by Jenna Moreci
“Ofcourseshehasn’t.”Percyrolledhiseyes.“WhatthehellisEvesupposed
to say? ‘Hey Madison, I hear you want me dead. Is this for human or alien reasons?’”
“Itdoesn’tmatter,”Evegrumbled.“Talkingisn’tanoption.”
Sanchowrinkledhisnose.“Well,youhavetotalktoheroneofthesedays.
Youdo livetogether.”
“Notanymore.Shemovedout.”
“What?”Jasonasked.“Why?”
“Wesortofhadaconfrontation.”Evepaused,sinkinglowerinherchair.“I
might’vemeltedheragainstawall.Orsomething.”
Sanchogasped.“Balls.Betyou’reregrettingthatdecisionrightaboutnow.”
“Ididn’t knowshewasan alien whenIdidit.”
“Andwestilldon’tknowforcertain,”Jasonadded.“Theashesthingcould
justbeacoincidence.”
“Prettydamnsignificantcoincidence,”Evemuttered.
JJshrugged.“Well,theonlywaywe’llknowforsureisifwelightthebroad
onfire—”
“Orwecanjustcutheropen,”Jasonadded.
“Really? You two are proposing we shank or incinerate a well-known heiress?”Percylaughedunderhisbreath.“Enjoyyourlawsuit.”
“I’mjustsaying,EvecutherarmopenbackattheWildsinordertoprove
herhumanity.”
“Yeah,becauseIwas desperate,”Evesaid.“Ididn’tknowifitwouldactually proveanything.Istilldon’t.Whoknowswhatthesecondskindoesinternally?”
“So,whatarewesupposedtodo,then?”Sanchoasked.
“We’llkeepaneyeonMadison,”Eveanswered.“Ifshe isanInterloper, we’reatleastcluedintoit.Thatputsusonestepaheadofher.”
Percygrabbedhisbottleofscotchandpouredhimselfadouble.“Well,ifwe
can’t do anything about our blond basket case, let’s talk about something we can do.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”Eveasked.
“Weapons.”HetookaseatonthearmofEve’schair.“Weneednewones.”
“Seriously,”Jasonmumbled.“Wecan’thavearepeatofwhathappenedat
the Wilds. We came out alive, which means we did something right, but the wholethingwas—”
“Ashitstorm?”Percyfinished.
Jasonsighed.“Wewon,butbarely.Thereweretoomanyclosecalls.”
“Ittookatleasttwentybullets—andsome extremelyimpressiveshooting”—
Percy raised his eyebrows smugly—“to kill one Interloper.” He downed his drinkbeforehecontinued.“AndIcan’taskEvetogivemyammoaboost
everytimeIfireatthem.Weneedsomethingstronger—somethingmore
efficient.”
“Likewhat?”Sanchoasked.“Likebrass-tippedbullets?”
“That’snotgoingtocutit.”
“Whataboutcarbine?”
“Evenstronger.”
Eve’seyeswidened.Shesatuprightinherseat,struckbyanideashe
couldn’tbelieveshehadn’tconsideredlongbefore.
“Diamonds,”shedeclared,boldly.“Wecanusediamonds.”
JJlaughed.“That’sridiculous.Adiamondwouldshatteronimpact—”
“Thiswon’t.”Evesprangfromherseatanddugthroughhershoulderbag
untilshefoundit—thegiftfromMadisonaftertheirfirstweekofschool.She
heldthediamondbetweenherfingersanddisplayeditfortheotherstosee.
“It’san‘EverlastingDiamond.’Somesyntheticcrap,designedtobe
shatterproof.”
“Ashatterproofdiamond?”SanchosnatchedthejewelfromEve’shand,
studyingitclosely.“Ifthisisforreal,thenit’s exactlywhatweneed—
somethinghardenoughtocutthroughanysurface,buttoughenoughto
withstandanyimpact.It’sperfect—thatis,assumingthehypeisvalid.”
Jasonstoodfromtheloveseat.“Well,there’sonlyonewaytofindout.”
Withoutexplanation,hedisappeareddownthehallway,returningshortly
withsomethingdanglingfromhishand—ahammer.Hepluckedthediamond
fromSancho’spalmandresteditdelicatelyonthecoffeetable,analyzingthe
jewelasifassessingachallengingopponent.HestoppedandglancedatEve.
“Doyoumind?”heasked.
Eveshrugged.“Bemyguest.”
Jasonturnedtowardthediamondandraisedthehammerhighabovehis
head,squintinghiseyesashefocusedonthetiny,glitteringtarget.Withadeep
breath,hepoundedthejewel,sendingflecksofwoodsprayingacrosstheroom asthehammersmasheddeepintothepanelingofthecoffeetable.
“YouASS!”Percyshouted.“Thatwasacustomtable!”
“Sorry,man,I’mstillgettingusedtothiswholesuper-strengththing.”Jason
yankedthehammerfromthetableandeyedthedamage.“I’llpaytoreplaceit.”
“Itwasten thousanddollars!”
“JesusChrist, Percy!”
“LOOK!”Sanchocrawledalongthefloor,siftingthroughthesplintered
woodbeforerecoveringthegem.“Thediamond,it’sinonepiece!”
TheentiregroupgatheredaroundSancho,staringinwonderatthespotless,
immaculatejewel.
Jasonshrugged.“Looksshatterprooftome.”
“While I do hate to be a downer, I don’t think a hammer ’s going to do the trick,”JJadded.“Weneedtofireitfromaguninordertobesure.”
“Well,thankstothepatrolmen,wedon’t haveanyguns,”Percywhined.“The closestthingwehaveis—”
Beforehecouldfinishhisthought,thediamonddartedfromthefloorand
shotacrosstheroomlikeacrystalbulletwhizzingthroughthesky.Withaloud
crack,itburstthroughacabinetinPercy’skitchen,disappearingfromsight.
Theentiregroupstaredatthetinyholeinthecenterofthecabinet,thenturned tolookatEve.Sheendedhermeltandmettheirgazes.
“You weretalkingaboutme,right?”sheasked,blankly.
Theteamdashedtowardthekitchennook,pushingandshovingatone another until they reached the cabinet door. Jason eyed the tiny hole before yankingthedooropen,revealingashatteredbottlesittinginapoolofwhiskey.
Behindtheshardsofglass,inthebackofthecabinet,wasasecondhole;Jason
peeredthroughitandsawapipethatextendedpasttheshelvesanddown
towardthekitchensink,andthroughthatpipewasyetanotherhole.
“Holyshit,”Jasonlaughed.“Thediamond—itcutthrougheverything.It
evencutthroughthepiping.”
SanchodroppedtothefloorandclimbedbeneathPercy’ssink,grabbingat
thevariousnozzlesandhoses.Heyankedatthepipeandpulleditfreefromthe
duct,sendinggrey,murkywaterspillingacrosshislap.
Percysighed.“Idon’tthinkmydormisgoingtosurvivetheday.”
“It’shere!”Sanchoyelped,extractingthejewelfromthepipingandholding
itabovehisheadforhiscomradestosee.“Thediamond—it’sstillperfectly
intact!”
“I told you,” Eve said. “If anything can break through the Interlopers’ bones, it’sthisdiamond.”
JJgrabbedthediamondfromSancho’shandandstudieditforherself.
“Wherethehelldidyougetthisthing?”
“Madisongaveittomemonthsago.It’ssupposedtobethenextbigthingin
jewelryorfashionorwhatever.”
“I don’t care what Madison says,” Jason a
dded. “This isn’t jewelry. It’s a
weapon.”
“So,it’sdecided,”Percydeclared.“Diamondbullets—whataconcept.”
EveglancedatJason;hewasstaringatthegem,hisgazevagueanddistant
asifhewasdeepinthought.Thoughhedidn’tspeakit,Eveknewwhatwason
hismind,andherstomachchurnedwithdiscomfort.
“Iwantone,”Jasonfinallysaid.“Aknife,asword,anaxe,Idon’tcare—just
somethingIcanuseinhand-to-handcombat.Somethingmadewiththis
diamond.”
Sanchofurrowedhisbrow.“Why?”
“It’sfine,”Evequicklyinterrupted.“Weneedbulletsandablade.Thequestion
is,wherethehellarewegoingtogetastashofEverlasting
Diamonds?”
“Percy’sloaded,”Sanchosaid.“Can’thejustbuysomeandcallitaday?”
Eveshookherhead.“Madisonsaidthey’renotforsaleyet.Sheonlyhas
accesstothembecauseherdadholdsthekeystothekingdom.”
“Well,it’sashamenoneofusareongoodtermswithher—assumingshe’s
human,thatis.”JasonturnedtoEve.“Thatgirlmaybecrazy,butshe’s
generous with her friends. And if you date her—God, she showers her men withgifts.Imean,didyouseetherockonLionelatmybirthdaydisaster?
GettingEverlastingDiamondsfromherwouldbeapieceofcake.”
Theroomfellsilent.PercyandSancholookedatoneanotherandthenat
Jason,theireyeswideasiftheyhadsuddenlycometothesameconclusion.
Evegroaned.Shealreadyknewwhattheywereabouttosay—itwasboth painfullyclearanddreadfullylogical—andyetitsickenedhertothecore.
Jasonlookedbackandforthbetweenhiscomrades.“What?WhatdidIsay?”
Sanchocowered.“Jason,Ithinkyouneedtotakeonefortheteam.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“YouhavetotakeMadisononadate,”Percyblurted.
“What?” Jasonbarked,standingupright.“No. Absolutelynot.”
“Comeon,”Sanchowhined,“you’retheperfectmanforthejob.She’s in love withyou.”
“Orwantstokillyou.Theverdict’sstillout,”JJmumbled.
“Butthinkofitthisway,”Sanchocontinued.“Adatecouldbethedeterminer
—theultimatetesttoseewhetherornotshe’sanInterloper.Ifshe’shuman,the
datewillunfoldnormally.Andifshe’sanalien,she’ll—”
“Cutmeopen?Dismantlemeforparts?Impregnatemewithalienbabies?”
“Is thatwhyyou’resoskittish?”Percyteased.“Don’ttellmeyou’rescaredof alittleinterspeciessalivaswapping.”
“Idon’t careifshe’sanInterloper,”Jasongroused.“Shecanbeanalien,ora human,oragoatorwhateverelse.Myanswerisstill no.”
“Oh,don’tbesuchascrote,”Percysaid.“Takeheroutfordinner,whipout
thechimeracock,grabyourselfsomediamonds,andbeonyourway!”
“Ihaveagirlfriend, dumbass. ”
“Evedoesn’tmind,”Percyinsisted.“Right,Eve?”
“Look,Igetit—thewholething’sagamble,”JJcutin,actingasthevoiceof reason.“Ifshe’sanalien,you’reshitoutofluckinmorewaysthanone.Butif
she’shuman,thiscouldbeour onlyshotatgettingthosediamonds.”
“I’mnotdoingit,”Jasonmaintained.“Endofstory.We’rejustgoingtohave
tofindsomeotherwaytogetthediamonds.”
Eveeyedherfriends—theyallstaredather,waitingforhertoweighin—
andshefelthercheeksflushwithembarrassment.Sheclearedherthroat.
“Well,asmuchasI’mlovingtheawkwardturnthisconversationhastaken,
we’realreadylateforclass,”shesaid,anxiouslyheadingforthedoor.
“Yeah,Iwasreadytoleaveat chimeracock,”Jasonmutteredashefollowed heroutoftheroom.
EveandJasonleftthesuiteandhurriedtothefootballfieldwheretheircombat
classwasalreadyunderway.Afteraveryloudandverypublic
chastisingfromCaptainRamsey,theydashedtowardthetrackandbegantheir
dailylaps,weavingthroughtheirclassmateswithease.
Theysprintedalongsideoneanother,theirbreathingsteadyandmovements
nearly synchronized, but despite the ease of the task, Eve felt strained and on edge.Shetriedtooccupyherthoughtswithdistractions:itwasDecember
already,andinafewshortweeks,thesemesterwouldbeover.Sheattemptedto
thinkaboutherupcomingexams—aboutRamsey’snaggingexpectationsand
even her inevitable “A” in Dr. Dick’s class —but it was no use. While other studentswerefrettingovertheirfast-approachingfinals,Evewasworried
aboutdiamondbullets,Furst’swatchfuleye,andwhetherornotherboyfriend shouldtakeherpossiblyalienex-roommateonadate.Withadeepbreath,she
bitherlipandlookedoveratJason.
“Youknow,ifyouwanttogooutwithMadison,”shebegan,stutteringover
herwords,“Imean,Iknowyoudon’t wantto,butifyou needto,I’mokaywith it.”
Jasonchuckled.“You’veneverbeenagoodliar.”
“Well,obviouslyit’snotideal,butIunderstandit’sforthebenefitoftheteam.”
“Eve,Idon’twanttodoit.It’snotme.It’snotworthit.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
Thetwobrokeapartforamomentastheyveeredaroundastraggling
classmate, then met up again in the center of the track, once again matching pace.
“If she is human, then the date would be real. Regardless of the intention, it wouldmeansomething,atleasttoMadison.”Hisvoicetrailedoffashestared
outattheendlesstrack.“Idon’twanttodoanythingtoscrewupwhatyouandI
havetogether—notevenifit’sfortheteam.”Heglancedoverather.“Iknowit
wasn’teasyforyoutoletmein.Idon’ttakethatforgranted.”
Evesmiled,lookingfirstintoJason’seyesandthendownathishand.
Though his injuries had healed within days, she could still see the countless pink scars that decorated his knuckles and wrist. She thought back to their experienceattheWilds—JasonplunginghisfistthroughtheInterloper’s
mouth,bloodsprayingfromhistornflesh—andanunsettlingchillranthrough
herbody.
“Ilostcontrol.”
Eve’s eyes quickly darted away from his hand, but it was too late; he had noticedherstaring.
“Excuseme?”
“BackattheWilds.”Jasonrefusedtolookather,gazingemptilyatthefield
instead.“IsawhistalonandIcouldn’thelpmyself.Irippedhisgoddamnheart
out…andtheworstpartis,Ienjoyedit.”
Thetwoweresilent;theyrantogether,bothwatchingthetrackinfrontofthem
asifscaredtolookoneanotherintheeye.
“Idon’tknowifIcandoit,”Jasonsaid,finallyendingtheawkwardsilence.
“Idon’tknowifIcanrestrainmyself.I hatethem,andinthemoment—allthat rage—it’stoomuch.It’slikeI’msomeoneelse.”
“That’swhyyouwanttheweapon.Theblade.”
“Sure in hell would beat tearing up my hand again. Because it will happen again.I’msureofit.”
Againtheywerequiet.Thecoolairhadsuddenlybecomehotandtense,and
Eve could feel Jason’s agitation as if it were a cloud surrounding the two of them.
“Id
on’twantyoutothinkI’msomekindofmonster,”headded.
“YouknowIdon’t,Jason.”
“Well,Iwishyou’dsaysomething.”
Shefinallyturnedtolookathim.“Doyoufeelbetter?”
Hisbrowwrinkled.“What?”
“Youkilledhim.Youhadyourrevenge.Doyoufeelbetternow?”
Jasonbithisbottomlipandstaredattheground.“No.”
Evesighed.“Iwishyoudid.”
“You’renotfreakedout?”
“Iknowathingortwoaboutanger,Jason.”
Helookedbackather.Hereyeswerethoughtfulandkind,andsuddenlythe
tension in the air turned into something else: a shared sadness, a longing for relief.
“Ikilledthemanwhomurderedmyparents,”shesaid,hertone
uncharacteristicallyrevealing.“Itwasanaccident,butIstilldidit.Iwishithad made me feel—I don’t know, avenged, maybe even happy. But it didn’t.” Her eyes became stern, almost angry for him. “That creature stole your peace of mind.Youdeservetohaveitback.”
“KINGSTON!”
AloudcryfromacrossthefieldstartledEve,sendingherskiddingtoastop.
Sheturnedtoseeared-facedCaptainRamseypacingbesidethebleachers.
“Getyourassoverhere!”
EveofferedJasonaquicksmilebeforejoggingtowardthecaptain,bowing
herheadsomewhathumblyasshereachedhisside.
“Sorryforthetalking,”shemuttered.“Itwon’thappenagain.”
“Bullshit,”hegrumbled,“andthat’snotwhyIcalledyou.”Hetooka
momenttoglanceoverhisclipboardandloweredhisvoice.“Ihearyouan’
Valentinearehuntin’aliens.Isthistrue?”
Heatpulsedthroughherveins,andherframebecamerigid.“No,Captain.”
“ThinkIcan’tspotaliar?”
Evefidgeteduncomfortably—sheglancedoveratJason,whowascloseto
lappingtheotherrunners—andthenturnedbacktothecaptain.
“Idon’tknowwhatyou’veheard,butthewholethingwasjusta
coincidence.” She straightened her back, feigning an air of confidence. “Just badluckIguess.”
“Savethetalltalesforthepatrolmen.Idon’tgivetwoshitsabouttheirdamn
rulesandlegalgarbage.Truthbetold,Iwanttocongratulateyouonajobwell