My Soul to Steal
Page 34
Im talking about Wells. I stepped between her and the reaper, so she couldnt ignore me. The vice principal? And Mr. Wesner. And Mrs. Bennigan. And now Chris Metzer. You cant just walk around killing people every time your stomach growls!
Im not sure where youre getting these delusions, but you need to step away from the crack pipe, Cavanaugh. I didnt hurt Metzer. Hes never gonna miss what little energy I took, and if Id wanted him dead, hed be staring at the inside of a body bag right now. And as for those teachers, Ive never even read their fears, much less played around in their dreams. Feeding from old-people fears is like eating tofu when you could have sirloin. I mean, why bother with the geriatric crowd, when guys my own age taste so much better?
Youre lying, I said through gritted teeth, and Sabine only laughed.
Ive done a lot of things Im not proud ofokay, Im not really ashamed of them, eitherbut lying isnt one of them. Why would I give someone else credit for my hard work? For example, when I have my legs wrapped around your boyfriend, Im not going to give you credit for losing him. Im gonna give me credit for taking him.
My vision bled to red and my hand flew. But I didnt truly realize Id slapped her until her hand swung up to cover her cheek and my palm started tingling like Id just grabbed a live wire.
Tod gaped at me, obviously more surprised by how Id reacted than by what shed said.
Sabine stared at me, and I relished the shock clear in her eyes, even as a deep thrill of primal satisfaction burned hot in my gut.
But then she smiled and her hand fell to her side, revealing the angry red patch on her left cheek. Atta girl! Now were playin the game! I wasnt gonna make this physical, but if you insist She pulled her fist back, and I flinched. But then Tod was suddenly between us, holding her back.
Outta my way, reaper, Sabine growled, and even as my heart throbbed in my throat, I noticed that she looked much less creepy when she wasnt smiling. Anger suited her better, like the grin she usually wore was a weird, ironic mask. She started it.
You baited her. Tod shoved her back by both shoulders, and I realized hed had to become completely corporeal to do it.
If she wants to fight for him, I say let her. Ill play fairno fear-reading, I swear.
Oh, crap. My pulse raced so fast my vision was starting to go gray. Why the hell had I hit her? Sabine had been to jail, and Id never even thrown a punch.
Yet to my surprise, I realized I didnt regret it. Even though Id probably get my jaw broken in front of the whole school. Sabine was a slutty, boyfriend-stealing, murderingNightmare, and someone had to call her on it.
Evidently that someone was me.
No, Sabine. Tod stepped to the left when she tried to dodge him, and I stood there like an idiot when she raised both brows at me over his shoulder.
You gonna let living dead boy protect you, or are you gonna put on your big-girl pants and fight for your boyfriend?
This isnt about Nash, I insisted, secure from behind the reaper, at least for the moment. Anger, confusion, and fear swirled inside me like a thick, dark storm. Okay, that last bit was about Nash. But the rest of it is about you leaving a series of dead bodies in your wake, like slime from a slugs trail.
Sabine stopped struggling with Tod and glanced up at him. Shes crazy. You do realize shes completely, mind-bogglingly insane, right? And from the way she watched me for my reaction, I knew that she knew.
That righteous, burning feeling in my stomach turned ice cold. Nash told you?
He didnt have to. I know what youre afraid of and why, she said, eyes glittering in satisfaction. But I dont hold it against you. She shrugged. Weve both spent time in state institutions.
I stood there, shaking with rage, but Sabine wasnt done.
I dont think you understand, Cavanaugh, she said around Tods shoulder. Then she glanced up at him and gave him a shove. Move, reaper, Im not gonna hurt her. Tod stepped reluctantly out of her way, but stuck close to my side, just in case. For which I was profoundly grateful.
Sabines attention turned back to me, and her eyes were endless black pits of despair. Nash and I arent a thing of the past. Were a thing of forever. Youre a fleeting fascination for him. The only female bean sidhe hes ever met, other than his mom. Of course hes going to be curious, but curiositys all it is. Hell get over that, and hell get over you, and Ill be there waiting.
Its not just curiosity, I insisted through clenched teeth, my throat thick with the denial. It couldnt be.
Youre rightits part guilt. She crossed her arms over her chest and stood with her feet spread, guy-tough, yet somehow still hotter than Id ever be. Youve managed to make him feel guilty for what he is, and for an addiction thats all your fault, even though hes killing himself trying to overcome them both. But he shouldnt have to. If you really cared about him, youd be the one there with him at night, when hes shaking from needing a hit. When hes sick to his stomach, and sweating, and trying to look like he isnt dying inside.
Im not sure where youre getting these delusions, but you need to step away from the crack pipe, Cavanaugh. I didnt hurt Metzer. Hes never gonna miss what little energy I took, and if Id wanted him dead, hed be staring at the inside of a body bag right now. And as for those teachers, Ive never even read their fears, much less played around in their dreams. Feeding from old-people fears is like eating tofu when you could have sirloin. I mean, why bother with the geriatric crowd, when guys my own age taste so much better?
Youre lying, I said through gritted teeth, and Sabine only laughed.
Ive done a lot of things Im not proud ofokay, Im not really ashamed of them, eitherbut lying isnt one of them. Why would I give someone else credit for my hard work? For example, when I have my legs wrapped around your boyfriend, Im not going to give you credit for losing him. Im gonna give me credit for taking him.
My vision bled to red and my hand flew. But I didnt truly realize Id slapped her until her hand swung up to cover her cheek and my palm started tingling like Id just grabbed a live wire.
Tod gaped at me, obviously more surprised by how Id reacted than by what shed said.
Sabine stared at me, and I relished the shock clear in her eyes, even as a deep thrill of primal satisfaction burned hot in my gut.
But then she smiled and her hand fell to her side, revealing the angry red patch on her left cheek. Atta girl! Now were playin the game! I wasnt gonna make this physical, but if you insist She pulled her fist back, and I flinched. But then Tod was suddenly between us, holding her back.
Outta my way, reaper, Sabine growled, and even as my heart throbbed in my throat, I noticed that she looked much less creepy when she wasnt smiling. Anger suited her better, like the grin she usually wore was a weird, ironic mask. She started it.
You baited her. Tod shoved her back by both shoulders, and I realized hed had to become completely corporeal to do it.
If she wants to fight for him, I say let her. Ill play fairno fear-reading, I swear.
Oh, crap. My pulse raced so fast my vision was starting to go gray. Why the hell had I hit her? Sabine had been to jail, and Id never even thrown a punch.
Yet to my surprise, I realized I didnt regret it. Even though Id probably get my jaw broken in front of the whole school. Sabine was a slutty, boyfriend-stealing, murderingNightmare, and someone had to call her on it.
Evidently that someone was me.
No, Sabine. Tod stepped to the left when she tried to dodge him, and I stood there like an idiot when she raised both brows at me over his shoulder.
You gonna let living dead boy protect you, or are you gonna put on your big-girl pants and fight for your boyfriend?
This isnt about Nash, I insisted, secure from behind the reaper, at least for the moment. Anger, confusion, and fear swirled inside me like a thick, dark storm. Okay, that last bit was about Nash. But the rest of it is about you leaving a series of dead bodies in your wake, like slime from a slugs trail.
Sabine stopped struggling with Tod and glanced up at him. Shes crazy. You do realize shes completely, mind-bogglingly insane, right? And from the way she watched me for my reaction, I knew that she knew.
That righteous, burning feeling in my stomach turned ice cold. Nash told you?
He didnt have to. I know what youre afraid of and why, she said, eyes glittering in satisfaction. But I dont hold it against you. She shrugged. Weve both spent time in state institutions.
I stood there, shaking with rage, but Sabine wasnt done.
I dont think you understand, Cavanaugh, she said around Tods shoulder. Then she glanced up at him and gave him a shove. Move, reaper, Im not gonna hurt her. Tod stepped reluctantly out of her way, but stuck close to my side, just in case. For which I was profoundly grateful.
Sabines attention turned back to me, and her eyes were endless black pits of despair. Nash and I arent a thing of the past. Were a thing of forever. Youre a fleeting fascination for him. The only female bean sidhe hes ever met, other than his mom. Of course hes going to be curious, but curiositys all it is. Hell get over that, and hell get over you, and Ill be there waiting.
Its not just curiosity, I insisted through clenched teeth, my throat thick with the denial. It couldnt be.
Youre rightits part guilt. She crossed her arms over her chest and stood with her feet spread, guy-tough, yet somehow still hotter than Id ever be. Youve managed to make him feel guilty for what he is, and for an addiction thats all your fault, even though hes killing himself trying to overcome them both. But he shouldnt have to. If you really cared about him, youd be the one there with him at night, when hes shaking from needing a hit. When hes sick to his stomach, and sweating, and trying to look like he isnt dying inside.
