Part 13 (1/2)

15.

I barely knew the forests surrounding Sage Springs, but I trusted my sense of direction. Though Riley weaved the bike between the trees, often having to change his route due to a fallen log or a clump of bushes, I had a sickening sense that I knew exactly where he was going. Was I picking this off him psychically? It was possible, I was after all, physically closer to him than I'd ever been to another male-except perhaps my dad-right now. But I couldn't help feeling as though the place itself was sending me a psychic calling.

Closer, you're getting closer...

I clung tighter to Riley's jacket. I wanted to tell him to stop, to go back, but I couldn't. What would I say? That I had a strange feeling about the place I somehow knew he was taking me to?

Within half an hour, I was proven right.

Riley roared the bike into the clearing, and once again I was faced with those strange, gla.s.s-like pools. No insects buzzed around the water. Even in Riley's bike headlights, where they'd been swarming on the drive here, attracted by both the light and the blood from the body, now there were none.

As soon as we stopped, the bike tilted to one side and Jordy's body tumbled off, landing in a crumpled heap on the ground. Riley glanced back at me, and must have a.s.sumed my pale, worried expression was due to the presence of the corpse.

He placed his hand on my arm, rubbing me in comfort. ”Don't worry. He'll be gone soon. He won't ever bother you again.”

”Unless someone finds the body.”

”They won't.”

”What makes you so sure?”

”Because things go someplace else when they're here.”

Gooseb.u.mps crawled up my skin. ”What are you talking about?”

”I just know that when things go into these pools, they don't ever come back. Now give me a hand.” He bent to the body and started to drag it toward the nearest pool.

The place was beautiful, still and majestic, and otherworldly. Yet I sensed something predatory about the place. Like the vampires I was so familiar with, the clearing of pools seemed to lure unsuspecting people in with its beauty, only to bite when least expected.

”Riley,” I said, sudden panic heightening my voice. ”Be careful.”

He misunderstood me. ”Don't worry. He's dead.” I opened my mouth to try to explain, but I didn't know how to voice my concerns. They sounded crazy, even in my own head. Instead, I bent to grab Jordy's fat ankles, and, with Riley leading by lifting his arms, we dragged him closer to the nearest pool.

”Don't get too near it,” I said. ”You might fall in.”

He laughed, but the sound was cold. ”I think that's the least of our worries, Icy.”

I wasn't so sure.

Riley dragged him the rest of the way, tipping Jordy's body off the edge. The corpse dropped head first off the bank, slipping into the water like a seal off a rock.

Wouldn't he float?

I voiced my thoughts to Riley, but he shook his head. ”Not here. Nothing floats here. It's like the water sucks them down.”

”I knew I didn't like this place,” I muttered beneath my breath.

The rest of Jordy's body vanished beneath the water. I had to admit, I was pleased to see him gone.

Riley turned to me. ”Now your clothes.”

I gaped at him. ”You've got to be kidding me?”

”You're covered in blood, Icy. You need to get rid of those clothes.”

He was right. ”s.h.i.+t.”

”Keep your panties on,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips, a teasing note to his tone. ”I mean that literally, of course. There won't be any blood on them.”

I wore jeans, which were soaked through. The blood may have made it down to my underwear, but I prayed it hadn't. I huffed air out through my nose.

”Okay, fine. But you're lending me your jacket, okay?”

”Sure. You in your panties and my jacket sounds good to me.”

I glared at him, but there was nothing else I could do. ”Turn around, will you?” I snapped.

He gave me that knowing look again, and slowly turned his back to me. I glanced back at the pool nervously, half expecting the waves to start back up, or for Jordy's body to float slowly and silently to the top, his eyes gla.s.sy and staring. But the water remained still.

”Hey,” I hissed at him, remembering something. ”Your jacket.”

He turned back to me, grinning, and shrugged off the leather coat. He took a couple of steps toward me, and handed it to me.

”Thanks,” I said, though my grat.i.tude was begrudging.

”Any time.” He stood there, grinning at me.

I widened my eyes. ”Turn around!”

He laughed, but did as I asked. Even so, I was horribly aware of his presence, perhaps even more so than the presence of the pool directly behind me. I quickly pulled my top over my head, and glanced down at my bra. Dammit. The white lace was pink with blood. I had no choice but to take it off. Before I did so, I kicked off my sneakers and yanked my jeans down my legs. The material had grown hard and crusted, and I struggled to get them off my thighs. Anxiously, I checked my panties for any sign of blood, twisting my head around and arching one leg to try to get a decent look at my a.s.s. As far as I could see, the blood hadn't made it through the thick denim.

A breeze stirred around me, ruffling my hair.

”Throw the clothes in the water,” Riley called out to me.

My heart almost stopped. Had he been watching me after all? But no, his back was still turned.

”s.h.i.+t,” I said again. I gathered up my clothes and dumped them into the pool, being careful to keep my toes away from the edge, still worried something would reach out and grab me, or else the water itself would suddenly rise in a wave and wash me in. The jeans and s.h.i.+rt quickly sank into the still depths. I hesitated and then reached around my back and unclipped my bra. The cool night kissed my skin, making my nipples pucker. With one arm covering my chest, I threw the bra into the water to join the rest of my clothes.

I s.n.a.t.c.hed Riley's jacket up from where I'd let it drop. It was big on me, thank goodness, big enough to hang just past my b.u.t.t, and cover some of my thighs. I zipped it up, covering my exposed b.r.e.a.s.t.s, thankful for my return to modesty, and comforted in the feeling of being covered by Riley.

I blushed at the thought. ”Okay, I'm done.”

He turned back to me and smiled, his gaze traveling up and down my body. ”Looks good on you, Icy.”

”Oh, shut the h.e.l.l up.”