Lost (The Allure Chronicles Book 3) (13 page)

“
O
k
, so if there’s no elevator what do I do?” Getting to his house in the meadow was easy. Somehow I wasn’t surprised that it wasn’t as simple to leave it.

“First repeat after me.” He put his hands on my shoulders again.

“Uh, are you kidding me?” I stepped back, but I didn’t manage to offset his hands.

“No. I didn’t accomplish the coolest thing in my existence to have us both killed a few hours later.”

“Us both killed?” Theoretically I knew it was possible, but I wasn’t thinking death when Sol told me I had to run. “You think the Elders would go that far?”

“Yes,” he didn’t hesitate with his answer. “But to be fair they might have killed you anyway.”

“Hey!” I glared at him. “Whatever happened to you being under explicit orders not to kill me?”

“What do my orders have to do with the Elders?” He dropped his hands to his sides.

“Whatever, fine. What do I have to repeat?”

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I will not trust anyone.”

“I will not trust anyone.” That was easy enough to repeat. There was only one person in the world I really trusted, and Sol couldn’t have meant to include him. “Wait. What about Owen? I’m going to trust him.” If I couldn’t trust Owen I wasn’t sure if I had anything I could count on.

Sol nodded. “Ok. I didn’t see a single vision of him hurting you, so he’s probably safe.”

“But that’s it?” He’d made it seem like I would be repeating a lot.

“Yes. Especially don’t trust the Allures.”

He didn’t need to tell me that. I never fully trusted them, and I trusted them even less now that I knew there was a way for me to feel again. Did Violet know that all along? Was she keeping it from me? Still, I wondered why he specifically mentioned them. “I already don’t really trust them, but any particular reason?”

“It’s not in their interest for you to become human again.”

“Become human again.” The words soaked in. “You said that.” I remembered his words.
Human. You will be human again.
“But I’m not human.” I wasn’t. Having some feeling back didn’t change that I was an immortal creature.

“No you’re not,” Sol admitted. “But you’re closer to a human than any of them will ever be. Once they find out what I managed to do they’ll be as dangerous to you as the Elders.”

“Although they aren’t as powerful.” That’s what made the Elders particularly worrisome.

His expression darkened. “Don’t underestimate Violet.”

“I won’t. So tell me how to get out of here.”

“You need to focus on a place from your memories. A place you know every detail of.”

“That’s a hard thing to ask an Allure. I mean if I’m not picking something from my memory of the last few weeks.” Most of my other memories were grey scale or missing crucial details. It was as though someone had tried to paint them over, only leaving hints of what used to be there.

“Don’t pick one of the recent ones.” Sol removed his sunglasses. “We don’t want Violet finding you.”

“Or Roland.” I shuddered.

Sol nodded. “He’s intense.”

“Very.”

“I wish I had more advice for you, but I don’t.” Sol was completely deadpan. “All I do know is that the key is Owen. Your feelings all tie back to him. I have no clue how I brought back your emotions, but I may not be able to again, so it’s in your interest to hold onto them as long as you can. Hopefully if you really love the guy it’s all it will take.”

“I really love him.” I grinned. “I still do. It’s not past tense.”

“You can thank me later, even if I did it for the wrong reasons.”

“The wrong reasons?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry about it, because if everything works out the why won’t matter.”

“Why always matter.” The reason or cause of something was as important as the outcome.

“Not always. Sometimes the result outweighs the reasons.”

“It sounds likes you’ve dealt with this kind of situation before.” Sol was a mystery. His personality had changed several times since I met him. I thought back on how long it had been. I wasn’t sure if it had been hours or more than a day. My head felt too scrambled.

“Not quite this one, but plenty. Life is all about individual interests that sometimes align. If they align long enough to help the other out, then you both win.”

“Are you really going to help me find Owen?” I glanced around us. Sol had been in a hurry, and I knew it was for a reason.

He nodded. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re on the same side of this whole mess. More now than ever.”

“Am I supposed to understand what that means?” I asked.

“No. Not in the slightest.” Sol shook his head. “Do you trust me?”

“You brought my feelings back.” And for that I would be forever grateful.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

I thought over his question to make sure I was giving an honest answer. “Yes.”

“Good. Now back to what you need to do.”

“Are you sure we need to separate?” Something had occurred to me since he suggested I leave on my own. “Won’t they retaliate against you if they discover you helped me leave?”

He shrugged. “Yes, but they won’t kill me. Not right away at least. They’ll want to use me to try to get you apprehended again.”

“What if that’s a miscalculation? What if they kill you?” I shuddered using the word kill, but Sol had suggested the possibility himself.

“Then it’s a miscalculation. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“But it could be the last time.” The real possibility of my statement hung in the air for several moments after I said it.

“So? There always has to be a last time.” He smiled in a way that made me wonder if he was being serious. Then he sighed. “You need to go. We are running out of time.”

“How?”

“I already told you. Focus on a memory. Can you try that?”

I closed my eyes. “No. There’s nothing there.” I was surrounding by grayness.

“You need to find one. Then you fall.”

“What?” He wasn’t making any sense.

“Start running, latch on to a memory and fall.”

I sighed. “Maybe the running will help.” I took a deep breath before launching myself into a sprint. I ran with all my might, but no memories came to my head, and then next thing I knew, I ran right into something hard.

Two arms steadied me, and I looked up into Abe’s eyes.

“Going somewhere?” Abe smirked.

“Hello, Abe.” Sol’s words startled me. I’d run as hard as I could, yet Sol was still right beside me?

“Sol.” Abe nodded tersely, but then he turned his attention right back to me. “What are you?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to play it cool.

“Are you an Allure, or are you human?”

“I’m an Allure.”

“Lying isn’t something you’re good at.” Abe gave me a stern gaze.

“I’m not human.”

“That’s true.” Abe walked around me.

I wasn’t fearful, and I knew that was because of a lack of emotion rather than a true lack of concern. Abe was the leader of the Elders for a reason. He radiated power.

“You’re stuck.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

“What’s the other way?” He asked.

“I’m broken.”

“Stuck better refers to your situation. We are going to get you unstuck.” Abe ran a hand through his dark hair.

“We?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Yes.” He held out a hand. “We have decided to extend to you our assistance.”

“Why the generosity?”

“Because you are to become an Allure. That makes you like kin to us.”

“I’d prefer to handle this on my own.” On my own meaning with Owen, but I wouldn’t utter his name in front of Abe.

“Your preference has nothing to do with this.”

“Why not?” I snapped. “It’s my life we’re talking about.”

“There are more important things than your life.” Abe grabbed my wrist and tugged me toward him.

I winced as Abe’s nails dug into my skin. There wasn’t a chance I was going anywhere with him.

“Speak for yourself.” Sol put his hands on either side of Abe’s head.

Abe grunted and his hands released me. I stumbled away.

“Run.” Sol kept his hands on Abe’s head. “I can’t distract him with memories for much longer.”

“Where? Where am I running?”

“Do as I said. Run. Remember what I told you. Find the memory and fall. The rest will take care of itself.”

“But I don’t remember places anymore. Not really.” I felt panic start to rise.

“You do. You remember Owen. Start there.” Sol’s body began to shake, and I knew I was running out of time.

I ran. I sprinted away, running as fast as I could, until I reached the edge of the meadow. An edge I hadn’t seen there before.

I jumped, free falling as I hurtled back toward earth. I followed Sol's advice and tried to focus on a place I wanted to be. I wanted to be with Owen but that wasn't a place. My thoughts went to the night we met, but I couldn't picture the bar. I could only picture him. I remembered every detail of what he was wearing and the intensity of his blue eyes and the exact shade of his blond hair. But that was it. Nothing else from our first meeting came back to me.

Instead I thought of Colorado and our first night together. I remembered the cabin, and the grass with the big movie screen he’d put up for me. I remembered the feeling of his soft, cool sheets on my bare skin while my limbs entwined with his. I remembered the feeling of his arms around me. His fingers in my hair while his lips traced their way over my skin.

I focused as intently as I could, but nothing happened. I panicked as I continued freefalling, thinking of how I wished Owen were there to save me. I thought about his arms around me as he rescued me from the vampire nest. I’d thought I was dying, but my angel appeared. Little did I know he was something completely different than an angel. He was my Pteron. I remembered admiring his wings that night, shocked and delighted they were real.

Suddenly everything buzzed. I fell faster until I hit the ground with a thud. I sat up, glancing around the darkness. I was lying on grass in an open field near a pile of rubble. After a moment it all clicked into place. I was back at the site of the Vampire nest. The rubble was all that was left of the house. I remembered the fire that had lit up the night sky. I’d transported myself back to the site of one of my most hellish nights ever. Only this time Owen wasn’t around.

I
shivered
before pulling myself to my feet. I had a slight ache in my side from where I fell, but I knew it would heal quickly. That was one positive perk about being an Allure.

I blinked a few times, grateful for my night vision. I wasn’t positive where I was, but I knew I couldn’t be too far from New Orleans. If I could get there maybe I’d find Owen. If he had returned to his old city. For all I knew he was back in Colorado or somewhere else entirely.

Finding Owen would have been far easier if I had his number, but I didn’t. I also didn’t have my phone. I had nothing on me besides the clothes I was wearing. I had no identification, no money, and no means of transportation.

Now wasn't the time to panic. It was dark, and I knew there was no way I could walk all the way to the city.

I made my way across the field toward the road in the distance. I glanced over my shoulder every few moments to make sure I wasn’t being followed, but the field remained empty. Part of me waited for Owen to show up to rescue me. And if not Owen, maybe Sol. Maybe he’d followed me. By the time I reached the country road that led up to the field, that hope was gone. My best bet was to stay along the road. Someone would have to come by eventually and that someone would likely have a phone.

Hitchhiking was dangerous, but I was an Allure; I was immortal. Surely that meant I could handle a stranger. Hopefully my allure would also help me out.

I walked down the road, staying as close to the side of the road as possible. Immortal or not, getting hit by a car wouldn't be a good thing.

I walked, and I walked. I didn't see a soul or hear an engine. All I had for company was some insects chirping and the sound of the wind rustling the leaves. I constantly looked over my shoulder. I wasn’t sure who I was worried about finding behind me, but I didn’t want to be taken by surprise.

Finally I heard something. I moved off of the road and hoped whoever was coming would notice me. Otherwise I was going to be walking all night, and I wasn’t even sure if I was going in the right direction.

A pickup truck slowed down beside me. I straightened and watched as the passenger side window rolled down. A guy leaned out. "Do you need some help, miss?"

I couldn’t see the man’s face, so I stepped a little bit closer to the open window. I glanced inside. He was young. Possibly even younger than I was. He was wearing a LSU baseball cap. "Yes, I could use a ride or maybe I could use your phone?" For once I was glad for my allure. By the smile on his face and the widening of his eyes, I knew he wasn’t going to shoot my request down.

"Of course. Anything you need." He gestured to the door. “Please, get in.”

I smiled at him. “Thank you.” After a brief moment of hesitation in which I debated the intelligence of my decision, I stepped up into the passenger seat.

His eyes slid over me as I buckled my seatbelt. “What’s your name?”

"Dana." At least Violet had gotten me used to giving fake names. Daisy was too unique, and when my allure wore off, I didn't want him to have anything to connect back to me. There was no reason to make things harder than they needed to be.

I had a fleeting thought of my family. A moment of guilt and worry. It took me a moment to realize what the sensation was. I’d only lost my ability to feel for a few weeks, but it was as though I were experiencing them for the first time.

"Hi Dana, I'm Norman." He pulled down on the brim of his hat.

I smiled far bigger than came naturally. "Thanks for the lift."

"Of course, I couldn't leave you out here." He pointed out the window.

I nodded. "Are you heading to New Orleans?"

"Past there, but I can take you anywhere in the city you need to go."

“Great, thanks.”

He pulled back onto the road, and I hoped I was making the right decision. "Want to tell me why you are out here all alone?"

Want to? Not a chance, but I had to tell the guy something. “I got in a fight with my boyfriend, and he ditched me out here. I left my purse in the car.” I didn’t need to worry about sounding convincing, I could manipulate the guy into anything I wanted, but it came easily anyway.

“Where is this guy?” The driver’s face darkened. “Leaving a girl out on the side of the road at night? Is he crazy?”

“Maybe a little bit.” I looked around the front cab of the truck for a cell phone. Maybe it was in his pocket. Not that I knew what number to call. My generation didn’t usually have land lines, so finding Owen through information was out of the question. There was only one person I knew who would have a way to contact him, and she happened to live outside New Orleans. I had no idea which direction she was in, but maybe I was somewhere nearby. I let out a deep breath before turning to Norman. "Could I borrow your phone?"

"Absolutely." He pulled out his phone and slid it into my hand. He held on several moments longer than he needed to before letting go.

“Thank you.” I pulled the phone into my hand. I’d never actually called information before, so I decided to open the internet browser and search for her instead. Before I did anything I needed to know where we were. “Do you know what county we’re in?”

“You’re not from around here are you?” He took his eyes off the road and smiled.

“No… how’d you know?” Did my accent give me away?

“This is Louisiana. We have parishes. Not counties.”

“Oh.” I made a mental note to remember that. “Then what parish is this?”

“St. Bernard Parish.” He put his hand behind me on the bench seat.

I ignored his hand and searched for Georgina Laurent in St. Bernard Parish. I got lucky and found a listing. “Perfect.”

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Norman glanced over again.

“Yes.” I typed in the number before deleting his browsing history. No reason to leave even more of a trail than necessary. I braced myself before placing the call.

The phone rang four times and my heart sunk. I was starting to formulate a plan B when Georgina’s abrasive voice flooded my ear. “Hello, who is this?”

I readied myself for whatever reaction she was going to have. “Hi, Georgina. It’s Daisy.”

Norman glanced over and frowned. I realized my slip. I’d used my real name. I couldn’t worry about it now. I’d make up some sort of excuse later.

“Owen’s Daisy?” Georgina’s voice lilted.

“Yes.” Warmth flooded me. Owen’s Daisy. I would always be his Daisy.

“Where are you?” she asked with what sounded like genuine concern. “Were you successful?”

“Not completely.” I had some of my feelings back, but it was more likely than not temporary. I was lost, I had no idea where Owen was, and crazy powerful supernatural beings were searching for me.

“Meaning? Don’t play games, tell me what is going on.” Her voice cracked.

“I need some help. Could I come see you?” I pushed the phone closer to my ear.

“Where are you?”

“I’m not sure, but not too far away.” I looked at the driver. “Where are we?”

“Who are you talking to?” Georgina asked.

“The guy who picked me up from the side of the road.” When I chose the words I’d thought they sounded better than hitchhiking, but after they left my mouth I realized they sounded just as bad.

“What?!” Georgina shrieked.

“It’s a long story but I ended up stuck out in the middle of nowhere, and Norman here was nice enough to give me a ride.” That much was true.

“Hand the phone to the driver,” Georgina ordered.

“No, it’s—”

“Hand this phone to the driver,” she cut me off.

“Okay.” I handed the phone over.

My hearing was better than it used to be, so I could make out part of the conversation. Mainly her spurting out an address and swearing if I was not delivered there quickly she’d have him locked up.

He hung up and set the phone down. “Your grandma is intense.” He typed an address into his phone GPS while he drove. It was entirely unsafe, but nothing about my current situation was safe.

“She’s not—” I stopped myself. There was no reason to explain anything more. “She’s not the calmest person in the world. She’s very protective.”

“I understand why.” He ogled me.

His desire started to overwhelm me, but I breathed in and out and focused on Owen. It helped. Whatever it was Sol did was still in transition. I could feel again, but clearly I still had the same effect on people. The numbness was gone though. I’d never complain about my foot falling asleep again.

Norman turned a few times before pulling into the long drive I remembered from what felt like a lifetime ago.

Before the truck even stopped, I watched Georgina walking down from the porch. Norman pulled to an abrupt stop.

I opened my door. “Thanks for the lift.”

“My pleasure. Hope to see you again, Dana.” His eyes were glazed over.

I hesitated for a moment before making a decision. “Could I have your phone?” I didn’t want to take something that didn’t belong to me, but I had to protect myself and Georgina. I’d look up his address and send it back to him.

“Sure.” He grinned.

“Ok. You can go now.”

He nodded and backed away.

“Are you harmed?” Georgina looked me over. “And are you human?”

“Physically, I’m fine.” Emotionally was a completely different story. “And I’m getting my emotions back. Kind of.”

“Good.” She seemed to hesitate before walking toward me and pulling me into a hug. “Now, where’s Owen?”

“I don’t know. I was trying to find him, but I don’t have his number, and I don’t have my phone.”

“I can reach him.” She put her arm around me and led me inside her home.