The Liberator

“So what’s going on?” I say to everyone, so happy I’m delirious. “Winter break at the cabin, the four of us?”

“Well…” Charlie responds. The way she says that one word makes my muscles tighten. Eyeing the horn lying against her chest, I realize it wasn’t my own charm I felt earlier, but hers. Because she was here. Because she is here.

“Just be chill, okay, D-Town?” Annabelle glares at me like she’s ready to wrestle if I argue with whatever she’s talking about.

But I don’t know what she’s talking about.

Until I see them.

Behind Annabelle, I notice two guys strutting toward the cabin. One is wearing a blue Cubs hat, and the other is throwing me a sly smile, a smile I’m about to break off his damn face. My hands close into fists, and as Charlie tugs on my arm, I head out to meet them.

“There’s more,” Charlie pleads. “I tried calling you.”

She keeps tugging on me, but it’s like a butterfly trying to block a bull. I swore I’d try to trust Charlie, but this Salem guy has been playing with her life, influencing her to play dangerous games. And now it’s time to pay the fucking piper.

“Wait, listen to me,” Charlie says. “Listen to me. You’re not going to believe—”

But she doesn’t finish, because someone new steps directly into my view.

Charlie stops talking.

My heart stops beating.

The guy looks over my shoulder at Aspen and grins. “Damn, that girl is hot,” he says.

Blue says.

14 Blue Isn’t Blue Anymore

I stand frozen as Salem and Easton pass by to go inside. Blue continues staring at me, a huge smile plastered on his face.

“How is this…?” I say, trailing off. “I thought you were…”

“Duh-duh-duh-dead?” Blue laughs, his eyes shining with pleasure. “Is that the word you were looking for? You thought I was dead?”

I glance behind me, ensuring no one heard him admit he’s a walking corpse.

“Don’t look so surprised.” He stuffs his hands into his pockets and leans back on his heels, looking up at something. “You’re not the only special person who’s walked the earth.”

And then the answer comes to me. Dropping down to the ground, I rip the leg of his jeans up. “Ha!” I thump his cuff, somewhat embarrassed I hadn’t sensed it before now. “Dead man walking, am I right?” Leaping to my feet, I throw my arms around Blue. I can’t help it. I thought the dude died out there, and now he’s here, sucking air like a politician. “Wait.” I pull away and look him in the eye. “You are a liberator, correct?”

“Of course!” Blue’s chest swells with pride, and I notice it isn’t as small as it used to be. Just looking at him, my body buzzes. I can’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact that this is real.

Turning to Charlie, I notice she’s trying to cover her smile. So is Annabelle. But Salem, Easton, and Aspen just look lost, which is good. I don’t need my assignment or the twin dipshits knowing what’s going on.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell Charlie, reaching in to squeeze her hand. She nods before I pull the door shut behind me and drag Blue off the porch. Though the snow sparkles in the morning sun and my nose fills with the smell of fir trees, I can’t seem to relax. Because Blue, who I used to think was six feet under, is standing right in front of me. And that can’t be good.

“Why did Big Guy make you into a liberator?” I ask. I’ve got a string of questions for this dude, and I’m not sure why this is the first.

“More manpower,” he responds with an air of professionalism. “I guess.”

“More manpower for what?”

Blue shrugs. “Beats me.”

Thing is, it doesn’t look like the question beats him. It looks like he might know exactly why. But I’ve got way too many other questions to argue. “How long have you been a liberator?”

He grins. “A few days after I croaked, but I didn’t get assigned until about a week ago.”

“Assigned?”

“Yeah. I was sent to watch her once you were shipped off to Denver.” Blue looks back at the cabin. He’s talking about Charlie. The thing I don’t understand is why he’s got that faraway expression on his face. Then I remember how hot the guy was for her when he was alive. Guess even after death, some things don’t change— one of those things being my ability to kick his ass if he hits on her. Though judging from the size of him, it might not be as easy.

“You look different,” I say. And now that I’ve vocalized the thought, I realize exactly how much has changed about Blue. He’s got muscle, facial hair, and his curly hair looks less wet dog and more rock star. “You get a liberator makeover special?” I laugh because I’m joking, but his face reddens like I’ve hit the money. “No. Seriously? You asked to look this way?” I’d heard of collectors making special requests of Lucille before they got cuffed, but always figured it was a myth. Now I’m not so sure it was a myth, or that it applied only to collectors.

Blue steps closer. “Seems to me Charlie may have another option when it comes to boyfriends.”

My eyebrows furrow because I know this guy didn’t just challenge my ass.

The corner of Blue’s mouth jerks up like he’s got a bomb he’s about to drop. “Can you hear me now, liberator?”

Those words ring through my head like a gunshot. “You! You were the one who left that message on my mirror!”

“I don’t mumble anymore, collector.”

“I’m not a collector anymore, pipsqueak.” I can’t help matching Blue’s grin, because even though Blue’s threatening my relationship, I’m happy to see he’s grown a pair.

Blue rolls his shoulders like he’s not sure how to say what’s on his mind. “We’ve got to talk about something.”

I glance back to make sure no one’s there, because whatever he’s about to spill sounds serious. When I turn back around, Blue is rubbing a hand over his jawline, which is crazy, because last I saw he barely had a jawline.

“That Salem guy and his brother, Easton?” Blue says. “I don’t like them.”

Finally, something the two of us agree on that isn’t my girlfriend. “Yes. That! Why hasn’t Val or Max gotten Charlie away from them?” I ask. “By the way, do Red and her bed-buddy even know you’re here?”

Blue nods. “Valery knew I’d be assigned before I did. Max found out right before the trip. So did Charlie. Kind of difficult to sport shadow on a plane.”

I think back to how many times Valery insisted Charlie was safe, that they had everything taken care of. I guess Blue being assigned to watch my girl was what she meant. It creeps me out that Blue’s been following Charlie, watching her, without her even knowing. But it was for her protection, I suppose. This also explains why Charlie called me nine times this morning. She must have found out about Blue and couldn’t wait to tell me. I grin thinking about this, then stop when I realize Blue is staring at me. And that he still hasn’t answered my question about Salem and Easton.

“So why are we letting these skid marks near her?” I ask.

Blue presses his lips together. “At first we thought that the more humans hanging around her, the better. The collectors don’t want to chance hurting anyone else. So if she’s surrounded by humans outside of school hours, all the better, right?”

“And now?” I ask, feeling my fists tighten. Red and Max may have thought these jokers would help their