Part 6 (2/2)

Mason didn't lift his head to look at her. He didn't answer right away either. The atmosphere thickened with agonizing awkwardness. After a full minute, Mason answered softly.

”You can't possibly understand.”

That one hurt. Avery tried desperately to control her emotions and go for the rational approach. Despite what Mason wanted to believe, Avery was involved now and Adalyn in the picture very much affected her.

”Try me. I'd rather know what I'm dealing with.”

He groaned before answering.

”I do love her. It's not a choice of mine, Avery. And despite what I continue to do, I continue having to deal with her again and again.” He looked up and held both hands out in a helpless gesture.

Mason's emotions, though usually guarded, played over the shadows in his face. Avery bit her lip.

”So I did interpret that kiss the wrong way then. If you're not ready to move on, then don't. I'd rather not get stuck in the middle of this if you can't pick one of us.” She pled through a whisper.

Mason pushed back into his seat ”It's not like that. I'm not trying to be with Adalyn. It's not about me choosing. I already did that when I stayed with you. But until I can break it off with Adalyn for good, you and I are just a side note. She was here first and I have to do what's right by her. And then by us.”

Avery couldn't have asked for much more of an answer, pleasant to hear or not, so she accepted it with a tiny nod. If he broke it off with Avery again, she wasn't sure how low her heart could sink into her stomach. She let the conversation die. It wasn't hard when Mason had lapsed into a deep thought.

Avery jumped when her pocket rattled and the unfamiliar cell phone jingle rang loudly. She scrambled to jimmy the phone from her pocket and hit the silence key. Since Patrick had destroyed her phone, she had to buy a contract free replacement to recover her number and finally receive the missed voicemails. Mason hadn't agreed with her on the importance of such a thing, but he also didn't understand the human world. If she went missing again, the police would be called. Or worse, her brother Chase might find out. Chase, the single most over protective guy in the world, would be hunting Mason down with a gun if he thought she might be in danger. He'd already threatened Mason more than once. Unwilling to risk the trouble, she'd gotten the phone and was still getting used to it.

The screen lit up blue displaying a text message from an Alaskan area code and she clicked read. In blocky blue digits, the text said one line: ”Where r u??” Avery's eyes flickered to the number only now recognizing it. The text was from Leela.

”Alright, I gotta go.” Mason suddenly said and stood from the table, drawing Avery's eyes up to meet him.

Shoving the phone back into her jacket pocket, she stood to walk him out. The coffee in her hand had already gone cold but she clasped it anyways.

”Have fun on your date.” She said but her mind had already gone elsewhere.

Mason gave her another sharp look.

”Don't be like that. You're worse than a harpie sometimes.”

Knowing she had to amend herself Avery shrugged and tried for a carefree tone.

”For the record, your race can't have dibs on being b.i.t.c.hy. But do what you got to and don't get caught.”

Mason finally smiled slyly and actually reached down to hug her. The embrace was quick but the reluctant flicker of elation in Avery's chest jumped up anyways.

”You shouldn't lecture me on attracting trouble. Anyways, go straight back to the hotel.”

He gestured toward the gla.s.s entrance doors across the street. Unable to stall much longer, Avery gave him another nod and headed off. He trekked down the street the other way and she headed inside. Once she knew that she was alone, she pulled the silver phone from her pocket and stared at the text message from Leela again.

The message brought up more questions than Avery was willing to consider but she did think about one fact. Leela hadn't known about Patrick and hadn't known why Avery disappeared. Also considering she didn't even know Avery was on to her, the question was probably innocent probing.

Avery's fingers hovered around the keys for a full moment. After an agonizing mental debate she texted back, ”Family emergency. Had 2 skip town but will b back.” The yellow envelope icon disappeared before Avery could regret sending it. Part of her knew that she wasn't ready to treat Leela like an enemy but she knew Mason would consider this dangerous and stupid.

Slipping by the front desk, she made her way for the room in the back. The phone buzzed again and Avery clicked the message open.

”Omg! R Chase and ur mom ok? I tried calling u yesterday but ur phone was out of service 4 some reason.”

”Yea we're all fine.” Avery had been so focused on her phone, she almost missed her room. Jingling the k.n.o.b with her free hand, the door gave surprisingly easy and Avery never broke her focus from the phone screen. Walking in, she only looked up when she heard the sharp female voice speak up.

”She would be dumb enough to book a room under her name.”

Avery backpedaled but her feet got tangled and Avery smashed into the door hard. Before her sat both Adalyn and Patrick splayed out on the bed. The damage done to Patrick during their early encounter was painfully obvious. His left wing didn't stand up all of the way and the feathers were frayed and torn. Bruises marred his face and his lip had been split leaving a b.l.o.o.d.y reminder. He held himself up right but Avery could tell that he wouldn't put all his weight down on his legs. His black eyes stared straight through her.

Adalyn sat next to him, her long legs folded and her curly blonde hair expertly tied up behind her head. She looked just like Avery remembered with the body tight black and white clothing, stiletto heels, and hot red lips. Though Adalyn had the looks of a movie star, the danger never quite escaped her features. She tapped her deadly sharp talons on the bed side. She watched Avery like a predator watching its prey.

”How'd you know to look for me?” They'd only just arrived in Portland meaning Patrick or Adalyn had to be following them from minute one. Adalyn corrected the theory when she coolly said, ”I figured you'd come down here to find Mason. So we waited for you to show up. Called the nearby hotels and when the clerk confirmed you were booked, we showed up.”

Avery's mind spun and she looked between the two. They thought that she was here to find Mason and that Mason hadn't ever picked her up. Though they were on the wrong up take, Avery didn't correct them. She kept her eyes forward but her hand slipped behind her for the k.n.o.b.

”He already knows that Patrick tried to kill me. If I show up dead, he'll know.” Avery attempted to distract them as she struggled to find the k.n.o.b.

It didn't work. Suddenly Patrick stood and crossed the room in a flash of movement. Avery sprung to avoid him but only successfully put herself farther away from the door. Patrick spread out against the wooden exit and gave her a lazy smile.

Heart pounding now, Avery's mind went to her phone. She could call Mason but she'd never get the chance to explain. Her luck would be better set with utilizing the magic in her body as a weapon but that was a long shot too.

”Well if he's already going to be mad at me then I might as well get something out of it. Double jeopardy. Besides, dead girls tell no tales.” Adalyn said coldly and stood up.

The room was barely ten by ten making Avery confined close to the two harpies. Her eyes slid between the two when they advanced a step forward. She clenched her right hand, willing the magic to stir in her chest. A cold wash of fear slipped through her when the attempts continued to fail and Avery backed against the night stand.

Adalyn offered a show of her brilliantly white teeth.

”Patrick,” She called out to her companion. ”Be a dear and make this problem go away.”

Patrick suddenly kicked into motion. Launching himself forward, he swung for Avery. A scream ripped out from her throat and she jumped backwards. Tripping over the desk behind her, her body lurched backwards and she dropped into a ball. Patrick came around the side of the desk and Avery wildly kicked at him. Harpies didn't have strong bone density and usually could be taken off their feet, but a few kicks didn't do that. Patrick grabbed her ankle and dragged her out to the center of the room.

Avery rolled to her feet but he caught her just before she stood. Long arm roping around her neck, he yanked her back into his hard chest. Squeezing the arm around her neck, he managed to cut off her air.

Avery's world became fuzzy around the edges and she clawed at the arms that held her. Patrick was stronger than most harpies, built more like a man than a bird, and his grip never loosened. He pressed his free hand up against her back until she could feel the distinctive sharpness of talons behind her spine.

”Sorry girlie, but this will be quick.” He almost sounded sorry when he whispered into her ear.

Avery swung her body, desperately clinging to her remaining energy, and managed to get a gulp of air. In the moment of absolute panic, she finally felt the spark of magic in her chest. Forcing it out through her hands, the energy escaped her body and gave Patrick an electric shock.

He stumbled back, but the magic hadn't done enough damage. Before he could charge at her again, she held both hands up.

”Wait! Wait! You can't kill me. Mason's life is depending on what I know.” The plea went out to Adalyn but Patrick scoffed it off.

”Come here.” He hissed and launched at Avery again. In the second before he made contact, Adalyn's hand swung out and intercepted the blow.

”Wait!” She shouted at Patrick before her blue eyes slid back to Avery. ”Let me hear what she has to say.”

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