Branded (An Otherworlders Series Novel Book 1)

by Lena Moore

  Dany sat back and scratched his head. “Ok. Now my mind feels like a volcano just splintered it. The fuck? And when did you get tattoos?”

  Aliyah sat there for the next couple of hours explaining what Draven had mentioned about her tattoos and everything else he’d talked about. She watched Dany pull a cone from his glass bong that he filled with ice as she sipped her sixth corona with lime. Aliyah finally felt sated, but she knew from experience that it was just the alcohol calming her nerves.

  Dany turned the TV on and selected the input that had his hard drive connected to it. “Should we watch True Blood,” he tittered, and then pressed play on an episode in season two.

  “Seriously, fuck you. I’m going to bed. If anyone asks for me, you haven’t seen me. And I don’t need to tell you to keep this shit to yourself, Dany.”

  “Don’t be a wench. You know you can trust me. Night babes.” He blew her a kiss before turning back to watch the scene where Eric tricked Sookie into sucking his blood. It was actually Aliyah’s favourite episode, but she wasn’t going to sit there and listen to Dany’s mediocre vampire jokes tonight.

  Stripping down to her panties, Aliyah reached for Dany’s long shirt she always wore when she slept over and threw it over her head before climbing into bed. Aliyah pulled the blanket up to her chin. Looking up at the ceiling, she sighed. Aliyah had no sense of what to do about anything. Everything right now was a massive clusterfuck. She also had no idea how long she would be able to keep the cloaking brand operating effectively.

  Closing her eyes an amethyst and ruby red pair tortured her throughout her dreams. Draven called out relentlessly to her, but every time she reached out he disappeared. Aliyah hoped that her dreams wouldn’t determine their reality.

  “Fuck,” Aliyah groaned and shuffled to the bathroom. She felt like death warmed up. Her head was like a freight train had hit her straight on and her veins felt like fire licked it. She relieved herself and then turned on the shower. The pipes wheezed, sounding offended by the intrusion. She stripped then stepped under the water. The supposed-to-be white tiles had a yellow tinge to them, and a few cracked ones lay at the bottom of her feet. Dany really needed to upgrade his house. The fucking thing was falling apart.

  “Liah, don’t use all the hot water! Oh, and by the way, your ma is here.”

  “Fuck sakes,” she hissed. Aliyah knew Dany wouldn’t have contacted Jill, so how did she know she was with him? Lucky guess? She would be pissed at her for brushing her off over the last few days. Aliyah so didn’t want to have this conversation with her mom.

  Climbing out of the shower, she reached down and grabbed what little clothes she’d plucked in her frenzy to get the fuck away from Draven. Aliyah chucked on a Trivium shirt and ripped jeans, fluffed her frizzy hair and padded out to the kitchen. The sweet coffee aroma enveloped her as Dany handed her a short black with one sugar. She cupped it between her hands before walking into the lounge area.

  Jill sat on the couch chewing her nails. Her sandy hair was pulled back in a tight pony tail, and her short frumpy frame wore a pair of dress pants and a white blazer. When she heard the footsteps her head ripped around taking in Aliyah’s face.

  Her eyes bulged. “Aliyah, where the hell have you been?” Her mother jumped up running toward her.

  Aliyah removed one hand from her coffee mug and held it up to her mum, indicating for her to stay exactly where she was. “Don’t”

  “Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” she scalded.

  Aliyah seethed. “Do you have anything you’d like to disclose, mother?”

  “What the hell has gotten into you? You think because you turned eighteen you’re allowed to show me this attitude? This disrespect? And what the hell is up with that question?”

  Aliyah looked over to see Dany leaning on the doorframe with a pitiful face. He knew this wasn’t going to be pretty or easy for her.

  “I’ll talk to you the way you deserve to be talked to.”

  “Dany, what have you given her? For fuck sakes if I find out you’ve been taking drugs, Aliyah Serene Parker, I will throw your perky ass in rehab.”

  “If you were my actual mother you would be able to, but you’re not, are you Jillian?”

  “What are you talking about, of course I am. Are you ok, baby?” she whispered sounding suddenly concerned.

  Aliyah squinted at her mother, ready to rip her a new one when she caught the small pool in the corner of her eye. Was she telling the truth?

  “You don’t know, do you?”

  A burning sensation navigated her attention to her left thigh, drawing her away from the conversation with Jill.

  “I’ll be right back.” She left Dany and Jill gawking at her as she ran to the bathroom. Once inside she locked the door and pulled her jeans down. A beautiful labyrinthine like tattoo etched in red ink sat flush on her pale skin. Kaltemis.

  “Goddess, what is this one for? Shit, what am I doing?” Aliyah pulled the toilet seat down and sat on the cover. She didn’t want to face her mother again. How the fuck was she going confront the woman if she didn’t know what she was talking about?

  Aliyah hung her head and let her fingers rifle through her black mane. She was lost and she didn’t know how to be found.

  The atmosphere shifted around her, the energy pulsating rigorously. Aliyah lifted her head and pushed her hair behind her ears. Black, white and red light shone in the small bathroom before a woman appeared. Wow, she was insanely captivating and beautiful. Her long blonde and black hair flowed down the length of her back, sleek and shiny; and her eyes, Aliyah knew she should stop staring, but she couldn’t shift her gaze from the luminous silver hue that would penetrate through any façade. She knew it before the woman spoke: this was Kaltemis.

  “Goddess,” she breathed.

  “Hello child. I sensed your confusion, and it seems you’ve lost your way. You need to stay close to Draven, Aliyah. He is the only one who can protect you. Your branding doesn’t mask you from everyone as you’ve come to realise.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Ah child, this is your path to walk. I am only here to guide you. The choices you make rest solely on you, but there are forces that walk among you that are riddled with malevolence. You need to be careful. The recent tattoo I gifted you with is linked to your third eye. This particular branding will require an abundant of attention and nurturing if you are to ever truly possess its full potential. I have faith in you, Aliyah. Usually I don’t interfere, but I know you are seeking answers regarding your mother out there. You can help her remember. You just need to harness your energy and focus.”

  Aliyah noticed the shift in the Goddess’s demeanour. Kaltemis’s unique eyes scanned the area before resting on her violet pair.

  “I must go. My time in this realm is minimal. Remember what we’ve spoken about. I am so proud of you, Aliyah, and your mother is also.”

  With that her long hair danced around her, she faded just the way she had come. Aliyah hung on to Kaltemis last words: her mother is also. Is she alive?

  A knock on the door made her jump, shit. “Coming!”

  Aliyah collected and centred herself before walking out to the lounge area. Her mother was seated again but jumped up as soon as she spotted her. Her round face was painted with pain and tears, and Aliyah knew just what she needed to do.

  “Mum, stand in front of me. Shit is going to get weird. I need you to trust me, ok?”

  “Liah, baby, you’re scaring me.”

  “Do you trust me?” Aliyah huffed.

  “Of course!”

  “Then just stay still.” Aliyah reached down and cupped her hands around her mother’s before bringing them up to Jill’s heart. Aliyah looked over her shoulder at Dany then closed her eyes. Targeting all of her energy, she breathed in and out as her body began to vibrate.

  “Aliyah!” her mum cried out. “What’s happening?” and then silence. She knew it was working.

  Aliyah opened her eyes. Both Jill
and she were glowing. She saw the shimmering flashes pass through her mother’s eyes. Jillian seemed pained as she shook and wept. Disengaging her hand from her mother’s, Aliyah stepped back and released the breath she hadn’t realised she’d held.

  “How–how did you do that?” Jill swiped at the fresh batch of tears streaming down her face. “How did you know? I’m so sorry, Liah, I didn’t know, I swear!”

  “I know mum, I know.”

  “Would someone clue me the fuck in,” Dany replied, sounding exasperated.

  “Yes. Firstly, mum you need to head home and tell dad what’s happening. I will come back soon. I need to put something in place to protect you. And Dany, you’re coming with me. Let’s go.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  ~ Draven ~

  Draven was losing his damn mind. His anxiety threated to rupture his body and blow this place to smithereens. Where the fuck was Snowflake? It’d been sixteen hours since he’d felt her presence. Their connection had wavered and somehow weakened the short time apart.

  He’d searched The Quarter from top to bottom to no avail. Draven’s blood pumped like razor blades through his veins, at least that’s what it felt like to him, and his gums were prickling in pain.

  The feeling of ants crawling under his skin had Draven pawing at his flesh. He needed to know she was ok. If only he knew how to master this twin branding Kaltemis had bestowed on both him and Aliyah, then maybe he could enter her mind or even the space she’s in. Fuck!

  Draven knew if he didn’t slow down he would continue falling down this deep, dark forsaken hole. He breathed in, inhaling as much oxygen as possible and then expelling it in one deep breath. After repeating the action a few more times, his mind felt a sliver of clarity creeping back in. He needed a shower to wash the past few crippling hours away and to steady his mind. Draven liked to think that he sensed he would see Aliyah real soon. When he did he wasn’t sure if he was going to kiss every inch of her body or throw her on the spanking bench and punish her.

  Exiting the bathroom after his shower, Draven attempted to dry his dreadies. His body still thrummed with built up angst and he could feel his heart thundering loudly in his mind. He dressed in a pair of dark jeans and black tee with a giant decaying skull on it. Draven thought it was fitting, given the severity of the situation and how he felt inside. This whole debacle surprised him. He hadn’t expected to react or feel this way without Aliyah. Shit, he knew she was special, but it was more than that. Since she’d left, Draven was incomplete. It’s the only way he could describe how he felt. Almost as if a piece of his heart and soul had left with her. Damn, he’d turned into a romantic pansy ass.

  He moved around the house barefoot attempting to formulate a plan, although it would need to wait until this evening given the bright day outside. Could I really wait that long, he mused.

  The large steel door swung wide. That scent had his nostrils flaring and his dick hardening in his pants: Aliyah. There was another scent though, testosterone laced with an earthy undertone and marijuana?

  Draven adjusted himself indistinctly and willed his fangs to retract. Turning slowly, he focused his attention on his Snowflake. She seemed—different. What the hell happened in the short time they’d been apart? What he knew, though, was both him and Aliyah couldn’t deny the sparks of electricity boomeranging between them. He could read her body language like it was his own.

  Draven growled, “Who the fuck is this?”

  “Down boy.” Aliyah motioned with her hands. “This is my best friend, Dany. You will fucking show him respect, Shrek, otherwise I’ll disappear again.”

  What the fuck kind of person is Dany? He had long dark hair like Draven, however his was tied up in a messy bun on top of his head. His irises were umber-like and a shade Draven hadn’t seen before. Dany was covered in ink, much like him, but nowhere near as impressive as his, even if he was being bias. Did he feel threatened by him? Possibly. Could he take him? Obviously. But if Draven wanted to sneak back into Aliyah’s good books he needed to accept her friends, even if he didn’t want to.

  He puffed his chest out and exhaled then offered his hand to Dany, reluctantly.

  “I’m Draven. It’s nice to meet you,” he said through a clenched jaw.

  Dany snickered, “Yeah, seems that way man.” He grasped Draven’s hand tightly and shook it.

  Aliyah stepped between the two of them with her hands on her hips.

  “Alright you two, this isn’t a pissing match. We have more important things to discuss.”

  “Yeah, Liah, like telling me what the fuck happened with your ma,” Dany quipped.

  “Wait, you saw your mum?” Draven asked.

  Aliyah sighed dramatically. “No. My mom showed up at Dany’s. Dany and I have been best friends for years. She figured if I would be anywhere, I would be there. Guess she was right.”

  “So what happened, Snowflake?”

  “Snowflake?” Dany piped up.

  Aliyah swiped her hand through the air. “It’s one of his pet names for me,” she smirked. She returned her attention to Draven. “My mum showed up, righteous and demanding. And like word vomit, I spilled the beans and attacked her about not being my mother. Turns out she didn’t actually know.”

  “How is that possible?” Draven wondered.

  “I’m not sure, but I’ll soon found out.” Aliyah pulled her jeans down to her knees, showcasing her long legs and fresh ink. All Draven saw was Dany’s eyes on her lily white skin.

  “Pull your pants up, now,” he ground out.

  Aliyah rolled her eyes. “He’s seen my legs before, Draven. Stop being a caveman.”

  Draven wasn’t sure how to react to that piece of information. Instead he completed a few calming mantras in his mind before focusing his attention back to her leg. He knelt down and traced his index finger over the sophisticated lines of the new tattoo. He thanked the Goddess the brand was outlined in red: Kaltemis’s signature.

  “It’s beautiful, Snowflake. What does this one do?

  “When did you get ink?” Dany blurted out and squatted down beside Draven.

  Draven hated that Dany was eye level with Aliyah’s crotch, but he chewed down on his cheek, suppressing the urge to tell him to stop ogling.

  “It’s a long story, Dany. Let me explain what happened with mum first.” Aliyah shimmied her jeans back up and both Draven and Dany stepped back. “Ok, so after I ripped my mother a new asshole, I caught something in the corner of her eyes: tears. My mom never cries. Like ever.”

  “Isn’t that the truth,” muttered Dany.

  “Shut up, D-bag, let me tell my story,” Aliyah whined, which caused Draven’s lips to kick up at the sides. Always such sassy pants.

  “I stood there speechless, like the fuck? Who is this woman? Then I felt that burning etching feeling on my thigh. I excused myself and when I saw the tattoo—brand whatever you wanna call it, I didn’t know what to do or what the fuck it meant. I may have, well, kind of summoned the Goddess, not that I realised it. She appeared, Draven! Why didn’t you tell me how gorgeous she was?” she scalded.

  Draven shrugged his shoulders, then Dany interjected, “Goddess?”

  “Yeah. Anyway, Kaltemis explained that this tattoo is linked to my third eye and if I was ever going to use it to its full potential, I needed to learn to nurture it. When I walked out and saw my mother crying, I knew what I needed to do. I cupped her hand in mine and brought it up to her heart. It was incredible, Shrek. I couldn’t make out the visions swimming behind her eyes but I saw flickers of them. I returned her memories back to her, where they should have been to begin with! Imagine if she would have known? Things would have been different. They would have understood me.”

  Draven scratched his stubble, his eyebrows drawing together. “Who took her memories?”

  “That I’m not sure. I sensed evil though, that’s why I need to keep them safe, Draven. Please will you help me?”

  “Of course, baby.” He folded Aliyah into his ar
ms and instantly felt her relax.

  “Ok. There is a Goddess who gives you magical tattoos? You’re both vampires, and there is a severe case of evil cunts circling like vultures?” Dany queried, shaking his head.

  Aliyah removed herself from Draven’s embrace and moved over to look after her friend. He automatically felt the loss.

  “Yep, that about sums it up, friend,” Draven responded. “Did Kaltemis mention anything else?” He directed his question to Aliyah.

  “Just that I need to stay close to you,” she revealed, sounding reluctant. “But don’t think I will listen if you keep on being a controlling and secretive prick. I still want to know what was up with that fucking woman yesterday.” It was Aliyah’s turn to growl.

  Draven chuckled then said, “Snowflake, you don’t need to worry about Melantha. She is a demon and I despise every inch of her decaying form. However, I am indebted to her for the time being. As soon as all of this shit it over, I will explain everything to you. I can’t wait to terminate that tie, believe me. It’s just not as simple as you may think.”

  Aliyah worried her lip, and Draven knew she didn’t like what he’d just confessed to her. He only hoped she would respect the explanation, at least for now.

  Changing the subject, he offered his hand to her. “Tell me what we need to do to keep your parents safe? Do they have anywhere they can go?”

  “No, they have nowhere and no family close.” Her body started to tremble before she finally grasped Draven’s hand.

  The current surged through his fingertips and ricocheted throughout his body at her touch. He knew immediately they were still so in sync with one another. By the way Aliyah’s lips parted and she panted, Draven knew she felt it too. Dany’s head was cocked to the side, watching what had unfolded before his eyes but he said nothing.

  “Let’s go see Jadis. Maybe she will have some idea.”

  They walked the short distance to Jadis’s domain. Draven didn’t bother knocking, he just barged through with Aliyah and Dany in toe.