DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS

40

I had started the board years ago, when I was first brought back from the underworld with only the ring for a clue. The board started as a three by four, and I had been determined to fill it fast and figure this f*****g curse out.

Time passed and I barely covered a small corner of it.

But since Kenna and Lia had shown up, I had added two more boards side by side, and if things continued evolving this way, I would soon have to buy another.

To be honest, I would rather figure everything out before that, and be done with it.

I glanced out the window. From the guest bedroom, I could see the small window on the side of the kitchen and a corner of the porch and the backyard. Kenna had been active since early this morning, going around the house, though I had no idea what she had been up to. The only time it was easy to tell what she was doing was when she showed up on the back porch with a towel bunched up atop of her head. A few minutes later, she walked by the window—with her hair dark brown again. This time, she had added blue streaks to it.

Once more I wondered why she dyed her hair. What was she trying to hide? Was Lia in on it too?

I couldn’t sit still. Not when I knew she was a few yards away, and she could have the answers I needed. She had to have them, right? At least a couple of them. Something, anything to point me in the right direction.

I needed some f*****g direction.

I went to her house. Lia had left earlier, probably for work, but for some reason, I wanted to speak with only Kenna for now.

I rang the bell and waited.

Not thirty seconds later, Kenna opened the door.

“Devon, what are you doing here?”

The words flew past my throat but got stuck on my tongue. What? Had I really planned to come here and ask who she was? If she was in on it with the gods? If she was part of my punishment? If she knew anything about demons?

What if this was all a coincidence and I scared her away?

I really didn’t want that.

I cleared my throat and pointed to the bandage peeking out from underneath the short sleeves of her shirt. “You were hurt last evening. I wanted to check if you’re all right now.”

Kenna narrowed her bright blue eyes at me. The newly dyed brown hair brought out the beautiful hue of her eyes more, but from the little I had seen, she was still lovely with blond hair.

What the f**k was I thinking?

“I’m clumsy. You didn’t know that?” She averted her eyes. “I fell and scratched my arm. It’s okay now.”

Was she seriously trying to feed me that bullshit? “What about your chest?”

She took a step back as if preparing to defend herself. Or run. “What about it?”

“There was a scratch on your jacket right across your chest,” I said. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. I took that as an opportunity and stepped inside her house. “What about your hair? I’m sure it was brown yesterday afternoon. Then suddenly it was blond during the festival.”

She retreated. “How do you know what my hair looked like yesterday? Are you spying on me?”

I closed the door behind me. “We’re neighbors. There’s a high chance I’ll see you whenever I step outside.” I stalked after her as she retreated toward the kitchen. “So? What happened to your hair?”

She shook her head and whispered, “You wouldn’t understand.”

In the kitchen, she rounded the island, putting it in between us. Was she afraid of me? I had no plans of attacking her, but I wouldn’t let her off the hook so easily.

“Try me,” I said.

“Why? It’s not like it matters to you.”

I frowned. What did I know about this girl? She and her mother had moved here out of nowhere—I was never able to find out where they had lived before. Their last name was Jones, but for some reason, I thought they were lying. Kenna would soon be nineteen and hadn’t finished high school yet. She didn’t even try applying for school and finishing it. She was going for the GED directly. Lia had found a job at the library, but her resume was a big blank. She had no prior working experience. They seemed to be hiding something, but at the same time, they allowed people to get close—like Carol, Sabrina, Kevin, and me.

Then, there were the glimpses I got each time I touched Kenna. Had those really happened or was I imagining things? I had to find a way of touching her again right now.

“What? Your grandmother is a mermaid and every time she gets wet, her hair changes color? And you got that from her?” I was being beyond ridiculous, but in a world that wasn’t supposed to exist, mermaids weren’t that far from demons and divine warriors.

She stared me, one eyebrow c****d up. “Have you been drinking?”

“I rarely drink.”

“Then what? Drugs? Because something must be wrong with your mind. Mermaids? Really?” Shaking her head, she opened the cabinet and grabbed a box of popcorn.

I frowned. “Hungry?”

“Not me.” She grabbed three sealed packets from the box. Then, she pointed to the backdoor. “But they are.”

I glanced at the door just as it opened.

“Hey,” Sabrina said as she walked in. Kevin followed her inside and waved at me. “Are we having a party?”

Kenna ripped the plastic from one of the packets and stuck it in the microwave. “Why do you think we’re having a party?”

Sabrina gestured to me. “Because he’s here.”

“Just ignore him,” Kenna muttered.

Kevin grabbed a bottle of juice from the fridge, while Sabrina opened a cabinet and grabbed a big round bowl.