Vengeance Bound (16 page)

“Oh, thanks.”

He wears a small grin. “This isn’t over, you know.”

I shrug, but the heated look in his eyes coupled with the compliment warms me. I return his smile. “If you say so.”

He closes the distance between us, grabs my arms, and pulls me to him for a quick kiss. It melts my middle, and shivers of delight run across my skin. “I say so,” he murmurs, voice low. Then he’s gone, running back inside.

I head to my car, wondering how I can feel so alive and so scared all at the same time.

THIRD DEGREE

It’s hard not to sigh in frustration when I open my eyes to the red desert of the dreamscape. Mostly because I was in the middle of a delicious dream about Niko. I can’t remember the contents of the dream, only that it involved hot cocoa and Niko without a shirt. Really, that’s enough for me.

“You are getting careless, Amelie,” Alekto says, her voice low and even. She sits cross-legged on a red boulder in the middle of the landscape, her eyes closed as though she’s meditating. Her hair and white robes flutter in the breeze. “Twice They have slipped through your leash and people have been injured. My sisters will not be so gentle a third time.”

“Yeah, I’m not worried. They didn’t hurt anyone important. And I was able to hold Them.”

Alekto opens one of her eyes to peer at me before closing it and settling back into position. “Perhaps, but you also lost control over Them during justice. If this keeps happening, They will control you, and you will not be safe. And no man will be safe. Is that what you want?”

Her words send a chill down my spine, despite the hot wind blowing against my face. Kevin Eames’s face swims into my mind’s eye, and is immediately replaced by Niko, bruised and battered. I think about how awful it would be if anything happened to him. Despair clutches at my chest at the image of Niko hurt, but I don’t ponder what that might mean.

I open my mouth to object, to tell her it won’t happen again. But she’s right. If They’d gotten loose, I wouldn’t have been able to stop Them, and it would have been a massacre.

The problem is, beyond keeping Niko safe, I’m not sure why I care.

I shrug at her admonishment and change the subject. “Wow, this is the most I’ve seen you in probably forever. So, what’s the occasion? You know it’s still a month and a half until my birthday, right? I do have my eye on a new sweater, if you’re interested.”

She stretches and stands, a pillar of beautiful golden skin in the ugly landscape. I’m a spindly scrub bush next to her. “Your sarcasm is unnecessary.”

“And your visits are a waste of time. What is it you want from me, anyway?”

“The same thing you want. You to regain your freedom. They are bound to you, which gives Them access to your world, making Them stronger. I want you to break those bonds.”

I laugh, the sound harsh. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m doing everything I can just to hang on.”

She turns away slightly, looking off into the distance. “Here in the other realms the paths in the world of man are sometimes revealed. The time is coming soon when you can be free of Them, but only if you are the one in control. If you keep letting Them kill, They will be too strong and I will not be able to help you.”

Bitterness surges through me at her words. She wants to show up every once in a while and chastise me for not controlling Them better, but she was the one who abandoned Them in the first place. Who’s she to judge me?

“How have you helped me up to now?” I snap. “I can barely keep Them from driving me insane, even with all of your ‘help.’ Every day They’re in my head, and I’m not sure if the urges I feel are even all Theirs anymore. I like—” The words stick, and I have to force them past the lump in my throat. “I like the way I feel when I’m with Them. Powerful. Unstoppable. And the guilty deserve their fate. They prey on innocents, and if we don’t stop them, who will?”

Alekto looks at me sadly and shakes her head. “Is that really how you feel, or is this the result of listening to Them? You used to be disgusted by Their bloodlust.”

“Yeah, that was a long time ago. And what I need now are answers, not another lecture.”

“If I could tell you how to break your bonds, I would. But I too am bound by a promise made.”

I laugh again. “Then I guess we’re both screwed.”

But Alekto senses my weakness and presses on. “How did you feel tonight when They burned away Alex Medina’s soul? Did guilt and disgust not rip through your heart? Remember how you felt the night They killed Roland Thomas.” She doesn’t mention that I was just a kid when that happened, and I wonder if that’s her point. What if the Furies have just been using me this entire time?

Alekto walks away, but stops after only a couple of steps. “Remember how They were in the beginning? Pushing you even when you pleaded with Them to stop. Think of how They murdered heedlessly when you gave Them free rein in Savannah, and how They are unable to find the one man you want to hurt. They are not here for you. They are selfish, and if They have Their chance, They will turn you into Their puppet.”

The scorching wind picks up speed and red sand, blowing the grit directly into my face so that I have to blink. Alekto has to yell to be heard over the noise. “This truce you have brokered with Them will not last forever.”

When I look again, she’s gone, and I’m no closer to understanding how to win my freedom than I was before.

SNOWBLIND

I swallow a yawn as I follow Adam’s directions to the mountain. After a day of fighting to stay awake in class, the last thing I want to do is hang out and go sledding. But the mountaintop is the place to hang out. I take this to mean it’s where everyone goes to get drunk and make out. Despite my frequent daydreams about Niko’s very kissable lips, it’s not really my scene. Rolling around in the snow is not my idea of fun. In fact, I try to beg off with excuses about my mother expecting me, but no one is buying it. After Mindi gives me her scared-mouse look, I know I don’t really have a choice. I’m going sledding.

So here I am, sleep-deprived and heading out to play in the snow.

I drive up the narrow road behind Niko’s Jeep, the wheels of my car slipping every now and then as they struggle to find purchase. In the backseat Jocelyn and Tom chatter excitedly with Adam in the front. They mostly share gossip. After last night I’d almost forgotten that the whole incident with Amber was just yesterday. It feels like weeks ago. But thanks to her, I am very much at the top of the rumor mill right now.

For the most part I just ignored the looks and whispers, embarrassed and uncomfortable with all of the attention. It was only the thought of Niko that kept me going.

I have never wanted to kill someone as much as I want to kill Amber.

Jocelyn clears her throat and reaches over the seat to poke Adam in the back of the head. “So, where’s Amber? Is she avoiding us now?”

Adam flushes and sinks lower in the seat. “How would I know where she is? I’m not her keeper.”

Jocelyn leans back, and in the rearview mirror she makes a face at Adam’s back. “Sheesh. All right. I just thought you were her BFF now that Mindi’s not talking to her. You guys used to be pretty tight.”

He shrugs and stares out the window. “Yeah, well, she’s mad at me about something, and she told me she’s working on some really important project right now and can’t be bothered.”

I check out Jocelyn’s expression in my rearview mirror. She smiles. “Really? Because I heard the project she’s working on is hooking up with Dylan Larchmont. Up to her old tricks again.” Amber and Dylan? Really? How do I keep missing all of the good gossip?

The car falls into an awkward silence as Adam’s jaw clenches. “That’s just a rumor. Amber’s no worse than”—he looks at me, then pauses and swallows before continuing—“anyone else. You know, you could call her, Jocelyn. You have her number.”

I’m angry that Adam gave me that look. He actually believed Amber. Maybe she has more power than I thought.

Jocelyn shrugs and studies her fingernails. “I could, but then I’d have to talk to her. I’d much rather just get the info from you.”

Adam stares out the window, but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who hears him mutter “Bitch” under his breath.

No one says much after that.

I focus on navigating my car down the narrow road and ignore the weighty silence. The lull in the conversation is finally interrupted by Adam pointing to a stand of spindly trees. “You can park right there. We’ll have to hike the rest of the way in.”

I nod and park the car. My hundred-dollar boots are going to be ruined after tramping through the snow. I ordered them with part of Hank Meacham’s money, a total impulse buy. They arrived yesterday, and I couldn’t wait to wear them to school. Now I kind of think I should have paid the rent instead. Forget looking good. I still need somewhere to live.

I wish I could have worn the hiking boots I had on last night, but they’re still spattered with Chuck’s blood and tobacco juice. I make a mental note to get a pair of snow boots like Jocelyn’s, a cross between hiking boots and mukluks. Utilitarian, yet surprisingly stylish. I hope they aren’t too expensive. Unless I try to tap into the money from my parents’ estate, I’m broke.

From my trunk I pull out the three plastic sleds Mindi stashed there before we left. Adam grabs a bottle of tequila from under one of the sleds. At my raised eyebrow he shrugs. “It’s not the good stuff, but we have to keep warm somehow.”

We hike through the snow and meet up with Mindi, who is snuggled into Niko’s side to keep warm. Rather, she tries to burrow into Niko’s side, and he stands stiffly for a few seconds before moving away just enough to put a noticeable distance between them. Niko looks like he just ate something foul, although he does manage a wan smile in my direction.

Neither Mindi nor Niko remarks on Amber’s absence, and after the tension in the car, I’m glad. I toss the saucers to the ground.

Niko shakes off Mindi once again and steps forward to pick up one of the sleds. “All right. Who wants to be the first to conquer the mountain?”

Mindi glances away quickly, dashing away tears before anyone can see. Not everything is happy in Mindiland. I want to ask her what’s going on, but the way she keeps glancing over at Niko makes it clear it’s something to do with him. She’s obviously pining for him.

One more reason I should stay far away from him. Going after Niko will not make me a good friend.

To distract my wayward thoughts I look around at the “mountain.” It’s really just a big hill with an abandoned water tower, a throwback to the days when West County had a couple of struggling coal mining towns and a much larger population. Now the miners have all left, and the water tower is a rusting monolith dusted with snow and graffiti. Under the shelter of the tower are the remnants of someone’s campfire, along with a few places to sit, and I gesture to the makeshift fire pit.

“I’ll make a fire, if no one minds,” I say, trying not to shiver in the brisk wind blowing across the hill.

They all laugh, and Adam hugs me close. “Still getting used to the cold?”

I smile and wiggle free, duplicating the move Niko used with Mindi. Adam’s persistent, I’ll give him that. I don’t want to have to be blunt with him, but he’s clearly not getting the “just friends” vibe I’m sending out.

Niko appears in front of me, blocking my view of Adam and shoving the sled into my hands. “Let Adam make the fire. You have to go first. After all, you’re a virgin. At least when it comes to sledding. Am I right?”

My face heats as Tom and Jocelyn hoot at Niko’s comment. Adam’s eyes narrow, and Mindi’s face is inscrutable. She looks like she wants to cry, and I feel terrible.

“All right. I’ll go first. Someone has to show you Yankees how it’s done,” I say, and sniff. Everyone claps and cheers except for Mindi, who seriously looks like someone just killed her puppy. A tendril of worry niggles at the back of my mind. I hope she’s okay.

I set the saucer on the ground and sit on it. Look, I know how to sled. I used to go all the time as a kid. The problem is I haven’t done it in at least five years. I’m more than a little rusty.

A few feet in front of me the ground slopes downward. I scoot the dish across the ground by rocking back and forth, moving toward the edge a couple of inches at a time. Everyone groans.

Large hands grip my waist, and I tense, resisting the urge to backhand the offender. “I can tell you’re an amateur, so I’m going to give you a little help.” Niko’s mouth is next to my ear, his voice like honey. I relax into his grip, his touch not at all unwelcome. I’m used to holding myself aloof, but there’s something about the way his hands rest on my sides that makes my stomach clench not in anxiety but in delight. His breath tickles my cheek, and my insides flutter. I am entirely too warm.

And They are curiously silent.

“On the count of three I am going to give you a push, okay?” I nod, since I’ve completely lost the ability to speak. Niko’s hands move to grip my shoulders. I can focus only on the pressure of his touch. My heart pounds, not in fear but with a breathless excitement I’ve never felt before.

“All right. One, two, THREE!” Niko shoves me down the hill, and I have only a second to mourn the loss of contact before I’m flying through the air, hair streaming out behind me. My hat flies off, and a thrill better than the most deserved judgment swells inside my chest. I laugh out loud. I can’t remember the last time I laughed honestly and truly rather than as a calculated response to some personal interaction. The cold air stings my cheeks and steals my breath. I want this feeling to last forever. I am flying through the air, a bird skimming the snowy surface, weightless . . . and heading for a tree.

The base of the hill is dotted with pines, most of them spaced far enough apart that I could slide through them. That’s assuming I know how to steer the flying saucer hurtling down the hill. I don’t. There are handles on either side of my hips to grip, but pulling on them doesn’t seem to be doing any good.

“Lean!”

Someone shouts it from the top of the hill, and I throw all of my weight to the left. I start to turn slowly, but the dish catches an edge. The sled flips over, and I go rolling down the hill. I register every single rock under the several inches of snow before I come to a stop on my back, looking up through the branches of a pine tree. There’s a whooshing sound, and Niko’s face appears above me.