Capturing Today (TimeShifters Book 2) (24 page)

“Is she?”

“Has been for eighteen years. You can ask her yourself. I have nothing to hide.”

“Then take me to her.”

He looks into my eyes for a moment, and the corners of his mouth lift. “I’m glad family’s so important to you.” He squeezes my hand quickly and then drops it. “Follow me. She’s in the center of the complex so we’re going to pass by many places on the way there. So half tour?” He flashes a boyish grin. “Sorry, I’m just thrilled to show you my home—your home.”

 White marble covers the floor in the great room, reflecting the intricately painted ceiling. Erik leads me down a high-ceilinged hallway that is decorated to look like an outdoor walking path. Storefronts offering diamond-encrusted watches, clothes in every color, and opulent furniture line one side of the wide hall. On the other is a bar, an ice cream parlor complete with a life-sized fake cow, and an alfresco restaurant. Spicy hints of exotic food hang in the air, causing my mouth to water. It’s been a few days since I’ve enjoyed a decent meal. I hug my stomach.

Shades gather in each place, laughing and mingling together. Down the way is a marquee with an arrow that lists names of movies. We’re almost to the end of the hall when a loud crash—metal against marble—makes me jump. I grab for my heart, laughing, as I meet Erik’s raised eyebrows. More than likely, someone accidently turned over a chair at the restaurant we passed.

“Gabby!”
Michael
.

I spin around. Ice water shudders through my veins.

No. Why is he here? How did he get here? The gold in the Elder band on his wrist catches light. So Donovan knows already. I should have known better. Should have realized Michael would follow me. Ridiculous hero complex.

At the end of the hall, he strains against three Shades who are trying to haul him back. He drags them forward and jerks his arm, sending one of the Shades to the floor. I’m glued in place, but Michael’s not hindered by that—he just keeps making his way down the hallway—closing the gap between us.

Erik mutters, “I knew I should have cloaked the place.” And then he strolls past me as if having a Shifter screaming in the middle of Mónatos is an everyday occurrence. When he’s a few feet away from Michael, Erik flicks his wrist. “Have a seat.” A chair skitters across the floor and slams into the back of Michael’s knees, causing him to buckle. With another flick of his wrist, Erik makes thick ropes appear around Michael’s torso, his legs, his arms.

Erik has magic. Erik has magic. Erik has magic.

Red climbs up Michael’s neck as he struggles.

Do something.

I find my voice. “Don’t hurt him!”

Erik faces me and rolls his eyes. “He’s fine.”

Michael’s gaze snaps to mine, and my heart pounds like a kick drum. Despite the fact that gawkers have congregated and Erik stands between us—for the space of a moment—there’s only him and me. He stops fighting his bindings.

Michael licks his lips. “Don’t do this. Come back.”

I wring my hands but take a few steps forward. “I have no reason to.”

“I lied, Gabby. I lied.” Emotion chokes his voice. “I love you.”

My throat spasms. I swallow one, two, three times, but nothing stops the tremor going through my body. Michael loves me? No. He followed orders.  Probably is now too, right?

His nostrils flare. “I love you. Come back with me.”

After a loud, almost theatrical sigh, Erik saunters toward me. “He’s always used you. He’s always been Donovan’s lapdog.” Then he swivels to face Michael. “Isn’t that right, Mikey?”

“Don’t listen to him.” Michael grinds the words out through clenched teeth.

Erik’s right in the sense that I can’t trust Michael’s words or actions. But that doesn’t mean my feelings aren’t real, doesn’t mean I would stand by and watch him get hurt … or worse. Let’s face it, I don’t know Erik well and can’t trust him either. Best case scenario is if Erik allows Michael to leave—unharmed. But to make that happen, I’ll have to lie to Michael. Make him believe I don’t care. That it means nothing to me that he followed.

Because if I’m not convincing, he’ll keep trying.

I storm after Erik. “He goes by Michael. And you should probably let him go before he figures out where Mónatos is.”

So, yeah, I realize the error of my statement after it’s said. Of course, he already knows where Mónatos is in order to be here. Cut me some slack. Clearly my best thinking does not happen during emotionally charged situations.

Erik quirks an eyebrow at me—a silent
really
? But then he barks a laugh and stalks toward Michael. “You haven’t told her, have you?” He grins. “That’s rich. Care if I share our little secret?”

Michael’s gaze darts to mine. “Gabby, I can ex—”

Erik flicks his wrist, and a gag silences Michael. “See, Mikey and I go way back. This isn’t his first time in Mónatos, now is it? Oh, right. You can’t talk.” He pivots to face me.

Not his first time here. But then—? Despite myself, I gasp. Michael’s done this before. Rescued a Shifter from switching sides. Probably another one of his trainees.

Did he tell her he loved her too?

My stomach turns.

He’ll do anything—even toy with my emotions—for the sake of a mission. I should have known better. Stupid heart. Stupid hopes. Never again.

Erik’s body forms a physical barrier between me and Michael. I can’t see the man I once called my best friend. Perhaps that’s for the best, because tears have started to slide down my cheeks.

“What do I care if a Shifter knows where Mónatos is?” Erik lays his hand over his heart. “I don’t keep them out. And the last time I checked, I have a steady stream of them joining me—not the other way around.” As he nears, his voice drops to an intimate level. “Forget what they told you about me and my aims. I have no desire to find Keleusma. Believe me.”

I squeeze my hands together. “Please. Please just let him go.”

“Only after you look him in the eye and tell him you don’t ever wish to see his face again. And mean it. Can you do that, Gabriella—for me?”

No. Not for Erik. But I’ll have to for my mother. For my dad.

Muffled sounds come from behind Erik. Michael’s trying to talk through the gag. Scratch that. He’s yelling. Still attempting to get through to me.

Erik leaves me suddenly and goes back to stand in front of Michael. He crosses his arms and walks a close circle around him. A lion stalking prey. “Aww. Poor Michael Pace. You’re tragic, really. Always in the way. Or at least I think that’s what your father would say. Rest the dear man’s soul.” He bows his head for the space of a heartbeat.

“What else? Ah, yes. Hated by his mother, and
so
unlucky in love. Let’s see.” He holds up two fingers. “Killed one girl and lost the other.” Erik dramatically taps his chin. “Although, one would actually have to
have
something in order to lose it. Now wouldn’t they?” He squats down to Michael’s eye level. “And you never had her—
not really
—did you? Am I missing anything?”

No one deserves to have the worst parts of their life slapped in their face.

Not even a liar like Michael.

Unable to listen to Erik belittle him any longer, I charge forward. “Enough. Leave him alone.”

“Gabriella, don’t you see?” Erik turns pleading eyes on me. “I freed you. Pace had you brainwashed. Risking your neck and wasting time on things that’ll only leave you empty in the end. Look at him.” He thrusts his hand to indicate Michael. “Alone. Nothing to live for. Is that what you want? Because I can snap my fingers and send you right back.”

He wraps an arm around my shoulders and directs me away from Michael. “That is … if you want to end up apart from your mother forever. Your father dying because of what you’re involved in. All your friends sacrificed upon the agenda that is Nicholas. I’ll let you return with Pace if that’s what you truly want.” He traces a finger down my arm. “Just answer me, why? Why go back when I can return to you all that you’ve lost?”

Do I want to go back? No. Not when people like Lark die for nothing. Not when friends are really spies. Besides, Erik has offered me my perfect out—I can meet my mom, he’ll protect me from shifting, and I don’t have to become a Shade. How can I pass that up?

I fist my hands and press them on either side of my head. “I want to stay.”

“Then tell him. Tell him, and then I’ll get rid of him.”

“Rid?” I challenge Erik. “You can’t hurt him. I won’t let you.”

“You think—? No, of course not. I’m simply going to toss him out of here and then conceal Mónatos so they can’t find us for a while.”

“Okay.”

“You’re ready?”

“I’ll do it.”

Erik flicks his wrist, and Michael’s gag vanishes.

“He’s the king of manipulation. Don’t believe him. I know the Shifters haven’t always been forthright with information but—”

“Forthright? Are you kidding me?” A blaze shoots through me. I can do this.

“Forget everything.” Michael’s eyes go soft. “Imagine there’s only you and me. We can do that. If that’s what you want. I’ll do whatever you want. I promise. I don’t want to lose you.”

Unable to get enough air, my lungs squeeze tight. Gray borders my vision. I have to end this. Now. Quickly.

I take a deep breath and release the greatest lie of my life. “I don’t want you. Everything Erik said is true. The Shifters are misguided, and you’re the worst one. I want nothing to do with you ever again. Hear that? Leave me alone.”
Don’t come back. Please don’t come back. It’s too hard to see you
. My throat burns. “I never want to see you again.”

Michael’s face breaks. There’s no other word for it. My stomach twists as fear crawls into the back of my mind. I can’t take back those words. Ever. Their damage has been inflicted. It’s like I’ve shattered a priceless vase that will never be put back together.

Even though I follow to the grand room as they drag Michael away, I’m not able to meet his eyes. Five Shades manhandle him, and still he finds a way to writhe in their grasp.

 
Don’t hurt him.

I bite my tongue.

They have him gagged again. If only I could tuck a note into his pocket—let him know that everything I said was to protect him—then maybe … maybe …

Maybe nothing.

Michael and I will never speak again. And it’s better that way.

Thickness, like wool, clogs my throat, making it hard to swallow.

I made my choice. Mónatos is my future.

Stationed next to me, Erik moves his hands as if he’s parting waters, and the front doors swing open. The Shades carry Michael outside, and the doors close behind them with a resounding bang. 

I claw at the collar of my shirt. How could I say those things to him? Even if Michael lied, that doesn’t discount the fact that he’s saved my life more than once.

Michael is good. Misguided. But a good person.

Unlike me.

You were wrong, Lark
. I’m selfish. Completely.

My breath hitches, and my chin starts to tremble. I love Michael … at least, the idea of who I thought he was. That doesn’t disappear right away. I press my palm over my lips to hold in the sound that wants to sneak out.

Normally I’d head to a safe place—a bedroom or car or bathroom stall—to be alone. Kick a wall. Scream into pillows. But Mónatos is foreign. I have no place to run. So I stay, blinking the burn from my eyes as Erik makes his way to the center of the room. He lifts his arms, does a fancy move with his hands, and then brings them down quickly, reminding me of those guys who stand on the airport tarmac with the orange batons. The windows wash over with blackness, as if clouds building with an impending storm have encircled all of Mónatos.

I do my best to suppress the shiver that works its way down my spine.        

Erik shrugs and then slings his arm over my hunched shoulders. “Simply a temporary precaution. Even if he promised not to return, the word of a Shifter can never be trusted.”

My eyes narrow. “But I’m a Shifter.”

Stopping abruptly, he grabs my wrist, flips my hand over, and taps on the dark mark on my shifting bracelet. “Are you?”

I yank my arm out of his grip and cradle my bracelet against my stomach. “Let’s see who can be trusted. How about you make good on your promise and take me to my mom?”

His eyes go wide, and he lifts his hands in surrender. “Don’t shoot.” A smirk twitches near the right corner of his mouth. “That’s where we’re presently headed. Just as I promised. We’d be there already if it wasn’t for our … rude interruption.”

I nod because I don’t trust my voice.

Erik guides me back down the hallway with the restaurants, past the movie theater, and down a flight of stairs that leads to a huge lounge area with fireplaces, puffy couches, music, and a concession stand. 

Usually I pay better attention to my surroundings, but everything blurs together, almost as if my vision’s limited by blinders. Between losing Lark and now Michael, all the while preparing myself to face my mother—my mind is working too hard, allowing my vision’s processing functions to go on vacation. Perhaps I’ll forgive it if it brings back a souvenir.

Erik waves at a group of Shades playing pool.