Part 9 (2/2)

When I round into my third song, Tobin catches my eye. He gives me a big grin and thumbs-up. The joyful melody that wafts off him has so much energy, it carries me through the rest of the song all on its own.

It isn't until the last line that I notice that someone else is watching from the shadows in the back of the auditorium. Or at least I think I see the flash of fiery eyes in the darkness. I almost falter on the last note, but I pull it off with gusto. I hold my guitar out and take a quick bow when I'm done.

”Well, then,” Mr. Morgan says, actually sounding happy this time. ”That'll do, for sure.” Tobin and Iris stand up and start clapping. A few others join in. I don't pay them much attention as I jump down from the stage and jog quickly to the back of the auditorium. But I'm standing alone in the shadows-maybe I hadn't seen anything-until someone grabs me by both hands.

”That was utterly fantastic,” Tobin says, shaking my hands in excitement. ”I've never heard anyone with a range like yours.” I expect his touch to hurt the welts on my arm, but as he lets go of my wrist, I notice the red marks are gone.

”No wonder you got a scholars.h.i.+p,” Iris says, coming up to us.

”About that . . . ,” I start to say.

Mr. Morgan raises his voice above the chatter that fills the room. ”Lexie Simmons. You're up.”

”I'd hate to be her right now,” Iris whispers. ”Wouldn't want to follow you. No way.” Lexie approaches the stage. Her inner music pounds out a symphony of dark notes. I don't need to see the not-so-friendly look she throws me as she climbs the stage steps to know that I have definitely crossed into her bad side.

Tobin catches the exchange. ”Looks like you might be needing a little protection from the mob,” he says, leaning in conspiratorially. ”Perhaps I can offer my services.” He pretends to flex his muscles like a strong man in a carnival sideshow. I've got at least four inches on him heightwise, but that doesn't seem to deter him from thinking he can be my personal goon squad.

”What's it going to cost me?” I ask.

”Let me give you the welcome-wagon tour of the town. I'm the mayor's kid, after all. I know all the good places to check out.”

I glance into the empty shadows behind us.

”Yeah,” I say and smile. There's one place in particular I want to check out again-and I don't want to go there alone.

chapter fifteen.

haden

I climb the trellis that leads to the window of my new bedchamber and slip inside. I scan the room.

Everything is the same as I had left it. I can hear the soft murmur of voices down the hall, and I am sure my absence has gone undetected. Good thing. I don't want Dax to know how colossally I've screwed up. What had I been thinking?

I hadn't been thinking, that's what. Perhaps this girl is a siren. The old stories say they can befuddle men with their music. Such an idea had always been so obtuse to me, but now I understand. My encounter with Daphne had left me more confused than ever.

But sirens were evil creatures of the Oceanrealm, thought to be extinct. Why would the Oracle want me to bring such a dangerous thing back to my world?

No, she isn't a siren.

But, then, what is she?

She certainly isn't a mere Boon. Or at least not like any Boon in the Court's harem. She doesn't act like one, I think, rubbing my jaw where she had hit me. And she certainly didn't look like the Boons I'd seen in the Underrealm. Most of the girls who had been brought back by former Champions were waifish and gaunt to begin with, and wasted away quickly.

I'd never really seen the appeal of having a Boon before. But this girl is different. My hands tingle with that strange heat, just thinking of her now.

The Oracle had indicated that Daphne is indeed different. Special, somehow. And Dax had suggested that he knew something about it. I shouldn't have acted without all the information-I should have waited here, as Simon had ordered me to. A soldier should always follow commands.

The thought of Simon finding out what I did fills me with dread. He seems to be in communication with the Underrealm somehow, and I can't bear the thought of his reporting my blunder back to the Court. What would they say about me then?

I settle on the bed and open the cloth bag the girl had left in the grove. She may not be a siren and she may not be an ordinary Boon, but she is definitely a more formidable opponent than I had given her credit for. I am a warrior, and I decide to attack the problem of Daphne the way I have been trained to do with any other adversary. Which means I need to do some reconnaissance. I dump the contents on the bed. There are mostly papers. I play with a tube of sticky red gel that smells vaguely of pomegranates, and almost jump when a rectangular contraption buzzes in the pile. I pick it up and inspect its smooth surfaces. It buzzes again and lights up. A written message appears on the gla.s.s front. It must be some sort of communication device. The message reads: CeCe: Daph, really need to talk. Call me tonight. May not be at this number after tomorrow.

A knock sounds on my door, making me jump. My fingers slip. I'm not sure what I've done but the message disappears.

”Haden, you up?” Dax calls through the door.

”Uh, yes. Just one moment.” I panic at the sight of Daphne's things strewn across the bed. I grab a blanket and throw it over the mess to hide the evidence of my excursion into the world. I dash over to the door and open it halfway, placing my body between the door and the view of the rumpled-looking bed. I stretch and act as though I've just woken up.

Dax looks somewhat surprised to see me.

”Enjoying a nap, I see,” Simon says in his overly chipper way. ”Very good. Very good. Many Champions ignore the need for proper rest while in the mortal world. This place can be a strain on the body. You were so quiet in here, I was almost afraid you'd run off on some half-baked idea of going to look for this Daphne girl on your own.”

I feel heat flus.h.i.+ng into my hands and face. ”Just being patient. Like I was told.” I try to give Dax my most earnest look.

”Very well,” Simon says with a huge smile. ”All the arrangements for your stay have been made. I'll leave you boys to it.” He drops the smile, and a sudden dark look creeps over his usually bright face.

”I trust I won't need to clean up any messes while you boys are here. Not like last time?” He turns that dark look on Dax.

”No, Simon. Everything will be fine.”

As quickly as it came, the dark look pa.s.ses from Simon's face. He smiles happily. ”Very good, then.

Keep those noses clean,” he says, tapping his own nose as he leaves.

I brush my nose, wondering if there's something on my face.

Dax waits until Simon is down the hall and we hear his footsteps on the stairs. Dax s.h.i.+vers, then slips inside my room with a couple of large bags made out of a thin, s.h.i.+ny material. He shuts the door quietly and then turns on me.

”Where the Tartarus were you?” he whispers.

I blink at him. ”I . . .”

”Don't even think about lying to me, Haden. I came to check on you an hour ago and you were gone. I had no idea what I was going to say to Simon if you hadn't been here now. What in Hades's name were you thinking?”

”I wasn't . . .”

”Clearly!”

”You were taking forever. How was I supposed to just wait here? I didn't even know what time it was.”

”There's a clock right there! You couldn't be patient for a few hours?”

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