by Katie Dunn
Kaden shouted in surprise and rubbed his head as he frowned. At least he wasn’t making Shawna angry anymore. Shawna took deep breaths then sat down again. I noticed she scooted her chair back a little bit, not wanting to be attacked by their talents anymore.
“You guys can trust her,” I told them.
“What about you?” Liam asked.
I looked to him, startled. “What do you mean?”
“Every time I turn around you are doing something dangerous. Going to that meeting was the worst thing you could have done. You could have been killed! You’re lucky we were able to track your phone. How am I supposed to trust you?”
That hurt. “You wouldn’t have let me go if I told you and you would have hurt her,” I pointed to Shawna to emphasize my point, “if I told you about her identity.”
“We wouldn’t have hurt her,” Kaden whispered.
Shawna’s head snapped up at that, but Kaden refused to look at her. I didn’t believe Kaden. He may not have hurt her, but Liam and Trevor would have if it meant keeping us safe. They were the hit-first-ask-questions-later type. Plus, wasn’t Kaden the one affecting her with his talent not even two minutes ago?
“I would never hurt you guys,” Shawna said addressing everyone but keeping her gaze on Kaden.
The guys didn’t respond, and I didn’t know if that meant they believed her or that they didn’t and would be dealing with her later. Either way, it was not the most pressing issue that needed to be addressed. She was safe for now and I would protect her from the guys.
“Ok, so do you want to hear about what happened at the meeting?”
At their expectant stares I dove into the story then they made me repeat it two more times. Shawna added details that I missed and soon the guys knew everything we witnessed earlier that night. They tried to make us repeat it one more time, convinced we missed some details, but I refused. I was exhausted and I wasn’t sure how many more angry glares I could take.
Liam frowned, ready to object but I held my hand up. “You guys, I need sleep. We all need sleep.”
“Fine, we can pick this up tomorrow,” Trevor jumped in for the first time. Liam finally nodded and we all stood to go our separate ways.
“I will walk her home,” Trevor announced, noticing Liam and Kaden refused to look at Shawna.
I held out my hand to stop him. “No, she should stay here.”
“Like hell she will,” Liam burst out.
I sighed, feeling exasperated with him already but I understood he was only looking out for us. “Yes, she is in just as much danger as we are now that she revealed her loyalty to us at the meeting.”
I expected them to refuse still and yell about it, but they actually looked thoughtful. Well, Kaden and Trevor did. Liam still looked like he was about to explode.
“I will be fine,” Shawna said softly, laying her hand on my arm. She started to walk to the front door.
“No, stay here,” Kaden called out shocking us all. “I will get you a pillow and blanket, you can sleep on the couch.” Kaden walked away without waiting for a response.
“Only one night,” Liam announced before following Kaden up the stairs.
“Phi?” I turned to Trevor waiting for him to continue. He spoke softly but held a note of disappointment. “What you did tonight was really stupid.”
I deflated and looked down in shame. “I know.” Then I looked up with hardened eyes and a small frown ready to defend myself. However, there was no need.
“But you gained useful information, so thanks, I guess.” Trevor walked over to a cabinet and pulled out some crackers then made his way to his room.
It was nice to know that at least one person in that house accepted my actions as useful. Pleased, I waved to Shawna and told her to shout for me if they tried hurting her, then went up to my room. As tired as I was, there was still one person I needed to talk to before I could sleep.
“Owen?” I called out once I was alone in my room.
A light appeared in front of me then an almost transparent body. I smiled when Owen’s form materialized, and I took a step forward to hug him before I remembered he was not corporeal.
“How goes it, little sis?” Owen greeted.
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “You’re only older by three minutes.”
Owen chuckled then leaned against the wall. He studied me with keen eyes then frowned with concern. “What’s wrong?”
I had to choke back tears. I had missed him so much and here he was picking up on my emotions even when he was dead. I shook my head, both as answer to his question and to push down the burning in my eyes. “Nothing.” I said when I could speak without choking on emotion. “It’s been a long night.”
“Tell me about it,” he said. I stared at him wondering if he was truly wanting to hear about it. When he smiled encouragingly, I laid everything out.
I told him exactly what I told the guys, including how I disguised myself. When I finished, I couldn’t tell what his thoughts were. He only stared at me, unmoving and with no emotion, like a statue. For a second, I thought we lost our connection like a phone loses connection and drops a call. Was that how the ghost world worked?
Then he sighed, looking weary. “Phi, that was the stupidest thing you could have done.”
“Eh, what!” I said. I thought he would have been the one to defend me on this.
“Phi, I have told you to trust the Horsemen. You should have told them your plan and about your friend. What if something happened to you?”
I grumbled, knowing he was right but not wanting to admit it.
“Also, why didn’t you summon me when you were there?”
I tilted my head in confusion. Why would I have summoned him at the meeting? What could a ghost do in that situation?
Understanding my head tilt, he explained, “I could have been your look out or helped discern things you couldn’t.”
“Huh, I didn’t think of that,” I admitted.
Owen shook his head and sighed. “At least you’re okay, but don’t do that next time without backup.”
Hopefully there would not be a next time. I nodded, accepting his terms. See? I could be reasonable. That is, when I am not being yelled at.
My door creaked and I looked over to see Liam walking in. I tensed getting ready for another battle. Yes, what I did was stupid and yes, I can admit that I should have told them, but I would defend my actions no matter what.
“I will leave you guys to do…whatever it is you’re about to do,” Owen said then disappeared taking the ghostly light with him.
I turned around fully and crossed my arms, annoyed that Liam chased away Owen even if it wasn’t intentional. “Why are you here?”
Liam frowned at me and crossed his arms then uncrossed them, then stuck a hand in his pocket and took it out a second later. I eyed Liam up and down wondering why he was so nervous. He swept a hand through his hair which had become a habit apparently. Finally finding his words he stepped forward and softly gripped my arms in his hands.
“You scared me today, High Phi.”
I usually would have scolded him for using my given nickname but this time he said it endearingly. His admission sent a shock through me and I instantly felt guilty. The fight left my body and I lunged forward to hug him tight. He may overreact most times, but it all stemmed from love and feeling like he needed to protect everyone. I buried my face in his shirt and squeezed my eyes closed.
“I’m sorry. Next time I will include you.”
Liam’s chest rumbled. “There better not be a next time.”
I couldn’t promise that, but I could take my brother’s advice and trust them with my plans, so I would include Liam if there came a next time. Liam pulled me away from him and I nearly pouted from being separated from his warmth.
Without any warning, Liam leaned into me and kissed me deeply. It felt different than the other kisses we shared. This one was hard and demanding. He was showing me how scared he had been and how relieved he wa
s that I was okay. I kissed back just as fervently, showing him that I was sorry. I lost myself in the kiss and when he pulled back, I felt dizzy. My lips felt tender and swollen and a heat filled the space between us. I bit my lip feeling a little awkward and embarrassed by our display of emotion. His eyes traveled down to stare at my lips and his hand reached up to trace the lines of them. My breath caught at the intimate motion.
“Let me hold you tonight,” Liam said softly and stepped closer to me.
I had to look up to see his face. “Um, I don’t know about that.” I didn’t know if hold was code for something more, and I was definitely not ready for that.
Somehow reading my mind Liam’s cheeks reddened. It was adorable to see the big, bad Horseman blushing. “No, not that, well unless you want to, but I just want to hold you in my arms so that I can reassure myself that you’re okay.”
I chuckled at his flustered state. “Mhm, if you say so.” I walked over to the bed and got under the covers. Liam stood at the foot of the bed staring down at me, hope and hesitancy shining in his eyes. I patted the space beside me, and he took no time in reaching it.
He pulled me into his side and locked me in place with a strong arm. I felt his breath on the top of my head as he settled against me.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I told him, trying to reassure him.
His chest rumbled against my back. “You better not.”
I rolled my eyes at his bossiness but smiled and fell asleep against his warm chest.
Chapter 19
I convinced the guys to let Shawna stay all weekend and they grudgingly agreed. However, tension rose in the air once again when Monday rolled around. We all had to go to class, but the danger lurking somewhere outside kept us on edge as we prepared to leave. I slipped my pocketknife into my pocket, pepper spray into my inside jacket pocket, and couple of daggers in my backpack. I still felt vulnerable but at least I had been practicing my talent and could use that as my main defense.
Trevor chuckled at me on our way to our first class. I kept jumping at every sound and eyeing every person we passed. Apparently, my caution and paranoia were funny to him. I smacked him on his arm when I heard him snickering after I jumped at another sound, but that only made him chuckle louder. We made it on time to Math and it took everything I had to stay focused on the lesson. I kept expecting to be stabbed in the back by one of my classmates since I sat in the first row which left my back open to those behind me. Yet nothing happened. By English I began to breathe easier, especially when Liam and I sat in the back so we could keep our eyes on everyone. Kaden, Shawna and I met each other outside of class for Engineering Design so we could walk in together and watch each other’s backs. The whole day passed by smoothly and I didn’t know whether that was a good or bad thing. That night we walked Shawna to our dorm to grab a bag then moved her into the house until all this crazy passed. I could tell the guys still did not trust her. They watched her like a hawk and always kept their distance. I just hoped they would come to see that she was a good person like I had come to know.
We continued the routine every day until I finally started to relax. If they were going to attack us on campus during school hours, they would have done it by now. Feeling confident in my hypothesis I sauntered into Math on Wednesday the next week and took my seat. Trevor settled into the seat next to me and immediately slouched in his chair and pulled his hood up to take a nap until class started. There has been a chill in the air, hinting at the new season, so Trevor had taken to wearing a sweatshirt rather than his brown leather jacket. I rolled my eyes at him then doodled in my notebook while I waited for the teacher. I had come up with an amazing new engineering project that involved a pulley system and I couldn’t help drawing it out in all my notebooks when I got the chance. I was just adding the wheels on the pulley in the corner of my page when the teacher walked in. I shook Trevor awake then proceeded to open his notebook for him, so it looked like he had been ready the whole time. Trevor had fallen asleep in class once before and got reprimanded so I was trying to prevent that from happening again. Trevor slammed his fist on the table causing me to sit back startled. I looked up at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His jaw was clenched, and his hands were balled into fists on the desk. I followed his line of sight and gasped when I saw what had him on edge.
John, the professional hunter, smirked at us knowing Trevor’s outburst was about him. I reached for my pocketknife but stopped when I realized I wouldn’t get far. This was a classroom and I could be arrested for attacking someone with a knife in school. Why was he there? John answered my question when he began putting math problems on the board. No freaking way.
John turned to the class and waved. “Hello, I will be subbing for Mr. Jackson until further notice. My name is Mr. Smith.”
I made a derisive snort. John Smith? Really? That probably wasn’t even his real name. Which made me wonder if Peter and Dean used their real names. Maybe they went by Peter Pan and Dean Winchester. I chuckled internally, amused at the thought.
John ignored Trevor and me as he taught his lesson, but Trevor and I never stopped glaring at him. I don’t think either of us wrote down one note because we were so busy watching our enemy act as if he was an innocent professor. I could tell Trevor wanted to jump over his desk and charge John Smith, killing him right there, but that would cause a scene and knowing people of the 21st century it would be all over the internet in less than a second. I laid my hand on his arm to keep him from doing something irrational even though I wanted to do the same thing. I felt his tense muscles underneath his sweatshirt, but he relaxed a bit, seeming to understand what I wanted.
Class dismissed sometime later and we both darted to intercept the teacher before the next set of students arrived.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Trevor asked getting up close and personal with the professor. Trevor’s chest bumped against John’s threateningly, but John only smiled smugly.
“I’m preparing my lesson,” John answered casually, as if Famine were not literally breathing down his neck.
I tried to pull Trevor back, but it was like moving a brick wall. I huffed in annoyance and leaned around him to see John better. I levelled him with one of my best glares. “Why are you teaching this class? Don’t think you can throw us off guard. We’re watching you.”
John chuckled and shook his head. “As we are watching you,” he said cryptically.
Trevor growled and looked like he was about to rip the hunter’s head off. Sounds of shuffling footsteps and chatter from students coming into the room halted any attack either of them would have done. I gave Trevor’s arm one last yank. Any second now the students would see that something was happening.
Thankfully Trevor realized the same thing and backed away. We both left the room, glancing behind us a few times to make sure John wouldn’t run up and stab us right there. I left feeling confused and angry. After a week of nothing, they suddenly made a move and I didn’t know how to feel about it. What did he mean they were watching us too?
I waved to Trevor as we parted ways and ran to my English class. We had spent too much time with John, and I was almost late. Good thing the buildings were close. I barged into the room and everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at me. I glanced at the front and thankfully we still had the same teacher as before except this time he was frowning at me. I mouthed sorry to him and walked to the back where Liam already sat saving a rolling desk-chair for me. As soon as I sat down, a piece of paper landed on my desk. I don’t know why he continued to write notes when we both had phones, but elementary antics are his forte, I guess. I chuckled to myself, thinking about his mock outrage if he had heard me say that out loud. I waited for class to continue before I opened the note.
Way to make an entrance. Everything ok?
I grabbed my pencil and angrily relayed everything about John as my Math teacher and his ominous words. I tossed it to Liam and crossed my arms with a frown on my face. Liam tilted hi
s head in confusion, wondering why I was mad, then opened the note to find the answer. Liam cursed quietly and looked up to search my face. I wasn’t sure if he was looking for injuries or wondering if I was serious.
The door to the classroom opened again and everyone’s heads swiveled to look at the person coming in. The teacher sighed and turned to the person coming in with an irritated look. Liam and I gasped when we saw who it was.
Dean.
I knew exactly what would happen, so I immediately placed my hand on Liam’s arm to prevent him from launching himself at the Templar. Dean looked around the classroom and smirked when his eyes landed on us. He ignored the teacher’s glare and sauntered to the back of the classroom and took a seat ten feet from where we sat. Liam struggled to stay calm. He clenched his fists and murmured murderous things about Dean. Dean continued smirking but never shot us another glance, just like John. What were they doing?
Their presence made me uneasy and paranoid that something would happen any second. Maybe their goal was to have a Horseman attack them, so they had ‘no choice’ but to ‘defend’ themselves. That was my best guess. I could tell Liam was not paying attention to the teacher because he kept glaring at Dean. I had trouble listening to the teacher too because I had to spend my whole time focused on keeping Liam from attacking Dean.
If every day was going to be like that then my grades were going to be in trouble. I couldn’t afford to fail. As soon as class ended, I shuffled out of the building just as everyone else did but waited until Dean sauntered out to grab his wrist and pull him to the side of the building. Liam followed me, balling his fists, probably thinking we were about to hurt Dean, but I had something else in mind.
When I released Dean’s wrist he leaned against the wall and smiled at us smugly. I really wanted to punch the smugness off his face, but I took a deep breath to curb that feeling.
“Ok, listen up dude. I don’t know what you guys are planning, but it is going to mess with my schooling, and I can’t have that. So why don’t you run along and tell the Templars we are not a danger then leave us the hell alone.” I smiled sweetly then waved and started to walk away.
