by Abra Ebner
Another sweet chill fell over me, and I didn’t know if it was from the thrill of forgetting, or something else. I shut my eyes, indulging my mind.
“Max?” I asked again. “Please?”
The chill grew stronger. I opened my eyes, but again, no one was there.
“Why are you doing this?” I asked, but deep inside, I already knew the answer. Just then, something white caught my eye on the stool beside me. I twisted my head, my heart leaping into my throat. There was a paper crane sitting there, facing forward as though it had been there all along. I couldn’t help but smile.
I reached for it slowly, relishing the moment as I unfolded its wings.
I have to fix this. That’s what you want.
That’s all that matters.
I ran my hand over the letters, the ink still fresh. It was my fault he wouldn’t let me see him. I had been right. My request for him to fix this had not been taken lightly. I should have known enough about his nature to understand that he wouldn’t come back until all of my requests were fulfilled. I lifted my head, feeling more alone than before—he was punishing me.
The door to the lab opened suddenly. I jumped, crinkling the paper in my hand to hide it. Navia waltzed in. I could not escape her.
“Seriously. Why are you here?” She snorted—albeit gracefully. “I think I’ve had enough of this school stuff for today, how about you?” Her eyes grazed the room, looking sharp.
I had to agree. “Yeah.”
She sat on the stool beside me, looking at the paper in my hand. “What’s that?”
I squeezed the wad of paper tighter, the ring on my finger burning into it. “Just a note.”
Navia crossed her legs and folded her hands on her knees, looking like a politician on stage. “From?” The corner of her mouth curled.
My mouth mimicked hers. “Max.”
She leaned back, her mouth forming an ‘o’.
“What?” I accused.
Navia giggled. “Love letter?”
I laughed once. “Hardly.” My fingers felt the sharp crinkles of the note as began rolling it over my fingers.
“Well…” She placed her hand on mine. “I have just the thing to get your mind off it. I was just invited to a Halloween party Friday night, and I think we should go. Finding the right costume is enough to keep you distracted for days, trust me.”
I tried to be happy about it, at least for her sake, but there was no hiding my continued sadness.
Navia sighed. “I want to help you feel better.” She paused. “Have you had a chance to think about what I said?”
“About?” I was in no mood to remain sharp about everything she’d mentioned in the last forty-eight hours, especially given the added factor of champagne.
“About the whole becoming an angel thing?” she reminded me pertly, as though it was obvious.
“Oh… uh…”
Navia didn’t let me finish. “Just think. It would solve all your problems. You’ll no longer be Max’s guarded, so you know what that means, and you’ll live as long as he does.”
I let the thought take hold. “How will I find someone to save? It’s not like people just drop dead everyday in Glenwood Springs, let alone from an event requiring saving.”
She brought her finger to her chin. “Well, then save me.”
“You?” I leaned forward, holding back a laugh. “How does that work? Are you in need of saving?”
Navia shrugged. “I don’t know. I could be.”
“No, you’re practically immortal. I know because you have no death.” I shivered. What I was doing was considering my own death, and it felt awkward talking about it as though it were a plan to go to the mall or something.
“I could still die if I wanted to. How about I jump from a cliff, and you break my fall?”
I burst out laughing. “Navia! That’s weird.”
She giggled. “I know, right? And so typical. I just love cliffs, though.” She tapped her finger on the table, her words so out of place in the world I once knew. “How do people die these days?”
I stopped laughing. “I dunno. I suppose in car accidents, fires, falling down the stairs.”
“Drowning!” Navia jumped up. “Drowning! I’ll drive a car into the river and you can save me.”
I swallowed. I always thought that drowning would be the worst way to die. “That doesn’t guarantee I’ll die, though.”
She shrugged. “Well, just be sure you do! It shouldn’t be that painful. Just jump in before you take a breath.”
I shook my head. “But isn’t it a little too… staged?”
Navia frowned. “Yeah. You’re right. We need to find a real someone to save.”
“This is beginning to sound like an impossible idea.”
Navia bit her lip. “I thought this would be easier.”
“Yeah, well. If it were easier, we’d have a lot of angels, right?” I laughed. “And a lot of dead people,” I added.
Navia was staring into the distance. “I’ll come up with something,” she murmured. “Don’t worry.”
Wes:
Sitting in the driveway, I shut the car off. “Okay, Emily, this is it.”
Emily laughed. “You make it sound so… daunting.”
Having Emily meet a sister I’d only known for a handful of days was daunting. Luckily for me I had put it off, but it came at an expense. Every night with Lacy had felt like a barrage of grenades, her pestering to meet Emily so constant, I had to give in. Emily had also pestered me, but at least understood that I wanted the chance to understand my sister for the sake of safety. Lacy was wild, and if she decided she hated Emily as much as she suggested, I was afraid Lacy would hurt her.
I smiled nervously, putting my hand on hers. “Let’s just say she’s a little strong willed.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “And I’m not?”
I bowed my head. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” I murmured. Listening to Lacy go on and on about how wrong it was to date someone that wasn’t a shifter was bad enough. The simple act of introducing Emily to Lacy at all was pure madness.
Emily got out of the car before I was ready. My body felt like a lead weight. Emily crossed her arms, staring at me through the windshield. Her mouth formed the words ‘come on’, though I couldn’t hear her. The nerves in my stomach made the muscles in my arms begin to ache, seeping across my skin in a wave of carnal need—carnal fear. It was a pack, or flock thing, I suppose. Emily and I had become a sort of pack, but Lacy and I were a pack by blood. I didn’t want to be put in the position to choose between the two. But I was getting ahead of myself—they hadn’t even met.
I swallowed down another animal instinct that was rising inside me—the need to run. Opening the door, I stepped out. Emily met me at the hood, locking her arm with mine as though to say, ‘you’re not getting out of this’.
“It’s going to be fine, Wes. Everyone loves me.” Her naked lashes fluttered innocently.
Emily’s skin against mine felt soothing. She was right, everyone did love her. Her powers of persuasion were impeccable, and where it’s probably her ability to read minds that assisted that talent, it worked, and that’s all that mattered.
We walked together up the path and onto the porch, Emily’s paper bag of extra clothes swinging at her side. Just as I went to grasp the door knob, it flew right out of my hand. The door swung open, far faster than I knew Gladys could possibly move—but it wasn’t Gladys. We were face to face with an excited Lacy, her hair fluttering in the wind that had been created by the force of opening the door.
“Hi!” She yelped, her body swimming in a pair of my basketball shorts and long T-shirt.
Emily looked surprised at first, but quickly collected herself. “Hello.”
“You must be Emily.” Lacy stepped forward until their noses practically met. Lacy’s eyes were narrow, seemingly inspecting Emily’s very soul. “Hmmmm.” She stepped away.
Emily tilted her head. “Hmmmm, what?” she demanded.
<
br /> I felt my heart rate surge to life.
Lacy slouched onto one hip. “Hmmmm, you’re pretty. That’s all.”
Emily nodded slowly, a look that meant she wasn’t buying Lacy’s vague explanation. “Right, well… so are you.”
I was trying to understand what was going on. I wasn’t so naïve to take it for face value. There was some sort of ‘fluffing of feathers’ that was happening somewhere I couldn’t see.
After another moment of staring down Emily, Lacy turned to me. “I like her, I guess.” She shrugged. “Even if she isn’t one of us.” Lacy flashed Emily a look. This was going to be an impossible afternoon.
Emily snorted. “Gee, thanks.”
I tried to change the subject. “I thought I told you to stay in my room?”
Lacy’s demeanor changed. She pouted. “I was going to, but it’s been days that I’ve been locked up in there. Do you know how boring that is?” She closed her eyes with a delighted look on her face. “I smelled something good from downstairs.” Her hands were squeezed into fists in front of her. “Human. Food. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had human food?” Her eyes opened wide.
I lifted my brows. “No. I guess I didn’t consider it.” I was being sarcastic.
Lacy frowned at me. “Anyway, I figured Gladys wouldn’t freak out too much, and she didn’t. Just a little scream, but she got over it once I explained myself. At first she actually thought I was you.” Lacy glared at Emily once more. “Her vision apparently isn’t very sharp. I don’t see the resemblance.”
Emily rolled her eyes.
“You both have red hair,” I offered. But in truth, there was a lot of resemblance. “I could see the mix up.”
A disgusted snort passed Lacy’s lips. She didn’t need me making up reasons.
Emily crossed her arms. “I thought you liked me,” she challenged.
Lacy pressed her lips together, her pose mimicking Emily’s. “Like is not love, missy. If you were a shifter, then maybe you’d get an upgrade, but you’re just a mind-reader, a cheap trick.”
A sharp breath passed Emily’s lips. She turned away from Lacy, looking as though she was about to storm off toward home.
I conveyed to Lacy a look of anger and disappointment.
Lacy silently tried to protest, but soon gave in. She reached out and grasped Emily’s arm, stopping her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that. I just…”
Emily furiously twisted back to face her.
Lacy searched for the right words. “I just get used to things being a certain way—traditional, or at least what I know as traditional.” She released her grip on Emily’s arm. “I guess things are different here.”
I gave Lacy one last glare. Her excuse was good, but not good enough.
Lacy grumbled at me, and then sighed. “Please, don’t go.” She said it with as little enthusiasm as I could see possible.
Emily’s eyes flashed with a competitive spark. “Fine.” Her stance screamed defensiveness, and I could see she was formulating some sort of plan—Emily always bit her lip when she was. “But I’m not letting you borrow my clothes.” She pulled the paper bag behind her back.
I shut my eyes and drew in a long, deep breath, trying to remain sane.
Lacy gasped dramatically. “What! Why?”
Emily gasped right back. “Because you’re a brat!”
Lacy set her jaw in determination, attempting but failing to look benign.
Emily ignored it. “Be nice, and maybe I’ll lend you one thing that I brought.”
I could practically hear Lacy’s teeth grind together. This wasn’t going well, but at least Emily hadn’t bolted. I heard Gladys then, her voice low, but demanding.
“Would you all just calm down!” She came to the door, opening it wide until she could fit in the frame beside Lacy. “I may be old and slow, but my hearing ain’t.”
Emily looked surprised by Gladys’s sudden authority.
“You all sound like a bunch of badgers in a fight. Go on now, play nice.” She squeezed Lacy and Emily together, collecting them in a group hug. “That’s nice, yes?” Her voice was muffled as she spoke into Lacy’s chest. Leaning away, Gladys’s frail frame had to be supported by the handle of the door. Her beady gaze found mine. She was beaming. “Glad to have your sister home? Glad to be what you are?”
I grinned despite the fact that I was angry that they’d never told me about my genes, or that Lacy was even alive to begin with. But, as Lacy claimed, perhaps they just didn’t know about Lacy’s status, or that I had made the transition. “I am, ma’am.”
Gladys’s smile sank, her once kind eyes narrowed. “Then act like it.” She turned and stormed back into the house with as much ‘storm’ as an old lady could muster.
I stood there, stunned by her sudden sauciness.
Lacy and Emily both giggled discreetly, eyeing each other.
“Whatever,” I huffed.
Avery:
“Greg?” I whispered as I reached the wood. I’d left Jane at home, her attitude having turned all sulky and doubtful since Monday—I hated it. Having a pet was becoming more work, all of a sudden. I was glad she would be gone soon. “Greg?” I called again, a little annoyed that he hadn’t immediately appeared. I heard a branch rub gently, a sound so minute, but not of nature.
“What?”
I twisted to meet Greg’s gaze as he peered out from behind a tree. He had been sitting behind it. He flicked a leaf on the ground until it crumbled.
I rounded toward him.
“I need you to get Emily. We need a sacrifice,” I barked.
Greg didn’t bother to move. “No.” His voice sounded irritated. He was used to being the ringleader, not the henchman.
I put my hand on my hip. “Excuse me?”
He looked up. “No. I don’t want to... I can’t.”
I shook my head, looking to the sky. “What do you mean you can’t? Do you love her or something? Don’t want to see her dead?”
His eyes narrowed, and in that small gesture, I saw that he really did love her, though he wasn’t about to admit it. “No. that’s not it. It’s because of what happened a few weeks ago with some snake incident. She’s poisonous to me now. I can’t touch her,” he said simply.
I grumbled. Why hadn’t I known that? I refused to let it stop me. “Find a way. I need you to threaten her life so that Jane can take her place. You know, be the hero and die doing it.”
Greg suddenly looked more intrigued. “You mean, attempt to kill Emily, but then I’ll get to kill Jane instead?”
I nodded.
A sly smile snaked across his face. “Why didn’t you say that before? In that case, I’ll find a way to take Emily.”
I nibbled my bottom lip. Not that taking Emily was really going to bother him much, I thought. “What makes killing Jane so enticing to you? What’s your beef with my pet?”
“Your pet?” He lifted one brow mockingly.
I growled at him.
His mockery retreated. “Same reason it’s enticing for you—I want to hurt Max.” He pulled his feet under him, lifting himself off the ground. “I’ve wanted to kill Jane since I failed to years ago. I hate the fact that she makes him so happy.” His face was twisted with loathing, brushing the leaves off his pants. “And she’s annoying.”
I laughed. “Wait, you’ve tried to kill Jane before? Why didn’t you tell me that?”
He shrugged. “You didn’t ask. Besides, I figured it was common knowledge that I don’t like her. I don’t just hate from a distance. I typically like to do something about it.”
I stared blankly. “I’d considered a lot of things as to your hatred toward her, but not that. I mean, I never knew you’d made the attempt to kill her. I knew you wanted to kill her, but I didn’t know you’d actually tried. I’m impressed.”
He approached me, looking smug about the fact. Based on his pause, I could tell he was relishing it. “I had lots of reasons to hate that girl, long before Max, even. Her family
was mixed-breed. The mother was human, her father was magickal, and not just that, but a member of the Priory. I killed her father, John. I hoped to kill the whole family, but when Max stepped in and stopped me—”
“That was when he made her his guarded, isn’t it?” I interrupted. “When you killed her father, and then tried to kill her. I mean I knew he had saved her, but I didn’t realize it was a result of something you did. This just keeps getting better and better! What a small world!”
“I know.” He was idly fiddling with his fingers. “That’s why I agreed to help you. It was servicing my own cause—my unfinished business of killing her, or at least that’s what I hoped your end game was.”
“Well, that is my end game. Happy?”
“Very.”
I allowed my excitement to sink in. “So, then you have no problems and we’re on the same page.”
“We are.”
I smiled wide. “I want you to take Emily on Friday, after the Halloween party. I’ll get Jane sloppy on spring champagne. She’s gullible that way. Friday will be our night, the perfect night. I just love the way death sounds on Halloween. I’ve always wanted to try it. What better way to celebrate the day of the dead than with murder, or should I consider it sacrifice?”
“Both,” Greg answered confidently, an annoying twang to his voice.
“Go now.” I shooed him, growing tired of his face.
He didn’t look very impressed by it. “As you wish.” His eyes rolled as he turned away from me.