Page 33 of The Second Sight (Wanderlust Emporium Presents, Season One)
Lily stepped closer to her brother, a cold smile playing on her lips. “And we vampires have been taking excellent care of her daughter,” she interjected, her tone making it clear what she thought of Theia’s parenting. “Perhaps she’s in better care with us.”
Kei’ Mani chuckled. “You two vamps couldn’t even get to her in time. Your protection is a joke. faefolk saved her.”
“And I applaud you for your efforts, but Brooklyn was taken. Looks to me like you did a bang-up job.”
“Watch your tongue fanger. We’ve only been out of the realm for a few days. You’ve been here, on earth for centuries and you didn’t protect the one you call your mate. I thought your kind took mating seriously. You pledge to die for your mate.
I wanted to speak, to defend Seven but I didn’t know what to say. I’m the one that stupidly left his home when I had a vision that danger was near.
Kyren moved to stand beside his mother, his hand resting casually on the hilt of a blade at his hip. “Our kind and yours have never mixed well, vampire,” he said. “History has proven that much.”
“History,” Seven echoed, his lips curving into a humorless smile. “Yes, let’s talk about history. The yumboe have always considered themselves superior to other beings, haven’t they? Too pure to mingle with the rest of the supernaturals.”
“Better than those who feed on the living,” Kei’Mani cut in, her eyes were so similar to mine. “At least we don’t need to steal life to sustain our own.”
Lily laughed. “No, you just hide away in your secret realms, appearing only to meddle in affairs that don’t concern you.”
“My niece concerns me.” Romeca countered. “The Bambara Brotherhood is a threat to all fae.”
“Then perhaps you should have warned your niece sooner,” Seven retorted. “Instead of leaving her ignorant of her heritage and the dangers it carries.”
“Stop it!” I shouted. I stepped away from Seven. “Just stop!”
They all turned to look at me, momentarily startled by my outburst.
“Brooklyn is out there with those hunters,” I continued.
“My best friend.” I glared at Romeca when I said this, unable to hide my bitterness.
“She’s human. She has nothing to do with any of this.
And she’s only in danger because of me, because of what I am.
I don’t care about your ancient feuds or whatever history you share.
I care about finding Brooklyn before those fuckin’ monsters hurt her. ”
Seven’s expression softened as he looked at me. For all his supernatural power and centuries of existence, in that moment he seemed almost human in his concern. “You’re right,” he said quietly.
Romeca’s fierce expression didn’t change, but she gave a short nod. “The Bambara Brotherhood is our common enemy.”
“We need to track them,” Seven said, turning to face Romeca directly. “My coven has resources throughout the city. We can find where they’ve taken her.”
“There are witches who can sense the Brotherhood’s magic,” Romeca countered. “Their dark rituals leave traces a skilled witch can uncover.”
“You’ve been in the fae realm. Do you know a witch?” Seven asked.
“Not anymore but there are witches everywhere. They are easy to find.”
“Not in the twenty-first century. You faefolk have been gone too long. The world has changed. Witches are no more.”
“Is this true?” Romeca asked Lily as if a woman would be more forcing with the truth even if she was a vampire.
“The real witches are hard to find.” Lily said. “Most have left the supernaturals and gone off to live like regular humans.”
“Why? They are so powerful.” Romeca asked.
“Just like the Bambara persecuted you. The human’s tried to eliminate everyone they suspected of practicing witchcraft. Finding a witch is next to impossible. Just like finding a fairy is essentially impossible.”
“This new earth is terrible.” Kyren added.
“Some of us don’t have a fae realm.” Lily added. “We have to exist on this plane.”
“Niece, I think you should come back with us back to our fairy realm where you will be safe.”
“I’m not leaving and going anywhere until I get my friend back.”
“But she’s human.” Romeca said it like it was a bad thing.
What the fuck did that mean? I’m not going anywhere until I get her back safe.
“Okay yumboe, you heard her. She’s going to stay here and look fer her friend. Kasi is my mate and my people are going to help her. It’s up to you. We can combine our efforts,” Seven proposed. “For Kasi’s sake. For her friend.”
The tension between them didn’t disappear, but it shifted, transforming into something closer to a reluctant truce.
“We can use my house to keep you all safe for now,” Seven continued. “It’s warded against detection, and we have weapons that can harm the Brotherhood.”
Romeca looked like she wanted to argue. “How did you get your wards? I thought you didn’t have a witch.”
“I’ve owned the house for a century. I knew a witch long ago.”
Romeca gave a curt nod. “Very well, vampire. A temporary alliance.”
Relief washed through me. At least they were willing to work together to help me find Brooklyn. It was a start.
I was feeling the pain of the brutality I endured.
The adrenaline blocked out the aching and soreness of my body.
I listened in as Lily and Kyren spoke of getting rid of the body of the dead Bambara on the road.
Time was running out. We’ been on this dark two-lane backroad for too long.
It was just luck that no one had driven down this way.
As they began to form a plan, vampires and fairies stood in a circle. My cell phone rang. The cheerful tone was strange with the grim scene around us. I pulled it from my pocket with shaking hands, hoping it might be Brooklyn and somehow, praying for a miracle.
Instead, my father’s name flashed on the screen. My heart dropped. I had completely forgotten about him. He was at home waiting for his peach cobbler, probably growing more worried by the minute. What could I tell him?