The Soul Seekers (22 page)

We got back and decided the only thing we wanted to eat was a big sandwich, and we left the exotic foods on his kitchen counter.

“This is insane,” I commented, shoving the last bit of bread into my mouth. “Here we are acting as if the entire world is ending. Not sure if I’m ready for any of this, you know?”

Jesse took a swig of soda. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Just remember all that stuff I taught you about poker, okay? If someone is staring you down, it means they have a bad hand and they’re trying to intimidate you into folding. Got it? Keep that poker face. And keep doing your protection prayers.”

I smiled, holding back a wave of tears that had been threatening to flow ever since our time at Paul’s house. Was it too much to ask for a happy ending, that everyone make it out safe, including me? I’d do anything to know William and I could be together, and that Jesse would always be my friend.

“Jesse,” I said, voice cracking.

“Prayers,” he repeated, turning away.

When I was done Jesse pulled me up to my feet. “Okay, now it’s party time, only I have an idea.”

“Which is?”

“We go to Phil’s and hang out. There are some last minute things I need to check anyway.”

I went over and grabbed my bag. Why not? He scooped his keys off the kitchen counter and grinned.

Lights flickered on at the record store. The place seemed too quiet but Jesse was quick to fix that. He set the needle on the old RCA Victor and Freddy Mercury began to sing out pure and clean from the overhead speakers.

“You ready?” he asked, withdrawing a little white object from the pocket of his leather jacket. My eyes opened wide.

“You’re not serious.”

“Oh, come on Emma. This is your last chance to be the bad girl. If you’re going to risk your life then I think you deserve a little bit of fun for once.”

“I can’t.”

He rolled his eyes, lit the thing, and took a slow drag. “Ready?” he choked.

“No.” I closed my eyes, shook my head for a moment, and reached out. “But you’re right, this is my last chance to do something fun. Go ahead and give it to me.”

“I’m so happy,” he said, handing it over. “I think I’ve finally corrupted you.”

“Yeah, well.” I took a puff and tried to ignore the itchy feel of smoke sliding in against my throat. “I was already corrupted; you just brought it out a little.” I choked hard and handed it back. My lungs flared with fire, and I began to wretch with painful coughs. “Ouch, seriously. Ouch.”

He smiled. “It goes away. Anyway, you? Miss Perfect, corrupted? I’d like to see it.”

Still choking a little, I threw my hair back and mussed it up a little. “You never know when I could just,” I climbed up on the counter, “do something
really
crazy!”

“Like what?”

“Like this!” I grabbed a few records and began to fling them across the store. “Goodbye Doris Day! Goodbye Connie Francis! Goodbye Rosemary Clooney! No more of this Pollyanna stuff for me! I’m breaking out!”

“I wish. But I think that’s just the brain injury talking.”

I laughed and climbed down next to him. “And that’s why I love you.” His eyes lit up. “Like a friend. Just a friend. You make me laugh.” A little bit of smoke puffed out of my lips and I was choking again.

“Always good for that. Unfortunately.” He took another drag and reached for the wine we’d bought earlier. All he had to open it was a little pocket utility knife that Phil kept under the counter. Jesse struggled; the bottle was wedged between his thighs and he pulled and pulled to get the cork out. “Dang it! I’ve almost got it. There!” The cork flew across the room. “Might be a little floating inside, but what the hell?”

He handed me the bottle and told me to take a sip, and while I did he switched the record to the Stones. With a flip of a knob he had the volume up to its highest notch. I took a couple of long gulps, suddenly enjoying how warm the liquid was and the way it felt as it made a path down to my stomach.

“Dance with me.” Jesse held out a hand.

“No way.”

“Yes. Come here.” Jesse yanked me close, causing red to spill on my feet. Both of us burst out laughing. “If anything happens, you can have the apartment, okay? And all the records. Hell, take it all.”

“What are you talking about?” I walked over to turn the volume down for a second. “I’m the one dying, the one they want. Just shut up already.”

Jesse walked over and turned the music back up to high. He grabbed me by the waist and spun me around, forcing my hips to sway along with his. I couldn’t concentrate anymore. I felt uneasy and sick in the stomach. My head was spinning more than it should, and things were getting slower, more confusing. What if this went wrong? If anything happened to Jesse, I’d never forgive myself. And William. What if I never looked into those beautiful blue eyes again? What if I lost him forever to the world of the Soul Seekers? It couldn’t happen. I wouldn’t let it! The only person allowed to die in this whole ordeal was
me.

Putting my head on Jesse’s shoulder, I let him lead me around the small store to the sound of Mick Jagger crooning about how hot he was for a girl, but she was so cold.

Parking a few blocks down from the bank, Jesse stepped out and came around to open the passenger side door for me. I got out, shivering, and let him hold my arm as we walked down the sidewalk in dark secrecy.

“What’s with all this gentlemen stuff?”

“Nothing, just thought I’d try it out for once.”

My whole body started to shake.

“Relax,” he said, jumping as a car sped by.

“Sure,” I replied, my lips drawn tight.

He stood back to eye the scene, then led me over to the side of the building through a patch of overgrown weeds. I squinted to see his dark frame as he felt along the stone walls, stopping for a moment to click open a low door. We crept in and made our way through a small hallway, which led to a narrow set of stairs.

We made a left at the top, stopping at a door at the end of the hall. “They’re in here,” he whispered.

“When you say they . . .” I barely croaked out.

He let out a small laugh. “I mean the coins. Geez, you’re seriously freaking out, Emma.”

I watched as he crept into the room and began combing a huge wall safe. I wondered how he could possibly know the combination, but it
was
Jesse. After a few missed searches and a few cuss words, he was able to undo the lock, releasing a wide, thick door. A cold breeze washed over my face.

“Coin number one,” he said, pulling out a little velvet bag. He ran his fingers down the wall and pulled out another box, hesitating for a long moment. He seemed conflicted—opening and closing different files—still not sure what to do. Finally, seeming to find what he was looking for, he spoke with resolution. “And coin number two. Let’s go.”

I was saying protection prayers the whole time, trying to imagine the two of us being surrounded by the brightest light. My neck sachet wafted a musky scent everywhere, helping me to calm down anytime I felt a panic attack edge on.

“Do they have a coin for everyone in Springvale?”

“Yep.” Jesse shoved them down into his back pocket.

“Are you sure you have the right ones for William and me?”

He didn’t respond. He seemed worried about correctly resetting the combination to its original position. Still consumed with its accuracy, he stood back to scrutinize the entire wall.

“What’s next?” I whispered.

“We go and find your friend in the caves. He’ll be happy to see us.”

I could barely wait. With anticipation, I clutched at Jesse’s arm as he led me back through the passage and back outside.

It was quiet in the car as we drove to the bluffs—Jesse didn’t bother to turn on the radio. It would only have been a distraction for our already frazzled minds. We were both so tense, concentrating on the task at hand. I saw that his hands were shaking on the steering wheel; I reached out to give a comforting squeeze.

“Okay?” I asked. “Why don’t you sing me a song while we drive?”

Jesse looked embarrassed. “Not without my guitar!”

“Come, on. Please? I want to hear you sing one more time.”
Before I die,
I finished in my head.

He gave me a long, strained look. “I can’t sing under these circumstances. Honest. It’s—”

“Please?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from breaking.

Jesse met my eyes and began. It was one that he had written for the soon-to-be recorded album, and my favorite. It was everything Jesse: warm, free-spirited, sensitive, sexy, joyful. I loved it. Not the kind of song you’re supposed to cry over, but I did anyway. I guess I had a good reason.

“Thank you.” I reached out and brushed a few pieces of hair from his forehead and cupped the side of his jaw in my palm. “Thank you, Jesse, for being here with me.”

His eyes closed for a second and then he grinned at me. “Does this mean you changed your mind and we can do it? I can pull over real quick if you want.”

He ducked before I could whack him in the shoulder.

“Jesse! I am trying to be serious! Why do you always have to ruin everything?”

“Hey, a man’s got to try, right? Anyway, what about that kiss I was supposed to get?” He raised his hands. “Remember? ‘Eat what I want, drink what I want,
kiss a pretty girl’
?”

“You’ve already kissed me.”

“Not lately.”

I gave up. If he wanted a stupid kiss that bad, then I would give it to him. He stopped the car and I leaned over. I closed my eyes and waited. Nothing.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, moving away to study his face.

“I can’t. If I kiss you now, I’ll want more and I can’t have it. God! It was stupid to even joke about it—to let myself pretend.”

I hid the little quiver that moved across my lips in sudden remorse. “I’m sorry Jesse. It’s my fault.”

“Let’s get this thing over with.”

He revved the engine and peeled back out onto the road, speeding toward the now visible bluffs.

Jesse turned off the paved road and onto a dirt path which dipped and turned down into the valley. He could only take it so far before he had to pull over and shut the engine off. From where we sat, the land seemed to drop below into nothingness—our vantage point was pure, star-studded night sky.

“We’ll have to walk now,” he muttered, pulling the hood over his head then jumping out of the car.

I got out slowly, feeling leaden. I walked around to his side, sliding my hood up. “I’m ready.”

Jesse grabbed my hand and led me down a rocky path into a world of tall, jutting rocks of granite. They stood up around us, illuminated like candles, with their tips reflecting the light of the full moon as we walked down among their shadowy bases.

We came to another bluff, and Jesse jumped down onto a small ridge, motioning for me to give him my hands.

“I can’t,” I muttered, suddenly afraid. If one of us were to slip, that would be the end—without the help of any Soul Seeker.

“Don’t be a chicken now, Emma. Think about Ghost-Man, he needs you.”

“His name is William.” I looked at the drop behind him one more time. “Promise not to let go?”

“I promise. You know you can trust me.”

Oh, Lord. Just like him to say that at a time like this. I gave him a look and reached over and let him pull me down to his side. It was over in a second and done so expertly that I had to stand for a moment and stare.

“That was good.” Where had he been hiding all that power? He reached in his back pocket to produce a small flashlight before pulling me into a small opening.

“We’re going to go in this way since they are thick as thieves down at the main entrance, plus I’m pretty sure they put him in a higher cave. With everyone excited about the ceremony, there’s bound to be some idiots trying to break in and get a glimpse of him before it all goes down.”

I stumbled over a rock in the tunnel. “I thought that nobody else could see him, just me and the men in the council.”

“Well, tonight’s different. Full eclipses do something weird to Soul Seekers, and he is half one in case you forgot. He’s completely visible for the freaks to ogle at. He’ll go back to his normal, invisible weird self when the eclipse is over.”

I didn’t like the idea of hordes of lustfully curious people trying to see or touch my William. It made me more frantic than ever to find and free him from his prison. “Are we almost there?” I asked, breathing hard.

“Yeah. Just a little bit further. Calm down.” He squeezed my hand.

“Are you still mad at me, Jesse?”

He didn’t stop while giving his answer, just kept walking slightly ahead of me, with the flashlight beaming on the wet, limestone walls. “No. I’m not mad at
you,
Emma. I’m just mad.”

It was amazing how vast the structure was. No one would know, seeing it from the outside, how much it resembled some sort of underground compound. It reminded me of an ant hill, with hundreds of tunnels leading everywhere, running through the earth in different directions. A labyrinth.

Crystal-like stalagmites and stalactites glistened against our flashlight beams. They hung, curved, bubbled down from the ceiling in long, crystalline shafts.

Jesse turned us onto a long passage with a series of arched doors on each side, pulled a key out of one of his jacket pockets and headed for a crude door on the left. I saw his eyes widen at the sound of footsteps coming from the path we had just descended, and he wasted no time in shoving in the key to open the lock. He pushed me inside, quietly shutting the door behind our backs.