Drenched in Darkness (Mad Annie Series Book 1) Page 3

  I turned my head and looked at the clock beside my bed. It was almost morning. Who knew how many minutes or hours I had slept. Tears silently leaked from the sides of my eyes.

  This was my life now.

  I forced a smile.

  But at least I got some sleep.

  I smiled again and this time it wasn’t forced.

  Anaokapo

  Sunlight strolled across the ceiling. I hadn’t been able to go back to sleep. Breathe in, breathe out. I blinked slowly. If I couldn’t sleep then I could work on being in a restful state. Breathe in, Breathe out.

  Focusing on the world around me helped.

  The pieces of me that I had... replaced, felt different than my other body parts. They felt stronger, denser but not heavier. It was such a strange sensation. My eyebrows creased a bit. Like being the drop of rain and the cloud.

  I turned my head again and looked at the clock. Marta should be downstairs in the restaurant prepping for the day by now. A small smile tugged at my cheeks. She and Marco still ran their restaurant as a team. Their children weren’t involved in the business but neither were they ungrateful or absent from their parents’ lives.

  I felt my heart soften and I latched on to the sensation. The Gods had blessed me when I had stumbled into Marta and Marco’s lives. I threw the covers back and sat up. The least I could do was help out. I hesitated for a moment. I could take a shower then head down but all that would do is waste water.

  I nodded to myself, coming to an important decision. I needed to make using hukihuki second nature. Better to get in the habit of using hukihuki every chance I could get. I stood from the bed and stripped out of my pyjamas. I pulled hukihuki from my body with ease and used it to fluff the covers, make the bed, clean my tattered pyjamas, and put the room to rights.

  I frowned slightly. It hadn’t been difficult at all to use the hukihuki within me. It was flowing faster and smoother than before. A big part of me didn’t want to understand the reason for that. But a much larger part of me already knew that it was all part of becoming less and less human. Less and less me.

  Clothes rustled as they lifted themselves up. I carefully picked out what I would wear. I smiled at the jeans and red blouse combo that I had chosen. Looking in the tall mirror in the corner of the bedroom, I couldn’t help but smile wider. I looked like a tourist on vacation.

  If I pretended hard enough that’s exactly what I would be. A normal woman, on a normal European tour, having a wonderful time in beautiful Croatia. I used hukihuki to plait my hair into an soft crown with a few strands left loose. Before heading out I would go down and help Marta in the kitchen.

  I clomped down the stairs so Marta would have some warning that I was up and about. I didn’t want to scare her and I knew I had a habit of being soundless. It was a far cry from my younger days when I was more than a bit of a klutz. I chuckled to myself, my friend Maka would laugh that out of all of us, I had ninja feet.

  I stopped for a moment on the stairs and looked up and around. No, it wasn’t my imagination. The entire stairwell was darker. I raised my hand and my eyes rounded in disbelief. Darkness clung to my movements like a vapour trail. I turned my hands this way and that, marvelling at the beauty.

  I looked inside me and didn’t feel the fear or panic I normally associated with attracting hukihuki. This... this was hukihuki and it wasn’t. It reminded me of the broken glass bottles that were sharp shards before being smoothed in the sand and waves. It had become part of the world in the same natural way broken shells and rock became sand or soil.

  “Flower? Is that you?” Marta called out.

  Her shouted question broke me out of my reverie and I watched as the darkness receded. My lips turned down slightly at the edges. I didn’t know how I felt about that or what it had made me consider.

  “Yes, Marta,” I replied. “Coming!”

  I wiped whatever confusion I may have felt from my face. Marta didn’t need to see me distressed or know about the bloody turn last night had taken. I jumped the last few steps and I heard her chuckle.

  “You little child,” she laughed when I rounded the corner.

  “Only for you and Marco,” I giggled.

  “Do you have plans for today?” Marta asked.

  “Yes,” I replied gleefully, “But first I’m going to help you with this food.” I winked and Marta just stepped back from the table, wiping her hands on her apron.

  “Well then you can be my little helper,” she winked back, “But just don’t be like that mouse with the dancing broom!” I laughed hard and loud at Marta’s playful statement. Comparing my use of hukihuki to help cut and prep food in the kitchen to the mouse from Fantasia cracked me up.

  “You got it, boss!” I gave her my best defence force salute. She brow crinkled a bit but she shook it off. For the next thirty minutes she ordered me about, putting vegetables and meats in front of me to cut. I could do things ten times faster by using my hukihuki. Nothing was sharper than a hukihuki created blade, I would know.

  “Now we clean up,” Marta clapped her hands.

  “I got this, too,” I beamed.

  Using the same technique from last night I scored every surface with my hukihuki down to the last drain. Marta gasped and turned around in a circle looking at her spotless kitchen. I lifted my hands and sent tendrils of darkness to slide along her hands and clothes, cleaning that as well. She giggled giddily and looked at me with awe.

  “You’re a miracle, flower,” her eyes were soft as she spoke gently but earnestly. My smile faltered a bit and I looked away. I was anything but what she thought. I was a killer. Actually, I wasn’t even that. I was a mass murderer. I felt Marta put her hand on my arm, her thumb rubbed reassuringly against my bicep. “You are, flower.” She reiterated. I looked up and saw the sincerity in her eyes. She believed what she was saying. I just didn’t think I did.

  “Well,” I put on my bravest smile and didn’t address what she had said. “I’m a good cleaner.” I winked.

  “Flower...,” Marta shook her head in exasperation but gave me an indulgent smile. She was letting me get away with my morose attitude, for now.

  “So,” I clapped my hands in excitement, “I’m going to go to the ocean! To Dubrovnik!” Marta’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “When? How?”

  “Now. Taxi,” I chuckled.

  “You know I and Marco could drive you down if you want to wait.”

  “I’d like to try for myself,” I said softly. She cupped my cheek and nodded.

  “Ok,” she gave me her hard motherly look of seriousness, “But you be careful, ok?”

  “I’m safe,” my smile was more a grimace and I turned away quickly to head to the back door. I hadn’t exactly lied to her. I didn’t know anyone or anything that could hurt me. Being around me though? I had yet to work that out. I waved to Marta and she waved back before I headed out the door.

  I couldn’t predict the next time I would be overwhelmed by another wave of hukihuki. Last night should not have happened. But it did. I was going to maximise whatever moments of clarity I had.

  I thought my system of use it to lose it was working. Last night proved I was wrong. I stepped out of the alley and leaned on the building’s corner. The cool morning breeze was a welcome balm on my skin.

  Closing my eyes I inhaled and exhaled slowly, savouring this moment. The moment in the stairwell popped into my mind. The darkness hadn’t been bad, it simply was. No different than air or water. It was another new piece that I didn’t understand. I opened my eyes and looked around.

  I saw tourists of all types walking about. Some were taking pictures. Some were making a nuisance of themselves by standing in the way of foot traffic as they gaped at buildings or restaurants. I giggled softly to myself. Hawaii got more than its fair share of tourists. It seemed that no matter where, they would always be an adorable irritation.

  I felt the skin at my neck prickle with awareness. Someone was watching me. I scanned the crowds slowl
y. Locals and tourists alike mixed but no one stood out. I kept up my slow search.

  There!

  A man in plain jeans and a hoodie was staring at me. I turned my head to the side and he smiled. It was more of a leer. I didn’t like it. Before I could do anything he slipped from where he was into the crowds.

  Assholes abound.

  I wasn’t going to let one man affect my good mood. I had a plan. I would see it through. I walked out and flagged down a taxi. In broken Croatian I told him I wanted to go to Dubrovnik.

  “Too far,” he complained, “too long, take plane.”

  “No plane, no train,” I shook my head, “Please? I pay big.” I took out the wad of euros from my pocket. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

  “I...,” he seemed to consider it for a moment then shook himself out of his thoughts. He put up his hand, “Wait, I get you driver.”

  “Thank you, thank you,” I smiled and handed him a couple hundred euros in thanks. He tried to push it away but I wrapped my hand around his and made him take it. This was all money I had taken from people I had killed so it wasn’t like it hurt me to be generous.

  He picked up his cellphone and began speaking with someone on the other end. I couldn’t follow what he was saying it was too fast for me. All I could catch was ‘hurry’ and ‘big money’. I chuckled. A much nicer black SUV pulled up behind him and he got out to greet the driver. He and the other man shook hands before motioning to me.

  “You need a driver?” The new man said in English. I smiled.

  “Yes, short notice but I was hoping to hire someone for at least a few days,” I didn’t want to lose this chance. This driver was in a well tailored suit and his car was definitely a luxury vehicle. If I had to spend the next six to eight hours on the road I wanted something comfortable. “Please, I can pay you in advance.”

  “You should more careful, someone might swindle you with an offer like that,” he chuckled.

  “If it at least gets me to Dubrovnik then that’s fine,” I shrugged, “I can always find my way back.” He shook his head and then spoke to the other driver. The first driver motioned at me and I got the feeling he was trying to be kind to a naive tourist. The two shook hands as if in agreement that I needed a minder. I tried to give more money to the first taxi driver but he only chuckled and shook his head. He said one more thing to the suited man who chuckled and nodded his head.

  “My name is Noa,” he smiled and extended his hand to me. I pinched my lips together and tried not to laugh. His head cocked to the side in confusion, “What?”

  “You have a Hawaiian name?” I bit my bottom lip in amusement. His eyes tracked the movement but he immediately looked straight at me.

  “No, it’s Croatian,” he grumped. We both laughed at the same time and I reached out to embrace his hand firmly.

  “Nice to meet you,” I smiled, “Shall we?”

  Noa opened the back door and helped me in before getting in the driver’s seat.

  “Where are we off to first...,” he trailed off and his dark brown eyes met mine in the rear view mirror.

  “Ana,” I said softly.

  “Ana,” there was a pleasant rumble as he said my name. It had been so long since someone had said it. “I know you wanted to go to Dubrovnik, would you like the fast way or the slow and scenic?” I bit my lip for a different reason as I avoided his gaze.

  “I’m here for the journey so, slow and scenic,” I smirked as I winked at him. “If you please, Noa.” He cleared his throat and I hid my knowing smile.

  “I’ll show you all the wonderful places along the way,” he pulled away from the curb and into traffic.

  “I’m sure,” I mumbled.

  “What was that?”

  “You sure you don’t want me to pay upfront? I know Dubrovnik is far and a private driver like yourself shouldn’t be taking some woman out on a whim.”

  “If it makes you feel better you can put in a deposit at our first spot,” he laughed.

  “I’d feel better if I put in a deposit now,” I insisted, “How’s 1,000 euros?” Noa choked out a laugh and said something in rapid fire Croatian.

  “Ana, you really need to be more careful about letting people know how much money you have,” he chastised.

  “I have 10,000 euros in my pocket,” I shrugged. I had made sure to clean all the blood off too. “If I can afford to be generous, I should.”

  “But if I was a bad person I could have robbed you—“ I cut him off with a hard and bitter laugh. His eyes shot to my own in the mirror.

  “Who says I’m not the bad person? You don’t have to humour me by ignoring my eyes,” I narrowed my pitch black gaze on him.

  “There’s all sorts of supernatural beings that look different, doesn’t make them bad,” his fingers caressed the steering wheel, the gesture comforting and familiar. “It just makes them special.”

  I looked away and out the window. His kind words were refreshing. For the next long while I stared at the moving scenery outside the car and thought over what he had said.

  Anaokapo

  A couple hours later we stopped in Draganić for some lunch. Strangely enough I didn’t feel that hungry. You would think ripping out half your intestine would make you hungry, I thought wryly. Noa smiled from the front and said to trust him that this place was worth the stop.

  I smiled back softly. My life so far was a long and never ending sprint. I guess it was a sprint away from madness into sanity but, but how long would this break really last? I felt the corners of my mouth drop before looking out the window. Thankfully Noa didn’t see my dip in mood, so I didn’t have to worry about him associating it with his choice of rest stop.

  The one story building looked simple enough. The walls facing the road were painted a sky blue while the trim and roof were a kind of spring forest green. The front of a wine or spirits cask served as the signage. My curiosity peaked. I was the perfect example of looking sweet on the outside and... well, now I was terror inducing on the inside. Ok, bad analogy.

  “It’ll surprise you,” Noa opened my door and extended his hand. I smiled and let him help me out of the luxury SUV.

  “Um... Noa?” I asked nervously.

  “Hmm?”

  “My eyes...,” I trailed off.

  “If you’re worried, here,” he handed me his sunglasses, “you can borrow mine.”

  “Thank you,” I couldn’t help the soft blush that rose to my cheeks. Sure, I regularly got into sexy situations, but they were for my sanity. It was nice to have someone be... nice to me.

  “Shall we?” Noa smiled and motioned to the entrance. I nodded and followed behind him.

  As soon as we entered the staff greeted Noa kindly. He must regularly take clients here. Instead of making me feel less special it made me homesick. My best friend Maka’s mother, Viola Laki, was a famed restauranteur throughout our childhood. She used to give free lunch to all the tour guides and bus drivers so they would choose to bring their guests to her restaurant. This was before the days when set tours and contractural stops had become the norm.

  She quickly adapted and was one of the first to sign up for the tour company agreements. Regardless, she still made sure the drivers ate for free. I smiled internally. Maka may appear rough but she was just like her mother, sharp but kind on the inside.

  “You ok, Ana?” Noa asked with concern. He must have seen my face drop a bit.

  “Yes, just missing home,” I put on my brave face and he left it alone.

  We were led outside to a beautiful terrace. I gasped at the view and leaned on the railing bordered in potted dark pink flowers. Rolling hills of green went on for miles and miles. I felt Noa’s warmth as he came up behind me to my left.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “So very different and beautiful,” I was still in awe. He touched my elbow and I looked over my shoulder at him. His jaw was strong but his eyes were soft. His short dark hair matched the well trimmed short beard on his face. My eyes fo
llowed their perusal down his body. I could tell he was fit but not overly bulky. He was handsome, and he was here. He motioned to a chair and helped me scoot in to sit.

  “What do you feel like having?” He asked.

  “Let’s eat everything they have that’s good,” I said gleefully.

  “That’s a lot,” Noa laughed.

  “Good!”

  For the next however long, Noa explained all the dishes that were being brought to us in detail. I learned what things I didn’t like and what I did. My nose scrunched up as I tried not to insult a particularly fatty meat that he had me try.

  “Another for the dislike group?” He teased. I nodded apologetically but Noa only laughed and ran his finger down my nose. I blushed again and he smirked. “So did you want to drive through the rest of the evening to make it to Dubrovnik or did you want to do a stopover?”

  “Whatever's convenient for you,” I took in a sharp breath and leaned back, “Oh Gods, I didn’t even realise. I’m so sorry Noa, did you already have plans or maybe a pet you needed to get back to?” I gripped my napkin in horror and shame. I was throwing money around because it wasn’t mine but what if Noa had a cat or a dog that needed to be fed?

  “Hey, hey,” he reached across the table and gripped my hand, “It’s okay. I didn’t have anything lined up and I don’t have any pets because of my line of work,” his smile was warm and gentle. “I didn’t have any pets before either because I was in the military. I didn’t want to do that to some poor animal, especially not when I would be out of the house for hours or days on end.”

  “You sure?” I asked meekly.

  “Yes, Ana,” he laughed again and gripped my hand reassuringly. “The taxi driver who called was doing me a favour by sharing you.”

  “Oh,” I blushed at the double meaning, “well that’s good then...”

  “Very good,” Noa’s lipped twitched like he was holding back a knowing laugh. I cleared my throat.