Deviant (Blendling Trilogy #1)

Chapter Seventeen

We drove all night, and most of the next day; taking turns at the wheel, away from Sacramento. By the time we pulled into a sleazy motel in the middle of nowhere late the next evening, the four of us were hungry, dirty and exhausted. Even though we slept in the car when it wasn't our turn to drive, and we'd made a pit stop to fill our tank and buy snacks, we were each longing for a bath, food and bed, not necessarily in that order.

The night clerk eyed our filthy clothes and bone weary appearance and scowled.
"Payment before service, this ain't no charity house" she said, smacking the gum she was chewing.
"We'd like a room please." I say, it was best if we stayed together. I paid and requested for extra blankets, letting my pheromones wrap around her when it looked like she'd refused.
"Sure honey. Anything else" she asked, flirting. Belle snorted
"Is there any diner around? My friends and I are on a road trip and would appreciate your help if you point us in the right direction." I reply in a seductive voice
"Oh sure" she gave us directions and slipped me a piece of paper with her number. "Call me" she whispered and I wink
"You bet" I whisper back.

Our room was bare, to say the least. It had two single beds and a dingy adjoining bathroom with no hot water but none of is minded. After a refreshing shower, I emerged from the bathroom already dressed as the others did before me. Belle glared at me
"What?" I asked in confusion
"Do you have to flirt every time" she said
"What's it to you? You aren't my mum" I reply. I can see that she's hurt but I don't care
"Okay... I've been calling our mums but I haven't reached them. I'm worried" Cam said
"I'm sure they're fine" Sherry replied optimistically.

We exited the room and drove the short distance to the diner. Bass had given us five hundred dollars. He made up promise not to make any withdrawals, in case they were being monitored, and even seized our credit cards. Still, we ate well that night.
"Where are we going?" Sherry asked. "We can't just continue driving towards the unknown"
"Yeah. We need a plan" Belle said
"I say we double back and save our parents. Then storm the Council headquarters" Cameron said. I sighed.
"First off, we dunno if they need saving. Second, HQ is in New York and thirdly, I don't think the Council has a hand in this." I say. I hated being the voice of reason.
"So what do we do" he asked
"I feel we should law low for a while." I dropped my chopsticks and held up my hand when I could see the protests forming on their lips. "We aren't abandoning them, but we aren't rushing to our deaths either.
"It may seem callous to you guys but it isn't to me. First, I say we rest for tonight. Tomorrow, we can decide if we want to throw our lives away or survive. But it can keep for one night. If our parents are in danger, putting ourselves at risk wouldn't save them."

***
After a tense meal where it was obvious that they didn't quite agree with me but didn't know anything better, we headed back to our room. I took first watch and snuck out during Cam's watch. He just shook his head and smirked, I smiled. The night clerk was asleep when I got to her. Part of the supplies Bass had given us were two dozen energy potions fit for elementals and all magicks, witches, warlocks and wizards. Cam could use the potion because he was part air elemental and the twins could too. But I didn't want to risk breaking my charm and opted to feed instead.

"Hi" I say, nudging her away. She's startled and I see her reach for the gun I'm sure is hidden under the desk. I smiled and she relaxes
"It's you" she says with a smile
"Do you have room back there for me?" Her eyes widen at my words
"I shouldn't, not on duty. Besides, you're too young for me"
"Young? How old are you? How old do you think I am" I ask, walking round the counter to stroke her cheeks. She shudders in pleasure and power slams into me. I could feel her innocence and smiled at her.
"I'm 27 and you can't be older than 19" she says, licking her lips.
"I'm 16" I say and she moves away from my hand. I immediately feel the loss of her energy. I reach for her.
"Please stop" she whispers
"Sweet, age is just a number" I smother her response by leaning over to kiss her. The energy influx doubles as she moans. I get behind the counter and pull her close while I kiss her.

Suddenly, violent thoughts slam into me and I recoil, gasping. I had been so focused on feeding that I forgot where I was. I shove away from her and rush towards our room.
"Hide!" I call to her as I run. I barge into our room and they are all startled awake.
"We need to leave, now!" I cry and they jump out of bed. We grab our bags and head out. The tiny passage is already flowing with the people that attacked our house. Backing into the room, two of the follow us and the others rush towards our room. Cameron shut the door in their face but the two already entered. They both draw their swords and charge. Cameron impaled them both with his wing tips as I shoved one of the beds against the door. It's been pelted with bullets and the twins are screaming in panic.

"Get to the bathroom" I yell and the promptly obey "Open the windows. Luckily for us, it's large enough for us to squeeze through. Cameron goes out first and the twins follow. I quickly search the two men and remove their phone, wallets and weapons before jumping out. We run towards the front of the building where our car is parked and see even more men surrounding the car. Cam's flaps his wings in annoyance.
"That's it!" I cry. Belle slaps my mouth close and they look at me like I've lost it. I shrug off her hands and say quietly. "We have to fly"
"What!" Sherry cries. Bullets immediately rain around us from above and the men in front run towards us. Someone squeezed out the window we can through, still shooting. I cleave him in two with the sword I picked.
"We have to fly, its our only option!" I yell over the bullet noise. The twins were whispering furiously and I realized they had created a force field around us. The bullets pinged harmlessly against it. Above us, the remaining half of the body I cut is pulled in and more bullets join in.
"We fly now!" Cam agreed, picking Sherry up bridal style.
"Get on my back" I tell Belle and she climbed piggyback.

All the while, they hold the force field around us but I could tell the were weakening. One of our assailants had raised his hands to murmur a counter spell and our force field was shrinking. With a big flap, Cam shoves off the ground takes to the sky. I bend my knees and push myself off the ground, shooting off after Cam.