by Wendy Cole
“Will there be anything else, Mr. Black?”
“What do you suggest for dessert?”
My head jerked toward the door. Was he flirting? He was flirting.
Wait. I don’t care if he’s flirting. That’s a good thing. Maybe he’ll leave. I held the sink. Irrationally, I felt a sudden need to go out there, to stop her from talking to him. Territorial. Not okay. I couldn’t be like that.
What does that even mean?
I’m jealous that my monster might be hanging out in another girl’s closet?
But she giggled. She fucking giggled, loud and obnoxious, and I couldn’t stop myself.
I opened the door, and Brady was leaning forward whispering something to her. Close. Too close. A pain hit my chest, and heat slowly followed. Angry heat. I wanted to hurt her.
“Mr. Black,” she breathed.
“Please. Call me Brady.”
I wanted to turn away. To pretend it didn’t matter, but I couldn’t. It was too much. Why was it too much? I cleared my throat, pulling both pairs of eyes over to me, then I pointed towards the door.
“If I’m not mistaken, this is my room. You,” I pointed at Brady, “don’t stay here, and you,” I glared at the girl, my irrational anger boiling. “You’re all set to go. What you two do from here doesn’t mean shit to me.”
Brady was smiling, silently laughing, and that annoying gleam I was growing far too accustomed to returned to his eyes. The girl looked both embarrassed and annoyed as she turned to leave the room. Disappointment was clear on her face when she looked back, and Brady hadn’t moved to follow. He took two steps forward and slammed the door in her face.
“Now that she’s out of the way, let’s eat.” He waved a hand, removing every lid from each dish in one swift motion.
“You seemed comfortable with that girl,” I commented, even though every fiber in my being was screaming for me to shut up. “You should probably go too.”
He grinned down at a plate of cheese. “Jealousy isn’t an attractive trait, Sweetheart. You should work on that.”
I ground my teeth. “I’m not jealous. I want you to go.”
“Yes, you are, no you don’t. Now, can you shut up so we can eat? I’m starving.” Brady gave me a look. “Sit,” he said, the word in that strange tone.
My legs moved on their own as I stared wide-eyed at my feet. “How do you do that? Don’t do that!”
He ignored me, walking around and setting a plate of food on the table, then one for himself. “Eat.” Same tone, multiple voices all at once.
Glaring, I complied. Well, not actually, but I began eating nonetheless. “What do you want to talk about?” I asked between angry bites.
“I need you to stay with me.”
I choked. “What? Um . . . no. Hell no. That is never gonna happen.”
“You’ll be much safer.”
Safer. With him? Ha! I couldn’t go with him. Mr. McKenna was coming. He was going to help me. I’d finally be free. If Brady made me go with him, I’d never get the chance again. But how could I stop it? I couldn’t stop it. I looked at him. He was too powerful, and I wasn’t powerful at all. I had no powers. I was literally powerless.
This couldn’t be it. It couldn’t be like this. I needed to convince him. I had to somehow appeal to his better nature, if he had one.
“I can’t.”
Brady lifted a brow. “You can.”
“No. I don’t want to.”
“It’s unavoidable. I don’t know why the djinni attached itself to you, and until I do, it’s not safe.”
“Can’t you just protect me like normal? Can’t I stay here?”
Brady took a bite of food, then chewed it slowly as he watched me wait for him to finish. He took his time, his jaw working pointedly, then when he finally swallowed, he simply said, “Nope,” then grinned.
I imagined him choking to death. “I can’t stay with you right now. After what happened.”
His grin faded, and a dark look took its place. “That’s all the more reason to—”
“Then you come here and attack me,” I snapped. “Is that what you think I need right now?”
He stopped talking and stared at me, for the first time looking caught off guard. “I’m sorry about that. It’s hard sometimes. That’s why I knocked. I didn’t expect you to answer how you were—”
“And that makes it okay?”
He flinched back as if I’d hit him. It was working.
Brady looked away from me, his eyes locking on his plate. The muscle in his jaw clenched. “Did I hurt you?”
My eyes widened, and for some reason, his change in demeanor. The look on his face wouldn’t allow me to lie any further. “No.”
He nodded stiffly. “I’m sorry.”
I almost told him it was okay, but stopped myself. Why would I say that? Why would I care? “Then let me have some space. Please.”
I held my breath. Brady looked torn, and it was a long, drawn-out moment before he spoke, “Fine. But you need to be careful, and you need to listen to everything I say. This isn’t a game, Amelia.”
I nodded. “Fine. Deal. Can you go now?”
He flinched again, barely noticeable but still there. “I’ll be around,” he said, then in a burst of blue, he disappeared.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It took four days. Four days of waiting. Four days of pacing. The nerve I’d touched with Brady must have been a good one because he hadn’t shown himself since he left that night.
I didn’t leave the hotel, too afraid of finding myself in some predicament that would make him change his mind about leaving me alone. With so many classes missed, I felt like my new life was going on without me, but today, hopefully it would change.
Today, Owen was coming. He had the address. We’d spoken this morning when his flight landed. Any moment now, he’d be arriving, and at any second, so could Brady.
My nerves were a wreck. The suspense ate at me, pumping my adrenaline until I thought my heart would give way. Jittery and anxious, I walked back and forth across the hotel room floor, just like I’d been doing for the two hours since he’d called to tell me he was on his way. When the knock finally came, I almost screamed. Like a mad woman, I yanked it open.
Holy fuck.
Long dark hair, bright green eyes, a face only found in fantasy. “Owen?” This can’t be him. It can’t be. What are the fucking odds that he’d be this attractive? It wasn’t fair. Or maybe it was fair. Very, very, fucking fair.
“Amelia,” he greeted. “It’s nice to put a face to the name. Can I come in? I have some things for you.” His accent seemed more distinguished in person, obviously Scottish.
“Please.” I stepped aside, feeling like an idiot for staring at him so long. “How do we start? He could show up at any minute.”
Owen placed a bag down on the floor and gave me a funny look. “Does he visit you often as a man?”
“Too often,” I said. “Why? Is that odd?”
“It’s all odd.” He smirked. “I’m more concerned for whatever poor soul had his body stolen.” He kneeled down and began to unzip the bag at his feet.
“He said it’s his body. Something about being powerful.” I watched him, waiting to see what he had, but he stopped unzipping and looked at me.
“Really? Do you think he’s telling the truth?”
I took in his expression, the sudden seriousness in his tone. “Is that bad?” I asked reluctantly.
Owen gave me a long look. “It’s more than I expected.” He returned to the bag. Inside, was another bag, or more of a pouch. He carried it to the bed and dumped the contents out onto the floral comforter. Black smooth stones etched with symbols spilled out. All the same size and shape.
I eyed them warily. “What are those supposed to do?”
He picked one up and palmed it in his hand. “These are protection runes.” He ran his thumb along the markings.
“Do we throw them at him?” I wasn’t buying this. This is a bad i
dea. The worst idea. “That’s just gonna piss him off.”
Owen lips curved up into an amused smile. “You don’t throw them. They’re magic. Spelled. As long as you have them, he can’t approach you. There is enough magic here to keep him at least five miles or more away.”
I looked back at the little black rocks. “Really?”
Owen stepped forward and handed me one. “Yes. Really.” He was still smiling.
I studied him, the first person I’d ever met that was like me. “How long did you deal with it? Your monster.”
His head tilted. “Monster? You mean the jinni?” His smile dimmed. “When I started dating, so I guess about fourteen was the first time.” His voice grew grim, and he looked up at me. “You?”
“I was very small.” I took a deep breath. “I thought it was a monster. The world thought I was crazy.”
We stood in silence for a long moment, just looking at each other. It felt as if, by finding him, I’d found myself. “How did you know it was a jinni?”
Owen took my hand in his and squeezed. “Someone helped me.”
My chest lightened at the possibility that I still had hope. My eyes began to water. “Thank you.”
Owen opened his mouth, but the only sound I heard was a pounding against the door that made me jump away from him.
Owen’s eyes narrowed, and his mouth set into a grim line.
“Amelia!” Brady roared, then a loud bang hit the door. “Who’s in there? I swear to god, if you touch her, I will take every organ out of you and—”
“I thought you said he couldn’t come within five miles?”
Owen’s eyes stayed glued to the door. “He shouldn’t be able to.”
The pounding ceased the moment I spoke, and it was obvious that Brady had heard us.
“Sweetheart.” Brady’s voice was deadly calm. “Who is that?”
Why hasn’t he come in? “He can’t come closer?”
“No,” Owen answered as he gathered the stones back into the pouch. “He’s powerful, but not immune.”
I took the pouch from his hand and approached the door.
“Amelia!” Brady roared again. “Stop.”
One peek through the peephole confirmed Owen’s statement. Brady was down the hallway now, his jaw clenched, muscles stiff, hands balled into fists at his sides. His head turned as if he could see me, glowing red eyes like two flames ready to burn the door down. “How can I protect you?” he growled.
“I don’t need protection,” I said. “You can’t come near me.” It wasn’t spoken aloud, but somehow, he heard me.
He rolled his shoulders, the muscles bulging and straining as he did, then he took a deep breath. “You make this very difficult,” he murmured. “I’m done being patient.” Then, he disappeared.
I stared through the hole long after he’d gone, his words replaying through my mind on a loop.
I’m done being patient.
It didn’t sound good.
I turned to Owen. He was watching me, a knowing look in his eyes. “I think we pissed him off,” I said, my voice small.
“Of course, we did.” Owen stepped forward and placed a hand against my shoulder. “He can’t control you now. They do that: use their magic to manipulate our minds. You’re very strong to remain so clear headed against something so powerful.”
A sense of pride filled me at his compliment. I’d never thought of myself as strong. I was the coward, the girl afraid of everything, but when Owen said it, the way he said it, I believed him.
“I’m afraid we may need some help though,” he added, turning back to his bag and pulling a cell phone from it. He took a seat in one of the chairs at the table and began tapping away at the screen.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I took the seat across from him.
“I’m contacting a friend.” He finished typing and turned to face me. “I’m not strong enough to get rid of your jinni.”
My heart stuttered, but I held my breath. “But?”
He smiled softly. “I have a friend who can help.”
I nodded. “How long will that take?” I’m going to die. He’s going to kill me. What was I thinking? Rocks? Fucking rocks?
“Don’t worry. He can’t come near you. I’ll leave the stones here.”
“Wait?” My heart jumped. “You’re leaving?”
Owen took my hand again. “I’m afraid so, but I’ll be close by. I need to do some things to prepare.”
“What about you? If you leave the stones, can he get you?” My eyes widened as panic set in. “He’s killed people.”
Owen’s lips parted. “He’s killed? Who? When?”
“A boy from my school.” I pushed the memory down and didn’t elaborate. Just the mention of him sent a wave of nausea through me, and I didn’t want to think about it.
Owen made a noise. “We’ll fix it, Amelia.” His hand squeezed mine. “Don’t worry about me.” He pulled away and lifted the arm of his shirt, revealing a tribal tattoo across his shoulder. “This is a rune, like the ones on the stones. It will keep me safe.”
Reluctantly, I watched him stand and grab his bag. “Keep the stones with you at all times,” he said seriously. “I’ll come back.” He turned to me as he adjusted the pack on his back. “Don’t forget the stones.” His look was grave. “If he gets to you, I won’t be able to get you back.”
I swallowed hard and nodded. “I won’t. Where are you going? Can I just come with you?”
“I wish you could,” he said. “But it’s too attached to you. I can’t risk it following us.” He touched my hair and looked down at me. “I’ll secure a safe place and take you there until this is over. I’m sorry, but I didn’t expect this,” the way he said it, the way his eyes met mine, made me feel like I was missing something. “Take care,” he said gruffly before he turned towards the door.
I watched him leave, then grabbed the pouch with both hands, gripping it.
It didn’t take long before a tap sounded against the door. “Amelia,” Brady said, calmer, coaxing. “I know you don’t understand any of this, but I’d never hurt you. I need you to believe that.”
“Go away.”
A long pause. “I can’t protect you if I can’t be near you.”
I didn’t respond. Something inside me was pulling like gravity―unnatural. I remembered what Owen said about them manipulating us. “Stop doing that. It won’t work.”
“I’m not doing anything, Sweetheart. I can’t.” His voice was soft, almost forlorn. “Whatever you’re feeling now is your soul’s way of telling you this is wrong. It’s wrong, Amelia. I’m not the enemy.”
“If you aren’t doing anything, then how do you even know what I’m feeling?” I snapped. “Go away. I’m done with this. I won. In your face, Brady.”
“This isn’t a game!” he roared as he once again hit the door.
“It’s always been a game!” I yelled back. “The only difference now is I’ve got all the cards!”
He roared again, an inhuman sound that turned my blood cold, then dead silence filled the air.
He’d gone. I knew it.
But he’d be back.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It felt like a godsend leaving that confining hotel room. With the stones securely stored inside my purse, and the rest of my bags in tow, I exited the hotel doors like a kidnap victim finally breaking free.
My eyes darted back and forth across the parking lot, then the rearview mirror as I drove. When I finally reached my new home, Franklin Hall, I pulled the car into one of the many parking spots and took in the enormous red brick building. Bushes and shrubbery lined the outside, and dozens of students stood in little groups, some sitting on the stone walls, others to themselves sat underneath the trees that filled the yard.
It looked like something from a movie, the exact way I’d expected it to. This was it. My fresh, fresh start. I patted the purse as I stepped out and walked towards the entrance. My dorm was on the third floor, room C. Long dark
hallways lined with concrete floors connected it all, and elevators seemed to be a foreign concept.
The stairways were vacant, and my steps echoed as I made the climb. When I reached my floor, I found a note taped to the inside of the stairwell door. Reluctantly, I pulled the paper and unfolded it.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Hope you’re enjoying this,
I’m watching you.
Love,
The Bad Man
A shiver shot down my spine, and I stood for a full minute, too afraid to move.
He can’t get to you. This is just his game. He wants to scare you. You’re winning.
But no matter how much I tried to make myself feel better, it wouldn’t work. Brady was out there, somewhere, probably watching me at that very moment, planning. He’d figure it out, eventually. He’d win. If Owen didn’t hurry, I’d be lost forever.
Slowly and carefully, purse clutched to my chest, I made my way down the hall, reading each letter until I found the right dorm.
My small, timid tap against the door might as well have been a sonic boom. A small girl surrounded in a mass of flaming red curls answered.
“Are you selling chocolate?” she asked, her eyes moving first up, then down, then behind me.
“No,” I gripped the purse even tighter. “I’m your new roommate.”
Her eyes widened. “Roommate? They gave me a roommate?”
Her reaction confused me. She looked like she was ready to explode, and I couldn’t tell if it was for good reasons or bad. “Yes?”
“Holy shit!” she shouted, so loud I jumped. “Come in! What’s your name? What are you studying? Does this mean you don’t have any chocolate? I just assumed that you had chocolate by the way you were gripping your bag. If I had chocolate, I’d grip my bag like that. You’ve got to be careful around here. Fucking thieves, all of them.” Her words ran off a million miles a minute as she walked into the room.
I followed reluctantly, unsure of what to do.
She reached into her bedside table and pulled out what looked like a giant red glass vase. “Do you get high?” She lifted it up, eyebrows raised.
