“Can you be serious for two seconds? If we’re caught doing whatever it is you have planned and my aunt and uncle find out, they’ll lock me in my room and throw away the key. They’re really ticked off at my cousins and me right now. It’s not a good idea to test their patience by ditching class.”
“Relax. No one is going to get caught. I had a friend cast a spell to ensure it.”
“What friend? Someone here?” For the short while I’ve known him, the only friend of his I’ve met is Chester, and I highly doubt he’s the one casting spells since there’s not a magical bone in his body. Plus, he’s old—well, in his thirties anyway—so blending in with the students isn’t exactly an option, and he’s not what you’d call substitute teacher material either.
“You met her actually. She came with the guys to pick up Seth at the park. She was also one of the witches helping to heal Jack at the center.” He pokes me in the ribs. “You totally freaked her out, and impressed her with the way you came storming into the infirmary, wind blowing through your hair, demanding everybody leave.”
“You mean the girl with the hot pink hair? Does she go here?”
“Ava, and no, she doesn’t go to this school.” He says her name with a smile, and a slight twinkle in his eye. My heart beats out a painful thud.
“She’s pretty. Did you two ever…” I trail off, knowing I sound like the jealous girlfriend, which is not like me at all. I’ve never been the green-eyed monster type, but I’ve also never felt for someone the way I do about Sebastian.
“Do I detect a note of jealousy?”
“No,” I say, way too fast. “Of course not. I’m not the jealous type.” At least I didn’t used to be.
“Uhhh-huhhh.” He drags out the word as he swivels me around and walks me backward into a row of lockers. Caging me within his arms, he leans in, bringing his mouth to my ear. “Don’t you know you’re the only girl I see?” His lips brush against the side of my neck and proceed to trail soft kisses down to my shoulder. I nearly drop my books, catching them at the last minute. “Besides, I’m not Ava’s type. She’s more inclined to make me the jealous one when it comes to you.”
“Oh.”
Twisting to the side, he leans against the lockers and raps a knuckle against mine. “Grab your jacket and leave your books.”
“Where are we going?” I open my locker and stuff my books onto the top shelf and grab my jacket, silently thanking the stars above he’s on the other side of the door and doesn’t see the flowers from Evan.
“To the center. Gavin won’t be back until tonight. That gives us roughly six hours to find Seth, question him, and get back before the last bell rings for the day.”
“Okay.”
Nervous energy hums beneath my skin at the thought of seeing Seth again. I know I have to if I want answers, but when I think of him all I see is his sharp fangs stained with my blood as he drinks my life away all while whispering in my ear how he didn’t want it to be this way. How he tried to warn me, to give me an out, but how in the end, I still had to die.
I try to shake the memories away by telling myself he’s human now, but the nightmare doesn’t want to let go. What if Ludvikas’ compulsion to kill me is still buried in Seth’s mind somewhere on a subconscious level? What if his human side tricks me into letting my guard down, giving him the opening he needs to complete Ludvikas’ command? What if Seth being human is all one big trap? What real proof do I have I’m safe from him?
Sebastian leans into me, nudging me with the side of his arm. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Other than being a giant ball of nerves. But then again, being a giant ball of nerves seems to be my new normal now so… “How does vampire compulsion work? For instance, now that Seth is human, will the compulsions he was under as a vampire break?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. This is all new territory.”
“Right. New territory, so no guarantees.” I nod a little too vigorously as I fight to keep my thoughts from diving into dark scenarios.
Taking my hand, Sebastian stops us in front of the doors. “We may be in uncharted lands, but I can promise you one thing. Seth will never hurt you again, so long as I’m around.” He sweeps a lock of my hair behind my ear, his knuckles grazing softly along my jaw. The raw mix of emotions in his eyes at his determination to protect me has my heart racing for a whole different reason—one I like a lot better. He means it when he says he’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe.
I would do whatever it takes to keep him safe, too. We’re in this together now. He has my back, and I have his.
He gives my hand a squeeze. “Ready?”
Not in the slightest. “Ready.”
A cold gust of wind whips through my hair, wrapping it around my face the moment we exit the building. Goose bumps trail over my skin, bringing on a shiver and a smile. There’s nothing like the way the air smells in late fall—all clean and cool. Too bad we can’t enjoy it during our so-called ‘office assignment’ skip day. Instead, we get to snoop around the center, question a former vampire I’m unsure how to feel about, and hope we don’t get caught before we make it back to school before the end of the day.
Should be fun… for a crazy person.
Keeping hold of my hand, Sebastian leads me over to a Harley Davidson street bike parked at the edge of the lot. He swings a leg over, then proceeds to hand me one of the helmets hanging from the handlebars. My feet glue themselves to the pavement.
He gives the helmet a shake with a what are you waiting for expression on his face. It sends my heart careening straight into my ribs. It thumps at a million miles an hour, ricocheting off bone. As for my lungs—they seize up without hesitation. I can even feel the color draining from my face at the mere thought of straddling that death trap on wheels. The only thing that freaks me out more than riding the subway is riding on the back of a motorcycle. I like having all my limbs, and if we were to crash… A full body shiver takes me over, as my mind comes up with all the ways we could die.
I take a step back, gulping air I’m unable to utilize. “No. No way. I can’t…” Holding my hands out, I back up a few more steps.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of motorcycles.” He says it with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, as if it’s the most absurd thing in the world—which it most definitely is not. I’ve seen the news. I know what happens to people in crashes, and I have no interest in having my bones broken or my body mangled on the side of the highway.
“It’s not the motorcycle I’m afraid of. It’s having my face ripped off if we were to crash.”
“That’s what helmets are for.”
“Oh, ha ha. You’re so funny.”
“Do you want to find Seth before Gavin gets back so we can find out what he knows?” He waits for me to nod, then holds out a hand. “Then trust me. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Can’t we steal a car instead?” I wave my arm out, encompassing the entire student parking lot. “There are lots to choose from. And if we get back before the end of the day, no one would even have to know.” Sebastian seems like the hot wiring know-how type with his devil-may-care-I-fight-vampires-all-night-bad-boy persona. “Or… or… or maybe I can whoosh us there?”
“Whoosh?” An amused smile has the corner of his mouth quirking up on one side. “No can do.”
“Why not? I whooshed out.”
“The keyword in that sentence is out. The wards won’t let you get in. Technically, they shouldn’t have let you whoosh out either.”
“If they let me out, then maybe they’ll let me in.”
“Or we’ll slam into the wards with the force of a car hitting a brick wall.”
“So then we’re back to plan B. Stealing a car. Or we can call a taxi. Take the bus. Anything but this.” The world starts to spin faster than it should. I bend over, grabbing hold of my knees to steady myself.
Dismounting the bike, he kneels in front of me then cups my face, his thumb gently stroking my cheekbone. “You have nothing to b
e afraid of, Indi.” His eyes meet mine, his gaze full of a confidence I wish I felt. “You’re safe with me.”
“I know, but—”
“You’re safe with me.”
“But—”
“You’re safe with me.”
I take a few deep breaths and close my eyes, letting the reassuring touch of his hands on my face seep into my skin. “Promise?”
“Always.”
I wipe the sweat off my hands on the front of my jeans, praying they’ll stay dry. If I’m going to be holding on for dear life, I don’t want slippery fingers to be the cause of my demise.
“Okay.”
“Everything will be fine. We’ll be there before you know it.” He climbs back onto the bike, then nods for me to join him. “I promise.”
He dangles the helmet from the tips of his fingers, my heart beating faster and faster for every second I stare at it hanging there. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I shove my fears into a flimsy box and hope they’ll stay contained long enough to make it to the center, despite the panic simmering beneath my skin, wanting to rip the box to shreds.
Fingers crossed on both hands, I do either the bravest thing or the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life and straddle the bike. Okay, so maybe it’s not the stupidest or bravest thing per se, seeing as the last few weeks have given me plenty of brave and stupid things—okay mostly stupid things—to choose from, but still, this is right up there on the list.
Please, please, please don’t let us crash.
I swallow down the sand my saliva has become and pray for my hands to be steady enough to take the helmet swinging from his fingers. Please, don’t shake. Please, don’t shake. Please, don’t shake. I grab it with both hands, but the unrelenting tremble radiating out from the center of my being has it slipping through my fingers. I catch it before it hits the ground, the whole bike shifting with my movements. My heart immediately shoots straight up into my throat, where I imagine it will stay for the rest of forever.
“You okay back there?” Sebastian twists just enough to gaze at me from over his shoulder. I slap on a fake smile.
“Totally fine.” And by fine, I mean I’m about to throw up until I die.
The moment my helmet is fastened, Sebastian wraps my arms around his waist. At least this part I like. The solidity of his body pressed against mine. The steady feel of his chest moving in and out with slow, even breaths. He’s a slice of calm against the raging storm within my veins, and I need to be as close to calm as I can get.
“Hold on tight and don’t let go.” He releases my hands, and I tighten my fists around his jacket as he puts his helmet on and starts the bike.
Just breathe and don’t let go.
I can do this.
Slight vibrations fill my body, sending my stomach jumping into my throat, where it gets lodged somewhere beside my heart. I tighten my grip and close my eyes. There’s no way I can look. If I do there’s a good chance insanity will take over, and I’ll jump off.
“Ready?”
No. Absolutely, definitely not under any circumstances. Nope. Nope. Nope. “Yes. I’m ready.” Lies.
“Here we go.”
My heart pounds so hard in my chest he has to feel it thumping against his back. He squeezes my hand once in hopeful reassurance and then hits the accelerator. Every stop sign becomes a battle of wills to stay seated when all I want to do is jump and run. Every turn we take, my fists tighten and tighten until my knuckles feel like they might burst free of my skin. I tell myself over and over to just breathe, that it’ll be over soon, but every inhale and exhale comes too fast, and the world around me is crushing in, and I…
Just when I think I can no longer keep the screams piling up in the back of my throat from coming out, the rush of the world speeding by beneath me slows, then comes to a halt. The sound of the engine shutting off is nothing short of music to my ears. Inside I want to dance, and cheer, and kiss the ground, but on the outside I’m frozen in place, unable to let go or open my eyes. Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to let go. I never, ever want to do that again.
Sebastian lays his hands over mine, the warmth of his touch seeping into my skin. “You can let go now.” I squeeze tighter, even though my fingers are already painfully locked in place around the leather of his jacket. His back vibrates against my chest with laughter.
The stupid jerk thinks this is funny. I’ll show him funny.
Releasing my death grip from around his body, I tear myself off the bike, and nearly fall in the process. He grabs hold of my arm, steadying me, but the moment he sees I’m okay, he laughs harder.
“How’s this for funny?” I punch him in the arm, his body only slightly moving from the force. Not good enough. I lash out, smacking whatever part of him is within reach. “That was one of the most terrifying moments of my life, and you’re going to laugh at me?”
“Got you off the bike, didn’t it. You were about to break a bone.” He rubs a hand over the bottom portion of his ribs. “I had to do something to get you to move.”
“I hate you.”
He catches my wrists before I can deliver another hit. “No, you don’t.”
No, I don’t.
He takes off his helmet, shaking out flattened hair that’s begun to curl around the edges. Damn it, if he doesn’t look good sitting there. The stupid jerk face.
“I’m still mad at you.” I toss my helmet at him, forcing him to drop his own to catch mine. “I am not getting back on that death trap when we leave here either, so you might want to come up with different transportation plans. I’d rather face endless days of morning exercises with Aunt Claudia than to ever get onto the back of another motorcycle.”
He makes a face and raises an eyebrow.
“Let’s just say yoga makes her very… gassy. And we were trapped in a room without functioning windows.”
He sucks his lips between his teeth, the skin around his eyes crinkling with held back laughter.
“I swear if you laugh again, I’m going to pummel you.”
“You could try.”
“That’s it.”
He’s off the bike in seconds before I can even make a move. Taking my hand, he spins me around then sweeps my legs out from beneath me. My back hits the grass, knocking all the air from my lungs. He straddles my legs, a big grin plastered across his face. “You were saying?”
“I’m going to make it hurt.”
“Sure you are.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, I kick my legs out to the sides, knocking him off balance. The moment he hits the ground, I pounce. Pressing his wrists to the ground above his head, I then curl my legs around his, locking my feet around his calves.
He stares up at me, his blue eyes playful and flirty. The little spot of brown in his left iris dares me to make a move. His mouth curls into the kind of smile that makes my insides go all gooey. “Thought you said you were going to make it hurt?”
“Give me a moment.” I shift my legs slightly, but if I let go, he’ll get the drop on me.
“Time’s up.” He breaks free of my hold with ease and flips me over onto my back so he’s now the one on top.
I struggle beneath his grip, but we both know it’s not likely I’m going anywhere unless he wants me to. He’s had years of training in hand-to-hand combat and can probably outmaneuver me in his sleep. An amused smile graces his lips, pulling it upward on one side in the cutest way. It sends the butterflies fluttering around in my lower belly, but under no circumstances can I let him know that.
“As soon as I get free, I swear—” His mouth crashes into mine, and just like that, all the fight in me is replaced with something else. “Don’t think this means you’re off the hook.”
He smiles against my lips. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
16
Sebastian leads me down an unfamiliar hallway and comes to a stop in front of a door at the very end. He pulls a small set of tools out of an inside pocket in his jacket, then kneels
down in front of the doorknob. A soft click fills the silence around us, and a self-satisfied smirk lights up his face. “Like taking candy from a baby.”
He twists the knob. It doesn’t budge an inch. Shoulder pressed against the door, he tries again with a little more force, the grin slipping from his features. The moment he steps back, a series of familiar blue sigils flare around the edge of the door before disappearing back into the frame. He throws his head back with a huff. “He had it spelled. Smart.”
My fingers reach out of their own accord. I know these symbols. They’re the same ones my mom used to lock us in the attic the night the bounty hunter came for me. They flicker under my touch, reaching out to the magic humming within my veins. Foreign words I somehow know tumble from my lips. Each sigil alights, then fades like a string of dominos falling over. The door pops open a crack.
“How did you know how to counteract the spell?” Sebastian stares at me with wide-eyed wonderment. It reminds me of the way he looked at me in detention when I told him most of my secrets, or when he asked how I’d saved his life after he was nearly killed by a baseball bat-wielding vampire right before he kissed me for the first time.
Now, and both times before, there was never any fear in his eyes, only awe. But I was—and still am—a quivering mess inside because, honestly, I don’t know how I do the things I do. According to my cousins, magic should take practice, and knowledge, and years of crafting spells, but with me, it seems almost inherent sometimes. I just randomly know things, even though I have no idea how I know them. And while it may be impressive to Sebastian, it scares the crap out of me because if I am the kind of witch who can cast with intent alone like Jack says, what’s to stop me from taking things too far again like I did with the sanguinary spell? Or from flooding the town with constant rainstorms when my emotions get out of control?
What’s to stop me from becoming a dark witch when I don’t have to rely on spell craft to slow me down long enough to think about what I’m doing?
“You okay?” Sebastian takes me by the arm, pulling me into the darkness of Gavin’s office. Closing the door with his free hand, he faces me in the dark. I can’t see anything other than the outline of his body mere inches from my own.
Of Darkness & Light: Blood Descent Book 2 Page 16