by Kristie Cook
“Yes, she lives nearby. She takes care of this place when we’re not around. She doesn’t work during the weekends and she leaves right after she makes our dinner. This was already prepared before we got here,” Nick informed, scooping a spoonful of rice into his mouth.
Everett got up and took a bottle of wine out of the wooden cabinet. “Let’s drink a toast to our new friends.” He went around pouring wine in the wine glasses that were already placed on the table. Then he picked up his glass and held it in the air. “To our new friends and Remus. Where ever did he wander off to?”
Skylar glanced at Mason, but he didn’t look her way. Anxiety was building up and she wanted to run—run away from there, and run away from Mason and his brothers. The sound of the clinking of glasses brought her back to the present. She realized everyone was waiting for her to toast with them. “Oh, sorry. I don’t drink wine.”
Kayla kicked her under the table, making Skylar jerk back.
“Oh, here,” Skylar said, glaring at Kayla and lifting her glass to toast. Then everyone took a sip. Skylar pretended she did, and placed the glass back on the table.
“Where is Remus?” Everett asked. “I hope he’s not creating any problems.”
“You know Remus. He’s always up to no good,” Amanda stated.
“I know, but he’s not answering his cell phone. That’s not like him.”
Skylar’s muscles tensed as she listened to their conversation. Her eyes were glued to her plate and her appetite vanished.
“Can we talk about something else?” Mason murmured. “I don’t think our guests really care.”
“Yes, you’re right. Where are my manners?” Everett gave a quick grin, but he narrowed his eyes at Mason.
“Anyway,” Nick said, breaking the silence. “I’m taking Kayla for a walk after dinner before it gets too dark. Would anyone else like to join us?”
“I would love to walk,” Kayla exclaimed.
Skylar didn’t want to be the third wheel. Since Mason didn’t ask her, she didn’t respond.
After dinner, the guys got up to clear the table. Itching to get up and help, Skylar was only asked to sit back down again. She was not used to having someone else clean up after her. After the dishes were put away, Kayla and Nick went out the back door with flashlights in their hands. Though Skylar was uncomfortable without Kayla, she tried her best to fit in as they gathered in the living room.
The sun was starting to set, but it was still light out. Everett poured his fifth glass of wine, sat on the sofa, and looked like he was a mile away. They sat there as the sun disappeared and the stars came out. Darkness engulfed them, and having no curtains or blinds gave Skylar an eerie feeling. She tried not to look out the window. She could imagine something popping out just like in the scary movies, so she focused her eyes on the television instead.
“Let’s watch a movie,” Amanda said, flipping through the channels. “There’s nothing to watch on a Friday night.”
“Forget the movie. Aren’t you worried about Remus?” Everett looked frustrated. His eyes pierced through Mason’s and then to Skylar’s. “Where the hell is he? He said he had something important to tell me. He wouldn’t disappear like that.”
Skylar sank into her seat. She already felt small against Everett’s physique, but his tone and the way he looked at her made her feel tinier. Though she knew Everett had no idea what happened, feelings of guilt took over, and her pulse shot up.
“Maybe he doesn’t want to be found,” Mason blurted.
Angry, Everett grabbed Mason’s shirt, lifting him from the sofa. “What are you not telling me?” he yelled.
“Stop it!” Amanda bellowed. “Let him go. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Mason pushed Everett off him, straightened his shirt, and focused on Skylar.
“He knows something. I can tell,” Everett grumbled.
“We have company. Can we please behave?” Amanda mumbled. “This is so embarrassing.”
“She knows something too, doesn’t she?” Everett accused, pacing to Skylar.
Mason pulled Skylar off the sofa and protectively hid her behind his back. “Don’t you dare touch her. She has nothing to do with Remus.”
“Our blood binds us. I can’t feel him anymore. Either he went somewhere far away or something is wrong. You should be able to feel that too, or do you not care?” Everett sneered.
“Mason?” Amanda called softly. “What’s going on?”
Skylar couldn’t take it anymore. She didn’t want their brotherly bond to break because of her. Without thinking, she blurted out, “It was an accident. He tried to … he hit me … and … .” Skylar didn’t know what she was saying anymore. She was confused and couldn’t explain any further when Everett and Amanda looked at her accusingly.
“Stop!” Mason raised his hands. “You all know what Remus is like. He knew I was dating Skylar. He tried to take advantage of her. We had a fight and he took off.”
Everett let out an irritated sigh and stormed away.
“You have some explaining to do, Mason. I’ll go calm the big guy.” Amanda chased after Everett.
Skylar couldn’t believe what she’d heard. Mason said they were dating, but he had a funny way of showing it, unless he really didn’t mean it.
“Are you okay?” Mason asked, tenderly.
“Yes,” Skylar answered, but she wasn’t.
“I had to lie about the dating part to throw them off.”
“Yeah, of course. I understand,” she replied, feeling disappointed.
“We’ll be leaving in the morning. I need answers and staying here won’t help. I didn’t know Everett would tag along. Like I said before, I’m not very close to my brothers, but I think I can trust Nick. But even then I’m not sure. Let me take you to your room. I’m suddenly feeling really tired.” Mason led the way.
After Skylar tucked herself into bed, she lay there thinking about all that had happened. What was supposed to be the best summer of her life was turning out to be the worst summer ever. She had a crush on a guy who had turned out to be a demigod, meaning half human and half god. This concept was difficult to grasp. His half-brother tried to rape her, and somehow, he died in Mason’s room. And here she was alone and mystified, and she couldn’t even tell Kayla.
Kayla had been gone for two hours. Though Skylar knew she was fine, she had wanted to stay up and wait for her, but slowly her eyelids closed against her will.
SEVENTEEN
Skylar was groggy when she woke up. Her eyes were still closed. She didn’t want to open them, sensing that it was still late at night, but something was out of place. Startled by the sound of someone rifling through her duffle bag, she lay motionless. Too scared to move, she listened for any clue as to who it might be.
Desperately, she wanted to turn her body and face the intruder, but she was immobilized by her terror. When it became deadly silent, she knew the intruder had stopped digging through her bag. Frightened, every nerve in her body was alert and her heart hammered faster with the sound of creaking steps approaching the bed. When her bed sunk from the weight of the person, afraid of what he or she would do to her, Skylar turned swiftly and sat upright.
“Amanda?” Relieved that it was someone she knew, her pulse steadied somewhat. Though she didn’t know her that well, she figured she could trust her. “What are you doing in my room?”
“Skylar, come with me,” she demanded, dropping Skylar’s shoes in front of her. “It’s very important. We need to straighten this out once and for all.”
“Straighten what out? It’s the middle of the night. What time is it?” Rubbing her eyes, she looked down at her shoes, debating whether to put them on.
“I don’t have time to explain. Just hurry.”
From Amanda’s urgent voice, Skylar got up, slipped into her shoes, and huffed an irritated sigh. Wearing nothing but cotton shorts and a tank top, she put on a light sweater and left the house with Amanda. Though she wasn’t cold, following Amanda to
the woods gave her the shivers. “Where are we going? And why were you digging through my bag?”
Amanda didn’t answer. She was too busy trudging along a crooked path, holding a mega flashlight—a spotlight—leading the way, heading further away from the cabin. The fresh scents of the evergreens awakened Skylar, but the eerie darkness took away all the beauty. As the dirt shuffled underneath Skylar’s feet, the sound of a broken twig made her jump. When Amanda noted Skylar lagging behind, she gripped her wrist and forced her to keep up with her.
“Amanda, please. Where are we going in the middle of the night? I’m getting cold.” She wasn’t really cold, but being out in the dark caused her to tremble as her imagination got the best of her. She could envision wild animals roaming about, and who knew what else could happen in the complete darkness, in the middle of the woods, without any protection.
Amanda finally stopped. “We’re here. I’m sorry, but we have to know.”
From out of the darkness, Everett suddenly appeared. Stunned to see him, Skylar scurried back and bumped into a tree. As if she could disappear into it, she pressed her back against it as her eyes locked onto Everett, who was coming toward her.
“What’s going on? Where’s Mason?” Her timid tone hid behind the fear.
Everett towered over Skylar, looking down on her with a look of conviction. “Tell me the truth and I’ll spare your life. Are you one of the keepers of death?”
“What?” Skylar asked, befuddled. She recalled Remus asking her the same question. “I’m nothing. I don’t understand. Why did you bring me out here to ask me this question?”
“Liar!” Everett’s tone startled Skylar and even Amanda. “You killed Remus, didn’t you? And you convinced Mason you didn’t. My blind brother may not see, but I can. Who sent you to kill us?”
“Please, you’ve got to believe me. I didn’t do anything. Remus tried to kill me. He tried to … .” Knowing they wouldn’t believe her, Skylar frantically looked for a way out. With no sense of direction and without a flashlight, where would she go?
Everett lost his patience. He extended his arm and grabbed Skylar by her throat. “Tell me who sent you,” he sneered through his gritted teeth.
Pinned against the tree by Everett’s hand, she tried to pull him off.
“Everett. We’re not sure who she is. Don’t kill her. Mason likes … I mean, she’s Mason’s friend,” Amanda pleaded.
“Since when do you care who I kill or not?”
“Since now, since Mason. You’ve never killed anything in your life besides the vultures. If you’re wrong, well, I don’t want to think about what Mason will do to you.”
“Let. Her. Go,” Mason demanded, having a difficult time getting his words out. Wearing shorts and a white T-shirt, he rested his hand on the tree for support. Looking extremely lethargic, his movements were sluggish as he held loosely onto a small flashlight. Though he looked somewhat aware of what was going on, he seemed to be struggling to stay alert.
Everett released his grip and stepped away. Letting out a dreadful cough and taking in breaths of fresh cool air, Skylar composed herself. Ecstatic to hear Mason’s voice, she knew she would be fine.
Mason continued to confront his family. “Who … drugged … me?”
“I did,” Everett confessed. “I drugged your wine. I needed to know who she really is.”
“And exactly what is she? Do you even know what you’re talking about? Now I have to explain everything to her. How … why we exist. She can’t even defend herself from you. How could you assume she killed Remus?”
Skylar already knew how and why they existed. She knew he only said those words to throw them off.
“I can feel some kind of energy from her I didn’t feel before. I don’t understand. If she isn’t one of us, she must be something. I’m almost certain she is a keeper of death. Can’t you feel it? Or are you blindly in love?” Everett laughed out loud.
Mason didn’t answer. He shook his head, seemingly trying to stay in focus.
“Oh, joy. My little brother is in love with a killer,” Everett continued.
“I’m not in love and she is not a killer. You’re too obsessed, thinking a keeper is on our trail.” Mason turned to Amanda. “How … could … you?”
Amanda locked her eyes on the ground to where her flashlight shone brightly, and then she looked up. “This is totally your fault, Everett. I’m not helping you again.” Then she turned to Mason. “I’m sorry, but I was only thinking of you. You know what the prophecy says. Something as critical as this, we can’t wait around and find out.” Then she turned to Skylar. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Now you know we’re … different. Welcome to our crazy world.” Amanda headed back to the house.
Everett offered no apologies and stormed off angrily. Skylar looked distraught, her back still against the tree. Too terrified to move, she felt as if her legs were planted to the ground like the roots of the tree.
“I’m sorry,” Mason mumbled, stumbling toward Skylar. “I didn’t know he … she … had … or would do this. I knew something was up...so sleepy, but couldn’t control it. I tried to fight it off.” Mason shook his head, trying not to fall asleep. “We should get out before I crash on the ground. Here … take this flashlight. Go straight this way.” Mason pointed ahead.
“Let me help you.” Skylar did as she was told, and draped his arm over her shoulder to hold him steady. The weight of his body caused Skylar to bend low. Dragging her feet, sometimes stumbling, she managed to find her way back with Mason’s directions.
Without a word, Skylar took Mason straight to his bedroom. She accidentally fell on top of him when she tried to ease him onto his bed. She tried to wiggle off, but Mason’s hold was too strong, even for someone who could barely control his mind and body.
“Smell … nice,” he sniffed her hair, and then his arms dropped down to his sides.
“Thanks, but right now you have no idea what you’re doing.”
“Stay … lay … to me,” he mumbled. “I’ll … keep … you safe.” His words were soft and sluggish. His right arm reached for her, then he rolled over to his side with his eyes closed.
“Okay, I’ll just lay here next to you,” Skylar agreed reluctantly, taking off his shoes then hers. Not wanting to keep her sweater on, she took it off and placed it on the edge of the bed. Though she didn’t feel comfortable sharing his bed, she felt safe just from his presence, even though he was almost asleep. Thinking it was an opportunity to ask him questions since he was drugged, she asked freely. “Mason.”
“Hmmm?”
“Do you blame me for Remus’s death?”
“No.”
“Are you and Amanda close?”
“What? Close? Amanda … yes.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”
“No. No more … no questions. Go sleep. Tired.” He snuggled against the pillow.
Did “no more” mean he’d recently broken up? “Are you mad at me?”
“No … but … I will.” He moaned.
“What if I hurt you?”
“You won’t.”
“How do you know? I don’t even know what I did to Remus. I—”
“I know. Echo … sleep.”
“Why do you care?”
“Trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“Trouble … I … think...like … Echo.”
EIGHTEEN
Something hot leaned against Skylar’s body. Slowly, she peeled her eyes open to settle on Mason’s beautiful face. She loved the scent of him, faint musky spice from his after-shave that still lingered from yesterday. When her eyes glanced over what she could see from her position, she knew she wasn’t at her cousin’s house. Then suddenly, vivid images of last night’s events merged to the forefront of her mind, making her aware this wasn’t a dream.
Shock from seeing their bodies tangled sent exhilarated tingles through her, but she didn’t know what to do. His arms and legs were on top of hers, snuggling her as i
f she was a body pillow.
Breathe. No, don’t breathe. No, breathe. She was afraid to wake him up. She wanted to stay snuggled into him as long as possible, but she couldn’t help but wonder how he would react when he saw their bodies positioned in such an intimate way.
Though she enjoyed being in his arms, she knew he wasn’t aware of what he was doing. Instead of pulling him out of his sleep, she studied his facial features. With her eyes, she traced the curves of his eyebrows, to his thick eyelashes, moving her gaze to his strong cheek bones, to his nose, and last, down to his kissable lips. How she wondered what it would feel like to press her lips on his.
When he snuggled tighter, she held her breath and held it longer when he leisurely rubbed his heavy leg against her bare skin. Simultaneously, his hand slid down her back to the hem of her shirt, lifting it with his fingers while mumbling words she couldn’t understand. Gliding upward, warmth produced from the palm of his hands, and erotic heat spread through her whole body.
Skylar gasped when his hand started to move again, caressing her in a circular motion. The same electric feeling, between a mild shock and the subtle heat that emanated from him, aroused her in ways she had never known. The heat started from her belly button, igniting with pleasurable sensations, spreading to the rest of her body, making her hot and quivery. Oh Mason, what are you doing in your sleep and with whom? She desperately wanted to know.
When the motion stopped, she wondered if he was dreaming or aware of what he was doing. Slowly, she tilted her head back to see if he was awake.
Mason’s eyes were wide open, and he looked flabbergasted. Startled, she jerked out from his hold, almost falling on the floor. Mason sat up and raked his hair back as confusion showed on his face. “Did we umm … did I try to … did something happen last night?”
Embarrassed he would ask such a question, Skylar got out of bed. “No. What kind of girl do you think I am?” She suddenly realized she was wearing what she had worn to bed last night, and she was braless. Embarrassed at the thought, she crossed her arms without making it obvious.
