With All My Soul
Page 59
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Ill find them, Tod promised his brother. Ill bring them back.
Im going with you.
No. Tod turned back to me, and his irises were achingly still. I couldnt tell if he was hiding something from me or from Nash. Take Nash and Sabine back to your house, please, and Ill meet you there. I wont stay long. I just want to cross over and check around the building, in case Brendons hiding her somewhere where I can get to them quickly. Maybe this isnt as bad as it seems.
But I was pretty sure I wasnt the only one who wished my uncle could have carried both Harmony and the giant hammer.
Nash grabbed his brothers shoulder and pulled him around. Youre not going without me. Shes my mother, too.
And I would take you, if you could get back on your own. But you cant, which means Id have to look out for you while I look for Mom. Stay here. Help Kaylee and Sabine keep an eye on the others. Thats the best way you can help.
Thats bullshit! Nash shouted.
Shhh. Sabine took his hand in her half-casted one. You have to shut up, or were going to get caught. He started to argue, but she clamped one hand over his mouth. If you promise to shut the hell up, Ill go with him and help find your mom.
No! He pulled her hand away, and his next words were clearer. Putting yourself in danger isnt going to help her. About a second after hed said the words, Nash seemed to realize they applied to him, too. Fine. Point taken. Ill stay if you stay. When Sabine nodded, Nash turned back to Tod. You sure you got this?
The reaper nodded grimly. And the longer I wait, the harder theyll be to find. Assuming they got away.
Please let them have gotten away.... Ill take Nash and Sabine back, then join you.
No, Tod said. My temper flared, and I started to argue, but he spoke over me. Please stay here. I may be able to get to my mom and your uncle, but we have no idea where your dad is. And if something happens to you, whos going to find him?
He wasnt in that basement, Sabine added. You got false information.
Thats impossible. I pushed hair back from my face, wishing I had a ponytail holder. Hellions cant lie.
She shrugged, shining her cell phone screen in my face. Okay then, your hellion was wrong.
Hes not my hellion. Ira would devour my soul just as soon as Avari would if he could get it.
Hes as much yours as I ever was, Nash said, eyes flashing in anger. And he got to first base a hellof a lot faster. I gaped at him in shock. Tods fist was already in motion when Nash backed up, warding off the blow with two open palms. Im sorry. That was out of line.
Sure as hell was, Tod growled.
I take it back. Im sorry. Im just... He blinked and made a visible effort to push back the fear and frustration obviously sharpening his tongue. This is messed up. Avari has my mom.
He has my dad, too. And Sophies, I pointed out. We were all in the same position.
Shit, Sabine swore. Whos going to tell her?
Isnt scaring the crap out of my cousin kind of your raison dtre? Look at that. You can use French outside of French class!
Sabine shrugged. Shes not horrible all the time. And you gotta respect a girl who travels with a pair of scissors in her purse.
A designer purse, no doubt. Maybe designer scissors.
I exhaled heavily. Until there was no air left in my body. Shes my cousin. Ill tell her. I owed her that much.
Okay. Im going back in, Tod said, and I pulled him into another hug before he could blink out.
If youre not back in half an hour, Im coming after you, I whispered into his ear, standing on my toes so I could reach. Theres no one left here who can stop me.
He clutched me tighter and nodded. Ill be back. Then he let me go and disappeared.
I took Sabines good hand in my left and Nashs in my right, then blinked all three of us into my backyard, where I was pretty sure we wouldnt accidentally land on someone. Or in something.
Styx barked her head off when we came in through the back door, and even after she saw me, she kept barking until I picked her up and scruffed her fur. Tensions were high, and she could feel that. Seeing me was no longer enough to assure her that I was okay.
I heard the plastic clatter of the television remote being dropped on the coffee tablea sound I made on a daily basisthen footsteps pounded through the living room and into the kitchen.
Well? Em demanded, while Sophie and Luca fell into place behind her. Their eyes were wide. Sophie clutched Lucas hand. They were all three scared.
Okay, first of all, when someone walks in through the back door unannounced, dont assume its someone you know. Sabine marched past me and into the kitchen, where she pulled open the fridge door. Assume its someoneor somethingthat wants to kill you. And come armed. She turned to me with her good hand wrapped around the door handle. Wheres that baseball bat?
Im going with you.
No. Tod turned back to me, and his irises were achingly still. I couldnt tell if he was hiding something from me or from Nash. Take Nash and Sabine back to your house, please, and Ill meet you there. I wont stay long. I just want to cross over and check around the building, in case Brendons hiding her somewhere where I can get to them quickly. Maybe this isnt as bad as it seems.
But I was pretty sure I wasnt the only one who wished my uncle could have carried both Harmony and the giant hammer.
Nash grabbed his brothers shoulder and pulled him around. Youre not going without me. Shes my mother, too.
And I would take you, if you could get back on your own. But you cant, which means Id have to look out for you while I look for Mom. Stay here. Help Kaylee and Sabine keep an eye on the others. Thats the best way you can help.
Thats bullshit! Nash shouted.
Shhh. Sabine took his hand in her half-casted one. You have to shut up, or were going to get caught. He started to argue, but she clamped one hand over his mouth. If you promise to shut the hell up, Ill go with him and help find your mom.
No! He pulled her hand away, and his next words were clearer. Putting yourself in danger isnt going to help her. About a second after hed said the words, Nash seemed to realize they applied to him, too. Fine. Point taken. Ill stay if you stay. When Sabine nodded, Nash turned back to Tod. You sure you got this?
The reaper nodded grimly. And the longer I wait, the harder theyll be to find. Assuming they got away.
Please let them have gotten away.... Ill take Nash and Sabine back, then join you.
No, Tod said. My temper flared, and I started to argue, but he spoke over me. Please stay here. I may be able to get to my mom and your uncle, but we have no idea where your dad is. And if something happens to you, whos going to find him?
He wasnt in that basement, Sabine added. You got false information.
Thats impossible. I pushed hair back from my face, wishing I had a ponytail holder. Hellions cant lie.
She shrugged, shining her cell phone screen in my face. Okay then, your hellion was wrong.
Hes not my hellion. Ira would devour my soul just as soon as Avari would if he could get it.
Hes as much yours as I ever was, Nash said, eyes flashing in anger. And he got to first base a hellof a lot faster. I gaped at him in shock. Tods fist was already in motion when Nash backed up, warding off the blow with two open palms. Im sorry. That was out of line.
Sure as hell was, Tod growled.
I take it back. Im sorry. Im just... He blinked and made a visible effort to push back the fear and frustration obviously sharpening his tongue. This is messed up. Avari has my mom.
He has my dad, too. And Sophies, I pointed out. We were all in the same position.
Shit, Sabine swore. Whos going to tell her?
Isnt scaring the crap out of my cousin kind of your raison dtre? Look at that. You can use French outside of French class!
Sabine shrugged. Shes not horrible all the time. And you gotta respect a girl who travels with a pair of scissors in her purse.
A designer purse, no doubt. Maybe designer scissors.
I exhaled heavily. Until there was no air left in my body. Shes my cousin. Ill tell her. I owed her that much.
Okay. Im going back in, Tod said, and I pulled him into another hug before he could blink out.
If youre not back in half an hour, Im coming after you, I whispered into his ear, standing on my toes so I could reach. Theres no one left here who can stop me.
He clutched me tighter and nodded. Ill be back. Then he let me go and disappeared.
I took Sabines good hand in my left and Nashs in my right, then blinked all three of us into my backyard, where I was pretty sure we wouldnt accidentally land on someone. Or in something.
Styx barked her head off when we came in through the back door, and even after she saw me, she kept barking until I picked her up and scruffed her fur. Tensions were high, and she could feel that. Seeing me was no longer enough to assure her that I was okay.
I heard the plastic clatter of the television remote being dropped on the coffee tablea sound I made on a daily basisthen footsteps pounded through the living room and into the kitchen.
Well? Em demanded, while Sophie and Luca fell into place behind her. Their eyes were wide. Sophie clutched Lucas hand. They were all three scared.
Okay, first of all, when someone walks in through the back door unannounced, dont assume its someone you know. Sabine marched past me and into the kitchen, where she pulled open the fridge door. Assume its someoneor somethingthat wants to kill you. And come armed. She turned to me with her good hand wrapped around the door handle. Wheres that baseball bat?
