Free Blood Warrior by H. D. Gordon

“Akira?” She jerked her head up, an angry expression on her face.
    Then, she took a deep breath and relaxed her face.
    “Yes?”
    “What-what did you do? What are you?”
    She giggled. “I’m a Searcher, and I took it away from you. There was too much for you… too much for even a Warrior to carry alone.”
    I didn’t have to ask what it was. I knew. She’d taken away the effects that the events of the last couple of days had left me. She’d taken away the hurt and pain and anger I always worked so hard to keep hidden. She’d seen into my soul. I felt oddly vulnerable and…
    grateful.
    “Thank you.”
    She winked at me and returned her attention to her toys. I was starting to fall in love with this child.
    Beside me, Nelly and Jackson were completely silent. No doubt they were confused, and I felt no need to explain things. It was petty, but I felt smug about the fact that, for once, I wasn’t the one in the dark.
    Olivia was waiting for me to continue, so I took a deep breath, deciding to ask the only question that really mattered. “Okay, so the Lamia found us. They’re probably still hunting us… What do we do now?”
    “Now, you rest. You look like you haven’t slept for days and you will need your strength for what is to come. Tomorrow, you head for New Jersey,” said Olivia.
    “What’s in New Jersey?”
    It was Jackson who answered me; the first time he’d spoken since our arrival.
    “Two Rivers… Two Rivers is in New Jersey.”

Chapter 15
    Olivia gave me and Nelly the spare bedroom and provided Jackson with a pillow and blankets so that he could sleep on the couch. I got to take a shower and it was the best thing I had felt in days. Returning to the bedroom, I found Nelly waiting for me. I had kind of been hoping that she would have fallen asleep already; it was part of the reason I’d taken so long with my shower.
    I pulled the towel off of my head, grabbed a hairbrush from my overnight bag and began running it through my hair, pretending not to notice Nelly staring at me.
    “Can… can we talk?” She asked, after a few moments.
    I blew out my breath and went to sit by her on the bed. “Yes, I mean, I’m still mad at you, but I think we should talk.”
    “I’m sorry, Lex.” I raised an eyebrow at this. “Really, I am really, really sorry,” said Nelly.
    Looking into her beautiful, hazel eyes, I could tell that she really meant it. I wasn’t sure if I could completely forgive her yet, but I could recognize the fact that she needed me right now. She had been right about one thing; we were all each other had left, and we needed to stick together. Honestly, I probably needed her just as much as she needed me. Besides, holding a grudge against people I love has never been something I was good at.
    I pulled her into a hug and felt her relax against me. I should have known she wouldn’t go to sleep if she thought I was mad at her. “Just don’t lie to me again, okay? I guess I kind of understand why you did before but I have to know that you’ll be truthful with me from here on out,” I told her.
    She sat back and looked me straight in the eyes. “I promise. I promise I will never lie to you again.”
    I gave her a skeptical look and smiled when she looked alarmed. “Okay, I believe you. Now I have a few questions I need you to answer, and remember, you promised you’d be honest with me.” I had learned the big stuff from Olivia but after a couple more exchanges, she’d insisted that we needed our rest. I hadn’t argued because, truth be told, I felt like I could keel over at any second.
    Nelly looked like she didn’t really want to agree, but I knew she would keep to her word. She gave a small nod and I took that as my go ahead.
    “What are you, Nell?” I seemed to be asking that a lot lately.
    She hesitated, then said, “I’m what’s called a Searcher. Similar to what Olivia and Akira are. I can see into people’s heads. I can touch them and know what they truly are;