'There's someone in my house trying to kill me,' I whispered to the operator. I had just given my address when the door to my room eased open. I held perfectly still.
Through the slats in the closet door, I watched a shadowy figure enter the room. The lighting was low, my angle was off, and I couldn't see a single distinguishing detail. The figure parted the window blinds, peering out. It fingered the socks and underwear in my open drawer. It picked up the silver comb on my bureau, studied it, then returned it. When the figure turned in the direction of the closet, I knew I was in trouble.
Sliding my hand over the floor, I felt for anything I could use in my defense. My elbow bumped a stack of shoe boxes, toppling them. I mouthed a curse. The footsteps trod closer.
The closet doors opened, and I hurled a shoe out. I grabbed another and threw it.
Patch swore in an undertone, yanked a third shoe out of my hands, and hurled it behind him. Wrestling me out of the closet, he got me on my feet. Before I could register relief at discovering him and not Dabria in front of me, he pulled me against him and wrapped his arms around me.
'Are you okay?' he murmured in my ear.
'Dabria's here,' I said, my eyes brimming with tears. My knees trembled, and Patch's hold was the only thing keeping me up. 'She's burning down the house.'
Patch handed me a set of keys and curled my fingers around them. 'My Jeep's parked on the street. Get in, lock the doors, drive to Delphic, and wait for me.' He tipped my chin up to face him. He brushed a kiss across my lips and sent a flash of heat through me.
'What are you going to do?' I asked.
'Take care of Dabria.'
'How?'
He slid me a look that said, Do you really want details?
The sound of sirens wailed in the distance.
Patch looked to the window. 'You called the police?'
'I thought you were Dabria.'
He was already on his way out the door. 'I'll go after Dabria. Drive the Jeep to Delphic and wait for me.'
'What about the fire?'
'The police will handle it.'
I tightened my grip on the keys. The decision-making part of my brain was split, running in opposite directions. I wanted to get out of the house and away from Dabria, and meet up with Patch later, but there was one nagging thought I couldn't shake free. Dabria had said Patch needed to sacrifice me to become human.
She hadn't said it lightly, or to get under my skin. Or even to harden me against him. Her words had come out cold and serious. Serious enough that she tried to kill me to stop Patch from getting to me first.
I found the Jeep parked on the street, just like Patch had said. I put the keys in the ignition and floored the Jeep down Hawthorne. Figuring it was pointless to try Vee's cell again, I dialed her home phone instead.
'Hi, Mrs. Sky,' I said, trying to sound like nothing was out of the ordinary. 'Is Vee there?'
'Hi, Nora! She left a few hours ago. Something about a party in Portland. I thought she was with you.'
'Um, we got separated,' I lied. 'Did she say where she was going after the party?'
'She was thinking about seeing a movie. And she isn't answering her cell, so I assume she has it turned off for a show. Is everything okay?'
I didn't want to frighten her, but at the same time, I wasn't about to say everything was okay. Not one bit of it felt okay to me. The last time I'd heard from Vee, she was with Elliot. And now she wasn't answering her cell.
'I don't think so,' I said. 'I'm going to drive around and look for her. I'll start at the movie theater. Will you search the promenade?'
Chapter 26
It was the Sunday night before the start of spring break, and the movie theater was packed. I got in the ticket line, continually looking around for signs that I'd been followed. Nothing alarming so far, and the press of bodies offered good cover. I told myself Patch would take care of Dabria and that I had nothing to worry about, but it didn't hurt to be vigilant.
Of course, deep inside, I knew Dabria wasn't my biggest worry. Sooner or later Patch was going to figure out I wasn't at Delphic. Based on past experience, I didn't have any illusions about being able to hide long-term from him. He would find me. And then I'd be forced to confront him with the question I was dreading. More specifically, I dreaded his answer. Because there was a shadow of doubt at the back of my mind, whispering that Dabria had been telling the truth about what it would take for Patch to get a human body.
I stepped up to the ticket window. The nine-thirty movies were just starting.
'One for The Sacrifice' I said without thinking. Immediately I found the title eerily ironic. Not wanting to reflect further on it, I fished in my pockets and pushed a wad of small bills and coins under the window, praying it was enough.
«Jeez» the teller said, staring at the coins spilling under the window. I recognized her from school. She was a senior, and I was pretty sure her name was Kaylie or Kylie. 'Thanks a lot,' she said. 'It's not like there's a line or anything.'
Everyone behind me muttered a collective expletive.
'I cleaned out my piggy bank,' I said, attempting sarcasm.
'No kidding. Is it all here?' she asked, expelling a drawn-out sigh as she pushed the coins into groups of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies.
'Sure.'
'Whatever. I don't get paid enough for this.' She swept the money into the cash drawer and slid my ticket under the window. 'There are these things called credit cards…'
I grabbed the ticket. 'Did you happen to see Vee Sky come in tonight?'
'Bee who?'
'Vee Sky. She's a sophomore. She was with Elliot Saunders.'
Kaylie or Kylie's eyes bugged out. 'Does it look like a slow night? Does it look like I've just been sitting here, memorizing every face that walks past?'
'Never mind,' I breathed, heading for the doors leading inside.
Coldwater's movie theater has two screens, behind doors on either side of a concession counter. As soon as the ticket guy ripped my ticket in half, I tugged on the door to theater number two and ducked inside to darkness. The movie had started.
The theater was almost full, except for a few isolated seats. I walked down the aisle, looking for Vee. At the bottom of the aisle I turned and walked across the front of the theater. It was hard to distinguish faces in the darkness, but I was pretty sure Vee wasn't here.
I exited the theater and walked over to the show next door. It wasn't as crowded. I did another walk- through, but again, I didn't see Vee. Taking a seat near the back, I tried to settle my mind.
This whole night felt like a dark fair) tale I'd strayed into and couldn't find my way back out of. A fairy tale with fallen angels, human hybrids, and sacrificial killings. I rubbed my thumb over my birthmark. I especially didn't want to think about the possibility that I was descended from one of the Nephilim.
I pulled out the emergency cell phone and checked for missed calls. None.
I was tucking the phone in my pocket when a carton of popcorn materialized beside me.
'Hungry?' asked a voice from just over my shoulder. The voice was quiet and not especially happy. I tried to keep my breathing calm. 'Stand up and walk out of the theater,' Patch said. 'I'll be right behind you.'
I didn't move.
'Walk out,' he repeated. 'We need to talk.'
'About how you need to sacrifice me to get a human body?' I asked, my tone light, my insides feeling leaden.
