“And what does that mean?”
I thought about it. “It means you’re not automatically going to hell when you die. You’re not cursed anymore just because of who your father was. You can choose how you want to live your life now. You’re free.”
She looked more frightened and childlike now. The girl had had no guidance except in evil.
“Caterina . . . where will you go now?”
She looked around, lost.
“You’ll come with me,” I heard, and turned to see Ginger eyeing Caterina.
The girl’s eyes got big and she shook her head. “No. Nu. I will care for myself.”
“Bollocks.” Ginger stepped closer. She pushed the hair off Caterina’s shoulder, and the girl flinched away. “I’ll never hit you. But I’ll also not put up with any lying or attitude.”
Caterina shook her head, staring down at the floor. Ginger didn’t bother with gentleness when she spoke to her. She was as frank as always, which made me think they were a good match for each other.
“How old are you?” Ginger asked.
“Thirteen.”
“I know some of the things you’ve done,” Ginger told her. “I’ve done a lot, too. But that’s all going to change now. Come on.” She held out her hand.
Caterina stared at her outstretched offering. Based on everything I’d witnessed from the girl, I couldn’t imagine her taking it. But people were full of surprises. Caterina took her hand.
“Right then,” Ginger said. She marched through our group, pulling Caterina behind her and leaving us all gaping in her wake.
“Unbelievable,” Marna whispered.
Blake grinned. “I freaking love her.” He jogged to catch up to Ginger.
I smiled up at Kaidan, who still seemed dumbstruck, and I twined my fingers with his.
I’d always considered myself a forgiving person, but when it came to Caterina it was hard to see past the evil things she’d done, and to remember she was young and badly nurtured. It was humbling to see Ginger being more open-minded than me in this matter. I thought she understood the girl’s attitude in a way the rest of us couldn’t.
It was nearly six in the morning when we made it to the room. We were dragging, and covered in a layer of dust. I couldn’t believe we’d been in this room just five short hours ago, wondering if we’d live or die.
Caterina sat in a chair with her ankles crossed and her head down, looking nervous. Ginger tapped her shoulder and handed her a cola with ice.
“No need to be scared of anyone here. They know I’ll kick their arses if they mess with you. Got it?”
Caterina nodded and stared down at her drink.
Kaidan dug a T-shirt from his bag and tossed it to Kopano. When he came out of the bathroom, he seemed uncomfortable. The shirt was tighter than anything he usually wore. I peeked at Zania, who was sitting on the floor cross-legged and staring hard at Kope. When she met my eye she tried to hold back a smile, because yeah . . . he looked really good.
“You tryin’ to show me up, man?” Blake said to Kopano, flexing his lean biceps.
Everyone laughed and Kope gave his bashful smile, dimple and all, before he took a seat on the floor next to Zania.
Kaidan sat at the end of the couch and put his arm around me. I squished close next to him, taking his hand. This was weird. It was the first time ever that we could be affectionate without worry or fear. I smiled up at him. Wow.
We were all here. Alive. And our fathers were gone from earth forever. The quiet that settled over the room told me we were all thinking that same thing. It seemed unreal.
“So, what’s it mean, Anna?” Blake asked, his eyes dropping to the supernatural badge on my chest. “They’re all white.”
“I don’t know,” I said. “I mean, I prayed that all Neph, alive or dead, would have a chance at heaven just like regular people.”
Blake nodded, then got up and walked over to the mini fridge, opening it and pulling out a couple small champagne bottles.
“Wanna celebrate?” he asked the room. I actually felt surprised when the dark urge stirred inside me and I longed to drink both those bottles and then some. Blake eyed me meaningfully. “Feel anything, Anna?”
I bit my lip and dropped my eyes, nodding. “It’s still there.”
“I could’ve told you that, mate,” Kaidan muttered, making Jay and Blake laugh.
“And I still see the bonds,” Marna said. Ginger agreed.
The auras and guardian angels were still there, too.
So our demon urges hadn’t left us—only the stain that made us damned. But we were strong. We’d proven that.
The room quieted as Blake put the drinks back in the fridge, and my mind switched gears. As much as I didn’t want to get upset, and as morbid as it may have seemed, I needed the details about what Patti had been through.
“Jay?” I said quietly. “What happened?”