how all Allures viewed love, but I
wasn’t an Allure yet. I knew that
Owen would want the time together
even if it made the future harder.
He’d have to move on either way.
“So wanting to see him makes
me selfish? Is that what you’re
trying to say?”
“Not exactly.”
“Just say it then? What’s your
point?” I blinked, attempting to hold
back tears that were threatening to
spill. I refused to cry in front of this
guy.
“You need to focus on the big
picture. You are in trouble. Serious
trouble.”
“I know I am. I’m losing myself.”
In the end that was more important
than anything the Force could do to
me.
“Stop worrying about losing your
human side. It’s already gone.”
“Just tell me. Where is he? Is he
still at Violet’s house?” I hoped
somewhere in this man was some
shred of human understanding.
Violet had it. Maybe he did too.
“He’s being escorted back home
as we speak.”
I shook my head out of disbelief
this time. Owen couldn’t leave. Not
yet. “No. That’s not possible.”
“Not possible?” He pulled me
forward into his chest. “Do you
really think you are in a position to
argue about what’s possible?”
“I have nothing left to lose.” I
didn’t have anything left if I couldn’t
stop the change, and I wasn’t going
to be able to stop it on my own. I
had to escape this jerk, find Mount
Majest, and beg an audience with
the Elders. Nothing about that
would be easy, especially without
someone to help.
“Actually you have plenty more
to lose.”
“Is that a threat?” I shivered.
Was he talking about Owen? My
family? Nothing else mattered. I
was done worrying about protecting
myself.
“No, it’s reality.”
“How much further do we have
to go?” I wanted to know how much
longer I had to escape. I assumed it
would be easier to escape out in
the woods rather than with the
Force.
“Tired already?” He sneered.
“No, but—” I noticed movement
out of the corner of my eye. “If it’s
far we should probably keep
moving.”
“You’re suddenly in a rush now?”
He asked suspiciously. “Do you
think making me paranoid is going
to change anything?”
I shook my head. “No. At least if
he get to the Force I can see
Violet.”
“That’s the first logical thing
you’ve said since I met you.”
“Yeah, well.” I needed to play it
cool. Whatever was out there didn’t
want to be seen by my captor. I
took that as a good sign.
He turned me around in his
arms and continued his march
forward.
“You never answered my
question.”
“Which one?” His hold was
lighter now at least.
“How far are we? I’m tired.
There I admitted it.”
“You’re weak. You really need to
let go of that human side.”
“It sounds like I don’t have a
choice about it.”
“You don’t. I’m only pointing out
why losing it will be a good thing.”
“Sure.” I noticed the movement
again out of the corner of my eye,
but I played it cool. “Could you
loosen your hold?”
“No.”
“I won’t run away.”
“And why would I trust you?”
“Where else do I have to go?”
“Back to find lover boy.” He did
a high pitched impersonation of a
female.
I ignored his failed impression.
“I don’t know how to get home.”
“I’m not letting go of you until
we reach the Force. I’ll be in a lot of
trouble if I lose you. I’ll also be out
of a lot of money.”
“Can we at least stop for some
water? I’m thirsty.”
“Once again, you need to let go
of that human side.”
“Gotcha. No need to keep
repeating yourself.”
“There’s a river with fresh
drinkable water nearby.” He turned
deeper into the forest.
“Why are you doing this job?”
“I already told you, it’s double
the usual bounty.”
“And you are that hard up for
money?”
He laughed. “Money? I’m an
Allure. You think I can’t get enough
money on my own?”
“Then what’s the bounty?”
“You really don’t know anything
yet.”
“No, I don’t. No one tells me
anything.”
“It’s no wonder Violet hasn’t told
you.”
“Why not?” I froze. I knew I
wasn’t going to like what he had to
tell me.
“I don’t want to make you
angrier than I have already.”
“Tell me.”
“You really want to know?” He
turned me so I was looking at him
again.
“Yes. I want to know.”
“What do you think it is? What
do you think an Allure would want
that they can’t get themselves?”
I thought about it. Allures could
have nearly everything. Except for
one thing. “Feelings.”
“You are smart.”
“The bounty is for feelings? They
pay you with feelings?”
“Not exactly. It’s for a glimpse of
a memory with feeling.”
“One memory? And just a
glimpse?”
He looked me straight in the
eye. “After years without feeling
you will understand how strong a
glimpse can be.”
“You said this was double the
bounty. What does that mean?”
“I get to choose two memories,
or one twice.”
“Which will you choose?” It
didn’t matter that we were talking
about turning me in to get it. I had
to know. Rational or not, I wanted
to understand this man.
“One memory twice.”
“What’s it a memory of?”
“My parents on the day I
graduated high school.”
“Oh.” I reflected back on my
own high school graduation.
“They were proud of me.
Beaming. I miss that feeling. Of
knowing I made someone proud.”
He sounded far off.
I blinked back tears as I thought
of how my mother had cried. It had
rained halfway through, but we
didn’t care we were wet. High
school was over, and the rest of our
life was still in front of us.
He broke me from my thoughts.
“And that’s exactly what Violet
wanted from you. Maybe she
wanted to take you straight to the
Elders so she could get a bigger
reward. Cut out the middle man of
the Force.”
I shook my head. “No. She
wouldn’t use me that way.”
“Why not? You have so much to
learn.”
“Because she wouldn’t.” I had
less confidence. Why wouldn’t
Violet turn me in for access to
memories with emotion? It was the
only thing she couldn’t get herself.
“Keep telling yourself whatever
you want. We’re getting water, and
we’re moving on. I have a bounty to
collect.”
“Yes, your bounty.” I was
overcome by a sadness like none I’d
ever had. I was going to become
one of them. A being willing to do
everything for even a glimpse of
emotion. What was the point of
going on?
14
OWEN
Feeling helpless was becoming far
too common for me. I was
supposed to be invincible. The
strongest of the strong, yet once
again I found myself unable to
protect the girl I loved. The
darkness was relentless, but if I
stayed completely still, I could get
some air. Whatever this blackness
was, I’d never come across it
before. The first Allure had called it
a Shadow, and that was a good
name. It had only appeared when
the light was turned off, which
meant I had to find a way to get
the lights turned on if I wanted to
get rid of it. At least in theory. Since
I couldn’t move, getting to the lamp
was going to be difficult.
Barton broke his silence. “Why
did you come here? Why not stay
home where it’s safe?”
I struggled to speak, but no
words came out.
Barton sighed. “You can let him
breath.”
The smothering lessened, and I
tried again to speak. It wasn’t easy,
but after a few deep breaths I
muttered a few words, “I came here
with Daisy.”
“Forget about Daisy. She isn’t
going to care about you in a few
days. I can see the change. She’ll
be full Allure soon and won’t even
give you the time of day.”
“Not if I can help it,” I grunted.
It hurt to speak from inside the
Shadow as it continued to restrain
my movements, but it felt good to
at least breathe.
“You can’t help it. There is
absolutely nothing you can do.”
“Yes, there is.” There was
always a chance.
“Why are you so full of false
optimism? It’s going to get you
nowhere.”
“Why do you care?” I choked
out. “Why bother to keep me here?
Let me go so I can fail and prove
you right.”
“The only place you are going is
back to your own realm. You don’t
belong here.”
“Yes, you’ve said that before.” I
didn’t belong there. Neither did
Daisy.
“I’m waiting for back up, and
then we’re out of here.”
“Backup? If I’m so weak and
helpless, can’t you do it yourself?”
Taunting your captor wasn’t always
a good idea, but maybe if I
distracted him the Shadow would
lay off. Somehow he was controlling
it.
“Of course I could.”
“Then what are you waiting
for?”
“I’m following protocol.” Barton
restlessly strode back and forth in
front of the door twirling his cane.
“I wasn’t aware Allures had
protocol.”
“We’re as organized as you are.”
“Glad you think The Society is
organized.”
“Shut up. The time will go faster
if you keep your mouth closed.” He
peered out the window.
Suddenly the door burst open,
and Violet immediately turned on
the light. The tightening around me
stopped abruptly, and I could
breathe normally. The dark forms
were gone.
“Hello, Barton. Still playing with
your toys?” Violet strode toward the
startled Allure and grinned.
I shook my arm. I could move. I
took several deep breaths, trying to
get myself back to normal. Violet
and Barton were my best clues to
finding Daisy.
“You’re supposed to be with the
Force.” Barton stepped back from
the door. “I’m only in your house
because Gabriel said I should.”
“Then you can leave my house
now.” She pointed to the doorway.
“Fine, I need to deport this one
anyway.”
“He can stay. He’s in my house
after all.” She shot me a warning
glance, and I took it to mean I
needed to stay quiet.
“Gabriel’s orders were to take
him home.”
“And I say he stays.” She walked
over and stopped mere inches from
him. “Are you really going to refuse
to listen to me?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m
leaving.”
“Good, but first tell me, where is
Gabriel? I fear he has my good
friend with him.”
“He’s taking her to the Force.”
“Thank you, you can go.” She
shooed him to the door.
“That was far too easy.” My
breathing had finally returned to its
normal state.
“Getting rid of him?” She closed
the door behind him.
“Yes.”
“I can be rather persuasive
when I want to be.” She ran her
hand over a few dusty books on the
bookshelf.
“We have no time to waste.
They have Daisy.”
“I understand that.” She smiled.
“Didn’t you hear me asking Barton
about it?”
“Then why are you still standing
here? We need to go.”
“We will. I’m deciding on the
best course of action.”
“The best course of action is to
leave and rescue her.”
“Except that we are likely
outnumbered.”
“I can take them.” Anger and
frustration pulsed through my body.
I could feel adrenaline building up.
“Like you took them just now?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not
looking to destroy your masculine
confidence, but you can’t take
them. You don’t understand what
you are up against, and you
underestimated your opponent.”
“I won’t next time. I’ll know.”
“You’ll be distracted. You’re
always going to be distracted where
Daisy is concerned.”
I had so many questions for
Violet, but they could wait. We had
to find Daisy. “Then what do you
suggest?”
“Have you seen a cat?”
“Glendale?” Was she really
worrying about her cat at a time
like this?
“Yes. He introduced himself, I
see.” Her eyes twinkled.
“I have quite a few questions
about your feline friend, but right
now my concern is finding Daisy.”