Chase and Lilura exchanged a glance.

  “She’s trying to buy herself more time,” Chase said. At my puzzled look, he grabbed the journal off the table and flipped through its pages, explaining as he did, “I found a Vila in France once. She had cuts and bruises all over her body. She was so beaten by the time I found her that I was surprised she was still alive. I asked her why she was hurting herself, and she told me it was a sacrifice so she could live longer.” He found the page he was looking for and handed me the journal. The leather cover was smooth under my fingertips, worn with age, but the photograph tucked along its binding grated against my heart like sandpaper. A girl no older than Mara looked up at me from the shiny, crinkled surface, her eyes haunted, her body covered with hundreds of purpling bruises and tiny, bloody slash-marks. I shuddered and closed the book.

  “Reapers take pain as payment,” Chase said softly. “It’s like an installment plan, before the final bill comes due.”

  “That’s awful,” I whispered.

  “Some Vila who can’t stand the thought of hurting themselves try to pay the Reaper with the pain of others.”

  “Does that mean a Reaper can feed off the pain of normal people?”

  “Not just their pain,” Lilura said, “but their souls too. But normal humans are not as appetizing to a Reaper. Vila pain and Vila souls are more … delicious, you might say.”

  I shuddered. “That’s horrible.”

  Chase nodded.

  “In most of the accounts I’ve read,” Lilura continued, “Vila can’t even remember doing these horrible things to people. It’s like they fall into a trance. But there seems to be an emotional connection with the people they harm—or kill. Like the Reaper can read their feelings toward someone. Use the anger or jealousy a Vila feels for someone to trigger the act.”

  I rubbed my arms. This was scarier than I thought.

  “What happened to the girl? The Vila from France?”

  Chase lowered his gaze. “She died. Years of self-inflicted abuse, and then she died and the Reaper got what he wanted anyway.” He shoved away from the table and walked into the kitchen. I looked at the journal on the table and wondered what other tales might be scribbled inside it. There were bound to be stories in there that would frighten me, stories that I didn’t want to hear—but maybe, just maybe, one of them could help me save Mara’s life.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Wow!” Naomi grabbed a handful of my hair. “You dyed it back.”

  I batted her hands away and smoothed my hair back down, before offering her a small smile. “Yeah.”

  “It’s almost exactly the same color as your real color.”

  Somehow, explaining that magic had returned my hair to its real color didn’t seem like the best way to go. “It is, isn’t it?”

  “A little bit lighter, but yeah. Pretty close.” She glanced over my shoulder. “Has Gavin seen it yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  She wagged her brows at me. “He’ll be all over you when he does.”

  I laughed and shoved her, happy to have a friend who could ground me to normalcy.

  When I got to class, I found myself glad to see Chase. He didn’t exactly look happy to see me, exhibiting the same straight face he always had in class. Was he pretending not to know me? And why did that bother me? The words in my history book swam before my eyes. I was relieved when the bell sounded to end class. I slipped out of my seat and caught up to Chase just outside the door.

  “How can you stand it?” I asked him.

  “What?”

  I glanced around the crowded hall, and then pulled him into an alcove where a fire extinguisher was mounted to the wall. He looked down at me, amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth.

  “How do you come to school and act so normal when you know about all that other stuff out there?” I asked.

  “School’s not so bad. It’s kind of relaxing to be normal for a few hours. Besides, I needed to come and help you.” He shifted closer, his shoulder against the fire extinguisher, and suddenly I could feel his body heat. I ran a hand along the back of my neck, which was moist with sweat. Come on, Zadie. Focus.

  “But you didn’t have to pose as a student, right? You could have just helped me out after school and on the weekends. I mean, I suppose you technically should be in school. But with all the Reapers and curses and supernatural stuff out there, who could blame you if you blew off boring lessons and homework, right?”

  He inclined his head toward me slightly, his eyes flitting over my face. “Well, I’m supposed to keep an eye on you and Mara, too. So it makes sense for me to be here.”

  I didn’t know how to react to the way he looked at me. I dropped my gaze and pushed my hair away from my face. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “If I said no, would that stop you?”

  “No.” I let out a short huff of a laugh and looked back up at him. “Are you really sixteen?”

  He shrugged and pushed himself off the fire extinguisher. When he did, his scent was stronger. Hints of musk and cinnamon and freshly cut grass swirled around me. I wondered if it was just his soap or if he brewed his own cologne. “I’m seventeen, actually.”

  “Oh. I would have guessed you were a little older.”

  He looked at me as if he was trying to figure out why I’d said that. I half wondered myself.

  “I better get to class,” I said, since he didn’t respond. “See you later.”

  “Wait.” He placed his hand on my elbow as I stepped away.

  I stopped and looked up at him, wondering why he seemed reluctant to let me go. A few days ago, getting him to say anything was like pulling teeth.

  He took his hand away and scratched at his eyebrow. “Did you hear Emily’s out sick today?”

  When I’d told Lilura and Chase about what had happened at Emily’s house, they’d had very different ideas about what had actually happened. Lilura theorized that Mara had used her power to get even with Emily, but Chase had disagreed, arguing that the Reaper might be controlling Mara’s actions. As for me, I was sticking with the epileptic-seizure theory, all the way. Because the alternatives left me with a sister who was capable of hurting someone, and I couldn’t reconcile that with the person my sister was. No. Is.

  “Yeah, I heard,” I answered. Kelly and Nicole wouldn’t even look at Mara.

  “Zadie!”

  We both glanced down the hall toward the familiar voice. I stepped back, putting more space between Chase and me. “I have to go. See you after school?”

  He nodded, his face unreadable, before he turned and sauntered away.

  “What was that about?” Naomi asked when she reached me.

  I shrugged. “What was what about?”

  “That.” She gestured at Chase’s retreating back. “You and Chase. Talking.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “I didn’t know he did that.”

  “It’s nothing,” I said, maybe just a smidge too quickly. I started down the hall, and she fell into step with me. “Just some history stuff we’re learning about.”

  “Oh. Cool. So, I was thinking of driving over to Crystal Café and loading us up with some serious caffeine before we hit the library tonight. What do you say?”

  Oh, crap. I’d forgotten we had plans to work on our Lit papers together, and I’d promised Lilura I’d be over after school. “Um, is it okay if I skip the library today? My dad wants us to have more family time, so I promised him I’d stay home tonight.”

  “Oh, sure. That’s cool. We can work on the papers at your house.”

  “No!”

  She gave me an odd look.

  I shrugged and rolled my eyes in false annoyance. “I mean, my dad is being really lame about quality family time. No outside distractions and stuff. It’s probably going to be really boring. You understand, right?”

  Naomi shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. But you can make it tomorrow, right?”

  I didn’t know how often Lilura expected me to train at her house. “I think so. I’ll let you know.”

  “Okay.”

  “Anything new with you and Danny?” I asked, mostly to shift the attention away from me.

  “No. He’s pretty much made it clear he doesn’t like me that way. I guess I should have figured it out since he never acts interested. But sometimes I feel like cornering him and finding out what the hell his problem is. For now, I’ll just have to settle for being friends. With absolutely no benefits.”

  I laughed as she ducked into third period with a wave, and I headed down the hall for my class. By the time lunch rolled around, I’d lost my good mood to the realization that while Naomi was the one solid, dependable thing in my life right now, I was a terrible friend. I mean, how many lies had I told her today, and it wasn’t even noon yet? I stirred my mac and cheese with a fork, not really hungry, and tried to count the lies. I gave up and tried to count the truthful things I’d said to her instead. That was way easier. A big, fat zero. Frustration boiled inside me, to the point where I barely noticed when Gavin slid into the seat next to me.

  “I almost didn’t know who was sitting at our table,” he said.

  I glanced around. Naomi was in the lunch line with Danny. I looked back at Gavin, confused. “What?”

  “Your hair. It’s red again.”

  I instinctively grabbed a lock and twisted it between my fingers. “Oh, right. What do you think?”

  He smiled, not just with his mouth, but with his eyes. “Looks great.”

  I fought off a blush. “Thank you.”

  He nudged my leg with his. “So, I checked. The Blob’s finally playing at the Fairmont. How’s tonight work out for you? Six-thirty?”

  Tonight? Training with Lilura couldn’t possibly last all evening, could it? Mara had her first session with Dr. Klein at six, so that would probably give me about two hours of not having to worry about her. If I kept on schedule, I could train for a couple hours, rush home to change, go out with Gavin while Mara was at her appointment, and be home before bedtime.

  There was only one problem. I’d told Naomi I was having family time tonight. I felt another lie coming on. Or at least, an omission of truth.

  “Yeah,” I said, noting Naomi’s place at the lunch counter. “Six-thirty works. I’ll text you my address.”

  His eyes lit up. “Cool, okay.”

  “Just one thing,” I added. “Let’s not mention this to Naomi. Knowing her, she’d invite herself to come along.”

  ***

  I let out a sigh of relief when we pulled into a spot at the drive-in. I’d done it. I’d stuck to my schedule and was now officially on a one-on-one date with Gavin Murray. I glanced over at him while he put the car into park. As usual, he was wearing black, but beneath his button-up shirt the collar of a light blue t-shirt peeked out. I twisted a little in my seat to face him, breathing in the scent of musk and leather. Was that him or the car?

  “Do anything fun after school?” he asked, adjusting the car radio to the FM channel that aired the drive-in’s sound.

  “No. Homework.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I’d call training to defeat a Reaper doing my homework. “You?”

  “Same. Studying for a physics test.”

  “Ooh, science,” I hissed. “Sorry, can’t help you there.”

  He laughed. “You want some popcorn?”

  “Sure.”

  “Be right back.” He winked at me as he left the car.

  On the screen, the trailer for The Thing that Couldn’t Die played. Though the movie was ridiculous and beyond unrealistic, the phrases that flashed across the screen and sounded through the radio reminded me of Mara. “Evil made them raise the thing from its grave … Stare into his eyes if you dare, for every woman who does becomes a willing slave to the thing that couldn’t die.”

  I shuddered, taking my focus off the screen. Instead of watching, I tried to count how many cars were in the lot. I had two Mara-free hours and I refused to let her ruin my date.

  Gavin came back with snacks and drinks just as the movie began. He placed the popcorn bucket between us. The opening scene showed a young Steve McQueen making out with his date in a car. Heat covered my cheeks. I glanced at my date, and he caught me looking at him. I cleared my throat and grabbed for some popcorn. Gavin let out a small laugh.

  “What?” I asked. I couldn’t help but laugh too.

  The Fairmont concession staff had been a little generous with the popcorn salt. Half an hour into the movie, I’d already finished my soda. After another half an hour, my bladder was cutting in on my date.

  “I’m going to run to the ladies’ room,” I said. “Be right back.”

  “Okay.” Gavin leaned slightly over the console. “I’ll save your seat.”

  “Clever.” I smirked at him and got out of the car.

  The cool night air nipped at my arms as I made my way to the restrooms. I debated going back to the car to get my cardigan, then decided just to get to the ladies’ room and take care of business so I could return to my date.

  I left the small concession building that housed the restrooms, and a few feet farther someone stepped in my path.

  “Hey there, freak.” Brent stood with his hands in his pockets, looking me up and down. “So you and Gavin, huh?”

  I took two steps backward. He was big and brutish, and I was caught off guard by his appearance. I looked past him, wondering where Tasha was.

  “Yeah, I’ve seen you guys in the cafeteria together.” He walked toward me and pulled his hands out of his pockets. His shadow on the wall behind him seemed to double in size.

  I glanced over my shoulder through the windows of the concession building, but didn’t see anyone. The girl working there must have gone into the back. The cars in the lot were facing the other direction, so it was doubtful anyone would notice him talking to me.

  “You must give it to him real good,” Brent said. Only it didn’t sound like Brent exactly. There was something primal and ominous in his tone. His shadow shifted, stretched. Resembled someone wearing a hooded cloak. Oh no. No, please. Brent reached for me. I swiveled around, ready to run. But his large hands caught my waist. I screamed as he dragged me toward the side of the building near the trash bins. He shoved me against the wall under a yellow lamp and held his hand over my mouth. The smell of beer and cigarettes invaded my nose. I twisted and shoved and pulled and tried biting him, but he wouldn’t back off. I threw my knee up, hoping to do some damage, but I wasn’t tall enough.

  He pushed harder on my mouth, slamming my head against the wall. In this light, his eyes were dark caverns that seemed to bore into me. He let out a low growl. “Stay out of my way!”

  Oh, God! What if the Reaper’s somehow controlling Brent? I screamed against his hand, but the woman on the screen was screaming too. Tears broke free from my eyes.

  I turned my head, trying to separate his hand from my mouth. The yellow lamp caught my eye. Put out the fire. Lilura’s words were like a ringing in my ears. It wasn’t fire, but I could still use it. I hadn’t been training for nothing. Surely there was something I could do to protect myself.

  I relaxed a little and focused on the light bulb. I could feel the surge of power push out of me. The light burst. Not just the bulb, but the entire glass fixture. Shattered glass rained down on us, the shards cutting into Brent’s face. One jagged piece of glass stabbed into his eye. But still, Brent stood there sneering at me and pushing me harder into the wall as blood trailed down his face. This is definitely not normal.

  My breath came in short, dry gasps. This was it. I was going to die.

  “Zadie?” Gavin ran toward me. “Hey! Get off of her!”

  I wanted to shout to Gavin to get away, to save himself. If it was the Reaper making Brent attack me, if it was going to make Brent kill me, I didn’t need Gavin to perish as well.

  Brent whipped his head around to face Gavin. His eyes narrowed, and for some strange reason, he loosened his grip on me slightly. As Gavin got closer to me, something vibrated under my skin. Maybe it was my need to protect Gavin giving me a sudden surge of power. Relying on that power, I shoved myself hard off the wall and into Brent. As he stumbled back, the shadow behind him moved away from us. Darted swiftly across the wall. As if the Reaper had fled.

  Brent suddenly howled in pain as he clutched his eye. But he didn’t have much time to agonize over his injury, because Gavin grabbed him by the jacket and rammed his fist into Brent’s nose.

  “You son of a bitch!”

  Brent crumpled to the ground, moaning.

  Gavin turned to me and gathered me into his arms. “Oh my God, are you all right?”

  I wrapped my arms around him, the tears flowing freely now. I shook my head.

  “Come on,” he said, releasing me and taking my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

  We sprinted to the car. He opened my door for me, jogged over to his side, and jumped into the driver’s seat. I wiped at my face as we tore out of the drive-in. Did that really just happen? I tried to steady my breath as we pulled onto the highway. Brent—either acting of his own accord or, crazily enough, under the control of a Reaper—had just attacked me. Could have killed me. But I’d survived. This time, at least.

  As I slowly broke free of my shock, I looked over at Gavin. He looked pissed. He was quiet, mouth set in a straight line, shaking his head every once in a while. He didn’t speak until we reached my street.

  “I can’t believe that jackass. So unlike him. I would have never thought he’d be the kind of guy … I’m so sorry, Zadie. I wish I’d have gotten there sooner.”

  “You got there just in time,” I said, my voice hitching. There was no way I could explain to him what might have really happened. That it might not have been Brent jumping me, but some dark, supernatural force.

  He reached over and laced his fingers with mine. My heart finally slowed down when we pulled up to my house. The lights were out inside, which meant Dad and Mara weren’t home yet. I turned my head to face Gavin, but he was already getting out of the car. He walked briskly to my side of the car and opened the door for me. I conjured up a small smile when he took my hand. We walked to my porch to the sound of crickets, our fingers linked. Everything’s fine, Zadie. You’re safe. Gavin’s safe. Everything’s fine.