Page 1

CHAPTER 1

Daniel sat outside on the ground, leaning against one of the large oak trees on the compound property. Finding a little peace and quiet around this place was almost impossible, and yet even then he wasn't at peace. The voices and flashes inside his mind were nonstop. He was finally learning to control it all, but true silence was something he'd spent most of his life searching for.

In the distance, through the bushes, he watched as Jax and Bishop rode up on their bikes. He could hear their voices as they made their way toward the compound, but he made no effort to listen. Slowly, he closed his eyes, trying to silence the noise inside him. He knew what was coming for them. It played over and over again in his mind, yet the outcome changed every time.

Hearing a car door shut, his eyes slowly opened to see Becky, her round belly leading the way as she headed toward the front steps with one hand resting lovingly on her stomach. A slow smile tipped the corner of his mouth. There was still hope...he just prayed this time the future he'd seen over and over again was wrong.

His smile slipped as he once again closed his eyes. He loved these people. Actually, he loved all people and knew their way of life depended on him. It was a heavy burden to carry, that was for sure, and there were days he wanted to disappear. Daniel never knew why he'd been chosen for the life he'd been given, but he took the responsibility seriously. Still, there were times he just wanted to be...Daniel. Not the Demon Slayer, a title he despised. It carried too much weight for someone who'd been forced to grow up long before he was ready.

Feeling a feathery touch on his hand, he barely slit his eyes open to see a beautiful butterfly land there. More quickly followed, settling on his arm and legs.

Daniel's smile returned. "Either I spilled syrup on myself this morning or there's a little witch around here."

A soft giggle came from his left. Slowly, he turned to see Drew smiling at him, butterflies flittering around her as if they'd been waiting for her all along.

Her smile slowly faded as she continued to study him. "You look sad."

Daniel's heart dipped at her observation. "Now how can I be sad when my favorite person shows up bringing every beautiful butterfly with her?"

Her smile returned, which was exactly what he'd been hoping for. He felt such a connection to the little girl. Maybe it was because, in a way, he hadn't been much older than her before he had a...growth spurt. Daniel snorted at the thought. The truth was, Drew saw things in him that others didn't, and if he was being honest, she made him feel a little less alone.

He watched as she walked over and sat beside him, leaning against the tree. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes just as he had before letting out a long sigh.

"Uh-oh."

Drew's eyes flew open, growing wide. "What?"

"I think my sad rubbed off on you," Daniel said, chuckling when she rolled her eyes. She was definitely a young girl with an old soul. "Why are you sad?"

"I hate school," she admitted without hesitation. "No one likes me. I don't want to go anymore."

"Impossible." Daniel shook his head.

"Did you like school?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.

"I didn't get to go to school," Daniel replied, not really knowing how much to tell Drew, but then again, he didn't want to lie to her either.

"Why?" she asked, holding a butterfly up to get a closer look.

Okay, now how in the hell did he answer that? Thinking for a minute, he simply shrugged. "I was...different."

Drew looked away from the butterfly, her big blue eyes studying him for a long moment. "Being different doesn't bother you."

Daniel frowned, surprised by her observation. Before he could respond, she tilted her head.

"Being alone does." She studied him as if she could see every secret he had buried deep.

Daniel's heart dipped again. The only other person who had ever seen through him so easily was his mother. How could a five-year-old know something he'd spent years trying to hide? "Sometimes," he admitted quietly.

"I'm different too," she said with a little shrug. "But I still have to go."

Daniel chuckled and nodded. She got him on that one. Instead of trying to explain just how different he was, he steered the conversation in another direction. "I know you like learning, Drew, and that's what you do in school. You want to be smart, don't you?"

She straightened her shoulders proudly. "Daddy says I'm already smart. He says I didn't need to go to no school."

Remembering Steve throwing a fit when Mira insisted Drew start kindergarten, Daniel smiled. "Your daddy's right. You are smart, but even the smartest people still have things to learn." A lot of the Warriors had reservations about Drew starting school. She'd be away from the compound and unprotected, but Daniel had made damn sure that wasn't the case. He'd instructed Mira and Kira on the protection spell to use before Drew ever stepped foot inside the school.

"Nobody likes me," she said, going right back to the reason she didn't want to go.