“Bryce!” Rufio calls in the distance.
I reply, and we play a wicked game of Marco Polo until finally I spot my brother’s dark head swimming in our direction. He’s dragging Morpheus with him. Thank goodness.
“Is he alive?” Phoenix asks when Rufio reaches us.
“I’m fi-fine,” Morpheus replies. “S-so very co-cold.”
“Can you still tell us where that island of yours is?” I ask.
In that moment, a cascade of lightning slashes the sky, hitting the beach of a tropical island several times. In the last hit, the face of an angry man seems to appear in the dark clouds. It’s gone in the blink of an eye.
“Did you see that?” Phoenix asks.
“Yeah,” Rufio replies. “I thought I imagined it.”
“Come on. We have to reach the island before it disappears from view.”
“This is a mistake,” Morpheus whines.
“Shut up, mummy boy. You were the one who told us to get to the island,” Rufio retorts angrily.
Morpheus doesn’t complain about the nickname like he did before. He keeps repeating, “This is a mistake,” all the way to the shore.
8
Morpheus
The cab drops Andromeda and me off in front of a huge mansion in one of the best neighborhoods in Hawk City—and also one with the highest prices for square footage in the country. Disgust spreads through my chest like a disease. It’s not surprising that this Nathaniel guy, being a demigod, is swimming in riches. Until Daisy came into my life, I never stopped to think about the inequality in the distribution of wealth. My parents weren’t rich, but we lived comfortably. I’m ashamed to admit I let my Idol status go to my head and adopted the majority’s way of thinking that the only people who mattered were Idols.
Three large security guards—all high-level Fringes—block our path when we approach the gates. I’m quick to assess their levels, confirming what I suspected. They’re on the cusp of Idol status. All three are level nine. But you won’t see an Idol working security detail. That’s not how our world works. I wonder if they’re Neo Gods agents.
“This is a private party. Please leave at once,” one of them says.
“I’m a guest. Andromeda Belfor,” she replies with an air of boredom.
The second security guard glances at the tablet in his hand, and after a moment, he looks at Andromeda, then at me. I don’t miss the scrutiny he gives my ensemble.
“I need to see some form of ID,” he tells her.
Her aura flares up as her power surges within her small frame. She takes a step forward, revealing her golden chains, which are now pointing at the guy. “Is this identification enough for you?”
The corners of my lips twitch up. It’s hard to contain my amusement when three grown-ass men look terrified in front of the force of nature that’s Andromeda. I’m fucking glad she’s on our side.
“No, that’s plenty. Welcome to the party, miss.” They part, allowing us to pass.
“What a bunch of dumbasses,” she mutters while we’re still within earshot.
“Couldn’t agree more. Do you think they’re with the Neo Gods?” I whisper.
“I have no idea. I haven’t met many members, only Nathaniel and a couple of his goons when he kidnapped me.”
I stop in my tracks and touch her arm. “Wait? When was that?”
“Not too long ago. Soon after my recruitment, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. I cut off my communication with Nathaniel completely for years. He only started to pester me recently. I guess when he got whiff of the Unmaker.”
The darkness inside of me begins to churn. I clench my jaw tight, focusing on keeping my rage under control. I can’t lose my shit in front of all these people—that is, not until I discover what Nathaniel knows about my past.
We resume our walk toward the mansion. There are two more suits manning the double doors, but besides a sideways glance, they don’t try to block our entrance. Lively music echoes against the smooth walls and high ceiling of the entry foyer. Ahead of us, there’s a grand staircase worthy of a classic Hollywood movie. Everywhere I look there are ostentatious displays of excess, from the crystal chandelier to the painted mirror display above the staircase.
Andromeda hisses, clutching at her hand.
“Is he hurting you again?” I ask.
“Yes. We must be late.”
On impulse, I take her hand in mine. The power of the Nathaniel’s mark feels like burning ice to me. Wisps of shadows sneak around my wrist, slowly snaking around Andromeda’s. For once, they’re not trying to smother me. On the contrary, they’re seeking to counter Nathaniel’s power. I sense his presence diminish until the tension in Andromeda’s hand eases.
“Thank you. That helped,” she says.
“Let’s go find the jackass. I can’t wait to try my powers on him in person.”
“I know where he is now,” she grits out.
With shoulders squared, she moves toward the sound of the party. The mansion has a grand ballroom, which is bursting with mostly Idols, but there are also Fringe guests in the mix, which surprises me. Granted, they’re on the edge of Idol-hood.
As we move through the crowded space, I sense several stares aimed in my direction. Maybe I should have asked to borrow a suit from Mr. Silverstone. I stick out like a sore thumb in my faded jeans and hoodie, drawing too much attention. When Nathaniel said he was throwing a party, he really meant it. There must be hundreds of people here, and by the amount of bling adorning the female guests’ necks, ears, and fingers, this soiree can probably be seen all the way from the moon.
“There he is.” Andromeda points at a tall man with light brown hair combed back, busy entertaining a few of his guests.
He has the looks of a charmer with a dazzling smile and fine features. But it’s his dark and magnetic powers that draw his victims to him. I can see it as clearly as day. Oddly, my own powers react to the man, almost as if it recognizes him somehow.
“Hello, brother.”
His words echo in my head again. Is he really my brother? If so, what kind of god sired us? Obviously nothing good if I inherited the power to put fear into people’s hearts.
Still laughing at his guest’s joke, he turns to us. When our gazes meet, I feel like I’ve been sucker punched. His eyes are nothing like mine, but they look as familiar as if I had been staring at my own reflection in the mirror.
“Excuse me. I must greet some very special guests,” Nathaniel says to his friends, then strides in our direction.
For all Andromeda’s cockiness, she’s tense and a little afraid too. I can easily pick up that type of negative emotion in others since I’m a fearmancer. She knows now that her fate is in the hands of a being far more powerful than she is.
“Andy, I’m so glad you could make it.” He smiles broadly, showing perfect white teeth. But his mirth wilts when he glances at her casual clothes. “Tsk. Didn’t I ask you to dress appropriately?”
“I’m sorry. Is this not okay?” She glances down, pretending to check her clothes. “Is my ass showing?”
He narrows his eyes briefly, then turns his attention to me and extends his hand. “I’m Nathaniel Wilcox. You must be Morpheus Malek.”
I hesitate to take his hand for a second, unsure what’s going to happen when we touch. But fuck, I’m not going to let him know I’m wary of him. We shake hands, and when nothing happens, I’m a little disappointed. The feeling doesn’t last long. His voice enters my mind, low and dangerous.
“You attempted to help Andromeda just now. I advise you to quit trying to mess with my recruit. You don’t want to get in my way, little brother.”
“I’m not your brother. And get the fuck out of my head!”
Nathaniel recoils, a physical reaction to my mental shove. His eyes flash with anger, and I brace for his retaliation.
“You’ve met Morpheus. What now?” Andromeda pipes up.
Nathaniel’s grin slips into a chilling smile. “Now we’ll get
to know on—” He stops abruptly and diverts his attention to the crowd. “My, oh my. This evening is turning out to be quite magnificent.”
I follow his line of vision, finding the source of his amusement right away. Stephan is here, making a beeline in our direction. He took the dress code seriously. He’s wearing a perfectly cut tuxedo that makes him look like a movie star. Women turn their heads to watch him pass, but he only has eyes for Andromeda.
“Why is he here?” she asks in a small voice.
“I invited him, naturally. This is a party for the crème de la crème of Hawk City society, after all. What’s the matter, Andy? You don’t like the surprise?”
Stephan stops near us, sporting the coldest mask I’ve seen him wear. He spares Andromeda a glance full of loathing that makes me feel bad for her, even if she can’t see his glower. She’s clearly enamored with the guy.
“Welcome, Stephan,” Nathaniel greets him. “I’m delighted you could join us this evening. I know you’ve been busy these days.”
“Yes, extremely busy.” His blue eyes become sharper.
No one speaks for a moment, and the longer the silence extends, the tenser the atmosphere becomes. I have no idea what Nathaniel wants, but I didn’t come here to witness a staring contest. I open my mouth to get the answers I came for, but then all the lights in the room go out. The crowd lets out a collective gasp of shock.
Immediately, I reach for Andromeda, finding nothing but empty space where she was a second ago. Fuck! I search for her signature with my senses, but there’s nothing but an endless void. What the hell is going on?
A cold hand clamps around my arm, and then Nathaniel’s laughter sounds nearby. “Are you afraid, little brother?”
I shove him as hard I can, and he lets go. “Where the fuck am I?”
The absolute darkness begins to lighten into gray until a familiar landscape reveals itself. The island from my nightmares. I’m standing on its sandy beach, and before me, there’s the tropical forest that looks innocent enough but hides deadly secrets. Nathaniel is a few feet away from me, looking at the forest too.
“What’s this place?” he asks.
“You don’t know? You brought us here.”
He glances at me with eyes that are widely innocent. “No, I didn’t.”
A massive cloud formation converges on top of the lush jungle, crackling as bolts of lightning pulse inside. The face of the island god appears before us, filling my chest with dread.
“I never thought I’d see the day you two would meet,” the god speaks.
“Who are you?” Nathaniel asks.
Lightning shoots from the sky, hitting Nathaniel square on his chest. The force of the impact sends him flying backward, and he’s still caught in the electric current when he lands near the shore.
Damn it. I guess he wasn’t lying when he said he didn’t bring us here.
I run to where he landed while the island god’s laughter booms as loud as thunder behind me.
The veins on Nathaniel’s neck strain as he rides the electroshock. His eyes are wide, shining with fear. A part of me wants to help, but then I remember he’s been torturing Andromeda for months. Eventually, the tremors stop.
He gasps, bucking his chest. “Motherfucker!”
I turn around, daring to face the source of my torment. “Why are we here?”
“You’re here because both of you broke the rules. Now it’s time for your punishment.”
He sends a massive lightning bolt in my direction, but it’s deflected by the dark silhouette of a man that materializes out of thin air. The island god rages so loudly that the noise shakes the ground.
Nathaniel gets back on his feet, bent forward as he clutches his middle.
“Father?” he asks the newcomer.
Wait. Father?
My heart stops beating. I can’t breathe.
The man looks over his shoulder, and the only thing from his profile that I can see peeking from the shadows is his fiery eyes.
He lifts his arm, palm facing us, and says, “Go.”
My body is yanked back by a great force, and the island of horrors vanishes from my sight. There’s a brief moment when I feel and hear nothing, but then I’m back at Nathaniel’s party, the sound of merriment suddenly too harsh in my ears after the absolute silence of my trip back. The lights are back on, and all the guests are acting like nothing is amiss. I peer to my left, finding Nathaniel there, looking as astonished I am.
“Who was that man?” I ask.
He rubs his face, not meeting my eyes. “You’d better leave, kid. I think I’ve had enough of high-octane adventures for one evening.” He walks away still slightly hunched.
I should follow him and demand answers now that he’s vulnerable, but something holds me back and I don’t know what. It’s not a premonition, I don’t think.
Damn it. This evening turned out be a complete bust. Instead of answers, all I managed was to acquire more questions.
I begin to move toward the ballroom’s exit when I remember Andromeda. Shit. I’m really out of it. I search my surroundings but find no sign of the lavender-haired girl or Stephan.
Hell. Where did they go?
9
Phoenix
I wake up with a gasp, panicked. I’m in an unfamiliar room, but that’s not the reason my heart is beating so fast that it seems it’s going to crash through my rib cage. I had a nightmare, and judging by the sweat on my forehead and the lingering feeling of disgust underneath my skin, I can guess what it was about. I don’t dare even think of his name.
After the morning’s fiasco with Daisy, I returned to my assigned room. I lay on the bed with zero hopes that I’d fall asleep. I had upset Daisy, and that didn’t sit well with me. But I guess I was too exhausted, and my body ended up succumbing to it in the end.
I shove the heels of my hands in my eyes while I try to calm down. He’s gone forever. He can’t harm me anymore. I repeat the mantra in my head until my breathing returns to normal. I wish I could erase all the awful memories still branded in my brain.
My phone pings, alerting me to a text message. Groaning, I reach for it. Maybe it’s news from Morpheus or Bryce. My chest feels tight when I see the message is from my mother. I haven’t thought much about her since she rescued me from the police station. I caved back then and let her comfort me, but now the old wound is open and bleeding again. She let me suffer all those years at the hands of that monster. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive her completely.
I toss my phone aside without reading what she wrote. I don’t want to deal with her now. She can choke on her guilt for all I care. The best I can do is keep moving forward.
I untangle myself from the sheets and get out of bed. My bedroom shares a bathroom with Rufio’s, but it’s empty now. I head for it, wincing when I turn on the bright lights. A quick peek at the mirror makes me wince again. I look like shit. Bloodshot eyes, disgusting hair sticking to my forehead, dark circles. Fuck. I could be featured in one of those hospital posters for some horrible disease. A shower and shave are top priorities.
The second door opens, and in comes Rufio with messy hair and barely open eyes. He veers for the toilet and, without even acknowledging my presence, takes his dick out and starts to pee.
“Dude. Come on! I was here first.”
He yawns and then speaks. “Sorry. Didn’t see you there.”
“Are you blind?”
“No. I’m so damn tired.” He flushes and then nudges me to the side so he can wash his hands.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“No. I slept like the dead.”
Jealousy rears its ugly head. Of course he did. Awesome sex will do that to any guy.
“Lucky you.” I don’t hide the venom in my tone.
My comment seems to fly right over his head. The old Rufio would be shooting daggers at me with his eyes, but there’s no change in his demeanor. It’s pretty unnerving to be in his presence and feel nothing but a big void whe
re his power used to be.
“What time do you think it is?” he asks.
“I have no clue.”
“I think I’m going back to bed.”
I watch him drag his feet out of the bathroom with my jaw hanging open. That guy is a completely different person. We’ve all changed in the past few months; I can’t deny that.
I stare at my reflection again.
“Fuck this.”
I turn on the shower and wait until the water gets hot enough. Then I take my time under the steamy jets, letting them ease away the tension in my shoulders. After a while, I reach for the soap and begin to scrub every inch of skin ferociously. I feel so dirty that no matter how hard I rub with the soap, it never seems to remove the stain. My skin burns, and it’s only when blood tinges the water at my feet that I stop what I’m doing. I scrubbed myself raw. Fucking fantastic.
I decide to forgo shaving until I have my shit together. The blade won’t cut me, but my hands are the most dangerous things right now.
My mood is down to sewer levels when I exit the foggy bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist and a second one in my hand to dry my hair. I stop in my tracks when I find Daisy sitting on my bed, waiting for me.
In an instant, her presence infuses me with euphoria. My heart races. Every instinct I have urges me to crush her against my chest, kiss her lips until they become swollen. But I can’t do any of those things.
“Hey, Phoenix. We need to talk.”
Damn everything to hell. Those are the worst possible words a guy can hear from his girlfriend. It never ends well.
DAISY
It’s an effort to keep my eyes glued to Phoenix’s face and not let them wander down his chiseled chest that glistens with droplets of water. I shouldn’t have stayed in his room when I realized he was in the shower, and now I’m putting my self-control to the test.
His green eyes turn dark under his frown. “Why? Is it because of what I was doing earlier?”
My cheeks become warmer at the memory. Sure, I was mortified to learn he had been spying on Rufio and me, but when the embarrassment faded, only a wicked sense of desire remained.
Broken Knights: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 4) Page 6