“Always a good quality—a liar.”
Missy ignored Laney, taking her phone out of her back pocket and scrolling through her messages. “The only bummer is he hasn’t called yet. I wanted to hang out last night since you were gone, but nothing.” She tossed her cellphone on the bed.
“So, what’s his name?”
The door opened, and Nick came back in before Missy could answer. She clammed up, probably not wanting a member of the lacrosse team hearing about her love life.
“Hey, Nicholas.” Missy rolled off the bed and grabbed her hairbrush, pulling it through her long strands. “I need to know why you’re hanging around my roomie so much. You understand she’s taken.” She glanced up from her brushing. “What happened to your eye?”
“You know.” Nick ran his fingers through his wet hair. It was something he did when he was nervous. “A nasty encounter with a lacrosse stick.” He faced Laney. “Now that Missy’s here, I think I’m going to crash at my place, but I’ll be here first thing in the morning.”
He leaned down and gave Laney an awkward one-armed hug, then was out the door.
“Do you want to go to the dining hall?” Missy grabbed a blue sweater out of her closet. “They’re baking bread tonight.”
“I hurt my ankle running this morning.” She moved her leg like a piece of porcelain until she reached a seated position. “But I’d like to get out for a little while, and who can pass up bread night?”
Missy now acted as Laney’s human crutch as they wobbled down the path to the dining hall. The snow stopped, making their passage a little more bearable. The two girls found a table in the middle of the room, and Missy set out to get them each a couple of mini-loaves of bread.
“Tell me more about what’s going on with Nick.” Missy cut open her loaf and filled it with butter. “All I know is he’s quiet, so you two must get on marvelously.”
“He’s not quiet around me.” Laney thought about his bravery with Jonas earlier that afternoon.
“Laney, I hate to pry, but your boyfriend is kind of a loser. Don’t get me wrong, last year he was one of the hottest guys on campus, but this year he’s just M.I.A. You never get cards, gifts, phone calls. He’s in California, not Siberia.”
Laney stared at her plate. No, William wasn’t in Siberia. He was someplace much worse, and now her ankle prevented her from getting to that place.
“Isn’t that the point of a boyfriend? To have someone to kiss, cuddle with, and you know… do other things with? You aren’t getting any of that. Nick’s here, and I think he really likes you. What’s that saying—a bird in the hand?” She glanced around the room. “And if he’s not your type, look around. I told you about that guy I found in my class today—a total hottie. I’m sure there’s someone out there for you.” Missy took a breath, then a bite of her bread.
“What I have with William is more than just kissing and hugging.” Laney poked her fork into one of her loaves, creating a snowflake shape.
Missy rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, beyond the constrictions of time and space—blah… blah… blah. Do you guys communicate telepathically? Can he kiss you in your mind? There’s something about being in the here and now—not living in the future, and definitely not living in the past.”
“I agree.” Laney absentmindedly poked about five more snowflakes into her bread. “But I think you need to create the relationships you want, and I’m happy with mine. I love him.”
Missy’s eyes melted around the edges, and her frosted pink lips lifted into a huge smile. Laney found her trigger word, which was probably from all the romance novels Missy read. She jumped out of her chair and rounded the table to give her roommate a hug.
“Then I think you should call him tonight.” Missy continued to beam. “He’s probably missing you something fierce.”
William woke to a rooster’s crow somewhere beyond the walls of what appeared to be a tiny cabin. He lay on the bed, but his hands and feet were tied to the bedposts with rope. His head pounded, reverberating from the alcohol the night before.
The door creaked open. The man the barmaid called Matthew brushed off his hands and flurries of snow littered the floor. “Do not put up a fight. It will do you no good.”
“What do you want with me?” William tugged at the ropes to see if they had any give. He had to get back to Silas, or the Wanderer, to reclaim his pendant.
“Nothing. I am here to collect my pay. Once she arrives, I will be on my way.” Matthew now stood over William. “I cannot answer for the woman. She paid me more than a year’s wage to make sure you did not escape.”
The woman—the one with the fiery red hair who’d taken him into the room above the tavern. In this world, he was only a Patriot and a doctor’s son. What did she want with him?
Matthew warmed his hands by the small fire in the hearth, content with ignoring William. He scooped a liquid substance from the black cauldron. William’s stomach grumbled. Even the crusty, twice-baked mac and cheese from Madison’s dining hall sounded delicious to him right now.
A sudden rush of outdoor air entered the room once again. The redhead stormed in and tossed a bag of coins at Matthew. “I see our young Watcher is awake.”
The woman sidled up to William and crouched next to the bed. She ran her hand through his hair, and he turned his head toward the wall. “So young, and so feisty. I knew someone once…” She frowned, and William thought he saw pain in her eyes as she stood and faced Matthew. “Leave.”
Matthew slung his bag over his shoulder and left through the same door. The woman commanded obedience with her voice, and even though William felt a slight shudder of fear being alone with her, he was pretty sure he was just a pawn.
“I know you believe you are in love with Delaney Holden but did you know she could crush you in an instant? This whole world could be reduced to a pile of rubble with the stroke of her pen? Right now, you think I’m powerful, but it is the Weaver you need to fear.”
William glared at her. “So this has to do with Laney? If you lay one finger on her…”
The woman let out a stifled laugh. “Oh, the love of a Watcher. Do you think she would do the same for you? Right now, while you fight to get back to her, she is spending time with another man.” The Wanderer opened her cloak and removed a small square of paper. She held it up to William. It was a picture of Laney with a man helping her across the parking lot.
“He is a gentleman. Clearly, Laney injured her foot, and he’s helping her cross the ice.” He tugged on his arm restraints, more eager to break free now that he knew she was hurt.
“They spend a lot of time together. He even wrote a song for her professing his feelings.” The Wanderer raised her eyebrow, tempting William to provide a comeback.
“And how do you know all this? Are you a Gate Keeper? A witch?” His heart beat rapidly, and he suddenly felt helpless without the use of his arms and legs.
“You can just call me the Wanderer, or your worst nightmare. Whichever you prefer.” The woman reached out and tapped him on the nose before turning to the hearth to pour herself a bowl of the liquid.
“Of course, you’re a pawn,” Laney whispered. The Wanderer wanted her. She tempted Laney to enter the book and rescue William. And it was working.
She read through the Wanderer’s words again. Spies. Someone took the picture in the parking lot. But she also trusted in her love for William. He trusted her with his life. He wouldn’t doubt her for a moment.
There was a knock on the door, so she closed her journal and laid it on the bookshelf. It was getting late, but Nick’s eye made her feel guilty enough to invite him in.
He went directly to her stereo and inserted a CD. “I know I said I wouldn’t come back until the morning, but I couldn’t sleep.” The song he sang earlier at the fair played through the speakers. “It’s called Laney’s Song.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I know, not exactly subtle, but effective.”
“Nick, I… ” Laney reached out and touched his shoulder.
>
“Please don’t say anything.” He gave her his crooked grin. “At least let me pretend.” He took her hand and wrapped his other around her waist to slow dance with her in the middle of her dorm room. “I was kind of wondering if you’d go to Manor Hill with me, that is, if William’s not back.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” She rested her head on his shoulder, taking in the words of his song.
“It’s kind of my choice, you know, to be hurt or not,” He spoke softly into her ear. “I know what I’m getting into. Maybe I’m banking on him not coming back.”
“He’s coming back.” She lifted her head but held onto his shoulders so she could look him in the eyes. “If I have to go get him, I will.”
“Then I want to come with you. We’re a team. Remember? Operation Spider.”
“You can’t come.” She sat back down on the bed to rest her foot. “You don’t have this.” She removed her necklace from beneath her shirt. “The combination of my necklace and Brian’s ring creates the passage. Beyond that… I don’t want you to come.”
“I’d just be a third wheel.” Nick frowned and removed his beanie, shoving it in his coat pocket.
“No, you could be killed in my book world. I like knowing you’re fairly safe here at Madison.” She took his hand, pulling him down next to her. “And if you promise me that you won’t try anything stupid, I’ll go to Manor Hill with you.”
“You’re treating me like a child. I don’t want the dance to be hung in front of my nose like a carrot. I want you to go with me because you want to go.” He got up and took his CD out of the player. He tossed it on the bed next to her. “That’s for you.”
Laney took care not to put too much weight on her ankle as she heaved her body weight onto her good foot. “I do want to go with you. And I know if William knew you, he’d be happy that you were the one taking me in his absence. You’re my best friend here.”
She reached her arms around Nick and embraced him. He melted into her arms.
“When are you leaving?” He backed away slightly so he could look at Laney’s face. “I mean, when are you going to go after him?”
“I’m hoping my ankle is healed before Manor Hill, and I need to go shortly after that. The Recluse won’t be able to keep Brian locked up forever, and I don’t want to lose my chance.”
The door opened, and Missy entered with the biggest smile on her face.
Laney let go of Nick. “Who is he?”
Missy made a running jump for her bed and landed among her sea of furry pillows. She had stars in her eyes, and Laney understood that a new infatuation had bloomed into a full-blown garden.
Missy squealed. “His name is Jonas, and he’s taking me to Manor Hill.
Chapter 12
Jonas rummaged through a fifth underwear drawer, trying to find some cash. He’d already managed to scrimp $6.52, a rare coin collection, and four poker chips. Taking a girl like Missy to Manor Hill required hundreds of dollars. She already mentioned a limousine—some type of stretched out car, that he was to wear a tux, and a day at the salon to tame his hair and to obtain something called a manicure. At least it sounded manly. Pulling another five-dollar-bill out of his current victim’s room, he slipped out and continued down the hall, smiling and nodding at other students.
The door to the next room was ajar. He peeked inside before knocking. A small lamp illuminated the desk, but no one was there. He checked both directions in the hallway then slipped inside. Immediately, he found the dresser and rummaged through each drawer for cash. Nothing. Jonas crossed the room and searched the other dresser. Beneath a pile of socks, he found a wallet. Jackpot.
The wallet contained about three hundred dollars and a license. The guy on the license appeared familiar. Jonas stuffed the wallet into his jeans. He turned around and saw a picture on the desk. It was a picture of Delaney. Of course—this was the room of the boy that attacked him at the fair. The ill-fated boy that thought he had a chance with the Weaver. He needed that boy—Nick was the name outside of the room—to go to the dance with her. On that night, Jonas planned to have the story end exactly the way he wanted. He shoved the wallet back under the clothes and exited through the hall to further his pillaging.
“Jonas?” Laney shot a look at Nick, her eyes wide. “What’s his last name?”
“I don’t know. I think it was something like Webster.” Missy twirled the end of her hair as she checked her image in her mirror. “Don’t really like the sound of it—Missy Webster. Why can’t the man of my dreams have a last name like Rockefeller or Trump? Sounds much more powerful.”
“What do you know about this guy?” Nick tried to hide his concern while Laney wore it all over her face.
“He’s a senior. He says he’s been here for a while, but I don’t believe him. I would’ve noticed.” Missy stared out the window. “The man is so hot, and he’s asked me to the dance.” She squealed again. “I’ve got to find the perfect dress, and he’s promised to rent a limo and match his tux.”
Laney sighed and leaned her head against the wall, trying to seem nonchalant, while her heart beat like a drum proclaiming Missy’s death sentence in her chest. This was not happening again.
“You can’t go with him.” She had to be blunt with Missy.
“Why?” Missy dug through her closet. She threw assorted sweaters on the ground in a rainbow pile of wool. “Here it is.” She held up her winter hat.
“Because… you just can’t. I need you to trust me.” Laney wasn’t ready to involve the police yet. If she told Missy that Jonas murdered Jason, the whole mess would head in that direction.
“Don’t be silly.” She pulled on her coat and gestured at Nick. “I assume the two of you are going. You can’t have all the fun.” Without another word, she was out the door.
“That went well.” Nick grimaced, then plopped down next to Laney. “We’ll make sure she’s safe and do our best to keep her away from him.”
“That’s just it.” Laney stood back up, unable to keep up the semi-calm state she put on for Missy. “William and I were supposed to keep Jason safe. We all know how that story ended.”
“You put the whole weight of the world on your shoulders.” He leaned forward, his hands folded between his knees like a concerned psychiatrist.
“But it’s my world!” Her voice echoed through the room. She didn’t want her dorm mates to call the resident assistant and complain, so she toned down her voice. “I have a responsibility for what I created. Just like if a mad scientist created some type of biochemical that overtook the world. He’d need to find a way to stop it when it was out of his hands.”
“You’re comparing yourself to a mad scientist? You’re an author. It’s not your fault that you’re a genetically-mutated author.”
She cracked a smile, whipping the pillow behind her head at Nick.
“Oh, I see how it is.” He grabbed the pink pillows from Missy’s bed and sent them in a barrage at Laney before throwing himself onto the bed next to her.
She whacked him with the weapons used against her. She laughed for the first time in months, releasing the tension knotted deep in her stomach.
Nick jumped off the bed. “I need to go before I do something I’ll regret.” He blew her a kiss and closed the door.
Early the next morning, Laney’s cell phone rang from her desk. She stumbled out of bed, grabbing it on the second swipe. Missy groaned and threw her pillow over her head, so Laney tiptoed across the room and slipped out the door to the hallway.
“Hello?” Laney gathered her robe around her shoulders.
“Hi, Laney. It’s Natalie.”
Ever since the Recluse kidnapped Brian, Laney’s conversations with her fellow Weavers had been few and far between.
Natalie continued, “When are you going to come?”
“What do you mean?” Laney kept her voice at a whisper, not wanting to wake anyone on her floor. She knew what Natalie meant, but wanted the younger girl to spell it out.
&nb
sp; “I mean, we have the key to the gate, and you need to get to William.” Natalie was quiet, maybe expecting a response. “What if the Wanderer gets to him before you can?”
Laney spent many hours thinking about how she’d enter the book. Touching Brian through the bars of his prison would be a simple task, whisking her away to the eighteenth century. But her conscience tugged at her with an iron grip on her heart. Brian didn’t deserve to be locked up. Although Gate Keepers were to remain neutral, she knew this wasn’t true. Brian helped William rescue Laney and her grandfather last year, and Silas worked closely with the Wanderer.
“I have to go soon. William’s being held by the Wanderer, but he’s just the bait.” She sucked in her breath. “She’s waiting for me.”
“If she’s there, you can’t go.” Natalie’s voice rose higher, and she sped through her words. “She won’t hesitate to kill you. You know what happened to Mom.”
“I don’t have a choice.” Laney moved to the side as one of her floormates trudged to the bathroom. “William doesn’t have his pendant. It was stolen.”
“By who? Oh, was it her?”
“Yeah, in a roundabout way.” Laney trusted Natalie more than any other Weaver. “I’ll be there next Saturday during Manor Hill. Don’t mention it to Harriet.”
Missy drove her red mustang to the front of Starr Hall right after dinner on Tuesday. Laney grabbed her purse and jacket before walking to the car to dress shop with her roommate. She was excited to spend time with Missy, and her ankle was feeling much better. About three steps away from the parking lot, she froze and felt all the color draining from her face. Jonas grinned at her from the passenger seat. Laney did a one-eighty and held her stomach, fearing she might empty the contents onto the sidewalk.
“What are you doing, Laney?” Missy stood outside the car on the driver’s side, tapping her fingers on the roof.
The Watcher Page 10