The Tali

Chapter 7 - Too White Girl

Zeke and I talked for an extensive amount of time about the supernatural world and the importance of humans not knowing. Part of me wanted to be mad about Zeke lying to me about the old lady but after he explained that finding out on my own was a possible trigger to my change he couldn't risk it. Apparently, Zeke's "tattoo" on his chest was actually the mark of a Tali, and everyone got it after their change. The tattoo is a Tali's lifeline, it lays over the heart, and if the lines are severed with an osmium dagger, then the lifeforce is destroyed, and the person dies. I then asked if he knew why I was 23 and hadn't changed yet. He said it probably had something to do with the scar on my chest, as it was in the exact spot as the mark would be. 

He was at my place until 2 in the morning talking to me. We never did eat. Now I was laying in bed; my phone clutched to my chest texting him.

Does Andrian know that I'm a Tali? -Lai

I'm not sure, there have been soulmates between humans and Tali before. -Zeke

So, he definitely knows we're soulmates. -Lai

Oh yeah he does, nobody can mistake that feeling. -Zeke

Well shit. I don't even like him. -Lai

You say that now. I gotta go to bed; I'll text you when I get up. -Zeke

Okay, goodnight. -Lai

I threw my phone aside and stared at the ceiling. I don't like him. I like his touch, and that's about it. Don't lie, you like his eyes and his smile too, and they aren't sexual. Shut up. I do not. I just like his touch, the way he makes me feel. But, I mean, his eyes are pretty.

I closed my eyes, hoping to find sleep after all I had learned, but instead found a pair of ice blue eyes staring at me. Beautiful eyes that darkened with lust, and twinkled with laughter filled my mind until I fell asleep, then they plagued my dreams.

I woke up the next morning feeling like everything from the night before was just a long drawn out dream, but when I checked my phone a text from Zeke made reality hit me in the face.

You need to meet the other council members and talk about reclaiming your place on the council. - Zeke

I scoffed. No. Not until I change and I don't see that happening anytime soon. Besides, who wants a dysfunctional brand-new Tali representing the rest of us? I wouldn't. I sighed and rolled out of bed. An issue for another day. I shuffled to my bathroom as I yawned, stripped my nightshirt off and popped in the shower. I took a long hot shower and spent most of it thinking. I wondered if I found the old witch again if she could tell me something about myself.

I got out when the water ran cold. I stood naked in the bathroom, towel drying my hair and staring at the scar on my chest. Is it really the reason I haven't changed? I touched it gently running my finger down its 2-inch length. It used to cause me so much pain, to the point I was bedridden for a while, but it didn't hurt anymore. I wonder if that's my body giving up on changing. Will I be the only person born a Tali, but unable to turn into one? 

I sighed and dropped my towel on the floor. Why do I care? My birth parents are dead, and Zeke is the only person I care about that is one, so why? I pushed the thought away and worked on straightening my long blonde hair. When finished I stepped out of the bathroom only to find Zeke sitting on my bed. "You didn't text me back." I jumped and screamed. "I'm naked Ezekial! Can't you knock!?" He laughed. I then realized he wasn't even looking at me; he was playing on his phone. "Oh. But still! You should knock!" He continued to laugh as I slipped into my walk-in closet. "Are we going out?" There was a pause before he answered. "Yes. Wear something nice." 

I slipped on some black skinny jeans, a grey knit sweater, and some grey ankle boots. I stepped out of the closet and posed. "Nice enough?" Zeke looked up at me. "Too white girl. Something nice. Like, black slacks and a nice shirt." I scoffed. "Who even says slacks anymore old man?" He glared as I slipped back into the closet. I grabbed a pair of black flared slacks and slipped them on. "A nice shirt Lai!" I growled and grabbed a fitted black shimmer shirt and slipped it on, then tucked it in the pants. I grabbed my wool coat and stepped out after slipping into black pumps. "There, happy?" He smiled. "Very. Put your coat on it's cold outside." 

I did as I was told and followed him out to his car. Zeke drove an all black Lexus GSF, it was sleek, and it fit his style; rich and elegant. He opened the passenger door for me, and I dropped inside and immediately turned on the heat. It got very cold in the north, especially for early November. "Zeke, where are we going?" I eyed him and realized he had changed into a suit and tie, somehow without my noticing. "To brunch." "Uhuh, where?" "Montre" I stared at him. "Montre is like, super expensive. I know you don't make enough to afford it and neither do I so, who the hell are we meeting?" Zeke smiled. "You'll see." 

I tried the whole 30-minute drive to get more information out of him, but he was tight-lipped until we pulled into the parking lot of Montre. "Be nice, or I will torture you." I stared at him. Like I would be rude to someone I just met. "Sure," was all I said. A valet man opened my door for me, and I got out, as elegantly as I could. Zeke met me, and I linked arms with him as we went inside.

The inside of Montre was gorgeous. Tall white walls and marble floors paired with a black and white color scheme made the place seem even more elite. Giant chandeliers hung throughout the restaurant, and I had no doubt they were real crystal. As I looked around at the customers, I felt underdressed. "Zeke," I hissed. "I'm underdressed." He patted my hand. "No, you're not. Come now." I followed him to a table with two men and sat as he pulled out my chair. 

"My, my, Ezekial, you failed to tell me how beautiful she is." Holy crap that is the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. Is that liquid chocolate for words? Oh, God. I looked at Zeke, panicking. He's selling me to the highest bidder. "Yeah, probably because she's my best friend and I don't see her like that, Demetri." My heart stopped. Oh, God. Am I going to change here? No. I'm just going to kill Zeke for setting up brunch with a council member. 

I looked up at Demetri. He was not what I expected. He had purple-ish eyes that paired well with his bleach blond hair. I couldn't help but stare; he was beautiful and built. Every time he moved I could see the muscles rippling under his suit. "Lailah, you look just like your mother." I stared unsure what to say. "I wouldn't know, I've never seen a picture of her or my father," I said timidly. Demetri smiled. God, even his smile is beautiful. "Just look in the mirror darling, you're the spitting image of her." I couldn't help but smile. I didn't have much from my birth mother. I didn't even really long for her but knowing we looked alike made me happy. 

"Demetri, you're drowning the girl in your toxic ways." My eyes flicked to the other voice. A deep, powerful voice that I for some reason imagined booming across the room. He was a big man, taller than Demetri and had bigger arms as well. He had flawless brown skin and beautiful dark brown eyes. His head was shaved which showed a scar just above his left ear, his only imperfection. "Oh, shush, Zachary, I've never met a 23-year-old unchanged Tali before. I wanted to see if it would work on her." All of a sudden it clicked. He was an Incubus, and he was trying to seduce me! I'm going to kill Zeke. 

"Anyways boys, as you both know my mother has been standing in for the Athenos line until an heir appeared. Well, here is your heir, and I need to know if she has your support. My mother cannot step down unless the council is unified." Zeke folded his hands and rested his head on them. "Of course, I'd support an Athenos. Her mother was a great advisor so I can't wait to see how her daughter fairs." Demetri smiled at me. I just twiddled my thumbs because I had no idea what's going on. "Whisper won't like this, Ezekial. She's unchanged, inexperienced and does not know our world." Zachary said. Whisper, that's the Fae leader. Demetri waved Zachary's comment away. "She'll come around, just like she did with Evangeline." 

"Very well. You have my support Miss Lailah; I hope you can live up to your mother's image." His dark brown eyes pierced mine, and I felt like I could see it. See the wolf in his eyes. "Very well gentlemen. Let's eat." Zeke smiled and called the waiter over, and before the waiter arrived whispered. "Your treat, right D-man." Demetri smiled. "Of course, Z-man." I guess the formalities were over. I just sat back and stayed out of the way. I didn't know enough to be able to converse with them. I just listened and tried to learn as much as possible as they chatted about the supernatural world.