Traitor (26 page)

Liam’s eyes were stern, and his jaw was fixed. His sucked in a deep breath before he spoke. “You should know better than to even think you have to preface what you’re going to say with something like that. You know I won’t tell a soul if that’s what you want.”

“I just needed to hear you say it.”

He smiled. “Fair enough. Let’s go get our schedules and then go somewhere that we can talk.”

He unbuckled and hopped out of the Jeep and crossed in front of the car. I knew he was coming to open my door. He was such a gentleman. When he opened it, I laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Just that you make me think chivalry isn’t really dead.”

“Ah, I understand. You’ve been around Reese for so long, you think we’re all a bunch of stinky, lazy bums. Easy mistake, I suppose.”

I punched him as we walked to the front doors of the school. “Hey now, he’s my friend.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Doesn’t change that he lowers the standards for the rest of us,” Liam said with a wink.

We went to the office and were given our schedules. As we compared, I noticed we only had one class together. Liam’s once beaming smile now wilted under this new revelation. “Looks like the only class I have with you in is photography.”

I tried to quickly change the subject, because Liam could dwell on something for hours if I let him. I pointed down at his schedule to third hour. “Wait, you’re taking Spanish again? I thought you hated that last year.”

Liam nodded his head in agreement. “I did. With my accent, everything sounds ridiculous in Spanish.”

We both laughed, and he took my hand as we walked down the hall to our lockers. “But I figured I’d continue sounding ridiculous if I got to see you. Looks like it was in vain.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well aren’t you the romantic one.”

“No, I just didn’t want Reese to be alone with you too much.”

Ah, so there it was. “So you’re the jealous type?”

“Maybe,” he shrugged as he said it. “But more than anything, I don’t want you out of my sight. I’ve missed you, and I’ve let you down by not being there. I love you, Ashlyn, and you need to be taken care of.”

He put his hand up before I could argue with him. “No, I know you don’t need to be ’taken care of’ like that,” he continued, putting the finger quotations around his words, “I just mean you need to know that I’m here for you, in any capacity you’ll have me.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I just nodded. I wondered if he’d feel that way if I admitted to not knowing how I felt about Reese. That was something I’d just keep under my hat to everyone.

Liam squeezed my hand and pulled me out of the reverie I was in. “You still hungry? Let’s go to Expressions. I haven’t had a good cup of coffee in a while, and they’ve got great soup.”

My stomach growled at that moment and made us both laugh. “That sounds good.”

“Do you mind if Aiden stopped by? He’s having a little bit of a rough time adjusting to not having hateful Changelings around all the time.”

“I can see how nice humans could throw him off.”

Liam laughed. “Even people with road rage throw him off.”

“Sure,” I said, my amusement clear in my voice, “I’d like to get to know him better, anyway. Plus, he can probably help.”

I watched as Liam’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Help?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Ash, don’t make him talk about Neamar. He just got freed.”

I shrugged him off. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to push him to do anything he doesn’t want to do. I just have a couple questions about things, and he might be able to help.”

Liam’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t argue. I took that as a concession that I could ask Aiden questions. Hopefully he’d be willing to help. “Let me text him and let him know to meet us there.”

***

The ’OPEN’ flag swayed gently in the breeze as we walked up to the corner door of the coffee shop. People milled about outside as two of them shared a cigarette and a group of guys I’d seen around school sat on the corner of the sidewalk, huddled around an iPhone. Their unified laughs made me think they were probably watching something on the phone. Liam playfully jumped in front of me and opened the door, mock bowing with a silly flourish. I hadn’t seen him in this high of spirits before.

I laughed at his good-natured behavior. “What’s gotten into you today?”

He shrugged. “Nothing, I’m just glad to be with you. I’m not going to take it for granted, that’s all. You want your regular coffee order?”

“Medium caramel latte with extra whipped cream, of course.”

Liam nodded and smiled before he turned and waved. “Your wish is my command, milady.”

I shook my head. This wasn’t normal for him; it seemed as if he was really trying to overcompensate for being away. He also seemed to be channeling Reese.

That was it.

He was trying to be like Reese because he thought I liked him. Right? That could be the reason. I didn’t want to ask, but part of me really felt like that was what he was doing.

I sat down by the windows that looked out onto the empty side street off of Main Street. White icicle lights draped across the tops of the windows and even though it was daylight, they remained on. A small, elevated stage stood in the back corner of small coffee house, surrounded by black leather couches and a small dark brown coffee table. Flyers for local artists and upcoming open mic nights were taped to the side wall and gave it the feel of a paper patchwork quilt. Two employees sat in the opposite corner, having a conversation with one another in hushed tones. Two old men sat in the middle of the café, engrossed in what appeared to be a grueling match of chess. It made me smile to see their faces so scrunched up in deep thought.

As I took in the comforts of this little local shop, a scarlet coffee mug was pushed in front of me. The steam curled up around the sides, escaping from under the mountain of whipped cream. I loved this place. They didn’t skimp on anything. I inhaled deeply to take in the wonderful coffee aroma, and then looked up at Liam, who’d taken the chair directly across the table from me. “Thanks, Romeo.”

He smiled and wrapped both hands around his coffee cup. “Whatever. So, what happened, and how in the world did Jamie end up back here with you?”

I took a second and looked out the big windows. Cars drove by, and the massive American flag that resided in the middle of the roundabout down the street waved lazily. These were the places where I’d grown up – my home – but for some reason, they all felt foreign after everything I’d seen. I looked around nervously. It just felt wrong to be talking about these things in public. “Look, it’s complicated. Is Aiden going to be here soon?”

Liam ran a hand through his rumpled hair. He obviously didn’t like the idea of involving Aiden, but I thought he’d understand why it made sense. He tried hard to look cheery, even with me pestering him. His smile hung from the right side of his face like a picture hung crookedly. I loved it. “I have no doubt that it’s complicated. When is anything that involves you simple? You somehow manage to make the simplest of tasks a matter of life and death without even meaning to.”

I rolled my eyes. He’d avoided the question about Aiden, but I continued on anyway. “So, you know about Dalbach.”

Liam nodded, and looked at me expectantly. I puckered my lips in frustration. Just thinking about Dalbach made me angry for some reason, even though he’d risked his life for me. “Well, he found me before I went back to Neamar. He followed me around a bit. I went and saw my dad, and – “

“Hold on a second,” Liam interjected, holding his hand up to stop me. “Your dad is dead.”

“Supposedly, yes.”

“And you say you saw him.”

“Yes. Jamie killed him, but Ankou is keeping him hostage in Neamar. He won’t let him pass over. Ankou is in charge of that.”

Liam nodded. “You’re telling me your dad is held in some limbo state in Neamar. What is that place? Purgatory? Hell?”

I shrugged. “Take your pick. It’s awful there.”

Liam nodded thoughtfully. “Well, Aiden came back. Why don’t you bring your dad back?”

The words lodged in my throat as I began to respond, but the bell on the door rang at the same time, so I was able to hide the awkwardness. Liam sighed deeply. “Speak of the devil.”

I turned to see Aiden’s lanky frame coming toward us. He looked like a model. While Liam was always in a state of casual disarray, Aiden was well-dressed and already gathering stares from the gaggle of girls in the coffee shop. His blue hoodie bore the initials of Abercrombie & Fitch, and I could see a grey t-shirt underneath. His dark wash jeans were professionally tattered, and he had cut his hair down to a spiky mess. His crooked smile broadened when he caught sight of Liam.

I watched Liam’s face light up. It was obvious he was glad to have his baby brother back.

Liam stood and gave Aiden a guy hug. “Aiden, glad you could make it,” he said as he gestured to the table. “You want anything? It’s on me.”

Aiden smiled and fist bumped his brother. “Thanks, brother. I’ll just take whatever it is you have. Smells good.”

“You got it. Just a second.” As we turned to leave, Liam gave me a warning glance and went to get in line. His head lifted and looked as though he was looking over the menus that were hand-written in neon colors, but I knew he was simply creating a façade for his eavesdropping.

We both turned back to one another, unease creeping between us. I could only imagine how awkward it must be for him. I smiled, and I hoped it looked encouraging. “Hey, Aiden. Doing okay?”

He nodded and flashed a winning smile. “Yeah, thanks. It’s just odd to be here again. With humans.”

Humans. Like he wasn’t one of us. Maybe it felt that way to him after everything he’d been through. I wasn’t sure what to say to that, and was spared by Liam placing another steaming mug on the table. “Columbian black coffee.”

Aiden nodded to his brother, but kept his eyes on me. His expression was curious. “You two looked like you were having a pretty serious conversation when I interrupted. Care to indulge me?”

My insides squirmed with excitement, but I think Liam’s were the complete opposite. His expression made me think he’d swallowed snakes.

Before Liam could say no, I plunged ahead. “Actually, we were talking about Neamar and everything.”

Aiden’s thick eyebrows scrunched together and formed one fuzzy caterpillar on his forehead. I had to fight back a laugh. At least Liam didn’t have those same bushy eyebrows. I glanced at Liam. His expression was a forced mask of neutrality. Aiden looked his way as well, but then returned to me. “I’m assuming you want to ask me questions by the look Liam has on his face.” His smile was easy and lackadaisical. All in a day’s work for someone who’d endured the hells of Neamar for so long, I guess.

Liam grunted, but I nodded and confirmed Aiden’s assumption. Aiden beckoned me onward with a wave of his hand. “Well, let’s have it, then.”

“I was just telling Liam I want to bring my dad back like I did you, but Dad doesn’t want it.”

It was Liam who answered, while Aiden leaned back against the wooden booth. “Why not?”

“He says he’s happy, and not to use this,” I pulled the necklace from under my shirt, “to bring him back.”

Liam wore his expression openly and displayed confusion. He turned to Aiden for answers. “Did she have to do that for you? You didn’t barter with anyone, did you? She just brought you back.”

It was clear Aiden knew what the necklace was, and his stare was unwavering. I coughed to break his focus from the necklace, and answered Liam. “I know.”

“So why give up a family heirloom?”

“Apparently it’s something Ankou wants. It’s cursed. Memaw did it to keep the spell she had Morgan le Fay put on him from backfiring.”

“That makes no sense.”

I nodded. “I know. Beats me how a necklace can do anything, but Memaw swears it does.” I turned my attention to Aiden, who sat cupping his mug in his hands. The coffee Liam bought him was still untouched. “Do you know anything, Aiden?”

That shook Aiden out of his shock. He pulled a hand off his mug and pointed a shaking finger at the charm that hung innocently at the end of my gold chain. “That – that – you know what that is, don’t you?”

“It holds part of Ankou’s soul.”

“No, no, it’s more than that,” Aiden said, his face drained of all color. “It’s part of the Trimulus.”

That I’d heard of. Jamie didn’t know what it was, but now it made sense: three pieces of his soul ensconced in three charms. The Trimulus. I looked at the charm harder. “Does that make it worse?”

Aiden shrugged, suddenly looking very tired. “It isn’t good. It’s part of his soul, sure, but it also gives him more power.”

Liam looked at his brother. “Aren’t those one in the same?”

“Nope,” said Aiden, finally taking a sip of his coffee. “There have been whispers that Ankou doesn’t care about the soul part, he just wants the power. He wants to get back at Emily for everything she’s done to him.”

Without a conscious thought, Aiden and I had leaned across the table toward one other and ended up inches away. His eyes were endless green forests.

Liam leaned in as well, breaking up our sudden intimacy. “And you think if you give Ankou this, he’ll give you your dad?”

I leaned back in my booth. My hands were clammy and my heart was racing. “I guess he’d have to. It’s a soul for a soul.”

Liam slipped back into a regular sitting position and sipped his coffee thoughtfully. “I wonder why you didn’t have to do anything for Aiden.”

Aiden answered for me in a dull tone. “I was alive.”

Liam’s eyes shot up to me. “And your dad – he’s dead?”

“Yeah.”

“But this necklace – that would bring him back.”

“That’s how I figure it.”

Liam nodded again and took a sip of coffee. I looked out the window once more and Aiden’s reflection sat serenely in the translucent window. It bothered me that he knew so much. I needed him to tell me everything, and it felt like Liam might not want me to push him. Maybe I could get him away from the group later tonight and ask what he knew about the Trimulus and what it really meant. I jumped when Liam spoke again.