Fading Into Darkness: The Under Series Book 2 (12 page)

“Well I could go on my own but it wouldn't be as fun. It's always been you and me. You're my
wingman we've done everything together we even fell together, it wouldn't feel right without you.”
“Cam only wants to marry her, he said she could choose who she loves.”
Alex shook his head. “Not this again. D
éjà vu
, this is Rose all over again and look how messed up
that left you.”
“This girl is nothing like Rose.”
“Yes exactly she's just a girl for a start how old is she, sixteen?”
“She's eighteen.”
“When it comes to women you make the worst decisions look at all the human women you've fallen
in love with and remember how that ended they all grew old and died. Then you started messing
around with Rose and she controlled you for years. This girl will be no different she'll just cause
you misery.”
“She's immortal, so that's a good start.”
“Seriously you're considering this? You know what you need, a night out to take your mind off all
this. Come on I'll take you out to the club or a bar, we'll find a couple of eighteen year old hotties,
preferably blondes and we can take them back to the club house. Come on you'll love it.”
“No you'll love it. That's not my thing and stop sticking pin ups of half naked women on my door
and walls.”
“What I thought it would help with all that inside stress, think of them as your way to realise that
stress.”
“Remind me again why we're friends? Anyway you need to keep it in your pants otherwise you're
going to knock another one up. I will soon lose count of the number of kids you have.”
“What it's not that many. Still only three.” Alex said pulling his cellphone out of his pocket.
“Problem?” Senka asked.
“Just Tanya asking for money again to pay for that delinquent. She doesn't even ask nicely anymore.
Look at this,” Alex said holding his cell up to show Senka.
“Need money to feed the kids.” Senka read the text message out loud. “Kids?” Senka asked.
“She has another one James, I think he's like twenty three or something, he works at the library.”
“And he can't feed himself?” Senka asked.
“Apparently not she's got me paying out for both of them and one's not even mine. Don't even ask
me how that happened.”
Senka laughed and stood up.
“It's not funny Senk.”
“How old is Brandon? Is he old enough to be told he's a Neph yet?”
“He's eighteen but I think all the pot he smokes has stunted his development. The police picked him
up the other weekend, he was caught out in the woods partying and drinking with under age girls
and they found some rather illegal substances on him. Cost me four months wages to get the police
to look the other way. All that boy wants to do is girls and party.”
“Takes after his father then.” Senka said punching him in the arm.
“Then there's my other little prodigy. Janice phoned me earlier today to let me know that I'd have to
pay for the neighbours swing chair because Bobby had a disagreement with the old lady and set it
on fire.”
“How old is Bobby?”
“Eight.”
“Whoa.....he's going to be an effing problem when he's a teen.”
“I know tell me about it. The only one that hasn't been a problem or cost me a fortune is Lila. I'm
taking her out to dinner next week, she turns seventy on Tuesday.”
There was a knock at the door. Alex opened it and Narmi stood on the other side with clean towels
and bedding.
“I can come back.” she said quietly.
Alex didn't answer and looked as though he'd forgotten how to speak.
“No it's okay you can come in.” Senka said stepping aside.
She walked in and started stripping the bed.
“Do you need any help?” Alex asked but it came out a little high-pitched as though he was nervous.
Narmi quickly shook her head but didn't look up at him. Alex stood watching Narmi but it was
starting to get a bit weird the way he was just gawking at her and not saying anything. Senka
grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out the door.
“Bye.” Alex called before Senka shut the door.
“What was that?” Senka asked.
“What was what?”
“Do you like her?”
“What her? No.” Alex said as quietly as possible.
Senka crossed his arms.
“She won't even talk to me I think I frighten her.”
“I think that haircut frightens her.” Senka laughed.
“Shut up.” Alex said. Then he pointed to one of the post cards on his door.
“You and I could be there next week.”
“Maybe. I need to think about it and I want to spend some time with her before I make my
decision.”
“Why?”
“Just to see what she's like, it will help me make my decision.”
“You have four days until the end of the week, what if she doesn't want to talk to you?”
“Something tells me she will, but she wont remember it afterwards.”
“Oh so using your gift for recreational activities is okay then? Making up your own rules again. I
bet she's a bossy little hussy who has a hundred mood swings per second seeing as she's still a
teenager. And she probably loves ordering the servants around. You'll hate her.”
“We'll see. Come on I need to get ready I'm fighting in a few hours. You coming to watch?”
“Yes I never pass up an opportunity to see my lovely daughter but just for a little while cause I want
to head into HP.”
“Will you wrap my hands?” Senka asked holding his hands up.
“No do it yourself. Do I look like your little bitch?”
“I could always ask Lila, she has such soft hands.” Senka said playfully.
“Watch it.” Alex said as they walked along the corridor.

I heard knocking and opened my eyes to find Senka asleep with his head resting on the same pillow
as me. His eyes were closed, but he didn't even look like he was breathing. The light filtered
through the windows, it was already morning but it felt like I hadn't even been to sleep. I got the
feeling I'd been doing something else. Something inside Senka's head. Mack had told me I could do
something like this but I would have never understood it until I had experienced it for myself. One
minute I was looking into Senka's eyes the next I was inside his head reliving one of his memories
that bought up a million new questions I wanted to ask. I turned towards him and put my hand on
his chest and gently nudged him but he didn't react.
“Senk what are you doing? Are you in there?” Alex called from the other side of the door.
“Senka,” I whispered, shaking his shoulder trying to wake him. He didn't even stir. “Senka,” I said
louder becoming concerned. He moaned and rolled onto his back and lazily looked over at me.
“Hey,” I said.
He blinked a few times and sat up rubbing his head.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I think we fell asleep.” I said.
“That's never happened before.” he said still holding his head.
“What sleeping?” I joked.
“No I've never just passed out like that. I'm sorry I must be really run down or something. I
remember I kissed you then my mind went blank.”
“Senka it's fine, I fell asleep as well anyway.”
He continued to rub at his head. I sat up behind him and put my arms around his neck.
“Are you sure you're okay?” I asked concerned, he wasn't acting like himself.
“Yeah, just my head. For some reason I have a major headache. I don't think I've ever had one
before.” he said holding onto my arms.
“Okay I can hear talking, I know you're in there.” Alex said loudly.
“Alex,” Senka said pulling my arms away from his neck.
“Senka no leave it.” I said trying to grab his wrist but missed and slipped off the bed. He opened the
door and Alex spotted me first on the floor and raised an eyebrow at me. Senka walked out and
closed the door so I couldn't see them. I tip toed over and could just about hear them, I think they
had moved some distance away from the door but I could still hear what they were saying.
“Why did you say those things to her?” Senka growled.
“It was a joke. I didn't think she'd take it seriously.”
“Stop interfering.”
“She's not right for you.”
“So what makes you such an expert on what's right for me?”
“Not her.”
“Alex I get it, you're pissed cause you wanted me to leave with you. But I already told you, you
don't need me to do what you want.”
“Well I'm not going anywhere without you, it wouldn't be the same without you. So let me know
when you're done with her and we can leave.”
“I'm not leaving. Not now.”
“Then I'll wait. The upside of being immortal, I can wait as long as it takes. You'll get bored with
her eventually.” Alex said bitterly.
It went quiet and I moved away from the door and tip toed back to the bed.
A feeling of panic washed over me. What if Senka had taken my memories? Senka was one of the
few people I trusted the most. I couldn't imagine him agreeing to anything that would hurt me.
But what if he had? If Senka had taken my memories it was because of Cam. Cam was controlling
everyone. Mack was right I had to get out of here. The thought of Mack was all it took to make my
eyes tear up. All I wanted was to get out of here and find Mack wherever that was. The door opened
and Senka walked in holding an energy drink. I smiled at him hoping it would mask my true
feelings. I quickly rubbed at my eyes, making the tears non existent. He unscrewed the cap and took
a sip watching me. I jumped off the bed and went to his dresser picking up a soda can. Senka
checked his cell then looked at me.
“I should get ready for work.” he said searching for his clothes.
He shrugged his vest on and I pulled my clothes off the hanger and quickly went into the bathroom
and changed back into them. I slung Senka clothes in his laundry basket. When I opened the door,
Senka was sitting on the end of his bed pulling on his boots. He looked up at me from under his hair
that was hanging over his eyes. For once I didn't trust those blue eyes that I'd grown to love so
much.
“You okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “I'm fine, just a little tired.”
“I think I preferred you in my clothes.” he said grinning.
I smiled but it was forced and I think he noticed. He frowned and walked over to me.
“If you're tired go back to bed for a little while longer.” he said kissing the side of my face before
walking into the bathroom. For once I actually couldn't wait for Senka to leave.
He re-emerged with his hair styled up and went to his closet and pulled a dark blue hoodie off a
hanger. The front of it had little green aliens jumping around on it. He stepped over to me, his boots
nearly touching my toes. He tilted my chin up towards him.
“See you tonight.” he said kissing the side of my face working his way along my jaw and back to
my lips and I stood there letting him. I imagined I would let him do a lot more with me but I quickly
pushed that thought away. I would have to somehow get back inside his head and find out if and
when he took my memories. He looked at me one last time biting at his lip ring, I think he knew
something was wrong but he didn't say anything else. He picked up his cellphone and slid it into his
pocket. His hand hovered on the door handle for a few seconds then he left without a word.
I sat on the bed gripping the edge, resisting the overwhelming urge I had to burst into tears. When I
finally pulled myself together I went back to my own bedroom and found Narmi cleaning the glass
doors on my balcony. She quickly put her cleaning supplies back in her basket and stood up to
leave.
“Narmi wait,” I said.
But she ignored me. So I stood in front of the doorway blocking her escape.
“It's okay Narmi. You're not going to get into trouble for talking to me.” She looked up at me
considering this. “Cam's not even here. He's away. Please.” She put her basket down on the table.
“So you all know about my ability?” I asked. She nodded but didn't say anything.
“Narmi was I bought here as a baby or was it all a lie? Has Cam been lying to me?” She looked at
the floor. “I get that you don't want to tell me because you're frighted that you will get into trouble
with Cam. But will you at least tell me what this place is? Where am I?”
“What do you mean?” she said.
“I mean what is this place? Where am I? Because the more I think about it the more obvious it
becomes that this place isn't normal. Pink blackbirds are not normal.”
She frowned like she didn't have a clue what I was talking about.
“I don't understand what you mean Miss Ruby. This place has always been this way for as long as I
can remember. I was even born here, my mother and father both worked for Master Cameron. This
place looks no different to what it has always looked like.”
“Maybe to you, but I don't think I grew up with oranges that weren't orange. You are obviously used
to it but I know what's normal and some of the things I've seen here are anything but normal. And I
have a really bad feeling that I'm a long way away from normal.” I said.
Narmi looked at me confused, she had no idea what I was talking about. To her this was her home
and everything outside was normal.
“Why were you told not to talk to me?” I asked.
“I don't know.” she said panicking.
“Narmi calm down, I only want to ask you a few questions.”
“We were told not to talk to you. Minimal talk if necessary and if you asked any inappropriate
questions we were told not to answer them. We were also told not to have any thoughts around you,
not to talk inside our heads.”
“So you really don't know where this place is? Does it even have a name?”
She shook her head thinking about it for a moment.
“I am only a servant Miss Ruby but I am sure there is someone else who will be able to answer your
questions.”
“If you mean Emmett, I can't ask him anything. I think he knows everything that's going on but he's
not going to share any of it with me. I don't even trust him, he would tell Cam straight away if I was
asking questions.”
“What about the boy in the hat?” I assumed she was talking about Kenzie.
“Kenzie, I don't think he'll tell me anything, even if he wanted to he's too close to Cam.”
“Maybe someone else, someone from the third floor.”
I looked at her and remembered the way Alex had been acting around her and the time I had caught
him in the garden watching her. I might be able to get my answers from someone I wouldn't have
even considered.
“Narmi, do you have a boyfriend?”
She smiled and giggled. “No of course not.”
“Oh are you too young to date?”
“No, I just haven't met anyone. My mother and father both met while they were working here and
got married. I have always hoped I would meet someone and fall in love but no one really notices
me.”
“I'm sure that's not true. In fact I'm sure I can think of one person that has noticed you. The name
Alex mean anything to you?”
She smiled and picked up her basket.
“I'll take that smile as a yes. Are there rules on who you date?”
“No but it would have to be someone from the manor. I rarely go to the town only occasionally
when the market is there. So it would make no sense to fall in love with someone from the town.”
“So anyone in the manor, including the boys on the third floor?”
“Shhh! Don't be silly Miss Ruby. None of those boys would be interested in me and especially not
this Alexander you speak of.” she said looking flustered.
“Hmm,” I replied formulating a plan inside my head.
“I have to get back to work.” she said smiling.
She appeared more relaxed around me, not as worried as before about talking with me.
“Miss Ruby,” she said stopping at the door.
“Yes.” I replied.
“Cam has told me to report anything unusual or strange I might find in your bedroom back to him.”
“Yes, I am sure he has. What about it?”
She reached into her basket and pulled out Mack's long sleeved black T-shirt.
“This doesn't look like something anyone from here would wear. It looks dirty and worn and
covered in black stuff.”
“So are you going to show it to Cam?” I asked.
“I will keep your secrets Miss Ruby if you keep mine and don't tell Master Cameron that we have
been talking.”
“Sounds fair.” I said.
She put the T-shirt back in her basket. “I will not ask you questions about where it came from or
who it belongs to. But I think it would be best if I took it away and discarded of it, encase someone
else sees it.”
I nodded but a small part of me was sad to see it go. It was the only real thing I had that reminded
me Mack wasn't just my imagination. She left and I caught a glimpse of the clock. It was 8.45am
lessons started in fifteen minutes.