by Brea Essex
“He didn’t seem that bad. And he’s not that old. He helped Logan find me,” I pointed out.
“Well, don’t worry, Rae. We’ll find something to change your Logan back. I need to do some research. Why don’t you meet me here in a few days?”
I breathed a sigh of relief, glad that she was willing to help me. “So you think you can change him back?”
“Yes, of course! I’ll fix Logan, I promise.”
I thanked her and left. Walking back to my car, I began to feel a little better. Ismene would find an answer.
Chapter Fifteen
I stopped in the middle of the hall as I saw him walking toward me. Nuada bumped into me. She decided to join me at school as a new student. It would be easier for her to help me if she was with me. “That’s him, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I answered shortly, still watching his approach.
“I knew it. My vision is a little different when I’m a cat, but I can smell him.”
“What?” I broke my intense study of Logan to stare at her.
“He smells… well, like an angel.”
I had to laugh at that. “What exactly do angels smell like?”
She sighed contentedly, closing her eyes. “Like sunshine and brightness.”
Logan reached us before I could answer her. “So, Raena, who’s your friend?”
Apparently, he was going to deign to speak to me today. “This is Nuada.”
“What an unusual name,” he responded. His eyes were trained on her, completely ignoring me. “It means ‘protector’, doesn’t it?”
“Very astute,” she told him.
“We’ve had this conversation before, Logan,” I cut in. “Don’t you remember?”
He turned toward me. I could never get used to the hardness of his eyes. I missed the molten emerald color of before. They still appeared glassy, unmoving. I hated the way he now wore his black waves slicked back from his forehead. It just didn’t fit him. My fingers jumped involuntarily at my side, itching to reach out and brush his hair across his forehead the way he’d previously worn it. He had taken to wearing a leather jacket daily, something I hardly ever saw him wear before.
“Wow, Raena, stare much? This is why I don’t talk to you. You act like a crazy stalker. And no, I don’t remember this supposed conversation. I don’t remember any of these conversations you claim to have with me. Why don’t you keep your imaginary discussions to yourself from now on, hmmm?”
My face flamed. “You think I imagine having conversations with you?”
“Well, I know they’ve never happened. The question is, do you know? I know you already dream of me. You seem to be stalking me. It’s not such a stretch of the imagination to think that the next step in your insanity is to have pretend conversations with me.” He reached out and grabbed my chin, pulling my face close to his. “It’s okay, Crazy, I won’t have you committed. A pretty face like yours doesn’t belong in an institution. You might want to look into some medication, though. I don’t want this obsession of yours to grow to the point where I wake up in the middle of the night to find you in my room watching me sleep.” He released me and chuckled. “Oh wait, that already happened. But seriously, Raena, you need professional help. My mom used to work for the police department. I’m sure she could recommend a good psychiatrist.”
As I watched on in horror, he turned back to Nuada. “Now then, lovely lady,” he murmured, sliding one finger up and down her arm. “Why don’t you and I go someplace away from Crazy so we can get to know one another?”
“Logan!” Sera’s voice came from behind him. As one, the three of us turned to look at her. “What are you doing?”
“Just getting to know the new girl,” he answered nonchalantly.
“That’s not what it looked like from here.”
He sauntered over to her and slung one leather-clad arm across her shoulders. “Aw, come on, Sera. You know you’re the only one for me.”
She glared at Nuada and me. “Stay away, you freaks. Logan’s mine.”
I opened my mouth to refute her claim, but decided it might not be such a good idea so close to Logan’s accusations saying that I was obsessed with him. Nuada cut in instead. “He will never belong to you, Serafina.”
How did she know Sera’s full name? I didn’t think I had ever mentioned it to her. I would have to ask her later, because now certainly wasn’t the time or place.
Sera’s eyes widened as they focused on Nuada, as if she was really noticing her for the first time. “You! How dare you show up here?”
“I have as much right to be here as you do.”
“Do you two know each other?” I asked.
“Let’s just say we go way back,” Nuada replied.
Logan tugged on Sera’s arm. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.” Sera glared at Nuada one more time as she turned to walk away.
Nuada and I stared after them. “That wasn’t so bad… right?” she asked.
I gave her a withering look. “If that wasn’t bad, you’re crazy.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll handle it. We’ll get him back.”
“What about her?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, I’ll deal with her.”
“Seriously, what’s with you two?”
“Never mind. Don’t worry about it.” She pushed at my arm. “Let’s go to your first class.”
****
Andrei
I was summoned to the throne room. I knew this could only mean one thing. The Queen was displeased.
The guards did not challenge me when I reached the ornate, double-door entrance. They simply stood aside and inclined their heads, one hand in a fist over their hearts in a required salute. “Lord Andrei,” they intoned in unison.
I approached the dais slowly, unsure of how volatile the Queen’s mood was. Kneeling at her feet, I took her proffered hand and kissed the glinting signet that graced one slender forefinger. “You wished to see me, Your Majesty?”
“Time is running out,” she said simply.
“I know.”
“You must bring Logan over to our side.”
“I understand,” I told her.
“Good.” She waved a hand in dismissal.
I had to ask, even knowing my life was forfeit for questioning her. “My Lady? What of Raena?”
The Queen glared down at me, but deigned to answer. “The girl? Kill her.”
I knew better than to protest. She would kill me if I tried. Actually, she would get the guards in here to slay me. The Queen would never get her hands dirty. Instead, I simply bowed, then turned sharply and fled the throne room. I tried to seem as though I wasn’t in a hurry. If the Queen knew my haste, she would call me back. Something had to be done. I had to save Rae.
Chapter Sixteen
Tanis came barging into my room early Saturday morning. “Get up!” she sang as she yanked my curtains back.
I squinted as the light flooded my room. “What do you want?”
She sat on the foot of my bed and started petting Nuada, who was curled up on my other pillow. “Let’s talk.”
“You woke me up at—” I stared at my clock “—seven in the morning on a Saturday because you wanted to talk?”
“You’ve been — well, a mess lately. Ever since Logan broke up with you, you haven’t been yourself.” She hesitated. “Actually, since Andrei kidnapped you, you haven’t been yourself.”
“I wish you and everyone else would just leave me alone. I’m sick of talking about it. I’m done. Now get out of my room.” I pointed at the connecting door.
“Fine.” She stood up. “I’ll leave you alone… for now. But remember that I’m here if you want to talk.” She walked out of the room without another word.
I couldn’t stand it. I had to get out of the house. I threw on the first clothes I found in my closet. I didn’t want to take the time to find my keys and get in the car, so I just ran out the front door. I jogged all the way downtown to the Village and out to the pier. I knew it
was dangerous to be out on my own, so close to the site of my nightmares… so close to where Logan and Andrei both had so easily placed a portal to the Shadow Imperium.
Logan. My breath caught at the thought of him. I’m pretty sure my heart skipped a couple of beats. I skidded to an abrupt stop. I had been plagued day and night by memories of him. Even practically sprinting out to my favorite hideout couldn’t rid me of him.
People were starting to give me funny looks, and I realized that I was still standing in the middle of the sidewalk. I continued toward the pier, walking at a more normal pace. I treaded carefully across the planks. I wasn’t so distracted that I forgot my fear. It’s not that the pier was rickety; it’s just that I hate anything resembling a bridge. Especially if it’s wooden. Especially if it’s over the ocean. This, unfortunately, was both. There lies my mistrust of it. But it’s quiet out there, thus its continued appeal. I wouldn’t run into Logan and Sera there.
It was even colder than usual, I realized as I began to shiver. It was already the beginning of fall, and a chill lingered in the air. I hadn’t stopped to check the weather before I took off from my house and hadn’t thought to grab a jacket. Well, I would stay out here until I couldn’t stand it anymore and then head home. Maybe the cold wind would clear my head. I had to get Logan out of my mind. I either had to accept the fact that he was with Sera now, or pray that he miraculously freed himself from her spell and returned to me.
As I was gazing across the roiling ocean to the Monterey peninsula, I heard footsteps fall on the boards. I waited for them to pass, but they stopped behind me. I had a fleeting wish that it was Logan behind me, that my thoughts had summoned him to me. I mentally kicked myself. It was probably just a stranger enjoying the day, but yet I had hoped it was Logan. He was impossible to forget.
“Rae?” a deep voice questioned.
I stiffened, instantly on high alert. I knew that voice! It had offered me coffee, expressed sympathy over my mother’s demise. It had threatened and cajoled. I squeezed my eyes shut while a litany of “Oh no oh no oh no” ran through my head. I shifted my weight, readying to run, all the while knowing that there was no way I could outrun him.
“Raena, please, I have to speak to you,” Andrei begged.
I turned slowly, sucking in breath to scream. I realized quickly that there was no one around and I exhaled forcefully. He stood directly in my path. I didn’t think I could get around him.
“Please don’t run. I need you to hear me out,” Andrei said.
I considered it for a moment. There was no escape, so maybe if I tried to listen to him he would let me go. “Have you forgotten everything that you did to me? Are you not remembering the chains, the starvation? How about the fact that you tried to kill Logan?”
His eyes were glassy and his face looked drawn. Had he been crying? “Words cannot express how sorry I am, Raena. I never should have treated you like that. I went about things in the wrong way. I really did care about you. I still do. My jealousy got the better of me. I just couldn’t stand seeing you with my brother.”
What? What did he mean ‘his brother’? “Your brother?” I asked, voicing my thoughts.
Andrei looked pained. “I shouldn’t have said that. Forget I said it.”
But I couldn’t forget. “Do you mean to tell me that Logan is your brother?”
“Yes,” he admitted.
“Why didn’t he tell me? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Logan doesn’t know. As for me… well, I had my reasons.”
“But that would mean he’s a-a…” I trailed off, unable to admit what had finally dawned on me.
“A devil,” Andrei supplied. “Yes, Logan is half-devil.”
“That can’t be right!” I insisted. “The priest said that Logan is an angel!”
“He is.”
I was quickly getting confused. “This doesn’t make sense. Which is he then?”
“He’s both. Logan is my half-brother. His father is an angel. His mother, and mine, is one of the Fallen.”
My mind was reeling. It was a lot to take in. “So, why did Logan say that he was left on his parents’ doorstep? He said he didn’t know who his real parents were.”
“He doesn’t.”
“But you do?” I asked skeptically.
“Of course I do! We grew up together.”
“You’re not making any sense. I thought he ended up at his parents’ house when he was a baby.”
“He was.”
We were startled by a footfall behind us. Andrei glanced over his shoulder. It was just a mother with two small children.
“Look, we can’t continue to discuss this out in the open like this,” Andrei whispered. “Can we go to your house?”
I laughed at him. “Do you really think you would be welcome in my house after what you did to me?”
His face fell. “Right. How about my place?”
“You mean the Shadow Imperium? No, I don’t care to repeat that experience.”
“No, no, the house I maintain in the Earthly realm.”
“The one where you tied me to a chair and then dragged me through a portal? You’re crazy if you think I’ll go there with you — or anywhere for that matter,” I told him.
“Look, do you want to hear the rest of my story or not? I promise, we will not leave the Earthly plane, and I will not tie you up or anything else.”
My curiosity was beginning to win out over my better judgment. I needed to put the brakes on this. “I don't think so. I still don't quite trust you, Andrei. I guess we can drive around and talk.”
“All right. But I promise you can trust me.” He crossed his heart and I laughed despite myself.
I stared at him for a moment, trying to see if he was truly sincere. “I hope I can believe that someday,” I finally said. “Anyway, we're taking my car. I’m still not agreeing to help you. I’m only going anywhere with you because I want to hear the rest of your story, and it’s obvious I’m not going to get it if we stay here.”
He looked relieved. “Please believe that I only want to help you.”
“Well, I hope you’re telling the truth. I don’t want to be thrown into shackles and starved again,” I said ruefully.
Andrei winced. “I never wanted to do that to you. My hand was forced.”
“What? You’re going to blame it on me now?”
“No, not at all. Just please come with me. I’ll explain everything.”
I had run out of the house without my car, so I had to head home before I could hear Andrei out. No way would I let him drive me home, so he insisted upon walking with me. “Andrei, I want to walk by myself.”
“I know, but if I let you walk by yourself, you might run off on me and then I won’t get to explain.”
“You’re starting to sound a little stalker-ish again,” I warned him.
He gave me a sheepish look. “Sorry. I just want a chance.”
“Don’t think your ‘explanations’ are going to make me suddenly want to date you again. I’m with Logan.”
I sucked in my breath as I realized what I had just said. “Technically, you’re not with Logan,” Andrei pointed out.
“Well, not right now!” I said indignantly. “But we’ll be together again once Sera’s spell is broken.”
“That’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about. I think I can help you, not that I really want to see you with my brother again… but I’d rather see you happy with him than be miserable without him,” he admitted.
We reached my street before I could respond. “You should wait here, out of sight,” I told him. “You’re not exactly welcome at my house, considering everything.”
“Understood,” he said with a nod.
“Let me grab my car, then I’ll drive around the corner and get you.”
Andrei agreed to wait and I disappeared around the corner. I wandered down the street to my house and remembered as I reached it that I hadn’t grabbed my keys when I fled the house. I would have t
o go inside and hope I wouldn’t get too many questions.
Opening the front door as quietly as I could, I poked my head in and peered around. No sign of anyone. I breathed a sigh of relief and stepped carefully into the hall, leaving the door ajar behind me.
I snuck over to where my purse was hanging from its peg.
“Raena!”
I jumped guiltily and spun around to find Genevra standing in the entrance to the kitchen. “Yeah?” I asked tentatively.
“Where were you?”
I tried to quickly assess her mood. She didn’t seem angry, just curious. “I walked down to the Village,” I explained.
“Why didn’t you drive?” she wanted to know.
“I didn’t think about it. I came back for my car.”
“Oh, okay. Well, don’t be too late!”
I pulled my purse from the hook and slung it over my shoulder. I backed out of the door and closed it. I practically sprinted for my Malibu, hoping that Genevra wouldn’t decide to come out and question me further.
I got in and drove around the corner. I stopped next to where Andrei was still standing and leaned over to open the passenger door. “Get in,” I ordered him.
He climbed in, slamming the door shut behind him. “Will you drive me to my car when we're done?”
“You actually have a car?”
He laughed. “Of course I have a car! I can’t just fly everywhere. It’s pretty conspicuous. Besides, it’s really tiring.”
“Okay, I’ll take you back to your car later.”
“So, are you going to start explaining now?” I asked. “I mean, don’t let it be said that I’m not patient.”
Andrei gave me a funny look, as if he didn’t know whether to laugh or not. “It’s okay to laugh,” I told him. “It was a joke. I’m definitely not a patient person.”
No sound came from the passenger seat. An old acoustic album spilled from the speakers. “I never pegged you for an emo kid,” Andrei finally said.
Now I laughed. “I’m not. It’s fit my mood lately though.” I continued to drive aimlessly. “Start talking.”
