Bait

by Kasi Blake

  #

  Bay-Lee descended half an hour later, clunking down the staircase while wrapping a band around her hair several times to form a high ponytail. She had to make it extra tight and high because her hair was heavy and gravity was not her friend. Noise from the television intruded on the otherwise quiet foyer. They were talking about the dead singer again—or still. She rolled her eyes, thinking he’d gotten what he deserved. Not in a good mood, she struggled to be civil even in her own head as she tried to figure out what to say to Connor about the party. There had to be a way to sway him to let her stay home.

  Entering the living room with a dramatic sigh, she plopped down in the big chair next to the couch. “I don’t want to go to this stupid thing. You know how I feel about Halloween.”

  “I thought you loved to party.”

  “No. I love to dance at clubs. A Halloween party in the school gymnasium is not my idea of a good time. It’s going to be so lame. I bet they’ll be bobbing for apples.”

  Connor glanced up from his bi-monthly weapon maintenance routine and frowned. Although they always lived in modest houses in the suburbs, he looked like he’d be more comfortable in a trailer park. He rarely shaved and refused to wear anything that didn’t look like it had been dragged behind a van. “The neighbor’s kid is going. They talk like everyone will be there. If you’re MIA, someone might get suspicious.”

  “I had a fight with Chloe this morning.” Although she felt bad about losing her new friend, the situation allowed her a glimmer of hope. “They’ll understand if I don’t show.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.”

  “You could forbid me to go. Why can’t you ground me and ruin my life like a normal parent?”

  “Cause I’m a cool dad.”

  “You aren’t as cool as you think you are.”

  His confused gaze checked out the camouflage pants and Army green shirt she’d chosen in a fit of rebellion. He raised a solitary eyebrow. “I thought it was a costume party. What are you supposed to be?”

  Feeling extra defiant, she smiled. “I’m a hunter.”

  “That isn’t funny.”

  “Oh come on, it’s a little funny.”

  Maybe Connor needed a reminder she didn’t play well with others. She lifted her pant leg and pulled a wicked looking hunting knife from its sheath. Using the sharp tip to clean under her fingernails, she smiled. Connor vacated the couch long enough to take the knife from her. He tossed it on the coffee table. It landed between his sawed-off shotgun and his .38 caliber.

  “Leave the artillery at home.”

  “What?” She blinked at him, uncomprehending. He couldn’t seriously want her to walk out of the house unarmed. “Are you serious? Something could attack me. What do I do then?”

  “Depends. If you are alone, use your extensive combat training and put some of those tricks I taught you to good use. You don’t need a weapon to take a monster down. If there are witnesses, I want you to scream like a girl and run in the other direction.”

  She rolled her eyes again, a bad habit she needed to break because it always seemed to piss off people. “Moron.”

  “Hey. That isn’t a nice way to talk to your uncle-slash-pretend-father.” Shooting her a glare, he added, “Change your clothes. There has to be a suitable outfit in your closet. You can dress like a gypsy or a nerd or something.”

  Arguing with Conner at this point wouldn’t help. The man was totally irritating when it came to fights. Wrong or right, he stood his ground. No one could change his mind about anything once he picked a side. She left him to his maintenance and went upstairs to her bedroom, stomping her way there. In her mind a loud voice insisted she ignore her uncle and refuse to go to the party. That would teach him to order her around like a child.

  She entered her bedroom and slammed the door even as the voice in her head conceded she would go. If Connor thought attending a stupid Halloween party was the right thing to do, she would do it. She tore through a few dresser drawers in an attempt to find something else to wear. Maybe going as a hunter wasn’t the smartest choice.

  “Look at you,” a familiar voice said.

  She spun around, startled, hand to throat.

  Gavin was at her window, his body half in and half out. Wearing a stupid grin, he clung to the window ledge as if he was on the verge of drowning and it was a floatation device. His feet were on the slanted roof, a precarious position to be in considering the loose tiles.

  Bay-Lee knew the tiles were loose because she used the roof as an escape route when she wanted to go somewhere without Connor knowing about it. She smiled at Gavin. He was the sweetest boy she’d ever met and being around him made her a better person. He was the only normal thing in her life. Well, sort of normal.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked.

  “I told you I would bring a ladder and sneak you out.” His confused gaze slid down her from head to toe. “What are you wearing? Is that your costume?”

  “I’m going as irony,” she said, tongue in cheek.

  “Can’t you go as a naughty nurse instead? On the way over here I was picturing you in a short-short white dress with stockings that go all the way up to… very sexy.”

  Bay-Lee shook her head and laughed. “You are such a boy.”

  “Or… we can get you a Lt. Uhura costume.” His curious gaze swept the interior of her room, taking in the neon colors with a wry twist to his lips. “Can I come inside for a minute? I’ve never been in your bedroom before? Thought it might be fun.”

  “If Connor catches you, he’ll kill you. Will that be fun?”

  Willing to take the risk, Gavin climbed inside while grinning from ear to ear. Once he was standing on her carpet, she realized he was dressed like a Star Trek officer, big surprise. He had a gold uniform shirt on with the Star Fleet emblem and black pants with shiny boots. Onto the next subject, he said, “You are going to make an awesome hunter someday.”

  “Don’t jinx it. Van won’t commit to a date yet. If he doesn’t hurry up, I’ll be eighty before he lets me into the school.”

  “I love how you call your dad by his first name. You are the coolest girl I’ve ever met.” Gavin sat on the edge of her bed and patted the spot beside him in silent invitation. Sometimes he wore a clueless expression like he had no idea what was going on, but she was sure it was all an act. Still grinning, he added, “I am so glad he gave me this mission.”

  “Well, I’m happy you’re happy.”

  “Are you kidding me? This is the best assignment I’ve ever gotten, following you around, pretending to be your boyfriend. I know you’re eager to get started with your training, but I’ll be sorry when this ends. I’ve had a lot of fun with you.”

  “Stop it.” She thumped him on the head with her pillow. He could be awfully sweet, and sometimes she forgot they were only pretending. She sat next to Gavin and hugged his waist. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she added, “You always make me smile.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.”

  Before Gavin could get any ideas about what they should do next, she stood up, pulling him with her. She pushed him toward the open window. “Change in plans. I’ll meet you at the party. There’s something I have to do first.”

  She wouldn’t be able to relax until she knew why the reaper had given her the warning. All her life the Order had been hunting her with murderous intent. So what had changed? There was only one place she could find the answer. She was going to have to cross over and confront the reaper. Somehow she was going to get it to tell her everything.