by J. N. Colon
We walked into Theology together, Jessica’s head tilting when she caught sight of us. I took my seat behind her, and she spun around.
“What was that about?” she asked.
“No clue.” I leaned my cheek in my hand, watching Mr. Jensen scrawling notes across the dry-erase board. His backside was definitely something to look at. Every female—and some males—in the room stared hypnotically, several soft sighs drifting out as he moved to the other end.
“He really is a work of art, isn’t he?” Jessica leaned back in her seat, turning sideways to glance at me.
“Oh, yeah,” I breathed. “I can bounce a quarter off that thing.”
“Oh my gawd.” Jessica giggled under her breath—and then her laughter abruptly stopped.
Hot tingles inched down my spine like fingers traveling over the stem of a guitar. Each vertebra was a chord being expertly plucked.
I knew who’d just walked in. My hands curled around the edges of my desk as I fought the urge to look.
The effort was all in vain. As he shortened the distance between us, choosing this row to travel down, my head lifted. Our eyes connected, and fire rumbled through my core. Jayson’s face was unreadable, but a storm churned in those penetrating eyes.
I bit my lip and turned away. That whole thing in the graveyard wasn’t real. It was only a dream.
But was everything else strange I’d witnessed only a dream or hallucination?
Jayson stalked to his seat, and I was finally able to suck air into my lungs.
“There are some serious vibes between you and your neighbor, Lena,” Jessica mumbled as she swiveled forward.
She wasn’t wrong. Something was going on. My pulse was still quivering beneath my heated skin, and he hadn’t even said one word to me.
A folded piece of paper landed on my desk, yanking my attention from the mystery that was my neighbor. I glanced at the strawberry blonde with thick glasses in the next row who’d tossed it. She jerked her thumb toward the right.
Melinda Mickens was shooting me a narrowed glare, her glossy pink lips twisted in a snarl.
Craptacular. Just what I needed. Miss Popular wanted to scalp me. “Barracuda” by Heart sounded in my ears. Melinda would definitely chomp on my flesh with those perfect pearly whites of hers.
I reluctantly opened the note that consisted of one sentence written in curly handwriting. Stay away from Austin or else.
This girl wasn’t dating him, but she was ready to pluck my eyeballs out with those sharp talons she called nails.
I shook my head and balled up the note, shoving it in my pocket without looking at Melinda. I really didn’t want to witness her eyes going red or smoke spiraling out of her nostrils.
A shiver spilled down my back. The image reminded me of the nightmare, specifically of the demons in it.
The tardy bell rang, and Mr. Jensen closed the door and faced the class. “Glad to see you all made it through the weekend in one piece.”
His words made me glance over my shoulder. Jayson’s gaze lifted, spearing me with a heated look. Those eyes, those damn eyes, flickered from hazel to gold and back again.
I snapped forward, my heart crashing against my ribs. What the frack! I wasn’t hallucinating. I couldn’t be.
“God created Adam from the earth and from his rib he made Eve. They dwelled in the Garden of Eden without shame or sin.” Mr. Jensen stood in front of the dry-erase board, a blue marker in his hand as he spoke. “Their only rule? They were not allowed to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” His voice was warm and lulling.
Not like Jayson’s rough timbre.
Oh, gawd. Shut up about Jayson.
“It wasn’t until Lucifer became jealous of God’s creation that their paradise was tainted.”
Maybe taking this class was what had me dreaming of angels and demons.
My hand shot into the air before I could stop it. What the hell was I doing? I had an unstoppable mouth sometimes, but it wasn’t used for participating in class discussions.
Mr. Jensen paused as he noticed my errant appendage. “Yes, Lena. Do you have a question?”
My hand dropped. “Lucifer was an angel, right?”
He nodded. “He was God’s brightest and favorite.”
“He was thrown out of heaven along with some other angels?” I asked.
“That’s what some versions claim.” Mr. Jensen came around to the other side of his desk, perching on the end. A tiny line formed between his brows. He was probably wondering where I was headed with this.
So was I.
“They were tossed into Hell and Lucifer became the ruler?” Jumbled images and passages from the Bible were mixed in with paranormal romances. I wasn’t sure what was correct. “Where did demons come from?”
Mr. Jensen crossed his arms against his chest, crinkling his hunter green shirt. “Well, you’re a little ahead of the lesson plan.”
Fire seared over my nape. I glanced back. Jayson’s body was tense as stone, his eyes melting to luminescent gold.
I swallowed hard as an icy sweat began to form on my hairline. Something about my questions didn’t sit well with him.
He finally tore his gaze from mine, shooting Kale a knowing look. His friend sat just as rigid.
“The fall of angels came later.” Mr. Jensen’s voice pulled my attention back to the front of the room. “It was after Lucifer led a rebellion in Heaven.”
I could almost feel Jayson’s growl in my own chest. Unpleasant heat melted over my skin. It felt like I was burning in the pits of Hell for crap sakes.
I shifted in my seat, finding it hard to breathe.
My hand shot up again. I didn’t wait for Mr. Jensen to call on me. “Can I go to the bathroom?”
His head tilted to the side, and he shrugged. “Sure. Go ahead.”
I bolted out of my seat, avoiding Jessica’s eyes. I didn’t want her to see the storm of crazy brewing in mine.
Thankfully the bathroom was empty, and I didn’t have to pretend to be sane in front of anyone. After splashing some water on the back of my neck and taking several deep, calming breaths—I didn’t feel any better. That crap only worked in the movies.
I brushed my dark hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ears. My blue eyes swirled with uncertainty. They were haunted.
A groan drifted between my lips. I needed to get my shit together. I’d been falling down a spiral staircase to Hell the moment our U-Haul crossed the county line into Mystic Hollow. With a name like that, there was bound to be weirdness.
I shook my head and trudged out of the bathroom, the hall deserted. Well, it had been. A dark shadow peeled itself off a wall and loomed directly in my path.
Ice sank through my veins, and my feet stuck to the floor. Oh, hell no. This was not happening.
My breath came in quick pants as the thing drew nearer. It shifted between a human-like form to churning clouds of impenetrable smoke. Every hair on my skin stood at attention.
I squeezed my eyes closed. It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.
I repeated the mantra, but when a lock of short hair was lifted from behind my ear, I knew it was all a lie.
My lids snapped open. I was face to face with the undulating cloud of smoke. I squeaked and stumbled, slamming into a locker. Pain ricocheted across my back.
“What a pretty shell.”
The voice slithered inside my head, cold, dark, and full of vile promises. I couldn’t breathe. My chest was caving in. This thing looked like the shadows whizzing down Main Street after the earthquake.
“She sees us.”
Another one appeared, trapping me against the locker.
“Is she a totem?”
My heart lurched. There was that word again. A disembodied voice had spoken it on the EVP Sebastian and Jessica caught at school. In my cemetery nightmare, that demon told Jayson the totems will be delivered.
One of the shadows slipped out of its human-like shape, turning i
nto roiling smoke. My nape prickled as energy gathered in the air, cold needles tattooing across my body. Something terrible was brewing on the horizon.
And then the black mass headed straight for me.
Chapter 14
Frigid air crashed into me, assaulting my entire body. I was standing in the center of an arctic vortex, every ounce of pressure pushing up my nostrils. My brain was frozen, my thoughts incoherent.
I sneezed violently, forcing the black cloud away.
My muscles reacted before my mind could catch up. I took off without looking back.
What the frack! That thing had tried to go up my nose.
My boots squealed on the faded gray tile as I turned the corner, losing my balance. Oh crapola. Not now.
I windmilled into one wall, bouncing off it and stumbling into another. Pain struck my right side as I slammed and rebounded off, heading for the floor.
Iron bands wrapped around my waist, stopping my downward trajectory. Hot tingles erupted over me, washing away the empty coldness those black shadows had brought.
“Jayson,” I blurted. It was him. I didn’t need to look through my strands of tangled hair to know.
My body was gently pressed against the cool cinderblock wall. One hand remained on my waist, keeping my trembling knees from buckling while the other tilted my head up, brushing my snarled locks back.
“What happened?” Jayson’s voice was a coarse grumble, but it was also oddly soothing. His brows dipped, his expression readable for once. And it said he was worried.
About me.
I swallowed hard, my chest heaving. “I… these things… so cold…” My brain was frozen again. I couldn’t get the right words out. Hot tears pooled in my eyes. I wanted to look away. I didn’t want him to see me cry, but I literally couldn’t. Something inside of me craved his attention.
“It’s okay, Lena. It’s okay,” he murmured, standing so close his salty scent swirled over me. Those hazel eyes burned, the gold flecks glittering too brightly.
My fingers curled into his t-shirt, his steel muscles pressing against my knuckles. I’d be totally mortified by my behavior if I weren’t so damn scared.
His hand left my waist, traveling to the other side of my face. “Breathe. In and out. Breathe.” His thumbs stroked my cheeks.
I inhaled, letting him wash the terror from my veins. I wanted to bury my face in his chest and hide from whatever the hell was happening in my life.
My dream came back to me with so much force I jolted. Jayson stepped closer. It wasn’t the terrible visions of demons that assaulted my mind. It was the safety he brought. After he’d healed me—in the dream—he’d held me close while I slept. I just knew.
“Are you okay?” Jayson asked, his warm breath dusting over me. I shivered.
“Define okay.” A humorless laugh slipped out. These past few days had been a whirlwind of inexplicable moments. And most of them involved the gorgeous guy standing in front of me. “What the hell is going on?” I asked, pleaded really. “I need to know if I’m losing my mind, or if the things I’ve seen are real.” That damn shadow thing felt pretty real trying to shoot up my nose like a rocket on a mission.
Jayson’s face darkened. “I don’t know what you mean. Did you hit your head again?”
I went cross-eyed from his lame reply. “No,” I hissed. I may have hit it Friday night in the cemetery, but I didn’t remember. It didn’t count. “Why did you and Kale get all shifty when I started asking about angels and demons?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” His irises began to shimmer. The hazel slowly dissipated, making way for brilliant gold.
“That, right there.” My fists nudged his stomach. Geez. I could bust my knuckles on his rock-hard abs. “Your eyes are doing that gold thing again. And don’t deny it. I can see it!”
His fingers flinched on my face before he slowly drew them away. He took a step back, blinking. But the irises didn’t return to hazel. “Lena, I think it’s best if—”
I held up my finger, cutting him off. “I’m going to stop you right there, Casteel. I know how this conversation goes. You’re about to tell me we shouldn’t be friends, and it’s best if I stay away from you.” Typical supernatural boy MO. “Newsflash, buddy, we aren’t friends. And you’re the one who keeps popping up in my life, not the other way around.” I crossed my arms over my chest with a huff of finality.
“I’ll be sure to stop doing that then.” His jaw flexed, and every tendon in his face was taut.
A lump grew in my throat, but I swallowed past it. “Fine then.” Ugh. Why did the thought of not seeing him make me want to throw a tantrum?
“Fine,” he snapped.
“Good.” I waved him away. “You can go now. I was headed back to class, and it looks like you were going in the opposite direction.”
Jayson’s nostrils flared, and he opened his mouth as if to say something else. Instead, he snapped his jaw shut and shook his head. Without another word, he pivoted and stalked off, his massive frame disappearing around the corner.
I slumped in my car in the deserted school parking lot, the sun setting behind me in a big orange blob. My fingers curled around the steering wheel as I resisted the urge to bang my head against it.
Why was this happening to me? Was I cursed?
I put the key in the ignition and nada. Not even a little click. Not one tiny speck of hope. And to make matters worse, I had to stay afterschool for a makeup test. Everyone had already gone home except for those in extra curriculum activities.
With another groan, I stepped out and lifted the hood of my blue Nissan Maxima. My eyes roamed over a plethora of indiscernible objects. How the hell did mechanics understand any of this crap? I wouldn’t know an engine from a carburetor. I didn’t even know what a carburetor was.
A cold chill snaked down my spine that had nothing to do with the autumn weather. My fingers fisted in my jacket, holding it tighter around my body. I swallowed hard.
“Need some help?”
I yelped and stuck my head out from under the hood. A guy about my age stood next to my car. His footsteps hadn’t made a sound on the asphalt. “Um…I don’t know what’s wrong with it.”
Short blond hair was cut close to the scalp, highlighting his prominent cheekbones. His tall frame loomed over mine. I didn’t remember seeing him at school. Then again, I couldn’t possibly know every member of Mystic Hollow High’s whopping two-hundred students yet.
As the seconds ticked by, the guy’s stare remained fixed on me, his brown eyes growing darker.
A shiver of unease slid through me, and my mouth turned dry. He reminded me way too much of Tyler from TVs & More. The bruises on my arm had healed, but the memories were burned into my mind.
A forced, humorless laugh tumbled out, and I grabbed the phone from my back pocket. “My dad’s actually on the way. He should be here any minute. I’ll just call him and see where he is.”
The guy’s hand shot out too fast for me to track, snatching my wrist with strong fingers.
My heart took a flying leap to my stomach. I was alone in a virtually deserted parking lot with a guy a lot bigger and scarier than me.
Crap on toast.
“Your dad’s not coming, is he?” His eyes flashed black.
“Her dad’s not, but I am.” That familiar rough voice shattered the panic falling over me.
Jayson’s presence warmed my back before he slipped around me, putting his massive frame in between Mr. Creeptastic and me. “You should leave now.” There was no mistaking the threat—and it couldn’t have made me happier.
Just a few hours ago I told Jayson to stop popping up in my life if he couldn’t be honest with me. I was happy he decided to ignore me. This time.
The other guy snickered before his footsteps retreated.
Jayson turned, his hazel eyes surveying me from head to toe. “Are you okay?” His hand reached out, gently touching my arm. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Woah. Even through the fabric of my shirt and jacket, his warmth sank through my skin. And I couldn’t help but get lost in the soothing feeling.
I shook myself, my cheeks heated. I’d been staring at him like a starstruck fan. “Who was that guy? Was he a student?”
“Don’t worry about him. He was just a drifter passing through. He’ll be leaving town very soon.” The way he said it sent chills down my spine.
And then my keys were snatched out of my hand. “Hey! You could have just asked for those.”
He ignored my indignation and climbed into the driver’s seat, turning the key without results. “The battery’s dead.”
I came around, leaning my hip on the side panel. “How is that even possible?”
Jayson’s brow lifted. “Did you leave a light on or the door open?”
I crossed my arms over my chest and scowled at my former hero turned annoyance. “Of course not. I’m not an idiot.”
His lips thinned as his gaze followed the route the creeper took. “Something drained it.”
My nape prickled. Did he think that guy sabotaged my car to attack me?
Jayson took out his phone and sent a text. “Kale will be here in a few minutes to give you a jump.”
“He didn’t even respond yet,” I pointed out.
Jayson shot me a look. “He’ll be here.”
True to Jayson’s words, Kale showed up not even five minutes later. A lopsided grin spread across his face as he hopped out of his sleek black Camaro. “Your knight in shining armor and his trusty steed Pricilla have arrived.” He winked.
My brow arched. “You named your car Pricilla?”
“What else would I have named her?” Kale’s grin only widened as he pulled out a pair of jumper cables from his trunk. He popped the hood and attached them to the battery while Jayson grabbed the other side and hooked the clamps to mine.
“Just so you know, Lena, I never let Pricilla jump-start cars, and Jayson knows this.” Kale shot his friend a teasing smirk. “I think he’s trying to impress you.”
A growl rumbled through Jayson’s chest. “You’re playing with fire, Kale.”
I shook my head at the two bickering friends, blowing off Kale’s words. He was only joking.