Bright Fire (Bright Fire Series Book 1) (3 page)

Chapter

6

I finally have a few minutes to myself while Lyla is in the shower. I sit and stare at the wall. There are a million thoughts running through my head all at once. Each one is fighting for my individual attention. It feels like I’ve transformed into a completely different person. Before, I was the happy girl with everything going for me, and now I am the girl with the dead parents.

Lyla gets out of the shower and comes into the room trailing a waft of strawberry scents with her. "Your turn."

"Do I have to? Why can't I just sit here?"

"Yes, you have to. I know you don't want to, but you have to go to the funeral. You will hate yourself if you don’t."

She’s right. Deep down I know it I just don't want to face it. "Look sweetie, it's just one day out of the rest of your life. You go, you meet people, and then you can come back here and it will be behind you."

"But it isn't just one day of my life, it is the rest of my life. Where am I supposed to live? What am I going to do without them?" I’m reaching shrieking level, and she grips my hands.

"Breath. I know it's tough, but you are strong, and you will survive. Now please will you take a shower? You don't want to smell like sweaty armpits, do you?" She’s trying to lighten the mood.

It helps a little. I know it is not her fault this happened to me. In my emotional fit, I realize that this isn't the first time I’ve snapped on her. "OK, I'm going."

~~~~

I
feel like I’m in a terrible nightmare as I stand in front of the caskets, listening to a man talk about God. It’s all so surreal. Every time I wake up I get hit with the realization that my parents are not coming back. I guess it just hasn't sunk in yet.

Once the preacher stops talking we all place roses on the caskets. Lorraine did a great job of picking out the headstones. After the flowers, I accept the condolences from about 50 people. I had no idea my parents had this many friends.

I wander back to caskets by myself. I need one last moment alone with my parents to say a final goodbye.

"They were good people," a male voice says behind me. It makes me jump out of my skin.

I turn to see who is invading my private moment. It’s Alec. "What are you doing here?" I try to keep the malice out of my voice. There’s something off about him, and it sets me on edge."

I came to pay my respects."

"Oh," is all say. I turn back to the caskets and ask, "How did you know my parents?"

"I didn’t."

What? How is that possible? I wheel around getting ready to lay it on him, but where he had been standing, is empty. What the? I search the crowd of people, but he is nowhere in sight.

Lyla walks towards me. "Are you ready to go?" There is a hopeful look on her face, and I can tell that she wants to leave this place and never come back. I can relate.

"Definitely." She grabs my arm and leads me to the car.

Chapter

7

Lyla is sleeping on the floor next to me, again. I hate that I am putting her out like this. Though she would never tell me that, I have the sneaking suspicion that she is having a hard time dealing with all of this. Who wouldn’t; if the situation was reversed, I would have no idea how to help her.

I carefully step out of the bed and tiptoe past her to get to the shower. The hot water is helping to calm my nerves a little, but I know today will be hard. I feel like I am getting ready to start the first day of school all over again, even though I’ve known most of the people my whole life. All I really want to do is crawl into a hole and never come out. But Lyla is right, I have to find Alec and get some answers. This time he's going to talk to me or so help me I am will pummel him.

At the school, I take a deep breath and walk through the doors. It takes all of my strength not to turn around and run from all the staring faces. I keep my head held high and continue to walk past everyone without seeing them or hearing the whispers.

Something; intuition maybe, me to check the library. I remember seeing Alec there a few times before, and I need to start somewhere. Luck is on my side as I open the door, and he’s here sitting at a table with his feet propped up reading a book on Greek mythology. Without looking up he says, "I was expecting you."

That’s not creepy at all
. I’m tired and stressed to the max, so I cut to the chase. "Who the hell are you? And why did my father tell me to find you? I mean I know you are Alec Hales, so don’t give me some b.s. line. We've been going to the same school since like kindergarten, so what’s the deal?"

"Nice to see you too, Dell. Now, please, sit down." He says it like he’s inviting me to grand tea. His shift in personality is disorienting.

I sit down automatically. I stare him square in his gray eyes and plead with him. "Please tell me what’s going on. My family was murdered, and I know you are involved. I just need to know why my family is dead."

He slowly places his book down. He doesn’t break eye contact and shifts in his seat. He’s obviously trying to decide whether to tell me anything or not. "I’m not exactly sure where to begin. Why don’t you start by telling me what happened?"

I drop my gaze to the table and study the swirl patterns of the wood. After a minute, I look up. "OK, what do you want to know?"

"Start from the beginning." He involuntary leans forward.

"OK, I was having dinner with my family and arguing with my mom as usual. My dad got real tense and told me to go hide in the cellar. Once I got in the cellar I, heard a giant crash and then a man was talking about where is the girl. My dad said he was Terentia, and he would not tell him. Then a woman showed up and started calling my dad a guardian and my mom a mortal. The man cut my mom’s face. I saw it afterward. Then I heard them kill my parents. They started looking for me, but when they heard sirens, they left. Once I thought they were gone, I left the cellar and saw they had puncture wounds that had fluid draining and the house smelt awful. Oh and I am pretty sure my dad spoke to me in my head telling me to find you, and here we are. Now please tell me what’s going on before I have a full blown meltdown right here in the middle of the library."

He looks at me for a moment. He starts looking around. The librarian Ms. Thorpe is pecking away at the computer. He leans in even closer to me, and I instinctively pull away. "Where would you like me to start?"

"From the beginning," I say impatiently.

"How much do you know about Greek Mythology?"

I look down at the book he’s reading. "What? I don’t care about the book you are reading. I want to know what’s going on."

"That’s what I am trying to explain. You, Delfia Stryker, are the daughter of Hades and Persephone. Your adoptive father was your guardian." He’s so matter of fact. I think he really believes what he just said.

"OK then. Somebody didn’t take their meds today, so I'm just gonna go, that way, away from here." I’m beginning to think maybe my dad meant a different Alec because this guy is nuts.

He grabs my arm, and the electric shock runs all the way up to my shoulder. I rip it away. "Please don’t go. You need to listen to me, and I do not have time to sugar coat it. Things are going to change, and rather quickly I expect; now that you turned sixteen. They will be able to find you now. If you don’t stay with your guardian."

"Excuse me? They who? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Demons, so to speak. Foul creatures from the Underworld."

Again with the Underworld talk. Really. "Look buddy, I don’t know what you are playing at, but my parents were just murdered, and it isn't a joke to me. So either help me or don’t but, I'm going to find out what happened one way or another."

"I am trying to help you, but I can’t if you don’t accept it. I can’t force you to. If you walk away from me, I can’t protect you, and you
will
die. You don’t have to trust me or even like me, but your father sent you to me for a reason."

I slap him hard across the face leaving a red mark in its wake. "Don’t you ever talk about my father again. Don’t talk to me, don’t come near me or freakishly stare at me. You’re crazy, and I've had my fill of crazy for the millennium, thank you." I turn and half run to the library door in search of any way to get as far from this lunatic as possible.

I swing the door open, and I’m come face to face with the most one of the beautiful men I’ve ever seen. He is at least six feet tall with olive complexion and spiky black hair. He has his thumbs loops through his belt buckle like he is ready for a photo shoot.

"Where do you think you're going?" The man’s gravelly voice makes me stop. I would know that voice anywhere. It starred in my dreams every night since my parents died.

Chapter

8

"You need to run, now." Alec is by my side in an instant pushing me backwards. "I said run, now!" he booms. The authority in his voice is odd coming from someone his age. It’s like he has transformed into someone who is thousands of years old. His eyes drill into mine and just like with my dad, I hear his voice low in my head.
Dell, you need to run. Go to the girl's bathroom on the second floor and wait for me there. Lock the door and don’t let anyone in but me.
I can't move.
Please.

I turn quickly to take off running for my life, but I trip over an army boot and face plant on the carpet. I can already feel the rug burn on the right side of my face. All of a sudden, I’m being pulled up by the back of my shirt and firmly planted back on my feet.

"I believe my friend asked you a question." The female’s voice is thick with malice as her face is contorted into an unattractive sneer. This says a lot considering she’s breathtakingly gorgeous. She’s definitely model material with her long legs, raven black hair, and piercing blue eyes. She’s wearing a black tank top with black leather pants, and her hair is pulled back into a long braid down the center of her back. She reminds me of Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. I think my vision is failing because a shimmery aura surrounding her entire body.

I stand here with my mouth agape as she keeps her grip on my shirt. I notice the same foul stench that was in my home, and I’m pretty sure it’s coming from her. I try to step back to reach fresher air, but she won't let go.

"Please, what do you want from me?" The panic inside me is reaching a critical level. I look around and notice the library is empty. OK, so no one is going to come to our rescue. I hope Alec has a plan to get us out of this.

My eyes reach Alec, who doesn't look worried or panicked. He looks determined, standing there, tensed and ready; his muscles coiled for attack. Again I’m struck by how odd his actions look in contrast with his age.

"Sorry, no can do little girl. You are coming with us." She’s talking to me like I’m a two-year-old. I bristle at the words ‘little girl’. I’m sixteen, and I’ve had just about enough of people treating me like a child.

"Sorry Cela, but she's mine, and I can guarantee you she is not going anywhere with you." Alec’s calm exterior is astonishing. I look over at him, and suddenly I feel a calmness wash over me. It’s like I know can trust that he will keep me safe.

"Is that so?" She looks at him like he is cow dung on her shoe. I can tell she’s the brains of the duo; that means the guy was the braun.

"Yes."

"And how do you figure two infants like you will get out of this predicament?" Again with the condescending tone. This chick is seriously getting on my nerves. I feel my panic turning into rage. These people killed my parents and while I don't believe Alec's crazy blithering nonsense, part of me felt powerful. I’m not sure if I like this.

"OK. Seriously, we are teenagers. You don't have to talk to us like we are toddlers. I mean, if you are going to kill us like you did my parents, the least you can do is be respectful about it." Where in the hell did that come from? Why do I think murderers will be nice just because I ask? I’m pretty sure I’m starting to lose it because a normal person would be begging for their life.

"Trust me honey, you are a toddler compared to us." The man speaks for the first time since Cela arrived.

"Cerberus is it?" He stiffens at my use of his name as if he didn't know I knew it. "Yes I know your name. I was there you know. When you killed my parents. Just hiding away in the basement while you two chuckleheads were ten feet away."

I’m not sure why I’m provoking them, but everything in my body is pushing me to keep talking. "I mean come on, it’s like a cheesy horror movie. Everyone hides in the basement. It can't be that hard to find someone."

Cerberus literally growls at me and for a second I swear I see dog like features take over his face. Cela slaps me hard across the face, and I feel a trickle of blood down the left side of my chin.
Great.
Rug burn and now this.

"How dare you speak to us like that? You minuscule little twerp." She rages on, "do you have any idea who you are talking to?"

"Aside from the fact that I know I am talking to two cold-blooded killers? No I don't know who you are, enlighten me." I hope she can't hear the fear in my voice, all sense of courage whooshed out of me with the slap.

She is in my face with her nose touching mine. "Child, we are your worst nightmare." I use all my strength not to gag at the smell exuding from her mouth.

The library door swings open, hitting Cerberus in the back and knocks him over. It’s Ms. Thorpe. In the momentary distraction, Alec swings into action. He kicks Cerberus in the face with enough force that it should’ve snapped his neck. In a millisecond, he is in front of Cela. Crouching down low, he sweeps one foot under hers and her back to slams on the floor with a thud.

He grabs my fist and pulls me towards the back of the library. What the hell just happened and how did he take down to attackers in the blink of an eye? He picks up speed and pulls me along like a rag doll. I get my bearings back and start to sprint faster.

"Where are we going?" I’m huffing with the exertion of talking and running at the same time.

"We are going to my place." He doesn’t sound out of breath at all. "Follow me." He leads me down a narrow set of bookcases toward the back exit of the library. It opens directly out to the parking lot.

We stop at a car, and he throws the door open; prompting me to do the same. I don't even have time to put on my seatbelt before we’re speeding out of the parking lot at about 80 miles an hour.