Acteon Syndicate

Chapter 7: Daniel

Allis turned in her bed, a bunk bed with Annalee above her. She gave up on sleep and left the room, a simple box with the bunk bed, a sink, and a shower, and a small toilet hidden behind a curtain. She closed the metal door as quietly as she could and leaned on the railing of the second floor.
"Can't sleep?" She turned to face Diomedes.
"No." She replied.
"We don't know how your mother died." He said, inadvertently mentioning the reason for her lack of sleep.
"My father. I remember - I remember him standing over her. He was all bloody, he turns to me and says 'Allis, you're not supposed to be here!' Why did he kill her?" Allis put her head in her hands. "I feel that with every answer, I have six more questions."
Diomedes shook his head. "I can't say I know how you feel, Annalee and I were born into this. We were trained from birth. Our father was this team's leader until he died at the hands of a Phantom Morph. This damn asshole made entirely of water. It can transform into anything. My point is, I can't understand, but I can comprehend. It is a lot to take in."
"I appreciate this, Diomedes. You and Annalee, you're siblings?"
He laughed, a small laugh, "Yes. She's my pain-in-the-ass sister. What did you think she was?"
"Your girlfriend." Allis admitted.
"No." He laughed again, this time a bit louder, "In fact, she's got a crush on Rand. The three of us have been friends for years. We were grouped for this team by my father, as we were the best of the best. When he died, Rand was a rock for the two of us. He convinced us to put everything we have into our training, into finding the innocent. Annalee was extremely surprised when she met your father and realized who you were."
"Annalee has this whole other life I never knew about. She has a brother, her father died. She never told me."
"Annalee is a private person. She wanted to keep you innocent, keep you from this life. She loves you like a sister." He laughed once more and shook his head. "She would come here. 'Lissi and I had the most amazing sleepover. Lissi made me this friendship bracelet. I met Mr. Grant. He's so nice.' For ten years I've been listening to stories about you. When dad died, she wanted nothing more than to go to you."
"Thank you, Diomedes. I really needed this." Allis turned towards the room she shared with Annalee.
"Allis, you can call me Daniel. If you'd like." He smirked as she walked away.

A/N I'm having a contest to help me with my story. I need a title for the sequel to Acteon Syndicate. Whoever gives me the best title will have a character named after them in the second story. If you're interested, comment a title and your name, or the name you'd like to use.