Set In Sparks (Morningstars Book 2) (18 page)

She leaned against the wood, resting her head back. Not even during her years on the run had she felt as exhausted as she did that day. It had been emotionally draining and it wasn’t over yet. She needed to know if Jaden had found out the reason for Kaden’s blackouts and if there was a chance to take care of it. She needed to organize more help, too, so that by nightfall there was enough food for everyone. She needed medical personnel so someone could look at the human victims. Though they had cleaned out all wounds, she worried there’d be infections coming and she needed someone to look at them, someone who knew what they were doing.

Maya stepped forward to the banister, looking down into the foyer. Oh, they needed a cleaning crew, too. Her list just kept getting longer and longer.

She spotted Matt downstairs, softly whistling. He looked up and she gave him a smile. “Get the warriors together. Bring Cany and Lara, too. I’m gonna meet you all in the game room,” she told him and he nodded. The game room was where he and Ryder had their video games and everything. Maya had made sure that no one went in there, meaning it was probably the only untamed room besides her quarters and she didn’t want to hold any meeting there.

Starting to walk, she realized that her hands were covered in grime and blood, partly her own and partly the blood of others, but at least her wound was healed now. She felt dirty, but that was just another thing that would have to wait.

Being the last one to enter the room, she instantly noticed that first, Red was still there and second, Cany and Ryder didn’t just stand close to each other, they were practically one person.
Good for them
, she thought. The rest of the room was barely visible with all the bodies inside and it surprised her to realize how small it actually was. They needed another room to have those kind of meetings in the future. She groaned inwardly as she realized that it was just another item to add to her list.

Silence settled over the room as Maya took in all warriors. Lex, Matt, and Devon looked terrible: dirty and worn out.

“After trying to find the girl’s parents, we decided to check the other Morningstar corners we knew, thinking maybe we’d find people that need help. Devon joined. There wasn’t much more damage since a lot of houses aren’t around any trees,” Lex answered to her unspoken thoughts and she nodded, grateful.

“I’m sorry we didn’t find the parents,” Matt mumbled, but Maya just shook her head. She knew it wasn’t their fault. She gave the youngest warrior a thankful smile, seeing his blue eyes lighten a little in relief.

“Thank you for trying it anyway. And thank you for looking out for the rest of the people,” she said, hugging herself. She was tired and had a hard time trying to keep herself from swaying on her feet. Even with all her vampire-powers the supply of strength seemed to have reached its end.

“Maya…” Lex started, but she silenced him with a pleading glance.

“Okay, I need a report on the none-vampires here,” she declared and Lara, seated on an ocean blue silk comforter between Devon, and Matt, got up. She looked dead on her feet, too.

“Sit down. It’s fine,” Maya told her. It had been months since she had seen Lara last. No one had expected Colbin’s wife to go against him and Maya regretted not having her as a friend by her side.

Lara sat instantly, proving how tired she was. “We have two that are pretty badly injured. I think we got every last one of the glass splinters out, yet I can’t guarantee it. As for the rest, it took me a while until I remembered that they needed to get out of their wet clothes,” she admitted and Maya rubbed her forehead. “Cia actually reminded me of that.”

“She was shivering. I gave her some of your clothes. They were a little tight on her, but at least she ended up dry,” Kaden threw in from the right corner of the room and Maya gritted her teeth. Jaden elbowed him in the stomach almost instantly, clearly reacting to her feelings.

“As long as you didn’t help her dress, everything is peachy,” Devon chuckled, but it sounded strained. People obviously picked up on the tension, trying to ease some of it. Maya couldn’t help but give him a secret smirk.

“Pneumonia is a risk for them, true. I haven’t considered that, but should’ve remembered when they started to huddle around the fire. We need a doctor here tomorrow night; a human one to look at the humans. You think that can be arranged?” she asked, deciding to ignore her pathetic jealousy.

“I know someone,” Lara announced and Maya blinked, surprised. “Can you get him here?” she asked and Lara nodded. “I don’t think we shouldn’t wait,” she went on and Maya finally bothered to look at the clock on one of the game consoles. They had less than an hour to sunset.

“Oh Creator,” she mumbled, trying to organize her thoughts. “We need help in cooking and we need more food. I don’t think there’s anything left. Who of you feels strong enough to go two or three more hours before we change shifts?” Maya asked and, just as she had expected, no one was tired at all.

She wasn’t convinced, but that didn’t matter. “Fine, I decide.” She thought a moment, figuring that it was best to take Red away from people-duty and put him to work on something different. She trusted Lex most with Red, so she pointed at those two.

“Food. Tons of food. Everything,” she ordered. Lex instantly got up, being followed by Red. “Bring everything back: meat, vegetables, fruits, and something to drink. Oh, and sweets for the little ones. Start calling supermarkets to get everything already packed up, that way you can get the stuff the moment the sun is gone.” They both nodded and Lex hugged her while Red kissed her cheek before leaving. Kaden growled alongside Jaden, making her raise her brow. At least they all were on the same page when it came to each other.

“Lara, besides the doctor, can you find people who’d be willing to cook and help?”

“We can do that.” Maya turned, looking at the two that had joined them. It were Cia’s parents. They looked shaken, but other than that they obviously were fine and showered.

“Thank you for the offer, but you came here because your house was destroyed, too. I’d feel bad putting you to work,” she admitted and the two gave her genuine smiles. Sadly, she liked Cia’s parents much more than she liked their daughter.

“We know people and your guys there will be better put to work with other tasks. We have the connections. Let us help.” Maya thought a moment, which got more difficult by the minute. She couldn’t remember when she had last eaten and besides Kaden’s little blood earlier, she hadn’t had any of that, either, in more than a few months.
Just a few more hours
, she told herself.

“Okay. I can never thank you enough,” she told them and they nodded.

“Any phones we can use?” Cia’s mother asked and Maya reached into her pocket, but there was no phone there.

“Here,” Kaden said, appearing by her side. “My twin and I won’t leave the house anyway for the next night, so we don’t need ours,” he explained, handing over his and Jaden’s cell phones. With that the two vanished and one worry was off her shoulders.

“Next up,” she mumbled, mentally checking her list. There was too much she wanted to organize and yet, she simply didn’t know enough people. It almost defeated her, but she figured you couldn’t lose if you didn’t let anyone else win, and she wasn’t ready to give into the helplessness that threatened to take her over.

Jaden gritted his teeth. Maya was barely keeping upright, yet she stood proud and strong. The caveman in him was ready to throw her over his shoulder and drag her off so she’d lie down, yet he knew that this wouldn’t happen.

“We need someone to take care of the damaged homes, which means phone duty. I don’t care what we’ll spend, Colbin will have to live with it,” Maya decided then and Jaden grinned to himself. She was out to seriously piss off their leader, but so far they had yet to meet again.

“I can do that,” Cany offered and Jaden looked at the courtier. Ryder stood next to her, protective, as if he feared that someone could attack her.

“You recognize that behavior, huh?” Kaden asked barely above a whisper while Maya and Cany talked about what was needed. Jaden ignored his comment though.

“I don’t know if you realize it, but every damn time you say Cia’s name it’s like a stab for Maya,” Jaden gave back, changing the topic.

“I can’t change that I’ve dated her, and it’s not my fault she’s here,” Kaden protested.

“I know,” Jaden instantly replied, trying to soothe his brother. “I’m just trying to tell you…”

He felt Maya’s weak spell before he heard the collective gasp in the room as Maya swayed and then reached for the doorframe. “I’m fine,” she instantly announced, looking directly at him and his twin.

“Shit she is,” Kaden snarled and Jaden had to agree.

“I’m fine,” she repeated and Jaden shook his head. The stubbornness of this female would be the death of him one of these nights.

Cany was already gone and left were Lara, Ryder, Matt, and him and his brother.

“You all go to sleep. Half way during the night we’ll switch and see what’s needed then,” Maya decided and Jaden actually breathed a sigh of relief. They let everyone else walk out first, then they moved to Maya’s side.

“Good that you decided for sleep first,” Kaden stated, saying exactly what Jaden had intended to say.

“I figured you two were beat. Jaden, what happened out there earlier?” She nodded at Kaden and then leaned into his twin’s arm while Jaden sat down for a moment. He hadn’t realized how exhausted he was until his ass hit the couch.

Right; that had been this night, too. “It was Nox. He used some illusion to look like Kaden. I think every time he did, Kaden checked out. Used his spirit or what do I know. When you kissed him, I think you anchored him to his body. Anyway, Nox changed back and then all hell broke loose over us.” It was the short, short version, but Maya didn’t need to know more than that. “We probably had figured out earlier what was going on if Kaden had shown regularly. Most of the time the meetings were probably not long enough for him to appear by your side, or he was too far away. Either way, I think that is not going to be an issue anymore.” And that most likely was even true.

“Okay. I’m glad if this is over. I worry enough about the two of you as it is.” Jaden watched how Maya walked over to the large flat screen mounted to the wall, touching the corners thoughtfully. She was covered in dirt and blood, her former white NYC – hoodie almost black. Her dark hair was sticking to her skin and actually looked like a mess. It was a look he wasn’t used to on Maya.

“Little star, why don’t you go upstairs and shower? We’ll be up in a bit and –”

“Kade, I’m gonna shower once everything is settled and before people wake up. Please, you two should get to bed,” she insisted and Jaden stood almost instantly.

“Wait, you didn’t plan on going to sleep with us?” The surge of need and lust shooting through her as he used those words almost made him moan, his cock instantly jumping to attention. She was too exhausted for any kind of action though. Plus, the twins wouldn’t have nearly enough time to be with her and one of them still needed to mate with her properly.

“No. There’s so much I still need to take care of, I’m just gonna crash later, okay?” she smiled and Jaden looked at Kaden, hoping for some assistance.

“What? Your bed’s big enough for the three of us and I was looking forward to some hours next to you,” Kaden coaxed. “You have two sides, one for Jaden and one for me.”

Jaden felt Maya’s longing and saw how she bit her lips. “You deserve this after everything you’ve done today. Hell, we deserve it,” Kaden went on and Jaden couldn’t deny that his brother knew exactly which buttons to push.

“Three hours,” she conceded and Jaden sighed in relief. Three hours was a start and for now all that he’d be asking fo
r
.

Cany set down the phone, staring at the screen. The sun had set just a few minutes earlier and yet there was still silence in the house. She guessed that most occupants would sleep in due to being rather exhausted.

There was a knock on the front door and Cany moved, ready to open it, but Maya came down the stairs first. She wore Kaden's hoodie coupled with a pair of loose-fitting jeans and it made Cany smile. She stayed hidden, somehow afraid of facing her Queen. Kaden was right; she needed to tell people that this whole thing had been her fault, but she just wasn't brave enough.

“Tristan!” Maya sounded actually happy to see the guy and Cany noticed the MSP uniform. The officer bowed, kneeling in front of Maya, before looking around.

“Wow, what happened?” he asked and the Queen followed his glance around the room.

“We took in all Morningstars that lost their homes last night,” she explained, hugging herself. “There's so much to be done, things I have to solve...” She trailed off, shaking her head while the officer watched her for a moment.

“We got another note, my Queen. It states clearly that if you don't meet them this time around, you'll never see your father again. I know this is not the best time, but maybe you'll think about it,” he explained. Cany instantly wanted to scream and protest, but Maya just nodded, looking around.

“The twins are asleep, as is the rest of the house. This is our chance, let's go.” The Queen was out of the house before Cany could do anything. Without thinking long, she snuck after them. There was no time to wake anyone and with any luck, they'd meet a warrior and those could hold Maya back.

“What if this is a trap?” Maya asked and the officer shrugged.

“If you want, I can ask for reinforcements,” he offered and Maya shook her head. Cany couldn't believe how stubborn she was. “My Queen, most likely this is just someone crazy and...” The guy shook his head, touching Maya's arm. “I should take you back. Your mates will hate me forever and more if you don't come back in one piece.”

Smart decision, idiot, just a little late
, Cany thought. Now that Maya had left, she wouldn't return without having seen whoever claimed to know something. The two walked in silence for a while and Cany couldn't help but wonder why they weren't rushing wherever that meeting was supposed to happen. The area they were walking towards was in downtown Helpston, with boarded-up windows, trash-covered streets and broken street lights, yet Maya maneuvered the streets like she had been there many times before. The officer next to her seemed to be more agitated with every step until he again took her arm.

“Let's return. This was a pretty stupid idea,” he admitted and Maya closed her eyes, listening to something for a moment.

“They’re asleep. No one will find out -”

“Oh, but they will.” Cany didn't recognize the voice or the woman coming out of the alley to Maya's right, but Maya clearly did.

“Destra! We are looking for... your... what's wrong with your eyes?”

Frankly, the woman ignored the guy. Cany stared at her, thinking about one of those movies the humans liked so much,
The Munsters
. This woman here could give the mother of the show a run for her money. She wore a black dress with long sleeves that almost seemed to touch the ground. Her hair was piled up on top of her head while her eyes were framed with coal eyeliner, which is return made the burning red eyes pop. Destra ... Cany had the feeling she knew the name, but just couldn't recall where from.

“Mother.” Maya's voice dripped with venom and Cany finally realized that this was not good. She patted down her clothes, but couldn't find her cell. In fact, she couldn't even remember when she had last seen it. As much as she wanted to help, she figured staying hidden could give them the advantage if they needed it. She couldn't fight, but she sure knew how to scratch and pull hair. They were three and Maya's mother was alone. Just then a white-blond guy stepped out of the shadows and Cany's stomach bottomed out. If the woman was Maya's mother, then that dude was the wizard.

“Maya.” Total adoration came across with just that one word, making Cany's skin crawl. “Beautiful Queen,” he went on and Maya's expression went from cold to horrified.

“Nox,” she mumbled, stepping back while reaching for the officer that had taken position in front of her.

“You seriously thought someone could bring back your father?” Destra asked and Cany wondered how cruel a person had to be to play games like that with their own daughter.

“I should’ve known,” Maya whispered. “Tristan, leave. You don't deserve to die over this. In fact, you don't deserve being involved in this,” she added, pulling the officer back.

“Running won't help,” Destra cackled.

“You won't get hurt, Maya,” Nox promised at the same time. By the Creator, Cany thought, that guy was insane.

“Just let Tristan go. I won't run. Just let him go,” Maya pleaded and Tristan turned to her.

“I brought you into this, I'm not gonna leave, especially since I'll not be able to enjoy my life any longer if I tell your mates that I got you killed.”

“Your mates?” Destra interrupted while Cany noticed how Nox gritted his teeth, lifting his fists as if he was ready to punch someone. “You got two while I don't have one any longer? Then again, your father was long gone from my side before I killed him.”

Even without seeing Maya, Cany could guess the reaction to that sentence. The Queen stormed forward, her fear long forgotten as her hands reached for her mother, Maya's beautiful features contorted with fury.

“He didn't deserve that, you fucking bitch! He was a good man! You should be dead in his place,” Maya screamed, obviously having caught her mother off-guard since the woman stood all but frozen like a statue. Nox was on her side, looking almost bored and as passive as he could be. Tristan seemed confused as to what he should be doing.

The Queen and Destra fell to the floor, Destra's eyes wide. She obviously couldn't move, no matter how hard she tried. Every movement seemed sloppy and whenever Destra tried to reach out, she missed Maya by inches. Eventually Destra's eyes went to her wizard, realization dawning on her face.

“You ... traitor,” she gasped, now reaching for the blond guy that watched Maya and ignored the other woman. “Why?” she coughed out and for a moment it appeared as if the wizard wasn't going to answer, but then Cany could swear she could hear him say, “Because she belongs to me.”

“Tristan, you have a knife, right?” Maya asked, not even realizing that this was too easy.

“You don't wanna kill her, my Queen. Seriously,” he whispered, stepping forward to pull Maya off the immobilized Destra. Instantly Nox's expression changed from bored to angry.

“Remember what she did to you, Maya! Remember how she tortured you! She killed your father,” he called as Maya stumbled back from the woman on the ground. The Queen was crying heavily, breathing just as hard.

“Tristan’s right. I'm not gonna lower myself to her level,” she agreed in a choked voice. “Take me home,” she then pleaded towards the officer. Cany knew that options were limited, especially since the officer couldn’t risk staying around with Maya by his side, but calling in reinforcements while they left was not going be of any use. After all, Destra and Nox would be long gone once Tristan’s colleagues arrived. It was a dilemma that made Cany grit her teeth. She wanted Nox and Destra punished.

“You cannot leave her like that,” Nox called, outrage clear in his voice. “Kill her!”

Maya just shook her head, trembling all over.

“I always knew you were weak,” Destra coughed, getting back to her feet. Whatever had stopped her before obviously no longer captured her now. She was drawing a knife and Cany wished, hoped, and prayed that she could just raise fog. It would have to be thick enough to cover them up so they'd get away.

“I'm gonna do to you what I did to your father. Then you two can be back together, you little bitch. Next time use the chance to ... Nox! Is that you again?” The panic in the mad woman’s voice made Cany's eyes snap open and to her delight she didn't see anything. She had made it! There was fog everywhere and yet she could already see it dissipate again.

“Run, Maya!” she called, closing her eyes to try and get her concentration back, but nothing happened. Something hit her in the stomach and when she opened her eyes this time, she was being carried over a shoulder, facing the pavement. From her perspective though she could say that the officer definitely had a nice backside.

Angry shouts followed them, but soon enough they were standing in front of the mansion's gates and Cany was put down back on her own feet. She couldn't help but feel relieved as she realized that maybe, just maybe she had just saved the Queen's life.

Nox stormed into the little hut that he had explicitly bought for his new-world-plan. The door slammed shut and the shadow in the corner raised its head, looking exhausted and drained. For someone stumbling into the room accidentally it didn’t even appear alive. You could mistake it for a pile of clothes or something like that. Nox knew better, of course.

“I assume my daughter still doesn’t kiss the ground you walk on,” the Queen’s father remarked, sounding almost bored. Six months locked up probably did that to you, Nox figured, not that he would know since no one would ever be able to hold him.

That was, no one but Maya. If she felt he needed to prove something, he’d let her lock him up.

“Your daughter has her hands full. The way it sounds is that one twin wasn’t enough for your precious child,” he spat and Tymon had the decency to chuckle, almost choking at the laughter. To Nox it seemed as if the Queen’s father was as insane as her mother. “What’s so funny about that?”

“Well, she picked more than one guy and still, she didn’t pick you. I guess you just don’t have it in you, huh? You know, Jaden is a fighter. Tall, and broad shoulders … aren’t those features what women love?”

Nox gritted his teeth, wanting to seriously hurt his prisoner, but he knew he couldn’t do that. Maya would never forgive him if he brought back her father harmed.

“He’s as dumb as they come! I don’t know what she sees in him,” Nox commented, starting to pace. And it was true. He was the much better choice! After all, he was clever, a mastermind at planning – if the Queen and her cute ass didn’t interrupt his thoughts – he was a valuable asset. What did those twins have on him? Nothing.

“It’s something you’ll never understand. My people call it fate. In case you didn’t notice, they’re her people, too. Jaden was meant for her, and if she now has a second mate, I’d say she fell in love with him the old fashioned way, which seriously sucks for you, man. Here you are, being her hero, saving her father and keeping him safe for so long, and she has nothing better to do than go off and mate another guy, someone who isn’t you.” Tymon shook his head as if he seriously felt sorry for Nox, but his words dripped with sarcasm and it pissed Nox off.

“Has she killed my treacherous wife yet?” And again a point where Maya didn’t just disappoint, but downright disgust Nox. He had thought her so much stronger than that, yet Destra was still breathing.

“You’re here for your own safety, vampire. You’d do good to remember that. Don’t test me. If Destra heard that you’re still alive, she’ll come running. Do you really want to lead her straight to your daughter? Imagine how much she’ll hate you for having hidden from her,” Nox reminded him and Tymon just got up, standing taller than Nox remembered.

“It’s you who should be afraid. Destra hates being betrayed. She’d have your head in the cruelest way possible. You might be a magician, but what I heard about my Origin from my daughter, I’d say she is ruthless if she wants to be. And trust me, with you, she’ll want to be,” Tymon promised. How could someone so weak, so broken still be so intimidating? “Besides, I never thought that Maya would kill her mother. And you want to know why? Because she’s amazing. That girl is rightfully Queen and man, what wouldn’t I give to see her just once in her position.”