Discern (34 page)

“I see,” I said reluctantly, still in disbelief that Andrew would allow such experiments.

“Alec will only try a few.” Andrew glared at him.

“Which ones?” I asked.

“I can’t tell you, just in case your mind is controlling your abilities. This would only allow you to thwart off what you knew was coming. I want to make sure they aren’t hindered by your knowledge,” Andrew explained.

“Will it hurt?” I asked.

Andrew looked down at me with his sparkling green eyes. “No.”

Andrew slowly walked away. “Stand here in the middle.” He gestured toward the center of the dining room floor.

I said nothing as I scooted the chair out. I tucked in my lower lip and anxiously walked to the instructed spot. I inhaled deeply. “I’m ready.”

Alec stood with his arms extended. His hands were rapidly moving around me. My head was dizzy. Alec seemed frustrated as he dropped his hands. Andrew was sporting a large, wide grin.

“Nothing’s happening,” Alec said.

“I know! It’s wonderful!” Andrew exclaimed. It was the most excited I had ever seen him. I thought he was about to start jumping up and down like a child.

Andrew rushed over, lifting my whole body off the floor and into his arms. He gently kissed the side of my neck, sending those same amazing sparks throughout. “I have a great feeling about this,” he whispered into my ear.

“Andrew, we can’t be sure if her defenses will work against everyone,” Alec said sternly.

Andrew carefully set my feet on the floor and kissed the top of my head. “I can’t imagine them only working on just you,” he gloated.

“That’d be unusual,” Alec agreed.

“Yes, but for now this is enough,” Andrew grinned.

“We could test it out on one of the others now if you’d like?” Alec suggested.

“Damn it!” Andrew shouted.

“Great!” Alec exclaimed.

There was pure confusion now. “What’s going on?” I asked lost.

“Abrielle’s coming!” Andrew growled.

“Who’s Abrielle?” I asked horrified.

“Our sister,” Alec answered. “Not a pleasant one.”

I quickly remembered the name. She was his sister, the one that killed
Alexandria
. I was wrong—this day just got worse.

“Haley, go up to my room and hide in the closet up there,” Andrew instructed.

“Are you crazy? She’ll sense her from a mile away,” Alec snapped.

“Maybe not,” Andrew grinned. “Go!” he shouted.

I dashed up the stairs and flew inside the closet. I carefully turned the doorknob, snapping it in to place with the doorframe. I had no idea how close this Abrielle was, and I had no intention of finding out.

I nestled myself underneath the hanging clothes, just in case she wanted to snoop around. I spread the clothes out so they covered my body completely. I pulled my legs in and rested my head atop my knees.

Andrew and Alec’s voices were faint, and just as I thought maybe she wasn’t coming—an angelic female voice spoke. If her voice was any indication of her looks, then she was probably just as perfect as Andrew and Alec.

I slid my phone out of my pocket. It was nearly six thirty now. I was going to miss my Tuesday night class. Hopefully nothing of importance would be discussed, as I needed this class to graduate on time.

I shook my head in disbelief. Here I was in a mystical creature’s closet worrying about graduating college. My chances of dying—possibly tonight—were greater than graduating.

The voices were becoming a little clearer. I frantically silenced the ringer on my phone. It sounded as if they were standing in the hallway—their voices were crystal clear now.

“Where are the documents?” Her voice sounded even more beautiful now that I could hear it clearly.

“Right this way,” Andrew spoke.

“You boys seem a little uneasy,” she remarked.

“Just wondering why you decided to stop in,” Alec replied tensely.

“I was wondering why both of you were having a secret meeting?” Her voice snarled.

“No secret meeting,” Andrew snarled back.

“Then what’s the occasion?” she asked.

“Can’t the two us meet up and discuss the plan, seeing as we’re both stationed in this country,” Alec growled.

“Anything important?” she inquired.

“Nothing important,” Andrew said through gritted teeth.

“The date is nearing, and you two better have all your loose ends tied up,” she instructed sternly.

“Father’s the one to ensure our mission is successful, not you,” Alec growled again.

“You know he sends me to do his dirty work sometimes,” she said smugly.

“Always the special one,” Andrew said snidely.

“Always will be,” she replied nastily.

“You all done?” Andrew asked.

“Yes, looks like you boys are right on track. I’ll leave you to your boys’ night out or whatever this is,” she huffed.

“Good,” Andrew said stiffly.

“Maybe after this is all done, we can all have a night out and mend our differences,” she suggested.

“Doubt that’s possible,” Alec scoffed.

“I could care less about you, Alec,” she snapped. “I was more interested in if Andrew and I could continue where we left off centuries ago, before our little mortal mishap,” she said suggestively.

“Never,” Andrew replied. “What you did was unforgivable.”

“Fine, have it your way. Sleep with unsuspecting mortal girls, and then rip their heads off. I was thinking maybe you’d enjoy a woman who’s on your level instead.”

“I don’t harm my female companions. I don’t have to use my abilities to convince anyone to be intimate with me, and the only head I would enjoy ripping off would be yours,” Andrew said coldly. “And I’m quite sure Hayden would be upset to hear about your advances toward me.”

“Hayden would never believe you. And just hearing you still have hatred toward me means you must still have feelings for me,” she laughed darkly.

“No, it just means if you no longer existed, I’d be a lot happier,” Andrew remarked.

“You boys will grow bored with the selection of mortals you’ll have.” The smirk was apparent in her voice.

“So be it,” Alec snarled.

“We’ll see,” she challenged, her voice trailed off.

“Goodbye, Abrielle,” Andrew sighed in relief.

17

The Plan

The closet door swung open. Andrew pushed the hangers aside, pulling me up off the carpet and into his arms.

“She couldn’t detect you were here,” he said, smiling widely.

“Is that good?”

“Yes, we can always sense mortals, and she can definitely sense the female ones.” He rolled his eyes.

“She’s very competitive,” Alec said as he turned the corner into the bedroom.

“And disgusting,” Andrew added.

“I heard,” I said, irritated with her apparent flirting.

“She’s a mess,” Andrew said, placing me on the bed.

“She might be, but she wants to be with you,” I sighed.

“Haley, please…I’d be with her right now if that’s what I wanted.”

“Don’t worry, Andrew wants nothing to do with her,” Alec added.

“Is it because of
Alexandria
?”

His expression answered my question. “Yes. I’ll never forgive her.”

“Looks like you’ll fare better against her this time,” Alec grinned.

Andrew and Alec instantly looked at one another. “Did either of them consume her soul?” Alec asked excitedly.

“No, I got there before they could.” One brow was arched as he and Alec communicated telepathically once more.

“Can you guys share with me?”

“Sorry, we’re used to speaking this way,” Andrew apologized.

Alec smiled and nodded in my direction. “What did you do with her soul when she was passing?”

“I could do nothing but watch it depart,” Andrew replied, deep in thought.

“Did you say anything?” Alec asked softly, seeming to empathize with Andrew’s sorrow.

“I was angry and could’ve said anything.”

“That’s it!” Alec exclaimed.

“Couldn’t be,” Andrew disagreed.

“It has to be,” Alec insisted.

“I guess it’s possible,” Andrew shrugged.

“What’s possible?” I asked annoyed.

“He cursed your soul,” Alec said smugly.

“What does that mean?” I asked horrified by the sound of it.

“We’ve never come across a mortal whose soul has reincarnated before. We would’ve had to, with how long we’ve existed. But somehow when I cursed your death, it cursed your soul.” Andrew tried to explain.

“Cursed doesn’t sound good,” I muttered.

“Maybe blessed is a better choice of words,” Alec suggested.

“Maybe,” I pondered. Blessed wasn’t a word that really seemed to go hand in hand with these creatures.

“Why would she come back now?” Andrew asked.

“The timing is suspicious,” Alec said.

“You don’t think she’s here to…”Andrew immediately stopped, looking down at me.

“That’s a possibility, but why? It’s not as if we have a choice about it.” Alec’s voice dropped as they spoke telepathically once more.

“Maybe I’m here to stop your evil plan,” I suggested sarcastically.

“What?!” They both asked shocked as their heads snapped in my direction.

“I was joking,” I said uncomfortably.

“What did you hear?” Alec asked sternly.

“Stop!” Andrew commanded. “She doesn’t know.”

They were both glaring at one another. I began sifting through all the information I had been privileged to in the last week or so. I couldn’t imagine what either one of them were speaking of. What could I possibly know that would cause that reaction?

“Is there an evil plan?” I asked horrified.

Andrew turned. “What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“She knows,” Alec accused.

“She doesn’t,” Andrew growled.

“I don’t know anything,” I said, shaking my head.

“No use really hiding it from her.” Alec glared at Andrew.

“Hush,” Andrew hissed.

Now I was confused. It seemed Andrew wanted to keep me in the dark. “Tell me,” I demanded.

“No.” Andrew angrily stared down at me. “It won’t do any good.”

“She should know if she’s going to a part of your life,” Alec argued.

“Abrielle,” I realized aloud.

“Abrielle what?” Andrew asked.

“She spoke of a date nearing,” I said, staring in Alec’s direction.

“Look what you’ve done,” Andrew snarled at Alec.

“I came here to help you. Don’t tarnish the one good relationship you have in your family,” Alec said.

“She’s too fragile.”

“Apparently not, I nearly got my arm burned off.” Alec shook his head.

“I meant emotionally.”

“Hold on!” I exclaimed. “I’m not fragile. In the past week I’ve heard things that most humans wouldn’t be able to fathom, so don’t give me that!” I shouted in Andrew’s direction.

“Tell her,” Alec demanded.

“Yes, tell me,” I ordered.

“Fine, there’s a date set for a portion of the mortal population to be destroyed,” Andrew growled in Alec’s direction.

“What?!” I gasped, nearly falling off the bed.

“He speaks the truth.” Alec stared coldly at Andrew.

“It’s really for the best. There are so many corrupt mortals walking the Earth. If we manage to get rid of most of them, it’ll be better for everyone,” Andrew explained flatly.

“And who are you to decide who’s corrupt? Are you now a god?” I asked.

“No, I’m not, but if you do remember the night of the diner incident, then I’m sure you’ll agree that some mortals are horrible creatures that deserve to be destroyed.” His voice was cold and dark.

“Humans can be unpleasant at times, but who’s to say that they can’t be rehabilitated,” I challenged.

“Your government, your laws and your court system all agree that some mortals are irreparably damaged,” he snarled.

“I do not agree,” I hissed.

“Do you not agree that those men at the diner deserved their fate?” Andrew flashed an icy look.

“Not death,” I scowled. Some form of punishment for those men was necessary, but murdering them was a bit cruel.

“Do you believe those men that prey upon women and their children who run to the shelter where you volunteer your services deserve rehabilitation?” Andrew’s eyes were black with a hint of red swirling inside, replacing his pupil.

“I don’t know,” I sighed. The behavior of those men was inexcusable in my opinion, but my opinion was not final say, and at this very moment I hoped there was a god to make those decisions, because these creatures should not be allowed such power.