Foretell (8 page)

“Damned right you should be scared, Dogaru.”

Xavier’s eyes lit up. “Constantin,” he acknowledged in a snarl. “Should’ve known you’d be part of this. Hiding the oracle, eh? How long did you think you could get away with it for?”

Nico stood, preparing to attack, but Gabe came through the doorway a moment later, holding a handgun. He clicked the safety off and pointed it directly at Nico. “Don’t move,” he ordered.

I smiled gleefully.

My smile faded as I felt myself being dragged towards Xavier. He tucked me firmly beneath his arm.

The cold blade of a knife pressed against my throat.

“Back up,” Xavier ordered.

He pressed the tip down firmly to my skin. All coherent thoughts left my head. Every slight movement of Xavier’s hand became more pronounced as I waited in fear of having my throat slit. Tears misted, clouding my eyes, but I managed to keep myself in check.
If you’re going to go, go bravely
, I told myself.
Don’t be a coward.

Rex met my eyes as if he were signaling me. I watched him intently, waiting for his next move. He leaned forward, just slightly, letting me know he was coming for me. All in one quick movement, he grabbed Xavier’s forearm and I ducked, the knife barely scraping my chin. With me out of reach, Rex swung at Xavier, sending him flying into the wall.

Nico moved in reflex, preparing to attack Rex from behind. Gabe cut him off short, and brought his gun to Nico’s temple. “This is a friendly reminder that a gun is being pointed at you. It’s been a while since I’ve shot one of these and I’m feeling trigger-happy. I wouldn’t move again, if I were you.”

Nico scowled at Gabe. But he didn’t move again.

“You won’t get away with this,” Xavier managed between breaths. He wiped at a bloody nose. Rex reached for the knife, which had landed on the floor. He handed it to Gabe, who tucked it into the back of his pants.

“Funny, that’s the same thing I told you.” I couldn’t help pointing it out, feeling bolder without a knife at my throat. “You should’ve listened.”

Xavier ignored me. “You both know she is property of the Royal Court.”

“She isn’t--”

“I’m not property of anyone.”

Rex turned, arching a brow at me. I stepped back, mumbling, “Sorry. Please continue.”

Rex turned back to Xavier. “Who sent you?” he demanded.

“Who do you think? King Salazar.”

“Last I heard, Salazar was no longer allowed to hold that title; decreed by the rest of the courts.”

“He is still more of a King than you ever were.” Xavier hissed this last part, contempt practically oozing from his voice.

Rex rolled his sleeves up. He jerked Xavier up by the collar.

“Rex,” Gabe warned. “He’s not worth it.”

Rex glanced over his shoulder. There was a shared look between the Constantin brothers I knew went way back, probably beyond this life. Rex nodded, agreeing with Gabe. But it didn’t stop him from throwing an uppercut into Xavier’s stomach. I recoiled as Xavier doubled over.

“He deserved that, at least,” Rex muttered. “For the girl.”

Keeping his gaze trained on Nico, Gabe said, “Go back to the room, Estelle.”

“There’s a third,” I warned him. “He’s in cargo, looking for some money he forced me to tell him about. Here take my arm.”

With his free hand, Gabe reached for mine, keeping the gun locked on Nico.

“How can I get into cargo?” he asked me.

I took a deep breath, feeling dizzy. “A maid left her badge on the cart outside of room B36.”

Gabe nodded, smiling. “That thing comes in handy.”

“At least its good for something, right?” My voice was airy, spent from being exhausted by the curse one too many times.

He patted the top of my head awkwardly, like I was a little kid. “You holding up okay?”

I nodded. “I’m fine now, thank you.”

He took his eyes of Nico for a few seconds, assessing me. “Lola’s worried sick,” he mentioned. “She’s back in the room, tied to the seat.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again, not sure if I’d heard him correctly. “What do you mean tied to the seat?”

“When I saw where you’d gone, she demanded to come with us. Put up a hell of a fight, too. I had to tie her up to keep her from traipsing after Rex and me. ”

I coughed, startled by the calm way he admitted to how he’d handled his stubborn fiancé. It was definitely strange, their relationship.

I hurried back through the train towards our room. As the enormity of what just happened finally hit me, I paused in an empty hallway. I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes. I breathed heavily, several times over.

After I regained my composure, I went back into the room.

Lola’s wide-eyed expression morphed into relief the moment I walked in. Just as Gabe said, she sat bound and gagged on the seat where he’d placed her. I immediately went to work at untying her.

As soon as she was free, she threw her arms around me. The embrace was foreign to me, something I hadn’t experienced in a long time. I just stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do. Finally, I hugged Lola back. A single tear slipped from my eye. I was safe again.

I wiped the tear away before Lola could notice how scared I’d been.

It wasn’t much longer before the train unloaded. I was told to do the same thing we did when boarding: keep my head down, earphones blasting music, and follow Rex’s lead. We needed to leave quickly, especially before anyone found Xavier and his lackeys, all of whom had been promptly locked into cargo.

Before we exited our room, I decided there was something I needed to say to Rex. I took a deep breath. “You know that thing about me calling you an asshole?”

He peered at me sideways, looking as if he preferred not to bring it up. “Yeah, I remember.”

“Well, I totally take it back.”

I wasn’t entirely sure, but I thought I saw the hints of a smile forming. He coughed,
then
turned serious again. “Good to know.”

I shook my head, smiling for him.

Turning the hood of my jacket up over my head, I lowered my sunglasses, and cranked the music up.

Abby wiggled spastically as soon as she saw me. She jumped, knocking me over. I landed flat on my butt. My iPod hit the ground and Abby hopped in my lap, licking me to death. The others chuckled at my fall.

Rex handed me my iPod. “I can’t believe a forty pound dog knocked you to the ground.”

“She just surprised me, that’s all.”

“Sure she did.”

“And she’s forty-
five
pounds. Maybe more. Who knows what Amtrak fed her.
”

Rex offered his hand to help me up. Startled by the gesture, I stared at his hand for a moment, unsure. Tentatively, I held out mine for him to take. His fingers brushed over my wrist, as if he were afraid to touch me. Then, in the same way one quickly removes a Band-Aid, Rex pulled me up with one swift yank.

“Thanks,” I said.

After Rex turned away, I flexed my hand where he’d held it, still feeling the warmth of where his skin had come into contact with mine.

The next few hours passed quietly as we drove towards our mystery location. Rex was at the wheel while the rest of us wore blindfolds. Lola freaked out every time there was a jerk or a bump in the road. She’d yell at Rex, telling him to slow down. I wasn’t afraid of his driving though. I should’ve been, I supposed. Simply by how dangerous it felt. But I was calm, maybe even relaxed.

“So who is King Sal?”

“The worst sort of gypsy,” Gabe answered me. “A cutthroat, a thief. A murderer. He was kicked out of the gypsy courts long ago for his crimes.”

“Gee, it kinda sounds like you don’t like him, Gabe.” I said this jokingly, but Gabe stayed quiet, indicating I’d touched on a sore subject. In a dismal voice, he said, “Salazar murdered our mother in a past life.”

I swallowed, feeling really bad for bringing such a sore subject up. “I’m sorry,” I told him sincerely. I knew what it was like to lose a parent. It changed everything, and never in a good way.

I found myself missing my mother. Not the new one who was obsessed with being a glamorous stage mom, but I really, really missed the old one, the mom who taught me how to tie my tennis shoes and the mom who’d let me act as her baker’s assistant.

In some ways, the loss of that mom was more painful than the loss of my dad.

I fell asleep during the drive. When I awoke, I heard the rumbling engine cut off, so I asked to whoever was listening if I could take off my blindfold.

“Yes,” Lola answered.

I tugged it off, grateful to have my sight back. But it was dark outside. There was nothing to see.

“Where are we?”

“We’re meeting Lina at a camp of Irish travelers.”

“More gypsies?”

Lola rolled her eyes. “They’d like to think they are. They travel together and stay in communities like the Roms. But they don’t possess sight. And they don’t remember
their
past lives.”

“But they’re friends, right?”

“Sort of. We Roms share a bond with them.”

They share a bond. That was enough for me, I decided. I was happy to be anywhere even semi-safe again.

I stepped out of the vehicle onto a dirt path meshed with pine needles and twigs. Tall, thick trees towered over us, and there was a slight chill in the air. Darkness veiled the area, leaving me wondering what was out there. Although I tried not to think about it, I couldn’t help but assume we traveled pretty far north, possibly even into Oregon.

“What is this place?” I wondered aloud.

“It’s a forest,” Rex answered, as if I were an idiot.

I scowled at him. “Thanks for that, Captain Obvious.”

“There’s a lake down that path.” He pointed while he spoke. “Which is where we’re headed. Beyond that, there’s nothing else you need to know.”

In a dismissive manner, he walked down the path without waiting for anyone.

It seemed we were back on
those
terms again. Rude ass.

I gritted my teeth and tried to remember how grateful I was for him. He saved me from being kidnapped on the train, just like a knight and shining armor. Well, sort of.

I reached into the trunk for my duffel. Except it wasn’t there.

“That’s weird.” I swore I remembered packing it.

“Are you looking for your bag?” Lola asked.

“Yeah, have you seen it?”

“Rex has it.”

I shifted uncomfortably. “Why does he have it?”

She shrugged. “I assumed he was carrying it for you. Rom men are very old school. Lifetimes of those behaviors, you know?”

“Well I can carry my own bag,” I muttered. “I don’t need a big, strong guy to do it for me.”

I whistled for Abby. She yawned and stretched, then jumped down from the SUV. She shook out her fur, her collar jingling in the process.

Lola shut the trunk, and linked her arm through mine. She pulled me along with her down the path and patted my hand. “Don’t fret, my little feminist. Just because Rex is carrying your bag, it doesn’t give him any power over you. It just saves your shoulder from soreness, that’s all.”

Gabe snorted up ahead.

I angled a brow at Lola, as if to say,
It
’s still super annoying
, but the moment lost its seriousness. I eventually cracked a smile. “Well, in that case, if the guy is going to be chivalrous, he could try being nice while he’s at it.
And polite.
Maybe a little sensitive too.
Basically, he just needs to learn some manners and proper social etiquette.”

Lola nodded empathetically. “I completely agree with you.”

“Why is he like that anyway?” I’d blurted out the question without thinking. As soon as I said it, I regretted asking. Lola seemed mildly surprised that I’d asked. Even Gabe paused to look back at Lola, giving her that look that questioned whether or not they should say anything.

“Never mind,” I said. “I don’t think I want to know.”

Lola stared ahead as if she were lost in thought. “I can’t remember everything. Some of the details are a little foggy, but I think you should know. Your curiosity makes sense. You are stuck with him, after all.”

I groaned at her reminder.

“I believe it had to do with a girl,” she began.

“Well I could’ve told you that. There were tons of pictures of some blonde chick in his portfolio.”

Lola gaped at me, clearly shocked. “You looked through his portfolio?”

The heat of embarrassment rose to my cheeks. Apparently I was sticking all kinds of shoes in my mouth tonight. “It was left out on the seat,” I said, trying to sound innocent. “I didn’t know what it was.”

“Did he catch you?”

I nodded, shamefaced.

To my surprise, Lola laughed. “He must’ve been livid.”

“He was,” I admitted, uncomfortably.

“I’ve never even dared to look in his portfolio,” she said. “His art has always been very private.”