Endless (4 page)

I slumped against the pillows. ‘She’s probably faking the fainting spells. She doesn’t belong here, Dad.’

He sighed and put an arm around my shoulder for one of our traditional awkward hug moments.

‘Vi, I know what you’re saying. She’s made choices that we don’t understand or agree with, but I think we need to give her the chance to get well. Once she is, then … we’ll work out what to do.’

Yeah, right.

I pulled away from him. ‘I’ve gotta have a shower,’ I said, standing up.

‘I was hoping to see you in your dress tonight. You know, have a photo together or something.’

I shrugged. ‘I’m getting ready with Steph,’ I said, omitting the part about us meeting up at Hades.

‘She
could’ve come here. There was a time when she was here more than at her own home.’

I took a final sip of water and re-capped it. ‘It’s a bit crowded here already.’

Dad stood and took my hands in his, looking down at the bracelets that were covering my markings. ‘Any news?’

I shook my head. ‘Griffin’s in touch with the Academy daily. They’ve had some sightings but nothing concrete.’

In fact, it was as if Phoenix and Lilith had dropped off the face of the earth. But at the same time, I knew they hadn’t. Something was brewing. I could feel it – and it wasn’t a happy feeling.

‘You’re not “hunting” tonight, are you?’ Dad asked-slash-insisted.

I smiled. ‘Not tonight.’ I’d been given the night off for our school dance.

He kissed me on the top of my head. He smelled like Dad – shaving cream and aftershave.

‘She’s awake you know, if you wanted to say goodbye before you head off.’

He moved towards the dining table, where he had set up a makeshift office.

I laughed. ‘I’ll keep that in mind.’

CHAPTER THREE

‘Can you hear Destiny laugh as she tiptoes toward you? Destiny is heartless.’

Anonymous

T
he
days ahead were full of landmark events, starting with the end of year dance that night, the Fenton art course starting the next day – yes, weekend attendance was expected – and on Monday, my official graduation.

I can’t say I was expecting great things from my graduation. There was no doubt my exam performance had been substandard. But I was at least proud I’d made it through to the end of high school. Plus, Steph’s speech would be a guaranteed highlight. She was valedictorian – and not afraid of saying, well … whatever came to mind.

It was the Fenton course that I was really looking forward to. I hoped those six weeks would be my stepping stone into the arts community and, all dramas aside, a chance for me to be normal.

Steph had bought me an incredible leather portfolio so large it would fit full canvases and all of my supplies. I knew that walking down the street with it would fill me with pride.

As
I entered Hades with my dress – in protective carrier – slung over my shoulder, I smiled at the thought of trading it in for my portfolio the next day.

I made my way to Dapper’s apartment through the bar. I knocked on the heavy door and called out so they knew it was me. Dapper had been attacked by Phoenix’s exiles a month ago, when we were trying to set up an exchange. Phoenix had double-crossed us. Dapper, Onyx, and most of all, Steph, had paid the price.

I felt the same twinge of guilt every time I went to his place now and saw the steel reinforced door and listened to the various locks being undone. Dapper had once prided himself on his position of neutrality, but Phoenix hadn’t cared; his exiles came anyway. Dapper almost died that night and it had taken something from him that I wasn’t sure he would ever get back.

‘Remind me again why it is I don’t seem to be able to get rid of you?’ he mumbled in greeting before looking over his shoulder to Steph, adding, ‘Or her.’

The truth? Both of us were currently avoiding our homes like the plague. The last I’d heard, Steph’s mother had been ‘entertaining’ a particularly crude, wealthy and handsy businessman whom Steph could barely tolerate.

‘Because you’d be lost without us and as much as it annoys you, you get satisfaction out of knowing our presence annoys Onyx even more.’

‘I heard that,’ Onyx’s voice rang out from inside. ‘And it is entirely true. It’s some form of twisted punishment.’ His tone held no bite.

Dapper grunted, but I saw the corners of his mouth lift to an almost-smile.

I
patted him on the shoulder as I walked in to find Steph right at home; dress hanging on the edge of the stand-up lamp, shoes off, hair wet and dripping on the carpet where she sat cross-legged, snacking on biscuits and flipping through
Vogue
.

She glanced up at me. ‘If you want food, eat now. Nothing permitted in the two-hour lead-up.’ She patted her stomach. ‘Otherwise it’ll show.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Are you planning on not eating all night?’

She fixed a serious look on me. ‘Violet,’ was all she said.

I took that as a yes, dropped my bag and slung my dress over the sofa before sitting beside her on the floor and grabbing a biscuit. I didn’t bother explaining I wouldn’t be sticking to the no-food rule. No dress was worth that.

It wasn’t like I had anyone to impress.

We were going as a group: Steph and Salvatore, Zoe and Spence – who’d somehow managed to qualify for graduation too – and Jase with me. I’d felt uncomfortable about going with Steph’s brother, but Zoe assured me she would be doing everything to command his attention for the evening.

Jase, apparently, had developed a small interest in me. It was flattering, since I used to drool over him in the pre-Lincoln days. But even though I couldn’t be with Lincoln there was no way I could consider anything else with anyone else and … My heart just couldn’t take another male complication.

I looked over at Onyx, who was sitting at the minibar, with a large glass of something mind-numbing, I assumed, and an open laptop in front of him.

‘What are you doing?’ I asked.

‘Trying to track down some old exile chat sites.’

My eyes widened. ‘You’re kidding, right?’

‘Absolutely
not,’ he grinned.

‘Why?’ I asked suspiciously. The last thing we needed was Onyx getting back in touch with his old followers and leaking information to them.

‘Don’t panic, rainbow. I’m just seeing if the threads are still active. Thought one might mention a Phoenix or Lilith sighting. They’re quite the celebrities these days. The “first exile”, returned from the pits of Hell and her exile son that bested you.’

There was serious envy in his voice. ‘Jealous, much?’

‘
Very
much.’ He smiled at me wickedly and it sent a shiver down my spine. Reminders that Onyx had spent the majority of his existence as a force of all things corrupt and insane was never something I could afford to forget. For now, though, it seemed his humanity was taking shape and somehow, he’d earned my trust. But that didn’t mean I could be complacent. After all, he’d almost succeeded in killing both Lincoln and me in the past. That’s a hard thing to forget.

‘Have you found anything?’ Steph asked, interrupting my thoughts.

‘Some murmurs here and there around the world, a little activity in Europe and on the east coast of America. Whatever they’re doing, they’re getting around, which isn’t good.’

‘Why?’ Steph asked.

He closed the laptop. ‘Because it means they have a plan.’

He made a show of looking at his watch then back at me – up and down. ‘You only have two hours left. Do you at least plan on looking half-decent for your date?’

I gave him a tight-lipped smile. ‘It’s not a date.’

He smiled back, broadly.

‘It’s
not …’ I warned.

Steph looked down, flipping through her magazine again.

‘There’s always one way to know for sure,’ Onyx offered smugly.

‘And what’s that?’

‘When he arrives to pick you up, if you’re going as a group he’ll shake hands with the guys and kiss each girl on the cheek. If he’s there for you alone, he’ll just nod at the others, before leaning in to kiss your cheek. Only you.’

I rolled my eyes and threw a cookie at him. ‘You are such a weirdo!’

Dapper walked over to a cupboard, pulled out a hand vacuum and passed it to me with a growl. ‘Every last crumb.’

‘It was his fault,’ I sulked even as I started to clean up.

When Steph and I finally emerged from the bathroom Zoe was there, dressed in a short midnight-blue dress that perfectly matched the coloured tips of her short brown hair.

Looking between her and Steph, who was wearing a beautiful vintage dress – golden silk, strapless with lace trimmings, the two could not be more opposite.

I’d opted for my uniform black. The dress was a simple halter-neck, set off by a delicate gold chain hanging low on the fabric. Hair up, I’d kept my make-up focused on the eyes, using a smoky effect – one I’d copied from Morgan – highlighted by golden edges.

‘Can you believe we’re going out for a night to have pure fun? No exiles, no angels, no Grigori strategy – just us, music, dancing
and seriously spiked punch!’ Steph looked like she was about to explode with delirium.

‘And for some of us, the after party!’ Zoe added suggestively, looking at her with raised eyebrows.

Steph’s smile broadened. ‘That might have something to do with it,’ she said, slyly. But we both knew tonight was the night she was planning to take things all the way with Salvatore.

I smiled, despite the twinge in my heart.

Steph’s phone beeped.

‘The boys are here,’ she said, before almost sprinting to the door and glancing over her shoulder to add, ‘Okay, so I’m not quite up to the standard make-them-wait protocol tonight.’

Zoe and I laughed as we followed her out.

‘You know I have every intention of stealing your date from you tonight,’ Zoe said as we walked down the stairs.

‘He’s not my date,’ I said quickly. ‘Steal away.’

Dapper caught sight of us the moment we entered the bar area and something in his expression looked suspiciously like pride. Definitely. I beamed, even as I felt a stab of regret at not having included Dad in the preparations.

However, my attention was quickly diverted and I started scanning the room. I’d felt his presence before we came downstairs but now it was overwhelming. Sure enough, Lincoln was sitting at the bar with Nathan and Becca, his eyes on me. On autopilot, my feet started to carry me towards him.

‘You look beautiful,’ a voice said from behind me. I stopped and spun around to see Jase, looking quite beautiful himself in a well-fitting tux. Made to measure, I was sure – he was a Morris after all. His eyes, hooded by lush dark eyebrows that were
in complete contrast to his platinum-blond hair, took in my dress and his smile made me blush.

‘Thanks,’ I said, feeling awkward.

‘Hey, mate,’ Spence said, slapping Jase on the shoulder. Jase stumbled forward. I glared at Spence, who shouldn’t have been so careless with his Grigori strength.

Jase looked around at the rest of the group, giving them an all-inclusive hello nod before turning back to me, putting his hands on my shoulders and leaning in towards me with his whole body. Then he kissed me on the cheek.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Onyx watching with a huge grin.

Son of a …

Onyx wasn’t the only one who reacted. From behind me I felt the spike of Lincoln’s fury. I couldn’t stop myself from turning and looking over my shoulder into his green eyes that were ablaze. He was already on his feet and moving towards us. I sighed.

This will not be good.

He stopped beside me, but focused on Jase.

Jase held out his hand. ‘Lincoln. Did you come by to see us off?’

Lincoln shook his hand in response and I could almost feel the effort it took him not to snap it in two.

‘No. I just stopped in with Becca and Nate to have a drink.’

‘Oh, right,’ Jase said, showing his disbelief and following it up with a dangerous smirk. ‘Well, I get that you have a big-brother thing with Violet, so I promise I’ll take good care of her and not keep her out too late.’