One of them slipped through the wall of bodies, and approached me with a lopsided grin. Combined with chocolate brown eyes covered by the longest, thickest lashes I had ever seen on a guy and a head of perfect blonde hair, he resembled a model in a Calvin Klein ad.
“Hi,” he drew.
Though his eyes appeared to be on me, I glanced over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t addressing someone else.
“I’m talking to you, Strawberry,” he chuckled, and extended a hand. “I’m Jas.”
I accepted his hand warily. “Strawberry?”
His eyes moved to my head, more precisely my hair, and his hand quickly followed to twirl a piece around his finger before I knew what he was doing. “I always liked a—”
The very purposeful sound of a throat clearing stopped him from finishing his thought, and I peeked over his shoulder to find Nathan, again with that amused annoyance look on his face.
Jas immediately took a step back. He looked from Nathan, to me, then back to Nathan again. “Ah . . . this is your girl?”
Nathan softened the purposeful nod of his head with a sly grin, and I suspected that the two of them knew each other fairly well. Jas stepped away, undeterred.
“Moving on . . .” he muttered before zoning in on another new face in the crowd.
Lillian.
I watched him in awe as Nathan came to a stand beside me. “Is he Alec’s long lost brother, or something?”
“What?” Nathan chuckled.
“The need to hit on girls . . .” I nodded in Jas’s direction as Lillian ventured away from him, and he was left scoping for another female to close in on. “Looks like the force is strong in that one.”
The only new face left was Permna. Jas wrinkled his nose at her neatly-kept and reserved appearance, likely having come to the conclusion that he wasn’t going to get anywhere with her either.
Glancing around at the rest of the hybrids, I spotted another face I recognized. I groaned inwardly. Why did she have to come?
As if sensing my eyes on her, Kira glanced up to meet my gaze. In contrast to the taunting smile on her face the last time I had seen her, she looked at me now with indifference as she emerged from the storage room with an armload of blankets.
She slowed as she passed by. “Nathan,” she greeted with a sly smile. “I should have known you were involved in this vigilante suicide mission.”
Nathan shifted his feet—the only hint he gave that he was uncomfortable. I didn’t know the history between the two of them, and I was sure that I was probably better off not knowing. Especially considering the way Kira seemed determined to not go away.
“It’s not a suicide mission,” I sneered as I attempted to step around her.
She spun to catch my arm with her free hand. I glanced down at her hand in confusion, then turned to face her. Behind her, Nathan stiffened, visibly as confused about her intentions as I was.
“I heard what you did,” she said to me.
I scoffed softly. “You’re going to have to be more specific than that.”
“My little brother was in the dorm that night,” Kira explained quickly. “He was trapped by the fire. You got him out.”
I nodded slowly as the realization of what this was hit me. She wasn’t attacking me. She was thanking me.
“And . . . he survived that night?”
“Yes. I owe you for that.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” I returned politely before I turned to walk away.
As relieved as I was to learn that my actions that night had benefited someone, Kira’s gratitude only reminded me of the many others that had not survived the attack that night. Especially those that had been closest to me—Micah, Richie, and Kim. The tears that rimmed my eyes now started out of remorse for all the life lost. As I put distance between Kira and myself, and looked upon the familiar faces around me, those tears gave way to a wave of fresh, fat ones for the ones I had saved.
For the first time, I understood what Nathan had been trying to tell me. Though the attack had been spurred by my presence there, I had done something positive that night. While many had been lost, many more would have died without my help.
~ ~ ~
The basement was surprisingly quiet considering the two dozen bodies spread across the floor on makeshift beds made of blankets. It was perhaps the most uncomfortable situation I had ever been thrust into—well, aside from the days Nathan and I spent trudging through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the middle of winter.
Hushed whispers blended in with the low hum generated by the swirling ball of fire in the center of the room. It was peaceful, considering our purpose for being there.
The fireball lit the space with a dim glow, and provided just enough heat to keep us comfortable. Creating and maintaining the fire didn’t drain much energy. Whatever energy I did expend was well worth the small luxury it permitted in the midst of overwhelming discomfort.
I rolled around on my bed in an attempt to get comfortable. It didn’t matter what I did. Sleeping on a concrete floor was never comfortable.
The pile of blankets beside me was vacant. My gaze traveled across the room, to the cluster of tables in the corner, where Nathan stood with Jared and Isatan. Their voices were dropped and I couldn’t hear what they were talking about. From their body language, I doubted I wanted to know.
But I wished Nathan would come back. I found it easier to sleep on his arm than the deflated pillow beneath my head now. I smacked the sides of it with my fists in an attempt to even out the lumps as someone dropped loudly onto the pile of blankets behind me. I spun around to find Alec.
“Where have you been?” I asked him.
“It was my turn to use the shower upstairs,” he answered.
Isatan’s idea: to schedule shower times. We had enough running water to accommodate a third of us each day. That meant we were permitted to shower every three days. Tomorrow was my designated day, and I couldn’t wait. As long as I was one of the lucky ones who got warm water.
I’d heard the stories going around. Warm water wasn’t a guarantee. But Alec looked refreshed, so I assumed he’d gotten lucky with the shower roulette.
“So how’s it going, Romeo?” I nodded my head to the side, where Lillian slept on her own makeshift bed.
“It’s a work in progress,” Alec shrugged.
“You struck out, didn’t you?”
Alec lifted a hand as if to say, whoa. “I don’t strike out, Kris. I don’t even know what that would be like.”
My head tilted. “Umm . . .”
“I didn’t strike out with you,” he argued automatically. “As a matter of fact, I clearly remember getting safely to second base.”
I groaned. “You are—”
“Sexy and you know it,” he finished for me.
I contemplated throwing my pillow at him, but doubted it would have done any good. The thing only had like three feathers left in it. Instead, I rolled over with a sigh. I had to get some sleep.
“Hey.” Alec shifted closer, and I felt his breath on my neck. “Nathan told me you’ve been visiting Callie in your dreams.”
I rolled onto my back to peer up at him. “Since when have you two been into sharing secrets?”
“What?” His mouth twisted in disgust. “We’re not. Sharing secrets? Definitely not. No way.”
“Okay.” His extreme reaction to my question spoke volumes, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. They wanted to pretend they weren’t friends? Go ahead. The rest of us knew better.
“Anyway,”—Alec started—“he said that you took him with you a few times.”
“Yeah.” I was afraid to ask where Alec was going with this.
His head lowered. Before his face was hidden, I swore I saw a flash of something I had never seen on Alec’s face before—bashfulness. “Do you, uh . . . do you think you could take me with you?”
I stared at the top of his head in silence. Long enough for him to lift his eyes to mine. I saw it then. He was nervo
us. Like really, really nervous.
“What’s going on, Alec?”
“Nothing,” he answered quickly. “I just . . . I’d like to see how Callie is doing. That’s all.”
“She’s not exactly aware of what’s going on in the dreams,” I explained, but quickly realized that wasn’t all Alec was interested in. He simply wanted to see her. Like any good friend would.
“But, yeah,” I added quickly. “I can try to take you. I don’t really know how I was able to take Nathan, but it might be because he’s been sleeping right beside me.”
Alec’s gaze shifted across the room, where Nathan was still talking to Jared and Isatan. I saw a glimpse of uncertainty flicker in his eyes.
“Come on.” I patted the empty space between us before he talked himself out of it. “Pull your blankets closer. We’ll give it a shot.”
Though I had found that I didn’t need to repeat the spell every night for it to work now, I did it again in Alec’s presence for an extra boost. I placed the rosemary leaf between us after we laid down. Our shoulders just touched, and I hoped that was enough. I was usually wrapped all around Nathan when we slept, and I didn’t know if that closeness had pulled him into some of the dreams with me. I hadn’t been able to pinpoint the reason why he did some nights, and not others.
At some point, I felt Nathan’s presence nearby, and assumed he had finally come to lay down. Normally, I would have nestled into his side. Tonight, I resisted that comfort for Alec’s benefit.
If he wanted to see Callie, I would do my best to make sure he saw her.
~ ~ ~
She greets us on the sandy shore of Big Pine Lake. In Boone. At the last location the three of us were all together . . . before things got weird. Except this time, there is no raging party, and no bonfire. It is only us, meeting again on a warm summer day.
Callie slams into both of us with a cry of joy. Her slender arms wrap around our necks, and she pulls us in for a tight group hug.
I instantly know the difference. This Callie knows the truth.
I push her back to arm’s length to get a better look at her. She looks like her healthy, normal self. Not the lifeless shell of my best friend—the vision that has haunted me since the day I left the island, and her, behind.
“It’s about time you found a way to bring me into one of your dreams,” she says. “I was starting to think Micah had overestimated your abilities.”
I cringe at the mention of Micah, and Callie lays a gentle hand on my arm. “What’s wrong?”
“You’ve been unconscious for a while. . .” I start tentatively. How do I tell her that one of our own is dead now, and she slept through it?
Callie glances between Alec and me, and a flicker of understanding registers on her face. “Oh. Is uh—is everyone else okay?”
“We lost Richie and Kim, too,” I say.
“The rest of us are fine,” Alec adds.
Callie nods thoughtfully. “You’re all gone. I’ve woken enough to know that it’s just me and Gran now. She didn’t tell me what happened to the others.”
“Is she taking care of you?” That had been one of my requests upon leaving the island—that someone I trust stay behind to watch over Callie. Gran had been more than happy to volunteer.
Callie beams. “Like a pesky grandmother. She told me you are going to save me.”
“We are,” Alec states firmly. His tone forces my gaze to shift to him, but his eyes rest determinedly on Callie. “When this is all over, we’ll come back for you.”
The smile Callie gives Alec tugs at my heartstrings. As her eyes search his face, I fear that, despite Alec’s vow, she is preparing to say goodbye. That isn’t something I’m going to let her do.
We aren’t giving up. I’m not about to let her give up.
“How are you doing, Callie?” I interrupt. “Are you holding up okay?”
“I’m hanging in there, I guess.” Callie shrugs as she gazes down at herself. “This dream body is a lot better than my real body, I know that much.”
Alec snorts, earning curious looks from Callie and me. We both get the source of his amusement at the same time, and Callie smacks him in the chest with the back of her hand.
“Ow. That was a complimentary snort,” he defends.
“Complimentary snort?” Callie repeats indignantly.
“Yeah . . . you know . . .” His hand waves up and down her body. “Because it’s good. You’re good. Your . . . body . . . is good. Total compliment. No reason to get violent.”
Callie folds her arms in front of her as she stares him down. Several seconds tick by before her face breaks into a smile. “You have no idea how much I miss you.”
She pulls him into another hug, and Alec mutters, “I think I know.”
Callie’s hand snags my shirt, and she yanks me into their hug.
My two best friends. It’s sweet. It’s perfect. It’s heaven for a few hours.
Chapter 7
~ Nathan ~
The following days were spent brainstorming our next course of action, and fortifying our hideout against attack. Isatan took the reins, and did what he did best. He led. He bossed. He pissed everyone off.
Kris told me that he made me look like a softie.
After that, I pulled Jared aside to ask him to fill me in on whatever decisions he and Isatan reached later, because I was taking Kris outside for a few hours.
“Seriously?” she whined. “I thought you’d take that as a compliment, considering what an asshole he is.”
I shrugged, and handed her a knife. Uncoated, of course, because I wasn’t suicidal.
“Let’s see what you’ve got,” I told her.
She turned the knife around in her hand like it was the first time she had ever seen one up close.
I shifted my stance, momentarily letting my guard down at the worrisome look on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I hate using knives,” she murmured.
“Why?”
“Because I’ve killed twice using one already,” she answered softly. “I don’t like it.”
“Don’t like what? Killing?” I ventured.
Her gaze lowered to the ground between us before she shook her head. “I’d rather use my magic.” Her eyes were hopeful when they lifted to mine, and dammit, my chest tightened at the sight. A vulnerable Kris did me in every time.
I replanted my feet in an attempt to stand my ground. “You can’t kill a demigod with your magic.”
“I know,” she returned quickly. She pulled her shoulders back, and met my eyes with a sudden fierce determination. “What do you want to show me?”
Before I could answer, Alec glided up beside me to offer his opinion. “For starters, you’re holding the thing like you’re about to butter up some bread with it.” He shot me an accusatory look. “You didn’t teach her how to fight with a knife?”
“I did,” I told him before turning back to Kris. “She seems to have forgotten.”
“Corn,” Kris shot at me. “You made me stab bags of corn!”
I glanced at Alec. “She never got close to being ready for a real fight.”
“Yeah? Well, that’s about to change,” Alec stated gruffly.
“I’m right here.” Kris looked pointedly at each of us. “Right here.”
Alec laughed as he moved to Kris’s side. “You’re making me nervous with that thing. Here.” He repositioned her hand so that she was gripping the handle properly. He stepped back to admire his work, then said, “Show me what you’ve got.”
For some reason this elicited a full-on laugh from Kris, complete with hands on her knees as she attempted to compose herself. Alec and I shared bewildered glances as she sucked in a sharp breath.
“You . . .” She waved a finger at both of us. “You are so much alike!”
It was clear from the look on Alec’s face that he didn’t agree with her any more than I did. Nor did either of us find her comment half as amusing as she did, but we waited her out until she could
breathe again. Not that the moment necessarily passed. Even as I was showing her the precise movements to inflict maximum damage to a target, an occasional giggle erupted from her.
I had her practice those movements over and over until she had them down perfect, and she forgot about anything being funny. We went over three primary techniques that all hybrids learned during training. I happened to know that she had not gotten that far in the class while living on the island, and she needed to be taught them from scratch. The fact that she was a demigod, and had a heavy concentration of Ares’ blood flowing through her, made her a quick learner. By the end of the hour, she was still a novice, but I felt better about her holding her own in a knife fight.
Somewhere along the way, we had drawn a small audience. Not only had Alec’s suggestions been in my ear the entire time, but I’d heard a few comments from Jas, Lillian, and eventually Kira as well. Glancing away from Kris’s upward thrust, I spotted the four of them sitting on the chipped sidewalk, watching. All they were missing was a bag of popcorn.
Kris finished her set, and turned to me. “Okay. What now?”
I took in her slightly reddened cheeks. “I think we need to do some conditioning, then a few rounds of combat.”
She groaned. “Can we skip the conditioning?”
“No.”
I would have liked to go for a run through the city, but with four demigods hiding out somewhere nearby, I settled for running the hotel stairs. After five sets, Kris begged for a break.
The break consisted of a series of sit-ups and push-ups.
“Congratulations,” she wheezed beside me. “You’ve officially made me hate you again. Twenty.”
Her arms folded beneath her, and she collapsed to the floor, where she remained as I finished my set of push-ups. Once finished, I pushed to my feet and offered her a hand.
I took one look at her face, and called it quits for the day.
Maybe I was a softie?
We spent the next few days doing much of the same. I watched Kris grow stronger and more proficient every day. Once she realized it, she stopped complaining, and requested to be taught more difficult moves. The bulk of our time was spent either training or sleeping.
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