Keeper Page 13

  Chapter 12

  Sure the room appeared nice and cozy with light blue walls and tan-colored carpet. It had all the accommodations most motels did: a desk, TV—hey—even a fridge. But what that smiling whore forgot to mention was the bed. Yes, bed. As in one.

  “We should saran wrap her car.”

  “It’s the last room they have.” Aiden kicked the door closed then dropped our bags off to the side of the room. “I’m sure we can get a cot. I’ll call for one when we get back.”

  Sitting on top of the desk, I leaned my head against the wall and placed my feet on the chair. “Would this be the point in time where I get the ‘explanation’?”

  He pulled out a fresh black shirt from his bag and shook it. “We’re not staying in Portland because I don’t want to be there any longer than a few hours. Enough people should be around so you don’t stick out, but you still need to be cautious. Rygons thrive in crowds.” He zipped his bag closed and turned to face me. “Last year we received a call down at Portland after seven people were reported missing. They weren’t Dreas, luckily, but the evidence of Rygon attacks were everywhere. Two hours after examining the area, we found the victims’ bodies massacred.” His intense eyes bore into mine.

  “You’re not telling me this for shits and giggles.”

  “I’m telling you this because Rygons are dangerous, but a rogue Kember is lethal. You can barge in and get yourself killed, but how does that help us catch him? How does that avenge Delmari? If you die, Delmari died in vain.”

  A sharp pain shot through my core. I clasped my hand over my chest, unable to breathe. My nails cut into my skin. Warm liquid trickled onto my fingers, slowly abating the pressure and inner pain.

  Half-falling in an attempt to get off the desk, I knocked the phone and lamp to the floor and headed to the bathroom.

  “Taylee—”

  The slamming door cut off his voice. I sucked in a jagged breath. Delmari died in vain. I sat against the shower wall, clenching my fists, fighting the sting in my eyes. Crying did nothing. It didn’t help. Settling the score would be the only cure.

  Aiden knocked lightly. “I didn’t mean to upset—”

  “I’m fine. Just getting changed.”

  He sighed. The door cracked open, and my bag slid across the tile.

  Inhaling deeply, I squeezed my eyes closed and heaved myself up off the floor. Get dressed. Get your makeup on and get a freakin’ grip. If I allowed myself the time to stop and think, I’d always be on the floor. I had to keep plowing forward.

  I tied the strings of my maroon tight-fitted halter top around my neck and then dragged a small section of hair down my neck, covering the red, wet marks I’d inflicted on my chest. The scratches weren’t deep or anything, but definitely apparent.

  When I walked back into the room, Aiden eyed me. “Where’s the wrap for your hand?”

  I refused to meet his gaze. “Throws off the outfit.” I bent my wrist a few times and shrugged. “Plus, I popped some Ibuprofen. It doesn’t even hurt now.”

  He’d changed into a new black shirt, as well. This one fit slightly tighter, showing off his awesome arms and chest. Black, really? He wore the color every day. Maybe he liked the Goth get-up. I, for one, thought green would look good on him. Yes, definitely green. It’d bring out his eyes—stop thinking about him.

  Plus, any more points in his “good looks” area and I’d be acting like…well, this.

  “Ready?” I pulled my black jacket off the bed. Irritation, though directed toward myself, rang through my tone.

  “Let’s go.” He strode toward the door.

  Hundreds of people roamed the streets of Portland. I sat forward, palms on the dash, checking everything out. You’d think we’d driven straight into an amusement park. Bright golden lights strung from pole to pole, illuminating the darkness. The annoying, slightly creepy, sounds of fair music and games echoed in the distance.

  We drove around for fifteen minutes, looking for a parking place. Finally, in an alleyway, we found a spot.

  Aiden stood outside my door. With his hand on the handle, he stared into space; probably listening to…I didn’t know: Whatever there was to listen to in dark, musty alleyways. I grabbed my jacket from the backseat as he opened the door.

  “We should be fine. Rygons may sense you, but they’ll stay low-key. I’m sure you’re not the only Drea here tonight.”

  “So, stay out of dark, narrow alleyways, right?” I jumped down from the truck and peered around.

  Like he did so often, he ignored my comment. “Stay close. Make sure you don’t step an inch farther than this.” He motioned to the foot between us. “If you see anyone you recognize, don’t do anything without consulting me. And don’t—”

  “Talk to, or take candy from strangers. Yeah, yeah, I know. Can we get on with this already?” I started for the street ahead.

  “We have two hours.” By the closeness of his low voice, he wasn’t fooling about the distance thing.

  “So is the GPS in your head on fritz or do you know where the club is?” We reached the mouth of the alley and I looked up and down the road. Streams of cars lined the streets in both directions. Over the tops of the buildings, a feint glow lit the sky.

  “Go right.”

  I was already heading in that direction.

  “The city’s web site listed multiple clubs and bars, but they’re all in different parts of town.”

  “So…?”

  “So, we’ll find a place to eat, I’ll eavesdrop on conversations and we’ll figure it out from there.”

  We. The plural word almost made me smile. It wasn’t “I’ll figure it out and I’ll do everything.” He talked like he thought of me as a teammate and not some meager Drea who possessed people. I risked a glance in his direction, feeling borderline giddy, and his gaze darted around the darkness.

  We turned another corner, and I flinched against the bright lights coming off the main street. Immediately, the crowd of people filed around us. Aiden pushed me forward. I hadn’t even noticed I’d stopped walking.

  His hand stretched past my head. The warmth of his breath tickled my ear when he spoke, making goose bumps rise on my skin. “Head for the purple neon sign.”

  The sign beamed from a building a few blocks in front of us. I stretched up on my tippy toes as we weaved through the crowd, trying to get a better look. Black tinted windows and a burly guy at the door taking I.D.s…It had to be the place.

  Feet from the door, Aiden tugged my belt loop and stopped me in my tracks. “I don’t know what’s in there…”

  I rolled my eyes. “Relax. I’ve been around drunks before. Besides, Mr. Badass Protector, I’m sure you can handle disoriented pervs.”

  “No. I’m not just talking about that. This club is called…‘The Cat.’”

  I tilted my head to check out the sign once again. “Huh, you know Spanish?”

  “It’s Italian.”

  “Same difference.” Realization dawned on me. A club called “The Cat.” “Oh man, you don’t think this place is crawling with strippers…do you?”

  He hesitated, and I knew our thoughts were in sync. “It’s hard to tell.”

  “Well, let’s hope not.” My gaze moved up and down his frame. “’Cause that would be awkward.”

  “If it is—”

  “Keep your dollar bills to yourself.”

  Aiden sighed and motioned to the bald-headed security guard. “Are you ready to do this?”

  To use my ability without being chewed out? “Hell yeah, I am.”

  We stood behind a couple who couldn’t keep their lips—or hands, for that matter—off each other. When they proceeded forward, we stepped to the front of the line. The bouncer, arms crossed and feet spread wide, growled. “IDs.”

  Aiden shot me a side-long glance as he showed the man his card.

  The man extended his hand toward me.

  Tightening my grip on my driver’s license, I held it out to
the man and looked straight into his eyes. I relaxed and allowed my mind to reach forward. A warm surge of tingles shot up my spine, enfolding me, as I felt the prick of his mind. Pushing around his small resistance, I grabbed a hold and wrapped his whole intellect in mine.

  His hand stopped midair. He looked at me glassy-eyed.

  A small smile spread over my lips. Like an alcoholic who tasted wine after being deprived, a calm, satisfied feeling flooded through my body. Unfortunately, it couldn’t last very long without taking a toll on my energy level.

  Check my ID.

  He did.

  Step back and let me through.

  Again, he obeyed. I snatched my license back, and we slipped through the metal door.

  Music blared, practically assaulting me, as we entered. Blotches of yellow, hot pink and orange paint lit up the black floors and ceilings as if someone had taken a paintball gun to the place. Lights bounced off walls and the jumble of wild, dancing people. “HOW’RE WE SUPPOSED TO FIND ANYONE?” Again, I stretched as tall as I could, seeing a bar smack in the middle of the vast room. To the left of it, a huge rainbow-colored staircase spiraled up to another floor.

  When Aiden didn’t respond, I turned around. His eyes narrowed as he slowly scanned the cluster.

  “HELLO?”

  His lips moved, but his voice got lost in the noise.

  “WHAT?”

  Wincing, Aiden lowered his face to mine. His minty, fresh breath cascaded over my cheeks. “You don’t need to yell and let everyone know what we’re doing. I can hear you perfectly.”

  I strained to keep my eyes locked on his, even though they felt like they might jump out of my head to get a peek at his lips.

  “…okay?” He straightened his stance.

  I blinked and took a step back. “O-okay.” Even though I have no idea what you said. Hopefully nothing important.

  Turning back toward the crowd, I started forward. Aiden grabbed hold of my arm and turned me left. I could’ve sworn he said something about selective hearing.

  I glanced over my shoulder. “HUH?”

  He motioned toward the left side of the bar. “GO!”

  Now that came across loud and clear. Not all of us had freak hearing. I weaved through dancing bodies, accidentally touching sweaty arms and nearly being trampled by some guy shaking his beer belly.

  Stopping below the rainbow staircase, I peered up. “WHERE—” I stopped myself before I blew his eardrum and lowered my voice, unable to hear my own words. “Where now?”

  My body stiffened as Aiden leaned in. “Why don’t you listen?”

  “’Cause you wouldn’t know what to do if I did.” I rolled my eyes. “SERIOUSLY, I CAN’T HEAR JACK SH—”

  He jerked away like I’d blown a foghorn in his face. He grabbed my hand, obviously finished trying to communicate with me, and pulled me up to the second floor.

  A dozen sheer black tents descended from the ceiling, each flowing gracefully over some kind of bed-couch thing. The lights dimmed and surprisingly, the music wasn’t as loud. Only, now there was an annoying ring in my ears. I cringed and quickly turned away, afraid of encountering something eye-gouging.

  Aiden looked through the glass wall, staring intently at the crowd below. His warm skin, still wrapped around my fingers, heated my whole body.

  Hating to admit it, even to myself, I liked the feeling. I considered asking something situation-related to distract my thoughts and feelings. Something like, could he could pull voices through a window. “At least there’re no naked people dancing on poles.”

  His mouth twitched.

  Again, I waited for a smile.

  He bit his lip, visibly fighting it back, and nodded. “There are a few Kembers here…I’ve seen two members of the Guard already.” His fingers, loosely intertwined in mine, released.

  He placed his hands on the rail. A funny tingling filled my stomach. “Members of the Guard? Why—”

  An icy liquid cut through the back of my shirt. I gasped and spun around. Damn drunks.

  A sneer spread across some blond dude’s face. Behind him a group of girls and guys snickered.

  “Oops. Sorry. Must’ve tripped.” He glanced down at his empty cup and started walking again. “Didn’t mean to provoke the mentally unstable.”

  One of the girls behind him giggled. “I still can’t believe she attacked that Drea.”

  “I know, right?” Someone else chided. “The Authority must not be too bright if they can’t figure out who killed Delmari. Haven’t they met her?”

  Everything stopped. The drumming in my ears took the place of music and laughter.

  My fists coiled, ready to beat every one of them to a bloody pulp. Ian’s threats about my anger left my mind—he could go to hell. No matter what anyone said, that last accusation hurt more than a boulder crushing me to oblivion.

  I tried to jump forward, but Aiden caught me around the waist. “They’re trying to get to you. You know it’s not true.”

  The second I fought against him, he released me. I staggered away, refusing to meet his gaze. A sharp pain squeezed my chest, and it took everything I had not to tear after that son of a bitch. Unable to stop it, moisture built in my eyes. By the accusing tone, I had a feeling he wasn’t the first to say such a horrible thing.

  “Taylee…” Aiden watched me carefully.

  Restrooms. The neon sign blurred, but came in clear enough for me to recognize, at the back of the club. I headed there. The tears in my eyes burned to break free; one blink and they’d fall. A sick feeling tightened and twisted my stomach. I hadn’t been the one to kill Delmari, but I hadn’t stopped it, either. I ran. Like a coward, I saved myself.

  Aiden grabbed my wrist before I entered the bathroom. He didn’t say anything. I was sure he could feel all he wanted to know.

  Seconds later a lady emerged. He waited another moment, probably making sure no one else was waiting to steal me, and then released my arm. “I’ll be right here.”

  The music and laughter diminished as the door closed behind me. The walls must’ve been soundproofed or something. Only the sporadic hum of bass indicated the party going on downstairs. I walked to the sink and stared in the mirror just in time for a single tear to fall from my eye, followed by another and another. Quickly wiping them, I sank to the floor and leaned my head against the wall. The lights above buzzed like a thousand pissed off bees and flickered every few minutes. My body shook from anger and grief, but I didn’t give in to the sob in my chest.

  After minutes of fighting the pain, control found me again. I twisted the cold water nozzle and patted water on my cheeks. Milky foundation covered the dark circles beneath my eyes. Mascara and eyeliner made them stand out and improved the whole ensemble. That on its own should’ve brought a little sparkle into my eyes. It didn’t. Even with all the makeup, they never brightened.

  A gust of air rushed by, tossing my hair. I stopped and looked behind me through the mirror, half expecting to see a window blown open.

  There were no windows.

  A chill crawled up my spine, making the hair on my arms stand on end. Slowly, I reached forward and turned the water off. I couldn’t help but shake off the paranormal vibe. Ridiculous. Ghosts hadn’t been a part of my vocabulary since I was, like, five.

  Stepping away from the sink, I tilted my head and looked toward the stalls. No one. The bathroom was still empty. I took a deep breath, trying to slow my heart rate. What the heck’s wrong with me? My imagination’s acting like it’s on drugs or something.

  Rubbing the goose bumps on my arms, my flip-flops clicked obnoxiously as I quickly moved to the door.

  I reached out for the handle. My fingers barely brushed the metal when a force yanked me backward, off my feet. I opened my mouth to scream but silently gagged as it caught in my throat. The lights flickered once more before submersing the room in darkness.