Darkness Clashes (10 page)

“A war?” I asked, incredulously. “You’d really start a war over this?”

He gave me a pitying look. “I’ve been keeping a war from startin’ for some time now, but if you don’t show me a sign of good faith I’m not gonna hold back anymore.”

“What are you talking about?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Folks aren’t happy with Nik’s leadership. Twice now he’s let the city fall to outsiders.” He gestured toward the cellar door. “Holding that nephilim here, keeping her from us, it’s the last straw for a lot of people.”

“That’s not his fault.”

He gave me a level look. “A leader’s job is to protect his territory no matter the cost to himself. He was warned what would happen if he didn’t cooperate and he refused to listen.”

“Oh, so Zoe and Variola both tried to negotiate with him before they attacked? I highly doubt that,” I scoffed.

“Ask him, Melena. Ask him if he really didn’t see any of this comin’ and see what he says.”

This was too much to believe. Nik wouldn’t have hidden something like that from me. Would he?

I turned to Charlie. “Did you know anything about this?”

“It’s not my place to interfere.” He kept his face neutral.

“You do it all the time!”

The shaman looked up at the sky. “Only when it is my duty.”

“Oh, so if you have orders from the jerks upstairs you’ll do something, but otherwise you don’t?” I ran my gaze between the two men. “How did I miss this?”

“Maybe because we all thought it best you didn’t know,” Derrick said, unapologetically.

I gritted my teeth. “Screw you.”

“So what’s it gonna be? Are you willing to risk a war?”

Charlie stepped between us. “This is not Melena’s choice alone. I agree that it is best you stay away from the nephilim.”

It was about time the shaman did more than just stand there.

Derrick’s face turned impassive. “You’re both gonna regret this.”

He walked away, heading around the opposite side of the garden from where Emily hid. I watched him go with some apprehension. How was I supposed to fix this if the only way he’d back down was to see Zoe? Nik wasn’t going to be happy hearing this news, either.

As soon as Derrick was gone, Emily rushed up to me.

“I’m sorry, Mel. When he threatened to send Hunter away I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You could have called me,” I pointed out.

“He wouldn’t let me.”

I sighed. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”

“Do you think he’ll still send him away?” Her expression turned worried. “He was telling the truth earlier when he said he’d do it.”

“Call Hunter now and warn him.”

“Okay.” She got on her cell phone and walked a short distance away.

I looked at Charlie. “You think Zoe heard anything?”

“It is possible.”

“Get Emily back to your house. I’m going to see if I can do some damage control,” I said, heading toward the cellar door.

“Melena,” Charlie called out.

I turned. “Yeah?”

The shaman beckoned me toward him.

“The werewolf was right,” he whispered once I was close. “More trouble will come and I will not always be here to stop it.”

The wrinkles in his face deepened. “No matter what choices you make there will be pain, sorrow, and betrayal, but you must not let that stop you from doing what is best for the people who depend upon you. Think not only of yourself. Let the wisdom of your ancestors guide you.”

Before I could ask what he meant he disappeared in a swirl of air and popped up a moment later closer to Emily. The damn shaman never let me get the last word. I shook my head and decided to file that message away for later consideration.

Chapter Ten

I made my way down the stairs into the dark cellar. A solitary bulb hung from the ceiling, giving the room an eerie glow. Boxes and other unwanted junk were stacked on either side of the entryway and there was a musty scent in the air. At the far end of the room a row of iron bars thicker than a man’s fist caged the female nephilim inside. She was standing there staring at me with no expression as I walked up.

“Zoe,” I said, stopping just out of arm’s reach. Her manacles and chains might make movement difficult, but I didn’t want to test her.

A slow smile curved her lips. “You came to see how much I heard, didn’t you?”

“Are you going to tell me?”

She ran her fingertips across the bars. From underneath the fall of her strawberry-blond hair she peeked up at me. Pale face, twinkling gold eyes, and a long nose were the features that stood out the most—that and the barely suppressed power emanating from her.

“No one may have said it outright, but I could surmise that girl out there is a sensor just like you.” She pressed her body against the bars. “She kept that little secret from her mother well, didn’t she?”

I shrugged. “It just adds to the reasons I can’t let you out of here anytime soon.”

Zoe tilted her head back and laughed. “I wouldn’t hurt a young, influential sensor like her. Perhaps she could even be a companion to my daughter when I get her out.”

“When you get her out?” I looked around the room. “You can’t even get out of here, much less break into Purgatory to reach her.”

She gave me a patient smile. “Have you found Micah yet? The clock is ticking, Melena. For all you know he’s being tortured by my people right now.”

Zoe spoke hypothetically, which didn’t register as a lie but it didn’t register as truth either. Of course, I couldn’t afford to give away the fact I’d already found Micah.

“I don’t suppose you have anything more to say about his location?” I asked.

She moved back from the bars. “Are you going to let me out?”

“Uh…no.”

“Give me ten minutes alone with the alpha and I’ll give you another clue. You don’t even have to unlock the bars and I promise not to compel him.” This wasn’t the first time she’d tried that bargain—or even the tenth.

I didn’t know exactly what it was she wanted from Derrick, but that alone made me suspicious.

“Forget it.” I shook my head. “The last thing that man needs to know is how much you’ve interfered in his life.”

“It was for a good cause.”

She really believed that.

I gritted my teeth. “Having him turned into a werewolf and then killing his family is not something you can justify under any circumstances.”

“You, Melena Sanders,” she slammed her hands against the bars, “have done nothing but get in my way. Centuries of planning and the only thing that’s slowed me down is you. If not for these chains, I’d rip your head off right now.”

“Glad I can inspire such passion in you.”

She took several deep breaths until the golden glow in her eyes faded. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll still get her back and Derrick will become her protector and companion, just as I planned. Wait and see.”

“You can’t really think he’d go along with that.”

Though I didn’t want to believe it, I worried that she did have the power to influence him. Why else would so many sensors who hated supernaturals flock to her side? She had a way of always getting what she wanted—except with me.

“Oh, he will once I’m through with him.” Laying down, she languidly stretched out on the cot.

“We’ll see.” I had to believe she’d never bring Derrick over to her side as long as I kept them apart.

“By the way…” She lifted her head. “How are things going for Nik? No rebellions yet, I hope.”

Hope my ass.

“He’s doing fine,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Are you sure? It sounded to me like the werewolves are getting rather impatient with his leadership skills. Not that I could blame them. Who lets their territory fall to their enemies twice?” She put a hand to her cheek. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it happen with anyone else in all my centuries on earth.”

I resisted the urge to step closer. “Maybe I’ll suggest to Lucas we move your prison to the bottom of a volcano. Which do you think lava would melt first—you or your shackles?”

She stared up at the ceiling. “No matter what you do, Melena Sanders, I will always be one step ahead of you. My time in this cage will not last and I will talk to that werewolf. Mark my words.”

She closed her eyes. Trying to talk to Zoe any longer would be a waste of time. I headed for the stairs, flicking the light switch on the way out. Let her stew in the dark.

Kerbasi was waiting for me up top. He couldn’t get past the wards like I could, but I was sure he’d listened in on us.

“She’s a challenge, is she not?” he asked, falling into step beside me.

“You could say that,” I replied.

“It is a façade. Peel back the layers and you’ll find a scared little girl. One who has never known love—that emotion you appreciate so much. Zoe uses strategy to protect herself, but it is a flimsy shield that can be broken with the right amount of force.”

“That’s very insightful of you…and surprising you’d share.”

He kept his eyes forward. “I’m feeling generous. I’m sure it won’t last.”

Chapter Eleven

I’d just stepped out of the shower when Hunter pulled up to the house. The front door slammed as Emily raced out to greet him. I moved over to my bedroom window while getting dressed and listened closely. One thing I’d learned since I’d started raising a teenager—you could learn a lot more when they didn’t know you could hear them.

“Oh my God, what happened?” Emily asked.

“The alpha showed up to take me out of town,” Hunter replied.

“That asshole. What about your Dad?”

“He agreed with him. Dad would never go against the alpha.”

“But you didn’t let him take you?”

I peeked out the window in time to catch Hunter pulling Emily close. “Hell, no. Told them both where they could shove it. Packed up all my stuff and came straight here.”

Her fingertips grazed his cheek. “Derrick must have been pissed.”

“Let’s just say I’m lucky he let me go.”

I raced down the stairs—now fully dressed—and joined the teenagers outside. As soon as I got close, I saw Hunter had a swollen jaw and a black eye. They might have let him go, but they didn’t make it easy.

“What did they do?” I asked, crossing my arms.

He shrugged and winced. “Just made sure I knew what they thought of my choice.”

Emily stood on her toes and kissed his cheek.

“I’ll get them back for this,” she vowed.

He shook his head at her. “It’s between me and the pack, don’t worry about it.”

“But…”

“Did Derrick say anything about what’s going on?” I interrupted Emily.

Werewolves had their own way of doing things. I didn’t agree with it, but if she wanted to be with one of them she was going to have to learn to deal with it.

“No.” Hunter’s brows furrowed. “They’ve been leaving me out of a lot of stuff lately.”

“How so?”

“I’ve been hearing about secret meetings. The guys at school have been whispering about it, but they don’t say much if they think I’m around.” He spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, but I could sense the hurt underneath.

Emily burrowed in closer to him.

“You didn’t think it was important enough to mention sooner?” I put my hands on my hips.

He met my eyes, unflinching. “It was pack business.”

Derrick had given me that line more than once.

“Are you going to keep hiding things from me, Hunter?”

“Not anymore. The alpha made me pick sides and I chose Emily’s.” He gave her a fierce look. “No one’s coming between us again.”

I hadn’t wanted to push Hunter, especially under the circumstances, but I had to check him out first. The last thing we needed was a spy in our midst. He spoke the truth and I believed he’d do anything for Emily, but I still planned to keep a close eye on him. Derrick’s power over his pack members was strong.

“Fine. You can stay here, but…” I pointed a finger at him, “if I find out you’ve hidden anything from me you’re on your own. Got it?”

He nodded his head.

“Good. Now let’s get your stuff inside.”

He popped the trunk and we grabbed all his bags. We were carrying them toward the house when Kerbasi came around to the front yard. As soon as he saw us his expression turned to one of annoyance.

“You can’t mean to let that little whelp stay here?” the guardian asked incredulously.

“That’s exactly what I mean to do,” I said as he followed us inside. I directed the kids to put anything Hunter didn’t immediately need in the storage closet under the stairs.

“He’s not sleeping with me,” Kerbasi announced.

“I wouldn’t make a cockroach sleep with you, guardian.”