Page 21 of Faerie Marked

I dragged my suitcase, purse, and duffel bag downstairs as quietly as I could manage, then moved quickly through the den toward the French doors leading to the backyard.

My eyes stung and I swiped the moisture away, then silently opened one of the double patio doors. This would make less noise than leaving through the front, and with fewer prying eyes to report my movements.

I let the sound of my footsteps and the low hum of the wheeled suitcase drown out any lingering doubts as I took my only shot at freedom.

I didn’t dare turn around and look back at the house. Soon I was out of the neighborhood, the tree-lined streets shifting to a modern-day cement jungle. Car traffic increased until I heard nothing outside of the honks and roar of engines. Every step toward the car rental place in the city was too heavy, too swift, carrying me away from whatever torment and misery I was leaving behind me, and toward whatever unknowns lay in front of me.

The man behind the counter at the car rental facility was busy helping another customer when I arrived. One of the good things about living in the northern Virginia suburbs, we had wilderness close and city amenities closer. I waited my turn with little patience, choosing a seat from the near-empty line of chairs and keeping my luggage close to me. The sun had kissed above the horizon, rising steadily. Ten hours of driving and I’d be out of this place forever.

Lowering my head to avoid unwanted attention, I thought about the night before.

I’d used the opportunity to scroll through the school’s website and memorize any information I could, hoping it would give me an edge over the rest of the applicants. The way a person would research a company before they went in for a job interview.

There hadn’t been much there. A picture of the headmaster whose name I couldn’t remember now. He looked young, kind, with dusky light-brown hair and an easy smile, ears pointed, eyes a strange shade of orange. I wasn’t sure if regular full-blooded Fae aged the same way humans did. There were no other photos of the rest of the staff. I assumed I would meet them when I arrived at the academy.

I knewnothingabout Faerie. I had no clue about that part of my heritage.

What the hell am I doing?

Escaping one bad situation and catapulting myself into another, where I had no idea about the major players. I didn’t know how to be Fae. Unease swirled and settled beneath my sternum. Maybe my entire plan was nuts. Maybe I should have done what Uncle Will wanted and forced myself to go through with the arrangement with Kendrick.

My fingers clenched until my knuckles ached.

“Excuse me, Miss? You’re up.”

The car rental guy at the counter tapped a finger in the universal sign to hurry up. Not sure where he had to go or why he was suddenly in such a hurry, but I stood and followed him into a small office with beige blinds. When had the other customer left? I hadn’t been paying attention.

“Thanks,” I told the guy, but I wasn’t sure for what.

“What can I do to help you today?” he asked, holding a hand out for me to sit.

I dragged my luggage behind me and took a seat in front of him. I’d think it obvious why I was here. His hand remained outstretched to shake. I ignored it and said, “I need to rent a car, please.”

“What are you looking for?” he enquired as he settled into his seat. “Compact, mid-sized, luxury?”

Whatever will get me from Point A to Point B the fastest.I chewed the inside of my lip. “Compact.” It would be smaller, less likely to draw attention.

“Perfect. I need to see your driver’s license and I can get the process started for you.”

Reaching into my purse, I pulled the slim plastic card from my wallet and slid it across the desk to him. The man inclined his head, staring at the information. Then up to me. Then back to the card. The hairs of his reddish beard bristled.

“You’re only eighteen,” he said.

“Yes, my birthday was about a week ago.”Smile,Tavi.Keep it casual.Don’t let him see you sweat.

“You’re not old enough to rent a car, Miss Alderidge.” He said it like the information was obvious. “You have to be twenty-five years old. It’s the law.”

I stared at him for what felt like a good five minutes. “I’m sorry? What do you mean?”

“Twenty-five,” the man said again. “It’s standard. Do you have a guardian with you? He glanced around as though I’d hidden an adult somewhere. Maybe inside my suitcase.

“No, there’s no one.” I thought about the money I’d stolen from Uncle Will burning a hole in my pocket, ready to be spent. “Isn’t there anything you can do? Something I can pay? How much will it take?”

The man’s gaze hardened and at once he wasn’t the bland and helpful service provider but someone suspicious, someone who could potentially stand in my way. “No, honey, there isn’t.” Then his eyes narrowed. “Are you in trouble? Do you need me to call someone for you?”

Uh oh.Alert, alert!“No, thank you. Everything is fine.”

I hurried out of the car rental office with the knots in my stomach twisting into new and unfamiliar patterns. There were some things in this world money couldn’t buy, apparently. Rental cars among them. It was a new experience for me and one I didn’t want to repeat anytime soon. Especially not when people automatically assumed I was in trouble.

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