You should teach her a lesson.
My eyes narrowed as I watched her walk. It would take only one hit to send her slamming into the lockers. Paint would spill everywhere. But I could probably get out of there before anyone knew it had been me.
“Grace!”
I whirled at the sound of my name. April came bounding down the hall. I glanced back at Katie. It was too late now to do anything.
“Grace,” April said. “Holy crap, you will never believe who just texted me.”
I looked back at her.
She shook in that cocker-spaniel way of hers, but the look on her face told me it wasn’t out of excitement. It was enough to push all thoughts of Katie out of my mind.
“Who?”
She grabbed my arm and leaned in close. “Jude,” she whispered. “Or at least I think it was. The number’s blocked, but it has to be him.”
She held out her bright pink cell phone. She’d glued little white gems in the shape of the letter A on the back. My hand shook as I took it from her and read the text: Tell her to stay away. Time’s running out. She’s right where they want her.
“Is this it?” I asked. “Nothing else?” If he was going to bother to send messages, why the hell was he being so cryptic? It was almost like he wasn’t fully conscious or something.
“That’s all,” April said. “But it’s him, right?”
“Yes. I think so.” Who else would send this text?
“But what does it mean?”
“It means we’re on the right track.” I tossed April her phone, and we headed straight for the bus. If Jude was telling me to stay away, then it meant I was getting close. Had he seen me at the club last night? Did he know Talbot had tracked a couple of the Shadow Kings—assuming he had? I needed to get to Talbot, now.
The only problem was that just before the bus pulled away from the school, Gabriel climbed on board and announced that he was going to be our chaperone for the day. This was the first time since the project began that he’d actually come along with us. I’d wondered if he had an aversion to the city, but Daniel said it was because Gabriel wanted to work with the first group for the first week, and then with the second group for the last week. But why did he have to choose today of all days to come along? I needed to find a way to leave with Talbot without Gabriel sniffing him out.
Gabriel stood at the front of the bus and we drove toward the rec center in Apple Valley. He launched into some speech about today’s assignment that sounded more like a sermon. I pulled out my cell phone, switched it to silent, and texted Talbot.
Me: 911! Jude texted April!
Talbot responded immediately: ?! What did he say?
I repeated Jude’s text to him, then added: I think we’re on the right track. What did you find last night?
Talbot: I’ll show you when you get here. I have a surprise for you.
Me: Problem. Gabriel’s on the bus.
Talbot: Sh**
Me: Meet me on the other side of the building. I’ll slip away.
Talbot: Sounds good.
Me: So what’s my surprise?
Talbot: You’ll see …
And then, ten seconds later: Bring your stake.
I was still riffling through my backpack when the bus pulled into the Apple Valley rec center parking lot.
“Crap,” I said under my breath.
“What’re you looking for?” April asked.
“My stake,” I whispered, and glanced at Gabriel as he got off the bus. “I swear I left it in my bag on Friday. But I can’t find it anywhere.”
“Um …” April unzipped her bag and stuck her hand inside. “Okay, don’t get mad.” She pulled out my stake—or at least something that looked like my stake, only the hilt of it was now covered in bright blue crystals and diamond-like gems.
“You Bedazzled my stake?”
“Um … Surprise,” April said. “Just because you’re hunting nasty stuff doesn’t mean you can’t do it in style.”
LATER