My Soul to Steal
Page 85

That stall held my best chance of crossing over without being seen.
The door on this side of the barrier was open, so I went in and closed it, then stepped up onto the slimy-looking toilet seat to keep a set of feet from suddenly appearing in the human world version of the stall when I crossed over. I braced my hands on either side of the stall, careful not to slip. I did not want to land in the goopy yellow liquid putrefying in the bowl beneath me.
Then I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, concentrating on the memory of death to summon my bean sidhe wail and my intent to cross back over.
I thought about Doug dropping the clip from Nashs bright red balloon, the night of his own party. Hed inhaled as I raced toward him, but I was too late; that one hit was all it took. Dougs eyes had rolled back into his head and hed collapsed to the ground. The balloon had fallen with him, and Id nearly choked on the scream trying to rip free from my body.
And with that memory, the wail came again, as real and as painful as it had been the first time. My throat burned like Id swallowed fire. The scream bounced around in my skull and in my heart, demanding to be set free. Pain echoed everywhere the trapped wail slammed into me, but I clenched my jaw shut, letting only the thinnest thread of sound out, desperately hoping it would be enough.
I closed my eyes and clung to the sides of the stall when the fog began to roll in, roiling around the base of the filthy toilet and over my ankles, though I couldnt feel it. I ignored the intense need to open my mouth, to scream for that remembered soulone I hadnt been able to help, in real life.
And now, in memory, Doug and his soul would help me. They would send me back so I could save myself and Sabine from eternal torture, and the rest of the school from the energy blitz that would soon be its ruin.
When I heard water runningthe first sound not produced by my tortured throatI glanced down to find the toilet beneath me clean and white, the water in its bowl clear and odorless. Only then did I let that thread of sound recede within me, like winding up an unrolled ball of twine. A very thorny, scalding ball of twine.
What was that? a girls voice asked from outside the stall, and I nearly groaned out loud. The broken stall was empty, which Id been counting on, but the bathroom itself was not. Either someone was skipping class, or Id crossed over between bells.
What was what? another voice asked.
I considered hiding out until they left, but I had to find Sabine and Nash before they made it to sixth period, or I might not get another chance until it was too late.
Bracing myself for embarrassment, I hopped down from the toilet and unlocked the stall. When I stepped out, all four girls in front of the mirror turned to stare at me.
Cant you read the sign?
Gross. That ones out of order.
Thats Sophie Cavanaughs sister.
Cousin, I corrected on my way into the hall, and before the door closed behind me, the fourth girl made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat. Ew! She didnt even wash her hands!
Or flush!
I speed-walked through the hall, sidestepping students and teachers alike, scanning dozens of familiar faces for the two I needed. I couldnt stop Avari and Invidia on my own. I needed Nash and Sabine.
But what I found was Tod. Where I least expected him.
After glancing into Sabines sixth period classroom with no luck, I ducked into the first-floor girls restroom in search of her. Id checked three of the four stalls and found them all empty when Tod suddenly appeared in front of the door to the fourth.
I shrieked a shrill profanity and jumped back so hard my elbow slammed into the third stall. You cant be in here!
Tod stuck his head through the last stall door, then backed up and shrugged. Its all clear.
Well, it might not be for long. What are you doing here?
Nash called me.
He had? Emma must have told him Id disappeared from fifth period.
Oh. Well, thanks, but Im more than capable of sneaking around the Netherworld on my own for a few minutes. Even if I almost got devoured by man-eating plants and carnivorous kindergarteners So you can go polish your shining armor for someone else to admire.
I might have been a little irritated at him for telling me to give up Nash.
Tod frowned and brushed a curl from his forehead. You went to the Netherworld? Why the hell would you do that?
I didnt do it on purpose! I propped my hands on my hips, impatient to continue my search, but I wasnt going to be seen talking to an invisible friend in the hall. Not so soon after the recent bathroom weirdness. Sabine took her anger issues out on me when I fell asleep in French.
Hell hath no fury like a mara falsely accused.
Nash told you? Whatd he do, call you at work?
Todd shook his head and pulled a small, slim phone from his back pocket. Mom put me on her cell plan, now that I can pay for the additional line. Got it a couple of days ago.
And you didnt give me the number? I swallowed a bitter, unexpected wash of disappointment.
The reaper grinned and leaned with one hip on the nearest sink. I was waiting for you to ask.
A flash of irritation burned in my cheeks. That might have actually happened, if Id known you had a phone.