by J. N. Colon
Patrick halted, blinking as if to clear his mind.
“I thought you wanted to find Tatum?”
His eyes went wide and dazed again, the desperation returning to his face. “Yes. Tatum.” He released me and grabbed my hand, pulling me along as if nothing happened.
Drugs. It had to be drugs.
And I was so ready to be rid of him I didn’t care what was going on. Mostly. So I headed to place where I had to biggest chance of finding her.
Students shot us curious glances as we walked through the dimly lit, glossy halls of the dormitory. I alone could have that effect on people, but it probably had something to do with the way Patrick was clinging to my arm, his head pressed on my shoulder.
I knocked on the door of Tatum and Emmaline’s room, praying at least one of them was there. My patience with Patrick had worn out. Emmaline answered the door—the eternal slender ballerina with perfect golden locks.
Whatever.
Her expression was puzzled as her gaze flickered between Patrick and me. “Yes?”
“Is Tatum here?” I blew his blonde hair out of my face. “He’s been looking for her.”
Emmaline’s rosebud lips pursed as she surveyed the boy. “Patrick?” she sang in a soft, lilting voice.
He looked up. “Where’s Tatum?”
Suspicion crossed her delicate face and she quickly motioned us in with a single flick of her long, delicate hand. She pulled Patrick close, examining him with keen, perceptive eyes. Then those eyes widened and her lips thinned to a white line.
Tatum padded out the bathroom, her strawberry blonde hair damp from the shower. Confusion spread across her heart shaped face when she spotted me. “What’s going on…?”
“Tatum,” Emmaline hissed. “What have you done?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Look at him.” Emmaline pointed to Patrick who was staring dreamily at Tatum.
Tatum’s hazel eyes landed on him, examining his appearance. She gracefully stepped closer, her petite body lost in a plush green robe. “Oops.”
“Oops?” Emmaline’s voice rose. “Oops? That’s all you have to say?”
What the devil was going on?
The two unnaturally beautiful girls were locked on each other, staring intently as if they were having a silent argument with only their eyes. Dark, piercing blue against wild hazel. Their expressions grew tenser with every passing second.
I awkwardly shifted, feeling like the third wheel because Patrick was pretty much just standing there, gazing at Tatum like a single minded drone. Okay… This was getting a little too weird for my tastes.
As if they realized I was still there, two sets of keen eyes landed on me.
My heart thudded to an abrupt stop and palms started to sweat. I got the distinct impression they wanted me to remain clueless.
Emmaline spoke first. “Thank you Rubi for bringing Patrick.” She smiled politely, her voice slow and melodic. “You should get back to your room. We can take it from here.”
I wanted to protest and demand an explanation, but something about the seriousness in their gazes made me suddenly want to haul ass to my room.
So instead I smiled and let Emmaline guide me to the door.
On the way back to my room my pulse raced and blood thundered in my ears. Something was going on with that group of people and the painful knot in my stomach was telling me it wasn’t as simple as drugs.
Chapter 10
The next few weeks continued without incident. Mac ignored me and Patrick passed me in the halls without making eye contact. He’d either forgotten about that night or was pretending it never happened. Apparently people liked to do that with me.
Emmaline unexpectedly smiled politely at me a few times. She seemed nicer than the other popular kids, but the last time I trusted one of them I got punched in the gut—figuratively of course. So I wasn’t counting on us being friends.
Thankfully I didn’t stumble upon anymore dead bodies. The grounds still gave me the willies and I still felt eyes watching me, but there hasn’t been any wild animals lurking around. Headmaster Norrington assured us it was long gone, whatever it was.
“So a wild animal just wonders onto campus for a day, mauls someone, and goes about its merry way?”
Yeah, that totally sounds plausible.
I dodged another giant root protruding from the ground, skipping my last class of the day and wandering around the campus instead. I couldn’t stomach sitting through biology with Mac and Paisley cuddled up in the corner, making moon eyes at each other. The thought alone made me want to puke.
I’d experienced so many eerie things at Highland yet what made my skin crawl the most was Paisley hanging all over him. It was completely irrational and ridiculous since he totally pretended I didn’t exist.
Speaking of odd things…
The wind blew, carrying familiar voices. I tiptoed closer and ducked behind the trunk of a gnarled oak just in time to watch a group of students stroll by.
My heart jumped at the sight of Brant, Emmaline, Tristan, Tatum, and Mac all sporting mischievous expressions as they continued through the grove of trees, anticipation lighting their eyes.
My gaze roamed around and noticed they were headed toward the same place I saw Emmaline and Mac disappear with their dates a few weeks ago.
I tiptoed to another tree, careful to miss the giant pile of loud, crunchy leaves. Unlike me they didn’t have a problem walking quietly through the forest. The way they moved, graceful and purposeful, had almost a predatory feel. It was as if one second they could be lithely strolling along, the next they could be on you like a lion on a gazelle. Their unbelievable beauty was hypnotic, but there was something dangerous in their eyes. Their gaze could penetrate the strongest will. It was totally unnerving… and yet thrilling.
“Emma?” Tatum wound a lock of strawberry blonde hair around her finger, the dim afternoon sun glinting on the glossy strands. “Have you seen my necklace? The one with the green…”
“Oh yeah,” Emmaline interrupted, pulling a long gold chain out of her black uniform sweater. “I found it this morning in one of my shoes.”
Relief spread over Tatum’s heart shaped face as Emmaline handed her the necklace with a polished green crystal dangling from the center.
An audible gasp nearly made it past my lips at the theories forming in my head. Didn’t witches use crystals like that in spells…? At least they always did on television.
“Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Even though she was petite, Tatum walked just as swift and graceful as the tall, swan-like Emmaline.
“Tatum, you’d lose your own head if it wasn’t for Emmaline,” Mac joked, playfully nudging her.
Laughter spilled around them, the sound warm and friendly unlike the cruel snickers I received from Paisley, Aspen, and some of the other students in my dorm.
“That is so true.” Brant suddenly spun around and snatched her off the ground, tossing her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing.
She squealed and held her gray skirt in place with a hand. “Put me down.” The series of giggles coming out her mouth told me she meant the opposite.
A strong gust of wind blew, swirling leaves around. I stopped trailing them and hid behind a tree to push the hair out my face. Mac halted, peering over his shoulder and breathing deeply.
Anxiety flooded my bloodstream and I froze behind the trunk, making myself small as possible. There was no way he could see me through the branches and leaves, but when I inched around those smoldering jade eyes were staring right at me as if he could see through the foliage to my hiding spot.
A shiver rippled up my spine and my skin flamed from the intensity in his gaze. It made my feet want to move toward him instead of away. Hell, if the others hadn’t been with him I was pretty sure I would have revealed myself before marching toward him like a lovesick puppy.
Mac held the stare a beat longer then turned back and caught up with his friend
s.
I let out a sigh of relief, my body sagging against the tree. It was just my imagination. He didn’t see me unless he used some witchy spell to see the unseen or something.
I chuckled to myself—until I realized that was exactly what he might have done if he was a witch and suddenly it wasn’t so funny. But of course there was no such thing as real witches not even in Salem. These students were simply super-rich, super-hot, and super-weird. Not super-natural.
As soon as they turned the corner toward the building I sprinted after them, determined not to let them get away like they had the first time. And yet when I came upon the same spot I’d lost them before—they were gone.
I clenched my jaw as my eyes roamed, searching for any sign. Of course there was nothing but a deserted corridor and me standing in the middle like an idiot.
They couldn’t have just poofed into thin air.
I swallowed the thought down with effort. The more I tried to find out about these students the more questions I was left with—and the weirder the questions got.
“Earth to Rubi.” Madison’s voice cut into my reverie in time to see her pointing a fork at my plate. “If you’re done eating let’s get out of here.”
I glanced at my empty plate. It appeared as if I was done, but my stomach had other thoughts. My eyes flickered to Madison’s plate and saw there was still more than half a steak. Not just any steak, filet mignon.
My stomach grumbled.
“Are you serious?” Amusement glinted in her dark chocolate eyes and twitched at her lips.
My smile filled with chagrin.
Madison shook her head and slid her plate over. “I just don’t understand where you put it all.”
I shrugged, stuffing a bite of that yummy, meaty morsel in my mouth, savoring the hearty flavor.
“And I’ve never seen a girl eat so much meat.”
I sipped my soda to wash it down. “My parents are vegetarians so I think I’m overcompensating.”
“Hi Madison. Hi Rubi.” Jackson leaned against the edge of our table, a warm, boyish grin playing across his face.
“Hi Jackson,” I mumbled with a hand over my mouth so he couldn’t see the giant bite I had rolling around on my tongue.
“You guys going to the Halloween dance in a few weeks?” he asked.
“Of course,” Madison blurted. “It’s like the best night ever.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.” I pictured myself dressed in some stupid costume, watching Paisley and Mac dancing. It made me want spit the steak out of my mouth.
“What?” they said in unison.
I pushed the vegetables around on my plate. “I’m just not that into Halloween.”
“That is ridiculous.” Jackson took the empty seat next to Madison. “Let me tell you all the reasons why Halloween is awesome. First you have pumpkin carving, then you have the candy, then…”
The rest of what he was saying drifted out of my head as I spied Mac, Brant, Emmaline, and Tatum in a corner of the dining hall, huddled together. I watched Brant point to Paisley at the other end of the room and Mac nodded.
A tiny twinge resonated in my chest and I hated it. Mac was a total jerk, but he still had the ability to affect me.
Suddenly a pair of jade eyes locked with mine and I froze, my heart jumping in my esophagus. I inwardly cringed at being caught by the object of my obsession like some pathetic loser.
Instead of looking disgusted or annoyed a fire erupted in those leafy green irises and an electric current ran between us like it had in the hall before he pretended I was a stranger. The sounds of the cafeteria blurred out, leaving only my erratic breathing and pounding heart in its wake.
And just like that Mac looked away and the moment was over.
“So have I convinced you to go?” Jackson asked with a hopeful smile playing on his boyish face.
I blinked, attempting to remember what he’d been talking about. Oh yeah—the Halloween dance. I shrugged again. “I don’t know.”
Jackson’s smile faded. “Okay. We’ll maybe I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” His shoulders slumped as he stalked away.
Madison pinched my arm.
“Ouch.” I rubbed the area. “What was that for?”
“He was trying to ask you to the dance?”
“Really?”
Madison rolled her dark eyes. “You are so clueless.”
I shrugged.
She leaned forward, her face expectant. “Are you going to say yes when he does ask you?”
A little ripple of panic shot through my chest at the prospect of what else went along with a date to the dance. He’d expect me to dance for one and flirt. There would probably be a kiss and maybe even making out. Did I really want to go down that road with him when my mind couldn’t stop picturing me with someone else?
“I don’t know,” I muttered, confused.
Madison’s lips went tight. “He’s a nice guy Rubi.”
“I know.”
“And you have to get over Mac Davenport.”
My cheeks burned red, embarrassed she knew I still secretly pined for him. “I know.”
“Just think about it.”
Even as I nodded I couldn’t help my eyes from wondering to Mac who was leaning against the wall, running a hand through his wavy midnight hair.
Oh what would it be like to have those hands on me?
I’d probably never find out.
Chapter 11
“The green one or the blue one?” Aspen stood in our room, holding two mini dresses in each hand.
I pointed to the blue one so naturally she tossed it and pulled the green one over her head. She sauntered to the gilded mirror and began reapplying her makeup. “I’m so excited about this party tonight. Only the coolest people are invited.”
Obviously I wasn’t invited, but she didn’t mind talking about it in front of me. I was actually surprised she was talking to me at all.
“Oh, but it’s a secret,” she continued, flipping her polished sheet of auburn hair out of her face. “No one else is supposed to know so don’t go spreading it around.”
This was probably what Mac and the others were eagerly discussing during dinner. Their big secret party.
Who cared?
Me of course.
A knock reverberated on the door and Aspen slinked over, opening it. “Hi Brant,” she purred.
“Hi doll.” He strode in wearing a hunter green cashmere sweater that brought out the green in his eyes and made his hair even more golden. “Rubi,” he winked at me behind Aspen’s back.
“I’ll be ready in just a sec.”
Brant nodded and lounged on her bed, staring at me as he usually did in that odd, slightly flirtatious way of his. “How’s it going?”
I rolled my eyes and continued to pick at the hole in my jeans. “Fine.”
He laughed and it was suddenly all honey and sugar.
I glanced up and saw a curious gleam in his eyes. “Do you want to come to the party too Rubi?”
Before I could even have a reaction Aspen whirled around, her face appalled. “She can’t come!”
That crocodile smile slowly spread across Brant’s face. “Why not? The more the merrier.”
Aspen stomped to her bed on the verge of a temper tantrum. “No way. Not Rubiks.”
Brant rolled his eyes and sighed before standing, tugging Aspen close. “Aspen?” His voice sweetened to warm sugar, taking on a melodic note.
She met his eyes.
He smiled warmly. “Take a nap.”
“Okay.” Aspen dropped on the mattress and curled up, soft snores instantly echoing as she fell fast asleep.
My heart shuddered to a grinding halt and I stared at Brant, eyes wide and mouth opened in shock.
He turned that crocodile smile on me, unnerving on a whole other level. “Now we can have some fun.”
Adrenaline hemorrhaged through my veins, forcing me off the bed. “What did you do to her?”
Brant shortened the sp
ace between us. “She’ll be fine.” He pinched a few strands of my hair and slowly twisted them between his fingers. “I was just looking at you—your wild dark hair, those amazing gold eyes and that plump mouth just begging to be kissed—and decided I’d rather spend the evening with you.”
I could scarcely breathe from the terror weighing my chest down and I wanted to tear myself away from him, but was keenly aware he had no intentions of letting me go. Anywhere.
Brant gripped my shoulders and pulled me to him, his face so close I could smell his minty breath. His hazel eyes smoldered, melting like liquid fire as they seared through me, directly to my terrified insides. “Rubi,” he sang in that melodic voice he used on Aspen. “I want you to do everything I say.”
A strange, uncomfortable sensation rolled over me, making me feel like my skin was crawling. My fingers twitched, resisting the urge to rake down my bare arms.
“Say okay Rubi.”
“Okay,” I mumbled.
His smile grew and he ran a finger down my cheek. “Just stay calm and be happy. We’re going to a party. We’re going to have fun and you’ll do everything I say.”
Icy fear poured over me and I wanted to scream, but the horrifying realization forming made me shut up. Brant used some kind of spell on Aspen and he was attempting to do the same to me. He really was a witch. And so were the others. Even Mac?
I should have known Salem would have real witches. My parents were big fat liars.
I drummed up the image of Paisley and Trevor from the other night when I caught them sneaking off with Mac and Emmaline. Their faces had been placid and eyes dreamy—except whatever Brant was doing to me wasn’t making me feel real calm and peaceful. No. It made me want to scream bloody freaking murder!
That horrible crawling sensation still echoed across my skin and I didn’t feel the urge to comply with his every whim either. I did sense something very dangerous under that smile and golden halo of hair, making me terrified of what he’d do if he knew I wasn’t under his spell or hypnosis or whatever it was?