“Hey.” An elbow jabs my side. “You okay?”
I ogle Oz from the corner of my eye. The guy looks so broken, you’d think he’d been beaten up by the Hulk. Yet, he still cares about others. About me. “I am.” It’s not a complete lie; compared to Oz, I’m fabulous. “Are you?”
He looks at his palms. Whatever he sees there makes him turn up his nose in utter disgust. “Can I ask you something?”
The hair on the back of my neck rises. I’m not sure I’m up for what’s next, but I owe him. “Sure.”
“That guy you—” Oz won’t look at me. “When you lost your title because—”
“I beat a guy into a wheelchair?” I offer, owning my shame and mistakes like a man.
Oz nods. “Did you…?” He swallows, finally meeting my eyes. “Does the guilt ever go away?” It’s in that moment I understand what’s weighing on him. Oz killed a man. Surely in self-defense, but murder tarnishes every good man’s soul.
What I have to say will only make him feel crappier. Lying, however, isn’t an option. “Never.”
His shoulders droop. “That’s what I thought.”
I wish I could give him hope, but all I can offer is understanding. “Unlike me, you didn’t end a man’s life out of revenge and blind wrath. What I did….” Why can’t I get enough oxygen in my damn lungs? “I could have called the cops, got the bastard arrested, and been done with him. I should have put my energy in my sister, rather than that piece of trash. But I let anger get the best of me. You”—I pat his back—“did what you did to protect a friend.”
“Thanks, Blaze.” He stops dead in his tracks. “I know I’ve been hard on you, but—”
“Please.” I wave off his comment. “No chick-flick moment, okay?”
A small, almost invisible smile lifts the edges of his lips. “Fine by me.”
“Uh, Blaze?” Shaggy tugs at my jacket, eyes wide.
“Huh?”
He tilts his head at a five-foot-two woman with long brown hair and an apron tied around her waist that reads: My Kitchen. My Rules. Deal With It. “That your mom?”
My heart flutters with joy at the sight of the woman who cheered for me at every fight, offered me sweets at every loss, and never ceased to surprise me with funky kitchen dances and obnoxiously weird cuss words. “What gave her away?” I grin.
“Apart from the killer look?”
“Shaggy,” I say calmly. “Are you scared of my mum?”
He looks at her, then back to me. “Petrified, actually.”
Don’t blame him. My mom, small and fragile as she is, can put the fear of god in you with a simple hand gesture. Between her and Dad, she’s always been the tougher cookie. Killer looks aside, she’s as sweet and loving as mothers come.
“Don’t worry,” I whisper. “I promise she won’t eat you.”
“Says you,” Shaggy murmurs as I head right over to her.
“You are lucky, boy.” Mum puts her hands on her hips. “A few more minutes, and I would have come to get you.”
I throw my arms around her, hugging her so tight, I wonder how she still breathes. “I missed you.”
“Me too,” she says, rubbing the back of my neck like she used to when I was five and sick with the flu. She pulls back, checking out my friends. “Get those boys inside the house. They look like they haven’t eaten or showered in weeks.”
“Days,” I correct her.
She cocks a brow. “Don’t get smart with me, Blaze.”
“I’d never, Mum.”
“Liar.”
“You still love me, don’t you?”
“Come on, now. Your father is watching my scrambled eggs, and in a second they’ll end up in the bin, burned to charcoal.”
Yeah, Dad inside a kitchen is a disaster waiting to happen. “Right behind you,” I assure her.
Dad is lounging at the kitchen table, his dark complexion—the same one I inherited—unnaturally pale. “You should have called us,” he says over and over, as if his words could change the past. “If it wasn’t for Kathy, we would still be in the dark.”
I hold on to the steaming coffee mug, averting my eyes. Guilt is a real bitch, chewing at you like a damn pitbull. Still, I did the right thing, or so I tell myself. “There was nothing you could have done.” Why put them through another spell of worrying about one of their kids? They had a lifetime’s worth of sorrow when Jade disappeared and resurfaced with two holes in her neck.
Dad’s almost-black eyes narrow at me. “This isn’t your decision to make, Blaze. We”—he points at Mom, who’s been awfully quiet since she served us breakfast—“are your parents. We deserve to know when our son gets attacked by supernatural terrorists.” Thanks to Kathy, we don’t have to retell the whole ordeal. She shared every little detail with them, and they believed it without a doubt. No surprise there.
“I… I’m sorry, okay?”
“You better be,” Mom says, hopping off the barstool. “Let’s move on to more important things.”
Shaggy and Scooby, who are devouring Mom’s eggs and plenty of toast, look up. Even Oz, who’s been flirting with his coffee, is giving her his full attention.
“Your mum is right,” Dad says. “How can we help you?”
We take turns sharing our obelisk dilemma. They listen patiently, not interrupting once. After we finish, she says, “You think the book is hidden in the obelisk, but you have no idea where?”
“Yes,” I admit, no hesitation.
My parents share a knowing look. “We know someone who can help you,” Mom says.
Oz perks up. “Who?”
“Mum,” I warn. “She’s not up for this.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that, Brother?” Jade’s sweet voice sends my heart into overdrive. I’ve missed that girl so much, hearing her takes my breath away.
The boys turn and ogle her with dropped jaws.
Yes, she’s stunning. No, she’s not going to date anytime soon. I will strangle anyone who tries.
Jade approaches us, her hip-long black hair framing a petite figure. Her cheeks are the same pretty pink as always, but unlike the old Jade, she wears no makeup. Just that stupid black scarf, hiding the scars.
“Hi.” Shaggy is on his feet, extending his hand. “I’m Shaggy.”
She shakes his hand. “Jade”—she points at me—“Grumpy Cat’s sister.”
Oz and Scooby follow Shaggy’s example, introducing themselves when I should be doing the honors.
Once all pleasantries are exchanged, and while Shaggy stares her up and down like she’s the manifestation of all his dreams, I step forward.
She jumps me in a heartbeat. “I missed you.”
I tighten my grip around her. “I missed you more.”
We hold on to each other for what feels like forever. I’d never let go, but Jade eventually pulls back. “I think we have a book to find.” She smirks, her old, cheerful self resurfacing. “And a girlfriend to rescue?” No matter how bad life messed with her, she still loves to tease me about my love life.
I’m determined to keep her out of this. “You—”
“I’ve made up my mind.” She crosses her arms. “Do you really think you can talk me out of helping?”
Jade is our mother’s daughter. God himself couldn’t change her mind, and I’m not dumb enough to try. “Fine. But we have to wait till it’s dark.”
She smiles like she used to, before that bastard killed a piece of her soul. “Then we’ve got enough time for you to tell me all about the girl who managed to steal my I-don’t-do-relationships brother’s heart, don’t we?”
Shaggy says, “Sounds like a plan.”
I don’t appreciate the way he looks at my sister. Don’t appreciate it at all.
Chapter 30
Blaze
A chilly wind sweeps through the dormant city. The silvery light of a half-moon almost completely obscured by heavy snow clouds fights to penetrate the darkness along our path. We waited for the witching hour to ret
urn to the obelisk.
Now that we’re moving through this secluded area, with Jade by my side, I question the sensibility of this plan. The news has been full of knife attacks lately, and putting my sister at risk is the last thing I want.
“I’m happy for you,” she whispers, banishing all thoughts of knives and murder.
“Why?” Bitter laughter crawls up my throat. “Because I managed to lose the only girl I ever pictured having a relationship with to some creepy Underworld god?”
She nudges me. “Don’t be silly.” Her attention turns to the boys, marching ahead. “I’m happy you aren’t alone, that you found friends. When Mum and Dad sent you across the pond, I was worried you might lose your way. I hated myself for putting you through all this. For destroying your career and making you leave the people you loved most.”
How dare she blame herself. “I was the one who fucked up.” Our eyes lock. “None of this is your fault.”
Her smile is sad. “Don’t do that, Blaze.”
“Do what?” I ask, clueless.
She halts and puts a hand on my arm. “You’re my big brother, and I love you, but I need you to let me own my mistakes.”
A quiet moment passes. “You warned me not to go on that date, told me you had a bad feeling about it. I didn’t listen. I was so obsessed with finding love, I ignored the tingling on the back of my neck, the advice of my big brother. And then….” She shakes her head. “Then I fucked up your career.” Tears roll down her cheeks. “For a long time, I thought I fucked up your life, too. Pictured you at Kathy’s all alone, cursing my existence.”
She could have stuck a knife in my chest, and it would have hurt less. I take her hands in mine, forcing her to face me. “I’m your brother. I love you so much more than I ever loved fighting, and if I had to do it all over again, I would. I’m sorry the guy will never walk again. Truly, I am. But anyone who hurts you will suffer the same fate. You hear me?”
Jade hugs me so suddenly, I stumble back in surprise. “I really did miss you.”
“I missed you, too, little sister.”
Her silent tears wet my sweater. “I’m sorry.”
“Hey.” I look at her. “As messed up as all of this was, I’m not sorry Mum and Dad sent me away.”
“You’re not?”
“No. Remember what Grandma always said: everything happens for a reason?” She nods. “I think she was right. I was meant to go to Shepherdstown, to meet Nisha and her friends. And for the record, I don’t have any regrets except—”
“Blaze?” She cups my chin. “What happened to these girls wasn’t your fault.”
Then why do I feel so damn guilty?
“From what I’ve heard,” she continues, “your girlfriend made the decision to follow her cousin, like I chose to go on that stupid date. No matter how much you hate it, you’ve got to learn you can’t protect people from themselves.”
She looks like my sister, sounds like my sister, but her words are so unlike the girl I almost tied up in her room to keep her from meeting a wannabe vampire. “When did you become so wise?”
“Sometime between bleeding out on a bed and watching my family suffer the consequences of my actions.”
I want to hug her again, assure her she’s loved and safe, but Oz says, “Guys!” He waves us over. “Hurry up. We don’t have all night.”
“Come on,” Jade says. “Let me help you help your girlfriend.”
Girlfriend… I love the sound of that. But is she? My girlfriend, I mean. We kissed and I told her how I feel about her, yet we never put a label on it. Mostly because we got attacked by a bunch of psychos and walked into a trap.
There’s another obstacle, too. He’s handsome, evil, and the King of the damn Underworld. For some reason, I can’t shake the feeling he’s still in love with her. But is she in love with him?
“Interesting,” Jade says.
Shaggy is beside my sister, circling the obelisk. “What’s interesting?”
We all wait for her answer, but she ignores us. She touches the stone, eyes closed.
I’m beside her. “What do you feel?” Jesus, I never thought I’d hear myself ask that question. At least, not in relation to her alleged abilities. Desperate times… yada, yada, yada.
She is aloof. She’s been like that every time someone from the tribe came to her for a reading. Back then, before I believed in any of this supernatural stuff, I thought she was putting on a show. My sister loves the spotlight. Now, I wonder if there’s more to it than pure entertainment.
Oz doesn’t take his eyes off her. “What is she doing?”
“Reading the obelisk’s energy,” she says. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt.”
“What does that mean?” Oz and I ask at the same time.
She opens her eyes, retreating from the ancient relic. “Usually, I see energy in color and clear as day. Think of it as a rainbow. Every person, every object, radiates a different color, depending on their mood and circumstances. I tap into that color and it shows me images of things that led or will lead to this emotional state.”
“Okay.” Shaggy appears confused. “What’s different about this one?” He stares at the tall, lean giant.
She points at the engraved stone. “It has way too many colors. They blur, like an abstract painting, making it impossible for me to focus on the images rushing past my inner eye.”
“So you can’t help us?” Oz’s bitterness is loud and clear.
Jade smiles. “I didn’t say that.”
“Then what are you saying?” I ask.
She blows out a long breath. “I couldn’t hold on to the images, but one was clearer than all the others.” Jade’s gaze moves from Oz to me. “I saw the two of you, a burning bird, and blood.”
“Come again?” Scooby sounds as befuddled as I feel.
“No idea what it means, but—”
“I thought I made myself clear,” a familiar voice booms. “The obelisk isn’t to be touched.”
It’s the constable from this morning. He moves toward us, expression hard and cold. We can’t go to jail, not with Nisha and Izzy trapped in the Underworld. But before I can come up with reasons why we’re here, I catch a glimpse of metal, illuminated by the faint moonlight.
He has a gun.
Impossible. Police in England don’t carry, so why does he have a gun? And why is the same constable lingering around the obelisk when his shift should long be over?
He’s one of them, a loud voice yells in the back of my head.
The puzzle pieces click together, and I immediately step between my sister and the possible threat, shielding her. “Are you really police?” I ask, getting weird looks from the boys.
The constable snickers. “Of course I am.”
My hands are balled into fists. “How long have you been working for Seth?”
The constable arches a brow. “You’re smarter than you look, Medjay.”
“Shit,” Shaggy hisses, realizing we’re in much more trouble than he thought.
The constable draws his gun, aiming it at me. “I need you boys to step away from the obelisk.”
“Or what?” Oz says, a crazy look in his eyes.
His finger moves to the trigger. “Or I will have to use excessive force, and we wouldn’t want that pretty young lady”—he eyes Jade—“to get hurt, would we?”
“Blaze,” Jade whispers in my ear. “He’s not going to hurt you. He can’t.”
I want to ask her what the hell she’s talking about. Seth’s followers aren’t known for showing mercy. They slaughtered half a town without blinking and shot at us, no questions asked. But my gut urges me to trust my sister, to put my faith in her like my parents always told me to. I step toward the constable. “Go on, then.” I lift my hands, exposing my chest. “Shoot me.”
“What the hell, Blaze?” Scooby barks.
I inch even closer. “Aren’t you going to shoot me?”
The constable narrows his eyes, finger trembling against the
trigger. “Stop!” he warns again. “Not another step.”
Now I see it too. He isn’t going to shoot, or he would have pulled that trigger already. “You can’t kill me, can you? Why not?”
No reply. Just a lot of gaping.
I take another step. “Stop,” he yells again, aiming the gun at Jade. “I might not be allowed to kill you, but I will shoot her. Go on. Ask the little witch if I’m lying.”
One look at Jade’s petrified expression, and I know he’s not. He won’t shoot me, but he has no problem killing my sister. “What do you want?”
“We can’t let you have The Book of the Dead,” he says sharply. “Not when we’re so close to bringing our lord back.” He pulls a knife out of his jacket and tosses it my way. “If you care about your sister, you’ll give us the book and forget about the Princess.”
“One”—I close the distance—“I don’t have the book.”
He laughs sadistically. “You’ve really lost your touch, mighty Medjay.” The constable eyes the obelisk. “Can’t even see what’s right in front of you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Oz yells.
“The hieroglyphs,” he says. “I assume none of you can read them?” Gun still pointed at Jade, he moves toward the inscriptions. “Secrets, hidden by the gods, released only by the life force of descendants enthralled.”
“English please?” Shaggy demands.
The constable tosses a knife at my feet. “Slice your palm.”
“No.”
His finger is on the trigger. “Do it.”
Shit. I knew it was a bad idea to get Jade involved. “Fine.” I slice my palm. Blood drips down. The crimson streams toward the obelisk.
“Now you,” he orders, pointing at Oz.
Oz shakes his head. “Go to hell.”
The constable closes the gap between him and Jade, pushing the muzzle against her forehead. “Slice your palm, or I will shoot her.”
Oz still hesitates, but when he looks at Jade and sees the terror in her eyes, he takes the knife from me and cuts his hand. His blood, like mine, moves toward the obelisk. The crimson mixes at the feet of the relic. A fraction of a second later, my chest burns.
Book of the Dead (Gods of Egypt 2) Page 17
