by Jaymin Eve
A knock at the door startled me. I turned and rested back against the bench. “Yes,” I called out, hoping it was Daniel and not some rando. I did not feel up to dealing with an Imperial alien today.
The door cracked open and my heart did that stupid fluttery thing when a familiar face appeared in the open space. Daniel was dressed all in black, the slightest of dark stubble on his face, adding even more sexy to his appeal.
“Hey, was just checking in on you,” he said, leaning against the doorframe. He focused completely on me, eyes intense on my face. “We need to head to Astoria soon if we want to make class today. If you feel up to it.”
I forced myself to stop staring at him like he was a cool drink of water in the desert and rubbed a hand across my hair. “I feel fine, so far. Being here seems to have restored my energy.” Clearing my throat, I added, “And thanks for looking after me yesterday. You know, putting me to bed.” Dammit, that sounded far sexier than I had intended.
“I wanted you in my room, so I could keep an eye on you.” His voice was a caressing whisper across my senses. “I trust most of my people, but we know there are traitors. Logic says that a lot of those will be Imperial. Until I weed them out, I’m going to be keeping a close eye on you.”
Daniel’s bed! No wonder it was so awesome. Overlords probably got all the awesome things.
I must have been glaring and blinking rapidly, because Daniel lost some of his cool and actually smiled at me, that damn dimple creasing his cheek and sending my insides crazy. “I slept on the couch. No need to worry.”
He had it all wrong, I had not been worried about that at all. My mental images had gone straight to me sharing a bed with Daniel, and worry had not been the emotion that thought evoked.
Shaking it off with a grin, I tried to lighten the mood. “You don’t have to do that on my behalf. If we need to stay close for awhile … well, your bed is huge. I’m sure we can share. Just don’t hog the covers.”
The gold rings in his dark eyes felt like they were burning into me, raising my body temperature. And, of course, in that moment I lost my mind completely.
“I need a shower,” I blurted out.
Smooth, Callie. So freaking smooth. God, I was a moron at times. If only my mother had cared as much about my people skills as she did about my ability to roundhouse kick a dude in the head. She should have made it a priority to not make me this awkward.
Daniel didn’t react, even though I knew he was laughing at me. His lips might have been pressed in a firm line, but his eyes were sparkling with mirth. “I’ll show you how to use the shower. I’ll leave some new clothes and such outside the door.” He pointed to a low white cabinet just before the stall. “Everything you need to wash is in there. We use toothbrushes here as well. We stole the idea from Earth. There are some new ones in there.”
Daniel soon had cascades of water and steam filling the glass cube of the shower, and he turned to leave the room.
“Hey,” I called out, halting him. When he turned back, I smiled. “Thank you for not removing my clothes while I was asleep, even though I’m sure you didn’t want these disgusting rags on your sheets. It’s just that I … I was in a vulnerable position, and you didn’t step over the line.”
His eyes burned into me, leaving me feeling as if I was completely naked and exposed in front of him. How did he do that?
“Trust is more important than a bit of blood on my sheets,” he said, words deep and low. “I would never risk yours.”
Then he left the room, and I wasn’t sure if he might not have just taken a small piece of me with him.
When I finally pulled myself together – and it took way longer than it should have – I wasted no time stripping off my filthy clothes and tossing them as far from me as possible. I never wanted to see them again. On top of the fact they were beyond yuck, they also represented everything that had been taken from me over the last few days. My mother and life topping the list.
Stepping into the warm spray, I let out a low moan. It was steamier than I expected, but Daniel had explained that the water here – the legreto – was not exactly like Earth’s. Something I had learned yesterday, but it was even more different when heated – thicker, becoming an even mix of steam and water.
I found it quite soothing, and it cleaned so well, without me even using soap or anything to wash myself. The water that ran off me was red at first. The sight of that sent me into a bit of a frenzy. I attacked my body with a coarse scrubbing block that had been in the new supplies Daniel pointed out. Then I used a minty smelling wash for my hair and body, and by the time I was done, there was no blood – or layers of skin – left on me anywhere.
Stepping out, I grabbed the large webbed material that they used here to dry themselves. It absorbed the water quickly, much better than the ragged towels we had back in the condo. My hair fluffed out around me, thick straight strands falling naturally to my shoulders. I cut my own hair most of the time, and I’d gotten very good at mimicking simple but fashionable hairstyles.
When I was dry, I crossed to gently ease the door open. A pile of clothes was sitting in front it, just as Daniel promised, so I quickly gathered it up and shut the door again. A black bra and panties were on top, and I stared at it for many long moments.
Okay, how the hell had he managed to find me underwear? Was this some stranger’s underwear? Could I be picky and not wear it? I mean, it looked clean – it looked brand new actually – but it seemed kind of weird.
As I lifted the bra up, a white piece of paper fell out. Bending over, I picked it up. It was folded in half, and when I opened it I realized it was a message, hand written. The flowy words did not work well with my stupid inability to read like a normal person, but after about ten minutes I figured out that the note was from Emma and she was writing to tell me about the clothes. I managed to read the entire thing and by the end, I was more than a little impressed with myself.
Hey Callie, Emma here, it started.
Dan asked me to send some clothes over for you, but of course I am in Astoria, not Overworld, so I asked Star, Lexen’s sister and a great friend of mine, to procure something. She’s always giving me clothes. Somehow in my size. I hope you like what she sends.
p.s See you in school
p.p.s The underwear is brand new. It freaked me out at first, too.
The warmth in my chest was strong enough to be worrying, but I was starting to recognize the sensation. Friendship. It was nice.
I slipped the underwear on, marveling at how comfortable they were. The material was very fine, almost like silk, but it wasn’t shiny or slippery. I personally had never been a fan of silk, not in sheets or clothing. I didn’t like the texture. This was the perfect mix, though, just smooth enough to be the most comfortable thing I had ever worn.
The clothes were very similar to what I wore yesterday. Jeans, which somehow fit me perfectly, just as Emma had said. And a simple white shirt – also in a similar high-quality material to my underwear. There were socks, but no shoes. Which was fine, because I was not giving up my Converse. They were a staple in my wardrobe.
One last glance in the mirror was enough to show that I no longer looked like a murder victim. I ran my hand across my throat again, images of Laous’ blade slamming into my mind. I wondered if I would ever forget that sensation of being cut, of the fear and cold which filled my body as the blood dripped out of it.
“You ready to go, Callie?” Daniel called through the door, startling me from the memories holding me in their thrall.
With a shake of my head, I turned from my reflection and hurried across to open the door. Daniel must have been right on the other side, because we were suddenly face to face. I tilted my head back. “Oh, hey,” I said. “All ready to go. Just need my shoes.”
He didn’t say anything, but he did run his gaze over my newly-washed hair and face. When those pretty eyes settled on mine, I sucked in a low breath, hoping he didn’t notice anything odd in my gaze. I didn’t want t
o talk about what happened yesterday, I just needed time to deal with it. In my own way.
“You look a lot better,” he said, a husky murmur of words.
I swallowed roughly. “I feel better,” I mumbled, awkward as always. “Thanks, again.”
He nodded, taking a step back, and I felt like I could breathe again. How did he take up all the space and air in the room when he was in it? It wasn’t possible for people – even alien people – to do that, right?
“Your shoes have been cleaned. They are over on that stand.” He pointed to a small table near an open door. I was just reaching out to grab them when a travel mug emitting a delicious smell stopped me in my tracks.
Before I could think, I was diving on the cup, cradling its warmth to my chest. “Oh my precious,” I cried. “I have missed you.”
Daniel let out a low rumble of laughter. “I figured you might need that to start the day.”
He had no idea; the scent of the coffee was actually bringing tears to my eyes.
“My mom got me addicted,” I said, lifting it to my lips. “When we would move towns in the middle of the night, she’d ply me with coffee so I’d stay awake and make sure she didn’t sleep. It was the start of a beautiful friendship.”
The first sip had my eyes closing; a sigh escaped. Holy God above, they made good coffee here.
“Do you think you can drink that and walk?” Daniel sounded amused and I opened one eye to glare at him.
“Could you maybe leave us alone? You’re interrupting a perfect moment.”
His grin was lethal. I was starting to think that between Daniel and coffee, there was too much stimulation going on right now. Placing my precious cup down just for a moment, I wasted no time pulling my shoes on, then we were off, moving along a hallway. I took sips as we walked, and with each mouthful I started to feel more like myself. The hall continued on for some time, and I kept expecting to see other doors, or rooms spanning off it, but there was nothing except some very fancy pieces of art.
I made a comment about that, and Daniel flicked his head to me. “This is the overlord’s wing,” he said. “We’re on top of the incubation level of Imperial; no one else lives here. It changed itself to my preferences when Laous had his title removed.”
I blinked a few times, stumbling and grinding to a halt. “What do you mean it changed itself?”
He had walked a few more strides before he realized I wasn’t following; he spun to return to my side. “This entire world is formed from a powerful energy…”
“The network, I know that,” I interrupted.
His lips twitched slightly. “Yes, the network. Imperial, being below the surface of Overworld, makes its connection stronger than any other land. My house literally changes with the whim of the overlord. I could rewrite everything here. The only thing which saved us when Laous was overlord is that the council monitors our activities, and any abuse of the system would start a war.”
Un-freaking-believable. “He probably kept his crazy contained because he thought he had bigger fish to fry with this secret keepers thing.”
Daniel nodded, eyes narrowed. “Yep, it was his plan all along. Kill my father. Somehow confuse the system and take over. We still don’t know how he did that, but there was something in the way my father died … I think Laous absorbed his energy, which made the network believe he was the next overlord.”
That sounded like a horrible way to die, and I wondered if Daniel had seen the body.
“He was a husk, drained of life and blood and energy. Like petrified wood.”
Guess that answered that question.
“My father was killed, too.” Oh, for fu—
Why did I over-share when I felt upset by something? This was not about me, it was about Daniel. He focused on me, concern creasing his forehead.
“What happened?”
I shrugged. “Workplace accident was what they told my mom. I wasn’t born yet, so I never met him. Apparently, he used to work in factories. The forklift malfunctioned and pinned him against a huge shelf. It was instant death.”
I still felt a pang for the man I had never known. In my mind, I always believed that he would have made my life better. He would have brought me love.
“Do you think the ‘accident’ had anything to do with the secret keepers?” I asked Daniel. It was something I couldn’t just disregard; too much was happening in my life that seemed to be connected to it.
He considered it, before shaking his head. “I doubt it. The secret has not been in jeopardy until recently. Most likely it was just an accident.”
I sighed. “Apparently my dad was the one who brought me into this crazy life. Probably why my mom has always been so angry with me.”
Daniel surprised me by stepping a little closer, his heat warming my exposed skin. “Did you know you were born in the springs which run through the bottom level of the justices? Redemption.”
I tried to swallow down my shock. I’d known bits of this, but the more I learned the crazier it seemed. I’d thought I was born in Austin, Texas. My mom was a little off on her geography.
“I’m still human, right?”
Daniel nodded. “You’re still a human. Just a more advanced version than the rest of your species. On top of the longevity of life, which you share with me, you should also have an increased ability to heal. The network helps us heal quickly, which is how your throat is no longer sporting a blade mark.”
On instinct I reached for my neck, those damn images of my death springing up again to torment me. Pushing them away, I said, “There’s at least three others like me. We can be a human super-squad, kicking asses and taking names.”
Daniel almost looked pleased by my words. “The four secret keepers this time are all female, according to the council.”
So, four secret keepers, all born in the same year, all born here in the different houses of Overworld. And all female. I liked the girl-power side of it immensely. Still, it was a freaking lot to take in, especially with my upbringing. My mother had tried to poison me toward these Daelighters, but she hadn’t counted on Daniel. From almost the first moment I heard his voice, he had soothed my distrust. Now, I was open to the possibility of being part of their world.
“Come on,” Daniel finally said, walking again. “We’re going to be really late if we don’t make it back to Earth soon.”
I hurried after him, trying not to let all of my confused thoughts and emotions overwhelm me. Lifting the coffee to my lips, I could have cried at how empty it was. One cup was never enough.
“Tell me about this Hades and Persephone fable.”
I was so caught up in mourning my coffee that I almost missed the question. It surprised me that he remembered that from yesterday, but it was nice that he had. The story was one of the few myths I was well-versed in. A favorite of my mother, who liked to push the consequences of messing with bad boys who needed a woman to change them. “Will never happen, Callie!” she’d yell at me over and over. “Just stay away from them. Men like that don’t change.”
Whoops. Sorry, Mom, I didn’t listen and now I’m tied to a powerful alien that rules the underworld.
Holding my cup with both hands, I smiled at him. “It’s a Greek myth. Hades was the god of the underworld – he ruled over the dead. The myth said that one of the rare times Hades left his domain, he caught sight of Persephone, who was the daughter of a goddess.” I paused for second to think. It had been a while since I heard the story. “I’m not actually sure what her mother ruled over, but something to do with nature. When Hades saw Persephone, he fell instantly in love with her and kidnapped her – as you do – bringing her to the underworld. I’m not sure exactly what happened after that, because I’m crap at reading and my mom liked to only tell the parts she enjoyed, but I believe that Persephone’s mother … Demeter … was really upset, for obvious reasons. Hades ended up making a deal with her that Persephone would stay with him six months of the year, and then go back to her mother for the other six
. I think that’s why there’s beautiful weather like spring and summer for half the year, and winter for the other half. Persephone’s mother mourns the loss of her daughter and brings the icy weather.”
We had reached the end of the hallway now. Daniel hadn’t looked in my direction since I started talking, but I knew he was listening. He hit a button on the wall and finally turned to me. “Did Persephone always hate Hades for what he did? For how he trapped her with him for six months of every year?”
Gold burned into me, those eyes too much for an almost-mortal human to stare at. Swallowing the huge lump in my throat, I cleared it and said, “No, actually, she fell in love with him. She saw past the mean, lonely bastard and … well, gave him her heart.” My voice was way huskier than I’d ever heard it before. “She mourned the six months she was away from him.” There might have been another version where she hated him, but I preferred the one with the love.
I could not tear my gaze from Daniel’s. I yearned to know what was carving his face into such an intense expression. I couldn’t tell if he was pleased or not with the final part to the myth, the happyish ending of their story. Before I could ask, a ding had him turning away.
A door slid across the wall, and when Daniel stepped inside, I followed. He pushed a button on a side panel and I realized this was very reminiscent of an elevator, only we shot up in the air so fast that my stomach rolled. I was not losing all of that coffee, though, so I closed my eyes and tried to focus on keeping my stomach contents in place. If I’d had some food to go with it, I might have been less nauseous.
“You need to eat.”
I jerked my head up. He was staring ahead at the wall. “Can you read my mind?” I asked, a little horrified by all of my recent thoughts. Dammit. They should have told me that from the start. I could have guarded my random internal conversations then.