The Lost Girl (22 page)

“But first … you have to catch me, hag,” he whispered with malice, then disappeared swiftly, completely out of sight.

“No! No!”
I shouted, overwhelmed by a fury so strong it rattled my core and made my soul reverberate with violence.

He threatened your boys! Are you going to do nothing? Are you going to just stand there and let him take them?

Rattling and chains was all I could hear.

“NO!”
I stomped my foot in rage. The impact was so strong that it boomed for many feet around me, shaking trees and houses and making the asphalt crack as if it had been hit by a bomb. A small crater formed where I had stomped.

My hair whipped around my face, overpowered by the fierce wind, and I tried hard to control my temper. I felt like a lightning bolt had just run through me. I was breathing heavily, but I couldn’t stop to rest. I had to get back home. I had to get there before Nick. I had to get to my boys before he did …

“Come on, come on, come
ON
,” I urged myself, speeding as fast as the car would take me.

Mr. Skittles tried to gain purchase on the passenger seat, looking slightly terrified as he bounced back and forth. My mind was completely focused on getting back home as fast as possible, but every now and then, for a fleeting heartbeat, my mind flashed with terrifying thoughts of Nick’s furious jaws biting one of the boys. I tried to push the images to the back of my head.

Why couldn’t I get a grip on these powers, already? Why were they so hard to tame? Every time something triggered them, they flooded out of me uncontrollably. It was like trying to stop water spilling from a broken dam, or fire from burning dry straw. When unleashed, the powers were too potent to be contained. How on earth did Vigil do it? I had almost blown up the entire block back there. If only I could have focused some of my angry energy on Nick instead of everything else surrounding me.

And what about now? If only I knew how to use Vigil’s teletransportation powers to beam myself instantly into
the house. Bam, problem solved! No need to worry about getting back in time, about being too late to save anyone, about being this useless, pathetic waste of space …

But I didn’t know how to make light spells or protection wards. I didn’t know how that glass ball worked. I didn’t know a goddamned thing. If I hadn’t been so conceited as to think I could handle everything on my own, I wouldn’t have gotten myself into this mess in the first place. I screamed aloud in frustration, the thought of getting there too late tormenting me more and more every passing second.

As soon as I reached the house, I bolted to the door, jamming the key into the lock and then running inside. I looked around frantically, but there was no one there.
Please don’t let it be too late.

Then I heard chatter drifting from the backyard; I ran to the back door and my body sagged in relief when I saw the boys, Celeste and Vigil, all standing in the middle of the garden, safe and sound, talking like they were at a freaking party.

“What the hell, people?” I shouted, making everybody jump, startling them with my sudden arrival. “Everybody get inside, right now! What do you thinking you’re doing? It’s night-time, dark, and you’re all hanging around, waiting to be eaten alive.”

Everybody stared at me, alarmed, suddenly realizing what a big mistake it was to be out in the open like that, and they all mumbled their apologies before shuffling inside the house. Celeste ventured to my side, giving me an apologetic smile, just as Mr. Skittles appeared by my foot, meowing happily.

“Mr. Skittles! You got him!” Celeste exclaimed, picking him up in her arms and patting his head lovingly. Then she
glanced at my shoulder and noticed my ripped shirt. “Oh God, did he do this to you? He can be … temperamental sometimes.”

“Huh? Ah, no. That wasn’t Mr. Skittles. That was Nick. He paid me a quick visit on the way here. Almost made me crash the car. Tried to rip my head off and then threatened to kidnap and slice the boys up piece by piece until I give him his things back. Charming, right?” I walked into the living room and stood facing the boys all gathered there. “Is everyone all right?”

They all looked at me sheepishly and nodded in unison. I let out a heavy sigh of relief and slumped down on the couch. I was so tired.

“Okay, now, listen up. Nobody leaves the house during night hours. That thing is serious about hurting you,” I said, indicating my ripped shirt, which made them all flinch. “If you leave during the day and can’t get back before dusk, it’s best to stay away from here. Celeste, Vigil and I are trying to fix this as quickly as we can, but until then, leave all lights on in the house.” I looked around and realized that the house was already all lit up.

“Where’s Tristan?” I asked, suddenly feeling my heart pounding in my chest. The boys all went very quiet at the mention of Tristan’s name. Seth came to sit beside me, placing a hand on my leg.

“I talked to Tristan this morning and he told me about you and him … breaking up. He didn’t want to say what happened. I tried to talk to him, but he wasn’t listening. He looked like hell. As soon as he got up he told me about you guys, then packed up a few things and left.” Seth looked lost, like a little kid who’d just found out his parents were splitting up.

“He … left?” I asked in a small voice. Of course he had. What did I expect? I was the one forcing him to do this in the first place. But hearing Seth saying those words … it made my stomach drop. He was leaving me. No. He had already left. I felt like someone had just punched me flat in the chest.

“Yeah, I mean … he said he needed to think things over, I don’t know. I’m sure if you guys just talk …” There was a hint of hope in his voice.

“Does this mean we’re breaking up the band?” Harry asked.

“No, of course not! This has nothing to do with you guys or the band. The band is fine. This is between me and Tristan, all right? It’s something Tristan and I need to work out,” I said, raking my hand through my hair. It was hard to think as I was so exhausted. “Guys, I understand you are all upset. Tristan is your best friend; I know you care about him a lot.”

“You are our best friend too,” Seth said, putting his hand over mine and squeezing it reassuringly. “If you need us, we’re here, okay? We want you to know that.”

“Thanks, guys. I know,” I said.

They all nodded and Josh and Sammy even came to give me a tight hug before they each drifted away to do something in the house, leaving me alone with Vigil on the couch. Celeste excused herself and went to the kitchen to make us a cup of tea.

“How are you, Joe?” Vigil asked with an intent stare.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you really? You don’t sound fine,” he said, still looking deeply into my eyes. He also looked very tired, I noticed.

I sighed. “I-I don’t know how I am, Vigil. Honestly. I haven’t got time to stop and think about anything,” I confessed, rubbing my face. “Everything is such a mess …”

“Yes, I know what you mean,” he said softly. “We will fix this soon, Joey. Keep holding on and stay calm and you’ll be fine,” he instructed, but his voice wavered with uncertainty, despite his attempt to show confidence.

Once Celeste returned, I left them drinking tea in the living room, and went to look for Harry. When I found him in his room he looked so crestfallen about my fight with Tristan that I wanted to reassure him everything was going to be fine and that he shouldn’t worry.

He beckoned me inside and I sat down on his bed, watching him pick through the mess of scattered clothes around the room, a can of beer in his hand.

“Harry … you shouldn’t be drinking now,” I said, perhaps a bit too harshly.

He frowned, glancing at the can. “It’s just one can of beer, Joey,” he mumbled uncomfortably.

“I know, Harry. But it’s dangerous to let your guard down, with that thing out there waiting to get us.” I thought about evil Nick and his sharp yellow teeth. An intoxicated boy wouldn’t stand a chance against that creature.

“I know you’re drinking because you’re upset over my fight with Tristan.” I looked closely at him and only then saw how much sadness his eyes held. I didn’t even need my empathy-sight. Harry was suffering, and I had been so worried about my own problems that I hadn’t stopped to see what was going on with my best friend. He was in pain and I was causing it with my careless actions. I was hurting Tristan; I was hurting everybody.

I was so ridden with guilt I could barely look him in the eye. “I’m so sorry, Harry. I promise I’ll sort through all this mess and make things right again … for everybody,” I said quietly, trying to steady my heart. Seeing Harry suffering was one of the worst things in the world.

“Are you guys really breaking up?” he whispered, sitting down next to me, his eyes brimming a little. He must have noticed the pained look on my face.

“We just need to figure some things out, Harry,” I said, leaning in and wrapping my arms tightly around him, hoping that I could pass him some comfort, some relief from his worries. “But everything will be all right. You don’t need to worry; we’ll work things out.”

He rested his head on my shoulder and let out a deep sigh. “I’m sorry. I was supposed to be the one comforting you here. But your fight with Tristan made me think of my own messed-up life and my head just got all tangled up …”

“What messed-up life, Harry?”

He smiled sadly. “It’s been a little hard … after my break-up with Jackie. I’m still bummed about it, I guess,” he murmured.

“It’s okay to be upset, Harry. But you will find someone good for you, you’ll see. Jackie doesn’t deserve you if she gave up on you that easily. You deserve someone better.”

He made a face, like he didn’t quite believe me.

I knelt in front of him and cupped his pale face, making him look at me. “Harry, you are an extraordinary guy. I’m telling you, you deserve someone truly amazing at your side, an extraordinary girl to measure up to
you
. And believe me when I say you
will
find this girl. I have the most absolute certainty in that. Anyone that spends five
minutes with you can see how incredible you are,” I said with total conviction.

“Not
anyone
,” he mumbled, and I knew he was referring to Jackie.

“Jackie wouldn’t know extraordinary if it slapped her in the face,” I retorted, annoyed. “If Jackie can’t see it, that’s her narrow-minded, stupid fault. It’s her problem, not yours. Don’t ever let this be your issue. It’s hers and hers alone,” I said firmly.

“I know,
I know
,” Harry said, looking at me.

I put my hand over his heart. “But you have to realize, Harry, that there are people in your life that will never leave you. Seth will never leave you. Josh, Sammy and Tristan. Your sister, your mom.
Me.
And you will find a girl who will love you more than anything in the world. You have to trust me on this. I’m a witch. I know these things,” I said in an eerie voice.

He forced a laugh. “I totally believe you when you say things in that voice …”

“You better believe it, Harry. I’m being absolutely serious.”

He nodded and stared at the floor. He didn’t look as tired as he had a moment ago. It seemed like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

“Thank you for talking to me; you’ve really helped, Joey. You’re the best.” He gave me another hug. Then he stood up, grabbed my hands and pulled me up too. I pushed myself up at the same time and ended up stumbling forward, landing against his chest. He laughed at me and my clumsiness, his face really close to mine.

“You’re always doing this,” he mused. “I pull and you push at the same time. Do you remember that first party
at Sagan? On my secret terrace? You did the exact same thing!” His face broke into a smile. He was still holding me tightly against him.

“I thought you were making a move on me that night,” I said, chuckling.

“I wasn’t. I was trying to move your chubby ass off the floor! But when you crashed into me like that … I did really want to kiss you,” he confessed.

My brows arched, surprised. “Why didn’t you?”

He chuckled, but still didn’t let go. “You looked so guilty, like you’d been caught cheating. I thought it was because you already had a boyfriend. I didn’t know you and Tristan had a thing back then …” he said, and smiled, like he had just heard an old familiar joke. He spun me around and tilted me backwards, with his arm cradled under my back for support. “It would have been an awesome kiss, though.” He smirked and tilted me some more, teasingly, making me hold on to him firmly so I wouldn’t fall back onto the floor. His face was really close. I closed the remaining inches and gave him a quick peck on the lips. When I pulled away, he was smiling softly at me.

“See? There you have it. It’s just a kiss. Nothing much,” I said, chuckling.

“Yeah. I guess so.” He gave me a sideways smile.

We locked eyes then, and this eerie silence surrounded us, as if the world was watching for some really important moment to happen. This time he was the one who leaned in, deliberately slowly so I would have time to pull away if I wanted to.

My eyes were lost deep inside the emerald pools of his eyes. His lips brushed softly over mine, delicate and sweet.

And then he kissed me.

But it was nothing like the brotherly peck of a second ago. This was not a kiss of a brother. It stirred things I had buried deep down and forgotten about. Little jolts of electricity ran through me, making my pulse quicken. His tongue found mine and his taste was so sweet yet tinged with sadness. I wondered if he could taste my fear.

Fear that this could destroy us, destroy what we’d had for such a long time, break our friendship into pieces. Fear that I had nothing to offer him, because my heart belonged to someone else.

He deserved so much more. He deserved someone who could give him everything. He deserved a full heart of his own. But all I could give him was my friendship, my everlasting, undying friendship. That was all I could offer him. Nothing more.

I wondered if he could taste my sorrow.