Dwellers of Darkness (7 page)

The instant my lids popped open, I was out of bed. Moonlight glinted through the tiny cabin windows, giving the room a spooky glow. Beams of light shone softly over Mom and Kennedy. I let them sleep. There was nothing they could do, and they had been through so much. Revealing what I’d learned would only add to their worries. Mom and I could leave when she woke up. I scratched a quick note telling her my idea and to come find me.
She was going to be thrilled when she reads this
. Since sleep was not going to be my friend, I headed to the place where I could take my aggressions out: the gym.

It wasn’t my first choice, but my first choice was no longer an option. My preference required less clothing and slipping into bed with a certain Dark Dweller. My feelings for him constantly ran the gamut between hot and cold—mostly hot.

Dressed in my sweats and a tank top, my hair back in a ponytail, I stepped into the old garage, which had been fitted into a workout facility for the Dark Dwellers. Overstuffed punching bags dripped at different heights from the ceiling. Black, slick mats were on one side and training equipment sat on the other. I grabbed hand wraps from the shelf and went to work on a punching bag. My fears for Dad, Ryan, Josh, and Torin drove into the bag with every punch.

“Your form still is lacking,” Eli’s rumbling voice spoke from behind me. Without turning, I pressed my head into the bag with an aggravated grumble.

The heat of his body was instantly there as he moved behind me, grabbing my hand. “You are still tucking in your thumb.” He curved my fingers in on themselves, placing my thumb over the top. “Now punch.” I hit the bag with force. “I know it’s uncomfortable, but it protects your fingers and does more damage to your opponent.”

The warmth of his body next to mine was tormenting me. Turning to face him, I shifted to the side. “Thanks.” My hands fumbled with the cloth tied around my hands. My gaze locked on them to avoid seeing Eli’s tall, half-dressed body.

“No problem.” He seemed to have no apprehension looking directly back at me. His green eyes glowed vibrantly.

Did he want to torture me? Was his ego so big he knew he could have me on the floor with just a glimpse of his bare chest? Anger took root in my body. I switched my weight between my legs. “Did you want something? Because it would be nice if I could get five minutes without you in my head.”

Eli’s jaw clenched. “Are you still planning on leaving?”

I nodded. “As soon as it’s light, Mom and I will be out of your way.” I no longer felt as attached to this idea as I had earlier, but there was no way I was backing out of it. Putting space between us was probably the smartest thing I could do.

As Eli stepped up closer, I moved back into the bag, regaining the little space we had between us. A feral smile twisted the side of his mouth. It sent shudders through me. Good or bad I didn’t know. There was something even more unstable about him since I returned. Like sanity was something he only dabbled in when he felt like it.

“We’ll see.” He reached up and touched a
strand of my hair, which had slipped out of my ponytail, tucking it behind my ear. He leaned in. His breath brushed against my neck. Against my will, my lids drifted shut as his lips grazed my ear.

A crazed laugh came out of him. My lashes flew up to him standing back watching me. A strange tortured expression on his face. He backed up toward the door. “Have a good workout, Brycin.”

And he was gone.

I stood there shaking the hot and cold chills from my skin.

I spent the next several hours in the gym, trying to get my thoughts and feelings on the same page. It was barely dawn when another body entered.

“You are not leaving, Ember,” Cole stated firmly.

I punched the bag hard. “Eli tattled on me, I guess.”

“I am the First. He was conveying information to his leader he thought I needed to know.”

“He snitched.” I slammed my fist into the bag again.

“Ember, turn around,” Cole commanded. When I wasn’t in my Dark Dweller mode, they actually had no control over me. Or I liked to believe that. But Cole still possessed power to force me do as he asked.

I stopped. My lungs heaved from exertion. Sweat slid in trails down my face. Begrudgingly, I turned to face him. I knew why he wanted me to look at him. His authority was rooted in his eyes. With my Dark Dweller blood, I would bow to his authority.

Damn Dark Dwellers!

“Look at me, Ember.”

I huffed, crossing my arms, looking down at the mat and to the side before finally landing on him. I felt the weight of his dominance instantly.

“You are being foolish and immature. You and Eli need to deal with your problems. Work them out because you are not leaving here. I need you both. There is a war, and I need my strongest players in their top form. I don’t really want to know what happened between you two, and as much as you both can drive me crazy, you are stronger together. You are a powerful team.” Cole’s gaze on me softened. “He has not been the same since you disappeared. I need my Second back, Ember.”

My chest constricted. It was rare for Dark Dwellers to ask for help, and here was their leader asking for mine.

“Are we agreed? You’ll stay?”

I knew better than to think he was giving me an option. Logic told me he was right. When had I ever listened to logic before? Yet, I found myself nodding. “Yes.”

“Thank you,” Cole responded and left the room.

Frustration slipped back under my skin as soon as he left. I had made my decision. I wanted to leave, but Eli blocked my way. He didn’t seem to want me around, so why wasn’t he letting me go? Even when I knew Cole was right, and I had to stay, I still didn’t like someone snitching on me. I felt stupid and childish.

I tore the wrappings off my hands and wrists. Cole wanted me to deal with my shit. I was gonna start with my number one problem. My feet stomped into the dry dirt, clouds of dust puffing up as I headed for the house.

“You ratted me out?” I stormed into the kitchen. Eli was staring at his empty jar of peanut butter, as if willing it to refill itself. A grin of satisfaction grew on my mouth.

Cooper and Gabby stood by the toaster fighting over who got to put bread in next.

“Did you do this?” Eli lifted up the jar. I smiled sweetly. His fists clamped on the plastic container, crushing it.

“Sorry. Do you want me to tremble or swoon?” I folded my arms.

He smashed the jar into the table. “I am Second here. I have duties and responsibilities. I was not going to let you leave without discussing it with my First. We both decided it was an
asinine idea.” His voice was a deep growl.

“You decided? This is
my
life. Anyway, from what I’ve heard of you lately, you haven’t cared much about rules or responsibility. Why start now?” I slammed my hand on the counter. Mimicking his frustration. Cooper turned to look at me. Gabby took advantage of his distraction, shoved her bread in the toaster, and then set her attention eagerly upon the drama.

“Well, you make stupid decisions. You should not be trusted with making any choices when it comes to men, your safety, or pretty much anything else.”

The room filled with energy. The lights flickered. “Why? Because they don’t match yours?”

“Exactly.”

“Well, the ‘men’ thing you might be right about. I
do
make stupid decisions.” Aggravation thumped in my ears. I had trained for so long to control my powers, to not let them rule me, but when I was around Eli, my restraint went to hell.

“Fairy boy will be so hurt.”

Magic slipped from my hold saturating the room. Every light surged, popping with the overload of my power.

“
Fairy boy
was the only one I got right.”

Eli’s eyes flashed, narrowing. “You’ll have to share him with the Queen. Heard she likes threesomes and rough sex parties.” The arrow shot right to the center of my weak spot.

There was a high-pitched whine from the toaster before it erupted. Flames lashed out, licking the bottom of the cupboard.

“Whoa.” Cooper and Gabby jumped back.

Within seconds, the toaster full of bread exploded. With a loud crack, plastic, bits of metal, and chunks of fiery toast took off in every direction. All of us ducked as burning particles of bread flew at our heads. Pieces of the toaster hit different sides of the room, falling to the floor.

“Breakfast is ready.” Cooper yelled as the commotion died down. “Gabby, you like it well-done, right?”

“Enough,” Gabby screeched. Her anger catapulted between me and Eli. “Both. Of. You. Follow. Me.
Now
!” she demanded, walking out of the kitchen.

Neither Eli nor I moved.

“You better follow her. She’s mad,” Cooper said. “I wouldn’t mess with her when she’s this pissed and didn’t get her breakfast.”

Eli heaved in air, gave a slight nod of agreement, and started to follow Gabby out of the house. He turned back to me. “Are you coming? I am not the only one getting yelled at.” With a grunt I resentfully followed.

Eli and I trailed behind Gabby to the cabin like disobedient kids about to get a spanking.
Mommy was mad.

“You two, in here.” She opened the door of the cabin motioning for us to go in before her. Passing her with my head held low, I stepped into the room after Eli. The door shut with a slam the moment I crossed the threshold. Both Mom and Kennedy were gone. Their beds were made, but my bedding was a twisted heap trailing down onto the floor.

“What the...” I whirled. Wood sliding across the porch could be heard before there was another clatter against the frame.

“What are you doing, Gabby?” Eli rushed up to the door.

“Locking you in,” Gabby responded matter-of-factly through the door.

“What? Why?” I moved in next to Eli.

“Because I am sick of your shit.”

“Gabby, open the damn door.” Eli’s fist pounded on the wood.

“Nope,” Gabby countered. “Eli, you’ve always been a pain the ass, but since
she
disappeared, you have fallen off the tolerable boat.”

“Gabrielle
...” He yelled her name with a dangerous warning.

“Whine all you want, but I am not letting you out until you deal with your shit. I am not the only one who feels this way. I am the only one with the guts to do something about it. We’ve all had enough of this unrelenting asshole side of you. Coming from us this is saying a lot, Eli. Think about it.”

A growl erupted from him.

“Why do I deserve this?” I banged on the door.

“Because you’re the problem and the solution,” Gabby answered. “So until there is some sort of progress, I am going to sit outside this door making sure neither of you tries to escape.”

Eli leaned his forehead against the door. “I swear, if you don’t open this door right now
...”

“You’ll what?” Gabby retaliated. “Be a dick to me? For the last three years I’ve been about an inch away from taking you out. Don’t cause me to regret I didn’t.”

“You know I can tear this place down before you could even get out of the chair.”

“And you know I’ll merely find another place or another way to lock you up. Don’t threaten me, Eli. Don’t unleash my true bitch. You know how unpleasant things can get.”

This is Gabby’s good side? Remind me not to truly piss her off.

Letting air out of my lungs, I leaned against the wall next to the door. “She’s just as stubborn as you.”

With a gruff laugh, Eli’s head turned to me. “Hello, pot, meet kettle...”

My eyes narrowed. “What the hell is your deal anyway? You’ve been nothing but a complete ass since I’ve come back. You act like you want me to disappear again. I was giving you your wish, and you blocked me. I thought you’d be thrilled.”

“As much as I may want it, you are not leaving here.”

“What did I do to you? It’s me who should be mad at you. I should detest the sight of you. Not the other way around.”

He pushed himself off the door and stepped back, crossing his arms defensively.

“You’re the one who had sex with me and then led me to believe you killed my mother.” Suddenly, the anger, confusion, and embarrassment I had pushed away were back on the surface, sparking under my skin.

Control, Ember, stay in control.

Eli’s jaw set firmly, rage simmering close to the surface, too.

“Answer me. Why would you let me believe it? Why did you say you killed her?”

“I never said I did. Lorcan said it. And you had no trouble believing him.”

Blinding wrath came out of my body, blowing out the few lights in the room and dimming the cabin. Neither one of us flinched as glass shards scattered over us, eyes still secured on each other. My heightened senses made it easy to feel his conflicting emotions engulfing the room: the violence, resentment, anger, and even fear. Mine only collided against his.

“You sure didn’t deny it.” My body strained to keep my emotions in check.

“And what made you think you could simply go into the Otherworld and face the Queen? You are rash and careless. Did you temporarily lose all logic and thought in that brain of yours? Do you know how stupid it was? Seriously, did you think at all?”

My teeth clenched. Control was slipping from me, emotion taking over. I stepped closer to him. “I don’t remember ever needing your opinion or approval. I don’t care how stupid you think
it was. I didn’t do it for you. I did it for my friends and family.”

“But you could have been killed. You could have gotten them killed. It is pure luck any of you made it out alive. How would you have felt if you would have gotten Kennedy killed? Or Jared?” His arms dropped to his sides, his fists remained balled, his face etched with fury.

“Ah, so the real truth comes out. I understand Jared but be honest. Your concern is not for me but for Kennedy,” I spit back. “That’s what you really care about. You would have lost your Druid, your way back into your precious Otherworld, since I am no longer a trading commodity to the Unseelie King.”

Eli’s chest puffed up with rage. His eyes flamed red, turning into their Dark Dweller state. Energy suffocated the room, choking me. A snarl emitted from deep within him. Eli trembled as his muscles tightened his body.

“Shit. Am I gonna have to come in there and referee so you don’t kill each other?” Gabby yelled. Eli’s anger clearly could be felt on the other side of the door as well. As violent as Dark Dwellers were, I knew he would never intentionally hurt me. Also, I wasn’t some delicate little girl; I could fight and hurt back.

“This has nothing to do with Kennedy.” His voice strained as he tried to regain control. “This has to do with you.” Eli took in a deep breath, roughly rubbing the stubble on his head. “
Ciach Ort!
Have you any idea what I went through when you disappeared?” His tone was harsh and defensive. “I couldn’t feel you,” he whispered hoarsely and turned away. “I searched everywhere, thinking maybe you were only out of range, that if I went a little farther I’d be able to feel you... I never did. Hoping you were still alive, I went crazy trying to find you.”

There was a loud snort from the other side of the door.

Ignoring Gabby, Eli went on. “I’ve been on Earth for twenty-two human years now, but nothing felt longer than those three years.”

Moisture had evaporated from my mouth. My throat constricted as I tried to swallow. No words formed on my tongue.

In a flash his somber mood turned volatile. His hands wrapped around my biceps as he stepped closer, fingers digging into my skin. “Don’t you ever do it again.”