The Girl and The Raven (25 page)

“Seriously?” I ask. “You want me to take the fall with you? Are you nuts? Ella and Caroline will skin us alive.”

“I know, but I really want to spend the day with Trevor. We barely see each other.
Please
.”

“I have a bunch of stuff to do anyway, but
you
have to call everyone and don’t you dare put the blame on me.” I close my eyes and thank whatever Gods or angels are looking out for me today. “Maybe they’ll all want to reschedule, too.”

“I doubt it. Ella and Caroline are pretty determined to get dresses this weekend while the selection is still good.”

My cell beeps indicating another call so I check the screen.

“Katie, I’ll call you back!” I disconnect her.

“Hello? Hello?” My heart pounds in my chest as I hold my breath.

“Tennessee.”

“Oh my God…”

“I was hoping you’d be happy to hear from me.” His voice is faint, weak.

“It’s great to hear your voice,” I whisper. “When did you wake up?”

“Yesterday. I don’t remember much. I’m just getting brief flashes of stuff. It isn’t making much sense.”

I grip my phone. “When can I see you?”

“They’ll only let my parents in today. How about tomorrow after school?”

“I’ll be there. Is there anything I can bring you?”

“No, my dad’s spoiling me rotten. Weird, huh? It takes me getting sick for him to start paying attention to me.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty weird.” I grimace, wondering how Dylan will feel once his dad tells him the truth about Jude. “If you think of anything, you’ll text me?”

“I will,” he says, his voice fading. “I should go. I’m pretty tired.”

I suddenly feel like a selfish jerk for keeping him on the phone. “Sure,” I say quickly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Dylan is awake. My insides swell until I feel I might burst. Happy tears trickle down my face. Jude fixed him. Now I’m in debt to Jude. My tears dry up and I shiver.

I jump as my phone rings again. It’s Katie.

“What the heck?” she huffs.

“It was Dylan!” I jump out of bed and pace around my room. “He’s awake.”

“Dylan’s awake?”

“Yes. I’m going to visit him tomorrow after school.”

“What a relief.” She sighs. “There’s been a lot of crazy talk at school about him, rumors…you know, like he was going to die.”

“That’s stupid. He wasn’t going to die!” I feel a rush of anger, followed by a ton of guilt. “Wait…I’m sorry, Katie. I don’t mean to jump on your case. I just really hate gossip.”

“I get it. Don’t worry about it. I have to go, though. I need to call Trevor and figure out what time we’re getting together.” The excitement is back in her voice. “Hey…I’m really glad Dylan’s better.”

“Yeah, me, too.” I smile, my anger fading. “But call Ella and everyone else before Trevor. Okay?”

“Oh yeah, right.” She laughs. “I will. Promise.”

After we hang up, I go to the kitchen. Bernard and Sheldon are gone for the day, so I have a sandwich and text Marcus to see if we can get together later.

While I do my chores, I replay the memories that Jude forced me to rediscover. Remembering those incidents was bad enough, but what if there are more? What if I’ve done things so evil I’ve blocked them out? A convulsive shudder sends my dust mop flying.

By eleven o’clock I’ve finished cleaning the living room, kitchen, both bathrooms and my room and taken a shower. I dump my backpack on the dining room table and tackle my homework.

I can’t believe Dylan’s awake. He sounded weak. I’m not sure if he’ll be okay or not, but…he’s awake.

By one o’clock my homework is done so I text Marcus. Fifteen minutes later, he’s at my front door.

I pull him inside and close the door. “I have the most amazing news. I talked to Dylan today.”

“Wait…what? He’s awake?”

“Yeah. Isn’t that great?” Based on the dark look on his face, he doesn’t think so. “What’s the matter?”

“I have only one objective, and that’s to keep you safe,” Marcus says through clenched teeth. “I promised your grandmother. Or have you forgotten?”

“Dylan could’ve died,” I snap, rigid with anger. “
My
objective was to keep him alive.”

“You don’t know what you’re doing, Lucy. Now that Dylan’s off the hook, that means you’re
on
the hook. Or didn’t you think about that?”

A tingly sensation crawls along my skin as I glare at him. It takes effort to unclench my jaw.

“I understand Jude is evil. We all do. But on the subject of who we don’t like and trust, what about Aiden? I really think he’s on Jude’s side.”

“Nice change of subject, but let me ask you. Whose side are you on?” Marcus asks, a challenge in his eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You seem to be running to Dylan every chance you get.” He glares at me. “What should I take from that?”

I fix him with a steely look, my hands on my hips. I’m not the one who needs to explain their actions. I’m so tired of no one telling me anything but expecting me just to go along while innocent people get hurt.

“You and I live in the same building, but I hardly ever see you. You’re never home. You claim you’re all about protecting me, but you aren’t there when I need you. What should I take from that?”

“I’m committed to protecting you, Lucy. I have been since the day you moved here.” He sounds convincing, but he dodges the issue of his whereabouts.

“Protecting me from what? Nobody tells me anything. I should know what I’m being protected from.”

His eyes glitter. “It’s better than you don’t. Otherwise you’re likely to start spending lots of time with them.”

I clench my fists and scream in frustration. I want to throw something. Break something. Hurl a fireball…roast something. Marcus and I lock gazes. “Aiden’s a spy for Jude.”

Marcus refuses to back down. “I told you he serves as a liaison. He has to relay information to Jude from time to time or Jude will get suspicious.”

“He’s playing you. Persephone and Henry, too,” I snap. “Aiden hates me. Hates that we’re friends.”

Marcus meets my angry gaze, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Friends? You think of us as friends?”

I frown. Aren’t we friends?

“I thought by now, we’re past friendship and onto something else.” His smile breaks through.

My anger drops to zero in two seconds flat, but I try to hold onto it because I don’t want him to think he can smile and get away with anything. Of course he
can
, but I don’t want him to know it.

“Nice try. But don’t change the subject.”

And that’s when he looks at me—really looks at me. My insides turn squishy, my breathing turns shallow and there is that powerful snap crackling in the air between us.

“Well, I figured if you’re my girlfriend, then…we could go to your Homecoming dance together.” His voice is soft and smooth, the way I like it best.

I feel weightless all of a sudden. I slap my hands over my mouth to cover an insane fit of giggles.

“I mean, if you want to go. Although I have to warn you, I’m not a great dancer. Your toes might be broken by the end of the night.”

“I don’t care.”

He frowns at me. “You don’t care about Homecoming?”

“I don’t care about broken toes.” I beam at him. “I would love to go to Homecoming with you.”

“Great.” He grins, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow. “I was worried for a minute there.”

“Kiss me.” My voice is soft and shakes a little.

He pulls me to him, his mouth descending onto mine, unrushed. I stand on my tippy toes and circle my arms around his neck. We’re going to the dance together. We’re a couple. I can’t imagine ever being with anyone else. I hope he feels the same way.

His fingers run through my hair and goose bumps erupt all over my arms and legs. I press myself against him and a thrill races through me. Our mouths find their rhythm. Marcus’ hands trail the length of my back, pulling me closer. Our kiss deepens. Every inch of me is on fire.

Marcus groans. “We have to stop.” He untangles my arms from his neck and I’m relieved to see he’s out of breath, too. “Let’s get out of here.”

His eyes are dark and full of longing, which excites me even more. I don’t want to stop—not even close. “What do you have in mind?”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and I wonder if it’s so he can’t reach for me again.

I glance past Marcus, out the front window. What I see makes me freeze. “What is Mr. Douglas doing here?”

“This can’t be good,” I mutter under my breath as Marcus and I approach the Town Car parked at the curb.

Marcus pauses as he looks up at the second floor window. “We’re being beckoned.”

I look up and see Aiden’s imposing figure. “What about Mr. Douglas?”

“Bring him along.”

“Seriously?” I glance from Marcus to Aiden, making no effort to hide my dislike for his phony brother.

The rear window slides down and Mr. Douglas holds up a finger as he finishes his call.

“Lucy, we need to talk,” he says sharply, sliding his phone into his suit coat pocket. “I’ve been out here for twenty minutes. Did you get any of my messages?”

So much for hello.

“Mr. Douglas, do you mind coming inside?”

“I do mind.”

Dylan’s out of his coma. Mr. Douglas should be ecstatic. Instead there are deep lines creasing his grayish complexion. “Jude isn’t here if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Mr. Douglas exhales heavily, then exits the car. He squints in the sunlight, exaggerating his already haggard features. I look at Marcus nervously. Mr. Douglas looks like he’s aged ten years since our meeting at St. Aquinas.

Aiden waits for us in the second-floor apartment, holding the door open. He and Marcus stare at each other, some silent communication passing between them. Marcus, pressing his lips into a thin line, nods.

“Mr. Douglas, this is Marcus Turner and his brother, Aiden.” 

“I’m here to speak with Lucy,” Mr. Douglas wheezes, breathless from the one flight of stairs. “This is a private matter.”

“Not so private, I’m afraid,” Aiden replies, his voice and expression cold.

Why is he so rude? Marcus told me Aiden has powers, he never told me what those powers are. I don’t understand why he needs to be a part of this.

Mr. Douglas looks around the apartment. “Lucy mentioned that Jude spends time here. Are you a friend of his?”

“More like business associates,” Aiden says curtly.

A traitor and a spy is more like it.

Something’s happened. It’s time to figure out what it is. “Why are you here, Mr. Douglas?”

“Jude came to see me at my office.” He starts to pace and his hand reaches into his pocket.

Marcus holds his hand up. “You can’t smoke in here.”

Mr. Douglas shrugs and resumes his pacing, jiggling the cigarette case inside his pocket. “He told me you convinced him to leave Dylan alone…to make him well. He said you suggested the deal be renegotiated.”

He could thank me, but instead he sounds angry. What an ungrateful jerk. “You wanted my help, remember?”

“Guess what his new offer is?” His face twists in anguish. Fear tingles down my body like burning raindrops.

“He’s decided that the only fair trade is to exchange Dylan for…for…” He paces faster and pulls at his hair. Strands of gray float down to the floor.

“For what, Mr. Douglas?” My knees quiver.

He stops pacing and looks me dead in the eye.

“He wants Ethan and Brandi.”

“No!” My knees give out and I slump onto the couch. I can’t breathe. A hand pushes my head between my knees. I see Marcus’ feet next to mine. I think about broken toes and broken children and how it’s all my fault. I suck in oxygen trying to ease the tightness in my chest, the lightheadedness.

I press my fingers against my temples. This is bad. Very bad. The couch is rocking and someone is moaning. It takes a minute to realize it’s me. The men are shouting at each other. I will not let anything happen to Ethan and Brandi.

“Shut up! All of you.” I push off the couch.

“Lucy, sit back down,” Marcus says.

“No.” I look Mr. Douglas squarely in the eyes. “My father will not take your children.”

“What?” Mr. Douglas’ face blanches and he takes my seat on the couch.

Aiden glares at me, shaking his head.

“I think we’re long past the big secret,” I tell him. “Get over it.”

“But...I thought he wasn’t able to have children. That’s why he wanted my first-born.”

I whirl around. “Wait…he wanted Dylan as his own?”

“I thought he wanted someone he could groom to take over his enterprise.” He coughs, his left eye twitches. “I was supposed to turn Dylan over to him a long time ago. But…”