The Rising
Page 63

“So there could be people in our backwoods?” Derek grabbed Corey’s shoulder. “What else do you see?”
“Hold on.” He closed his eyes.
“We don’t have time to ‘hold on.’ Tell me what you—”
“Oww!” Corey shoved Derek’s hand off his shoulder. “That hurt, ass**le. I’m doing my best here.”
“I didn’t mean—”
Corey silenced him with an angry wave, then rubbed his shoulder with one hand and his temples with the other.
I took Corey’s elbow, leading him to a chair. “Daniel? Can you check his bag? See if you find his meds?” I crouched as Corey sat. “Did you see anything else?”
He glowered at Derek. “I’m sure I would have if Teen Wolf hadn’t tried to dislocate my shoulder. The vision’s gone now and once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back.”
Derek mumbled an apology, then went to the window and peered out. Chloe walked up behind him.
“If anyone is out there, let’s not give them a target, okay?” she said. “We should tell your dad.”
“Right.” He paused. “Is Liz around?”
“I’ve been trying to contact her.” She turned to us. “That’s not easy if she isn’t here.”
I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. I guess just that we didn’t have ghostly help for scouting the situation.
Derek strode out the door without so much as a glance our way. Chloe paused to ask if we wanted to come, but I said no, Corey still wasn’t feeling well. If Kit wanted to talk to him, we’d be here.
“Are you sure about that?” Corey muttered once they were gone. “Chloe is nice enough, but that Derek? Real charmer. If anyone busts through that door, he’s liable to throw us to them as cannon fodder.”
I wasn’t sure I disagreed.
“Their dad seems okay,” he said, “but I’m not convinced he takes us seriously. The aunt definitely doesn’t. I can’t get a read on the brother, but the sister?” He rolled his eyes. “A bigger diva than Hayley.”
“I know,” I murmured. “As soon as Daniel brings your meds, we’ll get Hayley, Rafe, and Ash, and if these guys don’t decide to run, we will. It’s not exactly shaping up to be the partnership I hoped for.”
“Let’s focus on the others, not my meds, okay?” Corey said. “Daniel’s right. My last vision seemed to be a glimpse of the present, not the future. I don’t want to hang around here hoping this one’s different.”
I agreed and we went to gather our group.
We found Ash first. He was in the front foyer, sitting on the floor, as if guarding the door. I wouldn’t have noticed him if he hadn’t seen me passing and asked if something was up.
When I told him what had happened, I think he was almost happy. Relieved, at least. He hadn’t wanted to stick around and this gave him the excuse he needed. He said he’d head outside and scout. I tried to stop him, but he ignored me, so I settled for telling him to be careful, which only earned me a disdainful glower.
Up to Chloe’s room next. We met Daniel in the hall. He had the meds and passed them to Corey, who dry-swallowed one as we kept moving to the bedroom.
When we walked in, Tori squawked.
“Um, I don’t know how you do things,” she said, “but around here, the guys knock before they walk into a girl’s room.”
“The door was open,” Corey said. “Wide open.”
“No excuse,” Hayley said. She was now sitting on Tori’s bed, where they must have been chatting away, as if this was a sleepover party.
I told them about Corey’s vision.
“And what do you want us to do?” Tori said.
“You? Nothing. Hayley? If Mr. Bae doesn’t decide to go, we’re leaving.”
“If Kit doesn’t decide to go, why would anyone go?” Tori said. So she called her father by his first name? I wasn’t surprised.
Hayley glanced at Tori. “She’s right. He’s the grown-up and the Cabal expert. That’s why we came here. If he doesn’t want to leave, I don’t see the point.”
“Then I guess you’re staying,” Corey said.
“What’s going on in here?” said a voice from the doorway.
It was Dr. Fellows. As I repeated my explanation, Simon appeared behind her. When I got to the “we may be surrounded by Cabal hit men” part, Simon took off, thundering down the stairs.
When I finished, Dr. Fellows said, “And this was a vision you had, Corey?”
“Right.”
“Are you sure?”
“Huh?”
She lowered her voice. “Is it possible that Derek . . . influenced this vision of yours?”
“What? No.”
“Absolutely not,” I said. “Derek’s the one who cut it short. Accidentally, but still. And if by influence, you mean ‘talked us into telling a lie to get everyone out tonight,’ then I don’t appreciate the insinuation, Dr. Fellows.”
Her brows shot up to meet her hairline. Tori smirked and leaned back onto her pillow.
“Well, Maya, I don’t know you yet, so you’ll forgive me if I question you.”
“I don’t blame you. You don’t know us. But you do know Derek and, sorry, but persuasion doesn’t seem to be the guy’s strong suit.”
“She has a point, Lauren,” Tori said.
Dr. Fellows shot her a look, which Tori met with a cool gaze.
“Also,” Tori said, “I really think you’d know your niece better than that. I wouldn’t put it past Derek to lie to get us out of here, but no way would Chloe let him pull others into the scheme.” Before Dr. Fellows could answer, Tori turned to me. “I don’t doubt tall, dark, and seriously cute had a vision, but I’m still going to wait for Kit’s call on this one.”
“Did she just call me cute?” Corey said.
Hayley turned on Tori. “Did you just flirt with my boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?” Corey said.
“Are you coming?” I asked Corey. “Or staying to flirt back?”
“Bossy, isn’t she?” Tori said.
“Yeah, I think it’s hot,” Corey said with a grin.
Daniel prodded me along before I could retort. Corey fell in beside us and we were at the bedroom door when Ash came running in.