Page 34 of The Second Sight (Wanderlust Emporium Presents, Season One)

Chapter

Twenty-Three

KASI

Istared at my phone as my father’s name flashed on the screen. My hand trembled. Time seemed to slow as I stood in the middle of the broken glass, surrounded by supernatural beings who’d just saved my life. Dad was waiting for his peach cobbler. I took a deep breath and answered.

“Hey, Dad,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Kasi, where are you? You’ve been gone too long.” His voice was filled with worry. “You know I’m tracking your location. I can see where you at. You just a few blocks away. What’s going on?”

My mind raced for a plausible explanation. “Sorry, Dad. Brooklyn accidentally tossed her real diamond earring out her car window. We had to pull over and look for it.” The lie slid from my lips with surprising ease. “We found it. We’re about pull off.”

“Her earring?” He asked needing more context to my explanation.

“It was wrapped in a tissue, and she tossed it out the window and then remembered the earring was balled up in there?”

“That’s what she gets for littering.”

“Right!” I said too quickly. “We’ll be there in a few minutes with your food.”

I could feel Seven’s eyes on me as I spoke. Romeca stood with her arms crossed, watching me.

“Alright,” Dad said, though he didn’t sound convinced. “Just hurry up. The food’s getting cold, and I’m hungry.”

“I’ll be there soon. Love you,” I said, ending the call before he could ask more questions.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and looked at the faces around me, vampire, fairy, and whatever I was. The weight of what had happened and what was still happening crashed down on me anew.

“Brooklyn,” I whispered.

Seven moved to my side. “We’ll find her.” He promised.

“How?” I asked, looking from him to Romeca. “We don’t even know where they took her.”

“I’ll figure it out. We need to get your father his food first,” Seven said. “Keep appearances normal. Give us time to formulate a proper plan.”

I nodded and moved toward Brooklyn’s car, glass crunching beneath my feet.

The driver’s side window was completely shattered.

The interior was dusted with tiny crystal fragments.

I carefully opened the back door and retrieved the tied food bags, shaking them gently to dislodge any glass that might have fallen on them.

The smell of soul food wafted up, bizarrely normal amid the mess surrounding me.

“How are we going to do this?” I asked, clutching the food bags. “Brooklyn’s car is wrecked. And my father is waiting.”

Lily stepped forward, her movements graceful and predatory. “I’ll drive the human’s car,” she said, her tone making it clear this was a significant concession. “I can handle the glass.”

Seven nodded. “Take Romeca and Kyren with you. Follow us at a distance. We need to ensure Malcolm’s safety in case the Bambara return.”

“They won’t go after a human man,” Romeca argued.

“They took Brooklyn,” I countered, anger flaring. “She’s human. They’ll take anyone connected to me if they think it’ll draw me out.”

Romeca’s expression softened. “You’re right. The Bambara are growing desperate. They want a half-fae.”

Lily moved to the body of the dead hunter, hefting him with unsettling ease. She opened Brooklyn’s trunk and deposited the corpse inside, her expression clinically detached. The casual display of vampire strength sent a chill through me.

“We can’t leave evidence,” she explained, catching my horrified stare. “The human authorities would only complicate matters.”

Romeca moved to Brooklyn’s car and began efficiently brushing glass from the seats. Kyren assisted her, both of them working with supernatural speed.

“I’ll take Kasi and Kei’Mani in my car,” Seven said, gesturing toward his purple Porsche. “We’ll deliver the food to Malcolm, and make sure he’s safe, then meet you back at the mansion.”

I glanced at my newfound half-sister, still struggling to process her existence. She looked back at me with eyes so similar to mine it was unsettling.

“My dad can’t see you.” I said to Kei’Mani. “You can stay in my apartment that’s attached to the house.”

She shook her head. “I can remain in the shadows. He won’t even know I’m watching him.”

Seven’s hand on my lower back guided me toward his car. “We need to move quickly,” he said. “Your father will grow more suspicious the longer we delay.”

I clutched the food bags tighter and made sure to grab my purse. “What if the Bambara come back?” I asked as Seven opened the passenger door for me.

“That’s why we’re splitting up,” he explained. “To protect both you and your father while we search for your friend.”

I slid into the leather seat, placing the food bags carefully on my lap. Seven closed my door and moved around to the driver’s side with inhuman speed. Kei’Mani climbed into the back.

“We need to hurry,” I said, imagining my father pacing in our living room, growing more worried with each passing minute.

“We will,” Seven assured me, starting the engine. “And then we’ll find Brooklyn.”

As we pulled away, I watched in the side mirror as Lily slid into Brooklyn’s damaged Honda, with Romeca taking the passenger seat and Kyren in the back. Nothing about my life would ever be normal again.

I glanced at Seven, his perfect profile illuminated by passing streetlights. His hands gripped the steering wheel like he might bend the metal if he allowed himself to feel the full extent of his anger. In the backseat, Kei’Mani sat silent and still, a sister I never knew existed until tonight.

We pulled into the driveway close enough that my dad couldn’t see Seven’s car from the upstairs or downstairs windows of our modest ranch-style home.

The porch light was on, casting warm yellow light across the neatly trimmed front lawn.

Seven parked behind the garage. My car sat in the closed garage, untouched since this morning when Seven had first appeared in my life.

It felt like years ago rather than hours.

“I’m coming in with you,” Seven said, breaking the silence. It wasn’t a question.

“My dad’s already suspicious,” I replied. “Seeing you might make things worse.”

Seven’s jaw tightened. “The Bambara probably know where you live. I’m not letting you walk in there alone.”

“I agree with the vampire,” Kei’Mani said from the back seat.

I turned to look at her.

“We need to establish a cover story,” he said. “Something to explain why you’re with me and not Brooklyn.”

“I’ll say you met us at the restaurant and Brooklyn needed to get home so you offered to drive me home.” The lie formed easily in my mind. Too easily. I’d never been a good liar before tonight.

“Ready?” Seven asked.

I nodded, though I wasn’t ready at all. I was about to lie to my father’s face while my best friend was being held captive by African hunters. Nothing about this was okay.

Seven was at my car door before I could open it. He offered his hand, helping me from the car with old-fashioned courtesy that seemed at odds with his predatory nature.

Kei’Mani remained in the back seat. “We’ll be right back.” I promised.

I clutched the food bags and walked up the front path with Seven at my side. Before I could knock, the door swung open. Dad stood there, relief washing over his features until his eyes landed on Seven.

“Kasi,” he said, his gaze never leaving Seven. “Where’s Brooklyn?”

“She wasn’t feeling well,” I explained, stepping past him into the house. “Seven met us at the restaurant and drove me home.”

“You must be Mr. Bacchar,” Seven said, extending his hand. “Severin Crackstone. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Dad hesitated before shaking Seven’s hand. I could see him noting Seven’s firm grip, expensive clothes, and the confident way he carried himself.

“Crackstone,” Dad repeated. “Kasi mentioned you.”

“Let him in, daddy.” I yelled back to the doorway.

“Come in.” I heard my dad say.

I set the food bags on the coffee table and began unpacking them. “I got everything you asked for.”

“Thank you, baby girl,” Dad said, but his attention remained fixed on Seven who was standing inside but still near the front door. “So, you’re the man who lives in Hinsdale?”

“That’s correct,” Seven replied smoothly.

“And what exactly do you do, Mr. Crackstone?” Dad asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Seven smiled. “Investment management, primarily. My family portfolio requires constant attention.”

Dad nodded slowly. “And you met my daughter how?”

“Through mutual friends,” Seven answered without hesitation.

I arranged the food containers on the coffee table, grateful for something to do with my nervous hands.

“Dad, the food’s all laid out for you in front of the TV,” I said, trying to redirect his attention. “You might need to microwave some of it?”

Dad glanced at the food, then back at Seven. “Will you be joining us?”

“I’ve already eaten, thank you,” Seven replied.

“Daddy, Seven’s going to drive me to his place,” I said. “His sister is having a little house party.”

Dad’s fork paused halfway to his mouth. “Tonight?”

“Yeah, we’re all hanging out,” I said. “But first, I need to grab something from my apartment.”

“I’ll wait for you in the car,” Seven said, his eyes meeting mine with silent communication. “Nice to meet you Mr. Bacchar.” Seven opened the door and left without waiting for a response from my father, which was good because he wasn’t going to get one.”

“Kasi, what are you doing?”

“I’m going over to Seven’s place.”

“Why?”

“Daddy, eat your food. You met him. He’s fine.” I headed for the door, feeling my father’s eyes follow me. “Enjoy your food.”

“When will you be home?”

“Probably tomorrow. I’m text you in the morning. Love you.” I took a few steps to kiss my father on the cheek. “Goodnight.”

“Hey, I love you.” My daddy grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me into a warm hug.

“I love you too.”

“Your location stuff still on?” He asked.

“Yes, I never turn it off. Go warm up the food.” I stepped outside, closing the front door behind me.

In the night air, I walked the path and crossed in front of Seven’s parked car. Kei’Mani was standing out of sight on the side of the garage.

“This way,” I whispered, beckoning her to follow me around the side of the house.

I led her toward my apartment staircase. Dad had converted the space above the garage into an apartment for me when I turned eighteen. It was his way of giving me independence while keeping me close, especially after Mom left.

“Be quiet on these steps,” I warned. “They creak.”

Kei’Mani nodded. At the top, I fumbled with my keys before unlocking the door and ushering her inside.

“Nice place,” Kei’Mani said, her eyes taking in my personal space with obvious curiosity.

“It’s not much,” I replied. “But it’s home.”

Kei’Mani moved to the window that overlooked the driveway, positioning herself to see both the main house and the street. “You need to go back to the vampire,” she said. “I’ll stay here and watch over your father.”

“You’ll need to stay hidden,” I said. “He can’t see or hear you. He doesn’t know about any of this fairy stuff.”

“I’m very quiet,” Kei’Mani assured me.

“Thank you for this, looking out for my father.”

Kei’Mani’s expression softened. She crossed the room to stand in front of me. “When Theia placed us in the fairy realm, I was very young, and you had not even been born yet.”

“Wait, yeah, you’re older than me?”

She nodded. “Much older, over one hundred years in the earth realm. I was born on Goree Island. It was a beautiful place until the Bambara found us.”

“What happened?” I whispered.

“Mother had no choice. She took me, Romeca, Kyren and other yumboe to the fairy realm while the Brotherhood burned our land and murdered are people. She said she would return after she got more of our people to safety.”

“More people?”

“She was looking for our aunt Sheila, her twin sister. Shelia was pregnant.” Kei’Mani’s hands twisted at her sides. “And the others yumboes were still hiding and running from the Brotherhood. I thought she would return.”

I tried to process this information. My mother had a twin sister. I had another aunt, possibly another cousin.

“Did any other yumboe make it to the fairy realm?” I asked.

Kei’Mani’s eyes filled with tears. “No. Mother never came back. Romeca raised me, trained me to fight, to survive. For years, we believed mother and the others had been captured and killed by the Bambara Brotherhood. We thought they were all dead.”

The pain in her voice mirrored the ache I’d carried for six years. “She wasn’t dead,” I said quietly. “But she did leave me. Six years ago, when I was fifteen, she packed her things and left a note.”

Kei’Mani’s eyes widened. “Six years,” she repeated.

“I’m sure she came to America to get far away from the Brotherhood.

They took over Goree Island and there was no way she could return to the portal of our fairy realm with the Bambara occupying the island.

It took a very long time for us to slip out of the realm undetected.

I miss her so much. I miss brushing her long purple hair.

She taught me how to fly, how to fight to the death, how to fish, how to bend fire.

She was our Queen after grand-fae died. Where is she? ”

“I don’t know.” I said.

I had no answers. The mother who raised me and the mother Kei’Mani described seemed like two different people. The quiet woman who worked at a candle shop and align with the powerful fairy who fought hunters and saved her people.

“We’ll find her,” I said, reaching for Kei’Mani’s hand. “After I get my friend back, we’ll find our mother.”

Her fingers twined with mine, warm and strong. “Do you think Aunt Sheila could still be alive too?” she asked softly.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But a week ago, I didn’t know fairies or vampires existed. Anything seems possible now.”

Kei’Mani squeezed my hand. “You should go. The vampire is waiting, and your friend needs you.”

I stood. “Will you be okay here?”

“I’ll be fine,” she assured me. “I’ve been trained to hide, to fight, to survive. I’ll keep watch over your father until you return.”

I stepped closer and, pulled her into a hug. For a moment she seemed startled, then her arms wrapped around me, returning the embrace.

A strange warmth flowed between us where our skin touched. When we pulled apart, I saw that her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

“Be careful, sister,” she whispered. “The Bambara are more dangerous than you know.”

“I will,” I promised. “And Kei’Mani? Thank you.”

I grabbed a sweatshirt from my closet and headed for the door. At the threshold, I looked back at my half-sister standing guard by my window. She was another piece of my newly discovered heritage. Another connection to a world I was only beginning to understand.