Evanescent (30 page)

“You don’t think this is some kind of trap
Wes is pulling me into, and I’ll be an altar sacrifice by midnight,
do you?”

A dull laugh rattles through me. “Nope.
Knowing Wes this is just another way to bring the two of you
closer—emotionally and physically.”

“You’re probably right.”

An entire chorus of playful screams expel in
the distance, and the two of us pause as Marky runs toward a
haunted maze set up at the end of the street.

“I wish there were some way you could come
with me.” She blows it out while looking down at her tennis
shoes.

Laken comes in close and lays her head over
my chest. I can feel her heart rioting through her sweater—fear
emanates from her like a toxin. She looks up at me with those
watery steel eyes, her lips drawn in a brilliant shade of red.

“How do you think Wes is getting in there?”
She brings her hand to her neck as the cloud of fear intensifies
around her. “It seems so protected. You don’t think just any Count
can wander in, do you?”

“I’m betting he’s got a supervising spirit
on payroll.” Everything in me freezes at the thought.

“You okay?” Laken gives me a playful
jostle.

“Yeah.” I come to, stupefied by what I just
realized. “You know, we’re going to be late to Henderson if Marky
doesn’t speed things up.” I try to block all thoughts of Edinger
out of my mind.

I call out to Marky and lead us on the
world’s most manic trick-or-treating session.

Laken is going to the Celestra tunnels
tonight.

And so am I.

Wesley

The common room in Henderson Hall pulsates
with strobe lights set to the rhythm of bongo drums, shredding.

I turn up the lights just enough so people
don’t injure themselves when they try to hurdle all the decorative
crap Jen and Blaine trashed the place with.

He’s standing alone, nursing a red plastic
cup filled with rocket fuel, so I go on over.

“I can’t get two feet without a cobweb
smacking me in the face.” I shoulder up to my brother and observe
the costumes on parade that filter through the place.

“You’re welcome.” He deadpans. “What are you
supposed to be?”

“I’m you.” I glance down at the matching
jeans and flannels we’re both sporting.

“You’re smarter than you look.” He knocks
back his drink. “Kresley’s been asking about you. Rumor has it
she’s looking to bag a Paxton tonight.”

“Have at her.”

“Nope. If I’m lucky, I’ll be doing someone
else entirely.” He nods across the room at Jen who’s dressed like
an overgrown fairy. She’s one big ball of pink—looks like a
birthday cake exploded.

“Good luck with that. You see Laken around?”
I’ve already scoured the place twice. Carter said she had to run a
quick errand, and judging by the lack of Flanders in the vicinity,
I think I know who that errand entails.

“Nope. You two fight or something?”

“Or something.” I let out a breath. “She’ll
show. I’m taking her somewhere special later. It’s going to bring
us closer than ever.”

“Dude.” Blaine socks me in the arm. “That’s
what I’m talking about. Don’t be a doofus like your brother. Make
sure you let her know she’s special, or she’ll find someone else to
make her feel that way. And don’t go messing with Kresley either.
Turns out girls aren’t so hot on cheats. Jen’s words, not
mine.”

“Sounds good bro.” I slap him on the back as
he heads in Jen’s direction.

Fletch nods and pops up beside me. Entrails
hang out of his jeans, and his shirt has the imprint of a tire
slashed across it.

“Looking good, man,” I say as he staggers a
moment.

“Yeah, Carter wanted me to dress up like
some kook, but I opted for something cool. Themed costumes are just
one step away from the altar, if you know what I mean.”

“Nice.” I give a little laugh. Fletch is a
kook either way. And for a moment I try to remember if Laken
mentioned anything about themed costumes.

“You’re never going to believe what just
happened.” The thick scent of alcohol washes over me as he sloshes
out the words.

“Shit. You’re tanked, and it’s not even
eight-thirty.” I step back, trying to catch a decent breath.

“Who the hell cares?” He slaps my stomach
with a show of inebriated enthusiasm. “I was walking down the hall,
and freaking Grayson put out an invitation.”

“To what? Sleep it off?”

“
Dude
.” His pale eyes bulge the exact
same hue as Laken’s and I miss her. “She pointed to the bathroom
and said she had a
craving
—told me to meet her in five
minutes.”

“Five minutes?” Fifty bucks says he
misunderstood the entire conversation. She probably said the
bathroom would be
free
in five minutes. Or, I’ll give you
five minutes to get the hell away from me before I get the
authorities involved.

I brush him off while inspecting the
entrance for either Laken or Coop. Something tells me they’ll be
making an appearance around the same time.

“Nah.” Fletch shakes his head in a circular
motion. “Kres dragged her off to finish up some shit out back—said
they’re pulling out all the stops tonight.” He grips my arm as
Grayson appears in the hall. “There she is. I gotta blow.” He
pauses a second. “Or
she
does!” He takes off down the hall
like he’s about to get laid, and, according to Fletch, that would
be the plan. Freaking Grayson. Why can’t she keep her sights on
Flanders? Unless, of course, she tried, and he’s too wrapped up in
my girlfriend to notice.

I crane my neck in time to spot Grayson
yanking Fletch into the bathroom. So much for wedding bells where
she and Coop are concerned. Should have figured it was all an
act—on Coop’s part anyway.

Speaking of Coop. Flanders strolls into
Henderson with his football uniform on, and, swear to God, half the
girls just let out an audible sigh. Looks like Grayson missed her
mark by minutes. But then again, I think both Grayson and I know
Coop isn’t up for quick and dirty bathroom sex tonight—at least not
with her anyway.

Coop spots me and makes a beeline in my
direction. Probably wants to know where his favorite cheerleader
is.

“What’s up?” I say, trying to maintain my
focus on the growing crowd.

“Not much. Just finished taking my sister
around the block. I miss anything?” He pans the room along with
me.

“Nope. You see Laken tonight?” I look him
right in the eye. I’ve known Coop too long for him to start lying
to my face.
At least have the balls to admit you’ve seen
her.

“I just ran into Hattie. She mentioned Laken
was about to help her get dressed.”

I bite down on the inside of my lip.

Plausible, I suppose. “Laken seems fine with
her now that she knows she’s one of us.” I nod. “Hey”—I soften into
him—“next time I’d really appreciate it if you clued me in on
things like that. Laken’s had a rough time since her accident, and
she’s been a little skittish. I know she said she didn’t want to
worry me—that she mentioned it to you because you have a class with
that girl, but still, next time be upfront with me. I wasn’t
kidding when I said I didn’t want there to be weirdness between us.
And I know Laken appreciates your friendship—so do I.”

Who knew I could sling the bull with the
best of them? If Flanders thinks his bloodlines are going to yield
him the advantage, he’s got another thing coming. Once I take Laken
into the tunnels tonight, she’ll see she doesn’t need Coop or his
magical plasma. And then maybe I can get her to confess how the
fuck he convinced her to take it in the first place. Probably some
bullshit about how she really might be from Kansas, and his
arteries just so happen to be the portal back. Some guys will say
anything to get laid.

My lips twist at the thought of him laying a
hand on her. For Flanders’ sake he’d better not have.

Coop examines his phone for a minute.

“I need to get going.” Coop expands his
chest as wide as a wall. “Lost my house keys this morning. Had to
climb to the second floor just to get in. Edinger just sent out a
mass email saying he found a set in his room.” He holds the phone
up. “I’d better find the bastard before someone else claims
them.”

“Cool. Enjoy your night.” I give him a
knuckle bump before he splits. “Laken and I are taking off—having a
little private party all our own.” I toss it out there to see if he
reacts.

“Sounds good.” He nods without flinching.
“Sounds like someone’s gonna score.” He says it with far too much
exuberance, as if he’s mocking me. “See you when I see you.”

I watch as Cooper Flanders speeds out the
exit like a man on a mission. And God knows if the mission involves
Demetri Edinger, he’s up to no fucking good.

Laken strolls into the room with Hattie
Tobias by her side, and she’s clinging to Laken like she’s never
seen a Halloween costume before.

The two of them migrate their way over,
dressed like—well, cheerleaders with bright red lipstick, their
hair pulled up in ponytails with matching bows.

“Hey, good looking!” Laken plants a heated
kiss over my lips and renews my confidence in us with one swipe of
her tongue. For some reason when Coop mentioned he took his little
sister trick-or-treating, I envisioned Laken right there with
him.

Her eyes widen as we pull away.

Shit. I’m not used to someone reading my
mind.

“So…Hattie,” she starts off slow, “it looks
like Fallon and Carter are right over there.” She points to the
fireplace where Carter looks like a whorish version of Cleopatra.
And I bet Marc Antony is just finishing up with the temple
prostitute—although he ditched the themed costume.

My heart sinks like a stone as I take Laken
in as the cheerleader. I wonder if she knew Coop would show up like
the god of the football field.

“Be careful,” Hattie pleads. She pulls Laken
into an awkward hug for a very long time. I’m just about ready to
break up the party when Laken pushes her off in their
direction.

“She’s kind of weird, don’t you think?”
Laken clasps onto my shoulder.

“Most Celestra are. Way too much inbreeding
going on in that faction.” I wrap an arm around her waist and pull
her in tight. “You ready to blow this joint?” I slip my hand under
her sweater and make a loop over her skin with my fingertips. Laken
shivers and for a brief second I think she’s recoiling from my
touch.

“I thought you’d never ask.” It speeds from
her as she steadies her eyes over mine. I pull my hand from her
sweater and lay it over her shoulder where she can’t listen in.
There’s a touch of distrust emanating from her, just the hint of
sarcasm in her tone, and it guts me like an emotional kick in the
balls.

We make our way to the exit and head out.
The cool dew of evening baptizes us with its condensation as the
noise from inside quickly dissipates.

There’s no way I’m filling her in on the
fact I know she’s been siphoning off Flanders. For whatever reason
they’ve decided to keep hush hush, and I don’t see the point of
outing them just yet—if ever.

Nope. My strategy to win Laken back for good
is quite the opposite. Stay one step ahead of the enemy and draw
Laken closer to me by opening up my entire world to her.

I take her up by the hands and kiss them in
tandem.

“Are you ready for a night you’ll never
forget?”

“Are
you
ready for a night
you’ll
never forget?” She twists in her shoes as if she were
making an offer. “I might have a little surprise cooked up for us
later myself.” She licks her lips like a promise and my dick perks
to life.

My hands slip over her sweater safe from the
confines of her eavesdropping mind.

“I’m looking forward to every single moment
this night has to offer.” I pull her in and hold her for a good
long while.

It sounds like Laken is ready and willing to
take this relationship to a whole new level.

I should be over the freaking moon, but
something has me rattled.

I press a quick kiss into her neck.

Screw it. I’m game for whatever it is that
Laken wants to give me.

Hell, I’ll encourage it—
beg
for it if
I have to.

I take her by the hand and lead her toward
the bloody brick road.

“Off to see the wizard.” Laken chimes
without missing a beat.

“Something like that.”

And the wizard’s name just so happens to be,
Skyla Messenger.

Laken