Void(12)
“Thank you for collecting her.” She gave him a half smile, and it made me sink into a deeper sense of self-loathing. She sent someone she didn’t even like—let alone trust—to pick me up. What did that say about how she felt about me?
“Of course, Mrs. Cainson. I find the primitive human communities amusing. Besides, we’re meant to work together. Or at least that’s what they keep telling us at Thibault,” Render replied slyly. “The trip had its entertaining moments,” he added, casting a glance at me. I bet he was reciting my diary in his mind, associating all the private grievances I had about my mother while sneering at me. There wasn’t an ounce of pity in his gaze.
“Yes, well. We do what we must. Shall we go in?” my mother asked while turning away, not even giving him an opportunity to answer. She did that in every aspect of her life now. She bulldozed through decisions in order to give herself back a semblance of the control and power that I’d taken away from her.
The guys nodded and followed after her up the steps to the building. She walked with her shoulders rolled back, eyes directly ahead, overcompensating for her powerless state with a rigid stance and confident gait. I’d never once seen her falter in her heels or let her hair down—metaphorically or literally. She had to work twice as hard to earn the respect of her peers instead of being cast out into the human world, and it was all my fault.
My mother stepped aside, allowing Quade to open the glass door for her. Of course, the door-holding was only reserved for her, because he went in right after. Render swung the door open for himself and....then the door promptly shut in my face.
Fucking vampires with their sexy smirks, deadly flashing, and piss-poor manners.
I yanked open the door and took in the shiny, dark walls as I passed through inside. Solid round columns lined the entrance where two burly security guards stood in black suits with dark shades on, hiding the direction of their gazes. They were both vampires, based on their chiseled beauty and clear skin.
The security man closest to me snorted under his breath at my near face plant with the door, and my cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Vampires have terrible manners,” I grumbled as I hurried past.
I was immediately confronted with Render’s mischievous grin. The asshole wanted me to say something to him, but I refused to give him the satisfaction, so instead, I simply brushed by him, my amulet brightening at the slight touch. I didn’t like my powers, but sometimes, people needed a polite reminder that I was dangerous.
My feet echoed on the marble steps in the vast building as I looked around. Unlike the rest of the city, this had more of a historical design. The ceilings were tall and arched in a dome-like shape, with murals of naked renaissance models with bloodied veins.
“Devicka. Check in first.”
My mother’s words hit my back and made my shoulders tense up. As if I didn’t know the protocol. As if she hadn’t reminded me, embarrassingly so, every single time I’d been summoned. Aside from actually using my powers, this was always my least favorite part.
My mother and Quade were already moving on, talking about whatever other elemental business they had and making their way to the private elevators while I made my way to the large, marble check-in desk.
I stepped up to it, my head barely reaching over the top. The woman manning the desk was young and pretty with dark hair and round cheeks. She wore a headset and was directing phone calls in rapid-fire procession with a smile plastered on her friendly face.
“Hello, how may I help you?” she asked in a cheery voice while tilting her head to the side like some kind of robot. I had a feeling her smile would be wiped clear from her face the moment she realized who—or more importantly what—I was.
“Umm, hi. I was summoned to the council meeting,” I replied clumsily.
She nodded briskly and started typing on her computer. “Name?”
I cleared my throat so that I could speak as quietly as possible. I didn’t want all the other people nearby to hear me. “Devicka Cainson.”
My quiet voice might as well have been a scream. Everyone stopped what they were doing. The other staff at the desk looked over at me, gaping. Supes in the room stopped in their tracks to openly gawk at me. Somewhere, a baby even cried and the phones stopped ringing. I felt fire heat my cheeks as the girl continued to stare at me; her customer service face had completely disappeared, and now all I saw was fear. Second time in less than ten minutes. Unfortunately, it wasn’t even a record.
“Can you just put out the announcement already?” I hissed between my teeth while looking side to side. I pulled at the collar of my shirt as sweat dripped down my spine from the nerves.
She blinked rapidly, all traces of her smile gone. Her face slipped into a horrified expression, and I watched as even her lips seemed to pale. With wide eyes and shaking fingers, she typed on the computer and pressed the buttons on her phone. Within seconds, a voice came over the speakers. “Attention: The Void is present. Please stay in your designated areas. If you wish to depart, please let the nearest security personnel know, and they can escort you. Do not engage with the Void and please keep calm.”
The voice rang in my ears and bounced off the walls. Everyone stared at me, but when I turned to look, they scurried away like their feet were on fire. There were no friendly smiles or even bored disinterest. These people were terrified of me.
Four security guards came forward to flank me. Four huge, burly men that towered over me and trapped me between them. Each of them wore full, black body suits and armor. With masks covering their features, all I could see was the steely determination in their eyes as they grunted for me to move. They were careful not to touch me as I was herded away toward the elevators, and the rest of the people in the main hallway continued to stare. I hated it. I wished I could’ve turn invisible and disappeared.