Safer.
Kale’s earlier vulnerability seemed to slip away as a knowing look passed over his face, turning his shoulders into a shrug. “Fine, have it your way. But if your goal is to defeat the Invaders, I can give you access to a front-row seat.”
Jet tensed beside me, his fists tightening. “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”
“It means I’m a rebel, and I attend local rebel meetings. I know where and when they’re held … and I know the plans they have to attack the Invaders.”
“Is that so?”
Kale’s expression was cocky now, his wet, wild blond hair glistening in the dusty sunlight. “That’s where I’ve been all night. Meeting with other rebels. We have a plan to take them down, and if you want in, you’re going to need the magic word.”
Jet raised a brow. “The magic word?”
“You don’t get into these meetings without a magic word.”
“What makes you so sure you and your rebel friends know how to defeat them? I’ve been in service, worked right under their roof. We raided plenty of rebel meetings, and not one of them knew a damn thing about how to take the bastards down. It was a bunch of useless theories and deluded people on power trips.”
“Sounds like you stumbled across the wrong rebels. The fact that you were an insider would only aid our efforts. You could be useful.”
I dropped my arms to my sides. “Jet, maybe you should listen to him. How can it hurt to check it out?”
Jet was silent for a moment. “I’ll go to one meeting,” he finally said, “but that’s it. I don’t have time to dick around. I need to get to California.”
“Fair enough,” Kale said, turning to grab a duffle bag.
“And you owe us supplies.”
“How do you figure that?”
“We’re not taking you with us for free, man. This is still a trade.”
“I am trading. I’m about to give you something you want more than anything.”
“Oh, what? A little tour to one of your loony-bin rebel meetings?”
“No. Revenge. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
Jet looked to me and I nodded silently.
“Yeah, that’s what I want,” he said. “Show me where to sign up.”
CHAPTER 6
“She all right?” Kale asked as he walked next to Jet, referring to me. They were only a few feet in front of me, but for some reason, he thought I was deaf or something.
“Yeah, why?”
Kale stole what he thought was a sly glance over his shoulder. “I don’t know, she seems out of it or something. On edge.”
“She’s had a rough couple of days. Just let her be.”
“She spoken for?”
“Huh?”
“By you, I mean. Are you two…?”
“Why? No.”
“No she isn’t spoken for, or no you two aren’t together?”
Jet’s irritation flared; his broad shoulders rose as he shook his head. “Both. I don’t know. It doesn’t matter, man, just leave her be, all right?”
Kale’s gaze briefly slid to mine again. “She’s hot. Just tryin’ my luck, man.”
“Don’t bother. Leave her alone, I mean it.”
Kale raised his hands innocently, and went quiet.
It was around noon when we reached the Black Hole Kale had directed us to. He’d been coming to this location for the past six weeks, deeming it the go-to spot for locals who wanted to meet up with other rebels.
Jet stepped aside when Kale stomped three times on the ground, before bending down to dig his fingers into the dirt for the Hole’s entry latch. “So if you needed protection and ammo so bad, why not ask your little rebel buddies to help you out?” Jet asked, preparing to fire.
“Dude,” Kale eyed the gun and placed his hand over the barrel, “come on. Lower that thing, will you? That’s not exactly the way to greet these people.”
“You can forget this bullshit right now if you think you’re going to tell me how and when to fire.”
Kale shook his head in frustration. “Whatever. No, I don’t ask for their help because that’s not what they’re there for. We all belong to the same organization, but we don’t run the streets together. That’s not how these movements work. If we all stuck together all the time like that, the enemy would start to identify and associate us with one another. Would make us easier targets. I still need my own protection.” He turned to face me, his lips curling into a charming grin. “Ladies first.”
“Thanks,” I said, taking the lead down the stone stairwell. I made a show of placing my finger on the trigger, just for Jet’s benefit.
Jet stepped in after me. “So you all meet up in this Black Hole but you don’t back each other up on the streets? You don’t stick together? Sounds counterproductive to me.”
“Like I said, it’s not about that. It’s about maintaining secrecy. We spread out, make sure we’re never in the same place together for too long. It’s just a part of our strategy. Besides, most Black Holes have rigid policies against rebel groups living inside their walls. They don’t want any trouble. We’re lucky to stay in a Hole for a few days at the most. It keeps us on the move.”
Jet stopped his bickering with Kale long enough to saddle up to my side when we entered the Hole. As we approached the main walkway, Kale maneuvered his way in front of us. “This way,” he said, gesturing to a metal door on the far side of the space, near the central trading counter. We reached the door and he pounded his fist three times, then shuffled back, waiting.
“What’s that sound?” Jet asked. A low hum vibrated from behind the door, the echo reverberating beneath the doorway and toward the soles of our feet. “Is that …?”
“Music. This Black Hole is one of the only known Holes in this region with an Abyss.”
“An Abyss?”
“Yeah, like a club.”
“And you call it an Abyss … why?” I asked, feeling the thump of the music strengthening.
“You’ll see.”
The metal door creaked open and a short, heavy-set guy with a long dark beard appeared. The bass-driven beats spilled out to meet us, filling me with an exciting energy. I’d almost forgotten what music sounded like. “Well?” the guy said.
Kale stepped forward and leaned into the man, cupping his hand over his ear to whisper something to him. The man listened intently.
Jet and I exchanged glances.
“What is this, a super-secret Boy Scout meeting?” Jet muttered. “Will you let us into your fort, sir?”
I elbowed him in the side, biting back a smile.
Kale finished whispering into the man’s ear and the man stepped back, waving us in. We followed after Kale.
“Oh, you’re inviting us into the tree house?” Jet asked the man who’d granted us entry. “I feel so special. Where’s my complimentary juice box? All members get juice boxes, right?”
The man looked at him blandly, closing the door behind us.
I pulled on Jet’s arm, raising my voice to speak over the noise. “What’s gotten into you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re so grumpy. Lay off Kale, will you? Maybe we can all help each other out.”
“Yeah, right. Whatever you say.”
I rolled my eyes and Kale continued to lead us through the crowd, weaving around the throngs of people. The sight was unbelievable. People jumped up and down, dancing and shouting at the tops of their lungs. Techno music delivered a steady pulse of hypnotic beats throughout the cool cave walls, their echoes even more pronounced now that we were in the thick of the action. Strobe lights and smoke rolled overhead, while drinks were offered on all kinds of colorful serving trays. It was hard to believe something like this existed underground, when aboveground was a war zone.
As we approached the far end of the cave, the music became littered with another echo—a hollow one, like the sound of someone shouting through a tunnel. There was one loud shout, then another, and then
laughter. The ceiling above us suddenly opened up and revealed a massive, jagged dome shape, with reflections of something bouncing off the very top of the ceiling. Kale’s arms shot out to stop Jet and me from walking any farther, his head dropping to his feet. I glanced down with him, finding the source of the reflections.
Water. A huge, dark body of water.
Below us, people were swimming, splashing one another, and diving into it from large boulders. I stood there gaping at the sight, my skin itching with the need to feel that cool liquid over every inch of my body.
Jet whistled, stepping back when he clocked the steep drop of the cliff in front of us. “Holy shit. What is this?”
“A hidden treasure, that’s what.” Kale turned and clapped Jet’s back, winking at me. “Come on.” He led us away from the cliff and down a rocky stairwell. “No one knows how deep this thing goes. Some have tried to swim down to the bottom, but they never make it very far.” His voice turned solemn. “One guy tried last week, but never made it back to the surface.”
We walked out over a cusp of rocks, stopping to stare down into the calm water. The surface was deceptive. Exceptionally clear, with a teal hue, it looked heavenly and innocent. As I focused on its depths, though, there was a darker tone that lurked beneath the blue, filled with mystery and danger. I wanted to feel it all, needed to be in the midst of it.
Walking around Kale and Jet as they exchanged words, I darted over to the edge, stopping only to accept a shot of something from a woman with a tray. “How do I pay?” I asked, chucking the liquid back, feeling it burn my throat.
“On the house for members.” She looked at me suspiciously. “Are you new?”
Kale’s voice echoed behind her. “She’s a member. She’s with me.”
“In that case,” I reached again for the tray, “I’ll make that two.” I tossed another back, squeezing my eyes shut as I swallowed. The woman nodded and went back to work, leaving us at the ledge.
Kale chuckled. “Careful with that stuff, it’s hardcore.”
I winced, still feeling the burn. “Thank God.”
“I take it you’re in the mood for a swim?” He watched the way I drank in the sight of the alluring body of water before us.
I bent down to pull my boots off, desperate to rid myself of them. “You have no idea.”
“There’s a place upstairs to dry your clothes afterwards. I’ll hold your boots if you want. I can—”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said, eyes trained on the water. I ripped Jet’s shirt and jeans off, chucking them on top of my boots, and dove in. My heart rate soared when I felt the cool water rush over my body, licking and caressing every part of me that the men on the train had touched. Fully submerged, I relished in the weightlessness, welcoming the smooth glide of the liquid as it conformed to and invaded the curves of my skin. I could stay under forever.
And I wanted to go deeper.
Opening my eyes under the water, I pulled myself farther down, grasping at the dark depths, begging them to lure me into their embrace. My naked skin chilled as I swam deeper, the cold quickly settling into my bones. I stopped my descent when my ears began to hurt from the pressure, treading to suspend myself right there, in the place that felt so perfect. That felt like home.
My gaze roamed up, meeting the surface. Faint traces of legs and arms thrashed around, and I knew people were talking and laughing, but their noises were muted. The peaceful stillness was blissful. Dim spirals of light cascaded from the surface, reaching toward me, but I stayed there, hovering on the edge of darkness, lingering between two worlds I didn’t understand but wanted to know more of.
A few seconds later my lungs signaled their need for air and I begrudgingly began my ascent, closing my eyes and soaking up the last few moments of peace. I broke the surface and sucked in a breath, smoothing my hair back.
“Jet, she’s right here!” Kale called. He was swimming a few feet away from me, his soaking-wet blond hair appearing darker. Friendly brown eyes found mine, and that charming grin of his tipped his lips again. I didn’t move from where I’d come up for air. His stare held mine and I was sure of it, now. There was no denying it.
Kale was sexy.
Really sexy, in a warm, sensual sort of way. But his personality was far from intense. He had a carefree air about him, something that made me feel smooth and at ease. Like I could breathe. I liked that feeling.
Not like Jet, who was almost always intense, with that earnest, passionate expression of his. He was always analyzing, always studying something with his eyes, the fierce concentration evident in them. Jet’s confidence and determination made me feel safe. Protected. I’d grown to like that about him—his heaviness. But right now, right this second, I didn’t want heavy. I wanted light. Freedom. And Kale’s energy oozed those very things.
Whether it was the two shots I’d downed before diving into the Abyss or the thrilling rush of the cold water that prompted me to splash Kale, I wasn’t sure, but before he could say another word to Jet, I sent a cool spray across his face.
His eyes sprang shut and surprised laughter sputtered from his lips. “Did you just … did you just splash me?”
I splashed him again. “Yeah, so? What are you gonna do about it?”
He opened his eyes and there was a wicked glint in them. A challenge. “Oh, okay. I see. That’s how it’s gonna be, huh?” He splashed me back. “How do you like them apples?”
“Skylla, you scared the shit out of me. I didn’t see you come up for air,” Jet said, swimming over to us. He remained a few feet away, his expression guarded as he kept his distance.
I splashed him next, unleashing a playful smile. “I’m fine, Grandpa. Stop worrying about me. Have a drink. You never know, it might be your last.”
The muscles in his jaw hardened and his eyes flicked between me and Kale. “Forget it. I’m not interested in babysitting you.” With a hard scowl, he swam back to the rocky shore, gracefully slipping out of the water. Except for his boots, he was fully clothed. As he rose to full height, he peeled off his shirt and grabbed his boots and backpack, then started to trek up the rocks to the stairwell.
“He’s uh … kind of intense, huh?” Kale followed my watchful gaze.
“He lost his sister.” I shrugged. “That’ll do it.”
“You’re just trying to get him to lighten up for a few minutes. It’s a good thing.”
“You think?” I was worried now, my gaze frozen at the top of the stairwell. “I just … feel sorry for him.”
“What about you?”
“Huh?” I looked at him now.
“What did you lose?”
My defensive hackles suddenly rose. I was unsure I’d ever want to share what happened on the train with anyone else. Only Jet knew. Only he had a right to know. “What do you mean?”
“Everyone’s lost something since the Invaders arrived. What about you?”
“My parents. My home. My life back in Alabama.”
My dignity.
I steeled myself to continue. “Good news is, I had no clue what I was doing before the attack, so I guess I gained something.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Now I have some direction. I know what to live for.”
“No clue what you were doing, huh. So you didn’t have direction before?”
“Nope. I was just … drifting. Then the attack happened, and Jet and I crossed paths …”
“And he gave you direction?”
I thought about that for a moment. “Yeah, he did. I don’t have anything to fight for. My family’s gone. I was never a straight-A student, or captain of the cheerleading squad. I didn’t have a ten-year plan, no serious college ambitions. I was just a dreamer, you know? Always looking outside of my little town. I wanted out. Wanted to travel or something.”
“Careful what you wish for,” he huffed.
“I never wished for this.” I swirled my hand in the air, gesturing to the cave surrounding us. “But I did wish
for something. To feel alive. And I do now, as insane as that sounds.”
“Funny.” He laughed dryly, glancing up to the top of the stairwell, where Jet had disappeared. “I feel dead. Only my body doesn’t know it yet.”
“That’s because your mind is giving you the will to live for something.”
“What are you living for?” His chin jutted out at me, the playful sparkle in his eyes dulling to an earnest glow.
“There’s nothing left for me, but there is for Jet. I’m going to help him find Hera, his sister. I owe him that.”
“You owe him?”
I exhaled loudly and smiled, the warmth in my veins shifting into a low simmer. I needed another one of those shots. “Long story. Anyway, where were we?”
“Huh?”
I splashed him.
“Oh!” He chuckled, the mischievous glimmer returning to his deep-brown irises. “You mean our epic splashdown? I think we were right … here!” A surge of cold water rushed over my head as his arm swooped forward and delivered a mini tidal wave in my direction. I shrieked and retaliated, launching us into an all-out water war, loving how the Abyss’s techno music mixed and mingled with our laughter.
A few minutes later I was winded and ready for dry clothes, and my stomach was growling. Swimming back to my boots and dry jeans and shirt, I mentally picked through the remaining contents of our backpack. We had at least one can of beans left, plus whatever Kale had brought with him.
Slipping my clothes on and tying my hair back, I left Kale to finish his swim and carried my boots as I ascended the stairwell to the top of the cave. I needed to find Jet, wanted to smooth things over with him.
“Hey,” I said, spotting him as I rounded the corner. He was leaning on the wall, one leg bent and propped back against it, a pretty blonde resting against him, giggling at something he was saying. His jeans were still soaked, his chiseled torso bare.
He straightened up when he saw me, bending down to whisper to the blonde, “Give me a minute, okay?”
“Oh, sure,” she said, pouting. Her eyes bounced to me and then him again before she slunk away into the crowd. An irrational pang of discomfort spiked hot in my chest but I pushed it down, smothering it until it was buried.
Curses, Fates & Soul Mates Page 108