Unfaded (46 page)

             
“My daughter,” he said. “It’s been too long. It’s good to have you back.”

             
I didn’t say anything. How on earth was I supposed to respond to him? There just weren’t enough memories in my head to know whether I actually liked him or not. But I knew this much. If he really was bent on destroying humanity, I was one daughter that was going to rebel.

             
“She’s not happy to see me,” Rafferty said. “I can only imagine what lies you might have been filling her head with.” He turned towards Micah and gave him a hard look. “I know what side you wish you were on, old man. Why are you still following this boy after all these years? Why haven’t you returned to your precious Aelin? Is it true? Did she refuse you back on the council?”

             
Micah didn’t say anything but his eyes narrowed at the mention of Aelin's name. There was obviously some bad blood there. I’d have to ask Kian about it later.

             
“Lina,” Rafferty said with a smile. He took the large woman’s hand in his own and kissed it. “It’s always a pleasure to see you. Not fully sure why you’re here but that’s irrelevant.”

             
“I asked her here,” Kian said.

             
“I’ll get to you in a moment,” Rafferty said. Walking up to Seito, he looked him up and down. Seito wasn’t very comfortable about it but he stood his ground and allowed the intrusion. I guess even he didn’t think it was a good idea to go after one as powerful as Rafferty.

             
“I don’t know you, do I?” Rafferty asked him.

             
“We’ve never met, no,” Seito said.

             
“He’s been travelling with me,” Lina said. “A little headstrong and young but he’s good to have around. Stubborn though, you might find him a challenge, Rafferty. He follows his own path.”

             
“Is that true?” Rafferty asked.

             
Seito shrugged. “I do what needs to be done.”

             
Rafferty nodded and moved on. His eyes finally came to rest on Kian and I. There was an emotion hidden just behind his eyes that I caught. I wasn’t fully sure what it meant but I knew it wasn’t good. Rafferty didn’t like Kian and it wasn’t because of me.

             
“So here we are again,” he said. “How is it that you manage to find her more than anyone else? Even when you were her executioner your success rate was higher than the others. Yet you keep screwing up, don’t you, boy? Why should I trust you anymore? How many chances should I give before it’s too many?”

             
Kian didn’t answer. Underneath my own hand, his was icy cold. Was there more truth there that I didn’t know about? Rafferty knew something I didn’t or at least he was pretending he did.

             
“Come on,” Rafferty said and one of his bodyguards chuckled. “Why should I let you protect her? Because it’s love? Fate? Destiny?”

             
“Yes,” I said.

             
“No, Mai,” Kian said. Letting go of my hand, he got up off the bed and went to stand in front of Rafferty. “You ask if I’m worthy but let me ask the same of you. What gives you the right to care? You’ve never loved her like I have. You only want her because of the power she holds. Because Dialexa is useless without her. Both powers must be joined. Isn’t that the way legend goes?”

             
“You’d better watch it, boy,” Rafferty snarled. “The girl called for me and I came. Her energy is strong. I sensed the first one more than a week ago. You can try and protect her all you want but if I felt it, others did too. Who knows who’s on their way right now? Are you ready to stand up to them? Looks to me you’ve done an abysmal job so far. How many of Aelin's people are here? Ten? Twenty?”

             
No one spoke at first. Finally Lina breathed in deeply. “Two,” she said.

             
“Two? Are you serious? Which two?”

             
“Anique and Sobek.” Lina was looking at the floor.

             
Rafferty’s face turned bright red. “You mean to tell me that the four of you haven’t been able to protect this girl from those two?” He turned his attention towards me. “What did they do to you? I can feel your injuries from here. How close did they get?”

             
“Don’t blame them,” I said. “It was my fault."

             
“What happened?”

             
“I didn’t listen.”

             
Rafferty laughed long and hard. “Still the same, Apani, refusing to listen to anything except your own heart. It’s what got you into trouble in the first bloody place. But this time things will be different. You’ve died too many times. Now that I’ve found you, I’m taking control of the situation.”

             
“I’m not leaving Kian,” I said.

             
“You’ll do what I tell you to do.”

             
I sat up straighter in the bed. “No, I won’t. You may have been my father once but you’re not him now. I’ve all ready got a Dad. I’ve got a family. I don’t need another.”

             
“So you’ll let this boy kill you?” Rafferty said.

             
“I trust him with my life,” I simply said.

             
Rafferty frowned. “I see.”

             
“But,” Kian said. He scanned the room, his eyes focusing on me. “We could use your help if you’re willing to give it.”

             
Micah snorted in disgust.

             
“He’s right,” Kian said. “I’ve done a lousy job because I’ve been foolish. I should have admitted I needed help a long time ago. I’ve been too proud. Regardless of who my enemies are, they are stronger than me. Maybe it’s time I swallowed my pride.”

             
“By letting them in?” Micah snapped. “You know what that means, Kian. You’ll be exploiting her and damning us all to death. Aelin's tolerated you until now but if you do this, you’ll be signing your own death sentence.”

             
“Perhaps,” Kian said. “But it might be the chance I need to take.” He turned to Rafferty. “We’ve been enemies for too long but we share a common bond. We both love her. Maybe together we can do the one thing that neither of us have been able to do by ourselves.”

             
“Her life is worth more than yours,” Rafferty warned.

             
“Yes, it is,” Kian said. “I suggest we ask Mai what she wants.”

             
I was too confused. I didn’t want to be the final answer in a battle that obviously had been brewing for thousands of years. What if I made a mistake? I didn’t know enough. The concern must have been pouring off of me in waves because Kian knelt by the bed and stared up at me with his beautiful blue eyes.

             
“Trust me,” he said.

             
I nodded. “I do.”

             
Rafferty took control. “Then it’s settled,” he said. “First order of business. Where are Anique and Sobek?”

             
“We don’t know,” Lina said. “They’ve disappeared.”

             
“Then we hunt them down and find them. Make sure they don’t leave this town or contact anyone.”

             
“No,” I said. “No deaths. I don’t want anyone dying.”

             
“Who said anything about killing them?” Rafferty said. “I’d much rather have them alive. Dead Unfaded don’t tell tales but take them alive and they’ll be singing in no time. I’m very interested to know what they’ve been up to.”

             
I didn’t like the sounds of that but he’d just agreed with me so there wasn’t much I could do.

             
“We’ll spread out and search,” Rafferty said. “Lina, take that kid with you. What’s your name, boy?”

             
“Seito.”

             
“Go with her.”

             
I was positive he’d refuse. Hadn’t he spent enough time explaining to me that he didn’t chose sides? I couldn’t imagine for a second he’d allow someone to boss him around like that. But Seito surprised me by nodding.

             
Of course Rafferty was no fool. He might tell Lina what to do but he didn’t even bother with Micah. He left the older Unfaded to brood in the corner and started barking orders to his bodyguards about where to look first. He was wasting no time and was an Unfaded used to having people do his bidding without complaint. His four followers took his orders and immediately left the room to go search the town.

             
“And you, my daughter,” Rafferty came over to the bed. “How badly hurt are you? Can you move?”

             
“She needs another days rest,” Kian said.

             
“Then she shall stay here until its safe,” Rafferty said. “I trust you will stay with her and be her guardian?”

             
“I always have,” Kian said. “I’ll guard her with my life.”

             
“I'll believe it when you die and not her,” Rafferty said.

             
“I’d like to go home and change,” I said. “I’ve been wearing the same clothes for almost two days now and they’re covered in blood. Plus I’ve got to call my Dad.” Rafferty gave me a look. “My other Dad,” I added. “He’s bound to have heard about the fire at the school. I’ve got to let him know I’m all right.”

             
“You can do that here. I’ll send someone to pick up some clothes for you”

             
“I can do it,” Seito said.

“Fine,” Rafferty said and he nodded at me. “Keep in contact at all times. Don’t hesitate if need be.”
With that he turned and left the motel room with Lina at his side.

             
Seito smiled and winked at me. He came over to the side of the bed and bowed deeply. “I caught your surprise,” he said to me. “I guess I’m not so neutral after all. But I chose my side on my own free will. I’m here for you. You’d better get used to it.”

             
“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I said.

             
Kian held out his hand and Seito took it. They nodded solemnly at each other as they shook but it ended when Kian’s mouth twitched. Seito pulled him forwards and they hugged each other tightly.

             
“Good to have you,” Kian said.

             
“Cheers mate,” Seito said. “Let’s go kick some arse.”

             
“Micah?” Kian asked. “We’ve been together a long time. Please don’t leave me now that I truly need you.”

             
The older man was still frowning as he sat in the corner. Finally he stood up and stretched his legs. “I don’t like it but I guess I have no choice. In a way I agree with you. But promise me we won’t make a habit out of this. When this is over I want Rafferty as far from her as possible.”

             
“Deal,” Kian said.

                                                        *              *              *

              “Are you sure you don’t want me to go?” Kian asked for the tenth time as I gave Seito instructions on what I wanted him to bring back. “I might be quicker. I’ve already been in your bedroom.”

             
“No,” I said. “I’d rather have you here. Besides, I’m not giving you an excuse to go through my underwear drawer.”

             
The blush on Kian’s cheeks was brighter than the smoothest apple.

             
Seito smirked.

             
“You either,” I said. “Promise me you’ll be a gentleman.”

             
“With all my heart, my lady,” Seito said and gave me another deep bow. “You’re knickers are safe with me.”

             
I was beginning to think this might not be a good idea. Maybe I’d better send Micah instead. I decided to push the subject away from my dresser drawers for a bit.

             
“How old is Rafferty?” I asked. “He keeps calling you a kid. Is it because you look younger than him? Or is it something else?”

             
“A mixture of both,” Kian said. “No one actually knows how old Rafferty is. He’s not the oldest Unfaded but he’s up there. I’ve heard rumours between twenty to fifty thousand years old. He’s as old as Aelin at least.”

             
Seito whistled. “I’ll never last half that long. My death wish is too strong.”

             
“I guess you are children compared to him,” I said.