Before I Wake
Page 41
Ill get you a shirt, Nash grumbled, but before he could even turn toward the hall, Tod pulled his T-shirt off and handed it to me, and I could hear Nashs teeth grind together.
Sabine rolled her eyes. The three of you are enough to drive a mara mad. She can wear my shirt, she growled in imitation of Nash. No, she can wear my shirt, she said, switching to Tods smoother tone. Then Sabine took off down the hall without a glance at any of us. I have a spare. Come on, Kaylee, before I choke on testosterone and melodrama.
I followed her into Nashs room reluctantly and she closed the door behind us, then pulled a spare T-shirt from her backpack on the floor. Sabine handed me the shirt, then knelt to look for something beneath the bed.
Thanks, but Im not changing in front of you, I said.
Relax. Her voice was muffled by whatever junk she was pawing through. Ive got everything youve got, plus a little more on top, and everyone who wants to see you naked is out there. But if youre that uptight, go invisible.
So I did, and when I was sure she couldnt see me, I took off Ems dress and laid it across the foot of Nashs bed.
There they are Sabine mumbled, pulling some scrap of black material from beneath the bed. I didnt understand that shed been looking for her underwear until she started unbuttoning her jeans. So, whats with the costume?
I dont have to explain myself to you, I said, turning my back to her to pull her shirt over my head. And I wasnt sure shed heard me until she answered.
You do if you want me to read whoevers passed out in the living room. What am I supposed to think when you show up here alone, wearing that? I know that move. Ive made that move.
It wasnt a move, and I wasnt alone. Just because they hadnt seen Tod at first didnt mean he hadnt been there the whole time. Im not trying to take Nash from you.
Good, because we had a deal. You die, I get Nash. You even try going back on that, and I dont care how dead you are, Ill make you deader.
What is wrong with you? I demanded, trying to tug the T-shirt down over my navel. But it wasnt long enough. You got what you wanted. You and Nash can grow old together and have a whole brood of scary, maladjusted little baby Nightmares, and Im not going to stop you. Im dead, and nothings going to change that. I love Tod, and nothings going to change that, either. Were facing eternity and the deaths of everyone weve ever cared about, with nothing to cling to but each other. So who the hell are you to tell me where I cant be and what I cant wear? I dont answer to you, Sabine!
Ionly noticed she could see me when I realized she was staring straight into my eyes.
You love him? Tod, I mean? she asked, finally pulling her own shirt over her head.
Yes.
For real? Like, cant-live-without-him love him, complete with all the stupid, dangerous shit love like that makes you willing to do?
Yes. My eyes dont want to open when hes not there to look at and my hands feel empty when Im not touching him. Its the scariest thing Ive ever felt.
The mara nodded, like she understood.
He died for me, Sabine. He let Levi kill him, rather than reap my soul, and theres nothing I wouldnt do for him. So you better hope were never put in the position where I have to choose between you and Tod, because I promise things wont end well for you that day.
She stared into my eyes, and if I didnt know better, Id swear she was watching my irises swirl. But she wasnt a bean sidhe, so she couldnt see that. She was looking for something much simpler. She was looking for the truth. And she must have found it, because she blinked, then nodded, like she was satisfied.
Good. Thats what I needed to hear. Lets go see what scares sleeping beauty.
Sabine. I put one hand on her arm. He may be pretty, but I swear hes evil. For real.
She only laughed, like Id told her water was wet. All pretty things are, in one way or another.
As I followed her down the hall, I tried to figure out if shed just called me evil or ugly.
In the living room, Nash and Tod sat in silence on opposite ends of the couch. They both looked miserable. They also looked like they both wanted to say something the other wouldnt want to hear.
Nash stood when Sabine knelt in front of the unconscious reaper. Who is he?
This is Thane, I said. He showed up at the hospital and tried to drag me into the Netherworld. And he wanted to make sure Tod would follow us, so Im guessing he wasnt there only for me. Were pretty sure he knows what Avari wants, and hopefully how he possessed Scott twelve hours after he died.
What happened to him? Sabine asked, eyeing Thane.
Tod happened to him, I said. Again. Could you go ahead, please? We dont know how long hell be out.
Dont get pushy, Sabine snapped. I cant manipulate the fears of the dead, but I should be able to read something from him. I havent had much practice, though. Reapers rarely sleep. This one is actually unconscious, but hopefully thats close enough. She took his hand, then closed her eyes. Hes not dreaming. Could someoneopen his eyes?
Sabine rolled her eyes. The three of you are enough to drive a mara mad. She can wear my shirt, she growled in imitation of Nash. No, she can wear my shirt, she said, switching to Tods smoother tone. Then Sabine took off down the hall without a glance at any of us. I have a spare. Come on, Kaylee, before I choke on testosterone and melodrama.
I followed her into Nashs room reluctantly and she closed the door behind us, then pulled a spare T-shirt from her backpack on the floor. Sabine handed me the shirt, then knelt to look for something beneath the bed.
Thanks, but Im not changing in front of you, I said.
Relax. Her voice was muffled by whatever junk she was pawing through. Ive got everything youve got, plus a little more on top, and everyone who wants to see you naked is out there. But if youre that uptight, go invisible.
So I did, and when I was sure she couldnt see me, I took off Ems dress and laid it across the foot of Nashs bed.
There they are Sabine mumbled, pulling some scrap of black material from beneath the bed. I didnt understand that shed been looking for her underwear until she started unbuttoning her jeans. So, whats with the costume?
I dont have to explain myself to you, I said, turning my back to her to pull her shirt over my head. And I wasnt sure shed heard me until she answered.
You do if you want me to read whoevers passed out in the living room. What am I supposed to think when you show up here alone, wearing that? I know that move. Ive made that move.
It wasnt a move, and I wasnt alone. Just because they hadnt seen Tod at first didnt mean he hadnt been there the whole time. Im not trying to take Nash from you.
Good, because we had a deal. You die, I get Nash. You even try going back on that, and I dont care how dead you are, Ill make you deader.
What is wrong with you? I demanded, trying to tug the T-shirt down over my navel. But it wasnt long enough. You got what you wanted. You and Nash can grow old together and have a whole brood of scary, maladjusted little baby Nightmares, and Im not going to stop you. Im dead, and nothings going to change that. I love Tod, and nothings going to change that, either. Were facing eternity and the deaths of everyone weve ever cared about, with nothing to cling to but each other. So who the hell are you to tell me where I cant be and what I cant wear? I dont answer to you, Sabine!
Ionly noticed she could see me when I realized she was staring straight into my eyes.
You love him? Tod, I mean? she asked, finally pulling her own shirt over her head.
Yes.
For real? Like, cant-live-without-him love him, complete with all the stupid, dangerous shit love like that makes you willing to do?
Yes. My eyes dont want to open when hes not there to look at and my hands feel empty when Im not touching him. Its the scariest thing Ive ever felt.
The mara nodded, like she understood.
He died for me, Sabine. He let Levi kill him, rather than reap my soul, and theres nothing I wouldnt do for him. So you better hope were never put in the position where I have to choose between you and Tod, because I promise things wont end well for you that day.
She stared into my eyes, and if I didnt know better, Id swear she was watching my irises swirl. But she wasnt a bean sidhe, so she couldnt see that. She was looking for something much simpler. She was looking for the truth. And she must have found it, because she blinked, then nodded, like she was satisfied.
Good. Thats what I needed to hear. Lets go see what scares sleeping beauty.
Sabine. I put one hand on her arm. He may be pretty, but I swear hes evil. For real.
She only laughed, like Id told her water was wet. All pretty things are, in one way or another.
As I followed her down the hall, I tried to figure out if shed just called me evil or ugly.
In the living room, Nash and Tod sat in silence on opposite ends of the couch. They both looked miserable. They also looked like they both wanted to say something the other wouldnt want to hear.
Nash stood when Sabine knelt in front of the unconscious reaper. Who is he?
This is Thane, I said. He showed up at the hospital and tried to drag me into the Netherworld. And he wanted to make sure Tod would follow us, so Im guessing he wasnt there only for me. Were pretty sure he knows what Avari wants, and hopefully how he possessed Scott twelve hours after he died.
What happened to him? Sabine asked, eyeing Thane.
Tod happened to him, I said. Again. Could you go ahead, please? We dont know how long hell be out.
Dont get pushy, Sabine snapped. I cant manipulate the fears of the dead, but I should be able to read something from him. I havent had much practice, though. Reapers rarely sleep. This one is actually unconscious, but hopefully thats close enough. She took his hand, then closed her eyes. Hes not dreaming. Could someoneopen his eyes?
