by Sienna Parks
“That can’t be right.”
“Maybe she’s your soulmate.” Her voice is thick with unshed tears, and I can’t help but feel guilty.
“Abiteth was my soulmate.”
“Maybe it’s because you’re from the Underworld, and she’s at least half-celestial?”
“That must be it. We seem to share a connection that I can’t explain or fathom. I hardly know her, but I feel an inherent desire to protect her.”
Selma’s shoulders sag as she lets out a defeated breath. “I haven’t told you everything, Lux.”
“What aren’t you saying? Spit it out.”
“The Vollstrecker know that there are an unusual number of Guardians in San Francisco. They are planning to go to the city and find out why. If the Guardians are protecting your friend, it’s only a matter of time until they find her, too.”
Why would she even think of keeping this from me? “When? When do they plan to go after the Guardians?”
“Sunday. They want to send a message. Attacking them on God’s day will get their point across loud and clear.”
“Fucking hell, Selma! Why didn’t you come to me as soon as you found out? I need to warn her.”
She jumps to her feet, grabbing my face in her hands. “Because I knew you’d react this way. You’re going to get yourself killed.” Tears begin to fill her eyes. “I can’t lose you, Luxure. I love you.”
I wrap my arms around her slender frame pressing my lips to her forehead. “I love you, too. You’re my best friend. You will never lose me, Sel.”
“I’m already losing you. If the Underworld knows you’re alive, it’s only a matter of time before they come looking here.” She burrows her head into my chest, her tears flowing freely now. “If you get in the way of the Vollstrecker, they will kill you. And what of the Guardians? Will they come after you now that they know you’re still alive? Will they try to kill you?”
I give her one last tight embrace before letting her go. “I have to take that risk. I can’t let any of them take her. Please understand, Sel. Something inside of me is telling me that I have to protect this woman. I have to get her out of there before the Vollstrecker arrive, or the Guardians hide her. I have to warn her.” Without another word, I close my eyes and make the jump leaving Selma bereft and alone in Uitare.
I’m running out of time to find Sirena and convince her that she’s in danger.
7
SIRENA
I haven’t heard from Lux since Thanksgiving. It’s been two weeks since I watched his eyes come alive with the brightness of a thousand stars—the most glorious violet color I have ever seen. Those eyes have haunted my dreams every night since. The feel of his lips against mine plague my every waking moment. I’ve replayed every second we spent together over and over in my mind trying to find answers to the mounting number of questions I have about this man, but I have no way of contacting him, and even that is strange. Who doesn’t have a phone these days? He’s not in the phonebook. I’m ashamed to admit I even tried to Google search him after week one. Nothing. Not one entry. No Twitter account, no Facebook, no address—nothing.
I believe in research—it’s how I make a living. I’ve tried to find out anything I can about violet eyes and glowing eyes, but it’s a dead end for anything real. I found myths of legends in Egypt of the ‘spirit people’ and of Alexandria Augustine in the 1300s who was thought to be a witch until the town priest assured her mother that she was a gift rather than something to be feared. All in all, everything I found pointed to it being a myth rather than a true genetic mutation. Apparently, Lux and Elizabeth Taylor are the only humans ever to have violet eyes. As for glowing violet eyes—that was a dead-end. Again, I found a lot of myths and conjecture about glowing red eyes which is obviously absurd—no more than people wanting to scare their friends and relatives at Halloween.
This week I’ve thrown myself headfirst into the outline for my next book and getting caught up with my class grading. Thankfully, my lecturing schedule is packed full this semester, so I manage to distract myself for the most part. But the days that those piercing eyes find their way back into my consciousness, I am consumed with a yearning to see him again. Talking with him was so natural, and being in the same room as him gave me a feeling of calm, a sense of belonging that I have been searching for my entire life. And his touch—God, his hands were made for sin.
“You okay, boss?”
I’m snapped from my delicious daydream by Josh’s irate voice. “What?”
“Are. You. Okay? It’s been like working for a space cadet the past two weeks. What is going on with you?”
“I’m just tired. With the last book and the talks and appearances on top of lecturing, it’s taken a lot out of me.”
“I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I’m fine. Just busy.”
“You need to get a life and go on a date. I don’t even remember the last time you went out with a guy.”
“I didn’t realize you were keeping track. Now butt out of my business and worry about your own dates.” I’m not in the mood for the third degree from Josh right now. He’s the exact opposite of me when it comes to love and dating. He believes in fairy tales and soulmates and love that can conquer all. I, on the other hand, don’t.
“Okay, okay! Can I at least ask if you have any plans this weekend?”
He just can’t help himself. “My mom and dad are flying into town. I didn’t see them Thanksgiving, and they decided Christmas was too long to wait to see me. I’m just that awesome.”
“Well, I have a hot date tonight, so if you don’t need me for anything else, I’ll head out.”
“Sure. Have fun. I’ll see you Monday.”
“Have a good weekend.” He walks out with a spring in his step, optimistic for the night ahead. I’m left in an empty office on an empty campus with my laptop and the seed of an idea for a new novel to keep me company.
I awake with a start disconcerted by my surroundings. My heart is pounding in my chest at the sound of someone walking the hallways. I glance at the clock on my desk, the red glaring digital display hurting my eyes. It’s 2:00 a.m. I must have fallen asleep while I was working. I didn’t realize I was that tired. The last time I remember noticing the time was 9:30 p.m. I guess obsessing over Lux and trying to distract myself over the past few weeks has taken a toll on me.
I hear footsteps coming closer.
I take off my heels and grab a heavy brass candlestick from my bookshelf slowly creeping toward my door as I hold my breath. Adrenaline is coursing through my veins as I quietly turn the lock.
The footsteps stop.
Shit. My pulse is racing as I throw open the door and venture into the hall. There are no lights, but the moonlight streaming through the windows is enough to let me see the length of the hallway in both directions. My knuckles are white as I clench the candlestick in my hand ready to swing it at anything that moves. But there’s nothing there. Not a single soul. A pang of fear runs through me. I know what I heard. There were definitely footsteps right outside my door only moments before I opened it. Where did they come from? I continue to look up and down the hall expecting to see something that would explain the noise. I finally conclude that I must have been half dreaming, startled awake, and letting my imagination run wild. I laugh at my stupidity. I’m a thirty-one-year-old critically acclaimed professor, and here I am in the middle of the night chasing the boogey man around an empty campus. What the hell am I doing? I start laughing to myself and listen as the sound echoes off the walls.
I need a break—from work, from writing, from my life, and most definitely from obsessing over a man with whom I shared a conversation in a gallery and one dinner. We didn’t have some epic romance or even a one-night stand. We shared a kiss. That’s it. It may have been the most intense, passionate, sensual kiss I’ve ever had… but it was still only a kiss. I keep telling myself that it’s just my inquisitive mind at work. I was intrigued by his eyes and the air of
mystique surrounding him. If I were thinking with my brain rather than my libido, I would have explained this away by now as a trick of the light—a reaction to the moonlight or my alcohol-affected eyes seeing things—plain and simple. Whatever it was, whatever I felt in his presence, he obviously didn’t feel the same way, or I would have heard from him long before now. With my mind made up, I gather my laptop and papers, grab my jacket, and slip my shoes on before heading out into the crisp cold December air.
I lift my eyes to the unusually clear sky sparkling with stars and a bright, beautiful full moon. I fill my lungs with the ice-cold air drawing in a long, deep breath almost to the point of pain. I hold it for a few seconds and exhale letting the stress from the past few weeks and months fade away. This weekend will be a new beginning. I can feel it. At this time of year, there is magic in the air, and anything is possible. I’ll enjoy a quiet weekend with my parents, decorate my Christmas tree, and relax for a change.
I appreciate the city around me as I walk home in the dark, stillness of the night, the frost glistening on the sidewalk. All of a sudden, a strange feeling forms in the pit of my stomach. I stop dead scanning the streets for any sign of life. I can’t see anything, but the odd sensation wracking my body doesn’t dissipate. It’s the same one I have whenever Lux is near. An inexplicable combination of fear, excitement, and anticipation mixed with a sense of belonging that translates into a stomach tied up in tight knots, twisting and turning until I can barely breathe. For a split second, I think I see a glimpse of violet in the trees, but when I look again, it’s gone.
“Lux, are you here? I can feel you.” I wait berating myself for talking to the empty street, and yet I continue to wait searching the darkness. When I’m convinced I’m losing my mind, I quickly make my way home, and the feeling in my gut is as strong as the moment I first felt it four blocks back.
When I reach my street, I’m surprised to see all of the lights on in the neighbors’ windows—at least one light in every single house on my block. It’s weirdly comforting as I walk toward the steps of my little slice of heaven—my warm little community welcoming me home, lighting my way in the darkness. As I pull out my keys to unlock the front door, I can’t help but scan the street behind me one last time searching for violet eyes that I know aren’t there.
Safely ensconced in my cozy bed, I fall into a restless sleep plagued by things that go bump in the night, empty hallways, and violet eyes.
“Dad.”
I spy my mom and dad through the crowds in the market. I catch my dad’s eye and am immediately met with the most heartwarming smile—the one that makes me feel at home, safe, and above all, loved. I navigate my way to them dodging people, pets, and packages in the Christmas hustle and bustle that is San Francisco. He pulls me into his strong arms enveloping me in his warm embrace. I breathe him in. He’s my home. He always has been. When you move around a lot at a young age, you learn that home isn’t a place, it’s the people you surround yourself with. I love my mom dearly, but my dad and I have always had a special relationship. We understand each other. We’re friends as well as father and daughter. He’s always made me feel like the most important person on the face of the Earth. It’s a talent of his. We could be on our own or in a room of thousands, and I would always know that I was his priority, and my happiness is everything to him.
“Sirena, my girl. I’ve missed you so much. Thanksgiving just wasn’t the same without you.”
I squeeze him a little tighter. “I missed you, too. My Thanksgiving was… strange without you guys. It didn’t feel right.”
“Stop hogging our daughter, Gabe. Momma wants a hug.” The sweet sound of my mom’s voice breaks through the white noise of the busy street.
My dad reluctantly lets go turning me to face my mom, her arms outstretched waiting to welcome me in. “Come here, my sweet girl.”
“Hi, Mom. It’s so great to see you.” I enjoy the comforting smell of her perfume. It always takes me back to when I was a little girl jumping on her bed and asking if I could have some so that I would smell the same as mommy. “I hope you guys haven’t been waiting long. I didn’t sleep great last night, so I was a bit slow getting up and ready this morning.”
My dad just smiles. “Just browsing the market. Were you out last night?”
“Working late. Got home even later and then had some weird dreams.”
“You need to stop working so hard, sweetheart. We are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, but trust me when I tell you that you’ll wake up one day and realize all these accolades will mean nothing if you don’t have someone to share them with.”
“I have you guys.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Please don’t. If you start, then Mom will start going through her list of friends to find a single son for me to blind date.” My mom gives me a disapproving smirk while trying not to laugh at the truth in my words. “Let’s change the subject. What have you two been up to?”
“Why don’t we get inside and warm up and then we can chat? Where do you want to eat?” My mom is shivering even though she’s wearing more clothes than an Eskimo.
“I know just the place. Follow me.” I link arms with her and head down the street, my dad trailing behind enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Lunch is amazing. Eden is my favorite bistro in the city, and at this time of year, they have the best festive treats in town. We sit for hours chatting and planning our time together over the holidays. They fill me in on their latest project which will take them back to the Middle East in the New Year. I worry about them when they travel to dangerous parts of the world, but I’ve given up trying to talk them out of it. They believe it’s what they were called to do, and nothing I say will change that. Mom quizzes me about my non-existent love life, and Dad looks on with a disapproving frown as always. He wants me to find someone to share my life with, but at the same time, the thought of me dating still makes him want to punch something! He’s a walking oxymoron.
When we’re full and ready to burst, I ask for the check and sit back to wait patiently, content and happy to be away from work for a while. My guard is down, and I am finally relaxed and distracted… when the man I’ve been trying to forget for the past two weeks catches my eye. The feelings he invokes physically wind me as if I’ve been slammed up against a brick wall. My parents immediately notice the change in my demeanor.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
I try and fail to cover my reaction. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
“Don’t lie.”
“I just thought I saw someone I know, that’s all.” I glance back to where he was standing, but he’s gone. “I must have been mistaken.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” The concern etched on my dad’s furrowed brow makes my heart hurt. I don’t usually keep things from him, but I wouldn’t even know where to start with this. It’s not something you can talk to your dad about.
“Yeah.” My breath hitches. “I’m…” There he is. Across the room, sitting at a table with his gaze fixed on me, those violet eyes burning into my soul. When my eyes find his, I see shock and confusion flash across his face, realization dawning that I’m looking straight at him. Did he think he could go unnoticed somewhere like this? Does he think he could go unnoticed anywhere? “Excuse me a minute.”
I stand from the table and walk toward the back of the restaurant, my eyes locked on his, the growing look of horror on his face giving me cause for concern. I hear my dad’s voice in the background telling me to come back. The urgency in his voice is strange, but I can’t tear my gaze from Lux. He doesn’t move, he doesn’t speak, he simply watches as I pull out the chair across from him and sit down. The silence between us is palpable, an eternity passing before he finally speaks.
“Can I help you?”
“Seriously?”
“Excuse me?” He’s acting as if he has no idea who I am. What the hell?
“I thought you had more class than that, Lux. You sav
e me, stalk me, kiss me, and then disappear with promises to call. You were like a ghost… gone without a trace. You didn’t think I deserved your respect?”
I see a flash of hurt in his eyes. “Sirena…”
“Oh! You remember who I am now?” He opens his mouth to speak, but I shut him down. “Save it, Lux. I get it. You were scared off by a woman who doesn’t have time for bullshit. I’m not ashamed of my sexual appetite. I thought we had a connection. I guess I was wrong.” I turn to leave, every atom in my body fighting me to stay—desperate to keep this unique sensation that takes over every time he is around.
“Wait!” His hand wraps around my wrist sending a shiver down my spine. “Please don’t go.”
I turn to face him. “I don’t give second chances, and you wasted your only one. Goodbye.”
He pulls me back down into the chair. “I know I don’t deserve a chance, but I want one anyway. You make me do things, things I never thought I’d do. I can’t think straight when I’m around you, but I want to get to know you. I feel it.” I turn my eyes to his. “I feel the tangible connection between us. The electrically-charged adrenaline that courses through my body when you’re within ten feet of me. I feel that unexplainable trust and the need to know you.” His honesty floors me.
“Take your hand off of my daughter.” My dad is towering behind me. “Are you okay, Sirena?” I watch tentatively as some unspoken discussion takes place between Lux and my father. Both of them poised for a fight, and I know I need to interject.
“I’m fine, Dad. This is my friend, Lux. Lux, this is my dad, Gabriel Sovende.”
They stare each other down for the longest time before Lux breaks the silence. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Sovende.”
“Likewise, Mr.…”
“Zonder. Lux Zonder.”
“Ah, yes.” They exchange a knowing look. It’s as if they are familiar with each other, but that’s impossible. I’ll need to ask my dad later. “Well, I think it’s time we get going. Don’t you think so, Sirena?”