The Awakening
Page 43
tomelthere,andifyouimpresssomeonewithatrick,theygiveyouaribbon.”
“Sowhydoyouhavesomany?Youcan’tmelt.”
“Imaynothavethegift,butIstillhaveplentyoftricks,ifyouknowwhatI
mean.”Hesmirked,stumblingdrunkenlytohissideandnearlycrashingintoa
shirtless woman. “Hey, when you blow this joint, do you think I could ride back with you guys? I tried checking in at the Pier Lorent, but the front desk trollsaidtherewasn’ta singleroomavailable.Itoldhermoneywasnoobject.
Ieventhrewoutthewhole‘Don’tyouknowwhoIam?’spiel,andstillnodice.
EitherthatplaceisthehottestspotinSoCal,orthatladywasfullofmoreshit
thanapublictoilet.”
Jasonshrugged.“Wewalkedhere.”
“Youtwoareuseless,didyouknowthat?”Somethingcaughthiseye,andhe
noddedatthecrowd.“Look.”
Agrouphadformedbesidethem,allcirclingoneman;hewasskinnyand
feeble,withhisballspracticallyhangingoutofhisskimpyshorts,buthisarms
andneckwerecoveredinribbons,lacedacrosshisbodylikerowsof
rainbows.AsEvelookedon,themanstaredatapennyrestinginhishand,his
eyeslazyandrelaxed;slowly,thepennylevitatedfromhispalm,gliding
throughtheairandfloatinghighabovethecrowduntilitdisappeared
somewhereinthewarehouse.Hisaudienceapplaudedexcitedlyandtiedtheir
ribbonsacrosshisalready-decoratedarms.
“Youtwowouldsmokethathammer,”Percyscoffed.“Lookathimwithhis
damnpenny.Whatajoke.”
Evewashardlyconcernedwiththeleveloftalentintheroomandsimply
watchedasotherchimerasmeltedshotglassesandjewelryandmaybeeventhe
occasionalshoeiftheywereespeciallydaring.Afteramomentofquiet
observation, she felt herself smiling. There was a place for people like her, however tacky and rundown it may be—a place where her gift was seen as a goodthing.Anactual gift.
Jasonapproachedherfrombehind,slidinghishanddownherneck,across
her shoulder and around her waist. He whispered into her ear. “You want to dance?”
TheynudgedtheirwaythroughthemassofpeopleasPercytrailedclosely behind,hisfocussplitbetweenthemandwhoeverelsecaughthisattention.
Theypickedaspot—justaslightopeninginthecrowd,hardlyroomforone,
let alone three—and began dancing with the rest of the misfits, their bodies pressed against one another as they swayed to the pulsing sound. The purple andpinklightsshinedthroughthecrowd,illuminatingeachandeverydancer
withthesamefluorescentglowuntilthehordeofbodiesblendedtogetherinto
onemassive,growinglifeform.
Percycoollybobbedhisheadashedancedalongsideabeautifulmanwitha
chiseledbuild.EvelookedupatJasonwhostaredbackatherwithcaringeyes;
hereachedintohisjacketandpulledouttherosefromhisparty,nowflattened.
“Ibelievethisisyours.”Helookedatitandlaughed.“It’sseenbetterdays.”
Shepluckedtherosefromhisfingers,brokeitatthestem,andplaceditbehind
herear.“It’sbeautiful,”shesmiled.
Jasonwrappedhisarmsaroundher,bringinghercloseanddragginghis
fingers down the center of her back. He leaned into her, his lips brushing againsthersuntil—
“JasonValentine?”
Evepulledaway,hercheeksflushedwithembarrassment.Aportlymanwith
aroundbellyandanear-to-eargrinhadapproachedthem.
“Sorry,Iwasn’ttryingto…er,interrupt.You’reJasonValentine,right?”
Jasonnodded.“Yes,that’sme.”
“I knew it!”themanshouted,gleefully.“I knewitwasyou!”HegrabbedJason’s
handandshookitvigorously.“It’sanabsolutehonortomeetyou.”
“Pleasure’sallmine,I’msure,”Jasonchuckled.
Soonthemanwasjoinedbyotherpatrons—friendsofhisorstrangers,Eve
wasn’tsure,butonebyonetheyencircledJason,theireyeslargeandcurious.
“I’venevermetacelebritybefore,”themancontinued.
“I’mnota—”
“Andyou’rehereinatux,likeatruesuperstar.God,Ifeelsounderdressed.”
“Actually,Iwasatmy—”
“Mr.Valentine,itwouldmeanthe worldtomeifyou’dmeltforme.”
Jasonhesitated.“Oh,Idon’tknow—”
“Please,”themanpleaded.“Ithinkeveryonehere’sdyingtoseeit.”
Theotherspectatorschimedin,noddingtheirheadsinagreementand
slappingJasonacrossthebackasiftheywereoldbuddies.Percyruffled
Jason’shair.
“Givethepublicwhattheywant, Mr. Valentine.”
Jasonsmiledbashfully.Hestaredathisnewestfan,calminghissenseswithin
a fraction of a second. With a cock of his head, he sent the man floating smoothlyintotheair,hisfeetdanglingashespuninsoft,fluidcirclesuntilhe washighabovethecrowd.Theman’seyesbulgedandhelaughedaloud,
overjoyedbyhissuddenflight,theabsolutemostimpressivemeltthe
Meltdownhadeverbeenexposedto.
“My God,”hecried.“ThisisAMAZING!”
Thehordecheered;manytossedribbonsinJason’sdirectionwhileothers
scuttledtowardhimandtiedthemalonghisarms.JasonturnedtoEve;hewas
illuminatedwithafireshehadn’tseensincetheirtutoringsessionstogether.
“Ifyouguyswanttoseesomething reallyamazing,youhavetoseewhatmy girlfriendcando.”
“Girlfriend? God,ImissedalotwhenIleftthatparty,”Percymuttered.
JasongrabbedEve’shand.“Doit,Eve.Youdeservetoshowpeoplejusthow
powerfulyouare—howgoodyouareatwhatyoudo.Youdeservetobe
celebrated.”
EvelookedatJason,atPercy,atthecountlessotherfacesthatwatchedherwith
intrigue.Noonehereknewwhoshewas.That’sexactlywhatshehad
alwayswanted,afterall—tobeanonymousandunimportant.Herewasaroom
filledwithpeoplewho,foronce,sawherasnothingmorethanJason’s
girlfriend—thetall,spindlygirlwhowasincrediblyoverdressedforan
underground warehouse club. She could keep that image, hold on to it like it was all she had, and relish her fleeting affair with secrecy. Or, for once, she couldbe somebody—bewhoshetrulywas.
Thedecisionwaseasierthanshehadexpected.Sheliftedherhands—only
slightly,justatthewrists—andhervisionfadedfrompurpleandpinktoblack.
One by one, the people in front of her began to levitate, their feet slowly leavingthegroundandhoveringabovethefloor.Onebody,sevenbodies,
twenty-seven,thirty-five—shesenteveryoneinherlineofvisionrisinghigher
intotheairlikecolorfulangelsflyinguptotheceiling.Theycriedoutinawe; someworesilenttearsofjoy,othersshriekedwithexcitement.Soon,nearlythe
entireclubwasfloatinghighabovetheground,andEvewatchedfrombelow
ashundredsofribbonsineverycoloroftherainbowfellaroundher.Sheran
herhandalongthefloorandpickeduptheribbons—giftsfromthemisfitsjust
likeher.
Jasonrestedhischeekagainsthers.“Theyloveyou.”
“Noteveryone.”Percypointedacrossthedancefloor
.“Lookslikeyou’ve
gotahater.”
Thefloorwasnearlyempty,thankstoEve;onlyafewpatronsremained
standing, their gazes fixed on the bodies floating above them. Yet one man seemedtohavenointerestinthefloatingcrowd—hewas,instead,staring
directlyatEve.Hewastallandthin,cleanlydressedinablackfittedshirtand tie,andhiseyesexpressedasearingglarethatsentashudderofdreadrunning
through Eve. She tried to ignore him, but for whatever reason, she couldn’t help but study his rigid jaw, his stoic frame, and the beads of sweat forming alonghishairline.
“Whatacreeptasticfleshstick.That’sanevileyeifIeversawone—hecould
rival the kids at Billington, I’m sure,” Percy quipped. “And damn is that boy sweaty.”
Evechoked.“OhGod.”
Jasongrabbedherwrist,hisfacefrozenwithfear.“Putthemdown,Eve.”
“IfIputthemdown,we’lllosehim—”
“Whatareyouguystalkingabout?”Percyasked.
Herbreathcaughtshortasshestumbledoverthewords.
“He’sanInterloper.”
“SHIT—”
“Putthemdown rightnow,”Jasonrepeated.
Thepatronsfloatedslowlydowntothefloor,blockingEve’sviewofher
latestfoe.Theycrowdedaroundher,showeringherwithwordsofpraise,
desperate to meet or even just to touch the most powerful chimera they had everseen.
“Youneedtoleave,”Jasonshouted,franticallypleadingwiththecrowd.
“Youhavetogetoutofhere, NOW! ”
Evestrainedtoseeoverthemassofpeople,butitwasnouse;theygrabbed
adoringlyatherwristsanddressandhair,pushingherfartherandfartheraway
fromthemanshewassodesperatelysearchingfor.
“YOU’RENOTSAFE!”Jasonyelled.“YOUHAVETOLEAVE!”
“He’sgone,”Evecried,hervoicelacedwithpanic.“Ican’tseehim!”
Ashrillscreamsoundedinthebackoftheclub,followedbyaloudrumble
—thesoundofrunning,ofterrifiedpatronsstampedingtowardthestairs.
Peopleshovedpastoneanother,fightingtheirwaythroughthehorde,amass
oftangledlimbspressingurgentlytowardtheexit.
Boom. The ground shook, and dust spilled from the ceiling. Then another boom,louderandheavierthantheonebefore.Evebracedherself,standing
firmaspatronsjostledher,waitingfortheinevitabletocome.Finally,shesaw it—themassivewingsthatspreadhighabovethecrowd,thethrashingtalons,
thelarge,inkyeyesthatstaredather,andheralone.Withalong,gutturalroar, theInterloperchargedstraighttowardher.
“EVERYONE,OUTOFTHEWAY!”Evecommanded.“NOW! ”
Shethrustherarmsforwardandmeltedthecreature,slamminghimintothe
concretewalllikeamassive,flailingwreckingball.TheInterlopertoppledto
thefloor,fallingtohiskneesandstrugglingtoregainhisbalance.
Eveknewtherewasn’tmuchtime.Shehoisteduptheskirtofherdress,
fumblingwiththefabricuntilshefoundthegunshehadstrappedtoherthigh.
She looked up at the creature, who was now staring back at her, wearing a sinister smile that made her blood run cold. She pointed the gun and fired, aiming directly at his silver teeth, the needles spilling from his mouth and clangingtothefloor.Thealienstaggeredbackwardandletoutaprimalhowl,
andwithonequickswoop,hewhippedhisimmensewingforward,knocking
Eve,andherfirearm,tothefloor.
Jason reacted immediately, melting the Interloper from the ground and
pounding him against the wall, ramming the creature’s back into the surface untilmustard-coloredfluidoozedfromhisflesh.Jasonchanneledhispower
againandflungthealienacrossthewarehouse,slamminghimintothebar
countertopandsendingbrokenglassflyingacrosstheroomlikeshrapnel.
Justashefelldeeperintohismelt,Jasonfeltatugathiswrist.Helookedover toseeEvepullingherselffromthefloor,herlipbloodyandeyes
panicked.
“Don’t,”shepleaded.“Youhavetostop.”
“Why?”
ShepointedtotheInterloperashestumbledfromthebar.Attachedtotheback
ofhisheadwasasmall,metallicdevicewithaglowingbluebutton.
“Thebeacon.Weneedit.Wecan’triskitgettingdestroyed.”
Justasthewordsleftherlips,theInterlopershotupintotheair,beatinghis
wingsandhoppingfromwalltowall,hismovementssharpanderratic.
Suddenly,hebolteddowntothegroundoncemoreandgrabbedJason’s
shoulderswithhisclawedfeet,yankinghisbodyfromtheflooranddragging
him up toward the ceiling. Eve cried out in horror as she watched them soar overhead,andshescreamedagainwhenthecreaturereleasedhisholdon
Jason,sendinghimtumblingdownward.
Jason’sarmsflailedashefell,butbeforeEvecouldact,hishandfoundthe
staircaserailingandheldon—justbarely—stoppinghisdescent.Aswarmof
patrons immediately raced to his aid, working together to hoist him over the banister and onto the safety of the steps, while the Interloper continued to fly throughtheair,eyeingthehappeningsbelow.
EveturnedtoPercy.“Weneedtogethimgrounded.”
Percyreachedintohiscoatpocketandgrabbedhispistol.Hiseyespannedover
theroom,finallylandingonEve’sgun,whichsatinapileofrubbleinthe
corner.Hesmirked.
“I’monit.”
Withonefluidmovement,PercyslidacrosstheconcreteandpluckedEve’s
gunfromthefloor,swiftlypivotinginplacebeforefiringatorrentofbullets straightthroughthecreature’swings.Thealienflappeduncontrollably,
desperatetoremainintheair,butbuckledintherelentlesshailofgunfireand
plummetedtothegroundinamessyheap.
TheInterloperstumbledtohisfeet,shakingthebulletsfromhisfleshbefore
turning to Percy, his eyes fierce with loathing. With a grunt, he lunged at his new target, whipping his talons back and forth, but Percy ducked beneath his swingingarmsandpistol-whippedhisfoeacrosshisface.TheInterloper
lurchedtothesideand,withanirritatedglare,struckPercyinthejaw,sending himflying.
Eve’seyesdartedtoPercy—hewasconsciousatleast,pullinghimselffrom
thegroundandrealigninghisjaw—andthenshelookedbacktothebeacon.
Shebitherlip,kickedoffherheelsandfranticallyhikedherdressupherlegs.
“What the hell are you doing?” Jason yelled, fighting his way down the staircasetothewarehousefloor.
Evetookadeepbreath.“I’mgettingthatdamnbeacon.”Sheglancedat
Jason.“Don’tkillhimuntilIsayso.”
BeforeJasoncouldobject,EvepouncedontheInterloperfrombehind,
wrapping herself tightly around his neck and waist. The creature howled and thrashedhisarms,desperatetoshakeherfromhisbody,andinafitofragehe
plowed across the floor and leapt onto the wall, nearly trampling Jason and Percyintheprocess.Hescaledtheconcretesurface,digginghisclawsintothe
cement until he had reached the ceiling, and even then he clambered onto the rafters, where he hung upside down high above the club, Eve still clinging desperatelytohisback.
Eve’sbreathingbecameshallow
;shecouldfeelthebloodrushingtoher head,andherfingerswereslippingdownthealien’sslickskin.Thefloorwas
easilyfourstoriesbeneathher,andchimeraornot,adroplikethatwouldkill
her.
Theentireroomgaspedasthealienexpandedhistatteredwings,pushing
Eve’slegsfromhisbodyandsendingherwildlyswingingfromhisneck.She
dughernailsdeepintohisthroat,rippingathisskinuntilyellowbloodoozed
betweenherfingersanddrippeddownherarms,makinghergripthatmuch
moretenuous.Herhandswereslipping,fasternow;shetriedtoadjusthergrip,
butthecreatureshook,andherfingerscouldholdonnolonger—
Evefell.
ThepatronsscreamedinterrorasEveplummetedtowardtheground.The
nightclubwhirledinhervisionasthehardfloorraceduptomeether.
Thensuddenly,shestopped.Eveglancedfromsidetoside,expectingtofind
herselfinabloodypileonthefloor,butinsteadshewassuspendedinmidair,
floating twenty feet above the ground as if caught in an invisible net. She lookedbelowherandsawJason’sface,hiseyeswideandpetrified.
“Igotyou,”hesaid,hisvoicewavering.“Igotyou.”
Aroarsoundedbesideher—theInterloperwasclimbingdownthewall,his
talonsscrapingattheconcreteandsendingrubblesprayingacrosstheroom.
Hedroppedtotheground,landingonhisfeetwithaquakingboom,and
immediatelysethissightsonJasonandPercy.Percyraisedhisguns,butJason stoppedhim,pointingbrieflyatthebeacon,andtheybracedthemselvesasthe
creaturebarreledintheirdirection.
Eve’sheartpoundedinherchest.“TAKEMETOHIM,NOW!”
ShetorpedoedtowardthegroundandcollidedwiththeInterloper’sback,
sendingthebeaststumblingforward,hisfaceslammingintothefloor.Eve
wrappedherlimbsaroundtheInterloperasshehadbefore,shimmyinguphis
bodyandheadingstraightfortheglowingbeacon.
TheInterloperreactedquickly;hepouncedtohisfeetandscrambledtothe
wall yet again, and Eve knew it was only a matter of time before they were hanging from the ceiling once more. She climbed up the creature’s back and yankedatthebeacon,onlytofindthatitwasstuck,attachedtohisheadalmost