Two Tribes, page 26
part #1 of Young Atlanteans Series
She slowed to a halt, unsure what she’d find. The car was dark inside. A wonderful smell of musky cologne permeated from it and warmth brushed her skin as if she was next to a fire. She looked back at her building and actually thought about running, but something made her legs heavy and refuse to move.
‘Please, Alexia. No harm will come to you, I promise,’ the driver said with a smile.
He’d used her name in the way it should be pronounced, which she was sure she’d never told him, and he had spoken in an accent she recognized. She walked haltingly forward, ducking her head to get inside. It took enormous strain to ignore her instinct to run, but, at the same time, every muscle in her body felt out of control, like there was no way she wasn’t getting in that car. The feeling was bizarre. In the end she just had to tell herself that if they were going to hurt her or kidnap her, they could have done it the other night. The alternative was another lonely night in front of the TV, doing homework that she’d covered ages ago.
She held her breath and got inside in one quick move. Then, before she had time for her eyes to focus in the poor light, the door was closed, the driver was in the driver’s seat and the car pulled smoothly away.
A tall man was in the back seat with her. At least she first thought he was a man. The prickle that travelled up her spine making her heart thrash made her amend that thought to male.
He was Atlantean and a powerful one, but like no other she’d ever seen.
There were just five pure families in the Atlantean nation that could be traced back to Atlantis. There were the Dubonnetti, of which her father belonged, the underwater branch of Borge that lived in Murrtaine and the Santalini soldier vampires like Keenan. That left just the Bonaci, her grandfather’s line, and the mystical Florianna. And while this male’s aura was probably the closest to the latter, he seemed like none of them, really.
He seemed to emanate power and yet sucked the light from the car. It was as though he was sick. His face was mostly hidden by a black Fedora hat, pulled low over his forehead, and, as if that wasn’t enough, he had on strange black wraparound sunglasses. The little of his face left uncovered was deathly white. He wore a black trench coat with the lapels turned up to cover his neck, even though the heat was stifling and the weather unseasonably warm. She took a final visual sweep at the black slacks that rode up to reveal black socks in black leather shoes where his legs were relaxed and crossed at the knee. She couldn’t suppress the overwhelming feeling that he exuded danger and that he repelled the light, heat and all that was good. It was a ridiculous way to feel about a person she didn’t know, but she couldn’t help it. His clothes were black, his aura was black and he was undoubtedly the darkest soul she’d ever met.
He watched her, coolly, as the car eased into traffic. She noticed the inside of the windows were covered in a light cancelling film – something she hadn’t noticed the other night in the dark.
Then he spoke for the first time and his voice shocked her with its softness. It was the complete opposite to how he looked. ‘Hello, Alexia,’ he said, in a deeply accented voice that sounded Eastern European. ‘Forgive the intrusion on your day but I have been wanting to meet with you.’
She watched his red lips move in stark contrast to the paleness of his face. From what she could see, his skin was clear, clean-shaven, with a straight nose and strong jawline. If he didn’t look so much like he’d been drawn by a manga illustrator, she would think he was quite handsome. Without the get-up, of course, which made him look severe and harsh. Or maybe that was just how he projected. Even his manicured aristocratic hands and long white fingers were curiously inked with small black symbols right down to the edge of the nailbeds. A golden eagle on a large black ring adorned the pinky finger of his left hand. She had to admit, he was utterly fascinating even though he was downright terrifying at the same time.
‘You’re Atlantean,’ came out before she could stop herself. She hated coming across as childlike when all she wanted to do was seem grown up and sophisticated.
‘I am,’ he said simply, in that calm and lulling voice she found hypnotic.
‘Who are you?’ He was no commoner; she was sure of that. ‘I’ve never seen you at the king’s court.’ She was sure she would have remembered somebody as striking and powerful as him.
He tipped his head in a small bow. ‘You are perceptive and correct. My name is Yaroslav Anatoly Demidov and it is a long and tiresome story that I will not bore you with right now. Let us suffice to say, there is a long and ancient reason why we have never met. As is often the case in Atlantean tradition, is it not?’
He made her feel all kinds of uncomfortable, like he was avoiding telling her something important. She glanced out at the shops drifting by and thought how overcast and stormy the world looked because of the tinted windows. ‘I thought we were the only ones here,’ she said, quickly, trying to salvage the conversation. Commoners were everywhere, she knew. Her father had once explained that there were many with such watered-down genes that they didn’t even know what they were. But when she peeked across at the male watching her, she doubted his genes were watered down much at all. He had that eerie stillness the underwater Borge family had and yet the slow red slash of a smile put her in mind of blood and made her think of the Santalinis. ‘What family are you from?’
His smile thinned, proving she was right. He was avoiding something. Although it was hard to tell with the dark glasses and everything being so covered up. Then he completely shocked her by saying the absolute last thing she expected him to say.
‘I promise to tell you anything you want to know, if you agree to let me take you to dinner.’
Suddenly the heat in the car was unbearable. She didn’t know how he stood it in his huge coat. For a moment, her mind raced for an excuse. Dangerous stranger, unvetted by any of her family and all that. He seemed so much older than her for a start, and yet there was something youthful about his face. She sagged in defeat. It wasn’t as if her diary was full. ‘Do I get to see you without the Inspector Gadget outfit?’
He suddenly laughed loudly; a surprisingly deep and beautiful sound.
The driver looked at her in the rear-view mirror, as surprised by it as she was. She averted her eyes, quickly, feeling a weird sense of disloyalty, which was ludicrous. For all the male’s obvious power, she sensed something fragile and breakable. It was the strangest feeling. JJ had always said she had the greatest gift out of all of them; being able to sense the heart of people. And the mystery guy wasn’t unattractive. She was certainly intrigued enough to want to see what he looked like and maybe hear him laugh without all the garb.
Then, before she knew it, the car came to a stop. She went to get the door while she could, but his soft, lulling voice stopped her panic. ‘We are back where we started, have no fear.’
She breathed easier when she recognised the graffiti on the Johnsons’ building and a car that had been dumped and left. Then, while she was still processing that the meeting was over so quickly, the driver got out to open her door. She automatically put her hand on the door handle, but the driver appeared to be awaiting. As if he was giving them privacy. When he didn’t open it, she looked over her shoulder at the stranger again. He was holding something out to her, so she eased back into her seat.
She took the small plastic object from him. ‘An old person’s phone?’ she said, wrinkling her nose.
He laughed again, long enough to distract her while he took her hand.
She hitched a breath because he caught it and held it firmly. His skin was soft but deathly cold, and his grip like iron. She’d never felt a touch like it. A shiver climbed her arm like an icy tentacle. Shocked. She couldn’t read him. Not one little bit. She was forced to look into the blackness of his wraparounds and saw nothing there to help her.
His blackened, slightly yellowed nails threatened to break the skin like a bird’s talons. He released his hold slightly. ‘It’s a burner phone containing just one number. No one can trace it and you can contact me on it any time, day or night, and I’ll know it’s you.’
It would seem really romantic if she wasn’t still looking down at his ghostly hands and felt the uncomfortable shiver again. She might not be able to read him, but he was reading her. She’d put money on it. ‘You make it sound like something bad might happen to me.’ Her cheeks felt hot from more than the balmy temperature of the car. She knew now that he needed it because his body ran so cold.
‘The world can be a very dangerous place for any girl, particularly a young princess.’
She looked at him suddenly at that. His aura pulsed purple and went back to black. It was so scary it made her almost recoil, but he stroked the inside of her wrist to calm her. And, strangely, it did; making her wonder what powers he was hiding. He was calming her, lulling, luring, attracting, all softly and unobtrusively with the simple back of an index finger. However she couldn’t ignore that he knew exactly who she was and that was the most ominous thing of all. Being there was meant to be a closely guarded secret.
She was about to turn to get out of the car when he held out another object. It was a small black velvet box. ‘My gift to you … For spending some time with me today.’
She took it gingerly, checking his expression. The little of it she could see seemed coy, almost embarrassed. ‘But I’ve done nothing to deserve it,’ she said, feeling equally awkward.
‘Open it,’ he said with a nudge, finally releasing her hand.
She checked his face again and stopped. A small smile was playing on his lips and prompted her to ask. ‘Can I at least see your eyes?’ Something told her they wouldn’t be ordinary, like many in her race.
He bowed his head regally. ‘Believe me, I would like nothing more. But, as you can see, I have a condition that afflicts me in the light. If you agree to see me after dark, then indeed, I will reveal myself to you.’
His accent and the softness of his voice gave her butterflies in the pit of her stomach. His smile was full and took her breath for a moment. There, in the row of impossibly white teeth were the prominent canines of the Santalini. She wanted to shout ah-hah! That she’d guessed his family, but then she thought about it. He might have the teeth of her Uncle Keenan, but he also had the build of the Borge and the power of the Florianna. He was no ordinary male. There was more to his story. More to him.
Then, before she could formulate another question, the door opened, as if her mystery man had willed it and the driver said, ‘Goodbye, Your Highness.’
She got out stiffly, not sure whether she was ready to go or not. Before the driver could close the door behind her she turned and stooped, suddenly needing to check he was real. ‘The mysterious male seemed already absorbed by the darkness and her eyes blind from the light. ‘Use the phone. You may call me Yaro. Until we meet again,’ he said, pre-empting all her questions.
The driver gently pulled her away and closed the door. She stood and watched him walk all the way around the car to get in on the other side. He got in and the car slowly eased away. She was left dazed, wondering what the hell had just happened, when a blacked-out SUV pulled up in its place.
Dwayne and Richie got out still laughing about something and slammed the doors. They put up a hand and the car screeched away, blaring thumping bass as it went. ‘What are you doing standing out here?’ Dwayne said, walking past her, laughing at an in-joke with Richie.
The normality of it shook her out of her thoughts and she walked back to their block behind them. She felt strange. Changed. Dwayne seemed an immature, annoying boy after her encounter. Nothing like the older, sophisticated male she’d just met. ‘Just saying goodbye to a friend,’ she said, thoughtfully, hiding his gifts from view.
CHAPTER 29
Xavier left school with Paige and JJ squashed in his car, with the top up because of the drizzle, thankfully dropping JJ off at the wharf on the way. His car choice was not feeling quite so inspired when he had to leave it unattended on Paige’s estate.
He approached a group of youngsters congregating on the street corner and offered them a tenner to watch it. After handing over a twenty, they agreed and sniggered as if he was soft. He resisted the urge to squish their doughy little minds.
Paige was calling him away, looking nervous. However, they did stay near his car when he kept an eye on them as he walked along the balcony to Paige’s front door.
‘Oh, bloody hell!’ her mum’s voice said from the kitchen just as they got inside. ‘I forgot the milk. I knew there was something.’
‘We can go,’ Paige called out.
Xavier pounced on the opportunity. He caught her wrist and said quietly, ‘You go. I’ll talk to your mother.’
She nodded after holding his gaze with a meaningful look. ‘OK,’ she mouthed.
He gave her a fiver and she went straight out of the door.
Xavier gathered himself together and followed the clattering sounds to the kitchen, where he found Paige’s mum, Linda, unpacking groceries.
One of the little ones threw himself into his legs, clearly delighted to see him. He found himself picking him up and tickling his stomach before realizing how out of character it was. He never took notice of kids as a rule. The younger little girl jumped up to be treated the same and he swung her up on his back, like a little monkey.
Paige’s mum smiled at him and shook her head indulgently. She looked more tired than ever today.
‘Why did you turn down the nanny?’ Xavier said, adjusting the girl from her neck strangling grip.
Linda immediately stopped what she was doing and straightened up to look at him. It was exactly what he needed. He wasn’t about to waste valuable time on pointless conversation. Paige would be back any minute. He quickly latched onto the edge of Linda’s conscious mind and carefully ventured inside.
‘I didn’t want strangers in the house,’ she said, squinting as if the light suddenly became too bright.
Xavier paused from racing through her neural pathways. She was speaking the truth, but it was tinged with shame. What she’d omitted to say was that she didn’t want strangers seeing how they lived; how poor they were. It explained a lot and something that would have never occurred to him before. He continued on, but a little more slowly this time, looking for the avenues and switches he needed, while he considered alternatives. All the while, he talked to her softly. ‘It only needs to be short term. And we’re opening up a crèche at the school. You can use that when it opens and, in the meantime, maybe accept a babysitter. Possibly someone you already know. It’s not as starchy as a nanny and more acceptable to you. I will text you a number if you don’t have one. But it won’t be Paige. Paige’s life must take priority. Do you understand? Paige must be free to study.’
She frowned as if she knew something was not quite right with what was happening to her, but could not make out exactly what it was because the logic seemed sound.
Xavier tried to tone down his impatience because he now understood why, but he wouldn’t be moved on this. This was for Paige. ‘Please text me your weekly schedule and your bank details and I will set up an allowance to cover your childcare. Do you understand?’
His eyes bore into hers, dispelling any negative thoughts as soon as they arose, making it clear that it came from a place of concern and care for Paige. There was nothing she could do but acquiesce. The logic was watertight. She simply swallowed, nodded and rubbed the centre of her forehead. In the end, all she could do was nod and smile. ‘Thank you. It’s very kind.’
Xavier felt no shame in bending her will to his. He’d adjusted his plan and taken her feelings into account, so she should be grateful. Without knowing it, she was now connected to the most powerful family in the world and must accept the benefits that entailed. Humans were so intent on free will that they seldom understood what was good for them.
He felt her smoothly relax into his will and he eased from her mind, just as the front door clicked and opened in the hallway behind him. ‘You’ll be pleased to know that your mum and I have come to an agreement,’ he said, smiling, as Paige entered the kitchen and put the milk straight in the fridge. He was genuinely surprised that they kind of had. He hadn’t bulldozed through her feelings to assert what he wanted, which was his original plan. He was proud of himself.
He grinned at Linda, who was still blinking and trying to smile as if she wasn’t completely sure what she’d just agreed to.
‘That’s great!’ Paige said, flinging her arms around her mother’s neck.
A warmth entered Xavier’s chest that he’d never felt before. It was selfless joy. This was what someone got out of helping people. Who knew? ‘Yes, your mum agreed to a crèche and a babysitter. It was the nanny thing she didn’t like.’ He looked back at her to back him up.
Linda just said, ‘Mm,’ and nodded like she was completely out of her depth.
Paige looked at him lovingly. ‘I can’t believe it. It’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me … us,’ she amended, hugging her mum again. ‘It’s amazing,’ she said, making his heart swell again with the smouldering look she gave him. ‘What changed your mind?’ she said, looking at her mother curiously.
Xavier had a flash of nerves as he recognized that changing her mind was rare for her mother. He quickly prayed that his suggestions had taken. It was curiously evident that Paige’s happiness was not solely dependent on what he did for her, but what he did for everyone she loved. He made a mental note to look into a way to improve her mother’s situation, so she didn’t have to work three soul-destroying jobs. Maybe one where she could be there for the kids and not have to leave them with anyone at all if she didn’t want to.
‘Xavier explained that you needed time to study and he could help; what with what an important year it is this year. I’m sorry, love. It just wasn’t an option before with money tight and everything.’
