guard from the Academy be here?

  “I’m getting ahead of myself. You were all chosen for the skills you presented during scouting but most of you have no idea the powers hidden in this very room,” Marcus says with a sly smile. “Adam is our tracking and hacking expert. With Kai’s help he figured out a way to deactivate the blockers without being detected. Very important for our off hour’s activities which we will get to later.”

  “Everyone on the team has been fully trained in weapons, your individual demigod powers and hand to hand combat. Your education has been skewed towards the skills we would eventually need on this tour. I know this all sounds cryptic but the world is not as wonderful as they would like you to think and you may see things on tour that will shock you. I want you to be prepared for that.”

  A nervous shiver runs through me. What kind of things is he talking about? His speech did little to calm my nerves, if anything he succeeded in confusing me even more.

  Mason steps back up to the table. “Wow, that was chilling and enlightening,” he says, patting Marcus on the shoulder, shaking his head. “Tomorrow when the prep team arrives, be patient, they are here on orders and don’t need to deal with any of your bullshit. Let them do their job.”

  “They will attach one of these to your wrist and go through the legal procedures required in taking a demigod off the island,” Marcus says with his eyes focused on mine, reminding me that when I escaped, I’d broken all the rules. I give him a quick nod, letting him know I don’t plan on causing any problems for him.

  Conversations drift away from business and dinner is served, we chat and catch up with each other, sharing stories and keep the mood light. Tomorrow is a big day and it is hanging over all our heads.

  Dressed in shorts and a tank top I crawl into my bed. No sooner did I exhale but a knock came at my door. Having a house full of people is grating on my nerves, I liked it better when it was just the three of us, and maybe Ianna. Opening the door with a sigh my heart sinks when I see Silas standing there, looking a mess. “What are you doing here?” I ask, guessing he wants to continue our argument from earlier, I’m too tired for this nonsense. He pulls me to his chest, I stand there stiffly, wanting nothing more than to kick him out and go to bed. His presence makes me uneasy.

  “Don’t let this be the end of us before we even have a chance to begin,” He pleads. Why can’t he see that this doesn’t feel right anymore, that we’re not right for each other? Why’s he being so persistent? Mason was right, I should’ve just texted him and saved us both this drama.

  With a sigh he pulls away knowing this is a futile attempt. “Is it me?”

  “No of course not.” What am I supposed to say to him? I mean it is kind of him, but I can’t say that.

  “Seriously? Its not you it’s me?” He asks.

  “Can we please not do this now. I’m too exhausted to repeat this conversation with you. All I have time for right now is the tour. I feel like something else is going on, Marcus and Mason have been holed up in their offices most of the week.”

  This gets his attention. “What do you mean? Do you think they are planning something?”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing, maybe it’s all in my head, I can’t help but worry.” With everyone here and the tour beginning in the morning, I feel so overwhelmed. “There is so much at stake being on tour, and we both knew our lives were never going in the same direction. What we had was beautiful but it can’t survive out here in the real world.”

  “We could leave, Nyx. I could call my father and we could leave, right now. You wouldn’t be forced into this barbaric reality. What is the point of any of it? Let’s just leave all of this behind us.”

  Could I walk away from everything? “No, I would never leave the only family I have. You never wanted this but I chose to be here, you shouldn’t have to stay.”

  “You never wanted me to come here, did you?” His anger evident in his raised voice.

  “It’s not up to me, if you don’t want to go on tour, if the idea of it makes you this angry then why go through with it?” His acceptance into the Titans still puzzled me, surely Marcus didn’t accept him simply because he was my boyfriend. I couldn’t imagine Marcus doing anything like that. He will have calculated every possible angle of this tour and there is no way Silas would be here if it wasn’t advantageous to the Titans and Marcus.

  “I
came here to be with you! I can see now that I’m not wanted. Well, too bad. You are stuck with me, my father has motives for everything and has decided that keeping me on tour might work in his favor. So I will be on this tour, whether you like it or not, keeping an eye on you and your brother.”

  This shocks me and I’m in his face instantly. “You came to spy on us? What the fuck, Silas? Who are you?” Every step we take forward is followed immediately by two steps back. And now he seems to be a puppet for his father. “So that’s your job these days, a spy for your father?”

  “Fuck you! You have no idea what the world is like out there. You sat there in your little Academy bubble guarded by Marcus, you think the world is perfect out there simply because Marcus tells you it is, you are so naive. We are trying to make this world a better place.”

  “We, so your father and you are a collective now? One mind, one view. Does that mean you see me as trash, just like him?”

  The door opens without a knock and Mason strides in, his body rigid, anger emanating off his every cell. “What the fuck is going on in here? Are you okay, babe?”

  Silas throws his hands up. “Oh this is just perfect, your knight in bloody armor comes to your rescue. I see he’s much more comfortable in your bedroom than I am. I guess you haven’t changed that much have you, babe?”

  My hand reaches back to slap him but he catches it before I make contact.

  “Save the show for your fans,” he says, letting my hand drop and walks out slamming his shoulder into Mason’s on his way by.

  “What the fuck was that all about?” Mason asks.

  “Closure,” I say shaking my head, his reaction was worse than I had hoped, but maybe now it’s finally over and we can get on with our lives. “He thinks we are sleeping together.”

  “Now that I can get on board with,” he says smiling, rubbing his hands together. “You wanna snuggle before or after?”

  A laugh escapes me, I smack his chest, he’s always able to put a smile on my face. “You’re an idiot.”

  He gives me a quick hug, kissing my forehead. “Love you too, babe.”

  After kicking Mason out, I contemplate talking to Silas. I honestly don’t know what is left to say to him. Is his anger justified? I never technically cheated on him but I let my feelings for Asher pull me away from him, to doubt my feelings. Truth is he walked away from me, I never cheated. He had no right to accuse me twice on the first day we’ve seen each other in months.

  I punch at my pillow and settle in for a crappy night sleep. Wondering as I slip into slumber, when my feelings for Mason changed. I mean I have always cared for him, since that first day in my cell he was there, supporting me and annoying me. Maybe I’ve always been in love with him.

  Silas is so different, angry. I wonder what his father has done to him, to go from being light and fun to this dark and moody guy. Or am I the one responsible for that change? How can he stand by me if he sees everything I stand for as wrong? Just thinking about the whole mess makes my head spin.

  Best Behavior

  The prep team arrives bright and freaking early the next morning. The one assigned to me actually has the nerve to wake me up and immediately launch into her insistent nagging about timelines and expectations. Funny, she doesn’t seem to notice that I want to rip her head off because I haven’t had a sip of coffee yet. Good freaking morning, indeed.

  I hold up my left hand in an attempt to silence the chatty wench. “Shush… make with the coffee or fuck off.” A hot mug is placed into my outstretched hand and as I sip and cradle it like the precious elixir it is. I wave my hand motioning for her to continue talking. I don’t plan on paying much attention because… coffee.

  “I need your left hand,” she demands in a flat tone, obviously she’s as thrilled to be here as I am. Still a bit groggy I relent and do as she asks, she did have the foresight to bring me a coffee and that attention to detail should be rewarded. I hold my arm out for her inspection.

  Something cold presses against my forearm, above my wrist. Before I have a chance to ask her what she’s doing a familiar pain burns itself into my arm, I realize a moment too late, she’s just branded me. “Ow, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

  She removes the device and there on my arm is the letter T for Titans, with a circle around it. Un-fucking-believable, I have been branded against my will, again! “Bitch, I have barely had a drink of my fucking coffee and you pull this horse shit, you are lucky I don’t knock you the fuck out right now. Get out!”

  “I told you exactly what I was going to do, it isn’t my fault you weren’t paying attention,” she stammers but her indignant attitude is the last straw.

  “Get out!” I yell as flames shoot down my arm and I throw my coffee mug at the wall beside her head as she runs out the door.

  “Shit, now I need another coffee,” I grumble, falling back in bed.

  Silas peeks his head in, saying, “I see we are in fine form this morning.” With a chuckle he walks in holding a cup of coffee, a peace offering, I accept happily.

  “Yes I am, that bitch branded me, she’s lucky she’s still conscious,” I say rubbing my arm.

  Silas pulls his sleeve up and reveals his brand, saying, “Yeah, not exactly what I wanted to wake up to but I guess we are officially on the clock. Listen, about last night, I’m sorry. I’m not handling this very well. You’re right, we were always headed in this direction.”

  “It’s better this way,” I say. Finally feeling like things between us are settled. He leans down and kisses the top of my head, our silence says so much. Being pulled in opposite directions, staying together would’ve destroyed us.

  “Silas….” I can’t finish that sentence. I want to tell him I’m sorry, that I would do anything to be with him, but that would be a lie. If I loved him, I would leave all this behind and live happily ever after but that’s not going to happen.

  “I know,” he whispers against my temple. It’s time for us to stop holding on so tight to a future that will never happen for us. A single tear drops over my cheek; why does life have to be so complicated? I hate dealing with life changing decisions before coffee.

  “Let’s go, people!” Marcus’s voice booms from somewhere downstairs. Bringing me back to reality.

  “Shit, I need to get ready, see you down there.” I say, shooing him out of the room before I start rushing around the room getting dressed.

  The day drags on with us being tested and scanned like we carry parasites. The prep team is cold and clinical; they carry out their duties with as little conversation or physical contact as possible. It is clear we are not people to them. We are wild animals; untrustworthy, capable of lashing out and killing at any moment. I can see fear and intolerance in their eyes.

  It’s surreal to be treated this way. Here on the island, everyone, for the most part, has a live and let live attitude. Each going about their own existence and interacting like normal people do, but out there, I’m learning, demigods are treated like sociopaths on a day pass.

  Our transport helicopter arrives to take us to an airstrip on the mainland where our trip will begin. This is it, I’m leaving the island, legally this time. Giddy with excitement I can’t sit still. My stomach drops to my feet as the helicopter takes flight. I clench Ianna’s hand to the point of almost breaking her bones, she just laughs and gives my hand a reassuring pat.

  Marcus’s house shrinks into the landscape and I am breathless at the beauty of this island I have grown to love. The transporter dock comes into view, with its long lines of demigods trying to get a glimpse of life off the island. Most will be denied access. The vast ocean spreads out below us, it feels endless. Soon the massive stone wall of the mainland comes into view. Protecting the city from us monsters.

  Knock, knock, mother fuckers, guess who’s coming to dinner?

  The moment the helicopter flies over the top of the wall a collection of beeps fills the air. We look to each other confused.

  “Your blockers
have been activated.” Mason’s words cause a collective sigh through the cab.

  “Not gonna lie, I thought they were going to kill us the moment we crossed over,” Adam says shaking his head with a small relieved smile.

  “Idiot,” I mumble, not admitting that I thought the same thing.

  In true douche bag form he flips me off. “Suck a dick, Nyx. Oh wait, you already did,” he says grabbing his crotch.

  Silas and Mason both lunge at the same time. Marcus snaps, “Everyone sit down and shut the fuck up! We are about to land, stop acting like the fucking animals they think you are.”

  Outside the window I see our target coming into view, not far from the helicopter pad is a crowd of people roped off and being kept in check by security. Some are holding signs. With a smile I say, “We have fans.” Pointing to the group.

  Silas snorts at this, “Look closer.”

  Some of the signs they are holding up say: Go Home Freaks. Murderers Not Welcome. Demigods=Death. “Geez, that’s a little dramatic. Why does everyone hate us?”

  Marcus answers, “Not everyone, only the crazy activists.”

  Silas grumbles under his breath, “Yeah, right.” When I wait for him to explain but he shakes his head. I glimpse a grim look on Mason’s face that doesn’t instill a lot confidence. This really is a whole other world over here. I thought people loved the Titans.

  After a terrifying landing that I was sure I wouldn’t survive, security escorts us across the blacktop toward a small private jet. The inside is stunning, cream colored leather so soft to the touch. I pick a seat at random and settle in for the five-hour flight we have ahead of us.

  Silas sits down beside me once we are in the air. “Protesters are against the Titans and demigods in general. Resentful of our gifts and jealous of the power we wield in society. Some of these people have less than nothing which only fuels the hatred for all things demigods. A lot of demigods sell their gifts to the highest bidder and unfortunately, out here money can buy freedom even if you’re a murderer.”