My Soul to Steal
Page 88

That thought was scary enough to make the fine hairs on my arms stand up. But even worse was the knowledge that if he could make Sabine cross over that way, he could make me do the same thing.
So why hadnt he? Why would he need human hosts, if he could just make us cross over on our own?
I dont think that would work, Tod said, and my relief came almost before Id heard his rationale. You have to have intent to cross over, and even when hes in control of your body, hes not in control of your willpower. He cant make you want to cross over.
Sabine did, I pointed out, frowning over the inconsistencyyet grateful for it.
Sabine made you dream that you wanted to cross, right? Nash asked, and I nodded. Shes had a lot of practice weaving nightmares. Avari hasnt. For the moment, I think youre safe from that. But we have to find a way to keep him from possessing us, or this is going to keep happening.
Tod shrugged. Being dead seems to do the trick.
I glanced at him, arms crossed over my chest. I think were looking for something a little less drastic.
Nash cleared his throat, bringing us back on target. Okay, we have to find Sabine. And whoever else theyre planning to grab.
Any idea who that could be? Tod asked.
I shook my head. All I know is that Avari claims to have prepared both the hosts. Which Im guessing means that he wore them out somehow, so theyd be tired enough to fall asleep at school today.
Well, then, the jokes on him, Nash said. Everyone I know could fall asleep at school every day.
That doesnt exactly narrow it down, I snapped, as the pressure to do something started to overwhelm me. And the fact that it has to be someone with a connection to the Netherworld narrows it down too much. I cant think of anyone else who qualifies.
I could tell you a nauseatingly familiar, glacier-cold voice said from my left, and I turned slowly to find Alec watching us from the entrance to the quad. But that would ruin the surprise.
I stood so fast I nearly tripped over my own feet. Let him go, I demanded, wishing my own voice held half the authority the hellions did.
Avari sauntered toward us in Alecs tall, lanky body, moving much too smoothly for a human. Or even a half human. Ive been in here for almost twelve hours nowthanks to the energy produced by the cesspool of envy that is your schooland Ive grown much too comfortable to give him up now.
Twelve hours? But twelve hours ago, Alec was
Dark rage washed over me, igniting tiny fires in my veins. It was you the whole time, in Emmas room. With the ice cream.
Tod and Nash glanced at menervously, eyes narrowed in identical questioning expressions, but I ignored them.
You only pretended youd let him go.
Avari shrugged. Youve made it difficult to gain access to this body lately, so why give it up once I had it?
But the password How did you know about my bike? I asked, and both Hudson brothers frowned in confusion.
Ahh, Ms. Marshall is a veritable fount of information.
Hed tricked Emma into playing what she thought was a trivia game, then had manually hacked our password. Damn it! That never would have happened if Id told her what was going on.
But I saw you. I stepped closer, and Nash and Tod moved up to stand at my sides. An hour ago, in the Netherworld. Talking to Invidia. You didnt have Alec then.
Avari smiled with Alecs full lips, and the effect was too creepy to bear. I had him inwhat would you call it today? Limbo?
Paused? You had him paused? Somehow, that sounded almost worse than being actively possessed. Where had Alec been, when neither he nor Avari were using his body? Some sort of mindless, metaphysical holding cell?
Precisely. And that would never have been possible, if this generous educational institution hadnt provided me with the power to control both his body and my own simultaneously.
Let him go. Nash stepped forward when my horror proved too much to fight through for the moment. But Avari had come to make a deal, and he wouldnt leave until hed gotten what he wanted.
Or been physically evicted from his host.
What do you want? I demanded, trying to gather my thoughts and come up with a plan.
I want you. The brown eyes that stared at me were Alecs but their expression was all hellion. You come with me now, of your own free will, and I give you my word that Ill never possess any of your friends again.
Stall him, Tod said, and thats when I realized Avari could neither see nor hear the reaper. And Tod had a plan. Keep him talking. Blink if you understand, he said, and I blinked, careful not to look at him and give away his presence.
Ill be right back, he said. I blinked again, and Tod disappeared.
No way, I said to the hellion, hating every second that I was forced to address him in my friends body. Youre gonna have to do better than that if you expect me to just hand myself over to you.
Alecs head cocked to the side, like he was studying a particularly interesting insect. This isnt a negotiation, Ms. Cavanaugh. If you dont cooperate, youll be to blame every time I feed through this body, or try on Ms. Marshalls form and find out exactly what she has to offer.