otherwise. But this has got to stop. I’ve never seen you as more than a friend. Please, if you really care for me, leave me be. Let me love whomever I want to love.” Arianne did an about-face and hugged Niko. “Let’s get out of here.”
The two tumblers let Niko go so they could pull out their phones and start texting the news. Arm in arm, Arianne and Niko left behind a barrage of questions, a screaming Darla, and rapid keypad clicks.
“You’re going to pay for this, Ari!” Darla yelled at their backs.
Arianne convinced Niko to bring them to the In Between when they got into the Mustang. She’d wanted to talk without wasting any more time.
“But first,” he said, “Arianne Wilson, I formally invite you into my domain.”
“What?” Arianne laughed out. “I was never invited?”
Niko pulled on a lock of her hair. “It’s not funny. What happened to you at the house was because my domain was draining you of energy.”
“You mean the time I fainted?”
He nodded reluctantly. “After consulting with my master, I found out that all it will take to safely bring you into my home is to invite you in.”
“Wow, like vampires!”
“Ha. Ha.” Niko shook his head. “Are we going to the In Between or not?”
Arianne smiled at him, held his hand, and closed her eyes. The next time she opened them, they sat on the dock with their legs dangling over the edge. The water lapped at their soles.
“I can’t believe you
Arianne huffed. “It wasn’t my intention…
“Let’s forget the fact that I’m indestructible to humans for a second. Do you really think she would have done it? Her posse didn’t seem inclined.”
“Oh, you never know with the pep squad. They’ve got some blood-thirsty members. And certainly Darla would have taken that bat and…” Arianne allowed Niko to pull her to his side. She couldn’t hide the weakness in her tone from him.
“If you continue on this way, I would think that you’re falling for me.”
She choked on a laugh. “Niko, I’ve had a crush on you since freshman year.” Her boldness came to the party prepared. She blamed it on the residual adrenaline from telling Darla off. She felt him stiffen beside her, which loaded her heart with uncertainty. “I was too forward, wasn’t I? I’m so sorry. I’m not thinking straight again.” She made an attempt to gain some distance, but Niko tightened his grip on her shoulder.
“No, angel.” He drew circles along her arm. “I’m just so happy.”
Arianne looked at him, her brows practically touching her hairline. “You are?”
“In all my lives, I don’t ever remember being this happy.”
Arianne’s heart sang an aria. She wanted to respond, but the way Niko stared at the lake revealed that he had more to say.
“When I was made by my master, I was sent to live and train with Tomas,” Niko said. “He is as close to a father figure as I can think of. Growing up, my only purpose was to learn. I read everything, made sure to pay attention to all my lessons, and trained, getting stronger and stronger, fighting my way up the ranks until I reached my position now.”
“That’s all you did? What about family? Friends?”
“We are allowed to have consorts, companions, wives, husbands, whatever you want to call it. We’re even allowed to reveal who we are, but I decided to concentrate on my work.”
Sadness tightened Arianne’s throat to the point where she could only whisper, “Didn’t you get lonely?”
“I had my Caretaker and minions and colleagues. I thought, what more could I ask for? Until I met you.” He faced her then, keeping her in place with his gaze alone. “I hadn’t realized I’d been allowing myself to fade until you showed me I needed to live by spouting that Kofi Annan quote like gospel.”
“You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”
He reached out and caressed her cheek with his free hand. “Meeting you saved me. When you saw me on that bench, I was wondering why I was there when I thought of teleporting home after meeting with my master. It’s just now that I realized my home is with you.” He kissed her with a tenderness that broke her heart.
Arianne clung to him. She felt like reality would cease to exist outside of his arms if she let go. No matter what he was, she knew she wanted to be with him. She put everything she felt, all her intentions, into her kiss. In that moment, she saw Niko for who he was: a boy who could charm anyone, make friends with everyone, but who, at the end of the day, went home lonely. She loved him too much to allow him to continue his solitary existence, and she would protect him. From Darla. From anyone. Even from himself.
In seconds, Niko had lifted Arianne onto his lap. To her, the closer she got the better. His hand traveled in a trail from her neck, to her shoulder, and then just as he ventured lower, something beeped. Niko groaned, unwilling to break the kiss. Arianne giggled, giving him a feather’s touch with her lips on his before making the decision for him.
“Cell phones work here?” she teased.
“Unfortunately, mine does.” He fished out the phone from his back pocket and tapped the screen.
Arianne waited, watching his expression go from dreamy to serious in less than a second. “Something wrong?”
Niko let go of his phone and it disappeared. He stood up, taking Arianne with him.
“Niko, you’re scaring me.”
Her alarm seemed to snap him out of it. He planted a kiss on her forehead then set her down. “I’m just sorry I can’t meet Carrie today.”
“Why?”
“Duty calls.”
If Arianne could have floated into St. Joseph’s, she would. Wings seemed to have sprouted on her heels, carrying her forward. Her high from confronting Darla and sharing an intimate moment with Niko allowed her to move through the halls barely noticing the profusion of souls that walked with her. The happiness inside her became her shield.
Niko had explained as he drove her to the hospital that normally he could have his minions handle the work, but the amount worried him. Arianne rubbed his arm, assuring him that he could meet Carrie any day. They’d parted after a knee-weakening kiss. He said he’d call her in a few hours.
Arianne wanted to run, to share with Carrie what had come to pass that day.
Arianne halted in her tracks, eyes wide and unbelieving. Every beat of her heart hurt like a punch. Carrie faced her and began walking. As she neared, Arianne forgot to breathe.
Her sister looked so beautiful.
Luminous.
Her hair no longer looked limp, and her body was at the peak of health.
Carrie walked past. Arianne reached out, whispered her sister’s name, but Carrie didn’t respond. She kept walking, as if pulled by a certain force.
Arianne whirled around and spotted Carrie joining a group of souls. They all headed down the hall like a herd of cattle. Arianne followed, unconcerned by being perceived as acting strange. She kept her steps steady, even if her heart urged her to run. She ignored the stabbing pain in her stomach that threatened to pull her down.
The throng of souls led her to the entrance of St. Joseph’s. Every soul in the building seemed to make its way outside. Arianne could barely keep track of Carrie. Only her sister’s brightness helped, like a lighthouse in the dark of night.
Once outside, Arianne searched for whatever drew the souls like the Pied Piper’s flute. Her gaze shot across the street. By a bench, someone stood, holding a magnificent scythe of blue ice and a black staff.
