My Tethered Soul: Volume 2 (Reaper's Rite) (29 page)

“Why did you have a falling out in the first place?”

“You know how Helene does card readings?”

“Yeah.”

“She did that for me once. Told me…told me my Carlotta was going to die. Not something a mother wants to hear, even when their children are grown. So I got mad at her. I didn’t want to believe her. So I called her a fake. Told her she didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. And then, when it happened, when Carlotta was taken by a Reaper, I cut Helene out of my life.”

I dipped my head, staring at my hands.

“We didn’t speak for almost a decade. Then she tried to get back in contact with me. Called. Left messages. Sent me letters. Mailed me an incredibly ugly peace offering.”

I narrowed my eyes. “The gnome?”

The side of Lilura’s mouth curled upward. “She said it reminded her of me and couldn’t resist buying it.”

I slapped a hand over my mouth, but couldn’t stifle the laughter. To my surprise, Lilura chuckled.

When we both sobered, Lilura ran a hand down her face. Her eyes watered and her lip quivered.

I twisted the edge of her sheet between my fingers. “I’m sorry. About Helene
and
your daughter.”

“It was years ago when I lost my baby. But when something like this happens, the memories come screaming back. That was the darkest day I ever lived. It damaged me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. A part of me died with her.”

I wiped the tears that brimmed my lashes. Lilura clutched my hand. We stayed like that, crying silently, until Lilura fell asleep. I closed her curtains to block out the sun and left the room.

As I got to the downstairs hall, my phone buzzed. Checking the message on the screen, I took a deep breath and went into the living room. Gavin glanced at me, and I nodded to him. It was time to deal with Naomi. Gavin and I had discussed it the night before and came to an agreement. Now we had to break the news to her.

“Naomi.” I forced myself to keep my eyes on her, no matter how guilty I felt. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

She looked at me with sad eyes, but then her expression changed. Her brow creased as she crossed the room. “What is it?”

“I need you to come outside with me.”

“Why?”

I rubbed my hands on my black dress. “I’ll explain outside. Okay?”

She took a deep breath and blew it out. “Okay.”

Gavin sidled up to me and together we headed to the front door.

The sun created a prism as it shone through the windows near the front door. I concentrated on taking one step in front of the other until we got outside. My insides were twisting, the lump in my throat the size of a golf ball.

In the driveway, leaning against his dad’s car, was Danny.

“Danny?” Naomi’s eyes widened. She hurried toward him. “What are you doing here?”

Gavin and I caught up to them as they embraced.

Danny shot Gavin a look. “You didn’t tell her? This wasn’t supposed to be an ambush.”

“Ambush?” Naomi pulled her bangs diagonally across her forehead. “What are you talking about?”

Gavin and I exchanged looks, and then I risked it all by putting my hand on Naomi’s arm.

“You’re going home with Danny.”

Naomi gaped at me. Her face went pale. “No, I’m not.”

I blinked back tears. “Yes, you are. You’re not safe here. Look what I did to you.” My eyes went to her neck.

“No. No, I don’t want to go. Zadie, it wasn’t you. I know that.”

“It doesn’t matter, Naomi. You could have died. You most likely
will
die if you stay here. I can’t risk that. I can’t lose you.”

Tears spilled down Naomi’s cheeks. She gritted her teeth, and I was afraid she was going to start screaming at me. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my hair.

“Promise me you won’t die.”

I dug my fingers into her shoulders. “You know I can’t do that.”

“Promise me you’ll really, really try.”

I nodded. My voice was strained. “Fine.”

She hugged me so tightly I couldn’t breathe for three seconds. But I didn’t care. I could spare a few breathless moments for the exchange. For Naomi. And for me. I squeezed back, trying not to think about whether or not I’d ever see her again.

Over her shoulder, Gavin and Danny stared at the ground, hands in their pockets.

The sound of wheels against cobblestone made us part. Jeffrey rolled Naomi’s packed suitcase out toward us, just as I requested. Behind him, Paxton appeared. His eyes were narrowed as he sprinted out in our direction.

“Hey,” Paxton called out.

Naomi muttered a curse, wiping at her cheeks.

Glancing at Danny for a second, Paxton reached for her hand. “What’s going on?

“I’m…I’m going home.”

Paxton searched her face. “What? You mean, right now?”

Naomi gave me a fleeting look.

“You know she’s not safe here.” My voice was soft. I said it to convince him as well as myself.

“But it doesn’t have to be goodbye,” Naomi said. “Not for good, I mean.”

Paxton reached out and tilted her chin up. Without another word, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Naomi blinked at him in surprise.

Paxton looked over at Danny. “Who is this guy?”

Naomi smiled. “You don’t have to worry about him.”

Danny rolled his eyes at me.

“Call me when you get home?”

“Absolutely.”

After a round of goodbyes, Danny and Naomi settled into his dad’s car and drove away. Gavin put his arm around me as I watched the taillights disappear from view. I leaned into him and prayed it wouldn’t be the last time I ever saw my best friend.

I stood in the hall for what seemed like forever, afraid to open the door to Chase’s room. Afraid he’d blame me. Afraid he’d hate me. I told myself not to make this about me, not to be selfish. My friend was in pain, and it was my duty to make sure he was all right. And to tell him I was sorry.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked lightly on the door before turning the knob.

The room was like a broiler, the heat turned up to accommodate for Chase’s cold blood. He was spread out on the bed, belly-down. His bare back was a minefield of red blisters and peeling skin. A harsh-looking area about the size of a saucer was charred black under his right shoulder blade.

He was facing me, but his eyes were closed. He looked like he was asleep, but I wasn’t sure. “Chase?”

I stepped closer. Still nothing. I was about to turn and leave when he opened his eyes.

“Zadie.”

It wasn’t a question, and he had no malice in his voice. The ambiguity of the way he said my name only made me more uncertain. I was about to blurt out my apologies, when he grunted, his face contorted in pain.

I gasped, my hand covering my open mouth.

“Do I disgust you?” he asked.

“What? No, Chase. Please. You…you saved my life.”

“You’re welcome.” He smirked.

I rushed over to the side of the bed. Knowing he could barely move, I kneeled down on the floor so we could talk face to face. “I’m so sorry you got hurt.”

“Looks worse than it feels. Or at least, that’s what I keep telling myself.”

“What can I do to help?”

“See that jar?” With a very small motion of his head, he indicated a glass jar filled with a yellow substance on the bedside table. “It’s a salve for burns. If you’re not too grossed out…”

“Oh, of course.” How could I refuse him after what he went through to save me? “How much should I put on? And where, exactly?”

“An even coating over my entire back would be awesome. It’s got a numbing agent as well as a healing element. And I could really use some numbing right now.”

“Okay.”

The salve was cold and clumpy like cottage cheese. I gathered some in my fingers and held it over his back, hesitant to touch him for fear that I’d hurt him more.
Do it, Zadie. He’s in pain. He needs this.
He sucked in a breath when my fingers made contact. I immediately retracted my hand.

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s good. It’s already starting to get numb on that spot. Go on.”

He turned his head and buried his face in the pillow. I wondered if he wanted to scream. If it were me in his position, I don’t think I’d ever stop screaming.

I made a point to barely let my fingertips graze his skin, hoping the salve would stay on where it was supposed to. I worked from one side of his back to the other, concentrating on covering the area inch by inch so that he wouldn’t feel any more pain.

As I smeared the salve on the last patch of blisters, he turned his head and let out a deep breath. His eyes remained closed.

“My shoulders are a bit sore, too. Maybe you could rub some on them as well?”

“Yeah, okay.”

I spread the yellow slime over his right shoulder. He let out a small groan. The skin here was undamaged, and I could feel the hardness of his muscles as my fingers glided over it. My face suddenly felt hot. Clearing my throat, I removed my hand.

“The left one too, if you don’t mind.” His voice was small, like that of a boy.

I had to lean over him a little in order to reach his left shoulder. It was difficult to find a position where I didn’t come into contact with the wounded area of his back, but somehow I managed. I rubbed the salve onto his skin, fascinated with the solidity there even though I knew to expect it.

I closed the jar and put it back on the bedside table. I used the hand towel beside the lamp to wipe my hands off.

Just as I stood up, Chase grabbed my wrist. Though his grip was strong, it felt more like desperation than hostility to me. His eyes were open, but he wasn’t smiling.

“Thank you,” he said.

“You’re welcome.”

He let go of my hand and shifted his belly on the bed. I wondered if the salve was working its magic.

“How’s my grandmother?” he asked, his cheek buried in the pillow.

“She’s taking a nap.”

“She must be heartbroken about Helene. I’m sorry I missed the funeral.”

I shook my head. “There was no way you could have come. It’s understood.”

“How’s she holding up?”

I wrung my hands. “Her breathing sounds bad. She’s coughing up blood, too. She should go to a doctor.”

“She’d never agree to that. Besides, there’s no way we could explain what happened. They wouldn’t be able to tell what it is that’s inside of her.”

A shiver attacked my skin. It made my stomach churn to think the poison was still inside of her. Eating away at her insides. “I’m so sorry. Maybe… maybe she should have let me die.”

Chase lifted his head a fraction of an inch, his eye boring into me. “No. Don’t say that. It’s not your fault. Lilura did the honorable thing.”

I thought about how much Lilura meant to me. How much they all meant to me. It would kill me to lose them.

“It’s just that…I don’t want her to die. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

He was quiet for a moment, and he let his eyes close. “Me either.”

“You know I care about you, right?” My voice was so small, I wasn’t sure he heard me until he reached out and squeezed my hand.

“I can’t help but think fate brought us together somehow,” he said.

“Why?”

“Back when Mara was hit by the bus, when she went into a coma? Lilura called for help. But she didn’t ask for me. She asked for Hunter. He couldn’t make it; he was in the middle of a Vila case. So I came instead.”

We stayed like that for a minute, silent. When his hold loosened, I let go and took a step back.

“I’ll let you get your rest.”

“I should be better tomorrow. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

I gave him a small smile. “Looking forward to it.”

My eyes were trained on the floor as I left his room. I closed the door behind me, and looked up to find Gavin leaning against the wall in the hallway.

“Gavin.” My hand flew to my heart. “You scared me.”

His eyes flitted over my face, his expression unreadable. Had he heard my conversation with Chase? Was he upset that I told Chase I cared about him?

Instead of asking him, I reached out and took his hand.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here for a while.”

***

We didn’t get out alone. Mara and Hunter caught us before we could leave the house and, also seemingly desperate for an escape, tagged along. The four of us piled into Lilura’s car and drove to the nearest town. There wasn’t much the community could offer us, but any escape was welcome, so we ended up at a local bar.

We settled into a booth in the corner of the dimly lit establishment. The patrons were mostly truck drivers and older women with bushy hair. Classic rock played on the jukebox. The place seemed low-key enough for us to hide out and commiserate.

Hunter scooted into the chair next to Mara, carrying four drinks.

“What is that?” Mara asked. “Beer?”

“These are all mine.” Hunter propped his elbow on the table. “You can get your own.”

When she raised a brow at him, he laughed and handed out the drinks to us.

“Ginger ale for the ladies.” He held his mug out toward Gavin’s. “But you look like you could use something stronger.”

Gavin tapped his mug against Hunters. “Thanks, man.”

Hunter leaned toward Mara, extending his drink to her. She pursed her lips, then broke out into a grin and tapped his glass with hers.

I sipped my ginger ale and surveyed the bar. Who were all these people? What were they trying to escape? They surely had their own problems and sorrows to drown. I couldn’t imagine any of them were facing what we were, though.

“What are your post-high school plans?” Hunter asked Mara.

She glared at him. “Seriously? That’s what you want to talk about?”

He shrugged and swallowed more beer.

She shifted in her chair. “Well, if I survive this trip, I’m spending a relaxing summer sunbathing in my back yard. Then, in September, I’m going to college. Out of state. Away from our little town.”

“Where, exactly?”

She gave him a sideways smile. “Why? Planning on stalking me?”

“Would you like that?”