Page 12 of Darkness Defined

It might not have mattered so much if someone like Nemo found it, but if one of the decidedly human occupants of Denham had stumbled across it, that could have spelled trouble for all of us. Dubious about why I’d been so absent as to have left it here, I wandered over to the box I’d found that was now in serious danger of overflowing. I was finally putting the lid on when another voice called out.

“Alexi? Are you in here?”

My spine stiffened at the soft, timid voice. It took every ounce of decency I had to wipe the scowl from my face. I straightened up, dusted my hands, then turned to meet the second to last person I wanted to see, the last, of course, being Daniel. “What do you want, Clarke?”

They glanced from me to the box and back again. “I heard you were leaving town. Going to some school?” Their light brown eyes looked at me questioningly.

“You heard right.” I might have been aiming for laissez-faire, but bitterness ate at my words. And, yet, despite knowing it wasn’t entirely Clarke’s fault, I couldn’t seem to stop myself. “Is that all you wanted?” When they continued to stand there, I reached for the box.

Clarke surged forward, hand in the air. “No! I… uh… I…”

Sweet, merciful night. I did not need this right now. “Spit it out. Why are you here?”

“I was hoping we could clear the air?” They gave me a sheepish look.

I crossed my arms and couldn’t help but compare us. Clarke was shorter and about as stereotypically white Protestant as a person could get. Where I was darker and all lean muscles, they were pale and soft. Was that what Daniel had really wanted? Someone he could easily overpower? Had he known that I wasn’t human? Was that why he’d cheated on me? With fucking Clarke?

They took another step closer. “Please. I never intended to hurt you. We’re friends.” That was a loose definition if I’d ever heard one.

“Clarke…” I dropped my arms and scooped up the box.

“He said you were alright with it.”

I fought the urge to throw the entire box at Clarke’s head. It wouldn’t have been hard, even if it was supposed to be heavy. Once my temper was under control, I tightened my grip and met their pitiful gaze. “Newsflash. He lied.”

Clarke winced, probably not the least bit surprised.

I rolled my eyes and moved to go past them. Then another thought made me pause. I glanced at them. “Tell me one thing. Were you two even drunk?”

Clarke’s face turned a bright shade of red, like they’d been out in the fields all day instead of inside having this awful conversation with me.

“That’s what I thought.” This time, I made it all the way to the door before I stopped again. Clearly, my conscience didn’t care how much being around them hurt my heart. Deep down, I knew Clarke was gullible and naïve. I also knew Daniel was none of those things. “Hey, Clarke, when he comes crawling back—because he will—don’t let him.”

Clarke’s choked sound was all the confirmation that I needed. Daniel had tried to woo me and when he’d struck out, he’d left my place and gone straight to Clarke. What was that saying? Oh right, no good deed goes unpunished.

I finished making my way out of the Community Center, sparing a wave for Robbie and Jerry, who were now enjoying biscuits with fresh cups of tea, and headed toward home at the edge of town. If I had been waffling about going to Arminius before, I wasn’t now. I needed away from small town drama and cheating exes. A few years of focusing solely on my studies was the perfect diversion.

Chapter 5

The Hotel

M

Istillhadnoidea what to expect from this “school” or what on Earth my new warden had done to make everyone so afraid of her. All I knew was that after we’d left the orphanage, we’d walked for what seemed like hours until we reached a hotel.

A man dressed sharply in a red coat, primly pressed with copper buttons, nodded in greeting from behind the counter. “Lovely to see you again, Miss Scry. I trust your visit has been productive?” If he wasn’t in charge, he was at least important.

“I’ve told you before, Jeffery, call me Vera,” my kidnapper tsked.

“Whatever you say, Miss Scry. Your usual room?” he asked, completely disregarding her demand. Maybe he didn’t know what she was… what we? were.

I glanced at him, a little impressed, considering Administrator Smith had been cowering before her just a few hours ago.

“Yes, but I won’t be staying. My adventures this evening have been quite…” her eyebrows lifted, “eventful.”

The desk clerk’s eyes widened slightly, and his face paled. Nope, he definitely knew. “Not too eventful, I hope.” To his credit, his voice didn’t shake.

Vera laughed like it was the best joke in the world. If it was, I certainly didn’t get it. Then she turned his attention to me. “Jefferey, this young man is Matthew Duncan.”