Chapter Twenty-Three
The incredibly small, bald man standing directly in front of me smirked up at me and I somehow managed to swallow down the next terrified scream that had been about to leave my mouth. I had no clue where this man had come from. He hadn’t been standing there moments ago when I had looked out the wind and towards the shoddy motel.
He was extremely pale, and the top of his bald head gleamed in the torch light. He was under five feet, to be sure. And he had a very round belly. Several gold hoops flashed in his ear lobes and I was impressed. He had almost as many ear piercings as I did. His face was round, jovial and his eyes were a watered-down green that looked like they could have once been vibrant in color but life had bled it out of them over time. Lines shot out from around his eyes and mouth, marking him with age. He’d either smiled a lot or frowned a lot to get that many lines.
He looked like he had a lamp hidden away somewhere just waiting for some poor, reckless fool to come along and give it a good rub. Only, I didn’t think this man would grant you your three wishes after he poofed out.
He was dressed in all black. Long-sleeved, black button down and black slacks. His shirt was unbuttoned half way down his chest exposing a silver medallion hanging off of a silver chain. It was too dark to see what was on the medallion so I didn’t bother trying to make it out.
We matched.
Julian had picked the clothes out that I had on and told me I had to wear them. Black dressy slacks and a thin, long-sleeved silk button down shirt. I had a black cami on underneath and it had been the only thing I had been allowed to pick out on my own.
The rest of the guys were dressed in similar clothing. Tonight’s color theme seemed to be black all around.
Not that I was complaining, I rocked black, but I’d skipped out on the eyeliner tonight so I didn’t feel like a goth.
The boots rounded out the outfit and they kicked some serious ass. They were black combat boots that went up to mid-calf. They had taken forever to get on because they laced all the way up the front and hadn’t been fun to get into. The boots had come out of the trunk that Damien and Julian had got out of the storage unit for me. The boots had been something they’d picked up on their shopping excursion. I freaking loved these boots. So much so, I had even thanked them for buying them for me.
“Did you say Rain, child?” The man standing before me asked in a smooth, refined voice that held a hint of an accent I couldn’t place. “I do believe Quinton forgot to mention that little piece of information when we discussed your past over the phone.”
“Who are you?” I rudely demanded to know.
“Ariel,” Quinton said in a quiet, chiding voice. He had exited the Rover and was rounding the hood, headed towards me as he spoke. “She didn’t mean to be rude. She’s very nervous about this meeting and doesn’t know what she’s saying. I promise you, she did not mean to be rude to you.”
Quinton was right. I hadn’t meant to be rude, it had just come out that way. Like most things did with me when I got nervous or scared. I needed to get a better filter for my mouth.
“I do believe the girl can speak for herself, Quinton.”
I folded my arms across my stomach to stop my hands from shaking but I didn’t take me eyes off of the man standing in front of me. He was the biggest threat to me at the moment and it didn’t feel right to look away from him. I felt sure that the moment I looked away would be the moment he struck.
“Forgive me, child.” He held a hand out to me that was covered in jeweled rings. “I was so excited to meet you that I seem to have forgotten my manners. I am Adrian Almatiez and I am a member of the Council of Elders. And you are Ariel Kimber.”
I unwrapped my arms from around my middle and hesitantly reached for his outstretched hand.
The moment we touched, a surge of heat hit me and blew up my arm.
I gasped in shock as I tore my hand away from his and staggered backwards. My back hit the passenger door and I cradled my hand to my chest.
My entire arm tingled. It wasn’t exactly unpleasant, but it wasn’t a great feeling either.
The man, Adrian Almatiez, grinned gleefully at me as he clasped his hands together in front of his chin. He looked ready to burst with joy and happiness all at the same time.
And he creeped me right the fuck out.
“How wonderful,” he whispered in awe as he clapped his hands in delight.
Wonderful was not how I would choose to describe it.
I felt like he’d just done something to me that he wasn’t supposed to. Like, he was a naughty child acting out. I did not want him touching me again. Not just any time soon, but ever.
Quinton’s arm wrapped around my shaking shoulders and he pulled me into the warmth and safety of his body. I should have never gotten out of the Rover.
“Keep your hands to yourself, Adrian.” Tyson growled from beside me.
The silver SUV pulled up beside us with the twin’s black truck right behind them and parking on the other side. Doors opened and slammed shut as the rest of the guys got out of their vehicles and made their way towards us.
Adrian and I stared at each other in silence. The glee had faded away from his face leaving behind absolutely nothing in it’s place. He went from gleeful to blank in no time and it was fascinating yet frightening all at once to see.
“You are a beauty,” Adrian said in his happy voice. “Even with that hideous mark on your face.”
At his bold words, my body jerked as if he’d struck me. In a way, he had because he’d certainly landed a verbal blow.
They’d all been so careful with me when it came to my face and I’d been so worried about them no longer being able to find me attractive because of it. Somehow, somewhere along the way, I’d almost forgotten it was even there. And I’d certainly stopped thinking about what others would think of me because of it. Scar or no scar, the guys weren’t going anywhere, and they didn’t care that I had a mark on my face. It was there, it wasn’t going anywhere. I had to live with it and make the best of it. This man, Adrian, or whoever the fuck he was, bringing it up in such a blunt way didn’t upset me as he had clearly intended it to do. It more so amused me. I’d grown up with Vivian Kimber. There weren’t a lot of snide remarks that I couldn’t take in stride. If my face was the only thing he had to poke fun of, he was going to be sadly disappointed and needed to get himself some new material.
The guys, however, did not see it the same way. They were outraged on my behalf and pissed off, to say the least.
My heart swelled to almost bursting at their protective stances and anger on my behalf.
“Adrian,” Quinton growled in a low voice. “Watch your fucking words.”
“Did you honestly just say that to her?” Abel asked in a low rumble as the twins made it to our little huddle.
“Some things will never change, twin,” Addison snarled. “They’re the same as they always were. We were right to stay as far away from them as possible since mother and father died.”
“No kidding,” Abel muttered back in disgust.
“Ariel,” Damien said, “get back in the car.”
I bit my lip and shook my head.
Tyson moved even closer to my side until we were almost touching.
Oddly enough, I didn’t want to get back in the car. I wanted to get whatever this was over with so we could then go home. These people had been hovering in the shadows for a while now. It was time to see what we were up against here. It didn’t hurt that I really, really wanted to find Rain and if they knew something about him that they were hiding then the only way to find out would be to stick around.
Adrian held his hands up in front of him in surrender, his pudgy fingers spread wide. The jewels on his rings glinted off of the torch lights and I wondered if they were real jewels or fake ones. They were probably real. All of these people seemed to have more money than they would likely ever be able to spend in one lifetime. And they held onto things like furniture and probably jewelry as well and they passed it down the family line generation after generation.
“I meant no offense,” Adrian murmured. The small smile on his face was just a little too condescending for the words he’d said to be true.
Even without the smirk, I would have known he was lying. Another thing I suppose I had growing up with Vivian to be thankful for. Who knew? I guess she had had something going for her after all besides her impressive kidnapping skills.
“I’m so sure,” Tyson snarled. “Cut the bullshit, Adrian. Why are we here? Why have us bring her here just so you can insult her? What’s the point? To prove you’re an even bigger dick than we already know you to be? Mission accomplished. Can we be done with this now?”
I wanted to laugh because I couldn’t help but think about a meme I’d seen once about being a dick and how it wouldn’t make yours any bigger. I didn’t think this small, little bald man would have enjoyed hearing that come out of my mouth. I was learning that it wasn’t always wise to blurt out every thought that came into my mind. I could learn. Who knew?
“Now, now,” Adrian said in a voice that I was sure was meant to be placating. “There’s no need to be so rude and use coarse language. That’s no way to speak to me, and you well know it. I think we should take this little party inside where we can all get comfortable and I can have a chance to look the girl over and get to know her a little better.”
I shuddered. I didn’t want him to look me over or get to know me a little better. But, I was being brave and there would be no backing out now.
“I don’t think-” Quinton started.
“Sure,” I said, cutting him off mid-sentence. “The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can all go our separate ways.”
“Darling,” Adrian purred in a disgustingly sweet voice. “You will never be going your separate way. You are a witch and you belong with your people. You will always belong with us and as the guardians of our people, we will always be there to look out for your best interests. It’s our responsibility and something we will take great pride in doing.”
I was so sure. This man was absolutely not my guardian of anything and he could take his fake concern over my well being and shove it right where the sun didn’t shine. I did not need this man looking out for me. The rest of the Council I would make my judgment calls after meeting them in person. Maybe they would turn out to be decent people, but I had my doubts. Serious doubts.
“Well then,” he said as he stuck his hand out and gestured towards the motel. “Shall we? I know the others are eagerly awaiting your arrival. We’ve much to discuss and we are wasting time standing out here.”
Saying I was going to be brave was one thing. Actually going inside the motel with this man was a whole new level of bravery I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
I didn’t care who saw. I reached over blindly and felt for Tyson’s hand. I threaded my fingers through his and held on for dear life. He squeezed my hand back.
“Lead the way,” Quinton ordered in a low, unfriendly voice. I didn’t have to look at him to know his face likely matched his voice. Quinton gave good unfriendly.
Adrian looked around at all of us and beamed. He was having the time of his life and the rest of us were here to entertain him.
That pit in my stomach doubled in size and for a second, I debated the merits of bending forward and vomiting all over the small man just to get rid of it.
With my luck, it would land all over my brand-new boots and that would be a downright tragedy.
We followed him towards the motel, it was unavoidable.