From our vantage point, I can see the numerous vehicles that now fill the lot, lights flashing as emergency crews rush to douse the flames that consume the hotel rooms we had rented. The ones that still had Sal, Arius, and Daruk inside.
My body tenses, ready to rush forward, but a hand on my shoulder stops me. Looking beside me, I see that Kendric has shifted back, his nude body having nothing to cover it, and I quickly shift my eyes away, skin feeling too tight at being next to his undressed form.
“We can’t go over there. Too many questions will be asked, and they might be some of Bailey’s men,” he says, giving me something else besides his nudity to think about.
“We have to! Sal is in there. She’s my best friend. I can’t just leave her,” I say, more comfortable in my anger than the other thoughts that have been fighting to gain traction since our flight began. Ones that whisper that Kendric had once upon a time been a close friend, and even now with all of his grumpiness, he still has kind moments.
“Stop and think, Princess. Look at that lot and tell me what you see. And then, more importantly, tell me what you don’t.”
I want to argue with him for wasting time when our friends need us. To leap from our limb and rush to the rooms, but a look at his face tells me he’s serious. There is no joking within his demeanor. Nodding that I will do as he asks, he relaxes slightly next to me as I scan my eyes over the scene before me.
“I think this is a waste of time,” I say, unable to resist expressing my dissatisfaction, but at his tired sigh, I focus back on the lot. “But, I see firefighters and police officers. That van looks like it may be from a news station and…. wait! Where’s the van? Are you saying the others are gone? Without us?”
Feeling the limb sway gently, I turn to see Kendric getting into a more comfortable position, looking as if he could stay as he is, without a stitch of clothing, for hours and be content.
“A good plan always takes into account that it can fail. Part of what makes it so great, is having a backup for when it does. In this case, a place to meet up should our group become separated. They would have left at the first sign of trouble because that is part of our plan. Now, it’s just a matter of catching up,” he says in a smug tone, and I can’t help rolling my eyes.
Looking at his face, forcing my eyes to stay above shoulder level, I watch the dance of lights from the emergency vehicles flash across those cruel but handsome features and wonder what he had been like as a child. Was he always such an ass? Or did that come years after I had been taken?
To him, however, I say, “And why wasn’t I told of this plan? Don’t you think I should have known this too? What would have happened if I’d gotten separated while I was alone? I wouldn’t have known where to go.”
I begin to grow irritated at the thought of them keeping such important information from me, but Kendric looks for all the world like we’re just two friends, or with his state of undress, two lovers hanging out in a tree, rather than two strangers hiding out, and not the least bit put off by my anger.
Instead, he leans in even closer. So close I can feel his breath blow across my curls, and I fight the urge to shiver. The last thing he needed is to think he has some type of effect on me.
“Well, Princess, that’s easy enough to answer. We didn’t tell you because we don’t know if we can trust you yet. And...” he pauses, pressing his fingers against my lips as I go to argue, “because none of us were ever going to let you be alone long enough to get separated. Which means, the information was need to know. And regardless of what title you will carry one day, you didn’t need to know.”
After he says this, he gives me one last weighted look that I can’t decipher before a hawk is suddenly beside me on the limb, balancing on one leg like he could stand that way for hours.
I want to push him off too, as his dark little eyes look at me, no doubt laughing about getting the last word, but before I can, he spreads his wings, and with a short cry, flies from the tree limb leaving me no choice but to follow him.
Chapter Eight
Two hours of flying later, and I feel as if I may just fall asleep between the beats of my wings, and allow gravity to do her worst. After the long night, and now the sun warming my face, I’m fighting a losing battle against my weary bones.
“Kendric,” I call out, my mouth dry and my eyelids heavy, but when he doesn’t look back at me, I wonder if my voice even traveled far enough to reach him.
Gearing up for one last push to catch up and demand we take a break, his lithe body begins to drop in altitude, no longer flapping his wings for height, but spreading them wide so that he can slowly guide toward the land below.
Relieved that an end to our flying may be in sight, I take a page from his book, spread out my large black wings, now completely dry, and relish in knowing that I’ll soon be back on the ground where I can rest.
When my bare feet finally touch the hard packed soil of the earth, I look around to see where we are. What was originally hidden beneath the canopy of trees from above, I now see a small cabin style house tucked away, nestled under the towering oaks.
Rather than shift the thirty feet away from the door, Kendric does a hopping motion, flapping his wings between each jump to carry him further until he arrives at the door and with his sharp beak, knocks three times.
I’ve just joined him on the log porch when the door swings open and reveals a woman on the other side. With short black hair, eyes that are a touch too wide for her fine-boned face, and her pursed lips, she’s adorable, and I immediately identify her as a pixie. Unfortunately, when she opens her mouth, the illusion of friendliness goes right out the door.
“Who the fuck are you?” she asks, not looking down at where Kendric rests, and I narrow my eyes on her, too tired to deal with some pixie with an attitude.
“Is that how you greet all your guests? If so, it must get exhausting being so nice. Please, tell me your secrets so that I too, may be a sugar plum fairy.”
She doesn’t react right away, just stands there blinking at me, but I prepare myself for what will no doubt be a nasty reply when she quirks one eyebrow.
“So the princess has claws? Good. You’ll need them if you’re ever going to survive. Ari’s got your leg inside K, go on in and shift. I’ll show the princess in.”
Kendric doesn’t even look back as he proceeds to hop through the door, but as soon as he passes, the small woman steps to the side and blocks my path. Lowering her voice, she leans in and says something. But with her head tilted to the side, I can’t make out what it is.
I give her a second to finish, and when she meets my eyes again, lips no longer moving but with a satisfied look on her face, all I can do is return one of my own. She probably thinks that whatever she’s just said will make me cower, but the jokes on her because I don’t have any clue as to what that is.
Replicating her action, I too lean in. Brow raised in challenge, I make sure that I maintain eye contact as I speak in a low voice. “I’m partially deaf, so whatever you just said, as clever as you probably think it is, I didn’t hear a word of it. So, if the guys are in there, do you mind getting the fuck out of the way so that I can go sit down. Because you were wrong. I don’t have claws. But I’m not powerless, and unless you want to learn what it feels like to have your will stripped from you, I suggest you back off!” I bluff, never having attempted more than just influencing an audience’s emotions, but she doesn’t know that.
Face going pale, she doesn’t try to stop me as I walk through the door, my wings brushing up against her and pushing her to the side while they squeeze through, but I don’t turn back. It hadn’t been my intention to make an enemy out of this woman, but I’m through with people thinking they can walk all over me. If someone wants a fight, I’ll give them a fucking war.
Inside, I’m pleasantly surprised to find that when I enter through the doors, it’s to a tastefully decorated living area done up in shades of tan and light blue. Even the colors of the thick throw ru
g match, and I want nothing more in that instance than to throw myself down and sleep on that rug for hours.
But when a rush of air behind me interrupts my silent perusal, I turn to find Daruk standing in the doorway, eyes not on me, but the woman from before, and her earlier attitude is gone as she stands with her head tilted in deference.
Feeling like there’s more going on here than I’m aware of, I keep quiet as the silence stretches on, until with the slightest nod, the spell seems to break and the pixie quickly walks away. She doesn't even glance in my direction.
“I apologize for that, Lorelei. Nissa can be a bit… brash sometimes. She means well, but is very territorial of her home. She’ll not bother you again,” Daruk says, but I don’t know how to respond as I’m still not sure what just occurred.
“Where’s Sal?” I ask instead, noting that he doesn’t appear to mind my change in subject. Rather than answer, however, he reaches his hand out in my direction, and it takes me longer than I care to admit to realize he wants me to take it.
Thinking of his kindness throughout the previous night, I reluctantly place mine in his and allow him to lead me down a long hall, stopping as we enter a brightly lit kitchen.
What I find, though, is not what I expect as I discover Sal sitting on a counter, as Nissa runs a finger down her cheek, and they only have eyes for each other.
“Sorry if I’m interrupting,” I say, not that sorry, and Sal jumps from her spot on the counter with a squeal, her head already appearing less swollen, and I silently thank the accelerated healing abilities of phoenixes, as she rushes over and wraps me in a tight hug that I gladly return.
“You’re here! I was so pissed when they told me we were leaving you behind. I may, uh… have started a small fire out of frustration,” she says, and my mind flashes back on the charred remnants as the flames had reached out into the night.
With a laugh, I pull back and take her in, my eyes straying over her shoulder to where Nissa stands, brows drawn together and looking unsure of herself.
Remembering how happy Sal had looked before we caught their attention, I decide to let what happened at the door slide, the incident not as important as the lessened darkness in Sal’s eyes.
“Yeah, I wasn’t very happy when Kendric said I couldn’t go look for you at the hotel, too. Who’s this?” I ask, pretending that I haven’t met Nissa yet, and don’t miss how her shoulders relax, as a considering look enters her eyes, like she’s seeing me for the first time.
Unaware of our exchange, Sal eagerly turns toward Nissa, pulling me with her until I stand in front of the small woman. “Lorelei, this is Nissa. She lives here and runs it as a safe house. Nissa, this is my most treasured friend, Lorelei. We’re basically sisters. I mean, we did become blood sisters, so it counts.”
Her energy is contagious, and I’m happy that I chose not to mention what happened when I arrived.
“She’s right. Though I still think she cut my hand deeper than hers. That sucker hurt for days,” I add, enjoying the lightness of the conversation, until a yawn sneaks up on me and escapes, ruining Sal’s recounting of that fateful day when she overheard a pair of girl’s conversation at the circus and decided that we, too, would become sisters.
At that time, I was only twelve and she had just arrived. We were quite the pair. Both the only ones of our kind, and without parents to care for us. Or, I thought I had no parents that cared. As I have most recently learned, that isn’t the case.
“Look at you, almost asleep standing. I’m such a poor host. Let me show you to your rooms. If you need, Lorelei, I’m sure I’ve got some clothes around here that may fit you. I’m sure you’d like to change.”
Surprised by her change of attitude, but too tired to overthink it, I gladly accept, and as she and Sal walk ahead of me down the hall, their hands occasionally bumping and sharing secret smiles, I can appreciate that this, whatever it is between them, may be the one bright spot, in an otherwise dark night.
After Nissa finds me something to change into, a camisole with a razorback that works perfect with my wings, and a stretchy pair of purple yoga pants that are only a tad too tight across my ass, I sit down on the simple bedspread, looking at the necklace that still hangs on my neck, the gift from Bailey, and fall back onto the bed. I had forgotten I was wearing it earlier, the night’s events trumping that awareness, but as I feel the weight of it on my chest, I decide what I want to do with it. I could throw it away, ridding myself of anything from him. Or, I could keep it and let it serve as a reminder to what he had done. Of how he had betrayed my heart, mind, and body.
Exhausted, I close my eyes, unwilling to lift my legs to place them on the bed, but a dip on the mattress to my right has me opening my eyes in panic.
My body only slightly relaxes when I find Arius there, hair wet and wearing a shirt and loose drawstring pants in a blue that brings out the color of his one blue eye.
“It’s rude to stare,” I say, fighting the urge to squirm beneath his gaze, but not wanting him to know that. He only shrugs in response. No apology made.
“Would you believe me if I told you I wasn’t staring?” he asks, and at my disbelieving look, a tired smile curves his mouth, but is gone all too soon. “I’m sorry about earlier. It was too much, too fast. We should have eased you into all that new information. I know it can’t be easy discovering everything you’ve ever known is a lie, and I apologize for not considering your feelings.”
He makes no attempt to move after he says that, and we both sit in the silence, and it’s not an uncomfortable one. He may still be a stranger to me, but he’s also been nothing but kind since I met him, and I find myself wanting to know more.
With an idea taking shape in my mind, I turn my head in his direction, taking in his profile and blue eye. “It was a lot, but I appreciate it. You could do something though. You know, to make me feel better.”
“What’s that?” he asks without hesitation, and I’m glad he took the bait. I still have so many questions.
“Can you tell me a little about yourself? It seems strange that you three know more about me than I do. Maybe if I knew a little more about you, this would all be easier. And honestly? It would make traveling with a bunch of men I just met less unsettling.”
Arius isn’t so quick to answer this time. Instead, he falls back onto the bed beside me, our bodies touching from shoulder to wrist, but I don’t pull away. He’s not given me any reason to question his intentions, so I don’t want to make him feel bad. And if I’m being honest with myself, having his body warm mine is nice in a way I’ve never experienced.
Chapter Nine
“My full name is Arius Calder, and I’m a hybrid. My mother is a mermaid, and my father was a human. I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard the old tales of how fishermen would lure mermaids onto shore, and then kidnap them so they couldn’t return to the sea, but if you have, then I should tell you they’re not all legends,” he starts, eyes growing distant, and despite how curious I am, I want to tell him to stop. That he doesn’t have to share this with me, but when I go to open my mouth, he raises his hand and halts me.
“Don’t feel bad, Lorelei. It happened a long time ago and I’ve had my whole life to deal with being the product of rape. It never changed how my mother looked at me, and I never had to meet my father. Anyway, when my mother found out she was pregnant, she tricked him into letting her go to the sea to retrieve a medicine that would ensure a healthy pregnancy.
“So caught up in thinking her bearing his child meant she’d never want to leave, he allowed it. She could have run. Could have stayed gone, but she kept her word and returned to him three days later. But, she didn’t return alone.
“She came back with her three sisters, my aunts, and they were more than willing to exact punishment on the person that had done such harm to their family. When they finished with him, not even his dentist would have been able to identify him.”
He pauses, as if to allow me time to take in the horror of wha
t his mother did to his father, but besides being mildly disturbed, I don’t mind. His father had done a horrible thing, and I know that I would have done the same thing for Sal.
Seeing that I’m not going to run from the room screaming, he rolls onto his side, arm propping up his head, and is able to look down on me. The position almost intimate. Yet, so enthralled by his story, I don’t move.
“Because of my hybrid nature, I’m unable to survive in the sea alone. My body needs the sun and as much as it pained my mother, she had to let me go live on land with a human couple that lived on the beach. They were older and had never been able to have children of their own. So when a beautiful woman approached them in the middle of the night with a newborn baby, her tale one of pain but also love, they hadn’t been able to refuse.
I hang onto every word he says, listening to his life, and appreciating him opening up to me. To telling me all this. It helps me feel grounded, and as he continues to talk, I fall into his story.
“I grew up with one foot in the ocean, and another on land. A child to both, but not fully part of either. The couple that raised me though, they truly were something else. Kind and generous they didn’t have much, but they were rich in life, if not money.”
His eyes soften as he speaks of the couple that raised him with a fondness in his voice, but there’s sadness too. How hard must it have been to not feel as if you belonged anywhere? At least with Sal, and even Barney, er-Bailey, I always felt as if I had a place. Though, now I know that the love I had thought I had with Barney had all been a lie. An illusion to keep me compliant and under his thumb.
Not liking the sad quality to his voice, I reach up and tap his arm to get him to focus back on my face, and give him a kind smile. “Is that why your eyes are two different colors? Because you’re a hybrid?”
Returning my smile with one of his own, he nods. “Yes, though people don’t always pick up on that. There’s actually a genetic disorder called heterochromia iridum that causes humans to exhibit the same coloring of the iris. I still stick out, but it gives me an explanation for when I’m trying to blend in as mundane. Can I tell you a secret?” he asks conspiratorially, and I find myself leaning in closer, enthralled by his story.
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