Genevieve closed her eyes and sighed as fingers travelled through her long blonde hair, smoothing her tresses off of her face. A hand moved over her shoulder, down her arm, and came to rest on her bare stomach. She felt warm breath on her cheek before lips kissed her skin softly.

"Mmm," Gen said with a smile. She rolled over to face Janine Marlin-Garcia and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. "Can we maybe not get up today?"

"I seem to recall your dad stipulated that you can only stay over on a school night if you actually go to school the next day. However..." Her fingers trailed down Gen's back. Gen opened her eyes to see Janine give a suggestive smile. "There's nothing that says we can't be a little late."

"You are infinitely wicked...but yeah, we should probably get up."

Janine sighed and slid across her bed. "I'm hopping in the shower. Wanna join?"

"You're still aiming to make us late, aren't you?" Gen said with a grin. "Nah, I'm good." She watched Janine slip on a nightshirt and head out of her room for the bathroom.

Gen rolled onto her back and stared up at the slanted ceiling. She loved Janine's house—loved staying over. Her parents had split up years earlier, and she and her siblings lived with her mom and step dad. With three younger kids in the house, Janine was more or less left alone, and the upper attic room of the house was a sanctuary to her and her guests... Guests which frequently included Genevieve now.

They'd been dating since the night at On the Map in April, and Gen had never known anyone like her new girlfriend. Everything with Peyton had been secretive and often awkward, but with Janine, their relationship had been natural and open from the start.

After slipping out of bed, she dragged her overnight bag to her feet and rifled through in search of a change of clothes. As she moved a shirt aside, her gaze fell on a small spell book tucked at the bottom of the bag. Another reason to go to school was that she had two spares after lunch and both of them were supposed to be spent with Merri and Sage at the facility their new mentor rented for them all. The "facility" was the basement of a corner store Cade managed in downtown Newhaven. Not as nice as Michael's had been, but Gen preferred the company.

She dug out a long denim skirt, fresh underclothes, and a tank top, and changed for school. Slipping a bright yellow cardigan overtop, she brushed her long straight hair into a pair of braids and finished packing her bag just as Janine returned wrapped in a towel.

"Bathroom's yours if you want to get cleaned up," she said. As Gen walked by, she stopped her in the doorway and took her arm, leaned forward, and kissed her.

Gen pulled back with a giggle, covering her mouth with her hand. "I've got morning breath," she mumbled.

"Then you owe me one later," Janine whispered, kissing her cheek instead.

Gen smiled in return—she did look forward to making it up.




Easily the worst revelation on Genevieve’s semester schedule when she started twelfth grade a few days earlier had been seeing Ms. Florence Kern’s name next to her first class. Gen had tried her damndest to switch to another Advanced English course, but doing so would have required her to drop a Fine Arts class, which she refused to do. So once again she sat before Ms. Kern, pretending to listen to whatever the evil woman was talking about.

God, I’m tired, she thought, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. No matter what she promised her dad about being good and getting to class on time after staying at her girlfriend’s place, she never did get much sleep. Gen yawned.

“Bored, Miss Weist?”

She blinked a few times and sat up straight to see Kern looking at her, along with just about everyone else.

Gen sighed. “Kinda.”

“You have a problem with Wuthering Heights?”

“If by ‘problem’ you mean I find it boring, then yes, I have a problem with Wuthering Heights.”

Kern’s beady eyes narrowed. “Perhaps you might find it more interesting in detention.”

Perhaps, Gen thought, but she said nothing as she flipped open her book and pretended to read.

Kern went back to the chalkboard to continue writing.

Glaring at the back of her teacher’s head, Gen felt annoyance rise in her. Half the class yawned during her boring lectures. Why single Gen out? Of course, it was because she didn’t like her. It was one thing to get pissy about students not paying attention—it was another thing entirely to play favourites. Stupid bitch.

When Kern asked the class to take some notes, Genevieve picked up her pen and flipped open her notebook. But as the ball-point tip hit the paper, a smile came over her lips as she began to write. Forget Bronte—she had something better in mind. The scratches took on the look of symbols, indecipherable to anyone but her. She blocked out the noise and distractions around her until her mind focused only on the sketches. Your will shall bend to my command.

She let out a deep breath as her mind grew heavy for a moment. Her hazy gaze moved up to Kern, still at the chalkboard.

A few minutes passed, and the looks of disinterest on the other student’s faces began to disappear. Some kids snickered. Whispers started.

Genevieve smiled darkly as she waited.

Someone near the back of the room burst out laughing. Kern snapped to attention and turned around.

“And what is so funny?” she asked.

More students started laughing.

Confusion passed before Kern’s eyes. She followed their gazes to the chalkboard behind her to read the words, “All this talk of bad old literature is making me horny, so I’m glad I brought my vibe today...”

Ms. Kern’s face went a shade of red that Gen wasn’t sure she’d seen before as she picked up the chalk brush and began madly wiping away the words.

After closing her notebook again, Genevieve sat back with a smile on her face.

"I'm supposed to start my co-op placement this time next week," Sage said. "He'd better not expect me to duck out of that every afternoon as well."

"You would have if Michael asked you to," Gen pointed out as she steered the car out of the school parking lot.

"Probably, but that's because he's my sensei. Cade isn't."

"He is according to Natalya."

Right, Natalya. They hadn't seen or heard from the Immortal since her brief appearance in April. Now September, she still hadn't made any contact with them and Sage failed to see why they were listening to her to begin with.

"You're just bitter 'cause you're not teacher's pet anymore," Gen continued.

"And I'm not looking to be. I just don't like Cade. Michael...understood us."

"By 'us' you mean 'you,' I presume."

"Michael cared."

Gen rolled her eyes. "Yeah, about himself. Look, I'm not exactly president of the Cade McMahon fan club here, but don't make Michael out to be some kind of saint."

Sage didn't want to argue with her anymore, so she held her tongue. True, she didn't think Michael was a saint, but he did seem to genuinely care...in his own way.

And from his perspective, this sudden change must have been hell to accept. He'd lost everyone and everything in his life—his brother died, his wife had been murdered, he lost his child—and he'd always believed it was for this greater purpose. That it was to help her, Gen, and Merri. And then along came Natalya to tell him he was wrong.

Sage didn't envy him having to face that. If someone had told her that about Hayden—that his death meant nothing after she had spend years coming to accept it was somehow necessary for the greater good—she probably would have killed them.

Or herself.

She glanced at the clock on the dashboard. Noon. Merri would be leaving Michael's soon to head to Cade's. They shouldn't stay away too long—shouldn't leave Michael alone all evening. She'd somehow convince them to leave Cade's early or something, maybe stop at Michael and Merri's briefly to check on him... Sage wouldn't dare voice any of her concerns to the others, but the truth was that she worried. He never spoke about Natalya firing him, never asked about Cade during the times she saw him, but...but something was changed about him. That final night in April, when they'd faced and destroyed the siren, he almost seemed happy, almost seemed to be joking with them. But now, what was he supposed to do with his life? Sage felt for him in a way she was certain the other two girls didn't...and never could.

Sage darted a hand out to catch the dashboard and steady herself as Gen turned the car sharply onto the side of the road.

"You're sure you got your license?" Sage asked, sending a wary glance Gen's way.

"Yes. Barely. Shut up." She nodded to the sidewalk and Sage followed her gaze to see Meredith walking toward them. "Jesus, she'd rather walk than just ask me to pick her up."

"Uh, maybe she's afraid of your driving?"

"Don't be silly—she's infinitely safer inside the car than in the path of it."

Merri hopped in the backseat. "Interesting that you just happened to be driving by."

"It was out of our way," Gen said with a grin. "But since Sage doesn't care about being on time anymore, I figured the odd detour would be cool. Anyone wanna stop for lunch? Cade won't mind."




Cade minded. He minded very much, from Sage's point of view.

He berated Gen for the first ten minutes after they finally arrived. She responded by rolling her eyes and draining her plastic cup of pop. Only ice really remained, however, so she kept the straw pressed between her lips and would suck the remaining liquid quite loudly whenever he began to speak. She'd give him a wide-eyed, innocent look now and then, as if she couldn't figure out why he was so upset.

Sage figured Gen didn't like Cade any more than she liked Michael, but she wasn't afraid of him in the least bit, so she got away with more and therefore preferred him as a mentor.

While Michael had generally focused his attention on Sage after giving Merri and Gen instructions to follow on their own, Cade spent time with each of the girls equally. The only benefit Sage could see was that she only had to endure his company for short periods of time.

She couldn't say there was anything particularly bad about him. He was patient. Encouraging. Kind. Pretty much everything that Michael wasn't.

Still, Sage didn't like him. By four in the afternoon she was ready to leave.

"And you're going where?" he asked as she gathered her knapsack and slipped on her shoes.

Sage slipped the strap of her bag over her shoulder and glanced at him sharply. "My one sister has dance class, so I have to babysit the other."

His gaze narrowed, but all he gave her was a short nod. Relieved, she jogged up the steps, out of the poorly lit basement and to the upper store. A "be back in ten minutes" sign hung on the door, and had ever since about one o'clock. She wondered how much business Cade lost while they were all working, and whether or not he even cared.

The long walk to Michael’s passed quickly enough and soon she was at his front door. His convertible sat in the driveway, giving her some comfort to know he was around. Gen seemed to think he’d up and move one of these days after Natalya had rendered him useless, but Merri doubted he’d leave her with nowhere to live. For now, at least, it seemed he was still there.

Sage knocked. No one answered. She tried the knob and it opened easily.

She didn’t see any lights on inside, and most of the curtains were drawn over the huge windows. Michael was far more likely to jog up and down the stairs to the loft than take a walk around the block, so she figured he had to be there somewhere. But she didn’t call out. No, she didn’t imagine he’d answer, and if he did, it would be to yell at her to leave.

Leaving her shoes, coat, and backpack at the door, she stepped into the main room and glanced around. No one in the kitchen. No one in the living room. The only side room where she was permitted entry was Merri’s room, and she doubted he’d be in there; from what she understood from her friend, he valued Merri’s privacy as much as his own.

She definitely wasn’t permitted in the loft without an invitation, but then if she got in trouble, she could just claim a desire to work out on the roof.

Sage crept up the flight of stairs in the dark, wondering if she should have flipped on a light. The only time she was ever envious of Gen was when she used her light spell. That thing was infinitely handy.

A floor lamp stood next to the top of the stairs. She reached over and yanked on the chain. Light illuminated the immediate space, and far to the left she saw a body laying face down in bed. An amber bottle of bourbon, emptied of its contents, sat on the nightstand and glinted in the light. Sage sighed. He’d die of alcohol poisoning one of these days.

“Michael,” she called as she walked to him. He didn’t stir. Hopefully today isn’t the day… “Michael!”

He muttered something under his breath but didn’t move.

Sage stopped next to the bed and glared down at him. “Michael, get up.”

He turned his head and cracked an eyelid open. “What?” he mumbled, words obscured in part from his lips pressed against the pillow.

“I’m here for my training session.”

Michael groaned and rolled over onto his back. “We decided last week we weren’t going to bother anymore.”

“No, you decided. I didn’t agree to anything.”

“Then I’m deciding for you—get the fuck out of here.”

“You can’t lie in bed all day.”

Michael glanced at the bedside clock. “I think I did, actually.”

“We have work to do. Get up.” She waited, but he didn’t move. “Sensei—”

“I’m not your damn sensei anymore. Besides, I told you to leave.”

“Well, if you’re not my sensei anymore, I don’t have to listen to you.”

He glared at her. “You spend too much time with Genevieve.”

“And I’d be spending even more time with her if I didn’t come here for training sessions. I’ll be waiting downstairs.” Without waiting for an answer, she jogged down the steps and went for the kitchen.

After slipping on a fresh T-shirt, Michael forced one foot after the other, down the stairs to the main part of the house. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and yawned. A shower would have been nice, but coffee would be best to start. And if he dragged out the time it took him to get ready, Sage might get fed up and leave.

He found her in the kitchen, leaning over the kitchen sink. While he put on a pot of coffee, he got a good look at what she was doing.

“I can buy more, you know,” he said as he watched her pour a bottle of whiskey down the drain.

“I’ll take your car keys too,” she said as she set the empty bottle on the counter.

“There’s a place in town that delivers.” And at least she didn’t find the mini-fridge in the loft.

She scowled up at him. “Does Merri really put up with you drinking all day?”

“I don’t drink all day.”

“Oh no?”

“No. I sleep. I go out—”

“To see the Satanist skank?”

Michael rolled his eyes. “How many fucking times do I have to repeat myself; she is not a Satanist.”

“But she is a skank.”

“Your point?”

“This isn’t healthy.”

“Since when have I done anything healthy?”

“I know how you feel,” she said carefully. “I know that—”

“I highly doubt that,” he muttered as he poured a cup of black coffee.

“After what you’ve been through? Your family dying, then the amount of time you’ve spent with me and the others, trying to guide us…Michael, your book collection alone tells me you’ve spent every waking hour on helping us for quite awhile. Natalya just firing you like that, acting like it was nothing…”

He pressed the rim of the mug to his lips and took a sip of coffee while glancing at the clock. She’d better finish soon—he’d like to get in a shower before nightfall.

“You can’t just give up,” she continued her supposed pep talk. “Anne wouldn’t want—”

“You have no idea what Anne would want,” he cut in.

“I know she wouldn’t want you to give up.”

“This isn’t giving up.” He drained the mug and slammed it back down on the counter. “This is freedom. I should probably thank Natalya for it.”

“You don’t mean that.”

No, he didn’t, but stubbornly wouldn’t admit it to her. “You think this has been fun for me? Worrying about the safety of three idiot teenage girls?”

“Fun? No. But I think you wanted it. I think you liked having a purpose.”

Well, it beat the hell out of not having one. “And now I don’t. End of story.”

“Why? Because Natalya said so? What the hell does she know? She doesn’t know us—she hasn’t spent the last year helping us. You did.”

Jesus Christ, when did she become so fucking persistent?

Ignoring Sage, he moved past her and went for the fridge. The cupboard above it would have been impossible for her to reach without standing on something first, so Michael wasn’t surprised to see that a flask of vodka still sat up there. Not his favourite drink, but it would do.

Her disapproving gaze followed him as he filled a glass with ice and poured the clear liquid over top. When he went to the living room and slumped down on the couch, she went after him.

Sage walked past him toward the windows and drew the curtains back, letting far too much light into the space. It did nothing for the hangover Michael was sporting except strengthen it, and he shut his green eyes to the light. He heard her footfalls on the hardwood as she approached him and sensed her kneeling by the couch.

“You’ve done more for us than Natalya or Cade will ever understand,” she said softly. “If you were really done with us, you wouldn’t let Merri still live here—”

“Good point,” he said. “I’ll tell her to leave tonight.”

“We’d be dead if it wasn’t for you. And we still need you. Me, Merri, Gen—”

He looked at her and raised a brow skeptically.

“Oh, trust me, Gen needs you. I think she needs someone to be scared of—Cade doesn’t intimidate her, so she just does whatever the hell she wants. Honestly, it’s not just her driving skills that worry me. She’s getting really, really strong.”

And that was bound to happen, wasn’t it? Michael had done his damndest to ensure she remained responsible with magic. Sure, that meant keeping her in the dark as much as possible about what she was capable of, but there was nothing else he could do. She was like a time bomb waiting to go off. Right now, she had no cause to hurt anyone, but what if something else happened to her, like the night she was nearly raped?

Not my problem anymore, he reminded himself. It was Cade and Natalya’s problem. No reason why he should trouble himself with it.

Still, worry nagged his brain and it had little to do with Sage bringing up the subject. He’d thought of little else for months.

His cell phone, on vibrate, buzzed from its spot on the coffee table. Sage picked it up and handed it to him, so he felt obliged to answer. He recognized the phone number and grudgingly pressed the phone to his ear.

“What?”

“Busy?” Krysta said. He recognized that tone of voice.

“Yes.” He hung up and turned the phone off.

“Krysta?” Sage guessed as he tossed the phone on the coffee table.

Christ, maybe he should have gone to her apartment after all if he’d have to sit there and fucking talk about her.

“How long ago did Anne die?” she asked.

“Awhile.”

“A few years?”

“Why the fuck does it matter?”

Her gaze dropped at his sudden bark. “I just wondered how you moved on.”

Who says I did? “You’re looking to move on?”

“No…”

“It’s been a year.”

“Eleven and a half months.”

“Again, not unheard of.”

“There are just things I miss sometimes.”

“Sex.”

Her face flushed and she avoided his eyes. “Just little things. I miss…”

“The touch of another human being.”

“I miss him specifically, of course. But God, it would be nice to just be…hugged once in awhile.”

“I’m not going to hug you.”

Sage rolled her eyes. She seemed to pick that habit up from Genevieve as well. “I wasn’t asking you to. I just…sometimes I just want…something. When I think that I’ll never have that again…”

“If you’re looking for me to talk you into dating again, you’d be better off confiding in Merri or Genevieve.”

“I just wondered when you decided not to be alone anymore. When you decided to date other people.”

“I haven’t dated anyone else.”

Her cheeks darkened again with another blush. “Fine. When you decided to sleep with other people.”

He sighed. Christ, he was sick of these conversations. “A couple of years after Anne died.”

“How? Not graphic details, but…what changed?”

“I got really, really drunk.”

“Who was she?”

“Pretty sure she was a hooker.”

Sage’s jaw dropped open. “Oh my god, you—”

“Don’t exactly remember a lot,” he said, and for once he meant it. “So I don’t know. But I woke up and it turned out not to be the end of the world.”

“And you’ve never found anyone you loved?”

“Haven’t been looking.”

“You don’t feel like you’re betraying her?”

Every day. Every breath without her felt like a betrayal. He could replay it, rationalize it all he wanted, but it shouldn’t have happened. She should have lived. She shouldn’t have paid for his mistakes. It wasn’t her fault…

But that was, of course, the best way of punishing him. The best way of trapping him—cursing him. Kill Anne. Kill their son. Change him—make him into this monster he’d become.

Every day I betray her. But he wouldn’t say that aloud—not ever. Instead, he shrugged and took another sip of his drink.

“Doesn’t matter.” He drained the vodka from the glass. “Do you have someone in mind?”

“God, no. I don’t…want to love anyone else. I don’t want to move on. But I don’t like feeling like this either.”

He couldn’t figure out exactly why they were still having this conversation. “So you find someone, you fuck them, then you go back to your life. End of story.”

“Do you frequently counsel seventeen year old girls to sleep with random strangers?”

“If it’ll stop you from whining, yeah.”

“I don’t even know what I’m complaining about—it’s not like we were…like…a lot.”

Jesus, the kid was trying to discuss sex without even using the damn word. “I take that back—if you can’t say it, you shouldn’t be having it with anyone.”

“We’d only been doing it for a couple of months. And neither of us had any other experience, so we probably weren’t doing it right or whatever. But it was nice. I miss him. Don’t you miss being with Anne?”

If she said his wife’s name one more time, he was cracking himself over the head with that empty whiskey bottle. If I can force myself to get up, he thought, staring at the bottle far away on the kitchen counter. Maybe that’s why he was still talking to her—he lacked the will to move.

“Of course I do.”

“How old are you?”

“Why?”

“I’m just trying to do the math. You must have been young when you met her.”

He sighed, not answering her.

She furrowed her brows, trying to read him, perhaps. Thank god she wasn’t as good at that as Merri.

“If you waited two or three years after she was murdered, you must have taken it hard…was she the first person you were ever with?”

“No.” But she should have been. “I’d rather not continue this conversation.”

“Sorry.”

Sure you are.

“Can we get started working yet?”

Michael set the empty glass on the coffee table and stood. “Fine.” When Cade first showed up in April, the only one of the three he’d seen was Merri, but then one day Sage showed up at his doorstep after finding an excuse to leave Cade’s training session. From then on, she’d shown up two to three times a week throughout the summer. September—and school—came, and he expected that would be it, but no, she still insisted on coming by whenever possible. Every week, he said that would be it. The next week, she always came back.

He left her to change in Merri’s room and went to the bathroom himself to get cleaned up. A few days of stubble had settled on his face, so he lathered up and dragged a razor over the hair. He looked like hell—Michael was the first to admit it. Felt like hell, too. Shower would wait until after his session with Sage, however. Then maybe it would be time for another call to the liquor delivery place.

Sage had changed into a tracksuit and was in the process of lacing up the boxing gloves when he returned to the main room.

“Forget about that.”

She glanced up. “What?”

He nodded at the gloves. “I think you can box with the best of them now.”

Her movements were abrupt and frustrated as she tore the gloves off. “Still can’t beat you,” she muttered.

Yet, he thought. Most of the time, he was pretty sure she didn’t realize how close she came to kicking his ass. But she wouldn’t outperform him—not yet, anyway. He once thought she just lacked the ability to take the killing blow, but then she’d willingly killed the siren a few months ago, and he realized it wasn’t about the kill. No, it was about a willingness to play dirty. That was what she lacked. No matter the style she used, the advantages she had, she always went for the highroad. She’d never kick a man while he was down. Never even contemplate that someone would do it to her.

She hadn’t yet figured out that to win, she’d have to do whatever it took. No rules, no integrity, no fairness. Just the win.

He moved to the weapons cabinet and opened it. Selecting a pair of katanas from within, he lifted them out and handed one to her.

She stared down at the sword for a moment, and then looked back up at him, eyes wide. “A live blade?”

He shrugged. “Why not try?”

“Cade won’t let me touch an actual weapon.”

“He’s doing weapons training?” She hadn’t told him that yet.

“A bit.”

Michael was curious—he’d fully admit it. But he’d never ask. If Sage wanted to volunteer information, that was fine.

But he’d never ask.

They worked without speaking for an hour, and Michael was glad of it—he had no desire for any more conversation. And he needed the concentration without distraction, too. He was off his game that night—and the past few ones. It was all he could do to keep up with her, but thankfully she didn’t remark on his strained movements or lack of coordination.

The front door opened suddenly. It seemed a little early for Merri, perhaps, but then she didn’t go out with Thad every night. Michael didn’t bother turning to greet her.

“Thought I might find you here,” said a familiar voice that didn’t belong to Merri.

Sage paused what she was doing and looked over Michael’s shoulder. He did the same to see Genevieve grinning as she followed Merri into the kitchen. The Witch hopped on a barstool and slipped a tootsie pop into her mouth.

“Get out of my fucking house,” he said as he turned back to Sage. Unfortunately, he found the Warrior putting her sword away and taking a bottle of water over to the couch. Muttering under his breath, he returned his katana to the cabinet, and then headed toward the kitchen. Time for a pot of strong coffee.

“You can’t kick me out,” Gen said as he approached. “I’m Merri’s guest. Right Mer?”

“Nuh-uh, keep me out of this,” Merri said. She dropped her backpack on the counter, unzipped the top, and started pulling out items—food, by the look of it. “I’m making dinner for everyone, okay?”

Though Michael couldn’t recall the last time he ate real food, he was pretty sure there were still some groceries in the house. If not, he’d pay her for what she bought later—she couldn’t afford to be buying everything. Rethinking the coffee idea, he turned instead toward the fridge for a beer. Sure enough, he found at least the staples of a meal inside.

“You don’t need to be buying stuff,” he said. “I’ll pick up things tomorrow.”

Merri looked up at him and grinned. “Didn’t.”

Gen pulled the sucker out of her mouth with a pop before she spoke. “We stole it.”

“You robbed a goddamn grocery store?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Took it from Cade’s.”

“You two are so bad,” Sage said.

Merri’s eyes widened. “Don’t look at me!” She thrust her finger in Gen’s direction. “All her.”

“He got this new instant pizza dough,” Gen said. “So while he was with some customers when we were leaving, I got the idea to pick up a few things. Look, we’ve got like four types of cheese, sauce, pineapple, sun-dried tomatoes... And Janine’s busy tonight, so I had some free time, and managed to convince Mer to make us pizza. Oh, and we got supplies for sundaes too.”

Michael glanced over the items. They had at least fifty dollars worth there, and that was at grocery store prices—god knows how much it went for at a corner shop. “And he lets you take things?”

“Oh, god no,” Gen said. “That’s why we stuffed them in Mer’s backpack.” She reached into the pocket of her bright yellow cardigan and withdrew a handful of candy, including more tootsie pops. She slipped the sucker back in her mouth at the same time, and her next words came out jumbled. “Woon one?”

“You’ve developed quite the oral fixation.”

She pulled the sucker out of her mouth again and stuck her purple tongue out at him. “Don’t start that Chasing Amy B.S. about how all lezes are secretly just waiting for the right man. I can turn your insides out now. I’m that awesome.”

“Would never suggest such a thing,” he said dryly. “I think the world is better off without the potential of you procreating.”

“C’mon,” Merri said to him with a wink. “Haven’t you missed this?”

Fuck, no. “Is there any answer I can possibly give that will make everyone leave?”

Gen pretended to think about it. “Nope. Looks like you can’t escape us.”

“Lucky me.” He was tempted to take off, but he couldn’t remember the last time he ate an actual meal. Might be nice for once, even if it meant tolerating company for a couple of hours. He took a seat at the end of the breakfast bar to drink his beer and wait.

“So do you have a job yet?” Gen asked.

He sent a sideways glance her way to see her watching him with fake innocence, grin barely contained.

“I don’t suppose you can collect unemployment,” she continued when he didn’t say anything.

“I don’t suppose you can shut the fuck up.”

“I’m sorry, but there’re just all these things I’ve been wondering about. Like did you ever get to claim any damages incurred—while you had a job working with us—as expenses?”

“Let me guess,” Sage said. “You’re in accounting this semester?”

Gen nodded. “Yeah, I’m aiming for art school next year, but I figure I should know the business side of stuff. So anyway, Michael, I got thinking about you ‘cause I’m pretty sure you can write off mileage, some of your bills, and other things. You could file as a small business if you bent a few rules. Well, at least you could have, if you still had a job.”

Michael looked at Merri. “If you let her in here again, I’m kicking you out and changing the locks.”

“I know spells to open locks, don’t forget,” Gen said. “So why do you still live here?”

“Uh, Gen, I have to live here too,” Merri said. “Please don’t give him any ideas.”

“It’s just a question,” Gen said. “I know that if I had been fired, rendered completely useless, and forbidden resuming my duty as a burden on the chicks with superpowers, I’d definitely skip town—”

Fuck the pizza. Michael stood abruptly, beer in hand, and crossed the house toward the loft. He didn’t feel drunk, but god knows his blood alcohol level was probably still high—he decided not to chance a drive through town to a pub. Might as well go back to the dreamless sleep that had been interrupted a few hours earlier.

Sleep didn’t come easily, however. He crashed on the bed, pulled a pillow over his head to drown out the noise of the girls in the kitchen, and tried to rest.

Why hadn’t he left town yet? It was a good question. And how pathetic was it that he didn’t have anywhere to go? No plan, no direction. Nothing beyond those three girls for so long, and now he didn’t know what to do with himself. He could move, sure, but where would that leave Merri? He could also afford to keep the place in Newhaven for her temporarily while he went somewhere else, but still, he didn’t feel like leaving yet. Didn’t feel comfortable leaving them there alone yet.

So he stayed there, feeling—as Genevieve so succinctly put—useless.

He had no idea how long he’d been laying there when he heard a noise muffled through the pillow—louder this time. Michael lifted the pillow and looked back toward the stairs.

“I’ve been calling you,” Gen said as she approached.

“It didn’t occur to you I might be sleeping?”

“It occurred, I just didn’t care.”

“Jesus, would you fuck off already?” He rested his head again and closed his eyes, but ignoring her wouldn’t make her go away; he heard her footsteps advance toward him. Moments later something was dragged across the floor and the lamp next to the bed clicked on. He rolled onto his side and opened his eyes.

“I brought your pizza up.” She thrust a plate into his face.

“Great.” He took the plate and set it somewhere on the middle of the bed. “Not hungry. Go away.”

“Nah.” Gen sat on the mission rocking chair she’d dragged over. “Sage and Merri are down there debating using Neapolitan ice cream for their sundaes. Sage doesn’t like strawberry, but Merri said—”

“I don’t care!” he snapped.

Gen lifted her pizza and chewed it, not caring about his outburst. Jesus, when did he stop being scary to these people?

With a sigh, he sat up and dragged the plate closer. The pizza was still hot, admittedly good, and was welcome substance to his alcohol laced stomach.

Her slice of pizza finished, she took a sip from the bottle of water she’d brought with her. “I’m sorry, by the way. About teasing you earlier.”

Fuck, now he was so pitiful that he involuntarily solicited apologies. If he could drag his ass to the roof, he’d throw himself off later.

“As Sage reminds me daily, I’m a brat and should shut the hell up.”

Good for Sage. “I don’t fucking care.”

“But I don’t get to annoy you anymore, which really sucks,” she said, mischief sparkling in her eyes. “I mean, I try to annoy Cade, but he must be under orders or something not to fight with me. It’s really boring. He almost never threatens to kill me.”

“Woe is you.”

“Exactly. So...” She widened her eyes, affecting the look of a puppy. “Did I really, really annoy you today? Aren’t you just dying to kill me?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I haven’t lost my touch, then.” She was absolutely beaming at him.

Strange, looking at her now after so many months. He’d seen her occasionally with Merri before, but not for any length of time. In the spring, she’d been a wreck. Still reeling from his friend nearly assaulting her, still scared of the magic, still struggling with the burden of the secrets she carried. She seemed well enough now, though; confident, if not outright arrogant.

“So, how long has Sage been coming here?” she asked.

“Why don’t you ask Sage?”

“I did—she told me it was none of my business.”

“I’d say she’s right.”

“If I can be serious for a moment, though...” Her smiled faded and she did, in fact, look serious. “Why are you still here? No teasing this time, I swear. But why haven’t you moved?”

“Good fucking question.”

“I’m asking ‘cause I’m thinking of Sage and Mer. They both rely on you a lot. I’m worried you’re going to up and leave sometime without telling them. Merri wouldn’t have anywhere to go and Sage would be devastated.”

Christ, she was actually attempting to have an adult conversation with him. Hell must be freezing over—it was indeed the end of the world.

“And you can be a total asshole sometimes,” she continued. “So part of me wouldn’t put it past you to just take off and screw them over, but I also know you have moments of humanity and I don’t want to think you’d let them down like that.”

“And it would probably be better if I did,” he said. “Your new ‘mentor’—”

“Oh, fuck Cade! Only not literally, obviously. But the guy’s a goddamn doormat. Nat must have him under strict orders to be nice to us or something.”

“She hasn’t been back?” Sage hadn’t mentioned Natalya over the past few months and neither had Merri, but he suspected—worried even—that it was perhaps due to their misplaced desire to keep his feelings in mind. Thankfully, Gen had no such sensibility.

“Nope,” she said. “Can you believe that? What a goddamn joke. She shows up here, doesn’t tell us anything, fires you, then takes off again and leaves us with her lackey. Shaw speaks highly of her, but what could she possibly have to do that’s more important than us? She’s immortal, for Christ’s sake. She can’t just TiVo her favourite shows and watch them in a century or two?” She set the plate on the floor, pulled her legs up and crossed them on her seat, and leaned back in the rocking chair. “So anyway, I don’t see why it would be so wrong for you to stay and keeping working with Sage. Secretly, of course. Mer doesn’t really need his help either, and then I’ve got Raji to work with.”

“Raji?”

“Thad’s friend,” she reminded him. “The boy witch. Jeez, pay attention.”

“You’re careful?”

“With...?”

“With him.”

“Careful how? I don’t swing that way—I’m not sleeping with him.”

“The magic!”

“Oh. Right. ‘Course. Duh.”

“Your monosyllabic responses are not exactly inspiring confidence in me.”

“He knows, kinda, who we are—Thad probably explained the abridged version. But he doesn’t seem to care. So it’s cool. And we practice lots of spells and stuff. Oh-mi-god, like today, I’ve got Kern again for English...”

More teenage prattle. Some things never changed. He half tuned her out as she continued.

“She’s making us read Wuthering Heights. It’s awful.”

“So you don’t just have a problem with decent art,” Michael said. “But classical literature as well?”

“I have a problem with that book classified as romance. Heathcliff is a total ass. And so is Cathy, actually. They deserved to be miserable.”

“Does this tirade have a point?”

“Oh, hush. So Kern is all yelling and scary like usual. She tried to give me detention just ‘cause I don’t like that stupid book. So she’s writing notes, but I made her write all this other stuff about her vibrator and that. Everyone’s laughing and...” Her voice trailed off as she caught his eye. “What?”

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing and it took him a few moments to form words. “You did what?” His voice came out low and angry, and Gen was visibly taken aback.

“It was just for fun—”

“You can’t just fuck with people like that.”

“The bitch deserved it—”

“It doesn’t matter. Your irresponsibility can get people hurt.”

She rolled her eyes. “And would that be so bad?”

“Jesus, I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”

“She makes everyone else miserable—”

“Who are you to—”

“And I can do something about it.”

Christ, it was like she suddenly dropped a few IQ points. “Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should—”

She stood abruptly and grabbed his empty plate. “Yeah, yeah,” she muttered as she stalked toward the stairs. “Great power, responsibility, blah blah. Thanks Uncle Ben, but I saw that movie.”

He watched her go, a tangle of emotions building into a knot in his chest. Horror and...God... fascination. And he didn’t feel the smug self-satisfaction at being right in his prediction—in knowing that the stronger she got, the more arrogant she’d become. No, this was the one thing he hoped he’d be wrong about.

Downstairs, he heard Gen tell Merri she was leaving, and then the front door slammed shut.

Michael lay back down in bed, but knew it would be a long time before sleep came again, if at all.

Thad sat on the couch at Michael’s and glanced at his watch. Seven-thirty, and still no Merri.

He was a little surprised Michael even let him inside. There had been a few occasions when Thad came to get Merri, but Michael left him locked outside. Ten minutes would go by with Thad waiting on the front step before Merri realized he was out there.

This time, however, Michael answered the door, said she wasn’t back yet, then held it wide open and walked away. Thad took the gesture to mean he was welcome inside, and stepped in the house. Michael went upstairs and Thad headed for the couch.

He checked his watch. Twenty minutes had gone by, yet still no sign of Merri. She said she’d be back by seven.

Cade kept the girls late some evenings. A lot of evenings, actually. Sometimes a week went by without a date and the lack of contact with her weighed heavily on him. He’d loved her for his whole life, it seemed. The Seer. He’d heard stories about the Children of the Apocalypse growing up, and had always been drawn to the woman who saw things others didn’t. Something about her abilities fascinated him, and when he first saw her, he was even more captivated. She was beautiful. She tried to hide, sure. Fade into the background. David used to tell him that was common for someone like the Seer—she likely would have grown up knowing she had special abilities and would try to blend in. But something in her eyes spoke to him immediately and he knew he loved her.

And then, learning all the things she’d been through...God, it was a miracle she survived. But survived she had.

His cell phone rang. His heart clenched a bit, hoping it was her. His expression sank, however, as he recognized the familiar number.

Natalya.

Should he answer? He didn’t want to on a good day, let alone now, here at Michael’s. What if Parris was listening in? But he seemed to have retired to his loft bedroom, so maybe there was nothing to worry about...

“Hello?” Thad said as he picked up.

“Just checking in,” she said. His annoyance with her melted a little at the sound of her voice. God, he loved her voice. All four of them were extraordinary. “How are things going?”

“Fine, I suppose.”

“You suppose?”

He couldn’t be sure how much Michael was listening to, so he had to tread carefully. “I was supposed to go out with Merri tonight, but she’s not here yet.”

“Here...she’s coming to your apartment?”

“No.”

“You’re at Michael Parris’s?” she guessed.

“Bingo.”

“She hasn’t found somewhere else to live yet?”

“No.”

“Pity. And I suppose you’re not talking to me because Parris is there?”

“Possibly in the area.”

“He’s staying out of things, though?”

For whatever good that’s doing, he thought. From what Merri said, all three girls infinitely preferred Michael’s company to Cade’s. But he didn’t tell Natalya that. “Seems to be.”

“They don’t suspect you, do they?”

They will if you don’t stop calling me, he thought. But he’d never raise his voice to her. It was against his nature. “I don’t think so.” He felt guilt welling within him. He hated lying to Merri more than anything, but confessing that he was in regular contact with Natalya would be a betrayal of everything he’d ever known. Still, it wasn’t as though he was keeping anything too important from her or the others. It wasn’t a life or death situation. Sure, he had been telling The Immortal about things going on with the girls, but she was concerned about their safety. He had to trust that she would keep their best interest in mind.

“You’ll tell me if there are any problems?”

“Of course.”

He heard footsteps behind him. Thad swung around suddenly to see Michael striding toward him. Oh...shit. He half expected the other man to hit him with something, but instead he moved to the kitchen.

“I have to go,” he said into the receiver.

“Fine, but be careful around Michael Parris,” she warned.

You don’t have tell me that, he thought as he hung up. He honestly thought that, given a reason, Michael would probably kill him on the spot.

“What time was she supposed to be back?” Michael said as he stopped in front of the fridge. He rarely spoke to Thad anymore, so he was caught a little off guard.

“About half an hour ago,” he said.

Michael opened the fridge, pulled out a beer, and tipped it over his shoulder. “Want one?”

He’s offering me a drink? Maybe Gen’s right, and humility has mellowed him a bit.

Thad rose and walked to the kitchen, accepting the beer and taking a seat on the barstool. “Thanks.”

Michael took one for himself and remained in the kitchen. “She comes and goes so I can’t tell you for sure when he’ll let them leave.”

At least Natalya’s fears seemed unfounded—Michael didn’t know any more than he should about Cade and his work with the girls.

“I’d call, but they’re doing important stuff. Not that spending time with my girlfriend isn’t important, but it’s not like saving the world important.”

“At least you’ve got that through your head,” he muttered.

“Yeah, you always kept the mission in mind when they were with you,” he said. “That was good. I think Cade does too, but I’m not sure he passes it on to them. Gen’s gone, uh, a little nuts. Skips out on half their classes, I think.”

Michael’s expression darkened a little, but he didn’t say anything. Thad wasn’t sure what was wrong, but clearly he said something the other man wasn’t interested in hearing. He tried to change the subject.

“How about them Jays?”

“What?”

Thad sighed. “The Blue Jays. I don’t actually follow them, but I thought you might. I’m a hockey man.”

“Talking about sports isn’t endearing you to me or anything.”

Thad shifted uncomfortably. He sometimes felt like Michael was Merri’s father and he had to impress him, somehow. And he always felt lame about it.

“Well, okay, I’ll get all serious instead. Thanks for not skipping out on Mer and leaving her with nowhere to live. I know you have no reason stay here now, but I’m glad you’re here for her. Also, thank you for never giving me the ‘hurt her and die’ speech.”

“Oh, you don’t have to hurt her to have me kill you. She just has to say the word and regardless of what you’ve done, you’re dead.”

Thad started to smile, but when he didn’t see Michael grin, he sobered. “For real?”

“Yes. It’s not my good side you need to stay on.”

“Duly noted.” He sipped his beer in silence.

“You might as well call her,” Michael said after a stretch of silence.

“But if it’s interrupting them, it’ll piss off Cade.”

“Exactly.”

So maybe he was interfering a bit. But that didn’t seem like something he needed to tell Natalya. Might as well do some snooping while he had the chance, though, so Thad didn’t bring out his cell phone yet. “Do you know anything they’re doing with Cade? I mean besides just training?”

“They’re not hunting down monsters, for one thing.”

“Actually, I kinda liked that. It was one thing I didn’t agree with Natalya about.”

“You mean there was something you did agree with?”

Shit, he messed up there. Better watch what he said. “Well, I mean, she’s worried for their safety, so I agree with that. But I don’t think you should have been fired.”

“Since I wasn’t being paid, I don’t technically think I was fired, so don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah, where do you get all your money from? I mean, no one’s ever seen you work, but Merri says you’re loaded.”

“Remember how I said it’s not my good side you need to stay on?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I’m changing my mind about that.”

Thad gulped down the rest of his beer before he could say something else stupid.

The front door opened and closed. “Sorry, sorry, sorry!” Merri called as she approached. She hurried to Thad’s side, stood up on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. “I didn’t mean to run so late. We had to recharge this—” she held up the crystal she carried to help mask her identity so she wouldn’t be seen as Belle Swanson anymore, “—and we had a new version of the spell that Cade wanted to try... Oooh, do I get a beer?”

“You’re a minor,” Michael reminded her.

“I’m eighteen—“

“According to your forged birth certificate, no, you’re not—you’re seventeen and that’s still under age.”

“No fair.”

“Get over it.”

“Is it too late for dinner?” she asked, gazing up at Thad. He reached over and brushed the strands of hair from her forehead. He couldn’t help himself—sometimes he just had to touch her.

“A little.”

“We could order in?” Her gaze flickered to Michael. “Okay?”

“I don’t fucking care—I’m going out.”

“Krysta’s?”

“None of your business.”

As he left the kitchen, Merri turned to Thad and mouthed the word, “Krysta.” Moments later, the front door opened and closed as Michael left.

“Well, at least we’re alone,” Thad said. He leaned down to kiss her, but she frowned. He paused just inches from her face.

“I’m worried about him, you know,” she said.

Thad leaned back again and stifled a sigh. So she’d rather talk about Michael...big surprise. Irritation rose within him, but he pushed it back down—he couldn’t be mad at her for anything, let alone that. He loved that she cared about people, even if they were people who supposedly didn’t deserve her pity.

“So should we follow him?” Thad asked. “Maybe try a stake-out? We could get disguises. I don’t want to wear a dress though—I’m just not secure in my manhood enough for that, even if it’s for the purposes of spying.”

A faint smile danced across her lips. “I think he might also notice you dressed in a skirt standing across the road staring at him.”

“Well, I am pretty cute, regardless of what I’m wearing. I’d notice me too.”

Her smile widened. She moved onto her tip-toes to reach him, and he leaned down to meet her partway in a kiss. Just as their lips met, her cell phone rang.

With a sigh, Merri pulled back and removed her phone from her pocket. She glanced at the number, but rolled her eyes and turned it off. “It’s Cade. I was just there—I don’t care what he wants, because I’m otherwise occupied.”

She shouldn’t shirk her responsibilities. He knew he should say something to her about calling Cade back...Natalya would want him to, after all. But he failed to care about that when he felt her mouth on his again.

Though their making out had started in the kitchen and ended up on the living room couch, Merri dragged it back to her room, insisting between giggles that Michael would probably kick her out if he came home and caught them.

Moments after reaching the bed, both were startled at a banging on the front door.

“Would Michael have forgotten his keys?” Thad asked with a grin. “Maybe we could leave him out there and teach him a lesson?”

Seconds later, someone pounded on the door again. Merri met his eyes. “We’d better check.”

Merri slipped her T-shirt on and went to the front door, trailed by Thad. She flipped back the lock and heaved open the heavy industrial door to see Gen outside, blue eyes annoyed.

“Okay,” Gen said. “First of all, why aren’t my spells working to unlock the door?”

“Michael had something done to it to prevent magic tampering.”

“Bastard. Second of all, we need to go. Now.”

“Why and where?” Because I’m clearly otherwise engaged, Gen. After dating for nearly a year, she and Thad still couldn’t get enough of one another, and she didn’t appreciate being interrupted yet again.

“Cade.”

“Cade is why, or Cade is where?”

“Both! No come on!”

“I just came from—”

“Someone tried to kill him.”

The girls sat in the apartment Cade owned above his store after Merri sent Thad home. The ever-detatched Sage stood off to the side, arms crossed at her chest. Merri sat on a hardback chair, gaze darting back and forth around the room. Gen lounged on the arm of the sofa.

“So why would someone try to kill you?” Gen asked, facing Cade, who stood in the kitchen. A bloody gash across his forehead had been stitched up neatly, and aside from a bruise on his cheek, he looked okay.

“Why not?” Sage said dryly before quickly glancing away.

Merri detected an unintentional level of hostility in her voice. “Snarkiness aside, she’s got a point. Why wouldn’t The Brethren try to kill him?”

“Natalya said they’re disorganized,” Cade corrected her. “That doesn’t mean some can’t find us.”

“But they never tried to kill Michael,” Sage said. “They were more concerned with us.”

“First of all, they shot and stabbed him on two different occasions,” Merri said. “And second, maybe Cade is seen as more of a threat.”

“Pfft, right.” Gen rolled her eyes.

Cade raised a brow.

“Well, really. You’re hardly more threatening than Michael. He threw a knife at me.”

“And the odd book,” Merri said.

“And you usually deserved it,” Sage added.

“Whatever. My point is that Michael is scarier.”

“So what happened?” Merri asked.

“Someone entered the store with a gun and pointed it at me,” he said.

“It is a convenience store,” Merri said. “Are you sure it wasn’t a robbery?”

“Robbers don’t usually announce that they’re looking for the Children of the Apocalypse.”

“Unless they’re on smack,” Gen said. “Then they might.”

“I would have been dead if a customer hadn’t come in. With that distraction, I slipped downstairs, locked myself in, and phoned the police.”

“You’re not worried about more people knowing where we are by calling the cops?” Sage asked.

“Of course not.”

Meredith suspected Sage was biting back another comment about the virtues of Michael.

Cade continued before she could. “But the police aren’t equipped to handle this sort of thing and there’s the chance that this person could return, either for me or one of you. Or, of course, for your families, which has happened before.” Although Cade didn’t seem to direct his words at any of them in particular, Merri still glanced Sage’s way to see her friend keep a neutral expression.

“So...what?” Merri asked. “Are we to wait until we’re attacked again?”

“I had in mind a slightly more permanent solution.”

The girls exchanged glances. Gen spoke up first, echoing all their thoughts. “Wait, you want us to kill...?”

“We’re not assassinating anyone,” Sage said.

Cade sighed, as if they had completely lost their minds. “Of course not. Not that I think a discussion would work terribly well. But for now, we need to track this person down, and who else knows about your location.”

“How?” Merri asked.

“We’ll start tomorrow. It shouldn’t be hard to do some tracking, and it’ll allow me the opportunity to evaluate your problem solving skills.” After sliding his gaze over each of them, he took a step back toward the kitchen. “If you three would like to discuss it, by all means go ahead.” He left so that the girls could speak privately, and they immediately grouped together.

“I hate problem solving,” Gen grumbled.

“I don’t think we should risk leaving one of The Brethren running around here,” Sage said. “We should go as soon as possible. Cade, Natalya, and Michael have always said that these guys are focused on killing us.”

“Yeah, I guess,” Gen said. “Mer? Thoughts?”

Merri wasn’t sure exactly what her thoughts were on the subject. Reconnaissance made sense, and was a lot safer than the pre-emptive attack that Michael would no doubt have proposed. Perhaps if she encountered the space where this member of The Brethren had been, she might get into his head a bit and better know what to do.

“Yeah, we have to check this out. Although I’m not a fan of doing it while we’ve got school and I don’t want to cancel on Thad again.”

“We’re in,” Gen called quickly to Cade, grabbing both girls by the arms and yanking them towards the door. “We’ll be by the store tomorrow afternoon.”

“Uh, Gen, I think I just said we don’t want to do it tomorrow,” Merri said once they were outside the apartment.

“Duh. That’s why we’re doing it tonight.”

“But we don’t even know—”

“Where he is, I know.” Gen sighed. “I wish we had Michael’s contacts. I don’t suppose we can ask him.”

“How about logic?” Sage said. “New person in town equals hotel, more than likely.”

“So we check out the newbies, room by room?”

“It’s Newhaven, Gen,” Merri said. “There can’t be that many people who are new in town, staying at a hotel.”

As it turned out, there were only three new people who had arrived in the past week that were still staying at the hotel in downtown Newhaven.

“This would have been so much more easy with Michael,” Gen said as she, Merri, Sage, and Raji slipped out of the hotel lobby and down a corridor toward the nearest room, belonging to an Alex Gardner. “Though I loathe to admit it. Michael would have come up with fake I.D.’s or something.”

“What movie have you been watching?” Sage asked. “Michael would have just bribed the guy at the desk. End of story.”

“Yeah, my Jedi mind trick was much cooler.”

“You’re such a nerd sometimes,” Raji said, quickening his step to walk at Gen’s side.

“Janine has a thing for Princess Leia. Anyway, I guess it wasn’t really a mind trick—I can’t do that kind of thing. I’m just really good at being irritating.”

“I’ll say,” Sage muttered.

Merri still wasn’t sure how they did it. Gen cast the spell to interfere with the security cameras. Then she, Sage, and Raji made up something about being on the prom committee, distracting the man at the desk with their over-enthusiasm and stupid questions long enough for Merri to slip onto the computer.

After memorizing the list of three people and their rooms, the group left the lobby. Merri doubted they’d find the mysterious person that night, and there were several other places to check just outside of Newhaven. Another alternative included the motel where Finn was murdered, and everyone—Gen especially—grew silent at the prospect of heading there. Merri hoped, for her friend’s sake, that they wouldn’t have to visit that place. Raji didn’t comment on the obvious tense air at mention of the motel, and Merri wasn’t sure how much Gen had told him. She trusted Thad wouldn’t have said anything, so it was entirely possible he was still in the dark about Finn.

“So Michael gets fired for apparenty putting us in danger, and what does Natalya’s supposed confidant do?” Sage said. “Put us in danger.”

“You’re such a whiner,” Gen said. “And we’re not in danger yet.”

“Let’s just get this done.”

They moved down the maze of hallways, up a set of stairs, and hunted down the first name on their list. The place wasn’t exactly high-class—three star, maybe slightly less—but at least it wasn’t totally sleazy. At that late hour, they didn’t encounter anyone lurking in the corridors.

“Any vibes yet, Mer?” Gen asked as they paused next to their first door.

Merri didn’t say anything as she stared at the door. She hadn’t been sensing anything at all, really—normally she had to block things out. Now, however? Though she reached out, she came up with nothing.

With a casual shake of her head and shrug, Merri tried to seem nonchalant about it.

Sage turned to Gen. “So what’s the plan?”

“Why the hell are you asking me?”

“Because for some completely bizarre reason, in the absence of our mentors, you seem to take over.”

“I don’t want to be the leader!”

“Then don’t be so bossy.”

“I’m not bossy! Shut up!”

“Typical only child. You’re not only bossy, but you fail to realize you’re bossy.”

“Merri, do you have a plan?” Gen turned her hopeful gaze Meredith’s way.

“Like Sage said: you’re the bossy one.”

Gen gave an exaggerated sigh. “I’ll make us wear costumes if I’m in charge.”

Merri thought of Thad with a faint smile. He and Gen got along fairly well, and it was easy to see why—they seemed to have the same sense of humour, which usually referenced something they’d seen on TV before. It was a pity Thad couldn’t have joined them, but he had an early class the next morning.

“So where are we going to get costumes?” Raji asked.

With a roll of her eyes, Sage nudged them all out of the way and pressed her ear to the target’s door. “I don’t hear anything.”

“Maybe he’s asleep after a hard day of trying to kill people.”

“So what do we do?” Merri asked.

“Break the door down?” Sage said with a shrug.

“Please don’t ever marry Michael.” Gen shuddered. “We don’t need your tiny, violent babies unleashed on the world.” She knocked on the door, then swiftly grabbed Sage and Raji by the arm and dragged them off to the side, leaving Merri in front of the door by herself.

“Gen!” Merri hissed.

“Make something up,” Gen whispered. “You’re a better liar than us.”

Merri glanced down at her T-shirt and jeans. Hospitality representative wouldn’t be too believable. Nor would “prostitute with the wrong room.”

Minutes ticked by, but no one answered. She knocked again. Still no answer.

“What now, Miss Bossy?” Sage turned to Gen with her arms crossed and brow raised. “Ready to break in?”

“Sure...”

All of their eyes went to the lock at the same time.

“So we need a keycard,” Gen said. “This is like a bad video game.”

“Nerd,” Merri teased.

“Shut up.” She turned to Sage. “Can’t you just break it open?”

“I’m not breaking the door!”

Neither of them were too swift when it came to anything illegal, and Merri doubted Raji would be either. With a sigh, she took over. “We go around the back.”

“This is the second floor,” Gen said. “I can’t fly. Yet.”

“Ever,” Raji said with an elbow into her side.

“Sage can get up to the balcony. Raji can go with her. Then they can open this door.”

“But why do I—” Sage started.

Gen grinned. “You’re the spry on.”

“I hate you,” Sage muttered as she jogged down the hall towards the stairs. Raji followed with a little grumbling of his own.

“I can’t believe we’re going to all this trouble and it probably won’t even be this person,” Gen said.

And this is assuming we’ll find the guy to start with, Merri thought. She figured he would have just left town after failing to get anything from Cade. And what kind of evidence should they be looking for anyway?

If Michael could help... Merri tried not to sigh aloud. If Michael were there, he’d be with them as armed back up. Maybe they relied on him too much... As it was, she wanted to call him to meet them there.

Part of her wished Thad was there too. He could have helped with reconnaissance, but she worried about him. Everyone else could pretty much take care of his or herself. But Thad? What if something happened to him? Same with Levi.

Sure, Meredith’s abilities weren’t exactly offensive either, but she still knew she could kill. She had killed. She might not be much use without a gun—which she refused to carry on her own because she worried about the cops catching and fingerprinting her—but she could still help.

After about ten minutes of tense silence, the door opened to reveal Sage and Raji on the other side.

“What took you so long?” Gen asked with a smirk.

“Shush,” he said without meeting her eyes.

“Epic fail trying to unlock it with a spell, right?” Gen guessed.

Raji held up a small set of tools. “I had to manually do it. I’m so glad my brother’s a locksmith.”

Sage elbowed him in the ribs, and his noticeable wince suggested to Sage that the action hadn’t been done playfully. “We agreed not to tell her ‘cause it would make her enormous head even bigger.”

“Hey—” Gen started.

“Maybe we could have this argument at Tim Horton’s later on when we’re done breaking into a room?” Merri suggested. She and Gen ducked into the room and shut the door behind them.

Both Genevieve and Raji had access to the light spell, and each cast it rather than use flashlights, which they could lose, or the room’s lights, which they might forget to turn off.

“What are we looking for again?” he asked in a hushed voice.

“Um...evidence,” Gen said.

“Of...?”

“Who sent the guy who attacked Cade. And...stuff.”

Merri moved to the desk off to the side and knelt next to the wastebasket. Nothing in there except for a few wrappers. Either the maid didn't come yet that day, or the room's occupant had been there a short while ago. Atop the desk sat a pad of paper, pen, and a phone.

"Gen, do you have any pencils or something?"

"Um..." Gen dug through her bag and pulled out a small, flat kit. "Graphite?"

Meredith took the kit, flipped it open, and pulled out a piece of graphite. It would do.

The light around her brightened as Gen walked closer. "What are you doing?"

Merri shrugged. "This works in the movies." She ran the graphite lightly over the paper until various letters emerged from writing on the papers torn off the top. Words were crossed over one another, since many people had stayed there over time and used the paper. She held up the sheet and squinted to read.

"Oh...shit."

Everyone turned her way, and she held up the paper. "The address on here? Cade's store."

"We need to get out of here," Raji said. He might talk a tough game to impress Gen, but Merri knew he was no more interested in facing off against someone than the rest of them were. Save for Sage, maybe, who probably looked forward to the prospect.

"This isn't much, though," Gen said. "We still don't know who sent him or how he found us—"

"I doubt he had that info just laying around," Merri said. She felt weird arguing but truthfully she didn't feel up to the usual snooping. They were right there, in the room belonging to an enemy, and yet she didn't sense a thing. Didn't notice anything at all. Normally she'd get a feeling of someone being there... But now? Nothing. But this is a hotel room, she thought. It was possible that the number of people who had stayed there over the years just overloaded her mind. And it wasn't that out of the ordinary—the same thing happened at school. Still...it would be nice to sense something.

"It's not like his social insurance number will be lying around," Sage said. "And we don't know when he's coming back."

"Five more minutes," Gen said. As she moved toward the end table, she gestured vaguely over her shoulder. "Raj, go watch the door."

"But—"

She sent him a glare. "Do it and let us do our thing."

Merri was a little glad she didn't have to worry about the door. Not that she trusted Raji as a scout...

Gen rifled through the end table drawers while Sage took the bathroom.

Seeing nothing else at the desk, Merri moved to the closet. The big brown door slid open. A suitcase was tucked in the corner, so Merri hauled it out and popped open the lid.

Weapons.

For a moment, she suspected she felt as Gen did a year ago when she showed up at Michael's and first saw the weapons cabinet. Dread and worry filled her gut. Instinct warned her they were in a bad situation, though she couldn't pick up any specifics.

"Guns," Merri called. "Do we really need any more information? I don't like this—we're under prepared. And since Gen can't do a fireball yet—"

"Ever," Sage said. "She'll never be able to—"

"Shut up!" Gen said.

"Really, we can't do that kind of offensive magic," Raji said.

"The bossy one told you to guard the door," Gen said.

Merri reached for her head, a slow ache beginning to form at her temples. "Let's just go back and tell Cade." Her gaze trailed to Sage, who got that, "But Michael!" look. No doubt she wanted to call him right away. It was their first time being in possible danger without him. Merri's inner voice told her to get him too...and maybe they could all discuss it later when they were able to regroup and talk.

Merri shoved the suitcase back in the closet, closed it, and stood. "Let's head down to the car."

"Are you getting something?" Gen asked.

Merri nodded. She tried not to lie to either of the girls, but in this instance it seemed like the best idea. "Yeah. We definitely need to go."

Gen looked as though she might argue some more, but at last common sense won out. "Fine."

They moved as a group toward the door where Raj waited with his back against the wall. "It's about time," he said as he opened the door.

Merri saw the woman standing in the doorway a split second before she raised a gun and fired.

Raji slammed the door closed again just as the second bullet tore through the room. Sage wasted no time dragging over the desk to brace against the door, while Merri glanced around. Everyone looked unhurt, though Gen gave her a look of annoyance.

“You're getting rusty.”

Although Merri tried to maintain her composure, she prickled at the insult. “How about when we're sure we're not going to die, you go fuck yourself.”

Gen sighed as she gazed at the door, still looking wholly unbothered by everything. “At least Michael acted as a shield all the time and got shot in place of us. Cade hasn’t done that yet.”

“Back door,” Sage called, abandoning the barricade. She threw back the curtains again and slid open the door to the balcony just as the main door opened an inch and struck the desk. The woman on the other side slammed the door against the desk again, which in turn scraped on the floor.

“That's not going to hold it,” Gen said.

“Duh, Genevieve,” Merri snapped back. She turned and joined Sage at the balcony door, burst outside, and looked down. How the hell were they going to get down there? Sage? Sure. And apparently Raji could maybe do it too. But Merri sure as hell wasn't about to hang over the edge and she wasn't sure Gen would be convinced to either. Her grip tightened on the railing to the point that her knuckles went white.

The door struck the desk again. Merri's throat constricted with worry.

“Go back and get the gun out of the closet,” Sage said. Merri met her eyes to find desperation in their depths.

“I don't have time to find and load a gun—”

“I'll give you time. But we're not all going to get out this way, and Aikido won't exactly dodge a bullet, regardless of what you see in movies.”

She doesn’t seem to get what I even know about guns, Merri thought. The first time she used one against the Brethren, it had been because she knew Michael kept one loaded in his room and a year ago at the farmhouse, he’d once again given her one directly. She did target practice with a BB gun as a kid along with her brother Jay, but that was a whole lot different than what she faced now.

“You can do it?” Sage prompted again.

Gravely, Merri nodded and she and Sage pushed past the others, back into the hotel room.

“Raj, go out the balcony, get the car, and bring it around the back of the hotel,” Merri said. He looked ready to argue until she shot him a glare.

Sage went ahead to the desk, ducked down, and braced herself against it. Wasting none of the precious seconds they had, Merri ran to the closet and pulled out the heavy suitcase. She vaguely recognized a few handguns and semi-automatics. All had silencers. After grabbing one, she snatched up a clip and eventually fumbled it into place.

The noise at the door stopped. Both girls froze and looked toward the door, which had ceased moving. Sage sat frozen, back against the desk, gaze going to Merri’s as if she could explain.

The door suddenly smacked the desk one last time, this time with enough force to knock Sage into the wall. Merri barely had a few moments to scramble around the corner before a pair of silenced bullets went her way. She blindly fired at the woman, then breathlessly ducked back to aware the returning fire.

If I get out of this, Michael is helping me with target practice.

Sage was possibly knocked out. Merri glanced around, but couldn’t see Gen. Great, so just a seer who wasn’t seeing anything and a gun. And she didn’t know how many bullets were left.

God, I wish Michael was here. But wishing wouldn’t get them anywhere. He wasn’t about to show up suddenly as back-up...and neither would Cade, since—per Gen’s insistence—they hadn’t told him.

Shadows played across the floor. The woman—who must be Alex Gardner—must have been drawing nearer. Merri’s fingers tightened on the grip of the gun. Please let us get out of this.

Gardner appeared around the corner. Dressed in a dark brown suit, she looked more like an accountant than an assassin. But her cold dark eyes settled on Merri’s, and the seer felt a shiver come over her. This woman was a killer—no doubt about it.

Merri pointed the gun upwards. As she did, her gaze met the barrel of her opponent’s gun as well.

Merri squeezed the trigger.

Nothing happened.

Gardner smiled.

Merri swallowed hard and blindly threw the gun, but the assailant barely blinked.

Please don’t let her have any bullets left either...

Suddenly, Gardner’s eyes grew huge. Lips parted, but no words came out. She took a step backward on unsteady legs.

Something’s wrong... Merri glanced around.

Gen stood in the doorway of the bathroom, blue eyes on the woman. She whispered something in a low voice and Merri couldn’t make out the words.

And I’m not sure I want to.

Genevieve stalked forward with a strange sort of confidence and calculation to her movement. Gardner stepped back. Her mouth opened wider, perhaps to scream, perhaps to cough, but nothing happened.

She can’t breathe…

The gun slipped from Gardner’s grasp. Merri scrambled forward, grabbed it, and then backed out of the way.

“I’ve got the gun,” Merri said. “We can question her now. Gen?”

But Gen didn’t listen. She continued whispering the words of her spell, eyes intently staring at the target.

“Gen!” Merri shouted, but her friend didn’t blink. Merri’s gaze went back to the woman who had shot at them. Her hands flew to her throat, and she gasped for breath. Fingernails scratched at her neck, eyes bulging, as she tried to scream. Her knees gave out next and she fell onto the carpet. Although Merri didn’t have much sympathy for someone who had been shooting at them, there was something altogether disturbing about it. She wanted to rise, to shake Gen out of it, but fear cautioned her. She didn’t know what would happen if she got between Gen and her target. Merri could do nothing but watch helplessly as the woman slumped down and ceased all movement.

Genevieve blinked a few times, and then crumpled to the floor.

A few beats of silenced passed before Merri rose with caution and approached her.

“Gen?” She reached down to touch her friend’s shoulder. “Are you—”

“Back off,” Gen hissed, a touch of venom to her voice. She stood suddenly and walked out the front door without sparing a glance behind her.

Meredith moved to Sage next. A few bruises dotted her forehead, and a nasty gash ran across her temple. As Merri felt her throat, Sage’s eyes fluttered open.

She’s still alive…thank god.

“Someone would have heard all that.”

Merri looked up to see Gen back in the room standing over them. “Yeah, I noticed.” She slung Sage’s arm over her shoulder and helped the other girl to her feet. “I’ll meet you down there.”

Gen left without another word.

“What happened?” Sage asked as she stood unsteadily. Her gaze trailed to the body.

“I’ll tell you in the car,” Merri said grimly.

Gen led the way out, then walked far head of them. They moved toward the back door and exited outside, where Raji had his car ready. Gen took the front and sirens sounded in the distance as Merri and Sage piled into the back of the Pontiac.

“Where am I driving to?” Raji asked, gaze darting among all of them.

“Sage should go to a hospital,” Merri said.

“I’m fine—”

“Hospital then?” Raji said.

“No,” Sage insisted.

“Cade’s,” Merri said. When they got there, he pulled up at the front.

Gen got out, but paused when she saw Merri and Sage remained in the vehicle. “What—”

“You’re going to tell Cade what happened,” Merri said. “We’re going to the hospital.”

Gen looked ready to argue, but she said nothing and slammed the door behind her.

“So, Newhaven General then?” Raji said as he watched Gen storm away. “You’ll have to give me directions—”

“No,” Sage said. “Let me go—”

“You need to get checked out,” Merri said. “Raj, can you take us back to my place? There’s a first aid kit there.”

The car was silent on the way back to Michael and Merri’s. As they turned onto the block where the house was, disappointment filled her at the sight of an empty driveway. So no Michael, yet. She had hoped he’d be there to help check Sage over.

As Raji’s car came to a halt, Merri leaned forward. “Please don’t tell Thad about tonight. I don’t want him to worry.”

“No prob. I’d kinda like to forget this too, except to recall the valuable lesson of never doing this again.”

“And don’t tell Gen we came back here,” Merri said. Though Michael wasn’t home, she didn’t need Genevieve blabbing to Cade about him possibly being around.

Raji nodded. He may not like the idea of keeping something from Gen, but he looked a little shook up and seemed to accept whatever Merri told him.

“Why can’t I just go home?” Sage asked as Merri tugged her out of the car and towards the front door.

“Because a. your mom would freak if she saw you like this, and b. I don’t want you to die of a concussion.”

Once inside, she dragged Sage to the bathroom and dug out the first aid kit. I’m so fucking glad Michael keeps this thing well stocked.

Sage got a good look at herself in the mirror and frowned. “Okay, that looks bad.”

“Told you.” Merri rinsed out the cut and positioned a bandage on top. “You really should see a doctor, you know.”

“What happened while I was out?”

Merri pursed her lips and considered what to say. “Gen did something.”

“Something like...?”

“She killed that woman. I was about to get shot in the head, sure, but...”

“There’s something off about her,” Sage said. “I mean, beyond the general annoyingness.”

“I know,” Merri said in a low, troubled voice. “I mean, she was always lacking in responsibility, but...”

“But she was so upset when she first killed those Brethren assassins last year. And even with the siren, she wanted to try sending it home before it went after Levi.”

“I saw her do it, while you were out. And...that wasn’t Gen. I don’t know what I saw there, but it wasn’t her.”

“So what are we going to do? You think I can talk to her about this? What if she gets pissed off and tries her next spell on me?”

Merri was about to argue that Gen would never do that, but couldn’t bring herself to say it. “We can’t go to Michael, and I don’t think Cade would do any good ‘cause she doesn’t listen to him.”

“Raji? Could he get through to her?”

Merri shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

The front door opened and closed. Thank god.

Merri stuck her head out the bathroom door. “Can you give us a hand?”

“I didn’t see his car,” Michael said as he walked over. “I figured Thad was gone.”

“He went home. It’s me and Sage—”

He pushed her aside as he caught sight of Sage. “What the hell happened?” Taking Sage’s head in his hands, he turned her toward the light and studied her eyes. He blinked a few times in the direct light.

“We can’t tell you,” Merri said.

Michael’s lips were set in a straight line, as if he held back something he wanted to say. “Does Cade at least know?”

Merri glanced at her watch. Plenty of time had passed since they dropped Gen off. “He does now.”

“You don’t have a concussion,” he said to Sage.

“Someone tried to kill Cade, so, per Gen’s brilliant suggestion, went to investigate,” Sage said.

So much for not telling him.

“And you got your fucking head nearly cracked open?”

“Essentially.”

“Do you want to see a doctor?”

For the first time, Sage seemed to actually consider the suggestion. “I feel okay. It’s not still bleeding. I guess I’ll just take some aspirin and sleep.”

Michael nodded. “Let me know tomorrow if you feel worse. I can have someone check you out and it won’t be reported.”

Sage gave him a half smile. “Thank you, sensei.”

While Michael left to drive Sage home, Merri sat in the kitchen, still too wired to sleep. She waited for him at the breakfast bar after taking a beer from the fridge, and he joined her when he returned.

“You’re really not going to tell me?” he said as he sipped a beer as well.

“Sage already gave you the gist of it,” Merri said.

“And you didn’t think to call me?”

“We can’t—”

“That’s bullshit. Natalya may be a fucking idiot, but she doesn’t want to see you get killed.”

“We did this without Cade knowing about it. If I’d called you to help, you would have been blamed for it, and—”

“And what? She can’t do anything to me. I’m pretty sure you not dying is more important anyway.”

“Still...I don’t want her to make me leave here. Or do something to keep Sage from coming to you for training. So you’re sure she’ll be okay?”

“As best as I can tell. I’m not a doctor.”

“But you know a doctor she can see if necessary?”

He nodded.

“How do you meet all these people? I mean, as far as I can tell, Cade has a few contacts through Natalya, but he has me under the impression that they have their own organization of people to deal with some things. No bribing random city workers or anything like you do.”

“It’s not all bribery. When I first moved to Newhaven, I checked out the local gambling rings. The ones with high stakes going for large sums of money. Find doctors with a few big debts, you’ve got someone in your pocket for awhile at least. So tell me if she starts complaining of headaches or anything.”

“Got any psychiatrists who can commit Gen for us?”

He didn’t meet her eyes, instead electing to finish his beer in silence.

“You already know something’s wrong with her?”

“It’s none of my business.”

“She—”

“I don’t even want to know.” He stood and dropped the empty beer bottle into a box under the sink, then continued towards the loft.

I’m not sure I do either, Merri thought.

A shiver ran up and down Genevieve’s spine as she walked up the steps towards Cade’s apartment.

Stupid Merri…making her do this. Better than be in the fucking car with all their whining, though, except now she’d have to walk home. She shuddered a little, her nerves on edge. Spells did that to her now. Her skin crawled and she felt both tired and wide awake all at once. It would take her a few days to come down.

And now I have to deal with fucking Cade.

She paused at his door. Her long fingers wrapped around the doorknob, and though she turned it, she didn’t announce her arrival. Instead, she eased the door open and listened.

“No, we’ll be looking into it,” Cade said. “It should be a good test.”

Gen listened, but she didn’t hear a second voice.

Telephone.

“I don’t expect it’ll be a problem. I’ll definitely speak to you about it tomorrow.”

And it’s Natalya. Of course. She knew they had to be speaking, even when he claimed they weren’t.

Genevieve opened the door and walked straight inside.

Cade sat on the couch, a cordless phone to his ear. His gaze shot to Gen as she entered the room.

“We’ll speak tomorrow,” he said and immediately hung up.

“We took care of Alex Gardner.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry?”

“We found her at her hotel. She’s dead.”

“And Alex Gardner is…?”

“The person who tried to kill you.”

Several beats of silence passed. She couldn’t read his expression, but then she was sure he couldn’t read hers either.

“A description would have been nice,” she continued.

“Which you would have received tomorrow when we were supposed to go and look into this. Any problems?”

Gen shrugged. “Clearly nothing we couldn’t handle. We used team work. Go us.”

“We’ll discuss it tomorrow with the others, then.”

“Fine by me.” Gen turned and started for the door again, but swung back around as something occurred to her. “You didn’t say it was a she.”

“Hmm?”

“The person who went after you.” She raised a brow questioningly. “You didn’t tell us it was a girl.”

“I didn’t say anything either way. Male isn’t necessarily the default.”

“Touché,” Gen muttered as she moved to leave again.

“Anything you need to talk about?”

“I’m pretty sure Natalya didn’t ask you to be our therapist,” she called over her shoulder.

“I’m here if you need me.”

“Not likely.”

“Wanna order pizza for dinner?”

Janine glanced at Gen, who sat in the driver’s side, hands on the wheel.

“Didn’t we do pizza last night?”

“Yeah, but it’s the only thing we agree on.” Janine grinned, but Gen didn’t return the smile, instead keeping her eyes on the road. “We could get Chinese food.”

“I hate Chinese food.”

“See, you just proved my point.”

Gen turned the car onto her street, her house their destination. She’d been acting…strange, lately. For the past few days, she’d been distant.

More than usual.

Janine shrugged it off. It wasn’t personal. She could be bi-polar or something. Her step-mom was like that. She could accept that.

As the car slowed and turned into the driveway, Genevieve frowned. Janine followed her gaze to the front porch. A young guy she didn’t recognize sat on the steps and he stood as he spotted the car.

Genevieve muttered something under her breath, but before Janine could ask, Gen was out of the car and on her way to the guy. Janine cracked her door open and stood, waiting for the signal. The two of them spoke for a few minutes in hushed voices. The guy looked upset about something. Gen was clearly on edge and seemed ready to take his head off. Minutes later, she stormed into the house and returned almost immediately with her dog, Penny. She returned to the car. Gen tried to smile brightly, but it seemed fake to Janine.

“I think we’re staying at your place tonight,” Gen said as she packed Penny into the car.

“Okay.” They both sat in the front and Gen wasted no time starting the car again.

“Secret boyfriend?” Janine asked playfully.

“Hmm? No. Guy from work.”

“At the convenience store?”

Gen opened her mouth, but snapped it shut again. Janine felt a bit of awkward silence descend on them, as if Gen had just stopped herself from saying something.

“Yeah,” she said instead. She suddenly reached over and Janine felt a hand on hers. “I’m glad we’re going to your place.”

“Me too.” I just wish I knew what was going on…

More snow.

Gen could have sworn the dream had left her for good. She hadn’t had it in several months. But now she stood there at the top of the hill, gazing down at miles of snow, and shivered.

At least she knew it was a dream now. That made her smile. It couldn’t scare the hell out of her if she knew what came next.

“Any pearls of wisdom today?” she said to the other her standing at her side.

When no answer came, Gen glanced to her right, studying the familiar profile. “Hmm?”

The other version of herself turned and smiled coldly. “Nothing today. You’ve finally found yourself. Congratulations.”

Her confidence drained almost immediately. “What?”

“You are exactly who you were meant to be.”

A faint sobbing sounded behind her. Genevieve turned around, long dark skirts swishing around her legs.

In the snow knelt a girl. Long blonde hair grazed the ground as she doubled over and cried.

“Who are you?” she said. She looked up suddenly and Genevieve recognized herself.

“I think you know,” Gen said. Snow crunched under foot as she stalked forward. The girl before her was weak. Pathetic. Completely useless. Contempt rose within her and it took every ounce of her willpower not to spit on her.

“Why are you here?” the whiny one asked.

“Because you’re weak,” Gen snapped. “And you need me.”

“Who was after me? Who’s trying to kill me?”

“I think a better question would be who isn’t trying to kill you.”

I know this conversation. Although her mouth continued speaking the familiar words, her mind rebelled. She’d had it before, but was in a very different position…

“Who am I?”

Gen’s attention snapped back to the conversation. The other her gazed up at her fearfully.

With a cool smile, Genevieve knelt down so she was face to face with the other her and spoke in a low voice. “You’ll find out.”

She blinked and everything was gone.

Hardwood floors replaced the miles of snow. The wind was gone, but Gen found the room as cold as outside.

She sat on a couch. Her legs were stretched out and feet rested on someone’s lap. A warm hand rested on her foot and she felt something tickling her toes. The figure brushed dark red polish on her toenails.

Her gaze travelled up the body to his face.

“Michael?”

He set one foot down and took the next to paint it. “You need to let it dry. Go back to work.”

She looked down at where her hands worked at threading a long, colourful bracelet.

“You want to kill me,” she said as she braided. “Still.”

Michael didn’t look at her. “Yes. There are many things I want to do, but can’t.”

“Like paint my toenails?”

“I am doing that.”

“We’re best friends now.”

“For now.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re like me.”

“I’ll keep braiding.”

He let her feet go. “You’re ready.”

“I don’t feel ready,” she said, though she stood anyway. The bracelet slipped from her grasp and landed on the couch.

Michael snatched the bracelet and tied it around his wrist, then looked up at her. “I’m always behind you.”

“That’s what scared me,” she said as she stepped forward.

A woman with short black hair stood before Genevieve, pointing a gun at a cowering Merri. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Sage, lying motionless on the floor.

No, no, I stopped this...

Before she could open her mouth to speak, the woman squeezed the trigger. The gun went off, sending a bullet into Merri’s forehead. Blood and bits of brain matter splattered across the opposite wall. She slumped to the ground and moments later the carpet went red with blood.

The woman pivoted around and fired a bullet into Sage as well. As she turned the weapon Genevieve’s way, Gen took a step backward.

But she didn’t fire. Instead, she smiled and dropped the gun to the floor. Before her mind could process what was happened, Gen felt her throat tighten. Her hands moved to her neck, scrambling to loosen whatever constricted her, but she found nothing there.

The room went hazy. Gen sank onto her knees, consciousness fading fast, and the last thing to register with her brain was the bloodstained carpet…

You’ll find out…



Genevieve sat up in bed, panting.

Thought hot enough to have sweat dripping from her forehead, the room itself felt ice cold. She stared into the darkness, trying to focus on anything—forcing herself to will away the dream.

Or nightmare.

“Hey baby…” Janine yawned beside her and propped herself up on her elbow. “You okay?”

Gen took a few deep breaths to calm her thumping heart before lying back down in bed. “Yeah. Bad dream. That’s all.”

Janine wrapped her arms around Gen. “What about?”

Closing her eyes, Genevieve snuggled close and tried to force the memories away. “I don’t remember.”

Michael poured a cup of coffee.

“Remember the good old days when you made me breakfast?” Merri called from behind him.

He turned to her, but before he could take a drink, she slipped the mug from his grasp and downed it herself.

“Actually, no, I don’t,” he said. “I think you’re delusional.”

“You did. I think it was pancakes. Once…like, six months. You should do that again. It could be a tradition.”

“Then I’m not due again until six months from now.” He poured another cup of coffee and kept this one out of her grasp. “Go to school.”

“Yeah, yeah. Later.”

The front door opened and closed a minute later.

Michael sat on a barstool to bury himself in his coffee. She drove him fucking nuts. Must be what it would be like to be a parent.

Though I’ll never know for sure if this is what it feels like.

He banished those thoughts and regrets, and drank more coffee.

Someone knocked on the door. For a moment he thought perhaps Merri had forgotten her keys—again—but a glance on the counter where she usually dropped them revealed nothing.

He stalked toward the front door and threw it open, expecting to her more of Merri’s rambling about pancakes.

Instead, he found Genevieve.

Beyond her, he caught glance of her car parked across the street. Although she seemed to be avoiding meeting his eyes completely, she chanced the odd glance up at him before looking away again.

“Go away,” he said.

“I…”

Michael sighed. “What the hell do you want?”

“I need your help.”

“Merri already left,” Michael said as he prepared to close the door. “So if you—”

“I know,” Genevieve interrupted in a shaky voice. “I saw her go. Please...I...don’t have anyone else to go to.”

“Cade springs to mind.”

“I don’t trust him to understand. And I don’t...I don’t want anyone to know.”

With a heavy sigh, Michael stepped out of the way so she could pass through the threshold. “Go sit in the kitchen. If you hug me this time, I won’t speak to you ever again—you’ll have to deal with your own fucking problems.”

She nodded as she walked past him. Michael closed and locked the door behind her. What the hell am I doing...

He put on the kettle without asking, and tossed the last bag of fair trade masala chai in a mug, thinking perhaps she might stop shaking with a warm drink. Once the drink was poured and she had the mug cradled in her palms, she gazed up at him.

“I killed someone,” she said in a small voice.

“Was this the other night at the hotel?”

“How did you know about that?”

Shit. He was slipping. Probably ‘cause of the constant hangover.

“Because I had to patch up Sage,” he said. And pay off a few people to make the police think it was a drug deal gone bad and any evidence of the girls lost...

“Sage was blocking the door and she got knocked out. The woman, Alex Gardner, she—”

“Alex Gardner?” Michael repeated.

“Yeah. You know her?”

“The name sounds vaguely familiar. Continue.”

“She came into the room when we were about to leave. She...she didn’t see me in the bathroom—she went right for Merri, I guess ‘cause she was shooting at her.” Gen took a long sip of her tea, then set it down again and rubbed at her eyes. “Raji has this book. Well, it’s some stuff he got from a listserv that he printed out at Lulu. It’s offensive stuff. Like... really offensive magic. He thought it was a waste of money ‘cause it didn’t work...”

He sensed she had more to say, but when she didn’t comment further, he prompted her. “It does work?”

She sighed. “For me. I recognized some of it. Other was instinct, but...I changed a few words and phrases, and it worked.”

“If it’s so offensive and dangerous, how did you know it worked before the other night?

“I...kind of tried it out. At school, on people randomly. Even Cade one time. I just tried little things. People usually thought they were choking a little, and would cough.” She winced a little and avoided his eyes, as if she expected a reprimand.

“And that’s what you did to Gardner?”

Gen nodded. “Only not a little. But...I couldn’t stop. I didn’t even try—I didn’t want to. And that’s not like me. I don’t want to be like this.”

Minutes of silence ticked by between them. She opened her mouth a few times, grasping for words, but apparently failing to find them as she didn’t say more.

A dumb kid in over her head. After all this time, that’s what she was. It wasn’t just a case of not knowing what she was capable of—not anymore. Now she knew. But she still didn’t know what to do with herself.

A rare sliver of empathy slipped into him, though he immediately hardened to it. This wasn’t his problem now...whether she tried to make it his or not.

“And why did you think I could help you?” he asked at last.

“You’ve killed people and you know stuff. I thought...just that maybe you could understand?”

“Let’s rephrase, then: why did you think I would help you?”

“Because...I know you care about what happens to Sage and Merri. And you don’t want them to get hurt because of me.”

“That’s probably the most intelligent thing you’ve ever said.”

“So...can you help me?”

No. Just get the fuck away from me so I can leave Newhaven and never look back.

She looked up at him. “Please?”

Michael walked around the breakfast bar and slumped onto the stool next to her. “I guess.”

“Thank you. I won’t hug you.”

“Good.”

“So what am I going to do?”

“You have to stop thinking you’re better than everyone.”

“I don’t—”

“Yes, you do. You’re stronger than them, and you think you’re better than them. You used to worry that Sage would kick your ass if you pissed her off. Do you still watch what you say around her?”

“Not really...”

“Why?”

“Because...”

“Why?”

“Because I can defend myself now. And...”

“And because you think you’re better than her.”

“I don’t mean to.”

No, he didn’t suppose she did. But that did little to change the fact that it was how she felt now.

“What am I supposed to do?”

Michael sighed. “You need to reconnect with them.”

“Sage and Merri?”

“Everyone. Except for me.”

She seemed to ponder the suggestion for a few minutes. “Raji’s been trying to get me to go to Diwali with him.”

“You should. Because...I don’t know. Might be…hot chicks there.”

She gave a faint smile—just the corners of her lips turning upward—which was what he’d intended. “I have a girlfriend.”

“I’m sure you’ll have many in the years to come.”

“I don’t even know how to talk to the others. Like…’Hey, sorry I briefly became Dark Genevieve, but at least I didn’t destroy the world. Let’s go to the movies.’”

Michael pulled his cell phone from his back pocket, but he didn’t make a call—instead he pressed the buttons to send a text message.

“What are you doing?”

You’ll see, he thought. “I think there’s another cup worth of tea in the pot,” he said instead as he picked up her empty mug.

Genevieve nodded.

“I had another dream,” she said as he turned his back to her.

“About?”

“Like the ones I used to have…there are two me’s in it. One is regular me, the other just looked like me. And she starts talking about all this stuff I don’t understand. That’s where I first heard about The Brethren.”

He remembered vaguely, months ago, when she spoke about a recurring dream. Merri had said something once too, but he tried not to listen much where Genevieve was concerned.

“Michael, she’s…strong. The other me in my dreams. So strong. And confident. You remember when we were sitting here after you got shot and you kept screaming at me when I was supposed to be patching you up?”

That wasn’t quite how he remembered it, but he nodded anyway.

“I was so scared of what I’d become if I did what you told me to. It’s like the power…isn’t mine. When I use it…it’s like I become someone else entirely. Since I’ve lived other lives, I guess it makes sense that maybe I am tapping into something else.”

He handed her a fresh mug of tea. “Or you have some kind of dissociative personality.”

She snapped to attention suddenly. “Huh?”

“You’re associating the magic and other qualities into another personality you’re creating, probably in order to absolve yourself from responsibility from it.”

“I…guess that makes sense.”

“Of course it does.”

“There was another part too. You were there.”

He tensed a little but said nothing.

“We were sitting on the couch. You were painting my toenails and I was making you a friendship bracelet. You said you’d always be there for me.”

He rolled his eyes. “Well, we can take comfort in the fact that none of your dreams are prophetic because that will never fucking happen.”

“You said I was like you now. That’s what made me think to come here.”

Michael snorted. “Trust me, you have a long ways to go before you’re anything like me.”

“That’s a good thing?”

“I think so.”

“But…but you spent so much time teaching us.” She frowned, as if genuinely confused. “And lecturing us. And yelling at me. I thought you wanted us to be like you.”

He finished his coffee before answering. “I wanted you to be stronger. To take care of yourselves. To survive. You can do that without being the kind of person I am.”

“I don’t think you’re that bad.”

“Then you need to start getting more sleep—you’re delusional.”

“What have you done that’s so bad? I mean, besides kill your friend—who kinda deserved it—and throw things at me.”

“That’s something I’m not going to tell you.” Ever.

“I’m not a kid. I can handle it, Michael.”

No, you can’t. “Not going to happen.”

The front door opened suddenly. Michael headed out of the kitchen to intercept Merri, who was trailed by Sage.

“What the hell do you mean you’re leaving?” Merri shouted, hazel eyes wide. “You can’t just go! Just because—”

He gestured over his shoulder.

Merri paused and took a few more steps. She frowned as she spotted Genevieve in the kitchen. “What’s—”

Gen looked like a deer caught in the headlights, so it was clear she didn’t have anything to do with it.

“You freaked Merri out and made her drag me out of class for this?” Sage said in a low voice.

Michael directed his gaze to Merri, however, trusting that she’d pick up the hint. Their glance exchanged unspoken words, and Merri sighed heavily. She moved toward Genevieve, though with clear reluctance; her shoulders sagged a little and her step seemed cautious.

“Hey Gen,” Merri said with a sigh.

Michael took several steps away from the kitchen so that he wasn’t eavesdropping. Merri would probably repeat it all to him later anyways.

“Why are you helping her?” Sage said.

“Because neither of you were going to.” He gestured over his shoulder. “Go to them.”

“But—”

“She’s sorry.” He kept his voice barely above a whisper so he could be sure Gen didn’t her.

Grudgingly, Sage nodded and walked to where Merri and Gen stood.

Michael leaned against the wall outside of the kitchen, wishing that they could have done all of this at someone else’s place, or at least outside, rather than his house.

“Michael?”

He turned to see Genevieve. Tears still shone in her eyes, but she smiled.

“Aren’t you going to watch it with us?”

“Watch what?”

“You’re saying you weren’t listening in?” Sage asked with skepticism to her voice.

“We’re going to watch a movie,” Gen said. “Some new horror remake On Demand.”

“Which obviously means you’re skipping school.” He glanced at Merri. “Is that it?”

“Yeah,” Merri spoke up from the kitchen. “I’m making popcorn.” Confirming this was the beep of buttons on the microwave, and seconds later a popping sound. “And you love popcorn.”

He didn’t and he’d never said such a thing.

“Come on,” Sage called. “You might as well.”

Eating popcorn and watching a horror movie with a couple of stupid teenage girls, or going to a bar…what a tough decision.

“You can make fun of Gen while she squeals during the scary scenes.” Sage said.

“I don’t—” Gen began.

Sage shook her head. “Merri said you do.”

“She does,” Merri agreed.

“But—”

Merri came from the kitchen with a bowl of freshly popped popcorn, which she waved in front of his face. “Don’t be a killjoy.”

He glanced at his watch. Fucking bar isn’t even open yet.

Without bothering the pretence of an argument he would probably lose, he followed them and slumped down on the couch next to Sage to watch the film.

Sage hated the late September winds.

She rarely went shopping, but she’d purchased a simple black pantsuit. She’d picked out the clothes with that day in mind and had gone for a heavier fabric, but it didn’t keep her warm.

“Hey.”

She glanced over at Levi. She’d just seen his family leaving, and didn’t expect him to be sticking around. His gaze was fixed on the headstone, which is what hers returned to.

“Hey,” she said back.

They stared at Hayden’s headstone in silence for awhile.

“I thought Genevieve would be here today,” Sage said.

“Genny’s coming by later,” Levi said. “My parents are splitting up.”

“I’m sorry,” she replied, because she didn’t know what else to say. Her mom had told her something was going on with the Greenes.

“We knew it was coming. Dad’s moving out.”

“So you’ve joined the broken home club?”

“Yeah.” Levi sighed heavily. “I figure I can work my way up to vice president in a few years. It’s good to have goals, or so Genny says.”

“And she’s always right.”

Sage’s parents hadn’t been a couple for so many years that she’d forgotten what it would be like for someone like Levi who’d always had a “complete” family. But a year after his brother’s death, everything was different.

It’ll always be different.

“I’m sorry, Sage.”

“For?”

“Blaming you.”

Tears burned in her eyes. “It was my fault, though.”

“She’s told me all about everything that happened. It’s still a lot to believe, but I know she’s not lying. I know it’s not your fault.”

It’s my fault. It’ll always be my fault. Hell, it wasn’t bad enough that she got him killed in the first place—she’d had the chance to have him back, and she blew that too.

She felt his hand on her shoulder. Absently, she reached up and folded her fingers over his.

“He wouldn’t have wanted me to blame you,” Levi said.

“It’s still hard.”

“Yeah.”

“I still miss him.”

“Me too.”

She blinked away the tears. They had to talk about something else. Don’t remember him in the hospital bed. Don’t remember finding him in his car. Don’t remember sliding the promise ring onto your finger and losing him forever.

Sage released his hand, and his arm dropped to his side.

“Are they doing a one year anniversary thing again?” she asked. She tended to stay out of the loop, but she remembered that at school the year before. “To talk about violence?”

“They might have an assembly. A few people died last year, so I think they don’t know what to do.”

“No more fundraisers?”

“Not that I know of. No one told me. Guess I’m out of having to go to the stupid dance thing.”

“I thought you liked those? Let’s do the time warp again, and all that?”

“Yeah, I think me and Genny are retiring that this year. Everything is different now.”

“Just as long as she doesn’t try to make me go as Riff Raff.”

Levi chuckled. Sage glanced over and genuinely smiled in return.

“She’ll probably do something with Janine,” he said. “So what’s new with you? Nearly get yourself killed lately?”

“Almost. But Gen saved me.”

“That’s weird.”

“Yeah. Never ceases to shock me.”

“At least Michael’s not around. Never trusted that guy.”

I did.

Just as class ended, Thad’s cell phone rang. He wasn’t going to answer until he glanced at the number. Merri.

“Hello darling,” he said with a smile as he answered.

“Hi sweetheart,” came the dry, rather masculine voice on the other end that decidedly didn’t belong to Merri.

Thad’s throat went dry. “Michael. Why are you using Merri’s phone?”

“I figured there was a better chance of you answering. You need to meet me at the Newhaven Castle. One hour.”

That’s a hotel, I think...what the hell? “I’ve got class--”

“You’re going to miss it.”

And just like that, Michael hung up.

Dammit.

What possible reason could Michael have for wanting to meet him?

That’s easy, moron. He knows. Knows about you and Natalya. Knows you’re a spy.

And there seemed little doubt about what Michael would do to him…

He’s going to kill me. Probably slowly.

He swiftly dialled Natalya’s number, but got no answer. He could call Cade, though he was probably busy with the girls.

So. His options were to meet Michael and possibly get killed, or not meet Michael and definitely get killed for pissing him off.

Option A it is.



Dusk descended early in the fall and the roads were dark by the time Thad’s car pulled into the hotel parking lot. He was ten minutes early, and Michael was still there before him. He leaned on the hood of his convertible and waited.

Thad approached, his step slow and cautious. He doesn’t look like he has a weapon...but he probably does.

“So what’s up?” he asked. “Is it a surprise party?”

Michael didn’t even crack a grin. “Follow me.”

At least the hotel is a sort of public place, Thad thought as he walked behind Michael. Surely there would be someone around to hear his screams.

“Let’s have a refresher course on The Brethren,” Michael said. “What do you know?”

“There are lots of them. They want to kill my girlfriend. Is there anything else to know?”

“The girls only really know a simplified version,” Michael said as they walked into the hotel. He nodded at the desk clerk, who nodded back and didn’t stop him from taking the nearest flight up stairs up. “Like any organization that’s been around for a few millennia, there have been changes over time. Disagreements. Alliances. Betrayals. Shifts in ideals. Some even war amongst themselves.”

They came to a room with yellow police tape across the door, which Michael carelessly tore aside, then opened the door and flipped on a light switch. Of the two wall lights on either side of the bed, one turned on.

Something definitely went down in that room—no blood, that Thad could see, but bullet holes, broken furniture, and various things strewn about...

“Did Merri tell you that they were nearly killed the other night?”

Thad stopped in his tracks. “What?”

Michael glanced back at him. “Someone tried to kill Cade, and the girls tracked the woman here. Gen killed her.”

“The Brethren,” Thad managed, his mind reeling. Why hadn’t Merri told him?

“That’s the working theory. The thing about The Brethren, though, is that we don’t know who is counted among their members, and they don’t even know sometimes because they’re split into different groups. But we do know some people who aren’t.” He stopped next to the light that hadn’t turned on and felt around in the sconce. With a cocky smirk, he pulled out a small package with an elastic around it, then screwed in the light bulb. The light came on.

“How’d you know that was there?”

“Why else would the light not be working? Staff would have fixed it, even in a dive like this.” He opened the package and held out a passport for Thad to see.

An unfamiliar woman with short black hair looked back at him from the photo. He read the name next to it. “Rebecca Dobakova?”

“One of her aliases is Alex Gardner, which she stayed here under.”

“She went after Cade? She’s who Gen killed?”

Michael nodded. “She’s a fairly well known hit woman. Not at the top, but not at the bottom either.”

“Well, we already know The Brethren have assassins—”

“What did I tell you about The Brethren a minute ago?”

I almost wish he’d kill me and get it over with. Michael had that look he always used with Gen—the, “Are you an idiot or something?” look, and Thad shifted a little uncomfortably.

“Um...you don’t know who actually is a member of The Brethren?”

“I said that in some circumstances, we can know who isn’t. You, for example. Me. Cade. The girls.” He waved the passport around. “And Dobakova.”

“Well, she is—or was—a hit woman. So maybe they just hired her.”

“She was good, but not good enough. Not for them. They’d want someone invisible. Dobakova wasn’t. She didn’t even use an original alias while staying here. That’s sloppy, at least for The Brethren.”

“Are you saying she wasn’t hire to kill Cade?”

“No, I’m saying this wasn’t the work of The Brethren.”

The pieces fell into place rather quickly and Thad couldn’t believe it took him this long to figure it out. “Uh oh. Wait, was it you?”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Would I really have dragged you here and told you all this if it was?”

“Maybe, if you were going to kill me.”

“I’m not going to kill you.”

Thad felt his heart go back to a normal rate at last. “So why are you telling me all this?”

“Because you and I are going to figure out who hired her and what’s going on.”

“We?”

“You’re going to find out what you can about Cade. His past, his enemies—besides The Brethren—and what possible reason why someone would want him dead.”

“Someone besides you, you mean.”

“Yeah.”

“I thought Natalya told you to stay out of this stuff?”

Michael shrugged. “She said to leave the girls and Cade alone. She said nothing about you doing the same.”

No—in fact, I’m supposed to be spying on everyone.

“You’ll cover Cade,” Michael continued. “I’ll follow leads I can get surrounding Dobakova. Any questions?”

“Yeah—do I have to?”

“Do you want to risk Merri getting killed again?”

Michael had to have known Thad wouldn’t even bother answering that one aloud.

“I thought I’d find you here.” Genevieve closed Michael’s front door behind her.

Sage and Michael stopped fighting; he cast his boxing gloves to the floor and reached for a bottle of water, while she rested her hands on her thighs to lean forward and pant.

“He’s kicking my ass,” Sage said.

“Must be sober for once,” Merri said dryly from the couch without looking up from her book. Michael shot her a look, but didn’t retort.

“There are far more important things than fighting today, kids.” Gen strolled in, dropped the shopping bags she carried onto the floor by the couch and took a seat with Merri. “It’s Halloween.”

Sage picked up a bottle of water and drank the whole thing before speaking. “Your point?”

“Dance. Tonight.”

“You got me to the stupid school dance last year,” Sage said. “That’s it.”

“It’s not at the school this year,” Merri said, still not putting down her paperback. “It’s at On the Map. Boycott or something.”

Gen nodded. “They cancelled the dance so student council organized something at a club with alcohol instead. That should teach them.”

“I still don’t want to go.”

“But you have to,” Gen said. She held up the bags. “I’ve got costumes. And everyone has to wear one. We have a theme.”

Sage walked over to take a seat on the arm of the couch. “No.”

“And didn’t you tell Cade you were going tonight already, Sage?” Merri said.

“Yes, so that I could come here. And now I’m here—no need to go anywhere.”

“I think you kinda gotta take a break for a couple of hours,” Gen said, batting her eyelashes and smiling innocently. “Otherwise, someone might get really sad about being at the party all by herself and feel compelled to call Cade and tell him where you are...”

Sage’s angry gaze went straight to Genevieve’s. “You wouldn’t.”

Gen picked up one of the three bags and tossed it to Sage. “We’re leaving in twenty minutes to meet Levi, Janine, and Thad there.”

Grumbling under her breath, Sage snatched up the bag and stalked into the bathroom to change.

“You are wicked,” Merri said with a grin.

“Like I said—we have a theme.” She handed Merri her bag. “You have to get dressed too.”

“I’m afraid to even ask.” Merri took the bag and retreated to her room.

Genevieve hopped off the couch, her shopping bag in hand, and turned to Michael. “You wanna come too?”

“I’ll pass.” He gestured to the closed door behind him. “You can change in the spare room.”

She hadn’t been in either of the two spare rooms at the back of the building before, and approached this one with a hint of hesitation. She half expected to find more scary weapons. Instead, she slid opened the door and found stacks and stacks of boxes and trunks lining the walls, some with drop clothes over them.

Nothing to say that there aren’t weapons in the boxes.

“There’s a mirror right across from the door,” Michael called.

She closed the door most of the way and pulled a white cloth from the full length mirror. The frame was dark wood, and she guessed quite old. Bits of dust hung in the air.

“Are you handing out candy?” she asked as she slipped off her T-shirt and jeans, then dug into the bag.

“You’re really funny today,” he returned.

“Mad that I’m stealing your favourite pupil for the night?”

“I could use the break.”

She tugged on the formfitting, black dress, then slipped on matching boots with heels that added four inches to her height. She took the final item out of the bag, stuffed her regular clothes in, and collected it all before heading out of the room.

“I like that mirror,” she gestured over her shoulder into the spare room, “and I think you should totally give it to me because you don’t use it.”

“I’m not giving you a four thousand dollar mirror that’s two hundred years old.”

“I hope you have all this stuff insured.”

The bathroom door swung open abruptly and Sage stomped out. “You have got to be kidding me.”

Gen covered her mouth to keep from giggling.

“Seriously, what the hell were you thinking?” Sage gestured to the faux-leather warrior princess costume she was sporting. “Are you on drugs or something?”

Merri’s door opened next. She seemed much more pleased with her long purple peasant skirt and various scarves. She held an acrylic crystal ball in her left hand.

Gen put on her black pointed hat. “I think this was a great idea.”

“And what is this theme?” Sage asked, still not amused.

“I’m a witch, you’re a warrior, and Merri’s a—”

“Gypsy?” Merri guessed.

“A seer,” Gen said. “That was the best I could come up with. So we’re going as the Children of the Apocalypse. We need a warrior chick.”

“I’m not wearing the skirt,” Sage said.

“Fine, but you have to take the sword.”

Sage returned to slip on her jeans, muttering under her breath as she went.

“Sure you don’t want to come?” Merri asked Michael as she slipped on her shoes.

“Yeah, you could go as the pain in our collective ass,” Gen said with a grin. “You wouldn’t need a costume or anything.”

“You mean he should just wear a sign that says, ‘Hello, my name is Cade’?” Merri said. Even Sage laughed as she returned, and the three moved towards the door. “Don’t wait up.”





“They really cracked down on the alcohol for minors thing,” Levi said, shouting a little to be heard over the music.

Thad took a sip of his beer and grinned. “Yeah. Doesn’t it suck to be under nineteen?” Merri smacked his side, and he threw his arm around her shoulder in return. “You’re not enjoying your coke, darling?”

Gen feigned a laugh, but had trouble focusing on the conversation. She’d seen Janine earlier, when they first arrived, but... She glanced at her watch. Half an hour had gone by. She was supposed to be getting a drink—where the hell did she go?

“I was under the impression that this place wouldn’t have chaperones,” Levi continued. “I think I’ve seen all of my teachers now. Mostly at the bar.”

“Word got around about the alternative dance,” Merri said. “There was a staff meeting or something about it.”

“And you know that how?” Thad asked.

“I happened to be eavesdropping while I was tutoring after school, of course.”

Gen glanced at her watch again. This is driving me nuts... Janine wouldn’t have just left. Gen was supposed to go to her place later to stay overnight. What the hell?

She picked up her drink and stood. “I’m going to go see Sage for a bit.”

Levi looked over his shoulder at where Sage sat scowling on a chair against the wall, by herself. “Someone did explain to her that it should be a fun evening, right?”

“Sage doesn’t like fun,” Gen said. “She’s allergic to it. But she’s a good sport for coming.” And I feel a tad bad for making her because she looks so miserable.

Sage only briefly glanced up when Gen reached her and sat down. “This sucks.”

“Wanna dance?”

“I don’t dance.”

Gen leaned back and sipped her root beer. Her gaze moved around the club, still looking for Janine. “There’s a guy over there totally checking you out.”

Sage’s gaze flickered for a moment to the young guy standing several feet away, then she stared straight ahead again. “I noticed.”

“He’s cute...in a boy way. You could talk to him?”

“Or I could kick your ass for dragging me here.”

“Seriously. We could get you drunk. You could party with the cute guy.”

Her eyes shot to the guy again. White teeth flashed as he shot her a smile.

Sage glared at Gen. “I’m not interested in guys.”

Gen’s eyes widened. “Oh. Do you like girls now? ‘Cause I really don’t like you that way—”

Sage stood. “I’m not interested in anyone. I just want to be left alone.” She stalked away and disappeared into the crowd.

So much for being a good sport. If she hadn’t had that brilliant idea to dress in theme, she probably wouldn’t have bothered making Sage go. Of course she didn’t want to have fun.

But I do. Where the hell is Janine?

She took to wandering around the club, both the main floor and mezzanine level. Still no sign of her girlfriend. The ladies room also came up empty.

Worry knotted in the pit of her stomach. I don’t like this. People had died before—a lot of people. Sure, they closed the portal, but who knew what else got out? On the Map had plenty of stupid—and possibly drunk or high—teens running around. Great place for a monster to hang out.

And I’d rather not have my girlfriend get killed...

She stopped at the table she shared with the others to put down her drink and snatch up her jacket. “I’m heading outside for a bit.”

“Need an escort?” Levi asked, but Gen shook her head.

“I’ll be back in a few.”

Maybe Janine has a deep dark secret, like smoking, Gen thought as she made her way through the crowd. So she went outside...for a really long smoke break? Merri did that sometimes, but then usually it was actually to sneak off and make out with Thad.

She pulled her jacket tight around her as she stepped outside. One thing she hated about Halloween in Canada was that it was always too cold to just wear her costume. Every year, when she and Levi went trick-or-treating, they’d have the most awesome costumes, and then they’d have to wear track clothes under them because it would be too damn cold to go out without them.

Though she started to look around the side of the building, the sound of a familiar laugh drew her steps back toward the parking lot. She frowned as she glanced around, scanning the lot of cars and small groups of people milling about. I could have sworn I heard...

Her gaze settled on a head of familiar dark hair. Janine.

Her pace quickened until she was close enough to see a second figure there. Short red hair...she looked vaguely familiar...

The two seemed to be talking, and then the other girl leaned forward and pulled Janine into a kiss. Everything fell into place.

Trish. The ex. Janine’s girlfriend for the past few years, until last spring.

Gen felt her stomach drop and tears fill her eyes, but she breathed deeply. The sting of betrayal was strong, and part of her sincerely wanted to bring out some offense magic and choke the life out of the pair of them.

“What the hell?” she managed.

Janine tensed immediately and swung around. Her eyes widened and face paled. “Gen...” She turned back and whispered something to Trish, then started toward Gen.

“You can go to hell,” Gen muttered under her breath and she spun around and stalked back towards the club.

“Gen, wait—”

Genevieve felt a hand on her arm. She halted, but snapped her arm out of Janine’s grasp. “I said, you can go to hell.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for—”

“What, you went out to get some air and accidentally started making out with your ex girlfriend? Were you possessed, or hypnotized, or are you just naturally a lying cheating bitch?”

“Okay, you know, that’s fine. You have a right to be pissed off—”

“Damn right I do—”

“I ran into her when I went to get a drink and we came out here to talk. We needed to.”

“That wasn’t talking.” The kiss played over and over in her head. Heavy tears waited in her eyes but she wouldn’t shed them. Not yet. Not in front of her.

“We just got caught up in talking and...don’t you ever feel that?”

“Feel what? Compelled to make out with my cheating ex in a parking lot and hurt my girlfriend?”

“No, passion. It’s not rational and it’s not something I planned, but... Gen, I love her. I always have.”

But I loved you.

Gen’s eyes burned. Her fingers tightened into fists. Magic spoke to her, begging to be called and used. Make them pay. Make them regret it.

Make her love you like you love her.

“I don’t care,” Gen whispered. “You don’t suck face with your ex when you’re dating someone else.”

“But you’re never here!” Janine bit her lip as she started to cry.

“What the hell are you talking about? I’m here right now.”

“No, you’re not. You’re never here with me. You take off randomly, and when you are around, it’s like you’re not even actually there.”

“So...you’re making out with Trish because I don’t pay attention to you?”

“It’s because you won’t let me into your life!”

Gen shrugged. “And right now, I’m pretty glad about that.” This time she left for the club and Janine didn’t follow.

Merri met her at the door, as if sensing something was wrong. “What happened?”

“I need to go home...”

“Do you want me to come with your or—”

“No, I’ll be okay. Can you get a ride home with Thad?”

“Of course.”

“I’m going to go pick up my stuff and then go home.”

And plot horrible revenge by candlelight.

Sage stood at the bar and argued with the bartender for ten minutes before he agreed to get her just a plain glass of water. That they didn’t want to sell the kids alcohol, she could understand, but pushing sugary, carbonated drinks on them instead wasn’t good either. She had one glass of grapefruit juice in the morning—everything else had to be water. She returned to the main floor with her drink and looked for Gen so she could complain some more about being dragged along, but it was in vain. No sign of the witch.

So she makes me come here, and then leaves. It figured.

She spotted Merri and Thad sitting at a table, but they practically had their tongues down one another’s throats. God, she hated P.D.A. It was so rude. She and Hayden never...

Sage gazed down sadly. She and Hayden never did a lot of things because they didn’t have time, but perhaps she would have found public displays of affection more acceptable if she’d known how little time they had. She never would have let him go.

And that’s where her thoughts always went, still. A year later. Even after she’d “accepted” his death, accepted that he was gone forever...she still thought of him daily. Still missed him. Still had trouble, in conversation with others, not saying, “Hayden once did this...” He’d been so much a part of her world for so long that it still seemed strange to be building new memories without him.

“Hey.”

She looked up sharply and turned to see a guy at her side. He was the same one who’d been looking at her before. She looked blankly at him for a moment, wondering why the hell anyone would bother talking to her. After putting in so much effort to seem as introverted and antisocial as possible, it was rare of anyone to bother.

He reached out a hand to her. “I’m Darius.”

“I don’t care.” She took a sip of her water.

“I’m pretty sure I know you from somewhere.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s a bad pick up line and I still don’t care.” She turned away from him, but he only followed. A punch to his head seemed to be in order, but before she could swing her fist back, another figure stepped in.

“Hey honey,” Levi said with a quick smile. He took her by the elbow and guided her away from the other guy. “Let’s take a walk.”

As they moved out of the club, she tore her arm from his grasp and sent him a glare. “I didn’t need you to rescue me.”

“You were going to hit that guy.”

“Well, yeah.”

“You can get arrested for that, you know.”

“He had it coming.”

“Still. You can’t go around hitting people, or Gen won’t invite you out anymore.”

“You promise?” She sucked in a breath of cold October air. “She made me come here, and then she took off.”

“Do you need a ride?”

She glanced up at him. “Aren’t you staying?”

Levi shrugged. “I’m bored. It sucks not having a date.”

“I’ll say,” she mumbled as she followed him to his car.

“You thinking of dating again?”

She shivered in the cold. “God, no.”

“Hayden wouldn’t blame you, you know.”

“Lev...” She sighed heavily and met his eyes for a moment. “I loved your brother. Him being gone doesn’t change that.”

“Well, if you smack around every guy who hits on you, you probably won’t have to worry about too many more bothering you.”

Kids had rang the doorbell at least a dozen times that evening, despite the fact that Michael had kept the outside light off. It was supposed to be a sure sign that the house in question wasn’t handing any candy out, but that didn’t stop the sense of entitlement of some children.

Michael sat in his kitchen reading a book and sipping a beer. All but the kitchen lights were turned off in the hopes that it would lessen the number of trick-or-treaters intruding on his night.

The front door opened and slammed closed.

He glanced at his watch. Nine-thirty seemed too early for Merri to be home.

Sniffling followed, and then the click of heels across the hardwood. Genevieve went straight to her bag of clothes next to the couch.

“What happened?” he asked.

She swung around and wiped some tears from her eyes. “Stupid teenager stuff. You wouldn’t care.”

“Probably not.” He went back to his book.

“It’s just that I just broke up with my girlfriend,” she continued, obviously missing the part where they agreed that he didn’t care. “And it was supposed to be this awesome night and we were going to go to her place afterwards and instead I found her making out with her ex girlfriend in the parking lot and she said bad things to me and...” She broke down into tears again.

“Want a beer?”

Her shoulders sagged in defeat and she sniffed. “Okay.”

While he pulled out a mug from the cupboard and a beer from the fridge, Gen dropped her bag by the kitchen island and slumped onto a barstool. “I hate dating. I’ve had two girlfriends and they’ve both sucked.”

“That’s par for the course at seventeen.”

“Did you have awful girlfriends at seventeen?”

“No, but then I wasn’t your average seventeen year old.”

“Did you have any girlfriend at seventeen?”

“No.”

“So you became a man-whore later in life?”

He slammed the bottle down on the counter and glared at her. “If you’re going to be a brat, you can do so at home and not have some of my imported beer.”

Her bottom lip trembled. “I’m sorry. I just feel better when I’m taking my problems out on you.”

“I gathered,” he said dryly as he poured her a beer and topped up his own.

Gen reached for the drink, but he pulled it back. After grabbing two shot glasses from the cupboard, he filled them with Irish whiskey and Baileys. He dropped the shot glasses in the mugs.

“Why’d you do that?”

He slid the mug her way. “It’s an Irish car bomb.”

“I can’t go home drunk.”

“So sleep on the cot in Merri’s room.”

She gave him a faint smile. “You’re being too nice. Are you getting me drunk so that you can kill me later?”

“Possibly.”

“Bottoms up then.”

Gen folded her arms on the countertop when she was done chugging and rested her head on them. “She cheated on me.”

“Your girlfriend?”

“Uh-huh. With her ex. And it’s so stupid because Trish cheated on Janine and that’s why they broke up.”

“Trish is your girlfriend?”

“No, Janine is. Was.” She sat up suddenly. “What the hell is wrong with people? Why do people cheat on people? Did you know my dad was cheating on my mom? She left him. What the fuck was going through his head? I think of doing a lot of bad things to plenty of people. Stabbing them and poisoning them and infecting them with leprosy. I even wanted you to burst into flames one time. But cheating on someone who loves me isn’t one of them. Who does that kind of thing?”

Michael poured another shot of whiskey and downed it. “This is rhetorical, right?”

“Seriously, I don’t get it. Can I have another drink?”

One more and she’d probably pass out once it hit her, but at least that would stop her complaining. He mixed up another pair of bombs and handed one to her. She looked ready to topple off her barstool by the time she was done.

“I really...really...like, I really want to know.” She looked up at him with a frown. “Why do people do that? Did you ever...like, ever cheat on your wife?”

A few drinks ago, he never would have answered, but like anyone else, whiskey loosened his tongue a little too much. He leaned his elbows on the counter and gazed down at his glass. “Yes.”

She smacked his arm hard enough that he nearly smacked her back.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she said.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Damn right I don’t understand!”

“There can be mitigating circumstances.”

“I don’t believe that,” she said stubbornly.

“You’re young.”

“I’m not that much younger than you are. The difference is that I know what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Michael sighed and reached for another beer in the fridge. “I’m not debating ethics and fidelity with you.”

“Do you regret it?”

More than you can possibly know. “Yes.”

“Do you think Janine regrets it?”

“Sure.”

“My brain is spinning. Can I have another drink?”

“Maybe when it stops spinning.”

She rested her head on the counter. “I first saw her when I was thirteen. She went to a different school but we were at the high school for track and field day. I got second place in high jump.

“And I saw her. And she was so pretty. I knew I liked girls. I went home and told my mom and dad over dinner that I liked girls and they just nodded like it was okay. And four years later I was totally in love with her.”

He bit back a remark about how stupid she sounded, and felt a moment of slight guilt. She was just a kid. Kids get their hearts broken and never see the big picture.

It must be nice to be that fucking naive.

“She said she loved her,” Gen continued.

“All the feminine pronouns are confusing.”

“Janine.” Tears brimmed in her eyes again. “She said she still loved Trish. But she was supposed to love me.”

“Maybe she does.”

“But...can you really love two people? Is that even possible?”

“Yes.”

“Right, like you know. You don’t love anyone. You’re like...anti-love. Why do I know such weirdos? Sage is allergic to fun and you’re allergic to love.”

“I changed my mind.” He pushed another beer her way. “Have a drink.”

Merri entered her house after midnight to the sound of laughter.

She stepped cautiously through the short hall and looked around into the kitchen.

Gen sat on a barstool—half slumped over the counter—laughing so hard that her face had gone bright red. Although she’d been crying the last time Merri saw her, it wasn’t nearly as out of place as Michael on the other side of the counter, laughing as well.

And Michael doesn’t laugh...this can’t be a good thing.

“Oh god,” Merri said as she walked into the kitchen. “Is it laughing gas? Evil joke demon? Or...did you get high?”

“No, we’re drinking.” Gen put her hand on a nearly empty bottle of whiskey and slid it along the counter. It went too far and began to topple off the edge.

Michael’s hand shot out to catch it, but his coordination was off and the bottle fell to the floor anyway.

Genevieve laughed even harder, and Michael didn’t seem upset about it either.

“Okay, who are you people and what did you do with Gen and Michael?”

“Janine and I broke up so Michael made me car bombs and then he told a joke and it was so funny—”

“You told a joke?” Merri’s gaze went from Gen to Michael, and then back to Gen again. “Is this the apocalypse?”

“I didn’t tell a joke,” Michael said. “I said,” he looked at Genevieve, “that you’re going to die of alcohol poisoning because I’m not going to call an ambulance.”

They both burst out laughing again and Gen nearly slipped off the stool.

“Uh...” Merri took a cautious step back. “Did I accidentally run into that kid you and Sage visited, and make a wish? Is this bizarro world?”

“Put the witch to bed,” Michael said, gesturing in the direction of Merri’s room. “Or she really will die of alcohol poisoning.”

Merri rolled her eyes. “Oh, no. You got her drunk. You can carry her.” She returned to her room and made up the cot in time for Michael to dump a drunken Genevieve on it.

“You never let me drink,” she accused.

“Well, you’re less needy and whiney.”

“I’m glad you’re being nice to her.”

“Letting her get drunk is being nice to her?”

Merri gazed down at Gen, who had all but started snoring. “She was in pain. You did a friend kind of thing for her. It’s good. You too are a lot alike.”

“I’m whiney and needy? I think you need to find a new place to live.”

Merri gave his arm a playful shove. “You might have been. In another life.”

Michael left, and Merri adjusted Gen so she was laying on her stomach and under at least one of the blankets before heading off to change into her nightgown.

“Mer?”

Merri stopped near her bed and glanced over her shoulder. Gen still lay sprawled on the cot with the side of her face smooshed on the pillow, but her eyes were open. Well, at least the one not buried in the pillow.

“You wanna tell me what happened?”

Gen pressed her palms into the bed and pushed herself up, but then her eyes widened and she paled. “Okay, that wasn’t a good idea.” After lowering herself down again, she curled her body into the foetal position. “I’m going to be so hungover tomorrow, won’t it?”

“Drink a lot of water.”

“It’s probably some Michael-y lesson to teach me not to complain to him about my stupid teenager problems, right?’

“That sounds like a Michael kind of thing to do. Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“Oh-my-god.” She tried to sit up again, but failed and fell back on the pillow. “Did Sage get a ride home?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“She’s so going to kill me.”

“You’re avoiding the question.”

“Tomorrow.” Gen closed her eyes and yawned. “Tomorrow.”

Whatever happened with Gen—which Merri assumed related to Janine’s absence—she could learn in the morning. At least she wasn’t going home drunk, or worse... Vengeful.

Merri’s eyes opened at the sound of the front door opening and she yawned. Propped up on her elbows, she glanced over the back of the couch, then sat up fully.

Michael walked in and locked the door behind him. She didn’t glance at the clock, but she suspected it was late. Or early, depending on one’s perspective.

She put the TV on mute and yawned again. “Hot date?”

He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat on the edge of the couch. “Go to bed. It’s a school night.”

“No it’s not. I’m going to ask you something?”

“Of course you are. Because living here rent free entitles you to a few more favours.”

There was a time when she might have taken offence to that, but she was comfortable now. She’d lived with Michael for several months—she knew he secretly liked having the company.

“It’s about Gen.”

“When’s it not?”

Merri sighed. She shivered a little. Earlier in the day, it had seemed rather warm, but now early December winter had settled in the house and she wished she’d cranked up the heat more.

She took a deep breath. This probably wouldn’t go over well. “Christmas is coming up.”

“We’re not getting a tree.”

“I wasn’t asking for one,” she said. “You know her parents split up earlier this year.”

“No.”

“That wasn’t a question—I didn’t think you knew, so I was informing you. Stop being difficult. Her parents split up, but she said they’ve been talking more, finally. They booked a vacation together to work things out, but this close to the holidays, it turns out they’re going to be gone over Christmas.”

“I expect it’ll be June by the time you get to your point.”

Jesus, he was bitchy tonight. “I want to invite her for Christmas. The last month has really sucked for her. She doesn’t know I’m asking you this...but she can’t go to Levi’s because he’s going to stay with his Dad for part of the time, and Sage would never offer. Please? Consider it a Christmas present for me?”

That seemed like a possible strategy. She chewed her lip as he seemed to debate it.

At last he nodded without looking at her. “Fine.”

It was only when she felt the rush of relief that she realized she really had worried he’d say no. “Oh, thank god. I hated the thought of her alone on Christmas, and she doesn’t really have relatives around.”

“You could go there, you know.”

“Yeah, but then I’d have to sleep on the floor. Or her parents’ bed, and that would be creepy and gross. Anyways, I’m glad you two seem to be getting along now. It’s good that you help her.”

Michael shrugged and took a sip of his beer. “That seems to be what we do around here. Help Gen.”

“Really, though. I didn’t get to actually talk to you about Halloween. I was... very worried about her, to say the least. When bad stuff happens to her, I think she gets...”

“Angry.”

“In a nutshell. I mean, I don’t blame her, but then I don’t have the power to do something bad to people when I’m like that. I think she’s getting more responsible, but I don’t want to think about what she would have done that night if she’d been by herself.”

“That thought did occur to me when I suggested she stay.”

“Ah. Knew it wasn’t a friendly gesture. Always one step ahead, right?”

“Right. Now didn’t I tell you to go to bed?”

Merri glanced at the clock. Twelve-thirty in the morning. “Fine.” She rose. “But only ‘cause I really am tired.”

Michael rose as well, turned off the TV, and started upstairs.

I hope he’s not spending all this time at Krysta’s, she thought. Guy needed a social life, sure, but...there had to be a better way to spend his time than with her. He could take up a hobby. Like... Oh forget it, she thought. Michael wasn’t a hobby kind of person, if one excluded throwing knives at people.

Once in her room, Merri adjusted the heat to a reasonable temperature, and within moments the room started to warm. She slipped out of her clothes and into a nightgown, then drew back the covers for bed. High on the list of things that made Michael’s place preferable to her old crappy apartment was how much quieter it was. He—and now Merri herself—lived in a very nice neighbourhood. Everyone went to bed early. No cars, no kids in the streets. And no sirens all night, not to mention a lack of drug busts in this building.

She switched off the light beside her bed, snuggled into the covers, and closed her eyes.

A cool wind tickled her cheek.

She absently brushed her face and tugged the covers up further.

Her nap on the couch while waiting for Michael to return hadn’t lessened her desire to sleep at all, and soon her mind had drifted off.

Consciousness returned, briefly, as a breeze touched her forehead, rustling strands of her. The air felt like pure ice and the tip of her nose went cold.

Chills moved down her spine. Damn winter. She rolled over and mumbled a curse. She’d probably left the stupid window open a crack or something during her insanity earlier when she’d thought the place was too hot. Shivering in bed, Merri drew her body into the foetal position. She knew she should close the window. Michael wouldn’t want his heating bill to be astronomical. But...

But I don’t want to get up.

Still, she lay there awake now, and knew she wouldn’t sleep until she either got another blanket from the closet, or closed the damn window. With an angry sigh, at last Merri sat up, pulled the blankets back, and looked toward the window.

She froze in place as her gaze settled on the window across the room. Her throat went dry and she shivered.

It was already closed.

“What the...” Her words stopped as she caught sight of her breath fogging the air in front of her. She trembled now, but not because of the cold.

Merri’s hand shot out to flip on the light beside her. After fumbling wildly for a moment, at last her fingers settled on the switch. She flicked in on.

The bulb flickered for a second and went out.

Curtains fluttered along the window, as if wind blew them.

I need to get out of here, she thought. A heavy lump formed in her throat—whatever was going on...she wasn’t alone in there.

1...2...3. She bolted from bed and ran towards the door. Her hand clasped the handle and she yanked the door open.

It snapped shut immediately, and though she pulled, she couldn’t get it open.

She whirled around, pressed her back to the door, and glanced around the room.

What the fuck is going on?

Weeks—probably months—had passed since Michael had been to sleep, sober, before three in the morning. He wasn’t entirely tired yet, and wasn’t sure this night would make an exception, but he stripped off his shirt and pants, and slumped on the bed. At least he had something to do for the past month and a half. Figuring out where Dobakova aka Gardner had come from and who hired her occupied at least some of his time now. Better than sitting around being useless.

He tossed and turned for a bit.

And this is why I drink. I can’t fucking sleep otherwise.

Eyes open, he stared at the blackness of the ceiling. I wonder if there are any bars still open...

Something flew past the corner of his vision. He snapped to attention, body taut and ready.

He didn’t see it again, but felt something there. Watching. Waiting. The air grew considerably colder.

Michael sat up in bed. “Who’s there?”

He didn’t really expect an answer, and wasn’t surprised when one never came.

Without taking his gaze from the empty room, he reached between the bed and the wall, and felt around until his fingers clasped the cold handle of a knife. Weapon in hand, he pulled himself into a crouch and prepared for whoever—or whatever—might attack.

“Michael.”

His muscles tensed as he heard his name called. It came as a whisper, and he couldn’t determine if it were male or female.

“Michael!”

Now that was definitely female—the shout came from downstairs.

Merri...

He bolted from the bed and ran down the stairs, skipping a few steps as he went. After racing across the hardwood floor, his bare shoulder hit the icy door to her room. The door didn’t budge.

“Michael!” she shouted again, from the other side of the door. “Something’s in here!”

Michael glanced around the dark, cold main room of the house. “It’s here too.” He rammed his shoulder into the door a few more times, but something kept it shut.

“Get back from the door!” He ran to the cabinet across the room and his gaze settled on a battle axe. That should do it. New weapon in hand, he returned to Merri’s room and swung the axe against the door again and again until the blade sliced through the wood.

He held back as Merri’s frightened face appeared through the hole in the door.

“What the hell is going on?” she asked.

“We’ll figure it out after we get out of here.”

She stepped out of the way again and Michael continued with the axe until there was a big enough hole for Merri to climb through. She reappeared, in the process of zipping up her jeans beneath her nightgown, and slipped through the gap.

“Where are we going?” she asked as they went for the front door.

Worry crept up on Michael as he unlocked the door and reached for the handle. It’s steel...if it doesn’t open, we’re left with the window, and the neighbours will hear that. He mentally prepared himself for the possibility of running through the window and around the side of the building in the middle of the night in his boxers, but thankfully, the door opened easily. He snatched his keys from the hook by the door before leaving.

“Get in the car,” he said as they ran out into the cool darkness. He hand the engine running before Merri had closed the passenger door.

“What the fucking hell?” she said, swinging around in her seat to stare at the house as the car sped off.

“Off hand...I’d say we’re being haunted.”





“Haunted,” Merri repeated for the fifth time that night. She sat in a chair in their motel room while Michael changed in the bathroom. “Did you know we’d be haunted? Is that why you keep spare clothes in the car?”

“You were on the run for how long, and you didn’t keep a spare bag packed?”

“But you weren’t on the run.”

He slipped his shirt on and returned to the main room. “Never knew when I might have to be.”

“Who would be haunting us?”

He took a seat across from her and gave her a skeptical look. “Us?”

“Good point. Who wouldn’t?”

“As far as I know, no one has died in that house.”

“Except for the guy I killed.”

Michael nodded his concession. “True. But that was over a year ago. If it was bound to the house...”

“It would have shown up sooner?” Merri guessed.

“Maybe. It’s hard to say. I’m not really a ghost expert.”

Merri leaned back in her chair. “So we need a ghost expert.”

“We had a ghost expert.”

Their eyes met and Michael sensed their thoughts went straight to the same place.

Finn.

Attempted rapist and all around bastard. Michael’s “best” friend, if anyone he knew could really be considered as much. Finnegan O’Shea was likely their suspect.

She paled and frowned. “Oh...fuck. If we were both going to be haunted...”

“It would be by him,” Michael finished. “He said he would.”

Merri wrapped her arms around her torso and shivered as she looked around warily. “Do you think he followed us here?”

“I don’t know. Do you sense anything?”

She avoided his gaze, instead looking at the floor. “No. Temperature hasn’t changed either. Maybe he’s still at the house then...”

Or maybe he found another target.

No. He wouldn’t. Michael had killed him. If Finn were going to target anyone, it would be Michael.

But he went after Merri. She was in the car with me, after all...

Michael and Merri both made sense. But now that all was quiet at the motel, either Finn stuck around at the house, or...

Genevieve.

“Call Gen,” he said immediately.

Merri’s eyes grew wide. “Dammit. He wouldn’t—”

“Finn would blame her. Call her now.” He started for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To get her.”

“But—”

“Stay here. I’ll bring her back.”

A low growling woke Genevieve up.

She blinked a few times and rolled onto her back. The growling continued, and she sat up with a sigh. “Pen...”

Penny sat outside her bedroom door, peering into the room. She bared her teeth and continued to growl.

“What’s your problem...” Her voice trailed off as she watched her breath cloud the air white in front of her. This isn’t a good sign.

Crisp air ran up and down her bare arms. She glanced around, but saw nothing. Still, she didn’t like this. Something was—

A force grabbed her suddenly, as if icy fingers wrapped around her neck, and she slammed against the headboard.

Genevieve reached out blindly, clawing at the cold air in front of her, but touched nothing. She searched her mind for a spell, for anything defensive, but the force grasping her neck squeezed tighter and she couldn’t force any words out. Screaming didn’t work, and she realized with a sense of dread that no one would hear her away—her dad was gone for the weekend.

She reached for her neck and felt around, praying she’d encounter fingers or something—anything—but nothing corporeal met her touch.

Footsteps thudded in the hallway and an instant later Michael burst into the room. She tried to mouth the word help, but nothing came out. Her hand stretched out and gestured toward her throat.

Michael ran to her and just as she felt her consciousness fading, his hand grasped her arm and tugged her forward. She slumped onto his shoulder, gasping for air, as the force released her at last.

“We have to get out of here.” He took her hand and pulled her off the bed after him as he ran for the hallway.

“What was that?” she managed after sucking in a few more mouthfuls of air.

Michael didn’t answer until they made it down the stairs. “It seems we’re being haunted.”

“Gee, you think?”

He’d left her front door wide open, and he firmly took her arm to push her out ahead of him. “Get in the car.”

“We have to take Penny—”

“I’ll get your dog—you get in the car.”

The winter temperatures had dropped below zero, and the moment Gen’s bare feet hit the cement, she shivered. Perhaps she should be sleeping in a parka rather than tank top and light flannel pants.

“Shoes!” she called, hoping he heard her as she hopped from one foot to the other. She waited by the passenger side door without getting in until she saw Michael come through the door at last, Penny at his side. He tossed a pair of hiking boots at her, which she slipped on immediately. The dog looked warily up at him, but then her eyes moved to Genevieve and she happily bounded to her owner. Gen got her dog in the car, and then waited while Michael locked the front door and moved toward the car.

“Didja grab my coat, maybe?” she asked.

He slipped off his coat and tossed it over the hood of the car. Gen caught it, shoved her arms in, and got in the car at last.

“Can we possible go a few months without something trying to kill me?” she asked as he pulled out of the driveway.





Merri rushed to her the moment they stepped into the motel room. “Thank god you’re okay! Why did you have your phone off?”

“Uh, it’s the middle of the night—why would I have my cell phone on?”

“Uh, in case I had to warn you that we’re being haunted? Dummy.”

Gen took a seat on the bed and Penny joined her. “So? Do we know what’s going on?”

Merri and Michael exchanged glances. Not a good sign...

“What’s going on?” she repeated.

“We’re thinking...it’s Finn,” Merri said.

Gen felt the hairs on her arm stand on end and her throat dried. “Finn?”

“We don’t know anything for sure,” Michael said as he paced past her to stand at the window.

Merri’s sharp gaze followed him. “But the leading candidate is Finn.”

“Is Sage okay?” Gen asked.

“Yeah, I called her after I couldn’t get a hold of you. She’s fine. Pissed that I woke her up, but fine. She’ll join us in the morning.”

“What do we do know?”

“The pair of you sleep,” Michael said, still staring at the window. “I’ll wake you up if the temperature suddenly drops.”





“You’re snoring.”

Gen started awake. “Huh?”

Sage sat on a chair opposite the bed and glared at her. “You’re snoring. It’s irritating.”

“I’m not snoring now!” She sat up and frowned. “And I don’t snore anyway. So shut up.”

“Yes you do. I just heard you.”

“Well, Janine never said I did.”

“Then Janine lied to you.”

The words stung, and Sage glanced away suddenly, as if she knew the comment had been uncalled for.

“Well,” Sage continued, “either that, or she snored too and you drowned one another out.”

The door to the room opened and closed, and Merri appeared with a tray of coffee and box from Tim Hortons. “I have breakfast.”

“Where’s Michael?” Gen asked.

“He went back to the house,” Merri said. “To check it out. See if anything is still there.”

Gen glanced down at Penny, who lay curled up at the end of the bed. “Don’t suppose anyone took her out?”

Merri handed her a cup. “Michael did this morning.”

Colour me surprised.

Gen took a sip and was glad to find the drink was hot chocolate and not coffee, which she still hadn’t developed a taste for although Merri constantly tried to get her to drink it. She glanced at Sage. “And why are you in a pissy mood today? Nothing nearly strangled you in your bed, did it?”

“No, but I was awake all night waiting for some damn ghost to come and bother me.”

“Any idea how we’re going to clear out the haunting?” Gen glanced down at her pajamas. “I’d very much like to get dressed today.”

“I’ve called Thad—he’s coming here with Raj,” Merri said.

Gen slumped back down on the bed. “I so hope we get this figured out. I don’t want Dad to come home to ghosts. Especially not murdered rapist ghosts.”

Twenty minutes later saw Michael return with Thad in tow.

“What’s the place like?” Merri asked.

Michael shook his head. “I got three feet inside and it felt like a freezer.”

“And we have a change of plans,” Thad said. “Raj is meeting us at Michael’s. With his sister.”

“Why?” Merri asked.

“Because apparently she’s a medium.”





In the bright light of day, Genevieve stood outside of Michael’s with Penny on one side, and Sage and Merri on the other. Thad and Michael stood a few feet away, but Gen couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“I feel like such a dork in my pajamas,” Gen muttered.

Merri gestured to her short nightgown with one of Michael’s sweatshirts overtop. “Uh, and I don’t look stupid in this with jeans?”

“At least you have jeans.”

Raji’s car pulled up, and the group turned to see two people get out. Gen’s gaze immediately went his sister.

And I suddenly wish I wore sexier pajamas.

She was taller than her brother, but not as tall as Gen herself. Her warm brown eyes met Gen’s and a soft smile curved her lips.

She felt a flutter in her stomach. It had been a long time since she’d looked at a girl and felt that—crying over Janine for a month had her convinced dating was evil and she’d never bother again.

And I’m rapidly changing my mind about that...

“This is my sister, Priya,” Raji said.

Priya walked around the car to join the group. “Hi. There’s really no easy way to slip into this conversation—and I know from experience—so let’s get right to it. I hear you have a ghost problem.”

Michael gestured over his shoulder. “Inside.”

She brushed back the fringe of short black hair from her eyes and looked the building up and down. “Let’s head inside then.”

Michael led the way, with Priya behind him and the others taking up the rear.

Cold air struck Gen forcibly when they stepped inside the house—just as Michael said, the place was like a walk-in freezer and even Genevieve, who didn’t feel she had any real extrasensory perception, felt something very wrong about the place.

Her gaze went immediately to Merri’s bedroom door, which was practically in pieces. “Was that Finn’s handiwork too?”

“No, mine,” Michael said.

Priya stepped forward with slow, deliberate steps. Her right hand reached out and fingertips touched the brick of the wall as she walked. “It’s strong.”

“We figured that out last night,” Merri said dryly.

“And it’s angry,” Priya continued.

“Definitely Finn,” Gem muttered.

“No.” Priya shook her head slowly as her gaze travelled around the room. She titled her head, as if listening, and her movements were smooth and fluid. “It’s not male.”

Gen glanced at the others. Michael’s gaze went to hers first, and she suspected they had the same thought.

So, someone who wants to kill me but isn’t Finn?

“You’re sure?” Michael asked.

Priya nodded. “It’s a woman. What happened here last night, exactly?”

“I went to bed,” Merri said. “Something woke me up. It got really cold. The light wouldn’t work and the door slammed on its own. We couldn’t get it open—Michael had to break it.”

Priya glanced toward Michael next. “And you?”

“It got cold, and it called me.”

She looked at him with a touch of surprise. “It called you? By name?”

He nodded.

“That’s...interesting.”

“Uh, it tried to kill me,” Gen spoke up. “Isn’t that interesting too?”

Priya moved towards Genevieve, touched her shoulder, and closed her eyes. Moments later they shot open again and she looked deep into Genevieve’s eyes. “Yes, she did. And she thinks she has good reason.”

She left Genevieve standing there in confusion, and then moved towards the stairs. “Up here? She called you up here?”

“Yeah,” Michael said.

They all started to follow, though Priya froze just a few steps up the stairs.

“Pri?” Raji called. “Are you...?”

“Priya’s not home,” said a voice that sounded strangely like Priya’s, and yet not. Priya’s back straightened and her shoulders squared. She turned around to face them, her irises and pupils pure white. “Leave a message and she’ll call you back.”

“Oh...shit,” Raji muttered.

“I’m going to take a shot in the dark and guess she’s possessed,” Merri said.

“It happens,” Raji said. “She’ll get better...” His sentence trailed off as Priya walked straight for the battle axe, picked it up, and bolted for Gen.

Oh, dammit! Gen took a few steps back until she hit the wall. Just as the blade neared her, Michael’s hand caught the handle.

Gen swallowed back the lump in her throat and looked from Michael to Priya, and then back again.

Priya’s white eyes moved to Michael and she smiled. “Hello, Parris. Care to let me kill the girl now?”

Michael shook his head. “Not today, Alex.”

“Alex?” Gen said, still not taking her eyes from Not-Priya. “Alex as in...the hitwoman?”

“Who you killed,” Alex said. She licked her lips. “Let me return the favour.”

She’s a lot less hot when she’s possessed and threatening me with a battle axe.

But still a little hot.

“Let’s have a talk, instead.” Michael slid the battle axe from her grasp.

Alex backed off with a glare in Gen’s direction, then turned to Michael. “Yes, let’s.”

Michael sat on the edge of his mission rocking chair in his room, leaning forward and resting his chin on his folded hands. He watched Alex in Priya’s body pace back and forth. She walked differently now. Priya moved carefully, like a dancer. Alex’s steps were heavy and purposeful, and her hands twitched now and then as if she was ready to draw a weapon.

They’d left the others downstairs. Michael wasn’t sure he wanted them overhearing what Alex had to say—or at least not yet.

“When did you get to Newhaven?”

She stopped pacing, turned to face him, and dropped down on the bed. “When did I die?”

“Two months ago.”

“Huh.” She seemed to chew on that thought for a moment, then tapped on her forehead. “Time is a funny thing when you’re dead. Everything is all messed up. I remember my hotel room. And then I remember being really pissed off.”

“Why come to me?”

She gave him a wicked smile, stretched her arms back behind her on the bed and leaned back. “I can think of a few reasons.”

He rolled his eyes. “C’mon, Alex.”

She sighed. “Okay. So the last thing I remember is that girl down there shooting at me and the other one somehow choking me to death. So...” She shrugged. “I thought I’d pay them a visit.”

“And me?”

“You, I noticed when I got here. It’s so nice to see a familiar face—or, in my case, sense a familiar presence—in this awful little town. I thought you could help.”

“Help how?”

“Well, killing the little cunts downstairs would be a start.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Don’t tell me they’re your friends...Michael Parris doesn’t have friends.”

“No, but he does have responsibilities.”

“Teen girls are your responsibilities? That’s a change.”

And let’s get off of this subject. “Why were you here?”

“Why do you think?” She tilted her head to the side. “Something tells me you already know.”

So she was hired to kill Cade after all. “Who hired you?”

“I didn’t get a name. You know I don’t always.”

“Who did the hiring, then?”

“It came in the mail. With cash.”

“And anyone contacting you would trust you to get it done.”

She sat up straight and smiled. “I do have a reputation to keep up.”

“Have you ever been employed by The Brethren?”

“The who?” She scrunched up her face. “Are they those guys who don’t really exist?”

“Yes, and they do exist.”

“I’ve never met one then.”

Alex can’t tell me anything. He’d never say it aloud, but for all her “reputation”, she was just a hired thug. They were back to investigating Cade, he supposed, and disappointment weighed heavily on him. He’d been hoping Alex could answer tell him something...anything...

“I guess this is the part where you go to the light, then.”

Alex pouted as she stood and wandered toward him. “But I like this body. It feels much younger than my last one. Fifteen years? Twenty?” She paced forward until she was standing over him. Her hands moved to either side of the chair’s arms and she leaned forward until her nose touched his. “I could do a lot of damage with this body.”

“Follow the fucking light or I’ll call in an exorcist.”

She stood straight and started to pace again. “Fine. It’s a little hard to hold on anyway.”

“And you’ll quit with the haunting?”

“Sure. But...” She swung her gaze around the room dramatically as she headed towards the staircase. “Have you seen everyone around here?”

Hope. It clenched his chest then. “Who?”

“Half the fucking planet, Parris. Why? Looking for someone in particular? Loudest is some Scottish guy cursing your name.”

He didn’t need to actually say anything. The truth was, he knew the answer. No reason to ask. And if Alex thought she could have something over him, she might try to use it to her advantage—maybe keep Priya’s body...

“A woman,” he said, risking it. “Dark hair. My age.” Anne.

Alex glanced around. “That’s vague, but no. They flicker in and out. Sometimes shapes and forms. Sometimes I just feel things. Like I said, the Scottish guy is the loudest. You’d better hope he doesn’t figure out what I did.”

“I’ll handle my ghosts.”

She gave him a smirk before descending the stairs. “You do that,” she called over her shoulder.

With a heavy sigh, Michael stood and followed. He watched Alex reach the bottom of the stairs, and then crumple to the ground.

There goes our only friendly lead...fuck.

Raji and Gen were the first to reach Priya and help her stand.

Gen looked up at Michael as he joined them. “What happened?”

“She went toward the light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Are you okay?” Gen asked, her attention back to Priya.

“Yeah.” Priya gave her a weak smile. “Bad headache and I feel like I could sleep for a week, but that’s usually how it goes.” She looked up as Michael reached the bottom step. “And I’m sorry for hitting on you. That really, really wasn’t me.”

Gen looked as though she was about say “eww” but held off as Priya turned to her brother. “Can we go home? I’ll meet everyone tomorrow for a little debrief, but I really want to lay down.”

“Thanks!” Gen called as they walked away. As the front door closed, she turned and smacked Michael in the side with the back of her hand. “Why do cute girls have to hit on you? ”

“I’m going to shower,” Merri called as she headed for the bathroom. “Then change. Then hopefully sleep.”

“Can I go home now?” Sage asked. “Since nothing was haunting me anyway?”

Michael nodded.

“Can someone take me and Penny home?” Gen asked. “So that I can put on real pants?”

Michael nodded again. “Go wait in my car.”

Once everyone else had left, Thad started backing up. “I guess since you talked to Gardner, we don’t need to—”

“She doesn’t—didn’t—know anything. Contract came by mail. Could be anyone.”

“So—”

“So you’re still investigating Cade. You need to find out about his enemies.” The car horn honked from outside. Michael rolled his eyes. “The sooner the better—once we know, I can stop worrying about keeping an eye on them.” He left Thad in the living room and went outside to find Gen and Penny in the car. She already had the car started, and he was slightly surprised she hadn’t just taken off.

“I feel like I should get you a fruit basket or something,” she said as he pulled out of the driveway.

“For?”

“Saving my life twice within twelve hours. Do they make fruit baskets for that occasion? Maybe a cake.”

“How about a case of beer?”

“Maybe when I’m nineteen.”

Thad walked along the mall hallway slightly ahead of Genevieve, pausing every few moments and then rushing to another store window to point something out to her.

Gen had agreed to help him find something for Merri for Christmas. They’d been together over a year—it had to be special, according to him.

But special shouldn’t take... She looked at her watch. ...four hours on a Saturday afternoon.

He stopped at the window of a jewellery story, which was packed full of people. “Necklace? Earrings maybe? Or...a ring?”

Gen sighed as she joined him. “Aren’t you poor, like all students?”

Thad frowned, and she felt a little bad for bringing him back down to earth. “Yeah. I wish I was one of those trust fund kids. Maybe they have an instalment plan?”

“Maybe. But this is Merri. She’s not into flashy stuff, remember.”

“I know...” He turned and rested his back against the storefront. “I just...I want to do something awesome. I can’t just give her a teddy bear or something lame like that.”

“Yeah, you’d better not—what do you think I got her?”

“It’s just...I love her.” He shrugged and smiled slightly. “And you know that commercials always say a girl knows you love her by the size of the diamonds you give her.”

“I still can’t convince her to shop anywhere other than a thrift store for clothes,” Gen said. “I can’t see her wearing diamonds. Like I said—she’s not into flashy things.”

“Really? ‘Cause I think she has a flashy laptop, and cell phone, and—”

“That’s crap Michael bought her.”

Thad rolled his eyes and started walking again. “Yeah. Right. Michael.”

“And it was...uh...work related. And it’s not jewellery. So it doesn’t count. Michael’s not her boyfriend.”

“He’s still competition.”

Gen elbowed him in the side. “Stop being a dummy-head.”

“Hey, I like getting jealous. It makes me feel all manly.”

“Being manly is overrated.”

“Says the lesbian.”

Gen elbowed him again. She pointed to a shop a few stores down. “How about something from the gallery? Art is always awesome.”

“I’ve taken two years of Art History. It’s not awesome, Gen.”

“You could do a finger painting and send it in to be framed? Something with little hearts and ‘Merri plus Thad forever.’”

He didn’t seem to be listening. “You know, she’s getting Michael a bottle of Scotch for Christmas. Or, rather, she’s getting me to buy it because I have photo ID that puts me over nineteen.”

God, I’m getting sick of talking about Michael. It was bad enough they were supposed to head to his house for some reason in twenty minutes or so—now she had to talk about him constantly too?

“You shouldn’t worry about Merri and Michael. Now, Sage and Michael...that’s another story. She spends way too much time with him.” Gen shuddered. “It’s such a gross thought.”

“I thought she wasn’t supposed to go there for training anymore?”

Oh, great, apparently Merri hadn’t told him...well, it wasn’t like Thad would do any harm and run to tell Cade. “Well, not supposed to. But I think they mostly just bond over dead people they loved. But no matter what’s going on, it’s all gross—you shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“I don’t think Merri would cheat on me. It’s just...Christmas has me stressed out.”

“I’ll finish my shopping Christmas Eve, as usual,” Gen said. “I’m looking to get Michael a copy of, How to Win Friends and Influence People if I can find one at the second hand store. I think he needs help with the former part of the title.”

Thad looked at his watch. “I guess we can try again tomorrow. Since we have to go.”

“Yeah. What’s with the secret meeting? All he told me that it was about me, Sage, and Merri, and important. Michael’s not supposed to have a say in this stuff anymore.”

Thad didn’t comment, but instead walked in silence for a moment. Gen was about to ask him what his problem was, and then her eyes settled on the gallery window again and she stopped.

“Hey, they’re hiring.”

“Uh...” Thad studied her face for a moment. “And you think I need a job so I can buy Merri a diamond ring?”

“No, I think I need a job. Duh. I’m totally broke. The gallery would be better than a fast food place.”

“But—”

“But the meeting can wait two minutes—I just want to run in and fill out an application.”





Gen’s quick job application turned into an impromptu twenty minute interview that came about when she remarked on the techniques used on one of the paintings. After that, she was given a quick tour of the back room and told she could come by for training on Monday afternoon. With the Christmas rush, they were in need of a new employee, but they’d been hesitant to take a potentially irresponsible student although they couldn’t afford to pay more than minimum wage.

“I have a job,” she said in a singsong voice as she and Thad got out of his car and walked up to Michael’s house. “I can get employee discounts on having my stuff framed!”

“You’re such an art nerd.”

“An art nerd with a job.”

Thad opened the front door and they stepped inside out of the cold December air. Gen opened her mouth to speak about her good news, but stopped when she saw Merri, Sage, and Michael sitting in the living room starring at her. Michael, of course, looked livid, but there was no surprise there.

“Okay, okay, I know,” she said as she slipped off her coat and left it on the kitchen island. “We’re late, but—”

“We’re supposed to be having a meeting,” Michael said.

“Uh, yeah, and I’m sorry. We got held up.”

“Shopping?” He said the word with such contempt, it felt like she’d committed one of the seven deadly sins by just going to the mall.

“Well, yeah, but—”

“Are you incapable of taking anything seriously?” he stood from the couch and stalked towards her.

She prickled at the accusation. She’d been out getting a job, after all, which was more than she could say for him. “And what’s serious? That’s you’re finally sober again? Should we praise you and give you a cookie?”

“Gen, come on,” Merri said as she rose. She paced closer to them, ready to mediate. “We’ve just been waiting for you and Thad for an hour—”

“And I’m truly sorry, but who the hell cares if we’re late?” Gen’s gaze went to Michael again. “You don’t get to call the shots anymore. You were fired, remember? You don’t get to order us around and call for meetings. Are you that lonely now that you have to relive your glory days and be bossy? God, get a fucking job.”

For several long, silent seconds, she thought for sure he was going to hit her. She almost wished he would—Sage would kick his ass in a heartbeat, and that’s if Gen didn’t have a little “defensive” spell cooked up for him.

She braced herself as he stormed toward her, but instead of laying a hand on her, he just kept walking. He grabbed his coat on the way out and let the door slam behind him.

“And running for the crown of Evil Hell Bitch would be...” Sage gave Gen a glare.

“You realize you have no idea what he was going to tell us?” Merri said. “It could be really important.”

“Oh, he’ll be back,” Gen said with a roll of her eyes. “He probably went to brood at a bar. Besides, he yelled at me. That wasn’t nice.”

“You were late,” Sage said.

“Yeah, ‘cause I was getting a job.”

“Can we get back to the part where he had something important to tell us about, well, us, and he didn’t get a chance to?” Merri said. “I honestly have no clue what. Now he’s gone. This is bad.”

“Uh...”

Their eyes all went to Thad.

“I kinda sorta...know.”

Merri stepped toward him slowly, frowning. “What are you talking about?”

His face shaded red and his eyes got wide. “I...know.” He looked quickly at each of them. “He told me not to say anything.”

“Say anything about what?” Gen asked.

“I’ve...kinda been helping him...with investigating something.”

“What?” Sage asked.

“Cade. Well, specifically who hired that girl to kill him.”

Sage rose and walked towards him, her arms crossed at her chest. “That was The Brethren.” Her voice betrayed a touch of doubt.

Thad shook his head. “Not according to Michael.”

“How long have you know?” Merri asked.

Somehow his eyes managed to get even wider. “I—”

“How long?”

“Since...September. A few days after it happened. He didn’t want to tell you yet. But he said the woman—Gardner or Dobakova—wasn’t a member of The Brethren. They wouldn’t have hired her either.”

“Dobakova?” Sage said.

“That was her real name. Remember when she possessed Priya a week ago...they clearly knew each other. And, I mean, he said that, back when he first asked me to help him. When he found out Alex Gardner as the hit...uh...woman...he started investigating. But he talked to her when she was Priya, and she didn’t know who hired her. Definitely not The Brethren.”

“So someone wants Cade dead.”

“Is it Michael?” Gen asked.

“Apparently not,” Thad said with a sigh.

“Why did he tell you?”

“I...well, he didn’t want to get you involved.” His eyes continued to shoot to Merri, but she barely looked at him.

“And what did you find out?” Sage asked.

“Not a whole lot. I kept snooping around and asking Cade questions. Nothing so far.”

“So why was he going to tell us?” Gen frowned. “Sharing knowledge wasn’t one of Michael’s strong points.”

“If Cade has enemies who want him dead besides The Brethren, you could all be in trouble. Michael thought you should know.”

And I feel like an idiot. So he was finally doing something helpful, and human, and she freaked out and insulted him.

Gen pulled out her cell phone. “I’ll call him.” Her call went straight to voicemail and she felt even worse. “So...I think I fucked up.”

“Yup,” Sage said.

Gen was going to snap back until she saw Merri staring at Thad. The tension in the room grew heavy.

“You lied to me,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry.” The look on his face was heartbreaking and Gen felt awful for him. He reached for Merri. “I didn’t mean—”

“This...is important. This affects us. I get secrets—you know I do—but Cade’s enemies are our enemies. You should have told me.”

“You didn’t tell me that you nearly got killed!” he said. His eyes reddened and his voice broke.

“You didn’t need to worry. I can take care of myself.”

“Merri—”

“Get out.”

“Mer—”

“Get the hell out of my house!”

Gen wanted to intervene, but knew well enough not to. She could talk to Merri later. This was her boyfriend, her betrayal...Gen had to stay out.

Thad looked like he wanted to say more, but stopped short of pleading. With a silent nod, he turned and left the house.

“Well then...should we ask Cade?” Gen asked. “Find out if he knows who would want to kill him?”

“And tell him that both Michael and Thad have been poking into his private life?” Sage said. “Right.”

Merri shook her head. “We don’t tell him. Not until I talk to Michael.”

“He’ll be back, right?” Sage asked. “He always comes back.”

“I hope so.”

“Tell him I’m sorry, when he does?” Gen said. “’Cause I’d very much like him to not revoke permission to let me stay here for Christmas in a few weeks.”

“I live here too,” Merri said. “He won’t revoke your permission. I promise.”

Krysta writhed beneath him, head thrown back and saying something that he hadn’t really been listening to. The movements of sex were merely going through the motions now, and after she clawed his shoulders and screamed her release, he finally admitted any desire to continue had faded. Michael rolled off of her and lay flat on his back, flaccid and depressed.

“Saving your energy for later?” she said. She moved onto her side and traced a line of sweat along his bare chest.

He didn’t answer. His gaze fixed on the ceiling, he tried to untangle the mix of feelings within him. He could identify them all, but realization became clearer and clearer as the minutes ticked by.

Days had passed since he’d arrived. He hadn’t left. He probably should have gone to a hotel, but...Christ, he didn’t know what the fuck he expected. Solace? Distraction? Whatever he’d been looking for, he hadn’t found it yet.

Krysta prattled on about going out that night, or dining the following day, or something. He wasn’t listening. Something about Christmas Eve in a few weeks.

“...so I’m thinking that—”

“I can’t do this anymore.”

She pulled herself onto her elbow. “What?”

“I can’t do this anymore,” Michael repeated.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

He sat up in bed. “I don’t want to be here.”

“Like hell you don’t.” She ran her hand along his arm and back. “You haven’t left my bed for nearly five days now.”

She was right. Four and a half days of fucking and drinking. The latter had made the former more bearable. But he couldn’t do it anymore.

“I have to go.” He reached for his jeans, dropped not far from the bed, and slipped them on.

“Where?”

No idea. Just away. Away from her. Away from her place. Away from trying to forget his problems with Krysta and her bed.

He stood and slipped on his pants, and then his shirt.

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t...be here. With you.”

“Five days, Michael,” Krysta said, irritation rising in her voice. “You can’t just show up here, stay for five days, and then just...leave.”

“That’s what I’m doing.”

“What the hell is going on with you?”

He glanced over his shoulder at her. The sheet had slipped as she sat up, and she sat there naked in bed, staring at him. Danger flashed in her eyes. He knew he’d do well to get the hell away from her as soon as possible.

“I think I’ve been pretty clear about what I’m doing. I’m leaving.”

“Which is absurd. Why do you think you’re allowed to leave?”

“I don’t want to be here.”

“Yes, you do,” she said coldly. She stood and sauntered over to him, rage simmering in her eyes. “You love me.”

He almost laughed. “You really think that’s what this is? Love?”

She lifted her chin defiantly and gave him a smile. “Again, you don’t spend five days in the bed of someone you don’t love.”

This time he did laugh. The woman was fucking nuts.

“Is there someone else? Because...” She slid her fingertip down his arm and looked up at him from beneath long dark lashes. “You could always bring her along too. I can play nice with others.”

Another’s face flashed in his mind for an instant. “There will always someone else. And you’re not her. You’ll never be her.”

“Michael—”

“I don’t love you,” he said. “I’m never going to love you.”

“Try harder,” she said in a low voice. “And maybe I won’t kill you.”

“This is waste of time and isn’t going to work.”

She cursed at him as he left the room, and then eventually her apartment. This time, he knew he wouldn’t be back.

Merri and Gen had picked up a few sets of LED Christmas lights in various colours at a discount store on Christmas Eve, and spent time stringing them around the doorways of Michael’s house.

They hadn’t seen their host in over two weeks. Worry settled in Merri, and grew worse day after day. He’d never taken off for more than a day before.

She didn’t raise these concerns to Gen, who no doubt felt bad herself. And right she should, since it’s her damn fault. Merri immediately regretted the internal outburst. Gen made stupid choices. All of them did, all the time. Michael could have given her time to explain why she and Thad had been late, rather than assume the worst.

Thad. After a week of ignored phone calls and email, he’d seemed to have stopped bothering. Gen tried, a few times, to talk Merri into seeing him. She’d refused.

People had all sorts of reasons to lie, and she’d always believed that everyone was entitled to personal secrets. But this wasn’t a secret about Thad’s past, or about some old trauma. This was about her. This was about Gen and Sage. Their lives, their futures. If he knew something about Cade they didn’t—like that multiple people wanted him dead—he should have said something and not waited three months.

“It’s around seven-thirty,” Merri said as she stapled the last of the lights at the bottom of the doorway to her room. “Place is pretty festive—why don’t you go see if Levi is on?”

“Oh! Right!” Gen slipped into Merri’s room to webcam with Levi, who had gone with his mom to visit a relative over Christmas in Thunder Bay. “Mer, I think I’m going to order pizza while I’m on here, okay? Place nearby is doing free delivery.”

“Okay,” Merri called back. She collected the boxes the lights had come in and broke them down for the recycling bin.

Michael always had cash stuffed in one of the kitchen drawers in case Merri was ever in need of groceries and he wasn’t around, so she fished out a couple of twenties for pizza. Just as she closed the drawer again, there was a knock at the door.

That was quick. Gen probably just went for some kind of plain cheese pizza...

Merri opened the door to see Thad standing in the snow.

Her lips pursed and she didn’t say anything at first. And then she glanced over her shoulder to see Gen peering around her bedroom door.

“So I didn’t really order pizza,” Gen said.

Conspiracies abounded. With a heavy sigh, Merri pulled on her boots and took her coat from behind the door, then stepped outside into the cold.

“Can we go for a drive?” he asked.

“Where? Your apartment to spend time with your roommates on fucking Christmas Eve? No thank you.”

“No. Just...trust me?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Okay, wrong thing to say. Please?”

“I don’t want to leave Gen alone for long,” she warned.

“Okay.”

With reluctance, she got into the passenger seat of his car. They drove in complete silence for about twenty minutes until Lake Ontario came into view.

“Where are we going?” she asked coolly.

“I just want to talk to you for a bit. I promise I’ll take you back later, if you want.”

She hated being mad at him. It felt unnatural. But she’d trusted him more than, arguably, anyone else in her life. What else could he be keeping from her? It was righteous anger, she told herself. Sure, he was sorry. But that wasn’t good enough.

He drove the car right up to the beach where a tent was set up and a fire pit awaited flame.

“Camping in winter?”

He didn’t answer her as he cut the engine, got out, and went to build a fire.

With a sigh, she followed. She crossed her arms over her chest and shivered while she stood over him.

“I miss you,” he said quietly. The wood started to glow, and soon orange flames rolled up, starkly contrasting the pale snow, lake, and beach.

“You lied to me.”

“And I’m sorry.” He chanced a glance up at her. “I really am. I know it’s a cliché, but I haven’t been able to eat or sleep or even think.” He rose slowly, cautiously, and stepped toward her. “I didn’t tell you what Michael and I have been doing, but you didn’t tell me you were almost killed. I had to hear that from him, standing there in that hotel room, where you almost died. Do you know what that’s like?” His voice broke. “To stand there...and see bullet holes in the walls? To know if things had happened a little differently, I could have been standing over your body? Looking at your blood?”

She felt her eyes burn with tears. Though she opened her mouth, she couldn’t think of what to say.

“I know you’ve always taken care of yourself. And I know you have Gen and Sage. But...Merri, I need you. I can’t...”

She threw her arms around him then, guilt heavy and leading her to forget her own anger. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He ran his hand back through her hair. “I should have told you. I’m sorry.”

She shivered again. “Did you have to bring me to the beach in the dead of winter to tell me this, though?”

He kept his arms around her, but pulled back and nodded to the tent. “It has a heater in it. Gen lent me the tent. Her Christmas gift to you, or us. So...” He looked back at her. “Want to stay?”

Merri answered with a kiss.

Genevieve had Merri’s laptop set up with reruns of South Park Christmas specials playing. She lay on her stomach watching, and wished she had some popcorn to go along with it.

The episode she watched got to the point at the end where Jesus sang “Happy Birthday” to himself, and she felt like she was identifying way too much with the son of god.

Christmas Eve. All by herself.

She was staying at Merri’s because her parents didn’t want her left alone, and yet here she was, all alone. Sure, Penny was there. And she was grateful. And she couldn’t blame Merri for being gone—not when Gen herself had helped plot to get her and Thad together to talk. That was four hours ago. Now the clock neared midnight, and she wasn’t home yet. Gen took that to be a good thing.

Or, good for Merri and Thad. Bad for me. But she wouldn’t dare have interfered with the plan. No, they were too cute to be all broken up and angsty.

The front door opened and slammed closed outside of Merri’s room. For a moment, she held her breath, kind of hoping it was Merri. But then footsteps stomped across the hardwood and thumped up the stairs.

Michael.

So he was home. No one had seen him in the past few weeks. Wherever he went, Merri said he didn’t even return to pick up clothing.

Part of her wanted to go upstairs and apologize. Well, most of her, actually. But the other part of her—the rational side—suspected he might kill her on sight, and easing her conscience with an apology wasn’t worth certain death.

Her gaze travelled to the large wrapped gift leaning against the wall by the door. It was Christmas Eve, after all. Michael didn’t seem the type to be bought, but maybe a friendly present would keep some of the homicidal tendencies at bay? At least during the holidays...

She waited several minutes until she grew bored with the South Park rerun and rose. After an unsuccessful attempt at talking herself out of bothering him, she picked up the big, flat, wrapped package, opened the door, and hauled the heavy gift out into the main room. All the lights were off except for one or two upstairs and the little multicoloured LED lights around the doorways. Every few seconds there was a sudden thump up in the loft, as if one object kept colliding with another.

She walked up the stairs with trepidation. When she neared the top, she made out a figure at the far end of the loft. Michael stood facing the wall, blindfold on, throwing knives at a target board. She was pretty sure he’d been wearing a sweatshirt and not a sleeveless black shirt when he’d stormed off weeks ago, so wherever he’d been, he had clothes. So he wasn’t in a gutter drinking somewhere—I guess that’s a good thing.

At the top of the stairs, she rested the gift along the half wall in the shadows. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she put extra weight on her left foot. The floor beneath her barely creaked, but it was enough to snap Michael to attention. He twisted around and a knife shot from his hand immediately. It whizzed past her head by only a few inches and clattered to the floor downstairs.

Michael yanked the blindfold off to stare at her.

“I thought we agreed not to throw knives at each other anymore, and by that I mean you wouldn’t throw them at me.”

“I thought you were Merri.”

“And...you throw knives at her?”

“I...kinda threw that without thinking. Natural reaction.”

Naturally creepy.

He tossed the blindfold and other pair of knives onto the tabletop in the corner, and walked past her to jog down the stairs to retrieve the other knife.

She shivered a little, more from nervousness and a near-death experience rather than finding the house cold, and wandered around the loft. Most of the knives had hit the target, but a noticeable few hadn’t. Either his concentration was off, or he suddenly sucked.

“Merri’s not home?” he asked as he came back up the stairs.

“She’s with Thad. They’re making up. I hope.”

He didn’t ask why they needed to make up in the first place. Either he knew, or he didn’t care.

“So I stayed here anyways. I thought she might have been back by now, but... It’s still okay, right?”

He shrugged as he gathered up the knives and put them away in the cabinet on the far wall. “I don’t care.”

That’s better than a, “No, I want to kill you,” she thought.

After putting away the knives, he reached for a glass of honey brown liquid on top of his dresser.

“More car bombs?” she asked.

Michael shook his head as he downed the rest. “Bourbon.” He went for the mini fridge and pulled out a bottle. He filled up his glass, then glanced at her. “You want?”

She’d never had bourbon before, but she was alone on Christmas Eve with Michael of all people. If ever there was a reason to drink...

“Sure.”

He took another glass, filled it with ice, and poured her a drink. She accepted it and took a seat on the edge of the bed while she sipped. It burned like fire down her throat, and she wondered why the hell anyone would drink such an awful thing. Even as she questioned that, she took another sip.

Merry Christmas to me.

“So Merri just left you alone?” he asked.

“Yeah. I thought she’d be home...but I think I already said that.” She took another sip. “Can you tell me...where you’ve been? We haven’t seen you in weeks. Is this the first time you’ve been back?”

“Yeah.”

“Where...?”

“Trinidad.”

“Oh. Is it... nice there during Christmas?”

He didn’t answer, but instead walked towards the armoire, opened the door, and started rifling through the contents.

“So yeah,” Gen continued. “It’s been really boring around here. Very anti-Christmas. I almost put up a tree yesterday.”

“You didn’t visit friends?” he asked, still looking for something in the pile of clothes. “Um...Levi?”

“Naw...it’s a weird Christmas there with the split up family. He and his mom went away for a few days. I webcammed with him, though.”

“Girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend? We broke up, remember?”

“Merri said something about Priya.”

“Oh...I’m not dating her. Yet. Hopefully soon. Raji’s not being too helpful there. I think he’s still in denial that I don’t like boys. So...you? You didn’t go to your...girlfriend’s?” Most awkward question of the year...

He actually stopped his searching to look around the armoire at her. “Huh?”

“Krysta.”

“Not my girlfriend.”

Gen rolled her eyes. Stupid boys and their stupid semantics. “Whatever. Fuck buddy, then.”

“What?”

“Well, that’s what Merri said.”

Michael shook his head and went back to looking. At last he seemed to come to what he’d been looking for, and pulled out a small package wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. He tossed it onto the bed beside her.

Gen picked up the package gingerly, as if it might bite. “What’s this?”

He grabbed his glass and took a long drink, then spoke without looking at her. “Merry Christmas.”

Maybe he wasn’t Michael anymore. Maybe he was...fake Michael. Or evil Michael. She’d have to get a good look later to see if he had an evil moustache.

She pulled the twine off and gently slid her finger under the seam in the paper until it tore. “You got me...a book.” She pulled the paper off complete and frowned as she recognized it. “You got me...The Witch history book that you let me borrow last year? Do I get to borrow it again?”

He paced a little, still with his drink in hand. “You wanted to keep it before, and I figured this is the end, right? It doesn’t matter now. This was the last reincarnation. There’s no reason to keep it, and I’m not fucking giving it to Cade. Merri and Sage are getting theirs too.”

She flipped open the pages, so many of them yellow with age. The book scared her—it had always creeped her out a little. All these other hers. All dead so young. Stories about them. Pictures...the odd photo, several drawings, and...

Her gaze settled on the last picture in the book. Genevieve’s own eyes looked back at her.

“Oh my god,” she whispered. If a mirror could reflect a black and white, pencil drawing of her...that would be it. She glanced up at him. “You did this?”

Michael shrugged. “You’re The Witch. You should be in The Witch Book.”

“God...” She looked back at the picture. “It’s beautiful. Not that I’m...like...but...wow. You’re so good.”

His response was to finish his bourbon.

“I...kinda have something for you. I was hoping you’d like it and forgive me for being bitchy and yelling at you, but I was uber cheap this year and made everyone presents, so...it might suck.” She gestured toward the large gift against the wall.

Michael’s gaze followed hers, and he walked over to pick it up.

“I totally won’t blame you for making fun of it...”

The green paper tore under his grasp until he’d revealed the framed painting.

He stared at it for several long moments.

“I know it has some abstract stuff, but—”

“It’s good.” He still studied it but gave a slight nod.

He’d barely ever said a handful of positive things about her art. She wasn’t entirely convinced he’d like it, but she’d done it for school and never liked keeping around old art pieces, unless her mom choice to display them. This was a mix of realism and abstract, and praised by her art teacher. Ninety-five percent; her best mark yet. Of course, that never mattered to Michael—he hated nearly everything she did anyway.

“It’s...okay,” she said.

“No...it’s good. You stopped trying to copy other styles. This is your own.”

“It’s not all realism, though—”

“And it doesn’t need to be.” His gaze scanned the far wall, and he nodded toward it. “It can go over there.”

“You don’t actually have to hang it up,” she said, still a little surprised at how well it was received.

He set it down again and went to get something from the bottom drawer of his dresser, then returned with a hammer and nail. “At least it’s something different.” He gestured to the oil paintings on his walls, mostly scenery. “First piece not by yours truly.”

She glanced around at all the art pieces. Once again, she marvelled at how good he was. How could someone with such artist talent be such an awful person...

But then, there was something missing in his work, usually. With few exceptions, it lacked life. Lacked soul. Technically perfect, but... Usually, there was no feeling.

Because he doesn’t have feelings.

He held up the painting against the wall and looked it over. “Is this straight?”

“Little to the left.” Maybe she’d had too much bourbon, but even as he moved it to the left, it still didn’t look straight. “No, the other left. Wait, that doesn’t look right either...”

“Okay, you hold the damn picture,” he muttered.

She left her glass on the nightstand and went to hold the large painting for him while he made minor adjustments, and planned where to put the nail in the wall. She held it in place while he marked the spot with a pen, then drove the nail in. Gen handed him the wide frame to place.

So it was Christmas Eve. And, of all people, she was hanging out with Michael. And he said her painting was actually good. She felt a little lightheaded and figured she ought to lay off the bourbon from then on, but emotion welled in her and she couldn’t help herself. She threw her around his neck and hugged him tightly.

“Merry Christmas and thank you,” she whispered.

He tensed under her arms, and now it was dread surging in her.

The painting slipped from his grasp.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly as she stepped back. “I know you said not to hug you, but we’re almost like friends now, and—”

He backed away, gaze on the ground, and turned away from her.

“I’m sorry,” she said again. “It was...just the Christmas spirit. I didn’t mean to...”

This wasn’t helping...and she didn’t know what to do to help. Her brain felt like she’d missed some important bit of information, but couldn’t quite grasp what.

Last time I’ll be nice. Him being nice back was too much of a Christmas miracle to expect it to last.

He must have some kind of sensory complex. Didn’t like people touching him, and probably hating the feeling of wet socks and grains of rice too.

“I’ll just go back to Merri’s room,” Genevieve said. “I’m sorry.” Through she tried to move quickly, she halted as a hand grabbed her wrist suddenly.

She gazed over her shoulder, fearfully. This isn’t going to end well. “I’m sorry, okay?”

Michael’s eyes met hers. He’d snapped. That was the only thing she saw in his gaze now—something had snapped.

But I’m stronger than that now. She wouldn’t let him push her around. Maybe this whole “friend” thing had been a ploy for him to then attack her because she’d yelled at him before. Maybe she really had done something wrong.

Whatever. I don’t fucking care.

Her back straightened as confidence touched her. “Let me go.”

His grip on her wrist tightened.

“Let me go.” She tried to yank out of his grasp, even pulling her wrist against his thumb like Sage had taught her. Didn’t do any good.

Spells. Why was she worrying about competing physically? She had to have something there to stop him. Her mind cycled through the ones she had memorized.

Let’s get a little offensive then... The spell she’d used on Gardner—the one that had killed her—left her lips with barely a thought about the consequences.

And...satisfaction. She tried not to smile as she noticed his eyes startled; he knew what was happening. His lips parted to gasp for breath.

But he didn’t crumple over like Gardner—he tugged her back and reached for her throat. Michael sucked in a deep breath, eyes even angrier than before.

Fuck. She hadn’t expected that, and the spell ceased as her concentration evaporated. She tried again to pull out of his grip, but his other hand circled her neck and held her there, tightening.

Oh god...he’s going to kill me.

She pulled her arm away again, but he squeezed her wrist tighter and twisted it behind her. She winced—not from pain, but because the action startled her.

“Get your damn hands off of me,” she whispered, anger rising. She was beyond this now. She wasn’t going back to being that scared little girl every time he threatened her. “Let me—”

Suddenly she was moving towards him again as he tugged her forward, and then he kissed her.

The kiss didn’t register in her brain at first. She felt disconnected from her body, like it wasn’t really happening to her. But the lips against hers were real—too real. This kiss wasn’t a request. It wasn’t a question. It was a demand.

She poured all of her strength into twisting out of his grip and pushing him away. Her steps moved backward involuntarily, as if her feet were ready to move before her brain knew to tell them.

Green eyes bored into hers. Words wouldn’t form, and if they did, she wasn’t sure her mouth could speak them. She searched his gaze, looking for any of the confusion there that she felt, but...

I have to go, I have to get out of here... She moved forward, but not past him this time—instead she reached for him and pressed her lips to his.

It didn’t make sense. It was irrational. Everything in her was repelled at the thought, yet at the same time it felt...

She pulled away, lower lip trembling. What the hell is happening to me?

Michael grabbed her again and kissed her roughly. Her head swam. And then she was moving backwards, stepping back rapidly as he moved forward, until her back hit the brick wall behind her. He took her wrist again and pinned it against the wall above her head. The prickle of hair on his chin scratched her as he dragged his mouth down, over her jaw, to her throat. She gasped as she leaned her head back, and his hands moved to travel over her body...

Reality struck her coldly, almost violently, and she froze. “Stop,” she whispered. Eventually her brain seemed to regain control of her limbs, and she pushed him away long enough to slip to the side.

“Okay...what the hell is going on here?” Gen’s gaze darted to him, but he stood with his back to her and didn’t say anything. “Am I really drunk? I don’t feel drunk. Maybe buzzed. Does bourbon do this to everyone? Did you drug me? What just happened?”

He still didn’t answer, but then Gen didn’t think she could stop talking if she wanted to.

“This doesn’t make any sense.” She sank down on the edge of his bed. “It’s insane. I don’t even like boys. I’ve never liked boys—not like that. And I still don’t. And I hate you. I mean, well...occasionally you have moments of humanity, but...it’s not like...”

“I know,” he said at last, voice low.

“And I thought you hated me.”

He nodded.

Oh, this was so not good. It wasn’t natural. “I don’t feel so good... Oh, god, what the hell am I going to say to people? I can’t—”

He turned to her suddenly, finally, to glare. “You don’t say anything.”

“But...” Okay, so maybe there was no logical reason to tell anyone, but still... “But I have to say something. It’ll come out—”

Michael started pacing swiftly back and forth in front of her. “No one needs to know anything about this. Ever.”

She prickled, as if he’d insulted her. “What the hell? Are you suddenly ashamed that you kissed a rather cute girl?”

“No, just that it’s you.”

“Hey—”

“Are you honestly saying you want people to know about this?”

He was right. She was ashamed and horrified and feeling rather dirty. And not dirty in a sexy way, either. Whether drunk or possessed or something, she’d never say anything, ever. God, the looks of disgust she’d get...

Possessed.

“What if we’re possessed?” she asked. “Or, at least I am. Well, probably you. But remember, when we were being haunted by that woman? She possessed Priya, who in turn tried to jump your bones, which was way gross, and do you think you can please stop pacing for two fucking seconds and help me figure this out?”

He stopped abruptly and dropped onto the edge of the bed beside her, chin resting on his folded hands and staring blankly ahead.

“Are we possessed?” she asked again.

“With temporary insanity, maybe,” he muttered.

“I’m serious.”

Michael sighed. “No. Alex’s spirit is gone.”

“Are you sure—”

“Priya’s a medium. She would have known.”

Gen grabbed her drink from the nightstand. Most of the ice had melted, and the watered down drink went down smoother than the concentrated stuff. She returned the empty glass to the table and noticed her fingers trembling a little.

She glanced over at him. “This is freaking me out. I’m...I don’t... I’m trying to rationalize it and process it and convince myself I’m not insane or secretly high or something, and all my brain keeps coming back to is that I’d rather go back to the kissing part.”

Michael looked at her sharply. A few breathless seconds passed in which fear filled her. When at last he reached for her, she felt something beyond terror, but didn’t fight it.

Everything was different. Rough, hard, frightening. The opposite of anything she had ever wanted or desired. There was a hint of violence in every coarse kiss, every touch...

She sank back on the bed, with Michael heavily atop her. For several long moments she was lost. Searing lips moved over her throat, teeth grazing her flesh. His knees slid between hers and she involuntarily lifted her hips to meet his. The fierce hunger of his hands and mouth consumed her.

As she felt calloused hands on her waist, tugging her shirt up, her eyes shot open and brain rebelled.

“No.”

One small shove of his shoulder was enough. Michael rolled off of her to lie on his back beside her. He stared up at the ceiling and didn’t say anything.

“Look...I don’t know what’s happening. And I’m scared. And I’m pretty sure we’ll be sober and not-possessed in the morning so we’ll forget all about this. Or maybe not. I don’t know. But I...” She looked over at him. God, she wished he’d look back—if only so she could try to gauge some sort of reaction from his eyes. “I’m not going to be your new fuck buddy. So if that’s what you’re going for and you’re just trying to screw with my head for kicks, don’t bother. I’m not going to sleep with you.”

She should go. He wasn’t going to say anything and this whole situation was just getting weirder and weirder as the minutes ticked by.

“Okay,” he said at last.

Did I hear that right? “What?”

He turned his head and met her eyes. “Okay.”

A few beats passed, and then she was on him. His hand tangled in her hair, and her mouth met his in brutal kiss.

Michael lay awake well into the night watching her sleep. And thinking.

They had talked. About art, about people, about...god, he couldn’t even remember anymore. But he’d maintained their agreement: that was all they did.

Sure, he was probably a little drunk. That didn’t explain what happened, and he knew it, but he let Gen continue to think that was the reason.

He wasn’t going to think about the real cause. Wouldn’t let his mind tread there—not tonight, not in the foreseeable future, he hoped. Anything could happen the next day, or the day after that. No reason to tell her. She didn’t need to know.

If she hadn’t touched him, hadn’t tried to hug him, hadn’t been that close...nothing would have happened. They’d have hung the picture. Maybe spoken awkwardly some more. Eventually, she would have returned downstairs.

But that wasn’t how it happened, and he couldn’t go back. One embrace changed everything—pushed him over the edge, force him to confront something within in. And that spark of power in her eyes...the challenge, the danger, the strength...that did it. Driven by emotion, spinning out of control... No more fighting it. He was lost.

Her eyes twitched beneath their lids as she dreamed. What went on in her mind, in her dreams, he couldn’t guess. She mumbled something once or twice, but that was it. For a fleeting second, he wished she’d wake up. But no, this was easier.

He reached for her forehead and brushed the strands of blonde hair back. She didn’t stir. His hand continued along her cheek and jaw, then paused heavily on her throat. His thumb brushed the tender flesh there.

Two desires resided within him. For so long, it was only to kill. To damage. That had always been the strongest—almost blinding in its intensity. And earlier that night, the want rose again and he thought it was the same old thing—to kill. But with startling clarity, it hit him. He wanted her. He wanted to watch her eyes roll back, lips part, and body clutch his in climax. Pleasure and pain. Sex and death. Nearly indistinguishable at times.

Merri’s words, from over a year ago, echoed in his head.

This isn’t going to end well.

She was right, and Michael was terrified.