by L. K. Below
OUT OF THE SHADOWS
The Order, Book Two
By L.K. Below
LYRICAL PRESS
http://lyricalpress.com/
KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/
To the Spenta Michos, around whom this series is based. To the members of the Char-Lan writer’s club, for indulging my desire to write a shared world. To Mom, Dad, Sam, and Travis, for encouraging me to keep going. To Gina Gordon, for telling me this one was even better than the last.
And a huge thank-you to Maeghan Etherington, for the loan of her character, Heaven.
Acknowledgements
ACKNOWLEDGES GOE HERE
Chapter 1
Watched by Heaven
A shadow flitted across Heaven’s peripheral vision. Pretending to flick her blond hair out of her eyes, she canted her head. The rough pavement, lit by streetlights and the headlights of passing cars, was deserted. Still, she knew someone followed her. She might act like a ditz, but she’d learned from an early age how to remain quiet and unseen.
She’d also learned to spot danger from a distance. And the shadow trailing her had latched onto her heels from the moment she’d left the diner parking lot.
Who followed her? Without marking how close they dogged her, she didn’t know whether she could outrun them. But should she? Curling her fingers around the little gold notebook sitting heavily in her pocket, she tried to keep her pace even. Maybe her pursuer had a hand in kidnapping the man she searched for.
But even then, what could be solved by allowing herself to be caught?
Shaking her head, she continued to stroll down the street as if all alone. If the person tailing her knew where she worked, they knew where she lived, too. Best to reach the safety of her run-down apartment and barricade the door.
Her legs protested every mechanical movement. As her breath sawed in and out of her lungs, Heaven strained her ears for the sound of footsteps. She heard none. The mundane sounds of the city, of cars passing, drowned them out. Instead of breaking into a run as her pounding heart demanded, Heaven started to hum her favorite song under her breath.
There– Was that the sound of a rock skittering away from someone’s shoe? How close behind her? Don’t turn your head. Just keep walking. Somehow, she managed to overcome her clamoring instincts and continue.
A horn blared by her ear. Heaven nearly tripped over her feet. Only a car alarm. But the sound gave her the opportunity to sneak a glance behind her. She saw no one. Had she been wrong?
As she continued walking, she couldn’t shake the feeling she was being watched. If whoever followed her had hidden themselves, they couldn’t harbor benign intentions. The muscles in her legs tensed. She still didn’t start to run, but she picked up her pace into a speed walk.
A shadow caught her eye in the alley next to her. Frowning, she paused. She saw no one, but a moment before, she could have sworn a figure dashed past the entrance. Maybe she was letting her imagination run away with her. Exhaling, she forced herself to relax as she continued walking.
The street in front of her was empty of pedestrians. Then a pair of broad shoulders blocked the light of the street lamp.
Heaven stumbled backward, a scream lodged in her throat. Cars zoomed past, lending the illusion of safety. At this time of night, no one would stop to help her if she was caught in a bad situation. The best she could hope for would be if someone called the cops. But as she tilted her head to view the stranger’s face, her heart calmed. She was in no danger from him…she thought.
“You’re Lori’s uh…friend, right?”
“Yes.”
The man’s voice was deep and smooth, like the swipe of a hot knife through butter. The streetlight cast shadows over his rigid face. His eyes glittered like stars, reflecting the light.
Had he been so tall last time they’d met? Somehow he seemed more dangerous without his slim, angry, Goth girlfriend glued to his side. She couldn’t remember his name.
“Terrence. And I have something I want you to do for me.”
She suppressed a shudder as he spoke. The light glinted off the tips of his sharp fangs. Heaven would never understand freaks like him. Why glue fake fangs to your teeth? He had to know he wasn’t a real vampire, so why pretend? His fangs blended so seamlessly with his teeth, he must have had them surgically installed.
Abruptly, she realized he’d said something more than only his name. “You want me to d-do something for you?” Damn it! Why was there a quaver in her voice? She was safe with Terrence, even if she’d never felt less safe in her life.
As if he sensed her fear, he shifted closer. His face masked his every emotion, but somehow that seemed even more intimidating than if he’d shown her open hostility. His low, velvet voice penetrated the white noise of the city. Then every sound but his voice seemed to drop away, leaving a ringing in her ears.
“Yes, Heaven. I hear you’re a master at observing people, and I need someone watched.”
Heaven swallowed against the bitter reminder of her failure. If she’d really been so keen, the Order’s leader would never have been kidnapped on her watch. She didn’t have time to gallivant on some random mission. She needed to find the Spenta Michos or the Order would fall apart.
Not that it hadn’t already.
As she moved to brush Terrence off, he wrapped his icy fingers around her forearm. Although she didn’t fight him, she tentatively flexed her arm. His hold was stiff, and likely too strong for her to break. He had her trapped. Meeting her gaze, he spread his lips, giving her an even better view of his lethal fangs. From his forbidding expression, he wasn’t afraid to use them.
“You will do this for me.” His tone was absolute, final.
Yeah, I guess I will. What other choice did she have? Once upon a time, she might have been naive enough to think any friend-of-a-friend would never harm her. Not that she and Lori were friends. No, as fellow Order members, they were more like acquaintances. Though come to think of it, Terrence was an Order member too, if one only inducted after their leader had gone missing. They didn’t have the same bond of trust as she and Lori did. To be honest, Heaven didn’t even know how far that bond stretched anymore. Too many Order members had died recently under suspicious circumstances.
“I’ll need a name,” she spat, trying to hide her unease toward this man. If anything, the stretch of a smile which bared his fangs ratcheted her anxiety a knot higher.
“Lori Skein. I want to know where she goes, what she does, who she talks to, and what she says. And she isn’t to know I’m alive.”
Why would Terrence want her to stalk his girlfriend? And why was he faking his death? Heaven didn’t move. Terrence wasn’t telling her something, and she didn’t dare ask. Instead, she said, “For how long?”
“Until I tell you to stop.”
His eyes bored into her. They were so intense, she knew if she even had a stray inclination to swindle him, he would be able to read it. She didn’t have time for this. The Spenta Michos was out there, somewhere, but she would be forced to babysit an Order member rather than look for him. The chances of Lori actually being hot on his trail were slim. After all, Lori was no tracker like Heaven.
Actually, Heaven had no idea where Lori’s talents might lie.
Returning to the present, she spat, “Fine. But I have other responsibilities too, you know. I’ve got school and stuff.”
Terrence’s fingers tightened around her arm. “Then it’s fortunate Lori keeps to a nocturnal schedule.”
“You can’t expect me to stay awake twenty-four seven!”
He shook her. Her fingers started to tingle from lack of feeling. That couldn’t be good.
“I expect you to do your job, starting
now.”
He released her and the blood rushed back into her hand in a hot flood. Pins and needles broke out over her skin. She tried to keep her discomfort hidden while she discreetly flexed her hand.
Now? Did he really expect her to start this insane new assignment at the drop of a hat? After school and a six-hour shift at the diner, Heaven didn’t have the energy. She closed her eyes, rubbing the throb beginning to build at her temples. Terrence didn’t seem to care about her state of fatigue.
“I’ll be in contact.” His harsh voice ripped through her, doubling the pain in her head.
When she glanced up, he had disappeared. An eerie shiver passed over her skin. Did he still watch her? She glanced in the direction she had been traveling. Five minutes’ more and she would reach the relative safety of the apartment she shared with her father. She could barricade herself in her room. Sleep, and forget her encounter with Terrence had ever happened.
But if she did, what would be the consequences? When she’d first met Terrence, she’d thought him an eager puppy, willing to do anything to catch Lori’s attention. But now… Now she was starting to revise her opinion of him entirely. Terrence had secrets. As dangerous as it might be, she wanted to find out what those secrets were.
Since she didn’t seem to have much of a choice, why shouldn’t she play obedient, just this once? She could piece together Terrence’s mystery at the same time she spied on his girlfriend.
* * * *
Heaven found Lori in the campus library of her university. Truthfully, it was the last place she would have looked, but she’d called in a favor from a friend and tracked Lori’s cellphone. The woman she found bent over a textbook was not the version of Lori to which Heaven had grown accustomed.
Lori wore no makeup. Her skin was naturally pale. Her eyes were ringed with dark circles instead of heavy eyeliner. She wore form-fitting black clothes without the netted gloves, spiked bracelets, or chains she usually donned. Her gray-tipped black hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
Heaven perused the perimeter of the library for half an hour. During that time, Lori stared at the same exact page. Every now and again, she would pass her hand over her eyes or inspect her black fake nails. She stuffed her iPod earphones into her ears, but yanked them out again after a few minutes. She closed her book and glanced at the round library clock, then opened the book again.
Not exactly the spine-tingling sort of information Heaven could report. How long was she supposed to attend to this farce? Keeping one eye on Lori, she pulled the little gold book out of her pocket and flipped through it. The Spenta Michos’s thoughts, jotted down in mostly illegible script. She’d already poured over the book enough times to have it nearly memorized. Lunch dates, abbreviated ideas for fictional stories, thoughts on books and how to reach students. Nothing out of the ordinary. If it was a code, she hadn’t figured out the key. She was reluctant to pass such an object onto someone else. Holding the Spenta Michos’s journal made her feel as if she would find him just around the next corner.
But that wasn’t her task. Today, what precious free time she had was usurped by a monotonous game of I-Spy. Honestly, a trained monkey could sit in Heaven’s spot and no one would know the difference. Or care. If she hadn’t been halfafraid Terrence might kill her, she would have been happily tucked into bed at that very moment. Why was the library even open so late at night?
A man approached Lori’s table. Heaven shifted forward on the balls of her feet, memorizing everything about him.
Mid-twenties. Red hair, glasses. Thin build, not quite six foot. Dressed conservatively. Probably the librarian–or a nerd trying to hit on Lori, not that she currently looked her best.
“Lori, I know I said I’d keep the library open for you a little longer, but it’s getting late. I’m supposed to close at nine–ten if there are stragglers. It’s almost midnight.” When Lori didn’t move, he prodded her shoulder. “Lori? You may not have class in the morning, but I do.”
Lori blinked, as though only now hearing his voice. She glanced up over her shoulder. “What? Oh, sure Andrew. Sorry.” Her voice held none of its usual kick. In fact, she sounded…defeated.
Shit, shit, shit. Heaven needed to get out of there quick if she didn’t want to be trapped inside for the night. She’d done that once. Since her abilities didn’t extend to disabling alarm systems–especially from inside the building–it hadn’t been fun. But how was she supposed to sneak past the pair of them without being noticed?
Floor-to-ceiling shelves were godsends. Heaven slowly crept backward, though she kept her ear peeled for more conversation. Just how well did this Andrew know Lori? Could he be considered of interest to Terrence? Heaven was reluctant to implicate anyone without proof. She had no idea what sort of action Terrence might take. For now, she would hold her tongue.
With the shuffling sounds of a book closing to shield her footsteps, Heaven marched the length of the bookcase and peeked around into the next aisle. Lori and Andrew still stood by the table. Lori had straightened, towering over Andrew in her heeled boots. He put a hand on the goth’s shoulder.
Interesting.
Heaven skipped to the next bookcase, counted to five, and dashed for the next one. Andrew’s voice echoed down through the tense silence as Heaven continued her escape.
“Lori, are you feeling okay? You haven’t been yourself lately.”
“I’m fine,” Lori answered, but her voice sounded weary.
The door to the library stood open, hailing Heaven’s success. But she didn’t want to leave without knowing all the facts. Lori and Andrew had a history. What was it? How much did he know about her?
“Did you and Terrence have a…falling out?”
Andrew knew enough at least to know Lori had had a boyfriend. Maybe there wasn’t anything between them. Or was that a hopeful hint in his voice?
“Don’t mention his name again.”
Heaven was unprepared for Lori’s snarl. She jumped, nearly knocking over the book trolley she hid behind. She steadied it at the last minute. When she peeked around the side, she didn’t see Lori or Andrew. They were still deep in the library. Without waiting to hear more, Heaven lunged out the library doors.
A short antechamber met her, followed by the crisp, cold night air. She tugged her sweater closer to her, wishing for a jacket. Winter was well on its way. Trying to ignore the chill as best she could, she balled her hands in her sweater sleeves and searched for an inconspicuous place to wait for Lori to emerge. Nothing. The nearest building was fifty yards away. She had no choice but to slowly stroll away, hoping Lori would be quick to catch up to her.
Heaven pulled the hood over her head, as much for warmth as to disguise herself. Had it been so cold when she’d snuck into the library? Her foray into the warm building had stolen her tolerance. Already, the icy air seeped through her sweater into her bones and she started shivering. Not pleasant, but she couldn’t very well carry around a mini-heater.
Loose pebbles from the pavement crunched beneath her shoes. She dawdled as much as she could, but heard no sounds besides her footsteps and the pant of her breath. Did Lori intend to leave, after all? Just what was she doing with Andrew? Maybe it had been too soon to leave.
Curiosity overwhelmed her. She darted a quick glance over her shoulder, hoping to spot Lori’s tall, slim form. Instead, the flicker of a lighter illuminated a figure at the side of the building. The brief flash disappeared too soon for Heaven to ID the person. The glowing embers of a cigarette flared and died, just enough to let Heaven know she hadn’t imagined it. Why was someone waiting at the side of the building, outside of the halo cast by the front lights?
She couldn’t stand and gawp. That would be suspicious. Forcing herself to turn, she closed her mouth and quickened her pace. When she reached the nearest building, she melted into the deep shadows. In case the dark figure had followed her movement, she ducked and pretended to tie her shoe.
A cigarette. She sneered at such a rookie move. It w
as laughable! If the figure hadn’t lit up, she never would have found him. Actually, she should have thought to claim his spot for herself. Now she was glad she hadn’t. Wouldn’t that have made for an awkward moment?
Two figures emerged from the library, easily recognizable to Heaven as Lori and the shorter but equally spindly Andrew. She tensed. The pair parted without touching. Andrew gestured toward another building, likely asking Lori to accompany him. With her back turned to him, Lori said something–Heaven couldn’t hear what–and continued in the direction she’d chosen.
While they spoke, albeit briefly, the figure to the side of the library stood still. As Lori began to move, Heaven fastened her gaze on him. His cigarette blazed as he took one last drag. The glow soared in an arc when he flicked the bud away. It grew dark before he even ground his heel against it.
He detached from the wall, confirming Heaven’s suspicions. He was here for something, after all. In fact, he performed the same task as she did; to follow Lori.
Had Terrence sent him too? Just how many people did he need for one job? But she didn’t want to jump to conclusions in this case. If this man hadn’t been hired by Terrence, he might be a danger to her.
She held her breath as he passed beneath the light of the library. At least her assumption of his gender had been correct. His stocky, broad-shouldered form marked him as a man, unless he was some sort of steroid-popping female bodybuilder. Heaven pressed her lips together to stifle her snort. She didn’t have time to indulge in ridiculous thoughts like those.
Without Lori or some other tall marker around, she couldn’t measure his height. His shoulders were hunched against the cold, making it even more difficult. From this distance, he could be any age from fifteen to ninety. The collar of his jacket was turned up, shielding against the cold and blending seamlessly with his dark hair. Unfortunately, the limit of what Heaven could learn about him at this distance fast approached.