Seers (23 page)

She held out her hands. “No no, please, take the wheel. It was getting way too confusing for me.” She smiled slowly. “Still, you have to admit that my plan worked flawlessly.”

“Yes, you’re a criminal mastermind,” I said wryly, turning to pull the door open.

“Good pick for the movie, though!” She commented happily, following close behind me.

“Yeah, I’m going to give myself nightmares for a month,” I predicted as I stepped out into the hall—and walked right into someone.

My hand that had kept the door open for Lee fell, landing on the stranger’s hand, which was coming up to steady me. Our skin brushed, and I looked up quickly, embarrassed for actually running into someone.

It only took a second to recognize him—his low smile. It was the man from the mall. Or more correctly, the Demon from the mall. His large body was familiar in a spine-tingling sort of way, even though I’d never seen him up close before. Also eerily familiar was the black thread that outlined him—the most colorless aura I’d ever seen. He was wearing the same clothes he’d worn at the mall—the office worthy attire.

After digesting who he was—what he was—I felt my face pale. He was here, following me. Even now, he was grasping my 174 K • • •

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arm, because I’d first touched his skin. Whatever shield or protection that normally kept a Demon from hurting a human was gone. Patrick had warned me that Demons could get creative when trying to get past the thin defense. I guess standing outside a restroom, waiting for an unsuspecting human to crash into them made this Demon one of the creative ones.

But did he think he’d just found another human, or was he in fact aware of my being a Seer? What other explanation was there?

All of this happened in a split second.

Lee was still stepping out of the bathroom, pushing into my suddenly halted back.

The Demon was grasping my arm, keeping me from falling despite my unbalance and Lee’s further pushing. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice strangely high-pitched. “This is entirely my fault.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Lee grunted, not aware of my panic or inability to talk. She stepped around me, and as she did so the Demon released my arm and took a step back.

He nodded to us—his smile widening as he focused briefly on me—then he turned and continued walking down the hall.

Lee didn’t seem to notice that anything terrifying had just happened; she just kept walking back toward the theater, a few steps behind the retreating Demon.

I jerked my feet into motion, trying to keep my face from revealing my fear. I stumbled a little as I fell back into step with my friend, my mind racing, unsure of what to do.

Patrick. I needed to get to Patrick. He needed to know that a Demon was here.

“Kate, you okay?” Lee mistook the reason for the lingering fear on my face. “Come on, I’m sure the show won’t be that bad.” I forced a smile, but didn’t say anything.

We were almost back to the theater.

I watched as the Demon turned down another hall, heading for the lobby. He didn’t look back, but he didn’t have to. I knew he was feeling very smug, even without the aid of swirling colors.

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Lee opened the theater door, but allowed me to go in first since my seat was the furthest down our row.

The movie was just starting—I could tell that by the soft, haunting melody that filled the room. It was a song that should be beautiful, but since it was appearing in the opening credits of a horror film it was anything but. I halted a few steps into the theater, because it was too dark to see where the stairs were, let alone which row was ours.

After a moment the screen shifted from a dark woodsy area to reveal an old style school house placed in an open meadow. The sudden white in the screen lit up the faces in the theater, and my eyes were drawn to Patrick’s face, his gaze riveted on the screen. I gripped the handrail and started up the stairs, Lee right behind me.

We were still a couple rows away when Patrick looked over—

Aaron copying the motion a half second behind him—and saw us. We side-walked into our row, pushing quickly past the other seats. Patrick stood for me again, allowing me to slink past easily.

Once we were all seated again, Aaron took my hand, and I fought to steady the pounding of my heart. It was maddening, having Patrick right next to me but not daring to speak. It was too quiet. Aside from the tantalizing strains of ghostly music and the usual sound of ripping candy wrappers, the theater was silent.

Aaron leaned over to me, assuring me I hadn’t missed much.

I nodded but I didn’t look away from the screen.

Soon enough, I knew, the children in the movie would start screaming—probably when their teacher got possessed or something. That would be my moment to tell Patrick what had happened.

Before the screaming could start, though, there was a flash of light in the bottom left corner of the screen. Someone was entering the theater.

My lurching stomach knew who it would be before my eyes caught sight of his familiar black aura. He was standing at the base of the stairs, waiting for his eyes to adjust. At least, that’s what anyone else catching sight of him might think. But the screen 176 K • • •

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was bright enough for me to look down and see his face, and he was watching me.

He had the familiar grin, and he was placing a single piece of popcorn into his mouth. He raised the small cup of popcorn to me in some mock salute, and my breaths became more rapid despite my attempts to stay calm.

I jumped when everyone in the theater suddenly screamed, along with all of the children in the fictional school. I heard Aaron chuckle weakly beside me, and his hand tightened around mine, reassuring me that everything was okay. If only he knew.

I leaned back in my seat, unable to tear my eyes away from the Demon.

Patrick was suddenly whispering to me, though his body had barely inclined toward me. “Kate, are you all right?” I shook my head just slightly, and I could feel his eyes on my face now. “Demon,” I choked lowly.

His body became hard, and he followed my gaze quickly, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

The Demon was still calmly eating popcorn, but at least he finally looked away from me to cast a small smile at Patrick. He started walking up the stairs toward us, his steps unhurried.

I felt Patrick tense—knew that he was about to stand—and I knew I had to stop him. He wasn’t looking at me, so I laid my free hand on his knee, hoping to get his attention. He glanced quickly back at me, and luckily the theater erupted into screaming again at that moment.

“No, don’t.” I whispered quickly. “Don’t make a scene.”

“Is it the same one?” Patrick asked lowly.

“From the mall?”

He nodded once, the motion harsh.

I nodded in return, hoping people would start screaming again soon. Patrick glanced back toward the aisle, and I followed his gaze.

We watched together as the Demon skirted around our row, and then eventually moved to take a seat two rows behind us. I focused

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back on the screen, swallowing hard, but Patrick continued to strain his neck; unwilling to look away from the Demon sitting behind me.

I realized my hand was still on his knee, and I quickly lifted it away, stealing a peek at Aaron. Luckily my boyfriend was completely absorbed in the movie, and hadn’t noticed anything. On screen—we were now in a house—a closet door was just bang-ing open. The theater jumped as one, and several girls screamed, though it was a false alarm.

I took the opportunity to whisper quickly to Patrick. “Turn around—He’s not going to do anything.” For a moment I wondered if he’d heard. But then—very slowly—Patrick turned stiffly back to the screen. His jaw was clenched tight, and his hands rested on his knees. Belatedly, I realized they were itching to reach for the hidden blade he’d shown me before. I don’t know if that made me feel better, or worse. If nothing else, it made the whole thing very real.

It was agony waiting for the dialogue to start up again in the movie. A happy family was getting ready to move into a beautiful old-style house, and everything was pretty quiet. I wondered which characters—if any—would survive the two-hour movie.

Finally, some louder music started playing as the family moved in.

It was finally loud enough that I could talk to Patrick unnoticed.

“What is he doing here?”

Patrick didn’t take his eyes off the screen. “He’s probably just trying to get close to you. But he can’t do anything until you’ve touched him first.”

“Um, about that . . .”

He glanced quickly at me, striving to keep the worry off his face but not succeeding completely. “What happened?” He demanded softly.

In a breathy whisper I briefly related what had happened in the hall. I would have thought it impossible for him to become any stiffer, but he did. By the time I was done, I had officially freaked 178 K • • •

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myself out. If I hadn’t been taking this whole thing seriously before, the panic in his eyes was enough for me to start worrying now.

“So why’s he still here, if he got what he wants?” I ended my explanation by asking.

“He probably wants to talk to you,” Patrick whispered thinly, eyes trained carefully on the screen, though it was obvious he was aching to turn around and check on the Demon.

Lee suddenly leaned between us, brow furrowed. “What are you guys talking about? I’m only getting every few words. Could you talk any quieter?”

Her movement got Aaron’s attention. He straightened in his seat, turning toward me. “What’s going on?” He asked.

I opened my mouth to say something, but then Patrick was speaking quickly. “Kate was just asking me if I wanted anything to snack on.”

Aaron glanced back at me, and I smiled encouragingly. “Yeah, I was thinking of going to get something. Anyone else interested in anything?”

My boyfriend shook his head. “No, I’m good. But would you like me to go get it?”

“No, I don’t mind. You’re more into this than I am.” I looked over at Lee. “Anything for you?”

“Uh, sure—anything works.”

I ignored her puzzled look, and forced a smile. “Great—I’ll be right back.” I stood and pushed past them so quickly that Patrick didn’t even have time to stand.

I was almost to the side aisle before I heard Patrick move to his feet. “I think I do want something,” he said by way of explanation, and then he was only steps behind me.

I gripped the railing and moved down the stairs quickly, my back tingling uncomfortably as I imagined the Demon’s eyes on me.

I was a little surprised that Aaron didn’t follow me, but Lee was almost as creative as the Demons. I had a feeling she knew how to keep him there. And so in seconds I was stepping into the

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bright hall, and Patrick was only a half-step behind me.

I paused, but he gripped my elbow and propelled me forward, moving down the hall toward the lobby. Before I could ask about the rush, he spoke shortly. “He’s following us.” I knew who he meant.

“What does he want?” I asked in a panicked whisper.

Patrick’s face was deadly smooth. “I’m going to find out.” We still had a corner to turn before we’d make it to the lobby, but that’s when he spoke.

“Please, this will only take a moment.” I shivered at his high-pitched voice, but not turning to face him was almost worse than the alternative. Patrick stopped walking, twisting back around. He continued to hold my arm, keeping me close to his side.

“What is your name?” Patrick demanded, sudden authority in his voice.

The large Demon smiled, still holding his popcorn. “That’s really not very important, Guardian. Compared to other things I know.”

“So you know who I am,” Patrick snorted. “Usually that causes a Demon some fear.”

“I’m not normal.” He focused his small eyes on me, and his smile widened. “I’m sorry to have given you quite the scare last week. But I’m sure you understand. Kate.” I couldn’t stop the shudder that rippled through my body, and Patrick stiffened beside me. “Don’t address her,” he ordered thinly.

“You’ll speak only to me.”

The Demon shrugged. “Very well. Be rude. I only came to pass along a warning. Consider it a kindness.”

“Stalking someone isn’t exactly nice,” I flung back at him, hoping to appear more confident than I actually was. I think I came off as an ornery little girl.

The Demon smiled. “It was a means to an end. I knew you must be surrounded by Guardians by now, and they’re not exactly 180 K • • •

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the most welcoming bunch.”

“There’s a reason for that,” Patrick said, his eyes almost more threatening that his tone.

“Now, now, I know the rules.” He wagged a thick finger in Patrick’s direction. “You have no right to threaten me unless I make the first move. Since I haven’t hurt anyone, you can’t touch me.” He turned his attention back to me. “Personally, I mean you no harm. I’ve been watching you for weeks now, as a favor for some other Demons. I owe them, you see, and was passing along some information. But I have no desire to get on the bad side of the Guardians,” he cast a pointed look in Patrick’s direction. “Tonight was merely my way of setting things right.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

The Demon ate another piece of popcorn before replying.

“There’s a dangerous Demon looking for you. I’m not sure why he’s taken such an interest in you, but he has. And he’s not alone.

Hopefully you have more than one Guardian on your side, or you’re in some serious trouble.”

“Who’s looking for her?” Patrick asked, his fingers tightening around my arm.

“I know him as Quin Romero. I don’t know much else; only that he knows just about everything there is to know about Kate.

And he’s getting ready to make his move.” The Demon focused back on me. “I’ve never seen a Demon so interested in a single Seer.

Either he needs one quite badly, or . . . ” He shrugged indifferently.