Unfaded

by Sarah Ripley

  It did.

  “You traitor,” Micah hissed at Lina. “You promised us. Those were your words. You said you wouldn’t bring him into this.”

  “Don’t look at me,” Lina said. “I kept my word. It wasn’t me.”

  Micah turned to Seito but he just shook his head. “Not me either. I’ve never even seen the guy before. I certainly don't have his phone number.”

  It was obvious that Kian knew nothing about it so Micah didn’t even bother asking him. Backing away from the window Kian came over and sat down beside me, putting an arm around my shoulder. I wasn’t sure if he was trying to be possessive or protective but I could feel the nervous energy bubbling just beneath his skin.

  “Who is it?” I asked. No one answered me.

  There was a sudden banging on the door. A tense jolt of electricity surged through the room, forcing the lights to flicker. The television turned itself on and off. I could see the energy as it moved across the room, a bright white light that travelled from Unfaded to Unfaded. My body began to tingle as the light studied me, trying to determine who I was. I’d never seen anything like it. Whoever was outside had a lot of power.

  Micah stood in front of the door, his body blocking the entrance.

  “Let him in,” Lina said. “It’s not like you can keep him out. You’re only going to anger him more by ignoring him.”

  “Who is it?” I asked again. No one answered. However it didn’t really matter. I knew who it was. I’d known all along, only it had taken me a bit of time to fully understand. Blood called to blood and no matter how many times I was reincarnated, his blood still flowed through my veins.

  The memory hit me stronger than the electricity that was still making my skin twitch. A man with black hair and blue eyes, they were the exact same colour as my own.

  A flicker of light. A match in the darkness.

  If you ever need me I’ll come. All you have to do is wish it. You’ve spent enough time in the darkness. I can keep you in the light.

  “It was me,” I said and everyone in the room turned at the sound of my voice. “I called for him and he came.”

  Twenty-One

  “Mai?” Kian’s arm tightened around my shoulder.

  I reached out and took his hand, squeezing it, warming it with my own energy. He was cold, perhaps for the first time since I’d known him.

  “Let him in,” I said. “He’s just going to break down the door if you don’t.”

  Lina smiled triumphantly and Micah had no choice but to back up while she unlocked the deadbolt and let Rafferty in.

  He was taller and wider than I’d expected him but most of my memories had been accurate. His hair was long and black, the curls pulled back in a ponytail. He wore a cowboy hat that shadowed his eyes. Looking into his face would be like looking into a mirror. Stepping forward into the room, he was trailed by four other Unfaded. They were all armed with swords. Three male, one female, they were his bodyguards. I recognized them instantly even though I was positive I’d never seen them before in this life. He’d always travelled with a pack.

  Rafferty scanned the room, nodding briefly at Lina as she gave him a respectful bow. His eyes paused at Micah whose eyebrows were twitching in anger. He completely ignored Seito and his attention finally came to fall on Kian and I as we waited on the bed. He smiled, revealing large white teeth and held out his hands as a gesture of welcoming.

  “My daughter,” he said. “It’s been too long. It’s good to have you back.”

  I didn’t say anything. How on earth was I supposed to respond to him? There just weren’t enough memories in my head to know whether I actually liked him or not. But I knew this much. If he really was bent on destroying humanity, I was one daughter that was going to rebel.

  “She’s not happy to see me,” Rafferty said. “I can only imagine what lies you might have been filling her head with.” He turned towards Micah and gave him a hard look. “I know what side you wish you were on, old man. Why are you still following this boy after all these years? Why haven’t you returned to your precious Aelin? Is it true? Did she refuse you back on the council?”

  Micah didn’t say anything but his eyes narrowed at the mention of Aelin's name. There was obviously some bad blood there. I’d have to ask Kian about it later.

  “Lina,” Rafferty said with a smile. He took the large woman’s hand in his own and kissed it. “It’s always a pleasure to see you. Not fully sure why you’re here but that’s irrelevant.”

  “I asked her here,” Kian said.

  “I’ll get to you in a moment,” Rafferty said. Walking up to Seito, he looked him up and down. Seito wasn’t very comfortable about it but he stood his ground and allowed the intrusion. I guess even he didn’t think it was a good idea to go after one as powerful as Rafferty.

  “I don’t know you, do I?” Rafferty asked him.

  “We’ve never met, no,” Seito said.

  “He’s been travelling with me,” Lina said. “A little headstrong and young but he’s good to have around. Stubborn though, you might find him a challenge, Rafferty. He follows his own path.”

  “Is that true?” Rafferty asked.

  Seito shrugged. “I do what needs to be done.”

  Rafferty nodded and moved on. His eyes finally came to rest on Kian and I. There was an emotion hidden just behind his eyes that I caught. I wasn’t fully sure what it meant but I knew it wasn’t good. Rafferty didn’t like Kian and it wasn’t because of me.

  “So here we are again,” he said. “How is it that you manage to find her more than anyone else? Even when you were her executioner your success rate was higher than the others. Yet you keep screwing up, don’t you, boy? Why should I trust you anymore? How many chances should I give before it’s too many?”

  Kian didn’t answer. Underneath my own hand, his was icy cold. Was there more truth there that I didn’t know about? Rafferty knew something I didn’t or at least he was pretending he did.

  “Come on,” Rafferty said and one of his bodyguards chuckled. “Why should I let you protect her? Because it’s love? Fate? Destiny?”

  “Yes,” I said.

  “No, Mai,” Kian said. Letting go of my hand, he got up off the bed and went to stand in front of Rafferty. “You ask if I’m worthy but let me ask the same of you. What gives you the right to care? You’ve never loved her like I have. You only want her because of the power she holds. Because Dialexa is useless without her. Both powers must be joined. Isn’t that the way legend goes?”

  “You’d better watch it, boy,” Rafferty snarled. “The girl called for me and I came. Her energy is strong. I sensed the first one more than a week ago. You can try and protect her all you want but if I felt it, others did too. Who knows who’s on their way right now? Are you ready to stand up to them? Looks to me you’ve done an abysmal job so far. How many of Aelin's people are here? Ten? Twenty?”

  No one spoke at first. Finally Lina breathed in deeply. “Two,” she said.

  “Two? Are you serious? Which two?”

  “Anique and Sobek.” Lina was looking at the floor.

  Rafferty’s face turned bright red. “You mean to tell me that the four of you haven’t been able to protect this girl from those two?” He turned his attention towards me. “What did they do to you? I can feel your injuries from here. How close did they get?”

  “Don’t blame them,” I said. “It was my fault."

  “What happened?”

  “I didn’t listen.”

  Rafferty laughed long and hard. “Still the same, Apani, refusing to listen to anything except your own heart. It’s what got you into trouble in the first bloody place. But this time things will be different. You’ve died too many times. Now that I’ve found you, I’m taking control of the situation.”

  “I’m not leaving Kian,” I said.

  “You’ll do what I tell you to do.”

  I sat up straighter in the bed. “No, I won’t. You may have been my father once but you’re not him now. I�
��ve all ready got a Dad. I’ve got a family. I don’t need another.”

  “So you’ll let this boy kill you?” Rafferty said.

  “I trust him with my life,” I simply said.

  Rafferty frowned. “I see.”

  “But,” Kian said. He scanned the room, his eyes focusing on me. “We could use your help if you’re willing to give it.”

  Micah snorted in disgust.

  “He’s right,” Kian said. “I’ve done a lousy job because I’ve been foolish. I should have admitted I needed help a long time ago. I’ve been too proud. Regardless of who my enemies are, they are stronger than me. Maybe it’s time I swallowed my pride.”

  “By letting them in?” Micah snapped. “You know what that means, Kian. You’ll be exploiting her and damning us all to death. Aelin's tolerated you until now but if you do this, you’ll be signing your own death sentence.”

  “Perhaps,” Kian said. “But it might be the chance I need to take.” He turned to Rafferty. “We’ve been enemies for too long but we share a common bond. We both love her. Maybe together we can do the one thing that neither of us have been able to do by ourselves.”

  “Her life is worth more than yours,” Rafferty warned.

  “Yes, it is,” Kian said. “I suggest we ask Mai what she wants.”

  I was too confused. I didn’t want to be the final answer in a battle that obviously had been brewing for thousands of years. What if I made a mistake? I didn’t know enough. The concern must have been pouring off of me in waves because Kian knelt by the bed and stared up at me with his beautiful blue eyes.

  “Trust me,” he said.

  I nodded. “I do.”

  Rafferty took control. “Then it’s settled,” he said. “First order of business. Where are Anique and Sobek?”

  “We don’t know,” Lina said. “They’ve disappeared.”

  “Then we hunt them down and find them. Make sure they don’t leave this town or contact anyone.”

  “No,” I said. “No deaths. I don’t want anyone dying.”

  “Who said anything about killing them?” Rafferty said. “I’d much rather have them alive. Dead Unfaded don’t tell tales but take them alive and they’ll be singing in no time. I’m very interested to know what they’ve been up to.”

  I didn’t like the sounds of that but he’d just agreed with me so there wasn’t much I could do.

  “We’ll spread out and search,” Rafferty said. “Lina, take that kid with you. What’s your name, boy?”

  “Seito.”

  “Go with her.”

  I was positive he’d refuse. Hadn’t he spent enough time explaining to me that he didn’t chose sides? I couldn’t imagine for a second he’d allow someone to boss him around like that. But Seito surprised me by nodding.

  Of course Rafferty was no fool. He might tell Lina what to do but he didn’t even bother with Micah. He left the older Unfaded to brood in the corner and started barking orders to his bodyguards about where to look first. He was wasting no time and was an Unfaded used to having people do his bidding without complaint. His four followers took his orders and immediately left the room to go search the town.

  “And you, my daughter,” Rafferty came over to the bed. “How badly hurt are you? Can you move?”

  “She needs another days rest,” Kian said.

  “Then she shall stay here until its safe,” Rafferty said. “I trust you will stay with her and be her guardian?”

  “I always have,” Kian said. “I’ll guard her with my life.”

  “I'll believe it when you die and not her,” Rafferty said.

  “I’d like to go home and change,” I said. “I’ve been wearing the same clothes for almost two days now and they’re covered in blood. Plus I’ve got to call my Dad.” Rafferty gave me a look. “My other Dad,” I added. “He’s bound to have heard about the fire at the school. I’ve got to let him know I’m all right.”

  “You can do that here. I’ll send someone to pick up some clothes for you”

  “I can do it,” Seito said.

  “Fine,” Rafferty said and he nodded at me. “Keep in contact at all times. Don’t hesitate if need be.” With that he turned and left the motel room with Lina at his side.

  Seito smiled and winked at me. He came over to the side of the bed and bowed deeply. “I caught your surprise,” he said to me. “I guess I’m not so neutral after all. But I chose my side on my own free will. I’m here for you. You’d better get used to it.”

  “I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I said.

  Kian held out his hand and Seito took it. They nodded solemnly at each other as they shook but it ended when Kian’s mouth twitched. Seito pulled him forwards and they hugged each other tightly.

  “Good to have you,” Kian said.

  “Cheers mate,” Seito said. “Let’s go kick some arse.”

  “Micah?” Kian asked. “We’ve been together a long time. Please don’t leave me now that I truly need you.”

  The older man was still frowning as he sat in the corner. Finally he stood up and stretched his legs. “I don’t like it but I guess I have no choice. In a way I agree with you. But promise me we won’t make a habit out of this. When this is over I want Rafferty as far from her as possible.”

  “Deal,” Kian said.

  * * *

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to go?” Kian asked for the tenth time as I gave Seito instructions on what I wanted him to bring back. “I might be quicker. I’ve already been in your bedroom.”

  “No,” I said. “I’d rather have you here. Besides, I’m not giving you an excuse to go through my underwear drawer.”

  The blush on Kian’s cheeks was brighter than the smoothest apple.

  Seito smirked.

  “You either,” I said. “Promise me you’ll be a gentleman.”

  “With all my heart, my lady,” Seito said and gave me another deep bow. “You’re knickers are safe with me.”

  I was beginning to think this might not be a good idea. Maybe I’d better send Micah instead. I decided to push the subject away from my dresser drawers for a bit.

  “How old is Rafferty?” I asked. “He keeps calling you a kid. Is it because you look younger than him? Or is it something else?”

  “A mixture of both,” Kian said. “No one actually knows how old Rafferty is. He’s not the oldest Unfaded but he’s up there. I’ve heard rumours between twenty to fifty thousand years old. He’s as old as Aelin at least.”

  Seito whistled. “I’ll never last half that long. My death wish is too strong.”

  “I guess you are children compared to him,” I said.

  “Age doesn’t mean respect,” Micah said. “Unfaded don’t pay attention to age. The majority of us don’t even know when we were born. There are no records or calendars that go back that far. That’s why we tend to round things off. Three thousand. Four thousand. Unimportant. Its strength and ability that makes one powerful, not numbers.”

  “But you’re still a teenager,” I said to Kian. I wasn’t trying to make fun of him, I just wanted to understand.

  “Rafferty knew me when I was a child,” Kian said. “I guess some things just don’t change, no matter how much time passes in-between.”

  That made sense to me so I let it go. There was so much to learn, I wondered how I’d ever figure it all out.

  Seito left shortly after two so he’d have the cover of night while he snuck into my home. Kian turned on the television and for a while we stared at the screen, none of us paying attention to what was on.

  “I’m going to wander around,” Micah said after a while. He got up off his chair and went over to the door. “I’ll feel better if I take a peek around the area. It might just be Rafferty being here but something doesn’t feel right.”

  He was right. There was tenseness in the air that had been buzzing around my head since I first woke up. I hadn’t paid much attention to it until now. This must have been what they all meant when too many Unfaded
got together in one place. The energy became overwhelming.

  “All right,” Kian said. “Contact me if something happens.”

  Micah nodded and left.

  “Do you mind if I take a shower?” I asked. “I feel grimy.”

  Kian immediately got off the bed. “Let me find you a clean towel.”

  It didn’t take him long to rummage through the bathroom and come back with a snowy white towel. He waited while I slowly got up off the bed, cringing every time pain shot through my abdomen.

  “Do you want help?”

  “No, I can do it.”

  Kian went over to the closet and came back with a dark blue shirt. “Here,” he said. “It might be a little big on you but at least it’s clean. It’ll do until Seito comes back.”

  “Thanks.”

  He followed behind me as I slowly made my way towards the bathroom. I was afraid to move faster than a snail’s pace because I wasn’t sure of how much damage had been done. It didn’t help having him hovering over me as if he was positive I was going to drop to the floor any second. It must have taken me five minutes to make it to the door and when I did, I turned and gave him the best smile I could.

  “You’re more than welcome to guard the bathroom but I’m not letting you in.”

  Kian laughed and pulled me close.

  “Am I hurting you?”

  I shook my head.

  By the time he pulled away I’d forgotten that the rest of the world existed.

  “We’ll make it happen this time. We’ll break the curse.”

  “I believe you,” I said. “But I probably should shower first. I smell terrible.”

  "I wasn't going to say anything."

  I closed the door to the bathroom and began to take off my clothes. It was nice knowing he was right outside if I needed him.

  I removed my clothes carefully and let them drop to the floor. There was a lot of dried blood on my shirt and jeans. I’d have to throw them out. There wasn’t a single wash cycle on earth that could repair them. It was a good thing that neither Dad nor Marley paid attention to what I wore. No one would miss them.