Chapter 10
(Alex)
I could hear her flipping out as she searched for my pulse. Sharp breathes. Humming skin. Part of me wished I was dead and this was all over. She could go on living her life, happy and free. But then, so could my father.
I forced my eyes open, meeting hers, beautiful and wildly insane. The first thing that came to my mind was to pull her down and kiss her. Which was stupid. But that was what she did to me. She made me crazy and out of control. But after a life controlled by my father, feeling insane and out-of-control was kind of a good thing.
But now wasn t the time.
Am I dead?
I joked because it was obvious I wasn t.
Her face was pale.
No, you re not dead. You can t be dead without me.
I sat up, rubbing my head, and it felt like it d been squeezed by vise grips.
You think that s how we re supposed to go? Together?
She nodded.
But not because of the vision. Nicholas told me something about us.
I pulled a face at the mention of the stupid faerie. I hated Nicholas. Not just because he was obnoxious or a pain in the ass, but because of how he looked at Gemma, like he would rip her clothes off at the first chance he got. Too bad for him he was dead.
Wait a minute!
I said.
I thought he was dead?
He is.
She sighed, raising her hand, showing me the ring her father gave her.
I can see ghosts now. Well, just two ghost Nicholas and my mother.
I gave her a funny look.
You re mother & but that would mean &
She died,
she breathed it softly and put on a brave face I could easily see through.
I tightened my hands to fists.
My father killed her.
She shook her head, her dark hair falling in her face.
No, she did it to herself. To protect me.
I reached for her, wanting to comforter her, but she leaned back.
Is that why you came back here?
she asked.
To find Aislin?
I eyed her over and she squirmed.
Yeah, I needed a witch to travel so I made a bargain. I said I d get Aislin to help her if she took me where I needed to go.
A bargain where you had to die?
She met my eyes.
Well, that was stupid.
Yeah, pretty stupid.
My eyebrows dipped down.
But apparently I can t die? At least according to the faerie.
He said we re a packaged deal.
She pressed her lips together.
If one goes, than the other goes too.
I opened my mouth to speak, but something crashed into the front door, making the whole house rock. I was on my feet in a matter of seconds, pulling her up like she was air.
We need to go, before the wrong person shows up.
What about Laylen?
She tugged back.
And Aislin and Aleesa.
They re on their own now.
I started for the back door, but she didn t move. She was stronger than she used to be I could feel it through her grip. And I d be lying if I said it didn t turn me on a little.
But they could do things harm others.
I know,
I said.
But what can we do? The only person I know who can remove the mark is Aislin. And if she s one of them, I don t think she s going to be very into taking off the mark.
She bit at her bottom lip and frowned.
I guess & but my mom and Nicholas are going to be looking for me here.
Gemma,
I said, her refusal to move frustrating me.
They ll have to find us. I mean if we stay here, my father will show up. You know he will, if he s got to Aislin or Laylen.
She finally nodded.
But we have to find a way to save them, before they end up doing something they ll regret.
They probably already had, but I wasn t going to share that with her. Then she d want to go on a saving crusade. So we disappeared into the pitch black night, fires burning in the streets, the moon a large orb that reflected against her pale skin.
Is this far enough away?
I asked as we approached the end of the snowy driveway.
I think so,
she said and then shut her eyes.
Where should I take us?
A safe place.
Then, even though I knew I shouldn t, I wrapped one arm around her waist pulling her close to me. Her smile murmured through me, but she pressed it back, trying to appear cool.
Then snow spun around us and she took us away.