Lost Seraphine (The Seraphine Trilogy #2) (12 page)

I swallow hard. The words Paige has spoken hit me straight in the gut. I lean over and prop my hands on my knees, trying to calm myself as I take in everything that’s just happened this morning.

Paige takes off and starts walking toward my car. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Getting into your car. What does it look like?”

I straighten up and walk over to the driver’s side. “Wait a minute. You’re not honestly going to ride to school with me, right?”

“Oh, I’m going. You’re my meal ticket for getting home. If the sea king wants me to keep you in one piece, then that’s exactly what I intend to do. That means I’ll be attaching myself to you like gangrene.” Paige opens the door and plops down in the passenger seat. I don’t even ask how she got the car door open. She’s a Melusine witch and they have some pretty strange ways of doing things. However this is my car and I refuse to ride inside it with the person who tried to kill me. It doesn’t matter that she might have saved my life only moments ago, she probably did it so she could have a go at me herself.

“I don’t need protection. And definitely not from a—a—”

“From a girl? Is that what you’re bumbling around to avoid saying? Get in the car, love, and let’s head out to school before we’re late.”

“You’re not riding with me. I value the little bit of life I’ve just started living.”

She sighs loudly and folds her arms. The black shawl she’s wearing reminds me too much of her psycho sister, Mel. “If I wanted to kill you, then I would’ve done so. I just told you what’s going on,” she says through a forced smile.

“I heard what you said. Guess what? I don’t believe you. Out!” I repeat, my face stern.

She pouts, rolls her eyes and then she uncrosses her arms and lifts her body out of the car. I hurry up and get in before the weak side of me, the part that hates treating a girl like crap, even though the girl probably deserves the cold dude treatment, takes over.

Standing outside the passenger door, she leans into the window. “I don’t know the way to your school.” She’s serious this time. No sarcastic smirk. No jokes. The girl standing outside my window seems a far cry from the arrogant sorceress who tried to strangle me to death. She’s almost begging for my help, something that will help me in the end, a thing which I should consider since I’ve now seen proof of Gia’s theory about Erica being some kind of dark mistress.

“Come on, I saved you from the Dark Princess.”

“How do I know that? You two could be working together.” I know it’s not true. No two girls ever looked more ready to beat the crap out of the other one.

I still don’t get it, though. Why would Poseidon send a sea witch to look after me? I feel the weak me taking over from the bad ass version of me. He’s going to be the one to make me get my ass kicked someday. I’m sure of it.

“Get in, but understand something right now; Gia rides with me every day. Know what that means? You get a freebie ride today, but tomorrow you’ll be finding your own way to the school,” I explain as she hops back into the car, beaming and making me feel like I’m signing a pact with the devil’s daughter. I fire up the Challenger’s engine and start easing out of my driveway. Mom will be home any minute now. I don’t want her to find me at home. She’ll probably think I’m skipping school.

“Sounds like a plan... cousin,” she answers, smiling.

I slam on the brakes. “Stop right there. We are not related. Besides, what’s the point?”

“I cannot understand how you humans have survived for so many years. Don’t you think people will talk if some new girl’s hanging all over you?”

“No, because these shoulders are already taken. Everybody at school knows that,” I say, thinking of Gia. Oh snap! I need to call her and fill her in before I go rolling up into the parking lot with red riding in my car. Yet Paige has a point. If things with Erica are really as crazy as I’ve just experienced, and Paige is really looking out for me the way she’s claiming to be doing, then I’ll need to be able to communicate with her minus the presence of the Ashley George gossip mill. “I got it. How about we say, you’re the daughter of a good family friend?”

She gives me an incredulous look. “And when they ask where my parents are and why they never show up at school functions, what will you say, Bright Eyes?”

“Hell if I know. We’ll deal with the situation at that point, but there’s no way I’m claiming you as my relative. Got it?”

“Loud and clear. First thing we’ll be working on is a chill out method for that temper of yours.” She sits back and buckles her seat belt, a humanlike gesture that emphasizes the irony of what she truly is—a demon hiding inside a high school girl’s body. “My first day of school. Exciting.”

I continue backing out of my driveway and start driving toward the school. All this might be exciting to her, however I’m filled with doubt and anxiety.

Caleb

I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like Ashley George’s hallways are closing in on me today. The strange weather we continue to have gives the school grounds a gray overcast almost every day. The chill in the air only makes the scene that much drearier. What really bothers me most, along with many other people here in New Bern, is the smell.

I’m talking about an odor that puts a rotten egg to shame. Yeah, sure, we’re used to living by the ocean where the scent of salt lingers in the air, stinging your nose and making your clothes feel like they’re made out of sea weed, but this sulfur odor is bad. Seriously. The whole scene kind of makes me think someone took a paintbrush and colored over the world, leaving us without the ability to see the sun.

Or maybe the nag in my chest has something to do with Paige trailing behind me, making me anxious because I haven’t had the chance to call Gia yet.

Kyle and Shani meet Paige who has overdone her Goth girl look complete with lip, nose and tongue piercings. She’s trying way too hard to fit in and no one in their sane mind will believe our parents know each other, so I introduce her as a distant cousin to appease my friends’ curiosity about her sudden appearance.

Thorne approaches. I turn around and run a hand through my hair. “Just what I need today. Another lecture on why I’m too much of a sissy to participate in a boxing match.” Paige’s eyebrows raise and she gets this serious Naruto kick ass look on her face. “Don’t even think about interfering. Your job is to keep me safe, not to make me look like a wimp. Remember that.” I might as well have been talking to a wall.

“Wood. What’s up?” Thorne stops a couple feet away from my bodyguard and me. His gaze moves to Paige. Frowning, he looks her over from head to foot a couple times before smirking. I can almost hear the sarcasm about to escape that mouth of his before he even says a word. “You didn’t tell me you dumped Gia for death’s girlfriend.”

“Yeah? Death’s chick, huh?” Paige’s eyes narrow and her fists clench at her sides.

“Paige, my sweet, dear family friend,” I gush and place my arm around her shoulders. “I think Gia wanted you to meet up with her after class.”

She frowns and gives me a sarcastic look. “Are you kidding me? The stiff can’t stand my guts.” I stretch my eyes wide and smile hard, trying my best to wedge my thoughts into that hard head of hers. Her face changes, brightens as the meaning behind my silent request finally hits something inside her. She rolls her eyes and says, “Kay. I get it. You don’t want old Paige around. Then guess what? She’s like a ghost. Don’t say I didn’t warn you about Blondie’s brother.” Shoving her books against her chest, she raises her eyebrows in a matter-of-fact look and then shuffles off toward her class, the one where Principal Armstrong teaches.

“How exactly is she related to you again?” Thorne asks.

I ignore him. “What’s this? No pep squad trailing behind you today?” I fold my arms and give him the smirk I know people love so much about me.

“No matter. It’s pay up time, Wood. I saved your ass, now you’ll save mine.”

“Yeah, and here I was thinking you just wanted to kinda hang out with my boy and me.”

I get a bright grin filled with mischief. There’s this sinking feeling nagging at me, a gut instinct screaming out for me to end all this right now.

“There’s a boxing match I need you to participate in on Friday night. I lined up some pretty heavy sponsors and I need someone to fill in for the guy on the opposing team,” Thorne explains.

“Right. Suddenly I get it now. You need a dumb ass, aka me, to get his head knocked off to make you look good.”

He scoffs a laugh and glances around. “No, I need you to black my eye, bust my nose, maybe bust up a lip and then I’ll knock your head off and make me look good. Feel better, now?”

“Not really. Sorry, but I’m going to have to decline, my man.” The boxing match Thorne is talking about is an unregulated, unofficial end to the season. The match usually takes place at a spot where adults don’t think to go and scouts send their high school aged reps out to watch. No respectable sponsor would get caught attending something like this, so their watch dogs head out to do the dirty deed for them. That next week, kids usually return to school with busted up body parts that no one can explain.

“We made a deal.”

“I didn’t sign a contract.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll go easy on you.”

“So, uh, you must’ve left a wad of wax in your ears this morning because I think I just said
hell
no.” I turn and start to walk away. Mom always says there are two things ignorance can’t argue with; a wall and your backside.

“Well, it’s a little chicken shit, isn’t it?” Thorne calls out behind me, and then he starts making the chicken noise. I know he’s flapping his arms because people are walking by and laughing. So Mom’s advice is probably a little off.

I stop walking at once. That familiar rush of heat surges up to my head, the thing that happens when I’m about to do something stupid. I turn around and face him.

“Uh oh, there he is, Mr. Black Belt who teaches defense to girls,” Thorne teases in a mockingly high voice. I force a smile onto my lips and make my way back over to where he stands. “Don’t worry; I’ll still leave some of the pretty in that face.”

“What is this really about, Thorne?”

He smirks and shrugs as his bright blue eyes fill with mischief, his blonde locks giving him the deceptive impression of a guy who models rather than someone known for knocking people flat on their ass. “It’s about you keeping your word. I saved your ass. You agreed to our deal. End of conversation.”

“All right, I’ll play your little game, but on my terms,” I answer. A crazy gleam flicks through Thorne’s eyes and I know I’m going to regret this.

“Good man.” A happy grin lights up his face as he slaps me on the shoulder. “It’ll be all good. I won’t steal your girl again.” We’re standing inches apart, so when he makes that little statement, I can’t help flinching.

I’m the one who makes the sarcastic, dumb ass grin this time. “Erica was never mine to steal in the first place.”

“Good comeback, Wood.” He slaps my shoulder again and starts to move around me, but then he stops beside my shoulder, leans his head toward me and says, “But who says I was talking about Erica.” We lock gazes for a brief moment, a storm of questions and accusations and all kinds of things flying between us in the silence. How can he be talking about Gia? Everyone’s memories have been erased and she told me that no one can resist Poseidon’s mind wipe.

Thorne glances at someone behind me. From the smug expression on his face I have an idea of who the mystery person will be once I see them. “See you in Batts Grave on Friday night. Seven p.m. Don’t let me down, Wood.” Thorne says loud enough for everyone to hear.

I finish grounding the heat pulsing through my veins, a little something that’s getting harder to do each time the temper thing happens, and then I turn around to face her. Gia’s walking up to me, a questioning look all over her gorgeous face. I don’t wait for her to say anything. Instead, I pull her into my arms, burying my face in her hair and allowing the scent of flowers that always surrounds her body to flow through my nostrils.

“You have no idea how good it is to see you.” I feel a hundred pairs of eyes staring at us and I don’t even care. Normally I’m not the type of guy who puts his feelings on display this way, however after everything I’ve been through this morning, I merely want to feel the comfort of someone I know I can trust.

“Caleb, is something wrong?” Gia asks, her head buried against my chest, her arms tight around my waist. I inhale a long, deep breath of Gia before I answer her.

“Everything’s going to be just fine now.”

“Now isn’t this just the cutest little moment I’ve seen all day,” a female’s voice, an annoying and familiar one, says from behind Gia’s back. I want to die. Like right now. I haven’t had the chance to warn Gia about the star of my little episode from this morning.

Gia’s body tenses inside my arms. I pull back and glance into her face. The expression I get in return—the one that’s not really meant for me, but geez, I do believe looks can actually kill—tells me she recognizes the girl’s voice. Gia wiggles out of my arms and whirls around to face Paige. She’s all of five-feet-five inches tall and loves to wear miniskirts. She might be a little less packed where the fire bolt ability is concerned, but my girl radiates pure fire when you tick her off and you know before she even says a word that this little body holds someone who will kick your ass.

“Hello, Princess. I’m back,” Paige says with a grin wide enough to fill the hallways.

“What are you doing here? I put you in a cage,” Gia says through gritted teeth.

“Yeah, a prison made out of water. Sorry, it wasn’t strong enough to hold me.” From the crazy-excited look on her face I can tell she’s rolling in the joy from startling my girlfriend. Gia starts toward her. I manage to grab hold of her before she causes more of a scene than the one that’s already happening around us.

First, they see Thorne doing the funky chicken and now Paige, the girl who’s supposed to be cozy with my family, and Gia are all ruffled up like two cats ready to take a stab at each other. The kids at school haven’t had much excitement since the Halloween party, so this is like being offered dessert before dinner for our classmates.

“I thought I told you to make yourself useful somewhere else,” I remind Paige.

“Oh, chill the freak out, Caleb. I’m just screwing with her a bit,” Paige says, scoffing and shaking her head. “Your dear old daddy sent me back, Princess. I’m here to fulfill a task set by the Seraphine Council, so maybe the old bags will have some sympathy on me and let me go home.”

“You deserve to rot in a cell. You tried to kill Caleb. You plotted against my people. Don’t even get me started on your sister, the crazy maniac,” Gia says and then glances down at my arms wrapped around her body. It’s as though she’s just now realizing I’m holding her back. “What’s this all about? Are you protecting her? You should want me to yank her eyes out,” Gia says to me, questions and confusion storming in her eyes.

“Temper, Princess. I’d be careful about how I speak to me if I were you. We’re on the same side now and I might wind up being the girl who saves your boyfriend’s cute little ass someday. I take it from your lovely welcome that your lovey boy here hasn’t filled you in on all the gory details. Little things like, you know, the Dark Seraphine hanging out at his house this morning.”

Gia glances at me a brief moment and then starts toward Paige again. There’s no one who boils my girl’s blood faster than Mel’s fiery red-headed little sister, Paige. “What are you playing at? Father would never release you,” Gia hisses at Paige. She’s adjusting her backpack. I attempt to help her get it back on her shoulder, but she moves away from me. Great. Now she’s pissed at me, too.

“Chill out and listen up, PG,” Paige begins. “Your boyfriend just—”

“PG? Really? We’re doing nicknames, too? A little ahead of ourselves, aren’t we, Paige?” Gia asks sarcastically. “Would you like to talk outfits next?”

Paige steps toward her and I do the same. She narrows her eyes at me and then scoffs. “All righty. Let’s end all this girl talk. Get this, Princess Gia, and yes, I will call you PG for short. I was sent to do a job. I intend to handle my business. Okay? You can like it or not, but your father chose me, not you. You want to get all huffy? Then maybe you should start with your people on the home front, the ones who decided to do this. What do you think?”

Her words hit Gia hard, which is probably what Paige intended to do. I can tell by the way her expression softens, turning in on itself as she digests the words. I’m still doing the same thing. I don’t get what’s going on around me, either. Paige seems to be holding a group of cards that only she knows how to read. Oh, and did I mention the sea king, aka Gia’s dad, gave that playing deck to her?

“Your boyfriend’s about to do something stupid,” Paige says to Gia, but she’s looking at me. “Which translates into he’s doing something that’s going to jeopardize my chances of getting home and then you will have something to worry about because I’m going to rearrange his body parts.”

Gia folds her arms and glances at me, back to Paige and then back at me again. “You’ve seen Erica, too? Why didn’t you tell me about all this? And what’s she talking about? I heard Thorne mention Batts Grave. Does this have something to do with that?”

“How do you know what we talked about?” I ask Paige, avoiding Gia’s rock hard glare. Man, she really knows how to make me squirm under that look.

Paige smirks, holds a hand up to her ear and says, “Superman doesn’t have a thing on a Melusine witch’s hearing ability. A boxing match with Thorne the Destroyer? Really, Caleb? Isn’t this guy a national champion?”

Gia gives me a disbelieving look. “What are you doing?”

I’m so not ready for the female inquisition right now. On top of being unprepared for my tests, I can now add the inability to focus because my head’s all screwed up. Instead of directing my frustration at Gia I turn to the real culprit. “Didn’t I ask you to get lost earlier? Don’t you have a class to get to or a new spell to go try out on someone?”

Paige gathers her shawl tighter around her shoulders. The dark outfit she’s wearing highlights the extreme copper tone in her hair. I’ve never seen a death collector before, but I can only imagine it probably looks a lot like this girl. Wait! She’s not a human. This thing belongs to a race of sea witches.