Discern (49 page)

His body seemed to be floating. A pair of crystal red eyes appeared from the dark.

“Andrew,” I whispered desperately.

A hand was wrapped tightly around Barry’s throat. I heard a large, painful cracking sound as his arm was being bent backward. Barry shrieked in pain.

“Tell the lady you’re sorry,” a familiar voice growled from the shadows.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Barry screamed.

His body was thrown against the wall beside my head. He seemed to be lifeless as he fell from the wall and landed on the floor.

The same high pitch screech I had heard in the park and the diner blared in my eardrums. I threw my hands over my ears and shut my eyes, not wanting to take the chance of seeing what came along with the sound.

The room was suddenly silent. I carefully opened my eyes. Alec was standing beside my bed.

“Oh my god, I’m so happy to see you!” I cried.

“Are you all right?” he asked concerned.

“Yes. I am now,” I said, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

“Everything will be okay, but I can’t touch you, so we have to get the hell out of here the old fashioned way of walking,” he instructed.

“Okay,” I agreed, jumping off the bed.

The door squeaked. Someone was coming. Four large men appeared from the shadows.

“What the hell’s going on here?” A voice asked.

“All of you need to back up before you end up like your friend,” Alec growled.

The men looked around Alec and saw the lifeless body of Barry on the floor. “Leave her here, and we won’t cause any trouble,” they commanded.

“I don’t think so,” Alec said.

They all charged toward Alec at once. One by one, he slammed their bodies down on the floor. One man pulled out his gun and began shooting. It was like some scene out of a movie as the bullets hit Alec having no effect on him at all. He ripped the gun from the man’s hand. There was a faint sound of whimpering.

“Let’s go, Haley.” Alec’s voice was stern.

Stepping over their bodies, I hurried to be by Alec’s side. We made our way out of the building without another encounter or bloody incident. He cautiously scoured the parking lot for any other annoyances. The sweet smell of burning wood in the crisp air was a welcomed confirmation that my imprisonment was over. I followed close behind until we reached a small, silver sports car.

“Get in,” he instructed, holding open the door.

I quickly obliged. The leather seats were ice cold. Alec slid into the driver’s seat keeping his body as far from mine as possible. I huddled up against the side window to keep enough distance in between us. He started up the car and sped out of the parking lot.

“Where’s Andrew?” he asked flatly.

“I don’t know.”

“Where did he say he was going?” He rephrased his question.

“He said he had a mission for the government this weekend.”

“We both did. When did he leave?”

“Thursday night after class.”

“Where the hell is he?” he questioned aloud.

“I think I know.”

“Where?” he asked eagerly.

“The book is missing,” I said nervously.

“What?” he asked shocked.

“I looked everywhere, and I couldn’t find it.” My stomach was in knots.

“He’s such a fool.” His voice was angry, but there was a hint of worry, too.

“Can you not communicate with him?”

“I haven’t tried since the other day. I didn’t think I needed to—until tonight. I haven’t been able to get a clear signal off him since I started trying, but then again, when he’s with you, his frequency is usually scrambled.”

“My presence does that?” I asked stunned.

“Yes, your abilities are quite mysterious.”

“Well he’s definitely not with me,” I said. “Can you ask the others?”

“Haley, I can’t trust them to be truthful. If he has already shown them, and they’ve turned on him, he could be in danger.”

“That’s what I was worried about,” I sighed.

“I’ll take you to your house, where you need to stay until I come back for you,” he instructed.

“What about the agency, will they not look for me there?” I asked frightened.

“No, they won’t know you’re home. If they do show up, call my phone, and I’ll take care of them.” His voice was stern.

“I don’t have your number.”

“I’ll give it you. Grab a piece of paper from there,” he pointed.

Opening the glove box, I found a pen and piece of paper. “Okay.”

I nervously scribbled the numbers down before we pulled up to my house. He slid out of the car, disappearing around the back of the house. He quickly reappeared. “The house is clear.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling gently. “Can I ask you a quick question?”

“Sure.”

“How did you know I was there?”

“I heard you screaming,” he said softly.

“You knew my voice?”

“I recorded it in my memory,” he smiled.

“Why?”

“I may not be able to read your soul or touch you, but you seem to be a good person. You’ve put your faith in our kind without betraying us once and that means a lot.”

“I see,” I smiled. “And thanks for saving me.”

“You’re welcome,” he smiled a tad longer this time.

“I’d hug you but that would be bad,” I frowned.

“Yes. I’m really not in the mood for a bon fire tonight,” he smirked. “Now get inside and lock up.”

I raced to the front door and made my way inside the foyer. I turned to wave goodbye, but Alec was already gone. I slammed the door shut and quickly bolted it, activating the alarm in the process.

I inhaled deeply. I heard the sound of ringing—my phone was still in my bedroom. I rushed upstairs hoping it was Andrew calling—hoping he was safe.

After reaching the top of the stairs, I heard a faint sound of whimpering, as I grew closer to my room.

I froze—but only momentarily—before running into my father’s room and retrieving his handgun from the nightstand. I checked the clip, ensuring it was loaded.

Tiptoeing down the hall, I placed my finger over the trigger. I inhaled deeply one more time before I turned the corner into my bedroom.

“Oh my god!” I screamed, immediately dropping the gun.

24

Soul Searching

The gun crashed loudly on the floor, startling me ever so slightly. The outline of a human figure lay motionless on the floor. I quickly flipped on the light.

“Andrew!” I screamed, running toward him.

His head turned ever so slightly. “Stay away.” He tried to shout.

“What’s wrong?” I cried out, stopping dead in my tracks.

“I’m weak and you can’t come near me…,” he gasped.

“What’s wrong?” I asked panicked.

“I won’t be able to stop myself from taking your soul.” His breathing was ragged and uneven.

My body froze as I recognized the real danger of getting too close to him. My eyes carefully scanned his once muscular, strong body, which now appeared so frail and feeble. There were noticeable burn marks etched onto the side of his biceps.

The tight fitting shirt he had worn when he left was now loose and torn in several places. The color of his jeans was closer to brown rather than the dark blue they had once been. He whimpered in pain every few seconds. I could no longer allow him to suffer. I would have to set my fear aside.

“What do I do?” I asked frantically.

“I need Alec.”

“Should I call him?”

“Yes. I’ll give you the number,” he moaned.

“I have it already. But you’re right by my phone.”

He tossed the phone in my direction. “Ouch,” he lamented.

I dialed Alec’s number. The ringing stopped and it went to his voicemail.

“Don’t leave a message,” he grumbled.

Ending the call before his recorded message finished, I asked. “Why not?”

“He might be with them,” he said, wincing in pain.

“I was just with him.”

“What?!”

“He just saved my life,” I said, my voice cracking lightly.

“What happened?” He turned, looking at me—his eyes worried.

“Mr. Mitchell questioned me on your whereabouts.”

A weak growl rumbled from his chest. “He will pay.”

“Focus on Alec,” I said. Retribution was not needed at this time.

“Fine,” he mumbled. “Where did Alec say he was going?”

“To find you.”

“Where does he think I am?”

“I told him the book was missing,” I said anxiously.

“You noticed?” His voice dropped.

“Yes.”

“Sorry.”

“Doesn’t matter now,” I admitted.

“Alec’s in danger,” he warned.

“Why?!”

“If he goes searching for me, they’ll weaken him just as they did me.”

“Who?”

“My family.”

“They did this to you?” I asked horrified.

“Yes, they don’t believe the book’s authentic,” he explained breathlessly.

“Oh, no,” I muttered.

“It’ll be fine.” His voice shook.

“What do you need me to do?” I asked, yearning so badly to reach out and touch him.

“I need souls, and I’m not sure how to go about getting them.”

My mind raced as I tried to figure out some way to help Andrew regain his strength without putting any good souls in harm’s way.

“Can you get in the car with me?”

“I’m not sure if I have the strength to move. I barely made it here.”

“You have to try,” I begged.

“Your car’s too small and enclosed. I could unintentionally hurt you,” he said painfully.

“Oh, great,” I muttered. “I don’t even have my car. It’s still at the shelter,” I said aloud.

“What happened?” he asked angrily.

“They abducted me while I was locking up the shelter, but it doesn’t matter now—Alec saved me,” I said, trying to smooth things over again.

“I’ll kill every last one of them that touched you,” he snarled.

“Well that isn’t going to happen unless we get you well again,” I reminded.

“We don’t have your car, so what’s the plan now?” he asked, moaning lightly.

“My father’s SUV is in the garage,” I remembered aloud.

“That might work.” He let out a heavy sigh as he gripped his side in pain.

“Okay.”

“But what’s the plan after I get into the car?”

“I have something in mind,” I said uneasily.

“I trust it won’t put you in danger?”

“No, it won’t,” I lied.

After dashing downstairs, I frantically pulled open the drawer below the kitchen sink where my father hid the keys. I snatched the extra set and ran out into the garage.

My father’s rarely used SUV was sitting in the third stall. I started folding down the second and third row seats. Andrew was going to need as much distance from me as possible. I turned to run back upstairs, but Andrew was leaning against the door waiting for me to finish.

“Roll down the window in the back and shut that side door,” he said as he slowly limped to the car.

I did as he instructed with no questions.

“Get in and open the stall door,” he said, still holding his side.

I slid into the driver’s seat and pushed the button on the remote that was hooked on the visor. The rear door popped open, and I felt the car shake as he got in. The door slammed, and I looked back in the rear view mirror.

Andrew was huddled up, leaning against the back leaving plenty of space between him and me.

“Where are we going?” he moaned loudly.

“We have one stop to make before we can get you what you need,” I explained, speeding out from the driveway.

“Not a long one?” he gasped.

“No, just a minute at the most.”

My eyes darted from the windshield to the rear view mirror every few seconds. It was hard to watch him suffer and know that my touch would not only give him the strength he needed, but I would cease to exist at the same time. What he really was, was finally setting in. He truly was dangerous, but nothing could discourage my feelings now.

I slowly pulled into the parking lot of the shelter. The only car parked there was mine. I was positive Ryan had seen this and tried calling me, but I cancelled all the missed calls on my phone when I dialed Alec. An explanation would eventually be required.

I dug around in my pocket and pulled out the key. I had noticed it in my pocket when Barry was forcing himself upon me. Mr. Mitchell must have slipped it back in my pocket to avoid any unnecessary issues.