“But you can get general vibes, can’t you? On a scale of one to ten, how pissed off do you think my mother is?” Bryce asks casually.
“Uh…” Toby glances briefly in Jodie’s direction, getting flustered at the speed of light. His cheeks are so red, it looks like he’s wearing blush.
“How amusing.” She glowers at Bryce.
“Eleven,” Toby replies. “Who’s coming on this mission?”
“Just you, me, Xavier, and Rufio,” I say.
“Is that… wise? I mean, Xavier and I are newly made Idols, and Rufio is…” Toby’s cheeks become even redder.
“You can say it, Toby. I’m only a Norm.” He crosses his arms in front of his chest, twisting his face into a grimace.
“That’s insane. I should come, at least. You need more protection,” Jodie butts in.
“And I already said you’re not coming. That’s final, Jodie.” Xavier stares her down.
She throws her hands up in the air. “Fine. Be my guest. I hope you don’t get caught by the Neo Gods.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t mind if they crossed our path.” Rufio’s eyes take on a dangerous glint, and I swear they flash brighter for a second.
“I would,” Xavier retorts. “All right. Get ready. We leave in five minutes.”
RUFIO
“Daisy, can you check if Jodie is truly not following us?” Xavier asks from the driver seat.
“Can’t you look yourself?” I pipe up.
“Rufio, cut it out,” Daisy chastises me.
I’ve been picking on Xavier since we left the warehouse. Yeah, I’m still pissed that he didn’t want me to come because he believes I’m a deadweight. If I’m being honest with myself, the anger is also aimed at me. Most of the time, I think the team has no use for me, but I can’t live my life in self-pity.
“She’s the most powerful Idol in this car, and her reach is greater,” Xavier replies calmly, but I don’t miss the underlying irritation in his tone.
“My mother is not going to follow us,” I rebuff.
“It doesn’t hurt to be careful,” he grumbles.
“I’m not sensing her at all.” Daisy glances at the side mirror. “And there’s no car behind us.”
“Where are we going?” Toby changes the subject. I’m not sure if he’s trying to defuse the tension or not, but he’s got my attention.
“To one of the Knights’ secret locations.”
“Is it that cabin in the woods Gunther Silverstone brought us to?” Daisy asks.
“No, a different place. They’ve had to make several changes in the last few weeks. Still, I’m not sure who to trust in their group, to be honest.”
“Have you heard from him?” I ask.
“No. His radio silence is worrying me.”
“You don’t think he was captured or killed, do you?” Daisy asks in a high-pitched voice.
“Let’s hope not.”
Xavier’s reply doesn’t comfort me, and clearly it doesn’t comfort Daisy either. Even without my Idol senses, I can tell she’s tense as hell.
“When Morpheus returns, maybe he can connect with his half brother?” I suggest.
“Do you believe he’ll come back?” Toby asks.
“Yes,” Daisy and I reply in unison.
She turns in her seat to look at me. “You really think so?”
“Yes, sweetheart. He’ll come back. He loves you too much to stay away.”
Xavier grumbles. “Can you please not do the gushy thing in front of me? I’m still getting used to my niece dating four guys at once.”
I snort. “That’s pretty rich coming from the man who runs a strip club and allowed said niece to work there.”
“Kid, you’re lucky I’m driving. But keep smart-mouthing me and you will get the ass-whooping of your life.”
Toby giggles but tries to hide his amusement when I award him a murderous glance.
“Rufio has a point though,” Daisy comes to my defense.
“May I remind you that I didn’t want to give you the job? You begged me for it, and I saved you from humiliation in the end.”
“Good times,” I mutter.
“I don’t need any reminders.” She glances out the window, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
My memories of that night are fuzzy, but what I do remember is bittersweet. I hated Daisy blindly back then. I can’t believe I harbored such ugly feelings, and now I can’t live without her.
I press my hand against my leather jacket, feeling the hard shape of the lightning-glass dagger I stuffed in my pocket. Let everyone think I’m harmless just because I don’t have my Idol powers anymore. If anyone tries to harm Daisy, I’ll gut them like the pigs they are.
“What’s your take on Phoenix’s mother?” Toby asks. “She looks so young. When did she have him?”
“I haven’t made up my mind about her, to be honest,” Daisy replies. “I know what that monster did to her, but at the same time, she didn’t try to help Phoenix.”
“You don’t know she didn’t, honey.” Xavier is quick to come to Leticia’s defense.
“Someone is smitten,” I tease.
“I’m not smitten,” he replies with indignation.
“Yes you are.” Daisy laughs. “Totally.”
“I don’t want to hear another word about that nonsense. And don’t go spreading rumors either. We’re in the middle of war. There’s no time for ridiculous gossip.”
“It’s not gossip if it’s true. Besides, I think romance is exactly what we need in times of war.”
“Yeah, I know you do. I hope you’re being careful.” Xavier throws Daisy a meaningful glance.
She seems to sink against the leather seat, becoming smaller. “Of course we are. Jeez.”
“And I trust I don’t even need to have this conversation with you, Toby,” Xavier continues.
“What? Oh my God, Mr. X. You don’t have to worry about Rosie and me.”
I smirk, taking great pleasure in watching the guy squirm in his seat. I bet his face is in flames right now.
“How much longer until we get to the secret location?” Daisy asks, ripping my amusement to shreds.
Delta killed her parents on the orders of my father. Now she has to face the motherfucker, probably get into his head. I wish I could do that for her, take away the burden. But all I can do is stand by her side and be anything she needs me to be.
“Another ten minutes.”
“What did they say when you talked to them?” she asks in a small voice.
“They tried everything, but they couldn’t break him.”
Her powers flare up suddenly, violent and angry. “But I can, and I will.”
36
Rufio
This might be a different location, but the vibe is the same as the other secret hideout. Another cabin in the woods, far away from civilization. The building is not large by any means. Maybe there are two bedrooms max. If they’re using torture—which I’m sure they must—Delta’s screams could be heard from outside. Not that there’s anyone around to hear it.
“This is it?” I ask.
“That’s the address.” Xavier turns off the engine but keeps the headlights on.
No sooner does he reply than an agent exits through the front door. He lifts his arm to shield his eyes from the glare, preventing us from seeing his face. When he stops next to the driver window, I find he’s not one of the agents who came to Poppy’s Joint.
“Xavier, we’ve been waiting for you,” he says in a thick French accent.
“Who are you?”
“Marlon Boucher. Gunther sent for me.” He peers inside the car, immediately taking note of Daisy. “I see you’ve brought the Unmaker. Good, good.” He switches his attention to the back seat. “But who is the Norm?”
“The name is Rufio Kent,” I grit out.
Marlon’s eyebrows arch. “You’re Jonathan Kent’s son. I’m sorry. I didn’t know. Terrible thing he did to you.”
The man steps back to a
llow Xavier to open the door. But Toby, Daisy, and I don’t get out immediately. I turn to Toby. “What do you think? Can we trust that guy?”
“I don’t know. His mind is completely blocked off from me. It’s like he has a shield. I can’t even get a read on his true disposition.”
“Fucking fantastic,” I mutter.
“Are you armed?” Daisy asks me.
I pat my jacket pocket. “You bet. Don’t worry, babe. I’ll keep my eyes trained on him.”
Toby reaches for the door handle. “We’d better get going before he suspects we’re talking about him.”
The air is much cooler in the forest. I’d close off my jacket, but I want easy access to the lightning dagger in the inside pocket. I have another blade attached to an ankle holster, flying stars in my side pockets, and I also grabbed a few small rough-cut lightning-glass stones.
Once out of the car, I step close to Daisy, and together we follow Marlon, Xavier, and Toby into the cabin. Nothing inside screams that this place is a holding facility. It’s a cozy little cabin with rustic furniture, a small kitchen, and a narrow corridor that leads to the bedrooms.
Another agent comes from that direction, and this one I recognize. He came to collect Delta from the diner.
“Castro, have you made any progress?” Xavier asks the man.
“No. The block inside his mind sends him into shock every time we get close to getting information. Not even Marlon was able to breach it.”
“Why are you singling him out?” I ask.
“Because breaking through people’s minds is my specialty.” He smiles in a cocky way.
“Clearly you’re not very good,” I retort.
The man narrows his eyes but then shakes his head, laughing as if I’m not worth a reply. Asshole.
“I can breach Delta’s block,” Daisy says.
“Are you going to unmake him?” Marlon quirks an eyebrow.
Lifting her chin, she says, “Yes.”
There’s no hesitation on her part. She’s putting on a tough front, but I know how much this situation is affecting her.
“Let’s go, then. We’re running out of time.” Castro veers toward the corridor.
Daisy glances in my direction, saying without words that she needs me to come with her. But I also read guilt in her eyes. I don’t know what more I can do to make her stop feeling that way.
“I’ll be by your side the whole time, my love.”
“I know, but maybe it’ll be too hard for you to watch.”
I grin. “Not at all. It will give me great pleasure to watch you punish that son of a bitch.”
Xavier, who had followed Castro ahead of us, stops in his tracks and looks over his shoulder. “Daisy, are you coming?”
“Yeah.”
Marlon waves his arm in a flourishing gesture. “After you.”
Daisy steps in front of him, but the man cuts in front of me, following close behind her. I have every intention of pushing him out of my way, but Toby grabs my jacket sleeve. I tense on the spot. He must have sensed something.
Daisy, Xavier, and Marlon disappear through a door, and my instincts are telling me to hurry up, but I have to find out what Toby picked up first.
“Speak fast,” I tell him.
“I just sensed something dubious from Marlon. He lied to us when he said he couldn’t breach Delta’s mind.”
“Why would he do that?”
Toby glances at the front door. “Shit. We’re not alone here. I sense at least five more Idols closing in on the cabin.”
The small hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Pulling my lightning-glass dagger from my pocket, I whirl around. “This is a trap.”
I run toward the room Daisy disappeared into, but when I try to open the door, it won’t budge. Fuck! Kicking the damn thing doesn’t help either.
“Daisy!” I yell.
There’s no response, which makes me more desperate. My eyes burn, filled with tears of frustration. I’m a fucking weakling, and I failed her.
“Let me try.” Toby pushes me out of the way, but he can’t bring the door down either.
Our time is up. The front door bursts open, and in come the Idols Toby sensed. Surprisingly, they aren’t carrying lightning-glass weapons like I expected.
“Stop right there,” the man at the front commands.
I take a step forward with my weapon ready. “Make me.”
The asshole steps aside to allow a familiar person to enter.
“Soren. Motherfucker. Where the hell have you been?”
“Where is Daisy?” he asks with urgency.
“Trapped in that room. Toby and I couldn’t break through.”
“Shit. It’s because Castro is in there. He’s sealed the room from inside.”
“Are you saying there’s no way to get in?” My voice rises to a shrill.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Is Daisy there alone?”
“No, Xavier is with her.”
“Then let’s hope they realize this was a trap before the worst happens.”
DAISY
The knots in my stomach twist more savagely when my eyes land on Delta. His arms are cuffed behind the chair, and his blond head is dipped low. The door closes behind me with a resounding click, sounding final. Rufio has yet to come in, but I can’t wait for him. My feet move of their own accord, bringing me closer to the monster who murdered my parents in cold blood.
He lifts his ugly face, boring into me with the weight of his hate-filled stare.
“I knew you would show up sooner or later.”
“Why do you look so smug? Do you know what’s going to happen to you?”
He laughs in a carefree manner. “Hmm, let me guess. You’re going to unmake me so that asshole over there can get the location of our headquarters.”
“That’s right. But I don’t need Marlon to get the intel. I can do it myself.”
I reach for his head, but he swiftly jumps from his seat, free from his restraints, and pushes me back. I crash against Xavier, and we almost end up on the floor. Marlon and Castro untangle us, but before I can use my powers against Marlon, he throws a lightning-glass net over me, dampening my powers.
Fuck. Not again.
Rufio pounds against the door, screaming my name. Xavier is also rendered powerless by the other agent.
“What the hell are you doing?” he yells at Castro.
Delta laughs maliciously. “You’re fools. Do you seriously believe Idols would side with Fringes and Norms? Only the mentally unstable would pick a race of insects over their own.”
Marlon’s grip on my arm is painful, and the net is cutting off my connection to my powers. But looking at Delta’s glee, watching him take pleasure in our precarious situation, brings forth all the pain he caused Rosie and me. With it comes undiluted hate. I don’t try to fight it. I let it expand like a dark stain in my soul because it’s infusing me with renewed power. The strength in me doesn’t come from Magia, the Idol. It comes from Magia, the fucking demigod.
I pull back the arm Marlon is holding and toss him across the room. Delta’s smug expression contorts into a fit of rage. He conjures up a sphere of blue energy, but instead of sending it in my direction, he tosses it in Xavier’s. Son of a bitch. He wants to kill every single member of my family in front of me. But the sphere crashes against the net and dissolves into wisps of harmless electric current. The lightning-glass annulled the blast.
“You’re one stupid motherfucker.” I jump on him, sending him crashing against the chair with my hands wrapped around his head.
Delta grunts as he tries to fight me off, but I’m much stronger than he is. My gift surges within me, more powerful than ever before. But as I pull Delta’s power into me, I also get the ugliness in his heart. I’m privy to his depraved thoughts. He was the one who suggested they begin their attacks at the Norm schools. He used to torture his victims before killing them. He’s the scum of the earth, and taking his powers away is not enough. He needs
to fucking die.
He tries to not make a sound as I unmake him, even though I know it’s painful. I dig my fingers harder against his temples, crushing his skull. Then he screams. My vision is blurry and tinged in red. There’s no power left in him, but I keep applying pressure, keep squeezing, until finally his skull caves in and his head explodes in my hands like a watermelon, splashing blood and gray matter all over me.
Someone calls my name, but the sound seems to be coming from afar. All I can hear is the sound of my heavy breathing coming out in bursts. Then strong arms hug me from behind, pulling me tight against a hard chest.
“Daisy. Fuck. You’re okay,” Rufio says, but he’s wrong, so very wrong.
37
Phoenix
I slept like the dead. Didn’t even dream, which is too bad because I wouldn’t have minded dreaming about Daisy since we have a tendency to share them and they’re hot as sin. Without opening my eyes, I stretch my arm, finding nothing but the cold floor. Still groggy, I peel my eyes open and discover Daisy is gone. Damn, she’s already up and didn’t wake me?
I sense a pair of eyes staring at my back, and when I look over my shoulder, I find Theo standing super close, staring at me.
“Hey there, buddy. What’s up?”
“Did you know you snore?”
I lean on my elbows, then cover my mouth with a fist as I try to hide my yawn. “I do?”
“Yeah. Mega loud.”
Rubbing my eyes, I sit up. Then I run my fingers through my hair. It’s pointless. It’s so dirty, only water and shampoo will make it manageable again. I rub my scruffy jaw and wonder if Daisy likes the rugged look.
“What time is it?” I yawn again. I can’t believe how tired I am.
Theo shrugs. “I don’t know.”
Rosie minces toward me, sporting some terrible bed hair. “Where’s everyone?”
“I don’t know. I just woke up.”
“Toby’s gone. Where could he be?”
“Maybe he went to the restroom. Speaking of which.” I jump to my feet because one, I gotta pee, and two, there’s no sense in sitting around and trying to guess where everyone went. I’ll just go look for them.
Broken Knights: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 4) Page 24