Before I Wake
Page 96
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Yeah, if he saw your name, hed definitely tell us. But Damn, I didnt want to have to tell her this. That knifeits actually a dagger made of hellion-forged steel.
What does that mean?
Supernatural events trump the list. Which means
I could die, she finished for me, and her gaze dropped in shock. Again.
Yeah. Of a wound Id inflicted. But were not going to let that happen. Were going to get you to the hospital. I couldnt take her that far in one jump, but maybe Tod could.
Where was Tod? Why hadnt he crossed into the Netherworld with us? He was gone, and so was the broken dagger.
Shit. Give me your hand. I reached down, and Em placed her bloody left hand in mine, still clutching her wound with the other. I closed my eyes and blinked us to the pavilion my father had rented, then helped Em onto one of the picnic table benches.
Where is everyone? she asked, and I glanced around, wondering the same thing.
Harmony took my dad and Sabine to the hospital. Nash and Luca went to find Sophie, but I dont see any of them.
What about Tod?
I dont know. The chill bumps on my arms grew even fatter.
The fire was still going in the grill, burning the burgers and charring the already-burned hot dogs. My dads spatula lay on the grass a few feet away. The soda cans he and Harmony had been drinking from still sat on the table nearest the grill. Nash hadnt packed anything up yet, which meant theyd been gone since I went to confront Jayson/Invidia.
Kaylee! Nash shouted, and I looked up to see him and Luca running around the curve of the lake toward us, from the shore opposite where Em had been taken hostage. I exhaled in reliefuntil I realized they were alone.
Hey, Emmas hurt! I said as they stopped beneath the pavilion, winded from their run. Where are Tod and Sophie?
We couldnt find Sophie, Nash said. There were several sets of footprints in the sandsome of them oursand hers seemed to head into the woods. But we couldnt tell for sure.
Didnt know we were supposed to be looking for Tod, Luca added, still trying to catch his breath from the sprint.
What happened? Nash dropped to his knees in front of Em before I could pull another word out of him. She moved her hand so he could look at her wound, and her nose and forehead wrinkled in pain.
I accidentally cut her. I was aiming for Jayson, who turned out to be Invidia.
Invidia? Luca said.
The hellion of envy who turned Sabine and Kaylee against each other, Emexplained.
It wasnt just us! I insisted. The whole school went crazy because of her!
Emma needs a hospital, Nash said.
I know, but I cant blink her that far, and we cant leave Sophie and Tod. I dug my keys from my pocket. Why dont you take Em to the hospital, and Luca and I will stay here and find them.
Nash shook his head and refused the keys when I tried to hand them to him. Im not leaving you here.
But, Em
Im fine for a little while, she insisted, but I found that hard to believe. Besides, if you find Tod, he can get me there faster than driving, right?
I nodded. In theory.
Ems gaze focused on something behind me, and her frown deepened. Shit. We have company. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it before I could turn and look. I dont know whats going on, but you guys have to make it stop, she said, glancing from Nash to Luca, then back to me. Before someone else gets caught in this like Jayson did.
And like Emma had. And Sophie. And Brant. And Scott. And countless others.
She was right.
I turned to follow her line of sight and froze, blinking in disbelief. A thin woman in designer jeans was rounding the corner of the jogging trail, where it disappeared into a thickly wooded area of the park. I knew that blond hair, perfectly cut and styled, and I knew that her eyes were blue, though I wasnt close enough to see that for myself.
Oh, no I whispered, not surprised to hear the hollow, shocked quality of my own voice. Aunt Val.
21
OH, SHIT, NASH breathed, and Emma stiffened in my peripheral vision.
Thats Sophies mom? Luca said.
Yeah. She traded her life for Sophies last September, Nash said, and I have to admit, I bristled.
But it was Vals fault Sophie died in the first place. I didnt want my aunts last-minute attempt to abort her own evil scheme to be confused with my mothers genuine sacrifice on my behalf. They were two entirely different women. And, no, thats not Sophies mom. Thats a demon wearing her soul.
Speaking of Em said, and I glanced up again to see Sophie round the corner of the trail, calling after her mother.
Sophie, no! I glanced at Nash. Stay with Em. Please. Then I took off with Luca, headed for my cousin. Sophie, thats not your mom! I yelled again, and Sophie stopped, startled, wiping tears from her shell-shocked, tear-reddened face.
I know, but
What does that mean?
Supernatural events trump the list. Which means
I could die, she finished for me, and her gaze dropped in shock. Again.
Yeah. Of a wound Id inflicted. But were not going to let that happen. Were going to get you to the hospital. I couldnt take her that far in one jump, but maybe Tod could.
Where was Tod? Why hadnt he crossed into the Netherworld with us? He was gone, and so was the broken dagger.
Shit. Give me your hand. I reached down, and Em placed her bloody left hand in mine, still clutching her wound with the other. I closed my eyes and blinked us to the pavilion my father had rented, then helped Em onto one of the picnic table benches.
Where is everyone? she asked, and I glanced around, wondering the same thing.
Harmony took my dad and Sabine to the hospital. Nash and Luca went to find Sophie, but I dont see any of them.
What about Tod?
I dont know. The chill bumps on my arms grew even fatter.
The fire was still going in the grill, burning the burgers and charring the already-burned hot dogs. My dads spatula lay on the grass a few feet away. The soda cans he and Harmony had been drinking from still sat on the table nearest the grill. Nash hadnt packed anything up yet, which meant theyd been gone since I went to confront Jayson/Invidia.
Kaylee! Nash shouted, and I looked up to see him and Luca running around the curve of the lake toward us, from the shore opposite where Em had been taken hostage. I exhaled in reliefuntil I realized they were alone.
Hey, Emmas hurt! I said as they stopped beneath the pavilion, winded from their run. Where are Tod and Sophie?
We couldnt find Sophie, Nash said. There were several sets of footprints in the sandsome of them oursand hers seemed to head into the woods. But we couldnt tell for sure.
Didnt know we were supposed to be looking for Tod, Luca added, still trying to catch his breath from the sprint.
What happened? Nash dropped to his knees in front of Em before I could pull another word out of him. She moved her hand so he could look at her wound, and her nose and forehead wrinkled in pain.
I accidentally cut her. I was aiming for Jayson, who turned out to be Invidia.
Invidia? Luca said.
The hellion of envy who turned Sabine and Kaylee against each other, Emexplained.
It wasnt just us! I insisted. The whole school went crazy because of her!
Emma needs a hospital, Nash said.
I know, but I cant blink her that far, and we cant leave Sophie and Tod. I dug my keys from my pocket. Why dont you take Em to the hospital, and Luca and I will stay here and find them.
Nash shook his head and refused the keys when I tried to hand them to him. Im not leaving you here.
But, Em
Im fine for a little while, she insisted, but I found that hard to believe. Besides, if you find Tod, he can get me there faster than driving, right?
I nodded. In theory.
Ems gaze focused on something behind me, and her frown deepened. Shit. We have company. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it before I could turn and look. I dont know whats going on, but you guys have to make it stop, she said, glancing from Nash to Luca, then back to me. Before someone else gets caught in this like Jayson did.
And like Emma had. And Sophie. And Brant. And Scott. And countless others.
She was right.
I turned to follow her line of sight and froze, blinking in disbelief. A thin woman in designer jeans was rounding the corner of the jogging trail, where it disappeared into a thickly wooded area of the park. I knew that blond hair, perfectly cut and styled, and I knew that her eyes were blue, though I wasnt close enough to see that for myself.
Oh, no I whispered, not surprised to hear the hollow, shocked quality of my own voice. Aunt Val.
21
OH, SHIT, NASH breathed, and Emma stiffened in my peripheral vision.
Thats Sophies mom? Luca said.
Yeah. She traded her life for Sophies last September, Nash said, and I have to admit, I bristled.
But it was Vals fault Sophie died in the first place. I didnt want my aunts last-minute attempt to abort her own evil scheme to be confused with my mothers genuine sacrifice on my behalf. They were two entirely different women. And, no, thats not Sophies mom. Thats a demon wearing her soul.
Speaking of Em said, and I glanced up again to see Sophie round the corner of the trail, calling after her mother.
Sophie, no! I glanced at Nash. Stay with Em. Please. Then I took off with Luca, headed for my cousin. Sophie, thats not your mom! I yelled again, and Sophie stopped, startled, wiping tears from her shell-shocked, tear-reddened face.
I know, but
