Ann Aguirre - Mortal Danger

“Your mind’s made up then.” He looked as if I’d confessed to having brain cancer when he tapped his watch, one of the myriad buttons whose function I didn’t know, and Wedderburn’s face appeared above it in 3-D holo.

“Yes?”

Kian repeated my request, though more elegantly. For the first time, I could imagine him on the path to law school and eventually the Supreme Court. It was sort of odd, since he wasn’t actually that person, but there were echoes. People were mirrors turned inward to infinity, where all choices and roads not taken led to an endless shifting of self.

When Wedderburn smiled, I wished I could reach through the ether and throttle him. “This is easily done. A commendable gesture on your part, Miss Kramer. Your friend’s future is safe, assured by your altruism, and you are one step hearer to your destiny.”

“Bullshit,” I said.

I hissed as my wrist burned. Another line, this one crossed the infinity symbol in the middle, where the two halves met. Two out of three favors burned. Fear bubbled inside me at shifting that much closer to Wedderburn’s clutches, but I didn’t regret protecting Vi. It chafed that I’d played into the icy devil’s hands, but what else could I have done?

“Think what you like.” Wedderburn’s tone radiated pure satisfaction. “It has been a pleasure, as always.”

When the holo vanished, Kian’s shoulders slumped. “I wish you hadn’t done that.”

“He was making Vi crazy. How long before he got bored with the cat-and-mouse thing and did something worse to her?” No way to prove it, but I suspected Wedderburn didn’t listen when I told him not to intervene with the Teflon crew. If so, Brittany’s death was on me. But it could also be D&F, trying to drive me nuts with guilt. My head throbbed.

“I don’t know,” he said quietly. “Their sense of time doesn’t align with ours, usually. They’re capricious, but…”

“What?”

“They have long attention spans. I’ve known creatures to stalk one person for years, just appearing and watching, appearing and watching, feasting on their fear.”

“Until that person winds up eating pudding from a cup for every meal and living in a room with upholstered walls? Because nobody will believe them.”

Kian stepped closer, and I went into his arms.

“It makes me want to interview a bunch of people in mental hospitals and find out what they know.”

He grinned. “I guarantee that’s not the future Wedderburn’s pushing you toward.”

“That’s hardly a deterrent. He says I’m on track, but who the hell knows? According to you, I won’t find out until I graduate.”

“Worst matriculation present ever.”

“It’s hot when you use ten-dollar words.” I smiled up at him, ready for a kiss, until I heard one of my parents coming down the hall.

“Edie? Who are you talking to?” my dad asked.

“I’m on Skype,” I called, while motioning for Kian to disappear.

“Ah. Say hi to Vi for me.”

With a regretful look, Kian ported, leaving me to wait for him to pick me up the old-fashioned way. When he arrived via the front door, he was a little late. Both my parents inspected him for the second time, and my mom grilled him about his science background. I suspected she might show him the door if he showed too many liberal arts tendencies. Most likely, his poetry journal would get him evicted.

“Ready?” Kian asked, after fifteen minutes of convo with my parents, which was like eight dog years.

“Yeah, I’ll see you guys later.” With a wave, I followed him out and down the stairs, where we found Mr. Lewis staring at a giant nail protruding over the front door.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

“Yeah. Some no-good bastard stole my horseshoe.”

At first, I had no idea what he was talking about and then I realized he’d mentioned hanging one up for protection. “That’s a problem.”

The old man leveled a grim look on me. “More for you than me, girlie.”

“Why’s that?” I asked, while Kian glanced between us in dawning startlement.

“Because now they can come in.”

“Could you text Kian and ask him not to pick you up today?” From Davina, that was a surprising question, but she had been a little different today, possibly as a result of our whispered conversation at the weekend sleepover, after Jen fell asleep. She’d followed me to the bathroom after lunch and was pretending to put on lip gloss while I washed my hands.

“Why?” Maybe it qualified as cynical, but I wasn’t agreeing to anything without asking. My life was currently in too much of a mess for me to take on more complications blindly. Brittany’s death danced in the corners of my mind while monsters lurked in the shadows, waiting to catch me unaware. Lately my head was a scary place to live.

“I need to look for Russ, and I was hoping you’d go with me. I can borrow my mom’s car, but I don’t want to leave the city alone.”

“How far is it?” There was a limit to what I could get away with on a school night.

“About an hour and a half.”

“I can text my dad and tell him I’m studying at the library with you if you’re willing to corroborate.”

Last year I’d have bet my vintage TARDIS that any member of the Teflon crew, even a perpetual floater, didn’t know what that meant. Davina nodded. “Absolutely. And it’d be awesome if you were willing to tell my mom the same thing.”

“Not a problem.” That settled, I tapped out a quick message to Kian saying I didn’t need a ride after all, but he didn’t reply.

Apparently he has a life.

“Thanks for doing this.” She paused, lowered her voice to add, “The others don’t get it, but Russ actually cares about me.”

I hadn’t seen any evidence of it, but she seemed secure in that conclusion. “I’m sure he’s a nicer guy than he lets on.”

“Exactly. When we’re alone, he’s really sweet. Did you know he plays piano?”

“Absolutely not.”

“He’d kill me if he knew I told you. Don’t let on, okay?”

“I won’t.” Unlike Allison, I didn’t want to cause trouble for Davina.

“Thanks. I’ll see you after school?”

I nodded and she hurried out of the bathroom, much more cheerful. Pausing at my locker, I sent my dad a message. Working on a project with Davina at the library. Home later than usual.

How late?

Not sure. I’ll have dinner out.

Remember, I know what time the library closes.

My dad was sharp. While I’d never given him any reason to distrust me, he remained cognizant that I might suddenly start lying at any time, an anomaly he would doubtless blame on hormones and their response to people with penises. Since Russ presumably had one, my father wasn’t entirely wrong, just not right in the way he’d imagine.

Afternoon classes passed slowly; I turned in assignments and took notes, though not my usual meticulous ones. Davina was waiting when the last bell rang. She jittered with energy as she walked to my locker, surprising me with her nonstop narrative. Before, I always got the impression she was shy, but that might’ve resulted from being shut down by Brittany and Allison. Possibly she felt like we’d bonded, after the hospital and then the sleepover weirdness.

“I don’t know if you heard,” she said, as we headed for the front gates, “but Allison is holding tryouts to fill Brit’s spot on the squad.”

“You’re the alternate. Aren’t you supposed to move up automatically?”

Her chin firmed as if she was clenching her teeth. “That was how they conned me into being mascot for the last three years.”