Seers (37 page)

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My hand fell. “Aaron, I have to go.”

“No. Kate, don’t hang up. I need some answers. Just tell me where you are. Are you at least coming to the dance tonight?” I closed my eyes tightly, and pinched the bridge of my nose with two trembling fingers. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “I’ll try. I promise.”

There was a really long silence, and then he finally spoke. He tried to sound rough, but there was an undercurrent of pain in his words. “Kate, are you cheating on me? Are you with someone else?

Is that why you’ve been so weird lately?”

“No,” I choked, and I could see Patrick send me a worried glance at the strangled sound. “That’s what you think? That I’ve been secretly dating someone else?”

“Well, you haven’t left me a lot of other options. Is it Patrick?” Just then Patrick’s phone went off in my lap—Selena was calling back.

“Aaron, I have to go. I’ll try to make it to the dance.”

“Kate—”

I hung up on him, feeling awful for doing it, but knowing that I had no other choice. Besides, the more controlled part of my brain assured me that maybe somehow this would make the imminent breakup easier between us.

But I couldn’t think about that now. I continued to hold my phone, and with my other hand I hurried to scoop up Patrick’s.

“We just passed the gas station,” I told her, skipping any greeting.

“Good, you’re right on schedule. Turn left at the next street, and follow it until it ends. We’ll be inside. Come on in—the door’s open.”

She hung up, and I relayed her words to the others.

While Toni talked to my grandfather, Patrick sent me a quick look. “Are you all right? Is Aaron okay?” I spoke very quietly, staring at my phone. “I think he’s given up on us.”

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Patrick didn’t say anything for a short moment, and then his voice was so quiet, I almost wondered if I was hearing him correctly. “He hasn’t. He couldn’t. He would never let you go that easily. No one would.”

I glanced toward him, but he was already looking back at the road, concentrating on turning up the appropriate street. I didn’t know what to make of his words; I didn’t understand what he meant by them. Was he just trying to make me feel better? Or was there something else? Something deeper?

I couldn’t keep thinking about it. Toni leaned up between us, phone still at his ear, though he was speaking to us.

“Jack’s going to pull behind one of these buildings, then they’ll continue on foot. They’ll plan on staying out of sight, but nearby if needed.”

Patrick nodded. “Good. Tell them to be careful.” Toni repeated that message, and then handed the phone to me. “Your Grandpa wants to talk to you,” he explained.

I put the phone to my ear, and then I heard my Grandpa’s gentle voice. “I know you’re scared, honey. But we’re going to make this.

And we’ll have you home in time for your ball, I promise.” I cracked a smile. “I just want them to be safe.” He knew I meant the twins. “I know—and they will be. So will you. Trust your Guardians, Kate—they know what they’re doing, and they’ll do whatever it takes. They always do.”

“Thanks Grandpa. Be safe.”

“You too. And be brave, hon. Don’t let those Demons intimidate you. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

We ended the call, and I glanced in my side mirror to see that we were already alone on the road.

“Looks just like home,” Toni muttered, peering through the windshield at the looming warehouses.

The road was coming to an end. It had been paved once, but was now more dirt and loose rock than anything else. It led right 286 K • • •

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up to a large, abandoned building which seemed the perfect end to this whole ominous trip. Patrick was slowing the car down and soon we were completely stopped. He shut off the car, and I broke the sudden silence.

“I think I like your warehouse better.” Toni nodded behind us, still scanning the building with a critical and practiced eye. Still, despite his obvious concentration, his tone remained surprisingly light. “Yeah, I’d have to agree with Kate.”

Patrick seemed to ignore us both. He reached up his sleeve without a word and pulled out a very small knife. It was sheathed in a leather holster that looked extremely deadly. I should have known it was coming, but I was still a bit surprised when he extended it toward me, his eyes tight. “I’d feel better if you have it,” he said, the serious edge in his voice bordering on dangerous.

I hesitated for a split second, but then took it gingerly; holding on to the adjustable straps instead of the actual knife. I didn’t argue though, mostly because I figured I wouldn’t have it for long.

In every movie like this I’d ever seen, the good guys were asked to discard all their weapons as soon as they entered the building. But I think my major reason for not resisting stemmed from Patrick’s heavy but mostly silent insistence. If he thought I would be better off with the weapon, then I’d humor him. I was willing to trust whatever he did or instructed.

The click of Toni’s seatbelt releasing in the back returned me to the present. “Let’s do this,” Toni muttered as he pushed open his door and stepped out.

Patrick unlatched his own seatbelt just as Toni’s door slammed shut. He glanced in my direction, as if sensing my sudden dilemma.

“Where should I put it?” I asked anyway. I now knew why Patrick always wore long sleeves—it was a convenient place to hide a blade.

“Put it around your leg,” he suggested, one hand resting on

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the steering wheel, the other fisted on his knee. Though we’d been in such a rush to get to our destination, now that we were here he seemed content to wait for me.

I took off my seatbelt before bending over to pull up my left pant leg. Patrick watched as I set the holster against the outside of my calf, and then carefully cinched the straps. He didn’t utter a word as I adjusted and finally velcroed the thing tightly into place.

It felt bulky and uncomfortable, but as I pushed my pant leg back down, I saw that the slight flair hid the weapon well.

“Like that?” I asked, looking up for his approval.

He nodded, and then glanced out the window to where Toni was standing to admire the hulking building before us. Searching for possible escape routes? Trying to judge where the twins would be held? An alternate and better place of entry?

I couldn’t quite focus on what he might be doing, because in the last minute the urge to say something to Patrick had become unbearably strong.

Patrick was reaching for his door when my hand suddenly flashed out and wrapped around his arm. “Wait,” I begged softly, not exactly knowing what made me to stop him. I knew I didn’t really want to say this to him. Especially not right now.

He looked over at me, though, his expression confused and his eyes questioning.

I swallowed hard, and my fingers briefly tightened their hold. “Patrick, in case something happens . . . If something goes wrong—”

He shifted more toward me, his eyes sinking into mine. His voice was smooth, and hid his worry quite well. “Kate, nothing’s going to go wrong. I promise, I’ll get you out of there.” He was pretty good at the whole Guardian thing. The sincerity in his words made my heart pound.

“I know, but . . .” I bit my lower lip, knowing that I shouldn’t continue, knowing that I couldn’t stop now. Because if I didn’t make it out, I knew that he’d be there for my family. Grandpa 288 K • • •

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would be able to comfort Grandma. But there was another person who would feel abandoned if something did go wrong, and even after everything that had been happening between us, I couldn’t help but care for him. “Please,” I asked, already internally wincing at how this would come off. “If things don’t work out, could you help Aaron understand that . . . I’m sorry?” A muscle in his jaw flexed, and some un-namable emotion clouded his eyes. And then he nodded once—more like ducked his head—and then replied softly. “I promise.” His head lifted, and his eyes were tight. “But I will keep you safe, Kate.” He flashed me a pretty forced, very short smile, and I let my hand slip from his arm. He opened the door and pushed his way outside, slamming the door perhaps a bit too sharply behind him.

I took a deep and bracing breath, and then I followed him out.

By the time I joined my two Guardians standing near the hood of the car Toni had already finished delivering his quick diagnosis of the building to his fellow Guardian.

Patrick was nodding, and then—after sending a glance in my direction—he asked Toni, “You ready?”

“And then some,” was the short, oddly eager reply.

Patrick exhaled slowly. “Then let’s go,” he said, that dangerous edge back in his voice.

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Thirty-three

As we walked away from the car and toward the obvious front doors, Patrick took my hand. I don’t know if he thought I needed the contact, or if it was for his benefit. But I wasn’t complaining. Even though—in retrospect—I probably shouldn’t have brought up my boyfriend a minute ago, my pounding heart felt a little bit better about this terrifying situation. I knew Aaron didn’t deserve what I’d been putting him through lately. And though Patrick really didn’t deserve the potentially awkward situation I’d just landed him in, he was a Guardian. He was the best, as far as I was concerned. And if things went bad, I was relieved to know that he would do his best to help Aaron.

Patrick’s fingers flexed around mine, pulling me closer to his side as we approached the doors. Toni was at my other side, whispering little bits of advice that I was basically ignoring.

“Keep your fear in check. Let them know you’re strong. If you have to, threaten them with the knife—it’ll buy you some time.

Follow our lead, but don’t worry if they talk directly to you. Do whatever you have too to ensure your sisters’ safety, but try to avoid getting in a car with them. High speed chases aren’t exactly Patrick’s forte.”

“You’re bringing this up now?” Patrick asked, voice low and incredulous.

“It was an awful experience for me. I felt sick for a week. I was lucky to survive at all.”

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Patrick squeezed my fingers again, and I looked up at him.

“It’s going to be okay,” he assured me once more.

Toni sighed loudly. “I wonder if Selena will remember me? I mean, I was able to avoid her at the school, but . . . Well, I suppose I’ll find out soon enough.”

We were to the doors. Toni opened one, and Patrick and I stepped in together.

Selena Avalos was standing in the center of the large room, her arms folded delicately across her chest. Her long manicured nails tapped out an impatient rhythm against her arms, and her head was cocked to the side. Her hair was full and wavy, the dark chocolate locks spilling down the majority of her back. Her eyes were bright and focused solely on our slow approach. She was wearing a flattering pair of tight dark jeans, and a low cut red blouse. Her thin black aura was like the finishing touch to a dark but impressive masterpiece.

She looked stunning, in an evil sort of way.

“Welcome,” she called to us in her deep, resonant voice. Her accent was thin, and exotic. If I wasn’t so mad at her, I probably would have felt that I’m-inferior-in-her-presence sensation that I’d experienced the first time I’d seen her. She was everything I wasn’t, and she flaunted it extremely well.

She gave me a creepy smile, winked a luminous eye at Patrick, and then she saw Toni.

Her smile fell, and then grew slowly back until almost all her teeth were showing. “Antonio Alvarez, back from the dead.” Toni’s hands were in his pockets, and out of everyone else in the room he seemed the most relaxed. “Hello Selena,” he said casually, giving her a small smile and a nod. “I was wondering if you’d remember me.”

Her full red lips twisted into a pout. “Is that what you think of me? After we shared so much together?” He shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”

“Yes, it was,” she shook her head sadly, her eyes still dancing.

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“How time flies when you’re dead.” Toni drew to a stop along with us, still several feet away from the Demon. “You look older,” he commented smoothly.

Selena’s smile widened. “Really? You look younger. Sometimes I forget how young you really were back then. I hope there are no hard feelings.”

“No, of course not,” Toni laughed quietly. “You only used me, betrayed me, then practically organized my execution. Why would I hold a grudge over something as stupid as all that?”

“Good, I’m glad that’s settled. I would hate to think there was anything . . . unsettled between us. And for the record, I was quite taken with you. Once.”

“That’s a coincidence. I was just about to say the same thing about you.” His eyes ran quickly over her body. “Are your hips getting bigger? I thought it was impossible for immortals to gain weight? Or did that happen before you died, and now you’re stuck with them forever?”

Her grin was set firmly in place. “You always were a charmer, Antonio. It’s a pity you and I didn’t get to play together for long, back when we were alive—I think I would have enjoyed that very much.”

“Well, I’m just glad to see that you’re doing great. I mean, Romero’s underling forever, huh? How’s that working out for you?”

Her eyes were like icy daggers. “I must admit I’m surprised to see you here, on their side.”

“Not what you expected?” Toni asked, smile wide.

“Hmm, not exactly. I thought you had a bit more . . . Demon inside you.”

“So how did you die, Selena? Or should I say, when was it?

‘Cuz personally you’d look a lot better now if you’d died back when I did. It was a good year for you. A young look.” Watching her face, I knew that nothing bothered her more than these gentle jibes that Toni kept delivering. She only loved 292 K • • •

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herself, that was abundantly clear. But despite her looks, she worried about them. She was sensitive to what others thought, and the things they said. Toni must have known this.