Page 11 of Visionary

“Oh wow, okay,” Aiden replied. He pulled out a cell phone from the console and handed it to me. “There should be a charger in the glove box.” He pointed to the storage at my knees.

Aiden turned the car on and began driving out of the parking garage. “Here’s the deal,” he began. “It’s not surprising that the Shiroganes are going to be looking for you almost immediately. As I said, Ceril probably knows you’re already gone if you stay by his side 24/7.” I nodded, agreeing with everything he was saying. “The Pulse Den is a safe house, and only a select few know where it is.” Aiden continued explaining that I would stay at the safe house as long as necessary. If there was any helpful information about Ceril I could share, then great, but if not, that was fine. “Severn,” Aiden said, shifting his gaze to me as we sat at a red light. “Vea wants you to know that the most important thing to her right now is your safety.” I felt a tear well in my eye, but I fought it back. Not letting it win this time. Aiden smiled softly before turning left when the light turned green.

Aiden’s phone rang over the speakers, and Vea’s name flashed on the screen. My breathing became shallow suddenly.

“Yeah?” Aiden sounded so comfortable speaking to her.

“Shift in the plan, Aiden.” There was a pause on the other end of the line.

Aiden sat waiting for an answer, staring at the small screen as if he might manifest Vea to speak suddenly. “What’s the plan now, Vea?”

“Sorry, Aiden, but I’m reassigning you. There’s no one that I trust more right now for this. I need you to stay with him.”

Aiden glanced over at me, then back to the road. “You want me to stay with Severn? At the safe house?”

Vea replied immediately. “Yes. I don’t trust Ceril. There are already angels scouting. I need someone with him at all times.” At those words, I shrank in the seat. Someone would be with me at all times.

I could feel Aiden’s eyes on me. “Yeah, okay, Vea. Someone just needs to get my car.”

“Mitz is already there and will drive it home. I trust you, Aiden.” Vea hung up the phone on those last words.

I had no idea who to trust. Trusting myself was all I could do at this point.

13

SEVERN

Aiden turned the headlights off and moved down a dark alley. He parked the car at the entrance, blocking off a way out. When he turned off the car, I noticed the dim neon lights in the small backstreet. To the left sat a figure on a stoop. He stood, and I tensed immediately. Aiden reached over but stopped before he touched my arm. Looking up at him, he gave me a reassuring smile. “That’s just Mitz. He’s going to take my car.”

The figure, Mitz, I now knew, began walking toward the driver’s side of the car. Aiden opened his door, and I followed suit, slowly stepping out of the car and walking around to the hood. I wasn’t really sure what to do. My whole life I was by Ceril’s side, and while I wasn't necessarily afraid of him, I was afraid of what he could become. Knowing that I was part of that plan now changed my perspective.

I stood in the alley with two strange vampires. One had just rescued me from the torture I had been living my entire life. And for once I truly had no clue what might happen next.

A metal trashcan fell over behind me, and I jumped closer to Aiden and Mitz before I saw a small orange and white cat scurry away deeper down the alley. Clutching my chest, I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing.

Mitz jumped as well and mumbled, “fucking cats.” He snatched the keys from Aiden and got in the driver’s seat. As Mitz slowly backed out into the road, Aiden and I walked into the alley toward what looked to be an old food stand. The red and purple neon lights that glowed were faded, barely lit, and no workers stood behind the counter. It smelled vaguely of noodles and spices as we got closer, and my stomach began to growl.

“Trust me, there’s plenty of food inside.” Aiden smiled as he walked around the side of the food stand.

The short flight of stairs led to a lofted area above the food stand. It looked like the community tried to start a garden here many years ago. The raised planters and beds were still full of dirt and dead plants. Artificial sun lamps sat rusted and strategically placed around the garden.

“Third bed to the right,” Aiden said softly as I looked around. I walked to the box of dirt that he indicated. “Lift it.” I shot a questioning look in his direction, and he laughed. “Watch.” Aiden leaned down and gripped the side of the wooden box. Soft white light shone from inside a deep hole. “This is the Pulse Den.”

As we descended the metal stairs, we landed in a cramped storage room. The smell of noodles and spices was stronger here than outside. Aiden ducked down into a smaller area in the back of the room, and I heard a series of beeps before a door unlatched. When I followed behind him, we entered the main room of a huge modern, renovated apartment. The back wall was floor-to-ceiling windows that looked over Noirhaven. The furniture was dark and sleek. The soft glow from the lamps Aiden turned on gave the space a warm feeling. While everything was open, I still felt comforted and safe here.

“Des wasn’t kidding when she said to trust her.” Aiden spun around the living space, taking in his surroundings.

“Is it a lot different?” I asked curiously.

Aiden chuckled and walked closer to me. “You couldn’t even imagine. We call this the Pulse Den because it was a Pulse den. Earlier this year we busted some beings trying to make and sell Pulse. It didn’t end well for them, so we claimed the property, and I guess Des has been busy. I just didn’t realize.”

Nodding, I continued to look around the space. Nothing looked like it did at Ceril’s place. Everything there was untouchable, at least by me. This apartment was warm and inviting. Blankets covered the couch, and gaming systems were set up in an entertainment stand across from the couch.

“The kitchen is right back there. Des said it’s fully stocked, so you have anything you’d like. If you want something in particular, just let me know, and we will get it.” Aiden pointed behind me, and I saw a dark kitchen tucked in a small loft above the living space.

The dark-haired vampire walked through the concrete doorway on the opposite side of the room and into a short hallway. “I’ll stay in this first bedroom.” He tapped the door with his tattooed hand and then walked further down the hallway. The next door, he pushed open to reveal a beautiful, cozy bedroom. “You can stay here. We will have to share the bathroom between the two.” Aiden pointed to a partially opened door that led to a bathroom that linked our rooms together. The bed was centered on the wall to the left, and the same windows from the main room were in this room as well. When I looked out into the city, I couldn’t help but wonder what was happening. Was my father truly sending beings out looking for me, and how soon would they find me? Could they see me here?

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I jumped back and away from the window, deep into the hallway. Without realizing, I bumped into Aiden, nearly knocking us both over to the ground. Quickly righting myself, I stood up straight and shook out my arms. “Sorry.” Rushing past the vampire, I went to the couch and sat down with my head in my hands.