Souljacker (23 page)

MaXXX steps into the arena and spreads his
arms wide. “What do you have to lose?” He’s smiling as he pulls off
a pair of skin-tight, black leather gloves and I realize that I
haven’t ever seen his hands bared to the world before. Even during
Elysium’s concerts, he wears gloves and he doesn’t show a lot of
skin. I thought it was just part of his look.

We lob a few power balls back and forth, the
energy bright and silvery, leaving streaks through the air as they
fly. I watch his hands—musician’s hands with long, elegant
fingers—as they cup and pulse with the power that he reflects.

“So what’s with the gloves?” I can’t keep the
curiosity in any longer.

He stiffens, his eyes darkening two shades,
if that’s even possible. He shrugs a shoulder, nonchalant. “I’m
dangerous, sweetie.”

His words, the way he says them with such
vehemence… It’s like I can see straight into his soul. Maybe he is
just a wonderfully talented actor and this is all just one big
façade. I step closer. He regards me cautiously.

“Everyone has the power to be dangerous to
some extent. It’s just how you use it.”

The curled-lip sneer he gives me looks
foreign on his angelic face. “You couldn’t possibly
understand.”

Oh, if only you knew.
“Maybe I can,” I
say quietly. “Up until recently, I’ve believed I was some sort of
monster. I even took on the name Lucifer, because…I felt like one.”
I glance at him, hoping to see curiosity lighten his shaded eyes,
but I only see the tiniest flash of pain. I press on. “I killed my
mother when I was a little kid. It was an accident, but I’ve never
really forgiven myself. I’m starting to realize that you’re only a
monster if you choose to be.”

MaXXX stares at me in silence for a moment,
but his expression never changes. “Whatever. I gotta run.” With
that, he hurries out the door and it swings shut behind him,
roiling a swell of emotions within me. Anger, frustration,
uncertainty, fear. I ball my hands into fists and let fly a barrage
of energy. It zings all around me, whistling off the walls, and I
yell my frustration at no one.

I don’t stop until my throat burns.

“Lucy?”

I spin around. I didn’t hear the door open,
but Iofiel’s standing there, looking sheepish and worried, his
brows knitted together. His hands are stuffed in the pockets of his
jeans. I frown and drop my gaze, not wanting to show him my
tears.

“I’m sorry,” he says softly, and I know that
somehow, it’s gonna be all right. He wraps me in his arms and he
rocks me slowly, back and forth, like I’m a troubled child. Maybe I
am. Maybe we both are. MaXXX too. I bury my face in the crook of
his neck and tell him everything: The rumors, the fears, the truth.
He takes it all in stride, hugging me tightly.

“I never meant to hurt you. I’m just so…lost
right now.” His voice is soft.

“Me too, Io. Me too.” And in that moment, I
want to go home so badly, even if I don’t have a home to go back
to. My heart clenches and I cry into his shoulder. He rubs his
hands down my back and I think I feel hot tears trickle down behind
my ear, like he’s crying too, just silently.

“I love you. I don’t want to lose you,” I
whisper.

“I know. And you won’t. Lose me. I’m yours,
Lucifer Swift. Forever and always.”

When I see MaXXX again, he’s back to his
jovial self, but I can see his pain sharp as a knife.

And now he’s watching me.

Chapter 27:

Iofiel

I don’t trust MaXXX.

I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s
something off about him. About the way he carries himself,
confident and poised, carefree and reckless. Suave and debonair,
flirting with the girls like he’s God’s gift to women. Sync and
Caddie are enthralled by him, for lack of a better word, and even
Lucy seems amused by his antics. But she’s wary, too. And
rightfully so.

He’s staring at her again. She’s helping with
lunch and he’s just watching her, alert as a hound on the hunt, his
blue eyes trained on her. He follows every move she makes and it
makes my skin crawl. I feel a rush of possessiveness roar like a
wave—Lucy’s mine—and then a flood of guilt.

I just don’t trust him, end of story. And as
long as he’s watching her, I’ll be watching him.

***

“Hey, angel. Wake up.”

I roll over, dragging the sheets with me, and
nearly jump out of my skin. MaXXX’s nose is inches from mine, a
grin on his lips, his hair flopped across one eye like some sort of
emo rock star. Oh right, that’s his profession.

“Screw off.” I give him a shove.

He raises his hands in defense. “Hey, chill
man. You wanna come on a supply run with us? It’ll get you away
from Polaris for a little while, if nothing else.” He shrugs.
“Caddie and Sync are coming, just figured I’d ask.”

“What about Lucy?”

“She said to ask you.” He says it in such a
way that leaves no room for imagination: He’s only inviting me
because he has to. “So here I am.”

“I’m up.” I kick the covers until they’re in
a little pile at the end of the bunk. I stretch and shoulder past
MaXXX, pulling on clean clothes. I can feel his eyes on me and he
feels nervous, like I’m gonna go cyborg-berserker on his ass or
something. Like I’m a freak and he knows it. I button my jeans and
turn to him. “I’ll go talk to Lucy. Where is she?”

“Left her and the girls at the mess hall. But
make it quick, would ya? We need to be in Loren by noon.” MaXXX
waves his hand impatiently and I roll my eyes. He ends up following
me to where they’re serving breakfast of sausage and eggs. I grab a
plate and sit down next to Lucy.

She smiles. “You wanna go on that run to
Loren? I’m pretty bored, but I didn’t want to leave you
behind.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders and give
her a gentle squeeze. “Thanks, love.” I glance up at MaXXX, who
catches my eye, shoots me a grin, and taps his watch.
Yeah,
yeah
. I look at Lucy. “Why not? Nothing better to do.”

Lucy grins and waves at MaXXX. “We’re
in.”

He whoops and jumps to his feet. Everyone at
the table stashes their plates in a row at the end, silverware
piled up on top, and MaXXX struts out of the mess hall. Caddie
bounces ahead, trailing the two teenage boys she’s been hanging out
with. A couple of older teens follow along after them. Lucy slips
her hand into mine as we take up the rear.

MaXXX leads us around back. Behind the
Chopshop, in a little covered car port, is… A monstrosity. It’s a
big bus with actual wheels instead of a hover rack. It’s made of
bulky metal and painted robin’s egg blue, rust spots speckling the
undercarriage. MaXXX catches me staring at it and he grins. “It’s a
little retro, but she gets the job done. All aboard!”

MaXXX hops up the steps and settles into the
driver’s seat. He pulls a crank to open the doors and kids pile
onto the bus. It’s roomy, but hot as Hell, the sun having baked on
the metal roof all day. The windows are shoved open with squeaks of
glass and the warm summer air is barely a reprieve from the
humidity in the bus. “Sorry, the AC doesn’t work,” Lake admits with
a sheepish smile.

“Once we get moving, it’ll cool down in
here,” a younger girl with a blonde pixie cut says.

MaXXX turns the key and the bus kicks beneath
us, the engine roaring to life like a gargoyle under the moonlight.
It lurches forwards as he puts it into gear and then we’re onto the
gravel road that leads out of Polaris.

I’ve only been in Loren twice in my entire
life. Both times were during a hunt. The most recent was when we
took down Supersonic Scream girl and as we pass the spot where
Lylan tranqed her, I feel a pang of regret.

What does the Unseelie queen want with the
Mithos, anyway? Why would she sic her cyberhounds on them? From
what I’ve seen, they’re just a bunch of kids with strange
abilities; they aren’t doing any harm and they surely aren’t dark
enough to warrant her attention…

MaXXX parks in a mostly empty lot, the nose
of the bus turned towards the road. “Okay, guys. We need to get the
usual stuff. Since a couple of you haven’t done this before,
Caddie, why don’t you go with Lake’s group.” Caddie and Lake
exchange a pleased look. “Iofiel, Lucy? You’re with Josh.” Fog boy
nods and gives me a thumbs up. “Sync, you’re with my group. Let’s
get this done. No goofing around. Diesel wants us in and out,
smooth as silk. Got me?”

The bus erupts into a chorus of agreement and
MaXXX pulls the crank. The bus doors gape open with a squeak of
metal and once our feet hit the pavement, we gather into our
respective groups.

MaXXX, Sync, and a couple of girls take off
in one direction in search of supplies like toilet paper, tissues,
and bandages; Lake, Caddie, and two others go in the opposite for
perishable food stuffs.

Josh stretches the kinks out of his back and
turns to us. He motions to a pair of older teens that are
unmistakably twins: They’re both tall and wiry and have the same
blonde hair, a dash of freckles, and green eyes. And they’re both
staring at me in disbelief.

“Lucy, Iofiel, these are the Carver twins.
Cullen and Milla.” When they don’t say hi, Josh shoots them a look.
Cullen shrugs one shoulder and Milla flips her hair. Josh shakes
his head and smiles at me. “Can’t say they’re the warmest people
you’ll ever meet.” The twins don’t respond.

Josh sighs. “Come on, guys. We’re in charge
of canned and boxed foods. Crackers, soups, canned meat. You know
the stuff. Here.” He pulls out his wallet and hands us each a
handful of bills. “We’ll split up. Milla? Why don’t you take Lucy
and Iofiel and go down to Loren-Mercer Grocery and get the boxed
stuff. Cullen, come with me.”

Milla glances between her brother and Josh,
then eyeballs us as if we’re dog poop she’s going to have to scrape
off her shoe. “Come on,” she says on a sigh, stalking off. Lucy
rolls her eyes and bumps up against me and I force myself not to
laugh. Talk about having a broom shoved up her ass.

We follow Milla to a little grocery story
right off the main highway, cars whizzing past, horns blaring. I
hear someone whistle and twist around just in time to see Lucy flip
a tall guy on a hover bike the bird. I can’t help but grin. “I love
you.”

“Of course you do,” Lucy sing-songs back.

Milla snorts. “I don’t wanna hear your
lovey-dovey shit. What you have is unnatural. Corrupt.” She spits
the word with vehemence, spinning on her heel to face us. Her hair
is wild around her face, tangling in the wind thrown off the
highway. She points her finger at me. “
You
shouldn’t even be
around, and…ugh. Just do us all a favor and go back to the bus to
wait. You’ll just slow me down.”

She snatches the money from us and storms
off, hands fisting at her sides. The sliding glass doors to the
grocery store whir open to let her in. Then she’s gone.

“Someone needs an attitude adjustment,” Lucy
says.

“Agreed.” We lapse into silence, our fingers
twined together, arms swaying gently between us. I feel peaceful
for the first time in awhile. We pass a storefront and I catch
sight of my reflection. I look human with the Realskin glove and
the face plate that Diesel carved for me. I look like just another
boy walking around town, holding hands with the beautiful girl he’s
lucky to have.

Then I see something that sends cold chills
shivering down my spine. My hand clamps around Lucy’s and I drag
her after me. We duck down an alley and press up against the wall
as a broad-shouldered guy saunters past. It’s the gleam of his
metal arm under the sun that entraps my attention. Lucy sees it to
and after he passes, she hisses out a couple of curse words that I
shouldn’t repeat.

“Is he one of yours?”

“I’ve never seen him before in my life.” My
heart thunders behind my ribcage. Maybe he won’t recognize me with
my mask… Maybe. “We need to get out of here.”

“What about the others?”

“We’ve gotta find them. Tell them there’re
hounds patrolling Loren. Goddamnit, we shouldn’t have come! This is
too risky. I don’t want to lose you, Luce—” I feel wild as the
words escape my mouth. Lucy places her fingers over my lips to
silence me, then kisses them.

“You won’t. C’mon, let’s go find MaXXX.”

But when we find him, he only laughs. “Take a
chill pill, sweetie. We’re fine. As long as we don’t use our powers
and surge, they’ll never be able to tell us from all the humans
milling around.”

I clench my jaw, my teeth grinding together
hard enough to make them ache. “You’re a fool. You don’t know the
Pack like I do.” I growl at him. “Sync, come on. We need to get out
of here.”

Sync nibbles on her lower lip, glancing
between me and the coolly calm MaXXX. Then she nods and gives Lucy
a quick hug. MaXXX sort of sneers and waves us off. “Whatever. Go
back to the bus. We’re nearly done anyway.”

“Come on, girls.” I take off at a jog. If the
hounds attack, I’m putting that metal beast into gear and high
tailing it out of here, group or no group. Lucy won’t get taken
away from me. I refuse to let that happen.

We pass Lake’s group with armfuls of grocery
bags. I grab Caddie by the sleeve and tug her close enough for me
to murmur in her ear. “I saw a cyberhound. We need to get back to
the bus as quickly as possible, but without raising suspicion.” Her
dark eyes grow round and I squeeze her arm. “Get your group to
speed it up a little.”

But I don’t see Josh or the twins anywhere. I
keep walking, my gaze skimming a big group of people chattering on
cell phones or yapping to friends as they meander down the
sidewalk, unaware of the dangers lurking in the shadows.

I glance to my left, only to see Sariel, his
blond curls tossed by the wind and his gaze trained on me. Intent.
Shit. He doesn’t move an inch, but my throat is dry as sandpaper. I
try to swallow, fear making my heart skitter in my chest. We’re
screwed. If Sariel’s here, Lylan won’t be very far behind.