"We can't let any more people die either! They can't defend themselves, and I've got all of you. Hal?" I beg, hoping to force him to engage in the discussion since he knows I'm right.
"It's not that simple," Hal answers, but I won't be dissuaded. If I have any chance of convincing them my course of action is the best, I have to do it before Kade returns.
"It never is, but he'll come for me eventually. Wouldn't it be better if it was on our terms?"
"Yes, it would," he concedes.
"So create a situation we can control and let him come, like a moth to a flame," I state matter-of-factly.
"Whoa, wait. What did we just agree to?" Rashid asks, dumbfounded.
"Using Gwen to lure Himyar into a trap," Hal reiterates for Rashid.
"Call it in," I insist, knowing once we get Adil on board Kade's howls of protest won't make any difference. Closing my eyes, the victory tastes bitter and all I feel is remorse. Hadn't I just promised Kade that I wouldn't do anything stupid? Today here I am, volunteering to put myself in harm’s way.
"Gwen?" Hal says, breaking my reverie.
"Yes," I reply as I open my eyes.
"I think it's time for you to die."
"First thing tomorrow. I have a date tonight.”
After asking Rashid to drive me home so I can get ready for Ben’s birthday dinner, I excuse myself from the guys and duck back into the bedroom to pack up the few personal items I’d brought with me to Hal’s. I don't really need to leave this early, but cowardly, I want to avoid Kade for as long as possible. He won’t understand and will be furious with me for volunteering to put myself in this situation, and that’s a conversation I can’t deal with until tomorrow.
While Adil didn't love my plan, he agreed it was worth pursuing and sent word to the rest of the Wanderers, scheduling a meeting in three days to flush out the details and prepare. Since we decided to tie my disappearance and death to the red head epidemic Himyar has created, there isn't really any planning to be done on that front. I'll simply go missing sometime tomorrow and in a few days Hal will spell a corpse stolen from the morgue so that no one will be able to tell it isn't me. All I have to do is get through tonight.
"Ready?" Rashid asks, ducking his head through the bedroom door.
"Yes, sorry I was daydreaming," I reply, a half smile on my lips. Collecting my bag I follow him to the Mini. Hal will teleport over and meet us there; he wants to scout the perimeter before we arrive.
After a blissfully uneventful ride home I thank Rashid when I climb out of the Mini and head for the porch, pausing slightly when I lose sight of him. Like a ghost he's vanished, efficiently melting into the natural surroundings.
"Rashid?" I whisper shout, concerned for a second he really has left me alone.
"Go inside, you'll blow my cover," he teases, making light of my irrational fear.
"Right," I say and unlock the door.
Secure in the knowledge that Rashid and Hal are looking out for me, I proceed to erase all evidence of my recent sleepover and prepare myself for my date with Ben. Checking the bedside clock on my way to the bathroom, I note I have more than enough time to indulge in a lengthy shower. I turn on the water, leave the Coke I grabbed from the kitchen on the counter top, and disrobe. Stepping into the steamy spray, I revel in the relaxing warmth and try to mentally prepare myself for the next twenty-four hours and to say goodbye to Ben. Alone in the steamy sanctuary, my resolve cracks and the personal guilt and sorrow I’ve accumulated leaks down my cheeks.
At some point after my breakdown in the shower, my emotions completely checked out and I stand in front of the mirror feeling like a robot while I blow dry my hair and prepare to paint my face. I have to force myself to pay particular attention to my make-up application; I still want to look my best for Ben. Numbly, I select my favorite little black dress and heels from the closet. Zipping up my dress, I catch a glimpse of my reflection and remind myself to smile more; the woman staring back at me looks morose, like she's dressing for a funeral.
A loud bang followed by thundering footsteps snaps me to attention. Holding my breath, I slip into my shoes and prepare to run, or whatever Hal orders me to do. When Kade bursts through the door a second later I stop short, confused, until he begins yelling at me.
"Are you out of your mind? What the hell were you thinking? I specifically told you not to be a hero!"
"I know," I shrug, infuriating him further. While he stands there fuming, his eyes roam over my body, taking in my appearance. The black dress hugs my curves, exposing just the right amount of cleavage and only covers me to about mid thigh.
"You can't go out looking like that, it's indecent," he declares, switching topics.
"Is it I can't go out dressed like this, or I can't go out dressed like this without you? Because the hungry look in your eyes leads me to believe I look just fine," I snap back.
“I won’t let you do it,” he raves, flipping back to his original argument and completely ignoring my accusation of jealousy.
“We don’t have a choice; good people are dying. It has to stop. How can you sit here and argue with me when you know this’ll work?”
“We’ll find another option.”
“When?” I shout, exasperated over what I think should be obvious to him. “And how many more will die in the meantime, while we’re looking for this fabulous alternative?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Kade answers.
Appalled, I just stare at him. “How can you say that?” Protecting mankind from the Sylph is his job.
“I don’t care about a single one of them. I care about you, and I can’t lose you!” he bellows before turning on his heel and storming from the house. In a state of shock, I lower myself to the bed, feeling like a complete and utter moron. That could have gone better. I chastise myself for my own stupidity. I should have talked to Kade first. I should never have tried to orchestrate things behind his back. Picking up my cell phone I call Hal.
“Did you hear?”
“You’re lucky the entire town didn’t hear that,” he answers.
“I’m such an idiot.”
“No, but you do have some kind of power over him.”
“Huh?” I ask.
“Remember when I told you Kade had broken a lot of our rules where you were concerned?”
“Yeah,” I reply, not sure where he’s headed.
“Gwen, he’s completely irrational around you, and believe me, normally he’s got his stuff together. The phenomenon is quite fascinating really.”
“Thanks Hal,” I say and snort over my destructive superpower that has the analytical Wanderer so intrigued.
“Stick to the plan. It’ll likely get worse before it gets better.”
Mulling over this new information, I hang up and refresh my appearance. I can’t do anything about Kade’s feelings tonight, and Hal’s right, I cannot afford to let them distract me now. The game is in motion and I’m about to make my big move.
Chapter 21
Still, as if posing for an oil painting, I sit at the kitchen table with my eyes trained on the clock. Ben is due home any minute and this pretty picture is ready to begin the festivities. Ben will be dirty from camping so I know he’ll need a shower but it never takes him long to get ready. That’s one of the joys of being a guy. (I do envy them that one thing but not enough to give up boobs and long hair just yet). I’ve worked hard to make this evening as perfect as it can be, and mentally I scroll through the checklist of the evening’s outline again to make sure I haven’t missed anything. Reservation confirmation, check. Present, check... I get stopped on item two when the sound of a key unlocking the front door distracts me. Rising from the table, I smooth my dress, shut off my emotions, and affix a smile to my face. We will enjoy tonight, and Ben will have the birthday he deserves.
Crystal blue eyes pop when they see me standing there to greet them, and a low whistle followed by a satisfied smile graces Ben’s lips. His face is caked with dirt and the entire mask
cracks when he grins, his expression lines looking more like deep fissures.
“I change my mind, let’s stay in,” he says, stalking me. I retreat, afraid he might actually tackle me and ruin my outfit.
“Oh no, you don’t!” I say, putting the table between us. “I made dinner reservations weeks ago.”
“Hmm... you look good enough to eat,” he teases, brow arched suggestively.
“And you smell terrible,” I retort, trying to evade his grasp when he suddenly sprints around the table. Unable to outmaneuver him in my heels, I laugh and press a hand firmly against his chest to try and keep him at arm’s distance.
“Go, shower,” I plead, unable to keep from laughing.
“Alright,” he huffs, tucking his hands behind his back so he won’t soil me and leaning in for a soft kiss.
“You’re unbelievable, you know that?”
Alight with joy, his eyes sparkle and he ignores my assertion, choosing that moment to go get cleaned up.
“Do you want your present now?” I ask, staring at the small, finely wrapped box on the kitchen counter.
“I’m unwrapping you in my mind as we speak,” he yells from down the hallway. Rolling my eyes, I smile and grab my purse. I shoot Hal a text letting him know we’ll be heading out after Ben showers so he and Rashid can prepare. The two of them will be our inconspicuous bodyguards for the evening. When Ben and I depart, they will teleport over to the restaurant to scope out the perimeter and make sure the place is safe. Now I’m almost glad Kade and I had a tiff earlier; if he hadn’t have stormed off he would have insisted on accompanying us tonight, and Lord knows that would have been particularly awkward for everyone. Stuffing the phone in my clutch, I set it by Ben’s gift and sit back down to wait. With his hair damp, Ben comes strolling into the kitchen a few minutes later, shirt open in the front and holding a necktie in each hand.
“Which one can I wear with this shirt?” he asks me. Sliding off the chair, I point to the blue paisley in his right hand and graciously accept both ties from him while he buttons up his shirt. The clean, crisp smell of my favorite body wash coupled with his natural scent makes me smile. Soap is soap to Ben, and despite stocking the shower with products designed to not make him smell like a woman, he insists on using my fruity floral blends because he likes the fragrance better.
“You smell purdy,” I tease as the rules of our inside joke dictate.
“You know it,” he grins down at me while finishing the knot of his tie. “Ready,” he announces, running his fingers through his hair to smooth some of the unruly pieces before they dry.
“Here,” I say handing him the brightly wrapped present. He tears through the paper then removes the watch from its case. The gift seemed fitting when I chanced upon it last week. Time...such a cruel mistress of fate. What we do with ours can either enrich our lives or destroy them, and we mortals never seem to have enough. I now have it in spades, which is another obstacle that divides us. The right time, our time, was too little and over much too quickly. Smiling, I watch while he sets the hands and adjusts the clasp to fit his wrist.
“Now we can go.” Grabbing my clutch, I follow him to the car and climb inside when he opens the door for me. I discreetly glance around for any sign of Hal and Rashid. Not finding any, I settle back against the headrest, comforting myself with the knowledge that they’re out there and will be with us the entire evening.
“You look beautiful,” Ben tells me, reaching across the center console to take my hand.
“Remember, it’s the second exit not the first,” I remind him.
“Yeah, I know how to get there.”
I bite my lip in response to his light-hearted rebuff. The sarcastic okay-I’ll-keep-my-mouth-shut expression on my face makes Ben laugh. Squeezing his hand, I tilt my head away and look out the window for a moment, caught up in a swirling ball of emotions that I’m forced to swallow. The buildings sail by on the freeway, and when I turn back Ben’s eyes are brimming with adoration. His gaze flickers to me often, soaking in everything. A bittersweet smile slowly spreads across my face, and I’m thankful for...
“Ben, look out!” The words fly from my mouth but it isn’t fast enough; something large smacks into the side of the Mini, sending us spinning out of control. Almost in slow motion I feel the car pitch and roll over. A high pitched shrieking hurts my ears, and while the world races to catch up with the turbulent chaos we’re swept up in, I realize the sound is me. I’m screaming. Gripping the armrest, I try to hang on as my head whips around and bounces off the window. I squeeze my eyes shut and pray for the car to stop.
I come to in a daze with my hair spilling over my face, but the world has stopped spinning and for that I’m grateful. I feel pinned and weightless all at the same time, and it takes me a long minute to figure out we’re upside down and the seatbelt is all that is keeping me from falling and hitting my head again. Twisting my neck around, I see Ben unconscious beside me, but everything is hazy.
“Ben,” I croak, voice hoarse from screaming. “Ben!” No answer. Unsteadily I reach out to shake him but find my hand blocked. A translucent wall has sprung up between us and I suddenly realize why everything is foggy. The barrier has that rainbow-like shimmer similar to the soapy bubbles children play with, so while I can see through it from certain angles, objects appear distorted. Frantically my eyes dart about; the wall is everywhere, encasing me like a cocoon. Pressing my hands against the casing I push, trying to break out. Exhausted and weak, I give up after a few seconds. At least for now, nothing is getting in or out of my prismatic prison.
A flash of motion in my peripheral vision captures my attention. In a flurry of activity my door is torn from its hinges. Squinting when the light floods inside, it takes a few seconds for my eyesight to adjust and recognize the man bending inside to rescue me. I’m face to face with the homeless man from my nightmares. My heart lodges itself in my throat and I temporarily lose the ability to speak.
“Hello Gwen,” he grins. “We haven’t been properly introduced but I trust you’ve figured out who I am.”
“Please... what do you want?” I mumble, mustering up the courage to speak. I’m battling claustrophobia and panic at the same time. Think damn it, I tell myself. My clutch! My phone is trapped inside - if I can locate it I may be able to text for help. Discreetly I try to locate the small bag while keeping one eye fixed on Himyar.
“I’d think that should be obvious. I want you,” he says as his tone hardens and I feel the color drain from my face when he leans in a bit closer. Deathly afraid, I hold out hope that the magical phenomenon responsible for my protective shell holds up until I find my phone. I risk a glance at the floor boards and I see it! My elation is short lived; however, when I realize the bag is clearly on the wrong side of my bubble.
“Damn it,” I curse.
A look of utter bemusement lightens his face. “Still trying to win, I see?”
“I’m not planning to beg, if that’s what you mean.” The red pupils of his eyes swell, bleeding out over the irises and sclera as he regards me silently. I stare transfixed, regretting my slip of the tongue.
“Oh, don’t worry, you will,” he states. With a blink his eyes are back to normal and a smile radiates over his weathered face, making the ominous promise seem like a figment of my imagination. “We best be going before help arrives,” Himyar announces suddenly. Shrinking back in my seat I mentally cross my fingers and wait. “What the?” he blurts out when he fails to penetrate my shield. He slams his fists against the wall again and again, and I cringe as he becomes more unglued by the second. “What is the meaning of this?” he huffs, enraged. A streak of light flashes across the space between us and we both gape in awe when the magic bounces off, fizzling to the ground at his feet.
“I think I’ll stay,” I inform him haughtily, emboldened by his failures to extricate me from the vehicle. Breathing heavily, his eyes brim with hate, but a wicked smile soon replaces the look of contempt on his face, like something pa
rticularly nasty has just occurred to him. When he retreats from view I have no choice but to wait. There’s a jarring shake and the screech of metal being ripped apart, and I whip my head around to find Himyar crouching through the driver’s door. Horrified, I glance at Ben’s unconscious body dangling beside me and realize I’ve lost the upper hand.
“No!” I scream, wrestling with the release button on my seatbelt. “Ben, wake up... wake up!” I miss the soft click that marks the buckle’s release, and my body crashes to the floor. I right myself instantly and punch, kick, and scream at the shield, the savior now turned cage that’s preventing me from protecting Ben. “Don’t touch him!” I snarl as tears stream down my face. Himyar turns his head for a second, distracted by something.
“I’ll go with you!” I yell, fighting for all I’m worth to break free.
“I can always get to you, remember that,” he informs me, grasping Ben’s head firmly between his hands.
“Beeeeeeeeeeeeen!” I wail uselessly while with a flick of his wrists Himyar snaps Ben’s neck and disappears in a cloud of smoke.
“Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”
The world shatters. All my hopes for Ben...gone. Taken by the very thing I’d sought to protect him from. This is all my fault. Covering my head with my arms I scream and let the darkness pull me down.
* * *
“Gwen... Gwen...!” A faint sound reaches me in the pit. Focusing, the words begin to make sense and the voice sounds familiar. “Can you hear me?”
It’s Kade. Yes, I remember him.
“Kade,” I whisper, finding my lips work.
“Gwen...oh thank God,” I hear him say. The hilarity of his words strikes me. Kade would never thank God for anything. They’re not on the best of terms.
“Are you hurt?” he inquires, to which I say nothing. Hurt? Ben is dead and it’s my fault!
“Ben,” I sob.
“This isn’t working and we don’t have much time,” another voice breaks in. Zafir?
“Gwen, I can’t get to you, you have to calm down. Do you hear me? You have to calm down and end the spell.”
A Step Away (The Wanderer Book 2) Page 16