The Flight of the Coveted Luna : The Scion Book 2

Chapter 11

Eva (Aoife)

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“So, you want a motel, right?” Sarah asked sweetly.

I nodded absently, taking in the shops as we drove along the city's streets. We stopped at a traffic light, and I looked around idly; then I heard the call of a raven. It was perched on a sign by a candle shop and called again loudly. It seemed to be looking right at me.

I might not have thought anything of it,, except I’d just seen one in the forest. Was it following me? No, that was ridiculous. It called again. The candle shop looked quaint and interesting; perhaps I would visit there once I’d settled at a motel.

“It’s right around the corner,” Sarah said as the light turned green and we drove off.

At the next intersection, she turned right and then into a parking lot.

The motel was a large but underwhelming one-story building, the red brick its only distinguishing characteristic.

“This is the best you’re going to get in terms of motels,” Sarah said with an apologetic smile as if she were personally responsible for the lack of good options in the city.

“This is perfect, thank you,” I replied, genuinely grateful for her help.

She had helped so much more than I could even tell her. I decided not to bother her further and leaned over to give her a side-hug.

“I wish I could have contributed to your fuel costs,” I said. “It would have been the least I could do.”

“Not to worry, dear. Like I said, I was coming this way anyway. Good luck!” she said with a broad grin.

“Thank you, Sarah; it was really lovely to meet you,” I said honestly. “I hope to see you around.”

It would be good to have a friend or two in the city I’d unceremoniously found myself in.

“I’m sure you will. This place isn’t that big,” she laughed.

“Take care, and please be careful picking up strangers; as much as I needed your help, there are others who could have bad intentions.”

She nodded.

“Don’t worry. I don’t normally pick up hitchhikers; somehow, I just knew you needed help and that you wouldn’t hurt me. It’s weird, but it’s like something told me to drive that route and pick you up.”

That was a strange thing to say. Was someone pulling strings behind the scenes?

“Okay, stay safe, and thanks again,” I said smiling, not knowing what else to say to that.

I got out and walked into the motel. I hoped they’d take foreign currency as payment, or I’d have a problem.

Despite the large dark wood desk that dominated the area, the lobby was sterile. A gaudy royal blue rug with the motel logo lay in front of it. The smell of pine disinfectant lingered in the air as if someone had just cleaned the floors.

A pimply young man stood at the desk.

“Hi,” he said, his disinterest apparent. “How can I help you?”

“Hi,” I said with an awkward smile. “I need a room for the night.”

As soon as he heard my accent, his interest piqued, and he looked at me, his cold eyes carefully judging me. A shiver ran down my spine. I could tell that he was human, but his eyes… they seemed… empty.

“Sure,” he said with a sly smile this time. “That will be one hundred and twenty dollars, please.”

I cleared my throat.

“Erm, do you accept Euros?” I asked hesitantly. He held my gaze for a moment, and I nearly squirmed, uncomfortable. There was something really weird about him.

“Normally, we don’t. But I’ll make an exception for you,” he said with that look again, made more unnerving by a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Thank you, I appreciate it,” I said. “So how much is that in Euros?”

I rifled through my pack and found my wallet.

“About the same,” he said.

I knew he was probably ripping me off, but I didn’t have much choice and just handed over the money.

“Room 122,” he said, handing me a key.

I tried not to touch his hand, but he deliberately didn’t let go of the key until our skin made contact and even held on for a second longer. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end; the guy gave me the creeps.

“Thanks,” I said, turning to leave.

“I can show you to your room,” he offered.

“No, thank you,” I said quickly and followed the sign that said rooms 100 - 130.

Niamh growled in my mind.

“Don’t worry. If he gives us any trouble, I’ll bite his face off. They’ll never identify him,” Niamh said, uncharacteristically violent. “You don’t know what he is planning; it could be bad. He has bad energy,” she explained. I agreed. He was up to no good.

The room was plain and not as clean as I would have liked. I didn’t have many options, so it would have to do. I locked the door behind me and slammed the deadbolt home, dropped my pack on the bed, and checked out the bathroom. I needed a shower, and then I’d decide whether I would sleep or go out to get something to eat. I needed both badly.

The water took a long time to warm up and I got lost in thought as I looked in the mirror. My skin was pale, my eyes wide and bloodshot, and my face had a sunken look. A wave of exhaustion passed over me as I remembered my mother’s harsh words. They will break things you can never repair.

I’d left the pack, avoided Brin and the Oilliphéist, teleported halfway across the world and if that wasn’t enough, I’d escaped a Slaugh and pack warriors. Not only was there all sorts of crazy stuff going on, but now I was also a rogue out in the cruel cold world by myself. My mother’s words reminded me to be extra vigilant; I had no one to watch my back and judging by the perve at the front desk, it was necessary. I was sure that he was some kind of sick predator; he had that slimy, off feeling about him.

“I am here with you,” Niamh said quietly.

“I know you are. You’re all I have now,” I replied with a sigh. My heart clenched.

Why couldn’t my parents let me live my life the way I wanted? The price I’d paid for my freedom was steep. I thought of the monster that had haunted my dreams and shivered as I remembered its eyes. I thought of Brin’s calculating expression as I disappeared.

Steam billowed until I could no longer see anything in the mirror. I exhaled and my shoulders slumped. I needed rest; only then could I think clearly and figure out a way to survive the new world I’d been thrown into.

I stepped under the hot water gingerly, the sensation helping my muscles relax until my eyes closed and I nearly fell asleep standing up. I washed and finished up quickly, making my way to the bed once I’d dried my hair, changed into fresh clothes, and cleaned my teeth. Finally, I felt less grimy.

A phone sat on the bedside table. I desperately wanted to know what was happening back at the pack. I sat on the bed looking at it and eventually picked up the handset, dialing Ciara’s number. It rang and rang… and rang; my shoulders slumped and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. She wasn’t going to answer. Just as I was about to hang up, her voice came over the speaker.

“Aoife, is that you?” she asked, a little breathless.

“Hey Ciara, yes it’s me. Are you okay? You sound out of breath,” I asked, worried about the baby.

“I’m fine; I was just in the other room,” she huffed. “It’s you I’m worried about. Brin said you were kidnapped. He’s launched a serious search party. What the hell happened? I thought you were running away. Did someone help you? Where are you?”

“Whoa, he said I was kidnapped?” I asked, taken aback. “What the hell is he playing at?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I mean, weird things have happened, but I wasn’t kidnapped and no one helped me. He’s lying.

The Oilliphéist showed up, as in real life - not a dream. And then I…”

“Oh Goddess, what? What did you do?”

“I teleported,” I whispered. It was the first time I’d said it out loud and it sounded downright crazy.

“You what? Aoife, are you sure you’re okay? You didn’t hit your head or anything, did you? Where are you?”

“It’s true,” I said, wondering how to get her to believe me. Then it hit me. “Ciara, look at your phone. What number am I calling from?”

The line was silent for a full minute before she exhaled loudly.

“Holy sh.it,” she said quietly as it sank in.

“Look, it’s highly unlikely that Brin will find me here. I’m going to try to stay here; I’ll check in with you again soon.”

“Aoife…” she said, “be careful.”

“I will; I promise,” I said as I hung up.

What was Brin’s problem? Why couldn’t he just let me go? He was acting as if I was his destined mate.

I lay down on my back, the pillow uncomfortable, and closed my eyes. A picture of the raven at the candle store flitted into my mind unbidden as I drifted off into blessed oblivion.

“Aoife,” Niamh shouted in my mind.

I surfaced slowly, my mind foggy with exhaustion. It felt as if I were being dragged up from quicksand, only vaguely aware.

“Aoife, wake up,” Niamh urged and took over.

“What is it?” I asked, still trying to shake the stupor of deep sleep as she shot out of bed on high alert.

Just then, I heard the door lock turn and the deadbolt rattle.