Dentelle (29 page)

My toes curled, and my nerves screamed with
refusal, but I nodded. Time to be passive. “You can’t hurt her. She is just an
innocent child.”

“Her fate rests in your hands,” he said evenly.

Lowering my head, I said meekly, “If I link with
you willingly, I want assurance Ava Rose will be safe and you will…”

At that moment, the slider opened and Maya
returned with a steaming hot omelet, which she placed before me. After clearing
away a few dishes and asking if there was anything else we needed, she
disappeared again.

“That’s the deal,” Kieran said. “After we are
linked, Ava Rose may go free.” He continued talking, telling me the terms and
conditions I was expected to follow and live by until we linked.

For some reason, he wanted to spend time with me
and Ava Rose over the next few days. According to him, since we’d be “spending
a lifetime together,” he wanted us to start off right. Get to know each other.
He wanted me to see his “softer side.” Everything he said was crazy. He was a
total mental case. Whether any of what he said was true or not, I had no way to
know. What I did know, was that I didn’t trust anything that came out of his
mouth. I tried to eat my omelet but couldn’t. I’d lost my appetite when he’d
talked about killing Ava Rose.

As he discussed the affection he and Ava Rose
had developed for each other, anyone eavesdropping would have thought he was a
devoted uncle or something. But I knew better. Quite simply, he was a lunatic.
But I couldn’t figure out what his objective was. He didn’t have to feign a
relationship with Ava Rose now that I was here. All he had to do was wait for
the full moon and link with me. Or so he thought. I had a hard time
understanding his motives until he made a jarring comment. One that left me
quivering and completely repulsed. Casually but decisively, he said, “It’s
important I learn how to interact with the girl because we will have children
of our own one day. This will be great practice for me. For us.”

He was completely delusional. Apparently, over
the next few days, he’d be taking us out on the town. And of all the crazy
things, he expected us to act like a family. Too stunned to respond, I sat
there wide-eyed as he yammered on. One of his demands, besides me being
compliant, was that he expected me to douse him with Essence whenever he asked.
In fact, he even showed me sign language for the word “energy.” Whenever he
used it, I was expected to respond to his need. I was not happy. But until I
could initiate my own plan, I had to keep Ava Rose safe. And if that meant
playing along with his diabolical games, then so be it.

He even returned my phone, giving me some
gibberish about how it had a tracking device for my own safety. Suspicious of
his every move, I figured he’d probably installed something that allowed him to
listen in on my conversations as well. I’d need to be extremely careful when
talking with anyone, especially Jason. In the end, I decided to tell Ash I’d
lost my cell phone and ask him to pass the word around. Kieran overhearing a
conversation between me and Jason, or anyone else, was way too risky.

On a roll, Kieran added, “I’ve even forgiven you
for your part in Adrian’s death; although honestly, it was probably his fault.”
I shivered, thinking about Adrian trying to pull me under in the icy lake. “He
had his own agenda. Always did,” Kieran continued. “Even when we were kids, he
wanted what he couldn’t have. Only this time it was you, and I’d already staked
my claim.” He stretched, eyeing me up and down. “Probably a good thing he’s
gone. We don’t need his interference. ”

A few minutes later, Ava Rose came skipping onto
the veranda. After hugging me, she rushed over and hugged Kieran, too. Sitting
rigid, it took all my composure not to snatch her away from him. Leaning over
her shoulder, Kieran winked at me. My hands were ice cold, itching to slap him.
Throw him to the ground and trample him. I breathed easier when Ava Rose
stepped away from him and sat down to eat some breakfast. She gushed over the
view of the city, pointing out buildings like she’d lived there all her life.
Obviously, she’d listened intently to Kieran, soaking up information like a
sponge. Rambling on a mile a minute, it was obvious she now possessed a wealth
of knowledge about Oklahoma City. Eventually, she shifted gears and talked excitedly
about all the “fun things” at the condo and about all the “great adventures” he
had planned for us.

After breakfast, we toured the condo building.
Animated and clearly familiar with her new surroundings, Ava Rose actually led
me and Kieran around. I was annoyed with her openly relaxed demeanor, but there
was nothing I could do about it. Having been reminded of how trusting and
gullible children were, I made a mental note to work on this with her. I
wondered how she couldn’t sense his evil aura. To me, it seemed to permeate the
very air around us. Kieran, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed every minute
of our walk-through. Sucking up, he complimented her enthusiasm and her keen
memory of where things were located. He gave me a key card to work the
elevators, but it was Ava Rose who explained that we didn’t have access to all
the floors. Some were under construction and they wouldn’t be safe. Although I
was frustrated with how she’d been deceived and charmed by Kieran, I was
delighted to see her happy and enthusiastic. And in a way, I could easily see
what she was so excited about. Amazing amenities included a fitness center,
swimming pool and spa, plush media room, and even an eco-friendly garden roof
with a sun deck.

Unexpectedly green and landscaped with native
plants, the rooftop gardens were a pleasant surprise, as were the sweeping
views from up there. It seemed odd to be surrounded by an oasis of green amid
the not so distant urban center. Glancing over the edge, I took special notice
of the scaffolding at this northeast corner of the building. As Kieran pointed
into the distance and rattled on about downtown’s historic district, I noticed
the camera on the corner of the ninth floor balcony was broken. Probably had
been knocked out during the renovations or something. That camera was on the
same floor as the fitness center, but since it was out, that meant there was
access to an outside balcony that was currently blacked out from the cameras.
That might be useful.

Spotting a run-down brick building next door, I
noted how similar it was in shape and size to Kieran’s condo. Ava Rose must
have noticed my wandering eye, because she came up and grabbed my hand. “Bet
you didn’t know that’s Uncle Kieran’s building too.” I shook my head, and she
nodded, eyes large. “Well, it is. And he’s going to remodel it just like this
one. But he has to wait until this one is all finished first. Something about
good investments.”

She looked over at him for confirmation, and he
smiled. “You’re absolutely right. Smart girl.”

She giggled. “He got that one really cheap, but
he said it is all run-down inside and is going to take lots of work. He doesn’t
even go in there because it’s so dangerous right now. He even said you could
fall through the floors if you’re not careful.”

“Oh,” I said, not believing a word of the lies
he’d undoubtedly fed her. My hackles were raised and the hairs on my arms stood
on end. There was something sinister about the building next door. The one that
didn’t look dilapidated in the least. I found myself wondering what Kieran
really used that building for. What dark, sadistic rituals or methods of
torture did he carry out in there? Would I find out? Did I really want to? The
intense morning sun beat down on my skin, but I shivered. I was more than ready
when Ava Rose led us back to the elevator.

Once the tour ended, I could count on one hand
the number of floors I had access to. My ears perked up when Ava Rose started
talking about some of Kieran’s friends who lived in the condo building. I
immediately suspected they were Ray-pacs and wondered when I’d be meeting them.
I’d sensed other links close by all morning but hadn’t seen anyone else. I was
also curious if Alayne was still part of Kieran’s pack. If she materialized out
of thin air around some dark corner with intentions to attack, at least my
Flair would pick up on it. As soon as the elevator door to the penthouse
opened, the links I’d detected became much stronger.

Kieran seemed none too happy to find them there,
and our introductions were short and pointed. Aria, a petite, round-faced girl,
moved gracefully like a ballerina across the room. Her dark make-up and Goth
style didn’t match her delicate features, but it did enhance her vivid gold
eyes. Along with Aria, I met Aiden. Svelte and muscled with thick, dark hair,
he was jaw-dropping gorgeous. Ava Rose must have thought so too, because she
was swooning just like she did when watching a Justin Bieber video. For some
reason, Aiden reminded me of a young, ambitious congressmen. Even his brightly
glowing hazel eyes were captivating – but not unnatural in appearance like all
the other Ray-pacs.

Before I knew it, Kieran dismissed Ava Rose and
myself, telling us he had some quick business to attend to. He asked us to be
ready within the hour, though, because he was taking us shopping. Totally
delighted, Ava Rose ran up to him and gave him a big hug. I hated it whenever
she touched him. If my Essence could heal her, I worried about his grossly
unwholesome Essence setting her back, reigniting the cancer cells.

Grinning, he signaled that he wanted a hug from
me as well. Setting my jaw in an unmistakable expression of displeasure, I
crossed the room towards him. Tugging on Ava’s little hand, I pulled her away
from him and embraced him. My stomach twisted into knots as he moved his face
an inch from mine. We were close to the same height, so we were eye to eye. His
gaze wandered to my lips, and he bared his teeth, reminding me of the predator
he was. I felt truly dirty and helpless, but I maintained my composure for Ava
Rose’s sake.

He raised one eyebrow coyly. “When we are
linked, I will taste those lips and make you mine for all eternity.” At least
he whispered this, so no one else could hear.

The blood drained from my face, and my lips
trembled. I felt myself swaying as if I was on a ship in rough waters, and
dread was sloshing about in the pit of my stomach. So disgusted was I by the
thought of Kieran’s mouth on mine, I forgot to embrace my power and lock out
his Essence. It flowed into me, nauseating me as if I had my mouth over an
exhaust pipe and was inhaling fumes from a diesel engine. I felt contamination.
I experienced sudden apnea. I stood paralyzed.

“Come on, Lexi,” Ava Rose said merrily, tugging
on my arm. “Let’s go get ready. I can’t wait to go shopping. Besides new
clothes, Uncle Kieran said he’d buy me paints and a real easel too.”

Stepping away from Kieran, I sucked in a deep
breath of air. I felt the innocence and purity of Ava’s Essence. And I snapped
out of that dark place I’d allowed Kieran to take me to. Blasting myself and
Ava Rose with Essence, I backed out of the room, my eyes still glued to Kieran.

“I’ll take care of my business quickly and see
you ladies real soon. We’ll have a wonderful time together. I promise.”

Turning on my heel, I grabbed Ava Rose’s hand
and hurried us out of the room. Being in his presence was sickening; spending
the whole day with him would be torturous.

Performing a balancing act of sorts, I felt more
like I was walking a tightrope than ambling through Penn Square Mall on a
shopping spree. For Ava Rose’s sake, I pretended to enjoy our little outing.
But it wasn’t easy. In reality, I was a bundle of emotions. Unnerved to be in
Ray-pac company, I worried continuously about Ava Rose’s safety – as well as
everyone within a five mile radius of us. Say nothing of the fact I was angry
at Fate for involving this special little girl with them in the first place.

And here I was again, deeply engaged in another
masterful game of charades, unable to voice my true feelings or act upon them.
Frustration, evident in my slumped shoulders and heavy feet, was getting the
better of me. I had to be more careful. I knew even a wrong word at the wrong
time could trigger Kieran’s temper. So at the moment, I was helpless to act and
helpless to take control. But if keeping Ava Rose ignorant of our true reality
and protecting her naivety meant upholding the façade, then I would do it. I
never wanted her to have a reason to feel threatened; nor did I want her picking
up on my constant state of fear. In a perfect scenario, she’d never know she’d
been kidnapped or that we were being held against our will. Involuntarily, I
crossed my fingers for luck.

“Isn’t this place amazing?” Ava Rose said
wide-eyed and breathless as she gazed all around.

“Sure is,” I said, unable to stop myself from
grinning at how delighted she was by the upscale, two-story mall. With its
plush interior and array of designer boutiques it was a lot fancier than what
we had in Bellingham. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and smiled brightly,
my ultimate goal being to nurture her enthusiasm.

“This is your day, Ava Rose. I want you to buy
lots of clothes, and whatever else you want.” Kieran said jovially.

Glancing to my right, I narrowed my eyes at him
but held my tongue. I’d decided early on to keep myself between them. Normally,
I welcomed her affectionate nature, but I certainly didn’t want her chumming up
with him or reaching out to hold his hand. One thing was certain; faking a
friendship with my worst enemy was much more difficult than faking a romantic
relationship with Ash had been.

 
“Thanks,
Uncle Kieran,” Ava Rose said, peering around me. “Except,” she cast her gaze
downwards, “I’m kind of worried about money. I won’t have enough to pay you
back.”

“You will not pay me back,” he said with a wave
of his hand. “I’m rich, and I don’t have any kids of my own to spend it on.” He
lowered his voice and looked right at me. “No kids yet, that is.” He smiled shrewdly,
and an urge to knock out his teeth came over me.

“Hey, there’s Old Navy,” Ava Rose exclaimed,
completely ignorant of the animosity brewing inside me as I gazed at Kieran.
“Let’s go in there.”

I looked over my shoulder as we headed toward
her favorite clothing store. A little ways back, James and Vincent trailed us.
While they never followed us inside the smaller shops, they always stood
outside the entrance like sentry men. Ever since we’d set foot inside the mall,
I’d sensed other Ray-pac links within close proximity. After scouting the
surrounding crowd and studying the people standing at the balcony above, I
hadn’t spotted Aria or Aiden. I wasn’t sure who else I was looking for though,
and none of the faces peering over the upper rail seemed particularly
interested in us. Regardless, it was disconcerting to know Ray-pacs were
swarming around us like locusts, ready to strike at a moment’s notice, possibly
even consume unsuspecting Innocents of their Essence.

As we walked into Old Navy, I shook my head
wryly and wondered what compelled Kieran to have such heavy security detail.
Was he afraid I might attempt an escape? Or was he worried Guardians might
materialize out of thin air? One motivation had to be paranoia. After all, we’d
destroyed most of his pack back in Bellingham. And now that he was holding Ava
Rose and me captive, he was playing with fire. Undoubtedly, he’d want ample
protection for his own life because we had powerful friends. Of course, they’d
have to know what was happening with us, and right now they were clueless. I
sighed. While the thought of calling in my friends had crossed my mind several
times, I didn’t have a sure-fire plan that allowed Ava Rose to escape unharmed,
and in a surprise attack people would be killed. If it was just me, then maybe
I’d have Jason, Ash, and the entire Bellingham Circle sneak into Oklahoma City.
At my signal, they could descend upon the Ray-pacs, and we’d have a fair
chance. All the muscles in my body tensed at this idea; I’d be putting all my
friends at risk then.

When Jason talked about the Ray-pacs, he always
said, “Never underestimate them. They are savage. They are full of plots to
destroy, and their ultimate goal is to suck the life out of people in order to
gain strength and power.” His words were a good reminder to stay alert. I
shouldn’t discount the idea Kieran had us surrounded by Ray-pacs because he was
concocting some heinous scheme – one meant to entertain or remind me he reigned
supreme in the matters of terror.

Making out like a bandit, Ava Rose shopped until
we both almost dropped. We visited several more familiar and new-to-us
specialty clothing stores. After a few hours, her bags were filled with all
kinds of fun things, from fluorescent lace-up sneakers and glittery flats to
sequined denim shorts, halter tops, sundresses, and accessories. I especially
liked her butterfly sunglasses and flowered headbands. Overwhelmed with the
quantity of her items, she started feeling guilty, saying it was too much.
Kieran sounded like a scolding father when he told her he wanted no more of her
apologies. In a big fat lie, he reminded her about how the airlines would be
sending her money for the luggage they’d lost, and she could apply that to the
cost of her new clothes. That made her feel better, and she mellowed out a bit.
Loaded with all the bags, James and Vincent were less than happy. Their frowns
were priceless. Baggage porters as well as security – served them right.

Our last stop at Penn Square Mall was Macy’s.
Ava Rose still needed underwear, and I insisted she try them on. Normally, I
wouldn’t take the time, but I had good reason. I needed a couple minutes away
from Kieran where he couldn’t overhear me. I needed to call Jason and had
formed a plan earlier in the morning. Now, in an attempt to prolong our stay in
the fitting rooms, I grabbed a few extra items for Ava to try on, namely
swimsuits. Luckily, at Macy’s, all the changing rooms were gender specific.
Kieran might not be happy we’d be so far out of sight, but there was no way he
could follow us inside the busy women’s dressing rooms. In quiet warning, he
reminded me of what was at stake if I tried anything. Bluntly, I told him I was
well aware of the rules and intended to follow them.

The saleslady ushered us out of sight and to one
of the rooms in the very back. Briefly, I wondered if Kieran might send a
female Ray-pac in to keep an eye on us, but I didn’t sense any super close
links. Making a judgment call, I decided to go for it. Only problem was, my
phone was probably bugged. Standing in the hallway outside Ava’s dressing room,
I struck up a conversation with a mom who was passing clothes back and forth to
her daughter. After I put on a convincing show that my cell phone was dead, the
lady graciously offered to let me borrow hers. I sat down on the bench and
prayed Jason would answer his phone.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and my heart
skipped a beat when I heard his deep, reassuring voice. Keeping my own voice
low so Ava wouldn’t hear me, I filled him in on my uncle’s condition. Well really,
most of the words out of my mouth were lies. Not only did I lie about how I
hadn’t been allowed in to see my fake comatose uncle, but I also told him I’d
lost my phone and was borrowing one.

“I miss you, Alex.” His voice was soft and
genuine.

I envisioned his handsome face and wished I
could see his expressions. “I miss you more than you’ll ever know,” I replied,
tears collecting in the corner of my eyes.

“Sorry you’re going through all this, especially
with Ava Rose still missing and this mess with the Senior Council.” He sighed.
“I wish I had some good news for you, but there’s nothing new to report. No new
leads or anything. We’re not giving up. I promise.”

Choking on the words I wished I could say, I
didn’t respond. I felt even guiltier when he broke in, “I’m sorry, babe. I
didn’t mean to upset you again.”

“It’s not your fault,” I said just as Ava Rose
swung open the dressing room door.

Modeling a cute one-piece swimsuit with a flared
skirt, she said with a big smile, “Do you like this one?”

I’d barely had time to cover the phone when the
door flew open. Now, I fumbled to hide it in my lap. “Very nice,” I said,
crossing my legs with the phone between them.

“Are you crying?” Concern had her eyebrows
furrowing around her big blue eyes.

“No, sweetie,” I said quietly, rubbing my eye.
“Just a fleck of something in my eye. That’s a great suit; bright yellow is
perfect on you, but why don’t you try on the other one just to be sure.”

She nodded and closed the door. Hastily, I held
the phone up to my ear. Amazingly, Jason was still talking and hadn’t noticed
I’d been gone. After a couple more minutes, I ended our conversation with a
promise of calling him again soon and a reminder he wouldn’t be able to reach
me on my phone. Hating myself for even saying it, I told him he could always
send a message through Ash if he needed to reach me in a hurry.

“I hope that changes one day,” he said rather
forlornly. “I’d really like you to hear my voice in your head instead of his.”

“I know; me too.”

“Okay, I’ll stop feeling sorry for myself. Love
you. I’ll see you…?” He paused, leaving the half-finished question hanging.

“In a few days,” I said nervously. “Love you,
too. Gotta run, but I’ll call you soon.” By the time Ava Rose and I left the
dressing room, I’d pulled myself together, and no one was any wiser about my
phone call. Thank goodness for small miracles.

After wrapping up our trip at the mall, we
stopped by an arts and crafts store. Kieran insisted Ava pick out a vast supply
of paints, brushes, and paper. Then he purchased a bunch of canvases as well as
an easel. She’d never painted on canvas because it was too expensive, but she
knew the majority of artists used them. She hugged Kieran and thanked him
profusely. On the way to the car he gave her a piggy back ride, and they joked
back and forth. Their physical contact made me sick to my stomach, as did the
way he bought her affection. Every bad name I’d ever heard bolted through my
mind. A couple minutes later, when I finally ran out of words, I realized just
how rich my vocabulary was. Climbing into the SUV, I slammed the car door shut
behind me. James, glancing in his rearview mirror, was the only one who
noticed, and he chuckled to himself. Ava buckled herself in next to Kieran. It
was obvious she idolized him with the same intensity with which I hated him.

We spent the afternoon at the Oklahoma City Zoo
along with a flock of other people. Kieran said it was rated one of the top
three family-friendly zoos in the nation. I, of course, reminded him we were
not a family. But he got the last laugh when Ava Rose clutched each of our
hands as we stood together at the Asian elephant habitat and said, “This is so
much fun. It’s kind of like we’re a family – huh, Lexi?”

Grinding my teeth, what could I say? Other than,
“Kind of.”

While eating ice cream, we hung out at the Great
EscApe exhibit where the comical chimpanzees, mighty gorillas, and energetic
orangutans entertained Ava Rose and Kieran to no end. I was not amused. Later, while
watching the tigers and lions stalk through their terrain, Kieran sidled up
next to me – as close as he could get without actually touching me.

“Wild and vicious hunters, lions. Their Essence
is unlike any other living animal. I would have to describe it as…fiercely
violent.” He toyed with a strand of my hair that refused to stay in the
ponytail. “When we’re linked, I’ll bring you back here. After hours, of
course.” There was cruelty in his snicker. “Let you sample it for yourself.”

I squirmed, stepped sideways, and bumped into a
lady who was holding a huge mass of pink and blue swirled cotton candy. I
apologized as the sickly sweet scent tickled my nose. Turning back towards
Kieran, I said defiantly, “I don’t need any Essence boosts. Thank you very much.
And, let’s get this clear – I will never steal another’s Essence, whether it be
human or animal.”

He laughed but narrowed his eyes. “Oh, you might
not ever
need
any Essence boosts – I
probably won’t either after we’re linked,” he said thoughtfully, scratching his
chin. He was clean-shaven again, but I only saw him as savage-looking. His
expression darkened, and he suddenly eyed me like I was a disobedient pet. “But
that doesn’t mean you won’t be sampling what the lower species around us has to
offer.” He stopped and waved at Ava Rose. A few feet in front of us, she’d
maneuvered her way to the railing for a better view. “And by that I mean
animals, Innocents, and even Guardians. There’s a whole world you haven’t
experienced yet. And I mean to show you, whether you’re a willing participant
in the game or not.”

“I don’t think so,” I said indignantly, facing
forward.

Chuckling, he said. “It will be exhilarating.
And while we’re on this topic, I wouldn’t mind a little rush right about now.
My shoulders are rather stiff.” He gave me a look that clearly meant business.

Mustering up the courage to touch him while
working hard to suppress my anger, I stepped behind him and massaged his
expansive shoulders. They were overbearingly muscular like he ate steroids as a
snack three times a day. Realizing it was probably because of animal or human
Essence, I gagged a little bit. I hated touching him. Made me feel dirty.
Defiled. And it wasn’t like a shower would wash away the filth. His
contamination and corruption seeped into my body. I used my Essence to
counter-attack.