I answered the phone and assured Harmonyand Nash, by extensionthat I was fine, in spite of having crossed over in my sleep. She sounded almost as horrified as I felt, and she promised to see what she could find out about preventing a repeat performance. Then she put Nash on the phone so we could say good-nightor rather, good-morningand by the time we hung up, the smell of fresh coffeealways better than the taste, in my opinionwas wafting into the kitchen.
Over heavily creamed and sweetened coffee, I told my dad about the field of razor wheat in the Netherworld version of our property and about the trash-can-lid-wielding boy stomping through it. And when wed exhausted our theories about both the mystery boy and my unscheduled trip, he refilled both of our mugs and started a second pot.
For the next three hours, I sat at the rickety kitchen table with my father, talking about the only thingother than our speciesthat we had in common: my mother. Hed always been reluctant to talk about her before; this time he told me everything he could remember about her, probably because, for a few minutes, hed thought hed lost me, too. He even answered my questions as I interrupted with them. The only thing we didnt touch on was my deathfollowed by hers, to save me.
That discussion would have to wait, in spite of the questions I had ready. We were both too tired and distraught from the latest shock to my not-so-human system to handle memories so painful.
But by the time my alarm clock went off, I felt like I truly knew my mother for the first time since my third birthday.
And like I knew my father a little better, too.
8
NASHS ARMS WRAPPED around me from behind as I swung my locker door shut, and his voice relaxed me like little else could. Hey, beautiful, he whispered, dropping a kiss on my neck, just below my ear. Rough night?
Seriously rough. I cant even explain how messed up last night was. I sighed and settled into him, letting the warmth of his chest against my back ease some of the tension left over from my interdimensional field trip. But he couldnt help me fight exhaustion. Fortunately, for that I had two twenty-ounce sodas in my backpack, their condensation probably making a soggy mess out of the chemistry homework Id forgotten to finish.
You really crossed over in your sleep?
I twisted in his arms to face him, laying my cheek against the thick chenille weave of the white letter E on his jacket.
Yeah, it was weird. Scary. I was asleep, dreaming that someone died, and in the dream, I was standing in a bunch of that gray fog you see when you peek into
I lifted my head to make sure no one else was close enough to hear. Across the hall, a small cluster of students was gathered around a girl showing off the answers from her algebra homework, but they hadnt even glanced our way. The mohawked junior with the locker next to mine was rifling through his stuff, but his headphones were playing loud enough for me to recognize the bass line of Korns Evolution, so there was no way he could hear me.
into the Netherworld, I continued, whispering just in case. I couldnt see who was dying, and I couldnt move. Couldnt do anything but scream.
Nashs arms tightened around me and the greens and browns in his eyes swirled rapidly as he listened.
And when I woke up, I was screaming for real, and Id already crossed over. I was standing in a field of razor wheat, barefoot. In my pajamas.
Before Nash could reply, Mohawk man slammed his locker and took off down the hall in the growing stream of early-morning students.
Damn, Kaylee. Nash sank onto the cold tile floor in front of the lockers and drew me down with him, brushing aside a crumpled piece of notebook paper. How could that happen?
I shook my head slowly, almost washed away by the wave of fear that crashed over me at the reminder that I still had none of the answers I needed. My dad thinks that because I subconsciously repressed so much of my bean sidhe heritage for so long because no one had told me I wasnt human that now its basically demanding to be recognized. I hesitated, reluctant to mention my fathers other theory. That, or Ive somehow developed too strong a connection with the Netherworld. Or with someoneor somethingin it.
Nash paled, which almost sent me into a tailspin of panic. Id hoped for something more optimistic from him than Id gotten from my father, as grateful as I was for my dads honesty. But Nash had no comfort to give. Thats the scariest thing Ive ever heard.
I rolled my eyes and pulled my backpack onto my lap. Thanks, Nash, I snapped. Youre a huge help. Id just about reached the limit of how much fright and frustration I could take. At least, on so little sleep.
Sorry. He turned so that I could see him. Youre sure you cant remember who died in your dream?
I nodded. Im not sure I knew even during the dream. All I saw was an outline in the fog. I couldnt even tell if it was male or female.
Do you think it was just a normal dream, or could it have been part premonition, too? Maybe the way your brain deals with them when youre asleep?
I shrugged and leaned with my left shoulder against Mohawk mans locker. I dont see how it could have been a premonition. Ive only had them about people Im physically close to at the time, and there was no one else in the house but my
Oh, no Terror lit my nerve endings, which blazed until it felt like my entire body was on fire. I sat up, and when I looked at Nash, I knew from his expression that my irises were swirling madly.
What if its my dad? I demanded in a horrified whisper. Id already lost my mother and had just gotten my father back. I couldnt lose him again so quickly. I couldnt.
No. Nash shook his head calmly, running one hand up my arm, over my sleeve. It cant be. When you have a premonition, someone dies quickly, right?
I nodded, not yet willing to grasp the branch of hope he held out to me. Usually within the hour.
See? And you had that dream in the middle of the night, right?
I glanced at my watch and counted backward silently. Almost five hours ago.
And your dads still alive, right? Nash grinned like hed just discovered the meaning of life, or the root of all evil, or something equally unlikely, but I was already digging in my pocket for my phone. What are you doing? Didnt you see him right before you left?
Yeah. But I have to be sure. I autodialed my father, hoping the schools no-cell-calls policy didnt apply before the first bell.
Hello? my dad said into my ear, over the rush of highway traffic, and I let my head fall against the lockers in relief.
Kaylee? Whats wrong?
Nothing. I could practically hear the smile in my own voice. I just wanted to make sure youre not asleep at the wheel or anything, since I got you up so early.
Im fine. He paused, and I heard his blinker ding faintly.
Thanks for checking, though.
No problem. I gotta go. I hung up and slid my phone back into my pocket.
Feel better? Nash asked, brows raised.
Marginally. The front doors opened at the end of the hall, admitting a frigid draft, as well as several dozen freshmen and sophomores. The buses had arrived, and class would start in less than ten minutes. I gotta go finish my chemistry homework, I said, using the lock on the locker below mine to haul myself to my feet.
Nash stood with me. Ill walk with you.
I wrapped my arms around Nashs chest, content for the moment just to lean against him and breathe him inuntil his next words drenched my warm, cozy feeling like a cold wave crashing over a sleeping sunbather.
Have you seen Carter this morning?
No. In fact, I hadnt seen him since hed torn out of the student lot on Monday afternoon. Hed skipped school on Tuesdayhis parents were still out of town, but rumor had it hed convinced the maid to call him in sickpresumably too ill from withdrawal to deal with the usual school crap. And I hadnt given him a second thought so far today, thanks to my nearly sleepless Tuesday night.
His cars in the lot, Nash continued, voice low to keep anyone else from overhearing us as the hall filled with students. But we dont have any classes together till after lunch, and Im afraid hes
There he is, I interrupted the moment I saw Scott Carter turn the corner from the gym hallway, strutting as confidently as he ever had.
Nash followed my gaze. He looks happy. Whichassuming he hadnt found a miracle cure for addiction or withdrawalcould only mean one thing. Hed found Dougs supplier and made another purchase.
Maybe hes just a quick healer, I suggested, determined to be optimistic because the alternative made me want to rip out my own hair.
Well know in a minute. Nash held one hand up and called down the hall, Hey, Carter, where were you yesterday?
Scott threaded a path through the crowd toward us, greeting guys he knew on the way, and shared a hand slap with Nash, whose face froze the moment they touched. And if Id had any doubts before, they were obliterated a second later when Scotts hand brushed mine on its way to his side.
His skin was freezing, and his breath smelled like hed inhaled a hellion whole.
Sick, Scott said, smiling broadly for no reason I could see.
I could barely get out of bed. Had to get Carlita to call me in sick. Good thing shes picking up some English, right?
Nash shrugged. You got a lot of makeup work?
But Scott wasnt listening. He frowned, eyes narrowed and jaw tense as he stared over my shoulder. I turned to see what he was looking at and found only our own shadows stretched over the lockers, cast by bright light from the office window. But I couldnt help wondering what he was seeing.
Carter? Nash repeated, turning to follow my gaze while Scott shook his head, as if to clear it.
Nah, he said finally, like hed heard the question on some kind of time delay. I dont think theyll make me do any of it but that quiz in civics. He stepped back and made a sweeping gesture to encompass his entire body. Im Scott Carter, man. Nobodys willing to piss off my dad until the football team gets those new pads and tackling dummies for next season.
Jeez, you say your name like it should be written in all caps, I mumbled, slapping a smile on at the last minute, hoping theyd think I was joking.