Silverthorn (8 page)

I grabbed the bottle from her hands, twisted the cap, and took a swig. I cringed at the burn in my throat but appreciated the heat that slipped through my chest. “There!” I held the bottle at my side. “Satisfied?”

Alexis nodded as though she didn’t trust anyone who refused to drink. She grabbed the bottle from my hands and took another gulp. “All right, you’re serious then.” She considered my words. “I’ve noticed Mother’s been out of sorts this past week. Thought maybe it had to do with the shakes. Withdrawal. I’ve always wondered if she was addicted to one drug or another.”

Now I could comprehend why Delphine had abused Celestina. She wasn’t in her right mind. Not that substance abuse gave anyone the right to hurt another person. No wonder Alexis consumed so much alcohol. She probably used it as a crutch to deal with our mother. Again, I couldn’t condone that behavior, but at least I understood why she resorted to drowning her sorrows.

“I suspected she was hooked on something …but you let her watch over your daughter?” Anger shot through my system, triggering an enormous amount of heat through me.

“Guilty until proven innocent, is that it? Well, I couldn’t prove anything. I searched the house at least ten times: kitchen cabinets, under the bed, behind the flat screen, at the back of the closet. I looked all over. I didn’t see a thing.”

“You saw the bruises on Celestina.”

“She told me she tripped down the stairs.”

“But your house is a flat. There aren’t any stairs!”

“It happened downtown at Macy’s.”

“How often does that happen? A teenager falling down the stairs at a department store? Open your bloodshot eyes, for God sake! This is your
daughter
!”

Alexis pushed down both hands as she steadied her breathing. “Look, I can see why you’d be suspicious. Mother gave you up for adoption. I get it, okay? But it doesn’t mean that she’s moronic enough to let Zephora take control of her body.”

I didn’t follow how giving me up for adoption related to our mother allowing Zephora to enter her body. I guessed Alexis referred to our mother having poor judgment.

“Mother had magic flowing through her veins. Why would she turn to drugs? Wasn’t magic enough?”

I’d had enough of my sister’s ignorance. “I need you to listen, okay? Our mother is dead. Zephora has control of her body. And your daughter is scared.”

Alexis took another swig from the vodka bottle and rushed up to me, leaving only an inch between us. “You’re seriously cracked! You need a psychiatrist.”

“Listen,” I said, trying to disregard the alcohol fumes that singed the interior of my nose. “You can hate me all you want, but your daughter is—”

“I don’t buy whatever shit you’re shoveling. So go sell your crazy someplace else.” She took another pull from the bottle and swallowed. “And if you visit my workplace again, you’re gonna wish my daughter hadn’t saved your life!”

CHAPTER SEVEN

The moment I stepped out of the strip club, I felt cleaner, more sanitary. I had nothing against those who visited those types of establishments, but I breathed easier outside of its confines. My phone rang. “Hello?”

“It’s Kendall. Are you okay? Brandon and I are at Nolan’s. With everything going on, I was too freaked out to stay at home.”

“Good idea.” I was also spooked about staying at my place after Darius’s threat of burning down the place. But intuition told me that all paranormal creatures frowned upon such human methods of destruction, regarding them as beneath them, as though those with supernatural abilities should handle all conflicts fairly…by using their gifts to end any given dispute. “Is it big enough for you guys?”

Kendall chuckled. “There’s plenty of room for you. Come on by.”

I took down Nolan’s address and drove over. All the while, I suspected that someone (or something) followed me. I checked my mirrors every minute or so, but I hadn’t seen any vehicles swerving in and out of lanes to keep up with me. Since I hadn’t taken a course in tactical defensive driving techniques, I had no idea whether someone trailed me or not. So when I exited my car in Streeterville, I glanced around but didn’t see any vehicles park immediately or shut off their lights and creep up the street. All told, it seemed like paranoia had gotten the best of me.

Shaking off my neuroses, I walked up seven concrete steps until I reached the porch and stood on a Guns N’ Roses welcome mat, featuring…what else? A couple shiny pistols surrounded by crimson roses. That tickled me. During my college career, I’d read a couple of academic studies revealing that those who listened to heavy metal in their teenage years were more emotionally stable than those who listened to other genres of music. Not only that, but metal fans were the least likely to cheat on their lovers than fans of other genres. Metal enthusiasts were accustomed to being outsiders. Therefore, when they found someone they connected with on any given level, they were reluctant to part with that relationship because nothing was worse in this world than being lonely and misunderstood.

I lifted the pewter Iron Maiden doorknocker handle that their mascot, Eddie, clenched between his teeth and slammed it against the door a few times. I couldn’t comprehend how our guitarist, who dressed as though he couldn’t afford dinner much less a ranch style brick home that realtors would peg as worth somewhere in the mid-six figures, either owned or rented in such a distinguished neighborhood.

A few seconds later, Nolan answered the door with an easy smile. “A booty call, huh?”

The way he stood there, leaning against the door frame, so relaxed yet full of confidence tied my tongue in knots. “In the, um, mid-afternoon?” I asked mangling what I’d hoped would work as a smart-ass remark.

The edges of his lips perked up at my discomfort. His eyes twinkled with humor.

“Are you going to say something?” I asked, cursing myself for feeling so insecure around him.

His amused expression dwindled, but held my stare with such intensity that my knees felt weak. Unsure how to deal with the nature of that heavy stare, thick with desire, I looked down.

I glanced behind me, pretending to search for an unseen person. “Yeah, she stopped by, but I kicked her to the curb. Hope you’re okay with that.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” He stepped aside, opening the spring door for me. “Come on in. Make yourself comfortable.”

“You were pretty smooth last night. Slipping a vampire…and not missing a note?”

He shut the hardwood door, placed a hand at my back, and welcomed me inside. “I tend to hold up pretty well when I’m put on the spot. I only kind of lose myself in those quiet moments when I don’t know how to act.”

So in other words…how my legs felt like Jell-O just a moment ago. What would it look like to see Nolan in the midst of that type of reaction? I disregarded those questions because I liked how he ushered me inside, as though he didn’t often welcome women into his home. I was an exception, I was special. I walked across creaky wooden floors, enjoying the scent of caramel and butterscotch that wafted through the house, no doubt emanating from a lit candle, since I didn’t think Nolan baked dessert in his spare time. We stopped in the kitchen.

“You hungry? I can throw in a frozen pizza or make some tacos.” He opened a cupboard stocked with countless candy bars: Reese’s, Milky Ways, and Hershey’s, not to mention plenty of Hostess Products: packages of Cupcakes, Twinkies, and Ding Dongs.

“I bet Brandon would love to switch roommates.” I glanced at the walls, which housed framed photos of Nolan with various individuals: most likely aunts, uncles, and grandparents, as well as others closer in age, perhaps friends or cousins. Very few of those younger individuals were women. That made my heart patter.

“Hey,” Kendall said, entering the kitchen, followed by Brandon. “Glad you made it. We’ve just been spinning some old-school vinyl: The Stones, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd.” She pushed a hand into a bag of Doritos, pulled out a couple chips, and popped them into her mouth.

“And smoking some bubonic chronic,” I said, acknowledging the snacks she shoveled into her mouth, even if I didn’t smell pot smoke in the vicinity. “You’ve got the munchies?”

She gave me a noncommittal glare. Outside of alcohol, Kendall had never touched any substance that altered her mind. “Guess what?” Her mood brightened. “Our show last night? It’s gone viral. We’ve got over 20,000 hits so far on YouTube.”

Brandon grinned while he balanced a laptop on his forearm. He hit a button on the computer and turned it for me to see. “Check it out.”

An erratic picture appeared on the screen, showing the stage we performed on before swerving to the crowd, showing one of the vampires making his way toward the stage. Then the image flashed on me grabbing the microphone and singing, moving in one direction and then the other, keeping an eye on the vamps approaching us. The camera cut to Brandon slamming his sticks on his drum kit, Nolan shredding on guitar, and Kendall playing bass with her head down, her dark bangs shielding her eyes. In due time, the camera angle showed the vamps attacking, while I responded by using martial arts and sending shards of fire, at first shocking the audience before they jumped up and down, raised their fists and shouted with excitement.

Kendall went over to me and threw an arm around my shoulder. “This is so amazing!”

I released a doubtful chuckle. Too bad it was a one-of-a-kind performance. If the next crowd that saw us expected a similar performance, they would probably throw empty beer cups at us in frustration. Her arm around my shoulder increased the pain in my neck. I cringed and grunted. When Kendall stepped back, afraid that she’d hurt me, I waved off her concern. “I had a run-in with Darius last night. Barely escaped.”

“Are you okay?” she asked, leading me further into Nolan’s home.

“I’m fine.” Only I wasn’t. I was confused about how to deal with Alexis, Darius, and Zephora. I told them everything that happened since I dropped them off last night.

Afterwards, they all stared at me, shocked.

“What?” I asked.

“Don’t you think it all happened a little too easily?” asked Kendall. “Celestina visits you then you see Zephora and Darius…and you’re still alive?”

“What are you saying?” I asked, suspecting that Kendall didn’t think I could handle myself. “I told you my mother was a drug addict, my sister thinks I’m an idiot, my niece needs someone to look after her so she doesn’t go dark side on everyone, Darius almost tore my head off, and Zephora wants to end life as we know it.”

Brandon nodded. “You get all the fun.”

My lips lifted at his sarcasm. “Listen,” I said, lowering my head, sadness taking hold of me. “I want to apologize. For everything that’s happened this past week. I can’t expect you’d be okay with it. You might even hate me, but just know that I never meant to put any of you at risk.” I met Kendall’s gaze. “Other than Lulu, you’re all I’ve got.” Seeing moisture build in her eyes, my heart lurched toward her. Then I exchanged glances with Brandon. “You’re really—”

“Are you kidding?” he asked, nonplussed. “Did you hear a word I said a minute ago? I repeat: 20,000 hits on YouTube!” He glanced at Nolan. “Do you have to record a video confessional of how great that is?” He set his gaze on mine. “When we started this band, you said we’d become household names. And dammit, you’re doing it. Do I want vampires and witches coming after us? Hell, no! Do I blame you for it? Hell, no!” He looked at Kendall and then turned to me. “But you’re our best friend. That hasn’t changed. So what makes you think things will change now?”

Seeing their emphatic expressions bolstered my appreciation that I had such supportive friends. That left only one other person to answer to. I swallowed before looking at Nolan.

A carefree smile touched his lips. “Our gig kicked ass. Vampires just add to the mystique. I say bring ’em on!”

He seemed confident in his ability to handle everything and anything, regardless of the supernatural elements that might attack. For that reason, I wasn’t quite sure I could trust him. Seeing both Kendall and Brandon a few feet away, I pulled them in for a brief hug. “Thanks, guys.” Then I retreated, motioned to Nolan, and said, “Could we have a minute.”

They turned their attention from Nolan to me and nodded without a word. Brandon said, “Nolan, you said something about Hostess Cupcakes?”

“In the kitchen. Check one of the overhead cabinets.”

Brandon headed in that direction, leading Kendall.

“Look,” Nolan said, turning to me. “I know you three are tight. I don’t want to fracture things.” He held his ground, looking determined. “But I’m right for this band.” He remained silent for a moment. “I can feel it. Whatever comes our way, I’m not afraid.”

“You should be.”

He stared into my eyes, searching for something deep down, something that went beyond words, beyond even thoughts.

The depth of feeling he displayed set my emotions aflame. I tried to push down the heat inside me, lest I shoot a bolt of fire at Nolan. “Don’t…look at me like that.”

“Like what?” he said, stepping toward me. “Like this?” How he managed to look carefree on the outside but with passion burning beneath that mystified me. Only a few inches separated us.

The heat between us was scintillating, the unspoken dripping with meaning. I dropped my gaze, knowing that looking him in the eye would end all effort at keeping my composure. “Don’t act like it’s not a big deal.”

“Who said it wasn’t?”

I swallowed, finding it difficult to keep each breath even.

He moved closer and cupped my left cheek in his palm. “It’s life or death. I get it. But do you?”

Energy left my body, almost as if something drained it from my being. “What do you mean?” Feeling his other hand grasp my hip made it impossible to think straight.

“From what you said…” He slid his other hand onto my left hip. “They’ll keep coming.”

I felt even more vitality dissipating from my body. “Yes. They will.” I bit my lip, trying not to acknowledge the pull he had on me.

“So what happens then? You just keep killing them?”

His words broke the trance that captivated me. I pulled away from him, and my strength no longer drifted away from me. I recaptured some of it as though it had clung to me as long as Nolan hadn’t placed a hand on me. “Well yeah. I guess so.” His distance left me feeling cold. “Someone has to. I guess…that’s my job.”

“Why?”

That question dumbfounded me. “Who else would do it? Not Alexis. And Celestina is too young. So who else is there?”

“That doesn’t seem fair.”

“This isn’t about fairness. If that was the case, I’d have someone to help me.”

“What about me? And Brandon? We can help.”

If Brandon stole someone’s ability, he could help for a few hours, but I couldn’t depend on that supernatural gift. He might not know how to use it or control it. What can you do? Have you found out yet?”

“I’m kinda scared to find out.”

I appreciated his sincerity. So many other guys his age would have acted fearless and macho. “Scared about what?”

“What I am. Who I’m supposed to be. What if I turn evil?”

“You’re a good person. You have a good heart.”

He smiled at the cheesy line of television dialogue I fed him. “Yeah, well—”

“Ooh,” Kendall said from the kitchen. “Microwave popcorn.”

I said, “Do you have anything against fruit or vegetables?”

“If they leave me alone, I’ll leave them alone.” A solemn look chased away his lighthearted remarks. “Anyway, you were saying, they’ll just attack you wherever and whenever? You have to be on guard at all times?”

“Seems that way, yeah.” His question triggered a little paranoia, making me wander into the living room, where I plucked my fingers inside the blinds and glanced outside.

I didn’t see any brake lights or fumes exiting exhaust pipes anywhere on the street. No one stood around or walked the sidewalks until I glanced to the right and noticed a man standing on the sidewalk with his back turned to me, tilting his head side to side as though searching for…someone.