Keeper Page 4

Chapter 4

  How could the world still function? Cars were moving. People interacted. At least the damned sun had the decency to keep its light behind the dark, menacing clouds. It seemed everything should be at a standstill—or maybe because that’s how I felt: frozen.

  Against my will, life continued to move forward. For the first time ever, the situation couldn’t be altered by mind control or lies. I was falling. Fast. No amount of cussing or punching could fight against the rushing air. There was nothing to grab hold of to slow my descent. Was I really diving head first toward a life without Delmari?

  I honestly didn’t know, or maybe I just didn’t want to.

  I had nowhere else to go; I followed Aiden out of the Authority building and into the parking lot. I pulled my hood up, shoved my hands in the pouch of my hoodie and stomped through puddles of water, soaking the bottoms of my jeans.

  Maybe they screwed up and found someone else’s body. Delmari could be on his way to get me right now. He’d show up at the Authority building, find out where I was and then get me the heck out of here. Everything would be fine. No need to panic.

  Aiden stopped in front of a sleek Nissan Titan. The big black truck had about a three inch lift and tinted windows. Any other day, I would’ve been the first person to jump inside, saying how it was the sweetest truck known to mankind. Not today.

  I jerked the door open and climbed in. I slumped down in the seat and crossed my arms, casting my glare out the passenger window. Once we pulled onto the highway, the truck gained speed until everything blurred and stretched by in a haze of color.

  He’s not dead. Just delayed. He’s on his way. My eyes burned, and my head hurt from trying not to cry. I’d always been good at blocking out the unpleasant—sometimes too good. This time the nagging voice that whispered nothing will ever be okay again wouldn’t shut up.

  I patted the pocket of my jeans, where I usually stashed my iPod, quickly remembering how I shoved it under my pillow. I swore and swallowed back the lump in my throat. Of all days to leave it. Desperate to distract myself, I opened the jockey box looking for some sort of magazine—anything to divert my thoughts. Nothing. Unless I wanted to learn about the vehicle’s inner workings. I slammed the compartment closed. No thanks.

  Aiden shot me a sidelong glance but said nothing.

  Shocker. He hadn’t spoken a single word since we left. Not that I expected him to have an actual personality. Most Kembers didn’t. His rigid posture and deadpan expression were typical and worn by ninety percent of Kembers guarding across the world. For all I cared, he could keep staring straight ahead, tapping his freakin’ fingers on the wheel.

  We continued our ride in silence, and every minute passed seemed like an eternity spent in purgatory.

  Aiden cleared his throat and hesitated a moment. “Delmari was a highly regarded Kember…He’ll be missed.”

  I snorted, wondering if he’d been thinking of that line the entire time or just wanted to start a conversation. Although, he didn’t seem verbose, by any means. I ignored him and continued to stare vacantly out the window.

  “Did you really try to fight that Kember?”

  Maybe I heard wrong. He sounded the teeniest bit impressed.

  I cringed, feeling the hole in my stomach burrow deeper and deeper, but I didn’t have the control to ignore that question. “You expected me to stand by and watch?”

  “No…I expected you to run like any other Drea.”

  I turned and looked at him steadily. “That’s because ninety percent of Dreas are pathetic. At least if you die, you go with some dignity.”

  Any Drea who willingly let a Rygon kill them, by taking their energy away, got labeled mental. Aside from murdering someone, it stood as the worst offense a Drea could commit. I had a feeling being slaughtered by a psycho Kember wouldn’t be much better. Most Dreas avoided confrontation. The cowards spent their time so freaked out they locked themselves in their houses. Not me. I had a life to live.

  “I agree.” His gaze slid over me in all my haggardness. “Only you’re no match for a Kember. No Drea is. You could’ve been killed.”

  Dreas could learn to fight if given the chance, but all that seemed stupid now. I didn’t even care anymore. Hell, I’d let Aiden off me if he volunteered. Maybe by the end of the day, he would.

  “It’s not like he would’ve stolen my gift. Which is the only thing you should be worried about, right?”

  He didn’t say anything.

  If you ask me—which no one ever had—Kembers were more concerned about Rygons taking our gifts than killing us. If they drained us of our energy, they gained our gifts. Too many mental abilities made a Rygon more powerful than a Kember. Too many powerful Rygons would overthrow the Authority.

  Yeah, they gave up their lives just to keep us safe from their mortal enemies. I called BS on that one.

  Suddenly intrigued and relieved by the distraction he provided, I studied him in his black button-up shirt and suit pants. Dark circles lay beneath his eyes. “What’s your gift, anyway?”

  He didn’t answer right away, and I wondered if he heard.

  “Heightened senses.”

  “Heightened senses?” I hated myself for being curious. “How does it work?”

  He pulled open the middle console separating our seats and fished around inside. “I can see and hear for miles, pick up on any scent and by touching someone or something, I can feel their emotions.” A little white Excedrin bottle rattled in his hand as he pulled it out.

  That explained the hungover look—he probably didn’t get much sleep. “So…if you touched me right now, you’d feel what I’m feeling—like an empath?”

  He nodded.

  I made a mental note to stay out of reach. “I control minds.”

  “So I’ve heard.” He popped a couple white pills in his mouth and took a swig from his water bottle.

  His comment shouldn’t have shocked me. Kembers and Dreas may’ve been good about keeping their identities secret from the Norms, but they sucked when it came to confidentiality.

  His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “I don’t know how things were…run when Delmari was in charge, but there need to be rules concerning your ability and self-control—”

  My cold laugh cut him off. “Who died and made you captain?” It hit me, and the retort immediately lost its wit. “I don’t need any rules.”

  “Do you have any idea how many people disagree with that?”

  “Probably everyone.” I shrugged. “Mostly Ian.”

  “Especially, Ian.”

  “Well, he’s a dick. I don’t care what he thinks.” Ian should die a slow, painful death.

  His brows rose. “He’s looking out for you. You owe him your respect.”

  What a line. “You really are his bitch.”

  He rubbed his temples, mumbling something I didn’t understand. “I know you and Delmari had a special relationship. He raised you. The bond was inevitable and understandable to a point.”

  I couldn’t imagine anyone bonding with Aiden.

  “However, had Delmari kept the oath in the first place, his loss wouldn’t be upsetting you like it is. You’d be able to accept a new Kember without feeling your whole world has been affected. Surely Delmari taught you the job we as Kembers have, right?”

  Fury raced through me. I couldn’t believe how indifferent he acted toward Delmari. “To be a pain in the ass and ruin lives? Oh, wait—maybe that’s your,” I waved my hand in his direction, “role in this.”

  “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I don’t answer stupid questions.”

  “We’re assigned—”

  “A specific,” I used my wisest, smartass voice, “Drea, and you swear by oath to protect him or her from the Rygons until one of you dies. Whoopdee freakin’do.”

  “Yes, but while keeping all emotions aside.” He glanced in my direction. “You can’t tell me Delmari didn’t think of you as his daughter, like yo
u thought of him as your father.”

  The dreaded ache in my chest squeezed. He was right. Delmari and I had been daddy-daughter like. Kembers weren’t allowed to have emotional attachments to anyone. It interfered with their call as guardians. Tears burned from the memory of Delmari, but I fought them back. I’d die before crying in front of Aiden. “I’m sure you don’t have that problem. You know, having people who actually like you.”

  He continued like I’d never said a word. “It’s our job as guardians to stand by and watch—not interfere. We’re here for your protection.”

  My stomach tightened; heat rushed like liquid fire through my veins. I wanted to put this tool in his place, but I didn’t. The second I did, traitor tears would fall. I was furious—too furious to hold them back. Instead, I pulled my knees to my chest, laid my head against them and looked out the side window.

  An hour later, the truck slowed.

  Oakridge was no doubt a small town. Probably chuck-full of in-breeders and hicks. Buildings, which looked like they were built by cavemen, sat on both sides of the street and a small line of cars passed in the opposite lane. A group of teenagers walked on the sidewalk laughing and flirting with each other. Back home in Meridian, I had a pretty normal teenage life compared to most Dreas. I lucked out. Delmari never wanted me to feel deprived, so I had tons of friends. Ninety percent of them were Norms. Plus, a lot of guys that were into me.

  Of course, Delmari’s presence didn’t go unnoticed. What intimidating, six-foot-three man would? My normal friends constantly asked questions about him, wondered why he never failed to be off in the shadows. I had some fun with it. I mean, if I had to lie, I might as well make it a good one. So, I told everyone my mother was an Italian supermodel who couldn’t be around, so she hired Delmari to take care of me.

  Which wasn’t too hard to believe. My mother had been Italian, and I guessed I inherited her thick, ebony hair and slightly exotic features. My skin tone resembled someone who spent a lot of time in the sun, but sun or not, I stayed this color year round. With the lack of knowledge about my mother, she could’ve been a supermodel for all I knew. My curvy figure had to have come from someone.

  We stayed on the main road and drove about ten more minutes outside of town. I groaned when we turned on a dirt road, surrounded by thick pine trees. Back in the forest again. The trees made my stomach turn. I pictured every one of them bursting into flames.

  A one-story, bluish-grey house with a wraparound deck came into view. Aiden turned down the gravel driveway. Apparently, this was the place. It looked pretty basic with probably only two or three bedrooms and an attached garage. I sighed. If it wasn’t for the crappy location, maybe I would’ve called it nice. Maybe.

  Cutting the ignition, Aiden reached back and grabbed my backpack from the rear seat. He handed it to me. “The Authority is usually good about stocking houses, but if you need other things, we can go to town tomorrow.” He stepped out, grabbed two huge duffle bags from the truck bed and strode to the front door.

  The house opened up into a big rectangular living room with two beige sofas and a big chair. We passed a tiny kitchen with light wood floors and cupboards to a round hallway, which held three doors. Aiden pointed into a huge room—clearly the master suite. “My room.” Then straight across was a smaller one which I took to be mine.

  A slow breath escaped my lips as I walked into my new haven and closed the door. Aside from the fact the bedding and curtains were a nasty shade of banana yellow, it wasn’t too bad. A small desk, full size bed, and dresser took up most of the space. That didn’t matter, seeing as I didn’t have anything else to add. I threw my backpack onto the bed, scattering the decorative pillows to the floor.

  I dropped onto the mattress and stared at the ceiling, unable to get over how dreamy—no—nightmarish this all felt. I just wanted Delmari to come in and shake me until I woke up. Or maybe even jump out of the closet and yell “psych!” I cringed, the unsettling feeling of doubt growing in my stomach. He wasn’t dead…right? I closed my eyes, but no matter how many feathers they stuffed in this bed, I’d never be able to sleep.

  A soft knock sounded from the door.

  I groaned, already dreading whatever talk Aiden prepared. “What?”

  He pushed the door open and stepped barely past the frame. “Did you get settled?”

  I nodded.

  “You’re not allowed to leave the house without me—not even to step outside. Don’t answer the door or phone. I don’t care who you may be expecting.”

  Jolting to the sitting position, I stared at him in disbelief. “So, where’s the orange jumpsuit?”

  He crossed his arms. “Ian called. Delmari’s funeral will be held on Saturday in Boise.”

  My heart sank. I hadn’t been expecting that. My voice came out barely audible. “Th-This Saturday? That’s only two days.”

  “I know.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek, fighting back tears. No. This couldn’t actually be real. Could it? He’d show up before Saturday—he had to. There’d be no need for the funeral. “I’m not going.”

  Aiden’s straight face never wavered. “Yes, you are. It’s a form of respect.”

  “Wasn’t the point of moving me clear out in the boonies to make sure I don’t run into the Kember?”

  “Ian wants you there. If the Kember attends, you’re the only one who can identify him.” He turned, but before stepping out of my room, he paused. “You’ll regret it if you don’t go. Trust me.”