The Lost Soul (Fallen Soul Series, Book 1) (4 page)

He looks like he wants to press me for the details, but he doesn’t. That’s the good thing about Laylen. He knows when to back off.

We head our separate ways. I go to my room and change into a pair of torn jeans and a black and red tee. Then I pull my hair back in a ponytail and meet Alex outside. The sun is shining against the clear sky. Birds chirp, the leaves crinkle, and the lake splashes against the shore. Ever since I died and came back to life, I notice the little sounds of life. Like my heart for instance; I’m always aware of it, beating in my chest, reminding me that I got a second chance at life.

Alex is sitting on the hood of his Chevy Camaro, sharpening a silver sword with a black handle shaped like a serpents head. “That took a while,” he remarks, not looking up.

I hop on the hood and let my legs dangle. “I talked to Laylen for a minute.”

He raises his eyebrows, eyes glued to the sword as he drags the sharpener up the blade. “Did you talk about anything interesting?”

“Not really,” I say.
He’s giving off a strange vibe
. “I just wanted to pry and see if things between him and Aislin were okay.”

He sets the sword on the hood and stares down the dirt road. “You sure that’s all you talked about?”

I shield my eyes from the sun. “Yeah… What’s up with you? You were fine just a few minutes ago.”

“That’s before I realized you’d rather ask Laylen for help than me.” He finally looks at me. “I thought you trusted me now.”

“I do trust you.” I fidget with my leather watch band. “But sometimes you’re a little too protective and you try to stop me from doing things that are important.”

“I stop you because they’re too dangerous,” he practically growls. “You always want to do things that could get you killed. And one of these times you might not get a get-out-of-jail-free card.”

“What’s your problem?” I slide off the hood, my shoes landing in a puddle. “And how do you even know I was asking Laylen for help?”

“I overheard you.” He jumps to his feet. “I went to ask Laylen a question—why he thinks this stupid thing,” he kicks the tire of the car, “keeps cutting out.”

I stare at his car. “How much did you hear?”

“Everything.” He places a hand on each of side of my face. “Going around asking strangers to help save your dad, isn’t a good idea. Nalina may have a grudge against Dyvinius, but it doesn’t mean you can trust her. You can’t trust most people—you should know that.”

“I don't trust her.” My fingers graze his shoulder blades as I enfold my arms around his neck. “But it doesn’t hurt to see what she knows. She might not help me, but there’s a chance she might. And to me, that’s worth the risk.” With my fingers, I trace a soft line down his spine, watching his jaw tighten. “Besides, I’m not the star anymore. I’m not important.”

“You’ll always be important.” He voice is feral. He lifts me up and I enclose my legs around his waist. “Whether you’re carrying a star's energy or not.”

I lick my lips, waiting zealously for him to kiss me. Instead, he releases me to the ground and scoops up the sword.

“We should get going.” He opens the car door and tosses the sword onto the backseat. “We’ve got a lot to cover and it’s getting late.”

I climb in the car and we peel down the road. I notice the shift in the weather, the darkening of the clouds, the potential for a lightning storm. I wonder what’s waiting for us at the field.

“To become a master fighter, you have to practice. A lot. ” Alex is back to his normal self, his arms encompassing my hips, a tease in his voice. He inclines his head down, caressing his warm lips against my ear. “You can’t cheat to get there.”

I shudder from the feel of his lips and let out a somewhat embarrassing moan.

We’re out in the field, surrounded by thousands of violets and flourishing trees. The grass hisses at our legs and the grey clouds menace the sky.

“I’m not trying to cheat.” With a sword in my hand, I break from his grip and spin, ready to pounce. “I’m just looking for a quicker way.” The sky grumbles like an empty belly and my eyes elevate to the clouds. “Maybe we should go. I think it’s going to rain.”

“A master fighter wouldn’t run from the rain,” he teases like he’s a fighting guru. He rotates on his heels and cuts the grass with the sword.

“I never claimed to be one.” I dig the tip of my sword into the ground and lean my weight on it. “And I don’t want to get wet from the rain.”

“If you want to go see Nalina,” he says. “Then you’re going to need to know how to protect yourself. You are a Keeper, Gemma. You have it in you.”

I stare at the spot in the grassy field where the ground opened up in my dream. “I understand that, but I mean…” I puff a frustrated breath. “This is how it happened, you know. A cloudy sky, a violent storm, the ground opens and then The Queen of the Afterlife steals you.”

He lets the sword fall to the ground and he threads his fingers through mine. “Hey, I already said I’m not going anywhere. So just relax.”

I hate when he’s so blasé about important stuff. “Fine.” I poise my sword at him and he scoops his up from the ground. “So now that you’re in a good mood, do you want to share with me why you were so pissed off earlier?”

He swishes the sword at the air. “I already told you why.”

“You're not just mad that I went to Laylen for help instead of you. There’s something else bugging you. I can tell.”

He rubs the back of his neck tensely. “Because you were keeping stuff from me. And I don’t like it.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologize. “I just didn’t think you’d be on board with going where Laylen went to get some answers.”

“I wouldn’t have been—I’m not. Delmonte is a dangerous vampire—most vampires are. He could be playing you. For all you know that address you have tucked in your pocket could lead you into a vampire trap.”

“A trap for what?” I kick a rock out of the way. “What do we have that a vampire would want?”

His gaze burns my skin. “You.”

“Nobody wants me, Alex.” I move to pivot the sword, but fumble and drop it. “I have no value other than I’m a Keeper who can’t fight with a sword.”

“More people want you than you think,” he mumbles, kicking at the dirt.

Ignoring his comment, I try to make peace. “If you want, you can come with me and Laylen to see Nalina.”

He relaxes a little, like he’s been waiting for the invite. “I’ll go, but only if you want me to come.”

“I do.” I flip the sword around. “Now quit being a baby and teach me how to fight.”

We practice until the clouds rumble, the sky drizzles, and the air chills. We gather our stuff and hike for the car.  By the time we reach it, the rain’s pouring down hard. My hair’s soaked, my shirt’s drenched, and I’m shivering from the rapid temperature drop.

We hop inside the car and Alex cranks the heater. “And it looked like it was going to be such a great day this morning.” He peers up at the sky through the rain-splatter windshield.

I don’t answer, staring through the rain, at a single red rose petal blowing in the wind.

“What are you looking at?” Alex follows my line of gaze and his eyebrows knit together. “What the hell is that?”

The rose petal floats unbothered, making a path straight for us, finally residing on the windshield.

“An omen,” I breathe, fogging up the side window.

Alex looks from me to the petal and starts to roll the window down.

“Stop!” I shout, clutching his elbow.

He gapes at me like I’ve lost my mind. “It’s just a petal, Gemma. I don’t get why you’re freaking out.”

“Because Annabella’s world is full of them,” I say quietly, a chill spilling through my body. “Now can we go?
Please
. I have a bad feeling.”

He hesitates, then shifts the car into reverse and backs up. Gravel and sludge whip against the mud flaps. The tires spin and the engine roars before stalling over.

“You have got to be kidding me.” I grimace.

Alex holds up a finger. “Give it a second.” He turns the key in the ignition and the engine makes a noise like a dying cat. It happens over and over again, until he throws his hands in the air. “Stupid piece of crap.” He bangs on the steering wheel, but then gives it an apologetic look.

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Guys are so weird about their cars.”

He pats the steering wheeling gently. “This isn’t just a car, Gemma. It’s a 1969 Chevy Camaro.”

“Sorry,” I apologize with exaggerated eye widening. “Do you want me to take us back to the castle?”

He shakes his head swiftly. “I told you I don’t want you using your Foreseer power unless it’s an emergency.”

I motion at the hood of the car, sizzling against the rain. “This kind of seems like an emergency.”

“It isn’t an emergency until someone’s running for their life.” He moves his hand behind my neck and draws me closer, ready to fog up the windows more than they already are.

I put my hand over his mouth. “I think we should go back.” My gaze flashes to the rose petal. “I have a really bad feeling.”

He lifts my hand away from his mouth. “Five minutes and if the rain doesn’t let up, you can take us back.”

I’m torn between wanting to get the hell out of this field and wanting to kiss him. My hormones end up winning. I slant my body over the console and kiss him. His hands find the small of my back and he guides me onto his lap, tangling his fingers in my hair. The rain beats faster, showing no sign of letting up. His lips travel down my jawline, my throat, my shoulder. I feel it again, emotions aching through my body and I want to bolt.

“Alex,” I groan, debating. “I think we should…”

Suddenly, like a tornado swooped through, the car windows shatter. Sharp rays of glass tear through the air. Alex protects my head with his arms, pressing my cheek against his chest, which is rising and falling with shocked breaths.

“What the heck was that?” I peek up. White and red rose petals, like blood and snow, funnel toward the car. “Alex we have to go. Now!”

He nods as the car jolts to the side. I grip onto his shoulders, feeling a burn in my heart, as if something is trying to enter through my chest. I shut my eyes, picturing the grey stone castle. The car lurches again and Alex’s fingers dig into my hips.

“Gemma…” There’s warning in his voice.

I snap my brain into focus, picturing the peaking towers of the castle, the lake that ovals the ground in front of it. A shiver ices my blood. I sense the presence of the Queen. I feel death like a cold winter. Right as it consumes me, I take us away, leaving all of it far behind.

***

Foreseeing in a state of panic should be against the laws of the Foreseers. Because it doesn’t mix well. Somehow, I drop us in a tree.  Plunging toward the ground, Alex manages to snag onto a branch. The sharp edges stab at my skin as I’m yanked to a stop, grasping onto him.

“Grab onto that branch,” he orders, giving me a gentle swing to the right.

I stretch my arms, hitch the branch, and grind to a halt, panting for air. Slipping my hand out of Alex’s, I hook onto the branch and swing my legs up, securing myself on top of a thick branch.

Alex heaves up and balances on another branch. “I’d like to know how you ended up dropping us off here.”