CHAPTER 12
Cassie sucked on the end of her straw and pulled the thick shake through it as she studied the group gathered around the picnic tables. The crowded area was loud as kids shouted, laughed, and threw things at one another. The football team had won their game tonight and it seemed the entire school had turned out to celebrate.
Chris shifted uncomfortably; his large body was crammed into the tiny corner they had managed to snag. "Freaking mad house," he muttered.
"It's because you guys are so great; you should be happy," Melissa told him.
He tried to appear nonchalant, but his eyes gleamed with pride. Though he tried to play it off like it was no big deal, he loved being the star of the team. Cassie scanned the crowd as she waited impatiently for Devon to arrive. He hadn't been able to make it to the football game, but he'd said he would be here.
It was amazing how attached she'd become to him over this past week. He'd inserted himself into her life, creating chaos where there had been none. It was a chaos she relished though. She would be completely lost without his strong presence, and the hope he’d brought into her life.
Her phone went off; the faint beep was barely audible above the din surrounding her. Digging it out of her pocket, she was relieved to see the text from Devon saying he was on his way. She was unable to stop the smile that flitted across her mouth as she slipped the phone back into her pocket.
"Devon on his way?" Chris inquired.
"Yeah."
He nodded as he scanned the crowd. Though he still wasn't completely relaxed around Devon, they seemed to have forged a strange friendship. They watched TV together every night when Devon came over to see her. They commented on this and that, laughing or groaning depending on what was on. They were both obsessed with The Deadliest Catch and Cassie found it highly amusing to watch and listen to them. She'd grown accustomed to Devon's visits after school, looked forward to the time they spent together before she had to go back to the grind of her nightlife.
A loud shout drew her attention to Jack Wells. The quarterback was standing on one of the picnic tables, throwing French fries at anyone unfortunate enough to be close to him. Cassie rolled her eyes as Melissa heaved a large sigh. "What an idiot," Chris muttered.
"Boys will be boys," Cassie said.
"Shoot me if I ever act like that."
"Oh, it's a guarantee, and don't forget I know how to use a crossbow."
He grinned at her. "Yeah you do."
Cassie scanned the crowd; she was impatient to see Devon. Since she'd made the decision not to fight her feelings, things had leveled out inside her and become more peaceful. She could concentrate on her training again; she was more settled and more alive than she had been in years. She was still a tumult of feelings and sensations when it came to him, and she was beginning to believe it would never change.
There was a ripple in the crowd, a subtle shifting amongst the students. She knew Devon had arrived as his presence always caused a stir. The boys were still wary of him, and the girl's eagerly followed his every move. The girl's had also started to give her angry, hate filled looks she wasn't used to receiving, and was perplexed by. She'd done nothing to them and until now had considered most of them friends. She knew it was jealousy over her relationship with Devon that fueled their anger, but that didn't make the resentment from them any easier to accept.
He gracefully walked through the crowd, not acknowledging the strange or lustful stares following him. Jack stopped tossing french-fries as Devon moved past, not even he was crazy enough to throw a fry at Devon. Though, Cassie thought it might be entertaining to see. Devon didn't acknowledge the winning quarterback's presence. Until Devon had arrived, Jack had been the most sought after boy in school. Now Jack's All American good looks couldn't hold a candle to Devon's dark splendor.
Cassie bristled as Marcy stepped in front of Devon, halting his progress. It wasn't jealousy that broke through her; Cassie knew she was often the only woman he saw. He conveyed that to her with every one of his searing looks and tender touches. No, this wasn't jealousy, she was aggravated that Marcy had stopped him from coming straight to her.
He spoke with Marcy for a few moments, but his gaze remained firmly on her, his eyes warm and caring. Some of the anxiety eased from her, a smile curved her mouth as she watched him. The bond between them was virulent, and they still hadn't even kissed yet. They’d done nothing more than hold hands and sit with each other over the week. She didn't know what would happen when he finally did kiss her. His touch was enough to drive her crazy; she couldn't imagine what his kiss would do to her.
Yet, she didn't rush it, didn't try and make the first move. She knew it would happen eventually, and for now it was simply enough to be with him every day.
He nodded to Marcy before casually stepping around her. Excitement tingled through Cassie; her body instinctively leaning closer to him as his hand slid into hers. Devon's chest pressed against her shoulder as he stood beside her. The hand not holding hers wrapped around her waist, and possessively rested on her hip. His scent reminded her of fresh air with a hint of rich spices.
His hand stroked her hip, his fingers set up a firestorm within her that only he could start, and put out. "You look beautiful tonight."
His soft words blew against her hair, ruffling it slightly. She shivered as his lips brushed over her skin and briefly stroked the nape of her neck. Cassie thought her knees might buckle as her legs began to tremble.
He chuckled as his hand tightened on her waist. Pulling her closer against him, he supported her weight on her shaky legs. "Oh!" A loud shout reverberated beneath the metal overhang of B's and S's.
Cassie looked up as Jack did a back flip off the table and landed perfectly on his feet. "What an idiot." Chris rolled his eyes as he tossed his empty shake into the trashcan.
"He throws you the ball," Melissa reminded him.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean he has any brain cells. The guy relishes in being the stereotypical jock, one of these days I'm going to punch him."
Cassie grinned as she shook her head. "You'd be kicked off the team."
"Would be worth it."
Chants began as Mike Daniels jumped onto the table and prepared to do his own dismount. "This isn't going to end well," Cassie muttered.
Melissa was already grinning, and there was a knowing twinkle in her dark eyes. Mike jumped off the table and flipped head over heels through the air. His feet hit the ground, the left one skidded out from under him as he slipped on one of Jack's discarded fries. Landing hard on his butt, a loud whoomph issued from him as his breath rushed out.
Laughter filled the air; Cassie nearly choked on her shake as a satisfied gleam lit Melissa's eyes. Then Melissa glanced past Cassie and her forehead furrowed. Cassie turned to follow Melissa's gaze and surprise riveted her to the spot.
Luther stood on the other side of B's and S's, his lip curled disdainfully as he watched Jason climb onto the table. His glasses slid down to the edge of his nose to perch precariously upon the tip. The loose fitting jacket he wore hung off of his slender shoulders, making him appear thinner than he was.
"What is he doing here?" Chris asked.
"I'll go find out." Melissa slipped past them, skirting the group gathered around the picnic tables.
"Who is that?" Devon inquired.
Cassie shifted uncomfortably, not at all sure how to answer that question. "It's Melissa's dad," Chris told him.
"I thought Melissa's parents were dead," Devon said.
"Adopted father," Chris amended. "But he's raised her since she was a baby, so it's her dad."
"I see." Devon studied Luther for a moment more before turning his attention back to Cassie.
Cassie swallowed heavily, it wasn't entirely a lie. She shouldn't feel bad, but she did. Tearing her gaze away from his, she struggled to keep her breathing, and heart rate, under control. "Were Melissa's parents with yours in the car accident?"
Cassie's mind fumbled with an answer. She knew what
she was supposed to say, what they had been told to say, but her tongue couldn't get the lies out. "No, Melissa's family was in Egypt at the time. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father was killed in the line of duty." Again, it wasn't entirely a lie, but it was Chris who answered the question for her.
"Line of duty?"
"Yeah." Chris's gaze was steady and unflinching as he focused on Devon. "He was in the British armed forces, stationed in Egypt, that's where he met Melissa's mom. Luther and he were good friends, so Luther adopted Melissa when she was orphaned, as there was no other family."
"I see. How sad for all of you to have lost your parents."
"My mother is still alive," Chris was unable to keep the bitterness from his voice.
"Chris…"
Cassie broke off as Chris's anguished eyes swung toward her. She knew Chris loved his mother, but there was so much between them that she feared their relationship could never be repaired. Though he was grateful his mother had been spared from the massacre of that awful night, she knew he would give anything to be free of her. He was eager to leave town as soon as they graduated.
A breeze tickled the hairs at the nape of her neck and blew strands of it across her face. Devon's hand stilled on her waist as he turned toward the woods behind them. Nostrils flaring, his eyes narrowed as he studied the shadowed forest. His jaw clenched, a muscle jumped in his cheek. The hand upon her waist constricted as he moved protectively closer to her. His eyes had turned a dark green color, and the clench of his jaw looked almost painful. Confusion swirled through Cassie as she turned to search the darkened interior of the woods for some hint of what had caught his attention.
Cassie's attention was torn from him as Melissa came back toward them. A frown marred her pretty features as she gracefully weaved through the crowd. Melissa's dark eyes briefly met hers, and a chill of foreboding traveled down Cassie's spine. "Is everything ok?" Chris asked.
Melissa shook her head, her attention briefly turned to Devon. He'd turned away from the woods, but he was still wound tight like a guitar string. "No, Luther just received some bad news. I have to go."
Cassie caressed Devon's back in the hopes of easing some of his rigidity, but he didn't relax. He was so tense he wasn't even breathing, she realized with a start. "Do you need us to come with you?" Chris asked.
"Yeah, that would be nice of you." Melissa glanced at Devon. "You know he considers you to be family."
Cassie's blood turned to ice in her veins. Swallowing heavily, she managed a small nod. "Of course." She fought to keep her face impassive as she met Devon's darkened gaze. "I have to go."
He nodded, but she could tell his thoughts were elsewhere, and he was still unsettled. Though he'd started to breathe again, he remained as solid and unbending as a rock. His hand moved over her back and lightly clenched against her. "I will see you later."
Cassie blinked in surprise; the words had come out almost as a growl. The fierceness in his gaze, and the intensity of his words caused goose bumps to break out on her skin. She didn't know what was going on tonight with Luther, or with Devon, but her sense of foreboding kicked up another notch.
"Yes." She agreed simply because she didn't know what else to say. For a moment he seemed to have no intention of letting her go, and then his hands slid away.
"Be safe."
She frowned in confusion, puzzled as to why he would say that. "Of course."
The intensity of his gaze didn't lessen as she took a small step away. She thought he was going to grab her again as he made a slight motion toward her, but then he stopped. The quiet desperation in him kept her riveted. "Come on Cassie, we have to go," Chris urged.
She swallowed heavily as she turned away from Devon. She could feel his gaze boring into her back as they moved through the crowd. Another breeze wafted over them, but this one carried the strange sense of wrongness that had been present at the beach the other day. Cassie turned as evil washed over her, and rooted her feet in place.
Melissa and Chris stopped beside her, their gazes fixed on the woods behind Devon. Nothing stirred amongst the darkness, but she knew something was out there.
"We have to go." Melissa's normally strong voice wavered.
Cassie tore her attention from the woods as her gaze instinctively fell upon Devon again. His attention was riveted on the woods, his body taut once more. Shock tore through Cassie as she realized that somehow, he felt the evil too.