Love Sucks!

by Melissa Francis

  Maybe I shouldn’t be trusted.

  Well, now we know what we need to work on. Lex’s voice in my head startled me. They’ll look for your weaknesses and enter that way. They play on your insecurities. When you feel insecure, you let your guard down. And if I can get back in, so can they.

  I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and mentally slammed the door to my brain. As soon as I felt alone inside my head, I glanced at Lex. The look on his face was somewhere between shock and awe.

  “You’re getting good at that. Too bad you can’t seem to get rid of Robbie. Better work harder.”

  I rolled my eyes and flipped Lex off as we rounded a curve on the dirt path. A huge grassy clearing opened up in front of us.

  The stone ruins of the old church stood about fifty feet away. The roof was completely gone, as was the majority of the wall on the right side of the building. It was both creepy and beautiful.

  “Wow,” I said a little breathlessly. “Now what?”

  “We start with the trees,” Robbie said. “If the runes were hidden here, there will be clues etched in the trees.”

  “Um, I hate to be an idiot, but what will I be looking for?”

  “Trees that are warm to the touch—you’re a key holder, so you should feel their energy. The messages will be etched in a crevice or on the roots,” Lex said.

  “So we’re just assuming that after all these years, the etchings will still be there? That the trees are still standing?”

  “Sweetheart, you’re thinking like a human. These trees are blessed with magic. If the runes are here, the trees are still standing and the clues will be readable,” Lex reminded me. “And if you’re truly a key holder, you’ll find them because you’re supposed to.”

  “Oh yeah. Magic. I spend so much time trying not to be magical that I still sometimes forget.”

  “Here,” Robbie said, pulling three small Mag-Lites from his satchel. “I thought we might need these.”

  We each grabbed a light and split up. I had no idea what I was looking for, but I took Lex at his word and just began to feel the trees. I remembered what the scrolls had felt like when I touched them, how they seemed to hum with a tangible energy that nobody but me could feel or hear. From Lex’s description, I should have a similar reaction to the charmed trees.

  I took the wall-less side of the church, picked a starting point, and began feeling up some bark.

  By tree number fourteen, I was becoming very efficient in bark differentiation. I hopped from tree to tree, feeling for warmth and listening for humming, or whispering, or hoping maybe a squirrel might throw a nut at me or something. Anything. I just needed a sign.

  And that’s when I tripped on a tree root and busted my ass. Okay, not my ass, my knee. My jeans tore, my skin ripped, and a piercing pain shot up my leg.

  “Fuck a duck!” I yelled, biting my lip to refrain from spitting out many more sailorlike strings of swears. I leaned against the tree, feeling the damp leaves soak through my jeans, and pulled my knee up for closer inspection. This was the second pair of jeans I’d ruined in a week. The torn flesh was already beginning to heal, but it was an ugly gash all the way to the bone. I would be feeling this graceful moment for quite a while.

  “You okay, sailor?” Lex called out. “Where are you?”

  “I’m fine,” I said, pushing myself off the ground. “Just tripped over a tree root, like the essence of grace and beauty that I am.”

  I had begun to brush the debris from my pants when a flash of red on the tree directly across from me caught my eye. It was a birch tree with a smooth white trunk, and at its base was what appeared to be a red drawing.

  “Guys? I may have found something,” I yelled as I squatted down to inspect the design a little more closely. It looked like three teardrops intertwined. It was etched into the wood, not drawn. The color was amazing, like it was just freshly done.

  I reached down to trace the design, and as soon as my finger touched the symbol, a rush of heat filled me. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the energy as it pulsated through me. My entire body vibrated. It wasn’t scary, like the scrolls had been. There were no screams, no panicked cries for help, only a rush of endorphins and warmth.

  “Let me see,” Robbie demanded.

  I pulled back, unable to contain my excitement. It was like a runner’s high but without the exhaustion. Lex pulled me out of Robbie’s way, and as soon as he touched me, I turned to him, wrapped my arms around his neck, and planted a celebratory kiss on him.

  He pulled back with a smile. “I may grow to like not being in your head after all. Surprises are fun.”

  I winked. “Yep. They can be.”

  “Fantastic, AJ,” Robbie said. “This is exactly what we’re looking for. This is a Trinity Knot. Oftentimes we’ll see it enclosed in a circle, which tends to mean ‘cannot be broken.’ I think without the circle we’re looking at a much more literal interpretation—the power of three. We’re probably looking for three stones.

  “Also, the fact that this was drawn on a birch tree is very symbolic. Birch trees were believed to ward off evil and also symbolized new beginnings. I think we need to focus our search on other symbolic trees. Rowan, willow, oak, or ash. Though maybe not oak, just because there are so many here.”

  “So avoid pine?” I asked.

  Robbie laughed. “Yes, avoid pine.”

  Lex cleared his throat. “Don’t really think we need to continue searching,” he said, pointing. “Look.”

  We followed the direction of his finger. Behind the birch and to the right stood a willow tree. And to the left stood a tree I couldn’t name.

  “Rowan,” Robbie answered. “In a triangle.”

  The rowan tree was marked with a pentagram, another symbol for protection. The willow mark was a horse head. Robbie explained that the horse often symbolized power, guidance, and protection.

  “Well, all that’s great, but how does this lead us to the runes?” I asked. We had three trees that were warm to the touch, with ancient drawings etched into their bark. It would help if those drawings were maps with an “X” in the middle that said, “Find runes here.”

  Robbie chuckled, obviously hearing me. “Well, I have two thoughts on where to find the runes. I believe we’re looking for three, so it’s possible each is buried separately under or hidden in each tree.”

  “Um, we’re not really prepared for that kind of dig,” I said.

  “No, but neither is Ryan, so at least we’re somewhat safe in that respect,” Robbie said. “However, he can use magic to help him find them, and if he’s skilled enough, it could be a problem for us, especially since there was typically always a Serpentine and a Frieceadan key holder.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked. “He’s a key holder, too?”

  “It’s a possibility we can’t rule out.”

  Great. Just what I needed. More history tying us together that would probably just eventually rip us apart. “So if you don’t think the runes are here, then where?” I asked.

  “The kirk,” Lex said. “I think it would be too obvious here. Let’s try the church first, and if we fail, we come back tomorrow and start digging. I don’t think we have to worry about Ryan finding the runes before we do. He doesn’t really have anything to go on. And if he is a key holder, he doesn’t know it yet.”

  The sun had fully set now, and even though the sky was more gray than black, the wooded area surrounding the church was dark. Inside the church? Even darker.

  There was no longer a door hanging from the hinges. We paused at the threshold and shined our lights inside, scaring a raccoon away. Cobwebs hung like tapestries in every corner. Overall the building was a dilapidated mess, except for the floor.

  “It’s not even rotting,” I said. “How is that possible?”

  “Magic,” Robbie said. “Lex, you were right. The runes will be in here.”

  “What are we looking for now?” I asked.

  “Another symbol. You feel for warmth,” Robbie answer
ed. “Look on the walls, the floor, the dais. We need to check every inch of this building, and do it fast. Ryan will be here soon.”

  Time had slipped by very quickly. I really didn’t want to face Ryan while we were beating him to the punch—it would be much easier afterward to tell him we had the runes, how we got them, why destroying them was a bad idea, and prove to him that we weren’t going to use them for evil.

  We fanned out, each of us taking a section of the small church. I took the pulpit area, which was more like a small stage. I searched the floor, the walls, even the spiderwebs. Nothing.

  No heat, no humming, no etchings, no runes.

  “I’m going to check out the wall-less side, just in case there’s something left to investigate.”

  “Good idea,” Lex said. “I’ve found a couple of other symbols and some Gaelic, but they’re red herrings. Still, the runes have to be here somewhere.”

  I took my time, shining the light along the edge of the remaining wall, pulling vines off, brushing more thready spiderwebs out of my way. No heat. No humming. No symbols.

  I sat on the broken wall, which was about knee high in height, and shined the light along the outside. Maybe they had hidden the runes among the stones on the outside of the wall instead of the inside.

  I did my best Winnie-the-Pooh impression. Think, think, think. I cleared my mind and tried to channel the spirit of the runes. Okay, not really.

  A light breeze blew a pretty purple flower against my leg, and a sudden warmth filled me. Then a gentle buzzing began. “Um, Robbie. Does this purple flower mean anything to you?” I asked. “Because it started humming when I touched it.”

  Chapter 12

  Robbie and Lex leaped over the wall to inspect the flower. “It’s a thistle, the national Scottish flower,” Robbie said.

  “Thistle. Brilliant. Never would’ve thought to search for that. Good on ya, sailor,” Lex said.

  “Did they bury the runes? Or put them in the wall?” I asked.

  “They buried them. How did you find this?” Lex asked.

  “It was an accident. Just like the tree.”

  “No such thing as an accident where this is concerned. You were supposed to find it,” Robbie said. “Now, let’s hope they’re not buried too far down so we can find them and get the hell out before Ryan gets here.”

  Lex bent down and pulled the thistle up by its roots, untangling a small, dirt-covered bag. “The bugger is tied up in these roots. Amazing.”

  Lex stopped fiddling with the bag for a second and cocked his head toward the road. “Shit. Ryan’s here, and he’s got Bridget with him.”

  “He really brought Bridget? What about Oz and Rayden?” I asked.

  “I don’t think the lads are with him now. I don’t hear them on the trail, anyway.”

  “I can’t have this discussion in front of Bridget,” I said. “And I really don’t want to face Ryan right now. Not here.”

  “Probably should’ve thought about that before we parked on the street, sailor,” Lex said, stuffing the bag into his jeans pocket.

  “I’m going to go through the woods so they won’t see me,” Robbie said. “Bridget would believe you two were out here alone. She’d be a little curious about the three of us.”

  “See you in a few, mate,” Lex said as Robbie stealthily took off through the woods. “He’s not much of a fighter, but the lad is crazy quiet. Like his feet are clouds.”

  “Okay, so what are we going to tell them when they get here? We need to get our stories straight, and then later, when we have Ryan alone, we can tell him everything.”

  Lex stepped back up into the chapel. “We’re not going to say one word about why we’re here. They’ll be able to figure it out all by themselves.”

  He switched off his flashlight, laid it on the wall, grabbed me by my waist, and pushed me against the nearest full wall. “I like not being in your head,” he said. “Because now I can surprise you, too.”

  Lex’s palm was warm on my neck as he brushed my hair off my shoulder. With the barest touch of his fingertip, he traced my birthmark, sending chills crashing over my body. My breathing quickened along with my heart as I waited for him to kiss me. Or touch me. Or do whatever it was he wanted to do.

  The anticipation was torture. I bit my bottom lip and did everything in my power to stop from grabbing his head and pulling him to me.

  With a slow, cocky smile, Lex lowered his lips until they were a whisper away from mine. For a moment I thought I would die from waiting. But then he put me out of my misery with a featherlike kiss that weakened my knees. I leaned into the wall, thankful for its support, and just breathed into him.

  I gave myself over to the kiss. Lex’s lips were soft, warm, and he tasted like an atomic fireball.

  I felt like modeling clay in his arms.

  Lex moved his hand from my neck, through my hair, then down to the small of my back, creating another round of chills. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, pulling him as close to me as possible.

  I completely forgot about Ryan and Bridget.

  I didn’t hear them approach the church or see the beam of light from their flashlight. So when I heard the floor creak under their weight, I was so startled I gasped.

  The light immediately blinded me as Ryan pointed it in my face. “What the hell?” he asked. “AJ? What are you doing here?”

  “Would you like a play-by-play?” Lex asked.

  I pinched him under the arm and muttered, “Not helpful.”

  “Um, hey,” I said, thankful for the bad lighting. My cheeks were burning hot, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the kiss, getting busted, or the heat of Ryan’s glare.

  “What’s the deal?” Ryan demanded.

  I had originally planned to just apologize, skirt any questions, and get the hell out of Dodge, but Ryan’s tone had my back up. “I think it’s kinda obvious why we’re here, Ryan. We were tired of having an audience at home. And you?”

  I glanced at Bridget, who seemed a little shell-shocked. She was twirling her hair and not saying a word.

  “We’re doing some extra-credit work for Mrs. Christopher,” Ryan said.

  “Together?” I asked. “Did I miss it when Mrs. Christopher assigned partners?” Okay, so I was being a little petty, but dammit, my best friend went to my ex-boyfriend-now-brother instead of me.

  Bridget shuffled from side to side nervously but didn’t say anything.

  “This is something outside of class, which is why it’s called extra credit. Too bad you can’t get points every time you two are together. You’d have a six-point-oh GPA by now.” Ryan’s voice was full of jealousy.

  Lex smirked, placed his palm on my back again, and eased me toward the door. “You kids don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  The anger on Ryan’s face practically glowed in the darkness. Half of me wished I had Lex’s ability to listen to Ryan’s private thoughts, and the other half was thankful I couldn’t hear it. I bet Ryan’s creative string of words put my sailorness to shame.

  It did.

  Dammit! I let my guard down. “How long have you been in there?”

  “Long enough to know you were jealous,” Lex said as we followed the path to the car. He never moved his hand from my back.

  “I’m not jealous! I’m mad that Bridget doesn’t think she can come to me. And I’m really mad at Ryan for his attitude.”

  Lex stopped, taking both of my hands in his. “It’s all right, love. I told you, I like complicated. And challenges.”

  “I’m not jealous.”

  “You might be a smidge now, but give me a little time and that boy will be just a fond memory.”

  Lex pulled me to him and kissed me softly. I wanted to enjoy the kiss, but all I could really do was concentrate on getting Lex out of my head so I could think alone.

  Just as I was beginning to relax enough to really give in to the kiss, that nauseating smell surrounded me. It was like being punched in the stomach.

  I
pulled away.

  “The Bborim is here.”

  Robbie got out of the car. “AJ, the Serpentines are just messing with your head.”

  “No. I’m telling you. It’s here.”

  A gray fog began to form and thicken, surrounding us in that nauseating bubblegummy smell.

  “You should listen to her,” the scratchy voice came from the fog, but nobody appeared. “She knows what she’s talking about.”

  Lex pressed me between himself and the car as his eyes darted around to see if he could locate the beast.

  “There’s no need to protect her from me, vampire trainer. She’s family.”

  The smell was overwhelming me now, and the more the demon talked, the more nauseated I became. I began to feel feverish, with burning skin followed by chills.

  “Have you figured it out?” the invisible demon asked. “Do you know why you can see me before the others? Why you smell me first?”

  “Enlighten me,” I said.

  “Because you’re special. The others aren’t like you, AJ—you have a gift, and your real family needs you now.”

  I opened my mouth to answer, but before I had a chance to say anything, I felt the car move behind me, like it was under a great weight. I tensed up to react, but I wasn’t fast enough.

  A meaty hand appeared out of nowhere, wrapping around my arm and pulling me off the ground like I was a feather.

  I screamed as Lex and Robbie flew toward us. I was flailing, trying to slip free from the demon’s ironclad grip. Its gravelly laughter echoed in my head at my weak attempt. I finally managed to free an arm and quickly punched the demon in the throat. But instead of letting me go, the demon pulled my arm right out of the socket.

  I went limp as pain seared through my shoulder. I didn’t pass out exactly, but I was damn near close.

  Robbie flew at the beast from behind, slamming into us feet first. It was a powerful hit that knocked the Bborim down a bit, which meant it yanked my arm down with it, sending a whole new round of pain through my body.

  “What do you want from me?” I asked, hoping to distract it while Lex and Robbie attacked.