Stalked by Death

I shook my head and reached for him. “It was the power, not Chase.”

“Wrong again, Jodi. It was all about Chase. The things he said to you…and you didn’t even disagree with him.”

Oh, no! I’d thought Chase and I were using our connection to speak privately, but we must have started talking out loud. Alex had heard Chase say we were supposed to be together. He’d heard me practically agree.

“Alex, I was—”

“Don’t.” He turned away like it was too painful to even look at me.

“Alex?” I didn’t know what to say, how to make this better.

“I should’ve known.” He smacked the side of his leg with his fist. “Damn it, I think I did know, but I wouldn’t admit it to myself.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Chase. He’s what’s messing up your powers.” He spun around. His face was bright red, and his breathing was heavy. “Ever since you started emailing him, you’ve been different. And to think I thought your emotions were throwing off your powers because you were falling in love with me.”

“I am in love with you!” I reached for him, but he put his hands out to stop me.

“No, Jodi. You can’t love me when you obviously feel this way about him.” He said “him” like it was the most vile word in the English language.

“I do love you, Alex. I’m sure of that. It’s the only thing I know for certain. I don’t have a clue what’s going on with my powers or why Chase affects them the way he does. But I know how I feel about you, and none of this stuff with Chase changes that.”

He shook his head. “It does change it, Jodi. You didn’t see yourself when you connected with him. You didn’t hear yourself. You made those souls do unbelievable things. The Jodi I fell in love with couldn’t have done that. You’ve changed.”

“No.” My voice was weak. Was he right? I had made those souls suffer. I’d tortured them just to give Mason and the others a reason to stay here. “Mason—”

“Don’t use him as an excuse. You changed. You’re different. You’re mean. Mason had nothing to do with that.”

I squeezed my fists. Ugh! Why wouldn’t he listen to me? “What can I say to make you believe me? Tell me, please.”

“I don’t want you to tell me what I want to hear. That’s useless, meaningless.” He started toward the school.

“Where are you going?” I practically had to run to keep up with him.

“I can’t stay here.”

“Fine. Let’s go to my room and talk.”

“No.” He took the front stairs two at a time.

“Alex, wait up.”

He threw open the door and stormed past the Medusa statue. He went straight up the stairs and to his room.

“Okay, we’ll talk in your room,” I said, but Alex shut the door in my face. This wasn’t like him at all. I pounded on the door. “Alex, let me in. We need to talk about this.”

“I’m tired of talking,” he yelled through the door.

I tried the doorknob. Of course it was locked. I thought about going to my room, letting him cool off. But I was afraid to. Alex had never been this angry with me. What if he didn’t cool off? What if he ended things instead? I couldn’t give up. I had to make him listen to me. I leaned my back against the wall next to his door, determined to stay here until he came out. I wouldn’t let him leave his room without talking to me.

Lexi walked out of Abby’s room—her room now. She saw me and flashed her wicked smile. Just great. I wasn’t up for another round with her right now. She headed toward me, stopping about five feet away and crossing her arms.

“Don’t tell me your boyfriend’s locked you out.” Her voice was laced with mock sympathy. “I bet he’d let me in his room.” She stepped toward his door, but I blocked her path.

“Lexi, I’m not in the mood for games.”

“Who’s playing games?” She stepped closer, challenging me.

“Alex has good taste. He’d never go for a girl like you, so you might as well turn around and go back to your room.”

She looked me up and down. “Good taste, huh? I kind of doubt that if he’s stooped so low as to date you. But maybe since my sister is no longer here, he didn’t have a lot of choices. You or that cowardly girl—what’s her name? Morticia?”

“Leticia. And for your information, Alex never dated Abby. He couldn’t stand her. Like I said, he has good taste.”

Lexi started laughing. “At least you have some fight in you. Abby led me to believe you were a sniveling little girl.”

I crossed my arms, mimicking Lexi’s former stance. “That’s funny, considering I sent Abby straight to the underworld on Hades’ coattails.”

Lexi narrowed her eyes at me. I’d struck a nerve. She leaned closer, and I struggled not to back away. I didn’t want to look weak or easily intimidated. Good thing there was a wall behind me to keep me from cowering.

“Abby was a pussy cat compared to me.” She winked. “I’m the real bitch in the family.”

Somehow, I believed that. “Is that why you and your family tossed Abby out? Sent her here and didn’t talk to her again?”

“Oh, we talked. Maybe my mom disowned her, but I never did. We texted—kept each other informed.”

Alex’s door opened, and both Lexi and I turned to him. He was carrying a duffel bag, the same one he’d had when he brought me here over two months ago.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

Lexi stepped toward him, dragging one finger down the front of his shirt. “Don’t tell me you’re leaving. I was hoping we could get to know each other better. A lot better.”

I smacked her hand away. “Don’t touch him!”

Alex rolled his eyes at Lexi and pushed past her. “Jodi, I’m going away for a while. I’ll see you when I get back. If I come back.”

“What? Alex, you can’t leave. I need you.” I raced down the stairs after him.

He opened the front door and stopped in the doorway. He sighed and finally turned to me. He looked as awful as I felt. It was my fault he was hurting. I reached for him again, but he stepped back. “I need time away from all this. From us.”

Wide-eyed, I shook my head. “No, we need to be together.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t stick around while you try to figure out what’s going on with you and Chase. It’s not fair to me.”

“I don’t want Chase! I want you. I love you!” Tears streamed down my face. Things couldn’t end this way.

Alex’s eyes jerked to his right at something behind me. I assumed it was Lexi, tagging along to watch the show. Alex looked at me one last time before turning and walking away.

“Alex!” I yelled, going after him, but someone grabbed my arm and spun me around. Chase. Before I could react, he pulled me to him, pressing his lips firmly against mine. My body responded to him as if this was normal. As if this was what my body had wanted for days. My lips tingled, and the sensation traveled through me. There was nothing I could do to fight it. The power took over. I gave in. My blood surged in my veins. I felt every drop of blood, and it gave me more pleasure than I ever could have imagined. I kissed Chase back, weaving my fingers in his hair. He lifted me off the ground, and our bodies pressed against each other.

I felt like I was spinning. Or maybe the room was spinning. It was freeing and completely amazing. Then my body temperature rose. I was hot all over, and it wasn’t showing any signs of stopping. I was burning from the inside out. I thought of the pain I had felt when Hades’ eyes burned into me. This heat was similar, but I wasn’t in