Tainted Souls

by Alice J Black

  “You did.” I grinned.

  “I think Juliet really likes him.” Delta nodded towards them before they disappeared from view.

  My stomach sunk.

  “I remember the days when girls used to throw themselves at us.” Luka stared off into the distance. “It’s like a historical occasion now.”

  “Speak for yourself.” Delta grinned.

  He was right. Like father like son. Anywhere we went, someone was always lusting after him.

  “Anyone want a coffee?” Delta asked.

  I would’ve killed for a coffee, but there was no way I was going down to that café. Pete would be there, and I neither wanted to see him or have anything from that little business venture passing my lips.

  “Yeah, but not from here,” I said. “I’ll go out and get us some.”

  “You sure?” Delta said.

  “Yeah.” I nodded.

  “You really don’t like that guy, do you?” Delta stared towards the back of the centre.

  I shook my head. “Not one bit.”

  “Mine’s a latte, please,” Luka said.

  “Same for me,” Delta said. “And Vaughn, too, I think.”

  “Right.” I gripped the strap of my bag and headed towards the door. “I won’t be long.”

  Outside, I took a deep breath and relaxed my shoulders. Being in the community centre made me feel trapped, like I was sinking into an oblivion that became harder and harder to escape.

  The disappearances continued to add up and knowing that the Cursed spawned on that town every night was almost too much to bear. It didn’t help that Pete was hiding out in the back, his beady eyes staring out from the hatch in the wall, watching people walk by. There was something seriously wrong with that guy. I hoped tonight would be our only sleepover in the centre.

  I shook the image from my mind and continued toward the café that Summer worked in. Partly because I knew I wouldn’t have to deal with her, and partly because the coffee was good.

  I entered to find the Marie standing behind the counter. She offered me a warm smile as I approached and flipped her notebook to a new page.

  “Can I help you?”

  “I’d like four lattes to take out, please.”

  Marie busied herself with the machine behind the steel counter, and then set out four cups. “You’re the tourists, aren’t you?” She had a hand on her hip as she sidled towards me. “You were in here the other day.”

  “That’s right.” I nodded.

  “Don’t know why you’d come at a time like this with all the disappearances going on.”

  “We didn’t know when we booked our travel.”

  “Just be careful. Lots of people are going, and you’d be easy to carry off, I’d wager.”

  I shuddered at the thought of being dragged into darkness at the hands of some unknown captor, toward an unknown fate.

  “I will, don’t worry. I’m always with my friends.”

  “Good.” She nodded. “Keep it that way. Summer’s friend is gone, and she hasn’t been right since. Though, I think this play is doing her the world of good. Keeping her mind off it.”

  “You think?”

  “Yeah. Whenever she’s in here, all she babbles on about is the guy playing Romeo. Think she has a bit of a crush.”

  I bit my lip and swallowed back the lump in my throat. “Vaughn. He’s my friend.”

  “Well, Summer has her eye on him. She’s a nice girl, just a bit full-on sometimes.”

  I nodded.

  Marie moved away from the counter to finish off the coffees, and I took a minute to breathe.

  So Summer had been telling everyone about her crush on Vaughn. Envy rose up my throat, constricting my breath. I swallowed again, trying to force it down. The knot of apprehension about the community centre was replaced with a hardness I hadn’t known before. Like a pit in my stomach, heavy and cumbersome. I was jealous.

  So what if she had a crush. We were only here until the case was cleared up, and then we’d be gone. She had no chance with him. I didn’t think.

  “Here you go, love.” Marie set the four cups down in front of me, in a cardboard holder.

  “Thanks.” I fished in my bag and handed her a note.

  “Remember what I said. Be careful.”

  Marie’s parting words were supposed to be helpful, but they only made me think of the danger I would be in tonight.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  A few hours later, Tom called a break on rehearsals, and Vaughn came trooping from the back of the hall, Summer fast on his heels. She said something to him, and he responded politely, then shook his head. Her face fell and then she hurried through the front door.

  “Looks like you upset someone.” Luka nodded in her direction.

  “She asked me to go to lunch with her. I said no.”

  “I saw Marie today,” I said. “Apparently, all Summer talks about is you.”

  “Told you she liked you,” Luka said.

  “I’m not interested.” Vaughn shrugged.

  My stomach flipped as I stared at him. I felt like a bitch for being happy about it, but that meant I had one less battle to fight.

  “Anyway, are we getting out of here for lunch?” Vaughn asked.

  I nodded. “I’m starving.”

  Breakfast had worn off and I was eager to get out of that place, even just for a little bit, as I was in danger of going crazy.

  “Let’s head out.” Vaughn dropped the script on the bench beside me.

  I peeked at it and saw the next scene they would be rehearsing. The ending. The part where Romeo and Juliet profess their undying love for one another and go through with the act. The knot re-formed in my stomach. The thought of Vaughn and Summer whispering sweet nothings to each other while I watched on sparked the jealousy back to life.

  “Why don’t we eat here?” Delta said. “I’ve heard Pete makes a mean bacon sandwich.”

  I swung around to face him, ready to rip into him for suggesting something so stupid but saw that he was grinning.

  “Don’t even joke about it. Just the thought of it makes me sick.”

  “Who said I was joking?” He winked, stood up, and sauntered towards the kiosk.

  I growled and stalked to the door. I couldn’t even think about eating anything provided by that man.

  It wasn’t long before all four of us were leaving the building and moving into the sunshine.

  “Remember, back in an hour!” Tom called, voice carrying through the centre and out the door.

  Vaughn rolled his eyes. “That guy’s a slave driver.”

  “For a community play director, he is,” I said.

  “Yeah, and it’s driving me nuts.”

  “How are the rehearsals coming along?” Delta asked.

  “Well, okay, I guess. Not that I should know, because I’m not an actor.” Vaughn growled the last word, staring at his dad. “But we’ve been through most of the scenes now. Tom thinks we’ll be ready to announce a date soon.”

  “Any ideas when it’ll be?” Luka asked. “I mean, we’ll have to stick around for the big finale.”

  Vaughn shook his head. “No idea, but soon I think. He’s worried that I’ll be gone before they have a chance to perform.”

  We ambled along the street, away from Summer’s café, where I had no doubt that she was now wallowing in self-pity over Vaughn declining her lunch invitation.

  As we walked in the opposite direction of our home for the week, I noticed that the shops were thinner, interspersed with houses and smaller roads. The quiet side of town. I welcomed the quiet after the bustle of the centre all morning. Even if we didn’t get anything to eat, I would be happy that I got to stretch and remove myself from that building.

  We followed a path down a hill and ended up on a riverbank. While standing at the railing, staring at the opposite bank, the water rippled. The tide was out, and the river was low. I wondered if it ever raised high enough to flood the banks.

  We followed th
e river for a while, strolling along in the warm sunshine. I closed my eyes for a second, enjoying the heat on my skin. This was perfect. The warmth, the freedom, the company. I opened my eyes to find Vaughn quiet and content. Then the realisation dawned that it wouldn’t last long, and we would be back in that community centre for the rest of the night.

  “Fish and chips anyone?” Luka pointed further down the path.

  I made out a sign hanging outside of a shop where several tables and chairs had been placed within a small windbreak barrier. The smell hit me, and my stomach grumbled.

  “Yes, please,” I said.

  “Me, too.” Vaughn nodded. “Smells delicious.”

  We went to the shop and ordered dinner, then ate it outside. Perfect.

  “Have you had a chance to talk to Tom yet?” Delta tucked into his meal.

  Vaughn nodded. “Yeah.” He finished his mouthful of chips. “I told him we wanted to borrow his keys for the night. He said absolutely not.”

  “Damn,” Luka said.

  “But I didn’t stop there. I kept on all morning, reminding him that he needs me for this play to work.” Vaughn shrugged. “It worked. Kind of.”

  “What do you mean, kind of?” Delta raised his brow.

  “Well, he’s agreed to let me stay in the building. But not all of us.”

  “What?”

  “He’s allowing me and Ruby to spend a romantic night there.”

  “What?” I choked on my food.

  “No way.” Delta shook his head.

  “It’s the only way he’ll agree to it. Tom is a sucker for romance, and when I pitched a family night in, he wasn’t happy. But the idea of me planning something for Ruby got him all giddy and excited. He agreed straight away.”

  “So we just wait till he goes and then sneak in.” Luka’s lip turned out.

  “Exactly.” Vaughn nodded. “I’m going to have the key, so I can let you guys in, but we’ll have to time it just right.”

  “Just before it gets dark,” Delta said in a grim voice.

  “So when is this happening?” I asked.

  “Tonight,” Vaughn replied.

  My stomach knotted. I didn’t know what scared me most, the fact that we’d be surrounded by Cursed or that Vaughn and I we were supposed to be having a romantic night in.

  My gaze drifted to Vaughn. I observed the supple shoulder muscles beneath his t-shirt and the dark stubble on his jaw. He looked at me and smiled, and my heart sped up. Then I looked down. Did he mean this? Of course he didn’t. It was all a part of the plan to get us into the centre overnight. I shuddered.

  “Okay.” Delta set his empty packet aside. “We have to plan this carefully. Me and Luka will wait outside until Tom leaves. Then we’ll sneak in.”

  Vaughn nodded. “You’ll have to be quick. From what I can tell, he wants rehearsals to go on into early evening. Wants his stars ready.” He rolled his eyes.

  “We’ll be ready, don’t worry.” Luka’s voice was gruff, and his eyes showed steely determination.

  They were all ready. But I wasn’t.

  “I’ll update Sheila,” Delta said. “If we can do this tonight, maybe we won’t need reinforcements.”

  “Okay. I’m going to have to go.” Vaughn stood up, his chair scraping against the pavement.

  “Where are you going?” I asked.

  “I have a few things to sort out. I’ll meet you guys back at the centre.” He turned and walked back the way we came.

  A romantic evening with Vaughn. My stomach flipped.

  “You ask me, he’s getting way into this acting stuff.” Luka shook his head.

  “I just hope the plan works.” Delta stared after his son, into the distance. “We need to stick together on this one.”

  Luka nodded. “Tell me about it. We’ll time it just right. Don’t you worry.”

  My phone buzzed, and I fished into my bag for it. I figured it was Becca, but the text was from Vaughn. As I read the message, my stomach flipped for a second time.

  Tonight isn’t just about work.

  I shook my head and was about to stash my phone, when it buzzed a second time.

  This time, it was Becca.

  You kissed him yet?

  I rolled my eyes as I thought back to the last conversation Becca and I’d had. She had advised me to pounce on him. Like it was that easy. And like I could forget we were in a town swarming with Cursed, with people disappearing.

  No and I won’t be. Working hard here!

  Yeah right. Bet you’re snogging his face off.

  I rolled my eyes again. He’s rehearsing for the play and we’re planning a late-night recon. That’s not kissing.

  Play. He’s in the play?!

  Now I’d gone and done it. I had mentioned the play to Becca but not the part about Vaughn starring in it. And now that I had, I would have to explain properly, or I wouldn’t get a minute’s peace.

  We’re working in an old community centre because everything is congregating there, and he got a part in a play to give us an excuse to be there all the time.

  I hit send and put my phone down. I hoped it made sense. It was all I could give her for now.

  My phone vibrated again.

  What play is it?

  Romeo and Juliet.

  My phoned buzzed a second later.

  And he plays?

  Romeo.

  OMG you’re hanging out with Romeo. You lucky girl!

  I smiled, knowing Becca would be swooning right now. For her it was the idea of romance. For me it was that when he read those lines, he brought Romeo to life. Plus, he was insanely hot.

  Yeah, only Juliet is played by a super flirty pretty girl who keeps throwing herself at him.

  I don’t even need to know what she looks like to know she’s got nothing on you, Red.

  Another smile. Becca always knew just what I needed to hear.

  Thanks Becca. Can’t wait to come home and hatch an evil plan.

  It’s already beginning.

  I didn’t doubt it.

  “Right, guys,” Delta downed the last of his coffee. “This will be the last time we leave the building until morning. Hopefully. Ruby, whatever happens tonight, you need to make sure either you or Vaughn stay in touch so that we know what’s happening. It’s vital that we get inside that building before dark. Otherwise we’re not getting in at all.”

  I nodded and shuddered at the same time. How, in one minute, could I go from feeling so positive and flushed with the possibility that Vaughn was within my grasp, to feeling like the weight of the world was on my shoulders?

  “No problem. We’ll stay in touch.”

  “Okay,” Delta said. “Time to get back.”

  We drifted back into the main part of town. I was sad to be leaving the river and the tranquil afternoon behind, and I dreaded what would come next.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Afternoon drew into dusk, and my apprehension grew with each passing minute. The knot in my stomach became a thick ball of twine that rubbed against my stomach lining and made me want to throw up.

  And it wasn’t even dark yet. How was I going to survive a night in the centre?

  We would secure the entrances to make sure none of the demons could get inside, but that didn’t make me feel any safer, not after I’d seen them crawling all over the outside of the building.

  The sunset cast orange beams through the stained-glass windows and hit the floor. I saw dust motes moving in the beams, dancing across the stale air. The soft mumble of the cast began as they strode from the back hall. Summer led the way, a grin on her face.

  “Hi, Ruby.” She sidled up to me. “Today’s rehearsal was a blast. We practised this one scene over and over and—”

  “Hi, Summer,” Luka said. “Sounds like it’s coming along nicely.”

  I would have to thank him for that later. I had no idea what scene they had to repeat over and over, but if it caused her to smile that wide, I didn’t need to ask.

  “Oh
, it is.” She beamed. “We’ll be ready to show in a couple days, I think.”

  “Wow. That’s quick,” Luka said.

  She nodded. “Tom is just great, and Vaughn has taken to acting like water off a duck’s back. I’ve been trying to convince him that maybe he should go into acting full time.”

  Delta shook his head. “I’m not sure Vaughn would go for that.”

  She shrugged. “Well, you should ask him yourself.” She spun around, searching the passing faces for Romeo, but he was nowhere to be seen. “Oh, well. I’ll catch up with him tomorrow. I’m sure I can convince him. I think Tom’s closing up shop now.”

  “Yeah, we’re waiting for Vaughn.” Delta nodded.

  Summer’s smile faded when she realised we were sticking around but she had no reason to be there. “Right. Well, I guess I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

  “Bye, Summer.” I waved as she turned and made for the door, glad to see her leaving.

  “I’m willing to bet that Vaughn is sick of his life today,” Luka said.

  I nodded. “Me, too. He hates this. Can you imagine him acting for a career?”

  Delta laughed. “You do realise we’re never going to live this down? This is our fault.”

  I cleared my throat. “Your fault.”

  “Okay, my fault.” He nodded. “I wonder where he is.”

  I craned my neck to look past the stage. The cast had disappeared now, which left the three of us waiting amongst the pews for Vaughn to return.

  A few minutes later, I heard footsteps approaching and I turned to locate them, but it wasn’t Vaughn who appeared from around the side of the stage. It was Tom.

  “Good evening,” he said to us, hands clasped together, eyes scanning the group. “I trust you’ve had a nice day. It’s been just brilliant for us.”

  “We know,” Luka said. “Summer told us.”

  “Oh, what a gem she is,” Tom gushed. “Now I’m afraid it’s home time for today. All except for Ruby, that is.” He looked at me, a sparkle of mischief dancing in his eyes.

  My stomach jolted.

  This was it. I had to play it cool.

  “What?” I asked.

  “There’s nothing to worry about, my dear. In fact, I would call you one lucky girl.”