Keeper Page 14

  Chapter 13

  The black veil stretched like thick fog throughout the bathroom. My heart pounding in my ears, along with my frantic breathing, furthered my struggle to hear anyone approaching. Dangling midair, like bait, I flailed my arms, feeling nothing but open space.

  Taylee.

  A low, dead voice echoed in my head. I winced and squeezed my eyes closed. Concentrating every ounce of energy I had, I opened my senses and mentally reached out. A warm sensation tingled through my body as I felt another’s mind.

  A splitting pain shot through my head, making me grab it with both hands. A scream bubbled in my chest, but no sound escaped.

  Someone stood close. Very close.

  Don’t try it. The voice echoed in my thoughts. We’ve been through this before. You can’t invade my mind.

  Breathing deeply through my nose, I reluctantly released my head and looked up.

  A pair of ocher eyes glowed a few feet from where I floated.

  Him. Sparks of heat rushed through my body. I thrashed, kicking my legs and throwing my arms, trying to hurl myself forward to grab him. I’d strangle him!

  Slowly, after every one of my muscles became tired and heavy, my adrenaline plummeted. I was stuck to this spot. I couldn’t make the slightest sound. Even my ragged breathing quieted. Here I hovered, helpless and right where he wanted me. I still only cared about one thing. You sick son of a bitch!

  Two flames appeared, illuminating the Kember’s palms. He flattened his hands and the infernos formed into balls. Slowly, they levitated toward the ceiling, casting a dim light over the entire room.

  You killed him!

  Now visible, his lips lifted into a small smirk. I half expected the Kember to be this brawny guy with a red and black face and spikes for hair. Now I felt stupid. He stood tall and slender with light brown hair and, of course, those yellowy eyes. Scary enough, he kind of seemed like your everyday nice guy. Except for the fact I was floating and fire practically exploded from his hands.

  He stepped forward. Blood rushed to my ears and I bit into my lip to keep it from quivering. His finger trailed my jaw, sending ice cold chills through my body. I trembled.

  The Kember’s rough hand cupped my chin. His gaze smoldered like the sun: A frozen, dead, life-sucking sun. I stared down so as to not look him in the eyes—the eyes of a killer.

  You feel it, don’t you? he asked.

  Let me down and I’ll give you something to feel. I gritted my teeth, ignoring his question. Why’d you do it?

  His lips slid into an eerie smile. Perhaps you need a bit more time, hmm? Even I can feel it burning deep within you. It’s just waiting to surface.

  I ignored his comment. I could only think of Delmari. You killed him. You bastard. I wanted to hit him—no—I wanted to kill him. I wanted him to suffer like I suffered. Feel the horrible pain I felt every moment for the past few weeks.

  Feels good, doesn’t it? To hate someone to such a degree, you’d actually wish your worst on them? He tsked, shaking his head. What would Delmari have to say about that?

  You—

  Asshole, I know. He waved it off. By all means, yell at me. Call me every name your clever mind can think of. You’ll soon learn I’m not the bad guy.

  Do you tell yourself that so you feel better? My eyes burned as I fought back tears. If you wanted me, you should’ve taken me and left him alone.

  I’m not so foolish to think he’d let you go without a fight. Besides, who said this is about you? Seeing as you’re still alive—

  Oh heck, the girl. I see your glitch. You’re a psycho pedophile who stalks little girls in your spare time. What do you want with that girl in the forest? I know. I saw your buddies chasing her.

  He studied me with knowing eyes, in a way that made my hair stand on end and my mouth turn dry. He stepped away, stroked his chin and paced the floor. Finally, he turned back toward me. I’m not here to answer your questions.

  Seething, I snapped my head around the bathroom, looking for anything to help me get free. I should’ve known it was useless. You’re this pathetic? You have to keep a weak Drea immobile while you kill her? If you’re gonna do it, do it. I extended my arms, glaring directly at him. I’m not afraid.

  He stepped toward me and slowly I descended.

  Body tensed, I readied myself for when my feet hit the floor. Only, they never did. I hovered centimeters off the ground. If that wasn’t frustrating, I didn’t know what was.

  “Everything okay?” Aiden’s voice came from outside the door.

  Just hangin’ out, I wanted to shout back. What happened to bustin’ in guns and glory, no questions asked? This wasn’t the time for him to be chivalrous about space. Couldn’t he hear the two heartbeats or that I wasn’t the only one breathing? With all the noise out there, probably not. Most likely, he was only listening for footsteps or a struggle. I groaned.

  The Kember reached out, placing two long white fingers on my throat .When he spoke, my voice came from his mouth. “Yes, I’ll be out in a moment.”

  Aiden didn’t respond. What was he doing? Exchanging workout tips with the Guard members?

  Standing mere inches away, the Kember ran his other hand through my hair and stared at me in a longing sort of way. Almost like he was memorizing my face and taking me all in.

  I held my breath, wishing I could take a step back from this creepy bastard. W-why did you do it—kill him?

  The Kember’s jaw clenched. His face paled as the ocher in his eyes burned brighter. Understand this: Delmari did his job. After a while, he got in the way.

  He didn’t do anything to you.

  He raised an eyebrow. A sneer spread across his face as he stepped back and folded his arms. Yes, Delmari Aiken was a great man. He took in a stranger’s newborn child out of the goodness of his heart. He obeyed and lived his life by the oath he swore.

  I didn’t like the sarcastic tone he used. I took a deep breath, an ache in my chest. Whoever this guy was, he wanted to confuse me.

  Oh, my innocent little Taylee. I would’ve never kept you in the dark. In three long strides he reached the sink and leaned against it. Tell me, if Delmari was such a good man, why didn’t he ever tell you who your father was? Why didn’t he speak of your mother, or let you see a picture of her? If he loved you—if he told you everything—like you’re convinced he did, why didn’t he mention Aiden? Every word out of his mouth was a lie—

  Shut up! I balled my fists, my nails biting into my palms. You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.

  I know everything about you. His eyes locked intently with mine. What you’re capable of. He shook his head as if in wonder. There are so many things I could teach and give you.

  Is that why you want the girl? So she can join your stupid cult? I tried to hide the trembling in my voice. Will you tell her that, too, before you kill her?

  He smiled, tightly, almost threateningly. You look like her, you know.

  Who? That girl?

  Your mother. I didn’t miss the subject change. Only you act nothing like her. She was kind and loving—

  You didn’t know her, I growled.

  He pursed his lips. I guess you’ll never know. He stepped back toward me, and I stiffened.

  Placing both hands on my shoulders, he closed his eyes. A small, chilling sneer formed on his lips.

  My bare skin stung from the warmth of his palms. A pins and needles sensation shot through my body. Coldness spread like fire to my arms, fingers then torso. Instantly, he released me, eyes bright, but the numbing chill continued to travel until it consumed me.

  My eyes stung; my lips were frozen.

  Shouldn’t be long now.

  Who are you? My voice shook.

  The door crashed open, and everything happened at once. I flew into Aiden, who staggered back against the wall. The fire extinguished, the man disappeared and the lights flickered on.

  I buried my face in Aiden’s collar, trying to regain the
wind that’d been knocked out of me. My arms slung around his neck and my knuckles ached from the death grip they held on his shirt.

  Breathing hard, Aiden pulled me back, but still kept my legs secured around his midsection. With two long, careful fingers, he tilted my chin up and assessed me. “Are you all right?”

  I’d been paralyzed and practically felt up by some murdering psycho. I shook my head and rested back on his shoulder, my entire body shaking. “Golden.”

  Aiden leaned his back against the wall. His heart, in rhythm with mine, hammered against my chest.

  Inhaling deeply, the soothing scents of laundry detergent and cologne wafting through my nose, I attempted to slow my breathing. I closed my eyes and gradually relaxed my clenching fingers. Everything was okay.

  “Was that him?” he whispered. It felt like his mouth was in my hair.

  “You saw him? H-he—”

  “Shh. Not here.” Guardedly, Aiden rubbed my back. The other arm that’d been securing me to him earlier had dropped and lightly pushed against my hip, signaling me to get down. “We should…leave.”

  Jerking back, I realized not only that my legs were around his waist in the women’s bathroom, but I was clinging to him. Even worse—no, totally and completely disturbing—there was some kind of unhealthy, messed up part of me that actually felt warm and safe and…Oh man!

  I released him and jumped down faster than humanly possible. My head swam, as I straightened my shirt and pushed my hair from my face.

  He cleared his throat and scratched the stubble on his chin.

  “I, um…Skyler he likes—he doesn’t…I forgot you weren’t…” I stopped before I made a bigger fool of myself and left the bathroom, like a bat escaping hell.

  Or entering hell. I stopped abruptly outside the door, sucking in a jagged breath. Staggering back, I bumped into Aiden.

  Two men: glowing blue eyes with black energy veins surrounding them. Rygons.

  Each had an arm slung around a girl. Normal, human girls. Both Rygons, as though I yelled, “Hey over here,” turned and met my gaze. In sync, they pulled their arms away from their energy suppliers and straightened their stance against the railing. They acted like they just set eyes on the most beautiful girl they’d ever seen.

  Or a walking energy bong.

  Aiden pushed me forward, but I pressed back against him, whispering, “Um, excuse me, Captain, there are Rygons blocking our exit.”

  “They’ve been here all night.” He spoke in my ear.

  “B-but—”

  “Trust me.” He pushed me forward again. “Walk.”

  I hesitated a moment but decided I’d better find out now if he’d offer me to Rygons.

  Both monsters eyed me up and down as I walked past the black tents and toward the stairs they blocked. The drunk girls looked pale and slightly sick. As they should. Rygon or not, no amount of alcohol or drugs could make me loopy enough to lay a hand on one of them.

  The Rygons’ eerie eyes seemed to brighten the closer I got.

  Aiden stiffened beside me. Silently, I hoped his fighting technique was as good as his tolerance. Hands shaking, heart jumping, I took another step forward, partially hiding behind him.

  Aiden seemed to stand even taller, as he confronted the bald Rygon blocking the stairs. “Move.” He didn’t threaten to rip off the Rygon’s head, but the message came across loud and clear in his tone.

  The Rygon, black energy veins covering his entire face, dipped his head down. A devious smile played across his lips as he stepped to the left. “Yes, sir.”

  The other Rygon, off to the side, measured Aiden. His tattoo-like marks barely extended toward his ears. He wasn’t near as strong as his crony, but the two-against-one odds must’ve brought on his cocky grin.

  Aiden reached back and pulled me in front of him. I descended the stairs, legs shaking. I concentrated on one step at a time, struggling to keep my eyes forward. Aiden would know if they came after us…right?

  Again, music blared, blocking out everything else. The sea of people seemed oblivious to the threat around them. I pitied them and envied them all at the same time.

  I walked as fast as I could through the crowd, hoping Aiden still followed. Adrenaline pumped through me with every breath. I fought my legs to keep them from sprinting and knocking over everyone in my path. My gaze swept the dance floor, like a paranoid freak, but I was too short to see over the majority of people.

  Finally, through a break in the crowd, the club exit came into view.

  Shoving through the doors, practically gasping, someone called, “Watch it!”

  Cold, salty air whipped around me. Rounding the corner of the building, I leaned against it, my chest rising and falling almost as fast as my heart rate. Passersby gave me dirty looks and purposely stepped off the sidewalk, keeping their distance.

  “If you can, we need to keep going.” Aiden’s gaze flitted around the throng of people; his body pivoted to block me from anyone who might pose a threat.

  I nodded, peering off in the distance toward our truck. Pitch black. “Can you see in the dark?”

  “Yes, but so can Rygons.”

  “Comforting.” I pushed off the bricks and crossed the street. “They’re following us, aren’t they?”

  “I’m not sure.” His fingers brushed mine as we walked.

  My mind raced back to earlier, remembering how warm his skin was. Those were some gentle, strong hands.

  I shook my head and swore under my breath.

  The crowd thinned as we reached the last of the streaming lights. The farther we got, the more the lights dimmed and the music faded. Damn Aiden for parking so far.

  Beside me, he tensed, peering into the night ahead. The glint in his eyes made him look aware, maybe even slightly dangerous. Rygons were a force not even the badasses messed with unless they had to. He nodded his head toward the shadows and quickened his pace to a jog. “Can you…?”

  I sprinted. Hell, if we were going to pick up the pace, we might as well run.