I don’t remember seeing anything. My mind is blank yet I feel as if a part of me is mourning something or someone. I nestle myself close to his neck. “Did you get enough?”
“I may have taken too much, I’m sorry. How do you feel?”
The room seems to be spinning, the walls closing in, a fog enveloping me.
He places me on the couch and sits on the ottoman in front of me.
“I feel drugged.” I’ve never taken drugs. Well, except for once, when Jake and I smoked weed in his garage one weekend when his parents were out of town. That was nothing like this.
“The feeling will go away soon, I promise.”
“What if I don’t want it to go away?”
“You need to get some rest, maybe try and sleep.”
“I don’t want to sleep.”
He leans in and touches my cheeks. “You have a slight fever. You need to sleep.”
I reach for the back of his neck, pull him close to me and then I kiss him. His lips are silky and delicious, further intoxicating me and making me ache for him. He doesn’t back away, a sign he wants me too. Tenderly, he kisses me back, moving his tongue inside my mouth in a way that makes me want to surrender myself to him.
Is this really happening? Or am I lost in some bizarre erotic dream? If I am lost, I don’t want to be found.
He backs away from my lips. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I’d be taking advantage of you. It’s not right.”
I reach for him, but he stands, refusing my embrace.
“I want you to take advantage of me.”
“You’re only saying that because I fed from you. It’s a reaction, nothing more. It will pass.”
His rejection sends a blade through me. “Are you gay?” I spit out the question with spite and anger.
“I think you need to sleep now.”
“That’s all you have to say? I give you my blood and then practically throw my panties at you and you want me to get some damn sleep? You should be ripping off my clothes and having your way with me. But, instead, you want me to get some sleep?” I roll my eyes and turn away from him.
“Everything you’re feeling is a reaction to me feeding from you and taking too much. I should have stopped sooner. In fact, I should have never fed from you at all.”
I turn back toward him and sit up on the edge of the couch. “Maybe you should have never saved me. Maybe you should have left me on the road.”
“It’s not like I had a choice.”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
I try to stand but a dizzy spell forces me back down on the couch. “What do you mean you didn’t have a choice? What haven’t you told me?”
“I told you everything I know.”
“You’re lying.”
“I should have never fed from you.”
“You mentioned that. Tell me what you’re keeping from me.”
He clears his throat. “I was sent to protect you. I was almost too late.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Hybrids all have one assigned human for whom they are responsible. We swore an oath to protect our assigned humans.”
“To protect all humans, you mean?”
“We don’t have the numbers to protect all humans.”
I lean back on the couch and exhale a long breath. “So why me then?”
“You were adopted, weren’t you?”
I feel as if someone just landed a punch on my stomach. How could he know that about me? I didn’t find out I was adopted until I was fifteen years old, right around the time I started getting really interested in tech stuff, right around the time I discovered I had a knack for designing and building apps. Coding came easy to me. I had never taken a class, yet somehow I could code and build apps as if it was nothing more than coloring between the lines.
I started staying up late, holed up in my room coding. I became a maniac, never sleeping more than three or four hours a day. I was possessed. And then one night, something happened, something I thought I had dreamt, something I tried to forget.
I was slamming keys so fast and hard, I broke the keyboard. It literally cracked and split in half like the Hulk had punched it. I could have chalked that part up to a freak incident, but not what happened next. What happened next was simply impossible. A bolt of lightning—or electricity, or something—exploded directly from the palm of my hand and shot across my bedroom, cracking a wall and knocking all the pictures to the floor.
I stood in my room in disbelief, scared out of my senses. I’m not ashamed to admit I peed my pants and cried. This was not something I was going to keep from my parents. Trembling and in shock, I walked into my parent’s bedroom, and crawled into bed with them
That was the night I found out I was adopted. That was the night I found out there was something different about me. I begged my parents for answers. All they told me was that someone had left me on their doorstep when I was an infant with a note that read, raise her as your own, but know she is not like you and one day, someone will come for her.
“How do you know that about me?”
“Am I correct?”
I stand, adrenaline giving me the strength I need to remain on my feet. “Yes, but how the hell do you know that?”
He sighs. “It will be dawn soon. I’ll be able to fly us to a safer place.”
“Answer me!”
He turns his back on me and lowers his head.
I walk to him, careful not to lose my balance since I’m still a bit lightheaded. I smack him on the back. “Face me and answer me.”
He turns around slowly. “What I’m going to tell you is going to sound even crazier than the things I have already shared with you, but you must believe me,” he looks at his feet and then at me, “You’re not entirely human. You’re the daughter of a human man and a fae. And because of that, I need to protect you. You’re not safe. The New Order will hunt you down and kill you.”
So now I’m half fae, whatever the hell a fae is supposed to be. A fairy of some kind? What’s next? I’m not really from this planet? Or perhaps I’m not even alive? Maybe I’m dead and just don’t know it. Maybe I’m in purgatory? “None of this is okay. None of what you’re saying is okay. It’s all ridiculously laughable. I want to go home.”
He tries to hug me but I shove him away. Really, Hybrid dude, you thought a hug was going to make it all okay? I’m never going to be okay again. For Christ sake, what am I smoking? I must be on drugs, high out of my mind. That’s the only explanation.
Tears creep out of my eyes. “Tell me the rest of this messed-up dark story.”
And he does. He tells me that there are others like me all over the world. Half-human, half-fae hybrids. He tells me that the New Order wants us all dead because we are the one force that can stop them from taking over and enslaving humans.
Since witches have joined with the New Order, and the remaining pure angels have gone into hiding, and the half-vampire, half-angel hybrids are so few in numbers the only ones who can stop the New Order are the half-fae hybrids. He tells me that we have a special power passed down to us from our fae ancestors who were extinguished during the first war.
He tells me that I, and others like me, do not have the weakness that plagued my fae ancestors, and ultimately led to their extinction.
Each fae’s power, the ability to shoot lightning from their hands, wore off every five years. Once their power wore off, they were helpless and vulnerable. They had to wait ten years for their power to rejuvenate. During the time when they were powerless, they went into hiding in the farthest corners of the forests.
But Hybrids’ powers never wear off. But unlike pure fae, however, hybrids are not immortal.
With the help of wicked witches, vampires and angels found the hybrids and murdered them. But not before they hid their hybrid children among the human population. These hybrid children grew to have children of their own who inherited their skil
ls.
He tells me that his mission is to safely bring me to the Hybrid Safe Place where the others and I will be trained to fight so that we may defeat the New Order.
When he’s done speaking, I tell him I’m leaving and then I walk to the door.
He stands in between me and the door. “I can’t let you go. I swore an oath.”
The effects of him feeding from me are gone. My mind is clear and I know what I need to do. I need to get home and I need to do it now. “Get out of my way!”
“I will not.”
“You’re insane. I swear I will do whatever it takes to get past you. I killed one of the Infected you know. I’m sure I can kill you, if I have to.”
“And with what are you going to kill me? A plastic lamp?”
I punch his chest. “You’re an asshole.”
“And you’re being childish and ungrateful.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m trying to protect you. And you want to run away because you just found out your special and part of a unique group that can help save humankind.”
“Oh, please, spare me the guilt trip. If I’m so damn special, how come I was never able to shoot lighting from my hands again after that freaky incident? And believe me, I tried. I did nothing but try.”
“You’re gifted in more ways than one. The Fae are advanced when it comes to technology. They have been responsible for some, if not most, of the world’s technological advancements. The Roman aqueducts, the pyramids, ancient brain surgery, and even traveling to the moon, to name a few, all possible because of Fae technology. Fae abilities manifest differently for every fae.”
I laugh louder than I think I have ever laughed. “Are you really saying that fairies built the pyramids?”
He frowns. “They are called fae, not fairies, and no, I’m not saying they built the pyramids or the aqueducts or traveled to the moon, I’m saying they provided the technology to make it possible for others to do. They have been providing technology to humans for thousands and thousands of years. I should say, had, since no pure fae exists anymore.”
At this point, I really don’t know what else to say. I summon all my strength and push him out of the way. Then I open the door and make a run for it.
I’m greeted with a newly risen sun…and a horde of the Infected.
Chapter Four
I stop in the center of the yard to assess my escape route. At least two hundred Infected are closing in on me from each side. Foaming at the mouth like rabid animals, viciously wobbling their heads, snarling and stomping toward me, greedily anticipating the first bite.
If I truly have fae magic, let it make itself known now. I raise my hand, palm facing the horde, hoping that my fae ancestors will deliver a miracle and a bolt of lightning will shoot out from my hand and destroy these despicable monsters.
I bite my lip and push my hand forward. Nothing comes out. I shake and push it forward once more. Again, nothing.
The demons increase their pace, their tongues hanging out, their eyes redder the closer they get.
My attempts to summon fae magic are useless. How idiotic of me to fall for Daniel’s fairy tale.
I have no other choice but to scream for help which, admittedly, I should have already done.
“Daniel! Please help me!” Dignity, be damned. I’m about to be torn to shreds.
I cover my face as if my hands will protect me from their sharp teeth.
“I thought you’d never call.”
Daniel is next to me, a grin on his face. I want to hug him and slap him, but mostly I want him to save my butt.
I grit my teeth. “What’s the matter with you? Why did you wait so long?” I punch his shoulder.
“I didn’t think you needed me. You were determined to leave and take care of yourself so…”
Great, I’ve just elevated him to the status of Knight in Shining Armor and downgraded myself to damsel in distress.
“You’re a jerk.”
“Why? Because I didn’t go after you when you violently pushed me out of the way?”
“I barely touched you. Not my fault you’re a weak hybrid. And what the hell do you have behind your back?”
He smirks. “Oh, I brought you a weapon.” He brings out a plastic lamp and holds it out to me. “I thought you might need it.”
“You’ve officially entered asshole territory.” I take the lamp and throw it at the encircling horde. They step on it as if squashing a bug.
“Hmm, I don’t want to be the bearer of terrible news, but I don’t think your weapon did anything to stop them.”
I crack my knuckles and purse my lips. “Are you going to get us out of here or not?”
He stares at me. “Is that what you want?”
“I won’t beg you.” Actually, if it comes to it, I’ll get down on my knees and kiss his jerky, asshole feet. I don’t want to die.
He wraps his arm around my waist and places my hand on the back of his neck. “If you’re afraid of heights, now may be a good time to close your eyes. Also, don’t let go of me.”
I’m terrified of heights. I avoid anything tall: bridges, buildings, even ladders. And I’d rather drive fifteen hours to get somewhere than get on a plane, which is the main reason I’ve never been to Europe. I plan to go as soon as they build that low, covered bridge across the ocean. If the Fae are so technologically advanced, how come they haven’t figured that one out yet?
My palms are sweaty and I may faint before we leave the ground, but it’s either go up in the air or let the Infected eat me.
Daniel kisses my temple, a gesture that surprises me seeing as just seconds ago he didn’t seem entirely sure I was worth saving. “Don’t be scared. I won’t let go of you, okay?”
I shut my eyelids. “Okay.”
His wings suddenly appear, dark and magnificent they resemble the angel wings from books and movies. Their beauty pierces my very core, causing me to shed tears. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful. Their sight makes me want to get down on my knees and pray, despite my rather ambiguous views on religion.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” I whisper, my gaze still on his wings.
We ascend into the air like someone just stepped on the launch button of a child’s play rocket.
“Are you all right?”
“Not really. I feel sick. I may vomit.”
“It’s fine if you do. Keep your eyes closed, though, we’re climbing higher.”
Something brushes against my face. I scream and smack at whatever it was.
He tightens his hold on me. “It’s okay, it was just a bird. They get curious and get a little too close sometimes.”
I open my eyes and take a peek below. I can just make out the tops of trees. The cliché is true. They really do resemble broccoli from this height. I want to keep looking but I can’t. If I keep my eyes open, I’ll hurl, for sure.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you to the Hybrid Safe Place. That’s my mission.”
“What?”
“You’ll be safe there. You need to be around others like you for your sake and for all of our sakes.”
If I wasn’t ten thousand feet in the air, I’d jump and run home. I need to get to my house. There is no way I’m letting him take me to some God-knows-where supposed safe place without me first going home. “Take me home first, please.”
“I can’t risk going into the city. Most cities around the world have probably fallen by now and are being controlled by the New Order.”
His words compel a gruesome picture in my mind. Burned buildings and cars, rotting corpses, Infected roaming everywhere, people being hunted down and butchered on the streets. Chaos. I pray my parents found a place to hide. My heart tells me they are likely dead.
I close my eyes to keep from shedding more tears. “I want to go to my cottage.”
“Why?”
“Because I do! Please I’ll go with you wherever you want. I’ll do whatever yo
u ask. But first, I need to get to my house. If you don’t take me there I will free myself from you and fall to my death.” My words are dramatic and I would never do what I just threatened, but I need him to understand how determined I am about getting home. Maybe he’ll call my bluff and ignore my demand, but I have to try.
“Even if you somehow managed to free yourself, I would never let you fall. You do know that, right? But fine, if this is important enough that you’re willing to kill yourself over it—or at least threaten to—then you win. Only for a few minutes, three minutes, and we’re gone, okay?”
I secretly smile at my victory. “Yes, okay.”
As we begin to descend and I feel myself getting closer to the ground, I open my eyes. My white little cottage comes into view. I hold my breath, praying that it hasn’t been destroyed. The porch looks intact, the windows aren’t broken, and my rose bushes appear undisturbed.
From this height, my house looks tinier than it already is. It’s a one-bedroom, one bathroom, 1950’s cottage I bought two years ago and completely gutted. The only original thing I kept was the hardwood floors. Everything else was ripped out and replaced.
We touch ground and I drop to my knees and kiss the grass, my anxiety subsiding, my heart slowing to a normal rhythm. One more minute in the air and I may have had a full-on panic attack and maybe jumped after all.
“Three minutes, remember.”
I look up at Daniel whose marble-like glare tells me he’s serious and I should get up and get on with it.
“I won’t be long. You can wait here.”
“I’m coming with you.”
I extend my hand, signaling for him to stop. “No, you’re not. Please just wait here.”
He ignores my hand and storms past me and trounces up the porch’s cracked and weathered steps.
I dart after him. “I need to do this alone!” I grab his arm and pull him back.
“I swore an oath to protect you.”
“I know, I know, the oath. What about when the horde of Infected was surrounding me? Where was the oath then? Oh, and I’m sure you knew they were out there before I even walked out, didn’t you?”
“I would never have let them harm you.”
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