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  My chin drops in shock. “What? That’s all? You accuse me of betraying us, but Ariel carries around the symbol of fire and you don’t bat an eye?”

  “I know Ariel. She wouldn’t betray us.”

  I struggle to catch my breath. My eyes flick upward and I catch sight of the crescent moon, bright against the darkness. It reminds me of the only time Micah and I spent a prolonged period of time apart. We were ten and his family went on a vacation without us. They left for two weeks, and the night before they left I was so upset. I couldn’t imagine what I would do without my best friend for that long. Micah pointed out the moon to me. He said that every night at ten o’clock he’d look at the moon, and if I did the same we’d be sharing the same moment at the exact same time. It didn’t help during the day when the hours stretched out before me, long, lonely and boring. But it did help me get through the week. Mostly because I knew that no matter how much fun Micah was having he would stop and think of me every night. Now that I reminisce about it, it seems a little cheesy and I’m pretty sure he got it from a movie or something. But at the time it meant everything. I just don’t understand how we could have gone from that to this. How could he trust Ariel over me?

  I take a step toward him and stare into his eyes, needing him to really see me. “But you know me better. How could you side with her?”

  “I’m not. It’s just that I don’t know what to believe about you right now. Ever since I saw you with him it’s like you’re a complete stranger to me.”

  “So, that’s what this is about, huh? You’re jealous.”

  Micah’s eyes darken. “Forget it. This conversation is over.”

  As he walks away, I feel the tears slipping down my face. Every step he takes is like a chisel pounding into my heart and breaking off pieces.

  Chapter 23

  Sam

  I CLOSE THE hood of the car that I’ve been working on for the last several hours. It slams shut with a clang. My arms and neck ache. After dropping my tools on the workbench, I pick up a damp rag and wipe my blackened hands. As I work it into my palm, I see the tan color of my flesh reappearing. Dad returns from the back room, wearing his signature scowl across his face. My stomach twists in frustration. I am so ready to get out of here for the day. The old man has done nothing but gripe all afternoon long.

  My plan is to head home and spend the rest of the evening locked in my room listening to music. I’d do anything to drown out the disappointed words coming from my dad’s mouth.

  “Got a call from your school this week.” He hobbles in my direction, his jowls quivering.

  Here it comes.

  “They said you skipped school the other day. They also said that you’ve been tardy a lot lately. Wanna tell me why?”

  An image of me rifling through Delaney’s things surfaces and I shake my head. Refusing to answer, I stare out the window. The sun is going down and the sky is awash in soft pinks and purples.

  “You’ve been seeing some girl, haven’t you? Is it that blonde one I’ve seen you with before?”

  “No, it’s not,” I say between gritted teeth. “As a matter of fact, it’s—”

  The bell on the door interrupts me. I look up to see Delaney in the doorway. Her eyes are filled with tears, her cheeks are raked with streaks of mascara and wetness, and her hair is a mess of tangles. I’ve never seen her look so sad or vulnerable before. It affects me in a way I’m not expecting.

  “Well, hello, what brings you here?” Dad asks. “Is it your car again?”

  Before Delaney can answer my dad, she races to me and I catch her in my arms. She falls against me and breathes in a sigh of relief. Her arms come around me, pulling me close, and her body trembles against mine. It’s as if she is desperate to be near me. It’s as if she needs me. The thought hits me like a ton of bricks. Delaney, one of the toughest girls I’ve ever met, needs me.

  “What the hell?” Dad’s tone is incredulous. “Don’t tell me this is the girl you’ve been seeing?”

  Ignoring my dad, I squeeze Delaney tighter. “What happened?”

  She peers up at me, her red hair falling in her eyes. “It’s been a terrible night. I just had to see you.” She flashes a crooked smile. “I’m okay now that I’m here.”

  “Unbelievable,” Dad says. “How did you manage to snag this one, son? I mean, she can have any guy she wants. Why choose you?”

  His words pierce my heart. I stiffen. Delaney moves away from me and faces the old man, a funny look on her face. “He didn’t manage anything. I chose to be with Sam because he’s one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. I’m disappointed that you can’t see that.”

  My dad’s eyes flash with anger. I am stunned. No one has ever stood up for me before. No one’s ever believed in me like this. Guilt burns through me as I realize that her belief in me is all based on a lie. My dad’s the one that’s got it right.

  Delaney turns to me. “Can we talk in private?”

  “Sure.” I grab her hand and lead her outside.

  “I just hope he doesn’t hurt you like he did that poor girl Lauren,” Dad mutters under his breath as we pass him.

  If Delaney hears him she doesn’t acknowledge it. I pray that she didn’t. Once we’re outside, I lead her to the bench that hugs the building. Together we sit down and the rickety bench creaks beneath us.

  Delaney breathes deeply and her shoulders rise and fall with the effort. “Micah and I got in a huge fight tonight.”

  I wrestle against the jealousy that rises when I discover that she’s this upset over a fight with Superman. “What was it about?”

  “You.”

  This surprises me.

  “He saw us together.” She bites her lip. “I’m sure he’ll tell my parents and then they’ll forbid me from seeing you. They’ll never let us be together.” Her lips quiver and another round of tears spill down her face. “But it doesn’t matter. I want to see you and they can’t stop me. That’s what I wanted to tell you. That no matter what happens, we can still be together.”

  I reach both my hands up and wipe her tears with my thumbs. Delaney is willing to risk everything to be with me and I’m a big fake. I’ve been scheming behind her back this whole time. With shame filling me, I remember being in her room and going through her stuff. This beautiful girl believes in me and I’m willing to give that up just to get in good with some Sarafites? The stupidity of what I’m doing smacks me in the head hard. Maybe I can get out of it. Maybe I can be the person Delaney thinks I am. Maybe I can save her.

  “I’m glad, because I’m not ready to quit seeing you either, Delaney.” With my hands framing her face, I lean in and kiss her. Her lips are soft and gentle. Even though I never thought it was possible, I know that I’m falling for her. And oddly enough, I don’t want to stop myself.

  “So, you finally ready to do some work or is your girlfriend gonna show back up?” Dad doesn’t even look up at me when I re-enter the shop. He is sitting at the front counter hunched over some paperwork. His arthritic hands tremble as he writes. Sometimes I wonder how much longer he’ll be able to work on cars with his hands like that.

  Hoping he’ll just let it drop, I walk past him. I am so not in the mood to argue.

  He drops the pen and it clatters on the counter. “I can’t believe you’re going out with Delaney.”

  Just hearing her name causes my heart to stop beating momentarily. I take a deep breath and it resumes its normal cadence. I go over to the car I’ve been working on and roll up sleeves. Maybe if I ignore him he’ll take the hint.

  “Treat that one right, son.”

  Here it comes. I steel myself for the barrage of insults. He never tires of rattling off the list of my failures.

  “She’s special, that girl.”

  I glance up at him.

  He is staring out the window, a faraway look on his face. “Just like your mother was.”

  Ever since my mom took off Dad hardly ever mentions her. I freeze, hoping he’ll keep talking. My
heart squeezes from missing Mom so much. It’s not like she was the best mom in the world. Mostly she was unhappy and preoccupied. There was a sadness that followed her like a black cloud. But there were moments when she would be loving and tender, something Dad never is. The best thing about Mom being around, though, was that she brought out the best in Dad. Since she left he’s been nothing but bitter and grumpy.

  “Do you miss her?” I blurt out.

  Dad turns to face me. “All the time.”

  I’m shocked that he answered honestly. “Why did you let her go then?”

  “I didn’t have a choice.” Dad shakes his head. “She was dead set on leaving. There’s nothing I could’ve done to make her stay.”

  “That’s not true. When we first left, she was miserable. I know she would’ve come back to you if only you would’ve asked.” I think about when I lived with Mom outside of Edenly. Even though I was thriving and enjoying my life for the first time ever, Mom was pining for Dad. I couldn’t understand it. In fact, it angered me at times. But I guess love is just something I don’t get.

  “There’s a lot you don’t understand.”Dad frowns.

  I abandon my toolbox and walk toward him. “Enlighten me.”

  Dad grumbles and shuffles his papers around. “Losing your sister was something your mom never got over.”

  “She was stillborn, right?” I remember all the times I walked in on Mom poring over the one picture she had of my sister, tears streaming down her face. I can still hear her sobs late at night when she thought no one could hear.

  “There was nothing she could’ve done, and yet she blamed herself.” Dad narrowed his eyes, squiggly lines filling his forehead.

  “But you still stayed married and then you had me. So that wasn’t why she left.”

  “Ultimately, I believe it was. You mother wasn’t always the sad woman you knew here to be. Your sister’s death ruined her.”

  “But—”

  Dad cut me off. “Enough talk about this. You need to work. Do you think that when you were off with your girlfriend the cars fixed themselves?” He turns away, but not before I see tears in his eyes.

  I don’t have to wait very long for Killian and Kaine to appear. They are waiting for me after work.

  “So what’s the word, kid?” Killian doesn’t waste time on small talk.

  I’ve rehearsed what I will say to them a million times in the last hour, but now that they’re standing in front of me – in a darkened parking lot, no less – I’m starting to have second thoughts. Then I picture beautiful Delaney. I remember the way she looked at me earlier with so much trust and vulnerability. I can’t let her down.

  “Cat got your tongue?” Killian laughs, and Kaine joins in. Only it sounds stilted and odd.

  I am shaking, I’m so nervous. My gaze slides over to Kaine who looks ready to pounce. I wish I’d never struck a deal with them in the first place. What was I thinking?

  “Um…look.” I scratch the back of neck and bite my lip. “I appreciate the opportunity you gave me and everything. But, you know, I just…”

  “Spit it out, kid.” Killian’s eyes narrow and he steps closer to me.

  My heart hammers in my ears and I swallow hard, my throat burning with the effort. My gaze sweeps the empty parking lot and the desolate stretch of road. I have the faint thought that if these guys hurt me there’ll be no one around to hear me scream.

  “I was wrong. Delaney doesn’t have any special powers.”

  Killian turns to Kaine and laughs his evil laugh again. “Hear that, Kaine? The kid was wrong.”

  Kaine smiles, but it doesn’t look inviting. It looks creepy. “Yeah, boss. I heard.”

  Killian turns to face me, his lips transforming into a scowl. “Sorry, but I don’t believe you. The next time we show up, you better have some information or you’re gonna be sorry. Understand?”

  Struggling to breathe, I nod.

  Killian snaps toward Kaine and they both start to walk off.

  I’m such a coward. I can’t give up that easy.

  “Wait. Please.” I run after them. “I want out. I don’t want to be a Sarafite now.”

  “Who says we want you, either?” Killian’s face is filled with anger. “But you will still get us the information. There’s no way out of this, kid.”

  “I can’t do it. I think I’m falling for her.”

  Killain turns around slowly. “Well, isn’t that just precious?”

  “Aww, puppy love,” Kaine croons.

  I want to punch them both. Don’t they have any compassion at all?

  “Too bad for you, I don’t believe in love.” Killian pats my cheek, but it kind of stings. “Get us the information or Kaine here will give you a face lift, okay?”

  I shudder, as panic grips me. There’s no way out. I can’t win.

  But I’ll do whatever I need to, to protect Delaney.

  Chapter 24

  Delaney

  THE ROOM HAS no windows and the door is locked. My claustrophobia kicks in and I struggle to breathe. When my heart starts beating out of control I chastise myself for allowing panic to overtake me. Focusing hard, I hone in on my breathing. I inhale and exhale slowly until my breathing is steady and normal. Where am I? How did I get here?

  It’s dark. So dark that at first I can’t see a thing, not even my own hand in front of my face. However, now my eyes are adjusting. I can make out the shape of my fingers and arms. I have absolutely no memory of how I got here, and that worries me.

  On the other side of the wall I hear a sound that makes my blood run cold. It’s a faint growling, followed by erratic scratching against the wall. I envision a creature of the night trying to claw his way into the room, and it causes shivers to brush over my skin. I scoot away from the wall and cower in the opposite corner. It’s cold and I rub my hands down my arms, which are covered in goose bumps.

  The door to the room flies open. My heart leaps with hope. I pray that it is Micah coming to rescue me. I stand up ready to race toward him, but then I stop. It isn’t Micah. It’s a woman darkening the doorway. I can barely see her in the darkness, but she’s thin with short hair. Ariel. Even though I can’t make out her face, I’m positive that’s who it is. I should go to her, but I don’t.

  I’m not sure if she’s here to help me or harm me. Light creeps in behind her, filling the space around her like a halo. It’s almost like she’s glowing. It’s then that I see what I didn’t before — her bare arms, the flames on her forehead. I gasp. I still can’t see her face clearly, but I know that it’s Ariel. It’s obvious by her build and the outline of her hair. I back up, my shoulders banging into the wall. She moves slightly to the left, and another figure comes to stand beside her. I squint, wishing I could see them better.

  The light hits just right and Sam’s face comes into view. I smile and step forward, ready to run into his arms. Only he grasps the hand of the female next to him, and I pause. That’s when I see that he too has flames above his right eye. My stomach drops.

  I scream and pitch forward. When my eyes fly open and I take in the familiar surroundings of my room, I heave a sigh of relief. What is with these bizarre nightmares?

  Before I can get myself royally freaked out, I remember when I was about seven and I used to have nightmares all the time that Micah turned into an alien and attacked me. I used to wake up and be so mad at him for hurting me, even though I knew he didn’t do it in real life. My parents finally realized that it was because of some alien cartoon Micah and I insisted on watching in the afternoons.

  Wiping my slick forehead, I decide that the same thing is happening now. It’s not like my gift is dreams. Micah and all his accusations are just causing me to worry about Sam, and my own misgivings about Ariel are surfacing when I sleep. It makes total sense. Even so, when I hop out of bed a nagging sense of worry descends on me.

  “So, this is it. This is your room.” I raise my eyebrows, as I stand in the center of Sam’s bedroom for the first time. When I wok
e up this morning I thought for sure I was in for another long day of house arrest like yesterday, but I lucked out. My parents, Micah’s parents and Camille all headed out to Zerach’s headquarters for a meeting so I have the whole afternoon and evening free. “Impressive.”

  “You like?” Sam cocks a half smile. “What’s the best part?”

  I giggle, my gaze sweeping over his tiny bedroom with the twin bed in the center and one lone dresser in the corner littered with clothes that still need to be put away. Finally I look into his eyes and say, “That you’re in it.”

  He grins.

  “The posters are pretty cool too. You like rock music, huh?” I walk over to his wall and study the array of eclectic bands.

  “I just like music in general. It’s kind of my escape, you know?”

  I nod. “Yeah, I do.”

  Coming up behind me, he circles his arms around my waist and rests his chin on my shoulder. “What about you? What’s your escape?”

  “When I was little it was swimming, I guess. When I’m underwater I can just shut out the rest of the world. Now my escape is you.”

  “Me?” I can feel him smiling against my shoulder.

  “Yeah. When I’m with you I forget about everything else.” I stare up at an unfamiliar band. “I’ve never heard of them before.”

  “Really? Here. I’ll play some for you.” He releases me and heads for the stereo. While he puts on the music, I sit down on the edge of his bed. Pretty soon, a loud pulsing beat and the screech of an acoustic guitar fills the small room. Sam sits beside me, so close our thighs our touching. The bed slopes down.

  “So, you’re sure your dad won’t be home anytime soon?” I ask.

  “Positive. The old man will be at the shop all afternoon.”

  “Good, because I don’t think he likes me very much.”

  Sam drapes his arm around my shoulder. “Oh, he likes you. It’s me he’s not very fond of.”

  “How can that be? He’s your dad.”