Truth and Consequences

by Cate Dean

  I stood, angrier than I expected to be. “Drugging and kidnapping me gave you an appetite?”

  “What?” Sam did exactly what I hoped—he went straight for Jake. Petty, I know, but I was still mad, and Jake invading my home like it was his own set off my temper. The chips hit the floor as Sam grabbed him and slammed him against the wall. “You did what?”

  “Hey—I was—” Sam choked off his excuse by wrapping one hand around his throat. Jake finally got that he was serious.

  “Hurt her again, and I won’t let go until you’re dead.” I jerked at the threat, and pushed to my feet. This had gone farther than I expected. Much farther. “Nod if you understand.”

  Jake did, and doubled over when Sam let him go, coughing and fighting to breathe.

  “Sam.” This new, violent side scared me, enough that I stayed out of reach. “He didn’t hurt me. He just—made a bad decision. Please.” Please don’t kill anyone because of me.

  The anger faded, leaving behind the Sam I knew and adored. But the visual of him choking Jake would take a long time to fade.

  “He doesn’t deserve your protection, not after attacking you.”

  “That was random and you know it.” I was just at the wrong place, looking for a misplaced backpack. I was still glad I had been the one to face down Jake as a Fenris Wolf, because I managed to survive it. Some kid sneaking into the abandoned McGinty house on a dare from his friends might not have. “He wanted to talk. Granted, kidnapping me wasn’t the best way to get my attention, but he’s not going to do it again. He promised Candace, and he needed my help. I probably wouldn’t have listened if I’d been able to walk away.”

  “And what does he want from you?”

  I crossed my arms, not all that happy with this new, assertive, violent Sam. “He wants me to help him find whoever took Katie and the boys.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  6

  Sam walked out of my house before I could recover from the shock. Which was a good thing, because when I did, I was feeling a little violent myself.

  This was not the joyful reunion I dreamed about. The Sam I loved was still there—but he was hidden, under a shell of anger.

  I knelt next to Jake, swallowing at the bruises already forming on his throat. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” He pushed himself up. “I should have known better than to toy with him. I went through the same phase. It’s like every nerve is raw. I got mad when I couldn’t find the brand of soda I wanted in the local market.”

  “Okay.” I swallowed. The panic must have shown; Jake laid both hands on my shoulders.

  “He’ll get past it. I did—and he’s much nicer than I was. Plus, he’s got a reason. You.”

  “Me?”

  Jake let out a sigh. “How many people have to tell you Sam is crazy about you before you believe it?” I stared at him, heat spreading over my face, more than aware it was turning my face beet red. Pale skin equals constant embarrassment. “Just—be there for him. I’d have given anything to know someone cared.”

  “Jake.”

  “Stop.” He grabbed my wrist before I could touch his face, softened the withdrawal with one of his flashing grins. “I’m not the one who needs those melting looks. Go aim your pretty eyes at my cousin, Finch. Get him to help. I can use his strength if we—run into something.”

  “Something. Like the Devil isn’t enough something.” His laughter had me smiling. “Okay—I’ll try. But I don’t know how much influence I’ll have over this new Sam.”

  “You’d be surprised.” He tilted my chin. “You seriously underestimate your power, Finch. Tomboy or not, you grew up a beauty.” My blush turned painful. “A little of that charm won’t hurt either.”

  “That’s acute embarrassment.”

  “Just lay it on.” He let me go. With a shaky breath, I headed for the door, wondering if Sam was still outside, or if I’d have to go hunting for him. “Alex.” I turned back to him. “Let him know you care—that’s going to be really important to him right now.”

  “Okay.” Every bit of advice made me less sure of myself.

  “And Alex—”

  “No more. I’m already freaked out enough, thank you.”

  Jake leaned against the wall, crossing him arms. “Then you’ll do just fine. Freaked out seems to help you bring your game.”

  “Not helping, Jake.”

  His laughter followed me out the front door, and on to the porch. Where Sam paced like an angry cat.

  He must have sensed me, because he spun, those grey-blue eyes almost glowing. I froze, trapped by that gaze, my mind blank. Again.

  He stalked to me, and the panic closing my throat must have projected itself. Halting, he held up his hands. “I’m sorry, Alex. I didn’t want to scare you. Damn,” he whispered, dropping his hands. “I can’t seem to control my temper lately. I won’t blame you if you want to walk away.”

  “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” I pushed my hands into the pockets of Candace’s jacket, so he wouldn’t see how much they shook. “I told you I don’t care, Sam. I believe in you, no matter what.” He lowered his head. “We’ve been through too much together.” Swallowing, I finally spit out what was in my heart. “I love you, Sam, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  He moved so fast I didn’t have a chance to react.

  Pinning me against the wall, he loomed over me. “I came back to find the truth about what happened—at Halloween, and ten years ago. Once I do, I’m leaving, Alex.” He lowered his head, the ends of his streaked blonde hair brushing my cheek. “I can’t take the chance that I’d hurt you. Ever.”

  “You’ll hurt me by leaving.”

  He looked at me. The pain in his eyes left me breathless. “Not as much as I could if I stayed.”

  Before I saw it coming, he kissed me, so fierce and despairing, tears slid down my face. His lips brushed my damp cheek, and he whispered, so low I almost didn’t hear.

  “I love you, Alex. I always have.”

  Pushing off the wall, he bolted to his SUV. And left me clutching the wall, shaking from the aftereffects of his words.

  I knew by the time this was over, my heart would be in tiny, unrepairable pieces.

  7

  Mom and Dad spent Thanksgiving trying to make me smile. I really appreciated the effort.

  I spent the rest of the holiday weekend in my room.

  Don’t get me wrong—I managed to accomplish quite a bit, between bouts of hysterical crying. It was almost worse—no, it was worse, having Sam here, knowing he didn’t want anything to do with me. For my own safety.

  Right.

  On Sunday, I finally ran out of tears. And decided Sam Emmett had enough of them.

  With a sigh, I peeled myself off the bed, and plopped in my desk chair, firing up Red—my amazing, do practically anything I want laptop. Until these past few months, Red was my closest friend.

  And even though I seemed to be friends with Misty Corwin, the most popular girl at Emmettsville High, I still didn’t feel comfortable calling her out of the blue. So I reverted back to my pre-Misty habits, and did research.

  I just finished typing in the search for a water demon when my cell phone buzzed.

  And I shook my head when I saw Misty’s number on the display. I swear, sometimes I think she can read my mind.

  “Hi, Misty.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me Sam was back?” I had to hold the phone away from my ear—and I could still hear her. “How did he look? Did he kiss you? Is he there right now? I want details, girl. Details!”

  I don’t know how she did it, but Misty always managed to pull me out of a funk.

  “He didn’t come back for me, Misty.”

  “Of course he did! He’s crazy about you—oh, he thinks he’s going to hurt you, doesn’t he?” I could picture her doing air quotes. “I’ll talk to him—”

  “No.” I didn’t want her anywhere near him, not with his temper being so unpredictable. “I’m sorry—I
just don’t think he’ll listen. Anyway, he’s here to find out what happened ten years ago, more than he’s here to see me.”

  “Then he’s lying, or deluding himself. Do you want me to come over? I’ll bring ice cream.” She sounded so hopeful, I laughed. For the first time in a while. Wasn’t I wanting to call her?

  Okay,” I said. “But don’t expect scintillating conversation. I don’t think I have—”

  Her laughter cut me off. “That’s why I like hanging around with you. No one else I know uses words like scintillating—except my sister. So, is that a yes?”

  “Yes—that’s a yes.”

  “Cool—I’m on my way!”

  I ended the call, and pushed myself out of the chair. Knowing Misty’s speed demon driving habits, I wouldn’t have much time before she showed up. And I needed to warn my parents, so they didn’t have heart failure when someone showed up at the door asking for me.

  ~ ~ ~

  Misty brought three different kinds of ice cream—and a book she’d been reading. On monsters. Fully illustrated.

  We sat on my bed, sucking down ice cream, and looking through the coffee table quality book.

  “This is unbelievable,” I said. I recognized more than a few of the monsters listed in my haven guide. “Where did you find it?”

  “At that secondhand bookstore in Santa Luna.” I shook my head. “You haven’t been there? I thought you’d know it by heart, since all your dance classes are at the studio across the street.”

  Now I felt like an idiot. How did I not notice a bookstore?

  “I haven’t—I don’t hang around after class.”

  “You really can be focused, can’t you.” She didn’t make it sound like a flaw. With a contented sigh, she set her empty ice cream container on the bedside table, picked up the small bottle of vanilla lotion Mom kept there in case I needed it, and squirted some into her palm. It had never been opened before now—vanilla and I are not friends. “So,” she continued, focused on rubbing in the lotion. “I finished the book for our project.”

  She looked smug. I was shocked. I honestly didn’t think she’d get through To Kill a Mockingbird. It wasn’t a long book—just not her thing. And she didn’t have a choice, since I’d already written reams of notes for the English project before we were put together as partners. Her misplacing those notes changed our lives.

  “What did you think?”

  She smiled. “I think I’ll let you do most of the talking.”

  We both laughed, and the ache squeezing my heart eased, a little. Sam hurt me, more than I thought anyone could. I always smothered the disappointments of teenage life with my own company, and my dancing.

  But having a friend like Misty was another miracle in a school year already crammed with them. And I got it now—what other girls meant when they said they spilled their guts to their best friend. Sharing what happened with Sam made it a little easier to deal with.

  “Earth to Alex.” She waved her hand in front of my face. I caught a whiff of vanilla. Huh—it wasn’t as nauseating as I expected. “Your comfort food is melting. Where did you go?”

  “Just thinking. I want to—I mean I—thanks for coming over.” Wow, that was harder than I thought. Being a loner doesn’t give you the chance to say thank you very often.

  “Anytime. That’s what friends do.” She touched my wrist. “You’ve never done this before, have you?” I shook my head, stupidly teary eyed. “Get used to it. We’ll be doing it a lot.”

  I choked out a laugh. She was right—with everything going on, sessions like this would keep us both sane.

  My phone buzzed on the bedside table. Misty handed it to me, eyebrows raised as she glanced at the screen. “It’s Jake.”

  Uh oh. Calls from him were never good news. I swiped, answered the call. “Jake? What is it?”

  “Sam. He just got in a fight with the Devil.” My heart jumped. I still had scratches healing on my back from the last run in with that monster. I didn’t care what Jake thought—it did not want us around. “I need Candace. Can you get her and meet us?”

  “Where are you?”

  “Hyattown.”

  I closed my eyes. That underground nightmare was the last place I wanted to go. “How bad?”

  “Which one of them?” He let out his breath. “Just get here as fast as you can. And tell Dr. Gorgeous to bring her full kit. She’s going to need it.”

  He ended the call before I could argue.

  “What?” Misty grabbed my hand, worry in her sky blue eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Do you know where Candace is?”

  Misty looked at her watch. “She should just be finishing her shift at the clinic. Who attacked who?”

  I told her, and she paled.

  “You don’t have to go,” I said.

  “Yes, I do.” She took in a deep breath, and swung her legs off the bed. “It’s what friends do.”

  I got off the other side, limped over to the closet to get my bow, and a quiver of real arrows. It helped me focus, and gave me time to push back the tears of gratitude. I knew she wanted to go back to the underground town even less than I did.

  I loved her for wanting to stand beside me, in spite of that fear.

  Her eyes widened when she saw the bow. “Is there one in there for me?”

  Laughing, I swung the quiver over my shoulder. “No, but I can get you a big butcher knife from the kitchen.”

  “Okay.” She was serious. I wasn’t.

  “Let’s go assess, and if you need a weapon, I’ll give you a nice sharp arrow to stick someone with.”

  She studied the arrows filling the quiver. “Works for me.”

  I followed her out of my bedroom, shaking my head.

  I was about to head to an underground town, where the monster who attacked me just did the same to Sam, with a bloodthirsty cheerleader as backup.

  Fabulous.

  8

  Dad refused to let me out of the house until I told him where we were going. Then he refused to let us go without him.

  I could hardly blame him—I practically crawled out last time, wet and bloody. But he’d also been hurt by the monster, and still limped because of his injuries.

  I just hoped we would walk out in better shape this time.

  Since it was Sunday night, on a holiday weekend, Dad parked his truck in front of the McGinty house. It sat at the edge of the neighborhood, most of the houses around it now businesses.

  It was the local haunted house, where kids dared each other to sneak in. It was also where I met my first monster. And where the entrance to Emmettsville’s biggest secret sat in the backyard.

  Dad smiled over at me and Misty. “Ready?”

  Hell, no. “Yeah,” I said.

  Dad laughed, handing us each a flashlight before we all slid out of the driver’s side. Another car pulled up and parked behind us. I saw Candace get out, her medical bag in one hand, and a backpack over her shoulder. She looked tired, and supremely pissed. Jake was going to get an ear-bashing.

  “Which idiot am I sewing back together?”

  “Sam,” I said.

  Candace muttered under her breath, then flashed a radiant smile at Dad when he handed her a flashlight. “Thank you, Lee. It’s good to see one person here with his head on straight.”

  Dad laughed, giving Candace a one-armed hug. “You know you love the excitement. Why else do you put up with Jake?”

  “Idiocy?” But she looked less pissed. Dad has that effect on people—he’s just so easygoing and friendly, they can’t help but respond to him. “Let’s go see how much damage the fools did to each other.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Hyattown was dark. Not surprising, since the Devil was sensitive to light.

  Dad took the lead, shining his flashlight over the sagging wood buildings. Just like before, we followed, one hand on the shoulder of the person in front.

  Footsteps echoing off the wooden boardwalk had us all spinning to our left.

  Jake ap
peared—in the doorway of the building that held the Devil’s nest.

  My heart jumped, and I froze. My breath lodged itself in my throat, along with my heart. I couldn’t go back in there, not in the darkness, with the monster who left the long scratches on my back and gave me nightmares that left me nauseous and sweating—

  “Alex.” Dad’s deep, soothing voice jerked me back. I remembered to breathe. “You’re not alone this time, sweetheart.”

  God, I loved him. He always knew what to say.

  Taking my hand, he followed Candace and Misty, who had already gone inside. Once we reached the door, flickering gold light greeted us, and I spotted the source. Candles, on every flat surface. They filled the room with a soft, ambient light—and highlighted Sam, sitting in a half broken chair, ugly claw marks scoring his bare chest.

  I wanted to run to him, make sure he was all right—and I froze again when I saw it. Her.

  The Devil hovered in the doorway leading to her fabric draped nest. Blood stained the long, curved claws, and it—she—looked almost sorry.

  Candace had her med kit open, and knelt in front of Sam, examining the wounds. He kept his gaze on the wall behind her, not even glancing over when Dad and I came in. That hurt, more than I expected.

  Dad’s voice broke the uncomfortable silence. “How is he?”

  “Stupid, but alive,” Candace said. Sam flinched—and let out a hoarse gasp as she started cleaning the marks. “Hold still. I know it hurts, but I have to clean out any debris.”

  I glanced over at the Devil, to see if it—she—took offense to Candace’s statement. And I almost fell over when I saw the tablet in one clawed hand. I know Jake told me about her being able to communicate. That didn’t mean I actually believed him.

  Watching the monster tap delicately on the screen had my jaw dropping.

  Those glowing eyes found Jake, and held the tablet out to him. He took it, smiling as he read the screen. “I’ll tell him.”