The Queen of Zombie Hearts

  "About time," an unfamiliar voice said. Hinges released a high-pitched whine as the dilapidated entrance swung open. A petite brunette with a patchwork of pink scars on one side of her face moved out of the way, allowing Frosty to sail past her.

  "Where are they?" he demanded.

  "Back room."

  I started to follow after him, but the girl stepped into my path, blocking me. I had to look down...down...down.... She barely topped five feet. She was young, no more than fourteen. And she was spunky cute, with dark green eyes gleaming with fierce protectiveness.

  "Who the hell's your friend?" she called to Frosty. Her narrowed gaze never left me.

  "That's Ali. Let her in."

  Her features pinched with distaste. "So you're the infamous Ali Bell, are you?"

  Great. What had she been told about me? Her sneering tone suggested I was so evil, the devil had actually sold his soul to me.

  I nodded. "I am. And you are?"

  "Juliana, Veronica's younger sister. What of it?" All attitude, no finesse.

  My chest clenched with nearly unbearable longing to see my own little sister. Emma hadn't visited me in weeks. Where was she?

  The last time we'd spoken, she'd told me our connection was thinning and we would be seeing each other less often. I'd taken that to mean once, maybe twice, a week. I wish I'd known "less often" could actually mean "never again." I would have hugged her harder, longer. Perhaps never let go.

  "May I come in?" I asked softly.

  "Whatever." Juliana stiffly angled to the side. I entered the house and took stock.

  No pictures hung on the walls. The furniture was well used, but patched and polished. There wasn't a TV or computer, but a vase containing fresh flowers sat on the coffee table. A sweet, floral scent perfumed air that would have been musty otherwise.

  I'd had no idea Veronica, my greatest frenemy, had a younger sister. Or that they were, apparently, living in abject poverty. Poverty, and yet, Bronx had felt it was safe to come here, even though it wasn't safe to be at any other slayer's house. So, this house must have escaped Anima's notice. But how?

  And what about the party Frosty had mentioned? It had been held here? Why? And when? Had Cole attended?

  Why hadn't I been invited?

  Ugh. The last was asked in a disgusting whine. As if any of that crap mattered in the wake of such devastation.

  "Where are your parents?" I asked. Voices seeped from the hall. I would give Juliana a few more minutes to invite me back, and then I was going on my own, rude or not.

  "Dead," she said in a snippy tone.

  "I'm sorry."

  "Sure you are. For an encore, why don't you ask me how I got the scars?"

  Okay. "How'd you get the scars?"

  She blinked in astonishment, her mouth hanging open. Clearly, she hadn't expected me to do it. "I was burned." Her words lashed like a whip. "Not that it's any of your businesses."

  "Hey," I said, palms up in a gesture of innocence, "you offered." And wow, I suddenly felt guilty for treating Veronica so craptastically when I'd first met her. She hadn't exactly had an easy life.

  But then, like I'd told Frosty, none of us had. We were all hurting in some way.

  Juliana glanced at her feet, shifted from one side to the other, then looked up at me. "Have you heard from Cole?" she asked, her tone now grudging.

  "He was shot, but he's on the mend."

  Relief she couldn't hide; it was clear she genuinely cared for him.

  Get in line.

  All right, so, it was time to check on my friends. Without another word, I stalked down the hall.

  "Hey! You can't go back there." Juliana stayed close to my heels. "This isn't your house."

  I opened one door, found it empty save for a single twin mattress and a blanket and kept going. There was only one other room...and that's where I found everyone. Three twin-size mattresses were propped on the floor. Mackenzie was sprawled across the one on the left, Bronx the one in the center and Veronica the one on the right.

  Mackenzie was asleep. Dark curls spilled around pallid skin. Her lips were raw from being chewed, and there were several abrasions on her face. The hem of her shirt bunched over her middle, and I could see the bandage wrapped around her waist.

  Bronx and Veronica were awake and alert.

  He looked healthy, propped up against the wall, one hand cupping the back of his neck, the other resting at his side. His dark hair, died green at the tips, was mussed. The piercings in his eyebrow and lower lip gleamed in the light. No visible cuts or bruises.

  "She was stabbed," he said, his teeth clenched with anger. Anima should be very afraid. Of all the slayers, he was the most uncivilized, and I'd always suspected humanity had become a facade he sometimes wore. "I don't think our attackers expected anyone to be at the gym. There were two of them, and when they broke in, we heard them. We moved to the shadows, watching, waiting. When we realized they were pouring gasoline on everything, we tackled them. She was stabbed, a match was lit and one of the guys was able to run away."

  I walked to her bed and sat at the edge, my hip touching hers. Gently I smoothed a hand down her cheek. Tremors struck me. My limbs were growing heavier by the minute. My adrenaline must be crashing. I might not have the strength to push out my spirit and light up.

  "Frosty," I said. "Can you light up?"

  "Yeah. Why?"

  "Because you're going to put your fire inside Mackenzie's wound."

  In unison, everyone in the room belted out a refusal.

  "Like hell he is!"

  "Are you insane? The answer is no!"

  "That's so not happening."

  "Zip it," I said, and miracle of miracles, they obeyed. "Remember when I was sick? You guys healed me with your fire."

  "Yeah, but you were part zombie," Bronx said. "She isn't. The fire will help her spirit and harm everything else."

  "Not true. The two are connected. What injury one sustains, the other sustains. So why can't the opposite be true?"

  Silence.

  "Look, I've done it to Cole. He's even done it to himself, and he's now on his feet. Just a little while ago, I did it to Gavin. He strengthened almost instantly."

  "Hold up." Veronica's tone was as hard as granite. "You're telling us you put Cole and Gavin at risk? That you weren't a hundred percent certain what would happen, but you did it anyway?"

  In a nutshell, yes. But... "They were already at risk," I pointed out.

  Mackenzie moaned, as if the argument had disturbed whatever restful state she'd managed to achieve.

  "Do it, Frosty," I commanded.

  "You ain't his boss," Juliana barked.

  He rubbed his knuckles in the crown of the girl's head. "Thanks for the backup, squirt, but I've got this one." He strode to Mackenzie's bed.

  Juliana's gaze threw daggers laced with hate at me.

  I dismissed her, saying to Frosty, "Don't wuss out. Do it."

  "You better be right about this," he muttered. Out flowed his spirit, flames crackling at the end of his fingers.

  He touched Mackenzie, and she gasped, clearly pained. He tensed to draw back.

  "Don't," I said. "Don't sever contact until she screams."

  He bared his teeth in a fierce scowl.

  A moan slipped from Mackenzie...another. Her head thrashed against the pillow.

  "Ali," Frosty groaned.

  "Just a little longer."

  Then Mackenzie opened her mouth and screamed. She batted at Frosty's hand, but because he was a spirit, and she wasn't, she couldn't touch him. Couldn't stop him.

  He stepped back, and she sagged against the mattress. I leaned over her, looking for any change. Her color was returning, pink flooding into her cheeks, and the dark circles under her eyes were fading.

  That. Quickly.

  A lady never smirks.

  Since when have I ever been a lady?

  I smirked.

  Frosty rolled his eyes. "We get it. You told us so."

>   And don't you forget it! I looked to Bronx. "Are you hurt?" Should Frosty torch him, too?

  "I've got a few bumps," he said, "but I'm fine."

  My gaze shifted to Veronica.

  "I'm fine, too," she said.

  Her green eyes were bright with worry. Her dark hair was tangled, grass and twigs woven into the strands. Even still, she was a beautiful sight. Physically flawless--Cole's perfect counterpart. Which was probably why they'd dated.

  Yes. Cole had gotten around...and around.

  "Someone clue me in," I said. "How is this place a secret?"

  Veronica ran her tongue over her teeth. "Jules and me are off grid. I don't buy or rent anything under my own name. Only the guys here...and Cole...know where we live." Like a guilty suspect during interrogation, she looked away from me.

  Cole had known and hadn't told me. Me, his girlfriend. His one and only.

  I had no words.

  No, that wasn't actually true. I had a lot of words--for myself. I wasn't a jealous girl. Either Cole was mine or he wasn't. End of story. Either I trusted him or I didn't.

  But he'd broken up with me for several weeks, and he'd spent those bachelor days with Veronica. He hadn't cheated on me, considering we'd been over, but it had certainly felt like it. Because they'd done things. Things I didn't like to think about.

  Things he now refused to do with me.

  So, yeah, I kind of wanted to claw her face off and spit in her skull.

  Graphic much? Straitlaced Ali piped up.

  Not graphic enough, Bloodthirsty Ali quipped.

  Hello, new personalities. So nice to meet you.

  So, going full circle. Cole was mine. There was no question about that, and I did trust him. Totally and completely. And I knew he wasn't interested in anyone else. Not even Veronica. But...yeah. This omission hurt.

  Get over it. People are allowed to keep secrets. And it's not like this is important right now anyway.

  And there was Pragmatic Ali. I knew her well.

  "I was out last night," Veronica continued. "I'm a regular at Hearts, and I went home with... Well." Her cheeks flushed, and she cleared her throat.

  Didn't want her little sister to know she'd left the nightclub to get a little some-some from a stranger?

  "It's okay," Juliana said, glaring at me. As if everything wrong with the world was my fault.

  I wasn't judging, jeez.

  "He tried to drug my drink," Veronica said, her voice trembling. "He didn't realize I'm the untrustworthy type and switched our glasses the moment his back was turned. He went down, and another guy came rushing into the room, clearly expecting me to be the one on the floor. We fought. I won. Barely. I raced home on foot and had no idea what was going on, just assumed it was a date-rape thing, until Bronx started banging on my door a few hours ago."

  Anima was smart. They knew how to track. The time she'd spent here concerned me. "I don't think you guys are safe. You're hard to find, yes, but not impossible. Sooner or later Anima will show up, and we all know what will happen then."

  She blanched but said, "I can take care of myself and my sister, thank you. I've been doing it for a long time."

  "Don't play the pride card," Frosty said. "You and Juliana need to be behind Mr. Ankh's walls, and that's that. He has cameras and a system to alert him if anyone steps foot on his property. You don't. He also has secret passageways if there's a problem."

  Veronica sighed. "Okay, okay. I get it. My place sucks. His doesn't."

  Listen to him but not me. Awesome.

  "I'd like to see what you could afford, Ali Bell," Juliana snapped, marching to her sister's bed. The two joined hands in a show of support.

  Once again, my chest constricted. I'd had that kind of unity with Emma, and I missed it almost as much as I missed her.

  "Cat fight later," Bronx said. "I'm ready to go. I need to see Reeve."

  Need was far stronger than want, but I knew he wasn't overstating. The same bond existed between Cole and me. Invisible but fierce.

  "If Kat isn't in my arms within the hour," Frosty said, checking the safety on his gun, "I'm going to get cranky."

  First: that was a scary thought. A cranky Frosty was a murderous Frosty.

  Second: if we were going to stay together, we'd need an SUV.

  Fabulous. "Looks like we're all about to become freelance valets."

  Chapter 8

  BONKERS TODAY,

  BONKERS TOMORROW

  On the drive to Mr. Ankh's, I texted Cole to let him know Mackenzie was in need of medical help.

  His response took a while, but it did come. Ankh says he'll B ready.

  I also texted Kat and Reeve to let them know their men were on the way and good to go. Close to thirty replies came in.

  The highlights?

  Kat: Cake! CRAZMAZING! Knew U could do it, Ali me girl!

  Kat: WAIT. I know U said he's good 2 go, but does he still have all his parts? I need 2 know if I can knee his man junk. HE MADE ME WORRY ABOUT HIS WELL-BEING!

  Reeve: Is Bronx speaking, or has he gone silent? Tell me! Please! I have 2 know which side of him I'll B dealing w/ so I'll know which Reeve 2 let greet him--the lover or the he-woman street fighter (yes, I fight. Sue me!).

  Kat: Would now B a horrible time 2 break up w/him? Who cares! I'm gonna do it. Causing a girlfriend untold worry is a crime punishable by death!

  Kat: BTW how many people did he have 2 kill 2 survive? & is that why U left me behind (& almost earned an alley kat experience U would never 4get)? B honest. U didn't want me 2 C the bodies, did U?

  Reeve: WHY AREN'T U HERE??? I'll street fight YOU if U don't hurry.

  Kat: Is it bad that I'm turned on right now?

  When we got there, it was no surprise to see Mr. Ankh, Reeve and Kat waiting on the front porch. Kat should have been flushed, considering her excitement, but she was still pale. I didn't like that. And where was Cole?

  Unfortunately, the couples weren't given a chance to hug and kiss--and whatever else. Mr. Ankh began barking orders the moment the car doors opened, demanding Frosty carry Mackenzie to the room next to Gavin's and that Bronx clear the way. The girls could only walk next to their boys, talking a mile a minute.

  "--get a reward for surviving," Kat was saying. "You can start by taking off all your clothes and--"

  "I don't need to hear this, Miss Parker," Mr. Ankh snapped.

  "--showering," she finished. "Alone. Of course. I like my men clean."

  "How's Gavin doing?" I asked, trailing behind.

  "Far better than I anticipated." Mr. Ankh stopped, forcing me to do the same. He glanced over his shoulder. "He'll survive."

  Relief poured through me, sweet and welcome.

  "Two boys. Two wounds. Two miracle recoveries. Any clue how that's happening?" he asked, catching me off guard.

  "Slayer fire," I admitted.

  His eyes glazed for a moment, his medical mind probably assessing the pros and cons. Then he leaped forward to catch up with Frosty and Bronx. I took a step, intending to follow, but Kat came flying out the door. She propelled into me, wrapping her arms around me. Her grip was weaker than usual.

  "Thank you, Ali. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

  I hugged her back, tears burning my eyes. "I'm so, so sorry, Mad Dog. I know I apologized over text and you said all was forgiven, but I had to say it in person. I couldn't take the chance that we'd find him and he'd be injured, and you'd freak, and I'd have to try and cart both of you--"

  "I know. Cole explained on the way home." She pulled back and gave me a watery smile. "Besides, you brought him back, and that's all that matters."

  With that, she was gone, chasing after her man.

  "Have Mr. Ankh check you out," I called, trudging forward. Prickles on the back of my neck stopped me. Something was going on around me, and my spirit sensed it. My mind just hadn't caught up yet.

  Trying to act nonchalant, I spun slowly, eyeing the grounds. Big, thick bushes circled the edge of the property
, hiding the residents from prying eyes. There was no--

  There! A fall of wheat-colored hair surrounded a pale face. For a second, only a second, light blue eyes met mine, before the woman--somehow familiar, though I was certain I'd never met her--turned away from me and disappeared in the foliage.

  Palming a dagger, I rushed after her. Who was she? Why was she here? To spy for Anima?

  Surely not. There was no way she could have gotten past Mr. Ankh's security. Right? So, Mr. Ankh had to know she was here. Right?

  Just before I reached the spot where I'd first seen her, I ground to a halt. What if he didn't know? What if this was some kind of ambush? I focused on the sounds around me. There was a whistle of wind. In the distance, a car's engine purred and a dog barked. No voices. No snapping limbs. No shuffling footsteps.

  Like every girl in every horror movie ever made--a specialty of mine--I did not turn back. I inched forward, quietly working my way through the branches and leaves.... I found her standing a few yards away, next to one of the tallest trees on the property. Waiting for me. Though it was freezing out, she wore a black tank top, no coat, and seemed unfazed by the cold. At least her legs were covered by camo pants and her feet with combat boots.

  "Who are you?" I asked, letting her see the knife.

  "Samantha," she said, and there was so much longing radiating from her, my heart actually shuddered. "Sami."

  "Sami." An odd throb started up in my chest. "That's your name?"

  "No. Not mine." She offered me a sad smile, and her identity instantly crystallized. The woman from my dream. The one with the little girl.

  The two were real.

  Part of my family?

  Surely. Those eyes...

  "Who is Sami? Who are you?" I repeated more sharply.

  "I have a gift for you," she said, holding out her hand.

  Accepting the gift, whatever it was, would be stupid. I didn't know her, not really, and I certainly didn't trust her. But that didn't stop me from closing the distance. What can I say? Curiosity owned me.

  "Make an aggressive move," I said, "and I will gut you. I won't think twice about it."

  Her gaze met mine--the longing and sadness so much stronger now. Breaking my heart. But there was also...pride. Why?

  I found myself asking, "What's the gift? And are you related to Phillip Bell?" My dad. Did I want her to be? "What about Miranda Bradley?"

  "Time is short, and the gift is necessary." She waved me even closer. "It will help you defeat your enemy."

  True or false?

  Could this be a trick? Yes. But deep down, where instinct overpowered logic, refusing seemed...foolish.