by K. C. Blake
When he stepped an inch to the right, she stepped to the right.
By the time he had the tardy slip in his hand, he was irritated beyond belief. He’d had enough of her. She didn’t seem to notice. Although he hurried down the hallway, she managed to catch him. He turned on her halfway to class. “What do you want from me?”
She smiled with a look of pure innocence on her face. “Want from you?” She slipped off her leather jacket. The lacy black top beneath conformed to her curves like a second skin. Once again he got a picture in his mind of Adam and Eve in the garden, being seduced by Satan, only this time the serpent was a girl.
Unaware of his thoughts, Isobel said, “I don’t know what you mean.”
She advanced.
He retreated—so fast that he bumped into the lockers behind him. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop playing games with me. Tell me what you want, or get the hell away out of my face.”
With a coy smile, she walked away. She wasn’t going to tell him anything. He had no choice but to follow her to Beckett’s History class. Never before had a girl (hunter) scared him like this. Her mere presence twisted his guts into a thousand knots. A new fear entered his mind. The dark-haired girl didn’t just want to kill him; she wanted to destroy him from the inside-out.
******
His classes slid by at a purely torturous rate. Isobel managed to be in every single one of his classes, and she always found a way to sit next to him even if the desks on both sides of his were already occupied. Every time he glanced her way, her eyes were on him. She leaned over several times, asking to borrow paper, a pencil, anything she could think of. Jack was eager to tell Silver. Hunters had a code they lived by. If Silver told Isobel to back off, she would.
Or maybe she wouldn’t. On second thought, she didn’t seem the type to play by the rules. By the time the lunch bell rang, Jack realized he was in serious trouble. He bolted from his seat, hurried into the hall, and went straight to Silver’s locker. Part of him hoped the new girl would follow.
She did.
Isobel caught up with him at the locker and asked, “You want to have lunch with me? I can promise you an interesting conversation. At least my half will be interesting.”
Her fingers slid up his arm, and she squeezed hard.
“Excuse me?” Silver stood behind Isobel, arms crossed over her chest. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Isobel turned slowly with a strange, knowing smile on her face.
The two girls squealed with delight. They hugged each other while Jack watched, dumbfounded. Silver jumped up and down, more excited than Jack had ever seen her. It was ridiculous. Had she won some sort of secret lottery?
She turned the dazzling smile in Jack’s direction and explained, “This is one of my best friends in the whole world. Can you believe it? She’s back.” Her eyes returned to Isobel. “Wait a second. Why are you back? You told me you were shaking the dust of this school off your feet and wouldn’t return on a dare.”
Jack stood off to the side, and his eyes narrowed on Isobel’s face. Maybe she would give Silver a straight answer. He waited, hoped, and listened.
“I couldn’t find a decent job without that little crap piece of paper they call a diploma. So I figured if I had to go to school anyway, it should be at good old Jefferson Memorial.”
The girls began to talk about the good old days when they used to hang out together. They talked in code, and Jack didn’t understand half of it. Not that he wanted to. He wanted to swing the conversation to something a little closer to home. After a few more confusing minutes, he interrupted their back-and-forth.
“This is the girl I told you about,” Jack finally said. “The hunter who found out about me. The one with me in her sites. It’s her.”
Silver’s smile faltered. “Is that true? Are you hunting Jack?”
“What if I am?”
Not even a fake denial. The bottom dropped out of Jack’s stomach. If this girl wanted him dead, he had the feeling he was dead. Good thing Silver wasn’t going to give up on him. Her angry look from a few minutes ago returned with stunning ferocity.
“You can’t do that.” Silver grabbed the other girl by the arm and yanked her close. She lowered her voice, but the angry bite remained. “He’s human. If you kill him, you’ll be committing murder.”
“Oh, don’t tell me you believe that crap about vampires turning human again.”
“It’s true. If you don’t believe it, ask my mom and dad.”
“What?” Isobel jerked a thumb over her shoulder at Jack and said, “Your dad knows about this guy and hasn’t sliced and diced him yet? What is going on in this town? I leave for a year, and everyone loses their minds.”
“I’ll tell you everything if you give me a few minutes. Don’t judge him until you hear the whole story. Then you’ll understand.”
The two girls headed for the lunchroom. Neither one looked back to see if Jack was going to join them. He remained rooted to the spot, stunned by the strange turn of events. Before he could do anything, Silver’s main best friend, Trina, came to an abrupt halt next to him.
“Please tell me that wasn’t Isobel Hannigan I just saw.”
“I think it was.” His eyes narrowed on Trina’s face. He was trying hard to ignore the multicolored stocking cap teetering on the top of her head. “Why? What do you know about her?”
“She’s a psychopath.” Trina shoved a stack of books into his arms. She knelt down, tied the neon green strings on her denim shoes while she babbled. “That freak took me hunting one time. She is more than intense. She really enjoys killing. I mean, I know Silver does the same thing and all, but Silver feels bad at least about taking a life, even if it is only a werewolf. No offense.”
“None taken.”
Jack had seen the compassion and the regret in Silver’s eyes when she killed a werewolf. She cared about the human being they used to be and didn’t enjoy destroying them. She definitely didn’t enjoy her job as a hunter. On the other hand, he could see Isobel eating up every second, reveling in the power it took to kill.
Trina straightened up and took her books back. “I wouldn’t get on her bad side if I were you.”
Too late. “Why does Silver like her so much? How long have they known each other?”
“Isobel was a sophomore when Silver and I were freshmen. She protected us from a bully one day, and she beat the crud out of the other kid. Of course Silver didn’t need protection, but her parents had warned her to blend in and act normal. She was trying hard not to show off her combat skills.”
Jack sighed and rubbed a point between his eyes. His head began to throb. The pain grew in intensity with each passing second. With a groan he said, “I think I’ll go out to the car and rest before my next class.”
“Don’t let Hardwick catch you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back before the warning bell. If you see Silver, tell her where I am.”
******
Only Jack didn’t return for his afternoon classes. His headache continued to get worse as the day progressed. He stretched out in the front seat of his brother’s car, feet propped up in the open window, and listened to the radio playing quietly in the background. He glanced at his watch. It was almost time for school to be dismissed. At least he’d be able to talk to Silver in a few minutes.
By the time he heard students talking and laughing, he had nausea on top of the headache. Maybe he should have driven home earlier. He could have talked to Silver over the phone, but it was too late to make that decision now. He sat up and watched students pass him by. The sun beat down through the windshield, making him uncomfortably hot. A mental picture of iced tea taunted him.
Jack climbed out of the car and leaned back against the closed door. He waited alone for ten minutes. Every now and then a student would shout his name and wave at him. The parking lot slowly emptied until there were just a few cars left. Still no sign of her. Where was she?
Isobel appeared at his side and answered his unspoken question. “She’s talking to her guidance counselor about college. Kind of strange how things change, isn’t it? Who would have thought little Silver Reign would be dating a former vampire.”
“We’re not dating, not anymore.”
“Oh.” Isobel’s smile widened. “Good to know.”
Jack opened the car door and got behind the wheel. Knowing Silver, she would probably be inside for a long time. He was going home. He could talk to her later on the phone or in a dream. Before he could start the engine, the passenger side door opened. Isobel got inside without requesting permission.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“Are you afraid of me, Jack?”
“Don’t be stupid. Why would I be afraid of you?”
“Uh, duh. Because I’m a hunter, and you were a vampire. You don’t have to be afraid of me though.”
“I’m not.”
“Right.” Isobel arched her back and lifted her butt off the front seat enough to slide a hand into one of the pockets. Her black jeans were so tight he didn’t imagine there was enough room in there for even a piece of paper. She pulled her fingers free, sat back down, and produced a tiny gray stone. “Here. Take this. It will give you the answers you need.”
Jack hesitated for a moment before taking the stone and studying it closely. “What is it with you hunters and rocks?”
Isobel’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “Did Silver give you a rock?”
He’d said too much.
“Of course not.” He really needed to watch his mouth around this girl. “What am I supposed to do with this thing?”
“Put it under your pillow tonight when you go to sleep. You’ll have a dream. Remember that dream. Then you and I can talk about it tomorrow. Trust me. You want to do this. You want the answers.”
Did he?
Jack turned away from her. He clenched his teeth as another wave of pain traveled from one side of his head to the other. It hurt worse than when he’d been stabbed by the werewolf. He let the rock drop to the seat. Taking a deep, slow breath helped. After a couple more breaths, the pain receded.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Isobel said. She got out of the car and slammed the door a little harder than necessary. Another round of shooting pain went through him.
Jack watched Isobel walk away. He didn’t drive off until he saw her get into her own car. Once again he wondered what it was about that girl that had his insides twisted into a million knots. His hand automatically reached for the stone. He took another look at it and wondered if it was a magic rock like the one Silver had given him.
Tonight he was going to sleep with it under his pillow.
Maybe.
******
Chapter Five:
REVELATION
A couple of hours later the stone in Jack’s pocket started to weigh more than a boulder. He was ultra-aware of it, unable to stop thinking about it no matter how hard he tried. Once in a while he slipped a hand into the pocket and fingered the stone as he played with the idea of placing it beneath his pillow. It was even smoother than Silver’s rock and cool to the touch. Should he listen to the dark-haired huntress and sleep with it tonight? There was something a little bit evil about the girl. He most certainly didn’t trust her. It would be stupid to do what she told him to do. Still…
…his curious nature demanded satisfaction.
A huge fist settled in Jack’s stomach. He had been waiting anxiously for Billy to get out of bed. A few minutes ago tell-tale thumps and bumps began above him, signaling Billy was finally awake. Jack waited for his brother to shower and come downstairs, feeling more impatient by the second. Staring up at the ceiling from his prone position on the sofa, he willed Billy to move faster.
Jack reached the end of his patience. He was about to get up, storm Billy’s bedroom like a raiding army, but his brother was descending the stairs while buttoning the cuffs on his sleeves. Jack jumped off the couch. He walked around it and stepped into the foyer to meet Billy at the bottom of the staircase.
“You want to watch a baseball game with me?” Jack asked.
“Uh…sure. Just give me a second to grab something from the kitchen. I’m starving.”
“Already got it covered.”
Jack hurried to the refrigerator and grabbed a plate with two sandwiches on it, ham and cheese, cut in half, and a bottle of beer. Knowing his brother, he’d anticipated Billy’s need for food, so he’d prepared the sandwiches as soon as he got home from school. Billy wasn’t hard to please in the cuisine department. As long as he had a loaf of bread and something to slap between the slices, he was a happy man.
If he ever got married, his wife would have an easy job when it came to creating meals for him.
And that’s what Jack wanted to talk to his brother about. Billy had gone out every night for the past two weeks, but it seemed he spent more time at his girlfriend’s house than he did hunting. Jack hadn’t even met her. That bothered him more than anything else.
He returned to the living room and handed Billy the plate. Billy had taken up residence in their dad’s old chair. Jack gestured to the television screen and asked, “What’s the score?”
Billy shrugged, showing more interest in the food than in the television. He peeled the plastic off the plate and took a big bite. “Mmm. Good. We got any chips?”
“I don’t think so.” Jack sat in the center of the sofa. He wasn’t much interested in the baseball game either, but he pretended to enjoy it. “We haven’t watched a game together in a long time.” He chuckled, trying hard to sound casual. “Kind of hard to do when you’re never here.”
Billy’s eyes slid to his, narrowing slightly. “Why do I get the feeling this isn’t small talk? What’s on your mind, bro?”
“Nothing. Just making conversation.”
“Well stop it.” Billy grabbed the remote and turned the volume up so high that talking became an impossible chore.
Jack didn’t mind not being able to talk right then. He still wasn’t sure how to approach the subject of the girlfriend yet. If he used one wrong word, Billy would block him out entirely.
For over an hour they watched the game in silence. Billy finished his meal before setting the empty plate on the coffee table. He went through three beers as well. By the time the game ended it was getting dark outside. Billy glanced at his watch. He stood and stretched arms high over his head while yawning.
Halfway through the game, Blanca had pranced into the room. She’d settled on the other end of the sofa. Once in a while she would give Jack a disdainful look as if he’d forgotten something important, but he ignored her.
Now he reached for the remote and shut the television off. “Are you going to see her again tonight?”
“Who? Mary? You know I am. What’s your problem?”
“Have you tested her?”
“Tested her for what? Rabies?”
It was time to bite the bullet and get it over with. Billy was already on the defensive. Nothing Jack could say would help at this point. He remained seated because it would be harder for Billy to punch him in the face if he wasn’t standing.
“Have you tested her?” Jack repeated the question. “Are you sure she isn’t a vampire or a werewolf or one of the other numerous evil things roaming around this county?”
Billy laughed, not a touch of humor in it. “What is your childhood trauma, man? Mary is a sweet and pretty human girl. Thanks for asking.”
“So you tested her then?”
“I don’t have to test her. I’ve been a hunter for almost ten years. I think I can tell when I’m in the presence of something inhuman.”
Billy stormed out of the room and picked his jacket up off the foyer floor.
Jack trailed after him. “Have you ever taken her to lunch during the daytime? Have you even seen her in the daylight?”
“I sleep during the day, moron, and so does she because she works nights. We both do. I guess
I must be a vampire or a werewolf because I only go out at night. Hmm?”
Jack was getting nowhere. He asked himself what Silver would say in this situation. She was good at talking people into seeing her point of view. He lowered his voice and chose his words carefully. “I care what happens to you. Okay? You’re my brother. This wouldn’t be the first time a vampire or werewolf used seduction to get close to a hunter. If she isn’t one of those things, then testing her shouldn’t be a problem. Do it for me. One little test, and I’ll shut my trap.”
“One test and you drop it forever?”
Jack nodded.
Billy sighed. “Fine. I’ll invite her over to meet you during the day. Is that good enough for you?”
Again Jack nodded.
Billy leaned against the door. “How are things going with you? Did you talk to anyone about getting the extra credit?”
“The new teacher, Carver was okay with it, but he told me I’d have to get Hardwick’s approval.”
“Hardwick?” Billy groaned. “Man, you’re screwed.”
“I know. I guess the only thing left to do is to tell Silver. It’s not like I have a choice anymore.”
Now, with the words out in the open, he knew it was the right thing to do. Silver might be upset at first, but she would deal with it. In fact she’d probably be so worried about how he was taking the news that she would try to make him feel better. As long as she wasn’t too disappointed in him, he could handle anything.
Billy clapped a hand on his back. “So you’ll graduate after summer school. It’s not the end of the world.”
“What about you and Mary? Are you serious about her? Do you love her?”
“I honestly don’t know. I think about her all the time. When I’m with her, the time flies, and when I’m not with her, I’m wishing I was. If it’s not love, it’s the closest I’ve been to it. I’ve even given some thought to marriage lately.”
