Daybreaker: Undertow, #5

Chapter One

EILA

East Yonder Township, Pennsylvania

Monday, 7:35 AM

Dolores’ Restaurant in the tiny town of East Yonder was a food establishment in the loosest sense of the word. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of the Milk Way, but way more questionable . . . as in I doubted that it was inspected by the health department in the last decade. Or ever.

I was fairly certain that we’d end up with food poisoning along with the Scrapple listed on the blackboard menu, but we were exhausted, starving, and stuck with a kid whose idea of high cuisine was roadkill roasted over an open fire. By comparison, Dolores’ shack was a way better option.

Hopefully.

We’d manage to get from the donut truck to the town in under an hour, walking through the dense forest surrounding the valley until we reached its outer edge, which happened to be a small junkyard complete with elderly man sitting on a ramshackle porch. He eyed us warily, especially since we nearly had to drag Jared through the piles of cars, his itchy, thieving fingers wanting to rip all the hood ornaments from the old automobiles and pocket them.

Given that we were already on the semi-run from the law thanks to Nikki’s house, Faust’s collapse, MJ’s torched Bronco, and even the Hole Food’s truck, I didn’t need Jared snatching something from the junkyard. I had shoved him along, warning him that I’d scream thief if he touched anything.

Sprout, in his shadow form, moved between shady patches, every once in a while disappearing from view all together, but Jared seemed unworried. Though we’d scanned the road for any sign of even a payphone, it quickly became apparent that East Yonder was an OLD town, like it would be a miracle if they even knew the Internet existed. And it was MJ, finally back to his human form and walking at our rear in stolen gym clothes, who spotted the little diner, tucked in between a post office and an old barn.

On foot and looking bedraggled and seriously out of place, we quickly became the focus of attention, the few Yonder residents we saw watching us from store windows and porches. One dude pedaling past us on an old-style bicycle, nearly hit a fence because his eyes had been glued to Nikki’s butt, rather than the road ahead of him.

Now, squeezed into an old red booth with duct tape holding the frayed vinyl together, we began figuring out what little money we had on us. Luckily, Jared had taken the donut driver’s wallet, which contained a grand total of $28.13 plus a condom the color of toothpaste. According to the label, it tasted like mint and glowed in the dark, which was way more information than I ever needed to know about a Hole Food’s employee.

I swear if there is any sort of rodent wildlife listed on the daily specials, we are outta here, whispered Nikki in the booth beside me. Across from us, Jared sat next to MJ, Sprout somewhere in the diner, though God knew where, doing God knows what.

Jared looked over the menu, unimpressed. What in the heck are hash browns?

Potatoes, diced up and fried in oil, MJ replied. They’re pretty good.

Sounds revolting, Jared muttered.

I closed the plastic menu, setting it on the table. I say we just order a bunch of pancakes and hash browns and share.

Works for me, replied MJ, Nikki adding a nod of approval.

An older, bleached blonde lady who used at least two cans of hairspray when she readied herself for the day, wandered over to us from her few customers at the long 1950s bar. A faded apron was tied around her ample waist, and a name tag declaring Dolores was pinned to her chest.

She leaned a hip against the table and it shook slightly, causing our utensils to bounce. So, wadda ya like?

Not much, muttered Jared under his breath, thankfully too low for Dolores to hear. I managed to jam my foot on top of his, forcing him to shut up and straighten.

I smiled nicely, trying to ignore the fact that the five people at the bar were all swiveled around staring at us. Most looked like retired truckers, except for an older gentleman at the end of the bar with a thick white beard like Santa Claus.

We’ll just have three orders of pancakes and two orders of hash browns, I replied. We’re gonna share, if that’s okay.

Dolores gave a nod. OJ or coffee, y’all?

Both please, Nik replied. And plenty of cream and sugar.

Whateva ya like, darlin’, she replied, swinging her wide hips away from us and heading back to the bar, calling out our order through the serving window that was open to the back kitchen. A man’s voice echoed back the order and Dolores set to getting us our drinks.

Slowly the patrons turned back to their newspapers and breakfast, the old radio playing some sports show from its spot above the stacked water glasses. Grateful that we were no longer the focus of attention, I turned back to Nik. I gotta use the little girl’s room before my eyes turn yellow.

Nik gave me a shove, trying to oust me from the seat, Me too! I’m so excited to see toilet paper, I can’t even tell you!

I looked back at Jared and MJ, neither of them so much as making eye contact. You two gonna be able to play nice?

I’m always nice, protested MJ as Nik and I slid out of the seat.

Jared’s mouth dropped open as he accused, You tried to bite me in the truck when you first woke up, you hairy swine!

Well, if you hadn’t had taken me for an unauthorized RIDE in the truck, I wouldn’t have tried to bite ya, Ariel!

I rubbed my face, Guys. Let’s just offer one another a blank slate, alright?

MJ and Jared refused to look at one another as they muttered a few obscenities.

With my bladder screaming, I left the guys in the booth and wandered to the ladies room with Nik. I prayed the diner wouldn’t be remodeled by a Therian and a Wrecker in the time we were in the bathroom.

We used the facilities and then went to wash our hands. As I ran my palms under the water, I gave my reflection the critical once-over in the chipped mirror. I looked like Hell – dirty clothes, tangled hair, circles under my eyes from lack of sleep and probably Wrecker venom. I dared to cup my hand to my mouth and sniffed. Jeezus, my breath could kill a camel, I winced. Any chance you have some gum?

Nik shook her head, No, but just try rinsing your mouth with the tap water. It shouldn’t have too much lead in it.

I shook my head, doing as she suggested, lead poisoning taking a back seat to lethal morning breath. Nik, who had a nose for bullshit, leaned a hip against the orange counter and watched me.

So, you gonna tell me how you really knew about this town? she asked. I know you’re from Kansas and all, but this seems to be WAY outside of the normal tourist traps. And we did NOT see anything from that donut truck.

I flicked off the faucet, yanking some paper towels from the dispenser and wiping my mouth. I honestly don’t know. I just remembered seeing it – like a clear picture in my mind. I’m starting to think I saw it mentioned on the news. Or maybe on a website. I just don’t know.

Nik eyed me from her spot at the counter. So then why were you staring at your arms when we were in the truck? When you were so confused as to how you knew this town was here, you acted like you could see some sorta map of the future written on your forearms.

Shit. Nikki REALLY didn’t miss much.

I had hallucinated injuries to my arms inside Faust. I thought I was bleeding, my arms carved up as if I’d thrown the Light, but it was simply an illusion, produced by my mind. When I was in the donut truck, I started to wonder if my strange memory of East Yonder was also just another hiccup in my brain – another mirage, like I had in Faust.

I wasn’t sure I wanted Nik to know that I’d gotten so exhausted that I started seeing shit in the nightclub.

I tossed the paper towel in the trash as the lie formed easily on my tongue, Sometimes I can feel the Light under my skin, even when I’m not calling to it I replied, a half-truth. In the truck, I could feel it for a second . . . probably just from getting into that argument with Jared.

Baz said you hallucinated inside Faust, she replied.

DAG NAMIT! I was SO gonna kick that weed-infested blabbermouth someday!

I cleared my throat, trying to be smooth. I did hallucinate in Faust. From fatigue. But in the truck, I wasn’t hallucinating. Hopefully.

Nik balled a paper towel in her palm and tossed it into the trash with a sigh. She glanced around the bathroom, before her eyes landed back on me, clearly not buying my story. Look, Eila. I get that we aren’t exactly best pals, whispering gossip to one another in the night and whatnot. But if you ever need to talk – really talk – about whatever is going on, I can keep a secret.

I simply nodded. I’ll remember that.

As Nik and I headed out of the girl’s room, we nearly ran straight into Jared.

He flew into the boys’ room across the hall, slamming the door shut behind him, Sprout limboing under the doorjamb after him. Through the cheap wood panelling, I could hear Jared whispering urgently to Sprout, his shadow tail’s squeaky voice responding nervously.

Nikki glanced at me, confusion on her face. She went to pound on the bathroom door, but froze at Dolores’s voice, behind us.

Y’all better not have brought no pets in here, ya hear?

We turned to the pissed restaurant owner who held a coffee pot in one hand, a tray of coffee mugs and juice-filled glasses in the other. Behind her, the cook offered us a wary glance as he continued flipping our pancakes on the sizzling skillet. Dolores’ crimson lips hardened into a slash across her mouth as she looked Nik and me over. I don’t tolerate such nonsense.

I swallowed. Uh, no – we didn’t bring any pets. Except for a mermaid’s tail.

I heard a squeak and I ain't had no rats since last week, she argued.

Instantly the pancakes lost their appeal.

Nik, realizing I was at a loss for words, piped up, He does that – makes weird noises when he takes a leak, she offered. His childhood was messed-up.

Dolores raised one over-plucked eyebrow, but finally continued around the corner from the kitchen, heading to the dining room.

I turned to Nikki, He makes noise when he PEES?

She shrugged, Squeak and a leak. I had to think fast and that’s all I could come up with.

I spun back to the bathroom and rapped on the door. Jared? I asked quietly. What the heck is going on?

Mortis, he whispered back, Sprout chirping an affirming sound as well. The door cracked open, revealing a sliver of Jared’s panicked face. Sprout saw them coming down the road from the window. They’ll be here any . . .

In the dining room, we could hear the bell above the front door chime and Dolores say she’d be right with whoever entered.

Jared swallowed, looking truly terrified, his eyes meeting mine. I sure hope you’re as good of a fighter as everyone says you are, Eila. I saw Mortis slaughter Mayhem. They don’t stop. They just tear everyone apart.

Fear glistened in Jared’s eyes and I finally, truly, realized how young he was. The bloodshed he’d witnessed had been something he’d never experienced before – traumatic and unforgettable. A permanent stain on his childhood, no matter how strange his upbringing had been.

Nikki and I, however? We’d been hardened by what we’d witnessed. We’d been thrown into this war, young and untested. At one time, I too was Jared, but not anymore. Not after so much loss and grief had turned fear into steely resolve, uncertainty into determination, and lies into truths.

If we were to utilize the Wreckers Jared spoke of, I’d have to convince them we could win – that there was peace at the end of this nightmarish road. It was a promise I’d need to make to them, but one I wasn’t sure I could deliver. It could be a lie, but I had to sell it as fact.

It’ll be okay, Jared, I replied, my voice unwavering.

I glanced at Nikki, about to tell her to be ready, but she was already helping herself to a few silver utensils that were stacked in cups near the edge of the kitchen. Luckily, the cook didn’t notice her stealing the flatware. In her grip, the forks and spoons turned liquid, sliding between her fingers and forming sharpened points that jutted between her clenched fists like brass knuckles.

She gave me a nod and I began calling the Light to my veins as I turned back to Jared.

Stay hidden, I ordered. We’re gonna all get out of here and get back to Mayhem and help your people, understand?

He simply nodded, Sprout popping up over his shoulders and chirping what sounded like good luck as Jared quietly shut the door again with a trembling hand, the click of the lock sounding against the wood.

I stepped with Nikki carefully around the hallway corner, eyeing the dining room, searching for whoever came in, ready to fight. But instead of a Mortis, I spied a dark haired young woman in a leather jacket and blue dress standing in the middle of the restaurant, her back to us.

My world ground to a halt.

Instantly, I knew.

It was as if the Web of Souls trembled at our proximity; two assassins, built from the power-lust and rage of an angel hell-bent on purging humanity. It didn’t matter that we’d never truly met. It didn’t matter that I never set foot in Aztael palace, or that centuries stood between us. It was if I’d always known her, as closely as I knew my own reflection.

She was me - my own skin, my own power.

My own shadow tail.

Feeling the strange kinship writhe like energy between us, she turned, causing Nikki to suck in a sharp, stunned curse.

Elizabeth, my fourth great grandmother, yet no more that 20 years old herself, stood in the center of Dolores’ diner. Her raven hair tumbled wildly around her shoulders like a cloak of storm clouds, complimenting her fair skin, now flush and beautiful with newfound life. And like me, her eyes, though green, were ringed in glittering gold.

She wore the same pale blue gown that Christian had laid her to rest in, but over it was Rillin’s heavy leather jacket, protecting her. Keeping her warm. Though he’d shared the same jacket with me several times, it seemed to fit Elizabeth in a far more intimate manner. On her, my trainer’s jacket was a second skin and she wore it with absolute confidence, as if it had always been hers – by blood, by right, by love. Behind her, the human patrons had quietly moved off their stools, alarmed by the color of both our eyes.

My grandmother studied me carefully from across the room.

MJ, still hoovering pancakes and oblivious to Elizabeth behind him, finally glanced up. His eyes landed on Nik and me – Nik with her lethal spork knuckles clutched in her hand, and me with my eyes like starfire. We weren’t headed to a picnic, and MJ knew it.

He froze, mid-bite, and I could see the question in his eyes – the debate as to whether or not he should phase instantly in response to what he saw as a clear sign that Nik and I were ready to throw down. I gave a small shake of my head and calmed the Light in my veins, allowing the gold to fade from the brown in my eyes.

Watching me settle, he finally dared a slow turn to see what had set me off. The poor guy nearly choked on his maple syrup when he spied Elizabeth, alive and very not dead, standing near him.

She glanced at MJ, then back to the door just as it once again swung open.

Rillin’s massive form entered the diner, ducking slightly to get under the low doorframe, his eyes on Elizabeth. Strapped like a navy seal, he carried more weapons than the entire town probably owned. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Santa was carefully sliding a butter knife from his plate into his hand.

Come, Rillin said, not looking my way, his focus fixed on Elizabeth. We need to keep looking. Raef is down the –

Rillin’s eyes finally landed on me and Nikki and he instantly stopped speaking. But then he was moving, skirting past Elizabeth as he headed right for me. For one moment, I honestly thought he was going to grab me into a bear hug, but he stopped short right in front of me.

Lost for words, he stuttered as he quietly demanded, Are you hurt?

I’m okay, but . . . she’s awake? I asked, my eyes going back to Elizabeth.

MJ, now on his feet and wiping off his hands on his jeans, offered a hand to Elizabeth, as if to shake. Hey, uh – I’m MJ. I’m a friend of your granddaughter over there, he nodded to me.

Elizabeth simply stared at his palm.

When she didn’t respond, MJ gave up on the handshake and scrubbed his hair, uneasy. So, uh, we ordered food. Want some? Elizabeth remained silent. You know, I gotta tell you – you look a little taller when you’re, uh, vertical.

Unimpressed by MJ’s hospitality, Elizabeth flatly ignored the poor guy as her gaze slid back to mine. Finally, she walked over to where we stood. Rillin stepped back as she approached, and I couldn’t help compare the move to that of a true knight, in deference to his queen.

I am Elizabeth Lisle, also known as Elizabeth Walker. I am told that you are my descendant.

Still trying to digest the whole dead-chick-talking craziness, and the fact that we apparently weren’t gonna make friendly chit-chat, I managed to simply reply, Uh, well, yes – that’s what I’ve been told.

Elizabeth eyed me warily, almost disgusted. An heir of mine should not have been so easily abducted in the heat of battle. An heir of mine would not be taking the time to eat and converse casually. You are nothing like a true fighter.

Okay . . . back the frak up!

Excuse me? I demanded, taking a step forward, getting in her face. Nose to nose, we had some true similarities – we were roughly the same height, Elizabeth having maybe an inch on me. We had the same wild hair, but hers was closer to a shade of midnight, mine more like ground coffee. I had freckles where she did not. I threw a Light that damaged far more than mere soul thieves, whereas hers was supposedly more pure than mine.

We had the same trainer. We both fell in love with Mortis men.

We were both close to the same chronological age.

But as I stared down my fourth great grandmother, I had a sneaky suspicion we weren’t going to be the best of pals.

How dare you judge me? I snapped. You know nothing of who I am or how I fight. I got us here safely. I bargained our freedom with our abductor. I know exactly how to fight and stay ahead.

You are here, in this town, because I sent you here, Elizabeth replied coolly. You are safe because of me.

What do you mean you sent me here? I asked, confused.

I sent you a message. A vision, of this place, through the bond that links our minds.

Crap on a cracker. I totally forgot about the Lunaterra’s stupid hive mentality and their ability to link thoughts with one another like a Vulcan-freakin-mindmeld.

Elizabeth crossed her arms, a physical dare for me to argue with her, but I didn’t. I outrank your station in life, she said. Therefore I can send commands down to you. You are my subject.

Nikki snorted, In your half-dead dreams . . .

I took a step forward, pissed. Fine. Somehow you got this place stuck in my brain, so we headed here. Big deal. But I brokered the deal to grant our freedom to walk here in the first place. All you did was pick a middle-of-no-where town that’s smaller than a booger on a map!

Hey! Watch it, Girl! snapped the cook, but Dolores gave him a shove to shut him up.

We still had an audience and I totally didn’t care.

I was LIVID.

Elizabeth had the nerve to point a bold finger right in my face. You run your rebels like a charade, she snarled. No one trains consistently. There is no rigor or discipline. And you have the audacity to dare take on Therophel and the Gabriel Gate with such carelessness?

She stepped up to me, acting every inch the royal commander and Northern Rebellion fighter. "Christian sacrificed himself for you? For this farce of an alliance? His life was wasted on you. You have no skill. If you brokered a deal for freedom, you paid too high a price."

THAT’S IT! I was gonna fry that damn blue dress right off her non-corpse body!

I slapped her hand from my face. Back off, Grams, I warned.

Rillin, who had thus far been quiet, letting me and Elizabeth face-off without interference, snarled a warning in my defense. Watch yourself, Elizabeth. Eila is as fine a fighter as I’ve ever seen, you included.

To that, Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, glancing at Rillin.

Listen, Chicky, demanded Nik, shoving a bit past me to get right in front of Elizabeth. We’ve done just fine without your formerly-dead-ass up until this point. If you piss me off enough, I can happily return you to your prior state.

Are you threatening me? asked Elizabeth, the gold in her eyes shining brighter.

Absolutely, snarled Nik.

MJ finally came up behind Elizabeth, urging us to pipe-down as the locals were getting seriously weirded-out. Nik and Elizabeth paid him no mind, however, and began arguing even louder with one another.

Rillin leaned down towards my ear, Forgive Elizabeth’s anger and callous words, Eila. She has been slammed into a new life, a new world. She will ease with time. You will find her a tremendous asset to our fight.

If we don’t kill each other first, you mean, I muttered, finally turning my face up to Rillin’s. Where’s Raef?

Rillin opened his mouth to answer just as the bell above the entrance chimed, the door swinging open as my killer boyfriend stepped into the diner. His gaze immediately landed on me, as if by instinct.

I shoved past Elizabeth, Nik, and MJ, leaving Rillin behind me as I ran across the warped wood floor and literally crashed into Raef’s strong embrace.

He held me tightly. Thank God, he whispered, pulling back to study my face and kiss me firmly and thoroughly, our human and supernatural audience be damned. I can’t believe it actually worked, he breathed. That you’re actually here.

I glanced for a moment at Elizabeth who had stopped arguing with Nik and was now talking quietly with Rillin. Apparently so.

Are you okay? Did you kill him? he whispered, cognizant of Dolores and her patrons and cook, all of who had gathered at the end of the counter, far away from us.

I dragged my hand through his tousled hair. Well . . . no. Not exactly. I sorta made a bargain with him. With Jared.

Raef’s gaze darkened, You’re on a first name basis with your abductor? I just shrugged, and he asked, Where is this Jared? He and I need to have a nice, friendly chat.

Yeah, with fists.

Raef, I warned. I made a promise. We’re gonna honor it, so you need to lose the murderous look from your face.

I do not look murderous, he argued.

Nikki, along with the rest of our crew, my irritating grandmother included, finally approached us. Actually, you look down right homicidal, Raef, offered Nik. And Eila’s right – we made a deal with Jared and his dumb tail. And honestly, he’s way more screwed than we are at the moment.

Rillin looked at Raef, So, you were right. It is a Wrecker.

How did you know we were taken by a Wrecker and not some other random freak? asked Nikki.

Witnesses, Raef replied. He left behind witnesses.

MJ nodded, Yeah. That sounds like something he’d do. Jared is not the sharpest tool in the shed in regards to his kidnapping ways. And while I wouldn’t mind having the kid take a long walk off a short cliff, he saw stuff that no kid his age ever should.

How old is he? asked Rillin.

Fifteen, maybe even fourteen, MJ replied.

I took Raef’s hand in mine and tried to explain why we took pity on Jared. Raef, this kid just grabbed us out of desperation. His home, Mayhem, was attacked by Mortis. By Lawson Waite. He told us it just happened a couple days ago. From what I can figure, they must’ve hit Mayhem at the same time Sara Booth took Rillin. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elizabeth’s surprise. She looked at Rillin, but he simply shook his head, as if to convey that it was nothing. Jared says the only Wreckers who made it out were the teens and the children. They are hidden in the Terrebonne swamps.

Children? All that is left of this boy’s people are children? asked Elizabeth, anger sharpening her words. We cannot leave them to be slaughtered.

It was the first bit of emotion I’d seen my grandmother display and it quickly occurred to me that Elizabeth had been a mother to a son she barely got a chance to know.

Rillin was right – the young woman in front of me, the one he loved and who I wanted to choke, carried burdens I couldn’t imagine. And from what he’d told us months ago, Elizabeth’s family only saw their children as fighting assets. Love was nonexistent in the palace, as was freewill, which meant that Elizabeth probably deserved a chance . . . sorta.

I have no intention of leaving children to be slaughtered. We will defend them, I replied to Elizabeth. She tilted her chin slightly upwards, as if snubbing me, mocking my ability to protect anyone.

Who was I kidding? If Grams and me were gonna be able to stand one another for more than five seconds, we were gonna need copious amounts of Baz’s weed and Jared’s whiskey. And right now, I was so freakin’ sober . . .

Rillin, ignoring the nasty looks shooting between Elizabeth and me, turned to Raef. They won’t survive long in the bayou, unprotected. If the Wreckers enter the waterways, Therophel’s Mortis will sense their umbrataels. They won’t stand a chance.

You guys can sense a Wrecker if they’re in water? I interupted.

Raef nodded. "We can sense their umbrataels when they are fused back to their masters. It has to do with the fact that the umbrataels are formed from shadow magic. Being Mortis, our ability to control natural shadows also allows us to trace water-bound umbrataels, and