Braving the Elements (Darkness #2)(21)

Jessiah waited patiently near one of the back doors of the mansion, needing to leave time and space between him and his prey so Charles didn’t hear him. Despite the immaturity, and Jessiah’s taunting, Charles could hold his own better than most guys in the Watch Command. He’d gotten his role guarding the human because he could be relied on and do serious damage when pushed into a corner. Jessiah wanted anything but to push him into a corner.

When the sky began to lighten, and the sun threatened to peek above the horizon, Jessiah left the shadow of the doorway. With soft steps, he rounded the trees and searched for a trail. Not seeing one—the human stepped lighter than he anticipated—Jessiah snuck forward another few paces, listening for voices or sounds of life.

Birds chirped out a good morning. The distant thrush of cars and the city quietly drifted by, but no other sounds of life or nature greeted his ears.

He kept walking, looking for tracks, signs, anything that might direct him to his quandary. After a half-hour of looking, however, he found nothing.

Stopping in the middle of the cluster of trees and brush, he took out his phone and dialed the number. After four rings, a gruff voice answered. “Yeah?”

“I followed them into the woods, but they disappeared.” Jessiah turned where he stood and looked out at the trees, squinting into the first rays of the sun.

“She couldn’t have just disappeared. Where did she go?”

“I don’t know. She had that kid Watch Commander with her. He’s good at melting into the trees.”

“Did they know you followed them?”

“No. They seemed disgruntled from their last class.”

The silence hung on the line for a moment. “Fine. Keep tabs on her. Figure out where she goes when she isn’t in class. Figure out where she’s sleeping. Most importantly, get close to her. Get her to trust you.”

“She’s the Boss’ pet. He’s not going to let any harm come to her; and if it does, and he catches me, he’ll kill me. I need a guarantee I’ll be taken care of.”

“You received the packet?”

Jessiah squeezed the phone. A packet of money had awaited him in his room. Tucked into the bills was an organizational chart of the Eastern Territory’s guard. His name had appeared in the upper echelon. It was privileged information. Not even the boss had that layout, or the names attached. He was in. Thoroughly in. All he had to do was deliver the girl.

Easier said than done, especially with her high-powered friends guarding her.

“Yeah, I got it.” He scanned the trees, making sure he was alone.

“Good. Then you know what waits for you. Just deliver the goods, alive and in one piece, and we’ll bring you over.”

“How’m I supposed to get her out of here without her guards?” He cleared his throat, trying to erase the whine from his voice.

“You’re attractive and good with the ladies, I hear. Get creative.”

The line clicked off. Jessiah kicked a rock into orbit. How the hell was he going to get her off the grounds?

*****

I walked into the secret room in the middle of the mansion via a door that looked like just another part of the wall. I’d had to use my inner guide to find the secret entrance and open it. As soon as the door clicked shut, pitch black dousing me, I heaved a relieved sigh and let magic fill me. The colors in the wall swirled to life, the gamut of power forming a complex protective ward embedded into the fiber of the mansion.

Alone time. I sighed again, just for good measure.

I’d ditched Charles after dinner—eating “dinner” at five o’clock in the morning still felt wrong—ducked away from the chatty, handsome Jessiah, and bowed my head through the halls of staring eyes. I needed to disappear. To have time to reflect without Charles yapping in my ear. I loved the guy, but after a while, he could be a little much.

I’d been at this magic gig for over two weeks so far. Each class had people who snubbed, sneered at, or ignored me, and each night ended with another torture session from Darla, who hated me more than most people hate the dentist. I was struggling, and that was putting it mildly. Depression from my inability to learn and fit in dragged at me. The only highs I got seemed to be driving fast, but lately that just bordered on recklessness—the forced joy receding shortly after reality seeped back in. I just couldn’t get it. I couldn’t find my groove.

The desperate thought constantly squeezed me: what if I didn’t have a groove? What if I could never fit in? If this had all been a mistake, and I didn’t have any way to bounce back, what then?

Forlorn, I walked through the small corridor until it emptied into a medium sized room, the furniture standing out as black spots among the swirls of the rainbow. There wasn’t much. A couple couches in the middle of the room, facing each other, a desk in the corner, books, and a rug. I couldn’t remember if knickknacks lined the available surfaces, but I suspected not. I wasn’t even sure what the room was used for. Nor did I care. It was secret, safe, and empty. Hooray.

The couch welcomed my butt into its embrace, the kush loud in the silent room. And there I sat. Staring. Mind empty. Body filled with magic.

I could hold more magic for longer, now. I pushed down the euphoric feeling, took comfort in the vibrant pinging within my skin, and relaxed with it. Jessiah said I shouldn’t have magic always at my disposal, that it could burn me out, so I tried to force it away as often as I remembered. The thing was, though, it seeped in naturally. It lingered happily. I just kept forgetting to push it away again.