Chapter 10

Heyder swore his ears would start to bleed if he had to sit and listen to one more Tyveer complain about tiny shit he did not give two fucks about. Why was it his problem if the floors of the court were too slippery for the elderly? Let them fall!

Just when Ali dismissed the old jinn with the long white beard, Heyder rose to his seat and took off the gold crown. The hall grew quiet as they all lowered their heads and took a step back. Heyder's eyes scanned the room before he tossed the crown to Ali.

"What the fuck, man?" Ali mouthed, cating the crown. "Show some respect, Heyder."

"Take care of this, will you?" Heyder motioned to the long line of people waiting with their list of complaints for him.

"And where are you off too, sweetheart?"

"I have to go talk to Clare."

"It can't wait?" Ali looked at the jinns waiting.

"It's about Hayden."

"Is he okay?"

"He's fine," Heyder waved his hand. "Being dumb as shit, but he's fine."

"That's a family trait, Heyder."

"Can you just take care of this?" Heyder asked. "I'll be back soon."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Ali rolled his eyes and put on the crown. "You know they hate it when we do this. You're supposed to be the leader, not me."

"And what are they going to do about it?"

"Complain to me!"

"Hurry up then," Heyder snapped his fingers and a portal opened. "They're waiting for you, sultan."

"Fuck you, bitch."

Heyder's shoulder shook with laughter as he stepped through the porta and disappeared. But as soon as his feet touched the floors of the dome, his good mood vanished like clouds. His eyes landed on Hayden standing outside of Nora's door with his head hanging and his hand in his pocket. The boy's jaw was clenched as if he was struggling to go inside.

Oh for god's sake, Heyder opened his mind-link to Maya. Your son has turned into a peeping Tom.

So he's my son now? Maya snorted. When did I win full custody?

Heyder didn't answer. He shut off his mind-link and walked into Clare's office without bothering to knock. He knew she was expecting him. Clare always knew.

"Not right now," she said as soon as Heyder entered the office.

"Yes, right now," Heyder was just as stubborn as she was.

"I have to go meet Kiara and the doctor. We have a psy-"

"I know what you are trying to do, Clare."

Clare paused. She had been scrambling to gather her files when Heyder entered the office, but as soon as he said those words, she stilled.

"You know I would never do anything that would hurt Hayden," she said, looking at Heyder standing by the door.

"This will," Heyder said. "The girl is human."

"What do you have against humans? Ella is human, but look at how good she is for Maksim."

"Hayden is not Maksim," Heyder's eyes narrowed. "And I have nothing against humans. They're great, just fine. But not for us."

"You don't know that."

"I do," Heyder's lips set into a thin line. "Maya was human in all her other lives. I know exactly how fragile they can be. How breakable....Hayden does not need that."

"He's not going to hurt her..."

"Can you guarantee that?"

"Have a little more faith in your son."

"I do!" Heyder snapped. "I have all the faith in my son. He wasn't supposed to live past seven but look at him. He's beating all the odds. But damn it, Clare, do not do this to him. Hayden does not need the trauma."

"There won't be trauma," Clare shook her head.

"Really?" Heyder raised a brow skeptically. "No trauma? Not even if he has another attack and blows Nora to bits and pieces? Or what about when he holds her a little too tight and forgets his strength and crushes her bones?"

"Heyder," Clare shut her eyes and sighed. "Nothing like that will happen."

"You don't know that!" Heyder tried to keep his voice low. "All you know is that Nora is special. And yes, I see it too. The girl is brilliant and smart. But just because she is special doesn't mean she is for Hayden."

"She could be," Clare looked into Heyder's hard eyes. "I have a very strong feeling she is."

"Really?" Heyder knew she was lying. "You have a really strong feeling? Is the feeling about them being together."

"No...but-"

"There is no but," Heyder felt his anger boil. "I know you have good intentions but Clare if you are wrong then not only are you going to fuck up Hayden's life, but you're going to put that poor girl's life on the line."

Clare flinched.

"And you know deep down Nora will get hurt," Heyder continued. "There's a huge chance of that happening. Her death will be on your hands."

"Are you trying to guilt me?"

"Is it working?"

Clare narrowed her eyes, "If there is even a slither of hope for Nora and Hayden, you know I will take it."

"Then you'll have to get through me," Heyder warned. "I am not jeopardizing my son's sanity for a slither of hope. Maya and I worked too damn hard to make sure our son lives and has his head on straight. We will protect his peace at all cost."

Clare felt stubborn determination rage through her veins. Heyder's emotions were so strong for a few seconds he had her convinced he was right. But Clare knew better.

"I have to go," she said, wiping her face of any emotions.

"This isn't over."

"I'm sure," Clare muttered as she headed for the door.

Heyder moved out of her way as she walked out, letting the door slam behind her. Clare wished Ares was beside her to shield her from Heyder's emotions. But she had been the one to send him away that morning. For Kiara's psychological evaluation, Clare needed her mind to be clear and her channels open. Too bad Heyder had to come in and mess everything up.

When she got to the private room beside the infirmary, Clare entered by the side door to the small room with the two way mirror that looked out into the cozy sitting room. Kiara sat on one of the arm chairs with her hands folded on her lap. She had a simple smile on her face as Dr. Trystan, a tall woman with sandy brown hair and a sharp nose, sat in front of her with a notepad in her hand.

"How's it going?" Clare asked Dr. Trystan's assistant who was sitting in the small room behind the mirror.

"So far so good," Harriet, the assistant, said. "I think Dr. Trystan is almost done."

"Hm," Clare nodded. She turned her gaze and focused on Kiara.

"You're just like how Killian described you," Dr. Trystan said, setting her hand down on her notepad.

"Did he talk about me a lot?" Kiara asked.

"You're all he ever talks about during our sessions," Trystan laughed. "You're very special to him."

Kiara's smile grew slightly wider. She moved her hand belly and the woman's eyes followed.

"Are you excited to be a mom?" Dr. Trystan asked.

"Yes," Kiara sighed. "Very much."

"What about Killian?"

"He's happy too," Kiara said.

"He must be worried."

"I think all new fathers are."

"I'm sure," Dr. Trystan said slowly. "But I mean with other things."

"What do you mean?"

"Having a child is a big responsibility."

"And I am ready for that," Kiara frowned. "I took care of my baby all by myself."

"Tell me more about that," Dr. Trystand said slowly. "You're absolutely right. You did take care of Lila all by yourself. What was that like?"

"I..." Kiara shrugged. "It was fine."

"Were you scared?"

Kiara's eyes slowly moved up to the woman's face. Her hand on her belly spread slowly as if she was trying to cover herself with just one hand. Dr. Trystan held her gaze as she patiently waited for Kiara to answer.

From the other side of the mirror, Clare took a step closer. She watched Kiara as the girl's brown eyes shifted around something she couldn't catch in time.

"Yes..." Kiara said slowly. "I was very scared."

"Hm," Trystan nodded. "What were you scared of?"

"They were going to hurt my baby," Kiara held the woman's gaze. "I was never going to see my family or Killian."

"How did that make you feel?" Dr. Trystan asked. "Knowing there was a chance Killian would never know about Lila."

"It..." Kiara paused and tilted her head slightly as she pondered. "It broke my heart."

"What did you want the most in that moment?"

"I wanted to come home."

"So what did you do?"

"I waited..." Kiara slowly rubbed her belly. "I waited until I saw an opportunity."

"And when you found your opportunity?"

"I took it," Kiara said.

Dr. Trystan slowly nodded her head. The woman sat down her notepad beside her and took in a long deep breath.

"Kiara, I read the reports," she said slowly. "You were very brave. You did it all to save yourself and your baby."

"I know."

"How do you feel about what happened on that island?"

Kiara's eyes once again moved back to look into Dr. Trystan's green ones. Seconds ticked by as Harriet scribbled down notes and Clare took another step forward. There was something in the air...

Suddenly, as if static bounced off every wall of the room, Clare felt the back of her neck prickle with an unfamiliar tingle. Her hand raised up as she grabbed her skin. But she barely had time to process anything as Kiara frowned.

"I feel horrible," she said, leaning forward slightly. "I....I close my eyes and I see Bram's face. I know there were innocent people on that island. I hate what I did to them. The guilt is like a rock on my chest."

Dr. Trystan slowly leaned back and nodded her head silently once more. Kiara did the same.

"Have you seen Nora since you got back?" the doctor asked.

"No," Kiara shook her head. "I want to. I want to tell her how sorry I am. I feel terrible for what I did. Killian told me all about how hard Nora worked."

"Killian once told me you and him like to go attend funerals of the people you helped.....move on to the underworld."

"Yes," Kiara nodded.

"Will you be going to the funerals of any of the people from the island?" Dr. Trystan asked. "Only for the innocent ones of course."

"I want to," Kiara said. "As soon as I start to feel a bit better. I still see their faces in my head..."

"That's understandable," Dr. Trystan nodded. She took in a deep breath and smiled, "Thank you for speaking to me, Kiara. I won't take up any more of your time."

"Thank you, Dr. Trystan," Kiara nodded. "For today and for everything you helped Killian with."

"Of course," Dr. Trystan nodded.

The two stood up and headed for the door. Dr. Trystan opened the door and ushered Kiara outside where Killian waited for her. They engaged in polite small talk before Kiara announced she was hungry and needed food immediately. Dr. Trystan teased Killian about not making Kiara angry as she watched them head for the elevator. She watched the pair step into the metal box and the doors close.

After a few seconds in the hall, the tall woman turned on her heels and headed back into the room. She wasn't too shocked to see Clare waiting for her inside. In face she would have been shocked if Clare hadn't been there.

"So?" Clare asked, looking at Trystan with a calm expression on her face.

"She's lying."

"Yes," Clare nodded. "I felt it."

"Everything she said," Dr. Trystan closed the door and walked into the room. She grabbed her notepad and flipped through. "Everything about the island. About feeling guilty, feeling horrible, the nightmares, the flashbacks....Clare, she's lying through her teeth."

"I know," Clare nodded.

"She feels no remorse," Dr. Trystand continued. "Everything she did is justified in her head. And she gave me all the answers she knew I wanted to hear. Pardon me if I'm being too blunt right now but Kiara is showing bold characteristics of a psychopath."

"That word is not going to sit well with Tobias," Clare closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Call it whatever you want, but it's not going to change who she is," Dr. Trystan argued. "I'm thinking back to what Killian said during our therapy sessions. Kiara has been this way for a long time now."

"What do you mean?" Clare asked.

"She can be very manipulating," Dr. Trystand sank into the armchair Clare had been sitting in. "She has Tobias and Killian wrapped around her finger. From the outside it just looks as if she's spoiled and a bit bratty but take a closer look. She is very calculating."

Clare felt her pulse start to rise.

"And she doesn't feel remorse or guilt until her actions are pointed out to her," Trystan continued. "The Shelby incident. Kiara only apologized and backed off when her mother stepped in to tell her how wrong she was. She only showed the emotions people were expecting to see. She's good. She's very good at fooling people."

Clare suddenly began to feel overwhelmed. She knew it was Trystan, the woman was visibly distressed.

"This is bad," Trystan said. "We need to sit her parents down. And Killian....my god."

"We need to be very careful about how we do this," Clare said slowly. "Unfortunately for us, Kiara is not just an everyday person. If she feels trapped, she will lash out."

"We only want to help her," Dr. Trystand said. "But I understand what you mean. She is very protective of her baby. She will think we are trying to harm her child. That won't be good."

"I agree."

Dr. Trystan slowly nodded, "I...I will schedule a few more sessions with her. Make it all seem as if it's just a regular check in for PTSD."

"Thank you," Clare nodded.

She rose from her seat and opened her mind-link to Ares.

Yes, Cassie, Ares answered.

Come home, Clare said. We need to talk.

________________________

Hayden didn't return to campus. He stayed with Birdie the whole afternoon and annoyed her until she opened a portal and left for the palace. Hayden followed despite her protest.

"I heard you have a concussion," Annabelle said as Birdie stormed into her room at the palace.

"I do," the girl sulked. "And this idiot is making it worse."

"Hey Hayden," Annabelle waved from where she lounged on the bed, flipping through a magazine.

"What's up?" Hayden laughed as he pushed Birdie out of the way and laid down on the bed. He could feel his sister getting ready to murder him in his sleep as he placed his arms behind his head and grinned at her.

"Leave her alone," Annabelle nudged Hayden with her feet. "I don't want to have to save you from her again. Last time she bit me."

"You bite, bird head?" Hayden raised a brow. "That's gross."

"All is fair in love and war, brother," Birdie flipped him off.

"Where's Elian?" Hayden turned to Annabelle.

"He's with dad."

"Training?"

"What else would they be doing? He sucks at golf," Annabelle laughed.

"What a shame," Hayden said.

Birdie climbed over him and laid her head on Annabelle's lap. She rested her legs over Hayden's stomach and made sure to dig her heels into his ribs every time she moved. Not impressed by her childishness, Hayden took off her shoes to keep his shirt from getting dirty.

"How's Kiara?" Annabelle asked as she lowered her magazine. "I heard she's having a baby. Is it true?"

"She's still on the top floor," Birdie said.

"Why?"

"Clare wants to make sure she's okay."

"Understandable," Annabelle nodded. "Oh, by the way, Clare knows about my skiing trip."

"Ha!" Birdie laughed.

"What skiing trip?" Hayden asked, looking up from his phone.

"Just a trip," Annabelle waved her hand and dismissed the topic.

"She slept with some guy on her school skiing trip," Birdie laughed.

"Birdie!"

"You did what?" Hayden raised a brow and stared at his cousin.

"You have such a fat mouth," Annabelle tugged at Birdie's hair.

"How did Clare find out?" Hayden asked.

"What a dumb question?" Annabelle rolled her eyes. "She walked into my room last week and goes, I hope you used protection. Maybe you should get on birth control."

Birdie howled with laughter.

"It was mortifying," Annabelle started to turn red.

"Is she going to tell Mackey?" Hayden asked.

"No," Annabell shook her head. "Thank god."

"Can you imagine Mackey's reaction?" Birdie chuckled. "His darling Annabelle."

"Shut up," Annabelle tried to push her off her lap.

Just then, the door to Annabelle's room opened and Issac, Annabelle's youngest brother walked in.

"It sounds like a hyena is dying in here," the boy, who was an exact replica of his grandfather and father, closed the door and walked in.

Hayden was sometimes amazed by how much Issac and Elian looked like all the other Radacovick men. Their chocolate brown hair was always thick and glossy to match those warm brown eyes. Heyder often joked around the house saying he couldn't tell if Radacovicks' sense of duty were stronger than their jawlines.

"Issac, where is Elian?" Annabelle asked.

"He's still with dad," Isaac said, hoping in bed beside Birdie. "I heard dad yelling at him."

"Why?" Annabelle frowned. "Is it about Juniper again?"

"Elian doesn't want to go."

"He's a moron."

"What's happening in Juniper?" Birdie asked.

"Nothing," Annabelle sighed. "My brother is just being an idiot. Dad want him to go stay with Piggy and Dzed but Elian won't go."

"But he loves Owen," Hayden pointed out. "Why doesn't he want to go to Juniper."

Annabelle hesitated slightly and looked at her brother. Isaac pretended not to notice as he stared at the ceiling.

"I'm not really sure," Annabelle lied.

Hayden nodded slowly. He knew the girl was lying from the way her ears turned red. It was one of her worst telltale signs. But he wasn't going to push it. If she didn't want to tell him something, he probably didn't need to know. God only knew his family didn't share everything openly either.

Wanting to go say hello to Ella before he went back home, Hayden lowered his legs from the bed and pushed Birdie's legs off. But as he rolled off, the silver watch from his pocket fell out and Isaac gasped.

"Silver!" Annabelle shrieked, grabbing her brother and pushing him off the bed.

"Shit," Hayden turned and stared at the watch beside Birdie's feet. "I'm so sorry. I forgot I had that in my pocket."

"What is this?" Birdie asked, racing down and picking it up.

Hayden's eyes narrowed and he suddenly felt extremely annoyed with his sister. Why did she have to touch everything?

"Is this your watch?" Birdie asked, holding it up.

Annabelle squirmed uncomfortably with Birdie's head on her lap. Her gray eyes stayed on the watch that dangled from Birdie's finger.

"No," Hayden said, leaning over and snatching it back.

"Wait, there's something on the back!"

"It's nothing."

"Who's watch is it?"

"Nora's," Hayden put the watch back in his pocket.

"Why do you have Nora's watch?" Birdie raised a brow.

"She forgot it in the office."

"Oh how is Nora?" Annabelle's face lit up.

"You know Nora?" Hayden asked.

"Yeah, duh," Annabelle laughed. "She used to work with Dzed and dad."

Damn, Hayden thought to himself. Did everyone know her beside him?

"She's fine," Hayden said. "She's coming back to the palace."

"Why?"

"She quit her job."

"Yay!" Annabelle clapped. "She was so nice. I'm so glad she's coming back."

"Yeah," Hayden said, feeling his good mood vanish.

The kids on the bed starred as he turned on his heels and sulked out of the door and slammed the door shut.

_____________________

Kiara waited patiently as Killian buried his head in her hair and drifted off to sleep. His arms were locked around her, holding her to his chest as he filled his lungs with her scent and sighed.

The bed was so warm. Kiara's body was ready to melt beside Killian as the moon outside their window played hide and seek with the clouds. She wondered if maybe she could spend one more day staying in bed.

No, Kiara thought as her eyes flew open in the darkness. This will take time.

With extreme caution, Kiara slowly lifted Killian's arm and climbed out of bed. She scurried into the bathroom and switched on the light. Locking the door behind herself, Kiara faced the mirror. Her gaze locked with her reflection and she felt heat rise to the surface of her skin. Her fingers slowly reached for the gold ring around her finger, but came up empty.

Kiara looked down and realized Clare hadn't given back the pixie ring yet. But that was just fine, Kiara laughed. She didn't need it anyways.

The air in front of the mirror began to shimmer as Kiara summoned a portal. She waited until it was big enough for her to walk through, taking up all the space in the bathroom. With one last look at the locked bathroom door, she walked through the black portal.

The sleek modern house was as quiet as a mouse. Kiara stood staring at the open floor plan with large floor to ceiling windows and skylights. The desert outside stretched out and fell over the side of a cliff, giving away to a strip of long beach and the ocean that was as dark as the night.

Kiara slowly walked down the floating staircase and stopped in the middle of the living room. She allowed herself a few seconds to admire the view as she began to wonder why a family of vampires would ever live in a home that allowed for so much sunlight.

But then again, Adeline didn't really have to worry about sunlight.... It wasn't as if it would ever hurt Ben.

Kiara chuckled as she bit down on her bottom lip and turned towards the upstairs stairwell. She once again made her way through the quiet house and climbed up to the second floor. Her silent footsteps carried her to the west side of the house where Adeline and Ben slept peacefully in their bed. Alex's room was right beside them. But Kiara paid no attention to any of them. They were not who she needed...yet.

Coming to the last door in the halls, Kiara turned the door knob and stepped inside. Arla's eyes immediately flew to her as the girl sat in her bed clutching her sheets.

A black shadow floated over the bed like a bad omen. It reached out with a hand and brushed the edge of Arla's face as the girl began to whimper in fear.

"No," Kiara rushed forward. "Don't."

"Kiara..." Arla dared to move her eyes to the girl.

"Leave her," Kiara spoke to the black shadow. "It's not her time. I will deal with the fates. Do not touch her."

The black figure paused and turned towards Kiara.

I waited, just as you asked me. It truly isn't her time. I don't know why you had me come here.

Thank you, Kiara said. Your job here is done. Please leave.

The acolyte bowed his head and vanished.

Arla let out a heavy breath before she started to panic. Sweat broke out on her forehead as she held back tears.

"Hey, hey," Kiara cooed, sitting down beside her on the bed. "Don't worry. You're safe. Don't cry."

"I thought..." Arla stared at the spot where the acolyte was. "I thought I was..."

"It's okay, Arla," Kiara touched the edge of her face gently. "I'm here. Don't worry."

"You...why did you..."

"Because I know how happy you are with Adeline and Ben," Kiara smiled and tilted her head. "You finally have your family. And you don't want to lose that."

"I don't," Arla confessed.

"I know," Kiara said. "The first time I saw you, you were not scared to die. Because you had nothing to lose. But now..."

A tear rolled down Arla's face as her bottom lip trembled.

"It's okay," Kiara soothed her. "Don't cry."

"Thank you," Arla pressed the back of her hand to her mouth. "You....you save me, Kiara."

"Because you have so much to do," Kiara said. "Arla...when I was on that island, I saw how much work we have left to do."

"What do you mean?" Arla lowered her hand.

"I saved you because I need you," Kiara reached out and tucked a strand of Arla's blonde hair behind her ear.

"I...I don't understand."

"You will," KIara smiled. "Everything will make sense."

"What do you want?"

"So much," Kiara chuckled. "But first, I would like to know everything you know about Ben Zephyr."   

What do you think Kiara is up to? Are you surprised?