Split at the Seams (9 page)

I was having a hard time getting Mara out of my head. Not just what she’d told and shown me. I couldn’t shake the image of her sitting on the hospital bed and staring at her motionless shell as if she was permanently severed from the physical world.

I’d recently developed the ability to astral project into a dark patch, and although it was scary, I always returned to my body. I couldn’t imagine how it would feel to be completely separated.

A chill raced down my spine, like cold fingers trying to penetrate my skin and stab into the very heart of me.

“Sierra, are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

I blinked, and stared at Oren.

He stood outside the car, leaning into the interior with his light eyes glowing in the dark. “I can go home with you, and ensure you’re safe until you get inside.”

“No, I’ll be fine.” I shook my head. “Besides, I feel better about you being able to catch a train, rather than be left miles away from the closest station. There aren’t any stations near my house.”

“Okay, but we need to talk more about what happened today. I’ve got a really bad feeling about this. And if that poor girl’s spirit is trapped between life and death, there’s some really terrible sorcery going on inside that Council.” He looked thoughtful. “It’s no wonder the ley line led to the top of the building.”

I nodded. I’d told him as much as I could about the incident with Mara, but hadn’t been able to properly convey the sheer creepiness of the situation. “Yeah, whatever sick games the Council is playing now, it’s all happening in the apartment levels.” The thought made my gut tighten with disgust. Didn’t they have a heart between them? “Look, I better get going.”

“I don’t feel comfortable letting you go off on your own after knowing all of this…”

“If they really wanted to take me forcibly, they would’ve done so already. Besides, I’ve got Papan at home…as well as your protection spell.” I couldn’t deny that the thought of going home to Papan made excitement course through my body. Maybe we’d finally get a chance to finish what we’d started this morning. Or what we’d started months ago.

“Speaking of the protective spell, I’d like to come over sometime tomorrow and extend it around the outside boundaries of your house. I know you said it would be excessive, but I think it was a mistake not to.”

“Sure, sounds good.” I could definitely use as much protection as possible right now. I was still terrified by the things I’d seen this afternoon. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to see and know about so many unnatural things, but being involved with the supernatural left me with no other choice.

“Be careful,” Oren said a moment before slamming the car door shut. He stepped up onto the sidewalk but didn’t move.

“Bye, Oren.” I stuck my hand out the window and waved, watching him in the rearview mirror for a moment. He hesitated for several moments before finally turning around and heading toward the station.

I checked every lock inside the car and closed my window. It might get a little stuffy, but I didn’t want to risk anyone—or anything—having easy access while I quickly checked my phone. I pulled the mobile out from my pocket and found a bunch of messages from Ebony, most with files attached. There were also two voicemails from Jonathan, and one from a number I didn’t recognize. I decided to ignore everything else to take a quick glimpse at Mrs. Wicker’s file, noticing in the rearview mirror that Oren was actually walking down the street and had ignored the train station. He’d almost blended into the night, only his pale, long braid stood out.

As I read what we’d already spoken about earlier on in the day, a flash of lightning illuminated the street and I realized just how totally alone I was. Not a single car, person or even train was nearby. The station seemed to be just as empty. Even Oren had disappeared into the shadows.

When the rumble of thunder sounded, I decided to head home. I wasn’t a chicken, and it takes a lot more than a thunderstorm to spook me, but after everything I’d just discovered and what I went through with the Slevani brothers, I wasn’t stupid enough to make myself a bigger target than I already seemed to be.

For whatever reason, there were
people
eager to get their hands on my power source and I had a responsibility to stay as safe as I could. Not to mention a responsibility to others too, because if any of these power-hungry lunatics got their hands on me, they’d cause a lot of damage wherever they could.

Driving down the dark streets, expecting the rain to hit at any moment, I was surprised when only random flashes of lightning followed by thunder resulted. By the time I drove up my driveway, the thunder sounded as if it was actually receding, taking its false hope of a cool summer rain before the warm night was over.

I switched the engine off, took the keys out of the ignition and opened the creaky door. Stepping out onto the concrete path, I felt a sense of something prickle my skin. It caused the hair on my arms to stand on end, but I ignored it by concentrating on mundane things like sticking my phone and wallet into my jeans pockets while I shut the car door and checked it was locked.

All I had to do was race to the front door and I’d be fine.

No monsters could get me if I didn’t turn to look at them. That’s how it went, right?
Turn your back on evil monsters and they fade into oblivion because you don’t give them the power of your fear.
At least, that’s how it worked in fiction. My life was a little more complicated.

I doubted the Council would send someone out into the Sydney suburbs and risk exposure. They might be crooks and have evil intentions, but everything they did was very discreet. Image meant a lot to them. If not for their squeaky-clean image, hundreds of unsuspecting parents wouldn’t willingly hand over their young daughters and a nice wad of cash so the Council could help them deal with the irregularities.

I hurried along the path. The front door was so close now.

Shadows took shape and leapt out from the corner of my next door neighbor’s house. The impact didn’t feel like a shadow, but a very solid shape.

The wind was knocked out of me as my chest hit the concrete, my face a mere centimeter from slamming against it. I used my arms to push my body up, but whoever had jumped me knocked me down again. This time, my arms failed to help the momentum of the slam, and my cheek hit the path with a painful thump.

I couldn’t see who was on top of me, but because they didn’t speak or make any sudden movements to search my pockets, I suspected it might be a rabid animal. The constant hissing and growling near my ear and the feel of saliva dribbling onto the back of my neck only confirmed it. Strong paws dug into my spine as my upper body was lifted with the precision only a human could possess, but a beast seemed to be using on me now.

I wanted to scream, do anything to get someone’s attention, but it was too late. I couldn’t get the words out, and sharp teeth were already embedded deep into my collarbone so hard I could feel them rubbing at my bones.

Unbearable pain tore through me just as my vision started to fade around the edges. Tears rose to my eyes and slid silently down my cheeks, but I still couldn’t scream. Hell, I couldn’t even move an inch. It felt like this creature’s bite had paralyzed me while it held my spine close to the front of its body.

Someone, please help me.

What a way to die. I had so many people after this damned power I’d inherited from a spook catcher and a witch, but was about to be killed by an animal. Then again, maybe this thing wouldn’t kill me. Maybe the Council had sent a demented creature out to put me in some sort of coma—similar to what Mara was in—so it could then take me to them.

No, I couldn’t let them get me. Not so easily.

I wasn’t sure if I was moving or not, but I imagined squirming in the animal’s harsh grasp, slowly working my body away from beneath its heavy bulk. While the sharp claws attempted to tear the skin off my shoulder, it seemed to be working. I could feel my T-shirt sliding up my stomach, my skin grazing against the concrete.

“You’re not getting away from us this time, bitch!” The voice had an animalistic edge, but it was definitely male and slightly accented.

The fight slipped out of me, literally felt like sweat pouring from my pores until I felt deflated and useless.

Who could
us
be?

I was about to pass out when a sliver of light caught my attention. I forced my heavy eyes to open enough to see someone running out the front door.

Oren was right. I needed more magical protection around the house.

“Get the hell away from her, you ugly bastard!” It was Papan, and he was yelling. A hard thump followed his warning and the whiny sound of a dog’s cry as I hit the concrete path.

“Papan,” I whispered. But he didn’t come to me.

The sound of a struggle continued around me. I could hear two sets of distinct growls this time. I tried to roll over, to see what was going on, but no matter how hard I tried, the pain and numbness confused my bearings and maintained my inability to act.

“Papan…”

I didn’t see or hear him move, but I heard him say, “I’m here, Foxy Lady. Don’t get any ideas about leaving me just yet. We’ve got a lot to talk about, you and me.”

I chuckled—or gurgled—before passing out for a bit.

The next time I opened my eyes, I was no longer outside and trying to move out of the path of danger, but was looking up at the familiar ceiling of my living room. Was I lying on the couch? I had to be.

“Fox, you’re going to be okay, but you need to go back to sleep. I’ll take care of you.”

I nodded, managing to turn my head enough to look at the chimney across from where I lay. Yes, this was my living room. There on the mantel sat the dying petals of the roses Jonathan had given me for Valentine’s Day, just over a week ago. And on the coffee table was the small, round pot filled with soil and a packet of sunflower seeds lying beside it.

Papan’s gift had come with a note. I’d memorized what it said—
Foxy Lady, please feed me and put me in the sun.

I turned my head and closed my eyes because the combination of unbearable pain and exhaustion made it hard to keep my thoughts straight. Everything was blending together into mush. Only one thing was clear—I was once again in some deep shit.

The swooshing of fabric caught my attention, followed by the air magically changing around me. The abrasive feel of a dog’s tongue on my neck both tickled and made my injury sting. But I didn’t have a dog, so what was going on?

All my questions vanished when I found myself tumbling into a peaceful slumber where nothing hurt, and no one was trying to hunt me down. Into a place where I could pretend Jason Papan wanted me as much as I wanted him.

Papan, I need you.

Chapter Five

“Sierra…”

Someone was calling my name and patting my cheek very lightly.

Papan, is that you?

As wonderful as it would be to wake up and look into his green eyes, I wished we were still lost in the golden field of sunflowers. Even while I was there I’d known it was a dream. A safe place for me to escape to because something really horrible had happened, but I didn’t want to leave. Not yet. Not now.

Maybe not ever.

“Sierra…”

It couldn’t be him. He never called me by my actual name.

“Sierra, can you hear me?”

Even though it made me feel as if I were trying to pry my eyelashes apart after being glued together, I eventually managed to get them open. It took several blinks before I could focus.

“Jonathan?” I asked, staring into his brown eyes. His dark hair fell over his face in an adorable and boyish way that used to make my heart skip a beat. Now it just tickled my aching cheeks. I looked away, trying to keep my disappointment from showing. “Why does everything hurt?”

“You were attacked, sweetheart,” he said with a sad smile. He ran the back of his fingers over my cheek and a tingle of warmth spread through me.

I attempted to lift my elbows, hoping to prop my body up so he’d stop touching me, but as soon as I did the room started spinning.

“Whoa, calm down, you need to take it easy.”

I shut my eyes tight. “Papan, where’s Papan?” The question slid between my dry lips before I could stop it. I knew what effect it would have on Jonathan but I didn’t care, had to know where Papan was.

“I’m over here, Foxy Lady.”

Opening my eyes again hurt, but I wanted to see him.

I
had
to see him.

Jonathan clenched his jaw but didn’t move away. In fact, he grabbed a hold of my hand and intertwined his fingers around mine.

“What happened to me?” No good asking Jonathan, he hadn’t been there. He wasn’t the one who picked me up off the concrete path and laid me down to rest on the couch. When I surveyed the area quickly, I found I was still lying in the same place.

“You were attacked,” Papan said, finally coming into view behind Jonathan. He stood straight and tall, arms crossed over his chest and his green eyes shadowed as he looked at me. Judging by the angle of the sun peeking in through the vertical blinds, and the blond whiskers on his face, it was probably late afternoon. A bruise had mostly faded from his right cheek.