My Soul to Keep
Page 32
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Scott rolled his eyes from side to side, as if to catch movement on the edge of his vision. My stomach tried to heave itself through my chest and out my throat. I knew that motion. I did the same thing when I peeked into the Netherworld. When I tried to get a clear view of the heard-but-unseen creatures skittering and sliding through the impenetrable gray fog.
Could he see the fog? Could he see the things? Was something from the Netherworld talking to him?
No. Its not possible. But my chill bumps were as big as mosquito bites.
What is he saying? I was past the desk, four feet from him now, and closing. When Nash came back, I would peek into the Netherworld to rule out that impossibility. To verify that Scott wasnt seeing and hearing something from that other reality. From a world he didnt even know existed.
Because creatures that couldnt cross over couldnt shout across the barrier, either. Right?
Scott looked up and smiled, but it was the kind of smile a cancer patient wears when hes realized chemo isnt worth the pain and nausea. When hes finally decided to give up and let Death claim him. Take me to him. Hell fix me if you take me to him.
Dread burned like ice in my veins, and I edged back when Scott stepped toward me. Take you where?
There. He rubbed his brow, as if to soothe a bad headache. Where he is. He says you know how to cross.
Cross. No. My eyes closed briefly, and I sucked in a long, devastated breath.
Scotts shadow man wanted me to take him to the Netherworld.
11
WHO IS HE, SCOTT? I shuffled back another step and trailed my fingers over the top of his fathers desk, hoping the smooth, cool surface would ground me, in spite of my rapidly thumping heart. I needed to peek into the Netherworld, to see for myself who was talking to him, but I was afraid to take any of my attention from Scott.
Take me he whispered fiercely, matching each of my steps with a larger one of his own. We have to cross!
Not gonna happen. I might not have Harmonys experience, or my dads wisdom and pathological caution, but I was nowhere near naive enough to believe that whoever was tormenting Scott would simply fix him if I took him to the Netherworld.
The Netherworld didnt do charity. This shadow man would claim us both, body and soul, and wed never see the human world again.
Over Scotts shoulder, the doorknob turned, and relief washed over me as Nashs voice called out. Kaylee?
But the door didnt openit was lockedand I never should have taken my eyes off Scott.
Nash, hes not having delus
Scott grabbed my arm and jerked me forward. He pinned me to his chest and I gasped, more surprised than afraid.Something sharp bit into my throat, just below my jaw, and the shout Id been about to unleash died on my tongue.
Take me he demanded, and a cold, nauseatingly sweet puff of Demons Breath wafted over my face.
My breath hitched as I tried not to inhale, and my pulse pounded in my head. I wasnt sure exactly where my jugular ran through my neck, but I was pretty sure accuracy wasnt as important as enthusiasm in the art of throat slashing.
If you dont take me, Im gonna die. And youre gonna die with me, Scott whispered, his voice shaky with terror.
His skin was cold, even through both layers of our clothing, and the bladesomething smalla paring knife, maybe?felt warm by comparison. Scott, you dont want to go there. I had to force the words out, afraid that any movement of my throat would force the metal through my skin. Trust me.
Carter, what are you doing? Nash asked through the door, and I was worried by how composed he soundedhis best friend was about to cut my head off! Not that Nash knew about the knife
She wont take me! Scott hissed, his grip bruising my arm.
He has a knife, I said as loudly as I dared with the blade still pressed against my skin.
Take you where? Nash asked, ignoring my contribution to the exchange. And thats when I realized he was Influencing Scotttrying to talk him down with a little bean sidhe push. Let me in, and well talk about this.
Hes not delusional, Nash, I said, struggling to stay calm. Something wants me to cross over with him. Could you please help me explain why thats not a good idea?
I needed Nash to do the talking, if there was any chance of his Influence actually working. And I was fighting complete panic at the feel of the blade against my throat.
In theory, if my time was upif my name was on the listI would die, and no amount of talking or fighting would stop that.
And if it wasnt my time, so long as I stayed in the human world and avoided Netherworld elements, I wouldnt die, no matter what. That not-death could come about in any number of ways. Scott might turn out to have colossally bad aim with a knife, or Nash might do everything right to stop the bleeding. Or Tod might blink in, then blink me instantly to the hospital. Or we might actually talk Scott out of violence.
OrScott could maim me beyond recognition and normal physical function without actually killing me.
But no matter what might happen next, crossing over would be worse. Our expiration dates meant nothing in the Netherworld, which officially made it the scariest place in existence, and the place I was least likely to take Scott.
Could he see the fog? Could he see the things? Was something from the Netherworld talking to him?
No. Its not possible. But my chill bumps were as big as mosquito bites.
What is he saying? I was past the desk, four feet from him now, and closing. When Nash came back, I would peek into the Netherworld to rule out that impossibility. To verify that Scott wasnt seeing and hearing something from that other reality. From a world he didnt even know existed.
Because creatures that couldnt cross over couldnt shout across the barrier, either. Right?
Scott looked up and smiled, but it was the kind of smile a cancer patient wears when hes realized chemo isnt worth the pain and nausea. When hes finally decided to give up and let Death claim him. Take me to him. Hell fix me if you take me to him.
Dread burned like ice in my veins, and I edged back when Scott stepped toward me. Take you where?
There. He rubbed his brow, as if to soothe a bad headache. Where he is. He says you know how to cross.
Cross. No. My eyes closed briefly, and I sucked in a long, devastated breath.
Scotts shadow man wanted me to take him to the Netherworld.
11
WHO IS HE, SCOTT? I shuffled back another step and trailed my fingers over the top of his fathers desk, hoping the smooth, cool surface would ground me, in spite of my rapidly thumping heart. I needed to peek into the Netherworld, to see for myself who was talking to him, but I was afraid to take any of my attention from Scott.
Take me he whispered fiercely, matching each of my steps with a larger one of his own. We have to cross!
Not gonna happen. I might not have Harmonys experience, or my dads wisdom and pathological caution, but I was nowhere near naive enough to believe that whoever was tormenting Scott would simply fix him if I took him to the Netherworld.
The Netherworld didnt do charity. This shadow man would claim us both, body and soul, and wed never see the human world again.
Over Scotts shoulder, the doorknob turned, and relief washed over me as Nashs voice called out. Kaylee?
But the door didnt openit was lockedand I never should have taken my eyes off Scott.
Nash, hes not having delus
Scott grabbed my arm and jerked me forward. He pinned me to his chest and I gasped, more surprised than afraid.Something sharp bit into my throat, just below my jaw, and the shout Id been about to unleash died on my tongue.
Take me he demanded, and a cold, nauseatingly sweet puff of Demons Breath wafted over my face.
My breath hitched as I tried not to inhale, and my pulse pounded in my head. I wasnt sure exactly where my jugular ran through my neck, but I was pretty sure accuracy wasnt as important as enthusiasm in the art of throat slashing.
If you dont take me, Im gonna die. And youre gonna die with me, Scott whispered, his voice shaky with terror.
His skin was cold, even through both layers of our clothing, and the bladesomething smalla paring knife, maybe?felt warm by comparison. Scott, you dont want to go there. I had to force the words out, afraid that any movement of my throat would force the metal through my skin. Trust me.
Carter, what are you doing? Nash asked through the door, and I was worried by how composed he soundedhis best friend was about to cut my head off! Not that Nash knew about the knife
She wont take me! Scott hissed, his grip bruising my arm.
He has a knife, I said as loudly as I dared with the blade still pressed against my skin.
Take you where? Nash asked, ignoring my contribution to the exchange. And thats when I realized he was Influencing Scotttrying to talk him down with a little bean sidhe push. Let me in, and well talk about this.
Hes not delusional, Nash, I said, struggling to stay calm. Something wants me to cross over with him. Could you please help me explain why thats not a good idea?
I needed Nash to do the talking, if there was any chance of his Influence actually working. And I was fighting complete panic at the feel of the blade against my throat.
In theory, if my time was upif my name was on the listI would die, and no amount of talking or fighting would stop that.
And if it wasnt my time, so long as I stayed in the human world and avoided Netherworld elements, I wouldnt die, no matter what. That not-death could come about in any number of ways. Scott might turn out to have colossally bad aim with a knife, or Nash might do everything right to stop the bleeding. Or Tod might blink in, then blink me instantly to the hospital. Or we might actually talk Scott out of violence.
OrScott could maim me beyond recognition and normal physical function without actually killing me.
But no matter what might happen next, crossing over would be worse. Our expiration dates meant nothing in the Netherworld, which officially made it the scariest place in existence, and the place I was least likely to take Scott.
