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

by Holly Kelly

  “If you put down your gun, I’ll tell you,” Avira said.

  Nick sighed, wondering if he were making a big mistake. But seriously, he’d learned to trust his gut. And his gut was telling him that they were telling the truth.

  He lowered his gun and replaced it in his holster.

  “I’m a succubus,” she said unabashedly.

  “Isn’t that a demon that has sex with men and sucks out their souls?” Nick asked.

  “The only man I’m having sex with is Thomas.”

  Nick looked around in horror. “You sucked the souls out of these innocent students?”

  “Of course not!” Avira truly sounded offended. “I merely nipped at them. No permanent harm done. I haven’t eaten a soul in years.”

  Thomas cleared his throat.

  “Well, not from a live person. And the ghosts I feed on are vengeful spirits that have lost every ounce of their humanity. I’m doing them a favor.”

  “But you are a demon,” Nick said.

  “That’s a term you humans made up for beings you didn’t understand,” Avira said.

  “You didn’t hurt Dolores or Captain Abela, did you?” Fae asked as she stepped forward.

  “No, sweetie. They still had their humanity intact.”

  Fae nodded.

  “Are you talking about the people from the ghost tour?” Nick asked Fae. “You saw their ghosts?”

  “Listen,” Avira said, interrupting. “I’d love to keep chatting, but I think it’s time we were leaving. These people are about to wake up, and you really don’t want to know what they can do.”

  Chapter 24

  Fae lay in the back seat of the car wriggling into her jeans as Nick kept his eyes glued to the road. They followed Thomas and Avira going north on I95 toward Jacksonville. Nick had a tight grip on his steering wheel and a permanent scowl on his face.

  Fae finished changing into her street clothes and climbed over the seat. She’d have to return the evening gown to the school when they got back. She had no idea how to explain what happened to the art professor. But right now, they had bigger worries on their plate.

  “You forgot your zipper,” he glanced down.

  “I thought you weren’t watching me change.” She zipped her jeans and belted herself in.

  He shrugged. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”

  “You’ve never seen me.”

  “Yes, and it’s a crying shame.” He smiled as he shot her a look.

  Fae shook her head at him as she held back a smile. Turning back to the road ahead, her smile faded. “Is this going to ruin your job with the FBI?”

  Nick sighed deeply as he glanced at her. “From the sounds of it, my job is already screwed.”

  Fae’s heart sank. Not only did she feel terrible for Nick, but she’d been hoping to have her own career with the bureau. She wanted to ask him about her chances now, but she figured it was not a good time to bring it up.

  They got off the exit to Jacksonville. Fae looked up to the skyscrapers towering overhead and said, “Do you think Division X works out of one of these buildings?”

  Nick’s brows were furrowed when he shrugged. “I’ve no idea.”

  Fae’s heart lightened at the hope in his voice. She wondered if he was thinking what she was thinking: that perhaps Division X was more than just some one-room operation.

  That hope extinguished when they took a turn down a back alley littered with trash.

  “You gotta be kidding me,” Nick mumbled.

  “Maybe it’s not as bad as it seems,” Fae said. “I mean, Avira’s car is a Lexus. She can’t be making minimum wage.”

  “That may not be her car,” Nick said.

  “You think she might have stolen it?” Fae frowned.

  “I seriously have no idea.”

  Fae sucked in a breath when she saw three men leaning against a building. Their eyes seemed to glow as they passed by. No, that had to be a reflection. It was dusk. The glow must be caused by the shining headlights.

  Nick and Fae continued to follow Avira and Thomas as they turned into a parking lot surrounded by crumbling brick buildings. When Avira parked, Fae’s heart sank. She really hoped they were just passing through this dilapidated place.

  Nick pulled Fae back before she could open the car door and said, “Stay close to me. And if worse comes to worse, I’ll call in the FBI.” Nick huffed. “The real FBI.”

  As they followed Thomas and Avira across the lot, Fae tried not to look directly at Avira. She appeared mostly human—except for the glowing skin and swirling eyes. Fae wasn’t surprised to realize she was the only one who could see the inhuman side of her, but she wished others could see it too. At least then she’d know she wasn’t crazy.

  Thomas turned back. “Neither of you have any heart problems, do you?”

  Fae shook her head as Nick asked, “Why?”

  “You’re in for a shock,” Thomas said.

  They approached a steel door. It creaked as Thomas pushed it open. A cool gust of wind laced with a sweet woodsy scent and a hint of thyme hit Fae. At least the place doesn’t stink.

  She had a hard time seeing past Thomas, but from what she could see, it looked like some kind of garden atrium. Her suspicions were confirmed when she took her first moss-cushioned step inside.

  Looking around, she gasped.

  Towering trees and foliage so thick you couldn’t see the sky surrounded her. It looked like a forest—with trees larger than any found in the Appalachian National Forest. Through the darkness and the foliage, Fae could see several quaint cottages lit by lanterns and fireflies. This looked like something out of a fairytale book.

  Fae looked back just as Avira closed the door. The brick wall surrounding it was gone. All that was left was a lone, rusty door standing in the forest. A small, bubbling brook flowed behind it where the parking lot should be.

  “Where are we?” Nick’s voice shook. He sounded just as stunned as she felt.

  “Between,” Thomas said.

  “What does that mean?” Nick asked.

  “We’re between the world of man and the faery realm.” He strode purposely forward. “Come on. We’re expected.”

  “By whom?”

  “Jones. Or here we call him Conall.”

  “What kind of name is Conall?”

  “Elven.”

  Nick shook his head. “Someone needs to wake me up.”

  “That’s what I thought when I first came here,” Avira said. Fae could hear the amusement in her voice.

  About a hundred paces into the forest, they came to a large wood cabin. It looked like something out of colonial times. Thomas raised his hand and knocked on the door. A woman with long, curly hair and a floor-length blue dress opened the door. She radiated youth and beauty.

  “Hello, Kaare.” She smiled. “Avira. Come on in. He’s been waiting for you.”

  Nick held Fae’s hand in a tight grip, and he kept her at his back when they entered.

  “Hello,” the woman said. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. My name is Hope.”

  Nick paused before he answered. “I’m Nick.”

  “And I’m Fae,” Fae said with a tentative smile. This woman seemed friendly.

  They stepped into an open living area. The floors were made from dark wood planks, the furniture looked antique, and a roaring fire burned in a vast fireplace with a cast-iron cauldron over the flames. The lid clanked as steam escaped. It smelled amazing, like… pot roast? Her stomach grumbled in response to the tantalizing smell.

  A tall, muscular man in a green tunic and brown boots stepped into the room. His eyes were just as light blue as Fae’s, but the most striking thing about him were his ears. They were pointed. He looked like he belonged in a Lord of the Rings movie.

  “Well, well.” He looked straight at Nick. “Good to see you again, Agent Chase.” He turned to Fae, and his eyes lit up. “Ah, so you’re Fae.”

  Fae nodded, unnerved.

  “I’ve hea
rd a lot about you. I can’t say I’ve ever met a human quite like you. It’s an honor.” He reached out his hand.

  Fae took it, and, instead of shaking, he kissed her hand. His lips on her skin sent a jolt through her. Even after he no longer touched her, she felt a lingering…something. Power?

  He turned to Hope. “Dear, why don’t you make our guests some tea?”

  She smiled sweetly. “I’d be happy to.”

  “How is this place possible?” Nick asked.

  Conall gestured to the couch. “Have a seat and I’ll see if I can explain.”

  When they were seated, Conall continued to stand as he spoke. “The world you know is only a small part of what is actually out there. At any given place, there are numerous layers of existence. You have the human world, and closest to that is the world of spirits—the place where your life force goes when you die. And then there’s the realm of the Faeries—a place few humans have ever been to. Between the Faery realm and earth is what we call ‘the between.’ That is where Hope and I choose to live. Given the fact I am Elven and she is human, it seemed the best option.”

  “Where does Division X factor into all this?” Nick asked.

  “Division X?” Conall said.

  Thomas chuckled. “It’s what he calls the Order.”

  Conall raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “Division X, as you call it, is an order that has been around for a millennium. Our job is like yours—to protect and serve. We protect the innocent and generally do good.”

  “Do good?” Nick frowned. “I wouldn’t say what you’ve done to me is good. I’m being hunted by my own team. My career is over. My life is screwed.”

  “Your sister is alive.” Conall raised an eyebrow.

  “Thanks to Fae,” Nick added.

  “And Rose will make the change permanent,” Thomas said. “I’d say that’s a fair trade.”

  Fae wasn’t surprised when Nick didn’t argue. How could he? Conall spoke the truth.

  “I know you’re not happy with us right now, but believe me, your career couldn’t have taken a better turn. I’d like to offer you a job.” Conall turned to Fae. “Fae too, though she would need training.”

  “You want Fae to drop out of school?” Nick sounded less than happy.

  “No. I’d like her to transfer. She can finish out the semester and then make the transfer next term. We have a little-known program taught at Harvard.”

  “What kind of program are you talking about? I went to Harvard, and I never heard of—”

  “You’re human,” Thomas interrupted. “Of course you didn’t hear of it.”

  Fae spoke up. “I wouldn’t have a chance of getting in anyway. I have no high school transcript, no real schooling before working on my GED.”

  “Getting in won’t be a problem,” Conall said.

  Fae’s heart leaped at the chance to go to such a prestigious university. Could this be real? “Do you think I could make it at a school like that?”

  “Absolutely,” Nick said. “Fae, you’re brilliant.”

  “Which is why we want her. That, and the fact that she’ll be around a long, long time. You can’t beat the centuries of experience she’ll have one day.”

  “And why do you want me?” Nick challenged. “I’m only a human, after all.”

  “Mostly human,” Conall said.

  “What do you mean, mostly human?” Nick asked, his eyes wide.

  “From the level of energy I feel coming from you, I’d say you’re a quarter faery. Why do you think I let you join the team in the first place?”

  “Are you saying I have a grandparent that was a faery?”

  “Is,” Avira said. “They’re immortal.”

  “It also explains your attraction to Fae,” Conall said. “She’s simply brimming with faery energy.”

  Fae’s heart sank. Was that why he found her attractive? Could it be possible he wasn’t truly attracted to her, but to the energy she emanated?

  “Excuse my husband,” Hope said as she handed Fae a hot cup of tea. “He didn’t mean to offend you. For someone so smart, he can be pretty dense sometimes.” This woman was very perceptive.

  “I’m sorry, Fae,” Conall said. “What I meant was that like attracts like in the Faery realm.”

  “And where does that leave me?” Hope frowned at her husband. “I’m a hundred percent human.”

  “I should just stop talking now.” Conall looked exasperated.

  Hope stepped forward and pulled Conall down for a quick kiss. “Yes, you should.” She snickered.

  “One thing I can’t figure out, though,” Nick said. “How did you fool my entire team? You show us one document, and we’re ready to turn over the biggest crime scene in the state.”

  “A little glamour goes a long way,” Conall said. “With training, you could use glamour yourself.”

  “So, that wasn’t a real document?” Nick asked.

  “Just a blank sheet of paper.”

  Nick shook his head in disbelief. “What do we do now?”

  “We need to take out Lafayette,” Thomas said, “and until Fae learns to use her abilities, we need to give her better protection. Members of Disorder are now involved. They are much more dangerous than Lafayette.”

  “What kind of abilities are you talking about?” Fae asked.

  “Your power to grant youth is yours to control,” Conall said. “And given the level of energy I feel from you, it’s likely there are other undiscovered abilities you have. You just need to learn to tap into them. I can help you with that.”

  Fae was both elated and regretful about her undiscovered abilities. She’d wanted a normal life, but given this new information, she probably would never have one.

  “Who is this Disorder group we’re up against?” Nick asked.

  Conall turned to him. “They are supernatural creatures. Some were once members of the Order but have left or been excommunicated. They live to create disorder for the Order.”

  “What kind of protection are you talking about giving Fae?” Nick asked.

  “She will need guards, and we need to strengthen the link you have with her.”

  “Link?” Fae asked, intrigued.

  Conall turned to Fae. “You inadvertently forged a link with Nick when you kissed him.”

  “I wonder if that’s what happened with Mike Pendleton?” Fae asked Nick.

  “Sort of,” Thomas said, surprising her by knowing what she was talking about. “He was all human, so the link was too much for him to handle.”

  “What kind of link is it?” Nick asked.

  Avira spoke up, her eyes on Nick. “You remember the feeling you got when we neared the place Fae was being held?”

  Nick nodded somberly.

  “You felt her because of the link you have with her,” Avira continued.

  “So how do we strengthen the link?” Nick asked.

  “You need to drink her blood,” Avira said.

  Fae’s heart pounded in her chest. “No. Not a chance. I saw what that did to Lafayette. He was like a bloodthirsty vampire.”

  “Your blood won’t have the same effect on Nick as it did Lafayette,” Conall said. “Lafayette is human.”

  “What will drinking it do to me…to us?” Nick asked.

  “It will make you younger, but more importantly, you’ll be able to sense her,” Conall said. “With the link, you’ll be able to find her anywhere. Lafayette won’t be able to hide her from you.”

  “There is another way,” Avira said.

  “I don’t think their relationship has gotten that far, dear,” Thomas said in a low voice.

  “What are you talking about?” Fae asked.

  “Sex,” Avira said bluntly. “That would seal the bond better than blood drinking.”

  Fae’s eyes widened as her chest constricted.

  “Drinking her blood would be good enough, right?” Nick asked, eyeing her.

  Fae’s heart sank. It sounded like he didn’t want her. Was she that unappeal
ing? He’d rather drink blood than make love to her?

  He’d said he was attracted to her, though. Why the change of heart? Perhaps now that he’d gotten to know her better, he was less than impressed. Or perhaps he’d realized that the only reason he’d been attracted to her in the first place was the faery energy.

  “Yes,” Conall said. “It should be enough.”

  Fae pressed her lips together as she frowned. “How much blood does he need?”

  “Since her blood is still somewhat diluted, I’d say a pint,” Conall said.

  “You think I can choke down a whole pint?” Nick asked.

  “That won’t be a problem,” Conall said.

  Nick frowned at him. “Okay, let’s just say I can. How are we supposed to get just a pint? Fae’s blood doesn’t clot. If we cut her too deep, she could bleed to death.”

  “We’ll have to do things the old-fashioned way. Hope will stitch the wound shut.”

  “Does she have experience with stitches?” Nick asked.

  “You’d be surprised,” Conall said, tugging at the high collar around his neck.

  Chapter 25

  Nick stood with his hand hovering over Fae’s wrist, a razor blade in his fingers. What am I doing? Am I really going to cut Fae’s wrist and drink her blood? His stomach sickened at the thought.

  “Why don’t you let me do it?” Thomas asked.

  Nick pulled the blade back. “If anybody is going to do it, it’ll be me.”

  “Nick,” Fae said. “It’s okay. Just get it over with. I swear the anticipation is worse than the act.”

  He nodded and moved in again—the blade once again hovering over her wrist. He stood, his mind screaming at him not to do it. Harming Fae seemed to go against every fiber of his being.

  “It looks like the link is stronger than we thought,” Conall said.

  “But not strong enough,” Avira said.

  “Nick,” Fae’s voice beckoned to him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do it.” She took hold of his wrist and carefully pulled the razor blade from his fingers. Before he could guess her intent, she slashed her own wrist. Blood spurted across his shirt.

  “Oh, shoot,” she exclaimed. His heart took a flying leap against his chest. “That was deeper than I wanted to cut.”