If I Die
Page 91
Come to Kaylees, I typed. We have junk food.
Tracis next text asked for the address, so I gave it to her. When she said shed be right over, I unlocked the front door, then threw away the candy wrappers and half-eaten popcorn from our own binge, secretly kind of glad for the excuse to wake up Emma when her sister arrived.
Usually when Traci got dumped, she and her best friend would binge drink, bad-mouthing the new ex with drunken abandon, so the thought that she wanted comfort this time from her little sister and her sisters best friend wasunexpected. And the coincidental timing wastoo much to believe. And Traci already knew where I lived
I stopped halfway to the kitchen with three empty, sticky glasses. That text wasnt from Traci
Shit! I set the glasses on the nearest end table and ran to the front door, where I twisted the dead bolt and threaded the chain lock through its channel. Then I raced across the living room and through the kitchen to double-check the locks on the back door, but even with the house relatively secure, I couldnt make my pulse slow into the normal range.
I rounded the kitchen table, glancing around in search of my phone, then stopped cold with one glance into the living room.
Kaylee Cavanaugh. Mr. Beck stood in the middle of the room in snug jeans and a T-shirt, staring at me. No, glaring at me.
Fear raced along my spine and into every nerve ending in my body. I wiped sweat from my palms onto my jeans, and fought for enough calm to think clearly. Howd you get in here?
Doors and locks arent much of a problem for me. Hed come in through the Netherworld, which explained how hed gotten in to see Farrah so many times.
Escape options flittered through my head, as worthless as a swarm of moths, mostly because Em and Sophie were still sleeping, and Beck stood between us. I couldnt leave without them. I dont suppose youd go away, if I ask nicely?
Not without what I came for, he said, his voice low, and angry, and very un-teacherlike. My plan was to call your bluff this evening, but Emmas house was deserted. Any idea how that happened?
We know what you are, I said, unwilling to answer his questions and unable to quiet the cold foreboding swelling inside me.
Yeah, I picked up on that during your little role-playing exercise yesterday, and at first I couldnt figure out how you knew. Then I noticed your bracelet. He glanced at my wrist, and I realized I was twisting the braided fiber nervously. And I noticed that Emma wore one, too. Dissimulatus, right? Which means youre trying to hide something. Your species, maybe?
Emmas human. That was the exception in my no-revelation policy. I wanted no mistake about the fact that she would not be the best walking incubator.
Yes,I figured that out when I met her sister. And your other friend? He glanced at Sophie over his shoulder.
Shes not a friend. Shes my cousin. And shes human, too.
But youre not human, are you?
Wheres Traci? I demanded, glancing at the clock on the microwave. 12:10. My dad or Tod could show up anytime. I just had to stall.
Shes safe in her own bed. Beck stepped into the kitchen doorway, and I stepped back, and too late I realized Id just blocked myself into the U-shaped kitchen. Andnot to flatter myselfit looks like shes going to sleep straight through till morning. At least. But on the bright side, shes forgotten all about that loser boyfriend.
Shitshitshit! Youfed from her? I could hear my own heartbeat echo in my ears, a cadence of fear and fury that had no outlet.
Beck leaned against the kitchen door frame, arms crossed over the lines of a perfectly sculpted chest barely hidden beneath his snug T-shirt. I prefer to think of it as a mutual exchange of services. She was well compensated. Ask her, if you dont believe me.
His meaning sank in, and revulsion crawled over me like an army of flies buzzing beneath my skin. Shes alive?
She is. And whether or not she stays alive depends on you.
I blinked, running down the clock with my silence. Waiting for help, because I was in over my head. I couldnt fight an incubus. I didnt even know how. But I couldnt let Traci die, if there was any way I could stop it. And even if I was willing to leave Emma and Sophieand I wasntI couldnt escape into the Netherworld because hed only follow me. Or take my best friend or my cousin.
My gaze slid toward Emma, then Sophie, both somehow still asleep, and he glanced at them over his shoulder. Dont worry. Theyre going to sleep for a while.
Youre feeding from them in their sleep? How was that even possible?
Just enough to keep them out of the way. Our desires dont sleep, even when we do, which makes sleepers the psychic version of fast food.
Ill kill you if you hurt either of them.
Beck laughed out loud. Do you know where I spent my evening, Kaylee? After I left Miss Marshall to her rest? I shook my head, but he didnt seem to notice. I went to check on a former student, whos been faithfully nurturing a precious little bundle of mine, in spite of her own failing health.
Uh-oh. Farrah?
He smiled, like Id just performed a particularly impressive magic trick. Thats why youre such a good student, Kayleeyou do your homework.
Tracis next text asked for the address, so I gave it to her. When she said shed be right over, I unlocked the front door, then threw away the candy wrappers and half-eaten popcorn from our own binge, secretly kind of glad for the excuse to wake up Emma when her sister arrived.
Usually when Traci got dumped, she and her best friend would binge drink, bad-mouthing the new ex with drunken abandon, so the thought that she wanted comfort this time from her little sister and her sisters best friend wasunexpected. And the coincidental timing wastoo much to believe. And Traci already knew where I lived
I stopped halfway to the kitchen with three empty, sticky glasses. That text wasnt from Traci
Shit! I set the glasses on the nearest end table and ran to the front door, where I twisted the dead bolt and threaded the chain lock through its channel. Then I raced across the living room and through the kitchen to double-check the locks on the back door, but even with the house relatively secure, I couldnt make my pulse slow into the normal range.
I rounded the kitchen table, glancing around in search of my phone, then stopped cold with one glance into the living room.
Kaylee Cavanaugh. Mr. Beck stood in the middle of the room in snug jeans and a T-shirt, staring at me. No, glaring at me.
Fear raced along my spine and into every nerve ending in my body. I wiped sweat from my palms onto my jeans, and fought for enough calm to think clearly. Howd you get in here?
Doors and locks arent much of a problem for me. Hed come in through the Netherworld, which explained how hed gotten in to see Farrah so many times.
Escape options flittered through my head, as worthless as a swarm of moths, mostly because Em and Sophie were still sleeping, and Beck stood between us. I couldnt leave without them. I dont suppose youd go away, if I ask nicely?
Not without what I came for, he said, his voice low, and angry, and very un-teacherlike. My plan was to call your bluff this evening, but Emmas house was deserted. Any idea how that happened?
We know what you are, I said, unwilling to answer his questions and unable to quiet the cold foreboding swelling inside me.
Yeah, I picked up on that during your little role-playing exercise yesterday, and at first I couldnt figure out how you knew. Then I noticed your bracelet. He glanced at my wrist, and I realized I was twisting the braided fiber nervously. And I noticed that Emma wore one, too. Dissimulatus, right? Which means youre trying to hide something. Your species, maybe?
Emmas human. That was the exception in my no-revelation policy. I wanted no mistake about the fact that she would not be the best walking incubator.
Yes,I figured that out when I met her sister. And your other friend? He glanced at Sophie over his shoulder.
Shes not a friend. Shes my cousin. And shes human, too.
But youre not human, are you?
Wheres Traci? I demanded, glancing at the clock on the microwave. 12:10. My dad or Tod could show up anytime. I just had to stall.
Shes safe in her own bed. Beck stepped into the kitchen doorway, and I stepped back, and too late I realized Id just blocked myself into the U-shaped kitchen. Andnot to flatter myselfit looks like shes going to sleep straight through till morning. At least. But on the bright side, shes forgotten all about that loser boyfriend.
Shitshitshit! Youfed from her? I could hear my own heartbeat echo in my ears, a cadence of fear and fury that had no outlet.
Beck leaned against the kitchen door frame, arms crossed over the lines of a perfectly sculpted chest barely hidden beneath his snug T-shirt. I prefer to think of it as a mutual exchange of services. She was well compensated. Ask her, if you dont believe me.
His meaning sank in, and revulsion crawled over me like an army of flies buzzing beneath my skin. Shes alive?
She is. And whether or not she stays alive depends on you.
I blinked, running down the clock with my silence. Waiting for help, because I was in over my head. I couldnt fight an incubus. I didnt even know how. But I couldnt let Traci die, if there was any way I could stop it. And even if I was willing to leave Emma and Sophieand I wasntI couldnt escape into the Netherworld because hed only follow me. Or take my best friend or my cousin.
My gaze slid toward Emma, then Sophie, both somehow still asleep, and he glanced at them over his shoulder. Dont worry. Theyre going to sleep for a while.
Youre feeding from them in their sleep? How was that even possible?
Just enough to keep them out of the way. Our desires dont sleep, even when we do, which makes sleepers the psychic version of fast food.
Ill kill you if you hurt either of them.
Beck laughed out loud. Do you know where I spent my evening, Kaylee? After I left Miss Marshall to her rest? I shook my head, but he didnt seem to notice. I went to check on a former student, whos been faithfully nurturing a precious little bundle of mine, in spite of her own failing health.
Uh-oh. Farrah?
He smiled, like Id just performed a particularly impressive magic trick. Thats why youre such a good student, Kayleeyou do your homework.
