He pushed himself to sitting. “Shit.”
“We need to get a hold of it, Riley. This thing is connected to the murders. I don’t know how, but I’m sure there’s a link. We need to find out what it is.”
I’d expected him to put up a fight, but he swung his legs out of bed and started to pull on his jeans.
“What are you doing?” I whispered.
“If you think I’m tackling some weird fog creature while I’m half-naked, you can think again.”
He had a point. Come to think of it, I wasn’t wearing much myself. Yanking on my sweatpants and a t-shirt, I went to the window. As I’d suspected, white fog pressed like a blanket against the pane. I pressed my palm to the glass, half expecting a black, claw-fingered hand to appear out of the fog and push back against me from the other side, but I felt only cool glass.
I listened again, my ears straining.
Click … click-click …
The thing was out there. I just needed to find it.
I turned back to Riley. “You need to clear the fog where I can hear it—try to force it into the open.”
Together, we made our way to the front door. Riley had floodlights attached to the outside of his trailer, and he flicked the switch on the right hand side of the door to turn them on. The yellow light bounced back at us from the fog, doing little to help us see.
“It’ll help when I clear the fog,” said Riley, as though reading my thoughts.
I nodded. My mouth had run dry and I trembled at the idea of coming face to face with the creature I’d only ever caught glimpses of before. But I had to know what I was dealing with.
I reached out and pushed open the door. I stepped out onto the steps of the trailer, Riley close behind me. He took my hand and I turned to face him. Already the fog engulfed us, making his dark features cloudy.
“Be careful, baby,” he said, and leaned down to kiss me full on the mouth.
“You too.”
“Where did you hear it last?”
I pointed to my left. “Over there.”
He took the stance—head lowered, hands out held.
I held my breath, my gaze frantically searching the direction in which I’d last heard the thing. Riley’s ability began to work, starting closest to him, but spreading out into the area to the left of the trailer. Lit by the trailer’s lights, gravel and blades of grass were revealed—
A movement! Something darted out of the cleared area and back into the cover of the fog.
“Over there!” I cried to Riley, pointing in the direction I’d seen it go.
Riley swept his arm farther left, and I caught sight of something in the fog, only this time its shape had changed. It wasn’t a tall, elongated creature with black skin and spindly limbs I saw, but the regular shape of a man. He ran from the cleared area back into the mist, but not quickly enough for me not to recognize the short, dark hair, and the build of John Spencer.
I blinked, my mouth dropping open. I must be seeing things.
“What is it, Icy?” Riley hissed at me.
“I … I don’t know.”
Surely John Spencer wasn’t responsible for the weird clicking sounds I’d been hearing? No, he couldn’t be. I’d seen the thing, and it didn’t look anything like a man. Were the thing and John in cahoots?
“Icy!” Riley’s voice snapped me back into the moment. “Where now?”
I pointed in the direction I’d seen John run. “There!”
He swept his arm again, and the fog cleared in a billowing cloud, like smoke gusting from a chimney. Only this time, instead of revealing a man or a monster, it was a girl with light brown hair and glasses.
I stumbled back, clutching at Riley for support. “Did you see that? Did you see it?”
“What? I only saw the fog.”
This wasn’t possible. The fog couldn’t be haunted by all the people in my life. It was as if they were dead, their souls wandering lost in the fog. My eyes pricked with tears of fear. I didn’t understand. I couldn’t process what I had seen. I couldn’t think.
I didn’t believe for one second that either John Spencer or Laurel was wandering around outside of the trailer with that thing.
I only wanted to hide. Lock the doors and hide from the fog, and the dark, and all the things hidden within it. We didn’t know enough to deal with this threat. I felt like I was chasing ghosts.
Taking a couple of steps back up the trailer stairs, I pushed Riley backward with me, moving us both back into the trailer. Quickly, I shut and locked the door, and then ran around and pulled all the drapes and shutters, blocking out the inside of the trailer from the creature—or creatures—that surrounded us, hidden in the fog.
Riley turned to me, his blue eyes wide. “Now what?”
“We wait until daylight, then we try to figure out what the thing out there really is.”
Chapter
19
Tires crunching, and the thrum of an engine, came from outside, waking me. I’d been amazed that I’d managed to sleep, but numerous nights of broken sleep had obviously caught up with me.
I sat up in bed, muscles tensed. Would it be the police coming to talk to me again? Or had someone seen Riley’s bike the previous night and the cops had finally caught up with him?
Not wanting to be seen in the t-shirt and panties I currently wore, I pulled on my jeans from the pile I’d left on the floor, and slipped my feet into my sneakers. I didn’t want to wake Riley until I knew who was here.
I hurried to the window and peered out. The car out front belonged to Laurel. I saw the car door crack open, and so hurried to the door of the trailer, letting myself out before she got the chance to knock.
I studied her, trying to make sure she was who she made out to be. She looked exactly the same as she always did, but I held myself back, the memory of last night’s events still fresh in my mind, together with the weird conversation I’d had with her the previous day at school.
“You’re here early,” I said.
Her expression was strained, but hopeful. “It’s Kayla. She’s awake.”
My heart lifted momentarily, before dropping again. Laurel still didn’t seem to know about Brooke. She would find out the conventional way soon enough, but I felt horrible not telling her what I knew.
I forced a smile. “That’s great. How is she?”
“Not talking. The cops want us to stop by and see her. They’re hoping a friendly face or two might help her speak.”
I nodded. “Okay. Are you heading to the hospital now?”
“Yeah. I’ll give you a ride.”
A male voice with a Gaelic lilt came from the trailer doorway. “Hello, Laurel.”
Riley had pulled on his jeans, but nothing else. He now stood, bare-chested and bare-footed, his dark hair wild and mussed from sleep, one arm placed against the door frame of the trailer. I caught Laurel staring, and she glanced away, her cheeks flushing. I didn’t blame her. I felt like staring too.
“Hi, Riley,” she muttered.
I gave him a smile. “I need to get to the hospital. Kayla has woken up, but she’s not said anything. The doctors and police want to see if she’ll talk to us.”
He nodded. “You need me to come?”
“Nah. Best if you stay clear.”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “I never did like the cops.”
I turned to Laurel. “Give me two minutes, all right?”
“Of course.”
I hurried back into the trailer, brushing past a half-naked Riley as I did so, to use the bathroom, brush my teeth, and rake my fingers through my hair. He caught my arm as I raced back out the door, and kissed me hard. “If you need me, call.”
“I will. I promise.”
He kissed me again and then let me go.
Laurel and I drove to the hospital, Laurel talking about Melissa’s death as she drove, wondering if Kayla could shed some light on the killer—assuming we could get her to talk. I listened only half-heartedly, weighed down
by the knowledge that Brooke was also dead, and I’d also dreamed who’d been responsible. But I no longer trusted either my dreams or my own eyes.
Laurel parked the car and we headed into the hospital foyer, and then took the elevator up to Kayla’s floor. A cop in uniform sat on a plastic chair outside of her room, reading a newspaper. He glanced up as we approached.
My friend gave him a smile and said, “Detective Rockmore asked us to come and see Kayla. He said she’s awake. We’re the ones who found her.”
He nodded and reluctantly got to his feet, putting the paper beneath his seat. “That’s right. She’s sleeping right now, but I’ll take you in.”
With some trepidation, we entered the room. I wished we’d stopped to pick up flowers or grapes, or something, but considering everything else, it wasn’t a big deal. Kayla lay with her eyes closed, her coffee colored skin paler than normal. Again, I was struck by how young she looked. I thought of us all as adults, but when I saw someone looking as fragile as Kayla did now, it made me think we were all still kids just playing at being grown-ups.
We stopped at the side of the bed and Laurel reached down and took Kayla’s limp hand.
“Hey, Kayla,” she said softly. “It’s Laurel and Beth. We’ve come to see how you are.”
Kayla stirred, her head moving from one side to the other. She gave a groan and Laurel shot me a worried glance. “Shouldn’t we have a nurse here or something?”
I shrugged. I didn’t know how these things worked, but I figured if she was strong enough to have visitors, the medical staff wouldn’t be watching her twenty-four-seven.
Her eyes flickered open and she gazed around at us. She didn’t seem to recognize exactly where she was or who was standing at her bedside at first, but then she glanced down at the hand Laurel held, and back up at her friend.
“Laurel?”
Laurel gave her a reassuring smile and squeezed her hand tighter. “That’s right, sweetie. I’m here, and Beth is, too.”
Instantly her expression changed. Her eyes whipped to me and widened in fright. She let go of Laurel’s hand to grab the bedcovers and pull them to her chest as she pushed herself back on the bed, as far away from me as possible.
“No! Get her out! Get her out!”
Laurel frowned, as confused as I was. “Hey, calm down. It’s only Beth. We came to visit you.”
She lifted a hand a pointed at me. “It was you! You made me go to the forest. You did it!”
My mouth dropped open.
The policeman, who’d been outside, burst through the door. “What’s going on in here?”
“Nothing,” said Laurel. “Kayla is just a little confused.”
Kayla turned away from me, holding the sheets tight and sobbing into the material. I didn’t know what I had done, but my presence in the room clearly disturbed her.
The cop turned to us both. “I think you’d better leave.”
I lifted a hand. “No, I’ll go. It’s me who is upsetting her. Laurel, you stay. Make sure she’s all right. I’ll wait by the car until you’re done.”
Laurel glanced between me and Kayla, obviously torn, but then nodded. “I’ll be out as soon as she’s calm again.”
I left the room, my heart pounding. Kayla’s words echoed in my head. It was you. You did it! What was she talking about? Surely she didn’t believe that I’d hurt her. The thoughts whizzing around my head made my brain hurt. I raced from the hospital and made it back to Laurel’s car. I wished I’d thought to get the keys from her, as the doors were locked, and so I could do nothing more than lean against the vehicle and hope Laurel wouldn’t be too long.
Luckily for me, within fifteen minutes I saw her hurrying toward me, her eyes worried behind her glasses. She pushed them up her nose.
“Well?” I asked.
“She’s asleep again. She got herself too worked up and it took all her strength out of her.”
“But what else did she say? Does she really think I hurt her?”
Laurel pressed her lips together and wouldn’t meet my eye. “She says you were the one who came to her room in the middle of the night. She believes you lured her into the forest, claiming the circle was meeting.”
My eyes widened. “But I didn’t!”
Laurel shrugged. “I’m just telling you what she said.”
“Do you believe her?”
“Of course not.”
But I wasn’t totally sure. Doubt had been in her tone, and from the way she couldn’t look me straight on, I figured Laurel had her suspicions.
I reached out and took her hand, and she flinched. “Why would I do such a thing?” I said, gently. “Why would I set something up where my friends would get hurt?”
She looked at me directly. “I don’t know, Beth. Maybe because you’re a fucking vampire.” And she pulled her hand from mine.
Standing stock still, my heart pounded, my eyes prickled with tears. I wanted to tell myself I’d misheard, or that I was dreaming again, but I knew I wasn’t.
I didn’t even bother asking for a ride. In shock, I walked away from the car, allowing Laurel to climb behind the wheel.
She called out, “Beth?” a weary tone behind her voice, but I ignored her and kept walking. Had Kayla told the police what she believed she’d seen? I guessed not, or I would have found myself wearing steel bracelets by now.
I needed answers. There was only one place I could think to go, and that was to speak with Dr. Spencer.
My walk became faster, until I broke into a trot, and finally a full-out run. I gasped through my tears, struggling to run, cry, and breathe all at the same time. I hadn’t done what I’d been accused of … Had I? I wanted to think not, but perhaps what I’d believed I’d dreamed had actually been memories. I was capable of killing; I’d committed the act before. Was it possible that I’d killed my friends and projected their murders onto others?
My flight through the streets earned me some worried and curious glances, but I didn’t stop, even when an elderly lady called after me, asking if I was all right. Perhaps I was crazy to be running back to the man who had stabbed me in the hand, but I figured I was no less crazy than anything else happening around me.
I reached campus, but didn’t slow. I assumed Dr. Spencer would be in his office already, preparing notes for lectures or perhaps marking papers.
I burst through the main doors and ran down the corridor, my sneakers squeaking on the floor. Even though the hour was still fairly early, people rushed around, preparing for the elections in the Great Hall. Each candidate had set up a stand with voting booths, and refreshments were being served, with a band playing later. It was a full on event, and a sense of celebration and excitement filled the air.
Dr. Spencer turned in surprise as I slammed into the room. “Elizabeth? You’re back.”
“Do you want to explain to me why I saw you stalking around my boyfriend’s trailer last night?”
His surprise morphed to shock, his mouth dropping open, his eyebrows shooting up his forehead. “I’m sorry?”
“You heard me! I saw you last night at the trailer, and I’m sure you’re involved in these murders somehow, so I suggest you talk to me before I go and talk to the police.”
His eyes narrowed at me. “I never went near your boyfriend’s trailer.” His voice dropped, cool, as he asked. “How’s the hand, Elizabeth?”
My lip curled in a snarl. I wasn’t frightened of him. Red descended over my vision and my hearing grew sharper. The thu-thump thu-thump of his heartbeat grew louder in my ears and my gaze honed in on the purple river of arteries running just beneath the surface of his neck. If he tried anything, I would kill him. I had no doubts in my ability to do so. In fact, the way I was feeling right now, I felt like killing him anyway.
“My hand is fine,” I snapped. “But I’m guessing you knew that anyway.”
His mouth twisted in contemplation. “So, what are you to be able to heal so well? It’s been all I’ve been able to think about for the las
t couple of days. You’re wandering around like a regular girl, which rules out a few options, so I’m going to go with werewolf or perhaps a witch with an exceptional ability to cast healing spells.”
Nervous laughter burst from my mouth. “Werewolf! I didn’t think they even existed.”
“Some variations of the old legend still do, though they’re rare. So that leaves witch?”
“I’m far more dangerous than a witch. You should remember that. I think the question is, how do you know about these things, and why do you believe?”
He shook his head. “No way. You show me yours, and I’ll show you mine.”
“Isn’t that a little inappropriate for student-teacher relations?”
“I’m getting the feeling our relationship is going to a whole new level.”
I stared at him, fuming. I desperately wanted to know what his story was, and why he was aware of the existence of the paranormal around us, but I didn’t want to show my hand. But what choice did I have? I needed answers and he seemed to be the only person around able to give any to me.
“Fine,” I huffed. “My father is a vampire, my mother is human, which is why I’m able to heal, but also walk around in the light.”
His eyes widened, his tone taking on a hint of wonder. “You’re a dhampyre?”
“Yup. Lucky me.”
“Do you have any idea how rare your kind is?”
“Actually, yes, I do.” When I’d been growing up, I’d longed to find someone who was the same as me. I’d dreamed of finding a soul mate, someone who understood the gnawing hunger I fought with my whole life, but so far, I’d remained one of a kind.
I wasn’t going to let him off so easily. “Now your turn. Tell me how you know about us?”
“I’m nephilim, also an overseer.”
I screwed up my forehead. “A what?” The word rang a bell, but it wasn’t something I’d ever come across before.
“I’m a half-breed, like you. Only my paranormal half was angelic.”
I snorted laughter through my nose. “Half angel versus half demon. Brilliant.”
Twisted Magic (The Dhampyre Chronicles Book 2) Page 15
