Sacrifice (11 page)

“Great, thanks so much. I’m really looking forward to it.” She hung up, turned her phone off, and took her seat, flushed and smiling.

When she’d gotten settled, I leaned over and caught her eye. “What’s going on, Cassie?”

Cassie shot me a sharp look. “It’s nothing. Missy was just helping me out with a project I’m thinking about proposing for an independent study,” Cassie mumbled.

“No,” I said, “I meant with Parker. What did he—” But then I read the guilt in Cassie’s eyes. “Independent study?”

“Oh, Parker?” Cassie blushed. “Whatever. It’s been the same thing with him for a year now. Like I’m ever going to give him another chance. What does he think I am, an idiot?”

“Cassie?” I leaned closer to her, alarm rising in my chest. “What independent study? What are you talking about?”

“A psychology study,” Cassie said, not meeting my eyes.

“Really.” I kept my voice level, battling down another swell of anxiety. “I didn’t realize you were into psychology. Let me guess; you want to study the dynamics of group behavior within the context of a cult?”

Cassie’s eyes cut to my face, as good as admitting her guilt.

“
Cassie.
” I leaned forward, gripping Cassie’s arm harder than I meant to. Cassie winced, but I didn’t let go. “I told you to leave this alone.”

“You also told me we’re fighting a war that most people aren’t even aware of. That the fate of the world rests in our hands.”

“Not
your
hands,” I hissed.

“No?” Cassie’s eyes flashed. “Are you forgetting what I
saw?
I watched an angel die, Braedyn. And the demon that killed him escaped into another world right in front of my eyes. Through a door—by the way—that could let who knows how many of them back into our world. I know I’m new to this whole thing, but from where I stand it looks like you’re
losing
this war. So let me help.”

I stared at her, at a loss for words.

“All right, class, let’s get started.” Mr. Landon entered, heading straight for the whiteboard. “The Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775.” He started writing on the board. Around us, students bent over their spirals, taking notes.

Cassie stared pointedly at my hand, still clutching her arm.

“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into,” I whispered, releasing her arm.

“Guess I’ll have to figure it out as I go along.” But after a moment, Cassie’s anger melted into something new. She glanced at the head of the class. Mr. Landon was still writing names and dates on the whiteboard. Cassie turned back to me, lowering her voice. “Look. It’s not like I want to go chasing danger. But put yourself in my shoes. Could you ignore the truth once you’d learned it? Just sit back while your best friend puts her life on the line to save yours over and over again?” Cassie studied me so intensely that I had to look away. Her voice softened. “There’s so little I can do to help. I’m not a fighter. I’m not a spotter. But going to a meeting and listening? That’s something I
can
do. Please. Let me help.”

“Ladies?” Mr. Landon fixed us with a stern look. “If I’m interrupting your conversation, just let me know.”

“Sorry, sir.” I sat up straighter, blushing.

“Perhaps you can answer a question for me, Ms. Murphy. Who was Thomas Gage?”

“Um…” I struggled to remember the passages I’d read over the weekend. “He headed the British forces garrisoned in Boston.”

Mr. Landon nodded, satisfied. “Correct, Ms. Murphy.” He turned back to the whiteboard, drawing a quick sketch of New England on the board. I slid down in my chair, still unsettled by my conversation with Cassie. Amber caught my eye. She was glaring at me from her seat across the classroom. I sighed. Cassie was willing to throw herself into this war without any training or skill, but Amber—with her exceptionally rare ability to spot demons through their cloaks—wouldn’t lift a finger to help us. I bent over my notes, putting Amber out of my thoughts. I had to figure out a way to keep Cassie safe, and she wasn’t making it easy on me.

By lunchtime, I was sick with anxiety. Lucas and Royal met me outside the dining hall. Lucas’s eyes narrowed with concern as soon as he spotted me.

“What happened?”

“Cassie got herself invited to a cult meeting.”

“What?!” Royal stared, stricken. “When did this happen?”

“This morning.” I realized I was chewing my nails to the quick, and lowered my hand.

Lucas’s expression darkened. “Okay, so she comes down with a cold and can’t make it.”

“You too?” Cassie joined us, giving Lucas a pained look.

“Cassie, Braedyn’s right.” Lucas turned on Cassie. “This is a terrible idea.”

“Really?” Cassie crossed her arms. “Because, unless you’ve read my mind,” and here she glared at me, “none of you even knows what my idea is yet.”

I glanced at the others. Royal kept his lips firmly sealed. Lucas’s expression was grim.

“Why don’t you tell us your idea, which just might be a brilliant one, Cassie?” Cassie asked in a lilting voice. “Oh, sure, guys, glad you asked,” she answered herself. “Let’s grab some lunch and I’ll fill you in.” Without waiting for a response, Cassie walked into the dining room. Lucas, Royal, and I had no choice but to follow her.

Ten minutes later, we’d collected our food, settled around our usual table, and served ourselves. No one paid much attention to the food; all our eyes were fixed on Cassie.

“So let’s hear it.” I stabbed a piece of broccoli with my fork. Cassie shifted in her seat, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening.

“Okay,” Cassie said quietly. “I talked to Missy, and she says Carrie’s clammed up about the meetings.”

“Missy’s interested in this stuff?” Royal looked surprised. “Seems kind of airy-fairy for her.”

“No, Missy thinks the whole thing is stupid,” Cassie said. “She attributes Carrie’s involvement to some college-girl woman-power kick. Apparently Carrie took some kind of women’s studies class last semester and Idris came and spoke. Whatever she said was strong enough to get Carrie to take a semester off from college.” Cassie shrugged. “Like I said, Missy thinks she’s insane.”

“What’s the plan, Cassie?” Lucas asked.

“I’m getting to it. Patience.” Cassie shot Lucas an irritated glance. “The plan is I go to the meetings, and Braedyn listens in.”

Royal shook his head, confused. “If these guys are as paranoid as you think they are, won’t they search newcomers for listening devices?”

“Not with a listening device,” Cassie said, glancing at me. “She’s going to listen
through me.
”

I stared at Cassie, surprised.

“Huh.” Lucas glanced at me thoughtfully.

Royal looked from Lucas to me. “What am I missing here?”

“Braedyn might be able to make contact with Cassie’s mind to see and hear what Cassie sees and hears,” Lucas said slowly. “She’s done it before.”

“But—” I shook my head, trying to process everything. “That was a crisis. I don’t know if I can just pop into someone else’s mind like that.” I snapped my fingers.

“Then we should practice before I go to the meeting,” Cassie said.

“Hold on.” Royal pushed his plate away. “You can mind-spy on people and I’m just hearing about this now?”

“It’s not a skill I’ve been cultivating,” I said sourly. I turned to Cassie. “You’re ignoring the very reason I didn’t want you involved in this in the first place. You’re putting yourself in harm’s way.”

“Yes, there’s some risk,” Cassie said, “but there’d be risk for anyone attempting to spy on the Cult, wouldn’t there be?”

“The spotters are trained to fight,” Lucas reminded her.

“And I’m nothing but a high school junior?”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Lucas said.

“Don’t you get it? I’m the perfect mole,” Cassie insisted. “I don’t look like a fighter. I won’t ruffle any feathers. I’m just going to listen.” Cassie glanced at me. “And if you sense any real danger, you’ll know where I am. You can swoop in and save me.”

I didn’t answer her. Cassie sat back. They all turned toward me, waiting.

“There’s one problem with that logic,” I said. “If you run up against
real
danger, I might not be fast enough to save you.”

“Then let’s hope we get what we need quickly.” Cassie met my gaze with an intractable gleam in her eyes. I glanced back down at my plate. Cassie was resolved to do this; that much was clear. Which meant, if anything did happen to her at one of those meetings, I’d have a front-row seat to watch my best friend’s death.

I stumbled through the rest of the afternoon, feeling off kilter and out of focus. After school, I found myself dragging my feet as I walked to my locker. The halls cleared out around me as students took off to enjoy what was left of their afternoons before heading home for dinner and homework. I pulled a few books out of my locker and loaded them into my school bag before I realized I’d left my English book behind. I headed back to Mr. Avila’s classroom. He was already gone. The lights were off, but I spotted my book still sitting on the desk where I’d left it a few minutes before.

I tucked it into my school bag and headed back for the hallway. The sounds of an argument stopped me in my tracks.

“You’ve got to be freaking kidding me!” Ally’s high-pitched voice was strained with anger.

“What am I supposed to do, Ally? I have to get a job.” Amber’s voice rang through the halls, full of frustration.

“So schedule your burger-flipping for
after
practice!”

“I can’t.” Amber’s tone shifted into bitterness. “My step-mom wants me home every day by six to help with her kid. I have to figure out how to fit the job in between school and—”

“Seriously, Amber? You made a commitment to us.”

“If I don’t do this, I can’t stay at Coronado Prep!”

“Bull crap. We’re this close to qualifying for State,” Ally snapped. “You’re the captain!”

“You’ll do just fine without me,” Amber said quietly. “You’re the one with the gymnastic medals under her belt.”

“What is up with you?”

“I told you, it’s my step-mom—”

“No. You’ve been totally weirding out lately. Like, for months.”

I glanced out the door.

Amber stared at Ally, looking caught. “It’s—I’ve been dealing with some stuff lately, is all.”

Amber looked so lost, I felt an alien twinge of sympathy for her. Before I had time to think it through, I walked into the hall.

Amber and Ally saw me coming and clamped their mouths shut. Ally eyed me with distaste.

“You do realize it’s just cheerleading,” I said, giving Ally my most disdainful look. “I mean, technically your job entails jumping up and down and hollering for the football team which, correct me if I’m wrong, is what pretty much every spectator is doing, too.”

“Excuse me?” Ally’s eyes bulged, giving her horse-like face a strained look. “Like you would know anything about the discipline it takes to do what we do.” Ally turned her back on me and gave her ponytail a haughty flick. She stabbed Amber in the chest with her index finger. “You know, fine. Deal with your stuff alone. The team and I have way too much to prep for to take on your drama, too. Just don’t come crawling back to me in a month, hoping to rejoin the team. You leave now, you’re out for good.”

Ally stalked off down the hallway.

I turned toward Amber. Her face was a naked mask of pain. “Amber,” I started.

She spun on me, eyes flashing. “What the hell are you doing?” she hissed.

I took a step back. “Uh, I was trying to help you.”

“Don’t. I don’t want your help.” Amber glared at me for another second. Then she turned and fled down the hall.

Serves me right for trying,
I thought. But it wasn’t as easy to dismiss the misery on Amber’s face. I knew—too well—how fast someone’s life could change when Lilitu were involved.

Lucas was waiting for me near my car, concerned. The parking lot had nearly cleared out, but Lucas took one look at my face and sensed I didn’t want to talk. We drove home in near-silence. When we parked, I caught his hand and held it for a long moment.

“Thanks for not prying,” I said.

Lucas gave my hand a squeeze. “Just let me know if you want to talk. Or study for that Spanish test together.”