Faegen, Trinity - Mephisto Covenant, The

by BTKT

  We discovered the Skia by chance, and found all of his lost souls within a couple of days. The takedown was at a ball. There was a fire, started by an overturned candle, and seventy-nine people died, including Jane’s sister. The rest were able to escape, but they didn’t remember how, because we made them forget. One of those was Jane.”

  “So you found her that night. Did you tell her everything, right away?”

  His nod was slow. “I went to her room, to check on her, and she was crying. She freaked out when I appeared, but I explained who I was, and what happened. I went back the next day and the day after that, and every day for over a month, until she said she wanted to join us, that if someone as faithful and good as her sister could be suckered into pledging, there was no hope for anyone, anywhere.”

  “And she didn’t hate you.” He smiled sadly. “No, she didn’t hate me.” Sasha stood and walked to the windows to look out at the mountains, at the endless forest and craggy rocks, dressed in snow. She suddenly realized she could see them almost as well as if the sun was shining. Remembering what Jax said about being able to turn off lights, she turned toward the lamp on his bedside table and concentrated carefully, but nothing happened. Then she heard a guy yell from far away, “Hey! Who’s jacking with the lights?” “Probably need to work on that,” Phoenix said as he stood and walked closer to her. “Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll take you there. Jax obviously isn’t coming back.”

  She looked around his room, certain this was the last time she’d see it.

  “You’re not going to stay, are you?”

  Looking into his brother’s black-as-midnight eyes, she slowly shook her head. “He wants too much. Even if I was all in, like Jane was, it would never work out between Jax and me. He’d never be happy with me, not in the long run.”

  “I think we both know that’s not true. Given time, you have the ability to give him what he wants. You’re afraid the same can’t be said for him.”

  “So what if I am? I can’t spend forever without some kind of love in my life. I can’t. I’d want to die, but I could never die. It really would be like living in Hell, loving someone who couldn’t love me back.”

  “What makes you so sure he can’t?” “Did you love Jane?” That made him mad. He scowled at her. “How could you ask me a question like that? I’ve lived over a hundred years with guilt.”

  Sasha took a step toward him. “Guilt isn’t love. You liked her, you wanted her, you lusted after her, but you didn’t love her. It was all about you. Even after a hundred years, it’s still all about you. You’re so wrapped up in how she died, and how it was because of what you did to her, that you don’t have room to miss her, or grieve because she’s not here, living the life she was supposed to live. If you did, if what you felt for her was love, you’d have let it go by now, and made something good from her memory, instead of this whole woe-is-me martyr thing you’ve got going on. So the answer is no, you didn’t love her. She was what you needed for redemption, a means to an end, and I’m not okay with being that to Jax. I’d rather forget all of this and live out the rest of my life with an ordinary, nice guy, who may not be perfect, but who can love me for me, not what I can get him.”

  “Are you done?” “So done. Can I leave now? Or are you too mad to take me?” “I’m not mad.” He suddenly hauled her next to him, his arms around her like the jaws of life gone haywire. “Just say where.” She didn’t say anything, partly because she couldn’t breathe, but partly because she realized, too late, she’d stepped way over the line. Again. What was with her tonight? “You can tell me where, or we can stand here all night.” “I’m...sorry,”shemanagedtosay.“Notmy...place... to say you didn’t . . . love her . . . and I’m . . . sor—” “Forget it, Sasha.” His arms relaxed a little, and she sucked in a deep breath. “Do you want to go to the Shrivers’? Or the school?” “Both. Would you take me to my room to get my coat, then to the school?”

  “I’m not an f’ing taxi service.”

  “Please? I can’t face any of the Shrivers right now, but it’s freezing outside, and I need my coat.”

  “It’s a damn good thing you weren’t meant for me. Nothing I can’t stand worse than a pain in the ass.”

  “Nothing I can’t stand worse than a martyr, so I guess we’re even.”

  “You said you were done.”

  “I’m sorry, Phoenix. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Really, truly, I’m not like this. I don’t even think things like that, much less say them out loud.”

  His arms relaxed further, and he looked down into her eyes. “Did he kiss you again?”

  She nodded and blushed at the same time. “It’s the spit, isn’t it?”

  “It’s the spit.”

  Everything went dark, and a few seconds later, they were standing in her room. Jax sat at her desk, at her computer, reading messages on her Facebook wall. He looked up and frowned. “Let go of her, Phoenix.”

  “Chris is right next door, and these walls are like paper,” she whispered.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Phoenix said as he released her. “We’re all cloaked, so no one can see or hear us.”

  Jax asked in a low, almost menacing voice, “Who’s Tyler Hudson?”

  She looked from her Facebook page to Jax’s gloomy expression. “There’s this thing called privacy, and you just moved into mine and put your feet on the coffee table.”

  “He says he’s coming to Telluride for Christmas, and he wants to see you.” Jax stood, drawing himself up into a rigid giant, looking like Death on Crack. He closed the distance between them, so agitated, she could feel the vibration from his body. “He wants to take you out somewhere, because he didn’t realize until you were gone how much he likes you.”

  Last week, she would have died and gone to Heaven over that message. Now, it was a nuisance, and she felt aggravated at Tyler. He’d had a zillion chances to ask her out, but he had waited until she was gone to get a clue.

  Jax was waiting for some kind of answer. “What do you want me to say? I sat by him in chemistry and tried to flirt, but he treated me like I was just one of his guy friends. Now he wants to hang out. So what? It’s not like I plan to go.” She glanced toward her computer. “Jax, you have to promise not to do this again. It’s so wrong.”

  “I came to load what was on your old hard drive to this one, and when I turned it on, Facebook popped up. Like I wasn’t going to read your wall or your messages?”

  “Are you on Facebook?”

  “We all are, except Phoenix. We use different identities, obviously, but it’s great for getting personal information about the lost souls. The Skia use it to troll for possible followers.”

  “You could have just friended me.”

  “You wouldn’t have known who I am, so you’d have ignored me. But I’m not sorry for reading it, even if you’re mad, because it occurred to me I should keep up with what you’re doing and who you’re talking to. If word gets out to Bruno or any of the others, we could be set up, and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”

  Insulted, she glared up at him. “You think I’d sell you out? Are you serious?”

  “I don’t think you’d do it intentionally, but you might let something slip.”

  “That’s a crock and you know it! You’re just pissed off because of what I said, and now you’re acting like a child, trying to get back at me.”

  Obviously surprised, he shot a questioning look at Phoenix.

  “Don’t look at me, bro. You’re the one who kissed her. I’m just the sad, pathetic martyr brother.”

  “She called you a martyr?” He nodded, then looked puzzled. “Am I a martyr?” “It doesn’t matter. She shouldn’t have said that.” “Maybe if you’d stop enabling him, he could move on with his life.” “What, so now it’s my fault he’s like this?” “Like what?” Phoenix looked totally shocked. “You do think

  I’m a martyr.” “It’s okay, Phoenix. Nobody blames you. We just want you to stop blaming yourself
.” Jax paused. “And I guess it’d be nice if you’d lay off pointing out how you never go out, that you stay home and work while we’re off looking for girls.”

  Phoenix raised his dark brows. “I always wondered if you all resented me because I found Jane, because I was first to find an Anabo. Now I know.”

  “No one resented you. No one blamed you. No one was anything but really sad and bummed when she died. But it was a hundred and twenty-two years ago. They invented cars and airplanes and video games since then. I know you’ll never forget, and no one expects you to forget, but at what point do you stop living like it’s a hundred and twenty-two years ago and live like it’s now?”

  Phoenix sank to the desk chair and stared at her computer screen. “I don’t know. I’ve lived like this for so long, it’s who I am. Everything seems so stupid. Like, look at this girl, writing to Sasha. She’s all”—he spoke in a falsetto voice—“‘OMG!’ and ‘LOL!’ and ‘WTF?’ and ‘Girl, you should totes go out with Tyler in Telluride!’” He looked up at her. “You’re seventeen years old, and this is how seventeen-year-olds talk to each other. I’m a thousand years old, and this stuff is like alien-speak to me. If I found another Anabo, she’d be writing OMG and I’d be thinking, You’re f’ing kidding me.”

  Footsteps stopped at her door and they all froze, turning to stare at the knob as it turned. Phoenix hurriedly shut down her computer, then went to stand next to the window. Sasha went to stand beside Jax. The door opened slowly, and someone whispered, “Sasha?” When she didn’t answer, Brett came in and closed it behind him, very quietly, then went to her computer and booted up, evidently not noticing it was still warm. He wasn’t the sharpest crayon in the box. She watched her Facebook page load, mad at herself for setting it as her homepage, the password memorized. After he read the latest posts on her wall, he went to her e-mail and read one from her mother. Jax grabbed her hand and held tight, knowing how much that ate at her. Brett the Asshat was reading it before she did.

  Then he deleted it! “I hate him so much, it hurts.” There was one from NYU, probably answering her question about the application she intended to send next Monday. He deleted that one, too. There were a couple from friends back in San Francisco, and one from the headmistress at St. Michael’s. He deleted all of them, then went to her trash folder and deleted them from there, so she’d have no way of reading them, ever. “Why is he doing this?”

  “Because he’s evil. Because he can. And probably because Mr. Bruno told him to do anything he could think of to intimidate you. What happened at school today made Brett look like a loser, and Mr. Bruno can’t have that. He’s his prime lost soul, the one who’s supposed to suck in all the others, but you put a major wrench in the works.”

  Next, Brett went to her document files and deleted all of them, including the new essay she’d started after Melanie trashed her computer. Jax squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry, Sasha. backup of the old one in my pocket.”

  But I have the

  After Brett shut down the computer, he went to the dresser and pawed through her things. He took the amethyst drop her dad had brought back from Russia, the pearls her mom had given her for her sixteenth birthday, and her money.

  She was verging on hysteria. “Jax, what am I going to do? I need money to apply to college.”

  “I’ll give you money, and after he’s gone, we’ll get your things back. Whatever he dreams up to do to you, I can fix.”

  “What if he turns me in for being an illegal alien?”

  “They’ll laugh at him. Right this minute, the records Luminas are working on your papers. By midnight, your birth certificate will be on file, and there’ll be a record of your U.S. citizenship with the government. Trust me, Sasha, there’s nothing he can do to you that we can’t undo. Just be patient, and soon he’ll be gone.” He looked down at her and squeezed her hand again. “Don’t let him get to you.”

  He was the unlikeliest hero, but ever since last Thursday night, he’d been there to save her from one catastrophe after another. Meeting his dark gaze, she whispered, “I’m sorry, Jax.”

  “Don’t be sorry. All you did was tell the truth.” “So what happens now?” “You’re in the line of fire, and I’m not going to let anything happen to you, so you’ll just have to put up with me until Bruno and the others are gone.”

  His hand around hers was strong and warm, and in spite of her confusion and hesitation, she never wanted to let go.

  eleven

  jax took her to the school and went with her to get Chris’s book, then left her at the entrance to the gym before he headed off to the locker room to suit up for the game. She was surprised by the number of people already there. Teachers, parents, and lots of kids, even small ones. Younger siblings, she guessed.

  She hadn’t eaten dinner and her stomach hurt, she was so hungry. There were no concessions, but it wouldn’t have made any difference if there were. She had no money.

  The team was warming up, basketballs flying, and she had to duck a few as she walked across the gym floor. She searched for Amanda in the crowd but didn’t see her. Erin and Rachel were waving at her to come sit with them.

  As soon as she sat down, Erin said, “We were just talking about why Brett’s turned into such a douche.”

  Rachel nodded. “He’s turned into a creeper, and I don’t get why.”

  Sasha could tell her why, but Rachel wouldn’t believe her.

  “It’s that stupid Ravens thing,” Mason said from above them in the stands. He went to sit behind Rachel, who sent an Oh-myGod look to Erin. “Ever since he joined, he’s like a different person. East, too. And Julianne.”

  Erin whispered to Sasha, “Wrong. Julianne’s always been a bitch.”

  “If being a Raven means you turn into a douche bag, why does anyone want to join?” Rachel asked.

  “They tell you they’ll get you whatever you want,” Mason said.

  “I don’t want anything that much,” Erin said, watching the players on the court, specifically Thomas. “I heard you have to give up God and promise to follow some guy named Eryx. Reminds me of a cult.”

  Rachel said, “I had a cousin who joined a cult, and my aunt and uncle had to spend a boatload of money to get her out of there.”

  “Blows my mind what people will believe,” Mason said, glancing at Sasha. “Sorry about what happened. What’s up with that? I mean, he’s your cousin.”

  Sasha shrugged. “He wanted me to join the Ravens, because he gets bonus points for everyone he brings in, so he made up that story and said if I’d join, he’d admit it was a lie and make like it was a big joke.”

  “Some joke,” Erin said. “Now the joke’s on him because everyone thinks he’s a loser.”

  Amanda came through the door with her dad, and Rachel said, “Wow, check out Amanda. She looks . . . different.”

  “She looks great,” Erin said. “I can’t believe she came to the game. She never goes anywhere.”

  “I asked her to meet me,” Sasha explained, waving at her. She watched them cross the gym floor, her dad stopping to sit with some teachers, while Amanda continued on to climb up to where they sat. She noticed Brett was staring at Amanda, and she wanted to stand up and yell at him to leave her alone.

  Amanda was unaware of his attention, thank God, and she smiled at Erin and Rachel before she took a seat next to Sasha. “I was almost late because Dad took forever to get ready. He’s all excited, probably because he gets to talk to Rose.”

  “Does he have a crush on her or something?”

  “He says no, but I think he does. She’s always going to the market and buying lamb chops from him, and he gives her extra.” “Aw, that’s sweet,” Rachel said, her eyes bright. “Your dad’s awesome, Amanda.” She leaned toward Sasha and whispered, “After Dad and I got home, I had a strange phone call.” She met Sasha’s eyes, looking really uncomfortable. “It was Brett. He said he felt like an idiot for what he did, and was really sorry.” Alarm bells went off in her head. Why would
Brett call Amanda, out of the blue? Did he realize she was maybe the only kid at school who might still be interested in him—in the Ravens? “So he called you to apologize, but never said a word to me? Why?”

  Amanda looked down at her hands and twisted a silver ring round and round her finger. “He said he tried, but you won’t talk to him, you’re so mad.”

  “He’s lying. The only thing he’s said to me since school let out was something rude, and I did ignore him, because what do you say to someone who’s mean and hateful?”

  “Maybe he didn’t mean to sound rude?” “Oh, he meant it. Trust me.” “He, uhm, asked if I want to join the Ravens.” Damn. “Please tell me you said no.” “I said I’d think about it.” “Amanda, why?” Amanda looked up, her eyes filled with pain. “You wouldn’t understand, Sasha. You’re pretty and smart, you were probably überpopular at your old school, and in another week you’ll be all that at Telluride.”

  “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t, but whatever I am, I want you to be my friend. We can hang out, and you could come to the house and see Chris. Don’t do it, Amanda. At least think about it.”

  “I will, but I sort of already said I’d go out with him after the game.”

  Double damn. “Tell him you changed your mind. I’m going to get something to eat, and I bet everyone else will go, too. Go with us. Not Brett.”

  “No, I’m going to go and see what he has to say. He made a big deal about wanting to explain things, and he sounded really upset. Maybe there’s something we don’t know about him, a reason why he’s been acting so weird lately.”

  Yeah, there was a reason, but she couldn’t say what it was. Frustrated and not sure what she could do to change Amanda’s mind, Sasha turned her attention to the game.

  It was about to start, and she searched the players for Jax, which didn’t take long. He was bigger than any of the other guys. Wearing a basketball uniform, his arms and legs were exposed and she couldn’t help staring—he was put together like nobody’s business. She noticed he had a bandage on his right bicep and wondered if he was hurt, but he didn’t appear to favor that arm while they warmed up. The coach called the team to the sideline and as he went, he looked up, searching the crowd until he saw her. Then he smiled, and her heart skipped a beat.