by Chelsea Fine
Tristan shook his head, his voice raspy when he said, “Scarlet.”
It wasn’t a question, or a demand. Just her name. On his perfect lips.
And it made her stomach wild with butterflies.
Was he breathing harder than before?
Scarlet looked at his chest, covered in a white T-shirt, as it rose and fell with each breath. It was a lovely chest. So strong and sure. So familiar…yet different than Gabriel’s….
She took a step closer to him, sliding her eyes along his collarbone and broad shoulders.
She expected him to take a step back, to shy away from her approaching body, but he didn’t. He stood perfectly still, his breath uneven.
Scarlet looked back up at his eyes, now only inches from hers, and softened her face. “Who are you, Tristan?”
His eyes looked hopeless as they dove into hers. A moment passed, filled only by the sound of breathing. “Nobody,” he said.
Scarlet slowly shook her head. “No…you’re not nobody…you’re…somebody….” She could feel his body heat humming against her neck and chest as she stood before him. He was big and warm and she wanted to touch him.
Not in a bad way.
She just wanted to…press her hand…against his chest….
Scarlet didn’t move, but she thought about it.
She tried to tap into whatever connection she had to him—if any. She wanted to sense what he was feeling.
She let her soul reach inside his and felt….
Hesitation…conflict…danger…
His gaze darkened as his eyes left hers and slid down the side of her face to her neck. She could feel his eyes linger there, like her throat—her very pulse—belonged to him.
And the thought made her heart kick.
Still searching inside him, she felt...
…Desire…possession…
His eyes floated upwards…slowly and methodically…until they reached her lips. She watched him study her mouth and desire sparked in her cheeks before spreading into her chest.
…Longing…
And suddenly, the feeling—the feelings—were mutual.
She wanted him.
Tristan’s green eyes flashed, still fixated on her mouth, and Scarlet felt her heart squeeze.
Why did she want him?
Her eyes were burning.
Tristan’s eyes lingered on her mouth and, without thought or reason, Scarlet parted her lips….
His eyes shot up to hers, full of hunger and need—
Suddenly, he stiffened.
A look of alarm crossed his face as he examined her eyes.
His feelings morphed into…fear…anger…pain…and Scarlet blinked, confused.
He didn’t move. He didn’t back away from her. He just stared at her eyes. “I have to go.”
A beat passed, Tristan swallowed and then moved away from her, taking his body heat with him.
“I thought you were hungry.” Scarlet shifted her weight.
“I was.” Tristan turned to leave. “But I’m good now.” Without looking back, he left the kitchen.
Scarlet blinked.
What just happened?
As crazy as it sounded, Scarlet felt abandoned.
But worse than that, she felt heartbroken.
54
Gabriel pounded on the door of Nate’s penthouse apartment. He could hear loud music, gunfire and general chaos inside.
Awesome.
When Nate didn’t answered, Gabriel pounded again. “Nate! It’s Gabriel.”
“Not now, dude. I’m in the cave!” came a muffled voice.
Gabriel rolled his eyes. “I need you to come out of the cave, Nate.”
“No can do, buddy! I’ve almost….defeated…the great wizard….”
Gabriel pounded again. “If you don’t answer this door, I will knock it down and pour soda all over your computers.”
The door immediately swung open. “No need for threats, man. Computers are our friends.” Nate, dressed in mismatched socks, basketball shorts, a Wolverine T-shirt and a set of headphones with an attached microphone, stood before Gabriel looking like he hadn’t slept in days.
With noise still blaring in the background Gabriel said, “Sorry to interrupt your—” Gabriel looked at the large TV screen where an elf was stabbing a dragon, “…cave, but I need your help.”
“Aw, maaan.” Nate rolled his eyes, and motioned Gabriel in. He turned down all the noise and pulled his headphones off. “I don’t want to be ‘serious’ Nate right now, okay? I want to be ‘gamer’ Nate…or ‘rock star’ Nate…or, even ‘crossword puzzle’ Nate. But not ‘serious’ Nate. ‘Serious’ Nate is always getting involved in weird curses and trying to find fountains and watching people die, and blah, blah, blah. It sucks. So, why don’t you be ‘party animal’ Gabriel,” Nate pointed at Gabriel with a wink, “and I’ll be ‘funny guy’ Nate and we’ll go bowling. I’ll go get my coat.” He turned on his heel.
“Nate.” Gabriel pulled the black band from his pocket and set it on Nate’s coffee table. “Someone broke into Scarlet’s house last night while she was sleeping. And they had that. Do you know what it is?”
Nate turned back around and looked at the band. His happy countenance fell. “So much for going bowling.”
Gabriel looked at his friend. “Why? Do you recognize it?”
Nate nodded. “Yep. It’s a Head Ghost.”
“A what?”
“It’s used to extract information from the brain. Whoever snuck into Scarlet’s house was probably after her memories.” He sighed. “Which means, they probably know about her past.”
“Who would know about her past? She’s only been alive for two years and she barely knows.”
Nate shook his head. “I dunno, man. But Head Ghosts are illegal, and very hard to come by. Whoever came after Scarlet means business. Maybe they know about us being immortal. Or maybe they’re looking for the fountain.”
Gabriel’s head was spinning with questions.
Was someone else trying find to the fountain of youth? And how would anyone know about them being immortal in the first place? Or Scarlet, for that matter? She was, essentially, brand new and knew nothing about the fountain’s whereabouts.
Why were they after her memories?
Panic rose in Gabriel’s chest. “Nate, pack your things, we’re going to Georgia.”
“Aw, maaan. Why does the drama always happen when I’m in my cave?”
Gabriel looked at him. “Screw the cave, Nate. Someone is after Scarlet! There’s no time for games.”
“There’s always time for games!” Nate said with passion, pointing a finger into the air.
Gabriel looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
Nate sighed. “Fine. I’ll get my coat. But I’m bringing my gaming system with me.”
“Whatever.” Gabriel waved him off and pulled out his phone. He needed to call Tristan.
55
The following morning, Tristan spent two hours shooting arrows at his target and tried to clear his head.
After his rendezvous with Scarlet in the kitchen last night, Gabriel had called and filled Tristan in on the Head Ghost thing.
Not good.
Someone was after Scarlet’s memories, which meant Tristan couldn’t proceed with his suicide plan. At least not until they figured out what the intruder was looking for in Scarlet’s head and figured out how to keep her safe.
But everyday that passed without the curse being undone was a day closer to Scarlet’s death.
Tristan swore.
She was already getting worse.
Last night in the kitchen her eyes had practically glowed in the dark as she looked up at him with her plush lips and longing soul.
He couldn’t let that happen again.
Whoosh.
Bull’s-eye.
Gabriel needed to come home.
Soon.
Tristan didn’t think he could keep himself away from Scarlet much longer. Last night had
been a mistake.
He shouldn’t have made pancakes.
He should have just let her plunder the kitchen and find her own snack.
He’d been careless and, because of it, her blue eyes had burned for him.
And she’d had a flashback.
Fortunately, it was a rather insignificant memory, but still.
Her memories could ruin his plan. He couldn’t take anymore chances.
Whoosh.
Bull’s-eye.
Starting today, he was going to practice better self-control.
56
Scarlet watched TV for a few hours in the morning, trying to distract herself from thoughts of Tristan.
Last night in the kitchen, she’d felt something with him.
Something ancient, strong and ,,, beautiful.
Tristan didn’t hate her.
And she didn’t hate him. At all.
But she probably shouldn’t ever have a late night snack with him again.
The back door opened and Scarlet kept her eyes on the TV as Tristan passed by the living room.
Yesterday, she wanted to avoid him because he was a jerk.
Today, she wanted to avoid him so she didn’t do something stupid.
Like lick his ear.
He went into the office and shut the door behind him.
Scarlet sat for another two hours in front of the TV watching infomercials and Scooby-Doo, but not once did her head stop spinning with all things Tristan.
She was a rotten, rotten girlfriend.
While cartoons played in the background, Scarlet looked around the Archer’s living room. A large fireplace took up most of the back wall and there was a bench seat made of stone running along its length. Above the fireplace hung a hand-carved clock, beating steadily into the warm room. The sofas were tan and sat atop a giant rug, and a hand-carved coffee table stood in the center of the room.
All in all, it was cozy.
If Scarlet hadn’t felt so much like a prisoner in the woods, she probably would have loved the cabin. Her eyes fell to the end table beside her and spotted a pen.
She grabbed the pen and absently started drawing her practiced symbol on her ankle. She traced the design around the corner of her foot, leaned back and looked at it. It looked good at an angle.
Out of boredom, she decided to sketch the design on her hip as well. She lifted her shirt a few inches and drew out the circular strokes along her waist. After a few minutes, she lengthened the design and let it crawl up her ribcage before scooting down the waistband of her pants and letting the artwork trail down her lower belly.
A picture flashed in her mind and she decided to add something new to the bottom of the symbol. Biting her lip, she scribbled the new strokes low on her hip and—
“What are you doing?”
Scarlet immediately pulled her shirt down and her pants up, covering her exposed skin. She looked at Tristan with a blush.
“Are you drawing on yourself?” He sounded mad. More mad than he had a right to be.
Scarlet wrinkled her brow, confused. “Yeah, why? Have you…?” Scarlet looked at him hopefully. “Have you seen this symbol before?” She pointed to her ankle. Maybe Tristan would have the answers she was looking for.
Tristan, standing across from the couch, crossed his arms in front of his chest. He ignored her question. “You’re not in kindergarten, Scarlet. If you want to draw, draw on a piece of paper. Go wash it off.”
Scarlet raised her brow, her blush completely disappearing at his tone. “No,” she said, and lifted her shirt again. She started giving more detail to the design on her hip.
“Yes.” Tristan said with a warning look.
She tried to reach into him, to feel what he was feeling…all she got was anger and fear.
He was mad.
And now, so was she.
“No way,” Scarlet snapped. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Tristan. If I want to draw on my body with pen or cover myself in tar, you can’t stop me.” She kept scribbling. “Why do you care, anyway? Geez.”
Tristan let out a frustrated sigh. “Wash it off.”
“No.”
“Wash. It. Off,” Tristan bit out.
“You’re. In. Sane,” she countered, waiting a moment before looking at him.
Tristan looked at the ceiling. “Please?” His eyes pleaded with her.
Scarlet narrowed her eyes and paused. “Is there something about this design,” she pointed to her side, “that you’re not telling me?”
Tristan tucked his lips in and shrugged. “Gabriel’s going to be home any second.”
“So?”
“Whatever.” He threw his hands up with a groan before leaving the living room.
Scarlet continued drawing on her hip and lower belly, determined to complete the symbol in defiance.
Tristan was so weird.
And bossy.
And…mean.
So much for Pancake Tristan.
Regular Jerk Tristan was back.
57
Gabriel tapped his fingers impatiently on his armrest. The flight back to Georgia was taking too long. He needed to get back to Scarlet immediately. She was in serious danger.
“So, Scarlet doesn’t remember anything at all this time?” Nate scratched the back of his head.
“Not really.”
“That’s odd.”
“Yeah.”
“What’s the deal then? Are you and Scarlet dating now?” Sitting beside Gabriel, Nate clutched his backpack like it was filled with lost treasure rather than video game equipment.
Gabriel sighed and leaned back, forcing his fingers to stop moving. “Yeah.”
“Then why did you leave her at home with Tristan? Why didn’t you just send him out to get me?”
Gabriel shrugged. “He’s in too much pain. It’s worse this time or something.”
Nate raised his eyebrows. “How bad is it?”
“I guess he can’t sleep anymore. But Scarlet only lives ten miles away, so I don’t get it.”
“And you left her in the cabin with Tristan? Alone?”
“Well, yeah.” Gabriel wrinkled his brow. “What was I supposed to do? Bring her with me? Tristan would have been in pain without her. And I certainly wasn’t going to travel with both of them. Airports and big cities aren’t secure and it would have been impossible to keep Scarlet safe in crowded areas.”
Nate blinked rapidly. “Maybe. But if he can’t be away from her, that means their connection is stronger than it’s ever been. His presence could make her really sick.”
Gabriel shook his head. “But not in just two days…right?”
Nate twisted his lips. “No. Not unless they touched a lot,” he looked away, “or something.”
Gabriel closed his eyes briefly, refusing to think about Tristan touching Scarlet. A shiver ran through him. “Maybe it wasn’t the best plan, but I needed your help with the Head Ghost thing. It couldn’t wait.”
Nate nodded.
Gabriel’s gut churned.
Tristan wouldn’t touch Scarlet…would he?
Gabriel swallowed. “We’re almost home. I’m sure Scarlet’s fine.”
Even as he said it, worry filled his veins.
Gabriel started tapping his fingers again.
58
Scarlet was drawing on a paper towel when Gabriel entered the cabin with a guy she’d never seen before.
“Hey.” Gabriel smiled and walked over to where Scarlet sat at the kitchen counter. He pulled her into his arms and started kissing her all over.
Relieved he was home, Scarlet started laughing. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Nothing.” Gabriel pulled back from her slightly, looking at her eyes with interest, followed by a look of relief. “I’m just glad you’re safe. Oh, and I totally forgot to ask you something very important.”
“What?” Nervousness shot through her.
Great. More life-and-death curse stuff.
Gabriel gave her
a cheesy smile. “Will you go to the winter formal dance with me?”
Flooded with relief, Scarlet laughed. “No.”
“What? Come on. I haven’t been in high school for years. It’ll be so much fun.”
“It will not be fun. It’ll be lame. And full of dancing people.” She smiled. “I don’t dance.”
“Oh, but you do dance.” He wagged his eyebrows. “I happen to know for a fact that you, Scarlet Jacobs, are a dancing machine.”
She laughed again. “Is that right?”
“It is.” The guy standing next to Gabriel nodded. “I’ve totally seen it.”
Scarlet raised her eyebrows as Gabriel moved to the side. “Scarlet, I’d like you to meet Nathaniel Fletcher.”
Nathaniel was a goofy-looking fellow, with thick hair matted on one side of his head like he’d just woken up, and a haphazard outfit thrown against his body.
He had no fashion sense whatsoever.
Scarlet immediately liked him.
Nathaniel held his hand in the air. “Good to see you, girl! High-five!”
Scarlet awkwardly high-fived him. “Do we…know each other?”
“Yep. You just don’t remember me. But no worries. I’m super awesome and you’re gonna love me.”
Scarlet laughed. “Okay.”
“Anyway. So, your answer is…yes? You’ll go with me to the dance?” Gabriel nodded emphatically.
She shook her head with a smile.
“Pleeeeease?” He started kissing her all over again.
After being stuck in the cabin with Tristan and his broodiness, Scarlet was grateful Gabriel had come back in such a cheery mood. She needed happiness.
“Okay, okay, fine.” Scarlet laughed again. “I’ll go with you. But only if you stop slobbering on me like a puppy.”
Gabriel immediately leaned back and threw his hands in the air. “Ha! Victory.”
“You are such a nerd.” Scarlet shook her head with a smile.
“I’m a nerd with a date to formal.” Gabriel said proudly.
“High school dances. Yay.” Tristan walked into the kitchen, bringing his dark mood with him, and greeted Nathaniel. “What’s up, Nate?”
“What’s up? Well, I’m supposed to be in my cave right now but, apparently, you guys had another one of your ‘emergencies’.” Nate shook his hands in the air, like an intruder in Scarlet’s house was frivolous.
