Before I Wake
Page 84
Did you just say vexing? Nash asked.
Tod scowled. Nothing else seemed to fit. I stand by my word choice.
Are you going to be like this for eternity? I demanded, trying to resist when he pulled me close again.
If you mean protective, and devoted, and perfectly preserved, then, yes. That is the burden I bear.
I mean stubborn. I mean unrelentingly, infuriatingly stubborn.
That, too. But have you looked in the mirror lately, because we happen to share that particular personality flaw.
Im not going to lie to my dad, Tod. Not again. Not about this. He wont tell anyone.
The reaper exhaled slowly. I guess I cant argue with that.
Nash huffed. Never thought Id hear those words come out of your mouth .
Wanna hear some really colorful ones? Tod started to turn to Nash, but I swiveled his face back in my direction with one hand on his cheek.
Play nice or go home.
Tod lifted one brow and glanced pointedly around the room. His room.
Oh. Well, then, take me home.
18
WHY CANT EVERYONE stay at our house? Sophies voice greeted me from the direction of the living room the moment Tod, Nash, and I appeared in my empty bedroom. We have more space and better accommodations, and squinting at this tiny television is giving me a migraine.
Youre not going to be watching TV, youre going to be sleeping, my uncle Brendon said, and I realized the party had grown since Id left.
Or you could be unconscious, Sabine said. I could make that happen.
What the hell? I muttered on my way down the hall, with Tod and Nash right behind me.
Kaylee My dad pulled me into a hug as soon as I stepped into the living room. Are you okay?
No. That question was starting to sound pointless. Would any of us ever be okay again? Whats going on?
Were circling the wagons a little more thoroughly. If Avari can get to Alec, he can get to anyone else.
So were just going to camp out in Kaylees living room until? Until what? Sophie demanded, glaring at the room in general from the center cushion of the couch. Hellions are immortal, remember? Hes not going to be done screwing with us until were all dead. Permanently, she added with a contemptuous glance at me and Tod.
This is just until we figure out how to keep hellions from crossing over, my uncle said from the kitchen doorway. And youre not all going to stay here. The guys will stay at Nashs. Harmony already okayed it.
The barrage of objections was loud and unanimous.
What are we, twelve? Sabine scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. This isnt a junior-high dance, and frankly, dividing us downthe gender line reeks of sexism. And if that isnt enough to change your minds, Ill be forced to point out that Nash is of age, and I have my legal guardians permission to stay at his house.
But you dont have Harmonys, my dad said, and Sabines glower seemed to dim the whole room.
I think we should all stay together, Sophie said, glancing less than subtly at Luca, who heartily agreed with her. If our strength is in numbers, why would we divide?
To keep us from grouping into pairs, right? Sabine said, glancing from my father to my uncle, then back. But let me point out that if you separate the guys from the girls, youll be awake all night trying to make sure no one sneaks in or out. Whereas if you let us all stay here, we have no reason to go anywhere else. And its not like anythings going to happen with us all stuck in one room, anyway, she pointed out. And in the end, it was Sabines unprecedented show of logic that won the case.
My dad glanced at Sophies dad, who shrugged. Then my father sighed. Fine. But this is a strategic maneuver, not a slumber party. Everyone will be fully dressed in modest nightclothes. And there will be no ingesting anything that didnt come from my kitchen, no sharing sleeping bags, and no complaining when at least seven of us have to share the shower in the morning. Speaking of which, I call the first shower.
No one argued.
Luca and Sophie followed her dad back to their house to grab extra air mattresses and sleeping bags, then came back without him. Having never died or been to the Netherworld, Uncle Brendon didnt qualify for hellion possession and he had to be at work at eight in the morning. Sophie was happy to leave him behind.
I was happy that staring at Luca distracted her from complaining about my small house, small TV, and small bathtub.
While they were gone, Tod went to check in at the hospitalhed missed the last third of another of Mareths shifts to help me with Alecand Em closed my bedroom door and plopped onto the bed next to me. Is it true about Alec? she asked, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. Avari got to him?
I nodded. That much was true.
How? What about Falkor?
Avari killed him. I dont have the details. All I know is that hellions being able to cross over changes everything. No ones safe. And the people I knew and loved were practically walking around with targets on their backs.
I have a really bad feeling, Kay. Like I should be looking over my shoulder. But thats pointless, because suddenly evil looks like our friends. How can we fight it if we dont even know its there? But I had no answer for her. She picked at a thread on my comforter for several seconds, then finally looked up. Is it going to be like this forever? I mean, now that they know how to cross over, whats to stop them from doing it any time they want?
Tod scowled. Nothing else seemed to fit. I stand by my word choice.
Are you going to be like this for eternity? I demanded, trying to resist when he pulled me close again.
If you mean protective, and devoted, and perfectly preserved, then, yes. That is the burden I bear.
I mean stubborn. I mean unrelentingly, infuriatingly stubborn.
That, too. But have you looked in the mirror lately, because we happen to share that particular personality flaw.
Im not going to lie to my dad, Tod. Not again. Not about this. He wont tell anyone.
The reaper exhaled slowly. I guess I cant argue with that.
Nash huffed. Never thought Id hear those words come out of your mouth .
Wanna hear some really colorful ones? Tod started to turn to Nash, but I swiveled his face back in my direction with one hand on his cheek.
Play nice or go home.
Tod lifted one brow and glanced pointedly around the room. His room.
Oh. Well, then, take me home.
18
WHY CANT EVERYONE stay at our house? Sophies voice greeted me from the direction of the living room the moment Tod, Nash, and I appeared in my empty bedroom. We have more space and better accommodations, and squinting at this tiny television is giving me a migraine.
Youre not going to be watching TV, youre going to be sleeping, my uncle Brendon said, and I realized the party had grown since Id left.
Or you could be unconscious, Sabine said. I could make that happen.
What the hell? I muttered on my way down the hall, with Tod and Nash right behind me.
Kaylee My dad pulled me into a hug as soon as I stepped into the living room. Are you okay?
No. That question was starting to sound pointless. Would any of us ever be okay again? Whats going on?
Were circling the wagons a little more thoroughly. If Avari can get to Alec, he can get to anyone else.
So were just going to camp out in Kaylees living room until? Until what? Sophie demanded, glaring at the room in general from the center cushion of the couch. Hellions are immortal, remember? Hes not going to be done screwing with us until were all dead. Permanently, she added with a contemptuous glance at me and Tod.
This is just until we figure out how to keep hellions from crossing over, my uncle said from the kitchen doorway. And youre not all going to stay here. The guys will stay at Nashs. Harmony already okayed it.
The barrage of objections was loud and unanimous.
What are we, twelve? Sabine scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. This isnt a junior-high dance, and frankly, dividing us downthe gender line reeks of sexism. And if that isnt enough to change your minds, Ill be forced to point out that Nash is of age, and I have my legal guardians permission to stay at his house.
But you dont have Harmonys, my dad said, and Sabines glower seemed to dim the whole room.
I think we should all stay together, Sophie said, glancing less than subtly at Luca, who heartily agreed with her. If our strength is in numbers, why would we divide?
To keep us from grouping into pairs, right? Sabine said, glancing from my father to my uncle, then back. But let me point out that if you separate the guys from the girls, youll be awake all night trying to make sure no one sneaks in or out. Whereas if you let us all stay here, we have no reason to go anywhere else. And its not like anythings going to happen with us all stuck in one room, anyway, she pointed out. And in the end, it was Sabines unprecedented show of logic that won the case.
My dad glanced at Sophies dad, who shrugged. Then my father sighed. Fine. But this is a strategic maneuver, not a slumber party. Everyone will be fully dressed in modest nightclothes. And there will be no ingesting anything that didnt come from my kitchen, no sharing sleeping bags, and no complaining when at least seven of us have to share the shower in the morning. Speaking of which, I call the first shower.
No one argued.
Luca and Sophie followed her dad back to their house to grab extra air mattresses and sleeping bags, then came back without him. Having never died or been to the Netherworld, Uncle Brendon didnt qualify for hellion possession and he had to be at work at eight in the morning. Sophie was happy to leave him behind.
I was happy that staring at Luca distracted her from complaining about my small house, small TV, and small bathtub.
While they were gone, Tod went to check in at the hospitalhed missed the last third of another of Mareths shifts to help me with Alecand Em closed my bedroom door and plopped onto the bed next to me. Is it true about Alec? she asked, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. Avari got to him?
I nodded. That much was true.
How? What about Falkor?
Avari killed him. I dont have the details. All I know is that hellions being able to cross over changes everything. No ones safe. And the people I knew and loved were practically walking around with targets on their backs.
I have a really bad feeling, Kay. Like I should be looking over my shoulder. But thats pointless, because suddenly evil looks like our friends. How can we fight it if we dont even know its there? But I had no answer for her. She picked at a thread on my comforter for several seconds, then finally looked up. Is it going to be like this forever? I mean, now that they know how to cross over, whats to stop them from doing it any time they want?
