My Heart be Damned (20 page)

I tensed. “Well, whatever it is, we have to get it before they do. We can’t just rely on them not getting my blood. I’m too accessible. Too easily killable. But if we get this other thing, then that’s two points for us.”

Marshall nodded in agreement. “What’s the other thing that’s missing, do you think? A talisman? A kind of Blessed weapon? More blood?”

“Unfortunately, that’s as much as I know. I’m still working on finding out the rest. You’ll have to give me another few days at least.”

I let out a breath. “About my mother...” I paused, trying to figure out how to word it. “Why her? Why does Seal have a vendetta against her?”

Albert stared at me with kind eyes. “I couldn’t find that out. All I know is that Seal wanted her dead in a big way, and two birds – one stone.”

Disappointment flooded through me. “Thanks anyway. Out of curiosity, how did you get all this information now, when before you searched for years and found nothing?”

Marshall and Albert exchanged glances that I didn’t like.

“Marshall got me something better than any book,” Albert said slowly.

“Which was...?”

“A Damned,” Marshall answered curtly. “One of Seal’s right hand men. He was roaming around your street the other night. I caught him, saw the mark of Seal on his head – that’s three stars, by the way - and brought him here.”

“He’s been very helpful. With a little persuasion,” Albert added.

In my shock, I didn’t know which point to address first. The fact that one of the Damned had been so close to my house, or that it was being tortured a few feet below me. The walls began to close in, and I swayed towards the floor. A pair of strong hands had grabbed me before I fell, pulling me back to a sitting position.

“I think that’s enough for one night,” Marshall decided. “Better get her home to Daddy. Thanks, Albert. You’ll ring me once you find out what the ritual needs?”

“Of course,” Albert said. “Once she’s feeling better, you tell her that it was a pleasure.”

“I will,” Marshall promised. He helped me to my feet and steered me out of the kitchen and towards the front door. My mind swam with the new information. The end of the world. How could my blood be a catalyst for it? Mercy was right. My life was one giant soap opera.

The rain still poured, and once huddled back under my blazer, Marshall helped me into the car, buckling me in before heading to his own seat. We were back on the motorway in no time.

“Do you need some air?” Marshall finally asked.

I shook my head, everything still a blur. “No. I need time, Marshall.”

“Well, don’t throw up. You’ve gone all pasty and horrible.”

“I won’t throw up.”

“Good.”

“What’s so great about Seal, anyway? Why does he get right-hand men and rituals? He’s just another Damned. No different to the rest of them.”

“It’s like gang leaders,” Marshall started. “You get to the top by doing a lot of bad things. He scares other Damned, not because he’s stronger, but because he knows more than the rest. He’s aligned himself with the right kind of creatures, and he’s offering other Damned a world with no Hunters. It’s a huge incentive to get people to follow him. It doesn’t hurt that he’s ruthless. He has no friends, only allies.”

“The more I learn about him, the more I love him,” I muttered sarcastically.

Marshall gave me a sympathetic smile. “Hey, don’t worry, okay? I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“Because The Sisterhood will kick your ass?” I half joked.

He rolled his eyes playfully. “They could try. You have to trust me. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to you. Seal can go suck something. He won’t be the Damned that gets your blood. I promise.” His gaze was so intense, so serious that I believed him. I nodded, and my hand twitched in my lap, wanting desperately to clasp his, but nowhere near brave enough.

We lapsed into silence again. Albert’s words flitted through my head, giving me the same kind of headache that someone blowing a foghorn into my ear would have. I wrung my hands together, finding nothing in the pitch black outside to distract me.

“You cage fight.”

He kept his eyes fixed to the road. “Yeah, I do.”

“Why?”

“Because it’ll be something to help me win Miss World when I apply next year,” he said.

I bit back a rude remark. “Whatever, Marshall. I can’t work with someone who thinks it’s okay to beat Damned to a bloody pulp to win cash. And while we’re at it, I don’t think kidnapping Damned is the way forward either. You can’t hide things from me. We’re supposed to be a team.”

His jaw clenched, and his fists gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. “When I tell you how to live your life, then you can have a say in mine. My methods might not be conventional, but let’s not forget the information it got us.” His voice was level. Deadly. “And as for my method of making money. It’s none of your business. Stay out of it.”

My mouth dropped. Why was he being so defensive about all of this? “None of my business?” I repeated. “You make it my business by doing something so...so reckless! You’re supposed to be helping me get revenge, Marshall. And now to save the world, as cliché as that sounds.”

“And that’s all we’re doing,” he snapped, finally looking at me. There was a fiery glare in Marshall’s eyes that made me wish that he’d continued facing the window. “You’re not my mother. You’re not my girlfriend. We’re barely even friends. As long as I get the job done, what the hell does it matter what I do in my free time?”

His words were so callous, so cruel, I was momentarily speechless. It didn’t make sense. Not five minutes ago, he was promising me that he’d never let anyone hurt me, and now it seemed he’d changed his mind and had to convince himself of that. Jerk! My face burned. He didn’t even think of me as a friend. How blind was I? I was a job, just a
favor
the Sisterhood had claimed from him. I’d obviously been reading into his words earlier.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Now I know where I stand.”

“
Amerie
...” He sighed. “I didn’t mean...”

I shook my head, trying my hardest not to stare at him through the window’s reflection. He could say he didn’t mean it all he wanted, but the words were out there, floating around the car like a toxic gas. And I was suffocating.

Chapter Nineteen

Costume

After our miniature argument, neither of us spoke again, and the ride back to my house was a long and tense one. I mumbled a hasty goodbye and fled from the car before he had the chance to say anything. I didn’t want him to see me as I snuck back into my room, so I ducked around the side of the house and waited for him to drive away before climbing up the tree and swinging up to my window.

I swapped out my damp clothes and climbed into bed. My head had barely hit the new, bouncy pillows, when my eyes had closed, and I had drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Until the next morning, when I was awakened by a loud bang on my door and Cindy’s chipper voice.

“Morning!” She called through the white wood. “I’ve made breakfast. Please come downstairs and join us.”

I grunted in reply and yanked the silk sheets further over my head. I must have drifted back to sleep because five minutes later, she banged on my door again and threatened to keep at it until I went downstairs.

With a resentful sigh, I slid out of bed, catching a glimpse of my hair on the way. It was horrendous! Strands were matted together, and others stuck out at all angles. With a groan, I unlocked my bedroom door. With any hope, Cindy would think I was possessed and run screaming. Except, she didn’t. Unlike me, Cindy was already dressed, clad in boot cut jeans, a pretty blouse and her blonde hair was perfectly styled around her shoulders.

“And sleeping beauty has awakened,” she said, pearly white teeth gleaming beyond bright red lipstick.

I ignored her and followed her down the carpeted stairs. The closer I got to the kitchen, the more prominent the incredible aroma got - a sweet scent that made my mouth water.

“Good morning,” Dad greeted the moment I stepped into the kitchen. He and Daniel were already seated at the breakfast bar, waiting on me. Daniel slumped over, his head in both hands.

“Sit, sit,” Cindy instructed gleefully, gesturing to the stool next to Daniel.

I obediently sat, spotting the source of the smell instantly. Cindy had set up an assortment of breakfast foods in glass dishes on the bar. The cinnamon rolls smelled amazing, but the eggs, bacon and muffins all looked great too. I reached out to grab a plate when Cindy’s pale, dainty hand whipped down and slapped my fingers.

“Not yet! We all waited for you so that we could eat together,” she snapped.

My eyebrows furrowed. “Dad,” I hissed. “Tell her not to put a finger on me again.”

Dad sighed and shook his head. “Cindy’s trying to do something nice for us,
Amerie
. Be a little more appreciative.”

Daniel swore under his breath, slammed his stool back, and stormed out of the room. Now why hadn’t I just done that instead? Not in the best mood, I grabbed a muffin and cinnamon roll, and then darted back upstairs to my room too, locking the door behind me. I was going to get a lecture for this later, but it was still a better option than sitting through this breakfast.

Though Dad was supremely pissed at me, I still invited Sam, Chuck, and Mercy over to see my new house and have a Supernatural marathon. My bedroom in our old building barely fit a bed, let alone four teenagers, but this bedroom had more than enough space. Mercy and I lounged across my bed while Chuck and Sam sat amongst pillows on my floor.

“I think he likes you,” Mercy concluded after I’d given her a very brief and very basic run down of Marshall’s harsh words to me last night.

I dropped the bit of her hair I was playing with, letting it fall back to her shoulder. “No. If he liked me, then he’d be happy that I cared about him getting beaten up.”

“Not necessarily,” Mercy said. “He’s obviously embarrassed you think what he’s doing is stupid. You know men and their egos.”

“We can hear you,” Chuck said.

“Yeah,” Sam agreed. “Not every guy should be painted with the same brush.”

I bit down on my lip and nodded, prete
nding to agree. “You’re right.”

He smiled, satisfied, and turned back to the TV. A part of me felt a little guilty because I actually wanted to talk about the other news I’d found out. The end of the world news. It seemed that Chuck and Mercy had gotten used to what I was; they even wanted to be kept in the know with anything Damned related, but because Sam was here, I couldn’t tell them just yet.

“Oh,” Mercy suddenly exclaimed. “I have birthday plans for you.”

I groaned. “How the hell did you find something to do with only a week left until the big day?”

“I’m offended you didn’t have more faith in me,” Mercy said, pouting. I left her to pout, which only lasted about thirty seconds until she stopped and carried on talking. “Anyway, it’s this really sick party down in Putney, and we have to go.”

Sam and Chuck’s heads whipped around to face us.

“Party? What party?” Sam asked.

“Will there be hot girls there?” Chuck demanded.

Mercy ignored Chuck and addressed Sam instead. “Well, technically, it’s a Halloween party. But I thought hey! Kill two birds with one stone. Halloween plans and birthday plans. I mean, we should all go out for a meal or something first. Then go home, get ready, and meet somewhere to head down there.”

“Will there be hot girls there?” Chuck repeated slowly.

“There will be girls dressed up in costumes there,” Mercy snapped. “I don’t know whether that fits into your hot girl category.”

Chuck sighed as though Mercy was completely thick. “Any girl who doesn’t look like the back of a cow fits into my category.” He shook his head. “Don’t you know me at all?”

I could see the fire building in Mercy’s eyes, so I jumped in to change the subject. “Whose party is it?”

“My cousin Dan’s friend. He has this really huge house down there, and his parents are extremely cool about letting him have parties. As long as you know someone he knows, then you’re free to come down. Invite only.” She reached into her bag and pulled out four pieces of card. They were black with writing sprawled across in a red, creepy font. “Dan hooks me up.”

“I’m down,” Sam said.

To be honest, I was expecting a lot worse. But a Halloween party? Where I could dress up and be someone else for a change? Great. I was so sick of being me.

“We need to go outfit shopping,” I declared.

Mercy clapped her hands together, a huge smile spreading across her pale face. “Yay! I’m so glad you’re down for it. I was
kinda
worried I’d have to persuade you a bit more.”

“No, I’m definitely down.”

“Okay. Next Saturday, we party it up,” Chuck announced.

I flopped backwards, staring up at the ceiling. Finally, I didn’t dread my birthday. Excellent.

I didn’t hear from Marshall again until Thursday evening, when he strolled into The Hut, took a seat in my section, and waved me over as if he owned me. There were fresh batches of bruises spread across his face, and I ignored them, knowing he wanted me to comment.

“Would you like a drink while you decide?” I asked, keeping a calm facade.

He raised an eyebrow at me. “What? No hello? No compliments on my new jacket?”

“A Coke? Sprite?”

He grinned, shaking his head slightly. “You’re pissed I haven’t called you.”

“I’m really not. If you hadn’t noticed, I didn’t call you either.”

“You didn’t? Oh, those missed calls from an unknown number must have been someone else, then.” He picked up his menu and began scanning through the options.

Anger bubbled up inside me. He was baiting me. I’d be damned if I gave him a reaction. “Must have been.”

“Hmm.” He looked up at me, grinning. “I’ll have the double cheeseburger. Extra side of fries. Oh, and, also, a training session on Saturday night. You might be obsessed
with me, or whatever, but we still have to train. I’m willing to look past your weirdness.”

My mouth dropped. “Obsessed with you? Obsessed with getting away from you, yeah, maybe. You’re something else, Marshall. And no, I will not train with you on Saturday.”

“Why?” Suddenly, his face switched from cocky to serious. “Look, I know you’re mad at me, but this is serious,
Amerie
. We need to train. We need to get you ready and able to protect yourself. You know how important this is. Until we find out what else the ritual is missing...”

I fake yawned right in his face. “I’m getting a headache from your annoying mood swings. What are you today? Mr. Arrogant? Or Mr. Wants-to-save-the-world?”

“Can’t I be both?”

“I can’t train with you on Saturday, not because I’m holding a grudge against you for being an absolute tool, but because it’s my birthday. And I have plans.”

“Oh.” Relief washed over his face. “That’s fine then. So, what plans you got? Sweet seventeen, hey?”

“I’m heading to a party up in Putney. If that’s okay with you.”

“I know what party you’re talking about. I might have to swing through. Especially if you’re going to be there in a costume.” He winked and leaned back in his seat.

“I’m going as a homele
ss person.”

“Sexy.”

“I’ll be back with your order. By the way, I won’t be mad if you decide you have better things to do and leave.”

“No chance. I’m starved.” He smiled widely. “And if you can’t train on Saturday night, guess we better do it tomorrow then.”

Mercy was not impressed when I told her that we had to reschedule our shopping trip until Saturday morning. I scooted my chair a few inches away from her as she clutched her knife so hard, her knuckles turned even paler than usual. Around us, the rest of Maxwell was buzzing. Halloween meant the chance to put on a mask and get up to stuff they couldn’t usually get away with. I’d already heard of at least three groups of people planning on gate crashing the same party we were heading to tonight.