My Tethered Soul: Volume 2 (Reaper's Rite) (2 page)

“It’s after midnight. Happy birthday.”

I swallowed hard, eyes wide and teeth piercing my lip. But Mara didn’t notice, turning over in bed and pulling the covers over her shoulder. My skin felt cold and prickly as I wandered across the hall to my room, wishing I could dismiss the feeling of dread. My fist closed around the agate stone at my neck, the one Lilura had cast a spell upon. The spell that would help keep me safe from Reapers, from the evil shadows wanting to claim my soul. Lilura’s spell protected me while I was sixteen. But my birthday was here. I was seventeen. And out of time.

I groaned at the large mass of clouds that veiled the morning sun. Not perfect birthday weather. Plus, I had a long day of school ahead of me. I kicked at a rock on the sidewalk and glanced at Mara.

“Cheer up, birthday girl.”

I adjusted the books nestled in my arm. “Can’t I just skip school today and go straight to Lilura’s?”

“Straight to Lilura’s? So you don’t want to skip Vila training?”

“Are you kidding me? I get to shoot a crossbow.”

She nodded. “Guess that’s pretty exhilarating.”

“Nothing quite like it.”

“Except for maybe driving a car.” Her lips pushed into a pout. “I wish Dad would buy me one.”

I raised a brow at her. “It’s a ten minute walk to school.”

“Yeah, I know. But I’m eighteen. I’m about to graduate. I should have a car.”

“Then maybe you should get a job.”

She scoffed. “When am I going to fit that in? Between school and Vila research, I don’t have time for a job. Much less a personal life.”

“Well, I’m just as busy as you are. Plus, I have a boyfriend.”

Mara tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Oh, boo-hoo.”

I grimaced. “Yeah, okay. I guess that’s kind of a perk.”

A smile flooded my face at the thought of Gavin.

Mara held her hand out as we passed a yard with overgrown bushes, her fingers grazing the leaves. I didn’t think she was jealous of my relationship with Gavin, but it probably bummed her out that she didn’t have a boyfriend anymore. She broke up with her last boyfriend, Luke, just before the bus accident that landed her in a coma. Not to mention she almost killed him when she was under the Reaper’s spell. Was the reason she wasn’t in a relationship because guys were intimidated by Mara, or was it because Mara was afraid of what might happen if she got too close to someone again?

We crossed the street to the school grounds, and I pushed all dark thoughts out of my mind. It was my birthday. My sister and I were alive and well. In a few minutes, I would see my boyfriend and my best friend, and after school I would indulge in some kick-ass Vila training.

Naomi leaned against my locker with a container of cupcakes propped on one hand. Her oversized baseball T-shirt was hacked off just under her chest and draped over two brightly colored tank tops. She pulled her dark, razor-cut bangs across her forehead, then made a show of the treats once she spotted me. Holding the container in the air, she struck a pose usually adopted by sports car models.

I laughed and shook my head. “You’re such a dork.”

“But you love me, right?” Naomi threw her free arm around me. “Happy birthday, Zadie!”

I squeezed her back. “Thanks.”

Mara put a hand on my shoulder. “See you at Lilura’s after school, okay?”

“Yeah. See you.” I gave her a small wave as she headed off.

“So.” Naomi held the box up again. “Welcome to the ranks of being seventeen. These are from my mom.”

I eyed the hot pink icing sprinkled with sugar confetti. “I’m going into a sugar coma just looking at them. Tell her thanks. But, um, I don’t know if I can carry those around all day.”

“Do you not know the scavengers in this school? They’ll be gone before you get to first period. See, here come Danny and Gavin now. Danny will probably wolf down three before he even mutters a hello.”

I followed her gaze and focused on my boyfriend and his best friend. It felt like Gavin was walking toward me in slow motion, as if I were in some cheesy high school movie where a luminous glow surrounded the male lead as he entered the scene. The silver chain of his pocket watch bounced back and forth with each stride. A slow grin spread across his lips. For a moment, I got lost in dark lashes framing deep sapphire eyes.

God, he was hot.

His hand reached for mine as he neared, and our fingers instantly entwined. I needed to kiss him. But I couldn’t kiss him the way I wanted to here in the school hallway. So I held myself back, only allowing our lips to meet for a second before I descended from my tiptoed stance. Greedily, I breathed in his delicious scent of peppermint and clean laundry.

“Happy birthday.” The corner of his mouth went up in a half smile. “I got you something, but I want to give it to you after school.”

“You didn’t have to get me anything.”

“Are you crazy?” Naomi butted in. “Of course he did. That’s, like, rule number one in the boyfriend rule book.”

Danny leaned in with his hands in his jean pockets and a goofy smile on his face. “Happy birthday, Zade.”

“Thanks, Danny. Are those new shoes? They’re awesome.”

Danny ran a hand over his short-cropped hair and shrugged.

Naomi gave me a look, barely moving her head enough for me to notice she was shaking it. I guessed she didn’t want my shoe compliment to tip Gavin off that his best friend was gay. I didn’t think Gavin would care one way or the other, but I made a promise to Naomi to keep Danny’s secret.

“Cupcake?” I held up the container to the guys.

A metallic bang from down the hall made us all turn.

“Get out of my way, freshman!” Kelly Landry, with her nose in the air, practically growled at the poor underclassman she had just shoved into the lockers.

I glanced at Naomi, whose brow furrowed.

Kelly sauntered toward us, her BFF Nicole in tow. Kelly stuck her chest out, emphasizing the V-cut of her tight, white, ruffled blouse, and swayed her hips in her silky pleated skirt that was way too short. The clicks of her black-and-white plaid kitten heels echoed in the hall as she stopped in front of us.

“Um, hi?” Naomi said.

The surprise in her voice matched the confusion on the rest of our faces. Kelly and Nicole hadn’t so much as glanced our way ever since their leader—and Mara’s ex-best friend—Emily Broding met her untimely doom last fall. Her death may or may not have been Mara’s fault. Not that Mara could remember, since she’d been under a Reaper’s control when it happened. Now it seemed that Kelly, who’d taken over Emily’s role as queen bee, had put us back on her radar.

“Yeah, listen,” Kelly said, studying her bright red nail polish. “Sorry I won’t be coming to your little party, Naomi. I adore your brother Nate and all, but I’m having a soirée of my own.”

“I don’t think I invited you, but, you know, whatever.”

Kelly grimaced at Naomi. “In fact, don’t be surprised if most the people you invited don’t show up because something better came up.”

“As in Kelly’s party.” Nicole’s head tilted forward on her skinny neck.

Kelly rolled her eyes. “They got it, Nicole. Shut up.”

“Yeah, I know.” Nicole smoothed her light brown hair. “I was just saying it for effect.”

Kelly scoffed and shot Nicole a warning look. Nicole trained her eyes to the floor and cleared her throat.

“Oh. Cupcakes?” Kelly eyed the container.

“It’s my birthday.” I don’t know why I told her. I didn’t care if she knew or not.

“How fun.” Kelly’s condescending smile never left her face as she lifted one of the cupcakes out of the box. Without taking her eyes off me, she held the treat out to the side and dropped it on the floor. “Whoops.”

I gripped Naomi’s arm when she inched forward. It was no use getting into a fight today. Not with Kelly, and not over a cupcake.

Kelly flipped her perfectly-coifed blond hair back. “Well, if your party falls through, feel free to drop by mine. Or not. You’re welcome, of course, Gavin. Anytime.”

My blood went hot when Kelly winked at Gavin, but he simply squeezed my hand.

“What’s up with her?” Danny asked once Kelly and Nicole were out of earshot.

Gavin shrugged. “She got into Rutgers, which just intensified her theory of being better than everyone else.”

“Seriously?” Naomi wrinkled her nose. “I can’t believe Rutgers would actually accept her.”

I shook my head. “Yeah. Poor school.”

Danny pointed to the cupcake on the floor. “Is anybody gonna eat that?”

Gavin playfully shoved Danny into Naomi. “Let’s get to class.”

“Is that a no?” Danny asked.

Gavin’s hand felt great in mine. Not only was he my Cation—the energy booster for my Vila powers—but he had an intense and undeniable hold on my heart. I couldn’t help but feel giddy around him, like I was getting away with something I shouldn’t. Like I was showered with blessings I wasn’t sure I deserved.

Naomi went ahead of us into class, grabbing the cupcakes from me with a wink. I hovered by the classroom door, taking in the deep sapphire glow in Gavin’s eyes.

“I’ve got track practice today, but I’ll come by Lilura’s afterwards and walk you home.”

“Okay.” My voice was so soft, my words barely audible. Because I knew he was about to kiss me.

Though I made it a point not to engage in unnecessary amounts of PDA at school, I took one greedy moment as a birthday favor to myself and let our kiss linger a few seconds more. The hot press of his lips against mine sent a shiver from my shoulders to my toes. I grasped my books tightly to keep from grabbing his shirt and pulling him closer.

He flashed a knowing smile as our lips parted and ran his thumb down my cheek before he left. My sigh was cliché, but I didn’t care. I floated into class and glided into my seat next to Naomi. She shook her head at me and snickered just as the bell rang. Since school was out in just a few weeks, I tuned out the teacher and daydreamed about Gavin’s kiss—and the many kisses I hoped would follow—during the entire algebra lesson.

Daydreaming seemed to help the hour go by, and soon I was welcomed to History class by a familiar face. Ice-gray eyes framed by light brown lashes stayed on me as I dropped my books on my desk and set down the cupcake container. He didn’t smile, but I was used to that. Chase leaned back in his chair, his long legs stretching out in front of his desk, and raised his brows as if waiting for me to speak.

“Cupcake?” I said. “Naomi’s mom made them.”

“No, thanks.”

“Are you sure? Only two left.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re not going to skip out on training today just because it’s your birthday, are you?”

My cheeks felt hot. I tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. “What? No. You, um, you knew it was my birthday today?”

“It’s my job to know these things.”

“Oh, right.”

Our teacher entered the room in a huff about some scratch he found on his car. One brown-nosing student approached him with a sympathetic ear.

I looked back at Chase. “Of course I’m going to train today.”

“Good. Because I have something special planned.”

“Oh? What?”

Chase nodded toward the teacher. “Class is starting.”

I gathered my things as soon as the bell rang forty-five minutes later. I didn’t rush out though, because I still wanted to know what Chase had planned for my training session. I lingered by the door, waiting for him to catch up to me. His face was stoic as he joined me in the hall.

Chase rubbed his chin, not looking at me. “So, is Gavin taking you to prom?”

I was caught off guard by his question. With my birthday and curiosity about Chase’s special training idea, prom was the last thing on my mind.

“Um. Well, we haven’t exactly talked about it,” I replied.

“Hmm.”

I blinked at him. “What?”

“Nothing.”

I grunted. “You must have meant something.”

“Not really. Just…hmm.”

I clutched my books and sneered at him. “He’ll take me.”

“I’m sure he will.”

“You don’t think so?”

“I didn’t say that.”

I resisted the urge to stomp my foot. “Why are you being such a jerk?”

“Why are you getting so upset?”

I scoffed, and immediately one corner of his mouth inched upward. Why did he enjoy getting me so worked up?

He was about to walk away when something occurred to me.

“Chase, wait. I have to tell you something.”

He stopped and turned slowly, his hands planted in his trench coat pockets.

“Last night I had a…dream. At least, I think it was a dream.” I closed the distance between us and lowered my voice. “I was staring at a Reaper. He looked like he was about to attack me. But then suddenly, his face changed.”

“Changed how?”

“Well, he sort of shifted. Turned into…me.”

Chase studied my face. I swallowed and waited for him to say something. It felt like forever, standing in the hall and holding out for some words of wisdom.

“Do you think it means something?” I finally asked.

“No.”

“But it’s my birthday. I’m seventeen now.”

Chase’s eyes lowered to my necklace. He touched the stone with his fingers for a second. When his eyes came back up to meet mine, he dropped his hand.

“Don’t worry, Zadie. As long as I’m around, you’re safe.”

I heard Sable meowing before I saw her. The black cat sat staring out from behind the screen door of Lilura’s house. I hopped onto the porch and squinted, trying to see inside. It was still cloudy out, allowing very little light into the house, but I could just make out the silhouettes of furniture inside. I knocked on the frame of the screen door, making Sable jump back.

“Lilura? Lilura, it’s me. Are you there?”

No answer. I pushed down on the handle and let myself in. It was Monday, and I hadn’t seen her all weekend, but I came to her house practically every day after school, so I didn’t feel entirely odd walking in uninvited. Besides, we’d joined forces and made it through an extraordinary circumstance together; it was almost like we were family.