Daniel’s expression softened, and for a moment I felt a stab of jealousy. Because it was clear he knew and cared about this number one.
“Emma,” he said. “She was born in House of Darken, and she’s my best friend’s world.”
Well, at least she wasn’t dead. That had to be a good sign.
“Why did Daelighters trust humans with this secret?” I had to ask. “Wouldn’t it be easier and simpler just to use your people?”
Daniel nodded. “Much easier, but humans felt they were at a disadvantage in regard to the treaty, because we have power and skills they do not. They insisted that while a Daelighter hid the stone, humans would be the ones to always know its whereabouts. The fourth secret keeper has a map on their body, which will change if the stone’s location ever changes.”
I got humans wanting that advantage. I could already tell that the Daelighters were way out of my league when it came to … pretty much everything.
I sank against the side of the bed, trying my best to process it all. This new information … it was a struggle to truly believe what they were saying. This had to be the “family business” my father had been part of. No wonder my mom was so angry. She no doubt got dragged into it.
“How exactly does this Laous fit into it all?” I asked, my voice raspier than usual.
Daniel’s face went scary again. “Laous was the overlord of House of Imperial. He killed my father and somehow took the power which should have gone to me as the next overlord.”
Michaels cut in: “He apparently did that to make sure he would have the power to find the first secret keeper. He’s no longer overlord now. Got the boot when he killed the parents of the first secret keeper and then almost killed her as well. Daniel is set to take over the role – which should have always been his.”
I looked between both of them, blinking a stupid amount of times. It seemed to be helping me process. Or I had suddenly developed some sort of eye disorder. “Laous used Emma’s blood to find me?”
They both nodded. “Emma’s family was killed,” Daniel told me, “and she was manipulated into coming to Daelighter territory by Laous. He managed to kidnap her...”
The sound of my harshly indrawn breath filled the room. Killed. Kidnapped. What the freaking freak was going on here? Maybe my mom hadn’t been completely wrong about the danger in associating with this world. I just wished she’d given me more accurate information. Prepared me better.
“You’re the second, and as I said, you were born in House of Imperial,” Daniel continued, ignoring my obvious shock. “Your blood will lead him to the third, and we need to make sure that doesn’t happen. If Laous finds the starslight stone, he will break the treaty. Both worlds could be destroyed.”
I held two hands up, palms facing him. “Just … hold up. I need a second to understand what you’re saying.”
A second … who was I kidding? I wouldn’t process this in a year. Everything he was telling me was important and scary and insane. But the bottom line was really about my mom. We had to save her, then I could deal with the rest.
“Okay, so my mom…” I said, trying to keep my voice and breathing even. “How are we getting her back? What is the plan?”
Daniel’s head jerked up slightly, like he was surprised I wasn’t asking more questions about Overworld and Daelighters and me being a secret keeper. But I just couldn’t.Not born on Earth.Those words ran through my head over and over. It was too much. So I’d just deal with what my poor little brain could manage.
“We have a council in Overworld,” he said. “They are made up from members of the four houses. They’ve ordered me to stay in New Orleans for another day or so, until we can determine if Laous is here or has fled. They want you to head to Astoria. They can protect you there.”
I shook my head hard. “Not happening. I’m going to help you find my mom and kick Laous’ ass. Will I be staying here in this house?” I didn’t even give him a second to argue. “I don’t have clothes or anything. Is it safe to go back to my condo? Should we be checking it out for clues?”
Daniel tilted his head to the side, eyes slightly narrowed. “I couldn’t find out much on you or your family, but the little I did suggested you would be difficult and distrusting. Looks like my intel was somewhat accurate.”
Research? If that didn’t make a girl feel special. “Okay, stalker, did your research tell you that my mom is the only person I have in this world? It’s my duty to get her back, and I will do whatever it takes, including but not limited to, trusting a few alien douchebags and putting myself in danger.”
Logic told me it was going to be quicker for me to achieve my goals if I stayed close to the beings who understood what was going on here.
Michaels let out a yawn then, disrupting our stare-off. “I’m going to grab an hour of sleep before we have to head out. Can you wake this alien douchebag when it’s time to go?”
I blinked at him as he wandered off. He was literally the most random dude ever, even when fighting. Which also made him hard to best. At the time I’d been so proud of my skills, drawing on multiple disciplines to confuse and beat him. It hadn’t been easy, but I’d taken him down. Now I knew he had let me win, because these Daelighters were far stronger and faster than I could ever hope to be.Bastard.He’d thrown the fight. Throwing a fight was unforgiveable.
After Michaels left, Daniel continued to explain a few things to me. Mostly rules about what would happen if I stuck around with him. I was surprised that he hadn’t fought me about staying; seemed he didn’t care that much for the rule of his council.
I remained calm for all the new information, my brain processing as quickly as it could. It was kind of odd that I wasn’t freaking out more, but my gut was telling me these particular Daelighters didn’t mean me any harm. And I needed them. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer was really hitting home to me here. I’d never had friends, but enemies I was used to. I’d keep them as close as possible until I got all the answers I needed. I’d find my mom, then I’d figure out a way to ensure I never had to run from any of them again.
Even if it meant exposing them to the world. Or killing them all. Because I might be a secret keeper, but I never signed up for the job. They should have been more careful about who they entrusted to keep the worlds safe.
3
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon by the time we were done with the “tell Callie about all the freakiness in the world.” Daniel left me in my room while he went to deal with some Imperial business. He’d told me I could explore this house, but if I left, there would be a very good chance Laous would find me and kill me and my mom. With that sort of motivation, I decided not to act like I was too stupid to live and would remain inside. He’d said that he would do some recon later, and if I stayed by his side the entire time, I could go as well. I liked that we had a plan. It made me feel much more in control.
