The Felix Chronicles: Freshmen (78 page)

“Brilliant.” Allison’s eyes shone with fury. “You’re seriously unbelievable.”

Felix wasn’t sure what to do with any of this. He’d just had an all-out battle with four Protectors—and
killed
them. If that wasn’t awful enough, he’d also killed Harper. Or at least, he thought he’d killed Harper until Riley changed back into a guy. And for a few horrifying moments, he thought Allison had died. And now Bill was telling him that in the very near future, he would have to go into Ashfield Forest to kill monsters.

How much more of this can I take?
Felix looked around the room, trying to clear his head. Everything was coming at him in waves. It was like a ten-headed mythological beast that couldn’t be killed—every time he lopped off one of its heads, two more just sprang up to take its place. An object in the corner captured his attention: His winter jacket was draped across the back of a chair. He’d left it the last time he was here—the night he watched himself kill his parents. The images of that night flashed through his mind, and he felt the dread and the sorrow stirring inside him. He felt hot. The air was thick… and smoky. Sweat began to roll down the back of his neck. He was out of breath. He needed to get some air.

“You okay?” Bill asked him, seeing the consternation on his face.

Breathe
, Felix told himself.
Breathe.
He stood silent, looking down at his feet, determined to pull himself together. When he raised his head, he managed a nod, and tried to be convincing about it. But from the skeptical look on Bill’s face, he gathered that he wasn’t very successful.

Bill smiled sympathetically at Felix. Then he turned to Allison and said accusingly, “See? This is obviously too much for him right now. Which is why it would’ve been better to discuss this after the break.”

“Sure!”
Allison replied with bitter sarcasm. “Let’s just conceal the truth until it’s more convenient for
you
. That makes perfect sense. It makes as much sense as throwing Felix into the woods with a bunch of monsters.”

Bill was working his jaw, gritting his teeth. Then he closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled slowly through his nose. Felix recognized it as one of the relaxation techniques he had taught him after he set Allison’s room on fire.

“I can’t believe you kept this from him!” Allison persisted, her face flushing so much Felix worried that her nose and lips were going to start bleeding again. “And you”—she whirled on Felix—“I can’t believe you’re so calm. You should be pissed at him!”

“I’m too tired to be pissed,” Felix muttered after a moment’s reflection. “I wish he hadn’t lied, but I understand why he did. If he’d told me about this earlier, I don’t know if I could’ve handled it. It’s not like he’s trying to kill me.” He glanced at Bill doubtfully. “Right?”

“I promised Elissa—
your mother
—on her deathbed that I would look after you. I didn’t make that promise lightly.” Bill’s face seemed to age before them, his voice husky, raw. “I knew what… I knew… I understood that making that promise would result in certain… consequences. And I accepted them. All of them. And as much as I want to keep you safe, we’re going to have to take some calculated risks. But believe me, I’m doing everything in my power to prepare you and protect you. Felix, your life is more important than anything in this world. If you die, we’re all as good as dead. You’re the Belus, after all.”

“I’m the Belus,” Felix repeated vaguely. “That reminds me. One of the Protectors told me that I’m not the one. What’d she mean?”

“I don’t know,” Bill said too quickly, shaking his head.
“You’re not the one?
I have no idea what that means.”

“You’re lying!” Allison pointed an accusing finger at Bill. “That’s a lie. You confess to one lie and then you lie about something else!”

“I assure you I am not lying,” Bill said solemnly, placing a hand over his heart.

“Then why would she say that to me?” Felix asked.

“It doesn’t mean anything,” Bill told him. “
The one?
The one
what
? Sounds like gibberish to me. It could be a… tactic of some kind.  Psychological warfare. The Protectors might be trying to get inside your head. Maybe they’re trying to make you doubt yourself.” He shrugged. “That’s the only explanation I can think of.”

Allison checked her watch. “That’s about all the psycho-babble crap I can take for one day. My mom’s going to be here soon.” She started for the hallway and looked back at Felix. “You coming?”

“Yeah. Oh—hey Bill, you mind if I borrow your car during the break? I didn’t think mine could make it here and back so we just took yours.”

“Sure,” Bill replied absently, as if he hadn’t been listening. “I’ve got a spare.”

Felix moved toward the door.

“So you won’t be going together, then?” Bill asked.

There was a hitch in Bill’s voice that gave Felix pause; it sounded like he was implying something. Felix stopped next to Allison in the doorway. “I’m going back to Cove Rock,” he said.

“And you’re going home?” Bill said to Allison.

She nodded.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Bill stepped closer. Felix could see that his eyes were rimmed red. It looked like he hadn’t been getting much sleep. “The Protectors have tried to kill you twice—
both of you
—and they’ll try again. And even if Lofton isn’t aware that one of his Drestianites paid you a visit, the fact that you killed him complicates matters exponentially.” He regarded Allison thoughtfully. “I think you should spend the winter break with Felix. You’ll be far safer if you’re with him.”

She laughed derisively. “I don’t think my parents will go for that.”

“Would your parents rather you be alive and with Felix or dead and living at home?” Bill’s expression was grave. So was his tone. He wasn’t offering up a suggestion.

The office went quiet.

“He’s got a point,” Felix said to Allison. “If they come after you when I’m in Cove Rock, what’ll you do? If something happened to you”—he dropped his gaze to the floor—“I… I don’t… I don’t know what I’d…” He looked up and stared into the one eye that was still visible. “I can’t do this without you, Allie. I need you.”

She bit down on her lip, her face twisting in pain, and forced her wounded eye to open. Then she stared back at him. Her dazzling green eyes, so full of passion and tenacity, softened all at once. “Oh geez.” She smiled hesitantly, her lips actually twitching up at the corners. And this time, she didn’t wince. “You’re probably right. Shit. I can’t wait to have that conversation with my parents.”

Bill cleared his throat to get their attention. “If either of you need anything—anything at all—call me. Get some rest. You’re going to be very busy next semester. I expect it to be quite… eventful. And be careful. The world’s a hazardous place for the two of you. There are powerful forces out there that want you dead. They’re all dangerous—
extremely
dangerous.”

With one foot out the door, Felix turned to Bill, a crooked smile slowly creeping across his face. “So am I.”

END OF BOOK ONE