Mortal Kiss

by Alice Moss

  Faye realized she’d been holding her breath as he spoke. Their lips were so close, they were almost touching, and all she needed to do was move in, just a fraction, and they would meet. “Like who?” she whispered, half wanting to know, the rest of her wanting him to shut up and kiss her.

  Finn hesitated. “Someone I … someone I cared about. A lot. She—” He stopped again, leaning back suddenly and squaring his shoulders. “Sorry. I … I didn’t mean to … You should go inside, where it’s warm.”

  Before Faye could say anything, he kicked the bike’s engine into gear. The noise of the bike filled the quiet air as he roared off into the night.

  “Wait!” Faye called after him. “Wait, I—”

  It was no good. He’d already left. Faye stared after him for a few minutes. The adrenaline of the bike ride and their half-conversation drained away suddenly, leaving her exhausted. Pulling out her keys, she moved to the shop door and unlocked it, rubbing a hand over her tired eyes as she stepped inside.

  But as she went to shut the door behind her, a foot pushed into the gap, forcing it wide open.

  Chapter 39: Sleepover

  It was Lucas. He was breathing hard, as if he’d been running, and he looked scared. Faye tried to ram the door shut, but he wouldn’t move. Faye was terrified—after everything she’d just learned about his family, about how dangerous his mother was … And now he was here.

  “Go away!” she hissed, looking around frantically for something that might work as a weapon.

  “I’ve got to talk to you!” Lucas begged. “Please, Faye. Please let me in.”

  “I don’t want to talk to you,” she told him, trying again to shut the door.

  “Faye … don’t …”

  They struggled, the door between them, but Lucas was far stronger. He pushed hard, forcing Faye back until the opening was big enough for him to step through. The door slammed shut after him. Faye backed away, putting distance between them.

  “Get out,” she said, petrified now, wishing desperately that her dad were here to help her. “You’re not welcome here. You … whatever you are.”

  A flicker of confusion, followed by a flash of anger, passed over Lucas’s face. “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “I know what you are,” Faye said, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. “You and your evil mother. I know what you do to people. What you’ve done.”

  “What do you know about my mother? Or perhaps I should ask, how long have you known her, Faye?”

  It was Faye’s turn to be confused. “What? What are you talking about?” She suddenly realized how pale Lucas was. He looked scared, his hands shaking slightly.

  Lucas snatched something from his pocket, holding it up for her to see. It was an old photograph, lined and creased.

  “This is you,” he said, his voice full of accusation. “This is you, and I want to know who you are and what this was doing in my mother’s desk drawer.”

  Faye stared at the picture in Lucas’s trembling hand. She felt the color draining from her face, like liquid being poured from a bottle. It wasn’t her. It couldn’t be her. And yet … and yet it looked like her. It looked exactly like her. She shook her head in incomprehension.

  “This is you,” Lucas said again, taking a step forward. “I know it is. And you’re obviously into the same kind of thing my mother is, so explain it to me. What’s going on? What—what is that mirror thing?”

  The mention of the mirror snapped Faye back to the present. She looked up at Lucas, shocked. “I’ve got nothing to do with your mother! How could you think that? How could you think I would do that to people? How could you?” she spat, furious and horrified in equal measure. “How could you think I would be that evil?”

  There was a second of silence as they stared at each other. Then something crumbled in Lucas’s eyes. He blinked, looking away, and put one hand up to his face.

  “This is a nightmare,” he muttered. “I don’t know where to go. I don’t have anyone I can trust. I don’t know what’s happening. Everything … everything’s falling apart. And I don’t know why.”

  Faye watched him with a frown. He wasn’t acting the way someone with an unlimited, ancient power should. He seemed lost, unsure of himself.

  At her silence, Lucas shook his head again, turning back to face her but not meeting her eyes. “Look,” he said, “I thought—I thought we were getting to be friends. Weren’t we? And … and I’ve got to find out what’s going on. My mother—she’s … doing something. I don’t know what it is, but I think it’s why we came here, and I know it’s not good. And this is the second picture of you that I’ve found in our house, Faye. That’s got to mean something, doesn’t it?”

  Faye still didn’t say anything. Was this a trick? Had Mercy sent him? Or was this real, and did Lucas truly have no idea what was going on?

  “I like you, Flash,” Lucas continued, quieter now. “You’re the only one who hasn’t been interested in our money, or my mother. And … and you’re cute.”

  At that, Faye felt the color rush back to her cheeks with a vengeance. She looked away as Lucas kept talking, feeling her heart stutter just the way it had when their hands had touched as he’d helped pick up her scattered books. She didn’t know why he had this effect on her, but she did know that it was nice to have someone be honest about how they were feeling for a change. Unlike Finn, who made every nerve in her body buzz with excitement but always seemed to be leaving her standing on her own …

  “If you know what’s going on, please tell me,” Lucas begged. “I don’t have anyone else to ask. Faye, I don’t even have anywhere else to go.”

  She stared at him for another moment. Then she nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she said with a slight smile, “you wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had, either. Why don’t we make some hot chocolate? Then we can talk, OK?”

  #

  Lucas sat at the McCarrons’ kitchen table, trying to take in everything that Faye had just told him. He stared at the mug in his hand, watching the thick hot chocolate swirl gently inside. He wished it were hot enough to burn him—anything to take his mind off what Faye had asked him to acknowledge.

  Across the table, he felt her eyes watching him. “I know it’s hard to believe,” she said softly. “And I’m sorry. But I swear it’s true, Lucas.”

  After a moment he nodded and took a swallow of his drink, even though he could no longer taste it properly.

  “It’s not really that it’s hard to believe,” he muttered. “I just don’t … don’t want to believe it. She’s my mom. She …”

  He trailed off and was surprised to feel Faye’s fingers brushing over his own where they were bunched on the table between them. He looked up, finding her eyes full of sympathy, and thought again how pretty she was.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “What for?” she asked, removing her hand.

  He shrugged. “For having an evil mother. For not realizing it sooner. And, I guess, for fighting Finn earlier. If he’s a good guy in all this, I mean. Despite the weird werewolf stuff.”

  Faye smiled. “Well, the first two things really aren’t your fault. And the third … it’s hard to know what Finn’s thinking. He doesn’t say much. And the bikers all think you’re part of Mercy’s circle, so he was as willing to fight you as you were to fight him. So I don’t think you need to apologize for that. You were amazing, by the way.”

  Lucas looked up, not understanding what she meant.

  “At the Battle of the Bands, I mean,” Faye clarified. “The way you sang, and played that guitar. You’re really, really talented, Lucas.”

  He smiled. “Thanks. Music means a lot to me. And I’ve had a lot of time to practice. Even though Mom’s always taken me everywhere with her, I guess I’ve always spent most of my time alone.”

  Faye nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  Lucas laughed, though it sounded harsher than he intended. “Don’t be. After all, if she’d been more interested in me, maybe I’d be
as evil as she is by now.”

  “I don’t believe that,” Faye said softly. “You’re a good person, Lucas. Will you help us?”

  “Help you with what?”

  “I don’t know,” Faye admitted with a sigh. “Joe’s determined to stop whatever she’s planning. And I think we—and the bikers—will need all the help we can get. Whatever that turns out to be.”

  Lucas smiled, shrugging a little. “Hey. If it helps you out, Flash … anything. OK?”

  He was pleased to see a faint blush tint her cheeks again and had to stop himself from reaching out to brush her hair out of her eyes. There was just something about her.…

  “Do you want to stay here tonight?”

  He blinked. “Uh …” He was surprised, and hesitated—not because he didn’t want to stay, but because he was suddenly afraid of what his mother would do when she found out where he was.

  “There’s a couch downstairs,” Faye added in a rush, her blush deepening. “It’s really old, but it’s comfortable. Then tomorrow we can figure out what to do. You should probably meet Joe and the others.”

  Lucas recovered quickly. “Right. Got it. Yes—thanks. The couch will be great.”

  He rinsed out their mugs as quietly as possible while Faye got the spare bedding together. She showed him where the couch was, anxious about making him as comfortable as possible. Lucas smiled as she bustled around. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt … cared for. It was a good feeling.

  “Thanks,” he said again when Faye finally stopped fussing. “For everything, Faye. I mean it. Without you …”

  They were standing quite close together. She shook her head. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry … well, about everything, really.”

  Lucas nodded, not really knowing what to say. They stared at each other for another minute, until he couldn’t help but reach forward and push a strand of hair out of her eyes, running his fingertips over her forehead and down her cheek. Her skin was warm.…

  Faye jumped at his touch, catching her breath. “I … I’ll say good night, then.” He smiled. “Good night, then.”

  He watched as she fled to the door. Just before she went up the stairs, she glanced back at him.

  #

  It was dark outside McCarron’s Bookstore, the street full of deep shadows. Standing on the sidewalk across the street, Mercy Morrow watched through the lit window as her son pulled down the shop’s blinds. Her face was creased in fury, her eyes full of anger. Stretching out her hand, she found the porch railing of the house behind her. Her knuckles burned white with cold as her fingers gripped it, harder and harder, tighter and tighter.…

  There was the sound of screaming metal and a loud crack as the railing turned to ice.

  Chapter 40: Healing

  Finn made his way back to the camp, kicking himself. His dad was right—he shouldn’t be alone with Faye. When he was, she was all he could see and all he wanted. But it wasn’t that easy—for him, it was never going to be that easy, and spending time with her just made everything worse. His heart beat a fast, painful rhythm as he remembered how close they’d been and how warm her breath had felt as it floated across his cheek. And despite his best intentions, he kept hearing a small, insistent voice in the back of his head.

  She knows, it whispered as he tried to silence it. She knows what you are, and yet she still …

  Finn shook his head, pushing the thought away.

  The other bikers were out on patrol when he got back to camp. They’d called in to report that there was no sign of Ballard anywhere—he must have gone back to the mansion before they’d had a chance to catch him. They thought there was a good chance there would be another hunt, though, so they were staying on alert.

  “I’m going to go out and join them,” his dad said as they chatted quietly beside the still-burning fire. “I was just waiting for you to get back. I don’t want to leave these two here alone.”

  Finn looked over his dad’s shoulder, to the tent where Jimmy still lay. Beside him, curled up under a thick blanket, was Liz. They were both fast asleep, Liz with one arm flung out across Jimmy’s chest.

  “How’s he doing?” Finn asked softly. “Do you think we managed to stop it in time?”

  Joe shrugged. “I’m hopeful. He’s a stronger kid than he looks. There might be some lasting side effects, but I don’t think a full wolf will rise in him.”

  Finn found himself relieved. He’d known none of these people long, but he cared about all of them. They hadn’t asked for any of this, and he was determined to do everything he could to keep as many of them as safe as possible.

  “Will you be all right here?” Joe asked, pulling on his jacket as he prepared to go out on patrol.

  Finn nodded. “I’ll be fine. You go.”

  In truth, Finn was happy to see his father leave. He wanted some time alone after his ride with Faye. He watched Joe roll out on his bike and then pulled over one of the old camp chairs they’d brought with them. Pouring himself a mug of coffee from the pot the bikers always kept brewing, he sat and stared into the fire, trying to calm his scattered emotions, trying to figure out what he should do. He prided himself on always doing the right thing—or at least, trying to. He’d seen what harm powerful people could do if they used their power in the wrong way. He never wanted to be like that. He never wanted to hurt anyone, especially not someone like Faye.

  He rubbed a hand over his face. The thing of it was that trying never to hurt anyone else usually ended up with him being the one who got hurt. And right now, not being with Faye, even if it was the right thing to do—well, that hurt him more than anything had for a long, long time.

  “Are you thinking about Faye?”

  The quiet voice made him jump. Finn looked up to see Jimmy standing over him, looking more than a little shaky.

  “Hey!” Finn said, standing. “You shouldn’t be up!”

  Jimmy waved his concern away. “I’m fine. Feeling better all the time.”

  Finn pulled up another chair, and Jimmy sank into it gratefully. “I’ve seen the way you look at her,” Jimmy said quietly as Finn sat back down. “Have you told her?”

  Finn shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Told her what?”

  Jimmy raised a knowing eyebrow. “You know what I mean.”

  Finn drank some coffee and shrugged. “It’s not that simple,” he muttered.

  Jimmy nodded. “The centuries-old werewolf thing is a bummer.”

  Finn laughed under his breath. “Yeah, you could say that.”

  “I’ve known Faye my whole life,” Jimmy said. “And she’s been through a lot—her mom dying, her dad being away most of the time. And she’s always managed to deal with it. She’ll deal with all this, too. And what you are.”

  Finn finished his coffee and put his mug on the ground, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Maybe,” he said softly. “But she deserves better.”

  He watched Jimmy glance back toward Liz, who was still fast asleep. “Funny,” Jimmy muttered. “I was thinking the same thing earlier.”

  “You know what?” Finn said, realizing something. “You haven’t stuttered for the whole of this conversation.”

  Jimmy looked back at him, surprised. “You’re right. I don’t even feel like I’m going to stutter.”

  “How do you feel otherwise?”

  “OK.” Jimmy shrugged. “Kind of weak.”

  Finn picked up his tin mug and played with it for a second. Then, without warning, he flicked it toward Jimmy, aiming straight for the boy’s face. Quick as a flash, Jimmy brought his hand up, punching into the mug so hard that it almost plunged into the fire. Finn reached out, catching it before it reached the flames. He looked at the mug and grinned, holding it up for Jimmy to see. There was a shape in the metal, an imprint of Jimmy’s knuckle.

  “Let me see your leg,” Finn said, already knowing what he would find. Jimmy unwrapped his bandage to show the wound, which seemed to be healing. The black infection was beginning
to disappear, replaced by new, healthy pink flesh. Finn smiled. “I think you’re going to be OK. Looks like you got the good parts of the wolf.”

  Jimmy wrapped his leg up again, grinning briefly before a serious expression settled on his face. “And what about you?”

  Finn looked away into the fire. “I’m fine,” he said. “I’m always fine.”

  Chapter 41: Teamwork

  Faye walked to school on Monday morning. She’d talked to Liz on her cell phone, and Liz had said she was going to go home to get a change of clothes and would meet Faye at Winter Mill High. Faye had heard the tremor in Liz’s voice as she talked about going home, but Liz had been adamant that she’d been fine going alone.

  “It’ll be quicker if it’s just me,” Liz had said. “I’ll be in and out. Hopefully they won’t even notice. As far as Mom’s concerned, I’ve been at your place all night.”

  Still, Faye was relieved when she turned into the school grounds and saw Liz across the busy parking lot. Liz started walking toward her but then stopped dead in her tracks. Faye wondered what had made her hesitate and then realized that it was probably the fact that Lucas Morrow was walking beside her, bold as brass.

  “Faye!” Liz hissed, shooting a horrified glance at Lucas. “What on earth are you doing with him?”

  Faye looked at Lucas, whose face fell. She’d been worried about him the night before. He had been anxious and troubled, even though he’d promised to help them. This morning, he had seemed a little better—not happier, exactly, but more composed. He seemed more worried about having to borrow some of her dad’s clothes—he really hadn’t been impressed by the tweed slacks Aunt Pam had thoughtfully picked out for him. Liz’s reaction wasn’t what he needed right now.

  “Don’t worry, Liz,” Faye said as Liz reached them.

  Liz grabbed her sleeve, pulling her to one side. “What do you mean, don’t worry? Don’t you remember what we’ve just found out? Lucas … he’s … he’s …”