Burning Emerald (12 page)
Authors: Jaime Reed
12
“A
ngie, I need to talk to you. Please call me as soon as you get thisâno matter the time. It's an emergency.”
ngie, I need to talk to you. Please call me as soon as you get thisâno matter the time. It's an emergency.”
I ended the call, climbed out of my car, and steered through the student parking lot.
For some reason, Angie had gone AWOL and I was beginning to worry, especially with everything going on. She needed to know what was happening and maybe shed some insight about Tobias.
His little visit last night wrecked my world up, making sleep a comedic impossibility. After crying, screaming, pacing the floor, and slipping a sleep aid in a mug of warm milk, I caught three hours of rest before school.
I dragged my feet to class, dreading first period. Malik, Tobias, or whatever he was calling himself today, would be there, and I had half the mind to ditch. How was I expected to carry on with life knowing what I knew? How long did he plan to walk around impersonating a dead guy? Someone was bound to suspect.
Shouldering through the crowded hall, I did a quick recap of the past month, listing all my encounters with Malik, his sudden interest in me, and the female hostility that had followed. The obsessive vibe made perfect sense now, and yet, it confused me even more.
Of all the people in the world, why did I get stuck with an incubus, a demon intent on making me his boo? How was I going to explain this to Caleb? What would his brothers think? And I wasn't going to whisper a word of this to my mother, not until I'd collected all the facts.
I entered my government class barely a second before the bell. Keeping my head down, I scurried to my desk, not sparing a glance to anyone, including Mia sitting in the row ahead of me. Not one to be ignored, she threw a ball of paper at me and mouthed the words, “You okay?”
Nodding, I dove into my backpack and pulled out my binder. Halfway through class, I worked up the courage to lift my head and look around.
No sign of Malik.
I couldn't believe my luck. I'd been spared forty minutes of tension and sideways glances. I sat back in my chair and eased into the lesson, which was marginally interesting. Anything was better than my own problems right now, even the untold corruption within the legislative branch.
I made it all the way through fourth period without incident, and saw no sign of Tobias or his alias. Maybe he'd decided to end the charade? Maybe he wanted to give me space? No. It wouldn't be that simple. Though out of sight, he remained a clear and ever-present danger, his aura weighing down my back worse than my book bag. I could feel his hot breath graze my neck as suggestive phrases infected my ears.
When I didn't see him at lunch, I enjoyed the peace among my table of outcasts. I'd barely taken a bite of my ham sandwich when I felt it, that telltale humming vibration. That zip across my spine quickly turned ominous, and I waited for the evil theme music to kick in. Not even a moment later, the vampire kid sitting across from me was shoved aside and Malik sat in his place. Spitting a catlike hiss, the boy scooted to the far end of the table.
I gawked at the scene with my mouth open, the sandwich slipping from my hand. My mind stalled for a moment, then sputtered as the image before me stared me down. He didn't carry a tray or a bagged lunch, just two hundred pounds of muscle and evident frustration.
“Thought it would be that easy, huh?” A cocky grin tugged at his lips.
“No. I know better than that.” I dropped my sandwich on my tray. “I take it your evening went well, Tobias.”
If there was any doubt of the live-action Malik costume, the quick flash of gold in his eyes removed all suspicion.
“Not as well as I hoped, but it was a decent substitute. Want to hear the details?”
“Not really. How long have you been following me?”
“Since you left your house this morning. I got bored and wanted to talk to you.”
“You know that's called stalking, which is illegal in all fifty states and all U.S. territories, right?”
Grinning, he asked, “I'm aware, but who would convict me?”
“Me and my mom's loaded Beretta,” I replied. “So could you please leave me alone, and could you give me back my underwear?” I whispered the last part, wary of the ears around us.
“Oh no. I have them framed and mounted on my wall. A motivational tool, if you will.”
“You're disgusting.” I slid my tray away, my appetite gone with the wind. “And you need to apologize to Midnight.”
“Who's Midnight?”
I nudged my head toward my disgruntled lunchmate. “The guy whose seat you took. That was rude and I don't appreciate it and neither does he. Apologize.”
Tobias looked over to the pale kid in all black who glared behind his raised collar. “Sorry, man.”
Displaying a row of prosthetic fangs, Midnight hissed again, then continued his meal.
Tobias cringed away from him and returned his attention to me. “Nice circle of friends you got here.”
“They're good people. If you don't like it, you can take your sorry butt back over to your end of the cafeteria,” I replied, doing everything to avoid making eye contact. His power source lay there, and I needed to keep my sanity. The large, dark hand that slid over mine shot that plan to hell.
His gaze met mine with a blend of remorse and longing. “I'm sorry. I promise to behave myself.”
“Too late.” Snatching my hand away, I peered around the cafeteria, noting over fifty pairs of eyes trying not to look our way. “You're causing a scene, and you coming over here is making your stock plummet.”
“Do you really think I care what any of these kids think about me? The only reason I'm in this school, this town, this hemisphere is because of you.”
“Waste of time,” I sang.
“Correction, it was a waste of time, but not anymore. I've hesitated for too long and now I'm taking the initiative. I need you, and if that means I have to walk around like this to achieve that, so be it.”
I took a moment to observe his appearance, the even brown complexion, the thin layer of waves on top of his head, the broad, slightly flat nose, and the full, sculpted lips. The resemblance was uncanny, and no one could tell the difference. But I knew, and I silently grieved for such wasted beauty and unmet potential.
“Cambions have a way to trick a person's mind into seeing what they desire most. But you
physically
transform your body.” I shook my head in awe. “So, you can turn into any person?”
physically
transform your body.” I shook my head in awe. “So, you can turn into any person?”
He bowed his head. “I can be
any
human I see, whether in person, or in photographs.”
any
human I see, whether in person, or in photographs.”
“Why bother? Can't stand the sight of yourself?”
His smile widened. “On the contrary. It's just easier to cater to a woman's specific desire, like my companion last night. She was a widow, and I appeared to her as her late husband. She thought she was dreaming, and who was I to deny her one last chance at happiness?”
“That's just it,” I whispered. “It wasn't her husband. You're playing with people's heads.”
Looking offended, he placed a hand on his chest. “I'm providing a service to lonely women, and I even let them live. What more can you ask for?”
I dragged a hand over my face and rubbed my temple. Fighting to keep my voice and temper low, I said, “Answer me this: How long do you plan to walk around like a seventeen-year-old kid? His family is going to notice something is off.”
“Surely you know how consumption works. I acquired memories that came with Malik's life energy. I can revert to those to fill in the blanks, the way he talks, his gestures, his attitude, and his family life. It isn't that difficult to play the part. After all, it fooled you.”
Not sure if I heard him right, I leaned over the table. “Wait, you're living with his family, under their roof?”
“They have a nice house and his mom's a great cookâbest apple pie I ever tasted.”
There was gumption, there was audacity, and there was Tobias's complete lack of shame. How could he just prance around posing as someone else and not feel a hint of guilt? True, I hadn't liked Malik, and that dislike was a two-way street, but he and his family didn't deserve this disrespect. Lowering my voice, I muttered, “Her son is dead, Tobias.”
He hovered closer, his face mere inches from mine. “I'm aware of that, Flower. As strange as it sounds, I don't have the heart to let her find out. She's a really sweet woman, and that kid was her pride and joy. Could be why I haven't approached you sooner.”
The distant look in his eyes stopped my snappy comeback. He seemed sincere, but that could mean anything. At the end of the day, he was still a demon, and a crafty one at that. Demons didn't feel anything, didn't have compassion. Or did they?
“How old are you anyway?” I asked.
He blinked away his little daydream to join the conversation. “Age is not really a factor for me. You could pretty much say I'm timeless.” He pressed the skin around his cheekbones and eyes. “Must be this new night cream I'm using.”
I glared at him, ready to give him a piece of my mind when a voice asked, “What language is that?”
I looked to the girl next to me. Melissa Graham's one gray eye watched me behind her face mask of curly brown hair. She was painfully shy and what little she did say seemed to come at the cost of physical comfort.
“Is that Russian?” she asked in a soft, broken voice.
I paused, confused by what she meant, but Tobias was quick on the draw and said, “Polish.”
“Oh. Cool,” she said, then buried her face in her book.
Stunned beyond words, I whipped my head in Tobias's direction. He could speak Polish? Had we been speaking in Polish the whole time? And why hadn't I noticed? For an answer, Tobias pointed a finger gun at me and winked. At least I didn't have to worry about anyone eavesdropping.
“So yeah, I was thinking, is there any chance of you moving somewhere that's like,
else
,” I said.
else
,” I said.
He examined his nails in boredom. “Nope. You intrigue me and I wanna get to know you.” He lifted his eyes to my hair. “I've been dying to ask, why do you have that red and white streakâ”
“None of your business,” I interrupted. “Why waste time pursuing someone who's already spoken for? You may have known Nadine, may have even loved her, but you don't know me. What if we did bond and you find out you can't stand me? You'll be stuck for life.”
“What's not to like about you? You're smart, witty, and cute as a button.”
His answer stopped me mid-outburst. “You think I'm cute?”
“Not in the conventional way, but yeah. Every time I see you, I have this unyielding urge to just squeeze you to death. You're so ...” He searched the ceiling for the right word. “Delectable.”
I stood up and collected my tray. “I'm going to class.”
He caught up with me in three long strides. “I didn't mean to insult you.”
“Your very presence is an insult.” I dumped my food and added my empty tray to the growing stack on top of the trash bin. When I turned to pass through the double doors, I almost ran into his chest. I scowled at his grinning face. “Why are you so bent on getting in my pants? I'm sure there's plenty of girls who are far more experienced in that department.”
“You're right, but this isn't a discussion to have here. Have dinner with me tonight.”
“No.” I kept walking.
“No?”
“Not just no, but
hell no
. I know better than to go anywhere with a demonic sociopath. What I do know about you, I don't like, and the things I don't know are probably a whole lot worse. So I'll pass.”
hell no
. I know better than to go anywhere with a demonic sociopath. What I do know about you, I don't like, and the things I don't know are probably a whole lot worse. So I'll pass.”
“Ah, come onâ”
“Dude!” I snapped before lowering my voice. “I don't know how many ways I can tell you to leave me alone. You've succeeded in creeping me out, and this is only our second conversation. During which, you've confessed to committing the following offenses.” Going into lawyer mode, I counted the charges against him on my fingers.
“Breaking and entering, personal theft, attempted murder, destruction of property, sexual assault, stalking, improper disposal of a dead body, identity fraud, and working my last good nerve. This suave routine may work on other girls, but as I said before, You. Don't. Know. Me. Have fun with those underwear, 'cause that's as close as you're ever gonna get to me.” I strolled to my English class, leaving my new shadow to his day.
Considering the kind of mischief he could cause, I knew it was a bad idea for him to be running around unattended. I just couldn't bring myself to care. Honestly, if he'd been roaming the halls incognito for this long, what was another day, or week? It's not like anyone had died since he got here.
Well, no one except Malik, of course.
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