Lust (14 page)

you know Violet and Hugh?”

“They were taken by the Force.”

I wasn’t sure what the Force

was exactly, but I had a hunch.

“The police force?”

The girl nodded. “Yes, but no

one calls them police now. They’re

just the Force.”

“Okay, but when were they

taken? We were with them a few

minutes ago.” I checked our

surroundings. Hugh and Violet were

nowhere to be seen.

“When they were transported.

There was a bounty on their head.”

A male explained.

“A big one.” The first girl to

enter the clearing nodded. “Biggest

I have ever heard of.”

“A bounty?” Were Violet and

Hugh in trouble? Why would they

have returned home then?

“The announcement gave no

reasons.”

“This makes no sense.” Daisy

dug her foot into the damp soil.

“None of this makes sense.

“My bet is you’re going to have a

bounty on your head too. You

brought a Pteron into the Glamour

Realm.” She pointed a thumb at

me.

“I had a good reason to bring

him,” she looked at me for help. “A

good reason.”

I thought fast. “I’m escorting her

home by order of The Society.”

“I thought you were with Violet

and Hugh?” The male asked

suspiciously.

“We were, but I was still her

escort.”

“She’s been escorted. You may

leave.” He moved his hand as if to

shoo me away.

“He can’t leave yet.” Daisy

squeezed my hand. “We have other

reasons to be here.”

“Do you?” The girl asked. “This

should be interesting.”

10

DAISY

What kind of mess were we in

now? It was bad enough that Violet

wanted to take us through some

weird other world to get to Mount

Majest, but now we were on our

own, and both of us might be in

trouble. What would happen if, or

more likely when, these people

discovered I wasn’t an Allure?

Things were only going to get

worse.

“What other business does he

have here?” The girl asked again.

I’d put my foot in my mouth, but I

had to say something. Otherwise

one of them might make him leave.

Owen was strong, but who knew

what these people could do?

“It’s private.” I tried to keep my

voice firm. “Do you know how we

can find Violet and Hugh? I know

you said they’re in some sort of

trouble, but maybe we can help.”

“Are you suffering from memory

loss?” The first girl walked over.

Owen started to move in front of

me, but I stopped him. She wasn’t

going to hurt me. She put her hands

on either side of my head. “You’re

not full Allure yet, huh? That’s the

problem. Is this your first time in

the Glamour Realm?”

“Yes.” Change of plans. Maybe

playing on my lack of knowledge

could be a help rather than

hindrance.

“That changes things.”

Something silent passed between

the two.

The guy nodded and walked

toward me. “What does it change?

She’s still breaking the rules.”

“Not intentionally…” The girl

rested her chin in her fisted hand.

“Clearly Hugh made her before he

could tell her.”

The guy shook his head.

“There’s no way Hugh made her.”

“Why not?” the girl asked.

“It’s a completely different

essence. It’s….” His eyes darkened.

“It’s Taylor.”

“How could that be?” The once

friendly girl stepped back. The

others instantly looked suspicious.

“She’s been missing… and this girl

isn’t her.”

I shook my head. “It’s not like

that. A witch… it wasn’t my fault.”

Several more of the people

stepped closer.

“Honestly, it wasn’t my fault.”

Owen glared at the crowd, and

they stopped. “Just tell them the

truth.”

“The truth?” The angry guy

asked.

“Yes. The truth. Roland made

Daisy.” Owen pulled me against his

side. “Roland was made by Taylor.”

“Oh.” The girl sighed with relief.

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know. Violet and Hugh

were helping.” I went along with

the story. It was easier and

hopefully safer that way.

“You poor thing.” The first girl

hugged me in an awkward way

since Owen wasn’t budging.

“Separated from your maker before

you even understand the way of

things.”

“That doesn’t explain why she’s

with him.” The angry guy scowled.

“She still hasn’t told us the truth

about that.”

“I already told you. I’m her

protection. The king assigned me to

guard her until she found her

maker. That was the secret. We

had no idea there were still Allures

around and now that we do; it’s our

duty to make sure no harm comes

to this new one.”

“The Society has changed…”

The angry guy seemed lost in

thought. “Do you have any idea

where Roland might be?”

“With the Elders.” I had to risk

sharing the information. It was the

only clue I had, and if there was

any chance these people could lead

us there, I had to take the chance.

Several of them gasped. “Has he

been summoned there?”

I hated lying, but what could I

do? “Possibly. Do you know how to

find them?”

“We can find the Elders, but that

doesn’t mean they will see you.”

The girl crossed her arms. “You are

not even a full Allure after all.”

“I need to find him.” Then I

thought of something. “Does the

Force work with the Elders? Is that

where Violet and Hugh would have

been brought?”

The girl shook her head. “No.

The Force is its own separate

entity. .” She held out her hand.

“I’m Sky by the way. Who are you?”

“Daisy.” We were lying about so

much already. I decided using my

real first name could be helpful.

“Nice name.” The angry guy

held out his hand. “I’m Adrian.”

I accepted the surprisingly firm

handshake. “Nice to meet you.”

I waited as half a dozen more

introduced themselves. No one

moved to introduce themselves to

Owen, so I took care of that myself.

“This is Owen.”

“Hi,” they mumbled before

turning back to me. “You are just in

time for the Blood Moon Festival.”

“The what?” Owen and I looked

at each other.

“The Blood Moon. It’s exactly

what it sounds like. A festival

dedicated to the blood moon.”

“That red thing?” I pointed into

the sky.

“Yes. It’s our blood moon. It

only comes once a year.”

“Oh. Good timing I guess.” Or

bad. Maybe they had a festival to

appease negative things. Hopefully

there was no sacrifice involved.

“You’re Dryads.” Owen shook

hands with the girl. “I’ve met some

of your kind.”

“The Dryads of your world are

nothing like us.” She crinkled up her

nose.

“Why not?” he asked.

“Because they gave up most of

their power. They left their home

realm.”

“And you get power from your

home realm?” I asked.

“Yes. From our trees of course.”

She crossed her arms.

I filed away that information for

later. “We wouldn’t want to impose

on your celebration. If you could

send us in the direction we need to

go, we’ll be out of your way.”

“Having an Allure at our festival

would be an honor.” One of the

girls, I was pretty sure her name

was Donna said.

“Even a new Allure who’s just

now changing?” I still wasn’t sure

what my standing was.

“Of course. We’d love to have

you come.” Adrian smiled.

“I need to keep Owen with me.”

“He can come if he behaves.”

Adrian narrowed his eyes.

Owen glowered. “Dryads answer

to the king where I come from.”

“But you’re not where you come

from. We don’t answer to any king

here.”

“Who is the leader then?” I

asked.

“The Elders of course. Isn’t that

why you want to find them?”

“Yes, but I thought maybe there

was something on the local level.” I

was grasping at straws. I was in so

over my head it wasn’t funny.

“Are you hungry?” Donna asked

Owen.

He shook his head. “Thank you,

but I’m fine.”

“We have plenty of food in the

village. Why don’t you come with

me?” She beamed up at him.

He smiled, but moved closer to

my side. “I’m staying with Daisy.”

“She’s going to be fine right

here.”

“We stay together.” I wasn’t

giving in on that. This time it wasn’t

for my own security. It was for

Owen’s. Who knew what would

happen to him? He was incredibly

strong, but I had absolutely no idea

what these creatures were capable

of, and we were severely out

numbered.

Donna smiled at me. “Are you

hungry too? Do you still have an

appetite?”

“Not much of one, but Allures

can still eat.” I’d seen Allures eating

several times.

“They can, but usually they are

picky. Our simple foods don’t

usually appeal.”

“I like simple.” I had always

been the least picky of all my

friends and family.

“Then you’re still human. You

won’t want simple later.”

“Not every Allure is the same.”

Violet and Hugh were completely

different from one another.

“No, but simplicity isn’t in your

makeup. You like grander things,

which is fine by us. We all have our

place.”

“It doesn’t matter. Owen needs

to eat, so I’ll come with him.” I was

tired of this conversation.

“I have a better idea.” Sky

popped up on her toes. “Want to

see Roland’s house?”

“His house?” Violet must have

been literal when she said she’d

take us to her home. Or not. She

had ditched us the second we

arrived, unless the Dryads were to

be believed, and they’d been

transferred to the Force.

“Yes. Maybe that would be the

best way to find him. I doubt he’s

with the Elders. No one stays on

Mount Majest long. You either get

an audience or you don’t.”

“Daisy and I are staying

together,” Owen interrupted. “I’m

not hungry. We can go to the house

first.”

“But then you won’t see our

festival.” Donna’s face fell.

“How far away is his house?”

Owen asked. “Can’t we do both?”

“In theory, yes.”

“In theory?” I was still trying to

figure out what to do. I’d been told

over and over again that the Elders

wouldn’t see me if I simply showed

up, so maybe finding Roland would

help too, especially if we couldn’t

find Violet and Hugh. The Dryads

had gotten strange when Taylor

came up. Was it only because she

was a missing Allure, or was there

more? Something told me finding

out would be important.

“You’re going to get distracted,

and he’ll never come back.” Donna

looked down at the ground.

“Why do you care so much

whether he goes to your festival?” I

sized up the tiny Dryad.

“Because we never get non-

fairies here.”

“So? You like him because he’s

exotic or something?”

Owen laughed under his breath.

“What about you? Why are you

with him?”

“Because I—” I stopped. An

Allure couldn’t love. I had to be

careful. “Because he’s protecting

me.”

Adrian smiled reassuringly. “The

change is making you emotional,

but don’t let Donna get to you. If

she bothers you, hope that you

never meet a Nymph.”

“Nymphs? They really exist?” I

remembered the name of the

mythological creature from school.

Unless I was mistaken they were

also the source of the modern day

term “nympho.”

“Oh, yes.” Owen nodded.

“And you know them?”

He held up his hands as though

in defense. “Not in any of the ways

you’re thinking.”

“Are you sleeping with Roland?”

Sky asked.

I coughed. “Uh, no.”

“Really? That happens a lot.”

“Not with us.”

“But Allures like sex.”

“Don’t most people like sex?” I

was going to lose my temper if we

didn’t start moving soon. Why did

these Dryads keep moving the

conversation in circles? It was as

though they were purposely

sabotaging us. Maybe they were.

“Yes, but you guys mostly live

through other people’s emotions.

Sex is supposedly still good though.

I guess the physical feelings are

real.” Adrian smiled.

“Great.” I glanced all around

me. I’d have left if I had an inkling

of what direction to go.

“Where’s Roland’s house?” Owen