Page 21 of The Human Element (The Human Element Collection #1)

Samuel

Even though Daemon did his best to fix the car and it was still running, Samuel still felt the bumpiness of the road beneath them and a creaking sound from the vehicle that left room for doubt at its abilities to get them safely to their next destination.

Daemon said he’d make sure they got a better car before driving to Stonehenge tomorrow, seeing as it was near midnight now.

Although Lorelei was being nothing but kind to Samuel as they drove to find a hotel nearby, Samuel could still feel Daemon was checking the rearview mirror on him while in the backseat of the car.

Lorelei obviously noticed this too, and was doing her best to keep conversation going as they finished their trek toward Stonehenge.

Lorelei had done some research on her phone to find The George Hotel to stay at for the next couple of nights.

Samuel listened contentedly as Daemon and Lorelei discussed how long they needed to stay—as they were unsure whether they would be able to get close enough to the boulders at Stonehenge to unlock whatever it was Lorelei needed to in daylight.

Daemon suggested they go scope it out earlier in the day and then return when the crowds were gone so they could be alone, allowing Lorelei time to spend within the massive stones.

Samuel was so fascinated by their story of their adventure so far and felt relieved to know he was not the only one from one of the sides who didn’t feel the necessity of the war.

Even though Daemon hardly spoke to Samuel, he only hoped he would have the chance to continue to prove to the both of them that he meant no harm.

Lorelei trusted him from the moment their eyes locked in the field when he gave away his presence.

She was so caring and Samuel perceived that despite her only being human, there had to be something extra special about her to make her be the only one capable of saving the world.

It was so strange to finally be out of Hell and be around someone who was human.

Sitting in the soft seats of the car, which they called a “Range Rover," and listening to interesting music that played from a little box in the front of the car was all so surreal to him.

Music in Hell was only played live—the inventions were amazing here!

For his entire life, he spent hours upon hours with his nose in books learning all he could about human life; but actually being in it was more than he ever thought it’d be.

In reality, it was so simplistic—if you ignore the fact that the three of them were endeavoring to stop the end of the world.

If he ignored that portion of truth, and just sat there listening to the other two talk and Lorelei softly sing the words to the music, Samuel almost felt like this might’ve been what it was like to be with friends or even a family.

Although there were similar things to what was around him in Hell, he never really had any friends or a family who cared for him.

And his father was never one to be caring or to show affection.

The only thing he cared for was the cause. Samuel was only ever in the way.

Samuel spent the majority of the car ride trying to explain to the two of them why he was sent on the mission after them in the first place; how his father believed him to be weak and needing to prove himself; how he always was in trouble for questioning the way of things; how he was fascinated by humans and couldn’t possibly believe the only way to live was to manipulate or kill others.

Lorelei was incredibly understanding, asking various questions about the way of life in Hell and then they even got lost in discussing several topics of human history they both were particularly fond of.

Daemon would chime in with the occasional question, mostly on Lucifer’s plans Samuel might happen to know about, how agitated was Lucifer and how likely was it he might strike sooner than the arranged date, and how many did Lucifer have in his army so far and what methods were they procuring to aid their chances of winning.

These questions were much harder for Samuel to answer because in all honesty, his father never felt him worthy of knowing his battle plans.

He could only tell him the rumors that were going around about how the tension felt high, but that many beneath his father believed it was unwise to strike too soon.

Daemon seemed annoyed at how little Samuel was able to tell them, probably assuming that if they were going to bring him along, he might as well be useful.

Daemon kept these thoughts to himself though, clearly not wanting to upset Lorelei.

“So Samuel, do you believe your father will send others after you?”

Samuel swallowed; he hadn’t thought about that.

“I don’t think so...I think he will hear the mission failed and be sending others after you two, but that will take a little bit because no one successfully returned to report the error themselves.

Most likely a recovery team will be sent in the next several hours to see why there hasn’t been any communication, and then plans will be made on what to do next.

So we may be in the clear for another day or two at least. I’m sure it won’t be good when he finds out I tagged along with you either though.

I’ll be considered a traitor. But that doesn’t matter to me.

You guys are doing what is right and I don’t want to be a coward and stand by while innocent people get hurt… ”

He was surprised at himself for speaking so confidently.

He had never been able to say these kinds of things outloud to anybody else before without getting punished or reprimanded or told he was being crazy for going against what has always been.

But Lorelei smiled so brightly at him, and it eased the anxiety over what his father might do if he were caught.

Daemon finally spoke up for the first time in awhile.

“Alright, we’re coming up to the hotel now. I’ll go check us in. I’ll get a room for me and the boy, and I’ll get you a room by yourself.”

His eyes shot to Lorelei and she nodded.

Samuel felt a little uneasy about sleeping in the same room as Daemon, but Lorelei turned in her seat to give him a reassuring nod which did in fact make him feel better.

Samuel knew Daemon wouldn’t do anything to him as long as he didn’t want to hurt or upset Lorelei.

He only hoped that in time, Daemon might come around to accepting and trusting him.

Parking the car, Daemon got out to go secure their rooms and Lorelei went to the trunk to pull out her suitcase.

Samuel quickly offered to help her with it when he noticed she was having a hard time lifting it, wincing in pain.

Samuel noted the wrap around her arm—the same arm that was nearly ripped off her body by a deadly fire whip.

If only he was brave enough to have stopped it, it must've hurt horribly.

Her gaze followed his eyes and she shoved her long sleeve over the injury to hide it.

“Nothing to worry about, Samuel. Thanks for your help!”

Samuel rolled the suitcase to the front door of the hotel for her and when Daemon came back with room keys, Samuel followed him to the one they would be sharing.

He hadn’t realized how exhausted he was until he stepped foot into the small room with two twin beds.

He mumbled a goodnight to Lorelei at the door and nodded at Daemon before picking the one nearest the wall, flopping onto the bed.

He decided he would shower in the morning, but for now, the feeling of finally being accepted with people who felt the same as he did his entire life helped him drift into a deep, and restful sleep, for the first time in his existence.