Into the Darkness (Darkness #1)(22)

I was not following along. “As in…you’re from somewhere else?”

“You use race to denote color, religion, difference in appearance, and other unimportant things. When in fact, those are just differences in genes. Not large differences, either. We, on the other hand, use it to denote somewhat…larger alterations to the fundamental principles in genetics. Our heritages, yours and mine, originate from the same place, but along that evolutionary road, there is a fork. We are on one side of that fork, you are on the other.”

“What if I don’t believe in evolution?”

“Then God wanted a little more diversity. Either that, or He has a sense of humor.”

“Oh, He definitely has a sense of humor,” I mumbled. I was proof.

“How did you find this place?” he asked.

“Wait, you didn’t actually answer the question. So you aren’t human, but you’re like human?”

“Correct.”

“What are the differences?”

“That’s another question.” His eyes twinkled mischievously, giving me a hot flash. “But I’ll answer. We, my species, are physically superior. We’re larger, faster, stronger, and have more acute senses. Our eyes work better in low light, like a nocturnal predator. Your kind thinks you’re hunters—you’re incorrect. We evolved as hunters. It’s the difference between a domestic cat and a lion.”

I opened my mouth to ask more questions, especially since it seemed humans got the crappy end of the gene-pool, but he held up a pointer finger. “My turn.”

I let my mouth snap shut. Fair was fair.

“How did you find this place?”

I shrugged, relaying the story of my night. As I got further along, the crease in his brow deepened. When my babbling came to an end, the only sound in the room was the ticking of a clock.

I took that as my cue to ask another question. “Why don’t people see you guys or notice you?”

“Your boyfriend’s roommate had full memory?” he sidetracked.

“Yes—wait! You have to answer mine first!”

“Very well.” The crease didn’t lighten. “There’s more to this world than humans can tolerate while still hanging onto their oblivion. Humans like their experiences to largely fit in a few categories. Another branch of human, our species, gives them trouble to no end. They don’t understand us, making them uncomfortable. What humans don’t understand, they fear. What they fear, they kill. There was a lot more burnt at the stake than just witches. We’ve been found and persecuted often in our history. It then becomes necessary not to be found.”

“But if you’re kind of human, why don’t you just fight back? Especially if you’re stronger or whatever.”

“First, let’s return to you. How did you know this was the right place?”

I sighed. “I saw a lady looking like a super model wearing a see-through gown walk into the house. You guys have a strange fascination with sex—I connected the dots.”

“Only we have a strange fascination?” His eyes were twinkling again, looking at me in a knowing way. It was the wrong time for a burst of arousal to drench my panties.

“Since I doubt you care about the answer to that, I won’t count that question.”

Laughter rumbled out of his muscular chest. “Generous of you.”

“Okay, so, why don’t you guys just fight back?”

“Another of our traits is a problem with procreation. Humans procreate like a virus. You don’t live as long, but you replace yourself multiple times within your life. We’re faster and stronger, but not nearly as populace. Plus, we’re violent—preferring to tear our enemies apart face-to-face, rather than creating weapons to do it on a massive scale. Even if we could compete with your numbers, we cannot compete with your bombs and other weapons of destruction. Humans have become absolutely ingenious with inventions, many of which are bent on destruction and monitoring. It’s best to steer clear.”

“Okay, but—“

He held up a hand again. “How did you find my secret chamber?”

I once again told my story, as fast as possible. Part of my mind, the one raised in a protective bubble, couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It sounded so far-fetched—surely I would have heard about this. There was a giant mansion in the city, for cripes-sakes. Someone might have said something along the way.

The other part of me, however, that had seen shadows moving in the darkness since I could remember, was soaking up every word. I could understand how they could move through the world undetected, since no one had ever believed me when I’d pointed them out. This man had walked through a street light, in public, and stared at me; but Jared, walking right beside me, hadn’t noticed him. The part of me that demanded proof had it, which made my brain immediately soften to what the Boss was saying. Plus, though they were larger and muscled, they did look human. Even if they did get noticed, why would anyone think they were anything different than a football player? Or a really pretty, scary chick?

“How do you stay hidden? And why can I see you?” I fired at him as soon as I could.

“I will count that as one.” He waited for me to nod impatiently before he went on. “As you’ve noticed, we each have various abilities offered to us. Most of us can affect humans with our pheromones, inspiring lust, fear, and a few other emotions with fluctuating degrees of effectiveness. Some are better than others, because some are stronger in magic than others. That trait is one that has become invaluable to staying firmly behind the veil of myth.”