“I keep track of it via the network.”
This network thing was hard for me to comprehend, so I was mentally picturing it as a cell phone with internet access. “Will you explain this network to me one day?”
Daniel chuckled. “It’s difficult to explain without experiencing it. But one day we can try.”
Good enough for me.
We arrived at the school far too quickly for my liking. I felt comfortable, safe, in my bubble with Daniel, but the sight of hundreds of uniformed students streaming into the school was enough to jolt me right out of it. The concept of going to school was something I had accepted. I needed to be around Daniel, and he had to go to school. Made sense that I would go too. But now that we were sitting here in a parking lot, so similar to the many I’d seen in teen drama shows, the reality was hitting me hard.
Just as Daniel went to open his door, I reached out and grabbed his forearm. “I have never been to school,” I blurted out quickly. “Like … in my entire life. And I’m also … stupid or something. I can’t read. Words are a jumble. My mom said I was born stupid. I guess she wasn’t wrong, because it has never gotten easier, not even when I worked my ass off to get better.” I forced my words to slow down, because they were a jumble. “I … I just don’t want to embarrass you.”
Admitting that was difficult for me. But I trusted Daniel not to use my weaknesses against me. Which was never a trust I had with my mom. If she knew I was sensitive about something, that was the very thing she used to hurt me when I didn’t conform. Or just because she felt like it.
Daniel made a derisive sound before shaking his head. “You’re not stupid. I don’t need a textbook to tell me that. Nothing you do will embarrass me or House of Imperial.” His voice got low then as he leaned in closer. “You could parade through here, naked, singing the national anthem, and I wouldn’t give a shit.”
I laughed, still feeling like a moron, despite his words. “Right … naked? Really?”
He let out a rumble, before he sighed. “You got me there. But not because I’m going to be embarrassed. Human males don’t always show the respect that they should. Especially teenagers.”
“You’re not a teenager?” I asked, wondering exactly how old he was.
He wore an amused look then. “Haven’t been a teenager for a long time. In human years, I’m probably sixty years old. But in Daelighter years, I’m the equivalent of … a twenty-year-old, I would guess. Hard to tell with the way we age.”
This was too much to deal with on top of going to school, so I let that vague explanation go. Realizing I was still holding Daniel’s arm, I released it and sucked in a deep breath.You can do this, Callie.I really did want to try school. This would be the last chance I ever had. Technically, I should have graduated already. I’d turned eighteen in June, but no one here knew that.
“Let’s do this,” I said, opening the door and pulling myself up and out of the low-slung car.
Daniel was at my side in an instant. With a shake of my head, I had to wonder how these Daelighters managed to keep their secret. They shed their human façade far too often to hide their otherness. It was lucky for them that most humans didn’t notice what was going on outside of their own little worlds.
As we stepped up to the path, I stared at the school. The parking lot might be exactly like the movies, but the building itself was nothing like I expected. No boxy brick building, it was all steel and glass, with a bulbous center and sleek lines along each side … like arterials leading off the main hub.
This had Daelighter technology written all over it. “This school is the territory of your people, right?” I lifted my head, so my murmur could only be heard by Daniel.
He nodded, leading me up onto the path and past a center statue of four imposing men. “When we first crossed from Overworld, we ended up in Astoria. This town has been our center point ever since. Its close proximity to home and the transporter is useful for those of us having to making the trip across frequently. The school, Starslight Prep, was put here for the families who decided to raise their children on Earth. They needed a safe education institute, a place they could control.”
I still couldn’t believe these aliens had been here with humans for well over a hundred years. It made me wonder how many other beings might be here on Earth, too, blending in, biding their time. The Daelighters were, for the most part, peaceful, but knowing they controlled a lot of the global money … it was scary to think of … that power. If they ever turned on humans, we wouldn’t stand a chance. I guess that’s exactly what Laous had done, and one rogue Daelighter could do a lot of damage apparently.
Inside the main building I was getting an airport, space station vibe. Lots of metal, moving sidewalks, high windows, and security. I noted all of the cameras, because that was something I was trained to do. Always figure out who was watching. More training from my mom.
Thinking about my life with her brought up the long-suppressed feelings of hurt, but knowing she was out there right now possibly being tortured … or worse … dead, was too much on top of everything else. My breath sucked in and out harshly as mild panic took me over.
“What is it?” Daniel asked, gently gripping my biceps as he pulled me closer and away from the gawking crowds.
Yeah, I noticed all of the students staring at us. The hall was full of open mouths and wide eyes. Most of them were looking at Daniel and then me, wondering who this strange girl with him was.
“Callie!” There was more urgency in his tone and I snapped my attention back to him.
My voice was monotonous, only a twinge of my upset showing. “My mom is being held prisoner somewhere, or dead … who knows … and I’m just here going to school, acting like life is normal…”
Some of the tension eased out of his broad shoulders; his expression softened, thick lashes partially obscuring his eyes as he took a deep breath. It looked like he was trying to get himself under control, and I realized that I’d really scared him. Probably should have been more circumspect in my random freaking out when there was a psycho on the loose.
“The council assured me that they’re doing everything they can to find Laous.” He didn’t remove his hands. “Until we have some leads, there’s no way to track your mom down. But the second we know something…”
My return whisper was laced with sorrow. “He has no more need for her, right? He got what he wanted from me. She was only leverage for that. We’re kidding ourselves to think that she’s still alive.”
He released me, and then in the same instant wrapped his arms around me. The gasps that filled the entrance to the school were loud. Whispers started after that.Who’s the new chick? Another one stealing a founding son.
Founding son?Really? Were they referring to the fact that the four houses founded the school? Was that actually a thing here?
