by Ginna Moran
Jacqueline steps out and closes the door. “That was thoughtful, thanks. I’d love to.”
Nadia reaches over and loops her arm with Jacqueline’s, surprising the hell out of me. Last night she freaked when Jacqueline barely touched her hand. I’m not sure what’s changed, but I don’t like it. It’s going to give Jacqueline more reason to stay here if she has friends.
“Aren’t you a little old to be friends with Nadia?” I ask.
“Stop acting like nineteen is ninety,” Jacqueline thinks.
I stop myself from arguing. I doubt it’ll make a difference. I just have to wait and see where fate takes me whether I like it or not.
NADIA
Jacqueline’s eyes are puffy and I can tell she hasn’t slept at all since I saw Hunter. My nightmare inflicting is getting to her. She’ll never get any peaceful sleep if I continue to visit him. But I don’t want to stop. I’m even going as far as faking my friendship to find out more about the boy trapped in Jacqueline’s mind.
Her dark, curly hair strays in all different directions and she uses her fingers to comb it. We stroll to my favorite spot just to the right of the gardens in a grassy area people avoid for no other reason than nothing is there.
Jacqueline helps spread the blanket and I set the bag of blueberry muffins down. I sit cross-legged and Jacqueline kneels, adjusting her legs to the side, before smiling.
She pushes her hair from her face. “I never thought I’d actually like living here.”
“It’s fine if you like boring. There aren’t many young people. I have a tutor because there aren’t even enough kids to hold a class.”
“Try sitting through a lecture on human history. It’s not even right. They leave out all the good parts relating to our world.”
“Well, I doubt anyone would believe that most influential people are manipulated by enchantresses or how Napoleon Bonaparte was a troll.”
We both laugh and it’s nice hanging out with someone who doesn’t know what I am. Jacqueline is closed off, but I don’t think it’s to protect herself from me—she seems to be in a constant battle with herself, like she has some personal demons.
“Nadia?” It’s Alyssa.
My forehead crinkles and I peer over my shoulder. Alyssa lifts her eyebrows when our gazes meet. Her red hair is pulled into a side braid and shimmers a coppery color in the pale morning light. She’s wearing a Chevron-patterned, blue cotton sundress and nude sandals and has a small silver purse tucked under her arm. She presses her glossed lips together and says, “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
I grin because she’s being dramatic. The compound isn’t that big and she probably knew I was going to pick up Jacqueline the moment I made the decision to. The corners of her eyes crinkle when I roll my eyes, a gesture Jacqueline can’t see because she’s behind me. “I have to take Jacqueline to the meeting hall, remember?”
Alyssa plays with the hem of her short dress. “I figured we could do something after. The council is going to be pretty busy today.” She doesn’t even have to say what she’s thinking. I know she wants to leave the premises again.
I glance at Jacqueline before meeting Alyssa’s gaze again. “We should all hang out after.”
“I’d love to,” Jacqueline says. I lean back and look at her upside down before looking back at Alyssa.
Alyssa lifts an eyebrow. “I don’t think Jacqueline will like what I was planning.”
“Why?” Jacqueline asks.
I shift to look at her. “Because you went through all the trouble to get here and we want to go out.”
Jacqueline’s eyes widen. “I—” She pauses.
I touch her knee. “It’s okay. We can just hang out tonight.”
She shakes her head. “No, it’s cool. I think I can handle it.”
“You’re right, you can handle it,” Alyssa says. She plops on the blanket next to us.
I grin. “Perfect, we’ll go after Jacqueline’s meeting.”
Jacqueline shifts and presses her lips together. “Only if I survive it.”
Alyssa reaches out and touches Jacqueline’s shoulder. “Everything will go smoothly,” she says. “You’ll just be painfully bored.”
“Thanks for the reassurance. I’m really nervous. What should I expect? What do you think they’ll ask me?” she asks Alyssa.
“The meeting is open to everyone so it’s possible you’ll have an audience. They’ll ask what are you, where’d you come from, how’d you find us? The standard stuff.”
“Oh.” Jacqueline’s voice is so soft that I swivel on the blanket to look at her. Her eyes shift color and she looks off into the distance.
I reach out and touch her arm. “What’s wrong?”
Jacqueline hesitates for a split second before she says, “I’m a necromancer. People tend to be afraid of me. I thought that information would just be for the council and whoever I choose to tell.”
My mouth forms an O, but I don’t say anything. I’m caught off guard because she’s lying. Necromancers can communicate with the dead, use the spirit world to heal people, and reanimate corpses, not hold souls hostage. It takes a lot in me to keep my cool. If she wants to pretend to be a necromancer, that’s her prerogative, and I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt that she lied because she is really scared to admit what she is. It’s not like I’ve been very forthcoming either. I get it.
“That is so cool.” I hope I sound genuine.
She shrugs. “Not really. Someone always bothers me.”
Alyssa clears her throat. “It’s better than constantly seeing future predictions. I’d switch abilities with you any day.”
I’m surprised by the tone of Alyssa’s voice. I’ve never heard her snap like that before and I wonder what’s going on in her head. I raise my hand up before Alyssa can say anything else. I need to tell her what’s really going on. “I need to get Jacqueline to the meeting hall.”
Jacqueline releases a breath and gets to her feet. As I get up, I raise an eyebrow at Alyssa in the silent question of what the heck she’s doing, and she shrugs. She helps me with the blanket and I give her the extra muffin from the bag to keep her quiet on the short walk.
We stop in front of the main building and I turn to Jacqueline. “Just take the elevator to the basement and Roxanne will be waiting for you there. She’s the council’s assistant.”
“You’re not coming in with me?” she asks.
I shake my head. “I’m not really on anyone’s good side there. You’ll be fine. I’ll meet you right here after, okay?”
She frowns, but doesn’t ask any more questions. “Sounds like a plan.”
My chest tightens and I watch her pull open the door and enter the building. I can’t believe she agreed to leave the premises with us and I hope she buys my fake friendliness. I can’t ever trust a girl who weaves lies and keeps secrets. I’m only nice so I can invade her dreams.
HUNTER
“Why didn’t you beg her to come with us?” I ask.
“Because I don’t need anyone to hold my hand.” Jacqueline’s voice is quieter in her mind than usual. She’s nervous.
“Why didn’t you tell them what you really are? Afraid of something?”
“It’s just easier this way. People know what necromancers are and they aren’t as threatening as me. They only play with the dead when I focus on the living.”
“What if they ask you to raise the dead?”
“They won’t.”
The elevator doors ding open and Jacqueline steps on and hits the button for the basement. I’m actually kind of surprised that the council has such a tall building. Most the facilities back home are a few levels underground. You have less to worry about that way. It’s easier to lockdown the facility and keep people out...or in.
The red light on the elevator camera blinks and Jacqueline looks at it for a second before staring at her reflection on the mirrored wall. Exhaustion mars her face. Dark under-eye circles look like bruises and her curly hair has ta
ken on a life of its own. The council is sure to sympathize with her. Anyone with a heart would.
When the elevator doors slide open, we are greeted by a huge smile from Mr. Soto. He’s talking to a woman dressed in a purple gown way too formal for a meeting. Her strawberry blond hair is tied in a thick braid that reaches the floor and I’m guessing she’s the receptionist Nadia told us about.
“Jacqueline, welcome!” Mr. Soto’s voice booms through the small waiting room. A suede couch is pushed against the wall across from a small desk with a computer and telephone, and the rest of the room is empty. No artwork or anything. “I hope you found your way around all right.”
“Yes, Mr. Soto, thank you. Nadia has been very kind to me. She even brought me breakfast,” Jacqueline says.
Mr. Soto clears his throat. “Yes, right. Hopefully she didn’t do anything to scare you off. She isn’t very social.”
“Oh, Javier.” Roxanne grabs his arm. “Nadia is a sweet girl. What would Dmitri say if he found out how unkind you’re being?”
Mr. Soto huffs, adjusting his bow tie. “He won’t hear about this now, will he?”
An awkward silence falls over the room and Jacqueline stares at her trembling hands. “What do I say?” she thinks, rubbing her hands together.
“You’re asking me?” I ask. Well, this is a first.
“Yes. Hurry.”
“Make it out as a joke,” I say. The best way to ease a tense situation is to joke about it. It’s always worked for me.
Jacqueline shifts on her feet. “I’m sure Mr. Soto was only joking,” she says, her voice as smooth as velvet. “If Nadia isn’t very social, then I’m a pariah.”
Mr. Soto barks a laugh and rests his hand on Jacqueline’s shoulder. “Come on, Jacqueline. The council is waiting and they’re sure going to love you.”
8. LIFE WITH A DREAM BOY
NADIA
Alyssa grabs my hand. “She lied to us.” She pulls me away from the building and I follow her down a small stone walkway until we’re away from anyone that could overhear.
I turn to face her.
She tilts her head close to mine and whispers, “She’s not a necromancer.”
It takes me a minute to collect my thoughts. I have so much to tell her, but I want to know her thoughts first. “Did you see something?”
She puffs air through her lips and shakes her head. “I’ve met a necromancer before and their eyes don’t shift color like hers do. Have you noticed them?”
I look away. I want to keep Hunter to myself a little longer. “I have.”
“Why would she lie?”
I glance around. “She’s afraid of something.”
“You think so?” Alyssa’s eyes glass over and she stares off into space for a moment before bringing her attention back to me. She blinks a few times before adding, “You don’t think, you know. What aren’t you telling me?”
I’ve been dreading telling Alyssa what I know because invading Jacqueline’s dreams without her permission is wrong and I’m afraid Alyssa will judge me, or worse, tell me to stop. “It’s all so complicated, Lys. I accidentally caught Jacqueline sleeping last night, but when I invaded her dreams, there was a boy there. He was real. A soul trapped in her head. You’re right about her not being a necromancer. She’s a sin-eater.”
She tugs on her braid. “We have to tell the council she’s lying.”
I press my lips together and turn away. Alyssa doesn’t even think twice about the wrong I’ve done to Jacqueline. “No. We can’t. You don’t understand. Hunter needs me.”
Her forehead crinkles. “Is that the soul? They can help him.”
I sigh. “Please, let me figure this out on my own. You don’t know that the council will help him. They don’t always intervene in this kind of thing.”
“You like him,” Alyssa says.
“I don’t know. I’m trying not to. I’ve only visited him twice.”
“Twice? You know you can’t have a life with a dream boy.”
I lift up my hand to stop her. “Just forget about it.”
She looks away. “What if Jacqueline is dangerous? She’s lying to everyone for a reason. I want you to be careful.”
I purse my lips. “Let’s just get through the day. Maybe she’ll tell us the truth and then I’ll decide what I’m going to do about Hunter.”
She stares at me in surprise before turning to face the perimeter wall. “I don’t like this, Nadia. I don’t trust her. Maybe it’s not such a good idea to take her with us.”
I touch her arm and she turns to meet my gaze again. “You said it’ll be fine.”
She sighs. “For now it is.”
HUNTER
The council’s meeting room is a small auditorium. Three people sit behind a table for four draped in a navy blue table cloth. A chair is placed to their right with a small table positioned next to it and a pitcher of water and an empty glass sits on top the table.
The size of the Creature Council is underwhelming considering it’s three times smaller than the board. Mr. Soto guides Jacqueline on stage and I chuckle. This is less of a meeting and more of a performance, and I can’t help but find Jacqueline’s awkwardness hilarious.
She glances at the few random supers in the audience before she takes the single seat, facing the council. I bet she’s freaking out and wished she had begged Nadia to tag along with her.
“Please state your name,” Mr. Soto says, drawing Jacqueline’s attention to the council.
“Jacqueline Matthews.” Her voice is a notch louder than a whisper. She stares at a woman in a black pantsuit with straight, blond hair and rimless glasses. “I don’t believe it,” she thinks to me. “That woman is human.”
I’m just as surprised that there is a human on the council. I thought they were here to protect and act as a governing body for supers. Next to the woman is a young man with a shaved head and clean face. He’s much more casual than the others, in basketball shorts and a tank top, and he looks ready to leave. Beside him is a young girl with jet black hair and electric blue eyes. She’s wearing a flower-patterned dress and giant beaded earrings that peek through her hair.
“Please state the desired length of residency,” Mr. Soto says.
“Permanently,” Jacqueline rests her hands in her lap.
Mr. Soto thumbs through a stack of papers. “Please confirm your species.”
“Necromancer.” Jacqueline is still holding onto the dead people whisperer façade. I wonder what would happen if someone found out she was lying or if they happen to have another necromancer here that asks too many questions.
Mr. Soto smiles and turns his head toward the audience. “The floor is open for questions.”
Jacqueline glances at the almost empty audience again before staring back at her hands. I’m seriously dying to talk to her, but I’m scared she’ll toss me into the void. She plays with the hem of her dress and shifts, crossing her legs at her knees instead of her ankles.
Jacqueline clears her throat when no one raises their hand. “Can I ask questions?”
Mr. Soto nods. “Why yes, anything.” She really does have him wrapped around her finger.
“I’ve only been submerged in the supernatural world for a few years and I’ve only heard rumors about the Creature Council after I lost my brother to an HPA agent. Can you explain the structure more?”
I’m glad she asked. I was wondering the same thing.
“Is that what you really want to know?” the human woman asks. “You’ve been staring at me like I have two heads.”
I chuckle.
Jacqueline links her fingers together before meeting the woman’s gaze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. I just didn’t expect there to be a human on the council—I don’t know if you read my file, but I’ve had some bad luck with them.” If I had eyebrows, I’d raise them.
The woman presses her lips together. “It’s that kind of attitude that is hindering the supernatural race from melding back into human society
.”
I almost feel bad for Jacqueline. “Forget I asked,” Jacqueline says. “I have no other questions.”
“Oh, Veronica, you know she didn’t mean anything,” the girl with jet black hair says. She looks at Jacqueline. “How much do you know about the HPA and its board?”
Jacqueline swallows. “Only that they want to eradicate all supernatural creatures by any means necessary.”
The girl smiles. “That’s only partially true.” She nods at Veronica. “Veronica was a lead scientist for the HPA and worked on an experiment using DNA from supernatural creatures to create a virus to make humans less susceptible to illness and cancer. Things went wrong when the HPA took extreme measures to capture different creatures and of course people were going to fight back. After an attack on their facility, killing nearly all their scientists, the founder of the HPA put together the board with generous financial sponsors and now spends all their efforts on wiping out all non-human people.”
Veronica folds her hands on the table. “As Ana mentioned, the HPA was headed in a direction I couldn’t live with. I lost my husband and son to them.”
Jacqueline covers her mouth. “How awful.”
“We live and learn,” Veronica says. “I was only able to leave because one of my patients helped me. I was able to find protection here and eventually a spot on the council.”
“We’ve been around much longer than the board,” Mr. Soto says. “We have no qualms against humanity and you shouldn’t either.”
A silence falls over the room and I draw into myself. I’ve never heard about half the things they said. They make the HPA sound corrupt and violent, but really, most of the agents and scientists are conditioned to fear supers and follow orders. Being stuck in Jacqueline’s head has given me a different perspective. Maybe I’ll be like Veronica when I get my body back.
“Yes, Mr. Soto,” Jacqueline says quietly.
