My Soul to Save
Page 22
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There wasnt much conversation over dinner, but every now and then, my uncle would look across the table at his brother and chuckle as he pulled a piece of cheese paper from his pasta and folded it into his napkin, breaking the tension for another few moments. For which I was profoundly grateful.
Nash and I excused ourselves immediately after dinner, nodding at my fathers reminder to be home by ten-thirty, and I drove, because Nashs mom had their car. Id rarely driven in downtown Dallas and had never been to Addisons hotel, so I counted us lucky to get there in one piece.
The lobby of the Adolphus was full of dark, ornate furniture and fancy chandeliers, and I felt underdressed clomping through the lobby in jeans and sneakers. Fortunately, before I could work up the nerve to ask the snooty clerk behind an oversize desk which room Lisa Hawthorne was in, Tod appeared from around a corner, wearing respectably clean and intact jeans and an unwrinkled button-up shirt open over his usual dark tee. He jerked his head toward a cluster of elevators on one end of the lobby, and we followed him gratefully into the first one to open.
Shes pretty nervous, so go easy on her, Tod said, eyeing Nash as soon as the mirrored doors closed and the elevator slid into motion.
Shes not the only one. I ran one shaky hand over my ponytail, wondering if I should have worn my hair down. Or wiped my feet before walking through the lobby. But the overpriced hotel wasnt really the cause of my nerves.
Id peeked into the Netherworld that afternoon, and wasnt anxious to do it again anytime soon. But as badly as the prospect of actually walking into that shadow-world scared me, my horror was much greater at the thought of condemning Addison Page to an eternity there. Even if she had signed away her own soul.
Tod was right. She didnt know what she was getting into. She couldnt have.
The elevator binged in warning and slowed to a smooth stop, then the doors slid open almost silently. Tod got off first, and Nash and I followed him down a thickly carpeted hallway past at least a dozen doors before he stopped in front of the very last one, nearest the emergency staircase.
Hang on a minute, he said, then popped out of sight before we could protest, leaving me and Nash standing in the hall like idiots, hoping no one came out to ask if wed lost our key. Or to call Security.
Who me? Paranoid?
Absolutely.
Several seconds later, the door opened from the inside, and for the second time in as many days, we walked into the private rooms of Addison Page, rock star. I had a fleeting moment of panicked certainty that once again, she wasnt expecting us. That Tod had made the whole meeting up. But Addison stood in the middle of the sitting room, watching us through red-rimmed eyes, and she didnt look surprised to see us. Thank goodness.
Thanks forcoming, she said as we made our way to a collection of couches gathered around yet another flat-screen television. I know you guys probably think I dont deserve your help, and the truth is that Im not sure I do.
Neither was I, but the fact that she had her own doubts made me want to help her for her own sake, beyond my need to make up for not being able to save the girls my aunt had damned to eternal torture.
Yes you do. Tod guided her to a boldly patterned armchair with one hand on her lower back. She didnt pull away from him, and I was impressed all over again by her composure. I wouldnt have been so calm if I had an undead ex-boyfriend.
Or the staggering lack of a soul.
Nash sank onto the cream-colored couch and pulled me down with him, his lips firmly sealed against the dissenting opinion I read clearly on his face. He wasnt convinced that we had any business there. Or that Addison had any right to ask for our help.
Tod sat in the other chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. His gaze hadnt left Addy since wed walked into the room, and I had a feeling it wouldnt anytime soon.
Addison wrung her hands together, twisting her fingers until I was sure one of them would break. Sowhats next? How can I help?
We need to know who Tod began, but Nash cut him off boldly.
Addy, before we get started, you need to understand how dangerous this is. Not just for you, but for us. His voice was as hard and unrelenting as Id ever heard it, and he squeezed my hand as he spoke. Were putting our own lives in danger for you, and honestly, the only reason Im here is for Kaylee. Because I dont want her to get hurt.
My heart jumped into my throat, and a smile formed on my face in spite of the solemn circumstances.
I understand. Addison said, but Nash interrupted again.
I dont think you do. I dont think you can. Were bean sidhes. We both watched her face very carefully for a reaction, but got none. Do you know anything about bean sidhes?
A little, she admitted, glancing briefly at the reaper. Tod told mesome stuff. Her cheeks flushed, and I wondered what else Tod had told her.
Good. Nash looked relieved to finally hear something he approved of. Did he tell you that the Netherworld is a very dangerous place for bean sidhes? That we have no defenses against the things that live there? That we cant even pop out like he can, if something goes wrong?
She nodded again, shyly. Guiltily. And I could see that Addison Page wasnt accustomed to asking for help. She lookedhumiliated. As if the admission of her own powerlessness might break her.
Nash and I excused ourselves immediately after dinner, nodding at my fathers reminder to be home by ten-thirty, and I drove, because Nashs mom had their car. Id rarely driven in downtown Dallas and had never been to Addisons hotel, so I counted us lucky to get there in one piece.
The lobby of the Adolphus was full of dark, ornate furniture and fancy chandeliers, and I felt underdressed clomping through the lobby in jeans and sneakers. Fortunately, before I could work up the nerve to ask the snooty clerk behind an oversize desk which room Lisa Hawthorne was in, Tod appeared from around a corner, wearing respectably clean and intact jeans and an unwrinkled button-up shirt open over his usual dark tee. He jerked his head toward a cluster of elevators on one end of the lobby, and we followed him gratefully into the first one to open.
Shes pretty nervous, so go easy on her, Tod said, eyeing Nash as soon as the mirrored doors closed and the elevator slid into motion.
Shes not the only one. I ran one shaky hand over my ponytail, wondering if I should have worn my hair down. Or wiped my feet before walking through the lobby. But the overpriced hotel wasnt really the cause of my nerves.
Id peeked into the Netherworld that afternoon, and wasnt anxious to do it again anytime soon. But as badly as the prospect of actually walking into that shadow-world scared me, my horror was much greater at the thought of condemning Addison Page to an eternity there. Even if she had signed away her own soul.
Tod was right. She didnt know what she was getting into. She couldnt have.
The elevator binged in warning and slowed to a smooth stop, then the doors slid open almost silently. Tod got off first, and Nash and I followed him down a thickly carpeted hallway past at least a dozen doors before he stopped in front of the very last one, nearest the emergency staircase.
Hang on a minute, he said, then popped out of sight before we could protest, leaving me and Nash standing in the hall like idiots, hoping no one came out to ask if wed lost our key. Or to call Security.
Who me? Paranoid?
Absolutely.
Several seconds later, the door opened from the inside, and for the second time in as many days, we walked into the private rooms of Addison Page, rock star. I had a fleeting moment of panicked certainty that once again, she wasnt expecting us. That Tod had made the whole meeting up. But Addison stood in the middle of the sitting room, watching us through red-rimmed eyes, and she didnt look surprised to see us. Thank goodness.
Thanks forcoming, she said as we made our way to a collection of couches gathered around yet another flat-screen television. I know you guys probably think I dont deserve your help, and the truth is that Im not sure I do.
Neither was I, but the fact that she had her own doubts made me want to help her for her own sake, beyond my need to make up for not being able to save the girls my aunt had damned to eternal torture.
Yes you do. Tod guided her to a boldly patterned armchair with one hand on her lower back. She didnt pull away from him, and I was impressed all over again by her composure. I wouldnt have been so calm if I had an undead ex-boyfriend.
Or the staggering lack of a soul.
Nash sank onto the cream-colored couch and pulled me down with him, his lips firmly sealed against the dissenting opinion I read clearly on his face. He wasnt convinced that we had any business there. Or that Addison had any right to ask for our help.
Tod sat in the other chair, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. His gaze hadnt left Addy since wed walked into the room, and I had a feeling it wouldnt anytime soon.
Addison wrung her hands together, twisting her fingers until I was sure one of them would break. Sowhats next? How can I help?
We need to know who Tod began, but Nash cut him off boldly.
Addy, before we get started, you need to understand how dangerous this is. Not just for you, but for us. His voice was as hard and unrelenting as Id ever heard it, and he squeezed my hand as he spoke. Were putting our own lives in danger for you, and honestly, the only reason Im here is for Kaylee. Because I dont want her to get hurt.
My heart jumped into my throat, and a smile formed on my face in spite of the solemn circumstances.
I understand. Addison said, but Nash interrupted again.
I dont think you do. I dont think you can. Were bean sidhes. We both watched her face very carefully for a reaction, but got none. Do you know anything about bean sidhes?
A little, she admitted, glancing briefly at the reaper. Tod told mesome stuff. Her cheeks flushed, and I wondered what else Tod had told her.
Good. Nash looked relieved to finally hear something he approved of. Did he tell you that the Netherworld is a very dangerous place for bean sidhes? That we have no defenses against the things that live there? That we cant even pop out like he can, if something goes wrong?
She nodded again, shyly. Guiltily. And I could see that Addison Page wasnt accustomed to asking for help. She lookedhumiliated. As if the admission of her own powerlessness might break her.
