by Ashley, Eden
They’d stopped by a drive-in to reward Max for his excellent detective work at the library. The kid was still busy stuffing his face with the biggest burger on the menu. Orrin parked the truck at the curb and opened Kali’s door. Max climbed out onto the sidewalk beside them, politely wiping his greasy fingers before handing over the book. Kali looked at him warily. “Maybe you should stay in the truck.” Grinning, Max strolled ahead anyway, disappearing into the shop.
She stared after him, taking a moment to study the building. Though the façade had obviously been renovated, there was a sense of the original stonework underneath. The store front was decorated with old volumes stacked beside a vase of pretty flowers. She knew little about botany but recognized the pink blossoms as oleanders and begonias. Their colors were perfectly complemented by strange plants of deep blue. The arrangement was odd, to say the least. Kali was about to go in, but stopped when she noticed Orrin had not followed. She turned back to him with a questioning look.
Orrin shook his head almost imperceptibly. “The smell is offensive to me. I will wait here.”
Kali laughed. Orrin’s strange mannerisms had started to grow on her. “It might be the flowers.”
The bell dinged as the door closed behind her. Dust mingled with the musk that tended to cling to old things, hanging heavily in the air. Maybe to someone with a keener nose, this smell would be overpowering.
A pudgy man with twinkly blue eyes greeted her. His name tag read “Harry.”
“Excuse our mess. My assistant has missed a week of work. I assume he’s taken ill.” Harry’s eyes went to the large book supported by Kali’s thin arms. “What have you got there?”
He reached for the book. She quickly twisted away. “Whoa. You get right to the point, don’t you?”
Harry withdrew his hands but rubbed them together excitedly. “How can I help you?’
Kali glanced around. She wondered why she didn’t see Max; after all, it was such a small store. “This book is written in a weird language. Maybe there’s someone here who can read it?”
“Yes, of course. Please follow me.” The old man shuffled away.
She trailed behind him at a slower pace. Toward the back of the shop, there was no natural light. Even the florescent lighting was dim. Kali felt a bit apprehensive. The last harmless looking old guy she’d encountered had killed Mack, stabbed Shannon, and chased her through the desert.
A bulb hung above a workbench, glowing dully. The illumination was probably meant to give off enough light to see by, but not enough to damage delicate manuscripts. Kali stood on the opposite side of the bench and put the book in front of her.
Harry’s wrinkled fingers twitched. Fumbling a magnifier from his pocket, he pressed the glass against his eyeball. “Темные Л?орды,” he read aloud.
“Excuse me?” Kali had caught none of that.
“Dark Lords,” he translated.
“You know this language?”
Harry opened the book and scanned a few pages past the title. “From what I can tell, the script is a peculiar blend of Russian and Assan. The latter has been extinct for over two hundred years. There are very few who can read this.”
Her shoulders slumped. “But the book doesn’t even look that old. Why would someone write a book in a language no one can read? It’s kind of a paradox.”
The old man closed the book and carefully examined its joints and covers. “To protect secrets,” he answered distantly. He ran a finger between the two endsheets and across the hinge. “There is someone here who may be able to help.”
Out of thin air, a woman appeared to stand at Harry’s side. Strong features and pale skin should have made her ugly. Instead, she was oddly attractive. Her mane of fiery red hair was pulled back into a sleek bun. A wildly patterned scarf of bright colors contrasted with her otherwise dark attire. Kali presumed this woman had to be the designer of the bouquet displayed in the window.
“This is Lara.” Harry’s voice trembled. “She is filling in as my assistant until further notice.”
“Hello.” Lara smiled, bowing her head modestly. “May I see what you have?”
Kali felt hesitant but conceded. “Go ahead. Help yourself.”
Pale, delicate hands fluttered out to caress the book. “Are you looking for something in particular or would you like to know all that it says?” Lara’s eyes held Kali’s. “The latter would require a private meeting.”
A warning chill crawled across Kali’s skin. Harry’s assistant was very creepy. It took a concentrated effort not to recoil. “Um……no.” Forcing herself to reach forward, Kali turned the book to the picture of the green eyed warrior. Her hand grazed Lara’s fingers in the process. The woman’s skin was icy. “Just tell me what it says about him.”
Lara waved her hand over the picture, letting out what sounded like a purr. “This was not a man. He was the most powerful shapeshifter in the thirteenth century. His name was “Бэйн в?олк.” Her dark eyes floated up. “Banewolf.” Lara began reading, “Banewolf led an unstoppable army of elite warriors. Armed with skins of the wolf and weapons forged from the fires of Altai, his army brought a halt to the plague of darkness in 1350 A.D. During times of peace, his people, the Warekin, made their homes in the plains of the Golden Mountains. Both excellent horseman and farmers, Warekin became known as the humane warriors.
“After ascending to the highest military rank, Banewolf betrayed his people. Responsible for the slaughter of hundreds, he was stripped of honor and sentenced to death. But Banewolf evaded capture and fled his homeland, choosing to live the rest of his days as a fugitive.” Lara stopped and searched Kali’s face before continuing. “Eventually, his leaderless unit disbanded, assimilating into surrounding cultures. Left defenseless, the remaining Warekin retreated deep into the mountains.”
Her throat felt like parchment paper. “Is that all?”
Lara lifted an impeccably shaped brow. “Isn’t that enough?”
It was suddenly hot in the bookstore. Through the buzzing in her ears, Kali realized Lara was still speaking.
“I would like to buy this from you.”
“It’s not for sale.”
Gathering the book in her arms, Kali moved as fast as possible without making it obvious that she wanted to get away from spooky Lara. She retreated to the front of the store, but Lara followed. As Kali turned, she saw an ugly grey limb of scarred and puckered flesh reach across the light. Blood black claws were gnarled and twisting outward. Kali suppressed a strangled yelp. Lara’s delicate hands were folded neatly in front of her. Had she imagined it?
“Everything is for sale,” Lara insisted.
“This isn’t.” Kali backed away. “Thanks for all your help.” She looked at the flowers in the display and cleared her throat. “Your arrangement is beautiful. Especially the blue ones, what are they called?”
“They are monkshood. A warning to beware.” Lara smiled thinly. “They are poisonous to some.”
“Oh.” Kali glanced at the floor not knowing what else to say. When she looked back, Lara had gone. Kali left. She was grateful to breathe fresh air again. Maybe Orrin had been right about the smell. Max was already waiting inside the truck. “When did you get back here?”
The boy leaned forward as she buckled in. “Right after I ran into that creepy red head. She almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Yeah,” Kali agreed, “she was strange.”
Starting the truck, Orrin looked at Kali. “Did you find what you came for?”
“I did.”
“We should return to the manor.”
“I can’t do that, Orrin.”
He opened his mouth as if to protest, but appeared to change his mind. Orrin nodded.
“Take me someplace else.”
“I will do as you wish.” He rolled the windows down, making Kali pin him with curious stare. “You and the child reek,” he explained.
Chapter 59
Emotionally, Kali was oscillating between co
nfusion, fear, and outrage. She’d trusted Rhane…had told him her secret. She let him get closer than anyone. And he had given her nothing in return. Sure, he had saved her life a few times. But for all Kali knew, Rhane was the very reason for her life being in danger. He’d asked her to trust, but he had not trusted. Was he really seven hundred years old? Or had it simply been a picture of a distant ancestor? Rhane knew how alone she felt. How could he let her think she was the only freak in their relationship? He had seen her shake with fear, cry, and scream with frustration. All along he had known the answers. She had looked in his eyes. Though he’d never said it, Kali thought she had saw love reflecting back. She’d been wrong.
“Turn left up here,” she said. Orrin obediently signaled the blinker.
Home wasn’t safe. And Kali was uncertain of everything else. So, she was running to what she could be certain of. Callan. Things never were a cake walk between them. She had lied and cheated repeatedly. Even so, Cal had always been her constant. When he was furious, he still loved her. And he was always honest about the way he felt. With him, Kali never had to guess.
It was almost dark when they arrived at Cal’s apartment. Energy from an impending storm electrified the air. Kali looked up. The clouds were heavy with rain. Their cover shielded the sun, darkening the sky. But there was something else. More than a storm was coming. She looked at Orrin. “Do you feel that?”
Instead of answering, he whipped out his cell and gestured for her and Max to go inside. The kid gathered his things and walked with Kali to the door. He nudged her. “Your soldier keeps it close.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means that he doesn’t say much.”
“Oh. Yeah, he keeps it pretty close.”
She had to ring the bell twice before Cal answered. He came to the door wearing nothing except a pair of khaki trousers and a surprised expression. “Kal?” His eyes darted back over his shoulder to something inside the apartment. “Hey. What are you doing here?” Confusion passed, he seemed genuinely happy to see her.
Kali decided to be honest with him and answer as plainly as possible. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
“Are you in trouble?”
“I don’t know.” She hesitated. “I think so.”
His eyes flickered over Max. “Who’s the kid?”
“He’s a friend. My sister is supposed to be watching him through the weekend.”
“Oh.”
Kali shifted her stance impatiently. “Are you going to let us inside or do we have to stand out here while you ask me a dozen more questions?”
Something must have clicked in Cal’s brain. Jerking his head toward the apartment, he pushed the door open. “Go inside, kid. The remote is probably in the couch somewhere.”
Max looked at Kali. He didn’t move until she nodded. Cal stepped outside and closed the door when the boy left. Gaze fixing on a point behind her, his entire demeanor changed. “The other guy you’re seeing, is that him?”
“No,” Kali answered without looking back.
“Okay. What’s this about?” His eyes finally pulled away from Orrin and returned to her.
She hesitated. Maybe this was how it had been for Rhane, wanting to tell but fearing what the truth would do to the other person. “I can’t talk about it.”
“OK. Can we talk about us?”
“We shouldn’t…”
Cal went ahead anyway. “I’m sorry. I never should have touched you the way I did.” The rawness of his emotions made his words sound bitter. “I know what it feels like when someone you love hurts you in that way. I’m getting counseling, Kali. But I didn’t do it for you. I did it for me. Because I swore that I’d never be like him, I swore I’d never be my father.” His blond lashes moistened with tears that didn’t fall. “I’m sorry I’ve never asked you about your family. You’re right. I’ve always been too wrapped up in my own shit to deal with anyone else’s. If you can’t be with me anymore, I understand. But if you want to talk, I’m ready to listen.”
Kali sobbed. Honesty. But it wasn’t from the guy she wanted. Throwing her arms up, she hugged Cal tightly. His arms slipped around her waist. His face buried into her hair. “I miss you,” he said.
She opened her mouth to speak but in the same moment, the door opened.
“Hello, sis.”
Kali froze. Rozzy was the last person she expected to see. Cal stiffened, stubbornly holding on when she pushed away. His arms loosened as he ultimately relented. Looking from Kali to her sister, his cheeks and ears turned crimson. “Nice timing,” he mumbled.
Rozzy also had the decency to look embarrassed. “I didn’t think you’d come here.”
“You’re surprised to see me?” Kali was incredulous. “Imagine how I feel.”
“You said you guys were over.”
“What about Tim?”
“What about him?’
“Rozzy!”
“Kali, I’m sorry! And you’re already seeing someone else.”
“That doesn’t matter. You’re my sister!” Cal reached out for Kali, but she threw up her hands. “Don’t touch me!” She told herself she didn’t care. He meant nothing. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t yell.
“This didn’t mean anything,” Cal insisted. “I swear to you that nothing happened between us before last night. I only care about you.”
Kali stared at him with opened mouth disbelief, shutting down her emotions until only a wall of anger was left.
Feeling each hair stand at the back of her neck, she turned around. An inward jolt traveled through her body. Rhane.
Invisible waves of energy poured off of him as he walked, his long, powerful strides moving him across Cal’s front lawn. Kali saw his eyes strike like green lightning as they took in every detail of the scene stretched out before him. Something was terribly wrong.
Chapter 60
So many emotions: guilt, anger, worry and another she couldn’t admit to seeing again, rippled across Rhane’s face. Then the stony mask he constantly wore slipped back into place.
He will never tell me, Kali thought bitterly. Her wall of anger became two bricks thicker. No more lies.
“If you’re not here to fess up everything, then get back in your truck and leave.”
“We don’t have time for this.”
“Then make time. Talk fast.”
“No. We have to go. Now.” His fingers closed onto her elbow, remaining gentle and yet firm. She snatched away, and he let her.
Cal chose that moment to get protective. “She said she doesn’t want to go with you.” He tried to step between them, but Kali blocked his path.
“Don’t,” she snapped.
He started to protest, “Kali—”
“Walk away,” Rhane ordered.
Maybe it was the guttural, animalistic quality Rhane’s voice had unexpectedly taken on. Or it might have been the way both Orrin and a stranger with white hair swiftly appeared, flanking Rhane’s sides. But Cal gave serious reconsideration to his position and made the wise decision. He retreated a step back.
Rhane looked at Kali. His eyes pulsed from black to green. “If you don’t come with me right now, your sister, the kid, and whoever this guy is are all going to die. Kalista, I swear to you. We will talk as soon as you get in that truck. But not a second before then.”
“Okay,” she whispered and swallowed the bile of fear that had risen into her throat.
#
“I didn’t mean that I was going to kill them.” Rhane glanced in her direction.
They were traveling at ninety miles an hour, racing toward Holsenbeck Hall. Before leaving Callan’s apartment, Rhane had sent the newcomer and Orrin ahead to meet up with York and Rion. Looking at him for a second time, Kali realized where she had seen the man with clear eyes and white hair. He had been on the plane to China. But she was done speculating and trying to connect the dots. Sitting next to her was the guy with all the answers. And her fear be damned, he was going to give
them to her.
“Your picture, I saw it in a book from the library. It said you were some kind of warlord. And that you were born in 1326.”
“The first statement is correct. Give or take a few centuries and the second becomes true as well.”
Hearing the words come from his mouth made a huge difference. It was true. All of it. She couldn’t believe it. This can’t be happening. “What are you? What am I?”
He exhaled. Then the words poured out as the levees were broken through. “Kalista, you are a siren. You were not born. You were crafted into a living creature. In order to continue living, you must feed on the souls of others. That’s why you feel a constant hunger that never truly goes away.”
A siren? What the hell? She had to shelf that until later. “The book said you were a traitor. Are you?”
“No.” His eyes met hers. The truth in them was undeniable. “But I am charged with that crime. A death sentence hangs over my head.”
Her stomach clenched. “Gabriel and the Reapers, why are they after me?”
“Gabriel wants revenge on the ones who locked him away. He thinks your abilities can help him accomplish that.”
“Me?” Her voice raised an octave. “I suck the life out of teenage boys. It’s not exactly a power that would-be superheroes dream up.”
“Kalista…you can do so much more. The way you are at home in the water, the fire that destroyed Greg’s TV,” he managed a small smile. “The connection you have with animals…you’ve only seen a glimpse of what you are capable of.”
She struggled to breathe. It was all very freaky and scary. “Why are you different?” she asked quietly.
“My people, the Warekin, we are a race of shapeshifters. York, War, Orrin, and Rion are who’s left of my army. You and I…” he paused. “We were bonded. You promised to be by my side forever. And I promised to protect you forever. But I failed.” His voice cracked, recovered. “You were taken. Nearly four centuries have passed since that day. I’ve spent every one of them searching for you.”