Page 25 of Another Damned Storm

“I suggest you decide quickly,” I added, turning my attention to the fine ridges along the tops of my fingernails as if they were far more interesting than the demigod before me.

And as though being away from Never wasn’t eating me alive inside.

He cast a longing look at Anya. Her body was breaking down into its enchanted dust base more quickly than I anticipated, but like I’d told Never more than once, time was a tricky thing in the Nassa.

10

NEVER

After checking the fence in both directions and not seeing a gate, I scaled it right where I was. A few people across the street watched me do it, but I didn’t care. What were they going to do, tell me to go back over and walk my ass around?

I didn’t think so.

Once I was on the other side, I turned back to Tenebris. “If you’re so worried about everyone else, then why don’t you help me find my brother and Lily?” I asked impatiently. “The sooner I know they’re okay, the sooner we can go.”

His head rolled back a little, like he was considering my request. Then he was by my side again. Apparently,hismagic worked just fine.

Lucky him.

That was when the sky went dark. One second it was bright enough to make me squint, and the next black clouds manifested out of nowhere, plunging the already unfamiliar world around me into darkness.

“ThisisCharleston, isn’t it?” I asked. “Or is this some parallel universe bullshit?” I didn’t know if that was a thing, but it would certainly explain a lot.

When I didn’t get a response, I shot a glance at the unhelpful fate. His attention was on the people. Some were rushing to get inside like a little rain might make them melt, but a few hung back with no intention of hiding from the storm.

Or us, since they were all watching us.

“Any idea why they find us so interesting?” Those weren’t just ‘checking out the new kids’ stares. They bordered on hostile, and I would bet money it had everything to do with the dude who looked like a reaper standing beside me. “What would happen if you took off the cloak? Or maybe put down the scythe? That would probably help too.”

“I am not the problem.”

“A big guy in a dark cloak wielding a weapon associated with death? Check your math, Ten. That doesn’t exactly scream friendly.”

He let out a sharp huff that might have been a laugh. “Humans can’t see me.”

Nice try. “I can see you just fine.”

“I’m visible to you because I have chosen to be so.” He motioned to the strangers who were watching me like I’d come to steal their first born. “They are unaware of my presence.”

“Seriously?”

He nodded. A simple, short move, but something about it made me want to reach out and smack him. But it begged the question: if no one else could see the scary looking reaper guy, why were they all staring?

I remembered the way I’d lit up like a Christmas tree in the Alius and had a mini panic attack until I held out my hands and triple checked that my skin was just plain old boring skin. “Do I look weird? Are my eyes glowing? Am I growing horns?” I combed my fingers through my tangled hair to check the last one.

Nope. No horns. That was a small relief.

Tenebris’s lips twitched. Was that… a smile?

“What?” I asked.

He shook his head, clearing that glimmer of humor from his expression. “You look like any other human.”

That was a good thing, wasn’t it?

“You also appear to be talking to someone who isn’t here,” he added.

Ah. The crazy lady talking to herself. That would draw some attention, wouldn’t it?