Chasing Secrets - Jessica Sorensen

Harlynn

Who am I?

Who am I?

Who am I?

That same question echoes through my mind as I get dressed to endeavor onto planet Midnight. I want to stop thinking about what I am, but I can’t. I just keep replaying over what I know. Or, more like, what I don’t know, like how I don’t know what parts of my past are real, if any. And I know I must have more memories than I can remember, seeing as how I’m part of a species that’s extremely old.

A shadowed soul.

My soul is shadowed.

East said that the nickname for my kind doesn’t mean anything, that it’s just a name and doesn’t mean my soul is shadowed. But I’m not sure if I completely believe him, since none of the guys know much about me, even Maxton. I guess that’s why we’re here on Midnight, a planet where a lot of dark creatures reside, including demons. And since I have demon blood in me …

I swallow hard at the reminder. Honestly, I’d be panicking more, except East has demon blood in him, too, and he’s a good creature. Sure, he might be a little bit mischievous, and he jokes around a lot, and don’t even get me started on how big of a flirt he is, but he’s kind at heart. That much I do know.

Pressing my lips together, I force myself to leave my anxious thoughts and pity party and focus on getting dressed, since that’s what I need to do right now.

I start sifting through the clothes hanging up in the closet. East said to put on something warm, but that was about it. I know nothing about this planet. Normally, I’d get Arrow to help me pick out an outfit, but in the past, I did that because we were on planet Steel, which is the planet of cyborgs. None of the guys are from Midnight. Still, they might know what I should wear. Then again, shouldn’t I be at the point where I can pick out a damn outfit by myself? I want to stop being so dependent on them. Not that I want to cut them out of my life completely. No, I want the guys in my life. I like having them in my life.

I nibble on my bottom lip as I think about everything that’s changed since I left my world. Or, well, the world I thought was my world. I’m so different now. Traveling, discovering my powers, and yes, even the guys have made me different. And while I was afraid at first, especially when Asher said there was a way to break the curse, for the first time since my parents died, I feel … hope. Hope for happiness in my future. I’ve never had that before.

Of course, considering what I am and that Axel is after me, there’s a chance that even if the curse is broken, my future might not end up the way that I want it.

But what do I even want?

Yeah, that’s another question that keeps bouncing around in my mind, and I probably need to figure it out soon.

Sighing, I return to picking out an outfit, unsure if I should just grab a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and call it good. Then again, I can’t see either in this closet. No, all the clothes are dark and covered in studs, buckles, chains, leather.

“Gods, it’s like gothic central in here,” I mutter.

After not being able to figure out what to wear, I step back and lean against the wall behind me, letting my head bob back. I loathe that I am constantly clueless. I want to be able to be confident again, like the old Harlynn. Not that I want to be the old Harlynn completely. There was a lot of stuff that sucked about my old life, which feels like such a long time ago. But really, it’s been like what? A handful of weeks?

Wait … What day is it?

I walk over to the hologram screen hanging on the bedroom wall. I’ve seen the guys use it a few times but have never really used it myself. Maybe I can figure it out.

I place my palm on the screen and say, “Show me what day it is?”

The scenery shifts into a calendar, revealing not only how long I’ve been here, but also that today is my birthday.

“Huh,” I say. “I completely forgot that was coming up.” Not that it matters. It’s probably not even my real birthday. Plus, it’s