4 Waxing & Waning

by Amanda M. Lee

  “I think Paul is a complete moron,” I said, reaching underneath my shirt and withdrawing the pilfered necklace. “I’m more interested in finding out what this is.”

  Paris held her hand out, letting me drop the blue-stoned piece of jewelry into her palm. “Wow. This is … .”

  “Horribly ugly,” Kelsey finished.

  “And that’s being generous,” Paris agreed. “How can you be sure this is what he was looking for?”

  “Why would that be in a wolf house if it’s not something special or magical?” I asked.

  “Maybe Will is going to give it to Brittany for Christmas,” Kelsey offered. “It does kind of look like her. It would look great with her matching sweater sets.”

  “It’s something else,” I said. “It was hidden in a box. Brittany may be tacky, but even she isn’t this tacky.”

  “She’s pretty tacky,” Kelsey said.

  Paris was eyeing the necklace thoughtfully. “This looks familiar.”

  “I’m pretty sure that you’ve seen it attached to a Cleopatra costume in one of those Halloween stores,” Kelsey said. “That’s why it’s so tacky.”

  Paris rolled her eyes. “That’s not it.”

  “That has to be it,” Kelsey said. “That thing is so ugly there’s no other possible explanation for where you would’ve seen it.”

  I sat down on the couch, keeping my eyes trained on Paris. She was staring at the necklace like it was about to sprout wings.

  “I can’t remember where I’ve seen it,” Paris said. “But I think it was in a book.”

  “What kind of book?” I asked.

  “Like a history book?” Kelsey asked.

  “I do think it was a history book,” Paris said. “I just don’t think it was the kind of history book you’re talking about.”

  Realization dawned on me.

  “What kind of history book are we talking about here?” Kelsey asked. “Like European history?”

  I shook my head. “No. She’s talking about witch history.”

  “Oh,” Kelsey said. “Oh, wait … oh.”

  “Yeah, oh,” Paris said. “I just can’t remember which book – or what it means.”

  “You’re sure you’ve seen it before, though?” I asked.

  “It’s a hard amulet to forget,” Paris said.

  “Amulet?” Now Kelsey was the one who looked baffled.

  “It’s definitely an amulet,” Paris said. “It’s almost like it … sings. I can feel it kind of humming.”

  I straightened. It was weird that she would put it that way. “I heard it calling to me,” I admitted.

  “It was talking?” Kelsey’s face twisted.

  “It wasn’t talking,” I said. “It was more like it was … trying to get me to pay attention to it.”

  “Calling to you directly, or just calling out to anyone in general?” Paris asked.

  I shrugged. “I think it was calling to me directly,” I said. “Although, I’m not sure I would know the difference.”

  “Tell me exactly what you heard,” Paris prodded.

  “I didn’t hear anything,” I said. “I felt like I heard something, if that makes any sense. It was like the memory of a sound.”

  “Had you ever heard the sound before?” Kelsey asked.

  I shook my head.

  “Is this part of that mage thing?” Kelsey asked. “Can inanimate objects now talk to her because she’s magic?”

  I lifted my finger, pressing it to my lips and shifting my eyebrows to the ceiling of the living room. We’d been careful so far not to let Tally and Kristy overhear any of our conversations. I didn’t want that to change.

  “They’re doing their homework,” Kelsey protested. “They’re not listening. Even if they were, they’d just think we were crazy – not that we were telling the truth.”

  “She has a point,” Paris said.

  “What if they’re spies?” I said the words as a joke, but part of me wasn’t completely sure it wasn’t the truth.

  “If they’re spies, they’re outstanding actors,” Kelsey said.

  “That’s what I thought about Laura,” I said.

  “Yes, but there were signs with Laura,” Paris said. “You didn’t want to see them at first. I always saw them.”

  I sighed, leaning back on the couch and pinching the bridge of my nose. “I wish we knew more about what Will was up to. You’re absolutely sure Brittany has no idea?”

  “I’ve seen her twice,” Paris said. “I’ve tried to feel her out about Will, but it’s difficult without making it look like I’m digging.”

  “But?”

  “But? But she says they’re in love and happy,” Paris said. “I think she’s deluding herself.”

  “I don’t,” Kelsey said. “I think she knows that she’s lying – even to herself – she just doesn’t care. She wants to win. She wants to beat Zoe at something, and this is what’s she’s chosen.”

  “It’s not like Will is a prize,” I said. “He’s pretty stinking far from a prize.”

  “Not to her,” Kelsey said. “She just wants to win. Trust me, I think she’d take Aric if she could – but he’s not even pretending to be interested in her, so that won’t work.”

  “Pretending?” Paris asked.

  “Will isn’t interested in her,” Kelsey said. “He’s playing a part. I think he was hoping that Zoe would be jealous of his relationship with Brittany and come back to him. That’s why he even dated Brittany in the first place. We all know it’s not her personality.”

  “Ugh.”

  “Now he’s just keeping up the charade because it’s the only tie he has to her,” Kelsey continued.

  “I think she’s right,” Paris said. “I’ve never seen him express any hint of emotion where Brittany is concerned.”

  I told them about what I’d found in Will’s bedroom.

  “That’s creepy,” Paris said.

  “There were other people in the photograph,” I reminded them. “Maybe he kept it because of them.”

  “Still,” Paris said. “I don’t like that. I think it’s weird.”

  “I also think it’s confirmation that Brittany has never been in his room,” Kelsey added. “If she saw that picture, she would’ve burned it.”

  She had a point.

  I got to my feet, pacing. “This is all such a mess.”

  “Isn’t it always?”

  “Yeah, but I’ve really stepped in it this time,” I said. “I’ve stolen an amulet, which may or may not do something magical, from the werewolf pack that’s tried to kill me on more than one occasion. I’ve lied to the Academy about doing it. Aric knows I’m up to something. Will thinks I’m up to something else. Did I miss anything?”

  “We occasionally have a vampire keeping watch in the backyard,” Kelsey supplied.

  I pursed my lips. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Well, for starters, we’re going to find out what this is,” Paris said. “I’m going to take a picture and text it to my mom. Hopefully she’ll be able to do some research and find out what it does.”

  “And after that?”

  “We need to hide it, and we need to hide it better than Will did,” Paris said.

  “Suggestions?”

  “We could give it to Rafael,” Kelsey said.

  I shifted, unsure. “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t want to tell him that you broke into the house and stole it, do you?” Paris asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Do you think he’ll freak out?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe. I just … we’re in a weird place.”

  Kelsey got up from the floor and stretched, craning her head so she could see down to the vestibule and out the back door. “He’s outside right now.”

  I sighed. I shouldn’t have been surprised. “What is he doing?”

  “He’s pacing,” Kelsey said. “I don’t think he does anything else. What’s the point of living forever if you just keep walking across the same s
tretch of ground constantly?”

  I ignored her, focusing on Paris. “Hide that in your room – and hide it well.”

  Paris nodded.

  “Why aren’t you hiding it in your room?” Kelsey asked.

  “Because, when Will figures out it’s gone, I’m going to be on the top of the suspect list,” I said. “That means it’s my room they’re going to search when they’re looking for it.”

  “You think they’ll break in?” Kelsey looked worried.

  “I think it’s a definite possibility,” I said, moving toward the kitchen.

  “Where are you going?” Kelsey asked.

  “I’ve got to talk to the lurker outside,” I said. “He obviously wants something.” I could only hope it was something I was willing to give.

  Rafael looked up when he heard the door open. “What are you doing?”

  “What are you doing?” I challenged.

  “I’m watching out for you,” he replied. “You appear to need it.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I know you were at the Alpha Chi house spying tonight,” Rafael replied. “And, before you freak out, I didn’t find out because I followed you. There were two wolves talking about it in front of the library.”

  “What did they say?”

  “They said that a blonde woman was eavesdropping on the pack meeting,” Rafael said. “I knew there could only be one blonde on campus who was that stupid.”

  Great. “It must have been Will who told them,” I said. “Aric wouldn’t have said anything.”

  “Aric was there?” Rafael stiffened.

  “He was.”

  “And … did the two of you speak?”

  “We did.”

  “What did you say?”

  I hadn’t told Rafael about my first run-in with Aric, so he had no idea we’d already discussed last year’s Laura debacle. “He didn’t say a lot,” I said. “It was an awkward situation.”

  “And what were you really doing there?” Rafael asked.

  “They wanted us to steal a necklace,” I said. “That’s what Paul, the guy with me, said anyway.”

  “And? Did you?”

  “We couldn’t find it,” I said, making the decision to lie on the spot. “I’m actually kind of glad. Until I know what they want it for – I don’t want it in their hands.”

  “I agree with that,” Rafael said.

  I moved to his side, staring up at the moon. “You don’t have to keep coming here to stand guard,” I said. “No one has come after me – and classes have been going on for more than two months now.”

  “I don’t come to watch you,” Rafael said.

  “Then why do you come?”

  “Just to be near you.”

  His words were sweet, and they took me off guard. “Really?”

  Rafael leaned over, pushing his face closer to mine. “I find you fascinating.”

  “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  “I also find you frustrating.”

  “I can see that,” I said, my mouth dry.

  His face was only inches from mine now. “I also worry that you’ll never get over the wolf, and all of this will be for naught.”

  When Rafael invaded my space, it wasn’t warmth I felt. There was something there … something difficult to put a name to. I did feel something. It was just different than what I had felt with Aric.

  Rafael pressed his lips to mine, the gesture short and sweet. His hand reached up, catching in the back of my hair. We remained like that – lips pressed together – for almost a minute before pulling apart.

  The aftermath was … awkward.

  Rafael sighed. “Stay out of trouble.”

  “Where are you going?” I asked, running my finger over my lips thoughtfully.

  “I’m going to see what else I can find out,” he said.

  “Um, okay.”

  The smile Rafael sent me was small and wan. “I’m not joking. Trouble isn’t our friend right now – and you seem to be a magnet for it.”

  “I always try to stay out of trouble.”

  Rafael snorted. “No, you don’t. Try this time, though. I don’t like the vibe on this campus.”

  “What vibe?”

  “Unrest. People are waiting for something to happen. And, if history is a gauge, whatever it is won’t be good.”

  Here we go again.

  Sixteen

  My interlude with Rafael unsettled me. When I got back inside, Kelsey and Paris were sitting on the couch – far too still – and staring at the wall. I knew what they’d been up to.

  “You saw that, didn’t you?”

  “Saw what?” Paris asked innocently.

  “How was it?” Kelsey was without guile at times.

  “It was … odd.”

  Kelsey wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “It wasn’t good,” I admitted. “It was … different.”

  “Does he have like an extra tongue or something?” Kelsey asked. “Because that might come in helpful in other places.”

  “He doesn’t have an extra tongue,” I said. “It’s just that … he always talks down to me.”

  “That shouldn’t affect how he kisses,” Paris said. “If anything, after all these years, he should have that mastered.”

  “He’s not a bad kisser,” I said. “His technique is fine.”

  “Fine isn’t good,” Kelsey said.

  “Was it fine with Aric?” Paris’ question was pointed.

  “No,” I said, pushing my lips out into a pout. “It was better than fine with Aric.”

  “Well, let’s look at it more closely,” Paris said. “What bothered you about the kiss with Rafael?”

  “Well, for starters, his lips are cold.”

  “Oh,” Kelsey said. “I never even thought about that. He’s always room temperature, isn’t he?”

  “Yeah.” I felt dejected by the whole mess.

  “And Aric runs a few degrees warmer than a normal person,” Paris supplied. “Which means he’s always hot.”

  “He is always hot.”

  “Rafael is good looking,” Kelsey said. “If you like long hair and constant frowns.”

  “He smiles,” I said.

  “When?” Paris asked.

  “Not very often,” I admitted. “When he does, it’s nice, though.”

  “I bet,” Kelsey said, trying to be supportive.

  “Besides his lips being cold, what else is wrong?” Paris probed.

  “There’s just no … zing.”

  “Zing?” Kelsey looked confused.

  “She means she doesn’t feel that low-down tingle when she’s with Rafael,” Paris said. “She always felt that when she was with Aric.”

  “That’s shallow,” I said. “Although, you’re not wrong.”

  “Maybe you should try forgiving Aric,” Kelsey suggested. “He made you happy, and you haven’t been happy in months.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Unfortunately, I wasn’t. I grabbed my coat and keys from the couch where I’d left them earlier, heading toward the front door this time.

  “Where are you going?” Paris asked.

  “And, more importantly, should we expect you back later this evening?” Kelsey teased.

  I ignored them.

  WHEN I got to Aric’s apartment complex, I killed the engine of my car – but I didn’t exit it. When I’d left the house, the only thing I could think of was seeing him again. Now that I was here, fear was settling into the pit of my stomach.

  I leaned back, resting my head against the seat, and stared up at the ceiling of my car. It wasn’t a good sign that the first thing I thought about after kissing Rafael was Aric. To be fair, though, I always thought about Aric. It didn’t matter if I’d just seen Rafael or not.

  I jolted when someone knocked on the window of the car. I knew who it was without looking.

  “Are you going to just sit in th
ere?” The glass muffled Aric’s voice. When I gathered enough courage to glance over, the smile on his face was wide.

  I sighed, pushing open the door and climbing out. “What are you doing out here?”

  “I saw you pull up,” Aric said. “I was just wondering why you were sitting here.”

  “You were just looking out the window in case someone pulled into your parking lot?”

  Aric pushed his tongue into his cheek. “I saw the headlights and looked out,” he said. “This is my place. I’m allowed.”

  “I didn’t say you weren’t.”

  “Well … you insinuated it.”

  “I did not.”

  “You did, too.”

  I made a sound in the back of my throat, which caused Aric to pull up short. “Okay, you didn’t.”

  The face I made in response must have been comical, because Aric’s smile was back. He leaned against my car, crossing his arms over his chest. It was cold, but he wasn’t wearing a coat – and the temperature didn’t seem to bother him. “So, you had a busy night tonight.”

  “Oh, you mean the spying? Yeah, I have to do that all the time now.”

  “You’ve got the covert stuff down,” Aric said. “You must be their top student.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think I’m their favorite,” I admitted.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, they think I’m too stupid for the actual classes, so all I’m doing is the physical training stuff,” I said. “They keep partnering me with aggressive men who want to beat my face in.”

  Aric frowned. “Are they hurting you?”

  “No. I’m hurting them. I seem to be a quick study.”

  “You’ve always had the physical stuff down,” Aric agreed, letting a flirty smile slide onto his face.

  “They’re up to something,” I said. “You guys are, too. What are you guys up to?”

  “Did you come here to grill me?”

  “No.”

  “Then why did you come here?”

  I shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “Okay. Tell me about the Academy,” Aric said. “How are they treating you?”

  “Well, they all seem to think I’m something special, but only because Blake told them I was,” I said. “It’s like they’re waiting for something to happen. And, each day it doesn’t, they get more and more … antsy.”