Chapter Nineteen
"So Valentine is some kind of big bad guy?"
"You could say that."
Sam followed me to down the school steps and into the parking lot, despite all my best efforts to ditch her.
"What are we going to do?" she asked, breathless from trying to keep up with my hurried pace.
"We aren't doing anything," I cried, turning on her. "I'm going to figure this out and you're going back to the dance."
I instantly felt bad when the expression of hurt descended on her face, but I had to stand firm. I fished in my bodice for the car key I'd stuffed there earlier in the night. I jogged down the neat row of parked cars until I found mine. I was jamming the key into the lock when Sam appeared next to me.
"Do you even know where he is?"
"No." I slammed the roof of the car with the palm of my hand. "But I can't just sit around here." I pulled open the car door and slid inside.
"I can help you." Sam caught hold of the door so I couldn't slam it shut.
"No."
"Really," she insisted. Sam leaned in so our faces were almost touching. "I found something in the book you gave me."
I sat up straight, hope blooming in the hollow of my chest. "What?"
"A dowsing pendulum. There's a page on how to make one," Sam whispered furtively and quickly surveyed the empty lot. "If it works, it could tell us where Zach is."
I leaned over to the passenger side and pushed open the door. "Get in."
We flew through the city, the car pushed to its limits as I floored the gas pedal. We roared onto the quiet, tree-lined streets of Sam's neighborhood. The porch light was off when I pulled into her driveway.
Sam unbuckled her seatbelt and shoved open the passenger door. "I'm going to run in and get the stuff we need," she whispered. "My parents should be asleep."
I watched her tiptoe up the walk and disappear through the front door. Seconds oozed by as I waited for her to reappear, drumming my fingers impatiently against the wheel. I forced myself to calm. Valentine wouldn't kill Zach. Not yet, anyway. Dead boyfriends didn't make very good bait.
Sam reappeared with a messenger bag slung over one shoulder. She had changed into jeans and a t-shirt. I was forcibly reminded that I still wore a dirt-caked prom dress and heels. Catching my expression, she held up a plastic grocery bag. "I brought you some clothes."
I smiled a thank you and crawled into the backseat to change. Sam pulled the messenger bag off her shoulder and dumped its contents onto the empty driver's seat. I yanked a t-shirt over my head and peered over the seat back to watch Sam work.
"I got this from a gift shop at the Smithsonian when I was twelve." She held up a piece of rose quartz and wrapped a piece of twine tightly around it. "It's not the elemental stone the book calls for, but it'll have to do." Sam picked up a box of Morton salt that must have come straight from her mother's kitchen cabinet and used it to fill a chipped cereal bowl.
The journal sat open on the dashboard and Sam read from it silently, her lips moving to form the unfamiliar words, as she dipped each side of the quartz into the salt.
The pageant dress lay balled up on the floor of the backseat when I finished changing into a pair of Sam's jeans. I pushed it aside with my foot and kicked off the uncomfortable heels. If I survived the night, I'd offer to pay the dry cleaning bill. Sam had even thought to stick a pair of sneakers into the bag. They were loose without socks but I thanked the gods we were close to the same size.
"What can I do?" I asked and leaned through the opening in the seats.
Sam dumped the salt out of the open window and laid the quartz gently inside the bowl, careful to hold it only by the twine. The bowl went up on the dashboard. "Do you have maps?"
I pointed to the glove compartment. "In there."
A stack of Rand McNally road maps fell onto the seat when Sam pushed open the glove compartment. She rifled through them until she found the one for LA County and unfolded the thin paper on top of her lap.
"The necklace you found is from Valentine, right?" she asked.
"Yes," I said, warily.
"Give it to me."
I handed her my purse with the necklace inside. Every cell in my body screamed for her not to touch it but I stayed quiet. Sam laid a dishtowel over her hand before reaching inside for the necklace. I forced myself not to look away when she pulled her hand out of the bag and the towel fell open to reveal a spill of glittering gems.
Sam reached for the twine and held it up so the pendulum swung in careless circles above the pendant nestled safely in the dishtowel.
"Here goes nothing," she said and took a deep breath. "In the name of the spirits that live beyond the veil, we beseech thee. Lift the shroud of darkness so the shadows may be revealed."
The pendulum spun faster. It swung in tighter and tighter circles as if caught in a whirlwind that neither of us could feel. Sam kept a white-knuckled grip on the piece of twine as the pendulum threatened to swing from her grasp. Pressure built inside the car. Force pressed down on me, squeezing any thought from my mind. Sam was screaming. I couldn't take the pain for another moment.
The pendulum stopped.
It hung over the necklace, utterly still with the cord pulled taut.
"Okay," Sam breathed. "You drive."
I climbed over the seat and Sam laid the necklace, still wrapped in the dishcloth, gently into the cup-holder. Careful not to disturb the frozen pendulum, Sam slid the map underneath it. The pendulum began to swing in a long ellipse.
"Go north," Sam said. Her eyes followed the movement of the quartz as it swung across the map.
We sped through the streets of Los Angeles. Sam broke the silence only to mumble terse instructions. The pendulum thrummed on the end of the twine. It didn't sway as the car turned but moved only in its determined circles.
The dowsing pendulum led us out of the city and onto the Santa Monica Freeway. We took the 405 southbound and I clutched the steering wheel. How far had they gone?
Sam raised a ghostly arm and pointed to the exit for Marina Del Rey. We pulled off the freeway and onto a surface street near the ocean. The marina came into view ahead of us, the Pacific horizon looming large.
Within view of the water, the pendulum swung to a stop. Sam let out the breath she'd been holding. I pulled into the marina parking lot and stopped the car. I turned off the lights, but left the engine idling. We sank into the darkness.
"I'm going in alone." My voice broke the penetrating silence like a dropped stone.
"What?" Sam sat up quickly and the map fell from her lap to curl on the floor. "You need my help."
I shook my head. "Walking in there is a death sentence. No dice."
"You're going."
I blew breath hard out of my nose. "I don't have a choice." I grabbed her hands so hard that she jumped. "Go home, Sam. Call Bobby, apologize for ditching him and then go to bed." I stared out the window. Nothing moved in the swirling darkness but I knew Valentine was out there somewhere. "Hopefully, you hear from me tomorrow."
"So, I'm not good enough for backup?" Sam crossed her arms and a stubborn expression descended on her face. "You wouldn't have even found them if it wasn't for me."
"Zach is already gone." My voice broke and I took a deep breath. "I may not be able to save him. I can't risk something happening to you, too."
Sam stared out the windshield and there was a long moment of silence. "You can't ask me to let you do this alone," she said finally.
"You have to trust me." I pulled the keys out of the ignition and pressed them into her palm. "Please," I whispered.
I climbed out of the car. Sam's last whispered words floated out as I shut the door.
"Good luck."
An unnatural fog descended as I walked toward the marina. I didn't know what to expect, for Valentine to jump from around a corner and yell "boo", or to see Zach's limp body twisting in the wind from the high-tension power lines.
There was nothing but quiet.
&nbs
p; Doubt surfaced as I scanned the boats bobbing gently on the water. Sam was brand new to magic and I'd trusted her with Zach's life. What was I thinking? I looked back, but dense fog obscured my view. I prayed Sam followed my advice and returned home, but it was impossible to be sure. I listened for the familiar rumble of the Toyota and only silence greeted me.
The air tasted sharp and salty. Buoys dinged against loose moorings and I searched the darkness for any signs of movement.
"Don't hide from me, damn you." I screamed the words. "Show yourself."
Did I hear a laugh or was it just the wind whistling off the sea?
I shivered.
Water splashing against the wood of the docks. The marina was suddenly illuminated as a full moon appeared from behind the heavy cloud cover. Figures coalesced out of the darkness at the end of the pier.
Valentine stood at the end of the dock, flanked by two men I didn't recognize. There wasn't any sign of Zach. They gave no reaction as I approached, though I knew they saw me. The slow rise and fall of the ocean waves beyond only highlighted their unnatural stillness.
Ignoring the intense thudding of my heart, I marched towards them. "Where is he?"
Valentine's teeth glinted in the meager light as he smiled. "We thought you'd never make it."
"No games, where's Zach?" Valentine seemed to want to talk, but the potential for violence was still there, simmering underneath the surface. Like a coiled viper waiting to strike.
"The little human boy?" His voice made a mockery of the question. "He's alive, for now. Would you like to keep him that way?"
"What do you want?" My voice was barely a whisper.
"It isn't about what I want." The velvet of his voice tickled along my skin. "But about what you want—what you really want." He strode forward and circled me slowly like a desert vulture sensing easy pickings.
I stood my ground, following him with my eyes. "And what is that?"
"It can't possibly be this." His face was suddenly inches from mine, sharp teeth bared. "All of the gifts that I've given you. The rage. The power. And you toss it all away." His voice was a hiss. "Tell me why."
"I'm not like you." I spat the words into his face. My anger momentarily overcame my fear of him.
"Oh, no?" Valentine merely smiled and gestured with one hand. "Perhaps we should test your resolve."
My gaze followed the languid sweep of his arm. Cynthie appeared from the shadows, still wearing her dress from the dance. A triumphant smile twisted the corners of her lips.
"Am I late for the party?" Her voice struck me like acid rain.
"Cynthie," I said carefully. "What are you doing here?"
She laughed and the harsh sound made me flinch. "I'm taking what's mine."
"Whatever he's told you—you can't listen to it. Don't let him trick you."
Her smile vanished. "Arrogance really is the only Wayward trait you inherited." Anger crept into her voice and built into a white-hot fury. "Seventh-born of the seventh-born and nothing to show for it. You don't deserve the privilege or the power. I'm everything you should be." Her expression turned sultry. "Valentine knows how strong I can be."
I looked from one of them to the other. Valentine stood like a proud father on his daughter's first day of school. Cynthie's gaze was adoring as she regarded him. Sick comprehension slowly dawned. "How long have you been working together?"
"How do you think I found you in the first place?" Her voice dripped with disdain.
"Why?" I whispered.
"Revenge." She glared at me. "He stopped me before, but I'm finally going to finish this." She advanced on me.
Valentine cleared his throat and her face immediately softened. She floated closer to him and he reached out to brush his fingers lightly down her cheek. "Did you remember our guest?" he asked.
Cynthie made sure I was watching as she stalked into the shadows. She dragged a bound figure into view and pushed him onto the docks at Valentine's feet. In the darkness, I could only see his back heave harshly with each breath. A rag covered his mouth and tied at the back of his head to gag him. He seemed overly small, huddled there on the ground.
"Zach." I started forward.
Cynthie pulled a knife and I stopped in my tracks. She waggled it slowly from side to side. "Not so fast."
I watched in horror as she lowered the point of the knife so it hovered inches above Zach's neck. With aching slowness, she slid the blade underneath the cloth of the gag. Zach's eyes widened but his shouts were muffled as he yelled against the fabric. I gasped when she wrenched the knife away and the gag fluttered lightly to the ground.
"What are you doing?" Zach's voice was hoarse but it wavered only slightly as he looked from Valentine to Cynthie. "Who are you?"
Cynthie slid the point of the knife up the small of Zach's back, not quite hard enough to break the skin. "A nightmare."
He began to struggle, pulling at the bonds that tied his arms and feet. He slammed his head forward and landed a solid blow in the bend of her elbow. Cynthie reared back and the knife flew out of her hand, landing in the shadows with a clatter. She turned on him with a snarl.
Before I could react, Valentine laid his hand on the top of Zach's head and whispered, "Calm."
Zach's body relaxed and he stopped struggling against the ropes. His head lolled forward and only his chest moved with each slow breath.
"Zach." I rushed forward, heedless of the consequences, and sank to my knees in front of him. I cupped his face with my hands and tilted his head until our eyes met. "Zach, are you okay?"
His eyes were unfocused and he stared at a point over my shoulder. A beatific smile spread across his face. "You're so pretty."
I glared up at Valentine, who stood mere inches away. "What did you do to him?"
"You care for this human boy?" Valentine circled us slowly. He moved like a caged tiger, slapping its tail against the prison bars. Valentine grabbed a handful of Zach's hair and wrenched his head back. Zach giggled.
"This is a toy. A plaything," Valentine's voice was a snake's hiss. "Useful for a time and easily discarded." He shoved Zach away.
Zach landed face first on the ground. He rolled over onto his back and stared at the sky. "Stars are pretty," he said in wonder.
"Remember what you are." Valentine stood behind me and his whisper sent tingles shooting down my spine. "Remember what you can do."
"I'm not like you." I meant the words to be firm but my voice spoke in a whisper.
"You were once. You could be again." His fingertips stroked down the bare skin of my upper back. "Do you remember what it feels like?"
The fire in me stoked higher and higher until I could feel the burn rush through my veins, desperate to be released. I clenched my fists and forced it back down. I tucked the power away into the dark place inside of me I had to forget existed.
"No," I said, stronger this time. I pulled away and faced him. "You don't have anything I want."
"Oh no," he smirked. "Do you know what I want, Hex?"
My heart stuttered at the sound of my name on his lips. I had forgotten the sound. I pushed the feeling away. "To take over the world?" I asked sarcastically.
"Not so grand as all that." He smiled softly. "I want a small piece of this world to call my own. A haven."
His words struck me the way he intended. I took a deep breath and ignored the pang of longing. "You could just take it."
He shook his head slowly. "There will always be challengers. Those who wish to prove themselves against me. I can't keep them away forever. I need you."
I fought against the tidal wave that threatened to engulf my will. "No."
"Just imagine it." His voice was like silk, weaving a spider's web of my already tangled thoughts. "You could live in peace. No looking over your shoulder for old enemies. No desperate flights in the middle of the night. No fear. A home."
"Like little house on the prairie?" Bravado was the only defense I had against him. I squared my shoulders. "What about her?"
I gestured to Cynthie, who stood half-hidden in the shadows, her expression sullen. "Is she part of this fairy-tale, too?"
"Like calls to like." Valentine raised his arm and she came to stand next to him. She stepped over Zach who still lay on the ground marveling at the stars.
"I'm nothing like her." I said. Cynthie glared at me and my expression was just as unfriendly.
"Your power shines like a signal fire." Valentine lifted my chin with the tips of his fingers. I couldn't force myself to pull away. His eyes held the weight of the universe and I was falling. "Learn to harness it, and you will be the most powerful being this world has ever known."
His gaze didn't leave mine. Tears slid silently down my cheeks, their salt stinging my lips. "I don't want it."
"You do."
One moment, I stood on the docks and stared into the face that haunted my nightmares. Phantom hands pushed me down, forcing me into the sea of his eyes. And then I was underwater and drowning. I tried to fight, but there was no air to breathe. I choked as my lungs filled. There was no hope that I would ever see the surface again.
It was useless to struggle. Pain pierced me like a thousand swords. The only way to stop it was to give in, let the current carry me away.