Page 41 of Anywhere

Belle was suddenly at the door and pushing past her father. She shoved Rhys in the chest so hard he stumbled back. A growl ripped from my throat, and I took a threatening step toward my cousin, but the look in Rhys’s eyes held me firmly in place.

“This be your fault,” Belle yelled and hit Rhys again. “You shoulda moved out. Ya knew how she felt, and ya stayed. What did ya think would happen when he showed up?” Belle pointed at me. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I knew it had to be bad. I’d barely seen Belle since I arrived, and she hadn’t said more than two words to me. “Ya gotta go git ‘er, yer da only one dat knows where she would go.”

“Ya mean she’s gone ta da demons? But how? I got rid of all dem. And how do ya know fir sure?”

“She told me she was goin’ ta go see Riegan. But I just talked ta Reigan, ‘cause I was gonna join, and Riegan never had plans wit Mari. There be only one reason she’d lie. Dis is yer fault.” Rhys grabbed Belle by the arms and held her as she fumed. “I dinnie wanna loose me sista’, I’ma still dealin’ wit da loss of me Ma,” she said, her lip quivering.

“Aye, I’ll go git her. Dinnie worry.” Releasing Belle, Rhys pulled a T-shirt from a drawer and then ran around the room, strapping on an assortment of weapons.

“Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?” I blurted out.

“I’ll tell ya later. I promise. I gotta go,” Rhys said. He grabbed a cloak draped over the back of his chair and came over to where I was standing. “I’m sorry, I gotta go.”

“All right. We’ll talk later.”

Nodding, Rhys ran out of the room with Gregory and Belle close behind him.

Walking over to the bed, I flopped down on my back to stare at the ceiling. Maybe there was something to be said about forces trying to keep us apart. It certainly felt like something strange was going on, but then again, everything about this place felt strange from the moment I arrived.

Mari

My hands were sweating as the car headlights lit up the deserted road. This was the one thing I couldn’t get used to here. Overseas, everything was still technology-based. Everyone had cars and trucks and cell phones. Stores were open until late or all night long, and you could get a good cup of coffee and meet up with a friend anytime.

Not that I had many—or really any—friends except for Fiona. Rhys’s little sister was a ball of wild McGregor energy, but she was also just young enough that she didn’t want to hang out with her older cousin all the time.

I wasn’t sure why the Faction decided to keep our area here and on the mainland so primitive, but again, I was just a woman. I didn’t get to ask those questions and expect a straight answer. Even my da chose to keep Belle and me in the dark about what was happening around us.

I pulled off the road at the trailhead and shut off the headlights. In the complete darkness, I took a deep, steadying breath. Rhys had done a good job closing all the portals to the dark fade. Too good of a job. It had taken forever to find an old witch with the ability to make this crack in the veil possible and a ton of money to convince her to make it happen.

“This is stupid. You should just go back home,” I said, then winced as the pain erupted behind my eyes. “It will pass. It always passes.” I laid my head on the steering wheel and took a couple of deep breaths as the images and emotions flashed behind my eyes.

Pain. Longing.

Love. Joy.

A woman screamed as a hand cracked her across the face.

A baby crying as it lay alone in the darkness.

A man stabbed to death for his wallet and the ten dollars he had inside.

I love you.

I hate you.

You’ve got the promotion.

A scream echoing as a man falls from a building to his death.

Gasping, I held my head and fought it back, but the migraine that had been coming on for weeks had me in its grip, and I couldn’t focus enough to make it stop. Tears streamed down my face.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled to no one and everyone.

I fumbled for the door handle. I knew I shouldn’t do this, but I had to. I couldn’t take it anymore. As soon as the door was open, I pulled myself out and fell to the ground on all fours. Forcing myself to stand, I closed the door. I knew I should take my cane, but I could barely see with the pain erupting behind my eyes.

If they were going to kill me, they would kill me. I had to take my chances. Putting my hand in my pocket to make sure I had the red ruby as payment, I shuffled away from the car. It was pitch black in every direction.

“Shite,” I swore and wiped my forehead with my shaking hand. I held out my palm. “Ignitious luminous.” A small flaming ball appeared in my hand. It was not much bigger than a bouncy ball, but it would do. “Lead the way,” I whispered. The little ball rose into the air and drifted in front of me. Hopefully, it understood what I wanted. I was too exhausted to care where it led me as it bobbed ahead and gave me something to follow.