I just stared at the letter for a long time. His words penetrated the fog swirling around my brain, but I didn’t know what to do with them. I couldn’t leave. The Yours jumped out at me. Where did Conor and I really stand? I didn’t know what everyone wanted from me. I wasn’t leaving. This may not be much of one, but it was my home. I stood up, looked down at my day old clothes and stripped down to nothing, pulling on a robe I had in the back of my closet before heading for the bathroom. I wasn’t going to deal with this right now. On my way out, I noticed my phone blinking, a sign that I had messages, but I ignored them, threw my phone in my desk drawer and headed down the hall. I couldn’t do this.
“Dayton!” a voice called out as I reached the bathroom door.
I didn’t turn around. I had no love for any of the Sisters at the Abbey. The Sister came up to me hurriedly, her breathing ragged as she paused. I still didn’t turn around. I didn’t care to see her face. They all looked the same to me anyway. I could barely distinguish them or their voices when they were robed. They were nothing but clones.
“Yes?” I asked, my hand gripping the door knob tightly. The Sister caught her breath but didn’t ask me to turn around.
“Your aunt wants you downstairs in three hours. Her guest is early. There will be an early dinner."
I just nodded, turning the knob and moving into the bathroom. I shut the door firmly before finally turning around, my forehead coming to rest against the wood. Aunt Kyra’s guest would be here soon. I shuddered. I was not in the mood for visitors.
“Don’t be late!” the Sister called from outside the door.
I didn’t bother answering, just listened to her thudding steps as she moved back down the hall. I showered quickly and headed back to my room. My phone still beeped from where it lay inside the desk drawer.
I pulled open my closet door to look inside. There weren’t many choices if I decided to go dressy. A few skirts, yes. Dresses, no. Hmmm . . . well, if he was here to meet Dayton Marie Blainey, I was going to give him Dayton Marie Blainey. A pair of hole-ridden jeans, jade leggings, white wife beater, and an off-the-shoulder jade hoodie flew onto my bed. I changed in record time, pulling the jeans over the leggings and hoodie over the wife beater before donning socks and a pair of Nikes. It left plenty of time to wander around the Abbey before dinner. I grabbed my cell phone and a notebook, opened my bedroom door, skulked down the hallway to the back staircase, and climbed down into what used to be the back gardens. Now it was mainly a well maintained herb plot.
Sage and mint filtered through my nose as I crept into the yard, the notebook in one hand, my phone in the other. The small, seldom-visited courtyard area was a haven mainly because of its un-tended state and its smaller size. The grass was somewhat higher here than it was on the large public, landscaped yards. Weeds grew up along a crumbling stone wall separating a five foot sloped drop into a larger, more maintained garden. The herb plot was the only part of the garden still in use.
A moment of digging in the corner of the crumbling wall and I found the small box I was looking for. Oh yeah! Out came a hidden root beer flavored dumdum, and I sighed with pleasure as I settled against the stone wall. It was then I looked at my phone messages. Most of them were from Conor. My breathing hitched. We had never really talked much by telephone.
Dayton?
Are you ok?
Did you get my message?
We need to talk.
I flipped through the messages he’d left, my heart heavy as I did. I cared about Conor but I wasn’t sure what he was looking for. Was he worried about me and the Abbey, or did he want to talk about the two of us? I didn’t want to find out so I left the messages to answer later. I just wanted to get dinner over with before I dealt with the whole Conor issue.
I pulled my notebook out and began to write a bit, constructing a story too complicated to say aloud. I incorporated enough about me in it that it helped relieve some of my worries. Afterwards, I felt drained. I was so tired today. My eyelids fell against my cheeks. Ever since supper the night before, I had been incredibly fatigued. I hoped I wasn’t coming down with something. I shook my head hard, but it didn’t help. It was a cool day today due to a cold front, but the slight heat from sitting in the sun and the reclined position made my head dip. I leaned it back against the wall. The world faded around me.
A cough woke me up.
I squinted, clearing my eyes with my hand as I started to stand up. The sun had moved slightly as I slept, and I saw my own shadow as I moved.
“I’m really worried. Are you sure about this?” a voice asked suddenly, and I jumped.
Sitting back down hard, I glanced quickly at my phone and realized I had dozed off much longer than I thought while sitting in the sun. Great! Just what I needed. Freckles. Add one pissed off aunt if I was late for dinner and the result wouldn’t be good for me. At least lemon juice could fade the freckles. There was no cure for Aunt Kyra. Grass rustled as someone made their way slowly across the yard, and I grew still. I really wasn’t in the mood for company
“I’m just not sure about this is all!” a voice said nervously and I sat up straight, all drowsiness suddenly gone. Amber.
My butt burned as I shifted, and I attempted to rub feeling back into it as I leaned closer to the wall. I was intrigued. It wasn’t often she gave me a reason to eavesdrop.
“Do you doubt the Sect?” a male voice asked, and my eyes widened.
What the . . . my knee came up against the wall hard, and I winced. Huh? And Lady Ky thought I was the troublemaker? I suddenly wanted to laugh. Amber and some guy? This was priceless. I was having all kinds of "if only my aunt realized I wasn’t the only one with faults" moments.
“Do you?” the male voice asked again, persistently this time. It sounded vaguely familiar.
“I don’t. I just doubt him,” Amber said fiercely, and I almost stood up. She sounded drained and, even if appearance seemed otherwise, I did love my sister. A gut feeling made me keep my seat.
“None of us fully trust him, but it’s worth the risk,” the other voice continued, and I worried the bottom of my lip furiously.
Whatever this was about, it didn’t sound good at all. What were they talking about? Was Amber involved in something? She so wasn’t the type.
“Oh, Ian! I don’t know. You can see why this isn’t easy for me. You have to see that!” Amber pleaded, her voice full of distress. It made me tense up. My sister wasn’t the emotional type, and the worry in her voice pierced me in the gut.
There was some movement, and I turned slowly. The scene behind me grew quiet. Had they left?
“Amber, we fit, you and I. You were chosen for me for a reason. Leave Dayton to her destiny,” the male voice said quietly.
My mental brakes went into overdrive and slammed to a screeching stop. What the fuck? I got to my knees and peered over the wall. And almost gagged.
“Is it her destiny?” Amber asked Ian James as he ran a hand along her back in a way that suggested a deep familiarity.
Bile rose up in my throat. Ian James. Mr. James. Mr. Fucking James. I had to bite my tongue to keep from calling out. A slight copper taste filled my mouth, and I swallowed hard.
“It’s for the good of the world, Amber. This isn’t something any of us are taking lightly. I promise it has been considered, reconsidered, and considered again. You can’t change it. I can’t change it,” Mr. James said almost vehemently.
Amber may have missed the dangerous glint in his eye, but I was all too aware of it. Amber looked at the ground. She was way too damn submissive. I had to get out of here! What was this crap? Sects, destiny . . . it was like waking up inside a bad B rated movie.
I snuck along the wall, ignoring the tearing pain from thorns scattered sporadically among the brush. My phone was crushed cruelly into my palm as I finally made it to the door, and I welcomed the cutting pain. Mr. James and my sister? This had to be a bad dream. I paused until I was sure I was alone before moving into the dim inter
ior of the Abbey. This was so screwed up.
I’m worried
I texted Monroe quickly. The reply was instant.
What’s up?
I barely glanced at the screen.
idk
My phone beeped to notify me she’d replied, but I didn’t check it. Sliding down the wall of the Abbey, I played back the scene I had just witnessed and almost retched. Nausea engulfed me. The whole thing was seriously messed up. Mr. James was a young teacher but still a good four years older than Amber. They had to be involved. James’ voice rang through my head, “Chosen for me.” What did that mean? How involved were they? And the stuff they were discussing? It made no sense. My phone beeped again.
You ok?
Monroe texted. It was a multiple message, sent more than once but I didn’t text back. I wasn’t quite sure how to answer.
“Dayton!” a voice called out distantly, and I looked toward the back staircase. Diane.
“Dayton!” Diane called out again, and I moved back up the wall.
My phone showed it was well past time for dinner and, even though I wasn’t ready to talk to anyone, I also wasn’t ready to deal with Aunt Ky if I didn’t respond to the summons.
“Here!” I called out as I turned the corner at the top of the stairs and ran straight into Diane. She put her hand up against the wall and gasped.
“Dayton! You shouldn’t come up on people like that!” she insisted before looking me over critically. I knew my cheeks were flushed from the sun, and I hoped it hid the sudden paleness underneath. It didn’t.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Day? You’ve seemed sort of unwell lately,” Diane asked with concern, brushing limp brown hair out of her eyes as she placed a calloused hand on my shoulder. She generally wore scrubs to work in. As long as she didn’t wear jeans to the Abbey, Aunt Ky was pretty lenient with Diane’s choice of attire. Today, it was powder blue scrubs with smiling kittens scattered throughout. Visions of Alice’s mischievous Cheshire cat flashed unerringly through my head, and I coughed slightly. I sure felt like I was in Alice in Wonderland. I just wasn’t sure where the rabbit hole was. Obviously I had sleepwalked into it.
“I’m fine,” I answered lightly, moving to gently brush her hand off my shoulder. She narrowed her eyes but didn’t dig any deeper. I was getting a lot of that from her lately.
“Your aunt sent me to tell you it’s time for dinner,” Diane murmured as she looked disapprovingly at my clothes.
I glanced down briefly before looking defiantly into her eyes. She just shook her head and sighed.
“It can’t be helped. Go before she sends up the Sisters,” Diane ordered while pushing me gently down the hall.
I complied automatically. If my dinner was with Mr. James, I wasn’t sure I could manage to sit through it. Unconsciously, I smoothed down my hair and straightened my hoodie before moving toward the dining room, my whole body tense and cold. I pushed open the door and paused. It was empty.
“Aunt Ky?” I called out uncertainly before glancing down at my watch. 5:30. I was more than an hour late.
“She won’t be joining us tonight,” a deep, male voice said suddenly, and I jumped before scanning the room hesitantly.
A chair scooted back, and I found myself watching a dark figure stand up slowly at the end of the table. I took a small step forward. It wasn’t Mr. James.
“Are you the recruiter?” I asked timidly as I skirted along the wall, moving just close enough to make out the man’s appearance.
The sight shocked me. Monroe had certainly pegged our mystery man. Only his attire differed. He was dark-haired and built, but his frame was covered in a black suit jacket over a black tee. No tie. His pants were dark blue denim, and he wore a black belt fastened securely at the waist. His eyes were as dark as his hair, his face pale. And though he was very attractive, his gaze was not. It was hard and cold, making him look much older than the age I would have pegged him at.
“Are you the recruiter?” I repeated more loudly this time. He smiled then, but it seemed forced.
“Something like that,” he answered as he moved to the side and held out a chair.
I looked from him to the chair with an uncertainty I knew he could read.
“Have a seat, Dayton,” he said, his tone commanding.
A strange feeling settled over me, and it seemed foolish to argue. I stepped forward and sat. He moved back to his own chair, and I got my first close look at him. He was definitely younger than I first perceived. His cheekbones were high, his mouth and eyes full. A scar ran from the corner of one eye to just along one cheek. It made me feel cold. Silence stretched and I shifted uncomfortably. He seemed content to watch me as he ate. He waved a hand at my plate but I shook my head. I wasn’t hungry. Today was moving too fast for me, one strange thing after another. And it had me feeling motion sick.
“What are you recruiting for?” I asked, my gaze scanning the length of the table.
The emptiness was disconcerting. Why was no one else present? The table was normally full of women, novices, and occasional employees. I shifted slightly away from the man’s chair.
“For a special event I have coming up,” he answered vaguely.
I looked over at him and furrowed my brow. He noticed the confusion.
“I’ve heard you may be perfect for the job. You seem suited. Your aunt has told me a lot about you. It seems we have a lot in common."
The furrow in my brow deepened.
“What do you mean?” I asked as I reached for a glass of water in front of me.
My hand shook, and I dropped it. He followed the movement with his eyes. What was wrong with me? I felt incredibly funny.
“Nervous?” he asked as he reached over to help right my glass.
I dropped my hand and moved away. Something didn’t seem right about his eyes.
“Why don’t I introduce myself?”
He brought his right hand across the table.
“I’m Damon Craig."
I stared at his hand a moment, maybe too long before taking it in mine. It was hot and his grip was firm. He held it for an unsuitable amount of time, and I snatched my hand away. Something about him seemed familiar but not in a good way.
“I’m assuming you know who I am,” I said shakily.
Damon laughed softly to himself.
“And so I do."
I busied myself with cleaning the mess I’d made with the water. It was a shame too. I really was thirsty. I was being ridiculous. It wasn’t like this guy was some kind of mass murderer. I took a deep breath and tried to smile, but the room closed in. For some reason, the air felt thick.
“Your aunt tells me you have a fascination with decadence,” he remarked out of nowhere, and I looked up sharply. What?
“I’m sorry?” I asked him stupidly.
Who the hell said words like decadence?
“I’m going to get right to the point, Day. You don’t know me and have no reason to trust me, but your aunt and I go a long way back. She’s aware of my reasons for being here. Simply put, I want you,” Damon said casually, reclining back in his chair until his elbows rested on his arm rests. He steepled his fingers.
I watched him uneasily. Wanted me? For what? A long way back? He didn’t look a day over twenty at the most.
“I have a special assignment I need done and you are most definitely qualified for the job,” he continued, interrupting my jumbled barrage of thoughts.
“I don’t think I’m following, Mr. Craig,” I said.
I was still reeling over his decadence comment.
“What did you mean by decadence? What has my aunt told you about me?”
I was not looking forward to the answer. Damon seemed to move closer without having left his chair. I knew my eyes were round.
“Sweets, satin sheets, foul language, a disdain for authority . . . most anything the Abbess doesn’t approve of. Does that sound like anyone you know?” Damon asked.
My whole body had frozen in shock. I had gone cold as soon as he mentioned satin sheets. It filtered through me so numbingly fast, I barely noticed that I had dropped my silverware and shoved away from the table. What was this?
“Who the hell are you?” I asked him.
I couldn’t help but be affronted. He had no right! What the hell was this?
“Whatever you’re selling I don’t want it,” I said as I stood up and began to move away.
A hand clamped down on my wrist. It wasn’t a soft grip. Fear slid up my spine. I fought not to let it show.
“You’re aunt seems to believe you are well qualified for the position I am looking to fill. She believes the work may change you,” he said in a low tone. It sent shivers all the way down to my toes. I attempted to move away. His grip tightened.
“I’m really not interested,” I repeated forcibly.
He moved closer. His eyes almost seemed to shine.
“You are stubborn aren’t you?”
It wasn’t a question. I tensed.
“Is this some kind of reform school? Is that what my aunt is after?” I asked.
His grip finally loosened slightly. Blood flowed down into my hand and caused it to tingle painfully. I bit my tongue to keep from crying out. It opened the wound from earlier. Damon gasped.
“It will reform us both,” he said in a husky voice that made the hair stand up along my arms.
This man scared me. How did my aunt know him? What were they planning? I tried moving away again. Had I really been that bad? What did Aunt Ky want with him? This time when his grip began to tighten, I shoved my elbow into his ribs and moved away. He didn’t even flinch, but he did let go. I suspected he let go on his own.
“That wasn’t very nice, Dayton,” he scolded.
I backed away from him, and moved toward the door.
“Fuck you!” I said loudly, the word echoing along the dining room walls. He grinned then before moving back to his seat.
“Oh yes, Dayton, I think you will do quite nicely,” he said as I moved out of the room.
My heart beat erratically against my ribs and sweat was beginning to gather along my back and hairline.
“Happy birthday, Dayton. It was so good of your aunt to let me meet you first. It’s a shame you never asked what the job was,” he called out as I turned and fled toward the stairs.
I was crying by the time I made it to the top, and I noted it for what it was. Anger not sadness. It made me even angrier and I cried harder.
“What is wrong with you people today!” I cried out loudly through the upstairs living quarters. No one answered me.
“What is going on?”
The sobs were coming heavily now. I just wanted to curl up on my bed, go to sleep, and start my day all over again. I cried out one more time, but the only answer I received was my own echo.
Chapter 12
The first stone in the war has been thrown. He thinks he has the answers to Redemption. He will discover it comes at a much greater cost.