Firefight in Darkness (10 page)

Blythe hesitated, a piece of bacon halfway towards her mouth. Her eyes narrowed as she lowered it back to the plate.

“That’s not really your business.” She informed him. “Besides, it’s complicated.”

“Alright.” He cut into the corned beef hash on his plate and scooped some into his mouth, averting his attention from her as he chewed, focusing instead on the morning’s paper.

Pursing her lips, she found that his sudden indifference about hearing the story only made her want to tell it more. She waited nearly two full minutes before the urge to share it was too strong to resist.

“Okay, so it’s like this.” She began, wagging her fork at him as he slowly glanced up at her. “Fifteen years ago my father was framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and now, due to recent events that I’m sure you’re familiar with, he has been exonerated and has returned home. Well, he’s decided that he would rather sleep around with both my mother and another man’s wife instead of giving me the time of day, which, as you can imagine, pissed me off. So I left, at least for a little while, to clear my head.”

“Doesn’t sound so complicated to me.” He replied as he took another sip of coffee.

Pushing the eggs around on her plate, she considered his words. “I guess it is kind of straightforward, isn’t it? Though it sure seemed like a lot while I was there.”

“Have you told him you’re upset about it?”

She snorted, her lips flashing in a quick smile. “Trust me, he knows. You seriously think someone like me can hold back when something pisses me off?”

“No, guess not.” He smirked as he leaned back, finishing his coffee and watching her casually. “It’s probably best that we head out now.”

Sighing, she pushed aside her empty plate and downed her coffee. Setting down the mug, she wiped her lips with the back of her hand and shot him a spry grin. “I guess I don’t have much of a choice, now do I?”

Amused, he stood up and threw down a few dollars on the table for tip.

“No, you don’t.”

She followed him outside, marveling in the rays of warm sunshine that shone down around the tall buildings that surrounded them. People crowded the sidewalks and cars jammed the streets, making this a Mecca of urban life. She was going to miss it, especially since she had a feeling she wouldn’t be seeing it for some time.

He led her towards a small cluster of trees that acted as an entrance courtyard for one of the commercial buildings. Approaching one of the more hidden trees towards the back, he stopped in front of it and put his hand against the bark.

Without hesitation, she followed suit, looking bored as she glanced around one last time at the streets of Los Angeles.

When he started to speak, she found herself almost instantly forgetting all about the city.

“Mother, I am a loyal servant who requests to see you. Grant me entrance, and I will always be true.”

Because the words differed from those she normally used, she was intrigued. This was a side to her world that she had yet to experience, and she wondered briefly how someone like him had come to accept the existence of Euphora and those who lived there.

Moments before the flash of gold took them far from Los Angeles, his eyes met hers, cool green into gilded amber, and the impact it had on her was incendiary. Lord, he had this intensity underneath all that cool resolve. The urge to know him, to know everything there was about him, jolted through her unexpectedly, taking her off guard.

And then the world went dark, only to brighten again as the shrouded mist disappeared, revealing the meadow shimmering in morning sunlight.

Tearing her eyes away from him, she glanced towards the entrance gates of her home.

Unnerved, she began to walk towards those gates, Jax at her side. He didn’t say anything to her, for which she was grateful. She was having trouble fighting back the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her, ranging from anxious to furious to resentful to relieved. She had missed her friends, that much she could admit to herself. But was she ready to face her father?

She lifted her palm to the entrance gates and watched with unseeing eyes as they melted away at her touch. When at first she didn’t move, Jax gently pressed against the small of her back, shaking her out of her reverie. Determined not to sulk, she tried to smile as they walked through the gates, following the cobblestone path.

Thea and Sebastian appeared out of the castle, racing towards them, a few others following close behind.

Preparing herself for Mother Earth’s wrath, Blythe dug her heels into the cobblestone walkway and stood her ground, feeling more defiant by forcing Thea to come to her. Stopping beside her, Jax watched her out of the corner of his eye, noting the intensity on her face.

“Blythe, thank God.” Thea sighed as she wrapped Blythe into a tight hug.

Shaken and obviously confused by the warm welcome, Blythe hugged her back, her eyes meeting Sebastian’s over Thea’s shoulder. His were clouded with concern and worry.

When Thea pulled away, she cupped Blythe’s face in her hands and studied her.

“Did he hurt you? Jax told us what happened last night.”

“No, Thea, I’m fine.” Releasing herself from Thea’s grasp, she turned to Jax with a nod. “Cowboy here scared him away for me.”

“Did you see where he went?” Sebastian asked, eyeing Jax hopefully.

“No, I didn’t. But I’m willing to bet he hasn’t gone far, not yet anyway. He’s hoping he’ll see Blythe again.”

Before Thea could respond, Lucian and Liam approached. Seeing them, Blythe ran to Lucian and into his arms.

“Blythe.” He shuddered once as he held her close, breathing in her scent as if to prove to himself that she was unscathed. Pulling away from her, he tried to smile. “You had us so worried, honeypot.”

“I’m fine, really, it’s no big deal.” Though the look in his eyes shook her to the core.

“You’re such a brat.” Liam told her playfully even as he grabbed her and pulled her in for a tight hug. She hadn’t realized just how worried she had made all of them. Knowing it made her feel extremely guilty.

“Shut up, idiot.” She replied, punching him in the shoulder when he released her. “I was only gone for one day.”

“Yes but you conveniently neglected to tell us where you were going or how long you would be gone. What if something had happened to you down there? I can’t protect your stubborn ass when you’re God knows where, running rampant with the humans.”

“Liam, we’ve gone over this a million times. I can take care of myself.” But even as she said it, the memory of carelessly letting her guard down and Dante getting so close sent a violent chill down her spine.

She noticed his eyes were suddenly focused on something over her head, and when she turned, saw that he was staring at Jax, who was speaking quietly to Thea and Sebastian. “You want to meet the bounty hunter?”

“Yes, yes I do.” Liam decided, wrapping his arm around her protectively and leading her towards Jax.

“Sorry to interrupt, but everyone wants to meet you.” Blythe cut in, her eyes dancing. “Jax, this is my brother of sorts, Liam. He’s a Water Dryad.”

Jax held out his hand politely, though his eyes were guarded. He didn’t like the confrontational way the Water Dryad was staring at him.

Taking the offered hand, Liam smiled coolly.

“So you’re the man who saved my sister’s life.”

“If you want to call it that, then sure.” Jax nodded as they released hands.

“I suppose I should thank you.”

“No need.” Jax replied curtly, crossing his arms over his chest. Blythe watched then as he caught a glimpse of something in the distance, and the genuine smile that came over his face startled her. “Excuse me.” He mumbled as he suddenly walked away.

Confused, Blythe turned and saw Rian and Capri emerging from the castle, heading towards where the crowd had gathered. Jax headed straight for them, then to her surprise, shook Rian’s hand and gave him a one armed hug. She saw him shake Capri’s hand, then launch into some kind of discussion with the Fury.

“Well, well.” She murmured, biting her lip as she considered the situation unfolding in front of her. “I think it would be downright un-sisterly of me to not go rescue Capri from what must be dreadfully boring man talk. Excuse me, Liam.”

Though he didn’t look happy about it, he let her go, keeping a close eye on her. He didn’t like strange men on his turf, end of story. And, while Jackson Murphy may be a good man, he was still a man. And he had a sister to look out for.

As Blythe approached, Capri smiled brightly and rushed towards her, crushing her in a hug.

“Oh, I was so worried.” She confessed, blushing as she pulled away. “I know that I shouldn’t have been, but I was.”

“I know.” Blythe couldn’t help but smile as she squeezed her friend’s hand. “So, what do you think of our bounty hunter?”

“Oh, well.” Capri bit back a grin, trying to contain her excitement. “He seems wonderful, but the best part is how happy Rian is to see him. They’re old friends, you know.”

“I didn’t know that, actually.” Intrigued, Blythe glanced over to watch the Fury and the bounty hunter as they talked. Both were grinning ear to ear like fools, which was a marvel all in itself. “Wow, cowboy looks real cheerful, doesn’t he?”

“They’re talking about this new tracking device that Rian’s invented.” Capri gushed, her smoky eyes lit with pride. “He’s going to let Jax borrow it!”

“No shit?” Now really intrigued, she decided she needed to get in on this invention, especially since she was still determined to find some way to get back out there to find Dante. “What does this device do?”

“Well, I only know the basics, but essentially it does what the Furies can do naturally. It senses the presence of different kinds of beings, based upon what you set it to. So, like, there’s a Dryad setting, a Fate setting, Fury, Muse, demon…etc. He invented it for the Enforcers to use, but he’s letting Jax try it first!”

“Huh, that sounds pretty cool.” Deciding she definitely needed to get her hands on that device, Blythe grinned conspiratorially at Capri. “You don’t suppose he has more than one, does he? Maybe one I can borrow for awhile?”

“No, just the one…but what do you need it for?”

“Because once I figure out another way to get out of here, I’m going to need it to find Dante.”

“Blythe!” Startled, Capri pressed her hand to her heart, her soft eyes wide. “You can’t! No, no. I won’t let you go.”

She stamped her foot down as if to make her point, her chin up stubbornly and her mouth set in a firm line as she crossed her arms over her chest in what was intended to be an authoritative gesture. Behind them, Rian and Jax both watched curiously.

“Honey, even you won’t be able to stop me.” Blythe patted Capri’s arm gently, amused by her quiet friend’s outburst.

“What’s wrong, Capri?” Rian asked as he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend, eyeing Blythe skeptically.

“I told Blythe that I won’t let her leave again.”

“She’s a big girl, she can make her own decisions. Even if they’re not in her best interest.” He reminded her, still watching Blythe. “And if she chooses not to listen to the advice of those who care about her, then that’s her choice.”

“Exactly, thank you Rian.” Blythe nodded in agreement, beaming at him.

Jax just crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at Blythe, laughter in his eyes as he watched her. She caught his eye and stared him down.

“What’s so funny?”

“You just drive everyone around here bonkers, don’t you?” He commented, enjoying the way her eyes turned to slits at the insult.

“I do not.”

“Seems like everyone was real stressed out because you hightailed it out of here yesterday.” He pointed out.

“Yeah, well, that’s because no one around here knows how to take a chill pill.” She reasoned, huffing out a breath to blow her bangs out of her eyes. “I was perfectly fine, okay? Maybe I made one itsy bitsy bad decision, so sue me. It’s not like I-“

“Blythe? You’re back. Who’s this?”

Brock appeared behind Jax, his face strained as he walked towards her.

“Shit.” She cursed under her breath, averting her eyes from him. “Shit, shit, shit.”

Jax noted the pain and fury that flashed over her face the second she’d heard the man’s voice, which led him to assume that this must be her father. Seeing that she needed a second or two to compose herself, he turned around to face Brock himself and held out his hand.

“Jackson Murphy, bounty hunter. And you are?”

“Brock, Fire Dryad.” They grasped hands for a brief shake and met eyes, and the concern and anger he saw struck him as normal for any father whose daughter had run away. But then again, this was the same man who’d sent her running away in the first place.

“Well, I’m back.” Blythe threw out her arms melodramatically, as if to show that she was unharmed. “No need to worry anymore. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go take a nap or something.”

Not even looking at her father, she turned on her heel and would have gotten away if Thea hadn’t called her back.

“Blythe, we need to speak with you, please.”

Clenching her fists, she whirled around and stalked right past her father and towards Thea. Jax followed her, leaving Brock standing beside Rian and Capri, looking puzzled and frustrated.

“Yes?” Looking bored and irritated, she planted her fists on her hips.

“Jax, this concerns you as well.”

“Yes, Thea.” He came to a stop beside Blythe, his hands tucked into his jeans pockets.

“Based upon the information you shared with us today, Jax, Sebastian and I have made a difficult decision that I think will ultimately lead to us capturing Dante sooner rather than later.” She paused, acknowledging the doubt that came into his eyes. He wasn’t going to like what she had to say, but the decision had already been made. “Jax, we want Blythe to join you in locating Dante.”

“WOAH.” Blythe gaped, eyes wide. “You’re joking, right?”

“Damnit, Thea.” Jax clenched his teeth, not at all pleased with the idea. “Why?”

“Because when you told me about the way Dante targeted Blythe, about how drawn he was to her, I decided it would be beneficial to us to have her with you to attract him. Obviously, I will expect you to protect her one hundred percent, and if anything happens to her I’ll never forgive myself, but…”