Entwined (18 page)

Then he does something strange – he rubs his cheek against mine like a cat and buries his head in the crook of my neck, inhaling my skin. I’m hit with a sharp sense of his impatience. He wants to get me out of this crowded room and take me somewhere private, but something is restraining him. A sense of propriety? Nope, this boy doesn’t have a proper bone in his body.

It’s hard to concentrate on his thoughts when my own thoughts are running wild. I don’t know what I want. I’m a little scared to be alone with Thuli, because I know he has absolutely no qualms about doing inappropriate things in his parents’ house. My gaze slides to Wiki. He’s getting up and walking towards the door. Something in Thuli’s head shifts. He’s thrilled, almost exultant, and now the wall of restraint has collapsed.

“It’s loud in here,” he says. “Let’s go talk somewhere else.” There’s a sense of urgency in his voice and his manner, as if he has to get me out of there before… before what? Before Lebz sees us and comes to snatch me away?

I abandon my food and let him lead me through the throng of bodies dancing in the middle of the room. We go down the corridor, away from the light and noise, into the darkness, up the stairs. I feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, wondering what kind of world I’m about to step into.

He pushes open a door, steers me inside and closes it. It’s a huge room with a huge bed. There are other things in it as well – a desk, a bookshelf, posters on the wall. But I’m not paying attention to those things because the bed fills my thoughts, and my chest, and my throat… and I can’t breathe.

I gasp. “Um, Thuli? I…”

I hear the key turn in the lock. Oh, no. I whirl around to face him, and this time if I didn’t know better I would swear he really
is
a vampire, because the look is his eyes is so intense that he can’t possibly want to do anything other than eat me alive.

“Connie.”

“Yes?” I try to remember what Lebz has told me about this sort of thing. Maybe he’ll stick to what books would call light petting, what Lebz calls “nothing major”.

But Thuli isn’t interested in nothing major. He advances towards me and pulls me against him. “I’ve never met anyone like you,” he tells me, in a tone that makes it clear that I should be flattered, then he kisses me with unmistakeable intent.

I find myself winding my arms around his neck. Lebz warned me. I scoffed. The idea of biology overcoming common sense seemed ridiculous. Well, it doesn’t seem ridiculous any more.

The kiss stops suddenly as he pulls away and studies my face. “What is it about you?” he whispers, almost to himself. “I have to find out.”

Then he’s kissing me again, and his hands are sliding under my shirt.

I pull away. “Thuli, wait.”

“No.” He pushes me towards the bed. I don’t know when he became so strong – the gentle, gliding movements are gone, replaced by brute force.

I’m so confused. I want this. I’ve wanted it for three years, haven’t I? Or something like it, something gentler. I should stop him. Shouldn’t I? I don’t know. He’s heavy, I realise once he’s on top of me. He shouldn’t be heavy, he’s not that big, but he feels like a truck. His thoughts are spinning. He’s almost frantic with curiosity, with a desire to see, to know… what?

“Thuli, please don’t.”

He laughs softly against my neck. “Tell me, Connie. Right now.”

“Tell you what?” My God, he’s crazy!

“Tell me what he’s like. I know you’re alike. You have the same… energy.”

“What are you taking about?” I try to push him off, but he’s not having it.

“Don’t fight me.” He licks my ear. It feels horrible. “Tell me what makes him burn like that when he’s around you. He worships you.” He lifts my shirt and gazes at my stomach. “You have really nice skin.”

“Get off me. Now!”

He smiles and grabs my legs, wrapping them around his waist. It’s crazy how strong he is. I feel deceived, as if he’s been pretending to be a dancer when he’s really a wrestler. He buries his face in my hair and groans. “That light he gets in his eyes. I’ve never seen anything like it. Do you get it, too? Show me.”

My body freezes up. Oh my God. He knows about Rakwena.

Thuli raises his head so it’s right above mine. “Tell me what I’m thinking, baby,” he whispers. “I know you know. Tell me step by step and then we can make it happen.”

In that moment everything Rakwena said comes rushing back to me. Thuli was never interested in me. The only reason I’m here is because I’m gifted. He knows Rakwena would only hang out with another freak, and the idea of a freak excites him.

I feel sick. How could I be so stupid? As I’m lying there, I finally take in the posters on the wall. Monsters, mythical creatures, half-men half-beast. My eyes roll around to the bookshelf. I can see some of the titles. They’re books on the supernatural. Thuli isn’t just a rich kid with a bad attitude. He’s a bloody freak hunter.

“Baby, stop fighting. You can trust me, I promise.” His voice is pleading, plaintive. His hands are working on Rita’s sexy jeans, trying to get the button open. “You have no idea how much I need this.”

I kick him wildly, lashing out with all four limbs until I finally hear him yelp and he rolls off me. I don’t waste any time. I leap off the bed, unlock the door, fling it open and bolt. While in the corridor I stop for a second to button up my jeans, then I keep running, trying to retrace my steps through the huge house.

“Connie! Wait, baby, please wait!”

I run faster, flinging myself down the stairs.

“Connie!”

I bolt through the dimly lit corridor, and then I get confused. Which way is the party? Left, right? The place is so damn big and my head is swimming with the images on those stupid posters and I can still feel Thuli’s disgusting hands on my skin…

I hear footsteps approaching and I start running blindly through the house. The footsteps are getting closer. I fling open the first door I see and dash inside. It’s a bathroom. Before I can close and lock the door behind me a foot jams into the space between the door and the doorpost.

“Get away from me!” I scream. “If you touch me again I’ll kill you!”

“Connie, it’s me!” Rakwena forces his way into the bathroom.

“Oh, thank God!” I throw myself into his arms, weak with relief. “I thought you were Thuli. He’s crazy, Rakwena, he’s after us both! He thinks… he thinks…”

He leans against the door, pushing it shut, and holds me close. “It’sOK, you’re safe now. What the hell did he do to you? Did he hurt you?” I feel the sparks rising through his skin.

“No, I’m OK.” But I’m not. The fear and panic has subsided, but a wave of humiliation washes over me. How could I be so stupid? I’m supposed to be a telepath! I was so wrapped up in the fact that Thuli wanted me that it never occurred to me to wonder why. The tears come in a rush, huge, rolling sobs, like a toddler in a supermarket. I’m embarrassed and furious, but I can’t stop myself.

“Connie,” Rakwena whispers into my hair. “Don’t cry. I promise, it’sOK.”

We stay there in the dark until my sobs have subsided and his shirt is soaked through. His fingers run up and down my bare arm. Slowly his power starts to seep into my skin, and the entire episode no longer feels so terribly devastating.

“You were right,” I whisper against Rakwena’s chest.

“I’m sorry.”

I pull back. “I can’t see, but I think I’ve ruined your shirt.”

“I forgive you.”

I squint up at him in the darkness. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I came to keep an eye on you. The minute he saw me he took you away, and I had to follow and stop him before… well, you know.”

“Huh.” I feel a pang of embarrassment. “So that’s why he kept looking at the door. He was waiting for you to show up. What did I ever see in that guy?”

Rakwena chuckles. “Don’t ask me.”

I sigh. I know I should probably move, but it’s comfortable in Rakwena’s arms. He’s big and strong and safe, unlike some people. I also know that once we’re no longer in physical contact I won’t be able to draw strength from him, and I don’t want to go back to feeling lousy and stupid and hurt.

“We should go. Wiki and Lebz are probably worried.”

I pull away reluctantly. He releases me, then takes my hand and opens the door. All is quiet outside; I guess Thuli gave up. Rakwena and I walk back to the party. We don’t look at or talk to anyone until we find Wiki and Lebz outside, searching for me at the back of the house.

“Connie!” Lebz flings her arms around me. “Are youOK? Did he…”

“I’m fine. And still innocent.” I smile at Wiki, who is standing still with an expression of such horror on his face that I almost laugh. “Really, I’m fine.”

Lebz pulls away and looks at me, her brow still wrinkled in concern, searching for signs of trauma. “Well, it’s still a couple of hours before midnight. But if you want to leave I can call Mogapi.”

“No, stay and have fun,” I tell her. “I’ll just hang out in Rakwena’s car until Mogapi comes.”

“Are you sure?”

I nod, my hand still in Rakwena’s.

“OK.”

Wiki clears his throat. “Actually, I think I’ve had enough of –”

“Let’s go, Wiki,” Lebz cuts in, taking his arm and pulling him towards the house. She glances over her shoulder and gives me a reassuring smile.

Rakwena and I head to the car, parked way up the street, and sit inside in the dark.

“How much does he know?” he asks.

“Not much. It’s mostly speculation. He’s seen the light in your eyes. He suspects I can read him, but I haven’t given him proof. I don’t think he’s told anyone else.”

“He wouldn’t,” says Rakwena in disgust. “That would be like telling the world you know where treasure is buried. We’ll have to be careful.”

I exhale and take his hand again. “Sorry, but I need to feed off you for a while.”

“No problem.”

We sit in silence for a long time. “Rakwena?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Everything. Coming to my rescue. Being my friend.”

“You’re welcome.”

I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder. I’ve been supremely stupid, and not just about Thuli. I’m done trying to be normal. I’m lucky to have a gift and from now on I’m going to cherish it.

“Connie? I need to go inside for a minute.”

I raise my head to look at him. “What for?”

“Food.” He grins sheepishly. “I’m starving.”

I can’t help but laugh.

01:10

“Lerumo here. If it’s urgent –”

Oh, it’s not urgent. Five girls are being subjected to rapidly worsening abuse by someone with great and dangerous supernatural powers. I was almost raped by a psychopath who’s obsessed with the gifted. I am under tremendous stress and I desperately need the help of my wise old grandfather, who is nowhere to be found. Urgent? Nah.

A few days later, I collapse onto the bench at lunch time, exhausted.

“You look terrible,” Lebz murmurs from behind the pages of a newspaper.

I glance at her. “Since when do you read newspapers?” She holds it up. It’s not a newspaper after all – it’s
The GC Chronicle
, a lowly tabloid. “Ah. That explains it.”

“They’ve got some really interesting exclusives these days,” she remarks. “They must have hired new reporters or something.”

“Aren’t they supposed to be in debt?” asks Wiki.

“Who cares?” I heave a theatrical sigh. “Guys, I’m in serious trouble.”

They both turn to me, eyes wide with concern. Lebz clutches my arm. Since hearing the ugly details of what took place in Thuli’s lair, their mild dislike of him has escalated into loathing. Lebz tried to convince me to go to the police, but let’s be realistic. Thuli’s father owns half the country – who’s going to win that battle? Besides, there’s magic involved. I have to be careful.

I gently pry Lebz’s fingers away. “It’s not Thuli. He’s been smart enough to stay out of my way. I’m talking about this thing with Rose.”

“Oh,” they reply, relieved.

Trust them to prefer five possessed kids to one freak hunter. I’m about to give them a piece of my mind when my phone rings. “Ntatemogolo!”

As usual, he gets straight to the point. No greeting, no chit-chat, no apologies for making me worry. “Come and see me after school.” He hangs up without another word.

I turn to my friends, who are watching me curiously. “He wants me to see him today. I think he must have found something.”

“That’s good news, right?” says Wiki. “Hopefully whatever he’s found will help the girls.”

I nod, but I don’t have a good feeling about this.

Ntatemogolo’s house is quiet when I knock on the door. I hear his footsteps approaching and then the door opens. His face is gaunt and there are rings around his eyes. His legs look like sticks under the dull brown corduroy of his trousers. He beckons to me to enter, then closes the door behind me.

“Ntatemogolo, are you all right?”

He sighs. “It’s been a long, difficult journey. The things I was working on… they were complicated.”

I know better than to ask for details. Whatever he was doing out there must have been very dangerous. He looks like he’s used up a good deal of his power, and it will be a few days before he’s back to normal. I almost feel bad asking for his help when he’s in this condition, but I don’t have a choice.

“You said it was important,” I begin, sitting cross-legged on the floor of the consultation room. “Is it about the girls?”

He nods, lowering himself slowly onto the mat. “How are you, my girl? I think it’s been difficult for you, too.” I can tell from his voice that he sensed something while he was away.

“I’m OKnow. There’s a boy… but that can wait.”

“Tell me first.” He may be exhausted, but he hasn’t lost any of his authority.

I take a deep breath and tell him about Thuli. Not everything, of course. I leave out the part about my being head over heels for the idiot, and the part about him trying to get me into bed. My story, unencumbered by the nastier bits, is still alarming.

“He’s a freak hunter,” I conclude. “He suspects that there’s something unusual about me and Rakwena. I haven’t told him anything, but I’m keeping an eye on him.”