by Kelly Oram
“Home sweet home,” I grumbled as I entered the room. “Why do I feel like I just flew over the cuckoo’s nest?”
Inside was an all white room with padded walls and plush carpet. To be honest it could have been worse. When Duncan said ‘holding cell’ I pictured a dark, dank prison with just a cot and a toilet in the corner. This place actually had a private bathroom and a real bed. There was even a bookshelf filled with books and games, and a table with some chairs.
I wrapped myself more tightly in my quilt from home and plopped down on the foot of the bed. “So, is this how I’m going to spend the rest of my life then? Locked up in this room reading romance novels and playing solitaire?”
“They’re not going to keep you locked up in here.”
I stared Duncan right in the eye and said, “Tell me the truth. Do you really think he’s ever going to let me go home?”
He sighed. Obviously the answer was no.
“Would you let me leave?” I asked him. “If you could?”
To his credit Duncan looked like he wanted to say yes but he stayed silent. I was surprised by how hurt I felt even though I’d already guessed that would be his answer.
“That’s what I thought.”
I lay down and turned my back to him.
“It’s not that simple Dani. You may not believe in the prophecy but I do. This is bigger than just you. I don’t like taking you away from your home, but you are the only person who can fulfill the prophecy and restore the balance. Without you, Evil will win.”
“Yeah, well, Evil might still win because I meant what I said. I’m not helping anyone. I’m not going to let people use me. Besides, how could I fulfill your precious prophecy when I’m under lock and key?”
“I’m sure that’s what the council is going to figure out tomorrow.”
“Great. A whole bunch of people sitting around deciding my future and I don’t even get to be a part of it.”
“They probably would have let you,” Duncan said, “if you hadn’t acted like a spoiled teenager in there. Was telling the Councilor to kiss your ass really necessary?”
I tried to hold out, but I cracked a smile. “Maybe not, but it sure made me feel better.”
Duncan laughed. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Why don’t you go get cleaned up and I’ll see about getting you a change of clothes.”
By the time I got out of the shower there were several large bags sitting on the bed. “That was quick,” I said to Duncan who was sitting at the table and reading a book.
“I imagine Constance called ahead with your sizes when we stopped on the way here.”
I glanced at the labels on the clothes in the bags. I recognized some of them and couldn’t pronounce the rest. “Wow, I think my wardrobe just took a step up.”
“That would be Gina. No one loves to shop more than her. I imagine she had fun with the council’s credit cards.”
I rummaged through the bags and was glad to find a camisole and pajama shorts instead of some Italian silk nightgown. I pulled the PJs, a tube of toothpaste and a toothbrush from the bag. “It looks like I have everything I need. You don’t have to stay any longer.”
“I’m staying here tonight,” Duncan replied without looking up from his book.
The thought of Duncan being here all night while I slept was slightly awkward. “That’s really not necessary.”
“Actually it is. If I left you’d be completely cut off from any supernatural energy. With an aura like yours, you shouldn’t be left alone. It would feel like torture by morning.”
“But I’ve been on my own before. I went almost two days until this morning without Russ or Alex. It was uncomfortable, but I could handle it.”
“You’ve been using your power a lot today. That takes a great deal of energy out of you until you learn to control it. That’s the reason you have the cravings. With your energy depleted so much, you’ll crave the energy of others more strongly.”
Duncan gave me a tired look. “There’s no need to make yourself suffer. I’ll stay with you tonight.”
“Fine, whatever.” So much for privacy. “But if you’re going to stay, you may as well make yourself useful and explain to me what they were talking about in there. What’s this other part of the prophecy?”
“Dani.” Duncan’s face was grim. “I really don’t think you want to go there. You’re not going to like it.”
“Please, Duncan? It seemed to matter a lot to them. I want to know what I have to look forward to tomorrow.”
Duncan sighed. “I repeat: ‘On the eve of that last great battle, there would rise up one more powerful than the world has ever known. Without her, Evil will win.’ I told you that much. The rest of it says, ‘Delicate she is, for she carries the power of both light and dark and could easily be swayed by those who would use her for harm. Nothing but the truest love will keep her an agent for Good.’”
“Oh, great. So they all think I’m going to go Darth Vader on them.”
“They have to be concerned after the way you acted so hateful toward them tonight.”
“Fantastic! Why don’t you just shoot me now? I’m never going to see the outside of this room.”
“We’ll just have to wait and see what the council says tomorrow. For now, there’s no use stressing about it. You may as well get some sleep.”
I ignored the suggestion to sleep. “They mentioned something about a resistance. Who are they?”
“They’re a group of supernaturals who oppose the council. Radicals who think they don’t need laws to live by.”
“Sounds like they’re just taking a page out of the council’s handbook if you ask me. I haven’t seen them living by any kind of laws. Seems to me the Supreme High Councilor does whatever he wants. Maybe there should be a resistance.”
“The resistance is dangerous. They believe that the supernatural people should come out of hiding. They want to expose us to the human world. Force people to accept us.”
“Would that be a bad thing?”
“It happens every now and then and always turns ugly. Surely you learned about the Salem witch trials in school. That started with a town learning of a single witch. Can you imagine what humans might do if they discovered the truth? There aren’t many of us left. Not enough to fight if the humans found out about us.”
“And that’s what the council believes will be the great and final battle?”
Duncan nodded. “If the resistance succeeds in their goal, it will be the end of all supernaturals.”
“And why does the council hate Alex so much? It’s not like he agrees with the resistance. He’s never told anyone about supernaturals. He never even told me about them and I am one.”
“That’s complicated.”
“Duncan. He’s like a second father to me. Russ is my best friend.”
“Best friend?” Duncan teased. “Explain that to me and I’ll explain Devereaux to you.”
I felt my stomach leap into my throat. “You’re right,” I said quickly. “We should both try to get some sleep.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“You can have the bed if you want. I’ll be fine on the floor.”
Duncan frowned at me. “You are ridiculous, Dani. You know that?”
“Hey, I was just trying to be polite.”
“Well that’s a first.”
“Fine. Take the floor then. I hope you wake up with a sore back.”
Duncan laughed and turned out the light. I threw him a pillow—threw it at him really—and gave him the blanket from the bed. Then wrapped myself up in my quilt. It was too small to cover all of me, but I didn’t care.
“Goodnight, Dani.”
“Goodnight.”
I lay there for a minute, but there was still something else that was plaguing my thoughts. “Hey, Duncan?”
“Hmm?” He sounded both sleepy and annoyed.
“What’s up with your name?”
I heard him chuckle and then he said, “It was all th
e rage when I was born.”
“On what planet? I’m pretty sure that in 1985 they picked names like Brad and Jason.”
“Don’t let my good looks fool you, youngin’. Vampires are immortal. I may have been twenty-three when I was turned, but I was born in London in 1857.”
I let out a long low whistle. “Wow. That is seriously old.”
“Go to sleep Danielle.” Now he was definitely annoyed.
I smiled to myself. “Sure thing, pops.”
I went to sleep curled up in a tight ball and woke up sprawled on my stomach with my arm dangling over the side of the bed. It took me a minute to realize it wasn’t the ground my fingers were brushing against. It was Duncan. He was lying on his back beside my bed with his hands on his chest. His fingers were tangled in mine like he’d fallen asleep holding them. He woke up when I pulled my hand away.
“What are you doing down there?” I felt shy.
Duncan stretched, then he reached up to ruffle my hair. “You were very restless last night. I thought it might help if I were a little closer.”
“Oh.” I felt myself blushing. “Thank you.”
Duncan feigned shock. “Wait! Was that gratitude? What do you know? She can be reasonable.”
“Careful,” I teased back. “Let’s not ruin my mood before the Councilor gets here. I have a feeling I’m going to need all of my patience for that meeting.”
“Good point. No more poking fun. I promise. Even if your hair is two feet in diameter right now.”
“Ponytail it is,” I said as I headed into the bathroom to get dressed.
After wrestling my hair back into a ponytail—Duncan wasn’t exaggerating about it’s size—and brushing my teeth, I found this really cute jeans skirt and a shirt that made me look like I had boobs. When I finally came out of the bathroom I looked semi decent. Even a little hot.
“Hey Dani,” Duncan said. “Come meet Gina. She brought you breakfast.”
It wasn’t hard to notice the super tall black girl standing in the all white room. She must have been at least five foot ten and was gorgeous. Like, bombshell gorgeous. I looked like a twelve-year-old boy next to her. She smiled at me and extended her hand as I walked over.
“Gina, the shopaholic with excellent taste?”
“I knew I liked you,” Gina said while clasping my hand.
I’d forgotten about the side effect touching people had for me now, and the change caught me by surprise. I gasped and swayed in place a little while Gina jumped back a good four feet. “Damn, girl!” she said once she’d recovered from her shock. “You’re a werewolf now!”
“Yeah, sorry. I forgot about that. Changing species is kind of a new development.” I looked at Duncan and added, “I guess shaking hands is out of the question anymore.”
“They said you were special,” Gina said. “But that’s some freaky business right there. Wolf looks good on you, though. Skirt too.” She raked her eyes over me and zeroed her gaze on my hair. “I know you are not planning to wear that outfit with your hair up in a ponytail!”
“Trust me, it’s better than not having it in a ponytail.”
“I feel your pain. Nobody has hair issues like a werewolf.”
“But your hair looks great.”
“Sure. Braids,” Gina said flatly. She pushed a plate across the table toward me. “But I’ve gotten pretty good at wrestling with it, so you hurry and eat that omelet and I’ll help you tame your frizz.”
Duncan took that as his cue to leave. “I’m sure you ladies don’t need any help from me for that, so I think I’m going to leave you—take a shower and get a change of clothes.”
“Mm, you sure you don’t need any help from me for that Duncan, honey?”
I was shocked by Gina’s comment but Duncan gave her a gorgeous smile and a flirty wink. “Don’t tempt me beautiful,” he said before he disappeared out the door.
Gina slumped down in a chair and waited for me to eat my breakfast. “Mm, mm, mm! That man is fine. I don’t know how you stand it. Especially with the cravings just starting. You know that is the perfect excuse to get all up on that, right? Duncan’s pretty liberal. I bet he’d go for it if you suggested it.”
“Uh, I’m only sixteen. Don’t you think he’s a little old for me?”
“Age doesn’t matter to a vampire. Duncan’s over a hundred and fifty. He’s too old for everybody but you know he’s still getting booty. Guarantee it ain’t from the ladies at the old folks’ home.”
“That’s weird.”
“Nuh-uh. I’d so go for it.”
I laughed. I was grateful for Gina’s company. I’d never had a girl friend to talk about boys with before. She was such a nice distraction from all the Doom and Gloom atmosphere I’d been stuck with lately.
I finished breakfast and then we headed into the bathroom. “Would you really go for Duncan?” I asked as Gina wet down my hair and loaded it up with mousse. “I thought vampires and werewolves were supposed to hate each other. I mean I was a vampire when I got here last night and I met that one werewolf on the council. I swear I was about ready to attack him.”
“Yeah, werewolves and vampires are normally enemies but Duncan and I are both anomalies. Blood feuds don’t generally stick with us.”
“You’re an anomaly too? I thought those were supposed to be really rare.”
“They are, but the council tends to hire us because we’re pretty handy. Like me? Werewolves can heal themselves quickly, but I can heal anybody quickly. Just by touching them. The council finds it useful.”
“And you don’t mind working for the council?”
“Are you kidding? The pay is excellent, the food is top notch, and you don’t have to hide who you are all the time. Everyone I work with is a supernatural. Who wouldn’t want to be here?”
I sighed. I guess I was the only one who didn’t.
“So what about you?” Gina asked. “You must be an anomaly too. I’ve never seen anything like what you did out there.”
“My friend Russ thought I was, but last night the Seer said I was something else.”
“You met the Seer? Girl that’s crazy!”
“You haven’t met him?”
“Nobody’s met him except for the council. They keep him locked up tighter than the President. That’s why I bet he’s hot. He’s got the mysterious thing going for him. So tell me, what’s he like? He’s hot isn’t he?”
I still had the vision of our kiss burned in my mind. “Gorgeous,” I admitted.
“I knew it!”
“He seems nice I guess. Very serious though. And quiet.”
“Hmm.” Gina frowned. “Well, he’s gorgeous anyway. So what happened when you met him? Did he look into your future?”
“He couldn’t see my future. I think it was the first time that’s ever happened to him.”
“Crazy.”
“He could read my aura though. He called me pure—whatever that means.”
Gina’s eyes bugged out of her head and she burned herself on the flat iron in her hand. “Get out! You’re really a pure?”
“I guess so. He said I was. What is it anyway?”
“Pure supernatural power. A supernatural being that wasn’t turned like a werewolf or vampire, and has no supernatural ancestry. You’re just born with it out of nowhere. Your power comes directly from the Creator. Pures are incredibly powerful and a thousand times more rare than anomalies.”
“So you’ve never met a pure before?”
“The only pure we even know about right now is the Seer. They say a pure comes along maybe once every hundred years or so. I don’t think there’s ever been more than one alive at the same time. The council must be freaking out right now.”
“Pretty much.”
“Damn, girl. That is amazing. I’m, like, afraid to touch you now.”
I laughed. “That’s okay. It looks like my hair is done.”
Gina looked at me in the mirror and smiled with pride. “I told you I have experience with di
fficult hair.”
“Experience? You’re a master. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my hair so well behaved before. I hardly look like me.”
“I definitely wouldn’t recognize you,” Duncan said, appearing in the doorway of the bathroom. “Of course, yesterday you looked like a drowned cat that had been run over by a cheese grater.”
“Duncan!” Gina yelled. “You’re going to give her a complex.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “And remember how you promised no poking fun this morning?”
Duncan shrugged. “Can’t help it. I used to have a little sister who was just like you.”
“So she was awesome?” I asked.
“No. She was stubborn and defiant with crazy hair.”
“That’s enough out of you,” Gina said. “Get out of here. This is official girl time. Go bug someone else for a while.”
“Sorry. Councilor Sena was looking for you. Something about faxing some legal documents?”
Gina met my eyes in the mirror and sighed. “Playtime’s over. I’ll come find you after work though.”
“Looking forward to it.”
“You do look nice.” Duncan admitted after Gina left.
I rolled my eyes at the compliment. “Great. I finally look decent and the only guy I have to show off for is a billion years old and thinks I remind him of his little sister.”
Duncan laughed and reached out to ruffle my newly straightened head. I jumped out of the way squealing “Don’t mess up my hair!” and he laughed even harder.
He pulled a box off the shelf and gave it a playful shake. “Come on Dani, I challenge you to a game of Monopoly.”
Three riveting hours of Monopoly later, the Supreme High Councilor graced us with his presence. Duncan stood like it was the proper thing to do when the Supreme High Councilor entered a room, so I stood up too—I was trying to play nice and hope to be released.
The Councilor looked at me and then did a double take. “My! You do clean up rather nicely, Danielle. I trust that you have been well looked after?”
“Yes, thank you.” The words were painful to say, but it worked. The Councilor did another double take and smiled sincerely this time.