Chapter 9: New Day

Delaney

The very next day, we wake up early and head down to the bar, even though it only opens later tonight.

It's strange to wake up in a dark place. There's no way of having access to sunlight here, so torches light the place as well as lightbulbs. Now that I'm used to the thought of being free, it's easier for me to take in the details of the place, and honestly, I'm amazed at how all of this was put together.

I want to know more about the place. When did our kind start building it? Who was behind it all? How is it possible that a place like this with so many people slid beneath the radar of the very people who want us oppressed?

There's so much more to this story that I want to know.

Francesca is already there, even though all the chairs are on top of the tables. She seems to be mixing fruits in a blender. When she sees us both, she smiles and says, "You're early."

"Yeah," Paola says before sitting on one of the high stools near the bar. I do the same.

"Your brother was here earlier," Francesca comments before giving me a knowing look. At least, that's how I interpret it.

Paola groans. "Is he around? Because I do not want to see him."

"He'll get over it," Francesca says as she piles more fruit into the blender. I guess her bar is one of the places with electricity.

Paola changes the subject. "I wanted to know if you needed any help around here because I want to give Delaney a tour. Is that okay?"

"Of course," Francesca says with a smile. "Go ahead. I'm almost finishing up here."

She and I leave the Omegatrix, and start down the path we took when we went to her place. Only, this time, we don't stop there. We keep going.

Pollux was gone by the time we woke up. The atmosphere in their little house is tense, and I feel very much responsible for it. Paola always told me how much she admired her brother when we were incarcerated, so for this to happen because of me makes me feel like trash.

"I have so many places I want to show you," Paola says, interrupting my train of thought. "First, I think I'll show you to the library. Then, I'll introduce you to a few people. Mind you, I'm not familiar with everyone. I haven't been out that long either."

The library looks very much like every other house down here; the only difference is that it's way bigger. It's as big as Francesca's bar, and that's saying something.

We head inside. As soon as we enter it, dust tickles my nostrils and I sneeze. Paola chuckles and says, "Yeah, it gets pretty dusty around here. It was hell for me in the first two weeks."

We head further into the place, and it's even dustier. The library is very dimly lit; I only see a few candles here and there. Paola hollers, "Caden, are you around?"

"Yeah!" I hear a man reply.

Footsteps come our way and the man named Caden appears. He's tall, and he's wearing all black. His hair is cropped short, yet despite his rugged appearance, he seems very kind. "Paola, hey."

"Hi," she says in a friendly way, though if I had to be honest, there's some tension there that immediately makes me think that something is going on between the two of them.

Paola's eyes are glinting, so my guess is that she has major feelings for this man.

By the looks of it, he feels the same way about her.

"This is my friend, Delaney."

His eyes light up in recognition. "Oh, yeah. You've told me about her a few times. Hi, my name's Caden."

I shake his extended hand. "Delaney."

"Welcome to our world, I guess," he says sheepishly. "I'm guessing she brought you here so you could see the library, right? Well, I'm the one in charge of it, and I can tell you anything you want to know."

"I guess I'm in the right place, then," I remark. "There's so much I want to know about this place. And Francesca mentioned a man yesterday. Your hero."

He nods. "Tobias Renner. He's the one who made a significant difference. There were others before him, of course, but he was significant because of the fact that he died for our cause, and he lost his entire family, too."

I gasp. "That's terrible."

"The leaders upstairs don't care about us," he explains. "They want to keep Omegas in the shadows. They treat us like we're beneath them. In nature, they're superior to us because of their size. Our wolves have always been smaller. But we handle things in this form now, and in this state," he gestures at his body, "there's no difference between us. So, why should they lead and make all the decisions?"

I find myself nodding. He's right. I've never even thought about this before.

There truly isn't a difference.

Caden starts showing me some books with the history of major figures in Omega history. I didn't know such a world existed. It's all so new to me and the more I learn, the more certain I am of my decision to stay here.

This is a cause worth fighting for.

If equality among our ranks existed, I would never have been imprisoned because Trevor would never have gotten away with the bullying in the first place.

By the time we leave the library, I'm more informed about our kind than I thought possible. My head is swimming with all their information, so when Paola suggests stopping and going to a nearby food place for refreshments, I agree.

Money is the one thing I have in abundance right now. In fact, I have some in my pocket right now. Paola has done more than enough for me; I can't let her pay my expenses, too.

We reach the restaurant and it's surprisingly crowded. We find a single empty table in the farthest corner of the room, and sit down. I have to admit that being around so many people gives me anxiety, but I try to play it cool.

“The food here is okay,” Paola proclaims. “It’s way better than prison food, that’s for sure.”

Just then, a man approaches us. He has a black apron tied around his waist and when I pay close attention to his face, I realize that it’s Caden.

How did he get here so fast?

“Hello, ladies,” he says to us as he looks back and forth between the two of us. “New friend, Paola? Who’s she? I didn’t know we had a new member.”

I look at her, confused, and she says, “Delaney, this is Connor, Caden’s brother.”

His eyes land on me. “You’ve met my brother?”

“Yeah, at the library,” I reveal. “He was kind enough to keep me up to date with what’s happening around here.”

“He’s a geek, that one,” Connor says. “Always has been. Anyway, what will it be? Can I recommend my favorites?”

“Don’t,” Paola says right away. “By that he means he’ll give you everything that’s been in the back or fridge for a while. Trust me, I had to learn that the hard way.”

Humor shines in his eyes. “That’s unfair, don’t you think?”

“We’ll have two steaks,” she says. “And sodas. That’s all.”

He leans against the table, and his muscles bulge. “Someone has her panties in a twist.”

Paola rolls her eyes. “Just get us our food.”

Connor’s eyes shift back to me. “Your friend doesn’t seem to be as impatient as you.”

“Well, she is.”

“Just get them their food, Wells,” Pollux says behind him. I didn’t see him approach the table, and neither did Paola, it seems.

Connor turns around, annoyed at the order. “I don’t like your tone, mate.”

“I don’t care what you like,” Pollux says before grabbing a nearby vacant chair from an occupied table without asking for permission and sitting down. “Get me a beer while you’re at it.”

A muscle twitches in Connor’s jaw, but he turns away and heads toward the kitchen.

Paola shakes her head at her brother and says, “Why do you keep looking for trouble with people? Are you that bored?”

He shrugs. “What if I am?”

“I’m not even supposed to be talking to you,” she declares.

“Look, I admit I was wrong. Happy?”

“It’s not me you should apologize to. It’s Delaney.”

Pollux stares at his sister for a beat longer before his gaze shifts to me. I maintain eye contact, and after a handful of seconds, he says, “I’m sorry. I’ll tolerate you for my sister’s sake.”

I shrug. “I’ll do the same.”

This seems to be the end of it, and he and I don’t say a single word to each other during the entirety of our meal.