Uniquely Unwelcome (The Shadow World)

by Brandy Nacole

  The Elders and Danika take the first car, with the rest of us following in the second car. I opt out of driving, preferring to keep my eyes open to scan the area for Chimeras or secret passages. Ethan and Jared seem to have the same thought, leaving Coy to drive.

  Although after Coy confesses that he has never driven before, I start reconsidering. After a few brake slams and near fender benders, he seems to get the hang of it though.

  “So what do you guys think?” Ethan asks.

  I stop myself from being the usual smartass that I am with Ethan. Remembering the good old days when we would snarl and snip at each other. Now, with the situation coming to a head, I stay serious.

  “I don’t know. Do you think we could be close?”

  “I don’t know what to think. Those creatures could have been sent to throw us off.”

  Jared pipes in. Given a chance to argue with Ethan he takes it. “That or the vamp in charge is worried we are getting too close and wanted to take us out before we discovered him.”

  Both have valid points, but with no real certainty, we have to stick to the plan. The car falls silent. Ethan’s probably stewing over Jared having a valid point, and not wanting to admit this, he shuts his mouth. Jared is probably silently basking in victory. Coy is probably too strung out from driving to say a word. The poor boy has his hand on the steering wheel so tight his knuckles are white.

  I look out over the harbor of Nuuk. Fishing boats stream up and down the calm water. A beautiful snow peaked mountain towers over Nuuk, framing it in beauty.

  We soon arrive at a little café next to the Marina. The guys wasting no time jumping out of the vehicle. They make a mad dash to the café, ready for some grub. We eat quickly so as not to waste daylight.

  Once we are done and outside, everyone splits up, sticking to the original groupings, just a location change. Danika and Eldrida are going north of town while Ethan and his group go south.

  Eldrida had offered me a ride out of town but I refused. I was ready to get into the sky as soon as possible. I walk a block down the road to a tall building I had spotted earlier. It’s tall enough that no one will see me from the ground or from any other buildings.

  A fire escape leads up to the top, but it has seen better years. Using as little body weight as possible I jump from one ring to the other until I reach the top, making sure I jump as fast as possible so I don’t put much weight on the decaying metal.

  In a matter of seconds, after I reach the top, I strip down to nothing and take flight. I’m not one who likes being naked in open places, even though I’m on top of a building where I’m well hidden.

  Once I’m in the air, the sense of freedom hits me. How easy it would be to just fly away, leaving all this hatred behind. Simple yes, going to happen no. What good would it do anyone if I turn into a coward now?

  I look over the landscape below me. Most of which is covered in snow and ice. I wonder who decided on the name Greenland. I would think more along the line of Whiteland before I thought of Greenland. Another history lesson I will have to look into one day.

  I fly far north of Nuuk, over the city of Maniitsoqu then circle over the ice back to Nuuk, not seeing anything unusual or hidden behind a glamour.

  As I’m entering back into Nuuk, the disappointment hits. Little had I realized how much I was certain to finding something, for sure that this would all end today. Now I’m coming back empty handed hoping that the others found something. It always seems to end the same.

  I land, quickly snatching up my clothes and get dressed in a matter of seconds. My poor jacket is cold and wet. Apparently I laid it near some snow that melted. I check my phone before descending down the building. Thirty missed calls from Danika. I’m not even going to lie here and say my heart beat didn’t jump a notch while my hope rocketed into space.

  After only one ring she picks up, “Where are you?”

  “Just landed a block down from the café we were at earlier. Did you find something?”

  “Nothing. You?”

  My hope slams back into me the way an asteroid might slam into the earth, a devastating collision. “Nothing. Where are you?”

  “At the café.”

  “I’ll meet you there.”

  I hang up and put the phone in my pocket. I look down the street and come to a sudden stop. I see our cars parked out front of the café surrounded by Chimeras. One of them looks into the café gesturing to the others.

  Grabbing my phone I call Danika. The phone connects as she accepts my call but before she can say hello, I rush out a warning. “Get out of the café. Go out the back.”

  “Why?” Her voice is panicked but I can hear her rising as the sound of chairs scrapping across the floor echoes in the background.

  “Chimeras.” Hanging up the phone, I dunk behind a trash can next to a clothing store. I watch as the Chimera enter the café. I hope that my warning was in time. I run down the alley next to the little café, hoping I will meet up with everyone out back. As I reach the back of the building everyone exits. I sigh in relief then gesture for them to follow me back around front, knowing we don’t have much time.

  Before emerging into the open, I peek around to make sure the coast is clear. The Chimeras are nowhere in sight, the only person walking near the café is a young man, who is quickly walking toward the door to get out of the cold. They must be inside the café looking for us. I motion for everyone to run to the cars. I quickly walk around the car, jumping in the driver seat and before the doors are closed my foot hit’s the gas.

  “What the crap? How do they know where we are all the time?” This question has been plaguing me ever since it was brought to my attention. Eldrida said Cerelia would need something personal for that kind of spell but I’m beginning to doubt that. There must be another way, a centuries-old kind of way that only the evil ones know about.

  “I don’t know. Danika wondered that herself but couldn’t come up with any viable information.” Ethan is staring out the back glass. He’s turned completely around in the passenger seat keeping an eye out behind us for any creepy crawlers that might be following.

  My phone rings making me jump. Jeez I’m jumpy.

  I look down at the caller ID, it’s Danika. “Hello?”

  “We need to find a hotel that is low on the radar. Nothing fancy. Did you see anything while you were out?”

  “I didn’t exactly place stars on possible low grid hotels to stay at. I was hoping to be raiding a secret lair tonight.”

  “Well keep your eyes open. I’ll look up some places on my phone.”

  I put my phone back in my pocket. Ethan finally turns in his seat, satisfied that we’re not being followed. Even if we were, what would he do? Stick his head out the window and bark? Now there’s something I would love to see. I could just picture Ethan hanging his head out the window, tongue flopping in the wind as he barked at stray cats passing by.

  “What did she want?”

  Popping my funny doggy bubble, I start looking around for dumpy hotels. “Danika said we need to find a low grade hotel to stay at.”

  “Why low grade?” Jared sounds irritated, probably worried about his shoes getting infested with bugs and dirt while his hair becomes a nice nest for a family of lice. Jeez he’s such a pansy.

  “We need to stay off the radar. Staying somewhere nice and popular not only puts innocents in danger but is expected. If we go somewhere off the grid our chances of Chimera run-ins will be lower.”

  “Doubtful.” Coy mumbles to himself as he looks at the map of Nuuk sitting in his lap. He had grabbed it when we left the airport. I wonder if he kept the ones from London. Maybe he could make a cute scrapbook once this was all over.

  “What’s that?” I look at him in the rearview mirror but he doesn’t look up at me.

  “It’s like you said. They always seem to know where we are. What difference does it make? Why don’t we just let them catch us already and take us to their deep dark dungeon? Then we wouldn’t have t
o search anymore.”

  Jared shrugs his shoulders like he couldn’t care either way. Ethan swivels around looking at Coy sharply. “That’s stupid. Then we wouldn’t have any plan, we would be trapped in chains or worse killed on the spot. Attacking them by surprise is the only way.”

  That’s when the debate starts. Listening to Coy and Ethan argue back and forth on the best plan of action. Jared butting in every once in a while usually to agree with Coy, which pisses Ethan off even more. Is that all these guys do, argue? I’m riding with the Witches next time.

  We zoom around all over the city, the argument finally coming to an unresolved halt as we pull into some back alley. We parallel park at the side of a building full of different retail shops. One shop sign flashes a figure of a woman in a bright neon pink. I can only guess this is the warm welcoming side of town.

  At the end of the alley is a sign that reads, “If you need a place to stay we may or may not have a bed.” There’s a way to put it. Take your chances but you may be disappointed. What happened to the vacancy signs that flash to let people know that a room is available?

  The name of the little wannabe hotel is Alleyway Bed. How nice. I feel safe and secluded already. Danika goes inside while the rest of us stand out next to the naked flashing girl. Jared keeps trying to peek through the windows that have been completely blacked out. Ugh. Guys.

  Danika emerges from the hotel carrying three keys. “They only have three rooms available.” Everyone just looks at one another, looking to see who they want to get stuck with. I was looking forward to some time alone. As much as I appreciate everyone’s help, I’m beginning to feel crowded.

  “We will take one room” Eldrida gestures to herself and the other two Elders, “then the boys can have one room and the girls another.”

  “What are we, eight? Splitting up boy/girl fashion?” I’m expecting Ethan to say this because he wants some time alone with Danika but his scowl is aimed at Jared.

  “Don’t worry about me, man. I won’t be around anyway.”

  “Why is that?” Eldrida asks all motherly. How funny. Even though he’s around a hundred years old, he’s still being patronized like a child.

  “In case no one has noticed, I’m a Vampire, predator of the night who consumes blood. This predator is starving and in need of a drink.” Jared gestures to the bar in the alley. A few girls walk in wrapped in long trench coats. Their high heels clack against the concrete. I guess their shifts are coming up. Jared watches as they go past. “That is where I’ll be.”

  “You most certainly will not.” Coy steps between Jared and the bar. He takes a defensive posture, ready to stop Jared if he tries moving pass him. I wonder if he realizes Jared could be around him and in the bar within a blink of an eye with nothing but a slight breeze left in his wake.

  “Oh, look at you pretty boy. Ready to be all night in shining armor are we? So I’m guessing you’re against Vampires now?”

  “I’ve always been against Vampires, especially after what they put my family through.”

  “Is that so? Well I’m not sure if you’ve realized it or not but you’re dating a Vampire.”

  Coy’s face falls, his skin turning a paler color. “She’s not a full Vampire. There’s still life running through her veins.” For a moment I’m honored, happy that Coy is sticking up for me. But even though I have my own life running through my veins, at the moment I also have his.

  “Okay fine. I won’t go to the bar but I’m going to need substance from somewhere. Care to donate?”

  Now Coy is starch white, his cold-kissed cheeks the only color left. Flexing his jaw a few times, he gives Jared an honest answer. “I can’t. I already donated today.”

  “Uh-huh. Well isn’t that something. Who, might I ask, did you donate to?” Jared’s reply is full of mockery. He smiles wide knowing he has us pinned. Not that my blood drinking is a big secret but there’s no need to bring Coy into the equation.

  I step forward ready to give Jared the clocking he needs when Laveda stops me. “That will be enough Jared. Go on.”

  Smiling broadly, Jared side steps Coy and walks into the bar. He’s followed by two older men with beards wearing old sailor hats. I wonder if there’s some sort of theme tonight or if that’s just their everyday wear?

  After Jared leaves, everyone agrees on the boy/girl room pairing. Nothing else is said about what aspired between Jared and Coy, nothing out loud anyway. Coy looks at me before entering the shack of a motel. It is a look that leaves me clenching at my coat. It is the same look he had gave Jared, a look of disgust yet with a mixture of pain. Then he turned and walked away from me, going in his room without a glance back.

  I’d trudge behind the others perplexed. That’s what I want right? For Coy to realize he is making a mistake with me. That would relieve me of having to break it off because of my family line issues. So why do I feel so crushed? I’m really starting to miss my solo lonely life. At least then I could make a coherent decision.

  Once in my own room, I try deciding if I would rather sleep standing up or risk catching some kind of funk from the bed.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Danika says trying to be reassuring, “it’s only for one night.”

  “Yeah but on that,” I say gesturing to the bed, “it would only take one second to catch something.”

  Danika shakes her head chuckling. I mean seriously have these people ever heard of disinfecting spray. Better yet, how about soap and water? The floors are bare concrete with enough dust, dirt, and grime on it you could consider it nasty carpeting. The beds have stains all over them from god knows what or who. The only light in the room keeps flicking on and off. Think of the most disgusting, most grotesque room in the world that you would never stay at and then imagine worse.

  Taking in a deep breath, that gags me, I try remembering it’s only one night, like Danika said. It’s only one night of completely nasty germs covering my body. No, no, no. One night of shelter then back to work tomorrow. I can do this.

  Yet even after the pep talk I’m still standing in the middle of the room holding my two bags, refusing to put them down.

  “Come on Racquel, you need some rest. Here,” Danika hands me some Lysol wipes, “just wipe everything down. I’m going down to talk with the Elders. I’ll be back soon.”

  I set my bag down on the dresser, hoping it doesn’t get infested with cockroaches. I go to the bathroom, wiping the sink down, before washing my face. I walk out of the bathroom and look at the bed. I’ve slept in some rough places but this was a little much.

  Deciding I would rather sleep on newspaper, I grab my key to go find some. When I open my door, Coy’s standing there with his arm in mid-air. “Hey.” I feel a bit awkward now thanks to Jared, not to mention the plane incident. From the looks of it so does Coy.

  “Hey. I was just coming to see if your room is as gross as ours.” I’m not buying this little ploy. After Jared’s little stunt earlier, the way Coy just stood there pale and unmoving, I’m sure he’s really here to talk about it. Unfortunately I have no interest in talking about it.

  “It’s disgusting. I was actually headed out to get some newspapers.”

  Coy scrunches up his face giving me an odd look. “Newspaper?”

  “I’m going to use the newspaper to lay on. These beds are disgusting.”

  Coy chuckles a little, he turns up one corner of his mouth giving me a sweet smile. “So practical.”

  “Hey it’s better than needles and an IV constantly being stuck in my arm while they try to get rid of whatever weird funky disease I would most likely catch.”

  Coy just shakes his head like Danika did. “Well that’s true. I’ll just go with you then. I wouldn’t want those Chimera things grabbing you.”

  “Ah, so gallant of you, my very own knight in shining armor.”

  He shrugs his shoulders, placing his hands in his pocket acting shy. It’s cute. “I don’t know about that but I’m a good distraction.”

  As I�
��m about to say okay, an idea hits me. Maybe walking the streets alone is exactly what I need to do. “Actually I was hoping to catch a minute alone. I’ve been feeling really crowded. I just need a minute to think.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Those Chimeras were all over us today. Why don’t I just go with you? I wanted to talk to you anyway.”

  “Listen Coy, I know what Jared said today has you shaken up. He shouldn’t have said what he said but we both know it’s true. I understand you want to talk about it but not now, okay? I have too much on my mind to delve into that conversation right now. But we will talk I promise. Right now I just want to go get some newspaper, alone, then come back, get some rest, and look for my sister tomorrow.” I try saying it nicely but it doesn’t keep the disappointed look off his face.

  “Okay. Well be careful and keep your eyes open for the Chimera.”

  Little does he know that’s exactly what I plan on doing.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Those stinking Chimera! When you don’t want them to find you, do they? Why crap yes. But when you want them to find you, do they? Why, crap no.

  When I left our little bacterial hole, I strolled through the streets of Nuuk, hoping to find at least one. Then I took to the sky, flying over the city searching and searching. After a few hours, I called it quits.

  Even though I’ve only been gone for a few hours, I bet Coy and Danika are freaking out, fearing that I got caught. Little did they know that was my plan that failed miserably. If Coy had known my true intentions all along, he would have never let me go.

  Now I’m walking back to the dungeon of germs, ready to receive the lecture. I was hoping that when I was headed back to the hotel it would be to tell everyone I had found them. We would be gearing up, my insignificant moment of insanity forgotten.

  As I round the corner of the building my luck changes. There at the entrance of the alleyway to my hotel, stand five Chimeras. Each one of them is nasty in their own way. One is sniffing the air with a long wolf snout, the frog legs and fairy wings giving him a not so appealing look.