Читать книгу The Life After Trilogy: Soul Taken / Soul Possessed / Soul Betrayed - Katlyn Duncan - Страница 18

“Hey, girl!” Heather said, toppling over her six-inch heels into Henry’s car.

Henry stood outside the door, his arms at Heather’s waist helping her balance.

“You alright there?” I asked.

“Absolutely,” she slurred. She turned to Henry. “Thank you, kind sir.” She exploded into a fit of giggles and tumbled into the back seat.

Oh, boy.

I blew the acrid scent of alcohol from Ally’s nose.

“You look hot for falling down an escalator,” Heather said, using her lit phone screen to check out my outfit.

I laughed. “Are you okay?”

She ignored the question, pulled a beer from her purse and handed it to me. “Want one?”

“No,” Cooper said without turning around from the front seat.

I glared at him. I know. “I can’t,” I said.

“Oh yeah, you’re on meds; that sucks! More for me!” She took a long swig from the can, then set it down in one of the cup holders.

On the way to the party, Heather talked my ear off about how tonight would be “the night” with Brody. Whatever that meant. I nodded appropriately, trying to appear more Ally-like. Her memories were my constant companion in helping steer me in the conversations with Ally’s friends. Though Cooper was a big help too.

Henry pulled up to Brody’s house, as close as he could. Cars lined both sides of the street. I looked out Heather’s window and saw teen boys running across the lawn without shirts on. The house itself wasn’t gated but its size definitely challenged the Greene home.

“Ally!” Heather touched Ally’s arm. “We’re here.”

“No kidding,” I said.

Henry lurched from his seat and waddled around to the trunk. He opened it and I frowned.

“You promised,” Cooper said smugly.

Henry opened my door, holding the crutches out to me. I slid out of the car and took them.

Cooper appeared beside me. “I’m going to check in with my team.”

Just as Cooper disappeared, Aaron appeared at my side.

I groaned.

“It’s nice to see you too,” he said, grinning.

I ignored him and waited for Heather to stumble out of the car and make it to my side. She struggled with her skirt, hiking it up to a dangerously short length.

“Ready?” she said.

As I’ll ever be.

Heather’s heels clicked across the walkway in time with the crutches as we weaved through the crowd of teens hanging out in the front yard. They stared, but I kept my head forward, following Heather’s lead. Music filtered out of the open windows and the volume got louder as we neared the house.

“Ugh, why is Carrie Richards here? I swear Brody needs a bouncer or something to weed out the dweebs,” Heather complained.

Inside the house there were twice as many bodies and the music was deafening. Teens congregated in the hallway entrance, keeping an eye on who came and went. The smell of sweat and alcohol invaded my nose. Inhaling through my mouth helped ease the tightening of Ally’s stomach. Heather greeted some of the “cooler kids” as she called them; I did as well. Sticking next to Heather proved an asset and I quickly fell into the rhythm of the party.

A new song came on and Heather squealed.

“Remember this one? Oh my God! Sixth grade, that kid grabbing your butt! We need to dance.”

She dragged me into the living room, where a group of girls were dancing. It was the first, and hopefully last, time I was thankful for the crutches. I leaned on them heavily and swayed to the music. Heather jumped around me and I became lost in her silliness. But a sinking feeling in Ally’s middle encroached on the mood.

She should have been there to experience the party. Her youth had been taken from her just as her soul was. She needed this last week of her humanity. I hoped the Guard were onto a lead. Any lead.

Cooper stood at the bay windows, his eyes constantly scanning the room. The few times I caught his eye, he nodded. He was all business tonight.

“I need a drink!” Heather shouted.

“Okay!” I said, thankful for the reprieve from the mass of sweaty bodies gyrating close together.

Heather led the way to the kitchen and opened the fridge, handing me a bottle of water. She continued to the keg and flirted with one of the boys to pour her a cup.

I leaned into the counter and took a swig of water. The crisp drink cooled down Ally’s flushed body.

Heather bumped her hip into mine, nearly spilling her overfilled cup. “Where’s Seth?”

“He said he was coming later.” Ally’s cell phone hardly stopped chiming all day long with texts, emails, status updates, and other random messages. I ended up turning it off right after receiving Seth’s message about the party.

Heather thrust out her chest. “Oh.”

I followed her gaze to a boy across the room. Brody?

Ally’s memories confirmed my suspicions.

“Don’t worry about me,” I offered.

“I’ll wait,” she said, eyeing him.

“Seriously, go,” I said, nudging her with the crutch. “I’m going to text Seth to get him here sooner.”

“You are the best!” She kissed my cheek and went to Brody, who took her hand and led her out of the room as if his next breath depended on it.

I finished my water and left the empty bottle on the counter. What to do now?

I spotted Aaron in the hallway and headed in the other direction. I found a set of sliding doors that opened to the back yard. My head pounded and I needed a break from the thumping bass.

The night air tickled Ally’s slick skin. I stepped onto the patio, leaning heavily on the crutches and greeted a few kids. They gave me open-mouthed stares, indicating Ally was not actually friends with them.

Okay, moving on.

With each step I took from the house, the fewer people there were. Except for the half-naked kids splashing around the hot tub. I hobbled to a gazebo at the edge of the property. When I was sure there was no one around, I dropped the crutches and stretched out Ally’s legs and leaned back against the railing to watch the millions of stars shining bright against the moonlit sky.

A deep breath escaped my lips and I thought of what happened at the mall. I had only taken my eyes off her for less than ten seconds. In the past I’d have to quickly get a soul out if one of my trainees freaked out. No other Soul Collector had that type of skill besides me.

Crack! A twig snapped.

I sat up, holding a crutch in front of me. “Aaron?”

A figure hidden in the shadows approached the gazebo. “Don’t run.”

Not Aaron.

Be human, I thought. It’s probably one of Ally’s classmates.

I kicked out her bad foot, my hand tightening around the crutch. “I can’t run,” I chuckled.

Where was Cooper? Or Aaron? Or any Guard? Cooper had made it part of the deal for me to stick with a Guard.

The boy from the school stepped under the gazebo, the dim Christmas lights illuminating his face. A light breeze ruffled Ally’s hair, raising goose bumps along her skin, but a part of me knew it wasn’t all because of the breeze. He moved closer, each step causing Ally’s heart to race as if a hummingbird lived inside her chest.

“It’s you,” I said.

“It’s me,” he said a little sadly. “You know my name?”

I ignored the question. “Are you a Guard?” I asked, noticing his outfit.

“Not exactly.” He moved closer to me; I raised the crutch, stopping him in his tracks.

“So it’s true,” he said, raking a hand through his thick, dark hair.

“What’s true?” I asked. “I think you might be confused—”

“I’m not confused,” he said, quickly moving forward until his body was inches from mine. This guy had a personal space issue, but I didn’t step back. I wanted to be near him. Something deep inside me pushed to the surface, demanding to be released.

“Why would he do this?” he said in a low whisper.

“Who?” I stared up into his eyes.

The boy lifted his hands to my face but, instead of touching me, they closed into fists. He twisted around and punched one of the pillars. His hand connecting, hard.

I flinched, reconsidering my crutch barrier.

He punched it again with the other hand.

“Stop!” I said. “What’s going on? Cooper did send you to watch me, right?”

“Cooper,” he spat. “Cooper has nothing to do with this, with us.”

“Us?”

He gripped my shoulders and held me in front of him. “What do you remember about your human life?”

Ally’s jaw clamped shut.

His grip lessened but he did not release me. “Please, Mags, I need to know.”

I had a hard time concentrating on anything besides his touch. “What do you mean?” I asked. “We don’t remember our human lives; it’s one of the rules. You should know that.”

He grimaced, releasing me from his grip. “I think you need to have a chat with Felix, especially because of the body you inhabit.”

“Jackson!” Cooper’s voice bellowed.

I flinched, turning to him.

His broadsword braced for attack. His eyes flicked to mine. “Get out of here, Maggie.”

I looked at Jackson. The name struck me, but I had no idea why. I racked my memory but it remained hazy.

“Stay out of this, Guard.” The title rolled off Jackson’s tongue as if it were a curse.

Calliope and six other Guard appeared on the lawn.

“Did you think we’d leave her unprotected?” she snarled.

Jackson narrowed his eyes, touching his gaze on each Guard, sizing them up. None of them moved and neither did I.

Jackson’s eyes darkened and he touched Ally’s cheek, sending a quiver of energy through me.

“I’ll be back for you.” His blue eyes twinkled under the lights. He turned to Cooper, his hand still touching me. “You don’t want to make a fool of yourself again, do you?”

Cooper’s lip curled up and he gripped the sword harder.

Jackson launched himself over the railing and disappeared before his feet touched the ground. I stared at the empty space where he had been; it mirrored a sinking awareness in Ally’s gut.

Cooper appeared at my side. “Are you okay?”

I blinked at him.

“Did he hurt you?” His eyes darted around my face as if blood would start gushing out at any moment.

“No,” I said through chattering teeth, briskly rubbing Ally’s arms.

“We should get out of here,” Calliope put her arm around me. “I think that’s enough excitement for one night.”

I nodded, still remembering Jackson’s touch.

I allowed the Guard to flank me as I leaned into the crutches, making my way around the house. My head pounded enough, I didn’t need to add the pressure of music. The only person I knew in there was Heather and she was preoccupied. I’d text her later. Plus, I didn’t want her to ask questions. Questions that I didn’t have any answers to.

A few teens hanging out in the hot tub yelled for Ally and I offered a glance in their direction as I passed.

“Come on in, baby,” one particularly drunk kid heckled. “The water’s fine.”

“In your dreams,” I said, eliciting hoots of laughter from the others.

I rounded the house and saw Henry’s car parked further down the street. “Did you call him?” I asked Calliope.

Cooper answered. “No, he waits for Ally. She’s usually not this subdued after a party.”

One more way that I’m unlike Ally…

Cooper chuckled, reading my thoughts. “It’s not a bad thing. It’s actually nice to walk with her to the car, instead of watching someone carry her out.”

“Ally!” Seth called.

I turned. Seth and Krystal stood at the front door. I ignored her glare and mustered a smile for Seth.

He jogged over, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m just tired.”

“Sorry I’m late,” he said. “Dad wanted me to make some deliveries.”

I looked over his shoulder to Krystal.

Seth offered a sheepish grin. “She asked me for a ride too. I hope that’s okay?”

“Of course,” I said, matching her glare.

“Do you want me to come with you?” he asked, his tone suggesting his offer was a means for him to be polite.

I didn’t trust that part of Ally that had taken over when Seth was near the day before. I didn’t need to test her.

“Have a good time,” I said, pulling him into a quick hug and keeping Ally’s mouth away from his. “Call me tomorrow?”

Seth squeezed Ally’s hand, nodding. “Feel better, Ally-bear.” He kissed the top of her head and turned to the party.

I caught the end of Krystal’s glare but, just as Seth faced her, it melted into a mock-frown. “Feel better!” she called, giving me a little wave. She waited for Seth and whipped around toward the party.

“Come on, Maggie,” Cooper hissed.

There was something about Krystal that was off. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

Cooper and I reached the car, and Henry came out, grabbing the door before I could. “You okay, Ms. Greene?”

I nodded and slid into the backseat. Cooper appeared in the seat beside me. I leaned Ally’s head against the window. Her life seemed so carefree before she went missing, or maybe she had been oblivious to the people around her? Krystal definitely had it in for her, for some reason. And her father hadn’t even called to see if Ally was okay. Did he even know she was in the hospital? Would he have cared? I sifted through her memories of David and they were short, seeming almost a chore for him. Even on special occasions he had left her with Marie and Ally’s friends as distractions, yet she missed him. I hovered in those moments, sharing them with her. Actually missing someone. Those thoughts turned to ones of my family, whoever they were. I wondered if I had been loved or left in the dark like Ally was.

Ally’s phone buzzed, breaking me from my reverie.

Heather’s text read: Thx for leaving me, biotch! :) Hope u feel better!!!! Tonight’s the night!!!

I smiled. In the wake of everything Ally was missing, she had at least one good friend.

More than you’ll ever have.