Speak No Evil Trilogy

by Amy Richie

After waiting tensely for what seemed like hours, I had tried calling to Tristan- hoping he would somehow hear me. There was still no sign of him though, and I had grown tired of standing. I was sitting with my back against a tree and my knees pulled close to my chest, the necklace still clutched in my fist.

  “I don't think it'll make a difference,” Toby said from beside me. He was sitting too, but alert and tense.

  “I don't get why he can't hear me calling.”

  “He's not a cell phone.”

  “I know.”

  “Or a dog.”

  I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. I had never said Tristan was a dog, but he was a ghost-person and his ears didn't work the same way human ears did.

  “It just seems like he should be able to hear me, that's all,” I grumbled.

  “He can't,” Toby answered shortly.

  Obviously.

  “Actually,” a new voice purred out from the shadows of the trees, “I can hear you.”

  Like a dream, Tristan pulled away from the shadows and came towards us, a huge grin splitting his face. My lips responded even before my heart could start racing, lifting up in a return smile.

  “Tristan!”

  I jumped to my feet and hurried to him, aching to throw my arms around his neck and pull myself close to him. I couldn't feel Tristan though, so I had to settle for a closer look at the face I hadn't even realized I missed so much.

  “Ren,” he greeted with a bob of his head, making his curls bounce along his neck and forehead.

  “You came!”

  “You doubted?”

  I caught my bottom lip between my teeth, embarrassed. “No,” I shook my head. “I knew you'd hear me.”

  “The question is,” he walked in a slow circle all the way around me, “why did you call?”

  My smile froze.

  “Besides a few cuts,” he made a swipe at my face, “you look unhurt.”

  “Well...”

  “Has Toby been mean to you?”

  I made the decision not to look back at Toby.

  “She took the Halskette off.”

  Tristan's narrowed eyes slid from Toby to my chain-less neck and to my closed fist. “Why?”

  “I... I wanted to know where you were.” Even to my own ears, it sounded like a big, fat lie.

  A smile lit his face, widening his eyes back out. “What?”

  I shrugged, guilt forcing me to drop my eyes away from his face.

  “Do you mean to tell me,” he began happily, “that you took the necklace off- risking your own life- all because you missed me?”

  Something heavy clawed away at my insides. There was a roaring, raging weight of despair that I could barely house. For some reason, I went ahead and nodded anyways.

  “It doesn't matter,” Toby came up to stand beside me. “No matter what she was feeling, she shouldn't have taken the necklace off. Now she's just an open target for Zac.”

  “I'm sure you can understand her actions, Toby.”

  “I don't even try,” he muttered darkly.

  “You took your own life to be with the woman you loved,” he reminded him as if that would be something he could forget.

  “And look how wonderful that has turned out for me.”

  “Still...” Tristan shrugged.

  “You need to leave,” Toby stormed out. “Leave before Zac comes and kills Ren.”

  There was my name again. Despite the raging emotions inside of me, my heart still reacted to Toby. I wanted to argue with him, tell him not to send Tristan away; but my tongue was stuck.

  Tristan's eyes narrowed again and swept away from me to scan the trees around us. Was he looking for Zac? Wouldn't we know if he was here?

  “Toby's right,” he said after a minute.

  “Toby's not right,” I immediately argued.

  “I'm surprised Zac isn't here already,” his expression darkened. “I've heard stories that he's looking hard for you.”

  “I'm not afraid,” I lied without a quiver in my voice.

  “He was here last night,” the traitor Toby revealed.

  “We don't know if that was him,” I hurried to deny his claim. “I never saw his face.”

  Tristan wasn't looking at me though; something unsaid was passing between him and Toby. “Put the necklace back on, Ren.”

  “Then you'll disappear.”

  “It's for your protection.”

  “I don't want to be protected anymore.”

  “You have no idea what you're saying.”

  I couldn't see Tristan leave; I had already decided. “Isn't there a way,” I rushed out, unsure of what I was even saying.

  “A way?”

  “A way for me to stay with you.” I took a small step forward, every part of my body tense.

  “You want to stay with me?” If possible, his smile grew wider.

  “Is there a way,” I squeaked out of a tight throat.

  He came closer to me, so close I had to crane my neck so I could look up at him. “I understand how you feel,” he said softly, “but you shouldn't be careless.”

  “I just wanted to see you,” I whispered.

  “Zac will be here soon,” Toby warned in his deep voice.

  When Tristan smiled down at me, I felt all the air whoosh out of my lungs. Could I really destroy such a wonderful person? I kept my eyes locked with his, searching for the monster Nona had claimed he was.

  His smile slowly faded away until he was left staring back at me with my own sadness reflecting out. He wasn't a monster; if he ever was part of a three headed creature, Tristan was the part that was good.

  “I wish you never came here,” I blurted out.

  “You said you wanted to see me.”

  “I did, but you should have ignored me.”

  “How can I ignore you? It's like,” he quickly ran his tongue across his lips, searching for the right word. “It's like you've become a part of me.”

  “He's just telling you what you want to hear,” Toby growled, pushing me roughly back and away from Tristan. “Can't you see what he's doing?”

  I shook my head, trying to keep my eyes on Tristan despite Toby's interference.

  “He'll make you fall for him,” he accused hotly, “and then tell you the only way to be together is for you to join him.”

  “That's not true,” I yelled out, turning to Toby.

  “I've known him a long time.” Toby was breathing heavily. “You think this is the first time he's used this same technique?”

  “Ren isn't like the others,” Tristan defended himself.

  “What makes her so special?” Toby's question echoed my own thoughts.

  “I know you feel it too,” Tristan glared at Toby. “That's why you're fighting so hard to keep her.”

  “I've watched her grow up.” Toby's voice dropped dangerously low. “I know how special she is.”

  “So do I.”

  “Let her go.”

  “I don't make the rules.”

  “She'll be safe with me.”

  “She won't.”

  “She always has been.”

  “That was before Zac wanted her.” Tristan ran one hand down the length of his face. “I'll take her with me,” he decided suddenly.

  “What?” Toby exploded, getting way too close to Tristan.

  “I'll keep her safe and hidden.”

  “Until you convince her to join you?”

  “I already told you, she's different than the others.”

  “No.” Toby pressed his lips tight together.

  “What do you mean, No? You have no say in this. Ren wants to go with me.”

  “She'll stay with me.”

  My eyes widened as I watched the argument grow more heated.

  “Ren,” Toby turned abruptly back to me, “pick which one of us you want to be with.”

  “What?”

  “Decide,” Tristan echoed, “me
or Toby.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  What was Toby doing, trying to put me in such a position? He already knew what I had to do- why was he making it even harder? Did he not realize the agony I was already in?

  Not only was I sentencing myself to die, I had to destroy Tristan too. He had come to me with a smile on his face, not knowing the betrayal I was planning.

  I squeezed the pendant tight in my hand and glared at Toby with as much fire as I could muster. He stared back at me, unashamed.

  “I'm not picking,” I declared through clenched teeth. “That's a stupid game.”

  “Choose one of us,” Toby ordered, his breath coming heavy through a partially opened mouth.

  “I've already decided,” I reminded him. I swung my eyes to Tristan, who was also watching me. “I pick Tristan.”

  “Ha, ha.” Tristan flung one fist high into the air. “That's my girl.”

  My attempt at a smile may or may not have passed.

  Toby stomped the short distance to me, towering above me in all his dark rage. “Are you sure about this?” he growled.

  It was all I knew how to do. Nona was right, one way or another, Zac would find a way to kill me. Wouldn't it be better to use my last act to save the only one I had ever loved and the only one who had ever loved me?

  Why was it okay for him to sacrifice and not me?

  I nodded quickly, not daring to blink.

  “There's no going back, Crazy.”

  I nodded again. I knew that; he didn't need to worry about me anymore.

  “I'm... I'm going with Tristan.” I tried for brave, jutting my chin out towards Toby.

  “Don't worry about her,” Tristan came to stand beside me. “Ren has belonged to me since the day she was born.”

  If Zac didn't hurry and show up, I really would have to leave with Tristan. I had resigned myself to what I had to do, but I had been counting on not having to live long without Toby.

  Even as the thought formed in my head, the wind began to pick up. Nothing inside the woods was exactly bright and cheery, but suddenly the shadows grew even darker.

  Stupidly, I searched the sky above us for the hulk form of Zac. He was close, not in the air, but still close. Toby and Tristan had gone silent, their disagreement on my future momentarily on hold.

  In a whirl of dirt and bits of earth, Zac was abruptly with us among the trees. Immediately, his dark eyes found me. I cringed away from his awe inspiring anger.

  “Just stay still,” Toby ordered in a low voice.

  He didn't need to tell me that though. I had wanted Zac to come, but it was impossible not to have second thoughts once I saw him again. Did he already know what I was planning? Is that why he was glaring at me through the narrow slits that his eyes had become?

  Tristan's eyes darted between me and his brother, his worry written clearly all over his boyish face.

  “Well, well, well,” Zac's voice growled out to encircle me, sending a shiver down my spine. “What do we have here?”

  “Zac,” Tristan called his name stiffly, by way of greeting.

  “Little brother,” Zac grinned, bobbing his head in mock politeness.

  I kept my eyes on him as he walked with slow deliberate steps in a wide circle around me; with Toby and Tristan still close to my sides.

  “You've proven to be quite elusive, Ren,” he casually commented.

  “W... was that you last night?” I asked in a voice I was unable to steady.

  “I couldn't see you,” he responded thoughtfully, “but I could smell your fear.”

  “I thought I told you to leave her alone,” Tristan angrily reminded his monster sized brother.

  “You know I can't do that,” Zac purred, pulling his lips back into a non-humorous grin.

  Toby pressed himself close to me until the tips of his fingers were resting against my hip. “You should go,” I told him in a breathy whisper. “You don't have to stay.”

  “Stop talking,” he whispered back.

  “There's nothing you can do here.”

  “I'm not leaving you.”

  “You're being ridiculous,” I hissed.

  “Seriously,” he barely moved his head so he could look at me, “stop talking.”

  He turned away from me to watch Zac, who was still making slow circles around us. I did want Toby to get somewhere he would be safe until this was all over, but I couldn't deny the comfort I felt at having him near.

  My reluctant guardian.

  If I wasn't so terrified of the present threat of a painful, drawn out death, I would have been able to smile. Toby had been with me from the very beginning, when the nightmare first started. It was only fitting he should be there to see it finally come to an end.

  “Ren,” Tristan's voice cut through my ill-timed thoughts.

  I jerked my head over to him, flushing guiltily. His eyes flashed dangerously with fear and anger.

  “Put the necklace back on,” he told me without moving his lips.

  At least, I didn't think he moved his lips. I hadn't seen him talk- then again I was supposed to be the crazy girl who often talked to people who weren't really there. Maybe I was just imagining the voice in my head.

  Either way, I shook my head back and forth- refusing his request.

  “He could kill you.”

  Not knowing if he would be able to hear my unspoken words the same way, I shrugged.

  His nostrils flared. “Ren.”

  I shook my head again, clutching the necklace tight in my fist.

  I had come this far and I was absolutely terrified, but like Toby said- there was no going back now.

  “Move, Tristan,” Zac ordered calmly, as if he were asking him to pass the potatoes at a family dinner.

  In response, Tristan laughed.

  “How long do you really think this human girl can keep playing with us?” Zac's head tilted to one side as he scanned up and down my body with his unfriendly eyes.

  The way his lip turned up, I wouldn't have been surprised at all if he could see straight through my clothes. Every instinct told me to wrap my arms across my chest, but I fought those instincts, leaving myself painfully exposed to Zac.

  “I said move,” Zac repeated, his voice dropping lower with Tristan's continued refusal.

  “I won't let you have her,” Tristan yelled back, not bothering to mask his own anger.

  Secure in my hand, the tear shaped pendant grew hot against my skin. Although surprised, I was careful not to react to the change.

  Was it working; was the necklace becoming weaker because the brothers were fighting? Or was it simply an extension of Tristan's anger? I wasn't sure and I couldn't risk asking Toby and drawing attention to it.

  “You're a complete idiot,” Zac snarled.

  He might have been talking to me, but Tristan answered. “Why? Because I think differently than you do?”

  “She's a little human girl,” he sneered. “Why would you care if she lives or dies?”

  “Because she's mine,” Tristan fiercely reminded him.

  My heart slammed against my ribs so fast that it was getting hard to breath. Next to me, Toby wrapped his hand around mine.

  Suddenly, in a flash, the scene around us exploded into action. With a ferocious growl unlike any sound I had ever heard before, Zac lunged straight at me.

  He was moving too fast, I wouldn't be able to move. I barely had time to think.

  Toby yanked hard on my arm, pulling me to the side and out of his way- almost. The side of my shoulder seared with pain and blood immediately rushed to drench my shirt sleeve.

  “No,” I heard Tristan bellow from somewhere. There was an explosion of white hot light; Toby pulled my face into his shoulder.

  Was Tristan dead? Was I?

  Chapter Sixteen

  In the next few minutes, it was hard to know anything with any certainty. From the warmth of Toby's chest, I could hear low grunts and inhuman screec
hes. Several popping flashes of light later and everything was completely still.

  Completely.

  Someone was grasping for breath, filling their lungs with a rattling sound and then exhaling even louder. It took me a minute to realize it was me.

  I squeezed my mouth shut until my lungs started burning and I had no choice but to suck in another noisy breath. What had just happened?

  The necklace was still in my hand- in one intact piece, so Tristan couldn't be dead. The metal became hotter and hotter until I felt my skin start to burn.

  With a small scream, I threw the pendant away from me.

  “Ren?” Tristan's face appeared above me, eyes wide and filled with concern. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

  I'm fine.

  “You're bleeding,” he declared, desperation altering his voice.

  I glanced down at my arm but dismissed it almost immediately. Who cared about a little cut?

  “Where did Zac go?”

  “Can you get up?”

  “Is he dead?”

  “Come on,” Toby ordered huskily from where he'd fallen almost underneath me. “You need to get up.”

  “I don't know if I can,” I murmured, still searching all around us for signs of Zac.

  “You can,” Toby argued. “I'll help you.”

  I didn't put up a fight when Toby hooked his hands under my armpits and heaved me back up onto my feet. My legs held me upright; at least there was that.

  “Are you okay?” Tristan tilted his head down to stare into my face.

  “I'm not hurt; he missed.”

  He made to touch my arm, but his hand went right through me. “You're still bleeding.”

  “I must have... I must have hit it on something.” Almost in a panic, I scanned the ground under me for what could have injured my arm.

  There was nothing there that had cut me. But my eyes did fall on something shining with a strange golden light. My necklace!

  “Why is it doing that?” I asked to no one, my eyes narrowing as I watched the tiny wisps of smoke that were curling all around the place the necklace had fallen.

  Tristan's eyes followed my gaze. “It's because I fought my brother,” he smiled. “I'm not supposed to do that.”

  If one of the brothers were to turn on the other, it would weaken his power greatly.