I’d better get going before I level the entire house to the ground.
Feeling like a complete fool now, I wrap the dagger in a sweatshirt someone left behind. I’m probably being paranoid, but if this shit can’t be destroyed by me, then it must be handled with care.
When I return to the apartment, I find Bryce and Morpheus poring over Daisy’s father’s diary once again.
“Where the hell have you been?” Bryce asks.
“In the treehouse.” I set the dagger on the kitchen counter. “Where’s Phoenix?”
“He was gone before we were up,” Morpheus replies.
“You’re looking a little better,” I say.
“I don’t feel better,” he grumbles, then takes a sip of his beverage—hot tea would be my guess.
I stare at the bundle in front of me and debate what to do.
“You know the dagger I found on Daisy?” I start.
“Yeah.” Bryce looks up with interest.
“I couldn’t destroy it.”
I turn to them, and sure as shit, both are staring wide-eyed at me.
“You’re joking,” Bryce breathes.
“Nope. Not even the handle cracked. This is indeed the ultimate weapon against us.”
“Do you think the Knights are producing them?” Morpheus asks.
“I’m not sure. If the material is dangerous to us, it’s dangerous to them. Wouldn’t handling it and molding it into a weapon be unwise?” Bryce poses the question that was on my mind.
“Then they have Norms working for them. Maybe Daisy’s father was one of those Norms,” I say, and immediately my brother’s posture changes.
“You aren’t still holding a grudge against Daisy because of her father, are you?” I ask.
He turns away and doesn’t answer my question.
“It’s not the diary that’s making Bryce act like an asshole to Daisy. It’s my vision,” Morpheus says.
“Fuck off, Morpheus,” Bryce grits out, standing up suddenly.
Bryce and Daisy’s infinity band vision. He’s upset about that while, when I think about it, all I feel is jealousy. I’m jealous that my brother is destined to form an eternal bond with the girl we shared.
“Maybe you won’t form any bond with her,” I say.
Morpheus gives me a droll look. “When have my visions never come to pass?”
“Shut up, you two,” Bryce growls. “And you’re both wrong about why I’m pissed.”
“Care to enlighten us?” I raise an eyebrow.
Bryce turns to face us sporting the most pitiful expression I’ve ever seen on anyone. He looks like a dog without a bone. “I’m angry at myself. I messed things up with Daisy, and I don’t know how to fix it.”
My jaw slackens, and I catch a similar reaction from Morpheus. He leans forward and grabs the diary from the coffee table. “How about if you return this to her?”
“I was planning to, but I don’t think that’s going to cut it. I kicked her out while she was ill. She could have died because of me. That’s inexcusable.”
Hearing the agony in my brother’s tone makes one thing excruciatingly clear to me: Bryce is in love with Daisy. Hell, I don’t know how I feel about that. It’s one thing for us to compete for her attention when it’s meaningless fun. But Daisy hasn’t been meaningless fun for a while. I’m not sure if she ever was. The strange emotion swirling in my chest, the crushing pain I wish I could eradicate, tells me I might also be in—no! I can’t allow myself to even think that. Daisy is an obsession. Nothing more.
I jump off the couch and head for the door. What I need is to find a distraction.
“Where are you going?” Morpheus asks.
“Out.”
It seems I have to return to my old habits if I’m to evict Daisy from my mind. Unearthly Desires it is.
29
Daisy
With my heart in my throat, I stride across the linoleum floor, ignoring the strong smell of ammonia and other nasty odors I don’t want to think about. The nurse behind the desk is on the phone, and she totally pretends she doesn’t see me. That would have been fine if the call wasn’t personal.
“Excuse me. I need to know where Felicity Thoms is.”
With a roll of her eyes, the nurse glowers at me. “Can’t you see that I’m busy?”
She returns her attention to whoever’s on the other side of the line.
Fucking bitch.
I yank the phone cord and disconnect the handle.
“Hey, what the he—”
I smack my palms flat on the counter and lean forward. “Listen, Nurse Whatever, I don’t have time to listen to you gossip about who you think is going to win on a stupid TV reality show. Do your damn job and tell me where Felicity Thoms is. Now!”
The woman, who is a large Fringe who could totally kick my ass, leans back and widens her eyes in fear. I must be projecting a pretty strong crazy vibe. Crazy people, even Norms, are dangerous.
“She’s in room 108, but only kin is—”
“We’re her family,” I grit out, then head in the direction I believe the rooms are. I just want to get the hell out of the reception area before the nurse wises up and realizes she’s dealing with an ordinary puny Norm.
At a crossroads, I immediately veer right.
“Yo, Daisy. I think it’s this way.” Toby points at the sign with the room numbers.
Ah shit. Rage is making me blind. I turn around and continue down the hallway in the right direction. The only reason I’m not sprinting is because I don’t want to draw attention to us.
“That was some serious scary technique you used there,” Toby says. “And that nurse was a Fringe.”
“I could have taken her,” I lie.
We find Felicity’s room easily enough. Before I go in, I pull the medical chart from the plastic sleeve mounted on the wall next to her door. Scanning through the documents quickly, my horror increases. Felicity sustained multiple fractures everywhere. Oh my God.
“Daisy?” a masculine voice says from behind me.
“Luigi.” I walk over to him, giving him a hug. “Tell me everything you know.”
Easing off the embrace, I catch his grim expression. “I don’t know much, only what the cops told me after they took her statement. She went out in Emelton, a different bar than the one we celebrated her birthday at. When she was walking back to her car, she was jumped by a motorcycle gang. They were Fringes.”
I clamp my jaw shut while I curl my hands into fists, digging my nails into my palms. Fringes. Fucking Fringes. We spend so much time worrying about Idols that sometimes we forget the most dangerous threats to us are the ones lower on the power level.
“I’m going in,” I say. “I have to know what happened from her mouth.”
“She might be sleeping. I overheard the nurses saying they had given her a sedative.”
“I’ll wait until she’s up, then. But you should go home now, Luigi. You look exhausted.”
He runs his hand over his shaved head. “I’m pretty beat. I’ll to try to catch a few hours of sleep before I come back. I’ll keep trying to reach Poppy too. He needs to know what happened to Felicity.”
“Yeah, you do that.”
Luigi says goodbye and walks away with heavy steps and head hanging low. Rosie and Toby are hanging a little away from me, clutching to each other.
“Are you going in now?” Rosie asks.
“Yeah, I have to.”
“We’ll wait for you here, then,” Toby says, then steers Rosie to the chairs at the end of the corridor.
Facing Felicity’s door, I take a steadying breath, and then I enter.
It’s dim in the room. The shades are shut, so the only light is from the lamp on the nightstand. But there’s still enough illumination for me to see the bruises on Felicity’s face, the bandage around her forehead, and her broken arm.
My heart breaks at the sight. What did those bastards do to you, Fefe?
With soft steps, I approach her bed. My
throat closes up, and a sob escapes my lips before I can contain it. Not only did the bastards beat the shit out of her, they also branded their mark on her chest. I can see the burn scar in the shape of a skull with wings right below her sternum.
Almost immediately, the heartache changes into pure rage. It’s a firestorm brewing in the pit of my stomach. The need to obliterate those responsible for Felicity’s current state is almost overwhelming. I have murder on my mind, and I don’t feel one bit bad about it.
Felicity’s eyelids tremble before she slowly peels them open. At first, she doesn’t seem to be able to focus on anything until she turns her face to me.
“Daisy?” Her voice is raspy.
I cover her hand with mine. “Yeah, Fefe. It’s me. How are you feeling?”
“Like I was hit by an eighteen-wheeler. Everything hurts.”
“I thought they gave you painkillers.”
“They did, but it’s shit.”
“What happened?”
Felicity’s eyebrows scrunch together as she closes her eyes for a brief second.
“I finally picked the wrong guy,” she murmurs.
“What do you mean?”
“I was seeing this biker. I met him online. Last night he invited me to hang out at this bar in Emelton that’s popular among motorcycle gangs. I didn’t know that until I got there. I’m not that stupid.” She laughs humorlessly. “Anyway, I get there and pretty quickly I realize the asshole was planning to share me with his gang members. So I took off. That was when they jumped me and did this.”
“What’s the name of their gang?” I ask.
She looks pointedly at me. “Why do you want to know, Daisy? I didn’t even tell the cops that.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t understand how those criminals operate. You tell on them, then your life is forfeit, as well as the lives of your friends. They hold grudges like no other.”
“They need to pay for what they did to you,” I say with enough emphasis that Felicity flinches.
“Just let it go, Daisy. It’s for the best.” She looks away.
My eyes are brimming with unshed tears, but they’re the angry kind. I’m so frustrated I could scream. It’s bad enough that we can’t do anything to punish Idols when they hurt us. But Fringes too? Hell to the fucking no.
“Tell me at least the name of the bar you went to,” I say.
“Who do you take me for, kid? I know you. You’re fearless. God, you go to that school filled with Idols without breaking a sweat. I’m not telling you anything.”
“But, Fefe—”
“No buts, Daisy. I won’t have you risking your life to avenge me. You’re not an Idol. You can’t fight this battle and win.”
I let go of her hand and step back, afraid she’ll be able to sense I’m shaking.
“Good morni—oh, I didn’t know you had a visitor,” a masculine voice says from the door.
“Hi, Dr. Ackerman,” Felicity says with a little extra pep to her tone. It’s easy to see why. The doctor is cute. Unfortunately, he’s a Fringe too.
“I’m Daisy, Felicity’s sister. How is she, Doc?” I ask.
The doctor frowns, then peers at Felicity. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“Half sister,” Felicity jumps in. “She lives out of town.”
“Ah, well. Felicity had a concussion we’re keeping an eye on, a broken arm, broken nose, and several lacerations on her face, but luckily no internal bleeding.”
“Isn’t it nuts how he recites all that as if he’s reading a grocery list?” Felicity quips.
“Yeah, nuts,” I reply with way less enthusiasm. “When can I take my sister home?”
“Oh, I’d like to keep her for observation for a few more days.”
I quick glance at my friend tells me she’s not minding that at all. Only Felicity could see the positive in this situation. I wish I could simply brush her attack aside and forget all about it, but I can’t. I’m done with the people I love getting killed or hurt.
“Fefe, I’m going to run by your house and grab some clothes and other necessities. I’ll be back later.” I pat her hand.
“Okay, honey.”
I walk out of the room, leaving Felicity alone with her doctor. Toby and Rosie rise when they see me, and we meet halfway in the corridor.
“How is she?” Rosie asks.
“A mess of bruises and a couple breaks, but she’s in good spirits.”
“Really? And what about the attack? Did she say anything about that?” Toby crosses his arms.
“Not enough. Only that she went to a shady bar in Emelton popular among the MC gang crowd. She didn’t give me a name.”
“Why would you want the name?” Rosie narrows her eyes.
“No reason.” I look away.
“Daisy, please let the police handle this,” Rosie pleads.
I don’t want Rosie to worry, so I force my face into a neutral expression and say, “Of course. I’m not crazy, Rosie.”
But in reality I am. There’s no chance in hell I’m going to let those motherfuckers get away with hurting my friend. Fringes or not, they will pay.
30
Daisy
There can’t be that many bars in Emelton that cater to the criminal underbelly of Saturn’s Bay. I’m not too concerned about that. I’m thirsty for revenge, but I know my limitations. There is one person who can help me though. He should be as invested in giving those Fringes the punishment they deserve as me. Felicity has worked at Poppy’s Joint for years; she must mean something to Mr. X.
But to speak to Mr. X, I have to wait until Unearthly Desires opens. And I need my own mode of transportation. So when we drop by Felicity’s apartment, I convince Toby and Rosie to enjoy the rest of their day. It takes a lot of cajoling on my part to get rid of them. Shit, I practically had to pimp my baby sister to Toby.
Whatever. I’m not going to feel guilty about that. Besides, they’re both responsible. Their idea of a hot date probably includes a movie-and-pizza combo. Unlike me, who slept with two different guys in a matter of days. I’m not going to think about that either.
It doesn’t take long for me to pack an overnight bag for Felicity and return to the hospital in her car. I’m glad she’s asleep when I arrive, because pretending I’m okay with her predicament is fucking hard.
I still have a lot of time to kill, so I drive by Poppy’s Joint, but the elusive owner is still MIA. He’s never stayed away too long from the diner, and his absence is beginning to worry me. There’s nothing left for me to do but drive to Unearthly Desires.
When I arrive, I’m surprised to see the place is already open. I’ve always assumed strip bars’ hours of operation were at nighttime, but I guess perverts need their entertainment at all hours of the day. I circle around the building and park in the back. It’s my luck that the same asshole Fringe is manning the back door. Memories of my first time here come to the forefront of my mind. I had been desperate then, and afraid. I’m no longer feeling those weakening emotions, but I’m just as determined to get in.
Taking a deep breath, I exit the car and march toward the mountain of a bully.
He holds up a hand. “Where do you think you’re goi—wait a second. I remember you.”
“I need to see Mr. X,” I say.
“You’re the brat who came here a few weeks ago and had an attitude.”
“If you remember me, then move out of the way.”
His lips turn into a perverted grin. “Oh no, sugar. You’re not escaping so easily today. I believe you still owe me payment.”
He makes a motion to grab my arm, but quick as a whip, I move out of the way and extend my leg so the big asshole trips and falls on his knees.
“You sneaky little bitch.” He begins to rise, his face contorted in rage.
Without stopping to think, I kick his ugly mug. I hear a crunch followed by his bellowing scream. Fuck. I think I broke his nose. How did I do that? I didn’t realize I was that strong.
He finally gets up, covering his bloody nose with one hand. I have no idea what kind of gift he possesses, but his beefy fists alone could do serious damage to me. I backpedal until my butt hits the wall. I know I won’t have time to slip through the door or run around him.
But then I remember the old pepper spray I have in my bag. It’s a safe bet it doesn’t work on Idols, so I ended up forgetting I had it. Without breaking eye contact with the Fringe, I shove my hand inside my purse and curl my fingers around the canister.
With a roar, the jackass charges, ready to punch my face. I spray the entire contents of the canister in his eyes. He steps back, rubbing his eyes and yelling like a banshee. I don’t waste any time, yanking the door open and entering the dark hallway beyond. Then I lock it and take off into a run toward Mr. X’s office, praying he’s there. If he isn’t, I’m truly fucked. A bolted door won’t keep the bouncer out for long, considering he can just walk around the building and use the main entrance.
But my luck has definitely run out. Mr. X is not in his office. Damn it. Without missing a beat, I head for the club. The stage is currently occupied by a girl wearing the same blonde wig I did on my debut night. I only spare her one fleeting glance before my eyes dart around the dark area, searching for Mr. X.
At this hour, the club is relatively empty, so it’s easy for me to see he isn’t here.
A rough hand curls around my forearm, making my heart leapfrog to my throat. The bouncer found me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” He turns me around, but it’s Rufio staring daggers at me. His hair is messy as if he’s been ripping at it, and his cheeks are flushed.
“I-I—”
“You! You aren’t escaping now, whore!” the bouncer bellows from somewhere behind me.
Rufio looks over my shoulder and, in the blink of an eye, steps in front of me.
“Stop right there, asshole,” he commands.
“She’s an intruder.” The bouncer sneers at me. He’s brought reinforcements, another big guy with ill intentions.
“She’s with me. Now back off.” Rufio takes a menacing step toward them.
Ruthless Idols: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 2) Page 16