Soulstice (The Souled Series) (8 page)

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

Jock Boy knew I was there
, and I was totally okay with that. I didn’t care who noticed, even that dumb jock, Dirk. I knew he talked shit about me, but he was the least of my interests. My focus was entirely on Seth. From my spot against the back wall of the wrestling practice area, I scrutinized his every move. My presence irritated him - his scowls in my direction spoke volumes - but he couldn’t do a damn thing about it. I wasn’t about to walk away from him. He was amazing to watch. It was like he was on schizo overload, with chatter jabbing at his brain like a woodpecker. Every so often, his expression would slide away as if listening to something no one else could hear. But it’d be quick, then he’d look frustrated or pissed off - which was why this was so confusing to me. My mom and Jon told me attachments lay low, preferring to stay in the shadows, letting the host carry the legacy of their issues, but never really letting on that they’re in there.

There’
d been a definite change in Jock Boy, but it wasn’t consistent. The vibes were dark and overpowering at times and other times his mannerisms were all Seth – unassuming wrestling stud, reserved, love-sick boy. It was like Dr. Jock Boy and Mr. Dark Soul.

There was something more, though … something … something dangerous. Soul attachments are flimsy. Their energy or power is not so great that they can’t be released or chased off. This one, though, with the way it had settled into Jock Boy and
the persistence it had been reaching out for me, was definitely not textbook.

Judging by the way Jock Boy looked at me each time I showed up at practice, it seemed I was getting on his stowaway’s nerves. I wasn’t buying into the animal magnetism thing and I sense
d he, or it, would rather I minded my own business. But he didn’t understand that it had
made
itself my business. That thing threw the first energetic punch. I couldn’t let that go.

I was pretty sure Dani hadn’t noticed it. At least it didn’t seem like it. Every day she sat in the practice area doing her homework, without the slightest trace of concern.

Even if I wasn’t able to feel it, and even if the attachment wasn’t trying to get under my skin, I couldn’t see how anyone could miss the changes in Jock Boy. Over the past few weeks his shoulders and biceps filled out into freakin’ cannonballs, and his body movements flowed with no effort at all. His reaction time had cut in half, as if he knew his opponent’s next move even before they did. And just like a Secret Service agent, his eyes hardly stopped looking around, never focusing on a specific thing, always scanning the area for threats. His walk had taken on more than a swagger. It wasn’t cocky at all. Cocky was arrogant and overly self-assured in a really obnoxious way. No. It’s not that he tried to fake bad-ass. He
was
bad-ass. There was no question about it. Before this, he was shy and humble. A decent enough reason why so many girls wanted him. But now, even
more
girls wanted him. God help them all if he threw on some leathers and got a tattoo. All of those girls who flirted with him had no idea what they were flirting
with
.

Even if I
hadn’t been into Justin, I wouldn’t have allowed myself to be affected by Jock Boy’s magnetism. I couldn’t let my guard down. I needed to figure
it
out before it figured
me
out.

Know
ing what I did, and it wasn’t much, I needed to give Dani a heads-up. It was obvious to me that her boyfriend had landed in some quicksand, and just how far or fast he might sink, I had no way of knowing until I had answers. I needed backup, and Jock Boy wasn’t going to be very happy that I was about to recruit his girlfriend.

There was no easy way
to approach this. I walked over to where she sat and started talking.

“He’s got it bad
.”

“Who? What?” Dani looked up from her paper.

“Your boyfriend,” I said. “I mean, I’ve been reading about it, and now here it is in front of me.”

“What are you
talking
about?”

“You don’t see it, do you? You don’t see what’s happening to him?” I level
ed my face with Dani’s and looked at her boyfriend, trying to see him from her perspective. Maybe the change in him wasn’t as obvious to her as I thought it might be. If I told her what I knew, she’d probably think I was a complete nut case. I’d have to rethink how to approach her.

I straightened up. “Never mind.”

“Hey!” Dani said. “What
are
you talking about?”

But I was already walking away. I took one last look over my shoulder at Jock Boy to see if he had been watching. Sure enough, his scathing glare was on me. I
turned the corner and hurried down the stairs leading to the gym. I was halfway across the basketball court when Dani’s voice slowed me down.

“Alyx! Wait up!” I stopped and turned around, and waited for her to catch up with me.

She seemed at a loss for words. We’d never really spoken to each other because, quite honestly, we had nothing in common. Even when I’d been popular, and we’d seen each other at the same parties, we hadn’t ever spent any time together.

“About what you said up there.” Dani found her voice. She tucked her hair behind her ear, exposing a small diamond stud.

“Um, listen,” Dani stammered. “What were you talking about? What’s wrong with Seth?”

I didn’t say anything for a few seconds, still not certain how much I should say.

Dani shifted from foot to foot as if she couldn’t contain her impatience.

“Who said anything was wrong with him?” I shrugged, giving me time to think.

“Well you did,” Dani said. “Or at least you implied it.”

I grabbed Dani’s arm and yanked her toward me, taking two steps back.

“Hey!” Dani hissed. “What was that for?”

I pointed to the basketball that missed her head by a few inches.

“Sorry about that!” yelled a player on the court.

Dani turned and gave him a wave and a weak smile before turning back to me.
“Thanks.”

I
shrugged and stayed silent, waiting for her curiosity to open her mind to what I had to say.

Dani crossed her arms in front of her. “Well? About Seth?”

I cocked my head to one side. Crossed arms. Yeah, not exactly open, but I tried anyway. “Haven’t you noticed anything different about him?”

“What do you mean, different?”

I let out a breath. “Unusual, out of the ordinary, deviating from the norm.”

“I
know
what different means,” Dani shot back.

“Well?” I said. “Think. Have you noticed anything that’s off about him?”

She huffed an impatient breath and shifted her weight. Her gaze flitted around the walls behind me as if she might find the answer.

“Well, he’s been getting headaches and stomachaches lately
,” she said.

“Seriously? That’s all you’
ve got?” I didn’t mean for it to come out so harsh. I only wanted to get something more solid, but I didn’t want to lead her with my own ideas. I wasn’t exactly sure how much time we were dealing with.

She opened her mouth to say something
, but  stopped herself, her lips pressing into a tight line.

“
I’m sorry,” I said. “Is there anything else?”

She
nodded. “The dogs at the shelter were acting funny around him. They wouldn’t let Seth get close to them, like they were scared of him. Even his favorite dog backed off.”

I grinned.
Finally we were getting somewhere. Dogs were sensitive to subtle energy shifts. If they were suddenly uncomfortable being around Seth…

“What?” Dani asked. “Does that mean something?”

I started to answer, but movement at the railing upstairs caught my eye.

Seth stared down at us from the wrestling area.

Dani turned and followed my gaze and quickly turned back to me, her eyes wide.

“Meet me tomorrow after school,” I said, barely moving my lips. “I’ll be at Memorial Field. Top of the bleachers. We’ll talk then
.”

I turned and made my way out of the gym, letting the door slam behind me, well aware of the two sets of eyes that were boring holes into my back.

CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN

I purposely chose to sit at the top corner of the cold, metal bleachers. From there I would have plenty of time to anticipate the energy of anyone who might show up, namely, Seth. I was pretty sure Dani wouldn’t show up alone. I listened for voices or a second set of footsteps when I heard a car door slam shut. Without looking up from my book, I knew the light, quick footsteps in front of the bleachers and up the steps were Dani’s. They sounded determined and anxious. And they planted themselves in front of me.

The smoke that escaped from the end of my cigarette curled like a serpentine around my fingerless black gloves before billowing out and disappearing into the air. Flicking the ash from the end of it, I took my time bringing the cigarette to my lips and taking in a deep hit. I decided to tell her what I knew. The more I thought about what Jock Boy was hooked up with, the more convinced I was that Dani and I could help each other. I needed to be careful, though. I had to be sure she could handle all of it. I closed my book and gestured for Dani to sit.

“I’ll stand, thanks,” Dani said, securing her backpack on her shoulder.

She seemed defensive, but at least she was curious enough to show up.

I shrugged. “Whatever. Suit yourself.”

“So, what is this all about? Why all the secrecy?” Dani crossed her arms, but couldn’t hide the slight tremors that shook her muscles.

“Your boyfriend’s in trouble. I’ve been thinking—”

“What do you mean, he’s in trouble? This is
Sandpoint
, for God’s sake. Nothing bad
ever
happens here.”

“I’m trying to help you,” I snapped. “And believe me, you need help.” I was a little on edge myself, not really knowing what to expect.
I already knew I was in deep waters. I just didn’t know how deep.

“If this is your way of trying to scare me, it won’t work.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Do you really think I have nothing better to do than to scare you?” I sucked in another lungful of smoke and took even longer letting it out. “What else have you noticed that has been different about him?” I asked again.

“Like I told you.
The dogs at the shelter,” Dani said. “They usually love him, but now they don’t trust him. They won’t get near him.” She hesitated before adding, “Gracie, the woman in charge at the shelter, told Seth not to come back because the dogs were getting too disruptive.”

Sensing a dam was about to
break, I took a notebook out of my messenger bag and started to write. I didn’t have to wait long.

“His eyes. His eyes are different, like they’re darker or like there’s smoke behind them. Shadows, maybe.” She looked at me for a reaction, but I kept writing.

“Every time I ask him about it, he either changes the subject or turns away,” Dani went on. “And the way he kisses me lately has been unreal.”

“I’m not interested in your sex life,” I said, looking up from my notes.

“No, I mean it’s different. It didn’t used to be this way. Now when he kisses me, it’s like he’s inside me and around me. He reaches places without even touching me.”

She frowned, as if she were trying to understand.

“Explain please?” I said.

“But I can’t,” she said. “I’ve been trying to explain it to myself. Like once we were standing outside of my house, and it felt like he kissed me, but his lips hadn’t even touched mine.” Dani spread her arms helplessly. “I know it’s lame, but I really don’t know how else to explain it.”

“Huh. Energy transfer,” I said.

“What?”

“Energy transfer,” I explained. “
Relatively simple to do, if you’re skilled enough. Healers. Reiki workers. People like that can do energy transfer.” Definitely a possibility, but I was pretty sure Jock Boy wasn’t into the healing arts.

She looked at me like I had lost my mind.

Okay. He definitely wasn’t.

“What else?” I urged.

Dani took a deep breath. “Well, here’s the one that bothered me the most. Seth didn’t think I noticed, but at the time it really freaked me out. At the winter dance.” Her brows came together as she remembered the details. “Dirk was trying to get me to dance and he made a grab for my elbow, but he stopped when Seth put his hand up. Dirk just… stopped.” Dani gave a shaky laugh. “I’ve never seen Dirk so confused. It was like he couldn’t help himself, like he
had
to listen to Seth.”

So
that’s
what happened. I remembered that, but from where I stood across the floor, I couldn’t see what went down. “Anything else?”

Biting her lip, Dani sighed. “He gave me these earrings,” Dani tucked her hair behind her ears, giving me a moment to see them again. “After I put them on, it was so weird. One minute I was telling him that he shouldn’t have bought them and the next thing
I knew we were kissing. I didn’t remember standing close enough to kiss, but there he was. My mom was in the next room and normally I wouldn’t kiss him if she was nearby…”

I nodded and glanced away. “Amazing,” I said.
It was one thing for an attachment to muddy up the host’s thinking, but could it reach beyond its physical boundaries? “Amazing,” I said again.

“What’s amazing?” Dani asked. “Tell me.
What’s amazing?”

“Have you noticed he’s gotten bigger?” I said, steering away from the
possibility of such an aggressive and perhaps powerful attachment. Instead I spread my hands to show Seth’s shoulder width.

“Yeah, but he’s working out a lot.” Dani stopped, seemingly struck by an awful thought. “You think he’s doing steroids, don’t you? No way. He’d never do something like that.”

I shook my head, shaking off pressure building against my temples.

“No, I doubt it. But you have to admit that he’s putting the other guys down on the mat with no problem these days.”

“Wait a minute.” Dani looked at me suspiciously. “How do you know so much about his wrestling?”

Sweat trickled down my back and my scalp started tingling. I kept my eyes steady and focused on her face. “I’ve been watching him.”

Dani’s eyes narrowed.

Could she seriously think that I wanted him?
Pfff
. “Relax,” I said, closing my eyes against a sudden headache. “Dark, angry, possessed jocks aren’t my type.”
Crap!
I didn’t mean to say that, but the need to protect myself overruled the need for caution. Inside my mind I took two steps back and put up the shields. The pressure behind my eyes was intolerable.

Dani’s jaw dropped. “Uh…possessed?”

“Well, well, well. Speak of the devil himself.” I looked past Dani, down to the bottom of the bleachers.

Jock Boy had found us.
Not surprising in the least.

Dani whipped around and
gasped. “Oh, shit.”

Me? I was ready. I was used to the sensations that crawled over my skin when he was around, but not usually this intense
. That was the very reason why I had positioned myself so far up the bleachers.

Jock Boy took the steps two at a time. Too fast, but not faster than I could buckle my bag shut, my notes safely inside.
He stood next to Dani, using his height to try to overpower me.

I countered his gaze with mine, not once looking away. I wasn’t intimidated by either of them.

Dani wrapped her arm around his waist, acting as if the tension between us wasn’t a big pink elephant in our cozy little living room. “Hey, babe! How’d you know I’d be here?”

He shrugged off her question, and kept our eyes locked. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

I took another hit from my cigarette and blew the smoke in his direction. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dani look from Seth to me and then back to Seth, her eyes blinking under a frown.

“Seth, this is Alyx from my Lit class. Alyx, this is Seth.”

“How’s it going?” he asked.

Yeah. Like he cared. I wasn’t going to tell him shit. Besides, I was busy looking for a way inside of his head, but it seemed he had his own defenses in place.

“Nice to finally meet you,” I said. “I gotta go.” I nodded at Dani. “We’ll talk later.”

“Okay. Yeah, sure,” Dani said
, her voice trailing off.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed down the stairs. Neither of us was going to give in. The question was, who was going to make the next move?

With all that I’d learned from my mom, what I’d been researching, and who I was, I knew I could handle Jock Boy. Though obviously not a textbook situation, the basic rules of combat were the same across the board.

But apparently
those didn’t apply to him.  He was above that. In the next couple months, Jock Boy made it very clear he wouldn’t play by the rules.

Even if it meant good people could die...