She grinned at him with her green lips, and her green hair seemed to shimmer under the lights when she sat across from me. “You secretly like me,” she told him.
He took his seat on her side and snorted once. “Yeah. It’s so top secretly secret that even I’m unsure.” He then leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her surprised lips. He pulled back almost immediately, pulling a face. “Ew, that stuff stinks.”
Her lips twitched. “You match me now.”
He snatched up his napkin and hurried to wipe the green residue off his mouth. While he did that, Lee turned to look at me. “Well, I,for one, am glad it’s Friday. Does anyone have any great plans?”
Mark glanced up from his food to nod. “Yeah, I am. My mom’s taking me to buy a new game tomorrow.”
“That’s not fair,” David complained. “You get a new game every week.”
“Sometimes two,” Mark confided, scratching absently at a sore near his ear. “I only tell you about my favorite ones.”
I swallowed a bite of my sandwich and cleared my throat before speaking. “So, Lee, what are you doing this weekend? You seem a little more obsessed than usual.”
“So says you to the one in total green,” Rodney muttered.
Lee elbowed him again before answering me. “Nothing major. Mom and I are probably going to be cleaning the house all day. She gets like this around the holidays, not that I understand why. As far as I know, we’re not doing anything special for Thanksgiving.”
“You’re always welcome to join us,” I told her quickly, a little surprised she wasn’t already planning on it. The Pearsons had been celebrating Thanksgiving with the Bennetts for years now.
She shrugged a little. “My mom doesn’t want to impose. Things are different this year . . .” She shook her head. “Anyway, that’s my great weekend. Peter may come by to help out, so I’ll save the bathroom for last. More specifically, the toilet. It’s all his, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Are things not going well with him?” Patrick asked. He was always interested in anything the Demon Seer was doing, and Lee knew what the offhand question really meant: Was Peter acting strangely or being contacted by the Demons who had blackmailed him before?
Lee’s voice was steady, though her aura was a bit more uneasy than before. “No, things are peachy—I just hate cleaning the toilet.” She nodded to my Guardian. “What about you? What are you up to this weekend?”
“I’m not sure about much past tonight. Kate and I are going out.”
“Oh yeah?” Lee’s smile was knowing. “That’s really nice of you, Patrick.”
“Is that so unusual? Them going out?” Rodney laughed.
“Trust me—you don’t know these two like I do. Kate’s a party pooper and Patrick’s a penny-pincher.”
“And you’re my best friend why?” I asked, wryly scathing.
She grinned. “Because you love my quirkiness.”
“All-out weirdness, maybe.”
She reached across the table to pat my hand. “Just telling it like it is, hon.” She looked to Patrick. “I’m glad. You two will have fun doing something . . . fun.” Rodney shook his head at her, but Patrick and I both heard the word Lee had wanted to say: normal.
***
As soon as we got home, the twins went to the kitchen to find a snack. I could hear Grandma’s comfortingly rough voice greet them, and I hesitated on the bottom step, playing with the idea of joining them. But it was during moments like this the guilt resurfaced, and so I clutched at my bag and moved up the stairs instead. Once in my room, I tossed my bag to the floor and then stared out my window.
The worst part about these past few weeks was the waiting. The nothing. Ever since I’d been introduced to the world of the Guardians, it had been a constant battle against Demons. Dodging attacks, hunting enemies, trying to stay alive. For over a month now, I had nothing to do. We were purely on the defensive now. Terence—Patrick and Toni’s Guardian supervisor—assured us that he had people taking care of everything else—tracking the Guardian virus, keeping tabs on Far Darrig and Selena Avalos (our two top worries), and basically solving all our problems with the Demon Lord. It’s not that I didn’t trust Terence, but . . . it was hard to entrust your fate to someone else, while you did absolutely nothing.
I wanted to talk to my grandpa. Since I didn’t have him . . .
For a brief second, I wondered why it had taken me so long to think of this option; after all, it made sense. I wanted to know what was going on in the Demon world, and I had one strong connection to the dangerous underground: Clyde, Grandpa’s old friend.
Clyde was a moderately reformed Demon. He owned a pawnshop on the edge of town, a dingy little store. He excelled at hearing rumors from other Demons, which helped him know who to avoid. He didn’t exactly want people to know he’d been friendly with a Guardian Seer, but he’d imparted his information to my grandfather anyway. I hadn’t seen him since the funeral, but if anyone knew what the Demon Lord was up to, it would be Clyde.
A part of me knew that if Clyde had something concrete, he would have called me, even if he wasn’t a really communicative person. He might not know me personally, but he’d owed my grandfather a lot. Still, the sudden urge to do something—anything—was too strong to ignore. Maybe the trip wouldn’t be for anything, but it would help my sanity.
I knew without going downstairs that an invisible Toni was in the kitchen, and Jack was also around, somewhere. To keep the twins from freaking out, he went around invisible a lot. Presumably, they were both downstairs.
I glanced at the clock, still turning the idea around in my head. A visit to Clyde would be fast and safe. My Guardians knew about him, though they didn’t exactly consider him an ally. Though Patrick hadn’t said the words aloud, I knew he didn’t approve of Clyde. He wouldn’t want me to go; he didn’t think the sketchy rumors Clyde heard were worth the risk of associating with him.
I could be there and back easily before Patrick came to pick me up tonight, and then I’d know if our preparations were actually worth the energy. Though I knew going without a bodyguard might be immature and stupid, the idea of just getting in my car and going somewhere without supervision was appealing.
Stupid, stupid, my mind assured me.
But what was the alternative? The need to see Clyde was surprisingly strong. To have the illusion of doing something productive was an irresistible pull. I couldn’t take Toni—I’d seen enough of him for one day. Besides, he’d try to talk me out of it. I didn’t want Claire to find out about Clyde—she’d be at the warehouse, anyway, with Maddy and Patrick, who would then find out. Jack would probably be game for such a sudden excursion, but I couldn’t invite him without inviting Toni; the annoying Guardian would tattle on me before we were out the door, if he wasn’t included. That left only one bodyguard option: Jason, the Seer, and he had enough on his plate with classes and homework.
It would be so easy to go alone. If Patrick heard about this—whether Jason came with me or not—he’d be angry I hadn’t discussed it with him first. Was the visit to Clyde worth my boyfriend’s potential anger?
I answered that mental question with action. I snatched up my purse, patting my pockets to be sure I still had my keys and phone, then I slipped out of my room.
I was just stepping up to the front door when I heard Toni’s voice behind me. “What’cha doin’?”
I spun around, noting in the turn he was alone in the entryway, and that I was most likely the only person able to see and hear him. I kept my voice low. “Toni. I’m just heading over to Lee’s.”
“Why?” he asked, his brown face straight.
I sighed. “Look, I’m going to be honest with you. Lee wants to talk about Rodney.”
Toni pulled a quick face, clearly showing what he thought of that. “The band geek?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“She wanted to hear my take on his aura this afternoon.”
One eyebrow rose. “That
can’t be done over the phone?”
“You know Lee. She’d rather we do this in person.”
“And you were going to ditch your Guardians for this? On my watch? Patty would kill me and you know it.” His countenance suddenly lifted. “I’ll come with you!”
“You’re on twin duty.”
He shrugged. “Jack will fill in.”
“Toni, do you really want to be there when Lee’s trying to talk boys?”
“Heck yes I do. Maybe she’ll talk about me?”
“Don’t hold your breath. You’ll be there visible or not at all.”
He looked stricken. “Kate, what in the name of all that is good and holy is the point of being able to go invisible if you can’t spy on old girlfriends?”
“Lee was never your girlfriend.”
“Uh, check your definitions, smarty. She’s a girl, since last I looked, and we were most assuredly friends.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll be at Lee’s. Call if you need anything. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
“You better go straight there and come straight back here, missy.”
I pulled the door open. “You got it. Let my Grandma know where I’ve gone, okay?”
“Yeah, sure. ’Cuz I love being a message board.”
I gave him a wry smile, then stepped onto the porch and pulled the door closed behind me. I was backing out of my driveway in the same minute. I didn’t let myself dwell on what Patrick would say if he knew where I was going.
Clyde’s Pawn was located in a rather unsavory part of town, and the building itself was pretty rundown looking. As I drove up, I was more than a little surprised to see another car parked out front. I’d never seen actual customers, so hopefully this meant Clyde would be in a good mood. I parked in front of the building, next to a black SUV. I made sure all my doors were locked, and then I walked up to the glass door. A man pushed it open from the inside, and I saw from his aura that he was really excited about something. I presumed it was the purchase he’d just made, which was wrapped up in a cardboard box in his arms. The woman behind him seemed a bit less impressed, but she was the one who warned him not to back over me.
“Sorry.” He grinned, and I brushed off the near miss dismissively with one hand. The woman stepped through the door and slipped past me. The man kept his back pressed against the door, keeping it open for me. I nodded my thanks and entered the musty, dimly lit room.
The carpet was probably from the seventies, worn-looking and orange. The shelves were tightly packed, and stuff was everywhere. A narrow path weaved to the counter, which could barely be seen from here. The TVs lining one wall flashed with movement but made no sound. Clyde pretty much had a bit of everything: books, clocks, DVDs, stereos, computers, game consoles, bikes, musical instruments, little useless figurines; he even had a traffic light propped up in one corner.
The door thumped closed behind me, making the brass bell bang against the glass to signal my entrance. I stepped around the shelves, trying not to touch more than was absolutely necessary on my way to the back of the shop. The smell of tobacco was heavy in the air, permeating everything.
Clyde must have already slipped into the back room after helping his customers, because I couldn’t see anyone behind the glass counter. There were guns for sale on the back wall, and in the glass case counter there were scattered valuables and some jewelry. I spared it all a quick glance, then looked toward the beaded curtain set against the back wall. “Clyde? Hello?”
I heard a muffled call that might have been an answer, and I straightened my shoulders to keep my purse from slipping down my arm.
I only had to wait for half a minute before Clyde pushed past the rattling beads. He was a large man with a rough appearance. He was in his midforties, or so it appeared. He was really much older, though I wasn’t sure how much. His thin black aura still made me a little uneasy, even though I knew this Demon wasn’t my enemy.
His eyes brightened when he saw me, making the wrinkles on his face deepen. “Why, Kate Bennett. What a surprise!” His voice was a little too loud, but that was just his way.
I smiled despite myself. “Hello, Clyde. How are you doing?”
He leaned against the counter, offering me a dirty hand in greeting. I took it, trying to convince myself it was only dust ingrained in his skin. “I can’t complain. Business has been picking up lately. Good thing too. Times are tough on the self-employed. But how are you doing?” Though his voice was coarse, I knew his question was sincere.
I nodded once, setting my folded arms on the edge of the counter. “I’m doing okay. Thanks again for being at the funeral.”
He grunted. “ ’Course. I wouldn’t have missed it. Henry’s been my closest friend . . .” His words trailed off, and his eyes sharpened. “So! What is it I can do for you?” Before I could form an answer, his forehead furrowed deeply. “Where’re your Guardians?”
I decided not to lie. “I came alone.”
“You’re not here to leave more insane messages with me, are ya? ’Cause I can tell ya right now, it ain’t happening.”
“No, no messages. Actually, I was hoping you might have some news for me.”
He shifted his weight and placed his elbows against the glass, causing it to creak. “News?”
“About the Demons. Far Darrig. Selena Avalos. The Demon Lord—”
“Whoa, whoa, girl. Easy. I know what you meant. I was just surprised. You see, I was playing with the idea of coming to visit you.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Sure. I’ve been debating it, though, since I value my life. Obviously I was worrying for nothing—I mean, I thought the Guardians would have practically locked you in your room to keep you safe, and yet here you are, wandering the streets alone.”
“My Guardians wouldn’t hurt you,” I argued, avoiding his main point.
He grunted. “Maybe the ones that know me. But there have to be others. Seriously, how many guards do you have now?”
“Clyde, that’s not really important.”
“Not important? Kate, no one escapes the Demon Lord. No one.”
I sighed. “I’ve heard that once or twice now.”
He snorted. “And I can see it made an impression. Maybe you don’t realize the danger you’re in—”
“Maybe I don’t. But I’d like to. What was it you wanted to tell me?”
He stared at me for a long moment, as if debating whether he really wanted to share this with me. His fingers slipped into his apron pocket, and he fingered something inside—probably a box of cigarettes he was struggling not to light in my presence. “You remember Philippe? You’ve never met him, but—”
“He owns a bar,” I said. “He’s one of your best sources.”
Clyde nodded his agreement. “He certainly is. Many Demons and Seers frequent his place, along with some dangerous humans. He drove down here a few days ago, wanting to tell me in person to keep my guard up.”
“Why?”
His expression was dark. “Seems he had some of the Demon Lord’s inner circle come into his bar, sometime earlier this week. I don’t know which ones you’ve heard of, but they’re all dangerous. Selena Avalos was among them.”
“Selena’s in the state?” I felt a tingle rush down my spine.
“Seems to be. She and some rather intimidating companions. Maybe you met the Dmitriev brothers during your trip to Vegas?”
I swallowed hard, thinking of the thickly built Russians, Viktor and Yuri. “Yeah. I ran into them.”
Clyde bit his lower lip and shook his head. “They’re bad news, that’s for sure. A few others were with them—the scariest was a Seer, apparently. A Japanese fellow. Tacky, or something like that.”
“Takao Kiyota.”
“Yep. That was his name. Very aloof but dangerous looking, so said Philippe.”
“Yeah, he is.” I fought a shiver. All four of them, so close to home . . . This couldn’t be good. “Did Philippe hear anything?”
“N
ot a whole lot. He delivered their drinks himself, but they clammed up when he was near. Seems they didn’t meet with anyone or anything. Just came in for some drinks, talking quietly amongst themselves. Before they left, the beautiful one—Avalos—she came up to the counter and asked Philippe if he would mind passing a word along to any Demons in the area.” He paused, but only briefly. “Looks like the Demon Lord’s put a bounty on your pretty head, honey. Selena was spreading the word.”
I blinked. A bounty? The word hardly made sense. A reward attached to me? It seemed so weird—so terrifying. And so unlike the Demon Lord. He was a calculative man, a manipulative enemy. He did things cleanly or not at all. Putting up figurative wanted posters for me seemed a little ridiculous. He was too powerful for this. Why not come after me himself?
Was this somehow a decoy? Was he going to try and distract my Guardians and then bring in the real threat? What could be worse than setting loose a hundred Demons driven by a reward, all wanting to get their hands on me?
Clyde watched my face for several long seconds, then he instinctively reached out and patted my arm. “The Demon Lord has a most wanted list—his prioritized enemies. It just usually involves Demons who’ve offended him. So far as I know, a Seer’s never quite made the cut. Demons squabble over ’em, hoping for the reward, and the Demon Lord sends Far Darrig after some—but that’s the end of the story. I think you’re the first Seer, Kate.”
I blinked up at him. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“Philippe had to pass the word along,” Clyde continued quickly, sounding apologetic. “If he didn’t, he would be risking his life. But Selena gave him pictures of you and everything. I have one, if you’d like it.”
Feeling a little disconnected, I nodded.
He pulled his hand out of his pocket and handed me a folded sheet of paper. I took it from him, slowly uncurling the edges until I held a full-size page, half of it taken up with a picture of me. It was my senior picture from school. I didn’t even want to think about how they’d gotten it. The smile on the picture was small, and the words beneath seemed surreal.
Guardians (Seers Trilogy Book 3) Page 5
