by Sherry Soule
I attempt a smile, but the effort feels more like a grimace. “Just tread carefully.”
“Sloane, I’ve got this. Your pep-talk earlier helped. But why do you look like you’re going to cry now?”
I hang my head. “Well, when angry mothers find me getting my freak on with their son, I tend to have worry face.”
He raises my chin with a finger. “I’ll fix this. I promise.”
“I should go with you.” Standing, I wrap him in a hug, catching him off guard. He stumbles back before leaning into me and squeezing me tight, then letting go. “We’re stronger together than apart.”
A crooked smile transforms his face, and I fall for him all over again. “You’re right. After everything we’ve been through, we can deal with my snobby parents. Just let me talk with them first.”
“Do your parents know that your brother is dating a human?”
“No, but it won’t be long until they find out. Then the shit will really hit the fan.”
“That should make for an interesting conversation around the dinner table, but need I remind you that we were the first ones on the cutting edge?”
“So true.” Hayden sighs. “I’ll talk with my parents and smooth things over.”
I bite my lip. “Before you face the firing squad, do you have any idea what you’re gonna say?”
“After I explain the lengths Xavier went through to hurt you, I think they’ll understand.”
“Just because Xavier is rocking the crazy pants doesn’t mean the whole family is, too. Your mother obviously likes Neela. It might not be enough to convince them to let you out of the arranged marriage.” Taking a deep breath, I struggle with my next words. “And I doubt they’ll agree to let you date someone like me.”
Hayden takes my face in his hands, rubbing his thumbs along my jawline. “Trust me. My parents will eventually accept my decision, and I’m confident enough to make you a bet.”
“Now you’re a gambling man?”
His lips twitch. “Have been since the day we met. I bet by graduation, you and I will get hitched—”
“Whoa! Marriage?” My cheeks burn. The curse of being a typical white girl with pale skin—my face flushes a lot. “Aren’t you going too fast? You haven’t even told your current fiancée the marriage is a no-go yet.”
“A minor complication.” Hayden gets down on one knee, and takes my hand. “Sloane Masterson, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
My breath shudders from my lungs, yet I manage to smile. “You’re completely nuts.”
“You think I’m kidding?” He frowns. “Why would I joke about something like that?”
“Because you just had a fight with your mother and emotions are running high.”
“She has nothing to do with this.” His eyes crease at the corners. “Are you going to give me an answer?”
Hayden Lancaster, a Greek god among boys, wants to marry me. My heart swells until it batters my ribcage. Hayden loves me so much he took on evil Xavier and put himself in harm’s way to save me. He loves me so much he’s willing to defy his parents. He loves me so much he’s even willing to forgo being a Meleah leader. But when reality strikes—that wench—she sticks a pin into my growing balloon of happiness and pops it.
That douse of truth slams me back down onto the hardwood floor. I can’t marry someone whose parents hate me with a vengeance. Nor can I marry him just so he can rebel against their rules or give up being the wonderful leader that I know he someday will be. It might seem stupid to care what his family thinks, but I desperately want Hayden’s parents to like me and approve of our relationship. Even though it’s as dumb as wishing Halloween came more than once a year, cupcakes won’t make you fat, and there’ll be a sequel to Thelma and Louise.
“So, Peaches? What’s it gonna be?”
I stumble away from him, one hand lifting to cover my heart. “Omigod. You are serious.”
“Definitely. Will you—”
“Stop! You can’t propose like this! Where’s the surge of sentimental music? Where’s the grand romantic gesture—the cheesier the better—where I get swept off my feet?” He starts to speak, but I lift one hand to silence him. “I want a guy holding a boombox over his head outside my bedroom window. I need to be serenaded in front of a crowd where the school band chimes in,” I say, taking a breath and forging on my tirade. “I want a guy to rush into my house, declaring, you complete me. I need flowers and candy and balloons. Okay? Do you get that? But not like this.”
Hayden gets to his feet and lowers his head, exhaling noisily. After a moment, he lifts his face to mine, his voice soft. “You’re right. You deserve all that and more.”
“Hell yes, I do.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You really caught me off guard with the marriage stuff.”
His lips slant downward. “You don’t want to marry me.”
“I didn’t say that. I-I just have to think…”
“What’s there to think about?”
“This is a huge decision. And I always imagined when a guy asked me, it would be like a perfect movie moment, you know?”
“No. I don’t.”
“You’ve always known what you wanted out of life, but I’m still discovering who I am and I have plans after graduation. Like going to film school, you know?”
“Sure. But what the hell does that mean? You can’t commit to me right now, or do you mean ever?”
“No, I’m sorry. This totally came as a shock, you know? I mean, we almost did it, and then your mother caught us, and we just got back together…and…I need a minute.”
His brow wrinkles. “Fine, but stop saying you know. Because I don’t understand why you’re acting like this. We love each other and this isn’t something you should need to consider.”
“Please, don’t be upset.” Tears fill my eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too, but when a guy asks a girl to marry him and she says that she needs to think about it, he’s not sure how to react.”
I touch his forearm. “It’s cute how you refer to yourself in the third-person.”
He shakes off my hand. “Don’t change the subject. Is the reason, you won’t say yes is because you need to discuss it with Viola first? Or make a pros and cons list in your Hello Kitty notebook?”
“Ouch. Not fair. Why are you getting all huffy?”
“Because I’m hurt, Sloane, and obviously, I shouldn’t have asked you.”
Tears stream down my face. “Come on, Hayden. We’ve been through so much together, but we haven’t even finished high school yet. It feels like you’re just reacting to your parents’ demands by rebelling.”
“That’s not it at all, and I still want an answer.”
“Well, I can’t give you one. It’s a big deal and I need some time.” I sniffle and touch his arm, his muscles stiff and rigid beneath my fingers. “Plus, the way you asked me was so unromantic.”
“That I do know,” he replies, his voice tight. “I’ll take you home now.”
I sniffle, wiping tears from my cheeks with shaky hands. “Please don’t be mad.”
Hayden goes into the bathroom and returns with a wad of tissues. He hands them to me so I can blow my nose and wipe at my wet face.
“We graduate the first week of June. So that’s plenty of time to plan a wedding.”
My throat closes and it’s hard to swallow. “June? What about college?” I ask, my voice rusty.
“You spend a lot of time debating things. Should I do this, or should I do that? Sometimes it’s okay to be impulsive. Just jump in and take a chance. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“We become a divorce statistic.” My heart lurches. “First, you need to convince your parents that I’m not the Devil’s spawn, and then we can discuss our future.”
“I’ll persuade them, you’ll see.”
“I guess I should go…I need to warn my parents about ST and you should talk to your folks.” I force the words past the
lump in my throat. “But leave out the proposal, okay?”
“Uh-huh. I’ll teleport you home.”
At least with teleportation, I won’t have to endure a walk of shame. Not that I’ve ever had to do that because I can count the number of sexual partners I’ve had on one hand. On one finger, in fact. Miss Slutty I am so not.
Yet now that I think about it, I just broke the classic horror movie rules. Rule number one: never get naked at any point during the film. If two hormonally charged teens have sex, it’s a given they’ll be the next victims of the psycho killer’s wrath. So I guess it’s a good thing Hayden’s surly mom interrupted us.
Even so, when Hayden takes my hand, a deep sense of dread strikes my heart, as if more than wedding bells are going off. It feels like a whole bunch of alarms, red flashing lights, and sirens are blaring at me, too.
FRIGHT NIGHT BABBLE
Greetings, Fellow Horrorphilas!
In this frightfully cool editorial, I will alert you to clichés in all types of entertainment from fiction to cinema.
Warning: after reading this post, you may suffer from multiple eye rolls. And references to evil government agencies may cause a spasmodic gag reflex. Worst-case scenario, you might suffer from sudden bursts of laughter.
So let me begin by saying, Hollywood needs more unique villains. I’m so sick of the sinister covert agency or corporation that captures aliens that they claim don’t officially exist, and then do experiments on their corpses. Or the ominous laboratory where evil geniuses stockpile a zombie-making virus—just in case. The problem is that these so-called clever scientists don’t create a vaccine. Duh!
Sometimes these same criminal masterminds even invent clones, cyborgs, or genetically engineered humans, and then release them onto the world, because, well, why not? Lame-o!
Peace, love, and horror flicks,
Sloane
FOUR
A few days later, I’m back at the Lancaster’s cottage. If someone would’ve told me that I’d be hanging with a combo of hybrids and humans, discussing evil government soldiers and alien ectoplasm, I would’ve told them to stop mixing their medications. Then again, if someone had told me I’d be starring in an interstellar version of Romeo and Juliet—I never would’ve believed that, either.
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Meleah of our lives.
Before driving to the cottage with Viola, I’d told my mom about Sector Thirteen on the hunt for our family and how Xavier had come by our house itching for a fight because I have residue on my skin, but Hayden and Zach helped the GB arrest him. She advised me to be careful until my dad returns from his negotiations with the Galactic Brotherhood.
So here I am, slumping in a recliner, with Hayden perched on the armrest, and wanting to eat junk food and binge watch Jessica Jones on Netflix instead of discussing the many ways my life sucks.
Arcane stands near the window both hands clasped behind his back. “Why are these girls here?”
“Yeah, why is she here?” Zach sits on the sofa beside Viola, and focuses on me. “Sloane’s gonna attract the reapers. Your girlfriend stinks worse than a ten-gallon bag of potpourri.” He wrinkles his nose. “I could smell her across the Bay.”
I roll my eyes. Zach makes it sound as if I reek of cat urine instead of a citrusy air-freshener.
“That’s why she’s here, dumbass,” Hayden snaps. “We need a plan to keep those mutants from finding her, so her family stays safe until the residue wears off her skin.”
“You did not answer my question, boys,” Arcane says, sounding impatient.
“I invited Viola.” Zach slings an arm over her shoulders. “Look, don’t get all bent, Arcane, but Vi and I started hanging out…and now, well, now Viola’s my girl.”
“Zach, I didn’t expect this from you.” Arcane paces the room. “What is it with you two breaking all the rules? I suppose you’ll try to blame raging teen hormones.” He runs a hand over his face. “How am I going to trust you boys now?”
“Forget our relationship status. We need to focus on moving forward with a plan,” Zach says.
“Like contacting the Galactic Brotherhood for help?” I suggest.
“No, no.” Arcane shakes his gray head. “Let’s not involve them unless we have to. They’ll only ask a lot of questions that I’m sure we won’t want to answer.”
“I agree. It will only make the situation worse,” Hayden says. “And Sloane’s not the enemy here. Sector Thirteen and their dodgy experiments are.”
Zach frowns. “So what? Now you owe Sloane your life?”
“What is your damage?” I demand. “He’s saved my life, and I’ve saved his. That’s what friends do for each other. If you’d get your head out of your ass—”
“Damn, girl.” Zach laughs. “Slow your roll. I’m just saying…”
“I do owe her my life.” Hayden stands, drawing everyone’s attention. “This girl’s shown more courage and heart than anyone I know. She’s an amazing person, who has the emotional intelligence and maturity to deal with this dangerous situation that I put her in.”
Arcane’s face pales. “I had no idea she saved your life.”
Hayden sighs, dropping onto the recliner. “Yeah, well, now you do.”
“I’m not saying I’m a hero, but a commemorative stamp would be nice,” I say.
Hesitant pride shines in Zach’s eyes. “I misjudged you, Sloane. Thank you for saving my brother’s ass.”
“Let’s stay on topic, please. We have several issues that need resolving, and the first is that Sloane and Viola—humans—who know about the Zetas.” Arcane glares at the brothers. “Now these girls are in danger of being mind-wiped.”
Viola plays with her long dark hair. Her thin frame and black dress make her look like a teenage vampire. “I know the risks, so you don’t have to give me a lecture.”
Arcane’s shoulders hunch. “This puts us all in an extremely awkward position.”
“It wasn’t intentional—trust me. Sloane has known since the car accident,” Hayden admits. “I did everything possible to keep her from discovering our secrets, but she was very persistent.”
Zach shakes his head. “That doesn’t matter now. The ectoplasm on Sloane makes her a danger to us all, Hayden. Our lives are on the line because you feel protective of a human.”
Viola snorts. “Obviously, she can be trusted with your secrets. And FYI, she’s not even a human. So chill out.”
“Viola!” I yell. Obviously, she can’t be trusted. “Do you come with a mute button?”
“Excuse me?” Zach’s head whips in Viola’s direction. “What did you say?”
I sigh. “My dad is a Meleah and my mom is human.”
Zach gapes like a landed trout and Arcane sucks in a breath.
“So surprise!” I wave my hands in the air. “I’m a miracle baby! And a wicked cool shalinaya.”
Zach’s mouth is still open, and Arcane’s eyes bulge as if I’m a drooling zombie. Hayden reaches for my hand and laces our fingers.
“A shalinaya? That’s…incredible.” Arcane walks over to me and pats my shoulder. “Welcome to the Meleah family, Sloane.”
“Thanks,” I say. “And it’s my fault that Viola knows because I told her…I-I needed a friend to confide in so I spilled the beans. But I had no idea she would hook up with Zach.”
“Whatever. It doesn’t change the fact that Sloane’s going to get us brought in for questioning by ST.” Zach glares at Hayden. “How could you keep putting ectoplasm all over her?”
“You’re accusing me?” Hayden says, snarling at his brother, “Ha! You’re dating a human!”
Zach jumps off the sofa to his feet. “I’m not the one teleporting my girlfriend all over town and putting my residue on her!”
“Don’t you dare say another word,” Hayden’s warns. “I did it to protect Sloane.”
“Boys.” Arcane slowly exhales like a balloon with a slow leak. “Enough. Arguing amongst ourselves is not helping anything
.”
“Arcane’s right,” I say. “We need to stay focused.”
“Trust me, I’m not going to tell anyone,” Viola says.
She places her hand in Zach’s, tugging him onto the couch. He drops onto the cushions beside her in a huff with his arms crossed.
“How can we be so sure you’re trustworthy?” Arcane flicks his wrist at my best friend. “Not many humans know of our existence, and the ones that do are Sector Thirteen soldiers or privileged evolutionary biologists. At least with Sloane, she’s one of us as a shalinaya, so I no longer feel she’s a threat.” He sniffs the air. “That is once the residue fades from her skin.”
Hayden blows out a breath. “At least we all agree that Sloane’s not safe with those reapers hunting her. But if we can get rid of the ectoplasm, then we have one less thing to worry about, right?”
No one answers. A lump the size of a grapefruit lodges in my throat. This ugly residue business is frightfully frustrating. The longer we sit without a solution, the more panicked the vibe becomes. It feels as if the kinetic energy in the cottage might cause a nuclear meltdown.
“Any suggestions?” Hayden asks. “The sooner she’s not stinking, the safer we’ll all be.”
“Could she bathe in tomato juice?” Viola suggests. “I mean, I’ve heard it helps get rid of a skunk smell.”
“That’s not gonna work.” Zach has a wicked grin. “But I could teleport her to the Antarctica and leave her smelly ass there.”
“Zach!” Viola smacks his arm. “Be nice.”
“Gee, if you’re here, then who’s running Hell?” I ask Zach, stabbing him with the heat from my glare.
He rolls his eyes. “I was only trying to help.”
“Then be more constructive before the reapers locate my best friend,” Viola says.
“Fine,” Zach says. “What if Sloane soaks in bleach or heavy duty peroxide? It might dilute the smell.”
“No.” Arcane shakes his head. “That might burn her skin.”
“Sweaty indoor sports might work, bro.” Zach says to his older brother.
Hayden taps his lips with a finger. “Your suggestions are getting much more interesting.”