by Jen Stevens
Raindrops sprinkled on my head when I kneeled beside her body, my hands hesitating just above it. I had no idea what the extent of her injury was or if moving her might only make it worse, especially after they had been so careless with her before. But I had to somehow pick her up and get inside before the downpour began and the tide lifted. After considering every possible outcome while the pace of the drops quickened against my skin, I just said fuck it and slid my arms beneath her neck and her knees, hoping the contact wouldn’t disrupt the cut on her head too much.
The instant our skin touched, her lungs filled with air, and I stilled. She coughed a few times, her eyes rolling to the back of her head with each attempt she made at opening them. I watched her stubbornly try over and over again to focus on the scene above her and fail until finally, her hand blindly reached behind her head and brushed against the arm that was balancing her in the air by her neck. Heavy lids pried open one last time and those odd-colored irises focused on mine. A relieved breath swept through her body.
“You came,” she rasped, then sputtered out a cough.
The rainfall was getting heavier. I knew it would be a difficult walk back to the house while carrying her through the wet sand, so I didn’t waste any more time. My legs stood us both from the ground and I began the trek back to shelter, silently praying to the gods that Julia and her friends had cleared out. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stop myself from killing them all if they braved waiting.
When the thick drops of water began pelting her face, she turned in my arms and buried it into my neck. Soft, hot breaths met my skin and encouraged me to make it through the last hundred feet to our covered patio.
I wasn’t thinking about her being my Counter, or what harm would befall me from not simply letting her die out on the beach and allowing nature to do the job I was too weak to execute. For the first time ever, I wasn’t considering the other Quarters and what it would mean for them that I was saving the one and only soul I’d been tasked with separating from its body.
None of that mattered.
The most important thing to me was getting her safely up to my room without any witnesses and stripping the soaked clothes from her body so she would stop shivering. I wanted to assess and care for her injury before infection took over. Then, when I was sure she was safe and resting, I was going to hunt down that waste of oxygen, Beau, and show him exactly how it felt to be attacked by someone more powerful than he was.
“I’m fine,” she croaked when I sat her up on the bed to look at the back of her head.
Her hair was knotted, half soaked, and caked in thick blood, but I couldn’t find the source of the bleeding. There didn’t appear to be a single scratch, even in the area that the blood seemed most concentrated. It was as if the injury completely healed itself.
Her torso began swaying as her eyes fought to stay open. I didn’t waste any more time on the puzzling injury, figuring I could recheck it when she was finally resting.
I peeled her shirt off her, trying my best to respect her privacy but finding it increasingly difficult when I wanted to inspect her for any more wounds that could have produced that amount of blood. I lifted her arms and checked her ribs, noting that her milky skin was in perfect condition and slowly gaining its color back. She interrupted my inspection by bracing her hands on my shoulders and lifting her bottom so I could do the same with her pants.
Once I was sure she wouldn’t bleed out, I dragged her up to my pillow and rested her head, then covered her shaking body with my comforter.
“Th-thank you,” she whispered through chattering teeth, her eyes already falling shut.
I didn’t bother responding. Instead, I gathered up her clothes so they could be thrown into the wash and offered one last glance to make sure she was okay. Then, I headed out to find Julia.
Chapter 19
Storie
Julia and her group of friends surrounded the table I was just sharing with Hazel. Each of their eyes trained on me and I took turns observing each of their ruffled appearances before finally settling on Julia. She appeared to be leading this infiltration.
“We're going to the beach, and we'd love for you to come,” her falsely sweet voice rang out. The smile her lips spread into never reached her eyes.
“Oookay,” I drawled, scowling at her. Someone walked into The Grind and the Autumn air bit at my arms where my sweater sleeves had been pulled up. None of them seemed affected. “I'm actually pretty busy, so I'll have to pass.”
Every other time she offered to hang out, she was alone and took my rejection with ease. The presence of her posse apparently gave her the courage to insist I come, ignoring every polite excuse I came up with until she gave up trying to convince me and her arm shot out to grab me by the wrist. She dragged me toward a van that was parked just outside the coffee shop.
Her friends were prepared for the quick attack, surrounding us so no one could see that I was being taken against my will. The big one shoved me into the open sliding door and quickly slammed it shut while the others piled in on the opposite side.
There weren't any seats in the back of the van, so we all sat facing each other on narrow benches that were built along the sides. They crowded together on the driver's side, leaving me to sit along across from them.
“What is wrong with you?” I screamed into the small space. My hand rubbed at the sore spot on my arm where Julia's nails dug so deep, they left tiny slits in my skin that were beaded with blood.
“I'm over this cat and mouse game you're playing. You're going to come to the beach with us and have a good time.”
Her pupils were dilated, nearly erasing the color of her irises. I glanced around at the others, noting that theirs looked the same.
The big guy who shoved me in was driving. I heard Julia refer to him earlier as Beau. In addition to Julia and Beau, there were three other girls and one guy. I tried to remember their names from when Julia introduced me at Mabon, but I honestly hadn't planned on ever spending any more time around them, so I didn't really pay attention.
The girl with black hair was staring at me with wide, panicked eyes. “Remind me why we're doing this again,” she turned and hissed to the side of Julia's face.
“Because my mom seems to hold special interest in her, and she's driving me up the wall about it. Miss Perfect can't be bothered with a simple cup of coffee, so we're doing it the hard way.”
Why would her mother even have me on her radar? As far as I knew, I've never met the woman before.
The van turned onto the dirt road that I knew led to Remy's property and rocked us back and forth as Beau carelessly navigated it over the potholes.
“Listen, Julia. I'm not sure what you think you're going to accomplish with this, but I can assure you, I'm not worth the trouble.” Beau hit a bump and the back of my head banged against the metal behind me.
“It's no trouble, really. You see, it was supposed to be me. The Rists and the Wildes have always been intertwined. We figured it was just a matter of time before he needed me. Then you came along, and it's like you're all he can see. Inquiring minds want to know why.”
She was rambling on in code, clearly out of her mind. The others watched her with confused expressions that likely matched my own, but she didn't pay them any attention.
No, her focus was solely on me.
Her lips curled into a sinister grin when she noticed my frown at the mention of Remy. She looked me up and down and the grin turned into a snarl.
If I didn't know better, I'd guess that she was jealous. Of what, I couldn't say because whatever was happening between me and Remy wasn't glamorous or worth flaunting. It was raw and carnal and terrifying.
Beau suddenly pulled over to the side of the road and slammed the van into park. The others gathered their gear and filed out the same door they came in. Julia hesitated behind them, shoving my shoulder when I didn't move out before her. I stumbled forward and nearly fell onto the gravel but caught myself at the last second.
<
br /> They let Julia lead the way and I was told to walk behind her while the rest hung back a few paces to make sure I didn't try to run away. She walked us into the woods beside the road, probably trying to avoid being seen by anyone who might drive down the private street.
It was such a surreal experience. I'd never considered what I would do if I were kidnapped, and now I knew I was absolutely useless in a crisis situation. I'm sure Aunt Ash would've had something planned out. She'd already have escaped somehow, always able to think quickly on her feet. I wished I had paid more attention to her. If only I listened to what I assumed were the ramblings of a paranoid woman, I'd be better prepared for every curveball Beacon Grove had thrown me thus far.
Julia's steps progressively became sloppier as whatever drug-induced cloud she was floating on fully kicked in. We took one last turn from the woods and were spit out onto the unique black sand. When the Wildes' house came into view, I couldn't stop my eyes from scaling it for his balcony. Of course, he was there, witnessing my attack but completely unaware that it was happening.
I wished I could scream or signal to him that I needed help. I knew there was no guarantee he would rescue me. It would be worth a try, though, wouldn’t it?
The group made it seem as if I'd chosen to be here with them. They spread out and walked as one unit now, keeping me directly in the middle. Julia stopped abruptly and spread her towel onto the sand, claiming a random spot off to the side. Everyone else followed suit and the conversation flowed easily between them while they set up camp and passed around plastic cups that Beau was filling with beer from the small keg he had carried in.
The weather was colder this close to the water and wasn’t ideal for a day at the beach, making the scene before me feel even more off. The sky was overcast in gray and heavy clouds hung low, threatening to open themselves up to us. I watched my captors motionlessly, unsure what my next move should be.
I wouldn't doubt that based on how difficult it had become for all of them to walk, I had a good chance of escaping if I made a quick break for it. The only problem would be navigating the woods. I think if I found the road again, I'd be able to get back into town quickly and find someone to help me. Maybe Remy would witness my escape and realize something was off.
But would he care?
It was a silly, desperate thought. If he knew what I was to him, he'd hunt me down himself. I'm sure he was far more dangerous for me than any of these people combined. Yet somehow, he was the only witness to this horrible twist of fate.
My only hope.
“So, New Girl. Tell us what makes you so special. Everyone seems to be in an uproar over you being here,” Julia slurred, interrupting my trailing thoughts.
Everyone besides Beau had formed a circle around me on their towels while I stood in the middle of them. The beer she was holding sloshed around in her hand as she swayed, spilling onto her legs and towel without her even realizing it.
“I don't know,” I answered honestly, afraid to say something that might get her even more riled up. She was too unpredictable to argue with right now.
One of the nameless girls let out a sardonic laugh, lifting her beer to her lips as she peered at me over the cup. Her nude bikini left little to the imagination and when she leaned back onto her elbows, Beau and the other guy openly stared.
“Come on now, that can't be true,” Julia purred. “You've clearly got a huge ego, thinking you’re too good to make time for us. I'm sure you love talking about yourself. Tell us where you're from.”
“Just leave her alone, Julia. Don’t you think you’ve taken this far enough?” the girl with black hair braved.
I wished I remembered her name. I wished I remembered all their names, so I could try to appeal to at least one of them. To beg for them to let me go before this went any farther.
Julia glared at the girl, and they locked into a stare-off. The others shifted uncomfortably for a moment before attempting to make conversation with each other to avoid the tension between the two girls. The exchange seemed familiar to them, and they handled the quiet argument that erupted between their friends with ease, not bothering to get involved.
Each of them was so distracted with the drama that they’d left the perfect opening for me to run. In a split second, I made the choice.
My feet carried me over their towels and through the sand easily, until Beau took one step toward me, reached out and swung something at the back of my head.
With a crack and a grunt, I fell to the ground and the gray skies filled my vision until they slowly faded into black.
Chapter 20
Storie
I woke up to his familiar scent filling my nose. A mix of warm, fresh air with a salty sting from the sea. My lids felt like they were weighed down by mounds of sand. It took a moment for me to pry them open and survey my surroundings. I tried to sit up and was met with a jackhammer pounding into the back of my head.
Leaning back into the pillow, my hands fell to my sides and grasped the soft comforter that my body was tightly tucked into, melting into it like warm butter. I noted the dark blue and white plaid pattern and immediately recognized where I'd seen it before.
I was in Remy's room.
“There's a glass of water on the night table beside you and some ibuprofen in case you've got a headache,” his voice softly cooed from somewhere near the end of the bed.
I looked over at the table, and sure enough, a tall glass of ice water was there with a metal straw sticking out and condensation dripping down the sides. My tongue slowly ran over my lips as I fantasized about gulping the entire thing down at once, but I knew my body wouldn't allow me to sit up to drink the glass myself, and I was too embarrassed to ask him for any more help.
Based on my lack of clothes beneath the blanket, he had already helped me enough.
Remy must have taken notice of my desperate fantasy though, because without a word, he stood from wherever he was sitting and walked to the side of the bed to grab the glass. He held it over the bed for me and our eyes locked in on each other. After a few seconds of me entertaining my stubborn pride, I leaned over and took a long drink from the straw.
“You've been out for a solid twenty-four hours,” he explained as he set down the glass. “I was going to call Tabitha if you didn't come to in the next hour. I probably should have called her hours ago, but I needed to ask you what happened without an audience.”
He peered down at me expectantly, waiting for an explanation that I wasn't sure I had.
“They were on something,” I found myself saying through a thick, raw throat. I don't know why my first instinct was to defend the people who attacked me. It just seemed like something he should know before jumping into anything. Not that I thought he'd care enough to punish them, but I was sure someone did.
“And why did you end up out here alone with them? Were you going to take whatever they were on?”
“What? No.” I shook my head and the jackhammer started up again. Tightly closing my eyes to stop the pain, I continued, “They threw me in their van and drove us out here. Julia said something about her mom wanting to know more about me and it always being the Rists and the Wildes. I don't know. She wasn't making a ton of sense.”
I felt the bed sink down beside me under his weight and when I could open my eyes again, he was watching me with a confused scowl. He was trying to make sense out of a nonsensical situation, and it was driving him crazy.
“Where are my clothes?” I asked, tugging the blanket farther up my exposed chest. Even my underwear was missing.
If Remy noticed my discomfort, he didn't bother doing anything to make me feel better. He just absent-mindedly pointed to the dresser across the room where my clothes had been neatly folded and stacked.
“I couldn't get the blood out. I'm sure if I asked one of the housekeepers for help, they could have done it, but I didn't want to risk anyone knowing you're here,” he rambled, then stood from the bed to grab the pile and set it on the nightstand. He
took a seat beside me again.
I reached my hand behind my head and felt around for the cut that was surely there after Beau clogged me.
“There's nothing there,” Remy said in bewilderment. “I've looked multiple times.”
“Then where did the blood come from?” I asked, raking my fingers through my hardened, matted hair.
Remy shrugged his shoulders and shook his head in confusion. “I was going to treat the wound when I brought you in here. It's like it healed itself.”
“It… healed itself?”
That wasn't possible. I knew it.
Maybe I just wasn't injured that bad.
But why else would my head be pounding and covered in dried blood?
He rapped against his leg. “Storie, I'm going to make this right. They shouldn't have come anywhere near you, especially over something that's between my family and Julia's.”
His fingers brushed my arm, sending that familiar shock into my core in the way only his touch could do. The aching in my head ceased immediately and I stared down at his hand in complete surprise.
He didn't pull away at my reaction, though. As if the contact gave him a sense of courage he'd been missing before, he watched my face change as the soft pads of his fingers slowly trailed up my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. I sighed, hating the way he made me feel with the smallest amount of effort.
He reached my shoulders and then turned around, moving his hand farther inside my arm to also brush against the blanket and my torso underneath. It was the most sensual, torturous thing I'd ever experienced in my life. Even worse than when he kissed me, because this was so innocent yet sinful at the same time.
