Runes (Paranormal Romance, YA,)

by Walters, Ednah

  ***

  Caridee came to our house for my birthday mani-pedis and facials, but all she talked about was the blackout.

  “My cousin Camille knows Gaylene, who knows Chief Sparrowhawk’s sister-in-law. The chief thinks someone went to the substation and threw the switches on the circuit breakers.”

  “We’ve never had a blackout before. Who’d want to plunge the town and neighboring county into total darkness?” Mom mused.

  I didn’t dare say anything, but a certain jealous exchange student came to mind.

  “Kids playing pranks,” Caridee said. “Sally Hunsaker’s little girl got hurt real badly. They had to operate on her last night.”

  Mom reached over and gripped my hand. “Raine told me. She and the swim team stayed at the hospital with Kate’s parents until the poor girl was out of the operating room. Trojan swimmers are very supportive of each member, you know. One of them, Eirik Seville, is the one who found the Hunsaker girl, protected her with his body, and carried her to safety,” Mom repeated what I’d told her last night. I was surprised she remembered. “Because of him, that dear girl escaped serious injuries.”

  “How brave of him.” I imagined how Caridee would embellish the story in the coming weeks. Eirik deserved a hero’s recognition, even if it was through the grapevine. “I heard they were planning to operate on her again.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  Caridee shrugged. “I don’t know. Complications after surgery are pretty common.”

  My stomach churned. If Kate didn’t make it… No, I couldn’t afford to think like that. “Why does Chief Sparrowhawk think someone was behind the blackout?”

  “He found something. Gaylene didn’t know what exactly, but she said it was solid evidence someone messed with the switches.”

  After she left, I went upstairs and called Eirik. He sounded like he’d just woken up. “Kate is going in for a second surgery.”

  He cursed. “Do you want me to come over?”

  “No, I, uh, I’ve tons of things to do. Maybe later.” My eyes went to the box of assorted chocolates and the photograph. “I love my birthday presents. Thank you.”

  Despite saying I had things to do, we talked for a while. As soon as I hung up, I curled on the window seat with my laptop and went online to investigate runes.

  The amount of information was staggering. Runes had meanings and stories behind them. They were alphabets used in ancient times for writing, divination, and magic by people from northern Europe, Scandinavia, British Isles, and Iceland. Andris, Ingrid, and Maliina were from Norway, which made sense. Did that mean Torin was from Europe, too? It might explain the British accent. Were they witches and wizards? It might explain their use of runes. It didn’t explain why they called us Mortals.

  I looked out the window at Torin’s place. The slats were still closed. Maybe I should warn him that the police chief was investigating the blackout in case Maliina was behind it. No, I wasn’t helping her. If she’d messed with the switches, she deserved to pay for whatever happened to Kate and the others. There’d be no journey to Land of Mist, which Torin had threatened Andris with, just good old Oregon prison and an orange jumpsuit.

  I researched Land of Mist. There was no connection to runes, just books and online games. Wherever Land of Mist was, it was a horrible place to Torin’s people.

  Sighing, I put the laptop down and crawled out the window to the patio. Sometimes I wished I had a door like Mom and Dad. I’d begged them to add one when I turned thirteen, but they’d said no. It was better this way. No boys sneaking up into my room at night, Dad had said. Yeah, like that had ever stopped Eirik.

  I leaned on the rail and inhaled. It was warm for fall, but knowing Oregon, the weather could turn chilly any minute. Most of our neighbors were indoors watching Sunday football. I could see inside the Rutledge’s house through the open windows. Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Ross were watching football in the living room while their wives did something at the kitchen counter.

  I glanced down and frowned. Had someone vandalized my car? Against the dark-red color, it was hard to tell. I crawled back inside my room and ran downstairs. Mom yelled something, but I didn’t stop. I ran outside and gawked, my anger shooting up at the squiggles.

  Who had done this to my poor car? Why?

  I walked around and tried to wipe off the graffiti with the sleeve of my sweatshirt, but it didn’t come off. Against the car body and the roof, the colors almost blended. Almost. On the windows and the tires, they looked garish. Maybe a carwash would get rid of them.

  I started for the house, paused, and turned. No, they couldn’t be. No freakin’ way. I walked back to the car, but I was too close. I walked backwards to the middle of the cul-de-sac and squinted as I studied the graffiti again.

  They weren’t random drawings. They were runes, written in groups of threes, some across, others vertical. Who could have done this? Maliina, of course. But how had she found where I lived? What was her problem? Just because she hadn’t hurt me last night didn’t mean she had to put a whammy on my car. What were the runes supposed to do? Make my car flip, burst into flame while I was inside it? Torin needed to control that girl. It was obvious Andris couldn’t.

  I marched up to Torin’s porch and rang the doorbell. No answer. He could still be sleeping or in the shower again. I banged on the door. Not a sound came from inside. Instead, I caught the reflection of Mrs. Rutledge and Mrs. Ross as they watched me from the porch. They gave me a look that screamed stalker. Bet they knew the number of times I’d talked to Torin since he moved in.

  “He’s gone,” Mrs. Rutledge called out.

  My stomach dropped. “Gone where?”

  “Portland. He said he had a weekend job.” Mrs. Rutledge smiled as though she enjoyed knowing something I didn’t. I sighed. Cougar crush was so sad.

  “Thanks, Mrs. Rutledge.”

  Back in the house, Mom was folding laundry. She frowned when I grabbed a brush, threw it in a bucket, and reached for a bottle of cleaning detergent.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah.” I turned on the water and poured a generous amount of the detergent in the bucket.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to clean my car.”

  “Now? Why don’t you just drive it through a carwash?”

  And play straight into Maliina’s hand? I shuddered at the thought. I didn’t think so. “No. I need to burn off some energy.”

  She studied me. “What’s going on, Raine? I saw you go next door.”

  “We have a new neighbor. I went to, uh, say hi.”

  “That’s sweet. Is it a nice family?”

  “I only met their son, Torin. He’ll be going to our school.”

  Mom grinned. “Is he hot?”

  “Eew, Mom. He’s…” Superhot, mysterious, and magical, and he confuses me. I turned off the water.

  “He’s what?”

  “He’s just a guy. I gotta go, Mom.”

  Outside, I scrubbed my car until my arms hurt. Using a water hose to rinse it off, I stepped back. I had done it. The squiggles were gone. Feeling better, I took the bucket and brush inside and came back with my keys.

  No! My heart sunk. They were back. The water had just hidden them briefly. How the heck was I going to get rid of them? I kicked a tire.

  “What happened?” Mom said, hurrying toward me. “I heard you scream.”

  “Someone vandalized my car, and I can’t get rid of the drawings.”

  Mom stared at the car then me. “Oh, sweetie.”

  “Just look at it.” I waved toward my car, so frustrated I wanted to cry.

  Mom put her arms around my shoulders. “Raine, your car is spotless. In fact I’ve never seen it this clean.”

  “But…” Then realization hit me. She couldn’t see the runes, while I could. Why?

  “Did you get hurt last night at the club and forgot to tell me? You’ve been acting strange today.” Mom pressed the back of her hand to my foreh
ead. “You don’t have a fever.”

  “I’m fine. I guess I’m just worried about Kate. I mean, if she hadn’t come to the club for my birthday party, she’d not have been…” My voice shook to a stop, tears rushing to my eyes.

  “Oh, honey.” She gave me a tight hug. “You can’t think like that. Things happen, and most of the time, they’re beyond our control. Come on. Go lie down while I warm us something for dinner.”

  I cooked whenever I could, especially on weekends, but I didn’t have the interest and I wasn’t hungry. In fact, I hadn’t felt like eating the whole day.

  Back upstairs, I texted Eirik. “Can I get a ride to school tomorrow?”

  “Sure. What’s wrong with your car?”

  “It won’t start for some reason,” I fibbed, the urge to cry washing over me again.

  “I’ll come over and take a look at it.”

  “No, it’s… the truth is I just don’t feel like driving myself anywhere.”

  There was silence; then he said, “I’m coming over.”

  It was hard not to tell him everything I’d overheard and learned about Torin and the others. He would think I was crazy. He couldn’t see the runes on my car, so I had no proof.

  My worries about Maliina and her plans for me escalated when Eirik showed me the pictures he’d taken last night and I realized something. Kate Hunsaker had worn a dress similar to mine, except hers was white and blue.

  Could Maliina have mistaken her for me?

  6. MARKED

  “Remind me never to hitch a ride with you again,” I teased Eirik when he slid behind the wheel again and placed his camera on the tray between our seats. It was the second time he’d pulled over to take pictures of deer.

  He grinned. “I couldn’t resist. Winter background can be a bit tricky. Fall colors, I can play with.”

  I rolled my eyes and sat back, studying the scenery as we sped toward downtown. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate nature. I did. Vibrant fall colors were everywhere, reds mixed with yellow and orange. Of all the seasons, I loved fall the best. I just wanted to get to school as soon as possible. I couldn’t explain the anticipation.

  Okay, now I’m lying to myself. I wanted to see Torin. Last night, I’d stayed up late after Eirik left, hoping Torin would come home. He hadn’t, so I wasn’t sure whether he’d be at school or not. I had to know what the runes on my car meant and how to get rid of them. Andris and his harem would be no help, which left Torin.

  We stopped at the traffic light on Main Street, then turned left toward school. Most brick buildings in downtown Kayville were old, the streets lined with mature trees. The hills and valleys surrounding the city were covered with miles and miles of vineyards. Kayville might be a small town in the middle of Oregon wine country, but we had everything any city had. We were also only about an hour from Portland.

  Students hurried across Riverside Boulevard from the parking lots while others poured from the school buses lining the street. Eirik found a spot to park. While he aimed his camera at something and clicked, I reached in the back of his Jeep for my backpack. A distant purr of a motorcycle engine sent excitement through me.

  Torin.

  No student rode a Harley to school. A few had scooters and bikes, but majority either drove cars or took the bus. He entered the boulevard, and students turned to watch. A few pointed. Black helmet, black jeans and jacket—he looked like a renegade hell bent on disrupting the peace. I grabbed my backpack, joined Eirik, and started across the street toward the school. Eirik reached for my hand.

  “You have to give it to the guy,” he murmured, chuckling.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Torin. He knows how to make an entrance.”

  Torin parked at the curb, and the purr of the engine died. Still astride his bike, he removed his helmet, tucked it under his arm, and adjusted his sunglasses. As if possible, more girls stopped to stare. Eirik and I had reached the same side of the street when Torin reached for his backpack from the bike’s side saddle, turned, and looked directly at us.

  Eirik nodded. My stomach did that senseless crazy dance I was beginning to associate with him. I averted my eyes and stared straight ahead, even though I was dying to look at him again. Still, I was aware he was behind us during the short walk to the building. My heart pounded, and I was lightheaded. Then I realized why. I was holding my breath. That was so lame.

  Next second, I froze at the foot of the stairs leading to the school’s entrance, and he almost bumped into me. He said something I didn’t catch because my eyes were on the massive doors of the school. Runes crossed the bottom red wood and the top glass panel.

  What was going on? Were Torin and his friends marking their territories like a pack?

  “What is it? Why did you stop?” Eirik asked.

  “It’s nothing,” I said slowly and glanced at Torin. He seemed just as surprised, which meant he hadn’t done this. That left Andris and his team. I was dying to ask Torin what the runes meant, but I couldn’t with Eirik around.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Eirik said.

  “I’m fine. Let’s go.” My grip tightened, and I moved closer to him. As we approached the door, I tensed, expecting something bad to happen. Nothing did.

  Inside the foyer, students stood in groups, catching up on weekend news. The snippets I caught seemed to focus on the incident at the club. I cringed. Torin disappeared toward the office while Eirik and I headed for our lockers.

  “What happened out there?” Eirik asked.

  “I thought I saw someone.”

  “Who?”

  I hated lying to him, but I couldn’t explain seeing things no one else could see. “My dad, but it was just a trick of light.”

  Eirik frowned, but he didn’t say anything. We walked in silence until we reached the hallway, where his locker was.

  “See you at lunch?” he said, but it came out as a question.

  “Of course.”

  He peered at me. “Should I be worried about you?”

  I punched his arm. “No. I didn’t sleep well last night. That’s all.” He shot me a questioning look. “You know, worrying about Kate.”

  He nodded. Then he cupped my face, lowered his head, and kissed me. When he lifted his head, my eyes connected with Torin’s. He was watching us. My gaze not leaving his, I went to my toes and returned Eirik’s kiss with more enthusiasm, going beyond the casual lip action we’d shared the last two days.

  “Get a room,” someone said as he walked by.

  Eirik wore a dazed look when I leaned back. Behind him, Torin turned and walked away. I stared after him, feeling like an idiot. I couldn’t explain why I’d kissed Eirik so passionately in front of Torin.

  “Wow,” Eirik mumbled. “That was… uh…”

  “Too much?” I asked, knowing I had gone too far. I wasn’t ready for our make out to go beyond light kissing and holding hands.

  “No, it was perfect. See you at lunch.”

  Cora was waiting for me by my locker. She looked like hell.

  “Hey,” I said, rubbing her arm. “You okay?”

  “No. Haven’t you heard?”

  “What?”

  “They don’t think Kate’s going to make it,” she whispered, her chin trembling.

  “Oh, no.” We hugged. “A friend of Mom’s said she was undergoing a second surgery yesterday. She also said someone caused the blackout.”

  “Really?” She sounded so hopeful as though blaming someone else eased her guilt. She had no reason to feel guilty. Neither did I, yet I did.

  “Chief Sparrowhawk thinks so.” I put my backpack away and removed my folder and the books I needed for my morning classes. “So if you’re still blaming yourself, stop it. Whoever messed with the switch at the substation is responsible for this.”

  She sighed. “I wish that could make me feel better. Later, Raine.”

  Cora’s English class was at the end of the west building. I stared after her, knowing I had to be strong f
or both of us. I went toward the stairs and my first class of the day. Most math classes were on the second floor. I thought I caught a glimpse of Andris and Maliina at the end of the hallway, but I might have been mistaken. My thoughts returned to the runes on the school entrance. Why would anyone put them there?

  Stares and whispers followed me when I entered math class. Or maybe I was imagining things. I slid into my seat and pulled out my textbook. Across the aisle, Sam Rasmussen stared at me with a weird expression. He sported a bruise on his chin and right cheek. He was at my party on Saturday, and I didn’t know whether to apologize for his injuries or not. I gave him a tiny smile, but he didn’t return it.

  “Raine Cooper,” Frank Moffat said as he lumbered into the classroom. Frank was tall and big with curly brown hair and beady gray eyes. He was also one of Blaine Chapman’s jock buddies and a known bully. Since he wasn’t in my calculus class the first few weeks of school, I assumed he’d either changed classes or he was after blood.

  “I heard your birthday party bombed. Everyone was dying to get out,” he mocked.

  My face grew hot. Seriously, some people were just too stupid to realize when a joke was tasteless. I stared at my books and ignored him.

  He grabbed a chair, straddled it, and crossed his arms along the back. “Next time, make sure you tell people to bring flashlights.”

  This time, a few snickers echoed around the room. I glared at him and tried to come up with something to say, anything in my defense, but my mind went blank. I hated confrontations and could feel my temper rising. I bit my lower lip and tried to control myself. He grinned.

  “What? You’re going to cry? I hope it’s for the people who were hurt trying to run away from you.”

  Knowing I’d say something I’d regret if I stayed, I got up and hurried out of the class, bumping into a student and almost tripping. The nearest bathroom was down the hall, so I gunned for it, locked myself inside a stall, and tried to control myself. My eyes smarted.

  I wasn’t a crier and often avoided unpleasantness, but this morning was different. Everything that had happened over the weekend came crashing down. It wasn’t my fault there was a blackout. The blame belonged to whoever had caused it. The more I thought about it, the more pissed I became.