by Dannika Dark
I dropped my bag on one of the tables and collapsed onto the seat.
Viktor handed Christian a note. After reading it, Christian disappeared down the hall, and I heard a door shut.
Shepherd inspected every nook and cranny with the meticulousness of a police detective. He looked behind the curtains and jiggled the lamps to make sure they were attached. After removing her cloak, Blue unzipped her tall boots and crawled onto the sofa across from me. We both watched Niko walk the car and memorize everything about it.
“Anyone thirsty?” Claude asked from the bar. “There’s a fridge under here stocked with cold drinks.”
“Me!” an unfamiliar voice called out.
All of us turned to look when our passengers drew back their hoods and revealed themselves.
I blinked in surprise. They were just teenagers. The two Latinos were a boy and a girl. Despite the height difference, they looked like twins. Same dark brown eyes, same broad mouth—though hers had pink lipstick—and even the same ears that stuck out a little. The only real difference was that he had a very short buzz cut and her hair was past the shoulders and parted on the side. By the looks of his pudgy face, I suspected the boy was overdue for another growth spurt. The other girl had milky-white skin and thick, beautiful hair. The golden-blond tendrils barely reached her shoulders and somehow made her heart-shaped face seem even smaller. She must have been our sneezer.
The train began moving, and the station slid out of view.
Shepherd tapped one of the sconces that ran along the panel above the windows. “How do you turn these on?”
“Did you try the switch?” the boy asked facetiously.
Blue smirked at Shepherd as he grumbled and stalked toward the bar.
The blonde unzipped her black jacket and tossed it onto a chair. She fluffed her wavy hair, which held a natural frizz. Her clothes were slightly too big for her, but that might have been the style. Her finger looped around the thin gold chain on her neck while she explored the room. I couldn’t help but notice the dismal look in her eyes, one I was all too familiar with. Our surroundings should have warranted some enthusiasm and curiosity from a kid her age, but she looked upon everything as if it didn’t matter.
She sneezed, kicking her foot out comically when she bent over.
Viktor removed his coat and draped it across his bag. “We’ll wait for Christian.”
Claude walked up with an armload of bottled drinks. The boy grabbed an orange soda, and the girl took a grape. They both sat together in an oversized seat to Blue’s left.
Claude drifted toward the blonde and bowed his head. “I won’t harm you, female.”
I didn’t need his keen nose to see that she was afraid of him. She refused to look up and kept staring at his brown shoes.
Claude examined his inventory and offered her a bottle. “I bet you like root beer.”
“I just want water,” she replied softly, her accent surprisingly Southern. It was so heavy that I had no trouble imagining she’d grown up in the backwoods of Tennessee.
“Are you sure? Whatever you want is yours.”
The pixie-like girl took one of the bottles and escaped to my table and sat across from me. She set her drink on the table and took out a tissue to blow her nose. “I have a stupid cold. Usually it’s allergies, but I’m pretty sure this one’s a cold because my throat kinda hurts.” After she blew her nose, she wadded up the tissue and left it on the table. “I have a sensitive nose.”
I tapped my finger on the table, eager to ask all kinds of questions. Like who the hell were these kids, and why were we transporting what I could only assume were Relics?
Christian finally returned, his sunglasses still shielding his eyes.
“You can take those off now,” Claude said, offering him a bottle of water.
“Unless you want to close the drapes, I’ll be leaving them on.” He strode up to Viktor and lowered his voice. “I checked every car. It’s all clear. No Vampires.”
Viktor nodded. “My contact assured me that no tickets were sold to Breed for this trip, but you can never be too sure. A Mage or Chitah we can deal with, but not a Vampire with prying ears. This train was not soundproofed.”
Blue peeled off her socks and rubbed her foot. “Are you going to tell us what’s going on?”
Viktor pivoted and held the posture of a general. “Our assignment is to protect these children with our lives and transport them to a new location.”
Blue looked at the boy to her left. “¿Cómo se llama?”
The boy screwed the top back on his drink. “I don’t speak Spanish. Do you speak Indian?”
She frowned. “No.”
“There you go.”
Blue stood up. “I don’t speak Indian because I’m not from India. And technically speaking, that would be Hindi or another language. I’m Native American, so make sure to get your geography right before opening your mouth. It’s respectful to speak to new friends in their mother tongue, and I wanted you to feel welcomed.”
The girl poked him in the stomach, and he winced. “We’re originally from Mexico,” she explained, “but they brought us here when we were babies. We’re as American as you.”
“I doubt that. Even they aren’t as American as me,” she said, gesturing to the rest of us.
“Well, you know what I mean.”
Blue didn’t take shit from anyone, including smart-mouthed teenagers.
Viktor accepted a bottle of water from Claude and guzzled it before setting it down. “This is a high-risk job, and that is why every step of our trip has been carefully orchestrated. These three young people are Potentials. Do you all understand the meaning?”
A bottle slipped from Claude’s arm and struck the floor, and he looked dumbfounded. “Are you serious? I’ve only heard of their existence among ancients, but that was from the drunkards at the bar who reminisce too much.”
The girl across from me sipped her water and then wiped her wet hands across her beige shirt, an anime cat printed on the front.
Viktor groomed his beard with one hand. “For most, Potentials are a myth. They are an arcane Breed in which few believe. Potentials who have chosen to live as Breed do so quietly, and we have taken care to keep their existence a secret.”
“So what makes them special?” I asked.
“They are humans who have the potential to become any Breed they so desire. Once they choose, they will stay that way for as long as they live. If they do not choose, they will live and die as a human. For years, secret organizations have sought to locate these children and protect them. Some doctors are able to identify them in hospitals, but we do not have insiders at every location. They are easier to find in orphanages, and some are discovered later in life. Children and young adults are prime targets. It is unlikely that nefarious men would find any interest in a married man with a family.”
Blue put her hands on her hips, and the boy’s eyes skated down to her tomahawk. “Why would our kind be interested in someone who can choose their fate?”
“Because the choice can be taken away.” Viktor looked between the kids. “Apologies for any crude language, but you must have heard all this before.” He sat down on the sofa where Blue had previously been sitting, the scenery blurring behind him. “For centuries, there have been those who’ve hunted Potentials. Some were killed, but others coveted them. Humans are so much easier to manipulate and control than someone born as a Chitah or a Shifter. Those who are born Breed have innate qualities of strength and defiance. Humans are malleable. A Vampire can make their own progeny, so they have little interest in Potentials. But not every Mage is a Creator.”
Claude frowned. “But most other Breeds can mate and have their own children.”
“They do not want these children to raise; they want them for other purposes. Mates, perhaps even slaves.”
Spotted patterns rippled across Claude’s arms and neck, and a growl settled in his throat as he dipped his chin. Blue nudged him, probably so he wou
ldn’t scare the kids.
“There are those who believe Potentials become the purest Breed,” Viktor continued. “Because they have human blood, it is a clean slate. No mixture of different Shifter animals in their lineage, no inherited defects. But it does not matter what they believe. It only matters that we protect the children.”
“Stop calling me a child,” the boy snapped. “I’m sixteen.”
Ignoring him, we all took a moment to digest the new information. Christian didn’t appear surprised to learn about Potentials, and neither did Shepherd.
“How do they choose?” I asked.
Viktor loosened the collar of his turtleneck. “A Potential becomes Breed with the first person they have intercourse with, even if they have been with humans.”
The boy’s face turned beet red.
“Cool necklace,” the blonde said, eyeing my ruby with interest.
I tucked it beneath my sweatshirt. “Thanks. So what are your names?”
“I’m Carol. It’s an old-fashioned name, but the people at the orphanage named me, so that’s what I got stuck with. Carol. Probably someone’s great aunt.”
“I think it’s a lovely name,” Blue said.
Carol shrugged. “It means champion, but I don’t feel like one. I just do what everyone tells me so I don’t become somebody’s love slave.”
The hair on my arms stood up when Claude snarled and backed up.
Carol slinked down in her seat, her eyes fearful.
“He won’t harm you,” Viktor assured them. “Claude is very protective, and if he does not go into the bedroom and calm himself, you will see just how protective he can be.”
Taking the hint, Claude separated himself from the group. I wondered if anyone brought tranquilizers.
“I’m Eve,” the other girl chimed in. “And this is my brother, Adam.”
“Whoever gave us our names is an idiot,” Adam said. “She’s my twin, and that’s just gross.”
“Hey, don’t call me gross!” She shoved him, but he didn’t shove her back. Adam took it and rolled his eyes. Despite their bickering, I sensed a bond between them. They had each other, whereas Carol had no one.
“How old are you?” Blue asked Carol.
“Fourteen. I’ll be fifteen next month. Does anyone have any gum?”
No one moved, but then Christian reached in his pocket and handed her a pack.
“Thanks.” She peeled off the top. “I prefer bubble gum, but whatever.”
Blue sat to Viktor’s right and rested her arms on the divider as she looked at Adam. “Why did they bring you all the way up here from Mexico?”
“Our mom died after we were born. They never told us how or why. Someone down there must have seen our marks and reported us. I guess they didn’t have any secret hiding places, so they moved us up to Jersey, then Nashville, then here. They don’t like to keep us in one place for too long.”
“Why not?”
“I guess they think we’ll get bored and run. But they don’t have workers looking after us. They barely have anyone guarding the building. We could have run away if we wanted.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No way,” Eve replied, drawing her legs up and wrapping her arms around them. “I don’t want to go out there. Not if bad people are looking for us.”
I scooted toward the aisle to snag Viktor’s attention. “What happens when they turn eighteen? They can’t live in hiding forever, can they?”
“They release them,” he said matter-of-factly. “We have intelligence working in pediatrics and orphanages in hopes of identifying Potentials. Orphans are vulnerable because they are passed around to foster homes. There is more chance that they will be discovered.”
“How would anyone know what they are?”
“Because of this.” Adam pulled his shirtsleeve up and revealed what looked like a small tattoo on his bicep. “We’re all born with the same mark. Not in the same spot though.”
I shot out of my seat to look at it, just as everyone else did. The mark looked like a spade in a deck of cards, the edges well defined. It resembled a tattoo more than it did a birthmark.
Eve gaped at me. “Your eyes are so cool! Adam, look. That one is so blue, like one of those sled dogs. Are you some kind of mutant?”
Christian sputtered out a laugh. “Aye, lass. They call her the Shadow.”
Eve tried to dissect his remark, but Christian had perfect deadpan delivery. “What does that mean?”
“It means she’ll eat your soul.”
I shook my head. “Ignore him. I was born with these eyes, so it’s nothing special. I’m just an ordinary Mage.”
“Really? Can you show me?”
I jerked my head back. “You’ve never seen a Mage?”
“We’ve never seen anyone,” Adam complained. “All the workers were Relics, and they can’t do anything special.”
Shepherd’s jaw set. “Yeah. Nothing special about knowledge.”
Adam shifted in his seat. “You know what I mean. They can’t do anything cool, like shoot lightning from their fingers or climb walls.”
Viktor stood up. “This is your first time seeing Breed?” He clapped his hands together. “Fascinating! Shepherd, you must come tickle them.”
Adam scooted against Eve. “I don’t want anyone tickling me. Especially your crazy ninja standing by the wall. Does he talk?”
“Maybe we can do this later,” Blue said quietly to Viktor. “They’re probably overwhelmed with everything happening. Let’s not freak them out with a ticklefest of sensory emotions followed by your crazy wolf making an appearance.”
I looked out the window at the city moving by. “So where are we headed?”
Viktor glanced at his watch. “Top secret for now. In the meantime, we have drinks. Shall we?”
I hooked my arm in his. “We shall.”
Chapter 7
After a few hard drinks, I had a nice buzz going. The kids hopped around from seat to seat, and when they got bored, they retreated to the bedroom to avoid the adults. Because we couldn’t take any chances on them sneaking out and exploring the rest of the train, we decided to take turns guarding the door.
Shepherd took the first shift and stood in the connecting space between the cars. He was probably relieved to get away from the kids and light up a smoke. Adam wanted to know how he got all the scars on his body. Eve asked if his tattoos were permanent and if he used liquid fire. Then they wanted to hear all about how liquid fire worked and where it came from, which he didn’t have all the answers to.
Snuggled on the corner sofa in the back, I admired the view. As the tracks created a never-ending trail behind us, I thought about the time I had left with my father slipping away. I also didn’t like the distance between us growing with each mile, and it gave me a sliver of understanding of what Shepherd must have been going through with Hunter. If something happened, I wouldn’t be there to help.
Christian sat down next to me and sighed. “Leave it to Viktor to pick a sunny day for a train ride. And you call these curtains? They’re as thin as an Irish mother’s patience.”
I stared at his sunglasses. “We should ask the conductor if he has any tinfoil so we can darken the windows. Or maybe you can sit on the toilet for the rest of the trip.”
“You have a tongue that could clip a hedge.”
I put my hand on his thigh and gave it a firm squeeze. “But you like my tongue.”
He moved my hand away and crossed his legs. “Best not be doing that in here.”
The drinks were making me a little tingly, so I stretched my legs across the sectional that ran alongside the rear window. Blue was zonked out on the sofa beneath the panoramic window, her long hair hanging to the floor. I looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to us, but they weren’t. Claude and Niko were chatting at a table by the bar, and I wasn’t sure where Viktor had gone.
“I never knew people like them existed,” I said, my thoughts steering back to the kids. “
Born human, but they can become any Breed they want to?”
“Only if they find someone to fornicate with. Some go their entire lives without ever knowing what they are.”
“Where do you think we’re going?”
“Maine?”
“No, we’re heading south.”
“And how do you know that? The sun’s too high up.”
I folded my hands across my stomach. “Think real hard.”
“Sometimes I forget you’re a Mage.” He put his arm around me. “When I look at you, all I see is a gorgeous Vampire.”
I kissed him softly.
Tenderly.
“But I’m also a Mage. You can’t just love half of me.”
“Would you like me to prove my unflinching love for you?” He waved a finger at my shoes. “Take off your trainers, and I’ll rub those dry hooves.”
“Why don’t you take off your coat? You look like a spy aboard the Orient Express. Viktor doesn’t want us to draw attention to ourselves. Remember?”
“No one’s back here.”
“You’re scaring the kids.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time that happened.” He leaned forward and shook off his coat, revealing a soft V-neck beneath. When he sat back, I got what I wanted—to curl up against him and feel his heat. I held his bicep and rested my head against his shoulder. Christian tucked his hand between my legs. I liked sharing moments that weren’t sexual, where I could breathe him in and enjoy his company.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” he said. “Lay off the alcohol, you hear?”
“Why? Viktor had a glass.”
