Duplicity (Spellbound #2)

by Nikki Jefford

  “How is Shay going to find a memory that doesn’t exist?”

  Raj shrugged. “It’s worth a try.”

  “He’s right,” Mom said.

  They took two cars to the Baxters’ house, Mr. Morehouse’s and Raj’s. Lee rode with Mom mostly because she didn’t want to be stuck by Raj as he speculated the worst. Mom was off in her own world at the moment, and that suited Lee fine.

  The scrap of newsprint was balled up in her fist. She’d considered tearing it to shreds, burning it! Instead, she flattened her palm and smoothed out the piece of paper. What she really wanted to do was show it to Adrian right before she stuffed it down his throat.

  Lee watched the buildings pass by her window. Mom came to a stop at a red light. Lee didn’t change it. She was in no hurry to reach Shay Baxter’s house. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know what had happened when she was with Adrian.

  As long as she couldn’t remember, it was okay. It would almost be like it had never happened. Without meaning to, she realized it wasn’t Adrian she was thinking about, but Nolan Knapp.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The lights in the Knapp house went out at nine fifty-five.

  Sure, it would have been more fitting to wait until three in the morning, but Gray didn’t particularly relish the idea of spending half the evening waiting it out with Adrian. So, ten minutes after the Knapp house plunged into darkness, they stalked toward the front door.

  “In bed by ten, what a good little boy,” Adrian said in a mocking voice. “If I were home alone at his age, I’d be up half the night.”

  When they were at the front door, Gray turned to Adrian and whispered, “Teleport?”

  He nodded.

  Gray had done a lot of teleporting that day. Try as she might, she hadn’t managed to appear on a tropical island or even at the top of the Space Needle.

  Witches and warlocks were always in danger of becoming addicted to their own spells and potions. As with common drugs, dependency was a problem, and one that led to side effects a little more serious than fatigue or indigestion. A witch should never overuse her powers, especially when it came to using the same spell too many times within a short period of time.

  Gray had lost count of all the times she’d teleported that day. She hadn’t bothered taking the time to get in or out of her car at St. Ann’s Cemetery. She’d skipped walking all the way to her headstone. When walking away from Ryan, she’d performed another round of teleportation action. One moment they were facing off in the doorway, the next she was zooming away down the street in the Beetle. Pretty cool.

  The familiar rush came over Gray as she imagined herself beyond the Knapps’ front door, inside of their home. When she reappeared, she rocked slightly in place, feeling queasy.

  “Are you okay?” Adrian whispered.

  “Of course,” Gray said. But when she took a step forward, she wavered as though drunk.

  “How many times have you teleported today?” Adrian hissed inside her ear.

  “I don’t know. Three, four, five? No more than ten.”

  “I didn’t teach you that spell so you could abuse it.”

  Gray snorted. “Spare me the lecture on magic and responsibility.” She poked Adrian in the chest. It felt good, so she did it again.

  When Adrian narrowed his eyes, it made her want to giggle. “How many times?” he demanded.

  “Okay, maybe more than ten.”

  “That’s it for today. I’m cutting you off.”

  Gray did laugh this time. “Cutting me off? I don’t think so.”

  “Gray…” Adrian said warningly.

  But she grinned and closed her eyes for show, disappeared, and reappeared down the hall. She waved to Adrian. He didn’t wave back.

  Nolan’s bedroom door was open. Even though she felt loopy, Gray’s heart began to pound in her chest when she peered inside. She had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep from crying out loud when Adrian startled her by appearing at Nolan’s bedside. His motions were swift. He had the vial under Nolan’s nose before Gray had even seen him take it out and uncap it.

  Gray pushed through the door. “What are you doing?”

  “With all the racket you’re making I had to make sure he wouldn’t wake up.”

  “How long till that wears off?” They could be there all night. Well, it wasn’t like Gray could go home anyway. Then again, she might prefer to take her chances with The Contact over spending too long inside Nolan Knapp’s house.

  The action figures on his dresser hadn’t moved since the last time she’d been in Nolan’s room. It was as though they were suspended in time, witnesses to Nolan’s treachery. Bile rose up Gray’s throat. She lurched forward. Next thing she knew, Adrian had her arm in his hand in a touch so gentle she had to shake it off at once. She would have preferred he dig his fingers into her arm and shake her back into the present.

  “We’ll come back another night,” Adrian said. “You’re in no shape to carry out this prank.”

  Prank? Now this was a prank? What happened to vengeance? Gray’s eyes narrowed on Nolan’s sleeping form. He and Charlene had conspired to make Gray wake up naked in his bed at the stroke of three. Nolan, who Gray had thought was a friend, had hooked up with her sister and joined in the pursuit to purge Gray’s soul.

  She had to do this. She was running out of time.

  Gray took a deep breath. “I went a little overboard on the teleporting today. I was just having one of those days. But I’m fine. I can do this.”

  Adrian considered her. “I’d offer you something, but the type of potions I have would only make it worse.”

  “You’re the anti-healer.” Why in the world did the words come out approvingly? Probably because her brain was buzzing off one too many teleportations.

  Adrian looked startled. His mouth opened slowly. A word started to emerge, but Gray didn’t let him speak. She nodded at Nolan. “How soon till the spell wears off?” The covers were pulled up to Nolan’s neck. He was lying on his back, chest rising and falling under the blankets. He looked almost angelic with his shaggy blond head resting against his pillow.

  Adrian didn’t answer. He pulled out a second vial. Gray’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. What did he plan to do with that, give Nolan a second dose of sleep?

  “This vial contains waking salts,” Adrian said. He grinned, looking pleased with himself. He approached Nolan’s bed—the side opposite from where he slept.

  “Wait!” Gray said. She went to Nolan’s side and pulled down the covers. Nolan was dressed in a white undershirt and striped boxers. Gray swallowed and looked at Adrian. “These need to come off.”

  Adrian raised a brow and smirked.

  Gray shot him a scowl and reached for the end of Nolan’s shirt. Another inch and her fingers would touch the white fabric. Her lip curled back involuntarily. She didn’t want to touch Nolan, not even his T-shirt. Gray straightened then tried again, only to stop an inch away on the second attempt.

  When she looked at Adrian he had a bemused grin over his face. “Allow me,” he said.

  Wow, he really was helpful—undressing another dude…

  Adrian snapped and Nolan’s clothes disappeared. Gray gasped. She spun around, but it wasn’t quick enough. She’d gotten a look. Just great. What fabulous imagery to have burned in her memory. Not that it would be there for long. Once The Contact got rid of her, he’d be obliterating that image. Gone forever. Every part of her. Even these memories.

  By the time she turned around, there was no trace of the tears that had briefly misted her eyes and, best of all, Adrian had covered Nolan with the blanket.

  Right. Nolan was prepped and ready. That just left Adrian.

  Here was yet another alarming discovery about Adrian. He could snap people’s clothes off. Most witches and warlocks could only snap their own clothes on and off, or so Gray had believed. True, Charlene had once snapped a wardrobe change over Gray, but she’d assumed it was a sibling thing.

  Then again,
it wasn’t as though Gray had ever tried to snap another person’s clothing off. It was part of their coven’s Vow of Honor. A witch didn’t perform magic on another witch… or warlock.

  Even without the coven, it was a good rule to stick by. With power came even greater responsibility.

  Gray shook her head. What was she prattling on about, pep talking herself in the middle of a revenge mission? Her days were numbered, anyway. Let the Stacey Lee Morehouse version of herself meditate on the importance of morality.

  Adrian lifted his hand, three fingers pressed together, ready to snap.

  “Wait,” Gray said.

  The smile he flashed was all Adrian: cocky and self-assured. His brow rose.

  Gray tried to sound cool. “You don’t have to lose all the clothes. I mean, it’s perfectly fine to keep your underwear on. You know?” She couldn’t look him in the eye. Instead, she focused on his smiling lips.

  In answer, Adrian snapped. Gray closed her eyes just in time. The last glimpse she caught was of a toned chest with dark hairs. She’d bet her clogs he’d lost every article of clothing.

  “Ready.”

  When Gray opened her eyes, Adrian was nestled under the covers beside the sleeping Nolan. Gray laughed out loud.

  Adrian looked over at Nolan. “You’re right, this is much better than a prank call—much more up close and personal.”

  “I was going for terrifying.”

  Adrian flashed her a wicked grin. “That too.” He unscrewed the cap off the vial and reached across the covers to hold it under Nolan’s nostrils.

  Gray turned herself invisible. At least that didn’t cause her to wobble. Well, maybe a little, but that had more to do with being in a room with two naked men. Her heart changed tempo too fast, like a horse switching from a walk to a canter.

  Then Nolan woke up.

  He sat up as though cold water had been flung over his face. It was much like the way Gray had woken in his bed after the ill-fated switch. The blankets slipped off his torso as he sat upright, blinking rapidly.

  It wasn’t until Adrian spoke that Nolan noticed him. “Hello, sweetheart.”

  A look of horror crossed Nolan’s face. “Who are you? How did you get in here?” His voice cracked.

  Adrian propped his elbow on his pillow, rested his head on his hand, and stared at Nolan lovingly. The warlock went so far as to bat his lashes. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed me, because all I’ve done these past months is notice you with those big, beautiful eyes and that gorgeous hair.” Adrian reached out with his free hand and stroked it.

  Nolan instantly drew back.

  Gray’s heart rate evened out once the show was underway, though she gripped her wrist in her hand and squeezed so tight the skin pinched under her grasp.

  Nolan inched his way to the side of the bed and was just swinging his leg over the edge when he stopped. Panic crossed his face. “Why am I wearing no clothes?”

  “So many questions.” Adrian chuckled. “You weren’t this inquisitive earlier.”

  Nolan snapped and leapt out of bed. Now fully clothed, he glared at Adrian. “Who are you?”

  All traces of playfulness vanished from Adrian’s voice. “I, my boy, am Adrian Hedrick Montez, but you can call me Adrian the Avenger.” Then Adrian swept out of bed, the sheets gliding off his body much like an artist unveiling his sculpture for the first time. His naked sculpture!

  This time, Gray missed her chance to close her eyes. It was just a quick flash. She barely saw anything at all. No need to ever think about it ever again.

  It took Nolan a moment to recover. Then he shouted. “Put your clothes back on and get out of my house!”

  “No.”

  Nolan looked at the pile of clothing on the floor and snapped, presumably to dress Adrian, but instead his own clothes vanished.

  Gray groaned silently. Maybe it was better not to watch.

  Laughter filled the room. “Much better,” Adrian said.

  Nolan quickly snapped and his clothes reappeared. “Why are you doing this?”

  To Nolan’s credit, he wasn’t breaking down. His voice was angry and firm. Only his eyes betrayed him, wide in a way that spelled one thing: terror.

  Adrian strutted over to the dresser, precariously close to Gray. She had to move quickly before any part of Adrian brushed against her. Unfortunately, moving meant angling closer to Nolan. She now stood between the two warlocks—not a good position to take, directly in the line of fire. If she crouched down, Nolan might rush at Adrian and she wouldn’t have time to move out of the way.

  Adrian flattened his palm on the dresser. “I am here on behalf of Graylee Perez.”

  Nolan’s look of confusion was replaced by repulsion. “Graylee Perez? She’s dead.”

  Gray wanted to deck him right then. If anyone ought to feel disgust and loathing it was she.

  Adrian betrayed no emotion, nor was he squeamish about being naked in Nolan’s room. “I take requests from the great beyond. Apparently my reputation has exceeded this realm.”

  “You can contact the dead?” Nolan’s mouth hung open.

  Gray gnashed her teeth. It was time to go back to the part where Nolan was quaking under his covers, not regarding Adrian in awe.

  “One of many, many talents.” Adrian swept his arms in a wide circle, crossing wrists at his torso and ending in a double snap with both hands raised in the air. His clothes appeared.

  Nolan had the audacity to chuckle. “Oh, man, you really got me.”

  “I aim to please.” Adrian took a slight bow.

  Seriously? Gray wanted to scream. She almost had to put a hand over her mouth to smother the mangled screech rising up her throat.

  “No really, good job, thanks for stopping by.” There was no fear in Nolan’s voice, only indignant self-assurance with a hint of annoyance.

  Adrian’s face changed as quickly as his clothes.

  Yes! There was the dark, menacing warlock Gray wanted to turn on Nolan Knapp.

  “I’m afraid we’re not done here. You see, Graylee Perez requested my premium vengeance package. I call it the full works.”

  The full works. Now he was talking. Gray wasn’t sure what that meant. They hadn’t exactly gotten this far while strategizing. Gray had mostly made suggestions after the initial plan of Adrian crawling into bed with Nolan. Her favorite idea was to duct tape Nolan naked to the flagpole outside McKinley High. Adrian said he wanted to play things by ear.

  Nolan’s eyes narrowed. He swept his hands from his nightstand to Adrian. Gray ducked just in time to avoid the piece of furniture hurled across the room. Adrian didn’t so much as flinch as the nightstand headed toward him. A foot away from ramming him it bounced backwards, as though making contact with a rubber mat, and flew back at Nolan. Gray sidestepped the nightstand this time. Nolan wasn’t so lucky. The furniture knocked him down like a bowling ball.

  Nolan was quickly on his feet. His teeth clenched, and he looked more angry than frightened. He spread his arms and chanted, “hear me, wise ones, old ones; above, below. Bring forth fire, make it glow.”

  It usually wasn’t a good thing when a warlock started chanting. Again, Adrian looked unconcerned. At the conclusion of Nolan’s chant, Nolan’s own shirt burst into flames. Nolan screamed, threw himself on his bed, and rolled around.

  The scent of burning cotton filled Gray’s nostrils. Luckily, Nolan was able to smother the flames pretty quickly.

  He pushed off his bed, back onto his feet, and patted down his arms just to make sure. The shirt now bore ragged holes and char marks.

  Adrian grinned. “You might want to take that off.”

  Flashes, like veins inside an arm, streaked around Nolan’s irises. Apparently, he’d given up on magic and decided to charge Adrian instead. Once more, a foot away, Nolan ran into a transparent blockade and fell backwards, making contact with the floor. He punched the carpet with his fist and cursed before picking himself up.

  Nolan crossed his arms over his chest a
nd took a good look at Adrian for the first time. Adrian’s lips quirked up in response.

  “You are very powerful,” Nolan said.

  “Cat’s out of the bag.”

  “I don’t know why you would help out Graylee Perez. She’s a tease.”

  Adrian’s brow rose.

  “A whore.” Nolan’s voice rose. “She tried to use me, play me, all while throwing herself at another warlock.”

  Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Who was this warlock?”

  Gray’s heart sank. Adrian wasn’t smiling anymore.

  “A half Indian by the name of Raj McKenna. Thinks he’s above everyone else. Meanwhile, Gray convinced me we were working together. I was doing everything in my power to help her. I went out of my way to consult with a warlock whose powers far exceeded mine. On the day I’d arranged to take her to my contact, I found her with Raj.” Nolan’s lips curled back.

  Gray wanted to shut Nolan up, but at the same time, she felt paralyzed. Adrian’s face looked dark beneath the shadows of the room.

  “They were going at it in plain sight.” Nolan spit the words out as though they left a disgusting taste on his tongue. “He had her backed against a tree in her front yard. As I was driving by, I saw McKenna under her skirt doing the dirty, like I said, right in public. And she was enjoying it, too. Had her legs wrapped all around him.”

  Gray felt the familiar pinpricks of pain when her eyes sparked. When she’d woken up beside Nolan in his bed the year before, she’d thought nothing could be worse. Hearing him talk about her this way was just as bad. Filthy, dirty lies.

  “Liar!” Gray screeched. She filled herself in and lunged for Nolan’s throat. They fell onto his bed. Her fingers tightened around his windpipe.

  Nolan’s eyes widened. Once the initial shock had passed, he grabbed her hair and pulled. Gray’s hands flew to her head as she screamed. Before Nolan could push her off, she kneed him in the groin—his turn to screech.

  Gray began punching him on the shoulders and chest. Not the wisest course of action. While her powers were strong, her brute force left something to be desired. Each hit bounced off Nolan like hail leaping off the ground in a hailstorm.