My Date From Hell (23 page)

I sent my light into her anyway.

No, not to kill her. To burn off the tattoo once and for all.

Third degree burns might be painful, but she wouldn’t be dead, right? Except, as I sent my light deep into her arm to wreck the thing at every level, I felt this, well, black lump in her.

I prodded a bit. It wasn’t a tumor or anything. More alive. Throbbing.

With one strong pulse of light, I destroyed it.

Bethany’s face paled. “What have you done?” she shrieked in horror, and ran from the room.

I blinked, coming to my senses. What
had
I done?

“Sophie?” Kai looked at me in concern.

I waved him off and wandered through the gym, checking on the other kids. Students were breaking apart
—
some with dazed faces, others bruised
—
everyone shaking their heads and looking around, trying to figure it out as well.

What a mess. I had to make everything normal somehow.

I trudged back up onto the stage and picked up the mic. “Uh, hello?”

It took a few minutes, but I finally had everyone’s attention.

I had no clue what to say. How could I possibly explain what had just happened?

“Obsession and teen hormones are a bad, bad combo,” I said.

My classmates looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to finish.

Yeah, no. That was all I had.

“Thank you, Sophie, for that,” Principal Doucette said into his own mic, giving me an odd look. “We seem to have gotten off schedule.” He looked around the gym, puzzled. “So let’s get back to crowning our king and queen. Do we have our contestants for King?”

Anil was a no-show and no other guy volunteered.

“This is highly unusual. Moving on to Queen. Is Bethany here?”

I tensed. But she didn’t return.

Doucette shook in head. “I guess then, this year our only royalty is Sophie Bloom.” He motioned for Veronica to come forward with the crown.

It may have been made of cheap gold plastic, its “jeweled” tips mostly broken from when I’d pushed Veronica away, but knowing this crown would win Hannah her freedom made it more valuable than any precious jewel.

Festos and Theo led the applause with obnoxious whoops, followed soon by Cassie, then a few other students, until everyone was cheering. Or at least politely clapping.

Doucette smiled as he led me off the stage.

“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera began to play as the disco ball started spinning.

This was supposed to be where the King and Queen danced together.

I stood there by myself.

My cheeks flushed. My stomach churned. I swallowed down the bile rising in my throat. Any second and the whispering about my loserdom would commence.

I saw Festos start forward to save me but before he could, Kai said, “This one’s mine,” and pulled me into his arms.

I practically sagged with relief for not being left hanging or having a pity dance. Kids could sense that. They were vicious that way.

Kai kissed my forehead and tightened his hold on me.

I laid my head on his chest and just enjoyed it.

Okay, Even I’m judging me right now. Here I was dancing all la la la like I hadn’t a care in the world and Hannah was still tied up with a blade at her throat. Not to mention everything else that was on the line.

I’m not saying I was a good person for dancing but yeah, I took the four minutes that the damn song lasted and danced.

I’d never had a slow dance with a boy I liked. Never been the Queen, the girl who everyone else watches with smiles and you betcha, even envy. So shoot me. I was sixteen, and I freaking wanted my dance.

It was only the two of us on the floor for the first few seconds before everyone else started dancing. But that didn’t matter.

Because all I was aware of was Kai holding me as he gently swayed me around the room. How his head rested on my hair and his splayed fingers were warm even through the cloth on my back. I could smell the faintest odor of seawater and fresh air, and feel the cool smoothness of his shirt front against my cheek.

A deep-seated feeling of contentment ran through me and I gave a blissful sigh.

And when Kai sang that I was beautiful in every single way? I thought I’d die of happiness.

For those four minutes, I was just a girl, dancing with her boy.

And every single one of them was precious.

Nineteen

Like all songs, this one eventually ended.

I glanced up at Kai and our eyes met. Not in a sexy-time way. There was something deeper and more profound.

Scarier.

Yikes. So didn’t want to think about all this.

So didn’t have to. Because Theo and Festos showed up and broke the moment. “Foyer,” Theo said. “It’s where Jack dumped us, probably where he’ll pick us up.”

I saw Doucette eyeing us so I made a point of fanning myself like I was really hot and needed a drink from the hall fountain. “Act casual so he doesn’t suspect.” Although he probably had enough on his plate to overlook me leaving the gym.

I shot a quick glance at the clock as we exited. An hour until the meeting.

We made it to the foyer with no trouble and sure enough, once there, we blinked out.

It was over. We were back at Jack’s house, out in the backyard this time. We stood on a teak deck, in a lounge area, defined by an outdoor rug woven in subtle blues and reds. The space was furnished with slate grey wicker patio furniture with green cushions. Jack’s gauzy white curtains billowed out from the inside, fluttering softly in the breeze.

An intricately landscaped bamboo garden framed the deck.

“Congratulations,” Jack said blandly, from his spot before a massive stainless steel BBQ. “You’re the first to win my home edition of
Endgame
. Hot dog?” he asked, sauteing some onions on a small frypan on the grill.

My mouth started to water. But I wasn’t here to eat. “Hannah. Where is she?”

“Not very polite, are you?” He rolled his eyes but in the next moment, Hannah appeared in front of us, in her normal clothes. Theo and I rushed her for the biggest group hug imaginable.

“Like you better without the whole blade look, Saul,” Theo joked. But I could tell from the fact he was still hugging her, how relieved he was.

Hannah disentangled herself. “Whatever are you weirdos talking about?”

That effectively killed the hug. Theo and I exchanged worried glances. Had Jack adiosed her memory?

I gave her an encouraging smile. “
Endgame
? You all trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey?”

“Plus the whole,” Theo made a slicing motion across his neck as he and Festos made themselves at home on the psychopath’s patio.

Kai stayed standing, propped casually against the frame of a chair but alert.

To my utter shock, Hannah glared at Jack, hands planted on her hips. “You are a terrible person.”

“Hannah, baby, I’m a Trickster in name and in game, what did you expect?”

“You’re better than that.”

He shook his head, laughing, “No. I’m exactly that.”

I nudged Hannah. “I’m confused,” I whispered. We squished in beside Theo and Festos.

“I don’t know what you all thought you saw,” she said, “but I’ve been here this whole time. Except for a few brief disappearances, Jack’s been showing me all nature of terrible creatures while you completed some quest.” Her eyes glowed with a scary fervor. “He even has a lion fish.”

Jack beamed at her fondly. “Get some credentials, then come back and see me in ten years. With those looks and that passion, I’m gonna make a killing off you. You can have your own nature channel.”

“See,” Festos drawled, “he’s not all bad.”

“Nope,” Hannah agreed cheerfully. “Just mostly.”

“And then some,” I added. Nice that they could move on, but I was firmly stuck in grudgesville. I shot Jack a dirty look. “You put us through all that and she wasn’t even in danger? Why not?”

“Thanks, bestie,” Hannah said.

“You know what I mean.”

Kai spoke up this time. “What makes you angrier, Sophie? Believing your friend was in danger and then saving her? Or believing she was in danger, saving her, and then finding out she was fine all along? Jack lives for head trips.”

Jack cut Kai an inscrutable glance.

Silly me. “I’ve got to stop taking anything gods say at face value,” I muttered.

Jack flipped the dogs and shrugged with absolutely zero remorse.

“Gods and goddesses do like their games,” Festos said, laying his cane across his lap.

Theo shifted to look at him. “Yeah? What’s yours?”

Festos threw him a impish grin. “I play no games. I’m an innocent spectator.”

Theo snorted. They shared a look.

Hannah nudged my leg. “Catch me up to date on
that
.”

“Theo and Festos made out,” I said, excited to share my superior gossip.

Hannah squealed.

“Brilliant,” Theo said, leaning across Hannah and Festos to convey maximum displeasure my way.

I batted my eyelashes at him. “I think so.”

Hannah took Festos’ hand. “Tell me everything.”

“Who’s the best friend here?” Theo asked.

“Who’s the gossip who’ll spill all kinds of important info?” she countered.

Festos raised a hand. “That would be me.”

Theo batted Festos’ hand back down. “You are not using us as data.”

Festos lit up at the use of the word “us.”

“Already have.” Hannah cheekily blew him a kiss and Theo sat back, defeated.

Jack put the onions and a toasted bun on a plate and added a perfectly grilled hot dog. He held the plate out to me, considering, then took it back and added a big squirt of Ketchup before once again presenting it to me.

I ignored him.

“Just eat already,” Hannah said. “You know you want to.”

“Maybe it’s poisoned.” I didn’t really think so, but I didn’t want to cave and fall on the food like an animal.

“I play fair,” Jack replied as he handed it over. “You won. You’re all safe now.”

Festos and Theo refused his offer.

I turned to Jack. “Campaign.” I ripped into the dog. Even if they were lips and assholes, I didn’t care. These puppies were delish. “Kill it.”

“Kai?” Jack asked, pointing to another dog.

Kai shook his head, watching the trickster with a wary expression.

Jack watched me eat in horrified fascination. “I’m starting a new reality show. Essentially a global eating contest. I think you’d make a great contestant.”

I finished off the dog. “I’ve had enough of your games for a lifetime. Campaign?”

Jack nodded. “Consider it killed. Swear on the Styx.”

What a massive relief. I felt like I was in the home stretch.

I poured two glasses of water with mint from a pitcher on the coffee table to get rid of my hot dog breath and handed one to Hannah.

She accepted the glass, then snatched the crown off my head and popped it on her own. “Can’t wait to hear how that whole get-up came about,” she said, motioning to my dress, which was still in pretty good condition, all things considered. “Not to mention the party favor here.” She adjusted the crown.

“I’ll have you know I won it. Winter Formal Queen.”

Hannah let out a surprised laugh. “I’d forgotten about that.”

I motioned for it back. “Give.”

“Nah. You’re more a silver kind of girl.” She patted the top of the crown. “I’m keeping it.”

There was a fanfare of celestial trumpets.

Four bronzed men in skimpy bronze shorts carrying a hot pink upholstered litter with silvery curtains appeared on the far end of the deck.

Kai rolled his eyes.

A set of stairs unfurled themselves from the bed of the litter to the ground, the curtains flew aside, and Aphrodite stepped out, decked in a filmy, flowing pink dress, tiny pink roses threaded into her tresses.

Talk about pulling focus.

She made a dismissive motion at her man-slaves. They disappeared with the litter as Aphrodite clicked her way over to me on her towering heels. “Took youse long enough.”

While her attitude was unsurprising, a little public appreciation for our actions would have been nice.

Jack didn’t react to her appearance. Just watched her with a steady gaze.

Aphrodite turned to her ex. “No more a this nonsense, Jackie?”

“Bethany’s campaign is dead,” he assured her.

With Aphrodite’s back to me, I noticed how her dress plunged to her waist in the back. Even her spine was beautiful. I could have done without the realization that she sported a pink thong. I shuddered.

“Her love thong,” Festos piped up helpfully, following my gaze.

“Covers her love thang,” Theo added.

“Source of her power,” Festos joked.

“My eyes are bleeding,” I replied.

“Yeah,” she said, with a toss of her platinum hair. “I’m that good.”

Jack shook his head and sauntered inside.

“And now my brain is bleeding.” I buried my head in my hands for illustrative purposes. No way did I want to know about the underthings of goddesses and the gods who coveted them.

I glanced at Kai, who watched me with a speculative look. All right, him I’d show and tell with.

All kidding aside, I was thrilled. We’d done it. Stopped Bethany. Now all I had to do was talk to Pierce and endure the “fourteen” level of pain before my meeting. I could do this.

Well, there was one other thing. I stood up to face Aphrodite. “Undo the love arrows.”

She frowned. “Gimme one good reason.”

Because
I want whatever Kai feels for me to exist without magic
. “Because we can’t defeat Hades and Zeus if we keep getting stuck to each other every time one of us is upset or in danger. We need every advantage we can possibly have when we face them. The arrows are just hampering things.”

Hannah gave me a thumbs up.

Kai glanced at me, his expression totally unreadable. He nodded his agreement. “Sophie’s right. Undo it.”

Aphrodite looked surprised. “But youse two were gettin’ along so nice.”

Was she watching us? Eww! Yet another reason to have it undone. “Now, please.”

She took my hand, none too gently, dragged me over to Kai, and took his hand as well. A quick squeeze and, “Done.”

I glanced at Kai. I still liked him, but I didn’t feel an itchy compulsion to jump him or touch him or anything. Just a normal massive crush.

What a relief.

Sorta.

Kai met my eyes. “Guess I don’t always get what I want,” he said quietly, with a rueful smile.

“I thought you didn’t want to be shot,” I said.

He shook his head sadly, like I was missing the point.

“Now pony up Pierce,” said Theo, since Aphrodite had been so obliging.

Jack returned holding a drink. Everyone else was busy talking, so I’m pretty sure I was the only one to catch his wistful look at Aphrodite.

I knew I shouldn’t feel bad for Jack
—
ever
—
but I kinda did. He was obviously hurt that Aphrodite was mad at him. Even if he had brought it on himself.

I rolled my eyes, not wanting to show any compassion. After all, this guy had put me through absolute misery.

But still. I walked over to him. “You did the right thing.”

He gazed at me in surprise, which quickly turned to haughtiness. “You’re pitying me? You? Who do you think you are to tell me what the right thing is?”

Now I was mad. “I’m someone who actually does the right thing, you egotistical asshat!”

Jack laughed. “How naive.” He tossed back half his drink. “No matter. We’ll have plenty of time to knock that out of you.”

“No thanks. Not planning to spend any more time with you,” I said.

Jack studied me a moment, then shrugged. “Probably doesn’t matter. I have enough footage.”

“What is youse talkin’ about?” Aphrodite whipped around to Jack.

“Good question,” Festos said, sounding highly suspicious.

Jack smiled broadly. “Footage of Sophie. For the campaign.”

Aphrodite looked thunderous. “What campaign?” she screeched.

I pingponged my head back and forth between them, happy to let Aphrodite keep asking the questions.

“Well, I no longer have Bethany. But I do have Sophie. She’s every bit as interesting and beautiful as Bethany.”

“Glad someone noticed,” I muttered.

Kai shot me a look.

“I’m just saying.”

“Fishing,” Kai chided.

“Actually,” Jack amended, “she’s better. A teen girl with goddess powers.” He toasted me with his glass. “So, I’ve decided to create a media campaign around you.”

Everyone broke out arguing at once. Except for Aphrodite, who just screamed.

I had to yell to make myself heard. “Hey!” A couple more tries and they finally shut up. I turned to Jack. “I don’t want a campaign. I have real problems to deal with. Not to mention, you can’t make me famous for being a teen goddess. No one would believe it.”

Jack grinned. “That’s the beauty of it. They don’t have to. Just because they think it’s fake doesn’t mean it’s not fun. I have plenty of great
Endgame
footage to choose from. We can CG whatever else we need.” He rubbed his hands together, excited by the possibilities.

He’d been filming us? Creepy, much?

Aphrodite whirled on me. “Youse can forgit any access to Pierce!” Her face got blotchy and contorted.

I hurried over to her. “What? No! We had a deal! I got him to kill the campaign.” We were practically nose-to-nose.

“Sos youse could get your own.” She looked like she might strike me.

I jumped behind a chair, putting some space between us. I was tired and full up on my bruising quota for the day. “Not. My. Idea.”