My Date From Hell (22 page)

I tore only a smallish hole in the wall between Anil’s room and his neighbor’s as I flung them through. Success.

Anil didn’t seem to care that I’d just slingshot kids through a wall. “You can’t leave,” he said, blocking me with his body.

Fine. If Kai could channel scary god voice, so could I.

I stared into Anil’s eyes. “Let. Me. Through.”

Remarkably, it worked. He moved.

But only to step in closer. Anil gazed at me, obviously turned on, and said, “You are so hot.” Then he kissed me.

The ground rocked.

Not from the kiss.

I opted for a simple yet effective move and kneed Anil as hard as I could in the groin. He dropped to the floor like a stone.

Outside, I saw flames shooting from the ground up toward the sky. Guess Festos was getting all God of Fire on their asses. Good. I hope it hurt.

As I turned to leave, I paused on Anil. His look of agony coupled with confusion led me to believe that, now he really was free of the compulsion. Was pain the key to overriding Bethany’s hold? And if so, how could I possibly wield pain without actually hurting any of the students?

I wanted to explain my actions to Anil, but there was no time. “Long story. Just stay here, okay?”

“Not going anywhere,” he ground out painfully, still curled in the fetal position on the floor.

“Good boy.” I paused and knelt down beside him. “I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression about us.”

Anil grinned. “No worries, Bloom. I never wanted you long-term anyway.” I found his candor shocking, disgusting, and hilarious.

I snagged a piece of pizza. No point letting it go to waste.

“Soph?”

I glanced down at him. “Yeah?”

Anil’s expression turned serious. “I don’t get everything going on around here. Be careful.”

I glanced out the window again but all was silent and dark. I prayed that the wards had held and the minions were gone.

I squatted down and patted Anil’s shoulder. “You too.” Then I stepped over his body, raced into the hallway and headed to the door that connected the guys’ and girls’ dorms, managing to down the slice of pizza in three bites on my way.

Festos was right. I did have that “raised by wolves” thing going on. I made a vow that if I saved the world and survived, I would totally work on my table manners.

The door between the sides was usually left open. Or at least unlocked, despite school rules to the contrary. Not this time.

I heard a couple of students approaching so I opted not to blast the door off its hinges. I raced down the stairs, intending to go around to the staircase to the girls’ side of the dorm, so I could get back up to Bethany’s room.

But the smell of fire made me detour and run full out toward the cafeteria. Were the Gold Crushers and Infernorators burning us out?

I flung the caf door open, panting, my hand on the cramp in my side. I skidded to a stop at the sight of a bonfire, ringed by about ten students, Theo and Festos. In a camp setting, it would have been cheerful. In my school, it was trouble.

The students waved various pointy utensils, grunting and gesturing menacingly at my friends.

On the plus side, human foes not supernatural ones. On the minus side, magically compelled kids and fire. On the scale of potential disasters, still pretty minor. “How villagers pitchforking.”

“That’s nothing like smoking them out,” Theo snapped at Festos. They were both grimy, sooty and sweaty. Theo had lost his jacket and Festos’ left sleeve was torn and scorched.

“Where do you think the smoke comes from?” Festos asked. “Fire.”

Theo gestured to a couple of the students who’d been stuck with wooden spoons, now lighting them like torches. “Which you’ve now armed them with. Great job.”

I gave a sharp whistle. Or rather, more of a sputter because I totally couldn’t do those kinds of whistles. “Put it out, you idiots. Someone is going to get hurt.”

As if I’d cued it, one of the kids at the back tripped, sending everyone cascading like dominoes into the fire. Spoons skittered along the wooden floor, which went up in a blaze.

Dust is highly flammable.

So are students.

Coughing, my eyes watering, I blasted the sprinkler system.

Water rained down on us.

No more flames, just sooty puddles, burned out boards, and soggy kids.

The sprinklers shut off automatically.

I smacked Festos. “How are we supposed to explain this?”

“That’s your problem. You’re the one who hosed us.”

I wrung out my hair. “Because the students were on fire.” Happily, the water pretty much rolled off the netting on my dress. Yay, synthetics. But the boys were damp.

As were my flats. I did a little shuffle, trying to find somewhere dry to stand.

Festos rolled his eyes. “Please. They’re fine. They used a little stop, drop, and roll to smother the flames. The real tragedy is my suit.”

Save me from these Gods and their infuriating egos. “It was an inferno.”

“The school and the students need to stay intact,” Theo said. “Not a challenging concept.”

“It’s not like you’re really a student here,” Festos protested.

“That’s irrelevant,” Theo said. “This place burns down and my wards for Sophie are useless.”

“And if Doucette thinks I had anything to do with all this stuff, I’ll be booted out for sure,” I said. “We need to get out of here.” I strode quickly toward the outside door. I didn’t want to be seen exiting by anyone in the school hallway. I had no intention of being the prime arson suspect.

“Now focus, we have to win the crown before Bethany catches up with us. And we have less than two hours.” I explained about the new meeting time as I flung the door open and we stepped outside.

Back into the cold, which was extra freezing now that we were also wet.

Theo peered at my face. “Are you bleeding?”

As his finger came out to touch the spot, I realized it was probably just pizza sauce from my recent scarfage. I quickly wiped it away before he could find me out. “Just a little nick. Don’t worry about it. First things first. Find Bethany. You try the gym. I’ll check upstairs in case she decided to do some primping before her grand coronation.”

“You going to make her an offer she can’t refuse?” Festos asked.

“You could just lock her in the bathroom again,” Theo reminded me.

I shuddered. Playing that prank on Bethany at the last dance we’d had had gotten me into this mess.

If I hadn’t fed her laxatives and locked her up before taking her place at a rendezvous with Kai … well, the universe had paid me back for that trick in spades. “Definitely not.”

I smiled cruelly. “There’s only one way for me to have a fighting chance. The tattoo has to go.”

“Uh, Magoo,” Theo pointed out, “Pretty sure that won’t help your case at the meeting. Bethany will
definitely
rat you out.”

“Do I have to blast it off?” I asked. “Or could I just damage the tattoo enough so it no longer works?”

Festos and Theo exchanged a look. “That could work,” Festos said. “But make sure you slash or scar through the entire thing. That should render it neutral.”

Finally getting to hurt Bethany.

Who knew this would be the best dance ever?

Eighteen

I glanced at Theo as the three of us ran through the school. “So the father thing?”

“Yeah?” Theo replied, trying to brush soot from his sleeves as he ran.

“How did that work exactly? You actually put your love stick inside a lady pocket?”

“Shaken not stirred,” he said blandly. “I wanted a kid.”

“The miracle of turkey basting,” Festos called out from behind us, his cane thumping with each step.

“Liking you a little less right now,” Theo replied.

We split up in the front foyer. Theo and Festos went to scout out the gym and lower hallways, while I headed upstairs. We agreed to meet back in fifteen minutes.

Personally, I hoped that I’d have already dealt with Bethany by then.

It wasn’t too hard to avoid the roaming packs looking for me. Without Bethany’s direct guidance, they were pretty unfocused and hey, there was still a dance to attend.

I made it up to Bethany’s room in minutes, and flung open her door.

Bethany laid on her bed in a sultry pose. Except the effect was ruined by her weird twitchy faces.

Kai pushed away from his lean on her desk and grinned at me. “I got you a present.” He motioned toward Bethany.

“Aw, that’s so sweet. Does she come with a gift receipt?”

“Nope. Non-refundable.”

I couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t moving or insulting me or something. Carefully, I sidled over to the bed and poked her. She just made more twitchy faces.

“Whatever did you do?” I asked in fascination.

“Used a little compulsion of my own,” he said.

I frowned. “But your powers make people want to kill themselves. This doesn’t look like a suicide attempt. More like she’s malfunctioning.”

“Yeah, well, she is. My force of self-loathing is warring with her heightened sense of self and ego. She’s stuck in a loop unable to actually do anything.”

We both startled as she twitched especially violently.

I clapped my hands in delight. “I love this present.”

“Thought you would,” he said smugly. “Now you can go win the crown.”

“Yeah. But first there’s something I have to do.” I pulled Kai over so he stood directly in Bethany’s eye-line and kissed him with everything I had.

“Evil,” he laughed, and kissed me back.

The arrow lust threatened to explode between us. Only my thoughts of Hannah were enough to stop me.

“We’re good,” I said lightly, noting that Bethany was in full-on spastic mode.

“For now,” Kai said.

“Did you hear that?” I asked Bethany. “He said ‘for now.’ That means more kissing later,” I explained helpfully.

Her right leg spasmed.

“I am so happy right now,” I sighed. “There’s just one last thing to make this perfect.”

I sat down on the edge of her bed. “This is probably going to hurt,” I said. “You know, psychologically.” I placed my hand over her tattoo and sent out a quick pulse of green light.

Bethany jerked but couldn’t attack me, still stuck in her loop.

“Whatever have you done?” Kai sidled up beside me, sounding intrigued.

“What I had to.” I moved my hand away to check the damage. Sure enough, the tiny bit of light I’d shot at it had been enough to wreck the tattoo.

“Interesting,” Kai said.

I glanced up at him and could have sworn he was looking at me with respect. O-kay. “Let’s see if it worked. If my stupid classmates can choose for themselves again.”

As we headed to the door, I spared a glance back at Bethany, who thrashed violently on the bed. “Is she going to hurt herself?”

Kai paused, his hand on the doorknob. “Do you care?”

No. All right, “Yes.”

“It’ll wear off shortly.”

“Hopefully not too shortly. I need her out of the way to win the crown.”

That was going to be the tough part.

A few minutes later, we walked into the gym and for a moment, I was taken aback. Unlike our usual lame dance decorations, the room was lit up by hundreds of fairy lights.

It was beautiful. Even the student body looked great. Except for the fact that both the kids and the teachers were roaming around looking thoroughly confused.

I hoped it was because Bethany’s control had finally, truly worn off.

Some upbeat, fun, flavor of the month song came on. This being a dance, and my classmates being teens, they drifted on to the floor soon enough, occasionally pairing up in couples but more often in groups of guys or girls.

Soon, the only student left standing looking lost was Veronica. Her slutty red dress made the tunic Jack had given me look like a nun’s habit.

I walked up to her. “You okay?”

She regarded me with suspicion. Fair enough, since she and I were historically less than friendly. Finally, she answered. “I dunno. My head feels weird. Have you seen B?”

“I saw her heading upstairs.”

“Oh.” She glanced at the clock on the wall.

An hour and a half to my meeting.

“We need to do the crowning,” she said.

The ghost of an idea formed in my brain. “Are the votes all counted?” I could waylay her, break into the ballot box, and throw them out. Or have Festos set them on fire and start again. Either way, with freely choosing voters.

Veronica looked confused. “Votes? What votes?”

Brilliant. Bethany hadn’t even bothered to have anyone cast a ballot, banking on her influence to ensure her win.

Sometimes the universe tosses you a break.

I heaved a disgusted sigh. “Yes, Veronica, votes. You can’t crown anyone queen without holding an election.”

Veronica chewed nervously on her lower lip. “Bethany is queen.”

I put on a patient smile, determined to win my way through my helpfulness and cheery calm. “Chosen by who? Nope. We’ll have to vote now.”

Veronica seemed uneasy. Probably worried that Bethany would turn on her if she didn’t ensure B’s victory. Let’s face it, she was right to worry.

I glanced around the gym, searching through the teens happily line dancing to some number that must have found its fifteen minutes while I was up in Olympus because I didn’t know it. I spotted Principal Doucette chatting with some other teachers and waved for him to come over.

He nodded approvingly at my change in attire. “What can I help you ladies with?”

I pointed to Veronica. “Veronica says it’s time for the crowning.”

He glanced at his watch. “That’s right.”

“Thing is,” I continued, “somehow there was no election.”

He frowned. “I thought Bethany had won it.”

“No sir,” I said brightly. “She campaigned, but no one actually voted. What would you suggest we do?”
See how team player I’m being here, Doucette
?

“Doesn’t matter,” Veronica cut in. “Bethany is the only one running.”

I shook my head, still smiling. Hoped it didn’t look as forced as it felt. “I’m running. If there was no vote then there needs to be a new election. And I’m a candidate.”

“You can’t run,” Veronica said flatly.

Doucette looked uncertain.

“Of course I can,” I insisted. “I feel that it’s important I take an interest in school activities.” Oh, if they only knew the half of it.

Doucette thought things over while I crossed my fingers behind my back and hoped he went for it. Finally, he smiled. “Good for you, Sophie.” He turned to Veronica. “My suggestion is that you have both Bethany and Sophie give a short speech right now, and may the best queen win.”

I couldn’t have phrased it better myself.

Veronica panicked. “I don’t know where she is.”

“Not my fault. She shouldn’t get special treatment,” I said.

Doucette nodded. “She has five minutes to get here. Otherwise, Sophie is up.”

He left. Veronica and I stared at each other and then both of us took off in different directions, her for the door to the gym (and I guessed Bethany’s room) and me to Kai.

I skidded to a stop in front of him. “Go flirt with Veronica.” I shoved him. “Now.”

He gave me an odd look but did as I asked and headed out after her.

I tried not to think about it. Or start running after him. I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling physical pain in my gut at the scenario I’d just organized.

Theo and Festos hurried into the gym a couple moments after Kai had left. “What the holy heck is going on?” Festos demanded. “Why is your boyfriend chatting up some trollop of a girl?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I responded, even as I started heading for Kai, unable to take it any longer.

Theo stopped me, firmly holding my wrists. “Don’t make me pull out the chain.”

I nodded and waited in miserable, tense silence until I heard the music cut out.

Kids groaned.

Doucette came on the mic. “Attention everyone. It’s time for the crowning of the Winter Formal King and Queen.”

King? I’d forgotten about that part. I racked my brain trying to remember who had been running, but as I’d missed the last two months, I came up short.

“Anil,” Theo clarified for me.

Oh, brother.

“Since we seem to be lacking actual votes, we’ll have our candidates come up and give a brief speech,” said Doucette. “Then do a show of hands. Sophie?”

There were more than a few gasps when I took the stage. I searched the crowd for friendly faces. Hannah was currently being held hostage and Kai was outside flirting with Veronica, so that left Theo and Festos.

And Cassie. She stood in front with a large group of kids, grinning at me and giving me a thumbs up.

That helped a lot. I braced myself and took the mic.

The gym doors slammed open. Everyone turned to look.

Bethany stood there in all her glory. “No need for that. Your queen is here.” She shoved through the crowd, sashayed her way onstage, and snatched the mic from my hands.

“You’re finished, Bethany.” I tried to grab the mic back, but she smiled and showed me her arm.

And the perfect tattoo still inked on it.

“Magic marker,” she smirked. “Fitting, huh? You broke the lines of the original tattoo and killed the power. I restored it.” She shoved me back and snapped her fingers. “Crown me.”

“I’ll get it from Veronica.” Doucette hurried out of the gym to retrieve the crown as the students began chanting Bethany’s name. Even Cassie.

Even, I noted with horror, Theo and Festos.

“Whatever Jack did to boost your power, he’s just using you. He’ll turn on you in the end.”

Bethany laughed. “Jack didn’t boost my power. He just showed me how to fully tap into what Delphyne gave me.”

And thank you Jack for that poor decision-making. “No,” I yelled into the crowd. “She’s forcing you. Fight it.”

“I love you,” Bethany crooned into the mic. “And you love being loved.”

The entire glassy-eyed student body sighed as one.

“Adoration is wonderful,” she said.

“It’s not adoration. It’s obsession,” I retorted.

“So what?” She laughed. “It’s a trip.” Then she raised her arms and let loose her magic.

Even I staggered back against the onslaught of emotion. I felt incredible. And all I had to do to keep the joy was love Bethany.

I needed an outlet for my happiness. I craved Kai so badly, I’d walk through fire for him. I headed off-stage. My body trembled as I crossed the room with single-minded intent. Find Kai.

I wasn’t the only one wanting to share the love. Kids had coupled up all over the place. I passed Theo and Festos making out.

As I reached the back of the gym, some spurned lover threw the first punch.

Uneasily, I felt like maybe there was something I should do about it. But then Kai entered the gym and all else failed to matter.

Except for Bethany, of course.

Kai and I locked eyes and I doubled over in pain. I could barely breathe, barely stand upright. I pressed a hand to my side, just as Kai caught me. “The arrows,” he gritted out. “Whatever Bethany is doing is amping up the arrows. I can feel it now that I’m in here.”

I didn’t care. The pain didn’t matter. I just had to be with him. I reached for him.

“Snap out of it!” Kai shook me. “You have to win the crown.”

He didn’t understand. He hadn’t been here to witness the full unleashing of Bethany’s amazingness. So despite how much it hurt, I kissed him.

Only to be yanked off him and flung to the floor.

If Theo had broken us up, I’d kill him. Not figuratively. Really kill him.

But it wasn’t Theo.

It was Bethany.

“Kai,” she said, “Just in time to be my king.” She leaned in to him for a kiss.

I saw red. No way was she getting him.

“I got the crown,” I heard Veronica chime in.

I shoved her out of the way. She was interfering with me getting to Bethany.

I grabbed Bethany by the arms. This was going to end now. And it was going to be painful.

As I called out my ribbons of light, I had the sense that despite my rage, there was something very wrong about all of this.

I looked around the gym, now in total chaos, with students fighting and fooling around.

At Kai, shaking his head at me. Yelling something I couldn’t understand over the roar of my blood.

And finally, at Bethany’s face, her expression caught between fury and fear. I may have looked a tad unhinged.