Page 37

Kerry

I sat on a flat rock that stuck out over a small stream, broke a piece off a stick, and tossed it into the water just to watch it float away.

I was running outta time. I had almost exactly twenty-four hours to come up with a plan to save myself.

The Halloween dance was tomorrow night.

What am I doing, thinking I can make it through a dance? Like I’m a normal guy. This is so dumb! Somebody’s gonna end up hurt.

And I knew who would be doing the hurting.

All it would take was for someone to touch me. Or a taunt from one of the jerks who whispered ‘demon taint’ every time I walked by. Or me missing a cue and lashing out in a temper.

And that was the real problem. I hated that I might embarrass Gemma in front of the whole school.

Maybe I can break my leg. No, she’d just heal it. Aw, this is a mess!

Panicking a little, I let a few cuss words slip out on a burst of power, and they made a blue cloud in the air below my mouth.

“Is that where the expression ‘turning the air blue’ comes from, do you think?”

I leapt up and spun around in a half-crouch, then froze in place as I saw the beauty coming toward me.

Gemma smiled, her pretty green eyes sparkling. She looked cute in her green sweater and jeans, but what made my breath catch was her hair. She’d unbraided it since I saw her a couple of hours ago. It hung down her back, and the sunlight brought out a hundred colors, from pale gold to dark rose.

It was the first time I’d seen it down since the night she raced down the garden path to the cottage, all ready to save me from Argaud and his two mutts.

She stopped walking and her smile fell, and I wondered what my face must look like.

“I’m sorry.” She lowered her eyes to the grass. “I can see you want to be alone. I’ll, um, go.”

“No. Stay. Please.”

Half-surprised to realize I still held the stick, I tossed it aside, jumped down from the rock, and moved toward her. She seemed curious, but stayed still as I prowled around her.

I stopped when her back was an inch from my chest, then leaned down to inhale her scent. As always, it went straight to my head, making me feel a little buzzed, and I nuzzled my nose into her hair just above her ear.

“Kerry?”

“I’m not gonna hurt you, angel. I swear it.”

“I know you won’t. I’m just wondering what you’re doing.”

I half-smiled. No way I was gonna tell her I was smelling her. She wouldn’t understand, and it might creep her out. Other nephs didn’t get how a warrior’s senses worked.

Straightening up, I gathered her hair in my hands, then spread my fingers so it fanned out. It was so silky, it slid right through them.

“I love your hair.” My voice came out a little hoarse. I would have been embarrassed with anyone else, but not with her. “It’s so soft and shiny and long. The color, though—”

“I know, I know! “Like a clown’s. It couldn’t be deep red or auburn or even classic red. Oh, no, I had to get Great-Grandma Mabel’s carrot top.”

Wait. What?

“Don’t say that! Who told you those things?”

“When I was little, everyone except my mom and Uncle Paul.” She looked at me over her shoulder. “Even my teachers. Copper Top and Carrot were the most popular, although there was one boy in middle school who stuck me with Punkin. Not even Pumpkin. Pun-kin . At lunch, he’d get the other boys at his table to chant, ‘Punkin’ when I walked by. Man, I hated that kid!”

She smiled, but it was shaky, and I knew the teasing had cut into her soft heart.

“Tell me his name. I’ll hunt him down for you.”

“Tom Blackstone, but don’t worry about it.” She faced forward again and her shoulder blades touched my chest. “It was middle school. Cruelty was the norm. Besides, it’s in the past.”

Tom Blackstone. I committed the name to memory. I’d find him someday.

“I’d bet anything you were never cruel.”

She didn’t answer, only shook her head a little. Smiling, I gathered her hair in one hand and draped it over her opposite shoulder, then bent to whisper in her ear.

“I was going to say, ‘The color, though, is the best part.’ You’re beautiful, Gemma Shepherd, inside and out, and your hair is as warm as your heart.”

Then I bent down and kissed her neck. No sucking or licking or anything to scare either of us. Just a brush of my lips on her smooth skin.

When she squeaked, I immediately backed away. She swung around, her eyes wide and her cheeks pink, and I felt all kinds of stupid.

“Sorry!” came outta my mouth, but I was screaming at myself in my mind.

“No, don’t be. It’s just, no boy’s ever kissed—” She stopped herself, but I’d heard enough to confirm what I’d already guessed.

She’s as pure as a star, and about as far above me.

“I should have asked first,” I muttered.

“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to ask first. You can do that again. Whenever you want. If it doesn’t bother you, I mean. I’m not saying you have to or even that you’d want to again, but if you did—”

“Calm down.” I cupped one apple-red cheek in my palm. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t—”

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” I interrupted her again as I dropped my hand. “Were you looking for me?”

“Yes. Hank said you went for a walk. I wanted to talk to you about the dance. I know you don’t want to go.”

“How did you find me?”

For an answer, she took her phone out of her back pocket and held it up.

“Friend tracker app. Comes standard on Sanctuary phones. All of your contacts are automatically added. Look.”

She showed me how it worked and explained that it didn't if the friend’s phone was turned off.

“Does it track even outside the Sanctuary?”

“I don’t know.” She put her phone away. “We can ask Hank or August, but I suppose it’s a good way to keep track of teams on missions.”

I didn’t like that. I didn’t want to be tracked. But if turning the phone off was all it took to stop it, I guessed that wasn’t so bad. I’d have to remember that.

“Look, Gemma, about this dance—”

“I won’t leave your side, I promise.” She raised her index finger and made an X over her chest.

“What does that mean?”

“What?”

“That.” I copied the gesture.

“Oh. ‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’ It’s an old way of saying you’re telling the truth.”

“You always tell the truth.” I sighed. “Gemma, there are too many things that could go wrong.”

“Wardens will be there. All our friends will be there. Gigi said there’s always lots of food and drinks.”

“And I’ll have a great time, right?” I rubbed the back of my neck with one hand.

“No, probably not.”

“Then why do you want me to go?”

“You’re not a coward, so what is the real problem?”

“I don’t wanna embarrass you,” I admitted. “People at school already hassle you because you hang out with the demon taint. If I screw up, they’ll laugh at you. Or worse. I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”

“You won’t embarrass me.” She held out her hands, and I folded mine around them. “That would take me caring more about someone else’s opinions than you, which I don’t. And I told you before, if there is a price to pay, I will pay it. It’s my choice and I’m responsible for it. Not you.”

“Angel—”

“Listen, we don’t have to dance. We don’t have to eat. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. We can show up and have our picture taken with the group, then stand back and people-watch.”

“How fun is that for you?”

“I’ll be with you . There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”

She stared up at me with the sweetest expression, and my mind turned off. All I could think was, Whatever she wants, I’ll make it happen. Whatever she asks of me, I’ll do.

Then something changed. Her face closing up, she dropped my hands and stepped back.

Now what’s she thinking? I get the feeling I’m not gonna like it.

“Unless you don’t want to go with me. I didn’t think— I keep assuming— I’m sorry! You don’t have to be with me every second of your free time just because we’re more than friends. And I don’t want to irritate you by asking you to do things you don’t want to do.” She tried to smile. “So, yeah. It’s okay about the dance. No worries. I’ll go with our group.”

“Shut up and stop being an idiot. All I want is to be with you.” I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and reeled her in. Sighing, I dropped my chin on top of her head. “Do you promise you’ll stay with me the whole time?”

“Every second. Even if I have to go to the bathroom, I’ll hold it.”

“Angel, if you have to go pee, go pee. I can stand with Jax for five lousy minutes!”

When she giggled, I realized she was teasing me, but gently. Always gently with her.

“All right. If you cast calm on me before we get there, I’ll go.” And whatever happens, happens. “So, uh, you wanna practice dancing?”

“Sure. Have you ever danced before?” She tilted her head like a puppy.

“Nope.”

“That’s okay. Let’s try a slow dance. That’s about all I can do, anyway, except for jumping around with my arms in the air and, frankly, you don’t really need to practice that.”

“Slow dance it is, then, angel.” I smiled a little. Any excuse to hold her was a good one.

“Do you care what song?” She pulled out her phone and fiddled with it.

“Play those two you like by that Justin guy. You know, the ones we listened to the other day.”

“Okay! Good idea!”

She got the music playing, set her phone on the rock I’d been sitting on, and grabbed my hands. Standing about a foot away, she set them on her small waist, then laid hers on my shoulders. We started swaying to the beat, staring into each other’s eyes.

About halfway through the song, I took one of her hands, laid it over my heart, and kept it covered with my palm. Then I slid my other hand around her waist and drew her closer. She smiled a sunshine smile, complete with dimples, and laid her head on my chest.

And my heart had the balls to flutter. To effing flutter !

I was getting so soft for her, it was ridiculous.

#

Fairy tales was the theme the group went with. Even though I didn’t remember any of those stories, I thought our costumes were pretty impressive considering they’d been pieced together at the last minute.

Jax was dressed as a soldier, and Gigi wore a ballerina outfit with a large sequin on her belt. John went as a prince, Tara a princess, and Maddy a witch.

Chessie’s costume made me raise my eyebrows. She wore all black, had big wings made outta black poster board, and dragged a long tail behind her.

I wondered what she would say if I told her I’d met a black dragon once.

Mercifully, Gemma kept my costume simple. A white button-up and dark blue pants, tall black boots she’d borrowed from someone, and a red scarf wrapped around my waist. She wore a purple top with a green skirt and said we were characters from The Little Mermaid , a story about a mermaid who wanted to be a human.

When we reached the school gym and met up with the others, she twirled around so her skirt flared out in a circle below her knees. She musta made herself dizzy because she staggered a little when she stopped, and I put my hands on her shoulders to steady her as I looked down into her laughing eyes.

This girl. My heart did that twisty thing again. What is it about this girl?

#

“Oh, no!” Gemma grabbed my arm. “Maddy’s trapped!”

I looked to where she was pointing. Argaud and Anderson had penned Maddy in the corner by the bathroom as Peale loomed off to one side. Other students were beginning to notice something was up, and a loose ring formed them.

“Why is he even here?” Tara barked. “I thought he was suspended while the wardens looked into that business with the harpy!”

John dropped his arm from her waist and looked like he was gonna go over there.

“Let me, John.” I half-smiled. “Oh, please , let me . ”

“All yours. Have fun.”

I moved toward Maddy, confident in the calm Gemma had given me, and shoved past Anderson. I tore Argaud’s groping hands away from Maddy, positive I’d broken at least two of his fingers, and moved so she was between my back and the wall. She grabbed my shirt and hung on and, if Gemma hadn’t helped me, that alone would have pushed me right over the edge.

“Go over to the others, Maddy,” I muttered.

I could feel her shaking so hard, it was a wonder she didn’t fall down. Her forehead hit my back and her fists twisted tighter in my shirt, and I realized she was too upset to hear me. Although I wanted to, I couldn’t spike up without hurting her.

Be careful , I told myself. She’s far more fragile than you.

“You ruined our fun, Harker.” Argaud crossed his arms over his chest. “Were you planning to take her place? Not quite my thing, I’m afraid, but maybe Anderson’s interested.”

When Anderson grinned, I knew the idiot was about to do something stupid. Sure enough, he stretched one hand toward my chest like he was gonna touch me, and my fist flew out, fast as thought. He hit the floor and stayed there, groaning and holding his broken jaw.

“This is getting to be a habit, Anderson.” I turned back to Argaud. “I can smell it on you. The Diabolical power you’re messing with. Any warrior with half a nose could.”

“You don’t know anything about it, demon taint.”

“I know evil in a way you never will.” I tried to keep a tight hold on my temper. “Whatever you’re serving will turn on you in the end. I could care less, but she thinks you can be saved. Yeah, the girl you’ve harassed for months. You don’t deserve her concern anymore than I do, but I’ll give you some advice this one time, and only for her sake. Whatever you were promised is a lie. Get out before you get killed.”

“I know what I’m doing, Harker. Stay out of my way before you get killed!”

Then he spat in my face.

The crowd around us got loud, but I ignored everything as Argaud skipped back several yards and looked ready to cut loose.

I had plenty of time to dodge what he flung at me, but there was someone behind me who couldn’t move so fast. Someone who would feel the pain. Someone who could die. So I stepped into the path of his power, blocked what I could, and bore the rest.

It was time to end this. Bracing my feet wide, I flicked one wrist and a thin whip of power struck out. I lashed it around Anderson’s legs and dragged him into Argaud, knocking him down. Then I made the whip wrap around them like a cocoon until it covered everything but their eyes and noses.

Someone bumped my elbow and, not sure if it was Maddy, I held the power in my hands instead of throwing it. Which was good, because it was the ancient warrior called Clem.

“It’s about time a warden showed up!” I snarled.

“You wield your power with such fine control,” he smirked, and I narrowed my eyes. Was he making fun of me? “After he spat at you, I thought you might hit him with something vicious. Good for you, showing mercy like that.”

Showing mercy? Me ?

Tara came over, pried Maddy off my back, and led her away. At the same time, I felt a tug on my sleeve and looked down into worried green eyes.

“How badly are you wounded?”

“It’s only pain. It — ”

“Doesn’t matter,” Gemma finished for me. “Come on, tough guy.”

I let her take my hand and lead me to where the others had gathered around Maddy.

“Are you okay, Kerry?” Chessie swallowed hard. “You’re covered in blood.”

“What happened to Peale?” I ignored her question. I’d survived much worse wounds.

“He took off as soon as you went over,” Jax told me. “Did you see his face when Reilly was touching Maddy? It looked like he wanted to vomit.”

I looked at Maddy. She was pale and her eyes were fever-bright, but she had stopped shaking and wasn’t crying.

While I was distracted, Gemma started to unbutton my shirt, but I grabbed her hands. We were in the middle of a crowded room. What was she thinking?

“You’re bleeding too much to argue,” Jax scowled. “Let her help you.”

“Yeah, Kerry,” John added. “None of us care about the dings in your hide and, if anyone else says something, I’ll knock their teeth down their throats.”

Scowling, I dropped my hands and stood still as she finished unbuttoning the shirt and pushed it back on my shoulders. Gigi, a hand over her mouth, ran for the bathroom as the others stared.

“Oh, my goodness.”

Gemma stared at me with an expression I couldn’t figure out, so I looked down and saw what I expected: bloody holes each the size of a dime. I’d managed to block the majority of the damage, so they were fairly shallow, less than a quarter of an inch into my skin. There was one on my shoulder, two on my abs, and one near my belly button.

“You told me the main objective in any fight is to avoid being hit,” she fussed as her fingers flew over the holes, zapping each one closed. “You practically threw yourself into his attack!”

“Maddy was there.” I bit back a hiss as her power burned. “I can block at least some damage. Can she? I didn’t know, and it wasn’t worth risking her life to find out.”

“There, that’s all of them. How do you feel now?”

“Um, there’s one more. I almost missed it. In my defense, they should have been in a tight group, but Argaud’s control is garbage, so they scattered like buckshot.”

“Let me see.”

“It’s bad.” I glanced toward the others.

“Kerry Harker, you show me right now !”

I hitched a thumb in my waistband and pulled it down to where my hip looked like ground beef with bits of bone and gristle mixed in.

Chessie gasped and John whistled, but the others seemed too shocked to speak.

“Always five when you hurl power like that,” I explained, “because it’s shooting out from your five fingers.”

“Can you do that?” Jax tilted his head as he looked at me.

I nodded.

“And how much bigger are the holes?” John wanted to know.

I glanced at him as Gemma gawked at my hip. The Messenger’s face was as blank as ever, but his eyes glinted with something that the tiger in me could understand. I curled my fingers into a circle the size of a golf ball.

“Yeah, definitely going to be on your team next semester,” he said.

I was starting to feel awkward, standing there half-naked as they stared at me, and heat fired through my cheekbones.

“Um, Gemma, not to be a jerk, but could you hurry up? I’m, uh, getting cold.”

When a bolt of lightning ripped through my side, I doubled over, my head ringing and my pulse roaring in my ears like a train.

Son of a whore, that hurts!

“I’m sorry, Kerry!” I heard Gemma saying over and over.

After a minute or three, I could breathe again. I braced my hands on my knees and raised my head. Jax was on one side and John on the other, ready to catch me if I keeled over. Gemma knelt in front of me with tears streaming down her face.

“Crybaby,” I gasped.

“You scared me.” She reached up and sank her fingers in my hair and pressed her forehead to mine.

“Sorry.”

“Let’s get you home,” Jax said.

“Good idea.”

Moving slowly, I straightened up and cut my eyes to my friends. They were all wide-eyed, and I realized I had scared them, too. Thinking about it, I realized this was the first time they’d seen me respond to pain.

Maybe it cost me an edge or a loss in my reputation, but the cold place inside me was suddenly warmer. It had been a long time since anyone had cared enough to worry about me. Well, besides Gemma, and that’s just about all she did.

“Kerry?” Maddy blinked up at me. “Thank you. For facing something I couldn’t. For being willing to take what was meant for me. For getting hurt in my place.”

“You’re welcome. That’s what friends do, right?”