The Raven Series 2 (9 page)

I glanced sideways at my dresser, wondering how long it would take me to grab the blade I had hidden in the top drawer. I was pretty paranoid these days. “Okay, why exactly are you here?”

Crash’s eyes met mine with a wealth of concern I never expected to see on his scruffy face. “Have you seen Estelle?”

My curiosity was peaked. What on Earth would he want with Estelle? And now that he mentioned it, I hadn’t seen her in days, probably before Rose’s death. “I’m sorry. If you came all the way here, looking for Estelle, it was a waste of your time. As far as I know, she hasn’t been to the manor in days.”

Crash glanced out the window, letting out a weary sigh. “Damn.”

I loosened my grasp on the blanket, letting it fall to my waist. “Is she missing?” This was unexpected.

“She hasn’t been home in two weeks, which usually isn’t cause for alarm. Reapers are known to come and go wherever the spirits call. But it’s not like her to leave for so long without checking in.”

“Estelle’s a hawk.” I racked my brain, trying to recall if I’d seen the mark on her wrist.

Pulling another long drag from his cigarette, he nodded. “She’s my sister.”

This was one of the strangest conversations I’d ever had in my PJs, and lately, that was saying something. “Why come see me?” I had my suspicions…dark and disreputable just like Crash.

One of his bushy brows arched. “You’re a banshee.”

I glimpsed down at my hands. “Uh, right. You want me to like summon her or something?” Wow, that sounded extremely lame. Time to shove my head under the covers and pretend this whole conversation never happened.

A nefarious grin started to spread on his lips, as if he knew what was going on inside my head. “Or something,” he said.

I felt the need to be honest. “Sorry to have wasted your time, but you totally picked the wrong banshee. I have yet to master the whole beckoning of reapers.” I could probably summon Zane in my sleep, but anyone else, not so much.

“You have power, Piper—a hell of a lot of power. Seeking one reaper should be a piece of cake. I suggest you start figuring out how to use your abilities before you find yourself in another unsavory situation. Rumors travel faster than truth.”

I tilted my head to the side, watching him.
Did I sense an undertone of a threat in his words?

He flicked his cigarette, crushing it into the floor with his boot and extinguishing the stick. “I’ll give you a few days to sharpen your skills, and if Estelle hasn’t popped up, your goons won’t be able to stop me from finding you. We all have our special abilities.”

Goodie gumdrops. A threat and an ultimatum.

Before I could tell Crash to go suck a lemon, the veins around his eyes turned scarlet, cascading over his face. This was nothing new, a trait I was beginning to expect from reapers, but then his form began to ripple, liquefying and becoming transparent. I mean, I could literally see through him. Gawking, I edged forward on the bed, watching as Crash’s body morphed into…a snake?

Disgusting.

Stupefied, I blinked, suppressing the urge to squeal and run around the room like a chicken with its head cut off. My body shuddered.

I guess that explained how Crash was able to get inside.

So much for Zane’s vow of duty. I thought he was supposed to get some kind of homing signal when I was in trouble. Or was it just only when someone had a blade to my throat?

I doubted I was going to be getting much beauty sleep after that. Since I knew I wasn’t going to be able to go back to sleep, I shot out of bed and padded across the room. I checked every window and door, securing the locks. Even then, I was frazzled, so I did the one thing that calmed me at the wee hours of morning. I drew.

I flipped through my sketchbook, looking at how my drawings had changed. What used to be kickass anime girls with colorful hair and wicked blades had transformed into fifty shades of Zane.

I sighed.

Chapter 9

“You look tired” were the first words out of Zane’s mouth the following day.

Gah. I wanted to throttle him. Today was not the day to mess with me. Not only was I sleep-deprived and cranky—waking up at the butt crack of dawn did that to me—today was also the last day TJ was going to be on the island. I kind of wanted to throw up. “I didn’t sleep well.”

Zane stretched, like a panther. “Too busy thinking about me?”

My short laugh came out louder and crazier than I’d intended. “Not quite. I had a visitor last night.”

“You never told me you were having a slumber party. And I wasn’t invited.” He put his best “put out” face on, but he looked ridiculous.

I pursed my lips. “
If
I was going to have a sleepover, I’d rather it be you than Crash.”

That got his full attention. About time. His gaze sharpened, the hue of blue in his irises darkening. “Crash was in your room last night?”

“Uninvited, I might add, just so we’re clear.” I scuffed my foot on the mat, lifting my lashes to meet his sinister gaze. “And what the heck? Where were you? Didn’t you get my damsel in distress signal?”

“I was working,” he stated flatly, steely eyes circling the room. “And I never sensed that your life was in danger.”

It was easy to forget sometimes that when he said
working
, he wasn’t talking about down by the docks. He had been reaping souls. “Who kicked the bucket?”

“A guy on the main island,” he answered before his eyes found mine. “And stop trying to distract me. I’m going to kill him,” he growled, more to himself.

My sigh was audible. “I’m trying to stop you from going commando. It was no big deal.” Or so I kept telling myself. “He was looking for his sister.”

“Estelle?” The doubt in his voice went up like a red flare.

I nodded. “I guess he hasn’t seen or heard from her in days and is worried. He came to the manor looking for information. I didn’t have any.”

He stared at me like I’d grown two heads. “And he just left…without trying to hurt you?”

I crossed my arms. “I’m still here.”

“That’s the point. It makes me wonder what he’s up to.”

“Does everyone have to have an objective?” I countered. “Could it be possible he is just worried about his sister?”

“He’s a reaper.” Zane’s voice, grim and dark, made my blood freeze. “Not to mention a Hawk.”

It seemed the phantom reapers had bad reps, but so did someone else… “And what makes him less of a threat than you?”

“I’m far more dangerous, princess. But, his father is the sector overlord, an elder, and very vocal in his aspiration for change.”

My stomach pitted in tight coils. “Oh.”

In this situation, it paid to know who your enemies were. I needed to learn who was who within the sectors, who abided by the laws of life and death, and who wanted to rip my heart out. I needed to fully immerse myself in this world. I needed to push myself harder.

“The bastard’s lucky he’s not here,” Zane seethed. I thought I detected disappointment.

Suddenly, Crash was the least of my worries. “Forget about Crash. I’m here to be a ninja or some crap. So, what are we waiting for? Teach me. Everything.”

Zane leaned a hip against the nearest wall, eyeing me. “Everything, huh? Where did this urgency and eagerness come from? Yesterday, I had to all but drag you in here.”

I shrugged. “You reminded me how much I have yet to understand.”
And lose.

Dressed from head to toe in black, he took a step forward, shoulders squared and feet planted. “Then let’s do this,
princess
.” His tongue rolled over the irritating nickname, goading me as the shadows trailing on the walls closed in around us.

“Oh, for the love of God. Please tell me I’m not going to spend the day dodging your sadistic methods of combat. I don’t think my body can handle the torture, and so help me, if you tell me not to get hit, I’ll cut off your balls.”

He pinned me with a look that made me want to roll my eyes. “Lack of sleep makes you feisty. Good. You’ll need it.” He was suddenly in front of me, his fingers lifting up the end of my shirt, exposing my back.

I smacked at his hand. “This is not the time or place to cop a feel, comrade.”

His hand dropped back to his side, eyes twinkling. “No marks. Your skin is as creamy as a newborn baby’s ass.”

“Oh, ’cause you’ve seen so many babies’ butts.”

“You heal. No harm done, except your pride.”

“That’s what you think,” I mumbled. “My pride’s just fine, but you could use a few blows to the ego. Then maybe you’d be less of a jerkface.”

A black brow curved. “Let’s refocus your energy. And you’ll be happy to know I thought we’d try something different.”

I squirmed in my workout gear, wondering why this sports bra was so constricting. My boobs couldn’t breathe. “Right, because I did so exceptional before.”

His lips twitched, watching me fidget. “We need to figure out what supernatural abilities you have…other than being a smartass.”

I kept my eyes on his and saw the laughing sparkle a serene blue. “Well, that’s easy. I’m not sure there’s much I can do, except get myself in trouble,” I mumbled.

“Not entirely true,” he said. “You managed to take down a hallow on your own, absorb a reaper’s soul, and you have no problem summoning me.”

Yep. I had done all of that. “You’re forgetting one key factor. I didn’t do any of those on purpose.”

He gently grabbed my arm, turning me toward him. “Whether you consciously meant to or not, some part of you knows what to do. We just need to get your mind to tap into that part.”

I raised my head. “I’m trusting you.”

Zane’s eyes burned bright. “I’m the only one you can trust.”

“As much as it hurts me to say it, you’re right. Okay, Zaney, tell me what to do.”

He blinked once. Then twice. I swear I saw him counting in his head before he spoke. “So, we know you have random bursts of power usually driven by strong emotion.”

Yeah, like my life being threatened. “That’s helpful. I still have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Fear and rage seem to be triggers.”

“I’ve no shortage of either emotion.”

“That’s what we’re counting on,” he said.

This time I rolled my eyes.

“As much as I would love to get in the ring with you, we need a guinea pig. Another reaper for you to spar with and test out your control.” He scanned the room, searching for an idiot dumb enough to let a novice like me experiment with possibly life-threatening powers.

But it was a logical idea, considering under no circumstances were we supposed to use our abilities together. Things happened, kind of like when they crossed streams in
Ghostbusters
.

Tension flitted through Zane, his eyes turned to slits, glinting with anger, and I knew something bad was about to go down. My body braced for God only knows what, I turned around and the pressure that had been building in my chest deflated. A whoosh of air expelled from my lungs.

It was only Crash.

I’d been expecting…who knows, but bad habit guy wasn’t it. “You gave me a heart attack,” I said to Zane, whose eyes were zeroed in on Crash like he wanted to cause him severe bodily harm.

“Did I hear you’re looking for—?”

Crash went from standing in front of us to being flat on his back in a span of two seconds. Zane was looming over him, ice crackling in his eyes. “I should kill you.”

“What is your deal, mate?” Crash croaked.

“
My
deal?” Zane roared, teeth ground together.

Crash was on his feet again with Zane in his face. So much for flying under the radar, we now had the attention of the room, and my first response was to crawl under the mat or lock myself in a locker. I tucked my hair under my ear, uncomfortable with all the eyes staring at me…as if I needed any more attention.

I wasn’t looking for trouble, but trouble had a way of finding me. “Zane.” I sighed. “We don’t have time for this. We need to get to the
important
stuff.”

I didn’t know a whole lot about Crash other than he was rough around the edges and Zane disliked him—immensely. It was enough, however, to know those two traits didn’t mix well, like oil and vinegar.

Zane spun around and fixed me with a glare that would have made most people shrink. “Piper, mind your own business.”

“How is this not my business?” I barked.

“I’ll deal with you in a minute.” Eyes snapping in restrained anger, he gave Crash a humorless smile. “I warned you once to stay away from her. And you know I don’t give second chances.”

Crash backed up a step or two, but there was nowhere to go as he hit a wall. “So am I to assume you won’t give me two seconds to explain?”

“You got that right.” Zane sidestepped me as his hand curled into a fist and sunk into Crash’s gut.

Groaning, Crash doubled over. “Is it necessary to hit me with such a glacier punch?”

Zane had this chill to his powers that froze the blood. I shivered, thinking how cold he could be.

“I’m the son of Death. What were you expecting? Warmth and fuzzies?”

“I can see you’re in a mood, but I can help you,” he rasped. “You need me.”

I held my breath, slightly afraid of what Zane might do next.

“Not
you
,” he replied without hiding his distaste.

Oh snap.

Crash’s smirk didn’t budge as he straightened up, obviously aware Zane wanted to wipe his scruffy face across the floor. His gaze swept the room. “I’m the only one available.”

There was something in his tone that suggested he knew more than Zane was comfortable with. I blinked, and Zane loomed over Crash, his back jammed to the wall. “Let’s get one thing straight. I. Will. Never. Need. You.”

In my school, if a fight was about to break out, everyone stopped and gawked. Nothing happened here. The volume didn’t change, and no one batted an eye.

I cleared my throat, cutting through the heightened tension as the two meatheads glared in an epic stare down. “Guys, I’m not going to learn jack shit if you can’t go two minutes without puffing out your chests and having macho moments.”

Neither one of them reacted at first, and after what felt like a lifetime, Zane poked his finger into Crash’s chest. “Good thing this isn’t about you.”

I assumed that was his way of saying we would accept Crash’s offer to help, although I wasn’t entirely sure there wasn’t something in it for him.

Crash’s green lantern eyes twinkled. “If it makes you feel better, I won’t hurt her…much.”

Zane cursed and I moved, blocking him from decapitating Crash. Standing between them probably wasn’t the safest place, but in the heat of the moment I didn’t see how I had a choice. Someone had to keep these two from tearing into each other.

Turning my head, I glared at Crash. “Gee. Thanks, douchecanoe.”

A spark of humor winked in Zane’s eyes.

Crash’s lips pursed. “Do you make that stuff up on your own?”

I sighed, my patience being tested. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s get started doing…whatever it is I’m supposed to do.”

The muscle below Zane’s jaw throbbed. “Fine. Crash, you know what to do.”

Before I even had a chance to respond, Crash moved, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Zane flinch. This wasn’t going to test just me—it was going to test us both.

My blood pressure rose as my eyes fought to follow Crash’s movements, but I was no match for his speed. As he bound over the mat, white smoke swirled, blue light shimmered, and Crash became an animal.

A roguish-looking brown wolf with gold eyes threw back his head and howled. The ground shook under my feet, tipping over the water bottle I’d placed next to me on the floor. There was no denying the tremble of magic that shimmered in the air.

My mind was saying this was ridiculous. I’d never seen a wolf outside of a zoo, let alone a human turn into one. He bared his teeth. They looked very real. And very sharp. My heart flew in my throat. I didn’t think Crash was going to hurt me, but the point of this exercise was to force my powers to the surface, and I guess we were going with fear as the trigger.

I gave Crash props for his commitment.

As the wolf stalked toward me, my instincts were screaming for me to run, fast and hard, but I kept my feet planted. I rolled my neck, loosening the tight muscles.
This should be fun
.

Half a scream escaped my mouth before the beast barreled me down, my back slapping hard against the mat, enough to stun me, knocking the wind from my lungs. Ignoring the pain pulsing throughout my body, I twisted and kicked. My reflexes sharpened. I stiff-armed the wolf in the muzzle as he snapped his jaw at my face.

An agonizing screech ripped from my throat.

“Use your inner strength, Piper, to stop him,” Zane instructed.