Entangled

by Nikki Jefford

* * *

  The smelling salts had to be used on both Mr. and Mrs. Curry. They slept on opposite sides of the bed, backs turned to one another. Gray held the salts under Mrs. Curry’s nose, screwed the lid on, then tossed it over the bed to Raj. He caught it easily, held it under Mr. Curry’s nostrils, then removed the pendant.

  Mr. Holloway was single, like Marc Phillips. The coven’s leader didn’t even have children. Raj cursed when they stopped across the street from his house. Lights blazed from a room downstairs.

  Gray glanced at the clock on the dash. One forty-eight.

  She had a little over an hour left.

  “Once he goes to bed it’ll be easy,” Gray said to reassure herself.

  “If he goes to bed,” Raj said. He pulled his lighter out and began flicking it open and closed. “We have to get that last pendant. Once Phillips and Curry wake up and find those pendants missing it’ll be impossible to lift Holloway’s.”

  Gray glanced down then slowly unlatched the first pendant around her neck followed by the second. She handed them to Raj. “Save them for me, will you?”

  Raj took the pendants and nodded.

  They watched Mr. Holloway’s house in silence.

  At two twenty Gray cleared her throat. “I guess we’re going to have to do this the hard way.”

  Raj stuffed his lighter in his pocket and turned the keys in the ignition.

  “What are you doing?” Gray asked.

  “Taking you home. I’ll see to Holloway.”

  “The hell you will.” Gray reached for the key and turned it toward her.

  “You’re almost out of time. I’ll come back and wait for him to turn in.”

  As Raj reached for the key again, Gray covered his hand with hers. He looked at her. “We do this together,” she said.

  Raj stared at her a moment then relaxed his hand and nodded. They stepped out of the car simultaneously, pushing their doors gently shut. “We’ll go invisible,” Raj whispered as they crossed the street. “I freeze him and you hold the salts under his nose.” Raj handed Gray the vial as he spoke.

  It felt like it would slip from her sweaty palm. “How do we get in?” Gray asked.

  “Like this.” Raj lifted a terracotta stepping stone from the front yard and hurled it through the front window.

  For a moment Gray was so startled she couldn’t remember how to turn herself invisible. Thankfully, she managed to disappear from sight before Mr. Holloway burst through the front door. He leapt over the three steps leading from his porch to the front lawn and charged into the yard.

  Gray and Raj took that opportunity to fly up the stairs and through the open door into the house. At least that was what Gray hoped Raj was doing. She didn’t want to be inside Holloway’s house alone. The living room was just off to the left of the entryway. The room was well lit from floor to ceiling. A book had tumbled to the floor in front of an armchair.

  Gray didn’t dare breathe, let alone say, Raj’s name. There was hardly time to regroup with Mr. Holloway storming back inside the house. He lifted a finger and the lid on a heavy old trunk sprang open against the wall.

  Holloway’s footsteps shook the house like a giant’s. He leaned over the trunk then stopped suddenly and whipped around. Gray’s heart leapt inside her throat. Holloway scanned the room and stood quietly. Gray held her breath and froze in place beside the couch.

  When the front door slammed she jumped in place. The bolt clicked shut. When Mr. Holloway moved across the room it looked like he was coming straight for her. Gray’s jaw dropped. She tried to move, but she couldn’t and then, thank god, Mr. Holloway froze in place.

  “Now!” Raj cried.

  Gray’s fingers shook as she untwisted the cap off the salts. She held it under Mr. Holloway’s nose. It wrinkled. Even his lips curled back.

  Gray stepped back.

  Mr. Holloway’s eyes hadn’t closed. If anything, they seemed wider. Then he started laughing. “You think your salts will work on me?” The laughing ceased. Mr. Holloway attempted to speak. His eyes narrowed when no sound emerged. He stopped trying and then he smiled, a heinous grin that sent chills through Gray.

  She didn’t think she could approach him again. She was once more frozen in place—her own terror holding her hostage. Gray saw the pendant lift out of Holloway’s shirt and float briefly in the air before disappearing.

  “Time to go,” Raj hissed.

  She followed his footsteps to the door. The bolt made a weak clicking sound like a dying battery on a car remote. It didn’t budge. The sound of shattering glass made her nearly leap out of her shoes—again!

  The jagged edges surrounding the broken window were kicked away.

  “Come on!”

  Gray hurried toward the window and Raj’s voice. He grabbed her hand as she lifted her leg through the window. When she glanced inside one last time she saw the same horrid smile frozen on Mr. Holloway’s face.

  There was no breath left in Gray’s lungs. Her legs wouldn’t move. She couldn’t even gasp for air. Raj’s grip tightened around her hand. He dragged her forward, across the lawn, across the street, and to his car. He opened the passenger door. “Get in!”

  He didn’t make himself visible until they were out of Holloway’s neighborhood. It took tremendous effort for Gray to fill herself back in. She glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Two fifty-one. “We’re never going to make it.”

  The wheels on Raj’s car squealed in response. “Gray!”

  Gray leaned back into the seat.

  “Gray!”

  “What?”

  “Concentrate! Can you turn the lights green?”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Gray said. Her voice sounded a million miles away. “Still won’t make it.”

  “Gray!”

  “No problem.” She stared through the windshield. They could have run red lights for all the traffic that was out at almost three in the morning. But Gray made them green and when Raj screeched into her driveway he screamed, “Go!”

  His shout was like an adrenaline boost. Gray threw the car door open, then the house door, and flew up the stairs. The numbers on the digital clock glowed like green eyes in the dark as Gray leapt for her bed. Two fifty-nine.

  * * *

  Gray sat up, gasping. Her heart was lodged inside her throat as though no time had passed. So intent was she on getting air into her lungs that it took her a moment to notice that not only was she not in her own bed, she wasn’t in Charlene’s, either.

  The room was dark, but she could still make out the movie posters tacked to the walls and action figures on the dresser across from her. There was a smell both familiar and unfamiliar. A soft chuckle invaded her eardrums from directly beside her.

  “Fascinating. I wish you could see the transition for yourself.”

  Gray clutched the sheet to her chest and turned to face Nolan. He was under the covers with her, topless, elbow propping up his head.

  Gray didn’t know what was worse: the fact that she was naked in Nolan’s bed or that she was about to cry in front of him. Fury! Focus on fury. She wasn’t about to let the little twerp watch as she wept.

  Even fury was out of the question. Gray stared forward, her eyes adjusting. She pulled the sheet higher. She couldn’t look at him. “Why are you with my sister?”

  Any illusions Gray had that he’d express guilt were quickly shattered. “You screwed me over, Gray, so I switched sides.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I saw you kissing Raj McKenna. I came by early to pick you up Saturday . . . to help you . . . and that’s when I saw you sucking face with that dirty, rotten warlock.” The sheet tugged under Gray’s folded arms as Nolan sat up. “You were just using me, Gray. Jerking me around while you were screwing McKenna. Your sister told me about how you ruined things with her boyfriend. This entire time you’ve only cared about yourself. Now we’ve turned the tables on you.”

  “I hate you.” She barely caught the shrug of Nolan’s shoulders.r />
  “Hate me all you want, just remember you were loving me a minute ago.” Nolan turned to look at her with a smug smile. Luckily, he had no place to aim it.

  Gray was gone. Or so it appeared.

  She had vanished the moment she stepped out of bed.

  Nolan swallowed his smile.

  “Gray?” Nolan threw the covers back and stepped out.

  He had on underwear. Gray did not. She didn’t have a stitch of clothing. Even the slip was preferable to this. She had to keep her body from shivering in the room’s draft, but mostly she had to keep from shaking with rage.

  Nolan looked around the room. “Crap.”

  He picked Charlene’s clothes off the floor and shoved them inside a dresser drawer. At first Gray thought he was holding her garments hostage, but the longer she lingered the more it became clear he thought she’d teleported . . . otherwise, he wouldn’t have settled back into bed.

  He leaned over and inhaled the pillow Gray had been on. Sick freak. She ought to suffocate him with it the moment he fell asleep. But Nolan lay there with his eyes open, staring at the ceiling.

  Murder’s not the answer, Gray chanted as she waited for her moment to escape.

  That was Charlene’s department.

  Goosebumps rose over Gray’s flesh. She crept toward the door, then looked at Nolan. He’d closed his eyes, but she doubted he was sleeping. Gray glanced at his dresser. Wouldn’t it be great if she could dress herself without snapping?

  If Nolan heard her, he could tackle her before she had a chance to get out of his room.

  She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it gently. Once her arm was twisted she pulled back slowly. Every movement she made was deliberate until she was out the front door and running, barefoot, on the wet pavement outside. The Beetle was parked two houses down.

  The car growled to life as though feeding off the energy of her anger. She floored the gas pedal and tore down the street toward home. Gray nearly hit the garage door when she roared into her driveway.

  Once inside she turned visible. Her teeth were now chattering, body shaking. She ran up the stairs and turned on the shower. Once the water was warm enough, she stepped in. The washcloth scraped at her skin. Gray increased the temperature until it scalded her. She scrubbed herself raw and remained in the shower so long the water began cooling until it stopped altogether. She sank into the tub, head resting against her knees. Cold seeped into her bones.

  Not her bones, Charlene’s.

  How could she have been so wrong about Nolan?

  She had really believed he meant to help her. Not only had he aligned himself with Charlene, he’d gone about it in the worst possible way.

  Gray ground her teeth together. She wouldn’t cry. She refused to shed a single tear over a vengeful jerk who couldn’t handle rejection.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Raj slept in late on Tuesday. He and Gray had managed the impossible. If they could break into the homes of three coven leaders and make off with the pendants, the rest should be a piece of cake. Thank goodness Gray hadn’t made the switch inside his car. Explaining Charlene’s sudden three a.m. appearance in his passenger’s seat probably wouldn’t have gone over well. Worse still, Charlene would have been suspicious and they couldn’t have her snooping around messing things up before they had a chance to transfer Gray safely to another body.

  Attending school today was out of the question. Raj drove straight to Adrian’s. The first thing off was the bell. It didn’t ring, being that it was no longer attached above the door. Raj stepped inside Adrian’s chamber and cursed under his breath.

  Everything was gone except the table, now cleared of its cloth.

  There was a chuckle and the curtain above the back room flew to one side. Adrian entered as though upon a stage. “Don’t worry, I haven’t skipped town . . . yet.”

  Raj only relaxed slightly.

  Adrian began clapping. “Bravo, Raj. Bravo. You and the little missus cleaned up good. And I feel fantastic!” Adrian waved his hand over the table and a bottle of champagne and two flutes appeared. “Drink?”

  “No, thanks,” Raj said.

  “And the missus?”

  Raj ground his teeth together. “Is out for the day.”

  Adrian poured himself a glass and lifted the flute in the air. “Ah, well, then a toast to her and you, as well.” Adrian took a sip then set the flute down. “I tell you, Raj, don’t ever take your powers for granted. They’re a terrible thing to be without.”

  Raj folded his arms over his chest. “We kept our end of the deal. Let’s talk about yours.”

  “Already on it.” Adrian waved his hand and the champagne and flutes were replaced by a set of syringes filled with bright liquids. Every color of the rainbow was present.

  Raj frowned. “What are those?”

  “These?” Adrian smiled. “I call it Plan C.” He grabbed a syringe and jabbed it inside a vein in his arm. “Always have a Plan C, D, E, and F. If you learn one thing from me, Raj, remember that.” Adrian emptied the syringe with the red liquid into his vein and shuddered.

  Raj tried without success to get a reading on what kind of potion Adrian was injecting himself with. When that didn’t work he studied Adrian’s aura. It turned white briefly.

  “If this is Plan C, then what’s Plan A and B?”

  “Plan A: I have excellent news! I found a fresh one—terminally ill girl, same age, looker, going to croak any day.”

  “Don’t talk about people that way,” Raj said.

  Adrian’s brows arched when he smiled. “Or there’s always Plan B: The Purge.”

  Raj nodded at the syringes. “And Plan C is poison yourself?”

  “Possibly. This is a very delicate spell—never been done before, but then, there’s never been a known case like this. Don’t worry,” Adrian continued. “I never go back on a bargain. Do you have the pendants, by the way?”

  “I’m holding them for Gray.”

  The second syringe hovered above Adrian’s opposite arm. “Thinks she can put a leash back on me if I misbehave, does she?”

  Raj straightened. “I removed the blood from them. They no longer pose a threat.”

  “I want them destroyed.”

  “That’s not your call,” Raj answered.

  The request didn’t surprise Raj in the least, but Adrian would have to live with the disappointment. They were saving the pendants to use on Charlene. The coven had no idea how dangerous she was. It was up to Gray and Raj to prevent her from hurting anyone ever again.

  Adrian studied Raj a moment. “I see.”

  “See what?”

  “I’ll simply need to take it up with the missus.” The second syringe still hovered over Adrian’s arm, yellow liquid inside. “I need to know what day she died.”

  “Why?”

  “For this spell is why. We don’t have time for twenty questions, McKenna.”

  This was a bad idea, a very bad idea—Adrian attempting a spell that had never been done before. Sure, that would turn out well. Raj had to make sure the transfer worked. For now he’d answer Adrian’s questions. It wasn’t like it was secret information or anything. “February ninth.”

  “Well, isn’t that tragic.” Adrian stuck the needle through his skin. “So what did she die of?”

  “She was poisoned.”

  “Poisoned! How?”

  “By her sister—unintentionally. Death by chocolate.” Raj’s lips curved up at the absurdity of it.

  “If the sister killed her we should definitely purge her.”

  “Let’s focus on the transfer. You say this girl is about to pass on. How can you be sure?”

  “The doc was practically reading her last rights . . .” Adrian looked at Raj and grinned. “But then, you’re the expert. By tomorrow she could be in the morgue, which still works for us so long as the body’s preserved, though good luck explaining that one to the coroner when she rises from the dead.” The remainder of Adrian’s chemistry set v
anished following the wave of his hand. “The rest will have to wait or I won’t be of any use.”

  “You do realize that if you double-cross Gray she’ll bury you,” Raj said. “I once did a spell on her and she nearly strangled me for it.”

  The warning, unfortunately, had the opposite effect on Adrian. His smile widened. “Got something of the sinister in her, does she? Sure you can handle a witch like that?”

  Instead of taking the bait Raj sighed and said, “Just get the job done.”

  * * *

  Raj waited for Gray in the parking lot at McKinley on Wednesday morning, but she never showed. Once the warning bell rang, he got inside his car and drove to her house.

  “Gray.” Raj pounded on the front door. “Gray!”

  They’d cut it close the last time he’d seen her. Hopefully she hadn’t run into any trouble with Charlene; not that Charlene could really do anything—like keep her hostage. Could she?

  Raj beat on the door. Suddenly it flew open and he fell forward as he put his weight into his fist.

  Gray stood at the top of the stairs in a black turtleneck and jeans. She’d cut her hair; it hit just above her shoulders. Her eyes were heavily outlined in dark liner. It wasn’t just the top or eyeliner that surrounded Gray in black. Clouds of it hovered around her, turning the edges of her aura black like charred kabob.

  Raj gently closed the door. “What happened?”

  Gray descended the stairs and stopped at the edge of the banister. “What do you mean?”

  “Something’s wrong.”

  “I’m trapped inside my sister’s body. No kidding something’s wrong.”

  Raj reached inside his pack and pulled out the three pendants. They dangled from his fingers. Gray’s eyes lit up and she smiled, but her aura didn’t change. “It got pretty hairy in the end, but we did it.” Raj held Gray’s gaze and willed away whatever malice troubled her. She appeared as focused on him as he was on her.

  Gray reached out and wrapped her fingers around the chains dangling from Raj’s fingers. “Thank you. You did good work the other night, which is more than I can say for myself. I choked.”