Morning Rising (5 page)

“Arrogant.” Kade sniffed. He dropped the ruse
of casual observer as his fist clenched at his side. Slowly, the
others were circling in on her. Kara eyed the door, but her path
was blocked by the crowd moving in, sensing a fight. A glance in
the other direction showed a possible escape route through the back
of the club. She took a step in that direction.

“She belongs with me,” Kara said, knowing the
words were true.

“She belongs to no one but Demitar. We will
kill you where you stand for your insult,” Kade threatened. Kara
had no doubt they would do as he said. She needed to buy some
time.

“Why kill me if she wouldn’t even notice me?”
Kara asked with a small shrug. She did her best to sound like Dylan
at her most overconfident. “Are you afraid that a poor little
changeling like me could actually be the one Dylan would notice
above all of you?”

“Stop calling her that.” Kade’s voice was a
roar of anger as he lunged at her.

Kara anticipated it. She ducked to the side,
out from under his reach, before running into the crowd. No one
expected her to try anything that stupid and she almost made it to
the back before someone grabbed her arm. Kara turned and punched
the man. It was the first time she ever hit someone, but it felt as
if she had been doing it all her life.

The man reeled back a step, clutching his
nose as blood began to drip through his fingers. Kara flexed her
aching hand and turned to run, but the man caught her arm again
tightly. This time when she swung, he was ready for it. He caught
her fist in his other hand, holding it steady.

“Still a little spitfire, aren’t you, Sila?”
the man asked with a mad grin. His golden eyes glowed in the dim
lights.

The crowd closed in, happy to watch the fight
play out, but ready to step in if need be. Kade pushed his way
through the crowd, eager to take on Kara. Kara took in all this
with one quick look, and then her eyes were back on the man holding
her captive.

“Who are you?” Kara asked frantically, her
mind racing. She tried to tug free, but the man held on. Golden
eyes, was he there to help? Truth and lies, golden eyes held truth
and lies, or something like that. He must be there to help. Why
else would Glint send her to the Gravity club? The possibility that
Glint set her up to be taken down flashed through Kara’s mind. She
ignored it.

Chapter 4

Kara stumbled away from the man as they
reappeared on a busy sidewalk. People pushed past harshly, with no
regard for her or the man. Kara looked around for a sign of
anything she knew. Nothing was familiar. She bit her lip, fighting
tears as fear flooded through her.

“Sila, come on,” the man ordered. He took her
hand and began to pull her into the crowd.

“No.” Kara struggled to free her hand, but he
held her tight. It was too much, seeing Dylan, being magically
whisked away to who knew where. She felt like a pinball getting
bounced around with no control. Kara dug in her heels. “Who are
you?” she asked and leaned back, refusing to let him pull her
further. He stopped and let go, Kara almost fell back. He turned to
her with hurt and surprise in his eyes.

“Sila?” he asked. “You don’t remember
me?”

“Obviously not,” Kara said. She knew it was
harsh, but she’d been getting pulled around blindly since she woke
up in that damn pit. She wanted answers. “Who are you, and where
are you taking me?”

“I’m Baron.” He took a step forward and
frowned. “You really don’t remember me?”

“No,” Kara answered with a soft, exasperated
sigh. Baron really looked hurt. Aside from his golden eyes, his
features had an Asian hint to them with blue-black hair and lightly
tan skin. He reminded Kara of a guy who lived in her building and
played in a local band. Her anger faded.

“I thought you would get some of your
memories back when you were brought here,” Baron explained. He
shook his head. “Doesn’t matter, I still need to get you to the
professor, he’ll know what to do.” He tugged Kara another few feet
before she pulled him to a stop again.

“What do you mean the professor? Who is
that?” Kara asked

“Sila,” Baron started in an exasperated
tone.

“Stop calling me that,” Kara said through
clenched teeth. “My name is Kara.”

“Fine, Kara.” Baron nodded, not looking happy
about the name. “We aren’t far from the club and soon the word will
be out that the Guardian has arrived and that I’m helping her. We
have no way of knowing how long we have before everyone is an
enemy. The only safe place I know of in this city is the
professor’s apartment.”

Kara thought it over quickly. Baron watched
her with his warm golden eyes, waiting patiently for her answer.
That was what did it. He looked so damn trustworthy. Kara sighed
and nodded.

“Fine, let’s go.”

When Baron reached back to take Kara by the
arm again, she shook her head. He looked at her a moment, as if
judging whether she would follow or run from him. When he turned
away, Kara followed him through the crowd.

The city was larger than Kara expected. Baron
led her through neighborhoods where the little shops and houses
were built so close together Kara thought neighbors must be able to
talk through the walls. Those neighborhoods were dark and dirty,
giving Kara the impression that they weren’t the kind of places
where people sat around for neighborly chats.

The normal noise that Kara had grown
accustomed to in the city was muted here. Few cars filled in the
street, and the sidewalks were only scattered with people and
creatures. People stopped talking as Baron and Kara approached;
staring after them silently as they passed. Even the children they
passed watched them with wide, wary eyes, their small faces smudged
with dirt.

When Baron pulled Kara close in those
neighborhoods, she didn’t complaint. She knew he was silently
telling her she was right to be afraid. With barely a block in
between, the slums gave way to large, lavish townhouses. Even in
the pale, dusky light Kara could tell the people who lived behind
those doors were well off. The houses were set back from the road
behind intricate, black iron fences that protected well kept lawns
and gardens of white flowers. Here the noise from the main part of
the city was muted as well, but the silence was comfortable. The
people they passed either nodded kindly to them or seemed
aloof.

They came to a street of apartment buildings,
similar to the street Kara lived on. Baron stopped in front of the
tallest building. It rose up into the sky as tall as any high rise
in Kara’s own world. After the rest of the city, the apartments
seemed out of place. Walking inside only furthered that feeling as
they crossed a marble entryway to a bank of elevators. Baron
slipped a plastic key card into a slot by the elevator and pressed
the call button. A distant whirring noise announced the elevator’s
movement well before it arrived.

Kara stayed quiet as they rode up the
elevator. Baron seemed no more eager to chat as he watched the
buttons light up for each floor. It wasn’t until they stepped into
the apartment that the silence was broken. Classical music filled
the apartment, between that and the soft light coming from recessed
lights along the walls, the place had the feeling of home. There
was very little furniture, only a couch, chair, and foot stool. The
kitchen and living room occupied one open room, lined with rich
hardwood floors and cream colored walls. Wide windows took up one
wall, overlooking the city below.

“Alster,” Baron called, “Professor?” Baron
shut the door and turned the lock with a click. The click seemed
all too final to Kara’s nerve racked brain. Her eyes darted around
the room looking for a second exit. There was none. “I’ve brought
the Guardian.” Somewhere in the apartment, the volume on the music
was lowered.

“Baron, is that you?” called Alster. It was a
grandfatherly kind of voice, and Kara found herself relaxing at the
sound of it.

“Yes it’s me.” Baron gave Kara a quick smile.
“And I’ve brought the Guardian.”

“The Guardian?” Alster sounded eager. He
strode into the room, his eyes landing on Kara. They regarded each
other for a moment. There was something familiar about his light
golden eyes and short white beard. Round glasses perched on his
nose to complete the grandfatherly appearance above his three piece
suit. He smiled at Kara, his eyes wrinkling. His smile was so eager
that it felt like the leer of a shark and put her on edge. “Sila,
my dear, you’ve grown up so fast.”

“Yeah, she doesn’t really like to be called
that.” Baron clapped Alster on the back as he went to the
refrigerator. He spoke over his shoulder, “call her Kara.”

“Kara?” Alster asked, looking confused.
“Baron, what are you talking about? Doesn’t she remember-”

“I remember,” Kara interrupted. “I just like
my human name better.” Kara looked between Baron at the kitchen
counter and Alster standing by the couch. “Are you two
related?”

It was hard to imagine. Aside from the golden
eyes, there was little in common between the two. Baron’s dark hair
was cut close to his head while Alster’s gray hair was receding.
Baron looked like any other hip twenty-something in the human world
with his vintage rock t-shirt and torn jeans, while Alster looked
like a librarian.

“He’s my uncle,” Baron answered, taking a
swig from a can of soda he pulled from the fridge.

“Baron is my sister’s son. He is the black
sheep of the family in many regards.” The look Alster gave Baron
bordered on disdain. “He was the only one willing to come to
Inbetween with me to wait for you.”

“Willing?” Baron asked with a frown, “I
practically suggested it. Someone had to keep an eye on these
girls.”

“Yeah, about that,” Kara said. She leaned
against the sofa, collecting her thoughts. “This is all a little
overwhelming. Last I knew I was just a normal girl. Now all of a
sudden I’m supposed to be guardian to a princess? And this princess
happens to be my best friend?” Kara shook her head. It all felt too
unreal to handle.

“More than best friend,” Alster insisted, his
eyes glowing a deeper gold in the moment. He stepped forward and
wrapped his dry, wrinkled hands around Kara’s. She fought the urge
to pull away. “With the connection the two of you have, you will
become the most powerful pair in this land. In any land I would
wager.”

“What do you mean?” Kara asked, blushing at
his words and pulling her hands away. Whatever deeper connection
there was between Dylan and her, she wasn’t really up for
discussing it with the old man. That idea was just a little too
uncomfortable for her.

“You’re her Guardian,” Alster answered,
looking surprised that Kara didn’t understand. Kara nodded, relief
sweeping through her. Sure, that Guardian connection, she could
handle talking about that. She actually had a couple questions
about that.

“Yeah,” Kara said and squeezed the back of
the couch, not meeting Alster’s gaze. “What’s up with me being her
Guardian?” Kara asked. Alster’s eyes widened. He turned and began
to rant, pacing the floor in front of Kara. Behind him, Baron
watched with an amused grin.

“Guardian is the rarest title to hold. Only
one who truly loves another can be called a Guardian. For you to
have been chosen at such a young age, you were chosen at only six
years old, it’s unheard of.” Alster paused to catch his breath,
obviously excited. Kara hoped he wouldn’t go on with the whole love
thing. “The power you two will share is immeasurable. When we find
her, you can take over Inbetween and the Daylands if you have a
mind to. I have no doubt that given the right time and training you
could rule the Nightlands as well.” Alster chuckled at the idea.
“When I think of all the possibilities you have in front of
you.”

“I just want to find her,” Kara said quietly
as she intently studied the couch cushion. Alster frowned at her,
but didn’t push the issue.

“We already ran into her,” Baron offered.
“She was at the Gravity club. That’s where I found Kara.” Alster’s
attention snapped to Baron. Baron paused with the soda can half way
to his lips.

“You went to the Gravity club?” Alster hissed
the question, his mood visibly darkening at the mention of the
place. All the excitement drained from his face as he turned to
Kara. “Why in hell would you go there?” he asked, his anger
flaring.

“I, I didn’t know.” Kara took a step back
from the couch, glad it now stood between them. She was unnerved by
his quick change in persona. Even the smallest hint of a kind
grandfather was gone. In its place was a man seething with anger
and frustration.

“Alster,” Baron called, his even voice
breaking into Alster’s head. Some of the eagerness returned to
Alster’s eyes. It looked genuine, but Kara was wary now. “We got
out fine,” Baron continued. “They were going to realize Kara was
here sooner or later. At least I found her.”

“That’s true.” Alster nodded and backed away.
“I need to work on this, seek them out.” He was still muttering to
himself as he left the room. At the doorway to his study, he turned
and took a long look at Kara before disappearing.

“How did you happen to find me there?” Kara
asked. It was something she hadn’t considered before.

“I was following Morning,” Baron
answered.

Kara nodded and shoved away from the couch.
She didn’t want Baron to see how shaken she was. If finding Dylan
could be that important to Alster, then there was obviously much
more at stake than she realized. She went to the window and put her
head against the cool sheet of glass. Below them, the city
stretched out in near darkness, neon lights blinking as traffic and
animals moved along the roads. The city spanned further then she
could see from the apartment. Dylan was out there somewhere, but
she could be anywhere.