Synchronicity (Scintillate Series Book 3)

by Karen Tjebben

  “Will Alex be around?” Dad asked.

  “I know the answer to that one, John,” Mom said, smiling at Dad.

  “Probably.” Kate shrugged, acting as if Alex’s presence was no big deal. “He comes and goes.”

  “If you ask me,” Reese said, “that whole pack, the Bishops and the Pearces, is a little off.”

  Kate raised an eyebrow, glaring critically at Reese. “So now you don’t like the Bishops either,” she asked.

  Reese smirked. “Zoe’s a little hottie. I don’t mind her one bit.” Reese wagged his eyebrows. “She’s welcome over here anytime, especially if she’s wearing yoga pants.”

  “Ah!” Kate shrieked. “My ears are bleeding,” she said, dramatically clutching the sides of her head. Then she rested her hands on the table and said, “Do you think Rylee wants to hear your comment about Zoe’s yoga pants?”

  “Reese,” Mom scolded. “Have some class.”

  “Please,” Reese chuckled, “I’ve caught Rylee checking out Nick and Alex so many times that their images are burned into her brain. At least I’m subtle.” Reese shrugged and continued, “But those two, Nick and Alex, eh,” he stuck his hand out and wiggled it, “they’re just not right.”

  Frustration bubbled within Kate at Reese’s declaration. Did he truly perceive something different about them, or did Reese just not like them because they were so different from him? “Your intellect and insight are astounding as always,” Kate replied.

  “I sense your sarcasm,” Reese said, “and I am not bothered by it because I am enlightened.”

  Kate held her pizza in mid-air. She looked at Mom and asked, “Did you change his meds?”

  “Honestly,” Mom said under her breath. “I don’t know why you two can’t get along.”

  “At least they aren’t throwing punches.” Dad smiled. “You’ll actually miss this once you have empty nest syndrome.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Kate stepped into the shower and felt the tension in her body ease as the warm water soaked into her hair. Her ribs were sore, but she knew her muscles would hurt even worse tomorrow. Alex had been relentless today as he trained her in various martial art techniques. When she was young, she’d taken a year of karate, so she already knew the basics, but he really pushed her today.

  She toweled off and stared at herself in the mirror. Bruises were beginning to form across her torso. Kate breathed deeply and felt the pull in her ribs from where she’d missed the block and Alex’s palm had landed. He wasn’t using his full force, but it was still enough force to hurt. She’d have a bruise there tomorrow. But then again, there was a way around all the pain and misery. She could heal herself, but these injuries were internal. She hadn’t healed injuries she couldn’t see before. She slid her hand across her torso and visualized her body free of pain and damage. She felt a slight tingling flutter deep within her. She took a deep breath and felt no pain. She smiled at herself, proud of her accomplishment.

  Kate slipped into her pajamas and went downstairs. Reese was out with friends, her mom was at a church activity, and her dad had gone to the local handy-man store. He always had some project he was working on.

  She clicked the remote and decided to catch up on her favorite television shows. She threw a big throw pillow to the end of the sofa and lay down. Part of her wished that Alex or Zoe were there because she enjoyed watching television with friends, but another part of her enjoyed the solitude. Zoe and Evan had made themselves scarce. They were trying to get a lead on how to overpower Daevas and the ring. Kate also believed that they wanted Alex and her to bond. She just didn’t know if her seclusion with Alex was their idea or Alex’s.

  A gun fight and explosions woke her. People fought in the streets on the television show. She stretched and realized that she’d missed most of the program. She hadn’t meant to actually fall sleep.

  She sat up and draped her legs over the edge of the sofa and onto the floor. Grabbing the remote, she turned off the television. “Dad,” she yelled standing, wondering if he’d returned yet. She rolled her head around and worked out the kinks.

  No reply. The house was quiet. She was alone. Solitude was something she’d grown unaccustomed to. Ever since Nick had shown up, she’d always had someone around, lurking in the shadows, and now she felt the peace of solitude. Alex didn’t even hide in the shadows tonight. He’d heard that someone was in Raleigh that may know something about Daevas, and Kate convinced him to search out the Asteri. If someone had any information that could be helpful, then they needed to know it.

  Kate grabbed a glass, filled it with some ice water and then headed upstairs. She took a sip of the cool water and pushed open the door to her bedroom. Then it hit her. The sulfur smell. The stench permeated everything in her room. She walked noiselessly to her desk and set the glass down. Kate lifted her pillow to her nose and inhaled. The stench overwhelmed her. She bent down and sniffed her sheets. Whatever it was had lain in her bed. Not only did she have to kill whatever was here for her, but she’d also have to do laundry. Curse him!

  Her heart raced. She knew she wasn’t alone, but she didn’t know where the predator lurked. She calmed her heart, willing her body into submission. She didn’t need to fear anything. It needed to fear her.

  She stood frozen, listening for a clue, searching for a breath or a heartbeat. Then she heard it, the lub-dub, lub-dub of a heart as it pumped and betrayed its location. But something was wrong. This beat was too fast. It wasn’t beating at the controlled pace of a predator. This beat was fearful, anxious. Was it a newbie predator? Someone on a training mission? Was she so young that they sent a novice to kill her? The thought was insulting, but being underestimated put her in a better position. If they underestimated her, then they wouldn’t be ready for her. Never turn down an advantage.

  She continued to listen and finally discerned the soft, slow sound of the du-dun, du-dun heartbeat of a true predator. The master-teacher. So there were two.

  She slipped her fingers through the opening of her Talon knife even though she hoped she wouldn’t need to use it. Her goal was to kill whatever came for her with her powers. That would be the cleanest way to get rid of them. She didn’t want to have to clean up a mess and explain anything to her parents.

  Kate followed the sound of the twin heartbeats. She crossed the hall and stopped at her parent’s bedroom door. Two predators waited for her. Should she call out to them? Lure them to her? Or rush them? Would she be able to surprise them? Surely not, for her heartbeat must betray her location too. She wasn’t sure what to do. Two on one is not really a fair fight.

  “Come in,” called a husky voice. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

  Crap. Her element of surprise was gone. Kate’s free hand wrapped around the door handle as she debated what to do. Should she rush in and start fighting or take her time and assess the situation? She pushed the door open and froze. Her heart rate skyrocketed. She was no longer in predator mode.

  The Nephilim stood on the other side of the room. His blood red pupils were trained on her. He smirked, showing his razor sharp teeth. “Glad you could join us,” he hissed. He was glad he hadn’t killed her while she slept. This was going to be so much more fun. He loved taunting his kills. There was nothing like prey that had been marinated in fear.

  It had finally happened − Kate’s worst nightmare. Her Asteri life had smashed into her human life in a way that could destroy her family. Her father was on his knees. The racing heartbeat was his. Fear washed off of him in waves. Kate heard it in his heartbeat and felt it in the air around him. She was thankful that her dad didn’t see the Nephilim’s true self; he only saw the human façade. With the Nephilim’s enlarged forehead protruding over his obsidian eyes and his serpent-like tongue, she’d never be able to explain his existence to her dad. Kate swallowed hard as she looked into her father’s eyes.

  The Nephilim gripped Mr. Archer’s neck and towered over him from behind. Her dad struggled to move, to free himself, but his face began
to turn purple. The Nephilim adjusted his arm and raked a claw close to her father’s eye. “I was just getting acquainted with John. I hate to say it, but he’s not very friendly,” he jeered. “You know, people used to be much more trusting and helpful to strangers in need.”

  “Who are you?” Kate asked, her voice calm and steady. She needed to get control of herself, of the situation. At least there was only one she needed to fight. She was confident she could destroy the Nephilim, but she wasn’t sure she could do it before he hurt her father. But then she realized that she shouldn’t underestimate the Nephilim either.

  “Me?” The Nephilim used his free hand to touch his chest. “You raised a polite one,” he sneered in John’s ear. “Do you see, John? Do you see how she asked my name? That’s how you greet a stranger.” The Nephilim reached behind his back and pulled out a gun. “Look! Look what he did to me,” the Nephilim said. He pushed John to the side, keeping him within his grasp and pointed at his stomach. The Nephilim’s iridescent blood seeped from a bullet wound. “I’d be angry if it wasn’t so funny. Silly man actually thought he could stop me, but unfortunately his aim was not true.” He tightened his grip around John’s throat and held him against his body again. “Not only is he stupid for shooting me, but he’s also a bad liar. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.” the Nephilim mocked, moving his index finger back and forth. “Do you know that he wanted me to believe he was the only one in the house? I think that he hoped I’d just rob the house and that you’d sleep through it all.” The Nephilim brought his face close to her father’s and licked his cheek. “But I explained that I was here for you.” His dead, black eyes found Kate as his red pupils constricted. “That was when he shot me.” He let out a loud laugh and gripped her father more tightly. “How noble. He only got off one shot. I am pretty fast, as you probably know.” The Nephilim chuckled, and his claw traced John’s eye. “He has no idea. Does he?” The Nephilim eyed Kate, enjoying her shock.

  “Please, if you’re going to kill us, can we at least know your name?” Kate asked.

  “I like you,” he pointed a claw at Kate. “Not only are you beautiful, but you have excellent manners. Polite to the end.” He pulled John closer to his face. “What a wonderful young lady.” He pointed at Kate. “She is top shelf.” He seemed to relax a little and added, “My name is Appius.”

  “You’re not here for him.” Kate felt the energy building within her. Her heart rate settled into its normal rhythm. She could do this. She could handle Appius, and by the looks of her dad, she didn’t have much time. “Leave him alone,” she ordered.

  “Are you getting mouthy with me?” Appius asked. “And I just paid you all those compliments. Now why would I leave him alone? Where’s the fun in that?” Appius’s mouth curved into a wicked smile.

  John’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, and his body went limp in Appius’s strangling grip.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Kate noticed the sturdy Milano glass orb on the nightstand. With a tiny flick of her finger, the solid glass sphere flew through the air and smashed against Appius’s head. His grip loosened for a moment, and Kate sprinted across the room towards him.

  She tried to grab Appius’s neck, but he ducked, and her dad collapsed onto the carpet. She quickly glanced at her dad to see if he was breathing, but Appius dug his claws into her shoulders and smashed her against the armoire.

  Lights exploded in her eyes as her head made contact with the wood. The fancy details in the wood dug into her skin as he held her against the armoire.

  “You won’t win, little girl,” Appius seethed. His breath stank of rotting flesh, and his claws cut into her skin.

  She felt energy course through her, filling her with power. Kate pressed her fingers into his bullet wound. She twisted and dug into the seeping hole and felt the warmth of his blood and tissue against her skin.

  He screamed and tried to step away while keeping her pressed against the armoire, but his hold weakened. She sliced at his face with the Talon and knocked him to the ground.

  Mr. Archer panted as he caught his breath and picked up the handgun. He moved closer to Appius. His aim would be true this time.

  “No! Don’t!” Kate yelled, but she was too late. The gunshot pierced her ears and droplets of warmth splattered her face. Appius made a horrific growling sound. When she opened her eyes again, Appius’s cheek was gone. His jaw hung awkwardly and blood and tissue littered the carpet.

  Fear struck her for a moment. How would she ever clean this up? But what an irrational fear for this moment. What was she thinking? The gig was up. There was no more hiding what she was from her father. Her double life was over.

  Appius started to rise, but Kate smacked him in the head again with the orb and knocked him flat.

  “Listen, bitch,” Appius sneered, “I’m tired of your games.” The way his jaw hung, it was amazing he could talk at all. “I’m going to kill you, and then I’ll take my time with your father.” He glared at John.

  John stood in shock as Appius rose. “How is this possible?’ John muttered, his eyes full of disbelief. He aimed the gun again, but this time he aimed at Appius’s chest.

  “Don’t bother,” Kate said to her dad. With another flick of her wrist, she knocked Appius over the head again with the orb. The beautiful colors in the glass were now smeared with blood.

  Appius’s eyes narrowed as he glared at her. “That hurt,” he growled. His heart rate tick up. She fed off his fear, and her power soared.

  Using her powers to press Appius into the carpet, she did her best to constrict and crunch his airway. It was difficult. She felt him fighting her, trying to push her out of his body, but his wounds had weakened him just enough to allow her to sneak in. She raised him and smashed his head into the corner of the armoire. “Oops,” she said with a smile, tightening her magical grip around his throat. She learned that trick from Nick. He’d squeezed Ramel’s brain and rendered him powerless the night she was first attacked. Now she could do it.

  Her dad stared at her. His mouth gaped open. “Kate. How are you doing this?” he asked breathlessly. John didn’t understand what was happening. Everything had been normal, and then life went off the tracks. He had no explanation for any of this.

  She ignored her dad. She wasn’t finished with Appius yet. She didn’t want a bigger mess to clean up, so she did her best to minimize the spread of his blood and tissue. She levitated the monster into the air. His legs kicked and flailed as she floated Appius into her parent’s bathroom. He clutched at his throat as if he could peel her grip from him. She wasn’t sure if she could strangle him with her powers. Some air was still making it into his lungs. The sounds squeaking out of him were pathetic. She’d almost feel sorry for him if he wasn’t a monster bent on the destruction of everything good.

  Her father followed them. He stared at the space between Appius’s feet and the carpet. He didn’t understand how Kate was doing this. What kind of magic trick did she use to carry a full grown man through the air without touching him? And he’d shot that invader, twice, but it didn’t seem to put him down. None of this made sense. How is any of this even possible?

  “Dad, close the stopper and turn on the water,” Kate ordered. She held Appius in the air near the large garden tub. He stretched his arms out, trying to get to Kate, while his feet kicked against the sides of the tub.

  John bent over the side of the tub, closed the stopper, and turned on the water. “What are you doing?” he asked.

  Kate’s eyes flashed with frustration. “Do you really need to ask?” she replied. She noticed the change in her father’s handsome face. Now it was lined with worry. She knew her face was cold and her eyes were hard, but that’s what it took to put down monsters. Her innocence was gone, stripped away by the monsters that she had to kill.

  “You can’t do that,” John said. “Let me hold him under.” His eyebrows pulled down and his head shook, attempting to discourage her. “You’re not a killer.”

  Kate smiled the tiniest smile.
Tears filled her eyes as his words pierced her heart. “You’re wrong, Dad. I am a killer.” She looked one last time at Appius and then smashed him face-down into the water.

  He splashed and gurgled as the water rose around him. Water splattered the mirror and tiles that surrounded the tub. His blood mixed with the water, and it turned red as it swirled around him. Kate held him under even after he stopped thrashing.

  “Do you think he’s dead?” John asked. He sat in shock on the tiled platform of the tub. He studied Appius’s body as it lay motionless in the water. “He’s been under a while.” He looked up at Kate and the weight of what she’d done overwhelmed him. Their lives would never be the same. He’d have to find a good lawyer. She’d killed the intruder in self-defense, but would anyone believe them? The man had towered over her. It just didn’t seem possible. Maybe he should accept the blame.

  “I’m not sure if he’d fake it,” Kate said, still holding Appius under. “I’ve never drowned one before.”

  John faced her, his eyes a mixture of shock and horror. “You mean you’ve never killed before, right?” His face paled and his heart rate ticked up again.

  Kate wasn’t sure what to say. She wasn’t sure how to get rid of the body. She wasn’t sure how much of the truth her dad was ready for. Right now, she really wanted Alex’s guidance.

  “Dad,” she started. “There’s a lot I need to tell you.” She looked at Appius. He hadn’t moved for several moments. “Go ahead and turn off the water.”

  John turned the nobs. He faced Kate again. “You’ve never killed before.” He paused and his face paled. “Have you?”

  Kate released Appius from her power. He floated face-down in the red water while his legs hung awkwardly over the side. As she stared at his dead form, she said, “First, we need to deal with this.” She waved her hand at Appius.