Scorched Skies (33 page)

Before Ari could even raise a hand to knock, one of the double doors was wrenched open and a cute girl with choppy dark hair stood smirking at her. She ran her dark brown eyes over Ari, her arms crossing over her chest as she cocked her hip. The girl could be Ari
’
s age or maybe even a little younger
—
it was hard to tell because she was short and cute. As if she knew just how cute she was and was appalled by the adjective, the girl wore thick black eyeliner and a ton of mascara to make her eyes huge and dramatic. A tiny silver stud pierced her nose and Ari could make out at least six piercings along her left ear as the breeze blew her flyaway hair back. The grungy t-shirt she wore was too tight and the skinny jeans with a chain attached to the belt patterned with skulls and crossbones all growled,
‘
call me cute and die
’
.

The girl lifted her dark gaze from Ari
’
s plain grey tank top and low slung jeans. Pink toe nails peeked out from her bright green flip flops. The dry amusement on the girl
’
s face changed as their eyes met. “Whoa, check out those eyes.”

The comment was a painful reminder of home where everyone was used to Ari
’
s ever-changing eye color. Anytime some had asked,
‘
You know that Ari Johnson girl right?
’
it was followed by a,
‘
the girl with the eyes?
’
Now she had to start all over again and defend a feature that she didn
’
t know how to defend. She shrugged at the girl. “It
’
s because I
’
m Jinn.”

“Rub your full-blooded status into the face of a girl whose blood is so diluted she
’
s more of a fifth-breed than a half-breed why don
’
t cha.”

“Huh?”

The girl
’
s eyes widened as they lifted over Ari
’
s shoulder. Even as she licked her lips at the sight of the two young men coming towards the house, the girl managed to reply, “The Guilds. We
’
re like descendants to hybrids. Hardly any of us have a full-blooded Jinn for a parent. Except my dad. Who are these two?” She jerked her head.

Ari didn
’
t need to turn around. She was so aware of both guys she felt their presence as they came to a stop behind her. “This is Jai.” She bobbed a head over her left shoulder. “And Charlie.” Head bob over her right shoulder. “But today you can call them Ass and Hat.”

A throaty laugh purred from the back of the girl
’
s throat and she sent Ari an appreciative smile as she held her small hand out. Every finger was covered in rings, her wrists roped with bracelets, and she wore three gemstone necklaces around her neck. Girl likes her jewelry. “I
’
m Fallon Roe.” She stepped back after Ari had clasped her cool hand. “Come on in, Ari Johnson.” She nodded at Charlie and Jai as they greeted her. “Come on in, Ass, Hat.”

The hallway felt more like a sun room, three huge arches leading off to other parts of the house. At the sounds of footsteps approaching from the left hallway Ari stepped in front of Jai and Charlie. It was time she started taking control of situations. After all, this was all about her.

Long legs rounded the corner followed by an attractive older brunette who could be anywhere between twenty eight and thirty eight years old. At her side was an equally tall guy with dark eyes and the same pointed chin as Fallon. Fallon gestured to them. “Ari, this is my Aunt Megan and Uncle Gerard. They lead this team hunting Dalí along with Jacob, the elder supervising.”

“Nice to meet you,” they murmured but Ari noted their wary distance. Uh oh. She had a bad feeling about this.

As if sensing her unease, Megan offered a small smile. “The rest of the team is gathered in the main sitting room. Come meet them.”

Keeping close to Jai and Charlie, Ari followed the threesome through the air-conditioned and sparse hallways that spoke of the building
’
s status as a rental, and into a huge open room. A massive corner sofa took up one end of the room and a large entertainment system sat in front of it. At the other end was a huge walk-in fireplace with a woodburner and flue. It was clean with disuse. A large dining room and chairs took up space at the back of the sofa and armchairs sat in the space in front of the fire. The far wall was made entirely out of glass and Ari could see out into a beautifully landscaped back garden with a pool right out back, a waterfall spilling into it from the rocks that formed a wall around one side of it.

Scattered on the sofa and standing uncomfortably in many of the empty spaces of the overly large room was the team members. All fifteen of them. Heart pounding, Ari
’
s eyes washed over each one of them and felt her stomach begin to knot, those evil little gremlins taking up knitting inside of her just to torture her. The expressions on hunters
’
faces varied from suspicion, unease and wariness.

They are not happy to see me,
Ari telepathed to Jai, trying to keep her nerves out of her voice.

They
’
re just unsure. Give them a minute,
he reassured her and she felt him step closer to her. Charlie followed suit and Ari hated how much their presence eased her.

“Ari,” Gerard grabbed her attention, “Let me introduce you. Guys, this is Ari and…” he shot a questioning look at Charlie.

“Oh, I
’
m Charlie.” He nodded coolly at them all. He jerked a thumb in Jai
’
s direction. “That
’
s Jai, Ari
’
s guardian.”

“Jai.” Gerard held out a deferential hand to him and Jai shook it firmly. “I
’
ve heard all about you. You
’
re very well respected among your people. It
’
s a pleasure to have you here.”

In her bad mood it took everything Ari had not to feel churlish that Jai was greeted so pleasantly. OK, maybe a little churlishness crept in.

“Guys, this is Jai.” Gerard swept a hand out to the room. “Jai, Ari, Charlie, this is fifteen members of The Roe Guild of New Jersey. Starting on the far left of the sofa is Jack Hollis. Then Bryleigh and her husband Scott Becke. Jacob Ballendine, our elder and supervisor. He
’
s also Bryleigh
’
s father. Over by the dining table is Susan Roe and her brother Aidan
—
my cousins. Over there is James Becke, Scott
’
s brother, and beside him Ailidh Ballendine, Bryleigh
’
s older sister.  Right here is Anabeth Hollis and her twin brothers Matt and Callum. They
’
re also Jack
’
s little cousins. And finally, standing next to my wife is Brechin Ballendine, Jacob
’
s nephew.”

Did you get any of that?
Ari asked Jai, completely overwhelmed.

Yes, but I
’
m trained to note the details.

Smart ass.

As if sensing how overwhelmed she was, Fallon smirked at her. “There isn
’
t a test or anything. If one of us talks to you just politely ask,
‘
who the hell are you again?
’
”

Ari grinned at her gratefully. Fallon was the only one so far not acting like they
’
d just let a leper into their community. The girl
’
s dry sense of humor and ease around Ari made her feel more confident. These people were afraid of her, of what she was capable of. Well, they didn
’
t know squat about her and the new Ari was fed up of people trying to intimidate her into acting the way they wanted her to. She stepped forward away from the security of Jai and Charlie
’
s nearness and drew her shoulders back, eyeing the group of people whose ages ranged from late teens to early fifties. Sensing a particularly strong amount of power from Gerard and the older man called Jacob, Ari directed her words at them. “I need to find Dalí as soon as possible and I
’
ve heard you
’
ve run out of leads here in Phoenix. That
’
s probably because he
’
s changed his M.O. Dalí wants me, not money. And the only way to get me is to incapacitate me. We were attacked by his human lackeys.” Ari drew breath, taking her time, projecting control and calm. “They tried to take out my guardian with a drug containing harmal harnessed as a paralytic. The Red King believes Dalí had to be experimenting on real Jinn to perfect this drug and that he
’
d most likely choose human-living Jinn since they
’
re not as strong, thus easier to kidnap. I think you should start there. See if there have been any reports in the US lately
—
a pattern
—
that might lead us to him.”

The Roe
’
s stared at her a moment too long, seeming a little stupefied by her take-charge attitude. Finally Jacob strode forward. “I
’
ll call it in, see what we can find.”

“Thank you.”

He nodded politely at her, the expression on his weather-beaten face now a war between wary and curiosity. “Fallon will show you to your rooms.”

“I think there must be something about this outfit that says
‘
Bellhop
’
,” Fallon complained lightly, easing past her aunt and crooking a finger at Ari and her companions to follow.

You did good
, Jai told her softly.

They
’
re scared of me.

They
’
ll come around.

Not so sure and feeling more upset being around two people who knew her so well as to know how upsetting she
’
d find people not liking her before they even knew her, Ari was glad when Fallon dropped Charlie and Jai off at the room they
’
d be sharing with the twins and led her to a smaller room right at the back of the house. The room was small, but it had a gorgeous patio door that led right out to the pool.

“You
’
re sharing with me.” Fallon collapsed back onto one of the twin beds. “I hope you don
’
t mind.”

“No, it
’
s fine. It
’
s good.” Eyeing the pale walls and colorless bare room, it was any wonder that the collection of jewels and silver on the whitewashed dresser caught Ari
’
s attention. “You have a lot of jewelry.”