Into the Fire (16 page)

“So what does this mean? Are we moving again?” I can’t leave Logan. I won’t.

She shakes her head and paces the living room. “I don’t know. We have to find out what’s going on before we react.”

“If we leave, it will look suspicious. If a Hunter did kill Mr. Baker, he’ll think we’re taking off because we don’t want to be next.”

She stops pacing and faces me. “Good logic, but I can’t help thinking it isn’t the Hunter you’re worried about.”

“Of course I’m worried about it, but the Hunter is just one thing among many that’s causing problems for me right now.”

She grabs my shoulders and gets inches from my face. “The Hunter is the most important thing for you to worry about. Your rebirth is just days away.”

“I have almost a month left.” I don’t want to rush it. I need every minute, every second, with Logan.

“That’s nothing, Cara. This is serious.”

“We’ve moved enough for me to get how serious this is, but I’m not leaving, Mom. I can’t.”

“It’s not up for debate. I’ll decide what is best for this family, just like I always do.”

“And what if Jeremy and I don’t agree? It’ll be two against one.” Although I can’t count on Jeremy being on my side anymore.

“Now that your father is gone, my vote counts for two.”

“And the tie break?”

“I
am
the tie break. I’m sorry.” She turns away, but I can see her biting her lower lip.

She’s pulling rank. She’s never done that before. Even when she found out about my imprint on Logan, she didn’t ground me like a normal parent—normal Phoenix parent—would’ve. “Am I just supposed to sit here and wait for you to decide what’s going to happen to us?” She can’t expect me to do that. I’ll go crazy.

“I need to meet with the others. Decide what the best course of action is. We need to be prepared for the worst.”

“There’s a group of us here. How can one Hunter be so intimidating?” It’s not like we’re defenseless. We can control fire. We could burn the Hunter if we had to.

“Hunters never work alone.” Her voice shakes.

“There’s only one Phoenix dagger. There can’t be more than one Hunter.” Can there? I always took some comfort in that fact.

“Yes, there’s one dagger, but that doesn’t mean there’s only one Hunter at a time. There are a lot of them, more than I care to think about. One is in charge, and he alone has the dagger. But the others can trap us and bring us to him, or bring him to us.”

“How can they trap us? We can burn through rope.”

“Cara, I don’t want to tell you horror stories about what Hunters have done to Phoenixes in the past.”

I need to know what we’re up against. My mind will come up with much worse if she doesn’t tell me. “I’m not twelve. I can handle the truth.”

“Do you know why you like the falls so much? Why you’re drawn to them?”

“They cool me off.” Like Logan’s pool did when my temperature got out of control from his touch.

“Exactly. Certain things cool us down. They aren’t fail-proof, but they cool us enough to keep us from using fire.”

“I made the water boil at the falls.”

“What?” Her eyes look like they’re about to pop out of their sockets.

“It was when I met Logan. My emotions were going crazy.” It was probably because I was imprinting on him, but I don’t want to bring that up now. “I was able to calm down before he noticed.”

“Or so you think.” She swallows so hard I hear it. “Cara, I hate to say this, but we haven’t had any Hunter problems in Ashlan Falls. For five years, we’ve been safe. Then Logan and his father move here and—”

“Don’t! Don’t you dare say he’s the Hunter. That’s crazy.” I’m shaking, and my fingernails spout flames.

“Get control of yourself!” Mom smacks my hands, stifling the flames. She rushes to the windows, pulling at the curtains, which are already closed. “This is the worst time to do things like this. Someone could be watching us.”

“Someone? Don’t you mean Logan?”

She stops fiddling with the curtains and glares at me. “I can’t talk to you when you’re being overly dramatic like this.”

“Then don’t!” I storm past her and up the stairs, feeling the heat pounding in my feet. A trail of scorch marks follows me. How’s that for overly dramatic?

I slam my door and shake my feet until they stop sizzling. I can’t let myself get too out of control. I don’t want to burn my room down, not if there really is a Hunter in Ashlan Falls. Mom told me her cousin got out of control during the month before her rebirth, and she brought it on early. I definitely don’t want to do anything to speed up my rebirth. That’s the last thing I need right now.

I should call Rachel. She can always calm me down. I pull out my cell, and my fingers hover above the keys. “Damn it, just call her!” But all I want to do is hear Logan’s voice. I dial his number and stare at the picture of us kissing. That’s how it should be. I shouldn’t have to worry about Hunters or being reborn. I should be able to be with the guy I’m crazy about and act like a normal seventeen-year-old girl. But I’m not.

“Everything okay, or are you calling me to say you can’t see me anymore?”

It sucks that after all he’s been through, he’s still more worried about me.

What will happen if Mom decides to move us? How can I say goodbye to Logan? In three days, we’ve been through more than most couples who’ve been together for years. “I told her I left because I needed to see if Nick was okay. She knows it wasn’t your fault.” None of this is Logan’s fault. It’s mine. My imprint. I caused this.

“Are you grounded?”

“Mom never actually tells me I’m grounded.”

“So what does that mean?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Should I be staying away until you figure it out?” By the tone of his voice, I can tell he doesn’t want to, and I sure as hell don’t either.

“I don’t think I
can
stay away from you.”

“I don’t want to either, but I can’t stand the idea of your mom hating me. Maybe…” He sighs, and I hear a thud on the other line.

“What was that?”

“My head hitting the headboard. I didn’t mean to lean back that hard.”

He’s in his bed. My body heats up at the thought. I take a few deep breaths to cool down. “Maybe what?”

“Maybe if I stay away, just for a few days, she’ll back off.”

I have less than a month. Take away a few days and… “I don’t want to stay away from you.”

“I don’t think we have a choice. Cara, look, I’m not going anywhere.”

Yeah, but I will be. Maybe to another town, maybe to another country. Who knows? And even if I do stay, what will happen at the end of the month when I’m reborn?

“This isn’t the end of us. I promise.”

“How can you promise that?” My voice shakes as I hold back my tears.

“Because I can’t let you go.”

That’s it. The floodgates open, and I have to shove my pillow against my face to keep from sobbing into the phone.

“Cara? Are you still there, or did I totally freak you out?”

“I’m here.” My voice is muffled by the pillow.

“Just a few days. I promise. After Henry’s funeral, things will calm down. I can even come over and have dinner with your family, show your mom I’m not a bad guy. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.”

Only after the funeral, things will be worse. The Phoenixes will all be in defense mode. They’ll be meeting every night until they figure out if we really have a Hunter in Ashlan Falls. In a few days, they might all jump on the “Logan is a Hunter” bandwagon, and my relationship with Logan will be over faster than it began.

Logan

I haven’t seen or talked to Cara on the phone for days. We’ve texted a few times, but that’s all. I can’t take another minute. If this time apart doesn’t work, doesn’t get her mom to calm down, I don’t know what I’m going to do.

I’ve never cared about parental approval before, but I’ve never needed someone as much as I need Cara. As sad as it sounds, I’m actually looking forward to the funeral today. I get up, shower, and put on the one and only suit I own. Standing in front of the mirror, I can’t help thinking of Mom. The last time I was with her, I was wearing this suit. I want to rip the stupid suit off and burn it, but I have to go to Henry’s funeral. He was the first person to talk to me in this backwards little town. I owe him that much.

I grab my leather jacket, not that I’m planning to wear it over my suit. I just want Mom close by to help me through this. I start downstairs when my cell rings.

“Logan?”

My stomach flips. “You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice, Cara.”

“Yours too, but I can’t stay on the phone long. I’m just calling to let you know that the funeral’s been postponed.”

“Why?” I haven’t been to many funerals, but even I know there’s a shelf life on a dead body. Mr. Baker’s going to start seriously smelling if he isn’t buried soon.

“Something about the autopsy report being inconclusive.”

Inconclusive? He was stabbed in the chest.

“I guess his brain injury is making it difficult for them to tell if there was a struggle or not. The police don’t have any leads on the…”

“You don’t have to talk about it if it’s too much.” It’s been all over the papers. No leads. No fingerprints. No murder weapon. Nick has been in and out of the police station for days. I ran into him on Thursday, looking like
he
had been stabbed a few times.

“It’s all anyone is talking about.”

“What about his body?” I hate asking, but someone has to think about it. How will anyone stay long enough to pay their respects if Henry’s body is filling the cemetery with the stench of death?

“As soon as they release the body, Monique’s taking him to be cremated. She said it’s what he would’ve wanted. I just wanted to let you know so you didn’t show up at the café expecting a memorial service.” She inhales sharply, like she’s fighting back tears.

“I guess I’ll see you when they reschedule the service?” I can’t wait until the funeral to see her. Who knows when that will be. This is insane.

“Well, Nick said he’s having the party tonight.”

“What?” That guy is in no shape to party.

“He said he needs to forget everything, even if just for a night.”

I can’t help wondering how much time Cara’s been spending with Nick. “Are you helping him plan it? We said we’d do that together.”

“I know, but Rob and Rachel are taking care of the food and drinks. Nick asked Jeremy to handle the music.”

“I guess Jeremy’s feeling better?”

“Yeah. Mom’s letting him out of the house for a little while at a time until he’s back to normal.”

“So, he’ll be at the party. I guess that means I shouldn’t—”

“I’m not sure if he going or not. He only told Nick he’d handle the playlist, not that he’d deejay or anything. I might be bringing the music over myself.”

“Does that mean I can go?” I hate that I have to ask permission to see her. I know this separation was my idea, but I fully admit it was my stupidest idea ever.

Her voice lowers. “I really want to see you.”

“Where are you?”

“Home. Mom and Jeremy are eating breakfast, but I think I heard someone on the stairs.”

“I should let you go, then.” I hear a knock on Cara’s end and pray she’s not going to hang up on me.

“I’ll ask my mom, and if she says yes, I’ll see you there later, Rach. Bye!”

She hangs up and I flop down on the couch, not even caring that my suit is getting wrinkled.

“You should take that off. I’ll iron it for you.” Linette places a cup of coffee on the table in front of me.

“Thanks. Guess you heard about the funeral being moved.”

“Yes. Henry was a friend of mine.” She eyes me like she’s trying to read my mind or something.

“I feel awful about what happened. I feel bad for Nick, too. You know he’s so messed up he’s throwing a party tonight just so he doesn’t have to think for a few hours?”

“A party? Henry hasn’t even been buried yet.”

“I know, but I kind of get why Nick needs this. Last time I saw him, he looked awful. This really affected him.”

Linette nods. “I put some waffles in the oven for you.” Frozen waffles. Linette is no Monique, but at least I won’t starve. “Your father left a note. He’ll be working late tonight.”

No surprise there. Even on the weekend, he’s at the office. Sometimes I swear being around me is too painful for him. He looks at me and sees Mom. Maybe he avoids me for the same reason I avoid him: to keep from hating each other. If Mom is looking down at us right now, she must be crying.

“You want to get changed before breakfast?”

I look down at my suit. “Yeah. Be right back.” I run upstairs, tearing my jacket off on the way. I toss the suit on my bed, knowing Linette will find it when she comes up to clean my room. It’s been a while since she’s cleaned in here, mostly because I’ve pretty much kept to myself the past few days. Other than going for my runs, I’ve been a complete recluse. My room is starting to smell like it, too, with my dirty running clothes piled in the corner.

I put on some khaki shorts and a green T-shirt and head downstairs. The smell of burnt waffles fills the kitchen. God, I miss Monique, but after the way she yelled at Cara and glared at me like I was Satan’s spawn, I’m not eager to go back to the café.

Linette puts a plate on the kitchen table for me. My coffee’s next to it already. “Did you hear the police have a lead on Henry Baker’s murder?”

“No.” I take a bite of the waffle, immediately chasing it with coffee and burning the roof of my mouth.

“There was another murder in Bridgewater. That’s about two hours from here. Same thing. The victim was stabbed in the chest.”

“Bridgewater? I think my dad had a meeting there a few days ago.” As much as Dad and I don’t get along, I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to him. I really would be all alone. Linette is staring at me, not saying a word. “Did they catch the guy?”

“No, but they think he’s headed west. I don’t think I’ll get any real sleep until they catch him.” She grabs the duster and walks into Dad’s office.

I force down the rest of my breakfast and walk to the falls. Monique nods as I pass by the café, but I don’t stop and talk. I don’t need to hear any more about ashes or what Henry would’ve wanted. No one really knows what the dead want because they’re dead. Once you leave this earth, what happens to your remains becomes the decision of the people you left behind. I’ve seen it too many times. Well, heard about it at least. Mom had to mediate families who contested wills. I never understood it. If a person doesn’t want a big service and just wants to be cremated and forgotten about, that’s their right. Who’s the family to say the deceased was wrong?