Love (The Allure Chronicles Book 4) (10 page)

B
y the time
we landed back in New Orleans I was desperate to see Daisy. I’d missed her the whole time we were gone, and to top things off, I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach mid-flight. Something was wrong. I wasn’t sure if she was becoming numb again or getting sick, but I did know I needed to get to her, and I needed to do it fast.

I ran toward the entrance to the lobby of the hotel without waiting for the others.

“Don’t worry about us. We don’t mind,” Jared called after me.

I didn’t waste the time to glance back. He was only joking, and nothing was going to get between me and Daisy.

“Owen, hi!” A girl I vaguely recognized called as I hurried through the lobby.

I gave a small wave in greeting and headed right to the elevator. I may have been rude, but I didn’t have the time to worry about it.

I inserted my card and waited impatiently for the elevator to reach the basement level. It seemed to be taking double the time it normally did.

Finally the doors opened, and I walked out into the darkness of the basement.

I headed down the corridor to the sitting room we’d left the girls in. The door was closed, so I knocked. I didn’t want to get into anything with Daisy or Allie by barging in on some private conversation.

No one answered, so I knocked again. As I waited, I heard the sound of the elevator returning to the basement. Levi and Jared had caught up.

“Daisy?” I called out her name.

When I got no response, I turned the knob and the door opened into a dark, empty room.

“I wonder where they went?” Levi pulled out his phone and started typing. I had no doubt he was texting Allie.

“Maybe they went to get something to eat?” Jared suggested. “Or drinks?”

“With everything going on, they’d have never left this level. Allie wouldn’t have risked it.” Levi frowned.

I glanced at my own phone trying to calm my rapidly beating heart. There had to be an explanation. Daisy wasn’t alone. She was with the queen of The Society. Allie couldn’t just simply disappear.

“Where’s Adrian?” I asked. “Didn’t you ask him to keep a close eye on them?”

“I don’t know.” Levi took off back down the corridor. “Adrian!”

“I’m here, sir.” The Pteron appeared in front of us. “Is there anything I can do for you, sir?”

“Yes, you can tell me where my wife is.” Levi scowled. “It was your job to make sure they were safe this evening.”

“I’m sorry sir, but she insisted. And Hailey.” Adrian looked down.

“Look at me!” Levi ordered. “Where are they?”

“I tried to stop them, but they refused. They went out on a girls’ night I think the queen said.”

“A girls’ night?” I repeated the words. That was ridiculous. That was the last thing Daisy would have been interested in. “Wait, you said Hailey. She is with them?”

“Yes. She showed up, met up with them, and then they all left together. One thing that was odd though was Hailey didn’t look ready for a girl’s night.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“She was messy—Hailey never dresses up, but she usually looks clean and nice.” Adrian watched me awkwardly.

“You’re saying she was dirty?”

“And her hair was messy. It was like she’d been in a fight or something.” My worry increased. Now it wasn’t just Daisy I had to worry about. Hailey might be hurt too. But that had been before they all left together.

“Did she arrive with anyone?” I didn’t want to give away Jim, but I needed to understand how they’d gotten separated.

“She was by herself. Should she have had anyone else with her?”

I shook my head. “Not necessarily.”

“How long ago did they leave?” Jared asked.

“Maybe an hour? Not too long ago?”

“Are you sure?” Levi pushed. “The exact timing could be important.”

“Maybe two hours.”

“Let me get this straight.” Levi took two steps toward Adrian. “My wife walked out of here two hours ago and you didn’t call me? What part of watch them did you not understand?”

“Hailey assured me she could handl—”

“Did I ask Hailey to watch Allie?” Levi cocked his head to the side.

“No, but—“

“Then why would it be okay for you to push Allie’s safety into Hailey’s hands?”

“With all due respect, sir, Hailey is as strong as I am.”

“Physical strength has nothing to do with smart decision-making.” I spoke out loud without really meaning to. “Hailey doesn’t always do the smartest things.”

“Isn’t Allie allowed to go out with her girlfriends?” Adrian made the mistake of asking.

“Allie is allowed to do anything she wants to do unless her safety is at risk. And this time it wasn’t only her safety on the line.”

“Oh.” Adrian paled.

“We need to know where they might have gone. Any other information you’d like to share?” Jared pressed. “Because we will get the information out of you. The question is whether we make it hard or easy.”

“All they said was they were going out for a girls’ outing or something like that. I swear I’m telling you everything.”

“Get out of here.” Levi scowled.

“Yes, sir.” Adrian hurried away.

“They didn’t go on any girls’ night.” I figured that went without saying, but I wanted it out there.

“No kidding?” Levi pulled his phone from beside his ear and stared at it. “Allie’s phone is going right to voicemail. She’d never turn her phone off. She might want to ignore me, but she wouldn’t want to do that if my mom might call about the kids.”

“They could have gone somewhere local that has no service, but I agree. I highly doubt that’s what they’re doing.”

“Then what are they doing?” I asked the obvious question. “Why would they have left? Especially without calling? That’s the weird part.”

“Could Taylor have put them up to it?” Jared asked. “Like forced them?”

“You think anyone could force Hailey to do something like that?” Levi asked. “She’s protective of Allie, so if they went somewhere my guess is it had to be important.”

“But Hailey struggles to say no to Allie. Is there anywhere Allie would have wanted to go that Hailey would have reluctantly agreed to?” Jared looked up and down the corridor.

“I think Hailey’s appearance plays into this. Adrian is right. Hailey makes an effort to look presentable. If she looked disheveled it’s because she found herself in trouble.”

“But she made it back here. She has extra clothes down here. Why not change?” Jared’s brow furrowed.

“Exactly. She didn’t change, which means there is no way they were going out somewhere for fun. Not that any of us believe that.”

“Have you tried Daisy?” Jared pointed to my phone.

“She doesn’t have a phone anymore.” That was something I really needed to change. “But I’m trying Hailey now.” I hit her name in my contacts and waited. I wasn’t surprised when it went directly to her voicemail.

“Hailey’s phone is going straight to voicemail too.” I couldn’t contain my growing fear. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

“Ok. One thing we do know is that they left voluntarily. First Adrian told us that, and secondly Hailey wouldn’t have let them leave without a fight.”

“What if Adrian is lying?” A wayward thought hit me. “What if Hailey wasn’t here at all?”

“I’ll make sure he’s telling the truth,” Jared offered. “You two search the rest of the rooms down here. We need to rule out the possibility that they’re hiding or anything.”

Levi nodded. “Do what you have to do.”

Normally I’d remind Jared to go easy on the guy he was about to interrogate, but I didn’t this time. We needed answers, and we needed them fast.

“You start down that way.” Levi pointed to the right. “I’ll go this way. Call out if you find something.”

I nodded even though I already knew there would be nothing to find. Whether Adrian was lying or not, the girls had left the basement. I only hoped that wherever they were they were safe and somehow we’d be able to find them.

“
W
hat should we do
?” Instead of the panic that should have been there, I felt nothing but a slight irritation. Who was interrupting us and why? We had no time to waste. “Where do we go?”

“First we take care of our new visitor. Then we go.” Glendale arched his back again.

“Take care of them?” Somehow I didn’t think any visitors were going to be easy to take care of. That wasn’t how things worked. “What if they’re stronger than us?”

“Then we all die.” Glendale’s voice was flat and unconcerned. His arched back and hair sticking up on end said something entirely different.

“Ignore him. He doesn’t get out much.” Sol leaned in, kicking some dirt with his foot in the process.

“Where is the intruder? If you’re going to be annoying, you can also be helpful.” Hailey bent down to Glendale’s eye level.

“They’ll be coming from that way.” Glendale did nothing to show which way he was referring to.

“Which way?” I demanded.

“Oh, you didn’t notice that I moved my eyes toward the woods on the right?” Glendale lay down.

“You may be the most annoying creature I have ever met.” Hailey glared at the cat.

“I bet you’ll remember me,” Glendale replied happily.

“I’ll remember you if we live through this.” Hailey straightened up. “That is if there is anything to live through. I haven’t sensed anything, and my senses are good.”

“She’d have made a good Elder. All that confidence.” Glendale lowered his head in the direction of Hailey. He was perfectly capable of letting us know a particular direction—when he wanted to.

“She’s got the beauty too.” Sol pointed a thumb at Hailey.

“Ugh.” Hailey shuddered. “I have no interest in being a soulless being.”

“Allures have souls,” Sol argued. “Besides, do you want to offend your friend?”

“She doesn’t want to be one either.” Hailey looked over. “Right?”

“Obviously not.” Still, I didn’t like to hear her say Allures had no soul. What did that mean for me if we failed? I wouldn’t fail. I couldn’t.

There was a rustling of leaves—the first physical suggestion we weren’t alone. Hailey and I both turned toward where we heard the leaves. Not surprisingly, it was in the same direction Glendale had suggested. I wasn’t sure how the cat could tell, but he’d been right.

“Stay behind me at all times. If I move, you move. Got it?” Hailey moved in front of me.

“I’m not going to let you get hurt for me.” I stepped to the side of her. I was done allowing that to happen. It was time to fight my own battles.

“Yes, you are.” Hailey edged in front of me again. “We discussed this. My brother loves you. I will protect you.”

“But your brother loves you.” And that love was just as important. Her life was just as important. “And I’m not human. You can’t use that excuse either.”

“Fine, then I’ll use my authority with The Society. Levi put you under Society protection. That gives me the power to tell you what to do.” She stepped in front of me again.

“No it doesn’t.” I moved around her again. “It means you can help protect me, not that I have to listen to you.”

“Whatever. I’m not letting you die or get into their hands. If these crazies are right, letting you get into their hands is going to be a mess for all of us.”

“We’re not crazy. It will be a big mess.” Glendale spoke from right beside me. I hadn’t noticed him move over.

“You really have no idea who we’re facing?” I asked, hoping he’d suddenly share more information.

“I know now.” Glendale rubbed against my leg.

“Then tell us!” For the first time I felt my temper ready to blow.
A real emotion that wasn’t tied to Owen.
Hopefully that was a good sign.

“It is someone I can handle on my own.” He slipped passed us.

“Uh, you’re a cat.” Hailey gritted her teeth. “Who can you take on your own?”

“Be patient. Very patient.” Glendale slipped passed us toward the woods.

“Who is it, Sol?” I hoped that he would give us a straight answer.

“I don’t know.” He stared off into the woods. “But if Glendale says he can take them, we’re fine.”

“You trust his word that much?” Hailey asked with surprise.

“He’s a coward most of the time. If he thought his hide was in trouble he’d be off hiding. If he’s playing the hero, it’s because he knows he’ll be successful.”

“I am no coward.” Glendale hissed. “Watch and learn.”

As if on cue the rustling grew louder. I fixed my eyes on the woods, waiting for something to appear.

I saw nothing. Hailey and I exchanged looks momentarily before we returned to watching.

“What are you doing here?” Glendale spoke.

“You know why we’re here.” Hailey huffed.

“That’s not a good enough reason.” Glendale pressed.

“Shut up, cat,” Hailey snapped.

“I’m not talking to you.” Glendale called back before starting further into the woods.

“We don’t need your help. You should leave.” His tail switched behind him as he disappeared into the woods.

“A boy? Which boy?” He continued his conversation once he was out of sight.

Had Glendale completely lost his mind?

Sol put a hand on my shoulder, and I interpreted the touch to mean I should wait and see.

“Very well.” Glendale came back into the clearing. “Do you know a boy that goes by the name of Andrew?”

“Andrew?” I startled. I hadn’t thought about my online friend in weeks. “Allie’s step-brother?”

“You know Andrew?” Hailey raised an eyebrow. “How?”

“It’s a long story, but the short version is we met over our obsession with finding the paranormal.”

“Finding the paranormal?” Hailey shook her head. “Why would Andrew care about that? He hasn’t figured us out yet.”

Since I knew the real reason for his interest was Hailey, and I tried my best to keep people’s secrets even if I didn’t particularly care anymore, I didn’t say much. “He’s figured out Allie’s new friends are different.”

“Ok. Anyway, why are you asking Daisy about him?” Hailey looked at Glendale.

“Our visitor claims Andrew knows how to help us.” Glendale inclined his head to the side as if someone were standing there.

“What could Andrew possibly help us with?” Hailey scrunched up her face “He’s just a nerdy guy.”

“Would you like to talk to our visitor yourself?” Glendale asked.

“I don’t see anyone.” No reason to pretend. I saw nothing.

“That’s the point. You can only see him when he wants to be seen.”

“Yet you can see him?” I squinted toward the spot Glendale had made a gesture to. “And hear him?”

“Yes. It’s one of my many abilities.” Glendale raised his head proudly.

“Seeing people who aren’t really there?” Hailey stepped forward. “Because there’s no one here.”

“Ow.” She stepped back. “What the heck?”

There was a shimmer and suddenly there was a man standing right in front of Hailey. “Are you all right?”

I stared at the man standing there in jeans and a t-shirt. I recognized him as though from a dream. It had been so long. “Harold?” He was the reason I saw Kalisa. He was the reason I ended up with Seduction’s Kiss.

Harold bowed his head slightly in greeting. “Hello, Daisy. It has been a long time.”

“What?” I stumbled forward. “Why? How? I hate you.” The words tumbled out in a tangle of sounds.

“Hate me?” Harold put a hand to his chest. “That’s a strong word.”

“You are the reason I’m in this mess. You sent me to her. You sent me to Kalisa.” I wanted to muster more anger, but I couldn’t.

“I was only doing my job. I never intended for an innocent to get hurt.” His eyes appeared genuine, but doing a job didn’t excuse putting me in such danger.

“Your job? A photographer doesn’t send people to become a supernatural creature.”

“You know he’s not really a photographer, right?” Glendale settled in the grass beside me. “You’re young, but you’re not stupid. You’ve never seemed stupid.”

“Yes. I mean obviously he’s not human. He appeared here and was invisible and inaudible at first, but what job?”

“It was the job I was summoned for. I have no choice over the assignments I am given.”

“What job?” He was nearly as bad as Glendale in giving straight answers.

“Finding someone who could handle the potion.”

“You sat in that store waiting?” That seemed quite extreme. If finding someone pre-destined to be able to handle being an Allure was as rare as everyone made it sound, he could have been waiting years.

“No. No. Don’t you know what I am?” He narrowed his eyes. “I would have thought by now you would have received a thorough education on all creatures.”

“Someone who can make themselves invisible and silent?” That was all I’d seen so far. “And unfortunately I must have missed the Creatures 101 class that is supposed to be given to Allures.”

“I’m a Grantor.” Harold held up his head proudly in much the same way Glendale had. If the situation had been less intense and dire I may have laughed at noticing the similarity.

“You can’t be serious.” Hailey groaned. “This is too much. Next thing you know a Boogieman is going to walk in here.”

“I know a few of those. Do you want me to invite one to meet us?” Glendale made his cat-laugh again, and I wondered if he were joking.

“No!” Hailey snapped. “I want to go back to a time before all this creatures suddenly showed themselves. I liked it better that way.”

Harold laughed. “I’m sure you did. Believing you were on top of the world.”

“Pterons are strong.” Hailey tensed.

“I do not doubt your strength, but your abilities are limited to that and flight. Wouldn’t you rather have more abilities?” Harold’s eyes were larger now and seemed to twinkle.

“I’m not taking anything from you if that’s what you’re offering.” Hailey crossed her arms. “I already see how well that worked out for Daisy.”

“Daisy should have been fine—great even. I thought she was the right one.” He turned his attention to me.

“The right one for what?” I was getting tired of all these implications without answers. “Who are you, how did you show up at that store, and why did you send me to Kalisa? And if I wasn’t the right person, who was? What was the goal?”

“That’s a lot of questions.” Harold rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know where to start first.”

“Start with what you are.”

“If a Grantor is what I think it is, he is a genie of sorts,” Hailey explained.

“A genie? Like he lives in a bottle?” I tried picturing Harold small enough to do that.

Harold laughed. “I’ve never lived in a bottle. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then what do you mean?” I was beyond caring if I sounded stupid. Those emotions are a complete waste of time.

“If someone captures him they can make him do their bidding. He has no choice but to do it, and because of that he automatically gets the abilities to do it. At least that’s the story. Of course I never believed that was possible because, well, that’s insane.” Hailey watched Harold warily.

“It’s not insane. Not anymore than we’re crazy.” Glendale sat up. “You’ve been brainwashed into forgetting how much magic and power exists in the world. Your rulers tried to convince the masses you were alone—of course you weren’t. Most of us have chosen superior realms to live in, but we’ve never left. No gate is strong enough to keep us out. No magic powerful enough to bind us.”

“Who sent you?” A chill ran through me. “If you’re really a Grantor, then you’re probably here on a job. Someone captured you.”

“Yes.” Harold nodded. “You’re starting to understand.”

“Who?” I glared at Glendale. “And you didn’t let us attack him?”

“I already told you who he’s working for.” Glendale’s tail flipped to the ground and back up again.

“Andrew?” Hailey laughed. “Like he could catch a Grantor.”

“Why not?” Glendale continued flipping his tail. It made a sound each time it made contact with the grass beneath him. “What would preclude him from doing it?”

“He’d have to know about a Grantor.”

“And he did.” Harold nodded.

“All his research… he did it for himself and to help me.” I’d forgotten about him so easily. That didn’t speak highly for me. I wanted to blame it on everything I’d been through, but it wasn’t like the girl I was before. I didn’t forget about friends. I was determined to find myself again.

“I admit he found me in a compromised position. It made it easier. But he is currently my master.” Harold shifted his weight from foot to foot.

“And he told you to find me?” Now that I’d accepted Harold was a Grantor, I decided to go with it and get some answers. “And so you were given the ability to do it.”

“Yes. He was worried about you. He was also worried about her.” Harold nodded toward Hailey.

“About me?” Hailey put a hand to her chest. “Are you serious?”

“Why do you find that surprising?” Glendale rubbed against her leg. “Are you unused to people caring about you?”

Hailey scowled. “What I’m used to has nothing to do with this. The real question was how the kid caught, Harold did you say?”

“Harold is a fine name to use.” Harold grinned. “It’s catchy.”

“Fine. I’m calling you Harold then. Does Andrew know what’s going on? Does he know how to help us?”

“That’s for him to explain.” Harold held his hands up to the sides.

“Well, we aren’t going anywhere with you unless we know.” Hailey stamped her foot down into the grass.

“Then I can bring him here, but as my arrival means this plane is no longer secret, I wouldn’t stay here too long if I were you. I’m likely to have been followed.”

Hailey groaned. “I hope Andrew can help. Otherwise he just screwed with us for no reason.”

I turned to Sol. “You’re the one who wanted us here. What do you think?”

“I think Harold is right that it isn’t safe to stay.”

“What was your plan?” I asked. “I mean you brought us here for a reason. You say you can use my power to help us… what does that mean?”

Sol nodded. “Let’s find this Andrew. After that I’ll lay some of my cards on the table.”

“Only some?” Hailey narrowed her eyes.

“I try to be honest. I wasn’t going to lie and say them all.”