Keeper

by Kim Chance

  I was surprised to find myself clapping. The whole thing was incredibly stupid, not to mention dangerous, but there was something about the look in the boy’s eyes, how his whole face glowed. He looked entirely free. I was envious of him for that.

  In the distance, another whistle began to sound and the crowd began crowing once more. Two more boys hopped up onto the tracks. I watched as they stood there looking confident and brave, the train barreling down the tracks.

  Lainey.

  I jumped as the voice called again. This time it was right next to me. I turned my head; Josephine, her mournful eyes trained on my face, was standing on the other side of the girl with the braids. She was close enough that I could swear she was a solid, living person instead of an apparition. Her long, dark tresses were blowing in a breeze I couldn’t feel, and the flames from the bonfire danced in her eyes.

  I stared back, but when Josephine took a step toward me, something inside me snapped. “Enough!” I growled. “Leave me alone!”

  The girl with braids whipped her head in my direction. “What the hell is your problem?”

  I didn’t answer. I was already pushing my way through the crowd. No one tried to stop me, and I wasn’t fully aware of exactly what I was doing until I stepped over the metal rails and felt the wooden slates and the gravel crunch underneath my feet.

  Behind me, a murmur of confusion was circulating through the crowd as I walked toward the boys and shoved myself between them.

  “What the—?” one of the boys shouted, while the other jumped in surprise. I ignored them. As the light of the next freighter appeared, a rush of adrenaline kicked in, and I took a breath to steady myself.

  What are you doing? Get off the tracks! the tiny voice of reason screamed inside my head, but the sense of absolute control swirling around inside me kept my feet grounded.

  The train’s harsh whistle sounded again, and my hands began to shake. My breath was hitching in my lungs, but I forced myself to plant my feet. Small bits of gravel dug into the worn soles of my sneakers, but I didn’t move. The two boys were still staring at me as the train continued to wail.

  The ball of light from the train’s headlight grew bigger. The sounds of laughter and catcalling drifted toward me as the crowd yelled taunts and encouragements at the three of us on the tracks. A single voice seemed to echo in my ears, louder than the rest—though it couldn’t have been more than a whisper.

  Lainey.

  Grinding my teeth, I took a step forward. I forced my shoulders back and stood a little straighter.

  The train was still several hundred yards away, but I rose up on the balls of my feet, throwing my arms out wide. The beam of light from the train was warm on my face, the scream of the whistle deafening in my ears.

  A bit of air whooshed past me as one of the boys behind me jumped off the tracks with a yell. The other swore loudly. The voice in my head screamed at me to move, but the heady euphoria coursing through me held me in place.

  Just when the tang of metal hit my nose, I threw myself sideways and off the tracks, only a second or two before the train roared over the very spot on which I’d been standing.

  I landed in a soft patch of grass, rolling until I came to a stop on my back. My chest was heaving, but the weight I’d felt from the conversation with Gareth was lighter somehow. I let out a laugh.

  That is, until a large hand clamped down on my wrist, yanking me to my feet.

  I yelped and tried to pull my hand free when I came face-to-face with a familiar pair of blue eyes.

  “Ty?” I stared at him as he dropped my arm. His mouth was set in an angry line, and his shoulders were tense. “What the hell are you doing?”

  He cocked one eyebrow and glared at me. “What are you doing, Lainey? Standing in front of a train? How could you do something so stupid?” he spat, his eyes flashing.

  The adrenaline pumping through my system kicked up a notch as I processed his words. “It wasn’t stupid.” My cheeks flared, and heat seared through me.

  Ty threw his arm out, gesturing to the freighter that was still making its way across the crossroads. “Right, because standing in front of a moving train isn’t some sort of death wish.”

  “It’s not!”

  “Yeah, okay.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need you or anyone else telling me what I can and can’t do.”

  “I wasn’t trying to—”

  “You just don’t understand, okay?” I ran a hand through my tangled hair, trying to find the right words. But with the adrenaline rush slowly ebbing, I wasn’t exactly feeling confident about the motive behind my little daredevil stunt.

  I looked around; Josephine was nowhere to be seen. The rational part of my brain was resetting itself, and I stared at the train, only now understanding the danger I’d put myself in. What was I thinking?

  “Just tell me,” Ty said, with a sigh. “What were you thinking?” It was as if he had plucked the words right out of my head. I stared at him blankly for a moment. I tried to come up with an explanation.

  “I don’t know,” I finally answered, my voice soft. “I don’t know.”

  Ty’s face softened. He sighed heavily and took a step toward me. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  As the train continued to roar down the tracks and the shouts of strangers from the other side mixed together in a strange cacophony of sound around me, all I could think about was just how close I’d come to death. Bile began to rise in my throat, and my chest began to tighten.

  “It’s not okay. I could’ve died tonight.” My voice cracked on the last word. Ty took another step closer.

  “No, don’t,” I warned him, holding up my hand. My emotions were spiraling to the point of physical pain, but I forced myself to feel them.

  “I just wanted to feel the control,” I pleaded with him, needing him to understand. “I watched the others, and they seemed so confident, so in control. I wanted to feel that. I wanted to remember what it felt like to have my life in my own hands again, without all the lies and the secrets.” I thought of Josephine. “Without all the ghosts.”

  “Is that what you think is happening?” Ty asked gently. “You’re losing control?”

  “Well, aren’t I? The variables keep changing. Every time I come close to a conclusion, an answer, I have to adjust to a whole new set of parameters.” The words were pouring out of me. “How can I analyze the data and figure this out when there’s no constant?” My shoulders sagged. “I’ve always seen my life one way, and now it feels like a lie.”

  “That doesn’t mean your life isn’t your own.”

  “How can you possibly know that?” I whispered. “We’ve known each other for, what? Like, two minutes? And every time you’re around me, I’m falling apart because something crazy happened.” I snorted. “I just stood in front of a moving train. Sounds like a lost girl to me.”

  Ty hesitated, thinking. “I don’t know if I’d call it ‘lost.’”

  “Oh, yeah? What would you call it, then? Stupid? Reckless?”

  “Oh, it was definitely stupid.” Ty gave a crooked smile and crossed the distance between us, taking hold of one of my hands. “And reckless. But I also think it was kinda human.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Ty shrugged. “You’ve had a lot thrown at you. Anyone in your shoes would be freaking out.”

  I gave a tiny smile. It wasn’t at all the answer I’d been expecting from him. I cleared my throat. “You really think so?”

  “Yeah, I do.” He chuckled softly. “Did you know I think you’re the only girl I’ve met that talks in scientific metaphors when she’s upset?”

  I laughed. “Well, I guess I’m not like most girls.”

  “No,” Ty said, “you’re definitely not.”

  The smell of his cologne—warm with a hint of spic
e—hit my nostrils. We were standing closer than I thought. My heart began to beat faster.

  “So . . . um . . .” I said, shifting from one foot to the other. “How did you even know I was here?”

  “Maggie texted,” Ty replied. “She’s worried about you.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “Maggie texted you and told you where I was?”

  “Yeah, she told me what happened with your unc—er, with Gareth, and she said something about the Punisher, but I didn’t follow.”

  I raked my brain trying to remember all the useless facts Maggie was always pouring into my brain. “Oh, that’s the marine guy who became a vigilante in hopes of seeking revenge for his family’s death!”

  Ty looked confused. “Uh . . . not following you.”

  I burst into laughter. “She’s pissed I came here, and probably even more pissed that I hung up on her.”

  “Still not following you.”

  “I guess this is her revenge, calling you instead of coming to get me herself.”

  Ty let go of my hand; he looked unsure. “And me coming here, that’s a bad thing for you?”

  My cheeks warmed. Up close, I could see his eyes had flecks of gold in them. Ty was watching me carefully, but his eyes sparkled in the moonlight. My heart beat wildly.

  “No,” I whispered, taking a step closer. I stared up into his face. “No, not at all.”

  He lowered his head, our noses brushing. “Lainey . . . I . . .” The husky tenor of his voice sent a rush of adrenaline through me.

  With a boldness that was surprising even to me, I stepped up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Ty stiffened at first, but a moment later, his hands found the curve of my hips and pulled me closer.

  His lips were warm. I shivered as Ty reached up to cup one of my cheeks, his thumb tracing lines across my cheekbone. I tasted the spearmint gum on his breath, and I gripped the front of his shirt, pulling myself closer.

  It wasn’t a hurried kiss, but as Ty’s soft lips moved against mine, a fresh rush of adrenaline surged through me just the same. Like fire, it burned through my veins, warming my skin and speeding my heart. I was so acutely aware of the loud hammering of my own heartbeat that I barely registered the rumbling sound in my ears. It was only when the rain began to pelt us that the noise made sense.

  Ty pulled away first, looking around in surprise. Thick raindrops poured from the sky, but all I could focus on was the feel of Ty’s warm hand trailing what felt like fire down my arm. He smiled at me and leaned in once more, pressing his lips gently against mine. Standing on my tiptoes, I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, running my fingers into his hair as the rain fell around us.

  The kiss deepened. A strange sensation began to hum inside my chest. Warm wisps of energy danced across my skin, and a sense of magnetism enveloped me. The impression was so intense, I broke away from Ty with a gasp.

  “I’m sorry, I—” I began, but stopped. Ty was staring down at me, his blue irises tinged with a ring of golden light.

  “I knew it was you,” he said. His voice was low, almost a whisper.

  “Ty?” I took a step back. A gust of wind whipped my hair across my face, and a low peal of thunder rumbled across the sky. “What’s going on?”

  He stared at me for a moment. The golden light had faded from his eyes, returning them to their normal color. “Lainey, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  I’d seen that look before. On Serena’s face. And on Gareth’s.

  “Stop.” I held up my hand. My stomach rolled with nausea. “I know that look, and what you’re about to tell me is going to change everything again, isn’t it?”

  He didn’t have to reply. His face said it all.

  “God!” I cried. “I’m so sick of this. Every time I turn around, someone is lying to me or keeping some massive secret from me. I can’t trust anyone!” I rubbed my forehead where a pounding headache was building in my temple. “What is it this time, Ty? What’s your big secret? Tell me!” I spat out the words. A loud clap of thunder seemed to echo my anger.

  A thought struck me, and I glared at him. “You walked by Auntie Marmalade like you were invisible.” I swore under my breath. “When Serena said I was a witch, you didn’t even blink an eye. What happened in the graveyard—you weren’t surprised at all, were you?”

  I sucked down a quick breath, squeezing my hands into fists. “Of course you weren’t. Because you must have seen it all before.” Another loud clap of thunder responded to my words.

  Ty looked up at the sky and then back at me, a peculiar expression on his face. I’d seen that look cross his face before but could never identify it. Now it made sense. My heart sank.

  “You’re a part of this somehow. Aren’t you?” I took a step backward.

  Ty hesitated, but reached for me, his eyes full of guilt. “Lainey, I—”

  “Just answer the question.”

  “Yes.”

  That single word was a slap in my face. I recoiled, wrapping my arms around myself.

  Ty started to move toward me again, but stopped when he saw the look on my face. He plunged his hands into the pockets of his jeans instead. “You’re right. I wasn’t surprised. I know about Supernaturals . . . because I am one.” He shrugged, his face one of resignation. “I’m a Praetorian.”

  I stared at him.

  “It means guardian,” he continued. “It’s what we do, what I do—protect other Supernaturals.”

  “Like a bodyguard or something?” I asked through clenched teeth.

  “Yes.” Ty moved closer to me. “We’re like . . . marines, or the army, or something, but we’re faster and stronger. We train our whole lives to be the best at what we do. Weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, tracking.” He ticked the items off on his fingers. “We do it all.”

  “Right . . . and what? You just go around protecting and saving random people?”

  “Well, no. It’s a little more complicated than that. We’re drawn to the people we’re meant to safeguard, and they to us—like magnets. It’s . . . the Calling. I wish I could explain it more than that, but it’s just a feeling we get. The instinct to travel in a particular direction, to be in a certain place at a certain time, to speak to someone we’ve never met.”

  “And the whole glowing eyes thing?”

  Ty’s flush deepened, and the look in his eyes intensified. “I knew it was you from the moment I saw you. And in the gym, when I touched you . . . I’ve never felt so drawn to anyone in my life.”

  I swallowed, remembering the spark of electricity. “So, I’m your . . . your Calling, then?”

  “Yes.”

  I didn’t know what to say. The rain began to pick up, coming down in solid sheets.

  “The street fights?” I asked, eyeing the almost faded bruise on his cheek. “They’re not just for fun, are they?”

  “I have to stay sharp, strong.” Ty shrugged. “It’s easier to practice with an opponent.”

  “Serena knew, didn’t she? When she spoke to you at the shop?”

  “She could See what I was,” Ty confirmed. “Apparently Praetorians have a different color aura then everyone else.” He cracked a smile. “She threatened to flay me alive if I hurt you.”

  I didn’t laugh. “What am I supposed to do with all of this?” I asked. “I barely know you, but you’re supposed to be some kind of protector magically assigned to me? Sorry, but I’m not a ’knight on a white horse’ kind of girl.”

  “I never thought you were,” Ty said, his brow furrowed. “And it’s not like that. Being my Calling doesn’t mean I fight your battles for you. It means I stand beside you.”

  “I don’t even know who you are,” I whispered. “And yet, when I’m with you, things seem clearer . . . Is that really how I feel, or just some magic trick?” My lo
wer jaw started to tremble, and I bit down hard on my lip. I would not cry.

  “Lainey, I—”

  “No, don’t say anything else. Pretty sure I’m at my limit of magical confessions for the day.” Brilliant streaks of lightning flashed across the sky. Breathe. Just Breathe.

  Kissing Ty had been an impulse, a rash action with very little thought behind it, much like standing in front of the train. Remembering his guarded expression from the boxing studio, I’d half expected him to push me away, but instead he had wrapped me securely in his arms and kissed me back.

  I flushed at the thought of his fingertips pressing into the small of my back, his warm breath on my skin. In spite of the fact that my life was a hot mess and I knew nearly nothing about him, kissing Ty had felt so incredibly right.

  Now with the declaration of who he truly was hanging in the air, the kiss itself felt like a lie.

  Everything is so screwed up right now.

  The small semblance of acceptance I’d gained in the graveyard earlier that morning had evaporated after the conversation with Gareth; the pangs of hurt, anger, and betrayal stirred up by the whole situation refused to be ignored. I already felt like I was at my emotional capacity—but then I’d kissed Ty, and I’d been woefully unprepared for it.

  It wasn’t just the physicality of the kiss; it was the warmth that radiated from Ty himself, a sense of certainty and purpose. The notion that even if everything in the world was wrong, this was right. He was right. But now, everything felt even more jumbled and confused.

  “What do I do?” I whispered.

  Another loud crack of thunder jolted me back to reality. This time it was so loud, the ground rumbled beneath my feet.

  The wind picked up, and the rain fell even harder. Nearly everyone from the party had already made a mad dash for the row of parked cars, and the only remnant of the gathering was the smoke from the dying bonfire.