38 | RISING WATERS

I haven’t seen much of my father outside of his gig as my English teacher - despite the fact that I’ve been staying at the Coven. He’s the Coven leader, so it’s not like I expected to see much of him around his already busy schedule as the head of his Coven, but some warning would have been nice. Nikki’s first set of information is about the Darklight community harboring something like fifty Leviathan-Class supernaturals. Their ‘Clan Leader’, as the Ancient called him, is the strongest of them all and not only the leader, but decision maker to their fates - and when needed - their executioner.

The imbalance in the Soul Counts has caused a supernatural hysteria and influx of toxic magic. The explanation Nikki gave me on what that means makes my brain ache. Something more math-based rather than fantastical in the information. Not something I was able to follow easily, but I got the gist of it. Soul Count off equals the world going nuts trying to correct it - ie. a whole bunch of weirdness spilling out of the very fabric of this reality.

This stuff harms the strongest of supernaturals first, then ripples down the power hierarchy. So the once-stable community of super-powered supernaturals is experiencing some ‘issues’. Like loss of control over their human facades and desires of the creatures living in the semi-secluded town to attack and even eat some humans. Dr. Chambers, the Clan Leader, has been struggling with his people’s rising fears and the close-to-being-outed situation now stirring up around Darklight.

An issue Hale’s supposed to be handling and reporting back to me about. Which he hasn’t. I grind my palms into my temples, trying to massage away the now-familiar over-stuffed feeling in my head.

After my meeting with Nikki, and a short-but-necessary nap, I had Zoe go find Hale and ask him to come meet me. I haven’t gained any mastery over my vampire connection with the Coven, used to the hum of the vague strings that bind me as a member of the group, but it’s not the same as being in a Pack. So I have no real way to mentally contact my father or other members like I do with Blue. But maybe that’s for the best. I’m not sure if I want to have the others in the Coven in my head - or have unfettered access to my head - twenty-four-seven the way it is when I’m in a Pack.

The air around the room shifts and I open my eyes to look up at my father as he materializes in the chair before me. The glamor he normally has up around humans isn’t as thick when we’re in places where humans aren’t, so his too-pale skin and evergreen eyes are on display, burning with their vampire-glow that belies his power. Just like the glow my own eyes get when I loose control over my vamp side. Something that I want to ask him about - and soon. But it can wait. This can’t.

“How’s the Darklight thing going?” I get straight to the point as I settle my hands on the desk, letting my fists drum in annoyance across the paper-strewn surface. Hale’s eyes brighten a degree, but his calm and easy expression doesn’t so much as twitch as he looks at me.

“I have been speaking with Dr. Chambers on the matter,” Hale starts after a moment, the brightness in his eyes dimming the slightest bit. I can’t help the scoff that bursts from my mouth as my annoyance and anger bubble over. An icy chill blooms in my bones - the always-there presence of the vampire in me making itself known as my control slips. My mind sharpens, cells humming along my skin, heart fluttering unevenly in my chest.

“Nikki has said differently.” I bite out, mimicking his calm and clipped tone.

“Hm.” Is the only response I get from the vampire as he sits back in his chair, still watching me. I burst out of my seat, ready to throw the desk with the tension in my body and the suddenly too-large-for-my-body emotions swelling in me.

“Dammit, Hale!” I scream at him, calling him by the name he goes by here in Kiwina. The feel of the name is more like a title on my tongue, like a slap to the other title he has as my father. “I’m trying to stop the Apocalypse here! I could use some help!” My voice gets that weird melodic tone it does when my vamp side comes out to play. Not the same as the power of Compulsion, but sickly sweet and a little pissier than my normal voice. “I thought I could trust you-”

“And you can.” His voice remains patronizingly calm and controlled. “Dr. Chambers is simply having a difficult time accepting my advice.” Hale tells me and I stare at him as the icy chill grows in me.

*Reign it in, Red*. Blue’s voice whispers in my head, his concern and calming presence nullifying the chill and bathing me in the familiar warmth of my Wolven side. I take a deep breath, remembering what happened the last time I was this pissed last year. I can’t help but be calmed a tiny bit by my mate’s words and the hint of emotions he allows to seep into the connection we share.

“Why haven’t you told me about any of this sooner?” This time my voice back to its normal volume, but can’t stop the fine tremor from my anger that courses through it.

“I had planned on letting you know before your return to school, but decided to wait since you were already weakened.” Hale hesitates as he answers, his eyes flickering from my face to the wall behind me. I’ve only just managed to tack up the new information Nikki gave me on the Darklights on that wall - seeing as it’s the most pressing issue now that the Cai’s portion has been dealt with.

“Why does everyone think I can’t handle shit when I’m down?” I hiss under my breath. Rhetorically - of course. But Hale replies anyway.

“Because, Sunshine, you don’t have the best track record with ‘keeping calm and carrying on’.” Hale shoots back in a colder tone. I bite back an argument that would make me a liar as I glare at him, his words stinging as they hang in the air between us. He’s right, of course. I can’t blame him for his abundance of caution. I also can’t help how pissed and slightly betrayed I feel from the knowledge that he kept this from me.

“Nikki says they’re the next major thing we have to deal with.” I tell him and sit back in my chair, folding my arms around my middle as my conversation with the Ancient and eveything she shared about the next few events flutters in my memory. “The Darklight thing and the Hunter thing.” I amend, turning in my chair to stare at the other wall with the Hunter information.

“Nothing from your cousins?” Hale asks me, changing the subject, though I know he’s more trying to keep me calm rather than get us off the topic of his with holding information.

“Nothing of substance.” I huff, my hand going for my boxy phone and pulling the sturdy maching from my pant pocket. The older model has lasted me longer than most of my other phones had in the past. I flip open the bulky thing and check my phone for the normal reports via text my cousins have been sending, frowning as I read the same three short lines they’ve been sending since they offered to track the Hunter Clan. *No sign of the our friend. Heading south. Will report if we find anything*. Just how south were the two planning on going? I rub my neck in agitation, glancing back at the wall with the Hunter information on it.

The little information we have isn’t enough for me to even think about trying to Track down the Hunter. What I can do is try and move along thing issue with the Darklights. Maybe. The community is close enough that it’s safe for me to travel there in theory, but on the other side of Colton - where the royal branch of the Coven is. And there also the King. My nervousness about going anywhere near Colton - even to pass the town by - sends an icy shiver through me. But it’s not heavy enough to destroy my resolve as I let out another sigh.

“You’re going to want to meet with Dr. Chambers yourself, aren’t you?” Hale seems to read my mind.

“I’d like to try.” I tell him, nodding. “Nikki’s given us a rougher estimate for them,” I relay what I can about the vague deadline the Ancient showed me for the event that’s going to - literally - rip the country in half if we can’t stop it.

“So about a month?” Hale hesitates, his face becoming a little paler than usual. I smirk and give him a shrug.

“Just about.” I hum and spin to look at him. “Talk to Chambers. See if he’s willing to met with me, I’d like to discuss this in person with him.” Hale nods, a little smile quirking at the corners of his mouth.

“I will, and get back to you before the end of the week, Sunshine.” He stands and gives me a little bow - as if I’m the ruler of the Coven and not him. The gesture shocks me a bit, but my father’s gone before I can call him out on it.