Forbidden Darkness (The Forbidden Darkness Chronicles, #1)

Fifteen

The dream started like all the others. I was in the same cave I had been waking up in and there was no immediate sign of Kadin, though I knew he'd show up eventually because I'd be dreaming about other things if this wasn't a call from him.

Meaning he wanted to speak to me again.

I was really beginning to hate the fact that I had no control over my dreams, so what other choice did I have? If he wanted to see me, I was basically brought here against my will, and it just felt wrong. Didn't he realize that was wrong? Did he even care? I doubted it considering what Lena said.

"You finally went to sleep, I see," Kadin said from behind me. This time, thankfully, it didn't make me jump.

"Yeah, finally," I said. "And then you come along to bother me some more, so it's not too much of a relief, unfortunately. Didn't we already speak enough for one day?"

He laughed, his gray eyes flashing a hint of fire. "Now, don't be like that. I happen to enjoy talking to you. It gives my life a little bit of excitement."

Okay, ew. That was just gross. "What do you want now?"

"We have some things to discuss," he said, almost kindly. This was really beginning to creep me out. "For starters, I see you reconciled with the Hunters."

"Yes, they're my friends," I shot back. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Well, considering the Monster Hunters are sort of looking like my enemy now, yes, there is. Which makes you an enemy of mine, does it not?"

We sure as hell weren't besties if that's what he was asking. "I guess so. Can I ask why, exactly?"

Kadin seemed to ponder this for a moment. He paced back and forth and said, "Well, for starters, I don't trust the Council. I think all forms of government are made, not to keep order, but to keep secrets from the general public. I don't like that."

"Well, that's not a good reason to hate all of them," I replied. "Lena, Kristen, and Philip are good people. They're my friends. We fight to keep peace; or I will once I change."

Kadin nodded. "This is the matter that we need to talk about. Friday is coming and you will be changing, but does this mean you'll be a threat to me? Most likely. Which means that you need to choose sides."

Choose sides? Did he mean choose between the Monster Hunters and him? "Explain, please."

"I can't explain everything to you, but I can tell you by joining me, you'll be stopping something terrible from happening. The Perfect World is coming, and possibly sooner than I originally thought."

The Perfect World? That was the second time he said that. "What is the Perfect World?"

Kadin laughed. "Now, I can't tell you all the secrets. You could very well just walk out of here and tell the Monster Hunters, and we can't have that, now can we?"

"Then how else do you expect me to trust you?"

He shrugged. "The choice is up to you."

I don't know what answer he expected, but there wasn't anything to think about. "I'm not turning my back on my friends, Kadin. If you have a better idea, please be sure to let me know."

He nodded and said nothing as he continued to pace. I wished I knew what he was thinking, and while I should have been scared, I wasn't. I truly didn't think he was going to hurt me, not at that moment anyway. Whatever was going on, Kadin needed me alive, and since he wasn't going to tell me, I'd probably never know.

"What do you know about Philip's father?"

Kadin's question was so random, it took me a second to wrap my head around it. "Um, not much. I know he's on the Council and is running to be the Head of the Council next year. Philip seems to think highly of him."

Kadin seemed to be taking that in before he spoke. "Interesting."

"What is?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I don't really know. I just...I have a bad feeling is all. Not really about him, but just about the change. Your change."

"What does that mean?" I asked, but I knew he wasn't going to tell me. It wasn't like he had plans to tell me much anyway.

"I need to figure all of this out," Kadin said softly, so soft that he probably didn't think I could hear. "It's coming."

Um. Okay then. "Uh, Kadin? Can we talk or are you just going to talk to yourself?"

He ignored my comment and said nothing and was deep in thought. Finally, after what felt like eternity, he said, "I must go. I think I just found my first lead."

"Lead? On what?" I asked. "Are you going to tell me anything?"

"Soon, Heather," he said. "Soon." Then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone, and this time the walls didn't come crashing down on me.