Page 34

Kerry

At first, I balked at going to the pumpkin contest on Tuesday night because I wasn’t sure what to expect or how to behave, but Gemma pleaded and begged and promised she wouldn’t leave my side. Then she looked up at me with those big, green eyes and said, “Please?”

And that was that.

The pumpkins were everything from stupid to gory, but the big blue winner’s ribbon laid next to Gigi’s portrait. Gemma grabbed my hand and congratulated me. Threading my fingers through hers, I told her she deserved most of the credit because it was her idea, but she only laughed and shook her head.

Deciding now was time to show her, I raised our joined hands and pointed to an entry at the end of the long table.

“Hey, look at that one.”

I led her over to a pumpkin that had a little fairy sitting on a mushroom and waving her wand to create a swirl of perfect stars.

And they were perfect. I’d nearly cut one of my fingers off getting those suckers right.

“That’s—” Gemma’s voice wobbled as her grip on my hand tightened. “Kerry, did you— You— Kerry!”

Her face hit my chest, and I smiled as I cupped the back of her head in my free hand. Resting my cheek on the top of her hair, I let her slime up my shirt. I knew I deserved it, but I was gonna have to buy a freaking tissue company or something.

“No, Jax!” Gigi screeched from somewhere behind us. “Don’t!”

I didn’t know what he’d done to upset his lady, but I was too busy with my own to care.

“Was that Gigi?” Gemma stepped back and let my hand go so she could wipe her eyes with her fingers. “Was she yelling?”

“Yeah. Jax pissed her off, I guess.”

I dug around in my pocket for a hanky. As I handed it to her, her eyes focused on something behind me and her face twisted up in horror. The sound of running feet grew closer, and I instinctively filled my hands with blue fire. Before I could turn around, though, an almighty collision took place a coupla feet from my back.

Spinning around, I saw it was just John and Jax horsing around. I let the fire go out and felt dumb for expecting an attack, but the look on Gemma’s face hadn’t been fake or a joke. Glancing at her out of the corner of my eye, I saw she had my hanky pressed over her nose and mouth and her eyes were huge.

Confused now, I turned back to my boys to see John had grabbed Jax’s head and was squeezing it between his hands.

“ Use this,” he growled.

“You could have just teleported me,” Jax moaned.

“You deserved it.”

Are they fighting?

John radiated anger, which I’d never seen from him before, and it wasn’t until Tara came over and coaxed him that he got up.

Jax stayed on the grass that they’d churned up, curled on his side, and groaned.

“What are you two doing?” I asked.

“Jax was going to tackle you.” Chessie appeared at my elbow. “The rest of us were coming over to join you and saw him running at you. John decided to make an interception on the play.”

“Idiot,” John rumbled and kicked Jax’s boot with his own.

“I’m dying,” he gasped, “and you don’t even care.”

“Tackle me?” I looked back at Chessie.

“You know, like slam into you from behind.”

She kept talking, but everything faded.

I’m in a dark room. No, not a room. An alley. Something heavy slams into me from behind. I stagger under the weight and hit the wall. Rough brick tears into my cheek, but it’s nothing compared to what’s coming—

#

Gemma

Kerry’s eyes unfocused as his chest rose and fell faster and faster. Sweat beaded up on his forehead and, worse of all, he spiked up—never a good sign.

“What’s wrong, Kerry?”

“Flashback.” Chessie understood before the rest of us. “You need to ground him, Gemma.”

She started to sink wave after wave of pearly white power into him, and I racked my brain for ideas on how to “ground” him.

Since he started school, he’d had plenty of difficult moments that usually brought out his temper. As far as flashbacks, though, I’d only noticed two times when his eyes would go far away and a sort of darkness gathered around him. In both cases, I’d just talked to him until he seemed back to normal, so that’s what I went with.

“Kerry?” My voice wasn’t as calm or level as I would have liked, so I swallowed and tried again. “Breathe. You’re okay. You’re safe here with us.”

I could tell he wasn’t hearing me because he panted harder. If all else failed, I’d grab his hand and sedate him, but I hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Those blasted spikes of his hurt!

But not nearly as much as it does to see him like this.

“Have mercy,” Chessie whispered. “Have mercy.”

She kept repeating it, and my eyes left Kerry for a second to glance at her. When I saw the tears guttering down her face, I wondered if she could see the memory he was caught in.

“What can we do to help?” Gigi asked.

“Give us space for a minute,” I suggested. “He doesn’t like to be crowded at the best of times.”

“I can’t—” Chessie choked out. “I can’t bear this!”

“Stop, Chessie. Let me.”

“I want to help, but this is—”

“I know. Stop. It will hurt him to know you saw as much as you have.”

“I’m sorry!”

She dropped to her knees and covered her face with her hands, knocking her glasses off, and Tara and Gigi swarmed over to her.

Leaving her in their care, I moved as close to Kerry as I could without his spikes getting me.

“Kerry, you’re here at the Sanctuary. You’re with friends. You’re safe. Look at me.”

His big body shuddered, and I wondered if that meant I was helping or making it worse.

“You’re safe. Look at me.” I raised my hand to his cheek, stopping short of touching the blue crystals that frosted his skin. “I’m right here with you. Look at me. You can do it. Come back to me, sweetheart.”

His eyes, wild and wide, dropped to mine.

“That’s right,” I crooned. “Here I am. You’re safe. Take a slow, deep breath. Good. What color is my hair?”

It took him a second.

“Red,” he slurred.

“That’s right. Be good and take another breath for me, okay? Nice. What color are my eyes?” “Green.” He blinked a couple of times, and his shoulders relaxed.

“See? I knew you could do it. One more long, slow breath. Lovely. Who am I?”

“Angel.” He dissolved the spikes as his breathing settled. “My angel.”

Relief made my hand shake as I touched my fingertips to his cheek. Before I could draw back, he caught my hand in his and slid it along his jaw until I felt his lips press against my palm.

“I’m all right.” His lips moved against my skin.

“What can I do to help you?”

He shook his head, then lowered our hands and wound his fingers through mine.

“I told you, I’m good.”

The grim set of his mouth said otherwise, but I let it go. He’d talk about it when he was ready, and I’d listen if he wanted me to.

He led us over to Chessie, who knelt on the ground with Tara and Gigi on either side.

“I could see too much.” She didn’t look up. “I could see—”

Kerry squared his shoulders, but Gigi had the sense to put her hand over Chessie’s mouth. Chessie frowned at her and pulled her hand away.

“I can’t see the memory. I can only see the pain of it. So much pain.”

Her voice broke off, and Gigi hugged her.

“I know you want to help, Chessie.” With his free hand, Kerry reached down and patted her head like she was a puppy. “Thank you, but I warned you before not to look at that. Listen to me, will you? Don’t do that again.”

She finally lifted her face, and I saw for the first time what she kept hidden behind her variety of shades.

Oh, my. Those eyes are straight out of a horror movie!

I didn’t flinch and, even though I was curious, I kept my mouth shut. We didn’t need any more drama tonight.

“I should have built flashbacks into your ward,” she muttered.

“I’m grateful for what you did build into it. More than I can say. Don’t torture yourself trying to salvage things that can’t be salvaged.” Then he looked around at our friends. “Sorry I killed the vibe.”

“At least you didn’t kill Jax.” Tara got up, then helped Chessie stand.

As if on cue, Jax came over and pulled Gigi to her feet.

“Wasn’t your fault, Kerry. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I was excited that Gigi gets to go to the concert because of you. I wasn’t thinking.” Jax turned to John. “Thanks, bro. I’m pretty sure I owe you my life.”

John remained silent and crossed his arms over his chest, and his black eyes scared me. Not Tara, though. She went over and slid her arm around his waist.

“Hey, we’re all okay.” She smiled up at him. “No one was injured. Nothing got damaged. If Kerry and Chessie are good to go, let’s check out the food tent.”

“I’m good.” Chessie adjusted her dark glasses.

“What about you, Kerry? You solid?”

“Did you say there was food ?”

The hopeful look on his face made us all laugh, and the last of the tension evaporated.

#

Kerry

It didn’t take long for everyone to start acting normal again. Tara brought up the Halloween dance, and the others sounded excited as they talked about it. Well, John and I didn’t. We traded a look, and I could tell he was about as enthusiastic as me to wear a costume.

They were laughing about Jax’s idea to go as circus poodles when a scent caught my attention and I froze, sniffing the air like a dog. I think they thought I was playing along with Jax, but I couldn’t bother with them.

Whenever I smelled something Diabolical, everything else faded to the edges of my attention.

“Kerry?”

I heard Gemma calling, but I was on the hunt now. In seconds, I pinpointed a direction and took off.

I followed the scent trail, winding around campus until I came to a part I’d never seen before. There was a low brick building and a playground, so I was pretty sure it was the elementary school. The trail led down an overgrown path and I had to dodge vines as I went.

When I could taste the evil, I slowed down and ghosted along until the path opened into a grassy circle surrounded by trees. I dropped down behind a wild-looking shrub and tried to make myself as small as possible as I took in the scene.

Reilly Argaud was talking to a creature who hovered above the ground on giant wings and was shaped like a woman, but there’s nothing human about a harpy.

Suddenly, something touched my bicep, and I nearly jumped outta my skin. Good thing my brain registered Gemma’s scent before I could attack.

I screamed a lot of bad words in my head as I hauled her against my chest and wrapped a hand around her mouth. She wouldn’t be able to see in the dark like I could, and I needed her to understand the danger.

“Still,” I breathed in her ear, “and silent.”

She nodded, but pointed behind us. Five other people stood a few feet away on the path. I raised my eyebrows and shook my head.

Shoulda guessed they’d follow.

I motioned for them to get down and be quiet. I hoped they could see and would understand, or else this would all blow up in our faces.

I should get them outta there, but I really wanna hear this conversation. I argued with myself for a few seconds, then made the call. If they notice us, I can take a mangy ole harpy, no problem, and the others should be able to handle Argaud.

I tightened my arms around Gemma and tried to hear what Argaud was saying, but realized quickly that I was gonna have to turn my ears on.

I hated doing that. A cat’s meow became as loud as a train. There was no way I could get closer, though. We were barely hidden as it was. Gritting my teeth, I opened up my ears.

“ — the portal.” The harpy’s voice was a hiss. “What do you require to continue your research?”

“Another thrall,” Argaud said. “My female is failing.”

“You are being selective in your choices, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Then I will provide the necessary as before. When our Master is released from his bonds, he will reward you beyond measure.”

“I am honored to serve.” Argaud bowed.

The harpy beat her huge wings in giant flaps that sent up a cloud of sulphur and brimstone. If we’d been any closer, it woulda made us choke. Because I knew what was coming, I hurried to turn my ears off and covered Gemma’s ears with my palms.

As the harpy lifted off, she let out a shriek that went right through my brain like a needle of ice. Prepared for it, I bore it without a sound, but my friends weren’t so lucky. They clutched their heads and groaned, and Jax vomited. Gemma, still in my lap, wrapped her arms around my waist and squeezed me as she shuddered.

I turned to check on Argaud’s location, thinking he might come back this way, but he disappeared between two trees at the far end of the clearing.

“Kerry?” Gemma squeaked. “What was that?”

“Harpy.” I stood, pulled her up with me, and held onto her hand. “They make that noise to stop anyone from attacking them because they’re vulnerable during take off.”

“What just happened?” asked Chessie.

She was helping Gigi to her feet because Jax was still dry-heaving, and I shrugged.

“What made you come here?” John’s eyes were on the sky, and I wondered if he could still see the harpy. “Did you sense something?”

“ Smelled something. Couldn’t you? I caught a whiff of the Diabolical and followed it here.”

“You must have a nose like a bloodhound.” Tara turned to go back the way we’d come. “Maddy does, too. She’s a guide, so I guess that makes sense. Too bad she’s not here. She missed all the terrifying fun.”

“Where is she, anyway?” Gigi asked.

“On a date. She wouldn’t tell me with who. Makes me wonder.”

“Tara, what’s your power?” I could afford to be curious now that the danger had passed.

“Naturalist.”

She waved a hand, and the vines that had threatened to strangle me on the way in suddenly wove together in arches. The dead-looking plants lining the path straightened up and flowered like they wanted to please her.

“See? Nothing important.” She tried to pass it off as a joke, but John frowned as he put his arm around her.

Here is another broken person . I dunno what caused her pain, but she’s buried it deep, where it eats at her from the inside.

“Naturalists make things beautiful,” I told her. “In a world that holds something as evil as a harpy, you add brightness and color. It reminds us to hope. It’s a power anyone would be jealous of.”

She stopped and stared at me as her eyes welled up.

“Don’t cry!” I snapped.

“I won’t. Thank you.”

Gemma squeezed my hand, and I glanced down to catch a funny look on her face.

“What?” I asked her.

Jax, wiping the back of his mouth, butted in before she could tell me.

“I saw Reilly Argaud, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Could you?”

I shared what I heard as we left the path and walked toward the playground. When we reached it, we stopped and gathered in a circle. The only thing I didn’t tell them was that I had a bad feeling about this. The harpy was worrisome enough, since most of them are servants to Hell’s royalty. The fact that she’d made it this deep into the Sanctuary, though, meant she had connections in the Divine world, too.

There were more pieces in play here than Reilly Argaud.

“What do you need to make a student into a thrall?” Gemma asked.

“I dunno, but the thrall could be anyone.” I shrugged one shoulder with a frown. “They didn’t say it was a student.”

“That’s a frightening thought.” Tara shivered and looked up at John. “Can you imagine some of the higher wardens as Argaud’s puppets?”

Then everyone started to talk at once.

“Who do you think the master is?”

“And what is Reilly doing for him? It can’t be for anything good.”

“How do we find out who he has enthralled?

“And how do we prevent him from doing it again?”

“From the way they were talking, it sounded like there’s more than one.”

“How do you think the harpy is providing him with materials? And what materials?”

“And why a harpy?”

They stopped talking and turned to look at me, and I scowled.

“ I dunno. All I know is how to kill things.”

“Good thing, too.” John pointed to the sky. “Here comes the harpy.”