Before I Wake
Page 15
Kaylee?
I jumped, then turned toward the new voice to see the guy Id collided with in the hall earlier, staring down at me like he was determined to have his say. Look, Ive had a rough day, and I cant handle any more gawkers or gossipmongers, so if thats what
Im Luca Tedesco. Madeline told me to introduce myself. He smiled and stuck his hand out, and for a moment, I could only stare at it, as what hed said sank in.
Oh! Im so sorry. Instead of taking the hand he offered, I scooted over to make room for him on the bench. Youre the necromancer? I whispered, unable to hide my surprise. After what Madeline had said, Id expected small, shy, and awkward, not tall, dark, and gorgeous.
Although, hadnt I once been even more surprised when a certain rookie reaper turned out to be tall, blond, and beautiful?
The new guys a necromancer? Sabine said, and I enjoyed a rare glimpse of her surprise.
Yeah. Luca sat and glanced around the table, instantly at ease with a group of people hed never met before. So, I assume your friends are?
It took me a second to realize what he was asking, but Sabine caught on quickly. I think friend is kind of an iffy descriptor at the moment, but your necro-talk isnt going to freak out a mara and a bean sidhe. Im Sabine Campbell and this is Nash Hudson. She placed one hand on her own chest, then gestured toward Nash.
A mara and a bean sidhe. Wow. Luca took a fry from the carton I offered him. Madeline said Id be in good company here, but I assumed she was just trying to con me into moving.
Who the hell is Madeline? Sabine asked as Nash alternately stared at me, then Luca.
Shes my boss in the reclamation department. Our boss, I guess, I said with a glance at the new guy. Luca and I are going to be working together.
So, how do you know Kaylee? Luca asked, and I could tell from Sabines evil grin that I wasnt going to like her answer.
Oh, Nash used to not-quite-sleep with her, and I hung around to reinforce the not quite part. But Ive been relieved of duty on that front, since Kaylee dumped him for his brother in a nasty public spectacle. It was quite the scandal, even for those of us who saw it coming.
Nash frowned, but didnt argue. Okay, what the hell is a necromancer?
He sees dead people, Sabine said, favoring Luca with a rare smile. Like that kid in the movie, right?
Luca shrugged. Sort of. Only without the ghosts. I mostly sense the recently dead and the restored. Like Kaylee. And like that reaper this morning.
Nash stiffened. Tod?
Lucashrugged and glanced at me in question, and I winced over the verbal quicksand he had no idea hed just stepped into. I dont know. Was the reaper named Tod?
Um, no. It was someone else.
Nash relaxed a little, but Sabine frowned at me. As usual, she was too perceptive for her own good. And way too perceptive for my good. Someone you know? Do you know another reaper?
I looked up to find all three of them staring at me, waiting for the answer to a question I desperately didnt want to answer in front of Luca, at least until I could be sure he wouldnt tell Madeline.
He was a rogue, right? Luca said. He killed that guy in the doughnut shop?
Yeah, hewasnt Tod, I finished lamely, while Nash and Sabine stared at me. I reclaimed the soul, though. Madeline has it.
Luca? a familiar voice called from across the quad, and I looked up to see my cousin Sophie crossing the grass toward us, her gaze holding steady on the necromancer. That look was comfortable. Familiar. She didnt even glance at the rest of us. Did you get lost?
Luca smiled like he knew her, and another layer of weird settled onto my life. Nope. I braved the great divide to introduce myself to your cousin. His arm slid around her waist when she stopped at the end of our table, and my mouth actually dropped open. Turns out were going to be working together.
Wait, you two know each other? My voice sounded kind of funny. Stunned. Sophie knew the necromancer. She knew him well enough to accept his arm around her.
Yeah, Sabine said, and I realized that neither she nor Nash looked surprised. If by know each other youre referring to their liberal and frequent exchange of saliva in public, and who knows what other fluids in private.
Youre dating Sophie? I said, gaping at Luca in confusion and disbelief. Could the world get any weirder?
Luca shrugged. We havent been on an actual date yetshes suffered a recent family tragedy, in case you havent heard, he said, brown eyes sparkling in amusement. But
You work with Kaylee? Sophie demanded, before he could finish his sentence, like shed just recovered the gift of speech, after our mutual shock.
We just now officially met, but, yeah.
I assume youre not talking about scooping popcorn at the Cinemark.
My other job, I whispered. How much had I missed in just a month? I dont understand. You hate all things weird and potentially dangerous. No offense I glanced at Luca but necromancy definitely qualifies.
I jumped, then turned toward the new voice to see the guy Id collided with in the hall earlier, staring down at me like he was determined to have his say. Look, Ive had a rough day, and I cant handle any more gawkers or gossipmongers, so if thats what
Im Luca Tedesco. Madeline told me to introduce myself. He smiled and stuck his hand out, and for a moment, I could only stare at it, as what hed said sank in.
Oh! Im so sorry. Instead of taking the hand he offered, I scooted over to make room for him on the bench. Youre the necromancer? I whispered, unable to hide my surprise. After what Madeline had said, Id expected small, shy, and awkward, not tall, dark, and gorgeous.
Although, hadnt I once been even more surprised when a certain rookie reaper turned out to be tall, blond, and beautiful?
The new guys a necromancer? Sabine said, and I enjoyed a rare glimpse of her surprise.
Yeah. Luca sat and glanced around the table, instantly at ease with a group of people hed never met before. So, I assume your friends are?
It took me a second to realize what he was asking, but Sabine caught on quickly. I think friend is kind of an iffy descriptor at the moment, but your necro-talk isnt going to freak out a mara and a bean sidhe. Im Sabine Campbell and this is Nash Hudson. She placed one hand on her own chest, then gestured toward Nash.
A mara and a bean sidhe. Wow. Luca took a fry from the carton I offered him. Madeline said Id be in good company here, but I assumed she was just trying to con me into moving.
Who the hell is Madeline? Sabine asked as Nash alternately stared at me, then Luca.
Shes my boss in the reclamation department. Our boss, I guess, I said with a glance at the new guy. Luca and I are going to be working together.
So, how do you know Kaylee? Luca asked, and I could tell from Sabines evil grin that I wasnt going to like her answer.
Oh, Nash used to not-quite-sleep with her, and I hung around to reinforce the not quite part. But Ive been relieved of duty on that front, since Kaylee dumped him for his brother in a nasty public spectacle. It was quite the scandal, even for those of us who saw it coming.
Nash frowned, but didnt argue. Okay, what the hell is a necromancer?
He sees dead people, Sabine said, favoring Luca with a rare smile. Like that kid in the movie, right?
Luca shrugged. Sort of. Only without the ghosts. I mostly sense the recently dead and the restored. Like Kaylee. And like that reaper this morning.
Nash stiffened. Tod?
Lucashrugged and glanced at me in question, and I winced over the verbal quicksand he had no idea hed just stepped into. I dont know. Was the reaper named Tod?
Um, no. It was someone else.
Nash relaxed a little, but Sabine frowned at me. As usual, she was too perceptive for her own good. And way too perceptive for my good. Someone you know? Do you know another reaper?
I looked up to find all three of them staring at me, waiting for the answer to a question I desperately didnt want to answer in front of Luca, at least until I could be sure he wouldnt tell Madeline.
He was a rogue, right? Luca said. He killed that guy in the doughnut shop?
Yeah, hewasnt Tod, I finished lamely, while Nash and Sabine stared at me. I reclaimed the soul, though. Madeline has it.
Luca? a familiar voice called from across the quad, and I looked up to see my cousin Sophie crossing the grass toward us, her gaze holding steady on the necromancer. That look was comfortable. Familiar. She didnt even glance at the rest of us. Did you get lost?
Luca smiled like he knew her, and another layer of weird settled onto my life. Nope. I braved the great divide to introduce myself to your cousin. His arm slid around her waist when she stopped at the end of our table, and my mouth actually dropped open. Turns out were going to be working together.
Wait, you two know each other? My voice sounded kind of funny. Stunned. Sophie knew the necromancer. She knew him well enough to accept his arm around her.
Yeah, Sabine said, and I realized that neither she nor Nash looked surprised. If by know each other youre referring to their liberal and frequent exchange of saliva in public, and who knows what other fluids in private.
Youre dating Sophie? I said, gaping at Luca in confusion and disbelief. Could the world get any weirder?
Luca shrugged. We havent been on an actual date yetshes suffered a recent family tragedy, in case you havent heard, he said, brown eyes sparkling in amusement. But
You work with Kaylee? Sophie demanded, before he could finish his sentence, like shed just recovered the gift of speech, after our mutual shock.
We just now officially met, but, yeah.
I assume youre not talking about scooping popcorn at the Cinemark.
My other job, I whispered. How much had I missed in just a month? I dont understand. You hate all things weird and potentially dangerous. No offense I glanced at Luca but necromancy definitely qualifies.
