Before I Wake
Page 42
The thought gave me chills, but Nash stepped up before I had to admit that.
Not sure how much good itll do, Tod said as his brother pulled back on both of Thanes eyelids at once. He doesnt have a soul.
Wow. Sabine stared into the plain white in the reapers eyes. Ive never seen that before.
Nash frowned. Wish I could say the same.
Youre right, that doesnt help, she said, and he let go of Thanes eyes. Okay, lets try something else. His conscious mind is asleep, but the subconscious never sleeps. Lets see if we can guide his thoughts, to lead me to his fears.
How? Tod asked.
Um, touch him. We know Avari wants Kaylees soul, but we dont know what he wants with you. Even unconscious, Thanell know its you touching him, and hopefully hell think about you, which will lead me to fears related to you.
Tods a rookie. Hes like a baby reaper. Why would Thane be scared of him?
I said fears related to Tod, not fears of Tod, Sabine said, and Nash scowled, but kept his mouth shut.
Okay. Tod pushed Thanes sleeve up and laid his bare hand on the other reapers arm. Hows that?
Sabine closed her eyes again and took a long, quiet breath. Then she started to speak, softly, like she was afraid shed wake up the unconscious reaper. Hes afraid of failing. Hes terrified of what Avari will do if he cant bring Tod to him.
What?
Anything else? Tod whispered, and Sabines eyes flew open, her hand still tight around Thanes.
He heard your voice, she said, and though her eyes didnt close again, they lost focus, like she was looking at something none of the rest of us could see. Hes cold, deep down inside and hes afraid of the cold because its foreign. It shouldnt be in him, and he wants to get rid of it, but he cant. But as much as he hates the cold, hes even more afraid of losing it, because once his bodys gone, hell truly be at Avaris mercy. And thats what hes afraid will happen if he doesnt bring Tod.
What cold? Nash sank onto the couch cushion next to me, like hed forgotten how mad he was.
Demons Breath, I said, then immediately wanted to take the words back. Just saying them couldnt push Nash into relapse, yet I felt guilty for bringing up such a touchy subject. But once Id started it, I had to finish. Theres Demons Breath in place of his soul. He wants to get rid of it, but if he does, hell lose his body, then Avari can do whatever he wants with Thanessoul.
Nash nodded stiffly.
Is that all? Tod asked.
Sabine nodded. Then, Kaylee, you touch him.
Both Tod and Nash looked like they wanted to object, but I grabbed Thanes arm before they could, and Sabine closed her eyes again.
Hes scared of you, she said, almost immediately. But not scared enough. Hes terrified that you can extract his soul, if he ever gets it back, but he knows that if Avari gets you, youll no longer be a threat. Before, he wanted to take you to Avari because he was scared of Avari. But now he wants to turn you over because hes scared of you.
I should have been relieved by thatthe big bad reaper was afraid of me. But knowing he was willing to drag me into the Netherworld to eliminate the threat I now represented was enough to wipe out any relief I might otherwise have felt.
Avari wants us both? Tod said, and Sabine nodded slowly.
But for different reasons. Hes afraid that if the hellion doesnt get you, hell never let Thane go free. And based on what little I know of Avari, Id bet he wont let Thane go even if he does get you, she said to Tod. Hes a hellion of greed, right?
We all nodded, and if we hadnt been looking at Sabine, we might have known Thane was awake before he grabbed her by the throat.
9
I GASPED AND Tod pulled me out of reach. Nash grabbed for Sabine, but Thane stood and pushed her backward with him. Who the hell are you?
Whats the worst thing thats ever happened to you? Sabine croaked, clutching the hand that held her by the throat at arms length. Did your dad beat you? Your mom leave you? Did your girlfriend kick your balls clear up into the back of your throat?
Thanes eyes widened, and I realized he was surprised into silence for the first time since Id met him.
Whatever it is, the mara continued, her voice hoarse but audible, Im going to top it, if you dont let me go right now.
Thane studied her for another second, like he was debatingor maybe waiting for verbal brilliance to strike. Then his eyes narrowed and he frowned at her, and I could see his grip on her loosen a little. I remember you. Youre the feisty little firecracker I saw at Kaylees house. When hed been stalking me, in anticipation of reaping my soul.
Sabine frownedshed never seen him beforeand her eyes darkened. Every lightbulb in the room seemed to dim, and chill bumps rose on my arms. Know what happens when you hold a lit firecracker? she said, glaring up at Thane, who didnt answer. Itll take your hand clean off.
Not sure how much good itll do, Tod said as his brother pulled back on both of Thanes eyelids at once. He doesnt have a soul.
Wow. Sabine stared into the plain white in the reapers eyes. Ive never seen that before.
Nash frowned. Wish I could say the same.
Youre right, that doesnt help, she said, and he let go of Thanes eyes. Okay, lets try something else. His conscious mind is asleep, but the subconscious never sleeps. Lets see if we can guide his thoughts, to lead me to his fears.
How? Tod asked.
Um, touch him. We know Avari wants Kaylees soul, but we dont know what he wants with you. Even unconscious, Thanell know its you touching him, and hopefully hell think about you, which will lead me to fears related to you.
Tods a rookie. Hes like a baby reaper. Why would Thane be scared of him?
I said fears related to Tod, not fears of Tod, Sabine said, and Nash scowled, but kept his mouth shut.
Okay. Tod pushed Thanes sleeve up and laid his bare hand on the other reapers arm. Hows that?
Sabine closed her eyes again and took a long, quiet breath. Then she started to speak, softly, like she was afraid shed wake up the unconscious reaper. Hes afraid of failing. Hes terrified of what Avari will do if he cant bring Tod to him.
What?
Anything else? Tod whispered, and Sabines eyes flew open, her hand still tight around Thanes.
He heard your voice, she said, and though her eyes didnt close again, they lost focus, like she was looking at something none of the rest of us could see. Hes cold, deep down inside and hes afraid of the cold because its foreign. It shouldnt be in him, and he wants to get rid of it, but he cant. But as much as he hates the cold, hes even more afraid of losing it, because once his bodys gone, hell truly be at Avaris mercy. And thats what hes afraid will happen if he doesnt bring Tod.
What cold? Nash sank onto the couch cushion next to me, like hed forgotten how mad he was.
Demons Breath, I said, then immediately wanted to take the words back. Just saying them couldnt push Nash into relapse, yet I felt guilty for bringing up such a touchy subject. But once Id started it, I had to finish. Theres Demons Breath in place of his soul. He wants to get rid of it, but if he does, hell lose his body, then Avari can do whatever he wants with Thanessoul.
Nash nodded stiffly.
Is that all? Tod asked.
Sabine nodded. Then, Kaylee, you touch him.
Both Tod and Nash looked like they wanted to object, but I grabbed Thanes arm before they could, and Sabine closed her eyes again.
Hes scared of you, she said, almost immediately. But not scared enough. Hes terrified that you can extract his soul, if he ever gets it back, but he knows that if Avari gets you, youll no longer be a threat. Before, he wanted to take you to Avari because he was scared of Avari. But now he wants to turn you over because hes scared of you.
I should have been relieved by thatthe big bad reaper was afraid of me. But knowing he was willing to drag me into the Netherworld to eliminate the threat I now represented was enough to wipe out any relief I might otherwise have felt.
Avari wants us both? Tod said, and Sabine nodded slowly.
But for different reasons. Hes afraid that if the hellion doesnt get you, hell never let Thane go free. And based on what little I know of Avari, Id bet he wont let Thane go even if he does get you, she said to Tod. Hes a hellion of greed, right?
We all nodded, and if we hadnt been looking at Sabine, we might have known Thane was awake before he grabbed her by the throat.
9
I GASPED AND Tod pulled me out of reach. Nash grabbed for Sabine, but Thane stood and pushed her backward with him. Who the hell are you?
Whats the worst thing thats ever happened to you? Sabine croaked, clutching the hand that held her by the throat at arms length. Did your dad beat you? Your mom leave you? Did your girlfriend kick your balls clear up into the back of your throat?
Thanes eyes widened, and I realized he was surprised into silence for the first time since Id met him.
Whatever it is, the mara continued, her voice hoarse but audible, Im going to top it, if you dont let me go right now.
Thane studied her for another second, like he was debatingor maybe waiting for verbal brilliance to strike. Then his eyes narrowed and he frowned at her, and I could see his grip on her loosen a little. I remember you. Youre the feisty little firecracker I saw at Kaylees house. When hed been stalking me, in anticipation of reaping my soul.
Sabine frownedshed never seen him beforeand her eyes darkened. Every lightbulb in the room seemed to dim, and chill bumps rose on my arms. Know what happens when you hold a lit firecracker? she said, glaring up at Thane, who didnt answer. Itll take your hand clean off.
