Dazzle (Delaney's Gift #1) (Delaney's Gift Series) Read online

  Just then, my toe hits something hard and stationary. My body pitches forward. I attempt to regain my balance, but gravity has already gotten the best of me. I splay my arms out to guard my fall. I land hard, but I don’t hit the ground. Instead, Micah’s arms fasten around me and I fall onto his firm chest. I know I should be used to it by now, but I still find myself in awe of the fact that Micah could get his body under me so quickly.

  I sigh and rest my head on him. “Thanks,” I mumble into his t-shirt.

  “You know, if you wanted to get out of training today there are better ways to do it.”

  I giggle and push myself up. My legs feel unsteady so I stay seated on the pavement for a minute. Micah sits up, too. I can see that his shoulder is a little scratched. Reaching up, I graze it with my fingertips.

  “Sorry about that.”

  He shrugs. “It was either my shoulder or your face. I think I made the right choice.”

  “You’re always saving me.”

  He cups the side of my face with his hand. “And I always will.”

  I bite down on my lower lip and pull away. It’s moments like this when I can really see myself falling in love with Micah, but I can’t let that happen. I know my parents think it would be perfect. Heck, I think even Micah thinks that. But I know it would be a disaster if Micah and I got together and then for some reason ended up breaking up. How would we work as a team then?

  No, it’s better if we focus on our duty right now. If love comes for Micah and me, it will come later.

  Chapter 5

  Sam

  THE BELL ON the door of the auto shop rings, and it startles me. I straighten up, banging my head against the hood of the Johnsons’ car. It hits at a weird angle and pain shoots through me. Cursing under my breath, I touch my head and feel something sticky in my hair. My hand comes away dark red.

  Perfect. Just my luck. I’m bleeding.

  “Good evening,” Dad greets the customer. It’s amazing how civil he can sound for complete strangers, but he can’t muster up even the tiniest bit of nicety for his own son.

  I fumble around my workstation for a rag. My fingers brush over cold metal tools and the wooden workbench.

  “Hi. I called earlier about my daughter’s car,” a man’s voice replies.

  When I locate a small towel, I press it to my temple.

  “You don’t remember me, do you, young lady?” Dad asks.

  My body stiffens and my ears buzz. It’s Delaney. That’s why the old man sounds so giddy.

  “I met you when you were a little girl. You ran in front of my truck.”

  “That was you?” She asks.

  I swing around. Like a mirage she stands right in the middle of the shop, her long red hair cascading down her back, her green eyes glistening. She wears short shorts and her shapely legs peek at me from under them. Her tank top shows off her curves. I have to admit, she looks hot. Shaking my head, I force myself to remember my talk with the Sarafites. I need to focus on my mission and figure out how I will find out about her power. Delaney’s dad stands next to her wearing a collared shirt, khaki pants and dress shoes. I remember seeing him before at school events.

  Delaney glances up, just noticing me. “Hi Sam.”

  “You two know each other?” Her dad furrows his brow, clearly not happy with the idea of me fraternizing with his daughter.

  “We just go to school together.” Delaney lowers her gaze, fluttering her long eyelashes.

  Without responding to either of them, I hide my face back under the hood of the Johnsons’ car.

  Delaney talks with my dad, but I can’t hear a word over the loud buzzing in my ears. I’m green with envy hearing my dad laugh and chat in a way he never does with me. Jealousy fills me, seeping from my pores. I lower the rag from my face and hold it in the palm of my hand.

  “Sam, are you bleeding?” Delaney materializes beside me. How did she get over here without me hearing? I glance up to see my dad and Delaney’s dad walking out to the parking lot to look over the car.

  “Oh, yeah. It’s nothing.” I cover the cut with my palm. “I can handle it.”

  “Mind if I take a look?”

  So, what, she’s a doctor now, too?

  “I’m fine,” I say through gritted teeth. Can’t she take a hint?

  “I won’t bite, I promise.” She lets out a light laugh.

  I glare at her for a minute. She raises her eyebrows as if awaiting my answer. Glancing over to the large windows that cover one side of the shop, I see our dads finishing up outside. I better let her do what she wants, or she’ll never leave me alone. She’s clearly pushy.

  “Fine.” I grunt, and drop my hand. “If you insist.”

  She stares at me for a moment, pursing her lips. Then she moves closer, bringing with her the scent of apples. Carefully she reaches up and examines my forehead. Her proximity makes my heart pick up speed.

  “Do you have something to clean it with?” Her minty breath is hot against my face.

  I hold up the soiled towel in my hand.

  “Well, this rag won’t do.” She plucks the dirty rag out of my hand and drops it on the ground. I flinch when our dads re-enter the shop.

  I feel warm blood trickling down the side of my face.

  Delaney turns to my dad. “Mr. Peterson, can you please go get a clean rag and wet it? Sam hurt his head.”

  Humiliation descends on me. She’s treating me like a small child. Dad stops for a minute, assessing the situation. Then he nods and scurries off, almost causing me to laugh out loud. Never have I seen my dad take orders from anyone. If it wasn’t for my assignment with the Sarafites, I might think of her as an ally. When my dad returns, Delaney puts the fresh rag on my forehead and presses down hard.

  “Just keep it on there until the bleeding stops. The wound isn’t very deep. You’ll be fine.”

  I glance sheepishly at my dad who wears a perplexed expression. Delaney’s dad stares on with a wary look.

  “I didn’t realize you were a doctor,” I tease.

  “One day I want to be a nurse. I guess I’d like to help people for a living,” she says.

  “Okay, Delaney, we better get going,” her dad cuts in.

  A smile lingers on my lips. In different circumstances I could see myself really liking Delaney, maybe even asking her out. A thought strikes me like a light bulb going off in my head. Hey, that’s it. That’s how I’ll find out her secret. I’ll seduce her. If I can get her to fall in love with me she’ll tell me everything. Isn’t that the way it works? I certainly know more about Bree than I ever wanted to and we’ve only messed around. I know I can get Delaney to fall for me. She already flirts with me every chance she gets. The only challenge will be keeping up the charade. Will she be able to see right through me, into the very depths of my soul?

  I’ll never know if I don’t try.

  As she turns toward her dad, I grab her by the arm. She stops and cranes her neck to look at me.

  “Thanks,” I say. “My head already feels better.”

  Delaney cocks her head to the side and gives me a funny look. She seems to be taken aback by the sudden change in my attitude.

  I smile, laying it on thick. “Sorry if I seemed rude earlier. I guess I was embarrassed about hitting my head. It’s just I wanted to make a good impression, you know?”

  Delaney bites her lip. Pink creeps across the freckles on her nose and cheeks.

  “Delaney.” Her dad steps toward us.

  I release her arm and she lets it fall against her side.

  “Will you be doing the work on my car, Sam?”

  I’m surprised by the question. “Only if you want me to.”

  “I would love that.” She smiles back at me from over her shoulder as her dad drags her out of the shop.

  And just like that I know I have a chance of winning. Hope stirs in my heart. Pretty soon I’ll have back the life that Lauren stole from me, and Delaney’s the one who is going to help me find redemption.

&
nbsp; “What was that all about?” Dad asks once they are safely outside.

  I shrug. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Sure you do.” Dad hobbles over to me, his face red and mottled with anger. “You were hitting on her.”

  “So what if I was, Dad?”

  “You hear me, son.” He sticks an arthritic finger in my face. “Delaney isn’t like that girl at your school. You better not hurt her.”

  I swat the old man’s finger away. “You’re always gonna use that against me, aren’t you? For once, can’t you believe in me?”

  But Dad won’t back down. “Promise me that you won’t hurt her.”

  I sigh, throwing my towel down. “I’m outta here.” Shoving past Dad, I storm out of the shop, more determined than ever in my quest.

  Chapter 6

  Micah

  “I’LL BE BACK,” I call to Mom as I walk outside. Warm air blankets me even though it’s almost evening. The sky dims, and is streaked with pinks and purples. When I step out onto the front porch, the wood slats moan beneath me, like the wailing of a ghost.

  “Where’re you goin’?” Mom follows me. The hinges on the screen door squeak as she opens it. She stands in the doorway, her shiny painted lips frowning in suspicion. Her black hair curls around her dark, round face. She wears a yellow apron over her clothes and she wipes her hands on it.

  “Just running an errand.” I scratch the back of my neck in nervousness. I feel the slip of paper burning a hole in my pocket. The secret I’ve been keeping all day seems to call out from its hiding place.

  Her eyebrows shoot up. “What kind?”

  I never lie to my mom, but I can’t tell her where I’m headed. “Um…I’m doing a project at school. I need to pick something up for it.”

  She bites down on her bottom lip. I can tell she doesn’t believe me, but she just nods. “Fine, but be home in time for supper.”

  Relieved, I turn away from her and run toward my car, which is parked on the street. The trees bend down as if trying to reach me, and their rust colored leaves ruffle in the breeze.

  “Child, you better be careful,” Mom calls after me.

  My hands shake as I slide into the driver’s seat. It takes several tries before I can start the engine. I take a few deep breaths before pulling away from the curb. Mom stands on the front porch watching me. Glancing over at Delaney’s house, I’m grateful to find it empty. I figure Delaney’s at the shop with her dad. That’s why it’s the perfect time to go.

  When I turn the corner, I pull the paper out of my pocket and glance down at it. Not that I need to read it. I have it engraved in my brain. I drive further, excitement pulsating through my body. It’s finally happening. The thing I’ve been waiting for my entire life. It’s like a whole new world is opening up to me.

  The location is clear across town. I pull up to the house that looks so much like mine with its shuttered windows, sweeping front porch and flowers lining the yard — all the trademarks of a typical Edenly home. I park across the street and cut the engine.

  Now that I’m here I have no idea how to proceed. Do I just walk up to the front door and knock? Will she be happy to see me? Or will she be angry?

  Before I have any more time to think about it, the front door pops open. A little boy shoots outside like a rocket. Judging by his size, I would guess he’s about four or five. He wears jean shorts and a dark blue shirt with what looks like a red truck on the front. His feet are bare. He hurtles a bouncy ball across the yard and then runs to retrieve it. My breath catches in my throat when she comes out of the house after him.

  Ariel looks just like I remember her. Her hair is short and spiked, and her eyes are large and bright. She wears cut-off jean shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops. Her bare legs are milky white, and the colorful images stand out on her pale arms. My heart pounds beneath my chest at the sight of her. I see her mouth moving as she speaks to the little boy, but I can’t hear her through the glass of the car window.

  The little boy lobs the ball to her and she catches it in her palm. As she throws it back, her gaze sweeps in my direction. When she sees me, her mouth drops open. After saying something to the little boy, she stalks toward my car. I wish I could disappear. From the look on her face, she is not happy to see me.

  The little boy scurries inside, closing the door behind him. My stomach drops. She must see me as some kind of threat. Not exactly the welcome I had been hoping for. When she gets closer, I roll down the window.

  “What are you doing here?” Her eyes pierce through mine, anger radiating from them.

  I fidget with the bottom of my shirt. “I-I- just wanted to check on you.”

  She places a slender hand on her hip. Her short nails are painted in a silver shimmer and they sparkle under the rays of the setting sun. She still has bruises on her neck and face, but other than that she looks surprisingly good considering all she’s been through. “How did you know where I lived?”

  Squirming in my seat, I say, “I sort of found out from the hospital.”

  “I thought that information was confidential.”

  I bite my lip.

  Ariel narrows her eyes. “You stole it, didn’t you?”

  I lower my gaze, ashamed of my actions. “I’m sorry. I normally don’t do things like this.”

  “Right.” She blows out a breath and runs a hand over her hair.

  It’s hot inside the car. Sweat rings my armpits. But I don’t dare get out. She’s clearly defensive. I need to calm her down, get her to understand.

  “It’s true.” I catch her eye. “But this is different. I mean, I’ve been looking for you my whole life.”

  Her eyebrows jump up. “What?”

  I want to bite my tongue in half. “I mean, not you, exactly. You know, others like me. Like us. Haven’t you been looking?”

  She shakes her head. “No, I haven’t.”

  My heart sinks. So she’s like Delaney, too. Why am I the only one who takes our calling seriously?

  Across the street a little face stares out through the window, pressing his nose against the glass until it resembles a pig’s snout. When I look at him, he moves away and the curtain falls back into place. “Is that your brother?”

  She stiffens. “Yeah, but he’s not one of us.”

  “How is that possible?” I eye the window but there is no further movement. “Is he not your biological brother?”

  “It doesn’t matter. He’s just not one of us, okay?”

  I know she’s lying. I saw him. There’s no mistaking what he is.

  “Ariel!”

  A middle-aged woman stands in the doorway. She has Ariel’s same golden hair but she wears it in a bob that falls to her shoulders.

  Ariel flinches. “I have to go.” She turns away.

  “Wait.” I can’t let her leave yet. I need answers. “Who were the men chasing you?”

  She freezes and then turns around slowly. “How did you know I was being chased?”

  “Delaney saw it.”

  “What do you mean?” She squints.

  “That’s her gift. She sees things before they happen. She knows you were being chased. I need to know who they are.”

  “Ariel!” The woman calls again.

  “I need to go.” She flashes me an apologetic look before racing across the street.

  “Ariel, you have to tell me,” I holler after her. “I could be in danger, too.”

  She glances over her shoulder, but doesn’t stop. “Please just go away and don’t come back.”

  As she walks onto the grass of her front yard, desperation surfaces inside my chest making it difficult to breathe. “You can’t run from this!”

  I see her body stiffen, but she doesn’t turn around. Once she’s inside the house, I hit my hand against the steering wheel in frustration. Too late I realize I hit it a little too hard. It’s bent at a funny angle and barely hanging on. Using my bare hands I tweak it back to its original form as best as I can. Then I turn on t
he engine and speed away.

  It’s late, but I can’t sleep. I hold the paper in my hand, rolling it between my fingers. The words on it cause my heart to stir. Ariel Starling. I read them over and over again. Pressing my face against my pillow, I stare out the window. From across the yard, Delaney’s window winks at me. I remember the summer we tried to communicate with each other using flashlights. I can still see the yellow lights streaking the night sky as we attempted to paint words in the air. Tonight her curtains are closed and no light escapes through them. She’s probably sound asleep inside. My stomach twists thinking of the secret I’m keeping from her. Never before have I done anything that she doesn’t know about. But I can’t tell her I know where Ariel lives. Not yet anyway. It’s funny that Delaney’s so resistant to a friendship with Ariel when they are so similar. I wonder if it will be this hard with all the others. There has to be at least one of them who embrace their duty the way I do. If only I can meet that one.

  Getting out of bed, I walk quietly to my dresser. I open the top drawer and pull out the map along with the dozen or so newspaper clippings I have inside. Ever since I found out there were eight others, I’ve been working tirelessly to find them. Delaney thinks we’ll meet the others when Zerach wants us to. After all, that’s how we met – Zerach directed our moms to each other when they were both pregnant. But what if she’s wrong? What if it’s up to us to find one another? If that’s the case, I can’t sit idly by.

  I’ve never told Delaney about my quest because she doesn’t understand. Then again, her dad doesn’t work for the government. She doesn’t know that the Sarafites have made threats against our people, and she doesn’t know that they’ve made good on some of them. More importantly, she doesn’t know how some Sarafites have infiltrated the city and that they plan to take it over.