A Touch Mortal

Chapter 30





Eden rubbed her eyes, trying to concentrate. She hadn’t slept, waited until morning to talk to the rest of the group.

Adam, Jarrod, and Libby sat in nearly the same spots they’d been in yesterday. The same silence hung over the group. This time it was Eden at the window. Standing. Even that was part of her presentation. Putting herself above them, hoping the subtle act would keep them quiet.

The temperature had dropped as the sun rose. She closed her eyes, listening to the ping of the flakes as they struck the glass, gathering as much confidence as she could muster. She could feel their stares, the tension in the room building as she stared out the window, trying to decide what to tell them. None of them knew anything about angels. What would they do if they knew the danger she’d put them in?

Finally she spun to face them.

“I went to see Kristen,” she said, standing at the end of the couch.

She stared at only Jarrod while the words came out. As expected, his mouth dropped open, a wide circle of surprise.

Libby spoke up from behind him. “Kristen? As in the one everyone warned me about? The crazy one?”

“Why?” Adam answered on cue, feigning surprise at Eden’s admission, moving the conversation along.

He’d kept Jarrod busy while she’d crept out the front door, texted to let her know when he went to bed. Waited up for her in the kitchen. She’d almost told him everything.

Almost. Instead, she’d decided on Kristen’s suggestion to get them to store in case there was a fight and they needed to heal. He’d agreed. Adam used his prior knowledge to steer the conversation today and blame things on Madeline.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were going?” He must have practiced. The hurt in his question made her pause; it seemed so genuine.

And if she told him about the Fallen, the truth about Az, it would be.

“I did what I had to do,” she said with absolute authority. To her relief, Jarrod stayed silent for once. “And it was the right thing. She heard some rumors.”

“What kind of rumors?” Adam asked. His scripted line slid into the conversation flawlessly.

“Madeline’s apparently taken offense to what I do,” Eden lied, keeping their attention on her. “She might try something. What, I can’t imagine. It might be as stupid as a fight, but she could try to take hostages.”

“What are we going to do about it?” Adam asked, filling the moment of empty space before anyone else could.

“She can’t do much. I’m not even sure she’ll try, but if she does, she’ll have numbers. Having some extra Touch will help, in case we need to heal after.” Eden turned her attention to Libby, the girl’s eyes darting back and forth between her and Adam. “Without James, we’re going to need you, Libby.”

“You’re going to dose her?!” Jarrod’s jaw dropped, putting the pieces together.

“Eden, you didn’t say anything about dosing.” Adam’s surprise was genuine.

“Libby, yes, but because of the rave, I don’t have enough to dose you all. You both are going to stop passing.”

Adam shook his head. “But that’s like making her a Screamer.”

“What’s dosing?” Libby asked, uncertain.

“I’m going to give you some of my Touch, but instead of passing it to the mortals, you’re going to hold it in. Store it.”

“Eden, she’s not ready for something like that!” Eden couldn’t look at Jarrod, kept her eyes on Libby.

“James wasn’t passing, right?” Libby asked. She turned to Jarrod. “If he could handle it, I’m sure I can.”

Eden could feel his rage building even before he spoke. “James was storing,” he said. “Not dosed. There’s a f*cking difference.”

Eden didn’t acknowledge Jarrod, kept her voice calm. “You’re new, so you’re only used to having to pass to one or two mortals a day. Adam and Jarrod have gotten used to dealing with higher levels, so they’ll be depressed but they’ll be able to handle it for a few days. Dosing isn’t the same. If you don’t spread the extra right away, the Touch hits you all at once. It’s ugly. But Jarrod’s going to help you. If you can make it through, you level out, and then it’s just a matter of holding those levels without letting more build.” Another piece of the plan fell into place, this one Adam’s suggestion. Jarrod needed Libby, something to keep him busy and occupied. “Jarrod is going to help you,” she said, suddenly forgetting her place, repeating herself.

Libby waited, her face expectant then puzzled. Eden’s eyes widened as she silently willed Adam to say something, anything. But it was Libby who spoke.

“Something’s…off,” she said, slowly. “With you two.” She pointed to Adam. “He opens his mouth before you finish talking, like he knows the next question.”

“He’s good at what we do. He knows the questions that need to be asked to cut out the bullshit,” Eden said quickly, trying to salvage what was left of the ruse.

“This is bullshit,” Jarrod said suddenly, their heads swiveling to him. “F*ck Madeline. She couldn’t have killed James. What about that, Eden?”

“I haven’t figured it out yet,” she said quietly. “But we need to be prepared for both. This is why Libby is even more important, why you are. We’ll see how she handles it and go from there.” She turned back to Libby.

“I’m in,” Libby said, her voice confident. “Are you going to keep taking the Siders, then?” She seemed to be gauging Jarrod’s reaction, though her eyes stayed focused on Eden.

“Saving Touch doesn’t affect me much, but I want to get as much as I can. Your body will use up the extra Touch if any of you get hurt.”

Adam’s shoe tapped out a nervous rhythm against the floor. “Eden, I don’t know about this. With Libby.”

“If she gets too bad, we can always stop.”

“How bad could it be?” Libby asked.

Jarrod stood, crossed the room, and slammed his door without a word.