Forlorn: A Young Adult Dark Urban Fantasy (Mythic Blood Series Book 1)

by JJ Krzemien

  She glanced up at Oscar. “That’s actually…a good question. Maybe he liked you. Or pitied you.”

  I wouldn’t believe a word. Nothing would soften me toward Oscar ever again.

  Mitera’s blue gaze returned to me. “It doesn’t matter. Duty—that’s what I love about garanths. Duty always draws them back on course. When he told me who you were...such luck. And you’re here now. That’s all that counts.”

  Not for long, if something didn’t change soon I’d die in my cell.

  She leaned forward. “You know, I’d always wondered what happened to your slut of a mother.”

  I gaped at her. “What?”

  “I’d always figured she’d ran far, far away. To think she was under our noses the whole time.” She made a sound, like a chuckle.

  Was she saying she knew my mom? How was that even possible? I continued staring at her.

  Mitera sighed and reached for a photo album under the coffee table. “I’m your Aunt Rose. June’s younger sister. Didn’t she tell you about me?”

  “My mom has no sisters. She’s—was—an only child.” I closed my eyes. What kind of mind games was this woman playing now?

  “Here.” She handed me the album. “Your mother was not an only child. How horrible of her to even say such a thing. See for yourself.”

  She had to be lying. I took the book and opened it. In the first photo I recognized both mom and grandma. Mitera, or Rose, stood next to them. On the other side was a tall man, thin and bald.

  “That’s your grandma and grandpa, and us two girls as teenagers.” She smiled like she’d just won.

  This had to be some really good Photoshop work. But where had she gotten pictures of mom and grandma? When the gunman broke into my house? Flipping to the next page, there were more pictures of the family. One’s I’d never seen before. When they were young, Mom and Rose looked a lot alike. One blond, one red haired, but they both had oval faces and wide grins. They were a year apart in age, maybe two.

  I closed my eyes, these weren’t edited photos. The family resemblance was too strong. I stared down at the pictures, slightly faded from time.

  This couldn’t be. I was related to this monster. My family was a long line of awful murderers.

  “H-how?” I stuttered. “How is this possible?” I glanced up at Oscar, searching his face. He frowned, shock in his eyes, and shook his head. He hadn’t known.

  “To truly understand, I’ll have to start from the beginning. We have the time after all.” Mitera reached for the album and I let her take it. She flipped through the pages, a nostalgic smile appearing on her lips.

  “This,” she left the book on her lap and spread her hands to either side, glancing around the room. “The Amigis is our legacy. Our ancestors founded this order centuries ago. We’ve been fighting against the akathartos ever since. Someday we’ll fulfill our family prophecy and return humanity to its pure form.”

  Wow, she was crazy. “What did the hybrids ever do to you?”

  She pointed at Cadoc. “Akathartos. The impure.” The slightest flinch crossed his face. “They dilute—no ruin—the human race,” she continued. “Exactly what your slut mother brought to this family line.”

  “Don’t call her that.” I flashed a glare at her.

  “By now you should know that your father, wasn’t really your father. Poor fool.” She didn’t look sorry for him at all.

  “I’d guessed that much. My father was an angel, right?” Maybe she even knew who he was.

  She snorted. “I guess he was, seeing you. But June slept around with so many…creatures, he could have been anything. They were drawn to her from everywhere. And she let them in. All of them.”

  “I don’t believe you. My mom was faithful to Dad. If she had been like you say—”

  She cut me off. “Oh, don’t get me started on him. He endured all of her flings and followed after her like a puppy. When she finally got herself pregnant and ran away, of course he went with her. Pathetic.”

  “That’s not how their relationship was at all. They loved each other.” I missed them both so much.

  She shrugged. “He didn’t look like an angel to you, did he? He didn’t survive that freak accident like an angel would have.”

  “Like you said, I already know that he wasn’t my real dad.” I leaned forward on the couch. “You don’t know who my real father is?”

  She sighed. “No. I don’t.”

  “Oh.” I stared at my reflection in the glass tabletop. “I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

  “Don’t go looking for him. He doesn’t matter.” Mitera—Rose studied me. “What matters is you’re the only surviving heir. Akathartos, as you may be. Do you understand what I’m saying?” She shook her head and murmured, “It’s such a disgrace.”

  Bewildered, I glanced up at her. “No, I don’t understand what you’re saying. The heir to what?”

  “Heir to the Amigis.” She pursed her lips. “You are the only one who can be the next Mitera, after I’m gone.”

  “Now that’s crazy talk.” I snorted. “What were you planning to do before you knew I existed?”

  “Honestly, I had chosen a loyal follower to take my place. The Amigis has always had a Mitera. And must always have one to continue our legacy. Now that you’re here, I won’t need a substitute anymore and the family line will be unbroken.” She reached across the table and squeezed my hand.

  I yanked it back, disgusted. “You want me to take over and lead the Amigis? Are you nuts?”

  “I want you to join us, Lilianna.” Her blue eyes shone with excitement. “Come back to your family and continue our work.”

  “The work of killing innocent people just because they’re different? I don’t think so.” I folded my arms.

  “You don’t know anything. Spend some time here and learn. Once you know the truth, you’ll change your mind about what we do. What your family has done for generations.” Rose was practically pleading. I sensed it was a ploy.

  “I—no.”

  “Lilianna, let me make one thing very clear.” She leaned toward me. “You have no choice.”

  I scoffed at her. “You can’t—of course I have—”

  “We’re finished here for today. Doulos Cadoc, take her back to her room.” Rose feigned interest in her nails.

  Cadoc beckoned me to come with him. I slowly rose from the couch and took a step forward. My eyes turned toward Oscar, but he stared straight ahead—ignoring me again. I clenched my teeth against the betrayal and followed Cadoc out the door.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Sitting on the cot, I briskly rubbed my arms to warm up. My stomach rumbled. How long had it been since I’d eaten?

  In the midst of all the family revelations, I’d remembered why the black-filled syringe seemed familiar. The hospital. The nurse had been carrying one just like it on a tray—not food or water, like she’d said she was getting. Only the swirling black liquid ready to be injected into my veins. She was Amigis.

  She hadn’t been expecting the gunman, so she’d screamed and dropped it. He shot me, while she was planning to inject me with that serum. Had they not known about each other? Were they sent there to do the same job?

  One piece didn’t make sense. Why had he killed her? Or had he killed her? Maybe they both faked her death for some reason. That reason was beyond me, if there was one.

  I was surprised that he hadn’t shown up here yet.

  The temperature in my cell dropped again. I moved to the corner, bracing for another water deluge; my muscles taut with anticipation. Instead tiny white flecks drifted from the ceiling. One landed on my arm. Cold, icy particles that melted on my warmer skin. The flakes grew larger and more numerous, until the floor was covered in several inches of snow.

  Under my bare feet the concrete cooled to a temperature below freezing. I placed one foot on top of the other, trying to hold in the heat. Snow built in layers on my hair and shoulders. It accumulated around me, growing from inches to feet. What would h
appen when it smothered me? Shivering, I wrapped my arms tighter around my waist.

  The doors on the far wall opened. Snow tumbled into the hallway, where Oscar stood. He was alone. For a long moment we stared at each other. Then he pushed into the cell, leaving giant holes where he stepped.

  He held out a clawed hand. “Come with me, Lili-girl.”

  I recoiled from him. What trick was he pulling?

  “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I was wrong. There’s too much to explain right now, but you need to get out of here.” His bright blue eyes pleaded.

  “I don’t believe you. Go away.” I turned my face away from him.

  “Please, listen to me. No matter what, Mitera won’t let you live. I know you don’t understand, but you’re the biggest threat she will ever have. There are those who don’t like her rule. With an alternative—you—being presented, well, there will likely be mutiny. She can’t let you live.”

  I glared up at him. “What, now you’re trying to save me? After everything you’ve done?”

  He stared down, his brows creased. “I don’t expect you to forgive me.”

  “Good. Because I never will.” My heart beat faster as anger rushed through me. All I wanted to do was cry. “Go away.”

  “But I do expect you to live, Lili-girl.” He reached out and wrapped an enormous arm around my waist. My feet left the floor as he lifted and turned toward the open door.

  Cadoc blocked the entrance. His black wings spread to fill the entire space. “Oscar.” He shook is head in a disappointed manner.

  They both stood silent, staring at each other. Then I felt the familiar push of Cadoc repressing my powers. I could tell the difference now between his leeching power and his subduing ability. This one wasn’t painful, only uncomfortable, like wearing a too tight dress.

  He was probably doing the same thing to Oscar, who released his hold on me. I slid from his arm to stand in the powdery snow.

  Cadoc beckoned with his forefinger. “You two, come with me.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  We rode the elevator in silence. Cadoc must have switched from repressing my energy to slowly drawing it from me, I felt weaker every moment. In a way, the level of control he had over his ability was amazing. It probably took years to master, if not decades.

  Oscar slouched next to me, seeming to fold in on himself. He didn’t morph into his human form. He probably didn’t have the energy to complete that kind of transformation.

  I watched the numbers above the door light up as we passed each floor—even though the buttons for each were missing. I assumed we were headed to the ninth again. As the light for the sixth floor lit up, Oscar slammed his fist into the emergency stop button.

  Cadoc swore and grabbed Oscar around the neck. Oscar seemed to ignore him, instead focusing his attention—and strength—on the doors of the elevator. He tore them open, revealing a solid white wall.

  “Oscar, don’t do this!” Cadoc squeezed the garanth’s neck, trying to choke him.

  I pressed into a corner to avoid their tussle. Physically they were equals. Cadoc tried to take Oscar down, but Oscar threw him into the sidewall. In a second Cadoc was on him again. Why wasn’t he using his power? He could have Oscar on his knees right now if he wanted to.

  Oscar clawed and beat at the wall, tearing drywall and framing away in large chunks. A gap opened up. Oscar, with Cadoc on his back, threw himself backward, trapping Cadoc between him and the elevator wall.

  “Lili, run.” Oscar breathed. He slammed his head back into Cadoc’s face, which made a horrible crunching sound.

  I leaped from the corner, through the damaged wall, and onto a floor of empty computer work stations. Sprinting past the plexiglass cubicles, I opened a wooden door. A wide carpeted hallway spanned in both directions. I chose to go left and ran.

  My pulse whooshed in my ears as I passed closed, dark rooms of more offices. I needed to hide or get out of the building. Finally a door marked EXIT appeared at my left. I pushed it open and the alarm blared to life.

  Crap. They’d know I was on one of the stairwells. I paused. Should I go up or down? They’d expect me to go down and get out of here. What if I go up and hide instead?

  I raced up to the seventh floor. Another brown carpeted hallway. More closed and locked doors. I found another exit stairwell, but stopped as the sound of pounding feet reached me from below. I tried all of the doors down the other side of the hallway. Locked, locked, locked.

  Finally a door opened. To the right of it on the hallway wall was a red square with a lever. A fire alarm. On impulse I pulled the lever. Calling in the fire department should complicate the situation.

  I closed the door behind me and locked it, resting my back against the solid wood. The room was a wide open space with computer desks lined up in rows. Large windows along one wall showed a city view.

  At the windows, I placed my hands on the glass. It was more dusk than dark out. The streets were grey and sparkled with water. Sometime in the last day or so the snow had melted. The city looked so calm, waiting for New Year’s. I wanted with all of my heart to be out there. To be home with my family and friends. The Christmas tree in our living room had probably started to turn brown by now.

  Sirens and lights flashed up one of the streets. The fire truck drove by and turned at the corner to get to the front entrance. If only I could turn myself in, run to the cops. But the gunman was one of them—a cop and one of the Amigis.

  I found a desk and crawled into the cubed hole under it. For the first time in my life, I wished my legs weren’t so long and that I could fit more comfortably in the cramped space.

  My plan was kind of pathetic: Wait. I hoped the Amigis wouldn’t be able to search the building while the fire fighters were here—or at least it would slow them down. Then, maybe they’d assume I’d gotten out when they didn’t find me on any of the lower floors. In the morning, if this office wasn’t still on holiday break, the workers would appear and I could slip out. Because a barefoot teenager in a blue nightgown is so inconspicuous. I rolled my eyes.

  If I did escape in the morning, where would I go? My backpack was at the dhampirs’ apartment. Rushi was dead. Edgar had joined the Amigis. George and Xiang…who knew what had happened to them. I had nothing and no one.

  I curled up under the desk, sure I wouldn’t get an ounce of sleep that night. What had happened to Oscar? I had mixed feelings about worrying for him. He had so thoroughly betrayed me—and then risked his life to let me escape.

  What really bothered me was how Cadoc hadn’t used his power on Oscar in the elevator. Were they in this together? Was their struggle all for show? Oscar said there could be mutiny. Was this the beginning? Feeling a headache coming on, I pinched the bridge of my nose.

  The carpet was scratchy against my skin, but not nearly as rough as that cot. My stomach growled and ached. The furnace turned on, blowing warm air out of the vents. Soon I was fighting the urge to doze off. The warmth and quiet lulled me. I closed my eyes.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  A strong hand gripped my arm and dragged me out from under the desk. I jolted awake. Tears stung my eyes as I peered into Cadoc’s face. His gaze held a mix of frustration and relief.

  How could I not have heard them come in? Had I really been so deeply asleep? I wanted to cry or scream at my stupidity. Of course they’d catch me, if not now then some other time. They would always hunt me for as long as I lived. It was time to confront all of this—and either join or die.

  Cadoc hauled me to my feet. Sunlight streamed into the room. He had two other Amigis with him, one of them was Edgar.

  “Good plan,” Edgar said to me. “It would have worked if today weren’t a Sunday.” He smiled, flashing his fangs.

  Disgusted that he’d even talk to me, I ignored him.

  Cadoc drew me closer. “You’re a real pain. Now, you can either come willingly with me or get a bullet in the heart. Your choice.” He held up a 9mm in his other hand.

  I glar
ed up at him. “Could you just drain my energy until I died?”

  “I could. But Rose—Mitera wouldn’t like that very much.”

  I raised an eyebrow at him. Were he and my aunt on a first name basis? Under his tanned skin, I swore he blushed. “Too bad.”

  He started toward the door, dragging me after him by the arm like some naughty child. We went through hidden doors that looked like walls, down a million stairs, and entered the corridor to my cell. How I recognized it from all of the other cinder block and glass hallways, I didn’t know.

  Deposited back in my cell, Cadoc turned to go.

  “What happened to Oscar?” I called after him.

  He glanced at me over his shoulder. “He’s in trouble. Just like you.” The door shut behind him.

  I sat on the cot. Back to square one. At least the snow had disappeared.

  The Amigis were persistent. No matter how far or how long I ran, they would always catch up to me. My options at this point were to join Mitera—Rose—my aunt, or let them kill me.

  I cringed. The mere idea of learning how to murder hybrids for that heartless, evil—I couldn’t do it. Even if I could actually go through with the act, I could never live with myself afterward.

  Revenge would always be on my mind. Revenge for my parents, Sarah, and her parents, for Rushi. I would hate myself for joining the Amigis.

  On the other hand, could I really let them kill me? I didn’t want to die. I was sixteen years old. I wanted to finish high school, have a boyfriend, get my driver’s license. Be normal.

  And now I began to understand the hold of self-hate and survival the Amigis held over all their hybrid slaves.

  I buried my face in my palms. Oscar thought Rose would kill me either way. Shouldn’t that make the choice easier? If in the end—my death—was inevitable either way?

  I really needed to think outside of these two boxes. If I let them kill me then that would be the end. If I joined them… I would live. Maybe I could lead a mutiny. Oscar said some of them might prefer me to Rose. I gagged at the idea of leading an organization founded on intolerance and hate.