Kat raised a brow at me, and I shrugged.
“The interrupting cow,” Paris said, glancing at Luc, who shook his head.
From the intercom, “The inter—?”
“Moooooo!” Paris said, snickering.
Kat giggled.
Archer rolled his eyes and shook his head.
There was an audible huff from the intercom. “That was stupid. The gate is opening. Give it a sec.”
“That was pretty lame,” I said.
Paris chuckled. “I saw it on the Internet. Made me laugh. I got more. Want to hear them?”
“No.” My rebuttal was joined by Archer’s. Something we agreed on. Huh. Go figure.
“Too bad.” Paris eased forward as the gates split, spreading wide. “That wasn’t even my best one.”
“It was pretty good,” Kat said, grinning when I shot her a look. “It made me laugh.”
“You’re easy to impress,” I told her.
She went to smack my arm, but I caught her hand. Threading my fingers through hers, I winked. She shook her head. “You do not impress me.”
I would’ve believed her if she and I both didn’t know better.
It took me a few seconds to realize the road also had large quantities of quartz embedded into the asphalt. The first house we came upon, a modest structure, looked like someone puked quartz all over it—on the roof, the shutters, the front door.
Holy crap.
Since there were no natural formations of quartz nearby, they had brought it in, protecting the Luxen community.
“You didn’t know about this?” Surprise colored Luc’s voice.
“No. I mean, never seemed impossible, using the quartz like this, but it had to cost a pretty penny, and I didn’t even know there was a community out here.”
“Interesting,” Luc murmured, his jaw setting in a hard line.
Paris glanced at him, and I didn’t understand the look they exchanged.
“Neither does Daedalus,” Archer said. “It’s right under their noses. Perfect hiding spot.”
“This is insane.” I shook my head as we passed more houses decked out in quartz, each home getting larger. “How did I not know about this? Do you know someone in here, Luc?”
He shook his head. “Not really. I have some…friends in Arizona, but we need to make a pit stop here first. Let it die down for a few days so the highway won’t be such a danger traveling.”
“So we’re going to Arizona next?” Kat asked, glancing between Luc and me.
Luc shrugged. “It’s an offer on the table. That’s where Archer is heading to hide out for a while, but it’s up to you guys. You can take my offer of hospitality or shove it up my rear.”
Kat frowned.
“Makes no difference to me,” he added.
She shook her head a little. “I don’t get why you all would risk so much to keep helping us.”
Good question.
Luc looked over his shoulder. “We have the same enemy, and we’re stronger in numbers. Just like in the horror movies.”
I started picking up on other Luxen who had to be in the houses or behind the tall walls circling most of the backyards. I really couldn’t believe this—an entire community supposedly unseen by Daedalus and protected from Arum by man-made quartz deposits.
Huh. Mind blown.
We’d finally reached another wall and the gate opened before us. The house, if you could call the monstrous thing a house, loomed ahead like a mirage.
“This is where we’re going?” Kat asked. A look of awe crossed her expression. “It’s a palace.”
That brought a smile to my face.
The place really was absurd. Had to be way more than seven thousand square feet, maybe more, rising three stories, with a sky dome over the middle section and a wing flanking each side. Like the rest of the houses, it was white sandstone with quartz embedded deep into the structure. It, too, had a tall wall blocking whatever existed behind the home.
Paris followed the driveway, stopping halfway through the circle in front of the wide steps. In the middle of the circle was a marble statue. Of a dolphin. Weird.
“All right, kids, we’re here!” Luc threw open the passenger door and bounded up the steps. On the porch, he turned back to the Hummer. “I’m not getting any younger here.”
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed Kat’s hand. “You ready?”
“Yes.” She gave me a little smile. “I want to see what it looks like inside.”
I laughed. “Absurd opulence is what I’m betting on.”
“Same here,” Archer muttered, stepping out.
We climbed down and walked around the Hummer. She took the tote this time, sticking the alien doll in it so its head popped out of the top. Giving her hand a squeeze, I headed up the steps while I prepared myself for God knows what. The way Luc was smiling had me wary. He looked like he—
The feeling that swept down my spine was warming and familiar but totally impossible. So was the startling jump in energy that caused me to drop Kat’s hand. No way.
I took a step back from the door.
Kat turned, concern pinching her face. “What is it? What’s going on?”
Words failed me as I stared at the door. All I could do was shake my head once. Part of me was elated, while the other half was horrified by what I was sensing—and I hoped it was my imagination.
Moving to my side, Kat placed her hands on my upper arm. “What’s—?”
The red-painted door opened, and, as a figure stepped out of the shadowy recesses, my suspicions were confirmed.