by Jamie King
A decent size bedroom is directly next to the study. Toby is etched into a plaque hanging from the door. I leave my things on the ground against the wall and make my way down the hall to the open kitchen and dining space. Floor to ceiling windows cover the walls. The white drapes plunge to the bamboo floor and a glass dining table is centered under an elegant crystal chandelier. A television and two long sofas are to the right of the dining area and a fireplace is set in a black granite casing on the left wall just below another television. The kitchen is stark white with a very minimalist feel. The cabinets have stainless-steel handles and the refrigerator matches the cabinet design and perfectly integrates into a hidden wall.
The island houses a built in stove top with six burners and a white breakfast bar extends graciously over four white leather stools. To the left of the kitchen is another seating area. The sofas are position in a horseshoe shape facing each other. The back of the backyard is visible through floor to ceiling folding doors that open onto a seamless stone patio encased in a tall privacy fence covered in leafless vines. A white tarp covers a small pool and two wicker recliners are covered as well. A door is at the end of the patio with light streaming through the frosted windows.
“Why don’t you two go upstairs and find your rooms?” Dominic suggests.
I nod in awe. “Sure.” I drag my bags back into the elevator turn to Luka. “Coming?”
He steps in behind me with his bags and stares at the buttons. “Which one should I hit?”
“Well, um, try three.” He punches the button. The elevator glides quietly as we pass the second floor, I’m grateful I said the third floor. The second floor was covered in gym mats. That must be the training area. The elevator comes to a gentle stop on the third floor. Luka and I manage to squeeze out of the elevator once again and stare down the dimly lit hallway.
“I wonder if there is a reason as to why they didn’t show us to our rooms.” I whisper.
Luka releases a soft laugh. “Maybe they wanted us to wander around in confusion.”
“Maybe it’s Dominic’s payback for you avoiding everyone for more than two weeks.” I hiss.
“Hey!” He grumbles.
Rows of bedrooms line the hallway and a woman comes out of her room. Her face is round and covered by strands of jet-black hair. She pushes the hair away hurriedly revealing almond shaped chocolate brown eyes.
“Oh, you guys must be Luka and Nuri. I'm Lucy.” She bounces over to us with an enormous smile. Her entire body is like a neon sign with her hot pink leggings coming to an end at lime green sneakers. A baby blue sports bra pokes through an orange mesh tank top and in her arms, she holds a lime green hoodie. “Are you looking for your rooms?”
“Yeah, we seem to be a little lost.” I say.
“Oh, no worries.” She says and walks us back to the elevator. “You guys are on the fourth floor and you’re the last two rooms at the end.”
“Thank you.” Luka says as we step into the elevator. He hits the button and we glide to the top of the house. At the end of the hall is a spiral staircase that leads up to another floor. “Here we are.” Luka breathes as we near the doors.
Stickie notes are taped to the doors with Luka and Nuri written in large bubble letters. My stickie note is hot pink and taped to the door with white tape. Luka’s makeshift nameplate is written on plain white paper in black fine letters and stuck on the door roughly with black tape.
I giggle. “This must’ve been the work of Rae.”
Luka releases an unimpressed grunt and slips into his bedroom.
I push open my door. I’m greeted by blindingly white walls and white carpet. “Why is everything so white?” I mumble and close the door behind me.
A simple black bed frame is covered in a cream bedspread and is set between two floor length windows. Thick cream curtains block the view of the street. I drop my bags next to the matching dresser and vanity before exploring the bathroom.
Floating cabinets line the wall and two white sinks dip into the cream countertop. A rectangular mirror hovers against the wall just below a row of lights encased in a bulbous frosted glass with bamboo designs etched perfectly along the swollen base. The white tile floor extends through the bathroom until dark stone pebbles merge and weave into the tile near the shower. At the entrance to the shower a glass wall extends two feet allowing entry to the standing shower. A tiny extendable showerhead is perfectly placed at shoulder height next to the hot and cold handles and a stone soap holder. A large square shower head extends from the ceiling directly above a drain.
“Oh, my god. This is the shower?” I spin around and look at the tub. An elongated white bathtub is fitted against the wall and dark pebbles ornament the wall in swirling designs.
The entire house screams contemporary elegance. I remove the wig and contacts before rummaging through my duffle bag for a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. I want to find out where the spiral staircase leads. I slip into fluffy pink socks and rush to the door.
At the top of the staircase I turn the handle to a door with two square frosted windows and enter a dark spacious room with bamboo floors and white sofas. Ferns and bonsai trees litter the surrounding seating area. Massive windows are tilted toward the sky allowing the silvery moonlight to cast its brilliance over the room.
“This place is very beautiful.” Luka says from behind me.
I spin around. My heart races in my chest and my cheeks warm. “Don’t sneak up on people like that.” I squeal.
He chuckles lightly and sits on a white loveseat beneath one of the windows. He leans back and stares up at the night sky. The silver light of the moon cascades over his body. His forearms rest heavily on his lap and his hair sprawls over the cushions. His white button up opens at the collar bone and his torn jeans ride low. His usual boots are replaced with black socks. His Adam’s apple bobs from a hard swallow as he rests his head on the back of the sofa.
I sit beside him. Careful not to overstep and get too close. “Why'd you come up here?”
“I had a feeling you would.” A small grin spreads over his lips. “I saw you eyeballing the stairs longingly.”
“You’ve been avoiding me until now. Why do you care all of a sudden where I’m running off to?”
“I never stopped caring. I just needed to think.” He turns his face back to the night sky. “The woman I’ve loved since my childhood. The woman I wanted to marry. My best friend.” He takes a deeps breath. “I lost her trust and turned her against me. I hurt her and destroyed us. Everything we ever had is gone. It isn’t an easy thing to move on from.”
“I know.”
“No, you don't. I betrayed my own morals and the people that love me.” He stands and silently leaves the room.
I lean back on the sofa and let out a long breath. What did I expect from him? Did I think he would come running into my arms and tell me he loves me and can’t live without me? I’m so foolish.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
22
Morning sunlight pours into the kitchen from the large windowed doors of the patio. I stand close to the glass and watch the sun rise through the frosted windows.
“Good morning.” A deep scruffy voice announces from behind me.
“Good morning.” I reply and turn to greet the person.
Copper eyes reflect the glint of morning sun as he strolls over to the sink. His dark skin is covered in tribal tattoos and his hair is cut close to his scalp. His face is angular and cleanly shaven. He’s wearing a black t-shirt and basketball shorts.
I step forward extending my hand. “Nuri Hayes, but you can call me Ri.”
“Tobias Mosley,” He firmly shakes my hand, “Everyone calls me Toby.” He rummages through a cabinet. “Coffee?”
“Please.” I hop onto a barstool at the breakfast bar. “So, why are you the only one with a room down here?”
He measures the ground coffee into the pot on the counter. “You noticed, huh?” He closes the lid to the coffee maker and leans over th
e island. “Well, you can consider me the guard dog.”
“Sentry Toby?” I laugh.
“You laugh, but it’s a very valuable position in the pack. I’m the first to alert the others to danger and the first into battle.”
“Very noble.” I choke down my giggle.
“I wouldn’t say noble.” He smirks. “Sexy? Yeah, it’s sexy.” He pulls two mugs from a cabinet. “Sugar and cream?”
I nod. “I can make it if you like.” I offer. I don’t want to impose on them any more than I already have.
“Toby?” A sultry voice questions from the dark reaches of the hallway.
“Kitchen.” He calls to her.
A short woman with curly brown hair turns the corner. She seems delicate with a soft round face and button nose. She wipes at her jade green eyes and squints at the lights. A loose pink t-shirt and gray shorts barely cover her voluptuous honey-brown hips and generous bust. What I would give to look like her.
She rubs her eyes again. “Oh. I didn’t realize we had company.” She stops at the counter beside Toby.
“Baby, don’t tell me you forgot already?” He pulls her in close to him and presses his forehead to hers. The tender act sends needles into my heart. “The children of the prophecy are living with us now, T.”
“I’d forgotten.” She whispers into his face. She pulls back from Toby and marches over to me. “Tia Hartman.” She extends out her hand to me. I take it. Her hand is warm and soft and much smaller than mine. She couldn’t be more than five foot three.
She hops up onto a stool and proceeds to peel a banana. “Kareem isn’t here, so you won’t be able to meet him any time soon.” She takes a bite of the banana. “When does he get back from Paris, babe?”
“I think August.” Toby places a mug of warm coffee in front of me.
“Thanks.” I pick up the mug graciously.
Feet hit the floor and we all look at the hallway to see who it is. Dominic is the epitome of sunshine as he enters the room.
“Good morning fam!” He shoots us a big toothy grin and spreads his arms wide as if he’s welcoming the hug of life. “Tia, Toby.” He nods to both. “And my ever-favorite student, RiRi.” He squeezes me in a hug.
“When did you start calling me RiRi?”
“Today. Do you like it? I thought it up this morning while I was deciding on exercises.” He beams. “I just spoke with Luka and we think it’s time to have you practice your magical abilities.” He wiggles his fingers at me as if he were casting a spell.
“Joy.” I groan and slide from my chair. “Now I get to deal with more training.”
“Second floor, by seven o’clock sharp, missy!” He shouts as I step into the elevator with my coffee.
“Yeah, yeah.” I wave dismissively. I hear Tia and Toby laughing as the elevator glides to the fourth floor.
Black mats cover the second floor and training weapons hang neatly in glass cases along the far-left wall.
Luka is huddled with Dominic near a metal door. “Oh good. You’re here.” Dominic waves. “Quickly, quickly.”
I hurry over. “What’s the rush?”
“Well, we decided after some discussion that we will begin with your magic training and then move into physical training.”
“I want to see what you can do at full power and concentration.” Luka says.
“Okay, I guess that works.” He seems cold and distant. I guess he’s still upset about what happened last night.
Dominic exchanges a look between us. “This room right here.” He says and throws open the metal door. “This is our mage room. Virtually indestructible. The same can’t be said about the two of you, but good luck in there.”
“Dom, no matter what. Do not come into the room.” Luka’s eyes are dark and emotionless.
“What?” Dominic falters.
“No matter what.” Luka says and disappears through the door.
“Um, Dom, if I scream for help.” I touch my finger to my lip. “Make sure you come help me.” I shoot him a fake smile.
“You got it, RiRi.”
I close the heavy metal door behind me. The room is bright and about the size of a boxing ring. White padded walls surround the hard foam floor.
“Everything in this room is able to withstand extreme heat and cold.” Luka announces. “Let’s begin.” I stand near the door. His demeanor is unsettling, and I feel like I should avoid him.
I nod. “O-okay.”
“Good, come stand in front of me.”
A tingle of energy floats in the room. As I step closer to him the energy becomes stronger. “Here?” I can feel his energy tickling my skin. The instinct to shrink away and protect myself is overwhelming.
“Perfect. Now feel the power coursing inside you. Picture it becoming a ball in your hand. In your case, fire seems to be your main element. So, try to make a ball of fire in your palm.”
I close my eyes and search for the buzz of electricity beneath my skin. I feel a mild buzz, but nothing like it was before. I try to picture it rising to the surface and shaping into a ball of fire in my hand. Nothing. Minutes go by and I am unable to even conjure a spark.
“Why don’t we try some meditation?” Luka suggests. “Think about your personal energy. Meld with it. Accept it into your very being.”
We sit across from each other and I attempt to visualize myself joining with the energy. The energy continues to course through me, but I can’t seem to control it and Luka’s energy constantly touching me is causing my concentration to falter.
“Luka, I can’t connect with it and I’m having trouble concentrating.” I plead with him.
He’s quiet for a moment. His eyes look me up and down as if dissecting me. “Get up.” He commands. His voice colder than it had been earlier. I stand, but don’t follow. “Come to the center of the room.”
When I don’t move he steps into my personal space. “Do you not want to learn this?”
“Well, it’s just that you seem really hostile and I don’t know what I did.”
He cocks his head. “Hostile?” His eyes darken, and I take a step back. “You want hostile?” A wave of energy erupts from the center of his body and pushes against me like the wind of a hurricane.
I struggle to catch my breath as every instinct I have is screaming to run. The raw energy crackles and sparks against the light bulbs above us and the sparks fall to the ground like fireworks. I shake my head as I back away. “N-no I didn’t say I wanted hostile.”
“Come on Daeolc, what are you so afraid of?” He growls. “You weren’t afraid of that Vampire at Elements, but you’re afraid of me?” His words are like acid.
“What?” I stare at him. My heart is racing, and my vision is blurry. I don’t even understand what he’s trying to accomplish.
“You have the power, so stop being so damn timid with everything you do.” He shouts. His words feel like punches to my gut. He stands at the center of the room. “Hit me with anything you’ve got.”
I search for the feeling of electricity under my skin, but I can’t seem to bring it to the surface. “I don’t know how!”
“Stop thinking and just do it.” He growls at me. “What happened to the girl that devastated the White coven and rescued me? Where is she?”
He’s right. I did it. I had it. Where did it go? I did this. I imagine a ball of fire forming in my hand, but nothing happens. I whimper in frustration. “I can’t.”
“Come on, what happened to the fire in your soul? Did the white break you? Are you that weak that they broke you with a few days of torture?” He laughs. “The daughter of the great Maher and Baal can’t even make a spark of fire. Is this what I sacrificed my entire life for?” He roars. “So, you can tremble under the pressure and tell me that you can’t do it?”
His words cut through my very core. He’s right. I’m weak. I’m scared. I’m useless.
His hands grip my arms and his fingers dig into my skin. I try to jerk away from his touch as tears stream down my face.
His grip tightens causing a dull pain under his hands. A blue glow surrounds his body like a bubble and his eyes glow with the use of his power. His lips brush my ear. His breath is warm against my skin. A shiver runs down my spine. “Where did the girl who murdered in cold blood go?”
My throat clenches. I bite my lip to stop it from trembling.
“What, cat got your tongue? Maybe I should have let that vampire at Elements have you. You probably would have enjoyed each other. We know you like men that hurt you. Just look at Jake.” He seethes. “Does it turn you on when I’m rough?” He whispers menacingly in my ear.
The gentle hum of electricity begins to surge within me.
“You and I both know we would have never been anything special.” He spits. “Yea, good sex maybe, but anything more would just be ridiculous.” He laughs.
The jab cuts deep. I know he’s baiting me, but something feels like he’s letting out more than just bait. This feels real, like all the things he resents me for are coming out.
“Just going to sit there and take it?” He grabs my face hard in his fingers. “You’re a disgrace to every witch and every Daesidh to ever exist.” He shoves me to the ground. “You’re a disgrace to everything your mother stood for!”
I hit the ground. Rage boils in my gut. My skin buzzes with heat and my wings twitch beneath my skin itching to release. He wants fire? I’ll give him fire. I release the mental hold on my wings and they explode from my back with a crack and the sound of tearing clothes.
Luka steps back with a smirk. “It was mom, wasn’t it?” He growls. “So, come get me little Daesidh.” He taunts.