by K. K. Allen
Johnny places a hand on my knee and stares deeper into my eyes, searching them. He gives me such an incredible rush. Like a pool of water beneath a waterfall, he falls into me and I embrace him, no matter the risk. He’s mine.
His lips are close, but so is the trail of blood that’s reached his mouth. It’s enough to bring my focus back to my mission. I wipe the blood away in one clean sweep and then stop the pooling from his forehead.
To get the best angle, I adjust myself so that I’m closer to him and raise my hands to each side of his head wound. Another mistake. His breath is unmistakably hot and fragmented against my neck, as if he’s unable to control the patterns it makes.
It’s addictive. There’s not enough air in the world to give me the oxygen I need to control my own breathing now. Unable to stand it anymore, I sigh and dare to look down again. Our eyes lock, this time our intentions clear. Neither of us pulls away. It’s just an agonizing wait as his hands and fingers roll up my thighs, then onto my waist. They don’t stop. His fingers travel parallel up my back while his thumbs glide up the front of my ribcage. His eyes never wander. He’s looking directly at me, gripping my eyes, as if willing them to be his. How can such a big, strong guy be so incredibly gentle?
“I’m still mad at you.” I’m able to say this and only this because the racing of my pulse has kidnapped my ability to breathe.
His hand reaches my neck, then guides my head toward his. I’m not sure there’s fight left in me to pull away even if I wanted to. I definitely don’t want to.
His lips press into mine softly, tenderly. I’m kissing him back, instantly becoming the marshmallow to his blaze, melting, sticking to every surface of him. Suddenly the passion between us is everything I remember and more. A lot more.
As one arm tightly encircles my waist, the other softly massages my neck in sweet circles, saying all the things he needs to say with his hands and mouth. He’s missed me too.
I still can’t trust that he’ll stay. Am I strong enough to lose him again? But this. Being here in his arms, allowing him to completely invade me with his presence … it feels so right. Like there is no life after this. I know it’s not true, but in this moment, there is just Johnny.
An annoying buzz vibrates in Johnny’s pocket, which we’d happily ignore if it would stop. I’m the first to pull away. Johnny pulls me back, not ready to end our kiss. I giggle and push away again with more force.
“That’s probably my dad.”
Johnny’s eyes shoot open as if he’s been ignoring calls from the president.
“Sir,” Johnny answers, and I stifle another giggle.
Johnny sends me warning signals with his high eyebrows. I pout as he slides me off his lap, secretly enjoying the fact that my dad can still make him uneasy.
“Yes sir. We’ll head out now.”
Johnny powers his phone down and helps me to my feet. “We have to go. Paul stopped over to your house for dinner and wants you there too.”
“Aye aye, sir!” I say with mock seriousness and then smirk at him. With a glare, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder, carrying me out of the yacht and straight for Summer Estate.
Chapter Thirteen
It’s been a full day. A full day of overanalyzing and worrying about what comes next—both with Johnny and the Equinox. There are too many things wrong with this picture to allow me to feel satisfied … but somehow I do.
I let him kiss me.
My conflicted soul tells me I should have been more careful. I’ve gone over yesterday’s events in my mind a thousand times. The treehouse, the fight and the epic lightning show as result of the combination of so much power, and then that kiss. I know it wasn’t just that moment that inspired that kiss. As tempting as I know I might have been dressing his wounds, my lips so close to his, I know the moment his lips touched mine has been building since the second I bumped into him at the Arctic Ball. As complicated as things were then, they seem to be even more complicated now.
I’m ready to burst from these thoughts, from the unknown and the desire and everything that comes with being hopelessly and completely in love with someone. I think. I’ve actually never been in love before, but I can’t imagine it’s much better than this.
There’s only one thing that can help me release this energy without using my powers to create the largest lightning storm this planet has ever seen. I need to run.
Before I can make it out the door, I’m stopped by Rose, who disapproves since it will be dark soon. My dad and Charlotte are inclined to agree with Rose until my dad sees me and knows. He gets it. It’s not like I have anyone to run with, and I refuse to stay locked up like a damsel in distress. I have to live my life. If Erebus comes for me, then so be it. I’ll deal with him.
Okay, so maybe I’m not that eager for Erebus to come for me. I shiver. The last thing I want to do is deal with another encounter with the Serpent. I just want to run. I need to run.
Paul finally agrees to let me go, infuriating Rose. Giving up control and forfeiting an argument isn’t her strong suit, but she’s learning. While Paul hates the situation, he doesn’t want to confine me to steel locks and metal bars to keep me safe. Instead, he tells me to strap my cell phone to me in case anything were to happen.
After a glass of water and a quick stretch, I’m out the back door, zipping down the street before cutting through the community beach to the main road. I try to ignore the threatening cloud cover above me. It’s dark and definitely ready to pour. I’d better make this a quick run.
I run. I run so fast and so hard that one might think my feet don’t hit the pavement. I’m flying through the night at a speed that would make a Normal’s head spin, but I can’t stop. I’m at the marina property and into the boathouse before I even know what I’m doing. What am I doing? I guess this isn’t that unusual. This is part of my typical route, except I would usually slow down at this point to enjoy the sunset. It’s too late for a sunset, so I travel through the boathouse.
When Johnny left town, I visited the marina almost daily with hopeless dreams of spotting his yacht, even when I knew from Arabella’s updates that he was hundreds of miles away. This time, I know his yacht is here. I wasn’t paying too much attention earlier, but I do know it’s not docked in its old spot, probably because he’s been away so long that he had to find another place to store it. I run down the next strip of dock and stop midway. There it is in its berth, gleaming white and glorious as it rocks gently against the platform.
My reverie is ruined when a chilling gust of wind blows through the boathouse, causing every hair on my body to stand. It’s enough to make me turn my feet around and continue my run. With great speed, I flee from the boathouse, making my way back up Apollo Beach Drive until I’m faced with the T intersection. I look left toward Summer Estate, then right toward the abandoned homes and the nature trail. I can’t explain the magnetic force of the north side of town that calls to me, but I run toward it with the intention to blast right past it.
A light in the window of one of the houses stops me dead in my tracks, just like the other day. This time I focus in on the light, channeling my energy to that one spot, certain I must be mistaken. It’s got to be a reflection of the moon because no one has lived in these houses for over a decade. A flutter of the curtains completely shakes my body. Then a sudden movement in the tall grass causes my skin to crawl.
I’m about to run when a gecko darts out onto the driveway. Hardly a monster—or a serpent. I let out a laughing but shaky breath and turn away from the house only to slam into a hard body in front of me.
“What are you doing out here?”
Johnny. My heart rate accelerates, but not from fear of his apprehensive tone. It’s his intense eyes and intoxicating scent that get to me. Why does he always smell so good?
I’m brought back to one of our first encounters, when he knew nothing about me, when he thought I was part of the clan that murdered his parents … when he glared at me at every opportunity.
My defense was to always throw up a wall and avoid eye contact, shielding myself from his intensity.
“What are you doing here?” I cock my head and straighten my stance, examining him from top to bottom. My wall is back up, but it’s thinning from the friction his heart has on mine. If it weren’t for the lingering fear that he might leave again, I would completely crumble at his glance.
“You shouldn’t be out here after dark.” His shoulders seem to relax, and his words have an instant tranquilizing effect on my mood. “Is everything okay?”
He knows why I run. His concern chips away at my surface as if desperate to pass through the final stony barrier. “I was running, but I went off course a bit. I went by the boathouse …” I shouldn’t have told him that.
His lips angle up into a pleased smile. “You were looking for me?”
I turn away, hoping he won’t see the frustrated blush twisting like vines up my neck and into my cheeks.
“How did you know you’d find me here?” he asks.
My eyes grow wide. “I didn’t. I always run down this road, and I saw a light in that window.” I point to the home behind him. “Rose tells me these houses have been abandoned for years.”
He looks at the nearest house and nods. “You could say that. Almost twelve years, to be exact.”
I tilt my head. “How do you know?” I’m not sure if his knowledge worries or excites me. Does he know about the House of Equinox? Maybe he can fill the blanks in Rose’s story.
Johnny searches my eyes with his as if having an internal debate. I sigh. Being so close to him again has an extraordinary effect on me; it’s positively invigorating. He’s so strong and confident; it displaces me, causing my knees to weaken and my heart to stutter.
“Come with me,” he finally says, holding out his hand. “It’s going to rain.”
He’s right. I’ve already felt some droplets on my face. Accepting his hand is more than just laying my palm in his and following him; it’s a choice. I can continue to follow him, hoping for something good to come from all this. Or I can continue to give into my insecurities, risking my happiness.
When I don’t grab ahold of his hand right away, he wraps his fingers around my arm and pulls me up the driveway. He’s not even giving me a chance to choose. Where is he taking me? Panic shoots up my chest and out my throat in the form of my voice as soon as we near the front door. “Whoa, I’m not going in there. You don’t know who could be in there.”
“It’s just an old house. It’ll be fine; I promise.” He tugs on my hand, his begging eyes softening me.
If I follow him, we’re assured more time together. If I turn away, who knows when we’ll get this opportunity to be alone again. I can’t completely explain my hesitation. My feelings for Johnny are as certain as my need for air. He lights me up, every part of me. But why do I always feel like our time is running out?
He waits for my response, no longer forcing me to follow. He wants me to make my own choice. I choose him. I’ll always choose him.
“Okay,” I say confidently.
My fingers interlace with his as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. His touch sends my entire body buzzing. Maybe this won’t be so bad. I don’t need Johnny to promise me anything. I just need him here … with me … always.
We walk to the front door, and Johnny turns the handle as if he owns the place.
Wait a second.
“Did you buy this house?”
He wordlessly places a hand on my back, allowing me to cross the threshold first. Then he flicks on the switch near the door, letting light flood the room. Unbelievable. This home looks anything but abandoned; the inside is the complete opposite of its dreadful exterior.
“Johnny,” I say, breathlessly, “is this your childhood home?”
He nods and then gazes around the room. I begin to put it all together. How Johnny knows so much about this area. Why this house was abandoned almost a decade ago. It’s all starting to make sense. Johnny’s already explained how his parents took him from his home at a young age. I know now for certain it was because of the Equinox.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me you still had a home here?”
He moves past the foyer and into the great room. “I had no plans to step foot inside this house until a few days ago. There are too many reminders. Your trip to North Carolina was what nudged me to come back here. It’s still hard, but it’s bearable now.”
I frown, understanding immediately. It was so hard for me to even set foot in the same city I lived with my mother, let alone be surrounded by her things. I’m not sure what made it okay, but time definitely had something to do with it. Time, and a little nudge from my father.
Knowing that Johnny has been through the same heartbreak, times two, makes me want to throw my arms around him and bury my cheek in his chest. So, I do.
From the gasp that passes his lips when my arms wrap tightly around him, I assume he’s surprised. His arms are around me immediately, holding me to him as if he may never hold me again. Everything about this moment is unexpected, confusing, and—wonderful. We share so much. We both know what devastation feels like, and it’s not something we talk about easily, but that’s okay. It’s moments like this that drown out all the bad. Maybe that’s why our connection is so strong. We no longer have to escape alone when we’re together.
In the seconds that pass, I’m not sure I can wait any longer. Being here with him makes me want to pick up right where we left off. But we can’t. There is a year and a half of his life I know nothing of. Where has he been? I’m afraid if I ask, he may not tell me.
“There’s a reason you landed in my driveway tonight, Kat.” When Johnny finally breaks the silence, I feel the earth move gently beneath us. Literally, the earth moves beneath us. I instinctively reach out to hold something and find the only thing in front of me: Johnny’s forearm.
“Sorry.” He looks lost. “That happens sometimes when I’m nervous. I never noticed it until recently.”
“You’re nervous?” I wish I could smile, lighten the mood a little, but I’m nervous too. He turns his eyes down to his feet and then looks back at me. I squeeze my eyes shut as I contemplate if I want to say what’s on my mind next. “Why didn’t you call me?”
Johnny looks as if he’s going to move away, but I adjust myself so he’s forced to look at me again.
“You can’t ignore me now,” I say. “I’m standing right in front of you.”
“I don’t want to ignore you. I didn’t want to leave you in the first place. You know that.” His jaw is clenched, but I know his anger isn’t aimed at me.
“Why didn’t you call?” This is it. Showtime. I don’t think I could back off if I tried.
He lets out a quick, heavy breath. “Because I didn’t want you to wait for me. You deserve better than someone who’s going to take off like that. But I didn’t feel as if I had any other option. It’s not like I could have taken you with me. It was safer for you here while I knew I had my eyes on Erebus, and all I wanted was to keep you away from danger.”
“Yet here you are, and I’m no safer than before.” I should not have said that. I shake my head. “You can’t beat yourself up for your decisions either. You left, but you’re here now. So deal with this—with what’s right in front of you, right now.”
He searches my eyes for what feels like forever before pressing his forehead against mine. “Kat, you have no idea how often I thought about you, how much I missed you, the number of times I wanted to abandon my mission and just come back to you.”
My eyes fill with tears, and I slam my palms into his chest. He must be ready for the blow because he doesn’t move. “You could have called. I would have understood.” I have to blink to see him through the water pooling around my eyes.
“Kat,” he croaks, and now the tears are falling down my face before I can even try to control them. “I don’t know how to explain this to anyone. I can’t even explain this to myself. I couldn’t just sit aroun
d here waiting for him to come back. It’s not in my DNA to allow the people around me to be tortured and murdered while I just sit back and wait for the danger to come to me. I’m the one who goes out there and hunts and protects. He killed my parents in front of me. When the opportunity presented itself, I had to take it, and I don’t regret it.”
I cringe while wrapping my arms around his waist and leaning my head against his chest. “He needs to disappear.”
“Erebus can’t disappear.” Johnny’s words are filled with frustration. I look up at him as he continues. “Erebus can’t die because his eternal soul is devised of purely dark energy. And energy can neither be created nor destroyed, according to the laws of physics. Erebus will always be slithering around Earth in some form, haunting us all. His dark-fated curse is our infinite misery.”
My face creases together. “Since when did physics have anything to do with this?”
His eyes widen. “Physics has everything to do with this. Think about it. We’re descendants of gods who were given powers tied to the elements. Earth, air, fire, water. Our magic is energy—energy that manifests from the elements, is powered by the elements, yet we’re able to control them because we’re all tied together. No different from any Normal besides the makeup of our energy.
“At some point over the centuries, Erebus learned to not only hate Enchanters, but all of us—all descendants. His own powers were never strong enough for him because ours have always been stronger.”
Throughout my endless hours of reading in the Summer library, I never once came across books tying physics to what we are. Or maybe I just never paid them any attention before.
“But we die.” I try to hold up this conversation I have no background on. “One day Rose will die because she’ll choose to stop recycling, so her energy will leave her body. Why wouldn’t the same thing happen to Erebus?”
Johnny frowns. “Because he’s been eternalized. His dark energy is locked inside his body, and it can never escape.”
“So we can’t kill Erebus.”