by Tara Brown
“Why?” Aimee looked perplexed. “I don’t understand. Andy’s dead.”
“Don’t you see? She was right. I’m a natural disaster. Who knows who I’ll touch next, who I’ll send back, messing with everyone’s life?”
“You have a point there.” Aimee nodded. “I’ll tell him. See you soon?”
“I guess.” I shrugged. “If you want to. If not, I get it.”
Aimee was gone in an instant, leaving me standing alone in the hallway. I walked up and pressed the doorbell to the institution for after hours.
Daniel answered the door, appearing exhausted. “Ari, how—what’s going on? Where is everyone else?”
I nearly walked inside to his embrace, but then it dawned on me that I hadn’t been to the Roses Academy since I’d been sent back. Daniel shouldn’t know me. Only the Dark Ones knew who I was.
“You okay?”
“I’m dangerous.” I gulped and reached out for him, tears streaming down my face even harder. My hands brushed his before he realized what I was about to do. I pushed, watching his body drop to the floor. I turned and ran to the elevator. My eyes darted to the camera and I knew I had walked into the trap set to either catch me or put me down. I was a danger to everyone, but I wanted to live. I wanted a life. I turned and ran through the doors to the emergency stairwell to begin the sprint down the eight floors.
The doors opened at the top of the stairs and thumping feet chased me. There would be more waiting at the bottom if I didn’t beat the elevator.
But I did and ran past the main floor, remembering the underground parking. I burst through the door on the second parking level. I ran toward the light. My legs started to fill with the sweet adrenaline. My instincts from being angry street rat Ari filled me like muscle memory. I weaved through cars and trucks, jumping levels and running as fast as I could. My body wasn’t nearly as fit as it had once been, but fortunately I was half Dorian, which made me a lot stronger than any other girl.
I leapt through the gate at the end, jumping it like a hurdle. I sprinted out into the dark night in New York City, the cold October rain hitting me in my summer shorts and tee shirt.
I pumped my legs hard. Again, all I wished for was Lucas. I knew he would come for me. I needed to reach him before they used him as bait to bring me in.
I ran until I reached the area where the shifter bar I’d heard about many times was supposed to be. I scoured the street, desperate and soaked. The entrance was a red door. I remembered that much.
Unfortunately, the number of red doors on the street was unbelievable.
I walked, trying to smell and see if I could get a scent of the shifters. They did smell differently than regular humans.
I searched up and down the street twice before I gave up, turning down an alleyway where a man watched me.
Heat surged to my fingers as he followed me. I kept my head down, assuming he was one of the rogue Roses.
I couldn’t believe Daniel was the mole in the organization.
Lorri was going to rip his head off if I could ever get word to her.
“Look, girl, you don’t want to do this,” the man behind me spoke softly, glancing around.
I turned to see his face better. He wasn’t a shifter, that was certain. He wasn’t nearly attractive enough to be one. He could be a demon, but I racked my brain to think of an unattractive demon or vampire. The man was skinny to the point of starvation and homely.
“Please, don’t go down this alley. Just go. Turn around before anyone else sees you.”
“Leave me alone.”
“It’s your ass, kid.” He shook his head and turned around. He left me alone in the dark, wet alley.
Deciding he wasn’t trying to hurt me, I turned back to him and shouted, “Do you have a cell phone?”
“Oh yeah.” He turned back around, laughing. “I live on the streets and have no food, but I totally have a cell phone.”
“Right.” I rolled my eyes, following him out of the alley and back onto the street. “Sorry.”
“The shelter up the road. Sometimes the workers will let you use theirs if it’s an emergency.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“You look like my sister. I would want someone to help her.”
I followed him down the wet street. He didn’t stop for me and he didn’t speak to me again. He just walked until we reached a building with a red and blue cross on the outside.
He opened the door but didn’t hold it for me. I walked behind him, leery of everything he did. The room he walked into was a gymnasium filled with homeless people and bad smells. I also caught a whiff of chicken noodle soup. I smiled, seeing the shelter. I had memories of places similar to this from when I was homeless.
He pointed to bins. “There are clothes over there. I’d cover up if I were you.”
I saw him up close for the first time. He didn’t seem much older than me, but the dirt and filth over his gaunt face aged him incredibly.
“Thank you.” I turned to the bin of clothes.
“You’re new?”
I turned toward the voice. “Yeah.”
“You living on the streets?”
“I guess.” I observed the woman and started rifling through the bin. “I am now.”
“No job?”
“No family, no money, no clothes, no home.” I hated the edge in my voice, but I knew if I didn’t act defensive, they’d never believe I needed help. I appeared healthy, fit, and tanned in expensive running shorts and shoes—well, compared to what everyone else was wearing.
I grabbed a huge hoodie and a raincoat. They smelled funny, but I knew they would help mask my scent for the trackers Daniel no doubt had searching for me.
“Do you have anyone you can call?” She eyed up my clothes.
“No phone.”
The woman held out her cell. “You can try them on mine if you know the number.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“You look good. You look healthy, young, and pretty. You won’t last a day on these streets, kid.”
“That’s fair,” I muttered, taking the cell. “Thanks.”
I sent a text to Aimee.
It’s Ari. Daniel is the mole. He knew me when I got there. I’m alone on streets in NY. I can meet you where you told me you threw up after you drank rum for the first time. I’ll wait for you. Trust no one, except Luke and Aleks. Do not text me back. It’s a shelter woman’s phone.
I then sent a second message.
Tell Lorri. Pretty sure she doesn’t know.
I deleted the texts and phoned Lydia’s house. The phone rang several times before Ben picked up. “Yeah?”
“Ben?”
“Yeah.”
“My name is Ari. I’m a friend of Lydia’s. Is she there?”
“Nope.”
“Don’t tell anyone except your brother, Lydia, or Aimee that I called.” I hung up the phone and deleted the call before I passed it back to the woman. “Thanks.”
The woman smiled. “Did you find anyone?”
“No.” I shook my head. “But I think I have a friend I can go talk to.”
She took a step closer to me. “Dress bulky, try to look chubby, head down, hair hidden. Speak to no one and don’t smile.”
“Okay, thanks.”
As I looked around, I saw the homeless men noticing me in my shorts. I slipped some sweatpants overtop of them and the hoodie over my tee shirt. I added the raincoat next and pulled the hood of the sweatshirt up. I tucked all my hair back and turned to the lady who continued, “Take this and get some food somewhere else. When you leave here, run for at least three blocks. Most of them can’t run that far.” She slipped me twenty dollars.
I took the money. “Thank you so much.”
The lady smiled, her wrinkled old face suddenly cleared, showing beauty beneath the aging. I blinked and it was gone, almost like it hadn’t happened. “I just won’t be able to bear it if they get you. Try to find somewhere to stay hidden and remember that even
though you might not know your dad very well, there are laws that he has to protect you. He is responsible for you.” She turned away from me and walked into the crowd. I wondered if I had heard her correctly.
She spoke loudly to the room, drawing everyone’s attention to her. I took it as my chance to get away.
I walked quickly through the door and then burst into a run. I didn’t check back as I sprinted. I just pushed my body forward.
Men called out behind me, but I ignored them, sprinting for four blocks instead of three just to be certain.
When I was far enough away, I stopped running and slumped over to make myself seem bigger and walked with a slight limp.
I wasn’t starving, but I was scared enough that I wouldn’t be eating anything so I stopped at a convenience store. The owner glowered at me like I was the most disgusting thing she’d ever seen. She watched every move I made. I grabbed a Snickers and a bottle of water and pulled out the twenty dollars. The girl at the cash register looked me over several times before giving me the change.
I ate the bar quickly as I walked toward the Empire State Building, remembering the story of Aimee. She had drank for the first time since she nearly died in high school. The alcohol didn’t really hit her for a while, until all at once it did, and she threw up all over the front steps of the Empire State Building.
I finished my water and placed the bottle in a garbage bin with my candy wrapper. I peeked around, ensuring I wasn’t being followed.
The dark, wet night reminded me of Gotham City. I didn’t feel like Batman though. I didn’t even feel like one of the girls he would save. I was helpless and weak, but I was also cursed.
My best bet was a large green-eyed wolf showing up and killing everything, leaving a bloody trail and dragging me home.
As I arrived at the entrance I became invisible to the world. Just another hunched over bum inside a door well.
“I’m telling you, she’s here. I can smell me.” It was Lucas’ voice, but I didn’t see anyone.
“Where does the trail end?” Aimee asked.
“Over there where you barfed, just like you said it would,” Lucas whispered.
When their footsteps got close enough, I glanced up and smiled at Aimee. She was standing in the street in a short black raincoat, black jeans, and black knee-high boots. Lucas stood beside her, looking double her size. He sighed when he saw my face.
“No one followed you?”
“Wow, that’s really good. I wouldn’t have known.” Aimee eyed me from head to toe. “You look homeless.”
“I am homeless.” I laughed. “And I smell absolutely disgusting. I don’t know how you found me.”
“It seems I can find you better than I can find anyone. Your smell can’t be masked against my nose,” Lucas said nonchalantly and broke my heart.
“Did you tell Lorri?”
“Yeah.” Aimee replied. “She’s pissed. I don’t think she even believes it all. She’s so angry right now. She has a bit of a temper on a good day.”
“I’ve been through Roses Academy training twice. I’ve seen it. She actually tried to eat me once.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, but you saved me. You winked me to the rooftop garden to have a hissy fit. You said it was where you went for yours.”
“This is freaking me out.”
“I have ruined your life many times over, Aimee.”
Aimee frowned. “How?”
“I keep changing the influence I have on it. So you meet me and start dating Shane. Then I change, as does your boyfriend, and suddenly you’re dating Aleks. Then I change again and you’re single.”
“Did you do it on purpose?”
“No”—I trembled slightly—“of course not. I would never.”
Aimee stepped forward. “Then stop worrying about it. Look at it this way, I’ve gotten to test the water with both guys. Which one was I happier with?”
I shrugged, laughing. “Both and neither. I guess single was the happiest I have seen you. Just carefree and doing your own thing. Maybe they aren’t the person for you.”
“Well, well,” an English accent interrupted. “Isn’t this touching. Old friends catching up.”
“Oh,” I growled. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, kid.” He raised his hands defensively. “I didn’t know either.”
“Oh God.” Aimee took a step toward him. “What do you want?”
He flashed one of his truly evil smiles; he only really had them for her. “To help, of course.”
“Really?” Aimee tilted her head. “I have a very hard time believing you want to help us. Your relationship with Daniel seemed a bit chummy to me. There’s no way he did this without you knowing.”
Dorian took a menacing step toward her. “Not now, Aimee.”
She laughed. “Touchy. Just out of curiosity, if Ari touches you, can I knock you out?”
“I’m her dad. Why would she want to hurt me?” He winked at me.
“You’re the best dad ever, that’s why.” I winked back.
“Ari, I have a natural fondness for you. I can’t fight it. It makes sense you’re my child, but I’ve never made one of you before.” He pointed to the sky. “He has one rule for us: if we make one of you, we are responsible for it.”
I laughed. “You have to help me?” It was just as the weird old lady said it was.
He nodded.
“Don’t you have free will?”
“Not with this.”
“Ari, don’t believe him. He lies.” Aimee folded her arms.
“I know.” I took a step toward my father, pushing past Lucas. “But he’s telling the truth this time.”
Aimee frowned. “How do you know?”
“God.” I pointed to the sky. “I seriously think he told me.”
“What?” Aimee frowned. “Snap out of it. Dorian’s got you under his spell.”
“No, honestly, I think God sent someone to help me. I was at the shelter. This lady told me exactly what Dorian just said.”
Lucas grabbed my arm, spinning me around. “It’s also just as possible that Dorian told the lady to say that.”
I thought for a second and shook my head. “No. She was an angel. A good one.” I leaned in, staring into Dorian’s obsidian eyes. “You can’t charm me or use your weird magic on me, can you?”
“Does it really matter?” Dorian folded his arms like Aimee. “We can stand here and bicker, or we can go back to Lydia’s where the guards will keep out all who wish us harm.” He didn’t need to answer me. I knew the truth of the matter.
“How did Andy trick the guards?” Aimee narrowed her gaze again.
Dorian laughed. “She honestly thought she was doing it for the good of the group. She believed you to be a danger—the bane of our existence.”
“Yikes.” Even the guards agreed with Andy.
“We can argue this with Lorri.” Aimee put a hand out. We all touched her, instantly appearing in the front entryway of Lydia’s, dripping water all over the front hall.
Relieved, I breathed in the smell of the house again. It seemed like ages since I had been home. I knew then and there that the mansion would always be my home, as long as Lydia would let me stay.
Lydia burst into the room. “You made it.” She hugged me and pulled the stinky shelter clothes off. “You stink. Annabelle, this is Ari. She’s a part of the family. She’ll take the empty room across from Lucas and she’ll need a hot bath, right away.” She wrinkled her nose.
Annabelle smiled her ghostly grin. “Yes now, Ari, you need to come with me. I can’t smell you, but I can see the look on Lucas’ face.” She nattered on as she turned us both and led me up the stairs.
The hot bath reminded me of the first one I’d ever taken in Lydia’s house. I’d had mixed feelings about being there—a glimmer of hope covered by a mass of confusion and fear.
Chapter 29
Hellfire hath no fury
Aimee
The chair wrapped around my t
ired body as I sat. Lucas came around the corner, growling, “That’s my chair, Aimee.”
“Suck it, hound.” I stuck my tongue out. “I got here first. Lie on the floor like a good dog.”
He flipped the back of the comfortable overstuffed chair, sending me tumbling out onto the floor. He righted the chair and flopped into it, devouring the sandwich clutched in his huge hands.
I glared at him, noting the spark in my fingers.
He stopped mid bite and flashed his wolf canines at me. “You lie on the floor like a good dead girl.”
I leapt at him but strength and size won out. Unless I was willing to use my hands, I couldn’t defeat him. He laughed at me. He was still eating his sandwich while holding me back.
I pulled myself from his grip and sat on the couch across from him. It wasn’t nearly as comfy as the chair. “Spoiled little bratty pup.”
He bit his sandwich and grinned at me.
“I hate you.”
“No you don’t. You love me.”
Dorian walked into the room and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “I’m heading to the institute. I just got the weirdest text from Lorri.” His eyes darted to Lucas who sighed and got up from his comfy chair. “Are we leaving again?”
“I think we are.”
“Bye.” I waved.
Dorian stared at me, contemplating something as Lucas left the room stuffing the last of the sandwich into his mouth. “Is there a reason you’re still pissed at me?” His stare roamed my body. “I think you should be more grateful to me than vengeful.”
“You made me murder an innocent in the woods and lied to me. You were constantly mean to me. I’ll give you grateful.” I got up off the couch, still ready to fight.
“Not that I don’t want to wrestle with you, but I think you need to realize something.” He laughed. “If I hadn’t shown you exactly what you were capable of, how many people would you have hurt? Good people, not like that girl. Instead, you’ve been a good Rose and death dealer. Always saving lives, including mine.” He said it despondently as he vanished.
“That was awkward.” Luke came and sat back down in the comfy chair.
“He’s such a head game.” I looked at him. “Why is everything always such a mess in our world?”