Part 7 (1/2)

”But how do you know...and what exactly do you think you know?” I ask him as we finally break apart. I lick my lips where Tristan has just kissed me, still feeling a slight tingle where his cool lips met mine.

Tristan takes me by the hand and we slowly make our way toward the entrance of the cave. He looks at me sideways and arches an eyebrow. ”During a research trip in Tibet a long time ago, my parents came across someone who was able to handle the rocks. They were stunned, since everyone else who'd touched them immediately turned into dust...poof...disappeared. This person-or I should say, this being-told them how there are creatures inhabiting this planet who are able to withstand the ma.s.sive power of the stones. He said they can do it because they aren't entirely human, but are partly from a different race of creatures who only look human, but in fact, have supernatural abilities.”

I feel like I've just been dropped off a skysc.r.a.per with no parachute. ”But I am human,” I protest weakly, my mind spinning. Are we really having this conversation right now?

”Maybe now you are...well, at least you think you are. That's what makes you so special. Why you're the one I want. The one I need.”

Did this human boy just tell me he knows what I am and is okay with it? He likes it?

”You need me?” I whisper, disbelieving. ”For what?”

”Yes, I do...very much.” His voice is husky as he turns to me again. I willingly tilt my head, eager to welcome his kiss.

I s.h.i.+eld my eyes from the bright sunlight as we emerge from the cave. Smiling, I glance at Tristan, realizing I feel no guilt for kissing him. None. It feels natural...beautiful.

As if Kieron had never existed.

”I just can't believe you're saying people out there actually know about us.” I shake my head in disbelief as we head back down the narrow dirt path.

He flashes me a grin. ”Well, only a few. And the few who do certainly aren't saying anything. Nothing gets a human thrown in the loony bin faster than claiming that demiG.o.ds with super powers walk the earth.”

”I'm not part G.o.d,” I say, rolling my eyes.

He rests his palm on my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze. ”You're special, Liora. Very, very special. And that's all that matters to me.”

The moment I approach the cabin, I know something's terribly wrong. The front door flies open of its own accord, and Tatiana is hovering near the entry way, the tips of her toes barely gracing the floor, her long silver hair thras.h.i.+ng about wildly.

”Tat!” I gasp, stopping in my tracks. Her fierce expression sends a chill of fear racing through me. I've never seen her this angry before. Her normally opaque eyes are solid black.

”Liora Anastasia Greyson. You get in here right now.” Her voice, barely a whisper, screams through the air. My heart pounds as I take a shaky step forward.

”What is it, Tat?” And then I remember. Oh c.r.a.p. Of course...She knows I skipped out of my afternoon cla.s.ses.

”How dare you disobey a direct order from me, young woman. I specifically told you-”

”I know, I know. I'm sorry. But I didn't ditch...not really. It was cool. A lot of the students didn't show up to school today because of the accident, so teachers weren't covering anything important. Instead of coming home, Tristan and I went for a drive. What's the big deal?”

I avoid looking directly at her as I set my book bag on the kitchen counter and reach for an apple. But before the fruit reaches my mouth, it flies out of my hand and straight out the wide-open front door. I turn to Tatiana, aghast.

”What'd you do that for?”

She floats closer, dragging the tips of her toes across the hardwood floor, and I take several steps back. ”I told you not to go there,” she hisses.

I frown, bewildered. ”Go where?”

”To the mines, Liora. To the Flintridge Mines. I forbade you to go anywhere near there, yet for some reason you were there the better part of the afternoon!”

My eyes widen in disbelief. ”What?” I finally gasp, hoping I heard her wrong. First she forgets me telling her about Tristan and now this? What's happening to her?

She narrows her charcoal eyes. ”You heard me, young lady. Why did you deliberately disobey me?”

I let out a deep breath and shake my head. ”Tat...I'm sorry, I don't know what you think you saw today, but I wasn't anywhere near the mines...I swear. You must've gotten your signals mixed up or something.”

”Do NOT lie to me, child! I know exactly where you were this afternoon, and you were exactly where I'd told you not to be!”

My fear deepens and my eyes fill with tears. I don't know what's worse, having Tatiana be so angry with me, or the fact that she's obviously losing her mind.

”Tat, no...I swear, you're mistaken. Why would I go to the mines? Tristan and I just drove out to the countryside for a few hours. We were in the complete opposite direction of Flintridge, actually.”

”Why do you think you can deceive me? Do you think I am a fool?” she asks, sliding closer.

I'm sobbing in earnest now. ”No, Tat,” I choke out. ”I'm not lying. I swear to you. I swear on Kayla and Michael. Please believe me. I didn't disobey you...”

The hot fire p.r.i.c.kles my skin, and for once, I gratefully welcome my invader. I can't bear to see Tatiana like this for another second. Maybe Lucky can do something...

As I stagger to the couch and fall on the cus.h.i.+ons, I barely have time for my fading plea. ”Tat, you gotta believe-”

Chapter 9. Lucky.

Tatiana is glaring like she wants to kill me.

”What? What'd I do this time?” I get up from the sofa and quickly head into my room. But a light wooziness sweeps through me, and I have to lean against the wall for a moment until it pa.s.ses. I turn around and head into Tatiana's room instead. I cast a wary glance over my shoulder and see her onyx eyes blazing into me. Great. Just what I don't need right now.

Tatiana is right behind me as I swig the last of the Energy potion. ”I'm gonna need a refill here soon, Tat,” I say, tapping the emerald bottle with my finger.

Her black eyes are cold as she studies me. I haven't seen her this mad since the time I accidentally blew up the kitchen practicing my fire charms. But I haven't done anything really wrong lately... have I? What's gotten her so upset?

”I am very angry with Liora. She deliberately disobeyed a direct order from me today,” Tatiana says as I brush past her and charge into my room. I'm relieved it's Liora she's angry with and not me, but I don't have time for this drama right now. I have bigger things on my mind. Much bigger things. Like figuring out a way to save Kieron from an entire clan of hostile demons all by myself.

Tatiana perches herself on the edge of my bed, still glowering.

”Yeah? What'd the sweet lil' angel do this time? ” I nervously dig through my closet, tossing clothes everywhere. Tatiana dodges to avoid being hit by a flying boot. Finally, I emerge and pull a white velvet camisole over my arms.

”She went to the Flintridge Mines today with some boy even though I'd expressly forbidden her to do so. And then she had the audacity to lie to me about it.” Her eyes narrow as she picks up a black halter top from her lap and sets it aside. ”Did you have anything to do with it?”

”Thanks. Blame me for everything, why don't you? I don't give a c.r.a.p about the mines, and I have no idea why she went there. She's probably just acting like a normal teenager for once. Good for her. A little rebellion is good for the soul, I always say. But don't look at me with those murderous eyes...I had nothing to do with it. I have more important things to worry about right now,” I say indignantly, pulling on some black leather pants.

I admire my reflection in the mirror for a moment before ripping off the white camisole top and replacing it with a red one. Considering what I have planned for the evening, white probably isn't the smartest choice, even if all my clothes are specially treated to repel demon blood stains. No point in pus.h.i.+ng it.

Tatiana lets out a long sigh as her eyes fade to a smoky gray. ”Do I dare ask?”

Like she even has to. I slide on my steel-tipped boots and reach for my dagger, nestling it safe inside its hidden pouch in the boot lining. ”I told you this morning, I'm rescuing Kieron.” I avoid making eye contact. I already know she's going to try to stop me, just as she knows it's pointless to try.

The old cedar trunk at the foot of my bed creaks as I lift the lid. Carefully, I begin to rifle through its contents.