Angelfire (21 page)

I had to hand it to Josie. She knew how to throw one hell of a party.

Kate grabbed my hand and we pushed our way into the writhing mass of waving hands, swinging hips, and stomping feet. We danced until Landon pulled Kate away. I danced by myself and with random partners for a few minutes until Evan and Rachel joined me. After a while I took a break, squeezing my way back to the front of the hall to the buffet table full
of candy and hors d'oeuvres. I munched on cut strawberries, still dancing to the music. I felt a warm body behind me and smelled the warm scent I recognized as Will's. A flood of boldness swept through my chest and stomach and I closed my eyes. I stepped back into him, swinging my hips, trying to coax him into dancing with me, but he didn't. Instead, his hands ran down my arms, and he dipped his face over my shoulder until his cheek brushed mine.

“Having fun?”

I spun around and grabbed his hands, swaying from side to side with the beat. He didn't give in, but that didn't stop me from trying. “Dance with me.”

He held my hands still and his green eyes pierced mine. “Sorry, I'm not a dancer.”

I pulled my hands away and put them around his neck. “Six hundred years old and you never learned to dance? I think it's about time you lived a little.”

“I know how to dance,” he assured me with a handsome laugh. “Just not to
this
kind of music.”

“It's easy. Just move with it.” I placed his hands on my hips and tried to get him to follow my rhythm.

He pulled away, and he wrapped a hand under my chin and lifted it. The movement was slow, sensual, in rhythm with the music, his fingers sliding across my skin, and I felt electricity pass from his touch into me. I inhaled and closed my eyes at the intensity of it. Every single inch of me was coming alive. I didn't know if it was the adrenaline
from the party that made me react so strongly or if it was something else. A stab of fire hit me when I felt his lips slide along my jaw to my ear, and I took a slow, agonized breath.

“Forgive me,” he whispered.

I opened my eyes and he was gone. I spun around, looking for him everywhere, but he really was gone. Frustration boiled through me and spilled over. What was my problem? What did I expect from him?

I shook my head, trying to forget about him and enjoy myself, but something stirred in my gut that I didn't like. I stuffed my face with another strawberry and scowled at nobody in particular.

Kate swayed up to me by herself, laughing and singing along to the music. She grabbed both my hands and swiveled her hips with the beat. She turned around, leading me back into the crowd, and we danced for a while longer, but I couldn't get my mind off Will. I could still feel his touch on my face, even though only a dull tingle remained.

Dressed elaborately as Marie Antoinette—complete with a frilly thigh-length blue dress, a floral fan, high stockings and garters, and a white powdered wig—Josie found us and gave us both enormous hugs. “I'm so glad you came!” she shouted over the music, in that fleeting, oblivious way of hers.

“Amazing party as always!” Kate assured her, smiling.

I nodded. “Yes! The DJ is amazing!”

“Thanks!” she said, smoothing out her skirts and fluttering her pretty fan. “He works for MTV!”

Not surprising. She danced with us for a while, the music rocking through us as if the mansion were coming down on our heads, before she twirled away.

I TRIED TO RID MYSELF OF ANY DOUBT AND NEGATIVITY and enjoy the night. I only paused when a boy walked up to Kate and me; he was wearing a white mask that concealed half his face like the Phantom of the Opera. The half of his face I could see was breathtaking. I had never seen any boy so beautiful. His pale gold hair was combed neatly back with only a few escaping wisps, and he wore a black tuxedo beneath a cape. Something about the exquisite fabric of the tuxedo told me we hadn't gotten our costumes at the same place.

Of course he must want to dance with Kate. I began to step away from them, but the curve of his lips made me hesitate. He lowered his head to a very excited Kate, whose face washed blank when he asked her, “May I cut in?”

She stepped aside and the boy took my hand, immediately
drawing me close to him. His presence wrapped around me, electric and inviting, and he spun me around the hall in a waltz that fit poorly with the music playing, but somehow he kept us in rhythm. Before I was aware of it, the music and commotion had sunk into a dull roar until I couldn't hear anything at all. I looked nowhere but up into his eyes, which were the most fiery opalescent hazel I had ever seen, practically inhuman. His dancing was like water, powerful and unyielding, yet fluid and smooth through every movement, like a river following its predetermined course. I let him lead me through the crowd in a state of shock and bliss twisted together, unable to perceive anything but his face. I wanted to take off his mask to reveal the beauty beneath. We danced until the end of the song, and still he held me to his chest, his mouth curving into a delicious smile.

“Come with me,” he pleaded, and took my hand.

I nodded like an idiot and let him lead me across the hall, back toward the archway we had all entered through. The hideous feeling of Will's rejection washed away as the mystery guy led me off the dance floor. I was too eager to follow him, too eager to make myself feel worth something. For an instant I wished Will had seen me leave with this boy. Maybe a spark of jealousy would prompt him to make a move.

The Phantom boy stopped me on the other side of the wall and toyed with one of my curls as he studied my face with a look of both awe and amusement.

“You are a beautiful girl,” he said in a slightly surprised voice, his face so close that he didn't need to speak up for me to hear him over the music.

“I like your mask,” my mouth blabbed stupidly. I wanted to slap my lips off. I like your
mask
?

He laughed, his voice like velvet. “I'm glad you like it. What's your name?”

“Ellie,” I answered, swooning. I leaned heavily against the wall to hold myself up.

“I'm Cadan,” he replied.

“That's an unusual name,” I noted absently.

“It's a very, very old one.” The backs of his fingers traced along my bare collarbone. I shivered.

“Are you a friend of Josie's?” I asked, trying to concentrate on our conversation as he touched me. He made it next to impossible to accomplish that.

“No,” he said, and looked up from my collarbone, his fiery opal eyes capturing mine.

As I stared into them, I could have sworn I saw golden flames flickering in the irises. I blinked and the flames vanished. “Do you go to our school?”

“No.”

“Do you know a lot of people here?”

“Only one,” he responded. “Your Will.”

I blinked in confusion, suddenly sober. “My—?”

In that moment Will appeared beside Cadan, his fist flying and slamming into the boy's jaw. The Phantom mask
sailed off and shattered on the floor as if it were made of porcelain.

Okay, that wasn't quite the move I had wanted Will to make a few seconds before.

“Will!”
I screamed, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him back. “What the hell is the matter with you?”

He said nothing but only stared at Cadan. Will's eyes glowed bright green, and even in the dark hall I could see his power humming furiously around him. Cadan rose to his feet, cupping his jaw—
laughing
. I would have bet everything I owned that Will's punch should have crushed every bone in Cadan's face. How was he even
alive
?

Unless he wasn't human.

“What are you doing here?” Will demanded, his voice subzero cold, frightening even me.

“I only wanted to meet her,” Cadan said. “I had to get a look at the girl who's been rustling everyone's feathers so much lately. She seems to be the object of Ragnuk's obsession, not to mention Bastian's. Can you blame me for my curiosity?”

Nausea clawed through my abdomen, and my body went stiff with fear. “Reaper?”

“He's one of Bastian's vir,” Will growled, not looking at me.

Cadan leered knowingly at Will. He reached a hand out to me, but before I could react, Will's sword swung through the air, and the tip pricked the beautiful demonic vir's throat.

“Don't you dare touch her,” Will warned, pressing the blade a fraction of a millimeter deeper. Blood peeked at the tip. I glanced around, praying no one would notice.

“She's a lovely thing,” Cadan said, still as stone, his chin up, his eyes locked on Will's. “I see why you keep her so close. You wouldn't want anyone like me sweeping her off her feet, would you?”

“Leave!”
Will demanded. “Or we'll take this outside and finish it.”

Cadan licked his lips as if the prospect were delicious. “I can arrange that.”

In my horror, my voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “I can't fight dressed like a sexy nurse!”

“My dear,” Cadan said, his voice as sensuous as wine, “I don't intend to harm you. Your Guardian, here, is another story. We have unfinished business.”

“We aren't carrying our quarrel into the world of humans,” Will said. “It can wait.”

I couldn't be sure if Cadan's face was disappointed or not. “Another time, then?” he asked.

“Agreed,” Will snarled.

Suddenly Cadan vanished. Will stabbed forward in shock and anger, his blade punching through the wall. I felt warm lips on my neck and I screeched, wheeling away. Cadan grabbed me closer to him. As Will shot toward us, Cadan whispered into my ear, “We'll meet again soon.”

Then he was gone again. This time for good.

Will cried out in rage and pounded his knuckles into the wall. A pair of girls came around the archway and stared at us for a brief moment before giggling and moving on.

I grabbed his arm. “Calm down! I can't believe you just punched a hole through Josie's wall!” I looked around us, my heart pounding. “We should walk away….”

I led him away and down a quieter hall before turning back to face him. Despite my mild annoyance with him, his version of defending my honor was still sexy. With his angry face on, he looked amazingly gorgeous and just as dangerous.

“Will, who was that?” I asked, my senses returning to me, finally able to feel how unnerved I truly was.

“Cadan,” he growled. “He's one of Bastian's thugs. I don't understand why he was here tonight. I'm surprised he would try to attack you.”

I was doubtful. “I don't think he was looking to fight. He had plenty of chances. Don't you think he would have used the opportunity?”

“Don't think he isn't dangerous because he didn't kill you on sight.” His voice was uneasy, worried. “You don't understand how destructive he can be.”

I leaned back against the wall with a sharp pain in my stomach. I didn't feel threatened by Cadan at all, but I had to trust Will's word. He knew these creatures better
than I did. He was one of them.

Will frowned and touched my arm gently. “You should get back to your party. Kate might be wondering where you are.”

“I don't think I feel like partying anymore,” I said.

A soft smile formed on his face. “How will you get home? You didn't drive here.”

“Oh, right,” I grumbled. “I guess I don't have a choice.”

His apprehension seemed to wash away, and once again he became that familiar tower of security and comfort. He took my hand. “Come on.”

I followed him back out into the hall, where Kate happened to hop in front of us, the sequins on her devil outfit making her glitter like a disco ball. One hand rested on her hip and the other held a Tootsie Pop propped in the inside of her cheek. She looked us both up and down.

“Where were
you
guys?” she asked with a suggestive flick of her eyebrows. “Makin' out, huh?”

I rolled my eyes, pulling away from Will self-consciously. “No,” I grumbled. “Some guy was giving me a hard time.” I thought it was wise to mention Cadan in case anyone had seen me with him.

“Not that hot guy, was it?” She frowned.

I nodded. “He wasn't as cool as he seemed.”

“Creepers happen,” Kate said with an indifferent shrug. “Well, it's midnight and they're about to judge the costume contest!” Full of enthusiasm now, she locked an arm around
mine and danced her way into the middle of the hall, dragging me along with her. Will followed silently.

The DJ had turned the music down and his microphone up so everyone could hear him. Cheers rang out as he began to announce the winners. The scariest costume went not to Landon but to another zombie, resulting in a very pissed-off Landon. Chris actually won for funniest costume. I decided I'd have to watch
Super Troopers
now. The sexiest costume category was won by a girl dressed as Eve. Her much-too-tanned body was covered by a leaf over each breast and a very skimpy leaf bikini bottom. Unsurprisingly, the overall best costume honor went to Josie.

Kate leaned close to me and said, “She paid somebody off for that award.”

I nodded in agreement.

When one
A.M
. rolled around, the party was cooling off. I was in a better mood, finally able to shake off the memory of Cadan. As we prepared to leave, we stood by our cars and discussed the next phase of the night's celebrations.

“Is the after party still at my house?” Kate asked excitedly.

“I'm down,” Landon said.

Rachel was clinging heavily to Evan's arm, resting her head on his shoulder. Her face was flushed and she was missing her witch's hat. “I'm ready to just go home, actually.”

“That's fine,” Evan said. “I can take you home. I'm feeling a little tired too.”

“I have
vodka
,” Kate said, waggling her fingers, trying to
convince them to join. “Shots, shots,
shots
!”

As Rachel started to get excited, Evan guided her to his car. “She doesn't need any more.”

“See you guys later!” Rachel called. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her smile was outrageously huge. “I had so much fun!” Her face bulged suddenly and she dived around the back of the car and retched. Evan rushed to her side and pulled her hair over her shoulders. He rubbed her back gently until she was through, and they climbed into his car. My face scrunched when I smelled the puke.

“Ten bucks says they bang,” Kate mused as they drove off.

I gaped at her in disgust. “She just threw up!”

Kate shrugged. “She can brush her teeth.”

I frowned at her. “You couldn't be more blunt if you tried.”

“Oh, I could,” she said. “I could be
far
more blunt, but I don't want to damage your pretty little virgin ears.”

I shoved her shoulder away as she laughed, and I turned to Will. “Are you coming with us?”

He looked down at me, his eyes a cool mint green. He seemed to have calmed down since Cadan left. “If you wish.”

“I would feel better if you were close,” I whispered. “Cadan freaked me out.”

“Then of course,” he said. “I'll follow you anywhere.”

I felt instant relief when I knew Will would stay with me all night. Part of me was afraid Cadan or even Ragnuk would attack tonight. I'd give anything to keep that from happening when my friends were around, but that wasn't exactly something I could control.