Starbound (7 page)

“The one who was turned into a spider?” Zeke asked, interrupting.

“The one and the same, except this happened before she offended Athena. Archne had been starbound to my bloodline. She was hopelessly in love, but their love came at a price—a fatal price. Before they took the starsoul pledge, Avery, my ancestor, was with another goddess. He betrayed her with Arachne, and the scorned goddess lost her shit. The warrior princess, in her grief at catching him in the arms of Arachne, was blinded by her broken heart. She cast a spell. It didn’t matter that Arachne and Avery were starsouls. And so the curse was born—my bloodline could never love a Montgomery without them killing each other. But in a cruel twist of fate, the curse also binds our bloodlines as starsouls, so that our destiny is always the same. If Kat and I accept our fate and utter the sacred words, the curse will be activated and it would kill her. And eventually kill me.”

A starsoul could never live without his or her love. Their hearts—their lives were woven together. If one stopped beating so would the other, and their souls would follow one another into the afterlife, where they could be together forever. Every nixie knew about starbinding and how exceptional it was.

Zeke’s expression turned thoughtful as he digested the heavy information. “Does Katia know?” he asked after a moment.

I shook my head. “She doesn’t have a clue.”

“That’s just wrong. Don’t you think you owe it to her to tell her?”

“Honestly, I don’t know anymore, Zeke. I’ve spent so much time pushing her away, making her despise me…”

He could hear it in my voice, how much it tore me up inside. “Oh, man. That is one seriously messed up curse. And you are sure there is no way to break it?”

I shook my head.

“Have you ever tried?” he asked. Zeke was the kind of guy that wanted to help. If you had a problem, he would be the first in line to offer his services.

My eyes sobered. “And risk her dying. I can’t. I won’t.”

Silence stretched out between us in the nearly empty parking lot. The sun was slowly beginning to fall, just reaching the tips of the trees. It blasted rays of orange, red, and purple across the horizon.

There was nothing else left to say.

Chapter 7

Katia

“Not before you have breakfast,” Mom urged, as I was getting ready to walk out the door.

Today was the first home game of the season. Sometimes Saturday games just plain sucked, especially when I had to get up almost as early as a school day. “I don’t have time, Mom. I have a game.” And I was dragging ass.

She had her no-nonsense face on. “Katia, at least eat something, or you’ll collapse on the court.” She set a box of cereal at the table and kissed my head.

Dad winked at me from over the paper, taking a sip of his black coffee. There were sprinkles of grey at his temples in his otherwise sandy hair. The sun streaming from the bay window picked up hints of red, and a five o’clock shadow covered his chin. I took a seat next to him at the table and slammed down a bowl of Lucky Charms just to appease Mom. Dad chuckled occasionally at the comic section like a knucklehead.

I rolled my eyes.

Dad didn’t have a serious bone in his body. “So you have your first game, Sprite?” he asked, setting aside the paper.

When I was born, Mom told him that I looked like a tiny faerie sprite with my downy white hair. The nickname stuck. “Yep,” I replied, swirling my marshmallows in the bowl with my spoon.

He took a sip of his coffee. “I don’t hear the usual enthusiasm. Where’s all the rah-rah-rah?”

I sighed. “I think I am done with cheerleading,” I admitted, something I’d never thought I would say.

His brow arched. “Really? Wow, that is a surprise. I thought you loved it.”

“I do, or at least I used to. I don’t know anymore.” I heaped a spoon full of marshmallows into my mouth. Does anyone actually eat the cereal part?

Mom joined us with her own steaming mug of caffeine in her hands, warm blue eyes smiling at me. “I think you are starting to feel the pressure of being an adult. This is your last year in high school, and there are so many big decisions for you to make. It’s okay to be confused about what you want, Katia.”

She made it sound so easy, but it really wasn’t—at least not for me. “Maybe,” I conceded. “I’ve been thinking about Olivia, Zeke, and Elena a lot lately, and how we used to be friends.” I left out Seth. That would have been a big blunder.

There was a brief hesitation before she said, “I think that is a great idea.”

Under normal circumstances Mom would have jumped all over the idea of me hanging with other peers who had magick. I didn’t understand her hesitation. Wasn’t she always telling me that I needed to use my gift more? “I better go before Claudia chews me out,” I said, gathering my bowl and bringing it to the sink.

As I got up from the table, I couldn’t help noticing the look that passed between them. Something was up that they didn’t want me to know, or didn’t want me to worry about. It wasn’t the first time I had gotten that inkling.

As if I needed something else to add to my plate.

The October air was getting chilly, and my spanks just weren’t going to cut it for the short trip to school. A shiver ran through me before I even reached my car, and I turned right around and headed back inside. Taking the stairs two at a time, I ran up to my bedroom to grab a hoodie. I didn’t feel like looking fashionable and freezing to death. I’d learned that lesson the other night and was in no hurry for a repeat.

But there wasn’t time to dwell. If I didn’t blow at least one stop sign on the way to school, I was going to be late. I had my hand on the front doorknob when I heard whispering coming from the kitchen. Collins was still fast asleep, and I knew I shouldn’t eavesdrop on my parents, but…

Creeping around the corner, I suddenly wished I had supersonic hearing. Their voices were low and somber. A ribbon of unease wound itself inside my belly. Maybe I would hear something I didn’t want to know. Maybe they were getting a divorce, or maybe my grandma was terminally ill. None of these irrational conclusions were making my unease less.

Pressing my ear to the wall, I listened to see if I could pick up pieces of the conversation. “We have to tell her,” Dad said, and I assumed
her
was me.

“I know. We will soon,” Mom’s hush voice agreed.

“Before it’s too late,” Dad warned worriedly.

“I’ll talk to him.” Mom didn’t sound exactly thrilled to do so.

Who the hell is him?

God, I hated cryptic snooping. It was the pits.

I snuck out of the house feeling more confused and tangled. What was I supposed to make of that? I glanced at the clock on the dash and swore, slamming my foot on the gas. I was so going to be late for the first game, and Claudia was going to serve me my ass. Friend or not, when it came to cheering, Claudia was a hardass.

Squealing the tires on my Jetta, I pulled into the parking space cockeyed at Vermillion High. Whipping off the seatbelt, I bolted for the double doors that led to the gym.

“Where the hell have you been?” Claudia pounced as soon as she saw me.

Breathless from the run, I winced. “Sorry, Claudia. Crisis at home.”

Her olive-complexion looked amazing in red. Even when she was scowling, as she did now, she still looked good. “Don’t let it happen again, Katia. There is no special treatment just because you are my best friend.”

It was best to agree with her. I didn’t feel like arguing. “Got it.”

I took my place with the other girls gathered by the left side of the bleachers. The rows of benches were already filled with parents, classmates, and the rival team’s cheering section. Open season always brought a crowd.

The whistle blew, the ball was tossed in the air, and the squeaking of snickers filled the court. Our basketball team was state champion material. I watched as Matt setup a shot and the ball sailed through the air, swishing into the net. The other girls around me jumped up, screaming and cheering for their team. I just glared, unable to muster any enthusiasm for my ex.

Claudia gave me the death stare, and I threw her a fake grin. I was so going to get an earful after the game.

Harper poked me in the side with her arm. “What’s going on with you? Claudia looks ready to summon an evil spell on you.”

I coughed. I knew it was an offhanded comment, but it hit a little close to home, being a nixie and all. Cursing someone was a real possibility whether you meant anything by it or not. We don’t take that lightly. “Nothing. Just shit at home, and I’m totally PMSing.” That usually stopped people from asking prying questions.

Harper tossed her blonde hair into a ponytail. “Great. Two raging bitches. This ought to be a fun game.”

For some stupid reason, I scanned the stands for Seth, which was a pointless endeavor. He never came to school games, and I knew that he worked at the garage on Saturdays, but it still didn’t stop me from looking, on the off chance that he was here.

Illogical disappointment sprang inside my belly.

I was mad at him—really mad. Why should I care that he didn’t come to a stupid basketball game? Hell,
I
didn’t even want to be here. Hadn’t I just a week ago cursed Seth to seven different kinds of hell? And now I wanted to see him every chance I got?

God, what was wrong with me?

Just then the buzzer went off, announcing the end of the first quarter. Matt strutted off the court, dripping in sweat like a pig. I paid him no attention, still lost in my own argument over my mixed feelings for Seth. But when a hand slapped my butt, I was jarred back from what was starting to be a spicy memory of Seth’s lips.

Spinning around, I was ready to condemn the asshole who put his hands on me. “What the he—” I yelped, coming face-to-face with Matt, the two-face scumbucket. I gritted my teeth. “Keep your hands off me.”

“Whatever you say, toots.” He gave me a smug grin and went to the sidelines with his teammates all snickering.

Toots
? I wanted trip him and watch him kiss the court, but as I took a step forward, Claudia placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Not now. We have a routine to perform,” she all but scolded.

How could I concentrate now?

Reluctantly I put my need for revenge aside and mechanically got into formation. Later, Matt Lang was going to feel my wrath. I’d had enough of his shit, and his lies, for a lifetime.

The music started, and I tried to shut down my brain and focus on my dancing. I failed. Seeing Matt brought memories of the night I kissed Seth. Funny how I felt nothing but hatred for Matt, yet Seth…well, he made me feel feverish, annoyed, and achy. Talk about messed up.

I craved Seth’s presence, and I couldn’t ever remember my palms going damp because of a guy, if ever. Seth intrigued me, and there was no denying the air sizzled between us. Whether we were locking lips or spitting fire, there was heat.

In my distractedness, I missed a step, followed by another one. My rhythm was thrown off, and I scrambled to get back in time with the others.

“What is your deal?” Claudia hissed between her teeth next to me and still managed to keep a smile on her face for the crowd. It was sort of impressive.

“Nothing,” I mumbled, recovering the steps.

I had a feeling this was going to be a very long year. It was only nearing the end of October and already I was losing my footing.

Chapter 8

Katia

All Hallows’ Eve.

It used to my favorite holiday as kid. Still was. The circle would meet in our secret place, and we would celebrate in our own way.

It was magickal. The whole night was filled with candlelight, laughter, an eerie ambience, and the security of each other. There was the scent of spices, crushed flowers, and damp earth. The secrecy of our group, and what we could do, added to the thrill of the night and the possibility of exposure.

It was so much fun.

We were able to let go, cast spells, giggle, play games, and in general cause mayhem. I lost count of the number of pranks we pulled on All Hallows’ Eve. Zeke was in seventh heaven. I missed his infectious smile.

Out of everyone, I expected Zeke and Olivia to be the least judgmental. It was going to be Seth and Elena that got their backs up if I showed tonight. That was if they still met at the clearing in the woods, not far from the cemetery. It was a spot that radiated with natural spirits and energy. The perfect place to cast spells. It added potency to them, strengthening our magick.

All day I struggled with the decision.

Do I or don’t I try to make amends?

Do I or don’t go to the clearing?

Do I or don’t I leave myself open to getting hurt?

Nothing had changed over the last week with Seth. He still wasn’t talking to me. He still avoided eye contact. And he went out of his way to put as much distance between us as possible. It was almost as if he was afraid to be close to me. Except, I couldn’t help but feel like things were different. Something had changed between us, whether Seth liked it or not. I could sense it shimmering in the air. There was this twinkling ribbon of some unknown force pulling me to him. I didn’t know how else to explain it.

So what exactly made me think that tonight of all nights was a good time to try to reconnect broken bridges was a mystery. I not only felt a pull toward Seth, but there was also this overwhelming need, beckoning me to seek out the companions of the circle. I didn’t know why, but I felt like something big was going to happen tonight. Though, there were many other All Hallows’ Eves I’d felt the same.

As night approached, I finally made up my mind. I wanted to spend this sacred holiday with friends who understood what it meant to have power. The circle had once been a second family to me. This was as good as any time to see if the circle would let me back in—maybe at least for the night.