“No, I want to help. I’ll call Lucas and reschedule. He won’t mind.”
“Well, he’s Mr. Perfect so I’m sure he won’t.”
“Lucas isn’t perfect. I never needed perfect. In fact, so long as I don’t walk in on Lucas inhaling another girl’s tongue, he’s all good with me.”
I can actually feel the anger seeping out of Marcus. He clutches his jaw and clenches his fists.
Rio reads his Wave and quickly takes me over to the side.
“Yeah, this is not a good game to play, guys,” he cautions us.
Marcus shoots darts of rage at me with his eyes. I return the favor.
The tension is so thick, even Tony can’t help but squirm uncomfortably. But one good thing about having Tony around, he’s always good for random distractions.
“So…I joined Match,” Tony informs us.
“What?” the Twins ask, caught off guard.
“You know, Match.com. A lot of Sellers are on there. I know it’s a commitment, but I think I’m ready.”
Finally the room begins to relax.
“What kind of girl are you looking for?” Jay asks.
“Ya know, a Seller who could go into the light one of these cycles but not a goody-goody. Someone I can make Weeping Oil with.”
“Someone you can steal human tears from?” Rio asks.
“Well, yeah. But I don’t want her to be too obsessed with work. And also it would be good if she had a little meat on her, ya know?”
Everyone in the team laughs at Tony but Marcus and I. We’re far from being amused. In fact, this is the gravest we’ve ever looked.
The team prints out a copy of the floor plans of the house where the party is being held.
Apparently Google helps Angels, too. The guys look for ways to get to the main ballroom where the guest of honor is most likely to be.
Tony tells them that Blaze has a huge appetite for pretty young girls. Ameana says she has a plan to use that. It involves designer dresses, heels, and lots of giggling.
The team decides that I should go in as part of the wait staff. That way I will have full access to the house and can alert them should anything go wrong. After the plans are finalized, Marcus instructs Rio to go home with me and check out Lucas.
“You’re having my boyfriend checked out just because you’re mad at me? That’s ridiculous, Marcus!”
“This has nothing to do with that,” he snaps.
“You’re such a liar. You’re having Lucas checked out because you’re jealous of him.”
“Why the hell would I be jealous?”
“Because he’s better at loving me than you are.”
As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew it was the wrong thing to say. It cut him so deeply I could actually see him wince. And to make matters worse, I said it in front of everyone.
Oh no, no…
He replies to me but not as my ex, rather as the First Guardian:
“I’m having your boyfriend checked out because the last time you had a meeting with someone and we didn’t check them out, he gutted your friend in the alley. Are you so in love with this Lucas guy that you don’t remember Sara bleeding to death in your arms?” I can actually hear the regret in his voice the moment the words hit the air. The image of Sara bleeding out on the cold ground was one that I could never escape. He knew it was a wound that for me would never heal. That’s why he jabbed me, exactly where he knew it would hurt, just like I did to him just now.
“Look, I didn’t mean to…” he says quietly. I don’t answer him. I just look at Rio and signal that I’m ready to go. As I step on the Port a thought hits me that causes profound sadness.
Is this what Marcus and I are now - enemies who take shots at each other until the other falls down?
CHAPTER ELEVEN:
SILLY GIRLS
On the trip home, I didn’t say a word to Rio. We emerged out of a small door embedded inside the 34th Street station and then walked several blocks in silence. Finally when I am about to unlock my door, he asks if I’m okay.
“Shouldn’t you know?” I ask.
“Yes, but it’s impolite if I don’t ask.”
“No, I’m not okay. I’m mad at you.”
“I can read,” he says lightly.
We enter my apartment. I turn the lights on and tell him that Lucas should be here soon.
“Is your uncle and his family staying with you now?”
“Yes, but they’re on vacation. They wanted me to go but I couldn’t take time off from track. They call me like eight times a day.”
“They worry. I get it,” Rio says.
He studies my apartment.
“You changed a few things,” he observes.
“Yeah, the therapist thought it would be a good idea. ‘Start fresh and new’ Dr. Brooks used to say like every time we’d met.”
“You went therapy? Wow, how did it go?”
“Well, I lied about 95 percent of the time. So, not well.”
“Why did you lie?”
“Because telling people you helped save humanity and pissed off the devil by killing her son makes them put you in a room with no shoelaces.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I reply.
“So how long are you planning on staying mad at us?”
“I was thinking about making a three- to five-year investment.”
“Emmy, you know we had to back Marcus’s play, right?”
“Why, because he’s your leader?”
“Yeah and because he’s a friend.”
“And I’m not?”
“You know how I feel about you. You know how we all feel about you.”
“I thought I did. But a few days ago Ameana kindly reminded me that I’m not a member of this team. And you guys lied to me like it was nothing.”
“First, you know how Ameana is. She hates showing emotions. But she cares about you.” I look at him doubtfully.
“She just shows it differently.”
“Whatever, she hates me. And you know what? After seeing her kiss Marcus, I can send a little of that hate back to her.”
“He begged her to help him.”
“Great Rio, that really makes me feel better.”
“I have never read a Wave of regret any of the times she’s saved your life.”
“Well I would rather she regret saving my life than kiss my boyfriend.”
“Ex.”
“What?”
“Your ex-boyfriend.”
“Yeah, that’s what I meant.”
“Right.”
“Will you stop reading my Wave?”
“I may be out of line here, but didn’t you kiss him when he belonged to her?”
“Yeah, I did. It was stupid and wrong. So I guess I deserve to have him hurt me the way he did.”
“No, you don’t. I just want to point out that mistakes happen.”
“It really sucks that you guys lied to me,” I say, plopping down on the sofa.
“Hey, where’s Mrs. Charlotte?”
“She’s staying with Ben and his mom. I knew after the attack at the school that I wouldn’t be back so I texted her to cat sit for me.”
“That’s nice of her.”
“Yeah, she’s a friend,” I say pointedly.
“Okay, okay. I get it. You’re right. We should have been up front with you. I’m sorry about that. But we love you and we don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“That’s just what I need in my life, more people protecting me,” I say, shaking my head bitterly.
“Could be worse.”
“Hey, when you meet Lucas, don’t grill him. And don’t read too deeply into his Waves. You know what I mean.”
“You mean don’t embarrass you?”
“Exactly. He’s a really great guy. In fact most of the time I am running late for our dates he just sits in the living room and patiently waits for me to change clothes. He never even rushes me.”
“That’s all it
takes to make you happy? You’re a dream girlfriend.”
“Ha,ha, just promise you won’t ask anything embarrassing.”
“I will if you promise to let me off the hook for lying to you.”
“I want ice cream,” I demand.
“Okay.”
“Brand name. None of that cheap knock-off stuff.”
“Okay.”
“And you have to promise never to lie to me again; no matter what.”
“Deal.”
The doorbell rings.
“Oh no! I have to change,” I scold myself.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep him company.”
I give him a warning look.
“I won’t say anything crazy. Promise.”
I open the door and find Lucas standing there, smiling sweetly at me. He’s 5’8” and has sandy blonde hair. He has broad shoulders and very kind eyes. He’s a cutie.
“Hi!” I exclaim as I jump into his arms. He hugs me tightly.
I tell him to come in and introduce Rio as an old family friend. It’s the only thing I could think of. I then tell Lucas to wait for me while I change and that Rio will keep him company. I have never taken a shower so fast in my life.
I know Rio and Marcus have had their moments, but Rio is Marcus’s friend and I can’t help but think something bad will happen if I leave the two of them alone. I quickly brush my hair, put on a simple black dress with cute but ‘walk-friendly’ heels.
I slap on some gloss, spray on perfume, and quickly head out the door. My heart is racing when I enter the living room.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
Please tell me he’s not a Pawn, a Runner, or a Quo; although there would really be no way toknow if he were a Quo. Well, since he hasn’t attacked, I guess I can cross that off the list.
Rio smiles warmly and tells me that everything is okay.
Phew!
Just then Rio’s cell rings. He excuses himself and goes to take the call out in the hallway. Lucas is talking about a movie he wants us to see but I am hardly paying attention. I’m desperately trying to overhear Rio’s conversation. I’m betting it’s Marcus.
“Yeah, I just read his Wave, calm down,” Rio says.
Yeah, it’s my ex…
“What? No, he’s just a sixteen-year-old human,” Rio replies to whatever it is Marcus asked.
Lucas keeps going on and on and I know it's bad, but I really wish he would be quiet so I could hear Rio better.
“What? Of course he’s radiating purple. He’s a sixteen year old boy! They’re horny all the time...Yes, there were other colors but very human…seriously man, you want me to run down every color I see to you?...He’s insecure, he’s selfish at times…he’s ambitious…You know what Marcus, I didn’t come to earth to help you spy on your ex…” Rio hangs up and walks back into the house. I can see from his dark expression, he’s really pissed at Marcus for asking him a ton of questions. I excuse myself from Lucas and take Rio back out to the hallway. I tell him how sorry I am he’s being subjected to Marcus’s childishness.
“His? And what about yours?” Rio demands.
“Me?” I ask, wounded.
“Emmy, I love my powers. I love being able to find a hidden courage Wave or the beginnings of a crush between two people. But the part that sucks is when I see a Wave that is so bright, so obvious and yet the human insists on denying it. It’s such a waste of time. And time is always against us.”
“You see my Wave so you know how much I love your leader?” I ask quietly.
“Yes, I do.”
“Are you picking anything else up?”
“Like what?”
“Like doubt.”
“Yes, I see that, too.”
“You know how that Wave got there? It wasn’t there before. But when someone says they no longer love you…even if they come back and say it was all a big mistake, it doesn’t erase the doubt. How do I get past the doubt?”
“Marcus wouldn’t hurt you again.”
“Can you promise that?”
He avoids eye contact.
“I didn’t think so,” I counter.
“Emmy, if you don’t let some of the hurt out, there’ll be no room for more of the good stuff.”
“Maybe I’m okay with that.”
“I don’t agree with everything Marcus has done but…that guy loves you more than his own soul.”
“It’s rude to keep Lucas waiting any longer,” I reply.
“I’ll watch you two from a distance and when it’s time to head to Fire Island, I’ll text you.”
“Okay.”
He looks like he wants to say so much more but he doesn’t. I’m grateful. The day has been filled with way too much drama. I just want a moment where things were like they used to be before the Guardians reappeared in my life.
I reenter the apartment.
“Is everything okay?” Lucas asks.
“Yeah.”
“You ready?”
“Just let me get a jacket.”
I run back into my room and of course the jacket that would go perfectly with this dress is all the way in the back of the closet. I reach back there and manage to take hold of it but it slides off the hanger.
“Argh!” I get down on my knees and crawl to the back of the closet. The jacket has fallen on top of a black shoe box. A shoe box I try to avoid at all cost. Against my better judgment, I open it and find its contents looking up at me as if daring me not to fall apart.
It’s the snow globe Replay Marcus gave me. It continues to reenact the scene where I kissed him in the car last year. I told Marcus I tossed it out but…
I look inside it and marvel at the exquisite details. The snowflakes are real. The wind blowing inside is real. And the girl who trusted Marcus with her heart and made him her world, she’s real.
But she’s gone…
“Emmy, are you lost in there? Do I need to come get you?” Lucas jokes from the living room.
“No, I’ll find my way back to you.”
I take a deep breath, grab the jacket and head out to meet Lucas.
“Sorry it took so long, I got caught up watching something,” I say, taking his hand.
“Let me guess, some sappy romance flick?” he teases.
“No, it was more of a drama. You know the kind of film where silly girls end up crying…”
“Do you want to stay and see the rest of it?”
“No, I’ve seen enough. I know how it ends…”
Shortly after my date with Lucas, Rio texts me to meet him in the alley near my apartment. Once we met up, we share a Port and we both reappear on Fire Island where the rest of the team were waiting. As we pile into the car, “Wiki” Jay informs us that Fire Island is adjacent to Long Island. He also tells us the population and a ton of other useless facts.
Finally, we pull up to a sprawling estate on the beach. I can hear the waves crashing onto the shore and I’m certain the people who get to live here have seen some fantastic sunrises. I would give anything to live here. Well, that is, if it wasn’t filled with Quo.
There are a slew of luxury cars parked along the house and a team of valet parking guys in red jackets tending to them. The head valet guy wears top of the line shades and orders the others around. I really don’t see the point in wearing shades at nearly midnight but maybe it’s a fashion trend I don’t know about.
The team is supposed to drop me off so I can take the staff entrance around back and let them know if I spot a tall guy with milky eyes. Once the car stops, I go to head out.
“Wait,” Rios says.
“What is it?” Marcus asks, on high alert.
“It’s a party,” Rio replies.
“So?”
“So I’m not reading any waves of happiness. Why isn’t anyone here happy?”
“What are you reading?” Jay inquires.
“Aggression, anger…violence.”
“Everyone out—now!” Marcus orders.
We all lunge out
of the car but it’s too late. The valet with the sunglasses takes them off and a red beam emanates from his eyes. The beam reaches the car just as we hit the ground. Within seconds, the car we came in is liquefied.
Before we can recover from the attack, we are surrounded by demons who hurl power balls at us.
We manage to seek shelter behind Rio’s shield but he warns us it’s only a matter of time before his shield gives out.
Marcus instructs him to lower his shield just enough to give Jay a chance to Glide out and take to the air to counter attack.
“If we take to the sky, more of them will show up,” Jay warns.
“We’ll have to take that chance. Go!” Marcus shouts.
Rio lowers his shield and Jay moves with impossible speed. He is in the air before I can even blink. Unfortunately in the little time it took to lower the shield, a power ball makes its way inside. It hits Miku in her chest. She gasps and falls down to the ground.
Rio is so distracted by the sight of his fallen twin that he lowers his shield completely and goes to her. The demons take advantage of the opportunity and blast us with power balls back to back.
Things are exploding all around me.
I look over at the Twins. Rio tries to revive Miku by connecting their hands. Normally it doesn’t take this long for them to bring her back from her wounds. Suddenly an awful thought creeps into my head.
“She’s not waking up!” Rio says, panic stricken.
What if she doesn’t make it?
What if their ability to heal each other somehow fails?
The dread in my stomach causes it to churn repeatedly. Suddenly it all comes back to me; all the death and blood that I had seen over the past year. I had somehow put it behind me but now it’s all flooding back.
In my mind, I plunge into a spiral of fear and dread over how this battle could end. I’m so lost in thought I don’t hear Marcus calling my name. It’s only when he knocks me down that I come back to my senses.
My head hits the pavement and I feel pain radiating up and down my legs.
When I look up, I see why Marcus has knocked me to the ground. The spot where I was standing a few seconds ago is now ash. The power balls missed me by a mere heartbeat. I look up at him.
Concern fills his face as he examines me to make sure I’m not bleeding.