Demons at deadnight 2011, p.6
Demons at Deadnight (2011), page 6
Everyone was on their feet. Tristan stood in front of me, brushed a few blond locks from his anxious face, and licked his lips.
“Aurora, please calm down. You’re overreacting.”
“Oh, that’s rich.” I loaded my voice with bitter sarcasm.
A smile stuttered at the corners of Tristan’s mouth. “Let me explain.”
Trouble gathered in the boys’ sudden tension. The Aussie shot a warning, “Watch it, mate.”
My neighbor waved him off. “Matthias,” he told the Aussie, “I know what I’m doing.” He nodded for Ayden to release me.
I glowered, but was distracted by watching silvery amethyst rings evolve around Tristan’s pupils, expanding out toward the edge of the irises, changing color just like last night. Gosh, I was starting to think these guys weren’t normal. Then, just like last night and earlier in the parking lot, pain cracked through the back of my head. Only this time it was a whole lot worse. My hands cradled my scalp.
“What the—?” I backed away, but my vision, already blurred, cost me my balance. I slammed into the stone wall, sliding down the rough surface in slow motion, my legs the consistency of Jell-O. I stayed put, breathing heavy, embarrassed by their stares but didn’t trust myself to stand.
I settled for glaring.
I wished I’d practiced in the mirror so I could be sure of a threatening effect that conveyed as many uncharitable things as I could think of, and waited for my sight to quit emulating a Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza.
The Aussie put a hand up to block Tristan’s move in my direction. Blake muttered something. The Aussie shook his head. The ringing in my ears gave way to muffled voices, trays banging.
The world flowed back into focus. Jayden’s face was suddenly close to mine because despite the Aussie’s protests, he’d squatted in front of me. I didn’t have the strength to stop his cool hands from bracketing my face and moving it back and forth, his concentration reminding me of my dad. A thumb lifted my eyelid. Definitely Dad-like.
I jerked away and banged my head on the wall. “Ow.”
Silent, Jayden pulled my head down to inspect my new injury, rubbing his fingers along the back of my skull to the nape of my neck.
“Her pupils are responsive and the contusion is slight. It’s unclear if her condition is—”
Like they were moving through sludge, my hands finally pushed him off, but I felt a prick on my scalp. Jayden studied the strands of hair he’d yanked from my head.
“Jayden!” one of them scolded.
“I’m not sure the earlier ones I acquired had enough of the roots.”
My head still fuzzy, I hoped I hadn’t heard him right.
I looked at the Aussie and kept my tone reasonable. “I don’t want trouble. Just my stuff back.”
Australia turned on Tristan. “What’re you pulling here? Not enough juice?”
“No idea,” Tristan shrugged.
“Well, I’ve had enough of this, mate.”
I couldn’t agree more. I was exhausted, my head hurt again, vomiting wasn’t out of the question, and my first day at school was going as successful as Napoleon’s Waterloo.
I put as much of an edge to my voice as I could muster—which wasn’t much. “Give me the jewelry.”
The Aussie turned to me. With some serious attitude, he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Or what?”
I pulled a deep breath. “Or you’ll be sorry.”
Laughter ensued. Who could blame them? I really needed to work on better comebacks. Fine. With concentrated effort, I got to my feet without throwing up and marched—okay, it was more of a shuffle—over to stand in front of the Aussie.
“You.” I stabbed a finger into his solid chest and braved his glacial gaze. “Should be ashamed of yourself.” The overhead lights flickered as I dug my finger against the silky fabric even though I was sure the effort hurt me more than it did him. The boy was built. “What would your mother think? Would she be proud to know she raised a thief?” Aren’t all bullies scared of their mamas?
The Aussie didn’t move, but I swear the air around him rippled with so much tension my hair ruffled. Ayden was the first to move toward us, but the Aussie raised a hand.
“I’ve got this.” His eyes shifted to grey like any life they possessed just burnt to ash. His pupils expanded and began to swallow up what little color remained.
Fantastic. Now everyone’s eyes were changing color right around the time they tried to kill me.
The Aussie clamped a cool hand around mine, stopping its poking and possibly crushing a few bones, although I couldn’t be sure because my hand went numb.
In a tone serrated and sharp enough to gut what little bravery I had left, he said, “Now you listen up.”
I braced with a shaky swallow, “No, you—”
“Making friends already I see.” Luna hooked her arm through mine and meant to pull me away from the rising levels of testosterone. Unfortunately, the Aussie wasn’t letting go.
Luna clung to my side despite the murderous glare he slid her way. I tried to pull away. Luna stomped on his foot. The Aussie gave us an arsenic smile and just tightened his grip. Numbness seeped up my wrist. Ayden clamped a hand around the Aussie’s bicep and after a few seconds Australia flinched, releasing me with a growl.
Luna dragged me off, the scent of burnt match lingering. Without a glance, the boys turned their backs and hunkered down around their table for what looked to be a very intense discussion. I blinked to clear my focus, rubbed my wrist, and flexed my hand, somewhat surprised I could given the fact that feeling had yet to return.
Luna snaked us through the cafeteria.
“Nothing like a stellar first day of school. Heard about the bear. You okay?”
“Fine.”
“Mom and Dad are gonna freak. But, hey, don’t look so glum.” She squeezed my arm. “You found your dwarfs.”
“My what?”
“Although they don’t seem too thrilled by the reunion.”
“Wait, you aren’t supposed to be here. You have a different lunch period.”
Luna smirked. “I know. Got a new friend. Knows how to work the system. We get a double lunch.” I gave her a withering look. “No, you’re gonna like her.” Luna stopped in front of a table. “Meet Danica.”
No wonder they’d bonded. I fell into a seat.
“You’re Goth too?”
The girl with dark painted lips against ghostly white skin shook her head. “Nah, I just do this to irritate my pillar-of-the-community parents.” She shrugged. “I’m not the real deal, unlike your Hex Boys.” She tossed a nod at the boys’ table.
“Hex Boys?” I cracked a smile. “They have a club? Why are they mine?”
Luna sat across from me. “They’re your dwarfs.” She hunched over the table and started ticking off facts on her fingers. “Blake’s got a dude ranch, farm, whatever. The twins with the hottie Hawaiian mom are Ayden and Jayden. The three of them, along with Tristan and Logan, grew up here and have been buds forever. I’m telling you, they’re the guys. They were all normal until their friend died after we left.”
“Died?”
Danica leaned in. “Freak accident. After that, they wouldn’t have anything to do with anyone except each other. And Matthias. He showed up from Australia with his dad right after. Been thick as thieves ever since. They’re weird in a good way. Mysterious and notorious.” She almost squealed with delight. “They’re so cool.”
The local freak bad boys my old pals? I stole a look and caught Ayden staring. He turned away before I could decipher his expression.
“Notorious?”
Danica lowered her voice. “Lots of people think they’re involved in low level stuff like trespassing and vandalism. Bad things happen and somehow the Hex Boys are always nearby. Witnesses claim to see them initially, then they forget or change their story and the Hex Boys are off the hook.”
“The word is,” Luna whispered, “intimidation tactics, blackmail, or just a plain cover-up since Matthias’ dad is the sheriff.”
I groaned. So much for getting my stuff back. “And I’ll bet his mom’s the mayor.”
“Oh, big mystery there,” Danica said. “It’s only him and his dad. The sheriff wears a wedding ring but won’t talk about a wife. And Matthias goes ballistic if anyone brings up his mom.”
Oh. Whoops. “So what’s with the name?”
Danica chewed a finger. “Hex Boys? Well, hex…like a curse, I guess. They’re bad luck, bad news, whatever.” A grin spontaneously lit across her face. “And they’ve got hex appeal.” When she and Luna finished giggling Danica admitted, “No one really knows. But they’re sexy in a totally anti-social sort of way and if you can infiltrate their group, you’ll pull off the biggest coup this school’s ever seen.”
I snorted. “First of all, they don’t remember me, and second, why should you care?”
“That’s easy. If you’re in with the Hex Boys, Luna’s in with the Hex Boys, which means I’m in with the Hex Boys. Like I said, big coup.”
Ah, the juggernaut of high school politics.
Intercom speakers crackled to life and requested “Aurora Lahey report to the office immediately.”
A multitude of eyes descended on little ol’ me and a charming chorus of “Ooooooo’s” echoed.
But wait. It got better.
A banging, scratching noise slammed through the speakers and a familiar voice echoed. “Aurora, it’s Mommy. Are you okay? If you’re not in this office in two minutes, I’m coming to find you.”
Luna blanched and scooted her chair away from me. “We are so not related right now.”
Humiliation kept blaring from the speakers. “Mrs. Lahey, you’re not supposed to commandeer the microphone. Could you—” More banging. A grunt.
“Oh, really? Well, aren’t I supposed to hear from the school when my daughter has been attacked? By a bear no less? Instead, I had to get a call from her brother and sister informing me of the fact. Is the principal available? I’d really like to have a word.”
I shot an accusing look at Luna.
She threw up her hands. “I blame Lucian.”
The speakers wouldn’t let up. “We were going to—Mrs. Lahey, just give me—” Grunt. Sounds of a scuffle. “The micro—” Click.
And finally blessed silence. Until the cafeteria erupted in laughter.
I dropped my head onto the table with a moan. Suddenly the laughter cut out and Luna kicked me under the table.
“Ow.” I glared but stopped, noticing her shocked gaze directed behind me. Along with everyone else’s.
“Hey, babe.”
I craned my neck back and up.
Blake smiled. “You’ll never make the two-minute warning without my help. Shall we?” He crooked his elbow.
I looked at the other Hex Boys who didn’t seem happy. Matthias mirrored my previous movement and dropped his forehead on the table, groaning.
“Is this some sort of trick?” I asked.
Blake winked. “The only trick will be making the deadline if you don’t hurry up.”
In a wary daze I stood and put a ginger hand through his arm, the consistency of a very large brick. “Why are you doing this?”
He shrugged. “Knight in shining armor, remember? It’s a code I live by. Besides,” he shot the crowd a warning look, “no one should be embarrassed about family who cares.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Blake dropped me outside the office before Mom sent out the dogs. She’d latched on to me with a death grip, happy to leave the scene pronto, flashing menacing stares at the office staff. The “lockdown” situation had kept her mollified enough to keep from snatching Luna and Lucian, but we did grab Selena on our way out.
Mom muttered unkind things about nature’s beasts and the school staff all the way to the hospital where Dad redressed my wounds, admitting they were fairly minor but asking a gazillion questions while Mom deposited Selena with Oron at the hospital daycare.
I minimized the event, and left out the Hex Boys and Herman drama. My folks were worried enough and I didn’t need them stomping back to school with more threats and the National Guard in tow. I could handle the situation—and couldn’t explain most of it anyway. I convinced Mom I’d be fine alone, so she let me drop her off at her flower shop before sending me home with a strangulation level hug, a multitude of kisses, and strict instructions to lock myself inside and rest.
Two steps from the car she said, “Wait!” and returned digging in her purse. Wearing a satisfied grin, she leaned in the window and handed me a photo. “Maybe they’re still here. And it would be good to have friends around. A bigger crowd makes you less of a target for Mother Nature’s rabid mutations.”
“Love you too, Mom,” I smiled then stared at the photo. Goosebumps trickled up my arms.
The giggling group of kids wore cowboy hats several sizes too big. We were much younger but recognizable. I sat on a tall grey horse, beaming, while Blake stood in the saddle of a brown steed, lasso twirling in a blur. The rest, Ayden, Jayden, Tristan, and Logan, were all behind us in goofy poses on a mountain of hay bales. Logan was the only one with a significant difference—light brown hair instead of white. I tossed the photo on the passenger seat, but my gaze flicked to it often as I drove home.
So the infamous Hex Boys had been my friends. Good ones, judging by our giddy faces. What had changed? What was going on? Something weird. Not just with me, but with this town, with them. Something dangerous.
I was way out of my league, and despite all their denials I was betting the Hex Boys had some answers. Answers I needed, because other than Wiccan spells and voodoo magic, the Internet’s only suggested security precaution was using a bazillion bags of rock salt and yards of copper wire to bury a “shield” around the house. Not sure how to explain that one to the folks.
Visions of coffins—including mini ones for Oron and Selena—invaded my head. The road blurred, and I rubbed away tears before they fell. My stomach and head battled for Most Painful Body Part.
A half-block from home, I pulled over, gripped the top of the steering wheel, and rested my sweaty forehead on my hands.
“Tell Matthias I’m on my way.” Tristan’s voice rang with irritation.
My sunny-haired, if not sunny-dispositioned next-door neighbor yanked open the backdoor of his beige Suburban, chucked in his backpack, and slammed it shut. I wiped my sleeve over my face. School wasn’t even out yet.
Tristan’s hands raked his hair. “Then he shouldn’t call a last minute meeting!” He punched a button on his earpiece and got in the driver’s seat. Backing out of the driveway with a screech, the SUV thumped over the curb. The boy didn’t have Logan’s driving skills.
But he might have some answers.
Answers that would help stop the need for digging the Lahey family plots. And what Tristan didn’t know, the other Hex Boys would.
I smiled at the Suburban’s receding taillights and glanced at the photo.
“Saddle up, boys.” I eased the car into the street, careful to keep a discreet distance. “Like it or not, I’m crashing the party.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Bravado clammed-up more with each mile. Tristan started off fast and jerky but eventually settled down. He wasn’t hard to follow and finally pulled into a long circular driveway with tall trees, professional landscaping, and some serious wow factor.
The mansion of wood and weathered stone sat back off the street. Two stories, it fanned out wide with large arched windows of glittering panes and covered porches top and bottom. The house claimed a few acres of lakefront property because through a covered archway and past a multi-car garage, a beach and expanse of blue water shimmered in the fading sunlight.
Tristan parked behind several cars in the driveway including a small hybrid and the low-slung sports car Logan had rescued me in earlier.
I parked down the street, tucked off to the side into the trees. No houses, only forest and gardens on both sides.
Since I used up my limited stealth skills tailing Tristan, I decided to be bold and head straight for the front doors, heart pounding.
I checked the damage on Logan’s car as I passed. There wasn’t any. The interior looked the same, complete with hanging Ferrari freshener, but no dent in the roof or on either side of the back end. Either he owned two identical cars or had Santa’s elves for mechanics. Just another oddity for the day.
On the porch, I faced heavy wooden double doors centered with jewel-toned stained glass depicting scenes of forest and wildlife. I swallowed hard, thought of those kid-sized coffins, and raised my hand to knock. The door opened before I made contact.
The lovely woman of average height and slender build wore an honest to goodness maid’s outfit. You know, the cliché French black-and-white kind. The ribbon around her waist matched the lavender streak in her dark brunette hair cut in a bob that curled around her chin. Her large, grey eyes held a hint of the lavender. Soft features exuded warmth.
She smiled and pointed at me with her feather duster—who knew they came in lavender?
“You’re early.”
“I am?”
“Good.” She grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside, shutting the door and locking the deadbolt. “Punctuality is important. Top of the stairs and down the hall is where you need to be. Hurry along.” She gave me a nudge. “And be sure to check out the weapons collection.”
“What?”
She mimicked a fighting stance swinging the duster like a sword.
“Weapons collection. Can’t miss it. Deadly stuff. And the jeweled battle-axe on the bottom right, especially cool.” She rested the duster on her shoulder and dropped her voice to a conspiratorial tone. “Legend has it if you touch the gems in a particular order you disappear, become invisible. Could come in handy, right? Want to know the code? Of course you do. It’s once on the ruby, five on the sapphire and once on the diamond.” She held up the appropriate number of fingers in sequence for visual effect. “Got it?”
I nodded. “One, five, one.”
She clapped her hands. “Excellent. Promise you’ll try it.”
