“You don’t have to worry. You will come to no harm here,” Lilly reassured her as they began to climb a twisting staircase.
“Sure,” Isis said, glancing around. She had yet to see another individual and it was starting to make her nervous. Lilly glanced back at her with a kind smile before turning her eyes forward again.
“So, are you a shape shifter or a guardian?” Isis asked, wondering if that was an offensive thing to ask. Lilly’s faint smile grew a little as she glanced at Isis again.
“I was born a guardian, but gave up the title and position when I married Jet and became leader of the protectors,” she answered. Isis noticed a small golden lily at her throat. They reached the second floor and Lilly led her down another long hallway. It was dimmer than the halls on the first floor and the walls were covered with magnificent portraits and paintings. There was also the occasional sculpture on a pedestal.
“Are these all your ancestors or something?” Isis asked as they passed by a portrait of a stern-faced man. She noticed that the men were mostly clean-shaven. She would have thought it would be the opposite for shape shifters.
“Some are, others are just great figures from our history,” Lilly replied. “The animal sculptures and pictures represent all the forms shape shifters are capable of shifting into.”
“Who makes them?” Isis toyed with the emerald at her throat as she looked at a sculpture of a fox.
“Some are made by shape shifter artists and others are gifts from the guardians,” Lilly explained, glancing over at Isis and pausing for a moment. “Your necklace was made by a gem guardian named Emerald. The chain is pure guardian silver, which is unbreakable. The charm comes from the mineral caves in the Meadows.”
Isis stared at the necklace. “Huh. Good thing I never had it appraised.”
Lilly laughed, a melodic sound that reminded Isis of small delicate bells. She continued down the hallway and Isis followed.
“There’s an animal in almost every picture,” Isis mentioned as she continued to look at the paintings they walked by.
“It’s the particular shape shifter’s favorite form,” Lilly responded. “I should warn you that some shape shifters are more comfortable in animal form. It’s not uncommon to see a leopard or wolf roaming the hallways. My children are also fond of playing tricks on guests. Don’t be frightened if you run into a bear or other large animal in the morning.”
“How many people live here?” Isis asked, unable to conceal the shock in her voice. She chose to put the warning in the back of her mind for the moment.
“Right now?” Lilly paused as though tallying up the number of inhabitants. “Twelve, including you. Thirteen by tomorrow, not counting the romantic consorts who frequently stay or the staff, who mostly choose to stay in their own homes on the property.”
“Romantic consorts?”
Lilly smiled and nodded. “Shape shifters are very open and many desire companionship, whether romantic or platonic. Many choose to live with multiple lovers.”
“Jade mentioned something about libidos,” Isis muttered.
“We are similar to humans in some ways and very different in others,” Lilly replied.
“Makes sense,” Isis said. Lilly stopped in front of a large arched door. She opened it, stepped inside, and switched on the light.
“Whoa,” Isis breathed as she stepped into the huge room. She could feel her jaw drop again as she took in her new decadent surroundings. The large ornate bed looked extremely expensive, possibly an antique. Orchid-colored nightclothes were neatly folded on the bed. There was a short hallway leading to a back section of the room.
“I think this might be bigger than my apartment,” Isis said as she looked over to the wooden dresser against the wall. There was a large, elaborate wardrobe across the room.
“The bathroom is in the back. If you need anything at all, the intercom is here next to the light switch,” Lilly said as she gestured toward a metal plate with a couple buttons on the wall next to the light switches. “Just press the tan button and someone will answer. Breakfast is usually around eight or nine, but there’s always someone in the kitchen. Electra is in the room across from yours and I’m sure Jade will take you to your apartment tomorrow to pick up some things. Have a good night, Isis.”
Isis mustered a polite smile and Lilly left the room, closing the door behind her. Isis waited for a few minutes before approaching the door again. She opened it, looking up and down the hall. When she saw it was empty, Isis closed and locked the door. Striding across the room, she opened the doors that led out to the balcony and crossed the small space to the large stone balustrade, resting her hands on the rough stone as she leaned over and looked down. A cool breeze blew through her short hair. She clenched her teeth when she saw the distance to the ground, realizing there was no way she could walk away from the drop unscathed.
Isis turned to face the room again, drumming her fingers on the stone. Her eyes drifted over to the bed and she pursed her lips as an idea began to form in her mind. Crossing the balcony again and closing the doors, Isis turned her attention to the bed. She stripped the sheets off the mattress and set about separating them. No one was going to hold her prisoner.
CHAPTER SIX
Moonlight illuminated the three who remained in the study. The beams of light bounced off the gold writing and designs on the bindings of the books that lined the east and west walls from floor to ceiling.
After Lilly and Isis left, Electra turned around and leaned her weight against the bookcase that she had been studying since they arrived. Jade remained stretched out on the lounge, waiting for Jet to talk. Jet was playing with an ornate blue fountain pen, spinning it between his fingers. Electra watched him, enthralled by the motion of the pen. She shifted her weight, crossing her left leg over her right.
“What happened?” Jet finally asked, looking to Jade. She sat up and scratched the back of her head, squinting as she thought for a moment.
“I have no idea,” Jade replied with a shake of her head. “Best I can tell, someone was strangling her when we arrived. There have been a couple of robberies in the area, but to me, this looked like the work of a professional. There was no sign of forced entry and I’m sure they didn’t leave any kind of evidence behind. They used a garrote, which indicates an experienced assassin, meaning it could have been another attempt to show strength by Adara. If that’s what it was, she came uncomfortably close. Had we been a moment later, Isis would’ve been dead.”
Jade sighed and leaned forward, dropping her wrists to her knees. “That place, her apartment — there was a heaviness to the air. It was the same thing I felt when we entered the old factory.”
“It just doesn’t make sense. The guardians should have been alerted the second someone dangerous entered that apartment. They’ve had a protection spell on it since Isis moved in,” Jet thought aloud, frowning when he noticed that Jade wasn’t looking directly at him. “What are you leaving out?”
Jade looked a little uncomfortable as she began to rub her palms together, glancing over at Electra. “I have reason to believe that whoever was in that apartment had telekinetic ability.”
Electra twisted around, looking toward Jade. “That’s impossible. Telekinesis is a guardian ability and one that’s forbidden to be used on Earth.”
“Whoever it was threw me across the room with barely any physical contact and from what I could tell, they were shorter than me,” Jade explained. Jet rubbed his eyes with his free hand.
“What kind of trouble has she attracted?” he muttered to himself.
“We should’ve approached her the moment she came into contact with Bryn’s body,” Jade mentioned as she leaned back against the smooth fabric of the lounge, stretching her arms across the back.
“Perhaps, but we cannot change the past,” Jet responded as he watched Electra approach the old globe. He could tell that she was still angry with him, maybe not as much as she was with her mother, but he had picked up on the icines
s in her voice. Electra spun the old tan sphere, her fingers trailing across the continents, the bumpy mountains causing them to rise every now and again.
“We have to focus on the present and whatever threat we’re facing,” Jet continued as he leaned back in his chair. He steepled his fingers and rested them against his upper lip. His blue-green eyes were dark as he thought about what Jade had told him. The wooden clock that rested on one of the bookshelves chimed, drawing Electra’s attention away from the globe.
“Why do you insist on keeping clocks? Is time really so important?” Electra asked Jet, her tone amused. She made her way over to the clock, studying the thin black minute and hour hands. There were almost no clocks in the Meadows. Most guardians had no need for them and only the guardians of time kept clocks.
Jet looked over to her and shrugged. “I like them. There is something soothing about a well-made clock.”
“You can be such a sentimental fool sometimes,” Electra chuckled as she ran her fingers over the smooth cherry wood of the clock.
“To each his own,” Jet replied with a smile, before sobering. “Electra, you know you’re always welcome here, but how long do you plan on staying? Your mother is going to be worried sick—”
“My mother worries about no one but herself,” Electra growled, her gaze drifting to the books on the shelves. Jade exchanged a look with Jet, her eyes holding a clear warning to stop talking. He was treading on dangerous ground at the moment.
“You’ve had a long day. We can talk more in the morning,” Jet said, not having the energy for an argument. Electra shook her head and stormed across the room, exiting the study and slamming the door behind her. Jade winced at the loud bang that echoed in the room.
“I think she may be a little miffed at me,” Jet mentioned, thanking his lucky stars that Sly wasn’t there. She delighted in pointing out his every misstep.
“Electra has a lot to deal with right now,” Jade responded. “Give her some time before you sink into a woe-is-me routine.”
Jet made a noncommittal sound as he looked back to the surface of the desk, studying his reflection. He was worried about being in the center of a three-way fight. Passion was undoubtedly furious at him and apparently so was Electra.
“When do you plan on speaking with Passion?” Jade asked. Jet gave her a wry look in response, to which she just shrugged. He glanced up when he heard a soft knocking on the door, which opened to reveal Lilly.
“I think she’s settled in,” Lilly reported as she crossed her hands in front of her. Jet smiled at her, nodding gratefully. He was about to suggest calling it a night when a bright gold light started to form next to him. Jet swallowed and turned his chair toward the glow as Passion materialized next to him. Her eyes were red-rimmed, most likely from crying, and she glared at Jet with a fury that had never been directed at him before. She was wearing a fiery red dress with a plunging neckline that seemed to enhance the rage in her eyes. Passion stood stiffly, as if she was made of granite, and her fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles were white.
“Can I talk to you?” she asked with a chilling calm. Jet glanced at the lamps as they suddenly became brighter and began to buzz, threatening to burst. The irate guardian’s fury was charging all forms of energy around them. The study became bathed in a harsh bone white glow, making it appear as though it was daytime in the single room. Jade was staring at him; so was Lilly. He gestured for them to leave. Jade got up and walked out, glancing back at Jet once before disappearing in the hall.
“Lilly, would you mind closing the door behind you?” Jet requested. Lilly smiled at him and made her way out of the room, closing the door behind her. Jet hesitated for a moment and then turned to face his friend, who was still glaring at him.
“Passion, I didn’t have a—”
He was cut off when Passion slapped him, which took him by surprise. She had never struck him before. Yelled at him plenty of times, but never physically hit him. He swallowed and gently touched his stinging lip, unsurprised when the tips of his fingers came back bloody.
“Don’t you dare try to use that excuse with me, Jet. There is always a choice,” she said, her voice soft and restrained. Jet looked back to her, not sure how to respond. Passion turned away from him and looked out the large window.
“Electra’s here,” Jet offered after a moment. “In case you didn’t know.”
Passion didn’t respond, but gripped her upper arms tighter. Jet gingerly probed his bloody lip, contemplating his next words.
“I won’t apologize for what I did,” Jet began as he looked down to his bloody fingertips again. She twisted her body toward him, surprise replacing fury in her eyes. The lights dimmed ever so slightly.
“I made you a promise when your daughters were born. Do you remember?” Jet explained. “I told you that I would protect them until my dying breath. Isis was in danger and I protected her the only way I could. I am sorry that it involved going behind your back, but if I had to do it again, I would. I made the right decision, Passion.”
“She had a life, Jet. One that you destroyed,” she stated as she turned back to the window. “Was some damn vague prophecy really worth ruining her life?”
Jet looked down, wringing his hands. If he was being completely honest, he still questioned whether he had gone about the situation in the right way. His friend needed to burn off steam, understandably, and Jet was more than willing to let her. He glanced up again when she let out a bark of laughter that sounded more like a sob. His heart nearly broke when he saw tears welling up in her eyes.
“You know what the really pathetic thing is?” Passion asked, her voice trembling with tears that were threatening to fall. “I was stupid enough to trust you. Did I know you could go behind my back to my daughter? Of course I did, but I never thought you actually would.”
She turned away from the window, facing him again. “I never want to see you again, Jet. As far as I’m concerned, from this moment on, we’re strangers.”
“Before you leave,” Jet said, drawing her attention back to him. “Will you do me one last favor? There was an attempt on Isis’ life tonight, which thankfully Jade managed to stop. Would you ask your mother or grandmother how that was able to happen when there was supposed to be a protection spell on whatever living space Isis inhabited?”
He could see the hesitance in the guardian’s expression, as though she didn’t know whether or not to believe him. Jet ran his hands over the armrests, feeling his heart twist painfully in his chest. It was possible this was the last time he would see her. Passion was one of his best friends. She had always been an important part of his and Lilly’s lives and the thought of losing that bond was physically painful.
“I don’t care whether or not you give me the answer,” he continued. “Send a messenger if you must. I just . . . I really want to know what happened tonight and you deserve to know as well. I want to make sure Isis is as safe as she can be.”
Passion didn’t say another word as she dematerialized in a brilliant flash of golden light, disappearing back to the Meadows. The second she was gone, the lamps dimmed again and Jet was left alone in a dark room. He rested his elbows on his knees and dragged his hands down his face, hoping he had made the right choice. The sound of the study door opening again made Jet straighten up.
“What happened to you?” a young feminine voice asked. Jet looked at his youngest daughter, who was leaning against the open door. Hunter smiled at him, taking in her father’s appearance. While most of Jet and Lilly’s daughters took after their mother in appearance, Hunter looked more like her father. She had the same dark hair, which she kept very short, barely long enough to touch the nape of her neck, and his caring blue-green eyes. Unlike him, she was a rebel. Ever since she was a child, Hunter questioned authority and tested boundaries.
Jet took in her attire as she walked toward the desk, wondering if she would ever grow out of her punk phase. She towered over him with her favorite knee-high black boots, which we
re splattered with some kind of florescent paint. He often wondered how she walked in those things; they had what looked to be a ten-inch heel. Smiling at his daughter, Jet realized he hadn’t seen much of his family the past couple weeks and he’d missed them.
“Is that the current fashion trend or were you in another brawl?” he asked, gesturing to her ripped jeans and clothing.
“Fashion,” she answered with a devil-may-care smile as she hopped up on the desk. “If I had been in a brawl, I’m fairly certain I’d have some blood on me. And then I’d be in a mood because blood is a pain in the ass to get out of clothing.”
“I’m certain you’d manage,” Jet replied. “I take it you disregarded my request that you not go out late night clubbing for a while, at least until your mother and I find the cause of all this chaos and the strife among assassins settles or resolves itself.”
“I took it under consideration. But I figured carrying a Taser and mace was enough of a deterrent for any seedy types,” Hunter said with a dismissive shrug. Jet sat back and twisted his chair a little so that he could look out the window.
“Who split your lip?” Hunter asked, as she leaned back on the desk.
“Passion,” Jet answered, looking back to his daughter. Hunter scrunched up her face a little, obviously confused.
“You two never fight,” she said. “What happened?”
“I had to tell Electra who her father was and I went behind Passion’s back in order to do so,” Jet explained, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Hunter stared at him, her mouth dropping open in shock.
“Dad, how could you do that to her?”
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