Cursed by the Fountain of Youth (Unnatural States of America Book 1)

by Holly Kelly

  “Nick,” she said, wishing desperately that he could hear her. “Please don’t give up on me. You’ve got to find me.” Her voice broke and tears began to fall.

  “Please.”

  Chapter 19

  Nick tried his best not to gawk, but he found it impossible. The woman standing before him was stunning, with an ethereal beauty that seemed otherworldly.

  “This is Agent Adams,” Thomas said.

  Nick nodded and shook her hand. Her fingers were like ice, but that wasn’t what bothered him. There was something off about her, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

  “I think Adams is our best bet at finding Fae,” Thomas said.

  The woman looked at Nick briefly with disinterest as he studied her, and then her eyes locked with his. A look of surprised confusion passed over her features, and then a slow smile spread across her face. “Do I unnerve you?” she asked, her voice low and seductive.

  “Nope.”

  Her smile widened. “You’re lying.” She turned to Thomas. “Jones is right. He’s not your ordinary human.”

  Human?

  “So,” Nick said, “what are you?”

  Her smile faded as she turned back to him, but the amusement remained in her eyes. “That’s a rude question.”

  “You’re not offended,” Nick said, shaking his head.

  Her smile returned, and then she chuckled. “No, I’m not.” She didn’t say more. Obviously, she didn’t want him to know exactly what she was. Nick had the feeling he stood before another supernatural creature.

  “Avira will be accompanying us to the fort,” Thomas said.

  Avira was her first name? It was strange how Thomas used such an informal way to address an agent of his. Was there something going on between him and Avira?

  Minutes later, Nick once again approached the fort with Thomas and Avira at his side. The structure towered above them—a dark silhouette against the night sky. The eerie feeling Nick had felt before compounded.

  “You okay?” Thomas said. At first Nick thought Thomas was talking to him, having witnessed Nick’s distress. But his eyes were on Avira Adams, and it was easy to see why. She looked stricken, haunted. In fact, her whole countenance took on an ethereal glow. Thomas’s figure cast a shadow as he stood in her radiance.

  “I’m so hungry,” she said. She bowed her head and closed her eyes. “So many lost souls.”

  “Avira, I need you to focus.” Thomas lifted her chin. “Look at me. Come on, baby. Look in my eyes.”

  Well, that answered the question of them being an item.

  Her eyes flew open and immediately searched out his. “I’ve never felt so many.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry you must do more. But I need you to talk to them. We are looking for Fae Miller, remember? If she’s alive, we need her to stay that way.”

  If she’s alive? Nick’s chest tightened as he pushed back the possibility that she might be—

  No. He wouldn’t even consider it. She was alive.

  Avira swallowed and then nodded. “Yes.” Her eyes were pleading when she asked, “But after?”

  Thomas brushed his hand across her face, lingering at the corners of her eyes and mouth. “Just one.”

  She smiled with intense relief in her face. “Thank you.”

  Thomas had a hint of a smile when he leaned forward and kissed her. Oh, yeah, Thomas definitely had personal involvement with this agent. Their kiss intensified within moments, making the situation awkward for Nick. And then Avira tore her mouth from Thomas’s as she pushed him back.

  She dropped her face into her hands and whispered, “I can’t. The hunger is too strong. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Thomas hesitated a moment before he pulled her into his chest. “I understand. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you.” His chest heaved as he tried to simultaneously talk and catch his breath.

  And that’s when a strange observation struck Nick.

  Avira wasn’t breathing hard. Either that kiss wasn’t nearly as intense for her or…

  He watched closely, waiting for the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

  Nothing. Not a hint of movement.

  She wasn’t breathing at all! That’s what had unnerved him from the start. This woman didn’t breathe.

  Nick wanted to question her. Wanted to know what kind of creature she was. But now was not the time. He had to find Fae and this woman—whatever she was—may be his only hope of finding her.

  Pulling away from Thomas’s embrace, she said, “Okay. I’m ready.”

  Nick moved to follow.

  Avira raised her hand to block him. “I need to go alone.”

  Nick opened his mouth to protest.

  “No,” Avira interrupted before he could get the words out. “I…I just need to talk to them. I promise I’ll bring you in as soon as I learn anything useful.”

  “How long’s this going to take?” Nick asked.

  “I don’t know, but it shouldn’t take long.” She stepped through the doorway, and darkness swallowed her up.

  Within minutes, Nick had trampled a path in the grass as he paced back and forth.

  “Relax, Chase,” Thomas said. “Adams is very good at what she does.”

  “I sure hope so,” Nick said as he dragged his fingers through his hair. He felt restless. With his sister dying and Fae in trouble, he wasn’t handling waiting very well. He wanted—no, he needed to act. Instead, he waited for a stranger to talk to ghosts. Nick stopped and turned to Thomas. “How long have you known her?”

  Thomas blew out a breath. “A very long time. We used to be on opposite sides. I was hired to hunt her down and destroy her.”

  “Obviously, that didn’t happen,” Nick said.

  Thomas shrugged. “I came close.”

  “So, what is she, a vampire?”

  Thomas chuckled. “Nope. You’d have to have a deep knowledge of the mythical world to even be able to guess what Avira is.”

  “What other creatures don’t need to breathe?”

  “You noticed that, huh?”

  Nick nodded.

  “I’ll bet you a hundred bucks you won’t figure it out.”

  “Won’t she be mad—us betting on her?”

  Thomas shook his head, smiling. “Nah. She’ll probably want in on the bet.”

  “How much time do I have?”

  “I’ll give you a week.”

  “Okay,” Nick said, almost smiling. “You’ve got yourself a bet.”

  Avira came out a few minutes later. She didn’t look happy.

  “You weren’t able to find anything?” Nick asked, his heart sinking.

  “Oh,” Avira said. “I found something. We’re going to need some tools to get through stone blocks. And—”

  “You know where she is?” Nick interrupted.

  “I think so, but we’re also going to need a doctor.” Avira sighed. “The ghosts told me she’s injured, but I already knew she was. I could smell her blood.”

  Nick swallowed back the lump that formed in his throat.

  “I’ll get the tools and call for help,” Thomas said.

  “I need you to take me to her,” Nick said.

  Avira nodded. “Follow me.”

  Nick raised the lamp as they entered the building. The place—though darkened by shadows—was familiar. Their shoes echoed off the stone walls as they walked down the narrow hallways. The smell of dust and mold permeated the air. The same eerie feeling he’d felt before washed over him. Avira stopped.

  “Here we are,” she said.

  Nick looked up and down the passage. There was nothing but bare stone, dirt, and cobwebs. “Where?”

  Avira looked at the wall. “See, here?” She laid her hand against the stone bricks. “Look closer.”

  Nick studied the wall. There was a slight difference in the area under her hand—more mortar between the bricks. “This is new,” Nick said, astonished. “The stones are old, but the mortar is new.” />
  Avira nodded. “Yes. Someone did not want her to leave.”

  “Or someone else to find her,” Nick added, his chest constricting. His worst fears were coming true. “Does this mean she’s…”

  “She’s alive.”

  Nick struggled to believe her.

  Thomas came minutes later with a crowbar in hand.

  “We need to get through this wall,” Avira said.

  Thomas nodded and they got to work—chipping at the mortar between the stones.

  “Lafayette would have had an easier time of it,” Thomas grunted as he chipped away a big chunk of the sealant. “The old binder would have been weaker.”

  Brick by brick, the wall came down. When it was finally big enough for them to get through, Nick lifted the lamp to see inside. “There’re some stairs going down.”

  He entered first. “Is there a doctor coming?”

  “She’s on her way,” Thomas said.

  At the bottom of the stone steps stretched another passage. They walked along, the lamp barely penetrating the darkness.

  Chills broke out over Nick’s skin.

  “This is it,” Avira said.

  “You say that every time I get the creeps.”

  She turned to him, surprised. “Really?”

  Nick nodded his head.

  “You kissed her, didn’t you?” Her question held a tinge of accusation.

  “How did you know?”

  Avira shrugged. “Just a guess.”

  They started to work on the wall, chipping away fervently. When the first stone was removed, Nick moved in and lifted his lantern. “Fae. Are you in there?” He searched the darkness. “Fae,” he bellowed.

  Silence.

  “She has to be in there,” Nick said, wanting to scream at the doubt in his voice.

  “Let’s keep at it,” Thomas said.

  Another stone fell with a deep thud to the ground. They kept at it as stone after stone dropped to the floor.

  “I think it’s wide enough,” Nick said as he pulled Thomas back.

  “I don’t think so,” Thomas said.

  Nick didn’t listen. He stepped in with his right foot. It hit the floor with a splash. He attempted to wedge his body through as he searched the darkness. The room seemed empty, and it was flooded with water.

  “Avira,” he growled as he strained to squeeze through. “Are you sure this is the right place?”

  “I’m sure,” she answered. “Come on.” She pulled him back. “You aren’t going to fit. The hole needs to be wider.”

  Mumbled voices echoed off the walls as he slipped out of the hole.

  “Fae,” Nick shouted. “Is that you?”

  “I don’t think that’s Fae. It’s coming from behind. Rose!” he shouted. “We’re down here.”

  Nick could hear steps as he shoved the crowbar into the wall. The block cracked in two and tumbled down, nearly landing on his foot. He could care less who was coming. He needed to get inside that room. Frustrated at the slow progress, he swung the crowbar. When it hit the wall, it reverberated into his bones. Undeterred, he swung again and again. Chunks of stone broke away with each blow.

  “Thomas.” Avira’s voice sounded concerned. “Stop him before he hurts himself.”

  “I’m not going near him swinging that thing,” Thomas said.

  “There goes covering up any evidence we’ve been here,” Avira said.

  When Nick was sure he could get through, he dropped the crowbar and rushed in. Voices mingled at his back while he searched every corner of the room. “Fae? Fae!” He slammed his fist against the back wall as he snarled.

  She wasn’t there.

  “Hello?” A ghostly voice had his heart thundering in his chest.

  “Fae?” he asked, his voice pleading.

  “She’s here.”

  He followed the sound of the voice, confused at where it could be coming from. And then he saw it. One of the stones was missing from the far wall.

  Heavy footsteps came from behind. “I can’t believe you found her in here.” Nick turned to see Mason and a tall woman with long, red hair step alongside Thomas and Avira.

  “What are you doing here?” Nick asked, scowling.

  “I came to help. That is, unless you decide to strangle me again.”

  Nick narrowed his eyes. “If you’re here to help, then do it. Just don’t expect me to trust you. And if you so much as touch Fae, I’ll do more than strangle you.”

  He turned back to the opening. Avira touched the stone, and her fingers came away covered in red. “Blood,” she said simply. “She must have scraped herself getting through that hole.” She moved to taste it when Thomas snatched her hand back.

  “I wouldn’t do that,” he said.

  “Fae,” Nick said loudly. “I need you to move away from the wall.”

  They waited several moments for her to answer. When she didn’t, Nick shouted, “Fae, do you hear me? Can you get away from the wall?”

  Still, she didn’t answer.

  “We’ll have to remove the stones carefully,” Avira said.

  The job of removing the stones went much faster with the old crumbling mortar, but it still felt like an eternity to Nick. Finally, the way was clear.

  He entered the room and nearly stepped on her. His heart stopped when he looked down. She lay on her back, her lifeless eyes open and her deathly-white face haloed in a pool of red blood.

  “Fae,” Nick breathed as he dropped to his knees.

  “Let me through,” Rose said. “I’m a doctor.”

  She came up beside him and knelt. Reaching forward, she pressed her fingers to Fae’s throat, looking for a pulse.

  “It’s faint, but it’s there.” She looked up to Thomas. “Call 911. We need an ambulance; she won’t last much longer.”

  Chapter 20

  A white leather ball came barreling toward Lafayette. He clasped his hands together and got in position. It slapped against his skin and flew up. The blond woman on his right got it next and set it perfectly. He didn’t waste any time as he rushed forward, jumped, and spiked the ball over the volleyball net between the other two players. The ball hit the sand hard as the blonde in the pink bikini cheered.

  “Game point,” she shouted and then jumped into his arms. Her face beaming when she looked at him. “We make a great team.”

  He beamed back at her. “Yes, we do.”

  The couple on the other side of the net frowned. The young man lifted his head and shouted, “Good game.”

  “For us,” Lafayette shouted back with a sneer. The woman in his arms chuckled—he couldn’t remember if her name was Jenny or Julie.

  “Whatever,” the man grumbled back.

  Lafayette traced his finger over her lips. “My dear, what do you say we go back to my place and celebrate our victory?”

  Her smile widened. “Sure.”

  She turned back and shouted, “Hey Olivia! I won’t need a ride back; I’m going with Marcus.”

  “You sure?” a voice called back.

  “Yeah,” she answered.

  Lafayette looked to see who she spoke to. It was another woman—a bit older than what’s-her-name. This woman frowned as she looked at him, almost as if she could guess he wasn’t a safe person to be leaving with. Well, he had no intention of harming her friend.

  “All right, but call me if you need a ride,” Olivia said.

  “Sounds like a good friend,” he mentioned casually.

  “She’s my big sister. Ever since our mom died, she’s been a bit overprotective. I’m surprised she’s not having me call her when I get to your apartment.”

  “I own a house,” he said.

  “Even better.” She smiled.

  Lafayette narrowed his eyes as he looked back at her sister. Oh, yeah, she was suspicious of him. He wondered if she could guess what he planned to do with her baby sister.

  Probably.

  What a day and age this was! She still let her leave with him.

  Ho
urs later, Lafayette stepped over to the table at his new house. Well, it was new to him. It was actually an older clapboard farmhouse with peeling paint and uneven floors. The style was like other homes built around the time he was born. It had a lot of wear and tear on it. Still, it was the only place he could find that fit his needs. The best part—it had an owner with no close family ties to raise suspicions when the man signed the deed over to Lafayette and took an extended vacation—six feet under in the backyard.

  Stretching his arms and back, he tried to work out the kinks. This day had been both exhilarating and exhausting.

  He opened his laptop to check on Fae. The night vision security cameras were easy enough to install at the fort. He just tapped into the electrical lighting system, drilled a narrow hole through the wall, and mounted them. He took out the red lights so that they wouldn’t flash. Fae would go into hibernation faster with less stimulus.

  Looking over at Jenny lying sprawled across the bed, he thought perhaps he should have taken Fae up on her offer to come with him. He’d had fun with the blonde with the beach body, but he could only imagine what it would be like with Fae. He’d have to be more gentle than he’d been with this girl. He needed to protect Fae like he protected his own life. She was his life.

  He clicked open the camera images and his heart stopped.

  She was gone!

  The chains were broken, dangling from the wall. And the wall he so recently bricked up gaped open.

  “No,” he snarled as he stood, knocking his chair over. He bellowed a string of profanity as he paced the floor and clawed at his hair. Why had he waited so long to check on her? How did she get out? How did they find her? He knew exactly who had her. He’d caught a glimpse of a familiar face on campus. And Lafayette wasn’t equipped to retrieve her from the Order. But—

  He stopped pacing as a thought struck him. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Perhaps he did know who could help.

  He gathered his clothes that were strewn across the floor, put them back on, and snatched his keys from the end table. He was about to walk out the door when he remembered Jenny. He couldn’t just leave her there. She’d start stinking up the house soon.

  Walking over to the mudroom, he looked at the old deep freeze. Hopefully, it worked. He didn’t have time to dig a grave right now. Opening it, he smiled, relieved to find it empty. A stale musty odor wafted over him. He plugged it in and was pleased to hear the whir of the machine. Lifting his hand over the chest, he felt the air turn cold.