4 Waxing & Waning

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Hey, Seth,” I said. “You’re looking really hot this evening.” Hey, what can I say? The man is good-looking. Paris finally picked one who was just as pretty as she was.

  “Thank you, Zoe,” he said. “I always appreciate it when you tell me that.”

  Aric shuffled closer. “Who are you?”

  “This is Seth,” I said. “Seth, this is Aric. He’s Paris’ boyfriend.”

  Aric relaxed. “Oh.”

  “Aren’t you going to introduce me?” Caitlyn asked.

  I pretended I didn’t hear her. “Seth is a bouncer at Pops.”

  “Is that where you met him?” Aric asked.

  “I haven’t really been bar bound this year,” I said. “Paris met him there, though. She saw through the haze of the bar and managed to zero in on his … very fine attributes.”

  Aric was frowning. “Okay, that’s about enough of that.”

  I smirked. “You have nice attributes, too. Don’t worry.”

  “I’m not worried,” he said. “I just … need a beer.”

  I pointed in the direction of the keg again. “Go nuts.”

  “Why do you care who she finds attractive?” Caitlyn challenged. “You’re with me.”

  Yeah, I’d about had it with that mantra. “No, he’s not,” I scoffed. “You keep telling people that, but it’s not true.”

  “Zoe,” Aric warned.

  “He is my boyfriend,” Caitlyn said. “Mine.”

  “How does your brother feel about that?” I challenged. I was done playing her game. I was making the rules now.

  “Zoe.” Aric’s voice was low. “What are you doing?”

  I didn’t move my gaze from Caitlyn’s face. “I’m talking to my friend here, Caitlyn Blake.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Who told you that?”

  “We’re in class together,” I reminded her.

  “Yes, but my name on the class roster is Caitlyn Stewart,” she said. “Someone had to tell you otherwise.”

  I shrugged. “Maybe your brother told me.”

  “Is something going on here?” Seth asked, shifting nervously.

  “Shh,” Paris admonished him. “I want to hear this.”

  “My brother is none of your concern,” Caitlyn said. “He’s washed his hands of you.”

  “Is that what he told you?”

  “It’s the truth.”

  I patted her on the shoulder with condescending joviality. “You keep telling yourself that.”

  Aric’s hand snaked around Caitlyn and wrapped around my wrist. “Can we talk?”

  I pretended I didn’t hear him. “Your brother has an annoying habit of telling people only the things he wants to tell them,” I said. “Not the truth.”

  “You don’t know anything about my brother,” Caitlyn hissed. “You’re not fit to share the same air with him.”

  “Then how come he wanted me in his little army so very badly?”

  “You shouldn’t be speaking of this,” Caitlyn said, keeping her voice low. “This is not anyone’s business.”

  “Well, it happened to me, and I’ll talk about whatever I want to talk about,” I said. “And I want to talk about the big, bad monster hunters trying to hide on this very campus.” I purposely raised my voice at the end, hoping to get the attention of a few partygoers.

  I saw the glint of something metal in Caitlyn’s hand, and she was jabbing forward quickly. With Seth, Paris and I in such close proximity, there was nowhere for me to move. Aric realized what was happening before I did, and he was moving between the two of us before I could stop him.

  He grunted when her hand made contact with his flank, clasping his hands to his side.

  “Holy crap! I think she stabbed him,” Seth said.

  “I’m fine,” Aric said through gritted teeth.

  I reached out to him worriedly. “Aric.”

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Caitlyn said. “Why did you stop me?”

  I shoved past Aric and fixed Caitlyn with a hateful look as I grabbed a fistful of her hair. “Well, that just did it!” I slammed my fist into her face as hard as I could.

  Paris pushed Aric closer to Seth. “Watch him.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Help her beat the hell out of this wench,” Paris said. “Make sure he’s okay.”

  Caitlyn screeched. “You hit me!”

  “You stabbed my … Aric,” I replied, yanking her hair as hard as I could. “Don’t you ever even think about touching him again.”

  Caitlyn lashed out with the knife, but I was expecting it this time. I swiveled my hips to the side, and when the knife moved past me and careened into the metal railway of the back steps, I reached over and pinned her wrist there.

  With one hand still tangled in her hair, I used my other to press the soft flesh of her wrist into the spindled metal.

  “Ow, that hurts!”

  I dug my fingernails further into her flesh, tugging back with my other hand as Caitlyn screeched.

  “Stop doing that.”

  “What’s going on?” Tally asked, appearing at the edge of our group and wringing her hands. “This doesn’t make us look like good hostesses.”

  I ignored her and ground my fingernails into Caitlyn’s wrist as hard as I could. Finally, Caitlyn let go of the knife, watching helplessly as it clattered to the ground. Paris confiscated it quickly, slipping it into her pocket.

  I kept my attention fixated on Caitlyn. “I want you to go back to your brother and tell him that I am not playing nice anymore,” I said. “If he sends one more person here – just one more – I’m going to blow his little Academy right off the map.”

  “You don’t have the power,” Caitlyn whimpered.

  I let go of her wrist and slammed my fist into her face again, relishing the sight of blood as it started to drip out of her nose. “Don’t ever tell me what I can and can’t do,” I said. “Ever. Don’t come back here. Don’t go near Aric. Don’t even look at him or me again. You’re done here.”

  I gave her hair one more good, hard yank, pulling my hand free, a chunk of her hair wrapped around my fingers.

  Caitlyn’s eyes widened when she saw my hand, reaching up to cup the spot where I’d ripped her obviously-dyed hair out at the root. “You’re going to regret this.”

  “Maybe,” I agreed. “I’ll take you down with me, though. You can be sure of that.”

  Caitlyn looked around the yard, taking in the multitude of curious faces and searching eyes, and then she retreated. Once I was sure she was gone, I turned to Aric.

  “Why don’t you come inside with me,” I said.

  He looked surprised by the invitation. I glanced at Paris. “Why don’t you and Seth stay out here and have a good time.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah.”

  I led Aric into the house, forcing him to sit in one of the chairs next to the dining-room table. I pulled a washcloth from the drawer, wet it in the sink, and returned to him. I dropped to my knees, pushing his hands away from his side, and lifting his shirt.

  His side was bleeding, but the wound didn’t look too bad. “Do you think you need stitches?”

  When I glanced back up, Aric’s eyes were thoughtful as they regarded me. “Why did you do that?”

  “Why did I do what?”

  “Ruin everything I’ve been working toward,” Aric said. “You just burned it all.”

  “I have a gift,” I agreed.

  “We needed information from her,” he said. “Do you think we’re going to get it now?”

  “What information do we need from her?” I pressed the washcloth to his side carefully, frowning as he winced.

  “We need to know what they’re up to,” Aric said, his frustration evident.

  “I know what they’re up to,” I said. “They’re raiding vampire nests so they can collect them. I have no idea where they’re keeping them, but they’re trying to build an army.”

  “Why?”

&nb
sp; “My guess? They want to use them to wipe out the Alpha Chis,” I said, continuing to clean his wound. “Hold this here. There are bandages in the drawer.”

  When I returned with the tape and gauze, Aric’s face was a mask of confusion. “What makes you think they’re trying to wipe out the Alpha Chis?”

  “Will offered them a deal,” I explained. “He’s going to tell them a time and place when you guys are vulnerable. Blake is going to use the vampires to wipe out everyone but Will’s chosen few.”

  “How is Blake going to convince the vampires to do his bidding?”

  “He’s trying to use a resurrection stone,” I said. “He thinks that will give him the upper hand.”

  “Where did he get a resurrection stone?”

  “He doesn’t have one now, at least I don’t think he does,” I said. “The one he was planning on using was with Will.”

  Aric raised an eyebrow. “Was?”

  “Yeah. Will doesn’t have it anymore.”

  “Do you know who has it?”

  “I do know who has it.”

  Aric snorted. “Do you have it?”

  “Yup.”

  “Does Will know you have it?”

  “I doubt it,” I said. “If he did, he’d have tried to reclaim it by now. I’ve had it for months.”

  Aric rubbed his chin. “You stole it that night we found you outside of the house, didn’t you?”

  “I should be appalled that you think I’m a thief,” I said. “Since I am, though, I’m going to let it slide.” I finished applying the last piece of tape to his abdomen. “Are you okay? Should we take you to get stitches?”

  Aric pulled his shirt down. “It’s fine. You won’t even be able to tell it happened tomorrow morning.”

  “That’s a wolf thing, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  I leaned back on my haunches, lifting my head so I could look him in the eye. “I’m sorry you got hurt because of my mouth.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Well, you’re not very bright,” I said, pushing myself to my feet.

  I made a move to clean up the stuff on the table, but Aric stilled me by grabbing my hand. “How did you figure all of this out?”

  “I’m smarter than I look,” I said.

  “Still … .” He was rubbing my hand with his fingers. “Does Blake know you know?”

  “I think he knows I’ve figured some of it out,” I said. “I don’t think he knows how much I know.”

  “Well, that’s good.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed. “Do you want to lay down or something? Rest?”

  “What?”

  “You just got stabbed,” I said. “Don’t you need time to recuperate?”

  “And you want me to stay here to do it?”

  I bit my lower lip. “You can stay here.”

  Aric’s face cracked. “Really?”

  “You can stay here,” I said. “I’m not ready for … anything else. You can stay here, though. It’s probably safer if you do it here anyway, at least until you’re all the way better.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “Paris warded the house,” I said. “Only people who are invited by her, me, and Kelsey can enter.”

  “Which explains the bathroom,” Aric said. “You said something about that the other day, but it didn’t really register I guess.”

  “Yeah.”

  Aric got to his feet. “Where is your room?”

  I pointed to the door behind him. He moved toward it wordlessly, pushing it open. He inclined his head. “Are you coming?”

  I sighed. “No funny business.”

  “No funny business,” he agreed. “A night of sleep without looking over my shoulder sounds pretty good all on its own – especially if you’re next to me.”

  “No funny business,” I repeated. “I’m still mad at you.”

  “Baby steps,” he said, unsnapping his pants and letting them drop to the floor as he kicked off his shoes. “Just sleep next to me tonight. That’s all I want.”

  I stripped out of my own pants and hoodie, leaving my underwear and tank top in place. “If I feel your hands wandering, I’m going to break them.”

  Aric barked out a laugh. “I believe you.”

  We settled into the bed, Aric moving in close enough so I could feel his warmth, but not so close that he invaded my personal space. “Can I ask you one thing?”

  “Sure,” I said, weariness washing over me.

  “How did it feel to beat Caitlyn up? I know you hit her before, but you beat the shit out of her tonight.”

  “Pretty good,” I admitted, yawning. “I’m hoping to get a chance to do it again.” Something told me that was going to be an option.

  We both drifted off to sleep quickly and, at some point in the night, Aric’s hands wandered far enough to draw me into his arms. We both slept like the dead after that. I think it was the first time in almost a year either of us felt any comfort.

  May

  Thirty-Four

  “We’re ready,” Paris announced, joining Kelsey and me in the living room.

  It was finals week, and Paris had finally completed everything she needed to destroy the resurrection stone.

  “Can we do it inside? Or is this an outdoor activity?”

  Paris scrunched up her face. “It shouldn’t be messy,” she said. “Just to be on the safe side, though … .”

  “Outside it is,” I said, getting to my feet. “Let’s do it now.”

  “You’re awfully anxious,” Kelsey said. “Can’t we eat dinner first?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I just have … this feeling.”

  “Things are about to go south, aren’t they?” Paris asked.

  “We need to destroy it now,” I said. “I’d just feel better about everything if we did it now. Once it’s done, it can’t be used against us.”

  Paris nodded. “I’ve learned not to argue with your feelings,” she said. “If we do it now, we can celebrate with a big dinner.”

  “I’ll even take you guys out,” I said. “My treat.”

  “Sold,” Kelsey said. “So, um, what do we do?”

  “Let me get the stuff from my room,” Paris said. “Meet me in the driveway in five minutes.”

  I started to move toward the back door and then stilled. “Why the driveway?”

  “Just in case things get … melty.”

  “Ah, good thinking.”

  Once the three of us were gathered in a small circle, Kelsey and I watched Paris with a mixture of morbid curiosity and general nervousness. Since we were out of our depth, we both wordlessly let Paris do her thing.

  Paris placed the necklace on the cement and then knelt next to it. “Okay, Kelsey, hand me that baggie.”

  Kelsey peered into the box, rummaged around for a second, and then retrieved the requested item. “What is this?”

  “Herbs.”

  Kelsey wrinkled her nose. “Like basil?”

  “Um, more like mandrake, agrimony, Solomon’s Seal, wolfsbane, and toadflax.”

  “Yum. And what does it do?”

  “Just watch,” Paris admonished. “I need to concentrate.”

  “Fine,” Kelsey sniffed. “You don’t have to be so rude.”

  Paris ignored her. She opened the bag and dumped the herbs on top of the necklace.

  I cocked my head to the side, watching the necklace curiously. “It’s weird,” I said. “It still sounds like it’s talking to me.”

  “What does it say?”

  “I don’t hear words,” I said, leaning closer. “It’s like … singing.”

  “Do you recognize the song?”

  “No.”

  “I can’t hear anything,” Kelsey said, turning to Paris. “Can you?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Why can Zoe hear it? Is it because she’s a mage?”

  “That would be my guess.”

&n
bsp; “Do you think it knows what is happening?” Kelsey asked.

  I considered the question. “Yeah. I think it does.”

  “And?”

  “And it’s … happy. Can inanimate objects have feelings?”

  “Those imbued with magic can,” Paris said. “Maybe this one knows its time is done.”

  I nodded, feeling suddenly reticent. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Paris glanced at me, reading my expression perfectly. “We’re putting it to rest,” she said. “We’re not killing anything.”

  “It’s dangerous,” Kelsey added. “We can’t risk Blake getting his hands on it. If he builds his army … the werewolves won’t be the only ones at risk.”

  “I know.”

  I inclined my head in Paris’ direction. “Do it.”

  Paris nodded, raising her hands over the stone. She started to chant. I couldn’t make out the words, and I wasn’t sure what language she was speaking. The whole ritual took about five minutes. As Paris’ chanting started to build, the stone began to glow.

  I was so lost in the scene in front of me, it took me a few seconds to realize Paris had stopped chanting. The stone flared brightly twice and then … died. When it was all over, the necklace was still resting on the driveway. Untouched.

  Kelsey wrinkled her nose. “Did it work?”

  “I don’t know,” Paris admitted. “I thought the necklace would have been destroyed.”

  I knelt down, tilting my head to the side so I could listen. There was nothing. “It’s gone.”

  “You don’t hear anything?”

  “No.”

  “Why is the necklace still here?”

  “Because the power was contained in the necklace,” I said. “Paris freed the power. The necklace remains because there was no real power attached to it.”

  I reached down and picked it up, dusting it off.

  “What are you doing?” Paris asked. “It’s useless now.”

  “I know that,” I said. “You know that. There’s a whole bunch of people out there who don’t know that, though.”

  Paris nodded knowingly. “You’re holding onto it just in case,” she said. “That’s smart.”

  “When are you people going to realize that I’m always smart?”

  DINNER that night was festive. I took Kelsey and Paris to a local Mexican restaurant, and we celebrated with margaritas and fajitas. Now that we were all twenty-one, having drinks with our supper seemed like a natural progression.