Page 41

Kerry

I saw Peale approaching out of the corner of my eye and moved , no thought involved beyond getting Gemma as far away as possible before a fight broke out. I left her in a place where I knew she’d be safe and shot out of the water.

I had been able to ignore Peale for the most part, satisfied as long as I knew my enemy’s location, but the moron had walked over and was standing three feet away with a determined look on his face.

Without hesitation, I stepped into the kid’s space and immediately could sense the terror pouring off him.

Something else, too . Something I can almost smell —

On impulse, before fury could steal my reason, I blinked my eyes on and looked him over. I didn’t see anything, but there was something dark. Something hidden…

“Hey, John, come here.”

Seconds later, both Jax and John were standing next to me. John cocked his head as he stared at Peale, then coated the younger boy with purple power.

“There’s an illusion here,” he muttered. “Give me a sec and I’ll unravel it.”

As he worked, we watched Peale try to form words, his face twisting up and his whole body shaking. When he opened his mouth, a fist-sized bruise appeared out of nowhere on his left cheek.

Just that quick, I understood what was wrong.

“Looks like we found Argaud’s thrall. One of them, at least.”

“You’re sure?” Jax looked at me.

“I’m sure.”

“Almost finished,” John said. “And done.”

As Hell-rot went up my nose, I had to fight not to gag.

“Oh, man, that’s nasty.” I wanted to spit, but knew it wouldn’t do any good. “Something Diabolical for sure.”

“What do we do?” Jax asked.

“First, get the others out of here,” John said. “None of them have powers to help with this, and I don’t want Tara in danger.”

I started to agree, but Peale finally managed to choke out a few words.

“Watch your girl. Reilly’s determined to use her.”

His bottom lip split and blood splattered down his t-shirt as every word became a wound.

“He won’t get past me,” I vowed.

“He’ll find a way. When he wants something, he takes it.”

A deep gash opened along Peale’s forehead and spread into his black hair. Blood ran down the side of his face in a river and, when he didn’t try to wipe it away, I knew why the kid had come over.

“Don’t say anymore, Travis!” Gemma’s shout came from behind me.

“Stay back!” I twisted my head to glare at her. “I mean it. That goes for all of you. You, too, Jax. Give me some room to work. I wanna have a look at what’s got him.”

“Do you want me to get someone?” John backed away with a hand on Jax’s arm to pull him along.

“I dunno. I’m used to taking care of things on my own, but I guess we should since we’re at school. Who? One of our wardens?”

“Clem,” Jax suggested. “He’s a warrior, he’s powerful, and he probably has loads of experience, as old as he is.”

“Yeah.” I liked the feel of that. “Sounds good. Will you get him, John? And Jax, you watch the others. Especially you-know-who.”

“I am standing right here!” Gemma huffed.

“Whatever this is, it has some power to it.” I tried to explain calmly when all I wanted to do was get her away from whatever reeked of so much evil. “Wait until I see if it’s safe. If he can be helped, I’ll tell you.”

“And if he can’t?”

I shrugged. It was better for her to think there was hope.

Turning back to Peale, I saw the boy was still on his feet, despite more than a dozen deep wounds. Making a decision, I used my index finger to draw a loop around us, and a circle of blue fire flared at our feet before it faded into a nearly invisible line that hummed like an electric fence.

Peale fell to his knees, then all the way over onto his side. He shook his head, as if waking from a long sleep, then reared up unto his hands and knees and vomited. The kid flopped onto his back and lay there, gasping and shaking, as tears rolled down his face.

I took a deep breath. Memories stirred like angry snakes in a pit. How often had I done this same thing after the demon had gone on a bender?

“What are you doing to him, Kerry?” Gemma called out.

“I’m not doing anything to him. He’s reacting to being freed from Argaud’s control. Trust me, okay? I wouldn’t hurt him without a reason.”

“I do trust you.”

“Then stop fussing, worrywart.”

Without waiting for her to respond, I turned my eyes on again and saw a bright glow under the kid’s t-shirt, coming from what looked like a pendant hanging off a chain necklace. I figured that was what I was looking for, but ran my eyes over him again to make sure I didn’t miss anything.

“I can breathe again,” Peale whispered. “I’ve been under his thumb since my second week here. I didn’t have the right kind of power to fight him or escape.” “What’s your power?” I figured it might help the kid to talk it out. “And don’t look into my eyes right now.”

“I’m an archivist.” He sat up and riveted his gaze on the floor.

“Pretend you’re talking to someone with a second-grade education.” I squatted next to him.

“Oh. Um, a librarian. A researcher and linguist. I mean, someone who studies languages. It used to be called a bibliothecary until the Council decided to modernize it about a hundred years ago—”

“Peale, I don’t care. What level are you?”

“Ah. Sorry.” He put back his shoulders and wiped his face with the back of one hand. “I’m a First, and I’m strong. Really strong. But nowhere near strong enough, I guess.”

I struggled out of my wet t-shirt and slid my hand through one of the sleeves to make a sort of glove. Then, I inched my fingers under the gold chain at his neck and pulled until the pendant popped out.

“Peale,” I said in admiration, “you may be a bookworm, but you’re a tough one. This thing is pure evil. To survive wearing it for months, you must be more like a book dragon .”

“It’s been a nightmare. Every time I try to go against him, it hurts me. I can’t even speak freely, if it countermands — I mean, goes against his will.”

“Was it Reilly?” Maddy called out in a fierce voice. “Was he the one who did this to you?”

Peale turned his face away and said it was.

I heard the others talking behind us, but I was busy examining the necklace. To human and most neph eyes, it would look like an old coin with its details blurred from age. To me, it was a black glob that pulsed like a heart, each beat stealing more of Peale’s spirit.

“Kill me,” he whispered. “I’m done. I can’t take it anymore.”

At least I had an angel to save me . All Peale has right now is me.

Poor kid.

“Nah. It’s gonna be okay, Dragon.” I glanced over my shoulder at the others, careful to keep my glowing eyes on the concrete deck as I raised my voice for them to hear me. “I’m not exactly sure what’s gonna happen when I do this. I don’t want anyone hurt if there’s a backlash or something, so you all go to the gym and wait. And don’t let anyone else come in unless it’s Clem.”

“What about you?” Gemma asked.

“What did I say about fussing?”

“But, Kerry — ”

“Angel, both of us will probably survive.”

She squeaked, but Jax moved her and the others toward the door.

“Call out if you need help,” he said.

“Will do.”

“Travis?” Maddy said. He didn’t respond, only curled into a tighter ball. “After Kerry fixes this, I’d like to talk with you, okay?”

He didn’t move or speak. She hesitated for a moment, like she wanted to say more, but turned and followed the others.

When I was sure the room was clear, I shook my head.

“You should have said something to her,” I told him.

“After Reilly found out we went on a date, well, you know what happened at the dance. He made me stand there and watch. I couldn’t do anything to stop him. How can I face her now?”

“Argaud’s a real piece of work. I hope I’m around to see it when someone finally offs him. Still, you should talk to her. She doesn’t sound ready to give up on you yet.” I turned my attention back to the pendant in my hand. “Did the necklace you took off Aspen Abernathy look like this?”

His eyes widened.

“How did you know about th—”

“Did it?’ I cut him off.

“Yeah. I made up a story when a warden caught me in the morgue. Told him she was Reilly’s girl and he needed a family heirloom back.”

So she musta been the female thrall that Argaud told the harpy was failing.

“Was she a librarian, too?”

“Nah. I think she might have been a wrangler. She and Maddy were close.” He shut his eyes. “See? Another way he got back at me for liking her. Killing one of her friends.”

“Aspen committed suicide.”

“After being Argaud’s slave for a few months, I can understand why.”

“You tried taking this off, right?” I could ask him more questions about Argaud later.

“Sure. Dozens of times.”

“Well, I’m gonna take it off. Short of killing Argaud, it’s the only way to break his hold on you. And, believe me, there is little I would enjoy doing more than killing him myself, but Gemma would be upset if I did.”

“Even after he’s harassed her so much?”

“Yeah, I know, right? Puzzles me, too. I’m still struggling with the concept of mercy as a virtue, and she would comfort her worst enemy.”

Yeah, my girl’s heart was like nothing I could comprehend, but I’d be a fool to risk losing it.

I blinked my eyes “off” for a moment to look at him. His gray eyes were bright and clear, and he seemed steadier, although I still had to help him to his feet.

“You don’t have to run, but don’t take your time, either. Wait ’til I break the circle or you’ll just bounce off it. And tell Gemma I said it’s safe to heal you.”

“I’m fine. I don’t need healing.”

“I saw everything, Dragon. Every cut. Every bruise. And taking this off is gonna hurt, too. Let her heal you and don’t give her a hard time about it.” “Okay, okay.”

“You ready?” “More than.”

“Well, it looks like you boys have everything under control here,” a voice came from the doorway.

I swiveled my head to see Clem hobbling toward us. The old man’s face was twisted up in grimace, telling me he could smell the Diabolical power now that John had destroyed the veil hiding it.

“Always good to have back-up,” I said. “You can see my circle, can’t you?”

“Yes, yes.” The old man stopped with his toes awful close to my singing blue line. “I’m not blind yet, boy. What— Is this electrocution on the outside of your circle?”

“Yeah. I don’t need any surprises while I’m doing whatever I’m doing.”

“That’s hard core, son. Well, let me x-ray him before you take it off. Watch your eyes, Peale. Harker, you know how to do this?”

“Do what?”

Twin spotlights of blinding white light swam all over Peale’s body before stopping on the pendant.

“Oh, yeah.” I nodded. “If that’s what you mean by x-ray.”

“What do you call it? Laser beam? Headlights?”

“Uh, I just think of it as turning my eyes on.”

Clem grunted, reached up and scratched his cheek, then blinked his eyes back to normal.

“Well, are we going to stand here all day? Take it off of him, son, so we can examine it. Peale, I sent the messenger boy after Nathaniel Snyder. When he gets here, tell the others to let him in.”

“Mr. Snyder? The teacher?” When Clem grunted again, Peale nodded.

I turned my own eyes on again, hooked my covered fingers through the chain, sent a jolt of power into it, and yanked it over Peale’s head. Ignoring his groaning, I broke the circle, and he took off running, even though I’d told him he didn’t need to.

“Do you even know what you’re doing?” Clem flicked on his eyes again. “Or do you just make it up as you go?”

“What do you think? I was raised by a demon.”

“Then I think you do know what you’re doing, just not how you’re doing it. You couldn’t teach it or explain it, but by God you can use it, natural as breathing.” The old man twisted up his mouth. “At least your demon did that much for you.”

“Every cloud has a silver lining, eh, Clem?”

Mr. Snyder’s voice floated over to us, and I turned to look. I only remembered to turn my eyes off at the last second and felt my face heat up at such a clumsy mistake.

“Have a look at what this kid found, Nat. Right up your alley.”

Mr. Snyder’s face lit up with what I guessed was excitement as he moved next to me, and I stretched my arm out as far as I could so he wouldn’t get any closer.

“Take it,” I grumbled.

“You got it, son.” Clem glanced at me.

“You don’t understand,” I started to say, but Mr. Snyder crowded closer, and panic closed up my throat.

Then he grabbed my wrist, maybe to turn the pendant to a different angle, and all my defenses triggered. I spiked up, and he hissed as he pulled back his bloody hand.

“Don’t touch me!” I shouted.

“Sorry, Harker.” He didn’t even yell at me or anything. “Hank warned me, but I forgot. My fault.”

“Calm down, boy.” Clem’s voice was steady and quiet. “You’re okay.”

My lungs pumping like pistons, I glanced at him. He looked like he was planning something, waving one hand at Mr. Snyder to shoo him back, and I almost smirked.

Good luck with that, old man. Ain’t nobody ever been able to hold me when I lose it. Nobody .

#

Gemma

“His back looks great, Gemma.” Jax leaned one shoulder against the wall and smiled at me. “No wonder you were drained.”

John had returned with Clem, who sent the messenger off for someone else. Shortly after that, Travis had screamed and belted into the gym and collapsed in a heap at my feet. After he’d explained what had happened, I healed him and he fell into a deep sleep with Maddy holding his head in her lap. Finally, John appeared with Mr. Snyder, who rushed into the pool area with curiosity burning in his eyes.

No one wanted to leave, even though the bell had sounded ages ago.

“What happened to him?” Tara asked now. “I’m not being nosy. I just don’t want to say the wrong thing, you know?”

“I don’t ask.” I shook my head. “I let him tell me what he wants, when he wants. With his back, I did the best I could, but they were very old and very deep scars. Those are the only ones he’s let me heal so far.”

“He told me about it.” Jax’s eyes burned orange like candle flames. “One of his foster parents tried to beat the demon out of him when he was ten years old.”

I closed my eyes on a wave of pain. I hated the thought of anyone hurting a child, but that it was Kerry who’d been cruelly abused as a little boy, and by someone he should have been able to trust, shattered my heart.

“He said he wore a shirt swimming today because he didn’t want Tara or Maddy to throw up looking at his scars,” I said.

“What?” Tara swung her head to look at me, her eyes wide with shock. “Why would we do that?”

“He notices everything. Gigi vomited a few times when I had to take his shirt off to heal him. He thought it was seeing his scars that made her sick.”

“You know, it’s a miracle he isn’t psychotic. Do you remember the story he told about the Hellcat?” John nudged my arm with his elbow. “How he destroyed it to end its suffering? A Hellcat , which has no concept of gratitude or mercy, and he knows that as well as I do. How did he have any compassion left?”

“He’s an amazing person.” I smiled. “That’s how.”

“Why don’t you just tell him how you feel?” Jax wore a grin that I didn’t like.

“What are you talking about?” “Oh, come on, Gemma,” Tara teased, “everyone knows you like him!”

“ What? ” My face was on fire.

“It’s true, tomato. Anyone with eyes can see—”

Kerry’s angry shout cut Jax off.

“Doesn’t sound good.” Tara grimaced.

I took off and Jax reached out a hand, probably intending to hold me back. He was too slow, and I slipped through the door, ignoring him as he groaned about how Kerry was going to kill him.

#

Kerry

Gemma’s voice calling my name cooled my panic like an ice cube on a wasp sting.

Running toward me, she asked what was wrong, but I was too jacked up to speak. It was all I could do to shed the spikes and force my free hand to unfist. I held it out to her, she grabbed it with both of hers, and I calmed down in a heartbeat.

Yeah, nobody could take me if I lost it, but there was one person who could pull me back from the very brink.

Mr. Snyder’s chuckle and Clem’s loud cough made Gemma’s face flush red, and I cleared my throat before looking at the old warrior.

“So, do we destroy this thing or what?”

“Well, it is evidence of a crime,” Mr. Snyder said, “and I would like to examine it further.”

“Fine by me. You can have it.”

“Can it hurt Travis anymore?” Gemma glanced from one warden to the other.

“No,” Clem spoke up. “Although the maker knows the boy’s free. And if anyone’s skin touches it, the maker would have an opportunity to ensnare a new victim.”

“I’ll handle it very carefully,” Mr. Snyder said, “and make sure it’s safe before I hand it over to the investigators. It will all be properly documented.”

“Does Peale know his attacker?” Clem asked.

When Gemma shifted and looked uncomfortable, I answered.

“Reilly Argaud. I promised her I wouldn’t kill him, or he’d already be dead.”

“What will happen now?” Gemma squeezed my hand.

“I’ll file the charges against him myself,” Mr. Snyder said. “Then, a formal investigation will be conducted, followed by a hearing if enough evidence of guilt is established.”

“Stay alert, Harker.” Clem kept his voice low and quiet. “Going through official channels takes time, and someone who’s willing to steal another person’s will won’t hesitate to seek revenge.”

“He’s welcome to try.” I grinned.

“No, boy, you don’t understand. The way to hurt you isn’t to hurt you , is it?” He tilted his head toward Gemma.

When I realized what he meant, I couldn’t even form words around the fury that filled me, and I blasted power through the pendant.

“Did you do what I think you did?” Clem squinted at me as Mr. Snyder looked shocked.

“What were you thinking, Harker?!” he sputtered.

“What’s the big deal?”

“ What’s the big deal ?” he parroted. “Reilly Argaud’s probably lying on a floor somewhere bleeding from his eyes and ears!”

“Come on, Nat. He only sucker-punched the kid,” Clem laughed. “Argaud deserved it, too. I’d have done a lot worse.”

“And your name’s Clemency ?” I wanted to be sure.

“It’s William, actually, and that’s a long story best saved for later.”

With a shake of my head, I wrapped my t-shirt around the pendant and made sure none of the necklace was showing before handing it over to Mr. Snyder. I was ready to wash my hands of the whole adventure.

As the wardens bent over the necklace, I glanced at Gemma and saw she was watching me with something in her eyes that made my stomach tighten.

“Let’s get out of here, Short and Sweet.” I lifted my chin toward the door. “I dunno about you, but I’m getting cold!”

“Okay, Goofy.”

I dropped her hand and glowered at her. When she winked, I lunged for her with a growl, and my long arms almost caught her, but she dodged with a shriek and ran for it.

And what could I do but follow the sound of her laughter?