Before I Wake
Page 97
Aunt Val crossed her arms over her chest and studied me without even looking back at Sophie. You must be Kaylee.
I slowed to a stop ten feet away, but Luca ran past the hellion and hugged Sophie so tight he actually lifted her from the ground as he pulled her away from the hellion.
And you would be? I couldnt tear my gaze from my aunts imposter. She wasnt Sophies mom. Intellectually, I knew that. But there was something about the way she moved Aunt Vals body, like she knew it. Like she truly identified with the soul she wore. And suddenly I understood. Belphegore. The hellion of vanity whod offered my aunt eternal youth and beauty.
Who else? Aunt Vals mouth smiled, not too wide, not too much teeth. Just like shed smiled in real life, to maximize the illusion of kindness and minimize wrinkles.
She has my moms soul, Sophie sobbed, clinging to Lucas hand when he finally let her go. Dont let her cross over.
I frowned at the hellion in confusion.
The younger Miss Cavanaugh has just been informed that when I cross back into the Netherworld, her mothers soul will dissipate into the ether, scattered throughout both worlds for as long as it takes the soul to pull itself back together again. And that could take centuries.
What does that mean?
Its like purgatory, Tod said, and I whirled around to find him standing on my left. I started to reach for him, then stopped when I saw who stood next to him, her arm linked possessively through his.
Addison Page. She looked just like she had the day shed died. Beautiful long blond hair and bright blue eyes. She had everything my aunt had ever wanted and gave it all up for fame and fortune in exchange for eternity at Avaris mercy.
Whatever your weakness, theres a hellion to exploit it.
Is that? I said, and Tod nodded stiffly, his jaw clenched in fury. He was angrier than Id ever seen him. Avari, I said, but my greeting felt more like a curse.
Always a pleasure, Miss Cavanaugh, the hellion said with Addys voice, and seeing him wear Addison bothered me more than any other form hed ever takenexcept for Alecs. Avari glanced around at the rest of us through Addys wide blue eyes. We appear to be missing a couple of guests .
Guests? I asked, but instead of answering, Avari disappeared. What the hell is going on? I demanded, but the only one who could have answeredVal/Belphegoreonly smiled.
Kaylee, I am so sorry, Tod said as I stepped into the embrace he offered. Sheheshowed up the second you, Em, and Jayson crossed over, and he said youd be fine. He gave his word. And hellions couldnt lie.But he said if I went after you, hed cross over, too, and Addys soul woulddissipate.
Before I could ask what the hell that meant, or what the somehow-unified hoard of demons wanted, Emma shrieked behind us, and Nashs shout of outrage echoed hers. I turned toward the pavilion just in time to see Addison grab Emmas arm and disappear with her. Before I could even think to run toward themnot that that would have helpedAddison/Avari reappeared next to Val/Belphegore, Emmas arm gripped tightly in her fist.
Em was crying, one hand pressed to her still-bleeding stomach. What? she started, begging me with her gaze to explain.
A second later, Sophie squealed as Belphegore jerked her out of Lucas grip with a single brutal tug. Then she shoved Luca closer to me and Tod. You three stay put, she said with my aunts voice. One move from any of you while were waiting for the last player in this little game, and the humans will die in a great deal of pain.
Sophie whimpered and Emma moaned, in both pain and fear, as behind us, Nashs footsteps thumped to a stop next to Tod. What the hell? he demanded, but I was just as confused and horrified as he was by the parade of demons wearing faces from our past.
Belphegore ignored him and focused on Luca. I can see what youre thinking, necromancer. You think you can bring them back if they die, but they wont be the same, will they? Do you really think either of them would appreciate your particular talents?
Luca shook his head slowly, eyes narrowed in anger while most of the rest of us looked on in confusion.
Whats up with all the dead people? Nash stage-whispered.
Aunt Val is Belphegore and Addison is Avari, I said. And when they cross over, the stolen souls will dissipate, doomed to wander both worlds for centuries, trying to coalesce. Or something like that.
My explanation didnt seem to help. Im assuming Kaylee didnt invite the hellions to her birthday party, so the object of this little gathering would be?
Were still waiting for the big reveal, Tod said. And as much as I hated waiting in ignorance, the alternativesuffering in ignoranceseemed infinitely worse.
Sorry Im late, Thane said as he appeared in our midst, sunglasses sliding down the end of his nose. Before I could yell at him for what was obviously a betrayal of the deal wed struck, he tugged on the hand he held and a waif of a girl with stringy blond hair stumbled forward.
Lydia?
Kaylee? Lydias eyes were wide and scared. Her clothes were dirty and her skin was pale. Where had Thane found her? Had she been living on the street?
I slowed to a stop ten feet away, but Luca ran past the hellion and hugged Sophie so tight he actually lifted her from the ground as he pulled her away from the hellion.
And you would be? I couldnt tear my gaze from my aunts imposter. She wasnt Sophies mom. Intellectually, I knew that. But there was something about the way she moved Aunt Vals body, like she knew it. Like she truly identified with the soul she wore. And suddenly I understood. Belphegore. The hellion of vanity whod offered my aunt eternal youth and beauty.
Who else? Aunt Vals mouth smiled, not too wide, not too much teeth. Just like shed smiled in real life, to maximize the illusion of kindness and minimize wrinkles.
She has my moms soul, Sophie sobbed, clinging to Lucas hand when he finally let her go. Dont let her cross over.
I frowned at the hellion in confusion.
The younger Miss Cavanaugh has just been informed that when I cross back into the Netherworld, her mothers soul will dissipate into the ether, scattered throughout both worlds for as long as it takes the soul to pull itself back together again. And that could take centuries.
What does that mean?
Its like purgatory, Tod said, and I whirled around to find him standing on my left. I started to reach for him, then stopped when I saw who stood next to him, her arm linked possessively through his.
Addison Page. She looked just like she had the day shed died. Beautiful long blond hair and bright blue eyes. She had everything my aunt had ever wanted and gave it all up for fame and fortune in exchange for eternity at Avaris mercy.
Whatever your weakness, theres a hellion to exploit it.
Is that? I said, and Tod nodded stiffly, his jaw clenched in fury. He was angrier than Id ever seen him. Avari, I said, but my greeting felt more like a curse.
Always a pleasure, Miss Cavanaugh, the hellion said with Addys voice, and seeing him wear Addison bothered me more than any other form hed ever takenexcept for Alecs. Avari glanced around at the rest of us through Addys wide blue eyes. We appear to be missing a couple of guests .
Guests? I asked, but instead of answering, Avari disappeared. What the hell is going on? I demanded, but the only one who could have answeredVal/Belphegoreonly smiled.
Kaylee, I am so sorry, Tod said as I stepped into the embrace he offered. Sheheshowed up the second you, Em, and Jayson crossed over, and he said youd be fine. He gave his word. And hellions couldnt lie.But he said if I went after you, hed cross over, too, and Addys soul woulddissipate.
Before I could ask what the hell that meant, or what the somehow-unified hoard of demons wanted, Emma shrieked behind us, and Nashs shout of outrage echoed hers. I turned toward the pavilion just in time to see Addison grab Emmas arm and disappear with her. Before I could even think to run toward themnot that that would have helpedAddison/Avari reappeared next to Val/Belphegore, Emmas arm gripped tightly in her fist.
Em was crying, one hand pressed to her still-bleeding stomach. What? she started, begging me with her gaze to explain.
A second later, Sophie squealed as Belphegore jerked her out of Lucas grip with a single brutal tug. Then she shoved Luca closer to me and Tod. You three stay put, she said with my aunts voice. One move from any of you while were waiting for the last player in this little game, and the humans will die in a great deal of pain.
Sophie whimpered and Emma moaned, in both pain and fear, as behind us, Nashs footsteps thumped to a stop next to Tod. What the hell? he demanded, but I was just as confused and horrified as he was by the parade of demons wearing faces from our past.
Belphegore ignored him and focused on Luca. I can see what youre thinking, necromancer. You think you can bring them back if they die, but they wont be the same, will they? Do you really think either of them would appreciate your particular talents?
Luca shook his head slowly, eyes narrowed in anger while most of the rest of us looked on in confusion.
Whats up with all the dead people? Nash stage-whispered.
Aunt Val is Belphegore and Addison is Avari, I said. And when they cross over, the stolen souls will dissipate, doomed to wander both worlds for centuries, trying to coalesce. Or something like that.
My explanation didnt seem to help. Im assuming Kaylee didnt invite the hellions to her birthday party, so the object of this little gathering would be?
Were still waiting for the big reveal, Tod said. And as much as I hated waiting in ignorance, the alternativesuffering in ignoranceseemed infinitely worse.
Sorry Im late, Thane said as he appeared in our midst, sunglasses sliding down the end of his nose. Before I could yell at him for what was obviously a betrayal of the deal wed struck, he tugged on the hand he held and a waif of a girl with stringy blond hair stumbled forward.
Lydia?
Kaylee? Lydias eyes were wide and scared. Her clothes were dirty and her skin was pale. Where had Thane found her? Had she been living on the street?
