Broken Blood (32 page)

I wasn’t thrilled with their being here, but we didn’t have much choice. It was either allow them to tag along or be dropped off at the base of a mountain and climb up it in the dark. I’d chosen the first, but now, listening to their whispers, giggles, and kisses behind me, I was swiftly regretting it.

A loud pop broke through the whisperings of the group and I looked over just in time to see an electric spark flash. The liquid Astor poured from the cup sizzled and evaporated into a thick pillar of steam before it ever hit the ground. A stray spark shot up and zapped Astor’s hand and he dropped the empty cup. “Ow.” Astor wrung his hands, mumbling, and shoved his thumb into his mouth. 

“Astor, what can we do to help?” I asked.

“Just be quiet,” he said with a pointed look at George. “I need quiet.”

We all fell silent and Astor began again, muttering words in a language I couldn’t understand and rubbing his palms together. He leaned in and caught his lip between his teeth in concentration, staring as if something in the empty air had caught his attention.

Slowly, a thin line of electric blue light formed at Astor’s fingertips and lengthened in the air. It shot left and right, growing quickly into a wide opening. In the center, the air popped and crackled but otherwise, the view of the ground on the other side was unchanged.

Astor looked up and beamed. “Got it.”

“It looks the same,” Benny said.

“Think so?” I asked. And, without waiting for an invitation, I stepped through. The second my foot landed on the grass inside the growing electric window, the cabin appeared to me in the center of the clearing.

It looked untouched, exactly the same as when we’d left. My chest tightened when I thought of all that had happened since then. On the other side, Benny still had brows raised in skepticism. “Come on, Benny,” I called, impatient. “Don’t make me come and get you.”

Timidly, he approached the hole and put one scuffed combat boot through to the grass on the other side. Instantly, his face lit up and he wobbled, finally losing his balance and toppling through. He landed at my feet with a look of awe. “This is awesome,” he said, struggling to his feet and staring at the house.

His T-shirt, sporting a picture of open-mouthed Pac-Man chasing ghosts with the words “Eat me” printed on it, was streaked with dirt. I rolled my eyes.

One by one, the rest of them stepped through. By now, the hole had widened to become almost as large as a doorway. Astor came through it last, looking smug and satisfied with himself. “How long will it last?” I asked.

“The electric charge won’t be visible after another hour or two,” he said. “But the hole will remain. I cannot close it without reconstructing the entire perimeter of wards, which would take time we don’t have.”

“He’s right. Time’s wasting. Let’s get inside.” Piper, Cambria’s mom brushed past us and climbed the porch steps. Her heeled boots were loud and heavy against the wooden stairs. “Come on, Cambria,” she called.

Cambria exchanged a look with me. “Duty calls,” she muttered and followed her mom inside.

I trailed behind, doing a full lap around the house before I joined the others. I met George in the front yard. He was coming from the woods and gave me a knowing look as we climbed the steps together where Emma waited. The lights were on inside, casting an orange gleam over his features.

“Everything good around back?” George asked.

“I don’t see any signs of visitors,” I said. “You?”

He climbed the steps and slipped his hand into Emma’s and squeezed. Something passed between them and when he answered again; his voice was gentle and included Emma. “I checked Janie. It didn’t look disturbed.” He leaned down to press his lips to Emma’s hair and added, “We’ll go see her tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” she said quietly, her eyes shining.

“I’d like to go too,” I said. “If that’s okay with you, Emma?”

Emma blinked. “Of course, Tara. You knew her as well as I did. Maybe better,” she added. There was no trace of accusation or grudge and I smiled back at her, grateful. Janie had been Emma’s sister, but she’d been my responsibility. When the darkness had taken her, I’d done what I had to in order to protect myself and the others. But that didn’t make killing any easier. For me or for Emma.

“It’s a date,” George said, forcing his voice lighter. He opened the door, held it wide for us. “Let’s get inside. It’s freezing out here and I don’t have my fur coat.”

We slipped inside and soaked in the warmth and light. Despite what we were going to do tomorrow there was plenty of both, I realized as I stood in the tiny foyer. My friends, the people I loved most, were here. And that was enough to strengthen me, to strengthen us all.

I found Cambria and Piper, arguing in front of the kitchen sink while water ran from the faucet. Neither one paid it any mind as it escaped down the drain. “I’m not doing it. I like it the way it is,” Cambria said.

Piper pressed her lips together and pinched the bridge of her nose. Cambria only seemed to dig in. I suspected this was a body language they each knew well and had often repeated. “Cambria, you need to look presentable. There will be a large audience and—”

“No,” Cambria shot back. “I need to look like myself. That’s the only way this will work. Tell her, Tara,” Cambria said and my feet stalled.

“Tell her what?” I asked, wary of inserting myself.

“My mom thinks I should dye my hair back to the original color. Get rid of the blue streaks. She says it’ll look more presentable,” Cambria said, mimicking the last word in a nasty voice.

Her mother glared for a second longer and then turned to me, her expression melting into a sugary smile. She extended her hand toward me, a ring on every finger, and waved me closer. “Yes, Tara, come and tell us what you think.”

“Okay,” I said uncertainly.

Up close, I could see she wasn’t as young as she’d looked when I’d spoke to her on the darkened bus. Lines creased the corners of her eyes and mouth and her trendy top and fitted jeans reeked of stale cigarettes and alcohol. But the look she gave me was surprisingly direct.

“I was just trying to explain to Cambria that it’s best if she make a good impression tomorrow.” She leaned in to me and lowered her voice to a stage whisper that was almost as loud as her speaking voice. “And she’s not very good at making those types of decisions for herself. As you can see.” She gestured to Cambria, who wore, along with her neon-blue hair streaks, faded black jeans and a white blouse with tiny skull-and-crossbones designs printed on it.  For Cambria, it was conservative.

Piper either didn’t know that or didn’t care.

I hesitated, hating to get into the middle of a spat, especially so soon after their reuniting. But one look at Cambria’s expression and I made up my mind. This girl had always had my back—against any enemy. And I would always, no questions asked, have hers.

Piper propped her hand on her curved hip and watched me expectantly.

“Actually, I think it’s more important that Cambria look like she usually does,” I said. “If the viewers see a difference between her appearance tomorrow and what she looked like in the live streaming, for example, it could make them suspicious that she’s been forced into this. We need her to be herself now more than ever.”

“I see,” Piper said quietly. Her face fell and she licked her lips. Then, her head snapped up and her dark eyes bored into mine. “Are you sure about that, Tara? I mean, really sure? I know Cambria’s your best friend, but I think you should listen to the voice of authority here. I’ve had a little more experience with this sort of thing.” Her voice mellowed, its sharp edge rounding out into a cozy crooning, and I felt my lids droop.

Heavy. All my limbs felt heavy. My muscles, my mind, even my mouth as I tried answering her. I swayed in place. “Now that you mention it,” I said slowly, the words think on my tongue.

A beat of silence passed and I became aware I’d stopped talking. “What was I saying?” I asked.

“Mom!” Cambria’s hands fisted and she shoved herself in between us. “You’re compelling her?”

Piper waved Cambria away. “I was just—”

“Knock it off. Now,” Cambria said, her tone shooting from indignant straight to scary.

I blinked and shook my head, the fog clearing. But it didn’t matter. Cambria was livid and she only leaned in closer, her nose inches from her mother’s. “How dare you?” Cambria yelled.

Footsteps approached behind us and stopped in the doorway as the others crowded in. I stayed alert, my attention on Cambria. This might be her mom she was facing off with, but I wasn’t sure if that made it better or worse.

“You have no right,” Cambria went on. Her mother backed up a step but Cambria followed. “Coming here after all this time and thinking you have any say or that I give a single crap about what you think of me.”

“I was only trying to suggest—”

“Not suggest, Mom. Compel. And you reek of vodka. She was probably half-drunk with agreement. God, you could’ve hurt her. Or yourself. You don’t get to come back into my life and still be this version of you.”

“I thought you’d be happy I came back,” Piper said. Her bottom lip quivered but something about it felt too dramatic. Too contrived. “A daughter should be happy to see her mother.”

“I’d be happy if you were sober. And not trying to mind control my friend,” Cambria said. “Besides, you have no idea what a daughter should be. You don’t know me anymore. They do. You’re a stranger. And a drunk, threatening one at that. We don’t take kindly to compulsion without permission. In fact, usually we kick the offender out.”

She folded her arms and the tears brimming in Piper’s eyes suddenly dried up. Her expression hardened. “I sent you away to that school to learn some manners, some self-control for this temper of yours. Apparently, it didn’t do what I’d hoped.”

Piper slid by an unmoving Cambria—whose face had gone white as a sheet. “I’m going to bed. We’ll discuss this in the morning when you’ve calmed down.” She rounded the corner of the counter and I stepped in front of her to stop her. She pulled up short, her eyes widening. Behind me, someone snickered; it sounded a lot like Cord. Piper’s eyes flickered to the offender and I watched a slight flush rise to her cheeks.

“You won’t talk to her about this again in the morning,” I said quietly.

“What?” she stuttered. “Excuse you, but I will talk to my daughter about whatever—”

“No, you won’t. All due respect,
Ms. Hebert
, she’s right. You are a stranger. You don’t know what’s best for her. And you were wrong earlier when you called yourself the authority here.”

“Oh, really?” she said, her darkly lined eyes narrowing. “And who is? That crazy old scientist?”

“Me,” I said quietly. “And I’m not going to kick you out. Not yet. But when tomorrow’s show begins, you will stay inside. And if you try to interfere, I will do more than just kick you out of this house. Respectfully,” I added through closed teeth.

Ms. Hebert’s mouth opened, and the flush in her cheeks deepened to a bright red. “Well.” She gave a pointed look over my shoulder. “Benny, let’s go,” she said.

“She better not take the room with the claw-footed tub,” Victoria muttered behind me.

I waited while Ms. Hebert stepped around me and then I turned. “Benny,” I said.

“Hmm. Yeah?” he asked quickly.

“That goes for you too. Inside tomorrow or you’ll be asked to leave.”

“Got it,” he said and then hurried to follow Ms. Hebert up the stairs. At least he didn’t need to be told twice. He’d already seen me in action. I almost smiled in spite of myself at the memory. George, Emma, Logan, and Victoria blinked back at me from the doorway. None of them spoke. Slowly, we all turned to Cambria. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, but she didn’t say a word.

The front door opened and closed. Booted steps approached, along with the voices of Derek and Wes. They stopped abruptly when they rounded the corner and caught sight of us. Derek’s gaze sharpened into something like understanding as he took in the sight of Cambria by the sink looking murderous, but Wes looked completely confused.

“What’s going on?” Wes asked.

“My mom happened,” Cambria said.

I told him about the compulsion attempt and he wrapped an arm around me. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine, just a little shocked,” I admitted.

“My mom’s capable of more than she looks,” Cambria said with a sad shake of her head.

“What about you?” Derek asked her. “You okay? Because if you’re having second thoughts about tomorrow—”

“No second thoughts,” Cambria interrupted. “God, all she had to say about it was that I still hadn’t learned manners. Nothing about how tomorrow I’ll be a new species.”

“Cam, your mom doesn’t know you anymore. Not like us. We’re here for you,” Logan said and even Victoria offered a murmured agreement.

“She knew one thing,” Cambria said, her words twisting into sarcasm. “My mom’s prediction for my future is going to come true. After tomorrow, I’ll really be a bitch.”

––––––––

T
he bedroom still smelled of mothballs and lavender soap. And if I sniffed in just the right place—near the bench at the foot of the bed—I could still detect the lingering scent of a familiar aftershave.

“It’s just like we left it,” I said.

Wes closed the door behind us and looked around. Inevitably, his eyes darted to the rug. Along the outer edge of the braided fabric was a small red stain. Janie.

“It is,” he agreed quietly.

He came forward, arms out, and pulled me in. He lifted me slightly and buried his face in my hair, breathing deeply. I grabbed handfuls of his jacket collar and held on just as tight. His breath was warm on my neck and grounded me in a way that made everything feel so much more manageable than it had down in the kitchen. One moment stretched into another and, when I didn’t move, Wes sat down on the bench and pulled me down into his lap.

“Did you speak to Alex?” he asked.

“He says they’ll miss the service but they’ll be here in time for ... Headmaster Whitfield doesn’t fly so they had to drive.”

He huffed. “This inquiry board—”