Darkness Wanes (6 page)

The warm water surrounded me and took the worst of my chills away. I sunk down low, letting it wash over my head. The comfort of it made me feel human—less like animal dung. I rose back up and grabbed a bar of soap from the floor next to the pool. I lathered it as best as I could and rubbed it onto my head. My scalp was gritty and my hair was tangled so badly I didn’t know if I’d ever work out all the knots. In the low lighting, it appeared more black than auburn. Maybe I should have taken up the guardian’s offer to cut it, but Lucas loved my hair long—and who knew what Dannia might do to it with a knife.

I finished washing quickly and climbed out. Most of the others were already done and getting dressed. They were taking the opportunity to chat while we had the place to ourselves. A stack of threadbare towels waited in the corner. I took one and dried myself off, noting the scratches and bruises covering my pale skin from sleeping on a stone floor. Sections of my arms had open sores on them where I’d gotten stuck to the ice, most likely while sleeping.

I winced when I saw them. You knew you were in bad shape when you discovered injuries you didn’t even know you had. I was glad Lucas couldn’t see me like this. If there was a mirror in this place, I doubted I’d recognize myself. After getting dressed, I finger-combed my hair and put it in a braid to run down my back. It would still get knotted up before the next weekly bath, but at least it would be out of my face.

Bartol cast a questioning glance at me from where he stood across the room apart from the others. The look in his eyes told me he hadn’t forgotten our last conversation. We wouldn’t have a better chance than this to discuss summoning an archangel. I made my way over to him.

“What else do you know?” I asked him, keeping my voice low just in case.

He leaned closer to me. “The most difficult part will be finding someone with a direct connection to the archangel you wish to summon. Without that…it is impossible.”

I hesitated, thinking how to answer. “Lucas has one.”

His eyes widened. “You’re summoning
that
archangel?”

“Yes. I need to talk to him.”

He scanned the room, paranoia in his gaze. No one was looking our way and my senses didn’t pick up on their curiosity either. I was paying close attention to that.

“Why do you wish to speak to
him
?” Bartol hissed.

“It’s for a friend.” No need to go into specifics in case someone did overhear us. Several of the nephilim were still wary of me. For centuries, sensors had been considered the enemies of all supernaturals. I’d done more than my fair share to prove myself an ally, but not all of them had been around to see it and some didn’t want to believe.

“Knowing you, I’m sure it is.” He toweled off his wet hair. The tips reached just past his shoulders where they’d been trimmed while I was away.

I tried not to stare at the scarred side of his face where the skin sagged, appearing half-melted. Bartol had nearly a hundred years in Purgatory to get used to it, but I worried how he’d handle things once he was back in the real world.

Most people would be terrified to go near him now. Not just because of the scars, but also because of the near-animalistic look in his gold eyes. A caged bear would look friendlier. At the moment, he was doing his best to show me the better half of his face. I supposed I would have done the same in his shoes.

“If I can get Lucas to agree, do you think we can do it after we get out of here?” I asked.

Bartol sighed. “Yes, but you must do me a favor.”

“What do you want?”

“Help me find a simple home away from people where I can live in peace,” he said quietly.

I’d been planning on doing that anyway. It wasn’t the first time he’d talked about what he wanted after he got out. “I’ll do my best to find the perfect place. Anything else we’ll need for the spell?”

“Nothing we can’t find easily once we’re out of here.”

The bathing chamber door opened and guards poured inside. Bartol and I stepped away from each other, but not before a look of understanding passed between us. It wouldn’t be much longer now.

Chapter Five

Lucas

“Is he here yet?” Lucas asked as they pulled into the cafe parking lot. They’d agreed to meet Patrick, Emily’s father, at a restaurant in Fairbanks for breakfast.

“Yeah.” She thrummed her fingers on the armrest.

Lucas could hear her heart rate pick up as he parked the SUV. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her excited about anything. Emily barely slept the night before and was up before dawn, rushing him to get ready. He’d been up late as well, but he’d been using that time to check out her father.

Over the past two days, he’d used every contact he had to learn what he could about Patrick Jones. The sensor had been born in Texas and gone to college there, but it was as if he disappeared after that. He didn’t even file taxes. The only current detail Lucas found was the P.O. Box address he put on his hotel registration, revealing he might live in Montana. The man might as well have been a ghost. That bothered Lucas, but he’d promised Emily they’d meet him. He’d hear Patrick out before deciding what to do next.

He shut off the vehicle. “You will tell me if he lies about anything, do you understand?”

“For the millionth time—yes!” Emily jerked the passenger door open.

Lucas might be adept at discerning lies from truth through body language, but it was good to have a sensor confirm it. One could never be too careful when dealing with the unknown. He still thought it too convenient for her “father” to show up now.

“Stay by my side,” he ordered, catching up to Emily with his long strides.

She paused at the door and turned to look up at him. “Lucas, this means a lot to me. I know you’re being all paranoid and stuff, but if he is my father. I
need
to get to know him. You just…you have to understand that.”

He didn’t miss the desperation in her eyes. Emily was latching onto the one good thing that might have come her way recently. It made him worry about her that much more, but he also couldn’t deny her this opportunity. If there was any chance Patrick came with good intentions, Lucas couldn’t ruin that for her.

“I understand,” he said.

She blew out a breath. “Good.”

They entered the café. Lucas ran his gaze around the room, grateful to find it wasn’t too crowded yet. Only a third of the tables were full. They’d need to keep the meeting short before the morning rush arrived. There was always the chance this wouldn’t go well, and he didn’t want too many observers around if that happened. Violent incidents were more difficult to cover up these days. Many frightened humans had begun ingesting magic tonics, providing them immunity to compulsion. Enterprising witches were taking full advantage of supernaturals being out in the open.

Lucas waved off a waitress who started to head toward them. They didn’t need her help. Emily’s gaze was already on her father, who sat on the far side of the room by himself.

Patrick appeared to be in his late thirties. He had medium-length brown hair the same shade as his daughter’s, light skin, and a freshly shaven face. Wire-rim glasses covered his sensor-blue eyes. The suit he wore didn’t fit his lean frame well, but Lucas suspected he bought it off the rack just for this occasion. Was he really a father only wishing to connect with his long-lost daughter, or was he something else? Nothing about the studious man appeared sinister. In fact, he looked rather nervous, but it could have been an act.

As they reached the table, Patrick stood. He met Lucas’ eyes and his lips thinned with a grimace. The power waves coming off of him were likely hitting Patrick full-force now that they stood a mere two feet apart. Sensors who were used to being around powerful supernaturals built up a tolerance, but those who avoided them felt their presence more strongly. Where had Patrick been all these years that meeting with one nephilim would hit him this hard?

“Welcome,” Emily’s father said. “Please have a seat.”

Lucas noted he hadn’t offered to shake hands. Did he have a problem with supernaturals or did he want to avoid touching someone with power? There was no way to be certain. It made Lucas second-guess the idea of coming here, but he wanted to learn more about this man who claimed to be Emily’s father. This was the best way to do it without upsetting the girl. She wouldn’t like it very much if he started off with the torture ideas milling around in his head.

Emily sat opposite from Patrick and Lucas took a seat next to her. The tension in the air was thick between them. Emily was casting nervous glances at both of the men as if she expected a violent outbreak at any moment. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility—humans present or not.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries and come to the real reason you are here,” Lucas said, resting his arms on the table and leaning forward. “Tell me how you found Emily and why you came to see her.”

Patrick stiffened. “I didn’t know about her until two weeks ago when Stephanie tracked me down and told me. She said you all forbade her to see Emily, but she thought I might have a better chance of checking on our daughter.”

“You mean she never told you about Emily until recently?” Lucas had heard a different version, but that had come from what Stephanie told Emily—before her sensor abilities began working.

Patrick nodded. “I admit I was shocked at first, but I got over it quickly. I knew I had to come see her and find out if….” He shifted his gaze to Emily and he gave her an earnest look. “If she turned out like me.”

Sensors inherited their gifts from their parents, but not every child became one.

“Do you understand why we sent her mother away?” Lucas asked.

“She’s a vampire now.” Patrick grimaced. “Not that you raising my daughter is any better.”

“Mom didn’t care about me,” Emily said defensively. “She left me home alone all the time and hung out with a bunch of crazy vampires and witches. Lucas and Melena saved me.”

“And where is Melena now?” Patrick ran his gaze around the room before returning his attention to Emily. “You mentioned yesterday that she’s a sensor.”

“Um, she’s gone right now, but you can meet her when she gets back.” Emily darted a quick glance at Lucas. They hadn’t discussed what to say about Melena, but this wasn’t the time to get into that. He gave a subtle shake of his head.

“When Melena found Emily, she was in a dangerous situation.” Lucas gave Patrick a hard look. “Your daughter was just discovering her abilities and she was surrounded by a rabid band of supernaturals who might have killed her if they found out—or worse. Never mind what her mother could have done. We took on the responsibility of protecting your daughter when no one else would.”

Patrick folded his hands on the table. “Do you know I’ve heard of you and your mate even in the remote area where I live? You two haven’t exactly stayed under the radar. It’s a miracle my daughter is still alive, considering your social circle.”

Lucas’ hand twitched with the urge to wrap itself around Patrick’s neck. The man must have gotten past his nervousness rather quickly to talk to him this way. “You dare judge us? If you had paid more attention to whom you impregnate, perhaps we wouldn’t be sitting here now.”

“Fairbanks is a cesspool for supernaturals,” Patrick said, glowering. “I’ve lost count on how many of them I’ve sensed since I arrived. If you really care about my daughter, you’ll let me take her to my home where she’ll be safer.”

“Wait.” Emily held up a hand.

Lucas leaned forward until he was inches from Patrick’s face. “Over my dead body—and I assure you, I am not that easy to kill.”

“Where there is a will there is a way,” the male sensor said, unflinching.

Lucas almost had to respect the man for standing up to someone considerably more powerful than him. Was it for Emily’s sake? If Patrick had just learned about her and her situation, his reaction could be construed as natural for a new father. It was also rather foolish, considering he lacked the power to put up a good defense.

“Seriously?” Emily stood up. “This is ridiculous!”

“You’re not leaving with him.” Lucas gave her a stern look.

“Of course, I’m not. This is my home and I’m staying here.” She pointed a finger at Patrick. “And you can’t just show up and take over like you haven’t been gone my whole life.”

“I’m only trying to do what is best for you,” he said, earnestness in his gaze.

She sat back down. “Then stick around and get to know me.”

“I’m not sure if that is such a good idea.” Lucas was already plotting ways to make Patrick leave. Not all of them required the man to be alive.

Emily set her jaw. “It’s not your decision.”

“We don’t know this man or his motives,” Lucas replied. “The peace spell will be coming down soon and we must prepare for what may come next. Distractions will not help us.”

Patrick stiffened. “The spell is already beginning to dissipate. I expect it will be gone altogether in the next week or two.”

“Is that right?” Lucas looked to Emily.

Her brows furrowed. “It has been feeling weaker the last few days, but I’m still getting the hang of judging that stuff. Patrick, I mean…my father, really believes it’s going down, though.”