He grinned. “Decide to finally ditch the brothers and come with me?”
“No, I’m going take from you what you stole from others.”
I started to pull and I could feel the energy of both Guardians and Destroyers flowing into me. What I didn’t expect was for Hayden to barrel into me from the side and knock me over. I lost contact with him and fell into a heap with Hayden.
He was still fairly small and I was able to push him off, but not before Romeo ran. Kai and Frankie grabbed him before he could get out the door. I didn’t hesitate. I pulled Hayden up by the hand and dragged him over to the struggling Romeo.
“Bitch,” Romeo yelled and spit in my face. I ignored him and grabbed his arm just above where Kai was pinning his hands behind his back. I pulled with all my might. I had no time to waste. Dwayne was going after my father. I pulled and pulled and pulled until there was nothing left. It was exhilarating and horrible at the same time. When it was over, I let go of both of them and stepped back, breathing heavily.
I looked to Frankie. “Will you take care of these two?”
He looked at me with horror in his eyes. “You took my power?”
“Excuse me?”
“My power is gone.”
I looked at Kai.
“Mine too.”
A man by the name of Alex Montgomery made a mistake when he was breeding roses. His mistake turned out to be a gorgeous crimson rose that smelled amazing. He called it Montgomery’s Mistake. I wish my mistake could’ve turned out like that.
OH NO. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. That was not what I meant to do.
I addressed Frankie first. “I can fix this, I think. But first, I have to go save my father. Will you please bring these boys to a police station and have them confess to the murders they committed? Then come to Arkansas, and I will see what I can do about giving you your power back. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
He looked a little lost. “How am I supposed to convince them to do anything?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Kai, we need to go.”
He nodded and didn’t say anything. Romeo and Hayden were surprisingly subdued.
In the car, Kai kept quiet.
“I’m sorry,” I said. I had a lump in my throat and I couldn’t look at him.
“Don’t. Let’s not talk about this right now. I don’t know how to handle it. Give me some time. Just don’t say anything else.”
I quickly dialed my dad again, but he didn’t answer. That didn’t mean anything. He could be at the clinic or just not paying attention. He didn’t like phones. Kai drove quickly through the streets of Orlando. He was mad, and rightfully so, but I didn’t see how I could fix it. I hadn’t taken just some of his power, I had it all. Now that it was over, I could feel the distinctions in the power. Alejandro was the strongest. His power flowed through my whole body. Kai’s was close. It was strange having Kai’s power inside of me.
I watched the screens in the airport as they refreshed, flight after flight being canceled. A massive snowstorm had moved thorough the Midwest and was heading southeast. Kai came over to me as I tried, in vain, to find some flight that was not cancelled heading close to where we were going. Nothing.
“We can stay at my mom’s tonight and try the airport again in the morning.”
“That’s too long. My dad could be dead by then. Can we drive?”
Kai looked like he was about to say no, but then he nodded and headed back to the rental car counters.
We drove in virtual silence for hours. We had just passed Atlanta when Kai finally spoke.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“Why didn’t you just command them to be still? You could’ve taken their power easily.”
“I didn’t think about that. I wasn’t prepared for the fight. All I could think was that I needed to take their power and get out of there.” I regretted my actions. But I couldn’t think straight with all that was going on.
“That’s the problem Naomi, you don’t think about the consequences of your actions.”
Yes, I do. Except under extreme circumstances.
“Look, I’m sorry. I’ll give you your power back.”
“That’s not the problem. Well, it is, but there is more to it than that.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I didn’t respond and he didn’t elaborate.
Huge white snowflakes began to fall on the outskirts of Birmingham. A half-hour later, they were sticking to the ground. The car slid a couple of times.
“We have to stop. It’s not safe right now.”
I nodded and looked at my phone. No call from dad. I’d called him at least five times, left voicemails and sent text messages, but he hadn’t responded to any of them.
We pulled into the parking lot of a Holiday Inn. Kai paid and I listened to the conversation between him and the front desk clerk.
“Any idea when the storm is supposed to let up?”
“Supposed to snow all night. You might want to go ahead and pay for two nights. I don’t think you’re going anywhere tomorrow.”
I closed my eyes. This was not happening. I couldn’t protect my dad because of the stupid weather.
I paced around the room while Kai flicked through the television channels. After checking my phone for the millionth time, I finally decided to call someone else. Jason picked up after the first ring.
“What’s up?”
“Can you go check on my dad?” I couldn’t believe I didn’t think to call him earlier.
“Why?”
“They lured us to out so they could attack him. They think he is the Master Destroyer. They are going to kill him, and we can’t get home.”
“I wish I could help you, but I’m completely snowed in. There’s a foot of snow outside, with ice underneath. A lot of phone and electrical lines are down. The good news is that whoever is after him probably can’t get there either.”
He had a point, but it didn’t make me feel any better.
“Is Kai with you?” Jason asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Nothing, I was just wondering how things went with you and Ruth.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought that would be obvious.”
“I’m not following you at all.”
“Yeah, you’re pretty preoccupied with your dad, but I’m surprised you didn’t see it.”
The line went dead; I wasn’t sure if that was intentional or just the weather. But I suspected I knew what Jason meant.
“Kai, can you turn off the TV?”
He looked at me with exasperation. He was still mad at me. Of course, he probably should be. I sat on the bed across from him.
“Is there anything going on with you and Ruth?” I asked.
His face didn’t betray anything. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you lied to me about knowing her. And…”
“I lied for everyone’s safety. Especially hers. She didn’t need to be wrapped up in any Guardian and Destroyer drama. So no, I didn’t tell you. Too much murder going around.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. She said you guys talk every day.”
He ran his hand through his hair.
“Yeah, so?”
“Do you have feelings for her?”
He snorted. “Do you really want me to answer this?”
“I want the truth.”
He dropped his eyes. “Fine, then. I think I’m in love with her.”
My heart nearly stopped. I thought maybe he’d say he liked her or something. I didn’t expect him to be so up front about it.
“You brought me back to Arkansas because you wanted us to be together. I thought you loved me. Even when I was reluctant, you begged me to forget Puck.” I stood up, my fists clenched. I didn’t have the right to be angry. Not really. But things had gotten so comfortable between us in the last few months that I hardly even thought about Puck anymore.
Kai looked up at me, surprise etched across his features. “You mean I actually have a shot?”
“Not anymore, you don’t.” I looked out the window. I’d been so stupid, letting my guard down. I never should’ve come to Arkansas. Kai would’ve been just fine without me. Kai stood up and got in my face.
“You are so hypocritical. Like you have no idea what it’s like to love two different people. Yes, I’m confused. Yes, I have no idea what I really want. But I thought you, of all people, would understand that.”
“Maybe I should, but I don’t. I’ll make your choice easy for you though. You can have her.” I wanted to run. Go anywhere, away from Kai. But there was nowhere to go. We were stuck in this stupid hotel, in this stupid snowstorm, while my dad was probably fighting for his life. Kai looked lost.
“Does she know?” I asked.
Kai shook his head. “She thinks you’re my girlfriend.”
I snorted. “So she might not even like you. It would serve you right.” Yes, I was being mean. I couldn’t help myself.
“I don’t have to stay here and listen to you and your hypocrisy. I’m going for a walk. I’ll get us some food while I’m out. You really should think about the things you yourself have done. I’m not the bad guy here.”
He slammed the door and I collapsed onto the small couch.
This was horrible. I didn’t come out to Arkansas with the intent to fall for Kai, and I hadn’t, but it hurt that he kept something like that from me. Especially since if he had just told me, this whole thing would’ve been so much easier. Kai and I could’ve been friends, Ruth and I could’ve been in touch, and I could’ve still brought Kai back to the Guardians. I stared at my phone. There was only one number I wanted dial. It would be reckless and stupid, but who was being rational tonight? Certainly not Kai.
He was in love with Ruth. Ruth! He had a thousand girls to choose from and he picked my best friend. Screw everything. I scrolled through my contacts until I found Puck. He picked up on the second ring.
“Naomi? Are you okay?” My racing heart immediately slowed. Somehow, just hearing his voice made me feel better. I curled into a ball on the couch and tried very hard not to cry.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just wanted to talk to you.”
He paused.
“You know we aren’t supposed to be talking at all. It’s risky.”
“I know, but I needed to hear your voice. I miss you.”
“Something’s wrong, I can tell. What happened?”
I played with a loose string on the couch.
“Kai and I had a fight.”
“About what?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
He hesitated. “Why does getting in a fight with Kai bother you so much?”
I didn’t answer. I knew exactly what he was getting at.
After a minute of silence he asked another question.
“Are you considering staying with Kai after this is all over?”
“No.”
“But you were?”
“No, it was always only about you. I swear.”
“Yet, when you have a fight with Kai, it bothers you so much that you endanger your mission and breach our protocol by calling me.” My stomach flip-flopped.
“Puck, it’s not like that.”
“It’s exactly like that.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “You have no idea how hard this is. Being the Master Destroyer is so hard. I needed something good to hang on to. So yes, I clung to Kai. I couldn’t turn to you, you know that. But that doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is saving my dad, giving the Master Destroyer power to someone else, and going home to you.”
I expected some kind of a response to that. But instead, I got deafening silence.
“Are you saying you’re the Master Destroyer?”
Oh, no. I’d forgotten he didn’t know. He still thought it was Kai.
“I forgot you didn’t know that. Yes, I am.”
“You didn’t think it was important to mention that to me? What kind of a spy are you? Who else knows?”
“Kai, my dad, and Jason. I had to keep it a secret.”
“From who? It sounds like I’m the only one who doesn’t know.”
“I’m sorry, I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
My insides felt hollow. I’d screwed up so bad, dug myself into a hole so deep I couldn’t see the top. I had to make him understand.
“I don’t know what else to say. I didn’t ask to become the Master Destroyer, but when I stole my mother’s power, the Master Destroyer power came along. It didn’t seem that important at the time to tell you. Besides…”
“I’m the effing Master Guardian and the love of my life is the Master Destroyer. That will never work. You might want to go make up with Kai.”
“I won’t always be the Master Destroyer…”
But he already hung up.
When I came back to Arkansas, I tried to kill my Collette Rose. I thought I did it, but two weeks later it sprang back to life.
THE SNOW STOPPED AROUND MIDNIGHT and the highways had been plowed overnight. It was tricky getting onto the highway, but after that, we were able to make good time.
We had to slow down when we got close to town. Thankfully, Kai had rented an SUV with four-wheel drive or we would’ve never made it. A few miles from my house, he spoke.
“You realize I’m going to be no help without my power. I feel so unbelievably helpless.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop that. You chose not to be in control of your power. You’ve been reckless and emotional and stupid. This is your fault and I’m not going to let you get out of this. But for now, we need to focus on saving your father.”
His words stung but he was right. I knew that, but I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t know what we’d find at the house.
“I’ll follow you, but I won’t have the ability to shield myself from influence. I’ll keep hidden and try to assess the situation and how I can best help,” Kai said.
I nodded.
We arrived home at around five. The sky was starting to go dark, but there was still enough light to see a path shoveled to my garden. We heard voices coming from there.
We raced to the garden.
My father stood in the middle of the garden. He was alive, thank goodness, but Dwayne stood behind him. I took a few cautious steps forward then saw that Dwayne had a gun pressed to the back of Dad’s head. I gasped and I raced forward, my heart pounding in my ears.
A figure stepped out from behind my father and I froze. This couldn’t be real.
My mother smiled at me. My chest felt tight and I resisted the urge to scream.
“Don’t move another inch. You and I have unfinished business.” She caressed my father’s arm. I still couldn’t see his face. “If you cooperate, he’ll be fine.”
Anxiety filled my chest. My mother must’ve been the one pulling all the strings.
“Please don’t hurt him,” I said.
Her smile widened. “We’ll see about that. Took you long enough to get here. Imagine my surprise when I arrived and discovered that your father had no power. It took me a few minutes, but I figured it out. Then all I had to do was wait for you to come back. Did you take care of my pets, Romeo and Hayden, for me? They were helpful but had become too powerful.”
I shivered. “What are you doing out here?”
“Oh, your dad led me to believe that you got rid of your power and put it in this rose here. Interesting prospect, but I’m afraid it’s false. I can feel Destroyer energy in it, but not mine. Now come here and give me my power back. You still have it, I can tell.”
I laughed out loud. “Why would I do that?”
“Because if you don’t, Dwayne will kill your father.”
Dwayne snorted. “I might kill him anyway, just to see the look on your face when he dies. You took everything from me.”
I inched toward my mother. She was standing only a few feet away from
the Destroyer rose.
“If you are threatening to kill him anyway, what incentive do I have to do anything for you?”
My mother let out a manic laugh. “Because you don’t know for sure. He might leave him alive, he might kill him. But if you don’t do what I want, he’ll kill him for sure. It’s a gamble you’ll take. You won’t risk your poor father’s life.”
“You’re right, I won’t risk my father’s life. What makes you think it will work though? I took all of your power, and I’ve never tried giving power to another person.”
“Then it will be an experiment. If you succeed, he lives; if you fail, he dies and I kill you to take the power by force.”
I inched closer and closer to her. She hadn’t killed me yet, because she had no power. If I died at her hand, my power wouldn’t transfer. It only worked if she were already a Destroyer. The only way she’d get any power now was if I gave it to her. That made me the one in charge.
“Alright, I’ll try.”
“You better try hard. If you don’t, he’s a dead man.”
I blinked rapidly, thinking. This was the person who orchestrated all of the Guardian murders, just to get revenge on me. I couldn’t let her have any power.
I gripped her hands with both of mine. She grinned, showing crooked yellowing teeth. I pushed forward just a little bit, and she took a couple of steps back. Her grin didn’t falter. Then, I shoved as hard as I could and let go. She stumbled a little and then fell backwards into the Destroyer rose. For a second nothing happened. She sat there with a frozen expression on her face.
Then the rose came alive. It wrapped its lethal branches around her wrists and torso. Blood seemed to come from everywhere. She screamed, louder than I thought possible. Behind me, there was a scuffle, a gunshot went off and another scream, but I couldn’t bring myself to turn around. I couldn’t take my eyes off my mother.
I could tell the rose to stop, but I didn’t. My mother needed to die. As long as she was alive, she would be searching for a way to get her power back. I couldn’t let her do that. But it didn’t make it any easier to watch. After a minute, I couldn’t see her face anymore and the screams had stopped. The rose seemed to envelop her. The thick branches devoured her until there was nothing left. No evidence of her body remained. It was like she never existed. When the branches stopped moving, I remembered my father. I spun around and saw his body in the snow. I couldn’t see any blood. Kai had the gun, and he was standing over Dwayne who was whimpering on the ground. Blood stained the snow next to his leg.
The Thorn Chronicles-Books 1-4: Kissed, Destroyed, Secrets, and Lies Page 43