As soon as everyone gives in to Ella’s demand, we continue through the mall.
“FYI—my parents gave me the thumbs up for an end-of-the-year party,” Caroline announces.
Suzy and Cloe exchange a baffled look.
“What changed their minds?” Katie asks.
“My mom convinced my dad that I’m nothing like my brother and none of my friends are going to sneak booze into their house.”
“It’s been a year since the famous bash.” Ella sighs. “They need to get over it. Besides, what fun is a party without alcohol?”
“Don’t even think about it, Ella,” Caroline warns. “I don’t want to spend the next year grounded from my car.”
Ella smiles, her expression void of any warmth as she glances at her French manicured nails. “Hey...didn’t Rachel Martin hook up with your brother at that party?”
“Rachel’s been with half the guys at school.” Cloe grimaces.
“Say what you want, but she scored with Brandon and now she’s dating the other hottest guy in school,” Ella points out.
“Yeah.” Caroline turns to Ella and sticks out her bottom lip. “I’d give anything to be Dylan’s girlfriend.”
“You and me, both.” Ella throws her arm around Caroline, sliding a sideways glance at her. “Although if you think about it, Rachel has been with your brother and with Dylan. That’s pretty gross for you. You should probably reconsider.”
“You’re disgusting!” Caroline shrieks and pushes Ella away.
“Hey Lucy, ten o’clock.” Katie elbows me in the side. “Isn’t that Marcus Turner, your super hot upstairs neighbor?”
It takes me a minute to get her directional reference, but I spot him exiting the music store. He’s walking in our direction.
“My first love…” Katie sighs.
“You and hundreds of other girls.” Suzy laughs.
“What do you mean?” I ask without taking my eyes off him.
“We all went to the same middle school and nearly every girl there was in love with him,” Suzy says. “We were all so depressed he went to St. Pat’s.”
“St. Pat’s?”
“An all-boys private Catholic school.” Katie pouts. “Some crazy rumors went around about him being a freak, but I never heard anything specific.” She sighs. “Such a waste.”
Freak? Hardly. It’s totally stupid, I know, but I can’t help the sad, heavy feeling that washes over me knowing Marcus and I won’t attend the same school. “I don’t know where I’m going yet.”
Katie tugs on my arm. “You’ll be a sophomore, right? I’ll be a sophomore, too, at St. Aquinas Academy. We all will. It’s co-ed, so there’s boyfriend potential. Maybe you can tell your uncles you want to go there?”
“Katie, you shouldn’t get Lucy’s hopes up. Tuition at St. Aquinas is pretty expensive.”
There’s no missing Ella’s message. She’s putting me in my place. I reconsider turning her into a roasted marshmallow.
“I’ll mention it to them.” My gaze follows Marcus as he pulls a CD from a bag and studies the back of it. “How long has he lived at my Gram’s…I mean my uncles’ place?”
“He and Aiden—the older brother—moved in about three years ago. My mom thinks Aiden is totally gorgeous,” Katie says.
“What about their parents?”
“No one really knows,” Suzy says. I catch Ella staring at me and let the subject drop.
I try to figure out how Marcus and I hadn’t run into each other three years ago when I remember that I was only here for a week and a half that summer before Momma cut the trip short. Gram argued, but Momma won by threatening to cut off my visits permanently.
Gram drove me home the next day—ten and a half hours straight—and when we walked into the trailer, we found the place trashed. Dishes were smashed. My two plants had been thrown against a wall and lay dead on the floor. Momma, filthy, with a deranged look in her eyes, slumped on dirt-strewn linoleum.
“Fix me!” Momma screamed at Gram. “I know you can, goddammit!”
I shake off the memory. “I could’ve had him if I wanted to.” Ella says. Her eyes are glued to Marcus.
I hide my disgust. Marcus shoves the CD back in the bag and continues across the mall. I’m rooted to the spot. He’s about to pass our group when he notices me. He does a double take and then scans the faces of my companions.
“Lucy.” One word—so simple—and every inch of my skin tingles. I feel energized. I return his smile, taking in all six-foot-two-blue-jeans-black-Pearl Jam-t-shirt-inches of him.
“Marcus.” As we stare at each other, everything else…everyone else…disappears. It’s just us.
Until Ella clears her throat. Twice.
“It’s good to see you Marcus.” She beams at him, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. “We went to middle school together. Ella Thompson.”
Her voice. The casual flip of her hair. The smile…flirty, sexy and full of confidence. I hate her for it. Her hand reaches out to touch him again and I fight the urge to smack it away. My belly bubbles. Just one little zap. Surely that wouldn’t hurt her permanently or anything right? I take deep breaths. No, I’ve got to keep it under control.
“Yeah…sure. Good to see you again.” He nods politely, removes her hand, and returns his attention to me. “I have to go, but…can we talk later? It’s important.”
I nod, forget how to breathe. “Sure.”
“Text me.” He leans in slightly, his voice soft, and I inhale his amazing smell. Cologne? Shower gel? It’s intoxicating. I wobble a little. “We can meet on the roof.”
He pulls out his phone and I whip out mine, an early birthday present from my uncles. I suppress a smile as I recall Bernard’s annoyance that Sheldon couldn’t wait one week to give it to me on my actual birthday. After Marcus and I exchange numbers, I watch him merge into the crowd. I turn back to the girls and my cheeks flush as I meet Ella’s hostile glare.
* * * *
First my uncles pushed me to hang out with Katie and her friends. Now that I have plans, they’re throwing a wrench in them. Not that I’m complaining. I’m not sure I’m ready for another day with them. Especially Ella.
“Can’t I meet with Gram’s attorney next week?” Does he want to meet with me about Gram’s estate, like Sheldon and Bernard previously told me? Or about something witchy?
Sheldon drains his wine glass. “I’m afraid not. He wanted to meet you sooner, but this is the first date that works with our schedules.”
“Then I’ll cancel with the girls,” I offer, twirling linguini around my fork.
Bernard lays his hand on Sheldon’s arm. “Is it really necessary for us to be there? Maybe Lucy could stop on her way to the beach?”
When I talk to Marcus later, I’ll find out if he wants to go to the beach, too. Then I remember Ella’s comment that she could’ve had Marcus if she wanted him. Dinner swirls in my stomach and I set down my fork, not able to eat anymore.
Sheldon eyeballs my plate. “You’re not leaving the table until you finish your dinner.”
“He’s trying to fatten you up,” Bernard says with a grin.
“Fine by me, especially if it means I have to eat lots of ice cream and pie.”
After helping Sheldon and Bernard clean the kitchen, I call Katie, who in turn calls Caroline, who says it’s absolutely fine that we make a stop on our way to the beach, so long as I don’t take too long.
I head to my room to go through my clothes and figure out what to wear to Mr. Klein’s office. Something nice that will hide the bathing suit underneath. I push open my door and pause as a tingly sensation erupts at the back of my neck and races down my arms and legs. Scanning the room, I notice my window is wide open. The screen is pushed up, too.
I hesitate for a moment before crossing to the window and poking my head out. My heart pounds in my chest. The hosta plants directly below don’t look trampled. The rest of Gram’s yard looks normal, too, at least as far as I can tell. After pulling the
screen down and locking it in place, I check out my room again. My closet door is wide open. I’m certain it was closed before dinner.
I return to the kitchen and my uncles.
“Were either of you looking for something in my closet?”
“No,” Sheldon says, loading dishes into the dishwasher. “Why?”
“My closet was closed before dinner, but I just found it open.”
“You probably left it open and forgot.” Bernard points to Sheldon’s chest. “I can’t believe you did it again.”
“But…my window was open, too.” Bernard dabs at the pasta sauce on Sheldon’s shirt with a paper towel and complains about how hard he works to keep Sheldon’s clothes clean.
Unless I turn into a Tide stain stick, they aren’t going to be interrupted so I return to my bedroom and text Marcus. Can you talk? I have a problem.
He texts back immediately. What’s wrong?
Did he know about Gram and Persephone?
Someone’s been in my bedroom.
Staring at my phone, I bite my bottom lip and wait for his response.
I jump as something hits my window screen.
“Lucy!”
I look out the window. Marcus is standing in the yard.
“Open up.”
Squeezing the tabs at the bottom of the screen, I push it up as far as it’ll go. After I step back, Marcus climbs inside. Good thing I live on the first floor. I close my bedroom door, hoping the pasta stain discussion is enough to keep my uncles occupied.
I tell Marcus about the open screen and closet door. I shove my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels. It’s impossible to act nonchalant with him standing in the middle of my bedroom. What if my uncles hear his voice and burst in? How would I explain this?
Marcus surveys the room, a look of concentration on his face. He pokes his head inside my closet. “Anything missing?”
I shake my head. “Not that I can tell.” The box I shipped from Lexington containing family photos, post cards, Momma’s old letters and my knife is still on the shelf, taped shut. My clothes and shoes are all there.
Marcus turns to me, looking worried. “You’re meeting with Henry Klein tomorrow, right?”
“How did you know?” What is it with this guy?
“Tell him about this.” He ignores my question as he surveys my room again.
My posture stiffens. Who is he to tell me what to do when he won’t even tell me how he knows all this stuff? Maybe I shouldn’t have texted him in the first place.
Marcus pulls out his cell phone.
“Aiden, it’s me. Is Persephone still with you?” Marcus’ eyes travel from me to the window, his voice low. “Yes, someone’s been in here, but not…” his gaze returns to me, “who we thought.”
I narrow my eyes at him. What does he mean? Who did they think would break into my room? And why are they talking about me behind my back? A flash of heat passes along my palms. I shove them deeper into my pockets.
“It’s a demon. I can feel traces of him, but...”
Demon? I cup my elbows in my hands, hugging them close to my body in an effort to hide my trembling. “Yes, a powerful one.”
Demon?
“No, she said nothing’s missing.”
I jerk my head up and down in confirmation, trying not to freak out.
“He’s gone. Of course I’m sure.” Marcus rolls his eyes. “I agree…Yes, I’ll do that...I was thinking the whole night. Yes, I know what that means.” He clenches his jaw. “Yeah, yeah…I got it.”
Marcus ends the call and roughly shoves his phone into his pocket.
“Demon?” I ask, my voice shaking. “What do you mean… demon?”
He looks at me, trying to figure out what to say. We both whip our heads toward the door at the sound of my uncles’ voices.
“Meet me on the roof.”
“Okay. Now go,” I whisper urgently as I raise the screen and wave him out.
I close the screen as someone knocks on my door. Bernard pokes his head in.
“We’re about to watch a movie. Want to join us?”
I try to look at ease. “Would you mind if I hang out with Marcus on the roof for a little while instead?”
Bernard studies me for a minute. I imagine all kinds of thoughts racing through his mind.
“I promise I’ll be home before ten.”
His face relaxes. “Fine. Home before ten.”
Five minutes later I’m knocking on Marcus’ door. I swallow hard and remind myself that we’re just going to talk.
Marcus opens the door and my stomach drops. I pause to allow my shuddering knees to settle before I trust my legs to carry me across the threshold.
The living room is modest. Just a brown couch, an armchair the color of hot chocolate and a coffee table. A guitar is propped in the corner between the chair and a low wooden cabinet topped with a TV. Does it belong to Marcus or Aiden? I glimpse the kitchen off to the right, furnished with four mismatched chairs set around a simple square table.
This isn’t a date. So why am I about to hyperventilate? Why can’t I quit picking at my fingernails?
“It’s really cool out here.” Marcus climbs out the living room window onto a small balcony. I follow him. “Come on up.” He says over his shoulder and I watch as he grabs hold of the railing mounted to the brick and climbs to the roof and over the iron railing. I grab the cold metal and pull myself up. I’ve been to the roof many times, but never by this route. He grabs my hand to help me up and I’m disappointed when he lets go.
It’s quieter than I remember. I stand at the ledge and stare down at the street, trying to ignore my quaking insides. Most of the houses on the block are dark and I’m guessing people are either in bed or watching TV. Among the oaks, maples and ash in our front yard, there’s the Japanese maple Gram planted when I was young. It’s weeping branches and ruby red leaves make it my favorite.
“You know about your grandmother and Persephone being witches?”
I nod, eager to hear more and to learn about the demon that broke into my room.
“Well, they’re supernatural beings and their powers are for good.” He watches me, as if gauging my reaction to his words. “Demons are also supernatural beings, but they generally use their powers for evil.”
My temper flares. “Really Marcus? You’re going to stand here and talk to me like I’m stupid?” Marcus looks upset and tries to interrupt me, but I plow ahead. “Why don’t you start off by telling me what a demon looks like? That would be helpful for me to know, since one has broken into my bedroom!” My stomach rolls and my palms tingle. “Tell me something useful. Like…do demons have fangs and claws and devil horns? Do they walk upright or on four legs? Are they hairy or not?”
Marcus sighs, a look of frustration on his face. “First off, I didn’t mean to talk down to you. I just don’t want you to freak out. Second, demons don’t have any of that. They look and act like a normal person. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. But don’t kid yourself, demons are very dangerous.”
I shiver. “Why would a demon be in my bedroom? In my closet?” I’m gulping air, but can’t quite fill my lungs. “Is he looking for something or is he just…after me?” Suddenly, this is all too much. Marcus swims in my vision and I reach out for the railing.
Marcus moves closer, pulls me into his arms and I go limp. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay. Take a deep breath.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on the feel of his warm body against mine. I breathe in his minty, musky scent and it’s like magic. I want to stay pressed against him but I make myself pull away. I have to get some answers.
“What did Persephone say on the phone?” I ask.
“That was Aiden. He wanted to know if I could tell who it was.”
I wave my hands in frustration. “Of course he wanted to know that. And just how exactly were you supposed to be able to tell? Do you have some sort of demon directory?”
Marcus purses his lips. It
’s not a difficult question, so I don’t understand his hesitation.
“I have heightened senses. Can we leave it at that?”
I shake my head in disbelief and laugh harshly. “So you’re supernatural, too? Just to clarify, do you use your powers for good or evil?”
Marcus looks annoyed but then so am I.
“Look, just forget it okay? We need to focus on figuring out why someone risked sneaking into your room.”
I laugh. “Sure, that’s priority one with all the other weirdness going on around here.”
Marcus grabs the railing and slides one leg over. His way of saying our conversation is over. “It is the priority and because it is, I’ll be spending the night with you.”
Chapter Eight
-Persephone-
“You made record time,” I say without turning around. The breeze lifts my hair, chills my skin. I peer over the edge of the roof, searching.
“He’s gone? Marcus is sure?” Henry asks as he approaches. I recognize the strain in his voice. He is afraid for Lucy, like he used to be for Vera. He is never afraid for me. The familiar ache spreads throughout my body. My limbs feel heavy.
“He is, but…” I turn to face him. “Marcus says this is someone new.”
Henry pauses mid-step. His gaze turns hard. “We have two demons to contend with?”
Chapter Nine
Once I recover from my shock, I climb down to Marcus’ apartment to demand some real answers, but he just blows me off. I insist that we aren’t having a sleepover. He escorts me through his apartment and then shuts the apartment door in my face, right after he informs me that he will see me after my uncles go to sleep. Okay, so it’s not like I don’t want him in my room, because I do, but it’s the reason he’s going to be there. As a babysitter. If somebody would just give me some answers, I’m sure I could handle this demon on my own, but nobody trusts me, and that’s what bugs me the most. My whole life I had taken care of myself. Momma, too. Now I have my uncles forcing me to clean my plate like a toddler and some do-gooder rushing in to rescue me at the first hint of a potential problem. So what if Marcus looks great being my knight in shining armor? The point is, I don’t need a knight—shining or otherwise. No way am I letting Marcus spend the night.
The Girl and The Raven Page 4