“You were supposed to get reliable information about what they’re doing,” Aric said grimly. “Instead I get random reports about hair-coloring parties and nail polish thingies. Well, I don’t know what to call them.”
I figured he had to be talking about the sorority.
“Oh, let me guess, she confused you with sex? Don’t even bother trying to pretend that’s not the case.”
Aric was quiet for a few minutes. I started to move away from the door but when I heard Aric growl in frustration I realized he wasn’t done. “I don’t want to hear one more excuse from you. If you have to get her drunk to get her to talk, then get her drunk. I’m not joking. We’re almost out of time here.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised when Aric’s bedroom door flew open, but the sudden motion caused me to gasp as we came face to face.
“What are you doing here?” Aric’s face colored with concern.
“Eavesdropping.” What? It’s not like he didn’t know. I might as well own up to it. We were going to fight anyway.
“Oh, I figured that,” Aric said. “I meant the apartment, not sneaking around outside my bedroom.”
“I came to see you.”
“And decided to eavesdrop?” Aric raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I thought you would be in the living room like you usually are, but when I didn’t find you I started looking. Then I heard you talking and I figured if there was a girl in here I was going to want to contain the blood in one room to hide it from the police.”
Aric smiled weakly. “You thought I had a girl back here? Really?”
“Or a guy.” I shrugged, plastering my best smile of contrition on my face.
Aric rolled his eyes and moved past me, leading me away from the bedroom and toward the living room.
“I’m fairly certain you don’t have to worry about either of those scenarios,” he replied dryly. “Especially the second one.”
“You should have said especially the first one,” I shot back darkly.
“Live and learn,” Aric sighed as he dropped down on his couch. “So what are you doing here? I was planning on slipping over to the dorms later and enticing you away for dinner and a night of debauchery.”
“I thought we should talk.”
“Oh, good. That’s exactly what I had in mind.” Aric was going for levity, but it fell flat.
I decided to ignore his sarcasm. “I had a little talk with Kelsey today.”
“Well, better her than Matilda or Laura. At least I like her. She and Paris are about the only friends you have that I’m not considering killing these days.”
His words made me go cold. I hoped he was joking. Unfortunately, I didn’t think he was.
“She showed me something.”
“Is this story going to get sexy?” Aric asked suggestively. “Because if it is, this is exactly the kind of talk I could use.”
I smacked the back of his head lightly and then sat down next to him on the couch.
“Sometimes I think you think you’re living in a porno.”
“Sometimes I wish I was. I’m getting a little tired of the horror genre.”
That made two of us.
“So what did she show you?”
“Matilda is keeping a box of my things under her bed.”
“Like she’s a klepto?” Aric looked confused.
“That’s what I thought, but I don’t think that’s the case.”
“What did they take?”
“A bracelet. A notebook from my poetry class. Some of my hair.”
Aric looked incensed. “Your hair?”
“Yeah.”
Aric started rocking back and forth on the couch. I don’t think he even realized he was doing it. It looked as though he was trying to decide whether he was going to get back up, but I knew it was something else.
“I think they’re going to try a spell.”
Aric glanced over at me worriedly. “What makes you say that?”
“Why else would she want my hair?”
“Maybe she’s a lesbian?” Aric sounded hopeful.
“Do you really believe that? You’ve met her. She’s boy crazy.”
“Crap.” Aric leaned back and ran his fingers through his hair tiredly. “This is not good.”
“So I figured.”
“Have you told anyone else?” Aric asked.
“Besides you?”
“Well, Kelsey obviously knows,” he conceded.
“I told Blake.”
Aric froze. “You went to see Blake? Why?”
“Why do you think? I need answers. You’re not very forthcoming with them. Rafael isn’t very forthcoming with them – although he’s better than you. That left Blake.”
Aric frowned. “I wish you hadn’t done that.”
“I wish a lot of things,” I lamented, shifting my gaze from his.
Aric swallowed hard. “I’m not going to start yelling.”
“That’s good,” I replied blithely. “Because if you start yelling I’m going to start screaming.”
“Let’s take this a step at a time,” Aric said. “What did Blake think?”
“He said he couldn’t be sure, but if he had to guess, he thought they were trying to conduct a spell that would take my power. Whatever that is.”
Aric reached over and grabbed my hand, rubbing his finger over the top of it idly. “I guess that would make sense. What else did he tell you?”
“He said they’re watching the sorority, but he can’t really do anything because they’re humans. Evil humans, but humans nonetheless.”
“Figures. At least he stands firm on one thing. What else?”
“He did ask me a curious question.”
Aric watched me, waiting for me to continue.
“Why are all the supernaturals congregating here?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean this is Michigan. It’s not even a great part of Michigan. Why is everyone coming here?”
“I ... I ... well, crap, that is a good question. I’ve never really thought about it.”
“Why are you here?”
“We’ve always lived in Michigan,” Aric replied. “When it came time to go to college, it was always assumed I would come here.”
“Because of the supernatural population?”
“Yeah. My dad came here. My mom. We’ve always come here.”
“Okay, that explains the werewolves. I can actually see it for you guys. There are a lot of woods around here. When you get away from the campus there’s not a lot of people. But why would the vampires come here? Why would this be a witch stronghold? I mean, I would think they’d be in Salem.”
“Salem, Michigan?” Aric asked.
“No, Salem, Massachusetts,” I countered without a trace of guile.
Aric smiled despite himself. “Give it to you to always go for the cliché.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yeah,” Aric sighed. “I guess I do. I’ve never really considered it.”
“I suggested this place was built on an old Native American burial ground, but Blake didn’t seem to think that was the case.”
Aric smiled again.
“There has to be something drawing them here,” I pressed.
“You have a point,” Aric agreed. “I’ll ask my parents and see what they know. If they do know something, though, I’m figuring I would have heard about it. My family isn’t great at keeping secrets – at least not from each other.”
“And you’ve never questioned why?”
“I told you, it’s just always the way things were done in my family.”
“Well, I think that’s a question that needs an answer.”
“I agree,” Aric said. “I don’t think the answer to that question is going to solve our current problem, though.”
“It sounds like you don’t have the answers you’re looking for,” I said. “At least from your end of the conversation I heard. It sounds like you’re trying to infiltrate th
e sorority but your guys are getting distracted by boobs.”
Aric chuckled darkly. “You always bring it down to the lowest common denominator.”
“Am I wrong?”
“No.”
“Why did you say that we’re running out of time?”
Aric looked caught. “Because we are,” he finally said. “We don’t know much. What we do know, though, is that whatever they have planned they have it planned for Earth Day, April 22nd.”
“Earth Day? That’s only about a month away.”
“Exactly,” Aric said grimly.
“So what are you guys trying to do?”
“Stop them.”
“How?”
Aric’s face had gone pale. “You know how.”
“You’re going to kill them?” My voice rose in alarm.
“Do you see another choice?”
“What about Matilda and Laura?”
Aric averted his gaze. “If they’re part of whatever happens, their fate is going to be the same as their sorority sisters.”
I felt numb at the coldness in his voice. “Are you sure there’s not another way?”
“Don’t you think I’ve been trying to find one?” Aric’s voice was hollow and sad. “What do you think these past few months have been about, keg parties and fraternity crap? Give me a little credit here. Just once. That would be nice for a change.”
“No.” I was stunned by the vicious nature of his reaction.
“Zoe, I don’t care about anything but you in this scenario,” Aric said, purposely calming his voice. “If Matilda and Laura are a threat to you, I will eliminate that threat.”
“Meaning you’ll eliminate Laura and Matilda?”
“If it comes to that. You need to prepare yourself.”
Things just got a little too real for my taste.
April
Thirty-Two
When I came up with my brilliant idea to thwart whatever Delta Omicron had planned for me, I didn’t expect everyone to immediately jump on the bandwagon and tell me how smart I am.
Okay, maybe I did.
The reaction I got from Kelsey and Paris was underwhelming, though.
“I don’t know,” Kelsey hedged.
We were grouped in the laundry room in the basement of the dorm. It seemed as safe a place to talk as any – and it was a way for us to discuss a few things without tipping off Matilda and Laura that we were on to them.
“The box is still there, right?”
Kelsey nodded. “It is. I check every morning now.”
“Why don’t you just take your stuff back?” Paris asked pointedly.
“Because then they would know that we know.”
“And by doing this you think that it will somehow buy you time?” Paris didn’t look convinced.
“By doing this, it lets them think that they’re still in charge of things,” I countered.
Paris bit her lower lip as she considered my scenario. “It actually is kind of smart,” she finally conceded . “If they try to do a spell with the wrong ingredients, then they’ll think they’re winning until the very end when it blows up in their faces.”
I could only hope she meant that in the literal sense. That would make things so much easier.
“But the spell won’t work?” Kelsey asked hopefully.
“No,” Paris shook her head decisively. “If they think they’re using Zoe’s notebook and bracelet but, in reality they have someone else’s hair that really could play in our favor.”
“And you really want to use Brittany’s hair?” Kelsey looked nonplussed.
“Why not?” Paris asked. “They’re practically the same color and we have access to Brittany.”
“They are not practically the same color,” I argued. “She clearly colors her hair. I do not.”
“Yeah,” Paris smirked. “All those bright highlights come naturally.”
I thought I’d just been insulted. I decided to ignore it.
“Okay, let’s say I think this is a good idea – which I’m still not sure about,” Kelsey said. “How are we going to get Brittany’s hair?”
That was a good question. An idea popped into my mind. “When is Will visiting Brittany next?”
Paris narrowed her eyes. I could tell she realized what I was planning. “Do you really think that’s the best way to go?”
“Actually, yes. I’m looking forward to it.”
Kelsey looked between the two of us dubiously. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but the look on your face tells me it’s going to be ugly.”
She had no idea.
THREE NIGHTS later, I put my plan into action.
Paris texted me the minute Will arrived in the room. It was fortuitous that Matilda and Laura had a sorority meeting that night. I didn’t want them to see what was about to happen and get suspicious.
I made my way down to Paris’ room, stopping outside just long enough to calm myself for the part I was about to play, and then knocked on the door. I wasn’t surprised to find Paris opening it a few seconds later.
“Oh, hey,” she greeted me nervously. “What’s going on?”
“Just thought I would visit,” I offered brightly.
“Now probably isn’t a good time.”
We had worked on this script for days. We pretty much had it down. “Why?”
“Um, well, I’m not alone,” she hedged. “Brittany and Will are here.”
“Is that Zoe?” Brittany asked. “Invite her in. Let her see what she’s missing.”
You can always count on Brittany to think she’s winning.
Paris stepped away from the door, opening it wide enough for me to enter the room.
I noticed that their other roommate, Michelle, was sitting on her bed in the adjacent room, watching the scene in the common room unfold curiously. Given the stress of my relationship with Brittany, I hadn’t seen much of Michelle this year. She had taken Brittany’s side – and I didn’t blame her. She had to live with her and she probably figured that was the only way to survive Brittany’s endless blathering.
“I’m surprised you came down here,” Brittany said from her spot on the couch. Will was sitting next to her – just not close enough to actually touch her. He must be getting tired of all this play-acting.
“Why?”
“You haven’t really been a regular guest down here this year,” Brittany said. “I understand. I do. You’re still hurt by the Will situation.”
And here we go.
Brittany got to her feet and took a step toward me. “I think it’s time that we talk about all of this. Hammer it out. Become friends again.”
I couldn’t agree more – except for the friends front. “Okay,” I said, pretending that I was actually fighting the situation. “If you want to talk, I think we should talk.”
Brittany looked surprised by my answer. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes.
“I’ve done a lot of thinking,” Brittany plowed on. “I’ve come to the realization that some of my actions might have been wrong. You don’t go after a friend’s ex-boyfriend. I realize that.”
In an effort to keep from laughing, I fixed my gaze on Will. He was watching the two of us with a mixture of trepidation and curiosity, as though he knew something more was about to happen.
“I’m not sorry that Will and I are together,” Brittany continued. “Ours is a love that will transcend time.”
Someone hand me a barf bag.
“We’ve got one of those forever kinds of love,” Brittany said. “It’s the kind you read about in books. We couldn’t be asked to stay away from each other because you used to date him in high school. You can’t just ignore destiny.”
I pursed my lips. This conversation was starting to move from funny to annoying pretty quickly.
“I’m sorry you’re not over Will,” Brittany said.
I snapped my head up in surprise. “Not over Will? Is that what you think?”
“Do you?” I fixed Will with a hard glare. He had the grace to look uncomfortable and stare down at his folded hands on his lap.
“I know it’s hard,” Brittany said, faux pity lacing her voice. “He’s a great guy. He’s the best guy. I can only hope that, some day, you’ll find someone to love so that you can forget about Will and move on.”
“You have seen my boyfriend, right?” I momentarily forgot about the plan.
“Aric is very good looking,” Brittany said diplomatically. “We all know he’s going to move on from you at some point, though. Why wouldn’t he?”
Okay, maybe she was inadvertently starting to play into the plan.
“Well, I guess I’ll just have to muddle through,” I replied blandly.
“Maybe you should consider seeing a therapist,” Brittany offered. “Someone who’s properly trained might be able to help you with all of your issues.”
“And what issues would those be?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“Well, your anger issues, for one.”
I nodded, narrowing my eyes dangerously.
“And that thing you do where you use sex as a replacement for love. I mean, that’s why Aric is with you. We’ve all figured that out.”
And that pretty much did it. I don’t remember reaching for her. Sure, this had been part of the plan all along, but I really did think things would go a little differently. That was probably a mistake on my part.
“Ow!” Brittany pulled away from me, her hand at the back of her head, her eyes full of loathing and accusation. “You pulled out a chunk of my hair!”
I glanced down at my hand, seeing the blonde hair entwined with my fingers, and grimaced. “I guess it’s just part of that anger issue I have,” I spat out.
“I want you out of this room!” Brittany pointed at the door, her hand rubbing the sore spot on the back of her head.
I glanced over at Paris but her face was unreadable. I did as I was asked, closing the door behind me. I could hear Brittany’s explosion of righteous indignation the second the door closed.
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