Sherrilyn Kenyon - Infamous

“I know, Ma. But I like walking you home … and I’m really sorry, okay?” He held his breath, waiting for her to respond in kind.

She didn’t.

Instead, he got more of her icy shoulder. “I’ll see you in a little while.” She hung up.

Now I feel like total rolled over crap. She was probably thinking she should have signed the papers and tossed him to the nearest couple.

Trying not to think about it, he locked the door and left.

It was just starting to get dark. And that went a long way in cheering him. He loved this time of day the most, before the tourists started their heavy drinking, and when the Royal Street business owners began closing up for the night. They were always so cheerful as they left their premises and made their deposits. It was also that last few moments of the day before the real predators, the ones bullets and guns wouldn’t stop, came out to prey.

“Hey, Mrs. Clancy,” he said as the owner of the Masquerade store locked her door to leave.

“Evening, Nick. You headed the wrong way to get to your mama. You going to Bubba’s store? Tell me that boy ain’t holding any more of his zombie survival classes.”

Nick laughed. “I imagine he’ll be behaving himself tonight since his mama’s in town.”

“Oh good. My worst fear is he’ll start a fire in his store and it’ll burn all the way down to here.”

“Always a possibility with Bubba.” He grinned. “Good night, Mrs. Clancy.”

“’Night to you, too.”

Tucking his hands into his pockets, Nick headed toward the Cathedral.

He wasn’t far from Jackson Square when he heard someone call out his name. Since he was a regular in the Quarter and knew most of the people who worked and lived in it, he paused.

Nick was about to ignore it when he finally spied another kid his age just in front of him, down the street a little ways. It was Bristol from school.

“Yeah?” he asked.

“I was actually on my way to your house to see you. Can you come here for a sec?” he asked, motioning Nick into the alley that led to a closed clothing boutique. “I want to ask you something about school.”

His gut tightened and told him it wasn’t a good idea. But it was Bristol. He’d known him for years. What could be wrong with going to speak to an old friend for a minute?

Nick headed over. “What’s up?”

The moment he was deep inside the alley, Bristol shoved a piece of paper in his face. “What is this crap of bull?”

It took a second for his eyes to focus on the printout that listed him as a source, claiming Bristol was gay. It also said that he knew it for a fact as he was gay, too, and had partied with Bristol a few times.

Nick curled his lip. “I didn’t say that, crap.”

“Yeah, right. You told the same lie about Spence.”

“I didn’t say nothing to anyone. I don’t do things like that.”

“And I’m supposed to take the word of a piece of Cajun trash whose mom’s a stripper and whose dad is in jail for multiple murders? Really?”

Nick’s temper exploded and he ached to pulverize him. “I did not say that,” he reiterated, enunciating each word with the malice he felt.

“You’re a liar.” Bristol shoved him.

Don’t hit back.… His mom wouldn’t be able to take two fights in one day. He’d never hear the end of that.

He thought about Wren walking away earlier in Sanctuary. Wren definitely possessed the power to rip out the throat of anyone who annoyed him.

You can walk away, too. No time to learn like the present. Taking a deep breath, Nick turned to leave.

The moment he did, Bristol punched him in the back so hard, it knocked the wind out of him. “You don’t turn your back on me, punk. You’re the one who’s trash, not me.”

Yeah, right. But Nick wasn’t going to fight him. Not now. Not after the argument he’d had with his mom. “Look, Bristol—”

He punched him again. This time in the jaw.

Nick staggered back. He had to get out of here before he struck back. Turning around, he took two steps and then pain exploded through his skull.…

Kody? Is that you?”

Nekoda frowned at the panicked sound of Cherise Gautier’s voice on her phone. “Yes, ma’am. Can I help you?”

“Is Nick with you?”

“No, ma’am. Why?”

Cherise hesitated before she spoke again. “He was supposed to walk me home after he picked up something for Kyrian at Liza’s store. I got off work almost thirty minutes ago and he hasn’t shown up yet. When I called Liza, she said she hasn’t seen him, either. I know how upset he was earlier … you don’t think he’s done anything stupid, do you?”

No. The most likely scenario was something had gotten ahold of him and eaten him. “I don’t, Mrs. Gautier. He was feeling much better when I left. Let me make a few calls and see if anyone’s seen him.”

“I already called Bubba and Mark. They said he left with you.”

“I dropped him off at your house.” She left it at that since his mother frowned on anyone being in their apartment when she wasn’t home.

“I’ll stay here in case he’s just running late. Please let me know if you find out anything.”

“I will.” Kody hung up the phone and immediately called Caleb. “Hey, is Nick with you?”

“No. Why?”

“He’s missing.”

Caleb cursed. “I’ll start searching.”

“Me, too. See you later.” She hung up and closed her eyes. Using her powers, she tried to sense Nick’s whereabouts.

For once, it didn’t work. She had absolutely no idea where he was.

Fine, this was why she’d given him her class ring. He thought it was normal, but she could always use it to locate him.

Sure enough, she picked up on it immediately. Letting out a relieved sigh, she allowed it to pull her to his side. She materialized in a dark alley that appeared to be in the middle of the Quarter somewhere. She glanced around, but didn’t see anything. Why would it have brought her here if there was no Nick?

She was just about to leave when she heard a low, soft groan in the shadows. “Nick?”

It sounded like it could have been her name, slurred. Maybe. She couldn’t tell for certain.

Her heart pounding in fear, she ran to where it had originated. At first, she only saw garbage on the street. But after searching some of it, she found a body on the ground, partially covered by refuse.

Please don’t be Nick.…

Panic swelled inside her as she uncovered the wounded human. A small pool of blood had formed around his head and shoulder.

“Nick?” she breathed, kneeling down by his side so that she could turn him over and confirm his identity.

Yeah, it was him. She should have known by his tacky shirt. But his face was so battered and bloodied that she wouldn’t have known it was him except for the clothes he wore.

Okay, how do I get him help? If she flashed him into the hospital, they’d know immediately that she wasn’t human, and they’d notify the authorities to come lock her up.

Think Nekoda, think. What was it that humans did for help?

Ambulance. That’s right. That was it. She reached for her phone and called 911. It took a few minutes before a woman answered it.

Kody’s hand shook as she wished she had the powers to heal Nick so that he wouldn’t have to suffer. If only … “Hey, I found my friend in an alley where he was viciously attacked, and he’s bleeding really badly.”

“Is he conscious?” the operator asked.

“No, ma’am.”

“I need your address.”

Kody ground her teeth as she used her powers to locate it. She gave it over to the woman, and stayed on the line as she waited for help to come.