“Dawson found it hilarious, but Beth’s a bit of a worrier.” A dark look crept across her face. “Let’s just say that was the closest thing to a scolding Luc has received in his entire life.”
I grinned at that, but it sort of got stuck as I stared at Zoe, realizing for the hundredth time in a short period there was so much I didn’t know about my best friend. “You have this entire other life,” I blurted out.
Her gaze flickered back to me. “It was harder than you can ever know keeping it a secret.”
Considering all that was at risk, I understood why she’d had to. Turning back to the playground, I almost jumped when I saw Ashley staring directly at us.
“Hi, Zoe!” she chirped, waving the stuffed toy at us, which turned out to be a stuffed llama. I bet I knew who’d given her that gift. “Hi, Nadia!”
Um.
Unsure of what to do and also not wanting to correct her, I waved back at her.
“Bye!” Pivoting around, she tossed the stuffed llama into the air, and then she skipped back toward the other kids.
The stuffed llama bounced alongside her.
I picked my jaw up off the ground. “She’s, um, so cute.”
“And she’s also super-weird,” Zoe tacked on, and when I looked over at her, she burst into laughter. “What? It’s true. She never met you as Nadia.”
Glancing back at the little Origin, I thought about what Luc had told me. “Luc said each Origin has unique abilities. That Ashley just knows things. What about you?”
“Nothing as cool as knowing things.”
“I’m sure it’s cool. What is it?”
She rolled her eyes. “I can use the Source to charge up the atmosphere. If there is any humidity in the air, I can create one hell of a storm.”
My eyes widened. “You’re like an X-Man.”
“I don’t know about all of that. I mean, Luxen can do something similar. Charging up the air and causing lightning.”
“But can they create storms?” I asked.
Zoe shrugged. “Some can get one going, depending on the environmental circumstances, but I don’t know any who’ve been able to create a tornado.”
I blinked slowly, thinking I heard her wrong. “You can create a tornado?”
Zoe shrugged again like it was no big deal. “And I can control it.”
“You can create a freaking tornado and control it!” I repeated, gaping at her. “Dude, that’s really freaking cool.” I paused. “And kind of scary, but I totally want to see one.”
“Maybe one day.” She grinned, and now I was wondering what Archer could do. I knew he could read minds. Was there more? Like, could he walk through walls?
A sudden, strange tickling sensation erupted along the back of my shoulders. Smacking around, I prayed my hands didn’t come in contact with a crunchy insect.
I could only imagine the size of bugs in Texas.
Nothing was there, but the feeling remained, intensifying until—
“We are about to have company.” Zoe pushed off the tree, her attention focused on whoever was behind me.
Lowering my hands, I turned and saw a tall, beautiful woman with deep brown skin and hair in thick, neat braids. Some of those braids were dyed blue, the effect stunning as the wind played with her hair. Her eyes were a shocking amber color, reminding me of a topaz, and they matched the casual maxi-style dress she’d paired with a cute black cardigan.
And she was a Luxen.
“Cekiah!” Happiness lightened Zoe’s tone as she strode forward, embracing the older woman warmly.
When they parted, Cekiah clasped Zoe’s cheeks. “Ms. Callahan,” she said in a way that was full of fondness. “It’s been far too long since I’ve seen you. You doing well?”
Zoe curled her fingers around the woman’s arms. “I’ve seen better days, but I’m doing okay.”
The woman’s angular features softened. “I heard about Kent. I’m so sorry.”
My heart squeezed while Zoe took a heavy, visible breath. “He was one of the good ones,” she said, voice thick. “He didn’t deserve that.”
“No, he did not,” came the soft, sad reply. “He died with people he cared about, people he loved. A family that is thicker than those he shared blood with. Find some peace in that, and remember him as Kent would’ve wanted you to.”
Zoe nodded.
Pressing a kiss to Zoe’s forehead, Cekiah then straightened, her ultrabright gaze finding mine as she lowered her hands. “So, this must be Evie.”
I gave her a half wave like a dork.
“I spoke with Eaton this morning,” she continued. “He told me that Luc brought you the day before yesterday.”
Having really no idea if that was the only thing Eaton had shared with her, I stepped forward and extended a hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
The Luxen took my hand in a cool, firm grip. “It’s nice to meet you. Has Zoe been showing you around?”
“Just the basics,” Zoe answered before I could. She went to stand beside her. “The market and here.”
“And what did you think of the market?”
“I was kind of dumbfounded at first,” I admitted. “It’s amazing that people who need help can get it here.”
“Unlike in the world outside of these walls,” she said. “We make sure that no one here is ever in need, no matter if they’re human or Luxen, Arum or hybrid.”
“The world could use more of that.”
She cocked her head slightly to the side. “The world could use a lot of things.”
“Cekiah is one of the council members,” Zoe jumped in. “And one of the first Luxen who came here.”
She was a council member? Eaton would’ve shared what I was with a member of the council, wouldn’t he? “How did you end up here?” I asked.
“Before the war, I lived in a community of Luxen in Colorado, one of the ones the Daedalus helped establish for those … assimilated.” Cekiah’s gaze never wavered from mine. “After the invasion, I met Daemon and his siblings there. Luc, too. He was a very young man at that time, but even at that age, you listened when he spoke. He didn’t trust the registration program that was being created even though many were hopeful, foolishly so. I, like Luc, had a feeling that numbering and tracking us was the beginning of something that would not end well. And when he and Daemon found evidence that there were people trapped within the walled cities, I had to do something. The idea that people were just forgotten, shut away from a world that believed them to be dead? It gave me nightmares. Thankfully, I wasn’t unique in that sense.”
“But you and everyone who came here to help are unique,” I told her, meaning it. “You didn’t stick your head in the sand because it didn’t involve you. A lot of people I know, a lot of humans, would’ve done that.”
“Thank you, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that there was a self-serving angle to my altruism,” she replied. “It afforded a perfect way to fly under the radar.”
Zoe laughed. “Yeah, you could’ve flown under the radar by leaving the U.S. like many of the Luxen did.”
I blinked. That was the first I’d heard of that. “They did?”
Cekiah laughed, the sound rich and throaty. “Many fled to Canada when they pulled out of the ARP agreement, along with several of the European countries. I considered it,” she admitted, and the humor dancing in her eyes faded into shadows. “But the nightmares—they were real. I wouldn’t have been able to live myself.”
“And it won’t matter how far anyone goes,” Zoe said, “if the Daedalus succeeds.”
“True.” Cekiah stepped forward. If she was surprised to hear about the Daedalus, she didn’t show it. “I saw you two outside and wanted to say hello, but I won’t keep either of you much longer.” Finally pulling her gaze from mine, she looked pointedly at Zoe. “You, however, had better carve out some time so we can properly catch up.”
“Of course,” Zoe murmured, and it was evident she was pleased to hear the request.
Those
powerful tawny eyes flicked back to me. “I need to be blunt with you.”
Zoe stiffened, but I held myself still, unbelievably so. I had a sinking feeling I knew what was coming.
“Luc spoke with me about who you are, who you really are,” she said, and Zoe’s attention snapped to the older Luxen. “He stopped by with Daemon earlier. He told me what I needed to know, and he did so while requesting that the knowledge of what you are stays with me. Luc asked that I not share it, not yet, with the remaining council.”
My heart started to thump. I didn’t want the people here to know. If they were to find out, their looks of suspicion and distrust would no longer come from a place of wariness but from fear. Hell, they could even demand that I leave, and I didn’t even want to think of Luc’s response to that. Nor did I want to face a reality where I’d be out there, trying to get my abilities under control when I could be found by either the SOL or the Daedalus.
“Cekiah,” Zoe started.
“Let me finish.” Cekiah silenced Zoe with those three words. “My instinct isn’t to lie to those who feel a bone-deep responsibility to those here, and Luc knows that. I don’t know you, and I don’t say this to be unkind, but I have a feeling you don’t know yourself, either.”
I flinched at the all-too-true words.
“I only know what Luc has assured me, and all anyone has to do is look at Luc when he speaks of you to know he cares only about your safety,” she continued. “His request didn’t make me remotely happy. However, as Luc was quick to remind me, I owed him my silence.”
How many people owed Luc favors? Seriously. Still, relief swept through me.
“As I told him, if I for one second believe that you will endanger anyone here, I don’t care what I owe Luc, I will not hold my silence.”
Heart pounding, I lifted my chin. “That is more than understandable. I wouldn’t expect you to.”
I thought I saw respect and maybe even a little bit of relief flicker across her face, but her words were still a blade when she spoke. “For your sake and the sake of all others, I do hope we don’t end up regretting our hospitality and generosity.”
9
Cradling the jar of peanut butter I’d discovered in the pantry, I paced the living room, spoon in hand.
The restless energy was back, making it nearly impossible for me to sit. I had tried that already, having rooted around in the bookcases until I found an ancient copy of A Dance with Dragons, but I couldn’t focus. Maybe it was the quiet? That was a part of my inability to concentrate, but it was also the warning Cekiah had rightfully given me before we’d parted ways and that Luc still hadn’t returned. Maybe Daemon was pushing back, not wanting to stay quiet like Cekiah, and Luc was having to convince him.
I hoped they weren’t trying to kill each other.
All of that probably explained why I felt like the Energizer Bunny on crack, but I was starving like I hadn’t indulged in gluttony only a few hours ago.
I glanced at the door for the fiftieth time as if I could will Luc forward, which was kind of sad, but I was bored and I couldn’t sit still and I already ate half a jar of peanut butter and I was …
Lonely.
The only person I really knew here was Zoe—Grayson didn’t count—and she had gone to catch up with Cekiah, and I missed Heidi and James. I had no idea how James was doing back at home with all of us gone. What would happen to him if the Daedalus did end up releasing the flu on a wide scale? Had he gotten vaccinated? I couldn’t remember, and there was no way to reach out to warn him.
With that thought, I scooped out another spoonful of peanut butter smoothness and shoved it into my mouth.
Wait. How old was this peanut butter anyway?
It tasted fine, but if it belonged to the previous owners, I didn’t think it had a four-year shelf life. Maybe it had been picked up on one of the supply runs. Frowning, I lifted the jar until I found the stamped “best by” date was over a year ago.
I glanced from the jar to the half-full spoon, shrugged, and then thrust that spoon right back in my mouth.
I ate only one more spoonful before I felt I should possibly leave some for Luc. Forcing myself to put the peanut butter down, I was about to investigate the closed-up spare bedrooms when I felt the weird tingle of awareness along the back of my neck. Frowning, I turned toward the front door. Not even two heartbeats later, someone knocked on it.
Zoe would’ve just walked right in, and Luc had no reason to knock, so I was full of curiosity as I all but bum-rushed the door, throwing it open.
Dee Black stood there, her long black hair tucked up in a bun that would rival Zoe’s in terms of neatness.
Her blue jeans were splattered with something brown.
Dee’s emerald-green eyes followed my gaze, and she laughed. “I look a mess. I know. I was trying to melt chocolate chips with my hands.” She waved them. “Microwave hands courtesy of extraterrestrial awesomeness.”
I blinked slowly. “You can do that? Cook food with the Source?”
“Well, pretty much anyone except me can. Every time I try to do anything outside of boiling eggs, it goes south fast, evident in the fact I’m covered in dried chocolate. I heated it too fast, and it sort of exploded,” she explained. “No matter what, do not let Luc or anyone else try to convince you that Source-cooked meat tastes good.”
“It doesn’t?” I heard myself ask as I tried not to gawk at her so openly … and failed.
“Oh no. No. It tastes like meat cooked with charged air, and while that doesn’t sound all that bad, it is. There’s no amount of seasonings that can cover that burned ozone taste.”
“Okay.” I felt myself nodding.
“Anyway.” She smiled brightly. “I was sent over here to retrieve you. Kat wants to talk to you.”
“She does?”
Dee nodded. “Yes. And she’s super-pregnant, as you already know, and you don’t tell a woman that pregnant no.”
Completely dazzled by Dee, I found myself walking into Daemon and Kat’s house a few minutes later, not even remembering the short walk or if I had even agreed. The fact I was so, well, starstruck by Dee had everything to do with what her easy smile and somewhat flippant attitude hid. Dee was incredibly intelligent and possessed a quick wit that enabled her to spend many evenings from a secured location outside of Zone 3, arguing with bigoted idiots like Senator Freeman on TV without losing her cool. Not only that, she was remarkably brave, becoming the public face for all the Luxen. There couldn’t be one person in the United States who wouldn’t recognize her. I was sure she had a lot of fans.
I was also sure she had a lot of enemies.
Zoe had been right. I had a total crush on Dee.
She led me through a living room that was free of creepy angel paintings but looked like a bookstore. Neat piles of books were everywhere—on the media console that must’ve housed a TV at some point, stacked in towers on either side. Books were piled on either side of the couch and the gray recliner, and the rest of the space was nothing but rows of mismatched bookshelves, some tall and some white, others short and deep brown, and all of them bursting with books. I’d never seen so many books in one room before.
“Kat is a big reader,” Dee said, noticing what I was staring at. “No one touches her books without permission. If she lets you borrow any of them, that means she likes you, but you’d better return that book back to her in pristine condition.”
Considering I dog-eared pages all the time, I kept my grubby fingers to myself as we walked down a similar narrow hall to the bedroom at the end. Curtains were lashed to the sides of open windows, allowing sunlight to pour into the room. The breeze kept the room cool, giving it an open and airy feeling.
The first thing I noticed was all the stuff. It was like wandering through the baby section in Target. An assembled high chair waited in the corner of the room, next to one of those bouncy chairs I always thought made kids look like human spiders. Beside a folded Pack ’n Play pen was a changing table that fe
atured three different diaper bags. On a small end table was a basket full of bottles and nipples, and there were two strollers and one still in its box.
Then there were the diapers. I didn’t even know there were that many different diaper brands.
A soft laugh came from the vicinity of the large bed. Kat was propped up by a mountain of pillows, deep brown hair swept back from her face in a messy topknot. Her pretty face was flushed as if she’d been out in the sun, but based on the size of her belly, which seemed to have increased from the last time I’d seen her, I doubted she’d been outside. Beside her was a hardcover minus the dust jacket, a bookmark jutting out of the middle of the book. Forgotten on the floor was a basket of bright blue yarn and what might have been a scarf? The beginning of a sweater? Something I really hoped no one would be wearing.
“Daemon has been a bit of an overachiever when it comes to baby prepping,” she said. “Thank God he’s not into doomsday prepping.”
“Actually, that would’ve been helpful if that were the case.” Dee plopped down on the bed beside Kat, crossing her long legs. “But then that would mean Daemon would actually do something really useful.”
Kat snorted. “At least we won’t have to worry about running out of diapers.” Looking down, she patted her rounded stomach. “That is, if the little glow bug decides to show up.”
“Well, he’s definitely taking after Daemon,” Dee commented, peering down at Kat’s belly. “Aren’t you, little guy?”
“How did you find out that it’s a boy?” I lingered just inside the bedroom, fingers clasped in front of me, unsure of what to do.
“We don’t know a hundred percent, but Ashley keeps referring to the baby as a ‘he’ and, well, you’ve met Ashley. Sometimes she knows more than we do,” Kat explained.
“Yeah, she does.” Glancing around the room again, my attention was snagged by a stack of gardening gloves on the oak-finished dresser. They were all new, with their tags still on them, but … My gaze swept back to Kat. “Did you do the garden next door?”
Her eyes lit up. “I can’t take credit for starting it. The previous owners did. I just take care of it. Well, as long as I’ve been able to. Hopefully, I’ll still have time to pop over and keep it maintained, if you don’t mind.”
The Brightest Night Page 11