Part 19 (2/2)

Oh, how I wish I didn't.

It hurts...but strangely, not as much as it should. I should be destroyed with grief. Bones is gone. How am I still breathing? But the pain is numbed. For some reason, the bomb hasn't blown up inside my chest yet.

There's a soft rustling, and Kieron sits down beside me. ”Are you okay?” he asks gently.

I breathe a long sigh. ”I will be.” The preposterous words come out before I really think them through. How can I be okay ever again?

”Do you hate me?” He stares out over the valley, his voice barely a whisper.

Another sigh. ”No.”

”Do you blame me?”

I pause. ”No. I blame myself.”

”Don't do that.” He reaches across my lap and holds my hand in his. I clench it tight and pull it to my cheek.

”I can't help it.” My whisper trembles.

He wipes away the tear trickling down my face. I'm so tired...so very exhausted. I want to sleep for days. Months. Years.

I take a deep breath and let myself fall under Kieron's loving gaze. There's a therapeutic quality deep in there that makes me wonder if maybe all hope isn't lost. And maybe I'm not entirely d.a.m.ned. But I don't trust my own thoughts right now. Nothing is as it should be, and none of this makes sense. Maybe I just imagined all the horrors of the past day. Maybe I've just finally lost my mind once and for all.

”So...I guess we're 86'd from Thiberoux, huh? And that includes Demon Bar?” I say, testing my memories. Please, oh please let me be wrong.

”Yeah.” Kieron glances at me with surprise. ”But how did you know that?”

I shrug, trying to ignore the wretched stab of pain in my chest. ”I dunno. But I think I remember. Everything. At least, for the past few hours.” I turn my head away as fresh tears spill forth.

Kieron rubs my back in slow, comforting circles. ”I'm so sorry, Lucky. So very sorry.”

I nod silently and sniff back my tears. All I hear is Bones' voice. All I see is his face. His smile...

”You'll feel better once you get some Source Energy in you,” Kieron says, soothingly. ”I know a guy that sells some on the black market, but he's pretty far away and-”

”Tatiana can make us some.” My voice is hollow and flat. ”It's not quite as good, but it does the trick. We'll be fine for a while...at least until we figure out our next move.” I shake my head, chasing away the dark thoughts. ”But I can't think about that now. I just need to replenish and change out of these filthy, b.l.o.o.d.y clothes.”

Kieron nods, understanding. ”Can you make it on foot? My Legionare horse took off the moment we dismounted. I don't think he liked it here...” He stands up and lightly brushes off his pants before reaching out to help me up. His intense gaze locks on me as I rise, and he pulls me closer.

”I'm fine. I have enough strength to get home. Follow me and I'll show you the way-”

Kieron raises an eyebrow and gives my waist a gentle squeeze. ”I know where you live.”

Of course he does. ”Well, then...just try and keep up.”

Just the simple act of willing my legs to move sends me flying across the field and down the mountainside. After a moment I pa.s.s a place that looks familiar...it's the place where I woke up with the angry Sapie holding a gun on me. Kieron had been there with Liora.

Funny how I don't really feel jealous about the two of them anymore. Maybe it's because I'm so emotionally drained inside, I don't have any feelings to spare. Or maybe they've all been shattered. Maybe I'm getting my abilities for apathy back. One can hope.

The scenery is nothing but a dark blur. I operate on instinct and heightened senses, dodging tree branches as they come at me and leaping over any obstacle in my path. I know Kieron is right behind me-I feel him more than see him. Since I'm in Sapie world, it's hard to avoid coming across some of them. As I fly across the highway, there's a sharp squeal of tires from a surprised driver. No worries. They'll just chalk it up as a deer or runaway horse or something. No way a person can move that fast. Plus, it's dark. Visuals are bad.

I don't slow down until we reach the cabin. All the lights are on inside. This strikes me as odd since Tatiana doesn't use light to 'see'. She usually leaves it dark at night, save for some candles if she's working on a spell or something.

My wariness must be apparent. Kieron steps closer and gives me a concerned glance. ”What is it, Lucky? Everything okay?”

I shake my head, but proceed with caution, raising my finger to my lips to indicate to Kieron to be quiet. He senses my trepidation and moves closer as I slowly ease open the door. At the last moment, he steps in front of me and pushes the door open himself, leading the way in. I don't even have time to be annoyed at his machismo as I my eyes focus on Tatiana sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, waiting for me.

And behind her stand four of the ugliest, foulest creatures I've ever seen in my life.

I push Kieron out of the way and rush towards Tatiana. ”What's going on here?! Tat, you all right?” This is obviously not a friendly visit, and if they've hurt her in any way...

”I am fine, child.”

Kieron's firm grip on my arm prevents me from moving more than a few feet. ”Who are you? Why are you here?” I yell at the ugly strangers. They look like humans, but they're all mangled and scarred. All of them have bright, s.h.i.+ny blonde hair-my least favorite color-and their eyes are unnaturally flat and gla.s.sy...like a doll or a mannequin. Although they look human, my instincts tell me otherwise.

The tallest one steps forward, and I'm beyond repulsed by the grotesque scars on his cheek and neck that seem to swim over his taut skin. A c.o.c.ky smirk spreads over his lips, and he looks at me like I'm something to be eaten for dessert. ”My, my, my. How quickly they forget. Come here, my pretty Liora...don't be so shy-”

”I am not Liora, dips.h.i.+t. And how dare you talk to me like I'm your little puppet? What the h.e.l.l are you doing in my house?!”

”Ah, but you are my puppet, my darling Liora. All those sweet kisses you gave me...you let me in. You enjoyed it as much as I did.”

A female next to him with long, curly hair makes a disgusted noise as she twists her mouth in an unhappy snarl. I hear myself laugh. ”I don't think even Liora is desperate enough to be with someone as loathsome as you. Now get the h.e.l.l out of my house or I'll be sweeping up your remains with my Dustbuster.” I quickly form two large b.a.l.l.s of electric fire in both my palms and swish them around to let him know I mean business.

He takes a small step forward, and I s.h.i.+ft my eyes back and forth between him and Tatiana. Why is she just sitting there, motionless? Why is she acting like some helpless old woman when she's anything but? The fact that she doesn't seem too worried isn't lost on me, however. But every inch of me is revolted by these strangers, and my inexplicable hatred of them is eating me away inside.

”Liora-”

”I'm Lucky you half-witted imbecile. And stop talking to me as if we're friends. Believe me when I say, you and I have never been introduced.”

”See, Tristan? See? Now she's being the demon! I told you you didn't kill that part of her away!” the girl screeches, her voice like fingernails on a chalkboard. Kieron s.h.i.+fts his body closer and my eyes become narrow slits.

”What makes you think that would even be possible? What makes you think you pathetic little demons would have any influence or control over me whatsoever? Don't you know I can crush you with the slightest wave of my hands-?”

”Uh, Lucky...” Kieron cuts in, jabbing me in the ribs with his elbow. I glance at him, and follow his line of sight to the small glowing stone on the table behind Tatiana.

I draw in my breath sharply as the realization hits, and take a horrified step backwards. My Boumeaux, normally a glossy pitch-black, is s.h.i.+ning bright white and emitting a faint humming noise. No. This is not possible. I am not standing here with four Light-angels in my cabin. Not now. Not after everything that just happened.

”Remain calm, Lucky. Focus. Everything will be fine. You are stronger than they are. Especially now.”

I shake my head and s.h.i.+ft my attention from the ugly blond boy over to Tatiana. Did she just say those words out loud? I don't think so, but I heard them as clear as when Aria spoke to me in my mind. But since when has Tat been a telepath?

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