by Natasha Deen
“You went back in time?” asked Serge. “How is that possible?”
“Because you’re a supernatural creature,” said Craig. “You can exist in many times and space.”
“To recap, I wasn’t smart enough to give Nell a proper message from the future, but I was powerful enough to dive fifteen years into the past.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” said Craig. “Your powers are growing, which makes them unpredictable.”
“But why would I have gone there?” I asked. “Is it a warning or just my powers acting up?”
“I don’t know,” said Craig. “You and the serengti are similar, you’re both protectors. But for a serengti, their charge is the most important thing and they will protect them at any cost.”
“That sounds like Maggie,” said Serge.
“Any cost,” Craig repeated. “Their morality isn’t like ours, which means they have no problem crossing lines we wouldn’t. Because of that, they straddle both light and dark.”
“If they’re all named Serena, does that mean they’re female?” I asked. “I was thinking of Nell’s warning—”
“He comes in the light,” said Serge.
I nodded.
“A serengti begins life as a human of any gender, but once they transition, they’re female.”
“Besides, the mermaid isn’t the one to fear,” said Serge. “You wouldn’t hurt a kid or an animal, and that’s the only way one of them would go after you.”
We talked for a little longer but got nowhere.
“I bet we could find out stuff if we went to the other side,” said Serge.
“It’s not a bad thought,” said Craig. “Mags, I’ve been thinking about you and your mom. Do you know anything about her?”
I shook my head. “Dad never talks about her.”
“You’re saying he’s been dead quiet about her?” Serge grinned.
“That was so bad I felt it in my teeth,” I said. “But yeah, quiet as the grave. Why are you asking?”
“Since Serge and I are going to the other side, I thought we might see if we could find some information on her,” said Craig.
“I thought you weren’t allowed to see anything concerning me,” I said.
“I’m not, but I don’t like what’s happening. Something terrible’s going to go down and my instinct says your mom’s part of it.”
“I wish I could help,” I said. “But I don’t know her name, I don’t even know what she looks like.”
Craig gave me a quick kiss. “It was worth a try.”
“Let’s go,” said Serge. “I bet we can find something.”
The guys left. Sleep wouldn’t come and I was alone in the dark, wondering about the connections that bind us, even when we can’t see them.
Chapter Eight
Nell was waiting for me in the kitchen when I came down the next day. “Thought we could grab some Tims,” she said. “I’m in the mood for a double-double. Any progress on the soul-eater?”
I caught her up on what we’d learned.
“So, you’ve got nothing.”
“Less than nothing. I feel—”
“Stupid?”
“Thanks.”
“Why waste a bunch of words when one word will do? How stupid do you feel?”
“Stop it. How am I supposed to stop this thing and free the souls, and then save my mother?”
“One thing at a time, kitten.”
Dad came down the stairs. “Hi Nell, I didn’t realize you were here. Did you want some coffee?”
“We’re going to get some at Tims—hang on a second,” I said. “Dad, didn’t you let Nell in the house?”
“Nope.” He went to the coffeemaker. “Just got out of the shower.”
“How did you get in here?” I asked her. “Nancy’s on night shift.”
“One word,” she said as she headed for the stairs. “Pluck. You coming or what?”
Dad raised his coffee in salute.
I grabbed my coat and bag.
“Is Casper joining us?” Nell asked.
“He’s with Craig on the other side.” I tucked my keys in my pocket and went outside.
Nancy was pulling into the driveway. “Hey kid,” she said, after she’d parked. “Your dad around?”
“Yeah, having coffee.”
“Hold up a sec.” She glanced at the front door. “What happened last night?”
“What do you mean?”
“Milton Larry came down to the station, ranting and raving about your dad threatening his safety.”
“That’s not true,” said Nell. “He threatened Mr. Johnson.”
“How do you know that?” I asked.
“Pluck.”
“I swear to god, Nell, you tell me that one more time—”
“It’s online.” Nell peeled her gloves off with her teeth. “I bookmarked it.” She took out her phone and opened the video for Nancy. “Your dad is fierce. He’s all polite and low-key, but check out the look on his face. He could take out Loser Larry barehanded.”
“We really have to talk to your dad about his tendency to channel General Sherman every time your safety or reputation’s on the line,” said Nancy as she handed the phone back. “I calmed Larry down, for now. But Hank’s got to lay off on challenging that lunatic.”
“Good luck with all of that,” I said. “Did you know Principal Larry’s carrying a gun?”
“A gun? You sure?”
“Maybe a knife. He told Dad he was carrying protection.”
Nancy’s lip curled into a sneer. “Larry is an overgrown kid from one of the richest families in town. He doesn’t need any more protection than what his parents and siblings offer. No matter what he does, he’ll always be covered by them.”
“And he’s the principal of our school,” said Nell.
“We should go,” I said. “He hates me enough that if I walk into class a second late, it’ll be detention.”
“Be careful with Larry,” she said. “That guy’s wound tight, and you’re the one who ended his hero.”
“I’ll protect her,” said Nell.
“And who will protect the principal from you?” Nancy went into the house.
Nell and I headed out and drove the icy roads to Tims, then to school. Traffic was busier than usual. Even though the delay could risk me getting detention, I was happy for the extra time away.
“Your almost-mom’s not wrong,” said Nell. She pulled into the parking spot and left the engine running. “Loser Larry has a way of looking at you that makes my skin crawl. He hates you.”
“He’ll have to get in line.” I sipped my coffee and reached for a chocolate Timbit.
“It’s going to get worse. You haven’t been to school for a couple of days, and in that time, you solved another murder. Your cred is growing and he’s just a little man with an even smaller—”
“Nell.”
“—Life.” She took my hand. “Don’t be alone with him. Even if he calls you into his office, get someone to go along. Someone who’s alive. I love Casper, but he’s not much help if Larry’s throwing down and you need a witness to back up your story.”
“Maybe he couldn’t corroborate.” I unbuckled my seatbelt. “But I bet if he turned solid in front of the principal that would take care of business.”
Nell cut the engine. “All I’m saying is be careful.”
I didn’t argue, but what Nell didn’t know was that the hate was mutual. Part of me wanted the principal to try something, just so I had an excuse to vent all my anger. Most of me was smart enough to stay away from anything that would put me on that tempting path. Still, I wasn’t afraid. Whatever Principal Larry started, I would finish.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Maggie!” Tammy appeared in a whirlwind of flannel and floral pe
rfume and wrapped me in a vice-grip of a hug. “I haven’t seen you in ages.” She pushed me away and gave me an accusatory glare. “We’ve been texting and texting—” She gestured to Bruce, who stood behind her. “—And you don’t answer.”
“My phone died.” Crap and I’d forgotten to charge it.
“Everything in this town is dying,” said Bruce, prying Tammy away and giving me a hug. “How are you?”
“Okay, I guess.”
“I can’t believe what’s happening. Serge, Kent, now Rori.” Tammy’s eyes misted. “It’s like something has it out for the kids of Dead Falls.”
“Yeah,” said Nell. “The adults, ’cause they’re the ones behind all those deaths.” She glanced down at her phone and frowned. “Nancy just texted me. She says you’re supposed to call her.”
I took Nell’s cell and stepped away. Nancy picked up on the first ring. “What are you and Serge up to?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Why is he surfing police resources, looking up your dad?”
“Uh—” Crap. He must be back from the other side and following up on what he’d found out about my mom.
“Uh-huh. I just got a call from Frank, who wanted to know if I was rethinking my relationship with Hank.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him it was background stuff to keep Larry happy, and he bought it.”
She didn’t sound super mad, which was a good thing, still… “You make the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted.”
“Nice try. I’m not above grounding you.”
“I’m sorry.” I glanced over my shoulder, but no one was paying attention.
“Don’t push it. Do I want to know why you’re doing background checks on your father?”
“Uh, eventually, but for now, it’s best if you have plausible deniability.”
“Fine, but lay off on using my resources for whatever you’re up to.”
“Yes, ma’am. Hey, about your lasagna, that would be so good for dinner—”
“Go to class.” I heard the smile in her voice as she rang off.
“Everything okay?” Nell asked when I handed her the phone.
“Some technical stuff, no big deal. What did I miss?”
“There’s a lot of talk—” said Tammy.
“Gossip,” said Nell.
“Talk, gossip. Everyone’s freaked out about the murders and what’s going on in town. They think Dead Falls is cursed.” Tammy stopped and waited for my reaction.
“Who’s ‘they’?”
“Kids, mainly, but a few parents,” said Bruce. “That’s why Tammy and I thought it would be a good idea to start a support group.”
“That makes sense—” I said.
“For ghosts,” said Bruce.
“—And that makes less sense,” I finished.
“See what happens when you’re gone,” murmured Nell. “They lose whatever common sense they had.”
“Face it, stuff’s going down,” said Bruce. “We can either bury our heads in the sand or deal with it.”
Cripes. The last time Tammy and Bruce tried to help, they brought a Ouija board to my house. As soon as it was under my roof and the game had connected to the combined energy of me, Serge, and Craig, a group of poltergeists had been unleashed.
“How are you going to face ghosts?” I asked. “Or have a support group for them?”
“Don’t be silly,” said Bruce. “The group is for like-minded individuals who want to communicate and start friendships with those on the other side. Maybe if there’s more understanding of their culture and ours, there would be less anger from the—”
“Alternate-life groups? Those on the faint end of the heartbeat spectrum?” offered Nell.
I elbowed her in the ribs. “Stop helping.”
“What?” She grinned. “You haven’t heard the best part.”
“Best part?”
“We want you to be the president,” said Tammy.
“Me? Why?”
“You’re a death magnet,” said Bruce, then grunted when Nell caught him in the stomach with her elbow.
“Be sensitive,” she said. “Sensitive.”
“I know you like the sound of that word, but I don’t think you know what it means,” I said to her.
“I may have said it wrong—” Bruce eyed Nell and stepped out of her range. “But face it, Maggie. Death follows you. Have you ever considered you might have psychic powers?”
Thank god I’d finished my coffee or else I’d have choked on it. “Uh—”
“We should continue this conversation later,” said Nell. She pointed to some kids who stood on the outskirts. A few of them were recording us. “Somewhere private.”
“How about my minivan tonight?” asked Tammy. She smiled at me. “We can get some food from the Tin Shack and hang out.”
“Sounds good,” I said, watching as Nell strode over to one of the kids and plucked his cell phone out of his hand.
“Hey!”
“Just checking what you’re taping. Calm down.”
“I have a right to record anything in a public space,” he said.
“No, you don’t. Cells aren’t allowed to be on during school hours.” She tapped on the screen.
“Don’t erase it!”
Nell used her small size, dodging out of the guy’s way, then spinning from his grasp. “I didn’t erase anything. I did send myself some of your more interesting photos.” She tossed the phone at him.
He grabbed for it, accidentally flipping the phone back at her.
Nell caught the cell and, taking his hand, pressed it into his palm. “I see you video-taping me and mine again, and those photos go straight to your momma.”
He muttered something as he turned away.
“You know what you are?” I put my arm around her shoulder.
“Plucky?”
“The pluckiest. Come on, let’s get to class.” An eraser whizzed by our heads and slammed into the locker.
“What did I say?” In one swift move, Nell grabbed it and swung to face the kid.
He raised his hands. “Prove I did it.” He turned his back on her.
She whipped it at him, hitting him square in the back of the head.
“Hey!”
“Prove she did it,” I said.
He glared, but did nothing as we walked away.
I smiled at Nell, but the churning started in my stomach. This was too much like what had happened at all the other schools. Dead Falls was the place I’d managed to avoid the label of “freak,” and that was in large part because of Nell.
If kids were losing their minds over me, that was fine. I’d lived through worse. But if they turned on her…I flashed her another smile as she looked my way, but the shadow was expanding, gaining weight and substance, and bringing with it bigger, badder things.
Chapter Nine
Bigger and badder happened two hours later. Lunchtime. My locker. Shaving cream oozed out of the vents, and the only good thing about it was that it hid the slurs written over the door in black marker.
“Those jerks,” said Bruce. “When I find them—”
“Don’t sweat it,” I told him. “It’s a locker, and it’s not even mine. It’s property of the school.” Big words and a casual smile to cover up the sick feeling inside. A crowd of kids gathered around us. Among them, the guy from earlier. The one who had taken the video. He smirked and lifted his cell.
My raw emotions must have worked like a beacon because Serge appeared next to me. “You’d think being dead would give me a pass,” he said. “But you should have heard the riot act Nancy gave me once she found me in the house.”
How did she find you?
But his attention was on the locker. His face turned scarlet. “Who did this?” He swung aro
und. “Tell me who did it and I’ll grab their—”
How did she find you?
“Mags, there are bigger things to deal with right now.”
I’m trying to keep it together. Look around, we have an audience. I can’t cry in front of any of them.
“She texted me and asked where I was.”
That almost made me smile. Next time you’re hiding from the fuzz, don’t answer her texts.
Nell and Tammy came up with Mr. Donalds, the janitor. He inspected the locker as he set down his bucket and sponges. “Never thought I’d be cleaning your locker like this, not since Serge died.”
“Sorry about all the graffiti,” said Serge.
That was ages ago, I told Serge. Don’t give it a second thought. “I can clean this up,” I told the janitor. “I’m sure you have other stuff to do.”
Nell eyed the kid with the phone. Her mouth went into a flat line and she took a step toward him. I grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “It’s not worth it,” I said.
She gave me a long look but stood down. “Is it me or is it cold in here?”
“It’s cold as cold can be.”
She took out her phone and checked her texts for Serge’s messages.
I bent down to get the rubber gloves, but the janitor stopped me.
“You have enough to deal with,” Mr. Donalds said. His baby face turned pink. “I’m sorry for this. You’d think they’d be happy you found that little girl’s body, and she wasn’t left alone in the fields.” He smiled. “Go ahead and have your lunch. I’ll take care of this.”
The jerk with the cell gave me a big smile, turned, and walked away as Craig came up.
Craig took in the locker, then the kid.
“Can your boyfriend cast spells?” Nell whispered.
I shrugged. “Why? You want to put a hex on the guy?”
“I think Craig’s already on it.” She nodded in his direction.
I turned and saw what she meant. His gaze was on the kid, and I could see his lips moving. I stood and went to him.
“Hey, you’re back. What’s going on?”
