Girl of Nightmares (32 page)

“If they wanted me dead, they had a prime opportunity to do it,” I say. “I was basically dead on that floor. They could have just left me. Denied me care.” I look at Gideon, and he nods agreement. “I don’t think I have anything to worry about from them. They’ll have their athame. And their instrument,” I add bitterly. “They’ll stay off my back.”

“They got what they wanted,” Gideon agrees. “And they appear to have gone. We’re the only ones left here. The Order departed the moment Jestine was well enough to be moved.” I notice that Gideon refers to the Order as if he wasn’t a member. Good. He reclines in the chair and folds his hands on his chest. “It would seem, Theseus, that your way is clear.”

I smile, and remember my last moments with Anna. I remember the way she kissed me, and that I could feel her smile, barely restrained in her cheeks. I remember that her lips were so unbelievably warm.

Thomas and Carmel stand by my bed, looking down on me with bruises and scarred necks. Maybe somewhere my dad is looking on too. Maybe while being batted at by a hair-pulling black cat. My smile stretches wider.

My way is clear.

A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

Girl of Nightmares
owes a lot to my editor, Melissa Frain. As far as editors go, she is the bomb diggity. So thank you, Mel, for having a great eye, and being crazy supportive. Thank you also to my agent, Adriann Ranta, who continues to navigate the publishing waters for me and tell me what’s what. Thank you to Seth Lerner and the artist Nekro for another amazing cover. And thank you to the entire team at Tor Teen for doing all the things it takes to make a book a book.

Also, the world needs readers, so thank you to all of them, and the reviewers, teachers, librarians, and bloggers who continue to spread the love of books.

A quick shout-out to my parents, in particular my dad this time, who never doubts, and drives sales in places like Minot, North Dakota. Thanks, Dad!

And finally, the usual suspects: Ryan VanderVenter, Missy Goldsmith, Susan Murray, and Dylan Zoerb, for luck.

TOR BOOKS BY KENDARE BLAKE

Anna Dressed in Blood

Girl of Nightmares

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

GIRL OF NIGHTMARES

Copyright © 2012 by Kendare Blake

All rights reserved.

A Tor Teen Book

Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

175 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

www.tor-forge.com

Tor
^®
is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

ISBN 978-0-7653-2866-3 (hardcover)

ISBN 9781429948326 (e-book)

First Edition: August 2012