The Key

by Felicia Rogers

  She gulped and a thought struck her. “How did you get here?”

  His eyes glowed bronze, shining through the forest gloom like a cat’s eyes in the night. He flashed a set of white, pointed teeth. “I flew.”

  No, it couldn’t be! Stars appeared before her eyes and she crumpled to the ground.

  Chapter 12

  Light-headed, Chase pulled the truck to the side of the road and cradled his head. No clue where that had come from. Guys who got invited to try out for the football team didn’t usually get dizzy spells. Maybe some side effect from the beast within, or from his relationship with Maddie?

  Slowly his equilibrium returned and he drew in a shuddering breath. But when he reached for the gear shift, he couldn’t force himself to drive on. A vision flashed through his mind, a second there and the next gone, and Chase gasped. Not far away from where the dizziness had hit him, Maddie sprawled on the ground beside the boulder where he’d seen her earlier. A black form shaped like a bear hovered over her.

  Chase threw the door open and stumbled from the truck. A path led away from the road. He raced through the brush and erupted into a small clearing. “Get away from her!”

  The creature lifted its head. Chase tried to stop and fell backward onto the bank. Fangs bared; the creature snarled. Horror rocketed through him. It wasn’t a bear. It resembled his other form, only much darker, and this one was angry.

  Pain stabbed in his stomach and lanced up his back. Beneath his skin on either side of his spine, nerves rippled and shifted. Under his breath, he muttered, “Not now, not now.”

  The sharp point of an extending tooth poked into his lip. Chase fought against the transformation. If this similar creature saw him, everything Dad feared could come true… whatever that was.

  The black beast leaned over Maddie again. Drool dripped from its lips. Its claws extended. One bony black finger flicked out and stroked her cheek. Maddie’s unconscious form shuddered.

  Chase closed his eyes and willed himself to stay human. Maddie smiling. Maddie shoving books into his locker. Maddie playing with her hair while they enjoyed lunch, such as it was… she’d made school lunches a good thing. His breathing slowed. The wind shifted. Was that her perfume? It smelled so good.

  He opened his eyes. Maddie lay in the clearing alone, one hand reaching toward the granite boulder as if seeking support. The beast was gone.

  Whirling in a circle, he searched the vicinity, narrowing his eyes and using his enhanced senses to ensure they were truly alone. Then he stumbled over downed branches and fell to his knees at Maddie’s side. Her pulse beat strong and steady against his fingertip.

  The creature had touched her cheek. The wound from her dream had reopened and a small streak of blood spread across her pale skin.

  The sight of Maddie’s injury caused Chase’s body to tingle again. Her eyelids fluttered open and he struggled to regain control. Deep calming breaths weren’t working. The pain began in agonizing waves. If she saw him change…

  “Chase?”

  He closed his eyes and focused on the sound of her voice. No, that wasn’t working. He had to touch her. The need outweighed the risk and he pulled her onto his lap, nestling her head beneath his chin. It felt right. The emotional roller coaster of the last few days ended. His heart rate returned to normal and the pain faded away.

  He’d won.

  Her words were muffled. “I’m sorry.”

  Tears wet his shirt. His sin against her stung. “What do you need to be sorry for?”

  Maddie leaned away from his chest and swiped at her tears. “I’m sorry for how I behaved when I met your family. Please don’t leave me.”

  He held her tighter and fought the guilt that tightened his throat. “You did nothing wrong. I’m the one who should be sorry. Will you forgive me?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Chase cradled her. Nothing had ever felt more right. His hands on either side of her face, he dipped his head and brushed his lips across hers. Electrical pulses shocked his lips and coursed through his body.

  She trembled, and that set his pulse pounding again.

  The energy faded and he cleared his throat. “I’m so sorry, Maddie. I won’t ever leave you again. That is, unless you ask me to.”

  She didn’t speak, and he swallowed. That day might actually come. Shakily he stood, lifted her into his arms, and carried her back to the road, to his truck. Deposited inside, she flashed him a small smile.

  He lifted his finger for her to wait, then jogged back to the clearing and retrieved her purse. A cursory glance around the area, but he couldn’t see any proof of the black beast’s existence. There were no obvious signs that anyone had ever been there, much less a monster he still barely believed in, and he huffed a sigh of relief.

  Chase returned to the truck and slid behind the wheel. “What now? Do you want to go home?”

  She nodded. He started the truck, checked the rearview for traffic, and pulled out.

  While he drove, Maddie stared out at the passing scenery, her face turned away. He gnawed on his lip. Had she seen the black beast? Did she think it was him? What was she thinking? The silence was deafening. Picking what he thought was a safe subject, he asked, “Where’s your bike?”

  She frowned. “You mean you don’t know?”

  “Know what?” He bit the inside of his cheek to mask the lie.

  Maddie pushed her hair from her face. “Someone ran me off the road yesterday.”

  It wasn’t hard to create appropriate fear and concern. “Really? Were you hurt?” Stupid question. After all, she’d gone to school, at least for the morning classes.

  If she thought the question stupid, no sign of it showed in her voice. “No. I was rescued.”

  “How?” Here it comes. She’s going to blurt it out.

  She grimaced. “I’m not exactly sure. When I figure it out, I promise you’ll be the first to know.”

  Surprised by her answer, Chase asked, “You’re sure you’re okay, then?”

  “Yeah, I feel one hundred percent better now.”

  She felt better because she was with him, or because she’d left school and wouldn’t have to suffer through chemistry and gym, or… the possibilities were endless and agonizing. But before he could figure any of it out, Maddie twisted on the bench seat to face him, twirling a strand of hair around her index finger.

  “Why have you avoided me for the last two days?”

  Too late, Chase realized he should have expected the question and had an answer ready. No way could he say, Hey, I’m a mutant beast and I was afraid you would set off my powers. Although maybe he should, just to see what she said… no, not a good idea. Instead he shifted and fidgeted. “Well…”

  Maddie studied her hands and sighed. “Listen, I’m sorry about the dinner table conversation. My parents’ death is still fresh on my mind and I was way too blunt.”

  “Maddie—”

  “It’s okay. I understand. I come with a lot of baggage.”

  No time to figure out something to comfort her; they’d arrived at her grandma’s house. Chase guided the truck into the rutted driveway. Without thinking, he blurted out, “Maddie, do you have plans for tomorrow evening?”

  “No.”

  “Would you like to go with me to the school dance?” Coal Creek High sponsored one each month in the gym; the flyers had been posted in each classroom.

  Her eyes and smile widened. “I would love to.”

  “Great! I’ll pick you up around six.”

  “Okay.”

  He parked outside the house. “And on Saturday morning we could go hiking and have a picnic, if you like.”

  She climbed from the truck and leaned in through the open window. “I would like that. And thanks for the ride home.”

  “You’re welcome. See you tomorrow morning, then?”

  “Yeah, see you tomorrow morning.”

  Chase watched as she walked away from the truck and went inside. His body relaxed as he felt her
tension ease. Perhaps tomorrow they would have a long talk. They really needed one.

  Chapter 13

  Maddie bounded into the living room, bent over, and kissed her grandma.

  “You’re home early.” Grandma Draoi tilted her face, accepting the kiss, and patted Maddie’s head.

  “Yeah, I wasn’t feeling well.”

  Grandma Draoi raised an eyebrow. “You look fine to me.”

  “I feel better now.”

  “I saw your note this morning. Did you walk home?”

  Maddie shook her head. “No, Chase drove me.”

  “Oh, was he not feeling well, too?”

  “No. He’s fine. Why would you think he felt bad?”

  “Because he left school early. Lean down here and let me check your head. Something ain’t right about all these questions you keep asking.”

  Maddie grinned and bent down for inspection. “No, Grandma, he’s fine. I’m fine. In fact, we talked about hiking on Saturday and going to the dance tomorrow night.”

  Grandma removed her hand. “Maddie, do you think that’s a good idea?”

  “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

  “Well, I just mean you haven’t known this boy very long and you seem to be getting very attached to him.”

  “And?”

  “Well, I don’t want to see you hurt is all.” But Grandma Draoi’s eyes glared so intently that Maddie’s pulse jumped.

  “I’ll be fine.” Maddie grimaced at the lie. For the last couple of days, she had suffered Chase’s indifference and that had definitely hurt. If he ever decided he no longer wanted to be her friend, then she would never be fine — but her grandma didn’t need to know that.

  Before Grandma Draoi could ask more difficult questions, the phone rang. “I’ll get it.” Maddie skipped from the room and grabbed the phone. “Hello?”

  “Maddie?”

  “Chase?”

  “Yep.”

  “Are you home already?” Maddie leaned against the door facing and twirled her hair. A veritable geyser of happiness sprouted within her.

  “Not yet. I just wanted to hear your voice.”

  Heat rose to her cheeks. “You did?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Who is it, dear?” Grandma, from the other room.

  Maddie covered the mouthpiece. “It’s Chase.”

  “Oh.” The single word said it all.

  Time for privacy. Maddie carried the cordless phone upstairs to her bedroom and dove across her bed. She felt like a Valley girl (did they still have Valley girls?), lying on her stomach with her legs kicking behind her and talking to a boy on the phone. All she needed now was a wad of gum. “Sorry, my grandma was curious.”

  “No problem. I guess it’s not every day that a guy calls you. I mean, I hope it’s not. That is, for my sake.”

  She laughed at his worried tone. “Hardly! I think you’re the first boy to ever call me!”

  “Now, I find that hard to believe.”

  “Well, don’t, because it’s true.” Except for Dougal, who’d called her for homework. But that didn’t really count and she saw no reason to mention it.

  “What about at your other school?”

  Maddie wanted to clam up. Would the pain of her past never cease? Swallowing the feeling, she said, “Not even at my other school.”

  “I don’t believe it. It’s too hard for me to fathom that someone as beautiful as you has never had a serious boyfriend.”

  Maddie rose and studied herself in the dresser mirror, glad he couldn’t see her blushing. “And what about you? You’re the hottest thing on two legs. How many broken hearts have you left behind?”

  He snickered. “Hottest thing on two legs, huh?”

  The mirror reflected her increased redness, but she continued. “Chase, please, you have to know how attractive you are. This can’t be news.”

  “Actually, it is news. I don’t have a clue how attractive I am. Why don’t you explain it to me?”

  Maddie groaned. Now what had she gotten herself into? She stuttered and stammered, unable to form a coherent thought, much less a sentence. She’d never told a guy what she liked about him before; what was she supposed to say? Finally she blurted, “Well, you know what I mean.”

  “Nope, afraid not.”

  She blew out a rush of air. “Do you want me to spell it out for you?”

  “Please,” came his drawn-out reply.

  And the light dawned. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

  “Immensely,” he answered in a deep voice.

  A chill shivered up her spine. They were just friends. Right? What had she been thinking, telling him he was attractive? She would probably scare him off and he would never speak to her again.

  But hadn’t the kiss changed things? Couldn’t she be his friend and still find him attractive?

  As if she wasn’t herself, she lowered her voice until it took on a smooth, velvety sound. “You have the body of Adonis. When you look at me with your baby blues, I grow weak in the knees. I can’t be with you for more than a few minutes without hoping you’ll take me in your arms and kiss me.” Oops, did I really just say that aloud?

  No. Couldn’t have.

  The sound of squealing tires carried over the line. “Chase? Chase? Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” he said, a little breathlessly.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “I— I had to pull over.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re a real piece of work, Madelyn Clevenger.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize what I was saying.” She laughed. “Are you mad?”

  “Nope, but no one has ever talked to me like that. Do you realize I want to turn around, whisk you from your room, and kiss you senseless?”

  Maddie gulped. How could she be around him tomorrow after all this? She changed the subject. “Are you going home?” Her heart beat faster and faster as she waited for his reply.

  “I’m not sure. What do you think I should do?”

  Why did he ask her? She wanted him to come back and do all the things he’d threatened. Starting with the whisking away and finishing with kissing her senseless. No one had ever paid so much attention to her, and she didn’t know how to react. But from the way her heart hammered… she swallowed and spoke her honest feelings.

  “I want to tell you to come back, but you should go home. I feel vulnerable and maybe this isn’t the best time.”

  A long pause. “You’re right.”

  The line fell silent and Maddie bit the inside of her cheek. “I think you avoided a question that I asked.”

  “What was that?”

  “Girlfriends? How many have you had? How many broken hearts have you left behind?”

  She hoped he’d say none, but realistically if he said none, would she believe him? A guy like Chase didn’t walk around without a girlfriend.

  “I’ve dated, but I’ve never had a serious relationship.”

  “Oh.” What was she thinking? She’d only known him for a week! What right did she have to feel possessive? But she couldn’t help it. The thought of him dating other girls made her want to unsheathe her claws.

  Chase interrupted her thoughts. “I’m home. I guess I better let you go. I see Mom peeking from behind the curtain. No doubt she wonders what I’m doing home so early.”

  “Yeah, you should definitely explain. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Yes. Yes, you will.”

  ****

  After Chase hung up the phone, he sat in his truck a little longer. Hey, Mom could wait. But Maddie’s admission of attraction had set his blood to boiling and it felt like steam rolled from his ears. It hadn’t been her words, or her tone, but her emotions. His pounding heartbeat matched hers as if a single heart beat in both their chests. Not something he wanted Mom to see.

  Something about the beast within him was tuned to Maddie. Every ardent thought, every passionate feeling that raced through her mind, he shared it. He
could feel her emotions, sense her racing pulse, taste her yearning. Adding that to his own emotions had forced him to pull over and catch his breath. Either that or wreck the truck.

  Uh, oh. Mom no longer peeked through the closed curtains, but rather had pulled them completely aside. She stood in front of the window with her hands on her hips, waiting. She would want to know why he’d left school early. He preferred to be honest, but how could he? His father had expressly forbidden him from seeing Maddie and he had clearly broken that rule. Dad seemed either unable or unwilling to understand.

  How could Chase make his father realize he could control the change, but only if Maddie was safe and happy? When Maddie was in danger or distressed was when he lost control. And in the meantime, what could he say to Mom?

  Shifting in the seat, Chase unbuckled the seatbelt and reached for the release handle, only to be stopped by a soft tapping. His father stood at the truck’s open window.

  “What are you doing home?” Chase asked.

  “I could ask the same of you. Did you have a problem at school?”

  “No. Did you have a problem at work?”

  Dad’s brows knitted together in surprise. “You’re being a little rude, aren’t you?”

  “Sorry.”

  “Apology accepted. But still, I want to know why you’re home.”

  “I wasn’t feeling well.”

  “You couldn’t do it, could you?”

  Chase dropped his chin to his chest. “Dad, I’m sorry. But you just don’t understand.” He shoved open the door and slid from the truck. “I did try, honest, I did. But I can’t stay away from her. I wish I could explain it to you. This girl, she’s… I don’t know, different. I can feel her emotions. I can’t read her mind or anything like that, but when she’s sad, I know it. When she’s happy, I know that, too. When she’s troubled… and today she was so depressed. I couldn’t handle her pain.”

  The tension drained from Dad’s face and he squeezed Chase’s shoulder. “She’s special, besides just the obvious stuff, right?”

  “Yeah, she’s special. I can’t let her go. She’s a part of me. I know you said she’s probably related to me changing, but it isn’t her touch that does it.”