Safe Travels

by Alex Dafney

  “I’m sorry, Ophelia. I didn’t mean to cause you so much trouble with your family.” I shrug as his eyes meet mine. “They’ll be fine.” He gives me a slight smile before running his hand through his hair. “Do you have any plans tonight?” I shake my head as I give him a small smile. “Would you be interested in accompanying me to dinner?” I chuckle at his nervousness as I place my hand on his forearm. “I would love to go to dinner with you.” He gives me a wide grin. “Great. I’ll pick you up at six.” He glances down at the watch on his wrist. “I need to get going though.”

  I walk him to the door, holding it open as he steps out. He turns back and leans his face toward mine. My heart nearly stops when I think he’s going to kiss me, but he places a quick peck to my cheek before turning and walking down the steps. I close the door behind me and lean my back against it, closing my eyes and letting a content sigh out as my hand rubs my tingling cheek. “About last night.” I jump and clutch my hand to my chest as I look at Mom leaning against the wall next to me. “Jesus, Mom! You scared me!”

  I walk into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge as she follows. “I know you’re an adult now Ophelia, but last night was unacceptable. You don’t even know that young man, and I find you with your dress hiked up and your head in his lap.” I resist rolling my eyes. “My dress slid up as I was asleep, and my head was more on his chest than his lap.” It’s not the best argument, but it’s all I’ve got. Mom raises an eyebrow at me. “Really?” I try my best not to laugh. Mom’s lips twitch as she tries to hold in her laughter as well.

  After a moment she places her hand on my shoulder. “Look, O, I’m serious about being careful. Now that you’re of age, you’ll be on the Hunters’ radar. You don’t know this guy, or his motives. I’ve heard terrible stories through the Society about people who declined the invitation being preyed upon by people they trusted.” I shake my head as I look down at the floor between us. “You don’t get it, Mom. I may not know him that well, but the feeling I get when I’m around him, when our hands brush.” I pinch my eyes shut as I shake my head again. Mom lets out a little sigh, causing me to look up to her. “I know he’s a good guy. I can’t explain it, but I know.”

  Mom simply shakes her head as she pulls her hand away from my shoulder. When she looks back at me, I notice the tears brimming in her eyes. “I trust your judgement. You’re just so young, and you don’t know what’s out there.” She flings her hand toward the front door. I do my best to keep the sarcasm out of my voice as I point toward the door. “You never told me about the dangers out there. I didn’t even know about the Hunters until a few days ago!”

  She draws in a shaky breath as her eyes reach mine. “You’re right. I never wanted you to be afraid of your gift. But now…” She shakes her head as she throws her hands up at her side in exasperation. “You declined the Society! You have no protection now. None!” Her bottom lip quivers as I stare at her with wide eyes. “Then tell me what I need protection from. Tell me about the Assembly.”

  Her eyes go wide as she looks at me. “The Assembly? How do you know…?” She closes her eyes and shakes her head lightly. “Cooper. He’s Assembly, isn’t he?” I nod as she looks back at me. She groans as she begins to pace around the kitchen island. “Your Dad was Assembly. Hell, he wasn’t just a part of the Assembly, he ran it. Orchestrated the missions, took down countless Hunters.” She sighs as she stops on the opposite side of the counter from where I stand, placing her hands on the counter.

  “The Assembly was formed by a small group of individuals who went rogue from the Society. They were tired of running from the Hunters and decided to take matters into their own hands.” She looks up at me, her eyes looking worried. “The Assembly basically hunts the Hunters. They follow them through time and kill them, one by one.” She shakes her head at me lightly as she takes a deep breath and blows it out. “Without the Assembly, the Hunters would outnumber us. They would hunt down every single one of us and draw our power.” I scrunch my forehead at her, not understanding what she means. She nods and continues. “The Hunters find a shifter and draw their power away. In turn it makes the Hunter stronger, hungrier for power.”

  I pull the bar seat out, needing to sit as I take in this new information. “What happens to the shifter once their power has been drawn away from them?” Mom shakes her head as she leans back against the counter, wrapping her arms around her in a protective manner. “Drawing a shifter’s power is basically like sucking their souls away. They die.” I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “Are you thinking of joining the cause, O?” I stare at Mom across the counter for what feels like an eternity before simply shrugging my shoulders.

  She places both of her hands on the counter as her eyes fill with tears. “I wanted to be Assembly, but when I found out about you, I couldn’t risk it. The Hunters specifically search for Assembly members, and I couldn’t put you in harms way.” Mom walks around the counter and throws her arms around my shoulders.

  When she pulls back and looks at me, tears roll down her cheeks. “If this Prophecy business is true, and you and Cooper are the power couple-.” She takes a deep breath as she closes her eyes, trying to calm herself. As she opens her eyes and looks into mine her lip lifts just slightly into a smile. “You Dad was right all along. You really are destined to change our world.” She pulls me into another hug. “You’re destined for greatness, Ophelia. I won’t lie and say I’m thrilled by the idea, but you’re going to do incredible things.”

  She pulls away and wipes under her eyes with both hands as she takes a steadying breathe. “Promise me you’ll be careful. Don’t do anything risky.” I nod my head, not even knowing what she’s referring to.

  Chapter 6

  After having lunch with Mom in our kitchen and listening to her tell stories of Dad and his Assembly days, I decide I need to speak to him directly. There are just too many questions swirling in my mind. I tell Mom I’m going to rest before going out to dinner with Cooper tonight. I close my bedroom door, locking it behind me, before I open my closet door and retrieve the wooden box, pulling the locket from the contents.

  I run my thumb along the locket as my hand tingles. Closing my eyes, I transport myself back in time, waiting in the shadows as my Mom walks onto the front porch of the small farmhouse, clutching the same locket around her neck as I hold in my hand. Dad kneels on the porch, kissing her stomach as she runs her hand through his hair, smiling lovingly down at him. He stands and kisses her, wrapping his arms around her small frame and pulling her to his chest. I almost feel like I’m intruding on their moment.

  As Mom dissipates into thin air, I materialize at the edge of the porch, clutching the locket in my hand. Dad turns to walk back inside, catching me from his peripheral vision. He turns and opens his arms wide. “Ophelia! I’m so happy to see you again!” I walk up the steps, straight into his arms, blinking back tears as he strokes his hand down my long hair. It’s funny how shifting works. Once you meet someone in the past you remember them. Even though I haven’t been born at this time, my Dad still knows who I am because I visited with Mom yesterday.

  He continues to stroke my hair and shush me as I cry. “What’s the matter, Ophelia? You were just here and were happy.” I nod against his chest as I swipe under my eyes. “Everything. It’s all happening so fast. I need answers, and I think you’re the only one who can give them to me.” He pulls back and wraps his arm around my shoulder, leading me into the farmhouse.

  I sit at the same small table as he places a cup of coffee in front of me. Wrapping my hands around the mug I smile as he pushes cream and sugar across the table to me. “What can I help you with, baby?” I sigh as I stir my coffee with the spoon he hands me. “I need to know about the Assembly. Mom told me the basics, but I need to know the whole story.” He nods as he kicks his chair back, balancing on the back legs as he sips his coffee.

  “Thinking of joining the cause?” He smirks at me over his coffee mug. I shrug as I c
ross my legs under the table, wearing the dress from my Graduation yesterday. He sits forward, letting the legs of the chair come back down to the floor as he places his elbows on the table. “Well, I’m not sure if Mom told you, but I am a part of the Assembly. I’m assuming that’s why you’re here?” He raises an eyebrow as I nod.

  “The Assembly is a group that declined their-” I wave my hand at him as I shake my head. “I already know the basics.” I take a deep breath, closing my eyes to gather my thoughts. When I open them, he’s watching my every move. “What about the Prophecy?” Dad tilts his head slightly, scrunching his forehead. “Why do you ask about the Prophecy?”

  I shrug again. “It seems I may have found myself smack dab in the middle of it.” He lets out a chuckle, his shoulders bobbing as he shakes his head. “I knew you were destined for greatness the moment I heard of your existence.” I can’t help but smile, wishing I could’ve met this man sooner. That he could’ve been around for my childhood. Not just someone that’s long since gone that I can visit in time.

  “Tell me how you’ve found yourself in the middle of the Prophecy, baby.” My heart warms at the term of endearment as I sip my coffee. I’m having a real conversation with my Dad. Shifting absolutely has its perks. I place the coffee mug on the table, still holding onto it with both hands and staring at it. “I met a guy when I was traveling. When we touch, I feel the same tingles as I do when I’m holding an object about to shift through time.”

  I glance up to see Dad nodding. “Go on with it. I know there’s more.” I swallow as I nod. It’s so hard talking about boys with your parents, even if you’ve never had that parent around. “His parents were both present shifters and his grandparents' future shifters. When I asked how far back in time he’s traveled, he mentioned B.C.” I blow out a breath as I look back at my Dad.

  He’s smiling widely at me. “And how far back have you traveled?” I can’t help the smile that pulls up on my lips as I look across the table to my Dad’s proud face. “B.C.” He slaps his hand on the table as he jumps from his seat. “Hot damn! I knew it! I told your Mom before you were born that you were going to be incredible!” He pulls me to standing and wraps his arms around me excitedly. “I knew it, baby. I just knew it!”

  I chuckle as he squeezes me tightly. He pulls back to look down at me. “What else? I feel like there’s more.” I step back as he releases me, sinking back into my chair. He walks around the table and takes a seat, pushing the chair back to rest on its hind legs. “When we, uh, when we kissed, I could see the future. He saw it too.” I can feel my cheeks burning as I admit to kissing a boy.

  Dad laughs as I pick up my coffee. Anything else to focus on than admitting I kissed a guy to my Dad. He runs his hand through his long hair as he shakes his head, a smile on his face. “I always thought I’d be pissed off listening to you talk about kissing some boy.” He leans the chair back on all fours as he props his elbows on the table. My cheeks still burning with a blush “But, you’re the power couple. This is what the Prophecy speaks of. You’ll be the key to taking down the Hunters once and for all.” He shakes his head as he stares at me with an awed look. “I can’t believe my daughter, my Ophelia, is the one.”

  I let out a nervous laugh as I run my fingernail over my coffee mug. “I’m not sure I believe in the whole Prophecy thing just yet. I mean, the one thing that turned me off the Society is the arranged marriage bit. Isn’t this exactly the same?” Dad shakes his head and waves his hand in the air as he sits back. “You don’t have to be romantically involved, unless that’s what you decide. The Prophecy merely states that two shifters will come together, each with similarly strong powers that will intensify because of the other, in order to take down the Hunters.” I nod lightly as I look across the table at him. “What do you mean by intensify? Is that why we saw the future together?”

  He gives a little shrug. “I really don’t know, baby. There’s no real handbook to go by on this one.” I scrunch my face together as he smiles at me. “So, I heard you are kind of a big wig in the Assembly.” He throws his head back laughing before meeting my eyes. “Yeah. I guess you could say that. I plan the missions, take out as many Hunters as I can. Next week I’ll be leaving to go on a special mission. We’re close to finding the head of the Hunters and figuring out how to enter their realm, although now that I’ve met you, I know that won’t be happening in my lifetime at least.” I frown as he chuckles. “Don’t look so sad, Ophelia. I’m still going to go on that mission and whatever happens to me in the future is still going to happen. Now, what other questions do you have?”

  I tilt my head to the side, thinking of all the questions swirling through my head. “What do these missions look like?” Dad folds his arms over his broad chest. “We go into different times, find the Hunters and kill them before they can kill us.” He gets a sad look to his eyes. “I don’t enjoy taking another man’s life, but this is what keeps all shifters safe. Although, they’re not exactly, human. If they catch us first…” He trails off as he turns to look out the window above the kitchen sink.

  “I know. Mom told me.” He looks back at me. “This isn’t an easy path to take, Ophelia, but it seems as though you were chosen to do just that.” He reaches his hand across the table and I place mine in his. He gently squeezes my hand. “You have to be careful. I know now that my time is coming to an end.” He closes his eyes and drops his head. Tears burn my eyes as he looks back to me, sorrow etched across his face. “Always be careful, Ophelia. Trust your instincts and never drop your guard. You’ll be in high demand when the Hunters hear of you and your strong ability. Especially when they find out the power couple has united.” I nod as a stray tear runs down my face. Dad stands, walking around the table to pull me into a hug. “You bring this boy here to meet me one day. Okay?”

  Once I’m back in my bedroom after visiting with my Dad, I sit on my bed in my room. My finger trails along the locket as my mind wanders. What if the Prophecy is real? I declined the Society because of their arbitrary views on arranged marriages, and now I want to join the Assembly with Cooper. Life is getting damn complicated, damn quickly. A soft knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts.

  “Come in.” Mom peeks her head through the door, her eyes slightly widening when she takes in my appearance. “You’re not ready? I thought you were going out at six?” I look down at the dress I wore to Graduation yesterday before picking up my phone to check the time. “Oh, shit!” I bounce off the bed and head straight for the adjoining bathroom, closing the door behind me as I turn on the shower. I only have thirty minutes before Cooper will be here.

  As quickly as I can, I shower, apply makeup, style my hair and throw on a summer dress. I pull my bedroom door open as I walk and balance down the hallway, slipping on a pair of wedge sandals as I go. As I round the corner of the hallway, I find Mom and Cooper in the kitchen, both with coffee cups in hand.

  Mom is facing me as I walk in. She smiles brightly at me, causing Cooper to look at me over his shoulder. He slowly turns to face me, and his eyes light up. “Wow. You look incredible, Ophelia.” I can feel my cheeks heating as I smile at him. “Thank you.” I take in his jeans and long sleeve button up shirt. Way too much clothing for Alabama in May. He apparently notices my questioning gaze.

  He picks up his blazer from the back of the bar stool. “As lovely as you look, is there any way you could change into something a little warmer?” I can’t help but smile at his boyish grin. I place one hand on my hip, mustering as much sass as I can. “What exactly should I wear?” He gives me that smile that shows off the dimple in his cheek. “It will be thirty degrees where we’re going.” My mouth drops open in fiend shock as he chuckles.

  I spin and walk back to my bedroom, walking into my closet to scan the contents, quickly settling on a long sleeve, dark green dress that hits mid-thigh and a pair of tall brown riding boots. I pluck a brown infinity scarf from the back of the door and wrap it around my neck.

  Walking back to the kitchen
in my new outfit, Cooper grins at me. “Perfect.” Mom places her coffee cup on the counter and walks by me, placing a kiss on my head as she does. “Don’t be too late.” She turns her gaze to Cooper. “I’m trusting you will keep her safe tonight. I’m sure you have experience in that department.” He nods his head. “Yes, mam.” Mom walks by me into the hallway. I hear her bedroom door shut from down the hall, leaving me alone with Cooper. I wring my hands in front of me nervously, not knowing what to say or do. He steps toward me, his eyes looking me up and down. “You look incredible.” He says as he stands mere inches in front of me.

  My whole body tingles at the proximity. Cooper lowers his hand, gently gripping mine, running his thumb along the back of my hand. “Ready for dinner?” I nod as I look up into his eyes, my heart beating wildly. He reaches into his pocket with his free hand, producing a card of some sort.

  I eye the card just as Cooper starts to transport us through time. It’s a funny feeling being on this end of shifting. Normally I’m the one in control of where I go in the past, where I show up. This is just, different. Cooper places us in an alleyway, next to a dumpster. I take a less than impressed look around as he chuckles. He pulls my hand that he’s still holding to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on the back of my hand. “I promise this isn’t where we’re having dinner, love.”

  He lowers my hand to my side, pulling his blazer from his arm and placing it over my shoulders. I quickly slip my arms through the sleeves, pulling it around me. “It really is cold here!” He laughs as he grips my hand, lacing our fingers. Leading me out of the alley we step into heavy foot traffic. Cooper drops my hand and wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side as we walk along the sidewalk.

  We stop in front of a restaurant. The awning reading ‘Gotham Bar and Grill’. I look up at the black awning as Cooper moves his hand to my lower back while opening the door, ushering us inside. The hostess smiles at me then focuses her eyes on Cooper, looking him up and down before settling on his face. “Name?” I can’t help the twinge of jealousy that bubbles in my stomach, or the scowl I give her. “Clark. Reservation for seven.”