Page 12 of Destined for Shadows
The sensor’s other ability was that she could detect any supernatural within a half-mile radius. According to her, they each had their own signature or aura or something, so she could even recognize one she’d met before. If Griff was the only newcomer, they might be able to track him down just by having Melena drive around the area until she picked him up, but not with a lot of other newbies in the mix.
“Don’t the new arrivals have to check in with Derrick?” Cori asked. Derrick was the alpha werewolf for Fairbanks and leader of all supernaturals in the region. Most sups called him their master, except those at Melena’s place who were exceptions to the rule because anyone with angelic blood didn’t fall under the same jurisdiction. They had archangels to browbeat them.
“Yeah, but newcomers get a two-week grace period before they have to report.” Melena grabbed their empty coffee mugs and went to rinse them out at the sink. “Sounds like Griff still has time, assuming he plans to stay that long—or follow the rules.”
The front door slammed shut, jarring Cori. Melena didn’t appear surprised, but only humans could sneak up on her. Whoever had entered the house was either a supernatural or a sensor.
“Hey, guys,” Emily said, coming into the kitchen.
Her shoulder-length hair was usually a solid medium brown, but it had black streaks running through it today. She was a thin girl with pale skin and delicate features, who despite her lanky size could walk with such an attitude that most kids her age wouldn’t want to mess with her. Cori was glad to see Emily doing better after losing her boyfriend, Hunter, last winter. He’d been killed when they were fighting a battle against humans who didn’t like supernaturals. That was when sups had just come out to the world and before things started to calm down in Fairbanks. These days, Melena and others at her branch of the Department of Homeland Security worked together to keep the peace in town. They’d made a lot of headway.
“Did you have fun at the compound?” Melena asked, smiling at Emily.
“I got to give a class to the nerou about what school is like for humans, and what teenagers do for fun,” she said, hopping up on the barstool next to Cori.
The nerou had a lot to learn in the year they’d been given to acclimate to Earth before they took over enforcer duties. While part of their time was spent learning martial arts and weapons, they also had to learn about the people who lived on the planet and how things worked in the world. Their program was designed so that they could blend in quickly wherever they were sent. Sometimes, outside people were brought in to teach things the regular instructors wouldn’t be as good at. It appeared Emily had gotten her chance to help.
“You didn’t have them try out marijuana or something, did you?” Cori asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Ha ha, very funny.” Emily tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Lucas told me I couldn’t, but I did show them some videos I recorded from parties I went to over the summer.”
Melena cleared her throat. “Speaking of high school, I set aside one of Emily’s senior pictures for you.” She ducked into the dining room for a moment and returned with a 5x7 in her hand. “You mentioned you wanted one.”
“Oh, thanks,” Cori said.
Emily grinned. “Don’t I look awesome?”
Cori stared at the photo. The teenager had a serious expression on her face, heavy eyeliner, and her hair was pulled back in a tight bun. “You look like an assassin.”
“That was exactly the look I was hoping for, though Mel says I looked more like a serial killer or something.” Emily sighed.
Melena gave her a stern look. “People are supposed to smile for their senior pics, not pose for potential deadly jobs.”
“Whatever,” the teenager replied, rolling her eyes.
“Have you started looking at colleges yet?” Cori asked.
“Yep, I’m gonna apply to one in New Orleans and another in Anchorage—anywhere but here.” She hopped off the stool and grabbed a coke from the fridge. “Leaving this place is the only thing that keeps me going.”
Melena’s face tightened. “If you want Lucas and me to pay for it, you’re going to stay in Fairbanks for the first two years. That’s the deal.”
Cori couldn’t blame them for not wanting to let the teenager go far. Emily was a sensor like Melena. Their kind had been hunted to near extinction because of their abilities and because of some supernatural war that was fought centuries ago. Even those who didn’t want sensors dead wanted to use them. Emily might be stronger and more resilient after having a dose of Melena’s blood, but she wasn’t immortal, and she could be captured by her adoptive parents’ enemies. And there was also Emily’s natural mother, who was a less than maternal vampire that had served Variola until the Fairbanks regime change a few years back.
“Isn’t your mom in New Orleans?” Cori could have sworn that was what Melena had told her.
“Yeah, so?” Emily took a drink of her Coke. “Maybe I want to see her and tell her what an awful job she did, especially now that I know she kept me from my dad.”
Cori wondered where Patrick—Emily’s birth father—was at the moment, but she’d heard he was going to get his own place in town. Maybe he’d finally gotten it.
“You’re not going anywhere near New Orleans without me,” Melena warned.
Emily ignored her and focused her attention on Cori. “So what brought you here? Aren’t you usually working at the studio around this time?”
“I took off early.”
“Does it have anything to do with that guy who showed up at your house?” Emily asked, cocking her head.
Cori looked at her in surprise. “How do you know about that?”
