Page 28

CHAPTER

TWENTY-EIGHT

Theo shook his head, dazed. “No, he’s not.”

Hawthorn sighed, adjusting his glasses. Theo didn’t know why he bothered. The bloody gash in his shoulder was the only thing out of place: his glasses were perfectly straight, hair neat, hands clean despite the dead body on the grass behind him. Coach Cheech lay still and unmoving against the roots of the gnarled tree, crossbow useless in his limp hand. His bag lay under one of his legs, open to display the silver ax Theo had seen in the car on the ride over.

“Theo, you’re a smart kid,” Hawthorn said matter-of-factly. “You have to know you can’t trust him. Deep down.”

“He’s lying,” Kade croaked. He looked stunned, hands trembling in Theo’s basketball shirt. “He…he kidnapped me! He tied me up! I’m not…mate, I swear I don’t know what the hell is going on?— ”

Hawthorn cut him off. “Why was he even out there that night? What’s the likelihood that he missed all those rocks? Even if he did jump in that lake, he’d never do it without ulterior motives. Why save you? He hated you.”

“I didn’t,” Kade whispered. “I don’t.”

Theo wanted to believe him so badly. But he’d known Hawthorn his whole life. Trusted him his whole life. Theo and Kade had their first proper conversation a couple of weeks ago.

Theo asked, “What were you doing out there?”

“I…” Kade let out a miserable laugh. He let go of Theo’s shirt, hunching into his skinny shoulders. “I was going to jump. I wasn’t really , I was just drunk and dramatic—I don’t think I…I’d never do that to my aunt, you know?” A tear rolled down his cheek. He swiped at it, hand missing its target and skating clumsily over his ear.

“Still lying,” Hawthorn said. “It’s not his fault, he’s been manipulated by the hunters.”

“What?” Theo said. “He hates the Fletchers.”

“You think the Fletchers are the only hunters in town?” Hawthorn fixed Theo with a kind smile. “These past weeks must’ve been so confusing for you. But you need to know this is the only way. You saw what Cheech tried to do. He won’t be the only one who tries to take Kade out of the equation.”

“I’ll protect him,” Theo blurted.

Hawthorn’s smile went strained. “That’s not how this story goes. You need to let me take him somewhere safe.”

“Yeah? You wanna tie him to another tree?” Theo asked. It felt flimsy. Like he should’ve asked something else. But there was a part of him, young and desperate, which wanted Hawthorn to say the thing that would make it all make sense. The thing that would make it okay that he killed Coach Cheech and wanted to take Kade away. The thing that would make Kade stop trembling and get rid of the terrible suspicion churning in Theo’s gut. The suspicion that made him want to get him and Kade as far away from their history teacher as they could.

“Out of town,” Hawthorn replied. “I have friends who can protect him.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Kade spat. He was still trembling, but his fists were clenched. Like he could do anything with his flimsy human fists. Kade’s gaze darted down toward Cheech’s bag and that silver ax.

Hawthorn said, “I don’t know what those people have told you?—”

“Nobody’s told me SHIT! Nobody in this shithole town has told me ANYTHING, and they haven’t told you anything either!” Kade turned to Theo, another horrified tear spilling down his gaunt cheek. “We’re…we’re together on this! Right?”

It wasn’t full of bitter bravado, like back in the bathroom. This was all hope, uncertain and scared. Like he was waiting for Theo to screw him over. Theo wanted to tell him about his dad’s expectant face in the gym. How he’d turned away from them, away from the whole town expecting him to make up for his mistake. Not because he wanted to chase some stupid vampire plot, but because he knew Kade was in trouble.

A hand on Theo’s shoulder made him jump. Hawthorn had stalked closer without him hearing it.

“Theo,” he said, low and even. “I know this must be confusing. But if you just?—”

Theo cut him off. “You can’t take him.”

Kade’s breath stuttered. Theo heard it as loud as a foghorn. Everything was so much louder with Kade.

Hawthorn paused. “I know this must be difficult. But this is your destiny. Come with me. Meet your people, your real people. It was never this town. It was us .”

Theo stepped back, wrenching his shoulder out of Hawthorn’s grip, placing himself back in front of Kade.

Waiting for it to feel like a mistake. But it didn’t feel like a mistake. It felt…right. Like plucking a thorn out of his palm.

Mr. Hawthorn stared. One moment he was the kindly teacher Theo had known all his life. Then he nodded, and something in his face changed. The heart seeped out of it, a mask dropping to reveal the cold thing behind it.

“You know what,” he said brightly. “Maybe I will kill you. ”

He rolled up his sleeves. The tattoos along his arms throbbed, black tendrils winding down his wrists like snakes.

“Makes killing Cheech a little useless,” he continued, unbuttoning his shirt collar. “But still—that was fun . My leader—well. My temporary leader never lets us do anything worthwhile. Didn’t even let me kill Lemmings.”

He shrugged off his shirt. The black tattoo tendrils slithered up his shoulders, down his collarbone. Nestled on his chest sat an inky tree, its branches a mirror of the gnarled tree behind them. Something undulated under his skin, like his bones were trying to escape.

Kade backed away. “What’s happening? What’s he doing ?”

Theo didn’t answer. He was too busy watching in mute horror as Mr. Hawthorn’s limbs stretched. His arms first, then his legs. His torso lengthened until he towered over them. A strange groan ripped out of his throat, his nose melting into one big slit, ears forming into points.

Mr. Hawthorn shuddered. There was a snap , like a branch breaking. Wings split from his back, spindly and barbed. His skin was pale and papery, a long fleck sloughing off its wings and into the dirt.

“I'm going to enjoy this,” said the creature from the Lemmings house.

Theo turned. “Move! ”

“Moving,” Kade yelped, running for the crossbow in Cheech’s hand.

Hawthorn leapt at him. Theo flung himself between them, braced for impact. It hit him like a freight train, pain bursting over his chest. The world blurred, something cracking behind his back.

Theo opened his eyes. He was on the ground, his basketball shirt in black, wet ribbons. Hawthorn had ripped his chest open and thrown him into a tree.

He looked up just in time to see Kade hit the ground with a pained yell. Hawthorn stood over him, clawed foot pressing hard on Kade’s chest. He bent down, fangs bared. Kade whimpered, yanking uselessly at Hawthorn’s ankle.

Hawthorn straightened. Kade jerked under him, all that horrible weight pushing down on his narrow chest.

“I’ll admit, I was annoyed you got attached,” Hawthorn told Theo. His chest flexed, his tree tattoo bright against his pale skin. “Stupid thing to do. Your story was never going to end well. You were always going to kill him.”

Theo shook his head. He tried pulling himself up, but his arms collapsed under him. He looked desperately toward Kade, who looked back with agonized tears in his eyes.

“Go,” Kade rasped. “Run.”

Theo shook his head again. His gaze caught on something red behind his head. Black flowers and spiky stem growing over the tree roots. Theo recognized them. He’d spent so many childhood hours walking through these woods, pretending not to admire the plants.

He reached back, hiding his hands behind him. The fire eye burned his palms as he wrenched it off the tree roots.

“Like hell,” he choked, and stumbled up. He ran at Hawthorn, stumbling at first, then blurring. Hawthorn’s arm came up again, catching Theo by the throat.

“Come on,” he said, almost pitying. “This would be so much easier if you’d just get it over with. Embrace the creature you were always meant to become.”

“Screw you,” Theo choked, and rammed the vine into Hawthorn’s eyes.

Hawthorn screamed, the noise splintering into something horrible and inhuman. Theo gritted his teeth. Smoke rose from his hands as he wrapped the vine around Hawthorn’s head. The pain in his lacerated chest was going numb, but the burn in his hands was almost unbearable.

Hawthorn staggered off Kade, clawing at Theo and the vine circling his head. Black blood oozed down his cheeks from the barbs invading his eyes.

Kade sucked in a pained breath as the weight came off his chest, not even waiting one breath before he crawled to the crossbow. Kade gave Cheech a shaky salute as he grabbed the crossbow and turned it toward the two vampires wrestling among the trees.

“Shoot him,” Theo yelled. “Shoot?— ”

He stopped, yelling in agony. Hawthorn had his claws in his back now, trying to tug him off.

Kade cursed, shaking the crossbow desperately. “Son of a bitch isn’t loaded!”

“THEN GRAB AN ARROW,” Theo screamed. Hawthorn clawed lines into his back. The claws dug and held. Theo gritted his teeth, but the creature was too powerful. Hawthorn wrenched him off, throwing Theo into yet another unlucky tree.

Hawthorn staggered up, eyes punched out by the fire eye barbs. He stood perfectly still, head cocked, waiting.

Kade froze. He was kneeling on the ground next to Cheech’s bag, in the middle of reaching for a crossbow bolt. The silver ax gleamed in the dirt beside him.

Theo reached out an unsteady hand. “Don’t move.”

Hawthorn snarled.

Kade gasped.

Hawthorn ran at him. Kade swore, swinging the useless crossbow out in front. Hawthorn swiped. The crossbow went flying across the clearing.

“Shit,” Kade spat. He plunged a hand into his jacket, but it was too late: Hawthorn drove Kade into a tree, his teeth bared and aiming for Kade’s throat.

Theo screamed. He surged up, numb chest and burning hands forgotten as he watched Kade get pinned under the creature’s bulk.

Then, the impossible: Hawthorn stopped. His dark eyes wavered. Theo looked down. A broken knitting needle stuck out of Hawthorn’s chest. Right out of his heart.

Kade’s gray eyes met Theo’s, defiant and gleaming. His gaze flickered toward the ax on the ground behind Hawthorn.

Theo had to hold back a smile. He bent down and scooped up the ax, careful not to touch the silver blade.

Hawthorn leaned back, dazed. His laughter trailed off into a wounded hiss.

“You stupid little shit,” he said to Kade, syrupy slow. “Only…only weak, pissling little vampires die from a stake to the heart. Weaklings like Jeremiah Lemmings, living off of deer blood for decades. You—you can’t kill me with this .”

He reached up to tug it out, still laughing weakly.

“Maybe not,” Kade said, nodding behind him. “But that can.”

Hawthorn turned.

Theo brought the ax down. The blade hit Hawthorn’s neck, slicing almost all the way through. Gruesome gurgles bubbled out of his torn throat. He fell to the ground, right next to Coach Cheech’s twisted body.

Theo straightened, hands shaking around the wooden ax handle. Black blood ran down his face. He couldn’t tell if it was his own or Hawthorn’s.

Hawthorn made a choking sound. A wizened arm twitched toward Theo’s leg.

“Oh, shit,” Kade said, dazed. “Almost. ”

Theo slammed the ax down on Hawthorn’s neck. The blade sunk deep into the earth. Hawthorn’s detached head rocked once, then stilled.

Wind blew through the trees. The only other noise was Kade, his wet panting and his thundering heartbeat.

Theo turned to him. “Are you alright?”

Kade gagged.

“Okay,” Theo said.

Kade bent over, shuddering. Theo hesitated. Then he reached out with a slick hand, laying his fingertips over Kade’s dirt-streaked shirt. He sucked in a breath: no cuts. A bruise forming on his forehead and chest, blood pooling under the skin. And mercifully, no vomit.

Theo asked again: “Are you alright?”

“Am I—” Kade straightened, gasping a wet laugh. His cheeks were damp. He smelled like salt and panic. “Mate, you look like mincemeat . Gross, black mincemeat…”

He waved at Theo, who grimaced down at his tattered basketball shirt. His back and chest were torn up by Hawthorn’s claws. His hands were blistered from the fire eye, red wounds scored deep into his palms.

Kade’s hands hovered over the deep cuts in Theo’s chest, not daring to touch.

“Poor lefty,” Kade whispered.

“What?” Theo looked down and realized that his left nipple had been sliced in half.

“I don’t know, my favorite teacher just tried to eat me, I’m in shock.” Kade stared at him, tears dripping down his face like an afterthought. He smeared his palms over his cheeks, then fumbled at his neckline.

It still took Theo a second to realize what he was offering. “Kade?—”

“You’re hurt,” Kade snapped. “Just—please. It’s bad, Theo. It’s so bad.”

Theo nodded distractedly. He could feel his eyes turning black.

“I’m…I’m really…If I can’t stop?—”

Kade bent down and yanked the broken knitting needle out of Hawthorn’s corpse. He held it up, hand shaking. “I have my stake. And your fire eye is around here, somewhere.”

“I’ll teach you how to recognize it in the wild,” Theo slurred. His teeth were sharpening, black eyes glazing over. “Is that the knitting needle I broke?”

Kade nodded.

“Good. Keep it close.” Theo’s hands were strong and desperate as he tugged Kade forward by his collar, pulling it down so he could sink his teeth in.

Waves of ecstasy rushed to meet him, but Theo didn’t dive in and lose himself. He clung to the small part of him that was still Theo, standing in a forest with the trembling boy who saved his life. Who growled at him in class last month. Who gave him a pair of knitted gloves with a smile so soft Theo couldn’t look directly at it.

Theo pulled back. The cuts on his chest were thinner now, already crusting over .

“You’re still hurt,” Kade said. He fumbled the broken knitting needle back into his jacket and touched Theo’s ripped shirt.

“I think healing this might take a while.” Theo smiled, strained. “Your heart is still racing.”

Kade nodded. His pupils were huge and unfocused. “Shaky guy. Loud heart.”

Theo could see every one of his dark eyelashes. It was so quiet. Not even birds interrupted the silence. Like they were the only ones in the world.

Kade’s gaze dropped to Theo’s mouth.

It couldn’t happen. One kiss would burn Kade to the bone. And yet, Theo wanted it. He wanted it like he never wanted anything.

“Kade,” Theo said softly, regretting the words even as he said them. “I…we can’t .”

A loud bark echoed through the clearing.

Kade startled, jerking out of Theo’s arms so fast his hand skimmed Theo’s bare neck, hissing as it burned him.

“Ow, shit—” Kade stopped and stared as a dog padded through the trees.

Not a dog—a puppy , paws too big for its body, ears too big for its head. Its fur was short and endlessly black, the way an abyss was black. It looked like a strange cross between a doberman and a rottweiler and its eyes were smoldering orange, gazing up at Theo expectantly.

“Uh,” Theo said. “Hi? ”

The dog woofed happily. Its tail wagged. Something stirred in Theo’s chest. Familiarity. A bone-deep knowledge: this is mine.

“Huh,” Kade said thoughtfully.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Kade rubbed the burn on his hand. “Told you it’d be a dog.”