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He reached out to console me just as the front door flew open. I jumped back and screamed. Kaidan stood there with disheveled hair, his forehead creased with worry.
The neighbor’s door across the hall opened, and a bent old man peered out over his oxygen tank.
“What in God’s name is going on over there?” he asked in a wheezing voice.
“Nothing, Mr. Mayer, I’m so sorry.”
I pulled Kaidan inside and closed the door.
“What are you doing here?!” I asked.
His eyes flickered toward our hall, where Patti now stood, holding her robe closed and taking in the scene. I turned back to Kaidan, panic building inside of me.
“They could come back any second and see us together and tell your father! Go home!”
He stood in defiance, but as he glanced at Kopano his facade cracked, revealing a desolate expression that broke my heart.
“Yes, I’ll go,” Kaidan said. “You’ve got help.”
I reached for his arm as he turned, but he slipped through my fingers and walked out.
I sat on the couch, burying my face in my hands. I hadn’t meant to make him think I was choosing Kopano over him. He had to know it wasn’t like that. I was scared for him.
And what in the world were they both doing here, anyway? Had they been somewhere nearby listening out for me all night?
“I will go to him,” Kopano said, leaving the apartment and closing the door. I pushed my hearing around to find them at the bottom of the stairs, just next to the sheet of rain falling from the roof like a waterfall. I focused hard, trying to ignore the spooky feeling that still held me.
Patti peeked around the corner and I waved her over, signaling that I was listening to something. She turned on a side lamp and sat down next to me, rubbing my chilled limbs to try to warm me.
“Let us go somewhere and talk,” Kopano said to Kaidan.
“We can talk here. She never uses her senses.”
Whoops. I was officially eavesdropping, but I didn’t feel guilty. I was too desperate for insight into Kaidan’s mind. They spoke in low tones, hard to hear with the rush of rainwater.
“Do not be upset, Kai. I feel only concern for her.”
“I’ll bet you do.”
Kaidan’s clipped, harsh response was in direct contrast to Kopano’s tranquil words.
“Even you are willing to risk yourself for her, brother.”
“That’s because I actually know her. What’s your reason? I suppose you’d like to get to know her, too?”
“You have made it very clear that she is not available in that way. Be reasonable. There is plainly more at stake here. I only wished to help.”
“There’s nothing you can do, Kope!”
They got quiet and I could hear Kaidan’s ragged breaths through his nose.
“Please trust me, brother,” Kopano said. “There is no stronger weapon for Pharzuph to use than your concern for each other. If he learns that you were here to console her, you will lose all leverage with him. Do not fool yourself into thinking he will not discard you.”
“Yes, some of us have to worry about such things. Thank you for the reminder.”
The sounds that came next iced my blood: heavy footfalls crashing into puddles, and the metallic zing of a switchblade. I stood up with a hand to my heart. Then there was a deep, gruff chuckle. My father’s.
“Put it away, boy. Sorry to break up the testosterone party.”
I jumped off the couch and ran from the apartment, down the cement stairs, until I nearly crashed into the three of them at the bottom. My father was absolutely soaked, beads of water covering his skull as he glowered at Kaidan.
“Dad!” I slapped a hand over my mouth. As he dragged his eyes from Kaidan to me, I experienced a punch of knowledge.
“It was you,” I said, heart pounding. “You sent them.”
He made no attempt to deny it.
I sagged back on my heels. The demons weren’t sent by someone who wanted to hurt me. It had been my father, showing some serious tough love.
A light sound of shuffling came from the landing. Patti surveyed us from the top of the steps in her robe and slippers.
“It’s okay,” I assured her. “I’ll be in soon.” She nodded, staring hard at my dad for a second before she went back up. He turned his attention back to Kopano and Kaidan, who kept their eyes trained at his feet.
“This little thing”—he made a triangle in the air, pointing between Kopano, Kaidan, and me—“isn’t gonna fly. Don’t worry yourselves about Anna anymore. You hear?” They both gave single nods. “Then get on out of here. And keep your heads in the game.”
There was only the sound of rain now, then their cars starting and tires sloshing away too fast. Before my father could apologize or give me another sad look, I wrapped my arms around him. He let out a deep breath.
“Will you come in?” I asked, against his chest.
“I’d better not, after that look from Patti.” He ran a hand down my hair. “Does she know about those two boys fighting over you?”
“They weren’t fighting over me. And she cares about Kaidan.”
“Hmph. Well, I’ll be here at three o’clock this afternoon. Warn Patti, ’cause I’ll need to come in and talk to you both first. Now go get some shut-eye. You’re gonna need it. And don’t worry. No more spirits will bother you tonight.”
A giant bolt of lightning lit up the night sky. My father kissed the top of my head and disappeared into the rain as a roar of thunder shook the foundation under my feet.