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AURELIA
No one in the supe areas of the city would help me. Shifters and witches alike could tell that I was different but couldn’t tell how. That always bred suspicion that I couldn’t change.
I walked into yet another supe ran motel, this one seedier than the others and prayed to whatever gods were listening that they would give me a room for the night.
“We don’t serve your kind here,” the man behind the counter grunted, his face down in a book.
He was some kind of a shifter, but I couldn’t tell what.
“And what exactly is my kind?” I asked indignantly, sticking my nose in the air.
Surely this shifter can’t tell what I am.
“Your kind means pampered princesses who aren’t shifters,” he sneered at me.
He sat forward in his chair; his hawk-like nose turned up in disgust.
“Pampered princess?” I scoffed.
What is this shifter’s deal? Pampered princess? Right. I’d been practically a slave to my foster mother.
My eyes watered at the thought of her laying cold in her bed as I escaped out the window.
I hope someone gave her the rites that she deserved.
“That’s all you heard, girl? You didn’t hear me say you ain’t a shifter?” He shook his head and waved me off.
I turned to leave when he spoke up again. “Wait, come here,” he sighed. “What’s your name?”
“Aurelia,” I answered even though it was probably a bad idea.
Who knew if people were looking for me to ask questions about my mother’s death.
“Aurelia, huh? Okay Aurelia, this one night I’ll make an exception for you.” He nodded and grabbed a key from the wall.
I frowned at him but stepped forward anyway, not about to turn down the offer of a place to sleep for the night.
Is this a trap? Am I going to wake up to police at my door or other bad characters like the man from the market?
I shook my head to clear it. I couldn’t think about that with my eyes drooping. I needed somewhere to sleep, and this was the only place that would give me a room.
Tomorrow I would have to make money and find a new place to stay, but at least for tonight I could have some rest and grieve my mother.
I handed the man some cash for the room rate, and he took it with a grimace before handing me a key.
“Check out is at eleven. I better not see you again until then.”
I grabbed the key before storming out the door and around the building. It was a normal door key and not a fancy electronic keycard like most places used now.
I followed the numbers on the wall until I found the room with the matching number.
The key stuck in the door, and I had to jiggle it carefully, so it didn’t break. When I finally opened the door to the musty motel room, I sighed heavily.
It wasn’t the best place I’d ever stayed, and I couldn’t remember if it was the worst since I had few memories of where I grew up before coming to live with mother.
The bed was bigger than I was used to, but I slept on blankets on the carpeted floor before so that was nothing special.
I flopped on the bed and sneezed as dust flew up from the comforter.
If the place is this unused, then why’d he get so huffy about my kind being here?
I shook my head. There was no point in trying to figure out other people’s prejudices. I just needed a place to rest and regroup.
Surely someone will be willing to help me until I figure out what I’m going to do.
Standing up, I pulled the comforter off the bed and piled it on the floor in the corner before cranking the AC unit. It was warm even in the evenings in Dallas during the summer.
I flopped down on the bed and pull my small bag closer. Everything I had in the world fit into a small backpack.
Pathetic. I am pathetic.
I grabbed an old T-shirt to sleep in. It was too big for me and easily covered me in case something happened and I needed to run. I wandered into the cramped bathroom and turned on the shower.
Even turned all the way to scalding, the water gets maybe lukewarm.
It will have to do.
I strip down and step under the spray. It doesn’t help unlock my tired, tense muscles the way it would have if I was at home, and the thought brings tears to my eyes.
The only mother I had ever known was dead. She may not have been particularly kind to me, but she had protected me.
I let the tears fall, allowing myself to cry for tonight. I let myself be weak in this tiny motel room because when I left here, I would need to be strong.
I tilted my head back into the spray wetting my hair. I didn’t bring my shampoo or essentials with me when I left in a hurry. Damn it.
I shut the water off and grabbed the scratchy towel, eyeing it with distain and decided to use my air magic to dry myself instead.
Warm air caressed my skin and I sighed in relief as my hair dried instantly. It was a nest without any of my hair products, but I didn’t have another choice at this point in time.
I pulled the T-shirt over my head and twisted my hair up into a messy bun. It would have to do for sleeping.
A knock on the door made me jump, then I freeze on the spot.
Who could that be? The shifter at the front desk was serious when he’d said he didn’t want to see me until morning.
I moved into action and shoved my stuff back in the bag and scanned the room for another exit.
Do I have to jump out another window today?
I slunk quietly around the room, then over to the drab curtains in front of the window. I peeked out the side into the darkening night. It was eerily still outside but another knock came at the door more urgent this time.
Shit. What am I going to do?
Reaching for the window I tried and failed to shove it open. The damn thing was stuck. Could I use my magic to push it? What if I broke it?
“Aurelia, I know you’re in there. I just want to talk,” someone shouted through the locked door.
I would recognize that voice anywhere. It’s the man from the market.
I pushed down my rage. This wasn’t the time to lash out at the man who’d inadvertently caused my mother’s death.
I blew out a breath to control my raging emotions and pulled my air magic to me to try to push the window open, but it wouldn’t budge.
“No point in trying the window, Aurelia. I have the place surrounded,” the man called out again.
“Why surround the motel if you just want to talk?” I shouted back at him; angry that he somehow found out who I was and where I was staying.
“You have proven slippery. Open the door so we can talk. I know what happened today,” he said softer this time.
Who fucking cares if I break out a window?
I let my magic fill me and a cyclone of air smashed at the window. Shattering glass filled the air and shards hit the floor like tinkling diamonds.
“Shit,’ the man yelled and slammed through the door. “Aurelia, don’t. You have nowhere else to go.”
“Anywhere is better than where you want to take me,” I said and directed the cyclone toward him.
It tore through the room upending furniture and kicked up all the dust as it barreled toward him. He jumped to the side at the last second, escaping major injury.
I jumped up on the windowsill and leapt out into the humid night air. He was right about one thing. I had nowhere else to go but I would die before I went with him.
My bare feet slapped against the concrete and pain sliced through them as glass crunched beneath me. Ow. I brushed the glass from my feet and sprinted into the night. I didn’t dare attempt to fly like last time.
It would bring enough attention to me running through the shifter side of Dallas in an over-sized T-shirt without shoes.
My wings fluttered uselessly at my back, and I pulled them in tighter to me so they wouldn’t slow my pace.
I ducked down a side street and stopped to catch my breath and listen for anyone following me. The night was eerily silent, and the scent of rotting garbage hit me like a freight train nearly making me gag.
Where is he? I know he’s still following me.
I peeked around the corner and scanned the street. It was silent. Not a soul in sight, but I couldn’t let myself relax or be fooled by a false sense of security like I had at the hotel.
I rushed down the side street as silently as I could. I needed to get to the human part of the city. No supes would bother me there. The only problem was I had never left the supe side of the city. How would I even get there?
At the end of the street, lights blared overhead and I winced. It would be safer to get away from the man who was chasing me, but the way I was dressed would raise all kinds of red flags to anyone who was around.
I stepped behind a dumpster and dug in my bag for a pair of leggings and my flip flops. They would be hell to run in but at least they were shoes.
I put them on quickly and peeked out to the brightly lit street.
There were people milling around and a bar down the block with patrons spilling out on to the street, talking and laughing amongst themselves.
It would be the perfect place to get lost in the crowd and plan my next move.
I pulled my wings even tighter to my back, making sure that my glamour was firmly in place. Then I took a deep breath and stepped out on to the busy street, weaving my way through the crowd and trying not to let my wings brush against anyone like I had earlier.
I kept peeking over my shoulder and scanning the area behind me. My gaze searched for the man who had ruined my life and refused to give up his search for me.
What the hell is his deal? Why does he keep looking for me?
I turned around too late and hit a brick wall. Well not a brick wall, but the man’s chest that I faceplanted into felt like it.
“Ow,” I said and grabbed my sore nose to soothe the hurt.
“I’m sorry,” a rich voice met my ears and I glanced up and into mesmerizing blue eyes.
“No, I’m sorry I wasn’t paying attention,” I said and peeked over my shoulder again.
A familiar face pushed through the crowd and I widened my eyes.
“Are you okay?” The man’s eyebrows creased in concern.
“I’m fine. I have to go.” I tried to rush past him but he sidestepped in my way.
“What’s the rush? Are you in some kind of trouble?” he asked looking me up and down.
Yeah, my clothes completely give it away.
“No, I’m fine. I just really need to go.” I glanced over my shoulder again. My pursuer was stuck in the crowd but was getting closer every second.
I turned back to those bright blue eyes and groaned. His eyes weren’t on me but over my head seeing the man pursuing me most likely.
“I’m sorry. I really need to go.”
“Let me give you a ride. It’s dangerous to walk the streets at night,” he said stepping closer to me.
“I’m fine. I’m tough,” I said with a small smile and turned away, my cheeks heating in a blush.
Why am I embarrassed? He’s just a man. A gorgeous man with ebony hair that’s a little too long and the bluest eyes I have ever seen, but still just a man.
“Please, I insist. My name is Grey.” He grinned touching my arm to lead me somewhere.
“Aurelia,” I said and let him lead me away.
Shit! What am I gonna do now? He’s going to know within minutes that I have nowhere to go.