A Touch of Honor (The Honor Trilogy)

by J. P. Grider

  “Yes…that’s why they kill.”

  By the weirded-out expression on Ethan’s face, he appears to have recalled something. “They were killing people. That’s what Hunter told me the day he called. I forgot about that. It wasn’t just to tell me to watch out for Storm. They’re after something.” He stands now and leans back against my bureau. “If they were with Storm…then we’re all in danger,” he realizes. “They’ll follow him out here. What if he’s part of this group? We could be in danger.”

  “You know, Eeth. The other day at the hospital, my mother told me that Hanna and Daniel had told them that if I had stayed with them, I’d be in danger.” A dire expression shadows Ethan’s face, but I ask anyway. “Could this be…related?”

  Ethan slides down to the floor and slams the back of his head against the bureau. “Oh shit. I’m so friggin’ stupid for coming here to find you. Now I’ve dragged you into something…after all your parents did to get you away from us.”

  “Ethan, stop.” I go over and sit next to him. “I’m glad you’re here.” With my hand, I turn his face to look at me. “Because I’m falling in love with you, too.” And I realize that I really am. He’s so caring and kind. How can I not fall in love with him?

  His long fingers caress my face, and then he pulls me close. With my head on his shoulder, I think to myself – how natural this feels.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Honor?” Ethan asks after several minutes of silence. “Would you be willing to leave New Jersey? Leave your parents? To come with me?”

  Unable to look him in the eye, I keep my head on his shoulder. “Oh, Ethan. My mother just came home from the hospital.” I feel Ethan glide his hand down the length of my hair, and it feels so good. “How could I leave her? She’d be…devastated.”

  We sit in gloomy silence for several more minutes before Ethan gives a hopeless shrug and stands up, lending his hand to aid me up.

  “We’ll deal with it, Ethan.” I tell him at last. “And I’ll watch out for Storm.” Then I had a thought. “Hey, can you teach me how to ignore someone else’s…feelings? Like Storm’s?”

  Ethan touches his lips to my forehead. “There’s not much to teach, babe. You just…force yourself to shut everyone out. That’s why I prefer living where no one else is. Most empaths prefer to be alone. But I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

  I step back. “Why?”

  “Because. I wanna talk about something else.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like…I want you to be my girlfriend.” His smile spreads across his face as he says this.

  “Oh, Ethan. Yes. I’d love to be your girlfriend.”

  He cups the back of my neck with his hand and brushes my lips with his, sending those little electric fuzzies throughout my entire body. I melt in his embrace.

  Ethan’s tongue is now in my mouth, and all of a sudden I am too aware that we are in my bedroom…late at night. Reminding myself that this is much too tempting, I force myself out of his arms.

  “What’s wrong,” he asks, clearly surprised that I’ve pulled back.

  “I’m sorry.” I look down at my fuzzy-socked feet. “I’m…not…I don’t think this is a good idea…to be in my room, I mean.”

  Ethan chuckles and kisses me on the nose. “You’re cute. It’s no problem. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable…”

  I stop him short of finishing his sentence. “No, that’s not it at all…I’m actually…too comfortable. I don’t want it to…y’know…go any further…yet.”

  “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. We’ll go as slow as you want it to go. I should leave anyway. Your father doesn’t need any more trouble on his hands…with your mom recovering and all.”

  I nod. “You’re not mad?”

  “Of course not.” He taps my lips with his. “I’ll see you at school in the morning.”

  Ethan springs back down the tree, and this time when I lay my head to rest on my pillow, I feel my smile reach from one ear to the other…drifting off into a peaceful slumber.

  Walking up the stairs to school, Storm catches me by the elbow. “Honor, I really need to talk with you,” he whispers in my ear.

  In his tone I hear regret. In my heart, I feel his sorrow. Storm is hurting. There is no mistaking the hollow-heart aching in my chest. While his hand is still clasped around my arm, whatever is troubling him is now being passed on to me. Whether he is doing this purposely or unconsciously, I know I need to break contact immediately.

  Pulling my arm from his desperate grasp, I act as annoyed as I can. “What is it, Storm?”

  “I need a friend, Honor,” he pleads. “Please just give me a minute. One minute. That’s all I ask.”

  Not sure if his plea is a façade, I agree to let him talk anyway. “Fine. One minute. I can’t be late for homeroom.”

  He turns and starts walking, motioning for me to follow. We stop at his car.

  “Storm, we can’t leave campus. School starts in ten minutes.”

  “Shush, Honor. We’re just sitting inside. We’re not going anywhere.” He opens the passenger side door to let me in, then practically hops over the hood of his beautiful car and gets in on the driver’s side. Adjusting his seat as far back as it can go, he gives an awkward turn towards me and exhales. “Honor,” he begins. “Um…you’re in…I mean, I’m in…well, we’re all in a bit of trouble…right now.” Storm looks down at my lap. No way does he look like the arrogant smartass he usually parades around as.

  “Who? Who’s we?” I keep the edge in my voice to avoid absorbing all this guy’s emotions. His lower jaw moves just slightly, and I think to myself that it makes him look so vulnerable at the moment. But also on my mind is the fact that I’m afraid Ethan may see me sitting in Storm’s car. I’m very torn at the moment…and very agitated.

  “You…and, uh, me…Ethan, his brothers.” He’s obviously reading my expression, but I don’t even know what to say. “There are some…dangerous empaths out there, Honor. They’re after something that…well, I don’t really know at the moment, but they know I followed Ethan out here and it’s only a matter of time…” he trails off, quirking that lower jaw again. “They also know Ethan followed you…”

  “Wait a minute. Back up. I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Why are they following us? What makes us so special?”

  “Ethan didn’t tell you?”

  “Tell me what, Storm?” I start rubbing my thighs with my hands. Storm is making me nervous now. He’s sending mixed signals. Mixed emotions. And I’m understanding none of it.

  “Well…the fact that he wants you to stay away from me means he must have told you about our…sister.” It’s very subtle, but that glazed over look of grief flits through Storm’s violet eyes.

  “Yes. Summer. He told me.”

  “Then…he told you what I did…to her.”

  I only nod. Words were definitely failing me here.

  “Well…what I did…makes me…attractive…to empaths who…want to reach…immortality.” Storm is clearly apprehensive in telling me this.

  “I don’t understand.”

  The corner of his mouth involuntarily quirks. Storm tries to stifle it by tucking in his lips.

  “Talk to me, Storm. What are you trying to say?”

  “Did Ethan tell you that if an empath kills another empath, he becomes immortal?”

  I just stare wide-eyed at Storm. I still can’t comprehend this paranormal life I am part of.

  “Well…each empath is at risk of being killed by another empath for that reason, but if an empath has already killed an empath…then…he’s of more value because he has taken on the soul of the person he’s already murdered. The more souls collected, the more powerful he is…and since I…well…y’know…anyway, I’m going off course. There are other real reasons why they are looking for you…”

  “For me?” I jump in quickly. “Why me? I haven’t killed anyone.”

  “Honor, I really don’t know. It�
�s everything…all I want you to know is that you and Ethan need to be careful.”

  It just hit me something Storm said. “So…if a soul goes into the person who killed it, then…”

  “Yes, Honor. Summer did not go to Heaven and find eternal bliss…she’s right here. Living inside me…her own infernal Hell.” The regret in Storm’s eyes mimic the remorse I have brewing in my own soul. Remorse for a murder I didn’t even commit. There’s a deep contrition emanating from Storm, and it takes all I have not to lean forward and hug him.

  But I refuse to believe this…this…paranormal…stuff. “No, I don’t believe you,” I stammer.

  He grabs my arm and is aggressive in his attempt to pull me close. To feel his self-hatred. Resisting him is too much. He is strong, yes, but my emotions for him…from him…whatever they are…won’t let me tear away. It is dangerous, yes, to allow him to touch me for so long. His pain, his guilt, his loathing…will all become mine. But there is something so sincere…so profound…that I can’t pull myself away.

  “Listen to me, Honor.” His grasp is tight. “It’s true. All of it. And…Summer is not the only one I’ve killed.”

  The lump that sits in my throat while he touches me finally lets loose when Storm abruptly drops his hold on me. “Why are you telling me this? This has nothing to do with me.”

  “Oh, but it does…it so does.”

  “No, I can’t listen to this anymore. I gotta go.” I already have my door open when he reaches across me to lay his hand on my arm. Blocking me from stepping out of his car.

  “I’m not done, Honor. You need to find time to talk to me again. I’m telling you, you need to listen to me…there’s more…your grandfather.”

  Nothing comes out. I’m speechless, but I manage to push him away and get out of his car. I can’t be near him like this. Ethan is right. Storm is dangerous. But Ethan has no idea just how dangerous Storm is…to me…and my relationship with Ethan.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Today’s headache is all my own…caused by my conversation with Storm this morning. I know I should have stayed and let him finish what he had to say, but trying to decipher which emotions were his, which were mine and the fact that he just told me he’d not only killed Summer but someone else – well, it was just all a bit too much for me to handle. To top it all off, he says I have something to do with the impending danger that we’re in. Was it not only last month that my life was relatively normal? Was it not only last school year that I had barely anyone in my life at all? How did I all of sudden fall into this inconceivable life? It has to all be a dream. It has to be.

  Ever since Ethan showed up, my peaceful world has been disrupted. I’m glad he did. I enjoy being with Ethan. But this whole empath community stuff frightens me. And I don’t even understand my own emotions anymore. Whether I’m with Ethan or not, I know I love him. The thing with Storm is…I think I’m only attracted to him when I’m with him. So are they his feelings or mine? It all just drives me crazy.

  By lunch time, I realize Ethan isn’t in school, and he hasn’t even texted me. Though my head is still reeling from Storm’s declaration, I am now concerned with Ethan’s absence.

  “So…the freaky Honor Stevens doesn’t have her pretty boy to hang with today.” I turn to see that tiny brunette of a cheerleader standing behind me. “What’s the matter? He finally figured out what a freak you are?” With her hands on her hips, three cookie-cutter cheerleaders to her side, she tries to intimidate me with her sneer. “What’s the matter? Loser’s cat got her tongue? You’re such a weirdo, Honor, it’s no wonder Ethan dropped you like yesterday’s news.”

  Writhing in pain, I nearly buckle over, my bones hurt so bad. The cheerleaders see me flinch and taunt me because of it. The little one can’t keep her mouth shut. She keeps rambling on how scared of them I am and that weirdoes like me don’t even know how to defend ourselves. She pushes me, and my tray goes flying as I land ass first on the floor. Without warning, I am propelled back up to standing position. Ethan is behind me, holding me around the waist.

  “Ethan, where’ve you been?”

  “Get outta here you slut.” Ethan addresses the tiny bully, but before he finishes his command, she turns and heads back to her table. Now he gives me his attention. “What was that all about?” Ethan’s whole face is twisted in disgust.

  “It was nothing.”

  When I bend down to pick up the contents of my tray, Ethan grabs my hand.

  “Stay away from her, Honor,” Ethan says quietly, but his voice is stern.

  This causes me to chuckle, because I was staying away from her. She had approached me.

  “I’m serious, Honor. She’s…bad news.”

  I gather my ruined lunch and toss it in the garbage. “Well I wasn’t planning on being her BFF,” I mock.

  Ethan takes my hand and walks me out of the cafeteria and into the school foyer. I get a chill and I’m sensing we’re not alone, but when I glance around the hall, I don’t see anyone. But now I have that heavy feeling in my chest – as if I’m being burdened with something. I try to ignore it, though and focus on Ethan.

  “By the way,” I ask him. “Where were you this morning?”

  Ethan’s violet eyes take on a deep purple. “My brother Brad was…killed last night.” He tries to say with a straight face, but I see the pain on the hardened look in his face.

  “Oh, Ethan, I’m sorry.” I wrap my arm around his waist. I feel his silent cry deep in my heart. After letting him release his sadness into me, I pull away…trying to hide the despair I now own. “How?”

  “Another empath.”

  “An empath?” This whole thing is crazy. Aren’t empaths, by nature, supposed to be compassionate? “Why?”

  Ethan’s deep purple eyes have now turned almost black. Ethan’s mouth is moving, but I barely hear him say, “Storm had something to do with this.”

  Then it registers. Storm said he’d killed someone else. Could this be what he was talking about? But…that’s impossible. Storm was with me this morning. “Ethan, where was…he killed?”

  “They found him at a rest stop off of 95. He was in New Jersey.”

  So…if he did it last night or something, then Storm could have killed…no. I don’t believe it. Those are not the vibes I get from Storm. “Why do you think Storm did this?”

  “It’s just too much of a coincidence,” he says.

  “Was Storm after him for something?”

  “Hunter says Storm was looking for all of us Sutherlands.”

  “But why?” The Storm I am getting to know may be arrogant, but I do not see him as a cold-blooded killer. He carries around too much remorse. I know. I feel it whenever I’m near him.

  “I don’t know, Honor. I just don’t know,” he laments.

  Ethan’s eyes are slowly fading back to violet. His anger is subsiding. The fact that emotions play a part in the color of our eyes is something I never knew about our violet eyes, since anger had never been one of my regular emotions. Plus…if I ever were angry, I wouldn’t have been looking in the mirror to watch it happen.

  “My brother Hunter is on his way from wherever he is. I’m not even sure where all my brothers live anymore. I do know that each of them lives with a different relative.” Ethan makes a hmmph sound and I see a tear bubble in the corner of his eye. “Well, except for Brad. He’s in Heaven now…I hope.”

  Which makes me wonder about what Storm said – empaths who kill are now the owners of their victims’ souls. So if an empath killed Brad, his soul is not in Heaven…it is being held captive within his murderer’s body. Poor Brad.

  “You know, Honor, I better go before someone sees me. I’m ditchin’ again. I have to meet Hunter and my uncle at the airport later. I’ll knock on your window when I get back.” He gives me a sweet kiss on the mouth and heads toward the door.

  “Well look who it is?” I cringe when Storm’s voice stops Ethan in his tracks. He steps out from an alcove on the other side of the foyer. “Sh
ouldn’t you be trying to find your brother’s killer or something?”

  “Why you…” In a blur, Ethan is at the other end of the foyer flying at Storm and tackling him to the floor. “You’ve been listening? What the hell…”

  Storm kicks up both feet, slams them against Ethan’s gut and sends him flying across the hall. Ethan again attempts to attack Storm, but in one smooth movement, Storm wrestles Ethan to the ground and thrusts his knee in Ethan’s throat…keeping it there and rendering Ethan unable to move.

  “You know I could if I wanted to,” Storm sneers. “Kill you, I mean…right now.” He pauses, leaving his knee in the crook of Ethan’s neck. “But you’re not worth my time…you or your loser brothers.” Then he laughs. “You better watch yourself, brother.” He cracks. Removing his knee from Ethan’s throat, Storm stands…his foot now positioned on Ethan’s stomach. “Someone’s out there looking for your precious Honor…you better keep her safe.”

  Ethan swats Storms foot away and jumps to his feet. Storm chuckles to himself as he walks away…his laugher echoing through the halls.

  All I get from Ethan is another short kiss before he storms out the door. Understandable. Storm angered him…probably embarrassed him too. How different Storm is with Ethan than he is with me.

  “So…were they fighting over you, princess?” The tiny cheerleader berates me as I walk back to my table in the cafeteria.

  Can’t she tell I am already in a bad mood and in a lot of pain? I need her comments now, too? “You know…I don’t even know your name, yet you choose me as your firing target.” I say, tired of saying nothing. “You know what, cheerleader? Get a life.” I finally speak up…and it feels good.

  But as I am strutting back to my table, I feel her hand grab my shoulder. She spins me around so hard I almost fall.

  “Fight, fight.” I hear our immature classmates in the distance.

  Cheerleader grabs me by the shirt, places her hands on my chest and pushes me to the floor. I gasp in pain. It’s not the fall. When she touches me, something flows from her to me. She must feel it too, because I see it in her eyes…and in the frightened expression on her face. She jumps back, spews “whatever” and leaves the cafeteria.