PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  Henry must be having a difficult time figuring out his wolf senses or something. He’s being abnormally overprotective of not only me but Skeeter, Seth, and Mom, too. So much so, that by Wednesday, I’m ready to scream.

  Mom wanted to go to the grocery store last night, and he had to drive her. Before he left, he practically yelled at me to not leave Seth and Skeeter’s sides.

  “What do you think is going on with Henry?” I ask Seth as we lay down.

  “I don’t know. Did Barry have anything to say about it?”

  “Not really. Just said that this kind of reaction is normal when a wolf’s mate is in danger,” I say and gauge Seth’s reaction. He doesn’t say anything, so I continue. “But Charlotte says that his wolf could be telling him something big is about to happen.”

  We talk about things we’d like to do or try, like bungee jumping, sky diving, and rock climbing. As well as, things we don’t like, snakes, deep water, liver and onions.

  Just as I start to doze off, I’m startled by a rustling noise from outside my door. Seth quietly sneaks over to the door and slowly cracks it to peek out. Then he opens it wide enough for me to see out. Henry’s wolf is curled up in front of my door. He lifts his head and huffs a breath out through his nose, then drops his head to his paws again.

  What is he doing that for?

  Seth shuts the door and comes back to bed. I snuggle close to him and lay my head on his chest again.

  In the morning, Henry decides he’s driving Skeeter, Seth, and me to school. I really don’t understand why he’s being so paranoid.

  Henry looks at Seth through the rear view mirror for the hundredth time before backing out of the driveway. “You swear to me that Miss Jaynie will stay until we get home, and she won’t let my mom leave the house at all?”

  Seth’s jaw ticks. “Yes,” he grinds out. “I promise. All will be well.”

  Henry nods and quickly gets us to the student lot. Then he walks each of us to our homerooms.

  I’m surprised he didn’t go to the office and have his schedule changed to follow us around all day.

  My morning classes whiz by, and before I even realize it I’m walking into the art room. Sitting in the seat next to mine, is Derik. I stop dead in my tracks just inside the door and ice fills my veins again. The person behind me slams into my back, shoving me forward, and out of my trance.

  I glance to Sam, and find him watching me. I look to Derik purposefully and back to Sam. I hope he gets what I’m trying to say, that’s Derik, demon boy.

  When he glares at Derik, I know he understands.

  Slowly, I walk to the back of the room to retrieve my painting, and sneak my phone out of my bag at the same time. I send a text to Seth, Henry, Barry, Tony, and Flynn to let them know that Derik is in class.

  I go to my seat, put my belongings between Skeeter’s and my chair, and sit as close to her as I can.

  A throat clears. “Hey, Jazzy. Long time no see,” Derik says with a snort.

  My hand stills on my canvas and I lock eyes with Sam.

  “Hi Derik, how are you?” I whisper.

  “I could be better,” he says in a tone so sincere, I make the mistake of looking at him. “You could take off whatever Avan gave to you.” My breath gets caught in my chest and my hands fall to my lap.

  He knows Avan is helping me. This can’t be good.

  Derik smirks and glares at me again. Mr. Becker calls for everyone’s attention, something he rarely does, and tells us that he needs the rest of the class to be held in silence.

  I breathe easier and I quickly look to Skeeter and offer a small smile. She smiles nervously, and both of us, shakily, return to our paintings.

  Ten minutes to the bell, Skeeter and I rise and take our canvases to an easel in the back. When I return to my seat, I find an up-side-down canvas on my desk. I glance out of the corner of my eye at Derik, he’s grinning.

  I will not look at this canvas.

  When the bell rings, I grab my belongings, and leave the canvas.

  Just as I get to the door I hear Steve, Derik’s best friend, the one Skeeter said he turned recently. “Mr. Becker, Jasmine didn’t put her project away.”

  I just got tattled on!

  I turn as Mr. Becker tells me to grab the canvas.

  I grab the damned canvas and walk out of the room.

  Barry is so close to the door I nearly smack right into him. He grabs my hand and yanks me through the halls, carefully but quickly. He leads me to the student lot silently.

  “Everyone’s here, let’s go,” Flynn says.

  “Where are we going now and why can’t we finish out the school day?” I ask as I follow the guys with my hand still in Barry’s.

  “Pack house,” Flynn grunts. Barry pulls me to the Jeep as Tony grabs my stuff and tosses it in the back. Then he jogs to Henry’s car. “I call shot gun!” he yells, and Skeeter tries to trip him as he darts past her. We climb into Barry’s Jeep and set off in our mini convoy to the pack house.

  “Did Steve really just tattle on you?” Barry asks and looks into the review mirror.

  I roll my eyes. “Yes he did, and it wasn’t even my canvas,” I shrug.

  “Is he five?” Flynn chuckles from the front seat.

  I grin. “It would seem.”

  The laughing rises to hyena levels. “Mr. Becker, Jazzy didn’t put her stuff away!” Barry mocks, in a girly voice that has us all laughing.

  “Whose canvas is it?” Flynn asks me.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t look.” I shrug. Not mentioning the hunch I have that it’s from Derik.

  “Did you look at it?” Barry asks.

  “No, I didn’t, and I didn’t exactly have time to either,” I remind him.

  “Where’s that canvas at now?” Flynn asks.

  “In the back, wherever Tony tossed it to.” I shrug.

  Seth turns around and grabs it. He holds it so I can’t see it.

  I feel his disgust and rage through the bond as I watch his complexion whiten.

  “What? What is it?” I ask him. His knuckles whiten on the edges of the canvas and he won’t look at me. “Seth!”

  Flynn turns in his seat. “Dude!”

  Seth tears his eyes away from the canvas. “Barry. Turn the car around, and go to Jazzy’s house, now!”

  “Should I tell Henry to go ahead or what?” Barry asks calmly as he whips into a random driveway.

  “No you better have everyone get to Jazzy’s now. I’ll help make calls.”

  I pull my phone out and explain to Henry we’ve decided to meet at home and to get there as soon as he can. I watch him whip into the same driveway we just backed out of. It doesn’t take us long to get home with as fast as Henry was pushing Barry to go.

  I don’t know what’s happening, but I know something’s going on, something, or rather someone, is stirring up trouble. An ominous cloud seems to be hanging over us, seeping into the air and into me.

  Chapter 19

  Hostage Situation

  Leland’s truck in the drive alerts me that there is definitely something wrong. I run into the house just as a white flash filters through the house, announcing Avan and Charlotte’s arrival. I wonder what’s going on. I reach the living room, hearing glass shatter and a roar from the kitchen.

  That’s my uncle.

  I sprint to the kitchen with Henry hot on my heels.

  Miss Jaynie is sitting at the table, crying, with Charlotte consoling her. Avan has a hand resting on my uncle’s shoulder, and Kiron is cleaning up a mess of shattered glasses and plates.

  “What happened?” I ask shakily. I look back and forth between Miss Jaynie and my uncle. Whatever news this is, Henry will probably shift as soon as we’re told, I can feel the heat rolling off of him. Where’s Mom and Alex?

  “You two should sit,” Charlotte says calmly.

  I slide my feet to an empty chair, and Skeeter flops into the one beside me.

  “Just tell me now,” Henry says through his teeth
, as he grips the back of my chair.

  “I’m so sorry,” Miss Jaynie says through her tears.

  My chair trembles. “What. Happened?” Henry seethes.

  He’s about to shift. I can feel his power rolling into my back. It’s weird.

  Miss Jaynie sniffs and wipes her face again. “We were outside playing with Alex when I heard the phone ring. I was only gone two minutes. I don’t know where they are or who has them,” Miss Jaynie says.

  “What do you mean they’re gone?!” I scream as I hop out of my chair. Henry growls, Tony tugs my arm, pulling me back towards the entrance, and Barry shoves Henry towards the sliding glass door. Miss Jaynie apologizes again, and I can’t take it. This has to be some kind of joke. They’re here, just hiding.

  I shove Tony’s hand off my arm and run out of the kitchen. I hear Leland shout again and more glass shatters as growls tear through the house.

  Where am I going? I stop in the living room and fall to my knees.

  Someone touches my back. I feel tingles along my spine, even through my shirt. “Are you okay?” Seth asks as he kneels in front of me and searches my eyes.

  “I . . . ” I whisper and pause, remembering the canvas. “What’s on that canvas?”

  “It’s not good.” He sighs and pulls me up to sit on the couch. When he leaves the room, Sam and Tony sit on either side of me. I purposefully ignore their questioning glances and sighs.

  A minute passes and Seth is back, handing me the canvas facedown. I slowly flip it over.

  The image is just horrible, and the words leave a chill over me that I can’t seem to shake. When my brain processes what I’m seeing, I’m grateful for Tony’s arm being around me, until it starts to shake as bad as Henry was in the kitchen.

  A photo has been taped to the canvas. The photo is of my cousin and mom, sitting in a chair with tape over their mouths. Mom’s hands were taped in front of Alex so he can’t get off her lap. They both have tears streaming down their faces but seem otherwise unharmed.

  What would possess them to take a baby?

  The words painted on the canvas, “Come with me and they will live.”

  “Tony, check on Henry,” Seth says sternly. Tony nods, and jogs out of the room.

  Seth and Sam begin rubbing my shoulders, my arm, telling me that things will work out and we will get them back, don’t worry.

  Don’t. Worry.

  How can I not worry?

  Demons have my mother and baby cousin.

  Not just any demons. The soul sucking demons have my family.

  I push them both off of me and stand. Seth starts to get up, too.

  “No!” I shout, and he falls back to the couch. “Don’t sit there and tell me not to worry and that everything will work out!” I yell.

  The chattering from everyone has stopped. All attention on my outburst, but I don’t care.

  “My mother and my cousin have been kidnapped. Not yours! Do they look fine to you?” I yell and toss the canvas back to the couch. Seth and Sam’s eyes are huge and they both slouch back into the couch at the same time. “That jerk took my family, and wants me in exchange. How is that okay?” My body trembles and quakes, my knees give out before anyone has a chance to move.

  My mom, Alex. They’re just . . . They’re in danger.

  I can’t deal with this.

  They’re in danger and it’s my fault.

  “It’s her fault. You know that’s what she’s thinking,” my brother whispers harshly.

  My body is numb, my mind is fuzzy, and my vision is dark. I can’t find my voice, I don’t know what I feel, I just don’t want to sit here and wait.

  “We can’t let her go to them,” Leland whispers. “I can’t trade her life for theirs. I won’t lose them, or her,” he says, painfully. “We need a plan.”

  Tingles run down my side and I know Seth is close.

  A plan would be a very good start. Now, if I can get my limbs and brain to cooperate, we’d be golden.

  “We need Fane,” someone responds.

  “This means we fight. We have to be smart,” Seth says close to me.

  “I’ll call Fane. Come get me when she’s able to talk,” Henry says as and I hear his footsteps fade away.

  Silence fills the living room.

  And not the comfortable silence either.

  It’s the kind of silence that you can peel away, like the cheap polish on my nails.

  The room comes into focus and I find Leland, Seth, and Flynn watching me, waiting to see if I’m going to fall apart again. Or maybe they’re waiting for another outburst.

  I need answers, we need answers. A plan needs formed, and we need it now.

  I need to know exactly what I have to do to get them back, and how I won’t die in the process.

  That’s the only way we can get them. Me.

  I rise from the floor on shaky legs and lock eyes with Seth. “Let’s talk this out,” I say.

  Seth guides me outside to sit on the porch while we wait for everyone to arrive. I sit next to him on the back steps, and hug his arm.

  He rests his cheek on the top of my head. “You okay now?” He asks.

  I sigh. “I’m sorry for freaking out on you and Sam.”

  “Apology accepted,” he whispers. “Let’s talk this through.” He sighs and picks up my hand, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.

  I glance up. “What exactly would you like to talk about?”

  “The fact that in your head the only option we have is for you to go to Derik,” he says flatly.

  “I don’t intend to sneak off and try to save them myself,” I say pulling away from him. “I know everyone would go insane and try to rescue me. Including you,” I grumble. “We’ll come up with a plan to save my mother and my cousin,” I say, determined. “They will live, and not be demons. I will survive this. We all will.” He sighs, but I don’t let him respond. “I have to do this,” I say quietly. “Skeeter needs a few people with her to protect her, maybe Henry will stay with her.”

  “I don’t think he’ll be very happy with leaving either one of you,” he responds.

  “He doesn’t have a choice.” I shrug and go back to my original thoughts. “I think Derik and ‘friends’ have to think I’m alone. Of course, I won’t be, but they won’t know that until it’s too late. Derik wants me. I was the human who he couldn’t persuade with compulsion, right?” He nods, so I continue. “Obviously that pissed him off more than just me turning him down.”

  “I’m not happy about this.” He looks away from me. “There has to be another way,” he says quietly.

  I don’t have to seek out our bond to know that he’s freaking out inside, near as much as I am. It’s visible. His knee is bouncing, he won’t let go of my hand, his jaw is clenched shut, and the expression on his face and in his eyes is torn.

  “Do you know of a shape shifter that can take the form of my clone?” I nearly wheeze. My ribs still hurt, and the yelling and panic I just did, hasn’t helped one bit.

  “I wish that was even a possibility,” he murmurs and pulls me to him gently. I feel the emotions running through him. Rage. Concern. Worry. Fear. And acceptance. “Promise me that . . . ” he pauses and lightly traces the freckles on my cheeks with the pad of his finger. “Promise me that you’ll protect yourself,” his breath fans across my cheek. “Promise me that you’ll listen to every option first. Don’t just let this be the only way.”

  My free hand travels up to rest on his shoulder, lightly grazing the bare skin at the collar of his shirt. “I promise,” I whisper. “We don’t have a plan, yet.”

  He gives me a small smile and then kisses my lips.

  ‘I love you,’ he says telepathically. My eyes pop open the same time my lips stop moving.

  He notices the change in me and opens his eyes just as the door slams behind us.

  “Are you freaking kidding me right now? You choose now to play “suck face” with your boyfriend? What is wrong with your head?” Henry yells. My eyes
open wider and my mouth falls open in shock. “Whatever,” he spits and turns to go back inside.

  Quickly finding my voice, I become defensive. “I don’t have to justify my actions to you, Henry.” His back stiffens and his eyes pierce me in a way that makes me feel gutted. “I’m sorry,” I say and take a step towards him. He glares at me harsher. “I promised Seth that I’d protect myself as much as possible. Sealed it with a kiss,” I say quietly.

  He glances to Seth and back to me. “And why would you have to promise that?”

  “When I go, I’m not going to be able to take any of you. If I don’t protect myself, can you really trust Derik not to hurt me?”

  Henry starts trembling, not just a little, but earthquake trembles that shake the candle on the banister. He’s going to shift.

  I take a step backwards, closer to Seth.

  Abruptly, everything stops, and Henry starts laughing. “You almost got me, Beautiful.” He blows out a breath and runs his fingers through his hair. “Like Fane would let that fly. Not in a million years,” he laughs. “By the way, everyone’s here in case you want to pitch your plan to them, too,” he snorts and pushes the door open.

  “Hey,” Seth says as he hugs me. “I’ll be right here the whole time.”

  I can tell he believes in me, but wants Fane and Athan to come up with something better. “You know I’ll need your help. Up until the moment we make our move. Don’t leave me, please,” I whisper.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he says into my hair.

  We head into the house and follow the sounds of voices to the living room, again.

  I lean against the wall and just watch and listen for a few minutes. Henry is trying to stay close to Skeeter. Skeeter is trying to put some distance between them. Charlotte catches my attention with a wave, and crosses her eyes and sticks out her tongue while pointing to the back of Avan’s head. I snort and grip my side again.

  I spot Fane, talking to Athan and Leland closer to the front door, so I tug Seth’s arm and we begin weaving through people to get close enough to hear.

  Leland nods to something they said and turns around, glances at me and gives me a torn smile. He looks like a broken man. I have to fix this. My uncle is fun, free spirited, happy, and energetic. This is not him.