by S. D. Grimm
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Cade
Ava had left with Yuki, and Nick couldn’t stop pacing in the family room. I finally took to sitting on the couch, all of my questions falling on deaf ears, and waiting for him to sort through whatever had him so rattled.
He kept tapping his fist against his chin. And that scowl.
“Your face will freeze that way.”
He finally looked up at me. “What?”
I thought of saying something snarky about him finally hearing me, but I’d just gotten his attention. “Why is the fact that one of us healed Yuki such a problem?”
“Because I was there when she died.” He sank slowly into the chair across from me and wouldn’t make eye contact. “She wasn’t healed. In order for a human to be connected to a Phoenix’s cycle, that Phoenix has to heal them out of love when they’re on the brink of death. That means that either you or Ava must have healed her previously.”
“Previously as in a different lifetime?”
“No.” He stood again, and I thought I’d lose him to the pacing, but he walked around to the back of the chair. “She was helping us find something—to defeat Gwendolyn.”
“Did she? Find it?”
He shook his head. “I think she did, but she died before she could tell us.”
I stood up. “Do we need this thing? Ask her now. It’s your chance.”
Nick shook his head, but something told me he was still considering.
“I’ll go ask her.” I pointed to the door. “Just give me some direction. What is it?”
He waved his hand in a circle as if trying to find the right words, but my heart pounded impatiently. I wanted him to get to it. If Yuki knew a way we could defeat Psycho Chick, I wanted to help Ava before it was too late for both of us.
“There were these artifacts.”
“That’s why you’ve been going to the library?” I asked.
He looked at me. “Yeah. There was a quill—I burned that—and a stone.” He pointed to the kitchen island, which housed our strange supplies. “We found that, and there was rumor of a third object. She was close to finding it.”
“What is it?”
“It’s called a Phoenix blade. I can’t find it.”
“Okay.” I held out my hand to calm him. “I’ll ask Yuki.”
He shook his head. “Not tonight.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. We have to hurry. We—”
Nick put his arms on my shoulders. “Tonight’s a full moon. It’s the most dangerous hunt night. I can’t have your memories putting you out while you’re fighting.”
I had no retort for that. “All right. First thing tomorrow.”
Nick smiled. “Some things never change.”
I braced for another onslaught of memories, but this time, no headache came. Maybe because I’d already seen a snippet of this memory. Nick patting my shoulder. “Glad to have you back, brother.” And the look of sincerity on his face made me feel something I could never remember feeling in this lifetime: belonging.
The memory swirled away.
“Cade?” Nick’s hands pressed against my shoulder, trying to keep me upright.
I looked right into his eyes. The concern—the fear—he displayed made my heart clutch. Was he always this worried about me? I touched his arm. “I’m okay.”
He let go. “You sure?”
Then I realized, I would follow Nick into battle, and I would allow him to lead me. Because he was my brother—more than by blood. He actually…loved me. “It’s good to be back.”
He nodded. Then he pulled out his phone and looked at it. He froze for a heartbeat and swore.
“What’s wrong?”
He looked up at me, eyes wild. “Gwen struck again.”
“What?”
“Wait here for Ava.” He was already gabbing his keys and coat. “Don’t let anyone in. If you see a monster, kill it.”
“Nick!” Just like that, he was gone. Wait for Ava.
Right. Because that’s all I was good for. Wait for Ava. Stab a monster. Find Ava. But protect Ava? No. I could just imagine Nick thinking, You’re too fragile, Cade. Even if he wouldn’t say it. The way he looked at me, I knew. And Ava wasn’t any better.
I could hold my own. Maybe if they realized that we could defeat Gwen.
I knew I wasn’t supposed to remember things right now, but I couldn’t stop thinking. And all of those thoughts were attached to buried memories that begged to be pulled to the surface. A knock sounded at the door, and I pulled out my knife. Then I sort of laughed at myself for assuming a monster would actually knock on the door. But I clutched the knife tighter anyway.
The knock pounded again. “Nick? Cade! Come on, I know you’re home.”
I knew that voice. Knife in my left hand, I opened the door with my right—only a little, so Wyatt could see my face. “What do you want?”
“Can I come in?”
“Do you need an invite?”
“Funny.” He pushed into the door with more strength than I was expecting, and I staggered back. He strode over the threshold and seemed to search the room. “Nick?”
“He’s not home.”
“Where is he?”
“Hunting.”
“Already?”
“Are you here to help us hunt tonight, Wyatt?” I decided to say his name with as much venom as I could muster because he hadn’t showed up to help us yet, and I wanted to know why.
“I remember everything, Cade. My memories come back when I’m fourteen.”
“Wait, really? Why do you stick around?”
He shrugged. “You mean because Nick hates me?”
So my instinct was right. I put my knife away and crossed my arms, waiting for him to continue.
“Listen, I’m here because I found Gwendolyn. She’s here under the name Gwen, and she’s one of Kelsey’s new coworkers. I saw her tonight at the restaurant where Kelsey works after school.”
“What? Did you tell Nick?”
“I meant to, but I left my phone at home. I just found out a half hour ago.”
My heart pounded. “She’ll strike tonight, won’t she?”
Wyatt’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what her plans are.”
“Neither do I, but doesn’t she normally strike on a full moon?”
Wyatt sighed heavily, as if something about my comment relieved him. Then I remembered him standing over me, telling me loyalty didn’t suit me. I subtly placed my hand near my knife again, ready to pull it out. “Why did you think I asked you when she’d strike?” Wyatt’s eyes flicked to my hand.
I pulled out the knife with super-human speed, but he was just as fast. He grabbed my shirt collar and muscled me a step back. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to figure out your motive. I know you’re one of them.”
“One of…” He released me. “How much do you actually remember?”
“I’m still fuzzy on those details.”
His eyes only widened slightly, like there was so much more to the story. Of course there was. “I’m not a Dark Phoenix, Cade.”
I sighed and closed the front door. For some reason, I believed him. My memory might not have come through, but something in my gut told me to trust him. “I clearly don’t remember enough.”
“It’ll come.” For some reason, he sounded like a concerned friend.
“You aren’t going to give me any hints, either, huh?” I headed into the kitchen. Wyatt followed. “It’s probably not a good idea.”
“If there was one thing you wished I remembered right now, what would it be?”
Wyatt sighed. “Gwendolyn has the ability to bring creatures of the dark under her spell. I’m afraid she might be targeting me again. That’s why she befriended Kelsey. I might have to leave.”
I stared at Wyatt, eyes narrowing. “Creatures of the dark? You mean monsters?”
“Cade, do you know what I am?”
“A Light Phoenix?” My voice cracked.<
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Wyatt shook his head. “I’m linked to Ava’s life cycle.”
I knew those words. “You mean she brought you back from the brink of death.”
I gripped the edge of the countertop as the whole room started to shake. Great.
“Cade?”
I heard Wyatt’s voice clearly once. Saw his face in front of mine as I started to fall to the floor. Then I passed through blinding pain and fell into the memory.
“Cade!” Nick hunched over me on the ground.
I tried to sit up, but my stomach screamed. A huge gash—oozing red through my ripped shirt. I glared at the monster in front of me. “This was my favorite shirt.”
“Hold still. This will sting.” Nick held a glass bottle. Werewolf antivenom. He poured some into the wound. That stuff always stung worse than I expected.
Ava stood between the monster and Nick and me. A look of determination set her face, and she held out her hands. “Why would you do that?”
“Ava, please. You can’t rescue a monster.” Nick’s voice of reason wasn’t going to get through to her. This I already knew. She was clearly in love, and that monster had thought he was protecting her when he lashed out at me. Right now he lay behind her, whimpering.
“Wyatt’s not a monster.” Tears leaked out of her eyes.
I stood, ignoring the pain in my side. “Nick,” I placed my hand on my brother’s shoulder. “Maybe you should—”
“Cade, you of all people know what must be done.”
And something in my chest knew. And yet I didn’t exactly agree. But Nick wouldn’t listen to me. He never did. Even so, I grabbed his arm. “Don’t do this.”
“Nick?” Ava stared at him. “He’s not a monster. He’s not like the others.”
Nick closed his eyes and looked away.
I snapped out of the memory and realized Wyatt must have moved me to the couch. He handed me a glass of water. I motioned to the bucket in his other hand.
He thrust it at me and I puked. I sat there a moment, my head still throbbing, not sure if I’d go again. “You’re still here?”
“Of course,” Wyatt said.
Not the response I expected. “How long was I out?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“Can you hand me…?”
“The licorice? Where is it?”
It occurred to me then that Wyatt had likely been with us from then on. What time period? How many lifetimes had I known him? I motioned to the island. “Top drawer.”
“Keep your head over that bucket. I’m not picking up your mess if you miss.”
I had to chuckle. “Jerk.”
Wyatt opened the wrong drawer and pulled out the box. He stopped, staring into it for so long I thought something in there paralyzed werewolves. Then I remembered it was a full moon and started to stand up, reaching for my knife. “What is it?”
He looked up at me. “Umm…” He shook his head. “When will Nick be back?”
“I don’t know, but you might want to get out of here.”
“You remembered?” He found the licorice and brought it to me.
I sat with my back to the couch and the foul-smelling bucket on my other side. “I know what you are.” And the way he was acting toward me now, I wasn’t sure what to think. “How many times have you tried to kill me?”
He winced and looked away, and a piece of me wished I hadn’t asked.
“I’m sorry, Wyatt. I—”
“It’s a valid question, Cade.”
“Ava?”
“I never tried to harm Ava on purpose. But Gwendolyn—will try to control me again.”
“We won’t let that happen.”
“I don’t want to hurt any of you.”
I laughed. “Then you’re a better man than I, because sometimes I want to strangle Nick.”
He actually chuckled. “That’s normal.”
I tilted my head toward the kitchen. “What did you see in the box?”
He shook his head. “The Phoenix Stone. I wonder if Nick found out how to stop your headaches with it.”
“What?”
“It’s a stone that holds memories. We found it once, trying to see if it would help you. Trap your memories so Gwendolyn couldn’t take them and steal your powers. Maybe he plans to give you back the memory he took.”
My brother took a memory from me? Something in my gut twisted and I narrowed my eyes. “What memory?”
Wyatt stood. “I’d love to stay and chat, but—”
“Now you’re going to use that excuse.”
He just stared.
“Unless of course you came here to kill me.” I thought I’d try and lighten the mood.
He chuckled. “You’re my best friend, Cade.” Then he lost his smile for that searching expression. “If Gwen—”
My throat tightened. Best friend? I couldn’t even remember that I had a best friend. But he seemed so sincere. “No, we’ll stop Psycho Chick, you got it?”
He nodded. “You okay alone, because—”
“Go.”
He turned, almost to the door. “You be careful tonight.”
I nodded. “You, too.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Nick
I took the bike and drove to Kelsey’s house as fast as I could. I should have known that shadow puppet wouldn’t be the only one to get to her.
She’d texted me, panicking that someone was outside her house.
When I arrived and parked, I didn’t see a soul. The house looked dark. I removed my helmet and strained my ears. One hand on a silver knife, the other ready to grab my gun, I crept toward the house.
Full moon night made it more difficult to sniff out monsters. So many of them were on the move. “Kelsey?” I headed around the back, taking the path with the stone pavers because it would be quietest and stuck closest to the house.
“Kelsey?” I called again. Maybe I should text her in case she was holed up inside with a frying pan or baseball bat.
Movement caught my eye. Something in the shed out back. I turned my attention to it, and Kelsey popped up in the window. She was waving me toward the shed.
I scanned the yard as I headed over there.
She opened the door, grabbed hold of my arm, and practically pulled me inside. “You came?” Her whole body shook and her eyes were wide. She didn’t hold a frying pan or bat. Instead, she clutched a Maglite flashlight. One of the big, heavy ones. “Thank you.”
“Hey.” I slid my knife back into the sheath and looked into her eyes. “Why don’t you tell me what’s hunting you.”
She released a shaky breath and tears brimmed in her eyes. She started trembling worse. “You do believe me?”
I swallowed and nodded.
She set the Maglite on the cracked coffee table and wiped her hands on her jeans as she sat on the tattered couch. “Remember that creature you…killed behind the repair garage?”
A pit hollowed out in my stomach. “You saw that?”
Her eyelids fluttered. “I did not know what to think. I’d never seen anything like it.”
“Most people haven’t.”
“I didn’t want anyone to think I was going crazy, and I hoped I’d just forget about it. Then I saw you with that book. And Wyatt had the same one.” Her hands trembled. “I assume you and Wyatt are the same thing?”
All the air left my lungs as she dragged a book across the coffee table. Then she pulled a piece of paper out from the pages. There was a drawing. A wolf. A moon. A creature of the dark.
“You know?” My words came out surrounded by air.
“Yes.”
“He’s not usually very forthcoming.”
“I’m a nosey sister.” She stared at me and her eyes narrowed. “How long have you known him?”
I sighed. “That’s not important right now. What’s hunting you?”
A distorted howl rose up outside and I shuddered. Those weren’t werewolves. Gwen was on the move tonight. Kelsey’s warning had taken my attention, and
I’d been too focused on that to feel her move in. But now that I felt for her, I could tell she was close. I had to get back to Ava and Cade. I had to take Kelsey with me.
I pulled my gun out of the holster beneath my jacket.
“What are you doing?” Her voice was breathless.
“Stay behind me.” My heart raced. Cold sweat broke out.
Another howl—closer this time. I stood and motioned for Kelsey to get behind me. A growl shot up from the side of the shed. I raised my weapon and looked over my shoulder at her. She nodded, silent. A huge animal with white fangs and a long, grotesque muzzle jumped through the shed window. Glass rained down as its furry body sailed through the opening. I unloaded.
Kelsey screamed and grabbed my shoulder. “Wyatt!”
“It’s not your brother!” I yelled, but it was too late, she’d pushed into me. Three more climbed through the window and a thumping sound banged against the door.
I swore and shot at the three inside. They were surrounding me. I pushed Kelsey behind me. They might want to take me in to Gwen, but what would they do to her. I had to keep her safe.
“Wyatt—”
“These aren’t your brother, Kelsey.” I looked deep into her eyes and willed her to see my honesty. “I wouldn’t hurt Wyatt. Not unless he asked me to. He’s my friend.”
She gasped and stared at me as though I were mad. Tears dripped out of her eyes, and she shook her head. “I saw you kill that monster.”
“You and I both know Wyatt isn’t a real monster.” I handed her my knife. “Here. In case they get too close to you.”
“You can’t possibly fight them all off.” Her breathing quickened.
The door crashed open and another wave entered through the window. Five in all. I shot one. Another. Three more. I lost count. And ammunition.
Drooling and growling, they stood blocking the exits. Not attacking.
“Kelsey, if I tell you to run—” I looked over my shoulder at her. At the tears in her eyes. Her quivering chin.
“I’m sorry.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “She said you were a hunter. She said you’d kill my brother. I was protecting him. I—”
I expelled a breath and my stomach twisted. My chest ached.
“Th-they threatened me.” Her face scrunched up and she covered it. “I-I’m sorry.”