House of Darken (Secret Keepers #1)(9)

I pushed back some of my wayward hair, swallowing hard. It was immediately obvious she was ultra-confident, which somehow always made me feel extra-introverted. Finally I found my voice. “Yeah, we just moved here yesterday. I was exploring the town.”

She chuckled, revealing slightly-crooked white teeth. “Not much to see. Lived here my entire life, and let me tell you, this is one boring-ass town.” She held her hand out to me. “I’m Cara. It’s great to meet you.”

I shook gently, then pulled my hand back to rest on my lap. “Emma. It’s really nice to meet you too.”

She seemed genuine and friendly, someone I would have enjoyed hanging out with in my old life. After my parents died I lost contact with most of my friends. They tried to stay in touch, but I was so broken, and after a while they just couldn’t deal. I never blamed them. I was depressed being around myself. They at least had the chance to leave.

I knew I needed to put some effort into life again, to make friends. It would be nice to know someone before I started school. Hopefully she was going to the same one as me.

Just as I decided to ask her, she said, “So what school are you going to? I’m at Stars High, senior year.”

“I’m going to Starslight too. Senior also.” I paused briefly. “I’m extra glad now to meet you. Starting a new school in senior year was not in my ten-year plan.”

Cara winked at me. “Don’t stress, I’ll show you the ropes. I’m not at the popular table or anything – none of us mortals are – but there are some nice people who go there. One or two.”

That wasn’t exactly promising. Cara pulled out a cell then, the case all shiny and pink; the screen lit up. “What’s your number? We should hang out over the next few days, when I’m not working, that is.”

Right, cell phone. Something most teenagers had. “I actually don’t have a phone. And since we literally just moved here last night, there’s no house phone either. If you write your number down, I’ll text as soon as I can.”

Maybe Sara and Michael had some money in the budget for a cheap cell. Wouldn’t hurt to ask. Or it might even be time for me to search out a part-time job. Cara’s eyes widened, as if she couldn’t even understand what I was saying.

“Girl, how do you possibly survive without a phone? I live on the ‘Gram and Snapchat. Every moment is a photo-op, you know?”

I nodded, but I really didn’t know. What the heck was a Snapchat? The bus was nearing my stop, so I started to shift forward in my seat, scrambling around to find a piece of paper. “Do you have a pen?” I said, pulling out a receipt from my pocket. My key and card came out too. Just as I was about to shove them back in, Cara reached across and plucked the security card from my hand.

“Where did you get this?” she said, sounding absolutely astonished. “Do you know how much trouble you can get into for stealing one of the elite’s cards? A Daelight card?”

I blinked a few times before reaching out and taking my card back and shoving it into my pocket. “It’s my card. I didn’t steal anything. I live on Daelight Crescent. That’s my security pass.”

She was staring at me really weirdly now, eyes narrowed, lips pursed. I wasn’t sure what she was thinking, if she believed me or not, but there was no time to find out. My stop was next, so I pulled the cord and the bus slowed just before the large security gates.

Cara still seemed to be in shock; definitely no condition to be exchanging numbers, so I just gave her a rueful smile and hopped off. So much for making a friend. Clearly the fact that I lived on Daelight Crescent had freaked the blond girl out. Another odd thing to add to my experience in Astoria.

Stepping up to the gates, I squished down my unease. I’d forgotten how imposing the barriers were until I was standing before them. Like seriously, I was pretty sure Buckingham Palace had smaller fences around it. Ace was no longer manning the security booth. Another hulking man had taken his place, one with a mess of dark curls that hung over his ears, and steely blue eyes. He gave me the creeps as he took an exceptionally long time looking over my card, and then staring at my face.

I already checked, buddy. My face is not on there.

Eventually, after scanning me in through the computer, he let me enter. The entire time he was staring at me, he did not speak one word. For a security guard, he did not make me feel even remotely secure.

My heartbeat remained elevated as I stepped onto the street. I couldn’t tell if it was from the security guard, or if there was some other threat nearby. Why did I keep feeling like Daelight Crescent was bad news?

I forced myself not to run, but my steps were rapid as I dashed along the street. Half my concentration was on the world around me, the other half on trying to figure out exactly which house was my new home. A lot of these old cottages looked the same, falling-down porches and all, but I knew mine was across from the European-looking mansion, so as its gates came into view I paid closer attention to the older shoebox homes.

I had just found number fourteen when the deep purr of an engine thundered through the afternoon, and I turned to find the sleek purple vehicle driving toward me. I moved back off the road – even though I was clearly on my side. My brain kept telling me to walk, to get into the house and don’t draw attention, but my eyes remained locked on the car, which slowed to almost a crawl when it drew even with me. I sensed I was being watched, but again the tint was way too dark to make out anything more than shadows.