Penny, Mary Ann said, slack-jawed. Loosely translated: Rude!
What? her friend asked, all innocence. Im curious. Ask any teacher here. Curiosity is for the learning-inclined.
Victoria glanced between them. American food isunappetizing. Another translation: Because it wasnt blood. I prefer to eat at home.
I dig. Penny nodded, clearly buying the misdirection. Wherere you from, anyway?
Romania.
Spooky. Your accent isnt thick, though. Lots of traveling? One parent from someplace else?
Victoria nodded, noncommittal.
Blithely Penny continued. So whyd you move to Oklahoma, of all places? Isnt that, like, hickville to someone like you?
Enough with the inquisition, Mary Ann said on a sigh. Victoria had only attended the school for a few weeks, but the vampire had held herself aloof from everyone except Aden, Mary Ann and Riley all that time because she hadnt known how long she would be here or what her father, Vlad, would order her to do. And really, she considered humans a food source, not a playground of friendliness. Though Mary Ann liked to think the vampire was softening because of Aden. Aden. Where are you? Had Riley found him already?
Riley. Hurry up! Every minute he was away, her worry for him increased. And for Aden, of course. With that dumb death curse hanging over their headsoh, God. She hadnt needed the reminder on top of everything else. Couldntbreathe
Shed been on edge all day. Shed been distracted, too, and had no idea what her first three classes had even covered.
Victorias gaze met hers, and they shared a moment of silent communication.
Entertain me, Mary Ann mouthed.
I cant. You entertain me, Victoria mouthed back.
This sucks.
I know. And not the good kind.
A joke. The first shed ever heard Victoria tell, though she doubted Victoria realized the humor of her statement. Mary Anns lips twitched into a grin. Entertainment achieved. Intended or not.
When will this day end? an exasperated Victoria asked everyone at the table.
Not soon enough, Penny muttered.
Why was she muttering now? Shed seemed so carefree only a minute ago.
IIlike it here, Shannon said, stuttering slightly. Hed admitted to being teased about that stutter his entire life, but it was getting less pronounced every day. You know how r-rare it is to meet someone who accepts you for who you are?
Now she did. Now that she knew she merely calmed people with otherworldly powers, and they werent actually charmed by her. But whatever. Riley liked her for herself. Oh, the things hed said to her this morning. Pretty. Brave. Caring. Shed be getting high off those compliments for weeks.
She moved her gaze through the room. Kids shuffled all around them, either running to get in a linetacos and pizza slices were on todays menuor trying to find their friends in the vast bench-filled cavern that was the cafeteria. Plain white walls circled them, livened up (or marred, depending on your perspective) by the occasional poster proclaiming school spirit. The noise level was high today and suddenly scraped at Mary Anns nerves.
Hey, Penny. Wanna come to my house later? a jock asked as he strutted past their table. The boys around him chuckled. We can study anatomy.
Pennys cheeks reddened.
Jackass, Mary Ann shouted, her hands fisting. Some of the conversations around her tapered to quiet, and many sets of eyes pinned her in place. Cussing was unlike her, but the word had just sprung from her, unstoppable.
Penny was pregnant. With Mary Anns ex-boyfriends baby. That had been hard to get over, since the two had cheated on her. And really, she was still dealing with lingering feelings of hurt and distrust, but she loved Penny and was working on forgiveness. Still. That didnt make her friend a slut, nor did it mean these boys had a right to tease her.
The jocks stopped, facing Mary Ann as one. A frowning Shane Weston stepped to the front, big and strong and clearly angry. You better shut your mouth, Gray. Tucker isnt here to protect you anymore.
Mary Ann opened her mouth to reply, but no words emerged. Coward! Say something. Anything. She remained still, silent. Shed never been any good at confrontation, and now, when she needed the courage Riley had praised, she found none. Shame filled her.
Thats what I thought, Shane said with a laugh.
G-get the h-hell out of here, Shannon suddenly growled.
What? Are we making you angry, and we wont like you when youre angry? Whatever, Stutter. Laughing again, Shane and his gang wandered off.
Shall I kill him for you? Victoria asked without any inflection in her tone.
Yes, Penny snapped as Mary Ann rushed out, No. Penny had no idea that Victoria really would do it. Her fangs were hidden right now, but she could drain Shane Weston dry in seconds.
Victoria shrugged. If you change your mind
We need to change Mary Anns mind. Im all for jockicide. Penny pushed to her feet as if she hadnt a care, but hurt lingered in her eyes. Anyway, Ive got a paper due next hour, and I havent even started it.
N-need help? Shannon asked, standing before she could answer.
He meant to protect her, Mary Ann realized, in case anyone else insulted her. That brought tears to her eyes, because dang it, she missed her own protector.
Penny blinked in surprise, but strode around the table and linked their arms. Sure. You any good with Sylvia Plath?
No.
Excellent. You can help me make everything up.
They laughed as they walked off, Penny throwing a smile and finger-wave over her shoulder at Mary Ann.
Alone at last.
Mary Ann propped her elbows on the table and leaned toward Victoria. Weve got to work on yourhumanness. Was that even a word?
The vampire furrowed her brow. What do you mean?
You cant just go around offering to kill people. Thatll get you into all kinds of trouble.
She raised her chin, and Mary Ann caught a glimpse of her stubborn core. I welcome trouble.
Fine. But Aden doesnt, Mary Ann reminded her.
Gradually, Victorias chin fell. Youre right. She pushed out another sigh. Sometimes I wonder if Im the right girl for him. If perhaps she twirled her fingertip over the tabletop, tracing some sort of design you wouldnt be better suited for him.
Are you kidding? One, Victoria might have phrased the words like a suggestion, but there had been fury in her tone. And two, Mary Ann adored Aden, but she didnt crave him the way she craved Riley. That boy worships you.
Some of the tension left Victorias shoulders. Yes, but sometimes, when were all together, youll laugh and hell watch you, and there will be suchlonging on his face. When that happens, I want to rip out your trachea. Sorry, but its true.
Okay. Shed been close to dying before the curse, and had had no idea. Perfect. I can tell you for sure that he doesnt like me as a girlfriend. Aden and Iwe will only ever be friends. Our different She looked around, making sure no one was listening. Everyone seemed to be going about their day, eating and talking, unconcerned about her and her conversation. Our different abilities make us want to run from each other most of the time. Its a miracle were even friends. Besides, can you imagine wanting to kiss the guy who housed your mom?
Victoria shook her head, but still didnt appear completely convinced.
Maybe that longing shows up because he wants to make you laugh like that. Lets face it, Ive known you for weeks and Ive seen you smile once. Maybe. You might have been grimacing.
Now Victoria blinked over at her. Are you saying Imdepressing?
Will you want to rip out my trachea if I am?
Crystalline eyes narrowed. Maybe, but I wont allow myself the luxury.
Thank you. Then, yes. I am. Justlighten up, maybe. Tell a joke every now and then. Adens had a lot of seriousness in his life, you know? A lot of bad. Now he needs good.
What? Youre a doctor now? Well, she had always wanted to help people.
II Well, I hate that the boys think its okay to leave us behind. Clearly, the subject of humor was closed. They treat us like were damsels in distress. Like Mary Ann, Victoria propped her elbows on the table. She rested her chin in her upraised hand.
Mary Ann didnt know if the girl would take her advice or not. Time would tell. I agree, she replied, allowing the change of topic without comment. And its irritating. But you are a damsel in distress, and thats the real reason you find it irritating. Proof: she hadnt punched Shane in the nose like hed deserved.
Disgusted with herself, Mary Ann pushed her tray aside, even the scent of the pepperoni pizza suddenly hurting her stomach. She should be starving by now, she mused. First shed skipped breakfast, and now lunch. But shed been unable to think about taking a bite without wanting to barf.
I mean, I understand that I can do a lot of good here, Victoria continued, unaware of her inner turmoil. I can protect you, of course. And Ive convinced all of Adens teachers that hes here today so that he wont get into trouble and be kicked out of the ranch.
Victoria could make anyone do or believe anything she wished with only her voice. Mary Ann secretly called the ability Voice Voodoo and nearly peed her pants in fear every time she thought about it. Stripping in public just because a vampire told her to? Yeah, it could happen. That, and a lot worse. Thank God they were on the same side.
The litany of her skills persisted. Im also a trained fighter. More than that, I cant be hurt. Im an indestructible vampire, for Gods sake.
Mary Ann didnt bother to point out that her fatheran indestructible vampirehad just been killed. Or that her former fiancéan indestructible vampirehad soon followed Vlad the Impaler to the grave.
First, you dont need to protect me. Im not helpless, Mary Ann said, her irritation clear. Didnt you just admit to yourself that you are, in fact, a damsel in distress? And isnt a damsel in distress, what? Helpless. Theres no need for you to play babysitter.
Victoria uttered a dejected sigh. I didnt mean to offend you. Im new to interacting with humans. You have always been my food source, nothing more. Or rather, my delicate, easily destroyed food source. Her lips twitched there at the end.
A grin? Now?
Victoria was attempting to joke with her, just as Mary Ann had instructed, but Mary Anns shoulders slumped in nervousness rather than amusement. Here was yet another reminder of the death and destruction that could be waiting around the corner. A vampire could drain a human in seconds. A werewolf could rip human skin into shreds. But
Maybe there was a way to fight them.
The stray thought had her tilting her head, considering her options. She didnt want to fight Victoria or Riley, of course, but she did need to learn how to defend herself. Then maybe theyd see her as more a help than a hindrance.
What if she began at the exact same time as Victoria said, Riley told us
Mary Ann laughed. You first.
I was saying that Riley told us to stay here, but that doesnt mean we have to obey him. I mean, he and Aden might need us. And if we save them, theyll have to thank us for coming to their rescue.
Slowly Mary Ann smiled. True. Where would we go, though? How would we find them?
I would Victoria stiffened, frowned, then blinked. Did you hear that?
Listening, Mary Ann glanced around the cafeteria. Same kids, same inane chatter. Hear what?
That scream. The vampire massaged her throat with one of her hands. So much painIve never heard anything like it. She jumped up, her chair skidding backward. And I thinkI think it belonged to Aden.
Mary Ann was on her feet in the next instant, as well, heart hammering, blood chilling. Something hot and hard banded around her wrist, and then a strong breeze was ruffling her hair. Her feet lost their solid foundation, and suddenly she was floating, flying. She yelped in shock.
The kids, the tables, even the walls around her vanished. In a snap, thick tree trunks and orange-gold leaves took their place. Sunlight gleamed from the gray sky, murky, yet still too bright for her startled eyes.
An unruffled Victoria stood beside her.
What just happened? Mary Ann rasped. And why did she feel like she was going to fall over and vomit? Black spots replaced the light as her stomach churned mercilessly.
I teleported us to the forest. I can only travel short distances, so well need to do this several more times before we can reach the ranch.
Wait. Theyd just teleported? Out of school? Did anyonesee us? God. Now she couldnt breathe, the air freezing in her nose before reaching her lungs.
Im not sure. Well find out tomorrow.
Great, she thought, swaying with her sudden light-headedness. A littlewarning next time. Okay? She hunched over, sweat pouring from her, even though that winter storm was raging inside her veins.
Mary Ann?
Yes?
Heres your warning.
Once again a hot brand circled her wrist. Once again the ground disappeared from beneath her. Once again she was floating, flying, wind ripping through her, splitting her into thousands of pieces, then fitting her back together again in an instant.
This time when she focused, she realized they were in a neighborhood. Small, kind of rundown houses surrounded her. Those pesky blackbirds were squawking and flying in every direction, as if something had startled them. Next to her was a streetwith a car driving past. The driver rubbernecked, trying to look at them as long as possible. Had he seen them appear out of nowhere?
Hell think he made a mistake. Dont worry about that now. Dontjustrest Wordsform properly, damn it!
Another cuss word. Excellent. At this rate, shed soon sound like every other kid at school.
No time to mourn that development, however. The black spots were expanding in front of her eyes, thickening, some of the circles now touching. The snowstorm inside her raged out of control, becoming a blizzard, and she shivered. Ice. Her new most-hated thing.
Just a little farther, Victoria said. There was no sympathy in her tone, only worry. Okay? Yes?
For Aden. For Riley. Mary Ann could do this. She straightened. Nodded.
Victoria wasted no time. Hot brand, ground gone. Mighty wind. Unwanted chill. Mary Ann in piecespieces that could be lost forever. What if she didnt fit back together the right way? What if she God, she really was a liability. She really was the weak link of their circle. She couldnt even handle being teleported.
That will change. Ill learn to fight, no matter whats required of me, she told herself as she solidified inshe looked around, only fragments of her surroundings registering past the ever-growing black. A train track, too-tall grass that was yellow, brittle. A snake slithered and hissed over the rusted iron. Shouldnt it be hibernating?
Mary Ann?
She knew what Victoria was asking. Was she ready to go again? Justdo it, she said. Finish this.
Brand. Wind. Chill. Ground. Stop.
Brand. Wind. Chill. Ground. Stop.
Were here.
Finally. Mary Anns knees gave out and she collapsed, sucking in as many breaths as she could. Which wasnt many. Dizzy, so dizzy. Air too thick, still too cold. Only one thought made any sense at the moment: teleporting sucked.
The ranch is just ahead. When youre able, stand and walk. Yes? I am going inside now.
Victoria didnt wait for her replynot that she was in any shape to deliver onebut bolted away, a blur of motion. Fight. Fight this! If she didnt, and Riley was inside, he would come after her, wanting to help her. He would see her like this. He would view her as weaker than he already did.
A minute passed. Maybe an hour. But finally, Mary Ann clawed her way from the darkness, her head clearing enough that she was able to stand, the air thinning enough that she was able to breathe. Her knees knocked together, but she didnt let that stop her from tripping forward. She had yet to warm, so every step was like pushing her legs through sludge.
Finally, she reached the ranchs bunkhouse, where Aden stayed, a log cabin-type structure next to a bright red barn. She found his window, saw that the glass was pushed up, out of the way. Inside she climbed, just kind of throwing her body through. She plopped unceremoniously to the floor.
Mary Ann!
Rileys deep voice penetrated the lingering fog in her mind.
Relief and dread, thats what she experienced. If he said anything about her presence or current condition, shedwhat? Nothing, probably. Coward.
Not for much longer.
I was just coming for you, baby. Are you okay? His strong arms wound around her and gently tugged her to her feet.
Im fine. You can let go. Dont let go. Wheres Aden? Hows Aden? Her lashes lifted, and her gaze met Rileys. As always, her heart constricted. He was just so beautiful. So much a warrior. But right now, despite that, he looked like death walking. He was shirtless and covered in dried blood. Whats wrong with you?
Come. See for yourself.
FIVE
MARY ANN EXPECTED TRAGEDY. Death, even. She was braced for the emotional impact, whatever chose to flood hergrief, remorse, sorrow. A combination of all three. What she saw surprised her, and it was happiness and relief that flooded her.
Adens room was neat. Clean. The papers on the desk were tidy, and the air was wonderfully sweet, smelling of roses and honeysuckle. Aden lay on the bed, buried under the covers. He was a little paler than normal, with dark circles under his closed eyes, his black hairwith its blond rootsin tangles and matted to his scalp. His body was shaking, but otherwise appeared healthy and whole. She flattened a hand over her thumping heart and grinned.
And yet, Victoria sat beside him, patting his hand, tears streaming down her face. Why the tears? He was alive.
I dont understand whats going on, Mary Ann said, burrowing deeper into Rileys side.
He reeks of Fae. Victoria shimmied under the covers and curled herself around Aden. My poor baby, she cooed. Youre so cold. Like ice. Let me warm you.
Aden, asleep or not, must have recognized his girlfriend, because he turned toward her, slid his arms around her waist and held on tight. Gradually, his shivering ceased.
Whats wrong with smelling like the Fae? Mary Ann asked. All she smelled was the roses and honeysuckle. And it was good. She inhaled deeply, savoring, wanting a bottle of the scent to take home and bathe in.
In fact, when she closed her eyes, she could imagine herself twirling in a meadow, thickets of roses stretching toward her, a rainbow of soft, fragrant petals. Warm air. Birds singing. Hazy blue sky, fluffy white clouds. The images calmed her, and her stomach settled completely for the first time that day.
The stink lingers, and our people will never follow him like this. They will rebel. They will demand a new leader. But to gain one, they will have to kill him. Tears fell from Victorias eyes again. And hes supposed to appear before them. Tonight!
The last was a screech.
Thats not the worst of it, Riley said gravely. I havent told you how he came to be in this condition.
Mary Anns eyelids cracked open, the field and colors fading away. So. Weird. For a second, she would have sworn shed truly been in that meadow.
Riley said something in a language Mary Ann didnt know, and Victoria paled. Mr. Thomas to the humans, he finished in English.
Who? Mary Ann asked. And what did you say? Before?
I spoke the name of the Fae prince who dragged Aden into Fairy Tale, Riley said. The human tongue cannot pronounce fairy names, and so they use shortened versions while here. Anyway, he once swore a blood oath to destroy every member of Victorias family for their part in his brothers death.
Aden is now part of the royal family, Victoria gasped out.
As you can see, hes fine, for the most part, butthere was a fight, Riley continued. I was losing. Aden possessed his body, allowing me to kill theto win.
Wait. Fairytale? Fairy Tale is
A dimension that coexists next to ours, as well as looking into ours. Meaning, while theyre there, they can see us, yet we cant see them. Which is why they have all developed God complexes, and consider themselves masters and protectors of this world.
Another dimension? Seriously?
Why are you surprised? Mary Ann was coming to learn that every creature shed once thought belonged solely to, well, fairy tales, actually existed. They coexisted secretly. Or not so secretly now.
Victoria looked up at Riley, expression as grave as his tone had been. Where is the prince now?
Still in Fairy Tale. Aden can raise the dead, and I didnt want a fairy prince zombie on the loose, so I whisked Aden here as fast as I could. Theres a lot of cleanup needed, though, and I have to do it before another fairy discovers the remains His gaze skittered to Mary Ann. I mean, uh, never mind. I just need to take off for a few minutes.
She knew he feared her reaction to the violence of his nature, to the things hed doneand would one day do. She also knew war would erupt if the remains were found. More than it already had.
So, there was no contest. Whatever he needed to do to survive, she wanted him to do. She released him. Go on, then. Well take care of Aden while youre gone.
Hed gone rigid, waiting for her response, and now relaxed. Thank you.
After a swift, hard kiss, a whispered, Be careful, Riley was striding into the closet, soon gone from view. There was a murmur of falling clothing, thennothing. Frowning, Mary Ann walked over and peeked inside. He was gone. Vanished. Reeling, she made her way to the only chair in the room and plopped down. Her feet sighed in pleasure, even as her mind continued to whirl.
Was Riley now in Fairy Tale? Was there a doorway in the closet? If sotalk about weird!
Hell be okay, right? she asked Victoria.
The vampire was focused completely on Aden, brushing her fingertips over his face and kissing the line of his jaw. The opal ring she always wore glinted in the light, as if rainbow shards were trapped inside. Yes. Hell have to rip open a doorway, which is why he moved out of sight, and then hell
The bedroom door suddenly swung open. A boy stepped inside, one Mary Ann had never met. He stopped when he spotted Victoria in bed with Aden and Mary Ann sitting at the desk. His eyes narrowed, his mind clearly assessing the situation. He possessed the same dangerous edge as Riley, as if hed done thingsdifficult, dangerous things.
First, how come Aden gets all the hot chicks? he said, his voice rough. And second, who are you and what the hell are you doing here?
Uh-oh. Caught. Aden was supposed to be at school. If Dan, his warden, found out he was ditching, he could be kicked off the ranch. Second, no girls were allowed here. If Dan found out about her, Aden would be kicked off the ranch.
So, either way, he was screwed.
Victoria sat up, her gaze never leaving the newcomer. You will leave this empty room and shut the door behind you. You saw no one. Power wafted from her voice, so much power Mary Ann had to rub her arms to remind herself that she was not on the receiving end of that command. You will not return today.
Empty. Leave. Will not return. The boy nodded, his eyes glazed. He turned and shut the door behind him.
With barely a pause, Victoria refocused on Aden, as did Mary Ann. He appeared more relaxed, his color higher, the bruises fading.
Hes healing, she said, her relief palpable.
Yes, the vampire replied without looking at her. Despite the progress, the worry must not have left her.
She needed a distraction. Im a power neutralizer, Mary Ann said. So how can you use your Voice Voouh, command while Im here?
You do not stop Riley from shifting, do you?
No.
Because the ability is natural, part of who he is. The same is true with me. Most of my powers are natural, what I was born to do. Like teleporting. You didnt stop me from doing that, either.
Too bad about the teleporting. And most of her powers? As in many. How many weird things could she do? And also, what wasnt natural? Not that Mary Ann would ask. She and Victoria were friendly, for the most part, but the boys were the glue that held them together. Not affection. Not yet. Perhaps that would come in time.
What a terrible week this has turned out to be, Victoria muttered. My father killed, a witch death curse unleashed and Aden injured by the Fae.
The witches. Ugh. How could she have forgotten, even for a second? Have you ever been summoned to a witches meeting before?
No. Usually, the witches and the vampires avoid each other. They arewell, their blood is our greatest addiction. Her eyes closed, and she licked her lips, as if she were imagining drinking from one. The taste isI cant even describe it. Theres nothing like it, and one sip can enslave us.
Great. Neither of them knew what to expect, then.
Weve always maintained distance from each other, and have an unspoken pact. We do not use them for sustenance, and they do not bespell us. Until lately.
So youre uncomfortable around witches.
I suppose.
And youre also at war with the Fae.
Yes.
And you hate goblins.
Anyone with sense does.
Were vampires allied with anyone? Well, besides werewolves, their trusted protectors.
Maybe you joined the wrong team.
The stray thought hit her, and she blinked. Wrong! Shed joined the right team. Shed joined Rileys team. How dare her mind consider anything else.
Are you seriously angry with your own brain?
She hated that cynical inner voice. Besides, what other team would she have joined? The witches? Yeah, that would have been nice. Wasnt like they could curse her every time she angered them.
Oh. Wait. They could.
But, God, if she could just talk to a witch. Ask a few questions, figure this thing out. How, though? It wasnt like the witches were wearing signs around their necks announcing what they were, or popping up at school or this ranch and asking if there was anything they could do for her.
But Victoria and Riley could spot them at a glance. What if they went into townwhere most of the creatures were congregating, trying to figure out how theyd been summoned to Crossroads and not yet realizing Aden was the sourceand kidnapped a witch?
Her eyes widened. Of course. Kidnap a witch, ask questions, get answers and boom. Success. Death curse reversed.
She could have danced.
Of course, shed never kidnapped anyone and had no idea how to go about it. But shed figure something out.
Who are you?
The old Mary Ann never would have considered such a risky plan. This was a new world, however, and she had to adapt. Or die. She wasnt ready to die.
Lets backtrack to the witches After she outlined her plan to Victoria, the vampire glanced over at her for the first time since shed entered the room and nodded thoughtfully.
Excellent.
She beamed.
I had not thought you so mercenary, Mary Ann.
Slowly her beam dimmed. What do you mean?
Only that I approve of your plan. Kidnap and torture for information. And after the meeting, we can even bargain for our captives release. If the witches vow never to curse us again, she lives.
And if they refused to offer such a vow? Mary Anns stomach hollowed. No way would she commit murder. And torture? No! In her mind, she kind of expected the witch to offer answers in exchange for freedom. Easy, done. Just like that. Clearly, Victoria thought differently. And that she could resort to brutality so easily and without a hint of remorse
First, you didnt mind Riley acting all He-mannish. Second, Victorias a vampire, remember? Raised by one of the most vicious men in history. So for eighty years, and by her own admission, Victoria had viewed humans as food, nothing more, nothing less. Life had no true value to her. Besides, witches werent human, Mary Ann didnt think, but they were a source of irritation to the vampire. Irritations were probably to be snuffed out immediately. Painfully.