13 Ways to Midnight (The Midnight Saga)

by Rue Volley

  My eyebrow rose. “You like me and I like you, but I think it’s different for both of us.”

  “Echo. I like you, I do, but I didn’t ask you to marry me. I asked you out on a date; that was it. I thought it would be fun.”

  I nodded. “Oh, I know that.” I started walking, hoping I hadn’t taken him all wrong. Maybe I was making it out to be a lot more than it was. Then I looked over and could see his expression. He was sad, and it made me feel even worse. I stopped and touched his hand.

  “Friends, right?”

  He half grinned. “Of course, always.”

  Mattie yelled back to us. “Keep up!”

  We both abandoned the moment and half jogged to catch up with her. She was standing there with her hand on her hip.

  “What?” I asked.

  She turned her back toward us as she stood on the top of the incline. We both made our way to her, and I stepped up to her left side while Daniel stepped up to her right. We looked down and in the distance. There we could see it. The light from a large fire. Mattie slid her phone into her pocket and took my hand. She shook it.

  “Here we go.” She said with excitement in her voice. I glanced at Daniel, and he was staring at me, but quickly looked away. “Let’s do this.” He said, and all three of us started to move down the hill, carefully placing our feet sideways so we wouldn’t fall. I was so glad to be wearing boots. Anything else without a grip and I’d be flipping head over heels down the hill and arriving at this party in grand Echo Navarri style.

  Graceless as usual.

  17

  The wood was piled high in the clearing. Large tree trunks were gathered together, standing upright and leaning inward, forming a teepee. The flames shot up above it, carrying sparks that floated toward the open sky. I tilted my head, and there I spotted them, stars. What the day refused to offer, the night seemed to produce in abundance. A clear sky which shocked me. I hadn’t seen one since I arrived here, and to be honest, I didn’t expect to ever see one again. A few more days and I was going to beg Mattie to take me to visit Crow’s Landing just to find the sun again before I forgot what it felt like.

  But here among the sweet scent of pine, I gladly closed my eyes and let the stars shine down on me, taking in what little light they offered on my behalf. They say that most of the stars could now be extinguished and we wouldn’t even know it because the traveling light in the universe masks their demise. People may be like this too, and with that thought, I looked around and found the brightest star that I could. The only real sun here in Port Royal, for me anyway, that of Thorn Vega.

  He was standing next to the massive fire and staring me down. His fists were clenched at his side. I could see Tailor whispering to him, and he waved her off. She stepped away from him and crossed her arms over her chest. She didn’t look happy, and I enjoyed the thought of her being told to shut up. It wasn’t that we had had many words between us, but what few there had been, were wrought with this unpleasant fake feeling, one that sank deep inside of me and waited there to meet up with the reality of who she was.

  I didn’t trust her at all, but Bri, well, she didn’t seem so bad. I had a feeling that she was a victim of circumstance, maybe stuck in place without a clear path to freedom. I could relate to that. I had always felt stuck in place. As I said before, my parents and Midnight were the adventurous ones; I wasn’t.

  Regardless of the strange things that had happened in Port Royal since I arrived, it still felt more stable than traveling with my parents into foreign lands, seeking out civilizations of the past and people long since dead and buried.

  I felt something cold tap the side of my arm, and I looked down to see a flask in Mattie’s hand. The fire played off the smooth metal and danced along in no clear pattern exposing the embossed F on the side of it. She wiggled it and gave me a wink.

  “Something to warm you up.” She whispered. Little did she know that alcohol wasn’t needed. The mere sight of Thorn did more to heat me up than anything in a bottle could ever do. He made my whole body hum and my mind race to make sense of it. Maybe I should just set the need to explain it away aside and accept it just as it is. Completely and utterly all consuming.

  “No, I’m good,” I said.

  Mattie took a quick drink and laughed as a bit of the pungent liquor rolled down her chin. She wiped it with her open palm and both Tailor and Bri stepped up to us. Bri half grinned at me and gave me a timid wave while Tailor looked me over and quickly found a new target when her eyes landed on Daniel.

  “Well, now.” She said, stepping forward and placing a hand on his chest. The flames lit up the back of her tall black boots that rested above her knee. I could see black fishnet against the pale skin of her leg and the black leather mini skirt that hugged her muscular thighs. Her butt popped out as she rocked onto her tip toes to lean up into Daniels’ ear. She whispered something to him, and he smiled. I have no idea what she said, but she took his hand and led him away like a puppy dog. I wasn’t jealous, not at all, more like worried for him.

  Bri reached out, and Mattie handed her the flask. She tilted her head back and took a big swig, lowering it and allowing the liquid to dribble down her chin. She laughed and gave Mattie a wink and Mattie returned her attention with a coy smile. “Come, dance,” Bri said, and I watched Mattie take her hand and off she went without saying a word.

  Well, great. Here I am at my first party and my only friends have abandoned me without as much as a goodbye or see ya later. I scanned the forest and could make out shadows here and there. It seemed that not many kids had shown up yet. I spotted Tailor holding Daniels’ hand and swaying in front of him, and Bri pulled Mattie around the back of the large fire and disappeared from my sight. I looked everywhere and couldn’t find Thorn. He had vanished. Perfect. It wasn’t like I expected him to talk to me, but I did want the chance to confront him and say what was on my mind once and for all. I wanted to know why more than anything else. Why kiss me? Why pay attention to me at all only to walk away and act like nothing happened? Why continually annoy me, pushing every button that I had.

  So infuriating.

  I crossed my arms over my chest and then unraveled them when I heard his voice. I turned, and there he stood before me, hair in place, flawless skin, full pouty lips and the fire played off of his eyes dancing in rhythm with my heartbeat. I let out a short breath, and a white puff of smoke escaped my lips. He licked his and bit his bottom lip, finally releasing it but his eyes wandered down my body and back up it again making my hands tingle.

  “You look so beautiful.” He said with confidence as his fire filled eyes lingered on my mouth. I parted my lips and gathered what courage I could, shirking off his ability to charm me at will.

  “Thank Mattie,” I said without much emotion. The edge of his lip curled in amusement. I was visibly annoyed with him, and I think he was enjoying it.

  “I will.” He added.

  I shoved my hands into my pockets and shifted my feet, trying to control the moment before it had a chance to control me.

  “So,” I said, and he narrowed his eyes. “So.” He repeated, and I jumped in head first without a hope of swimming.

  “Why did you kiss me?”

  He crossed his arms and looked around the forest then settled his gaze back on me.

  “Do you always have to have a reason attached to everything, Echo Navarri?”

  I leaned toward him. “Don’t do that.”

  His eyebrow rose. “Do what?”

  I waved my hand at him. “That…that whole answering my question with a question, which isn’t an answer, by the way, it’s just annoying.”

  He shifted his feet and nodded to me. “Oh, I annoy you?”

  I nodded to him. “Of course you do. First, you want to hang out, then you don’t…then you show up in the cemetery and kiss me, but after that…”

  I trailed off as the
music got louder. I hadn’t even noticed it until now. Maybe I was too fired up to care about anything but this opportunity to get what I wanted out of him once and for all.

  I had only looked away for a second or two, and he was behind me, whispering in my right ear. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  I blinked, and he was stepping up in front of me, allowing the firelight to glide along his tight jawline and the side of his muscular neck. I could see the muscles flex and moan, but the one thing I didn’t see was the pulse. The tiny flicker of life that causes the large vein in everyone’s throat to move just under the surface of the skin. My eyes lingered there, and he spoke to me in a soft whisper.

  “Forget me.”

  “I was invited here.”

  “Forget me.” He repeated.

  I blinked and looked him square in the eye. “Why? Why should I forget about you?”

  His brow furrowed and he appeared confused. “Forget me.” He spoke a little louder, and I laughed.

  “I heard you the first time; I get it.”

  He reached out and touched my hand; it chilled me to the bone, and I jerked it back from him. The look on his face was one of worry. I wasn’t sure why he thought that telling me to do something would render this conversation null and void, taking all my questions right along with it.

  I stepped toward him, and he took one step back. It was a strange feeling having control of a situation, but I did. It was the first time that I could ever remember taking the upper hand with anything, but I wanted closure. I’m sick of not having any.

  I buried my sister without it; I won’t let Thorn’s kiss be buried right along with it.

  “Tell me, what are you afraid of?” I asked with aggression. “Do I scare you as much as you scare me?”

  I paused. The words had come out of me before my mind had a chance to catch up. I was scared, but not of him. I was afraid of how he made me feel. The desperation and longing had worn away at me, and I was tired of dealing with it. He could just come clean, right now, and we could both move on. I had already passed up an opportunity to be with a perfectly nice guy. Daniel was nice, safe…normal. I could have so easily accepted his feelings and learned to return them over time. But no. I let Thorn stop me, and I can’t do this, I won’t do this.

  Life is too short.

  He parted his lips, and I was ready to accept whatever he said and move on, but just as he began to speak I heard something strange off in the distance. It sounded like a horn blowing and then howling. Wolves?

  “No,” he said sharply as he stared into the darkness.

  Thorn grabbed my hand and started to run, pulling me along with him until finally we were away from the fire and I could only make out the faint light of it off in the distance. I tried to catch my breath, to ask him why we had run and then I heard it, the first scream, then the second followed by the third. The horn blew again, and the howling followed louder this time.

  “What’s happening?” I asked, half out of breath. Thorn gripped my hand tighter and continued to run, dragging me along at an unimaginable pace. Finally, it proved to be too much for me, and I fell, sliding down a steep slope, tumbling over myself until finally I landed at the bottom and felt the sharp pain to the back of my head. I reached back and could feel the moisture on my skin. I pulled my hand out, and it trembled. I could see the glossy shine on my fingertips. My vision blurred, and I looked up the hill and could see a flash of blonde hair and then eyes, red ones staring down at me.

  I stumbled to my feet and heard the hooves digging deep into the ground and the growls. I moved back and then turned, rushing forward and away from the danger I felt digging into my soul. I ran, breaking through brush and thick pine needles. The branches beat at me, bruising my skin and leaving behind a sting that lingered. Finally, I broke clear of the trees and had to stop at the edge of a cliff. I gasped, forcing myself back. I stared down at the jagged rocks and crashing waves far below me.

  Then I closed my eyes. I could feel a dark presence behind me.

  Something ancient and evil.

  Something that hunted without mercy.

  I turned to face it, and my mouth lay open as white puffs of smoke rose up above me. I held my hand out as a large black buck stood before me with deep red eyes and black antlers that snaked their way toward the night sky. It dug its cloven hoof into the ground and let out a noise that shook me to my core. I took a step back, and it lunged at me only to be caught by a dark shadow from the side. It let out an inhuman cry as it rolled back into the thick pine.

  This couldn’t possibly be real. My terrible nightmares had broken free and invaded my waking hours.

  I tried to control my breathing, but it was nearly impossible. I took one slow step forward, then another, carefully listening to the battle that ensued and then a terrible sound occurred, that of breaking bone accompanied by a high pitched scream that echoed through the forest and out across the sea.

  I held my breath, scanning the darkness with blurred eyes caused by a terrible throbbing to the back of my head. Then I narrowed them, trying to make out what was moving toward me. The teeth appeared first, then the dark, soulless eyes, and the large head.

  A wolf emerged from the pine, and I backed up one step, then two, finally it was one step too many and I yelled as I slipped from the side of the cliff and felt my body drop. I stared up into the star filled sky, and a sudden peace fell over me. I extended my arms out and closed my eyes. I could hear Midnight speaking as clearly as ever.

  “I love you, Echo.”

  “I love you, too,” I whispered.

  Then I felt arms wrap around me and pull me in tight. I blinked a couple of times and could see Thorn staring down on me. The wind whipped all around us as we continued to fall. He didn’t speak, but the look on his face told me everything I needed to know.

  He was scared, as scared as anyone ever could be. I buried my face in his chest and everything faded to black.

  18

  I woke to muffled voices and splintered light. My eyes fluttered, and a suspended television came into view. A blonde headed woman sat behind a desk reporting the news.

  “Animal attacks in Port Royal, news at seven.”

  I took a deep breath and then groaned. My side ached, so did my head and pretty much the rest of me. I swallowed and tried to speak, but no words came out. I looked down and could see the IV attached to my arm, and I fingered at it only to see a hand swoop in and stop me. I looked up, and my dad’s face came into focus. I rolled my eyes and fought through the groggy haze.

  “Dad?” My voice cracked, and he reached in and touched my face, gently moving his thumb across my cheek.

  “Echo, can you hear me, honey?”

  My mom stepped into view and sat down on the bed next to me. I looked at her, and a tear ran down my cheek. She leaned in and kissed my forehead, then backed away and smiled at me. She played with my hair, an old habit that I missed and that she hadn’t practiced since I was little.

  “What’s going on? Where’s Mattie and Daniel?” I asked. My voice sounded raspy, and my throat ached.

  “Your friends? Both fine.” I relaxed into the pillow.

  “Oh, sweetheart. It seems you fell down a steep hill in the pine and got a concussion. We’re just grateful he found you in time. The doctor’s said you could have died from hyperthermia.”

  “I fell?”

  “Yes, and you hit your head on a sharp rock. The cut was deep; you needed stitches. Five of them.”

  “You said, he found me, who?” I tried to adjust on the hospital bed, and my dad looked back and there he stood, Thorn Vega. I looked down and remembered bits and pieces of everything. The horn blowing, the howling wolves, then the large black buck with red eyes and my fall from the cliff, only Thorn was there, holding me as we fell.

  How was that even possible?

  Admittedly, I must
have been knocked out from the fall and imagined the rest.

  My parents stood up and stared down at me. “We’ll get the doctor.”

  I nodded to them as they left the room and Thorn stood there in the shadows. He took a step forward, and the look on his face was one of sadness. I licked my dry lips and adjusted on the bed. He stepped up and looked me over. He sat down and took my hand, not saying a word.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.

  His deep blue eyes lifted and they seemed brighter than usual.

  “Don’t thank me.” He said quietly. I leaned down. “You…you saved me.”

  He blinked a couple of times and then leaned forward. I relaxed into my pillow and ignored the dull ache in the back of my head.

  “It was luck.”

  I shook my head. “I would be dead if not for you.”

  “There are things worse than death.” He whispered. My mind wandered, and I remembered that my aunt had said the same thing about James and Carrie.

  He lifted my hand and stared at the back of it. He turned my palm over and ran his thumb across my wrist and then leaned in and pressed his lips against my veins, lingering there as his body trembled. I rolled my hand over and cupped his face. He looked up at me with a deep sadness in his eyes.

  I parted my lips, and he leaned into me, speaking in a harsh whisper. “I’m not good for you; you should tell me to leave and never come back. Please, please tell me to leave.”

  I shook my head while I stared at his lips. “I can’t.”

  He gently moved forward, grazing my skin at first and I closed my eyes. Then I felt his lips press harder and a moan rose from the back of his throat. I reached back and ran my hand through his hair forcing him to stay when I could tell that he wanted to run away. His lips tore away. I could tell he was fighting this as much as I was. He leaned his forehead against mine and let out a slow breath. “I’m in trouble.” I smiled, and let out a small laugh. “Me, too.”